“ 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

90

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94

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35

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17

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