Welcome 2016 IAE/NPSO Interns!

This past week we welcomed our new crew of IAE/NPSO interns: Liza Holtz, Sarai Carter, and Ari Freitag! Liza is absolutely thrilled to be a Conservation Research Intern with IAE! She received a B.S. in Natural Sciences with an emphasis in Biology from the University of Puget Sound (2013). During her undergraduate studies she researched […]

What do Taylor’s checkerspot caterpillars eat?

This has been a boom year for Taylor’s checkerspot, an endangered species in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.  The two remaining populations in the state have both shown great numbers – over 1000 butterflies each – and at least some of this appears to be due to strong land stewardship by Benton County Natural Areas and Parks […]

IAE Education team offers lecture series to inmates

Our education team has been busy presenting interactive lectures and presentations at participating SPP prisons throughout Oregon and Idaho. Our Great Basin Sagebrush Project is part of the greater Sustainability in Prisons Project.  We work closely with the Department of Corrections, Bureau of Land Management, and the SPP network to provide unique and meaningful ecological activities to incarcerated men and women […]

Table Rocks LIPUPU closeup S.Carter

Table Rocks Rocks!

For our first trip of the field season, we visited Table Rocks outside of Medford, Oregon to study Limnanthes pumila ssp. pumila, or dwarf woolly meadowfoam, a threatened endemic species that relies on vernal pool habitat. Table Rocks consists of two plateaus formed by volcanic activity and shaped by erosion. The trails up to the plateaus wind through oak savanna which is home to many different species, including Cooper's hawk, turkey vulture, lark sparrow, and wild turkey that we observed on our hikes. Once you reach the plateaus, you are surrounded by a magnificent wildflower display and a plethora of busy pollinators, and can enjoy a spectacular view of Mount McLoughlin.

Table Rocks LIPUPU closeup S.Carter

This is a mature dwarf woolly meadowfoam after it has blossomed.

Table Rocks species cheat sheet S.Carter

We monitored plant communities, which involved challenging grass identification.

Table Rocks crew S.Carter

The crew on top of Lower Table Rock after a long, steep hike.

Table Rocks Camassia S.Carter

A blanket of camas along the trail.

Table Rocks little botanist S.Carter

A young amateur botanist that we met. He enthusiastically pointed out flowers to his mom!

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A remaining vernal pool at Lower Table Rock. A home to dwarf woolly meadowfoam as well as fairy shrimp, frogs, and diving beetles!

Table Rocks elk grazing A.Frietag

We saw evidence of elk grazing on wild onion and other plants.

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A spectacular view of Mount McLoughlin from Upper Table Rock.

We really enjoyed getting to know each other on our first trip and learning about the vernal pool ecosystems at Table Rocks!

Landowner Workshop: Restoring Willamette Valley Prairie and Oak Habitat

Calling all private landowners! Do you have a piece of remnant oak or prairie habitat that you want to manage and/or restore? This workshop will cover restoration planning, implementation and tools, common restoration challenges, restoring for wildlife (including birds, rare plants, and butterflies), and balancing mixed use of property with restoration.  We will focus on helping […]

BLM Staff visit Sagebrush in Prisons Project at Coyote Ridge CC

The iconic greater sage-grouse, a species recently being considered for endangered species listing, is getting a helping hand from a unique set of partners from Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE), Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP), and more recently Washington Department of Corrections (WDOC). Peggy Olwell, the National Plant Materials Program Lead, […]

Paddling and Pinot for Natural Areas Week

On May 7th eleven people experienced the Marys River up close and personal on a magical kayak adventure. Institute for Applied Ecology teamed with Cascadia Expeditions to guide participants on the river while learning about local wildlife and native plants. Participants practiced birding skills and handled bird study skins as well as learning some bird […]

Sharing lessons learned

Recently the Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE) and Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM) exchanged site tours for staff involved in habitat restoration. This was a great opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss the control of problem weed species and see different stages of restoration projects – all in a similar, yet unfamiliar environment. On May […]

Eager to Cervus (canadensis)

Whilst working on a fragment of coastal prairie in Gearhart, Oregon, we were pleasantly surprised (and alarmed!) by an elk herd that was passing through our work site.  While the cows grazed at a safe distance, two juvenile bulls let curiosity get the better of them and gave us an up-close show.  We were thrilled to see […]

Some of IAE's Accomplishments During 2016

Restoring Native Species and Habitats Started a seed production farm for Willamette Valley and coastal prairie species, helping fill an ongoing need for high-quality native plant materials for restoration. Launched the Southwest Seed Partnership to improve the supply and diversity of native seed for large scale restoration in New Mexico and Arizona. Planted over 130,000 […]