Northern Mixed-grass Prairie
(Area - 30,270,491 ha)

Executive Summary

 

 

Northern Mixed-grass Prairie Plan
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Northern Mixed-grass Prairie Maps
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Northern Mixed-grass PrairieLocation and physiography - The area includes almost all of the eastern half of South Dakota and central North Dakota from the Red River Valley on the east to the Missouri River and Montana border on the south and west. In Canada, it includes a small portion of southern Manitoba, and a swath that crosses Saskatchewan and extends into Alberta. The southern edge of this physiographic area is the terminus of a glacial moraine now marked by the course of the Missouri River. To the north, prairies give way to the Aspen Parklands. Precipitation declines from east-to-west across the northern plains, resulting in differences in the height of dominant grasses. To the east, the mixed-grass begins as topography rises out of the Tallgrass Prairie of the Red River Valley. In the United States, grass height gradually decreases beyond the western boundary of this physiographic area. Because of the glacial history of the Northern Mixed Grass and the relationship between precipitation and evapotranspiration, the area is dotted with thousands of depressions that range from permanently to periodically wet. This gives the area the name "Prairie Potholes." Internally, the various moraines (termed "coteaus") are particularly rugged and marked by potholes.
Priority Bird Populations and Habitats
Grasslands
PIF Baird's Sparrow
(28, AI=5, PT=3, TB=4; % population -41.6) 		Baird's Sparrow and Sprague's Pipit are two of the highest priority birds in this physiographic area. Both appear to be more dependent on large tracts of native prairie than other species and are uncommon and undergoing population declines. These declines have occurred, however, over a period of time in which prairie breeding conditions have been relatively stable. Both winter on grasslands from the southwest United States south through much of the Mexican Plateau. It is possible that population declines are related to changing conditions on the wintering grounds.
PIF Greater Prairie-Chicken
(27, AI=2, PT=3, TB=4; % population - <1)
PIF McCown's Longspur
(27, AI=3, PT=3, TB=4; % population - ?)
PIF Sprague's Pipit
(26, AI=5, PT=5, TB=3; % population - 29)		 This species is perhaps most tied to native prairie.
PIF LeConte's Sparrow
(23, AI=4, PT=2, TB=4; % population - 16.9)
Wetlands
PIF Yellow Rail
(27, AI=5, PT=3, TB=3; % population - 10?)
PIF Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow
(27, AI=5, PT=1, TB=4; % population - 34.5)
PIF Marbled Godwit
(23, AI=5, PT=2, TB=4; % population - 22.8)
PIF Waterfowl - This physiographic area is the most important breeding region for ducks in the United States.
PIF Shorebirds - Not only do several high priority shorebirds breed in the Northern Mixed Grass Prairie, but huge numbers of more northern breeders pass through during migration. This includes most of the global population of very high priority species such as the Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Hudsonian Godwit.
Riparian woodlands
PIF Bell's Vireo
(23, AI=2, PT=3, TB=4; % population - 1.2)
River sandbars
PIF Piping Plover
(25, AI=2, PT=3, TB=4; % population - ?)

Complete Physiographic Area Priority Scores (Zipped, Dbase5 file 288K)
Key to Abbreviations: AI-Area Importance, PT-Population Trend, TB-Threats to Breeding. Priority Setting Process: General / Detailed

Conservation issues and recommendations - Prior to European settlement, the Northern Mixed Grass was a vast complex of grassland and wetlands, with a woody component on some riparian stretches. This condition was maintained by fire, herbivory (particularly by bison), and periodic drought. European settlers brought agriculture and domestic livestock. However, due to more rugged topography and reduced and less predictable precipitation, this area did not undergo the almost complete conversion to agriculture that occurred in tallgrass prairie regions. Nevertheless, many wetlands were drained and much land converted to crops, particularly on gentler terrain. A great deal of the land remains in native grass. This is used as rangeland for cattle and is still excellent bird habitat. The human population density of this physiographic area is one of the lowest in the contiguous United States.
       The Northern Mixed-Grass Prairie is the heart of the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture (PPJV). Because this area is the core of waterfowl production in the United States, it is the most active and successful delivery unit for the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. The PPJV is committed to conservation of wetland-associated non-game birds. All of the native avifauna thrive in the area's extensive wetland/grassland complexes. Virtually all landscape-level, ecosystem-based habitat strategies that benefit waterfowl also benefit the entire grassland and wetland non-game bird suites. Many of the grassland birds, however, also do well in grassland landscapes deficient in wetlands that are therefore not targeted for conservation by the Joint Venture. Maintenance of large unfragmented grassland ecosystems is the conservation objective for the coteau areas where agriculture is not dominant. On the Drift Prairie and other agricultural areas, conservation of discrete blocks of grassland/wetland complexes is recommended.
 
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Please send comments to:
Greg Butcher, PIF Midwest Regional Coordinator
gregbutcherwi@hotmail.com