Coastal sage scrub

Basic Information

Vegetation Community: Coastal Sage Scrub
Community Code: COSASC

Vegetation Community Map

Species Information

MSP Species Background

Goals and Objectives

Goal: Maintain, enhance and restore coastal sage scrub on Conserved Lands in the MSPA that supports or has the potential to support VF species (i.e., cliff spurge, Palmer's goldenbush, San Diego barrel cactus, snake cholla, Blaineville's horned lizard, California gnatcatcher, San Diego black-tailed jackrabbit) and to incidentally benefit a diverse array of other species (e.g., San Diego thornmint, Hermes copper, Quino checkerspot, coastal cactus wren) so that the vegetation community has high ecological integrity, and these species are resilient to environmental stochasticity, catastrophic disturbances and threats, such as very large wildfires, invasive plants and prolonged drought, and will be likely to persist over the long term (>100 years).

Regional NFO 2017, 2018, 2019

MON-PRP-MONPL COSASC-1

Management units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

In 2017, prepare a long-term monitoring plan for the mosaic of chaparral, coastal sage scrub and grassland vegetation communities that focuses on tracking community composition, structure and ecological integrity over time in relation to climate (i.e., drought) and disturbance from fire. The monitoring plan should include a conceptual model, specific monitoring questions, the sampling frame within the MSPA, monitoring methods, a statistically valid sampling design, permanent sampling locations, timeline, and standardized protocols. Use the landscape-scale ecological integrity classification map to develop a sampling frame and the sampling design with permanent sampling plots spanning north to south and east to west environmental gradients across the MSPA. Evaluate how the vegetation integrity classes characterize other aspects of the ecosystem by integrating other types of monitoring into the long-term sampling plots, such as abiotic element monitoring (e.g., automated weather stations and soil sensors, GIS-data layers), ecological integrity monitoring (e.g., plant and animal communities, ecological processes), MSP VF species monitoring, and threats monitoring (e.g., fire, climate change, invasive plants). A draft monitoring plan should be prepared in 2017, tested in the field with a pilot study in 2018, and finalized by 2019.

Action	Statement	Action status	Projects
PRP-1	Establish a vegetation monitoring working group of scientists, wildlife agencies, land managers, and other stakeholders to participate in developing the vegetation monitoring plan. The group should also include interested parties from outside the MSPA, such as representatives from other multiple species plans in Orange and Riverside Counties and from San Diego County military bases, to create a regional monitoring program with greater efficiencies in effort and a broader inference across southern California.	In progress
PRP-2	Submit project metadata, datasets, analyses, and Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub, and Grassland Vegetation Monitoring Plan to the MSP web portal	In progress

Criteria	Deadline year
Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub and Grassland Vegetation Monitoring Plan completed by 2019	2021

Threat Name	Threat Code
Altered fire regime	ALTFIR
Climate change	CLICHN
Invasive plants	INVPLA
Loss of ecological integrity	ECOINT

Code	Obj. code	Statement
COSASC-2	MON-DEV-MAP	In 2017, develop a landscape-scale map classifying ecological integrity of shrublands across the MSPA based upon shrub cover and density and invasive nonnative annual grasses using remote imagery (e.g., satellite and high resolution aerial imagery, LIDAR) and vegetation data collected during 2015-2016 California gnatcatcher regional and postfire monitoring. Verify and revise the mapping as needed using field data collected in 2018-2020 as part of the Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub and Grassland Monitoring Program and from related VF species monitoring (e.g., California gnatcatcher regional and postfire monitoring). Revise the integrity classification map as needed to respond to changes in vegetation based upon wildfires, drought or other large-scale disturbances.
COSASC-3	MON-IMP-MONPL	In 2018, conduct pilot monitoring to collect data and develop any recommendations for finalizing the monitoring plan. From 2019 to 2021, implement the final Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub and Grassland Vegetation Monitoring Plan.

Regional NFO 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

MON-DEV-MAP COSASC-2

Management units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

In 2017, develop a landscape-scale map classifying ecological integrity of shrublands across the MSPA based upon shrub cover and density and invasive nonnative annual grasses using remote imagery (e.g., satellite and high resolution aerial imagery, LIDAR) and vegetation data collected during 2015-2016 California gnatcatcher regional and postfire monitoring. Verify and revise the mapping as needed using field data collected in 2018-2020 as part of the Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub and Grassland Monitoring Program and from related VF species monitoring (e.g., California gnatcatcher regional and postfire monitoring). Revise the integrity classification map as needed to respond to changes in vegetation based upon wildfires, drought or other large-scale disturbances.

