Ecosystem & Garden Restoration

Ecosystem Restoration

The Woodlands, Wetlands, and Prairies of Haskell

Historically, Haskell lands were a mosaic of wetlands, wet prairies, and tallgrass prairies, with the closest trees being located along the Wakarusa River. During the assimilation years of Haskell Institute (1884-1933), the land was forced into Western agriculture. Nearly all of the original prairies and wetlands have been destroyed.

After Dr. Henry Roe Cloud (Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska) became the first Native superintendent in 1933, the agricultural emphasis at Haskell came to a close. Soon after, the Bureau of Indian Affairs would give away most all of the lands of Haskell Institute to local institutions for free to $1, even after the land at Haskell was said to be strictly set aside for the education of Indigenous youth. See below for the chronology of Haskell's land transfers.

Between 1958 and 1968, the 572.68 acres held by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service was transferred to the Department of Health, Education, & Welfare (DHEW). The DHEW then transferred the land to Baker University in 1968 through a 30-year quitclaim deed. Today, the 572.68 acres makes up a portion of the Baker Wetlands.

The DHEW-Baker land transfer would have lasting impacts on the ecosystem and Haskell community. Decades after the 1968 land transfer, Historical Haskell Lands were leveraged for the proposed South Lawrence Trafficway (SLT) mitigations. After decades of federal litigations, in 2016, the SLT was constructed through the Haskell and Baker Wetlands, severing the once-contiguous ecosystem.

Haskell has lost nearly 70% of its original land area, and today, is comprised of 320 acres. Despite decades of intensive Western agricultural practices, the land has healed over time due to passive and active restoration efforts carried on by Haskell students, staff, and faculty.

In May 2023, the Haskell Greenhouse began working to actively restore the woodlands wetlands, and prairies of Haskell to thriving, biodiverse native ecosystems. With the assistance of student researchers, local organizations, and community volunteers, the greenhouse has made great progress and is currently working within over 5 acres of restoration areas.

We invite the community to join us as we work to heal these lands in honor of past, present, and future generations.

Invasive Species Removal

Student researchers and community volunteers assist in removing invasive species on a large scale. Once adults of various species are removed, we are able to keep on top of seedlings that begin to emerge from the soil.

Native Species (Re)introduction

Once invasive species are removed from an area, native plant species are reintroduced via planting and seeding. The Haskell Greenhouse has planted hundreds of plants and has spread thousands of seeds throughout the land.

Continuous Care of the Land

The greenhouse continually returns to restoration areas to remove newly-emerged seedlings and saplings to lessen the use of herbicide and familiarize students and community members with species at various stages of growth.

Garden Restoration

The Cultural Center's Monarch Waystation during the summer of 2025. Haskell and community volunteers were assisting with weeding and planting.

The Haskell Greenhouse not only cares for larger ecosystems on Haskell lands, but also garden spaces.

Since June of 2023, the greenhouse has worked to restore the Haskell Cultural Center & Museum's Monarch Waystation back to health. Since beginning our work with the Cultural Center, we have also begun caring for additional gardens at Tommaney Library, the traffic circle, and Stidham Union. We will also be working at Pontiac Hall and the Horse Garden north of Navarre.

These garden spaces are integral in bringing native plant species to high-traffic, accessible areas for Indigenous Peoples to harvest various foods, medicines, dyes, and fibers. We intend to keep expanding our reach across campus while advocating for native species to have places to live and be.

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