Saginaw Valley Landfill

About the Program
WM manages a native and prairie grasses habitat project at its Saginaw Valley Landfill Facility in Michigan. The project area consists of two parcels totaling seven acres. These areas were initially planted in 2015 to replace invasive plants with native prairie plants. The project’s goal is to provide nesting, breeding and feeding habitat for prairie birds and pollen sources for pollinators.

Practices and Impacts

• Two employees conduct plant monitoring, seeding and fertilizing and coordinate with contractors.
• The team mows annually, uses selective herbicides against invasive Canada thistle and seeds with native grass and forbs. Annual inspections of the project inform adaptive management of the project.
• Monitoring includes plant species identification, percent cover and survival. The project areas are walked multiple times per year, and plants are photographed when in bloom to more easily identify species. In 2022, 16 native species of grasses and wildflowers were present.
• Monitors also observe and log bird species observed into the e-Bird website, a global tracking platform. Unusual sightings are discussed with the website managers.
• One area has been successful. Regular site evaluations guide plans to improve results in the less successful parcel, such as additional overseeding with native prairie forbs.
• Employees are encouraged to visit the site, members of the public can contact the facility to arrange access and the state is developing a biology research program with Saginaw Valley State University.
• Prairie birds use both areas, and savanna sparrows are present every year.