Cathy Engstrom/INHF

Volunteers help with a controlled prairie burn at Warren County's Rolling Thunder Prairie Preserve.

Located at the heart of the tall-grass prairie region, Iowa's landscape was dominated by prairie when European explorers and settlers arrived. As the land was plowed and drained, its prairie-sustaining fires suppressed, and its native grazing animals removed, Iowa's prairies were slowly lost.

Today, only about 1/1000th of that prairie remains. Equally alarming, these tiny prairie remnants -- even those in public ownership -- are still at risk from encroaching species and the lack of historic fire and grazing patterns. If Iowans want to maintain our natural heritage, we need to help keep our prairies healthy.

That's why a group of conservation partners created the annual statewide Prairie Rescue: a hands-on opportunity for adults and kids to experience the prairies Iowa's earlier generations saw, while preserving that experience for future generations. The 2008 Prairie Rescue includes approximately 15 volunteer rescue events scattered throughout the state. Volunteer activities vary according to the site. Most sites are looking for volunteers to clear invading brush and trees from Iowa's prairie remnants, and some offer prairie planting. A few events include managed prairie burns (weather permitting). No matter which event you attend, on-site experts will provide guidance and prairie education.

Western Iowa
Country Homestead B&B, Monona County (March 22)
Stone State Park, Woodbury County (April 12)
Buck Grove Cemetery Prairie, Crawford County (April 19)

Central Iowa
Brushy Creek State Recreation Area, Webster County (April 18)
Bear Creek Watershed, Story County (April 19)
Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Kossuth County (April 19)
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, Jasper County (April 19)
Kuehn Conservation Area, Dallas County (April 19)
Yellow Banks Park, Polk County (April 20)
Springbrook State Park, Guthrie County (April 26)
Whiterock Conservancy, Guthrie County (April 26)
Hartley Heritage Fen, Jasper County (April 26)
Big Creek State Park, Polk County (May 3)
Springbrook Conservation Education Center, Guthrie County (May 3)

Eastern Iowa
Volga River Recreation Area, Fayette County (April 8)
Breen Prairie, Jones County (April 19)
Cedar Island Wildlife Area, Black Hawk County (April 25)