United States National Grassland
Encyclopedia
National Grasslands are authorized by Title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act. For administrative purposes, they are essentially identical to U.S. National Forests, except that grasslands are areas primarily consisting of prairie
. Like National Forests, National Grasslands may be open for hunting, grazing, mineral extraction, recreation and other uses. Various National Grasslands are typically administered in conjunction with nearby National Forests.
All but three National Grasslands are on or at the edge of the Great Plains
. Those three are in southeastern Idaho
, northeastern California
, and central Oregon
. The three National Grasslands in North Dakota
, together with one in northwestern South Dakota, are administered jointly as the Dakota Prairie Grasslands
. National Grasslands are generally much smaller than National Forests. Whereas a typical National Forest would be about 1000000 acres (4,046.9 km²), a typical Grassland would only be about 100000 acres (404.7 km²). The largest National Grassland, the Little Missouri National Grassland
in North Dakota, covers 1033271 acres (4,182 km²), which is approximately the median
size of a National Forest. As of 30 September 2007, the total area of all 20 National Grasslands was 3843037 acres (15,552 km²).
of the 1930's led to the creation of the Soil Conservation Service in 1933. This and subsequent federal laws paved the way for establishing national grasslands.
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
. Like National Forests, National Grasslands may be open for hunting, grazing, mineral extraction, recreation and other uses. Various National Grasslands are typically administered in conjunction with nearby National Forests.
All but three National Grasslands are on or at the edge of the Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
. Those three are in southeastern Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, northeastern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and central Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. The three National Grasslands in North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, together with one in northwestern South Dakota, are administered jointly as the Dakota Prairie Grasslands
Dakota Prairie Grasslands
The Dakota Prairie Grasslands was formed in 1998. It consists of four Ranger District offices that manage four National Grasslands: the Little Missouri National Grassland, Sheyenne National Grassland and Cedar River National Grassland in North Dakota and the Grand River National Grassland in...
. National Grasslands are generally much smaller than National Forests. Whereas a typical National Forest would be about 1000000 acres (4,046.9 km²), a typical Grassland would only be about 100000 acres (404.7 km²). The largest National Grassland, the Little Missouri National Grassland
Little Missouri National Grassland
Little Missouri National Grassland is a National Grassland located in western North Dakota, USA. At 1,033,271 acres , it is the largest grassland in the country. Enclaved within its borders is Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which is managed by the National Park Service...
in North Dakota, covers 1033271 acres (4,182 km²), which is approximately the median
Median
In probability theory and statistics, a median is described as the numerical value separating the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution, from the lower half. The median of a finite list of numbers can be found by arranging all the observations from lowest value to...
size of a National Forest. As of 30 September 2007, the total area of all 20 National Grasslands was 3843037 acres (15,552 km²).
Dust Bowl
The catastrophic Dust BowlDust Bowl
The Dust Bowl, or the Dirty Thirties, was a period of severe dust storms causing major ecological and agricultural damage to American and Canadian prairie lands from 1930 to 1936...
of the 1930's led to the creation of the Soil Conservation Service in 1933. This and subsequent federal laws paved the way for establishing national grasslands.
List of National Grasslands
- Black Kettle National Grassland -- western OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
on the Great Plains, administered as part of the Cibola National ForestCibola National ForestThe Cibola National Forest is a United States National Forest in western and central New Mexico, USA. The forest also manages four National Grasslands that stretch from northeastern New Mexico eastward into the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma. It is administered by the United States Forest... - Buffalo Gap National GrasslandBuffalo Gap National GrasslandBuffalo Gap National Grassland is a National Grassland located primarily in southwestern South Dakota, United States. It is also the second largest National Grassland. Characteristics of the grasslands include mixed prairie and chalky badlands. The grassland is managed by the U.S. Forest Service...
-- southwestern South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
on the Great Plains, administered as part of the Nebraska-McKelvie National Forests. - Butte Valley National GrasslandButte Valley National GrasslandButte Valley National Grassland is a 18,425 acre United States National Grassland located in northern California. Administered by the United States Forest Service, it is located in northern Siskiyou County, near the Oregon border, between the communities of Dorris and Macdoel along U.S. Highway 97...
-- northern CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, administered as part of Klamath National ForestKlamath National ForestKlamath National Forest is a national forest, in the Klamath Mountains, located in Siskiyou County in northern California, but with a tiny extension into southern Jackson County in Oregon. The forest contains continuous stands of ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine, Douglas fir, red fir, white fir and...
. - Caddo National GrasslandCaddo National GrasslandCaddo National Grassland is a National Grassland in the southern Great Plains, consisting of two separate sections located in northeastern and southeastern Fannin County, Texas, USA. It is a 17,873-acre park that was purchased in the 1930s...
-- north Texas in Fannin CountyFannin County, TexasAs of the census of 2000, there were 31,242 people, 11,105 households, and 7,984 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile . There were 12,887 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile...
, administered with the Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland - Cedar River National GrasslandCedar River National GrasslandCedar River National Grassland is a National Grassland located in Sioux County and Grant County in southern North Dakota, United States. It has a land area of 6,717 acres . The portion in Sioux County lies within the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. Within the grassland are topographic features...
-- southwestern North DakotaNorth DakotaNorth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
on the Great Plains, administered as part of Dakota Prairie Grasslands. - 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...
-- southwestern KansasKansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
on the Great Plains, administered as part of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests - Comanche National GrasslandComanche National GrasslandComanche National Grassland is a National Grassland located in southeastern Colorado, United States. It is the sister grassland of Cimarron National Grassland and contains both prairie grasslands and canyons. It is separated into two sections, each operated by a local ranger district, one of which...
