Location: MSHCP > VOLUME 2 > PLANTS
beautiful hulsea (Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha)
State: None
Federal: None
Forest Service: local viability concern
CNPS: List 4 (RED Code 1-2-3)
Beautiful hulsea is designated as a Group 2 species because of its restriction to the Agua Tibia and San Jacinto Mountains and San Jacinto Foothills Bioregions, primarily within USFS lands. Within the Plan Area, beautiful hulsea is restricted to chaparral and lower montane coniferous forests at elevations of 915 m to 3,050 m within the Agua Tibia and San Jacinto Mountains and San Jacinto Foothills Bioregions. This perennial plant grows on granitic soils, rock or gravelly soils in chaparral and in open areas of montane conifer forest.
The University of California, Riverside, (UCR) GIS database and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, Pomona and UCR herbaria include 44 records at 32 locations, 25 of which are located on Forest Service lands. However, 34 of the 44 records are dated 1970 or earlier. Based on these records, beautiful hulsea occurs in the vicinity of Lake Fulmor, Pine Cove, Idyllwild, Mountain Center, Pine Meadow and Hemet Lake in the San Jacinto Mountains; and on Cahuilla Mountain. Reiser (1996) reports this species from North Mountain, east of Hemet, along the summit fire road. CNDDB does not contain any occurrence data for this species.
The beautiful hulsea is restricted to the western slopes of the San Jacinto Mountains and the northern slopes of the Agua Tibia Mountains and the MSHCP Conservation Area configuration is expected to provide long-term conservation of the species. However, because the majority of the existing records are dated prior to 1970, Incidental Take of this species is not included in this permit until conservation of the species in the Plan Area has been demonstrated by reaching Objective 3 below .
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 106,440 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral and montane coniferous forest between 915 and 3,050 m in the Agua Tibia and San Jacinto Mountains and Foothills Bioregions).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 12 of the known occurrences at Lake Fulmor, Pine Cove, Idyllwild, Mountain Center, Pine Meadow and Lake Hemet.
Within the MSHCP Conservation Area, confirm 16 localities (locality in this sense is not smaller than one quarter section) with no fewer than 50 individuals each (unless a smaller population has been demonstrated to be self-sustaining).
Potential habitat for the beautiful hulsea includes chaparral and lower montane coniferous forests at elevations of 915 m to 3,050 in the San Jacinto Mountains and San Jacinto Foothills Bioregions within Western Riverside County.
Within this analysis, lower montane coniferous forest was categorized as montane coniferous forest. Based on these habitats, this elevation range and these Bioregions, the Plan Area supports approximately 142,500 acres of potential habitat for beautiful hulsea. Table 1 shows the conservation of potential habitat for beautiful hulsea. Overall, approximately 106,440 acres (75 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
BEAUTIFUL HULSEA
(Acres)
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Chaparral (between 915 m and 3,050 m) | 114,290 | 5,400 | 82,030 | 87,430 | 7,340 | 19,520 | 26,860 |
| Montane coniferous forest (between 915 m and 3,050m) | 28,210 | – – | 19,010 | 19,010 | – – | 9,200 | 9,200 |
| TOTAL | 142,500 (100%) | 5,400 (4%) | 101,040 (71%) | 106,440 (75%) | 7,340 (5%) | 28,720 (20%) | 36,060 (25%) |
| 1 Vegetation includes the vegetation within the San Jacinto Mountains and Foothills and Agua Tibia Mountains Bioregions only. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
In order to conserve beautiful hulsea, at least 85,500 acres (60 percent) of the species potential habitat shall be conserved. Approximately 5,400 acres (less than 4 percent) of potential habitat are within the Criteria Area; therefore, approximately 80,100 acres (56 percent) of the potential habitat for beautiful hulsea within USFS lands shall be conserved for the species. A total of 101,040 acres of potential habitat for this species are present on Public/Quasi-Public Lands and will be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Within the 101,040 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 4,658 acres (5 percent) of potential habitat are designated as Wilderness Area and 7,796 acres (8 percent) are designated as Roadless Area that do not include Range Allotments.
The UCR database has 44 occurrences at 32 locations and the CNDDB does not include mapped locations for this species. Within the UCR database, 25 of the mapped locations are located in the existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands within the San Jacinto Mountains near of Lake Fulmor, Pine Cove, Idyllwild, Mountain Center, Pine Meadow and Hemet Lake in the San Jacinto Mountains, and on Cahuilla Mountain. Sixteen of the 25 occurrences are dated 1970 or earlier.
The MSHCP analysis indicates that beautiful hulsea can be conserved at the landscape level. Conserving large blocks of suitable habitat within the area of known occurrences will probably capture localities of beautiful hulsea.
Several large blocks of habitat supporting beautiful hulsea are located within the MSHCP Conservation Area, including suitable habitat in the San Jacinto and Agua Tibia Mountains and San Jacinto Foothills. Plant distribution and abundance may be influenced by pollinators, browsing activities, seed dispersal, germination, juxtaposition of suitable habitat patches, invasives and patch size. The Conservation Strategy for this species is based on the preservation of this species within a larger landscape that will provide for important life history functions.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 106,440 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and 25 known localities within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.
Approximately 36,060 acres (25 percent) of potential habitat for beautiful hulsea will not be conserved. According to the UCR database and herbarium records, 19 of the mapped locations are located on private lands and will not be conserved. Of these 19 mapped locations, however, 18 are dated 1970 or earlier.
Data reviewed includes the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB); the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database; herbarium specimens from the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, Pomona and UCR; and available literature. The CNDDB does not include mapped locations for this species. The UCR GIS database and the herbaria have 44 records at 32 locations. Thirty-four of the occurrences are dated 1970 or earlier (the earliest mapped data point is from 1891).
Species-specific studies for beautiful hulsea have not been located or reviewed regarding genetics, habitat associations, reproduction, pollinators, germination, and dispersal. Taxonomic sources provide the primary literature source for this species.
Beautiful hulsea occurs on rocky (granitic) or gravelly soils in openings in chaparral and lower montane coniferous forests on dry slopes at elevations of 915 m to 3,050 m (Munz 1974; Wilken 1993; CNPS 2001; Wilken 1975). This species may be a fire-follower (Reiser 1996).
Beautiful hulsea is restricted to the San Jacinto, Palomar and Santa Rosa Mountains in San Diego County and Riverside County (Munz 1974; CNPS 2001).
Beautiful hulsea occurs in the vicinity of Lake Fulmor, Pine Cove, Idyllwild, Mountain Center, Pine Meadow and Hemet Lake in the San Jacinto Mountains; and on Cahuilla Mountain (UCR database). Reiser (1996) reports this species from North Mountain, east of Hemet, along the summit fire road.
The UCR database and herbarium records include 44 occurrences of this species in the Plan Area, 25 of which are located on Forest Service lands. However, 34 of these occurrences are dated prior to 1970 and need to be verified to ensure that the occurrences are still viable. CNDDB does not contain any occurrence data for this species. The Forest Service Assessment states that there are 15 known occurrences in the San Jacinto, Santa Rosa and Palomar Mountains. Core locations have not been identified for this species.
Genetics: Beautiful hulsea is one of six subspecies of Hulsea vestita that are differentiated by morphological characteristics, range and elevation (Wilken 1977). The genus Hulsea belongs to the Asteraceae (Munz 1974). Beautiful hulsea intergrades with Hulsea californica and H. heterochroma (Wilken 1993; Boyd and Banks 1995; Reiser 1996; Wilken 1975).
Reproduction: The compound flowers of beautiful hulsea bloom from May through October (Munz 1974; CNPS 2001). The disk flowers are perfect and the ray flowers are pistillate; both floral types are fertile. The ray flowers are 8 to 12 mm long, yellow on the inside and orange-red to red on the outside. The achenes are 5 to 7 mm long (Munz 1974).
Dispersal: No information regarding dispersal of this species was reviewed.
Demography: Beautiful hulsea is a herbaceous perennial that ranges in height from 0.4 to 2.5 dm in height (Munz 1974).
This species may be threatened by development within the foothill range (Reiser 1996).
This species may occur regularly as a fire follower, which may result in shifts in potential habitat (Reiser 1996).
Boyd, S. and D. Banks. 1995. A Botanical Assessment of the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area, Cleveland National Forest, California. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, California.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Reiser, C. H. 1996. Rare Plants of San Diego County. Unpublished. Aquafir Press, Imperial Beach, California.
Skinner M.W. and B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
Wilken, D. 1975. A Systematic Study of the Genus Hulsea (Asteraceae). Brittonia 27: 228-244.
Wilken, D. 1977. A New Subspecies of Hulsea vestita. Madroño. 24:48-55.
Wilken, D. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 1086 pp.
USDA, 1999. Southern California Mountains and Foothills Assessment, Habitat and Species Conservation Issues. General Technical Report PSW-GTR-172.
Brand's phacelia (Phacelia stellaris)
State: None
Federal: None
CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-3-2)
Brand's phacelia is designated as a Group 3 species because of its limited geographic distribution and specialized habitat requirements, and management requirements for flood plain processes. There are only two known occurrences within the Plan Area. This species was collected at Fairmont Park in 1925 and was recently observed in the Santa Ana Wilderness Area. This species appears to be restricted to sandy benches along the Santa Ana River.
This is a species on the Narrow Endemic Plant List (Section 6.1.3) and surveys for Brand's phacelia will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area where suitable habitat is present (see Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-1 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Brand's phacelia located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume I.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 6,100 acres of suitable habitat (meadows/ marshes and playa/vernal pools between 5 and 500 m within the Riverside Lowlands Bioregion).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least the two known localities of this species along the Santa Ana River at Fairmont Park and in the Santa Ana Wilderness Area.
Surveys for Brand's phacelia will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area where suitable habitat is present (see Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-1 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Brand's phacelia located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume I.
Suitable habitat for Brand's phacelia includes coastal dunes and/or coastal scrub in sandy openings, sandy benches, dunes, sandy washes, or flood plains of rivers and is restricted to clay soils at elevations between 0 and 400 m. For purposes of this analysis, potential habitat was considered to consist of coastal sage scrub between 5 and 400 m in the Riverside Lowlands Bioregion. Based on this habitat, elevation and Bioregion, the Plan Area supports approximately 17,900 acres of potential habitat for Brand's phacelia. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for Brand's phacelia. Overall, approximately 6,100 acres (34%) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the Criteria Area or are within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.
Although 11,800 acres (66%) of potential habitat for Brand's phacelia will be outside the Criteria Area and existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, this potential habitat is included within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area and any additional populations within this survey area will be addressed in accordance with the procedures presented in the Narrow Endemic Plant Species policy described in Section 6.1.3 of the MSHCP, Volume I.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
BRAND'S PHACELIA
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Coastal sage scrub (between 0 m and 400 m) | 17,900 | 4,640 | 1,460 | 6,100 | 1,880 | 9,920 | 11,800 |
| TOTAL | 17,900 | 4,640 (26%) | 1,460 (8%) | 6,100 (34%) | 1,880 (11%) | 9,920 (55%) | 11,800 (66%) |
| 1 Vegetation includes the vegetation within the Riverside lowlands Bioregion only. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. |
|||||||
The University of California, Riverside (UCR) database, the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) and the herbaria at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens do not contain any mapped localities for this species in the Plan Area. Both known localities in the Plan Area will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area: at Fairmont Park (1925 University of California, Berkeley herbarium record) and along a horse trail near the County Parks headquarters in the Santa Ana Wilderness Area (Sally Parry, USFWS, memorandum dated January 9, 2002).
The configuration of Criteria Area and existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands provides for conservation of blocks of suitable habitat along the Santa Ana River and provides linkages between areas of suitable habitat conservation. Implementation of the MSHCP, including conservation of suitable habitat and the two known localities in the Plan Area and implementation of the objectives for this species will achieve the conservation goal for this species.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 6,100 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and two known occurrences along the Santa Ana River (at Fairmont Park and along a horse trail in the Santa Ana Wilderness Area along the Santa Ana River) in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.
Approximately 11,800 acres of potential habitat for Brand's phacelia would not be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area. All of the known populations would be located inside the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Data reviewed includes the UCR database; the CNDDB; the CNPS Inventory; the herbaria at UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens; and other available literature, including the Jepson Manual. The CNDDB does not contain any mapped localities for this species in the Plan Area. One of the two known locations in the Plan Area dates from 1925 (University of California, Berkeley herbarium). Brand's phacelia was also observed along a horse trail near the County Parks headquarters in the Santa Ana Wilderness Area (Sally Parry, USFWS, memorandum dated January 9, 2002).
Brand's phacelia is primarily associated with coastal dunes and/or coastal scrub between 5 and 400 m. This species typically occurs in sandy openings, sandy benches, dunes, sandy washes, or flood plains of rivers (CNDDB 2001, CNPS 2001, Wilken et al. 1993).
Brand's phacelia was historically found in Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Diego counties and northern coastal Baja California, Mexico (CNPS 2001; Reiser 1996). This species has been observed on the Santa Margarita Dunes at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County (BioSystems Analysis, Inc. 1994).
Within western Riverside County, Brand's phacelia is restricted to sandy benches along the Santa Ana River. This species was collected at Fairmont Park in 1925 (University of California, Berkeley herbarium). Brand's phacelia was also observed along a horse trail near the County Parks headquarters in the Santa Ana Wilderness Area (Sally Parry, USFWS, memorandum dated January 9, 2002). Core locations of this species have not been identified with the Planning Area.
Genetics: There are approximately 175 species of Phacelia in the family Hydrophyllaceae. Some Brand's phacelia plants from near the southeastern Western Traverse Range foothills are intermediate to Phacelia douglasii var. cryptantha (CNPS 2001; Wilken, et al. 1993). Based on variations in the corolla scales, Howell (1945) considers Brand's phacelia to be intermediate between P. douglasii and P. insularis.
Reproduction: Brand's phacelia produces a short, stiff, hairy flower that is widely bell-shaped and light blue to purplish in color. The ovoid fruit is approximately 4.5-6 mm in length. There are approximately eight to 20 pitted seeds per fruit, each seed is approximately 0.5-1 mm in size and (Howell 1945, Wilken, et al. 1993).
Dispersal: No seed dispersal mechanism is known for this species.
Demography: This small herbaceous annual is comprised of a puberulent stem which generally branches out at the base with light blue to purplish flowers. Brand's Phacelia grows to a height of six to 25 cm (Wilken, et al. 1993).
Brand's phacelia is extremely rare, with only one known occurrence in Riverside. Historical occurrences have been extirpated by development (CNPS 2001). This species is also susceptible to vehicle traffic and trampling (Zedler et al., 1997).
Within the Plan Area, this species appears to be restricted to sandy washes and/or benches in alluvial flood plains.
BioSystems Analysis, Inc. 1994. Coastal Dunes Vegetation Study USMC Camp Pendleton Phase I Report). Prepared for The Nature Conservancy.
CNDDB. 2001.
CNPS. 2001. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (sixth edition). Rare Plant Scientific Advisory Committee, David P. Tibor, Convening Editor. California Native Plant Society. Sacramento, CA. x + 388 pp.
Howell, John T. 1945. Studies in Phacelia-Revision of Species Related to P. Douglasii, P. Linearis and P. Pringlei. The American Midland Naturalist. Vol. 33 (2), pp. 460-494.
Reiser, C. H. 1996. Rare Plants of San Diego County. Aquafir Press, Imperial Beach, CA.
Wilken, D., R. R. Halse, and R. W. Patterson. 1993. Phacelia. Pp. 691-706. In: Hickman, J. C., ed. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Zedler, Paul, Sandy DeSimone, Jason Giessow, Dawn Lawson, Jesse Else and Shannon Bliss. 1997. The Plant Communities of Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, California. San Diego State University, Department of Biology, Ecology Program.
California beardtongue (Penstemon californicus)
State: None
Forest: San Bernardino National Forest Service Sensitive Species
Federal: None
CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-2-2)
California beardtongue is designated as a Group 2 species because it is restricted to the Desert Transition, San Jacinto Foothills, San Jacinto Mountains, and Santa Ana Mountains, primarily within USFS lands. Within the Plan Area, California beardtongue is restricted to chaparral, coniferous forest, and pinyon-juniper woodland habitats at elevations of 1,000 m to 2,100 m within the Desert Transition, San Jacinto Foothills, San Jacinto Mountains, and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. Specifically, the plant occurs on rocky or clay soils, in openings within chaparral adjacent to meadow habitat, openings within chaparral on ridgetops and in the ecotone between chaparral and lower montane coniferous forest.
The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database has seven occurrences for this species, the UCR herbarium has two records for this species and the California Natural Diversity Database (CNNDB) has nine mapped occurrences within the San Jacinto Mountains, including Garner Valley, Pyramid Peak, Kenworthy Ranger Station and Blackburn Canyon; and two outlier locations: Cactus Valley and north of Sage.
California beardtongue is designated as a Forest Service Sensitive Species. Forest Service Sensitive Plants are protected through the implementation of Forest plans and the biological evaluation (BE) process, which considers the potential effects of Forest Service activities on these species.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 118,110 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral and montane coniferous forest between 1,000 and 2,100 m within the Desert Transition, San Jacinto Mountains and Foothills and Santa Ana Mountain Bioregions).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 15 occurrences in Aguanga, Blackburn Canyon and the San Jacinto Mountains (including Garner Valley, Pyramid Peak, and Kenworthy Ranger Station).
Potential habitat for California beardtongue includes chaparral, coniferous forest, and pinyon-juniper woodland habitats at elevations of 1,000 m to 2,100 m within the Desert Transition, San Jacinto Foothills, San Jacinto Mountains, and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions of Western Riverside County. Within this analysis, coniferous forest and pinyon-juniper woodlands were categorized as montane coniferous forest. Based on these habitats, this elevation range and these Bioregions, the Plan Area supports approximately 170,210 acres of potential habitat for California beardtongue. Table 1 shows the conservation of potential habitat for California beardtongue. Overall, approximately 118,110 acres (69 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
CALIFORNIA BEARDTONGUE
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Chaparral (between 1,000 and 2,100 meters) | 146,140 | 7,160 | 95,950 | 103,110 | 4,820 | 38,210 | 43,030 |
| Montane coniferous Forest (between 1,000 and 2,100 meters) | 24,070 | – – | 15,000 | 15,000 | – – | 9,070 | 9,070 |
| TOTAL | 170,210 | 7,160 (4%) | 110,950 (65%) | 118,110 (69%) | 4,820 (3%) | 47,280 (28%) | 52,100 (31%) |
| 1 Vegetation includes the vegetation within the Desert Transition, San Jacinto Foothills, San Jacinto Mountain, and Santa Ana Mountain Bioregions only. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
In order to conserve California beardtongue, at least 102,126 acres (60 percent) of the species potential habitat shall be conserved for this species within the MSHCP Conservation Area. Approximately 7,160 acres (4 percent) of potential habitat are within the Criteria Area; therefore, approximately 95,318 acres (56 percent) of the potential habitat for California beardtongue within USFS lands will be conserved for the species. A total of 118,110 acres of potential habitat for this species are present on USFS lands and will be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Within the 110,950 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 4,168 acres (3 percent) of potential habitat are designated as Wilderness Area and 14,299 acres (8 percent) are designated as Roadless Area that do not include Range Allotments.
The CNDDB, UCR herbarium, and UCR database contain numerous occurrences for this species, primarily within the San Jacinto Mountains, but two outlier occurrences are known from Cactus Valley and north of Sage. These last two locations are suspect. Within the UCR database and UCR herbarium records, six of the mapped locations are located in the existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands within the San Jacinto Mountains. The two outlier localities (Cactus Valley and north of Sage) are not conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area and one of the mapped locations in the San Jacinto Mountains occurs on private in-holdings and will not be conserved. Within the CNDDB, eight of the nine mapped locations are within Public/Quasi-Public Lands within the San Jacinto Mountains, particularly Garner Valley, Pyramid Peak and Kenworthy Ranger Station, Aguanga, and Blackburn Canyon.
Both the MSHCP and Forest Service assessment indicate that California beardtongue can be conserved at the landscape level. Therefore, conserving large blocks of land which contain suitable habitat will probably capture populations of California beardtongue. There are 15 documented occurrences of this species on Forest Service lands.
Several large blocks of habitat supporting California beardtongue are located within the MSHCP Conservation Area, including the Desert Transition, San Jacinto Foothills, San Jacinto Mountains, and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. This is a species found primarily on Forest Service lands in the San Jacinto Mountains. Other mapped occurrences are located in Cactus Valley and north of Sage. The USFS lands are organized into large blocks of habitat which will protect this species from edge effects, provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat, and allow for pollination to occur, if pollinators are important in the reproductive cycle of this species.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 118,110 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and 15 known localities in the San Jacinto Mountains within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Approximately 52,100 acres (31 percent) of potential habitat for California beardtongue will not be conserved. According to the UCR herbarium and UCR database, three of the mapped locations, including one locality in the San Jacinto Mountains and the two outliers in Cactus Valley and north of Sage will not be conserved. According to the CNDDB, one of the mapped locations is within a private in-holding in the San Jacinto Mountains approximately two miles north of the intersection of Highway 74 and Highway 371 and will not be conserved.
Data reviewed includes the CNDDB, the UCR herbarium, the UCR database, and available literature. The CNDDB, UCR herbarium and UCR database contain numerous occurrences for this species, primarily within the San Jacinto Mountains, but two outliers are known from Cactus Valley and north of Sage.
Species-specific studies for California beardtongue have not been located or reviewed regarding genetics, habitat associations, reproduction, pollinators, germination, and dispersal. Taxonomic sources provide the primary literature source for this species.
California beardtongue occurs on granitic and sandy soils and stony slopes in chaparral, coniferous forest, and pinyon-juniper woodland habitats (CNPS 2001; Holmgren 1993; Munz 1974; CNDDB 2000). California beardtongue co-occurs with Johnston's rock cress, Munz's mariposa lily and Ziegler's aster (Layia ziegleri) (CNDDB 2000).
California beardtongue is restricted to Riverside County and northern Baja California at elevations of 1,000 m to 2,100 m (CNPS 2001).
The majority of known occurrences for California beardtongue are in the San Jacinto Mountains, particularly Garner Valley, Pyramid Peak and Kenworthy Ranger Station. Other localities include Hemet Valley, the vicinity of the Diamond Valley Lake, Tenaja Road in the Santa Rosa Plateau MSHCP Conservation Area, Blackburn Canyon, Aguanga and Sage (Reiser 1996; UCR database; CNDDB 2000; Munz 1974). The CNNDB lists 12 occurrences for this species, nine of which are in the San Bernardino National Forest (San Jacinto Mountains). According to the UCR database and UCR herbarium, six of the mapped locations are within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands in the San Jacinto Mountains. Two outlier localities have been recorded: Cactus Valley and north of Sage. Core locations of this species have not been identified within the Plan Area.
Genetics: California beardtongue is one of 27 species of Penstemon in the Scrophulariaceae. (Munz 1974). Specific genetic studies have not been conducted for this species.
Reproduction: The flowers are purple to blue in color (with a white, hairy throat) and bloom from May through June (Holmgren 1993; CNPS 2001). The many-seeded capsular fruits are septicidal (Holmgren 1993). No information regarding pollinators has been reviewed.
Dispersal: No information regarding dispersal of this species was reviewed.
Demography: This perennial herb has a spreading to ascending habit and ranges in height from 10 to 30 cm (Holmgren 1993).
This species is threatened by grazing, firebreak construction and maintenance, and residential development in Garner Valley (CNDDB 2000). The Forest Service Assessment states that some of the occurrences on the forest (Garner Valley) are located in an active grazing allotment, including portions of two occurrences which are protected by enclosures. The Assessment also notes that the main distribution of this species is in areas above those used by cattle for grazing.
A number of California beardtongue populations occur within the San Bernardino National Forest. This species can co-occur with Johnston's rockcress (Arabis johnstonii) and management of California beardtongue shall be considered jointly when it is found with Johnston's rockcress.
California Natural Diversity Database. 2000. Penstemon californicus. Unpublished Report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.
Holmgren, N. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 1086 pp.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Reiser, C. H. 1996. Rare Plants of San Diego County. Unpublished. Aquafir Press, Imperial Beach, California.
Skinner, M.W. and B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
USDA. 1999. Southern California Mountains and Foothills Assessment, Habitat and Species Conservation Issues. General Technical Report PSW-GTR-172.
California bedstraw (Galium californicum ssp. primum)
State: None
Federal: None
Forest Service: Sensitive Species
CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-2-3)
California bedstraw is designated as a Group 2 species because it is restricted to the San Jacinto Mountains, primarily within USFS lands and because it has specific habitat requirements. Within the Plan Area, California bedstraw is restricted to the ecotone of chaparral and lower montane coniferous forest and in the lower edge of the pine belt at elevations of 1,350 m to 1,700 m within the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion on USFS lands.
California bedstraw is designated as a Forest Service Sensitive Plant. Forest Service Sensitive Plants are protected through the implementation of Forest plans and the biological evaluation (BE) process, which considers the potential effects of Forest Service activities on these species.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 41,420 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral and montane coniferous forest between 1,350 and 1,700 m within the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least four of the known occurrences of this species in the vicinity of Alvin Meadows between Pine Cove and Idyllwild in the San Jacinto Mountains.
Potential habitat for California bedstraw includes the ecotone of chaparral and lower montane coniferous forest and in the lower edge of the pine belt at elevations of 1,350 m to 1,700 m within the San Jacinto Mountains of Western Riverside County. Most of the known occurrences are within a small area in the San Jancinto Mountains (Stephenson, et.al 1999). Within this analysis, lower montane coniferous forest and the lower edge of the pine belt was categorized as montane coniferous forest. Based on these habitats, this elevation range and this Bioregion, the Plan Area supports approximately 50,600 acres of potential habitat for California bedstraw. Table 1 shows the conservation of potential habitat for California bedstraw. Overall, approximately 41,420 acres (82 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area is within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
CALIFORNIA BEDSTRAW
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Chaparral (between 1,350 m and 1,700 m) | 37,620 | – – | 33,420 | 33,420 | – – | 4,200 | 4,200 |
| Montane coniferous forest (between 1,350 mand 1,700 m) | 12,980 | – – | 8,000 | 8,000 | – – | 4,980 | 4,980 |
| TOTAL | 50,600 | 0 | 41,420 (82%) | 41,420 (82%) | 0 | 9,180 (18%) | 9,180 (18%) |
| 1 Vegetation includes the vegetation within the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion only. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
Within the 41,420 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 2,996 acres (6 percent) of potential habitat is designated as Wilderness Area and 2,765 acres (5 percent) is designated as Roadless Area that do not include Range Allotments.
The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens herbarium and California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) include seven occurrences of this species. Four of the mapped locations are located in the existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands within the San Jacinto Mountains between Pine Cove and Idyllwild. California bedstraw is known from the Alvin Meadows area of the San Jacinto Mountains in the San Bernardino National Forest (Dempster 1993; CNPS 2001).
Plant distribution and abundance may be influenced by pollinators, browsing activities, seed dispersal, germination, juxtaposition of suitable habitat patches, invasives and patch size. The Conservation Strategy for this species is based on the preservation of this species within a larger landscape that will provide for important life history functions.
Several large blocks of suitable habitat supporting California bedstraw are located within Public/Quasi-Public Lands, primarily USFS lands within the San Jacinto Mountains. As mentioned, approximately 41,420 acres (82 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area are within USFS lands. The USFS lands are organized into large blocks of habitat which will protect this species from edge effects, provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat, and allow for dispersal via animal vectors within suitable habitat.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 41,420 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and four known localities in the San Jacinto Mountains between Pine Cove and Idyllwild within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Approximately 9,180 acres (18 percent) of potential habitat for California bedstraw will not be conserved and will be subject to impacts consistent with the Plan. Within the UCR database, two of the mapped locations are located outside of the MSHCP Conservation Area within San Timoteo Canyon west of Beaumont and within the vicinity of the Diamond Valley Lake. According to the CNDDB, one of the mapped location within the San Jacinto Mountains is located within a private in-holding and will not be conserved.
Data reviewed includes the UCR database, the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens herbarium, the CNDDB and available literature. The UCR database and CNDDB include four occurrences in the San Jacinto Mountains in the vicinity of Alvin Meadows between Pine Cove and Idyllwild. One disjunct occurrence was mapped in San Timoteo Canyon west of Beaumont and one in the vicinity of Diamond Valley Lake. These disjunct localities will not be verified. The CNDDB (2000) also includes a description of a site in Reche Canyon very close to the border between Riverside County and San Bernardino County; this occurrence was not included in the mapping data. Species-specific studies for California bedstraw have not been located or reviewed regarding genetics, habitat associations, reproduction, pollinators, germination and dispersal. Taxonomic sources provide the primary literature source for this species.
California bedstraw occurs on granitic or sandy soils in shaded areas at the ecotone of chaparral and lower montane coniferous forest and in the lower edge of the pine belt (CNPS 2001; CNDDB 2000).
The distribution of this subspecies is limited to elevations of 1,350 to 1,700 m on the western side of the San Jacinto Mountains in western Riverside County and San Bernardino County (CNPS 2001; CNDDB 2000; Dempster 1993).
California bedstraw is known from the Alvin Meadows area of the San Jacinto Mountains in the San Bernardino National Forest (Dempster 1993; CNPS 2001). The UCR database includes a mapped locality in San Timoteo Canyon west of Beaumont and vicinity of Diamond Valley Lake. The CNDDB (2000) also includes a description of a site in Reche Canyon very close to the border between Riverside County and San Bernardino County; this occurrence was not included in the mapping data. Localities on non-Forest Service lands will not be verified as most sources describe the range of G. californicum ssp. primum as limited to the San Jacinto Mountains (CNPS 2001; Dempster 1993; Munz 1974). Core locations of this species have not been identified within the Plan Area.
Genetics: The genus Galium is in the Rubiaceae. G. californicum ssp. primum is one of seven subspecies of G. californicum (Dempster 1993). G. californicum ssp. primum is 2n=22; the other subspecies of G. californicum are 2n=44 or 2n=88. G. californicum ssp. primum hybridizes with G. nuttallii, also 2n=22 (Dempster 1993; CNDDB 2000). Genetic studies for this species have not been reviewed.
Reproduction: California bedstraw blooms from May through July (CNPS 2001). The staminate flowers occur in small clusters. The pistillate flowers occur singly in the leaf axils. The rotate corollas are yellow (Dempster 1993).
Dispersal: Fertilized California bedstraw flowers produce berries sparsely covered with hair (Dempster 1993). Therefore, it is assumed that dispersal by animal vectors is possible.
Demography: California bedstraw has a relatively tufted or decumbent habit and ranges in height from 9 to 16 cm. The leaves occur in whorls of four (4 to 12 mm long) (Dempster 1993).
This species is threatened by genetic swamping by Galium nuttallii (CNDDB 2000).
California bedstraw occurs in swarms with G. nuttallii in the San Jacinto Mountains (CNDDB 2000). G. nuttallii, which shares a number of morphological characters with California bedstraw, has a similar habitat (chaparral and coniferous forest), imperfect flowers, berry fruits (although glabrous) and whorls of four leaves.
California Natural Diversity Database. 2000. Galium californicum ssp. primum. Unpublished Report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.
Dempster, L. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 1086 pp.
Munz, P. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 1086 pp.
Skinner M.W. and B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
Stephenson, John R., Gena M. Calcarone. 1999. Southern California mountains and foothills assessment: habitat and species conservation issues. General Technical Report GTR-PSW-172. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, US Dept. of Agriculture; 402p.
California black walnut (Juglans californica var. californica)
State: None
Federal: None
Forest Service: Local Viability Concern
CNPS: List 4 ( R-E-D code 1-2-3)
California black walnut is designated as a Group 2 species because of its specialized habitat requirements and limited distribution within the Plan Area. California black walnut is restricted to woodlands and forests below 900 m. Scattered individual trees exist on the Santa Rosa Plateau and east of Pedley along Cimonite Avenue and west of Rubidoux, immediately north of the Highway 60. These are introduced occurrences (Steve Boyd, pers. comm.). Other records include occurrences in the Santa Ana Mountains (south of Corona and west of El Cerrito), at Lake Skinner and near Steele Peak. Seven of the known occurrences will be conserved in the Santa Ana Mountains, at Lake Skinner and in the vicinity of Pedley.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 6,100 acres of suitable habitat (riparian scrub forests and woodland/forest and (non-riparian) woodlands below 900 m within the Santa Ana Mountains Bioregion).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least seven known occurrences of this species within the Santa Ana Mountains, at Lake Skinner, at the Santa Rosa Plateau and one east of Pedley.
Plant communities which provide potential habitat for California black walnut were considered to include woodlands and forests, including riparian woodlands, where they occur below 900 m in the Santa Ana Mountains Bioregion of Riverside County. Based on this assumption, the Plan Area supports approximately 9,930 acres of potential habitat for California black walnut. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for California black walnut; overall, approximately 6,100 acres (61 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. It is assumed that these public lands will be managed for the conservation of biological resources, including California black walnut. Seven of the known occurrences will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area in the Santa Ana Mountains, at Lake Skinner and in the vicinity of Pedley.
A total of 3,260 acres (33 percent) of potential habitat for California black walnut is located outside the MSHCP Conservation Area in areas designated for rural/mountainous land uses, which will permit 1 DU/10, 20, or 40 acres depending on slope. Although these areas will not be part of the managed MSHCP Conservation Area, the anticipated levels of development and land use practices in these areas may be consistent with maintaining California black walnut in the Rural Mountainous designation areas.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
CALIFORNIA BLACK WALNUT
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Riparian scrub, woodland, and forest below 900 m | 1,280 | 120 | 930 | 1,050 | 170 | 60 | 230 |
| (non-riparian) woodlands and forests below 900 m | 8,650 | 930 | 4,120 | 5,050 | 3,090 | 510 | 3,600 |
| TOTAL | 9,930 | 1,050 (10%) | 5,050 (51%) | 6,100 (61%) | 3,260 (33%) | 570 (6%) | 3,830 (39%) |
| 1 Vegetation type includes data from the Santa Ana Mountains Bioregion. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
MSHCP Conservation Area configuration provides for conservation of the majority of potential habitat for the species and provides linkages between Core Areas of habitat conservation. The Santa Ana Mountains, within which this species is primarily located, are a focus of conservation in large habitat blocks as part of the MSHCP. Large blocks of habitat will protect this species from edge effects, and provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat. Plant distribution and abundance may be influenced by browsing activities, seed dispersal, germination, juxtaposition of suitable habitat patches, invasives and patch size. The Conservation Strategy for this species is based on the preservation of this species within a larger landscape that will provide for important life history functions.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 6,100 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and seven known localities within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Approximately 3,830 acres (39 percent) of potential habitat for California black walnut will be outside of the MSHCP Conservation Area. Of this, approximately 3,260 acres (33 percent of total potential habitat) will be within Rural Mountainous designation areas. Although these areas will not be part of the managed MSHCP Conservation Area, the levels of development anticipated in these areas may be consistent with maintaining California black walnut in these areas. Seven of the known occurrences (near Steele Mountain and scattered occurrences near Pedley) will not be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Data reviewed includes the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, the California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB 2001) and the herbaria at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens and UCR and available literature. There are 14 records of California black walnut in the Plan Area. All additional information regarding distribution was based upon various literature sources.
Swanson (1967) provides the most comprehensive discussion of the distribution of California walnut throughout southern California, while Mullally (1992) describes the specific distribution in the eastern Santa Susana mountains, Los Angeles County. Bowler (1989) and Quinn (1989) supply valuable information concerning the ecology, management requirements and research gaps for this species. Keeley (1990) summarizes the demographic structure of California black walnut.
