In 2014, Great Smoky Mountains National Park funded Ravensford wetland restoration. 10 years later, volunteers had planted 500 native seedlings and removed 157,000 invasives

Restoring a damaged natural habitat often requires more than funding. It can depend on cooperation among park staff, community members, students, conservation groups, and other partners. At Ravensford wetland in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, that combined effort has helped reverse the effects of invasive plants and reestablish native vegetation.

From an Invasive Plant Problem to Restoration

A decade ago, invasive plants had spread in the 10-acre Ravensford wetland. In 2014, Great Smoky Mountains National Park received a National Park Foundation/Disney grant that made it possible to start restoration work at the site.

The funding was used for many parts of the effort that includes controlling invasive plants, gathering seeds, and propagating native species. Financial support, however, was only part of what the project needed. The restoration also depended heavily on people willing to carry out the work.


The wetland is situated next to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Central schools. The Tribe saw the project as a valuable way to involve students in environmental education and also promoted participation from the broader community.

A Broad Volunteer Effort

The restoration attracted participants from a range of groups. Volunteers included Oconoloftee Job Corps Center students, Tribal members, school groups, and Warren Wilson College students from Black Mountain, NC.

Participants received practical experience in several restoration activities, including invasive plant control, restoration planting, and fire management.

Extra assistance arrived from the Southeast Invasive Plant Management Team, several American Conservation Experience crews, and interns. These groups functioned with park staff as restoration activities progressed.

The scale of the invasive plant removal was important. During one year, the project team removed more than 157,000 privet, 1,025 multiflora rose, and 540 Japanese honeysuckle.

Reintroducing Native Plants

Once invasive vegetation was addressed, the restoration also needed the return of native plant species.

Park staff worked with species that included swamp rose, seed box, silky willow, alder, and sedges. Seeds were gathered from native plants and then used to grow new plants in the park greenhouse.

The Garden Club of America offered additional support by growing plants for the project.

In June 2016, its Partners for Plants program conducted a workday and camping weekend. Volunteers used the opportunity to put native plants grown by Garden Club of America members in Highlands, NC, into the Ravensford wetland.

The restoration ultimately produced and planted over 500 seedlings.

Maintaining the Restored Wetland

The work at Ravensford did not conclude after the invasive plants were removed and native seedlings were planted. Park staff remained to address invasive plants at the site.

The restoration has relied on the contributions of numerous partners and volunteers over the years. Their combined work has helped maintain the Ravensford wetland as a restored area within Great Smoky Mountains National Park for future park visitors.

Source: National Park Service

FAQs:

Q1. What is wetland restoration?

Wetland restoration involves efforts to improve or recover a wetland habitat. It can include controlling invasive plants and establishing native vegetation.

Q2. Where is the Ravensford wetland?

The Ravensford wetland is located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The site covers 10 acres.