For the Love of Grass IX

Botanizing the Snake River Plains and Bonneville Lakebeds and Shorelines

Jack Carlson, Wendall Oaks, Larry Holzworth, Dan Ogle, and Wendell Hassell

May 10-15, 2016 Table of Contents Introduction ...... 3 Day 1 – Monday, May 10 ...... 5 Inventory Site 1 – Forage and Range Reseach Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Logan, Logan County, Utah ...... 5 Inventory Site 2 – Curlew National Grassland, Oneida County, Idaho ...... 8 Day 2 – Tuesday, May 11 ...... 13 Inventory Site 3 – Aberdeen Plant Materials Center (PMC), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Bingham County, Idaho ...... 13 Inventory Site 4 – Coffee Point, Bingham County, Idaho ...... 17 Day 3 – Wednesday, May 12 ...... 21 Inventory Site 4A – Big Lost River Rest Area, Butte County, Idaho ...... 21 Inventory Site 4B – Craters of the Moon National Monument, Butte County, Idaho ...... 22 Inventory Site 5 – Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management Area, Camas County, Idaho ...... 26 Inventory Site 6 – Castle Rocks, Elmore County, Idaho ...... 29 Day 4 – Thursday, May 13 ...... 34 Inventory Site 7 – Orchard, Ada County, Idaho ...... 34 Inventory Site 8 – Thousand Springs, Twin Falls County, Idaho ...... 39 Inventory Site 9A – Balanced Rock, Twin Falls County, Idaho ...... 42 Inventory Site 9B – Highway 93 Roadside, Twin Falls County, Idaho ...... 46 Day 5 – Friday, May 14 ...... 47 Inventory Site 10 – Trout Creek, Elko County, Nevada ...... 47 Summary ...... 53

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Introduction

Intrepid botanizers rendezvoused in Salt Lake City, Utah on Sunday, May 9, 2016 for the ninth Love of Grass trek. Those convening were Larry Holzworth, Wendell Hassell, Wendall Oaks, and Jack Carlson. New trekker Dan Ogle, retired Idaho Plant Materials Specialist, joined us later at the Aberdeen Plant Materials Center (PMC) on Tuesday, May 11th. Bob MacLauchlan, Curtis Sharp, and Fred Gaffney were not able to participate this go-round, and therefore were assigned to choose the location of the 10th trek in 2017.

After arrival on the 9th we were treated to dinner by Wendall, his wife Barbara, and daughter-in-law Kristen at her home in Mountain Green in the mountains east of Ogden. Barbara’s son James, a pilot for Delta Airlines based in Salt Lake City, was on flight duty. From their home we looked across the valley to the Snowbasin ski resort.

Our trek this year took us north to Logan, Curlew National Grasslands, Aberdeen Plant Materials Center, Coffee Point, west to Craters of the Moon National Monument, Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh, Castle Rocks, south to Orchard, Thousand Springs, and back east to Balanced Rock, south to Trout Creek, and then south and east back to Salt Lake City. We started on an old Bonneville lakebed (Logan), then its northern shoreline (Curlew), Bonneville flood deposits (Aberdeen) and the Snake River plains (Craters of the Moon, Camas, Orchard, Balanced Rock), a volcanic track across southern Idaho formed by the North American continental plate passing over the Yellowstone Hot Spot. Finally, the last stop (Trout Creek) in Nevada was situated on valley fill of the Basin and Range province featuring mountain ranges and valleys generally running north and south. All part of a very geologically active area the past 17 million years, likely triggered by a large meteor impact in eastern Oregon creating a weakness in the earth’s crust and resulting hot spot, now the Yellowstone caldera.

The Flora of North America considers the area of our trek to be part of the Great Basin Floristic Province, with the flora developed since Miocene times (5-23 million years before present). Drought and cold characterize the province, with prominent species big sagebrush, saltbush, juniper, oak, and pine. Well developed genera include cryptantha, lomatium, gilia, paintbrush, rabbitbrush, fleabane, and phacelia, with cool-season perennial grasses.

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We identified 428 plants of 218 species at the 10 inventory sites (plus 2 brief stops). The most frequently encountered plants were:

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) – introduced, 11 sites Basin wildrye (Leymus cinereus) – native, 9 sites Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda) – native, 9 sites Bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) – native, 8 sites Siberian wheatgrass (Agropyron fragile), introduced, 7 sites Green rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) – native, 7 sites Western tansymustard (Descurainia pinnata) – native, 7 sites Western yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – native, 6 sites Rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) – native, 6 sites Tall tumblemustard (Sisymbrium altissimum) – native, 6 sites

As with previous inventories, we used the nomenclature of the PLANTS database (http://plants.usda.gov). We recorded species as they were spotted, took photographs, and then used PLANTS county lists, and university herbaria databases from http://intermountainbiota.org and http://www.pnwherbaria.org for verification.

Figure 1. USDA-ARS Forage and Range Research Laboratory North Farm looking northeast to Wasatch Mountains near Logan, Utah, situated on old lakebed of Pleistocene Lake Bonneville

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Day 1 – Monday, May 10

Inventory Site 1 – Forage and Range Reseach Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Logan, Logan County, Utah Our group departed Ogden in the morning driving north to Logan and the Forage and Range Research Laboratory (FRRL) located on the campus of Utah State University. There we met long-time friends and colleagues Dr. Tom Jones and Dr. Doug Johnson and caught up on their productive plant development and research for the Intermountain Area. They have published a plant materials release catalog providing a great overview of their past and current work: https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/20801000/catalog_interactive_highcondensed.pdf

The following link provides access to FRRL publications to find out more about their work. https://www.ars.usda.gov/pacific-west-area/logan-ut/forage-and-range-research/

Figure 2. Tom Jones and Doug Johnson briefing us on current FRRL projects.

Figure 3. Basin wildrye spring green-up

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Over the past 50 years FRRL has provided the foundation for understanding the ecology and genetics of native and adapted species of the Intermountain Area, enabling extensive progams to reverse degradation and stustain healthy rangelands.

Tom and Doug gave us a tour of their greenhouses containing native plants being grown for field studies. Then after lunch we visited the North Farm examining the evaluation plots and seed fields.

