Type: report

Article abstract: The primary goal of the San Diego Thornmint Expansion Project (project) was to improve and expand areas occupied by the San Diego thornmint (Acanthomintha ilicifolia) through restoration and enhancement of degraded habitat within Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) Fortuna. San Diego thornmint is included in the San Diego Management and Monitoring Program (SDMMP) Management Strategic Plan (MSP) as a Category SO (Significant occurrence(s) at risk of loss from the Management Strategic Planning Area). This program addresses the immediate needs of thornmint within MTRP by building on the previous City of San Diego (City) weed treatment effort (based on San Diego Association of Governments-funded Conservation Biology Institute (CBI) protocols to control purple falsebrome (Brachypodium distachyon) and to address loss and degradation of existing thornmint habitat due to an increase of invasive plants and drought. Activities included in this program consisted of herbicide treatment, thornmint seed collection, seed bulking and redistribution, vegetation monitoring, photo monitoring, and thornmint monitoring. City of San Diego rangers and Natural Resources department staff dedicated several hours of City staff time to support the success of the Thornmint Project.