With funding from our Partners for Wildlife grant, most of the large invasive trees and shrubs that had overtaken the prairie were cleared. A tree shearer was used to remove large cedars, sumac, dogwoods and hedge trees. Mowing was also used to beat back other invasive species and give native plants the opportunity to flourish. The results from that initial clearing were dramatic. Tall, graceful grasses and an abundance of colorful wildflowers replaced cedar trees, large stands of dogwood trees and patches of sumac. We were starting to see the impact of what even a small amount of restoration work could accomplish.

Large brush piles were stacked from the mature trees that had been cleared by the tree shearer. The brush piles provided good habitat for rabbits, rodents, quail and other wildlife, but burning them would allow native plants to flourish in those areas. With the assistance of friends and neighbors, we burned off as many of the large piles as we could during the winter months of 2001-2002. There are many piles remaining that will be disposed of in future burns. In the meantime, they continue to provide refuge for wildlife.

The first prescribed burn of our prairie took place. Private Land Conservationist, Nick Prough, prepared a burn plan and led a team of Conservation agents and Fish and Wildlife personnel in an effort to burn off as much of the prairie as possible. Unfortunately, due to some rainfall in the week prior to our burn, results were not as dramatic as we had hoped. However, many areas of the prairie did get a good scorching, and we noticed a renewed vigor in native plants growing on those areas the following spring. Each step in the restoration process provided us with encouraging signs that our work was having a positive effect on the plant life of our prairie.

The second prescribed burn of the prairie was conducted. The burn was only moderately successful, due to high humidity and areas of dense plant growth. By now we had learned that a successful burn depends on a number of variables, only a few of which can be controlled by people. Weather is of course, the most critical, and will determine the ultimate success or failure of a burn. The restoration process of a prairie demands patience and determination on the part of those involved. Even though the fire did not go as well as we had hoped, we were rewarded the following spring with thriving populations of native plants.

On the advice of Larry Rizzo, we mowed areas with dense stands of sumac, to prepare for the fall burn. We mowed those areas again in August, to make sure that the fire would be able to move through without dying out. A fire line was also mowed continuously throughout the summer months, in order to provide a protective border around the prairie that would prevent the spread of fire beyond the perimeter.

The third and most successful of our prescribed burns was conducted. Despite being postponed twice due to weather, the day of this burn provided ideal conditions for the fire. A steady wind fed flames that moved briskly across the prairie. We are eagerly anticipating the spring blooming season of 2005, which should be spectacular given the success of this latest burn.

In an effort to expand the prairie, approximately eight acres northeast of the original boundary were burned. With the assistance of friends and family, including members of the Missouri Prairie Foundation, Missouri Native Plant Society, and a Missouri Department of Conservation agent, the burn was carried out successfully. Weather conditions cooperated perfectly, with a southwest breeze at about 13 miles per hour and low humidity levels. A frost earlier in the month had killed off green vegetation. The frost-killed plants then dried out in mild November temperatures, providing ideal fuel for the fire. We are excited about the success of this burn, and anxious to see results this spring in new growth on that particular field. Seeds previously harvested from the prairie were sown in January. The field already has a high level of diversity, but we’re hoping it will be stimulated to produce even greater numbers of native plants due to this burn and subsequent seed sowing. We are of course, tremendously grateful to all of the volunteers who showed up to help with this project.

Missouri Department of Conservation biologists, Larry Rizzo and Deb Burns, helped us obtain a grant from the 2007 Endangered Species Walk/Run event. With money from that grant, we were able to hire a contractor to bring in large equipment and do a mowing of the entire prairie. Tree sprouts, shrubs and invasive plants had grown beyond what our small tractor could handle. At one time, buffalo, deer and elk would have taken care of invasive, fast growing species on South Fork Prairie by grazing. Since we can no longer rely on those animals to do the job, we must use mechanical means to control the spread of aggressive plants and keep them from overtaking the prairie.