“ This wonderful feature, which is several hundred miles in length, and varying from fifty to a hundred in width, is, perhaps, the noblest mound of its kind in the world; it gradually and gracefully rises on each side, by swell after swell, without tree, or bush or rock … and everywhere covered with green grass ….”
George Catlin, 1844, describing the Prairie Coteau in Letters and Notes on the Manners, Customs and Condition of the North American Indians
The Prairie CoTeau
Sunflower on the Prairie Coteau © Bryan Simon
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Oliver County-Missouri River
Davis RanchHills
John E.WilliamsPreserveComplex
MchenryCountyPrairie
Middle Missouri
River
LostwoodPrairie
KilldeerMountains/
Little MissouriBadlands
ItascaProject
Area
Weaver /ZumbroDelta
Agassiz BeachRidges
LittleFork
SugarHills
Pembina BeachRidges
Manitou
Tallgrass AspenParkland
Sand Lake/Seven
Beavers
Pigeon River /Nor'wester
EncampmentForest
Border Lakes
Thunder
Basin-
Cheyenne
River
ConataBasin
Harding County -Slim Buttes
Badlands NationalPark Complex
Northern HillsSpring Creeks
PiedmontButte
Wind Cave/CusterPrairie
Cheyenne River
Canyons
Brule RiverCascade River
Swamp River
Temperance River
Mi
ss
ou
ri
Co
te
au
Pr
ai
ri
e
C
ot
ea
u
Mentor
Center
Karlstad
Clear Lake
BismarckGlyndon
Minneapolis
Duluth
Rapid City
Hot Springs
Preston
Wall
Scenic
GrandRapids
BrainerdLakes St. Louis
RiverEstuary
UpperMississippi
River
UpperMississippiRiver
Root River
Kettle& SnakeRivers
Knife River& StonyPoint
Upper Mississippi River
Badlands RanchDouble Bar
Seven Ranch
Dr. Nathaniel & Mary Whitney Preserveat Cheyenne River Canyon
Agassiz Dunes SNA
Black Dog NaturePreserve SNA
Blazing Star Prairie SNA
FerndaleMarsh
Frenchman's Bluff SNA
Glacial RidgeProject
GraceNaturePreserve
HelenAllison
SavannaSNA
Malmberg Prairie SNA
Norway Dunes
PankratzMemorial
Prairie
Pembina Trail Preserve SNA
Pigeon River Cliffs
Sand Lake/Seven Beavers
SaxifrageHollow
Straight RiverWildflower
Preserve
Susie Island
Trout Lily Preserve
Twin Valley Prairie SNA
Upper ManitouForest Preserve
Wallace C. DaytonConservation& Wildlife Area
Weaver Dunes SNA
Zimmerman Prairie
John E. Williams Memorial Nature Preserve
Davis RanchCrossRanch
LakeOahe
UpperRed Lake
RainyLake
LakeWinnibigoshish
LeechLake
Lake of theWoods
La k eSu p e r i o r
LowerRed Lake
MilleLacsLake
LakeSakakawea
Missouri R.
St. L
ouis R
.
St. C
roix R.
Red R
iver of the North
Sheyenne R.
Missouri R.
Des Lacs R.
Cheyenne R.
White R.
Grand R.
Little M
issou
ri
Mississippi R.
