Vernal pools are ephemeral surface water wetlands with unique hydrology, ecology and species composition. Rare and endemic species rely on vernal pool habitat due to specialization traits the species possess because they are adapted to the extreme conditions. Many vernal pool basins have been topographically and hydrologically altered and are...
Seasonal wetlands in arid and semi-arid lands provide an important source of surface water in otherwise dry lands. Central Oregon's high desert, located in the Northern Great Basin (NGB) is dotted with hundreds of seasonal pools, locally called playas. The playas hold water or snow during parts of winter and...
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RonReuter
Seasonal wetlands in arid and semi-arid lands provide an important source of
Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) cover has more than doubled within the last century and currently occupies over 9 million acres in the Intermountain West. Encroachment has altered the spatial distribution of soil nutrients and plants in these systems, forming nutrient enriched 'resource islands,' under tree canopies. The purpose of this...
The Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric Project (Oregon) was built between 1957 and 1964. As a result the anadromous steelhead trout was extirpated from the upper Deschutes Basin by 1968. The Deschutes Basin is a model for instream flow restoration projects in the Pacific Northwest that are largely driven by the...
The Western Lake Survey (WLS) of 1985 documented the status of lake water chemistry across the western US and inferred population representations of various subregions and geomorphic units via statistically analyses. Results from this 1985 study indicated that lakes of the Oregon Cascades had the second most pristine and dilute...
Common camas (Camassia quamash) is a culturally important wetland plant, used as a staple food source by many indigenous peoples of western North America for thousands of years. Camas populations were once widespread, but conversion of wetland prairies to agriculture has led to declines in suitable habitat. Edible camas bulbs...
Ecological restoration is needed to mitigate losses to biodiversity. Restoration success is enhanced through the use of native plant materials that are genetically diverse and locally adapted. Seed transfer zones have been developed to delineate geographic areas where native seed can be collected and distributed with reduced risk of maladaptation....