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Introduction to South Dakota Rangelands

“Land of infinite variety,” a slogan often used to describe aspects of life in South Dakota, also applies to the state’s rangelands. Rangeland is a term applied to a particular kind of land which supports specific vegetation communities. Rangeland plant communities are dominated by grasses and contain varying levels of broad-leaved forbs and woody shrubs. Trees are generally infrequent components of rangeland vegetation, but some savannahs and open woodlands or forests are classified as rangeland. The diversity of vegetation communities occurring in South Dakota have been described by Gartner and Sieg (South Dakota Rangelands: More than a Sea of Grass, 1996).

Abiotic (non-living) factors responsible for the formation of the short-, mid-, and tallgrass prairies of the northern Great Plains include soils, climate, herbivory (feeding on rangeland plants by a wide variety of animals) and fire. Most of South Dakota’s landscape lies in the drainage of the Missouri River. The Missouri, which dissects the state from north to south, roughly marks the southwesterly advance of the continental glacier during the most recent Ice Age. Soils east of the river were formed primarily in glacial deposits, modified by subsequent erosion. “West River” soils were formed in ancient marine deposits, more recent loess deposits influenced by the uplift of the Black Hills and subsequent erosion.

Precipitation for most of South Dakota is typically semi-arid. From prehistoric times, recurring intervals of drought have characterized the climate of South Dakota and the resulting rangeland vegetation. Rangeland plants are well adapted to periodic defoliation resulting from grazing by migrating herds of large ungulates, particularly bison, as well as feeding by smaller mammals and insects. Contemporary exclusion of recurring fire, which characterized rangelands of the northern Great Plains has contributed to conspicuous changes in vegetation, such as increases in exotic and invasive plants and increases in trees and other woody species.

While rangelands dominated South Dakota landscapes prior to European settlement, many areas have been converted to cropland and less extensively to large and small communities. However, large expanses of undisturbed, contiguous rangeland remain. Unlike state further west, the highest proportion of South Dakota’s rangeland are privately owned.

Rangelands provide important habitat for a diversity of both game and non-game wildlife species as well as beef cattle and sheep. Rangeland vistas contribute to the “western” experience of many visitors supporting the state’s important tourist industry. Finally, perennial rangeland vegetation covering extensive areas of the Missouri drainage contribute to soil stability and high value surface and subsurface water resources.