The Arb is one of the quietest and most peaceful areas of Carleton, but you may not realize the immense amount of time, energy and labor that go into maintaining this oasis of natural beauty just a stone’s throw away from campus. Over the years, management was passed down; before the current Arb Director Nancy Braker ’81 and Manager Matt Elbert, the Arb was directed by Biology Professor Mark McKone. I spoke to him briefly about his experience.

As the director, McKone prioritized the restoration of native prairie and forest ecosystems in previously farmed areas. It was an immense amount of work to reestablish, he said. A lot of decision making had to go into what types of ecosystems to restore in different places. The work continues to pay off, as the number of classes, sports and community members using Arb has increased significantly since restoration and management were prioritized. “If you create this resource, of course people will use it,” McKone said.

McKone worked as the Arb director for 17 years, during which he also had a full-time faculty position, so his free time was incredibly limited. The Arb manager at that time, Myles Bakke, was able to get a lot done, but he was only one person. “Everything changed when Nancy came in,” McKone said. Having a full-time director and manager on staff, as well as funding to support the student Arb Crew and Naturalist program, has allowed the Arb to flourish.

Now that McKone isn’t the director, he can devote much more time to his research. As of now, he has 144 permanent research plots in the Arb prairies along with Professor Daniel Hernández, where the two study plant-insect and plant-animal interactions as well as other grassland ecology dynamics. Removing invasives, performing controlled burns and countless other projects are all crucial in ensuring that we can appreciate this natural beauty into the future. Ultimately, we’re incredibly lucky to have such dedicated people working to ensure a healthy, safe and beautiful ecosystem.