Action	Statement	Action status	Projects
DEV-1	Submit project metadata, datasets, analyses, and Ecological Integrity Classification Map to the MSP web portal	In progress	2017-2019 Developing a Map of Ecological Integrity Using Remote Sensing, 2023-2024 Coastal sage scrub and chaparral community monitoring for western San Diego County

Criteria	Deadline year
Ecological Integrity Map created in 2017 and updated as needed 2018-2021	2021

Threat Name	Threat Code
Altered fire regime	ALTFIR
Climate change	CLICHN
Invasive plants	INVPLA
Loss of ecological integrity	ECOINT

Code	Obj. code	Statement
COSASC-1	MON-PRP-MONPL	In 2017, prepare a long-term monitoring plan for the mosaic of chaparral, coastal sage scrub and grassland vegetation communities that focuses on tracking community composition, structure and ecological integrity over time in relation to climate (i.e., drought) and disturbance from fire. The monitoring plan should include a conceptual model, specific monitoring questions, the sampling frame within the MSPA, monitoring methods, a statistically valid sampling design, permanent sampling locations, timeline, and standardized protocols. Use the landscape-scale ecological integrity classification map to develop a sampling frame and the sampling design with permanent sampling plots spanning north to south and east to west environmental gradients across the MSPA. Evaluate how the vegetation integrity classes characterize other aspects of the ecosystem by integrating other types of monitoring into the long-term sampling plots, such as abiotic element monitoring (e.g., automated weather stations and soil sensors, GIS-data layers), ecological integrity monitoring (e.g., plant and animal communities, ecological processes), MSP VF species monitoring, and threats monitoring (e.g., fire, climate change, invasive plants). A draft monitoring plan should be prepared in 2017, tested in the field with a pilot study in 2018, and finalized by 2019.
COSASC-3	MON-IMP-MONPL	In 2018, conduct pilot monitoring to collect data and develop any recommendations for finalizing the monitoring plan. From 2019 to 2021, implement the final Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub and Grassland Vegetation Monitoring Plan.
POLPOL-1	MON-IMP-MONPL	In 2020, implement regional and subregional California gnatcatcher monitoring initiated in 2016 to determine the percent area occupied (PAO) by California gnatcatcher in modeled high and very high suitability habitat on Conserved Lands and military lands in the MSPA as part of a larger monitoring program for southern California. Over the next 15 years, determine trends in California gnatcatcher PAO and in their colonization and extinction rates and be able to detect at least 30% change in PAO. Identify associations between habitat and threat correlates with gnatcatcher PAO and with extinction and colonization rates and develop biologically meaningful thresholds for management and to specify management criteria and recommendations.
POLPOL-2	MON-RES-SPEC	In 2020, implement California gnatcatcher postfire monitoring conducted in 2015 and 2015 to: determine whether there has been further recovery of California gnatcatchers in areas burned in 2003, 2007 and 2014 (i.e., PAO>10%); evaluate if there is a difference in PAO between areas burned in 2003, 2007 and 2014; investigate the relationship between gnatcatcher PAO and vegetation composition, cover and structure; and evaluate the composition, cover and structure of coastal sage scrub in areas with different fire frequencies and patterns of vegetation recovery based upon time since fire, spatial distribution, previous land use, and environmental conditions. Use the regional gnatcatcher and vegetation monitoring protocols to monitor postfire recovery of gnatcatchers and vegetation at sampling points surveyed in 2016. Analyze gnatcatcher and vegetation data to develop overall and site specific vegetation management recommendations for postfire recovery of coastal sage scrub vegetation to support California gnatcatchers.

Regional NFO 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

MON-IMP-MONPL COSASC-3

Management units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

In 2018, conduct pilot monitoring to collect data and develop any recommendations for finalizing the monitoring plan. From 2019 to 2021, implement the final Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub and Grassland Vegetation Monitoring Plan.

Action	Statement	Action status	Projects
IMP-1	Submit project metadata, monitoring datasets and reports to the MSP web portal	waiting for precedent action	2023-2024 Coastal sage scrub and chaparral community monitoring for western San Diego County

Criteria	Deadline year
Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub and Grassland Vegetation Monitoring Plan implemented 2018-2021	2021

Threat Name	Threat Code
Altered fire regime	ALTFIR
Climate change	CLICHN
Invasive plants	INVPLA
Loss of ecological integrity	ECOINT

Code	Obj. code	Statement
COSASC-1	MON-PRP-MONPL	In 2017, prepare a long-term monitoring plan for the mosaic of chaparral, coastal sage scrub and grassland vegetation communities that focuses on tracking community composition, structure and ecological integrity over time in relation to climate (i.e., drought) and disturbance from fire. The monitoring plan should include a conceptual model, specific monitoring questions, the sampling frame within the MSPA, monitoring methods, a statistically valid sampling design, permanent sampling locations, timeline, and standardized protocols. Use the landscape-scale ecological integrity classification map to develop a sampling frame and the sampling design with permanent sampling plots spanning north to south and east to west environmental gradients across the MSPA. Evaluate how the vegetation integrity classes characterize other aspects of the ecosystem by integrating other types of monitoring into the long-term sampling plots, such as abiotic element monitoring (e.g., automated weather stations and soil sensors, GIS-data layers), ecological integrity monitoring (e.g., plant and animal communities, ecological processes), MSP VF species monitoring, and threats monitoring (e.g., fire, climate change, invasive plants). A draft monitoring plan should be prepared in 2017, tested in the field with a pilot study in 2018, and finalized by 2019.
COSASC-2	MON-DEV-MAP	In 2017, develop a landscape-scale map classifying ecological integrity of shrublands across the MSPA based upon shrub cover and density and invasive nonnative annual grasses using remote imagery (e.g., satellite and high resolution aerial imagery, LIDAR) and vegetation data collected during 2015-2016 California gnatcatcher regional and postfire monitoring. Verify and revise the mapping as needed using field data collected in 2018-2020 as part of the Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub and Grassland Monitoring Program and from related VF species monitoring (e.g., California gnatcatcher regional and postfire monitoring). Revise the integrity classification map as needed to respond to changes in vegetation based upon wildfires, drought or other large-scale disturbances.

