Bald Hill NRCA 2006
Description:
Bald Hill hosts fourteen high priority elements; seven plant associations, three animals, and four plants. This project would purchase 1280 acres for a proposed Bald Hill Natural Resource Conservation Area (NRCA) to be added to the Bald Hill Natural Area Preserve (NAP). Bald Hill has the best occurrence in the state of white oak/sedge-camas woodland association, a globally critically imperiled element. The oaks fringe herb dominated balds and grassland communities, forming one of the largest bald complexes in Washington. The communities are in relatively good condition and support a range of plant and animal species.Bald Hill has important occurrences of low elevation freshwater wetland and Douglas-fir /madrone honeysuckle forest. The population of Taylor's checkerspot is of global importance. It is one of few that appears to be stable. It may be a metapopulation with several semi-independent subpopulations. Site encompass all known subpopulations, greatly increasing the chance of survival. Peregrine falcon eyries are vulnerable to disturbance, but at current levels of activity, this eyrie is relatively secure. Rare plants include small-flowered trillium, common bluecup, Nutall's quillwort, and one of two known Washington populations of California sword-fern. This project would improve manageability and long term viability of the site. The threat of direct destruction will be removed. Buffers will be improved, and a broader range of management will be available.
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Bald Hill NRCA 2006
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Bald Hill hosts fourteen high priority elements; seven plant associations, three animals, and four plants. This project would purchase 1280 acres for a proposed Bald Hill Natural Resource Conservation Area (NRCA) to be added to the Bald Hill Natural Area Preserve (NAP). Bald Hill has the best occurrence in the state of white oak/sedge-camas woodland association, a globally critically imperiled element. The oaks fringe herb dominated balds and grassland communities, forming one of the largest bald complexes in Washington. The communities are in relatively good condition and support a range of plant and animal species.Bald Hill has important occurrences of low elevation freshwater wetland and Douglas-fir /madrone honeysuckle forest. The population of Taylor's checkerspot is of global importance. It is one of few that appears to be stable. It may be a metapopulation with several semi-independent subpopulations. Site encompass all known subpopulations, greatly increasing the chance of survival. Peregrine falcon eyries are vulnerable to disturbance, but at current levels of activity, this eyrie is relatively secure. Rare plants include small-flowered trillium, common bluecup, Nutall's quillwort, and one of two known Washington populations of California sword-fern. This project would improve manageability and long term viability of the site. The threat of direct destruction will be removed. Buffers will be improved, and a broader range of management will be available.
- 46.82 -122.41
This project is about 18 air miles southeast of Lacey. Easiest access from Olympia or Lacey is to take Hwy 510 to Hwy. 507 in Yelm. Take 507 to Bald Hill Road at a major intersection on the south side of Yelm. Take Bald Hill Road south about 14 miles to the gate blocking the road. The site is on Bald Hill, to the left. The main logging road accessing the site is gated. It is north of the road, just across from a piece of county-owned land that is posted closed. This road accesses a number of logging roads that pass through most of the site. The north edge of the site and the existing NAP can be accessed from Vail Loop Road. This is a gated road maintained by Weyerhauser that Bald Hill Road crosses just south of Clear Lake.
