DOCSLIB.ORG

Clear Creek Management Area Record of Decision and Approved

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Clear Creek Management Area Record of Decision and Approved Record of Decision & Approved Resource Management Plan for Clear Creek Management Area Prepared by U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Hollister Field Office California February 2014 THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK. United States Department of the Interior BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Hollister Field Office 20 Hamilton Court Hollister, CA 95023 www.ca.blm.gov/hollister In reply refer to: 1610-DP-P CA 0900.38 P Dear Reader: We are pleased to announce after several years of collaborative effort, the Record of Decision (ROD) and Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) for Clear Creek Management Area are complete. This document will provide guidance for the management of approximately 63,000 acres of public lands in southern San Benito and western Fresno counties. The attached ROD and RMP have been prepared in accordance with the Federal Land Policy Management Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. The ROD links final land use plan decisions to the proposed decisions and analysis presented in the CCMA Proposed RMP/Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) that was released on April 5, 2013, and subject to a 30-day protest period that ended on May 6, 2013. Twenty-one protest letters were received. The protests were reviewed by the BLM Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning, in Washington, D.C. After careful consideration of all points raised in the protests, the Assistant Director concluded the responsible planning team and decision makers followed all applicable laws, regulations, policies, and pertinent resource considerations in developing the CCMA Proposed Plan and the FEIS. Adjustments and points of clarification incorporated into the RMP in response to issues raised in the protest process and final BLM review are discussed in the ROD under Section II.A.9 titled Changes from the Final EIS to the ROD. The protest review did not result in any significant changes to the Proposed Action analyzed in the Final EIS. The ROD serves as the final decision for the land use planning decisions, described in the attached RMP. This ROD also describes a set of implementation decisions (listed in Section II.B). An appeal opportunity for these decisions is being provided at this time. The process is described in the ROD and at 43 CFR Part 4, Subpart E. The appeal period will close 30 days from the date the Notice of Availability of the ROD/Approved RMP appears in the Federal Register. Now that the ROD has been signed, we look forward to your participation as we implement the plan. If you would like more information, please contact the Hollister Field Office, 20 Hamilton Ct., Hollister, CA 95023, or by telephone at (831) 630-5000. THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK. Record of Decision & Approved Resource Management Plan for Clear Creek Management Area Lead Agency: US Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Land Management Location: California Contacts: Rick Cooper, Field Manager, Hollister Field Office, 831-630-5000 Requests for copies of the document: Bureau of Land Management Hollister Field Office 20 Hamilton Court Hollister, CA 95023 Phone: (831) 630-5000 Fax: (831) 630-5055 Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., M-F Contact us by Email Electronic Copy on BLM website: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/clear_creek_management_area/CCMA_RMP.html Abstract: The Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan for Clear Creek Management Area is a project of BLM California that supports the agency’s mission to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for current and future generation. The Approved RMP was prepared under the authority and regulations implementing the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 Code of Federal Regulations 1600). It includes broad land use plan decisions that provide the overall direction for managing resources and resource uses in the Clear Creek Management Area. Land use decisions are expressed as goals and objectives (desired outcomes), allowable uses, and management actions anticipated to achieve desired outcomes. Land use decisions identified in the Approved RMP are final and become effective upon the California State Director’s signing of the ROD. The Approved RMP also includes implementation-level decisions; future implementation of these decisions may require additional steps and analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act prior to implementation. The Planning Area includes a portion of southern San Benito County and a portion of western Fresno County. BLM public lands account for more than 63,000 of the 75,000-acre management area. BLM also administers subsurface minerals on approximately 3,500 acres of “split estate” (areas where BLM administers Federal subsurface minerals but the surface is owned by a non-Federal entity). The lands managed by the Hollister Field Office include a variety of settings and landforms, including the southern Diablo Mountain Range, Hernandez Valley, and three major watersheds. The Pajaro watershed drains into the Pacific Ocean; the Arroyo Pasajero and Silver Creek watersheds drain into the San Joaquin Valley. The decisions outlined in this document will enable to BLM to manage and protect resources on public lands within the Clear Creek Management Area to achieve desired future conditions and management objectives. Planning decisions in this document do not apply to state-, county- or privately-owned lands or other federal lands not managed by BLM. i THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK. ii BLM Hollister Field Office Clear Creek Management Area Record of Decision Table of Contents I. Record of Decision ................................................................................................................................................ 1 A. Summary .......................................................................................................................................................... 1 B. Decision ............................................................................................................................................................ 