• UP Technical Committee hired Stephen Monsen,  a highly regarded retired botanist/ecologist  with the USDA Shrub Science Laboratory, to head the UP Native Plant Program.
• UP Native Plant Program Strategic Plan drafted.

• Wildland Seed Collection Sites located on Plateau and Project Crews collected 14 forbs, 8 grasses, 3 shrubs from 70 separate collection sites.  Over 188 lbs of uncleaned seed was collected and transported to Utah.

• Project Crews collected 18 forbs, 12 grasses, and 3 shrubs from 101 separate collection sites.  Over 120 lbs of uncleaned seed was collected and transported to Utah.
• Foundation Fields established at Meeker PMC, Rogers Mesa (CSU), and Fountain Green (Utah DWR) for 4 grass species.
• Spacing and Irrigation Studies established at Fountain Green and Brigham Young University for 7 forb species.
• A study on the distribution of cheatgrass throughout the Uncompahgre Plateau was completed by Dr. Allan Stevens, Snow College, UT. Laboratory trials will identify the different populations or ecotypes that occurred in the region. This data is being used to determine if different populations do exist, if specific control measures can be applied to halt the advancement of the species and to develop control measures and accomplish restoration measures.

• Project crews finished seed collections of the principal species designated for advancement and development for community restoration for the Uncompahgre Plateau but also applicable to the Colorado Plateau.
• Project Crews collected 15 grasses, 25 forbs, and 10 shrubs from 78 separate collection sites.  Over 252 lbs of uncleaned seed was collected, transported to Utah, cleaned and processed for storage.
• Evaluated seeds currently being collected and advanced though the Uncompahgre effort and compared the collections with plants initially identified as important to USDA Forest Service Regions 2 & 4. Species considered important to the Forests have been initially compiled and information prepared to discuss with Forest employees in both Regions. Potential collection sites have been identified and field collections will be expanded in 2006. Sites required to assemble the additional species have been prepared. Seed production fields have been expanded to accommodate seed increase plantings, establish rearing studies and evaluate plant growth.  
• Coordinated with seed collection crews from Utah BLM and Colorado BLM to assist with seed collections of representative species from areas in Utah and Colorado.

• Established studies at Rogers Mesa and Fountain  Green to investigate life history and record data of general plant response to field cultivation conditions for 14 perennial species. None of these plants have been previously grown in cultivation or planted off-site. 
• Established fields at Fountain Green and Rogers Mesa to evaluate the influence of row spacing, irrigation, and cultivation for 17 species of perennial grasses and broadleaf forbs.
• Established seed increase fields at projected managed locations at Snow Field Station, Fountain Green, and Spanish Fork of approximately one acre for each of 15 perennial forb species and 11 perennial grasses.
• Assisted Lucky Peak Nursery and cooperative or private seed growers to establish foundation fields of 8 individual species of grasses and broadleaf herbs.
• Collected and provided seed to Lone Peak State Nursery, Draper, UT and Lucky Peak, FS Nursery, Boise NF, ID of six species to be grown for spring plantings to establish one-acre foundation fields at project locations and with commercial growers in 2006.
• Established a 10-acre seed increase field site with Colorado Division of Wildlife to produce seed of Stansbury cliffrose and antelope bitterbrush. 
• Crews collected sufficient seed of Douglas rabbitbrush and antelope bitterbrush to produce 10,000 transplants of each shrub to establish wildland stands to be managed for seed production. Stock is currently being grown at the Lone Peak Nursery for spring plantings 2006.

• A study of the distribution of different sagebrush taxa throughout the Uncompahgre Plateau was completed by Dr. Allan Stevens, Snow College, UT. The ploidy level for each species was determined and plant occurrence was mapped to define location by elevation, topography, overall plant community types, soils, and climatic conditions. This information will assist in determining the existence and ecological relationship of different species, the evolution and occurrence of hybrid populations, and the need to re-assemble different plant associations when restoration measures are applied.
• Seed from 15 native grasses have been obtained from surrounding sites in the West representing different geographical locations. Seeds are currently being grown as transplant stock for field plantings at four locations in Utah and Colorado. Field planting sites have been selected to represent conditions within the PJ and sagebrush steppe communities. Study sites have been selected, cleared for plantings, fenced for protection, prepared for additional planting trials in subsequent years.

• The UP Project hosted and conducted a Pinyon-Juniper – Sagebrush Conference and Workshop in May 2005. Over 350 individuals registered and attended the conference.

