Restoration and Maintenance of Fescue Grasslands in Prince Albert ...
Restoration and Maintenance of Fescue Grasslands in Prince Albert ...
Restoration and Maintenance of Fescue Grasslands in Prince Albert ...
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Native Plant Society <strong>of</strong>SaskatchewanMeet<strong>in</strong>g February 12 th , 2011<strong>Restoration</strong> <strong>and</strong> ma<strong>in</strong>tenance <strong>of</strong>fescue grassl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>in</strong> Pr<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>Albert</strong>National Park
This presentation will describe:• The regional distribution <strong>of</strong> pla<strong>in</strong>s rough fescuegrassl<strong>and</strong>• The distribution <strong>of</strong> fescue grassl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>in</strong> PANP• Pr<strong>in</strong>ciple threats to fescue grassl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>in</strong> PANP• PANP’s response to these threats
Regional distribution <strong>of</strong> pla<strong>in</strong>srough fescue grassl<strong>and</strong>:• Part <strong>of</strong> the aspen parkl<strong>and</strong> ecoregion• Historic extent 255,000 ha• Marks the transition <strong>of</strong> forest to thenorth <strong>and</strong> open grassl<strong>and</strong> to thesouth• A dynamic mix <strong>of</strong> aspen groves<strong>and</strong> fescue grassl<strong>and</strong>s• Gradual transition - southern areasdom<strong>in</strong>ated by grassl<strong>and</strong>, northernareas dom<strong>in</strong>ated by aspen(Acton et al. 1998)
Regional distribution <strong>of</strong>pla<strong>in</strong>s rough fescuegrassl<strong>and</strong> (Cont.):• Grassl<strong>and</strong> ondrier sites, foreston wetter sites• Floristicallydiversecommunity
Current distribution:• ~ 6% <strong>of</strong> the historicgrassl<strong>and</strong> rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong>Saskatchewan• 85 % <strong>of</strong> the rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>gpatches are < than 65 ha• With<strong>in</strong> Parks Canada,pla<strong>in</strong>s rough fescuegrassl<strong>and</strong> are located <strong>in</strong>– Pr<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>Albert</strong> <strong>and</strong> Rid<strong>in</strong>gMounta<strong>in</strong> National Parks, <strong>and</strong>– Batoche <strong>and</strong> Fort WalshNational Historic Sites(Gerry <strong>and</strong> Anderson 2002)
Threats to therema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g grassl<strong>and</strong>:• Settlement– l<strong>and</strong> use change• Lack <strong>of</strong> fire disturbance– encroachment <strong>of</strong> aspen• Invasive non-native plants– disturbed sites– edge effect• Overgraz<strong>in</strong>g• Reduction <strong>in</strong> speciesrichness <strong>and</strong> geneticisolation <strong>of</strong> remnant patches
<strong>Fescue</strong> grassl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>in</strong> Pr<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>Albert</strong> NationalPark:• Northern outliers<strong>of</strong> contiguousaspen parkl<strong>and</strong>eco-region• 1968 aerialextent ~670 ha,2010 currentlyunknown(Padbury et al. 1978)• Map shows the location <strong>of</strong> the 18 largest (12-115 ha)grassl<strong>and</strong>s. Many smaller patches are located <strong>in</strong> this area
<strong>Fescue</strong> grassl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>in</strong> PANP:Sugar Creek fescuegrassl<strong>and</strong>s:• Core areas• Seral areas• Forest
<strong>Fescue</strong> grassl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>in</strong> PANP:• Aerial photographsused to determ<strong>in</strong>ehistoric extent <strong>of</strong>grassl<strong>and</strong>s:• 1947• 1962• 1996NAerial Extent <strong>of</strong> <strong>Fescue</strong> Grassl<strong>and</strong>sSugar Creek Meadows1995 - 20.1 hectares1962 - 36.0 hectares1947 - 88.5 hectaresWestside Road0.5 0 0.5 1 Kilometers
Approximately 67% <strong>of</strong>the fescue grassl<strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>Pr<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>Albert</strong> NationalPark was overgrow byaspen forest between1947 <strong>and</strong> 1995.Name <strong>of</strong>MeadowJonasson’sFlatsTwelve MileMeadowWasstrom’sFlatsSouth EndMeadowSugar CreekMeadowsAveragedecrease (%)1947area(ha)1962area(ha)Decrease <strong>in</strong>area to 1962(%)1995area(ha)Decrease <strong>in</strong>area to 1995(%)95.0 58.4 39% 40.6 57%9.5 8.7 8% 5.4 43%239.5 132.3 45% 46.2 80%79.9 74.5 7% 16.0 80%88.5 36.0 59% 20.1 77%31.6% 67.4%Currently:Seral grassl<strong>and</strong>support mature(>50 years) forestOnly core grassl<strong>and</strong>srema<strong>in</strong>
Pr<strong>in</strong>ciple threats to fescue grassl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>in</strong>PANP:• An altered fire regime• Encroachment by aspen <strong>and</strong>shrubs• Small <strong>and</strong> highly fragmentedgrassl<strong>and</strong>s• Potential for local ext<strong>in</strong>ction• Reduction <strong>in</strong> genetic diversity• Introduction <strong>and</strong> spread <strong>of</strong><strong>in</strong>vasive non-native plants• Management <strong>of</strong> disturbed sites• Lack <strong>of</strong> public underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g<strong>of</strong> the dynamic nature <strong>of</strong>native grassl<strong>and</strong>s
PANP’s response to these threats• Complete a fescue grassl<strong>and</strong> management plan forPr<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>Albert</strong> National Park• Re-<strong>in</strong>troduce a representative fire regime to the areaknown to support fescue grassl<strong>and</strong>s• By 2025, restore select fescue grassl<strong>and</strong>s to between 50<strong>and</strong> 100% <strong>of</strong> their 1947 distribution• Invasive non-native plant species control• Increase public awareness , underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong>appreciation <strong>of</strong> fescue grassl<strong>and</strong>s
Complete a fescue grassl<strong>and</strong> managementplan for Pr<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>Albert</strong> National ParkA draft plan has beencompleted <strong>and</strong> is about tobe distributed for externalreview.