regional NFO 2019, 2020

MGT-PRP-BMPPL COSASC-4

Management units: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11

Beginning in 2019, prepare a plan to test the use of grazing, prescribed fire and other methods of landscape-scale control of invasive grasses and forbs in grassland and coastal sage scrub vegetation communities as BMPs to promote MSP species, native plants and animals, and natural ecosystem processes. The plan should determine the effects of different techniques on natural resources at 200 acre treatment areas at 3 different sites in the MSPA. Development of the study plan's experimental approach should include a review of the literature on the effects of grazing, prescribed fire, and other methods of invasive plant control on coastal sage scrub and grassland ecosystems to develop a conceptual model for management and monitoring. The plan should detail how to test different plant control methods over at least 3 years and should include the specific monitoring questions, objectives, and monitoring targets, a statistically valid experimental design with monitoring methods, sampling locations, and standardized protocols. The plan should include annual monitoring to determine the benefits and impacts of each method on natural resources and to track financial costs, logistics and sustainability of invasive plant control.

Action	Statement	Action status	Projects
PRP-1	Work with land managers, wildlife agencies, and scientists to determine: methods of landscape-scale invasive plant control to test in coastal sage scrub and grassland ecosystems; locations for testing methods; monitoring targets including MSP species, native plant and animal taxa, and ecological processes; and review of results and development of long-term management and monitoring methods. See COSASC-5 actions for additional information to include in the plan.	on hold	Regional Grazing Monitoring Plan

Criteria	Deadline year
Plan to Test Landscape-scale Invasive Plant Control of Coastal Sage Scrub and Grassland Ecosystems Completed in 2020	2021

Threat Name	Threat Code
Altered fire regime	ALTFIR
Climate change	CLICHN
Invasive plants	INVPLA
Loss of ecological integrity	ECOINT

Code	Obj. code	Statement
COSASC-5	MGT-DEV-BMPPL	In 2020-2021, begin implementing and testing the plan for landscape-scale invasive plant control of coastal sage scrub and grassland ecosystems at 3 or more selected sites with extensive (at least 200 acres) coastal sage scrub and grasslands with large nonnative grass component, using livestock that are most suitable and feasible to manage for the grazing study, effective at controlling invasive nonnative annual grasses, and that are least likely to impact native plant and animal species. Test management methods for enhancing coastal sage scrub to reduce invasive plants and to increase native forb, grass and shrub cover and bare ground. Test management techniques for nonnnative grassland to improve habitat for MSP species such as Quino checkerspot, burrowing owl, golden eagle, grasshopper sparrow, black-tailed jackrabbit and American badger. Incorporate layered treatments of different control methods in the experimental design.
GRASSL-4	MGT-PRP-BMPPL	Beginning on 2019, prepare a plan to test the use of grazing, prescribed fire and other methods of landscape-scale control of invasive grasses and forbs in grassland and coastal sage scrub vegetation communities as BMPs to promote MSP species, native plants and animals, and natural ecosystem processes. The plan should determine the effects of different techniques on natural resources at less than 200 acre treatment areas at 3 different sites in the MSPA. Development of the study plan's experimental approach should include a review of the literature on the effects of grazing, prescribed fire, and other methods of invasive plant control on coastal sage scrub and grassland ecosystems to develop a conceptual model for management and monitoring. The plan should detail how to test different plant control methods over at least 3 years and should include the specific monitoring questions, objectives, and monitoring targets, a statistically valid experimental design with monitoring methods, sampling locations, and standardized protocols. The plan should include annual monitoring to determine the benefits and impacts of each method on natural resources and to track financial costs, logistics and sustainability of invasive plant control.

regional NFO 2020, 2021

MGT-DEV-BMPPL COSASC-5

Management units: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11

In 2020-2021, begin implementing and testing the plan for landscape-scale invasive plant control of coastal sage scrub and grassland ecosystems at 3 or more selected sites with extensive (at least 200 acres) coastal sage scrub and grasslands with large nonnative grass component, using livestock that are most suitable and feasible to manage for the grazing study, effective at controlling invasive nonnative annual grasses, and that are least likely to impact native plant and animal species. Test management methods for enhancing coastal sage scrub to reduce invasive plants and to increase native forb, grass and shrub cover and bare ground. Test management techniques for nonnnative grassland to improve habitat for MSP species such as Quino checkerspot, burrowing owl, golden eagle, grasshopper sparrow, black-tailed jackrabbit and American badger. Incorporate layered treatments of different control methods in the experimental design.

