The Red Hills region, located in
south-central Kansas and known locally as the Gyp Hills because of the exposed deposits of
gypsum, is blessed with beautiful vistas, a rich and highly diverse plant and wildlife
community, and a fascinating history
 .
This area is dominated by a mixed-grass and
sand-sage prairie ecosystem that is dissected by spring-fed streams which meander though
the red-tainted canyons and hills and eventually flow into the Medicine and Salt Fork of
the Arkansas Rivers.
 The
region is ecologically important because it is Kansas’ second largest, in-tact tract
of native prairie (second only to the Flint Hills), and is home to a number of declining
wildlife species which require large, unfragmented tracts of native prairie. The lesser
prairie-chicken, who’s numbers have dropped almost 90% since the 1800's, is just one
of the species the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is working to conserve in the
area.
The
Red Hills region is cattle country, and the majority of the land area is comprised of
privately owned ranches. Along with these ranches comes a rich and colorful ranching
history and a strong land stewardship ethic. In 1999, the ranchers love for their land led
to the creation of locally driven, non-profit organization called the Comanche Pool
Prairie Resource Foundation. This group of five ranchers has been the driving force toward
habitat conservation with in the Red Hills. It is because of these ranchers' strong land
ethic and others like them in the community that the Service has been able to improve
habitat for grassland species in the area.
Livestock watering solar unit in
the Red Hills Focus Area.
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