Restoration of Lands on the Gardiner Basin Winter Range, Yellowstone National Park, Montana, USA. The
area was settled in the 1870s and converted
from native vegetation to cropland and non-native grasslands. The area was acquired by the park in the 1930s. However, the habitat further degraded through the planting and seeding of non-native crested wheatgrass
(Agropyron cristatum) and other non-native invasive species.
Restoration efforts were initiated in 2008. The efforts consist of 1. maximizing weed
control using chemical, mechanical, and cultural techniques; 2. site preparation using a barley/winter wheat cover crop to hold and decompact soil, provide competition with weeds, stimulate soil biota, and increase soil organic
material; 3. fencing to exclude ungulate use during site preparation through native seed
planting/ germination/ establishment; and 4. drill seeding native seeds at a rate of 16-22 lbs per acre.