During our visit we jotted down several species encountered in the greenhouse and fields:

Scientific Name Common Name Type Origin Achillea millefolium L. common yarrow Forb Native Achnatherum hymenoides (Roem. & Schult.) indian ricegrass Graminoid Native Barkworth Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. crested wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Agropyron fragile (Roth) P. Candargy Siberian wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Astragalus filipes Torr. ex A. Gray basalt milkvetch Legume Native Bassia prostrata (L.) A.J. Scott forage kochia Shrub Introduced Bromus biebersteinii Roem. & Schult. meadow brome Graminoid Introduced Bromus riparius Rehmann meadow brome Graminoid Introduced Convolvulus arvensis L. field bindweed Vine Introduced Dalea ornata (Douglas ex Hook.) Eaton & J. Blue Mountain prairie Legume Native Wright clover Dalea searlsiae (A. Gray) Barneby Searl's prairie clover Legume Native Elymus elymoides (raf.) Swezey squirreltail Graminoid Native Elymus hoffmannii K.B. Jensen & K.H. Asay RS wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Elymus lanceolatus (Scribn. & J.G. Sm.) Gould thickspike wheatgrass Graminoid Native Elymus multisetus M.E. Jones big squirreltail Graminoid Native Elymus wawawaiensis J. Carlson & Barkworth Snake River wheatgrass Graminoid Native Lactuca serriola L. prickly lettuce Forb Introduced Leymus angustus (Trin.) Pilg. Altai wildrye Graminoid Introduced Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) Á. Löve basin wildrye Graminoid Native Leymus salinus (M.E. Jones) Á. Löve saline wildrye Graminoid Native Leymus triticoides (Buckley) Pilg. beardless wildrye Graminoid Native Medicago sativa L. alfalfa Legume Introduced Medicago sativa L. subsp. falcata (L.) Arcang. yellow alfalfa Legume Introduced Nassella viridula (Trin.) Barkworth green needlegrass Graminoid Native Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) Á. Löve western wheatgrass Graminoid Native Poa secunda J. Presl Sandberg bluegrass Graminoid Native Polygonum aviculare L. prostrate knotweed Forb Introduced Polygonum convolvulus L. black bindweed Forb Introduced Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski Russian wildrye Graminoid Introduced Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve bluebunch wheatgrass Graminoid Native

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Figure 4. Discovery Snake River wheatgrass Figure 5. Basalt milkvetch

Figure 6. Nice spring day at the North Farm! Figure 7. Yellow alfalfa

Figure 8. FRRL Breeding nurseries Figure 9. Wendell’s sink

Many years ago (1960s) Wendell worked as a student at FRRL, then called the Crops Resarch Laboratory. He fondly remembers the sink in the the headhouse (Figure 9), and it was just as he envisoned it.

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A visit to Logan would not have been complete without a stop at the Aggie Creamery, energy needed for the upcoming inventory on the slopes of the Curlew National Grassland just over the border in Idaho.

Departing Logan, we made our way through backroads to Curlew, stopping about 7 miles north of the little town of Holbrook, on Bull Canyon Road 3 miles north of its intersection with Highway 38. Near the northern shoreline of Lake Bonneville at its peak depth.

Inventory Site 2 – Curlew National Grassland, Oneida County, Idaho We found a west-facing slope with considerable plant diversity to conduct our inventory. Our slope was part of the southern extension of the Deep Creek Mountains, Paleozoic uplift of the Basin and Range, mixed with Pliocene sediments at our location. We were between Old Lake Bonneville and the Snake River Plains.

From the US Forest Service web site: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/ctnf/about- forest/?cid=STELPRDB5110047: The Curlew National Grassland comprises 47,000 acres of public land. It was originally established to improve the soils and vegetation.

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Historically the Curlew Grassland, in Southeastern Idaho, was inhabited by the Bannock and Shoshone Indian Tribes before the settlement of the pioneers. In the late 1800s and early 1900s the Curlew Valley had a ranch on every 160 acres. When drought years of the late 20's and early 30's came, the land wouldn't support these homesteads. Many fields were badly eroded. The Federal Government purchased several thousands of these acres between 1934 and 1942. Today the Curlew National Grassland is administered by the Forest Service, and managed to promote and demonstrate grassland agriculture and sustained-yield management of forage, fish and wildlife, water and recreation resources. Soils at our inventory site mapped to the Hondoho-Calpac-Lizdale association, 30-70% slopes, mostly gravelly silt loams. The ecological site: Steep South Slopes, 12-16 inches precipitation, dominant species bluebunch wheatgrass and mountain big sagebrush. Plant species inventoried were:

Scientific Name Common Name Type Origin Achillea millefolium L. common yarrow Forb Native Achnatherum hymenoides (Roem. & Schult.) indian ricegrass Graminoid Native Barkworth Allium acuminatum Hook. tapertip onion Forb Native Alyssum alyssoides (L.) L. pale madwort Forb Introduced Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. ex M. Roem. Saskatoon serviceberry Shrub Native Arabis holboellii Hornem. Holboell's rockcress Forb Native Artemisia arbuscula Nutt. little sagebrush Shrub Native Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. vaseyana mountain big sagebrush Shrub Native Astragalus cibarius Sheldon browse milkvetch Legume Native Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt. arrowleaf balsamroot Forb Native Bromus diandrus Roth subsp. rigidus (Roth) Lainz ripgut brome Graminoid Introduced Bromus tectorum L. cheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. shepherd's purse Forb Introduced Castilleja angustifolia (Nutt.) G. Don northwestern Indian Forb Native paintbrush Chaenactis douglasii (Hook.) Hook. & Arn. Douglas' dustymaiden Forb Native Chorispora tenella (Pall.) DC. crossflower Forb Introduced Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus (Hook.) Nutt. yellow rabbitbrush Shrub Native Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. bull thistle Forb Introduced Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt. bastard toadflax Forb Introduced Crepis acuminata Nutt. tapertip hawksbeard Forb Native Delphinium bicolor Nutt. little larkspur Forb Native Delphinium nuttallianum Pritz. ex Walp. twolobe larkspur Forb Native Descurainia pinnata (Walter) Britton western tansymustard Forb Native Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl herb sophia Forb Introduced Erigeron pumilus Nutt. shaggy fleabane Forb Native Erysimum capitatum (Douglas ex Hook.) Greene sanddune wallflower Forb Native Festuca idahoensis Elmer Idaho fescue Graminoid Native Galium triflorum Michx. fragrant bedstraw Forb Native

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Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) Á. Löve basin wildrye Graminoid Native Linum lewisii Pursh Lewis flax Forb Native Lithospermum ruderale Douglas ex Lehm. western stoneseed Forb Native Lomatium simplex (Nutt.) J.F. Macbr. Great Basin desertparsley Forb Native Lupinus sericeus Pursh silky lupine Legume Native Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam. sweetclover Legume Introduced Opuntia polyacantha Haw. plains pricklypear Shrub Native Oxytropis sericea Nutt. white locoweed Legume Native Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) Á. Löve western wheatgrass Graminoid Native Penstemon humilis Nutt. ex A. Gray low beardtongue Forb Native Phlox aculeata A. Nelson sagebrush phlox Forb Native Phlox hoodii Richardson spiny phlox Forb Native Phlox longifolia Nutt. longleaf phlox Forb Native Poa bulbosa L. bulbous bluegrass Graminoid Introduced Poa secunda J. Presl Sandberg bluegrass Graminoid Native Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve bluebunch wheatgrass Graminoid Native Purshia tridentata (Pursh) DC. antelope bitterbrush Shrub Native Senecio integerrimus Nutt. lambstongue ragwort Forb Native Sisymbrium altissimum L. tall tumblemustard Forb Introduced Sphaeralcea munroana (Douglas) Spach Munro's globemallow Forb Native Stellaria media (L.) Vill. common chickweed Forb Introduced Symphoricarpos oreophilus A. Gray var. utahensis Utah snowberry Shrub Native (Rydb.) A. Nelson Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. intermediate wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Dewey Thlaspi arvense L. field pennycress Forb Introduced Verbascum thapsus L. common mullein Forb Introduced Zigadenus paniculatus (Nutt.) S. Watson foothill deathcamas Forb Native

Figure 10. Northwestern Indian paintbrush Figure 11. Sagebrush phlox

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Figure 12. Twolobe larkspur Figure 13. Little larkspur

Figure 14. Arrowleaf balsomroot Figure 15. Shaggy fleabane

Figure 16. Low beardtongue Figure 17. Great Basin desertparsley

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Figure 18. Bluebunch wheatgrass, balsomroot, phlox, and friends

Figure 19. Mountain big sagebrush – bluebunch wheatgrss plant community

Following inventory, we backtracked to Highway 38 and headed north to I-86 and east to Pocatello where we spent the night.

