Economic Stimulus Money Awarded to Local Land Trust
For Release – October 20, 2009
Whidbey Camano Land Trust
Contact: Cheryl Lowe, Land Steward, (360) 222-3310
Coupeville, WA
The Whidbey Camano Land Trust recently received a $200,000 American Recovery and Restoration Act (ARRA) grant from the Coastal Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for restoration of the federally threatened and state endangered golden paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta) and associated native prairie on its Naas Natural Area Preserve. The Naas Preserve on central Whidbey Island shelters one of the twelve remaining populations of this species in the world.
The Naas Preserve, situated on the bluffs above Admiralty Inlet, is located between two other golden paintbrush populations on nearby protected sites. The ARRA funds will be used to increase the number of golden paintbrush plants and restore its associated prairie habitat. Less than 1% of Whidbey Island’s native prairies remain with the Naas Preserve being one of the largest prairie remnants.
“The re-established Naas Preserve population will potentially form a pollination link between these three populations, likely increasing the genetic viability of all three populations” said Judy Lantor, Project Officer for the Washington Fish and Wildlife Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“We’ll be hiring local businesses to help us with tree and shrub removal, weed control, mowing and planting,” said Cheryl Lowe, the Land Trust’s Land Steward. “We will also hire local growers to gather seed and raise native plants for reintroduction on the site. Over 25 different species and thousands of plants will be needed for the effort,” she added.
The Land Trust conducted a prescribed burn on the Naas Preserve last month in preparation for the first phase of these plantings that will occur later this fall. ARRA funds were used to hire the highly-trained crew that conducted the prescribed burn, a management technique that simulates the effect of fires used by Native Americans for centuries to maintain the prairies.
“We are privileged to use these funds to restore the historic prairie habitat at the Naas Preserve and, at the same time, help the economy of our community by supporting local businesses on Whidbey Island,” said Pat Powell, Executive Director for the Land Trust. “This is truly a ‘shovel – and rake and mower and brush-hog – ready’ project.”
The Whidbey Camano Land Trust will host at least four public tours of the restoration area over the next two years. The property is owned and managed by the Whidbey Camano Land Trust and a conservation easement is held by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
Read the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s official news release at: http://recovery.doi.gov/press/bureaus/us-fish-and-wildlife-service/pacific-region-coastal-program/
