Native Plant Research and Activities at the Great Basin Research Center,

Ephraim, Utah

Kevin GunnellGreat Basin Research Center Project Leader

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Utah Division of Wildlife ResourcesResource Goal

• Expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat– Recognition of the importance of properly

functioning habitat. – Recognition that this goal is best achieved by the

use of native plant materials whenever possible.

How it Began In Utah

• Broad scale rangeland degradation in early 20th century

• Deer die-off in 1948-49 due to poor winter range condition

• Recognized need for applied research and the development of restoration tools and techniques to restore wildlife habitat

History of Applied Research• Plant Material Development

– UDWR facility maintained in Ephraim, UT since 1958

– Numerous trials on native and introduced forb, grass and shrub species for rangeland restoration

– Much of the current wildland seed industry in Utah developed around the UDWR and USFS facilities

• Restoration Methods and Technology Development– Testing and development of methodologies to

enhance ‘success’ of rangeland seedings and restoration

• Shrub Consortium– 1983-2010– Enhanced communication between research

and land managers • Peer Reviewed Research

– Dissemination of management research

Development of Restoration Guidelines

• Restoration Guidebook

– Plummer et al (1968)

• Revision and Update

– Monsen et al (2004)

UDWR Great Basin Research Center

• Plant Materials Development– Native Seed Increase– Cultural Practice Research

• Short and Long Term Research– Restoration Methods and Techniques– Long Term Vegetation Monitoring

• Restoration Equipment– Maintenance and Repair– Development of New Technology and Techniques– Transport and Setup

• Seed Resources– Bulk Ordering and Long Term Storage – Reduces Costs– Custom Seed Mix Development– Custom Mixing, Bagging

UDWRGreat Basin Research Center

• Plant Materials Development– Native Seed Increase– Cultural Practice Research

• Short and Long Term Research– Restoration Methods and Techniques– Long Term Vegetation Monitoring

• Restoration Equipment– Maintenance and Repair– Development of New Technology and Techniques– Transport and Setup

• Seed Resources– Bulk Ordering and Long Term Storage – Reduces Costs– Custom Seed Mix Development– Custom Mixing, Bagging

Native Seed Increase• Germination and Propagation Facilities

– Greenhouse, Drive-in Coolers, Incubators, and Shade House

• 2 Farms– Snow Field Station, Ephraim UT

• 22 Acres– Fountain Green, UT

• 20 Acres

• Specialized Equipment– Planting, Maintenance, Harvesting, and Cleaning

Native Seed Increase• Native Material Development & Releases

– ‘DWR Tetra’ Basin Wildrye• Certified Selected Germplasm of

pooled Great Basin seed sources • Released 2010

– ‘Cedar’ Palmer Penstemon• Selected Source from near Cedar City Utah• Released 1990’s

– Collaborators: Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) Shrub Science Laboratory, Utah Crop Improvement and UDWR

• Native Forb Project– Collection, development, and testing of native

forb species– Cultural practices and seed production in

agronomic settings– Currently focused only on seed increase due to

decreased funding– Collaborators: Great Basin Native Plant Project

(GBNPP), RMRS Shrub Science Laboratory and UDWR

Magnar 2013 Trailhead 2013 UDWR Tetra 2013

Native Seed Increase• Harvested 2015

– 11 species with 60 accessionsSpecies # of Accessions LocationAchnatherum hymenoides 1* Ft. GreenAstragalus filipes 1 EphraimCrepis acuminata 3 Ft. GreenCrepis intermedia 3 Ft. GreenCryptantha sp. 1 Ft. GreenDalea ornata 1 EphraimEnceliopsis nudicaulis 3 Ft. GreenHeliomeris multiflora nevadensis 5 Ft. GreenHesperostipa comata 7 Ft. GreenLeymus cinereus 31** EphraimPenstemon pachyphyllus 4 Ft. Green

* Foundation source of ‘White River’ Indian ricegrass (Colorado Plateau source)** Foundation field of ‘UDWR Tetra’ Great Basin Wildrye selected release. Accessions are pooled when harvested.

Native Seed Increase• Harvested 2015

– 11 species with 60 accessions

• Seed Sown 2014-2016– 6 species with 41 accessions

Species # of Accessions Location

Astragalus filipes 1 Ephraim

Dalea searlsiae 1 Ephraim

Heliomeris multiflora nevadensis 5 Ft. Green

Ipomopsis aggregata 5 Ft. Green

Linum lewisii 10 Ft. Green

Penstemon pachyphyllus 19 Ft. Green

Cultural Practices

• Scarification/Stratification Requirements

• Seeding Depth Trials• Nutrient/Water

Requirements• Seeding, Maintenance,

Harvest and Cleaning Methodologies

Cultural PracticesDevelopment of Propagation Protocols• Stratification of Showy Goldeneye (Heliomeris multiflora

ssp. nevadensis)– Cold/wet stratification at 2.8 C for varying duration– Germinated at 15 C dark– Peak germination by 7 weeks

