Grasslands

Vast grasslands once covered much of North America. Settlement, agriculture, and development have reduced prairie habitats to a patchwork of isolated grasslands in a sea of croplands, roads, and cities. Loss of these grasslands is detrimental to people as well as to wildlife.

Grasslands help reduce soil erosion caused by wind and water. They also filter chemicals, thus protecting our water supplies. Vegetation, such as grass, forbs, and shrubs, helps trap snow and rain. This allows a more regulated flow of precipitation to seep into the ground, recharging water supplies.

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service