Sustainable Land Management and Ecological Restoration Services

About Us:

Established in 2012, ODC Conservation Services provides natural area management and ecological restoration services, invasive species management, and wildlife habitat improvement services to public, commercial, and private landowners throughout West Michigan.

Ecological Restoration & Habitat Improvement

We are experts in the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded, damaged, or destroyed through human interaction.
  • Restoration and rehabilitation of degraded prairie/meadow.
  • Prairie reconstruction from turfgrass lawn, old agricultural fields, pastures, etc.
  • Design and installation of native landscaping features at any scale.
  • We are experienced in maintaining native landscapes and ecological restoration projects throughout the establishment period and beyond.
  • Removal of invasive species, reintroduction of native wetland grasses, sedges, shrubs, and wildflowers.
  • Clearing of invasive shrubs, replanting of understory vegetation, and reforestation with native tree species.
  • As Michigan Certified Natural Shoreline Professionals (MiCNSP), we carefully craft plans to restore shorelines of inland lakes and ponds utilizing native plants and temporary erosion control materials.

Invasive Species Management

Our integrated approach combines following control methods:

Ecological Consulting Services

  • We offer on-site consultations to determine the goals of the landowner and outline habitat improvement opportunities.
  • Creation of customized management plans to assist landowners with stewardship of their natural areas.
  • Creation of reports documenting the ecological health of natural areas.
  • Documentation of native and non-native flora to determine floristic quality
  • Preliminary wetland assessments to estimate potential wetland impacts before project development.
  • Wetland delineation and reporting.

Projects

Native Plant Propagation
Since 2015, our team has been involved in the propagation of over 50 species of native plants. We use this plant material to supply restoration projects on ODC Network properties, as well as habitat improvement projects throughout the community.
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Pond Shoreline Restoration Project
This shoreline naturalization project took place adjacent to Lake Macatawa. Turfgrass banks and frequent water level fluctuations resulted in dangerously unstable banks that were quickly deteriorating. Using a combination of temporary erosion control features and deep-rooted native plants, we helped create a more stable shoreline that provides dazzling wildflower blooms throughout the entire growing season.
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Native Pollinator Plot Installation
A homeowner near Hudsonville wanted to improve their backyard landscape through the implementation of native plants. Our team helped convert a small area of turfgrass into a shaded pollinator garden that provides colorful wildflower blooms throughout the growing season.
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Haworth Corporate Headquarters Prairie Restoration
This project involved the conversion of 15+ acres of turfgrass into native prairie in fall of 2022. The main goals of the project were to reduce maintenance associated with lawn care and to create habitat for pollinators.
Pre-Restoration
Ongoing Restoration
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Hoekstra Electrical Services
Installed in fall of 2022, this 2-acre project involved the conversion of a former agricultural field into native meadow. The agricultural history of noxious weed control on site allowed us to use a cover crop of annual wildflowers pictured above to offer a splash of color in the first growing season while native perennials become established.
Pre-Restoration
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Bio-control
Since 2010, we have been involved with the rearing of Galerucella Beetles as a bio-control to help manage the spread of the highly invasive wetland plant, purple loosestrife. The beetles feed on loosestrife at all stages of development which provides a completely natural mechanism to suppress the spread of the plant.
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Tiara Yachts Meadow Restoration
The goals of this project were to create wildlife habitat and to reduce lawn care maintenance on the site. A former agricultural field and an area of unused lawn were in turn converted into native meadow and prairie species in 2022. Nearly 20 total acres have been restored on the site which provide valuable habitat for native birds and insects.
Pre-Restoration
Ongoing Restoration
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Tennant Company Prairie Restoration
The goals of this project were to reduce lawn maintenance, create a pond shoreline buffer, manage invasive species, and to create wildlife habitat. Intensive site preparation was required to eliminate existing turfgrass and invasive species prior to being reseeded with a native mixed height prairie mix.
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Community Action House Food Club
This project involved the design and installation of several native landscape beds and rain gardens. Species were selected to be drought tolerant and require minimal maintenance, as well as to improve aesthetics and provide blooms throughout the growing season.
Pre-Restoration
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BPW Water Treatment Plant
This 5-acre project involved converting 5 acres of traditional lawn into native shortgrass prairie. Thorough site preparation allowed us to use annual wildflowers in the first growing season while native perennials were developing. These species will phase out in 1-2 seasons as native perennials fill in.
Pre-Restoration
Ongoing Restoration
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Holland Energy Park
Since 2019, our team has managed the restored natural areas surrounding Holland BPW Energy Park. Several invasive plants including spotted knapweed, sweet clover, and Japanese knotweed were prevalent on the site initially which have since been managed. The property now serves as one of the most biodiverse grasslands in the community and provides a haven for birds and pollinators.
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Rabbit River Preserve Prairie Restoration
ODC Network acquired the Rabbit River Preserve property in Hamilton in 2016. Our conservation team quickly got to work restoring 7 acres of barren agricultural field infested with noxious weeds into native prairie and oak savanna. This process involved a combination of intensive invasive species management, prescribed burning, reseeding of native species, and bare-root tree plantings.
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Sandyview Elementary Prairie Restoration
This restoration project involved the conversion of 0.25 acres of traditional turfgrass lawn into tallgrass prairie to be used for outdoor education purposes.
Pre-Restoration
Post-Restoration
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Wetland Delineation
Flagging of wetland boundaries using field indicators such as hydrology, hydric soils, and plant community.
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Dragonflies Discovery Preschool
Dragonflies Discovery Preschool on the northside of Holland serves an excellent example site for native landscaping. The property is home to several acres of restored sand prairie, as well as multiple biodiverse rain gardens pictured here.
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Post-Restoration
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Ready to start your own project?

Testimonials

The ODC Network

ODC Conservation Services is a proud division of the ODC Network, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2000 with the purpose of advancing outdoor education and conservation in West Michigan.

Testimonials