Newsletter

Winter 2000: Prairie Restoration - Pacific Rim

Prairie Restoration Course A Success
By Jonathan Bakker and Dr. Steve Hall

Au Sable's Smith Prairie site contains one of the few remaining prairie remnants in the Pacific Northwest. Species that are frequently found in this ecosystem include Idaho fescue, camas, brodiaea, and Oregon sunshine. To learn more about this endangered prairie ecosystem and to build relationships with the local community, Au Sable Pacific Rim offered a short course in Prairie Restoration Ecology from August 3-10 2000.

More than two dozen people from Whidbey Island and other regions of the United States attended all or part of the course. An evening lecture by Sir Ghillean Prance, an Au Sable board member, was enjoyed by more than 100 people.

The course included field trips and guest presentations. Smith Prairie was studied several times. Kah Tai Prairie, Ebey's Bluff, Mima Mounds, Glacial Heritage, and other sites in the Pacific Northwest were toured. Guest speakers from The Nature Conservancy, University of Washington, National Park Service, Department of Defence, and Washington Native Plant Society discussed their restoration efforts and highlighted their successes, failures, and challenges.

Participants discussed the implications of the field trips and guest presentations for Smith Prairie. Key ideas arising from the course include: the site-specific nature of restoration activities, the necessity of controlling invasive exotic species, the importance of careful planning and preparation, and a recognition of our ignorance regarding many aspects of this ecosystem and its restoration. These ideas are currently being incorporated into a stewardship plan meant to guide our activity on Smith Prairie. We welcome input from all interested parties and look forward to further growth of this exciting component of Au Sable's program.

Many people in the local community use the trails on the Smith Prairie site for walking, bird-watching, and other activities. One of these trails bisects the prairie remnant and is a point from which many exotic species have dispersed into the prairie. We ended the course by establishing a new trail near the remnant. Using this new trail will protect the integrity of the prairie remnant without hindering the community's activities. We hope and expect that local participants will take ownership of this new trail and will educate others about the importance of the Smith Prairie remnant.

Participant evaluations indicated that the course was an unequivocal success. One participant described it as "first rate. Very thorough and balanced." In addition, several participants were pleasantly amazed to encounter a Christian group that loves the creation.

Au Sable Pacific Rim is hoping to offer more short courses in the future as we continue to build ties with the local community. In addition, the Smith Prairie remnant will be used for several courses next summer, including a new course on prairie restoration ecology (Land Stewardship Ecology Biol 486)

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