Coastal sage scrub

Concern

Overall Condition

Unknown

Overall Trend

Moderate

Overall Confidence
Metric Condition Trend Confidence
1. Percent Conserved

Percent of baseline coastal sage scrub conserved
Caution
Improving
Moderate
2. Ecological Integrity

Percent of coastal sage scrub in high integrity class based on the percent shrub cover
Significant Concern
Unknown
Moderate
3. Fire Frequency

Percent of coastal sage scrub that has burned 2 or more times in a 30-year period
Significant Concern
Declining
Moderate
Current Status
The current overall condition status for the CSS Vegetation Community Indicator is Concern. There are 3 metrics for CSS ranging from Caution for the percent conserved (Metric 1) to Significant Concern for ecological integrity (Metric 2) and fire frequency (Metric 3). The trend for Metric 1 is Improving as more conserved land was added to the regional preserve system since 1995; however, the frequency of fire is increasing, and therefore, the condition of CSS is Declining (condition is moving farther from the desired conditions). The confidence for all metrics was Moderate because of uncertainty in the vegetation mapping. Many areas have not been mapped since the 1990s. As more information becomes available, additional metrics on the composition of native and nonnative plants and the acreage restored or enhanced will be added.
Species information
For more information on this species including Occurrences, MSP Information, Projects, Files & Documents, and Species Profile, see the link below.
Species Information

Metric 1 - Percent Conserved

Caution

Overall Condition

Improving

Overall Trend

Moderate

Overall Confidence

Metric 2 - Ecological Integrity

Significant Concern

Overall Condition

Unknown

Overall Trend

Moderate

Overall Confidence

Metric 3 - Fire Frequency

Significant Concern

Overall Condition

Declining

Overall Trend

Moderate

Overall Confidence

Additional Resources

Related Projects
Project Names Metrics
Vegetation Mapping and Classification 2012CSS1
2008-2010 Evaluating Vegetation Data Collection MethodsCSS1
2008-2011 Evaluating Remote Sensing Methods for Vegetation MonitoringCSS1
2017-2019 Developing a Map of Ecological Integrity Using Remote SensingCSS2
Post-Fire Monitoring - Herpetofauna samplingCSS3
Post-Fire Monitoring - Terrestrial Biodiversity Vegetation TransectsCSS3
Post-Fire Monitoring -Small Mammal SamplingCSS3
Prioritizing Conserved Areas Threatened by Wildfire and Fragmentation for Monitoring and ManagementCSS1
Selected Citations
Citation Name Leading Author Year
Volume 1: Final MHCP Plan 2003
Vegetation Map 2015 FRAP 2015
CalFire Fire Perimeters 1878-2019
Vegetation Map 1995 1995
Final Multiple Species Conservation Program MSCP Plan 1998
Vegetation Map 2021 2021
Developing terrestrial, multi-taxon indices of biological integrity: An example from coastal sage scrubJay Diffendorfer2007
Fire driven alien invasion in a fire-adapted ecosystemJon Keeley
Determinants of postfire recovery and succession in Mediterranean-climate shrublands of CaliforniaJon Keeley2005
Framework for monitoring shrubland community integrity in California Mediterranean type ecosystems: Information for policy makers and land managersJon Keeley2019
Historical decline of coastal sage scrub in the Riverside-Perris Plain, CaliforniaRichard Minnich1998
Management and Monitoring Strategic Plan for Conserved Lands in Western San Diego County: A Strategic Habitat Conservation Roadmap Volume 1Yvonne C. Moore2017
Vegetation Classification Manual for Western San Diego County: First EditionJonathan Dunn2011
Related Objectives
Objectives Metrics
COSASC-1: Prepare Monitoring PlanCSS2CSS3
COSASC-3: Implement Monitoring PlanCSS3
COSASC-4: Prepare Best Management Practices PlanCSS2CSS3
COSASC-5: Develop Best Management Practices PlanCSS2