Marias saline wetland
Marias Saline Wetland Restoration Site
Program
Stream and Wetland Mitigation
Watershed
Marias
This project is restoring a unique 30-acre saline wetland basin on a working farm and ranch near Sunburst, Montana. In the 1950s, a large pit was dug into the lower end of the basin and a tall U-shaped berm was built around pit to help hold water in the pit for livestock, and dry up the ground behind the berm to increase farmable land. Over time however, the pit acted like a bathtub drain and the water in the depression became extremely saline and unhealthy for livestock. The basin also became more and more difficult to farm and was no longer a usable area for the landowner’s livestock.
Restoration Techniques
Restoring Hydrologic Connection
Wetland Restoration
Native Vegetation Restoration
Montana Freshwater Partners worked with the landowner to restore the wetland basin by filling in the pit with the U-shaped berm material and restoring the hydrologic connection to the lower end of the basin to improve natural wetland expansion. A native upland grass mix was seeded to establish a healthy vegetated buffer between the surround farmed acreage and the restored wetland. A native wetland seed mix was also planted in disturbed areas to encourage the establishment of a native saline wetland vegetation community. Weeds and other undesirable species are being treated with a combination of mowing, burning and aquatic-safe herbicides.
This project is now 3 year into its monitoring phase and we have seen a significant reduction in weed cover, nearly 2 acres of wetland expansion, and a substantial increase in waterfowl, prairie songbird, raptor and ungulate actively. It has been rewarding to see how the restoration of this native saline basin and native upland vegetated buffer has turned a poorly functioning ‘problem area’ into a habitat oasis for prairie species. It has been a win-win for conservation and for the landowner’s working ranch.
Ecosystem Benefits
Restored Wetland Habitat
Improved Native Vegetation Communities
Restored Hydrology
acres of wetland restored
Our Projects
We work across Montana to restore and protect our state’s precious water resources.
