Restoration – Land Between the Lakes

26 Apr 2017

Help Protect Resources

Natural Resource Management, Restoration, Roads, StewardshipKentucky, land between the lakes, native grasses, Paradise sale, rehabilitation, tennessee, timber sale

The Paradise Timber Sale near Forest Service Road 113 is coming to a close. Loggers have removed their equipment and have begun to restore roads accessing open lands to their pre-sale condition. As part of their contractual obligations, the logging company will install water diversion structures, plant wildlife-friendly native seed mixes, and mulch where needed along access roads impacted by the sale. If you drive along Forest Service Road 113, you will find barricades in place. We are asking you to refrain from driving or walking through these sensitive areas so native grasses can begin to grow. Thank you for your cooperation. John Westbrook Environmental…

31 Oct 2016

By LBL_Admin

Open lands-Helping Wildlife Survive

Field Guide, Fire, Hunting, Natural Resource Management, Plants, Recreation, Restoration, Stewardship, Wildlifefire, Forest Service, habitat, Kentucky, land between the lakes, openlands, partners, prescribed burning, species, tennessee, wildlife

Dear friends, As part of our Land and Resource Management Plan, we designated approximately 10,600 acres as open lands. This acreage specifically supports insects, game animals, grassland type birds, and mammals through open lands management. Managing open lands involves keeping desired vegetation in an early stage of growth. We do this by cultivating and planting our wildlife plantings and cropland areas. We maintain grassland type habitat primarily by mowing, disking, prescribed fire and herbicide applications. These open land types provide food and shelter for hundreds of species at Land Between the Lakes. Since the turn of the 21st Century, natural…

06 May 2016

By LBL_Admin

Tree Planting at the Elk and Bison Prairie

Elk & Bison Prairie, Field Guide, Natural Resource Management, Plants, Restoration, Stewardshipbison, elk, habitat, Kentucky, land between the lakes, natural resources, planting, prairie, tennessee, trees

Submitted by Yvonne Helton, Silviculturist We recently planted approximately 1500 shortleaf pine and 70 Bur Oak seedlings within the perimeter of the Elk & Bison Prairie. We chose areas where pine mortality occurred and staff burned off debris piles. So why did we plant Shortleaf Pine? We value fire tolerant traits such as its ability to re-sprout and natural resistance to fire scar rot. Shortleaf Pine also produces frequent cone crops. These attributes suit the Elk & Bison Prairie perfectly. Shortleaf Pine may also create a more diverse habitat. We observed declines of Virginia Pine in the Elk & Bison…

30 Mar 2016

By LBL_Admin

Buffalo Trail Prescribed Fire

Environmental Education, Fire, Hunting, Natural Resource Management, Recreation, Restoration, Stewardship, Wildlifeburn, fire, habitat, Kentucky, land between the lakes, land management, prescribed, resource management, tennessee, wildlife

After a four-month delay, conditions were just right on Monday, March 28 for us to begin our prescribed burn. A moderate East to West wind gently blew into the forest and across the open lands. Humidity, temperature, and atmospheric conditions in the target area were optimal. The Bison Trail was our burn block for the day. Dozens of Forest Service employees, students, and volunteers from multiple organizations and agencies gathered at Land Between the Lakes’ well-equipped fire cache for a briefing. Leadership, old and new, laid out the plan. If everything went well, we would set alight almost 2,530 acres of the burn…

16 Dec 2015

By LBL_Admin

How many acres of grasslands, barrens, savannas, and woodlands?

