Ecological Restoration in the Midwest

This isn't a title that's going to grab lots of eyeballs, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm not the target audience. It's really aimed at those working in environmental ecological projects, looking for accumulated knowledge on several different kinds of restoration. To be honest, I wanted to read it to learn something, yes, but also because I'm hungry for success stories, for sources of environmental optimism. These case studies span decades, during which federal administrations come and go, funding sources wane and wax (mostly wane), and policies change. But the focus here is on science, on getting back to natural ecology, to managing our land and water in a way that benefits us and the rest of life around us. There are examples of prairie, water systems, forrest, and urban restoration. I'm sure it will be a great reference for professionals, but I enjoyed it, too.

My vocabulary has been expanded quite a bit, and to my delight, I have found my new favorite verb. Evidently, streams that have been straightened and restricted can be "remeanderized". That's lovely. In a world where we are constantly being told to align and straighten everything from our priorities to our spines, my life could use some remeanderization.

I got a copy to review from the publisher through Net Galley.

I'm a bit of a skeptic when it comes to ecology these days. I live in the Cleveland area and have watched this restoration for a very, very long time. I'm probably not it's target audience either, but find it of note. I guess my skepticism stems from my time in a botany class in college (it's been a while, but I don't think some things change that much.). Our factories have mostly folded and I have been watching the transformation of land along the Cuyahoga River. My question is- How do the heavy metals get out of the soil? Plant what you will, the soil is still contaminated with God only knows what. Think it leeches out somehow or magically disappears? It's not all washing out into the water table. New farms along the river and community gardens worry me. I pray those foods aren't making their way into my diet. Detroit, Michigan becoming known for farms??? Too scary to think about. I hear Lake Erie is making a comeback and getting "healthier due to the great number of midges, mayflies and other critters. Yet mercury remains in the lake bottom.We "rescued" land from farmers in what became the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, THEN turn around and leased the farms to urban farmers to farm! Then there's the MetroParks, hardly the wild life area and nature reserve it was when I was growing up, it now resembles a city park. Sad. The nature trails, intrepretive centers with their asphalt aren't good. It's funny how environmentalists will rant about asphalt parking lots at stores, yet heartily applaud the new whatever with IT"S not ecologically sound parking lot. I guess it's all about who's running the show. I'm not convinced I believe the hype.
But the book is an interesting read as I got to read about what other places are blowing their horns about. I just wonder if all this isn't just a distraction from what's really going on (fracking comes to mind...) Ah, well, business as usual.
Anyone who wants to read about what may or may not be actually happening will likely find this book interesting. It's been well-researched.