Action	Statement	Action status	Projects
DEV-1	Initiate adaptive management at 3 or more selected sites with extensive areas (â‰¥200 acres) of coastal sage scrub and grasslands with a large nonnative annual grass component. Test management methods for enhancing coastal sage scrub to reduce invasive plants and to increase native forb, grass and shrub cover and bare ground. Test management techniques for nonnnative grassland to improve habitat for MSP species such as Quino checkerspot, burrowing owl, golden eagle, grasshopper sparrow, black-tailed jackrabbit and American badger. Incorporate layered treatments of different control methods in the experimental design	on hold
DEV-2	Select livestock species to use in the grazing study that are most feasible to manage, effective at controlling invasive non-native annual grasses, and that are least likely to impact native plant and animal species.	on hold	Regional Grazing Monitoring Plan
DEV-3	Conduct experimental trials at multiple sites with sufficient replicates to evaluate the timing and duration of prescribed fire, grazing, stocking rates, and frequency of grazing over =3 years with varying amounts and timing of precipitation.	on hold	Regional Grazing Monitoring Plan
DEV-4	Include in the experimental design different seeding trials to determine the combination of invasive plant control and re-seeding techniques that results in the most effective restoration outcomes.	on hold
DEV-5	Monitor plant community composition and cover to determine if grazing effectively controls non-native annual grasses, forbs and alters native plant community composition, structure, and cover.	on hold	Regional Grazing Monitoring Plan
DEV-6	Collect covariates to evaluate impacts of grazing, prescribed fire and other control methods to native plant and animal species and to ecosystem processes.	on hold	Regional Grazing Monitoring Plan
DEV-7	Compare results of grazing, prescribed fire with South County Grassland study results to control invasive grasses and forbs using herbicides and mechanical treatments.	on hold
DEV-8	If utilizing grazing, presecribed fire or other methods or combination of methods to manage annual grass in coastal sage scrub achieves the desired outcomes and does not have unintended consequences (introduction and or expansion of invasive species, change in shrub structure, impact to native plants and animals or ecological processesetc.) on the coastal sage scrub and grassland vegetation communities and it is cost effective, develop a BMP as a management tool. If a BMP is developed it should include specific guidelines on how to use grazing, fire and/or other methods as a management tool and the costs to utilize it.	on hold
DEV-9	Submit project metadata, monitoring datasets and report to the MSP web portal	on hold

Threat Name	Threat Code
Altered fire regime	ALTFIR
Climate change	CLICHN
Invasive plants	INVPLA
Loss of ecological integrity	ECOINT

Code	Obj. code	Statement
COSASC-4	MGT-PRP-BMPPL	Beginning in 2019, prepare a plan to test the use of grazing, prescribed fire and other methods of landscape-scale control of invasive grasses and forbs in grassland and coastal sage scrub vegetation communities as BMPs to promote MSP species, native plants and animals, and natural ecosystem processes. The plan should determine the effects of different techniques on natural resources at 200 acre treatment areas at 3 different sites in the MSPA. Development of the study plan's experimental approach should include a review of the literature on the effects of grazing, prescribed fire, and other methods of invasive plant control on coastal sage scrub and grassland ecosystems to develop a conceptual model for management and monitoring. The plan should detail how to test different plant control methods over at least 3 years and should include the specific monitoring questions, objectives, and monitoring targets, a statistically valid experimental design with monitoring methods, sampling locations, and standardized protocols. The plan should include annual monitoring to determine the benefits and impacts of each method on natural resources and to track financial costs, logistics and sustainability of invasive plant control.
GRASSL-4	MGT-PRP-BMPPL	Beginning on 2019, prepare a plan to test the use of grazing, prescribed fire and other methods of landscape-scale control of invasive grasses and forbs in grassland and coastal sage scrub vegetation communities as BMPs to promote MSP species, native plants and animals, and natural ecosystem processes. The plan should determine the effects of different techniques on natural resources at less than 200 acre treatment areas at 3 different sites in the MSPA. Development of the study plan's experimental approach should include a review of the literature on the effects of grazing, prescribed fire, and other methods of invasive plant control on coastal sage scrub and grassland ecosystems to develop a conceptual model for management and monitoring. The plan should detail how to test different plant control methods over at least 3 years and should include the specific monitoring questions, objectives, and monitoring targets, a statistically valid experimental design with monitoring methods, sampling locations, and standardized protocols. The plan should include annual monitoring to determine the benefits and impacts of each method on natural resources and to track financial costs, logistics and sustainability of invasive plant control.

