Cleveland Shrub Steppe Natural Area Preserve

In 1997, a rare species of soil-dwelling lichen, previously unknown from Washington, was discovered growing within the grasslands at this site.

A large wildfire burned over most of the site in 1998, helping to perpetuate a natural process that thins out trees and stimulates the growth of the grassland flora.

Features Protected: antelope bitterbrush/Idaho fescue plant community, Douglas' buckwheat/Sandberg's bluegrass plant community, and woven-spore lichen.
Ecoregion: Columbia Plateau (Klickitat County)

Science, Research and Monitoring

Public and private universities, other research institutions and individual researchers may contact DNR to propose a research project at the site. If you are interested in pursuing research at Cleveland Shrub Steppe NAP, please contact David Wilderman, natural areas ecologist, at david.wilderman@dnr.wa.gov

Examples of research and monitoring projects

• Wilderman, D. 2003. Effects of Wildfire on High-Quality Shrub-Steppe Vegetation, Cleveland Natural Area Preserve, South-Central Washington State. In: Kaye, T.N., M. Gisler, and R. Fiegener (editors). Proceedings of a Conference on Native Plant Restoration and Management on Public Lands in the Pacific Northwest: Rare Plants, Invasive Species and Ecosystem Management. Institute for Applied Ecology, Corvallis, Oregon.

Environmental Education and Public Access

Currently no formal educational programs are available at Cleveland Shrub Steppe NAP. The site is not ADA accessible and facilities are not available. For more information, contact the DNR Southeast Region natural areas manager.