Native Grassland Restoration

Introduction

North America was once covered with 250 million acres of prairie grasslands. Over the past 100 years, the shortgrass prairie ecosystem in the western United States has declined to about one-fifth of its original area, mainly due to commercial agriculture and human development. The rapid loss of prairie habitats, and of shortgrass prairies in particular, has happened over the course of only a few decades resulting in the steep decline of native plant and animal species. This reduction has not only led to habitat loss for prairie wildlife and plants, but the fragmentation and disturbance of the prairie that remains. 

Why restore native grasses?

The prairie plant community, which includes long-lived perennial grasses, performs important financial, cultural, and ecological services. Restoring grasses that were originally in these prairies through reseeding and replenishing the native prairie plants will help to restore natural ecosystem function. This will provide countless benefits such as: 

• Conserving soil and preventing erosion 
• Providing food resources to pollinators, birds, and small mammals; 
• Providing habitat for animals including birds and foxes; 
• Providing cooling benefits to our urban ecosystem; 
• Sequestering carbon to mitigate climate change;
• Absorbing and filtering storm water; and 
• Protecting streams and surrounding areas from flooding. 

Outdoor Connections: The Importance of Open Space

Colorado is fortunate to have breathtaking natural beauty within easy access of our communities. Extensive parks and open space systems, such as those in Broomfield, provide protection for habitat, wildlife, and pollinators, as well as opportunities for individuals to enjoy meaningful contact with the natural world. Urban and suburban open spaces have the potential to provide an excellent model of “nearby nature”. 

To accomplish a baseline of ecological health Broomfield continues to work with the private sector, non-profits and other governments to create “habitat pockets” throughout the community. These “pockets” over time grow to become linked corridors that can provide significant resources for wildlife. Broomfield’s 40% Open Lands goal will tremendously support the creation of these habitat pockets. 

Growing Patience: An investment in the future

Effective habitat restoration aims for ecological integrity, resilience, and self-sustainability. With this in mind, true restoration equates to patience and an understanding that we’re in it for the long haul. It takes many years to rebuild healthy natural plant communities, as the ever-present disturbances on the urban/suburban interface make restoration a much larger undertaking than simply planting the right seeds and forbs. 

A healthy management of expectations for timeline is essential, as we are: 1) combatting continued waves of invasive species; 2) implementing this project through variable and unpredictable precipitation, temperature, and climatic conditions; 3) tending to a damaged soil biome; and 4) adapting to the many environmental complexities unique to individual sites. Due to all of these factors, in Colorado it can take 5-7 years of active restoration efforts before it appears that the grasslands are beginning to be restored with native plants and provide ecosystem services. 

Broomfield residents frequently report wildlife appreciation and a desire to see more wildlife use of open space; therefore, effective habitat restoration plays a key role in maintaining these sites for the community to enjoy. Monitoring of soil, plant, and animal species throughout the restoration process will provide data about successes and reveal areas for needed adaptation in the future.   

Broomfield Open Space Restoration Projects:

Read more to learn about specific Broomfield properties that are investing in native plant restoration: 

The Field Open Space 

The Field is an open space bordered by 10th Avenue on the north, approximately 3rd Avenue on the south, Main Street to the west, and Ash Street to the east. A Master Plan for The Field was approved by the City Council on March 28, 2000 which includes a drawing of the restoration plan for The Field. In accordance with the Field Master Plan, on October 24, 2024 the Open Space and Trails Advisory Committee approved a Grassland Restoration Plan for the southwest quadrant of The Field. 

Wottge Open Space 

The Wottge Open Space Plan includes trails, habitat enhancement including grassland restoration along the drainage on the south end of the site, benches, and one shade pavilion. The Plan was approved by the City Council on December 12, 2023.  A robust public engagement process and environmental analysis guided the planning process. Read more on Wottge Open Space.