December 15, 2024 – Yosemite National Park officials announce Ackerson Meadow’s makeover is almost complete… 2024 was a big year! Ackerson Meadow, one of the largest publicly owned mid-elevation meadows in the Sierra Nevada, is home to the state-endangered great grey owl and little willow flycatcher, as well as a suite of additional at-risk wildlife. A century-old erosion gully network drained much of the wetlands in the meadow complex, so the goal of this project is to restore 103 acres of lost habitat and protect the remaining 84 acres of existing wetland from excessive soil erosion, rapid water runoff, and drying vegetation.
The Ackerson Meadow Restoration Project is the largest wetland restoration project in Yosemite’s history and has the stats to prove it!
More than 150,000 cubic yards of soil and mixed woodchips were placed to completely fill the large erosion gully.
90 pounds of seeds were sown from 23 native species.
2 acres of salvaged willows were planted.
128,785 wetland container plants were planted on the restored meadow surface.
In 2025, staff will return to complete the project by planting 297,000 additional container plants on the newly restored channel surface.
This restoration project was made possible due to a partnership between American Rivers, U.S. Forest Service-Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite Conservancy, and Yosemite National Park.
Learn more about this project: https://www.nps.gov/yose/getinvolved/ackersonmeadow.htm.
Source & photos: NPS