Washington’s Shrubsteppe
The shrubsteppe is an arid ecosystem found in Eastern Washington and other western states. As one of Washington’s most diverse ecosystems, shrubsteppe provides habitat for species found nowhere else in the state, such as the Greater sage-grouse, sagebrush sparrow, and burrowing owl. With an estimated 80% of historic shrubsteppe lost or degraded to development and agriculture since the arrival of non-native settlers, protecting remaining shrubsteppe habitats is more important than ever.
Here, at the northern extent of the great “Sagebrush Sea” that once sprawled across much of the American West, growing collaboration between agencies, Native American tribes, conservation organizations, local landowners, and other partners seeks to preserve and restore shrubsteppe ecosystems while supporting cultural and economic values.
2020 Wildfires
Historic fires in summer and fall 2020 burned over 600,000 acres of shrubsteppe habitat in Washington (Figure 1). The Pearl Hill, Cold Springs, and Whitney fires were particularly devastating for shrubsteppe wildlife. The fires impacted 50 percent of the area occupied by sage and sharp-tailed grouse and eliminated pygmy rabbits in one of three recovery areas within the state. Both grouse populations have seen precipitous decline in recent years, with 2022 population estimates approximately 30 percent lower than the already small estimates in 2020. The loss to the pygmy rabbit population and recovery area was significant. The recovery area burned by the Pearl Hill fire had received the most recent and extensive recovery investment. Rabbits in this area were showing promise and responding well to reintroduction efforts. The 2020 fires also caused devastating impacts to the human communities in the burn areas leaving miles of burned rangeland pasture and fencing in their wake and threatening livelihoods.
21-23BN Proviso
Responding to these catastrophic wildfires and their effects to shrubsteppe wildlife and human communities, the Washington State Legislature guided Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to restore shrubsteppe habitat and associated wildlife impacted by wildland fire through a budget proviso in the 2021-23 biennium. $2.3 million in operating funds from the state general fund were appropriated each biennium and an additional $1.5 million of capital funds to rebuild fences with wildlife-friendly versions in prioritized areas was made available through June 2023. The specific proviso language is in Appendix 1.
The proviso included two elements:
A) Implementation of restoration actions, which may include: 1) species-specific recovery actions; 2) increasing the availability of native plant materials; 3) increasing the number of certified and trained personnel for implementation at scale; 4) support for wildlife-friendly fencing replacement; 5) support for private landowners/ranchers to defer wildland grazing and allow natural habitat regeneration.
B) Formation of a collaborative group process representing diverse stakeholders and facilitated by a neutral third-party to develop a long-term strategy for shrubsteppe conservation and fire preparedness, response, and restoration to meet the needs of the state's shrubsteppe wildlife and human communities.
WSRRI
Taken together these two proviso elements are the foundation of the Washington Shrubsteppe Restoration and Resiliency Initiative (WSRRI; the Initiative). The primary purpose of the WSRRI is to benefit Washington’s shrubsteppe wildlife, particularly in the face of increasing frequency and intensity of wildland fire, recognizing and acknowledging the shared benefit to human communities.
WSRRI is collaborative. It is led by a tri-state agency coalition between the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Washington State Conservation Commission (SCC), and Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). WSRRI is informed and advised by the diverse interests of Washington’s shrubsteppe landscape, including Tribal nations and public and private partners.
WSRRI is helping create a more fire-resilient shrubsteppe landscape. Through its long-term strategy in development, WSRRI is making policy recommendations, identifying spatial priorities, and setting strategic direction to better respond to wildland fire when it occurs, and to restore habitat after fire.