1 C. Range of Alternatives ....................................................................................................................................... 2 D. Management Considerations ............................................................................................................................ 2 E. Mitigation and Monitoring ............................................................................................................................... 3 F. Public Involvement ........................................................................................................................................... 3 1. Public Scoping ............................................................................................................................................. 3 2. Public Comment Period ............................................................................................................................... 3 3. Public Protest Period .................................................................................................................................... 4 II. Resource Management Plan ............................................................................................................................. 5 A. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 5 1. Purpose and Need ......................................................................................................................................... 5 2. Planning Area ............................................................................................................................................... 5 3. Management Zones ...................................................................................................................................... 7 4. Scoping/Issues .............................................................................................................................................. 7 5. Planning Criteria .......................................................................................................................................... 8 6. Planning Process .......................................................................................................................................... 9 7. Related Plans .............................................................................................................................................. 14 8. Policy ......................................................................................................................................................... 14 9. Changes from the Final EIS to the ROD .................................................................................................... 15 B. Management Decisions .................................................................................................................................. 17 1. Recreation .................................................................................................................................................. 17 2. Hazardous Materials and Public Safety...................................................................................................... 19 3. Travel and Transportation Management ...................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration City of Hollister San Benito River Greenway
    INITIAL STUDY / MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION CITY OF HOLLISTER SAN BENITO RIVER GREENWAY DECEMBER 2008 Lead Agency: City of Hollister Engineering Department 375 Fifth Street Hollister, CA 95024 Prepared By: Analytical Environmental Services 1801 7th Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, Ca 95811 INITIAL STUDY / MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION CITY OF HOLLISTER SAN BENITO RIVER GREENWAY DECEMBER 2008 Lead Agency: City of Hollister Engineering Department 375 Fifth Street Hollister, CA 95024 Prepared By: Analytical Environmental Services 1801 7th Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, Ca 95811 TABLE OF CONTENTS SAN BENITO RIVER GREENWAY PROJECT INITIAL STUDY / MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Purpose of Study ............................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Environmental Factors Potentially Affected ....................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Evaluation Terminology ..................................................................................................... 1-1 1.4 Organization of the Initial Study ......................................................................................... 1-2 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................................ 2-1 2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 8 Natural Resources
    CHAPTER 8. NATURAL RESOURCES San Benito County General Plan Chapter 8 Natural Resources This chapter describes the location and extent of existing natural resources within San Benito County, including water resources, mineral and energy resources, biological resources, and oil and gas resources. This chapter is organized into the following sections: . Water Resources (Section 8.1) . Energy and Mineral Resources (Section 8.2) . Biological Resources (Section 8.3) . Oil and Gas Resources (Section 8.4) Public Draft Background Report Page 8-1 November 2010 CHAPTER 8. NATURAL RESOURCES San Benito County General Plan This page is intentionally left blank. Page 8-2 Public Review Draft Background Report November 2010 CHAPTER 8. NATURAL RESOURCES San Benito County General Plan SECTION 8.1 WATER RESOURCES Introduction This section summarizes and analyzes information about the availability and quality of water resources in San Benito County. It includes information about historical and current conditions and projections for future ground water, surface water, and imported water resource conditions, where available. Analyzing existing water resource conditions and water supply data provides important information about the ability of the County to provide and manage water supplies that meet both existing and projected future growth. Key Terms Acre-foot (AF). The volume of water required to cover one acre of land (43,560 square feet) to a depth of one foot. One acre-foot is equal to 325,851 gallons or 1,233 cubic meters. Historically, an acre-foot represents the amount of water typically used by one family during a year. Aquifer. A geological formation or structure that stores and/or transmits water, such as wells and springs.
