McClellan Creek National Grassland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids McClellan Creek National Grassland
Lake McClellan
McClellan Creek National Grassland Location in the United States
Location	Gray County, Texas, United States
Nearest city	Alanreed, TX
Area	1,449 acres (5.86 km2)
Governing body	U.S. Forest Service
Website	Black Kettle and McClellan Creek National Grasslands

McClellan Creek National Grassland is a special outdoor area in Gray County, Texas, United States. It's like a big park managed by the U.S. Forest Service. This grassland was created to help bring land that was badly damaged back to its natural, healthy state.

About McClellan Creek National Grassland

McClellan Creek National Grassland is a unique place in Texas. It covers about 1,449 acres, which is like 1,000 football fields! It's named after McClellan Creek, a stream that flows through the area, and it surrounds a lake called Lake McClellan.

What is a National Grassland?

A National Grassland is a type of protected area in the United States. It's managed by the U.S. Forest Service. These grasslands were often created on land that had been damaged, especially during the "Dust Bowl" era in the 1930s. The goal is to restore the land, protect wildlife, and allow people to enjoy nature.

Why was it created?

McClellan Creek National Grassland was bought a long time ago. The main reason was to help land that was badly eroded. Erosion happens when soil is washed away by wind or water. The goal was to restore this land to its natural, healthy condition.

Who manages the Grassland?

The U.S. Forest Service takes care of McClellan Creek National Grassland. It's managed along with the Cibola National Forest and other grasslands like Black Kettle, Kiowa, and Rita Blanca. All these areas are managed from a main office in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There's also a local office in Cheyenne, Oklahoma.

The Big Fire of 2006

In February 2006, a very large fire called the Interstate 40 fire swept through the area. This fire burned about 750,000 acres of land. All of McClellan Creek National Grassland was burned. Sadly, most of the trees in the grassland were lost in this big fire.

Lake McClellan

The grassland surrounds a reservoir called Lake McClellan. A reservoir is a large, artificial lake used to store water. This lake is on the McClellan Creek, which gives the grassland its name.

Gallery

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  Map of states and counties affected by the Dust Bowl between 1935 and 1938 originally prepared by the Soil Conservation Service. The most severely affected counties are colored  .

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  Frank Baldwin's charge on Grey Beard's Band, McClellan's Creek, TX, Nov. 8, 1874

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  McClellan Creek National Grassland after the 2006 fire