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NPSA Benefits
during and after salvage events:

  • Personal fitness enhanced

  • Nature education

  • FREE plants (use at home, in community restoration projects, and elsewhere)
     

  • Less need for landscape water applications during summer months*

  • Reduced/eliminated need for landscape chemicals to control unwanted pests*

  • Reduced/eliminated need for landscape fertilizers*

  • Plantings that require less long term maintenance

  • Enhancement of property values*

  • Enhanced flow and filtration of rainfall

  • Improved air quality via carbon sequestration

  • Minimized stream flooding and soil erosion

  • Enhanced water quality in streams and Puget Sound

  • Creation of valued fish and wildlife habitat

  • Preservation of local native species genetics

  • Opportunities to commune with family and friends

  • Opportunities to reconnect with the spirit of Nature

*Indicates values that add up to financial savings for all types of property owners.
 

about npsa
 

The native plant salvage vision started taking shape in 2003 when Pierce County volunteers decided it was better to rescue native plants from sites slated for development than to watch them succumb to growth.  Plants salvaged from ecosystems unique to Pierce County sites can be used to restore equally unique prairie, stream bank, and wetland habitats in Pierce County.

 Native Plant Salvaging is typically discontinued during the months of April/May through September/October. This is because a large number of plants don't survive the shock of transplant during the warmer summer months - even when they are well cared for.  Periodically, however, we'll break with this advice, either because the plants are unusual or we have a good location where they will be cared for properly until they are re-located in a new landscape.

In the interim, we hope you'll consider signing up to participate with future salvage events by providing us with your e-mail contact information here.  We keep this list confidential and use it only to contact you about native plant salvaging activities.
  

The benefits to participating public agencies and private citizens are numerous! Salvaged native plants require few to no external resources once they have been successfully re-established.  Imagine freeing up even more money from the reduced need for fertilizers, pesticides, and water, not to mention the people power or equipment required to apply them.
 

Salvaging native plants is not only the right thing to do, but is an excellent PR tool. Participation in free community education is one more element of the salvage program and a way to gain social credits for maintaining and enhancing the environment.  Ultimately, long term benefits from the salvage program include protection, maintenance and enhancement of Pierce County’s overall quality of life.