Summary of 2006 Accomplishments

The UP Native Plant Program has taken its direction from 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’. The Report to Congress outlines five action items and the program has made significant progress to fulfill these recommendations. Specific Accomplishments for 2006 are as follows:

Action Item 1: Undertake a Comprehensive Assessment of the Need for Native Plant Materials

• The primary species considered important for community restoration of most critical plant associations were carefully developed at the initiation of the project in 2002. The list and subsequent area of study have been updated each year as new developments and cooperators arise.
• Discussions were held with Utah BLM, USFS Regions 2 and 4, and National Park Service biologists to determine if plant populations and ecotypic selections were appropriate for their regions.
• Discussions were held with sage grouse biologists and Western Mule Deer association representatives to explain the progress of the current program and assure them that the species under considerationwere universally important for habitat restoration.
• Meetings were held with agency personnel in Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming to discuss the applicability of species currently under study and needs of native plants for gas and oil related disturbances.
• Project personnel coordinated and attended tri-state meetings with scientists and plant materials personnel from different agencies, universities, and plant materials centers currently involved in plant development research to coordinate efforts and exchange information.

Action Item 2: Make Long-Term Commitment to Native Plant Materials Production, Research and Development, Education and Technology Transfer

• A long-term program of work was developed in 2002 to outline and direct the selection and development measures and studies required to advance individual species for release and use in remedial plantings. This plan has continued to be used to direct early efforts.
• Research study facilities and plant production centers have been established with 5 different cooperators to provide the areas for research and seed production.
• Thirty-two (32) species were established in Cultivation and Life History Study Plots since 2002. All plantings were maintained and data collected at seasonal periods. Seed from all study plots has been collected and evaluated to determine yields and seed quality.
• Species Adaptability Studies of 13 key grasses were initiated to determine the range of ecological adaptation of individual species prior to releasing them for commercial propagation and sales. Four sites, in Colorado and Utah, were planted with 130 assessions of the 13 species and are being monitored to ensure that the most vigorous populations are promoted.
• Sagebrush Production Studies were initiated at two study sites on the Uncompahgre Plateau to determine if seed production of Wyoming and mountain sagebrush can be enhanced by removing competition.
• Seven major grant proposals were prepared and submitted to support areas of research and application, and received funding from three and possibly four sources.
• Co-sponsored a 3-day Plant Community Restoration Workshop with the Utah DWR in Ephraim, Utah with 70 participants from 7 western states.
• Eleven different articles were submitted and published by project scientists and 20 different presentations were presented at scientific and public meetings in 2006.
• The UP Project website was redesigned detailing all current, relevant information on the UP Project and the UP Native Plant Program.

Action Item 3: Expand Efforts to Increase the Availability of Native Plant Materials

• Twenty-nine (29) species were established in Seed Increase or Foundation Fields. Seed was produced and harvested from nearly all species. A seed buy-back program was initiated to expand the distribution of seed to qualified growers for commercial production.
• An agreement was entered into with The Nature Conservancy to begin seed production of Fourwing saltbush in a 35-acre irrigated field under their ownership.
• Hosted a workshop and training session to acquaint agency personnel and seed industry of the species currently being produced and available for use.
• Met with NRCS Plant Materials Center personnel to present species being developed and encouraged their support in recommending and promoting the use of plants on private range and wildlands.
• Seed from nine species was wildland collected in Utah to represent ecotypes from this area.

Action Item 4: Invest in Partnerships with State and Local Agencies and the Private Sector

• Through cooperation with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, developed a list of species most applicable and required by the Utah coalition of agencies for restoration plantings. Structured current plant development programs to provide a time when principal plants may become available.
• Continued our working relationships with 14 federal, state and university facilities in 4 western states to support the program and promote the use of advancing species.
• With the assistance of Colorado State University, expanded our private growers. Established large commercial seed production fields of 4 primary species with 5 local, private growers.
• Cooperated with Restoration Technology and Equipment Council and a private manufacturing company to develop, test, and improve a conventional rangeland drill capable of seeding diverse combinations of native seeds.

Action Item 5: Ensure Adequate Monitoring of Restoration and Rehabilitation Efforts

• Long-term data sets of Species Selection Trials conducted by Utah DWR and the USFS were compiled for comparative analysis.
• All plant development studies and projects are carefully designed and monitored to furnish statistically sound data.