C A N A D A
Sisseton-Wahpeton Reservation
Flandreau Reservation
ROBERTS COUNTY
Big Sioux River
Waubay Lake
Bitter Lake
Lake Kampeska
Lake Marsh
Lake Poinsett
Lake Albert
Lake Preston Lakebed
Lake Whitewood Lake Benton
MarshallBrookings
Watertown
Lake Shetek
South Heron Lake
LAKE OFTHE WOODS
ROLETTE
BOTTINEAU
PEMBINA KITTSON
TOWNER
CAVALIER
DIVIDE BURKE
RENVILLE
ROSEAU
WARD
KOOCHICHING WILLIAMS
MCHENRY
SAINT LOUIS
MOUNTRAIL
MARSHALL
PIERCE
RAMSEY
WALSH
BELTRAMI
BENSON COOK
LAKE NELSON
GRANDFORKS
POLK PENNINGTON
MCKENZIE
CLEARWATER
RED LAKE
ITASCA
MCLEAN
EDDY WELLS
SHERIDAN
DUNN
STEELE GRIGGS TRAILL
FOSTER MERCER
MAHNOMEN
NORMAN
CASS
HUBBARD
BILLINGSGOLDENVALLEY
KIDDER STUTSMAN
BURLEIGH
OLIVER BARNES
CASS BECKER
CLAY
AITKIN
STARK
MORTONWADENA
CROW WING
CARLTON
GRANT EMMONS LOGAN
SLOPE HETTINGER
SIOUX PINE
MORRISON
ADAMS MCINTOSH
BOWMAN
MILLELACS
KANABEC
PERKINS
CORSON HARDING CAMPBELL
MARSHALL BENTON ISANTI
CHISAGO
WALWORTH
DAY
SHERBURNE
DEWEY
ZIEBACH
WRIGHT ANOKA
GRANT
WASHINGTON
POTTER
HENNEPIN BUTTE
CLARK
CODINGTON
RAMSEY
MEADE
MCLEOD
CARVER
DEUEL DAKOTA
SULLY
HYDE
SCOTT
HAMLIN
STANLEY HAAKON
GOODHUE LINCOLN
LAWRENCE
HUGHES
LE SUEUR RICE KINGSBURY BROOKINGS
PENNINGTON
WABASHA
LYMAN
PIPESTONE
MURRAY STEELE DODGE
MOODYWASECA
BUFFALO
OLMSTED
COTTONWOOD
LAKE
WINONA
JONES JACKSON
BRULE MELLETTE
CUSTER
ROCKNOBLES
FREEBORN MOWER
HOUSTON
FILLMOREJACKSON
MINNEHAHA
TRIPP
SHANNON GREGORY FALL
RIVER
BENNETT TODD
The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota,
North Dakota & South Dakota
Black HillsBoreal ShieldDakota Mixed-grass PrairieCentral Mixed GrassCentral Tall GrassFescue-Mixed Grass PrairieNorthern Great Plains SteppeNorthern Tallgrass PrairieSuperior Mixed ForestGreat LakesPrairie-Forest Border
Community-based officeConservancy preserveLandscape priority area
Ecoregions
0
0
100 miles50100 kilometers50
Aerial of Prairie Coteau © Pete Bauman/TNC
Leafy spurge © U.S. Department of Agriculture
Prescribed fire in the Coteau © Bryan Simon
Prairie Coteau rancher Nathan Atyeo © Kerri Larson
Sharp-tailed grouse © Jim Williams
10 5 0 10
Miles
MINNESOTA
NORTH DAKOTA
SOUTH DAKOTA
The Nature Conservancy in the Prairie Coteau
Prairie Coteau
Major Lakes
Tribal Lands
The Conservancy’s Prairie Coteau Office
Conservancy Preserve
City
River otter © iStockphoto.com/ pixonaut
National Wildlife Refuge
Shared LaNdSCaPe One of the last great grasslands of the United States, the Prairie Coteau encompasses more than two million acres from southeastern North Dakota across South Dakota to southwestern Minnesota. Most of the land is privately owned ranch and farm land.
Glaciers formed the Coteau, and the resulting rolling topography has created a rich mosaic of habitats. Grasslands cover the hilltops and east-facing valleys are forested with oak, basswood and maple. Fens occur wherever mineral-laden groundwater seeps to the surface. Numerous ponds and lakes provide additional aquatic habitats.The Coteau supports abundant wildlife including game birds such as sharp-tailed grouse. They find the expanses of prairies and pastures suitable for their courtship displays and the grasslands provide the protection needed for their nests and chicks.
While many wildlife species are declining, some are thriving. river otters, for example, are making a comeback in South dakota along secluded stretches of the Big Sioux river.
ProduCTive GraSSLaNd Much of the Coteau’s rocky soils and steep slopes discouraged the plow. As a result, the area is home to some of the largest remaining blocks of northern tallgrass prairie in the continental United States. Native grasses not only provide excellent habitat for wildlife, they also make for good grazing.