California black walnut utilizes a variety of habitats in southern California, typically on deep, friable tertiary marine shales that have a high water-holding capacity (Keeley 1990; Holstein 1981). Scattered individuals commonly co-occur with laurel sumac (Malosma laurina) on alluvium located at the base of hills and in canyons. Individuals also occur infrequently on south-facing slopes, and more commonly, on west-facing slopes (Mullally 1992). On mesic north-facing slopes this walnut is primarily a member of open woodlands of various types and sometimes produces pure stands (Mullally 1992). It is sometimes present within coastal sage scrub and rarely occurs in chaparral.
Along intermittent streams California black walnut tolerates high salinity and alkalinity (Mullally 1992). In these riparian corridors, this species prefers the dryer slopes that are almost never prone to flooding and erosional activity yet are in close proximity to groundwater, and seasonal surface water. Black walnut riparian woodlands in southern California may be dominated by California black walnut alone or walnuts associated with sclerophyllous evergreen trees that include California live oak (Quercus agrifolia) and toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) (Keeley 1990). In oak-walnut forests, especially those with a preponderance of coast live oak, this species often is located on the periphery of the woodland where is can obtain sufficient sunlight (Mullally 1992). Engelmann oaks occasionally co-occur with this species in various settings.
California black walnut is a low growing hardwood tree endemic to southern California (Keeley 1990). Swanson (1976) determined the range of this species to be north of Santa Barbara County with specimens located in San Luis Obispo County, inland of Cambria, to the southeast along the Santa Ana River (Orange County), eastward to Riverside County, and as far east as Yucaipa in San Bernardino County. Extant walnut-dominated woodlands and forests are limited to the Santa Clarita River drainage in the vicinity of Sulphur Mountain, small stands in the Simi Hills and Santa Susana Mountains, the north slope of the Santa Monica Mountains, the San Jose Hills, Puente Hills, and Chino Hills (Griffin and Critchfield 1972; Quinn 1989). Outside of this range in Santa Barbara County, western San Bernardino County, and south to San Diego County, California black walnut occur mixed with other of trees, especially oaks (Quinn 1989). This species grows on marine shales typically between 150 and 900 meters in elevation (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995).
California black walnut has been documented in several locations within western Riverside County. The majority of stands in the Plan Area occur on the eastern and western subregions of the Santa Rosa Plateau of the Santa Ana Mountains according to the UC Riverside database. Scattered individual trees exist east of Pedley along Cimonite Avenue and west of Rubidoux, immediately north of the Highway 60. This species has one core location within the Plan Area: on the Santa Rosa Plateau within the Nature Conservancy Preserve.
Genetics: California black walnut is one of two native-Californian species in the genus Juglans of the walnut family (Juglandaceae) (Munz 1974 and McAuley 1996). Putative hybrids between California black walnut and the exotic English walnut (J. regia) were reported by Swanson (1967), although Keeley (1990) did not observe any during a site assessment of Sulphur Mountain.
Reproduction: California black walnut is a deciduous tree that flowers from March to May. Fruits develop to full size in the spring and reach full maturity in the fall (Quinn 1989). California walnut seedlings appear in the spring; seedling densities of 2,000 per hectare have been measured in Ventura County (Swanson 1967). Seedlings mature rapidly in moist, sunny conditions. Sprouting is common at the base of burned trees or when a trunk dies, breaks, or is cut.
Dispersal: Mature walnut fruits are actively sought and subsequently stored, buried or eaten by both California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) and western gray squirrels (Sciurus griseus) (Quinn 1989).
Demography: Keeley(1990) concluded from an assessment of the demographic structure of the species that the oldest surviving individuals were nearing 100 years. Moreover, 50 percent of the trees were estimated to be seedlings, suggesting a high mortality rate. In the San Jose Hills, trees older than 20 to 30 years tend to develop heart rot, with the interior portions of the trunk and older limbs becoming infested with termites, wood-boring beetles, and fungi (Quinn 1989).
Due to urban sprawl much of the California black walnut woodland has been destroyed or is threatened, and it is considered to be one of California's rare and imperiled natural communities (Jones and Stokes Associates 1987). Additionally, cattle as well as other livestock pose a significant threat to the regeneration of the species by preventing the establishment of seedlings by crushing seeds and compacting soil, or eliminating seedlings through trampling. As a result of these combined activities, California black walnut is now considered to be a custodial species, which is defined by Quinn (1989) as a species with a remnant natural population found only within MSHCP Conservation Areas of limited size.
This species requires full sunlight and wet, summer conditions for successful propagation (Holstein 1981). Fire is considered to be important for regeneration since it produces bare ground where sufficient sunlight exists for the establishment of seedlings and triggers the production of new sprouts at the base of trees.
Bowler, P. A. 1989. Riparian Woodlands: an Endangered Habitat in Southern California. Pages 80-97 in A.A. Schoenherr, editor. Proceedings of the 15th Annual Symposium of the Endangered Plant Communities of Southern California, California State University, Fullerton.
Griffin, J. R. and W. B. Critchfield. 1972. The Distribution of Forest Trees in California. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest Range Experiment Station, Research Paper PSW-82.
Holstein, G. 1981. California Riparian Forests: Deciduous Islands in an Evergreen Sea. Pages 2-23 in R.E. Warner and K. M. Hendrix, editors. California Riparian Species: Ecology, Conservation and Productive Management. University of California Press, Los Angeles, California.
Jones and Stokes Associates. 1987. Sliding Towards Extinction: the State of California''s Natural Heritage. Jones and Stokes, Sacramento, California.
Keeley, J. E. 1990. Demographic Structure of California Black Walnut (Juglans californica) Woodlands in Southern California. Madrono 37:237-248.
Mullally, D. 1992. The Distribution and Environmental Relations of California Black Walnut (Juglans californica) in the Eastern Santa Susana Mountains, Los Angeles County. Crossosoma 18:1-17.
Munz, P. A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Los Angeles, California.
Quinn, R. D. 1989. The Status of Walnut Forests and Woodlands (Juglans californica) in Southern California. Pages 42-54 in A.A. Schoenherr, editor. Proceedings of the 15th Annual Symposium of the Endangered Plant Communities of Southern California, California State University, Fullerton.
Sawyer, J. O. and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A Manual of California Vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, California.
Additional References
Swanson, C. J. 1976. The Ecology and Distribution of Juglans californica in Southern California. Masters Thesis. California State University, Los Angeles.
Jepson, W. L. 1908. The Distribution of Juglans californica. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 7:23-24.
Jepson, W. L. 1917. The Native Walnuts of California. Madroño 1:55-57.
Lathrop, E. W. and R. F. Thorne. 1985. A Flora of the Santa Rosa Plateau, Southern California. Southern California Botanists Special Publication No. 1.
California muhly (Muhlenbergia californica)
State: None
Federal: None
CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 2-2-3)
California muhly is designated as a Group 2 species because of its wide distribution within specific habitat associations. The species is known from Sage, Aguanga, Estelle Mountain, Gavilan Hills, Gavilan Plateau, Prado Dam, La Paz Canyon, Temescal Canyon, and Sitton Peak.
The CNDDB does not contain any mapped locations for this species in the Plan Area but does contain several written records. The UCR database does not include any occurrences in the Plan Area but does contain one mapped locality to the east of the Plan Area.
The distribution of California muhly is patchy and poorly understood and the existing records are not believed to be indicative of the distribution of this species. Incidental Take of this species is not included in this permit until conservation of the species in the Plan Area has been demonstrated by reaching Objective 3 below .
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 368,200 acres of suitable habitat (coastal sage scrub, chaparral, meadow/marsh and montane coniferous forest between 100 and 2,000 m within all Bioregions).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the known locations at Sage, Aguanga, Estelle Mountain, Prado Dam, Temescal Canyon, and Sitton Peak.
Within the MSHCP Conservation Area, confirm 10 localities (locality in this sense is not smaller than one quarter section) containing at least 50 clumps (unless a smaller population has been demonstrated to be self-sustaining).
For the purpose of the conservation analysis, potential habitat for the California muhly includes chaparral, coastal sage scrub, montane coniferous forest, meadow, and meadow/marshes between 100 and 2,000 m. All Bioregions in the Plan Area were included. Based on these habitats, the Plan Area supports approximately 589,560 acres of potential habitat for the California muhly. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for the California muhly. Overall, approximately 368,200 acres (62 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. It is assumed that these lands will be managed for biological resources, including California muhly.
Recent Forest Service documentation indicates that California Muhly is only found in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains of the Plan Area (Stephenson and Calcarone 1999). Locations reported near the Cleveland National Forest may be questionable.
Known populations are described in written accounts only; no point locations are available (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, unpublished data). The written accounts indicate that the species is present in the following general areas: Sage, Aguanga, Estelle Mountain, Gavilan Hills, Gavilan Plateau, Prado Dam, La Paz Canyon, Temescal Canyon, and Sitton Peak. Of these locations, most
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
CALIFORNIA MUHLY
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Chaparral (between 100 - 2,000m) |
412,110 (70%) |
64,860 (11%) |
206,150 (35%) | 271,010 (46%) |
59,230 (10%) |
81,570 (14%) |
141,100 (24%) |
| Coastal Sage Scrub (between 100 - 2,000m) |
152,540 (26%) |
47,130 (8%) |
34,510 (6%) |
81,640 (14%) |
26,230 (5%) |
44,670 (8%) |
70,900 (12%) |
| Meadow (between 100 - 2,000m) |
470 (0.1%) |
– – | 60 (<0.1%) |
60 (<0.1%) |
20 (<0.1%) |
390 (0.1%) |
400 (0.1%) |
| Meadow/Marshes (between 100 - 2,000m) |
470 (0.1%) |
170 (<0.1%) |
240 (<0.1%) |
410 (0.1%) |
– – | 60 (<0.1%) |
60 (0.1%) |
| Montane Coniferous Forest (between 100 - 2,000m) |
23,980 (4%) |
20 (<0.1%) |
15,060 (3%) |
15,080 (3%) |
40 (<0.1%) |
8,850 (2%) |
8,900 (2%) |
| TOTAL | 589,560 | 112,180 (19%) | 256,020 (43%) | 368,200 (62%) | 85,820 (15%) | 135,540 (23%) | 221,350 (38%) |
| 1 Vegetation type includes vegetation from all Bioregions within the Plan Area. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
(Sage, Aguanga, Estelle Mountain, Prado Dam, Temescal Canyon, and Sitton Peak) are areas of significant conservation either through establishment of the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.
In order to adequately conserve California muhly, at least 368,200 acres (62 percent) of the species potential habitat shall be conserved. Approximately 112,180 acres (19 percent) of potential habitat are within the Criteria Area; therefore, approximately 256,020 acres (43 percent) of the potential habitat for California muhly within the Public/Quasi-Public Lands designation, including USFS lands in the Cleveland and San Bernardino National Forests shall be conserved for the species.
Within the256,020 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 35,363 acres (6 percent) of potential habitat is designated as Wilderness Area and 28,713 acres (5 percent) is designated as Roadless Areas that do not include Range Allotments.
Additional conservation of California muhly will result from implementation of the Protection of Species Associated with Riparian/Riverine Areas and Vernal Pools Policy (Section 6.1.2). The species is dependent on moist soils and is most often found near mesic seeps or along streambanks. Although not typically found in wetlands, California muhly often may be found on the edge of wetlands.
MSHCP Conservation Area configuration provides for conservation of the majority of potential habitat for the species and provides linkages between large blocks of potential and occupied habitat (at Sage, Aguanga, Estelle Mountain, Gavilan Hills, Gavilan Plateau, near Prado Dam, Temescal Canyon, and Sitton Peak in the Santa Ana Mountains).
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 368,200 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and ten known localities within large blocks of habitat (at Sage, Aguanga, Estelle Mountain, Gavilan Hills, Gavilan Plateau, near Prado Dam, Temescal Canyon, and the Santa Ana Mountains) in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.
Approximately 221,350 acres of potential habitat will not be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area. This species occurs at Sage, Aguanga, Estelle Mountain, Gavilan Hills, Gavilan Plateau, near Prado Dam, La Paz Canyon, Temescal Canyon, and Sitton Peak in the Santa Ana Mountains (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Unpublished Data). Some or all of the occurrences at these localities may be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Data reviewed includes the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) and the University of California, Riverside, GIS database, and available literature. The CNDDB does not contain any mapped locations for this species in the Plan Area but does contain several written records. The UCR database does not include any occurrences in the Plan Area but does contain one mapped locality to the east of the Plan Area. This species occurs at Sage, Aguanga, Estelle Mountain, Gavilan Hills, Gavilan Plateau, near Prado Dam, La Paz Canyon, Temescal Canyon, and Sitton Peak in the Santa Ana Mountains (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Unpublished Data).
Species-specific studies for this species have not been located or reviewed regarding genetics, habitat associations, reproduction, pollinators, germination, and dispersal. Taxonomic sources provide the primary literature source for this species.
California muhly occurs in chaparral, coastal sage scrub, lower coniferous forest and meadows, usually near mesic seeps or along streambanks (CNPS 2001).
California muhly is known from Los Angeles County, Riverside County and San Bernardino County at elevations between 100 to 2,000 m (CNDDB 2000; CNPS 2001; Peterson 1993).
This species occurs at Sage, Aguanga, Estelle Mountain, Gavilan Hills, Gavilan Plateau, near Prado Dam, La Paz Canyon, Temescal Canyon, and Sitton Peak in the Santa Ana Mountains (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Unpublished Data). Core locations of this species have not been identified within the Plan Area.
Systematics: California muhly is one of 18 species of Muhlenbergia and belongs to the Poaceae (Peterson 1993). The diploid number (2n) for this species is 80 (Peterson 1993). No species-specific studies have been reviewed for this species regarding genetics.
Reproduction: This species blooms from July through September (Munz 1974; CNPS 2001). The inflorescence is narrow with ascending to erect branches that are 5 to 13 cm long. The glumes are 2.5 to 4 mm and the lemma is 2.8 to 4 mm. California muhly can also reproduce vegetatively with creeping rhizomes (Peterson 1993).
Dispersal: No information regarding dispersal was reviewed for this species.
Demography: This perennial herb is rhizomatous (CNPS 2001). The rhizomes are short, scaly and creeping (Peterson 1993). The stems range in height from 3 to 7 dm (Peterson 1993).
California muhly is threatened by development, road construction, grazing, and recreational activities (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Unpublished Data).
This perennial bunchgrass is rhizomatous and restricted to moist soils.
California Natural Diversity Database. 2000. Muhlenbergia californica. Unpublished Report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Peterson, P. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Skinner M.W. and B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society''s Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
California Orcutt grass (Orcuttia californica)
State: Endangered
Federal: Endangered
CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-3-2)
California Orcutt grass is designated as a Group 3 species because of its limited geographic distribution and specialized habitat requirements and management requirements for floodplain processes. This species is primarily restricted to the southern basaltic claypan vernal pools at the Santa Rosa Plateau, and alkaline vernal pools at Skunk Hollow and at Salt Creek west of Hemet.
This is a species on the Narrow Endemic Plant List (Section 6.1.3) and surveys for California Orcutt grass will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area where suitable habitat is present (see Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-1 of the MSHCP, Volume I). California Orcutt grass located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume I.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 6,680 acres of suitable habitat (playas and vernal pools within the Riverside Lowlands Bioregion of the MSHCP Conservation Area).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least three of the known locations of California Orcutt grass at the Santa Rosa Plateau, at Skunk Hollow and in the upper Salt Creek drainage west of Hemet.
Surveys for the California Orcutt grass will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area where suitable habitat is present (see Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-1, of the MSHCP, Volume I). California Orcutt grass located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3 of the MSHCP, Volume I.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the watershed of the vernal pool complex on the Santa Rosa Plateau and the vernal pool occurrences at Skunk Hollow and Upper Salt Creek in order to maintain hydrologic conditions.
Suitable habitat for California Orcutt grass is limited to vernal pools in association with clay or alkali soils. For the purpose of the conservation analysis, potential habitat was considered to be playas and vernal pools within the Riverside Lowlands Bioregion. There is no acreage coverage for vernal pools within the Santa Rosa Plateau. Based on these habitats, the Plan Area supports approximately 7,810 acres of potential habitat for California Orcutt grass. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for California Orcutt grass (not including the Santa Rosa Plateau). Overall, approximately 6,680 acres (86 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. It is assumed that these lands will be managed for biological resources, including California Orcutt grass.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
CALIFORNIA ORCUTT GRASS
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Playas and Vernal Pools | 7,620 | 3,830 | 2,870 | 6,680 | 0 | 1,130 | 1,130 |
| TOTAL | 7,810 | 3,830 (49%) | 2,870 (37%) | 6,680 (86%) | 0 (0%) | 1,130 (14%) | 1,130 (14%) |
| 1 Within the Riverside Lowlands Bioregion. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
Although 1,130 acres (14 percent) of potential habitat for California Orcutt grass will be outside the Criteria Area and existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, 940 acres (12 percent) of this habitat is included within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area and any additional populations within this survey area will be addressed in accordance with the procedures presented in the Narrow Endemic Plant Species policy described in Section 6.1.3 of the MSHCP, Volume I.
As stated above, California Orcutt grass is associated with alkali (Domino, Willows and Traver) and basaltic clay soils. Within the Mystic Lake, San Jacinto River and Salt Creek areas, there are approximately 8,270 acres of these soil types on agricultural land, grassland, playas and vernal pools, and meadows and marshes. Table 2 shows the conservation and loss of Traver, Domino and Willows soils. Approximately 7,340 (40 percent) of these soils will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. Of the 10,910 acres of alkali soils that will not be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area, 670 acres (4 percent) of this habitat is included within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area.
The two Core Areas, Upper Salt Creek west of Hemet and the Santa Rosa Plateau, will be conserved within the Criteria Area and existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. The population complex at Skunk Hollow and the population near the intersection of Benton Road and Borel Road will also be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. The unverified occurrence of this species west of the Santa Rosa Plateau may or may not be conserved. The Narrow Endemic Plant Species policy described in Section 6.1.3 also provides the opportunity for conservation of additional California Orcutt grass populations that occur or may be identified within the Narrow Endemics Plant Species survey area.
TABLE 2
SUMMARY OF SOIL CONSERVATION CALIFORNIA ORCUTT GRASS
| Soil Type | MSHCP Plan Area1 (Acres) | Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Domino | 5,060 | 570 | 270 | 840 | 0 | 4,220 | 4,220 |
| Traver | 7,640 | 1,300 | 810 | 2,110 | 0 | 5,530 | 5,530 |
| Willows | 5,550 | 2,870 | 1,520 | 4,390 | 0 | 1,160 | 1,160 |
| TOTAL | 18,250 | 4,740(26%) | 2,600 (14%) | 7,340 (40%) | 0 (0%) | 10,910 (60%) | 10,910 (60%) |
| 1 Within the Mystic Lake, San Jacinto River and Salt Creek areas on agricultural land, grassland, playas and vernal pools, and meadows and marshes. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
The configuration of MSHCP Conservation Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands provides for conservation of the floodplain along Salt Creek and large blocks of habitat within the Santa Rosa Plateau. Moreover, the configuration of Criteria Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands provides for conservation of the floodplain along Salt Creek. Salt Creek will be generally conserved in its existing condition from Warren Road to Newport Road. This will provide for the distribution of the species to shift over time as hydrologic conditions and seed bank sources change. The two Core Areas, the Salt Creek populations west of Hemet and the populations on the Santa Rosa Plateau, will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands. The population complex at Skunk Hollow and the population at the intersection of Borel Road and Benton Road will also be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 6,680 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and three localities (Santa Rosa Plateau, upper Salt Creek west of Hemet and Skunk Hollow) in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring. Implementation of Objective 4 for this species will maintain hydrologic processes upon which this species depends.
Approximately 1,130 acres (14 percent) of potential habitat (playas and vernal pools) for California Orcutt grass will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. It is important to note that 940 acres (12 percent) of the potential habitat occurring outside of the MSHCP Conservation Area is located within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area. The unverified occurrence of this species west of the Santa Rosa Plateau may or may not be conserved.
Data reviewed includes the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, the herbaria at UCR and the Rancho Santa Botanical Gardens, the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) and available literature. The UCR database, the two herbaria and the CNDDB contain 42 occurrences (dating from 1922 to 2001) in the Plan Area. Mapped occurrences are primarily located on the Santa Rosa Plateau, along upper Salt Creek west of Hemet and in Skunk Hollow. Historic locations include Salt Creek west of Menifee (dating from 1922) and a locality west of the Santa Rosa Plateau, possibly in Tenaja Canyon (dating from 1969). One of the mapped locations for the Salt Creek population is incorrectly mapped about two miles to the northwest of its true locality. A recently mapped (1997) population at the intersection of Borel Road and Benton Road should be verified.
Historic records for California Orcutt grass and other vernal pool species suggest that additional undiscovered vernal pools occur in the Murrieta-Rancho California area (F. Roberts, pers. comm. 1999).
Extensive information was available in the literature regarding systematics, ecology, population biology, life history, reproduction and germination of California Orcutt grass.
All known Californica Orcutt grass localities are associated with vernal pools (Crampton 1959; Reeder 1982; CNPS 2001; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). In Riverside County, this species is found in southern basaltic claypan vernal pools at the Santa Rosa Plateau, and alkaline vernal pools as at Skunk Hollow and at Salt Creek west of Hemet (Bramlet 1993; CNDDB 1999).
In the United States, California Orcutt grass is found in southwestern California from eastern Ventura County east through Los Angeles County to Riverside County, and south to San Diego County from near sea level to 625 meters (2,050 feet) (Munz 1974; Reeder 1993; Griggs 1974). California Orcutt grass is known from a single vernal pool complex (Carlsberg) in Ventura County, a single vernal pool complex (Cruzan Mesa) in Los Angeles County, and seven vernal pool complexes in San Diego County (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998; CNDDB 1999). Four of the seven populations in San Diego County are on Otay Mesa. An additional two populations on Otay Mesa have been extirpated. At least four additional populations in the Los Angeles basin have been extirpated (Reeder 1982; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). California Orcutt grass has been recorded from several locations in northwestern Baja California, Mexico, primarily in the vicinity of Cabo Colnett (Reeder 1982; Rieser 1996) and at Valle de las Palmas (H. Wier, pers. comm.).
California Orcutt grass is known to occur from three vernal pool sites in Riverside County: Upper Salt Creek west of Hemet, Skunk Hollow, and the Santa Rosa Plateau (Boyd 1984; Bramlet 1993; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998; CNDDB 1999). Within the Santa Rosa Plateau, this species is found in two of the five vernal pools on Mesa de Colorado and in four of the six vernal pools on Mesa de Burro (Stagg 1977). This species is also known to occur in Murrieta (D. Bramlet, pers. com. 2001). Historically, this species was also known from Salt Creek west of Menifee and Murrieta Hot Springs (Reeder 1982; CNDDB 1999). A mapped locality west of the Santa Rosa Plateau, possibly in Tenaja Canyon and a recently mapped population at the intersection of Borel Road and Benton Road should be verified.
The Core Areas for California Orcutt grass in the Plan Area are located within the upper Salt Creek drainage west of Hemet and on the Santa Rosa Plateau. There is uncertainty regarding distribution of this species in the Murrieta and Temecula area; there may be additional core locations discovered in this area in the future.
Genetics: California Orcutt grass is one of eight species of the genus Orcuttia (Griggs and Jain 1983; Reeder 1982). A genetic study using allozyme gel electrophoresis indicates that each Orcuttia taxon is a unique entity and analysis of allelic frequency suggests rather high levels of outcrossing (Griggs and Jain 1983). Chromosome counts and seed protein analyses further support the determination that each Orcuttia taxon is unique and worthy of specific status (Reeder 1982).
Reproduction: Griggs (1981) observed in the field that, following pool inundation, fungi covered the seeds which germinated approximately two weeks later. Griggs (1981) experimented with various methods of seed gemination in the laboratory, observing that only when fungi covered the seeds did germination occur (often at a rate of 90 to 100 percent). Studies conducted by J. Keeley (1988) revealed that anaerobic conditions promote germination of California Orcutt grass seeds but fungicide treatment appears to inhibit germination (fungal growth developed on the seeds in all other treatments). A dependence on fungus and anaerobic conditions for germination is consistent with conditions in water-filled vernal pools and may explain how germination is cued during years of sufficient rainfall (Keeley 1988).
California Orcutt grass blooms from April through June (Munz 1974) and appears to be strongly adapted to wind pollination: stamens are 2 to3 cm long and the species is protandrous (i.e., anthers develop before the stigma is receptive). In combination with the protandry, this species is believed to be an outcrosser (Griggs and Jain 1983). Orcuttia floral spikelets, although terminal, are of indeterminate growth, the duration of which is dependant on the duration of favorable environmental conditions (Griggs 1974).
Studies of other Orcuttia species indicate that the number of seeds produced per plant is highly variable within a population and variation in seed production between seasons can vary by two- or three-fold. This is not unexpected given the dependence of Orcuttia species on a synchrony of environmental conditions (timing and duration of rainfall, temperature, etc.) (Griggs and Jain 1983).
California Orcutt grass seeds can remain dormant for at least three to four years and possibly longer, germinating in the spring only after flooding of the vernal pools (Griggs 1981; Griggs and Jain 1983; Reeder 1982).
Dispersal: Upon senescence, California Orcutt grass remains intact and upright. The first heavy rainstorms of the late fall or early winter cause the Orcutt plants to fall apart, releasing the seed formed the previous summer. The seeds either become firmly attached to the muddy surface of the pond or float to the bottom if the pool is inundated (Griggs 1981). Dispersal of Orcuttia seeds from one pond to another may be accomplished if mud-encased seeds become attached to waterfowl (Griggs 1974).
Demography: The number of individuals of California Orcutt grass varies annually in response to the timing and amount of rainfall and temperature. California Orcutt grass seedlings grow for several weeks submerged, producing leaves that float on the surface. After the pools have dried California Orcutt grass produces a new set of foliage that will last for one to two months, until flowering and fruiting have occurred (Griggs 1981; Keeley 1988). California Orcutt grass is typically found in the deeper portions of vernal pools and less frequently found along the margins (J. Vanderweir, USFWS, pers. comm.; K. Marsden, CDFG, pers. comm. 2000). Griggs and Jain (1983) observed that the individual plants found in the deeper portions of the pools tend to be more fully developed and larger than individuals at the pool margins. In a study of the Santa Rosa Plateau vernal pools, Stagg (1977) found that the pools that retain water the longest are the pools wherein this species first appears.
This species is easily identified by the viscid secretion that appears on all aerial parts of the plants. The secretion is first glistening and watery but as the plant matures the secretion becomes thicker, denser and brownish. This secretion, believed to aid in water conservation during the warm spring and hot summer months, is aromatic and bitter tasting and may serve to repel animal predation (e.g., grasshoppers, etc.) (Crampton 1959; Griggs 1981; Reeder 1982).
California Orcutt grass is declining throughout its range. In Riverside County, this species and its habitat is threatened by habitat destruction and fragmentation from urban and agricultural development, pipeline construction, alteration of hydrology and flood plain dynamics, excessive flooding, off road vehicle activity, trampling by cattle and sheep, weed abatement, fire suppression practices (including discing and plowing), and competition from alien plant species (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998).
California Orcutt grass is a low, obscure annual herb that blooms from April through June (Munz 1974). The number of individuals of California Orcutt grass varies annually in response to the timing and amount of rainfall and temperature. This species depends on specific hydrology: vernal pools. Vernal pools cannot exist in isolation and require enough of the surrounding matrix habitat to support the processes that fill the pools with water and allow for natural population dynamics. Loose sediment from nearby surface disturbance can damage vernal pools. In alkali habitats, the dynamic distribution of vernal pools also require significant surrounding matrix habitat. Alkali vernal pools can form over a larger area, different locations, and with different configurations from year to year, depending on rainfall timing, the degree and extent of regional and local flooding, and disturbance from human-related activities such as discing and barley farming. Maintaining adequate vernal pool diversity to allow for population dynamics is critical to this species.
In Riverside County, this species can be difficult to detect as the vernal pools it inhabits may receive enough water to germinate and grow the plants only two or three times a decade. Therefore, surveys conducted during years of rainfall inadequate to germinate the species may not result in detection. Additionally, competition with other vernal pool species may be a significant factor in the distribution of California Orcutt grass (Stagg 1977).
Boyd, S. 1984. Rancho Bella Vista Specific Plan: Assessment of Skunk Hollow Vernal Pool Habitat and California Orcutt Grass Population.
Bramlet, D. 1993. Plant Species of Special Concern in the Alkaline Sinks of the San Jacinto River and Old Salt Creek Tributary Area. Unpublished.
California Natural Diversity Database 1999. Orcuttia californica, unpublished report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.
Crampton, B. 1959. The Grass Genera Orcuttia and Neostapfia: A Study in Habitat and Morphological Specialization. Madroño 15: 97-110.
Griggs, F.T. 1974. Systematics and Ecology of the Genus Orcuttia (Gramineae). M.A. Thesis, Botany Department, California State University, Chico, California.
Griggs, F.T. 1981. Life Histories of Vernal Pool Annual Grasses. Fremontia 9(1): 14-17.
Griggs, F.T. and S. Jain. 1983. Conservation of Vernal Pool Plants in California, II. Population Biology of a Rare and Unique Grass Genus Orcuttia. Biological Conservation 27:171-193.
Keeley, J. 1988. Anaerobiosis as a Stimulus to Germination in Two Vernal Pool Grasses. American Journal of Botany 75(7): 1086-1089.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Reeder, J.R. 1982. Systematics of the tribe Orcuttieae (Gramineae) and the description of a new segregate genus, Tuctoria. Amer. J. Bot. 69(7): 1082-1095.
Reeder, J.R. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of Californica, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Reiser, C. 1996. Rare Plants of San Diego County, 1996 edition. Unpublished. Aquafir Press, San Diego, California.
Skinner M.W., B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
Staff, C. 1977. The Distribution of Orcuttia californica (Poaceae) in the Vernal Pools of the Santa Rosa Plateau, Riverside County, California. M.A. Thesis, Biology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda California.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998. Recovery Plan for Vernal Pools of Southern California. U.S. Department of Interior, Portland, Oregon.
chickweed oxytheca (Oxytheca caryophylloides)
State: None
Federal: None
CNPS: List 4 (RED Code 1-1-3)
Forest Service: Local viability concern
Chickweed oxytheca is designated as a Group 2 species. It is restricted to the San Jacinto Mountains, primarily within USFS lands. Within the Plan Area chickweed oxytheca is restricted to montane coniferous forest (yellow pine forest) on sandy soils at elevations between 1,200 m and 2,600 m. The University of California, Riverside, (UCR) GIS database and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, Pomona and UCR herbaria include eight occurrences in the San Jacinto Mountains dating back to 1924. The most recent occurrence is dated 1999.
The MSHCP Conservation Area configuration is expected to provide long-term conservation of the species. However, due to the age of the records, Incidental Take of this species is not included in this permit until conservation of the species in the Plan Area has been demonstrated by reaching Objective 3 below .
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 18,660 acres of suitable habitat (montane coniferous forest between 1,200 and 2,600 m within the San Jacinto Mountains and Foothills Bioregion).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least five of the known locations within the San Jacinto Mountains.
Within the MSHCP Conservation Area, confirm 10 localities (locality in this sense is not smaller than one quarter section) managed with 1,000 individuals each (unless a smaller population has been demonstrated to be self-sustaining).
Potential habitat for the chickweed oxytheca consists of montane coniferous forest (yellow pine forest) at elevations between 1,200 m and 2,600 m within the San Jacinto Mountains within western Riverside County. Within this analysis, yellow pine forest was categorized as montane coniferous forest. Based on this habitat, this elevation range, and this Bioregion the Plan Area supports approximately 27,860 acres of potential habitat for chickweed oxytheca. Table 1 shows the conservation of potential habitat for chickweed oxytheca. Overall, approximately 18,660 acres (67 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area are within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.
In order to conserve chickweed oxytheca, at least 16,716 acres (60 percent) of the species potential habitat will be conserved. None of the potential habitat for this species is located within the Criteria Area; therefore, approximately 16,716 acres (60 percent) of the potential habitat for chickweed oxytheca within USFS lands shall be conserved and managed for the species. A total of 18,660 acres of potential habitat for this species are present on Public/Quasi-Public Lands and will be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
CHICKWEED OXYTHECA
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Montane coniferous forest (between 1,200 m and 2,600 m) | 27,860 | – – | 18,660 | 18,660 | – – | 9,200 | 9,200 |
| TOTAL | 27,860 | 0 | 18,660 (67%) | 18,660 | 0 | 9,200 (33%) | 9,200 |
| 1 Vegetation includes the vegetation within the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion only. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
Within the 18,660 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 2,005 acres (7 percent) of potential habitat are designated as Wilderness Area and 181 acres (1 percent) are designated as Roadless Area that do not include Range Allotments.
Both the MSHCP and Forest Service assessment indicate that chickweed oxytheca can be conserved at the landscape level. Conserving large blocks of suitable habitat within the area of known occurrence will probably capture populations of chickweed oxytheca.
The University of California, Riverside, (UCR) GIS database and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, Pomona and UCR herbaria include eight mapped records for chickweed oxytheca within the San Jacinto Mountains. Four of the records date from 1924; other dates include 1957, 1978, 1987 and 1999. Of the eight records, four of the mapped locations are located in the existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands within the San Jacinto Mountains (dated 1924, 1957, 1987 and 1999). The CNDDB does not track this species. Conservation of this species shall be considered from a landscape perspective because the species is habitat-specific and is restricted to the San Jacinto Mountains.
Plant distribution and abundance may be influenced by pollinators, browsing activities, seed dispersal, germination, juxtaposition of suitable habitat patches, invasives and patch size. The Conservation Strategy for this species is based on the preservation of this species within a larger landscape that will provide for important life history functions.
Several large blocks of habitat supporting chickweed oxytheca are located within Public/Quasi-Public Lands, including the San Jacinto Mountains. As mentioned, approximately 18,660 acres (67 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area are within USFS lands. The USFS lands are organized into large blocks of habitat which will protect this species from edge effects, provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat, and allow for pollination to occur, if pollinators are important in the reproductive cycle of this species.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 18,660 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and four known localities within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.
Approximately 9,200 acres (33 percent) of potential habitat for chickweed oxytheca will not be conserved. According to the UCR database and herbarium records, four of the mapped locations are located on private lands or within road right-of-way and will not be conserved. Of these four mapped locations, however, three are dated 1924 and the third dates from 1978.
Data reviewed includes the University of California, Riverside, GIS database, which includes recorded herbarium specimens at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, Clairmont, California; California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) and available literature. The UCR database and the herbaria include eight records for chickweed oxytheca within the San Jacinto Mountains. Four of the records date from 1924; other dates include 1957, 1978, 1987 and 1999. The CNDDB does not track this species.
Other than taxonomic treatments (Ertter 1980; Munz 1974; Hickman 1993), very little published literature was available for this species regarding life history (reproductive biology, pollinators, germination, dispersal, etc.), population genetics or population biology.
Chickweed oxytheca occurs in sandy soils in association with yellow pine forest (Munz 1974; Hickman 1993).
Chickweed oxytheca is a California endemic species. It is restricted to mountains from the southern Sierra Nevada in Tulare County, east through Ventura County and the San Gabriel Mountains (Los Angeles County), to the San Jacinto Mountains (Riverside County) at elevations of approximately 1,200 to 2,600 meters (Munz 1974; Ertter 1980; Reveal 1989; Hickman 1993; Stephenson and Calcarone 1999).
Within the Plan Area, chickweed oxytheca is known only from the San Jacinto Mountains. The eight mapped locations of this species occur along SR-243 and in the vicinity of Idyllwild (UCR GIS database). Core locations of this species have not been identified within the Plan Area.
