UMTANUM DESERT BUCKWHEAT OUTPLANTINGS AT SADDLE MOUNTAIN

Project ID: F24AC00289

Federal Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Partner Institution: University of Washington

Fiscal Year: 2024

Initial Funding: $45,248

Total Funding: $45,248

Principal Investigator: Gibble, Wendy

Principal Investigator: Owen, Christina

Agreement Technical Representative: Rhodes, Carol

Abstract: UMTANUM DESERT BUCKWHEAT (ERIOGONUM CODIUM), A THREATENED PLANT SPECIES KNOWN FROM ONLY ONE LOCATION ON THE HANFORD SITE IN WASHINGTON STATE, IS LONG-LIVED, WOODY PLANT. THE BUCKWHEAT S POPULATION HAS SUBSTANTIALLY DECREASED IN SIZE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES AND ITS NARROW RANGE MAKES IT PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO CATASTROPHIC EVENTS SUCH AS WILDFIRE. THE MOST RECENT CENSUS OF THE ENTIRE POPULATION OCCURRED IN 2023 WHEN 2,354 PLANTS WERE COUNTED, FALLING FROM A HIGH OF 5,228 PLANTS IN 1997. WILDFIRES IN 1996 AND 2017 RESULTED IN POPULATION LOSSES OF 17.7% AND 51.2%, RESPECTIVELY. EXPERIMENTAL OUTPLANTINGS HAVE OCCURRED AT FOUR LOCATIONS IN CENTRAL WASHINGTON BUT HAVE MET WITH LIMITED SUCCESS. OVERALL SURVIVAL OF THESE PLANTINGS HAS BEEN VERY LOW TO DATE AND FURTHER WORK IS NEEDED TO IMPROVE OUTPLANTING TECHNIQUES AND SITE SELECTION IN ORDER TO SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISH NEW POPULATIONS.THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ADVANCE THE RECOVERY AND CONSERVATION OF UMTANUM DESERT BUCKWHEAT BY CONDUCTING ADDITIONAL EXPERIMENTAL OUTPLANTINGS AT SADDLE MOUNTAIN ON THE HANFORD REACH NATIONAL MONUMENT. EXPERIMENTAL OUTPLANTING TRIALS ARE NEEDED TO FURTHER DEVELOP TECHNIQUES TO ESTABLISH PLANTS FROM PLUGS OR SEED AND ASSESS THE SUITABILITY OF THE SITE FOR AN INTRODUCED POPULATION. OUTPLANTINGS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN TWO PHASES.