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Day 2 – Tuesday, May 11

Inventory Site 3 – Aberdeen Plant Materials Center (PMC), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Bingham County, Idaho The next morning fellow trekker Dan Ogle joined us at the PMC office in Aberdeen, hosted by manager Derek Tilley, who provided an update of PMC activities and priorities. We were happy to see Loren St. John, the PMC manager prior to Derek, and meet PMC staff members Pat Blaker and Charlie Bair. The center was established in 1939 developing plant materials having substantial positive impact on revegetation programs and conservation in the Intermountain west over the years. A recent PMC innovation involved modifications to the Flail-Vac seed harvester and the way it is used to havest hoary tanseyaster seed and other plants with small floating seeds, tripling prevous yields. The work featured in a Capital Press article at http://www.capitalpress.com/Research/20151026/plant-center-devises-new-wildflower-seed-harvest- method.

Figure 20. Modified Flail-Vac seed harvester triples yields for small floating seeds.

Current PMC priorities and contributions can be reviewed at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/plant-materials/pmc/west/idpmc/

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We toured both the PMC home farm and fields at the Fish and Game farm. At the latter we examined the plant composition of pollinator seedings planted in 2011 and subsequent difficulty of controlling common and noxious weed species. Bees were very active in the caragana back in the 21-year old woody display nursery on the home farm.

While at the PMC we noted and logged the following species:

Scientific Name Common Name Type Origin Achillea millefolium L. common yarrow Forb Native Agropyron fragile (Roth) P. Candargy Siberian wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Amelanchier obovalis (Michx.) Ashe coastal serviceberry Shrub Introduced Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott burningbush Forb Introduced Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. shepherd's purse Forb Introduced Caragana arborescens Lam. Siberian peashrub Shrub Introduced Chaenactis douglasii (Hook.) Hook. & Arn. Douglas' dustymaiden Forb Native Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. Canada thistle Forb Introduced Cornus sericea L. subsp. sericea redosier dogwood Shrub Native Eriogonum heracleoides Nutt. parsnipflower buckwheat Forb Native Eriogonum umbellatum Torr. sulphur-flower buckwheat Forb Native Festuca brevipila Tracey hard fescue Graminoid Introduced Gaillardia aristata Pursh common gaillardia Forb Native Helianthus annuus L. common sunflower Forb Native Heliomeris multiflora Nutt. showy goldeneye Forb Native Juniperus scopulorum Sarg. Rocky Mountain juniper Tree Native Lactuca serriola L. prickly lettuce Forb Introduced Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) Á. Löve basin wildrye Graminoid Native Linum lewisii Pursh Lewis flax Forb Native Malva neglecta Wallr. common mallow Forb Introduced Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam. sweetclover Legume Introduced Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. sainfoin Legume Introduced Penstemon eatonii A. Gray firecracker penstemon Forb Native Populus simonii Carrière Simon poplar Tree Introduced Prunus tomentosa Thunb. Nanking cherry Shrub Introduced Prunus viginiana L. chokecherry Shrub Native Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve bluebunch wheatgrass Graminoid Native Rhus trilobata Nutt. skunkbush sumac Shrub Native Salix exigua Nutt. narrowleaf willow Shrub Native Sanguisorba minor Scop. small burnet Forb Introduced Shepherdia argentea (Pursh) Nutt. silver buffaloberry Shrub Native Sisymbrium altissimum L. tall tumblemustard Forb Introduced Syringa vulgaris L. common lilac Shrub Introduced

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Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg. common dandelion Forb Introduced Triticum aestivum L. common wheat Graminoid Introduced

Figure 21. Bees in the caragana Figure 22. Anatone bluebunch wheatgrass

Figure 23. Parsnipflower buckwheat Figure 24. Early firecracker penstemon

Figure 25. Specialized seed cleaning equipment Figure 26. Seed storage room

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Figure 27. PMC Fish and Game Farm pollinator plot green-up: 2013 and 2011 seedings

Figure 28. PMC Home Farm looking north; windbreaks useful in this high wind energy area

After lunch (thanks to Loren), we drove out to the field evalution planting (FEP) plots at Coffee Point.

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Inventory Site 4 – Coffee Point, Bingham County, Idaho The Coffee Point site, located 19 miles northwest of the PMC, sits on a Splittop-Atomic loamy soil complex with 0-8% slopes. The ecological site provisionally classifies as Loamy 8-12 inches precipitation, with dominant species Wyoming big sagebrush and bluebunch wheatgrass.

Figure 29. Aerial view of Coffee Point Field Evaluation Planting (FEP) site.

The site has been used for evaluating rangeland plants and revegetation techniques for more than 40 years, including a recent active seeding rate study. Plots established in 2006 are visible in Figure 29 above on the right side, particularly Russion wildrye plots evident as bare patches. The grass has a very extensive root system that spreads horizontally, making it difficult for weeds and understory species to establish between clumps, and enhancing its value as a firebreak species. The species inventoried at this site comprise a mix of seeded and native plants, plus weeds:

Scientific Name Common Name Type Origin Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. crested wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Agropyron fragile (Roth) P. Candargy Siberian wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Allium acuminatum Hook. tapertip onion Forb Native Alyssum alyssoides (L.) L. pale madwort Forb Introduced Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. tridentata basin big sagebrush Shrub Native Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. wyomingensis Wyoming big sagebrush Shrub Native Beetle & Young Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt. fourwing saltbush Shrub Native Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt. arrowleaf balsamroot Forb Native Bassia prostrata (L.) A.J. Scott forage kochia Shrub Introduced Bromus tectorum L. cheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Ceratocephala testiculata (Crantz) Roth curveseed butterwort Forb Introduced Chorispora tenella (Pall.) DC. crossflower Forb Introduced Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus (Hook.) Nutt. yellow rabbitbrush Shrub Native Collinsia parviflora Lindl. maiden blue eyed Mary Forb Native Crepis acuminata Nutt. tapertip hawksbeard Forb Native Descurainia pinnata (Walter) Britton western tansymustard Forb Native Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl herb sophia Forb Introduced Elymus lanceolatus (Scribn. & J.G. Sm.) Gould thickspike wheatgrass Graminoid Native Elymus wawawaiensis J. Carlson & Barkworth Snake River wheatgrass Graminoid Native Eremopyrum triticeum (Gaertn.) Nevski annual wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom rubber rabbitbrush Shrub Native & Baird Erigeron pumilus Nutt. shaggy fleabane Forb Native Festuca ovina L. sheep fesuce Graminoid Introduced Krascheninnikovia lanata (Pursh) A. Meeuse & winterfat Shrub Native Smit Lepidium perfoliatum L. clasping pepperweed Forb Introduced Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) Á. Löve basin wildrye Graminoid Native Linanthus pungens (Torr.) J.M. Porter & L.A. granite prickly phlox Forb Native Johnson Lomatium dissectum (Nutt.) Mathias & Constance fernleaf biscuitroot Forb Native Lomatium triternatum (Pursh) J.M. Coult. & Rose nineleaf biscuitroot Forb Native Lupinus wyethii S. Watson Wyeth's lupine Legume Native Mentzelia albicaulis (Hook.) Torr. & A. Gray whitestem blazingstar Forb Native Microsteris gracilis (Hook.) Greene slender phlox Legume Native Opuntia polyacantha Haw. plains pricklypear Shrub Native Penstemon eatonii A. Gray firecracker penstemon Forb Native Phlox hoodii Richardson spiny phlox Forb Native Phlox longifolia Nutt. longleaf phlox Forb Native Poa secunda J. Presl Sandberg bluegrass Graminoid Native Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski Russian wildrye Graminoid Introduced Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve bluebunch wheatgrass Graminoid Native Sisymbrium altissimum L. tall tumblemustard Forb Introduced

