Meadow Restoration in the Sawtooth National Recreatioin Area John Sloan USDA Forest Service Boise National Forest Lucky Peak Nursery

Lucky Peak Nursery LPN is a unit of the Boise National Forest LPN was established in 1959 in support of R4 reforestation activities R4 seedling production facility, seed processing and storage facility WCF Operation (Operate on funds generated from seedlings sales)

Historic LPN Role R4 bare root conifer seedling production facility R3/R4 conifer seed processing & storage facility Reforestation following wildfires & timber harvest Average annual production 1962-1977: 5.84 MM Production Range: 11.1 MM (1978)-1.335 MM (2003)

Typical Year Illustrating LPN’S Traditional Role (1992) USFS: 97% (bareroot seedlings) BLM, IDFG: 3% (bareroot seedlings)

Request for Seedlings LPN FY 2003 USFS: 49% (bareroot & containerized seedlings) BLM, FWS, DOD, IDFG: 51% (bareroot & containerized seedlings)

LPN Diversifying to Meet Changing Needs 1992: 100 % Bareroot Production 2003: 75% Bareroot Production 25% Containerized Production 2005: 40% Bareroot Production 60% Container Production

Historic LPN Services Bareroot Seedling Production (since 1959) CONIFERS: Ponderosa Pine, Lodgepole Pine, Douglas-Fir, Western Larch SHRUBS: Big Sagebrush, Bitterbrush, Four-wing Saltbush, Chokecherry, Elderberry, Hawthorne

Current LPN Services Containerized Seedling Production (since 2000) CONIFERS: Englemann Spruce, Douglas-fir, Ponderosa Pine, Lodgepole Pine, Western Larch SHRUBS: Big Sagebrush, Bitterbrush, Four-wing, Saltbush, Rabbitbrush, dogwood, others TREES: Willows, Cottonwoods GRASS: Idaho Fescue, Redtop, Other Bunchgrass FORBS: Penstemon, Crepis, Lupine, Buckwheat, many others

Grass Species Common Name Seed treatment Germination Alopecurus sp.   Species Common Name Seed treatment Germination H2O2 Soak (3%) GA3 Soak Cold Strat Alopecurus sp. Meadow Foxtail 2 hour, 24 hour 3 weeks @ 34o F Excellent Carex microptera Small-winged Sedge 4 weeks Poor   Festuca idahoensis Idaho fescue Good Carex aenea Bronze sedge  

Forbs Species Common Name Seed treatment Germination Excellent Poor H2O2 Soak (3%) GA3 Soak Cold Strat Antennaria Microphylum Everlasting Pussytoes 2 hour, 24 hour 3 weeks @ 34o F Excellent Aster conspicuous Showy Aster Balsamorhiza sagitata Arrowleaf balsamroot 4 weeks Poor Castelleja sp. Paintbrush Eriogonum Heracleoides Buckwheat Good

Forbs (cont) Species Common Name Seed treatment Germination Good Poor H2O2 Soak (3%) GA3 Soak Cold Strat Geranium viscocisimum Wild geranium 2 hour, 24 hour 4 weeks @ 34o F Good Hackelia sp. Wild forget-me-not Poor Penstemon ryberg Penstemon Excellent Potentilla gracilis cinquifoil Senecio sp. Western groundsel Zigzdenus elegans Death camas  

Shrubs Species Common Name Seed Treatment Germination   Species Common Name Seed Treatment Germination Soak Other Cold Strat Lupinus argentius Silvery lupine 24 Hrs in H2O Tumb-led for 1 min None Began to germinate too quickly Potentilla futicosa Shruby cinquifoil 2 hour in H2O2, 24 hour in GA3 4 weeks @ 34o F Excellent  

Wild Geranium

Idaho Fescue Penstemon

Showy Aster

Cinquifoil

Idaho Fescue Cinquifoil Pussy toes Meadow Foxtail Shrubby Cinquifoil

Current LPN Services Native Forb Seedbank (2003) Through the National Fire Plan, we have collected seed for the establishment of a native forb seedbank. The forb seed will be used on restoration projects throughout the Boise National Forest. Species include balsamroot, yarrow, lupine, buckwheat, potentilla and penstemon.

Current LPN Services Native Seed Production (Since 2000) Established seedbeds of site-specific Arizona fescue, Idaho fescue, squirrel tail and Bunchgrass for seed production and subsequent restoration projects. Established seedbeds of site-specific Crepis for seed production and use by BLM Vale District.

Forb Seed Production Beds Established Fall 2004 Total Area: 5 Acres Customers: Boise National Forest Umatilla National Forest Idaho National Guard Species: Sagebrush Winter fat Lupine Buckwheat Arrowleaf balsamroot

Lucky Peak Nursery Presentation Summary Significant change in program direction Greater diversity of products (forbs, native seed, containerized shrubs) Greater diversity in clients (Idaho Dept of Fish & Game, Department of Defense, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management) The SNRA Meadow Restoration Project (First steps in a new direction)

Contact Information Boise National Forest Lucky Peak Nursery Attn: John Sloan 15169 E. Highway 21 Boise 83716 Email: jpsloan@fs.fed.us Phone: 208-343-1977