Bulletin of the Native Plant Society of Oregon Dedicated to the Enjoyment, Conservation and Study of Oregon’S Native Plants and Habitats
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Bulletin of the Native Plant Society of Oregon Dedicated to the enjoyment, conservation and study of Oregon’s native plants and habitats VOLUME 48, NO. 8 OCTOBER 2015 Adaptive Restoration in Oregon’s Coastal Prairies, Clatsop Plains California. Today, only about 1% of its and will continue to be an important by Sara Newman, Cecilia Welch, and historic range remains and much of the consideration for future restoration. Connor Whitaker, 2015 IAE/NPSO coexisting flora and fauna have conse- This ecosystem relies on a maritime Interns quently declined. climate and increased unpredictabil- Several factors have contributed to ity of precipitation and temperature Adaptive management is a frame- the reduction of coastal prairie habitats cycles make it difficult for sensitive work for making decisions based on including increased anthropogenic plant communities to adjust. Shoreline the assessed impacts of treatments, influence, the introduction of exotic erosion and coastal flooding from the results of which are formed into species, and climate change. Coastal rising sea levels may also play a role a flexible management plan with prairie communities have experienced in the future status of coastal prairies. modifications as the plan progresses. rapid habitat loss due to conversion The Fifth Assessment Report from the Adaptive habitat restoration requires to housing developments and areas Intergovernmental Panel on Climate novel approaches and all-encompassing for recreational use. Agriculture has Change suggests that the global mean solutions to improve the integrity of introduced many exotic species to sea level could rise by between approxi- ecosystems and their surrounding envi- coastal prairies such as tall fescue mately 0.5 to 1 meters (IPCC 2013), ronments. Coastal prairie ecosystems (Schedonorus arundinaceus), sweet which could have profound implica- are a prime target for restoration since vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum), tions for coastal ecosystems. they have lost the majority of their and orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata). A major consequence of habitat original range over the past 150 years. Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) was fragmentation is loss of regional The Clatsop Plains study is a collabora- initially brought to the western U.S. as biodiversity. Oregon coastal prairie tive effort testing adaptive management a decorative garden shrub and is now sub-habitats include salt-spray mead- methods for restoring coastal prairie a widespread introduced species in ows and stabilized dunes; both are habitat, conducted by the Institute coastal prairies, outcompeting native critically important to the endangered for Applied Ecology (IAE), the North plants. While human impacts may be continued on page 8 Coast Land Conservancy (NCLC), detrimental to the survival of coastal the National Park Service (NPS) prairie communities, human influence and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service can be incorporated into the conserva- In This Issue (USFWS). Dune ecosystems and coast- tion of surrounding ecosystems. al prairies historically extended from A rapidly changing climate is Scholarship Awards ..............2 northwest Washington to northern another obstacle coastal prairies face Farewells ....................... 2 NPSO Calendar................. 3 Other Events ................... 5 National Seed Strategy ....... 6 UM I Workplace Donation .......... 6 R A 2016 Annual Meeting ......... 7 T AQU T AS O New Milkweed Source ........7 C N NPSO Contacts .................9 REGO O Friends of OFP ............... 10 Figure 1. Oregon silverspot butterfly. October 2015 1 Scholarship Awards Given to OCIE T S TY N O A F L Outstanding Oregon Students P O R E E V by Thomas Jenkins, Willamette Valley Chapter Scholarship Chairman G I O T A N N The Willamette Valley Chapter is pleased to announce the scholarship award win- ners for 2015. Each will receive $1,000 toward their fall term tuition. Sebastian Mortimer has been chosen to receive the Augusta Rockafellar Memorial Fo 1 unded 196 Scholarship. Sebastian is a graduate student at Willamette University. He has been working on NSF-funded research on phenological monitoring of Camassia and its Native Plant associated pollinators. He co-authored a presentation given at the Botany Confer- Society of Oregon ence in Edmonton, Canada. Sebastian is pursuing a Ph.D., hoping to contribute to research that weds evolutionary biology, systematics and geography, with an eye to- ward both conservation and agriculture. He received very strong recommendations World Wide Web (“terrific, talented, highly motivated, and amazing”) from his mentors and we are http://www.NPSOregon.org happy to help this outstanding student in achieving his academic goals. E-mail Discussion List Kevin Mason has been chosen to receive the Jean Davis Memorial Scholarship. To join, send a message to Kevin is a Botany major at Oregon State University, with a focus on ecology, evo- [email