Classification of the Vegetation of Point Reyes National Seashore Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Samuel P
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Classification of the Vegetation of Point Reyes National Seashore Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Samuel P. Taylor, Mount Tamalpais, and Tomales State Parks, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties, California Association for Biodiversity Information In Cooperation with The California Native Plant Society and California Heritage Program Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch California Department of Fish and Game 1307 R Street, Room 202 Sacramento, CA 95814 Revised June 2003 ABSTRACT: The National Park Service (NPS), in conjunction with the Biological Resources Division (BRD) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), has implemented a program to "develop a uniform hierarchical vegetation methodology" at a national level. The program will also create a geographic information system (GIS) database for the parks under its management. The purpose of the data is to document the state of vegetation within the NPS service area during the 1990's, thereby providing a baseline study for further analysis at the Regional or Service - wide level. The vegetation units of this map were determined through stereoscopic interpretation of aerial photographs supported by field sampling and ecological analysis. The vegetation boundaries were identified on the photographs by means of the photographic signatures and collateral information on slope, hydrology, geography, and vegetation in accordance with the Standardized National Vegetation Classification System (October 1995). The mapped vegetation reflects conditions that existed during the specific years and seasons that the aerial photographs were taken. Several sets of aerial photography were utilized for this project: 1) NOAA 1:24,000 March 1994 Natural Color Prints (Leaf Off) covering Point Reyes NS, the northern portion and southern coastal portions of Golden Gate NRA, and the western two thirds of Mt. Tamalpais State Park; 2) Pacific Aerial Survey 1:24,000 August 1995 Natural Color Prints (Leaf On) covering the southern portions of Golden Gate NRA and the San Francisco Watershed district; 3) Pacific Aerial Survey 1:24,000 November 1995 Natural Color Prints (Leaf Change) covering Samuel P. Taylor State Park and portions of the GGNRA; 4) 1:36,000 August 1991 Natural Color Prints (Leaf On) covering the eastern portion of Mt. Tamalpais State Park; 5) 1:12,000 August 1990 Natural Color Prints (Leaf On) covering Samuel P. Taylor State Park. (Supplemental data set - not interpreted off of); 6) 1:12,000 June 1993 Natural Color Prints (Leaf On) covering coastal portions of Mt. Tamalpais State Park (Supplemental data set - not interpreted off of); 7) Hammon - Jensen - Wallen 1:12,000 August 1996 CIR Prints and Diapositives (Leaf On) covering the Vision Fire Burn Area; 8) 1:12,000 April 1984 CIR Prints were provided to fill in small gaps in the Drakes Bay area; 9) Radman Aerial Surveys 1:12,000 April 1993 Natural Color Prints covering Angel Island; 10) Only the Black and White DOQQ (San Francisco NE) was available for Alcatraz Island. There is an inherent margin of error in the use of aerial photography for vegetation delineation and classification. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS VEGETATION SAMPLING AND CLASSIFICATION INTRODUCTION 8 BACKGROUND 8 STUDY AREA 8 METHODS 15 RESULTS 24 GENERAL DISCUSSION 28 FINAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE VEGETATION OF POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE, GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, SAMUEL P. TAYLOR, MOUNT TAMALPAIS, AND TOMALES STATE PARKS, MARIN, SAN FRANCISCO, AND SAN MATEO COUNTIES, CALIFORNIA 30 FINAL FIELD AND PHOTO - INTERPRETATION KEY TO THE VEGETATION ALLIANCES AND DEFINED ASSOCIATIONS FROM THE POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE, GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, SAN FRANCISCO MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT LANDS, AND MT. TAMALPAIS, TOMALES BAY, AND SAMUEL P. TAYLOR STATE PARKS 39 PHOTO INTERPRETATION (PI), MAPPING EFFORT, AND PI CODES 56 VEGETATION DESCRIPTIONS FOR POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE AND GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA 80 TREE (AND ASSOCIATED SHRUB) DOMINATED VEGETATION DESCRIPTIONS 84 EVERGREEN FORESTS AND WOODLANDS (AND ASSOCIATED SHRUBLANDS) Forests Dominated by California Bay, Douglas - fir, and Coast Live Oak (in part) CALIFORNIA BAY ALLIANCE 84 Umbellularia californica - Lithocarpus densiflorus Association (preliminary) Umbellularia californica / Polystichum munitum Association Umbellularia californica - Quercus chrysolepis Association Umbellularia californica - Quercus agrifolia / Toxicodendron - (Corylus cornuta) Association DOUGLAS - FIR ALLIANCE 90 Pseudotsuga menziesii / Umbellularia californica / Polystichum munitum Association Pseudotsuga