Re-<strong>in</strong>troduce a representative fire regime tothe area known to support fescue grassl<strong>and</strong>sEstablish an aspenparkl<strong>and</strong> managementunit ( ~ 53,500 ha)
Area burned ( X 1000 ha)R<strong>and</strong>omly <strong>in</strong>troduce a 40year fire cycle to the unit byimplement<strong>in</strong>g prescribedfires (~1,350 ha/yr)20181614121086420Aspen Parkl<strong>and</strong>Expected vs Actual Area BurnedFive Year PeriodPrescribed fires will belarge (100 to 5,000 ha)Older forest will bema<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed throughoutthe unitExpected Area BurnedActual Area Burned
By 2025, restore specific fescue grassl<strong>and</strong>s tobetween 50 <strong>and</strong> 100% <strong>of</strong> their 1947 distributionSugar Creek, Wasstrom’s Flats,<strong>and</strong> South End grassl<strong>and</strong>s willbe burned 3-5 times <strong>in</strong> a 15year periodName <strong>of</strong>Grassl<strong>and</strong>1947 area(ha)1995area (ha)M<strong>in</strong>imumtarget area <strong>in</strong>2025 (ha)Maximumtarget area<strong>in</strong> 2025 (ha)Wasstrom’sFlats239.5 46.2 120.0 239.5South End 79.9 16.0 40.0 79.9Sugar Creek 88.5 20.1 44.0 88.5Total 407.9 82.3 204 407.9
Sugar Creek Grassl<strong>and</strong> Prescribed Burn~900 ha Burned <strong>in</strong> spr<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> 2006 <strong>and</strong> 2009.Wasstrom’s FlatsGrassl<strong>and</strong> ~ 1500 ha• Attempted 2010,• Planned for spr<strong>in</strong>g 2011
Invasive non-native plant species controlComplete an <strong>in</strong>ventory<strong>of</strong> the <strong>in</strong>vasive nonnativeplant species <strong>in</strong>the park’s largestfescue grassl<strong>and</strong>sUse the <strong>in</strong>ventory toprioritize controlactions
Re-habilitate large disturbed areas that support<strong>in</strong>vasive non-native plantsGravel pits are located <strong>in</strong> 12Mile <strong>and</strong> South Endgrassl<strong>and</strong>sSmooth brome <strong>and</strong> yellowtoad flax threaten surround<strong>in</strong>ggrassl<strong>and</strong>s12 Mile PitA re-habilitation plan wascompleted for 12 Mile pit <strong>in</strong>2010The plan for the South End pitwill be completed <strong>in</strong> 2012
12 mile gravel pit restoration2010• Basel<strong>in</strong>e monitor<strong>in</strong>g• Initial weed control• Grad<strong>in</strong>g to reduce slopes• Cap site with overburden• Collect native seed
12 mile gravel pit restorationPlans for 2011:• Grow out 8,000 fescue plugs• Early June, control emerg<strong>in</strong>gweeds• Mid June, seed site <strong>and</strong> plantfescue plugs• Irrigate site throughout grow<strong>in</strong>gseason• follow up monitor<strong>in</strong>g
Test the feasibility <strong>of</strong> pilot <strong>in</strong>vasive nonnativeplant control projectsSmooth brome control <strong>in</strong> fescuegrassl<strong>and</strong>sPilot control program <strong>in</strong>itiated <strong>in</strong>2010Canada thistle control <strong>in</strong> wetl<strong>and</strong>meadowsPilot control strategy will becompleted <strong>in</strong> 2011As these species grow alongside native species, control programs must be targeted.
Smooth Brome control <strong>in</strong> the 12 mile meadow:• Weed wicker is used to directlyapply glyphosate to target plants• Maximize height differencebetween target <strong>and</strong> non-targetplants• Multiple applications• Mow yearly prior to seed set,reduce seed bank• Fall mow<strong>in</strong>g to facilitate atargeted spr<strong>in</strong>g application• Monitor to evaluate the program
Increase public awareness <strong>of</strong> the dynamicnature <strong>of</strong> native grassl<strong>and</strong>sProvide opportunitiesfor the public toexperience, learn about,<strong>and</strong> appreciate fescuegrassl<strong>and</strong>– On site <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>fsiteopportunities– Opportunities forvolunteers
For more <strong>in</strong>formation :Please contact:Jeff WeirFire/Vegetation SpecialistPr<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>Albert</strong> National ParkBox 100Waskesiu Lake, Sk.S0J 0N0Phone: (306) 663-4544Email: jeff.weir@pc.gc.ca
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