Southeast Michigan was at one time lush with wild flower meadows known as Lakeplain Prairies. This was long before European settlement. Less than one percent of the original lakeplain prairies now remain, due to development pressure from private land owners and from local governments eager to grow their commuities.
The range of these lakeplain prairies followed the ancient shoreline of the Great Lakes, spanning from Bowling Green, Ohio to Algonac, Michigan. Oak savannahs were intermittently found among the prairies. The prairie landscape was a result of sand deposits left by receding glaciers about 10,000 years ago, which formed a dune system and soil hydrology necessary to support these "wet" prairies.
Native Americans who lived in the lakeplain prairies, managed them with controlled burning. In addition, they hunted buffalo among other wildlife that lived in the prairies.
Scientific papers, historical records and land stewardship information will be forthcoming.
Scientific papers, historical records and land stewardship information will be forthcoming.
