Faville Prairie
| Faville Prairie State Natural Area | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Jefferson County, Wisconsin |
| Nearest city | Lake Mills |
| Area | 92 acres |
| Established | 1952 |
| Governing body | University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Faville Prairie is a prairie and protected state natural area in the town of Milford, in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. It is owned by the University of Wisconsin-Madison,[1][2] and is managed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum.[2]
History
[edit]Interest in the ecological importance of Faville Prairie began no later than the 1930s, with famed conservationist and UW-Madison professor Aldo Leopold arguing for its protection in 1938.[3] The prairie was donated to UW-Madison in 1945,[2] and was designated a state natural area by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in 1952, becoming only the third site added to the program.[1][2] An additional 35 acres were purchased and added to the preserve in 1976.[3]
Ecology
[edit]Situated on the western bank of the Crawfish River, Faville Prairie is one of few remnants of the once-large Crawfish Prairie.[1] Grass species include big bluestem, as well as Indian grass and bluejoint.[1] Other plant species present include sedges and forbs, such as compass plant, sunflowers, mountain mint, and northern bedstraw.[1] A 2008 flood altered the composition of the plant community.[2] Changes in hydrology over time have allowed woodier species to encroach into the prairie, enabled by drier conditions.[1]
Management and public access
[edit]Faville Prairie is currently closed to the public.[4] Management includes the removal of invasive species such as buckthorn, willow, aspen, and sweet clover.[2] Periodically, controlled fires are performed to reduce the risk of wildfire.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f "Faville Prairie | No. 3". dnr.wisconsin.gov. Wisconsin DNR. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Outlying Properties". arboretum.wisc.edu. UW Arboretum. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ^ a b McCabe, Robert A. (1978). "The Stoughton Faville Prairie Preserve: Some Historical Aspects". Transactions of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. LXVI: 25.
- ^ Hansen, Michael. "Faville Prairie Brush Mowing Project". University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum.