Mad River Restoration Nursery​

The Mad River Restoration Nursery provides locally-sourced, genetically-diverse native ecotype plants and seed for use in watershed restoration projects that protect water quality, improve fish and wildlife habitat, and increase flood resilience. We operate with a commitment to sustainability and ecological stewardship, using best management practices to ensure plants are not a vector for spreading environmentally damaging pests, pathogens, or disease. The nursery also provides hands-on learning opportunities for students and volunteers, enabling the community and individuals to get involved in the stewardship of their local landscape.

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​The Need for Plants

Tree planting is increasingly being adopted as a strategy for regional climate, biodiversity, and flood resilience. However, traditional tree-planting strategies face barriers linked to a lack of ecological diversity in tree nurseries among species, genotypes, and stock types, which is impeding and hindering ecological restoration goals.

The Mad River Restoration Nursery fills a critical gap in local restoration capacity and ecological impact by increasing the supply of locally-sourced, genetically-diverse native ecotype plants and seed.

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​Local Ecotypes

​Ecoregions are large areas of similar climate where ecosystems recur in predictable patterns. An ecoregion contains many distinctive habitats characterized by their natural landforms, climate, species, and ecological communities.

​An ecotype is a variant of a species specifically adapted to its local habitat within an Ecoregion, representing genetic adaptations to local conditions–such as soil, climate, or elevation.

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​A Sense of Place

The Mad River Restoration Nursery roots Friend's work in the Mad River Watershed by supporting ongoing ecosystem restoration projects and involving the community in plant propagation and seed collection work. We offer hands-on learning opportunities for students and volunteers, and enable individuals to get involved in the stewardship of their local landscape.

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Interested in getting involved?
​Volunteer opportunities in plant propagation and seed collection coming soon!

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The 2026 launch of the Mad River Restoration Nursery is funded by the Lake Champlain Basin Program.