The Blue Mountains Conservancy is working to establish and protect populations of two Oregon endagered species on the End Creek Wetland, Douglas' Clover and the Columbia Spotted Frog.

Douglas' Clover -Trifolium douglasii

Douglas' Clover is federally listed as a species of concern.  In Oregon, it is listed by the Oregon Natural Heritage Program on List 1: Threatened or endangered throughout range; and as S1, G3: Critially imperiled in Oregon; Rare, threatened or uncommon throughout its range.

This clover is endemic to wet meadows in the Blue Mountians of NE Oregon, SE Washington and adjacent counties of Idaho.  It is recognized by three-parted leaves with linear leaflets, and by the unique, downward curving calyx teeth.

We hope to create a viable, localized population of Douglas' Clover at End Creek that is permanently protected from grazing, and other anthropogenic disturbance. 

 

A large population of Douglas' Clover was discovered on the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Refuge at the southern end of the Grande Ronde Valley in 2007.  Seed was harvested in June 2007 and was winter stratified and germinated in spring 2008.

One hundred and twelve seedlings were planted in July 2008 by a high school senior volunteer. Additional seed was collected in July 2008 for direct sowing on End Creek in fall 2008.

 

 

Clover seedlings ready for planting in June, 2008.

Columbia Spotted Frog - Rana luteiventris

Spotted Frogs occasionally are found on the End Creek property and spotted frog egg masses were discovered in one pond at End Creek in April 2008. Twenty-five egg clusters were located in shallow water at the eastern edge of the property. A second survey in April 2009 resulted in documentation of 54 egg clusters in the same area.

A generous grant from the Living Lands program of the Defenders of Wildlife is providing us with resources to set up a monitoring program utilizing GIS software and other mapping tools. In spring 2010, we will survey a broader area of nearby private lands for Spotted Frog presence and begin building a regional map of Spotted Frog distribution.

The Chytrid fungus has not yet been detected in the Grande Ronde Valley. The biggest threat to successful maintenance of a breeding population on End Creek will be predation from invasive bullfrogs.  Bullfrogs are abundant in nearby irrigation ditches and ponds and will continue to encroach into the restoration area.