Breathing Life Back Into the Prairie — AloTerra’s Restoration Work at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area.
- mikeballmedia
- Feb 19
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 4
How a coalition of hands-on expertise, low-tech innovation, and ecological commitment is restoring floodplain habitat in Northern Colorado
In the rolling expanse of Soapstone Prairie Natural Area near Fort Collins, a quiet transformation is taking place, one that doesn't rely on concrete dams or steel infrastructure, but on willow cuttings, cottonwood logs, hydrologic modeling, and a deep respect for the land. At AloTerra Restoration Services, we worked in close collaboration with CEC and the City of Fort Collins to apply a low-tech, process-based restoration approach that’s proving to be as powerful as it is simple.
Photography by Mike Ball Media
A Prairie Revival in Motion
Historically grazed by cattle and largely devoid of natural woody materials, Soapstone Prairie had lost much of its floodplain function and wetland habitat. That changed with the removal of livestock and a carefully designed restoration initiative aimed at reestablishing hydrologic connectivity across the landscape. The team’s goal? Recreate a natural system of riffles, pools, and vegetated floodplain that supports a rich diversity of life, from microinvertebrates to the endangered northern leopard frog.
"We’re really just trying to push water out and spread it," said Kieran Clute, AloTerra’s Forestry Director. "Where the water goes, life follows."
What’s Being Built and Why It Matters
The structures AloTerra has been installing, seven in this stretch alone, are known as BDAs (beaver dam analogues) or more generally, post-assisted woody structures. These formations mimic natural damming processes using local and native materials, such as willow branches and cottonwood logs. They’re built to slow and spread water, which helps saturate the soil, reduce erosion, and regenerate wetland plant life.
Josh Ericson, a recent CSU graduate and AloTerra crew member, helped build these structures by hand. “We used willow like rebar,” he said. “It’s surprising how intricate they are, even though it’s low-tech, it’s not low-skill.” The use of a post pounder instead of sledgehammers helped streamline the labor-intensive process, while local gravel was used to improve structure stability in the narrow, low-flow stream channel.
Each structure is custom-fit to its location, shaped by field conditions, and adjusted in real time. “Every log is different, every site is different,” explained David Stein, Assistant Project Manager with CEC. “We have to adapt as we go, use what nature gives us and work with it, not against it.”
What’s Already Changing
Results have come quickly. Water is already pooling behind structures, soaking formerly dry ground, and creating the conditions needed for wetland vegetation to take hold.
“Some pools were attracting wading birds within days of installation,” Stein noted. “And we’re already seeing signs of pronghorn moving through and using the area.”
Willows and sedges are expected to take root, reinforcing the dams and establishing long-term wetland resilience. “We’ve used 150 to 200 willows per structure,” said Clute. “As they grow, they’ll stabilize the structures and create even more habitat.”
These ponds and wetted floodplains are vital stepping stones for a more complex ecosystem. Over time, the site could support species like the redbelly dace and even serve as future habitat for the reintroduction of the northern leopard frog.
A Collaborative Effort
The success of this project rests not only on design and execution but on collaboration. AloTerra worked closely with engineers from CEC, the City of Fort Collins, and cultural resource experts to ensure that the work was ecologically sensitive and culturally respectful.
“We had to be thoughtful about where and how we excavated,” Stein explained. “There are tribal interests, rare plant species, and fragile fen soils here, it’s not just a matter of throwing logs in a creek.”
The project has also been a learning experience for all involved. “I’ve learned more in the field than in any class,” Ericson said. “And AloTerra is developing the kind of deep expertise that could make them a leader in this emerging field of low-tech restoration.”
Looking Ahead
Like the structures themselves, which will evolve and naturalize over time, this project is only beginning to reveal its potential. Some structures may need adaptive management after a high-flow event, extra sod, more logs, or a reconfigured ramp. But that’s the beauty of the process-based model: it allows for learning, growth, and correction.
“In one to two years, I see this place dotted with willows, cottonwoods, maybe frogs, certainly birds,” Clute said. “It’ll look like it always should have: a vibrant, living prairie wetland.”
AloTerra’s work at Soapstone Prairie is a shining example of restoration done right, thoughtful, adaptive, and grounded in ecological understanding. It’s not about forcing change but nudging nature back toward balance. And in the process, it’s setting a new standard for what low-tech, high-impact restoration can achieve on the Colorado plains.
Read More: For a look at how design partner CEC helped shape the Soapstone Prairie project through advanced hydrologic modeling and site analysis, check out their blog: CEC Tackles Another Colorado Process-Based Restoration Design Project.
