Young Prairie: Restoration and Recreation

February 19, 2024  |  Topics: Places

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A conversation with DNR ecologist Peter Duerkop

Introduction and photographs by Eddee Daniel

To reach the protected natural area we had to make our way down an old farm road between high walls of corn nearly ripe for harvest, wading through tall grass saturated with morning dew. When we reached it, the broad prairie opened up before us, speckled with late summer wildflowers and tinged blood red by young dogwoods. A small group of us were on a tour of Young Prairie State Natural Area led by Peter Duerkop and sponsored by the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin in September, 2023.

Young Prairie SNA is just a small portion of the vast, 22,000-acre Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. It features a large wet-mesic prairie that contains rare plants and animals. According to the DNR website, “it is among the best and largest prairie remnants of its type known in the region.” It also includes a stream and wetland areas. More than 80 species of native plants have been identified, including such showy species as compass plant, prairie dock, blazing star, purple prairie clover, lead plant, shooting star, turks-cap lily, coneflower, sunflowers, goldenrods, and asters—a few of which were blooming during our tour. Nesting birds include common yellowthroat, sedge wren, and swamp sparrow. Sandhill cranes and short-eared owls are occasional visitors.

Following our tour I interviewed Duerkop via email. These are his responses, which have been edited for clarity and length.

When did the DNR acquire the property? Are there plans to add to it?

Young Prairie SNA is around 800 acres in size, and reached this size through numerous transactions. The first approximately 50-acre acquisition was completed in 1977.

Additional acquisitions would be beneficial for both game and non-game species, as well as the public. Although DNR does acquire additional land from time to time, it is heavily dependent on willing landowners interested in selling, combined with having adequate funding available (which can be challenging). 

What kinds of agriculture were practiced on it before?

The highest quality prairie remnants never had continuous crop production. This was due to being too wet, despite industrious farmers doing their best to ditch and drain land to make it arable. There may have been some light grazing, but in those high-quality areas agriculture was limited to harvesting ‘marsh hay,’ which was used as straw bedding for livestock or to insulate ice blocks during the summer months.

Fields that were drier did see conventional row-crop agriculture. We are working to restore these fields to a more native grassland type to benefit wildlife and allow space for movement of plant populations over time.

What restoration efforts are being done?

Restoration has been ongoing in certain areas for decades. Other parts of the property have begun receiving more intensive habitat management just recently.

Prairie management is an ongoing battle to disrupt the process of ecological succession. With no disturbance mechanism (such as fire, mowing, etc.), grasslands succeed (transition) to wood brush and/or tree species, making the prairie no longer suitable for grassland flora and fauna. 

Our priority is, first and foremost, to retain our high-quality remnant prairie communities and, whenever possible, expand them. At Young Prairie SNA we are working towards connecting existing remnant areas and other grassland patches by removing tree lines and reclaiming ditches, while concurrently applying prescribed fire and mowing across the site.

We walked through a copse that was wet despite being raised above the surrounding prairie. Please explain the hydrology that makes this possible.

They are calcareous fen communities. The role of mineral-rich groundwater is hugely important for the recruitment of “fenny” species that rely on these continuous hydrologic inputs. In some cases, hydrologic upwelling toward the soil surface results in a wet ‘mound’ that is raised above the surrounding landscape.

Are there certain special plants and animals present on the property?

Sites that are designated as a State Natural Area are home Wisconsin’s most special natural features. SNAs preserve only about <1% of Wisconsin’s land mass, yet contain the bulk of rare plant and animal species (see SNA Strategy page iv). Young Prairie SNA is no exception and is host to 19 species of plants and wildlife that are considered Special Concern, Threatened or Endangered. This includes several ‘remnant restricted’ plants and invertebrates that only occur on prairies that did not experience intensive grazing or farming pressures.

How are invasive species being managed?

We manage invasive species using an adaptive, mixed management approach. In prairies that are in good shape periodic prescribed fire is enough to retain open grassland structure and stimulate prairie plant growth and flowering. In areas where invasive brush has become too prevalent and is degrading native floral diversity (and associated wildlife) we’ll use a mixed approach of mowing and selective herbicide applications. Herbaceous invasives are also targeted, mainly wild parsnip, yellow/white sweet clover, reed canary grass and several others. 

Why do you lead tours of the prairie?

I’ve led a tour of Young Prairie SNA for the last few years as a Natural Resources Foundation field trip because I feel it’s important to showcase the work we do, the work NRF helps support, and raise awareness about the special places held in the public trust. DNR lands are there for everyone to use whether for hiking, hunting, birdwatching or botanizing. Our State Natural Areas are exceptionally valuable in that they host unique features, native communities and wildlife. It’s rewarding to share that story with others.

Can the public visit without a tour guide? Is it encouraged?

Absolutely. Generally speaking, very few State Natural Areas have public facilities, but nearly all are open for a variety of recreational activities. Largely, there are no picnic areas, restrooms, or other developments. Trails, if present, are typically undesignated footpaths or temporary mowed firebreaks unless marked otherwise.

How would they do that?

Young Prairie SNA is accessible along Young Road, Bluff Road and Betenz Lane. Designated parking areas are on Young Road.

For more information about Young Prairie State Natural Area go to the DNR website.

For a map of Young Prairie SNA and access roads click here.

For more information about Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit go to our Find-a-Park page.

Related (Kettle Moraine SF – Southern Unit) stories:

OutWiGo Green brings thousands to Ottawa Lake despite the rain!

Tracking wildlife and so much more!

Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail: A Saunter through History

Ottawa Lake Recreation Area

Peter Duerkop is a District Ecologist – Natural Heritage Conservation for the WI DNR. Eddee Daniel is a board member of Preserve Our Parks. The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin is a project partner of A Wealth of Nature.

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