We have a huge project happening on our 22 acres: a wetland restoration project. And not just any wetland restoration, but the first for our conservation district. So it’s a big deal for them too.
This has been a year in the making, although all we’ve had to do is sit around and wait…and open and close gates for the many visitors who have been out to survey, discuss, measure, dig, etc.
Now it’s October, 2024, and the final stage is taking place as 500 native trees and shrubs get planted as I type this.
What is this wetland restoration project?
Our 22 acres sits in a river valley. It was tiled and drained at some point in its 134-year history, but we don’t know when. All we know is the tiles have been breaking down over the past 12 years that we’ve been here, returning parts of our property to the wetland it used to be.
We had two choices: spend a lot of money to redo the drain tiles, or learn to live with the wetlands.
Since our goal is to farm for a future–meaning creating a place where farming and nature coexist in a way that benefits the planet–learning to live with the wetlands made the most sense. We are part of a voluntary stewardship program, learning to run our small farm in the most responsible way. That made it easy to talk to our local conservation district about the standing water issues and what we might do other than fence the livestock off. They offered to find the funds to restore a wetland on our property. That would help with some of our standing water issues, and provide critical habitat too. Of course we said yes!
From wetland mess to wetland restored
The half acre area that is being restored is technically wetland on geographical maps. For us as the property owners, it was simply a weedy overgrown mess that we couldn’t even walk through due to a neighbor getting his huge tractor stuck there—twice–and needing an even bigger tractor to pull his out. The tractor tires left huge ruts in the ground, making it uneven to the point of dangerous. So that part of our land sat and Oregon ash trees and Pacific crabapples sprouted and we thought we’d just let it be since we couldn’t use it.
I guess you could say it was kind of, sort of a wetland, but far from ideal.
But now…now it’s something! After months of meetings and budget approvals and paperwork and discussions and tours, the plan was finalized and the project began.
While the ground was still dry in September, the contractor dug out a pond and swales and hauled away 60 yards of dirt. He placed felled trees and brush piles in strategic places for habitat. Native grasses were planted in and around the pond and swales, and the area was fenced to keep livestock out but let wildlife in.
As the rain has started to fall, the pond has started to fill. And now 500 native shrubs and trees are being planted as the final step.
From weedy mess to wetland reality
What used to look like a weedy mess is starting to look like the wetland it used to be. We walk out there every day now to see the grass seed sprout and the water collect in the pond. It’s amazing to have this project happening right here, right now on our property.
To see what it looks like today, check out this video. (In the future, I plan to have a longer video showing every stage…and of course we will be tracking progress in the years to come.)
And that’s it for now.
