Project Profile: Resilient Sagebrush Ecosystems (NPSage)

Seed collection for restoration and post-fire recovery “workhorse” bunchgrass species in John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in early July 2024.

NPS / Tom Rodhouse

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
National Seed Strategy; Invasive Species | FY22 - 24 $1,664,102

Inflation Reduction Act
Restoration | FY24 $1,660,000

The National Park Service is expanding the NPSage collaborative ecosystem restoration projects to integrate climate vulnerability planning and resiliency enhancement actions in parks across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Colorado, Northern California, and Arizona. The approach integrates targeted treatments of invasive annual grasses, fuels reductions, and native plant restoration within the project areas and with partners across the landscape.

Why? The Sagebrush Biome is losing 1.3 million acres every year, with 75% of the lost acres due to invasive annual grasses. The National Park Service manages 3 million acres of sagebrush shrublands and steppe. These park lands are at risk of losing their intact sagebrush ecosystems due to increased drought and fires that convert them to invasive annual grasslands. This puts animals like Gunnison and greater sage grouse, pronghorn, and unique songbirds at risk. It also threatens important ecosystem services like carbon and water storage, stream flow regulation, and pollinator diversity.

What Else? NPSage uses the Resist, Accept, Direct framework and implements Nature Based Solutions such as re-establishment of fire-resilient and weed invasion-resistant native perennial bunchgrasses to build and enhance landscape resilience. This project has a high cumulative ecological value, with an impact beyond its immediate footprint. It contributes to the restoration of habitats in ecosystems that are threatened by climate change, fire, and invasive species, leverages extensive partnerships with other agencies, and contributes to workforce development through youth employment, including Tribal youth.

Learn More About This Project

About the Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act provides the National Park Service with an historic opportunity to address critical ecosystem resilience, restoration, and environmental planning needs. Projects funded in national parks represent broad-scale and impactful resource investments across every corner of our nation—from Alaska to Florida to Maine. 

About the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – Ecosystem Restoration

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes critical investments in the resilience and restoration of America’s lands, skies, and waters, and enhances conservation and recreation opportunities. Visitors will see tangible results such as repaired and upgraded trails and campgrounds, removal of invasive species, as well as healthy wetlands, grasslands, and forests.