Oaks in Yelm

From Yelm Online
http://www.yelmonline.com/articles/2009/07/31/first_report/doc4a71d26a5fe88088452750.txt

Prairie Conservation Ordinance Enacted

On Tuesday, July 28, the Thurston Board of County Commissioners enacted an interim regulation that helps conserve south Puget Sound’s last remaining oak woodland habitats and native prairies. Approximately three percent of south Puget Sound’s original native prairies (estimated to be about 150,000 acres) now remain.

The interim ordinance makes the county’s definition of prairies consistent with state and federal guidelines, requires that persons seeking to develop areas that may contain prairies identify the location of prairies, and, as necessary, develop Prairie Habitat Conservation plans to reduce development impacts to prairies.

Commissioners feel prompt action is necessary to prevent further degradation to this increasingly scarce resource. Prairies used to extend throughout Thurston County from Rochester up to an area just south of Tacoma. Some of the south Puget Sound’s most valuable remaining prairies are located in Thurston County.

Prairie and oak habitats are home to endangered plants such as the golden paintbrush as well as threatened and endangered wildlife and insect species such as the Mazama pocket gopher, streaked horned lark and Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly.

These species as well as other prairie dependent species are found in only a small number of places in the world. In recent years, south Puget Sound prairies have become threatened due to development and the invasion of non-native plant species. A few of the larger prairies can be easily seen, such as the Mima Mounds and the Glacial Heritage Preserve, while others are scattered among forests, farms and houses.

For more information on the ordinance and on Thurston County prairies, contact Senior Planner Cynthia Wilson at 786-5475.