PRAIRIE RESTORATION & HABITAT ENHANCEMENT

The goal of ecological restoration is to restore natural systems to health. Contact Aquarian Gardens today for an initial consultation, to begin planning for your next restoration project.

Proven steps to restore and enhance native plant communities in prairies, savannas, woodlands, and wetlands.

PRESCRIBED BURNING

Fire is an important tool for the management and restoration of natural landscapes. Alex Broadfoot, owner of Aquarian Gardens, has completed the S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior Certification, S-219 Firing Operations, L-190 Human Factors on the Fire line, S-190 Intro Wildland Fire Behavior, and S-130 Firefighter Certification. Alex has completed over 24 burns over the past seven years, ranging in size from less than an acre to over 20 acres.

Aquarian Gardens maintains close communication with local authorities and will be fully insured for prescribed burning in the spring of 2017. All prescribed burns are carefully planned for efficacy and safety, follow standards defined by NWCG and the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council, and to manage the risk of air pollution.

BRUSH MANAGEMENT

The management, control, and removal of woody plants is an important component of ecological restoration. Professional brush management can help support thriving plant communities, restore native vegetative cover, protect soils, reduce erosion, and improve water quality. Let an expert help you decide which woody plants to clear and complete this vital work to your satisfaction.

Managing brush can enhance habitat for fish and wildlife, control invasive woody species. It can also help manage fuel loads to promote desired conditions, prevent wildfires, encourage new growth of native species, and protect existing diversity of plant species. Brush management can be used in tandem with prescribed burns, mechanical, and biological restoration methods.

SHORELINE PLANTING

The trees, shrubs, and forest understory on developed shorelines have a tendency to decline over time. While many lakeshore owners leave native shoreline vegetation in place, others have mowed lawn close to the shore. Rainwater runoff is much higher from lawn-to-lake shorelines. Lawn allows more phosphorus to enter the lake than natural, native vegetated shoreline.

Higher phosphorous in a lake creates more algae and reduces water clarity. More and more communities are adopting higher shoreline vegetation standards to protect water quality. Many lakeshore owners are converting mowed shoreland to native vegetation.

Once established, native plantings require minimal maintenance and improve the value of lakeshore property.

RIPARIAN BUFFERS

Riparian buffers are vegetated areas that stabilize banks, protect water resources from nonpoint source pollution, and provide aquatic and wildlife habitat. Buffers may include lakeshores, stream banks, floodplain, and wetlands.

Natural riparian buffers can include trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and grasses. Buffers can be implemented under diverse land uses including urban, suburban, forested, natural, and agricultural. An important factor in the effectiveness of riparian buffers is hydrology: the movement of water over or through the buffer.

Riparian buffers are effective in reducing nitrogen and mitigating negative impacts of human use of adjacent land. The streamside vegetated buffer filters nonpoint source pollutants and provides habitat for plants and wildlife. Width is the most important variable in the effectiveness of buffers in protecting the health of water bodies. Site characteristics, including slope, soil type, and location of existing and planted vegetation also impact the effectiveness of shoreline buffers.

Aquarian Gardens provides excellence in prairie restoration and habitat restoration. Call us today at 715-664-8808 or email with questions or to set up an initial consultation.