newscnps-yerbabuena.org/wp-content/uploads/2017_03-1.pdf · programs – page 1 field trips –...

8

Upload: others

Post on 21-Sep-2020

1 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: NEWScnps-yerbabuena.org/wp-content/uploads/2017_03-1.pdf · Programs – page 1 Field Trips – pages 2-3 Activities – page 3 Focus on Rarities – pages 4, 6 Mountain Journal –

PROGRAMS

Everyone is welcome to attend membership meetings in the Recreation Room of the San FranciscoCounty Fair Building (SFCFB) at 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way in Golden Gate Park. The #71 and#44 buses stop at the building. The N-Judah, #6, #43, and #66 lines stop within 2 blocks.Before our programs, we take our speakers to dinner at Chang�s Kitchen, 1030 Irving Street.Join us for good Chinese food and interesting conversation. Meet at the restaurant at 5:30 pm.RSVP appreciated but not required. If you wish to notify, please call Jake Sigg at 415-731-3028.

MARCH 2, THURSDAY, 7:30 pm.Calochortus Pursuits: Finding California's Beautiful GrassSpeaker: Kipp McMichael

California is home to the lion's share of species in the genus Calochortus - growing in every county ofthe state. Bay Area residents are lucky enough to live in the center of diversity for the genus. Such alocale is both a blessing and a curse - as the desire to see them all can be overwhelming! Kipp hasspent many spring and early summer drives from the Bay Area to Southern California in search ofthese beautiful flowers.His presentation will include the natural history of this fascinating genus, a sampling of most of thespecies within a day's drive of Berkeley and the habitats where these flowers can be found. Mostimportantly, the talk will include numerous photos from his past trips in search of this �beautiful grass.�Kipp McMichael is a web developer by profession and a plant-lover by temperament. He lives in Berkeleyand has far too many plants - mostly succulents and South African geophytes. When not pushing 1�sand 0�s, he spends as much time as possible exploring California's diverse landscapes, flora and fauna.

APRIL 6, THURSDAY, 7:30 pm.Restoring Tidal Wetlands in the Face of Accelerating Climate ChangeSpeaker: Michael Vasey, Ph.D.

For more than two decades, the Bay Area has invested almost a half billion dollars to restore 30,000acres of tidal wetlands in the San Francisco Estuary (SFE). This remarkably successful effort to recoverthe SFE is now at risk, however, by a cascade of uncertainties associated with accelerating climate change.Dr. Mike Vasey, Director of the SF Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR), will reviewthese new challenges facing Bay Area wetland recovery in the context of this past experience. He willexplore how creativity, greater engagement, and focus on coastal resilience and adaptive managementoffers a path forward that may ultimately result in a better and more coherent outcome than originallyenvisioned.

Dr. Vasey is an evolutionary ecologist who taught conservation biology at San Francisco State for nearly25 years. During that time, he spent 10 years coordinating the effort to designate the SF Bay as a National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR).This effort was a partnership between San Francisco State and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Since then,he has been in forefront of regional efforts to address threats of climate change on the ecology and socio-economic well-being of the SFEcommunity. This experience will provide the basis for his talk. Oh yes, and in his spare time, he stillchases manzanitas.

MAY 4, THURSDAY, 5:30 pm.Guided Tour of the Arthur Menzies Garden of California Native Plantsin the San Francisco Botanical Gardens at Strybing ArboretumLeaders: Mike Vasey & Ted Kipping

Every couple of years we try to arrange for one of our programs to be an after-hoursstroll and picnic in San Francisco Botanical Garden�s award-winning Arthur MenziesGarden of California Native Plants. This year�s visit will be led by two expert luminaries.Mike Vasey is Director of the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.TedKipping has been involved with SFBG most of his life, as gardener, treeworker, andalways generous volunteer of time and expertise. A trained geologist, skilled in botanyand horticulture, Ted�s breadth of natural history knowledge is extraordinary, and hisability to see, interpret, and explain his observations is unsurpassed. He will concentrateon the wealth of trees and shrubs in the garden. Bring your bag supper and enjoy acommunal dinner in the garden.

****Please Take Note of Garden Admission Fees: Gardenadmission is free for San Francisco residents with Photo ID and SFBotanical Garden members. The fee for others is $8 for adults, $6 forseniors (65+) and youths aged 11 � 17 years. Meet near the ticket boothat the Main Entrance. Be sure to bring your own supper.

Please arrive at the Main Gate before 5:30 pm. The ticketbooth closes at 6 pm and so does access to the gardens.

