Bring Back the Goats
Donation protected
Walnut Creek Watershed Coalition
Clive Greenbelt Park Vegetation Management Project
What is it? Vegetation management is the removal, reduction or manipulation of invasive species or other unwanted vegetation. Active vegetation management is a process of addressing unacceptable levels of vegetation in areas to promote desirable plant growth, increase water infiltration within soil and improve wildlife habitat.
Why is This Needed? It is easy to see that the Greenbelt Park is becoming overrun with invasive species and other unwanted vegetation. If left unchecked, invasive plants can take over and outcompete desired native vegetation and successional trees and threaten important habitat. The City of Clive's Greenbelt Master Plan identified the need for the City to begin an active vegetation management program in order to reduce the dense growth of invasives that are shading out ground layer vegetation and causing native plant diversity to decrease.
How Does it Work? When it comes to clearing unwanted vegetation, grazing animals can provide an ideal alternative to machines and herbicides. Grazing animals are able to work in locations that are not conducive to mowers and in places humans don’t want to go (like patches of Poison Ivy, Garlic Mustard and Canada Thistle). Additionally, grazing animals support the City’s environmental focus in the Walnut Creek Watershed by reducing the potential compaction and water quality impacts associated with using large machinery.
Goats and sheep have been successfully used for vegetation management projects throughout Iowa and by many conservation groups, governmental agencies and private land owners in other parts of the country.
With your help, goats and sheep will return to the Clive Greenbelt in the Spring 2018 to continue their work on vegetation managment on the south side of Walnut Creek adjacent to the Aquatic Center. Thank you in advance for helping us BRING BACK THE GOATS.
The Walnut Creek Watershed Coalition is a not-for-profit group of greater Des Moines area residents who are organized to assist citizens and municipalities in promoting local voluntary approaches to watershed management and conservation.
Clive Greenbelt Park Vegetation Management Project
What is it? Vegetation management is the removal, reduction or manipulation of invasive species or other unwanted vegetation. Active vegetation management is a process of addressing unacceptable levels of vegetation in areas to promote desirable plant growth, increase water infiltration within soil and improve wildlife habitat.
Why is This Needed? It is easy to see that the Greenbelt Park is becoming overrun with invasive species and other unwanted vegetation. If left unchecked, invasive plants can take over and outcompete desired native vegetation and successional trees and threaten important habitat. The City of Clive's Greenbelt Master Plan identified the need for the City to begin an active vegetation management program in order to reduce the dense growth of invasives that are shading out ground layer vegetation and causing native plant diversity to decrease.
How Does it Work? When it comes to clearing unwanted vegetation, grazing animals can provide an ideal alternative to machines and herbicides. Grazing animals are able to work in locations that are not conducive to mowers and in places humans don’t want to go (like patches of Poison Ivy, Garlic Mustard and Canada Thistle). Additionally, grazing animals support the City’s environmental focus in the Walnut Creek Watershed by reducing the potential compaction and water quality impacts associated with using large machinery.
Goats and sheep have been successfully used for vegetation management projects throughout Iowa and by many conservation groups, governmental agencies and private land owners in other parts of the country.
With your help, goats and sheep will return to the Clive Greenbelt in the Spring 2018 to continue their work on vegetation managment on the south side of Walnut Creek adjacent to the Aquatic Center. Thank you in advance for helping us BRING BACK THE GOATS.
The Walnut Creek Watershed Coalition is a not-for-profit group of greater Des Moines area residents who are organized to assist citizens and municipalities in promoting local voluntary approaches to watershed management and conservation.
Organizer
darren fife
Organizer
Clive, IA