Western Riverside County MSHCP Species Accounts - Plants | Transportation and Land Management Agency Riverside County TLMA

Volume 1 - The Plan

Volume 2 - The MSHCP Reference Document

Volume 3 - Implementing Agreement

Volume 4 - Final EIR/EIS

Volume 5 - Final Responses to Comments

Nexus Report

Plants

Beautiful hulsea (Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

beautiful hulsea (Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: local viability concern

CNPS: List 4 (RED Code 1-2-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

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 .

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

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.

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

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.

Objective 3

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).

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

Beautiful hulsea is restricted to the San Jacinto, Palomar and Santa Rosa Mountains in San Diego County and Riverside County (Munz 1974; CNPS 2001).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

This species may be threatened by development within the foothill range (Reiser 1996).

Special Biological Considerations

This species may occur regularly as a fire follower, which may result in shifts in potential habitat (Reiser 1996).

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th 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)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Brand's phacelia (Phacelia stellaris)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-3-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

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.

Objective 3

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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).

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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).

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

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).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

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).

Special Biological Considerations

Within the Plan Area, this species appears to be restricted to sandy washes and/or benches in alluvial flood plains.

LITERATURE CITED

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)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

California beardtongue (Penstemon californicus)

Status:

State: None

Forest: San Bernardino National Forest Service Sensitive Species

Federal: None

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-2-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

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).

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

California beardtongue is restricted to Riverside County and northern Baja California at elevations of 1,000 m to 2,100 m (CNPS 2001).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

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.

Special Biological Considerations

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.

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

USDA. 1999. Southern California Mountains and Foothills Assessment, Habitat and Species Conservation Issues. General Technical Report PSW-GTR-172.

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

California bedstraw (Galium californicum ssp. primum)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: Sensitive Species

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-2-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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).

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

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).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

This species is threatened by genetic swamping by Galium nuttallii (CNDDB 2000).

Special Biological Considerations

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.

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th 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 bedstraw (Galium californicum ssp. primum)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

California bedstraw (Galium californicum ssp. primum)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: Sensitive Species

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-2-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
CALIFORNIA BEDSTRAW

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

Conservation Summary

INCIDENTAL TAKE

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

This species is threatened by genetic swamping by Galium nuttallii (CNDDB 2000).

Special Biological Considerations

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

California black walnut (Juglans californica var. californica)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

California black walnut (Juglans californica var. californica)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: Local Viability Concern

CNPS: List 4 ( R-E-D code 1-2-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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 Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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.

Biogeography

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).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

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.

Special Biological Considerations

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.

LITERATURE CITED

Bowler, P. A. 1989. Riparian Woodlands: an Endangered Habitat in Southern California. Pages 80-97 in A.A. Schoenherr, editor. Proceedings of the 15^th 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 15^th 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)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

California muhly (Muhlenbergia californica)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 2-2-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

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 .

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the known locations at Sage, Aguanga, Estelle Mountain, Prado Dam, Temescal Canyon, and Sitton Peak.

Objective 3

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).

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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 Issues

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).

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

California muhly occurs in chaparral, coastal sage scrub, lower coniferous forest and meadows, usually near mesic seeps or along streambanks (CNPS 2001).

Biogeography

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).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

California muhly is threatened by development, road construction, grazing, and recreational activities (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Unpublished Data).

Special Biological Considerations

This perennial bunchgrass is rhizomatous and restricted to moist soils.

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

California Orcutt grass (Orcuttia californica)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

California Orcutt grass (Orcuttia californica)

Status:

State: Endangered

Federal: Endangered

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-3-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

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.

Objective 3

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.

Objective 4

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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
Soil Type	MSHCP 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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

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.).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

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).

Special Biological Considerations

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).

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th 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)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

chickweed oxytheca (Oxytheca caryophylloides)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 4 (RED Code 1-1-3)

Forest Service: Local viability concern

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

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 .

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least five of the known locations within the San Jacinto Mountains.

Objective 3

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).

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

Chickweed oxytheca occurs in sandy soils in association with yellow pine forest (Munz 1974; Hickman 1993).

Biogeography

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).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

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.

Special Biological Considerations

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).

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

Cleveland's bush monkeyflower (Mimulus clevelandii)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Cleveland's bush monkeyflower (Mimulus clevelandii)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: Local viability concern

CNPS: List 4 (R-E-D Code 1-1-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Level

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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.

Biogeography

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).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

Ridgeline and mountaintop impacts such as trails, roads, and activities surrounding transmitting equipment pose the greatest threat (Boyd and Banks 1995).

Special Biological Considerations

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.

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th 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)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

cliff cinquefoil (Potentilla rimicola)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: Sensitive Species

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 2-1-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the two known localities of this species in Dark Canyon and near Deer Spring.

Objective 3

Within the MSHCP Conservation Area, confirm five localities (locality in this sense is not smaller than one quarter section).

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type	MSHCP 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)
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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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).

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

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).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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.

Threats to Species

The Forest Service Assessment reports that rock-climbing activities may impact this species.

Special Biological Considerations

All known populations of this species in the Plan Area occur within the San Jacinto Mountains of the San Bernardino National Forest.

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

Coulter's goldfields (Lasthenia glabrata ssp. coulteri)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Coulter's goldfields (Lasthenia glabrata ssp. coulteri)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 1B (R-E-D Code 2-3-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

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.

Objective 3

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.

Objective 4

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.

Objective 5

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

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).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

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).

Special Biological Considerations

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.

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th 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)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Coulter's matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: None

CNPS: List 4 (RED Code 1-2-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 1

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 .

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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.

Objective 2

Within the MSHCP Conservation Area, confirm 30 localities (locality in this sense is not smaller than one quarter section).

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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 Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

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.).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

Coulter's matilija poppy is threatened by urbanization, agricultural conversion, flood control measures, and road widening and maintenance (CNPS 2001).

Special Biological Considerations

This species often occurs in burned areas which may result in shifts in potential habitat (CNPS 2001).

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

Davidson's saltscale (Atriplex serenana var. davidsonii)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Davidson's saltscale (Atriplex serenana var. davidsonii)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 1B (Red Code: 3-2-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Objective 2

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.

Objective 3

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.

Objective 4

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.

Objective 5

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type	MSHCP 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)
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
Soil Type	MSHCP 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.

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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 1,370 acres (17 percent) of potential habitat for Davidson's saltscale will not be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

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.

Known Populations Within Western 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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

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).

Special Biological Considerations

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.).

LITERATURE CITED

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.

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, 5^th 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)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Engelmann oak (Quercus engelmannii)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: Local Viability Concern

CNPS: List 4 ( R-E-D Code 1-2-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

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.

Objective 3

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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 Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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.

Biogeography

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).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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).

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

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).

LITERATURE CITED

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)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Fish's milkwort (Polygala cornuta var. fishiae)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: None

CNPS: List 4 (Red Code1-1-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 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 .

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least three of the known localities (Santa Rosa Plateau, Santa Margarita Ecological Preserve, and San Mateo Canyon).

Objective 3

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).

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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 Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

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).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

The threats to this species have not been analyzed.

Special Biological Considerations

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.

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th 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)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

graceful tarplant (Holocarpha virgata ssp. elongata)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: Sensitive Species

CNPS: List 4 (RED Code 1-2-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

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 .

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

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.

Objective 3

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).

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

Graceful tarplant is endemic to Orange County, Riverside County and San Diego County (CNPS 2001).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

This species is threatened by development and urbanization (Reiser 1996).

Special Biological Considerations

Graceful tarplant is known from heavy clay soils around vernal pools and wet meadows (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, unpublished data).

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th 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)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Hall's monardella (Monardella macrantha ssp. hallii)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: Sensitive Species

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 2-1-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

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).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

This species maybe threatened by damage from recreational hikers (Reiser 1996) and fire-suppression activities (Boyd and Banks 1995).

Special Biological Considerations

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.

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th 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)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Hammitt's clay-cress ( Sibaropsis hammittii)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 1B, (RED Code 3-2-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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.

Objective 2

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.

Objective 3

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type	MSHCP 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)
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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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.

Biogeography

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).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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).

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

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

Special Biological Considerations have not been identified for this species.

LITERATURE CITED

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.

heart-leaved pitcher sage (Lepechinia cardiophylla)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

heart-leaved pitcher sage (Lepechinia cardiophylla)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: Sensitive Species

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-2-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

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).

Objective 3

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type	MSHCP 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)
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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

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).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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.

Threats to Species

This species is potentially threatened by development (CNPS 2001), installation of transmission lines and fire-suppression activities (CNDDB).

Special Biological Considerations

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).

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th 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)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

intermediate mariposa lily (Calochortus weedii var. intermedius)

Status:

Federal: None

State: None

Forest Service: Sensitive Species

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 2-2-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 195,730 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral and coastal sage scrub between 120 and 850 m).

Objective 2

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Soil Type	MSHCP 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)
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 Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

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).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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.

Threats to Species

This species is threatened by urban development, road construction and fire-suppression activities (CNPS 2001).

Special Biological Considerations

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.

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

Jaeger's milk-vetch (Astragalus pachypus var. jaegeri)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Jaeger's milk-vetch (Astragalus pachypus var. jaegeri)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: Sensitive Species

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-3-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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 Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

Biogeography

Jaeger's milk-vetch is endemic to Riverside County (CNDDB 2000; CNPS 2001).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

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.

Special Biological Considerations

Potential habitat for this species is widespread for this species and it is anticipated that additional populations and localities exist in the Plan Area.

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th 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)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Johnston's rock cress (Arabis johnstonii)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: local viability concern

CNPS: List 1B, (RED Code 3-2-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

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.

Objective 3

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

This species is endemic to the San Jacinto Mountains of western Riverside County (Munz 1974; Rollins 1941; Rollins 1993).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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).

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

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).

Special Biological Considerations

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).

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th 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)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

lemon lily (Lilium parryi)

Status:

State: Species of Special Concern

Federal: None

Forest: Sensitive Species

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 2-2-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least six localities (seven occurrences) within the San Jacinto Mountains.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

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).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

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).

Special Biological Considerations

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).

LITERATURE CITED

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)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

little mousetail (Myosurus minimus ssp. apus)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 3 (R-E-D Code: ?-2-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Objective 2

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.

Objective 3

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.

Objective 4

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.

Objective 5

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type	MSHCP 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)
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
Soil Type	MSHCP 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%)	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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

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).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

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).

Special Biological Considerations

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.

LITERATURE CITED

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.

Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, 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, 5^th 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)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

long-spined spine flower (Chorizanthe polygonoides var. longispina)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 2-2-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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.

Objective 2

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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
Soil Type	MSHCP 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	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 Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

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).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

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.

Special Biological Considerations

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).

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society. 338 pp

many-stemmed dudleya (Dudleya multicaulis)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

many-stemmed dudleya (Dudleya multicaulis)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 1B (R-E-D Code 1-2-3)

Forest Service: Sensitive Species

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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.

Objective 2

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.

Objective 3

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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
Soil Type	MSHCP 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	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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

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).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

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).

Special Biological Considerations

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.

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th 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)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Mojave tarplant (Deinandra mohavensis)

(formerly known as Hemizonia mohavensis)

Status:

State: Endangered

Federal: None

Forest Service: None

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 2-1-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

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 .

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

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.

Objective 3

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type	MSHCP 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)
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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

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.

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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).

Threats to Species

This species is potentially threatened by flood control measures, low density development and grazing (Sanders et al. 1997).

Special Biological Considerations

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.

LITERATURE CITED

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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

mud nama (Nama stenocarpum)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

mud nama (Nama stenocarpum)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 2 (RED Code 3-2-1)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area two of the three known occurrences of this species along the San Jacinto River near Gilman Springs Road.

Objective 3

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.

Objective 4

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

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).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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).

Biology

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 Species

Threats to the mud nama have not been identified.

Special Biological Considerations

Special Biological Considerations have not been identified for this species.

LITERATURE CITED

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)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Munz's mariposa lily (Calochortus palmeri var. munzii)

Status:

Federal: None

State: Species of Special Concern

Forest Service: Sensitive Species

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-2-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 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 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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area 10 of the known locations within the San Jacinto Mountains, including Garner Valley.

Objective 3

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

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
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

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.

Conservation Summary

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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

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).

Biogeography

Munz's mariposa lily is endemic to the San Jacinto Mountains of western Riverside County (CNPS 2001).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

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.

Biology

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.

Threats to Species

Munz's mariposa lily is vulnerable to overgrazing, trampling, road maintenance, development projects, and invasion of exotic species (Stephenson and Calcarone 1999).

Special Biological Considerations

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.

LITERATURE CITED

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.

Munz's onion (Allium munzii)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Munz's onion (Allium munzii)

Status:

State: Threatened (January 1990)

Federal: Endangered (63 FR 54975, October 13, 1998)

CNPS: List 1B (R-E-D Code 3-3-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

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.

Objective 2

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).

Objective 3

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

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
Vegetation Type	MSHCP 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)
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

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 known occurrences of Munz's onion populations have been based on the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), as references for each population are available. The CNDDB lists 15 extant population occurrences for this species and all occur within western Riverside County (Table 3). Population size for each location is based on the CNDDB and information reported directly to agency biologists. At several locations, populations have been counted for multiple years (note population sizes vary from year to year and a one-time report of a small population does not necessarily mean that the population is small).

Of the 15 known locations of this species, 13 will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. Seven of the localities are conserved within existing Public/Quasi/Public Lands or within Pre-Existing Conservation Areas: Estelle Mtn, Domenigoni Hills, Lake Skinner, Sycamore Creek and Scott Rd). Two populations (Harford Springs County park and Elsinore Peak) are partially conserved on existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. Four populations (Alberhill, DiPalma Road, Bachelor Mountain and North Peak) will be conserved within the MSCHP Criteria Area. Two populations (EO 5 and EO 16) are completely outside the MSHCP Conservation Area but will be conserved in accordance with the Narrow Endemics Policy.

Note the status of the three known largest occurrences: the Lake Skinner locality is within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, the Harford Springs County Park locality is partially within County park boundaries and the Alberhill locality will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area.

TABLE 3
KNOWN EXTANT POPULATION LOCATIONS
MUNZ'S ONION

CNDDB ELEMENT OF OCCURRENCE (EO)	LOCATION	POPULATION SIZE (INDIVIDUALS)
EO2	Harford Springs County Park	1986 - 5,000+ 1994 - 28,980 1989 - 6,700 1995 - 50,994 1992 - 4,000 1998 - 2,000 - 5,000 1993 - 45,000
EO 3	Sycamore Creek	1981 - none 2001 - 500 1982 - some
EO 4	Skunk Hollow	1986 - 50-75
EO 5	privately owned	1986? -2,000+
EO 6	Alberhill	1982 - 1,000 2000 - 7,700 1986 - 150 +
EO 7	DiPalma Rd	1986 - 1,000+ 2001 - 1,000+
EO 8	Sycamore Creek	1986 - 1,000 2001 - 1,200
EO 9	Estelle Mtn	1986 - 2,000+
EO 10	Domenigoni Hills	1991 - 441
EO 11	Lake Skinner	1989 - 700 1992 - 202 1993 - 3,343 1994 - 549 1995 - 4,373
EO 12	Bachelor Mtn	1989 - 150
EO 13	Elsinore Pk	1991 - 1,000's
EO 14	Scott Road	1992 - 1,000
EO 15	North Peak	1993 - 2,000+
EO 16	NE of Alberhill	1993 - 300

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

With the exception of portions of the Harford Springs Park and Estelle Mountain populations, and EO 5 and EO 16, all of the core locations of Munz's onion 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. Several large blocks of habitat supporting Munz's onion are located within the MSHCP Conservation Area, 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.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 21,260 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat, 2,070 acres of clay soils, and 15 known localities within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area. The 15 conserved localities are present at Estelle Mountain, Domenigoni Hills, Lake Skinner, Sycamore Creek, Scott Road, Harford Springs County Park, Elsinore Peak, Alberhill, DePalma Road, Bachelor Mountain and North Peak. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 15,825 acres of potential habitat and 3,770 acres of clay soils in the Plan Area will not be conserved. Fifty percent of the core locations at Harford Springs and Estelle Mountain occur on private lands but will be conserved in accordance with the Narrow Endemics policy described in Section 6.1.3 of the MSHCP, Volume I. Two populations (EO 5 and EO 16) are completely outside the MSHCP Conservation Area but will be conserved in accordance with the Narrow Endemics policy.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database the herbarium specimens at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens and UCR, the CNDDB, and available literature.

The CNDDB lists 15 occurrences for Riverside County. Only one of the 14 occurrences predates 1985. Many of these locations are verified by collections at Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden. The UCR database and the herbarium records include 65 records that largely overlap with the CNDDB data. The UCR database and herbarium records are generally post-1985. At least five of the UCR localities do not overlap with CNDDB sites. At least two are probably mapping errors (e.g., a population at Briggs and Scott Road is mapped twice, once at the correct locality closely matching the CNDDB record, and again about a mile north of Scott Road where no population has been recognized by local experts). Although additional populations may occur within the Plan Area, the general distribution of this plant and its preferred habitat type are considered relatively well-understood.

Most literature available focuses on the taxonomic status of this species and its close relatives with some references to focusing on conservation and distribution. The taxonomy is summarized by McNeal (1992). The most comprehensive analysis of distribution, threat, and conservation status is summarized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1998). The U.S. Forest Service has published management guidelines for one population (Winter 1992). No species-specific studies and little data is available regarding life history (reproductive biology, pollinators, or dispersal mechanisms) for this species. Field observations indicate that population size can vary by a magnitude from one year to the next and that only a portion of a population is expected to flower in any given year (USFWS 2001). There are, however, a few studies regarding population dynamics (Boyd and Mistretta 1991; CNDDB 2000).

Habitat and Habitat Associations

Munz's onion is found on mesic exposures or seasonally moist microsites in grassy openings in coastal sage scrub, chaparral, juniper woodland, valley and foothill grasslands in clay soils (Bittman 1986; CNPS 2001). Associated with a special “clay soil flora” found in southwestern Riverside County that includes herbs such as chocolate lily (Fritillaria biflora), Palmer's grappling hook (Harpagonella palmeri), knot-weed spine flower (Chorizanthe polygonoides var. longispina), snakeroot (Sanicula bipinnatifida, S. arguta), lomatium (Lomatium utriculatum, L. dasycarpum), shooting stars (Dodecatheon clevelandii), goldenstar (Bloomeria crocea), soaproot (Chlorogalum parviflorum), many-stemmed dudleya (Dudleya multicaulis) and red-skinned onion ( Allium haematochiton) (Boyd 1986; Winter 1992; Roberts 1993; CNDDB 2000). At least one population (Bachelor Mountain) is reported to be associated with pyroxenite outcrops instead of clay (D. Bramlet, in litt., October 1992).

Biogeography

Munz's onion is endemic to southwestern Riverside County. This species is restricted to heavy clay soils which are scattered in a band several miles wide and extending some 40 miles southeast from Corona through Temescal Canyon and along the Elsinore Fault Zone to the southwestern foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains from 300 to 1,000 meters elevation (Boyd 1988, Munz 1974, McNeal 1993).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Munz's onion is known from 15 extant populations distributed primarily in the western and southern areas of the Plan Area (Roberts 1993; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998; CNDDB 2000; NRC 2000). Munz's onion is situated in widely scattered populations from 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. Populations are known from Elsinore Peak, Harford Springs, Estelle Mountain, Temescal Canyon/Indian Truck Trail, the North Domenigoni Hills, Alberhill, Skunk Hollow, and in Temescal Canyon (Boyd and Mistretta 1991; Winter 1991; CNDDB 2000; NRC 2000). The largest populations are at Harford County Park (with 20,000 to 50,000 individuals), Alberhill (at least 7,700 individuals), Elsinore Peak (~5,000 individuals), Dawson Canyon (~2,000 individuals), Estelle Mountain (at least 2,000 individuals), Bachelor Mountain (over 3,000 individuals), and North Peak (~3,000 individuals). More than half of the populations are on, wholly or in part, private lands. Populations that are currently on public lands or within preservation areas include about half the plants at Harford Springs Park and at Estelle Mountain, the North Domenigoni Hills, Bachelor Mountain (two populations), and the North Peak population. The Elsinore Mountain population is managed, in part, by the Cleveland National Forest.

This species has several core locations that have been identified within the Plan Area. As identified by priority based on size of the population, quality of the site, and defensability of the site, a workshop hosted in 1993 by the California Department of Fish and Game identified the following sites (in order of importance) as critical populations: Elsinore Peak in the Santa Ana Mountains, Harford Springs in the Gavilan Hills, Bachelor Mountain, Temescal Terrace/Indian Truck Trail, North Peak, and the North Domenigoni Hills (Orlando Mistretta, Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden, in litt., February 21, 1993). In 2000, another core location was discovered in the Alberhill area (NRC 2000). Recent information indicates that the majority of the population found at Indian Truck Trail (CNDDB element occurrences 3 and 8) is proposed to be impacted as part of the Sycamore Creek Development (USFWS 2001).

Biology

Genetics: Munz's onion, a member of the Alliaceae (=Liliaceae, in part), is one of over 500 species within the genus Allium (McNeal 1993). Munz's onion belongs to the Allium fimbriatum complex, a group of seven species found primarily in California (McNeal 1992). Munz (1974) and McNeal (1992) provide descriptions for the onions in this complex. Munz's onion is first proposed as A. fimbriatum var. munzii by Ownbey in his revision of the A. fimbriatum group (Munz & Keck 1959; McNeal 1992). The combination was not validly published until 1972 (McNeal 1992). In a recent review of the complex, McNeal (1992) elevated several varieties of A. fimbriatum, including A. f. var. munzii to full species because of differences in the perianth segments, bulb coat, and the structure of the ovarian crests. The meiotic chromosome number of Munz's onion is n=7, the most common number for species in North America (McNeal 1992).

Reproduction: No studies have been published regarding the reproductive biology of Munz's onion. There is no information regarding pollinators. Munz's onion blooms from April through May (Munz 1974), producing white or pinkish flowers. The capsules are 3-4 mm long and the seeds are about 2 mm long (Munz 1974). Munz's onion is well adapted to summer drought and varied amounts of rainfall from year to year. McNeal (1992) found that flowering in the Allium fimbriatum complex appeared to be correlated to early rains in the late fall and early winter. When rainfall is plentiful, most plants within a population bloom. When rainfall is light, many plants sprout leaves but few flower.

Dispersal: No studies are available regarding seed dispersal in Munz's onion.

Demography: Munz's onion is a perennial geophyte; a plant originating from a bulb (McNeal 1992).

Threats to Species

As much as 80 to 90 percent of the suitable habitat for this species has been adversely modified through extensive agriculture, urbanization, and clay mining (CDFG 1989). Populations continue to be threatened by urbanization, dry land farming activities, off-road vehicle activity, and clay mining (Roberts 1993; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998; CNDDB 2000). Munz's onion is also threatened by competition with non-native plants.

Special Biological Considerations

Munz's onion is restricted to clay soils (Boyd and Mistretta 1991), with the exception of one population documented to occur in association with pyroxenite outcrops (D. Bramlet, in litt., October 1992). A bulb-bearing perennial, this species often does not flower in very dry years and may be difficult to locate during surveys conducted in such a year. Flowering may also be suppressed by heavy infestations of weedy grasses. Like other bulb-bearing perennials, this species is probably susceptible to damage from ground disturbance activities (e.g., discing).

This species is found in association with other listed or sensitive species, including Palmer's grapplinghook, small-flowered morning-glory (Convolvulus simulans), chocolate lily (Fritillaria biflora), and long-spined spine flower (Chorizanthe polygonoides).

LITERATURE CITED

Bittman, R. 1986. Element conservation plan for Allium munzii (Munz's onion). Prepared for the Nature Conservancy.

Boyd, S. 1988. A petition to the State of California Fish and Game Commission to list Munz's onion (Allium fimbriatum var. munzii).

Boyd, Steve and Orlando Mistretta 1991. A Survey of the Cleveland National Forest for Munz's Onion (Allium fimbriatum var. munzii). Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, unpublished.

California Department of Fish and Game 1989. Report to the Fish and Game Commission of the status of Munz's onion (Allium fimbriatum var. munzii). Prepared by Sandra C. Morey. Natural Heritage Division Status Report 89-10.

California Natural Diversity Database 2000. Allium munzii. Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.

McNeal, D. 1992. A revision of the Allium fimbriatum (Alliaceaee) complex. Aliso 13: 411-426.

McNeal, Dale, 1993. In The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit.,University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Munz, P.A. and Keck, D. 1959. A Flora of California. University of California, Berkeley, California.

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. 1993. Status Review and Threat Assessment: Allium munzii. Unpublished report prepared for the Carlsbad Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Skinner M.W. and B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of Endangered or Threatened Status for Four Southwestern California Plants from Vernal Wetlands and Clay Soils. Federal Register 63 (197): 54975 - 54994.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2001. Formal Section 7 Consultation on Sycamore Creek Development, Riverside County, California (1-6-01-F-1184.2)

Winter, Kirsten J. 1992. Munz's Onion (Allium munzii) Species Management Guide. Unpublished report, Cleveland National Forest.

Additional References

Ellstrand, Norman C. 1992. Memorandum of Understanding Report Regarding Research on Allium fimbriatum var. munzii (Munz's onion). Unpublished report prepared for the Endangered Plant Program, Natural Heritage Division, Department of Fish and Game.

Ellstrand, Norman C. 1995. Allium MOU Report for 1995. Unpublished report prepared for the Endangered Plant Program, Natural Heritage Division, Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.

Traub, H.P. 1972. Allium Species and Varieties. Plant Life Vol. 27: 63-64.

Nevin's barberry (Berberis nevinii)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Nevin's barberry (Berberis nevinii)

Status:

State: Endangered (January 1987)

Federal: Endangered (October 13, 1998)

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-3-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

Nevin's barberry is designated as a Group 3 species because of its narrowly defined geographic distribution (primarily the San Timoteo/Badlands area, Vail Lake and the Agua Tibia Mountains) and dependence on natural fire regimes.

This is a species on the Additional Survey Needs and Procedures (Section 6.3.2) list and surveys for Nevin's barberry 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). Nevin's barberry located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2, MSHCP, Volume 1.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 8,000 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral and Riversidean alluvial fan sage scrub between 300 and 659 m in the Vail Lake area as depicted on Figure 6-1, the Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area and the Agua Tibia Mountains Bioregion).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the known locations for Nevin's barberry in the San Timoteo/Badlands area, Jurupa Hills and Agua Tibia/Vail Lake area.

Objective 3

Surveys for this species 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 1). Nevin's barberry located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2, MSHCP, Volume 1.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Potential habitat for this species includes areas supporting coarse soils and rocky slopes in chaparral and gravelly wash margins in alluvial scrub (between 300 and 659 m). For the purpose of the conservation analysis, potential habitat for Nevin's barberry includes chaparral and alluvial scrub in the vicinity of the San Timoteo/Badlands area, Vail Lake and the Agua Tibia Mountains. Based on these in the vicinity of San Timoteo/Badlands area, Vail Lake and the Agua Tibia Mountains Bioregion, the Plan Area supports approximately 11,990 acres of potential habitat for Nevin's barberry. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for Nevin's barberry. Approximately 8,000 acres (67 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the Criteria Ara or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. These lands will be managed for biological resources, including Nevin's barberry.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
NEVIN'S BARBERRY

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Chaparral (between 300 and 659 m)	11,600	5,440	2,250	7,690	1,720	2,190	3,910
Riversidean Alluvial Fan Sage Scrub (between 300 and 659 m)	390	300	10	310	50	30	80
TOTAL	11,990	5,740 (48%)	2,260 (19%)	8,000 (67%)	1,770 (15%)	2,220 (18%)	3,990 (33%)
¹ Vegetation type includes the vegetation within the vicinity of the San Timoteo/Badlands area, Vail Lake and the Agua Tibia Mountains. ² Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area.

The largest population complex is known from the vicinity of the Vail Lake/Oak Mountain area along the north slope of the Agua Tibia Mountains (Boyd, Arnseth, and Ross 1991, Boyd and Banks 1995). The Vail Lake complex includes about 16 populations, the majority with five or fewer individuals for a cumulative total of about 200 individuals (CNDDB 1998, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). As depicted in Table 2, the Vail Lake complex (Core Area) will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area and existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. Those scattered individuals occurring within the Cleveland National Forest will be conserved within USFS lands. In total, 49 of the 52 records will be conserved. In addition to the conservation of the known Core Area and potential habitat in MSHCP Conservation Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands, this species is on the Additional Survey Needs and Procedures (Section 6.3.2) list and surveys for Nevin's barberry 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).

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

Several large blocks of habitat supporting Nevin's barberry are located within the Criteria Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands, including the San Timoteo/Badlands area, Vail Lake area and the Agua Tibia Mountains. The Vail Lake Core Area will be conserved within the Criteria Area and those individuals occurring within USFS lands will be conserved. These large habitat blocks 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.

TABLE 2
VAIL LAKE NEVIN'S BARBERRY POPULATION COMPLEX

CNDDB ELEMENT OCCURRENCE	KNOWN POPULATION DATA (INDIVIDUALS)
EO 2	1976 - 3 1987 - 1
EO 16	NO INFO
EO 20	1987 - 1 1987 -1
EO 24	1987 - 134
EO 26	1989 - 5
EO 27	1991 - 1
EO 28	1989 - 28
EO 29	NO INFO
EO 31	1989 - 5
EO 32	1989 - 3 +?
EO 33	1989 - 1
EO 34	1989 - 1
EO 35	1989 - 7
EO 36	1989 - 17
EO 37	1989 - 1
EO 38	1989 - 1
EO 41	no info

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 8,000 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and 49 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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 3,990 acres (33 percent) of potential habitat for Nevin's barberry will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. A lone individual reported from a rocky outcrop in a residential area in the city of Riverside (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998) is presumed to be impacted. The historic (1927) Aguanga location could be impacted. The Temecula location needs to be verified (CNDDB) and could be impacted.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), and the herbaria at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, Pomona and UCR and available literature. These sources include 51 occurrences (dating from 1925 to 1999). The majority of the occurrences are known from the vicinity of Vail Lake and Agua Tibia Wilderness; however, there are three records in the vicinity of Pechanga. One historic location (dated 1927) is mapped in Aguanga but the location is considered suspect due to a very low estimate of precision. The other disjunct location is mapped in Temecula; this location should be verified. The mapping data does not include a lone individual in the vicinity of the City of Riverside (CNDDB 1998).

Published literature regarding specialist pollinators, seed dispersal vectors, and germination regimes is not available for this species.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

Nevin's barberry occurs primarily in coarse soils and rocky slopes in chaparral and gravelly wash margins in alluvial scrub (Niehaus 1977; Boyd 1987).

Biogeography

Nevin's barberry is endemic to southwestern cismontane southern California. It occurs in restricted localized populations from the interior foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County southeast to near the foothills of the Agua Tibia Mountains of southwestern Riverside County, from 300 and 659 meters in elevation (CNDDB 2000; Munz 1974; Williams 1993). Scattered naturalized populations have been established outside this range (CNDDB 2000; Reiser 1996).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Nevin's barberry is known in only six areas in Riverside County: Vail Lake, Riverside, Jurupa Hills, Temecula, the Badlands and Aguanga. The largest population complex (Core Area) is known from the vicinity of the Vail Lake/Oak Mountain area along the north slope of the Agua Tibia Mountains (Boyd, Arnseth, and Ross 1991, Boyd and Banks 1995; Banks 1999). The Vail Lake complex includes about 16 populations, the majority with five or fewer individuals for a cumulative total of about 200 individuals (CNDDB 1998, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). This population complex is the largest known concentration of B. nevinii in the United States (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). Most of these populations are on private lands, although a few individuals occur on Bureau of Land Management lands north of Vail Lake and in the Cleveland National Forest southeast of Vail Lake. A lone individual has been reported from a rocky outcrop in a residential area in the city of Riverside (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). The Aguanga location is historic (dated 1927) and the mapped location is considered suspect due to a very low estimate of precision. The other disjunct location is mapped in Temecula; the Temecula location should be verified (CNDDB).

Biology

Genetics: The genus Berberis includes two distinct subgenera: Mahonia and Berberis. Mahonia is recognized by some authors (e.g., Abrams 1934) as a separate genus. The subgenera Berberis and Mahonia are separated based on characters such as spineless/spiny stems, compound/simple leaves and susceptibility to black stem-rust of wheat (Puccinia graminis). Nevin's barberry is traditionally included in the subgenus Mahonia. Mahonia, although recognized in horticultural works as a distinct genus, is seldom recognized by botanists (Whittemore 1997).

Reproduction: The racemes of yellow flowers bloom from March through April (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). Seed production for Nevin's barberry is sporadic and fertility has been observed to be low (Boyd 1987). In cultivation studies, the reproductive success rate is observed to be low (Mistretta 1989). Nevin's barberry is able to stump sprout following a wildfire (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998) but vegetative propagation has not been successful in cultivation (Mistretta 1989).

Dispersal: The juicy berries are yellow to red (Munz 1974; Whittemore 1997; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). The seeds may be dispersed by animals: various birds have been observed eating the berries (Wolf 1940).

Demography: This rhizomatous evergreen shrub species reaches heights of one to four meters (Whittemore 1997) and is believed to have a life span of more than 50 years (Mistretta 1989). This species is susceptible to infection by the fungus Puccinia graminis (Whittemore 1997).

Threats to Species

Nevin's barberry is threatened by urban development, competition by annual grasses, off-road vehicle activity, emergency flood control activities (vegetation stripping), alteration of natural fire regime, fire fighting and control activities (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998).

Special Biological Considerations

As with chaparral species in general, fire frequency is an important factor to species persistence. Infrequent burns with the accompanying buildup of high fuel loads in chaparral communities results in unnaturally hot fires that may kill plants and destroy the seed banks of some species. A too frequent occurrence of fires can burn young or resprouting shrubs before they become reproductively mature, thus depleting or exhausting the seed bank (Zedler, Gautier, and McMaster 1983). Nevin's barberry is a stump-sprouter after wildfires but the effects of an altered fire regime on this species are unknown (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998).

LITERATURE CITED

Banks, D.L. 1999. A vascular flora of the agua Tibia Mountains, Southern California. Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden Special Publications No. 4. 109 pp.

Boyd, S.D. 1987. Habitat Parameters of Mahonia nevinii (Gray) Fedde (Berberidaceae). Technical Report No. 3. Claremont, CA: Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. 79 pp.

Boyd, S.D., L.E. Arnseth, and T.S. Ross. 1989. Botanical Assessment of Bedford Properties Holdings Surrounding Vail Lake, Pauba Valley, Western Riverside County, California (Technical Appendix A). In Nelson, S.G., Boyd, S.D., Arnseth, L.E., and Ross, T.S. Biological Assessment of Bedford Properties Holdings Surrounding Vail Lake, Pauba Valley, Western Riverside County, California. Unpublished report submitted to Riverside County Board of Supervisors and Riverside County Planning Department, Riverside California.

Boyd, S.D. and D.L. Banks. 1995. A Botanical Assessment of the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area, Cleveland National Forest. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, California. 78 pp.

Mistretta, O. 1989. Species Management Guide for Mahonia nevinii (Gray) Fedde. Technical Report No. 4. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, California. 80 pp.

Niehaus, T. 1977. Status Report on Berberis nevinii. Unpublished Report. California Native Plant Society, Berkeley. 4 pp.

Whittemore 1997. Flora of North America. Volume 3. Oxford University Press.

ocellated Humboldt lily (Lilium humboldtii ssp. ocellatum)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

ocellated Humboldt lily (Lilium humboldtii ssp. ocellatum)

Status:

State: Species of Special Concern

Federal: None

Forest Service: local viability concern

CNPS: List 4 (RED Code 1-2-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

Ocellated Humboldt lily is designated as a Group 2 species. The known occurrences are concentrated within the Santa Ana and Agua Tibia mountains, primarily within USFS Lands within the Plan Area. Ocellated Humboldt lily is associated with riparian corridors in lower montane coniferous forest and coastal chaparral below 1,691 m (5,500 feet) within the Agua Tibia and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. This species typically occurs on lower stream benches but can also occur on shaded, dry slopes, beneath a dense coniferous canopy and cismontane oak woodland (Boyd and Banks 1995; CNPS 2001).

Most populations are concentrated in the Santa Ana Mountains or along the north slope of the Palomar Mountains (Reveal and Hardham 1989; Boyd and Banks 1995; Boyd et al. 1995; Banks 1999). The Forest Service Assessment states that occurrences of this plant are found on all four southern California National Forests. Plants in the Cleveland and San Bernardino Forests are found in low-elevation riparian areas and seeps of chaparral canyons.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 7,700 acres of suitable habitat (woodland/ forest below 1,691 m within the Santa Ana Mountains and Agua Tibia Mountains Bioregions).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least four of the known locations at Arroyo Seco Canyon in the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area and Fisherman's Camp in Tenaja Canyon and the historic occurrences known from Castro Canyon, Horsethief Canyon, Elsinore Mountains; and Corona between Tin Mine Canyon and Santiago Peak, Skyline Drive populations.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Potential habitat for the ocellated Humboldt lily is restricted to oak woodlands at elevations below 1,691 m within the Santa Ana and Agua Tibia Mountains within western Riverside County. Within this analysis, oak woodlands was categorized as woodlands and forests. Based on this habitat, this elevation range, and these Bioregions the Plan Area supports approximately 11,520 acres of potential habitat for ocellated Humboldt lily. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for ocellated Humboldt lily. Overall, approximately 7,700 acres (67 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the Criteria Area or are within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.

About 3,820 acres of potential habitat for the ocellated Humboldt lily will be outside the Criteria Area and existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands or about 33 percent of the total potential habitat. Of this, approximately 3,250 acres (28 percent of total potential habitat) will be in Rural Mountainous designation areas.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
OCELLATED HUMBOLDT LILY

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Montane Coniferous Forest (below 1,690 m)	100	– –	100	100	– –	– –	– –
Woodlands and forests (below 1,690 m)	11,420	1,070	6,530	7,600	3,250	570	3,820
TOTAL	11,520	1,070 (9%)	6,630 (58%)	7,700 (67%)	3,250 (28%)	570 (5%)	3,820 (33%)
¹ Vegetation includes the vegetation within the Santa Ana 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 ocellated Humboldt lily, at least 6,912 acres (60 percent) of the species potential habitat will be conserved. Approximately 67 percent of potential habitat is within the MSHCP Conservation Area including 9 percent within the Criteria Area and 58 percent within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, mostly USFS lands; therefore, approximately 58 percent of the potential habitat for ocellated Humboldt lily within USFS lands shall be conserved and managed for the species. A total of 100 percent of the potential habitat for ocellated Humboldt lily within USFS lands must be conserved and managed for the species. It is assumed that the USFS lands contained within Wilderness Areas or Roadless Areas that do not include Range Allotments will be compatible with the conservation of this species. Within the 6,630 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 1,240 acres (11 percent) of potential habitat are designated as Wilderness Area and 2,458 acres (22 percent) are designated as Roadless Areas that do not include Range Allotments. Therefore, the remaining 2,638 acres (23 percent) of USFS lands must be conserved and managed for ocellated Humboldt lily.

