Soapstone Prairie Headwaters Restoration
Project Goals and Objectives
The goals of this project are: 1) stop the cycle of livestock overgrazing using wildlife-friendly fencing 2) reconnect stream floodplain and widen wetted channel width 3) encourage recruitment of native riparian and wetland species 4) create pool habitat for potential future reintroduction of Northern Leopard Frog if recovery conditions allow
Structure Construction Elements
1) Installed fence to keep livestock grazing out and allow wildlife species in. 2) Designed and built a low-tech series of seven beaver dam analog structures to increase wetland and riparian habitat, maintain channel and floodplain connectivity, encourage regeneration of willows and cottonwoods, and increase sediment retention. 3) Planted 2,500 native coyote willows. 4) Began monitoring the site to assess progress towards recovery.
Project Photos
Cover Photo