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| Chase State Fishing Lake |
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| Highlights |
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Pristine prairie and the rolling flint hills.
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| Description |
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Chase SFL is located in the scenic Flint Hills region. This area exhibits extraordinary beauty of the tallgrass prairie. The lake is 109 acres and is completely surrounded by flint hills. Below the dam the lake has created a scenic waterfall that cascades over a layered limestone ledge and filters into a creek. The hills offer some spectacular views of the surrounding area. The Flint hills were named for the flint rock that is embedded in limestone and forms the rolling hills. The chert or flint rock is exposed after wind and water has eroded away the limestone. The flint rock is rather beautiful displaying shades of blue and white. |
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| Site Access/Ownership |
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Chase SFL is owned and managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
For additional information you may contact the Region 4 office located in Wichita, KS. at: (316) 683-8069 or you may contact the KDWP office at Council Grove Lake at:
(620) 767-5900. |
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| Protocols/Visitation Ethics |
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| Chase SFL does not supply trash containers and so you should pack out whatever trash you bring in to the park. Littering degrades the beauty of the landscape, so help keep the prairie beautiful. |
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| Birds/Birding |
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This area offers exceptional birding opportunities. On the lake you can see Canadian Geese, Mallard Ducks, and Great Blue Herons. During the summer months a variety of different species of birds are often visible. Around the lake in the trees you may catch a glimpse of a Warbling Vireo, Eastern Phoebe, Baltimore Oriole, Eastern Bluebird, or Eastern Kingbird. Along the prairie landscape are Red-winged Blackbirds, Eastern Meadowlarks, Brown headed Cowbirds, and Killdeers. Common Grackles and Turkey Vultures are usually seen. In the twilight hours you may get to see a soaring nighthawk. Or at night you can sometimes hear an owl hooting in the distance. Just below the waterfall you can see Northern Rough-winged Swallows flying in and out of their nesting cavities in the creek bank.
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| Wildlife/Sounds |
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| Along the hillsides look for Collard Lizards and Native Scorpions. At night raccoons may intrude into your campsite, so always put away your trash or they will get into it. At night you may get to hear howling coyotes. During the summer at twilight hours keep your eyes peeled for bats feasting on those pesky mosquitoes. Out on the prairie look for groups of white tailed deer. |
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| Flora |
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The scenic flint hills landscape is covered in tallgrass prairie and interesting limestone rocks. Flint is found on the tops of the hills. The flint-like sedimentary rock was left behind after the limestone eroded away; this is how they got the name flint hills. The flint hills are covered in a significant portion of the remaining tallgrass prairie, which use to cover most of the Midwest. Throughout spring and summer the prairie is covered with spectacular wildflowers. Some of the wildflowers include Wild Blue Indigo, Verbena, Primrose, Gayfeather, Sunflowers, Cat-claw Mimosa, Snow-on-the-Mountain, Cobaea Beardtongue, and Goldenrod just to name a few. You can also find several species of tallgrass such as Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Switch Grass, Side Oats Grama, and Indian Grass. In some of the shallower portions of the lake cattails and willow grow. Below the dam is a thick hardwood forest. |
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| Recreation |
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Boats are permitted on the lake for fishing purposes. Crappie, Bass, and Catfish can be caught in the lake. Group shelters are available for family events. Although hiking trails aren’t marked you can hike on deer trails throughout the park. A trail leading up to a rock quarry is a short, but scenic hike. The trail leads you up on top of a hill providing you with spectacular views. Hiking along the hills next to the campsites is very rewarding because of the interesting rock formations, and various plant species you can see.
Another trail that you can take will lead you to the waterfall area. Hike along the dam to the end and head left on the deer trails. The trail will eventually enter a thick forest. Listen for flowing water to lead the way. The trail takes you deeper and deeper into the forest along a small creek. During the summer months, watch out for ticks, snakes, and poison ivy.