The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens herbarium include three recent mapped occurrences for ocellated Humboldt lily in western Riverside County, dating from 1990, 1993 and 1999, and two historic occurrences dating from 1955 and 1966. The three recent mapped occurrences are located within the MSHCP Conservation Area within the Santa Ana Mountains and the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area. The California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) does not contain any mapped localities for this species in the Plan Area.

The MSHCP analysis indicates that this species 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 additional populations.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

Several large blocks of habitat supporting ocellated Humboldt lily are located within Public/Quasi- Public Land and the MSHCP Conservation Area, including USFS lands within the Santa Ana and Agua Tibia 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 butterflies or hummingbirds are important in the reproductive cycle of this species.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 7,700 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and at least four known localities within large blocks of habitat on USFS lands within the Santa Ana Mountains and the Agua Tibia Mountains in the MSHCP Conservation Area.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 3,820 acres (33 percent) of potential habitat for ocellated Humboldt lily will not be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area. The two historic (1955 and 1966) localities in Horsethief Canyon and near Corona, will be located outside the MSHCP Conservation Area.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the CNDDB, the herbarium at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, the UCR database, and available literature. The CNDDB does not contain any mapped localities for this species in the Plan Area. The UCR database and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens herbarium contain three recent mapped occurrences for ocellated Humboldt lily in Western Riverside County, dating from 1990, 1993 and 1999, and two historic occurrences dating from 1955 and 1966.

Skinner (1988) provides the most comprehensive discussion of pollination ecology, floral evolution and distribution for the species Lilium humboldtii; subspecies-specific information was not analyzed in this study.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

Ocellated Humboldt lily is associated with riparian corridors in lower montane coniferous forest and coastal chaparral below 1,691 m (5,500 feet). This species typically occurs on lower stream benches but can also occur on shaded, dry slopes, beneath a dense coniferous canopy and cismontane oak woodland (Boyd and Banks 1995; CNPS 2001).

Biogeography

Ocellated Humboldt lily occurs in the Counties of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego; and on Santa Rosa Island and Santa Cruz Island (CNPS 2001; Reiser 1996).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Within Western Riverside County, ocellated Humboldt lily is restricted to canyons along the east slope of the Santa Ana Mountains and the north slope of the Palomar Mountains. This species is known to occur in the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area and the Santa Ana Mountains, including Fisherman's Camp in Tenaja Canyon (UCR database, Boyd and Banks 1995, Boyd, et al. 1995, Banks 1999). Historic occurrences are known from Castro Canyon (Boyd and Banks 1995); Horsethief Canyon, Elsinore Mountains; and Corona between Tin Mine Canyon and Santiago Peak, Skyline Drive (UCR database). Core locations of this species have not been identified within the Plan Area.

Biology

Genetics: Ocellated Humboldt lily is the southern subspecies of Lilium humboldtii (L. Humboldtii ssp. humboldtii occurs in the central valley of California) (Skinner 1993). Ocellated Humboldt lily possibly hybridizes with Lilium pardalinum (Jeri Hirschberg, pers. comm. 2000). This possibility is supported by Skinner's (1988) phenogram analysis of floral characteristics, which indicates that ocellated Humboldt lily is more closely related to L. pardalinum than to any other western lily species.

Reproduction: The large, orange, showy flowers of ocellated Humboldt lily are marked with brownish or maroon spots and bloom from April through July (Boyd and Banks 1995; CNPS 2001). The ocellated Humboldt lily flower has reflexed petals and sepals; this blossom shape is termed large turk's-cap (Skinner 1988).

An analysis of the breeding system indicates that ocellated Humboldt lily is primarily functionally self-incompatible. Some self-compatibility is apparent and limited self-pollination may be possible in the absence of pollinators. The unscented flowers open in the late afternoon and evening and anthesis is usually completed in two to three hours. Flowers are then in the staminate phase the following morning to coincide with the feeding time of the butterfly pollinators. The gradual curvature of the stigma over time results in it joining the circle formed by the six anthers by day two or three. Thus, this species has a relatively well-developed physical mechanism to prevent the deposition of self pollen on the stigma (Skinner 1988).

The flowers remain open for 6 to 11 days and are primarily pollinated by large papilionide butterflies which cling to the dangling style and stamens while harvesting nectar from the six small tubes formed by the inrolled sepal margins. The nectar tubes of ocellated Humboldt lily are 20.0 mm long and are believed to have evolved in response to the proboscis length of the major swallowtail butterfly pollinators: Papilio rutulus (19.8 mm) and P. eurymedon (20.8 mm). P. zelicaon, another swallowtail and Danaus plexippus, the monarch butterfly, are also important pollinators of this lily species. In the absence of butterfly pollinators, several species of hummingbirds have been observed to be frequent visitors but poor pollinators: the feeding angle of the hummingbirds precludes extensive contact with the reproductive structures. In years of low or no large butterfly visitation, populations of humboldt lily have demonstrated a significantly lower seed set (Skinner 1988).

Dispersal: The three capsules of the ovary split open upon maturity. The capsules are approximately 35 mm long and 23 mm wide. Each ovary contains numerous (140 to 160) seeds. This species has the heaviest seeds of the western lilies (Skinner 1988) and no seed dispersal mechanism is known.

Demography: This herbaceous perennial is comprised of a rhizomatous bulb and (usually) a single stem with one to many nodding flowers borne at the top of the stem (Munz 1974). Ocellated Humboldt lily grows to a height of four meters (Boyd and Banks 1995).

Threats to Species

Ocellated Humboldt lily is threatened primarily by collection by recreational hikers (Boyd and Banks 1995), but is also threatened by habitat loss and urban development (CNPS 2001). Threats to this species will be addressed through Forest Service management measures.

Special Biological Considerations

Within the Plan Area, this species appears to be restricted to stream banks and benches at the edges of stream channels (Steve Boyd, pers. comm.).

LITERATURE CITED

Banks, D.L. 1999. A vascular flora of the Agua Tibia Mountains, Southern California. Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden 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.

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 14:109-139.

Reiser, C. H. 1996. Rare Plants of San Diego County. Aquafir Press, Imperial Beach, CA.

Skinner, M. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Skinner M. and B. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

Orcutt's brodiaea (Brodiaea orcuttii)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Orcutt's brodiaea (Brodiaea orcuttii)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 1-3-2)

Forest Service: Sensitive species

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

Orcutt's brodiaea is designated as a Group 3 species because of its limited geographic distribution and specialized habitat requirements and management requirements for hydrology. Within the Plan Area, this species is restricted to ephemeral wetlands on the Santa Rosa Plateau, at Miller Mountain within the San Mateo Wilderness Area and along the San Jacinto River south of Perris. The Miller Mountain population of Orcutt's brodiaea occurs with thread-leaved brodiaea at this location.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area one occurrence at Miller Mountain within the San Mateo Wilderness Area; a complex of about five occurrences on the Mesa de Burro, Mesa de Colorado, and Mesa de la Punta on the Santa Rosa Plateau within the Santa Rosa Plateau Preserve; and one occurrence along the San Jacinto River.

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the watershed of the vernal pool complexes at the Santa Rosa Plateau, at Miller Mountain and along the San Jacinto River in order to maintain hydrologic conditions.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

There is no acreage coverage for vernal pools within the Santa Rosa Plateau or the San Mateo Wilderness Area. Three populations are known to occur within the Plan Area and both lie within Public/Quasi-Public Lands. Only one Core Area is known to occur within the Plan Area. The single, Core Area and associated watershed are conserved within the Santa Rosa Plateau Nature Conservancy Preserve. The population located partially within the San Mateo Wilderness Area occurs with thread-leaved brodiaea. The record along the San Jacinto River will be conserved.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

The Core Area of Orcutt's brodiaea will be conserved, as will the occurrence along the San Jacinto River. The configuration of Public/Quasi-Public Lands provides for conservation of the Core Area and the associated watersheds, although local densities are expected to fluctuate due to the dependence of this species on local hydrology and ephemeral inundation.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of suitable Conserved Habitat and three known localities (including watershed) within the MSHCP Conservation Area.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Two records from 1960, located in the vicinity of Murrieta Hot Springs and west of the Santa Rosa Plateau, will not be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), herbarium specimens at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens and UCR and available literature. The CNDDB includes six occurrences for Riverside County. The UCR database and the herbaria have four records.

Literature sources specifically regarding Orcutt's brodiaea are sparse. However, several studies have been published regarding the genus Brodiaea as a whole. Most literature focuses on systematic relationships. Niehaus (1971) supplies the most comprehensive discussion regarding Brodiaea systematics, reproduction, and ecology.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

Orcutt's brodiaea occurs in clay soils in mesic native grasslands often associating with vernal pools. This plant is also known to occur in moist meadows and along stream courses at higher elevations (Keator 1993; Reiser 1996).

Biogeography

Orcutt's brodiaea is distributed from southwestern Riverside County south through coastal and interior San Diego County into northwestern Baja California from sea level to 1,600 m elevation (Keator 1993; Munz 1974; Reiser 1996).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

This species is known from three general locations in western Riverside County. One population barely enters Riverside County at Miller Mountain within the San Mateo Wilderness Area (Boyd, et al. 1992 and 1995). This population occurs with thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia). A complex of about five populations, representing the largest area of occupied habitat and the largest number of individuals in Riverside County, is found on the Mesa de Burro, Mesa de Colorado, and Mesa de la Punta on the Santa Rosa Plateau (CNDDB 1998). The populations on the Santa Rosa Plateau Preserve and are considered the core location. There is also a record of Orcutt's brodiaea along the San Jacinto River south of Perris (CNDDB 2000). Two records from 1960 in the vicinity of Murrieta Hot Springs and west of the Santa Rosa Plateau should be verified.

According to Banks (1999) there is also a record of this species in the Agua Tibia Mountains just south of the Riverside County line. Therefore, this species could potentially occur in the Agua Tibia Mountains within Riverside County (Steve Boyd, pers. comm.)

Biology

Systematics: Orcutt's brodiaea is one of 13 species of the genus Brodiaea, a genus largely restricted to California (Keator 1993). Brodiaea is variously assigned to the family Liliaceae, or the segregate families Alliaceae or Themidaceae (Dahlgren, et al. 1985; Keator 1993; Fay and Chase 1996). Orcutt's brodiaea belongs to the subgenus Filifoliae, a small group of three species (Niehaus 1971). Its closest relative is thread-leaved brodiaea, a species Orcutt''s brodiaea occurs sympatrically with in several locations. This species is known to hybridize with thread-leaved brodiaea (CNPS 2001; Recovery Workshop Seminar 1995). The mitotic chromosome number of Orcutt's brodiaea is n=12 (Niehaus 1971).

Reproduction: Unlike many species of Brodiaea, members of the subgenus Filifoliae do not reproduce vegetatively and rely on seed germination (Niehaus 1971). Orcutt's brodiaea blooms from May through July (CNPS 2001). The bell-shaped flowers are violet in color (Munz 1974). Brodiaea are self-incompatible and pollination between individuals must take place in order to produce seed (Niehaus 1971). Niehaus (1971) found that a broad spectrum of insects visit Brodiaea flowers but only tumbling flower beetles (Mordellidae) and sweat bees (Helictidae) were found to transport pollen between flowers. On the Santa Rosa Plateau, Gary Bell found that native bees were faithful to specific brodiaea species but the European honeybee was not (G. Bell, the Nature Conservancy, pers. comm. 1997, as cited in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998; S. Moray, California Department of Fish and Game Endangered Plant Program, in litt., 1995). Sexual reproduction may occur in “pulses” when the dominant cover of European annuals is reduced as a result of fire suppression (S. Moray, in litt., 1995).

Dispersal: Upon maturity, the ovaries three lobes split, revealing many tiny black seeds. The seeds are then dispersed as wind rattles the capsules, shaking them free (Smith 1997).

Demography: The annual growth cycle of this species begins with the above-ground appearance of a few grass-like leaves from each corm. The corms function similarly to bulbs in storing water and nutrients during the dormant season (Smith 1997). Individuals of this genus require several years to mature and frequently only a fraction of the mature individuals flower in a given year: a thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia) field study at the Santa Rosa Plateau Preserve revealed an 8:1 ratio of non-flowering corms to flowering plants and it is estimated that the number of flowering plants may vary up to tenfold from wet to dry years (Recovery Workshop Summary 1995). Fire suppression where there is a dominant cover of European annuals may result in limited sexual reproduction (Recovery Workshop Summary 1995). An experimental burn study conducted by Cox and Austin (1990) at San Diego vernal pools indicates that Orcutt''s brodiaea responds well to periodic fires: in burned vernal pools Orcutt's brodiaea showed population increases when compared to control sites.

Threats to Species

This species is declining due to urban development, agricultural conversion, road construction and alteration of vernal pool watershed hydrology. In Riverside County, no immediate threats to this species have been identified. This species is threatened by competition from non-native plant taxa in areas where soil disturbance favors European species of plants.

Special Biological Considerations

Orcutt's brodiaea is a geophyte (originating from a corm) and as a result can only be detected in late winter and spring when fresh foliage is above ground, or late spring and early summer when in flower. The total number of individuals within a population is difficult to estimate. The size and extent of populations of brodiaea within suitable habitat also vary in response to the timing and amount of rainfall, as well as temperature patterns. Typically, in any given year, only a fraction of the plants will develop to maturity. This species is known to hybridize with thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia) (CNPS 2001; Recovery Workshop Seminar 1995). Fire suppression where there is a dominant cover of European annuals may result in limited sexual reproduction (Recovery Workshop Summary 1995).

LITERATURE CITED

Banks, D.L. 1999. A vascular flora of the Agua Tibia Mountains, Southern California. Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden Special Publications No. 4, 109 pp.

Boyd, S. T. Ross, O. Mistretta, and D. Bramlet 1992. A botanical assessment of the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness Area, Cleveland National Forest, California. Unpubl. report prepared by the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden, Claremont, California.

Boyd, S. T. Ross, O. Mistretta, and D. Bramlet 1995. Vascular Flora of the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness Area, Cleveland National Forest, California. Aliso 14:109:139.

California Natural Diversity Database. 2000. Brodiaea orcuttii. Unpublished Report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.

Cox, G. and J. Austin. 1990. Impacts of a Prescribed Burn on Vernal Pool Vegetation at Miramar Naval Air Station, San Diego, California. Bulletin of Southern California Academy of Sciences 89(2): 67-85.

Dahlgren, R.M.T., et al. 1985. The Families of the Monocotyledons. Springer-Verlag Press, New York.

Fay, M.F. and M.W. Chase 1996. The Resurrection of Themidaceae. Taxon 45:441-451.

Keator, G. 1993. Brodiaea 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.

Niehaus, T.F. 1971. A Biosystematic Study of the Genus Brodiaea (Amaryllidaceae). University of California Press, Los Angeles, London.

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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

Smith, N. 1997. Growing Natives, Brodiaeas–Part 1. Fremontia 25(4):28-30.

Palmer's grapplinghook (Harpagonella palmeri)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Palmer's grapplinghook (Harpagonella palmeri)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 4 (RED Code 1-2-1)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

Palmer's grapplinghook is designated as a Group 2 species because it is known from several Core Areas and is restricted to particular soils series within the Plan Area. Although the species has a scattered distribution, locations appear to be concentrated in the western portion of the Plan Area. Palmer's grapplinghook is associated with clay and cobbly clay soils in chaparral, coastal sage scrub, valley and foothill grasslands (Reiser 2001), and scrub oak woodland (CNDDB) below 1500 feet (500 m). Within the Plan Area, populations are known from the Riverside Lowlands, San Jacinto Foothill, and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 90,490 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and grassland below 500 m in the Riverside Lowlands, Santa Ana Mountains and San Jacinto Foothills Bioregions) in the Plan Area, including 2,130 acres of clay soils: 190 acres of Altamont, 350 acres of Auld, 570 acres of Bosanko, 100 acres of Claypit soils and 920 acres of Porterville soils.

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 24 of the known occurrences of this species at Temescal Wash, Alberhill, Lake Elsinore, Antelope Valley, Bachelor Mountain, Vail Lake, Lake Mathews, Harford Springs Park, Cleveland National Forest, Skunk Hollow, Lake Skinner and Vail Lake.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Potential habitat for Palmer's grapplinghook consists of open chaparral, sage scrub and grasslands below 550 m the Riverside Lowlands, San Jacinto Foothills, and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. Based on this assumption, the Plan Area supports approximately 221,790 acres of potential habitat for Palmer's grapplinghook. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for Palmer's grapplinghook. Overall, approximately 90,490 (41 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.

As stated above, Palmer's grapplinghook is found on clay and cobbly clay soils which, within the Plan Area, include the following series: Altamont, Auld, Bosanko, Claypit, and Porterville. Table 2 shows the acreage of Altamont, Auld, Bosanko, Claypit, and Porterville soils found within the proposed Criteria Area, on Public/Quasi-Public land, on Rural/Mountainous Lands, and outside of the proposed MSHCP Conservation Area which occur coincident with chaparral, coastal sage scrub and grassland. Approximately 2,130 acres (37 percent) of these soils will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
PALMER'S GRAPPLINGHOOK

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Grassland (below 1,165 m)	52,100	12,970	16,680	29,650	10,880	11,570	22,450
Coastal Sage Scrub (below 1,165 m)	80,550	21,130	15,770	36,900	11,830	31,820	43,650
Chaparral (below 1,165 m)	89,140	9,940	14,000	23,940	3,300	61,900	65,200
TOTAL	221,790	44,040 (20%)	46,450 (21%)	90,490 (41%)	26,010 (12%)	105,290 (47%)	131,300 (59%)
¹ Vegetation includes vegetation in 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.

TABLE 2
SUMMARY OF SOIL CONSERVATION
PALMER'S GRAPPLINGHOOK

Soil Type	MSHCP Plan Area¹ (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Soil Type	MSHCP 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	0	190	0	340	340
Auld	1,110	150	200	350	10	750	760
Bosanko	1,370	180	390	570	0	800	800
Claypit	220	90	10	100	0	120	120
Porterville	2,530	90	830	920	50	1,560	1,610
TOTAL	5,760	700 (12%)	1,430 (25%)	2,130 (37%)	60 (1%)	3,570 (62%)	3,630 (63%)
¹ Within the Riverside Lowlands, San Jacinto Foothills, and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions, excluding clay series soils underlying unsuitable habitat (e.g., disturbed/developed lands, riparian, 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 herbaria at UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens contain 84 records of Palmer's grapplinghook within the Plan Area. Of the 84 records, 58 will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area at the following locations: Temescal Canyon, Alberhill, Alberhill Creek, French Valley, Gavilan Hills, Antelope Valley, Bachelor Mountain, Lake Mathews, Harford Springs Park, Cleveland National Forest, west of Skunk Hollow, Lake Skinner, and Vail Lake.

The California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) does not currently contain mapped locations for this species.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

Approximately 58 of the 84 occurrences which occur in the Criteria Area or on Public/Quasi-Public Lands will be included in large areas of contiguous habitat (i.e., Vail Lake, Lake Matthews, Lake Skinner, Antelope Valley, Temescal Canyon, and the Cleveland National Forest). Included in these areas is additional suitable but unoccupied habitat and surrounding habitat necessary to support pollinators and dispersal agents. In addition, of the 19 previous CNDDB locations 13 are located within the Criteria Area or on Public/Quasi-Public Lands.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 90,490 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and 58 occurrences at 13 localities within large blocks of habitat (Vail Lake, Lake Matthews, Lake Skinner, Antelope Valley, Temescal Canyon, and the Cleveland National Forest) in the MSHCP Conservation Area.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 131,300 acres of potential habitat for Palmer's grapplinghook will not be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area. Of the 84 occurrences in the UCR database and the herbarium records, 28 will not be conserved, including occurrences in the vicinity of Alberhill, Hemet Lake, Paloma Valley, Murrietta Hot Springs, Gavilan Plateau, El Cerrito, Santa Ana Mountains, Lake Elsinore, Temescal Canyon, Gavilan Hills, and Vail Lake.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the CNDDB, UCR database, herbaria at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, and available literature. Previous CNDDB records indicated 19 occurrences for this species; however, the species has been down-listed from a List 2 species (plants rare and endangered in California but more common elsewhere) to List 4 (plants of limited distribution), which are not typically tracked. As such, there are currently no records for Palmer's grapplinghook in the CNDDB database. The UCR database and the two herbaria contain 84 occurrences. The UCR database and old CNDDB database occurrences overlapped in several locations (e.g., Vail Lake, Alberhill, Skunk Hollow, Lake Skinner, Temescal Wash). NRC (2000) also noted an additional occurrence at Alberhill.

Species-specific studies on Palmer's grapplinghook 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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

Palmer's grapplinghook is associated with clay and cobbly clay soils in open coastal sage scrub, chaparral, valley and foothill grasslands (Reiser 2001), and scrub oak woodland (CNDDB 2001) below 3,500 feet (Munz 1974). At one location (near Dorland Mountain) this species occurs on highly weathered gabbro soils (Boyd and Banks 1995).

Biogeography

Palmer's grapplinghook occurs in the cismontane region of Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Diego County, Santa Catalina Island, Arizona and Baja California, Mexico.

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

In Western Riverside County, this species is known to occur at Elsinore Peak, Gavilan Plateau, northwest base of Gavilan Peak, Lake Skinner, Vail Lake, on the mesa west of Skunk Hollow, south side of Bachelor Mountain near Lake Skinner, Harford Springs Park, in Temescal Canyon on the south side of Alberhill Mountain, Alberhill, Alberhill Creek, Antelope Valley, French Valley, Temescal Canyon, Paloma Valley, Hemet Lake (Hemet Valley), El Cerrito, Santa Ana Mountains, Lake Elsinore, North Peak, Winchester and Borel Roads, Indian Truck Trail, south-facing slope of Oak Mountain near Vail Lake, Temecula Canyon Wash, and at the Kolb Creek/Pechanga Creek Divide near Dorland Mountain (UCR database; Boyd, et al. 1995, Banks 1999, CNDDB 2002; Reiser 2001). Core locations of this species have not been identified with the plan area; however, clusters of occurrences are found in the vicinity of Vail Lake, Lake Skinner, and along Temescal Canyon.

Biology

Genetics: Harpagonella is a monotypic genus belonging to the Boraginaceae (Munz 1974). Harpagonella can be differentiated from Pectocarya by the growth of the calyx to form a bur-like structure around one of the two developing nutlets (Boyd and Banks 1995). This species has a haploid number of 12 (Messick 1993).

Reproduction: The flowers of this species are minute (2 mm long) and white and bloom from March through April (Munz 1974; CNPS 2001). As the fruit matures, the calyx expands to form a bur-like structure around one of the two developing nutlets (Boyd and Banks 1995).

Dispersal: Palmer's grapplinghook has a bur-like structure attached to the fruit which enables this species to be dispersed by animals (Boyd and Banks 1995).

Demography: This annual herb has a loosely-spreading prostrate habit. The disarticulating stems range in height from 3 to 30 cm (Messick 1993).

Threats to Species

This species is threatened by urban development and agriculture conversion (Reiser 2001). Clay mining, fire-suppression activities (discing), grazing, and competition with invasive non-natives also adversely affect Palmer's grapplinghook (CNDDB 2001).

Special Biological Considerations

This species is associated with heavy clay and cobbly clay soils. As an inconspicuous species, it can be easily overlooked during surveys (CNPS 2001). In Riverside County it is commonly associated with Munz's onion (Allium munzii), many-stemmed dudleya (Dudleya multicaulis) and occasionally with Nevin's barberry (Berberis nevinii) (CNDDB 2001).

LITERATURE CITED

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.

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 14:109-139.

California Native Plant Society (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. vi + 392 pp.

California Natural Diversity Database. 2001. Harpagonella palmeri. Unpublished Report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.

Messick, T. 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.

Reiser, C. H. 2001. 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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

Palomar monkeyflower (Mimulus diffusus)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Palomar monkeyflower (Mimulus diffusus)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: None

CNPS: List 4 (R-E-D Code 1-1-1)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

Palomar monkeyflower is designated as a Group 2 species because although this species has a fairly scattered distribution (San Jacinto Mountains along Highways 74 and 243, the vicinity of Sage, the Santa Rosa Plateau, French Valley north of Lake Skinner and east of Lake Skinner), the known occurrences are concentrated within the Santa Ana, Agua Tibia and San Jacinto Mountains, primarily within USFS Lands. Within the Plan Area, Palomar monkeyflower is restricted to chaparral and montane coniferous forest at elevations between 1,500 m to 2,000 m.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 23,800 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral and montane coniferous forest between 1,500 and 2,000 m within the Agua Tibia, San Jacinto and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 18 of the known locations on the Santa Rosa Plateau; in the vicinity of Sage; French Valley; east of Lake Skinner; and in the San Jacinto, Agua Tibia and Santa Ana Mountains.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Habitat for Palomar monkeyflower occurs on sandy soil in chaparral and yellow pine forest, sandy washes and in disturbed areas near roads and trails in the Santa Ana, Agua Tibia and San Jacinto mountains at higher elevations (1,500 m to 2,000 m).

Potential habitat for Palomar monkeyflower includes chaparral, yellow pine forest, sandy washes and disturbed areas near roads and trails within the Agua Tibia, San Jacinto, and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions of Western Riverside County. Within this analysis, yellow pine forest was categorized by montane coniferous forest and sandy washes and disturbed areas near roads and trails were not included within potential habitat acreages. Based on these habitats, this elevation range and Bioregions, the Plan Area supports approximately 32,740 acres of potential habitat for Palomar monkeyflower. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for Palomar monkeyflower. Overall, approximately 23,800 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.

The majority of the potential habitat for Palomar monkeyflower (73 percent) is located within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, which is within USFS lands including the San Bernardino and Cleveland National Forest. In order to conserve Palomar monkeyflower, at least 19,644 acres (60 percent) of the species potential habitat should be conserved for that species within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands and within the Criteria Area. None of the potential habitat exists within the Criteria Area; therefore, approximately 23,800 acres (73 percent) of the potential habitat for Palomar monkeyflower within USFS lands should be conserved for the species.

Within the 23,800 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 35,403 acres (14 percent) of potential habitat is designated as Wilderness Area and 30,363 acres (12 percent) is designated as Roadless Areas that do not include Range Allotments.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
PALOMAR MONKEYFLOWER

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Chaparral	17,150	– –	14,460	14,460	– –	2,690	2,690
Montane coniferous forest	15,590	– –	9,340	9,340	– –	6,250	6,250
TOTAL	32,740	0	23,800 73%)	23,800 (73%)	0	8,940 (27%)	8,940 (27%)
¹ Vegetation includes the vegetation within the Agua Tibia, San Jacinto, and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions only. ² Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area.

The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens herbarium contain 29 records at 26 localities for this species within the Plan Area. No information was available from the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). Of the UCR database and herbarium records, 18 of the mapped locations will be conserved at the following locations: on the Santa Rosa Plateau; in the vicinity of Sage; French Valley; east of Lake Skinner; and in the San Jacinto, Agua Tibia and Santa Ana mountains.

The MSHCP assessment indicates that Palomar monkeyflower 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 Palomar monkeyflower.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

Several large blocks of habitat supporting Palomar monkeyflower are located within Public/Quasi-Public Land and the Criteria Area, including the Agua Tibia, San Jacinto 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.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 23,800 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and 18 known localities within large blocks of habitat (on the Santa Rosa Plateau; in the vicinity of Sage; French Valley; east of Lake Skinner; and in the San Jacinto, Agua Tibia and Santa Ana mountains) in the MSHCP Conservation Area.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 8,940 acres of (27 percent) the potential habitat for Palomar monkeyflower will not be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area. Of the 26 known locations (29 occurrences),11 of the mapped locations (six locations in the San Jacinto Mountains, one location in the Santa Ana Mountains, and four locations in the vicinity of Sage) are located outside of the MSHCP Conservation Area.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the CNDDB, UCR database, the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens herbarium and available literature. No information was available from the CNDDB. The UCR database and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens herbarium contain 29 records for this species within the Plan Area, primarily in the San Jacinto, Santa Ana and Agua Tibia mountains..

Species-specific studies for Palomar monkeyflower have not been located or reviewed. Taxonomic sources provide the primary literature sources for this species.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

Palomar monkeyflower is a foothill and mountain species. It grows in sandy soil in chaparral and yellow pine forest (Munz 1974; Thompson 1993), and may be found in sandy washes and disturbed areas near roads and trails (Thompson 1993).

Biogeography

Mountains of southern California and extreme northern Baja California, Mexico generally from 1,500 m to 2,000 m (Grant 1924; Munz 1974), although it occurs as low as 400 m on the north slope of the Agua Tibia Mountains in southern Riverside County. In the United States it is found from the Santa Ana and San Jacinto Mountains of Orange and Riverside County south through the Peninsular Ranges of San Diego County to the Mexican border. In Baja California, this species is restricted to the Sierra Juarez Mountains (Reiser 1996).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Palomar monkeyflower is highly restricted in Riverside County and known only from higher elevations of the Santa Ana Mountains (Boyd, et al. 1992, Boyd et al. 1995), the Agua Tibia Mountains (Boyd and Banks 1995, Banks 1999) and the San Jacinto Mountains. The UCR database has 26 mapped locations (29 occurrences): 10 (13 occurrences) in the San Jacinto Mountains along Highways 74 and 243; five in the vicinity of Sage; five in the Santa Ana Mountains; three in the Agua Tibia Mountains and one in each of the following locations: French Valley north of Lake Skinner, the Santa Rosa Plateau, and east of Lake Skinner. No core locations have been identified for this species within the Plan Area.

Biology

Genetics: Palomar monkeyflower is one of over 100 species in the genus Mimulus which belongs to the family Scrophulariaceae. Thompson (1993) treated this species as a synonym under an expanded concept of Mimulus palmeri. This species intergrades with M. montioides (Thompson 1993).

Reproduction: Palomar monkeyflower has showy yellow and purple flowers that bloom in the spring from April to June (CNPS 2001). The many-seeded, ovoid fruits are 3.5 to 9 mm in length (Thompson 1993). No information regarding pollination was reviewed for this species.

Dispersal: Information regarding dispersal of this species was not reviewed.

Demography: This species is an annual herb that grows to a maximum height of 28 cm (Thompson 1993).

Threats to Species

Populations along trails are susceptible to trampling and trail maintenance activities (Boyd and Banks 1995).

Special Biological Considerations

This species prefers open situations with minimal presence of exotic grasses or forbs (Steve Boyd, pers. comm.).

LITERATURE CITED

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.

Boyd, S. T. Ross, O. Mistretta, and D. Bramlet 1992. A Botanical Assessment of the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness Area, Cleveland National Forest, California. Unpubl. report Prepared by the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden, Claremont, California.

Boyd, S. T. Ross, O. Mistretta, and D. Bramlet 1995. Vascular Flora of the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness Area, Cleveland National Forest, California. Aliso 14:109-139.

Grant, A.L. 1924. A Monograph of the Genus Mimulus. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 11:254.

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.

Skinner M.W., B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5^th 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.

Parish's brittlescale ( Atriplex parishii)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Parish's brittlescale ( Atriplex parishii)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 1B (Red Code: 3-3-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

Parish's brittlescale 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 Salt Creek in association with Willows, Domino and Traver soils. Parish's brittlescale occurs as three populations within the upper Salt Creek area west of Hemet. Although no current populations are known from the lower and middle segments of the San Jacinto River, or Mystic Lake and the San Jacinto Wildlife Areas, these areas support suitable habitat and historical localities imply that these areas may also be key to the species survival. Records of this species are also known from Winchester Valley. The status of this locality is uncertain, however.

This is a species on the Additional Survey Needs and Procedures (Section 6.3.2) list and surveys for Parish's brittlescale 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). Parish's brittlescale located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2, MSHCP, Volume 1.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the three known populations of the Parish's brittlescale in the upper Salt Creek drainage west of Hemet.

Objective 3

Surveys for the Parish's brittlescale 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 1). Parish's brittlescale 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.

Objective 4

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.

Objective 5

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Suitable habitat for Parish's brittlescale 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 Parish's brittlescale. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for the Parish's brittlescale. 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 Parish's brittlescale.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
PARISH'S BRITTLESCALE

Vegetation Type	MSHCP Plan Area¹ (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type	MSHCP 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)
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, Parish's brittlescale 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
PARISH'S BRITTLESCALE

Soil Type	MSHCP Plan Area¹ (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Soil Type	MSHCP 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.

Approximately 6,900 acres of potential habitat will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. The known core location at Salt Creek west of Hemet will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. The San Jacinto River locality, although not believed to be extant, will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

All of the core locations of Parish's brittlescale will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing 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. However, local densities are expected to fluctuate due to the dependence of this species on floodplain hydrology and flooding.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 6,900 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and the core locality at Salt Creek and potential habitat along the San Jacinto River 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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 1,370 acres (17 percent) of potential habitat for Parish's brittlescale will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. The Winchester Valley locality, if still extant, will not be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the UCR database; the CNDDB; the herbarium specimens at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, UCR, Pomona and the San Diego Natural History Museum; and available literature.

The CNDDB includes three occurrences for this species in the Plan Area associated with Salt Creek west of Hemet and the San Jacinto River near the San Jacinto Wildlife Area (1974). The UCR database and herbarium specimens include 14 records at three locations: Salt Creek west of Hemet, Winchester Valley, and along the San Jacinto River within the San Jacinto Wildlife Area. Two are mapped in the vicinity of Homeland but apply to Salt Creek farther to the southeast. One occurrence mapped in downtown Hemet probably represents the Salt Creek location farther to the west.

Very little literature is available regarding Parish's brittlescale. What is available focuses on systematics.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

Parish's brittlescale is found in alkaline habitats. In western Riverside County it is found primarily along the San Jacinto River and at Salt Creek within 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 Parish's brittlescale is associated with sea blite (Suaeda moquinii), 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). Parish's brittlescale is associated with other rare species, including San Jacinto Valley crownscale, Davidson's saltscale, spreading navarretia, vernal barley, smooth tarplant, and thread-leaved brodiaea (Bramlet 1993b; Ogden 1996).

Biogeography

Parish's brittlescale is currently known only from the western Riverside County (CNDDB 2000; Ogden 1996). Historically, Parish's brittlescale was distributed sporadically in cismontane southern California from the Los Angeles Basin (Los Angeles and Orange Counties), and Riverside County (Munz 1974; Taylor and Wilken 1993). Parish's brittlescale also was known to occur at Cushenbury Springs in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County. Another locality has been reported at Vanderwieder Flat immediately east of the Plan Area but the current status of this historic population is unknown (CNDDB 2000). Parish's brittlescale has reported from northwestern Baja California, Mexico by Wiggins (1980) as occurring from Tijuana south to the eastern Sierra Juarez but these reports are unconfirmed.

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Parish's brittlescale is known definitively from only three localities within the Salt Creek drainage west of Hemet (Ogden 1996; CNDDB 2000; Reiser 1996; F. Roberts, botanist, pers. comm., 1999). Appropriate habitat still remains at several historical sites such as on the flood plain along the San Jacinto River (last observed in 1974) (Bramlet 1993; CNDDB 2000).

Other areas this species may be found or relocated include the San Jacinto River between Mystic Lake and Railroad Canyon, additional localities at Salt Creek, isolated patches of alkaline habitat southeast of Mystic Lake (the northwest sector of the City of San Jacinto), Nichols Road, and possibly the lake bed of Lake Elsinore.

Salt Creek west of Hemet and the Winchester Valley support the only recent known populations of this plant. The Salt Creek population is a core location. Although no current populations are known from the lower and middle segments of the San Jacinto River, or Mystic Lake and the San Jacinto Wildlife Areas, these areas support suitable habitat and historical localities imply that these areas may also be key to the species survival. The records at Winchester Valley date from 1996 (UCR GIS database) and the status of this locality is uncertain.

Biology

Genetics: Parish's brittlescale, a member of the Chenopodiaceae, is one of about 250 species of Atriplex distributed around the world. Parish's brittlescale is most closely related to A. subtilis, A. miniscula, and A. depressa of the Central Valley (Stutz and Chu 1997). Much of the literature regarding taxonomy during the century considered Parish's brittlescale a synonym of A.miniscula. However Taylor and Wilken (1993) separated these forms based on differences in stature, leaf, and shape of the bract.

Reproduction: Little literature regarding reproduction was located or reviewed at this time. Parish's brittlescale produces male flowers mostly in the upper leaf axils and female flowers mostly in the lower leaf axils (Munz 1974). Parish's brittlescale usually flowers from June to October (CNPS 2001). The flower is obscure and small. The seeds are about 1.2 mm long (Munz 1974).

Dispersal: No literature regarding dispersal was located or reviewed at this time.

Demography: Parish's brittlescale is a low annual with stems generally less than two decimeters long (Taylor and Wilken 1993).

Threats to Species

Parish's brittlescale is declining throughout its range. Until 1995, this species had not been seen since 1974 and was considered potentially extinct. This species and its habitat are threatened by 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 (Bramlet 1993b; Roberts and McMillan 1997; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998).

Special Biological Considerations

This species is similar to San Jacinto Valley crownscale in that it has a patchy distribution within this habitat and its spatial distribution shifts over time as conditions and seed banks change. Hence, 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. Parish's brittlescale, like San Jacinto Valley crownscale, probably requires seasonal inundation or flooding for habitat rejuvenation and seed dispersal, although the duration and extent of flooding may vary substantially from year-to-year (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). This species is small, easily overlooked, and its habitat is often mistaken for being highly disturbed late in the dry season. Population size varies considerably from year to year depending upon rainfall and local flooding and may not be detectable every year.

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 Parish's brittlescale to recolonize, or reintroduce the species to these areas.

LITERATURE CITED

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. Unpubl. report.

