Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie State Natural Area

Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie State Natural Area
Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie State Natural Area
	Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie
	Location of Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie State Natural Area in Wisconsin Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie State Natural Area (the United States)
Location	Dane, Wisconsin, United States
Coordinates	43°8′23″N 89°46′23″W
Area	16 acres (6.5 ha)
Established	1986

Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie is a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources-designated State Natural Area featuring one of the few remaining dry-mesic prairies in Wisconsin, situated on a low Driftless Area knob and ridge. Despite the prairie's relatively small size, 130 native prairie plant species have been documented on the site. Many of these species are quite showy, including wood lily, shooting star, fringed puccoon, pasque flower, butterfly weed, and compass plant. Several rare species are also found on the site, including pomme-de-prairie, white camas, striped hairstreak, and the state-threatened species rough-stemmed false foxglove (Agalinis gattingeri) and regal fritillary.

The original land-surveyor records for the area indicate presettlement vegetation was treeless prairie. Following settlement in the area, the prairie escaped plowing, although some grazing undoubtedly occurred, and old tractor furrows can still be seen along the top of the ridge. The most recent private owners preserved the prairie for over 40 years. The gradual decline of the prairie over this time, as well as the owners' desire to preserve it, led to the Nature Conservancy's purchase of the prairie in 1986, below market value. Restoration of the prairie soon commenced, and in 2003, management was taken over by the Prairie Enthusiasts, an organization dedicated to preserving and restoring native prairie remnants. Full ownership of the site was transferred to the Prairie Enthusiasts in 2007.[1][2]

Location and access

Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie is located in northwestern Dane County, approximately 1.25 miles (2.01 km) west of Black Earth. A small parking lot dedicated for the site is located along the south side of Fesenfeld Rd., approximately 0.25 miles (0.40 km) west of its intersection with County Highway F. A trail winds through the entire length of the prairie.[3]

Looking southwest, along the southeast side of the ridge
Looking up at the ridge, from the parking lot
Mid-August prairie flowers, along the top of the ridge

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References

"Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie State Natural Area". Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2013-12-01.
"Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie State Natural Area". The Prairie Enthusiasts. Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-12-01.
Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie State Natural Area 210 (PDF) (Map). The Prairie Enthusiasts. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-12-01.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] "Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie State Natural Area". Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2013-12-01.

[2] "Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie State Natural Area". The Prairie Enthusiasts. Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-12-01.

[3] Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie State Natural Area 210 (PDF) (Map). The Prairie Enthusiasts. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-12-01.