Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Date of this Version
2006
Document Type
Technical Report
Citation
Steinauer, Robert F. 2006. 2006 Vegetation Survey of the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. 28pp.
Abstract
The Valentine National Wildlife Refuge (VNWR), located in north central Cherry County, was established in 1934. Tolstead (1942) studied the grasslands of northern Cherry County, (including the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge) with a focus on describing the dominant species of grassland types and determining the relationships between vegetation distribution and environmental variables and management practices. Additional studies have been conducted by refuge staff on the effects of management, particularly grazing, on vegetation structure. The purpose of this study was to: (1) document all vascular plant species present on the refuge; (2) collect data on rare plant species and high-quality native plant community occurrences; and (3) provide management recommendations for rare plants and plant communities.
The following ten native plant communities were documented on the refuge: Sandhill dune prairie, Sandhill dry valley prairie, tallgrass prairie, northern cordgrass wet prairie, western alkaline meadow, Sandhills freshwater marsh, Sandhills fen, green ash woodland, spring seep, and Sandhills aquatic wetland.
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