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- For information on Wisconsin's Ecological Landscapes, contact:
- Andy Stoltman
608-266-9841
Western Prairie Ecological Landscape
Landscape at a Glance
Physical & Biotic Environment | Socioeconomic Conditions | Considerations for Planning & Management
| Physical & Biotic Environment | |
|---|---|
|
Size |
1,090 square miles (697,633 acres), representing 1.9% of the land area of the State of Wisconsin. It is the third smallest Ecological Landscape in the state; however, this Ecological Landscape (like the Northwest Lowlands) is part of a larger ecoregion that extends west into Minnesota. |
|
Climate |
Typical of southern Wisconsin; mean growing season of 145 days, mean annual temperature is 43.7 deg. F, mean annual precipitation is 32.1, and mean annual snowfall is 45.4 inches. The climate and topography was favorable to frequent fires that resulted in prairie vegetation occurring in almost a third of the area prior to Euro-American times. The length of the growing season, adequate precipitation, and favorable temperatures make the climate favorable for agriculture, which is prevalent here. |
|
Bedrock |
Bedrock was deposited during the Paleozoic Era (including the Cambrian and Ordovician Periods), and is dominantly marine sandstone and dolomite. Precambrian igneous and metamorphic bedrock lies below the Paleozoic deposits. The walls of the Apple River Canyon feature exposures of Cambrian sandstone, Cambrian shale, and Cambrian and Ordovician dolomites. Similar exposures occur along the lower Kinnickinnic River, below the city of River Falls. |
|
Geology & Landforms |
The Landscape is entirely glaciated. Major landforms are rolling till plain, with end moraine in the northwest and small areas of outwash. |
|
Soils |
Soils are predominantly formed in loamy till glacial deposits, while some are in outwash. A loess cap of aeolian silt is 6 to 48 inches thick over the surface. The dominant soil is well drained and loamy with a silt loam surface, moderate permeability, and moderate available water capacity. |
|
Hydrology |
The Lower St. Croix River forms the western boundary of this Ecological Landscape (however, note that this Ecological Landscape is part of a larger ecological region, Subsection 222 Md, which extends west into Minnesota). Other important though much smaller rivers include the Apple, Kinnickinnic, and Willow. Most of the rivers drain westward to the St. Croix, with several draining south directly into the Mississippi, and a few flowing southeast to the Chippewa. Inland lakes, mostly seepage lakes and ponds, are most common in the northwestern part of the Landscape, in an area known informally as Wisconsin's "Prairie Pothole Region". There are multiple dams on the Willow River, and the Kinnickinnic has been dammed at River Falls. Many wetlands have been lost or severely altered by agricultural activities, which have been widespread and intensive in this productive Landscape. |
|
Current Landcover |
Almost half of the current land cover is agricultural crops and about one third of the area is grasslands, with smaller amounts of forest. open water, open wetlands, and urban areas. The major forest types are maple-basswood and oak-hickory, with lesser amounts of lowland hardwoods. Native coniferous forests are rare, and are limited to a few tamarack swamps and small scattered stands of pine on steep rocky slopes. |
|
Socioeconomic Conditions
(based on data from St. Croix and Pierce counties) |
|
|---|---|
|
Population |
120,708, 2.2% of the state total |
|
Population Density |
77 persons/ sq. mile |
|
Per Capita Income |
$26,853 |
|
Important Economic Sectors |
Government (14.6%); tourism-related (12.6%); manufacturing (non-wood) (11.6%); and retail trade (10.2%) sectors provided the most jobs in 2007. Agriculture and urban development affect the natural resources of this Ecological Landscape the most. |
|
Public Ownership |