Genetics: Oxytheca, a member of the Polygonaceae, includes seven species (Ertter 1980). Most authors recognize Oxytheca as a separate genus; however, a few have reduced Oxytheca and included it in Eriogonum (Stokes 1936, Davis 1952 and Raven 1963 as cited in Ertter 1980). Roberty and Vautier (1964 as cited in Ertter 1980) treated Oxytheca as a section in Eriogonum. Goodman has also studied the Oxytheca complex but has not published his conclusions. Goodman would spilt Oxytheca into several genera (Ertter 1980). Ertter (1980) maintains Oxytheca as a separate genus for two reasons. The awned condition of Oxytheca is the first reason. Second, reduction of Oxytheca might then require reduction of other genera within the subfamily, resulting in further complicating an already large, unwieldy genus (Ertter 1980).
Oxytheca is one of twelve genera in the subfamily Eriogonoideae and Eriogonum is believed to be the immediate ancestry of Oxytheca. Based on morphological characters Ertter (1980) believes that Oxytheca arose from a complex of closely-related Eriogonum species, rather than a single ancestor.
Reproduction: Chickweed oxytheca blooms from July to September (Munz 1974; CNPS 2001). The small (1 to 2 mm long) flowers develop in clusters of two to three per involucre. The petals range in color from green to yellow to red. The achenes are golden to red-brown and 1.2 to 1.5 mm long (Ertter 1980; Reveal 1989).
Dispersal: The involucral awns might aid in dispersal, except that the awns are not hooked and the involucres usually remain attached to the individual plants even after the mature achenes are shed (Ertter 1980).
Demography: This annual species has a spreading to prostrate habit. Chickweed oxytheca reaches heights of 1 to 2.5 dm and widths of 1 to 5 dm. The coloring of individual plants ranges from yellowish-green to reddish-brown (Ertter 1980).
This species occurs primarily on USFS lands in the San Jacinto Mountains. It is anticipated, therefore, that urbanization and development are not primary threats of chickweed oxytheca. Timber logging and recreation may be a threat.
This species has two forms. The more common phase, as represented by the type herbarium specimen, has a dense inflorescence and the upper involucres are sessile. The less common phase has a looser inflorescence and the upper involucres are pedunculate (Ertter 1980).
Ertter, B. 1980. A Revision of the Genus Oxytheca Nutt. (Polygonaceae). Brittonia 32(1): 70-102.
Hickman, J.C. 1993. Oxytheca, in The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit.,University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Reveal, J. 1989. Eriogonoid Flora of California (Polygonaceae). Phytologia 66(4):295-414.
Skinner, M.W. and B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
Stephenson, John R., Gena M. Calcarone. 1999. Southern California mountains and foothills assessment: habitat and species conservation issues. General Technical Report GTR-PSW-172. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, US Dept. of Agriculture; 402p.
Cleveland's bush monkeyflower (Mimulus clevelandii)
State: None
Federal: None
Forest Service: Local viability concern
CNPS: List 4 (R-E-D Code 1-1-2)
Cleveland's bush monkeyflower is designated as a Group 2 species because it is restricted to the Santa Ana and Agua Tibia mountains, primarily within USFS Lands. Within the Plan Area, Cleveland's bush monkeyflower is restricted to chaparral and lower montane coniferous forests at elevations above 914 meters within the Santa Ana and Agua Tibia Mountains. This species has one population (consisting of several occurrences) on Santiago Peak in the Santa Ana Mountains and is present at several localities within the Agua Tibia Mountains. Most of the known occurrences are within the Cleveland National Forest. Overall, approximately 10,870 acres (93%) of potential habitat in the Plan Area are within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 10,870 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral, montane coniferous forest and woodland/forest above 914 m within the Santa Ana Mountains and Agua Tibia Mountain Bioregions).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the two known localities of this species on Santiago Peak in the Santa Ana Mountains and on the northern slopes of the Agua Tibia Mountains.
Potential habitat for Cleveland's bush monkeyflower includes chaparral, lower montane coniferous forests, and woodlands and forests at elevations above 914 meters within the Santa Ana and Agua Tibia Mountains of western Riverside County. Within this analysis, lower montane coniferous forests was categorized as montane coniferous forest. Based on this habitat, this elevation range and these Bioregionss, the Plan Area supports approximately 11,660 acres of potential habitat for Cleveland's bush monkeyflower. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for Cleveland's bush monkeyflower. Overall, approximately 10,870 acres (93 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area are within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands including the Cleveland National Forest.
Within the 10,870 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 2,987 acres (27 percent) of potential habitat are designated as Wilderness Area and 3,391 acres (31 percent) are designated as Roadless Areas that do not include Range Allotments.
This species has two Core Areas (with several occurrences) within the Plan Area, on Santiago Peak in the Santa Ana Mountains and the northern slope of the Agua Tibia Mountains. Both localities are included within the Cleveland National Forest. Calflora Database contains six records at Santiago Peak, all of which will be conserved. Eight of the nine University of California, Riverside (UCR) GIS database and herbarium (Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens and UCR) occurrences will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
CLEVELAND'S BUSH MONKEYFLOWER
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Chaparral (above 914 m) | 9,280 | – – | 8,620 | 8,620 | 530 | 130 | 660 |
| Montane coniferous forest (above 914 m) | 80 | – – | 80 | 80 | – – | – – | 0 |
| Woodlands and forests (above 914 m) | 2,300 | – – | 2,170 | 2,170 | 120 | 10 | 130 |
| TOTAL | 11,660 | – – | 10,870 (93%) | 10,870 (93%) | 650 (6%) | 140 (1%) | 790 (7%) |
| 1 Vegetation includes the vegetation within the Santa Ana Mountains and Agua Tibia Mountains Bioregions only. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
The MSHCP assessment indicates that Cleveland's bush monkeyflower can be conserved at the landscape level because the species is habitat-specific and is restricted to the Peninsular Ranges. Conserving large blocks of land which contain suitable habitat will probably capture populations of Cleveland's bush monkeyflower.
The MSHCP Conservation Area configuration needs for this plant consist of conserving and managing the two known core locations. This plant can be found on xeric, metavolcanic or gabbroic soils in open areas and is often found near the summits of mountain peaks.
Several large blocks of habitat supporting Cleveland's bush monkeyflower are located within Public/Quasi-Public Lands, including the Santa Ana and Agua Tibia (Palomar) Mountains. The USFS lands are organized into large blocks of habitat which will protect this species from edge effects, provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat, and allow for pollination to occur, if pollinators are important in the reproductive cycle of this species.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 10,870 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and two core localities (Santa Ana Mountains and Agua Tibia Mountains) within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Approximately 790 acres of potential habitat for Cleveland's bush monkeyflower will not be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area. One of the records (in the foothills of the Agua Tibia Mountains) will not be conserved.
Data reviewed includes the UCR database, the CalFlora Database, herbaria at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens and UCR, and the California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB). No information was available from the CNDDB. The UCR database and herbaria contain nine records and the Calflora Database contains six records within the Plan Area. All occurrences are associated with the Santa Ana Mountains and the Agua Tibia Mountains.
Species specific studies for Cleveland's bush monkeyflower have not been located or reviewed. Taxonomic sources provide the primary literature sources for this species.
Cleveland's bush monkey flower is known to occur mostly above 914 m (3,000 feet) in chaparral and lower montane coniferous forests, especially on peaks and ridgelines (Boyd and Banks 1995). The microhabitat generally consists of open locales in xeric chaparral dominated by chamise, with exposed rocks nearby and shallow soils available (Reiser 1996). Chaparral pea (Pickeringia montana), southern mountain misery (Chamaebatia australis) and (Calamagrostis koelerioides) commonly co-occur with this species (Reiser 1996). The species appears to strictly follow metavolcanic and gabbroic soils in San Diego County (Reiser 1996), although Hirshberg (pers. com. Feb. 2000) has noticed this species growing in seeps in granitic outcrops and in the understory of oak woodlands.
This species is restricted to the Peninsular Ranges, occurring in the Santa Ana and Palomar (Agua Tibia) mountains southward into northern Baja California (Thompson 1993).
Cleveland's bush monkeyflower has been documented on Santiago Peak at several locations according to the Calflora Database, although there was only a single observation (1994) after 1962. This species is also known to occur on the north slopes of the Agua Tibia Mountains (Boyd and Banks 1995, Boyd, et al. 1995, Banks 1999). Both the Santa Ana Mountains locality and the Agua Tibia Mountains locality are considered core locations.
Genetics: Cleveland's bush monkeyflower is one of over 100 species in the genus Mimulus which belongs to the family Scrophulariaceae. It is sometimes segregated into the genus Diplacus (Boyd and Banks 1995) and hybridizes at low elevations with M. aurantiacus (Thompson 1993).
Reproduction: This species blooms from May to July (CNPS 2001). The tube-shaped yellow flowers are 35 to 40 mm long; the many seeded fruits are 10 to 12 mm long and split into four parts at the tip (Thompson 1993).
Dispersal: No information regarding dispersal was reviewed for this species.
Demography: Cleveland's bush monkeyflower is a woody perennial with stems 30 to 90 cm long (Thompson 1993).
Ridgeline and mountaintop impacts such as trails, roads, and activities surrounding transmitting equipment pose the greatest threat (Boyd and Banks 1995).
Cleveland's bush monkeyflower is a pioneering species that responds well to fire and to physical soil disturbance, as on landslides, firebreaks, road cuts, and along trails (Boyd and Banks 1995). The species appears to strictly follow metavolcanic and gabbroic soils (Reiser 1996), although has been identified growing in seeps in granitic outcrops and in the oak woodland understory.
Banks, D.L. 1999. A vascular flora of the Agua Tibia Mountains, Southern California. Ranch Santa Ana Botanic Gardens Special Publications No. 4, 109 pp.
Boyd, S. and D. Banks. 1995. A Botanical Assessment of the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area, Cleveland National Forest, California. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, California.
Boyd, S., T.S. Ross, O. Mistretta, and D. Bramlet. 1995. Vascular flora of the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness Area, Cleveland National Forest, California. Aliso 14:109.
Reiser. 1996. Rare Plants of San Diego County, 1996 edition. Unpublished. Aquafir Press, San Diego, California.
Skinner M.W., B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
Thompson, D.M. 1993. Mimulus in The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit.,University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
cliff cinquefoil (Potentilla rimicola)
State: None
Federal: None
Forest Service: Sensitive Species
CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 2-1-2)
Cliff cinquefoil is designated as a Group 2 species because it is restricted to the San Jacinto Mountains, primarily within USFS lands. Within the Plan Area, cliff cinquefoil is restricted to openings in upper-montane coniferous forest and subalpine coniferous forest at elevations between 2,390 m and 3,030 m within the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion. Cliff cinquefoil is a perennial plant which grows in granitic crevices within upper montane and subalpine coniferous forest.
The UCR database does not contain any occurrences for this species in the Plan Area. The CNDDB contains two occurrences in the Plan Area: in Dark Canyon and near Deer Spring in the San Jacinto Mountains.
The cliff cinquefoil is restricted to the San Jacinto Mountains and the MSHCP Conservation Area configuration is expected to provide long-term conservation of the species. However, due to the paucity of occurrence data, Incidental Take of this species is not included in this permit until conservation of the species in the Plan Area has been demonstrated by reaching Objective 3 below .
This species is designated as a Forest Service Sensitive Species which can be managed at the site specific level. Forest Service Sensitive Species are protected through the implementation of Forest Plans and the biological evaluation (BE) process, which considers the potential effects of Forest Service activities on these species.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 1,500 acres of suitable habitat (montane coniferous forest between 2,390 and 3,030 m within the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the two known localities of this species in Dark Canyon and near Deer Spring.
Within the MSHCP Conservation Area, confirm five localities (locality in this sense is not smaller than one quarter section).
Potential habitat for cliff cinquefoil consists of granite crevices and rocky sites within upper-montane coniferous forest and subalpine coniferous forest, at elevations of 2,390 to 3,030 m within the San Jacinto Mountains within Western Riverside County. Within this analysis, upper-montane coniferous forest and subalpine coniferous forest were categorized as montane coniferous forest. Based on this habitat, this elevation range, and this Bioregion the Plan Area supports approximately 1,510 acres of potential habitat for cliff cinquefoil. Table 1 shows the conservation of potential habitat for cliff cinquefoil. Overall, approximately 1,500 acres (100 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area are within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
CLIFF CINQUEFOIL
| Vegetation Type | MSHCP Plan Area1 (Acres) | Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Montane coniferous forest (between 2,390 m and 3,030 m) | 1,510 | – – | 1,500 | 1,500 | – – | 10 | 10 |
| TOTAL | 1,510 | 0 | 1,500 (100%) | 1,500 (100%) | 0 | 10 (less than 1%) | 10 (less than 1%) |
| 1 Vegetation includes the vegetation within the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion only. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
In order to conserve cliff cinquefoil, at least 906 acres (60 percent) of the species potential habitat will be conserved. None of the potential habitat for this species is located within the Criteria Area; therefore, approximately 906 acres (60 percent) of the potential habitat for cliff cinquefoil within USFS lands will be conserved and managed for the species. A total of 1,500 acres of potential habitat for this species is located on Public/Quasi-Public Lands and will be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Within the 1,500 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 298 acres (20 percent) of potential habitat are designated as Wilderness Area. There is no potential habitat for cliff cinquefoil that is designated as Roadless Area that do not include Range Allotments.
The two known locations (Dark Canyon and near Deer Spring in the San Jacinto Mountains) in the Plan Area are considered core locations. Both of these locations are within Public/Quasi-Public Lands.
Both the MSHCP and Forest Service assessment indicate that cliff cinquefoil can be conserved at the landscape level. Conserving large blocks of suitable habitat within the area of known occurrences will probably capture localities of cliff cinquefoil.
Several large blocks of habitat supporting cliff cinquefoil are located within the MSHCP Conservation Area, including the San Jacinto Mountains. As mentioned, approximately 1,500 acres (100 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area are within USFS lands. The USFS lands are organized into large blocks of habitat which will protect this species from edge effects, provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat, and allow for pollination to occur, if pollinators are important in the reproductive cycle of this species.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 1,500 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and two known localities within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.
Approximately 10 acres (less than 1 percent) of potential habitat for cliff cinquefoil will not be conserved. None of the known occurrences will be located outside of the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Data reviewed includes the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) and the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, and available literature. The UCR database does not contain any occurrences for this species in the Plan Area. The CNDDB contains two occurrences in the Plan Area: in Dark Canyon and near Deer Spring in the San Jacinto Mountains (CNDDB 2000).
Species-specific studies for this species have not been located or reviewed regarding genetics, habitat associations, reproduction, pollinators, germination, and dispersal. Taxonomic sources provide the primary literature source for this species.
Cliff cinquefoil occurs in granite crevices and rocky sites within upper-montane coniferous forest and subalpine coniferous forest, at elevations of 2,390 to 3,030 m (CNPS 2001; CNDDB 2000). At the location mapped near Deer Springs, cliff cinquefoil was recorded as occurring in crevices in a rock pinnacle (CNDDB 2000).
Cliff cinquefoil is restricted to the San Jacinto Mountains in Riverside County and the San Pedro Martir Mountains in northern Baja California (Munz 1974; Ertter 1993; CNPS 2001).
Only two occurrences of this species are known within the Plan Area, both within the San Jacinto Mountains. One locality is in Dark Canyon and the other locality is near Deer Spring in the San Jacinto Mountains (CNDDB 2000). Core locations of this species have not been identified within the Plan Area.
Genetics: Cliff cinquefoil is one of 24 species of the genus Potentilla, and is a member of the Rosaceae (Ertter 1993). No species-specific studies for this species regarding population genetics have been located or reviewed.
Reproduction: This species blooms from July through September (CNPS 2001). The inflorescences consist of 5 to 20 yellow flowers. The fruits consists of smooth, red-tipped achenes (1.5 mm long) (Ertter 1993). Information regarding pollinators was not reviewed.
Dispersal: No information regarding dispersal of this species was reviewed.
Demography: This herbaceous perennial hangs from a taproot anchored in granitic crevices. The stems range in length from 5 to 20 cm (Ertter 1993). Information regarding longevity was not reviewed.
The Forest Service Assessment reports that rock-climbing activities may impact this species.
All known populations of this species in the Plan Area occur within the San Jacinto Mountains of the San Bernardino National Forest.
California Natural Diversity Database. 2000. Potentilla rimicola. Unpublished Report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.
Ertter, B. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 1086 pp.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Skinner M.W. and B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
Stephenson, John R., Gena M. Calcarone. 1999. Southern California mountains and foothills assessment: habitat and species conservation issues. General Technical Report GTR-PSW-172. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, US Dept. of Agriculture; 402p.
Coulter's goldfields (Lasthenia glabrata ssp. coulteri)
State: None
Federal: None
CNPS: List 1B (R-E-D Code 2-3-2)
Coulter's goldfields is designated as a Group 3 species because of its limited geographic distribution and specialized habitat requirements and management requirements for floodplain processes. This species is primarily restricted to the alkali floodplains of the San Jacinto River, Mystic Lake and Salt Creek in association with Willows, Domino and Traver soils. Coulter's goldfields occurs as three core locations within the Plan Area. The largest and most significant populations are within the San Jacinto Wildlife Area and southern shores of Mystic Lake. This represents the largest remaining concentration of this species throughout its known range. Although currently suppressed by discing and dryland farming, the middle segment of the San Jacinto River represents a Core Area. A third Core Area is located on the alkali flats between Alberhill and Lake Elsinore. One population is known to occur on Salt Creek. Small, or historic populations, have also been reported from Anza, the vicinity of Murrieta and Temecula, the lake bed of Lake Elsinore, and at Woodcrest near Mockingbird Canyon. The current status of many of these smaller populations is unknown.
This is a species on the Additional Survey Needs and Procedures (Section 6.3.2) list and surveys for Coulter's goldfields will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Criteria Area where suitable habitat is present (see Criteria Area Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-2 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Coulter's goldfields located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2, MSHCP, Volume 1.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 6,900 acres of suitable habitat (grassland and playas and vernal pools within the San Jacinto River, Mystic Lake and Salt Creek portions of the MSHCP Conservation Area).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 20 of the known occurrences of this species, including the three Core Areas: the San Jacinto Wildlife Area and the southern shores of Mystic Lake, the middle segment of the San Jacinto River and a portion of the Alberhill locality.
Surveys for Coulter's goldfields will be conducted for public and private projects within the Criteria Area where suitable habitat is present (see Criteria Area Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-2 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Coulter's goldfields located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2 of the MSHCP, Volume 1.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the floodplain along the San Jacinto River consistent with Objective 1. Floodplain processes will be maintained along the river in order to provide for the distribution of the species to shift over time as hydrologic conditions and seed bank sources change. A potential future flood control project along the San Jacinto River designed and constructed consistent with the criteria for the San Jacinto River project presented in Section 7.0 of the MSHCP, Volume I and with the Are Plan Subunit guidelines for Subunit 1 of the Lakeview/Nuevo Area Plan and Subunit 4 of the Mead Valley Area Plan will be considered to be consistent with this objective.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the floodplain along Salt Creek generally in its existing condition from Warren Road to Newport Road and the vernal pools in Upper Salt Creek west of Hemet. Floodplain processes will be maintained within the linkage in order to provide for the distribution of the species to shift over time as hydrologic conditions and seed bank sources change.
For the purpose of the conservation analysis, potential habitat for Coulter's goldfields includes floodplains (seasonal wetlands) dominated by alkali scrub, alkali playas, vernal pools, and alkali grasslands. For purposes of this analysis, potential habitat was considered to be grasslands on alkali soils and playas and vernal pools within the Mystic Lake, San Jacinto River and Salt Creek areas. Based on these habitats, the Plan Area supports approximately 8,270 acres of potential habitat for Coulter's goldfields. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for the Coulter's goldfields. Overall, approximately 6,900 acres (83 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. It is assumed that these lands will be managed for biological resources, including Coulter's goldfields.
As stated above, Coulter's goldfields is restricted to clay and alkaline, silty-clay soils. These soil types exist on agricultural land, grassland, playas and vernal pools, and meadows and marshes. Table 2 shows the conservation and loss of Traver, Domino and Willows soils. Approximately 7,340 (40 percent) of these soils will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
COULTER'S GOLDFIELDS
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Grasslands3 | 650 | 180 | 40 | 220 | 0 | 430 | 430 |
| Playas and Vernal Pools | 7,620 | 3,810 | 2,870 | 6,680 | 0 | 940 | 940 |
| TOTAL | 8,270 | 3,990 (48%) | 2,910 (35%) | 6,900 (83%) | 0 (0%) | 1,370 (17%) | 1,370 (17%) |
| 1 Within the Mystic Lake, San Jacinto River and Salt Creek areas. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. 3 On alkali soils. | |||||||
TABLE 2
SUMMARY OF SOIL CONSERVATION
COULTER'S GOLDFIELDS
| Soil Type | Plan Area1 (Acres) | Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domino | 5,060 | 570 | 270 | 840 | 0 | 4,220 | 4,220 |
| Traver | 7,640 | 1,300 | 810 | 2,110 | 0 | 5,530 | 5,530 |
| Willows | 5,550 | 2,870 | 1,520 | 4,390 | 0 | 1,160 | 1,160 |
| TOTAL | 18,250 | 4,740(26%) | 2,600 (14%) | 7,340 (40%) | 0 (0%) | 10,910 (60%) | 10,910 (60%) |
| 1 Within the Mystic Lake, San Jacinto River and Salt Creek areas on agricultural land, grassland, playas and vernal pools, and meadows and marshes. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
Two of the three Core Areas (within the San Jacinto Wildlife Area and southern shores of Mystic Lake and along the middle segment of the San Jacinto River) will be conserved within the Criteria Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands, as will the population at Salt Creek. A portion of the Core Area at Alberhill will be conserved.
Two of the three known Core Areas of Coulter's goldfields will be conserved in the Criteria Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands. Moreover, the configuration of Criteria Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands provides for conservation of Mystic Lake and the reach of the San Jacinto River from a point upstream of the Ramona Expressway to the mouth of Railroad Canyon consistent with criteria incorporated in Subunit 1 of the Lakeview/Nuevo Area Plan and Subunit 4 of the Mead Valley Area Plan, as well as with the criteria for a potential future San Jacinto River project as described in Section 7.0 of the MSHCP, Volume I. Salt Creek will be generally conserved in its existing condition from Warren Road to Newport Road. This will provide for the distribution of the species to shift over time as hydrologic conditions and seed bank sources change.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 6,900 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and three core localities (the San Jacinto Wildlife Area and the southern shores of Mystic Lake; along the middle segment of the San Jacinto River; and a portion of the Core Area at Alberhill) within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring. Implementation of Objectives 4 and 5 for this species will maintain alluvial processes (floodplain hydrology and flooding) upon which this species depends.
Approximately 1,370 acres (17 percent) of potential habitat for Coulter's goldfields will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. Twenty-five of the 80 occurrences included in the UCR database, herbarium records and CNDDB will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. However, the current status of many of these small or historic populations (reported from Anza, the vicinity of Murrieta and Temecula, and at Woodcrest near Mockingbird Canyon) is unknown.
Data reviewed includes the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, the herbarium specimens at UCR and at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, Claremont, the California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB), and available literature.
The CNDDB includes 21 occurrences for western Riverside County. The UCR database and the two herbaria include 59 occurrences for this area. Most of the locations among the data sources overlap with about 60 percent of the locations reported between Mystic Lake and Nuevo along the San Jacinto River. Several of these records (Temecula, Lake Elsinore, Anza, and Murrieta) are based on pre-1940 records. The status of these localities are uncertain. The Lake Elsinore data (both sources) appear along the north shore of the Lake and probably are situated along the lake bed now cut off by an extensive levee. The data clearly identifies the San Jacinto River flood plain as a critical area for the species.
Ornduff (1966) includes the most comprehensive discussion regarding distribution, reproductive biology, and seed dispersal in his monograph of the genus. The Service discusses conservation and threats to the alkali habitat in the 1998 final rule to add San Jacinto Crownscale and spreading navarretia to the list of threatened and endangered species (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). These species have similar habitat requirements in Riverside County.
Coulter's goldfields is associated with low-lying alkali habitats along the coast and in inland valleys (Ornduff 1966). The majority of the populations are associated with coastal salt marsh. In Riverside County, Coulter's goldfields occurs primarily in highly alkaline, silty-clay soils in association with the Traver, Domino and Willows soils. Most Riverside County populations are associated with the Willows soil series. Coulter's goldfields occur primarily in the alkali vernal plains community (Ferren and Fiedler 1993; Bramlet 1993b). These are floodplains dominated by alkali scrub, alkali playas, vernal pools, and, alkali grasslands (Bramlet 1993, CNDDB 2000). These habitats form mosaics that are largely dependent on salinity and micro-elevational differences. Coulter's goldfields occurs in wetter areas. California goldfields (L. californica) occurs sympatrically both at Salt Creek and along the San Jacinto River. California goldfields is the dominant of the pair at Salt Creek. The reverse is true at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area and along the San Jacinto River (Dave Bramlet 1993; F. Roberts, botanist, pers. comm., 2000).
In Riverside County, Coulter's goldfields is associated with seablite (Suaeda moquinii), alkali weed (Cressa truxillensis), wire-stem popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys leptocladus), sand spurry (Spergularia marina), California goldfields (Lasthenia californica), Mojave silver scale (Atriplex argentea), bracted saltbush (A. serenana), five-hook bassia (Bassia hyssopifolia), sharp-tooth peppergrass (Lepidium dictyotum), dwarf peppergrass (Lepidium latipes), alkali heath (Frankenia grandifolia), and toad rush (Juncus bufonius) (Bramlet 1993a; Bramlet 1993b; CNDDB 2000). Coulters goldfields are frequently associated with other rare species, including San Jacinto Valley crownscale, Davidson's saltscale, vernal barley, smooth tarplant, and thread-leaved brodiaea (Bramlet 1993b).
Coulter's goldfields is distributed from coastal San Luis Obispo County south through coastal Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, Los Angeles to San Diego County and northwestern Baja California from sea level to about 1,000 meters (Ornduff 1966; Munz 1974; Ornduff 1993; Reiser 1996). Interior valley populations have been recorded from the Carrizo Plain of San Luis Obispo County south through Tehachapi (Kern County), Twenty Nine Palms (San Bernardino County), and cismontane western Riverside County, to the Ojos Negros Valley east of Ensenada, Mexico (Munz 1974; Ornduff 1993; Reiser 1996; CNDDB 2000). Coulter's goldfields has also been reported from Santa Rosa Island. The CNDDB reports this plant from Tulare and Colusa Counties. However, these reports were made based on specimens annotated by Ornduff as Lasthenia glabrata ssp. coulteri predating his 1966 monograph. Ornduff (1966) excluded these counties from the range of this species. While having a relatively broad distribution, Coulter's goldfield is extremely spotty and isolated within that distribution (Ornduff 1966).
Coulter's goldfields is known primarily from four areas in western Riverside County: Mystic Lake and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area; along the San Jacinto River from Lake View, Nuevo, and Perris to Railroad Canyon; Salt Creek; and the alkali wetlands near Nichols Road in the City of Lake Elsinore (Bramlet 1993; CNDDB 2000). Small, or historic populations, have also been reported from Anza, the vicinity of Murrieta and Temecula, the lake bed of Lake Elsinore, and at Woodcrest near Mockingbird Canyon. The current status of many of these smaller populations is unknown. The San Jacinto River population complex is the largest remaining population representing 70 to 90 percent of all Coulter's goldfields known (CNDDB 2000; F. Roberts, pers. comm., 1999). A significant proportion of this population is on the San Jacinto Wildlife Area. The alkali wetlands in Warm Springs Valley near Nichols Road support a moderate-sized population reported to be at least 1,500 individuals or larger. Salt Creek supports a small population (Recon 1994; CNDDB 2000).
There are three Core Areas within the Plan Area. The largest and most significant occurrences are within the San Jacinto Wildlife Area and southern shores of Mystic Lake. This represents the largest remaining concentration of this species throughout its known range. Although currently suppressed by discing and dryland farming, the middle segment of the San Jacinto River represents a Core Area. The third Core Area is located on the alkali flats between Alberhill and Lake Elsinore.
Genetics: Coulter's goldfields, a member of the Asteraceae, is one of 17 species within the genus Lasthenia (Ornduff 1993). Lasthenia is found in western North America and Chile. Coulter's goldfields is a member of the Section Hologymne, a small group of three species distinguished by achene and receptacle morphology (Ornduff 1966). Members of the Section Hologymne are characteristically associated with alkali habitats and are similar in overall appearance and low genetic diversity (Ornduff 1966). Ornduff found that the genus Lasthenia as a group does not hybridize readily outside Sections. In Riverside County, Coulter's goldfield is sympatric with California goldfield but the two species do not hybridize. The meiotic chromosome number of Coulter's goldfield is n=7, which is typical of most members of the genus (Ornduff 1966).
Reproduction: Coulter's goldfields flowers from February through June (CNPS 2001). Studies by Ornduff (1966) summarize the reproductive biology of the genus Lasthenia, including Coulter's goldfield. Coulter's goldfield has well developed perfect disk flowers and pistate ray flowers, and like the majority of Lasthenia species, is strongly self-incompatible and is a strong outbreeder (Ornduff 1966). The anthers of self-incompatible species elongate rapidly and produce much pollen which is available for flies, solitary bees, beetles, and moths. Flower-loving flies (Syrphidae) have been identified as one of the most important pollinators in this genus. Once dispersed, fruits have a short dormancy period in which they will not germinate (Ornduff 1966).
Dispersal: Coulter's goldfields has united and persistent bracts. Ornduff (1966) speculates that this cuplike structure may serve as a catapult by throwing the fruit when moved by strong wind or passing animals.
Demography: Coulter's goldfields is a low, often succulent, annual with yellow flowers (Ornduff 1966; Munz 1974).
Coulter's goldfields is declining severely over the majority of its historic range. Coulter's goldfields is presumed extirpated from Kern, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino Counties. It is severely declining in Orange and San Diego. In Riverside County, this species and its habitat are threatened by the same activities that threaten San Jacinto Valley crownscale: habitat destruction and fragmentation from urban and agricultural development, pipeline construction, alteration of hydrology and flood plain dynamics, excessive flooding, channelization, off road vehicle activity, trampling by cattle and sheep, weed abatement, fire suppression practices (including discing and plowing), and competition from alien plant species (CNDDB 2000; U.S. Fish and Wildlife 1998).
Coulter's goldfields has a patchy distribution within this habitat and its spatial distribution shifts over time as conditions and seed banks change. Like other species dependent on alkali wetlands, this species likely requires significantly more habitat than is occupied during any one season to maintain population dynamics within the watershed and microhabitat diversity upon which this taxon depends (Ornduff 1966; Bramlet 1993b; F. Roberts, pers. comm., 1999). Coulter's goldfields requires irregular seasonal inundation or flooding for seed dispersal, germination, and habitat maintenance. This plant is restricted to wetter areas within the alkali habitat, particularly lake margins, playa borders, and vernal pools. Coulter's goldfields usually flowers from February through June (CNPS 2001). Because of its annual habit and reliance on periodic inundation, population size varies considerably from year to year, and can be difficult to recognize in dry years or after recent disturbance such as discing. Habitat that is impacted by discing or dry land farming activities may require several years without disturbance before reforming after flooding events or a wet winter.
While Coulter's goldfields does not hybridize with other goldfields, it relies on wetland mosaics and conversion to upland areas will favor California goldfields where the two species occur sympatrically.
While fairing better than other alkali dependent species, about half of the remaining suitable habitat for this species has been impacted by discing for fuel modification, dry land farming activities. The near absence of Coulter's goldfields from the Salt Creek area maybe a result of drains installed about 1989. Strongly dependent wetland plants such as spike rush (Eleocharis palustris) were still relatively common until about 1992 but have retreated as the site has dried out and discing has become more frequent. Ornduff (1966) found that most viable seeds germinated with rains following seed set. Thus, it is likely that there is little long-term seed storage. Coulter's goldfields may have to recolonize disturbed areas rather than rely on seed banks. This would appear true in Riverside County were the species is very common in moist undisturbed sites and rare in disturbed areas. Therefore, defacto conservation of habitat may not be enough to assure long-term conservation and it will also be necessary to restore habitat within these areas to allow Coulter's goldfields to recolonize, or reintroduce the species to these areas.
Bramlet, D. 1993a. A checklist of the vascular plants of the San Jacinto River and Salt Creek Areas, Riverside County, California. Unpublished.
Bramlet, D. 1993b. Plant Species of Special Concern in the Alkaline Sinks of the San Jacinto River and Old Salt Creek Tributary Area. Unpublished.
California Natural Diversity Database 2000. Lasthenia glabrata ssp. coulteri, unpublished report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.
Ferren, W.R., and P.L. Fiedler 1993. Rare and threatened wetlands of Central and Southern California, in Interface between Ecology and Land Development in California, J.E. Keely editor, Southern California Academy of Sciences, Los Angeles.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Ornduff, R. 1966. A biosystematic survey of the goldfield genus Lasthenia (Compositae: Helenieae). University of California Publications in Botany 40: 1-92.
Ornduff, R. 1993. Lasthenia in The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Recon 1994. The distribution, status, and conservation of vernal pool and alkali playa wetlands of the Upper Salt Creek drainage, Hemet, California. Unpubl. Rep. prepared for the City of Hemet, California.
Skinner M.W., B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998. Determination of endangered or threatened status for four southwestern California plants from vernal wetlands and clay soils. 63 FR 54975.
Coulter's matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri)
State: None
Federal: None
Forest Service: None
CNPS: List 4 (RED Code 1-2-3)
Coulter's matilija poppy is designated as a Group 1 species because it has a wide distribution throughout the Plan Area within suitable habitat. Coulter's matilija poppy is known from the confluence of Leach and Dickey Canyons; Alberhill (Mountain Avenue and canyons near Alberhill); Fresno Canyon and Wardlow Canyon west of Corona; and the Gavilan Plateau; Temescal Canyon near Glen Eden and Hagador Canyon; and Horsethief Canyon. Coulter's matilija poppy occurs in dry washes and canyons below 1,200 m in open, mildly disturbed sage scrub, chaparral and along rocky drainages.
The University of California, Riverside (UCR) database has 35 occurrence points for this species, the majority of which occur in the Santa Ana Mountains and east to Temescal Canyon. The herbaria at UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens contain eight records of this species, scattered from the Santa Ana Mountains east to the Gavilan Plateau.
The Coulter's matilija poppy is restricted to the eastern slopes and foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. Most of the records for this species are outside of the proposed MSHCP Conservation Area. However, the existing records are not believed to be indicative of the distribution of this species and the MSHCP Conservation Area configuration is expected to provide long-term conservation of the species. Incidental Take of this species is not included in this permit until conservation of the species in the Plan Area has been demonstrated by reaching Objective 2 below .
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area 65,350 acres of chaparral and 5,300 acres of coastal sage scrub below 1,200 feet on Forest Service and Public/Quasi-Public Lands within the Santa Ana Mountains Bioregion.
Within the MSHCP Conservation Area, confirm 30 localities (locality in this sense is not smaller than one quarter section).
Potential habitat for the Coulter's matilija poppy includes chaparral and coastal sage scrub below 1,200 m on the eastern slope and foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. Based on habitat, elevation, and location, the Plan Area supports approximately 97,380 acres of potential habitat for the Coulter's matilija poppy. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for the Coulter's matilija poppy. Overall, approximately 70,650 acres (73 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. It is assumed that these lands will be managed for biological resources, including Coulter's matilija poppy.
