Climate
The climate of the region is typical of continental interiors with temperatures between 1981 and 2010 averaging 10.6 C (51 F), ranging from a low of 0.8 C (33 F) in January to a high of 30.7 C (87 F) in July. Precipitation during the same time averaged 778 mm (30.6 in), ranging from a low of 19 mm (0.71 in) in January to a high of 121 mm (4.76 in) in May. Eighty percent of annual precipitation fell during the growing season (April through October) (U.S. Climate Data).
Soils
Soils of the Preserve are typical of midwestern prairie soils with most of the Mollisol soil order (Hapludolls, with some Argiudolls) and the remainder Inceptisols (Eutrudepts and Udorthents). The six soil complexes covering the majority of the Preserve landscape are Contrary-Marshall silty clay loams on 6-11% slopes (115 acres), Contrary-Monona-Ida complex on 6-17% slopes (91 acres), Judson silty clay loam on 2-6% slopes (72%), Kennebec silt loam in the floodplain along the Big Papillion Creek (51 acres), Smithland-Kenridge silty clay loams along the Glacier Creek lowland (25%), and Burchard-Contrary-Steinauer complex on 7-16% slopes (7%). Loess covers the surface of the majority of the Preserve although the Burchard-Contrary-Steinauer complex is one location where remnants of glacial deposits (glacial till) in the form of gravelly material, from pebbles up to baseball-sized rocks, may be seen on the surface. This glacial till, which is associated with springs that maintain Glacier Creek, is the source of the creek’s name. Both the Preserve and the recently acquired property are dominated by south and north-facing slopes.
Natural Features
While the dominant natural features of the Preserve are tallgrass and mixed-grass prairies, several other natural features also are represented on the Preserve, most reflecting the surface and sub-surface hydrology of the area. Two small creeks, Glacier Creek to the south and North Creek to the north, add flowing-water (lotic) environments to the diversity of habitats on the preserve. Springs, for example, provide a continuous source of water for Glacier Creek such that, even during dry years (e.g. 2012) the creek maintains a constant (base) flow averaging approximately 265 liters (70 gallons) per minute. While not quantified, North Creek also has been observed to maintain a constant flow. In addition to creeks, sub-surface water temporarily surfaces along some slopes only to go below ground a few meters down-slope creating unique slope wetlands.
Slope wetlands are small areas on slopes where wetland plant communities of willows (Salix spp.), cattails (Typa spp.), horsetail (Equisetum spp.), sedges (Carex spp.) and rushes (Scirpus spp.) may be found, an unexpected location for these species in that they typically occur in lowlands and along creek margins. Even in the lowlands, sub-surface water creates micro-habitats only a few meters across creating, yet another unique plant community, these dominated mostly by sedges. Wetlands are yet another natural feature of the Preserve. A historic wetland occurs at the junction of three channels in the Bouteloua Tract. Dominated by an understory of cattails and reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) that surrounds a small stand of willow, this wetland is visible in photos from the 1940s. While there is no evidence of tiling in this wetland, there have been some years when it has been cultivated along with the surrounding cropland. Several smaller wetlands may be found along the Glacier Creek lowland, particularly in the lower reaches of Glacier Creek that was converted from farm ponds to lowland prairie from 2000 to 2001.
Anthropogenic Features
Beyond the existing and recent structures around the headquarters area, the preserve includes evidence of historic human use. The small Kobs Pioneer Cemetery (Nebraska State Historical Society), with remaining gravestones dating to 1879, is located on an east-facing slope of the Papio Tract and represents an important period of time in the settlement of eastern Nebraska. In addition, evidence of previous farm steads that once occurred north and west of the Allwine Prairie Tract occasionally reappear in the form of old bricks in the now-farmed fields and early aerial photos. Even further in the past, evidence of Native American presence ca. A.D. 1000-1400 was found during an archeological search in the early 2020s by UNO faculty and students. Developing a more complete history of the site is part of ongoing efforts at the Preserve.