Nathan atyeo, a rancher near Clear Lake, South dakota, uses sustainable grazing and fire to improve his land. “i want to make my grass the best i can so i can continue ranching. i want good grass, the kind that will put pounds on my cattle because pounds are dollars.”
invasive species such as leafy spurge are a big obstacle to managed grazing. This noxious weed spreads relentlessly and chokes out native plants. Cattle won’t eat it — its milky sap is toxic. Biological control has proven to be highly effective in combatting spurge.
Prairie is most productive for wildlife and cattle when it is utilized and managed well. Scheduled rest and disturbances such as grazing or fire allows the prairie to rejuvenate itself.
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90
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Oliver County-Missouri River
Davis RanchHills
John E.WilliamsPreserveComplex
MchenryCountyPrairie
Middle Missouri
River
LostwoodPrairie
KilldeerMountains/
Little MissouriBadlands
ItascaProject
Area
Weaver /ZumbroDelta
Agassiz BeachRidges
LittleFork
SugarHills
Pembina BeachRidges
Manitou
Tallgrass AspenParkland
Sand Lake/Seven
Beavers
Pigeon River /Nor'wester
EncampmentForest
Border Lakes
Thunder
Basin-
Cheyenne
River
ConataBasin
Harding County -Slim Buttes
Badlands NationalPark Complex
Northern HillsSpring Creeks
PiedmontButte
Wind Cave/CusterPrairie
Cheyenne River
Canyons
Brule RiverCascade River
Swamp River
Temperance River
Mi
ss
ou
ri
Co
te
au
Pr
ai
ri
e
C
ot
ea
u
Mentor
Center
Karlstad
Clear Lake
BismarckGlyndon
Minneapolis
Duluth
Rapid City
Hot Springs
Preston
Wall
Scenic
GrandRapids
BrainerdLakes St. Louis
RiverEstuary
UpperMississippi
River
UpperMississippiRiver
Root River
Kettle& SnakeRivers
Knife River& StonyPoint
Upper Mississippi River
Badlands RanchDouble Bar
Seven Ranch
Dr. Nathaniel & Mary Whitney Preserveat Cheyenne River Canyon
Agassiz Dunes SNA
Black Dog NaturePreserve SNA
Blazing Star Prairie SNA
FerndaleMarsh
Frenchman's Bluff SNA
Glacial RidgeProject
GraceNaturePreserve
HelenAllison
SavannaSNA
Malmberg Prairie SNA
Norway Dunes
PankratzMemorial
Prairie
Pembina Trail Preserve SNA
Pigeon River Cliffs
Sand Lake/Seven Beavers
SaxifrageHollow
Straight RiverWildflower
Preserve
Susie Island
Trout Lily Preserve
Twin Valley Prairie SNA
Upper ManitouForest Preserve
Wallace C. DaytonConservation& Wildlife Area
Weaver Dunes SNA
Zimmerman Prairie
John E. Williams Memorial Nature Preserve
Davis RanchCrossRanch
LakeOahe
UpperRed Lake
RainyLake
LakeWinnibigoshish
LeechLake
Lake of theWoods
La k eSu p e r i o r
LowerRed Lake
MilleLacsLake
LakeSakakawea
Missouri R.
St. L
ouis R
.
St. C
roix R.
Red R
iver of the North
Sheyenne R.
Missouri R.
Des Lacs R.
Cheyenne R.
White R.
Grand R.
Little M
issou
ri
Mississippi R.