Only three percent of the Western Prairie is in public ownership, much of it associated with the St. Croix, Kinnickinnic, and Willow rivers. Federal lands include the southern end of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and several Federal Waterfowl Production Areas. State-owned lands include Wildlife Areas, Parks, Fishery Areas and Natural Areas. Examples include St. Croix Islands and Cylon Marsh State Wildlife Areas, Kinnickinnic and Willow River State Parks, and Apple River Canyon State Natural Area. A map showing public land ownership (county, state, and federal) and private lands enrolled in the Forest Tax Programs in this Ecological Landscape can be found at the end of this chapter. |
|
Other Notable Ownerships |
The Kinnickinnic River Land Trust has been actively protecting lands in northwestern Pierce County. Several other NGOs have been protecting lands along the St. Croix River, in Polk and St. Croix Counties. Some of these projects have been the result of successful public-private partnerships. |
| Considerations for Planning & Management | |
|---|---|
Agriculture is the dominant land use, but in recent years residential development has increased dramatically in the western part of the Ecological Landscape along and near the St. Croix River. Many new residents commute to the Twin Cities for work. Public lands are limited, making management at large scales difficult. Prairie remnants are few and most are isolated. Where possible, these should be embedded within surrogate grasslands such as Waterfowl Production Areas, Conservation Reserve Program lands, or other open covertypes to meet the needs of wide-ranging grassland wildlife. The lower St. Croix River supports many rare aquatic species, but recreational pressure is high and increasing, and residential development is occurring in most areas not yet protected as part of the National Scenic Riverway. Maintaining or restoring high water quality and protecting instream and adjoining wetland and terrestrial habitats are conservation priorities for this Ecological Landscape. Residents along the Kinnickinnic River in Pierce County have worked together and received grants to restore and manage prairie and savanna remnants, and protect populations of rare species. Similar partnerships have worked in areas along the St. Croix River, and could serve as models for conservation work elsewhere. |
Species
Species of Greatest Conservation Need
The following species are listed according to their probability of occurring in the Western Prairie Ecological Landscape, based on the findings in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan.
| Birds | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Blue-winged Teal | Anas discors | 3 |
| Blue-winged Warbler | Vermivora pinus | 3 |
| Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | 3 |
| Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | 3 |
| Dickcissel | Spiza americana | 3 |
| Eastern Meadowlark | Sturnella magna | 3 |
| Field Sparrow | Spizella pusilla | 3 |
| Grasshopper Sparrow | Ammodramus savannarum | 3 |
| Henslow's Sparrow | Ammodramus henslowii | 3 |
| Least Flycatcher | Empidonax minimus | 3 |
| Loggerhead Shrike | Lanius ludovicianus | 3 |
| Marbled Godwit | Limosa fedoa | 3 |
| Northern Harrier | Circus cyaneus | 3 |
| Prothonotary Warbler | Protonotaria citrea | 3 |
| Red-headed Woodpecker | Melanerpes erythrocephalus | 3 |
| Short-billed Dowitcher | Limnodromus griseus | 3 |
| Trumpeter Swan | Cygnus buccinator | 3 |
| Vesper Sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | 3 |
| Western Meadowlark | Sturnella neglecta | 3 |
| Willow Flycatcher | Empidonax traillii | 3 |
| Wood Thrush | Hylocichla mustelina | 3 |
| American Bittern | Botaurus lentiginosus | 2 |
| American Golden Plover | Pluvialis dominica | 2 |
| American Woodcock | Scolopax minor | 2 |
| Black Tern | Chlidonias niger | 2 |
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper | Tryngites subruficollis | 2 |
| Canvasback | Aythya valisineria | 2 |
| Cerulean Warbler | Dendroica cerulea | 2 |
| Dunlin | Calidris alpina | 2 |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | 2 |
| Hudsonian Godwit | Limosa haemastica | 2 |
| King Rail | Rallus elegans | 2 |
| Le Conte's Sparrow | Ammodramus leconteii | 2 |
| Lesser Scaup | Aythya affinis | 2 |
| Louisiana Waterthrush | Seiurus motacilla | 2 |
| Red-necked Grebe | Podiceps grisegena | 2 |
| Rusty Blackbird | Euphagus carolinus | 2 |
| Short-eared Owl | Asio flammeus | 2 |
| Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | 2 |
| Upland Sandpiper | Bartramia longicauda | 2 |
| Veery | Catharus fuscescens | 2 |
