Abstract

Fort Riley – or Camp Center as it was originally named due to its proximity to the geographic center of the US – was first surveyed in 1852 to serve as a military post to protect traders moving along the Oregon-California and Santa Fe trails.

Keywords:

• Fort Riley,
• Tallgrass,
• prairie,
• native,
• nature,
• grass,
• plains,
• military,
• army,
• Flint Hills,
• Camp Center,
• elk,
• animals,
• species,
• biomass,
• perennials,
• forbs,
• limestone,
• habitat,
• ecosystem,
• niche,
• insects,
• birds,
• bird,
• lightning,
• fire,
• burning,
• Native Americans,
• Indians,
• tradition,
• trees,
• invasive,
• threat,
• pest