Welcome to Johnson County Conservation Department - Solon Prairie


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The mission of the Johnson County Conservation Board is to improve the quality of natural resources and native species for Johnson County residents through programs emphasizing conservation of natural resources, conservation education, and natural resource based recreation.

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Solon Prairie
Solon Prairie


Solon Prairie 		The Solon Prairie, located within the city limits of Solon, is a 3-acre tract of Wet-mesic prairie. The area is reputed to be a virgin prairie that has apparently never been plowed. In 1966 the Solon Gun Club acquired the property from the Kessler family who had owned it since 1876. For the next seventeen years the land was used for a trapshooting range and a small clubhouse was located there.

In 1983, the Solon Gun Club conveyed ownership to the Johnson County Conservation Board. The area is preserved as a natural prairie and is available for public use as a botanical study area. A prairie management plan was developed for it in 1984.

A quadrennial burn management program has been used to control invaders and enhance native species since then. One hundred and five Prairie species have been identified on the site. Considerable effort has been expended in an attempt to eradicate the alien invader - reed canary grassSolon Prairie - from the wetter portions of the area. Failure to control canary grass will result in total colonization of the site by this alien, which will out-compete many of the native species. The Solon Prairie is a living natural history museum and gives the visitor a microcosmic view of the predominant vegetation of 80% of the state of Iowa at the time of settlement. It is a valuable outdoor classroom. Much native grass and wildflower seed has been gathered from this area for establishment in other JCCB areas.

To the south of Solon Prairie is a prairie slough that will soon be surrounded by a housing development known as Fox Ridge Meadows. Ownership of this 13.5-acre federally-determined wetland will be conveyed to the City of Solon by developer Clair Mekota. It will be connected to the Solon Prairie by a hard-surfaced trail. A floristic inventory will be completed to determine the full extent of species diversity. Plans call for the JCCB to manage the prairie through a 28E Agreement with the city.