Irvine Prairie

Irvine Prairie is a 292-acre prairie-in-progress located near Dysart, Iowa in northwest Benton County. The land was donated to the UNI Foundation by Cathy Irvine in memory of her husband David. In partnership with Cathy and the farm operator, we are restoring an ecologically diverse tallgrass prairie that engages current and future generations of students and community members in learning about Iowa's prairie heritage and appreciating the benefits provided by prairie. Cathy Irvine's vision is to create a place where people can see what Iowa used to look like. No one has the power to bring back the ancient tallgrass ecosystem, which was more complex than we can begin to know. But Irvine Prairie will stand as a permanent invitation to experience something vast, to be surprised and filled with awe by the life of the prairie. Since 2018, we have successfully introduced over 119 species of native prairie plants, using the most genetically diverse and regionally appropriate seed sources available and closely matching species with soil moisture conditions. The Tallgrass Prairie Center uses the best known approaches to controlling weeds and encouraging diverse, native wildlife. We are committed to documenting the work, and carefully monitoring the results, to guide future management decisions. Irvine Prairie is free and open to the public and we encourage and welcome visitors to explore the planted areas. A portable toilet is available. No hunting or motor vehicles permitted.