In order to adequately conserve Coulter's matilija poppy, at least 58,428 acres (60 percent) of the species potential habitat will be conserved. The MSHCP proposes conservation of 72 percent of potential habitat for this species. Approximately 3,800 acres (4 percent) of potential habitat are within the Criteria Area and an additional 66,850 acres (69 percent)of the potential habitat for Coulter's matilija poppy within the existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands designation, including USFS lands, will be conserved for the species. Within the 66,850 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 25,624 acres (26 percent) of potential habitat is designated as Wilderness Area and 8,197 acres (8 percent) is designated as Roadless Areas that do not include Range Allotments.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
COULTER'S MATILIJA POPPY
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Chaparral (below 1,200 m) | 84,920 | 3,460 | 61,890 | 65,350 | 16,600 | 2,970 | 19,570 |
| Coastal Sage Scrub (below 1,200 m) | 12,460 | 340 | 4,960 | 5,300 | 6,240 | 920 | 7,160 |
| TOTAL | 97,380 | 3,800 (4%) | 66,850 (69%) | 70,650 (73%) | 22,840 (23%) | 3,890 (4%) | 26,730 (27%) |
| 1 Vegetation includes the vegetation within the Santa Ana Mountains Bioregion. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
Of 43 records of Coulter's matilija poppy within the Plan Area, 15 are within the MSHCP Conservation Area. Of the conserved localities, eight occur in the Santa Ana Mountains and foothills, four occur along Temescal Canyon, one occurs in the Norco Hills, one occurs at Lake Elsinore, and one occurs at Sycamore Canyon.
Additional conservation of Coulter's matilija poppy will result from implementation of the MSHCP Wetland Avoidance Policy (Section 6.1.2). Coulter's matilija poppy is known to occur in dry washes and canyons which may support wetlands. Project-by-project review in accordance within the MSHCP Riparian/Riverine Areas and Vernal Pools Policy will include special consideration of proposed impacts to wetlands and adjacent uplands. Avoidance and minimization measures with regard to wetlands and edge treatment areas will aid in the conservation of potential habitat for Coulter's matilija poppy.
MSHCP Conservation Area configuration provides for conservation of the majority of potential habitat for the species and provides linkages between Core Areas of habitat conservation. Conservation of suitable habitat within large blocks of land will protect this species from edge effects, provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat, and allow for pollination to occur, if pollinators are important in the reproductive cycle of this species.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 70,650 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and 25 known localities within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
About 26,730 acres of potential habitat for the Coulter's matilija poppy will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. Twenty-eight of the 43 known occurrences are located outside the MSHCP Conservation Area, primarily in the vicinity of Woodcrest, on the Gavilan Plateau, the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains.
Data reviewed includes the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), the herbaria at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, the UCR database, and available literature. The CNDDB does not include mapped locations for this species. The UCR database contains 35 mapped data point, the majority of which occur in the Santa Ana Mountains and east to Temescal Canyon. The two herbaria contain eight records for this species, scattered primarily from the Santa Ana Mountains east to the Gavilan Plateau.
Species-specific studies for Coulter's matilija poppy have not been located or reviewed regarding genetics, habitat associations, reproduction, pollinators, germination and dispersal. Taxonomic sources provide the primary literature source for this species.
Coulter's matilija poppy occurs in dry washes and canyons below 1,200 m in open, mildly disturbed sage scrub, chaparral and along rocky drainages (Munz 1974; Clark 1993). Mature chaparral and sage scrub may limit expansion of this species (Reiser 1996).
Coulter's matilija poppy is restricted to the eastern slope and foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains and Chino Hills in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties (Reiser 1996). This species most frequently occurs on the western and eastern flanks and base of the northern half of the Santa Ana Mountains but is also associated with the southern quarter of the Gavilan Hills (Steve Boyd, pers. comm.).
In Western Riverside County, Coulter's matilija poppy is known from the confluence of Leach and Dickey Canyons; Alberhill (Mountain Avenue and canyons near Alberhill); Fresno Canyon and Wardlow Canyon west of Corona; and the Gavilan Plateau; Temescal Canyon near Glen Eden and Hagador Canyon; and Horsethief Canyon (UCR database; herbarium records at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens; Reiser 1996). This species is known historically from the Santa Ana Mountains (UCR database). Banks (1999) notes an occurrence near Pechanga, southeast of Temecula. Core locations of this species have not been identified within the Plan Area.
Genetics: Coulter's matilija poppy is a member of the Papaveraceae and is one of two species of Romneya (Munz 1974).
Reproduction: The showy flowers of Coulter's matilija poppy bloom from May through July (Munz 1974; CNPS 2001). The petals are crinkled and white and range in length from 6 to 10 cm. The dehiscent fruit capsules are 3 to 4 cm long and contain dark brown seeds (1.3 to 1.5 mm long) (Munz 1974; Clark 1993).
Dispersal: No information regarding dispersal of this species was reviewed.
Demography: This perennial herb ranges in height from 1 to 2.5 m in height (Munz 1974).
Coulter's matilija poppy is threatened by urbanization, agricultural conversion, flood control measures, and road widening and maintenance (CNPS 2001).
This species often occurs in burned areas which may result in shifts in potential habitat (CNPS 2001).
Banks, D.L. 1999. A vascular flora of the Agua Tibia Mountains, Southern California. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens Special Publications No. 4. 109 pp.
Clark, C. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 1086 pp.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Reiser, C. H. 1996. Rare Plants of San Diego County. Unpublished. Aquafir Press, Imperial Beach, California.
Skinner M.W. and B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society''s Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
Davidson's saltscale (Atriplex serenana var. davidsonii)
State: None
Federal: None
CNPS: List 1B (Red Code: 3-2-2)
Davidson's saltscale is designated as a Group 3 species because of its limited geographic distribution and specialized habitat requirements and management requirements for floodplain processes. This species is primarily restricted to the alkali floodplains of the San Jacinto River, Mystic Lake and Salt Creek in association with Willows, Domino and Traver soils. Populations are known from the Upper Salt Creek drainage area west of Hemet and along the San Jacinto River floodplain from Mystic Lake south to the Ramona Expressway where it occurs in small, patchy populations. The Salt Creek populations appear to represent the largest remaining concentrations of this species known to exist. This species may also occur in the vicinity of the Nichols Road wetlands at Alberhill and Murrieta Hot Springs.
This is a species on the Additional Survey Needs and Procedures (Section 6.3.2) list and surveys for Davidson's saltscale will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Criteria Area where suitable habitat is present (see Criteria Area Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-2 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Davidson's saltscale located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2, MSHCP, Volume 1.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 6,900 acres of suitable habitat (grassland and playas and vernal pools within the San Jacinto River, Mystic Lake and Salt Creek portions of the MSHCP Conservation Area).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the three known localities of Davidson's saltscale at Salt Creek, the San Jacinto River and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area.
Surveys for the Davidson's saltscale will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Criteria Area where suitable habitat is present (see Criteria Area Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-2 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Davidson's saltscale located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2 of the MSHCP, Volume 1.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the floodplain along the San Jacinto River consistent with Objective 1. Floodplain processes will be maintained along the river in order to provide for the distribution of the species to shift over time as hydrologic conditions and seed bank sources change. A potential future flood control project along the San Jacinto River designed and constructed consistent with the criteria for the San Jacinto River project presented in Section 7.0 of the MSHCP, Volume I and with the Area Plan Subunit guidelines for Subunit 1 of the Lakeview/Nuevo Area Plan and Subunit 4 of the Mead Valley Area Plan will be considered to be consistent with this objective.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the floodplain along Salt Creek generally in its existing condition from Warren Road to Newport Road and the vernal pools in Upper Salt Creek west of Hemet. Floodplain processes will be maintained within the linkage in order to provide for the distribution of the species to shift over time as hydrologic conditions and seed bank sources change.
Suitable habitat for Davidson's saltscale includes floodplains (seasonal wetlands) dominated by alkali scrub, alkali playas, vernal pools, and alkali grasslands. For purposes of this analysis, potential habitat was considered to be grasslands on alkali soils and playas and vernal pools within the Mystic Lake, San Jacinto River and Salt Creek areas. Based on these habitats, the Plan Area supports approximately 8,270 acres of potential habitat for the Davidson's saltscale. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for the Davidson's saltscale. Overall, approximately 6,900 acres (83 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. It is assumed that these lands will be managed for biological resources, including Davidson's saltscale.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
DAVIDSON'S SALTSCALE
| Vegetation Type | MSHCP Plan Area1 (Acres) | Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Grasslands3 | 650 | 180 | 40 | 220 | 0 | 430 | 430 |
| Playas and Vernal Pools | 7,620 | 3,810 | 2,870 | 6,680 | 0 | 940 | 940 |
| TOTAL | 8,270 | 3,990 (48%) | 2,910 (35%) | 6,900 (83%) | 0 (0%) | 1,370 (17%) | 1,370 (17%) |
| 1 Within the Mystic Lake, San Jacinto River and Salt Creek areas. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. 3 On alkali soils. | |||||||
As stated above, Davidson's saltscale is restricted to highly alkaline, silty-clay soils in association with Traver, Domino, and Willows soils. Within the Mystic Lake, San Jacinto River and Salt Creek areas, there are approximately 8,270 acres of these soil types on agricultural land, grassland, playas and vernal pools, and meadows and marshes. Table 2 shows the conservation and loss of Traver, Domino and Willows soils. Approximately 7,340 (40 percent) of these soils will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.
TABLE 2
SUMMARY OF SOIL CONSERVATION
DAVIDSON'S SALTSCALE
| Soil Type | MSHCP Plan Area1 (Acres) | Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Domino | 5,060 | 570 | 270 | 840 | 0 | 4,220 | 4,220 |
| Traver | 7,640 | 1,300 | 810 | 2,110 | 0 | 5,530 | 5,530 |
| Willows | 5,550 | 2,870 | 1,520 | 4,390 | 0 | 1,160 | 1,160 |
| TOTAL | 18,250 | 4,740 (26%) | 2,600 (14%) | 7,340 (40%) | 0 (0%) | 10,910 (60%) | 10,910 (60%) |
| 1 Within the Mystic Lake, San Jacinto River and Salt Creek areas on agricultural land, grassland, playas and vernal pools, and meadows and marshes. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
The known core locations (comprised of three localities) at Salt Creek west of Hemet, the San Jacinto Wildlife Area and along the middle segment of the San Jacinto River will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands. Additional occurrences discovered within the Criteria Area along the lower segment of the San Jacinto River and potential populations at the Nichols Road wetlands and near Murrieta Hot Springs will be conserved in accordance with Section 6.3.2 of the MSHCP, Volume I.
All of the core locations of Davidson's saltscale will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area or Public/Quasi-Public Lands. Moreover, the configuration of the Criteria Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands provides for conservation of Mystic Lake and the reach of the San Jacinto River from a point upstream of the Ramona Expressway to the mouth of Railroad Canyon consistent with criteria incorporated in Subunit 1 of the Lakeview/Nuevo Area Plan and Subunit 4 of the Mead Valley Area Plan, as well as with the criteria for a potential future San Jacinto River project as described in Section 7.0 of the MSHCP Volume I. Due to the dependence of this species on floodplain hydrology and flooding, local densities are expected to fluctuate.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 6,900 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and three core localities (Salt Creek west of Hemet, the San Jacinto Wildlife Area and along the middle segment of the San Jacinto River) and two potential locations (Nichols Road wetlands and near Murrieta Hot Springs) within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area. Moreover, the configuration of the Criteria Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands provides for maintenance of floodplain processes along Salt Creek and the San Jacinto River as described above. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.
Approximately 1,370 acres (17 percent) of potential habitat for Davidson's saltscale will not be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Data reviewed includes the herbarium specimens at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, Clairmont, the University of California, Riverside, GIS database, the California Natural Diversity Data Base (CDFG), and available literature.
The CNDDB includes seven occurrences located along the San Jacinto River and at Salt Creek near Hemet. The UCR database and herbarium records include four records at two localities, one in close agreement with CNDDB localities on the San Jacinto River, and a second located near Homeland. This latter site, although given a high precision code, actually represents the Salt Creek population about two miles to the southeast. The CNDDB records are included under Atriplex pacifica. Herbarium specimens at Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden closely match the CNDDB records.
Little literature was located regarding this species. Most of what is available relates to systematics. No literature was located or reviewed at this time regarding reproduction or dispersal.
In Riverside County, Davidson's saltscale is found in the Domino, Willows and Traver soils series in association with the alkali vernal pools, alkali annual grassland, alkali playa, and alkali scrub components of alkali vernal plains (Munz 1974; Bramlet 1993; CNPS 2001; Ogden 1996; Ferren and Fielder 1993). At Salt Creek Davidson's saltscale is associated with woolly marbles (Psilocarphus brevisimmus), alkali weed (Cressa truxillensis), wire-stem popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys leptocladus), California goldfields (Lasthenia californica), hairgrass (Deschamspia danthoides), Mojave silver scale (Atriplex argentea), bracted saltbush (A. serenana), sharp-tooth peppergrass (Lepidium dictyotum), dwarf peppergrass (Lepidium latipes), alkali plantain (Plantago elongata), little mousetail (Myosurus minimus var. apus) and toad rush (Juncus bufonius) (Bramlet 1993a; Bramlet 1993b). At Salt Creek, Davidson's saltscale is associated with other rare species, including San Jacinto Valley crownscale, Parish's brittlescale, vernal barley, smooth tarplant, and thread-leaved brodiaea (Bramlet 1993b).
Davidson's saltscale is only definitely known to occur in cismontane southwestern California from Ventura County (Ojai), western Orange County (Seal Beach, San Joaquin Freshwater Marsh, Newport Backbay) in western Riverside County (Bramlet 1993; Roberts 1997; CNDDB 2000). Historically, this species has also been reported in coastal Santa Barbara County, three locations in Los Angeles County, Laguna Beach in Orange County, and possibly three locations in San Diego County (Hall and Clements 1923; Taylor and Wilken 1993; Reiser 1996; Roberts 1997; CNDDB 2000). There is also a 1930 record for Santa Cruz Island (CNDDB 2000) and an old record for the Coronado Islands in extreme northwestern Baja California, Mexico (Hall and Clements 1923). The distribution of this species outside the United States is poorly known. This species is extremely rare outside of Riverside County.
Within the Plan Area, Davidson's saltscale is known to occur in the Upper Salt Creek drainage area west of Hemet and along the San Jacinto River floodplain from Mystic Lake south to the Ramona Expressway where it occurs in small, patchy populations (Bramlet 1993; CNDDB 2000; Ogden 1996). Suitable habitat along the San Jacinto River extends south at least to the I-215 and possibly Perris Airport; however, these areas have not been surveyed. The Salt Creek populations appear to represent the largest remaining concentrations of this species known to exist. This species may also occur in the vicinity of the Nichols Road wetlands at Alberhill and Murrieta Hot Springs. The Davidson's saltscale occurrences at Salt Creek west of Hemet, the middle segment of the San Jacinto River, and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area are the core locations. The lower segment of the San Jacinto River (Perris to Canyon Lake) and the Nichols Road wetlands near Alberhill may also prove to be core locations when better understood.
Genetics: Davidson's saltscale, a member of the Chenopodiaceae, is one of about 250 species of saltbush distributed around the world. It is closely allied to Pacific saltbush (A. pacifica).
Reproduction: This species blooms from May to October (Munz 1974). There is little literature regarding pollination and germination was located or reviewed at this time. Davidson's saltscale produces male and female flowers in separate clusters. The flower is obscure and small. The seeds are 1 to 1.3 mm long (Munz 1974).
Dispersal: No literature regarding dispersal was located or reviewed at this time.
Demography: Davidson's saltscale is a low annual with branches reaching one meter in length (Taylor and Wilken 1993).
Davidson's saltscale is declining throughout much of its range. In Riverside County, this species and its habitat are threatened by the same activities that threaten San Jacinto Valley crownscale: habitat destruction and fragmentation from urban and agricultural development, pipeline construction, alteration of hydrology and floodplain dynamics, excessive flooding, channelization, off road vehicle activity, trampling by cattle and sheep, weed abatement, fire suppression practices (including discing and plowing), and competition from alien plant species (CNDDB 2000; U.S. Fish and Wildlife 1998).
Low, obscure, and difficult to distinguish from other saltbushes. Like other species dependent on alkali wetlands, this species likely requires significantly more habitat than is occupied during any one season to maintain population dynamics within the watershed and microhabitat diversity upon which this taxon depends (Bramlet 1993; F. Roberts, botanist, pers. comm. 1999). Because of its annual habit and reliance on periodic inundation, population size varies considerably from year to year. This species can be difficult to recognize in dry years or after recent disturbance such as discing. Habitat that is impacted by discing or dry land farming activities may require several years without disturbance before reforming after flooding events or a wet winter.
Much of the remaining suitable habitat for this species has been impacted by discing for fuel modification, dry land farming activities. Therefore, defacto conservation of habitat may not be enough to assure long-term conservation and it will also be necessary to restore habitat within these areas to allow Davidson's saltscale to recolonize, or reintroduce the species to these areas.
The identification of this form of saltscale in Riverside County is somewhat problematic and uncertain. Local botanists were unable to place it positively when rediscovered in 1990. Dean Taylor indicated that it was closely affiliated with or conspecific with Atriplex pacifica in 1992. More recently, it has been determined to be A. davidsonii (A. serenana var. davidsonii of authors). However, it is possible that the Riverside material represents a distinct undescribed species that would be endemic to western Riverside County. Regardless of its taxonomic status, it is an extremely rare saltbush.
Local botanists believe that the known occurrences of Coulter's saltbush (A. coulteri) at Salt Creek west of Hemet, Mystic Lake and Murrieta may have been misidentified and are actually Davidson's saltscale (Andy Sanders, Dave Bramlet, pers. com.).
Bramlet, D. 1993a. A checklist of the vascular plants of the San Jacinto River and Salt Creek Areas, Riverside County, California. Unpublished.
Bramlet, D. 1993b. Plant species of special concern in the alkaline sinks of the San Jacinto River and the Old Salt Creek tributary area. Unpublished report.
California Natural Diversity Database 2000. Atriplex serenana var. davidsonii, unpublished report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.
Ferren, W.R., and P.L. Fiedler 1993. Rare and threatened wetlands of Central and Southern California, in Interface between Ecology and Land Development in California, J.E. Keely editor, Southern California Academy of Sciences, Los Angeles.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Ogden 1996. Mitigation site surveys for the Eastside Pipeline project. Prepared for Metropolitan Water District of southern California, Los Angeles, California.
Reiser 1996. Rare Plants of San Diego County, 1996 edition. Unpublished. Aquafir Press, San Diego, California.
Roberts, F.M. 1997. Orange County Flora Data Base. Unpublished report, F.M. Roberts Publications, Encinitas, California.
Skinner M.W., B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
Taylor, D. and D. Wilken. 1993. Atriplex, in The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit.,University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Engelmann oak (Quercus engelmannii)
State: None
Federal: None
Forest Service: Local Viability Concern
CNPS: List 4 ( R-E-D Code 1-2-2)
Engelmann oak is designated as a Group 2 species because of its specialized habitat requirements and limited distribution within the Plan Area. Engelmann oak is restricted to southern oak woodlands and riparian/oak woodlands. Although 75 occurrences of Engelmann oak have been recorded within western Riverside County, the majority of stands in the Plan Area occur in a twelve-by-twelve-mile area around the Santa Rosa Plateau in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. Engelmann oaks are found on the Plateau in both the open or savannah phase and the riparian phase.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 19,070 acres of suitable habitat (woodlands and forests, including riparian, where they occur below 1,325 m within the Santa Ana, Riverside Lowlands and San Jacinto Foothills Bioregions).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 33 known occurrences of this species, including the core locations at the Santa Rosa Plateau and in the Santa Ana Mountains.
Within the MSHCP Conservation Area, maintain recruitment at a minimum of 80 percent of the conserved populations as measured by the presence/absence of seedlings and/or saplings across any consecutive five years.
Plant communities which provide potential habitat for Engelmann oak were considered to include woodlands and forests, including riparian, where they occur below 1,325 m within the Santa Ana, Riverside Lowlands and San Jacinto Foothills Bioregions. The Plan Area supports approximately 28,370 acres of potential habitat for Engelmann oak. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for Engelmann oak; overall, approximately 19,070 acres (66 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area. These public lands will be managed for the conservation of biological resources, including Engelmann oak.
The California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) has two records for Engelmann oak; one at Alberhill and the other at Murrieta Hot Springs. Both are conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. Seventy-three records are known from the University of California, Riverside, (UCR) GIS database and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens and UCR herbaria. The occurrences for Engelmann oak range from the Gilman Hot Springs west to Alberhill and the Santa Rosa Plateau and southeast to Vail Lake. Thirty-one of the 73 occurrences will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area, including the single Core Area at the Santa Rosa Plateau and localities in the Santa Ana Mountains within the Cleveland National Forest, in the vicinity of Vail Lake, Aguanga, Sage, Lake Elsinore, Portrero Creek and the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. Of the 42 occurrences not conserved, 29 are located within the Rural/Mountainous area. Although this area will not be included in the managed MSHCP Conservation Area, given the anticipated levels of development in the Rural/Mountainous designation areas, it is anticipated that Engelmann oak will persist in these areas.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
ENGELMANN OAK
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Riparian scrub, woodland, and forest below 1,325 m | 13,460 | 3,720 | 6,730 | 10,450 | 350 | 2,660 | 3,010 |
| Non-riparian woodlands and forests below 1,325 m | 14,910 | 2,020 | 6,600 | 8,620 | 4,140 | 2,150 | 6,290 |
| TOTAL | 28,370 | 5,740 (20%) | 13,330 (47%) | 19,070 (67%) | 4,490 (16%) | 4,810 (17%) | 9,300 (33%) |
| 1 Vegetation includes the vegetation within the Santa Ana, Riverside Lowlands and San Jacinto Foothills Bioregions. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
A total of 4,490 acres (16 percent) of potential habitat is designated Rural/Mountainous, and 32 of the known populations occur in the Rural/Mountainous area, which will permit 1 DU/10, 20, or 40 acres depending on slope. Development activities will include clearing of homesites and ancillary uses such as livestock corrals, fire/brush management, and roads. Although this area will not be included in the managed MSHCP Conservation Area, given the anticipated levels of development in the Rural/Mountainous designation areas, it is anticipated that Engelmann oak will persist in these areas.
The MSHCP and the Forest Service Assessment indicate that Engelmann oak can be conserved at the landscape level. Therefore, conserving large blocks of land which contain suitable habitat will probably capture populations of Engelmann oak.
MSHCP Conservation Area configuration provides for conservation of the majority of potential habitat for the species. Specifically, the MSHCP Conservation Area configuration provides for conservation of large blocks of potential habitat within the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains and the Santa Rosa Plateau, as well as connectivity between the large habitat blocks. Plant distribution and abundance may be influenced by browsing activities, seed dispersal, germination, juxtaposition of suitable habitat patches, invasives and patch size. The Conservation Strategy for this species is based on the preservation of this species within a larger landscape that will provide for important life history functions.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 19,070 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and 33 known localities within large blocks of habitat and linkages in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.
Approximately 9,300 acres (33 percent) of the potential habitat will not be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area. Of this, approximately 4,490 acres will be in Rural/Mountains designation areas. Forty-three occurrences will be located outside of the MSHCP Conservation Area; 29 of those 43 occurrences are located in the Rural/Mountainous area.
Data reviewed includes the UCR database, the (CNDDB 2001), the herbaria at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens and UCR and available literature. The CNDDB has two records for Engelmann oak; one at Alberhill and the other at Murrieta Hot Springs. The MSHCP database contains 73 records for Engelmann oak ranging from the Gilman Hot Springs west to Alberhill and the Santa Rosa Plateau and southeast to Vail Lake.
Scott (1991) provides the most comprehensive discussion of the distribution of Engelmann oak throughout California. Roberts (1995) supplies additional knowledge concerning the distribution in northwestern Baja, as well as information regarding taxonomy and hybridization of Engelmann oak with other oaks within the same subgenera. Pavlik, et al. (1991), Lathrop and Osborne (1990) and Scott (1990) jointly provide a thorough summary of the ecology and management requirements of the species.
Stands of Engelmann oak are limited to sites above dry, coastal plains and below cold, montane areas that receive at least 15 inches of precipitation per year, rarely experiences frost and have warm or hot summers (Pavlik, et al. 1991). This species has been documented at a maximum elevation of 4,300 feet (1,323 m). Typically, underlying soils are deep loamy clay, but the species also does well in rocky or shallow soils with some sort of summer moisture such as an intermittent stream or spring (Pavlik 1991).
Engelmann oak is associated with alluvial fans, interior valleys and occasionally slopes with a mesic aspect (Roberts 1995 and 2001). This species commonly occurs in two types of foothill habitats: southern oak woodlands, where oak canopies cover from ten percent to fifty percent of the landscape; and riparian/oak woodlands, where there is a closed-canopy of mixed hardwood species along canyon bottoms and watercourses (Scott 1990). Approximately seventy-six percent of woodlands containing Engelmann oaks are southern oak woodlands, and twenty-four percent are riparian woodlands (Scott 1990). In almost all cases, they are subdominant to coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia). Black oak (Quercus kelloggii) and California walnut (Juglans californica) are also present in some woodlands. Individual trees rarely occur within chaparral.
Engelmann oak has been coined “mesa oak” because of its tendency to grow near basalt caps with an understory of coastal sage scrub and/or grasses of both introduced genera (Bromus, Avena, Hordeum and Avena) and native genera such as Stipa. The majority of sites are dominated by the non-native grasses with the exception of stands on Camp Pendleton where native grasslands are more common.
Engelmann oak inhabits the smallest range of any oak tree in the southwestern United States (Scott 1990). The species ranges from eastern Los Angeles County to northwestern Baja California (Roberts 1995). The vast majority of extant stands (93 percent) exist in San Diego County, while Riverside and Orange counties contain six percent and one-half percent, respectively. (Scott 1991).
According to the CNDDB and UCR GIS database, Engelmann oak has been recorded at 75 locations within western Riverside County. The majority of stands in the Plan Area occur in a twelve-by-twelve-mile area around the Santa Rosa Plateau of the Santa Ana Mountains (Scott 1990). The population on the Santa Rosa Plateau is considered the core location and is within the Nature Conservancy Preserve. Scattered populations are in the Gavilan Hills. Small stands occur across the Perris Plain and the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains (Scott 1991).
Genetics: Engelmann oak, a true oak of the genus Quercus of the Beach family (Fagaceae), is one of 600 to 900 species of oaks (Roberts 1995). Engelmann oak belongs to the white oak subdivision of the genus and is not easily confused with any other species of oak within its range. This species of oak routinely hybridizes with Q. berberifolia and Q. cornelius-mulleri (Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1997).
Reproduction: This species is a semi-deciduous tree that is wind pollinated and flowers from April to May (Proctor et al 1996). There are three main phases of reproduction for this species: acorn production; acorn germination; and seedling/sapling establishment and survival. Acorn production varies tremendously between trees, and to a lesser degree spatially (Lathrop and Osborne 1990). Acorn yields also vary significantly on an annual basis, although the precise reason is unknown. Germination of Engelmann oak occurs in the early winter. Both germination and propagation of seedlings and young saplings is dependent on the availability of shady areas. Osborne (1989) and Lathrop and Osborne (1990) concluded from field experiments that seedlings occur no more than ten feet from the outside of the closest canopy where the minimal amount of shading exists.
Dispersal: Acorns are transported and subsequently buried, stored or consumed by a wide variety of wildlife including pocket gophers (Thomomis spp.), coyotes (Canis latrans), California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi), California jays (Cyanocitta spp.) and California acorn woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus). Burying of acorns increases the probability of survival since they are less susceptible to drying and predation (Lathrop and Osborne 1990).
Demography: Engelmann oaks typically live from fifty to eighty years; however a few trees in every woodland live 150 to 350 years (Scott 1990). On the Santa Rosa Plateau, the average age is between 80 and 130 years (Lathrop and Yeung 2000).
Engelmann oak has been nearly extirpated throughout most of its historic range in Los Angeles County in the foothills near Pasadena and Pomona by encroaching urban sprawl (Pavlik 1991). A similar pattern is unfolding in San Diego and Riverside Counties where only two major populations (Santa Rosa Plateau in Riverside and Black Mountain in San Diego) are currently safeguarded from continued regional growth.
Cattle, deer and small rodents such as deer mice (Peromyscus sp.), woodrats (Neotoma fuscipes) and ground squirrels continue to threaten the regeneration of the species by feeding and trampling upon acorns and seedlings (Lathrop and Osborne 1990; Osborne 1989; Snow 1972). Pocket gophers have been shown to inhibit resprouting because of the damage they inflict to the roots of seedlings and young saplings (Lathrop and Yeung 2000). Together these detrimental activities along with prolonged periods of drought, have created a regeneration problem that is substantiated by the fact that Engelmann oak stands are devoid of trees established in the last 75 to 125 years (Pavlik et al. 1991).
Flora of North America Editorial Committee. 1997. Page 500 in Flora of North America, north of Mexico. Oxford University Press, New York, New York.
Lathrop, E. W. and C. D. Osborne. 1990. From Acorn to Tree: Ecology of the Engelmann Oak. Fremontia 18:30-35.
Lathrop, E. W. K. Yeung. 2000. Pocket Gopher Damage to Engelmann Oak on the Santa Rosa Plateau. http://danr.ucop.edu/ihrmp/oak20.htm.
Osborne, C. D. 1989. Early Establishment of Quercus engelmannii (Fagaceae) on the Santa Rosa Plateau, Riverside County, California. Doctoral Dissertation. Loma Linda University, Riverside, California.
Pavlik, B. M., P. C. Muick, S. G. Johnson and M. Popper. 1991. Oaks of California. Cachuma Press, Inc., Olivos, California.
Proctor, M., P. Yeo and A. Lack. 1996. The Natural History of Pollination. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon.
Reiser, C. H. 2001. Rare Plants of San Diego County. Unpublished, Aquafir Press, San Diego, California.
Roberts, F. 1995. Illustrated Guide to the Oaks of the Southern California Floristic Province: the Oaks of Coastal Southern California and Northwestern Baja California, Mexico. F.W. Roberts Publications, Encinitas, California.
Scott, T. A. 1990. Conserving California''s Rarest White Oak: the Engelmann Oak. Fremontia 18:26-29.
Scott, T. A. 1991. The Distribution of Engelmann Oak (Quercus engelmannii) in California. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report PSW-126.
Snow, G. E. 1972. Some Factors Controlling the Establishment and Distribution of Quercus agrifolia and Quercus engelmannii in Certain Southern California Woodlands. Doctoral Dissertation. Oregon State University, Corvalis, Oregon.
Additional References
Holmes, K. 1999. Does mistletoe Kill Oaks? Fremontia 27:16-20.
Lathrop, E. W. and R. F. Thorne. 1985. A Flora of the Santa Rosa Plateau, Southern California. Southern California Botanists Special Publication Number 1.
Lathrop, E. W. and R. F. Thorne. 1985. A New Preserve on the Santa Rosa Plateau. Fremontia 13:15-19.
Fish's milkwort (Polygala cornuta var. fishiae)
State: None
Federal: None
Forest Service: None
CNPS: List 4 (Red Code1-1-2)
Fish's milkwort is designated as a Group 2 species. Fish's milkwort is associated with shaded areas within cismontane oak woodlands and riparian woodlands, although it also occurs in xeric and mesic chaparral habitat at elevations between 100 m and 1,100 m in the Santa Ana and Agua Tibia Mountains. The known and historic occurrences in the Plan Area are restricted to the Tenaja/Santa Rosa Plateau area and the lower national forest of the Santa Ana Mountains (San Mateo Canyon, Santa Rosa Plateau, Temecula Canyon, Cole Canyon and the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve). Fish's milkwort has been recorded just outside the southern boundary of Riverside County along the southern flank of the Agua Tibia Mountains indicating that this species may also be found along the northern slopes of the Agua Tibia Mountains.
Fish's milkwort is restricted to the eastern slopes of the Santa Ana Mountains and possibly the northern slopes of the Agua Tibia Mountains. Although the MSHCP Conservation Area configuration is expected to provide long-term conservation of the species, the distribution of the species is not entirely understood. Incidental Take of this species is not included in this permit until conservation of the species in the Plan Area has been demonstrated by reaching Objective 3 below .
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 123,580 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral, riparian scrub and woodland/forest between 100 and 1,100 m in the Santa Ana Mountains and Agua Tibia Mountains Bioregions).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least three of the known localities (Santa Rosa Plateau, Santa Margarita Ecological Preserve, and San Mateo Canyon).
Within the MSHCP Conservation Area, confirm 10 localities (locality in this sense is not smaller than one quarter section) with at least 50 individuals (ramets or genets) each (unless a smaller population has been demonstrated to be self-sustaining).
For the purpose of the conservation analysis, potential habitat for the Fish's milkwort includes chaparral, riparian scrub, and woodlands/forests between 100 and 1,100 m. Only habitats located within the Santa Ana Mountain, Riverside Lowlands, and Agua Tibia Mountain Bioregions were included. Based on habitat, elevation, and location, the Plan Area supports approximately 198,790 acres of potential habitat for the Fish's milkwort. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for the Fish's milkwort. Overall, approximately 123,580 acres (62 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. It is assumed that these lands will be managed for biological resources, including Fish's milkwort.
In order to adequately conserve Fish's milkwort, at least 123,580 acres (62 percent) of the species potential habitat shall be conserved. Approximately 33,100 acres (17 percent) of potential habitat are within the MSHCP Conservation Area; therefore, approximately 90,470 acres (45 percent) of the potential habitat for Fish's milkwort within the Public/Quasi-Public Lands designation, including USFS lands in the Cleveland National Forest, shall be conserved for the species. Within the 90,470 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 31,769 acres (16 percent) of potential habitat is designated as Wilderness Area and 10,862 acres (6 percent) is designated as Roadless Areas that do not include Range Allotments.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
FISH'S MILKWORT
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Chaparral (between 100 and 1,100m) |
173,990 (88%) |
28,840 (15%) | 78,020 (39%) | 106,860 (54%) |
38,020 (19%) |
29,110 (15%) |
67,140 (34%) |
| Riparian Scrub (between 100 and 1,100m) |
12,120 (6%) |
2,610 (1%) |
6,570 (3%) |
9,180 (5%) |
330 (0.2%) |
2,610 (1%) |
2,940 (2%) |
| Woodlands/Forests (between 100 and 1,100m) |
12,670 (6%) |
1,650 (0.8%) |
5,890 (3%) |
7,540 (4%) |
3,640 (2%) |
1,490 (0.8%) |
5,140 (3%) |
| TOTAL | 198,790 | 33,100 (17%) | 90,470 (45%) | 123,580 (62%) | 41,990 (21%) | 33,220 (17%) | 75,210 (38%) |
| 1 Vegetation type includes data from the Agua Tibia Mountains, Riverside Lowlands and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database and the herbaria at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens contain 14 records of this species. Ten of the 14 occurrences are located within the Public/Quasi-Public Lands; four are outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. The conserved localities include the Santa Rosa Plateau, San Mateo Canyon, and the Santa Margarita Ecological Preserve. General species location descriptions are within areas of significant conservation either through Criteria Area or Public/Quasi-Public Lands designations. For example, potential habitat for Fish's milkwort on the Santa Rosa Plateau, Agua Tibia Mountains and in San Mateo Canyon are either entirely or mostly conserved.
MSHCP Conservation Area configuration provides for conservation of the majority of potential habitat for the species and provides linkages between Core Areas of habitat conservation. The known and potential locations for this species are within areas with large blocks of conserved habitat (Santa Rosa Plateau, Santa Ana and Agua Tibia mountains). Large blocks of habitat will protect this species from edge effects, provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat, and allow for pollination to occur, if pollinators are important in the reproductive cycle of this species.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 123,580 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and at least three known localities within large blocks of habitat at San Mateo Canyon in the Santa Ana Mountains, the Santa Rosa Plateau and the Santa Margarita Ecological Preserve in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.
