OutdoorNebraska

5 Demonstrating Habitat Conservation By Krista Lang, Coordinating Wildlife Biologist, Northern Prairies Land Trust for At-Risk Species I t is important to share stories of successful conservation projects with the public. To tell such stories, the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project (NNLP), our statewide plan for at-risk species conservation, calls for establishing 20 habitat management demonstration sites throughout the state in various habitats. One such demonstration site, located in Jefferson County, includes the 706-acre Rock Glen Wildlife Management Area (WMA), the 350-acre Rock Creek Station State Historical Park (SHP) and the 40-acre Rock Creek Station State Recreation Area. Shortly after its designation in 2011 as a demonstration site, work began to enhance the rolling tallgrass prairie-covered hills and oak-filled ravines on the site as at-risk species habitat. At the site, over a century of wildfire suppression has allowed eastern red-cedar, dogwoods, sumac and other brush to invade the once open prairies and oak woods. In 2014, staff from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Northern Prairies Land Trust began implementing prescribed burns in the prairie and woods to reduce the brush. The spring and fall fires were successful in eliminating some, but not all of the invading brush and trees. Many of the fire-intolerant tree species that have proliferated at the site have grown to a size where they cannot be controlled with prescribed burns. To control these trees, we have implemented chemical (herbicide) thinning. We have chemically thinned larger elm, hackberry and locust trees from 65 acres of oak woods at Rock Creek Station and 170 acres of woods at Rock Glen. Cedars and brush have also been mechanically cut from the prairie at Rock Glen. The tree thinning has allowed more light to penetrate to the woodland floor allowing for the growth and development of oak seedlings, and stimulated the growth of native plants in both the prairie and oak woods. Other management at the Rock Creek Station and Rock Glen include controlling non-native invasive plants that displace native plants and degrade wildlife habitat. NPLT and NGPC staff have spent weeks over the last few summers controlling Caucasian bluestem, sericea lespedeza and common St. John's-wort in prairies and woods through herbicide application. Native plants are already beginning to recolonize the sprayed areas. While management of this demonstration site is ongoing and will continue into the future we are already seeing positive results. The oak woods have greatly reduced tree and brush cover and several at-risk plant species including Maryland senna, ebony spleenwort, spotted St. John's-wort and slender mountain mint have been seen there for the first time. Habitat quality for at-risk wildlife and insects is also improved. The Natural Legacy Project will continue to add other demonstration sites in the future. ✔ A prescribed fire at Rock Glen Wildlife Management Area PHOTO BY GERRY STEINAUER

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