Meadow Habitat on the Siuslaw National Forest La Laresa esa Kerstett stetter er Wild Wi ldlif life e Bio iolo logis gist Central Coast Ranger District Waldport
Overview • Types of meadows on the Siuslaw • Characteristics and vegetation associated with each type • Management actions using Stewardship funding • Challenges to restoration • Next steps and future plans
What exactly is a meadow? Montane meadows Coastal meadows Historic/pasture grass Early seral habitat
Wildlife Species Elk Olive-sided flycatcher Pollinator Species Oregon Silverspot Butterfly (OSB)
Meadows on the Siuslaw • Around 1,900 acres of managed meadows Hebo Ranger District : - 250 Historic meadows - 65 acres currently managed around Salmon River estuary. - Mt. Hebo montane meadows = 85 acres
Central Coast Ranger District • 1,500 acres of historic meadows - 150 different site locations - Enchanted Valley – 50 acres - Vader meadow – 1 acre • 200 acres of montane meadows at Mary’s Peak • 75 acres of coastal meadows managed for OSB - Located around Rock creek/ Big Creek
Historic meadows- status & management • Primarily non - native pasture grass • Low species diversity Invasive weed “worst” enemies: - Blackberry - Scotch broom Other unwanted species: - Foxglove Key management actions: - Oxeye daisy Mowing and handwork
Preferred meadow species • Native grasses • Columbine • Lupine • Self – heal • Golden rod • Douglas Aster • Nootka rose • Camas • Many more species…
Coastal Meadows & Oregon Silverspot Butterfly Habitat Historic Range: Coastal Meadows from Northern California up to Southern Washington OSB Needs: • Early Blue Violet - host plant for caterpillar • Nectar Flowers for adults - Goldenrod, California Aster, Pearly Everlasting, Yarrow • Cover habitat to escape wind, heavy fog Reason For Decline: • Habitat loss due to human development • Need shallow soil meadow habitat to support violet • Invasive species competition
Coastal Meadows: Rock Creek/Big Creek • 30 acres • 2 types- marine terrace & forest interface • Population estimate for 2018 was 50 adults Bray’s Point • Steep with shallow soils East Big Creek Meadow • Pasture grass • riparian, supports nectar plants Key Problems: Non- native pasture grass, invasive forbs, and encroachment of unwanted vegetation (salal and braken fern).
OSB Habitat Management = integrated invasive management Baseline actions : Violet planting - Annual Mowing - Handwork - Tarping, planting violets and nectar flowers Future strategy actions : -Burning (propane burners and Rx fire) - Dethatching Handwork to remove - Lawn mower mowing woody vegetation - Scraping and braken fern - Grazing? - Herbacide?
FY 2019 Stewardship Funding - Coastal Meadow Maintenance and Restoration Project District 2019 Planned Costs Annual maintenance of historic early seral meadows - Mowing CCRD 25,000 Annual maintenance of historic early seral meadows - Mowing Hebo 13,000 Maintenance and Restoration of OSB Habitat - Handwork & Mowing CCRD 4,787 Maintenance and Restoration of OSB Habitat - Mowing Hebo 10,000 Maintenance and Restoration of OSB Habitat - Youth Crew Handwork Hebo 5,400 Native Seed Collection, Grow-out and Planting - Plug production Siuslaw 18,350 Native Seed Collection, Grow-out and Planting - Seed Collection Siuslaw 10,463 Mt Hebo Meadows Barrier Construction Hebo 10,000 Oregon Silverspot Ovipositioning Survey Work Siuslaw 8,000 TOTAL 105,000
Partners • Oregon State Parks • US Fish and Wildlife Service • Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation • Oregon Fish and Wildlife • NW Youth Corps • Shutter Creek Corrections crew • Environment for the Americas
Other meadows…with other funding Early Seral Habitat Elkhorn and Peterson Ridge meadow creation • Salmonberry and alder patches • Primarily on ridge tops or flat ground Species Planted: Columbia brome, blue wild rye, edible thistle, golden rod, and fireweed. Collaborated with ODFW and signed Good Neighbor Authority agreement for future maintenance
Canal Creek- Riparian restoration • Cutting blackberry, appling herbicide and thinning planted conifers along riparian habitat • Using KV money to treat the meadow.
Mary’s Peak • Forest encroachment is being removed • Native plant forb and grass species diversity is being restored.
Five Mile Bell - Meadows • Removing blackberries by cutting and applying herbicide • Planting with native forbs Project was funded by grant money from Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to help restore this meadow
Future Management for all meadows #1 challenge is preventing spread of invasive species, non-native pasture grass and maintaining current habitat #2 challenge - converting non-native pasture grass systems back into diverse native functioning ecosystems
Thank you! Questions?
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