California Natural Diversity Database 2000. Atriplex parishii, 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

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., and B. McMillan 1997. San Jacinto Valley crownscale (Atriplex coronata var. notatior), 1997 status update. Unpubl. report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad Field Office, Carlsbad, California.

Skinner M.W., B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

Stutz, H.C., and G. Chu 1997. Atriplex subtilis (Chenopodiaeae): a new species from south-central California. Madrono 44: 181-188.

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.

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.

Wiggins, I. 1980. Flora of Baja California, Mexico. University of Stanford Press, Stanford, California.

Parish's meadowfoam (Limnanthes gracilis var. parishii)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Parish's meadowfoam (Limnanthes gracilis var. parishii)

Status:

State: Endangered (July 1979)

Federal: None

CNPS: List 1B (R-E-D Code 2-2-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

Parish's meadowfoam is designated as a Group 3 species because of its limited geographic distribution and specialized habitat requirements and management requirements for hydrology. Within the Plan Area, this species is restricted to ephemeral wetlands on the Santa Rosa Plateau.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least one known location on the Santa Rosa Plateau.

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the watershed of the vernal pool complex on the Santa Rosa Plateau in order to maintain hydrologic conditions.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

There is no acreage coverage for vernal pools within the Santa Rosa Plateau. Only one population is known to occur within the Plan Area. No additional occurrences are expected within the Plan Area. The single, core location and associated watershed are conserved within the Santa Rosa Plateau Nature Conservancy Preserve.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

The core location of Parish's meadowfoam will be conserved in Public/Quasi-Public Lands. The configuration of Public/Quasi-Public Lands provides for conservation of the core location and the associated watershed, as well as adjacent uplands sufficient to support appropriate pollinators. However, due to the dependence of this species on local hydrology and ephemeral inundation, local densities are expected to fluctuate.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of suitable Conserved Habitat and the core locality and associated watershed within a large block of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

No known populations of Parish's meadowfoam will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. However, suitable habitat for this species is present outside the MSHCP Conservation Area in ephemeral wetlands and mima mounds in forest glades and mountain areas. The level of potential Take in these areas outside the MSHCP Conservation Area cannot be determined at this time.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, the California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB), the herbaria at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens and UCR and available literature. There are five records for this species within the Plan Area. Four of the records represent the core location on the Santa Rosa Plateau. The fifth record (UCR GIS database) is mapped in Murrieta but likely represents the Santa Rosa Plateau location.

The available literature for Parish's meadowfoam is extremely limited. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (1997) withdrawal of the proposal to list this species as threatened provides the best available summary of the ecology, distribution and anthropogenic threats to the continued survival of this rare endemic to southern California. Bauder (1992) provides additional information concerning biology and management needs, including habitat requirements for long-term survival.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

Parish's meadowfoam is limited to ephemeral wetlands in the mountains of southern California between 600 and 1,700 m (Steve Boyd, pers. comm., CNPS 2001). It occurs on gentle slopes or in swales, in forest glades, among mima mounds and in areas likely to be inundated (Bauder 1992). This species is thought to exist mostly in sandy loam soils with a pH of 6.4 to 7.2 (Gentry 1965); although on the Santa Rosa Plateau, the soils are probably more clayey (Steve Boyd, pers. comm.). Sprowl and Beauchamp (1979) considered California buttercup (Ranunculus californicus) to be a good indicator species for Parish''s meadowfoam (Winter 1991).

Biogeography

This species is endemic to San Diego and Riverside Counties, southern California. Distribution of Parish's meadowfoam is limited to scattered locations in the Cuyamaca and Laguna mountains and on Palomar Mountain, all in San Diego County, and the Santa Rosa Plateau in southwestern Riverside County (Bauder 1992). Fewer than 20 populations of this taxon exist, with the largest population (70 percent of the known individuals) occurring in the Cuyamaca Valley, of the Cuyamaca Mountains on private land managed by the Helix Water District (Roberts 1994).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Parish's meadowfoam has been documented at only one site within western Riverside County, on the Santa Rosa Plateau within the Nature Conservancy Preserve. This is considered the core location within the Plan Area.

Biology

Genetics: This species is a member of the meadowfoam family (Limnanthaceae), a small family of wetland plants occurring primarily along the Pacific coast of North America (Roberts 1993). Parish''s meadowfoam is one of two subspecies of Limnanthes gracilis on the west coast of the United States (Bauder 1992), and the only representative of the genus Limnanthes in southern California. Limnanthes montana is intermediate between the two subspecies of Limnanthes gracilis (varieties parishii and gracilis) in many respects on the basis of numerical taxonomic study (Bauder 1992).

Reproduction: This species is a showy, annual in bloom from April to June that is pollinated by native solitary bees (Andrena and Panurginus) and honeybees (Apis mellifera) (Brown and Jain 1977; Skinner 1995). The restriction of the genus Limnanthes to ephemeral wetlands suggests that there is some threshold period of saturated or inundated soil required for germination and/or seedling establishment (Bauder 1992).

Dispersal: No information is available for this species.

Demography: This annual herb typically has several stems, mostly with widely divaricate branches from base. The stems are one to two dm long and glabrous (Munz 1974).

Threats to Species

Continued development and expansion of recreational facilities within its narrow range are responsible for the majority of new impacts, while historically large populations were assumed lost with the establishment of the Cuyamaca Dam. The major threats to Parish's meadowfoam are habitat loss and excessive disturbance of natural conditions, including alteration of hydrology and removal of pollinators (Winter 1991). Bauder (1992) reported that excessive trampling by unauthorized horseback riding and the discharge of fuels and herbicides into the water table also have impacted this species. Conversely, Limnanthes is generally tolerant of grazing, and moderate trampling is not necessarily destructive and may sometimes be beneficial (Brown and Jain 1977).

Special Biological Considerations

Bauder (1992) suggests that seasonal inundation of seeds may be necessary to trigger germination, although seedlings have limited or no tolerance for inundation. Additionally, the above-mentioned pollinators require upland habitat for nesting purposes.

LITERATURE CITED

Bauder, E. T. 1992. Ecological monitoring of Dowingia concolor ssp. brevior (Cuyamaca Lake downingia) and Limnanthes gracilis var. parishii (Parish''s slender meadowfoam), Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and Cuyamaca Valley, San Diego County, California. Unpublished report.

Brown, C. and S. K. Jain.1977. Rare plant status report for Limnanthes gracilis Howell var. parishii. California Native Plant Society.

Gentry, H. S. and R. W. Miller. 1965. The search for new industrial crops IV. Prospectus of Limnanthes. Economics of Botany 19:25-32.

Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Roberts, F. M. 1993. Proposed rule to list Dowingia concolor ssp. brevior (Cuyamaca Lake downingia) as endangered without critical habitat; proposed rule to list Limnanthes gracilis var. parishii (Parish''s slender meadowfoam) as threatened without critical habitat.

Roberts, F. M. 1994. Candidate category/listing priority numbers assignment form for Limnanthes gracilis ssp. parishii.

Skinner, M. W., B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

Sproul, F. and R. M. Beauchamp. 1979. Botanical report of Cuyamaca meadowfoam Limnanthes gracilis var. parishii. Cleveland National Forest.

United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 1997. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; withdrawal of proposed rule to list Parish''s meadowfoam, as threatened, and Cuyamaca

Lake Downingia as endangered. Federal Register 62:5560-5567.

Winter, K. J. 1991. Habitat management guide for the sensitive plant species Delphinium hesperium ssp. cuyamacae, Lilium parryi, Limnanthes gracilis var. parishii and Poa atropurpurea in riparian montane meadows. Cleveland National Forest.

Parry's spine flower (Chorizanthe parryi var. parryi)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Parry's spine flower (Chorizanthe parryi var. parryi)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: Forest Service Sensitive

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code ?-2-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

Parry's spine flower is designated as a Group 2 species because although it has a patchy distribution within the Plan Area (Vail Lake, Gilman Hot Springs, Wilson Valley, Juniper Flats, Rawson Canyon, Reche Canyon, Antelope Valley, the Santa Rosa Hills, Cherry Valley, City of Banning, Moreno Valley, near the intersection of Central Avenue and Indiana Avenue, Gavilan Plateau, El Cerrito, Quail Valley, Wolf Valley, Aguanga Valley, Diamond Valley Lake, Valle Vista, Black Mountain, Gavilan Peak, in the vicinity of Lake Elsinore, City of Riverside, and near Highway 91 in the vicinity of Home Gardens) this species has specialized habitat requirements and management requirements for floodplain processes. This species is primarily restricted to alluvial floodplains and alluvial chaparral and scrub of Western Riverside County, specifically the Santa Ana, Agua Tibia (Palomar), San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains.

Within the Plan Area, the distribution of Parry's spine flower is patchy and poorly understood. The existing records are not believed to be indicative of the distribution of this species although 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 .

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area 218,630 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral and alluvial fan sage scrub between 100 and 1,300 m in the San Bernardino, Santa Ana, Agua Tibia and San Jacinto Mountains, the Riverside Lowlands, Desert Transition and San Jacinto Hills Bioregions).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area twenty (20) occurrences of Parry's spine flower, including locations throughout the Vail Lake area and in the vicinity of Lake Mathews, Gavilan Hills, Antelope Valley, Rawson Canyon, Santa Rosa Hills, Reche Canyon, Wilson Valley, Juniper Flats, Gilman Hot Springs Road and Diamond Valley Lake.

Objective 3

Within the MSHCP Conservation Area, confirm 10 localities (locality in this sense is not smaller than one quarter section) with at least 1,000 individuals (unless a smaller population has been demonstrated to be self-sustaining).

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Potential habitat for this species includes areas supporting chaparral and Riversidean alluvial fan sage scrub habitat between 100 and 1,300 m. For the purpose of the conservation analysis, potential habitat for Parry's spine flower includes chaparral and Riversidean alluvial fan sage scrub at elevations ranging from 100 to 1300 m above msl within the San Bernardino, Santa Ana, Agua Tibia Mountains, and San Jacinto Mountains, the Riverside Lowlands, Desert Transition, and San Jacinto Hills Bioregions. Based on these habitats in these Bioregions, the Plan Area supports approximately 345,730 acres of potential habitat for Parry's spine flower. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for Parry's spine flower. Approximately 218,630 acres (63 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area. It is assumed that these lands will be managed for sensitive biological resources, including Parry's spine flower.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
PARRY'S SPINE FLOWER

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Chaparral (between 100 and 1,300 m)	338,720 (98%)	62,210 (18%)	151,230 (44%)	213,440 (62%)	59,140 (17%)	66,140 (19%)	125,280 (36%)
Riversidean alluvial fan sage scrub (between 100 and 1,300m)	7,010 (2%)	3,170 (0.9%)	2,020 (0.6%)	5,200 (2%)	220 (0.1%)	1,600 (0.5%)	1,820 (0.5%)
TOTAL	345,730	65,380 (19%)	153,250 (44%)	218,630 (63%)	59,360 (17%)	67,740 (20%)	127,100 (37%)
¹ Vegetation type includes the vegetation within the Agua-Tibia Mountains, Desert Transition, San Bernardino Mountains, San Jacinto Foothills, San Jacinto Mountains, Riverside Lowlands and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. ² Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area.

Core locations of Parry's spine flower have not been identified within the MSHCP Plan Area. However, within the CNDDB, eleven of the nineteen mapped locations are located in the existing MSHCP Conservation Area and occur in the vicinity of Lake Matthews, Gavilan Hills, Antelope Valley, Bvox Springs Mountains, Santa Rosa Hills, Reche Canyon, Wilson Valley, Juniper Flats, and Gilman Hot Springs Road.

Of the 40 records within the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, and the herbaria at UCR, Pomona and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, 17 localities will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. These conserved localities are scattered throughout the Vail Lake area and in the vicinity of Lake Matthews, Antelope Valley, Diamond Valley Lake, and Gilman Hot Springs.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

As mentioned above, a majority of the mapped Parry's spine flower occurrences will be conserved and managed within the MSHCP Conservation Area. Several large blocks of occupied habitat will be conserved in the Criteria Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands at the following locations: Lake Matthews, Vail Lake, Diamond Valley Lake, Gilman Hot Springs, Wilson Valley, Juniper Flats, Rawson Canyon, Reche Canyon, Antelope Valley, and the Santa Rosa Hills. 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.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 218,630 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and 17 known occurrences (at Lake Matthews, Gavilan Hills, Antelope Valley, Rawson Canyon, Santa Rosa Hills, Reche Canyon, Wilson Valley, Juniper Flats, Gilman Hot Springs Road, Vail Lake, and Diamond Valley 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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Within the CNDDB, eight of the 19 mapped locations are located outside of the MSHCP Conservation Area. These locations occur at Gavilan Peak, in the vicinity of Lake Elsinore, Diamond Valley Lake, City of Riverside, and near Highway 91 in the vicinity of Home Gardens. Within the UCR database and herbarium records, 24 of the 40 mapped locations occur outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. These locations occur in the vicinity of Cherry Valley, Banning, Beaumont, Hemet, Moreno Valley, City of Riverside, Gavilan Plateau, Murrieta, Winchester, east of State Street, and Highgrove. Approximately 127,100 acres of potential habitat for Parry's spine flower will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. The City of Riverside (1903, 1905) and the City of Banning (1903) records are historic occurrences and should be verified.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the UCR database, the herbaria at Pomona, UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, the CNDDB, and available literature. The CNDDB database contains 19 mapped localities for this species. The UCR database and the herbaria have 40 records for this species. The databases include historic occurrences in the City of Riverside (1903, 1905), the City of Banning (1903) and Antelope Valley (1922). These localities should be verified.

Reveal and Hardham's (1989) treatment of annual Chorizanthe species is the primary literature source for this species. Species-specific studies for Parry's spine flower are not available regarding reproduction, dispersal, germination, population ecology and genetics.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

Parry's spine flower occurs within the alluvial chaparral and scrub of the San Gabriel, San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains, at elevations of 100 to 1,300 m above msl (Reveal and Hardham 1989).

Biogeography

This species is known from the flats and foothills of the San Gabriel, San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains within Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties of southern California (Reveal and Hardham 1989). Parry's spine flower is possibly extirpated from Los Angeles County (CNPS 2001). Boyd (1999) notes that this species occurs in the Liebre Mountains, Los Angeles County.

Known Populations Within Riverside County

This species is known from about 59 occurrences in Riverside County, including Vail Lake, Gilman Hot Springs, Wilson Valley, Juniper Flats, Rawson Canyon, Reche Canyon, Antelope Valley, the Santa Rosa Hills, Cherry Valley, City of Banning, Moreno Valley, near the intersection of Central Avenue and Indiana Avenue, Gavilan Plateau, Winchester, Highgrove, Banning, Beaumont, Estelle Mountain, Murrieta, Hemet, Diamond Valley Lake, Gavilan Peak, in the vicinity of Lake Elsinore, City of Riverside, and near Highway 91 in the vicinity of Home Gardens. This species is also known from the Agua Tibia (Palomar) Mountains (Boyd and Banks 1995). Core locations of this species have not been identified within the Plan Area.

Biology

Genetics: Parry's spine flower comprises the Parryanae subsection of Chorizanthe in Polygonaceae (Reveal and Hardham 1989).

Reproduction: Parry's spine flower has white flowers and blooms from April through June. The brown achenes are 2.5 to 3 mm long (Reveal and Hardham 1989).

Dispersal: No literature was available regarding dispersal mechanisms.

Demography: This prostrate to spreading plant is an annual species (Reveal and Hardham 1989).

Threats to Species

Parry's spine flower is threatened by habitat loss as a result of urbanization (Reveal and Hardham 1989; CNPS 2001), mining and flood control practices (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, unpublished data).

Special Biological Considerations

Parry's spine flower may be confused with other species of spine flowers, particularly Chorizanthe procumbens (CNPS 2001).

LITERATURE CITED

Boyd, S. and D.L. Banks. 1995. A botanical Assessment of the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area, Cleveland National Forest, California. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont California.

Boyd, S. 1999. Vascular Flora of the Liebre Mountains region, western Transverse Ranges, California. Aliso 18:93-139.

California Department of Fish and Game, California Natural Diversity Database 1997/1998.

Hickman, J.C. 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.

Reveal, J. and C. Hardham. 1989. A Revision of the Annual Species of Chorizanthe (Polygonaceae: Eriogonoideae). Phytologia 66(2): 98-198.

Skinner M.W., B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

Payson's jewelflower (Caulanthus simulans)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Payson's jewelflower (Caulanthus simulans)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 4 (RED Code 1-2-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 1

Payson's jewelflower is designated as a Group 1 species because it has a widespread distribution within the southeastern portion of the Plan Area and within suitable habitat. Payson's jewelflower is known from Aguanga, Billy Goat Mountain, Lewis Valley, and Tule Valley. Potential habitat for Payson's jewelflower includes peninsular juniper woodland and scrub, chaparral and coastal sage scrub between 400 and 2,200 m. This species is dependent on disturbance (e.g., scoured areas along stream courses, recently burned areas, etc.).

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 94,430 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral, coastal sage scrub and peninsular juniper woodland and scrub between 400 and 2,200 m).

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

For the purpose of the conservation analysis, potential habitat for Payson's jewelflower includes peninsular juniper woodland and scrub, chaparral and coastal sage scrub between 400 and 2,200 m in the southeastern portion of the Plan Area. Included in this analysis are the Agua Tibia Mountains, Desert Transition, and San Jacinto Foothills Bioregions. Based on these habitats, elevations, and Bioregions, the Plan Area supports approximately 140,810 acres of potential habitat for Payson's jewelflower. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for Payson's jewelflower. Overall, approximately 94,430 acres 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 Payson's jewelflower.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
PAYSON'S JEWELFLOWER

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Chaparral (between 400 and 2,200m)	111,550	28,040 (20%)	43,820 (31%)	71,850 (51%)	9,710 (7%)	29,980 (21%)	39,690 (28%)
Coastal Sage Scrub (between 400 and 2,200m)	29,140	16,970 (12%)	5,520 (4%)	22,500 (16%)	2,400 (2%)	4,250 (3%)	6,640 (5%)
Peninsular Juniper Woodland and Scrub (between 400 and 2,200m)	120	– –	80 (1%)	80 (1%)	– –	40 (<0.1%)	40 (<0.1%)
TOTAL	140,810	45,010 (32%)	49,420 (35%)	94,430 (67%)	15,474 (11%)	35,811 (25%)	46,380 (33%)
¹ Vegetation type includes vegetation within the Agua Tibia Mountains, Desert Transition, and San Jacinto Foothills 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 UCR herbarium contain 38 records for this species. Of these 38 records, six are within the southeastern portion of the Plan Area: three at Aguanga, and one each at Billygoat Mountain, Lewis Valley, and Tule Valley. All of these occurrences will be conserved with the exception of one of the Aguanga records.

The California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) contains 12 records within the Plan Area. Of those, two are within the southeastern portion of the Plan Area: Aguanga and Lewis Valley. Both localities will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area.

Payson's jewelflower occurs in the vicinity of Radec and eastward (Steve Boyd, pers. comm.). Datapoints and occurrences outside the southeastern portion of the Plan Area were assumed to actually be Caulanthus heterophyllus ssp. psuedosimulans. Payson's jewelflower (particularly the pale-flowered form) is easily confused with Caulanthus heterophyllus var. pseudosimulans (CNPS 2001).

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

Large blocks of occupied and potential habitat within the southeastern portion of the Plan Area will be conserved, such as Aguanga, Billygoat Mountain, Lewis Valley, and Tule Valley. Moreover, the MSHCP Conservation Area configuration provides connectivity between these large blocks of habitat. 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.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 94,430 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and four known localities (Aguanga, Billygoat Mountain, Lewis Valley, and Tule Valley) within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 46,380 acres of potential habitat will not be conserved. Of the six UCR database and UCR herbarium records for this species in the southeastern portion of the Plan Area, one is located outside the MSHCP Conservation Area in the vicinity of Aguanga.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the UCR database, the UCR herbarium and the CNDDB and available literature. The CNDDB includes 12 mapped occurrences in the Plan Area. The UCR database and herbarium contain 38 occurrences. Nine occurrences are in the vicinity of Vail Lake and three Aguanga Valley; and the remainder of the mapped localities are scattered from the San Jacinto Mountains in the east to the Santa Rosa Plateau in the west and from Cherry Valley in the north to Aguanga in the south. The UCR database includes the localities of Santa Rosa Plateau, Lake Elsinore, Agua Tibia Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, March Air Reserve Base, Alberhill, Tule Valley, Canyon Lake, El Cariso, Meadowbrook, Homeland, Gavilan Hills, Lakeview Mountains, Sage, Mystic Lake, Portrero Creek, and Murrieta.

All occurrences west of Radec are believed to represent Caulanthus heterophyllus ssp. pseudosimulans (Steve Boyd, pers. comm.). Payson's jewelflower (particularly the pale-flowered form) is easily confused with Caulanthus heterophyllus var. pseudosimulans (CNPS 2001).

Of the 38 records from the UCR database and the UCR herbarium, six are within the southeastern portion of the Plan Area: three at Aguanga, and one each at Billygoat Mountain, Lewis Valley, and Tule Valley. Of the 12 records from the CNDDB, two are within the southeastern portion of the Plan Area: Aguanga and Lewis Valley.

Literature available for this species is limited to taxonomic sources and a biological resources report prepared for the Eastside Pipeline Project (Ogden 1993).

Habitat and Habitat Associations

Payson's jewelflower occurs in pinyon-juniper woodland, chaparral and coastal sage scrub, typically on north-facing slopes and ridgelines on sandy-granitic soils (Munz 1974; Buck 1993; Ogden 1993; Reiser 1994). This species frequently occurs on rocky steep slopes, in burned areas or in disturbed sites such as streambeds (CNDDB 2000).

Biogeography

The range of Payson's jewelflower may extend from the Santa Rosa Mountains through central Riverside County to interior San Diego County, primarily along the desert edge, 400-2200 m (Munz 1974; Buck 1993). However, all occurrences west of Radec are believed to represent Caulanthus heterophyllus ssp. pseudosimulans (Steve Boyd, pers. comm.).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Within western Riverside County, this species is known to occur in Aguanga, Billy Goat Mountain, Lewis Valley, and Tule Valley. Core locations of this species have not been identified within the Plan Area.

Biology

Genetics: Caulanthus, a member of the Brassicaceae, includes 12 species (Buck 1993).

Reproduction: The small (8 to 10 mm), white flowers bloom from April to June (Munz 1974). The fruit consists of silique of 2 to 8 cm in length (Buck 1993).

Dispersal: No information regarding dispersal for this species was available.

Demography: Payson's jewelflower is an annual herb of erect habit. Individual plants vary in height from 3 to 4 dm (Munz 1974; Buck 1993).

Threats to Species

Payson's jewelflower is currently threatened by grazing, urbanization and road construction (CNPS 2001).

Special Biological Considerations

Payson's jewelflower (particularly the pale-flowered form) is easily confused with Caulanthus heterophyllus var. pseudosimulans (CNPS 2001). The differences are based on leaf and floral characters (Buck 1993).

LITERATURE CITED

Buck, R. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

California Natural Diversity Database. 2000. 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. 1086 pp.

Ogden Environmental and Energy Services Co., Inc. 1993. Botanical Technical Report for the Eastside Pipeline Project. Prepared for Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Skinner, M. and B. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

peninsular spine flower (Chorizanthe leptotheca)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

peninsular spine flower (Chorizanthe leptotheca)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 4 (RED Code 1-2-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

Peninsular spine flower is designated as a Group 2 species because although it has a patchy distribution within the Plan Area (Temescal Canyon, Aguanga Valley [Temecula River Valley], Garner Valley, Gavilan Plateau, Hemet, Hemet Lake [UCR database], Agua Tibia Wilderness Area, Kolb Creek at Highway 79, Vail Lake, Good Hope, Valle Vista and Cahuilla) it has specialized habitat requirements. This species is found in open habitats, typically on granitic-derived or alluvial surfaces between 300 and 1,900 m in elevation. At higher elevations, this species appears to be associated with chaparral, sage scrub and coniferous forest openings and at lower elevations it is typically associated with old formation alluvial benches.

Many of the occurrence data for this species are old, with seven of the 17 occurrences dating from 1922 to 1967. Although it is found on USFS lands, peninsular spine flower is not primarily a Forest Service Species; 27 percent of the potential habitat for this species is located in the Criteria Area. Therefore, 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 .

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area 206,010 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and montane coniferous forest between 300 and 1,900 m within the Vail Lake area, the Agua Tibia Wilderness area, the San Bernardino Mountains, the San Jacinto Mountains and the Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions).

Objective 2

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

To facilitate the region-wide conservation and recovery of this species, areas that support chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and montane coniferous forests within alluvial benches along Kolb Creek are key target areas for conservation. For the purpose of the conservation analysis, potential habitat for the peninsular spine flower includes alluvial benches along Kolb Creek at lower elevations and chaparral, coastal sage scrub and coniferous forest openings between 300 and 1,900 m in elevation within the Vail Lake area (see Figure 6-1 which depicts the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey areas), the Agua Tibia Wilderness, the San Bernardino mountains, San Jacinto mountains, and the Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. Based on these habitats, the Plan Area supports approximately 284,160 acres of potential habitat for the peninsular spine flower. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for the peninsular spine flower. Approximately 206,010 (73 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area. It is assumed that these lands will be managed for sensitive biological resources, including the peninsular spine flower.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
PENINSULAR SPINE FLOWER

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Chaparral (between 300 and 1,900 m)	239,170 (84%)	16,320 (5%)	161,190 (57%)	177,510 (62%)	28,770 (10%)	32,890 (12%)	61,660 (22%)
Coastal Sage Scrub (between 300 and 1,900 m)	22,860 (8%)	7,520 (3%)	7,110 (3%)	14,630 (5%)	6,290 (2%)	1,940 (0.7%)	8,230 (3%)
Montane coniferous forest (between 300 and 1,900 m)	22,130 (8%)	20 (<0.1%)	13,850 (5%)	13,870 (5%)	40 (<0.1%)	8,220 (3%)	8,260 (3%)
TOTAL	284,160	23,860 (8%)	182,150 (64%)	206,010 (73%)	35,100 (12%)	43,050 (15%)	78,150 (27%)
¹ Vegetation type includes data from the Vail Lake area, the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area, the San Bernardino Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains and the Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. ² Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area.

The California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) does not contain any mapped locations for peninsular spine flower. However, peninsular spine flower individuals are known to occur in the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area, Kolb Creek at Highway 79 (Boyd and Banks 1995), Vail Lake, Good Hope, Hemet Lake, Valle Vista and Cahuilla (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Unpublished Data). Four of the seven unmapped locations (Agua Tibia Wilderness Area, along Kolb Creek at Highway 79, and at Good Hope and Vail Lake) will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. Five of the 17 records contained in the University of California, Riverside (UCR) GIS database, the UCR herbarium and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens herbarium will be conserved within the Criteria Area, within Aguanga Valley (two), Kolb Creek (one), and Temescal Canyon (two). However, the Aguanga localities are historic (1925 and 1947) occurrences and should be verified.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

Several large blocks of potential habitat that may support the peninsular spine flower are located primarily within the Criteria Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands, including the San Bernardino Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, Agua Tibia Mountains, Temescal Canyon and the Santa Ana 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. However, local densities are expected to fluctuate due to the floodplain hydrology and periodic flooding associated with alluvial benches.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 206,010 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and five occurrences at three known localities (Aguanga Valley, Kolb Creek, and Temescal Canyon) within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 2 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Of the 17 UCR database and herbarium records, 12 occurrences will not be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. These occurrences include the Valle Vista, Garner Valley (historic, requires verification), Hemet Lake, Gavilan Plateau, Bautista Canyon, Reche Canyon, Hemet, and Temescal Canyon localities. Of the seven unmapped locations, three locations will not be conserved. Those individuals occurring at Hemet Lake, Good Hope and Cahuilla are located outside of the MSHCP Conservation Area and will not be conserved within the MSHCP Plan Area. A total of 78,150 acres of potential habitat for the peninsular spine flower will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the UCR database, the herbaria at UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, the CNDDB and available literature. The CNDDB does not have any mapped locations for peninsular spine flower. The UCR database and the two herbaria include 17 mapped occurrences for this species (dating from 1922 to 1988). Two occurrences dating from 1922 and 1949 were mapped at the same location in Garner Valley, San Jacinto Mountains, Cleveland National Forest, and two historic (1925 and 1927) occurrences were mapped in Aguanga Valley. These historic localities should be verified. Occurrences were also mapped at Temescal Canyon, Gavilan Hills, Gavilan Plateau, Bautista Canyon, Reche Canyon, Kolb Creek, Hemet Lake and in the City of Hemet.

Very little literature has been published for this species. Reveal and Hardham (1989) provide information on range and distribution, as well as a brief description of the species in their revision of Chorizanthe. Boyd and Banks (1995) provide additional information on distribution.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

Peninsular spine flower is found in open habitats, typically on granitic-derived or alluvial surfaces. At higher elevations, this species appears to be associated with chaparral, sage scrub and coniferous forest openings and at lower elevations it is typically associated with old formation alluvial benches (Reveal and Hardham 1995).

Biogeography

This species occurs in sandy and gravelly places in the mountains at elevations of 300 to 1,900 m above msl (Reveal and Hardham 1989; Hickman 1993). The range of peninsular spine flower extends from the foothills at the southern base of the San Bernardino Mountains in San Bernardino County, southward along the eastern edge of the Santa Ana Mountains, continuing through the San Jacinto Mountains of Riverside County and the mountains of central San Diego County to the Tecate Mountains of northern Baja California (Reveal and Hardham 1989).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Peninsular spine flower occurs in Temescal Canyon, Bautista Canyon, Reche Canyon, Aguanga Valley (Temecula River Valley), Garner Valley, Gavilan Plateau, Hemet, Hemet Lake, Agua Tibia Wilderness Area, Kolb Creek at Highway 79 (UCR database, herbarium records, Boyd and Banks 1995), Vail Lake, Good Hope, Valle Vista and Cahuilla (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Unpublished Data). Core locations of this species have not been identified within the Plan Area.

Biology

Genetics: Peninsular spine flower has been included in subsection Staticoideae of the genus Chorizanthe (Reveal and Hardham 1989). No additional genetics information for this species was found in the literature.

Reproduction: This annual herb blooms from May through August and has white, pink or red flowers. The flowers produce narrow, brown achenes that are 3 to 4 mm long (Reveal and Hardham 1989).

Dispersal: No information regarding seed dispersal for this species was available in the literature.

Demography: This annual species has reddish stems and white to pinkish flowers (Boyd and Banks 1995).

Threats to Species

This species is threatened by habitat loss and competitive exclusion with exotic annual grasses (CNPS 2001).

Special Biological Considerations

Peninsular spine flower is similar in appearance to, and sympatric with, Chorizanthe staticoides (CNPS 2001). Where peninsular spine flower occurs on the alluvial benches of Kolb Creek near Highway 79, it is associated with slender-horned spine flower (Dodecahema leptoceras) (Boyd and Banks 1995).

LITERATURE CITED

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.

Reveal, J. and C. Hardham. 1989. A Revision of the Annual Species of Chorizanthe (Polygonaceae: Eriogonoideae). Phytologia 66(2): 98-198.

Skinner M.W. and B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

Plummer's mariposa lily (Calochortus plummerae)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Plummer's mariposa lily (Calochortus plummerae)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: Sensitive Species

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 2-2-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

Plummer's mariposa lily is designated as a Group 2 species because it is restricted to locations within the San Jacinto Mountains and Foothills and San Bernardino Mountains, primarily within USFS lands. Within the Plan Area, Plummer's mariposa lily is restricted to coastal scrub, chaparral, cismontane woodland, lower montane coniferous forest and valley and foothill grasslands at elevations from 90 m to 1,610 m within the San Jacinto Mountains and Foothills and San Bernardino Mountains Bioregions.

This plant is designated as a Forest Service Sensitive Species. The Assessment indicates that it falls under the “site specific” category, which means that it is an organism requiring species-level conservation action to ensure its persistence in the Plan Area.

Within the Plan Area, the Plummer's mariposa lily is restricted to the eastern slopes and foothills of the San Jacinto and San Bernardino Mountains. The existing records are not believed to be indicative of the distribution of this species although 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 .

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 167,580 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral, coastal sage scrub, montane coniferous forest, and woodland/forest between 90 and 1,610 m within the San Jacinto Mountains and Foothills and San Bernardino Mountain Bioregions).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least eight of the known occurrences (near Hemet Lake within Garner Valley within the San Jacinto Mountains, the Jurupa Hills, Reche Canyon, along Highway 74 in the San Jacinto Mountains and west of Oak Glen Conservation Camp within the San Bernardino Mountains) of Plummer's mariposa lily.

Objective 3

Within the MSHCP Conservation Area, confirm six localities (locality in this sense is not smaller than one quarter section) of at least 500 individuals each (unless a smaller population has been demonstrated to be self-sustaining).

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Potential habitat for the Plummer's mariposa lily includes coastal scrub, chaparral, cismontane woodland, lower montane coniferous forest and valley and foothill grasslands at elevations from 90 m to 1,610 m within the San Jacinto Mountains and Foothills and San Bernardino Mountains of western Riverside County. Within this analysis, coastal scrub was categorized as coastal sage scrub, cismontane woodland was categorized as woodlands and forests, valley and foothill grassland was categorized as grasslands, 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 232,210 acres of potential habitat for Plummer's mariposa lily. Table 1 shows the conservation of potential habitat for Plummer's mariposa lily. Overall, approximately 167,580 acres (72 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
PLUMMER'S MARIPOSA LILY

Vegetation Type	MSHCP Plan Area¹ (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type	MSHCP 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)
Chaparral (between 90 and 1,610 meters)	177,030	29,550	97,140	126,690	21,510	28,830	50,340
Coastal sage scrub (between 90 and 1,610 meters)	30,300	16,900	6,690	23,590	2,660	4,050	6,710
Montane coniferous forest (between 90 and 1,610 meters)	12,300	20	8,120	8,140	40	4,120	4,160
Woodlands and forests (between 90 and 1,610 meters)	12,580	740	8,420	9,160	1,370	2,050	3,420
TOTAL	232,210	47,210 (20%)	120,370 (52%)	167,580 (72%)	25,580 (11%)	39,050 (17%)	64,630 (28%)
¹ Vegetation includes the vegetation within the San Jacinto Mountains and the San Jacinto Foothills and San Bernardino Mountains Bioregions only. ² Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area.

Approximately 167,580 acres (72 percent) of the species' potential habitat will be conserved. Approximately 47,210 acres (20 percent) of potential habitat are within the Criteria Area and an additional 120,370 acres (52 percent) of the potential habitat for Plummer's mariposa lily within USFS lands should be conserved for the species.

Within the 120,370 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 2,141 acres (2 percent) of potential habitat are designated as Wilderness Area and 18,495 acres (15 percent) are designated as Roadless Areas that do not include Range Allotments.

Of the nine herbarium records at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, five of the localities occur within the MSHCP Conservation Area. The conserved localities include near Hemet Lake within Garner Valley and along Highway 74 in the San Jacinto Mountains, in Reche Canyon and in the Jurupa Hills. The UCR GIS database does not include any occurrences of this species. Of the eight California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) occurrences, three will be conserved: near the Oak Glen Conservation Camp within the San Bernardino Mountains and along Highway 74 in the San Jacinto Mountains.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

Several large blocks of habitat supporting Plummer'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.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 167,580 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and eight 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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 64,630 acres (28 percent) of potential habitat for Plummer's mariposa lily will not be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area. Eight of the 17 known records of Plummer's mariposa lily will not be conserved. The historic locations near Banning (1926), two miles south of Calimesa (1978), in the Badlands southwest of Beaumont (1932), along May Valley Road north of Highway 74 in the San Jacinto Mountains (1958) and at the head of Banning Canyon along the San Gorgonio River (1915) are located outside of the MSHCP Conservation Area. It cannot be determined whether the populations reported from the Santa Ana Mountains along the border between Riverside and Orange counties (Roberts 1997; Roberts 1998) or at Lake Skinner (Bramlet 2001) are within or outside of the MSHCP Conservation Area.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the CNDDB, the herbaria at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens and at UCR, and the UCR GIS database (UCR database), and available literature. The UCR database does not contain any occurrences for this species. The two herbaria include nine records of this species: one mapped occurrence near Hemet Lake within Garner Valley in the San Jacinto Mountains, in the Jurupa Hills, Reche Canyon, in the Badlands and along Highway 74 within the San Jacinto Mountains. The CNDDB contains eight mapped localities in the San Jacinto Mountains, near Banning, south of Calimesa, in the Badlands southwest of Beaumont, at the head of Banning Canyon along the San Gorgonio River (1915), and one location within the San Bernardino Mountains (1993). This species is also known to occur at Lake Skinner (D. Bramlet pers. com. 2001). The historic occurrences should be verified (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, although Ness (1989) provides information on taxonomic relationships.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

This species occurs on rocky and sandy sites, typically of alluvial or granitic material, in coastal scrub, chaparral, cismontane woodland, lower montane coniferous forest and valley and foothill grasslands at elevations from 90 m to 1,610 m (CNDDB 2000; CNPS 2001).

Biogeography

Plummer's mariposa lily is known from Ventura County, Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County and Riverside County (CNPS 2001).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Recent records for Plummer's mariposa lily in the Plan Area are limited to canyons in the San Jacinto Mountains above the San Jacinto River, the Jurupa Hills and the San Bernardino Mountains. Occurrences include near Hemet Lake within Garner Valley in the San Jacinto Mountains, in the Jurupa Hills, Reche Canyon, in the Badlands and along Highway 74 within the San Jacinto Mountains. According to Dave Bramlet (2001), this species is also known to occur at Lake Skinner. Historic occurrences are recorded along May Valley Road north of Highway 74 in the San Jacinto Mountains (1958); near Banning (1926); two miles south of Calimesa (1978); in the Badlands southwest of Beaumont (1932); and at the head of Banning Canyon along the San Gorgonio River (1915). These five historic occurrences should be verified (CNDDB 2000). One population is reported from the Santa Ana Mountains along the border between Riverside and Orange counties (Roberts 1997; Roberts 1998). Core locations have not been identified for this species in the Plan Area.

Biology

Genetics: Plummer's mariposa lily is a member of subsection Weediani, section Cyclobothra, genus Calochortus and belongs to the Liliaceae (Ness 1989). Plummer's mariposa lily hybridizes with intermediate mariposa lily (C. weedii var. intermedius), 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 pale pink or rose petals have a wide central band of long yellow hairs and are bearded on the inner face with long yellow hairs. Each petal also has a round gland; the gland is either glabrous or bordered with a ring of dense orange hairs. The erect capsules are 4 to 8 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.

