Dakota Prairie Grasslands facts for kids

The Dakota Prairie Grasslands (DPG) is a huge area of open land in the United States. It was created in 1998. This special place is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. It includes four different National Grasslands. These grasslands are found in both North Dakota and South Dakota.

What are the Dakota Prairie Grasslands?

The Dakota Prairie Grasslands are made up of four main areas. Each area is managed by its own local office. These offices help protect the land and its wildlife.

• In North Dakota, you can find:
  • Cedar River National Grassland
  • Little Missouri National Grassland
  • Sheyenne National Grassland
• In South Dakota, there is:
  • Grand River National Grassland

Together, these four National Grasslands cover a total area of about 1,265,217 acres. That's a lot of wide-open space!

History of the Grasslands

Before 1998, these grasslands were part of a larger area. They belonged to the Custer National Forest. That forest was based far away in Billings, Montana.

The head of the Forest Service decided to make the DPG a separate unit. This was done to help manage the grasslands better. It allowed them to focus on the special needs of these unique areas.

How the Grasslands are Managed

The main office for the Dakota Prairie Grasslands is in Bismarck, North Dakota. This is where big decisions are made.

Each of the four grasslands also has its own local office.

• The Little Missouri National Grassland has offices in Dickinson and Watford City.
• The Sheyenne National Grassland is managed from an office in Lisbon.
• The Grand River and Cedar River National Grasslands share an office in Lemmon, South Dakota.

These local offices help protect the land every day. They work to keep the grasslands healthy for plants, animals, and people.