Until the early 1950s, people mined copper, gold, and silver in the Beartooth Mountains in Montana. During mining operations, the soil near the surface was removed before the minerals were taken. This left an area that could not support any plants or animals and encouraged erosion of the mine spoil into nearby streams. The scientists in this study wanted to find a way to help reestablish the alpine meadow ecosystem to its pre-mining condition. Note: In earlier Natural Inquirer articles like this Topics: Active Forest Management, Pollution, Alpine Meadow, Erosion, Land Management, Mining, Native plants, Restoration.