Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2023)
12 NOVEMBER 1, 2023 SMOKE SIGNALS Grand Ronde efforts cited in proposed delisting of Nelson9s checker-mallow By Dean Rhodes Publications coordinator A perennial herb that the Grand Ronde Tribe has been trying to save from extinction for almost 30 years will be taken off a list of threatened species in the near future. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser- vice announced on Monday, Oct. 16, that the Nelson9s checker-mallow will be coming off the Endangered Species Act list 30 days after an upcoming notice appears in the Federal Register. In April 1995, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde signed an agreement with the Fish and Wild- life Service to continue upkeep of the plant that was found growing in the path of the planned Spirit Mountain Casino site. Although the Tribe was under no legal obligation to transplant the plants, 299 of them were moved to a different location on Tribal prop- erty and most of them survived the ensuing winter. At the time, a Fish and Wildlife representative said the Grand Ronde Tribe was setting a positive example for other Tribes and devel- opers to follow. Since then, the Tribe has estab- lished reserves for the plant and performed prescribed burns related to it, said Natural Resources De- partment Manager Colby Drake. Nelson9s checker-mallow grows from south of Corvallis, Ore., to north of Vancouver, Wash. It was classioed 30 years ago as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. It grows 15- to 40-inch-tall spikes of deep pink nowers that dot prai- ries, wetlands, edges of woodlands and riparian areas in the Willa- mette Valley and Coast Range. It was placed on the threatened list because of habitat loss caused by agricultural development, stream alterations that limited water to meadows, recreational activities and roadside spraying. However, 33 independent popu- lations are now thriving in more than 50 locations in the Willamette Valley and Coast Range, the Fish and Wildlife Service said. Some sites are publicly owned, have been purchased by conservation groups or are enrolled in conservation programs. The Fish and Wildlife Service said it expects the number of loca- tions where Nelson9s checker-mal- low plants currently grow to remain constant for the foreseeable future. The wildlife service cited land- owners and more than a dozen federal, state and Tribal entities, including the Grand Ronde Tribe, as contributing to the recovery of Nelson9s checker-mallow. Prairies require continued distur- Tribal nonemergency text line The Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department has a nonemergency text line at 541-921-2927. <If you have a nonemergency situation or question, feel free to contact my ofocer via text through this line,= said Grand Ronde Tribal Police Chief Jake McKnight. <When one of my ofocers receives the text, they will call you back when they have time.= McKnight said that emergency situations still require calling 911. For more information, contact McKnight at 503-879-1474. n School Supplies Photo courtesy of Annaliese Ramthun The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced on Monday, Oct. 16, that the Nelson9s checker-mallow will be coming off the Endangered Species Act list 30 days after an upcoming notice appears in the Federal Register. bance, such as prescribed burning, to keep them from turning into woodlands. Many landowners are helping with that by mowing areas and working with the Fish and Wildlife Service to maintain habitat. Natural Resources Specialist Annaliese Ramthun said the Tribe maintains ove refuge sites around the Grand Ronde area for the plant. <These areas have been mowed and occasionally burned to main- tain the wet prairie habitat that the plant needs,= she said. <We9ve been monitoring these populations since that time.= Since 2008, the Tribe also began working with the Institute for Ap- plied Ecology to restore the Tyee Preserve near Tribal housing to bolster the number of checker-mal- low in the area along with other native species with cultural and ober value. <The Plants for People grant which started in 2014 extended similar restoration efforts to re- store habitat at the South Yamhill property and that has been ongoing until this year,= Ramthun added. <Within the last two years, we have been cooperating with the USFWS to provide population estimates for Tribally managed properties to help inform the delisting decision.= The delisting of Nelson9s check- er-mallow coincides with the 50th anniversary of passage of the En- dangered Species Act. More than 100 species have been removed or down-listed from endangered to threatened since the act was approved by Congress. In Oregon, 15 plants remain on the list, said Jodie Delavan, a Fish and Wildlife spokesperson. n Are you frustrated with your diabetes control? Do you have ques}ons about diabetes? Do you need help managing your diabetes? If so& Call the Medical Clinic today at 503-879-2002 To schedule an individual diabetes educa}on appointment ILAUNCH Back to School Program The ILAUNCH program has backpacks filled with supplies and an Amazon Gift Card ($30) available for Tribal Descendants, entering grades K-3. Supplies will be given on a first come, first served basis. Applications are available at the Behavioral Health front desk, or by emailing ilaunch@grandronde.org. Tawna Jo Norwest Young Child Wellness Community Coordinator (503) 879-1396 Help us look for chronic was}ng disease in our herds! Chronic was}ng disease (CWD) is a highly infec}ous, fatal disease that can infect both deer and elk. CWD has not been found in Oregon, but has been detected in 31 states. In 2021, Idaho had two detec}ons in their free ranging popula}on within 30 miles of the Oregon border. NRD will be coopera}ng with ODFW to collect lymph nodes of harvested deer and elk for CWD tes}ng. Staf will be available to collect samples from animals brought to NRD during business hours and there will be an aver hours drop of sta}on at the ceremonial cooler at the lower shop at NRD. Hunters are asked to oll out a brief informa}on card to include with the head of the animal, which requires orst vertebrae below the skull. Heads will be returned upon request. RAFFLE for a $50 Cabela9s giv card for par}cipa}on! Natural Resources Depart- ment CWD sampling aver hours drop of: 47010 S.W. Hebo Road Contact Wildlife Biologist Marie Vicksta at 503-879-1458 or marie.vicksta@grandronde.org if you want more informa}on.