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Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg. common dandelion Forb Introduced Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. intermediate wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Dewey Tragopogon dubius Scop. yellow salsify Forb Introduced

Figure 30. Russian wildrye Figure 31. Reseeding forage kochia

Figure 32. Wyeth’s lupine Figure 33. Tapertip hawksbeard

Figure 34. Nineleaf biscuitroot Figure 35. Fernleaf biscuitroot

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Figure 36. Maiden blue eyed Mary Figure 37. Spiny phlox

Figure 38. Longleaf phlox Figure 39. Curveseed butterwort

Figure 40. A little cheatgrass interspersed Figure 41. Grass heaven

In late afternoon, we returned to the highway, Pat and Loren headed south back to Aberdeen, and trekkers northeast to Blackfoot for the night. Brent Cornforth, retired PMC farm manager, joined us for dinner as we contemplated the fate of grasses and other existential questions.

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Day 3 – Wednesday, May 12

Inventory Site 4A – Big Lost River Rest Area, Butte County, Idaho The next scheduled inventory site was at Craters of the Moon National Monument, about 75 miles west of Blackfoot. About 40 miles into the early morning drive, we decided to stop briefly at the Big Lost River Rest Area. Although the river drains into the Snake River to the south, it disappears underground not far from this location, beneath the lava flows characterizing the Snake River plains.

During the stop we noted the following plants:

Scientific Name Common Name Type Origin Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. crested wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Alyssum alyssoides (L.) L. pale madwort Forb Introduced Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. wyomingensis Wyoming big sagebrush Shrub Native Beetle & Young Bromus tectorum L. cheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus (Hook.) Nutt. yellow rabbitbrush Shrub Native Juniperus scopulorum Sarg. Rocky Mountain juniper Tree Native Poa secunda J. Presl Sandberg bluegrass Graminoid Native Rhus trilobata Nutt. skunkbush sumac Shrub Native

Just a little way further we entered Craters of the Moon.

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Inventory Site 4B – Craters of the Moon National Monument, Butte County, Idaho

The geology of most of the Craters of the Moon resulted from three main periods of lava flows between 2,000 and 15,000 years before present. These flows resulted from eruptions from fissures of the Great Rift volcanic zone, a 53-mile area trending southeast to northwest. These fissures represent weaknesses in the earth’s crust and transverse most of the Snake River Plains that run mostly west to east. These plains are an artifact of a hot spot that began 17 million years ago in eastern Oregon.

Most of our inventory occurred at Devil’s Orchard and along the Loop Road within two soil mapunits: Big Cinder Ashy Sandy Loam, 2-20% slope and Cinder Land–North Crater Association, 2-50% slopes, very gravelly ashy loamy sand. The Big Cinder soil associates to a Cinder 12-15 inch precipitation ecological site with co-dominants limber pine and mountain big sagebrush. The Cinder Land-North Crater soil does not associate to an ecological site. We encountered several unique plant communities, much different than surrounding rangelands, adapted to the harsh conditions.

Scientific Name Common Name Type Origin Achnatherum hymenoides (Roem. & Schult.) indian ricegrass Graminoid Native Barkworth Achnatherum thurberianum (Piper) Barkworth Thurber's needlegrass Graminoid Native Alyssum alyssoides (L.) L. pale madwort Forb Introduced Arabis holboellii Hornem. Holboell's rockcress Forb Native Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. vaseyana basin big sagebrush Shrub Native Bromus tectorum L. cheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. shepherd's purse Forb Introduced Chaenactis douglasii (Hook.) Hook. & Arn. Douglas' dustymaiden Forb Native

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Chamaebatiaria millefolium (Torr.) Maxim. desert sweet Shrub Native Collinsia parviflora Lindl. maiden blue eyed Mary Forb Native Cryptantha circumscissa (Hook. & Arn.) I.M. cushion cryptantha Forb Native Johnst. Cryptantha spiculifera (Piper) Payson Snake River cryptantha Forb Native Cryptantha torreyana (A. Gray) Greene Torrey's cryptantha Forb Native Delphinium andersonii A. Gray Anderson's larkspur Forb Native Elymus elymoides (raf.) Swezey squirreltail Graminoid Native Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom rubber rabbitbrush Shrub Native & Baird Eriogonum ovalifolium Nutt. cushion buckwheat Forb Native Eriogonum umbellatum Torr. sulphur-flower buckwheat Forb Native Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal curlycup gumweed Forb Native Lewisia rediviva Pursh bitter root Forb Native Linanthus pungens (Torr.) J.M. Porter & L.A. granite prickly phlox Forb Native Johnson Microseris nutans (Hook.) Sch. Bip. nodding microseris Forb Native Mimulus nanus Hook. & Arn. dwarf purple monkeyflower Forb Native Mimulus suksdorfii A. Gray Suksdorf's monkeyflower Forb Native Penstemon deustus Douglas ex Lindl. scabland penstemon Forb Native Phacelia hastata Douglas ex Lehm. silverleaf phacelia Forb Native Pinus flexilis James limber pine Tree Native Poa secunda J. Presl Sandberg bluegrass Graminoid Native Potentilla glandulosa Lindl. sticky cinquefoil Forb Native Purshia tridentata (Pursh) DC. antelope bitterbrush Shrub Native Ribes cereum Douglas wax current Shrub Native Tragopogon dubius Scop. yellow salsify Forb Introduced

Figure 42. Dwarf purple monkeyflower Figure 43. Suksdorf’s monkeyflower

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Figure 44. Cushion buckwheat Figure 45. Bitter root and silverleaf phacelia

Figure 46. Snake River cryptantha and friends Figure 47. Anderson’s larkspur and friends

Figure 48. Sticky cinquefoil Figure 49. Desert sweet

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Figure 50. Not limber (pine) anymore

Figure 51. Hardy souls

After the inventory, we drove on Highway 20 to Picabo, where we ate lunch at the Silver Creek Convenience Store, also known as the Picabo Angler.

