Distinctly Montana Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.distinctlymontana.com/i/20776
Sustain DEPARTMENT “I just decided to proceed with the basic idea that a stream was better than a ditch.” JEFF LASZLO A Wetland Runs Standing on a dry, dusty Madison Valley plateau overlooking a portion of the now restored O’Dell Creek the contrast is stark. Cattle grazing land drops sharply off and dips down to a lush, green wetland area. A straight drainage ditch has now been restored to the land’s original winding stream thanks to the efforts of the Laszlo family, owners of the Granger Ranch just outside Ennis. In 2010 the Laszlo family received the National Wetland Award for Landowner Stewardship for their “exceptional and innovative” contribution to wetlands conservation. Hailed as the largest wetland restoration project in Montana, the O’Dell Creek Headwaters Project has drained 16,000 feet of drainage ditches, which were built in the 1950s for grass production. The project has restored more than 500 acres of wetlands and created 35,000 feet of stream channel and adjacent riparian habitat. As part of an 8,000-acre wetland complex, the O’Dell Creek is an important feeder stream to the Madison River. Heading the project for the family is Jeff Laszlo, son of Andrew and Anne Laszlo, who left Los Angeles and a ca- reer as a cameraman in the movie industry to live full-time in Montana and take over the operation of the family’s 13,000-acre ranch. Running the family’s working cattle ranch is a full-time job for Laszlo. He admits he entered this project with little knowledge of what it would take. “I just decided to proceed on faith with the basic idea that a stream was better than a ditch,” Laszlo said. Each year the group of players for the project has been cobbled together to keep the restoration going. Laszlo has been amazed by and thankful for the people who are drawn to this project. “PPL Montana has really supported this in an unfailing way,” Laszlo said. The actual physical work on the stream took about a month and a half to complete. Then, it was time for 68 DISTINCTLY MONTANA • WINTER 2011