Regional
NFO
2017, 2018, 2019
MON-PRP-MONPL COSASC-1
Management units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
In 2017, prepare a long-term monitoring plan for the mosaic of chaparral, coastal sage scrub and grassland vegetation communities that focuses on tracking community composition, structure and ecological integrity over time in relation to climate (i.e., drought) and disturbance from fire. The monitoring plan should include a conceptual model, specific monitoring questions, the sampling frame within the MSPA, monitoring methods, a statistically valid sampling design, permanent sampling locations, timeline, and standardized protocols. Use the landscape-scale ecological integrity classification map to develop a sampling frame and the sampling design with permanent sampling plots spanning north to south and east to west environmental gradients across the MSPA. Evaluate how the vegetation integrity classes characterize other aspects of the ecosystem by integrating other types of monitoring into the long-term sampling plots, such as abiotic element monitoring (e.g., automated weather stations and soil sensors, GIS-data layers), ecological integrity monitoring (e.g., plant and animal communities, ecological processes), MSP VF species monitoring, and threats monitoring (e.g., fire, climate change, invasive plants). A draft monitoring plan should be prepared in 2017, tested in the field with a pilot study in 2018, and finalized by 2019.
Action |
Statement |
Action status |
Projects |
PRP-1 |
Establish a vegetation monitoring working group of scientists, wildlife agencies, land managers, and other stakeholders to participate in developing the vegetation monitoring plan. The group should also include interested parties from outside the MSPA, such as representatives from other multiple species plans in Orange and Riverside Counties and from San Diego County military bases, to create a regional monitoring program with greater efficiencies in effort and a broader inference across southern California. |
In progress |
|
PRP-2 |
Submit project metadata, datasets, analyses, and Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub, and Grassland Vegetation Monitoring Plan to the MSP web portal |
In progress |
|
Criteria |
Deadline year |
Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub and Grassland Vegetation Monitoring Plan completed by 2019 |
2021 |