| Acadian Flycatcher | Empidonax virescens | 1 |
| Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | 1 |
| Barn Owl | Tyto alba | 1 |
| Bell's Vireo | Vireo bellii | 1 |
| Black-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | 1 |
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | Dendroica caerulescens | 1 |
| Canada Warbler | Wilsonia canadensis | 1 |
| Golden-winged Warbler | Vermivora chrysoptera | 1 |
| Hooded Warbler | Wilsonia citrina | 1 |
| Horned Grebe | Podiceps auritus | 1 |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | 1 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | 1 |
| Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | 1 |
| Whip-poor-will | Caprimulgus vociferus | 1 |
| Whooping Crane | Grus americana | 1 |
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | 1 |
| Fish | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal Darter | Ammocrypta (Crystallaria) asprella | 3 |
| Blue Sucker | Cycleptus elongatus | 2 |
| Greater Redhorse | Moxostoma valenciennesi | 2 |
| Lake Sturgeon | Acipenser fulvescens | 2 |
| River Redhorse | Moxostoma carinatum | 2 |
| Western Sand Darter | Ammocrypta clara | 2 |
| American Eel | Anguilla rostrata | 1 |
| Black Buffalo | Ictiobus niger | 1 |
| Goldeye | Hiodon alosoides | 1 |
| Paddlefish | Polyodon spathula | 1 |
| Reptiles and Amphibians | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Blanding's Turtle | Emydoidea blandingii | 3 |
| Northern Prairie Skink | Eumeces septentrionalis | 3 |
| Six-lined Racerunner | Cnemidophorus sexlineatus | 3 |
| Timber Rattlesnake | Crotalus horridus | 3 |
| Wood Turtle | Glyptemys insculpta | 3 |
| Mudpuppy | Necturus maculosus | 2 |
| Pickerel Frog | Rana palustris | 2 |
| Yellow-bellied Racer | Coluber constrictor | 2 |
| Bull Snake | Pituophis catenifer | 1 |
| Four-toed Salamander | Hemidactylium scutatum | 1 |
| Mammals | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin's Ground Squirrel | Spermophilus franklinii | 2 |
| Prairie Vole | Microtus ochrogaster | 2 |
| White-tailed Jackrabbit | Lepus townsendii | 2 |
| Eastern Red Bat | Lasiurus borealis | 1 |
| Gray Wolf | Canis lupus | 1 |
| Hoary Bat | Lasiurus cinereus | 1 |
| Northern Long-eared Bat | Myotis septentrionalis | 1 |
| Silver-haired Bat | Lasionycteris noctivagans | 1 |
| Water Shrew | Sorex palustris | 1 |
| Woodland Vole | Microtus pinetorum | 1 |
Community opportunities
Natural community management opportunities
The Western Prairie Ecological Landscape contains opportunities to manage for the following natural communities, based on the findings in the Wildlife Action Plan (originally presented by the Ecosystem Management Team).
| Natural Community Type | Opportunity |
|---|---|
| Coldwater streams | Major |
| Coolwater streams | Major |
| Emergent Marsh | Major |
| Mesic Prairie | Major |
| Surrogate Grasslands | Major |
| Warmwater rivers | Major |
| Warmwater streams | Major |
| Bedrock Glade | Important |
| Cedar Glade | Important |
| Dry Cliff | Important |
| Dry Prairie | Important |
| Dry-mesic Prairie | Important |
| Floodplain Forest | Important |
| Impoundments/Reservoirs | Important |
| Moist Cliff | Important |
| Oak Opening | Important |
| Oak Woodland | Important |
| Sand Prairie | Important |
| Southern Dry-mesic Forest | Important |
| Southern Mesic Forest | Important |
| Submergent Marsh | Important |
| Alder Thicket | Present |
| Emergent Marsh - Wild Rice | Present |
| Ephemeral Pond | Present |
| Inland lakes | Present |
| Northern Dry-mesic Forest | Present |
| Northern Mesic Forest | Present |
| Northern Sedge Meadow | Present |
| Northern Wet Forest | Present |
| Shrub Carr | Present |
| Southern Dry Forest | Present |
| Southern Sedge Meadow | Present |
| Wet Prairie | Present |
Description of Terms Used to Define Opportunities for Protection, Restoration and/or Management of Natural Communities by Ecological Landscapes
Major
A major opportunity for sustaining the natural community in the Ecological Landscape exists, either because many significant occurrences of the natural community have been recorded in the landscape or major restoration activities are likely to be successful maintaining the community's composition, structure, and ecological function over a longer period of time.
