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Enhancing Priority Prairie Habitat on a Western Washington Grassland Reserve Program Easement with a Grazing System Marty Chaney, Area Agronomist, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service Olympia, Washington Most pastures in western Washington are converted forestland seeded to introduced cool season forages which flourish under a grazing system with short, highintensity grazing periods alternated with rest intervals ranging from 1- 4 weeks. Some pastures were native grass/forb prairie and often still harbor native prairie species, such as Idaho fescue and camas. With the cessation of planned fires, trees, shrubs and non-native grasses & forbs are encroaching on & threatening these prairies. While native prairie pastures need deferment during critical periods (during flowering of native forbs) and less intensive use than seeded pastures, reduction of invasive species is also essential to a healthy prairie ecosystem. With these goals in mind, the following guidelines were developed. Livestock Grazing Guidelines for Native Prairies on a working livestock operation Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) Western Washington prairies are considered a Priority Habitat by the State of Washington because only about 2% of the original prairies remain. Most of the native prairies have disappeared through conversion to cropland or urban uses or invasion by trees. The Grassland Reserve Program is a voluntary federal program assisting landowners to protect grasslands while maintaining the areas as grazing lands. GRP emphasizes support for grazing operations and their operators, biodiversity, and protection of grasslands under the greatest threat of conversion. • Defer grazing use during the critical period (typically mid-March until June 1 in western WA) by moving livestock to fields seeded to introduced forages. If all the fields contain native vegetation, avoid using a field during the during the critical period 1 in every 3 years. • If fields containing native species must be used in the spring critical period, maintain a 4” stubble height for camas & Idaho fescue on more than 75% of the plants. • During the remainder of the year, maintain a minimum 2” stubble height on at least 50% of the plants. This lower height will stress the non-native species and reduce litter buildup while not adversely affecting native species. Native plants are semidormant to dormant during this period, but invasive grasses and weeds are actively growing. • Avoid addition of fertilizers & compost in order to reduce introduced grass & forb competition. • Avoid mowing and harrowing between March 15 and July 15. • Avoid tillage in fields containing native prairie species.