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About EcoRestore Montana

Background on the project, its team, partners, data, and supporting literature.

EcoRestore Montana is a web-based native plant restoration resource for practitioners, land managers, landowners, and enthusiasts working to restore Montana’s diverse ecosystems. The site provides an interactive plant database tool, restoration goal guidance, a practical restoration guide, and local resources tailored to Montana’s unique landscapes.

EcoRestore Montana is part of the EcoRestore Portal — a collaborative network of state-based restoration resources hosted at universities across the American West. Current state sites include Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and California, with Montana joining the network in 2026.

Project Team and Partners

Scientific development is led by the Faist Lab at the University of Montana’s College of Forestry and Conservation. The Faist Lab studies restoration ecology, invasive species, and native plant communities across the Northern Rockies and Great Plains. All inquiries about site content, the plant database, or partnership opportunities should be directed to the Faist Lab.

Site design and hosting is provided by the Montana Climate Office (MCO) at the University of Montana. The MCO develops data-driven resources supporting climate-resilient land management across Montana.

The Bureau of Land Management — Montana/Dakotas manages approximately 8 million acres of public land in Montana and is a key funding partner for this project, supporting native plant restoration through seed collection, plant materials development, and habitat enhancement programs.

The EcoRestore Portal, coordinated by the University of Arizona’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment, provides the shared framework and community connecting state-based restoration resources across the West.

Interested in partnering with EcoRestore Montana? Contact the Faist Lab.

About the Data

The EcoRestoreMT Tool is built on a curated database of 225+ native plant species that occur in Montana and are relevant to ecological restoration practice. Species were selected based on documented nativity to Montana (verified via USDA PLANTS database and Montana Natural Heritage Program), relevance to restoration contexts, and representation across Montana’s major ecosystem types.

Primary data sources:

  • USDA PLANTS Database — species taxonomy, nativity status, and distribution
  • USDA NRCS Plant Characteristics — growth habit, duration, bloom period, soil texture preferences, and other ecological attributes
  • Montana Natural Heritage Program — species occurrence records and Montana-specific nativity
  • Primary literature and technical reports — restoration-specific attributes (seeding rates, establishment difficulty, wildlife value)

The database is maintained as a curated spreadsheet and processed through an R-based data pipeline that enriches records with live data from the USDA PLANTS API, normalizes and validates all fields, and writes the final dataset as plants.json. Plant photographs are sourced from Oregon Flora, Wikimedia Commons, and iNaturalist contributors under Creative Commons licensing.

Indigenous Names: Where traditional plant names have been documented and shared by tribal members or ethnobotanical sources with permission, they are included in the plant detail view. This information is provided with deep respect for tribal cultural sovereignty. If you have corrections, additions, or concerns regarding how Indigenous names are represented, please contact the Faist Lab.

The plant database is periodically updated but may not reflect the most recent taxonomic revisions or ecological research. Always treat database information as a starting point for species selection, and consult local practitioners and agency specialists for site-specific guidance.

References

The guidance and information presented on EcoRestore Montana draws on peer-reviewed literature, technical reports, and agency guidance. Key sources include:

General Restoration Ecology

Hobbs, R. J., and D. A. Norton. 1996. Towards a conceptual framework for restoration ecology. Restoration Ecology 4(2): 93–110.

Society for Ecological Restoration International Science & Policy Working Group. 2004. The SER International Primer on Ecological Restoration. www.ser.org.

Native Plant Establishment and Seeding

Cook, C. W., R. M. Hyde, and P. L. Sims. 1974. Revegetation guidelines for surface mined areas in the western United States. Colorado State University Range Science Series No. 10.

Montana-Specific References

Montana Natural Heritage Program. Montana Field Guides. fieldguide.mt.gov.

USDA NRCS Bridger Plant Materials Center. Plant guides and plant fact sheets for Montana native species. nrcs.usda.gov/plant-materials.

Invasive Species and Weed Management

Mack, R. N., and J. N. Thompson. 1982. Evolution in steppe with few large, hooved mammals. American Naturalist 119(6): 757–773.

Sagebrush Steppe Ecology

Knick, S. T., and J. W. Connelly (eds.). 2011. Greater Sage-Grouse: Ecology and Conservation of a Landscape Species and Its Habitats. Studies in Avian Biology 38. University of California Press.

Pellant, M., P. L. Shaver, D. A. Pyke, and J. E. Herrick. 2020. Interpreting indicators of rangeland health, version 5. USDI Bureau of Land Management Technical Reference 1734-6.

Riparian and Wetland Restoration

Pollock, M. M., et al. 1994. Beaver as engineers: Influences on biotic and abiotic characteristics of drainage basins. Pages 117–126 in C. G. Jones and J. H. Lawton (eds.), Linking Species and Ecosystems. Chapman and Hall.

Pollinator Habitat

Mader, E., et al. 2011. Attracting Native Pollinators: Protecting North America’s Bees and Butterflies. Storey Publishing.

Data Sources

USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC. plants.usda.gov.

Montana Natural Heritage Program and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Montana Field Guide. fieldguide.mt.gov.

This reference list is a living document and will be expanded as site content is developed. If you have a resource recommendation, please contact the Faist Lab.

Disclaimer

The plant database and associated information are provided for educational and planning purposes only. The University of Montana makes no warranties — express or implied — regarding the completeness, reliability, or fitness of this information for any particular purpose. The inclusion of commercial products or vendors does not constitute endorsement by the University of Montana, the Montana Climate Office, the Bureau of Land Management, or any associated agencies or institutions.