Concern

Overall Condition

Unknown

Overall Trend

Moderate

Overall Confidence

Metric	Condition	Trend	Confidence
1. Percent Conserved Percent of baseline coastal sage scrub conserved	Caution	Improving	Moderate
2. Ecological Integrity Percent of coastal sage scrub in high integrity class based on the percent shrub cover	Significant Concern	Unknown	Moderate
3. Fire Frequency Percent of coastal sage scrub that has burned 2 or more times in a 30-year period	Significant Concern	Declining	Moderate

Metric

Condition

Trend

Confidence

1. Percent Conserved

Percent of baseline coastal sage scrub conserved

Caution

Improving

Moderate

2. Ecological Integrity

Percent of coastal sage scrub in high integrity class based on the percent shrub cover

Significant Concern

Unknown

Moderate

3. Fire Frequency

Percent of coastal sage scrub that has burned 2 or more times in a 30-year period

Significant Concern

Declining

Moderate

Current Status

The current overall condition status for the CSS Vegetation Community Indicator is Concern. There are 3 metrics for CSS ranging from Caution for the percent conserved (Metric 1) to Significant Concern for ecological integrity (Metric 2) and fire frequency (Metric 3). The trend for Metric 1 is Improving as more conserved land was added to the regional preserve system since 1995; however, the frequency of fire is increasing, and therefore, the condition of CSS is Declining (condition is moving farther from the desired conditions). The confidence for all metrics was Moderate because of uncertainty in the vegetation mapping. Many areas have not been mapped since the 1990s. As more information becomes available, additional metrics on the composition of native and nonnative plants and the acreage restored or enhanced will be added.