Threats to Species

This species is threatened by urban development (CNPS 2001).

Special Biological Considerations

The historic occurrence records for this species should be verified to determine if the distribution of Plummer's mariposa lily in western Riverside County is limited to the San Jacinto Mountains and Foothills and the San Bernardino Mountains. Future surveys may reveal the presence of additional populations in the Plan Area.

LITERATURE CITED

Bramlet, Dave. 2001. Letter to Kathryn Kramer. November 7.

California Natural Diversity Database. 2000. Calochortus plummerae. 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.

Roberts, F. 1997. Calochortus plummerae. Orange County Data Base. Unpublished, F.M. Roberts Publications, Encinitas, California.

Roberts, F. 1998. A Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Orange County, California. Unpublished, F.M. Roberts Publications, Encinitas, California

prostrate navarretia (Navarretia prostrata)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

prostrate navarretia (Navarretia prostrata)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 2-3-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

Prostrate navarretia is designated as a Group 3 species because of its limited geographic distribution and specialized habitat requirements and requirements for hydrology. This species occurs within coastal sage scrub, valley and foothill grassland (alkaline washes) and vernal pools between 15 and 700m. Within the Plan Area, this species is only known to occur on the Santa Rosa Plateau.

This is a species on the Additional Survey Needs and Procedures (Section 6.3.2) list and surveys for prostrate navarretia 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). Prostrate navarretia located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2, MSHCP, Volume I.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least the one known occurrence of this species on the Santa Rosa Plateau.

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the watershed of the vernal pool complex on the Santa Rosa Plateau in order to maintain hydrologic conditions.

Objective 3

Surveys for prostrate navarretia 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). Prostrate navarretia 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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Suitable habitat for this species includes coastal sage scrub, valley and foothill grassland and vernal pools between 15 and 700m. There is no acreage coverage for vernal pools within the Santa Rosa Plateau.

The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database does not contain any records for this species, nor do the herbaria at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens. The California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) does not contain any records for this species. The locations of the three known occurrences from the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) are reported only from the Santa Rosa Plateau. The locality on the Santa Rosa Plateau will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area (Day 1993).

Conservation Summary

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

The core location of prostrate navarretia will be conserved in Public/Quasi-Public Lands. The configuration of Public/Quasi-Public Lands provides for conservation of the core location and the associated watershed, as well as adjacent uplands sufficient to support appropriate pollinators. However, due to the dependence of this species on local hydrology and ephemeral inundation, local densities are expected to fluctuate.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

No known populations of prostrate navarretia will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. However, suitable habitat for this species is present outside the MSHCP Conservation Area in ephemeral wetlands and mima mounds in forest glades and mountain areas. The level of potential Take in these areas outside the MSHCP Conservation Area cannot be determined at this time.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

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 CNPS (2001) reports three occurrences from the Santa Rosa Plateau. Day (1993) also notes that this species occurs on the Santa Rosa Plateau (Day 1993).

No published literature is available for the prostrate navarretia. No species specific studies and little data are available regarding life history, population genetics, reproduction, dispersal, etc.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

This species occurs within coastal sage scrub, valley and foothill grassland (alkaline washes) and vernal pools between 15 and 700m (CNPS 2001).

Biogeography

Prostrate navarretia is known to occur in Los Angeles, Merced, Monterey, Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties and is thought to be extirpated from Alameda and San Bernardino counties (CNPS 2001).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Within the Plan Area, this species is only known to occur on the Santa Rosa Plateau (Day 1993, CNPS 2001).

Biology

Genetics: Prostrate navarretia is one of approximately 27 species in the genus Navarretia and belongs to the family Polemoniaceae (Day 1993). This species was originally described by Gray as Gilia prostrata (Munz 1974).

Reproduction: This species has small (seven to nine mm), blue to white flowers (Day 1993). The flowers are funnelform in shape (Munz 1974). Prostrate navarretia blooms from April to July (CNPS 2001). The seeds remain attached to the fruit until wet (Day 1993).

Dispersal: No published information on seed dispersal was found for prostrate navarretia.

Demography: This annual herb is prostrate with a central head and radiating stems with heads (Munz 1974, Day 1993). The branches are generally four to 10 cm long (Munz 1974).

Threats to Species

Threats to prostrate navarretia have not been identified.

Special Biological Considerations

No special biological considerations have been identified for prostate navarretia.

LITERATURE CITED

Day, Alva G. 1993. Navarretia in the Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley. 1400pp.

Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

prostrate spine flower (Chorizanthe procumbens)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

prostrate spine flower (Chorizanthe procumbens)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: Local viability concern

CNPS: None

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

Prostrate spine flower is designated as a Group 2 species because although this species has a fairly scattered distribution (Santa Ana Mountains, north slope of the Palomar Mountains, the Santa Rosa Plateau, Beaumont, French Valley, Winchester, the vicinity of Lake Elsinore, Moreno Valley, the Sedco Hills and the vicinity of Anza), the known occurrences are concentrated within the Santa Ana Mountains or along the north slope of the Palomar Mountains, primarily within U.S. Forest Service Lands. The Dorland Mountain population on the north slope of the Palomar Mountains in the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area is the only known core location of the species. Within the Plan Area, prostrate spine flower is found in sandy soil, often in association with sandy barrens and sandy openings in chamise chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and occasionally grasslands below 800 m within the Agua Tibia and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. Most populations are concentrated in the Santa Ana Mountains or along the north slope of the Palomar Mountains (Reveal and Hardham 1989; Boyd, et al. 1992; Boyd and Banks 1995). The Lake Elsinore location probably represents a locality in the Santa Ana Mountains. The Beaumont, French Valley, Moreno Valley and Meadowbrook records appear to be outside of the known range of this species and are questionable.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 64,000 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral, grassland and coastal sage scrub below 800 m within the Agua Tibia Mountains and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 14 of the known locations (in the Santa Ana Mountains, in the Agua Tibia Mountains including the Core Area at Dorland Mountain, west of Beaumont, and the vicinity of French Valley).

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Potential habitat for the prostrate spine flower includes openings in chamise chaparral, coastal sage scrub, grasslands, and the margins of dirt roads at elevations below 800 m within the Agua Tibia and Santa Ana Mountains within western Riverside County. Within this analysis, chamise chaparral was categorized as chaparral. The distribution of these species was considered to be restricted to the Santa Ana and Agua Tibia Mountains and the Winchester, Beaumont, French Valley, Moreno Valley, Sedco Hills and Anza records were considered to be suspect. Based on these habitats, this elevation range, and these Bioregions, the Plan Area supports approximately 95,590 acres of potential habitat for prostrate spine flower. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for prostrate spine flower. Overall, approximately 64,000 acres (67 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area would be conserved in the Criteria Area or are within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.

In order to conserve prostrate spine flower, at least 57,354 acres (60 percent) of the species potential habitat will be conserved and managed for the species. Approximately 5,250 acres (5 percent) of potential habitat are within the Criteria Area and an additional 58,750 acres (62 percent) of the potential habitat for prostrate spine flower within USFS lands will be conserved for the species.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
PROSTRATE SPINE FLOWER

Vegetation Type	MSHCP Plan Area¹ (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type	MSHCP 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)
Chaparral (below 800 meters)	74,060	4,000	50,730	54,730	15,410	3,920	19,330
Coastal sage scrub (below 800 meters)	11,480	420	3,940	4,360	6,200	920	7,120
Grassland (below 800 meters)	10,050	830	4,080	4,910	4,140	1,000	5,140
TOTAL	95,590	5,250 (5%)	58,750 (62%)	64,000 (67%)	25,750 (27%)	5,840 (6%)	31,590 (33%)
¹ Vegetation includes the vegetation within the Santa Ana and Agua Tibia Mountains Bioregions only. ² Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area.

Within the 58,750 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 473 acres (1 percent) of potential habitat are designated as Wilderness Area and 6,627 acres (7 percent) are designated as Roadless Areas that do not include Range Allotments.

Fourteen of the known localities will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. Conserved location include several localities in the Santa Ana Mountains and Agua Tibia Mountains, including the core location complex at Dorland Mountain, one locality near Beaumont and the locality in French Valley.

The MSHCP assessment indicates that prostrate spine flower 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 prostrate spine flower.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

Several large blocks of habitat supporting prostrate spine flower are located within Public/Quasi-Public Lands and the Criteria Area, including the Santa Ana and Agua Tibia Mountains. As mentioned, approximately 58,750 acres (62 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.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 64,000 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and 14 known localities within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

About 31,590 acres (33 percent) of potential habitat for the prostrate spine flower would be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. Seven of the mapped locations (including Moreno Valley, Meadowbrook, Lake Elsinore, Murrieta, two localities along Temecula Creek, and the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains) are located outside of the MSHCP Conservation Area; however, several of these occurrences are suspect and should be verified.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, the herbaria at UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) and available literature. The CNDDB did not provide mapped locations for this species. The UCR database and the two herbaria include a number of occurrences mapped in the Santa Ana Mountains, Agua Tibia Mountains, the vicinity of Lake Elsinore, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, French Valley and in the vicinity of Beaumont. Reiser (1996) mentions a population in the vicinity of Winchester; this locality should be confirmed. If the Winchester locality proves false, the distribution of these species could be considered more localized and restricted to the Santa Ana Mountains and Agua Tibia Mountains. Large populations of prostrate spine flower occur in the Dorland Mountain area at the northwest corner of the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area (Boyd and Banks 1995).

Boyd and Banks (1995) and Reveal and Hardham (1989) are the primary literature sources for prostrate spine flower, particularly on the subjects of distribution and range, habitat and threats. No species-specific studies have been conducted for this species regarding general ecology, reproduction, pollination, dispersal, etc.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

Prostrate spine flower is found in sandy soil, often in association with sandy barrens and sandy openings in chamise chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and occasionally grasslands (Munz 1973, Reiser 1994; Boyd and Banks 1995). This species is also known to tolerate minimal soil disturbance and frequently is found along the margins of dirt roads or brushed chaparral (Reiser 1996).

Biogeography

Prostrate spine flower occurs in coastal southern California and northwestern Baja California, Mexico, in valleys and hillsides below 800 m (2,640 feet) (Munz 1974, Hickman 1993). In California, it occurs on the mesas and foothills of the Santa Monica, San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains within Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, Orange County and San Diego County (Reveal and Hardham 1989). In Mexico, this species ranges as far south as Camalu along the coast of Baja California (Reiser 1996) and has been recorded from at least 18 locations (Reveal and Hardham 1989). The species is most common in coastal Orange and San Diego Counties where it has been reported from about 25 localities (Reiser 1996; Roberts 1997). Its status in Baja California is uncertain.

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

The distribution of prostrate spine flower in western Riverside County is spotty and poorly understood. It is known from 22 locations within the Plan Area. Most populations are concentrated in the Santa Ana Mountains or along the north slope of the Palomar Mountains (Reveal and Hardham 1989; Boyd, et al. 1992; Boyd and Banks 1995). One location has been reported from the vicinity of Winchester (Reiser 1996). According to information supplied by UC Riverside and the herbaria, the plant has also been reported in Beaumont, the vicinity of Lake Elsinore, Murrieta, along Temecula Creek, French Valley, Moreno Valley, and Meadowbrook. The Lake Elsinore locality may represent an occurrence in the Santa Ana Mountains. These last records appear to be outside the known range of this species and require verification. Large populations of prostrate spine flower occur in the Dorland Mountain area at the northwest corner of the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area. Here it is associated with heavy soils derived from weathered gabbro. Population sizes varied from several hundred individuals to tens of thousands (Boyd and Banks 1995, Banks 1999). At least two populations are found in the San Mateo Wilderness (Boyd, et al. 1995). Another population is within the Cleveland National Forest (San Juan Canyon) (Boyd and Banks 1995).

One core location has been identified within the Plan Area at this time: Dorland Mountain along the north slope of the Palomar Mountains (Boyd and Banks 1995). Other core locations may be identified; however, the status of other populations and even distribution is not clearly certain.

Biology

Genetics: Prostrate spine flower comprises the Procumbentes subsection of Chorizanthe (Reveal and Hardham 1989). This subsection has, at various times, contained combinations of three taxonomic units (Chorizanthe procumbens, C. jonesiana and C. unicinata), based on descriptions by Nuttall and Goodman. In 1848, Nuttall originally described C. procumbens and C. uncinata. In 1856, Bentham reduced the latter species to synonymy. In 1934, Goodman recognized two species within the subsection: C. procumbens and C. jonesiana. Goodman's concept of C. procumbens was the same as Nuttall's C. uncinata and his C. jonesiana was the same as Nuttall's C. procumbens (Reveal and Hardham 1989).

C. procumbens sensu Goodman (i.e., C. uncinata sensu Nuttall) represents the northern phase of the species and is a smaller plant with a cylindrical involucre with uncinate awns. C. jonesiana sensu Goodman (i.e., C. procumbens sensu Nuttall) represents the southern phase of the species and is a large plant with a campanulate involucre and straight or curved awns (Reveal and Hardham 1989).

Upon further study, Reveal and Hardham (1989) have determined that within the Chorizanthe procumbens complex, the forms described as separate species are more appropriately described as one species (C. procumbens). Where the two forms occur together, a series of intermediates is also present. The intermediates do not represent hybrids but different stages of development. The larger or older the individual, the closer it resembles the concept of C. jonesiana. The younger or more subjected to stress (particularly aridity), the closer the individual resembles the concept of C. procumbens sensu Goodman (Reveal and Hardham 1989).

In 1934, Goodman also recognized the variety C. procumbens var. alba (Reveal and Hardham 1989). Reveal and Hardham (1989) have found that all stages of gradation between yellow and white can occur in a single population. This variety is no longer recognized (CNPS 2001; Hickman 1993).

Reproduction: Prostrate spine flower blooms from April through June. The flowers vary in color from white to yellow. The brown achenes are 1.5 to 2.5 mm long (Reveal and Hardham 1989).

Dispersal: No information regarding dispersal mechanisms was found in published literature.

Demography: This prostrate to spreading plant is an annual species and is of small stature (2 to 8 cm high and 5 to 50 cm across) (Reveal and Hardham 1989).

Threats to Species

Throughout much of this species range, its habitat is threatened by urban development and competition with non-native grasses (CNPS 2001). In Riverside County, most of the known populations are in areas with few threats.

Special Biological Considerations

Individuals are small and of low stature, and thus may be difficult to locate. This species is only readily detectable in the spring between March and June. Prostrate spine flower is often associated with long-spined spine flower and Cleveland's bush monkeyflower in the Agua Tibia Mountains (Boyd and Banks 1995).

LITERATURE CITED

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., 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.

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 1995. Vascular flora of the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness Area, Cleveland National Forest, California. Aliso 14:109-139.

Hickman, J.C. 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.

Reiser, C. 1996. 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.

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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

Rainbow manzanita (Arctostaphylos rainbowensis)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Rainbow manzanita (Arctostaphylos rainbowensis)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-3-3)

Forest Service: Sensitive Species

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

Rainbow manzanita is designated as a Group 2 species because of its specialized habitat and soils requirements and scattered distribution within the southern portion of the Plan Area. This species is restricted to ultramafic southern mixed chaparral, principally on gabbro soils or related soils rich in ferro-magnesian minerals. Although it has a fairly scattered distribution within the Plan Area (San Mateo Canyon Wilderness, Gavilan Mountain, Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve, Santa Rosa Plateau, and the Temecula, Margarita Peak and Pechanga areas), the Santa Rosa Plateau is considered to be the Core Area.

The distribution of Rainbow manzanita is fairly scattered but appears to be restricted to the eastern slopes of the Santa Ana Mountains and the northern slopes of the Agua Tibia Mountains, and therefore, the MSHCP Conservation Area configuration is expected to provide long-term conservation of the species. However, due to the patchiness of the existing 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 .

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 37,260 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral between 300 and 600 m within the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area, the San Mateo Wilderness Area and the Agua Tibia Mountains, Santa Ana Mountains and Riverside Lowlands Bioregions).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the 15 known localities of Rainbow manzanita: San Mateo Canyon Wilderness, Gavilan Mountain, Santa Margarita Ecological MSHCP Conservation Area, Santa Rosa Plateau and the Temecula, Wildomar, Margarita Peak and Pechanga areas.

Objective 3

Within the MSHCP Conservation Area, confirm 10 localities (locality in this sense is not smaller than one quarter section) with more than 50 individuals each (unless a smaller population has been demonstrated to be self-sustaining).

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Suitable habitat for this species includes ultramafic southern mixed chaparral between 300 and 600m above msl, principally on gabbro soils or related soils rich in ferro-magnesian minerals. For the purpose of the conservation analysis, potential habitat for Rainbow manzanita includes chaparral habitat at elevations ranging from 300 to 600 m above msl within the Agua Tibia and San Mateo Wilderness Areas, the Agua Tibia and Santa Ana Mountains, and Riverside Lowlands Bioregions. There is no acreage coverage for gabbro soils or related soils rich in ferro-magnesium. Based on these habitat requirements, the Plan Area supports approximately 67,180 acres of potential habitat for Rainbow manzanita. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for Rainbow manzanita. Approximately 37,260 acres (55 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 Rainbow manzanita.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
RAINBOW MANZANITA

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Chaparral (between 300 and 600 m)	67,180	14,940	22,320	37,260	14,880	15,040	29,920
TOTAL	67,180	14,940 (22%)	22,,320 (33%)	37,260 (55%)	14,880 (22%)	15,040 (23%)	29,920 (45%)
¹ Vegetation type includes data from the Agua Tibia and Santa Ana mountains, and the Riverside lowlands Bioregions. 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, and the herbaria at UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens contain 32 records of this species in the Plan Area. Fifteen of these occurrences will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. Nine occurrences in the vicinity of the Santa Rosa Plateau, three occurrences in the Santa Ana Mountains, two occurrences in the Agua Tibia Mountains and one occurrence in the Santa Margarita Reserve will all be conserved.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

Several large blocks of habitat supporting Rainbow manzanita are located within Public/Quasi-Public Land and the MSHCP Conservation Area, including USFS lands within the Santa Ana Mountains and Agua Tibia 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 prove to be important in the reproductive cycle of this species.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 37,260 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and 15 known localities within large blocks of habitat in the Santa Ana Mountains, the Agua Tibia Mountains and the vicinity of the Santa Rosa Plateau within the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

All of the mapped Rainbow manzanita locations will be conserved (including the core habitat area) within the MSHCP Conservation Area with the exception of the Temecula and Pechanga localities. A total of 29,920 acres (45 percent) of potential habitat for Rainbow manzanita will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. The Temecula locality is an isolated location in an existing urbanized area and this area is not proposed to be conserved as part of the overall interconnected MSHCP Conservation Area.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, the herbaria at UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) and available literature. The UCR database, herbarium records and CNDDB databases include 32 occurrences) in the southwestern portion of the Plan Area. The majority of the mapped locations occur on the Santa Rosa Plateau although there are several occurrences in the Agua Tibia Mountains, the Santa Ana Mountains, and the Santa Margarita River Valley.

Other than the species monograph (Keeley and Massihi 1994), and floras of the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area (Boyd and Banks 1995, Banks 1999) and the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness Area (Boyd, et al. 1995), very little published literature is available for Rainbow manzanita. No species specific studies and little data are available regarding life history, population genetics, reproduction, dispersal, etc.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

This species is restricted to ultramafic southern mixed chaparral, principally on gabbro soils or related soils rich in ferro-magnesian minerals (Boyd and Banks 1995).

Biogeography

Rainbow manzanita is restricted to southwestern Riverside County, south of Pauba Valley, and northwestern San Diego County, north of the San Luis Rey River, between 300 and 600 meters (Keeley and Massihi 1994).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

This species is known from the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness, Gavilan Mountain, Santa Margarita Ecological MSHCP Conservation Area, Santa Rosa Plateau, and the Temecula, Wildomar, Margarita Peak and Pechanga areas (Boyd, et al. 1995; Keeley and Massihi 1994; CNDDB 1998). Within the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area of the Cleveland National Forest, only two plants were observed in southern mixed chaparral (Boyd and Banks 1995), although Boyd and Banks (1995) suspect that Rainbow manzanita may be more common in the chaparral of the western and southwestern portions of the Wilderness. The population on the Santa Rosa Plateau is considered to be the core location.

Biology

Genetics: Rainbow manzanita previously was treated as a disjunct population of Arctostaphylos peninsularis or as a hybrid between A. glauca and A. glandulosa before it was recognized as a separate species. Keeley and Massihi (1994) originally described this species after conducting an analysis of 48 morphological characters for populations of Rainbow manzanita, of A. peninsularis, A. glauca and A. glandulosa; the results of the study determined that Rainbow manzanita is distinct from each of these three species. Moreover, Rainbow manzanita appears to be the sole Arctostaphylos species in most of its geographic range. Rainbow manzanita is sympatric with A. glandulosa on the edges of its range in the western Agua Tibia Mountains and the eastern Santa Margarita Mountains (Keeley and Massihi 1994).

Reproduction: Reproduction studies for this species have not been conducted. The white, urceolate blossoms bloom from January to February (CNPS 2001).

Dispersal: No published information on seed dispersal was found for Rainbow manzanita.

Demography: This burl-forming perennial shrub grows to one to four meters in height. Rainbow manzanita is a vigorously resprouting species that produces copious amounts of fruit. This species is able to quickly establish seedlings on sites disturbed by wildfires or land clearing equipment (i.e., bulldozers) (Keeley and Massihi 1994).

Threats to Species

Residential and commercial development; agricultural conversion to avocado groves (CNPS 2001); alteration of natural fire regime, fire-fighting and fire clearance activities (Boyd and Banks 1995). Infestation by boring insects is a potential threat. Pollinators are unknown and no information is available on breeding system

Special Biological Considerations

Rainbow manzanita flowers and fruits are often heavily infested by boring insects on the eastern edge of its range (Keeley and Massihi 1994). Further study is necessary to determine the potential long-term effects of the infestations. Rainbow manzanita may require fire for regeneration. This burl-forming species responds well to wildfires and as a copious producer of fruits is a rapid colonizer of disturbed habitats (Keeley and Massihi 1994). Further study is needed to know if seed production is limited by availability of specialist pollinators.

LITERATURE CITED

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.

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(2):109-139.

CNDDB. 1998. Arctostaphylos rainbowensis. Unpublished Report. California Department of Fish and Game, Natural Heritage Division, Sacramento, California.

Keeley, J.E. and A. Massihi. 1994. Arctostaphylos rainbowensis, A New Burl-forming Manzanita from Northern San Diego County, California. Madrono 41(1):1-12.

Skinner, M.W. and B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California. Special Publication No. 1, 5th edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 338 pp.

round-leaved filaree (Erodium macrophyllum)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

round-leaved filaree (Erodium macrophyllum)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 2 (RED Code 2-3-1)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

Round-leaved filaree is designated as a Group 3 species because of its specialized habitat and soils requirements and somewhat limited distribution (from the Gavilan Hills southeast to the foothills of the Agua Tibia Mountains) within the Plan Area. This species is restricted to open cismontane woodland and valley and foothill grassland on clay soils between 15 and 1200 m.

This is a species on the Additional Survey Needs and Procedures (Section 6.3.2) list and surveys for round-leaved filaree 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). Round-leaved filaree located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2, MSHCP, Volume I.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 37,663 acres of suitable habitat (grasslands and cismontane woodlands between 15 and 1,200 m within the Santa Ana Mountains and the Riverside Lowlands Bioregions).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area eight out of the 10 known localities of round-leaved filaree: four occurrences in the Gavilan Hills region, one at Lake Mathews, one along Temescal Wash near Lee Lake, one at Diamond Valley Lake and one in the foothills of the Agua Tibia Mountains.

Objective 3

Surveys for round-leaved filaree 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). Round-leaved filaree 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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Suitable habitat for this species includes cismontane woodland and valley and foothill grassland habitat between 15 and 1,200 m, principally on clay soils. For the purpose of the conservation analysis, potential habitat for round-leaved filaree includes grassland, chaparral, and woodlands and forest habitat at elevations ranging from 15 to 1,200 m above msl within the Riverside Lowlands and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. Based on these habitat requirements, the Plan Area supports approximately 252,771 acres of potential habitat for round-leaved filaree. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for round-leaved filaree. Approximately 37,663 acres (15%) 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 round-leaved filaree.

The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens contain 10 records of this species in the Plan Area. Eight out of the 10 occurrences will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area: four occurrences in the Gavilan Hills region, one at Lake Mathews, one along Temescal Wash near Lee Lake, one at Diamond Valley Lake and one in the foothills of the Agua Tibia Mountains.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

Habitat supporting round-leaved filaree is located within Public/Quasi-Public Land and the Criteria Area, including the Gavilan Hills region, Lake Mathews, Diamond Valley Lake, along Temescal Wash and the foothills of the Agua Tibia Mountains. Large blocks of habitat within the MSHCP Conservation Area will protect this species from edge effects and provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat. The configuration of the MSHCP Conservation Area allows for the conservation of the majority of the known occurrences (eight out of 10).

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
ROUND-LEAVED FILAREE

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Woodland (between 15 and 1200m)	164,655	5,006	6,519	11,525	9,916	143,214	153,130
Grassland (between 15 and 1200 m)	88,116	10,890	15,248	26,138	4,736	57,242	61,978
TOTAL	252,771	15,896 (6%)	21,767 (9%)	37,663 (15%)	14,652 (6%)	200,456 (79%)	215,108 (85%)
¹ Vegetation type includes data from the Santa Ana Mountains and the Riverside lowlands Bioregions. ² Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 37,663 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and eight known localities within large blocks of habitat in the Gavilan Hills, along Temescal Wash, at Lake Mathews, Diamond Valley Lake and the foothills of the Agua Tibia Mountains within the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Two of the mapped round-leaved filaree locations will not be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area: one in French Valley and one in the Gavilan Hills. A total of 215,108 acres (85%) of potential habitat for round-leaved filaree will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. The Murrieta locality is an isolated location in an existing urbanized area and this area is not proposed to be included in MSHCP Conservation Area.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the UCR database, the herbaria at UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens, the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) and available literature. The UCR database and Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden herbarium records include 10 mapped occurrences in the northwestern portion of the Plan Area. Five of the known occurrences are located in the Gavilan Hills and the rest are scattered from Lake Mathews southeast to the foothills of the Agua Tibia Mountains.

Very little published literature is available for the round-leaved filaree. No species specific studies and little data are available regarding life history, population genetics, reproduction, dispersal, etc.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

This species is restricted to open cismontane woodland and valley and foothill grassland habitats on very friable clay soils between 15 and 2000 m (CNPS 2001). Within the Plan Area, two of the mapped localities occur on Bosanko clay soils. Records reviewed for this species indicate that this species tends to be associated primarily with wild oats (Avena fatua) (CNDDB 2000).

Biogeography

Round-leaved filaree occurs in San Diego County from El Capitan Dam and near an old cement factory quarry on the Jamul Ranch near the Otay Lakes. This species also extends north to Santa Barbara County on the west slopes of Figueroa Mountain, on a hillside east of Black Willow Spring near Montgomery potrero, and on Santa Cruz Island and in San Luis Obispo County in the Temblor Range, near Tehachapi, at Mexican Mine in the southwestern Tehachapi Mountains along the northwest side of Antelope Valley, and at Dry Bog Knoll at the head of Adobe Canyon in the Greenhorn Mountains. In western Riverside County, this species extends to the south of Lake Mathews as well as on the south flank of Alberhill Mountain between 15 and 1200 meters (Rieser 1994, CNPS 2001).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

This species is known primarily from five records in the Gavilan Hills, one record at Lake Mathews, one at Diamond Valley Lake, one along Temescal Wash near Lee Lake, one in French Valley, and one in the foothills of the Agua Tibia Mountains. No core areas have been identified for this species.

Biology

Genetics: Round-leaved filaree is one of two native species in the genus Erodium and is a member of the family Geraniaceae (Taylor 1993).

Reproduction: Round-leaved filaree blooms from March through May (CNPS 2001). The white flowers are generally white, tinged red or purple and 10 to 16 mm long (Munz 1974). The body of the fruit is approximately 8 to 10 mm long with a truncated tip (Taylor 1993) . In general, reproduction studies for this species have not been conducted and information regarding its reproduction is lacking.

Dispersal: No published information on seed dispersal was found for round-leaved filaree.

Demography: This annual/biennial herb is generally scapose and the stem is typically less than 5 cm tall (Taylor 1993). Round-leaved filaree is puberulent to glandular-pubescent and the peduncles are sub-basal and 10 to 30 cm long (Munz 1974).

Threats to Species

The primary threats to this species are urbanization and the invasion and subsequent competition of non-native plants (CNPS 2001).

Special Biological Considerations

Further studies are necessary to determine the current distribution of the species.

LITERATURE CITED

CNDDB. 2000. Erodium macrophyllum. Unpublished Report. California Department of Fish and Game, Natural Heritage Division, Sacramento, California.

Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Rieser, C. 1994. Rare Plants of San Diego County, 1994 edition. Unpublished. Aquafir Press, San Diego, California.

Taylor, Mary S. 1993. Erodium in The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

San Diego ambrosia (Ambrosia pumila)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

San Diego ambrosia (Ambrosia pumila)

Status:

State: None

Federal: Endangered

CNPS: List 1B (R-E-D Code 3-3-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

San Diego ambrosia is designated as a Group 3 species because of its limited geographic distribution, and specialized habitat and management requirements. Only three populations are known from Riverside County; all are located in the Riverside Lowlands Bioregion. The two largest populations occur in the vicinity of Alberhill. The first occurs both north and south of Nichols Road, west of Interstate 15 and Alberhill Creek; the second is located east of Lake Street, immediately south of Interstate 15. A third, and smaller, population is found at Skunk Hollow, south of Tucalota Creek and east of San Diego Aqueduct 1, near Murietta Hot Springs. At the Alberhill and Nichols Road sites, San Diego ambrosia is found in ruderal habitat and open non-native grassland on Garretson gravelly fine sandy loam soil. Both populations are within floodplain areas associated with Alberhill Creek. At Skunk Hollow, however, San Diego ambrosia occurs in non-native grassland a short distance west of the Skunk Hollow vernal pool. Here, the underlying soil is Las Posas loam.

This is a species on the Narrow Endemic Plant List (Section 6.1.3) and surveys for San Diego ambrosia 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). San Diego ambrosia located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume 1.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 21,800 acres of suitable habitat (grassland and playa/vernal pools between 200 and 500 m within the Riverside Lowlands Bioregion).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least two of the three known locations of this species: Alberhill Creek at Nichols Road and Skunk Hollow.

Objective 3

Surveys for the San Diego ambrosia 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). San Diego ambrosia located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3 of the MSHCP, Volume 1.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

For the purpose of the conservation analysis, potential habitat for San Diego ambrosia is considered to be grasslands and playas/vernal pools in the Riverside Lowlands Bioregion. Based on this assumption for potential habitat, the Plan Area supports approximately 73,810 acres of potential habitat for San Diego ambrosia. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for San Diego ambrosia. Overall, approximately 21,800 acres (30 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 MSHCP Conservation Areas will be managed for the conservation of biological resources, including San Diego ambrosia.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
SAN DIEGO AMBROSIA

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Grassland (between 200 and 500m)	65,930 (89%)	7,100 (10%)	8,270 (11%)	15,080 (20%)	1,410 (2%)	49,450 (67%)	50,850 (69%)
Playas/Vernal Pools (between 200 and 500m)	7,880 (11%)	3,830 (1%)	2,890 (4%)	6,720 (9%)	–	1,160 (2%)	1,160 (2%)
TOTAL	73,810	10,930 (15%)	11,160 (15%)	21,800 (30%)	1,410 (2%)	50,610 (69%)	52,010 (70%)
¹ Within the Riverside Lowlands Bioregion. ² Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area.

San Diego ambrosia is considered to be a Narrow Endemic Plant Species. Within the Riverside Lowlands Bioregion, an additional 8,940 acres outside of the MSHCP Conservation Area but within the Narrow Endemics Plant Survey area will be subject to focused surveys for San Diego ambrosia as part of the Narrow Endemics Policy (Section 6.1.3).

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

Two of the three known extant populations of San Diego ambrosia will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area, as well as the associated watershed.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 21,800 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and two core 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. The third core location (east of Lake Street in the City of Lake Elsinore) will be conserved in accordance with the Narrow Endemics Policy (Section 6.1.3).

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 52,010 (70 percent) acres of potential habitat in the Plan Area will not be conserved, however, of this 8,940 acres will be subject to focused surveys for San Diego ambrosia and newly identified populations conserved in accordance with the Narrow Endemics policy. Three records from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) GIS database will not be conserved (near Pechanga, south of Lake Mathews and near Murrieta); however, these occurrences are suspect and should be verified.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the UCR database, the herbaria at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB; Rarefind 2000) and available literature. The CNDDB contains two records: Skunk Hollow and Alberhill near Nichols Road. The two herbaria contain six occurrences at three locations: Skunk Hollow, Alberhill near Nichols Road, and east of Lake Street in the City of Lake Elsinore. The UCR database contains four records, one in the Murietta Hot Springs area near Skunk Hollow (1991), south of Lake Mathews near the Gavilan Plateau from 1997, near Pechanga (1992) and near Murrieta (1994). These last three points are reported as spatially explicit to within about 2 kilometers, and were reported as mapped from peer reviewed sources. The point location near the Gavilan Plateau may have been mistakenly digitized as no known occurrences have been reported in this area (CNDDB; Burrascano 1997; F. Roberts, pers. comm 2000). Additional information on the Lake Street population was contained in an unpublished report prepared for the Alberhill Sports and Entertainment project near Alberhill in the City of Lake Elsinore (Natural Resource Consultants 2000). In this area east of Lake Street, approximately 12,800 plants were estimated to occur in six patches within the site. Additional plants were identified approximately 1,300 feet offsite.

No peer-reviewed journal articles specifically concerning San Diego ambrosia currently exist; however, several exist regarding the genus Ambrosia. A moderate amount of technical papers concerning San Diego ambrosia are available some of which have received public review but none have been peer-reviewed. The focus of most of the technical papers is species description and the status of transplant efforts. Included in the body of technical literature is a petition for listing the species with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and two management plans. Several published floras also provide taxonomic, habitat and distribution information.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

San Diego ambrosia occurs in open floodplain terraces or on in the watershed margins of vernal pools. This species occurs in a variety of associations that are dominated by sparse non-native grasslands or ruderal habitat in association with river terraces, vernal pools, and alkali playas (Munz 1974; Reiser 2001).The extant Riverside County localities are found on Garretson gravelly fine sandy loams when in association with floodplains, and on Las Posas loam in close proximity to silty, alkaline soils of the Willows series (Knecht 1971) at Skunk Hollow. Preliminary testing of agricultural suitability of soils within a San Diego ambrosia population in San Diego County revealed mostly sandy loam textured soils, that were moderately acidic (pH ranging from 4.48 to 5.77) and low in salinity (DUDEK 1999). Control soil samples adjacent to this population where no San Diego ambrosia were present were more acidic ranging in pH from 3.97 to 4.63. Boling (1988) reported San Diego ambrosia from slopes from 0-9 percent slope on sandy or clay loams. At Mission Trails regional park in San Diego, patches of San Diego ambrosia occurred upon slope angles ranging from 0 to 18 percent with the vast majority of plants occurring at slope angles of less than 5 percent (DUDEK 1999).

San Diego ambrosia generally occurs at low elevations generally less than 1600 feet in the Riverside populations and less than 600 feet in San Diego County (CNDDB; UCR database; Munz 1974; Hickman 1993). Commonly associated species include Nassella spp., Avena spp., Bromus spp., Centaurea melitensis, Ambrosia psilostachya, Hemizonia fasciculata, Holocarpha virgata, Distichlis spicata, Eremocarpus setigerus, and several vernal pool species (e.g., Navarretia fossalis) (Burrascano 1997; DUDEK 1999).

Biogeography

San Diego ambrosia is distributed from western Riverside County and western San Diego County, California south in widely scattered populations along the west coast of Baja California, Mexico, to the vicinity of Cabo Colonet (Munz 1974; Reiser 2001). Additional populations occur in the central highlands of Baja California in the vicinity of Laguna Chapala near Catavina (Reiser 2001; Burrascano 1997). The majority of the California populations occur in San Diego County, where approximately 11 distinct populations have been reported along with two transplanted populations (Southwest Center for Biological Diversity 1996; Burrascano 1997; CNDDB 2001). The complex of populations near Laguna Chapala reportedly contain the largest number of individuals. The status of populations between Cabo Colonet and the U.S. border are less certain and are rapidly disappearing from recreation development and agricultural conversion.

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

There are three known extant populations for this species in the Plan Area: Alberhill near Nichols Road, east of Lake Street in the City of Lake Elsinore, and Skunk Hollow. All are considered to be core locations.

Biology

Systematics: Approximately forty-two species of the genus Ambrosia occur in the western hemisphere primarily in arid regions of the southwest United States and northern Mexico (Payne 1975). Twelve of these occur in California and all but three are expected to occur in the Western Riverside Plan Area. San Diego ambrosia is closely related to A. confertiflora, another herbaceous species with finely dissected leaves and single-seeded fruit (Payne, et al. 1972). In the past, populations of this species were misidentified as San Diego ambrosia. Species variability is common within species of the Ambrosia in part because of the presence of polyploid races and dysploidy (Payne 1976). Based on a sample of San Diego ambrosia collected in San Diego County (Santee, CA) the gametic (haploid) chromosome number is 72 (unpublished data from Payne, et al. 1964). With the base 18, San Diego ambrosia in its vegetative stage is an octoploid with 144 chromosomes. This may be a mechanism for regularizing a hybrid background, which may serve to reduce the plant's adaptability by stabilization of the phenotype ( Payne, pers. comm. 1998).

Preliminary results from work by the Soil Ecology and Restoration Group (SERG) using electrophoretic gels suggests that two distant populations ( El Cajon, CA and the Sweetwater area in southern San Diego, CA) are genetically distinct and that genetic variation within each of these two populations is low (Johnson et al. 1999). Additional work concerning genetic variability of San Diego ambrosia is currently in progress from the SERG lab.

