OutdoorNebraska

7 Benefits from Every Angle the Santee Sioux Nation's Woodland and Prairie Restoration T hey call it the High Bench –a prairie ridge of blazing star, goldenrod, and little bluestem that overlooks slopes of tallgrass prairie and oak woodlands managed by the Santee Sioux Nation. It is one heck of a view. To the trained eye, however, the beautiful view reveals ecological challenges. Historically, periodic wildfires maintained open prairies and sunny oak woodlands along the Missouri River bluffs by preventing the encroachment of eastern red-cedar and other brush. Lack of fire in the woodlands has also promoted the invasion of shade-tolerant, native trees and shrubs, such as hackberry and dogwood, and non-native species, such as Siberian elm and buckthorn. The now-dense trees shade out native grasses and wildflowers on the woodland floor and reduce sunlight needed by the next generation of oaks to germinate and grow. To restore these plant communities, the Santee partnered with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Northern Prairies Land Trust (NPLT), Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC), and Nebraska Forest Service (NFS) to implement 122 acres of cedar removal form prairie and 207 acres of tree thinning in oak woodlands. These projects will allow the Santee to reintroduce prescribed fire into the area. Prescribed fire is a familiar tool for the Santee Tribe. In recent decades, the Santee Hazardous Fuels Crew often have been conducting prescribed fires on their own and other tribal lands in Nebraska. This project will also allow the crew members to add new skills to their resume, including tree identification and forest management techniques. "This project has allowed crew members to strengthen their leadership and career skills in natural resource management," Duwayne Traversie, BIA Fuels Specialist, said. Theo Wright, a crew member, agrees: "Training opportunities are more limited elsewhere. [This program] is more diverse and opens more paths." The woodland and prairie enhancements will not only benefit native plants but also game species such as turkeys, squirrels, and white-tailed deer, in addition to rare animals such as the northern long-eared bat, Bell's vireo, monarch butterfly, and regal fritillary. During his lifetime, crew member Jeremy Archampeau has observed a decline in traditional plants in the area. "I am interested to see if the project helps medicinal plants come back," he said. Crew supervisor Leslie Brownrigg is excited to see the impact of their work. "I see other opportunities [on the Reservation] to do the same type of work: getting more of the landscape back to its natural state, opening up rangeland and bringing back native grasses." Perhaps the most exciting project results cannot be seen from the High Bench. For one, the project's social and economic benefits will strengthen the Tribe's connections to conservation and the land. Not only were crew members kept employed during a slow time of year, but the crew's size was expanded for the project. Trees cut from the oak woodlands were made available to tribal members for home heating. Brush-free and healthy grasslands also will benefit the tribal ranching program and buffer the town of Santee from high-intensity wildfires. Crew member David Freemont sums it up well: "I am happy to be part of this project because it will have so many positive impacts." This project is an effort of the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project and NGPC's WILD Nebraska Habitat Program. It was funded by the Nebraska Environmental Trust, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Nebraska Wildlife Conservation Fund. ✔ By Jennifer Corman – Northern Prairies Land Trust and Cassidy Wessel Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Tallgrass prairie on Santee Sioux Reservation PHOTO BY GERRY STEINAUER

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