Wachiska Audubon Society presents “Ross Scott: Why I Protect Prairies.”
Join us for Ross Scott’s presentation and cookies: Thursday, AUGUST 13, 7:00 PM 6300 A Street, Lincoln, NE. Or live stream: https://youtube.com/live/0xODCrwYwzQ?feature=share
For more than four decades, Ross Scott has devoted his career to protecting Nebraska's soil, water, and native landscapes. A retired resource conservationist with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service Scott now serves as chair of the Prairie Conservation Management Committee for Wachiska Audubon, where he has been an active member since 2014. His commitment to prairie conservation began with personal experience.
As a young man, Scott watched part of his grandfather's native prairie disappear after the land was converted. That loss left an impression and helped shape the direction of his life's work. "I've always remembered that prairie," Scott said. "It played a significant role in why I wanted to work with prairies."
Early in his conservation career, Scott worked alongside an experienced conservationist who had studied under renowned prairie ecologist John Weaver at the University of Nebraska. Weaver's research at Nine-Mile Prairie transformed scientific understanding of prairie ecosystems by demonstrating that native grasses develop deep root systems that allow them to survive drought and build healthy soils. Those lessons stayed with Scott. "I learned to appreciate prairie plants," Scott said. "Native plants are uniquely adapted to our prairie soils and drought. Their deep roots are their greatest strength.”
Inspired by that mentorship, Scott returned to college to study agronomy, grassland science, and plant identification. He also pursued coursework in English and history before deciding his future belonged outdoors rather than in a library. "I realized I needed to be outside," he said. Scott joined the Natural Resources Conservation Service in 1978 and spent 37 years helping Nebraska landowners improve conservation practices before retiring in 2015. During his career, he specialized in native grass plantings, wetland restoration, and plant identification.
Along the way, he also witnessed dramatic changes across Nebraska's landscape. "I've seen so many pieces of prairie and wetland converted to cropland," Scott said. While agriculture remains vital to Nebraska's economy, Scott believes balancing production with conservation has become increasingly important. He points to concerns over nitrate contamination in groundwater, the impacts of concentrated livestock operations, and the continuing loss of family farms as challenges that require thoughtful stewardship.
Despite those concerns, Scott remains optimistic. He has seen growing interest among landowners, communities, and homeowners in restoring native habitats. Increasing numbers of people are planting pollinator gardens, restoring native grasslands, and enrolling land in conservation programs that improve wildlife habitat while protecting soil and water. "They're using more diverse seed mixes now," Scott said. "More people are asking to plant native species."
One of the most successful conservation tools, he says, is the federal Conservation Reserve Program, which provides financial incentives for landowners to convert cropland into native grasses and wildflowers. Rather than requiring entire fields, the program can also support smaller habitat corridors that benefit wildlife while remaining compatible with farming operations.
Scott points to Wachiska Audubon's prairies as examples of conservation in action. For Scott, every restored acre represents an opportunity to preserve Nebraska's natural heritage for future generations. "We need to continue maintaining these prairies," he said. "Once they're gone, they're very difficult to replace." ~ WJ Bantam