Yosemite’s disappearing wetlands get massive restoration after 100 years

Deep within Yosemite National Park, Ackerson Meadow, a vast and serene wetland, stands as a testament to nature's resilience and the power of human restoration efforts. Stretching across one hundred years of ecological decline, the meadow was once drained and eroded by human activity until a groundbreaking restoration project began in 2023.

By June 2025, the project had achieved remarkable results, restoring 94 acres of wetlands, protecting 84 additional acres, and restoring a 230-acre headwater meadow system to its self-sustaining hydrologic function. This monumental effort, the largest wetland restoration in Yosemite's history, represents a significant victory for conservation and a shining example of what can be accomplished when science, partnership, and community unite to protect our natural heritage.