Prairie Restoration

Clinton Lake is located in an area once classified as true prairie, with tall and mid-grasses predominant. The land surrounding Clinton Lake is characteristic of the Kansas Agricultural Region with gently rolling hills, which have been farmed or grazed and cleared of timber. Extensive agricultural practices have broken up the large expanses of native grasses, and the agrarian uses have placed the soil into crop production. Invasion by woody plants has replaced much of the native prairie.

The western edge of the oak-hickory climax forest and the eastern edge of the Great Plains come together near Clinton Lake. With the western edge of the Ozarks not far to the east, it did not require much interference from man to allow encroachment of woody vegetation to further degrade the spans of native prairie.

Reestablishing native vegetation on Public Land is a long-term goal of the Clinton Lake Corps of Engineers’ Natural Resource Management program. Long term is an understatement. There is much more than the initial planting of trees, grasses, and forbs (wildflowers) to reestablish forest, savannas, and prairies. Climate, soils and prescribed burning (planned fires) will sort out the plants over time. Poorly adapted plants will die out. Well-adapted plants that are in the general area but not planted on the specific spot will seed themselves in to take their proper place.

The Kansas Fish and Game Commission (now Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks) and the Kansas State Extension Forestry Service have reintroduced prairie grasses at Clinton Lake and management practices have been implemented which favor the propagation of these grass species. These practices will be accomplished in a manner that will not destroy the desirable woody species that now provide an equally valuable niche in the habitat surrounding Clinton Lake.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks manages approximately 9,190 acres of wildlife lands, around Clinton Lake, for wildlife management purposes. KDWP leases land for agricultural purposes with the stipulation that food, cover and habitat diversity are provided for wildlife. These lands are always available for recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking and sightseeing.

The majority of planned prairie restoration has already taken place at Clinton Lake and maintenance, through use of controlled burns, haying, etc., will be the main focus.