Rarest Plants Project: San Diego Thornmint, Short-leaved Dudleya, Orcutt's Spineflower, Orcutt's Brodiaea, and California Orcutt Grass

The initial goal of this project was to significantly improve the conservation status of three of the rarest and most imperiled plants in San Diego County: Orcutt's spineflower, San Diego thornmint, and short-leaved dudleya. Proposed work included stabilizing and increasing the size of existing populations, establishing new populations of Orcutt's spineflower, and providing stewardship. A TransNet EMP grant (#5001767) funded the development and implementation of a conservation strategy that included seed bulking and the establishment of additional populations of Orcutt's spineflower to help minimize the risk of extinction. SANDAG EMP funds and a Section 6 grant from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife funded GIS mapping of suitable habitat soils and population surveys at remaining natural historic documented occurrences and in newly mapped suitable habitat on conserved lands off the Point Loma Navy Base. Through an additional round of TransNet EMP grant funding (#5004954), the project grew to include Orcutt's brodiaea and California Orcutt grass for the Otay Mesa Rare Plants Project. Project activities included seed bulking for MSP plant species and restoration of vernal pools & maritime succulent scrub & establishment of MSP plant occurrences. One last round of grant funding (#5005511) focused on improving the conservation status of Orcutt's spineflower (SL); short-leaved dudleya (SL), and Orcutt's brodiaea (SO). The project focused on seed bulking for all three species; control of invasive weeds for all three species; establishment of one new Orcutt's spineflower occurrence; supplementation of population numbers and stewardship management to maintain approximately sixteen existing occurrences of Orcutt's spineflower and one existing occurrence each of short-leaved dudleya and Orcutt's brodiaea.

Habitat restoration
Rare Plants
completed
January 1, 2014
May 17, 2022
Project Groups
  • SDMMP14 Orcutt's Spineflower Enhancement

Project Focus

Orcutt's spineflower

San Diego Association of Governments

The Chaparral Lands Conservancy

Dave Hogan

Sarah McCutcheon

Sarah McCutcheon

Dave Hogan

Strategic Elements
  • pre FY15-1 - 5
File name Lead Author Year Type
Orcutt's Spineflower Rare Plant Survey Results Rocks, Jim 2015 report
Otay Mesa Rare Plants Final Report The Chaparral Lands Conservancy 2022 report
Rare Plants Project 10th Quarterly Report (FINAL) The Chaparral Lands Conservancy 2016 report
Rarest Plants II Project Final Report The Chaparral Lands Conservancy 2022 report
Rarest Plants Project: Orcutt's Spineflower Hogan, Dave 2016 powerpoint presentation
Results of Orcutts Spineflower Mapping and Population Surveys The Chaparral Lands Conservancy 2015 report