Nebraskans have always considered the Sandhills one of the state’s jewels.
Now, a study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has highlighted the importance of this gem.
Work by UNL researchers Dirac Twidwell and Rheinhardt Scholtz concluded that the Sandhills are the largest intact temperate grassland on Earth.
That probably comes as a surprise to some because the Sandhills aren’t well known outside of the state, Twidwell said.
“Although the Sandhills are recognized here, they have not gained the international recognition of other grasslands,” he said.
The duo’s research revealed that the Sandhills are among seven large-scale grasslands of any type that remain mostly untouched. Another is in the Wyoming Basin, two more in Asia, and one in Africa, South America, and Australia.
Of these, the Sandhills is the only region that does not have an internationally focused conservation strategy, he said. This may be because the region lies entirely within one state and country and does not overlap with borders requiring international cooperation.
The Sandhills in northwest and north-central Nebraska cover about a quarter of the state and more than 90% of the land is privately owned.
One of the groups already working to protect the area is the rancher-led non-profit Sandhills Task Force. The organization’s goal is to promote profitable farming alongside conservation, said Shelly Kelly, executive director.
Kelly said the key to success in the Sandhills is collaboration between ranchers and conservation organizations.
“Because we are ranchers, we have trust and credibility,” she said. “We have built partnerships.”
His group and UNL researchers have identified the same major threat to the Sandhills: invasive eastern red cedars.
“It’s our number one threat,” Kelly said.
Seedy conifers, often planted as windbreaks, spread quickly. Eradicating them takes a major effort, year after year, Kelly said.
UNL research distinguishes between types of grassland-like regions based on climate and vegetation.
The Serengeti in Africa, for example, is bigger than the Sandhills, but it’s savannah, not grassland, Twidwell said. The Serengeti is naturally home to trees, but trees are not a natural part of the Sandhills landscape.
Likewise, there are shrubby desert grasslands that are more pristine than the Sandhills, but they are not found in a temperate climate, Twidwell said.
Photos: Nebraska National Monuments
Pony Express National Historic Trail
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Don Parmenter, left, of Gering and Casey Debus of Morrill wait momentarily at Scotts Bluff National Monument while the mochila transfers horses. In 2008, the two riders participated in a revival of the Pony Express that started in Sacramento, California and ended in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Willow Island Pony Express Station
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The Willow Island Pony Express station is in a city park in Cozad, Neb. First used as a trading post, the station also served as a coach stop for the Central Overland California and the Pikes Peak Express Company. The cabin was originally built on a bank of the Platte River, south of present-day Darr, Neb., and moved here in 1938.
Pony Express National Historic Trail and Oregon National Historic Trail
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Markers south of exit 231 on Interstate 80 between Lexington and Cozad point to sites near the Willow Island Pony Express station, left, and the Oregon Trail.
Ash Hollow State Historic Park
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Trail runners descend the Oregon Trail at Ash Hollow State Historic Park during the Convergence on Sacred Ground event in 2017. In its entirety, the Oregon Trail spanned more than 2 000 miles and traversed six states, in which landmarks, settlements, wagon ruts and other traces can still be seen today.
Oregon National Historic Trail
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The Oregon Trail Wagon Train passes over a bed of white “plains bee balm” on the first day of a four-day hike. Once a popular tourist attraction, attendees were able to experience a bit of what the pioneer journey on the prairie near Chimney Rock was like.
Scotts Bluff National Monument
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For Native American tribes and pioneers traveling west, Chimney Rock, now a National Historic Site near Bayard, was the first of two important markers along the Oregon, Mormon and California Trails in Nebraska Panhandle. The unique geological formation, as well as the landmark Scotts Bluff National Monument, less than thirty miles away, appear mentioned in the writings of many early settlers.
Scotts Bluff National Monument
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Evening light and storm clouds create a scenic backdrop for the prairie landscape at Scotts Bluff National Monument. The monument celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.
Homestead National Monument of America
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The Homestead Act of 1862 offered an incentive, in the form of 160 acres of free land, to pioneers moving west. The Homestead National Monument commemorates this historic event, housing an extensive collection of farm artifacts and offering interactive exhibits documenting the lives of early settlers. Here you will find a 1945 Allis Chalmers Model C tractor, used in Alaska on the last farm in the country.
Homestead National Monument Heritage Center
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The sky above the Homestead Heritage Center at Homestead National Monument is illuminated by a lunar eclipse on January 31, 2018, seen through the center window. The open prairie and clear skies have made the site popular for stargazing and storytelling, as well as daytime astronomy programs.
Mormon Pioneers National Historic Trail
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The Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail traces the path of early Mormon settlers from Illinois, through Iowa and Nebraska, to Wyoming and Utah. Two notable camping areas — Winter quarters in North Omaha and Kanesville at Council Bluffs — served as vital stops along the way.
Mormon Pioneers National Historic Trail
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Amber Lutke, left, and Russ Leger lead a wagon train down Pioneer Trail toward the Iowa School for the Deaf’s Grand Encampment in Council Bluffs. The event marked the 170th anniversary since Mormons left Nauvoo, Illinois to camp in what is now Council Bluffs and North Omaha.
California National Historic Trail
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Council Bluffs Trail Leader and Wagonmaster Dave McKeag prepares to lead the Gold Rush Days 150th Anniversary Wagon Ride to California. The ride started from the Western Historic Trail Center in Council Bluffs and included an overnight stop in Omaha.
Missouri National Recreational River
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The Missouri River, as seen from the Chief Standing Bear Bridge connecting Nebraska and South Dakota, near Niobrara on the Lewis & Clark Trail. Two segments of the river, totaling just over one hundred miles, make up Missouri’s National Recreational River.
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
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The Lewis and Clark replica keelboat from The Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, Missouri sails up the Missouri River opposite downtown Omaha. As part of the 200th anniversary celebration of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, re-enactors followed the expedition’s original route up the river, stopping at several towns along the way.
Niobrara National Scenic River
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Rapids draw visitors to the Rocky Ford area of the Niobrara River. Only a fraction of river segments in the United States can be designated as part of the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System – the 76-mile stretch near Valentine qualifies as a free-flowing segment with an accessible undeveloped shoreline and clean or managed water. Rocky Ford, a popular take-out site for canoes and float tours, is privately owned, but past negotiations have considered turning it over to the federal government to ensure continued public access.
Niobrara National Scenic River
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Members of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Animal Club take canoes and kayaks down the Niobrara River.
Niobrara National Scenic River
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The Niobrara National Scenic River is also home to nationally and regionally significant geology, fossil sites and wildlife. Various species of plants and animals, including elk, can be found at Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge.
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
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This block of fossils was collected from the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument and is housed at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. It contains bones from several different groups of animals, including chalicotheres, giant pigs, oreodonts, cats, and dogs. Most of the bones, however, are from Menoceras, a pony-sized rhinoceros.
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
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Sunset shadows at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument.
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