Part 5/14:
This ancient ecological principle, forgotten by modern agriculture, was rediscovered through the bison’s returning presence. Satellite imagery vividly captured the transformation: barren, brown landscapes turning lush green as the bison's natural behaviors rejuvenated the land, impressively visible from space. Their grazing stimulated stronger, more resilient plant growth, kickstarting the prairie’s self-sustaining cycle.
Rebuilding Watersheds and Water Cycles
Turner’s lands also demonstrate that ecological restoration can enhance water availability in an arid environment—a counterintuitive breakthrough. Decades of poor land management had worsened runoff and depleted groundwater. By repairing watersheds, Turner’s ranches now capture and retain more water than before.