Prairie Fest May 5, 2004 Photo by Becky Rader
I came across this photo and decided to share some of the uphill and downhill moments of preservation projects. At the time I was a member of the local chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist Program and was the second chapter President and also served on the Board for 5 years. This was the 5th year for Prairie Fest, which was held annually from 2000-2005, to bring attention to the Blackland Prairie remnants around White Rock Lake.
We had a good turn-out in spite of the cold that day with Buffalo Soldiers from the10th Cavalry Unit and representatives from one of the Air Force Battalions based out of Wichita Falls. Their longhorn was a mascot and fund raiser for the battalion. He was pretty darn awesome, but let's just say when he didn't want to work, he wouldn't. The Buffalo Soldiers mentor boys and brought a group with them who really liked that longhorn steer, despite the fact that he was laying down on the job ; ). There were many others there to share their knowledge and passion for the prairie.
What brought all of this about was a drive by the lake in 1998 and watching the wildflowers being mowed down. Just about had a wreck. You see that is the absolute worst time to mow, while they are blooming, because they have not had a chance to set seed yet. I decided to make a few calls once I reached home. Turned out that became about 10 calls because I was passed along the chain, no one wanted to talk about wildflowers. Not important you know. I was finally passed to a gentleman, Larry Smith with DPARD who knew exactly what I was trying to say. He agreed that it was the wrong time to mow, but there had been other phone calls about the "weeds" so he had been told to get the mowers out. My response was that some education needed to take place, he agreed and that is where it began. After a very long year, oh yes, one whole year of talking and presenting to lake organizations, neighborhoods around the lake, city staff and bringing in groups of botanists and scientists to confirm what I saw and knew was prairie, this project was accepted by DPARD and taken on as one of the first chapter projects by the NTMN. Dr. Kip Kiphart was a partner on this project.
The presence of wildflowers around the lake had long been recognized and even pointed out on a map that was created by the ADVOCATE magazine in a booklet about the lake. So how was it determined to be an actual area of long lost prairie? That is where the plan began. It was decided that there would be no mowing in certain areas for at least a year, some areas two years, to see what came up. How was this decision determined you ask? Again going to the neighbors and groups, letting them know what was going to occur and having the group of scientists and other experts on board. Who were they you ask? Dr. Ken Steigman formerly with the Heard Museum-now director at LLELA, Dr. Lou Verner-TPWD, John Davis-TPWD, Jim Eidson-TNC, Barney Limpscomb - Bob O'Kennon - George Diggs all with BRIT and co-authors of Shinners and Mahler's Flora Of North Central Texas, Jim Apkin -botanist, Jeff Quayle-botanist, Jim Varnum-botanist, for starters. There have been others that became interested along the way, but this was the original group.
OK, so what happened when there was no mowing? First of all you have to understand that since the beginning of this park there has been mowing, that was why erosion terraces had to be built on the slopes by the CCC. You mow it, it rains and on those slopes around the lake erosion happens, not much vegetation to slow down the water so the terraces were built. But still able to survive somehow was this incredible seed bank and root system in the soil of the original prairie that had existed there for hundreds of years. Aw cum on you say, really? Yes, really. What grew in the next couple of years was astounding...Little Bluestem, Indian Grass, Eastern Gamagrass, Sideoats Grama, Purpletop....all native prairie species of grasses. And so much more, over 330 plant species identified so far. It was like a totally changed landscape, not just in the vegetation category, but also wildlife.
Raptors were returning to the lake. There had been some through the years, but now there was an incredible upswing in the number of sightings and nesting that was occurring. Members of the local Audubon chapter took notice. Eastern Bluebirds returned, bluebird houses were donated and placed by WBU with DPARD approval. There are now Bluebirds nesting in tree cavities around the lake every year, along with other cavity nesters, woodpeckers and owls. The number of bird species identified at the lake has increased from around 250 and now is in the 320 range, if not more.
Where there is tall grass there are critters eating the seed and plants. Critters like rodents, no not the ones that live in buildings, field mice and rats, rabbits, box turtles, insects, raccoons, possums, and skunks, following them are the predators; lizards, snakes, raptors, coyote and bobcat. You can place the raccoon, possum and skunk in both categories by the way. They are omnivores. All have adapted to living within the urban surroundings because of the tall grass and riparian areas we have in this park.
How is this all managed...that is one of the biggest challenges faced.
Stay tuned....more to come.
The presence of wildflowers around the lake had long been recognized and even pointed out on a map that was created by the ADVOCATE magazine in a booklet about the lake. So how was it determined to be an actual area of long lost prairie? That is where the plan began. It was decided that there would be no mowing in certain areas for at least a year, some areas two years, to see what came up. How was this decision determined you ask? Again going to the neighbors and groups, letting them know what was going to occur and having the group of scientists and other experts on board. Who were they you ask? Dr. Ken Steigman formerly with the Heard Museum-now director at LLELA, Dr. Lou Verner-TPWD, John Davis-TPWD, Jim Eidson-TNC, Barney Limpscomb - Bob O'Kennon - George Diggs all with BRIT and co-authors of Shinners and Mahler's Flora Of North Central Texas, Jim Apkin -botanist, Jeff Quayle-botanist, Jim Varnum-botanist, for starters. There have been others that became interested along the way, but this was the original group.
OK, so what happened when there was no mowing? First of all you have to understand that since the beginning of this park there has been mowing, that was why erosion terraces had to be built on the slopes by the CCC. You mow it, it rains and on those slopes around the lake erosion happens, not much vegetation to slow down the water so the terraces were built. But still able to survive somehow was this incredible seed bank and root system in the soil of the original prairie that had existed there for hundreds of years. Aw cum on you say, really? Yes, really. What grew in the next couple of years was astounding...Little Bluestem, Indian Grass, Eastern Gamagrass, Sideoats Grama, Purpletop....all native prairie species of grasses. And so much more, over 330 plant species identified so far. It was like a totally changed landscape, not just in the vegetation category, but also wildlife.
Raptors were returning to the lake. There had been some through the years, but now there was an incredible upswing in the number of sightings and nesting that was occurring. Members of the local Audubon chapter took notice. Eastern Bluebirds returned, bluebird houses were donated and placed by WBU with DPARD approval. There are now Bluebirds nesting in tree cavities around the lake every year, along with other cavity nesters, woodpeckers and owls. The number of bird species identified at the lake has increased from around 250 and now is in the 320 range, if not more.
Where there is tall grass there are critters eating the seed and plants. Critters like rodents, no not the ones that live in buildings, field mice and rats, rabbits, box turtles, insects, raccoons, possums, and skunks, following them are the predators; lizards, snakes, raptors, coyote and bobcat. You can place the raccoon, possum and skunk in both categories by the way. They are omnivores. All have adapted to living within the urban surroundings because of the tall grass and riparian areas we have in this park.
How is this all managed...that is one of the biggest challenges faced.
Stay tuned....more to come.
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Thanks again for your interest in my wonderful hometown, Dallas, Texas!!
Becky Rader