Big Basin Prairie Preserve
Encyclopedia
The Big Basin Prairie Preserve is a 1818 acre (7.36 km²; 2.84 sq mi) nature preserve owned and managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
. The preserve is in the Red Hills near Ashland
in Clark County, Kansas
. The main features are St. Jacob's Well, a water-filled sinkhole
which lies in the Little Basin, and the Big Basin, a lush mile-wide crater-like depression, also resulting from a sinkhole. The area is stocked with buffalo
and is open to the public.
The Big Basin is transected by U.S. Route 283
and U.S. Route 160
which run together for a short ways. The portion of the basin west of the highway is privately owned. The property was acquired in 1974 from The Nature Conservancy
which made operation as a nature preserve a condition of the sale. In December 1978, the preserve was designated as a National Natural Landmark
and was added to the National Registry of Natural Landmarks.
in the fall of 1878. The area was not occupied, and perhaps not even generally known, by white settlers at that time.
Willard D. Johnson of the United States Geological Survey visited Big Basin at the turn of the century and published the following account in 1901:
“The effort to preserve the land now known as the Big Basin Prairie Preserve began in 1972, when an interested Clark County citizen, Mrs. C.G. (Janie) Stein formed the Big Basin Foundation, Inc., and contacted and worked closely with numerous agencies, Congressional Representatives, and individuals over several years.” Janie M. Stein, daughter of Mrs. C.G. Stein.
The purchase of the land was encouraged and facilitated through the work of Mrs. C.G. (Janie) Stein of Ashland Kansas. She formed The Big Basin Foundation in the early 70's to work with local landowners and The Nature Conservancy to encourage setting this land aside to preserve the bison and pronghorn. Her son John Paul Stein wrote a song about his mother's involvement in this project. Unfortunately she has not received the recognition due her except for family and local lore. We're currently working to flush out this portion of the history. Please review the attached letter as a first reference.
The Big Basin Foundation letter to Senator Ross Doyen, Chair of the Kansas Senate Ways and Means Committee[4] Feb 2, 1975
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Page 1 Big Basin Foundation Letter
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Page 2 Big Basin Foundation Letter
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is a state cabinet-level agency led by a Secretary of Wildlife and Parks appointed by the Governor of Kansas. The Office of the Secretary is located in Topeka, the state capital of Kansas...
. The preserve is in the Red Hills near Ashland
Ashland, Kansas
Ashland is the largest city in and the county seat of Clark County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 867.-History:...
in Clark County, Kansas
Clark County, Kansas
Clark County is a county located in Southwest Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 2,215...
. The main features are St. Jacob's Well, a water-filled sinkhole
Sinkhole
A sinkhole, also known as a sink, shake hole, swallow hole, swallet, doline or cenote, is a natural depression or hole in the Earth's surface caused by karst processes — the chemical dissolution of carbonate rocks or suffosion processes for example in sandstone...
which lies in the Little Basin, and the Big Basin, a lush mile-wide crater-like depression, also resulting from a sinkhole. The area is stocked with buffalo
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
and is open to the public.
The Big Basin is transected by U.S. Route 283
U.S. Route 283
U.S. Route 283 is a spur of U.S. Route 83. It currently runs for 731 miles from Brady, Texas at U.S. Route 87 to Lexington, Nebraska at U.S. Route 30. It passes through the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska.-Texas:...
and U.S. Route 160
U.S. Route 160
U.S. Route 160 is a 1,465 mile long east–west United States highway in the Midwestern United States. The western terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 89 five miles west of Tuba City, Arizona. The eastern terminus is at U.S...
which run together for a short ways. The portion of the basin west of the highway is privately owned. The property was acquired in 1974 from The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
which made operation as a nature preserve a condition of the sale. In December 1978, the preserve was designated as a National Natural Landmark
National Natural Landmark
The National Natural Landmark program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in...
and was added to the National Registry of Natural Landmarks.
History
The area was one of the locations where the Northern Cheyenne camped and rested during the Northern Cheyenne ExodusNorthern Cheyenne Exodus
The Northern Cheyenne Exodus, also known as Dull Knife's Raid, the Cheyenne War, or the Cheyenne Campaign, was the attempt of the Northern Cheyenne to return to the north, after being placed on the Southern Cheyenne reservation in the Indian Territory, and the United States Army operations to stop...
in the fall of 1878. The area was not occupied, and perhaps not even generally known, by white settlers at that time.
Willard D. Johnson of the United States Geological Survey visited Big Basin at the turn of the century and published the following account in 1901:
“The effort to preserve the land now known as the Big Basin Prairie Preserve began in 1972, when an interested Clark County citizen, Mrs. C.G. (Janie) Stein formed the Big Basin Foundation, Inc., and contacted and worked closely with numerous agencies, Congressional Representatives, and individuals over several years.” Janie M. Stein, daughter of Mrs. C.G. Stein.
The purchase of the land was encouraged and facilitated through the work of Mrs. C.G. (Janie) Stein of Ashland Kansas. She formed The Big Basin Foundation in the early 70's to work with local landowners and The Nature Conservancy to encourage setting this land aside to preserve the bison and pronghorn. Her son John Paul Stein wrote a song about his mother's involvement in this project. Unfortunately she has not received the recognition due her except for family and local lore. We're currently working to flush out this portion of the history. Please review the attached letter as a first reference.
The Big Basin Foundation letter to Senator Ross Doyen, Chair of the Kansas Senate Ways and Means Committee[4] Feb 2, 1975
Photo0010.bmp
Page 1 Big Basin Foundation Letter
Photo0011.bmp
Page 2 Big Basin Foundation Letter
See also
- Konza PrairieKonza PrairieThe Konza Prairie Biological Station is a 3,487-hectare preserve of native tallgrass prairie in the Flint Hills of northeastern Kansas. It is located south of Manhattan, Kansas and its southern boundary parallels Interstate 70...
- Tallgrass Prairie National PreserveTallgrass Prairie National PreserveTallgrass Prairie National Preserve is a United States National Preserve located in the Flint Hills region of Kansas, north of Strong City. The preserve protects a nationally significant example of the once vast tallgrass prairie ecosystem...
- Flint HillsFlint HillsThe Flint Hills, historically known as Bluestem Pastures or Blue Stem Hills, are a band of hills in eastern Kansas stretching into north-central Oklahoma, extending from Marshall County, Kansas and Washington County, Kansas in the north to Cowley County, Kansas and Osage County, Oklahoma in the south...
- Cimarron National GrasslandCimarron National GrasslandCimarron National Grassland is a National Grassland located in Morton County, Kansas, United States, with a very small part extending eastward into Stevens County. Cimarron National Grassland is located near Comanche National Grassland which is across the border in Colorado...