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
The Department of Natural Resources used this grant to improve habitat within the Columbia Hills Natural Area Preserve and Columbia Hills State Park, located on the eastern edge of the Columbia Gorge, near the town of Goldendale. This restoration project improved 30 acres of grassland and oak habitat. In the grassland habitat within the Natural Area Preserve and State Parks the goal was to restore habitat around the Obscure Buttercup populations. In select areas non native grasses and rush skeleton weed were treated to reduce competition with native species. Native grasses were seeded throughout the area. In the vernal pool area and wet meadow reed canary grass and non native thistle were removed where they were competing with the rare plants. In the Crawford Oaks areas tree of heaven was removed through mechanical or herbicide methods. Native Oregon White Oak saplings were planted throughout the area including areas that had been previously impacted by wildfires. The two interpretative signs planned along Stacker Butte at Columbia Hills NAP where not completed.