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
State Parks will use this grant to restore habitat for the sand-verbena moth by reducing invasive plants, increasing the abundance of sand-verbena, and redirecting recreational users away from critical habitat. The work is designed to restore habitat for the sand-verbena moth, a critically imperiled species known to live in fewer than 11 locations in North America, two of which are Fort Worden State Park and Deception Pass State Park. The sand-verbena moth only occurs in sand dune habitats with relatively high cover of yellow sand-verbena and few exotic plant species. Surveys suggest the moth populations in the two state parks are harmed by an increase in exotic plants and, potentially, trampling of sand-verbena. Trails through the restoration area will give the public an excellent opportunity to observe rare native species and communities and keep them from trampling the plants. State Parks will contribute $44,340 in a federal grant.