- Author
- The Nature Conservancy
- Publication Year
- 2007
- Species
- Mardon skipper, Mazama pocket gopher, Streaked horned lark, Taylor's checkerspot, Western gray squirrel
- Region
- Puget Trough/Lowlands
- Habitat
- Upland Prairie, Wet Prairie
The Fort has the largest and best quality remnants of these threatened habitat types, and The Nature Conservancy is assisting the Fort to reach its conservation goals. Fort Lewis and The Nature Conservancy have a shared vision of conservation at the Fort which simultaneously promotes sustainable military training lands and robust natural ecosystems.
This report provides an overview of the past year’s conservation activities at Fort Lewis relating to the prairie/oak mosaic. It is a compilation of previous quarterly reports and provides general details relating to project objectives and outcomes.
In spite of two unforeseen complications in 2007, TNC was able to maintain a high level of productivity at Fort Lewis. Access restrictions during the peak of weed control season caused several planned activities to be uncompleted. Similarly, the cool, wet summer altered growth patterns, which restricted or altered many planned activities. In spite of these complications, TNC and Fort Lewis Fish and Wildlife staff were able to complete all of our major shared goals. Due to an increase in staffing and training, Fort Lewis Fish and Wildlife staff were able to make significant contributions to several joint projects and our combined resources allowed us to adaptively respond.
We have advanced our management strategies in several new areas. Treatment monitoring and trials have helped us to develop several new weed control protocols that are lower risk for people and the environment and are more effective. We have implemented a new cavity creation program to benefit cavity dependent wildlife. We have also initiated an experimental design to improve our planting efforts and butterfly enhancement activities.