Since 2022, Ecostudies Institute has been working with Washington State Parks to restore mountain bald plant communities on Hamilton Mountain in Beacon Rock State Park.
We need your input to help us control invasive cheat grass on the southern mountain balds! This grass “cheats” by growing earlier in the spring than our native species and outcompeting them for resources. This leaves less water in the soil available for native plant growth and creates a thick thatch layer that kills the mosses and lichens filling spaces between our native plants.
Receiving data on the timing of cheat grass seedling emergence will help inform our restoration actions on Hamilton Mountain. As you enjoy your hike, please keep an eye out on the southern mountain balds for cheat grass and fill out the form below if you think you’ve spotted any!
Photo by K. George Beck and James Sebastian
Common Name: Cheat grass
Scientific Name: Bromus tectorum
Identification Tips:
- Earliest grass seedlings to emerge in spring
- Grows in a carpet (rather than in a bunch)
- Twisting leaves
- Slightly hairy/fuzzy to the touch
Photos by Nigel Cattlin
Hamilton Mountain Cheat Grass Sighting Form
If you have any problems using this form, please email your photos to science@ecoinst.org with the subject line “Hamilton Mountain cheat grass.”