Restoration of Bunchgrass Ecosystems in the Blue Mountain Ecoregion

The semi-arid bunchgrass ecosystems of the interior Pacific Northwest have undergone considerable changes in the past 150 years. These grasslands are typically dominated by perennial bunchgrass plant species and are home to a diverse array of biodiversity.

Unfortunately, bunchgrass grasslands are one of the most degraded ecosystems in the interior Pacific Northwest (eastern Oregon, Washington, and parts of western Idaho), as cultivation, over-grazing, altered fire regimes, and the introduction of exotic plant species have taken their toll.

The objective of this work is to evaluate various techniques to restore these grasslands. Specifically, we are interested in determining what methods work best to not only eliminate exotic plant species but also re-introduce the dominant native plant species of these ecosystems. Native species to be re-introduced include the grasses Bluebunch wheatgrass, and Idaho Fescue, as well as the perennial native forbs Western Yarrow and Yellow Cinquefoil.

To evaluate restoration approaches, a series of experiments will be conducted in degraded grasslands in northeastern Oregon, where different combinations of invasive plant control will be evaluated in combination with various methods of native plant reintroduction.

In addition, we will also conduct workshops and field demonstrations for land management organizations that manage millions of acres of bunchgrass grasslands to discuss results of the experiments and talk about various approaches to restoration.