-- southeastern ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
on the Great Plains, administered with the Pike-San Isabel National Forests - Crooked River National GrasslandCrooked River National GrasslandCrooked River National Grassland is a National Grassland located in Jefferson County in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Oregon. It has a land area of 112,357 acres . It contains two National Wild and Scenic Rivers, the Deschutes River and the Crooked River...
-- central OregonOregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in the Deschutes River valley, administered as part of Deschutes-Ochoco National Forests - Curlew National GrasslandCurlew National GrasslandCurlew National Grassland is a National Grassland located in Oneida and Power counties in the state of Idaho, USA. It has a land area of 47,790 acres . The land used to make the grassland was purchased between the years 1934 and 1942. The primary goal of the grassland was to improve soil and...
-- southeastern IdahoIdahoIdaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
in the Curlew Valley, administered with the Caribou-Targhee National ForestCaribou-Targhee National ForestCaribou-Targhee National Forest is located in the states of Idaho and Wyoming, with a small section in Utah in the United States. The forest is broken into several separate sections and extends over . To the east the forest borders Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and... - Grand River National GrasslandGrand River National GrasslandGrand River National Grassland is a National Grassland in northwestern South Dakota, USA. It is named for the Grand River. The North and South forks of the rivers meet in the grassland. It has a land area of 154,783 acres . In descending order of acreage it lies in parts of Perkins, Corson, and...
-- western South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
on the Great Plains, administered as part of the Dakota Prairie Grasslands - Fort Pierre National GrasslandFort Pierre National GrasslandFort Pierre National Grassland is a United States National Grassland in central South Dakota, south of the capital, Pierre. It is primarily a short grass prairie. It has a land area of 115,890 acres . In descending order of acreage it lies in parts of Lyman, Stanley, and Jones counties. Part of the...
-- central South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
on the Great Plains, administered as part of the Nebraska-McKelvie National Forests - Kiowa National GrasslandKiowa National GrasslandKiowa National Grassland is a National Grassland located in New Mexico, USA. The Great Plains grassland includes prairie and part of the Canadian River Canyon.-Sections:...
-- northeastern New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
on the Great Plains, administered as part of the Cibola National Forest - Little Missouri National GrasslandLittle Missouri National GrasslandLittle Missouri National Grassland is a National Grassland located in western North Dakota, USA. At 1,033,271 acres , it is the largest grassland in the country. Enclaved within its borders is Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which is managed by the National Park Service...
-- western North DakotaNorth DakotaNorth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, administered as part of Dakota Prairie Grasslands - Lyndon B. Johnson National GrasslandLyndon B. Johnson National GrasslandLyndon B. Johnson National Grassland is a National Grassland located in the Great Plains of the northern part of the U.S. state of Texas near Decatur and within an hour's drive from Fort Worth. It is primarily used for recreation such as hiking, camping, horseback riding, fishing and hunting...
-- north TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
on the Great Plains, administered with the Caddo National Grassland - McClellan Creek National GrasslandMcClellan Creek National GrasslandMcClellan Creek National Grassland is a National Grassland located in southern Gray County, Texas, USA. It was purchased with the goal of restoring badly eroded land to its natural state. It is now administered under Cibola National Forest. In February 2006, all of McClellan Creek National...
-- Texas PanhandleTexas PanhandleThe Texas Panhandle is a region of the U.S. state of Texas consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. The panhandle is a rectangular area bordered by New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east...
on the Great Plains, administered as part of the Cibola National ForestCibola National ForestThe Cibola National Forest is a United States National Forest in western and central New Mexico, USA. The forest also manages four National Grasslands that stretch from northeastern New Mexico eastward into the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma. It is administered by the United States Forest... - Oglala National GrasslandOglala National GrasslandThe Oglala National Grassland is a United States National Grassland in the northwest corner of Nebraska. It is in northern Sioux and northwestern Dawes counties, on the borders with South Dakota and Wyoming...
-- northwestern NebraskaNebraskaNebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
on the Great Plains, administered as part of the Nebraska-McKelvie National Forests - Pawnee National GrasslandPawnee National GrasslandPawnee National Grassland is a United States National Grassland located in northeastern Colorado on the Colorado Eastern Plains. The grassland is located in the South Platte River basin in remote northern and extreme northeastern Weld County between Greeley and Sterling...
-- northeastern ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
on the Great Plains, administered as part of the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests - Rita Blanca National GrasslandRita Blanca National GrasslandRita Blanca National Grassland is a National Grassland located in northern Dallam County, Texas, in the Texas Panhandle, and in southern Cimarron County, Oklahoma, in the western Oklahoma Panhandle, USA. It is not one solid block of government owned land but rather several small blocks of...
-- northwestern TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in the Texas PanhandleTexas PanhandleThe Texas Panhandle is a region of the U.S. state of Texas consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. The panhandle is a rectangular area bordered by New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east...
and western OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
on the Great PlainsGreat PlainsThe Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
, administered as part of the Cibola National Forest - Sheyenne National Grassland -- southeastern North DakotaNorth DakotaNorth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, administered as part of Dakota Prairie Grasslands. - Thunder Basin National GrasslandThunder Basin National GrasslandThe Thunder Basin National Grassland is located in northeastern Wyoming in the Powder River Basin between the Big Horn Mountains and the Black Hills. The Grassland ranges in elevation from feet to and the climate is semi-arid. The Grassland provides opportunities for recreation, including hiking,...
-- eastern WyomingWyomingWyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
on the Great Plains, administered as part of the Routt-Medicine Bow National Forests
See also
- GrasslandGrasslandGrasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
- PrairiePrairiePrairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
- Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublandsTemperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublandsTemperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands is a terrestrial biome whose predominant vegetation consists of grasses and/or shrubs. The climate is temperate and semi-arid to semi-humid....
- List of U.S. National Forests