Uncompahgre Partnership Native Plant Program
Summary of 2002 – 2014 Accomplishments and Current Activities
GOAL
The goal of the UP Native Plant Program is to develop an adequate supply of native plant materials for a
variety of species native to the Colorado Plateau for use in restoration and rehabilitation activities on
public and private lands.
HISTORY
The UP Native Plant Program began as a sub-program of the Uncompahgre Partnership (UP). The UP,
working out of western Colorado, was formed in 2001 by the following partners: BLM–Uncompahgre
and Grand Junction Field Offices; US Forest Service–Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National
Forests; Colorado Division of Wildlife; Western Area Power Administration; Tri-State Generation; and
the Public Lands Partnership (PLP)–a community based organization made up of environmental groups,
local governments, user groups, ranchers, and concerned citizens.
An interagency-coordinated effort was initiated to restore the 1.5 million-acre Uncompahgre Plateau on
a landscape scale. Early on, the UP partners recognized the need for site-adapted seed from key native
plants for large-scale projects. The UP Native Plant Program was initiated in 2002 to meet these needs.
From the beginning, it was realized that the local efforts on the Uncompahgre Plateau could and should
benefit the larger Colorado Plateau region. This expansion would increase efficiency, reduce costs,
prevent any duplication of efforts, and improve the likelihood of achieving our goals. Therefore, the
Program was privileged in 2003 to expand our partnerships to include the Utah Division of Wildlife
Resources and in 2004-05 to include USFS Region 4 and BLM–Utah State Office.
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UP Native Plant Program
Summary of 2002 – 2014 Accomplishments and Current Activities
DIRECTION
The UP Native Plant Program has taken its direction from the action items laid out in the US Department
of the Interior and the US Department of Agriculture in their 2002 Report to Congress Interagency
Program to Supply and Manage Native Plant Materials for Restoration and Rehabilitation of Federal
Lands: 1) Undertake a Comprehensive Assessment of the Need for Native Plant Materials, 2) Make LongTerm Commitment to Native Plant Materials Production, Research and Development, Education and
Technology Transfer, 3) Expand Efforts to Increase the Availability of Native Plant Materials, 4) Invest in
Partnerships with State and Local Agencies and the Private Sector, and 5) Ensure Adequate Monitoring
of Restoration and Rehabilitation Efforts.
The UP Native Plant Program has also followed the BLM’s National Plant Materials Development
Protocol eight key focus areas: 1) Native Seed Collection; 2) Evaluation and Development; 3) Field
Establishment; 4) Seed Production by Private Growers; 5) Seed Storage; 6) Communications; 7) Market
Stability; and 8) Restoration of Native Plant Communities.
Benson Farm’s Showy Fleabane, June 2011
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UP Native Plant Program
Summary of 2002 – 2014 Accomplishments and Current Activities
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND FUTURE DIRECTION
FOCUS AREA 1: NATIVE SEED COLLECTION
UP Species Collected
SHRUBS
Amelanchier alnifolia
Artemisia nova
Artemisia tridentata spp.
vaseyana
Artemisia tridentata spp.
Wyomingensis
Atriplex canescens
Cercocarpus montanus
Chrysothamnus depressus
Cowania stansburiana
Ephedra viridis
Purshia tridentate
Rhus trilobata
Shepherdia canadensis
GRASSES
Achnatherum hymenoides
Bromus marginatus
Bromus anomalous
Elymus elymoides
Elymus trachycaulus
Hesperostipa comata
Hilaria jamesii
Leymus cinereus
Leymus salinus
Koeleria macrantha
Pascopyrum smithii
Poa fendleriana
Poa secunda
Sporobolus cryptandrus
FORBS
Achillea millefolium
Aster glaucodes
Astragalus amphioxys
Astragalus eastwoodae
Balsamorhiza sagittata
Calochortus nuttallii
Castilleja chromosa
Chaetopappus ericoide
Crepis acuminata
Cryptantha flavoculata
Cymopterus bulbosus
Cymopterus planosus
Dracocehalum parviflorum
Erigeron pumilis
Erigeron speciosus
Saskatoon serviceberry
Black sagebrush
Mountain sagebrush
Wyoming big sagebrush
Fourwing saltbush
Mountain mahogany
Dwarf rabbitbrush
Stansbury cliffrose
Green Ephedra
Antelope bitterbrush
Skunkbush
Buffaloberry
The UP effort began with the selection of a species
list. Significant time was spent by botanists,
ecologists and scientists, developing a priority list of
species that were to be collected. Species for initial
development were screened and field examined to
determine that they were the primary plants that
occur within the plant communities that have been
most altered and would require the most extensive
restoration efforts. These species were also the
plants in which seed was believed to be most easily
and successfully propagated and reliably
reestablished in wildland settings through seeding
efforts.
