Fort Hays State University Natural Areas

Abstract

Two natural areas are supervised by the Department of Biological Sciences at Fort Hays State University and are known as the and the Cedar Bluff In 1900 the Federal government granted old Fort Hays to Kansas. The 35 acre (14.2 ha) relict natural area was included in the 4160 acres (1683.5 ha) that became Fort Hays State University. The area is located in the SE 1/4 Sec. 1, T. 14S, R. 19W in Ellis County. The relict area has not been grazed since 1902. Ruts made by wagons coming to and from the Fort remain and can be seen cutting across the relict area. The topography of the relict area is characterized by steep to gentle slopes bordering a central drainage area. The site contains strata of the Niobrara Chalk, particularly the Fort Hays Limestone Member. A cap of Loveland Loess overlies the Fort Hays Limestone on upland areas. Parent materials consist of loess, limestone, alluvium, and shale. Four major communities are found in this area. The upland shortgrass community is dominated by buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), and occurs on deep loessial soils of the Mento series. The hillsides are dominated by big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), little bluestem (Andropogon scoparius), and side-oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula). The shallow calcareous Brownell soils underlying the hillside community support diverse forb populations. A homogeneous big bluestem community parallels the major drainage and is developed on alluvial and colluvial Armo soils. A large ravine traverses the relict area and is dominated by big bluestem, kochia (Kochia scoparia), and common sunflower (Helianthus annuus). The weediness of the lowland community is possibly the result of seepage from the farm pond located on the upper end of the drainage. The lowland has alluvial Roxbury soils.