South Sound Prairie, Bald, and Oak Restoration

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 Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will use this grant to restore 800 acres of outwash prairie, grassland bald, and oak woodland habitat at five of the most significant conservation sites in the southern Puget Sound region: Bald Hill, Mima Mounds, Rocky Prairie, Scatter Creek, and West Rocky Prairie. These sites harbor some of the last remaining populations of plants and animals listed as threatened with extinction or as endangered as well as the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Species of Greatest Conservation in the region. The departments will get native seeds and transplants, prepare restoration areas for seeding through prescribed burning and controlling invasive plants, and then seed and replant the areas. In addition, the two departments will remove invasive species in some of the areas and enhance habitat for Oregon spotted frog at Rocky Prairie.

Quick Facts

WWRP Applicant: Natural Resources Dept of Category: State Lands Restoration & Enhancement WWRP Grant: $485,850.00 Applicant Match: $0.00 Project Type: Restoration County: Thurston Legislative District: 02, 20, 35 Status: Active RCO Project # 20-1521

Location Details

From Olympia, take I-5 headed south to the Maytown exit (Exit 95). The exit ramp will curve to the right and put you onto Maytown Rd SW (don't go back under the highway). Go west on Maytown Rd SW for approximately 2.5 miles to a stop sign and the town of Littlerock. Proceed forward through the stop sign onto Littlerock Road. In 100 yards or so Little Rock Road will take a sharp left to the south. Do not take the sharp left; instead continue forward onto 128th Ave. SW (you will pass the Chevron on your right). Go for approximately 0.5 miles on 128th to a "T" with Waddell Creek Road. Turn right onto Waddell Creek Rd and head north for approximately 0.5 miles to the paved access road entrance on your left (the small brown Mima Mounds sign comes up quickly). Follow the entrance road to the end and the parking lot.

What is the WWRP

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) is a state grant program that creates and conserves local and state parks, wildlife habitat and working farms. The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office administers WWRP grants, and the legislature funds the program.