Grassland Redux: Restoration at a Former Landfill on the Hudson River

Abstract

Within environmental fields and the broader public, there is increasing recognition that former industrial lands and other anthropogenic landscapes can provide wildlife habitat, particularly for highly mobile wildlife such as birds and insects. Enhancing the habitat quality of such variable environments can be complex when balancing restoration needs with the needs of wildlife already using these settings. This case study presents the restoration of a high-profile 34 ha (85 acre) grassland along the Hudson River in New York State, seeded in the 1990s atop a former landfill. The project’s central challenge entailed addressing widespread invasive exotic vegetation that had colonized the grassland, without impacting grassland nesting birds of conservation concern actively using the site. This article describes the design approach used and key aspects of installation and management. Incorporation of crowdsourced data, stakeholder involvement, specification preparation, weed control strategies, and vegetation establishment are discussed along with the site’s unique history and its potential to inform future public engagement.