The Place

The Flint Hills stretch north to south across east-central Kansas, and down into Oklahoma where they are called the Osage Hills. The Greater Flint Hills landscape is the largest expanse of tall grass prairie remaining in North America; roughly two-thirds of what remains is found here. This ecologically significant landscape takes its name from the flint (chert) that is scattered about in many areas. The underlying chert and associated limestone spared much of the landscape from the plow. While ill-suited to tillage agriculture, the landscape is touted as one of the most productive native grasslands in the World. Since the 1850s, the Flint Hills have fattened transient cattle, first via cattle drives and later by rail. The practice continues today, with yearlings trucked in to graze recently burned pastures in the spring. A common practice is intensive early stocking, with double the cattle for half the grazing season. After cattle are shipped off in July, the land is rested until the following spring when it is burned in preparation for cattle. The compressed burning and grazing schedule lends itself to cooperation among neighbors.

The Issue

Ranching and ecological concerns in the Flint Hills include invasive species (particularly sericea lespedeza); tree encroachment; the fate of grassland birds; incompatible development (e.g., ranchettes and energy development); and continued use of prescribed fire.

The Story

Over a decade ago, a core group of landowners and ranchers who helped establish the Tallgrass Legacy Alliance (TLA) realized that they needed to partner with other stakeholders (agencies and NGOs) to better address threats to the biological, economic and cultural integrity of the Flint Hills. The emerging coalition sought help from other producer-driven initiatives, like the Sand Hills Task Force in Nebraska. There was also a rancher exchange between TLA and the Malpai Borderlands Group, a collaboration formed a few years prior in New Mexico and Arizona. TLA later hired a coordinator and partnered with the Kansas Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI). TLA efforts were also leveraged and combined with organizations from other Kansas native grasslands, including the Red Hills and Smoky Hills.

The Partners

In addition to numerous landowners and livestock operators, TLA includes a broad range of partners, including representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Partner for Fish and Wildlife Program, Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Farm Bureau, The Nature Conservancy, and Kansas Grazing Land Conservation Initiative (GLCI).

The Results

TLA assisted the state health/environmental agency in drafting a smoke management plan that satisfied EPA air quality concerns. This effort helped prevent regulatory burning restrictions that would have been problematic for land managers. TLA continues to engage in resource threats, such as invasives, tree encroachment, and energy development. TLA has addressed declines to grassland birds (especially the greater prairie-chicken) by encouraging bird friendly grazing practices like patch-burn grazing. TLA also initiated a campaign with Kansas State University to fund research on sustainable control of sericea lespedeza. Finally, TLA is sharing lessons learned with other conservation partners.

For More Information

Visit the Tallgrass Legacy Alliance website.