UP Species Collected
FORBS continued
Eriogonum flavum
Eriogonum ovalifolium
Eriogonum racemosum
Eriogonum umbellatum
Hedysarum boreale
Heliomeris multiflora
Heterotheca villosa
Hymenoxys acaulis
Lathyrus lwucanthus
Lesquerella rectipes
Linum lewisii
Lupinus sericeus
Machaeranthera
coloradoensis
Nuttallia multiflora
Oenothera caespitosa
Packera multilobatus
Penstemon cyanocaulis
Penstemon comarrhenus
Penstemon palmeri
Petradoria pumila
Phacelia crenulata
Plantago patagonica
Polanisia dodecandra
Psilostrophe bakeri
Sphaeralcea coccinea
Stanleya albescens
Stenotus armerioides
Thelesperma subnudum
Indian ricegrass
Mountain brome
Nodding brome
Bottlebrush squirreltail
Slender wheatgrass
Needle-and-threadgrass
Galleta
Basin wildrye
Salina wildrye
Prairie junegrass
Western wheatgrass
Muttongrass
Sandberg bluegrass
Sand dropseed
Western yarrow
Blueleaf aster
Crescent milkvetch
Eastwood’s milkvetch
Arrowleaf balsamroot
Sego lily
Indian paintbrush
Sand aster
Tapertip hawksbeard
Rough seed Cryptantha
Bulbous spring parsley
Spring parsley
Am. Dragonhead Mint
Low fleabane
Oregon fleabane
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Yellow eriogonum
Cushion buckwheat
Redroot buckwheat
Sulfur buckwheat
Utah sweetvetch
Showy goldeneye
Hairy goldenaster
Actinea
Peavine
Bladderpod
Blue flax
Silky lupine
Tansy aster
Blazingstar
Evening-primrose
Lobeleaf groundsel
Bluestem penstemon
Dusty penstemon
Palmer penstemon
Rock goldenrod
Cleftleaf wildheliotrope
Woolly plantain
Clammy weed
Paperflower
Scarlet globemallow
Prince’s plume
Thrifty goldenweed
Navajo tea
UP Native Plant Program
Summary of 2002 – 2014 Accomplishments and Current Activities
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Past Accomplishments:
250 wildland seed collections of 69 species (see above) were made on and adjacent to the
Uncompahgre Plateau from 2003-2014. Additional collections were made in eastern Utah to
supplement and compliment the Colorado collections.
Collections (approx. 350) were submitted to the Seeds of Success Program through the BLM.
Current Work and Future Direction:
 Maintain the viability of the current seed stock of key species. Tasks to accomplish this may
include recollecting species and maintaining increase fields.
 Collect new species. The UP is wildland collecting selected seed for species identified as key for
Gunnison sage grouse (GuSG) and pollinators. A literature search of past studies of GuSG has
identified 24 species. Key species will be collected, propagated by commercial growers and
used in restoration treatments in western CO.
