Sand Prairie

Definition

Detailed Community Description from Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin

General natural community overview

Sand prairie is a dry native grassland community dominated by grasses such as little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), June grass (Koeleria macrantha), panic grasses (Dichanthelium spp.), and poverty-oat grass (Danthonia spicata). Common herbaceous associates include sand cress (Arabidopsis lyrata), wormwood (Artemisia campestris), western ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya), several sedges (e.g., Carex muhlenbergii, Cyperus filiculmis, and Cyperus schweinitzii), flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata), frostweed (Crocanthemum spp.), round-headed bush-clover (Lespedeza capitata), western sunflower (Helianthus occidentalis), false-heather (Hudsonia tomentosa), long-beard hawkweed (Hieracium longipilum), stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida), and spiderwort (Tradescantia ohioensis). Drought-adapted fungi, lichens, and mosses are significant components of sand prairie communities.

At least some stands classified as sand prairie are oak or pine barrens remnants that now lack appreciable woody cover. Extensive stands may have occurred historically on broad sand terraces bordering the Mississippi, Wisconsin, Black, and Chippewa Rivers. Sand prairies may be more prevalent now in some areas than in historical times. Failed attempts to farm many of these prairies created blowouts and may have even reactivated small dunes when the prairie sod was removed.

Rare animals

Species of Greatest Conservation Need

The following Species of Greatest Conservation Need are listed according to their level of association with the Sand Prairie natural community type, based on the findings in Wisconsin's 2015 Wildlife Action Plan.

Scores: 3 = high association, 2 = moderate association, and 1 = low association. See the key to association scores for complete definitions.

Please see Section 2. Approach and Methods of the Wildlife Action Plan to learn how this information was developed.

Rare plants

The Natural Heritage Inventory has developed scores indicating the degree to which each of Wisconsin's rare plant species is associated with a particular natural community or ecological landscape. This information is similar to that found in the Wildlife Action Plan for animals. As this is a work in progress, we welcome your suggestions and feedback.

Landscapes

The following Ecological Landscapes have the best opportunities to manage for Sand Prairie, based on the Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin Handbook.

Major (3 on map)
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 (2 on map)
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 (1 on map)
The natural community occurs in the Ecological Landscape, but better management opportunities appear to exist in other parts of the state.

Threats/Actions

What are conservation actions?

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the WWAP because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.

Threats/issues and conservations actions for natural communities

Considerations

The following are additional considerations for Sand Prairie in Ecological Landscapes with opportunities for protection, restoration, and/or management. For more information, see the Wildlife Action Plan.

Central Sand Hills

The few sites documented are small and isolated. Grazing has been, and is, a problem, as is the planting of conifers. Additional survey work is desirable in this Ecological Landscape to identify high quality sand prairie remnants.

Central Sand Plains

Limited restoration is occurring on public lands such as Dike 17 State Wildlife Area within the Black River State Forest (Jackson County), Sandhill State Wildlife Area (Wood County), and Mirror Lake State Park (Sauk County). At these sites, the restoration of sand prairie is occurring in conjunction with efforts to restore oak and pine barrens communities.

Western Coulee and Ridges

Opportunities to manage or restore this type exist on the broad sand terraces of the Mississippi, Wisconsin, Chippewa, and Black Rivers. Conversion to pine plantations has occurred at many locations. Farming was attempted at some locations and generally failed. Residential development is rapidly encroaching on sand prairie habitat near urban population centers. Restoration is occurring at the following sites: Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area (Buffalo, Dunn, and Pepin Counties), Dunnville Wildlife Area (Dunn County), Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge (Trempealeau County), Fort McCoy Military reservation (Monroe County), Blue River Sand Barrens and Dunes State Natural Area (Iowa County), Schluckebier Sand Prairie (Sauk County), Lone Rock Sand Prairie, and Spring Green Preserve.

Western Prairie

Opportunities are limited and appear to be confined to terraces or steep bluffs associated with the St. Croix River and its major tributaries. Additional survey work is needed to document the sites with the highest conservation value.

Photos

Click to view a larger version. Please considering donating your photos to the Natural Heritage Conservation Program for educational uses. Photo use

Sand Prairie Photos

Note: photos are provided to illustrate various examples of natural community types. A single photograph cannot represent the range of variability inherent in a given community type. Some of these photos explicitly illustrate unusual and distinctive community variants. The community photo galleries are a work in progress that we will expand and improve in the future.