DADE                       36 Niawathe Prairie

Niawathe Prairie Natural Area

A 240-acre area located eight miles north of Lockwood on Hwy 97 and one mile west off Hwy E. The NE1/4 and N1/2, SE1/4 of Section 14, T32N, R28W, Cedarville 7.5 min. topographic map. Designated August 26, 1975 (TNC portion) and February 17, 1978 (MDC portion).

Natural Features--Upland tallgrass prairie of the Springfield Plateau Section of the Ozark Natural Division. This level to hilly prairie occurs on soils of the Parsons, Barco, Barden, Collinsville and Keeno series. Soils vary from deep to shallow, with sandstone rocks exposed in places. Northern harrier, greater prairie chicken and Henslow's sparrow nest on the area, and short-eared owl occurs during the winter. Interesting plants include fringed poppy mallow, blue false indigo, royal catchfly and the endangered Mead's milkweed. Niawathe Prairie Conservation Area is owned by the Department of Conservation (160 acres) and The Nature Conservancy (80 acres), and is managed by the Department of Conservation. For further information contact the Wildlife District Supervisor, Southwest District Office, 2630 N. Mayfair, Springfield, MO 65803, phone 417/895-6880.

Niawathe Prairie Natural Area