Somewhere Between Kansas City and Denver: The Konza Poetry Project Presents: - Paperback

by Jason Ryberg (Editor)

The Konza Prairie is owned by The Nature Conservancy

and Kansas State University, and is operated as a field

research station by the university's Division of Biology. It is

one of 26 sites within the Long Term Ecological Research

Network.

It has a continental climate characterized by warm, wet

summers and dry, cold winters. Average annual precipitation

(32.9 in, 835 mm) is sufficient to support woodland or

savanna vegetation; consequently, drought, fire and grazing

are important in maintaining this grassland. The site is

topographically complex with an elevation range from 1050

to 1457 ft (320 to 444 m). In addition to the dominant

tallgrass prairie, Konza contains forest, claypan, shrub and

riparian communities. Limestone outcrops are found

throughout the landscape.

Konza Prairie is located within the largest remaining area

of unplowed tallgrass prairie in North America, the Flint

Hills. Konza supports a diverse mix of species including

576 vascular plants, 31 mammals, 208 bird species,

34 types of reptiles and amphibians, 20 kinds of fish, and

over 700 types of invertebrates. A herd of approximately

300 bison is maintained on the Konza, and native white-

tailed deer and wild turkey are often present in large numbers.

Members of the public are allowed onto portions of

the Konza Prairie through three loop hiking trails

(approximately 2.6, 4.5, and 6 miles).