acres

Saltcedar was planted across the West for shade and windbreaks; from 10,000 acres in 1920, the plant spread to over 1.2 million acres by the mid-1960s

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Once planted to meet practical needs, saltcedar spread widely across Western floodplains. (Wikimedia Commons)

A shrub planted to shade poultry and block the wind has spread across floodplains in the American West. According to the U.S. Forest Service’s Fire Effects Information System review of Tamarix, saltcedar was recommended in the early 1900s. Suggested for ornamental use, windbreaks, fuel, and shade for poultry and small stock, it ended up expanding … Read more

Florida embraced water hyacinth for its purple flowers in the 1880s; after spreading past 120,000 acres, it was cut it to about 2,000 acres statewide

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What began as a garden favorite ended up clogging rivers and lakes. (AI-generated/ChatGPT)

Some plants look too pretty to cause trouble. Water hyacinth is a good example. The floating plant was introduced to Florida in the 1880s, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. By the early 1960s, it spanned more than 120,000 acres of public lakes and navigable rivers. That’s a lot of water going … Read more

Florida brought in Brazilian pepper as an ornamental shrub; it later infested over 700,000 acres and became one of the states worst invasive plants

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Known for its bright red berries, Brazilian pepper was introduced to Florida as an ornamental plant. (Wikimedia Commons)

A shrub with bright red berries sounds like something nice to plant in a garden. But in Florida, one such bush became a big problem. Brazilian peppertree was introduced into the state as an ornamental plant, according to the USDA Agricultural Research Service. USDA estimates that more than 700,000 acres in Florida are infested with … Read more

After Lehmann lovegrass was introduced to Arizona in 1932, it was planted in more than 172,000 acres; by 1988, it dominated about 347,000 acres

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A grass from South Africa, now a major plant across parts of Arizona. (Wikimedia Commons)

Imagine grass being taken across the ocean to help damaged land, then imagine that same grass showing up on hundreds of thousands of acres. That’s the story of Lehmann lovegrass in Arizona. The USDA Forest Service’s Fire Effects Information System reports that between 1940 and 1980, ranchers and other land managers established it on over … Read more

In 1935, weeping lovegrass was planted in Oklahoma to stop erosion; one strain later covered 2 million acres, and studies found lower plant diversity

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HT US Desk

The Hindustan Times US Desk brings you the latest news and developments from across the United States. The team covers everything from breaking news and politics to sports, business, entertainment and stories that are trending across the country. Our coverage includes the White House, Congress, US elections, immigration and visa updates, H-1B, green cards, Social … Read more

In 1989, CNN's Ted Turner bought 113,613 acres of Montana ranchland and traded cattle for bison; the land is now home to bison, bears, and wolves

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HT US Desk

The Hindustan Times US Desk brings you the latest news and developments from across the United States. The team covers everything from breaking news and politics to sports, business, entertainment and stories that are trending across the country. Our coverage includes the White House, Congress, US elections, immigration and visa updates, H-1B, green cards, Social … Read more

In 2016, Clint and Maggie Eastwood donated 79 acres along Californias Carmel River, adding to an earlier 49-acre gift

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A 128-acre donation from Clint and Maggie Eastwood helped advance plans to reconnect the Carmel River with its floodplain. The proposed project combines flood management, habitat restoration, farming and public access; construction remains pending additional federal funding. (Wikimedia Commons)

Rivers need room to spread during heavy rainfall, when rising water can threaten nearby properties. Along California’s Carmel River, a planned restoration project seeks to reconnect the river with its southern floodplain to improve flood management and restore wildlife habitat. In 2016, Clint and Maggie Eastwood donated 79 acres at the former Odello East Fields … Read more

In 2018, California began turning 1,187 acres of Delta dairy and grazing land back into tidal marsh to create a safe home for young salmon

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Representative image of a restored tidal marsh in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, where young salmon find food and shelter. (AI-generated/ChatGPT)

All young creatures need a safe place to grow up, and baby salmon are no exception. One project in California’s Delta is using the tide to create that habitat. A 2024 paper published in San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science notes that tidal wetland restoration for at-risk fish has gained momentum over the past decade. … Read more

In 1997, Paul Newman donated 7.5 acres beside his Connecticut home; the land later became part of a 38-acre public nature preserve

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Westport combined 7.5 acres donated by Paul Newman’s family with an adjoining 29.9-acre parcel purchased from the Poses family to create the Newman-Poses Nature Preserve. Adopted in 2010, the preserve protects woodland for public recreation, with trails and limited parking but no buildings. (AI-generated/ ChatGPT)

A stretch of woodland can become a lasting public space when a community chooses to protect it. In Westport, Connecticut, actor Paul Newman and his family helped make that possible by donating 7.5 acres beside their home to the town in 1997. The land later became part of a proposed nature preserve covering approximately 37.4 … Read more

Beach Boys co-founder Mike Love put six acres around his Lake Tahoe home into conservation, protecting its pine trees and wildlife from development

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Beach Boys co-founder Mike Love has placed six acres around his Lake Tahoe estate under conservation protection. (Wikimedia Commons)

Beach Boys co-founder Mike Love has put six acres around his Lake Tahoe home into conservation. The move gives the pine trees and wildlife around the property legal protection from development, People magazine reports. The 85-year-old musician now resides in Incline Village, Nevada. Earlier this year, he put his $43 million estate up for sale, … Read more