CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY • VOL 33 / NO 4 OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2003 • WWW.CNPS.ORG Bulletin CNPS Scores Victory—Temporarily—for Endangered Algodones Dunes Plants f you were reading the newspapers care- Other rare species found on the dunes include fully in August you may have noticed that the giant Spanish needle (Palafoxia arida var. ICNPS was a key player in getting Federal gigantea) and Wiggin’s croton (Croton wig- wildlife officials to propose designating 53,000 ginsii) found on the “flanks” of the dunes where acres in the Algodones Dunes system as criti- the vegetation is more stabilized. cal habitat for the Peirson’s milk-vetch. The Peirson’s milk-vetch serves as an umbrella Peirson’s milk-vetch is protected as threat- species. If CNPS can protect it we will achieve ened under the Federal Endangered Species Act protection for other sensitive but unlisted species due to CNPS’s efforts so, this advance in the and maintain the dune ecosystem, including protection process is good news. However, the unique animals like the flat-tailed horned and controversy swirling around this incredible the fringed-toed lizards. plant and its unique habitat is far from over. CNPS volunteers examine an endangered dunes Three weeks after the draft critical habitat was sunflower in the Algodones Dunes Photo: Ileene Anderson CNPS BEHIND PROTECTING published, the US Fish and Wildlife Service DUNE ENDEMIC PLANTS announced it would consider delisting the Peir- due to collecting, agriculture and off highway The Algodones dunes are: A) the largest dunes son’s milk-vetch. vehicles (OHVs) across its range. Historically, system in California; B) a mecca for OHV free it was eaten by indigenous peoples, hence its play; C) a botanical wonderland of endemic THE ALGODONES DUNES AND ITS common name. continued on page 5 AMAZING ENDEMIC PLANTS Geographically, this 200+ square mile sys- Gabi McLean’s San Gabriel Valley Home Native Garden tem is primarily in California, but blowing into Mexico at a rate of 3 inches per year. The Ruminations on the benefits of replacing your lawn with a native landscape moving sands and less than 3 inches of annual t’s morning. The cool air greets me as I step outside, car keys in hand, purse tucked under my rain create harsh conditions, limiting the arm, maneuvering carefully so my business suit won’t brush the carport pillar. I catch a glimpse vegetation that grows there and making the Iof the poppy blossoms still folded up in the hazy morning light. The soft breeze carries the fra- dunes home to a suite of rare plant species. grance of the white sage. My eagerness to meet my tight work schedule dissolves, and I turn toward the The dunes sunflower (Helianthus niveus wildflower patch with the promise of bright orange poppies strutting in the midday sun, butterflies ssp. tephrodes) is listed as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act and is “... welcome the surprises—the oak seedling planted by a scrub jay; typically found with the Peirson’s milk-vetch (Astragalus magdalenae var. peirsonii). Both the elderberry that grows so fast and furiously that I can’t keep up species grow in the “deep” dunes, usually in with pruning; the heart-leaf penstemon that barely survived for two “bowls” on the leeward side of tall dunes. Lit- years and now is showering us with orange-red flowers.” tle is known about the ecology of either species, but we are learning more every year. dancing on the golden sun cup blossoms, and carpenter bees buzzing in the purple sage. As I watch, a Sand food (Pholisma sonorae) is the hummingbird stops in midair and turns its attention to the woolly bluecurls and the showy penste- most unusual looking species on the dunes. It mon. For a moment, the hummer and I connect; its world is as busy as mine, and we both find reprieve is a parasitic flowering plant, hosted prima- in the garden. Now I know it’s spring. Now I know I can withstand another hectic workday—when it’s rily by the dune buckwheat (Eriogonum deser- over, the garden will be there and offer me a place to put my mind at peace. ticola) and coldenia (Tiquilia plicata). It is It’s early Saturday afternoon and blazing hot. Stuck in the house, paying bills and answering emails, found outside the dunes, but is threatened continued on page 6 PAGE 1 CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY • VOL 33 / NO 4 OCTOBER– DECEMBER 2003 • WWW.CNPS.ORG From the Desk of the Executive Director ... out the state to meet with Chapters and donors hese are some of the toughest political Fundraising is at the heart of maintaining to discuss our programs. Please contact me if times for plants and our environment and expanding CNPS programs. Our first Major