Sand_Hills_of_Nebraska

The Sandhills of Nebraska have an important part in sustaining the states agriculture success. The Sandhills lay in the West central part of the state and covers an area of 19,600 square miles, the Sandhills of Nebraska are the largest sand dune formation in America (Fish and Wildlife, n.d.). The Sandhills are a vital tool for the farmers and ranchers throughout Nebraska, providing grazing land to cattle and feeding the water table that farmers use to irrigate their crops. The sand dunes that make up the Sandhills were formed by blowing wind. The dunes are now covered with a thick deeply rooted prairie grass, rendering the dunes immobile. A core sample from the one study indicated that there were two episodes of stream blockage by dunes, one just prior to 12,000 years and another just prior to 6,000 years ago, showing that the dunes were active as recent as 6,000 years ago (Loope and Swinehart, 2000). Over 720 different species of plants call the Sandhills home. The Sandhills are also home to over 314 animal species, including mule deer, coyotes, red fox, meadowlarks, wild turkey, native bat species, and many fish species (Answers website, 2010). Also the Sand Hill Crane uses the area near the Platte River during the migration season. Staying just over night on the way south during the fall migration, and a couple of weeks to refuel on the way north in the spring. With limited area that is conducive to raising crops, has preserved the biodiversity of the Sandhills. The small lakes that lie between the sand dunes are connected to the Ogallala aquifer. The Sand Hills' thousands of ponds and lakes replenish the Ogallala Aquifer, which feeds creeks and rivers such as the Niobrara and Loup rivers. These bodies of water are homes for many species of fish including rare Sandhill Shiners, a type of minnow found only here. The lakes are mainly sandy-bottomed and provide water for the region's cattle, as well as a habitat for aquatic species. (Answers website, 2010) The lakes gather rain water which is fed into the aquifer. The Ogallala aquifer is the main water source that is used by the majority of the farmers in the state. The underground reservoir is part of the Ogallala aquifer and contains an estimated 700-800 million acre-feet of groundwater, nearly double the amount of water stored in Lake Erie. The aquifer makes it possible for the farmers to irrigate the crops during a drought. Without the hundreds of small lakes between the sand dunes farmers would have to rely on other sources of water that are not easily and readily available. The lakes also provide water that is evaporated raising local humidity that is returned back to the dunes in the form of rain keeping the vegetation watered even during times of drought. Almost 95% of the Sandhills have been utilized as grazing land for cattle by local ranchers. Early ranchers learned about the fragile nature of the Sandhills and the inextricable connection between conserving the region’s grasslands and economic viability. Sandhill ranchers were one of the first groups to widely accept the use of planned rotational grazing systems, a technique that is widely accepted as being the most sustainable for grazing and compatible for biological diversity conservation. (Nebraska Natural Legacy Project, 1991) In 1991 the state formed an organization to manage the Sandhills. This board was aptly named the Sandhills Task Force. Members of the board consist of a representative from each county that the Sandhills exist in, the Nebraska Cattlemen, and U. S. Fish and Wildlife. In total there are 16 members of this non-profit organization. Its goal is to enhance the natural resources in the Sandhills by supporting wildlife and profitable ranching (Nebraska Natural Legacy Project, 1991). The Sand hills offer a wonderful pristine area for recreation. Visitors to the area can take a covered wagon ride like the pioneers did over a hundred and sixty years ago. Visitors can participate in an old fashion cattle drive sleeping out under the stars in the Sand hills and eating the same meals cowboys of old enjoyed. There is river rafting down the Niobrara or perhaps a lazy tube ride for those faint of heart. All these activities have been made possible by the conservation efforts of the citizen of Nebraska. The multitude of vegetation and wildlife has benefitted immensely from the smart and responsible stewardship of the land by Nebraska farmers. With the determined and continued efforts of the ranchers and members of the Sandhills Taskforce, future conservation and preservation efforts will ensure that the natural resources of the Sandhills of Nebraska are available to humans and wildlife alike. References Answers website. (2010). Sand Hills. Retrieved April 19, 2010 from, http://www.answers.com/topic/sand-hills Loope, D. and Swinehart, J. (2000). Thinking Like a Dune Field: Geologic History in the Nebraska Sand Hills. Retrieved April 19, 2010 from, http://digitalcommons.unl. edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi'article=1483&context=greatplainsresearch Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. (1991). Nebraska Natural Legacy Project. Retrieved April 19, 2010 from, http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/wildlife/programs/legacy/