Type: report

Article abstract: The purpose of this letter is to provide you with a progress report of the Salt Creek Coastal Cactus Wren Habitat Enhancement/Restoration Project. Merkel & Associates (M&A) visited the site on July 9, 2014. Both the 1.0-acre and 0.4-acre areas continue to thrive. Most of the cacti looked healthy, and there appears to be several new plants that have originated from detached stem segments (i.e., joints) from planted cacti. Native plants continue to fill in the space between cacti at both sites. Coastal sagebrush (Artemisia californica) ranges from 2 to 14 inches in height, and flat-top buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum var. fasciculatum) ranges from 3 to 6 inches in height. Other native species occurring between cacti included San Diego viguiera (Bahiopsis laciniata), matchweed (Guiterrezia sarothrae), and broom baccharis (Baccharis sarothroides). Weed coverage was minimal and included tocalote (Centaurea melitensis) and short-pod mustard (Hirschfeldia incana).