Metrics Dashboard

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2005-2007 Prioritizing and Creating Conceptual Models for MSCP Species This project was completed for California Department of Fish and Game Local Assistance Grant #P0450009, which assessed and improved the San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Program Biological Monitoring Plan. This project was a modular effort and included critical assessments and research on 1) the implementation of the monitoring program to date and information relevant to successful monitoring program design 2) prioritization of MSCP species based on threat, 3) prioritization of ecological communities based on extent and representation, and 4) development of conceptual models to aid monitoring and management. These steps follow the monitoring program design described in Atkinson et al. 2004 which can be found at: https://sdmmp.com/view_article.php?cid=CID_jmolden%40usgs.gov_57acfadf298c1.
2008-2010 Evaluating Vegetation Data Collection Methods The objective of this NCCP Local Assistance Grant and SANDAG EMP funded project is to evaluate different sampling designs and field protocols for monitoring coastal sage scrub (CSS) and chaparral vegetation communities. This effort addresses one of the two broad goals of the monitoring program, namely monitoring biodiversity and ecosystem function. The objective of this project is to evaluate the cost and accuracy of different sampling designs and field protocols for monitoring coastal sage scrub (CSS) and chaparral vegetation. This project builds on the Franklin, Regan and Deutschman LAG project funded by CDFG (Agreement #P0450009) and complements two other LAG grants. These projects include a review of the rare plant monitoring program for the MSCP by McEachern et al. (Agreement # P0350011) and a review of the animal monitoring portion of the MSCP by the USFWS (Agreement #P0585100). This report follows and elaborates on ideas presented in two earlier reports submitted to CA DFG (Deutschman, Franklin, and Lewison - Agreement # P0685105; Deutschman - Agreement # P0782006).
2008-2011 Evaluating Remote Sensing Methods for Vegetation Monitoring Identifying habitats that should be protected from further disturbance or conversion and isolating high-risk areas is a focus of community habitat plans in southern California shrublands. Larger wildfires are occurring at shorter intervals in recent decades, contributing to degradation and conversion of shrubland vegetation. Multitemporal remote-sensing approaches can bridge the gap between vegetation mapping and field sampling in habitats where frequent quantification and mapping of vegetation growth forms over large extents is required. The objective of this study is to examine the reliability and stability of a multiple endmember spectral mixture analysis (MESMA) approach with moderate spatial resolution imagery for monitoring changes in growth form fractional cover in shrubland habitats. Estimates from visual interpretation of high spatial resolution image were used as reference data for validating MESMA-derived maps and as basis for providing complementary monitoring protocols that may be accurate and cost-effective across multiple scales. Growth form proportions modelled in burned and unburned management areas compare well with expected fractional cover in mature and regenerating shrublands. In themanagement areas recovering from fire, herbaceous cover fraction exceeded 0.40 for all three study dates, suggesting that large portions of those management areas may already be invaded. From 2008 to 2011 overall herbaceous cover fraction in shrubland area increased by 2%. Herbaceous cover fraction was modelled with an overall mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.08, a smaller percentage than the percentage of herbaceous cover change recorded in areas recovering from fire (increase in herbaceous cover fraction from 0.09 to 0.13). This MESMA approach would be effective for quantifying changes in fractional cover that exceed 0.10, providing a way to delineate and quantify herbaceous invasions and expansions following disturbance or succession.
2010-2012 Refining Research Objectives and Data Collection Methods A new phase of the vegetation monitoring program began in 2010. After several years focused on data collection and analysis, this project focused on closing the feedback loop as envisioned in Atkinson et al. 2004. Work involved a wide array of stakeholders to revise and update the goals and objectives of the monitoring and management plans, develop conceptual models for individual preserves, and adapt and apply management plans on individual preserves. One aspect of this work was a structured workshop. The workshop, based on the Dahlem model, was the first concrete step in facilitating collaborative decision making.
2017-2019 Developing a Map of Ecological Integrity Using Remote Sensing This project's objective is to create a map of ecological integrity using remotely sensed data. Data sources include high resolution lidar and high resolution 4-band imagery from multiple sources. Final products from this work will include: 1) an updated high resolution Digital Elevation Model, 2) an updated high resolution Digital Surface Model, 3) a raster image depicting vegetation height (using lidar), 4) a raster image depicting herbaceous, shrub, and tree cover, 5) a map layer of ecological integrity (at a 50m grid) for coastal sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodlands, and riparian woodlands. Ecological integrity is defined for each vegetation community independently, based on analysis of previous field work. This project will build off the information and products previously created.
2023-2024 Coastal sage scrub and chaparral community monitoring for western San Diego County Western San Diego County is dominated by shrublands supporting biologically diverse native plant and animal communities. Widespread urbanization has led to regional habitat loss and fragmentation and many species in these shrubland communities are rare, threatened, or endangered. Large-scale, multiple species conservation planning has resulted in a regional preserve system that focuses on these shrubland communities. A number of large-scale threats are leading to type conversion from shrub-dominated to non-native invasive annual grass-dominated vegetation. To understand the changes that are occurring to native shrublands, we have developed a vegetation monitoring program with several components at multiple spatial scales, focused on quantifying coastal sage scrub (CSS) and chaparral vegetation community characteristics. Several drivers of change associated with type conversion of native shrubland to non-native annual grassland have been identified by previous research including increasing fire frequency, nitrogen deposition from air pollution, and prolonged and intense drought associated with changing climate. The objectives of this CSS and chaparral vegetation community monitoring plan are to: 1) Determine the distribution, composition, structure, and integrity of CSS and chaparral vegetation communities on conserved lands in western San Diego County, 2) Identify whether these attributes of the vegetation communities are changing over time, and 3) Evaluate relationships of known drivers of change (threats) and environmental factors in association with changes in vegetation community attributes. The goal of this monitoring program is to classify CSS and chaparral vegetation community integrity, identify areas of degradation across western San Diego County, and characterize drivers, and environmental factors associated with loss of ecological integrity. A combination of vegetation mapping, landscape-scale remote sensing, and field plots will be used to address all the aspects of our research questions. Data compiled and collected will be available to conservation partners to help inform future management decisions.
American Badger Research and Monitoring Badgers have been identified by the San Diego Monitoring and Management Program Connectivity Monitoring Strategic Plan as a target species for monitoring regional-scale functional connectivity of upland and grassland habitats. However, prior to these studies there was little information on badger distribution, movement, or habitat use within San Diego County. In 2011, the California Department of Fish and Game Local Assistance Grant funded an initial study to determine if badgers still persist in the western portion of San Diego County. Canine scent surveys were conducted for American badger scat from November 14-December 14, 2011. Thirty-two sites in San Diego County and two sites in southern Riverside County were surveyed. The scent dog had positive behavioral responses to scat at 13 sites, and a badger specific DNA test verified the scat collected at twelve sites. A recommendation from the 2011 study led researchers to develop a microsatellite DNA test to identify individual animals from scat. This would allow for estimation of minimum population sizes in areas with multiple scats. In 2014, a follow up study was conducted to the initial 2011 rapid assessment for the American badger. The objectives were to identify target areas with potentially higher densities of badgers and to better assess the level of connectivity between known occupied areas. Thirty canine scent surveys for badger scat were conducted. This study involved: 1) additional focused surveys to identify areas occupied by badgers, and 2) determination of the number of badgers at various locations using genetic tests of scat or hair to identify individuals. In 2015, researchers continued studies of the spatial and temporal use of habitats by the American badger by conducting monthly field sign and infrared camera surveys across seven focal sites in the County where we previously documented substantial and/or repeated badger activity. The objective was to determine if badger use is irregular, seasonal, or consistent. American badgers were active at two of the seven focal sites in 2015, the upper San Diego River at El Capitan Grande Reservation and Rancho Guejito. From 2011 to present, researchers established that the American badger currently occupies or uses conserved lands within MSCP and MHCP and many other portions of the county.
Anstine-Audubon Nature Preserve Fencing Project The goal of this project was to install 855 linear feet of lodge pole fencing along the northern boundary of San Diego Audubon Society’s (SDAS’s) 11.6-acre Anstine-Audubon Nature Preserve (Anstine) in Vista, CA to combat hazardous and non-hazardous dumping and illegal trespassing. The addition of fencing along the northern portion of the property, adjacent to Hidden Lake Lane, will protect the fragile riparian, oak woodland, and endangered coastal sage scrub habitats on the preserve. Urban Corps of San Diego, with SDAS oversight, successfully installed an 855-foot long, five-foot high lodge pole wooden fence along with three access gates on the property in the planned one-year project. Project Start Date: March 7, 2023 Project Completion Date: January 18, 2024 This project was fully funded by SANDAG TransNet EMP Land Management Grant #S1125499
Artesian Creek Restoration Approximately 300 acres along Artesian Creek, a tributary of the San Dieguito River, was restored to coastal sage or native riparian. The majority of restored land was previously used for grazing, with an additional two miles of riparian habitat. The project is located between Camino Del Sur and Del Dios Highway, just south and southwest of Lake Hodges. The restoration has been completed, but annual treatment of invasive species remains including ongoing treatment of eucalyptus, tamarix and palms. The focal invasive species included: mustard, French broom, Scotch broom, Spanish Fleabane, arundo, Austrailian salt bush, Brazilian Pepper, caster bean, lapidium latifolia, garland chrysanthemum, bridal creeper, Italian thistle, fountain grass, dittrichia graveolens, artichoke, eucalyptus, tree tobacco, acacia, palms, pampas grass, pride of Maderia, tamarix, and fennel.
Blaineville's Horned Lizard Genetics Study The proposed study will provide data on whether coast horned lizard populations are genetically interconnected across the NCCP reserve system, or whether gene flow has occurred recently but is no longer possible due to habitat fragmentation.

