About This Area: One-half-mile of the South Fork of Spring River meanders through the east side of this 240-acre area. Approximately two-thirds of the area is open, and about 65 acres are classified as woodland. The Conservation Department acquired the property for Tingler Prairie Conservation Area in 1987-88. The area was purchased to preserve a 10-acre wet mesic prairie natural community, a shallow marsh and a five acre sinkhole pond (Tingler Lake) with its associated plant community, including the state endangered waterleaf. The wet mesic prairie is the site of two varieties of the state endangered green orchid. The shallow marsh is also an unusual plant community for the region. Other unique plants found here include Hydrolia ovata and Habenaria flava. Much of the open land was planted to fescue before the Nature Conservancy purchased the tract. Present management techniques include converting the fescue pasture to warm-season grasses and controlled burning of the existing prairie plant communities to maintain desirable native plant communities. Area facilities are limited to one parking lot and three maintained trails; the Woodland, the Wetland, and the Prairie trails. The nature trail is not disabled-accessible. CoCoRaHs Station Number: MO-HL-8. Photos taken on 09.02.12 near West Plains, MO 65775. I visit this area to train my bird dogs. Always have it to myself. Total of 300 acres. In the last few weeks we have had over 4 inches of rain. Yesterday was the first time I mowed my yard in 3 months.
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