Reproduction: Little published information is available concerning the reproductive processes of San Diego ambrosia. It is a clonal, perennial herb in the family Asteraceae (Munz 1974; Payne 1993). Sexual reproduction and seed-set are not considered to be common in this taxon suggesting that propagation and dispersal by seed is limited. Propagation is primarily through extensions of rhizomes (underground stems) indicating that each population could be a single plant and restricted to the immediate appropriate habitat. San Diego ambrosia is sensitive to seasonal conditions and variation causing the amount of above ground mass to fluctuate from year to year. Flowers are generally present from June through September (Munz 1974). Ambrosia species are probably primarily wind pollinated but other vectors (e.g. crawling insects) may play a role (Payne, pers. comm. 1998). Because pollen is contained in the downward facing male flower and is positioned above female flowers, San Diego ambrosia is probably to a large extent self-pollinating. Pollen studies are needed to determine if out crossing is necessary for viable seed production within this species (Burrascano 1997; Johnson, et al. 1999). Perennial Ambrosia species generally produce less seeds than annual species instead investing reproductive resources in below ground root structures (Payne 1962). Several technical reports prepared to document transplant efforts offer support for the lack of, or low, seed reproduction in the species (Boling 1988; Marquez 1993; RECON 1993).

Preliminary analysis of seed viability have revealed little evidence of viable embryonic material (Ransom Seed Labs report in DUDEK 1999). Although this study adds support to the low rate of sexual reproduction in San Diego ambrosia, a larger, multi-season sample needs to be collected to determine the viability of reproduction by seed.

Most technical studies and anecdotal accounts have reported preliminary success propagating San Diego ambrosia from root material both in the nursery and in the field (Boling 1988; Marquez 1991-1993; RECON 1993; Bohn, pers. comm. 1998; Johnson, et al. 1999). Because San Diego ambrosia reproduces vegetatively and appears to be limited in its ability to sexually reproduce it probably is not a species capable of adapting to rapidly changing conditions. This may be a factor related to its limited distribution.

Low genetic diversity and low rates of sexual reproduction may be further diminished by propagation and transplantation. When small samples of root material are collected from insular populations and propagated and transplanted over larger areas, reproductive function problems may increase. Research concerning the genetic diversity and sexual reproduction of the plant is needed to answer basic questions about the biology and long term viability of this species.

Dispersal: Seed dispersal mechanisms for San Diego ambrosia are unknown. Because San Diego ambrosia is one of the few members of the Ambrosia genus that do not have armed involucral bracts it is less likely to disperse seeds by attaching to animals. Additionally, because the species has been reported to persist within horse corrals and is aromatic it may be unpalatable and unlikely dispersed by ungulate consumption. The species propensity to reproduce asexually suggests that the most common form of dispersal may be movement of rhizome-like structures either short distances by growth or longer distance by flood disturbance.

Demography: Demographic studies for the plant are generally lacking. Estimates of individuals in a population sizes have been made in the CNDDB and in a single-year study at Mission Trails Regional Park in San Diego county. Populations within the Plan Area have been estimated to consist of approximately 500 stems at the Skunk Hollow site over a 50-square meter area and approximately 3,400 stems at the Nichols Road site (CNDDB 2000). San Diego ambrosia at Mission Trails occurred in discrete patches ranged in size from 8 to 2,965 square-feet. The density of leaf shoots within these patches averaged from approximately 3 to 50 per square-meter (<1 to 5 per square foot) (DUDEK 1999). Variation in stem counts from year to year is large and seems to be associated with the amount of precipitation. The Nichols Road population ranged from 150-200 to 3,400 over two consecutive years (1996 and 1997 respectively) (CNDDB 2000). Mapping of the Mission Trails site over different years suggest that changes in the location and configuration of patches may also vary significantly from year to year (RECON 1993; DUDEK 1999). Multi-year studies are needed to adequately define the local extent and quantity of individuals. Furthermore additional genetic analysis is needed to define what should be considered an individual in this putatively clonal species.

Threats to Species

The primary threat to San Diego ambrosia is habitat loss due to urbanization, habitat fragmentation, isolation, and associated impacts from non-native species competition. Nearly all U.S. populations occur in sites that are disturbed and frequently affected by secondary impacts (e.g., trampling, non-native plant competition) due to proximity of development and infrastructure (e.g., roads and pipelines). While the Skunk Hollow population occurs within a wetlands conservation bank, the other two known Riverside populations (Alberhill and Nichols Road) are threatened by development of a sports park and road construction. While San Diego ambrosia is considered to be tenacious in appropriate habitat, it is thought to be a weak competitor with invasive herbaceous and non-native grass species. The 1941 recorded population in the City of Riverside has likely been extirpated by urban development or is threatened by a combination of development and fragmentation.

Special Biological Considerations

San Diego ambrosia appears to be primarily a clonal species that does not, under current conditions, favor sexual reproduction. Preliminary research suggests that a population may consist of a single or few genetic individuals. If further research confirms this suggestion, preservation of the remaining distant populations may be necessary to allow for sexual reproduction and/or conservation of the remaining genetic diversity. If San Diego ambrosia requires out crossing to reproduce sexually, the distances between remaining populations probably precludes pollination between populations. Management is probably required to enhance the genetic diversity and long-term survival of the species.

Because a portion of San Diego ambrosia populations remain dormant in dry years and because of its vegetative similarity with other Ambrosia spp., it is difficult to inventory in terms of identification, number of individuals and true spatial extent of populations. Additional multi-year surveys are usually necessary to determine presence or absence of the species in superficially suitable habitats. For example, one of the largest, most expansive populations in the United States (Rancho San Diego) was not discovered until 1997. This population was found adjacent a golf course in a frequently surveyed area of San Diego County.

Reduction of high productivity non-native species is probably necessary to maintain or enhance habitat for San Diego ambrosia. Because San Diego ambrosia can co-occur with other sensitive species (e.g., Brodiaea orcuttii, Navarretia fossalis, Atriplex coulteri, etc.) attempts to restore or enhance habitat should consider potential impacts to these species.

LITERATURE CITED

Beauchamp, R. M. 1986. A Flora of San Diego County, California. Sweetwater Press, National City, California.

Bohn, J., 1998. Personal Communication Jeff Bohn. Tree of Life Nursery. San Juan Capistrano, CA November, 1998.

Boling, L. 1988. A Report and Review of the Status of San Diego Ambrosia in San Diego County: Ambrosia pumila Population Survey and Description for Proposed State Route 52 at Hollins Lake. EA 047050.

Burrascano, C. 1997. A petition to the State of California Fish and Game Commission to list Ambrosia pumila as Endangered. Unpublished report.

California Natural Diversity Database 1998, 1999, 2000. Ambrosia pumila, unpublished report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.

Dudek & Associates, Inc. August 26, 1999. City of San Diego Mission Trails Regional Park, San Diego Ambrosia Management Plan, unpublished report, 36 pp. + appendices.

Hickman, J.C. 1993. The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley. 1400 pp.

Johnson, J., D. Bainbridge, J. Janssen, and Truesdale. Ambrosia pumila Monitoring, outplanting and salvage. A section of the Progress Report 1998-1999 [to California Department of Transportation (CT99)], Revegetation of Dry, Severe Environments, unpublished report, 1999. 9 pp.

Marquez, V. 1991-1993. Monitoring Reports SR Route 52 Mitigation Site (EA 010243) and A Propagation Study for Ambrosia pumila. Unpublished report. Prepared for California Department of Transportation.

Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Payne, W. W. 1962. Biosystematic Studies of Four Wide spread Weedy Species of Ragweeds (Ambrosia: Compositae) Doctoral Thesis. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI.

Payne, W. W., Peter H. Raven and D. W. Kyhos. 1964. Chromosome Numbers in Compositae. IV. Ambrosieae. Amer. Journ. Bot. 51:4 pp 419-424.

Payne, W. W., R.W. Scora and J. Kujamoto 1972. The Hickman, J.C. 1993. Volatile Oils of Ambrosia (Compositae; Ambrosieae). Brittonia, V. 24 no.2, pp189-198.

Payne, 1998. Willard W. Payne Ph.D. Personal communication November 30, 1998. Sanibel Florida.

PSBS. 1995. Final Report on the Transplantation and Monitoring of Ambrosia pumila at Gillespie Field Airport, El Cajon CA. Prepared for County of San Diego Department of Public Works, Environmental Services Unit. Prepared by R. Mitchel Beauchamp and Greg Hebert at Pacific Southwest Biological Services.

RECON. 1993. San Diego Ragweed Propagation and Relocation Study. Prepared for California Department of Transportation; prepared by Rick Eisenbart and Peter Famolaro at RECON.

Reiser 2001. Rare Plants of San Diego County, 2001 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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

Southwest Center for Biological Diversity, et. al. 1996. Petition to list Ambrosia pumila as a federal endangered species. Unpubl. report.

Wiggins, I. L. 1980. A Flora of Baja California. Stanford University Press. 1025 pp.

San Diego button-celery (Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

San Diego button-celery (Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii)

Status:

State: Endangered (July 1979)

Federal: Endangered (August 3, 1993)

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 2-3-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

San Diego button-celery is designated as a Group 3 species because of its limited geographic distribution and specialized habitat requirements and management requirements for hydrology. Within the Plan Area, this species is restricted to vernal pools on the Santa Rosa Plateau.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least four known locations on the Santa Rosa Plateau.

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the watershed of the known locations on the Santa Rosa Plateau in order to maintain existing hydrologic conditions.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

There is no acreage coverage for vernal pools within the Santa Rosa Plateau. Only four populations are known to occur within the Plan Area. No additional occurrences are expected within the Plan Area. Four known populations and associated watersheds are conserved within the Santa Rosa Plateau.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

The core location of San Diego button-celery will be conserved in Public/Quasi-Public Lands. The configuration of Public/Quasi-Public Lands provides for conservation of the core location and the associated watersheds. Due to the dependence of this species on local hydrology and ephemeral inundation, local densities are expected to fluctuate.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of suitable Conserved Habitat (vernal pools on the Santa Rosa Plateau) and four known localities and associated watershed in the MSHCP Conservation Area.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

No known populations of San Diego button-celery will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. Although no Take of known occurrences of button celery will occur as part of the MSHCP, certain areas located outside the MSHCP Conservation Area may contain vernal pool habitat that could support this species. This habitat type is not mapped as part of MSHCP database and therefore cannot be quantified as potential habitat loss at this time.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the UCR database, CNDDB and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, Pomona and UCR herbaria and available literature. These sources include 15 records. The records include one locality (Murrieta) that likely represents populations on the Santa Rosa Plateau. A 1967 record is located north of the Santa Rosa Plateau and likely represents populations on the Santa Rosa Plateau.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listing status (1993) and vernal pool recovery plan (1996) are the primary literature sources regarding species distribution and range. Species-specific studies have not been conducted for San Diego button-celery regarding pollination, dispersal, population ecology and genetics.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

San Diego button-celery occurs only in vernal pools with clay soils (CNPS 2001; Reiser 1996).

Biogeography

This species occurs within southwestern California and northwestern Baja California, Mexico. San Diego button-celery is known historically from about 70 locations from southern coastal Camp Pendleton and southern Riverside County, south to the Mexican border (CNDDB 2000; Constance 1993; Munz 1974; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). The species is known from about ten locations in Baja California extending south to vicinity of Cabo Colnett (Reiser 1996).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Within Western Riverside County, San Diego button-celery is known only from four populations on the Santa Rosa Plateau (CNDDB 2002). Two populations are on Mesa de Colorado, and two are on Mesa de Burro. All populations are within the Santa Rosa Plateau Preserve, the core location for this species. The populations contain fewer then 1,000 individuals. Additional populations are not expected to be found in the Plan Area.

Biology

Genetics: San Diego button-celery is one of three subspecies of Eriastrum aristulatum and belongs to Apiaceae (Constance 1993). The majority of populations once associated with E. aristulatum var. parishii on Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base have been placed under a recently described species: Eryngium pendletonensis (Marsden and Simpson 1999). San Diego button-celery is distinguished from E. pendletonensis by a combination of leaf and flower structures

Reproduction: San Diego button-celery blooms from April to June; the small white flowers vary in length from 1.7 to 2.8 mm (Munz 1974; Constance 1993).

Dispersal: No information regarding dispersal for this species was available.

Demography: This herbaceous perennial is erect to prostrate and ranges in length from 1 to 8 dm (Munz 1974).

Threats to Species

This species is threatened by urbanization and agricultural conversion throughout much of its range (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1993), and by off-road vehicle use, livestock grazing, trampling and competition with non-native species (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). There does not appear to be any significant threat to known populations within Riverside County at this time.

Special Biological Considerations

This species is restricted to vernal pool habitats with clay soils. As with other vernal pool species, this one is dependent on maintaining hydrology and the surrounding watershed.

LITERATURE CITED

California Natural Diversity Database. 1998. Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii, unpublished report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.

Constance, L. 1993. Apiaceae in The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Marsden, K. and M. Simpson. 1999. Eryngium pendletonensis (Apiaceae): a New Species from Southern California. Madroño 46:61-64.

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., B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society''s Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1993. Determination of Endangered or Threatened Status for Three Plants and a Fairy Shrimp from Vernal Pools in Southwestern California. Federal Register 58: 41391.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998. Recovery Plan for Vernal Pools of Southern California. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Region One, Portland, Oregon.

San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw (Galium angustifolium ssp. jacinticum)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw (Galium angustifolium ssp. jacinticum)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: Sensitive Species

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-1-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw is designated as a Group 3 species because of its restriction to the San Jacinto Mountains and its need for site specific management and monitoring. Within the Plan Area, San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw is restricted to lower montane mixed forest and coniferous forest at elevations of 1,280 m to 1,980 m within the San Jacinto Mountains, primarily within USFS lands. San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw is endemic to the San Jacinto Mountains and has been reported southeast of Hemet, Cherry Valley, Lake Fulmor, Dark Canyon and the Black Mountain area.

San Jacinto Mountain bedstraw 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.

This is a species on the Narrow Endemic Plant List (Section 6.1.3) and surveys for San Jacinto Mountain bedstraw 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). San Jacinto Mountain bedstraw located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume 1.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 12,125 acres of suitable habitat (montane coniferous forest between 1,280 to 1,980 m within the Narrow Edemic survey area of the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least eight of the known locations of this species: Lake Fulmor, Dark Canyon and the Black Mountain area.

Objective 3

Surveys for this species 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). San Jacinto Mountain bedstraw located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume 1.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Potential habitat for San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw includes lower montane mixed forest and coniferous forest at elevations of 1,280 m to 1,980 m within the Narrow Endemic survey area within the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion. Within this analysis, lower montane mixed forest and coniferous forest was categorized as montane coniferous forest. Based on this habitat, this elevation range and the known range of this species, the Plan Area supports approximately 20,670 acres of potential habitat for San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw. Table 1 shows the conservation of potential habitat for San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw. Overall, approximately 12,125 acres (59 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area are within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
SAN JACINTO MOUNTAINS BEDSTRAW

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Montane coniferous forest (between 1,280 and 1,980 m)	20,670	– –	12,125	12,125	– –	8,545	8,545
TOTAL	20,670	0	12,125 (59%)	12,125 (59%)	0	8,545 (41%)	8,545 (41%)
¹ Vegetation includes the vegetation within the Narrow Endemic survey area of the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion. ² Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area.

Although 8,545 acres (41 percent) of potential habitat for San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw 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.

In order to conserve San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw, at least 12,125 acres (59 percent) of the species potential habitat should be conserved and managed for that species within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. None of the potential habitat for this species is within the Criteria Area.

Within the 12,125 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 1,023 acres (5 percent) of potential habitat is designated as Wilderness Area and 164 acres (1 percent) is designated as Roadless Area that do not include Range Allotments.

The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, herbaria at Pomona and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden and California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) include 9 occurrences of this species. Within the UCR database and herbarium records, five of the mapped locations are located in the existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. Within the CNDDB three of the mapped locations are within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. Most occurrences (e.g., Lake Fulmar-Black Mountain Area) and potential habitat are located within the San Bernardino National Forest.

According to the Pomona herbarium, one of the recorded localities is on private lands and is not included in the MSHCP Conservation Area. However, this locality is included within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area and conservation of this 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.

Both the MSHCP and Forest Service Assessment indicate that San Jacinto Mountain bedstraw can be conserved at the landscape level. Therefore, conserving large blocks of land which contain suitable habitat will probably capture populations of San Jacinto Mountain bedstraw.

This is a species on the Narrow Endemic Plant list (Section 6.1.3) and surveys for San Jacinto Mountain bedstraw 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). San Jacinto Mountain bedstraw located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume 1.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

Habitat supporting San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw is located within Public/Quasi-Public Lands, including the San Jacinto Mountains. As mentioned, approximately 12,125 acres (59 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, if applicable, will allow for dispersal via animal vectors within suitable habitat.

This species is found primarily on the western side of the San Jacinto Mountains on Forest Service lands in the San Bernardino National Forest; the species is not found within the Criteria Area. Therefore, MSHCP Conservation Area connectivity is not an issue with this species.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 12,125 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and eight 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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 8,545 acres (41 percent) of potential habitat for San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw will not be conserved. One of the localities is within private in-holdings within the San Jacinto Mountains and will not be 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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the UCR GIS database, herbarium records from Pomona and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, the CNDDB and available literature. These sources include nine occurrences, eight of which are in the San Jacinto Mountains. The known occurrences and potential habitat are located within the San Bernardino National Forest.

The distribution of San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw is well-understood and Dempster and Stebbins (1971) provide insight into the systematic relationships of this species. However, very little information regarding general ecology, life history, reproduction, pollination and dispersal has been published for San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw occurs in partially shady, lower montane mixed forest and coniferous forest (Dempster and Stebbins 1971).

Biogeography

San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw is a Narrow Endemic Species; the distribution of this subspecies is limited to elevations of 1,280 m to 1,980 m on the western side of the San Jacinto Mountains in western Riverside County (Dempster and Stebbins 1971).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw is known from southeast of Hemet; Camilla; Cherry Valley; Lake Fulmor, Dark Canyon and Black Mountain area of the San Jacinto Mountains in the San Bernardino National Forest (Dempster and Stebbins 1971; Dempster 1993).

Biology

Genetics: Dempster and Stebbins (1971) conducted an analysis of the Galium angustifolium complex based on morphological characteristics and chromosome counts. The G. angustifolium complex consists of one narrowly endemic, diploid, uniform species, G. jepsonii, one local hexaploid species, G. johnstonii and one widely distributed polymorphic species containing three ploidy levels, G. angustifolium. San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw is the only hexaploid in the complex but does share a morphological character (long, stout, conspicuous corolla hairs) with other polyploids, which may indicate an origin similar to that of G. angustifolium ssp. gabrielense (Dempster and Stebbins 1971). Dempster and Stebbins (1971) suggest G. angustifolium ssp. nudicaule as a progenitor of San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw.

Reproduction: The rotated flowers of San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw bloom from June through August (CNPS 2001).

Dispersal: Fertilized San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw flowers produce two nutlets densely covered by long, straight and spreading hairs (Dempster 1993). Dispersal by animal vectors is possible.

Demography: Although of limited distribution, this annual/perennial species is not uncommon within the Lake Fulmor-Black Mountain area of the San Jacinto Mountains. San Jacinto Mountains bedstraw has a relatively low habit and is lacking woody stems (Dempster and Stebbins 1971, Munz 1974).

Threats to Species

This species is threatened primarily by habitat loss (CNPS 2001). The Forest Service Assessment states that one population on private lands appears to be declining because of “genetic swamping”. The Assessment also states that most occurrences are known from a small area of the San Jacinto Mountains and that several of these occurrences burned in the 1996 Bee Fire but were later observed resprouting.

Special Biological Considerations

Although of limited distribution, this species is not uncommon within the Lake Fulmor-Black Mountain area of the San Jacinto Mountains (Dempster and Stebbins 1971).

LITERATURE CITED

California Natural Diversity Database. 2000. Galium angustifolium ssp. jacinticum. 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.

Dempster, L. and G. Stebbins. 1971. The Galium angustifolium Complex (Rubiaceae) of California and Baja California. Madroño 21:70-95.

Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Skinner M.W., B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

San Jacinto Valley crownscale (Atriplex coronata var. notatior)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

San Jacinto Valley crownscale (Atriplex coronata var. notatior)

Status:

State: None

Federal: Endangered

CNPS: 1B (RED Code 3-3-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

San Jacinto Valley crownscale 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. San Jacinto Valley crownscale occurs as 11 loosely-defined populations (comprising three Core Areas) that are primarily associated with Mystic Lake, the San Jacinto River and Salt Creek tributary drainages. One additional population is known to occur on Willows soils at Alberhill Creek near Lake Elsinore.

This is a species on the Additional Survey Needs and Procedures (Section 6.3.2) list and surveys for San Jacinto Valley crownscale 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). San Jacinto Valley crownscale located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2, MSHCP, Volume I.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the Alberhill Creek locality as well as the three Core Areas, located along the San Jacinto River from the vicinity of Mystic Lake southwest to the vicinity of Perris and in the upper Salt Creek drainage west of Hemet.

Objective 3

Surveys for the San Jacinto Valley crownscale 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 1). San Jacinto Valley crownscale 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.

Objective 4

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.

Objective 5

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Suitable habitat for the San Jacinto Valley crownscale 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 18,250 acres of potential habitat for the San Jacinto Valley crownscale. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for the San Jacinto Valley crownscale. 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 San Jacinto Valley crownscale.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
SAN JACINTO VALLEY CROWNSCALE

Vegetation Type	MSHCP Plan Area¹ (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type	MSHCP 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)
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, San Jacinto Valley crownscale is restricted to highly alkaline, silty-clay soils in association with Traver, Domino, and Willows soils association; the majority (approximately 80 percent) of the populations being associated with the Willows soil series (Roberts and McMillan 1997; Bramlet 1993). Within the Mystic Lake, San Jacinto River and Salt Creek areas, there are approximately 18,250 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 5,550 acres of Willows soils mapped in the Mystic Lake, San Jacinto River and Salt Creek areas, 79 percent (4,390 acres) will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.

TABLE 2
SUMMARY OF SOIL CONSERVATION
SAN JACINTO VALLEY CROWNSCALE

Soil Type	MSHCP Plan Area¹ (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Soil Type	MSHCP 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%)
¹Within 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.

Eleven of the 12 populations constitute the three Core Areas (Mystic Lake, the San Jacinto River and the upper Salt Creek drainage), all of which will be conserved within the Criteria Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands. The twelfth population at Alberhill Creek near Lake Elsinore is believed to be located in the Criteria Area.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

All of the Core Areas of the San Jacinto Valley crownscale will be conserved in the Criteria 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 will be expected to fluctuate.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 6,900 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and the locality at Alberhill Creek near Lake Elsinore and the three core localities (Mystic Lake, the San Jacinto River and the upper Salt Creek drainage) 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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 1,370 acres (17 percent) of potential habitat for San Jacinto Valley crownscale will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the University of California, Riverside, (UCR) GIS database, the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), herbaria at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens and UCR and available literature. The CNDDB contains 12 mapped localities. The UCR database and the two herbaria contain 96 records. The mapped data overlap almost entirely, although a few discrepancies are apparent. Two locations mapped in the vicinity of Lake Elsinore probably represent the same location at Alberhill Creek. A mapped locality in Perris probably represents the Perris Airport population two miles to the southeast which is not included in the mapping data. At least two mapped points west of 79 near Hemet likely represent the same population (Salt Creek) and the map point near Double Butte County Park is questionable.

Published and unpublished literature provided information regarding species range and distribution, population ecology and habitat requirements. Species-specific studies have not been conducted for this species regarding population genetics, pollinators or germination.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

San Jacinto Valley crownscale occurs primarily in floodplains (seasonal wetlands) dominated by alkali scrub, alkali playas, vernal pools, and, to a lesser extent, alkali grasslands (Bramlet 1993; Roberts 1993). San Jacinto Valley crownscale is restricted to highly alkaline, silty-clay soils in association with the Traver-Domino-Willows soil association; the majority (approximately 80 percent) of the populations being associated with the Willows soil series (Roberts and McMillan 1997; Bramlet 1993).

Biogeography

San Jacinto Valley crownscale is endemic to western Riverside County and is restricted to the San Jacinto, Perris, Menifee and Elsinore Valleys (Munz 1974; Taylor and Wilken 1993; Roberts and McMillan 1997).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

In Western Riverside County, there are 12 known occurrences of San Jacinto Valley crownscale. Eleven of these loosely-defined occurrences are primarily associated with Mystic Lake, the San Jacinto River and Salt Creek tributary drainages (Roberts 1993; Roberts and McMillan 1997; CNDDB 2000). One small, isolated population has recently been discovered on Willows soils at Alberhill Creek near Lake Elsinore (Roberts and McMillan 1997). The majority of the populations of San Jacinto Valley crownscale are located on privately owned lands. Three populations are on State land (San Jacinto Wildlife Area), one population is partially on County lands (Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency along the San Jacinto River), and one population is on a private preserve managed by Metropolitan Water District. This plant is not known to occur on federal lands. There are three Core Areas for this species: at Mystic Lake, along the San Jacinto River from the vicinity of Mystic Lake southwest to the vicinity of Perris, and in the upper Salt Creek drainage west of Hemet (Hemet vernal pool area).

Biology

Genetics: San Jacinto Valley crownscale is one of two varieties of Atriplex coronata within Chenopodiaceae. A. coronata var. coronata has a more northerly distribution than San Jacinto Valley crownscale and the two are not sympatric (CNPS 2001). Little is known about the genetics of this species; no mention of hybridization is mentioned in the literature reviewed.

Reproduction: This bushy, erect annual is monoecious: the staminate and pistillate flowers occur in mixed clusters. San Jacinto Valley crownscale usually flowers in April and May and sets fruit by May or June (D. Bramlet in litt. 1992). San Jacinto Valley crownscale germinates after the water has receded. Preliminary studies by Ogden Environmental, Inc. indicate that San Jacinto Valley crownscale seeds retain a relatively high viability for at least several seasons. It is therefore possible that a viable seed bank exists in the soil of a known site even if plants are removed or fail to germinate for a season (Ogden 1993).

Dispersal: San Jacinto Valley crownscale is a prolific seeder (Ogden 1993). Seeds are dispersed by seasonal flooding or inundation (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998).

Demography: San Jacinto Valley crownscale is a low, grayish annual. This species requires seasonal inundation or flooding for habitat rejuvenation and seed dispersal, although the duration and extent of flooding may vary substantially from year-to-year (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). Population sizes vary considerably from year to year, and this species often appears within different sites within suitable habitat, depending upon rainfall, temperature and extent of winter flooding (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1994).

Threats to Species

San Jacinto Valley crownscale is declining throughout its range due to 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 non-native plant species (Bramlet 1993; Roberts and McMillan 1997; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998).

Special Biological Considerations

San Jacinto Valley crownscale has a patchy distribution within suitable habitat and its spatial distribution shifts over time as conditions and seed banks change (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). Hence, this species likely requires significantly more habitat than is occupied during any one season to maintain population dynamics within the watershed and the microhabitat diversity upon which this taxon depends.

Like other species on the floodplains of Salt Creek and the San Jacinto River, San Jacinto Valley crownscale depends on specific hydrology: sporadic flooding in combination with slow drainage in alkaline soils characterized by alkali scrub, alkali playa, alkali vernal pool and alkali annual grassland habitat. These habitats form a dynamic matrix that allows the populations of San Jacinto Valley crownscale to expand into favorable sites and retreat from less favorable sites in response to disturbance and climate. Hence, this species requires significantly more habitat than is currently occupied during any one season to maintain population dynamics within the watershed and microhabitat diversity upon which this taxon depends. Flooding at irregular intervals is an important process that maintains crownscale habitat in a successional state, restores disturbed alkali habitats and probably disperses seed.

During the last several years, nearly continuous disturbances (discing, sludge dumping, etc.) have significantly reduced the potential for vernal pools to form along the San Jacinto River and Salt Creek. This has resulted in significant declines of San Jacinto Valley crownscale within critical populations. 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.

A viable seed bank may exist at a known population site even if plants are removed or fail to germinate for a season (Ogden 1993). San Jacinto Valley crownscale may be obscure and difficult to recognize at some times of the year and may be difficult to distinguish from other species of Atriplex ( particularly A. rosea) early or late in the season.

This species is found in association with other listed and sensitive species, including Parish's brittlescale, thread-leaved brodiaea, smooth tarplant, California Orcutt grass, Coulter's goldfields, little mousetail and spreading navarretia (Bramlet 1993; Roberts 1993; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1994).

LITERATURE CITED

Bramlet, D. 1992. Letter to Mr. Dick Zembal, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad Field Office, dated October 19, 1992.

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 2000. Atriplex coronata var. notatior, 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.

Ogden Environmental and Energy Services Co., Inc. 1993. Botanical Technical Report for the Eastside Pipeline Project. Prepared for Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Roberts, F.M. 1993. Status review and threat assessment: Atriplex coronata var. notatior (Chenopodiaceae) San Jacinto Valley crownscale. Unpublished Report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad Field, Carlsbad, California.

Roberts, F.M., and B. McMillan 1997. San Jacinto Valley crownscale (Atriplex coronata var. notatior), 1997 status update. Unpublished Report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad Field Office, Carlsbad, California.

Skinner M.W., B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

Taylor, D. and D.H. Wilken. 1993. Atriplex in The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1994. Proposed Rule to List Four Southwestern California Plants as Endangered or Threatened. Federal Register 59(240): 64812-64823.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998. Determination of endangered or threatened status for four southwestern California plants from vernal wetlands and clay soils. Federal Register 63: 54975.

San Miguel savory (Satureja chandleri)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

San Miguel savory (Satureja chandleri)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 4 (RED Code 1-2-2)

Forest Service: Sensitive Species

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

San Miguel savory is designated as a Group 3 species because of its narrowly-defined geographic distribution and its specialized habitat and soils requirements. This species is primarily restricted to rocky, gabbroic and metavolcanic substrates in coastal sage scrub, chaparral, cismontane woodland, riparian woodland, and valley and foothill grasslands (between 120 and 1,005 m). The majority of the populations/individuals are associated with the Santa Rosa Plateau and the Santa Ana Mountains.

This is a species on the Narrow Endemic Plant List (Section 6.1.3) and surveys for San Miguel savory 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). San Miguel savory located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume I.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 201,450 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral, coastal sage scrub, cismontane forest, riparian woodland, and valley and foothill grassland between 120 and 1,005 m).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least seven of the known locations of San Miguel savory on the Santa Rosa Plateau; in the vicinity of Tenaja guard station and three miles south of Murrieta near De Luz Road in the Santa Ana Mountains; and three miles southwest of Murrieta near Warner's Ranch.

Objective 3

Surveys for San Miguel savory 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 and gabbro soils are present (see Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-1 of the MSHCP, Volume I). San Miguel savory located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume 1.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Potential habitat for this species includes areas supporting rocky, gabbroic and metavolcanic substrates in coastal sage scrub, chaparral, cismontane woodland, riparian woodland, and valley and foothill grasslands (between 120 and 1,005 m). For the purpose of the conservation analysis, potential habitat for San Miguel savory includes coastal sage scrub, chaparral, cismontane woodland, riparian woodland, and valley and foothill grasslands in the Santa Ana mountains and Riverside Lowlands Bioregions. Based on these habitats and Bioregions, the Plan Area supports approximately 426,000 acres of potential habitat for the San Miguel savory. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for the San Miguel savory. Approximately 201,450 acres (47 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area occur in the MSHCP Conservation Area. It is assumed that these lands will be managed for sensitive biological resources, including San Miguel savory.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
SAN MIGUEL SAVORY

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Chaparral (between 120 and 1,005 m)	161,800 (38%)	28,260 (7%)	67,960 (16%)	96,220 (23%)	37,700 (9%)	27,880 (6%)	65,580 (15%)
Coastal sage scrub (between 120 and 1,005 m)	118,990 (28%)	28,630 (7%)	26,940 (6%)	55,570 (13%)	23,570 (5%)	39,850 (9%)	63,420 (15%)
Grassland (between 120 and 1,005 m)	120,060 (28%)	13,550 (3%)	18,840 (4%)	32,390 (8%)	9,980 (2%)	77,690 (18%)	87,670 (20%)
Riparian scrub, woodland, forest (between 120 and 1,005 m)	13,450 (3%)	4,100 (0.9%)	6,520 (2%)	10,620 (3%)	320 (0.1%)	2,510 (0.6%)	2,830 (3%)
Woodlands and forests (between 120 and 1,005m)	11,700 (3%)	1,560 (0.4%)	5,090 (1%)	6,650 (2%)	3,610 (0.8%)	1,440 (0.3%)	5,050 (1%)
TOTAL	426,000	76,100 (18%)	125,350 (29%)	201,450 (47%)	75,180 (18%)	149,270 (35%)	224,550 (53%)
¹ Vegetation type includes data from the Riverside Lowlands and the Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. ² Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area.

No core locations of San Miguel savory have been identified within the MSHCP Conservation Area. However, the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), University of California, Riverside (UCR) GIS database, herbaria at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens contain 12 occurrences collectively which are known from the Santa Rosa Plateau and in the Santa Ana Mountains: one mile west of Murrieta on Tenaja Road, ten miles west of Murrieta (vicinity of Tenaja guard station), three miles south of Murrieta near De Luz Road, and three miles southwest of Murrieta near Warner's Ranch. Of the UCR database and herbarium records, all seven of the mapped individuals are located on existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands within the Santa Rosa Plateau and in the vicinity of the Santa Rosa Plateau. Within the CNDDB, one of the five mapped locations is located within the Criteria Area along Sage Road (north of Red Mountain Road). The Sage Road locality is out of the known range of this species and is considered suspect.

San Miguel savory is considered to be a Narrow Endemic Plant Species. Within the Riverside Lowlands and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions, 27,760 acres outside of the MSHCP Conservation Area are within the Narrow Endemics Plant survey area and new populations of San Miguel savory will be conserved in accordance with the Narrow Endemics Policy (Section 6.1.3).

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

Several large blocks of habitat supporting San Miguel savory will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area, including Steele Mountain, the Santa Rosa Plateau, the vicinity of the Hogbacks and the Santa Ana 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.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 201,450 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and seven known localities (on the Santa Rosa Plateau and in 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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 224,550 (53 percent) of potential habitat for San Miguel savory will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area, however, of this 27,760 acres will be subject to focused surveys for San Miguel savory and newly identified populations conserved in accordance with the Narrow Endemics policy. Within the CNDDB, four of the five mapped locations will not be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. These occurrences are all in the vicinity of the Santa Rosa Plateau. It should be noted that the Narrow Endemic Plant Species policy will apply to locations outside the MSHCP Conservation Area.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the CNDDB, the UCR database, herbaria at UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, and available literature. The CNDDB contains five occurrences for this species; the UCR database and herbaria have seven occurrences. The majority of the occurrences are on the Santa Rosa Plateau and the Santa Ana Mountains.

Species-specific studies for San Miguel savory 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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

San Miguel savory is associated with rocky, gabbroic and metavolcanic substrates in coastal sage scrub, chaparral, cismontane woodland, riparian woodland, and valley and foothill grasslands (CNDDB 2000).

Biogeography

San Miguel savory occurs in Orange County, Riverside County, San Diego County, and Baja California, Mexico, at elevations between 120 and 1,005 m (CNDDB 2000; Reiser 1996; CNPS 2001).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Occurrences of San Miguel savory are known from the Santa Rosa Plateau (Lathrop and Thorne 1985); in the Santa Ana Mountains: one mile west of Murrieta on Tenaja Road, ten miles west of Murrieta (vicinity of Tenaja guard station), three miles south of Murrieta near De Luz Road, and three miles southwest of Murrieta near Warner's Ranch. Core locations of this species have not been identified within the Plan Area.

Biology

Genetics: San Miguel savory is one of three species of Satureja in southern California and belongs to the Lamiaceae. The three species are differentiated by morphological characters including habit, pubescence, and calyx and leaf length (Averett 1993).

Reproduction: This species flowers from March through May (Munz 1974; CNPS 2001). The flowers grow from the leaf axils in clusters of one to six and range in color from white to lavender. The two-lipped flowers are 4 to 7 mm long. The nutlets are shiny and dark brown, and 1.5 mm in diameter (Averett 1993). Information regarding pollinators of this species was not available.

Dispersal: Information regarding dispersal of this species has not been reviewed.

Demography: This perennial shrub is branched and the upper parts are pubescent (hairs short, white). San Miguel savory ranges in height from 2 to 5 dm (Munz 1974).

Threats to Species

This species is threatened by agricultural conversion, urban development and recreational activities (CNPS 2001).

Special Biological Considerations

This species is associated with rocky, gabbroic and metavolcanic substrates (CNDDB 2000).

LITERATURE CITED

Averett, D. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

California Natural Diversity Database. 2000. Satureja chandleri. Unpublished Report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, 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. 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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

Santa Ana River woollystar (Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanctorum)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Santa Ana River woollystar (Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanctorum)

Status:

State: Endangered (January 1987)

Federal: Endangered (September 28 1987)

CNPS: List 1B (Red Code: 3-3-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

Santa Ana River woollystar is designated as a Group 3 species because of its narrowly restricted geographic distribution, specialized habitat requirements and management requirements for floodplain processes. This species is restricted to open washes and early-successional alluvial fan scrub on open slopes above main watercourses on fluvial deposits where flooding and scouring occur at a frequency that allows the persistence of open shrublands. The Santa Ana River woollystar has a narrowly restricted distribution within the Plan Area (Santa Ana River) and thus requires species-specific monitoring and management in order to ensure species persistence within the Plan Area.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 2,340 acres of suitable habitat (Riversidean alluvial fan sage scrub between 150 and 580 m in the Riverside Lowlands Bioregion).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least three localities of this species along the Santa Ana River near the San Bernardino County border.

