The Nature Conservancy has bought land on which the fens are located from Sand Hills ranchers and will sell it back to ranchers with environmental easements once the restoration is complete.
Fens are groundwater-fed wetlands with soils high in moisture and organic matter.
In Nebraska, most fens are found in the flat, low-lying areas of grassland in Cherry County. Harvey said work on the fens is exciting because it involves many hydrogeologic unknowns, and could help researchers better understand ancient climate change and the hydrology of the region. We're learning about the dynamics of water in the Sand Hills and in the region. Fens are home to about 200 unique plant species some relicts from the last glacial period and help form a complex ecological network essential to the natural beauty and integrity of the Nebraska Sand Hills. These glacial relicts include bogbean, marsh marigold and cottongrass.