umr Projects

Upper Mississippi River Bottomland Forest Restoration

Our Goals

Preserving and promoting the regeneration of bottomland forests by controlling invasive species and planting trees.

What We’re Doing

We are advancing the science around floodplain forest restoration and its effects on birds by working with partners to evaluate restoration methods.

View of the Mississippi River and its bottomland forests

Photo: Rob Schultz

Floodplain forests are unique habitats found along river and stream corridors that contain a diversity of plants that can survive repeated and extensive flooding.

Many species of birds, including the golden Prothonotary Warbler, the secretive Red-shouldered Hawk, and the sweet-melodied Cerulean Warbler make their nests in floodplain forests.

Along the Upper Mississippi River, these forests are under threat. Locks and dams create artificially high-water levels, and invasive species prevent the natural regeneration of trees. That’s why we are taking action to prevent much of the existing forest from converting to reed canary grass, an aggressive invasive plant that provides no habitat for forest-dependent birds.

3k+

Acres Enhanced

160k+

Trees Planted

Project Lead

Jeff Butler

Forest Ecologist

Funding Provided By:

Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund

Outdoor Heritage Fund

US Fish and Wildlife Service

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