Approximately 75,210 acres will not be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area. Of nine mapped localities, four (two at Temecula Canyon and Cole Canyon west of Murrieta , and two at Main Street Canyon just south of Corona) are located outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. Currently unknown occurrences outside the MSHCP Conservation Area will be subject to Take in accordance with Section 6.1.4 of the MSHCP, Volume I.
Data reviewed includes the CNDDB and the UCR database, the herbaria at UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, and available literature. The CNDDB does not include mapped locations for this species. The UCR database and the two herbaria contain 14 occurrences at six localities: San Mateo Canyon, Santa Rosa Plateau, Temecula Canyon, Cole Canyon, Main Street Canyon just south of Corona, and the Santa Margarita Ecological Preserve.
Species-specific studies for Fish's milkwort have not been located or reviewed regarding genetics, habitat associations, reproduction, pollinators, germination, and dispersal. Taxonomic sources provide the primary literature for this species.
Fish's milkwort is often associated with shaded areas within cismontane oak woodlands and riparian woodlands, although it also occurs in xeric and mesic chaparral habitat (Reiser 1996; CNPS 2001; Munz 1974; Boyd and Banks 1995).
Fish's milkwort occurs in cismontane southern California and northwestern Baja California, Mexico, from 100-1,100 meters (Munz 1974; Wendt 1993; Reiser 1996). In the United States it has been reported from Santa Barbara and Ventura County east through the Santa Monica Mountains, Mount Wilson, and the Santa Ana Mountains, south through the Peninsular Ranges of San Diego County to the Mexican border. It has been reported from at least six locations in Baja California as far south as Maneadero (Reiser 1996). It is not well known within its range and populations typically consists of a few individuals. It has been reported from about 16 locations in San Diego County (Reiser 1996) and 17 localities in Orange County (Roberts 1997).
Fish's milkwort occurs in the western portion of the Plan Area. Collections are reported from the Santa Rosa Plateau; Temecula Canyon and Cole Canyon west of Murrieta (Lathrop and Thorne 1985; UCR database), at least two localities from the vicinity of San Mateo Canyon in the San Mateo Wilderness Area (Boyd, et al. 1992); Main Street Canyon just south of Corona in the northern Santa Ana Mountains and the Santa Margarita Ecological Preserve (UCR database). Fish's milkwort has been recorded just outside the southern boundary of Riverside County along the southern flank of the Agua Tibia Mountains (Boyd and Banks 1995) indicating that this species may also be found along the northern slopes of the Agua Tibia Mountains. Core locations of this species have not been identified within the Plan Area.
Genetics: Fish's milkwort is one of two subspecies of Polygala cornuta that are differentiated by minor differences in floral characters (Wendt 1993), although P. cornuta var. pollardii has been included under Fish''s milkwort by CNPS (2001). The genus Polygala is the only representative of the Polygalaceae in California (Munz 1974).
Reproduction: This species blooms from May through August (CNPS 2001). The flowers are green to pink in bud and vary in length from 7 to 11.2 mm. The capsular fruit is two-chambered and ranges in length from 5.9 to 10 mm. The seeds are generally hairy and each has a prominent white aril on one end (Wendt 1993).
Dispersal: No information regarding dispersal of this species was reviewed.
Demography: This deciduous perennial shrub has many slender stems that range in height from 2 to 5 dm (Munz 1974).
The threats to this species have not been analyzed.
This small shrub is identifiable year round but is often obscure and difficult to see, even when in bloom. While more localities for this species are likely to be discovered, the general habitat (shaded oak woodland and chaparral) is easily identifiable and the general distribution of this species appears restricted to the Santa Ana Mountains. Boyd and Banks (1995) have indicated that this species may also occur in the Agua Tibia Mountains.
Boyd, S. and D. Banks. 1995. A botanical assessment of the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area, Cleveland National Forest, California. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, California.
Boyd, S. T. Ross, O. Mistretta, and D. Bramlet 1992. A botanical assessment of the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness Area, Cleveland National Forest, California. Unpublished Report prepared by the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden, Claremont, California.
Lathrop, E. and R. Thorne. 1985. A Flora of the Santa Rosa Plateau, Southern California. Southern California Botanists, Special Publication No. 1.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Reiser, C. 1996. Rare Plants of San Diego County, 1996 edition. Unpublished. Aquafir Press, San Diego, California.
Roberts, F.M. 1997. Orange County Flora Data Base. Unpublished report, F.M. Roberts Publications, Encinitas, California.
Skinner M.W. and B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
Wendt, T.L. 1993. Polygala, in The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit.,University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
graceful tarplant (Holocarpha virgata ssp. elongata)
State: None
Federal: None
Forest Service: Sensitive Species
CNPS: List 4 (RED Code 1-2-3)
Graceful tarplant is designated as a Group 2 species because although this species has a fairly scattered distribution, the known occurrences are concentrated within the Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills, primarily within USFS Lands. Within the Plan Area, graceful tarplant is restricted to coastal scrub, chaparral, cismontane woodland, lower montane coniferous forest and valley and foothill grasslands at elevations below 600 m within western Riverside County.
Graceful tarplant is a Forest Service Sensitive Species found in the Cleveland National Forest. Forest Service Sensitive Plants are protected through the implementation of Forest Plans and the biological evaluation (BE) process, which considers the potential effects of Forest Service activities on these species.
The MSHCP Conservation Area configuration is expected to provide long-term conservation of the species. However, due to the age of the records (dating from 1959 to 1994), Incidental Take of this species is not included in this permit until conservation of the species in the Plan Area has been demonstrated by reaching Objective 3 below .
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 129,910 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral, coastal sage scrub, grassland, meadows and marshes below 600 m).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least eight of the known locations, including four occurrences located on Santa Rosa Plateau and four occurrences in the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness Area.
Within the MSHCP Conservation Area, confirm 10 localities (locality in this sense is not smaller than one quarter section) with 1,000 individuals each (unless a smaller population has been demonstrated to be self-sustaining).
Potential habitat for the graceful tarplant includes coastal scrub, chaparral, cismontane woodland, lower montane coniferous forest, valley and foothill grasslands, around vernal pools and wet meadows at elevations below 600 m within western Riverside County. Within this analysis, cismontane woodland and lower montane coniferous forest were categorized as montane coniferous forest and woodlands and forests, valley and foothill grasslands were categorized as grasslands, and wet meadow was categorized as meadows and marshes. Based on these habitats and this elevation range, the Plan Area supports approximately 286,090 acres of potential habitat for graceful tarplant. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for graceful tarplant. Overall, approximately 129,910 acres (46 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area. The potential habitat for graceful tarplant located within existing Public/Quasi-Public Land is located within USFS lands including the Cleveland National Forest and San Bernardino National Forest.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
GRACEFUL TARPLANT
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Chaparral (between 0 and 600 meters | 75,550 | 17,980 | 25,440 | 43,420 | 16,410 | 15,720 | 32,130 |
| Coastal sage scrub (between 0 and 600 meters) | 97,460 | 27,200 | 19,740 | 46,940 | 15,360 | 35,160 | 50,520 |
| Grassland (between 0 and 600 meters) | 97,890 | 12,090 | 16,820 | 28,910 | 4,410 | 64,570 | 68,980 |
| Meadows and marshes (between 0 and 600 meters) | 470 | 170 | 240 | 410 | --- | 60 | 60 |
| Playas and vernal pools (between 0 and 600 meters) | 7,880 | 3,830 | 2,890 | 6,720 | --- | 1,160 | 1,160 |
| Woodlands and forest (between 0 and 600 meters) | 6,840 | 1,400 | 2,110 | 3,510 | 1,890 | 1,440 | 3,330 |
| TOTAL | 286,090 | 62,670 (22%) | 67,240 (24%) | 129,910 (46%) | 38,070 (13%) | 118,110 (41%) | 156,180 (54%) |
| 1 Vegetation includes the vegetation within all Bioregions. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
Within the 67,240 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 8,407 acres (3 percent) of potential habitat are designated as Wilderness Area and 1,559 acres (less than 1 percent) are designated as Roadless Areas that do not include Range Allotments.
Core locations of graceful tarplant have not been identified within the MSHCP Plan Area; however, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) GIS database and the herbaria at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens include nine mapped localities. Of the UCR database and herbarium records, eight of the localities (four on the Santa Rosa Plateau and four in the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness Area of the Santa Ana Mountains) will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. Conservation of this species will be considered from a landscape perspective because the species is habitat-specific.
Both the MSHCP and Forest Service Assessment indicate that graceful tarplant can be conserved at the landscape level. Therefore, conserving large blocks of land which contain suitable habitat will probably capture populations of graceful tarplant.
Several large blocks of habitat supporting graceful tarplant are located within Public/Quasi-Public Land and the MSHCP Conservation Area. As mentioned, approximately 67,240 acres (24 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area are within USFS lands. The USFS lands are organized into large blocks of habitat which will protect this species from edge effects, provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat, and allow for pollination to occur, if pollinators are important in the reproductive cycle of this species. In addition, the MSHCP Conservation Area configuration provides for conservation of 22 percent of potential habitat for the species within the Criteria Area and provides linkages between Core Areas of habitat conservation.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 129,910 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and eight known localities (on the Santa Rosa Plateau and in the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness Area of the Santa Ana Mountains) within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.
Approximately 156,180 acres (54 percent) of potential habitat for graceful tarplant will not be conserved. One of the mapped locations is located southwest of Cherry Street in Temecula, outside of the MSHCP Conservation Area. This locality dates from 1967 and is likely extirpated.
Data reviewed includes the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), the herbaria at UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, the UCR database (UCR database), and available literature. The CNDDB does not include mapped locations for this species. The UCR database and the two herbaria include nine occurrences for this species within the Plan Area.
Species-specific studies for graceful tarplant have not been located or reviewed regarding genetics, habitat associations, reproduction, pollinators, germination and dispersal. Taxonomic sources provide the primary literature source for this species.
Graceful tarplant occurs in chaparral, cismontane woodland, coastal sage scrub, and valley and foothill grasslands below 600 m (Keil 1993; CNPS 2001). Generally, shrub cover is not well-developed at graceful tarplant localities, with a heavy incidence of non-native grasses and invasive herbs. The habitat for this species usually occurs on level, mildly disturbed terrain (Reiser 1996).
Graceful tarplant is endemic to Orange County, Riverside County and San Diego County (CNPS 2001).
Graceful tarplant occurs primarily on the Santa Rosa Plateau and in the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness Area. A historic (1967) occurrence was mapped southwest of Cherry Street in Temecula (UCR database; Reiser 1996). Core locations of this species have not been identified within the Plan Area.
Genetics: Graceful tarplant, one of two subspecies of Holocarpha virgata; the subspecies are differentiated by range and morphological characters. Graceful tarplant is a member of the Asteraceae. The genus Holocarpha is self-sterile (Munz 1974).
Reproduction: The compound flowers bloom from June through November (Munz 1974). The ray flowers and disk flowers are yellow. The ray flowers are fertile; most disk flowers are sterile. The achenes are 2.4 to 3.5 mm (Munz 1974; Keil 1993).
Dispersal: No information regarding dispersal of this species was reviewed.
Demography: This annual herb ranges in height from 2 to 12 dm in height (Munz 1974).
This species is threatened by development and urbanization (Reiser 1996).
Graceful tarplant is known from heavy clay soils around vernal pools and wet meadows (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, unpublished data).
Keil, D. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Skinner M.W. and B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
SDA. 1999.Southern California Mountains and Foothills Assessment, Habitat and Species Conservation Issues. General Technical Report PSW-GTR-172.
Hall's monardella (Monardella macrantha ssp. hallii)
State: None
Federal: None
Forest Service: Sensitive Species
CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 2-1-3)
Hall's monardella is designated as a Group 2 species because although this species has a fairly scattered distribution (Santa Ana Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains and the Agua Tibia Mountains), the known occurrences are concentrated within the USFS lands. Within the Plan Area, Hall's monardella is restricted to chaparral, lower montane coniferous forest, woodlands and forest, and valley and foothill grasslands. This is a species which is found primarily on USFS lands at Cahuilla Mountain and a locality south west of Pine Cove in the San Jacinto Mountains, the north slope of the Agua Tibia Mountains, and Santiago Peak in the Santa Ana Mountains.
This species is designated as a Forest Service Sensitive Species. Forest Service Sensitive Species are protected through the implementation of Forest Plans and the biological evaluation (BE) process, which considers the potential effects of Forest Service activities on these species.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 224,860 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral, grasslands, montane coniferous forest and woodland forest within the Santa Ana Mountain, San Jacinto Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains and Agua Tibia Mountain Bioregions).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least the five known locations of this species: Cahuilla Mountain and an occurrence southwest of Pine Cove in the San Jacinto Mountains, two occurrences on the north slope of the Agua Tibia Mountains and Santiago Peak in the Santa Ana Mountains.
Potential habitat for Hall's monardella includes broad-leaved upland forest, chaparral, lower montane coniferous forest, cismontane woodland and valley and foothill grassland within the Agua Tibia, San Jacinto, San Bernardino, and Santa Ana Mountains of western Riverside County. Within this analysis, broad-leaved upland forest and cismontane woodland were categorized as woodlands and forests, lower montane coniferous forest was categorized as montane coniferous forest, and valley and foothill grassland was categorized as grasslands. Based on these habitats and Bioregions, the Plan Area supports approximately 308,390 acres of potential habitat for Hall's monardella. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for Hall's monardella. Overall, approximately 224,860 acres (73 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the Criteria Area or are within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.
In order to conserve Hall's monardella, at least 185,034 acres (60 percent) of the species potential habitat shall be conserved and managed for that species within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands and within the Criteria Area. Approximately 15,260 acres (5 percent) of potential habitat are within the Criteria Area; therefore, approximately 169,615 acres (55 percent) of the potential habitat for Hall's monardella within USFS lands shall be conserved for the species. Within the 209,600 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 38,726 acres (13 percent) of potential habitat are designated as Wilderness Area and 30,334 acres (10 percent) are designated as Roadless Areas that do not include Range Allotments.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
HALL'S MONARDELLA
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Chaparral | 231,950 | 12,610 | 162,750 | 175,360 | 28,830 | 27,760 | 56,590 |
| Grassland | 18,600 | 1,260 | 6,480 | 7,740 | 5,230 | 5,630 | 10,860 |
| Montane coniferous Forest | 29,890 | 20 | 20,480 | 20,500 | 40 | 9,350 | 9,390 |
| Woodlands and forest | 27,950 | 1,370 | 19,890 | 21,260 | 4,100 | 2,590 | 6,690 |
| TOTAL | 308,390 | 15,260 (5%) | 209,600 (68%) | 224,860 (73%) | 38,200 (12%) | 45,330 (15%) | 83,530 (27%) |
| 1 Vegetation includes the vegetation within the Santa Ana, San Jacinto, San Bernardino, and Agua Tibia Mountain Bioregions only. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
The three localities (Cahuilla Mountain, Agua Tibia Mountains and Santiago Peak) included in the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. The localities (one southwest of Pine Cove in the Santa Ana Mountains and one on the north slopes of the Agua Tibia Mountains) represented by herbarium records at University of California, Riverside (UCR), and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens will also be conserved.
The MSHCP and Forest Service assessment indicate that Hall's monardella can be conserved at the landscape level. Therefore, conserving large blocks of land which contain suitable habitat will probably capture populations of Hall's monardella.
Several large blocks of habitat supporting Hall's monardella are located within existing Public/ Quasi-Public Lands and the Criteria Area, including USFS lands in the Agua Tibia, San Jacinto, San Bernardino and Santa Ana mountains. The USFS lands are organized into large blocks of habitat which will protect this species from edge effects, provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat, and allow for pollination to occur, if pollinators are important in the reproductive cycle of this species.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 224,860 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and five known localities (two in the San Jacinto Mountains, two in the Agua Tibia Mountains and one in the Santa Ana Mountains) within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Approximately 83,530 acres (27 percent) of potential habitat for Hall's monardella will not be included within the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. None of the known occurrences for this species will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Data reviewed includes the CNDDB, herbarium records at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, and available literature. The UCR database does not have any mapped locations for this species in the Plan Area, although an occurrence is mapped in the Santa Ana Mountains to the west of the Plan Area. The CNDDB has three occurrences within the Plan Area: Cahuilla Mountain in the San Jacinto Mountains, one locality in the Agua Tibia Mountains and Santiago Peak in the San Jacinto Mountains. The herbaria at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens include two records for this species: one locality southwest of Pine Cove in the San Jacinto Mountains and one locality in the Agua Tibia Mountains.
Species-specific studies for Hall's monardella have not been located or reviewed regarding genetics, habitat associations, reproduction, pollinators, germination, and dispersal. Taxonomic sources provide the primary literature source for this species.
Hall's monardella occurs on dry slopes and ridges in openings within broad-leaved upland forest, chaparral, lower montane coniferous forest, cismontane woodland and valley and foothill grassland (Munz 1974; Jokerst 1993; CNPS 2001).
Hall's monardella is known from the San Gabriel, San Bernardino, Cuyamaca, Santa Ana, San Jacinto, Palomar and Santa Rosa Mountains in Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and San Diego County (Abrams 1912; Abrams 1951; Munz 1974; CNPS 2001; Reiser 1996).
Hall's monardella is known to occur on the northeast slope of Santiago Peak in the Santa Ana Mountains; the north slope of Cahuilla Mountain and southwest of Pine Cove in the San Jacinto Mountains; and at two locations on the north slope of Agua Tibia Mountain (Banks 1999, CNDDB 2000, herbarium records at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens). Rieser (1996) reports this species from Sugarloaf in the Santa Ana Mountains and on the trail to San Jacinto Peak. Core locations for Hall's monardella have not been identified in the Plan Area.
Genetics: Hall's monardella is one of two subspecies of Monardella macrantha that are differentiated by morphological characters (primarily presence/absence of hair on stems and leaves). The genus Monardella belongs to the Lamiaeae (Munz 1974). Hall's monardella intergrades with M. macrantha ssp. macrantha (CNPS 2001).
Reproduction: This species blooms from June through August (Munz 1974; CNPS 2001). Inflorescences contain 10 to 20 flowers per head (Abrams 1951). The slightly hairy, slender-funnelform corolla is yellow, orange or scarlet and 3 to 4.5 cm long (Munz 1974). Species-specific pollination studies for this species have not been conducted but Hall's monardella is also known as hummingbird monardella (Hrusa 1998), which may imply that this species is pollinated by hummingbirds.
Dispersal: No species-specific studies have been conducted regarding dispersal of this species; however, Boyd and Banks (1995) believe that some seeds may be dispersed via the stream channels along which some populations are found.
Demography: This perennial herb is rhizomatous and ranges in height from 1 to 5 dm (CNPS 2001; Munz 1974).
This species maybe threatened by damage from recreational hikers (Reiser 1996) and fire-suppression activities (Boyd and Banks 1995).
Plants intermediate to Hall's monardella and M. macrantha ssp. macrantha are frequent (CNPS 2001; Reiser 1996) and the subspecies may be reduced upon further study.
Abrams, L. 1912. The Monardellas of Southern California-I. Muhlenbergia 8:28-29.
Abrams, L. 1951. Illustrated Flora of the Pacific States. 3:649
Banks, D.L. 1999. A vascular flora of the Agua Tibia Mountains, Southern California. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens Special Publications No. 4. 109 pp.
Boyd, S. and D. Banks. 1995. A Botanical Assessment of the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area, Cleveland National Forest, California. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, California. 89 pp.
California Natural Diversity Database. 2000. Monardella macrantha ssp. hallii. Unpublished Report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.
Hrusa, G.F. "XWALK": Synonymy for California Plants. Unpublished database compilation (work in progress). Department of Food and Agriculture, Herbarium CDA.
Jokerst, J. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 1086 pp.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Reiser, C. H. 1996. Rare Plants of San Diego County. Unpublished. Aquafir Press, Imperial Beach, California.
Skinner M.W. and B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
USDA, 1999. Southern California Mountains and Foothills Assessment, Habitat and Species
Conservation Issues. General Technical Report PSW-GTR-172
Hammitt's clay-cress ( Sibaropsis hammittii)
State: None
Federal: None
CNPS: List 1B, (RED Code 3-2-3)
Hammitt's clay-cress is designated as a Group 3 species because of its limited geographic distribution and special habitat requirements. Within the Plan Area, Hammitt's clay-cress is only known from the Elsinore Peak area of the Santa Ana Mountains in grasslands. Suitable habitat consists of coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and peninsular juniper woodland on clay soils between 300 and 1,000 m in the Santa Ana Mountains and Riverside Lowlands bioregions. Suitable habitat for this species is found on Public/Quasi-Public (Forest Service) and private lands.
This is a species on the Narrow Endemic Plant List (Section 6.1.3) and surveys for Hammitt's clay-cress will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area where suitable habitat is present (see Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-1 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Hammitt's clay-cress located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume 1.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 21,260 acres of suitable habitat (grassland, coastal sage scrub, chaparral and peninsular juniper woodland between 300 and 1,000 m in the Riverside Lowlands and Santa Ana Mountains bioregions). This will include at least 2,070 acres of clay soils: Altamont (190 acres), Auld (250 acres), Bosanko (600 acres), Claypit (100 acres) and Porterville (930 acres) soils underlying the suitable habitat.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the Core Area for this species, including at least the one known locality near Elsinore Peak and suitable habitat adjacent to these occurrences.
Surveys for Hammitt's clay-cress will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area where suitable habitat is present (see Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-1 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Hammitt's clay-cress located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume I.
Potential habitat for Hammitt's clay-cress is considered to include grasslands, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and peninsular juniper woodland that occur on clay soils between 300 and 1,000 m within the Riverside Lowlands and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. For purposes of the conservation analysis, the Plan Area supports approximately 37,085 acres of potential habitat for Hammitt's clay-cress Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for Hammitt's clay-cress. Overall, approximately 21,260 acres (58 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. It is assumed that these public lands will be managed for the conservation of biological resources. Although 15,825 acres (42 percent) of potential habitat for Hammitt's clay-cress will be outside the Criteria Area and existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, this potential habitat is included within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area and any additional populations within this survey area will be addressed in accordance with the procedures presented in the Narrow Endemic Plant Species policy described in Section 6.1.3 of the MSHCP, Volume I.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
HAMMITT'S CLAY-CRESS
| Vegetation Type | MSHCP Plan Area1 (Acres) | Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Grassland (between 300 and 1000 m) | 8,480 | 2,060 | 2,590 | 4,650 | 230 | 3,600 | 3,830 |
| Coastal Sage Scrub (between 300 and 1000 m) | 15,985 | 5,555 | 5,790 | 11,345 | 2,220 | 2,420 | 4,640 |
| Chaparral (between 300 and 1000 m) | 12,075 | 2,605 | 2,450 | 5,055 | 2,140 | 4,880 | 7,020 |
| Peninsular Juniper Woodland (between 300 and 1000 m) | 545 | 80 | 130 | 210 | 5 | 330 | 335 |
| TOTAL | 37,085 | 10,300 (28%) | 10,960 (30%) | 21,260 (58%) | 4,595 (12%) | 11,230 (30%) | 15,825 (42%) |
| 1 Vegetation includes the vegetation that occurs on clay soils within the Riverside Lowlands and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions only. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
As stated above, Hammitt's clay-cress is associated with clay soils, such as Altamont, Auld, Bosanko, Claypit, and Porterville soil series. Within the Plan Area, there are approximately 5,840 acres of these soils (excluding soils underlying unsuitable habitat such as disturbed/developed lands and water) within the Riverside Lowlands and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. Table 2 shows the acreage of Altamont, Auld, Bosanko, Claypit, and Porterville soils found within the proposed Criteria Area, on Public/Quasi-Public Lands, on Rural/Mountainous Lands, and outside of the proposed MSHCP Conservation Area. Approximately 2,070 acres (36 percent) of these soils will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. An additional 3,770 acres found outside of these areas will be subject to focused surveys for Hammitt's clay-cress as part of the Narrow Endemics Policy (Section 6.1.3).
TABLE 2
SUMMARY OF SOIL CONSERVATION
HAMMITT'S CLAY-CRESS
| Soil Type | Plan Area1 (Acres) | Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altamont | 530 | 190 | – – | 190 | – – | 340 | 340 |
| Auld | 1,000 | 130 | 120 | 250 | 10 | 740 | 750 |
| Bosanko | 1,570 | 180 | 420 | 600 | – – | 970 | 970 |
| Claypit | 220 | 90 | 10 | 100 | – – | 120 | 120 |
| Porterville | 2,520 | 90 | 840 | 930 | 40 | 1,550 | 1,590 |
| TOTAL | 5,840 | 680 (12%) | 1,390 (24%) | 2,070 (36%) | 50 (<1%) | 3,720 (64%) | 3,770 (64%) |
| 1 Excluding soils underlying unsuitable habitat (e.g., disturbed/developed lands, water). 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database and the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) do not contain any records for this species. The herbaria at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens include five records of this species at one locality. The five occurrences near Elsinore Peak are located in existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.
This is a species on the Narrow Endemic Plant List (Section 6.1.3) and surveys for Hammitt's clay-cress will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area where suitable habitat is present (see Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-1 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Hammitt's clay-cress located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume I.
Habitat supporting Hammitt's clay-cress is located within Public/Quasi -Public Land and the Criteria Area, including the Riverside Lowlands and Santa Ana Mountains bioregions. Large blocks of habitat will protect this species from edge effects and provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 21,260 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and five known occurrences near Elsinore Peak within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.
Approximately 15,825 acres (42%) of suitable habitat will not be conserved. It is important to note, however, that this suitable habitat is included within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area and conservation of this suitable habitat will be addressed in accordance with the procedures presented in the Narrow Endemic Plant Species policy described in Section 6.1.3 of the MSHCP, Volume I.
Data reviewed includes the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB); the UCR herbarium and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens herbarium; the CNPS Inventory; and other available literature. The CNDDB contains five mapped localities for this species in the Plan Area. All of the known localities are located in the Santa Ana Mountains. The published literature available for this species consists primarily of the species description by Steve Boyd and Timothy S. Ross: Sibaropsis (Brassicaceae), A New Monotypic Genus From Southern California.
According to the literature reviewed, Hammitt's clay-cress occurs in clay lenses within openings in chaparral and valley and foothill grassland habitats at elevations of 700 m to 1,100 m (CNPS 2001). According to personal communications with UCR botanist Andy Sanders (pers. com. 2002) and CDFG botanist Kate Kramer (pers. com. 2002), Hammitt's clay-cress is also known to share habitat similarities with Munz's onion, which has the following habitat associations: mesic exposures or seasonally moist microsites in grassy openings in coastal sage scrub, chaparral, juniper woodland, valley and foothill grasslands in clay soils from 300 to 1,000 meters elevation.
This species is known from the Santa Ana Mountains of Western Riverside County (Boyd and Ross 1997) and Vulcan Mountain in San Diego County (Mark Elvin pers. com. 2002).
There is only one known population of Hammitt's clay-cress which occurs within western Riverside County. The population occurs within the Santa Ana Mountains in the Elsinore Peak area west of Lake Elsinore, on “Onion Hill,” a grassy knoll about 0.5 mile southeast of Elsinore Peak on the crest of the range (CNDDB 2001; Boyd and Ross, 1997; CNPS, 2001).
Genetics: The unique suite of morphological characters found in Sibaropsis, specifically the narrowly linear cotyledons and leaves; zygomorphic, pseudotubular corolla; three-ranked stamens with a subterete staminode; oblong-ovate anthers; tardily dehiscent fruit with a beak-like style; and disarticulating infructescence rachis; readily set the taxon apart from any other currently recognized crucifer genera (Boyd and Ross, 1997).
Reproduction: The flowers are light purplish-lavender or pinkish-lavender with darker purplish veins, which produce narrowly linear and somewhat flattened fruits (siliques) that grow to approximately 20mm in length. At maturity, the leaves wither and fall away leaving the branch architecture and ascending siliques, which dry to a light tan to brown color (Boyd and Ross, 1997). Hammitt's clay-cress blooms from March through April (CNPS 2001).
Dispersal: The functional dispersal unit is the mature silique, which disarticulates at the abscission zones along the central axis of the plant (Boyd and Ross, 1997).
Demography: Hammitt's clay-cress is an annual mustard that is freely branched at the base with ascending branches 10 to 15 cm long (Boyd and Ross, 1997).
Increasing fire frequency (as well as post-fire seeding of invasive non-native species), trampling, habitat damage by off-road vehicles, and the concomitant invasion of the clay soil habitat by aggressive alien weeds are threats to this species (Boyd and Ross, 1997).
Special Biological Considerations have not been identified for this species.
Boyd, S. and T.S. Ross. 1997. Sibaropsis (Brassicaceae), A New Monotypic Genus From Southern California. Madroño, Volume 44, No.1, pp. 29-47.
CNDDB. 2001.
CNPS. 2001. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (sixth edition). Rare Plant Scientific Advisory Committee, David P. Tibor, Convening Editor. California Native Plant Society. Sacramento, CA. x + 388 pp.
heart-leaved pitcher sage (Lepechinia cardiophylla)
State: None
Federal: None
Forest Service: Sensitive Species
CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-2-2)
Heart-leaved pitcher sage is designated as a Group 2 species because of its restriction to the Santa Ana Mountains, primarily (potentially all) within USFS lands. Within the Plan Area, heart-leaved pitcher sage is restricted to chaparral and woodlands and forests at elevations between 550 m and 1,370 m within the Santa Ana Mountains. All populations occur within USFS lands except four occurrences, which are suspect and should be verified.
This is a species which is found in a number of locations in the Santa Ana Mountains, including Sierra Peak, Indian Truck Trail, Bald Peak, Trabuco Peak, Horsethief Trail, Pleasants Peak and the ridge between Ladd Canyon and East Fork Canyon. All of the undisputed occurrences are located on USFS lands.
Heart-leaved pitcher sage is designated a Forest Service Sensitive Species. Forest Service Sensitive Species are protected through the implementation of Forest Plans and the biological evaluation (BE) process, which considers the potential effects of Forest Service activities on these species.
This is a species on the Additional Survey Needs and Procedures (Section 6.3.2) list and surveys for heart-leaved pitcher sage will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Criteria Area where suitable habitat is present (see Criteria Area species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-2 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Heart-leaved pitcher sage located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2, MSHCP, Volume 1.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 56,950 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral, woodlands and forests between 550 m and 1,370 m within the Santa Ana Mountains Bioregion).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least six known populations in the Santa Ana Mountains (within the vicinity of Sierra Peak, Indian Truck Trail, Bald Peak, Trabuco Peak, Horsethief Trail, Pleasants Peak, and the ridge between Ladd Canyon and East Fork Canyon).
Surveys for the heart-leaved pitcher sage will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Criteria Area where suitable habitat is present (see Criteria Area Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-2 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Heart-leaved pitcher sage located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2 of the MSHCP, Volume 1.
Potential habitat for heart-leaved pitcher sage includes closed-cone coniferous forest, chaparral and cismontane woodland elevations between 550 m and 1,370 m within the Santa Ana Mountains of Western Riverside County. Within this analysis, cismontane woodland was categorized as woodlands and forests and closed-cone coniferous forest was categorized as montane coniferous forest. However, no montane coniferous forest is found within the Santa Ana Mountains between elevations of 550 m and 1,370 m. Based on these habitats, this elevation range and this Bioregion, the Plan Area supports approximately 71,510 acres of potential habitat for heart-leaved pitcher sage. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for heart-leaved pitcher sage. Overall, approximately 56,950 acres (80 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the Criteria Area or are within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
HEART-LEAVED PITCHER SAGE
| Vegetation Type | MSHCP Plan Area1 (Acres) | Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Chaparral (between 550 m and 1,370 m) | 63,560 | 1,180 | 49,910 | 51,090 | 11,110 | 1,360 | 12,470 |
| Woodlands and forests (between 550 m and 1,370 m) | 7,950 | 390 | 5,470 | 5,860 | 2,010 | 80 | 2,090 |
| TOTAL | 71,510 | 1,570 (2%) | 55,380 (78%) | 56,950 (80%) | 13,120 (18%) | 1,440 (2%) | 14,560 (20%) |
| 1 Vegetation includes the vegetation within the Santa Ana Mountains Bioregion only. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
Approximately 1,570 acres (2 percent) of the potential habitat are within the Criteria Area. A total of 60 percent of the potential habitat for heart-leaved pitcher sage within USFS lands must be conserved and managed for the species. Within the 55,380 acres (78 percent) of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 20,920 acres (29 percent) of potential habitat are designated as Wilderness Area and 8,332 acres (12 percent) are designated as Roadless Areas that do not include Range Allotments.
The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database contains four mapped locations for this species: three in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains northwest, northeast and north of Lake Elsinore and one northeast of Juniper Flats. These occurrences are outside of the known range of this species and are all suspect. The California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) contains six mapped localities (nine occurrences) for this species, all within the Santa Ana Mountains of the Cleveland National Forest. Of the six localities, five are described as being near the border of Orange and Riverside counties (CNDDB 2000) and some may not necessarily lie within the boundaries of the Plan Area. Within the UCR database, all four of the mapped locations are located outside of the Criteria Area; however, these occurrences are suspect and should be verified. Conservation of this species is considered from a landscape perspective because the species is habitat-specific and endemic to the Santa Ana Mountains.
Both the MSHCP and Forest Service assessment indicate that heart-leaved pitcher sage can be conserved at the landscape level. Therefore, conserving large blocks of land which contain suitable habitat will probably capture populations of heart-leaved pitcher sage.
Several large blocks of habitat supporting the heart-leaved pitcher sage are located within Public/Quasi-Public Lands and the Criteria Area, including the Santa Ana Mountains. The USFS lands are organized into large blocks of habitat which will protect this species from edge effects, provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat, and allow for pollination to occur, if pollinators are important in the reproductive cycle of this species.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 56,950 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and six known localities (in the Santa Ana Mountains of the Cleveland National Forest) within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.
Approximately 14,560 acres (20 percent) of potential habitat for heart-leaved pitcher sage will not be included within the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. Four populations of heart-leaved pitcher sage recorded outside of the Santa Ana Mountains (Cleveland National Forest) and outside of the MSHCP Conservation Area are suspect and should be verified.
Data reviewed includes the CNDDB and the UCR database and available literature. The UCR database contains four mapped locations for this species: three in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains northwest, northeast and north of Lake Elsinore and one northeast of Juniper Flats. The CNDDB contains six mapped localities (nine occurrences) for this species, all within the Santa Ana Mountains of the Cleveland National Forest. Of the six localities, five are described as being near the border of Orange and Riverside counties (CNDDB 2000) and some may not necessarily lie within the boundaries of the Plan Area. The location of these occurrences should be verified.
Species-specific studies for heart-leaved pitcher sage have not been located or reviewed regarding genetics, habitat associations, reproduction, pollinators, germination, and dispersal. Taxonomic sources provide the primary literature source for this species.
Heart-leaved pitcher sage occurs in closed-cone coniferous forest, chaparral and cismontane woodland at elevations between 550 m and 1,370 m (Epling 1948; CNPS 2001; Reiser 1996). Along Indian Truck Trail, heart-leaved pitcher sage is also associated with southern oak woodland forest with scattered Coulter pine and big cone spruce. Along Horsethief Trail, this species is associated with chaparral-oak woodland and decomposed granite soils. On Pleasants Peak, this species is associated with a stand of knobcone pine (CNDDB 2000).
