Maritime Chaparral
Description
Several years after its natural fire cycle, maritime chaparral is once again dominated by woody shrubs such as manzanitas (Arctostaphylos spp.) and California lilac (Ceanothus spp.). This rare habitat is found only in areas with a predominance of summer fog; often patches of maritime chaparral only a few 10's of miles away have their own distinct manzanita species.
Maritime chaparral is considered a threatened habitat type, and so is protected by many agencies along the coast of California. For instance, the California Coastal Commission considers areas of this habitat type 'environmentally sensitive habitat areas' (ESHA), affording it the highest level of protection of any habitat in California.
Many rare plant and animal species are only found in these patches of habitat; most require 'renewal' of the habitat by fire. Currently, we are faced with important questions about the composition and distribution of the habitat and how best to conserve it in the face of increasing fragmentation and fire suppression. Our recent surveys suggest that it is impossible to restore maritime chaparral: if you know differently, please contact us!
The Coastal Training Program will continue its focus on maritime chaparral as it is one of the most threatened habitat types of the Elkhorn Slough watershed. We are currently exploring the efficacy of conservation regulations and the potential for new conservation tools such as conservation banks. This website will continue to serve as a hub for information on maritime chaparral ecology, conservation, and restoration.
Workshops
The Ecology and Conservation of California's Maritime Chaparral - Jan 17, 2003
Mitigation-Related Restoration and Management of California's Maritime Chaparral - Jan 20, 2005
Defining and Delineating Maritime Chaparral on California's Central Coast - Jun 12, 2007
Defining and Delineating Maritime Chaparral...in the Field - Jun 13, 2007
Orienting Monterey County Planners to the North County - Oct 18, 2007
Documents and Publications
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| PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS | |||||
| Are long fire-free periods needed to maintain the endangered, fire-recruiting shrub Arctostaphylos morroensis(Ericaceae)? | PDF 259KB |
Odion, D. and C. Tyler | 2002 |
Jun 30 05 | |
| Maritime chaparral community transition in the absence of fire. | PDF 248KB |
Van Dyke, E., and K. D. Holl | Madrono 48:221-229 2001 |
Jun 30 05 | |
| Relative Importance of Factors Contributing to Postfire Seedling Establishment in Maritime Chaparral. | PDF 2MB |
Tyler, C. | 1996 |
This paper explores factors contributing to the emergence of maritime chaparral species after fire. | Aug 09 05 |
| Roots of chaparral shrubs fail to penetrate a geosynthetic landfill liner. | PDF 589KB |
Holl, K. D. | Ecological restoration 20(2):112-116 2002 |
Jun 30 05 | |
| OTHER INFORMATION | |||||
| A Proposed Recipe for Mitigation-Restoration of Maritime Chaparral | PDF 51KB |
Jun 30 05 | |||
| Bibliography: Maritime Chaparral | PDF 18KB |
Jul 21 05 | |||
| Map: Extent of Maritime Chaparral in California | JPG 2MB |
This is a DRAFT map of the distribution of maritime chaparral in California. Recent input from leading scientists indicate that additional stands are found in Marin, Sonoma, and Mendocino Counties. We will be updating this map shortly. | Jun 30 05 | ||
| Map: Extent of Maritime Chaparral in Monterey Bay | JPG 128KB |
This is a DRAFT map of the distribution of maritime chaparral in the Monterey Bay region. If you have additional locations or would like to comment on the map, please contact grey@elkhornslough.org | Jun 30 05 | ||
| Mapping the Distribution of Maritime Chaparral Species in the Monterey Bay Area | PDF 2.4MB |
Van Dyke, E. and Holl, K. | 2003 |
This is a report produced for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service documenting the known distribution of sensitive maritime chaparral plant species in the Monterey Bay region. | Aug 09 05 |
| Proposed Definition Of Maritime Chaparral | PDF 45KB |
Elkhorn Slough CTP | January 2005 |
The network of experts advising the Elkhorn Slough CTP have reviewed this document and agree with this current version. It is a working document; we are open to critique and suggestions. | Jun 30 05 |
| Questions and Answers on Maritime Chaparral | PDF 265KB |
Jun 30 05 | |||
| Sensitive plant species associated with maritime chaparral in California | PDF 27KB |
Jul 17 07 | |||
| Sensitive Species of the Santa Cruz Sandhills | PDF 201KB |
Jodi McGraw | 04/13/04 |
Oct 26 05 |
Links
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TITLE
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DATE ADDED
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| Santa Cruz Sandhills Chapparral Website http://www.santacruzsandhills.com/ |
Sep 15 05 |
| Where do I get funding to help preserve rare habitats like maritime chaparral? http://grants.fws.gov/state.html |
Jun 27 05 |