    [Show full text]
  • Vegetation Classification, Descriptions, and Mapping of The
    Vegetation Classification, Descriptions, and Mapping of the Clear Creek Management Area, Joaquin Ridge, Monocline Ridge, and Environs in San Benito and Western Fresno Counties, California Prepared By California Native Plant Society And California Department of Fish and Game Final Report Project funded by Funding Source: Resource Assessment Program California Department of Fish and Game And Funding Source: Resources Legacy Fund Foundation Grant Project Name: Central Coast Mapping Grant #: 2004-0173 February 2006 Vegetation Classification, Descriptions, and Mapping of the Clear Creek Management Area, Joaquin Ridge, Monocline Ridge, and Environs in San Benito and Western Fresno Counties, California Final Report February 2006 Principal Investigators: California Native Plant Society staff: Julie Evens, Senior Vegetation Ecologist Anne Klein, Vegetation Ecologist Jeanne Taylor, Vegetation Assistant California Department of Fish and Game staff: Todd Keeler-Wolf, Ph.D., Senior Vegetation Ecologist Diana Hickson, Senior Biologist (Botany) Addresses: California Native Plant Society 2707 K Street, Suite 1 Sacramento, CA 95816 California Department of Fish and Game Biogeographic Data Branch 1807 13th Street, Suite 202 Sacramento, CA 95814 Reviewers: Bureau of Land Management: Julie Anne Delgado, Botanist California State University: John Sawyer, Professor Emeritus TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................. 1 BACKGROUND...........................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • CURRICULUM VITAE Ryan O'dell Bureau of Land Management
    CURRICULUM VITAE Ryan O’Dell Bureau of Land Management Central Coast Field Office Marina, CA 93933 Email: [email protected] Education M.Sc. Soils and Biogeochemistry (2005) ‘Revegetation of subgrade substrates: I. Barren serpentine substrates. II. Cu and Zn minespoil’ University of California, Davis Major Advisor: Victor P. Claassen B.S. Plant Biology (2002) University of California, Davis Professional Experience Bureau of Land Management, Central Coast Field Office, Marina, CA. Natural Resource Specialist (2007 - Present) – applied ecology, land management practices, environmental compliance, NEPA, ESA. Rare, threatened and endangered plant species survey, monitoring, and recovery; seed collection and seed science; soil science; invasive plant species control; ecosystem restoration; paleontology; paleoclimate and climate change; serpentine; vertic clay; San Joaquin Desert and desert ecology; plant edaphic endemism; research on all of the above (PI: Ryan O’Dell). HT Harvey and Associates, Sacramento Office, Sacramento, CA. Associate Ecologist (2005) - environmental compliance, CEQA, CESA. Rare, threatened and endangered plant species survey; mitigation and monitoring. University of California, Davis, CA. Graduate Research Assistant (2002 - 2007). Revegetation of subgrade substrates: barren serpentine, Cu and Zn minespoil, decomposed granite, volcanic lahar, and alkaline/saline alluvium; research on all of the above (PI: Victor P. Claassen). University of California, Davis, CA. Post-Graduate Researcher (2002). Revegetation of Owens Dry Lake playa; planting, project maintenance, data collection assistant (PI: James H. Richards). US Forest Service, Fremont-Winema National Forest, Chemult Ranger District, Chemult, OR. Seasonal Botanist (Summer 2001). Rare, threatened and endangered plant species survey. 1 Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications O’Dell RE, Erwin DM, Holroyd P, Rankin BD, and Ibraheem El-Faramawi M.
