Gerald S. Strickler RNA

Gerald M. Strickler Research Natural Area (RNA) was established to represent the Sandberg bluegrass/onespike oatgrass community and the stiff sagebrush / grassland community.  The topography developed from dissection of basalt rock flows from the head of Government Draw. The relief ranges from flat to gentle slopes along the west and north boundaries to sharply dissected terrain in the central portion and along the southern boundary. Grand fir (Abies grandis), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) dominate the forested communities. Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium), (Erigeron chrysopsidus), Idaho gumweed (Grindelia nana), rush pussytoes (Antennaria luzuloides), and wormleaf stonecrop (Sedum stenopetalum) are the dominant herbaceous species in the shrub and grass communities.