South Puget Sound prairie screening window opens April 1st through October 31st.
Why are prairie plants important?
The three target prairie-associated species include Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly (TCB), streaked horned lark (SHL) and the Mazama pocket gopher (MPG).
Thurston County is home to the endangered Taylors checkerspot butterfly and several other butterfly species designated as “of greatest conservation need, or species of conservation concern.” The County’s Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) and the federal Endangered Species Act protect these butterflies and their prairie habitat.
Via Thurston County Prairie Plant Review
If the plants provide food or shelter for the Taylors checkerspot butterfly (a federally Endangered Species) and/or your property is in a protected area of concern.
Any disruption of critical habitat or protected species will halt your project, possibly result in additional fines and/or legal action depending on severity.
Prairie habitat is defined in chapter 24.03 of the Thurston County code and in section 24.25.065.
Properties are visited only two (2) times within a 30 day period by our specialists.
We develop successful solutions which are reported using the SHARP methodology.
Our team is experienced in creating plans which benefit the landowner and prairie plants.
Does your property have prime habitat for:
Definition of Prairie
"Prairie" or "westside prairie," means herbaceous, non-forested (forested means greater than or equal to sixty percent forest canopy cover) plant communities that can either take the form of a dry prairie where soils are well-drained or a wet prairie. In parts of the Puget Trough, prairies can sometimes be recognized by mounded topography commonly referred to as Mima Mounds. Mima Mounds are a unique geologic feature of prairie habitat in Thurston County.
Via Thurston County code chapter 24.03