Important
Although the natural community does not occur extensively or commonly in the Ecological Landscape, one to several occurrences do occur and are important in sustaining the community in the state. In some cases, important opportunities may exist because the natural community may be restricted to just one or a few Ecological Landscapes within the state and there may be a lack of opportunities elsewhere.
Present
The natural community occurs in the Ecological Landscape, but better management opportunities appear to exist in other parts of the state.
General opportunities
General management opportunities 1
Grassland management at multiple scales is a major opportunity in the Western Prairie. Small, scattered remnants of native prairie exist here along with substantial areas of "surrogate grassland" that now provide increasingly critical habitat for many grassland species, especially birds. The largest grassland management project in this Ecological Landscape is the Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area in St. Croix and Polk counties. By managing at multiple scales, large blocks of surrogate grassland, unplowed prairie pastures, small native prairie remnants on bluffs or within rights-of-way and working agricultural lands can all play key roles in the conservation and restoration of the grassland ecosystem that historically covered most of this ecological landscape. Ponds and lakes border or are embedded within some of the areas with high grassland management potential; these add great value for species that nest near or over water and for migrants that use open wetlands and water.
The Lower St. Croix River supports an exceptionally high diversity of aquatic organisms, including fish, mussels and other invertebrates. Many rare species have been documented here, and several of the mussels are globally rare. The river's floodplain contains good examples of emergent marsh, wet prairie and floodplain forest. The forested slopes of the St. Croix Valley contain rich mesic hardwood forests, dry oak forests and a few stands of natural white pine. Remnant bluff prairies and oak savannas occur on the uppermost slopes above the St. Croix. Migratory bird use of the St. Croix River valley is high, and the river corridor also provides nesting and wintering habitat for many common and rare birds, including species of conservation concern. Protecting the hydrology and water quality of the St. Croix and its tributaries is critical, and assessing areas of high value to birds and other species is an important step in protecting and properly managing the best habitats.
Other important management opportunities include the Kinnickinnic River Corridor; the Apple River Canyon; scattered prairie, savanna and forest remnants (including mesic, dry-mesic and dry forests); coldwater and coolwater streams; and miscellaneous opportunities to protect more isolated populations of rare species and features not covered by the previously mentioned categories.
1. The text presented here is a summarized version of a longer section developed for the Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin Handbook.
Maps
Western Prairie maps
Printable maps from the Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin Handbook. These maps are in PDF format and will open in a new window.
- Finley's Vegetation of the Mid-1800s
- Land Cover of the Mid-1800's
- Landtype Associations (LTAs)
- Public Land Ownership, Easements and Private Land Enrolled in Forest Tax Programs
- Ecologically Significant Places
- Exceptional and Outstanding Resource Waters and 303(d) Degraded Waters (2010 Update)
- Dams
- WISCLAND Land Cover (1992)
- Soil Regions
- Relative Tree Density in the Mid-1800s
- Population Density, Cities, and Transportation
Also see the statewide maps from the Ecological Landscapes Handbook.
LTAs
Western Prairie Landtype Associations
Landtype Associations (LTAs) are units of the National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units (NHFEU), a hierarchical ecological land classification system. LTAs are much smaller than Ecological Landscapes, ranging in size from 10,000 and 300,000 acres. In Wisconsin, they are usually based on glacial features like individual moraines or outwash plains. LTAs can be very useful for planning at finer scales within an Ecological Landscape.
The following are the LTAs associated with the Western Prairie Ecological Landscape. The Western Prairie LTA map [PDF] can be used to locate these LTAs. Clicking on an LTA in the list below will open a data table for that LTA in PDF format. Descriptions are included, where available.