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Inventory Site 5 – Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management Area, Camas County, Idaho Further west past Fairfield we stopped to a sea of blue at the Camas Praire Centennial Marsh managed by the Idaho Fish and Game. The sea consisting of quamash or small camas (see inventory), a root vegetable extensively dug by native Americans in the past, taste similar to sweet potato. In 1878 upset over settlers running pigs on the prairie rooting up the plant, the Bannock tribe attacked and killed 40 soldiers and civilians before the fighting ceased and the tribe settled at the Fort Hall Reservation to the east.

The 3,100-acre marsh was purchased by Idaho Fish and Game in 1987 with funds from Ducks Unlimited and the Nature Conservency. The marsh primarily is mapped as Hauk silty clay loam, a Wet Meadow ecological site, with co-dominants tufted hairgrass and Nebraska sedge. We found the latter, but not the hairgrass, with the marsh mostly a vast expanse of blue camas in standing water. Our inventory:

Scientific Name Common Name Type Origin Achillea millefolium L. common yarrow Forb Native Alopecurus arundinaceus Poir. creeping meadow foxtail Graminoid Introduced Amsinckia menziesii (Lehm.) A. Nelson & J.F. Macbr. Menzies' fiddleneck Forb Native Artemisia cana Pursh silver sagebrush Shrub Native Bromus inermis Leysis. smooth brome Graminoid Introduced Bromus tectorum L. cheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Camassia quamash (Pursh) Greene small camas Forb Native Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. shepherd's purse Forb Introduced

26 For the Love of Grass IX

Carex nebrascensis Dewey Nebraska sedge Graminoid Native Chenopodium album L. lambsquarter Forb Introduced Collinsia parviflora Lindl. maiden blue eyed Mary Forb Native Descurainia pinnata (Walter) Britton western tansymustard Forb Native Eleocharis acicularis (L.) Roem. & Schult. needle spikerush Graminoid Native Elymus repens (L.) Gould quackgrass Graminoid Introduced Hackelia hispida (A. Gray) I.M. Johnst. showy stickseed Forb Native Juncus arcticus Willd. subsp. littoralis (Engelm.) mountain rush Graminoid Native Hultén Lactuca serriola L. prickly lettuce Forb Introduced Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) Á. Löve basin wildrye Graminoid Native Lomatium triternatum (Pursh) J.M. Coult. & Rose nineleaf biscuitroot Forb Native Orthocarpus luteus Nutt. yellow owl's-clover Forb Native Phalaris arundinacea L. reed canarygrass Graminoid Introduced Poa bulbosa L. bulbous bluegrass Graminoid Introduced Poa pratensis L. Kentucky bluegrass Graminoid Introduced Polygonum bistortoides Pursh American bistort Forb Native Potentilla recta L. sulfur cinquefoil Forb Introduced Ranunculus sceleratus L. cursed buttercup Forb Native Rumex acetosella L. common sheep sorrel Forb Introduced Salix exigua Nutt. narrowleaf willow Shrub Native Schoenoplectus acutus (Muhl. ex Bigelow) Á. Löve & hardstem bulrush Graminoid Native D. Löve Senecio bigelovii A. Gray nodding ragwort Forb Native Stellaria media (L.) Vill. common chickweed Forb Introduced Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg. common dandelion Forb Introduced Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. intermediate wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Dewey Thlaspi arvense L. field pennycress Forb Introduced Trifolium macrocephalum (Pursh) Poir. largehead clover Legume Native

Figure 52. Yellow owl’s clover Figure 53. Nineleaf bisquitroot again

For the Love of Grass IX 27

Figure 54. Common sheep sorrel, camas, grounsel, creeping foxtail, and rush

Figure 55. Not so small (blue) camas up close

28 For the Love of Grass IX

Inventory Site 6 – Castle Rocks, Elmore County, Idaho With time still left in the afternoon, we drove west departing Highway 20 to the right onto Castle Rocks Road to the next inventory site, an area of exposed granite of the Idaho Batholith. We inventoried along the roadbank and a little further into what is called Castle Rocks. The area is mapped as Roanhide-Bauscher association, 10-30% slopes, primarily sandy loam and loam. The soils associate to a Loamy 12-16 inch precipitation ecological site with co-dominants mountain sagebrush, Idaho fescue, and bluebunch wheatgrass.

Rocky ledge penstemon and northwestern Indian paintbrush bloomed profusely among the granite. Plant species inventoried in the area were:

Scientific Name Common Name Type Origin Achillea millefolium L. common yarrow Forb Native Achnatherum thurberianum (Piper) Barkworth Thurber's needlegrass Graminoid Native Agropyron fragile (Roth) P. Candargy Siberian wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. ex M. Roem. Saskatoon serviceberry Shrub Native Antennaria luzuloides Torr. & A. Gray rush pussytoes Forb Native Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. vaseyana (Rydb.) mountain big sagebrush Shrub Native Beetle Bromus inermis Leysis. smooth brome Graminoid Introduced Bromus tectorum L. cheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Calochortus bruneaunis A. Nelson & J.F. Macbr. Bruneau mariposa lily Forb Native Carex filifolia Nutt. threadleaf sedge Graminoid Native Castilleja angustifolia (Nutt.) G. Don northwestern Indian paintbrush Forb Native Ceanothus velutinus Douglas ex Hook. snowbrush ceanothus Shrub Native Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus (Hook.) Nutt. yellow rabbitbrush Shrub Native Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. bull thistle Forb Introduced Elymus lanceolatus (Scribn. & J.G. Sm.) Gould thickspike wheatgrass Graminoid Native Epilobium minutum Lindl. ex Lehm. chaparral willowherb Forb Native

For the Love of Grass IX 29

Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom rubber rabbitbrush Shrub Native & Baird Eriogonum heracleoides Nutt. parsnipflower buckwheat Forb Native Fritillaria atropurpurea Nutt. spotted fritillary Forb Native Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) Á. Löve basin wildrye Graminoid Native Linanthus pungens (Torr.) J.M. Porter & L.A. granite prickly phlox Forb Native Johnson Lithophragma tenellum Nutt. slender woodland-star Forb Native Lomatium triternatum (Pursh) J.M. Coult. & Rose nineleaf biscuitroot Forb Native Lupinus caudatus Kellogg tailcup lupine Legume Native Lupinus sericeus Pursh silky lupine Legume Native Mahonia repens (Lindl.) G. Don creeping barberry Shrub Native Mertensia oblongifolia (Nutt.) G. Don oblongleaf bluebells Forb Native Penstemon ellipticus J.M. Coult. & Fisher rocky ledge penstemon Forb Native Penstemon humilis Nutt. ex A. Gray low beardtongue Forb Native Phacelia hastata Douglas ex Lehm. silverleaf phacelia Forb Native Poa secunda J. Presl Sandberg bluegrass Graminoid Native Potentilla arguta Pursh tall cinquefoil Forb Native Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve bluebunch wheatgrass Graminoid Native Purshia tridentata (Pursh) DC. antelope bitterbrush Shrub Native Ribes cereum Douglas wax current Shrub Native Rosa woodsii Lindl. Wood's rose Shrub Native Rumex crispus L. curly dock Forb Introduced Sanguisorba minor Scop. small burnet Forb Introduced Solidago canadensis L. Canada goldenrod Forb Native Symphoricarpos albus (L.) S.F. Blake common snowberry Shrub Native Viola nuttallii Pursh Nuttall's violet Forb Native

