Great Basin Seed provides post-wildfire seed recommendations for Okanogan County, Washington. These recommendations aim to restore burned landscapes and promote healthy vegetation. The Methow Valley NRCS recommended these seed selections following the Carleton Complex fire. During the 2014 fire season, four relatively small lightning-strike fires in Washington state combined to form the Carlton Complex Fire. It destroyed 353 homes, burned 256,000 acres, and caused an estimated $98 million in damage in Okanogan County. Fire suppression costs the state at least $60 million. It remains the largest single wildfire in Washington State history. In 2015, the Okanogan Complex Fire burned an additional 304,000 acres but did not combine into a single fire.
Though the Carleton and Okanogan Complex fires have long since been extinguished, landowners in more recent fires have found these mixes to be helpful and effective. We will continue to offer these seed mixes as long as fires burn in the West, and as a reminder of the heroic and herculean efforts of land owners, firefighters, emergency service personnel and anyone who assisted in the recovery process.
Suggestions from us:
- Don’t be afraid to plant a combination of natives and non-natives or a combination of mixes. The diversity buys you a little insurance.
- If these mixes do not meet your needs for whatever reason, please call and we will help you formulate a mix with you.
- Consider planting shrubs and flowers with your grass mixes! We have included recommendations below.
- Call us for help! We are happy to walk with you through the process and help however we can! 435.283.1411
Wildflowers & Shrubs
Where appropriate, consider planting wildflowers and/or shrubs with your seed mixes. Our Western Wildflower Mix is an excellent ready-made choice and is beautiful in a wide range of ecotypes. It seeds well and returns year after year. Our Northwest wildflower mix is well suited to many areas in northern-central Washington like Okanogan County.
Carlton Fire Rangeland Native Seed Mix
| Species | Drill Lbs/Acre* | % by weight |
|---|---|---|
| Thickspike Wheatgrass | 3 | 33.33% |
| Big Bluegrass | 1 | 11.11% |
| Sandberg Bluegrass | 1 | 11.11% |
| Snake River Wheatgrass | 3 | 33.33% |
| Idaho Fescue | 1 | 11.11% |
| TOTAL | 9 | 100% |
Carlton Fire Rangeland Non-Native Seed Mix
| Species | Drill Lbs/Acre* | % by weight |
|---|---|---|
| Siberian Wheatgrass | 2 | 22.22% |
| Crested Wheatgrass | 2 | 22.22% |
| Intermediate Wheatgrass | 4 | 44.44% |
| Lander Alfalfa | 1 | 11.11% |
| 9 | 100% |
Carlton Fire Forest Seed Mix
| Species | Drill Lbs/Acre* | % by weight |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Brome | 2 | 24.10% |
| Slender Wheatgrass | 2 | 24.10% |
| Bluebunch Wheatgrass | 4 | 48.20% |
| Prairie Junegrass | 0.30% | 3.60% |
| 8.3 | 100% |
Carlton Fire Roadcut / Roadfill Seed Mix
| Species | Drill Lbs/Acre* | % by weight |
|---|---|---|
| Siberian Wheatgrass | 2 | 20.00% |
| Crested Wheatgrass | 2 | 20.00% |
| Intermediate Wheatgrass | 3 | 30.00% |
| Sheep Fescue | 1 | 10.00% |
| Hard Fescue | 1 | 10.00% |
| 10 | 100% |
Carlton Fire Wildflower and Shrub Seed Recommendations
| Plant Type | |
|---|---|
| Western Wildflower Seed Mix | Flower |
| Silky Lupine | Flower |
| Perennial Gaillardia | Flower |
| California Poppy | Flower |
| Palmer’s Penstemon | Flower |
| Lewis Blue Flax | Flower |
| Rocky Mountain Beeplant | Flower |
| Showy Goldeneye | Flower |
| White Yarrow | Flower |
| Wyoming Big Sagebrush | Shrub |
| Rubber Rabbitbrush | Shrub |
| Antelope Bitterbrush | Shrub |
| Skunkbush Sumac | Shrub |
| Woods Rose | Shrub |
We Can Help Build the Right Mix for Your Property
Great Basin Seed can help formulate a mix specifically for your land using our recommended species as a starting point.
Our team is happy to walk with you through the restoration process and help you choose the right combination of seeds for your property.
📞 Call us at 435-283-1411 and we will help develop a custom post-fire seed mix for your land.
Okanogan County landscapes can quickly recover and continue to support robust wildlife habitat, productive pastures, and healthy soils with proactive restoration.