    [Show full text]
  • Camissonia Benitensis) Cynthia A
    Santa Clara University Scholar Commons Biology College of Arts & Sciences 9-1-2013 Cryptic genetic subdivision in the San Benito evening primrose (Camissonia benitensis) Cynthia A. Dick Julie A. Herman Ryan E. O'Dell Adriana Lopez-Villalobos Chris Eckert See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarcommons.scu.edu/bio Part of the Genetics and Genomics Commons, and the Plant Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Dick, Cynthia A.; Herman, Julie A.; O'Dell, Ryan E.; Lopez-Villalobos, Adriana; Eckert, Chris; and Whittall, Justen B., "Cryptic genetic subdivision in the San Benito evening primrose (Camissonia benitensis)" (2013). Biology. Paper 35. http://scholarcommons.scu.edu/bio/35 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the College of Arts & Sciences at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biology by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Authors Cynthia A. Dick, Julie A. Herman, Ryan E. O'Dell, Adriana Lopez-Villalobos, Chris Eckert, and Justen B. Whittall This article is available at Scholar Commons: http://scholarcommons.scu.edu/bio/35 Conserv Genet DOI 10.1007/s10592-013-0533-4 RESEARCH ARTICLE Cryptic genetic subdivision in the San Benito evening primrose (Camissonia benitensis) Cynthia A. Dick • Julie A. Herman • Ryan E. O’Dell • Adriana Lopez-Villalobos • Chris Eckert • Justen B. Whittall Received: 15 December 2012 / Accepted: 26 August 2013 Ó The Author(s) 2013. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Abstract When rare plants are distributed across a range of genetic clusters were identified by InStruct and STRUC- habitats, ecotypic differentiation may arise requiring cus- TURE that do not correlate with habitat or watershed.
    [Show full text]
  • A Checklist of Vascular Plants Endemic to California
    Humboldt State University Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University Botanical Studies Open Educational Resources and Data 3-2020 A Checklist of Vascular Plants Endemic to California James P. Smith Jr Humboldt State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/botany_jps Part of the Botany Commons Recommended Citation Smith, James P. Jr, "A Checklist of Vascular Plants Endemic to California" (2020). Botanical Studies. 42. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/botany_jps/42 This Flora of California is brought to you for free and open access by the Open Educational Resources and Data at Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Botanical Studies by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A LIST OF THE VASCULAR PLANTS ENDEMIC TO CALIFORNIA Compiled By James P. Smith, Jr. Professor Emeritus of Botany Department of Biological Sciences Humboldt State University Arcata, California 13 February 2020 CONTENTS Willis Jepson (1923-1925) recognized that the assemblage of plants that characterized our flora excludes the desert province of southwest California Introduction. 1 and extends beyond its political boundaries to include An Overview. 2 southwestern Oregon, a small portion of western Endemic Genera . 2 Nevada, and the northern portion of Baja California, Almost Endemic Genera . 3 Mexico. This expanded region became known as the California Floristic Province (CFP). Keep in mind that List of Endemic Plants . 4 not all plants endemic to California lie within the CFP Plants Endemic to a Single County or Island 24 and others that are endemic to the CFP are not County and Channel Island Abbreviations .
    [Show full text]
  • San Juan Bautista Plaza
    MISSION SAN JUAN BAUTISTA HALS CA-84 (San Juan Bautista Plaza) HALS CA-84 Roughly bounded by Second Street, driveway and unpaved road in line with Polk Street, San Juan Creek, and Franklin Street San Juan Bautista San Benito County California WRITTEN HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE DATA HISTORIC AMERICAN LANDSCAPES SURVEY National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street NW Washington, DC 20240-0001 HISTORIC AMERICAN LANDSCAPES SURVEY MISSION SAN JUAN BAUTISTA (San Juan Bautista Plaza) HALS NO. CA-84 Location: Roughly bounded by Second Street, driveway and unpaved road in line with Polk Street, San Juan Creek, and Franklin Street San Juan Bautista, San Benito County, California San Juan Bautista Plaza National Historic Landmark District San Juan Bautista State Historic Park Lat: 36.84521 Long: -122.53556 (Plaza Center, Garmin GPS unit, accuracy 10′, WGS84) Significance: Franciscan missionaries founded twenty-one missions on the Pacific coast of the Spanish colony of Alta California between 1769 and 1823. Control of Alta California shifted to Mexico in the 1820s and to America in the 1840s. Some of the communities that grew around the missions became major cities; some missions were abandoned and later reconstructed. Portions of El Camino Real, the road connecting the missions, became interstate or state highways. Mission San Juan Bautista was the fifteenth mission to be established, in 1797. Despite repeated damage from earthquakes on the adjacent San Andreas Fault, Mission San Juan Bautista was never moved from its original location and has been in continuous use as a church since its establishment. Its environs are still largely agricultural, its plaza has been restored to the spirit of its 1870 state, and its adjacent portion of El Camino Real is still unpaved.
