Access & Directions

The Mounds View Grassland preserve is located south of US Highway 18/151 between Barneveld and Blue Mounds, Wisconsin. The properties are situated between County Highway F and Mounds View Rd. See site-specific pages for access points. Addresses are:

A to Z Farm (3200 Arneson Road, Barneveld) – Google Map

Shea Prairie (3095 Mounds View Road, Barneveld) – Google Map

Schurch-Thomson Prairie (8624 Reilly Rd, Barneveld) – Google Map

Site Steward

Connect with the site steward to see how you can care for this rare habitat at an upcoming work party.

This site is stewarded by The Prairie Enthusiasts Empire-Sauk Chapter.

Site Steward: Rich Henderson: (608) 845-7605 or (Email)

What Makes Mounds View Grassland Special

The preserve is significant for its remnant prairie vegetation and associated rare insects, and as wildlife habitat at both local and state levels, such as the Wisconsin-endangered/Federal Special Concern Species regal fritillary butterfly (Speyeria idalia) as well as many declining grassland bird species including bobolink, dickcissel, upland sandpiper, and Bell’s vireo. In fact, it may play a critical role in prairie ecosystem conservation in Wisconsin, for it lies within the 95,000+ acre Military Ridge Prairie Heritage Area (MRPHA). The MRPHA has been identified as the highest priority for landscape-scale grassland protection and management in Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and represents one of the best opportunities in the Midwest to protect prairie remnants and area sensitive species. The agricultural history of the area has helped keep the landscape much as it was when the first settlers saw it (Figure 1) and has made it possible for plants and animals like grassland birds, which have disappeared in more developed parts of the Midwest, to survive. The Mounds View Prairie complex is one of the three most significant concentrations of prairie sod and grassland bird habitat within the MRPHA.

Over 400 plant species can be found on Mounds View Grassland, nine of special concern, state or federally threatened, or endangered.

In addition to grassland plants, insect and birds, the site is home to many amphibian, reptilian and mammalian prairie species, including our state animal – the badger! Along with prairie and oak savanna habitats, the preserve has cold-water streams, springs, seeps, and wetlands that add much to its biological diversity.

The Prairie Enthusiast’s long-term goal for the Mounds View Grassland is to restore, as much as feasible, its original prairie, along with some limited oak savanna.  It is also The Prairie Enthusiast’s intent to expand the preserve should opportunities arise.

The current cover on the 830-acre preserve is:

• 33% – Planted Prairie
• 26% – Non-Native Cool-Season Grass
• 13% – Active Cropland
• 10% – Remnant Prairie (not grazed)
• 8% – Woodland & Brush
• 5% – Wetland & Streams
• 3% – Savanna Restorations
• 3% – Pastured Remnant-Prairie Sod

Figure 1

Natural History

Mounds View Grassland lies near the eastern edge of Wisconsin’s driftless, or unglaciated, region. Its bedrock geology was formed 450-470 million years ago during the middle Ordovician period of the Paleozoic era. The Galena, Decorah and Platteville Formations remaining as dolomitic ridges rising 1150 feet above sea level surround the site, providing breathtaking panoramic views. The gently rolling hilltops of dolomite slope down to shallow valleys with the side slopes covered in St. Peter’s sandstone (Figure 2). The excavations of recently constructed badger dens can be observed in the easily excavated sandy soils.   The St. Peter Sandstone is underlain by dolomitic rocks of the Prairie du Chien Group (Figure 3), which are not observable at Mounds View.

The Galena and Platteville Ordovician formations contain more fossils than any other geologic strata in Wisconsin. While stromatolites and oolites are lacking, the environment at the time was very hospitable to a broad range of bottom-dwelling, shell-forming animals such as brachiopods, bryozoans, corals, clams, and crinoids.

Figure 2

How was Mounds View Grassland Protected

Permanent protection began in 2007. More details to come!

How You Can Help Mounds View Grassland

Some restoration work was begun in 2000, but most work has been done since 2007, after permanent protection began. In addition to planting prairie vegetation, approximately 59 acres have been cleared of dense trees and brush that had invaded the site over the previous 60 years. More clearing still needs to be done, along with additional weed control and planting of prairie seed. Restoration of the cold-water streams and wetlands began in 2012, with more worked planned.

There is still much to do, and it will take many decades to even begin to approach what the original ecosystems were like, but we are off to a very good start. It is also The Prairie Enthusiast’s intent to expand the preserve should opportunities arise.

The restoration and management work to date has been done mostly by volunteers and interns and aided by paid The Prairie Enthusiasts land management staff and contractors paid for with grants from the US Fish & Wildlife Service, WI Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Conservation Society, Paul E. Stry Foundation, Alliant Energy Foundation, and private donations.

Check out our Events Calendar to see upcoming work parties or contact the site steward to get involved.

Access & Directions

This site is currently closed to the public.

Site Steward

Connect with the site steward to see how you can care for this rare habitat at an upcoming work party.

This site is stewarded by The Prairie Enthusiasts Empire-Sauk Chapter.

Site Steward: Rob Schubert (Email)

What Makes Giordano Oak Barrens & Sand Prairie Special

More information coming soon!

How was Giordano Oak Barrens & Sand Prairie Protected

Ron and Darla Giordano’s conservation legacy is rooted in a profound love for the land. The Giordanos fell in love with a remarkable 40-acre parcel in Columbia County’s Wisconsin River Valley. For five years, Ron called the original owner every month, asking if he would consider selling. When the owner finally agreed, the Giordanos got to work quickly, connecting with the Wisconsin DNR to complete an ecological survey. A site assessment confirmed the property harbored intact native vegetation, significant restoration potential for sand prairie and oak savanna habitat, and even a state-endangered animal species.

The Giordanos made the extraordinary decision to donate their property permanently to The Prairie Enthusiasts in May 2023, ensuring its protection in perpetuity. Groundswell Conservancy led negotiations, made arrangements for the closing, and helped cover closing costs. Recognizing that meaningful restoration requires real investment, the Giordanos went a step further with a generous cash donation to support the site’s initial management. The property is now named Giordano Oak Barrens and Sand Prairie, and sits near an existing 12-acre nature preserve, offering the potential to create a larger ecosystem of sandy habitat.

This is excerpted from the press release from Gathering Waters for Ron and Darla being awarded the Land Legacy Award.

How You Can Help Giordano Oak Barrens & Sand Prairie

Since management efforts at the 40-acre site in Columbia County began in January 2025, Empire-Sauk Chapter volunteers and staff have been able to affect more than 14.5 acres of intensive tree and brush removal. You can learn more about progress on this site in Rob Schubert’s piece “What a Difference a Year Makes!” featured in the summer 2026 issue of The Prairie Promoter.

Check out our Events Calendar to see upcoming work parties or contact the site steward to get involved.