Invasive plant monitoring protocol for the Mediterranean Coast Network—Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and Channel Islands National Park: Narrative, version 1.0
Irvine IC, Sagar T, Lee L, Brigham C, Tiszler J, Starcevich LA, Rodriguez D, Handley T, Ostermann-Kelm S. 2016. Invasive plant monitoring protocol for the Mediterranean Coast Network—Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and Channel Islands National Park: Narrative, version 1.0. Natural Resource Report. NPS/MEDN/NRR—2016/1171. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
The Mediterranean Coast Network (MEDN) parks protect and conserve important elements of the unique flora of coastal southern California. Native plant diversity and ecological functions within the MEDN are threatened by urban and agricultural development, intensive recreational use, and changing fire regimes, which all contribute to the introduction and spread of non-native invasive plant species (NNIS). The presence, distribution and rate of spread of NNIS are important indicators of overall habitat quality within MEDN parks. Created by a partnership that includes the MEDN Inventory and Monitoring Program, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SAMO) and Channel Islands National Park (CHIS), this document describes our long-term monitoring program to assess target NNIS on publicly owned lands parkwide. The overarching goal of the program is to determine whether the distribution and abundance of NNIS are increasing or decreasing within these parks. More specifically, we will monitor the distribution and cover of target NNIS at high-risk areas (points of entry, dirt roads, and trails) throughout the parks. We rely on data collected through the MEDN Terrestrial Vegetation Monitoring Program and the Water Quality and Riverine Integrity Monitoring Program for information on interior parklands (away from roads and trails). The invasive plant monitoring program includes three complementary components: (1) points of entry (trailheads, ports, airstrips, and campgrounds), (2) official dirt roads and trails, and (3) interior parklands. CHIS will implement monitoring at points of entry and interior parklands, and all three components will be implemented at SAMO. Each year, we will monitor all 16 points of entry (POE) at CHIS and all of the 123 POE at SAMO (30-31 per year). At SAMO, we will also monitor NNIS along official dirt roads and trails (DRT). Monitoring at both parks will be accomplished using park staff and interns, partially funded by the MEDN Inventory and Monitoring Program. Annual status reports and periodic trend reports will be published in the National Park Service Natural Resource Publications Management Report Series or in peer-reviewed journals.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Irvine, Irina; Sagar, Tarja; Lee, Lena; Brigham, Christy; Tiszler, John; Starcevich, Leigh; Rodriguez, Dirk; Handley, Tim; Ostermann-Kelm, Stacey
- Date of Issue
- 2016-03
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- CHIS , MEDN , NRSS , SAMO
- Keywords
- Invasive Plants Monitor