Heather provides some subalpine plant communities with the essential requirements to exist in harsh conditions. They form hardy mats which trap soil, water and nutrients, and provide protection for other plant species to establish. Yet it only takes about 20 footsteps to cause a heather mat to begin to die, leading to the unraveling of the subalpine community in which it exists. Kelly will present the ecology of the heather species found in our area, species distribution, colonization strategies, heather adaptations, climate change, and other fascinating facts. Her talk will also cover restoration efforts in popular day hike locations along the North Cascades Highway and challenges posed in the face of upward trends in the recreation.

Speaker Bio:
Kelly Baraibar, U.S.F.S Botanist in Winthrop

Kelly is the District Botanist on the Methow Valley Ranger District in Winthrop. Her career began with the Forest Service nearly 25 years ago as a wildland firefighter. She spent the summer fighting fire while saving money to travel the world in the winter months. When she grew weary of rappelling out of helicopters, Kelly decided to hit the books and complete her degree at the University of Washington. Kelly was the last graduating class at the U of W to earn a degree dedicated strictly to Botany. Soon after graduation, she was offered a permanent position on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Her first job as a permanent was spent between the Wenatchee River Ranger District and the Methow Valley Ranger District. After a summer season, she transferred to Okanogan to work with the Forest Service Ecology Program. In 2010, she accepted the District Botanist position on the Methow Valley R.D. Kelly enjoys paddle boarding with her daughters down the Methow River in the summer, and skiing as much as she can in the winter.