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Meadow Restoration Polk Phase 2

County: Polk

Primary Resource Concern Addressed: 

  • Degraded plant condition - Plant structure and composition
  • Terrestrial habitat - Terrestrial habitat for wildlife and invertebrates 

Project Description
Declining oak and upland conifer habitats with connecting corridors are inadequate in Polk County to provide sufficient forage, shelter and cover for species dependent on these habitat types. Private and tribal lands with overstocked oak woodlands and upland conifer forests deficient of wildlife meadows in the Airlie/Haybeck oak, aligning with partner-identified conservation opportunity areas, priority wildlife connectivity areas, within close proximity to powerline easements located in southern Polk County will be highest priority. Properties where restoration will be most beneficial to the target species as well as a host of other species, and that incorporate plantings and traditional ecological knowledge, will be ranked the highest. Partner collaboration has contributed to prior restoration success, landowner awareness and continued interest in funding.

Conservation Practices Offered

  • Brush Management (314) 
  • Herbaceous Weed Treatment (315) 
  • Conservation Cover (327) 
  • Prescribed Burning (338) 
  • Critical Area Planting (342) 
  • Woody Residue Treatment (384) 
  • Wildlife Habitat Planting (420) 
  • Hedgerow Planting (422) 
  • Mulching (484) 
  • Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490) 
  • Obstruction Removal (500) 
  • Prescribed Grazing (528) 
  • Tree/Shrub Establishment (612) 
  • Restoration of Rare or Declining Natural Communities (643) 
  • Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645) 
  • Early Successional Habitat Development-Mgt (647) 
  • Structures for Wildlife (649) 
  • Tree/Shrub Pruning (660) 
  • Forest Stand Improvement (666)

Project Partners

  • Polk SWCD
  • Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
  • Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF)
  • Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)
  • US Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • Farm Service Agency
  • Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board
  • Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
  • Institute for Applied Ecology
  • Bonneville Power Administration
  • Greater Yamhill Watershed Council
  • Luckiamute Watershed Council
  • NRCS Oregon
  • Private landowners

Application Questions
NRCS uses prioritization questions to evaluate applications for this initiative. See the list of workload prioritization questions on the Oregon EQIP page. Ranking questions below will also apply.

Ranking Questions

  1. Is the project area within 1 miles of a powerline easement (BPA) or within ODFWs Wildlife Priority Connectivity Areas (WPCA) to improve travel corridors that will improve connectivity of restored habitat units and mingling of herds?
  2. Do restoration efforts include installation of wildlife structures for priority species identified in the funding strategy, (birds, butterflies, ungulates, T&E or SOC?
  3. Is the project area adjacent to another forest/woodland restoration project that has been or is scheduled to be completed by NRCS or partners.
  4. Will restoration include planting native species to increase diversity beneficial to target species food cover and shelter and aid in greenhouse emission reduction?
  5. Will the project incorporate 3 or more Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), land management practices that are culturally valued by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, into the restoration project. See TEK Exhibit "A" for criteria and to document activities planned.