News – Sheridan Media
Sheridan Community Land Trust has been working to restore natural grasses at the Big Goose Natural Area. With invasive annual grasses like ventenata and cheatgrass becoming a serious threat to the health of grasslands across Sheridan County, the SCLT is taking action to restore native vegetation and steward the land for livestock, wildlife, and future generations.
According to SCLT, in 2023, the Sheridan based 501(c)(3) partnered with the University of Wyoming Extension and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to implement a science-backed treatment plan using a product called Rejuvra. This herbicide was applied aerially by a local contractor to ensure precise, even coverage across the affected areas.
SCLT reports funding for this work came through the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), a cost-share initiative that helps landowners and land managers improve conservation practices on working lands. This program plays a key role in reducing the spread of invasive grasses that deplete soil nutrients, increase wildfire risk, and outcompete native species critical to both wildlife and livestock.
The BGNA project includes two treatments—one completed in 2023 and the next scheduled for 2026—with grazing deferments in subsequent years to allow native grasses to recover and reestablish.
According to the Land Trust, the difference is dramatic. In the first full year after application, the difference is striking, with deep, lush green grasses growing in the treated sites well into July, while dry, brown ventenata and cheatgrass remain in the untreated areas.
For residents interested in doing something similar on their land, SCLT is encouraging landowners to contact their local NRCS office to explore how to enroll in EQIP and access funding and support.
If you would like to see the progress yourself, SCLT is inviting the community to the SCLT Big Goose Natural Area, click here.
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Last modified: July 18, 2025