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| ## snake river wheatgrass {#snake-river-wheatgrass .Title-Header}     |
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| *Elymus wawawaiensis* J. Carlson & Barkworth                          |
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| Plant Symbol = ELWA2                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Idaho State Office

##### Alternative Names

bluebunch wheatgrass

##### Uses

*Grazing/rangeland/wildlife*: Snake River wheatgrass is palatable to all
classes of livestock and wildlife. It is a preferred feed for cattle,
horses, sheep, elk, deer and antelope at various times during the year.
In spring the protein levels can be as high as 20 percent and decrease
to about 4 percent protein as the grass matures. Digestible
carbohydrates remain about 45 percent throughout the active growth
period.

*Erosion control/reclamation*: Snake River wheatgrass is very drought
resistant, stands are persistent, and it is adapted to stabilization of
disturbed soils. It is very compatible with slower developing natives
such as thickspike wheatgrass, western wheatgrass, and needlegrass
species. It does not compete well with aggressive introduced grasses.
Its drought tolerance, combined with extensive root systems and good
seedling vigor make this species ideal for reclamation in areas
receiving 10 to 20 inches annual precipitation. The cultivar \'Secar\'
competes well in areas as low as 8 inches annual rainfall. This grass
can be used in urban areas where irrigation water is limited and to
stabilize ditchbanks, dikes, and roadsides as a component of a mix.

##### Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description

Bluebunch wheatgrass *Pseudoroegneria spicata* (Pursh) A. Love (formerly
*Agropyron spicatum*) and *Elymus wawaiensis* J. Carlson (formerly
*Elymus lanceolatus ssp. wawawai*) are perennial bunchgrasses common to
the northern Great Plains and the Intermountain regions of the western
United States. They are long-lived cool season native grass with an
extensive root system with strong tillers. Bluebunch and Snake River
wheatgrasses spread by seed, except in high rainfall zones where some
short rhizomes may occur.

Bluebunch wheatgrass is highly variable and grows to 1.5 to 4 feet tall
and seed spikes are 3 to 8 inches long. The auricles (ear-shaped
appendages where leaf blade and sheath meet) are pointed and
semi-clasping to nearly lacking. Leaves are lax, flat to inrolled, 4-6
mm wide and green to blue in color. Leaf sheaths are generally smooth
and hairless. Reproductive stems are erect, slender, sometimes wiry with
a wavy floral stalk. Seeds have a bristle or awn.

##### Adaptation and Distribution

Snake River does best on medium to coarse textured soils and can be
found on heavy to medium to coarse textured soils over 10 inches deep
including fairly sandy sites. It can be seeded on clayey sites. It can
be found on thin, rocky sites and on very steep slopes. It will tolerate
weakly saline conditions. It can not grow on very acidic sites. It is
cold tolerant, is moderately shade tolerant, and very tolerant of fire.
It is intolerant of high water tables, poor drainage, and periods of
extended inundation.

On native sites Snake River wheatgrass is most abundant in the 8 to 20
inch annual precipitation zones. Seeded varieties do best with 12 to 20
inches of precipitation (\'Secar\' will do well with 8 to 18 inches) and
will tolerate up to 35 inches on very well drained soils. The elevation
range is from 500 feet above sea level to 10,000 feet. It is a major
component of many native plant communities and generally occupies 20 to
60 percent of the overall composition by weight.

For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page
for this species on the PLANTS Website.

##### Establishment

This species should be seeded with a drill at a depth of 1/2 inch or
less on medium textured soils, 1/4 inch on fine textured soils and 3/4
inch or less on coarse textured soils. Single species seeding rates
recommended for this grass are 6 to 8 pounds Pure Live Seed (PLS) or 19
to 25 PLS per square foot. If used as a component of a mix, adjust to
percent of mix desired. For mined lands and other harsh critical areas,
the seeding rate should be increased to 40 to 50 PLS per square foot.
Seedlings are weaker than crested wheatgrass and a clean firm weed free
seedbed is required for establishment (cheatgrass competition can cause
stand failure).

Seed in very early spring on heavy to medium textured soils and in late
fall on medium to light textured soils. Late summer (August - mid
September) seeding is not recommended unless irrigation is available.
Dormant fall seedings will prechill seed and reduce seed dormancy.

Snake River wheatgrass establishes fairly quickly for a native grass and
stands should be given 3 years to ensure establishment. It is compatible
with other species and should be used in seeding mixtures. It should not
be seeded with strongly competitive introduced species.

Stands may require weed control measures during establishment.
Application of 2,4-D should not be made until plants have reached the
four to six leaf stage. Mow weeds at or prior to their bloom stage. New
stands may also be damaged by grasshoppers and other insects and
pesticides may be needed.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

Stands of Snake River wheatgrass should not be grazed until they have
firmly established (usually two growing seasons) and started to flower.
Six inches of new growth should be attained in spring before grazing is
allowed in established stands. The growing tip of Snake River wheatgrass
is fairly high and stands can easily be overgrazed. Spring grazing
should occur no more than one out of three years and no more than 40
percent utilization should occur during rapid growth. Heavy early spring
grazing is especially damaging and grazing should be delayed until
flowers are halfway emerging from the protecting leaf. No more than 60
percent utilization should occur after seed ripens.

Snake River wheatgrass can be used for hay production and will make
nutritious feed, but is more suited to pasture/rangeland use.

##### Environmental Concerns {#environmental-concerns .Header-3}

Snake River wheatgrass is long lived and spreads primarily via seed
distribution. It is not considered a \"weedy\" or invasive species, but
can spread into adjoining vegetative communities under ideal climatic
and environmental conditions. Most seedings do not spread from original
plantings. It is a cross pollinating species and is known to cross with
bluebunch wheatgrass, thickspike wheatgrass, quackgrass and bottlebrush
squirreltail. These crosses broaden the gene pool and do not generally
dominate a site or crowd out the native ecotype and in many cases are
sterile.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

\'Secar\' was originally identified as a variety of bluebunch
wheatgrass. The original collection site is along the Snake River gorge
near Lewiston, Idaho. \'Secar\' was released by the
Idaho-Oregon-Montana-Wyoming AES, Washington Agriculture Research
Center, and Pullman, WA Plant Materials Center in 1980. It is one of the
most drought tolerant native perennial grasses presently available and
can survive down to 8 inches rainfall. It is a bunchgrass with good
seedling vigor and establishes well under droughty conditions. \'Secar\'
is intended for use on rangeland for re-establishment of native plant
communities. Certified seed is available and breeder seed is maintained
by Pullman PMC. Foundation and registered seed is available through the
appropriate state Crop Improvement Association or commercial sources to
grow certified seed.

##### Prepared By & Species Coordinator:  {#prepared-by-species-coordinator .Header-3}

*Dan Ogle*, Plant Materials Specialist

USDA NRCS Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho

##### 

##### Edited: 01Feb2002 JLK; 06jun06 jsp {#edited-01feb2002-jlk-06jun06-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
Service](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/).*