Conservation of Palouse and Canyon Grasslands in Nez Perce County, Idaho Phases 2 and 3: Landowner Contact and Site Assessments

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The overall objective of this project is to find, document and conserve remnants of Palouse and Canyon Grasslands in Nez Perce County, Idaho, that may support populations of the federally threatened Spalding’s catchfly (Silene spaldingii) or suitable habitat for reintroduction. The pilot model for this project was initiated in Latah County for Palouse Grassland Remnants in 2008 and was designed to be expanded into adjacent counties supporting Palouse Grasslands. The Nez Perce County project focused not only on Palouse Grasslands but also Canyon Grasslands that have high potential to support Spalding’s catchfly and suitable habitat. Beginning in 2011, Phase 1 of the Nez Perce project, mapping potential remnant polygons in Palouse and Canyon Grasslands using GIS and compiling landowner information, identified 229 potential remnant polygons—74 representing Palouse Grasslands and 155 representing Canyon Grasslands. Phase 2, landowner contact and education, and Phase 3, site assessments of the potential remnant polygons for which landowner access permission was granted, have been completed. In March 2015, a mass mailing that included an introductory letter requesting permission to access their property, an educational pamphlet, and a response return postcard, was sent to all 142 landowners within the delineated polygons; 29% of them responded, 16% of them granted permission to access their property. Based on priority order, with Palouse Grasslands given highest priority, thirteen site assessments, seven Palouse Grassland sites and six Canyon Grassland sites, were conducted from July to September 2015. A total of 232 acres were assessed and 29.8 acres met the designated criteria for either a Palouse Grassland Remnant or a Canyon Grassland Remnant. Several rare plants were encountered during these site assessments, including Palouse milkvetch (Astragalus arrectus), Piper’s milkvetch (Astragalus riparius), rough goldenweed (Pyrrocoma scaberula), Spalding’s catchfly (Silene spaldingii), and plumed clover (Trifolium plumosum ssp. amplifolium). Element occurrence reports were completed for each rare plant site and submitted to IFWIS. We recommend that the final phase of this project (Phase 4), to identify cooperative landowners that are willing to implement conservation projects on their land, be conducted to complete this project.

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Reference Code: U20PEK01IDUS <br>

Full Citation: Pekas, K.M., J. Lichthardt, and J. Hill. 2020. Conservation of Palouse and Canyon Grasslands in Nez Perce County, Idaho. Phases 2 and 3: Landowner Contact and Site Assessments. Idaho Natural Heritage Program, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise, ID. 16 pp., plus appendices. <br>

Location: ELECTRONIC FILE - BOTANY: MULTIPLE SPECIES <br>

Keywords: Astragalus arrectus, Astragalus riparius, Canyon Grassland Remnant, GIS, Nez Perce County, Palouse goldenweed, Palouse Grassland Remnant, Palouse milkvetch, Palouse Prairie conservation, Piper’s milkvetch, plumed clover, potential remnant polygons, Pyrrocoma scaberula, rare plants, Spalding's catchfly, Silene spaldingii, Trifolium plumosum ssp. amplifolium <br>

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Pekas et al 2020 Conserv of Palouse and Canyon Grasslands Nez Perce Co Phases 2 and 3.pdf