Fire in North American Tallgrass Prairies

Fire in North American Tallgrass Prairies

Author: Scott L. Collins

Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press

Published: 1990

Total Pages: 198

ISBN-13: 9780806123158

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Based on papers presented at a 1987 symposium, "Fire in North American Grasslands," cosponsored by the Ecological Society of America and the Botanical Society of America, this book represents an important contribution to key unanswered questions concerning the role of fire in grassland ecosystems: How often did fires occur in the past? Were they primarily natural or caused by humans? At what time of year did grasslands normally burn? How should fire be used as a management tool? What constitutes a proper prescribed burning regime both with and without grazing?


Book Synopsis Fire in North American Tallgrass Prairies by : Scott L. Collins

Download or read book Fire in North American Tallgrass Prairies written by Scott L. Collins and published by University of Oklahoma Press. This book was released on 1990 with total page 198 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Based on papers presented at a 1987 symposium, "Fire in North American Grasslands," cosponsored by the Ecological Society of America and the Botanical Society of America, this book represents an important contribution to key unanswered questions concerning the role of fire in grassland ecosystems: How often did fires occur in the past? Were they primarily natural or caused by humans? At what time of year did grasslands normally burn? How should fire be used as a management tool? What constitutes a proper prescribed burning regime both with and without grazing?


The Great Plains

The Great Plains

Author: Stephen J. Pyne

Publisher: University of Arizona Press

Published: 2017-05-09

Total Pages: 230

ISBN-13: 0816536163

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Early descriptions of the Great Plains often focus on a vast, grassy expanse that was either burnt or burning. The scene continued to burn until the land was plowed under or grazed away and broken by innumerable roads and towns. Yet, where the original landscape has persisted, so has fire, and where people have sought to restore something of that original setting, they have had to reinstate fire. This has required the persistence or creation of a fire culture, which in turn inspired schools of science and art that make the Great Plains today a regional hearth for American fire. Volume 5 of To the Last Smoke introduces a region that once lay at the geographic heart of American fire, and today promises to reclaim something of that heritage. After all these years, the Great Plains continue to bear witness to how fires can shape contemporary life, and vice versa. In this collection of essays, Stephen J. Pyne explores how this once most regularly and widely burned province of North America, composed of various subregions and peoples, has been shaped by the flames contained within it and what fire, both tame and feral, might mean for the future of its landscapes. Included in this volume: How wildland and rural fire have changed from the 19th century to the 21st century How fire is managed in the nation’s historic tallgrass prairies, from Texas to South Dakota, from Illinois to Nebraska How fire connects with other themes of Great Plains life and culture How and why Texas has returned to the national narrative of landscape fire


Book Synopsis The Great Plains by : Stephen J. Pyne

Download or read book The Great Plains written by Stephen J. Pyne and published by University of Arizona Press. This book was released on 2017-05-09 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Early descriptions of the Great Plains often focus on a vast, grassy expanse that was either burnt or burning. The scene continued to burn until the land was plowed under or grazed away and broken by innumerable roads and towns. Yet, where the original landscape has persisted, so has fire, and where people have sought to restore something of that original setting, they have had to reinstate fire. This has required the persistence or creation of a fire culture, which in turn inspired schools of science and art that make the Great Plains today a regional hearth for American fire. Volume 5 of To the Last Smoke introduces a region that once lay at the geographic heart of American fire, and today promises to reclaim something of that heritage. After all these years, the Great Plains continue to bear witness to how fires can shape contemporary life, and vice versa. In this collection of essays, Stephen J. Pyne explores how this once most regularly and widely burned province of North America, composed of various subregions and peoples, has been shaped by the flames contained within it and what fire, both tame and feral, might mean for the future of its landscapes. Included in this volume: How wildland and rural fire have changed from the 19th century to the 21st century How fire is managed in the nation’s historic tallgrass prairies, from Texas to South Dakota, from Illinois to Nebraska How fire connects with other themes of Great Plains life and culture How and why Texas has returned to the national narrative of landscape fire


