Former University of MN-Crookston graduate student, and current TNC botanist, Tyler Janke assisting 2 field assistants with his project dealing with the vegetative diversity of restord wetlands on Glacial Ridge NWR lands.

The recession of Glacial Lake Agassiz left an extensive tallgrass prairie and wetland complex among the ancient formed beach ridges across northern Minnesota.  Natural forces such as buffalo and fire maintained the landscape for thousands of years.  The arrival of European settlers however disrupted these processes as they converted lush landscapes into farm fields.

In 2001, over 30 private and public partners organized efforts to begin the Glacial Ridge Project, the largest tallgrass prairie restoration project in history.   Since then, over 120 wetland basins and 11,000 upland acres have been restored.   On March 6 at the Rydell Visitor Center, the Glacial Ridge Science Conference was held to provide a forum to collaborate data that many agencies and university had documented in responses to restoration activities.  The event was chiefly organized by University of North Dakota (UND) Hydrologist Phil Gerla.

Presentations included The Nature Conservancy’s Glacial Ridge Master Plan, techniques and engineering results used for restoration actions, and how remote sensing technology could be used to detect habitat changes of this restored landscape.  The day also included hydro-geomorphic documentation of the beach ridge area and how it influenced vegetation response, surface and ground water interaction, water quality, and discharge flow rates from the landscape. 

Information on wildlife and vegetation response to this large restoration effect included; comparing restored sites with natural sites, amphibian re-colonization, avian diversity, and shorebird survey results.   A panel discussion for future needs and directions relating to management and research was also part of the day.

 Keynote speakers included Dr. Carter Johnson, South Dakota State University, on “Climate Change, Prairie Wetlands and the Prairie Farm Concept” and Dr. Sue Galatowitsch, University of Minnesota, on “Is There Life After Death: Ecosystem Recovery After Invasive Species Removal”.

-Written by David F. Bennett