A Good Read: ‘Sea of Grass’ explores history, decline and hope for America’s prairies

Author and commentator Connie Cronley shared her latest nonfiction read, Sea of Grass: The Conquest, Ruin and Redemption of American Prairies, a journalist-written exploration of the history, destruction and restoration efforts for one of the planet’s most threatened ecosystems.

What is Sea of Grass about?

The book, written by two journalists, examines the vast American prairie, once stretching across the heart of the U.S., and its environmental, economic and cultural significance.

The subtitle, The Conquest, Ruin and Redemption of American Prairies, underscores the authors’ exploration of how settlers transformed the land, the ecological cost of that transformation, and ongoing efforts to restore native grasslands.

Why is the prairie important?

Cronley noted the authors compare the prairie’s biodiversity to that of the rainforest and the Serengeti, with a diversity of plants, animals, insects, microbes and bacteria.

“They’re disappearing as fast as the rainforest,” Cronley said, adding that the prairie remains vital to the U.S. economy as “the breadbasket of the world.”

What threats do prairies face?

The book details decades of overplowing, soil depletion and heavy fertilizer use, leading to downstream environmental damage. Fertilizer and sediment runoff into the Mississippi River contribute to a “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico, spanning about 1,000 square miles where marine life cannot survive.

Is there hope for the prairie’s future?

Yes, Cronley says. The authors highlight ranchers and farmers restoring grasslands through regenerative practices — rotating cattle, reducing synthetic fertilizers, and using beneficial insects to promote soil health.

“They do have hope and they show us how some cattlemen, some farmers are regenerating the grassland and bringing it back to its health,” she said.

What makes this book different from other environmental reads?

Unlike many environmental reports from “talking heads” far removed from the land, Sea of Grass profiles people who live and work on the prairie, offering firsthand perspectives on both the challenges and successes of restoration.