Objective 3

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the floodplain along the Santa Ana River. Alluvial 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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

To facilitate the region-wide conservation and recovery of this species, it is imperative that occupied habitat and potential supporting habitat be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. For the purpose of the conservation analysis, potential habitat for the Santa Ana River woollystar includes open washes and early-successional alluvial fan scrub (between 150 and 580 m above msl) on open slopes above main watercourses where flooding and scouring occur at a frequency that allows the persistence of open shrublands. Based on these habitat requirements, the Plan Area supports approximately 3,250 acres of potential habitat for Santa Ana River woollystar. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for Santa Ana River woollystar. Approximately 2,340 acres (72 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area. It is assumed that this area will be managed for sensitive biological resources, including Santa Ana River woollystar.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
SANTA ANA WOOLLYSTAR

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Riversidean Alluvial Fan Sage Scrub (between 150 and 580 m)	3,250	1,260 (39%)	1,080 (33%)	2,340 (72%)	90 (3%)	820 (25%)	910 (28%)
TOTAL	3,250	1,260 (39%)	1,080 (33%)	2,340 (72%)	90 (3%)	820 (25%)	910 (28%)
¹ Vegetation type includes the vegetation within the Riverside Lowlands Bioregion. 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 UCR herbarium contain four records of this species, three of which will be conserved: two along the Santa Ana River, one recorded at Vail Lake. The Vail Lake record is probably in error; this occurrence is probably another subspecies (Steve Boyd, pers. comm.). Within the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), both records are located within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands within the Santa Ana River. Four occurrences at three localities along the Santa Ana River (discounting the Vail Lake record) will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area, including the core location (type locality) in the upper portion of the Santa Ana River.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

MSHCP Conservation Area configuration provides for the conservation of all of the known extant localities of this species along the Santa Ana River. Conserving the floodplain of the Santa Ana River will maintain existing alluvial processes, which will provide for the distribution of the species to shift over time as hydrologic conditions and seed bank sources change (local densities are expected to fluctuate). This will also provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat, and provide sufficient habitat to support pollinators (long-tongued digger bee, giant flower-loving fly and hummingbirds) and dispersal agents of the Santa Ana River woollystar.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 2,340 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and the known extant localities (four occurrences) with connectivity along the Santa Ana River in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 3 for this species will maintain alluvial processes (floodplain hydrology and flooding) upon which this species depends.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 910 acres of potential habitat in the Plan Area will not be conserved. The occurrence mapped at Limonite Avenue dates from 1986 and is likely not extant; this locality will not be conserved. No further Take is given for this species.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the CNDDB, the UCR database, the UCR herbarium and available literature. The UCR database and herbarium contain four records for this species. Two of these locations were mapped along the Santa Ana River and one along Limonite Avenue near Mira Loma. An isolated individual was located in the Vail Lake area. This location is considered to be in error (Steve Boyd, pers. comm.). The CNDDB has two occurrences mapped along the Santa Ana River in the vicinity of Highway 60.

Numerous species-specific studies for Santa Ana River woollystar have been conducted regarding genetics, habitat associations, reproduction, pollinators, germination, and dispersal.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

The Santa Ana River woollystar is found only within open washes and early-successional alluvial fan scrub on open slopes above main watercourses on fluvial deposits where flooding and scouring occur at a frequency that allows the persistence of open shrublands. Suitable habitat is comprised of a patchy distribution of gravelly soils, sandy soils, rock mounds and boulder fields (Zembal and Kramer 1984; Zembal and Kramer 1985; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1986). Suitable habitat typically contains low amounts of clay, silt and micro-organic materials (Burk, et al. 1989). These areas typically maintain a perennial plant cover of less than 50 percent. Associated perennial plants include California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), California croton (Croton californicus), yerba santa (Eriodictyon trichocalyx) and scale-broom (Lepidospartum squamatum) (Burk, et al. 1989; Zembal and Kramer 1984; Zembal and Kramer 1985). The Santa Ana River woollystar is an early-successional species and possibly requires flood-mediated habitat rejuvenation (Wheeler and Burk 1990). Sheet flood flows probably occur in this habitat every one hundred to two hundred years (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1986). A 1989 study of woollystar habitats and surrounding habitats revealed that the percent cover of European annuals is lowest in woollystar habitats (Burk, et al. 1989).

Biogeography

The Santa Ana River woollystar occurs along the Santa Ana River and Lytle and Cajon Creek flood plains from the base of the San Bernardino Mountains in San Bernardino County southwest along the Santa Ana River through Riverside County into the Santa Ana Canyon of northeastern Orange County from about 150 to 580 meters (Munz 1974; Patterson 1993; Roberts 1998; Zembal and Kramer 1985; Patterson and Tanowitz 1989).

Known Populations Within Riverside County

Currently within the Plan Area, Santa Ana River woollystar is known only from two small populations (less then 10 individuals) near Market Street within the City of Riverside and west of Fairmont Park and Golf Course (CNDDB 1998). The status of these populations is uncertain. The locality at Limonite Avenue (dated 1986) is not believed to be extant and the Vail Lake record is believed to be in error.

There is one core location at the border of Riverside and San Bernardino counties in the Santa Ana riverbed.

Biology

Genetics: The Santa Ana River woollystar is one of five subspecies of the perennial sub-shrub Eriastrum densifolium. This species exhibits complex morphological variation and the subspecies are difficult to distinguish (Brunell and Whitkus 1993). Based on a study of nineteen quantitative characters, the single morphological variation within Eriastrum densifolium is corolla tube length: the Santa Ana River woolly star has a significantly longer corolla than the other four subspecies (Brunell and Whitkus 1999a).

The results of an analysis of cross-compatibility confirms that the species is self-incompatible but indicates that each of the subspecies is compatible with the other subspecies. Viable seeds were produced by 54 pair-wise crosses of individuals from 24 populations, representing all five subspecies (Brunell and Whitkus 1999b).

A genetic study using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers indicates no major discontinuity between the Santa Ana River woollystar and other subspecies: Santa Ana River woollystar is not a member of a distinct genetic population group. RAPD marker variation within E. densifolium is a continuum and differentiation among populations is related to geographic distance not morphological characteristics. The subspecies appear to be polyphyletic: to have developed from more than one ancestral type (Brunell and Whitkus 1994; Brunell and Whitkus 1997).

On the subspecies level, an enzyme electrophoresis study indicates genetic variation within E. densifolium ssp. sanctorum is higher than expected for an endemic taxon. The degree of allozyme diversity indicates the lack of inbreeding or recent population bottlenecks; this subspecies is not as genetically vulnerable as other endemic taxa (Brunell and Rieseberg 1993).

Reproduction: Santa Ana River woollystar blooms from June to August (Munz 1974). This obligate outcrosser has bright lavender-blue flowers that occur in heads of about twenty large (over one and a quarter inches long) blossoms (Burk et al. 1989). Pollen release occurs before the stigma of the same flower becomes receptive so pollen gatherers are unlikely pollinators. According to field observations by Burk et al. (1989), of the eight insect families and a hummingbird observed visiting woollystar, only digger bees, an anise swallowtail butterfly, a hummingbird and the giant flower-loving fly are capable of reaching the woollystar flower. The giant flower-loving fly (Raphiomidas actoni ssp. actoni) was found to be the most abundant pollinator at one Santa Ana woolly star population (Burk et al. 1989). The peak abundance of the giant flower-loving fly correlates with Santa Ana River woollystar flowering and the flower-loving fly depends on sandy substrate for reproduction. These two species may be mutually dependent at some locations (Burk et al. 1989). At other population sites, the digger bee (Micranthophora flavocincta) or hummingbirds (including the black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri) were observed to be the most abundant pollinator (Muñoz 1991 as cited in Jigour and Roberts 1996; Erickson 1993; Chambers 1993).

Scarification of seeds is not necessary and the optimum germination temperature is approximately 60° Fahrenheit. Leaching by one inch of simulated rainfall significantly increases germination as compared to wetted seeds. Seed viability is high: up to 99 percent (Burk et al. 1989). Germination follows early winter rains; however, many of the seedlings die in the following spring and summer (Chambers 1993).

Dispersal: A study by Burk et al. (1989) during the 1986-87 growing season revealed that 900 to 1000 seeds were produced per plant and 92 percent fell within one foot of the parent plant. Sixty inches (five feet) was the longest dispersal distance observed. Woollystar outer seed coats form a mucilaginous (sticky) mass that binds the seed to surrounding soil particles. Therefore, longer dispersal distances probably are associated with flood events (Burk et al. 1989; Jigour and Roberts 1996).

Demography: Studies have shown that Santa Ana River woollystar seedlings are more successful in recently flooded habitat (Wheeler and Burk 1990; Burk et al. 1989). Average life span for the woolly-star individual is five years and the oldest individual observed was ten years (Burk et al. 1989).

Threats to Species

In Riverside County, this species is threatened by floodplain modification for flood control purposes and development; flood control management (clearing for channel maintenance and construction of flood control structures); off-road vehicle activity; grazing (resulting in heavy weed cover); farming; sand and gravel mining; and loss of habitat and competition with aggressive non-native species such as European grasses and river cane (Arundo donax) (Zembal and Kramer 1985; Burk et al. 1989; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1986).

Special Biological Considerations

This species is a low shrubby perennial that blooms from June to August. There are three primary pollinators: long-tongued digger bee, giant flower-loving fly and hummingbirds. The importance of a particular pollinator type appears to depend on habitat type within the floodplain. Due to high seedling mortality rates, this life stage is the most critical for survival of the species (Chambers 1993). This species is associated with early- to moderate- successional alluvial scrub, and thus requires periodic flooding and silting for the creation of new habitats and colonization. Sustaining Santa Ana River woolly-star will require maintaining a portion of the Santa Ana River alluvial floodplain and possibly artificially reestablishing protected habitats adjacent to aging woolly-star populations for future colonization (Burk, et al. 1989). Parry's spine flower (Chorizanthe parryi var. parryi) is also associated with alluvial scrub habitat (Jigour and Roberts 1996).

LITERATURE CITED

Brunell, M. and L. Rieseberg. 1993. Genetic Variation in the Endangered Santa Ana River Woollystar, Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanctorum (Polemoniaceae). Plant Species Biology 8:1-6.

Brunell, M. and R. Whitkus. 1993. Patterns of Morphological Variation in Eriastrum densifolium,. [Abstract]. American Journal of Botany, 80(6):134.

Brunell, M. and R. Whitkus. 1994. Subspecific Relationships in Eriastrum densifolium based on RAPD markers. [Abstract]. American Journal of Botany, 81(6): 145.

Brunell, M. and R. Whitkus. 1997. RAPD Marker Variation in Eriastrum densifolium (Polemoniaceae): Implications for Subspecific Delimitation and Conservation.

Brunell, M. and R. Whitkus. 1999a. Assessment of Morphological Variation in Eriastrum densifolium (Polemoniaceae): Implications for Subspecific Delimitation and Conservation. Systematic Botany 23(3):351-368.

Brunell, M. and R. Whitkus. 1999b. Analysis of Cross-compatibility in Eriastrum densifolium (Polemoniaceae). Plant Systematics and Evolution 215: 241-254.

Burk, J., C. Jones and J. Wheeler. 1989. New Information on the Rare Santa Ana River Woollystar. Fremontia, 17(3):20-21.

California Natural Diversity Database. 2000. Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanctorum, unpublished report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.

Chambers Group. 1993. Final Management Plan for the Santa Ana River Woollystar Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanctorum. Unpublished Report, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Los Angeles, California.

Erickson, M. 1993. Optimal Outcrossing and Pollinator Foraging Distance in the Santa Ana River woolly star, Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanctorum. M.A. Thesis, Department of Biological Science, California State University, Fullerton. In Jigour and Roberts (1996).

Jigour, V. and F. Roberts. 1996. Slender-Horned Spine flower (Dodecahema leptoceras) and Santa Ana River Woollystar (Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanctorum) Draft Recovery Plan. Prepared for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1.

Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Patterson, W. 1993. Eriastrum, in The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit.,University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Patterson, R. and B. Tanowitz. 1989. Evolutionary and Geographic Trends in Adaptive Anatomy in Eriastrum densifolium. American Journal of Botany, 76(5):706-713.

Roberts, F.M. 1998. A Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Orange County, California. 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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1986. Proposed Endangered Status for Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanctorum (Santa Ana River woollystar) and Centrostegia leptoceras (Slender-horned Spine flower). Federal Register 51(68):12180-12184.

Wheeler, J. and J. Burk. 1990. [Abstract]. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 71(2): 365.

Zembal, R. and K. Kramer. 1984. The Known Limited Distribution and Unknown Future of Santa Ana River Woolystar (Eriastrum). Crossosoma 10(5):1-8.

Zembal, R. and K. Kramer. 1985. The Status of the Santa Ana River Woollystar. Fremontia, 13(3):19-20.

shaggy-haired alumroot (Heuchera hirsutissima)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

shaggy-haired alumroot (Heuchera hirsutissima)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: Sensitive Species

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-1-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

Shaggy-haired alumroot is designated as a Group 2 species. This species is restricted to the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains, primarily within USFS and State Park lands. Within the Plan Area, shaggy-haired alumroot is known from rocky areas and granite crevices within upper-montane coniferous forest and subalpine coniferous forest at elevations of 1,815 m to 3,500 m within the San Bernardino National Forest and San Jacinto State Park in the San Jacinto Bioregion. Seventy-eight percent of the potential habitat for this plant is contained within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. Most of the known occurrences of this species occur east of the Plan Area. Only two localities of shaggy-haired alumroot are known within the Plan Area, both within the San Jacinto Mountains. One locality lies on the western slopes of the San Jacinto Mountains, above the San Jacinto River (UCR database). The other locality is in a gully behind Tahquitz Rock (CNDDB 2000).

This plant is designated as a Forest Service Sensitive Species. The Assessment indicates that it falls under the “minimal influence” category, which means that it is affected minimally by public land management actions. 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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 7,760 acres of suitable habitat (montane coniferous forest between 1,815 and 3,500 m in the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the two known localities of this plant in the San Jacinto Mountains: one locality lies on the western slopes of the San Jacinto Mountains above the San Jacinto River and the other locality is in a gully behind Tahquitz Rock.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Habitat for shaggy-haired alumroot is granite outcrops and formations within upper-montane coniferous forest and subalpine coniferous forest at elevations of 1,815 m to 3,500 m within the San Jacinto Mountains of 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 9,970 acres of potential habitat for shaggy-haired alumroot. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for shaggy-haired alumroot. Overall, approximately 7,760 acres (78 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area are within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
SHAGGY-HAIRED ALUMROOT

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Montane coniferous forest (between 1,815 m and 3,500 m)	9,970	---	7,760	7,760	– –	2,210	2,210
TOTAL	9,970	0	7,760 (78%)	7,760 (78%)	0	2,210 (22%)	2,210 (22%)
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.

Known localities of shaggy-haired alumroot in the Plan Area, within at least 7,760 acres (78 percent) of the species potential habitat will be conserved for that species within Forest Service and State Parks lands. None of the potential habitat for this species is located within the Criteria Area; therefore, approximately 7,760 acres (78 percent) of the of the potential habitat for shaggy-haired alumroot within USFS and State Park lands will be conserved for the species.

Within the 7,760 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 1,436 acres (14 percent) of potential habitat is designated as Wilderness Area. There are no areas containing potential habitat for shaggy-haired alumroot that are designated Roadless Area that do not include Range Allotments.

The two known localities (three occurrences) in the Plan Area are core locations. The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database and California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) include two occurrences of shaggy-haired alumroot within the Plan Area. The two occurrences in the UCR database constitute one locality on the western slopes of the San Jacinto Mountains, above the San Jacinto River within Public/Quasi-Public Lands. The CNDDB contains one mapped locality in the Plan Area, located in a gully behind Tahquitz Rock in the San Jacinto Mountains.

The MSHCP and Forest Service assessment indicate that shaggy-haired alumroot can be conserved at the landscape level. Therefore, conserving large blocks of land which contain suitable habitat will probably capture populations of shaggy-haired.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

Several large blocks of habitat supporting the shaggy-haired alumroot are located within Public/Quasi-Public Lands, including the Jacinto Mountains. As mentioned, approximately 7,760 acres (78 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.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 7,760 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and two known localities (three occurrences) within Public/Quasi-Public Lands within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 2,210 acres (22 percent) of potential habitat for shaggy-haired alumroot will not be conserved.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the CNDDB and the UCR database, and available literature. The UCR database contains two occurrences (1920 and 1960) within the Plan Area. Both occurrences constitute one locality in the San Jacinto Mountains above the San Jacinto River. The CNDDB contains one mapped locality in the Plan Area, dating from 1981. This occurrence is located in a gully behind Tahquitz Rock in the San Jacinto Mountains (CNDDB 2000). The databases include eight additional occurrences in the San Jacinto Mountains to the east of the Plan Area.

Species-specific studies for shaggy-haired alumroot 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.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

Shaggy-haired alumroot occurs in upper-montane coniferous forest and subalpine coniferous forest, often near large rocks, at elevations of 1,815 to 3,500 m (CNPS 2001; CNDDB 2000). At the location mapped behind Tahquitz Rock, shaggy-haired alumroot was recorded as occurring at the base of a boulder in a shady, mesic gully in subalpine coniferous forest (CNDDB 2000).

Biogeography

Shaggy-haired alumroot is restricted to the San Jacinto Mountains and Santa Rosa Mountains in Riverside County (Munz 1974; CNPS 2001).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Only two localities (three occurrences) of shaggy-haired alumroot are known within the Plan Area, both within the San Jacinto Mountains. One locality (two occurrences) lies on the western slopes of the San Jacinto Mountain, above the San Jacinto River (UCR database). The other locality is in a gully behind Tahquitz Rock (CNDDB 2000). No core locations of this species have been identified within the Plan Area.

Biology

Genetics: Shaggy-haired alumroot is one of 13 species of the genus Heuchera, and is a member of the Saxifragaceae (Elvander 1993). Shaggy-haired alumroot forms a complex with H. abramsii, H. brevistaminea, H. elegans and H. cespitosa that requires monographic study (Elvander 1993). No species-specific studies for this species regarding population genetics have been located or reviewed.

Reproduction: This species blooms from May through July (CNPS 2001). The bilateral flowers are perfect and small (1 to 2 mm long). The fruits are partially enclosed by the hypanthium and contain numerous small seeds (Elvander 1993). Information regarding pollinators was not reviewed.

Dispersal: No information regarding dispersal of this species was reviewed.

Demography: This herbaceous perennial is rhizomatous and consists of a basal rosette and a raceme-like inflorescence on a scape that ranges in height from 10 to 36 cm (Elvander 1993). Information regarding longevity was not reviewed.

Threats to Species

Threats to this species will be addressed in management measures proposed for the conservation of this plant.

Special Biological Considerations

All known populations of this species in the Plan Area occur within the San Jacinto Mountains Bioregion of the San Bernardino National Forest.

LITERATURE CITED

California Natural Diversity Database. 2000. Heuchera hirsutissima. Unpublished Report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.

Elvander, P. 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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

slender-horned spine flower (Dodecahema leptoceras)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

slender-horned spine flower (Dodecahema leptoceras)

Status:

State: Endangered (Jan. 1982)

Federal: Endangered (Sept. 28, 1987)

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-3-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

Slender-horned spine flower is designated as a Group 3 species because of its specialized habitat requirements and limited distribution. This species is dependent on mature alluvial scrub that is maintained by periodic flooding and sediment transport and only occurs along Arroyo Seco and Kolb Creeks, Temescal Wash at Indian Creek, central Bautista Creek, Vail Lake and the upper San Jacinto River near Valle Vista and Hemet.

This is a species on the Narrow Endemic Plant List (Section 6.1.3) and surveys for slender-horned spine flower 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). Slender-horned spine flower located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume I.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 8,350 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral and Riversidean alluvial fan sage scrub between 200 and 700 m in the Vail Lake Narrow Endemic Species survey area and Agua Tibia Mountains Bioregion).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 11 of the known locations of this species, including Temescal Canyon, Bautista Canyon, upper San Jacinto River, Agua Tibia Wilderness Area, Alberhill, Alberhill Creek east of Lake Elsinore, Railroad Canyon, Vail Lake, Kolb Creek, and east of State Street south of Hemet.

Objective 3

Surveys for slender-horned spine flower 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). Slender-horned spine flower located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume I.

Objective 4

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the floodplain along Arroyo Seco and Kolb Creeks, Temescal Wash at Indian Creek, central Bautista Creek and the San Jacinto River upstream from Valle Vista. Alluvial 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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Areas supporting core locations of slender-horned spine flower along Arroyo Seco and Kolb Creeks, Temescal Wash at Indian Creek, Bautista Creek, Vail Lake, the San Bernardino and Cleveland National Forests are target areas for conservation. Potential habitat for the slender-horned spine flower includes mature alluvial scrub habitat, preferably along a terrace or bench that receives overbank deposits every 50 to 100 years. In the Vail Lake area, this species is also associated with gravel soils of Temecula arkose deposits in association with open chamise chaparral.

For purposes of this analysis, suitable habitat was considered to include chaparral and Riversidian alluvial fan sage scrub between 200 and 700 m in the Vail Lake area of the Narrow Endemic Species survey area and the Agua Tibia Mountains Bioregion. Based on these habitats, elevations and Bioregions, the Plan Area supports approximately 11,300 acres of potential habitat for the slender-horned spine flower, within the Vail Lake area and the Agua Tibia mountains Bioregion. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for the slender-horned spine flower. Approximately 8,350 acres (74 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area. It is assumed that these lands will be managed for sensitive biological resources, including the slender-horned spine flower.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
SLENDER-HORNED SPINE FLOWER

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Chaparral (between 200 and 700 m)	11,030	4,360 (39%)	3,720 (33%)	8,080 (72%)	660 (6%)	2,290 (20%)	2,950 (26%)
Riversidean alluvial fan sage scrub (between 200 and 700 m)	270	270 (0.7%)	– –	270 (2%)	– –	– –	– –
TOTAL	11,300	4,630 (41%)	3,720 (33%)	8,350 (74%)	660 (6%)	2,290 (20%)	2,950 (26%)
¹ Vegetation type includes data from the Vail Lake area and the Agua Tibia Mountains Bioregion. ² Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area.

Of the 27 records from the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens herbarium, 15 of the occurrences will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. These 15 occurrences constitute nine localities: Temescal Canyon, Bautista Canyon, upper San Jacinto River, Agua Tibia Wilderness Area, Alberhill, Alberhill Creek east of Lake Elsinore, Railroad Canyon and Vail Lake.

The California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) contains 11 records, all of which will be conserved, including Temescal Canyon, Alberhill Creek, Kolb Creek, Bautista Canyon, upper San Jacinto River, Agua Tibia Wilderness Area and east of State Street south of Hemet (see Table 2 for a list of known occurrences). All of the core locations (located along Arroyo Seco and Kolb Creeks and at Vail Lake) will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. Approximately 25 percent of the Vail Lake core location occurs within the Cleveland National Forest (Boyd and Banks 1995) and the remaining 75 percent occurs within the Criteria Area. Those slender-horned spine flower individuals occurring along Temescal Wash at Indian Creek will be conserved within the Criteria Area. Two other small populations are known from the upper San Jacinto River near Valle Vista and Hemet (Prigge, et al. 1993; CNDDB 1999). Of those two populations, only the Valle Vista population remains extant although suitable habitat remains near Hemet. The Valle Vista population will be 100 percent conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. The Bautista Creek population will be partially conserved within the Criteria Area and partially conserved within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, including the San Bernardino National Forest.

In addition to the conservation of known core locations and occupied and potential habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area, the Narrow Endemics Policy described in Section 6.1.3 also provides opportunities for the conservation of additional slender-horned spine flower populations identified within the Narrow Endemics Plant Species survey area.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

All of the significant population complexes of slender-horned spine flower (Arroyo Seco and Kolb Creeks and Vail Lake) would be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. Moreover, the configuration of the MSHCP Conservation Area provides for conservation of the 50-year floodplain along Arroyo Seco and Kolb Creek, which would 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.

TABLE 2
LOCATIONS AND POPULATION STATUS OF SLENDER-HORNED SPINE FLOWER

CNDDB Element of Occurrence (EO)	Location	Population Size (Individuals)
EO 1	Valle Vista	1986 - 50 1987 - 100 1994 - 1,000+
EO 13	St. John's Canyon	unknown
EO 16	Temescal Canyon	1989 - <50 1991 - 50
EO 17	Lower Bautista Canyon	1987 - >1,000
EO 21	Upper Bautista Canyon	unknown
EO 23	Arroyo Seco Wash	1989 - 2,500 1991 - 1,500 1995 - 13,000
EO 24	Kolb Creek	1989 - 6,000 1990 - 3,635
EO 25	Between Highway 79 & Vail Lake	1989 - 3,300 1990 - 106 1991 - large
EO 26	Dripping Springs Guard Station	1989 - 5,700 1990 - 3,000+ 1991 - 100's
EO 28	Vail Lake (between marina & campground)	1990 - 86
EO 29	Dripping Springs	unknown

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 8,350 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and 11 localities (15 occurrences) within large blocks of habitat (Temescal Canyon, Bautista Canyon, upper San Jacinto River, Agua Tibia Wilderness Area, and Vail Lake) 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, and implementation of Objective 4 for this species will maintain alluvial processes (floodplain hydrology and flooding) upon which this species depends.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 2,950 acres of potential habitat for the slender-horned spine flower in the Plan Area will not be conserved. However, approximately 2,290 acres outside of the MSHCP Conservation Area will be subject to focused surveys for slender-horned spine flower and newly identified populations conserved in accordance with the Narrow Endemics policy. Of the 27 UCR database and herbarium records, 12 of the occurrences will not be conserved (Gavilan Plateau, north of Meadowbrook, Temescal Canyon, Lake Elsinore, Valle Vista, Agua Tibia Mountains, El Cariso, and east of State Street south of Hemet). It should be noted that these localities will be conserved in accordance with the Narrow Endemics policy and the Riparian/ Riverine Areas and Vernal Pools Policy will apply to potential habitat areas for this species outside the MSHCP Conservation Area.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the UCR database, the herbarium at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, the CNDDB and available literature. The CNDDB includes 12 occurrences and the UCR database and the herbarium contain 27 records. The databases have several duplicate localities. The majority of the mapped localities date from the 1980s and 1990s, although one occurrence at Lake Elsinore dates from 1901 and one occurrence along Vista Creek dates from 1967. The mapped localities reveal four population clusters: Temescal Wash, San Jacinto River, Bautista Creek and washes associated with Arroyo Seco and Kolb Creek along the north flank of the Agua Tibia Mountains and at Vail Lake.

Note, the mapping data require significant modification. Several mapped localities do not appear to be supported by existing data and other locality dots are incorrectly mapped. For example, three localities are indicated for Lake Elsinore when only a single poorly understood locality based on a herbarium specimen from Rancho Santa Ana should be included on the map.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

At the majority of sites, slender-horned spine flower is found in sandy soil in association with mature alluvial scrub (Reveal and Hardham 1989; Rey-Vizgirdes 1994). In the Vail Lake area this species is also associated with gravel soils of Temecula arkose deposits in association with open chamise chaparral (Boyd and Banks 1995; Gordon-Reedy 1997). Prigge, et al. (1993) found that the ideal habitat appears to be a terrace or bench that receives overbank deposits every 50 to 100 years.

Cryptogamic crusts are frequently present in areas occupied by slender-horned spine flower (Boyd and Banks 1995; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1986). These crusts on the soil surface are composed of associations of bryophytes (mosses), algae, lichens, and some xerophytic liverworts (Harper and Marble 1988 as cited in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1996). Cryptogamic crusts enable soils to retain moisture and may help suppress invasion by non-native plant species (Boyd and Banks 1995; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1996).

Biogeography

Slender-horned spine flower is endemic to southwestern cismontane California, ranging from central Los Angeles County east to San Bernardino County, and south to southwestern Riverside County in the foothills of the Transverse and Peninsular Ranges, at 200 to 700 meters elevation (Hickman 1993). Only eight areas are still known to support slender-horned spine flower, including two localities each in Los Angeles County (Bee Canyon and Big Tijunga Wash), and two in San Bernardino County (the Santa Ana River wash and Cajon Wash) (Reveal and Hardham 1989; Rey-Vizgirdes 1994; CNDDB 1999).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

There are four areas known to support slender-horned spine flower in western Riverside County. A small population is reported in Temescal Wash at Indian Creek along the eastern flank of the Santa Ana Mountains (Prigge, et al. 1993; CNDDB 2000). Two other small populations are known from the upper San Jacinto River near Valle Vista and Hemet (Prigge, et al. 1993; CNDDB 1999): only the Valle Vista population remains extant although suitable habitat remains near Hemet. Two small populations are found in central Bautista Creek (Prigge, et al. 1993; Rey-Vizgardes 1994; CNDDB 2000). A significant population complex of slender-horned spine flower consisting of five or six separate groups occurs in association with washes associated with Arroyo Seco and Kolb Creek along the north flank of the Agua Tibia Mountains and at Vail Lake in southern Riverside County (Rey-Vizgardes 1994; Gordon-Reedy 1997; Banks 1999; CNDDB 2000). With estimates of over 10,000 individuals, this complex represents the most extensive population of this species known (Boyd and Banks 1995). The majority of these plants are north of Highway 79.

The majority of populations are on private land. A portion of the Bautista Creek population is within the San Bernardino National Forest and about one quarter of the Vail Lake population is within the Cleveland National Forest (Boyd and Banks 1995). Slender-horned spine flower has also been collected at Lake Elsinore historically although this site is presumed to have been extirpated. The species may once have occurred along the Santa Ana River near the San Bernardino County line (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1996). Occurrences were also recorded at Alberhill and Railroad Canyon (herbarium records).

Core locations of slender-horned spine flower occur as a population complex consisting of five or six separate groups in association with washes associated with Arroyo Seco and Kolb Creek along the north flank of the Agua Tibia Mountains and at Vail Lake in southern Riverside County (Rey-Vizgardes 1994; Gordon-Reedy 1997; CNDDB 2000). This complex represents the most extensive known population (over 10,000 individuals) of this species (Boyd and Banks 1995).

Biology

Genetics: Slender-horned spine flower was described as Centrostegia leptotheca by Goodman (1934 as cited in Reveal and Hardham 1989); however, morphological characters and cytological studies indicate that this species is unique. Therefore, slender-horned spine flower has been placed in a monospecific genus (Reveal and Hardham 1989).

Although this species is protandrous (anthers develop earlier than the stigma), suggesting that slender-horned spine flower is an obligate outcrosser (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1996), Reveal (1989 as cited in Prigge, et al. 1993) determined that slender-horned spine flower is self-compatible. Because the population sizes are large enough (hundreds to thousands of individuals), it is doubtful that this species is experiencing a genetic bottleneck (Reveal 1989 as cited in Prigge, et al. 1993).

Reproduction: This herbaceous annual blooms from April through June and has white to pink flowers (1.2 to 2 mm in length). The flowers produce small (1.7 to 2 mm long), brown or black achenes (Reveal and Hardham 1989). Because slender-horned spine flower is an annual and a spring-bloomer, it is expected to germinate following winter precipitation (Prigge, et al. 1993).

Dispersal: The involucre of the slender-horned spine flower has six ascending awns and six descending awns, suggesting that this species ideally suited for animal dispersal. Potential dispersal agents include coyotes, rabbits, rodents and deer. Dispersal may also occur via flood water or wind (Prigge, et al. 1993; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1996).

Demography: Slender-horned spine flower has a spreading habit and is sparsely glandular (Reveal and Hardham 1989). This annual is small and prostrate, with heights of 5 to 15 cm and diameters of 3 to 10 cm (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1986).

Threats to Species

In Riverside County, this species is threatened by urbanization, off-road vehicle use, sand and gravel mining, trampling associated with recreation, flood control measures (i.e., constriction of the floodplain, dams, etc.), and competition from non-native plant species (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1986; Prigge, et al. 1993).

Special Biological Considerations

This species is generally dependent on mature alluvial scrub that is maintained by periodic flooding and sediment transport. It is important for the survival of this species that adequate alluvial scrub habitat and active fluvial processes be maintained. Individuals are small, and thus may be difficult to locate. This species is only readily detectable in the spring between April and June when in bloom. Population size varies considerably from year to year depending upon rainfall.

LITERATURE CITED

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.

California Natural Diversity Database. 1999. Dodecahema leptoceras, unpublished report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.

Gordon-Reedy, P. 1997. Noteworthy Collections: Dodecahema leptoceras. Madroño 44(3): 305-307.

Hickman, J.C. 1993. Chorizanthe, in The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Prigge, B., O. Chadwick and C. Conel. 1993. Biological Assessment for the Slender-horned Spine flower on the Proposed Gentry Companies Bee Canyon Mobile Home Park. Unpublished Report by Environmental Management Services, La Cañada, California.

Reveal, J. and C. Hardham 1989. Three new monospecific genera of Polygonaceae subfamily Eriogonoideae from California. Phytologia 66(2): 83-88.

Rey-Vizgirdas, E. 1994. Status and conservation of the endangered slender-horned spine flower (Dodecahema leptoceras (Gray) Rev. & Hardham) and alluvial scrub habitat in southern California. Masters Thesis, California State University, Fullerton, California.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1986. Proposed Endangered Status for Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanctorum (Santa Ana River woolly-star) and Centrostegia leptoceras (Slender-horned Spine flower). Federal Register 51(68):12180-12184.

small-flowered microseris (Microseris douglasii var. platycarpha)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

small-flowered microseris (Microseris douglasii var. platycarpha)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 4 (RED Code: 1-2-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

Small-flowered microseris is designated as a Group 2 species because it is known from several Core Areas and is restricted to particular soils series within the Plan Area. Although the species has a scattered distribution, locations appear to be concentrated in the western portion of the Plan Area. Small-flowered microseris is associated with perennial grasslands on clay lenses and on the periphery of vernal pools, typically below 1000 m. Within the Plan Area, populations are known from the Riverside Lowlands and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions, with a cluster of populations near Vail Lake in the San Jacinto Foothills Bioregion.

Most (eight of the 12) of the records for this species are inside of the proposed MSHCP Conservation Area and the MSHCP Conservation Area configuration is expected to provide long-term conservation of the species. However, 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 .

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 45,290 acres of suitable habitat (grassland and playas and vernal pools below 1000 m within the Riverside Lowlands, San Jacinto Foothills and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions), on at least 2,280 acres of clay soils (190 acres of Altamont, 450 acres of Auld, 600 acres of Bosanko, 100 acres of Claypit and 940 acres of Porterville soils).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least eight of the known locations at Lake Matthews, in the Cleveland National Forest, at Lake Skinner and at Vail Lake.

Objective 3

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

For the purpose of the conservation analysis, potential habitat for small-flowered microseris consists of open chaparral, sage scrub and grasslands below 1,000 m the Riverside Lowlands, San Jacinto Foothills, and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. Based on this assumption, the Plan Area supports approximately 139,670 acres of potential habitat for small-flowered microseris. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for small-flowered microseris. Overall, approximately 45,290 (33 percent) of potential habitat in the Plan Area would be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. It is assumed that these public lands would be managed for the conservation of biological resources.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
SMALL-FLOWERED MICROSERIS

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Grassland (below 1000m)	131,760	18,210	20,330	38,540	11,330	81,890	93,220
Playas/Vernal Pools (below 1000m)	7,910	3,830	2,920	6,750	0	1,160	1,160
TOTAL	139,670	22,040 (16%)	23,250 (17%)	45,290 (33%)	11,330 (8%)	83,050 (59%)	94,380 (67%)
¹ Vegetation includes vegetation in 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.

As stated above, small-flowered microseris is found on clay and cobbly clay soils which, within the Plan Area, include the following series: Altamont, Auld, Bosanko, Claypit, and Porterville. Table 2 shows the acreage of Altamont, Auld, Bosanko, Claypit, and Porterville soils found within the proposed Criteria Area, on Public/Quasi-Public Land, on Rural/Mountainous Lands, and outside of the proposed MSHCP Conservation Area which occur coincident with chaparral, coastal sage scrub and grassland. Approximately 2,280 acres (38 percent) of these soils would be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.

The California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) does not contain mapped locations for this species. The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database and the herbaria at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens include 30 records, 23 of which will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. The conserved localities include Lake Mathews, Santa Ana Mountains in the Cleveland National Forest, Lake Skinner, Temescal Canyon, Vail Lake, Paloma Valley, French Valley, Cottonwood Canyon and Alberhill.

TABLE 2
SUMMARY OF SOIL CONSERVATION
SMALL-FLOWERED MICROSERIS

Soil Type	MSHCP Plan Area¹ (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Soil Type	MSHCP 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	1,210	160	290	450	10	750	760
Bosanko	1,570	180	420	600	– –	970	970
Claypit	220	90	10	100	– –	120	120
Porterville	2,540	90	850	940	50	1,550	1,600
TOTAL	6,070	710 (12%)	1,570 (26%)	2,280 (38%)	60 (1%)	3,730 (61%)	3,790 (62%)
¹ Within the Riverside Lowlands, San Jacinto Foothills, and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions, clay series soils underlying unsuitable habitat (e.g., disturbed/developed lands, riparian, water). ² Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

The majority of the known localities of small-flowered morning-glory will be conserved in the Criteria Area or on Public/Quasi-Public Lands. The localities conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area at Temescal Canyon, Vail Lake, Lake Matthews, Lake Skinner and the Santa Ana Mountains where large blocks of suitable habitat are also present. Large blocks of habitat will protect this species from edge effects and invasive non-native plant species, provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat, and allow for pollination to occur, if pollinators are a factor in the reproductive cycle of this species.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 45,290 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and 23 known occurrences at Lake Mathews, Santa Ana Mountains in the Cleveland National Forest, Lake Skinner, Temescal Canyon, Vail Lake, Paloma Valley, French Valley, Cottonwood Canyon and 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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 94,380 acres of potential habitat for small-flowered microseris and seven of the occurrences of the species would not be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area, including those at Paloma Valley, Temescal Canyon, in the Santa Ana Mountains, the Gavilan Hills and Alberhill.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the UCR database, the CNDDB, the herbaria at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, and available literature. The CNDDB does not have any mapped occurrences for this species. The UCR database and the two herbaria include 30 occurrences of small-flowered microseris. Lake Mathews, Santa Ana Mountains, Lake Skinner, Temescal Canyon, Vail Lake, Paloma Valley, French Valley, Cottonwood Canyon, the Gavilan Hills and Alberhill.

Genetic analyses were conducted by Roelofs and Bachmann (1997a; 1997b) and Price, et al. (1986). Minimal life history (reproductive biology, pollination, dispersal, etc.) was available from Price, et al. (1986) and Chambers (1955).

Habitat and Habitat Associations

Small-flowered microseris is found in clay soils and occurs on plains, hillsides, and foothill slopes in association with native grasslands or vernal pools (Munz 1974; Chambers 1955; Chambers 1993; Reiser 2001).