Bulbous spring parsley, Cymopterus bulbosus, a species found in Gunnison sage-grouse habitat
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UP Native Plant Program
Summary of 2002 – 2014 Accomplishments and Current Activities
FOCUS AREA 2: EVALUATION AND DEVELOPMENT
A. Plant Biology and Life History Studies
Many of the species in the UP Native Plant Program had not been thoroughly investigated and,
therefore, information was needed to produce consistent, sufficient amounts of seed and to successfully
plant the species under wildland conditions. Life History Studies were used to determine timing of
development and the influences of environmental conditions on vegetative growth, flowers and seed
development.
Past Accomplishments: Life history studies were initiated on 35 species (13 grasses and 22
forbs) at Brigham Young University, UT; CSU – Rogers Mesa Research Center, CO; the Upper
Colorado Environmental Plant Center – Meeker, CO; and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources’
Fountain Green Wildlife Management Area, Fountain Green, UT from 2004-2009.
In Fall 2010, the UP initiated a study of UP perennial and pioneer (annual) species in cooperation
with the San Juan NF and Colorado State University at the CSU-Yellow Jacket Research Facility.
B. Cultivation Studies
The majority of the forb species within the UP Native Plant Program had not yet been grown in large-scale
cultivated fields. Therefore, studies were developed to investigate field production procedures (e.g., row
spacing and irrigation requirements), seed harvesting and cleaning techniques.
Past Accomplishments: Spacing and irrigation studies were initiated on 35 species (13 grasses
and 22 forbs) at Brigham Young University, UT; CSU – Rogers Mesa Research Center, CO; the
Upper Colorado Environmental Plant Center – Meeker, CO; and the Utah Division of Wildlife
Resources’ Fountain Green Wildlife Management Area, Fountain Green, UT from 2004-2009.
In Fall 2010, the UP initiated a study of UP perennial and pioneer (annual) species in cooperation
with the San Juan NF and Colorado State University at the CSU-Yellow Jacket Research Facility.
Utah State University, Nephi Farm
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UP Native Plant Program
Summary of 2002 – 2014 Accomplishments and Current Activities
C. Common Garden Studies
Studies to determine the range of ecological adaptation of individual species have been conducted.
Past Accomplishments: 13 UP-collected grasses were compared to collections from adjacent
regions throughout the Intermountain West, cooperators and seed repository laboratories.
Starting in 2006, transplants of 130 accessions of these 13 species were monitored at four study
sites: Nephi, UT; Dove Creek, CO; Sims Mesa, Uncompahgre Plateau, CO; and Transfer Road,
Uncompahgre Plateau, CO.
D. Sim’s Mesa Comparison Study
The majority of perennial grass and forb species originating from the Colorado Plateau region had not
been compared to materials from other regions or cultivars currently available on the market. This
comparison is useful in determining which accessions (collections) perform best in dryland settings and
are most viable for commercial production. Forty-five accessions of 12 native grass and forb species
were direct seeded at the Sims Mesa plot on the Uncompahgre Plateau and protected by an exclosure
fence. Accessions are being compared and evaluated to identify products and wildland practices that are
the most successful at establishing stands and producing seed in a setting typical of wildland ecosystems
found on the upper Colorado Plateau. The Upper Colorado Environmental Plant Center has been
evaluating the plots, measuring percent survival, cover, vigor, height and seed production.
Results so far have shown two released products have performed well at the Sims Mesa planting,
‘Sherman’ Sandberg bluegrass and ‘Timp’ Utah sweetvetch. However, experimental lines of six other
species have continued to outperform releases of those same species. One or more lines of Indian
ricegrass show promise for use on sites similar to the Sims site as are experimental sources of Salina
wildrye, bottlebrush squirreltail, basin wildrye, western wheatgrass, and to a lesser extent, bluebuch
wheatgrass.
Plantings at Sims Mesa
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UP Native Plant Program
Summary of 2002 – 2014 Accomplishments and Current Activities
FOCUS AREA 3: FIELD ESTABLISHMENT
Prior to production by private growers, seed was increased so sufficient seed could be made available for
distribution to growers.
Past Accomplishments:
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29 species (10 grasses, 13 forbs and 6 shrubs) have been planted in seed increase fields
at Brigham Young University, UT; the Upper Colorado Plant Materials Center, CO; Snow
College, UT; and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources’ Fountain Green Wildlife
Management Area, UT from 2004-2010.
