United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service FY-12 Pacific Northwest Region Program Accomplishments Botany Invasive Plants Native Plants The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Botany Pacific Northwest Region Program Accomplishments The Siskiyou Mountains of southern Oregon are one of the most floristically diverse places in North Fiscal Year America. Dozens of rare plant species flourish on national forest lands in this area, including Bolander’s 2012 lily (Lilium bolanderi). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region 2012 Botany Program Accomplishments Accomplishment Summary The Botany Program manages our national forest native plant heritage, including federally listed and sensitive plant species and unique plant habitats including those identified as special interest areas. Botanists support recreation, range, engineering, wildlife, aquatics, minerals, invasives, vegetation, forest products, and fuels management projects with a wide range of activities. These include rare plant species surveys, biological assessments, biological evaluations, environmental impact statements, categorical exclusions, IDT participation, invasive plant risk assessment and integrated pest management, revegetation plans and materials, NRIS TES database management, forest plan revision, and environmental education. The overall goal of this work is to better understand and manage our botanical heritage on national forest lands while supporting Figure 1. Kalmiopsis fragrans. The Umpqua Kalmiopsis is a very other essential forest programs. Our current knowledge is far narrow endemic plant that occurs in the Limpy Rock Research from perfect. Inventories find new populations of rare species or Natural Area on the North Fork Umpqua River, Umpqua NF. R6 is new examples of special habitats, and as our understanding of home to hundreds of endemic plants, fungi, lichens, and these resources changes our management priorities can change, bryophytes, many of which occur only on NF lands. Our Botany program documents the distribution and abundance of these too. Species once thought to be rare or declining can be shown plants and seeks to understand ecological connections and to be secure, while other species that really are rare or narrowly management requirements so that we can sustain this distributed can be managed as the treasures they are. As we remarkable biota into the future. learn more, planning at the forest and project level becomes more integrated and multiple use management becomes reality. The Botany Program informs sound decision making and is crucial to balanced resource management in the National Forest System. Partnerships Leveraged funding, skills, and expertise through the Specific accomplishments in fiscal year 2012 include: development of hundreds of partnership projects, • National leadership role in preparation of agency fire retardant EIS. increasing regional capacity by over $165,000 . • Essential participation in development of new forest plans for five Forests. Key Projects in Progress • Prepared hundreds of BAs, BEs, and CEs to support Forest projects. • Implement the Terrestrial Restoration and Conservation • Completed 118,866 acres of sensitive plant and federally listed plant Strategy. inventory. • Improve integration with other disciplines on the Forests • Found over 250 new sensitive plant sites including species new to many forests. and Districts. • Discovered 4 species new to science, and one that may be new. • Monitored health of over 100 species and 400 populations of federally listed or sensitive species. • Restored or enhanced 6,246 acres of sensitive plant habitat. Regional Contact: Mark Skinner, 503-808-2150 • Completed or updated 5 conservation strategies and one conservation agreement (www.fs.fed.us/r6/sfpnw/issssp). • NRIS TESP legacy data now mostly corrected, and entry of new data occurring annually. • Established new or experimental populations of federally listed plants USDA Forest Service to support multi-agency recovery efforts. Pacific Northwest Region • Continued development and maintenance of national Celebrating Wildflower website reaching 152 countries worldwide P.O. Box 3623 (www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers). Portland, Oregon 97208-3623 Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area 2012 Botany Program