Douglas County Heritage Forums Held in 2018 by the Kansas Biological - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Douglas County Heritage Forums Held in 2018 by the Kansas Biological Survey as part of a project funded by the Douglas County Heritage Conservation Commission Baldwin City, Feb.15 Lawrence, Feb. 20 Lecompton, March 3 Eudora, March 10 Douglas
University Archives, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas Libraries.
Douglas County was nearly 90% prairie prior to Euro-American
landscape was dominated by warm-season grasses like big bluestem, Indian grass, and little bluestem, and a great variety of sedges and wildflowers.
Baldwin woods – Photo courtesy Edward Robison III
Baldwin Woods Photo: Edward Robison III
Oak-hickory forest would have occurred on some uplands such as the Baldwin Woods area. Woodlands along rivers and streams would have been dominated by cottonwoods and sycamores, or by a mix
hackberry.
Less than 0.5% of the
prairie remains. In 2014/2015 the Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council awarded a grant to the Kansas Biological Survey to conduct a survey of high- quality prairies and forests. In that survey, 76 parcels
(1,352 acres) and 27 tracts
(2,530 acres) were identified.
Remaining parcels of high-quality prairie and forest in Douglas County
Loss of native prairie continues due to encroachment of woody plants, conversion to row-crop agriculture, invasion of non-native grasses, and residential development. For the 10-year period
high-quality prairie acres in the county was lost.
The county now has much more tree cover than prior to Euro- American settlement. This map shows current forest distribution (green) in relation to historic forest distribution (red hatching). Woody vegetation has encroached upon much
landscape, and much of the historic forest is gone; 82% of today’s woodlands occur where
A woodland growing on former prairie ground is very different from a woodland growing in an area that has always been forest. Both the tree species composition and the understory wildflowers are different. Indicators of higher quality forest (clockwise from top left): maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) and three woodland wildflowers, bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) and American bellflower (Campanula americana). These and other wildflowers are seen in highest quality forests.
heritage.
and education experiences.
habitat for rare and unusual species.
Regal fritillary, Speyeria idalia, on rattlesnake master, Eryngium yuccifolium.
Results of a 2014 survey of Douglas County residents show strong support for:
Get Outdoors Kansas
Juniper Hill Farms
* Survey conducted in 2014 on behalf of the City
Survey respondents who identified as important:
Courtesy/KDOT
Courtesy/Panoramio Courtesy/Mrs. Mass
those that occur near historic features.
using habitat corridors, hike/bike trails, public parks, etc.
Here is an example of how we go about addressing the first project goal of identifying places where prairies and forests can be protected. First Church on the west side of Lawrence hosts a remnant prairie with wagon ruts from the Oregon
natural feature and a historic
interested in conservation of these
prairie nearby that could be linked to the prairie on the Church site. As a bonus, the site contains a walking trail that is open to the public.
To address the second main project goal we are looking for a few larger landscapes in the county where a network of connected places can be envisioned.
Areas important to our natural and cultural history occur in isolation across the modern landscape. We are looking for opportunities to provide connectivity among these features. We hope to work with both private and public landowners to create connections using trails, habitat corridors, and human stories.
We hope to connect with private landowners interested in restoring their prairies and forests to their pre- settlement condition. Many of our prairies have been invaded by woody plants and invasive species. Our forests often are dominated by less desirable trees and have lost their understory wildflowers.
Images courtesy of C. Masterson
High quality old growth forests contain many species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers. If you’ve seen these species on your land you may have a piece of our natural history. We’d love to visit it with you!
Images courtesy of C. Masterson
High-quality tallgrass prairie contains hundreds of species of grasses and wildflowers. Have you seen these plants on your property? We’d love to visit your property with you and create a plant list.
Images courtesy of C. Masterson
Images courtesy of C. Masterson
There are many steps you can take to improve the condition of your native prairie or forest, or to provide habitat corridors that provide connectivity throughout the landscape. The agencies and
Katy Dhungel
District Forester kdhungel@ksu.edu
Aaron Deters District Wildlife Biologist aaron.deters@ks.gov
(Douglas County Conservation District)
Sue Ann Funk
Education and Outreach Coordinator http://www.douglasccd.com/
Bob Culbertson Wetland Specialist http://www.kaws.org/ Jerry Jost Executive Director http://www.klt.org/ Kim Bellemere
Education and Membership Coordinator http://www.grasslandheritage.org/