Central Nebraska Prairie Preservation

WOOD RIVER — Chris Helzer seems to know every square foot of the 1,200 acres of native and restored prairies south of the Wood River exit from Interstate 80.

He greatly expanded the audience for his prairie ecology and management lessons with the March publication of his “Prairies” book, is “The Ecology and Management of Prairies In the Central United States”

Helzer is TNC’s Eastern Nebraska Program director based at Aurora. His work includes overseeing the design and management of about 5,000 acres of prairies along the Platte River, mostly between Kearney and Grand Island.

Helzer said that makes Nebraska prairies more dynamic and flexible than those in other regions.