Yosemite’s Largest Restoration Project Ever is Bringing New Life to the Park

The restoration of Ackerson Meadow, the largest meadow in Yosemite National Park, is almost complete, and it’s already showing vibrant signs of renewal.

Ackerson Meadow, reintroduced to Yosemite in 2016, had been privately owned for nearly 125 years after being sold off in the late 19th century. During this period, gullies were carved into the land to drain water for cattle grazing, which drastically reduced the meadow’s rich biodiversity.

In 2016, a coalition of partners, including the Yosemite Conservancy and several state agencies, purchased the land and donated it back to the park. Ecological studies began the following year with the involvement of native tribal groups to ensure the restoration aligns with natural processes and cultural heritage.

“We were walking through the meadow this spring, and everyone was giddy,” said Schuyler Greenleaf from the Yosemite Conservancy. “As the snow was melting, the meadow was holding water, and bird species we hadn’t seen in years were returning. It’s a very gratifying experience, even at these early stages.”

Crews will continue working through October—Yosemite’s dry season when the meadow is most resilient—to fill the 100-foot-wide and 14-foot-deep gully that drained water for so many years. The restoration also involves reintroducing hundreds of thousands of native plants, carefully collected by Park Service crews throughout the Sierra Nevada region.

“The meadow is already showing signs of life,” Greenleaf added. “It’s starting to support wildflowers and songbirds. The goal is to make it stronger and healthier, supporting more wildlife and creating a richer ecosystem.”

The $17.7 million restoration project is funded by donations from the Yosemite Conservancy, the National Park Service, American Rivers, the California Department of Fish and Game, and the California Wildlife Conservation Board, among others.

Once human intervention wraps up, the meadow is expected to continue healing on its own, allowing plants to regrow and providing a haven for animals and migratory species.

“What makes meadows so special is the life they support,” Greenleaf said. “You might have walked through it before and not noticed much. But now, with a healthy, functioning meadow system, you’ll see a thriving ecosystem.”