Prairie Fire

Prairie Fire

Author: Julie Courtwright

Publisher: University Press of Kansas

Published: 2023-01-13

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 0700635130

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Prairie fires have always been a spectacular and dangerous part of the Great Plains. Nineteenth-century settlers sometimes lost their lives to uncontrolled blazes, and today ranchers such as those in the Flint Hills of Kansas manage the grasslands through controlled burning. Even small fires, overlooked by history, changed lives-destroyed someone's property, threatened someone's safety, or simply made someone's breath catch because of their astounding beauty. Julie Courtwright, who was born and raised in the tallgrass prairie of Butler County, Kansas, knows prairie fires well. In this first comprehensive environmental history of her subject, Courtwright vividly recounts how fire-setting it, fighting it, watching it, fearing it-has bound Plains people to each other and to the prairies themselves for centuries. She traces the history of both natural and intentional fires from Native American practices to the current use of controlled burns as an effective land management tool, along the way sharing the personal accounts of people whose lives have been touched by fire. The book ranges from Texas to the Dakotas and from the 1500s to modern times. It tells how Native Americans learned how to replicate the effects of natural lightning fires, thus maintaining the prairie ecosystem. Native peoples fired the prairie to aid in the hunt, and also as a weapon in war. White settlers learned from them that burns renewed the grasslands for grazing; but as more towns developed, settlers began to suppress fires-now viewed as a threat to their property and safety. Fire suppression had as dramatic an environmental impact as fire application. Suppression allowed the growth of water-wasting trees and caused a thick growth of old grass to build up over time, creating a dangerous environment for accidental fires. Courtwright calls on a wide range of sources: diary entries and oral histories from survivors, colorful newspaper accounts, military weather records, and artifacts of popular culture from Gene Autry stories to country song lyrics to Little House on the Prairie. Through this multiplicity of voices, she shows us how prairie fires have always been a significant part of the Great Plains experience-and how each fire that burned across the prairies over hundreds of years is part of someone's life story. By unfolding these personal narratives while looking at the bigger environmental picture, Courtwright blends poetic prose with careful scholarship to fashion a thoughtful paean to prairie fire. It will enlighten environmental and Western historians and renew a sense of wonder in the people of the Plains.


Book Synopsis Prairie Fire by : Julie Courtwright

Download or read book Prairie Fire written by Julie Courtwright and published by University Press of Kansas. This book was released on 2023-01-13 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Prairie fires have always been a spectacular and dangerous part of the Great Plains. Nineteenth-century settlers sometimes lost their lives to uncontrolled blazes, and today ranchers such as those in the Flint Hills of Kansas manage the grasslands through controlled burning. Even small fires, overlooked by history, changed lives-destroyed someone's property, threatened someone's safety, or simply made someone's breath catch because of their astounding beauty. Julie Courtwright, who was born and raised in the tallgrass prairie of Butler County, Kansas, knows prairie fires well. In this first comprehensive environmental history of her subject, Courtwright vividly recounts how fire-setting it, fighting it, watching it, fearing it-has bound Plains people to each other and to the prairies themselves for centuries. She traces the history of both natural and intentional fires from Native American practices to the current use of controlled burns as an effective land management tool, along the way sharing the personal accounts of people whose lives have been touched by fire. The book ranges from Texas to the Dakotas and from the 1500s to modern times. It tells how Native Americans learned how to replicate the effects of natural lightning fires, thus maintaining the prairie ecosystem. Native peoples fired the prairie to aid in the hunt, and also as a weapon in war. White settlers learned from them that burns renewed the grasslands for grazing; but as more towns developed, settlers began to suppress fires-now viewed as a threat to their property and safety. Fire suppression had as dramatic an environmental impact as fire application. Suppression allowed the growth of water-wasting trees and caused a thick growth of old grass to build up over time, creating a dangerous environment for accidental fires. Courtwright calls on a wide range of sources: diary entries and oral histories from survivors, colorful newspaper accounts, military weather records, and artifacts of popular culture from Gene Autry stories to country song lyrics to Little House on the Prairie. Through this multiplicity of voices, she shows us how prairie fires have always been a significant part of the Great Plains experience-and how each fire that burned across the prairies over hundreds of years is part of someone's life story. By unfolding these personal narratives while looking at the bigger environmental picture, Courtwright blends poetic prose with careful scholarship to fashion a thoughtful paean to prairie fire. It will enlighten environmental and Western historians and renew a sense of wonder in the people of the Plains.


