Habitat for a State Endangered Plant Gets Protected in Southern Wisconsin
Written by David Myers. Photos by Eric Preston
December 9, 2024
View of Agaski Bluff Prairie. Photo by Eric Preston.
ARENA, Wis. — Wisconsin residents and visitors will now be able to enjoy hiking and sightseeing at one of the area’s last remaining prairies. Agaski Bluff, a 38-acre property protected by The Prairie Enthusiasts in December of this year, features spectacular views and is home to some of the state’s rarest plants and animals.
Agaski Bluff, located in the Driftless Region, features dry bluffs, a narrow ridge and striking rock outcroppings with remnants of original prairie and oak woodland and savanna. The site contains many rare prairie species including Wisconsin’s largest population of pale false foxglove, a Wisconsin Endangered Species. The site is also adjacent to the 12-acre Swenson Bluffs, another property protected by The Prairie Enthusiasts. Protection of Agaski Bluff will now allow easy access to Swenson Bluffs, which previously could only be accessed by hiking in a half mile from the road.
The previous landowners, Eric Preston and Kim Kreitinger, purchased the property in 2021 and had intentions of building a home on the site. As lifelong conservationists, they immediately started restoration efforts. They cleared invasive cedar trees, planted prairie, conducted prescribed burns and began restoring the oak woodland and savanna. As their restoration continued, they questioned the impact of building a home on the site. It was a difficult, even heartbreaking realization, but they came to believe the best thing would be for The Prairie Enthusiasts to own and manage their land for generations to come.
“We both are very strong believers that biodiversity is important. Native plants have been here for thousands of years if not hundreds of thousands of years and deserve to be protected,” Eric said.
For thousands of years, the Upper Midwest was abundant with prairies and oak savannas that evolved to depend on fires, most of which were ignited by Indigenous Peoples. With the arrival of Europeans, this once vast landscape was almost entirely lost to the plow, lack of fire, introduction of nonnative species and development pressures. Today, only a tiny fraction remains.
The Prairie Enthusiasts Executive Director Debra Behrens appreciates the enormity of Eric and Kim’s decision. “The Prairie Enthusiasts is grateful that Eric and Kim decided to protect this unique place,” Debra said. “It’s an absolute honor to help them with their land conservation goals and ensure Agaski Bluff will be available for all to enjoy long into the future.”
Protecting and stewarding this rare example of Wisconsin’s Driftless Area landscape isn’t something Eric and Kim take lightly. “It matters to us, and it matters to a lot of people in our community,” Eric said.
Support from Wisconsin’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin’s Southwest Badger Natural Resource Conservation Fund, Iowa County, and Members of The Prairie Enthusiasts have helped make the protection of this fire-dependent ecosystem possible.
To learn more about Agaski Bluff, including recreational information and volunteer opportunities, visit ThePrairieEnthusiasts.org/Project/Agaski-Bluff.
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.
Primary Contact: Sarah Barron, Advancement Manager
608-676-7806
SBarron@ThePrairieEnthusiasts.org
Secondary Contact: Debra Behrens, Executive Director
608-676-0985