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What is the Netley-Libau Marsh Restoration Pilot Project? 

The Netley-Libau Marsh Restoration Pilot Project was started in 2018 by our project team. The project is a proof-of-concept study to determine the feasibility of restoring marsh vegetation. The Netley-Libau Marsh Restoration Pilot Project was designed under a straightforward scientific rationale, which held that the water in Netley Lake - a large body of water within the marsh - has become too deep to support the growth of plants, and that if we can reduce water depth through the deposition of sediment, then it should be possible to restore aquatic vegetation within the marsh. 

Why does Netley-Libau Marsh need to be restored? 

With more water and less vegetation, Netley-Libau Marsh has a reduced capacity to remove harmful nutrients from the surrounding habitats. The changes in the marsh have led to a reduction in fish habitat, wildlife, and water bird populations. The net result of these changes is that Netley-Libau Marsh no longer provides the suite of ecological goods and services that it has historically. Restoration and management of Netley-Libau Marsh would help to restore the health of the marsh, allowing it to provide numerous benefits for the surrounding habitats once again. 

Project Updates 

2021

The first construction phase of the Netley-Libau Marsh Restoration Pilot Project took place in 2021, by dredging material from the bottom of the Red River and pumping this material into Netley Lake to create shallow-water habitats.

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2022

Unfortunately, the 2022 season was characterized by extremely high water, making it impossible to evaluate the effectiveness of the work done in 2021. However, at the end of the season in 2022, the Red River Basin Commission (RRBC) conducted The State of Knowledge Workshop to bring together professionals with a wide variety of expertise, knowledge, research, and experience.

Photos coming soon!

2023

Through The State of the Knowledge Workshop and over the course of the last year, the RRBC and partners came to the conclusion that restoration efforts should continue in Netley-Libau Marsh. Stay tuned for more information and updates! 

2022

Unfortunately, the 2022 season was characterized by extremely high water, making it impossible to evaluate the effectiveness of the work done in 2021. However, at the end of the season in 2022, the RRBC conducted The State of Knowledge Workshop to bring together professionals with a wide variety of expertise, knowledge, research, and experience.

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We will continue to share updates
as the project progresses.
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