Heart-leaved pitcher sage is restricted to the Santa Ana Mountains in Orange and Riverside counties, Iron Mountain in San Diego County and the coastal mountains of northern Baja California (Epling 1948; Munz 1974; CNPS 2001; Reiser 1996).
Heart-leaved pitcher sage is known to occur at a number of locations within the Santa Ana Mountains: Sierra Peak, Indian Truck Trail, Bald Peak, Trabuco Peak, Horsethief Trail, Pleasants Peak and the ridge between Ladd Canyon and East Fork Canyon (CNDDB 2000). Occurrences have also been recorded for this species in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains northwest, northeast and north of Lake Elsinore and in the hills northeast of Juniper Flats (UCR database). These latter localities should be verified. All of the undisputed occurrences are within USFS lands (Andy Sanders, pers. com.). Core locations for this species have not been identified within the Plan Area.
Genetics: Heart-leaved pitcher sage is one of four species of the genus Lepechinia. These four species are disjunct geographically. Heart-leaved pitcher sage is a member of the Lamiaceae (Averett 1993). No species-specific studies for this species regarding population genetics have been located or reviewed. Members of the genus Lepechinia have a diploid chromosome (2n) number of 32 (Averett 1993).
Reproduction: This species blooms from April through July (CNPS 2001). The flowers are perfect and white to lavender-tinged in color. The flowers are funnel-form in shape. The calyx becomes scarlet purple and enlarges in fruit. The round to oblong fruit is glabrous, one-seeded and 2 to 4 mm in diameter (Munz 1974). Information regarding pollinators was not reviewed.
Dispersal: No information regarding dispersal of this species was reviewed.
Demography: This broad-leaved, perennial shrub ranges in height from 3 to 12 dm (Munz 1974). Information regarding longevity was not reviewed.
This species is potentially threatened by development (CNPS 2001), installation of transmission lines and fire-suppression activities (CNDDB).
The majority (potentially all) populations of heart-leaved pitcher sage occur within the Cleveland National Forest. The two populations outside of the Santa Ana Mountains should be verified. The USFS Assessment states that the species is reportedly a fire follower (USDA 1999).
Averett, D. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 1086 pp.
California Natural Diversity Database. 2000. Lepechinia cardiophylla. Unpublished Report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.
Epling, C. 1948. A Synopsis of the Tribe Lepechinieae (Labiatae). Brittonia 6(3): 352-364.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Reiser, C. H. 1996. Rare Plants of San Diego County. Unpublished. Aquafir Press, Imperial Beach, California.
Skinner M.W. and B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
USDA. 1999. Southern California Mountains and Foothills Assessment, Habitat and Species
Conservation Issues. General Technical Report PSW-GTR-172.
intermediate mariposa lily (Calochortus weedii var. intermedius)
Federal: None
State: None
Forest Service: Sensitive Species
CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 2-2-3)
Intermediate mariposa lily is designated as a Group 2 species because of its scattered but restricted distribution within particular habitat associations. Within the Plan Area, this species is known from Vail Lake and the hills west of Crown Valley. Intermediate mariposa lily is also known from Sierra Peak, along the border between Orange County and Riverside County, although this occurrence may not lie within the boundaries of the Plan Area. This species occurs on dry, rocky open slopes and rock outcrops in coastal scrub and chaparral at elevations from 120 m to 850 m.
This species is designated as a Forest Service Sensitive Species. Forest Service Sensitive Plants are protected through the implementation of Forest plans and the biological evaluation (BE) process, which considers the potential effects of Forest Service activities on this species.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 195,730 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral and coastal sage scrub between 120 and 850 m).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least two of the known localities (hills west of Crown Valley and Vail Lake) and possibly a third locality (Sierra Peak area of the Santa Ana Mountains) of the species.
Potential habitat for the intermediate mariposa lily includes coastal sage scrub and chaparral between 120 to 850 m. Based on habitat and elevation, the Plan Area supports approximately 343,280 acres of potential habitat for the intermediate mariposa lily. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for the intermediate mariposa lily. Overall, approximately 195,730 acres (57 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. It is assumed that these lands will be managed for biological resources, including intermediate mariposa lily.
Approximately 195,730 acres of potential habitat will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. Approximately 30 percent of the total potential habitat for intermediate mariposa lily occurs within Public/Quasi-Public Lands which includes USFS lands in the Cleveland National Forest. Within the 104,130 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 22,548 acres (6 percent) of potential habitat is designated as Wilderness Area and 5,021 acres (1 percent) is designated as Roadless Areas that do not include Range Allotments.
Although no core locations have been identified, the known occurrences for intermediate mariposa lily are within areas of significant Criteria Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands conservation. The four records in the University of California, Riverside (UCR) GIS database and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens herbarium are at Vail Lake within the Criteria Area. The three California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) occurrences (west of Crown Valley, on Sierra Peak, and west of Vail Lake) all occur within either Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
INTERMEDIATE MARIPOSA LILY
| Soil Type | MSHCP Plan Area1 (Acres) | Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Chaparral (between 120 and 850m) |
199,360 (58%) |
47,950 (14%) | 72,890 (21%) | 120,850 (35%) |
45,220 (13%) |
33,290 (10%) | 78,510 (23%) |
| Coastal Sage Scrub (between 120 and 850m) |
143,920 (42%) |
43,640 (13%) | 31,240 (9%) | 74,880 (22%) |
25,730 (8%) |
43,320 (13%) | 69,040 (20%) |
| TOTAL | 343,280 | 91,600 (27%) | 104,130 (30%) | 195,730 (57%) | 70,940 (21%) | 76,610 (22%) | 147,550 (43%) |
| 1 Vegetation type includes data from the Riverside Lowlands, San Jacinto Foothills and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
MSHCP Conservation Area configuration provides for conservation of occupied habitat and potential habitat and maintains connectivity within those areas. For example, the known populations west of Crown Valley and west of Vail Lake are well connected to suitable habitat in Sage, Aguanga, and the San Jacinto foothills. The Conservation Strategy for this species is based on the preservation of this species within a larger landscape that will provide for important life history functions.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 195,730 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and at least two known localities within large blocks of habitat at Vail Lake and Crown Valley in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Approximately 147,550 (43 percent) of potential habitat will not be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area. All of the known occurrences of this species will be conserved.
Data reviewed includes the CNDDB, herbarium records at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, the UCR database, and available literature. The UCR database and the herbarium records contain a total of four occurrences at Vail Lake. The CNDDB contains two mapped occurrences: one at Vail Lake and one in the hills west of Crown Valley, south of Diamond Valley Lake. The CNDDB (2000) also includes a written description of one other occurrence: Sierra Peak in the Santa Ana Mountains. The Sierra Peak population is located along the border between Orange County and Riverside County and may not lie within the boundaries of the Plan Area (CNDDB 2000).
Species-specific studies for this species have not been located or reviewed regarding population genetics, habitat associations, reproduction, pollinators, germination, and dispersal. Taxonomic sources provide the primary literature for this species. Ness (1989) provides information on taxonomic relationships.
This species occurs on dry, rocky open slopes and rock outcrops in coastal scrub and chaparral at elevations from 120 to 850 m (CNDDB 2000; CNPS 2001). Intermediate mariposa lily occurs in valley and foothill grasslands only after burns (F. Roberts, pers. comm. 2000).
Intermediate mariposa lily is known from the San Jose Hills, Puente Hills and Santa Ana Mountains in Los Angeles County, Orange County and Riverside County (CNPS 2001). The majority of the known populations are in the foothill regions of Orange County (F. Roberts, pers. comm. 2000).
This species is recorded from the hills west of Crown Valley and south of Diamond Valley Lake, Sierra Peak in the Santa Ana Mountains and west of Vail Lake between Temecula Creek and Kolb Creek. The Sierra Peak population is located along the border between Orange County and Riverside County and may not lie within the boundaries of the Plan Area (CNDDB 2000). Core locations of this species have not been identified within the Plan Area.
Genetics: Intermediate mariposa lily is one of three varieties of C. weedii; these varieties are differentiated by geographical range and morphological characters (Fiedler and Ness 1993). This species is a member of subsection Weediani, section Cyclobothra, genus Calochortus and belongs to the Liliaceae (Ness 1989). Intermediate mariposa lily hybridizes with Plummer's mariposa lily (C. plummerae), also a member of subsection Weediani, where the two are sympatric in the San Jose Hills and Puente Hills (Ness 1989; CNPS 2001).
Reproduction: This species flowers from May through July (CNPS 2001). The inflorescence consists of two to six bell-shaped flowers. The purple petals are fringed with dark or yellow hairs and are bearded on the inner face with long yellow hairs. Each petal also has a round gland bordered with a ring of yellow hairs. The erect capsules are 4 to 5 cm long (Munz 1974; Fiedler and Ness 1993). Information regarding pollinators of this species was not reviewed.
Dispersal: Information regarding dispersal of this species was not reviewed.
Demography: This perennial bulb has a fibrous coat (Ness 1989; Fielder and Ness 1993). The leaves are basal and vary in length from 20 to 40 cm and the stems are 30 to 90 cm high (Fiedler and Ness 1993). Information regarding the life span of this species was not reviewed.
This species is threatened by urban development, road construction and fire-suppression activities (CNPS 2001).
The distribution of this species in western Riverside County is disjunct. Future surveys may reveal the presence of additional populations in the Plan Area. Intermediate mariposa lily may occur in valley and foothill grasslands in post-burn situations. Conservation of native grasslands will aid in the conservation of the species within the Plan Area.
California Natural Diversity Database. 2000. Calochortus weedii var. intermedius. Unpublished Report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.
Fiedler, P. and B. Ness. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Ness, G. 1989. Seed Morphology and Taxonomic Relationships in Calochortus (Liliaceae). Systematic Botany 14(4): 495-505.
Skinner M.W., and B.M. Pavlik, eds. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
Jaeger's milk-vetch (Astragalus pachypus var. jaegeri)
State: None
Federal: None
Forest Service: Sensitive Species
CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-3-3)
Jaeger's milk-vetch is designated as a Group 2 species because of it s several Core Areas. Although the species has a fairly scattered distribution (Vail Lake near Kolb Creek, on the south side of Aguanga Valley, in the vicinity of Sage, Temecula Canyon, in the vicinity of Castile Canyon, in a canyon west of Portrero Creek, and at the base of Agua Tibia Mountain), Jaeger's milk-vetch appears to be concentrated in the vicinity of Sage, Vail Lake near Kolb Creek, and the base of Agua Tibia Mountains. Jaeger's milk-vetch is endemic to northern San Diego and southern Riverside counties.
Jaeger's milk-vetch occurs on dry ridges and valleys and open sandy or rocky slopes in coastal scrub, chaparral, valley and foothill grassland and cismontane woodland habitats at elevations of 365 to 915 m (CNDDB 2000; CNPS 2001). Most areas of known written descriptions of the species are being conserved either within the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands including the Core Areas: Sage, Vail Lake near Kolb Creek, and the base of Agua Tibia Mountains.
This species is designated as a Forest Service Sensitive Species which can be managed at the site specific level. Forest Service Sensitive Species are protected through the implementation of Forest Plans and the biological evaluation (BE) process, which considers the potential effects of Forest Service activities on these species.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area 249,440 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral, grassland, coastal sage scrub and woodland/forest between 365 and 915 m in the appropriate Bioregions).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the seven known localities (18 occurrences) of this species at Aguanga Valley, San Jacinto Mountains, Potrero Creek, Sage, Temecula Canyon, and the core location at Vail Lake and the base of the Agua Tibia Mountains.
Potential habitat for Jaeger's milk-vetch includes chaparral, coastal sage scrub, grassland, and woodlands/ forests between 365 and 915 m. Only habitat located within the Santa Ana Mountains, Riverside Lowlands, Desert Transition, Agua Tibia Mountains, and San Jacinto Foothills Bioregions were included. Based on habitat, elevation, and location, the Plan Area supports approximately 473,240 acres of potential habitat for Jaeger's milk-vetch. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for Jaeger's milk-vetch. Overall, approximately 249,440 acres (53 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. It is assumed that these lands will be managed for biological resources including Jaeger's milk-vetch.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
JAEGER'S MILK-VETCH
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Chaparral (between 365 and 915m) |
214,980 (45%) |
50,030 (11%) |
83,910 (18%) |
133,940 (28%) |
45,250 (10%) |
35,790 (8%) |
81,040 (17%) |
| Coastal Sage Scrub (between 365 and 915m) |
134,020 (28%) |
42,830 (9%) |
30,420 (6%) |
73,240 (15%) |
23,340 (5%) |
37,430 (8%) | 60,770 (13%) |
| Grassland (between 365 and 915m) |
112,420 (24%) |
17,300 (4%) |
18,630 (4%) |
35,930 (8%) |
10,430 (2%) |
66,060 (14%) |
76,490 (16%) |
| Woodlands/Forests (between 365 and 915m) |
11,820 (3%) |
1,650 (0.4%) |
4,670 (1%) |
6,320 (1%) |
3,680 (0.8%) |
1,810 (0.4%) |
5,490 (1.2%) |
| TOTAL | 473,240 | 111,810 (24%) | 137,630 (29%) | 249,440 (53%) | 82,700 (18%) | 141,090 (30%) | 223,800 (48%) |
| 1 Vegetation type includes data from the Santa Ana Mountains, Agua Tibia Mountains, Riverside Lowlands, Desert Transition and San Jacinto Foothills Bioregions. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
Approximately 29 percent of the total potential habitat for Jaeger's milk-vetch occurs within Public/ Quasi-Public Lands which includes United States Forest Service (USFS) lands in the Cleveland National Forest. Within the 139,750 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 28,766 acres (6 percent) of potential habitat is designated as Wilderness Area and 9,415 acres (2 percent) is designated as Roadless Areas that do not include Range Allotments.
The herbaria at Pomona, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, and the University of California, Riverside (UCR), contain 11 records for this species, ranging from 1897 to 1998. Five of the occurrences, representing two localities (Aguanga Valley and Vail Lake) will be conserved within the Criteria Area. Four of the occurrences (one in the San Jacinto Mountains and three in the Agua Tibia Mountains) will be conserved within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. The UCR database contains three historic records for this species; two points are located within the Criteria Area (Aguanga Valley). The CNDDB database contains seven point localities for this species. Five points (Potrero Creek, Aguanga, Sage, and two at Vail Lake) are located within the Criteria Area and two (Temecula Canyon and base of Agua Tibia Mountains) are located within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. There are no recent accounts of the species in the northeastern portion of the Plan Area. Most areas of known written descriptions of the species are being conserved either within the Criteria Area and existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands including the core habitat areas: Sage, Vail Lake near Kolb Creek, and the base of Agua Tibia Mountains.
MSHCP Conservation Area configuration provides for conservation of the majority of potential habitat for the species and provides linkages between Core Areas of habitat conservation. The known and potential locations for this species are within large blocks of conserved habitat (Sage, Portrero Creek, and Agua Tibia Mountains) which will protect this species from edge effects, provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat and allow for pollination to occur, if pollinators are important in the reproductive cycle of this species.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 249,440 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and seven known localities (Aguanga Valley, Sage, Vail Lake, San Jacinto Mountains, Agua Tibia Mountains, Potrero Creek, and Temecula Canyon) within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Approximately 223,800 acres (48 percent) of potential habitat will not be conserved. Of the 11 herbarium records, two of the localities will not be conserved: Beaumont (dating from 1897) and the foothills of the Agua Tibia Mountains (dating from 19997). Of the three UCR database point localities for this species, one of the records (Beaumont 1897) will not be conserved; however, this overlaps with the herbarium Beaumont 1897 record.
Data reviewed includes the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) and the University of California, Riverside, GIS database, and available literature. The CNDDB has seven localities for Jaeger's milk-vetch. The UCR database has three historic occurrences at two locations: Aguanga (1920 and 1925) and Beaumont (1897). The herbaria at Pomona, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, and the University of California, Riverside (UCR), contain 11 records for this species, ranging from 1897 to 1998. Three of the occurrences are at Vail Lake, two are in Aguanga Valley, one is in the San Jacinto Mountains, three are in the Agua Tibia Mountains, one is in Beaumont (same as 1897 historic record from herbarium redorcs) and one is in the foothills of the Agua Tibia Mountains.
Species-specific studies for this species have not been located or reviewed regarding genetics, habitat associations, reproduction, pollinators, germination, and dispersal. Taxonomic sources provide the primary literature source for this species.
Jaeger's milk-vetch occurs on dry ridges and valleys and open sandy or rocky slopes in coastal scrub, chaparral, valley and foothill grassland and cismontane woodland habitats at elevations of 365 to 915 m (CNDDB 2000; CNPS 2001).
Jaeger's milk-vetch is endemic to Riverside County (CNDDB 2000; CNPS 2001).
This species is known to occur at Vail Lake near Kolb Creek, on the south side of Aguanga Valley, in the vicinity of Sage, Temecula Canyon, in the vicinity of Castile Canyon, in a canyon west of Portrero Creek, and at the base of Agua Tibia Mountain (CNDDB 2000). A historic location dating from 1897 in Beaumont should be verified (UCR database and herbarium records). The occurrences at Vail Lake near Kolb Creek and the base of the Agua Tibia Mountains are considered to be the core location for this species.
Genetics: Jaeger's milk-vetch is one of two subspecies of Astragalus pachypus that are differentiated by range and slight differences in morphological characters (e.g., flower color and leaflet number) (Barneby 1964). The genus Astragalus belongs to the Fabaceae (Munz 1974). No genetic studies were located for this species.
Reproduction: This species blooms from December through June (Barneby 1964; CNPS 2001). The clear-lemon flowers are 15 to 27 mm long and the fruits consist of 15 to 25 mm long pods (Munz 1974).
Dispersal: No information regarding dispersal of this species was reviewed.
Demography: This species is a perennial shrub with several to numerous stems that range in height from 1.5 to 8 dm (Munz 1974).
This species may be threatened by urbanization, agricultural conversion and grazing (CNPS 2001). Threats to this species will be addressed will be addressed by management by MSHCP and Forest Service management plans.
Potential habitat for this species is widespread for this species and it is anticipated that additional populations and localities exist in the Plan Area.
Barneby, R. 1964. Atlas of North American Astragalus: Part I the Phacoid and Homaloboid Astragali. Memoir of the New York Botanical Garden 13:487-489.
California Natural Diversity Database. 2000. Astragalus pachypus var. jaegeri. Unpublished Report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Reiser, C. H. 1996. Rare Plants of San Diego County. Unpublished. Aquafir Press, Imperial Beach, California.
Skinner M.W. and B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society''s Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
Wilken, D. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 1086 pp.
Johnston's rock cress (Arabis johnstonii)
State: None
Federal: None
Forest Service: local viability concern
CNPS: List 1B, (RED Code 3-2-3)
Johnston's rock cress is designated as a Group 3 species because it is endemic to the San Jacinto Mountains and the known populations require specific monitoring and management. Within the Plan Area, Johnston's rock cress is restricted to the Garner Valley/Lake Hemet area of the San Jacinto Mountains in chaparral and pine forest habitat at elevations of 1,400 m to 2,150 m. Suitable habitat for this species is found on Public/Quasi-Public (Forest Service) and private lands. In the Plan Area, most of the occurrences within the Forest are in two grazing allotments. The Forest Service has taken steps to minimize the effects of grazing where this plant is present on grazing allotments.
This is a species on the Narrow Endemic Plant list (Section 6.1.3) and surveys for Johnston's rock cress will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Narrow endemic Plant Species survey area where suitable habitat is present (see Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-1 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Johnston's rock cress located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume I.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 34,975 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral and pine forest habitat between 1,400 and 2,150 m within the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the two Core Areas for this species, including at least 17 of the known occurrences in Garner Valley and Mountain Springs and suitable habitat adjacent to these occurrences.
Surveys for Johnston's rock cress will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area where suitable habitat is present (see Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-1 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Johnston's rock cress located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume I.
Potential habitat for Johnston's rock cress includes chaparral and pine forest at elevations of 1,400 m to 2,150 m within the San Jacinto Mountains of western Riverside County. Within this analysis, pine forest was categorized as montane coniferous forest and peninsular juniper woodland. Based on these habitats, this elevation range and this Bioregion, the Plan Area supports approximately 46,785 acres of potential habitat for Johnston's rock cress. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for Johnston's rock cress. Overall, approximately 34,975 acres (75 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area is within the MSHCP Conservation Area, exclusively on existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. About 11,810 acres of potential habitat for Johnston's rock cress will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area, or about 25 percent of the total potential habitat.
In order to conserve Johnston's rock cress, at least 28,070acres (60 percent) of the species potential habitat shall be conserved. None of the potential habitat for this species is located within the Criteria Area; therefore, approximately 28,070 acres (60 percent) of the potential habitat for Johnston's rockcress within USFS lands shall be conserved for the species. A total of 34,975 acres of potential habitat for Johnston's rockcress are present on Public/Quasi-Public Lands within USFS lands including the San Bernardino National Forest and will be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
JOHNSTON'S ROCK CRESS
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Chaparral (between 1,400 m and 2,150 m) | 26,430 | – – | 22,380 | 22,380 | – – | 4,050 | 4,050 |
| Montane coniferous forest (between 1,400 m and 2,150 m) | 20,340 | – – | 12,580 | 12,580 | – – | 7,760 | 7,760 |
| Peninsular juniper woodland and scrub (between 1,400 m and 2,150 m) | 15 | – – | 15 | 15 | – – | – – | – – |
| TOTAL | 46,785 | 0 | 34,975 (75%) | 34,975 (75%) | – – | 11,810 (25%) | 11,810 (25%) |
| 1 Vegetation includes the vegetation within the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion only. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
Within the 34,795 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 4,574 acres (8 percent) of potential habitat is designated as Wilderness Area and 1,940 acres (3 percent) is designated as Roadless Areas that do not include Range Allotments.
Although 11,810 acres (25 percent) of potential habitat for Johnston's rock cress will be outside the Criteria Area and existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, this potential habitat is included within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area and any additional populations within this survey area will be addressed in accordance with the procedures presented in the Narrow Endemic Plant Species policy described in Section 6.1.3 of the MSHCP, Volume I.
The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database and herbaria at UCR, Pomona and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens include 11 records of this species, and the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) includes eight occurrences of this species. Within the UCR database and the herbarium records, 10 of the occurrences are located in the existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands and one of the mapped locations is located on private lands. Within the CNDDB, seven of the identified locations occur on both USFS lands (San Bernardino National Forest) and private lands.
According to the UCR database, one of the mapped locations is located on private lands and one of the CNDDB records is not conserved. However, both of these localities are included within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area and conservation of these locations will be addressed in accordance with the procedures presented in the Narrow Endemic Plant Species policy described in Section 6.1.3 of the MSHCP, Volume I.
This is a species on the MSHCP Narrow Endemics list (Section 6.1.3) and surveys for Johnston's rockcress will be conducted as part of the project review and process for public and private projects within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area where suitable habitat is present (see Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-1 of the MSHCP, Volume 1). Johnston's rockcress located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume 1.
Habitat supporting Johnston's rock cress is located within Public/Quasi- Public Land and the Criteria Area, including the San Jacinto Mountains. Approximately 34,975 acres (75 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area are within USFS lands. Although most Arabis species are self-pollinating (Preston 1991), large blocks of habitat will protect this species from edge effects and provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 34,975 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and 17 known localities within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.
Approximately 11,810 acres (25 percent) of potential habitat will not be conserved. According to the UCR database, one of the mapped locations is located on private lands and one of the CNDDB records is not conserved. It is important to note, however, that this potential habitat and the mapped location are included within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area and conservation of this potential habitat and known location will be addressed in accordance with the procedures presented in the Narrow Endemic Plant Species policy described in Section 6.1.3 of the MSHCP, Volume I.
Data reviewed includes the UCR database, the herbaria at Pomona, UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, the CNDDB and available literature. The UCR database and herbaria include 11 occurrences and the CNDDB includes eight occurrences. All of the known localities are located in the San Jacinto Mountains. The published literature available for this species consists primarily of monographs and Federal Register publications regarding listing status.
Johnston's rock cress occurs in chaparral and pine forest at elevations of 1,400 m to 2,150 m (CNPS 2001; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1995; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998).
This species is endemic to the San Jacinto Mountains of western Riverside County (Munz 1974; Rollins 1941; Rollins 1993).
About 20 populations of Johnston's rock cress occur in two distinct clusters (Core Areas): one in Garner Valley, and one along the Desert Divide approximately four miles east of Garner Valley (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1995; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). The desert divide cluster is outside the Plan Area. The populations occur on both U.S. Forest Service (USFS) lands (San Bernardino National Forest) and private lands. Individual population locations include Lake Hemet and Mountain Springs (Rollins 1941; CNDDB 2000).
Genetics: No published literature regarding the genetics of this species was available; however, other species of Arabis are known to hybridize where growing sympatrically (Preston 1991).
Reproduction: This purple-flowered species blooms from February to June and produces narrow, many-seeded fruits (siliques) that grow to three to five cm in length (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). Most Arabis species are self-pollinating (Preston 1991), although this has not been confirmed in published literature for Johnston's rock cress.
Dispersal: No information regarding dispersal of this species was found in published literature.
Demography: Johnston's rock cress is an herbaceous perennial with a densely pubescent basal rosette (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998).
Grazing and trampling (Forest occurrences are within grazing allotments), off-road vehicle activity, and residential development in Garner Valley (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1995; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998).
Johnston's rock cress is known to occur in association with California beard-tongue (Penstemon californicus), Munz's mariposa lily (Calochortus palmeri var. munzii) and Ziegler's aster (Layia ziegleri; a questionable taxon) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Species Account, November 10, 1998).
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Preston, R. 1991. Theme and Variations on the Rock-Cress. Fremontia 19(1): 19-21.
Rollins, R. 1941. A monographic Study of Arabis in Western North America. Rhodora 43:425-481.
Rollins, R. 1993. The Cruciferae of Continental North America. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. 976 pp.
Skinner M.W., B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1995. Proposed Endangered or Threatened Status for Seven Plants from the Mountains of Southern California. Federal Register 60 (148): 39337-39347.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998. Withdrawal of proposed rule to list Johnston's rock-cress (Arabis johnstonii) as threatened. Federal Register 63: 49063-49065.
lemon lily (Lilium parryi)
State: Species of Special Concern
Federal: None
Forest: Sensitive Species
CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 2-2-2)
Lemon lily is designated as a Group 2 species because it is restricted to the San Jacinto Mountains, and has site specific monitoring and management requirements. Within the Plan Area, lemon lily is restricted to forested, shady stream banks within narrow canyon bottoms, higher than 1,300 m above mean sea level within the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion. In western Riverside County, lemon lily is considered to be limited to the San Jacinto Mountains (Reiser 1994; Skinner 1988). The known localities are within the San Jacinto Mountains.
This plant is designated as a Forest Service Sensitive Species. Forest Service Sensitive Species are protected through the implementation of Forest Plans and the biological evaluation (BE) process, which considers the potential effects of Forest Service activities on these species.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 10,250 acres of suitable habitat (woodland/forest and riparian scrub, woodland and forest above 1,300 m within the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least six localities (seven occurrences) within the San Jacinto Mountains.
Potential habitat for lemon lily includes banks of seeps, springs and permanent streams, which typically consist of forested, shady stream banks within narrow canyon bottoms, higher than 1,300 m above mean sea level within the San Jacinto Mountains. Within this analysis, the above-mentioned habitats were categorized as woodlands and forest and riparian scrub, woodland and forest. Based on these habitats, this elevation range and this Bioregion, the Plan Area supports approximately 11,410 acres of potential habitat for lemon lily. Table 1 shows the conservation of potential habitat for lemon lily. Overall, approximately 10,250 acres (90 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area are within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
LEMON LILY
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Riparian scrub, woodland and forest (above 1,300 m) | 90 | – – | 20 | 20 | – – | 70 | 70 |
| Woodlands and forests (above 1,300 m) | 11,320 | – – | 10,230 | 10,230 | 10 | 1,090 | 1,100 |
| TOTAL | 11,410 | 0 | 10,250 (90%) | 10,250 (90%) | 10 (< 1%) | 1,160 (10%) | 1,170 (10%) |
| 1 Vegetation includes the vegetation within the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion only. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
In order to conserve lemon lily, at least 6,846 acres (60 percent) of the species potential habitat shall be conserved for the species within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. None of the potential habitat for this species is located within the Criteria Area; therefore, approximately 6,846 acres (60 percent) of the of the potential habitat for lemon lily within USFS lands shall be conserved for the species. A total of 10,250 acres of potential habitat for this species is located on USFS lands and will be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Within the 10,250 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 799 acres (7 percent) of potential habitat is designated as Wilderness Area and 582 acres (5 percent) is designated as Roadless Area that do not include Range Allotments.
The California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) includes 10 occurrences associated with the San Jacinto Mountains, all of which may occur on Public/Quasi-Public Lands in the MSHCP Conservation Area. The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database and the herbaria at UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens include 11 localities (12 occurrences) within the San Jacinto Mountains. Of the 11 localities within the UCR database and the two herbaria, six of the mapped locations (seven occurrences) are located in the existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.
The MSHCP assessment indicates that lemon lily can be conserved at the landscape level. Therefore, conserving large blocks of Forest Service and Public/Quasi-Public Lands which contain suitable habitat will probably capture populations of lemon lily.
Several large blocks of habitat supporting the lemon lily are located within Public/Quasi-Public Lands, including the San Jacinto Mountains. As mentioned, approximately 10,250 acres (90 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area are within USFS lands. The USFS lands are organized into large blocks of habitat which will protect this species from edge effects, provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat, and allow for pollination to occur by hawkmoths, etc. to occur.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 10,250 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and 17 known localities within large blocks of habitat in USFS lands in the San Jacinto Mountains within the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Approximately 1,170 acres (10 percent) of potential habitat for lemon lily will not be conserved. Of the records in the UCR database and the herbaria at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, five of the mapped locations are located on private lands within the San Jacinto Mountains and will not be conserved.
Data reviewed includes the UCR database, the CNDDB, the herbaria at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, and available literature. The CNDDB includes 10 occurrences associated with the San Jacinto Mountains, primarily within the San Jacinto Peak and Lake Fulmor USGS 7.5" quadrants (this species is considered “sensitive” by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) and therefore precise locality data is not included within the database). The UCR database includes 11 localities (12 occurrences) within the San Jacinto Mountains.
Linhart and Premoli (1994) provide a comprehensive discussion regarding the genetics of lemon lily and Skinner (1988) discusses pollination biology and floral characteristics and evolution. The USFS has published a Species Management Guide for Lilium parryi for the Angeles National Forest (Mistretta and Parra-Szijj 1991).
The distribution of lemon lily is well-known and clearly-defined. Both the mapped data and the literature clearly identify the San Jacinto Mountains as a critical area for lemon lily.
Lemon lily requires moisture year-round and the distribution of this species is limited to the banks of seeps, springs and permanent streams higher than 1,300 m above mean sea level. Typical habitat consists of forested, shady stream banks within narrow canyon bottoms (Linhart and Premoli 1994; Skinner 1993).
In California, lemon lily is known from at least 30 localities in several mountain ranges (e.g., San Gabriel Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains and San Bernardino Mountains) within San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino Counties. In Arizona, lemon lily is known to occur at 10 locations within the Santa Rita Mountains, Huachuca Mountains and Chiricahua Mountains (Linhart and Premoli 1994).
In western Riverside County, lemon lily is considered to be limited to the San Jacinto Mountains (Reiser 1994; Skinner 1988). The known localities are within the San Jacinto Mountains. Core locations of this species have not been identified within the Plan Area.
Genetics: Using enzyme electrophoresis, Linhart and Premoli (1994) analyzed genetic diversity within lemon lily using five Arizona populations and three California populations, including the San Jacinto Mountains population. Because lemon lily requires a permanently moist habitat, the populations occupy relatively insular locations. This insularity is believed to be the cause of lower than expected levels of heterozygosity for the species, but may also be linked to the absence of adequate pollinators and subsequent self-pollination. On the population level, the Arizona populations were found to be more closely related to each other than to the California populations, and the California populations demonstrate higher levels of allelic diversity than among the Arizona populations. The difference in heterogeneity levels between the California populations and the Arizona populations appears to be associated with population sizes: the California populations are significantly larger than the Arizona populations (Linhart and Premoli 1994).
Lemon lily may be related to Lilium humboldtii as the species have been hybridized in cultivation. However, they are not known to hybridize in nature as their distributions are separated by elevation. In the San Gabriel Mountains, L. humboldtii var. ocellatum occurs below 1,000 m and lemon lily occurs above 1,300 m (Mistretta and Parra-Szijj 1991; Skinner 1988).
Reproduction: The bright, showy yellow flowers are large (8 to 10 cm) and trumpet-shaped and have red-orange spots in the throat (Munz 1974; Mistretta and Parra-Szijj 1991). The flowers bloom from July through August. An analysis of the breeding system indicates that lemon lily is primarily functionally self-incompatible. Some self-compatibility is apparent and limited self-pollination may be possible in the absence of pollinators (Skinner 1988; Mistretta and Parra-Szijj 1991; Linhart and Premoli 1994). The flowers remain open for six or seven days, secreting nectar evenly on the inner bases of both petals and sepals. This attracts flower visitors (e.g., moths, butterflies, bees and hummingbirds) to the throat of the flower where they encounter the anthers and stigma. The primary pollinators in California are hawkmoths (Hyles lineata and Hyles perelegans) and lemon lily appears to have evolved in response to the hawkmoths. The size and hovering behavior of the hawkmoths, however, have resulted in these species having the greatest pollen loads. The scented flowers open in the late afternoon and early evening, coinciding with the moths' peak feeding time (Skinner 1985).
Pollination and fruit set success were very high in the populations studied by Mistretta and Parra-Szijj (1991) and Skinner (1988). The erect capsules are approximately 45 mm long and 15 mm wide, bearing 200 to 250 seeds (Skinner 1988). Lemon lily seeds are believed to be short-lived: perhaps remaining viable for only one or two years under natural conditions (Newman 1990 as cited in Mistretta and Parra-Szijj 1991). Thus, there is essentially no seed bank in the soil (Mistretta and Parra-Szijj 1989). This species has shown no evidence of vegetative reproduction (Skinner 1988; Mistretta and Parra-Szijj 1991).
Dispersal: The three capsules of the ovary split open upon maturity. The seeds of lemon lily are heavy and no seed dispersal mechanism is known. Possibly, the seeds are dispersed downstream in association with storm events (Mistretta and Parra-Szijj 1991).
Demography: This herbaceous perennial is comprised of a rhizomatous bulb and (usually) a single stem with one to six flowers, borne at the top of the stem (Munz 1974; Linhart and Premoli 1994). In cultivation, the roots and bulb form during the first season with the first leaf developing in the following spring. The first flower stalk appears three to five years after germination. Plants flower for several years before senescence and death (Newman 1990 as cited in Mistretta and Parra-Szijj 1991).
This showy bulb has suffered from over-collection, unseasonal reduction of stream flows associated with flood control activities (i.e., damming), and competition with non-native plant species (Mistretta and Parra-Szijj 1991; Linhart and Premoli 1994).
Because lemon lily requires a permanently moist habitat, the populations occupy relatively insular locations. This insularity is believed to be the cause of lower than expected levels of heterozygosity for the species; therefore, maintaining populations of native hawkmoths, primary pollinator in proximity to lemon lily populations is very important (Linhart and Premoli 1994).
Linhart, Y. and A. Premoli. 1994. Genetic Variation in Central and Disjunct Populations of Lilium parryi. Canadian Journal of Botany 72: 79-85.
Mistretta, O. and M. Parra-Szijj. 1991. Species Management Guide for Lilium parryi Wats. Angeles National Forest, Technical Report No. 8. Prepared for USDA Forest Service, Angeles National Forest, and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont California.