Over 11,500 pounds of cleaned seed have been produced.
Current Work and Future Direction:
Currently, the UP maintains in-house seed increase fields for 3 shrubs in CO. The UP is working
with four private growers on propagating seed from 10 species (4 grasses and 6 forbs). In addition,
seed is available for 2 other UP grass species.
Mountain mahogany, Cercocarpus montanus
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UP Native Plant Program
Summary of 2002 – 2014 Accomplishments and Current Activities
FOCUS AREA 4: SEED PRODUCTION BY PRIVATE GROWERS
Past Accomplishments:
 The UP, in coordination with CSU – Rogers Mesa Research Center, worked with 4 private growers
in western Colorado to produce seed from 4 grasses from 2004-2007.
 Since 2008, the UP worked with private growers in CO, WA and OR to produce native seed.
There are currently 3 grasses available for purchase:
o ‘UP Colorado Plateau’ Sandberg bluegrass
o ‘UP Ruin Canyon’ muttongrass
o ‘UP Cold Springs’ mountain brome
The UP is actively promoting their purchase and use by agencies, private landowners and
companies for use in restoration and rehabilitation efforts. Due to a lack of interest in
purchasing seed, fields of Sandberg bluegrass and mountain brome have been discontinued
pending more demand.
Current Work and Future Direction:
 The UP is currently working with three private growers on propagating seed from 9 species (5
grasses and 4 forbs). The UP continues to work on outreach efforts to encourage the purchase of
native seed.
 The UP identifies new species each year to make available to private growers.
Commercial fields of mountain brome in fall 2010
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UP Native Plant Program
Summary of 2002 – 2014 Accomplishments and Current Activities
FOCUS AREA 5: SEED STORAGE
Western Colorado was in need of a proper long-term storage facility. As an example, in the fall of 2009,
seed from the first commercial crop, UP Colorado Sandberg bluegrass, was purchased by the UP and
distributed to 4 different agencies for use in 14 different seeding projects across western
Colorado. During this effort it became apparent that there was not an adequate local location to store
and distribute the seed.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) completed construction a 9,300 ft2 native seed storage facility in
December of 2012 on the Escalante State Wildlife Area, west of Delta, CO. The facility includes
temperature controlled and cold storage. To date, CPW has processed roughly 600,000 pounds of seed
through the warehouse. Cooperating agencies that have stored or used seed from the warehouse
include the Grand Mesa National Forest, White River NF, Uncompahgre NF, the BLM Grand Junction
Field Office, Tres Rios FO, Uncompahgre FO, North Fork Habitat Partnership Program Committee, White
River HPP Committee, Uncompahgre HPP Committee, Tamarisk Coalition, Grand Junction Natural
Resource Conservation Service, and of course, CPW.
CPW seed storage facility in Delta, CO
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UP Native Plant Program
Summary of 2002 – 2014 Accomplishments and Current Activities
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FOCUS AREA 6: COMMUNICATIONS
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Web Site: The UP has developed and maintains a website: http://upartnership.org The site
contains information on the program’s accomplishments, available seed releases, research, and
more.
Workshops: The UP has co-hosted 3 large workshops in CO and UT with the UT Division of
Wildlife Resources, BLM, USFS, CO State Univ. Extension and CO Division of Wildlife addressing
issues related to community restoration with emphasis on the mountain brush, pinyon-juniper,
and big sagebrush associations. Classroom direction and field inspection of practices and
procedures used to control plant competition, complete seedbed preparation and seeding
operations to establish diverse number of species and measures to interseed and encourage
natural recovery were presented. Equipment utilized to complete these practices was
demonstrated. The attributes and applicability of seeding multiple introduced and native species
were discussed and demonstrated using a number of historic studies and project seedings.
Native Plant Meetings: In 2013 and 2014 the UP hosted gatherings to share the latest
information on native plants, their propagation and uses on the Colorado Plateau.
