INCREASING NATIVE SEED COLLECTION AND STORAGE CAPACITY FOR RESTORATION OF CORE SAGEBRUSH AREAS IN CENTRAL OREGON”

Project ID: F24AC00615

Federal Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Partner Institution: Oregon State University

Fiscal Year: 2024

Initial Funding: $140,303

Total Funding: $140,303

Principal Investigator: Shinderman, Matt

Agreement Technical Representative: Shinderman, Matt

Abstract: THE NATIONAL SEED STRATEGY PROMOTES ESTABLISHMENT OF COORDINATED NETWORKS TO IDENTIFY AND RESOLVE ORGANIZATIONAL, ECOLOGICAL, AND FINANCIAL CHALLENGES OF RESTORATION AND REVEGETATION AT SCALE. MORE RECENTLY, THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW DIRECTED SIGNIFICANT FUNDING TO THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES TO EMPHASIZE PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT OF CORE SAGEBRUSH ECOSYSTEM HABITATS. THIS KEYSTONE INITIATIVE SPECIFIES ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT PREVENTION OF ANNUAL GRASS INVASION TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK, REDUCING OTHER NEGATIVE IMPACTS FROM FIRE, AND ADVANCING THE SAGEBRUSH CONSERVATION DESIGN, ALL OF WHICH REQUIRE GREATLY EXPANDED ACCESS TO SITE-APPROPRIATE NATIVE PLANT MATERIALS FOR RESTORATION OF SAGEBRUSH ECOSYSTEMS. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE FOR HABITAT RESTORATION EFFORTS FOCUSED ON SAGE GROUSE, WHICH TYPICALLY INVOLVE REINCORPORATING GRASS AND FORB SPECIES INTO A SAGEBRUSH MATRIX.THE EAST CASCADES NATIVE PLANT HUB IN BEND, OREGON, WAS LAUNCHED TO SPEARHEAD DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL PLANT MATERIAL NETWORK (CONSISTENT WITH THE NATIONAL SEED STRATEGY) THAT SERVES THE EAST CASCADES, COLUMBIA PLATEAU, BLUE MOUNTAINS, KLAMATH MOUNTAINS, SNAKE RIVER PLAIN, AND NORTHERN BASIN AND RANGE ECOREGIONS. KEY ACTIVITIES OF THE HUB INCLUDE SEED COLLECTION AND INCREASE, PROPAGATION, RESTORATION AND