Invasive Plant Rapid  Assessment Monitoring

Randall Stevens

San Diego River

• Unique 52 mile ecosystem from Julian area to Dog Beach

• One of few remaining riparian habitats in the County

Goals of Project

• Habitat assessment

• Establish a baseline

• Collect data to plan for treatment and removal

BIODIVERSITY

• What do we have?

• What is disappearing?

• What have we lost?

Native Flora Conservation

• Primary producers that provide ecosystem stability

• San Diego is a “Hot Spot”

• Historical value of S.D. River

Salix lasiolepis (Arroyo Willow)

Methods

• Design Field Data Sheet and Protocol

• Establish Survey Method

• Determine Statistics to Analyze

• Test Run

Field Data Sheet Sample

Invasive Plant Rapid Assessment Monitoring  File #: 4_S1_02272008      GPS Unit: Garmin eTrex Legend____________  Date: 2/27/2008  Time In:10:15 am  Time Out: 12:00 pm 

Location: Mission Valley Preserve South  Stand #: 1 

Surveyors: R. Stevens 

 Stand Boundaries  NE  SE  SW  NW Wypts.  043  058  005  059   N  E  S  W Structure  

River  Eucalyptus  OB Bike Path  Coaster Track 

 Wypt.   Plant ID #  Ht (ft)  dbh (in)  Canopy (ft)  Resprout  Structure  Access 6  3  15  2  5,5  N  G  E 12  5  35  30  12  N  T1  E 

Survey Statistics Example

SURVEY STATISTICS: FILE #: 4_S1_02272008 Species # Ind. Median Canopy (m2) Total Canopy (m2) % Cover

Schinus terebinthifolius 9 7.3 115.97 0.701 Ricinus communis 6 0.31 4.91 0.030 Arundo donax 3 58.06 176.51 1.070 Phoenix canariensis 29 29.19 1278.82 7.820 Washingtonia robusta 1 7.3 7.3 0.040 Carpobrotus edulis 3 9.29 35.3 0.210

TOTALS 51 1618.81 9.871

Species Median Ht (m) Height Range (m)

Median dbh (cm)

dbh Range (cm)

Schinus terebinthifolius 3.66 1.83-6.10 7.62 2.54-12.70 Ricinus communis 0.91 0.91-1.83 2.54 2.54-2.54 Arundo donax 6.1 4.57-6.10 5.08 2.54-5.08 Phoenix canariensis 6.1 1.83-15.24 50.8 5.08-76.2 Washingtonia robusta 3.05 3.05-3.05 10.16 10.16-10.16 Carpobrotus edulis 0.31 0.31-0.31 2.54 2.54-2.54

Survey Statistics Example

% Canopy Cover: 4_S1_02272008

Native Cover90.19%

NonnativeCover9.81%

% Composition of Nonnative Canopy Cover: 4_S1_02272008

A. donax10.84%

P. canariensis79.22%

S. terebinthifolis7.10%

R. communis0.30%

C. edulis2.13%

W. robusta0.41%

Plant ID List Example

INVASIVE PLANT ID # MASTER LIST Plant ID # Species Date Added

1 Schinus terebinthifolius Brazilian Pepper Tree 12.01.2007 2 Phoenix canariensis Canary Island Date Palm 12.01.2007 3 Arundo donax Giant Reed 12.01.2007 4 Tamarisk ramosissima Salt Cedar 12.01.2007 5 Ricinus communis Castor Bean 12.01.2007 6 Eucalyptus spp. Eucalyptus 12.01.2007 7 Washingtonia robusta Mexican Fan Palm 12.01.2007 8 Carpobrotus edulis Hottentot Fig 12.01.2007 9 Mesembryanthemum crystallinum Ice Plant 3.01.2008 10 Cortaderia selloana Pampas Grass 3.01.2008 11 Foeniculum vulgare Fennel 3.01.2008 12 Brassica nigra Black Mustard 3.01.2008 13 Myoporum laetum Mousehole Tree 3.01.2008 14 Nicotiana glauca Tree Tobacco 3.01.2008 15 Salsola tragus Russian Thistle 3.01.2008 16 17

Final Product

• Field Data Sheet• Survey Statistics Sheet and Charts• Ariel image printout of location• GIS map of distribution

Arundo donax (Giant Reed)