A small swimming area is also available as well as vault toilets, picnic tables, group shelters, grills, and a boat ramp. |
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| Conservation |
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The prairie is burned in the early spring to stimulate growth of the prairie vegetation. This also helps to eliminate invasive woody vegetation that doesn’t belong on the prairie, such as the Eastern Red Cedar. Managers discovered the need to burn the prairie from Mother Nature who has burned the prairie for years through lightning fires.
For over 8,000 years Tallgrass prairies covered 250 million acres of the Midwest from Canada to the Gulf Coast of Texas. The prairie has such diversified flora with over 30 species of grasses and over 250 species of forbs. Nomadic herds of buffalo thrived on the prairie finding rich sources of food across the prairie region. The prairie was respected and managed by Native Americans who learned the art of burning the prairie by Mother Nature.
By the 1900’s the prairies were almost completely destructed because of the invention of the steel plow. Now there is only less than 1 percent of remaining Tallgrass prairie, which makes it the most endangered ecosystem in North America. The majority of the remaining Tallgrass prairie is here in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Immediate restoration and conservation projects are necessary to save this spectacular, but unappreciated ecosystem. Midwesterners desperately need to become more aware of the value of this dying ecosystem before its too late. Ways people can help is by becoming active in educating people about this problem. Also prairie restoration projects are extremely important and need to occur more on private land that has been devastated by ranchers and farmers and left to spoil and spread to other land. |
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| Directions/Maps |
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To reach Chase SFL take K-177 south at exit 313 off I-70. Follow the signs for K-177 for 48 miles to the Chase Co. SFL turn off. The turn off will be just after you get into the town of Cottonwood Falls. Just after you go over the Cottonwood River there will be a brown sign on the west (right) side of the road directing you to turn. Take that road for 3 miles and turn left into the park where the entrance sign is located. There is just one road that runs through the park.
You may also reach the park off of I-35 by taking the exit for Cassoday, which is exit 92. Head north on 177 to Cottonwood Falls and turn left at the Chase SFL sign. |
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| Attractions |
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Just down the road from the lake is Bates Grove Park. The park is small and only provides areas to picnic, but it also offers excellent birding opportunities. The park is in a thick hardwood forest, which provides habitat for many songbirds. Red-bellied and Downy woodpeckers can be heard throughout the forest. Watch for Yellow Warblers and Warbling Vireos in the trees. The forest is really thick so it is sometimes hard to view the birds.
Also next to the park is a closed bridge, which provides habitat for Cliff swallows and Eastern Phoebes. Watch for them hovering or soaring around the bridge, which is over the Cottonwood River.
Close to the lake in Cottonwood Falls and the surrounding area are some other attractions worth checking out. On Broadway in the heart of Cottonwood Falls is the oldest Kansas Courthouse still in use. The courthouse exhibits a 19th century architectural style, built from limestone. Guided tours are available within the courthouse. Outside of Cottonwood Falls amongst the prairie is the Clements Stone Arch Bridge. The bridge was constructed of limestone in approximately 1886. Now a historical treasure, the bridge has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. To learn more about the bridge visit http://home.comcast.net/~g.k.evans/home.html or send an email to gr5evans@comcast.net
In the spring Cottonwood Falls host the Prairie Fire Festival. The festival is an annual celebration of the burning of the prairie. Spectacular art exhibitions, live music, and nature/historical programs make up the weeklong event. To learn more about the event call (620) 273-6020 or send an email to pmaid@kansas.net. You may also visit their website at http://www.prairiefirefestival.com
After the Prairie Fire Festival is a two weeklong Prairie Art event. This is a free painting event for artists from Kansas and all over the country. The event gives artists the opportunity to use the breathtaking prairie landscape as their subject. Painting will take place in the morning and the evening. The rest of the time artists can participate in workshops, lectures, demonstrations, and social activities. To find out more information about this event visit their website at http://www.prairieart.net/ |
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| Links |
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| For a different outlook on this lake go online at: Chase State Fishing Lake |
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