Publications: The UP has produced comprehensive annual reports for 2005-2007 and executive
summaries for 2003-2014.
Demand Survey: In 2008 the UP conducted a demand survey in order to:
 Inform private growers and seed companies of the demand for native seed, encouraging
this new industry
 Modify the species pursued and promoted by the UP Native Plant Program.
 Update and inform state, regional and national land management agencies as to the
current demand for native seed in the upper Colorado Plateau.
Results of the survey indicated the need for local sources of native seed and a lack of adequate
storage facilities in western CO.
Plant Community Restoration Workshop, Grand Junction, CO, Sept 5 – 7, 2007
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UP Native Plant Program
Summary of 2002 – 2014 Accomplishments and Current Activities
FOCUS AREA 7: MARKET STABILITY
The UP continues to work with private growers to produce native seed and to assist agencies, private
landowners and companies in purchasing this grass for use in restoration and rehabilitation effort.
Species currently available or that have been in production in the past include:
Common Name
Scientific Name
Source ID Name
Status
UP Colorado
(Sims Mesa)
UP Cold Springs
UP Ruin Canyon
UP Sims Mesa
In production
In production
Not in production
In production
White River
UP Dolores
Not in production
In production
UP Dry Fork
UP Burn Canyon
UP Delta
UP San Miguel
UP Dry Fork
UP San Miguel
In production
In production
In production
Not in production
In production
Increase plot
Intermountain
Tetraploid
Central CO
Boulder CO
In production
In production
In production
Grasses:
Sandberg Bluegrass
Mountain Brome
Muttongrass
Prairie Junegrass
Poa secunda
Bromus marginatus
Poa fendleriana
Koeleria macrantha
Achnatherum
hymenoides
Sporobolus cryptandrus
Indian Ricegrass
Sand Dropseed
Forbs:
Showy Fleabane/Oregon Daisy Erigeron speciosus
Sulfur Buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum
Dusty Penstemon
Penstemon comarrhenus
Bluestem Penstemon
Penstemon cyanocaulis
Western Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Bluestem Penstemon
Penstemon cyanocaulis
Additional Species of Interest (not UP):
Basin Wildrye
Fringed Brome
Montana Wheatgrass
Leymus cinereus
Bromus ciliatus
Elymus albicans
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UP Native Plant Program
Summary of 2002 – 2014 Accomplishments and Current Activities
FOCUS AREA 8: RESTORATION OF NATIVE PLANT COMMUNITIES
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In 2007 the UP purchased 180 lbs of mountain brome produced by a private grower in western
CO for use on a fuels reduction treatment along powerlines on the Uncompahgre Plateau.
In 2008 the UP delivered 554 pounds of cleaned seed from 30 native species and 200 cliffrose
transplants to USFS, BLM and CO Division of Wildlife for use in local restorations and
rehabilitation projects in western Colorado.
In 2009 the UP purchased 5,500 lbs of seed from the first commercial crop, UP Colorado
Sandberg bluegrass and distributed it to four different agencies for use in 14 different seeding
projects across western Colorado.
In 2010 the UP purchased 330 pounds of mountain brome from a commercial grower.
In 2011 the BLM and FS purchased 5,452 lbs of UP source seed from commercial growers.
In recent years, the U.S. Forest Service Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project, CPW
and HPP projects have seeded close to 5,000 acres with various combinations of grasses, forbs
and shrubs developed by the UP program. We have issued six large seed bids specifically
requesting UP species and generated enough local demand that growers are contacting us
about growing UP species.
NRCS flying seed (including UP Sandberg bluegrass) onto the Grammar Fire
CONTACT INFORMATION
www.UPartnership.org • info@UPartnership.org
Jim Garner
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Piñon-Juniper Habitat Coordinator
2300 South Townsend Ave
Montrose, CO 81401
(970) 252-6016
jim.garner@state.co.us
Kathy See
UP Native Plant Coordinator
Office: (970) 240-9498
Cell: (970) 901-8247
nativeplant@UPartnership.org
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