When you buy a bag of Tiny Dinosaur Feed, you’re not just providing the best nutrition for your flock—you’re also helping restore and preserve the local ecosystem. A portion of every purchase goes directly to the restoration and maintenance of the Mill Creek project, ensuring that these vital habitats can thrive for future generations. Together, we can make a meaningful impact on the environment and protect the wildlife that depends on it. Learn more about how your support contributes to this important cause!
Our Mill Creek restoration project is focused on rejuvenating riparian and forest habitats just outside of Colville, WA. By restoring natural ecosystems, we aim to enhance biodiversity, support local wildlife, and improve water quality.
Jump to a section: Mammals Fish & Aquatic Life Birds Reptiles and Amphibians Insects and Invertebrates Plants & Habitats
When you buy a bag of Tiny Dinosaur Feed, you’re not just providing the best nutrition for your flock—you’re also helping restore and preserve the local ecosystem. A portion of every purchase goes directly to the restoration and maintenance of the Mill Creek project, ensuring that these vital habitats can thrive for future generations. Together, we can make a meaningful impact on the environment and protect the wildlife that depends on it. Learn more about how your support contributes to this important cause!
Our Mill Creek restoration project is focused on rejuvenating riparian and forest habitats just outside of Colville, WA. By restoring natural ecosystems, we aim to enhance biodiversity, support local wildlife, and improve water quality.
Jump to a section:
Mammals
Fish & Aquatic Life
Birds
Reptiles and Amphibians
Insects and Invertebrates
Plants & Habitats
Mammals
Wildlife Thriving in Restored Habitats
With the restoration of Mill Creek, mammals like beavers and river otters will find the ideal habitat they need to thrive. Forested and riparian areas will provide food and cover for white-tailed deer, moose, and even black bears. Small carnivores such as mink and coyotes will benefit from the increased biodiversity, offering better hunting grounds.
Fish and Aquatic Life
Restoring Healthy Waters for Aquatic Species
Clearer, cooler waters are vital for supporting local fish populations, including rainbow trout and brook trout. The restoration and stabilization of the creek banks will prevent erosion, reducing sediment runoff into the water. This will help keep the stream clear and clean, creating a healthier environment for aquatic life. By improving water quality, the restoration will not only support fish populations but also benefit amphibians like frogs and salamanders, which depend on clean streams for breeding and feeding. These efforts ensure the aquatic ecosystem remains balanced and thriving.
Birds
Bringing Back Nesting Grounds
The riparian and forested zones will provide crucial nesting and foraging habitats for a variety of bird species. From the wetlands frequented by the Belted Kingfisher to the forested areas that are home to the Merlin Falcon and Pileated Woodpecker, our restoration efforts will offer improved habitats for these birds.
Reptiles and Amphibians
Supporting Diverse Ecosystems
Reptiles and amphibians will thrive in the newly restored riparian habitats. The Western Painted Turtle and Northern Alligator Lizard are some of the key species that depend on healthy streams and forests. Amphibians like the Pacific Chorus Frog will find optimal breeding conditions in cleaner water bodies.
Insects and Invertebrates
Small but Crucial Contributors to Ecosystem Health
Insects and invertebrates are crucial indicators of water quality and ecosystem health. The restoration will support species like dragonflies, damselflies, and crayfish, all of which contribute to biodiversity. Crayfish, in particular, play a vital role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem and serve as an important food source for fish, birds, and mammals. By enhancing water quality and habitat conditions, the project ensures a thriving environment for these key species, which in turn supports the overall health of the ecosystem.
Plants and Habitat
Native Vegetation for a Thriving Ecosystem
Native plants such as willows, alders, and cattails are essential for stabilizing the creek banks and improving water quality, but the restoration effort extends beyond the riparian zone. This year, we planted 1,700 native species, including Western Larch, willows, and aspen, which will play a critical role in reforesting the surrounding area. Western Larch, known for its resilience and deep-rooting system, helps reduce soil erosion and enhances water retention, supporting both the creek and the broader ecosystem.
These native trees and plants not only provide structural stability to the creek banks but also create vital habitats for a variety of wildlife. The willows and aspens will offer food, shelter, and nesting sites for birds, while the shade from their canopies will help regulate water temperature, keeping the stream cool for fish like rainbow and brook trout. Additionally, the diverse plant life will support insects, amphibians, and small mammals that rely on the forested areas for breeding, feeding, and protection, making them essential to the long-term success of the Mill Creek restoration. This holistic approach to restoring both the waterway and the surrounding forest will create a balanced and thriving ecosystem for generations to come.
