Friends of Nachusa Grasslands
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Geology of Nachusa Grasslands, Part 3

Karst Terrane: What It Is, Why It Is Here, and Why It Is Important to Nachusa Grasslands
Part 3: Why
It Is Important

What role has karst terrane played in the establishment and expansion of Nachusa Grasslands? Arguably a major one. Some might even say it is the most significant factor. Others would argue that the presence of the Upland Sandpiper inspired conservationists' interest in the site.
 
Actually, both are partially correct. The Upland Sandpiper is an inhabitant of native prairies, and northern Illinois is part of its summer breeding range. Nachusa Grasslands exists, in part, because bird enthusiasts Dot and Doug Wade were out for a drive in the country sometime in the 1970s and heard the call of an Upland Sandpiper (photo, description, habitat map, and voice recording).
 
The Wades knew that the Upland Sandpiper preferred open prairies and discovered that the sandy knolls being used for cattle grazing were covered with prairie plants. They soon became aware of just how diverse the landscape was.
What they found in what is now Nachusa Grasslands was typical karst terrane: sandstone outcrops, seeps and springs, sedge meadows, fens, oak savannas, and sinkholes. And this is the reason the land was pasture and not plowed fields, suitable for neither crops nor buildings.
Hence, the Wades, along with Tim Keller, spent the next decade promoting preservation of this unique ecosystem, as they worked to convince farmers to fence off the knobs to prevent further degradation of the prairie remnants.

Later, the Illinois Natural Area Inventory, the Illinois Department of Resources, The Natural Land Institute, and, ultimately, The Nature Conservancy became involved in the project. Owned by The Nature Conservancy since 1986, Nachusa Grasslands has now grown to 3,800 acres, much of it karst terrane.

Geology of Nachusa Grasslands, Part 1
Geology of Nachusa Grasslands, Part 2

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8772 S. Lowden Road  (mailing address)            
2075 Lowden Road (Visitor Center)           
Franklin Grove, IL 61031

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  • Home
  • About Friends
    • Mission, Leadership, Objectives, and Financials
    • Friends Annual Meeting 2024
    • Endowments
    • Heritage Heroes Initiative
    • Friends Annual Reports
    • Newsletters >
      • PrairiE–Update (email)
      • A Prairie Calling (print and digital)
    • Commenting Policy
  • Plan Your Visit
    • Hours & Parking
    • Directions and Map
    • Visitor Center
    • Pet Policy
    • Public Bison Tours
    • Bison Viewing
    • Hiking >
      • Hiking Guidelines
      • Hiking Destinations
      • Guided Hikes
      • Stone Barn Savanna Tour
      • Visitor Center Trail
      • Scavenger Hunt
    • Autumn on the Prairie >
      • Yearly Festival
    • What's In Bloom?
    • Exploring Nachusa Grasslands on Your Own
    • Things to Do
    • Places to Eat and Stay
    • Local Sites to Visit and Explore
  • Donate
  • Calendar
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Thursday and Saturday Workdays >
      • Workday Signup
      • Workdays – November to February
      • Volunteer Workday Safety Protocols
      • Leader Workday Safety Protocols
      • Steward Workday Tips
    • Workday Email List
    • Volunteer Recognition
    • Docents
  • Stewardship
    • Nachusa Stewardship
    • Restorations
    • Planting Histories >
      • Stewardship Unit Planting Histories
      • Planting Histories in Chronological Order
    • Weed Reports
    • Native plant resources
    • Volunteer Stewards
    • Groups and Committees
    • Available Units
    • Controlled Burns
    • Prescribed Fire Recruitment
    • Restoration Publications
    • Stewardship Resources >
      • Seed Collection Guides
      • Invasive Plant Management
      • Invasive Identification
      • Monitoring
      • Resource Links
  • Science
    • Science at Nachusa Grasslands
    • Science Symposium 2025
    • 2025 Science Symposium Abstracts
    • Science Grants >
      • Science Grants 2025
      • Science Grants 2021 to 2024 >
        • Science Grants 2024
        • Science Grants 2023
        • Science Grants 2022
        • Science Grants 2021
      • Science Grants 2016 to 2020 >
        • Science Grants 2020
        • Science Grants 2019
        • Science Grants 2018
        • Science Grants 2017
        • Science Grants 2016
      • Science Grants 2011 to 2015 >
        • Science Grants 2015
        • Science Grants 2014
        • Science Grants 2013/2012/2011
    • Potential Research Topics
    • Scientific Publications
    • Anderson Science Award
    • Science Videos
    • Become a Community Scientist >
      • About Community Scientists
      • Butterfly Monitoring
      • Calling Frog Monitoring
      • Dragonflies & Damselflies
      • RiverWatch
  • About Nachusa
    • General Info
    • Nachusa Staff
    • Prairie Smoke Annual Reports
    • Plant Inventory >
      • Common Names
      • Genus Species
    • Animal Inventory >
      • Amphibians
      • Birds
      • Bison Bison >
        • Bison
        • Bison Babies Broadcast Videos
      • Fish
      • Insects
      • Mammals
      • Other Arthropods
      • Reptiles
    • History
    • Jobs
    • Hunting
    • Geology >
      • Geology Part 1
      • Geology Part 2
      • Geology Part 3
    • Websites of Interest
  • Teacher Resources
    • K-2nd grades
    • 3rd-5th grades
    • 6th-8th grades
    • High School
  • BLOG AND MEDIA
    • Nachusa Blog
    • In The News
    • Photo Gallery >
      • Spring Photos
      • Summer Photos
      • Autumn Photos
      • Winter Photos
    • Videos
  • Contact Us / FAQs