Biogeography

Microseris douglasii var. platycarpha is known from cismontane southern California and northwestern Baja California, Mexico below 1,000 meters (Munz 1974; Chambers 1993). In the United States it occurs from Los Angeles County east to Riverside County, and south through Orange and San Diego Counties to the Mexican border. In Baja California it is known from at least 6 localities as far south as Las Escobas near Colonia Guerrero (Reiser 2001). This species has been recorded from five localities in Orange County (Roberts 1997) and about 15 localities in San Diego County (Reiser 2001). Small-flowered microseris is also reported from San Clemente and Santa Catalina Islands (Munz 1974).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

This species is known to occur primarily in the southwestern and southeastern Plan Areas: Santa Rosa Plateau, Tenaja, Elsinore Peak, Miller Mountain, Lake Skinner, and Bachelor Mountain (Reiser 2001; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service unpublished data; Lathrop and Thorne 1985). Boyd and Banks (1995) report this species from the Oak Mountain north of Vail Lake, in the hills west of Vail Lake above Pauba Valley and west of Woodchuck Park in the Dorland Mountain area. Occurrences are also known from San Mateo Wilderness, Alberhill, Lake Matthews Reserve, Temescal Canyon, French Valley, Cottonwood Canyon, the Gavilan Hills and Paloma Valley (UCR database). Core locations of this species have not been identified within the Plan Area.

Biology

Genetics: Small-flowered microseris appears to be closely related to three other diploid annuals of Microseris: M. bigelovii, M. elegans and M. pygmaea. Roeloffs and Bachmann (1997) conducted a genetic analysis of 23 plants within an M. douglasii population. The 23 plants were homozygous for RAPD and morphological markers but a chloroplast RFLP analysis revealed that 16 of the 23 plants had M. bigelovii chloroplasts and seven had small-flowered microseris chloroplasts (Roeloffs and Bachmann 1997a). Roeloffs and Bachman (1997b) conducted further genetic analyses of 44 inbred strains of 23 populations M. douglasii: nuclear RAPD markers strongly support a monophyletic relationship with the other three diploid annuals and chloroplast RFLPs indicate that Microseris douglasii can be divided into four distinct groups (Roeloffs and Bachmann 1997b).

Where small-flowered microseris is found to overlap in range with M. douglasii ssp. douglasii and M. douglasii ssp. tenella, morphologically intermediate biotypes are observed, suggesting intergrading among the subspecies (Chambers 1955).

Reproduction: This self-fertilizing, yellow-flowered plant blooms from March to April (Munz 1974; Bachmann and Battjes 1994). The flower heads open in the morning only, except on overcast and cool days. As the stigmas emerge from the anther tubes, the stigmas appear to be free of pollen, but as the florets close toward midday self-pollination is almost automatic. Self-fertility has been observed to be high in nature: almost perfect fruit set is achieved (Chambers 1955).

Dispersal: Fruits of this species are readily dispersed downslope by wind and surface runoff after rains (Price, et al. 1986).

Demography: Small-flowered microseris is an annual, and occurs as a low-growing rosette. The scape ranges in height from 6 to 40 cm and the small florets expand as the achenes mature (Chambers 1955).

Threats to Species

Urbanization and agricultural conversion are the primary threats throughout this species range (Chambers 1955).

Special Biological Considerations

This obscure annual can easily be overlooked. The distribution of this species in Riverside County is poorly known; however, the primary habitat association of this species is native grasslands. Significant conservation of native grasslands and degraded native grassland (native grasslands with strong non-native elements), particularly in areas of heavy clay soils, would provide long-term conservation of this species. More information regarding the location and distribution of clay soils would be necessary to identify priority grassland areas that are likely to support this species.

This species is found in association with other listed or sensitive species, including thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia), Palmer's grapplinghook (Harpagonella palmeri), small-flowered morning-glory (Convolvulus simulans), chocolate lily (Fritillaria biflora), and long-spined spine flower (Chorizanthe polygonoides).

LITERATURE CITED

Bachmann, K. and J. Battjes. 1994. Variability in a Predominantly Self-fertilizing Annual with Fragmented Distribution, Microseris douglasii (Asteraceae, Lactuceae). Biol. Zentralblatt 113:69-95.

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.

Chambers, K.L. 1955. Annual Species of Microseris. Contributions from the Dudley Herbarium. Natural History Museum of Stanford University, Stanford, California.

Chambers, K.L. 1993. Microseris in The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit.,University of California Press, Berkeley, 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. 1086 pp.

Price, H. J., K. Chambers, K. Bachmann and J. Riggs. 1986. Patterns of Mean Nuclear DNA Content in Microseris Douglasii (Asteraceae) Populations. Botanical Gazette 147(4): 496-507.

Reiser, C. 2001. Rare Plants of San Diego County, 2001 edition. Unpublished. Aquafir Press, San Diego, California.

Roberts, F.M. 1997. Orange County Flora Data Base. Unpublished report, F.M. Roberts Publications, Encinitas, California.

Roelofs, D. and K. Bachmann. 1997a. Genetic Analysis of a Microseris douglasii (Asteraceae) Population Polymorphic for an Alien Chloroplast Type. Plant Systematics and Evolution 206: 273:284.

Roelofs, D. and K. Bachmann. 1997b. Comparison of Chloroplast and Nuclear Phylogeny in the Autogamous Annual Microseris douglasii (Asteraceae: Lactuceae). Plant Systematics and Evolution 204:49-63).

small-flowered morning-glory (Convolvulus simulans)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

small-flowered morning-glory (Convolvulus simulans)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 4 (RED Code 1-2-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

Small-flowered morning-glory is designated as a Group 2 species because the species is known from several Core Areas and is restricted to particular soils series within the Plan Area. Although the species has a scattered distribution ( Lake Mathews, Alberhill, Santa Rosa Plateau, Murrieta Hot Springs, Vail Lake, Lake Skinner, East Hemet), populations appear to be concentrated in the vicinity of Vail Lake. Small-flowered morning-glory is associated with open sage scrub and grasslands in the Riverside Lowlands, San Jacinto Foothills, and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions where they occur on clay and cobbly clay soils below 1,000 feet (~325m) elevation.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 100,690 acres of suitable habitat (coastal sage scrub and grasslands below 325 m in the Riverside Lowlands, San Jacinto Foothills, and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions), on at least 2,290 acres of clay soils (190 acres of Altamont, 450 acres of Auld, 600 acres of Bosanko, 100 acres of Claypit and 950 acres of Porterville soils).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least eight of the known localities (including Vail Lake, Lake Skinner, Lake Mathews, Temescal Canyon, Alberhill, Santa Rosa Plateau, Santa Ana Mountains, and Skunk Hollow) of this species.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

For the purpose of the conservation analysis, potential habitat for small-flowered morning-glory is considered to include open sage scrub and grasslands below 700 m in the Riverside Lowlands, San Jacinto Foothills, and Santa Ana Mountains Bioregions. Based on this assumption, the Plan Area supports approximately 243,900 acres of potential habitat for small-flowered morning-glory. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for small-flowered morning- glory. Overall, approximately 100,690 (41 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.

As stated above, small-flowered morning-glory is found on clay and cobbly clay soils which include the following series: Altamont, Auld, Bosanko, Claypit, and Porterville. Table 2 shows the acreage of Altamont, Auld, Bosanko, Claypit, and Porterville soils found within the proposed Criteria Area, on Public/Quasi-Public Land, on Rural/Mountainous Lands, and outside of the proposed MSHCP Conservation Area which occur coincident with coastal sage scrub and grassland. Approximately 2,290 acres (38 percent) of these soils will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/ Quasi-Public Lands.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
SMALL-FLOWERED MORNING-GLORY

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Grassland (below 700m)	115,650	16,220	19,230	35,450	8,800	71,400	80,200
Coastal Sage Scrub (below 700 m)	128,250	38,190	27,050	65,240	21,720	41,290	63,010
TOTAL	243,900	54,410 (22%)	46,280 (19%)	100,690 (41%)	30,520 (13%)	112,690 (46%)	143,210 (59%)
¹ Vegetation in 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.

TABLE 2
SUMMARY OF SOIL CONSERVATION
SMALL-FLOWERED MORNING-GLORY

Soil Type	MSHCP Plan Area¹ (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Soil Type	MSHCP 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	0	190	0	340	340
Auld	1,210	160	290	450	10	750	760
Bosanko	1,570	180	420	600	0	970	970
Claypit	220	90	10	100	0	120	120
Porterville	2,560	90	860	950	50	1,560	1,610
TOTAL	6,090	710 (12%)	1,580 (26%)	2,290	60 (1%)	3,740 (61%)	3,800
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 California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) previously contained two mapped localities for this species: one at Alberhill and the other near Skunk Hollow (Murrieta Hot Springs). These two locations will be included within the MSHCP Conservation Area.

The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database and the herbaria at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens have 42 occurrences for this species at 13 localities, including Skunk Hollow, Vail Lake, Lake Skinner, Temescal Canyon, Paloma Valley, the Gavilan Hills, Alberhill, Homeland, Santa Rosa Plateau, Santa Ana Mountains, Lake Mathews, Sun City and south of East Hemet. Occurrences are concentrated in the vicinity of Vail Lake, Lake Skinner, and Temescal Canyon; the remaining data points occur as singles or doubles. Thirty-three of the 43 occurrences will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area in Criteria Areas or on Public/Quasi-Public Lands, including records at Vail Lake, Lake Skinner, Lake Mathews, Temescal Canyon, Alberhill, Santa Rosa Plateau, Santa Ana Mountains, and Skunk Hollow.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

With exception of the nine occurrences in East Hemet, near Menifee, Homeland and Sun City, all of the known, extant populations of small-flowered morning-glory will be conserved in the Criteria Area or on Public/Quasi-Public Lands. The localities conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area at Temescal Canyon, Vail Lake, Lake Matthews, Lake Skinner, Santa Rosa Plateau and the Santa Ana Mountains where large blocks of suitable habitat are also present. Large blocks of habitat will protect this species from edge effects and invasive non-native plant species, 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.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 100,690 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and 13 known localities (33 occurrences) within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 143,210 acres of potential habitat for small-flowered morning-glory will not be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area. Several localities (nine occurrences) will not be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area: isolated populations at Alberhill, Homeland, near Hemet, Paloma Valley and Sun City.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the UCR database, the herbaria at UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, the CNDDB and available literature. The CNDDB contains two mapped localities for this species: one at Alberhill and the other near Skunk Hollow (Murrieta Hot Springs). The UCR database and the two herbaria have 42 occurrences for this species at 13 localities, including Skunk Hollow, Vail Lake, Lake Skinner, Temescal Canyon, Paloma Valley, the Gavilan Hills, Alberhill, Homeland, Santa Rosa Plateau, Santa Ana Mountains, Lake Mathews, Sun City and south of East Hemet. Occurrences are concentrated in the vicinity of Vail Lake, Lake Skinner, and Temescal Canyon; the remaining data points occur as singles or doubles. The Alberhill locality was also identified by NRC (2000) and the Santa Rosa Plateau was also identified by Bramlet (2001).

Published literature for this species is limited to taxonomic sources. No species-specific studies for small-flowered morning-glory regarding population ecology, genetics, reproduction, pollinators, or dispersal were available.

Biogeography

The geographic range of small-flowered morning-glory extends from Contra Costa County through Kern County, San Benito County, Stanislaus County, San Joaquin County, San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, San Clemente Island, Santa Catalina Island, Santa Cruz Island, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, San Diego County and down into Baja California (CNPS 2001; Munz 1974).

Habitat and Habitat Associations

Small-flowered morning-glory is restricted to clay soils and serpentine seeps and ridges, occurring below elevations of 700 m in southern valley needlegrass grassland, mixed native and non-native grasslands and open Riversidian sage (Munz 1974; Dempster 1993; CNPS 2001).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Small-flowered morning-glory has been collected in the following areas: Skunk Hollow, Vail Lake, Lake Skinner, Temescal Canyon, Paloma Valley, the Gavilan Hills, Alberhill, Homeland, Santa Rosa Plateau, Santa Ana Mountains, Lake Mathews, Sun City and south of East Hemet. Occurrences are concentrated in the vicinity of Vail Lake, Lake Skinner, and Temescal Canyon; the remaining data points occur as singles or doubles. Thirty-three of the 43 occurrences will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area in Criteria Areas or on Public/Quasi-public lands, including records at Vail Lake, Lake Skinner, Lake Mathews, Temescal Canyon, Alberhill, Santa Rosa Plateau, Santa Ana Mountains, and Skunk Hollow.

Biology

Genetics: Small-flowered morning-glory is one of three species in Convolvulus in the Convolvulaceae and the only native species of the three (Munz 1974).

Reproduction: Small-flowered morning-glory blooms from March through June (CNPS 2001). The bell-shaped flowers are small (0.6 cm) and pink or blue (Dempster 1993). Generally, members of Convolvulus are pollinated by bees and flies (Proctor, et al. 1996). The capsular fruits are dry, dehiscent and spheric; the two chambers each contain two seeds for a total of four seeds per fruit (Dempster 1993).

Dispersal: No published information for the dispersal of this species is available.

Demography: Small-flowered morning-glory is a herbaceous, annual that reaches heights of 1 to 3 dm (Munz 1974; Dempster 1993).

Threats to Species

Small-flowered morning-glory is threatened by development and urbanization, both of which are reducing known and potential habitat for this species (Reiser 2001).

Special Biological Considerations

Small-flowered morning-glory is restricted to clay soils and serpentine seeps and ridges. It is often found in association with other listed or sensitive species, including Palmer's grapplinghook, chocolate lily (Fritillaria biflora), Munz's onion, and long-spined spine flower. This species may be susceptible to competition from non-native plant species.

LITERATURE CITED

Bramlet, D. 2001. Orange County Rare Plant Coordinator, California Native Plant Society. Correspondence with Kathryn Kramer, CDFG Botanist. November 7.

California Natural Diversity Database 2001. Convolvulus simulans. 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. 1400 pp.

Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 1086 pp.

Proctor, M., P. Yeo and A. Lack. 1996. The Natural History of Pollination. Timber Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon. 479 pp.

Reiser, C. 2001. Rare Plants of San Diego County. Unpublished. Aquafir Press, San Diego, 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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

spreading navarretia (Navarretia fossalis)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

spreading navarretia (Navarretia fossalis)

Status:

State: None

Federal: Threatened

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 2-3-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

Spreading navarretia 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. Eleven of the 14 populations are found in the alkali soils of three population complexes within the Upper Salt Creek drainage west of Hemet, and along the San Jacinto River extending from just west of Mystic Lake south to the Perris Valley Airport. Spreading navarretia has been reported on the Santa Rosa Plateau and at Skunk Hollow.

This is a species on the Narrow Endemic Plant List (Section 6.1.3) list and surveys for spreading navarretia 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). Spreading navarretia located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume 1.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 13 of the known locations of spreading naverretia at the Skunk Hollow, the Santa Rosa Plateau and core locations: the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, floodplains of the San Jacinto River from the Ramona Expressway south to Railroad Canyon, and upper Salt Creek west of Hemet.

Objective 3

Surveys for the spreading navarretia 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). Spreading navarretia 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.

Objective 4

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.

Objective 5

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Suitable habitat for spreading navarretia is limited to vernal pools in association with alkali (Willows and Traver) 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 spreading navarretia. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for spreading navarretia. 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 spreading navarretia.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
SPREADING NAVARRETIA

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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.

Although 1,370 acres (17 percent) of potential habitat for spreading navarretia 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.

As stated above, spreading navarretia is associated with alkali (Willows and Traver) soils. Within the Mystic Lake, San Jacinto River and Salt Creek areas, there are approximately 13,190 acres of these soils. Table 2 shows the conservation and loss of Willows and Traver soils. Approximately 6,500 (49 percent) of these soils will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands; of the 6,690 acres of alkali soils that will not be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area, 360 acres (3 percent) of these soils are 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 2
SUMMARY OF SOIL CONSERVATION
SPREADING NAVARRETIA

Soil Type	MSHCP Plan Area¹ (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Soil Type	MSHCP 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)
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	13,190	4,170 (31%)	2,330 (18%)	6,500 (49%)	0 (0%)	6,690 (51%)	6,690 (51%)
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.

Eleven of the 14 known populations comprise three Core Areas (the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, the floodplains of the San Jacinto River from Ramona Expressway south to Railroad Canyon and the upper Salt Creek drainage area west of Hemet). These three Core Areas will be conserved within the Criteria Area and existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. The Skunk Hollow population will be conserved in the Criteria Area. The population on the Santa Rosa Plateau occurs within existing Public lands. The Narrow Endemic Plant Species policy described in Section 6.1.3 also provides the opportunity for conservation of additional spreading navarretia populations that may be identified within the Narrow Endemics Plant Species survey area.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

The configuration of Criteria Area and existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands provides for conservation of the three Core Areas within the floodplain of the San Jacinto River and Upper Salt Creek. The Santa Rosa Plateau population will also be conserved within 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. 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 would provide for the distribution of the species to shift over time as hydrologic conditions and seed bank sources change.

Conservation Summary

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 (alkali habitats within the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, the floodplains of the San Jacinto River from Ramona Expressway south to Railroad Canyon and the upper Salt Creek drainage area west of Hemet) 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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 1,370 acres of potential habitat for spreading navarretia will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. It is important to note, however, that this potential habitat is included within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, herbarium specimens at UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) and available literature.

Neither the CNDDB nor UCR mapping data is complete. The CNDDB lists 12 occurrences for Riverside County. These occurrences are concentrated along the San Jacinto River and the Salt Creek area west of Hemet. The database does not include known populations in the vicinity of Murrieta. The UCR database includes 19 localities that generally do not overlap with the CNDDB data, except along the San Jacinto River. The two herbaria include 31 records of this species, many of which overlap with the CNDDB and UCR database records. Two of the 10 records for the Santa Rosa Plateau represent misidentified specimens of Navarretia intertexta. Three localities (four occurrences) mapped within Hemet, Winchester and Homeland are probably in error and represent the Salt Creek population. At least five of the UCR localities do not overlap with CNDDB sites. The general distribution of this plant and its preferred habitat type are considered relatively well-understood within the Plan Area but the understanding of vernal pool distribution in the Temecula-Murrieta area is poor and additional populations are expected (F. Roberts, pers comm. 2000).

There is little literature available regarding this species. Spreading navarretia was described by Moran in 1975 (Moran 1977) and is again discussed by Day (1993). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1998a; 1998b) represent the most comprehensive source for this spices but focuses on the conservation and distribution. No species-specific studies and little data are available regarding life history (reproductive biology, pollinators or dispersal mechanisms) for spreading navarretia. The ecology of vernal pools and vernal pool plant species is better understood, particularly in San Diego County, and much of this information may be applicable to spreading navarretia within the Plan Area.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

The primary habitat this species is associated with are vernal pools and depressions and ditches in areas that once supported vernal pools (Day 1993; Reiser 1996; Tierra Madre Consultants 1992). In western Riverside County, spreading navarretia has been found in relatively undisturbed and moderately disturbed vernal pools, within a larger vernal floodplains dominated by annual alkali grassland or alkali playa (Bramlet 1993). The alkali vernal playa/pool habitat found in the Hemet area is based primarily on silty clay soils in the Willows and Travers series. These soils are usually saline-alkaline in nature and reliably pond water for long durations.

Biogeography

Spreading navarretia is distributed from northwestern Los Angeles County and western Riverside County, south through coastal San Diego County, California to San Quintin in northwestern Baja California, Mexico, from near sea level to 1,300 meters (4,200 feet) (Day 1993; Munz 1974). The majority of spreading navarretia populations are on privately owned lands. Fifty-one (51) populations of spreading fossalis have been reported in the United States. There are currently fewer than 38 extant populations in the United States. Nearly 60 percent of these populations are concentrated in three locations: Otay Mesa in southern San Diego County; along the San Jacinto River in western Riverside County; and near Hemet in Riverside County (Bauder 1986; Bramlet 1993; CNDDB 1999; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998a). Smaller populations are scattered in southern Riverside County, Los Angeles County, and coastal San Diego County. In Mexico, spreading navarretia is known from fewer than 10 populations clustered in three areas: along the international border, on the plateaus south of the Rio Guadalupe, and on the San Quintin coastal plain (Moran 1977).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Riverside County supports the largest remaining populations of spreading navarretia, and these populations are associated with the largest areas of available habitat in the United States. Twelve extant populations have been identified. Several populations are reported to exceed 40,000 individuals (CNDDB 1999). Two of the occurrences are at Salt Creek west of Hemet and ten of the occurrences are found in the alkali soils of three population complexes within the Upper Salt Creek drainage west of Hemet, and along the San Jacinto River extending from just west of Mystic Lake south to the Perris Valley Airport (Bramlet 1993, CNDDB 1999).

The majority of the populations at Hemet and along the San Jacinto River occur on private lands. A significant number of these populations have been suppressed and reduced by discing and dry land farming activities in recent years. Five closely clustered populations are on the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, managed by the California Department of Fish and Game. Several vernal pools occupied by spreading navarretia south of the Ramona Expressway are on lands managed for conservation by the Riverside County Habitat Conservation Association.

One of the populations of spreading navarretia reported to occur on the Santa Rosa Plateau within the Santa Rosa Plateau Preserve (Metropolitan Water District 1991) is uncertain; other Navarretia localities on the plateau have been identified as prostrate navarretia (N. prostrata). Populations of spreading navarretia also occurred at three localities in the vicinity of Murrieta Hot Springs and the southern end of the French Valley as recently as the 1920's; however, these populations have been extirpated (Stan Spencer, in litt., 1993). Other populations are anticipated in this area. The status of a small population on private land at the north end of the French Valley near Highway 79 is uncertain. Populations have also been reported from Skunk Hollow (D. Bramlet, pers. com. 2001).

Three core locations of spreading navarretia have been identified within the Plan Area (D. Bramlet, in litt. 1992; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998b). These areas include alkali habitats within the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, the floodplains of the San Jacinto River from Ramona Expressway south to Railroad Canyon and the upper Salt Creek drainage area west of Hemet.

Biology

Genetics: Spreading navarretia, a member of the Polemoniaceae, is one of about 30 species within the genus Navarretia. A study of morphological characters suggests that spreading navarretia is more closely related to other vernal pool species of Navarretia (e.g., N. prostrata, N. plieantha, N. pauciflora and N. leucocephala) than to non-vernal pool species of Navarretia (e.g., N. intertexta). The morphological characters analyzed included insertion of stamen filaments, pollen structure, shape of corolla lobes and calyx pubescence (S. Spencer, in litt., 1993).

Reproduction: Spreading navarretia blooms from May through June. The inflorescence consists of a compact, compound cyme of 15 to 50 small (4.5 to 6.5 mm), white flowers (Moran 1977). No studies have been conducted for this species regarding reproduction. Specific data regarding pollinators and seed viability are lacking.

Dispersal: The fruit of this species consists of indehiscent capsules (2 to 3 mm long) containing 5 to 25 seeds. The seeds become mucilaginous when wet (Moran 1977). Dispersal in this species has no been studied and is poorly known.

Demography: Spreading navarretia is a small (1 to 15 cm high and wide), herbaceous annual (Moran 1977). Upon fruiting, this species fades rapidly and can be difficult to detect late in the dry season or in dry years. The number of individuals of spreading navarretia at a given population site varies annually in response to the timing and amount of rainfall and temperature.

Threats to Species

Spreading navarretia is declining throughout much of 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, 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 (D. Bramlet, in litt., 1992; U.S. Fish and Wildlife 1998b).

Special Biological Considerations

Like other species on the floodplains of Salt Creek and the San Jacinto River, spreading navarretia depends on specific hydrology capable of supporting 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 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. Loose sediment from nearby surface disturbance can damage vernal pools. Maintaining adequate vernal pool diversity to allow for population dynamics is critical to this species. During the last several years, nearly continuous disturbances (discing, sludge dumping, etc.) have significantly reduced the potential for vernal pools to form along the San Jacinto River and Salt Creek. This has resulted in significant declines of spreading navarretia in some of the most important populations. Therefore, defacto conservation of habitat may not be enough to assure long-term conservation and it may be necessary to restore habitat within these areas.

Population sizes for spreading navarretia vary annually in response to the timing and amount of rainfall and temperature. Alkaline vernal pools, the primary habitat of this species in Riverside County may be difficult to recognize in dry years or after recent disturbance such as discing. Vernal pools that are impacted by discing or dry land farming activities may require several years without disturbance before reforming after flooding events or a wet winter.

Nearly half of the known populations of spreading navarretia occur within the same habitat occupied by San Jacinto Valley crownscale. Thread-leaved brodiaea is also a common associate species (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1994). The distribution of spreading navarretia is more restricted than those of San Jacinto Valley crownscale and thread-leaved brodiaea. However spreading navarretia can only persist in the wettest areas of the San Jacinto River floodplain and the vernal pools at Hemet. Spreading navarretia is often associated with little mousetail, vernal barley and smooth tarplant.

Spreading navarretia can be confused with, and has been misidentified as, prostrate navarretia (Navarretia prostrata) (Moran 1977).

LITERATURE CITED

Bauder, E.T. 1986. San Diego vernal pools, recent and projected losses; their condition; and threats to their existence 1979-1990, volume 1. Endangered Plant Program, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.

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. Navarretia fossalis, unpublished report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.

Day, A. G. 1993. Navarretia in The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, ed., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Metropolitan Water District. 1991. Eastside Reservoir Project, draft Environmental Impact Report. Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Los Angeles, California.

Moran, R. 1977. New or Renovated Polemoniaceae from Baja California, Mexico (Ipomopsis, Linanthus, Navarretia). Madroño 24: 141-159.

Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 1086 pp.

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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

Tierra Madre Consultants, Inc. 1992. Eastern Municipal Water District, Hemet-Winchester Interceptor Sewer, Mitigation Plan for Chenopod Scrub and Vernal Pool. Unpublished.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1994. Proposed Rule to List Four Southwestern California Plants as Endangered or Threatened. Federal Register 59(240): 64812.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998a. Recovery Plan for Vernal Pools of Southern California. U.S. Department of Interior, Portland, Oregon.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998b. Determination of endangered or threatened status for four southwestern California plants from vernal wetlands and clay soils. Federal Register 63: 54975.

sticky-leaved dudleya (Dudleya viscida)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

sticky-leaved dudleya (Dudleya viscida)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

Forest Service: Sensitive Species

CNPS: List 1B (R-E-D Code 3-2-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

Sticky-leaved dudleya is designated as a Group 2 species because, in the Plan Area, it is restricted to coastal sage scrub and chaparral on mesic, mostly north-facing, and often steep, rocky canyon slopes within the Santa Ana Mountains. The undisputed known occurrences are concentrated within the San Mateo Wilderness Area of the Santa Ana Mountains within USFS Lands.

This species is designated as a Forest 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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area 71,290 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral and coastal sage scrub within the Santa Ana Mountains Bioregion).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the three populations within the San Mateo Wilderness Area of the Santa Ana Mountains.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Potential habitat for the stickly-leaved dudleya includes chaparral, sage scrub, and coastal bluff scrub within the Santa Ana Mountains of western Riverside County. Within this analysis, sage scrub and bluff scrub was categorized as coastal sage scrub. Based on these habitats, this Bioregion supports approximately 98,030 acres of potential habitat for stickly-leaved dudleya. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for stickly-leaved dudleya. Overall, approximately 71,290 acres (73 percent) of potential habitat are in the MSHCP Conservation Area.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
FOR STICKY-LEAVED DUDLEYA

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Chaparral	85,520	3,460	62,480	65,940	16,600	2,980	19,580
Coastal sage scrub	12,510	340	5,010	5,350	6,240	920	7,160
TOTAL	98,030	3,800 (4%)	67,490 (69%)	71,290 (73%)	22,840 (23%)	3,900 (4%)	26,740 (27%)
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.

The majority of the potential habitat for sticky-leaved dudleya (69 percent) is located within existing Public/Quasi-Public Land, which is within USFS lands including the Cleveland National Forest. In order to conserve sticky-leaved dudleya, at least 58,818 acres (60 percent) of the species potential habitat should be conserved for this species within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands and within the Criteria Area.

Within the 67,490 acres of potential habitat within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, a total of 26,003 acres (27 percent) of potential habitat is designated as Wilderness Area and 8,433 acres (9 percent) is designated as Roadless Areas that do not include Range Allotments.

The only population identified at this time within the Plan Area is the complex within San Mateo Canyon (Boyd, et al. 1992). This population is located within the existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands within the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness Area. Conservation of this species should be considered from a landscape perspective because the species is habitat-specific and is restricted to the extreme southwestern portion of the Plan Area.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

Several large blocks of habitat supporting the stickly-leaved dudleya are located within the MSHCP Conservation Area, including USFS lands within 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.

There is one known population cluster of this species found on Forest Service lands in the San Mateo Wilderness.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 71,290 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and the three known localities (one Core Area) within large blocks of habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 26,740 acres (27 percent) of potential habitat for sticky-leaved dudleya would not be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area. There is one known population cluster of this species in the San Mateo Wilderness. No known undisputed populations occur outside the MSHCP Conservation Area.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the herbarium specimens at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens and the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), and available literature. The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database does not include any records of this species. The CNDDB reports three closely associated occurrences from the southern Santa Ana Mountains. No other sources of data support the distribution of this species outside the Santa Ana Mountains within the Plan Area.

Dudleya, as a group, has a fair amount of literature, particularly regarding systematics, genetics, and distribution. Sticky-leaved dudleya is treated with other species. However, specific studies of sticky-leaved dudleya regarding reproductive biology, pollination, and seed dispersal appear to be lacking. For distribution and status of the species within Riverside County, Boyd, et al. (1992, 1995) is the most comprehensive source. Boyd, et al. (1992) includes distribution maps and brief notes on ecological factors.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

Sticky-leaved dudleya is found on mesic, mostly north-facing, and often steep, rocky canyon slopes. Sticky-leaved dudleya is known to occur in chaparral, sage scrub, and coastal bluff scrub (CNPS 2001). In the San Mateo Wilderness, this species is most common on meta-sedimentary and intrusive volcanic substrates (Boyd, et al. 1992). In San Diego County, it has been associated with exposed gabbroic rock or in very shallow soils and cracks on vertical rock faces (Reiser 1996).

Biogeography

Sticky-leaved dudleya is endemic to southwestern California. It is known from fewer than twenty occurrences in southeastern Orange, northern San Diego, and southwestern Riverside counties (Munz 1974; Bartel 1993; CNDDB 2000). The majority of the populations are concentrated within the southern Santa Ana Mountains but scattered populations are found as far south as Oceanside and Lake Hodges in San Diego County (Reiser 1996; CNDDB 2000).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Sticky dudleya is restricted to the extreme southwestern region of the Plan Area. It has been reported from three populations along upper San Mateo Canyon. All three populations are within the San Mateo Wilderness Area of the Santa Ana Mountains (Boyd, et al. 1992; Boyd, et al. 1995). Other populations may occur in adjacent canyons (e.g., Nickel, Tenaja, Los Alamos Canyons) on steep north-facing slopes within the Wilderness Area. A population has also been reported in Lucas Canyon immediately adjacent to Riverside County within Orange County. The locality in the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness Area is considered to be the only core location within the Plan Area.

Biology

Genetics: Sticky-leaved 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 Stylophyllum, which consist of about nine species of succulent perennials with narrow, often round in cross-section, rosette leaves (Moran 1960, Bartel 1993). The subgenus Stylophyllum is restricted to southern California and northwestern Baja California, Mexico. Moran (1960), Munz (1974), and Bartel (1993) provide descriptions for members of Stylophyllum. Dudleya is a difficult genus with much hybridization and closely related species. Only one other species, D. anomala of Baja California, shares the sticky nature of the foliage (Moran 1960). The meiotic chromosome number of sticky-leaved dudleya is n=17, which is typical of most members of the genus (Uhl and Moran 1953).

Reproduction: No studies have been published regarding the reproductive biology of sticky-leaved dudleya. Sticky-leaved dudleya blooms from May through June and produces capsules that are 7 to 9 mm long. The seeds are 1.2 to 1.4 mm long (Munz 1974).

Dispersal: No studies are available regarding seed dispersal in sticky-leaved dudleya.

Demography: Sticky-leaved dudleya is a succulent, rosette-forming perennial with a short stem.

Threats to Species

Coastal populations of sticky-leaved dudleya are threatened by development and road construction (CNDDB 2000). Populations along California Route 74 in Orange County are threatened by road construction (Kelly Goocher, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, pers. comm. 1999). However, the populations and habitat for this species currently known within Riverside County do not appear to have any major quantifiable threat. Rock climbers could present localized recreational threats.

Special Biological Considerations

This species is detectable year round but may be confused with the similar lady-fingers (Dudleya edulis), which is more common in southern Riverside County. The two species may also form hybrids.

LITERATURE CITED

Bartel, J.A. 1993. Dudleya in The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, 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. Rancho Santa Ana Botanical 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(2):109-139

California Natural Diversity Database. 2000. Dudleya viscida. Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.

Moran, R. 1960. Dudleya in A Handbook of Succulent Plants, vol 1. pps. 344-359. Herman Jacobsen ed., Blandford Press, London, England.

Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Reiser. 1996. Rare Plants of San Diego County, 1996 edition. Unpublished. Aquafir Press, San Diego, California.

Uhl, C.H. and R. Moran. 1953. The Cytotaxonomy of Dudleya and Hasseanthus. Amer. Jour. Bot. 40: 492-502.

USDA. 1999. Southern California Mountains and Foothills Assessment, Habitat and Species Conservation Issues. General Technical Report PSW-GTR-172

thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia)

Status:

State: Endangered (January 1982)

Federal: Threatened (October 13, 1998)

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-3-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

Thread-leaved brodiaea is designated as a Group 3 species because of its limited geographic distribution and specialized habitat requirements and management requirements for floodplain processes. Twelve populations of thread-leaved brodiaea are known from western Riverside County along the San Jacinto River in Nuevo, Perris, and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area; on Salt Creek; on the Santa Rosa Plateau; and west of the Santa Rosa Plateau. These populations are primarily clustered into two complexes: one along the San Jacinto River near Perris and Lakeview, and the other on the Santa Rosa Plateau. The San Jacinto River floodplain supports about half of the remaining western Riverside County populations. A small population is known to occur in the Old Salt Creek drainage west of Hemet.

This is a species on the Additional Survey Needs and Procedures (Section 6.3.2) list and surveys for thread-leaved brodiaea 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). Thread-leaved brodiaea located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2, MSHCP, Volume I.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area the Core Areas located at Goetz Road (EO1), Perris Valley airport (EO2), Tenaja Road (EO3), Mesa de Colorado (EO5), Hemet vernal pools (EO 26), South SJWA (EO27), Squaw Mountain (EO29), Santa Rosa ranch (EO30), Slaughterhouse (EO31), North SJWA (EO43) and Redondo Mesa (EO 52).

Objective 3

Surveys for this species will be conducted as part of the project review process for public and private projects in the Criteria Area where suitable habitat is present (see Criteria Area Species Survey Area Map, Figure 6-2 of the MSHCP, Volume I). This species located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2, MSHCP, Volume I.

Objective 4

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.

Objective 5

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Suitable habitat for thread-leaved brodiaea includes floodplains in semi-alkaline mudflats, vernal pools, mesic southern needlegrass grassland, mixed native-nonnative grassland, alkali grassland, and alluvial fan sage scrub plant communities in association with clay or alkaline silty-clay 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. There is no acreage coverage for vernal pools within the Santa Rosa Plateau. Based on these habitats, the Plan Area supports approximately 8,270 acres of potential habitat for thread-leaved brodiaea (not including acreage on the Santa Rosa Plateau). Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for thread-leaved brodiaea. 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 thread-leaved brodiaea.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
THREAD-LEAVED BRODIAEA

Vegetation Type	MSHCP Plan Area¹ (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type	MSHCP 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)
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%)	2910 (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, thread-leaved brodiaea is restricted to clay and alkaline, silty-clay soils. Within the Mystic Lake, San Jacinto River and Salt Creek areas, there are approximately 18,250 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
THREAD-LEAVED BRODIAEA

Soil Type	MSHCP Plan Area¹ (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Soil Type	MSHCP 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.

The twelve known occurrences (including the core locations) of thread-leaved brodiaea along the San Jacinto River in Nuevo, Perris, and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area; on Salt Creek; on the Santa Rosa Plateau; and west of the Santa Rosa Plateau will be conserved (see Table 3). Six populations will be conserved in existing Core Areas (Santa Rosa Plateau and San Jacinto Wildlife Area). Two populations along the San Jacinto River will be conserved. One population in Hemet will be conserved in the Hemet vernal pool MSHCP Conservation Area. The population in Railroad Canyon will be salvaged. Two populations on the Santa Rosa Plateau will be conserved in the Criteria Area.

TABLE 3
STATUS OF KNOWN OCCURRENCES OF
THREAD-LEAVED BRODIAEA

CNDDB Element of Occurrence (EO)	Location	Population Size (Individuals)
EO 1	Goetz Rd	unknown
EO 2	Perris Valley Airport	1990 - 25,1996 - 50
EO 3	Tenaja Rd	unknown
EO 5	Mesa de Colorado	1991 - 31,725
EO 25	Railroad Canyon	1996 - 1,500+
EO 26	Hemet vernal pools	1991 - 50
EO 27	S San Jacinto Wildlife Area	1992 - 518
EO 29	Squaw Mountain	1991 - 20
EO 30	SR Ranch	1990 - 480
EO 31	Slaughterhouse	unknown
EO 43	N San Jacinto Wildlife Area	1996 - 60
EO 52	Redondo Mesa	1996 - 60

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

The twelve known populations (including the two core locations) of thread-leaved brodiaea will be conserved in the Criteria Area or Public/Quasi-Public Lands; Railroad Canyon population will be salvaged. 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. Due to the dependence of this species on floodplain hydrology and flooding, local densities are expected to fluctuate.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 6,900 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and the 12 known localities (including both core locations) 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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 1,370 acres (17 percent) of potential habitat for thread-leaved brodiaea will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. Nine of the 18 occurrences will not be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) and the herbaria at UCR and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens and available literature. The CNDDB contains 12 mapped localities and the UCR database and herbarium collections include 18 records. Eight of the 30 occurrences lie within the Santa Rosa Plateau, three occurrences lie west of the Santa Rosa Plateau, three occurrences ar associated with the vernal pools west of Hemet (upper Salt Creek) and 10 occurrences are associated with the San Jacinto River. A number of populations are lacking from the mapping data: Salt Creek, Redondo Mesa and San Jacinto Wildlife Area (Roberts and Vanderwier 1997). The locality in the Moreno Valley also requires verification and does not appear in U.S. Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Fish and Game, or CNDDB records. The locality in Murrieta is probably really associated with the Santa Rosa Plateau and should be verified.

