LUVERNE - Under gray skies and large dancing snowflakes, world-renowned nature and wildlife photographer - and Luverne native - Jim Brandenburg welcomed several groups of media and guests to Touch The Sky Prairie early Friday afternoon as part of activities surrounding the Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener.
Brandenburg, in between trips to Canada and Europe, was on hand to share the story of the prairie reconstruction at Touch The Sky, which now boasts approximately 1,100 acres.
A collaborative project between the Brandenburg Prairie Foundation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the prairie was dedicated in 2001. It’s an example of the North American Tallgrass Prairie landscape that continues to decline. Just one-half of 1 percent of tallgrass prairie lands remain in existence.
Brandenburg said he’s most proud of the partnership established with USFWS, which manages Touch The Sky and other prairie remnants it has acquired over the years. He also gave a nod to the Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce, which houses the Brandenburg Gallery in Luverne - a source of funding for the foundation.
“Without the landowners, this doesn’t work,” Brandenburg said, acknowledging the purchase of land from Bob and Barb Loosbrock that became the original portion of Touch The Sky Prairie.
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The prairie now serves as an example of cooperation and preservation, and leads to education for those who visit.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife District Manager Todd Luke, who joined Brandenburg in speaking during the trio of media tours, said Touch The Sky is helping to show the public the importance of native prairie while bringing to life prairie species that have long been dormant.
Luke said native prairies can boast more than 800 species of grasses and wildflowers.
“Diversity is critical for grassland habitat,” Luke said, noting that at least 60 species are now considered endangered because of the loss of tall grass prairie in North America.
Calling native prairies living museums of natural history, Luke said the goal of USFWS is to conserve and protect the 77,000 acres - scattered remnants - that remain across western Minnesota and northwest Iowa, and continue to expand prairie reconstructions in the region.
It’s a slow process.
Recently, the USFWS acquired 60 acres for prairie reconstruction near Jasper, and is working to acquire another 165 acres east of Luverne near the Champepedan Creek.
“We’re excited about that,” Luke said, adding that state legacy act dollars are being used to pay for the acquisition, which should be finalized in November. “It’s critical habitat.”
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As the USFWS works to reconstruct these prairie remnants, it’s also opening up some of these lands to livestock producers for limited periods of grazing.
The emphasis is on limited grazing. Hoofed animals can do as much good on prairie - if not more - than the burns that have been used to benefit prairies for years.
Touch The Sky, before it was reconstructed, was grazing land, although heavily grazed.
“It looked like a golf course with a long history of grazing,” Brandenburg said of the site when it was purchased in 2001.
Luke said just 18 native grass and forb species were found on the land when it was first purchased. Today, he said nearly 200 different species have been documented by USFWS staff - including five endangered species, the Western Fringed Prairie Orchid among them.
“For 50, 80, 100 years, the Western Fringed Prairie Orchid laid dormant here,” he noted.
In addition to plant species, Luke said he’s heard a report of burrowing owls seen at Touch The Sky, and he’s hopeful to see a return of prairie chickens some day.
“This area was pretty much void of prairie chickens,” Luke said. “We hope to see more of them here. They were gone for many decades.
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“I think there’s exciting discoveries still coming out here,” he added.
Those discoveries don’t just pertain to habitat.
Brandenburg said one of the most exciting thing he’s found are signs that point to Touch The Sky once being a prominent spiritual site. The land is in the path between Pipestone and Blood Run, located southeast of Sioux Falls, S.D.
“There’s about 30 different things here - like little altars,” Brandenburg said.
Touch The Sky Prairie is open to the public year-round. There is a small parking area, adjacent to an informational kiosk, and a mowed walking path leading through the prairie landscape. It can be found at 1023 171st St., Luverne.
