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
DNR enhanced and restored more than 350 acres of prairie, grassland bald, and oak woodland habitat at three sites. At Mima Mounds NAP, this included 284 acres of upland plant removal, focusing on Cytisus scoparius (Scot’s broom) and Arrhenatherum elatius (tall oatgrass), prescribed fire on 14 acres, and seeding and planting on 27 acres. Seeding and planting included 1,500 Roemer’s fescue plugs and 50 lbs of seed of 32 species including Taylor’s checkerspot food plants, late-season nectar plants, and golden paintbrush (state threatened). At Rocky Prairie NAP, DNR conducted 29 acres of upland plant removal, focusing on Cytisus scoparius (Scot’s broom), Arrhenatherum elatius (tall oatgrass) and Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernalgrass), 5 acres of mowing (in lieu of prescribed fire), and 5 acres of seeding and planting. Seeding and planting included 300 Puget balsamroot and 500 Roemer’s fescue plugs and 5 lbs of seed of 7 species including Taylor’s checkerspot food plants and golden paintbrush. In addition, encroaching conifers were cut on 3 acres to release Garry oak trees. At Bald Hill NAP, DNR conducted 35 acres of upland plant removal, 5 acres of encroaching tree and shrub control including establishing a 30ft x 500ft butterfly corridor between isolated balds, and 3 acres of seeding and planting. Seeding and planting included 5.5 lbs of seed of 12 species including Taylor’s checkerspot food plants and weak thistle (state endangered). WDFW conducted 297.1 acres of upland plant removal and control at Scatter Creek, mostly targeting Cytisus scoparius (Scot’s broom) and Arrhenatherum elatius (tall oatgrass). Applied prescribed fire to 34.2 acres at Scatter Creek. Did upland planting and seeding across 35 acres. Seed mixes included Festuca roemeri along with over 20 species of prairie/oak natives. Planted plugs of Armeria maritima, Balsamorhiza deltoidea, Fragaria virginiana, Micranthes integrifolia, Potentilla gracilis, and Wyethia angustifolia within these same footprints. Performed 14 acres of upland stand management within Scatter Creek’s oak woodlands including thinning, tree girdling, pile burning as well as understory treatments targeting Cretaegus monogyna (English hawthorn), Cytisus scoparius, and Rubus armeniacus (Himalayan blackberry). WDFW conducted 124.6 acres of upland plant removal and control at West Rocky Prairie mostly targeting Cytisus scoparius and Arrhenatherum elatius. Carried out 60.2 acres of upland vegetation management including 21.3 acres of prescribed burning. Did 40.9 acres of upland planting, sowed native grass and forb mixes along with plugs of Armeria maritima, Balsamorhiza deltoidea, Fragaria virginiana, and Potentilla gracilis. Performed wetland removal and control of encroaching shrubs as well as Phalaris arundinacea (Reed canary grass) totaling 3.5 acres within breeding habitat of Rana pretiosa (Oregon spotted frog). Performed 5.7 acres of upland stand management within West Rocky’s oak woodlands including thinning, tree girdling, slash piling as well as understory treatments targeting Cretaegus monogyna (English hawthorn), Cytisus scoparius, and Rubus armeniacus (Himalayan blackberry).