C A N A D A
Sisseton-Wahpeton Reservation
Flandreau Reservation
ROBERTS COUNTY
Big Sioux River
Waubay Lake
Bitter Lake
Lake Kampeska
Lake Marsh
Lake Poinsett
Lake Albert
Lake Preston Lakebed
Lake Whitewood Lake Benton
MarshallBrookings
Watertown
Lake Shetek
South Heron Lake
LAKE OFTHE WOODS
ROLETTE
BOTTINEAU
PEMBINA KITTSON
TOWNER
CAVALIER
DIVIDE BURKE
RENVILLE
ROSEAU
WARD
KOOCHICHING WILLIAMS
MCHENRY
SAINT LOUIS
MOUNTRAIL
MARSHALL
PIERCE
RAMSEY
WALSH
BELTRAMI
BENSON COOK
LAKE NELSON
GRANDFORKS
POLK PENNINGTON
MCKENZIE
CLEARWATER
RED LAKE
ITASCA
MCLEAN
EDDY WELLS
SHERIDAN
DUNN
STEELE GRIGGS TRAILL
FOSTER MERCER
MAHNOMEN
NORMAN
CASS
HUBBARD
BILLINGSGOLDENVALLEY
KIDDER STUTSMAN
BURLEIGH
OLIVER BARNES
CASS BECKER
CLAY
AITKIN
STARK
MORTONWADENA
CROW WING
CARLTON
GRANT EMMONS LOGAN
SLOPE HETTINGER
SIOUX PINE
MORRISON
ADAMS MCINTOSH
BOWMAN
MILLELACS
KANABEC
PERKINS
CORSON HARDING CAMPBELL
MARSHALL BENTON ISANTI
CHISAGO
WALWORTH
DAY
SHERBURNE
DEWEY
ZIEBACH
WRIGHT ANOKA
GRANT
WASHINGTON
POTTER
HENNEPIN BUTTE
CLARK
CODINGTON
RAMSEY
MEADE
MCLEOD
CARVER
DEUEL DAKOTA
SULLY
HYDE
SCOTT
HAMLIN
STANLEY HAAKON
GOODHUE LINCOLN
LAWRENCE
HUGHES
LE SUEUR RICE KINGSBURY BROOKINGS
PENNINGTON
WABASHA
LYMAN
PIPESTONE
MURRAY STEELE DODGE
MOODYWASECA
BUFFALO
OLMSTED
COTTONWOOD
LAKE
WINONA
JONES JACKSON
BRULE MELLETTE
CUSTER
ROCKNOBLES
FREEBORN MOWER
HOUSTON
FILLMOREJACKSON
MINNEHAHA
TRIPP
SHANNON GREGORY FALL
RIVER
BENNETT TODD
The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota,
North Dakota & South Dakota
Black HillsBoreal ShieldDakota Mixed-grass PrairieCentral Mixed GrassCentral Tall GrassFescue-Mixed Grass PrairieNorthern Great Plains SteppeNorthern Tallgrass PrairieSuperior Mixed ForestGreat LakesPrairie-Forest Border
Community-based officeConservancy preserveLandscape priority area
Ecoregions
0
0
100 miles50100 kilometers50
This brochure was paid for with
a National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation grant.
The Conservancy’s Pete Bauman talks with Prairie Coteau ranchers. © Michael Pressman/TNC
Landowners who want more information on prescribed fire, conservation grazing, invasive species and conservation easements can contact The Nature Conservancy:
Prairie Coteau Office410 3rd Avenue South, #2Clear Lake, SD 57226(605) 874-8517
The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota1101 West River Parkway, Suite 200Minneapolis, MN 55415-2191(612) 331-0700
Prairie Coteau Partners Bureau of Indian AffairsDay County Conservation DistrictDeuel County Extension ServiceDucks UnlimitedEcosun Prairie FarmsMinnesota Department of Natural Resources National Fish and Wildlife FoundationNational Park ServiceNational Resources Conservation Service Northern Prairies Land TrustPheasants ForeverPrivate landowners
Sisseton-Wahpeton OyateSouth Dakota Department of Agriculture – Wildland Fire Suppression South Dakota Association of Conservation DistrictsSouth Dakota Department of Game, Fish and ParksSouth Dakota Fire Marshall’s OfficeSouth Dakota Grassland CoalitionSouth Dakota Natural Resources Conservation ServiceSouth Dakota State University Upper Big Sioux Watershed ProjectU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Rolling hills in the Prairie Coteau © Steve Chaplin/TNC
The Nature Conservancy is a nonprofit conservation organization that has worked on the Coteau for more than 50 years. We own and manage a few select wildlife preserves in the area and work to provide new and innovative tools to landowners through private lands programs like biocontrol of leafy spurge, conservation grazing and prescribed fire.
The Conservancy and its partners encourage the use of conservation easements that preserve native grasses and wildlife habitat while providing landowners additional income. Landowners continue to own, manage and make a living from their property through cattle grazing or haying.
Most of the Conservancy’s funding is raised privately, and our commitment to common-sense strategies that recognize the dynamic nature of managing property for wildlife and for profit distinguishes us as an ally and an asset to Coteau landowners.
The Nature Conservancy
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