Exploring Missouri's CCIs

Headquartered at Dunn Ranch Prairie  in northwest Missouri, the Grand River Grasslands CCI offers countless opportunities to learn from the flora, fauna and ecological processes that make up the iconic landscapes of the Great Plains. This tallgrass prairie preserve includes nearly 1,000 acres that have never been plowed, surrounded by another 2,000-plus acres of grasslands restored with native plants, prescribed fire and grazing.

Today, bison amble over the hillsides and valleys, a band of greater prairie-chickens stage mating season dances and wildflowers rise and retreat with the seasons. Less than 1% of Missouri’s grasslands remain today, making the Grand River Grasslands CCI crucial to our understanding of complex prairie ecosystems.

The southern boundary of Dunn Ranch Prairie includes Little Creek Farm, a working ranch, created as a demonstration of sustainable agriculture in collaboration with a local rancher. A renovated farmhouse onsite has meeting space and temporary lodging that we’ve used for a wide range of conservation activities, such as hosting prescribed fire crews, researchers, collaboration sessions with partners and cultural retreats of Tribal nations.

Stewardship: Conserving the lands and waters we all depend on is built into TNC’s mission. The CCI program carries that charge forward. The lessons learned on TNC’s preserves are meant to extend beyond our property boundaries. At the Grand River Grasslands CCI, dedicated staff follow science-backed conservation practices, such as using prescribed fire to control invasive plants and rejuvenate deep-rooted natives.

We collaborate with partners, including the Missouri Master Naturalists, to collect seeds from native plants that are then used to reseed our grasslands as well as those managed by others, such as the Missouri Department of Conservation. Other stewardship practices include excluding cattle from Little Creek and installing alternative watering systems to reduce the erosion that clogs streams and destroys aquatic habitat. In these lands, the bison reign as keystone species, reshaping the prairie through grazing and wallowing.

Research: Even before TNC in Missouri launched the CCIs program, Dunn Ranch Prairie was popular with visiting researchers interested in grasslands ecology, pollinators, prescribed fire, bison and countless other topics. Their work contributes to a better understanding of the grasslands at large and often helps us test and refine our conservation practices. Regular soil testing, native plant tracking on grazed and ungrazed plots, and annual data collections on bison are just a few examples of the research guiding us at Dunn Ranch Prairie.

The prairie is also a regular stop for observers tracking migrating birds and the annual trek of monarch butterflies across North America. In 2013, TNC and its partners in the Missouri Department of Conservation and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reintroduced the endangered Topeka shiner, a native of prairie streams. A later stream-restoration project reconnected about 5 miles of the minnow’s habitat in Little Creek, and there is ongoing research to study that, too.

Training: To safeguard the future of the lands and waters that are essential to the Great Plains, we must cultivate a workforce that understands these systems and the stewardship needed for long-term preservation. Developing the next generation of conservationists is critical to TNC’s mission and is reflected in our work at the site. For example, our partnership-based Habitat Strike Teams routinely travel to Dunn Ranch Prairie to train on controlled burns and other methods of stemming invasive plants. We host undergraduate fellows from Drake University annually to offer hands-on training in science and stewardship. And our flagship training event—which draws in attendees from across the U.S.—is a Fire Science Workshop for students, scientists and early career fire practitioners. We are also planning for new professional training opportunities related to conservation technologies and native seed harvesting.

Outreach: The Grand River Grasslands CCI is well positioned to connect people with nature. Dunn Ranch Prairie is TNC’s most popular preserve in Missouri. Tens of thousands of people have visited since 1999, when TNC bought the core of the site from descendants of the Dunn family. Guests are encouraged to take a self-guided tour, using a series of kiosks to learn about the tallgrass prairie, native plants, wildlife and restoration efforts. There are also scenic overlooks and an elevated platform that provides expansive views across the prairie. The half-mile Lordi Marker Nature Trail opened in 2023, winding through wildflowers, forbs and grasses characteristic of the ecosystem.

Every two years, we collaborate with the Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Master Naturalists to host Prairie Days at Dunn Ranch Prairie. (In alternate years, the event moves to TNC’s Wah’Kon-Tah Prairie near El Dorado Springs.) The event, which is our flagship public engagement opportunity at the site, includes tours of the preserve, a variety of exhibitions from conservation educators, and locally made bison burgers and other items for purchase. Past demonstrations have highlighted prairie reptiles, pollinators and plant identification.

Located just 20 minutes southwest of Columbia, the Missouri River CCI spans 164 acres along the iconic Missouri River. The site will serve as a multi-use space allocating portions of the property to ecosystem restoration, public use, agricultural stewardship via agroforestry and educational programming built around the Missouri River.

The center is a collaborative effort between TNC Missouri, Missouri River Relief and the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry. Missouri River Relief focuses on connecting people to the Missouri River through education, stewardship and recreation programs, while the Center for Agroforestry contributes to regenerative design, tree plantings and agroforestry-focused educational programming.

