Conservation Recommendations for Heather Meadows

  • Conservation planning should be initiated to protect North Cascades meadows from climate change associated impacts such as forest encroachment, meadow fragmentation, reduced availability of floral resources for pollinators, reduced pollination, and reduced availability of huckleberries.
  • Bombus melanopygus (black tailed bumble bee) is a keystone species and should be a top conservation priority at Heather Meadows and across other alpine and subalpine meadows in the North Cascades.
  • Heather Meadows is the most significant subalpine meadow fragmentation point in the northern portion of the North Cascades (most extensive forest barrier expected between future “Sky Islands”). Its conservation should be a high priority for maintaining long-term connectivity between Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan.
  • All new developments in Heather Meadows that disturb native plant and pollinator habitats (e.g., new hiking trails, new ski runs, expanded parking lots) should be restricted.
  • All public access to tree islands in Heather Meadows (critically important bumble bee nesting and early season foraging sites) should be restricted; picnic tables should be removed from tree islands; and trails should be reoriented away from tree islands.
  • Higher elevation meadows in the Artist’s Point areas should be restored with native flowering plants and stringently protected by restricting visitors to well-marked hardened trails and viewpoints.
  • Existing bulldozed ski runs in mid and high elevation areas of the Mt. Baker Ski Area should be restored with a diversity of native flowering plants.
  • Honey bee hives should be banned in areas of the North Cascades where honey bees can access subalpine meadow flowers to compete with bumble bees for floral resources and to potentially contaminate flowers with viruses that infect bumble bees.
  • Prescribed fire should be used to eliminate encroaching trees in selected small areas where mountain meadow fragmentation may occur.
  • A North Cascades Pollinator Refuge should be established to facilitate pollinator conservation and educate the public on the importance of pollinators.