Accomplishments The Botany program is fully integrated with wildlife, fisheries, and soil and water. All projects are jointly funded and supported by our natural resource team. The botany side of this collaboration worked on a total of 20 projects this year, with a wide range of needs, including sensitive species surveys, botanical assessments, invasive plant management, EIS's, EA's and categorical exclusions. Support spanned many programs such as recreation, roads, aquatics, wildlife, and lands. These include: •Continued monitoring Artemesia campestris var. wormskioldii, a Federal candidate species, at Miller Island. Examined possibility of re-introduction sites on Miller as is being done at 2 other locations within the Gorge (Mosier and The Dalles). Working with USFWS, OR and WA States to increase populations and de-list this species. •Completed over 1000 acres of habitat enhancement: Sandy River Delta (1000 ac), Bonneville Wetland (5 ac), Collins Slide Students identifying plants in the high desert of SE (150 ac) and Catherine Creek (200 ac) oak/pine habitat Oregon at Lava Bed National Monument. enhancement/restoration. •Reviewed over 20 development reviews for the NSA, both federal and private. 2012 Accomplishments •Co-led 10-day ecology field trip for Clark College students to SE Oregon high desert to introduce general ecological principles Acres Funding Activity and to learn about public land management. •At Collins Slide the removal of Douglas-fir from oak/pine 200 ac NFWF/NFVW/SP TES habitat woodlands saw a dramatic explosion of native flora such as S4/NFHF enhancement/restoration Cynoglossum grande, Viola spp.,and bunch grasses. 5 ac NFVW Wetland enhancement 150 ac NFWF/NFVW Vegetation improved ac WFWF/NFVW TES plant inventory 3 ac NFIM TES plant monitoring 1000 NFXF Habitat enhancement 1388 TOTAL Partners/Cooperators BPA, COE, Ashcreek Forest Management, Ducks Unlimited, WDFW, Gorge Ecology Institute, LCEP, WDFW, and six counties in Gorge. Barbara Robinson, a local botanist, examines vegetation plots for plant Columbia River Gorge National diversity in a study on effects to the flora as a result of prescribed fire. Scenic Area National Forest 902 Wasco Ave., Suite 200 Contact: Robin Dobson 541-308-1717 Hood River, OR 97031 Colville National Forest 2012 Botany Program Accomplishments In 2012 the Botany Program supported 9 large projects: 4 vegetation management, 1 dam relicensing, 2 range allotment reissuances, 1 motorized recreation, and 1 Forest Plan Revision. Highlights and Activities: • Hosted 17th Annual Univ. of WA Herbarium Foray, 5 days in the Pend Oreille Valley (Figure 1). • Documented 8 new sensitive plant locations of 5 species. Figure 1. University of Washington Herbarium • Monitored 45 sensitive plant populations for 13 Foray group. species. Acres Funding Activity • Completed 3 BE’s with 3 more underway. 3052 NFTM TES plant inventory • Signed off on 40 Categorical Exclusions. 2000 NFVW TES plant inventory • Completed ISSSSP funded project, “Fungi Surveys in 197 NFIM TES plant monitoring Four Hot Spots on the Colville National Forest.” 5249 Total • Accomplished 1st year of a ISSSSP funded 2-year project , “Voucher and Verify Botrychium Locations Partners/Cooperators on the Colville NF” (Figure 2). RareCare, University of WA Herbarium, Dr. • Managed 4 CCS projects to survey and identify Jim Groth, Andrew Parker, Dr. Judy Harpel, nonvascular plants. Erica Heinlen and 12 schools. • RareCare volunteers revisited 6 sensitive plant locations: Botrychium herperium, B. paradoxum, Cicuta bulbifera, Dryopteris cristata, Geum rivale, and Lycopodium dendroideum. • Continued cleaning up legacy sensitive plant data in NRIS and entered 2012 field data. • Participated in the R6 Fungi Working Group. • Conducted 6 conservation education activities reaching 355 kids and adults. • Led Forest chartered Conservation Education Team. Figure 2. Botrychium minganense, Nancy Creek. Contacts: Kathy Ahlenslager, 509-684-7178, Colville National Forest Amy Cabral, 509-684-7178. 