Fire Ecology and Prescribed Burning in the Great Plains

Fire Ecology and Prescribed Burning in the Great Plains

Author: Henry A. Wright

Publisher:

Published: 1979

Total Pages: 140

ISBN-13:

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Book Synopsis Fire Ecology and Prescribed Burning in the Great Plains by : Henry A. Wright

Download or read book Fire Ecology and Prescribed Burning in the Great Plains written by Henry A. Wright and published by . This book was released on 1979 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Effects of Fire in the Northern Great Plains

Effects of Fire in the Northern Great Plains

Author: Kenneth F. Higgins

Publisher:

Published: 1987

Total Pages: 52

ISBN-13:

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Book Synopsis Effects of Fire in the Northern Great Plains by : Kenneth F. Higgins

Download or read book Effects of Fire in the Northern Great Plains written by Kenneth F. Higgins and published by . This book was released on 1987 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Fire Ecology and Prescribed Burning in the Great Plains

Fire Ecology and Prescribed Burning in the Great Plains

Author: Henry A. Wright

Publisher:

Published: 1980

Total Pages: 60

ISBN-13:

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Historical evidence indicates that fires were prevalent in grasslands. In the past, big prairie fires usually occurred during drought years that followed 1 to 3 years of above-average precipitation, which provided abundant and continuous fuel. Fire frequency probably varied from 5 to 10 years in level-to-rolling topography and from 15 to 30 years in the rougher, dissected topography containing rough breaks and rivers. This paper contains basic ecological information, vegetative descriptions, and fire effects data for the shortgrass, mixed grass, and tallgrass prairies in the southern, central, and northern Great Plains. In the appendix, fire effects data have been tabulated for each species for quick reference. Prescription guides are provided for all major vegetation types where prescribed burning data have been collected. In the shortgrass prairie, grasses do not benefit from prescribed burning, but fire can be used to clean up uprooted brush, kill small juniper, and kill cactus. Prescribed fire has a wider variety of uses in the mixed and tallgrass prairies, particularly if the burns are conducted following winters with above-average precipitation. Major benefits of prescibed burning are to control undesirable shrubs and trees, burn dead debris, increase herbage yields, increase utilization of coarse grasses, increase availability of forage, improve wildlife habitat, and to control exotic, cool-season grasses. Often, several objectives can be achieved simultaneously. Prescribed fire frequency should not be more often than 5 to 8 years in a 20-inch (51-cm) precipitation zone but can be as often as 1 to 3 years in a 35- to 40- inch (89- to 102-cm) precipitation zone. Good soil moisture in the upper 1 ft (0.3 m) of soil is especially important before conducting a prescribed burn if the goal is to increase yield and palatability of forage. If control of shrubs is the primary consideration, such as in juniper country, burning during drought years may have the best long-term effect. To use prescribed fire is not as dangerous as most people think, providing it is done by experienced personnel. We recommed a minimum of 2 years of prescribed burning experience under a range of weather conditions for individuals having major supervisory responsibilities. Moreover, we recommend that supervisors be trained in planning and conducting burns and in evaluating the weather. To achieve a desired effect and for safety, one must have the skill to recognize, and the patience to wait for favorable weather.