Elk & Bison Prairie, Natural Resource Management, Questions from the Public, Restoration, Stewardship, Wildlifegrassland, Kentucky, land between the lakes, natural resource management, Oak-grassland, tennessee, wildlife, woodland

Over time, how many acres of LBL will be converted to the Pre-European landscape plan of grasslands, barrens, savannas and woodlands? Our Land and Resource Management Plan reserves 8,630 acres for oak-grasslands demonstration areas. The 2004 Land and Resource Management Plan for Land Between The Lakes refers to the Pre-European landscape specifically for the Oak Grasslands Restoration Demonstration Areas, the Elk &Bison Praire-700 acres, and the south Bison Range-180 acres. Land Between The Lakes is divided into multiple land uses, including administrative areas, recreation and environmental areas, and natural resource areas. These acres are designated to be managed for a…

15 Dec 2015

By LBL_Admin

Cost for managing an oak-grassland habitat

Elk & Bison Prairie, Funding, Natural Resource Management, Questions from the Public, Restoration, Wildlifehabitat, land management, wildlife

What is the anticipated costs and what is currently budgeted for maintenance of the existing '8600' acres of savanna/grass lands? Accounting data for the costs of this project (8,600)? We project out our costs for programs such as timber and fire then submit a request for funding annually. This is done as one budget item. We do not break it down into such detail. As land managers we take into account our areas that need treatments and plan for those areas several years in advance. You can find more information about where we spend our funds in one of our…

22 Oct 2014

By LBL_Admin

Celebrate National Bat Week!

#FridayEd, Customer Service, Nature Station, Restoration, Wildlife#SavetheBats, bat, conservation, environmental education, home school, National Bat Week, Nature Station, teacher resources, white nose syndrome

By Aviva Yasgur, Woodlands Nature Station Naturalist Help #SavetheBats Bats face many challenges these days -- from habitat loss to a lethal disease called “White-nose Syndrome.” Join us as we become involved in a promising new effort to help them. Join us in the first annual National Bat Week October 26-November 1 People around the country will be celebrating bats, learning about bats, teaching others about the importance of bats, and participating in bat events and programs. And you can be a part of it all. The Organization for Bat Conservation (http://www.batconservation.org/) initiated this big bat bonanza. If you visited…

01 Aug 2014

By LBL_Admin

The Elk & Bison Prairie Story

#FridayEd, Elk & Bison Prairie, History, Plants, Restoration, Stewardship, Wildlife#FridayEducation, bison, education, elk, elk and bison prairie, friday

As adapted from a 1996 Elk & Bison Prairie brochure Many generations of animals and people inhabited this region long before the forming of Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area in 1963. The Elk & Bison Prairie captures the world as it appeared to 18th century hunters. At the time, more than 300 years ago, vast herds of bison and elk blanketed the landscape, creating broad paths in the land as they migrated. Today, we travel many of those same paths—Interstate 24, for example, follows the path of an ancient bison trail. When native peoples used this land as…

01 Jul 2014

By LBL_Admin

Summer in the Elk and Bison Prairie

Customer Service, Elk & Bison Prairie, Plants, Restoration, Stewardship, Wildlifebirds, butterflies, elk and bison prairie, flowers, nature, plants, wildlife

The following is provided by Curtis Fowler, Range Technician at Land Between The Lakes: Sure, the brown fuzzy things are the number one interest to most of the visitors who drive through the Elk and Bison Prairie; however, there are a lot more feathered, crawling, and flowering things in there if you are willing to take the time to slow down and enjoy them too! Remember, when it is hot, the ones wearing the coats like to find shade, so look for the other things that like to show off for visitors regardless of the weather. Enjoy your visit! --Curtis

01 Jul 2014

By LBL_Admin

New Elk Calves at Elk & Bison Prairie

Customer Service, Elk & Bison Prairie, Restoration, Wildlifebabies, calves, cows, elk, elk and bison prairie, prairie

The following is provided by Curtis Fowler, Range Technician at Land Between The Lakes: Here are some more photos of elk calves taken last week at the Elk and Bison Prairie. Some of the calves and their mothers have been exploring in small groups, so calves are occasionally seen in the late evenings. We have confirmed at least 7 different calves so far, but expect that others are out there hiding. We suspect a few others are still to come. Enjoy your visit! --Curtis

Category: Restoration