Agaski Bluff Deserves to Be Protected
Story by Sarah Barron. Photos by Eric Preston
October 11, 2024
“We just really felt like we needed to protect this place,” says Eric Preston.
Eric, Kim and their son Anders pictured above.
Standing on the steep slope of Agaski Bluff in 2021, Eric Preston and Kim Kreitinger took in picturesque rock outcroppings and a sweeping view of the valley below and considered the opportunity before them. This was a rare bluff prairie with the largest population of State Endangered pale false foxglove (Agalinis skinneriana) in Wisconsin, where it is known to persist in just five locations. Invasive species like honeysuckle, buckthorn and spotted knapweed were moving in fast and pushing out a remnant ecosystem that would soon be lost to neglect. They looked out and pictured a house in the valley and a labor of love restoring this land for the rest of their lives. It was the realization of a long-held dream they shared. They made an offer on the property that night.
As lifelong conservationists and avid volunteers with The Prairie Enthusiasts, Eric and Kim got busy right away, using their knowledge and connections to rally partners, resources and community around their restoration efforts. Their progress has been extraordinary. Agaski Bluff sits on 38 acres where they have cleared cedar, planted prairies, conducted prescribed burns and begun restoring oak woods and savanna.
But as they made progress and saw the land respond, they began to question the impact of building a home on the site. Agaski Bluff is immediately adjacent to The Prairie Enthusiasts 12-acre Swenson Bluffs. It was a difficult, even heartbreaking realization, but they became convinced the best thing would be for The Prairie Enthusiasts to own and manage their land as part of a contiguous 50-acre preserve for generations to come.
More than 140 native plants have been documented at the site, including three State Special Concern species and the State Endangered Agalinis skinneriana that gave Agaski Bluff its name. This is an already diverse ecosystem of native plants, insects, wildlife and birds that will continue to thrive with ongoing stewardship.
“It’s hard to learn about the natural world when you don’t have biodiversity around you,” Eric rightly observed. They have watched their son, Anders, grow into a budding Prairie Enthusiast who gets excited when he discovers a snake, an interesting caterpillar or some other species that’s new to him.
The biodiversity at Agaski Bluff evolved over thousands of years, and without our community of Prairie Enthusiasts, the rare plants, insects and other species there could easily disappear. Eric and Kim stepped in and saved one of our last remaining prairies from development or neglect. Now it is our turn to protect it for future generations.
Wisconsin State Endangered, pale false foxglove
American lady caterpillar
About The Prairie Enthusiasts
The Prairie Enthusiasts is an accredited land trust that seeks to ensure the perpetuation and recovery of prairie, oak savanna, and other fire-dependent ecosystems of the Upper Midwest through protection, management, restoration, and education. In doing so, they strive to work openly and cooperatively with private landowners and other private and public conservation groups. Their management and stewardship centers on high-quality remnants, which contain nearly all the components of endangered prairie communities.