… Mesic meadows are often overlooked, especially when the background consists of Colorado’s Alpine vistas, but these seasonally wet areas serve as nature’s sponges throughout habitats dominated by sagebrush. By holding water in the soil and slowly releasing it throughout the growing season, they help sustain the land long after the snow has melted and runoff has subsided. … In a region increasingly affected by drought, wildfires and climate uncertainty, these wet meadow systems are more important than ever. … Unfortunately, many mesic and riparian areas have suffered from decades of land use practices that have left them scarred with erosion, incised gullies and dropping water tables. The result? Drying meadows, reduced wildlife habitat, and diminished forage for livestock. Fortunately, local restoration initiatives aim to preserve these mesic meadows and riparian zones in a pocket of the greater Castle Peak area called Bohr Flats.
–Written by Peder Franson, the watershed restoration manager for the Eagle River Coalition.