N E W S

Y E R B ABUENA

THE YERBA BUENA

CHAPTER OF THE

C A L I F O R N I A

N A T I V E P L A N T

S O C I E T Y F O R

SAN FRANCISCO

AND NORTHERN

SAN MATEO COUNTY

CONTENTSPrograms � page 1Field Trips � pages 2-3Activities � page 3Focus on Rarities � pages 4, 6Mountain Journal � page 5Habitat Restoration � page 6Chapter News � page 7

Vol. 31 No. 1 March 2017

FUTURE PROGRAMJune 1�Ina Coolbrith: The Bittersweet Song of California'sFirst Poet Laureate�Aleta George

(Coolbrith loved California wildflowers.)

Calochortus clavatus var recurvifolius

Page 2: NEWScnps-yerbabuena.org/wp-content/uploads/2017_03-1.pdf · Programs – page 1 Field Trips – pages 2-3 Activities – page 3 Focus on Rarities – pages 4, 6 Mountain Journal –

SPRING FIELD TRIPSMembers and non-members are encouraged to attend these FREEwalks. Signups are not required--just meet at the specified place andtime. If rain or high wind is forecast, we recommend checking withthe contact (listed at the end of the trip description) a couple of hoursbefore the trip.

MARCH 18, SATURDAY, 10 am � 12:30 pmGlen Canyon SpidersLeader: Darrell UbickJoin California Academy of Sciences arachnologist Darrell Ubick fora springtime trip in search of spiders. They are abundant in GlenCanyon Park �probably hundreds of thousands of individualsrepresenting hundreds of species. We are sure to see a variety sinceDarrell knows where to look and how to catch them without harmingthem. Along the way, he�ll share his knowledge of spider biology:how they make and use silk, find mates, tend their eggs, etc. Spidersare very diverse, and only some are orb weavers. This trip will expandyour awareness of the invertebrates among us. Heavy rain cancels.Meet behind the Glen Park Recreation Center where the lawn stopsand the wild part of the canyon starts. Contact: Mila [email protected].

APRIL 8, SATURDAY 10am- 1pmSan Bruno Mountain: Saddle, Old Guadalupe and Bog TrailsLeader: Doug AllshouseThis field trip is a winter staple but, due to circumstances, was notdone this year. Let�s start the spring with an easy walk around thesaddle and bog, a 2.6-mile sojourn with bay, San Francisco and oceanviews. It features grasslands, mono-cultures of gorse, a eucalyptusforest, the headwaters of Colma Creek, and a rare upland wetland.The area is rich in plant species and its eastern grasslands share plantspecies common to the southeast portion of the mountain such ascoast iris and purple needlegrass. We should see golden violet andsilver lupine, the host plants for the endangered Callippe Silverspotand Mission Blue butterflies. There is also the rare Franciscan paintbrushand johnnie-tuck, an owl�s clover similar to butter-and-eggs in thegenus Triphysaria. As the name implies, the bog is a wetland with skylupine, sedges, rushes, cow parsnip, willows, and creek dogwood. Itmay still be a bit wet after winter and spring rains so wear appropriateshoes. Bring layers because the saddle may be windy, but the bog isgenerally sheltered. There is a $6 fee for park admission payable atthe ranger kiosk. Meet in the main lot just past the kiosk. Heavy rainpostpones until April 15. For questions, call or text 415-269-9967 oremail [email protected].

APRIL 16, SUNDAY, 11:00 amButterfly Walk on Sign HillLeader: Liam O'BrienLiam O'Brien is San Francisco's well-known lepidopterist, artist,illustrator, and Bay Nature's award-winning environmental educator.Loretta Brooks and Chuck Heimstadt live on the edge of Sign Hilland have become its ardent stewards, and participants will benefitfrom their collective knowledge and enthusiasm. We expect to seeplenty of wildflowers with beautiful vistas, not to mention butterflies. A portion of this gorgeous grassland is protected with Sign Hill Park,but the other 47 acres, equally worthy of preservation, are privatelyowned and vulnerable to development.Significant rain or wind cancels. We will walk at a leisurely pace, butdue to the uneven ground and steep trails, we recommend wearingsturdy shoes and long pants. We will meet Sunday morning at 11 amat Sign Hill's west entrance. Directions: From Oyster Point off 101,go west on Hillside Blvd. to Stonegate Drive, turn off Hillside andcontinue uphill to the left to Ridgeview Court at the end. Contact:Chuck Heimstadt or Loretta Brooks, [email protected] 650-952-6174.