Book Synopsis Fire Ecology and Prescribed Burning in the Great Plains by : Henry A. Wright

Download or read book Fire Ecology and Prescribed Burning in the Great Plains written by Henry A. Wright and published by . This book was released on 1980 with total page 60 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Historical evidence indicates that fires were prevalent in grasslands. In the past, big prairie fires usually occurred during drought years that followed 1 to 3 years of above-average precipitation, which provided abundant and continuous fuel. Fire frequency probably varied from 5 to 10 years in level-to-rolling topography and from 15 to 30 years in the rougher, dissected topography containing rough breaks and rivers. This paper contains basic ecological information, vegetative descriptions, and fire effects data for the shortgrass, mixed grass, and tallgrass prairies in the southern, central, and northern Great Plains. In the appendix, fire effects data have been tabulated for each species for quick reference. Prescription guides are provided for all major vegetation types where prescribed burning data have been collected. In the shortgrass prairie, grasses do not benefit from prescribed burning, but fire can be used to clean up uprooted brush, kill small juniper, and kill cactus. Prescribed fire has a wider variety of uses in the mixed and tallgrass prairies, particularly if the burns are conducted following winters with above-average precipitation. Major benefits of prescibed burning are to control undesirable shrubs and trees, burn dead debris, increase herbage yields, increase utilization of coarse grasses, increase availability of forage, improve wildlife habitat, and to control exotic, cool-season grasses. Often, several objectives can be achieved simultaneously. Prescribed fire frequency should not be more often than 5 to 8 years in a 20-inch (51-cm) precipitation zone but can be as often as 1 to 3 years in a 35- to 40- inch (89- to 102-cm) precipitation zone. Good soil moisture in the upper 1 ft (0.3 m) of soil is especially important before conducting a prescribed burn if the goal is to increase yield and palatability of forage. If control of shrubs is the primary consideration, such as in juniper country, burning during drought years may have the best long-term effect. To use prescribed fire is not as dangerous as most people think, providing it is done by experienced personnel. We recommed a minimum of 2 years of prescribed burning experience under a range of weather conditions for individuals having major supervisory responsibilities. Moreover, we recommend that supervisors be trained in planning and conducting burns and in evaluating the weather. To achieve a desired effect and for safety, one must have the skill to recognize, and the patience to wait for favorable weather.


Tallgrass Prairie Restoration in the Midwestern and Eastern United States

Tallgrass Prairie Restoration in the Midwestern and Eastern United States

Author: Harold Gardner

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2010-12-01

Total Pages: 291

ISBN-13: 144197427X

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This work advocates the restoration of the North American tallgrass prairie, which is rapidly disappearing. Historical descriptions of prairie aesthetics are outlined. As we are experiencing a worldwide mixing of plant species, prairie restoration is particularly important. Plants alien to North America do not readily support insect populations, including all animal species higher on the food chain. Prairie restoration methods are described for amateurs, academics, and land managers. Some of the techniques described are growing crops for seed production, times of seed gathering for specific species, facile seed processing for amateurs, land preparation, segregation of seed into its preference for habitat, and required seed treatment for germination. Over 200 species are described that comprise the predominant species found in tallgrass prairie nature preserves, as well as degraded prairies. Some additional plants of especial interest are also described. The appendix tabulates all likely species found on prairies regardless of their scarcity. Safe fire management of prairies is described in detail. Finally, methods of controlling aggressive alien weeds by herbicides are detailed.


Book Synopsis Tallgrass Prairie Restoration in the Midwestern and Eastern United States by : Harold Gardner

Download or read book Tallgrass Prairie Restoration in the Midwestern and Eastern United States written by Harold Gardner and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2010-12-01 with total page 291 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This work advocates the restoration of the North American tallgrass prairie, which is rapidly disappearing. Historical descriptions of prairie aesthetics are outlined. As we are experiencing a worldwide mixing of plant species, prairie restoration is particularly important. Plants alien to North America do not readily support insect populations, including all animal species higher on the food chain. Prairie restoration methods are described for amateurs, academics, and land managers. Some of the techniques described are growing crops for seed production, times of seed gathering for specific species, facile seed processing for amateurs, land preparation, segregation of seed into its preference for habitat, and required seed treatment for germination. Over 200 species are described that comprise the predominant species found in tallgrass prairie nature preserves, as well as degraded prairies. Some additional plants of especial interest are also described. The appendix tabulates all likely species found on prairies regardless of their scarcity. Safe fire management of prairies is described in detail. Finally, methods of controlling aggressive alien weeds by herbicides are detailed.


