Palouse Prairie
The Palouse Prairie ecosystem, which was once predominate throughout the region, is now rare in our landscape. Most of what was once Palouse Prairie has been converted to cropland. Remaining prairie remnant sites occur primarily on private land and Latah SWCD works with several landowners and local organizations to restore, conserve, and preserve the existing prairie remnants and its unique plant community. While restoration of the Palouse Prairie is challenging and labor intensive, it is important to do as it is a valued natural resource in Latah County. Common barriers to native vegetation establishment include incursion by invasive weeds, soil health issues, and a lack of the native soil biotic crusts that are so important to the prairie ecosystem.
Ways we support Palouse Prairie
Ways We Support Palouse Prairie
Latah SWCD works to protect and restore Palouse Prairie ecosystems in the region on a scale that supports the self-sustaining function of these ecosystems.
Prairie Restoration & Preservation
Through years of working to restore and protect rare prairie remnants, Latah SWCD has developed critical partnerships with landowners, researchers, and agency partners to further the knowledge and techniques for prairie remnant restoration.
Learn about Latah SWCD partners including the Palouse Land Trust, Idaho Native Plant Society - Whitepine Chapter, and the Palouse Prairie Foundation on our Resource Page.
Pollinator Habitat
Latah SWCD has been partnering with landowners as well as local, state, and federal agencies to increase habitat for important pollinator species like the western bumblebee and Monarch butterfly.
Learn more on the Pollinators & Wildlife page.
Spalding's Catchfly
Spalding’s catchfly (Silene spaldingii) is native to the Palouse and is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Latah SWCD has planted more than 3,000 Spalding’s catchfly plants as a part of the recovery effort and annual monitoring and plantings are ongoing to track survival of this rare species.
View Latah SWCD reports, planting protocols, and more, on our Resources Page.
Prairie Reconstruction
Prairie reconstruction is an important component for Palouse Prairie restoration throughout our region. Prairie reconstruction is the practice of planting a diverse mix of native species on land that has been previously cultivated or otherwise disturbed. As of 2024, Latah SWCD has assisted on over 250 acres of prairie reconstruction projects throughout Latah County to increase the abundance of Palouse Prairie species across the landscape for wildlife, soil, water quality, and cultural benefits.
Example of Prairie Reconstruction
Formerly agricultural and CRP ground, these 24 acres were converted to native grasses, forbs, trees and shrubs. We were able to assist the landowners and ground operator in establishing native species back onto their property.
July 2014
June 2020
Latah County supports a substantial area of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). This land has potential to support Palouse Prairie plant communities and several landowners have worked with Latah SWCD to make this transition. Because the Palouse Prairie has been declared an endangered ecosystem, current CRP guidelines encourage its restoration. Increasing the abundance of Palouse Prairie plant species throughout the region has many benefits to pollinators, wildlife, and over landscape-scale ecosystem functions.