Original lowland tallgrass prairie is extremely rare, only a few examples of original lowland prairie exist today. A glimpse of innate lowland prairie, also referred to as bottomlands, is expressed in “Reminiscences of Cedar Creek from 1864-75” (Sayre, C.A., Chase County Historical Sketches, Vol. 1, Chase County Historical Society):

"There was no ground broken and I well remember when I was a boy, the bluestem grass in the bottoms grew up to my shoulders on a pony."

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is committed to restoring approximately 500 acres of smooth brome fields within the Fox Creek riparian area to native vegetation that once grew here. The restoration strategy will include the use of cultural practices (fire, haying, and grazing), herbicides, and seeding and planting of native grasses and wildflowers.

After years of planning, this year launched the actual native prairie seed planting of 30 acres of lowland prairie around the bottomland interpretive trail. This trail is open to the public for seeing and experiencing this reconstruction of a tallgrass prairie.

To reach the goal of replanting approximately 500 acres, the prairie reconstruction will be done in stages adding new acreage each year. This approach will provide viewing of restoration in various stages. Continue to return to this page to see the progression of the prairie restoration.

Early stages of prairie restoration in the Bottomland Trail area.		Northern view in the Bottomland Trail area under prairie restoration work.
	Cardinal flower thrives in the moist bottomland.