Jeff Laszlo is a fourth-generation owner of the Granger Ranches, a 13,000-acre cattle ranch in Montana’s Madison Valley. Over the past 20 years or so, he and a team of public agencies and professionals have been restoring a large wetland on the property, which was drained generations ago for grazing use.

What has become known as the O’Dell Creek restoration project has restored some 15 miles of spring-fed streams and 1,000 acres of wetlands. The results include a 900 percent increase in waterfowl numbers, a 600 percent increase in waterfowl species diversity, an improved fishery with reduced water temperatures, the return of rare native vegetation, the reintroduction of imperiled species such as Trumpeter Swans and Arctic grayling, and a vast increase in use for migrating sandhill cranes.

With the rising water table, the bottomland became more productive and better able to support the ranch’s cow-calf operation and hay production. The Granger Ranches has actually grown its livestock operations, demonstrating that ecological balance, sustainable ranching, and economic viability can coexist. This work has garnered numerous awards, including the 2010 National Wetlands Award for Private Land Stewardship, and has been the subject of films and numerous articles.

Jeff and I talked about the history of the family ranch, draining of the valley floor, and all about the restoration project, from impetus through implementation. Jeff articulated the complexity of such an endeavor, and how this sort of local effort has far reaching positive benefits.

Links:

Western Landowners Alliance - Stewardship with Vision Ep. 1

Trout Unlimited - A Public Lands Story

Montana Audubon - O'Dell Creek Restoration