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File name	Lead Author	Year	Type
2010-11 Baseline Survey Report for the Northern San Ysidro, McMillin, and Little Cedar Canyon Parcels of the the Otay Ranch Preserve	O'Meara, Cailin; Sundberg, J.R.; Bennett, Anna; Dodero, Mark	2012	report
2010/11 Cactus Mapping Protocol for the San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Program	Winchell, Clark		protocol supplement
2024 Q5 EMP Quarterly Progress Report.docx	Kramp, Heather		report
2024 Q5 Performance Measures.xlsx	Kramp, Heather		report
A comparison of point-count and area-search surveys for monitoring site occupancy of the Coastal California Gnatcatcher	Miller, Will; Winchell, Clark	2016	journal article
A Habitat-Based Metapopulation Model of the California Gnatcatcher	Akcakaya, H. Resit; Atwood, Jonathan	1997	journal article
A Summary of Cactus Wren & Monitoring Reproduction Papers	Vickery, P.D.		fact sheet
Annual Report City of Carlsbad Habitat Management Plan Year 5, Novermber 2008 - October 2009		2010	report
Area Specific Management Directives for San Vicente Open Space Preserve San Diego County		2007	report
Barnett Ranch Open Space Preserve Biological Resources Report		2004	report

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Brief Community Description

Coastal sage scrub (CSS) is characterized as a low growing, soft leaved, woody subshrub community dominated by California sagebrush (Artemisia californica) and associated with flat top buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), black sage (Salvia mellifera), laurel sumac (Malosma laurina), and lemondade berry (Rhus integrifolia) [1, 2]. Open areas between shrubs typically support an herbaceous layer including grasses, geophytes, and forbs with composition varying annually and seasonally.

Alliances

CSS alliances are characterized by the dominant and co-dominate species comprising the majority of the shrub cover. For example, the Artemisia californica-Salvia mellifera Alliance grows along the coast within the maritime fog influence and is defined by the co-dominance of A. californica and S. mellifera in association with other subdominant shrubs and typically occurs on slopes with sandy loamy soils [4, 5]. There are 24 CSS alliances within the MSPA, defined by dominant shrubs such as Baccharis pilularis, Bahiopsis laciniata, Encelia californica, E. fasciculatum, Isocoma menziessi, Keckiella antirrhinoides, Lycium californicum, Malacothamnus fasciculatus, M. laurina, S. mellifera, Rhamnus crocea, and R. integrifolia. MU3 supports the greatest diversity of CSS alliances.

Range wide dist. status

Occurs from sea level to 1,000 m in elevation along the California coastline from San Francisco , California to El Rosario, Baja California, Mexico[1, 2].

MSPA distribution

Within the MSPA, CSS covers 221,798 acres (not including Military lands) with 107,042 acres conserved. Most CSS within the MSPA is found in MUs 3, 4, 6 and 8.

Habitat affinities

Steep, dry south and southwest facing slopes in loamy to heavy clay soils along the coast and inland areas throughout San Diego County [3]. Precipitation (November to April with occasional summer rain), topography, slope aspect and elevation were found to have the greatest influence on CSS structure, species composition, and shrub and seedling establishment [6, 7, 8].

Ecosystem processes

Fire, erosion and pollination are important processes in CSS [9]. CSS shrubs and herbaceous understory species often require fire for seedling recruitment and establishment and for shrub crown resprouting [10]. Erosion causes destabilization of the soil structure, which directly impacts native seedling establishment, and disturbed soils are more prone to invasion by nonnative plants [11]. Pollination helps maintain CSS biodiversity and changes in the arthropod community (i.e., pollinators) have been shown to affect CSS composition and integrity [12, 13].

Threats

Threats include habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation due to urbanization and agricultural development [6, 14]; an altered fire regime, nitrogen deposition and disturbances that lead to CSS type conversion to nonnative grassland [11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19]; disturbance from recreational activities; and prolonged and intensive droughts as part of a changing climate [20].

