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 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife used this grant to convert 413 acres in the Sagebrush Flat and Wells Wildlife Areas that were covered in non-native grasses and noxious weeds to shrub-steppe habitat. In their previous condition, the fields were of little ecological value. Restoration increased shrub-steppe habitat and improved connectivity through the wildlife areas and nearby. This benefited animals, including the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse and sage grouse. There are active sharp-tailed grouse leks in the area. Restoration of these fields provided places for the grouse to nest, raise their young, and hide from predators.