Hoosier Prairie State Nature Preserve
Hoosier Prairie State Nature Preserve | |
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Location | Lake County, Indiana, USA |
Nearest city | Griffith, Indiana |
Coordinates | 41°31′21.66″N 87°27′27.26″W / 41.5226833°N 87.4575722°W |
Established | 1976 |
Governing body | Indiana Dept of Natural Resources; National Park Service |
Designated | 1974 |
Hoosier Prairie is a unit of Indiana Dunes National Park in Lake County, Indiana. It began in the 1970s as wasteland that conservation organization found of a unique interest. From a core of 304 acres (123 ha), it has grown to 1,547 acres (626 ha) of important prairie habitat.[1] The area was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1974[2] and a State Nature Preserve in 1977[3] The sandy soil creates a variety of habitats, from oak barrens, wet prairie, including sedge meadows and prairie marshes. More than 350 native species of vascular plants have been identified. A minimum of 43 species are uncommon in the State of Indiana.[3]
Description
Wheelchair accessible The first 0.15 miles (0.24 km) is considered to be wheelchair accessible. It is a wide gravel path. You can travel partway into the prairie, along the 'old field' restoration area on the west. A line of trees on the east open to provide views into the prairie marsh.[4]
The trails into the prairie are chipped bark pathways, which can have the surrounding
Prairie marsh trail is a 0.25 miles (0.40 km) circular trail from just beyond the midpoint of the accessible trail back to the end of the accessible trail.[4]
Savanna trail is 0.3 miles (0.48 km) circular trail from the eastern edge of the Prairie marsh trail, returning to the same point on the marsh trail.[4]
Location
The prairie is located on West Main Street, Griffith, Indiana. The area is accessible from a parking lot on Main Street (E 53rd St) just east of Kennedy Avenue. A trail, leads off through the prairie to the east.
Wildlife and plants
Rare habitats exist in the Hoosier Prairie Preserve, including the dry black oak barrens, wetland pools, and moist prairies. The areas support over 350 native plants.[1] Of these, 43 are uncommon or rarely seen within Indiana. These rare plants include the white wild indigo, prairie parsley, Indian paintbrush, rose pogonia and the tall Indian grass. Some unusual creatures seen in the prairie include the red-headed woodpecker, sedge wrens and the brown butterfly.[3] Among the prairie "potholes', which hold water most of the year, there will be reptiles and amphibians.[1]
Restoration
The field where the parking lot is located along Main Street, south and west towards Kennedy Avenue is an old wheat field. As late at 1970, it was planted in 30 acres (12 ha) of winter wheat. It was purchased as a buffer for the prairie. With little assistance, the field has begun to revert to native prairie.[4] Prairie maintenance is dependent upon a natural regime of fire, which has been suppressed in this urban area. Therefore, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources has assisted the regeneration by mechanically removing trees, woody brush and implementing 'prescribed fires'. Evidence of the success of the restoration can be seen in the increase in prairie indicator plants and birds:[4]
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Prairie marsh trail
The Prairie Marsh trail is a .25 miles (0.40 km) loop trail that passes through two habitats, a tallgrass prairie and a marsh.
Indicator Species[4]
Savanna trail
The Savanna trail is a .3 miles (0.48 km) loop trail from the eastern edge of the Marsh trail.
Indicator Species[4]
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See also
References
- ^ a b c Hoosier Prairie, The Nature Conservancy
- ^ "National Natural Landmark: Hoosier Prairie". National Park Service. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Guide to Indiana Preserves, The Nature Conservancy, Indiana University Press; Bloomington, Indiana; 2006
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Hoosier Prairie; Division of Nature Preserves, Indianapolis, IN; undated, obtained in 2010-July