Cooperative Recovery of Spalding’s Catchfly

Project ID: F17AC01045

Federal Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Partner Institution: University of Washington

Fiscal Year: 2019

Initial Funding: $20,054

Total Funding: $20,054

Principal Investigator: Gibble, Wendy

Abstract: Funds under this award are to be used to improve the status of the Federally Threatened species Spalding’s catchfly (Silene spaldingii) within the Channeled Scablands portions of the species range. The goal of this project is to establish five additional viable subpopulations of 500 individual Spalding’s catchfly on secure habitat through the following: augmenting one population and creating a second new population at Turnbull NWR, expanding one population at BLM’s South 3 Sprague Area, and collaborating with private landowners within the Channeled Scablands and Palouse Prairie to expand two existing populations on private lands. The Rare Plant Care and Conservation Program (Rare Care)
ofthe University of Washington Botanic Gardens will work cooperatively with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to augment existing populations at Turnbull NWR and establish a new one by monitoring existing populations, collecting seed, outplanting propagated plants, and post-planting monitoring for establishment.

The Service Will:
• Provide technical support and office resources to ensure successful completion of the scope of work.
• Provide access to locations, gate keys, maps, GIS files, field site recent management histories and will provide one Trimble GPS unit for use in the field.
Provide safety equipment (fire extinguisher, shovel, bladder bag) for fire prevention while doing field work.

The Recipient Will:
• Survey ten existing S. spaldingii populations occurring at Turnbull NWR in the first year of the project.
• Survey the 1,000 acre augmentation site for new populations as well as four locations to receive prescribed fire treatments. All populations will be mapped with GPS units, and evaluated for population size, phenology, habitat characteristics, and overall condition of the population and habitat.
• Collect seed from documented populations at Turnbull NWR in year 1 and year 2 of the project.
Approximately 3,000 seeds will be collected. Seeds will be cleaned, counted and stored in the
Miller Seed Vault until they are shipped for propagation.
• Assist with the planting of seedlings at two locations at Turnbull NWR. In the first year, 500 seedlings will be planting; in the second year, 1,000 will be plant. Planting will be conducted by Rare Staff and volunteers. Seedlings used for the propagation will be provided by USFWS.
• Direct sowS. spaldingii seeds on twenty 20-square-meter plots in year Iand in year 2.
• In year 2, Rare Care will monitor all previous planting sites and the four prescribed fire treatments and assess the efficacy of the treatments.