Restoring Ecosystems Project

The Restoring Ecosystems Project is a multi-year program to gather ecological data about the ecosystems emerging in Glen Canyon. 

The project began in 2019 with the BioBlitz, and now includes a four-year vegetation study and a database of over 80 plant species , a macro invertebrate study, wildlife studies, and upcoming opportunities to get involved.

Slide bar to compare view looking upstream in 50-Mile Canyon at land that has been exposed for 2 and 4 years.

2019 Glen Canyon BioBlitz

The project began with the 2019 Glen Canyon BioBlitz, a partnership with the Sageland Collaborative, to bring researchers into 50 Mile Canyon, a tributary of the Escalante River. This group of 20 scientists, botanists, birders, and citizen volunteers gathered as much data as possible about plant and animal species both above and below the full pool elevation. From the event, researchers compiled the first species list of emergent life in the restoration zone.

Vegetation Studies: 2021-25

Walk up a restoring canyon

Using the natural gradient of elevation, the research team documented the progression of ecological succession across various side canyons in Glen Canyon.

The repeat photographs are arranged as a person would see the landscape as they walk from the shoreline of Lake Powell upstream along a side canyon. The tour travels from a landscape that recently emerged from the reservoir to older and older landscapes as elevation increases. At elevations just below 3700 feet, the reservoir’s full capacity elevation, landscapes emerged from the water 25-40 years ago.

See Willow Canyon’s restoration from 2023 to 2025

2023

2025

Note the beaver dam present in 2023 was washed out in 2025

Slide bar to compare view of waterfall in Willow Canyon that has been exposed from the reservoir for 3 years and 5 years.

See 7 Mile Canyon’s restoration from 2023 to 2025

2023

2025

Slide bar to compare view of hanging corridor and riparian zone in 7-Mile Canyon that has been exposed from the reservoir for 12 and 14 years.

Species Lists

Common Glen Canyon native plant species in restoration zone

Fremont’s cottonwood, Populus fremontii; native tree

Seep willow, Baccharis salicifolia; native perennial shrub

Longleaf brickellbush, Brickellia longifolia; native shrub

Pullout grass, Festuca octoflora; native annual grass

Cattail, Tphya domingensis; native perennial grass

Pale evening primrose, Oenothera pallida; native perennial forb

White sagebrush, Artemisia ludoviciana; native perennial forb

Goodding’s willow, Salix gooddingii; native tree

Willow baccharis, Baccharis salicina; native shrub

Narrow-leaf wirelettuce, Stephanomeria tenuifolia; native shrub

Giant reed, Phragmites australis; native perennial grass

American speedwell, Veronia americana; native perennial forb

Wooly plantain, Plantago patagonica; native perennial forb

Not pictured:

Coyote willow, Salix exigua; native shrub

Arctic rush, Juncus arcticus; native perennial grass

Smooth horsetail, Equisetum laevigatum; native perennial grass

Rough cocklebur, Xanthium strumarium; native annual forb

Less common Glen Canyon native plant species in restoration zone

Boxelder, Acer negundo; native tree

Birchleaf buckthorn, Frangula betulifolia; native shrub

Stansbury’s cliffrose, Purshia stansburyana, native shrub

Common threesquare, Schoenoplectus pungens; native perennial grass

Porcupine sedge, Carex hystericina; native perennial grass

Adonis stickleaf, Mentzelia longiloba; native perennial forb

Canada goldenrod, Solidago canadensis; native perennial forb

Copperweed, Euphrosyne acerosa; native perennial forb

Cursed buttercup, Ranunculus sceleratus; native annual forb

Gooseberryleaf globemallow, Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia; native perennial forb

Longstem evening primrose, Oenothera longissma; native biennial forb

Notch-leaved phacelia, Phacelia crenulate; native annual forb

Sacred datura, Datura wrightii; native annual forb

Sand verbena, Abronia fragrans; native perennial forb

Steve’s dustymaiden, Chaenactis stevioides, native annual forb

Threadleaf groundsel, Senecio flaccidus; native perennial forb

White prairie clover, Dalea candida; native annual forb

Yellow bee plant, Cleomella lutea; native annual forb

False Virginia creeper, Parthenocissus inserta; native perennial vine

Redbud, Cercis occidentalis; native tree

Rubber rabbitbrush, Ericameria nauseosa; native shrub

Baltic rush, Juncus balticus; native perennial grass

Indian ricegrass, Eriocoma hymenoides; native perennial grass

Western bottle-bush grass, Elymus elymoides; native perennial grass

Broom snakeweed, Gutierrezia sarothrae; native forb

Common horsetail, Equisetum arvense; native perennial forb

Cotton batting plant, Pseudgnaphalium stramineum; native annual forb

Desert dandelion, Malacothrix glabrata; native annual forb

James’ catseye, Oreocarya suffruticosa; native perennial forb

Mountain pepperweed, Lepidium montanum; native forb

Paiute suncup, Chylismia scapoidea; native annual forb

Salt heliotrope, Heliotropium curassavicum; native perennial forb

Small wirelettuce, Stepahnomeria exigua; native biennial forb

Tansyleaf tansyaster, Machaeranthera tanacetifolia; native annual forb

Tidy fleabane, Erigeron concinnus; native perennial forb

Yellow cryptantha, Oreocarya flava; native perennial forb

Western clematis, Clematis ligustifolia; native perennial vine

Not pictured:

Coyote willow, Salix exigua; native shrub

Arctic rush, Juncus arcticus; native perennial grass

Smooth horsetail, Equisetum laevigatum; native perennial grass

Rough cocklebur, Xanthium strumarium; native annual forb

Hanging garden plant species found in restoration zone

Maidenhair fern, Adiantum veneris-capillaris; native perennial fern

California sawgrass, Cladium californicum; native perennial herb

Mat rock-spirea, Petrophytum caespitosum; native shrub

Crimson monkeyflower, Erythranthe eastwoodiae; native perennial forb

Stream orchid, Epipactis gigantea; native perennial forb

Not pictured:

Cave primrose, Primula specuicola; native perennial forb

Bushy bluestem, Andropogon glomeratus; native perennial grass

Common Glen Canyon Non-Native plant species in restoration zone

Tamarisk, Tamarix ramosissma; non-native shrub

Ravenna grass, Tripidium ravennae; non-native perennial grass

Rabbitfoot grass, Polypogon monospeliensis; non-native annual grass

Spotted ladysthumb, Persicaria maculosa; non-native annual forb

Yellow sweet clover, Melilotus officinalis; non-native annual forb

Not pictured:

Cheatgrass, Bromus tectorum; non-native annual grass

Russian thistle, Salsola tragus; non-native annual forb

Less common Glen Canyon Non-Native plant species in restoration zone

Russian olive, Elaeagnus angustifolia; non-native tree

Beardless rabbitsfoot grass, Polypogon viridis; non-native annual grass

Russian knapweed, Leuzea repens; non-native annual forb

Tall tumblemustard, Sisymbrium altissimum; non-native annual forb

Awned barnyard grass, Echinochloa crus-galli; non-native annual grass

Compact brome, Bromus madritensis; non-native annual grass

Black mustard, Brassica nigra; non-native annual forb

Spiny sowthistle, Sonchus asper; non-native annual forb

Not pictured:

Curly dock, Rumex crispus; non-native perennial forb

Prickly lettuce, Lactuca serriola; non-native annual forb

Community Science Initiative