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Plant Materials DevelopmentOther Research/Work• Current selection and development

of muttongrass (Poa fendleriana)– Collaborators: RMRS Shrub Science

Laboratory and UDWR• Sagebrush common garden studies

– Genecological studies of sagebrush has informed empirical seed transfer zones

– Improved understanding of sagebrush distribution and genetics

– Collaborators: RMRS Shrub Science Laboratory and UDWR

• Forthcoming seed book– Guide for identification, collection,

cleaning and storage of wildlandspecies

Restoration Methods/Techniques

• Forb Island Assessment Study– Determine the effects of N-sulate® fabric on germination

and establishment of native forb species in a wildlandsetting.

– Study established in 2009 and 2010 in 4 locations.– Data collected 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years after treatment.

Restoration Methods/Techniques

• N-sulate® Fabric Assessment Study

Scientific Name Seeded Rate (g)

Balsamorhiza sagittata 17

Cleome serrulata 2.8

Hedysarum boreale 21.3

Linum perenne Appar 3.12

Lupinus argenteus 63.8

Penstemon pachyphyllus 4.3

Poa fendleriana 1.1

Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia 2.3

Scientific Name Seeded Rate (g)

Agoseris grandiflora 4.5

Agoseris heterophylla 1.9

Argemone munita 8.7

Heliomeris multiflora nevadensis 1.9

Lomatium nudicaule 28.4

Nicotiana attenuata 0.4

Thelypodium milleflorum 0.4

Mix 1 Mix 2

Restoration Methods/Techniques

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Agoseris spp. ARMU HEMUN LONU2 NIAT THMI5

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BASA3 CLSE HEBO LIPE2 LUAR3 PEPA6 POFE SPGR2

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BASA3 CLSE HEBO LIPE2 LUAR3 PEPA6 POFE SPGR2

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BASA3 CLSE HEBO LIPE2 LUAR3 PEPA6 POFE SPGR2

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Restoration Methods/Techniques

• Forb Seeding Methodology– Evaluate native forb establishment in Wyoming big

sagebrush communities using four different pieces of planting equipment: Truax drill, Lawson aerator, Dixie pipe harrow, and Ely chain.

– Study established in 2008 and 2009 on 2 locations.– Data collected 1 year, 2 years, and 6 years after treatment.

Restoration Methods/Techniques

• Forb Seeding MethodologySpecies Bulk

lbs/acPLSlbs/ac

Seeds/ft2

Sphaeralcea munroana 0.5 0.38 4.32

Linum perenne 1.0 0.90 6.04

Hedysarum boreale 1.0 0.77 0.60

Lupinus argenteus 1.5 0.55 0.27

Penstemon palmeri 0.5 0.39 4.86

Astragalus utahensis 0.6 0.39 2.03

Balsamorhiza sagittata 2.0 1.81 2.28

Penstemon eatonii 0.29 0.23 3.18

Crepis acuminata 0.16 0.10 0.48

Total 7.55 6.02 24.04

Restoration Methods/Techniques

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Aera

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Year Post Treatment

PEPA8

PEEA

LUAR3

LIPE2

HEBO

CRAC2

BASA3

ASUT

Restoration Methods/TechniquesOther Research• Sagebrush Seeding Rate/Timing Trials

– Assess appropriate rates and timing for seeding sagebrush

• Multiple-entry Plateau® Trials– Assess efficacy of seeding into Plateau®

treatments 1 year post treatment• Tintic Valley Fire Study

– Assessing long-term response of restoration methods and seed mixes following wildfire

– Began as BYU graduate project in 1999 – Collaboration from multiple partners including

UDWR, RMRS Shrub Science Laboratory, and BLM

– Revisited in 2015 by UDWR and Rocky Mountain Research Station

ARS

BLM

Native High

Native Low

Control

Long-term Vegetation Monitoring

• http://wildlife.utah.gov/range-trend.html

Long-Term Vegetation MonitoringCurrent Research• Community and species response to restoration treatments

and disturbance• Efficacy of restoration methods and species across habitat

types and ecological potentials• Succession of vegetation communities with and without

disturbance• Collaborators: ARS Forage and Range Research Laboratory,

Brigham Young University

1982 1988 2000 2005 2015

MCCOOK RIDGE CHAINING

• Emphasis on applied research and management techniques

• Focus on native species with high wildlife value.

Invitation for Collaboration andResearch

Kevin GunnellGBRC Project Leader

kevingunnell@utah.gov435-283-4441 Ext. 205

Questions

Kevin GunnellGBRC Project Leader

kevingunnell@utah.gov435-283-4441 Ext. 205