Washington State University is evaluating the relationships between wildlife species and habitat resources within the agricultural-CRP-sagebrush landscape in east-central Washington. The purpose of the study is to better understand conservation benefits to wildlife from agricultural practices, land restoration projects, and intact sagebrush habitats, and assess changes in wildlife species in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) habitats over the past 15 years. The main goal of this study is to identify areas that are of high importance to wildlife.
Data collection for this study began in summer 2021 with the cooperation of 11 private landowners, along with state and federal agencies. The project will continue this summer. Landowners who have fields in wheat (conventional or conservation tillage), CRP, or native sagebrush habitat and are interested in WSU sampling your fields, please contact Foster Creek Conservation District at info@fostercreekcd.org.
If you would like more information on the project, you can contact Dr. Steven Woodley at steven.woodley@wsu.edu.