It's the largest relatively intact tall grass prairie left in the US. And it's importance literally lies in the fact it IS the largest intact prairie. There are "prairie areas" in other states but those are arks, not big enough to support the full ecosystem. The Flint Hills is big enough.
And it's absolutely stunning. Mile after mile of rolling hills, carpeted by Big Bluestem, Buffalo Grass, waving as the wind brushes along their tops like a sea of green.
Down at the base of the hills waterways and water collection points, out of the wind, support a wide range of brush and shrubs.
Creeks run joyously along, creating stands of Cottonwoods and River Birches along their banks.
Occasionally forming ponds or even small lakes.
Fire is part of the ecosystem. Recycling nutrients back into the soil for future generations. The plant and animal species have evolved to coexist with it.
The plants have also evolved to be heavily grazed by herds of Buffalo with thousands upon thousands of members.
So its good to see them reintroduced, even in pitiful numbers.
(That's not me. (Thank god for Google®.))
Richard Whetsell, the father of a highschool friend, was the last foreman of Boots Adam's ranch and was involved in creating the The Tall Grass Prairie Reserve from that ranch and possibly other property. Frank Phillips, founder of Phillips Petroleum, had an estate near Bartlesville, Phillips headquarters until recently. On that estate he had bison and pronghorn antelope. At one time those bison were among the few herds that survived. It would be most fitting were the bison now on The Tall Grass Prairie Reserve to be partly descended from those animals. As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
