Strategizing Critical Habitat Restoration for Military Bases: An Exploration of Prairies on Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Abstract

The decline of ecological habitats has led to the increased listing of endangered species (Haddad et al., 2015). U.S. military installations require complex environments to train soldiers for a variety of missions, and surrounding development has resulted in bases becoming harbors of critical habitat and endangered species (Schultz, 2016). The thesis explored the relationship between conservation and the military by examining a military base currently hosting critical habitat and listed species. I studied critical prairie habitat in the Southern Puget Sound and three at-risk prairie species (Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly, Mazama Pocket Gopher, and Streaked Horned Lark) residing on Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM). I defined habitat parameters for prairie restoration that would target all three species simultaneously using species recovery goals. I then outlined four options for habitat restoration that could be used as starting points in determining the feasibility of future prairie restoration on JBLM.