765 S. Main Colville, WA 99114 Deschutes National Forest 2012 Botany Program Accomplishments Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Plants: • Found 69 new element occurrences of rare plants (18 TES; 71 Survey & Manage) of 27 different species, adding 9 new species to the District list and 3 new species to the Forest list (Figure 1). (Crescent). • Revisited pumice moonwort sites to assess habitat threats and population changes, and mapped/flagged for protection green-tinged paintbrush populations within vegetation management planning areas (Bend/Ft. Rock). • Monitored effects of fall logging & short-season grazing on Peck’s penstemon (Sisters). • Completed 24 Biological Evaluations. Figure 1. Searching for tiny, rare mosses in the subalpine zone below picturesque Diamond Peak. Survey & Manage Plant Species: •Completed FY12 fall/spring fungi surveys in old growth habitats for projects on all 3 Districts. With 2 visits/season, 10,220 acres were surveyed! Conservation Education – too many to list, highlights include: • Engaged elementary students in a unique combination of outdoor field classes (about forest and aquatic ecology; Figure 2), stewardship project in partnership with Wolftree; also provided outdoor education for LaPine/Gilchrist Schools (100’s of children) through Outdoor Adventure Days, wetland discovery tours, etc. (Crescent). • Assisted with Ryan Ranch Meadow Field School Activities (Bend/Ft. Rock). • Rick Dewey (SO) provided expertise to complete fen interpretive signs for Cascade Lakes Hwy. • Worked with partners to develop The Quilt for Two Rivers (part of Tale of Figure 2. Bend/Ft. Rock Botanists participated in Two Rivers Conservation Campaign) in development of a 40 ft. long fabric art field studies for local Bend Students, Ryan Ranch Field Classroom, Deschutes NF. quilt of Whychus Creek ecosystem (Figure 3). After a premiere to > 15,000 people at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show in July, the art quilt is scheduled for 10 galleries/shows, even in Japan. (Sisters; Many additional educational 2012 Accomplishments programs related to this conservation effort!) Total NFWF Funding = $50,600 Unique Plants and Habitats: • ISSSSP Regional funding for bryophyte/fen expert, Rick Dewey: monitor fens Acres Funding Activity on Fremont/Winema and Umatilla NFs, produce fen reports, continue 11,195 WFHF, NFTM TES & S&M providing expertise to the Fungi Working Group. NFIM Inventory • Crescent collected post-treatment soil samples & field data at 420 plots for Partners: Bend, Sisters, LaPine, and Gilchrist an on-going matsutake study. Schools, National Forest Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Whychus Friends of the Habitat Restoration: Forest, Wolftree, Western Stewardship Science • YCC crews installed fencing to protect rare fen species in areas used by OHVs Institute, Deschutes Basin Land Trust, Boy (Crescent). Scouts of America, Sisters Quilters. • Terrestrial & riparian habitats restored with planting > 2,900+ native plants & 100’s lbs. of native grass/forb seed. Contacts: Katie Grenier (541-383-5564); Maret Pajutee (541-549-7727); Charmane Powers (541-383-4730); Christina Veverka (541-433- Figure 3. Art Quilt 3234); Rick Dewey (541-383-5725), Marlo Fisher for Two Rivers teaches about (541-383-4743). ecology of Wild & Scenic River, Whychus Creek. Deschutes National Forest 63095 Deschutes Market Rd. Bend, Oregon 97701 Fremont-Winema National Forests 2012 Botany Program Accomplishments Accomplishment highlights include: • Continued established monitoring for Astragalus lemmonii (a species believed to be extirpated from Oregon until 2009). • Continued monitoring in established plots of pumice grapefern (Botrychium pumicola) and collected data to evaluate response to lodgepole pine treatment at 14 sites. Agreement was signed for work to begin in the fall of 2012 by the Klamath County Corrections Crew. • Continued establishing monitoring transects in high- value fen habitats on Chemult District. Monitored Carex capitata sites in 2 fens. • Through the ISSSSP program funding (1,127.2 acres) Figure 1. Photo of Eriogonum umbellatum var. glaberrimum and other appropriated funding (2,500.3 acres), contractor surveys revealed: 2012 Accomplishments Carex cordillerana: 146 plants within 2 sites over o 0.8 acres. Acres Fund Code Activity Eriogonum umbellatum var. glaberrimum: 443 o plants within 12 sites over 18.7 acres. 20 NFIM Assisted with Smithsonian Institution’s Fluminicola surveys Eriogonum prociduum: 11 plants within 1 site o over 7.1 acres. 7 NFWF Pumice grapefern Monitoring/restoration Pinus albicalis: 11 trees within 4 sites over 0.4 o acres. 