The status of Orcuttieae a quarter century later www.vernalpools.org Carol W. Witham Northern California Botanists 2014 Symposium, 1/13/2014.

Presentation on theme: "The status of Orcuttieae a quarter century later www.vernalpools.org Carol W. Witham Northern California Botanists 2014 Symposium, 1/13/2014."— Presentation transcript:

1 The status of Orcuttieae a quarter century later www.vernalpools.org Carol W. Witham Northern California Botanists 2014 Symposium, 1/13/2014

2 www.vernalpools.org Great Valley vernal pool federally listed species Orcuttieae tribe of Poaceae Colusa grass (Neostapfia colusana) T San Joaquin Valley orcutt grass (Orcuttia inaequalis) T Hairy orcutt grass (Orcuttia pilosa) E Slender orcutt grass (Orcuttia tenuis) T Sacramento orcutt grass (Orcuttia viscida) E Greene’s tuctoria (Tuctoria greenei) E Solano Grass (Tuctoria mucronata) E Hoover’s spurge (Chamaesyce hooveri) T

3 www.vernalpools.org Prior information Prior information Last comprehensive survey in 1986-1987 (Stone et al. 1988) CNDDB records 273 occurrences 50 extirpated 29 possibly extirpated 194 presumed extant –48 visited in last decade –75% not visited in last decade

4 www.vernalpools.org Since the 1986-87 surveys… Since the 1986-87 surveys… Publication of the Recovery Plan for Vernal Pool Ecosystems of California and Southern Oregon (USFWS 2005) –Calls for conducting range-wide status surveys and status reviews for all species covered in the Plan >100,000 acres of vernal pool habitat destroyed (Holland 2009) Monumental changes in GPS and GIS technology and availability –Stone et al. (1988) relied on paper topographic maps for survey work and recording data Central Valley Project Conservation Program (CVPCP) and Central Valley Project Improvement Act Habitat Restoration Program (HRP) –A proposal to update the 1986-87 surveys seemed to be a perfect fit for this program and was funded in 2008

5 www.vernalpools.org Office review and preparation… Office review and preparation…

6 www.vernalpools.org Office review and preparation… Office review and preparation…

7 www.vernalpools.org The “road trip”… The “road trip”… Conducted during the heat of the summer in 2010 and 2011 –2008 was preparation work and 2009 was cancelled due to lack of rain >10,000 miles An amazing opportunity to learn more about the Great Valley, in particular the San Joaquin Valley which I did not know very well There were also obstacles and disappointments…

8 www.vernalpools.org Summary of results… Summary of results…

9 www.vernalpools.org Results by element occurrence… Results by element occurrence…

10 www.vernalpools.org Results by species… Results by species…

11 www.vernalpools.org Results by core recovery unit… Results by core recovery unit…

12 www.vernalpools.org Results by important regions… Results by important regions…

13 www.vernalpools.org Summary of results… Summary of results…

14 www.vernalpools.org My two cents… My two cents… On the negative side Unregulated and potentially illegal agricultural conversions continue to be a major concern –Primarily conversion to orchards in Stanislaus and Madera counties –Hickman Vernal Pools have not been converted, but have been completely altered by irrigation runoff from encroaching orchards Removal of cattle grazing on BLM lands in Tehama County is of some concern –Feral pigs have proliferated in the area –All Orcuttia tenuis populations on BLM parcels and adjacent properties had been damaged by feral pigs rooting in the vernal pools

15 www.vernalpools.org My two cents… My two cents… On the positive side Large tracts of vernal pool landscapes are under some form of protection –Dales, Hogs and Vina Plains in Tehama County –Eastern Merced County Other areas have significant proportions of their vernal pool resources under protection –Sacramento Wildlife Refuge in Glenn County –Stone Corral Ecological Area in Tulare County –Jepson Prairie area in Solano County It was an awesome road trip!

16 www.vernalpools.org Thank you Thank you Full report is available at www.vernalpools.org