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Neal Smith NWR 2007 Fact Sheet Friends of the Prairie Learning Center National Wildlife Refuge Association Refuge Mailing address: Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge-Prairie Learning Center |
Neal Smith National
Wildlife Refuge
Prairie Learning Center
Contacting the Refuge:
Refuge Manager: Nancy Gilbertson
e-mail: NealSmith@fws.gov or MidwestNews@fws.govP.O. Box 399
Prairie City, IA 50228
Phone: 515-994-3400
Fax: 515-994-3459
TTY: 1-800-877-8339 (Federal Relay)Located 20 miles east of
Des Moines on Highway 163
Refuge Facts
Established: 1991
Acres: 5,366
Authorized to expand to 8,600 acres
Prairie Learning Center opened in 1997
Formerly named Walnut Creek NWR
Financial Impact of Refuge
13-person staff
200,000 visitors annually
FY 2006 Budget: $1.1 million
Highlights
The refuge offers a rare peek at the incredible collection of life we call the tallgrass prairie, of which one-tenth of one percent remains.
Public Use Opportunities
Prairie Learning Center
Environmental education
Hunting
Nature trails
Auto tour route
Hands-on prairie/savanna restoration workshops
Natural History
Rolling tallgrass prairie and oak savannas bisected by Walnut Creek
Habitat for prairie wildlife, rare grasses and flowers, and the endangered Indiana bat
Bison herd reintroduced in 1996
Elk reintroduced in 1998
Refuge Goals
Protect and enhance refuge habitat for endangered species
Restore original tallgrass prairie and rare oak savanna habitat
Protect and enhance habitat for native wildlife
Provide wildlife-dependent recreational and environmental education opportunities for the public
Conduct prairie research
Priorities
With the city of Prairie City, promote “Bringing Prairie and People Together” partnership. We assisted Prairie City in submitting an application for a state transportation enhancement (TEA) grant. The five-phase proposal outlines nearly $600,000 for projects which provide unique opportunities in the community as well as the Refuge.
Develop a Prairie Science Class program in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Education and Prairie City School District, focusing on using the environment as an integrating context for learning. The Refuge will serve as the outdoor classroom for this endeavor and support the specialized curricula.
Enhance and expand 2,500 acres of prairie restoration plantings by an additional 340 acres.
Initiate a Prairie/Savanna Land Management and Research Demonstration program to advance problem solving via land-based research, outreach and communication among land managers in the Midwest