2.5 NFWF Monitoring & baseline data for 3 Chem ult fens • Assisted Smithsonian Institute and UC scientists with 1,127.2 NFIM Eriog onum umbellatum var. collection of Fluminicola snails in the Klamath Basin for glaberrimum and Eriogonum DNA work. prociduum surveys • Led 4 wildflower walks, hosted “fun with fungi” event, 2,500.3 NFRG/ Surve y prior to allotment and taught the botany section of RAP camp. NFWF/ renew als, aspen treatment, Preparation for the Bull Swamp trip resulted in location WFHF/ veget ation restoration project, CFTM and t imber sales. of 2 new sensitive species sites. • Completed 9 biological evaluations in support of Partners/Cooperators ODA rare plant program, Klamath Basin Chapter of the Forest projects. Completed 1 BAER report for the Barry Native Plant Society, Klamath County Corrections Crew, Point Fire. Adjusted workload to meet requirements for Smithsonian Institute survey and manage in several project areas. Contacts: Fremont-Winema National Forest Amy Markus, Acting Forest Botanist 541-947-6256 1301 S. G Street Missy Anderson, Westside Botanist 541-783-4085 Lakeview, OR 97630 Jeannette Wilson, Eastside Botanist 541-576-7593 Gifford Pinchot National Forest 2012 Botany Program Accomplishments In 2012, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest Botany Program supported 2 large vegetation management projects—and various recreation, restoration and engineering projects—by conducting field reconnaissance, surveys, and providing technical assistance. • Completed 6 Biological Evaluations, one for a 5000 acre timber sale, and administered a 3,413 acre botanical survey contract (CVRD). We supported regional efforts for rare plant management by implementing Figures 1-2. Sidalcea a multi-unit Conservation Strategy and Agreement for pale blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium sarmentosum), and completed approximately 100 acres of hirtipes (hairy stemmed intensive survey of high-likelihood habitat for Sisyrinchium sarmentosum checkermallow) at • Participated in habitat modeling and validation effort for Sisyrinchium Chelatchie Prairie sarmentosum restoration site • Implemented Year 1 of Conservation Strategy and Agreement for Sisyrinchium sarmentosum • Awarded 2-yr $84,000 Competitive Challenge Cost Share grant for Regional Collaboration for Conservation of Pale Blue-eyed Grass, Mardon Skipper Butterfly, and their Meadow Habitat We began planning habitat restoration for hairy-stemmed checkermallow (Sidalcea hirtipes; Figures 1-2). • Conducted fieldwork for Interagency Special Status Sensitive Species Program project: Sidalcea hirtipes (bristly-stemmed checkermallow) Habitat Restoration and Re-establishment Plan: funding $8,000 • Worked with Mt. Adams Collaborative Group on environmental analysis for rare plant habitat protection and restoration Environmental Education Figure 3. Learning about invasive plants at F i sh • Conducted 5 environmental education activities, reaching 600+ people Education Day, Mt. Adams Ranger District. (Figure 3) 2012 Accomplishments • Presentation made at University of Washington 2012 Plant Biodiversity Funding – NFWF – $88,000 Conference Special projects – $67,900 Rare Plants • Monitored 8 rare plant populations and made 2 rare plant seed collections Acres Funding Activity (Rare Care) 5.0 NFWF TES habitat restoration • 1 Rare Care Monitoring Report planning 200 Title II TES plant reconnaissance • Documented 3 new sensitive plant locations 151 NFWF TES plant monitoring • Continued clean-up of NRIS Rare Plants database populations and inventory RNAs 3,413 NFTM Plant surveys for Nisqually • Monitored 5 RNAs - Monte Cristo, T.T. Munger, Steamboat Mountain, Thin Sister Rocks, and Cedar Flats Research Natural Areas, and Weigle Hill 3768 Total acres proposed Research Natural Area BAER Team Partners/Cooperators • Botany personnel assisted in developing the Burned Area Emergency Rare Care (University of Washington); Mt. Adams Response Plan for the Cascade Creek Fire, a 20,000 acres fire on the Mt. Collaborative Group; Washington Natural Heritage Adams District. Program; Cowlitz Tribe; Xerxes Society; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Gifford Pinchot National Forest Contacts: Carol Chandler 360-891-5106 (HQ) Andrea Ruchty 509-395-3414,John Scott 509-365-3413 (SZ) 10600 N.E. 51st Circle Linda Swartz 360-497-1164 (NZ) Vancouver, WA 98682
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