Munz, P. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 1086 pp.
Reiser, C. H. 1994. Rare Plants of San Diego County. Aquafir Press, Imperial Beach, California.
Skinner, M. 1988. Comparative Pollination Ecology and Floral Evolution in Pacific Coast Lilium. Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Skinner, M. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
little mousetail (Myosurus minimus ssp. apus)
State: None
Federal: None
CNPS: List 3 (R-E-D Code: ?-2-2)
Little mousetail is designated as a Group 3 species because of its limited geographic distribution and specialized habitat requirements and management requirements for floodplain processes. This species is primarily restricted to vernal pools in association with clay or alkali soils. Little mousetail occurs as three core locations within the Plan Area: the Salt Creek population west of Hemet (the largest population within southern California), and the two populations on the Santa Rosa Plateau. This species also occurs at Harford Springs County Park.
This is a species on the Additional Surveys Needs and Procedures (Section 6.3.2) list and surveys for little mousetail will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Criteria Area where suitable habitat is present (see Criteria Area Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-2 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Little mousetail located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2, MSHCP, Volume 1.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 6,900 acres of suitable habitat (grassland and playas and vernal pools within the San Jacinto River, Mystic Lake and Salt Creek portions of the MSHCP Conservation Area).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least five of the known locations of this species, including Harford Springs County Park on the Gavilan Plateau and the three core locations: one along Salt Creek west of Hemet and two on the Santa Rosa Plateau.
Surveys for the little mousetail will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Criteria Area where suitable habitat is present (see Criteria Area Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-2 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Little mousetail located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2 of the MSHCP, Volume I.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the floodplain along the San Jacinto River consistent with Objective 1. Floodplain processes will be maintained along the river in order to provide for the distribution of the species to shift over time as hydrologic conditions and seed bank sources change. A potential future flood control project along the San Jacinto River designed and constructed consistent with the criteria for the San Jacinto River project presented in Section 7.0 of the MSHCP, Volume I and with the Area Plan Subunit guidelines for Subunit 1 of the Lakeview/Nuevo Area Plan and Subunit 4 of the Mead Valley Area Plan will be considered to be consistent with this objective.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the floodplain along Salt Creek generally in its existing condition from Warren Road to Newport Road and the vernal pools in Upper Salt Creek west of Hemet. Floodplain processes will be maintained in order to provide for the distribution of the species to shift over time as hydrologic conditions and seed bank sources change.
Suitable habitat for little mousetail is limited to vernal pools in association with clay or alkali soils. For purposes of this analysis, potential habitat was considered to be grasslands on alkali soils and playas and vernal pools within the Mystic Lake, San Jacinto River and Salt Creek areas. Based on these habitats, the Plan Area supports approximately 8,270 acres of potential habitat for little mousetail. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for the little mousetail. Overall, approximately 6,900 acres (83 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. It is assumed that these lands will be managed for biological resources, including little mousetail.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
LITTLE MOUSETAIL
| Vegetation Type | MSHCP Plan Area1 (Acres) | Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Grasslands3 | 650 | 180 | 40 | 220 | 0 | 430 | 430 |
| Playas and Vernal Pools | 7,620 | 3,810 | 2,870 | 6,680 | 0 | 940 | 940 |
| TOTAL | 8,270 | 3,990 (48%) | 2,910 (35%) | 6,900 (83%) | 0 (0%) | 1,370 (17%) | 1,370 (17%) |
| 1 Within the Mystic Lake, San Jacinto River and Salt Creek areas. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. 3 On alkali soils. | |||||||
As stated above, little mousetail is associated with alkali and clay soils. Within the Mystic Lake, San Jacinto River and Salt Creek areas, there are approximately 8,270 acres of these soil types on agricultural land, grassland, playas and vernal pools, and meadows and marshes. Table 2 shows the conservation and loss of Traver, Domino and Willows soils. Approximately 7,340 (40 percent) of these soils will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. There are no clay soils (Auld, Altamont, Bosanko and Porterville) within the San Jacinto River, Mystic Lake, Salt Creek areas of the MSHCP Conservation Area.
TABLE 2
SUMMARY OF SOIL CONSERVATION
LITTLE MOUSETAIL
| Soil Type | MSHCP Plan Area1 (Acres) | Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Domino | 5,060 | 570 | 270 | 840 | 0 | 4,220 | 4,220 |
| Traver | 7,640 | 1,300 | 810 | 2,110 | 0 | 5,530 | 5,530 |
| Willows | 5,550 | 2,870 | 1,520 | 4,390 | 0 | 1,160 | 1,160 |
| TOTAL | 18,250 | 4,740(26%) | 2,600 (14%) | 7340 (40%) | 0 (0%) | 10,,910 (60%) | 10,910 (60%) |
| 1 Within the Mystic Lake, San Jacinto River and Salt Creek areas on agricultural land, grassland, playas and vernal pools, and meadows and marshes. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
The three Core Areas, the Salt Creek population west of Hemet (the largest population within southern California) and the two populations on the Santa Rosa Plateau, will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands. The Harford Springs County Park locality will also be conserved. The unconfirmed locality along the San Jacinto River will be conserved.
The three core locations, the Salt Creek population west of Hemet (the largest population within southern California) and the two populations on the Santa Rosa Plateau, will be conserved within the Criteria Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands. Moreover, the configuration of Criteria Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands provides for conservation of the floodplain along Salt Creek. Salt Creek will be generally conserved in its existing condition from Warren Road to Newport Road. This will provide for the distribution of the species to shift over time as hydrologic conditions and seed bank sources change. Due to the dependence of this species on floodplain hydrology and flooding, local densities are expected to fluctuate.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 6,900 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and three core localities (the Salt Creek population west of Hemet and the two populations on the Santa Rosa Plateau) within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring. Implementation of Objectives 4 and 5 for this species will maintain alluvial processes (floodplain hydrology and flooding) upon which this species depends.
Approximately 1,370 acres of potential habitat for little mousetail will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. The historic populations at March Air Reserve Base and within the Edgemont area are likely extirpated. The populations reported from the vicinity of Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, and Menifee, if still extant, are located outside the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Data reviewed includes the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, the herbarium specimens at UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, the California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB), and available literature.
The CNDDB includes only four sites for western Riverside County (three on the Santa Rosa Plateau, one at Harford Springs County Park). The UCR database and two herbaria include 44 occurrences. The majority of the records are associated with Salt Creek and the Santa Rosa Plateau. There are several errors in the mapped locations: four of the records in the City of Hemet probably represent the Salt Creek population; the Gavilan Plateau population, probably representing Harford Springs County Park, is mapped too far west; and the Lake Elsinore populations are mapped too far north. This species is also reported from French Valley (D. Bramlet, pers. com., 2001).
The majority of literature focuses on systematic relationships. Stone (1959) discusses reproductive biology. The Service discusses conservation and threats to the alkali habitat in the 1998 final rule to add San Jacinto Crownscale and spreading navarretia to the list of threatened and endangered species (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). Spreading navarretia and little mousetail have similar habitat requirements in Riverside County.
In southern California, little mousetail occurs in association with vernal pools and within the alkali vernal pools and alkali annual grassland components of alkali vernal plains (Munz 1974; Bramlet 1993; CNPS 2001; Ferren and Fielder 1993). Little mousetail is found in areas that have semi-regular inundation. On the Santa Rosa Plateau, little mousetail is associated with California Orcutt's grass, San Diego button celery, and Orcutt's brodiaea (Thorne and Lathrop 1985; CNDDB 2000). At Salt Creek little mousetail is associated with woolly marbles (Psilocarphus brevisimmus), alkali weed (Cressa truxillensis), wire-stem popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys leptocladus), California goldfields (Lasthenia californica), hairgrass (Deschamspia danthoides), Mojave silver scale (Atriplex argentea), bracted saltbush (A. serenana), sharp-tooth peppergrass (Lepidium dictyotum), dwarf peppergrass (Lepidium latipes), alkali plantain (Plantago elongata), and toad rush (Juncus bufonius) (Bramlet 1993a; Bramlet 1993b). At Salt Creek, little mousetail is associated with other rare species, including San Jacinto Valley crownscale, Davidson's saltscale, Parish's brittlescale, vernal barley, smooth tarplant, and thread-leaved brodiaea (Bramlet 1993b; Recon 1995).
Little mousetail is distributed from scattered areas from Orange and San Bernardino County south to coastal San Diego County from sea level to 1,500 meters elevation (Campbell 1952; Munz 1974). It is also known from several sites in Baja California primarily from the Las Palmas-Tecate area, but as far south as Erendira near San Vicente (Reiser 1996). The exact geographic limit of this entity is unclear and maybe broader than the above interpretation. Additional populations of closely related plants in the Central Valley of northern California from Colusa and Butte County south to Kern County have been described as “having many characters in common with little mousetail” (Campbell 1952), or treated as little mousetail (Stone 1959, CNPS 2001).
Most southern California populations are relatively small. The two largest concentrations of little mousetail are on the Otay Mesa of San Diego County and at Salt Creek west of Hemet in Riverside County (Recon 1994; CNDDB 2000).
Little mousetail is known from at least nine locations in western Riverside County. The largest known population complex of this plant is found within a complex of 200 or more alkali vernal pools at Salt Creek west of Hemet (Bramlet 1993). This complex likely represents 80 percent or more of the individuals within southern California (Recon 1994; F. Roberts, pers. comm., 2000). Two populations consisting of six occupied vernal pools are on the Santa Rosa Plateau within the Santa Rosa Plateau Preserve. One population is known from the Gavilan Plateau within Harford Springs County Park (CNDDB). Populations at March Air Reserve Base (last reported in 1922) and within the Edgemont area (last reported in 1952) are likely extirpated. Little mousetail has been reported from the vicinity of Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, and Menifee; however the status of these populations is unknown. A recent occurrence was recorded in French Valley (D. Bramlet, pers com., 2001). The UCR database also includes one unconfirmed occurrence along the San Jacinto River.
Three core locations occur within the Plan Area: the Salt Creek population west of Hemet (the largest population within southern California), and the two populations on the Santa Rosa Plateau. The status and significance of other populations is not known at this time.
Genetics: Little mousetail, a member of the Ranunculaceae, is one of 10 to 15 species of the genus Myosurus. Currently, four species of Myosurus are recognized in California (Wilken 1993). The relationships between these closely allied species are complex and have resulted in several taxonomic interpretations. The concept of M. minimus var. apus is fairly universally recognized in southern California. However plants from the Central Valley have been recognized as merely closely allied (Campbell 1952), or as a stabilized hybrid between M. filiformis and M. sessiliflorus with a broader distribution including the Central Valley and southern California (Stone 1959). Wilken (1993) did not recognize distinct subtaxa. Irrespective of the status of this form in other areas in California, plants from Riverside County have consistently been associated with M. minimus var. apus (Campbell 1952; Munz 1974).
Reproduction: Little mousetail develops small greenish flowers from April through May on the Santa Rosa Plateau (Munz 1974). Within the Salt Creek drainage, little mousetail blooms earlier, coinciding with the rains and cooler temperatures, often in March and April. Studying Central Valley plants, Stone (1959) found that members of the genus Myosurus were self-pollinated and that many “biotypes” could co-exist sympatrically and yet maintain floral isolation. Insects appear to play only a minor roll in reproduction (Stone 1959). Each plant produces about 70 achenes, each with a single seed (Campbell 1959). Seeds are viable for only a short number of years (Stone 1959).
Dispersal: No papers discussing seed dispersal have been located or reviewed at this time.
Demography: Little mousetail is a short annual 2 to 12 cm tall (Wilken 1993).
Little mousetail is declining throughout much of its range. In Riverside County, this species and its habitat are threatened by habitat destruction and fragmentation from urban and agricultural development, pipeline construction, alteration of hydrology and flood plain dynamics, excessive flooding, channelization, off-road vehicle activity, trampling by cattle and sheep, weed abatement, fire suppression practices (including discing and plowing), and competition from alien plant species (Bramlet 1993b; Recon 1994; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998).
This species is restricted to vernal pool habitats with clay or alkali soils. As with other vernal pool species, this one is dependent on maintaining hydrology and the surrounding watershed. In Riverside County, little mousetail blooms from April to May on the Santa Rosa Plateau and from March to April in the lowlands, but is often detectable most of the year unless disturbed. Little mousetail may not germinate or be detectable in dry years.
Like other species on the alkali vernal plains of Salt Creek little mousetail depends on specific hydrology: vernal pools. Vernal pools cannot exist in isolation and require enough of the surrounding matrix habitat to support the processes that fill the pools with water and allow for natural population dynamics. Alkali vernal pools can form over a larger area, different locations, and with different configurations from year to year, based on rainfall timing, the degree and extent of regional and local flooding, and disturbance from human-related activities such as discing and barley farming. Maintaining adequate vernal pool diversity to allow for population dynamics is critical to this species. Loose sediment from nearby surface disturbance can damage vernal pools.
During the last several years, nearly continuous disturbances (discing, sludge dumping, etc.) have significantly reduced the potential for vernal pools to form at Salt Creek. This has resulted in significant declines of little mousetail in one of the most important populations. Therefore, defacto conservation of habitat may not be enough to assure long-term conservation and it will be necessary to restore habitat within these areas.
Bramlet, D. 1993a. A checklist of the vascular plants of the San Jacinto River and Salt Creek Areas, Riverside County, California. Unpublished.
Bramlet, D. 1993b. Plant Species of Special Concern in the Alkaline Sinks of the San Jacinto River and Old Salt Creek Tributary Area. Unpublished.
Campbell, G.R. 1952. Genus Myosurus L. (Ranunculaceae) in North America. El Aliso 2: 389-403.
Ferren, W.R., and P.L. Fiedler 1993. Rare and threatened wetlands of Central and Southern California, in Interface between Ecology and Land Development in California, J.E. Keely editor, Southern California Academy of Sciences, Los Angeles.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Recon 1994. The distribution, status, and conservation of vernal pool and alkali playa wetlands of the Upper Salt Creek drainage, Hemet, California. Unpubl. Rep. prepared for the City of Hemet, California.
Reiser 1996. Rare Plants of San Diego County, 1996 edition. Unpublished. Aquafir Press, San Diego, California.
Skinner M.W., B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
Stone, D.E. 1959. A unique balanced breeding system in the vernal pool mouse-tails. Evolution 13: 151-174.
long-spined spine flower (Chorizanthe polygonoides var. longispina)
State: None
Federal: None
CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 2-2-2)
Long-spined spine flower is designated as a Group 2 species because of its fairly wide distribution within specific soil restrictions and the presence of two core locations. The species is known from Temescal Canyon area, Lake Mathews-Estelle Mountain Reserve, Harford Springs Park, the Motte Reserve, the Gavilan Plateau, Alberhill, French Valley, Vail Lake, Agua Tibia Mountains, Murrieta, the southern Santa Ana Mountains, the Santa Rosa Plateau, Skunk Hollow, the Paloma Valley, Lake Skinner Preserve, and along the north slopes of the Palomar Mountains. Long-spined spine flower appears to be most prevalent in the vicinity of Lake Mathews and the Agua Tibia Mountains.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 389,510 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral, coastal sage scrub and grassland) including Altamont (190 acres), Auld (400 acres), Bosanko (470 acres), Porterville (100 acres), and claypit (600 acres) soils.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 32 locations of this species, including the two core locations at Lake Matthews and in the Agua Tibia Mountains.
Potential habitat for long-spined spine flower is considered to be southern needlegrass grassland, and openings in coastal sage scrub and chaparral that occur on clay or rocky clay soils of the following series: Altamont, Auld, Bosanko, Claypit, and Porterville. Based on this assumption of habitat, the Plan Area supports approximately 698,540 acres of plant communities may be potential habitat for long-spined spine flower. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for long-spined spine flower; overall, approximately 389,510 acres (56 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. It is assumed that the MSHCP Conservation Area will be managed for the conservation of biological resources, including long-spined spine flower.
As stated above, long-spined spine flower is found on clay soils of the following series: Altamont, Auld, Bosanko, Claypit, and Porterville soils. Within the Plan Area, there are approximately 3,670 acres of these soil types. Table 2 shows the conservation and loss of Altamont, Auld, Bosanko, and Claypit soils. Approximately 1,770 acres (48 percent) of these soils will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
LONG-SPINED SPINE FLOWER
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Chaparral | 401,500 | 64,300 (9%) |
201,080 (29%) | 265,390 (38%) |
56,970 (8%) |
79,140 (11%) |
136,110 (20%) |
| Coastal Sage Scrub | 152,330 | 47,160 (7%) |
34,490 (5%) | 81,640 (12%) |
26,080 (4%) |
44,600 (6%) |
70,690 (10%) |
| Grassland | 144,710 | 20,000 (3%) |
22,480 (3%) | 42,480 (6%) |
11,860 (2%) |
90,370 (13%) |
102,230 (15%) |
| TOTAL | 698,540 | 131,470 (19%) | 258,050 (37%) | 389,510 (56%) | 94,920 (14%) | 214,110 (31%) | 309,020 (44%) |
| 1 Vegetation type includes data from the Agua-Tibia Mountains, Desert Transition, Riverside Lowlands, San Jacinto Foothills, San Jacinto Mountains and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
TABLE 2
SUMMARY OF SOIL CONSERVATION
LONG-SPINED SPINE FLOWER
| Soil Type | MSHCP Plan Area1 (Acres) | Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Altamont | 520 (14%) |
190 (5%) |
-- | 190 (5%) |
-- | 330 (12%) |
330 (9%) |
| Auld | 410 (26%) |
150 (4%) |
260 (7%) |
400 (11%) |
10 (0.4%) |
520 (14%) |
530 (15%) |
| Bosanko | 980 (27%) |
90 (3%) |
380 (10%) |
470 (13%) |
-- | 500 (14%) |
500 (14%) |
| Claypit | 220 (6%) |
90 (3%) |
10 (0.2%) |
100 (3%) |
-- | 120 (3%) |
120 (3%) |
| Porterville | 630 (27%) |
50 (1%) |
560 (15%) |
600 (16%) |
20 (0.9%) |
390 (11%) |
420 (11%) |
| TOTAL | 3,670 | 1,160 (16%) | 1,600 (33%) | 1,770 (48%) | 30 (1%) | 1,870 (51%) | 1,900 (52%) |
| 1 Soil type includes data from the Agua-Tibia Mountains, Desert Transition, Riverside Lowlands, San Jacinto Foothills, San Jacinto Mountains and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, the herbaria at UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens contain 55 occurrences for this species. Of the 55 occurrences, 36 will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area at the following localities: Vail Lake, Agua Tibia Mountains, Santa Ana Mountains, Gavilan Hills, Crown Valley, Tucalota Creek, San Jacinto Mountains, Temescal Canyon, Santa Rosa Plateau, Skunk Hollow, Lake Mathews, Alberhill and French Valley. The CNDDB database contains 24 occurrences for this species, 21 of which will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area at the following localities: the southern Santa Ana Mountains, Santa Rosa Plateau, Agua Tibia Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, Lake Mathews, Antelope Valley, Gavilan Hills, Skunk Hollow and Motte Reserve. The two core locations of long-spined spine flower at Lake Mathews and in the Agua Tibia Mountains will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area.
The MSHCP assessment indicates that long-spined spine flower can be conserved at the landscape level. Therefore, conserving large blocks of Public/Quasi-Public Lands which contain suitable habitat will probably capture occurrences in addition to the known, conserved occurrences.
MSHCP Conservation Area configuration provides for conservation of the majority of potential habitat for the species and provides linkages between Core Areas of habitat conservation. The known and potential locations for this species are within areas with large blocks of conserved habitat (Lake Mathews, Vail Lake, Santa Rosa Plateau, Santa Ana Mounatins, San Jacinto Mountains and Agua Tibia Mountains). Large blocks of habitat will protect this species from edge effects, provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat, and allow for pollination to occur, if pollinators are important in the reproductive cycle of this species.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 389,510 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and at least 57 known occurrences at 15 locations (including the core localities at Lake Mathews and the Agua Tibia Mountains) within large blocks of habitat at Lake Mathews, Vail Lake, Santa Rosa Plateau, Santa Ana Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains and Agua Tibia Mountains in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Approximately 309,020 acres will not be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area. Nineteen of the 55 records in the UCR database and the herbaria at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens will not be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. The 19 occurrences include the following localities: Temescal Canyon, Murrieta, Gavilan Plateau, Alberhill, City of Riverside, Sedco Hills, Antelope Valley, Rancho California, and the Santa Ana Mountains. Three of the CNDDB occurrences at Lake Mathews will not be conserved.
Data reviewed includes the herbarium specimens at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens and UCR, the UCR database, the CNDDB, and available literature.
The CNDDB lists 24 locations for Riverside County, of which roughly one-third are associated with Lake Mathews and represent a single extended population complex. Collections from Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden and UCR and the UCR database include several additional sites. Most literature available focuses on the taxonomic status of this species with some references to distribution and rarity. No species specific studies and little data is available regarding life history (reproductive biology, pollinators, or dispersal mechanisms) are available for this species.
Long-spined spine flower is associated primarily with heavy, often rocky, clay soils in southern needlegrass grassland, and openings in coastal sage scrub, and chaparral (CNPS 2001; Reiser 2001; CNDDB). Reveal and Hardham (1989) describe this species as occurring on sandy and gravelly soil but this appears to be infrequently the case. Occasionally this species is associated with mountain meadows in sandy loam soil as at Cuyamaca State Park or in sandy or gravelly soils as on Kearney Mesa or Cutca Valley in San Diego County (Reiser 2001; Boyd and Banks 1995; CNDDB). The majority of populations are clearly associated with clay soils (F. Roberts, pers. com, March 2000). Long-spined spine flower is often associated with needlegrass (Nassella sp.), wild oat (Avena sp.), Douglas microseris (Microseris douglasii ssp. platycephala), California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), Munz's onion (Allium munzii), red-skinned onion (A. haematochiton) Palmer's grappling hook (Harpagonella palmeri), prostrate spine flower (Chorizanthe procumbens), and small-flowered morning-glory (Convolvulus simulans) (CNDDB).
Long-spined spine flower occurs in southwestern California and northwestern Baja California, Mexico, from western Riverside County south, through San Diego County, to the vicinity of Oso Negros, east of Ensenada, Mexico (Munz 1974; Reveal and Hardham 1989; Hickman 1993; Reiser 2001). This species occurs from about 100 to 1,400 meters in elevation. About 25 to 35 populations have been reported in the United States (Reveal and Hardham 1989; CNDDB 2001). At least six6 populations have been reported from Mexico (Reiser 2001).
This species is found primarily within the western and southwestern areas of the Plan Area, often in association with clay soils. In the vicinity of the Gavilan Hills, long-spined spine flower is found in the Temescal Canyon area, Lake Mathews-Estelle Mountain Reserve, Harford Springs Park, and the Motte Reserve (Reveal and Hardham 1989; CNDDB). In the Santa Ana Mountains it occurs within the San Mateo Wilderness, Elsinore Peak, and on the Redondo and Mesa de Burro area of the Santa Rosa Plateau (Lathrop and Thorne 1985; CNDDB). Populations are also found in clay soils at Skunk Hollow and the Paloma Valley (Briggs and Scott Road), Bachelor Mountain (Lake Skinner Preserve) and along the north slopes of the Palomar Mountains (Dripping Springs Campground, Dorland Mountain, Woodchuck Road, Oak Mountain, and Arroyo Seco) (Boyd and Banks 1995; CNDDB). Ten occurrences are reported by the from the El Sobrante Road, Cajalco Road, and eastern and southern shores of Lake Mathews (CNDDB). These occurrences appear to represent a single extended population complex. The largest reported population is in the vicinity of Dorland Mountain (Boyd and Banks 1995).
Other scattered populations have been reported in other areas, including a collection made in the Garner Valley and southern Alberhill (Reiser 2001; CNDDB). Data supplied by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the University of California Riverside also report populations within the Sedco Hills and Riverside.
The most important populations are the two largest populations at Dorland Mountain and at Woodchuck Road near Agua Tibia Mountain (Boyd and Banks 1995; CNDDB). The population complex at Lake Mathews, although considerably smaller in the number of individuals, indicates the presence of important habitat.
Genetics: Long-spined spine flower comprises the Parvatia subsection of Chorizanthe (Reveal and Hardham 1989). This variety (C. polygonoides var. longispina) differs from C. polygonoides var. polygonoides in distribution: the former occurs within Riverside and San Diego Counties and northern Baja California and the latter has a more northerly distribution (Modoc County, Calaveras County, Lake County and Santa Barbara County). The two are further distinguished in that the variety polygonoides has a slightly longer involucral tube (Reveal and Hardham 1989).
Reproduction: Prostrate spine flower blooms from April through June (Reveal and Hardham 1989). The small (1.5 to 2mm) flowers vary in color from white to rose. The brown achenes are 1.5 to 2.5 mm long (Reveal and Hardham 1989; Hickman 1993).
Dispersal: No information regarding dispersal mechanisms was found in published literature.
Demography: This prostrate to decumbent annual herb is an annual species of small stature (1 to 5 cm high and 3 to 25 cm across) (Reveal and Hardham 1989).
Throughout much of its range, potential habitat for this species is threatened by urban development and competition with non-native grasses (Reiser 1996; CNPS 2001). Threats to this species will be addressed in the management measures proposed for the conservation of this species.
This species is often difficult to see in the field. The plants are often inconspicuous due to their diminutive habit (Reveal and Hardham 1989). In western Riverside County, this species is often associated with heavy clay soils and openings of highly-weathered gabbro. Long-spined spine flower is often found with Palmer's grapplinghook and Munz''s onion in Riverside County (Boyd and Banks 1995).
Boyd, S. and D. Banks. 1995. A Botanical Assessment of the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area, Cleveland National Forest, California. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont California.
Hickman, J.C. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 1,400 pp.
Lathrop, E.W. and R.F. Thorne. A Flora of the Santa Rosa Plateau, Southern California. Southern California Botanist, Special Publication No. 1.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 1,086 pp.
Raiser, C. 2001. Rare Plants of San Diego County. Unpublished. Aquafir Press, San Diego, California.
Reveal, J. and C. Hardham 1989. A revision of the annual species of Chorizanthe (Polygonaceae: Eriogonoideae). Phytologia 66(2): 90-198.
Skinner M.W., B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society''s Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society. 338 pp.
many-stemmed dudleya (Dudleya multicaulis)
State: None
Federal: None
CNPS: List 1B (R-E-D Code 1-2-3)
Forest Service: Sensitive Species
Many-stemmed dudleya is designated as a Group 3 species because of its limited geographic distribution in Riverside County and specialized habitat requirements. A number of populations exist within western Riverside County; however, these are concentrated within the Santa Ana Mountains Bioregion and western portion of the Riverside Lowlands Bioregion, with the majority of the populations known from the Temescal Canyon, Gavilan Hills, and Alberhill areas and the Santa Ana Mountains, including the San Mateo Wilderness Area of the Cleveland National Forest. Many-stemmed dudleya is associated with openings in chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and grasslands underlain by clay and cobbly clay soils of the following series: Altamont, Auld, Bosanko, Claypit, and Porterville.
This is a species on the Narrow Endemic Plant list (Section 6.1.3) and surveys for many-stemmed dudleya will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area where suitable habitat is present (see Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-1 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Many-stemmed dudleya located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume 1.
This species is designated as a Forest Service Sensitive Species which can be managed at the site specific level. Forest Service Sensitive Species are protected through the implementation of Forest Plans and the biological evaluation (BE) process, which considers the potential effects of Forest Service activities on these species.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 142,680 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral, coastal sage scrub and grassland below 700 m in the Riverside Lowlands and Santa Ana Mountain Bioregions) in the Plan Area, including 1,575 acres of clay soils: 190 acres of Altamont, 210 acres of Auld, 490 acres of Bosanko, 100 acres of Claypit soils and 585 acres of Porterville soils.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 26 of the known occurrences of many-stemmed dudleya, including the occurrences at Estelle Mountain, Temescal Canyon, the Santa Ana Mountains, Gavilan Hills, Alberhill Creek, and Prado Basin.
Surveys for many-stemmed dudleya will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area where suitable habitat is present (see Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-1 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Many-stemmed dudleya located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume I.
For the purpose of the conservation analysis, potential habitat for many-stemmed dudleya is considered to include chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and grasslands that occur on clay soils of the Auld, Altamont, Bosanko, Claypit, and Porterville series and within the Riverside Lowlands and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. Based upon these assumptions, the Plan Area supports approximately 328,390 acres of potential habitat for many-stemmed dudleya. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for many-stemmed dudleya. Overall, approximately 142,680 acres (47 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area. It is assumed that MSHCP Conservation Area lands will be managed for the conservation of targeted biological resources, including many-stemmed dudleya. Sixteen (84 percent) of the known populations of many-stemmed dudleya will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. Although 185,710 acres (53 percent) of potential habitat for many-stemmed dudleya will be outside the Criteria Area and existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, 12,700 acres of this potential habitat is included within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area and any additional populations within this survey area will be addressed in accordance with the procedures presented in the Narrow Endemic Plant Species policy described in Section 6.1.3 of the MSHCP, Volume I.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
MANY-STEMMED DUDLEYA
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Chaparral (below 700 m) | 112,160 | 23,720 | 38,240 | 61,960 | 26,930 | 23,270 | 50,200 |
| Coastal Sage Scrub (below 700 m) | 108,750 | 26,710 | 23,400 | 50,110 | 20,220 | 38,420 | 58,640 |
| Grassland (below 700 m) | 107,480 | 12,700 | 17,910 | 30,610 | 7,960 | 68,910 | 76,870 |
| TOTAL | 328,390 | 63,130 (18%) | 79,550 (29%) | 142,680 (47%) | 55,110 (18%) | 130,600 (35%) | 185,710 (53%) |
| 1 Vegetation includes vegetation that occurs on clay soils in Riverside Lowlands and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
As stated above, many-stemmed dudleya is found on clay and cobbly clay soils of the following series: Altamont, Auld, Bosanko, Claypit, and Porterville. Within the Plan Area, there are approximately 3,490 acres of these soils which occur coincident with appropriate plant communities. Table 2 shows the acreage of Altamont, Auld, Bosanko, Claypit, and Porterville soils found within the proposed Criteria Area, on Public/Quasi-Public Lands, on Rural/Mountainous Lands, and outside of the proposed MSHCP Conservation Area. Approximately 1,575 acres (45 percent) of these soils will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area. While the remaining 55 percent of clay soils are found outside of the MSHCP Conservation Area, an additional 1,915 acres found outside of these areas where suitable habitat is present will be subject to focused surveys for many-stemmed dudleya as part of the Narrow Endemics Policy (Section 6.1.3).
TABLE 2
SUMMARY OF SOIL CONSERVATION
MANY-STEMMED DUDLEYA
| Soil Type | MSHCP Plan Area1 (Acres) | Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Altamont | 530 | 190 | – – | 190 | – – | 340 | 340 |
| Auld | 735 | 120 | 90 | 210 | 5 | 520 | 525 |
| Bosanko | 1010 | 90 | 400 | 490 | – – | 520 | 520 |
| Claypit | 220 | 90 | 10 | 100 | – – | 120 | 120 |
| Porterville | 995 | 45 | 540 | 585 | 20 | 390 | 410 |
| TOTAL | 3,490 | 535 (15%) | 11,040 (30%) | 1,575 | 25 (<1%) | 1,890 (54%) | 1,915 |
| 1 below 700 m in Riverside Lowlands and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions 2 Excluding unsuitable habitat (e.g., open water, riparian, agriculture, developed). 3 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
The California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) contains 10 records of this species in the Plan Area. Of these 10 records, eight will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area: two in the vicinity of Estelle Mountain, one in the Santa Ana Mountains and five in the Temescal Canyon area. The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database and the herbaria at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens include 33 records of many-stemmed dudleya. Of the 33 occurrences, 18 will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area: four in the Santa Ana Mountains, four in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains, three along Temescal Canyon, three in the Gavilan Hills, one along Alberhill Creek, one in the Prado Basin, one at Estelle Mountain, and one in Alberhill.
All of the core locations of many-stemmed dudleya will be conserved in the Criteria Area or on Public/Quasi-Public Lands. These areas also capture a number of the smaller populations as well. In addition, implementation of the Narrow Endemics Policy will address a portion of those populations located outside of the Criteria Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands, as well as newly identified populations discovered during the course of focused surveys conducted within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 142,680 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and 26 known localities (Estelle Mountain, Temescal Canyon, the Santa Ana Mountains, Gavilan Hills, Alberhill Creek, Prado Basin) within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.
Approximately 185,710 acres (53 percent) of potential habitat and 17 occurrences (Mira Loma, foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains, Coronita, east of Lake Elsinore and near Alberhill) within the Plan Area will not be conserved; however, all of the core locations will be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area. Portions of additional populations will be addressed through application of the Narrow Endemics policy described in Section 6.1.3 of the MSHCP, Volume I.
Data reviewed includes UCR database, the herbaria at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, the CNDDB, and available literature.
The CNDDB lists 11 occurrences of many-stemmed dudleya in Riverside County. Roberts (1999) has reviewed the status of this species rangewide. Roberts has identified one additional site not listed by the database in Riverside County. About half of these sites have been confirmed by voucher specimens at Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden and UCR. The UCR database includes at least six additional sites. Several of these sites do not appear to be supported by recent status surveys (e.g., a locality near North Peak in the Gavilan Hills is not identified by Roberts, or other botanists familiar with the site) (Roberts 1999). An additional occurrence of many-stemmed dudleya (two small groups of four and two individuals) was recently identified in the Alberhill area (NRC 2000). The UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens herbaria and UCR database contain 33 records within the Plan Area.
Dudleya, as a group, has a fair amount of literature, particularly regarding systematics, genetics, and distribution. Mark Dodero (1995) recently examined the status of species in the subgenus Hasseanthus. Roberts (1992) reviewed the status of this species in Orange County and conducted a range wide review of the populations and their status (Roberts 1999). A limited number of references were found discussing reproductive biology.
Many-stemmed dudleya is often associated with clay soils in barrens, rocky places, and ridgelines as well as thinly vegetated openings in chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and southern needlegrass grasslands on clay soils (Munz 1974; CNDDB 2001). The majority of populations are associated with coastal sage scrub or open coastal sage scrub (Dodero 1995). In Riverside County, many-stemmed dudleya has been associated with Palmer's grappling hook (Harpagonella palmeri), Munz's onion (Allium munzii), chocolate lily (Fritillaria biflora), Douglas' lupine (Lupinus bicolor), purple needlegrass (Nassella pulchra), foothill needlegrass (N. lepida), California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), and California juniper (Juniperus californica) (CNDDB 2001).
Many-stemmed dudleya is endemic to southwestern California from western Los Angeles County, through extreme southwestern portions of San Bernardino and Orange Counties, and western Riverside County south to the northern edge of San Diego County. It ranges from near sea level to about 600 m (1,970 ft) in elevation (Bartel 1993). One-hundred and nineteen populations have been identified of which 12 (about 10 percent) are known to be extirpated (CNDDB 2000; Roberts 1999). Of the remaining populations, 15 populations, each averaging about 210 individuals, are known from Los Angeles County; two small populations are known from the Chino Hills of San Bernardino County, 74 populations (about 70 percent), varying in size from about a dozen plants to over 5,000 individuals, are known from Orange County; nine populations (8 percent) are known from Riverside County, and seven populations (about 7 percent) are known from San Diego County. All San Diego County populations are situated on Camp Pendleton and are closely allied with populations within Rancho Mission Viejo in Orange County (CNDDB 2000; Roberts 1999). The majority of many-stemmed dudleya populations fall within four geographic complexes, the San Joaquin Hills and Blind Canyon complexes (Orange County), the Rancho Mission Viejo-Camp Pendleton complex (Orange and San Diego County), and the Gavilan Hills (Riverside County) (CNDDB 2000; Roberts 1999).
