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9. Project Description: (Describe how the project will be conducted and how its goals and objectives will be met.) <br /> Wetlands provide essential habitat for native plant and animal species in the Willamette Valley and <br /> were much more common historically than they are today. North and South Taylor and the Long Tom <br /> ACEC are BLM- managed public 0 & C lands that support approximately 100 acres of wetland prairie <br /> and emergent wetlands. Trespass livestock from neighboring lands have overgrazed and trampled <br /> wetland habitat at North Taylor and have facilitated the spread of invasive species at these sites. At <br /> both North and South Taylor, nonnative invasive plants species such as Scotch broom, Armenian <br /> blackberry, tansy ragwort, Canada thistle and bull thistle occur in patches that are spreading, and if not <br /> controlled, will further reduce native plant communities. <br /> In the Long Tom ACEC the open wetland prairie habitat that supports the federally endangered plant, <br /> Bradshaw's lomatium, has been degraded by Oregon ash spreading from nearby woodlands. <br /> Frequent fires that historically kept wetland prairies free of woody species are now uncommon, and <br /> have led to establishment of woody species, like ash, that are creating conditions unsuitable for prairie <br /> plants. <br /> Following removal of invasive species, the addition of native seed facilitates re- establishment of <br /> historic plant biodiversity, helps repel reinvasion by nonnative species, and provides shelter, breeding <br /> sites, and food for native wildlife. The West Eugene Wetlands plant materials program provides <br /> diverse locally adapted seed for restoration and enhancement of natural communities in the wetlands, <br /> on lands manage by the BLM, the City of Eugene, and The Nature Conservancy. Small amounts of <br /> seed are hand collected from a variety of local wetland remnants on public and private lands and used <br /> as the stock from which larger amounts of native seed suitable for restoration are produced by local <br /> nurseries. Seed that comes from many sites in the local area will have the genetic variability needed to <br /> thrive in the local environment. In addition, genetic diversity in grow -out stock helps ensure that the <br /> resulting populations in enhancement sites will survive changing environmental conditions, such as <br /> pathogen /insect outbreaks or new climate patterns. The West Eugene Wetlands plant material program <br /> is one of the most successful programs in Oregon. Over the past ten years the program has grown such <br /> that over 75 species are now available for use in on- the - ground restoration projects. <br /> This project involves 5 primary tasks: <br /> 1. Boundary fence and gate repair at North Taylor and Taylor South by the Northwest <br /> Youth Crew (NYC). Securing the boundary fence at North Taylor and Taylor South involves repair, <br /> removal and construction of up to 2,000 linear feet of 2- strand barbed wire and repair of several gates. <br /> This work would be conducted by the NYC. The NYC will have 12 person crews coordinating and <br /> accomplishing this task. NYC is equipped with the tools and technical knowledge necessary to <br /> complete this task. <br /> 2. Removal of woody species from endangered plant habitat in the Long Tom ACEC. <br /> Removal of resprouting Oregon ash trees from the wetland prairie habitat of the endangered plant, <br /> Bradshaw's lomatium, would also be done manually be NYC crews. Ash have reached a density of <br /> >50% and have not been treated either by prescribed fire for 5 years. <br /> 3. Removal of nonnative invasive species at North and South Taylor by the NYC. Removal of <br /> 2of <br />