Figure 56. Blooming bitterbrush

30 For the Love of Grass IX

Figure 57. Rocky ledge penstemon

Figure 58. Serviceberry backed by bitterbrush

Figure 59. Spotted fritillary

Figure 60. Tall cinquefoil

For the Love of Grass IX 31

Figure 61 (above). Rocky ledge penstemon Figure 62 (below). Idaho batholith granite

32 For the Love of Grass IX

Figure 63. Creeping barberry Figure 64. Nuttall’s violet

Figure 65. Oblongleaf bluebells

Figure 67. Northwestern Indian paintbrush

Figure 66. Basin wildrye Inventories concluded, photos taken, and the important issues discussed we headed to Mountain Home then to Boise for the night. We dined at Epi’s Basque restaurant, frequented by Wendall when in town working on the US Forest Sevice fire logistics ROSS contract. Some enjoyed the baby squid in ink sauce (ink fish). For the Love of Grass IX 33

Day 4 – Thursday, May 13

Inventory Site 7 – Orchard, Ada County, Idaho From Boise in the morning we drove east to Orchard to another Aberdeen PMC Field Evaluation Planting site, established in the 1990s. The most recent planting was a good-sized demonstration nursery of native and introduced grasses, forbs, and shrubs in November 2004, which we walked through and used as the site for our inventory.

The soils at the site are mapped as the Lankbush-Chardoton complex, 0-2% slope, a mixture of alluvial silt loams and loams, and an arid Loamy ecological site (7-10 inches precipitation), with co-dominants Wyoming big sagebrush and Thurber’s needlegrass. The influence of drought tolerant bunchgrasses can be seen in the aerial shot of the planting site, suppressing cheatgrass and other weeds. Where established after 12 years, bluebunch wheatgrass, Snake River wheatgrass, Russian wildrye, and basin wildrye seemed to be performing the best. Cheatgrass suppressed the plant diversity of the site. Plant species inventoried were:

Scientific Name Common Name Type Origin Achillea millefolium L. common yarrow Forb Native Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. crested wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Agropyron fragile (Roth) P. Candargy Siberian wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced

34 For the Love of Grass IX

Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. wyomingensis Wyoming big sagebrush Shrub Native Bassia prostrata (L.) A.J. Scott forage kochia Shrub Introduced Bromus tectorum L. cheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Cirsium undulatum (Nutt.) Spreng. wavyleaf thistle Forb Native Descurainia pinnata (Walter) Britton western tansymustard Forb Native Elymus elymoides (raf.) Swezey squirreltail Graminoid Native Elymus lanceolatus (Scribn. & J.G. Sm.) Gould thickspike wheatgrass Graminoid Native Elymus wawawaiensis J. Carlson & Barkworth Snake River wheatgrass Graminoid Native Eremopyrum triticeum (Gaertn.) Nevski annual wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom rubber rabbitbrush Shrub Native & Baird Erodium cicutarium (L.) L'Hér. ex Aiton redstem stork's bill Forb Introduced Festuca ovina L. sheep fesuce Graminoid Introduced Krascheninnikovia lanata (Pursh) A. Meeuse & winterfat Shrub Native Smit Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) Á. Löve basin wildrye Graminoid Native Poa secunda J. Presl Sandberg bluegrass Graminoid Native Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski Russian wildrye Graminoid Introduced Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve bluebunch wheatgrass Graminoid Native Salsola kali L. Russian thistle Forb Introduced Sisymbrium altissimum L. tall tumblemustard Forb Introduced Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & intermediate wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced D.R. Dewey Vulpia microstachys (Nutt.) Munro small fescue Graminoid Native

Figure 68. Early morning orientation

For the Love of Grass IX 35

Figure 69. Wyoming big sagbrush, the star native Figure 70. Ekeing out tall tumblemustard

Figure 71. Happy mustard and cheatgrass patch Figure 72. Winterfat in a bed of cheat

Figure 73. But bluebunch and other perennial grasses can grow and persist, here since 2004

36 For the Love of Grass IX

Figure 74. Bluebunch wheatgrass Figure 75. Scattered basin wildrye in swale

Figure 76. Snoring in Snake River wheatgrass Figure 77. Get off my thickspike… rapprochement

For the Love of Grass IX 37

Ready to head down the road, our driver discovered he had left the keys in the locked van. .

With our group reputed to be highly inexperienced with breaking and entering, unlocking the vehicle took some time, but our designated locksmith displayed considerable skill.

On the road again, the next stop was lunch.

38 For the Love of Grass IX

Inventory Site 8 – Thousand Springs, Twin Falls County, Idaho Refortified and driving along the Snake River, we stopped at the Thoursand Springs Resort on Highway 30 to look at the water flowing from the basalt of the river canyon walls, these springs the end of the journey from the Lost River and other “lost” rivers from the mountains to the north.

We made a short stop along a roadbank to photograph desert princesplume then proceeded to the resort and river’s edge where we inventoried the vegetation on the bank, a riparian site. The soils mapped as a Rakane-Blacknest complex, terrace landform, loamy texture, the ecological site classified as Loamy 8-12 with Wyoming big sagebrush and bluebunch wheatgrass co-dominants. However, this site description depicts the terrace vegetation, and not the narrow band of vegetation along the river. Plant species inventoried at river’s edge, but also including a few on the roadbank above were:

Scientific Name Common Name Type Origin Armoracia rusticana G. Gaertn., B. Mey. & horseradish Forb Introduced Scherb. Artemisia douglasiana Besser Douglas' sagewort Forb Native Artemisia dracunculus L. tarragon Forb Native Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. wyomingensis Wyoming big sagebrush Shrub Native Atriplex patula L. spear saltbush Forb Introduced Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott burningbush Forb Introduced Brassica nigra (L.) W.D.J. Koch black mustard Forb Introduced

For the Love of Grass IX 39

Bromus tectorum L. cheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Chenopodium album L. lambsquarter Forb Introduced Clematis ligusticifolia Nutt. Western white clematis Vine Native Descurainia pinnata (Walter) Britton western tansymustard Forb Native Elaeagnus angustifolia L. Russian olive Tree Introduced Eremopyrum triticeum (Gaertn.) Nevski annual wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Grayia spinosa (Hook.) Moq. spiny hopsage Shrub Native Hordeum pusillum Nutt. little barley Graminoid Native Lepidium perfoliatum L. clasping pepperweed Forb Introduced Morus alba L. white mulberry Tree Introduced Phalaris arundinacea L. reed canarygrass Graminoid Introduced Ribes aureum Pursh golden current Shrub Native Robinia pseudoacacia L. black locust Tree Native Rumex crispus L. curly dock Forb Introduced Salix amygdaloides Andersson peachleaf willow Tree Native Schoenoplectus acutus (Muhl. ex Bigelow) Á. hardstem bulrush Graminoid Native Löve & D. Löve Solanum dulcamara L. climbing nightshade Forb Introduced Solidago gigantea Aiton giant goldenrod Forb Native Stanleya pinnata (Pursh) Britton desert princesplume Forb Native Typha latifolia L. broadleaf cattail Forb Native Ulmus pumila L. Siberian elm Tree Introduced Urtica dioica L. stinging nettle Forb Introduced

Figure 78. Shoreline vegetation: bulrush, stinging nettle, cattail, and others

40 For the Love of Grass IX

Figure 79. Spear saltbush, canarygrass, bulrush Figure 80. Horseradish in bulrush and burningbush

Figure 81 and 82. Desert princesplume and spiny hopsage on dry bank upslope, across highway Figure 83 and 84 (below). Princesplume spike and golden current

For the Love of Grass IX 41

Inventory Site 9A – Balanced Rock, Twin Falls County, Idaho We drove further south to Balanced Rock, south of Buhl. The rock is 48 feet tall, 40 tons, and sits on a pedestal of 3 feet by 17½ inches. The rock consists of rhyolite, more resistant than younger basalt, erupting 8 million years ago as the North American continental plate passed over the Yellowtone Hot Spot. The rock formed through weathering from freeze-thaw cycles in fractures of the rock that occurred when the rock formed, cooled, and contracted. The Bureau of Land Management currently manages the land up Salmon Falls Creek Canyon where the rock is located.

