It is located along Hwy PF in Prairie du Sac WI. The 23-acre Moely Prairie is located at E11497 Highway PF in Prairie du Sac, WI (Sauk County). Barbara Moely owns the property, which has been in the Moely family since around 1880. Moely Prairie is now protected through a perpetual conservation easement held by Barbara. The Empire-Sauk Chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts manage Moely Prairie and coo
rdinate restoration work. Of the total 23.5 acres, approximately 19 acres are classified as dry to dry-mesic sand prairie, 1.5 acres as old fields (smooth brome), and 3 acres as low woodland (brush/scrub). The land around the prairie is currently a mixture of residential, agricultural and industrial uses. Also known as Moely Sand Barrens, Prairie Smoke Prairie, and Highway PF Prairie, Moely Prairie is one of the few surviving remnants of the former 14,000 acre Great Sauk Prairie that extended west and northwest of Sauk City and Prairie du Sac. Alvin Burt's original Public Land Survey notes from 1842 describe the area now known as Moely Prairie as "land rolling prairie," "land rolling and sandy," and "all prairie." Trees are not mentioned. It is believed that the property has not been farmed in the last 70 years, if ever, and has been grazed only lightly. Management goals for Moely Prairie include recovering and maintaining as much of the site’s original prairie as possible for the benefit of current and future generations, providing habitat for grassland birds (including non-native game birds) and other native animal species associated with treeless grassland/prairie ecosystems, providing educational opportunities for area students and the Sauk Prairie community, and providing for improved water quality and supply to groundwater and area streams and rivers. Management tools include invasive species removal and tree cutting, prescribed burns, and mowing. Currently much of the prairie sod is being overtaken by brush colonies, red cedar, and deciduous trees. The property may be supporting four grassland bird species of conservation concern and interest, including eastern meadowlark, western meadowlark, grasshopper sparrow, and clay-colored sparrow. Moely harbors a rich array of native prairie plants. Unique to this site for the area is a large population of prairie smoke (Geum triflorum) with literally thousands of plants. There are also large populations of rough blazing star (Liatris aspera), Indian grass (Sorgastrum nutans) and little blue grass (Andropogon scoparius). Moely Prairie is open to the public for the following uses only:
Hiking
Wildlife viewing/appreciation
Nature study/photography
Cross-country skiing (without tracked trails)
Research (with permit from The Prairie Enthusiasts only)
Educational purposes
Prohibited on the property:
Vehicles (including bicycles), except to carry out approved management activities
Camping or picnic fires
Pets
Horseback riding
Collection of flowers, plants, rocks, or any other part of the natural landscape
Trapping (except as a management tool when necessary)
Access is via the west end of Alban Lane in the Westwynde Neighborhood of Prairie du Sac. Organizations other than The Prairie Enthusiasts that have been involved in the restoration work at Moely Prairie include:
The Aldo Leopold Foundation
Bluestem Farm
The Blufflands Project
The Sauk Prairie Conservation Alliance
The Sauk Prairie School District
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Thanks for helping us put the prairie back in Sauk Prairie! Note: The Prairie Enthusiasts "Management Plan for Moely Prairie" (2015), prepared by Susan Kenney, was the primary source of information contained in this document.
