Jasper County

In 2003, NICHES acquired 130 acres including predominantly woods and 30 acres of fields. 130 acres IHT supported and dedicated as a State Nature Preserve.

In 2005, an additional 67 acres of agricultural fields added to the property.

In 2007, an additional 20 acres of low wet flatwoods added to the IHT supported State Nature Preserve.

In 2016, 49 acres of farm land were added and restored in 2018.  

Before the Fisher family settled in the area, the natural diversity of wildlife attracted Native Americans. The sand ridge, in particular, situated above the lower wetlands and prairies, made an excellent spot for encampments.

Savannas are woodlands with a canopy with 50 – 80% tree cover. The resulting understory receives abundant light for wildflowers, shrub layer and understory trees to grow.  NICHES opens the savanna by removing invading trees, brush and returning fire as a natural process of ecosystem cycle of management.  Prescribed fire, also called controlled burn, allows native species to thrive, returns nutrients to the soil and kills invasive species not adapted to fire.  The blueberry bushes, lupines and puccoon, among many other native species benefit from the stewardship work.

The savanna and flatwoods core of Fisher Oak are natural remnants surviving despite the settlement, development, and agricultural land use surrounding them.

Interspersed and bordering the natural core are former agricultural fields that NICHES partnered with Spence Nursery to restore high diversity prairie and wetland communities. Prairies are open grasslands with less than 5% of tree cover, feature a diverse array of grasses, sedges, and forbs and provide habitat for a diverse array of insect, bird, and other wildlife.

High diversity restorations conducted adjacent to existing natural remnants have been shown to have increased numbers of rare and declining animals.  The restoration of the ag. field to high quality prairie will benefit, ecologically, the savanna and flatwoods.