you have suggestions or would like to plan a T that I’ve experienced in my adult life— Donor Campaign is underway. Please encour- visit to your chapter. Finally, CNPS is fortunate to be working with Fundraising is at the heart of maintaining two accomplished photographers, Marcus and Rosalie Wardell, who have put together a stun- and expanding California Native ning native plant photo exhibit that will be show- Plant Society programs. ing in museums across California for the next two years. The back cover has the particulars on sadly reminiscent of the James Watt era. To meet age plant loving folks you know to give or the exhibition’s opening in Yuba City. these challenges CNPS is working harder increase their gift—a donation of $250 or more than ever to be more strategic. However, we also earns you the distinction of being a major donor! Pam Muick, Executive Director, simply need to do more. To make this possible, Over the coming months I will travel through- [email protected] CNPS volunteers, board and staff are focused on program planning and fund raising this fall. It may seem strange to get excited about plan- Conservation Director Speaks Out ning—but you should have been at the meet- n August the Conservation Program held a retreat of staff and volunteer leaders to assess needs and ings! The retreats are dynamic think tanks where program design for 2004. It hasn’t been an easy year for the environment, both from Washing- volunteers and staff share insights and identify Iton’s policies and California’s budget crisis, so you would think we’d be in a pretty black mood, opportunities. All of CNPS’s programs—Con- but not so! There are so many signs that the public is about to force the proverbial pendulum back in servation, Vegetation, Horticulture and Educa- the opposite direction. tion, Rare Plant / Local Flora—have convened I am very happy with the work done by staff, so our plans are to pretty much stay the course in retreats to set goals and priorities for the com- 2004. If we can find more financial resources we may hire staff to help with Central Valley and Bay ing year. I’ll collect the results and draft a single Area conservation work. We will produce more tools for chapters—such as a Coastal Act Tool Kit— plan which will be the basis for next year’s budget. and post them on the CNPS web page. I am creating a ‘dog-and-pony show’ that will tour the chapters to show you the full range of things we are doing. CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY Back to pushing on the pendulum ... On page seven Dr. Emily Roberson, our Senior Policy Ana- 2707 K Street, Suite 1 lyst, tells why CNPS has joined with other organizations in a letter protesting the federal govern- Sacramento, CA 95816-5113 ment’s failure to support critical habitat designation for a number of plants, poor science in deci- Phone 916-447-2677 Fax 916-447-2727 sions to essentially dismantle the Sierra Framework, and many other federal issues. E-mail [email protected] Visit www.CNPS.org On page one Ileene Anderson, Southern California Regional Botanist, outlines our difficult strug- Send articles to [email protected] gle to protect rare endemic plants from off highway vehicles in the Algodones Sand Dunes. Ileene is BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR 2003 also giving informed scientific input to BLM on three giant desert plans that cover the Mojave and Sue Britting, President working to come to an agreement on the protection of limestone-endemic plants in the San Bernardino Sandy McCoy, Vice President Mountains. Lori Hubbart, Secretary Steve Hartman, Treasurer Volunteer Greg Jirak, having done a wonderful job of setting up the forest program, is handing the reins to Jen Kalt. Greg shepherded our amicus brief to support the Department of Forestry in a DIRECTORS suit by a timber producer (the “Weburg Case”) who thought that rare plant surveys should not be Carol Baird, Lynne Kada, Betsey Landis, David Magney, Patt McDaniel, required prior to a timber harvest. The Department recently prevailed. J. Spence McIntyre, Carol Witham Unfortunately, pendulums being what they are, you need the shoving power of a lawsuit or two as “a good rap upside the head” to those trashing our state’s natural heritage. One never likes to CHAPTER COUNCIL spend resources that could be used for all kinds of positive things, but we must invest in holding Lynne Kada, Chair Lori Hubbard, Vice Chair back the bad stuff. The story on page three is an example: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Joan Stewart, Secretary recently proposed a Critical Habitat plan for vernal pool species that left out entire counties, and in doing so failed to designate a single acre of critical habitat for two rare vernal pool plants.