“There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness, that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy, and its charm.” – Teddy Roosevelt
Minot AFB is no longer taking a back seat in restoring its natural prairie grasslands. Human development has overtaken the growing and lush natural landscape over the decades. This overuse of land started with the free land grants and farming in the early 1900s. Land destruction was at an all-time high nearly 100 years ago following the Great Depression. Thousands of acres across North Dakota were torn up and plowed, never to see growth due to the severe droughts. The plains were left desolate, dry and useless which had a severe effect on wildlife survival. Since then, Americans have worked to recreate the natural landscape that once flowed for miles.
Today, Dr. Lynda LaFond, Biological Scientist, Natural and Cultural Resources Program Manager, 5 CES, has worked tirelessly with the Minot Pollinator Project, MAFB, North Plains Elementary, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and other gracious donors to secure a spot of 5.34 acres right here on Minot AFB where grassland will once again flourish as nature intended. This project to restore natural grassland on the base started some time ago. LaFond has been able to secure the land designation, which is near the North Plains Elementary campus, and seed donations from Hess Corporation and countless volunteers to make this dream reality. After clearing and seeding took place last fall, the soon-to-be grasslands are ready to be planted. This Saturday, May 18th, MAFB invites anyone with base access to come out and help plant at the Pollinator Community Day event!
While there will be some shovels and gloves on hand, LaFond asks that people bring their own tools if they have them. There will be over 400 plants that need planting, including the Blazing Star Flower and the Prairie Coneflower, which are native to this area. LaFond wants everyone with base access to feel included and a part of this special day. They will need all the help they can get.
Besides the natural grassland restoration, the goal of this project was to help encourage insects and wildlife, including the endangered Dakota Skipper Butterfly and even the well-known Monarch Butterfly, to thrive again. LaFond mentioned that a beauty of this project is that once the plants are in the ground they require very little maintenance, as all the plants are drought-resistant and should thrive on their own without much human interaction besides the scheduled burns every 4-5 years. She mentioned that a similar grassland pollinator habitat was created successfully at Grand Forks AFB, which is even more encouraging for the one here.
LaFond hopes this project will offer education benefits to the schoolchildren at North Plains and one day, once the grasslands have grown, turn into an area with natural walking paths and possibly tent camping for base residents to enjoy.
Please come out to support this local & history-in-the making endeavor on Saturday, May 18th.
