Written By
When you think of hay and beef production, wetlands are likely not the first thing that come to mind. But for Heidi and Stan Gorden of Bar GX Ranch in Bonanza, Oregon, wetlands have become an unexpected asset to their operation.
In early 2024, the Gordens had a vision. They looked out over a low-lying area on their ranch, too wet to cut hay, too dry to attract wetland wildlife and saw potential. So they reached out to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program and a local non-governmental organization, the Klamath Watershed Partnership (KWP), with a bold idea: could this overlooked piece of land become a thriving wetland?
The answer was yes!
Brian Hidden from the PFW Program and Mark Johnson from KWP teamed up to secure funding, and by fall of that year, a 14-acre wetland restoration was complete. The transformation was immediate. Within days, the area was teeming with wildlife, from ducks to shorebirds to pronghorn, all drawn to the newly restored habitat.
But the benefits did not stop with the wildlife. The restored wetland also helped reduce flooding in other parts of the ranch, improving land use and resilience. It was a win for wildlife, a win for the land, and a win for the Gordens.
Best of all, the Gordens were thrilled with the outcome. As they shared:
“We are extremely satisfied with the outcome of the project on our land and with the abundance and diversity of wildlife that has come since its completion. Brian, Mark, and others involved in this project have been outstanding to work with and have been true partners through the entire process. We are hoping to work with them on other projects in the future.”
This story is a powerful reminder that conservation and agriculture do not have to be at odds. With the right partnerships and a little vision, they can grow together, just like the wetlands at Bar GX Ranch.