The CNDDB includes ten localities of many-stemmed dudleya in the Plan Area. These populations are known from the vicinity of Santa Ana Canyon, the Temescal Canyon, Estelle Mountain, Alberhill near Lake Elsinore, and Oak Flats in the San Mateo Wilderness Area. One population along the Santa Ana Canyon west of Corona was eliminated by residential development in the 1980s while another (Wardlow Wash) may have also been destroyed with elements perhaps transferred to another site (Roberts 1999). Most individuals are associated with a complex of six populations within the Temescal Canyon and Gavilan Hills. This complex is poorly delineated and almost certainly exceeds 10,000 individuals (CNDDB 2000; Roberts 1999). A population at Vail Lake is very small (fewer than 20 individuals reported in 1993) (Sweetwater Environmental Biologists 1993) and represents a widely disjunct population (Roberts 1999). There is also a herbarium record at Prado Basin. Core locations of many-stemmed dudleya occur at Estelle Mountain, Alberhill, Temescal Canyon, within the Gavilan Hills and the Santa Ana Mountains.
Systematics: Many-stemmed dudleya, a member of the Crassulaceae, is one of about 45 species within the genus Dudleya (Moran 1960; Bartel 1993). It is a member of the subgenus Hasseanthus, which consists of four or five species of small, vernal perennials that originate from a subsurface corm (Bartel 1993; Dodero 1995). All members of Hasseanthus are from California and northwestern Baja California, Mexico. Moran (1960), Munz (1974), and Bartel (1993) provide descriptions for members of Hasseanthus. Many-stemmed dudleya is most closely related to Dudleya variegata, another yellow-flowered species with fewer, shorter, and more flattened leaves. Cytological studies indicate that many-stemmed dudleya is the closest member to subgenus Dudleya of all Hasseanthus (Clausen, Moran, and Uhl 1945, Uhl and Moran 1953). The meiotic chromosome number of many-stemmed dudleya is n=17, which is typical of most members of the genus (Uhl and Moran 1953).
Reproduction: Few studies have been conducted regarding the reproductive biology of many-stemmed dudleya. Many-stemmed dudleya generally produces yellow flowers in May and June (Munz 1974), although flowering can take place as early as March in coastal locations (Caesares and Koopowitz 1989). During the late spring withering flowers produce five follicles. The seeds are about 0.8 mm long. One study at the University of California, Irvine (Caesares and Koopowitz 1989) found that the average flower produced about 12 seeds and that about 52 percent of these were viable under nursery conditions. Field observations indicated a significantly lower viability in populations on the University of California, Irvine campus. Dodero (1995) noted that most members of the Hasseanthus produce 1-15 flowers per inflorescence branch and that flowers generate from 0 to 27 seeds.
Blochman's dudleya (Dudleya blochmaniae var. blochmaniae), a related coastal species, appears to set a large numbers of seeds and has high germination in favorable years (F. Roberts, pers. comm., 2000). Initial germination can number in the thousands but the number of seedlings rapidly decline as the season progresses because of predation, dry conditions, or a poor germination site. Dodero (1995) observed one population of D. variegata noting that about 1000 individuals had sprouted in January 1991. A seven-week dry period followed and by May, only 15 individuals developed inflorescence which produced fruit. The actual number of plants in a typical year to reach maturity and bloom is only a small fraction of individuals that either germinated or leafed out early in the growing season (Dodero 1995). Many-stemmed dudleya appears less prolific than Blochman's dudleya; however, it appears that, like Blochman's dudleya and others in the Hasseanthus subgenus, only a fraction of the plants at a site actually bloom during any given year (F. Roberts, pers. comm. 2000).
The insect pollinators of many-stemmed dudleya have not been studied. Dodero (1995) noted that coastal species of Hasseanthus appear to be pollinated by honey bees (Apis mellifera), bumble bees (Bombus spp.), digger bees (Family Anthophoridae) , bembicine wasp (Stenolia duplicata and Bembix occidentalis), metallic swat bees (Family Halictidae), bee flies (Family Bombyliidae), bee mimic flower flies (Family Syrphidae), and soft-winged flower beetles (Dasytes sp.). Although the individual flowers are small, members of this group frequently flower in large masses and thus attract insects.
Dispersal: Many-stemmed dudleya seeds are dispersed by wind and water with the aid of gravity. In related species, seeds are sprinkled on the ground and occasionally blown along the surface in strong winds (Dodero 1995).
Many-stemmed dudleya appear only to thrive in relatively thinly vegetated habitat such as clay barrens, sparse grasslands, and openings in coastal sage scrub; thus, it likely that competition plays a significant part in species dispersal. Dense non-native grass and forb species likely limit dispersal. In Blochman's dudleya, small, open shrubs have been seen to aid dispersal by providing shelter from environmental conditions and herbivores (F. Roberts, pers. comm. 2000); this may be the case for many-stemmed dudleya as well.
Demography: Many-stemmed dudleya is a low, vernal succulent perennial originating from a corm. The corm is a specialized underground caudex (stem) that is adapted to dry conditions. The corm is filled with water and starch that allow the plant to survive extended dry periods (Dodero 1995). Dead outer layers form a protective coating that reduces water loss (Dodero 1995). Dormant plants of the similar D. blochmaniae have been known to survive at least three years without water (Dodero 1995). Observations indicate that early rains followed by prolonged dry periods during midwinter may cause individuals to become dormant while extended periods of rain throughout the rainy season encourage flowering (Dodero 1995).
Many-stemmed dudleya has apparently been extirpated from the western portion of its range. In Orange County it is threatened by highway construction and urban development (Roberts 1999). In San Diego County, populations are at risk from military activities including training and airfield development. In Riverside County, a significant portion of the population has been conserved within the Lake Mathews-Estelle Mountain preserve. However, other populations are threatened by urban and transportation development, and landfill expansion (Roberts 1999).
Many-stemmed dudleya is an ephemeral perennial originating from a corm and thus, like other members of the Hasseanthus group, may not be detectable from one year to the next (Dodero 1995). Population size varies considerably from year to year both in number of seedlings produced and number of mature plants leafing out (Dodero 1995). Populations may not be detectable in dry years and population boundaries may be difficult to delineate. Populations may be suppressed by non-native species competition.
Bartel, J.A., 1993. Dudleya in The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Caesares, M. and H. Koopowitz 1989. The future prospects for the plant species, Dudleya multicaulis. Unpublished report prepared for the Department Of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, California.
California Natural Diversity Database 2001. Dudleya multicaulis. Unpubl. Report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.
Clausen, R.T., R.V. Moran, and C.H. Uhl 1945. The taxonomy and cytology of Hasseanthus. Desert Plant Life 16: 69-83.
Dodero, M. 1995. Phylogenetic analysis of Dudleya subgenus Hasseanthus (Crassulaceae) using morphological and allozyme data. Masters Thesis, San Diego State University.
Moran, R. 1960. Dudleya in A Handbook of Succulent Plants, vol 1. pp. 344-359. Herman Jacobsen ed., Blandford Press, London, England.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Natural Resource Consultants (NRC). 2000. Biological Resources Assessment of the Approximately 795-Acres Alberhill Sports and Entertainment Project Site Located in the City of Lake Elsinore, County of Riverside, California.. Unpublished report prepared for Hewitt & McGuire LLP. July 26.
Roberts, F.M. 1999. Many-stemmed dudleya (Dudleya multicaulis) Status Trend Summary. Unpublished Report prepared for the California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, California.
Skinner M.W., B.M. Pavlik. 1994 (as updated in 2001). California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
Sweetwater Environmental Biologists 1993. Existing biological resources on the Vail Lake property. Unpublished report prepared for Kemper Real Estate management, Bakersfield, California.
Uhl, C.H. and R. Moran 1953. The Cytotaxonomy of Dudleya and Hasseanthus. Amer. Jour. Bot. 40: 492-502.
OTHER SOURCES - Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens; herbarium specimen labels
Mojave tarplant (Deinandra mohavensis)
(formerly known as Hemizonia mohavensis)
State: Endangered
Federal: None
Forest Service: None
CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 2-1-3)
Mojave tarplant is designated as a Group 2 species because it is restricted to the San Jacinto Mountains, primarily within USFS lands. Within the Plan Area, Mojave tarplant is restricted to low sand bars in river beds, along stream channels and in ephemeral grassy areas in riparian scrub and chaparral at elevations between 850 m to 1,575 m in the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion.
The California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) contains three occurrences for this species, all located along Highway 243 north of Pine Cove within the San Jacinto Mountains and the University of California, Riverside (UCR) GIS database and UCR herbarium contain five occurrences, three in the San Jacinto Mountains, one near the San Jacinto River east of Hemet and one northeast of Vail Lake (the Vail Lake record is suspect). Seven of the eight known occurrences are located within the MSHCP Conservation Area, although two of the UCR herbarium records and two of the CNDDB records appear to be the same locality.
Although the existing records are not believed to be indicative of the distribution of this species, the MSHCP Conservation Area configuration is expected to provide long-term conservation of the species. Incidental Take of this species is not included in this permit until conservation of the species in the Plan Area has been demonstrated by reaching Objective 3 below .
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 80,160 acres of suitable habitat (chapparal, riparian scrub, and woodland/forest between 850 and 1,575 m within the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least five of the known localities (represented by seven records) within the San Jacinto Mountains and Foothills and northeast of Vail Lake.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least four localities (locality in this sense is not smaller than one quarter section) occupying at least 100 acres.
Potential habitat for Mojave tarplant includes low sand bars in river beds, along stream channels and in ephemeral grassy areas in riparian scrub and chaparral at elevations between 850 m to 1,575 m in the San Jacinto Mountains of western Riverside County. For purposes of the conservation analysis, riparian scrub was categorized as riparian scrub, woodland, and forest. Low sand bars in river beds and along stream channels were not included within the analysis because acreage coverage for this habitat type is not available. Based on these habitats, this elevation range and Bioregion, the Plan Area supports approximately 108,010 acres of potential habitat for Mojave tarplant. Table 1 shows the conservation of potential habitat for Mojave tarplant. Overall, approximately 80,160 acres (74 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area. A total of 73,010 acres of potential habitat for this species is located on USFS lands and will be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
MOJAVE TARPLANT
| Vegetation Type | MSHCP Plan Area1 (Acres) | Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Chaparral (between 850 m and 1,575 m) | 107,580 | 7,100 | 72,740 | 79,840 | 8,660 | 19,080 | 27,740 |
| Riparian scrub, woodland and forest (between 850 m and 1,575 m) | 430 | 50 | 270 | 320 | 10 | 100 | 110 |
| TOTAL (76%) | 108,010 | 7,150 (7%) | 73,010 (67%) | 80,160 (74%) | 8,670 (8%) | 19,180 (18%) | 27,850 (26%) |
| 1 Vegetation includes the vegetation within the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion only. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
In order to conserve Mojave tarplant, at least 64,806 acres (60 percent) of the species potential habitat should be conserved and managed for that species within the MSHCP Conservation Area. Approximately 7,150 acres (7 percent) of potential habitat are within the Criteria Area; therefore, approximately 57,245 acres (53 percent) of the potential habitat for Mojave tarplant within USFS lands should be conserved and managed for the species. A total of 73,010 acres of potential habitat for this species is located on USFS lands and will be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area. Within the 73,010 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 2,561 acres (3 percent) of potential habitat is designated as Wilderness Area and 17,033 acres (17 percent) is designated as Roadless Area that do not include Range Allotments.
Low sand bars in river beds and along stream channels were not included within the analysis of potential habitat for Mojave tarplant; however, in accordance with Protection of Species Associated with Riparian/Riverine Areas and Vernal Pools Policy discussed within Section 6.1.2, the species composition within drainages/ wetlands will be evaluated on a project by project basis.
Core locations of Mojave tarplant have not been identified within the MSHCP Plan Area. However, the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database contains one mapped location which occurs northeast of Vail Lake within Public/Quasi-Public Lands. The UCR herbarium contains four records for this species (three along Highway 243 north of Pine Cove and one near the San Jacinto River east of Hemet), all of which will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. The CNDDB (2000) contains descriptions of three occurrences in the San Jacinto Mountains located within Public/Quasi-Public Lands. However, conservation of this species should be considered from a landscape perspective because the species is habitat-specific and occurs within the San Jacinto Mountains.
Several large blocks of habitat supporting Mojave tarplant are located within the MSHCP Conservation Area, including the San Jacinto Mountains. The USFS lands are organized into large blocks of habitat which will protect this species from edge effects, provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat, and allow for pollination to occur, if pollinators are important in the reproductive cycle of this species.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 80,160 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and five known localities (six records at four localities within the San Jacinto Mountains and Foothills and one record northeast of Vail Lake) within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.
Approximately 27,850 acres (26 percent) of potential habitat for Mojave tarplant will not be conserved. According to the University of California, Riverside, GIS database, the mapped location along the Banning Idyllwild Panoramic Highway is located on private lands and will not be conserved. According to the CNDDB, an occurrence within the San Jacinto Mountains is located outside of the MSHCP Conservation Area (road right-of-way)and will not be conserved.
Data reviewed includes the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), the UCR database, the UCR herbarium, and available literature. The UCR database and UCR herbarium contain one mapped location northeast of Vail Lake and four records along Highway 243 in the San Jacinto Mountains. The CNDDB (2000) contains descriptions of three occurrences in the San Jacinto Mountains within the Plan Area.
Species-specific studies for this species have not been located or reviewed regarding genetics, habitat associations, reproduction, pollinators, germination, and dispersal. Taxonomic sources provide the primary literature source for this species.
Mojave tarplant occurs on clay or silty soils that are saturated in winter and spring and on low sand bars in river beds, along stream channels or in ephemeral grassy areas in riparian scrub and chaparral, at elevations between 850 m to 1,575 m (CNPS 2001; Sanders et al. 1997; CNDDB 2000). Habitat includes gentle slopes and low gradient reaches of streams in mountainous terrain, with limited overstory shrubs and trees (Sanders et al. 1997).
Mojave tarplant is believed to be extirpated in San Bernardino County and still occurs in Riverside County and San Diego County (CNDDB 2000). Within Riverside County, this species is limited to the north-facing slopes of the San Jacinto Mountains in the San Bernardino National Forest.
The CNDDB (2000) contains three occurrences within the San Jacinto Mountains in the Plan Area. The three occurrences are located along Highway 243 north of Pine Cove. The UCR database and UCR herbarium include an additional location along Highway 243 north of Pine Cove, near the San Jacinto River east of Hemet and northeast of Vail Lake. Core locations of this species have not been identified within the Plan Area.
Genetics: Mojave tarplant is one of 25 species of the genus Hemizonia, and is a member of the Asteraceae (Keil 1993). The diploid (2n) number for this species is 22. No species-specific studies for this species regarding population genetics have been located or reviewed.
Reproduction: This species blooms from July through September (CNPS 2001). The composite floral heads are dense and sessile, and consist of six staminate disk flowers and five ray flowers. Both disk and ray flowers are yellow (Keil 1993). Information regarding pollinators was not reviewed. This species is self-compatible (Fide Elizabeth Friar, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens).
Dispersal:No information regarding dispersal of this species was reviewed.
Demography: This species is a herbaceous annua. The herbage is soft-pubescent, viscid and pleasantly odorous (Keck 1935; Munz 1974). The stems commonly reach one meter in height, while some plants reach up to 1.5 m (Sanders et al. 1997).
This species is potentially threatened by flood control measures, low density development and grazing (Sanders et al. 1997).
All known populations of this species in the Plan Area occur within the San Jacinto Mountains with exception to the location northeast of Vail Lake.
California Natural Diversity Database. 2000. Hemizonia mohavensis. Unpublished Report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.
Keck. 1935. Taxonomy of the Madinae. Madroño. 3:9-10.
Keil, D. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 1086 pp.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Sanders, A.C., D.L. Banks and S. Boyd. 1997. Rediscovery of Hemizonia mohavensis. Madroño 44(2): 197-203.
Skinner M.W. and B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
mud nama (Nama stenocarpum)
State: None
Federal: None
CNPS: List 2 (RED Code 3-2-1)
Mud nama is designated as a Group 3 species because of its limited geographic distribution and specialized habitat requirements and management requirements for hydrology. This species occurs within muddy embankments of marshes and swamps, and within lake margins and riverbanks. Only three occurrences of this species are known from the Plan Area: two occurrences along the San Jacinto River near Gilman Springs Road and one occurrence in the USGS 7.5 minute El Casco quadrangle.
This is a species on the Additional Survey Needs and Procedures (Section 6.3.2) list and surveys for mud nama will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Criteria Area where suitable habitat is present (see Criteria Area Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-2 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Mud nama located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2, MSHCP, Volume 1.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 7,050 acres of suitable habitat (meadows/ marshes and playa/vernal pools between 5 and 500 m within the Riverside Lowlands Bioregion).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area two of the three known occurrences of this species along the San Jacinto River near Gilman Springs Road.
Surveys for mud nama will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Criteria Area where suitable habitat is present (see Criteria Area Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-2 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Mud nama located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2 of the MSHCP, Volume I.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the floodplain along the San Jacinto River consistent with Objective 1. Floodplain processes will be maintained along the river in order to provide for the distribution of the species to shift over time as hydrologic conditions and seed bank sources change. A potential future flood control project along the San Jacinto River designed and constructed consistent with the criteria for the San Jacinto River project presented in Section 7.0 of the MSHCP, Volume I and with the Area Plan Subunit guidelines for Subunit 1 of the Lakeview/Nuevo Area Plan and Subunit 4 of the Mead Valley Area Plan will be considered to be consistent with this objective.
Suitable habitat for this species includes muddy embankments of marshes and swamps, and lake margins and riverbanks between 5 and 500 m. For purposes of this conservation analysis, suitable habitat for mud nama is considered to be meadows and marshes, and playas and vernal pools between 5 and 500 m in the Riverside Lowlands Bioregion. Based on these habitats, the Plan Area supports approximately 8,270 acres of potential habitat for mud nama. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for mud nama. Overall, approximately 7,050 acres (85%) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. It is assumed that these MSHCP Conservation Areas will be managed for the conservation of biological resources, including mud nama.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
MUD NAMA
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Meadows/Marshes (5-500m) |
390 (5%) |
90 (1%) |
240 (3%) |
330 (4%) |
– – | 60 (1%) |
60 (1%) |
| Playas/Vernal Pools (5-500m) |
7,880 (95%) |
3,830 (46%) |
2,890 (35%) |
6,720 (81%) |
– – | 1,160 (14%) |
1,160 (14%) |
| TOTAL | 8,270 | 3,920 (47%) | 3,130 (38%) | 7,050 (85%) | – – | 1,220 (15%) | 1,220 (15%) |
| 1 Vegetation type includes data from the Riverside Lowlands Bioregion. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
The California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, the herbariums at UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens and reviewed literature contain two 1999 records of this species in the Plan Area. The CNPS (2001) includes one occurrence. The two herbarium records are from the San Jacinto River near Gilman Springs Road and will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. The CNPS occurrence was recorded from the USGS 7.5 minute El Casco quadrangle. The exact location of this occurrence is not known; therefore, it is not known whether this location will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Two of the three known occurrences of mud nama will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area. Moreover, the configuration of Criteria Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands provides for conservation of Mystic Lake and the reach of the San Jacinto River from a point upstream of the Ramona Expressway to the mouth of Railroad Canyon consistent with criteria incorporated in Subunit 1 of the Lakeview/Nuevo Area Plan and Subunit 4 of the Mead Valley Area Plan, as well as with the criteria for a potential future San Jacinto River project as described in Section 7.0 of the MSHCP, Volume I. This will provide for the distribution of the species to shift over time as hydrologic conditions and seed bank sources change.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 7,050 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and two occurrences. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring. Implementation of Objective 4 for this species will maintain alluvial processes (e.g., floodplain hydrology) upon which this species depends.
Approximately 1,220 acres of potential habitat in the Plan Area will not be conserved. The exact location of the occurrence noted in the USGS 7.5 minute El Casco quadrangle is not known; therefore, it is not known whether this location will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area or not.
Data reviewed includes the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, the herbariums at UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens, the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) and available literature. The herbarium records at UCR include two occurrences from along the San Jacinto River near Gilman Springs Road. In addition, CNPS (2001) report the general location of one occurrence of the mud nama from a location in the USGS 7.5 minute El Casco quadrangle.
Other than the taxonomic study by Hitchcock (1933) and analysis of seed coat morphology for the genus Nama by Chance and Bacon (1984), very little published literature is available for mud nama. No species specific studies and little data are available regarding life history, population genetics, reproduction, dispersal, etc.
This species occurs within muddy embankments of marshes and swamps, and within lake margins and riverbanks between five and 500 m (CNPS 2001, Rieser 1994).
Mud nama is known to occur within Orange, Riverside, and San Diego counties; San Clemente Island; Arizona; Baja California; and is thought to be extirpated from Imperial and Los Angeles counties (CNPS 2001).
Within Riverside County, this species is known from along the San Jacinto River near Gilman Springs Road and from the USGS 7.5 minute El Casco quadrangle (UCR Hebarium records, CNPS 2001).
Genetics: Mud nama is a member of the genus Nama in the family Hydrophylaceae (Bacon 1993). Based on Hitchcock' s taxonomic study of the genus Nama (1933), Nama stenocarpum was traditionally placed within the monotypic genus Zonolacus on account of its unique half-inferior ovary. However, Chance and Bacon (1984) have more recently suggested that based on seed and fruit morphology, N. stenocarpum may be more appropriately grouped among other species including N. jamaicense, N. bartletti, N. marshii, N. propinquum and N. palmeri rather than on its own.
Reproduction: Reproduction studies for this species have not been conducted. The annual/ perennial herb blooms from January to July (CNPS 2001). The funnel-shaped corolla is white to cream or pale violet and four to seven mm long (Munz 1974, Bacon 1993).
Dispersal: No published information on seed dispersal was found for mud nama.
Demography: This hirsute annual is prostrate to ascending, freely branched and eight to 40 cm tall (Munz 1974, Bacon 1993).
Threats to the mud nama have not been identified.
Special Biological Considerations have not been identified for this species.
Bacon, John D. 1993. Nama in the Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley. 1400pp.
California Native Plant Society. 2001. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (Sixth Edition). Rare Plant Scientific Advisory Committee, David P. Tibor, Convening Editor. California Native Plant Society. Sacramento, CA. x + 388 pp.
Chance, Gail D. and Bacon, John D. 1984. Systematic implications of seed coat morphology in Nama (Hydrophyllaceae). American Journal of Botany,71(6): 829-842.
Hitchcock, Leo C. 1933. A taxonomic study of the genus Nama. American Journal of Botany, 20: 415-430.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Rieser, Craig H. 1994. Rare Plants of San Diego County.
Munz's mariposa lily (Calochortus palmeri var. munzii)
Federal: None
State: Species of Special Concern
Forest Service: Sensitive Species
CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-2-3)
Munz's mariposa lily is designated as a Group 3 species because it is restricted to the San Jacinto Mountains, primarily within USFS lands. Within the Plan Area, Munz's mariposa lily is restricted to lower montane coniferous forest (yellow pine forest), chaparral and meadows at elevations between 900 m and 1,640 m within the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion. Occurrences are known from Garner Valley along both sides of Highway 74, off Forbes Ranch Road and near Mountain Center. CNNDB contains three mapped occurrences in the San Jacinto Mountains, two of which are located within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.
This species is designated as a Forest Service Sensitive Species which can be managed at the site specific level. Forest Service Sensitive Species are protected through the implementation of Forest Plans and the biological evaluation (BE) process, which considers the potential effects of Forest Service activities on these species.
This is a species on the Narrow Endemic Plant list (Section 6.1.3) and surveys for Munz's mariposa lily will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area where suitable habitat is present (see Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-1 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Munz's mariposa lily located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume 1.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area 33,470 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral, meadow, and montane coniferous forest between 900 and 1,640 m within the Narrow Endemic Survey Area of the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion).
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area 10 of the known locations within the San Jacinto Mountains, including Garner Valley.
Surveys for Munz's mariposa lily will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area where suitable habitat is present (see Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-1 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Munz's mariposa lily located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3 of the MSHCP, Volume I.
Potential habitat for Munz's mariposa lily includes lower montane coniferous forest (yellow pine forest), chaparral and meadows at elevations between 900 m and 1,640 m within the Narrow Endemic survey area of the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion. Within this analysis, lower montane coniferous forest was categorized as montane coniferous forest. Based on these habitats, this elevation range and Bioregion, the Plan Area supports approximately 43,350 acres of potential habitat for Munz's mariposa. Table 1 shows the conservation of potential habitat for Munz's mariposa lily. Overall, approximately 33,470 acres (77 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
MUNZ'S MARIPOSA LILY
| Vegetation Type1 | MSHCP Plan Area (Acres) |
Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Chaparral (between 900 m and 1,640 m) | 31,190 | – – | 26,070 | 26,070 | – – | 5,120 | 5,120 |
| Meadow (between 900 m and 1,640 m) | 280 | – – | – – | – – | – – | 280 | 280 |
| Montane coniferous forest (between 900 m and 1,640 m) | 11,880 | – – | 7,400 | 7,400 | – – | 4,480 | 4,480 |
| TOTAL | 43,350 | 0 | 33,470 (77%) | 33,470 (77%) | 0 | 9,880 (23%) | 9,880 (23%) |
| 1 Vegetation includes the vegetation within the Narrow Endemic survey area of the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion only. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
In order to conserve Munz's mariposa lily, at least 26,010 acres (60 percent) of the species potential habitat will be conserved and managed for that species within the MSHCP Conservation Area. Approximately 26,010 acres (60 percent) of the potential habitat for Munz's mariposa lily within USFS lands will be conserved for the species. As shown in Table 1, 33,470 acres of potential habitat for this species on Public/Quasi-Public Lands will be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area.
Within the 33,470 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 1,938 acres (2 percent) of potential habitat is designated as Wilderness Area and 17,202 acres (15 percent) is designated as Roadless Areas that do not include Range Allotments.
The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database and the herbarium at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden contain 11 occurrences within the San Jacinto Mountains. Eight of these 11 mapped locations are located in the existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. The CNDDB contains three mapped occurrences in the San Jacinto Mountains; two of the mapped locations are located within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. Conservation of this species will be considered from a landscape perspective because the species is habitat-specific and endemic to the San Jacinto Mountains.
According to the UCR database, three of the mapped locations are located on private lands and one of the CNDDB records is not conserved. However, these localities are included within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area and conservation of these locations will be addressed in accordance with the procedures presented in the Narrow Endemic Plant Species policy described in Section 6.1.3 of the MSHCP, Volume I.
This is a species on the Narrow Endemic Plant list (Section 6.1.3) and surveys for Munz's mariposa lily will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area where suitable habitat is present (see Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-1 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Munz's mariposa lily located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume I.
Several large blocks of habitat supporting Munz's mariposa lily are located within the MSHCP Conservation Area, including the San Jacinto Mountains. The USFS lands are organized into large blocks of habitat which will protect this species from edge effects, provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat, and allow for pollination to occur, if pollinators are important in the reproductive cycle of this species.
In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 33,470 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and 10 known localities within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.
Approximately 9,880 acres (23 percent) of potential habitat for Munz's mariposa lily will not be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area. Four of the 14 localities will not be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. It is important to note, however, that this potential habitat and these mapped location are included within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area and conservation of this potential habitat and known locations will be addressed in accordance with the procedures presented in the Narrow Endemic Plant Species policy described in Section 6.1.3 of the MSHCP, Volume I.
Data reviewed includes the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) and the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, the herbarium at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens and available literature. The UCR database and herbarium contain 11 records s within the San Jacinto Mountains. All 11 occurrences were taken from Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden herbarium records. The CNDDB contains three mapped occurrences in the San Jacinto Mountains.
Species-specific studies for this species have not been located or reviewed regarding population genetics, habitat associations, reproduction, pollinators, germination, and dispersal.
This species occurs on seasonally-moist, fine granitic loam on exposed knolls in the shade of lower montane coniferous forest (yellow pine woodland), and on moist, sandy clay in chaparral and meadows at elevations between 900 m and 1640 m (CNDDB 2000; CNPS 2001; Fielder and Ness 1993).
Munz's mariposa lily is endemic to the San Jacinto Mountains of western Riverside County (CNPS 2001).
Populations of this species are known from Garner Valley north of Morris Creek, along both sides of Highway 74 at mile-post 70.0 in adjacent ditch and meadows (approximately 1,000 individuals), and off Forbes Ranch Road ( approximately 250 individuals); and near Mountain Center along both sides of Highway 74 at mile 60.0 (approximately 500 individuals). Two historic populations of Munz's mariposa lily are known from two miles northwest of Pipe Creek (1950) and a vacant lot at Idyllwild near Alderwood and Pine Crest Roads (1967) (CNDDB 2000; UCR database). Core locations have not been identified for this species within the Plan Area.
Genetics: Munz's mariposa lily belongs to the Liliaceae (Fielder and Ness 1993). Munz's mariposa lily is one of two varieties of C. palmeri. C. palmeri var. palmeri has a much wider distribution and a different habitat (wet meadows).
Reproduction: This species flowers from May through July (Munz 1974). The inflorescence consists of one to six bell-shaped flowers. The white or lavender petals are sometimes brown-spotted above the nectary. This round gland is either glabrous or purple-hairy. The erect capsules are 3 to 5.5 cm long. Munz's mariposa lily does not reproduce vegetatively (Munz 1974; Fiedler and Ness 1993). Information regarding pollinators of this species was not reviewed.
Dispersal: Information regarding dispersal of this species was not reviewed.
Demography: Munz's mariposa lily arises from a perennial bulb (Fielder and Ness 1993). The leaves are basal and vary in length from 10 to 20 cm (Fiedler and Ness 1993). Information regarding the life span of this species was not reviewed.
Munz's mariposa lily is vulnerable to overgrazing, trampling, road maintenance, development projects, and invasion of exotic species (Stephenson and Calcarone 1999).
This species has a very limited range within the San Jacinto Mountains of the San Bernardino National Forest and is endemic to Western Riverside County. Populations and potential habitat occur on both private and USFS lands.
California Natural Diversity Database. 2000. Calochortus palmeri var. munzii. Unpublished Report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.
Fielder, P. and B. Ness. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Skinner M.W., and B.M. Pavlik, eds. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5th ed., California Native Plant Society.
Stephenson, John R., Gena M. Calcarone. 1999. Southern California mountains and foothills assessment: habitat and species conservation issues. General Technical Report GTR-PSW-172. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, US Dept. of Agriculture; 402p.
Munz's onion (Allium munzii)
State: Threatened (January 1990)
Federal: Endangered (63 FR 54975, October 13, 1998)
CNPS: List 1B (R-E-D Code 3-3-3)
Munz's onion is designated as a Group 3 species because of its limited geographic distribution in Riverside County and specialized habitat requirements. The species has a scattered distribution (Estelle Mountain and the Gavilan Plateau at Harford Springs Park southeast through the hills north of Lake Elsinore, to the Paloma Valley, Skunk Hollow, and Lake Skinner area) and is associated with clay and cobbly clay soils which include the following series: Altamont, Auld, Bosanko, Claypit, and Porterville.
This is a species on the Narrow Endemics Plant list (Section 6.1.3) and surveys for Munz's onion will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area where suitable habitat is present (see Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-1 of the MSHCP, Volume 1). Munz's onion located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume 1.
The species-specific conservation objectives developed for this species are based upon the best available scientific information at the time of MSHCP preparation. Pursuant to Section 5.0 which includes Management, Monitoring and the Adaptive Management Program, the MSHCP's mitigation requirements will be monitored and analyzed to determine if they are producing the desired result. Based upon this information, the following species-specific conservation objectives will be adjusted if appropriate, as new information is gathered during Plan implementation. The Adaptive Management Program will be used to identify alternative strategies for meeting the MSHCP's general biological goals and objectives and, if necessary, adjusting future conservation strategies according to the information received.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 21,260 acres of suitable habitat (grassland, coastal sage scrub, chaparral and peninsular juniper woodland between 300 and 1,000 m in the Riverside Lowlands and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions). This will include at least 2,070 acres of clay soils: Altamont (190 acres), Auld (250 acres), Bosanko (600 acres), Claypit (100 acres) and Porterville (930 acres) soils underlying the suitable habitat.
Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 13 localities within Temescal Valley and the southwestern portion of Plan Area, including the following Core Areas: Harford Springs Park, privately owned EO 5 population in Temescal Valley, Alberhill, DiPalma Rd, Estelle Mountain, Domenigoni Hills, Lake Skinner, Bachelor Mountain, Elsinore Peak, Scott Road, North Peak, and northeast of Alberhill (EO 16).
Surveys for the Munz's onion will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area where suitable habitat is present (see Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-1 of the MSHCP, Volume I). Munz's onion located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3 of the MSHCP, Volume I.
Potential habitat for Munz's onion is considered to include grasslands, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and peninsular juniper woodland that occur on clay soils between 300 and 1,000 m within the Riverside Lowlands and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. For purposes of the conservation analysis, the Plan Area supports approximately 37,085 acres of potential habitat for Munz's onion. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for Munz's onion. Overall, approximately 21,260 acres (58 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. It is assumed that these public lands will be managed for the conservation of biological resources. Although 15,825 acres (42 percent) of potential habitat for Munz's onion will be outside the Criteria Area and existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, this potential habitat is included within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area and any additional populations within this survey area will be addressed in accordance with the procedures presented in the Narrow Endemic Plant Species policy described in Section 6.1.3 of the MSHCP, Volume I.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
MUNZ'S ONION
| Vegetation Type | MSHCP Plan Area1 (Acres) | Within MSHCP conservation Area | Outside MSHCP conservation Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria Area2 (Acres) |
Public/ Quasi-Public (Acres) |
Total Within MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Rural/ Mountainous (Acres) |
Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
Total Outside MSHCP Conservation Area (Acres) |
||
| Grassland (between 300 and 1000 m) | 8,480 | 2,060 | 2,590 | 4,650 | 230 | 3,600 | 3,830 |
| Coastal Sage Scrub (between 300 and 1000 m) | 15,985 | 5,555 | 5,790 | 11,345 | 2,220 | 2,420 | 4,640 |
| Chaparral (between 300 and 1000 m) | 12,075 | 2,605 | 2,450 | 5,055 | 2,140 | 4,880 | 7,020 |
| Peninsular Juniper Woodland (between 300 and 1000 m) | 545 | 80 | 130 | 210 | 5 | 330 | 335 |
| TOTAL | 37,085 | 10,300 (28%) | 10,960 (30%) | 21,260 (58%) | 4,595 (12%) | 11,230 (30%) | 15,825 (42%) |
| 1 Vegetation includes the vegetation that occurs on clay soils within the Riverside Lowlands and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions only. 2 Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area. | |||||||
As stated above, Munz's onion is found on clay and cobbly clay soils which include the following series: Altamont, Auld, Bosanko, Claypit, and Porterville. Within the Plan Area, there are approximately 5,840 acres of these soils (excluding soils underlying unsuitable habitat such as disturbed/developed lands and water) within the Riverside Lowlands and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. Table 2 shows the acreage of Altamont, Auld, Bosanko, Claypit, and Porterville soils found within the proposed Criteria Area, on Public/Quasi-Public Lands, on Rural/Mountainous Lands, and outside of the proposed MSHCP Conservation Area. Approximately 2,070 acres (36 percent) of these soils will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. An additional 3,770 acres found outside of these areas will be subject to focused surveys for Munz's onion as part of the Narrow Endemics Policy (Section 6.1.3).
TABLE 2
SUMMARY OF SOIL CONSERVATION
MUNZ'S ONION