Annotated Bibliography of Fire Literature Relative to Northern Grasslands in South-central Canada and North-central United States

Annotated Bibliography of Fire Literature Relative to Northern Grasslands in South-central Canada and North-central United States

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 1989

Total Pages: 24

ISBN-13:

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Book Synopsis Annotated Bibliography of Fire Literature Relative to Northern Grasslands in South-central Canada and North-central United States by :

Download or read book Annotated Bibliography of Fire Literature Relative to Northern Grasslands in South-central Canada and North-central United States written by and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Fire in North American Wetland Ecosystems and Fire-wildlife Relations

Fire in North American Wetland Ecosystems and Fire-wildlife Relations

Author: Ronald E. Kirby

Publisher:

Published: 1988

Total Pages: 156

ISBN-13:

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Book Synopsis Fire in North American Wetland Ecosystems and Fire-wildlife Relations by : Ronald E. Kirby

Download or read book Fire in North American Wetland Ecosystems and Fire-wildlife Relations written by Ronald E. Kirby and published by . This book was released on 1988 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Visions of the Tallgrass

Visions of the Tallgrass

Author: James P. Ronda

Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press

Published: 2018-09-13

Total Pages: 181

ISBN-13: 0806164573

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In centuries long past, a vast swath of grassland swept down the center of North America, from Canada’s Prairie Provinces to central Texas. This once-plentiful prairie has now all but disappeared. Humans have grazed, mowed, and plowed the plains, dammed the rivers, and imposed their will on the land and its creatures. Fortunately, some remnants have survived, including the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in northeastern Oklahoma. In this visually stunning volume, wildlife photographer Harvey Payne and historian James P. Ronda offer an intimate look at and into one of America’s Last Great Places. Spanning nearly 40,000 acres in Oklahoma’s Osage County, the Preserve is a living witness to a world that once existed. But the Osage prairie is not a museum or theme park—and it is not frozen in time. Under the stewardship of The Nature Conservancy, which has overseen its restoration, the Preserve lives on as a fully functioning ecosystem. And for twenty-five years, Payne and Ronda have explored these lands, together and in solitude. Rendered here in brilliant color and paired with Ronda’s informative yet deeply personal commentary, Payne’s photographs open our eyes to the ever-changing world of the Tallgrass Preserve. In chapters focused on grass, sky, birds, bison, and fire, Ronda and Payne reveal that the “Big Empty” is, in fact, teeming with life. Through interwoven images and words, Visions of the Tallgrass shows that our nation’s grasslands are sacred ground, a priceless piece of our American past—and future.


Book Synopsis Visions of the Tallgrass by : James P. Ronda

Download or read book Visions of the Tallgrass written by James P. Ronda and published by University of Oklahoma Press. This book was released on 2018-09-13 with total page 181 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In centuries long past, a vast swath of grassland swept down the center of North America, from Canada’s Prairie Provinces to central Texas. This once-plentiful prairie has now all but disappeared. Humans have grazed, mowed, and plowed the plains, dammed the rivers, and imposed their will on the land and its creatures. Fortunately, some remnants have survived, including the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in northeastern Oklahoma. In this visually stunning volume, wildlife photographer Harvey Payne and historian James P. Ronda offer an intimate look at and into one of America’s Last Great Places. Spanning nearly 40,000 acres in Oklahoma’s Osage County, the Preserve is a living witness to a world that once existed. But the Osage prairie is not a museum or theme park—and it is not frozen in time. Under the stewardship of The Nature Conservancy, which has overseen its restoration, the Preserve lives on as a fully functioning ecosystem. And for twenty-five years, Payne and Ronda have explored these lands, together and in solitude. Rendered here in brilliant color and paired with Ronda’s informative yet deeply personal commentary, Payne’s photographs open our eyes to the ever-changing world of the Tallgrass Preserve. In chapters focused on grass, sky, birds, bison, and fire, Ronda and Payne reveal that the “Big Empty” is, in fact, teeming with life. Through interwoven images and words, Visions of the Tallgrass shows that our nation’s grasslands are sacred ground, a priceless piece of our American past—and future.