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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">We have done some fairly extensive grassland restoration of old ag fields in our agency. Some of these restoration projects go back 15 years. One thing we struggle
with is managing our grassland restorations for disturbances that grasslands are evolved with, such as fire and grazing. We don’t have the ability to manage some of our restored grasslands in this way because of prescribed fire restrictions or expense of fencing
to allow grazing. When we can’t manage this way, we see the weeds returning. We have to resort to mowing, but it doesn’t really mimic natural grassland disturbances.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">The other thing we struggle with is diversity in our restorations. We are pretty good at getting cool season grasses to establish, but warm season grasses and
forbs are much harder in our semi-arid climate. We aren’t seeing these species come in on their own, probably because the seed source is not there in the surrounding areas (too much development).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">I have seen collapse of our grassland restorations when prairie dogs move in too soon after restoration has been initiated. I’d like to hear from others what
the optimum time is for a grassland restoration to be able to support prairie dogs? We have been saying at least 10 years, but we really don’t know.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Thanks, Claire<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif";color:#1F497D">Claire DeLeo<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif";color:#1F497D">Plant Ecologist<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif";color:#1F497D">Boulder County Parks and Open Space<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif";color:#1F497D">5201 St. Vrain Road<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif";color:#1F497D">Longmont, CO 80503<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif";color:#1F497D">303-678-6205<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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