Rural Missouri - September 2022 - 51

Previous page, clockwise from top left: Kent Wamsley and a drone survey a streambank stabilization project intended to help spawning
numbers of the Topeka shiner at Little Creek Farm. A bobolink perches on a hilltop fence. Curious bison calves stick close to the herd. Indian paintbrush
blooms on the prairie in late spring. Above: A bison bull keeps an eye on visitors during a downpour.
It's easy to feel lost in the expanse of the prairie - in
fact, that's the experience some visitors come here looking
for - but the Dunn Ranch crew never loses sight of
the strategic goals for the land. Projects here are aimed
directly at the vision of uniting people and nature within
the Upper Grand River Grasslands. The Nature Conservancy,
MDC and the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources protect roughly 10% of the 83,000-acre watershed
where farming is a way of life. Far from a challenge,
Kent sees the relationship as a unique opportunity for all
involved to become better stewards of the prairie.
" We can't own it all, so the question is how to best work
with those around us to build out this vision of a resilient,
connected landscape, " Kent says. " Not telling them what to
do, but engaging with them and saying, 'Let's be partners
in this together.' "
Some solutions are found in common conservation practices
such as seeding native plants, controlling invasive
species and improving timber stands. Other projects are
unique to the livestock-meets-wildlife landscape, including
controlled stream access at cattle crossings, rotational
grazing and stabilizing and improving streambanks to
prevent erosion. This spring at Dunn Ranch's Little Creek
Farm, crews completed a stabilization project to improve
spawning conditions for the endangered Topeka shiner -
a rare minnow native to small prairie streams.
One of the most unique projects at Dunn Ranch is the
grass bank, two pastures in the ranch's northern section
comprising 400 acres of predominantly native grasses.
Ranchers willing to engage in some conservation work on
their own land can apply to graze portions of Dunn's grass
bank while they wait for their own to become established.
In the early spring, cows help control the fescue and cool
season grasses, and in the late summer return for a highquality
buffet of lush native plant species. The net result is
not only improved forage for cattle but also additional and
improved habitat for wildlife that call the prairie home.
" For this 400 acres, we're leveraging nearly twofold that
in conservation benefit and value on neighboring land
directly adjacent to here, " Kent says of the grass bank.
" That's part of changing the broader landscape, rather
than just the part we own, and it's a great example of
nature providing a business solution so
that it was economically viable for them
to stay on their land, " Adam adds. " More
great habitat, whether it's public or
private, is a good thing for everybody. "
Hatfield
For more information on Dunn
Ranch Prairie and The Nature
Conservancy in Missouri, visit
www.nature.org/missouri.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP 51

http://www.nature.org/missouri http://www.RURALMISSOURI.COOP

Rural Missouri - September 2022

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