Prairie Ecosystem Restoration

Overall Project Outcome and Results
This project's focus was to collect seed and plant materials from 50 species of local ecotype native plants from 50 vulnerable prairie remnants and then re-seed or plant them on 1,000 acres or more of protected easements. By increasing the plant diversity in our native prairies we aimed to improve their natural functions and provide a better habitat for our insects, birds, and mammals. Additionally, the seeds collected are being used as foundation seed and their origination followed according to MN Crop Improvement Association's (MCIA) "Yellow Tag" program.

Letters were received from 31 landowners and 18 County Townships giving us permission to conduct native plant inventories and then collect seed and plant materials. MCIA was contracted to perform site inspections, identification, and verification of native species in order for the seeds collected to maintain their "Yellow Tag" eligibility. We received an overwhelming response for us to plant on 1589 acres. Many properties had several areas in which we planted seed or seedling plugs which we successfully grew.

In June 2009 four interns were hired and put to work learning plant and seed identification and seed stratification requirements. Daily tasks included identifying prairie remnants or sites with local ecotype native species, planting trays, using GPS to mark species locations on large sites, placing no mow signs in selected ditches, shelling and cataloguing seed types and amounts collected. Seeds were collected from 104 different species of which 34 species could be considered at-risk for further decline.

Projects Results Use and Dissemination
Articles were published in Martin SWCD's Conservation Update and several radio spots were aired discussing this project to update county residents on our progress. We also set up information booths at various community events and we always had photographs and talked about what we were doing with the project.

For more information, visit http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/all_projects/2008_projects.html.