Project Profile: Restore Shortgrass Prairie, Sagebrush, & Mesquite Bosque Ecosystems in Intermountain Region & Pacific West Region Parks

Young native sagebrush steppe plants in the East Cascades Native Plant Hub.

NPS Photo

Inflation Reduction Act
Restoration | FY23 $1,000,000

The National Park Service (NPS) is embarking on a multi-region project aimed at restoring shortgrass prairie, sagebrush, and mesquite bosque habitat in Intermountain and Pacific-West region parks. The project will bolster habitat connectivity, enhance resilience, support pollinators and wildlife (including threatened and endangered species), improve soil productivity, and restore hydrologic function.

Why? There has been a drastic decline of western U.S. ecosystems due to agricultural land conversion and ongoing threats. The cumulative ecological impact is extensive, addressing issues like development pressure, climate change, fire, and invasive species while serving as seed sources for future restoration projects. Each of the six parks will develop restoration plans, integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge and the latest scientific insights, in line with the National Seed Strategy. Youth program agreements, Tribal collaboration, and NPS staff will drive the restoration work.

What Else? Measurable results will include the establishment of a multi-park restoration working group, restoration plans for each park, on-the-ground restoration activities, invasive plant treatment, native seed generation, extensive planting, and youth involvement. This project promises to have a significant and lasting impact on restoring and preserving vital ecosystems in the western U.S., while promoting collaboration and knowledge-sharing among multiple stakeholders.

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.