Special considerations

San Diego County has very high biodiversity and the greatest concentration of threatened endangered species in the U.S. [21, 22], which has led to landscape-scale multiple species conservation planning. The Natural Communities Conservation Program (NCCP) is a state conservation act aimed at protecting species through a regional approach to habitat preservation [23]. A major focus of southern California's NCCPs are CSS and the coastal California gnatcatcher. CSS is considered a fragile and rapidly declining habitat and habitat loss and fragmentation are considered to be the largest threats to this community [6, 7]. Connectivity between remaining patches is crucial to regional biodiversity associated with this vegetation community. Preserved areas of CSS should be large enough to support California gnatcatchers and coastal cactus wrens and allow a full spectrum of native species to move between natural areas. Conservation of CSS should include management actions that help maintain or improve vegetation composition, structure and integrity to promote a higher regional biodiversity and persistence of species within an area. At least 36 MSP species are associated with CSS vegetation (link to species and vegetation assocation table).

Sources

[1] Kirkpatrick, J. B. & C. F Hutchinson. 1977. The Community Composition of California Coastal Sage Scrub. Vegetation 34: 21-33.

[2] Westman, W. 1981. Factors Influencing the Distribution of Species of Californian Coastal Sage Scrub. Ecology 2:439-455.

[3] Oberbauer,T., M. Kelly, and J. Buegge. 2008. Draft Vegetation Communities of San Diego County.

[4] Sproul, F., T. Keeler-Wolf, P. Gordon-Reedy, J. Dunn, A. Klein and K. Harper. 2011. Vegetation Classification Manual for Western San Diego County. First Edition. Prepared by AECOM, CDFG Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program and CBI for SANDAG.

[5] Sawyer,J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. M. Evens. 2009. A Manual of California Vegetation. Second Edition. California Native Plant Society Press, Sacramento, CA. 1300 pp.

[6] Westman, W. 1981. Diversity Relations and Succession in Californian CSS. Ecology 62: 170-184.

[7] Minnich, R. A. and R .J. Dezzani. 1998. Historical Decline of CSS in the Riverside-Perris Plain, California. Western Birds 29: 366-391.

[8] Ackerly, D. D., C. A. Knight, S. B. Weiss, K. Barton, K. P. Starmer. 2002. Leaf Size, specific Leaf Area and microhabitat distribution of chaparral woody plants: contrasting patterns in species level and community level analyses. Oecologia 130: 449-457.

[9] Delcourt, H. R., P. A. Delcourt and C. Prentice. 1991. Quaternary Ecology: A Paleoecological Perspective. Science and Business Media. United States: New York, NY (United States).

[10] Keeley, J. E. 1986. Resilience of Mediterranean shrub communities to fires. In Resilience in Mediterranean-type Ecosystems, pp. 95-112. Springer Netherlands.

[11] Keeley, J. E., C. J. Fotheringham, and M. Baer-Keeley. 2005. Determinants of postfire recovery and succession in Mediterranean-climate shrublands of California. Ecological Applications 15:1515-1534.

[12] Bolger,D. T., A. V. Suarez, K. R. Crooks, S. A. Morrison, and T .J. Case. 2000. Arthropods in Urban Habitat Fragments in Southern California: Area, Age, and Edge Effects. Ecological Applications 10:1230-1248.

[13] Longcore, T. 2003. Terrestrial Arthropods as Indicators of Ecological Restoration Success in Coastal Sage Scrub (California, USA). Restoration Ecology 11:397-409.

[14] Minnich, R. A. and R .J. Dezzani. 1998. Historical Decline of Coastal Sage Scrub in the Riverside-Perris Plain, California. Western Birds 29:366-391.

[15] Keeley, J. E. and T. J. Brennan. 2012. Fire-driven Alien Invasion in a Fire-adapted Ecosystem. Oecologia 169:1043-1052.

[16] Padgett, P.E., E. B Allen, A. Bytnerowicz and R. A. Minnich. 1999. Changes in Soil Inorganic Nitrogen as Related to Atmospheric Nitrogenous Pollutants in Southern California. Atmospheric Environment 33: 769-781.

[17] Eliason, S. A. and E. B. Allen. 1997. Exotic Grass Competition in Suppressing Native Shrubland Reestablishment. Restoration Ecology 5:245-255.

[18] Talluto, M. V. and K. N. Suding. 2008. Historical Changein Coastal Sage Scrub in Southern California, USA in Relation to Fire Frequency and Air Pollution. Landscape Ecology 23:803-815.

[19] Cox, R. D., K. L. Preston, R. F. Johnson, R. A. Minnich, and E. B. Allen. 2014. Influence of landscape-scale Variables on Vegetation Conversion to Exotic Annual Grassland in Southern California. Global Ecology and Conservation 2:190-203.

[20] S. Kimball, M. L. Goulden, K. N. Suding, and S. Parker. 2014. Altered Water and Nitrogen Input Shifts Succession in a Southern California Coastal Sage Community. Ecological Applications 24:1390-1404.

[21] Dobson, A. P., J. P. Rodriguez, W. M. Roberts, and D. S. Wilcove. 1997. Geographic Distribution of Endangered Species in the United States. Science 275:550-553.

[22] Underwood, E. C., J. H. Viers, K. R. Klausmeyer, R. L. Cox and M. R. Shaw. 2009. Threats and Biodiversity in the Mediterranean Biome. Diversity and Distributions 15:188-197.

[23] Natural Communities Conservation Planning Act 2003, as Amended. (CDFG 2800-2835).