Nelson’s checkermallow recovery project: Phase II

In the spring of 2008, the Institute for Applied Ecology received grants from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) to work toward the recovery of Nelson’s checkermallow in two of the largest recovery zones, Corvallis West and Salem West. Recovery zones are designated by the Recovery Plan for the Prairie Species of Western Oregon and Southwestern Washington (US Fish and Wildlife Service, 2010)(Recovery Plan). The Nelson’s checkermallow Recovery Project is an implementation of this Recovery Plan. The objectives are to: 1) provide quality plant materials of Nelson’s checkermallow through large scale seed collection and agricultural production, 2) increase and enhance habitat for Nelson’s checkermallow at key introduction sites through weed control and seeding with native species, 3) meet recovery objectives by introducing at least 40 thousand checkermallow plants at protected sites, and 4) provide a model for recovery of other listed species.

This report summarizes Nelson’s checkermallow Recovery Project Phase II activities completed from January 2010 through January 2011. In first year of Phase II we had numerous significant accomplishments, and we are on schedule to meet all of the project objectives. The efficient and innovative methodology used will contribute to the development of a recovery model. Below is a summary of 2010 accomplishments:

• Plant Material Development of Nelson’s checkermallow
  • Produced 177 pounds of seed.
  • Grew 11,000 plugs.
  • Harvested 9,078 rhizomes.
• Habitat Enhancement of Introduction Sites
  • Monitored baseline conditions at all project sites.
  • Controlled weeds by herbicide application at 8 sites and woody encroachment by mowing at 9 sites.
  • Prepared sites for seeding by haying at 2 sites and prescribed burning at 5 sites.
  • Seeded prairie diversity mix at 9 sites.
• Nelson’s checkermallow Introduction
  • Seeded 200 pounds of seed at 6 project sites.
  • Planted 9,078 rhizomes and 8,078 plugs over 11 project sites.
  • Started experiment comparing propagule success at 6 project sites.
• Outreach
  • Met with landowners and partners regularly. All landowners signed a cooperative agreement.
  • Produced and distributed over 300 Nelson’s checkermallow brochures.
  • Information booth highlighting Nelson’s checkermallow at 2 public functions.
  • Hosted 3 volunteer work parties.
  • Started development of a nature park at the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
  • Designed large, permanent interpretive signs for Nelson’s checkermallow at 3 project sites.