Prairie Rescue 2004

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When Lewis and Clark first saw Iowa 200 years ago, prairie covered 80 percent of the state. Today 99.9 percent of that original prairie is now gone. Iowa's remaining prairie fragments are at risk because natural management techniques like prairie wildfires or grazing bison are pretty much gone. Consequently, these remaining prairies require human intervention to keep them healthy--and the Statewide Prairie Rescue is your chance to help. This is a great opportunity for adults and kids to experience the prairies Iowa's earlier generations saw--while preserving that experience for future generations.

Volunteer activities vary according to the site. Most sites are looking for volunteers to clear invading brush and trees from Iowa's prairie remnants. Some offer prairie planting. A few events also include managed prairie burns (weather permitting) that the public can watch. No matter which event you attend, on-site experts will provide guidance and prairie education.

Links to 2004 Prairie Rescue Sites
 Western Iowa Prairie Rescue Locations (and dates)
Preparation Canyon State Park (4/17)
Loess Hills State Forest Overlook (4/17)
Stone State Park (4/17)
Waterman Prairie Area (4/24)
Folsom Point Preserve (4/17)
Vincent Bluffs Preserve (4/18)
Lake Anita State Park (4/17)

 Central Iowa Prairie Rescue Locations (and dates)
Ames High Prairie State Preserve (2/21, 2/28, 3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 3/27, 4/24)
Big Creek State Park (4/24)
Stephens State Forest (4/17)
Rolling Thunder Prairie State Preserve (4/24)
Ringgold County Prairie Chicken Day (4/17)
Rock Creek State Park (4/24, 5/1)
McRae Park (4/24)
Marietta Sand Prairie Preserve (4/24)
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge (4/17)
Ledges State Park (5/15)

Eastern Iowa Prairie Rescue Locations: (and dates)
F.W. Kent Park (4/24)
Volga River State Recreation Area (4/24)
Cedar Bluffs State Preserve (4/24)
Hayden Prairie State Preserve (5/1)
Mines of Spain Recreation Area (5/1)
Iowa River Corridor (5/1)

View the statewide 2004 Prairie Rescue press release.

For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, Director of Communications, or call (515) 288-1846.