A Strategy for Preserving Native Biodiversity in the Santa ...

[Pages:5]THE SANDHILLS CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN

A Strategy for Preserving Native Biodiversity in the Santa Cruz Sandhills

Prepared by Jodi M. McGraw

with Contributions from Matt Freeman, Richard Arnold, and Caitlin Bean

Prepared for The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County

June 2004

Contents Section

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Acknowledgements........................................................................... vi

Executive Summary........................................................................... 1

Chapter 1: Introduction to the Sandhills Conservation and Management Plan 1.1 Plan Goals and Objectives........................................................... 6 1.2 Plan Applications and Approaches................................................. 7 1.3 Plan Overview......................................................................... 10

Chapter 2: Sandhills Physical Environment 2.1 Sandhills Definitions and Distributions............................................ 14 2.2 Sandhills Geology..................................................................... 16 2.3 Sandhills Soils.......................................................................... 17 2.4 Climate of the Sandhills............................................................... 20 2.5 Importance of Sandhills Habitat for the Water Supply........................... 22

Chapter 3: Sandhills Biology

3.1 Sandhills Flora......................................................................... 24

3.2 Plant Adaptations..................................................................... 27

3.3 Plant Distributions..................................................................... 28

3.4 Plant Communities..................................................................... 30

3.5 Successional Relationships Among Sandhills Communities

36

3.6 Fauna.................................................................................... 39

3.7 Sensitive Sandhills Species......................................................... 41

3.8 Disturbance Ecology.................................................................. 43

Chapter 4: Sandhills Threats 4.1 Habitat Destruction................................................................... 48 4.2 Habitat Fragmentation................................................................ 51 4.3 Habitat Degradation.................................................................. 53 4.4 Genetic Erosion....................................................................... 56

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Chapter 5: Sandhills Endangered Species 5.1 Santa Cruz wallflower................................................................ 60 5.2 Ben Lomond spineflower............................................................ 67 5.3 Ben Lomond buckwheat.............................................................. 72 5.4 Silverleaf manzanita.................................................................. 76 5.5 Zayante band-winged grasshopper (prepared by R. A. Arnold).................... 81 5.6 Mount Hermon June beetle (prepared by R. A. Arnold)............................ 92 5.7 Santa Cruz Kangaroo rat (prepared by C. Bean).................................... 100

Chapter 6: Sandhills Conservation Planning Project

J. M. McGraw and M. Freeman

6.1 Project Goals.......................................................................... 112 6.2 Project Methods...................................................................... 112 6.3 Project Products and Results....................................................... 119 6.4 General Recommendations.......................................................... 128 6.5 Tier 1 Site Descriptions and Recommendations.................................. 130

Chapter 7: General Approaches to Sandhills Management 7.1 Need for Management................................................................. 154 7.2 Management Planning................................................................ 155 7.3 Management Goals.................................................................... 158 7.4 Management Strategies: The Role of Disturbance............................... 161 7.5 Management Techniques: Scientific Approaches Can Enhance Success.... 166

Chapter 8: Sandhills Fire Management 8.1 Fire Suppression....................................................................... 170 8.2 Fire Management: Potential Benefits and Negative Impacts................... 174 8.3 Sandhills Fire Management Techniques........................................... 178 8.4 Logistical Aspects of Fire Management............................................ 183

Chapter 9: Sandhills Exotic Species Management 9.1 Exotic Plants in the Sandhills: Distributions and Impacts....................... 188 9.2 Planning Sandhills Exotic Plant Management..................................... 193 9.3 Exotic Plant Management Techniques............................................. 199 9.4 Case Studies in Sandhills Exotic Plant Management............................ 205 9.5 Recommended Strategies for Exotic Plant Management......................... 207

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Chapter 10: Sandhills Recreation Management 10.1 Sandhills Recreation Overview.................................................... 212 10.2 Characteristics of Recreation that Influence Impacts............................ 213 10.3 Habitat Characteristics that Influence Recreation Impacts..................... 215 10.4 Potential Benefits of Recreation for Sandhills Conservation ................. 219 10.5 Types of Recreation Management in Sandhills................................. 220 10.6 Recommendations for Sandhills Recreation Management ................... 223

Chapter 11: Sandhills Reclamation, Reconstruction, and Restoration 11.1 Overview of Sandhills Reclamation, Reconstruction, and Restoration...... 228 11.2 Potential Benefits and Negative Impacts of Projects............................ 231 11.3 Conservation Guidelines for Reclamation and Reconstruction................ 236 11.4 Conservation Guidelines for Restoration Projects.............................. 240 11.5 Conservation Guidelines for Landscaping....................................... 242

Chapter 12: Sandhills Research 12.1 Role of Research in Sandhills Conservation...................................... 246 12.2 Previous and Current Sandhills Research......................................... 247 12.3 Types of Research.................................................................... 250 12.4 Potential Negative Impacts of Sandhills Research.............................. 255 12.5 Facilitating Sandhills Research.................................................... 258 12.6 Recommendations for Sandhills Research ....................................... 260

Chapter 13: Education, Interpretation, and Outreach in the Sandhills 13.1 Education............................................................................. 264 13.2 Interpretation......................................................................... 265 13.3 The Value of Education, Interpretation and Outreach for the Sandhills..... 267 13.4 Recommendations for Education, Interpretation, and Outreach .............. 270 13.5 Coordinating Sandhills Education and Interpretation.......................... 278

Chapter 14: Next Steps: From Plan to Action 14.1: The Players........................................................................... 282 14.2 Next Steps............................................................................ 284 14.3 Getting it Done...................................................................... 289 14.4 Conservation Action Through Adaptive Management......................... 290

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Literature Cited................................................................................ 291

Appendices...................................................................................... 313 Appendix A: Annotated list of figures and color plates Appendix B: Sandhills Flora Appendix C: Site data sheet and instructions for planning project Appendix D: Sandhills site attribute table from planning project Appendix E: Sandhills Resources (contact list)

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