The objective is to over-seed a formerly cultivated 92-acre field that is in the process of being reclaimed to a native grass plant community to increase native cover, structure, diversity, and forage for wildlife. The field has progressed considerably over the 12 years since it was first seeded but is lacking in diversity and resilience to climate events. Overseeding will put the field back on a positive trajectory toward continuing to improve ecological function, range health and resilience to climate events. Restoration objectives for the field are to: - Regain ecological functions associated with dry mixedgrass prairie. - Establish plant communities similar to the adjacent native. - Improve the range health of reclaimed areas. - Maintain the wildlife travel corridor between nearby Writing-on-Stone Park and the large tracts of native grasslands to the NE. Project activities were to purchase seed, clean and contribute personal collections of seed, and hire a seeding contractor to over-seed a diverse native grass mix into the current species-poor plant community of western wheatgrass and blue grama. The following native seed mix was purchased from Sunshine Seeds Ltd. April 24, 2023, based on the availability of suitable seed and cost: northern wheatgrass 36% 286.5 lbs; Indian rice grass 25% 130.5 lbs; Sandberg Bluegrass 18% 24.5 lbs; June Grass 21% 12.5 lbs. An additional 1.7 lbs of cleaned silver sagebrush seed and 5.7 lbs of mixed wild-harvested native forb seed from the applicants’ collections was also sent to the seed supplier to blend into the mix. From April 25th to 27th, the seed was planted using a Haybuster 107C no till seed drill. This early timing will avoid harm to ground-nesting songbirds and maximize potential to capitalize on spring precipitation (pray for rain – snow also considered!). The deliverable is the successful introduction of a diverse, locally adapted native seed mix into the exposed soil of the field to improve restoration potential.

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