Type: report

Article abstract: In 2014 and 2015, a MSP objective is to inspect rare plant occurrences and to conduct routine management (IMG). The objective is to survey existing occurrences for 17 species (see Appendix A) to document their status and assess threats in order to develop specific management recommendations. Surveys for these species will be implemented by a combination of land managers and contracted biologists in coordination with the San Diego Management and Monitoring Program (SDMMP). Fifteen additional species are also scheduled in 2014-15 to be monitored as part of regionally funded projects to establish baseline data, develop monitoring protocols, and to conduct management (Appendix A). To ensure consistency in data collection, this protocol and associated data forms have been developed to document occurrence status and to assess habitat and threats for the 17 "IMG" species. Critical to the development of the monitoring methods are recommendations from a comprehensive review of rare plant monitoring in the San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Plan (McEachern et al. 2007, 2010a,b, Tracey et al. 2011). The MSP rare plant occurrence monitoring component was adapted from methods used by the City of San Diego since 2006 (City San Diego Plant Survey Form 2013, City San Diego Plant Field Form Instructions 2013, B. Miller pers. comm.). The habitat and threat assessment component incorporates covariates used by the Conservation Biology Institute and The Nature Conservancy in some of their projects (South County Grasslands Data Sheet 2011, Crestridge Qualitative Monitoring Data Sheet 2013, Habitat Assessment Form 2013, P. Gordon-Reedy, T. Smith, and J. Vinje pers. comm.). In addition, discussions with the County of San Diego (M. Hamilton and R. Humphrey, pers. comm.), Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM; M. Spiegelberg and P. McConnell, pers. comm.), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS; J. Martin, pers. comm.), AECOM (J. Dunn, T. Oberbauer, F. Sproul, L. Woolley, pers. comm.), and K. Greer (pers. comm.) have made significant contributions to the overall approach and development of covariates included in the 2014 monitoring protocol. A rare plant training session was held in February 2014 and participants offered additional suggestions for clarifying and improving the protocol and field forms.