Pictured from left to right are Scott Catton (Trout unlimited), Tanner Cox (Trout Unlimited), Stephanie Cox(volunteer), Amanda and Waylon Argyle, Chris Argyle, Jessica Reynolds (Weber River Partnership), Emily Bishop (Utah Dept of Ag and Food), and Marina Dunlop (Trout Unlimited). (click to enlarge)

Liberty Spring Creek Restoration at Cool Creek Ranch
By Chris Argyle - 30 August 2026
 
Argyle Acres recently joined Trout Unlimited, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, and the Weber River Partnership for a hands-on restoration project along Liberty Spring Creek at Cool Creek Ranch in Ogden Valley.
 
With the help of volunteers, the group harvested willow cuttings and transplanted them along sections of the creek as part of a larger effort to restore the health of the stream and surrounding riparian area.
 
Willows play an important role along waterways. Their root systems help stabilize streambanks, reduce erosion, provide shade, and create valuable habitat for fish, birds, insects, and other wildlife. As the newly planted willows establish and spread, the hope is that they will help create a healthier and more resilient creek corridor.
 
The willow planting is one part of a broader restoration effort underway at Cool Creek Ranch. Using virtual fencing technology, Argyle Acres is able to manage where cattle graze and keep them out of most of the Liberty Spring Creek corridor without relying on permanent fencing.
 
Instead of allowing cattle unrestricted access up and down the creek, one strategic access point has been established for the herd. The remainder of the creek corridor can now rest and recover, giving grasses, willows, and other vegetation an opportunity to reestablish along the banks.
 
The goal is not to remove agriculture from the landscape, but to demonstrate how agriculture and conservation can work together.
 
Healthy vegetation along Liberty Spring Creek can help stabilize streambanks, improve water quality, strengthen wildlife habitat, and contribute to the health of the larger watershed, while Cool Creek Ranch continues to remain an actively managed agricultural property.
 
The restoration effort has been made possible through collaboration between Argyle Acres, Trout Unlimited, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, and the Weber River Partnership, along with the volunteers who contributed their time to planting willows and caring for the creek.
 
For Argyle Acres, the project represents a simple idea at the heart of regenerative agriculture: agriculture can produce food while also improving the land, water, and wildlife habitat that make Ogden Valley such a special place.
 
For more information call or text Chris Argyle at 801-391-2221 or email [email protected].