Spring Creek Prairie

Institutional Affiliation

Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center is an education center and natural area preserve owned by the National Audubon Society. It is operated by local staff.

Mission

To foster the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of Nebraska’s tallgrass prairie ecosystems by engaging people in the site’s natural and cultural resources.

Location

11700 SW 100th Street, three miles south of Denton, Nebraska. Travel south out of Denton on SW 98th Street for approximately three miles, and after an S-curve the entrance is on the east side of the road. From the south, go north from the intersection of Hwy. 33 and SW 100th Street for four miles.

Overview

SCPAC encompasses 808 acres, including 600 acres of native (unplowed) tallgrass prairie, a stream, several ponds, wetlands and spring areas, and a bur oak riparian woodland. The list of plant species totals over 350 and the bird list is over 200. Animals representative of southeastern Nebraska are present, among them are greater prairie-chicken, eastern and western meadowlark, upland sandpiper, bobolink, white-tailed deer, badger, coyote, bullsnake, yellow-bellied racer, and regal fritillary.

Research

Several years of flora research data have been published in the Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Science. Extensive breeding bird surveys have been conducted since 2007. Other research projects evaluated bird predation on grasshopper populations and determined insect control on bull thistle numbers. Also, SCPAC has been used as a comparison site for insect populations of remnant prairie sites of varying sizes.

Education

SCPAC is open year-round, seven days a week. An education building houses exhibits, staff offices, and a small gift shop. Miles of walking trails wind through prairie and woods. Hands-on environmental learning experiences are offered through monthly family programs and school and organizational tours for all ages. Admission charged, except for free admission on Tuesdays, memberships available.

Contact

Marian Langan
PO Box 117
Denton, Nebraska 68339
voice: (402) 797-2301
fax: 402 797-2304
e-mail: scp@audubon.org
website: www.springcreekprairie.org

Aerial photograph (to enlarge, click on the aerial photograph)

Land Use (GAP) Classification (to enlarge, click on the GAP image)

Climate Data

See historical climate data from the nearest weather station at Lincoln, Nebraska.