[The site] was accessible ... only if you crawled through tunnels the deer had built. The blackberry was six feet tall.   – Greg Cox, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

Tractors plowed through the site to remove a huge thicket of invasive plants. Over several years, the weeds were replaced with native plants.

The site was first cultivated with oats, to continue the weed control and prepare the ground for planting. Then it was time to put in native grasses. Once the grasses had taken hold, native trees and shrubs went in.

Sections of land with a higher groundwater level were restored as wetlands. These areas were marked off-limits to dogs and horses to protect the recovering habitat.

Volunteers helped replant the area, including a high school group, and members of the public who showed up for a series of work days. Even a herd of goats helped clear out blackberry brambles without complaining.