Literature sources specifically regarding thread-leaved brodiaea are sparse. However, several studies have been published regarding the genus Brodiaea as a whole. Most literature focuses on systematic relationships. Niehaus (1971) supplies the most comprehensive discussion regarding Brodiaea systematics, reproduction, and ecology. The main sources of literature regarding distribution, range and habitat were provided by Bramlet (1993; 1995), Roberts and Vanderwier (1997) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listing decision (1998).

Habitat and Habitat Associations

This species typically occurs on gentle hillsides, valleys, and floodplains in semi-alkaline mudflats, vernal pools, mesic southern needlegrass grassland, mixed native-nonnative grassland and alkali grassland plant communities in association with clay, or alkaline silty-clay soils (Peirce and Beauchamp 1979; CDFG 1981; Swinney 1991; Bramlet 1993; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). In Orange County and San Diego County, the distribution of thread-leaved brodiaea is highly correlated with specific clay soil series. Localities occupied by this species are frequently intermixed with, or near, vernal pool complexes, such as at the Santa Rosa Plateau and in the Upper Salt Creek drainage southwest of Hemet in Riverside County (CNDDB 1998, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998).

Biogeography

Thread-leaved brodiaea is endemic to southwestern cismontane California, ranging from the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains at Glendora (Los Angeles County), east to Arrowhead Hot Springs in the western foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains (San Bernardino County), and south through eastern Orange and western Riverside Counties to Carlsbad and just south of Lake Hodges in northwestern San Diego County, California (S. Morey, in litt. 1995; Keator 1993; Munz 1974; CNDDB 2000). This species occurs from near sea level to 600 meters (2,000 feet). Forty-eight (48) populations of thread-leaved brodiaea have been reported. At least nine of these populations have been extirpated, primarily in San Diego County. Thirty-nine (39) populations are presumed extant. Nearly half of these remaining populations are clustered in the expanding cities of Vista, San Marcos, and Carlsbad in San Diego County and on the Santa Rosa Plateau in Riverside County (CNDDB 1998, Roberts and Vanderwier 1997). Fewer than 500 individuals have been observed within half of the populations. Populations exceeding 5,000 flowering stalks have been reported in only six populations (CNDDB 1998, Vanderwier and Roberts 1997).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Twelve populations of thread-leaved brodiaea are known from western Riverside County along the San Jacinto River in Nuevo, Perris, and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area; on Salt Creek; on the Santa Rosa Plateau; and west of the Santa Rosa Plateau. These populations are primarily clustered into two complexes: one along the San Jacinto River near Perris and Lakeview, and the other on the Santa Rosa Plateau (Roberts and Vanderwier 1997; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). A small population on private land with about 50 individuals has also been reported in the Old Salt Creek drainage west of Hemet (EO 26).

The San Jacinto River population of thread-leaved brodiaea occurs as five sub-populations, varying in size from 25 to 2,500 individuals (CNDDB 1998; Roberts and Vanderwier 1997). The San Jacinto River floodplain supports about half of the remaining western Riverside County populations and over 40 percent of the potential habitat for this species in Riverside County. It is likely that all five sub-populations are relics of one large population complex that once extended from Mystic Lake south to Railroad Canyon (Bramlet 1995; Roberts and Vanderwier 1997).

About 5,200 acres of alkali habitats along the San Jacinto River are on land managed by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) within the San Jacinto Wildlife Area. However, only a small portion of the San Jacinto Wildlife Area is suitable for thread-leaved brodiaea because there are extensive (as much as 2,300 acres) lake beds, duck ponds, and areas dominated by non-native grasses and forbs that crowd out thread-leaved brodiaea. Thread-leaved brodiaea is known to occupy about 22 acres between two sub-populations (Bramlet 1995). South of the San Jacinto Wildlife Area there is about 3,800 acres of potentially suitable habitat for thread-leaved brodiaea on private lands along the San Jacinto River floodplain and in the upper reaches of Railroad Canyon. However, this area has also been subject to extensive agricultural activities and related disturbances over the last century. Regardless, this area has supported higher quality alkali grassland and more potentially suitable brodiaea habitat than the San Jacinto Wildlife area because of more appropriate hydrological factors (i.e., less intense and more periodic flooding). Three populations of brodiaea have been found in this area. Only one population, with 1,500 individuals on about one acre of land (Railroad Canyon) has been observed recently (Tierra Madre Consultants 1991; CNDDB 2000; Roberts and Vanderwier 1997). The other populations appear to have been extirpated primarily as a result of discing and plowing in association with dryland farming activities. Increased dry land farming activities in the 1990's have resulted in an appreciable decline in alkali annual grasslands and recovering areas along this segment of the San Jacinto River (F. Roberts, pers. comm.).

There are six populations of thread-leaved brodiaea in the vicinity of the Santa Rosa Plateau. Four of these populations are located on the plateau, forming a complex of over 30,000 individuals (Metropolitan Water District 1991; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1994; Roberts and Vanderwier 1997). Two (2) other small populations occur at Squaw Mountain and Redondo Mesa on private lands.

The core locations of thread-leaved brodiaea in the Plan Area are located on the Santa Rosa Plateau and along the San Jacinto River just southwest of Mystic Lake and between Perris and Canyon Lake.

Biology

Genetics: Thread-leaved brodiaea is one of 13 species of the genus Brodiaea, a genus largely restricted to California (Keator 1993). Brodiaea is variously assigned to the family Liliaceae, or the segregate families Alliaceae or Themidaceae (Dahlgren, et al. 1985; Keator 1993; Fay and Chase 1996). Thread-leaved brodiaea belongs to the subgenus Filifoliae, a small group of three species (Niehaus 1971). Its closest relative is Orcutt's brodiaea, a species thread-leaved brodiaea occurs sympatrically within several locations. This species is known to hybridize with Orcutt's brodiaea (Brodiaea orcuttii) (CNPS 2001; Recovery Workshop Seminar 1995). The mitotic chromosome number of thread-leaved brodiaea is n=12 (Niehaus 1971). This species is known to also hybridize with dwarf brodiaea (B. terrestris) at the Santa Rosa Plateau and possibly also hybridizes with B. jolonensis (CNPS 2001; Recovery Workshop Seminar 1995; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1994).

Reproduction: Unlike many species of Brodiaea, members of the subgenus Filifoliae do not reproduce vegetatively and rely on seed germination (Niehaus 1971). Thread-leaved brodiaea blooms from March through June (CNPS 2001). The bell-shaped flowers are violet in color (Munz 1974). Brodiaea are self-incompatible and pollination between individuals must take place in order to produce seed (Niehaus 1971). Niehaus (1971) found that a broad spectrum of insects visit Brodiaea flowers but only tumbling flower beetles (Mordellidae) and sweat bees (Helictidae) were found to transport pollen between flowers. On the Santa Rosa Plateau, Gary Bell found that native bees were faithful to specific brodiaea species but the European honeybee was not (G. Bell, the Nature Conservancy, pers. comm. 1997, cited in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998; S. Moray, California Department of Fish and Game Endangered Plant Program, in litt. 1995). Sexual reproduction may occur in “pulses” when the dominant cover of European annuals is reduced as a result of fire suppression (S. Moray, in litt., 1995).

Dispersal: Upon maturity, the ovaries three lobes split, revealing many small (2 to 2.5 mm long) black seeds (Munz 1974). The seeds are then dispersed as wind rattles the capsules and releases the seeds (Smith 1997).

Threats to Species

Thread-leaved brodiaea is declining throughout much of its range. This species and its habitat are threatened by 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 (Peirce and Beauchamp 1979; CNPS 2001; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998).

Special Biological Considerations

Thread-leaved brodiaea is a geophyte (originating from a corm) and as a result can only be detected in spring and early summer when fresh foliage is above ground. The total number of individuals within a population is difficult to estimate. The size and extent of populations of brodiaea within suitable habitat also vary in response to the timing and amount of rainfall, as well as temperature patterns. Typically, in any given year, only a fraction of the plants will develop to maturity. Thread-leaved brodiaea is known to hybridize with other species of Brodiaea which may affect identification and possibly management considerations in areas of overlap. Thread-leaved brodiaea is associated with San Diego button-celery and California Orcutt grass (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1994). Fire suppression where there is a dominant cover of European annuals may result in limited sexual reproduction (Recovery Workshop Summary 1995).

LITERATURE CITED

Boyd, S. T. Ross, O. Mistretta, and D. Bramlet. 1992. A botanical assessment of the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness Area, Cleveland National Forest, California. Unpubl. report prepared by the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden, Claremont, California.

Boyd, S. T. Ross, O. Mistretta, and D. Bramlet. 1995. Vascular Flora of the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness Area, Cleveland National Forest, California. Aliso 14:109-139.

Bramlet, D. 1993. Plant Species of Special Concern in the Alkaline Sinks of the San Jacinto River and Old Salt Creek Tributary Area. Unpublished.

Bramlet, D. 1995. Draft Conservation Plan for the San Jacinto Valley Crown Scale and Spreading Navarretia in Riverside County, prepared for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

California Natural Diversity Database. 2000. Brodiaea filifolia, Unpublished Report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.

Dahlgren, R.M.T., et al. 1985. The Families of the Monocotyledons. Springer-Verlag Press, New York.

Fay, M.F. and M.W. Chase. 1996. The Resurrection of Themidaceae. Taxon 45:441-451.

Keator, G. 1993. Brodiaea in: The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Metropolitan Water District. 1991. Eastside Reservoir Project, Draft Environmental Impact Report. Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Los Angeles, California.

Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Niehaus, T.F. 1971. A Biosystematic Study of the Genus Brodiaea (Amaryllidaceae). University of California Press, Los Angeles, London.

Peirce, R. and R.M. Beauchamp. 1979. California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Status Report.

Recovery Workshop Seminar. 1995. Thread-leaved brodiaea.

Roberts, F.M., and J. Vanderwier. 1997. Update of the status of Brodiaea filifolia. Unpublished Report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad Field Office, Carlsbad, 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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

Smith, N. 1997. Growing Natives: Brodiaeas---Part 1. Fremontia 25(4):28-30.

Swinney, D. 1991. Glendora's Brodiaea filifolia: Past, Present , Future. Community Services Department, Glendora, California.

Taylor, R. and B. Burkhart. 1992. Proposed Brodiaea filifolia Mitigation Plan for the Rancho Carillo Master Plan, Carlsbad California. Unpublished Report, Pacific Scene, Inc./Continental Homes, San Diego, California.

Tierra Madre Consultants. 1991. San Jacinto River Improvement Project, Biological Assessment. Prepared for Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Riverside, California.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1994. Proposed Rule to List Four Southwestern California Plants as Endangered or Threatened. Federal Register 59(240): 64812-64823.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998. Determination of Endangered or Threatened Status for Four Southwestern California Plants from Vernal Wetlands and Clay Soils. Federal Register 63: 54975.

Vail Lake ceanothus (Ceanothus ophiochilus)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Vail Lake ceanothus (Ceanothus ophiochilus)

Status:

State: Endangered (January 1994)

Federal: Threatened (October 13, 1998)

CNPS: List 1B (RED Code 3-3-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

Vail Lake ceanothus is designated as a Group 3 species because of its highly restricted geographic distribution within the Plan Area (specifically Vail Lake and the Agua Tibia Wilderness).

This is a species on the Additional Survey Needs and Procedures (Section 6.3.2) list and surveys for Vail Lake ceanothus 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). Vail Lake ceanothus located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2, MSHCP, Volume I.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 13,290 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral in the vicinity of Vail Lake and the Agua Tibia Wilderness).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least three core locations in the vicinity of Vail Lake and the Agua Tibia Wilderness area.

Objective 3

Surveys for this species 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). This species located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.3.2, MSHCP, Volume I.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

This species is found on metavolcanic or gabbroic soils on north facing slopes in chamise chaparral. For the purpose of the conservation analysis, potential habitat for Vail Lake ceanothus includes chaparral habitat within the Vail Lake (see Figure 6-1) and Agua Tibia Wilderness areas. Based on these habitats, the Plan Area supports approximately 16,640 acres of potential habitat for Vail Lake ceanothus. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for Vail Lake ceanothus. Approximately 13,290 (80 percent) acres of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area. It is assumed that these lands will be managed for sensitive biological resources, including Vail Lake ceanothus.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
VAIL LAKE CEANOTHUS

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Chaparral	16,640	4,370	8,920	13,290	680	2,670	3,350
TOTAL	16,640	4,370 (26%)	8,920 (54%)	13,290 (80%)	680 (4%)	2,670 (16%)	3,350 (20%)
¹ Vegetation includes the vegetation within the vicinity of Vail Lake and the Agua Tibia Wilderness area. ² Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area.

All three existing core locations (the hills immediately west of Vail Lake and on the lower, north-facing slopes of the Agua Tibia Mountains in the Agua Tibia Wilderness) will be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area. These three core locations represent 64 records of Vail Lake ceanothus. The Agua Tibia Wilderness supports approximately 2,000 to 4,000 individuals in the northern stand and 6,000 to 12,000 individuals in the southern stand. In addition to the conservation of known core locations and potential habitat within the Criteria Area, additional occurrences of Vail Lake ceanothus identified within the Criteria Area will be conserved in accordance with Section 6.3.2.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

Several large blocks of habitat supporting Vail Lake ceanothus are located within the MSHCP Conservation Area, including suitable habitat in the Vail Lake area and the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area. Plant distribution and abundance may be influenced by pollinators, fire, 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.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 13,290 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and three known localities (representing 54 records) 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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 3,350 acres of potential habitat for Vail Lake ceanothus will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. All of the known locations of this species will be conserved.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the University of California, Riverside, (UCR) GIS database, the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), herbaria at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens and UCR and available literature. The CNDDB includes three mapped locations. The UCR database and herbaria include 61 records. The mapped locations of the databases are concentrated at one location (Vail Lake) and differ slightly at the other two mapped locations. The mapping data for the Agua Tibia Wilderness population are inaccurate; the population lays about one or two miles south of the mapped location.

The listing rule from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1998), species monograph (Boyd, et al. 1991) and an unpublished report from California Department of Fish and Game (1993) provided the majority of information available for this species for habitat and habitat associations, species range and distribution and threats to the species. Species-specific studies for reproductive biology, pollinators, dispersal, etc., have not been conducted for this species.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

This species is found in dry habitats along ridgetops and north-northeast-facing slopes in chamise chaparral (Boyd, et. al. 1991). Vail Lake ceanothus is restricted to shallow soils originating from ultra-basic parent rock and deeply weathered gabbro, which are both phosphorous-deficient (Boyd, et al. 1991; Bauder 1998).

Biogeography

Vail Lake ceanothus is endemic to southwestern Riverside County, specifically Vail Lake and the Agua Tibia Wilderness of the Cleveland National Forest (Boyd, et. al. 1991; Schmidt 1993; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Vail Lake ceanothus is restricted to three populations in the hills immediately west of Vail Lake and on the north slope in the Agua Tibia Wilderness on lower, north-facing slopes of the Agua Tibia Mountains (Boyd, et al. 1991; CNDDB 1998; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). About half the individuals are within one population on private land (Vail Lake) and the other half are dispersed over two populations within the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). The population at Vail Lake is estimated to be 3,000 to 5,000 plants (California Department of Fish and Game 1993). Within the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area, population estimates for the northern stand are 2,000 to 4,000 and for the southern stand are 6,000 to 12,000 (Boyd and Banks 1995). All three of the known occurrences are considered core locations.

Biology

Genetics: Vail lake ceanothus is able to hybridize with Ceanothus crassifolius (Boyd, et al. 1991) and hybrids have been observed at all three populations (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). While the hybrid individuals at Vail Lake are limited to the margins, the hybridization rate is much higher for the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area populations: more than 50 percent of the northern Agua Tibia population exhibits intermediate characteristics (Boyd and Banks 1995).

Reproduction: Vail Lake ceanothus produces umbel-like clusters of pale blue (rarely pinkish lavender) flowers from mid-February to March (Boyd, et al. 1991). Published literature regarding pollinators is not available for this species. The genus Ceanothus is a generalist regarding pollinators: copious small pollinators such as beetles and wasps were observed inside flowers in the field (Clifford Schmidt, pers. comm. 1999). This species lacks a burl and does not reproduce vegetatively after a wildfire. An obligate seeder, this species is dependent on occasional fires for seed germination (Boyd, et al. 1991).

Dispersal: The seed pods of this genus mature from late-May to mid-June, building up tension as they ripen and flinging their seed in all directions as the pods dehisce (Smith 1994).

Demography: Vail Lake ceanothus is an evergreen, perennial shrub that grows to heights of 1.5 to two meters (Boyd, et al. 1991).

Threats to Species

Threats to this species include habitat alteration, fragmentation, hybridization, destruction and degradation from urban development, as well as fire regime alteration. The Vail Lake population is within an area that has been proposed for development several times in recent years (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). Development is expected to increase the frequency of wildfires which is a threat to this fire-dependent species. A high frequency fire regime would first eliminate older plants and then eliminate younger plants before they reach reproductive maturity, thus depleting the seed bank and disrupting or eliminating seedling establishment (Boyd et al. 1991; California Department of Fish and Game 1993; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998).

Special Biological Considerations

Vail Lake ceanothus lacks a burl and appears to recover from fire by seed germination (Boyd, et al. 1991). This species blooms from mid-February to March. Fruit matures late May to mid-June and is readily detectable year-round. Outside of the flowering period, it is difficult to differentiate Vail Lake ceanothus from surrounding Adenostoma. Vail Lake ceanothus is able to hybridize with Ceanothus crassifolius where the two species occur together: nutrient poor soils, to which C. crassifolius does not appear to be adapted, may therefore be critical to maintain Vail Lake ceanothus in isolation (Boyd, et al. 1991). Symbiotic relationships between Ceanothus species and Frankia, a nitrogen-fixing actinomycete fungus, and endo- and ectomycorrhizae fungi are widespread (Clifford Schmidt, pers. comm. 1999).

LITERATURE CITED

Bauder, E. 1998. Exotics of Southern California's vernal pools and other specialized habitats.

Boyd, S., T. Ross and L. Arnseth. 1991. Ceanothus ophiochilus (Rhamnaceae): A Distinctive, Narrowly Endemic Species from Riverside County, California. Phytologia 70(1):28-41.

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 Department of Fish and Game. 1993. Report to the Fish and Game Commission on the Status of Vail Lake Ceanothus (Ceanothus ophiochilus). Unpublished report, Natural Heritage Division. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.

vernal barley (Hordeum intercedens)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

vernal barley (Hordeum intercedens)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 3 (Red Code: ?-2-2)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 2

Vernal barley is designated as a Group 2 species because of its limited geographic distribution and specialized habitat requirements and management requirements for floodplain processes. Twelve populations of vernal barley are known from western Riverside County along the San Jacinto River in Nuevo, Perris, and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area; on Salt Creek; on the Santa Rosa Plateau; and west of the Santa Rosa Plateau. These populations are primarily clustered into two complexes: one along the San Jacinto River near Perris and Lakeview, and the other in the upper Salt Creek drainage west of Hemet. The San Jacinto River floodplain supports about half of the remaining western Riverside County populations. A small population is known to occur near Nichols Road at Alberhill.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least four locations (including three core locations) of vernal barley: the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, the middle segment of the San Jacinto River from Ramona Expressway south to Railroad Canyon, the upper Salt Creek drainage west of Hemet, and the occurrence near Nichols Road at Alberhill.

Objective 3

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.

Objective 4

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.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Suitable habitat for vernal barley includes alkali annual grasslands and vernal pools and, to a lesser extent, alkali scrub and alkali playa in association with Domino, Willows, and Traver 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 the vernal barley. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for the vernal barley. 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 vernal barley.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
VERNAL BARLEY

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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, vernal barley is restricted to clay and alkaline, silty-clay soils. Within the Mystic Lake, San Jacinto River and Salt Creek areas, there are approximately 18,250 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
VERNAL BARLEY

Soil Type	MSHCP Plan Area¹ (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Soil Type	MSHCP 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.

All three of the core locations (San Jacinto Wildlife Area, middle segment of the San Jacinto River, and the upper Salt Creek drainage west of Hemet) as well as the occurrence near Nichols Road at Alberhill will be conserved within the Criteria Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

The known Core Areas of vernal barley along the middle segment of the San Jacinto River, the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, and the upper Salt Creek drainage west of Hemet and the location at Nichols Road at Alberhill will be conserved in the Criteria Area or 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. Due to the dependence of this species on floodplain hydrology and flooding, local densities are expected to fluctuate.

Conservation Summary

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 (middle segment of the San Jacinto River, the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, and upper Salt Creek) 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 Objective 4 for this species will maintain hydrological conditions in the floodplain along Salt Creek in its existing condition from Warren Road to Newport Road and the vernal pools in Upper Salt Creek west of Hemet.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 1,370 acres (17 percent) of potential habitat for vernal barley will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. No known extant populations will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the University of California, Riverside (UCR),GIS database, the herbarium specimens at UCR and at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, Claremont, and available literature. The California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) does not include this species.

The UCR database and two herbaria include 29 occurrences. Eight records are associated with Salt Creek west of Hemet and 11 records are associated with the San Jacinto River primarily north of the Ramona Expressway. A single collection represents the wetlands near Nichols Road north of Lake Elsinore. This last locality is mapped too far south in the UCR GIS database. Very little literature is available regarding vernal barely. What is available focuses on systematics. While the distribution of core locations within western Riverside County is relatively well understood because of the close link with the alkali vernal plains habitats, the overall distribution of this species in the Plan Area is poorly known. It is expected to occur in the Temecula-Murrieta area, the Santa Rosa Plateau, and perhaps the Anza area.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

Vernal barley is associated with mesic grasslands, vernal pools, and large saline flats or depressions (Braum and Bailey 1987; CNPS 2001). In Riverside County, vernal barley is found in the Domino, Willows and Traver soils series and is associated with alkali flats and flood plains within the alkali vernal plains community (Ferren and Fiedler 1993). Within this community vernal barley is primarily associated with alkali annual grasslands and vernal pools and to a lesser extent alkali scrub and alkali playa (F. Roberts, botanist, in litt., September 1999). Associated species include: 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), San Jacinto Valley crownscale, bracted saltbush (A. serenana), five-hook bassia (Bassia hyssopifolia), sharp-tooth peppergrass (Lepidium dictyotum), dwarf peppergrass (Lepidium latipes), little mousetail, alkali heath (Frankenia grandifolia), smooth tarplant, and toad rush (Juncus bufonius) (Bramlet 1993; F. Roberts, in litt., 1999). The distribution of vernal barley in San Diego and Orange County suggests that this species may occur in mesic grasslands, and hard and basaltic vernal pool habitats within Riverside County.

Biogeography

Vernal barley occurs in scattered locations bordering the Central Valley of central California, southwestern California, and northwestern Baja California, Mexico, below 1,000 meters elevation (Barkworth 1993). In southern California it has been reported from Orange, Riverside, and San Diego Counties. In Mexico, it has been reported as far south as Punta Blanca about 130 km south of El Rosario (Reiser 1996).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

The distribution of vernal barley is not well understood in western Riverside County. However, known populations appear to be closely associated with the distribution of alkali soils and the alkali vernal plains community. The majority of recent collections are from the Upper Old Salt Creek drainage area west of Hemet and along the San Jacinto River floodplain from Mystic Lake south to at least the I-215 where it occurs in extensive stands forming the dominant element of the alkali annual grassland community (Ogden 1996; F. Roberts, in litt., 1999). The species likely occurs in other areas such as the Santa Rosa Plateau. The occurrences at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, the middle segment of the San Jacinto River from Ramona Expressway south to Railroad Canyon, and the Salt Creek area west of Hemet comprise the three Core Areas for this species. In its undisturbed condition, the population at Salt Creek is a local dominant over 200 to 400 hectares.

Biology

Genetics: Vernal barley, a member of the Poaceae, is one of about 30 species of Hordeum (Barkworth 1993). It is closely allied to, and often confused with Hordeum depressum, another alkali favoring species, and H. pusillum (Braum and Bailey 1987).

Reproduction: No studies are available regarding the reproductive biology of vernal barley.

Dispersal: No studies are available regarding the dispersal of vernal barley seeds.

Demography: Vernal barley is an annual species (Barkworth 1993).

Threats to Species

This species and its habitat is threatened by urbanization, agricultural conversion, discing, trampling from livestock, channelization, and alteration of hydrology (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998).

Special Biological Considerations

This species is short, obscure, and difficult to distinguish from other barley species. This species blooms from March to June (CNPS 2001). Population size varies considerably from year to year depending upon rainfall, local flooding, and disturbance. Hordeum intercedens has previously been misidentified as Hordeum depressum at many locations, including Hemet and along the San Jacinto River. References to H. depressum in documents regarding San Jacinto Valley crownscale and spreading navarretia in recent listing actions (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998) represent misapplied references to vernal barely.

LITERATURE CITED

Barkworth, M. 1993. Hordeum, in The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit.,University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Bramlet, D. 1993. Plant species of special concern in the alkaline sinks of the San Jacinto River and the Old Salt Creek tributary area. Unpublished Report.

Braum, B.R., and L.G. Bailey 1987. A taxonomic study of the annual Hordeum depressum and related species. Canadian Journal of Botany 66: 401-408.

Ogden 1996. Mitigation site surveys for the Eastside Pipeline project. Prepared for Metropolitan Water District of southern California, Los Angeles, 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, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of Endangered or Threatened Status for Four Southwestern California Plants from Vernal Wetlands and Clay Soils. Federal Register 63 (197): 54975 - 54994.

Wright's trichocoronis (Trichocoronis wrightii var. wrightii)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Wright's trichocoronis (Trichocoronis wrightii var. wrightii)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS: List 2 (R-E-D Code 3-3-1)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

Wright's trichocoronis 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 in association with Willows, Domino and Traver soils. Wright's trichocoronis occurs as two core locations along the middle segment of the San Jacinto River and in the San Jacinto Wildlife Area.

This is a species on the Narrow Endemic Plant List (Section 6.1.3) list and surveys for Wright's trichocoronis 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). Wright's trichocoronis located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume I.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 6,900 acres of suitable habitat (grassland and playas and vernal pools including Willow, Domino and Traver soils, along the San Jacinto River, at Mystic Lake, and Salt Creek).

Objective 2

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least four of the known locations along the San Jacinto River from the vicinity of the Ramona Expressway and San Jacinto Wildlife Area and along the northern shore of Mystic Lake.

Objective 3

Surveys for Wright's trichocoronis 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). Wright's trichocoronis located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume I.

Objective 4

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.

Objective 5

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Suitable habitat for the Wright's trichocoronis includes floodplains (seasonal wetlands) dominated by 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 Wright's trichocoronis. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for Wright's trichocoronis. 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 Wright's trichocoronis.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
WRIGHT'S TRICHOCORONIS

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
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%)	2910 (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.

Although 1,370 acres (17 percent) of potential habitat for Wright's trichocoronis 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.

As stated above, Wright's trichocoronis is restricted to highly alkaline, silty-clay soils in association with Traver, Domino, and Willows soils, although approximately 80 percent of the populations occur on Willows soils. Within the Mystic Lake, San Jacinto River and Salt Creek areas, there are approximately 18,250 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.

TABLE 2
SUMMARY OF SOIL CONSERVATION
WRIGHT'S TRICHOCORONIS

Soil Type	MSHCP Plan Area¹ (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Soil Type	MSHCP 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.

All of the known populations, which constitute the core locations (the middle segment of the San Jacinto River and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area) will be conserved within the Criteria Area and existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.

Wright's trichocoronis is found in the alkali vernal plains and associated with alkali playa, alkali annual grassland, and alkali vernal pool habitat. This species is known only from four locations along the San Jacinto River from the vicinity of the Ramona Expressway and San Jacinto Wildlife Area and along the northern shore of Mystic Lake.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

All of the core locations of Wright's trichocoronis will be conserved in the Criteria Area or existing 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. 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 would provide for the distribution of the species to shift over time as hydrologic conditions and seed bank sources change. Potential populations within the alkali wetlands near Nichols Road north of Lake Elsinore will also be conserved in accordance with the Narrow Endemics Plant Species policy.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 6,900 acres of suitable Conserved Habitat and two core localities (middle segment of the San Jacinto River and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area) 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.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 1,370 acres of potential habitat for Wright's trichocoronis will be outside the MSHCP Conservation Area. It is important to note that the potential habitat occurring outside of the MSHCP Conservation Area is located within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area. None of the known populations will be located outside the MSHCP Conservation Area.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database, herbarium specimens at UCR, Pomona, and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens, the California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB), and available literature.

Four occurrences are reported in the CNDDB. The UCR database and the three herbarium collections contain nine records with a similar distribution as compared to the CNDDB. All known occurrences are known from the San Jacinto River. Available literature for this species is very limited and generally focuses on systematic relationships. However, the habitat requirements and potential distribution within Riverside County are relatively well understood by local botanists (D. Bramlet, botanist, pers. comm. 1999; F. Roberts, botanist, pers. comm. 2000).

Habitat and Habitat Associations

In Western Riverside County, Wright's trichocoronis is found in the alkali vernal plains and associated with alkali playa, alkali annual grassland, and alkali vernal pool habitats (Bramlet 1993, Ferren and Fiedler 1993). This species occupies the more mesic portions of these habitats (Bramlet 1993). Wright's trichocoronis 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). Wright's trichocoronis is frequently associated with other rare species, including San Jacinto Valley crownscale (A. coronata var. notatior), Davidson's saltscale (A. serenana var. davidsonii), vernal barley (Hordeum intercedens), smooth tarplant (Hemizonia pungens ssp. laevis), and spreading navarretia (Navarretia fossalis) (Bramlet 1993b).

Biogeography

The historic range of Wright's trichocoronis includes the Great Valley of central California, western Riverside County, and the Edwards Plateau of central Texas and adjacent Mexico (Munz 1974; Powell 1993). Wright's trichocoronis appears to be extirpated from central California. California plants may represent a distinct species from the plants of Texas and north central Mexico (A. Sanders, U.C. Riverside Herbarium, pers. comm. 1999).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

This species is known only from four locations along the San Jacinto River from the vicinity of the Ramona Expressway and San Jacinto Wildlife Area (Bramlet 1993; CNDDB) and along the northern shore of Mystic Lake. Only two locations on either side of the Ramona Expressway have been seen in recent years. This species may have once occurred at Salt Creek and possibly in the alkali wetlands near Nichols Road in the vicinity of Lake Elsinore. Both of the known locations (middle segment of the San Jacinto River and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area) are core locations.

Biology

Genetics: Wright's trichocoronis, a member of the Asteraceae, is one of two species in the genus Trichocoronis in southern California (King and Robinson 1987). Trichocoronis is a member of the tribe Eupatorieae, a largely tropical group of asters that is poorly represented in California (Keil 1993). Wright's trichochoronis is treated as an introduced species by Keil (1993), presumably because the species also occurs in western Texas and Chihuahua, Mexico.

Reproduction: Wright's trichocoronis blooms from May to September and produces 75 to 125 flowers per flower head (Powell 1993). The achenes are one millimeter long (Munz 1974). No literature regarding pollination and germination was located or reviewed at this time.

Dispersal: No literature regarding dispersal was located or reviewed at this time. Presumably, this species relies on flooding to distribute seeds.

Demography: Wright's trichocoronis is a low, slightly succulent subaquatic annual, less than 30 cm tall (Powell 1993).

Threats to Species

Urbanization, agricultural conversion, and alteration of required hydrology has extirpated this species in other parts of the state. 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 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 (Bramlet 1993b; F. Roberts, pers. comm. 2000).

Special Biological Considerations

Wright's trichocoronis is highly dependent on alkaline soils that are saturated for extended periods of time. Much of the remaining suitable habitat for this species has been impacted by discing for fuel modification, alteration in the hydrology, and dry land farming activities. Maintaining adequate flooding is critical to this species. 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 Wright's trichocoronis to recolonize, or reintroduce the species to these areas.

LITERATURE CITED

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. Trichocoronis wrightii var. wrightii, unpublished report, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.

Keil, D.J. 1993 Asteraceae, in The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

King, R. and H. Robinson 1987. Trichocoroninae. Monograph Systematic Botany, Missouri Botanical Garden 22:188-190.

Munz, P.A. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Powell, A.M., 1993. Trichocoronis in The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman, edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Skinner M.W., B.M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, Special Publication, 5^th ed., California Native Plant Society.

Yucaipa onion (Allium marvinii)

SPECIES NAME AND GROUP DESIGNATION

Common Name and Scientific Name:

Yucaipa onion (Allium marvinii)

Status:

State: None

Federal: None

CNPS:List 1B (RED Code 3-3-3)

GROUP DESIGNATION AND RATIONALE

Group 3

Yucaipa onion is designated as a Group 3 species because of its specialized habitat requirements and limited distribution. This species is dependent on clay openings within chaparral habitat at elevations between 760 and 1065 m. The distribution of this species within the Plan Area is unknown at this time. A historic population was identified by J. Marvin in 1921. No other individuals have been positively identified within the Plan Area.

This is a species on the Narrow Endemic Plant List (Section 6.1.3) and surveys for Yucaipa 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). Yucaipa onion located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume I.

SPECIES CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Include within the MSHCP Conservation Area at least 1,200 acres of suitable habitat (chaparral between 760 and 1065 m in the San Bernardino Mountains Bioregion).

Objective 2

Surveys for the Yucaipa 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). Yucaipa onion located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1., MSHCP, Volume I.

SPECIES CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

Conservation Levels

Suitable habitat for the Yucaipa onion includes clay openings within chaparral at elevations ranging from 760 to 1065 m. For purposes of this analysis, suitable habitat was considered to include chaparral between 760 and 1065 m in the San Bernardino Mountains Bioregion. Based on these habitats, elevations and survey area, the Plan Area supports approximately 3,660 acres of potential habitat for the Yucaipa onion. Table 1 shows the conservation and loss of potential habitat for the Yucaipa onion. Approximately 1,200 acres (33%) of potential habitat in the Plan Area will be conserved in the MSHCP Conservation Area. It is assumed that these lands will be managed for sensitive biological resources, including the Yucaipa onion.

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF HABITAT CONSERVATION
YUCAIPA ONION

Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (Acres)	Within MSHCP conservation Area			Outside MSHCP conservation Area
Vegetation Type¹	MSHCP Plan Area (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)
Chaparral (between 760 and 1065 m)	3,660	330	870	1,200	1,350	1,110	2,460
TOTAL	3,660	330 (9%)	870 (24%)	1,200 (33%)	1,350 (37%)	1,110 (30%)	2,460 (67%)
¹ Vegetation type includes data from the San Bernardino Mountains Bioregion. ² Acres refer to Additional Reserve Lands to be assembled from within the Criteria Area.

Although 2,460 acres (67%) of potential habitat for Yucaipa 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.

The University of California, Riverside (UCR), GIS database does not contain any records for this species, nor do the herbaria at UCR and Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens. The California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) does not contain any records for this species. The exact location of the one historic record (Davidson 1921) may or may not be conserved within the MSHCP Conservation Area.

This is a species on the Narrow Endemic Plant List (Section 6.1.3) and surveys for Yucaipa 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). Yucaipa onion located as a result of survey efforts shall be conserved in accordance with procedures described within Section 6.1.3, MSHCP, Volume I.

MSHCP Conservation Area Configuration Issues

Habitat supporting Yucaipa onion is located within Public/Quasi-Public Land and the Criteria Area, including the San Bernardino Mountains. Large blocks of habitat within the MSHCP Conservation Area will protect this species from edge effects and provide the species the potential to expand into suitable habitat.

Conservation Summary

In summary, conservation for this species will be achieved by inclusion of at least 1,200 acres of suitable habitat in the MSHCP Conservation Area. The one historic location may be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area. In addition, implementation of Objective 2 for this species will provide new data to guide Reserve Assembly, management and monitoring.

INCIDENTAL TAKE

Approximately 2,460 acres (67%) of potential habitat will not be conserved. It is not known whether the one historic location is included within the MSHCP Conservation Area. It is important to note, however, that this potential habitat is included within the Narrow Endemic Plant Species survey area and conservation of this potential habitat and one historic known location, if still extant and not located in the MSHCP Conservation 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.

SPECIES ACCOUNT

Data Characterization

Data reviewed includes the UCR database, the herbarium at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens, the CNDDB and available literature. The CNDDB, the UCR database, and the herbaria do not contain mapped localities of this species. This species is known from only two ocurrences in the Yucaipa and Beaumont area of the southern San Bernardino Mountains (CNPS 2001). Plant locations were recorded in 1921 by J. Marvin in the general area of Beaumont and no positive identifications have been made since that time.

There is little literature available regarding this species. Yucaipa onion was originally described J. Marvin in 1921 and little to no information has been published on it since. No species-specific studies and little data are available regarding life history (reproductive biology, pollinators or dispersal mechanisms) for Yucaipa onion.

Habitat and Habitat Associations

This species has been previously associated within clay openings in chaparral habitat at elevations between 760 and 1065 m (CNPS 2001).

Biogeography

Yucaipa onion is endemic to the Beaumont region of the southern San Bernardino Mountains in San Bernardino County and western Riverside County at elevations ranging from 760 to 1065 m (CNPS 2001).

Known Populations Within Western Riverside County

Plant locations were recorded in 1921 by J. Marvin in the general area of Beaumont (Davidson 1921) and no positive identifications have been made since that time.

Biology

Genetics: Yucaipa onion is a member of the genus Allium, in the family Liliaceae. The ovary contains distinct wing-like crests (Davidson 1921). No literature has been published on this species regarding its genetic makeup.

Reproduction: This perennial herb blooms from April through May and has a long, dull white perianth (5 mm long) with a brown stripe fading to lavender (Davidson 1921). No studies have been conducted for this species regarding reproduction. Specific data regarding pollinators and seed viability are lacking.

Dispersal:Dispersal in this species has not been studied.

Demography: Yucaipa onion has a tall, slender habit similar to Allium haematochiton but it lacks the numerous blood-red bulb coats of that species. This perennial geophyte is two to three dm high (Davidson 1921).

Threats to Species

The primary threat to this species is urbanization (Davidson 1921).

Special Biological Considerations

A bulb-bearing perennial, this species may not flower in very dry years and may be difficult to locate during surveys conducted in such a year. Like other bulb-bearing perennials, this species is probably susceptible to damage from ground disturbance activities (e.g., discing).

LITERATURE CITED

Davidson, A. 1921. New Species from Southern California. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences. pp 49 -51.