Category Overview
The State Lands Restoration and Enhancement category provides funding to two state agencies to help repair damaged plant and animal habitat. These grants focus on resource preservation and protection of public lands. Projects in this category help bring important natural areas and resources back to their original functions by improving the self sustaining and ecological functionality of sites.
Project Highlights
Washington State Parks will use this grant to restore 7 of the 32 acres of balds along the Hamilton Mt. Trail in Beacon Rock State Park. North Pacific Herbaceous Balds and Bluffs (balds) are listed as vulnerable (S3) by the Washington Natural Heritage Program, and are rich with unusual assemblages of plant species and often support populations of special status species. The balds along Hamilton Mt. Trail have been degraded by increased use over the past 10 years through trampling, off-trail use, erosion, and spread of weedy plant species. This project will restore affected areas of the balds. It will control invasive plants, close social trails and seed and plant with native bald species. Work will also include control of a highly invasive weed species (Hieracium lachenalia) along approximately 6,400 feet of trails and 3,800 feet of roads associated with the balds. Management plans and conservation measures will be developed and implemented for special status species. Interpretive signs and materials will be developed. The primary habitats to be restored are balds.