Conserving a Prairie
This is a tale of a rare bird, a magnificent prairie, an inspiring conservationist, and a community education project.
When you drive into the mountains up Dead Indian Memorial Road from Ashland, there is a vista much beloved—the winding road begins to straighten as it reaches a plateau, Howard Prairie, and suddenly, on the left, a stunning view of Mt. McLoughlin over rich green prairie. This is the place. A place where the very rare Oregon Vesper Sparrow, in the process of being petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act, still breeds in the grasslands. A place where the critically threatened Klamath Mardon skipper butterfly visits its host plant, a native bunchgrass. A place where camas bloom in vibrant profusion and Sandhill Cranes raise young.
Vesper Sparrow singing in the rain. Photo by Frank Lospalluto.
Volunteers working with Vesper Meadow Education and Restoration Program. Photo by Linda Thomas.
Not long ago, a local community member, Cory Ross, decided to purchase this 324-acre property for conservation. And then she did. Recently, Cory signed a conservation easement held by SOLC that allows thoughtful residential and educational use, but restricts subdivision, clearcutting, and destruction of the prairie. We have been working with Cory, Vesper Meadow Education Program Creator Jeanine Moy (www.vespermeadow.org), and other partners to finalize a management plan to help enhance and care for the land into the future.
Cory Ross working on the land. Photo by Jeanine Moy.
Vesper Meadow Education Program Creator Jeanine Moy. Photo by Travis Toll Photography.
This is also a place where the community is invited to celebrate art, Indigenous ways of knowing, community science, and human-powered habitat restoration during special events. Cory teamed up with Jeanine with the mission of inspiring a culture of land stewardship and nature connection.
Cory explained her motivation:
“I have been very fortunate in life, and welcome this chance to give back and make a difference. As global climate change increases stress, this can be a place to build community, heal people and the land, while expanding scientific and educational access to a unique and special environment. Conserving this land is an opportunity to share my gratitude in a constructive way, and SOLC and Jeanine Moy are the professionals to bring this dream to life. I thoroughly enjoy the process, it is a win-win all around!”
We are forever grateful to Cory for proactively conserving a gorgeous bit of prairie in the Rogue Basin.