Stewardship: Stewardship is at the heart of the Missouri River Center's mission. The site is transitioning from annual row crops to a polyculture of native, flood-tolerant perennial trees and shrubs. Agroforestry has deep roots in floodplain ecosystems with trees like pecans, walnuts and other flood-tolerant natives. The center aims to serve as an agroforestry training and demonstration site for big river systems.

In the fall of 2024, we planted nearly 2,000 native trees at the site. More than 400 pecans and walnuts were planted in an alley cropping system on the northern side of the property. On the south side of the property, we are building out the riparian buffer with a diversity of plantings to showcase a variety of “menu options” that offer benefits to both farms and biodiversity. Innovative methods to combat the invasive Johnsongrass are being tested, including densely planting trees to create shade and using cover crops to disrupt its growth.

Other restoration efforts focus on wetland restoration and stabilizing eroding riverbanks. The center aims to foster not only enhanced stewardship but also a connection between the community of conservation practitioners and the Missouri River, underscoring its importance for preservation for future generations.

Research: The Missouri River Center aims to serve as a hub for research on agroforestry, floodplain stewardship and wetland restoration. One key area of focus is monitoring bird and bat activity using autonomous recording units along the site’s riparian corridor. This research aims to understand how increasing the width of and diversity of the riparian buffer impacts the site use by these species over time.

Additionally, soil health assessments are being carried out by the Soil Health Assessment Center at the University of Missouri. These assessments analyze microbial activity, organic matter and carbon content to establish a baseline for tracking changes as the site transitions from annual crops to perennial production.

Training: The Missouri River Center aims to serve as a field station for various educational and training programs associated with bottomland stewardship, including farm tours and conservation workshops. In collaboration with the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry, the site has the potential to play a significant role in training the next generation of conservationists with opportunities related to wetland restoration and flood-tolerant regenerative agroforestry.

Outreach: The Missouri River Center is dedicated to connecting people with the history, beauty and ecology of the Missouri River. The center plans to host community events and educational programs in collaboration with Missouri River Relief, engaging thousands of students and teachers in hands-on learning experiences.

Additionally, plans are underway to create a public trail featuring informational signs and kiosks, providing visitors with insights into the area’s natural and ecological significance.

The Ozark Woodlands CCI packs the best parts of the Ozarks into its 163 acres. Located at TNC’s Mill Creek property near Van Buren in the Southeastern Ozarks, the area is a collection of oak and pine woodlands, glades, springs, fens and riparian forests on the border of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Large rock outcrops, small bluffs and even a shelter cave are found on site.

This project is uniquely positioned in a central location, making it highly accessible to key partners like the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). As with other TNC projects across the state, our collaboration with MDC, along with other partners, is crucial to the center’s success. Other collaborators in the region include the National Park Service, the L-A-D Foundation, U.S. Forest Service and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

TNC purchased the property in 2021. Like our first CCI at Dunn Ranch Prairie, the Ozark Woodlands CCI is a place where TNC will be able host researchers on site and contribute to the investigation, protection and stewardship of one of our state’s most important ecosystems. We are currently conducting a feasibility study for infrastructure development at the Ozark Woodlands CCI site that includes plans for a fire cache and bunk housing, shared between TNC and the Missouri Department for Conservation. We envision the center as a collaborative hub for improved stewardship across the Ozarks, working closely with MDC and other key partners.

Stewardship: TNC’s work here carries forward the previous owner’s long-term restoration goals. This includes efforts such as invasive species removal and prescribed burns to reopen glades, ensuring that native flora and fauna can thrive. Long-term stewardship plans are being developed to showcase a diversity of habitats, benefitting the site’s biodiversity, resilience and anticipated use as a space for place-based learning.

Research: Research is likely to be the cornerstone of the Ozark Woodlands CCI. Through our partnership with MDC, the center could serve as a key central hub for long-term research, notably the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecology Project (MOFEP). This 100-year ecology project focuses on the effects of various forest stewardship approaches on biodiversity, carbon sequestration and productivity.

TNC has long conducted and facilitated research on biodiversity, Ozark landscapes and the effects of prescribed fire in the region. The center neighbors TNC’s former Chilton Creek Research and Demonstration Area, which TNC transferred to the Missouri Department of Conservation in 2022, reconnecting it with surrounding conservation areas. The region offers access to unique wildlife and landscapes, including opportunities to build upon long-running research or pursue new questions.

Training: Training is crucial for equipping individuals with the skills needed to steward the Ozark woodlands effectively. Prescribed fire training is expected to be a major component of the Ozark Woodlands CCI. TNC is coordinating with partners on plans to expand facilities to accommodate fire teams and fill a critical resource gap. The center also has the potential to support educational initiatives and hands-on fieldwork for a new generation of researchers and conservation professionals.

Outreach: The center features a house with meeting space, making it a convenient place for the numerous conservation-minded organizations and agencies working in the region to gather and share information.

Due to geography, partners and regional priorities, outreach will likely be the least developed conservation pillar at the Ozark Woodlands CCI. Nevertheless, some outreach hosted by TNC and our partners will take place on site. These activities will likely include periodic guided visits such as site tours and wildflower walks.