Prairie Restoration on Joint Base Lewis McChord

Prairie  Restora+on  on  JBLM  

JBLM  Fish  &  Wildlife  Program  Mission:    maintain,  and  enhance  the  various  ecosystems  on  the  installation  to  promote  native  biodiversity  and  support  the  military  mission.  

John  Richardson  Joint  Base  Lewis-­‐McChord  

Fish  and  Wildlife  

≈97%  Of  Prairie  Habitat  Lost  

Types  of  Habitat  Loss  

Habitat  Degradation  

Forest  Encroachment    

Urban  Development  

Conversion  to  Agriculture  

Prairie  Restora7on  

!  1st  Phase  Removal  of  Invasive  Species  !  3  Methods  of  Removal  

!  Mechanical  !  Chemical  !  Fire  

!  2nd  Phase  Planting  Native  Vegetation    

3  Phases  

Plant  and  Seed  Produc7on  Seed  Beds   Sustainable  Prisons  Project  

Restore  Ecosystem  Processes  

Corner  Stone  of  Prairie  Restoration  

Fire  Dependent  Ecosystems  in  Western  Washington  

! Adapted  to  Frequent  Low  Intensity  Fires  

! Historically  Maintained  Through  Burning  by  Native  Americans    

Garry  Oak  Ponderosa  Pine  Glacial  Outwash  Prairie  

Role  of  Fire  in  Ecosystems  !  Nutrient  cycling  

!  Stimulation  of  seed  production  and  plant  germination  

!  Control  invasive  species  eg.  Scot’s  broom  

!  Reduction  of  pests  

!  Creates  complex  ecosystems  

!  Prevents  encroachment  of  less  fire  adapted  species  

!  Reduce  risk  of  catastrophic  fire      

Typical  Low  Intensity  Fire  on  JBLM  

Before  and  AKer  Fire  2010   2011  

Habitat  Exclusions  

Principals  of  Ecological  Fire  Use  ! Allow  fire  to  act  in  its  natural  role  

! Fire  Regime  ! No  fixed  return  interval  (1-­‐3  years)  

! Carefully  Reintroduce  Fire  ! Create  artificial  mosaics  as  fire  re-­‐introduced    

Conclusion  

! Prairie  Restoration  is  Difficult  NOT  Impossible    

! Key  Focus  Conserve  What  Remains  

! No  Fire  =  No  Prairie  

Ques7ons?  

!  Contact  Information    !  John  Richardson  !  [email protected]  !  253-­‐966-­‐6447