    [Show full text]
  • City of Hollister
    CITY OF HOLLISTER R OSATI A NNEXATION P ROJECT INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Prepared for: CITY OF HOLLISTER 339 FIFTH STREET HOLLISTER, CA 95023 Prepared by: MICHAEL BAKER INTERNATIONAL 500 YGNACIO VALLEY ROAD, SUITE 300 WALNUT CREEK, CA 94596 MAY 2019 CITY OF HOLLISTER R OSATI A NNEXATION P ROJECT INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Prepared for: CITY OF HOLLISTER 339 FIFTH STREET HOLLISTER, CA 95023 Prepared by: MICHAEL BAKER INTERNATIONAL 500 YGNACIO VALLEY ROAD, SUITE 300 WALNUT CREEK, CA 94596 MAY 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction and Regulatory Guidance .................................................................................. 1.0-1 1.2 Lead Agency ................................................................................................................................. 1.0-1 1.3 Purpose and Document Organization ..................................................................................... 1.0-1 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 2.1 Project Location ............................................................................................................................ 2.0-1 2.2 Background and Existing Setting ............................................................................................... 2.0-1 2.3 Proposed Project .......................................................................................................................... 2.0-1 2.4 Project Approvals ........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Field Trip to the Calaveras and San Andreas Faults: Hollister and San Juan Bautista Region
    Field Trip to the Calaveras and San Andreas Faults: Hollister and San Juan Bautista Region This field trip provides access to well known fault investigation sites in the southern Santa Clara Valley region. Field trips stops include fault scarps and offset manmade and natural landmarks along the Calaveras and San Andreas faults, sag ponds, and bedrock exposures in the Salinian basement complex west of the San Andreas Fault. The field trip begins at the Hollister exit on Highway 101 on Highway 25. Drivers, please note that the highways are busy along these routes; drive cautiously and defensively! Stops 1 to 4 are modified from Harden, D., Stenner, H. M., and Blatz, I., (2001). Stop 5 is a visit to the San Andreas Fault at Mission San Juan Bautista. Stops 6 and 7 involve driving up to Fremont Peak State Park (where camping is available in season). Stops A to C include an optional extension of the field trip to stops along the San Andreas Fault east off Highway 101 along Anzar Road, at a quarry in Aromas, and to the fault at Pajaro Gap. A very useful resource for this field trip is the Geologic map of the Monterey 30'x60' Quadrangle and adjacent areas, California by Wagner and others (2002). It is available from the California Geological Survey. Figure 2-1. Field trip stops include two along the trace of the Calaveras Fault in Hollister (1 and 2), stops along the San Andreas Fault at the Hollister Hill State Vehicular Recreation Area (3), the Cienega Valley (4), the mission at San Juan Bautista (5), and overlook areas along San Juan Canyon Road [G1] (6), and Fremont Peak State Park (7).
