Low-tech Restoration

 
The headshot of Natural Resource Technician, Senior, Kamryn Kozisek

For more information please contact Kamryn Kozisek, kkozisek@sublettecd.com

This project, offers an opportunity to use natural processes to heal erosion on rangelands. Restoring land can be intensive and expensive, but low-tech structures offer a back-to-basics approach to help slow rangeland erosion. These techniques let the water do the work to restore riparian and wet meadows by increasing soil moisture and vegetation growth.

Research indicates that these methods can effectively increase vegetation productivity by 25% and keep plants greener longer, which results in greater resiliency against drought and climate variability. Low-tech structures include Zeedyk structures (media luna, one rock dam, zuni bowl, rock rundown and rock mulch) and Beaver Dam Analogs (BDA).

 
A beaver dam analog, water is higher behind the dam and lower in the front.

Example of a beaver dam analog

A Zuni bowl, the background shows a drainage and sagebrush.

Example of a Zuni Bowl

An example of a one rock dam, the visible drainage is sandy, sagebrush is visible on the sides.

Example of a one rock dam

An example of a media luna, a road and culvert is visible in the background.

Example of a media Luna

A rock run-down, other rock structures are visible in the back ground.

Example of a rock run down

An example of rock mulch, other rock structures and a tent are visible in the background.

Example of rock mulch

 

BDA Time-lapse

BDA Video Description

Zeedyk time-lapse

Zeedyk Video Description
 

More Information

Sage grouse Initiative
Local workshop
Partners in sage workshop
A screenshot of the cover of the "Low-Tech Process-based Restoration of Riverscapes Design Manual"

Click on the image to view the manual.

A screenshot of the cover of the book "Mesic Habitat Conservation Planning Guide".

Click on the image to view the manual.

A screenshot of the cover of the "Erosion Control Field Guide"

Click on the image to view the manual.

A screenshot of the cover of the book "Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes Pocket Field Guide."

Click on the image to view the manual.