Mission Hills Land Reclamation Project
Stagnant Mission Hills Pond
Heinen handles landscape challenges – both big and small! From detailed patio installations to delicate flower plantings, Heinen takes pride in handling each project as if it were on their own property.
Recently, a large Heinen crew tackled a unique – and quite involved – project. A neighborhood pond in the Mission Hills area was experiencing a significant erosion problem. The erosion was temporarily halted by stopping water movement in the pond, however, that was causing another issue, an overgrowth of algae that was disrupting the pond’s ecosystem. The unique task at hand – land reclamation and shoreline stabilization.
Soil Erosion Issue Leads to Ecosystem Imbalance
Heinen Deposits Healthy Soil on Pond Shores
It’s not unusual for bodies of water to experience certain amounts of soil erosion. Erosion can be a result of damaging natural phenomena: heavy storms, flash floods, and, near oceans, just the daily changing of tides can erode massive beaches if left unassisted. Plants, trees, and shrubs with deep root systems can help stabilize a shoreline and protect it from erosion. Land reclamation refers to the restoration process of these waterways. By controlling sedimentation, stabilizing slopes, and replanting native plant species, land reclamation reinstates natural wildlife habitats and ecosystems.
In this Mission Hills project, the removal of certain natural plants led to uncontrolled soil erosion. The roots of native plants aid to retain soil. So, without the native grasses, the ground along the pond’s edge slipped away into the water. Unfortunately, excessive soil erosion carries several negative impacts – even though they’re unintentional, these consequences can be:
- Stagnation: Sedimentation clogs waterways, causing increased pollution of streams and rivers. Due to unbalanced soil levels, this local body of water quickly became stagnant without suitable water flow.
- Lack of pH Balance: Compromised soil structure and reduced organic matter upset the pH balance of the soil. Therefore, even without contaminating pesticides, irregularly high soil acidity decreases the ability of natural plants to grow.
- Increased Pollution: Appropriate crops or plants that are not replaced successfully cause a perpetuating cycle of diminishing organic nutrients. Additionally, soil runoff often contains fertilizers or pesticides harmful to water quality and fish life. “Dead fish and dead frogs are a clear sign something is wrong,” Dave Heinen remarked in consultation of the situation.
Heinen Rebuilds Pond Shore, Plants Native Grasses
Land Reclamation and Landscape Replanting
Heinen was contracted to restore the pond’s shoreline and help heal the pond’s natural ecosystem. Part of the job involved depositing healthy soil on the banks of the pond; this created fertile ground to plant native grasses and plants. By replanting suitable flora, Heinen stabilized the shore slope and prevented further soil erosion. Through the natural restoration of the pond’s organic matter and water flow, over time, the ecosystem will return and recover.
Native Plants for Your Home
Heinen has a way you can upgrade your home’s landscaping while building a healthy outdoor ecosystem. By choosing native plants and grasses, you help to heal the environment around you. Additionally, you’ll have healthier, more successfully thriving plants suited for the weather and soil conditions of your area.
The best part? You don’t have to do any of the research! Heinen offers a wide variety of native trees, shrubs, and flowers; these plants are all perfectly selected for the Kansas City area. All you have to do is browse Heinen’s Plant Catalog. Then choose your favorites! Begin your spring planning and guarantee your plant selections – book with Heinen today!
