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Tall grass prairie is the most endangered ecosystem
in Canada. Traditionally covering millions of acres, the tall
grass prairie that remains has been reduced to less than one
twentieth of one percent of its original size. Patches of tall
grass prairie exist as small islands in a sea
of industrial, agricultural and residential
development. Rotary Prairie Nature Park
consists of 8.3 hectares (20.5 acres) of tall
grass prairie. The vegetation is classified
as “wet” tall grass prairie which
distinguishes it from the other “dry” prairie preserves in the city at the Living
Prairie Museum and Little Mountain
Park . Unique plant species to this site include gentians, mountain sneezeweed, whorled milkweed, flat topped
goldenrod, narrow leaved sunflower, mat muhly, scratch grass and sweet grass. Management objectives for the park
are to preserve the site as a weed free tall grass prairie and to provide environmental education, recreation and
research opportunities. A leisurely walk takes about 30 minutes there and back. |
