Enhancement of Research and Training Facilities at the Oak Lake Field Station, South Dakota

橡树湖野外站（南达科他州，州立大学）是一个占地570英亩的设施，位于北方冰川平原的草原坑洞地区。 该站提供了一个独特的设置，以支持长期的研究和指导的主题北方草原生态系统。 不寻常的土壤类型，冰川地貌和天真的草原植被加上野外站设施提供了机会橡树湖野外站经历了持续增长的程序和利用（3,700）用户日每年和增长）在其简短的八年历史。 设施和设备的挑战已经产生了越来越多的研究和教学重点在草原生态学，湖沼学研究的草原坑洞和评估的动手，调查为基础的环境教育材料。 这些挑战表明，需要建立一个研究和教学科学议程和战略管理计划，以支持该网站的未来使用。 这一规划工作的目标是：（1）确定科学议程（研究和指导）的橡树湖野外站，（2）确定设施和设备的需求，以支持扩大科学工作，（3）建立合作的工作关系，与计划在其他生物野外站，（4）与其他野外台站建立联系，以便交换研究数据和指导材料;为设施的拟议变更制定战略计划和成本估算，以用于随后的现场台站方案供资申请。 这些目标将通过互动式研讨会和为期两年的密集设计工作相结合来实现。 从这些规划工作中开发的信息将用于开发对车站翻新的支持，并指导未来510年的管理。 这两年努力的最终成果将是一项战略管理计划，以支持新科学议程中确定的目标。 这项规划工作将提高橡树湖野外站的能力，以支持草原生态系统的区域和国家科学工作。这些能力将在未来几年内从增强的设施（住房），现场实验室，支持设备）和合作研究和教学计划的实施中显而易见。 外地站主任和教师在其他机构将成为了解环境和设施在橡树湖外地站。 这种提高的认识将加强对草原环境感兴趣的广大科学家和学生的生物群落间研究和学习活动。

The Oak Lake Field Station (South Dakota) State University) is a 570 acre facility located in the prairie pothole region of the Northern Glaciated Plains. This station provides a unique setting to support long- term research and instruction for topics on northern prairie ecosystems. Unusual soil types, glaciated land forms and naive prairie vegetation together with field station facilities provide opportunities The Oak Lake Field Station has experienced continued growth of programs and utilization (3,700) user-days per year and growing) over its brief eight year history. Facility and equipment challenges have been generated from increased research and instructional emphases in prairie ecology, limnological studies of prairie potholes and assessment of hands-on,, inquiry-based environmental education materials. These challenges demonstrate a need to establish a research and instructional science agenda and strategic management plan to support future use of the site. The objectives of this planning effort are to (1) define a science agenda (research and instruction)for the Oak Lake Field Station, (2) identify facility and equipment needs to support expanded scientific efforts, (3) establish collaborative working relationships with programs at other biological field stations, (4) establish communication with other field stations for the exchange of research data and instructional materials and (5) develop a strategic plan and cost estimates for proposed changes in the facility to be used in subsequent funding requests for field station programs. These objectives will be addressed through a combination of interactive workshops and intensive design efforts over a two year period. Information developed from these planning efforts will be used to develop support for station renovations and guide management for the next 510 years. The final product of this two year effort will be a strategic management plan to support objectives defined within a new science agenda. This planning effort will enhance the capabilities of the Oak Lake Field Station to support regional and national science efforts in prairie ecosystems. These capabilities will be evident from enhanced facilities (housing), field laboratory, supporting equipment) and implementation of collaborative research and instructional programs within the next few years. Field station directors and faculty at other institutions will become aware of environments and facilities at the Oak Lake Field Station. This increased awareness will enhance interbiome research and learning activities for a broad group of scientists and students interested in prairie environments.