Presentation given by: Jon Richardson, Biologist JBLM Fish and Wildlife Program

1. Prairie
Restora+on
on
JBLM
JBLM
Fish
&
Wildlife
Program
Mission:
maintain,
and
enhance
the
various
ecosystems
on
the
installation
to
promote
native
biodiversity
and
support
the
military
mission.
John
Richardson
Joint
Base
Lewis-­‐McChord
Fish
and
Wildlife

2. ≈97%
Of
Prairie
Habitat
Lost

3. Types
of
Habitat
Loss
Habitat
Degradation
Forest
Encroachment
Urban
Development
Conversion
to
Agriculture

4. Prairie
Restora7on
3
Phases
! 1st
Phase
Removal
of
Invasive
Species
! 3
Methods
of
Removal
! Mechanical
! Chemical
! Fire
! 2nd
Phase
Planting
Native
Vegetation

5. Plant
and
Seed
Produc7on
Seed
Beds
Sustainable
Prisons
Project

6. Restore
Ecosystem
Processes
Corner
Stone
of
Prairie
Restoration

7. Glacial
Outwash
Prairie
Ponderosa
Pine
Garry
Oak
Fire
Dependent
Ecosystems
in
Western
Washington
! Adapted
to
Frequent
Low
Intensity
Fires
! Historically
Maintained
Through
Burning
by
Native
Americans

8. Role
of
Fire
in
Ecosystems
! Nutrient
cycling
! Stimulation
of
seed
production
and
plant
germination
! Control
invasive
species
eg.
Scot’s
broom
! Reduction
of
pests
! Creates
complex
ecosystems
! Prevents
encroachment
of
less
fire
adapted
species
! Reduce
risk
of
catastrophic
fire

10. Typical
Low
Intensity
Fire
on
JBLM

11. Before
and
AKer
Fire
2010
2011

12. Habitat
Exclusions

13. Principals
of
Ecological
Fire
Use
! Allow
fire
to
act
in
its
natural
role
! Fire
Regime
! No
fixed
return
interval
(1-­‐3
years)
! Carefully
Reintroduce
Fire
! Create
artificial
mosaics
as
fire
re-­‐introduced

14. Conclusion
! Prairie
Restoration
is
Difficult
NOT
Impossible
! Key
Focus
Conserve
What
Remains
! No
Fire
=
No
Prairie

15. Ques7ons?
! Contact
Information
! John
Richardson
! John.f.richardson1.ctr@mail.mil
! 253-­‐966-­‐6447