protected], with lution, and conservation. He is working for the Carex Working Group on two the following in the body of the projects: one dealing with Castilleja for the Flora of North America and the other message: subscribe npso involving preparation for a grass identification workshop in northern California. During the school year, he also works at the OSU Herbarium and is considered a General Business Address leader in the OSU Organic Growers Club. His other interests include restoration P.O. Box 902 of native habitat, lichenology, and ethnobotany. He was described by his mentors Eugene, OR 97440 as “enthusiastic, a first-rate student, and a model intern.” Kevin is an outstanding or correspond directly with Officers individual who is very deserving of this award. and Committee Chairs listed on the inside of the back page. Congratulations to both of our winners! Also, “Thank you very much!” to those who have donated money in support of these scholarships. Membership Inquiries Only Matt Morales P.O. Box 80714 Portland, OR 97280 Bulletin of the Native Plant Society of Oregon Editor: Erika Wedenoja Farewells Layout Artist: Cat Mead ISSN 0884-5999. Published 10 times Oregon lost two native plant advocates unexpectedly in August. per year. Subscription price speci- fied in Membership Form printed on Jerry Igo passed away in his sleep on August 28. Jerry held many positions at inside back cover page of this issue. NPSO, from Mid-Columbia Chapter President, to Director-at-large, to Education Date and issue number on page 1. Chair. He became an NPSO Fellow in 2002. Outside of NPSO, he taught botany The submission date is the 10th classes, surveyed roadsides for rare plants, and was a regional coordinator for the of each month for the following Oregon Plant Atlas. Jerry is remembered as a "great weed warrior" and an "enthusi- month’s issue except for the Aug/ astic, knowledgeable and humorous" trip leader. Read more about his life in Kalmi- Sept issue which is July 24 and the opsis, Volume 9, available online at npsoregon.org/kalmiopsis/kalmiopsis_v09.pdf. Dec/Jan issue which is November 24. Send submissions by e-mail to Wendell Wood died August 11 after collapsing on a hike in the Redwoods. A vet- [email protected]. eran of Oregon Wild, he spent over 30 years working to protect Oregon's environ- Opinions expressed in this publica- ment. His recent native plant activities included supporting the designation of a tion are those of the authors of the Veva Stansell Botanical Area and updating a native plant list for the Rough and articles. They do not represent the Ready creek watershed. The list, along with his overview of this area, is available opinions of the Native Plant Society online at http://www.oregonwild.org/about/blog/oregons-red-rock-rainforest-doc- of Oregon, unless so stated. umenting-biodiversity-kalmiopsis. For more information about Wendell's life, visit wendellwood.org. 2 NPSO Bulletin NPSO Calendar entrances on Adams and 2nd Streets. citizen scientist concept, focused on State Notes For more information, contact Lisa seasonal rainfall and plant monitoring. State Board Meeting Blackburn, 503-538-3976 or black- Oregon Season Tracker participates [email protected]. in the National Phenology Network, October 17, Saturday, 10 am–2 November 19, Thursday, 7 pm in which volunteers monitor selected pm native plants over the growing season. Program: Oregon Season Trackers. Doors open at 6:45 pm for socializing, The next meeting of the NPSO State Amy Grotta with Oregon State Uni- Meeting/Program starts at 7:00. Loca- Board will be hosted by the High Des- versity Extension Service will discuss tion: Carnegie Room, McMinnville ert Chapter. Location: Environmental a new OSU program. Oregon Season Public Library, 225 NW Adams St. Center, 16 NW Kansas Ave., down- Tracker is a localized application of the (corner of Hwy 99W and SW 2nd St.). town Bend, 541-385-6908. Parking lot entrances on Adams and 2nd Streets. For more information, 2016 Annual Meeting IMPORTANT NOTE TO contact Lisa Blackburn, 503-538-3976 July 15–17, Friday–Sunday FIELD TRIP PARTICIPANTS or [email protected]. Field trips take place rain or The Emerald Chapter will host the shine, so proper dress and 2016 NPSO Annual Meeting on a footwear are essential. BRING Corvallis For questions, information on upcoming private forested 46 acre property near WATER AND LUNCH. Trips may events, or to be on the Corvallis chap- the majestic McKenzie River, a fifty- be strenuous and/or hazard- ter e-mail list, contact Jordan Brown minute drive from Eugene. Location: ous. Participation is at your at [email protected] or McKenzie River Conference Center, own risk. Be prepared to sign a release form indicating this. 253-820-3934. Rainbow, Oregon. A sample waiver form is avail- able at http://npsoregon.org/ October 12, Monday, 7:30 pm documents/NPSO_waiver.pdf. Talk: Acorns, Buntings and Cabernet Blue Mountain Please contact the trip leader -— Grassland Birds in our Changing For information on Blue Mountain or chapter representative about Rural Landscapes. How changes in Chapter call Jerry Baker,541-566-2244. difficulty, distance, and terrain land use, farm crops, farming methods, to be expected on field trips.