    [Show full text]
  • Dole Spinach E Coli Outbreak
    Investigation of an Escherichia coli 0157:H7 Outbreak Associated with Dole Pre-Packaged Spinach Attachment 11 CDC Addendum Report, "Irrigation Water Issues Potentially Related to 2006 E. coli 0157:H7 in Spinach Outbreak" Irrigation Water Issues Potentially Related to 2006 E. coli 0157:H7 in Spinach Outbreak CDR Rick Gelting, PhD, PE, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Environmental Health/Environmental Health Services Branch (770) 488-7067 [email protected] Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 Surface mnoff from grazing areas onto cultivated fields ........................................................ 3 Construction of irrigation wells .............................................................................................. 3 Depths to groundwater and groundwater/surface water interactions ...................................... 4 Direct use of untreated surface water for irrigation ................................................................ 6 Paicines Ranch: intensive sampling and investigation of potential water issues .................... 6 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................. 9 Public health recommendations ...........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Serpentine Soil Endemics in the California Flora Occur in Barer Serpentine Habitats with Lower Soil Calcium Levels Than Serpentine Tolerators
    RESEARCH ARTICLE Adaptation and divergence in edaphic specialists and generalists: serpentine soil endemics in the California flora occur in barer serpentine habitats with lower soil calcium levels than serpentine tolerators Shelley A. Sianta1,2 and Kathleen M. Kay1 Manuscript received 4 December 2018; revision accepted 19 March PREMISE: Adaptation to harsh edaphic substrates has repeatedly led to the evolution of 2019. edaphic specialists and generalists. Yet, it is unclear what factors promote specialization 1 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of versus generalization. Here, we search for habitat use patterns associated with California, Santa Cruz, California serpentine endemics (specialists) and serpentine tolerators (generalists) to indirectly 2 Author for correspondence (e-mail: [email protected]) test the hypothesis that trade- offs associated with serpentine adaptation promote Citation: Sianta, S. A. and K. M. Kay. 2019. Adaptation and divergence specialization. We predict that (1) endemics have adapted to chemically harsher and more in edaphic specialists and generalists: serpentine soil endemics in the California flora occur in barer serpentine habitats with lower soil bare serpentine habitats than tolerators, and (2) edaphic endemics show more habitat calcium levels than serpentine tolerators. American Journal of Botany divergence from their sister species than tolerators do among on- and off- serpentine 106(5): 690–703. populations. doi:10.1002/ajb2.1285 METHODS: We selected 8 serpentine endemic and 9 serpentine tolerator species representing independent adaptation to serpentine. We characterized soil chemistry and microhabitat bareness from one serpentine taxon of each species and from a paired nonserpentine sister taxon, resulting in 8 endemic and 9 tolerator sister- taxa pairs.
    [Show full text]
  • Onagraceae) in North America, Based on Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity and Track Compatibility Analysis1
    GEOGRAPHICAL Liliana Katinas,2 Jorge V. Crisci,2 Warren 3 4 DIVERSIFICATION OF L. Wagner, and Peter C. Hoch TRIBES EPILOBIEAE, GONGYLOCARPEAE, AND ONAGREAE (ONAGRACEAE) IN NORTH AMERICA, BASED ON PARSIMONY ANALYSIS OF ENDEMICITY AND TRACK COMPATIBILITY ANALYSIS1 ABSTRACT Tribes Epilobieae, Gongylocarpeae, and Onagreae, a monophyletic branch in the family Onagraceae, comprise genera endemic to or having their major basal radiation in the Madrean Floristic Region of southwestern North America. Parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) and panbiogeography (track compatibility analysis) were performed in order to seek an historical explanation for the patterns of high diversity and endemicity for the group in this region. Twenty- one areas of endemism are delimited, based on previous biogeographic schemes and presence of endemic plant and animal taxa. Based on distributional data on 173 species, a strict consensus PAE cladogram shows four main groups of areas: northern North America, the central Mexican areas, western North America, and eastern North America. Track compatibility analysis resulted in two strongly supported generalized tracks: one includes eastern North America, and the other western North America. PAE and panbiogeographical analyses of the distributional patterns of these taxa suggest a close relationship of eastern and western North America, with both areas more related to the Neotropics than to the Palearctic, and a rather weak association between northern North America and Asia. The discovery of two tracks in eastern and western North America for Epilobieae, Gongylocarpeae, and Onagreae reveal little relationship of North America with Asia or other continents. These tribes display a distinct but contemporaneous biogeographical history that differs from those of the Holarctic.
    [Show full text]