For a long time, I always thought science was strictly black and white. There had to be a well thought out process, a set of procedures to follow, and a singular way of thinking. While I can acknowledge that this methodology can be useful and is sometimes necessary, this course has shown me that it’s not the only way of thinking scientifically. Coming from a rather small town in Kentucky, I have been surrounded by likeminded individuals my entire life. Taking WRFI’s Restoration Ecology not only brought me to an entirely new ecosystem, but showed me an entirely new way of thinking.
I’ve loved getting to hear different perspectives from my instructors and fellow students – both in class and in casual conversation. One of my favorite experiences from this course was meeting with the Big Hole Watershed Committee in the Mt. Haggin Wildlife Management Area. Unlike Kentucky, this region of Montana experiences very little precipitation, making it an arid climate. Therefore, protecting water resources is critical for ranchers, scientists, and citizens who abide here.
Our team had the opportunity to learn about this through hands-on experience when we constructed Beaver Dam Analogs, also known as BDAs. This restoration project allowed us to actually replicate the actions of beavers by creating dams to restore the floodplains with water. Doing so promotes the growth of riparian plants like willows and cottonwoods, reducing the runoff of sediment and pollutants into the stream. Constructing the dams and being able to see the direct impact we were making was especially exciting.
However, what I learned most from this experience was that it’s okay to be imperfect. It’s okay to not always follow a specific set of guidelines. Beavers aren’t perfect when they create their dams…and I didn’t have to be either. This project wasn’t black and white; quite frankly, it was the opposite. And what I found is that I thrived in that environment. Being able to make my best judgement on what the dam needed taught me quicker than reading any textbook would. There wasn’t one correct decision – rather, I had to adapt to how my past actions would impact my future ones.
Throughout our interactions with this committee, I’ve developed a newfound interest in sustainable water practices, especially in mountainous regions. Along with the BDA’s, we learned how to restore stream ecosystems once human impact, like industrial mining, has occurred. As we progress into the future, global warming will only pose a bigger threat to water resources, and it is paramount that we do what we can to save it. After all, we have the power to influence and restore ecosystems, by getting our hands dirty and doing something about the problem.
In conclusion, this course has taught me that there isn’t always one way to solve an issue. Our world is complex, and we need all sorts of thinkers and doers to move forward. I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to be both on this trip, and to meet people my age with a similar desire for restoring the natural world. I’m leaving this course with a passion for sustainable water management, new connections, and the realization that performing science comes in a variety of shapes and forms. I’m excited to return to Kentucky with this knowledge and see what type of impact I can make.