Kalsow Prairie State Preserve

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State Preserves

Kalsow Prairie is a 160-acre prairie with many small potholes once typical of the Des Moines Lobe landform region. This preserve is located 5.5 miles northwest of Manson in southern Pocahontas County. Dr. Ada Hayden first described Kalsow Prairie in 1945 during the ā€œPrairie Projectā€ sponsored by the Iowa Academy of Science. As a result of her recommendation, the Iowa Conservation Commission purchased the tract in 1948 from the Kalsow family, who had traditionally used the prairie as a hayfield and pasture. The prairie was dedicated as a biological state preserve in 1968. 

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Directions

  1. From Storm Lake, drive east on Highway 7 for 30 miles to the intersection of Highway 7 and Highway 4. 
  2. Cross this intersection and continue east on County Road C66 (620th Street) (sign: Kalsow Prairie 7 miles) for 6 miles to 280th Avenue (sign: Kalsow Prairie 1 mile). 
  3. Turn south (right) and go 1 mile to 630th Street (sign: Kalsow Prairie). 
  4. From Fort Dodge, drive west on Highway 7 to the intersection of Highway 7 and Tabor Avenue (County Road N65) on the south edge of the town of Manson. 
  5. Turn north (right) and follow Tabor Avenue for 4 miles to 630th Street (sign: Kalsow Prairie 1 mile). 
  6. Turn west (left) and go 1 mile to the preserve (sign: Kalsow Prairie).
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Flora

The prairie contains over 250 plant species, of which 24 are grasses. 

Spring: The fresh colors of the spring flowers appear with:

  • Prairie buttercup
  • Spiderwort
  • Golden alexanders
  • Yellow stargrass
  • Pussytoes
  • Prairie smoke

Summer: A variety of colors is contributed by:

  • Black-eyed Susan
  • Purple milkweed
  • Compass plant
  • Wood lily
  • Grassleaf goldenrod
  • Rattlesnake master
  • Ironweed
  • Prairie rose
  • New Jersey tea
  • Purple coneflower
  • Purple prairie clover

Fall: Predominantly purples and golds, including:

  • Several asters
  • Goldenrods
  • Blazing stars
  • Sneezeweed
  • Bottle gentian
  • Downy gentian

Potholes: A complex of fourteen potholes is scattered across the preserve. The edges are characterized by:

  • Prairie cordgrass
  • Sedges
  • Bluejoint grass
  • Spikerushes
  • Smartweed

Low Areas: 

  • Great lobelia
  • Swamp milkweed
  • Germander
  • Swamp lousewort
  • Indian hemp
  • Water horehound
  • American germander
  • Blue flag iris
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Fauna

Birds: Among the forty-six species found are:

  • Bobolink
  • Western meadowlark
  • Upland sandpiper

Amphibians and Reptiles: Include:

  • Blanchardā€™s cricket frog
  • Northern prairie skink
  • Smooth green snake

Mammals: Twenty species, including:

  • Masked shrew
  • Short-tailed shrew
  • Plains pocket gopher
  • Western harvest mouse
  • Deer mouse
  • Meadow vole
  • Meadow jumping mouse

Butterflies: Five of the twenty-five species found are rare in the state, including:

  • Regal fritillary
  • Arogos skipper
  • Checkered white
  • Two-spotted skipper
  • Dion skipper
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Geological Features

Of geological interest, the preserve is nearly centered over the glacially buried Manson Crater, which was formed by the impact of a large meteorite during the late Cretaceous period. 

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Regulations

Hunting is permitted. 

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Nearby Public Areas

Other public areas in the vicinity include:

  • Sunken Grove
  • Leo Shimon Marsh
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