Soils are mapped as Rock Outcrop - Xerothents Complex, Very Steep. Xerorthents are skeletal soils lacking horizon development in a xeric moisture regime. The soils that exists are loams, but have no ecological site classification. Across the road to the south slopes with soil development classify to the Loamy 8-12 ecological site noted at the Thousand Springs inventory site. Our inventory took us up the canyon wall to the rock and the top. We then descended to parking lot, across the road to the slopes on the south side. There the BLM had planted a large area to Snake River wheatgrass, an excellent productive stand achieved by drilling seed into a low-growing understory of native Sandberg bluegrass. Plant species inventoried were:

Scientific Name Common Name Type Origin Agropyron fragile (Roth) P. Candargy Siberian wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Arabis holboellii Hornem. Holboell's rockcress Forb Native Artemisia nova A. Nelson black sagebrush Shrub Native

42 For the Love of Grass IX

Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. wyomingensis Wyoming big sagebrush Shrub Native Beetle & Young Asclepias speciosa Torr. showy milkweed Forb Native Astragalus atratus S. Watson mourning milkvetch Legume Native Astragalus beckwithii Torr. & A. Gray Beckwith's milkvetch Legume Native Astragalus filipes Torr. ex A. Gray basalt milkvetch Legume Native Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott burningbush Forb Introduced Brassica nigra (L.) W.D.J. Koch black mustard Forb Introduced Bromus tectorum L. cheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Calochortus bruneaunis A. Nelson & J.F. Bruneau mariposa lily Forb Native Macbr. Ceratocephala testiculata (Crantz) Roth curveseed butterwort Forb Introduced Chorispora tenella (Pall.) DC. crossflower Forb Introduced Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus (Hook.) Nutt. yellow rabbitbrush Shrub Native Cryptantha circumscissa (Hook. & Arn.) I.M. cushion cryptantha Forb Native Johnst. Delphinium bicolor Nutt. little larkspur Forb Native Descurainia pinnata (Walter) Britton western tansymustard Forb Native Elymus elymoides (raf.) Swezey squirreltail Graminoid Native Elymus wawawaiensis J. Carlson & Barkworth Snake River wheatgrass Graminoid Native Eremopyrum triticeum (Gaertn.) Nevski annual wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. rubber rabbitbrush Shrub Native Nesom & Baird Erigeron pumilus Nutt. shaggy fleabane Forb Native Erodium cicutarium (L.) L'Hér. ex Aiton redstem stork's bill Forb Introduced Festuca ovina L. sheep fesuce Graminoid Introduced Helianthus annuus L. common sunflower Forb Native Hesperostipa comata (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth needle and thread Graminoid Native Hordeum pusillum Nutt. little barley Graminoid Native Lepidium perfoliatum L. clasping pepperweed Forb Introduced Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) Á. Löve basin wildrye Graminoid Native Linum lewisii Pursh Lewis flax Forb Native Penstemon acuminatus Douglas ex Lindl. sharpleaf penstemon Forb Native Phlox longifolia Nutt. longleaf phlox Forb Native Phlox longifolia Nutt. longleaf phlox Forb Native Poa annua L. annual bluegrass Graminoid Introduced Poa bulbosa L. bulbous bluegrass Graminoid Introduced Poa secunda J. Presl Sandberg bluegrass Graminoid Native Polygonum aviculare L. prostrate knotweed Forb Introduced Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve bluebunch wheatgrass Graminoid Native Purshia tridentata (Pursh) DC. antelope bitterbrush Shrub Native Salsola kali L. Russian thistle Forb Introduced

For the Love of Grass IX 43

Sisymbrium altissimum L. tall tumblemustard Forb Introduced Thelypodium laciniatum (Hook.) Endl. ex Walp. cutleaf thelypody Forb Native Tragopogon dubius Scop. yellow salsify Forb Introduced Verbascum thapsus L. common mullein Forb Introduced

Figure 85-86. Up we go through the cheatgrass past the basin wildrye and some mustard (below left)

Figure 87. Beckwith’s milkvetch Figure 88. Rock lover cutleaf thelypody

44 For the Love of Grass IX

Figure 89. Rock-sprouting bitterbrush Figure 90. Descending

Figure 91. Large BLM seeding of Snake River wheatgrass into Sandberg bluegrass For the Love of Grass IX 45

Figure. 92. BLM seeding looking south Figure 93. Shaggy fleabane We then drove east to the Twin Falls airport. There we dropped off fellow trekker Wendell Hassell, who flew back to Salt Lake City for a family commitment. Then we headed south towards Nevada.

Inventory Site 9B – Highway 93 Roadside, Twin Falls County, Idaho Near the Nevada border as we drove on Highway 93, we noted flashes of orange and blue on the roadbanks, too showy to pass up. We stopped to take photos and identify a few prominent species.

Scientific Name Common Name Type Origin Achnatherum hymenoides (Roem. & Schult.) indian ricegrass Graminoid Native Barkworth Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. tridentata basin big sagebrush Shrub Native Bromus tectorum L. cheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus (Hook.) Nutt. yellow rabbitbrush Shrub Native Descurainia pinnata (Walter) Britton western tansymustard Forb Native Juniperus scopulorum Sarg. Rocky Mountain juniper Tree Native Penstemon cyaneus Pennell blue penstemon Forb Native Penstemon palmeri A. Gray Palmer's penstemon Forb Native Sphaeralcea munroana (Douglas) Spach Munro's globemallow Forb Native

Figure 94. Munro’s globemallow Figure 95. Blue penstemon We spent the night in Jackpot and listened to hail pounding the roof as a sizable thunderstorm passed overhead.

46 For the Love of Grass IX

Day 5 – Friday, May 14

Inventory Site 10 – Trout Creek, Elko County, Nevada We drove southeast from Jackpot for about 20 miles to the Trout Creek inventory site on wet roads, taking Dan’s pickup having four-wheel drive. The Aberdeen PMC established the Trout Creek FEP site in 1987. The upland part of the site maps to a Chuska-Jackpot-Dewar association, consisting of gravelly loams, sandy loams, and gravelly silt loam soils, remants of old alluvial fans, a Loamy (8-10 inches precipitation) ecological site. Dominant species: Wyoming big sagebrush, bluebunch wheatgrass, and thurber’s needlegrass. The bottomlands of Trout Creek map to a Devilsgait-Kelk association, flood plain and stream terrace silt loams, a Loamy Bottom (8-14 inches precipitation) ecological site, characterized by basin wildrye.