menziesii / Baccharis pilularis Association Pseudotsuga menziesii / Quercus agrifolia Forest Pseudotsuga menziesii / Quercus chrysolepis Association Pseudotsuga menziesii / Umbellularia californica / Rhamnus californica Association Pseudotsuga menziesii / Lithocarpus densiflorus / Rhamnus californica Association (preliminary) COAST LIVE OAK ALLIANCE 99 Quercus agrifolia - (Arbutus menziesii) - Umbellularia californica Association (preliminary) Quercus agrifolia / Toxicodendron - (Corylus cornuta) Association CALIFORNIA BUCKEYE ALLIANCE 101 PACIFIC MADRONE ALLIANCE 102 2 Forests Dominated by Coast Redwood and Tanoak COAST REDWOODS ALLIANCE 105 Sequoia sempervirens / Lithocarpus densiflora / Vaccinium ovatum Association Sequoia sempervirens - Pseudotsuga menziesii - Umbellularia californica Association TANOAK ALLIANCE 108 Forests and Scrubs Dominated by Bishop Pine, Introduced Pines and Cypresses and chinquapin, or mesic chaparral (in part) BISHOP PINE ALLIANCE 111 Pinus muricata - Arbutus menziesii / Vaccinium ovatum Association MONTEREY PINE - MONTEREY CYPRESS ALLIANCE 112 SARGENT CYPRESS ALLIANCE (preliminary) 116 GIANT CHINQUAPIN ALLIANCE 116 Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. minor / Vaccinium ovatum Association EUCALYPTIS ALLIANCE 118 WINTER DECIDUOUS FOREST / SCRUB 121 Riparian Forests and Scrub 121 RED ALDER ALLIANCE 121 Alnus rubra / Rubus spectabilis - Sambucus racemosa Association Alnus rubra / Salix lasiolepis Association CALIFORNIA WAX MYRTAL ALLIANCE 124 Morilla californica Association SALMONBERRY ALLIANCE 126 Rubus spectabilis Association YELLOW WILLOW ALLIANCE 127 BLACK WILLOW ALLIANCE 129 RED WILLOW ALLIANCE 131 MIXED WILLOW ALLIANCE 133 Salix lasiolepis - Salix lucida Association Salix lasiolepis / Rubus spp. Association Forests dominated by California Bay, Douglas - fir, and Coast Live Oak (in part) HAZEL ALLIANCE 137 Corylus cornuta / Polystichum munitum Association 3 SHRUB DOMINATED VEGETATION DESCRIPTIONS 139 CHAPARRAL 139 Xeric chaparral CHAMISE ALLIANCE 139 Adenostoma fasciculatum - Arctostaphylos glandulosa - Quercus wislizeni Association Adenostoma fasciculatum - Mimulus aurantiacus Association MIXED MANZANITA MAPPING UNIT 142 EASTWOOD MANZANITA ALLIANCE 142 Arctostaphylos glandulosa - Quercus wislizeni Association MOUNT TAMALPAIS MANZANITA ALLIANCE 144 Arctostaphylos hookeri ssp. Montana Association LEATHEROAK ALLIANCE 146 Quercus durata - Arctostaphylos glandulosa Association Mesic chaparral WOOLLY - LEAF MANZANITA ALLIANCE 148 SENSATIVE MANZANITA ALLIANCE 150 Arctostaphylos nummularia var. sensitiva - Vaccinium ovatum - Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. minor Association COASTAL SCRUB 153 Dune Vegetation (in part) 153 MIXED COYOTEBRUSH ALLIANCE (in part) Baccharis pilularis - Lupinus arboreus / Lupinus chamissonis Association DUNE LUPINE - GOLDENBUSH ALLIANCE 155 Lupinus chamissonis - Ericameria ericoides Association Dense Coyotebrush and Related Scrub 157 CALIFORNIA SAGEBRUSH ALLIANCE 157 MIXED COYOTEBRUSH ALLIANCE (in part) 159 Baccharis pilularis - Artemisia californica - Toxicodendron diversilobum / Monardella villosa Association Baccharis pilularis - Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Association Baccharis pilularis / Dudleya farinosa Association Baccharis pilularis - Eriophyllum staechadifolium Association Baccharis pilularis - Rhamnus californicus - Rubus parviflorus Association Baccharis pilularis - Holodiscus discolor Association Baccharis pilularis / Polystichum munitum Association Baccharis pilularis - Toxicodendron diversilobum Association Baccharis pilularis - Native Grassland Association (preliminary) Baccharis pilularis - Annual Grassland Association (preliminary) Baccharis pilularis - Corylus cornuta Association (preliminary) 4 BLUE BLOSSOM ALLIANCE 173 Ceanothus thyrsiflorus - Baccharis pilularis - Toxicodendron diversilobum Association Ceanothus thyrsiflorus - Vaccinium ovatum - Rubus parviflorus Association CALIFORNIA COFFEEBERRY ALLIANCE 176 Rhamnus californica - Baccharis pilularis / Scrophularia californica Association HOLLY - LEAFED CHERRY ALLIANCE 178 Prunus illicifolia / Sanicula crassicaulis Association Baccharis pilularis / Prunus ilicifolia Association (preliminary) MEXICAN ELDERBERRY ALLIANCE 180 POISON OAK ALLIANCE 182 Toxicodendron diversilobum - Baccharis pilularis - Rubus parviflorus Association Drier Coastal Grassland / Open Scrub (in part) 185 COYOTEBRUSH ALLIANCE (unable to key) 185 MIXED COYOTEBRUSH ALLIANCE (in part) 185 Baccharis pilularis / Non - native Grassland Association Baccharis pilularis - Nassella pulchra Association Baccharis pilularis - Rubus ursinus / weedy herb Association MIXED BROOM ALLIANCE 192 YELLOWBUSH LUPINE ALLIANCE 192 GORSE ALLIANCE 193 Ulex europaeus Association Moist Coastal Grassland (in part) 196 MIXED COYOTEBRUSH ALLIANCE (in part) 196 Baccharis pilularis / Carex obnupta - Juncus patens Association Baccharis pilularis / Danthonia californica Association Baccharis pilularis / Deschampsia cespitosa Association HERBACEOUS VEGETATION