We used the 2002 (15-year) summary of the plantings provided by the PMC to walk through the plots, which remain visible after 30 years. The most prevalent planted species were crested wheatgrass, ‘Covar’ sheep fescue, Russian wildrye, basin wildrye, Snake River wheatgrass, and bluebunch wheatgrass. The extent of the established grsses can be seen in the upper right of the fenced site above. Shrubs fourwing saltbush and winterfat also persisted.

Plant species inventoried on the upland site were:

Scientific Name Common Name Type Origin Achnatherum thurberianum (Piper) Barkworth Thurber's needlegrass Graminoid Native Agoseris glauca (Pursh) Raf. pale agoseris Forb Native Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. crested wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schult. desert wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Agropyron fragile (Roth) P. Candargy Siberian wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced

For the Love of Grass IX 47

Alyssum alyssoides (L.) L. pale madwort Forb Introduced Arabis ×divaricarpa A. Nelson spreadingpod rockcress Forb Native Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. wyomingensis Wyoming big sagebrush Shrub Native Astragalus lentiginosus Douglas ex Hook. freckled milkvetch Legume Native Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt. fourwing saltbush Shrub Native Bromus tectorum L. cheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Castilleja angustifolia (Nutt.) G. Don northwestern Indian Forb Native paintbrush Ceratocephala testiculata (Crantz) Roth curveseed butterwort Forb Introduced Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus (Hook.) Nutt. yellow rabbitbrush Shrub Native Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. Canada thistle Forb Introduced Crepis acuminata Nutt. tapertip hawksbeard Forb Native Cryptantha circumscissa (Hook. & Arn.) I.M. cushion cryptantha Forb Native Johnst. Delphinium nuttallianum Pritz. ex Walp. twolobe larkspur Forb Native Elymus elymoides (raf.) Swezey squirreltail Graminoid Native Elymus lanceolatus (Scribn. & J.G. Sm.) Gould thickspike wheatgrass Graminoid Native Elymus wawawaiensis J. Carlson & Barkworth Snake River wheatgrass Graminoid Native Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom rubber rabbitbrush Shrub Native & Baird Eriogonum cernuum Nutt. nodding buckwheat Forb Native Erysimum capitatum (Douglas ex Hook.) Greene sanddune wallflower Forb Native Festuca ovina L. sheep fesuce Graminoid Introduced Gayophytum decipiens F.H. Lewis & Szweykowski deceptive groundsmoke Forb Native Krascheninnikovia ceratoides (L.) Gueldenst. Pamirian winterfat Shrub Introduced Krascheninnikovia lanata (Pursh) A. Meeuse & winterfat Shrub Native Smit Lepidium perfoliatum L. clasping pepperweed Forb Introduced Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) Á. Löve basin wildrye Graminoid Native Linanthus pungens (Torr.) J.M. Porter & L.A. granite prickly phlox Forb Native Johnson Lomatium macrocarpum (Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray) bigseed biscuitroot Forb Native J.M. Coult. & Rose Mimulus suksdorfii A. Gray Suksdorf's Forb Native monkeyflower Opuntia polyacantha Haw. plains pricklypear Shrub Native Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) Á. Löve western wheatgrass Graminoid Native Phlox longifolia Nutt. longleaf phlox Forb Native Poa secunda J. Presl Sandberg bluegrass Graminoid Native Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski Russian wildrye Graminoid Introduced Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve bluebunch wheatgrass Graminoid Native Sisymbrium altissimum L. tall tumblemustard Forb Introduced Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. intermediate wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced Dewey

48 For the Love of Grass IX

Viola vallicola A. Nelson sagebrush violet Forb Native Vulpia octoflora (Walter) Rydb. sixweeks fescue Graminoid Native

Trout Creek runs through the fenced in FEP site. Retired PMC riparian ecologist Chris Hoag led a project initiated in 1992 to evaluate bio-engineering techniques for bank stabilization establishing riparian shrub and tree species. The impact of this successful riparian recovery effort remains highly visible today after 24 years, compared to outside the fenced site. Native species included peachleaf willow (Salix amydaloides) and narrowleaf willow (Salix exigua), but several species from other areas being evaluated in the plant materials program were successfully established as well. Establishment success increased using larger diameter planting stock and planting depth to permanent moisture.

Figure 96. Trout Creek riparian restoration evaluation after 24 years

Figure 97. Perennial grass persistence after 30 years, here mostly Covar sheep festue

For the Love of Grass IX 49

Figure 98. Thurber’s needlegrass Figure 99. Fourwing saltbush

Figure 100. Found a winterfat Figure 101. Spreadiingpod rockcress

Figure 102. Nutall’s larkspur Figure 103. Bigseed biscuitroot Big sagebrush pumps water from its deep roots to surface roots during the night, releasing moisture to the topsoil, supporting other plants in the understory, and increasing organic matter buildup. A process called hydraulic lift. Where it occurs the most stable and productive communites are those where the shrub is prevalent, more stable than grass only. Sagebrush does not recover well after burns, therefore revegetation strategies probably should take into account its re-establishment.

50 For the Love of Grass IX

Figure 104. Freckled milkvetch Figure 105. Plains pricklypear in grass

Figure 106. Northwestern Indian paintbrush

Figure 107. Old Man Sage

Figure 108. Longleaf phlox

Figure 109. Cushion cryptantha

For the Love of Grass IX 51

.

Figure 110. Grass does well on this ecological site if given the chance

Figure 111. Our work is done.

52 For the Love of Grass IX

Summary Following inventory at Trout Creek, Dan departed north for Boise, and the remaining three drove south to Interstate 80 and east across Salt Lake to its namesake city, and subsequently to home destinations.

Our trek was one day shorter than usual, but the route exceptionally interesting, satisfying out annual requirement for botanizing. Many thanks again to our hosts at Logan and Aberdeen, the work they are doing for conservation and ecological restoration, and to Dan Ogle for choosing the stops along the way. Among our impressons and conclusions from the trek, we can say cheatgrass is prevalent, but can be suppressed if we put a mind to it, even with native grasses. Piemeisel’s old field studies in southern Idaho found cheatgrass would form solid stands in abandoned fields by the third year and persist for at least 30 years or until sufficient high moisture years enabled big sagebrush and perennical grasses to establish. The Aberdeen plots at Coffee Point, Orchard (ARS plots there too), and Trout Creek demonstrate perennical grasses can be established on those lands and persist for 30+ years. Another impression after Trout Creek was whether an effective response to the 2008 Great Recession would have been to fund fencing and re-vegetating the streams and creeks on public lands in the Intermountain region. Then perhaps Trout Creek could live up to its name. The evaluaton results were pretty clear. A missed opportunity. Elder statesmen MacLauchlan, Sharp, and Gaffney seem to be leaning towards convening in Denver in 2017 and heading west to the Upper Colorado, but we shall see what they finally decide.

For the Love of Grass IX 53