APRIL 22, SATURDAY 10am- 2pmSan Bruno Mountain: Summit TrailLeader: Doug AllshouseThe Summit Trail is a very popular and spectacular 3-mile loop thatstretches over the northern portion of the mountain and is the mostspecies-rich trail with over 250 species, over 170 are native. It passesthrough a logged eucalyptus forest and descends past active seeps untilit reaches April Brook. We�ll see horsetails, fringe cups, iris, coastrock cress, and at least five ferns. From there we head up to BitterCherry Ridge with rocky outcrops covered with fog lichens and viewsof the ocean and the Daly City dunes. After crossing the summit we�llcheck out Kamchatka Point and some endemic manzanitas andhuckleberries then descend to the parking lot through Cable Ravine.Elevation gain on the trail is about 400 feet. There is a $6 entrancefee payable at the ranger kiosk. Meet at the parking lot on the otherside of Guadalupe Canyon Parkway. Turn right at the stop sign justpast the kiosk and follow the road under the parkway. Bring a lunchand layers of clothing because, due to the marine influence, the weatheris a box of chocolates; you never know what to expect. Heavy raincancels until April 29. Contact Doug at [email protected], orcall/text 415-269-9967 if you have questions.

MAY 6, SATURDAY 10 am � 12 pmObserving Native Bees of the San Francisco Bay AreaLeader: Christopher QuockThere are over four thousand species of bees in North America andmore than 1,600 in California. They range in habits from living incolonies to leading solitary lives in obscure nests above and belowground. Some even act like cuckoos, using the resources of otherbees to raise their own offspring. The pollination services and otherecological functions these lesser-known players collectively providehelp to sustain the plant and animal communities we see all aroundus. On our walk, we will learn how to spot and identify some of thesenative bees. The more we notice these often overlooked pollinators,the more we can learn to appreciate the services they provide for ourlocal plant and animal communities. We meet at Lake Merced at theintersection of Lake Merced Blvd. and Middlefield Drive. Any raincancels. Questions: email Mila at [email protected].

FIELD TRIPS

2

(FIELD TRIPS continued on page 3)Aesculus californicaCalifornia buckeye

Page 3: NEWScnps-yerbabuena.org/wp-content/uploads/2017_03-1.pdf · Programs – page 1 Field Trips – pages 2-3 Activities – page 3 Focus on Rarities – pages 4, 6 Mountain Journal –

3

MAY 13, SATURDAY 11 am- 12:30pmBayview HillLeader: Rachel KeselThis walk is offered in partnership with Nature in the City!Tucked into the southeast corner of San Francisco, Bayview Hill offersvisitors a wealth of wildlflowers in spring and unique views all yearround. The grasslands are among the best in the city. We expect tosee mule's ears, Ithuriel spears, coast onion and many other wildflowers.This will be a great chance to talk about a few grasses as well. We'lltalk a bit about the wildlife that live in the park, and the history ofconservation at the site. Getting to the top of this park includes asteep climb at the beginning of the hike and we will be on uneventerrain at times. Please wear sturdy shoes. Long pants and layers arerecommended. We will meet at the park gate, which is at the end ofthe 900 block of Key Avenue, just two blocks east of Third Street.Parking is very limited at Bayview Hill. Parking is very limited, soplease carpool, take Muni's T line, or arrive early. This walk is freeto members of Nature in the City and CNPS. Donations of $10 - $20are encouraged for non-members with 100% of donations going toNature in the City's 2017 programs. No one turned away for lack offunds. Heavy rain cancels. For questions, email Rachel [email protected].

FIELD TRIPS (continued)

PLANT IDENTIFICATION WORKSHOPS RESUME!Second Thursday of the month 6 � 7:30 pm onMarch 9, April 13 and May 11San Francisco State University1600 Holloway AvenueHensill Hall, Botany Lab, Room 440

The 2017 Spring Semester has begun with an inspiring plant IDworkshop in February. For those who have missed attending, forwhatever reason, you now have the opportunity to join the workshopsin the months of March, April, and May. Don�t forget to come! Thereare three workshops to go and then before you�ll blink, we will beinto the summer recess. Join graduate botany instructors and otherstudents to key out plants and learn some pertinent facts about plantfamilies. If you have any questions, email MilaStroganoff [email protected].

JEPSON HERBARIUM WORKSHOPSFor 2017, the Jepson Workshop Series is proud to offer courseofferings in botany, plant taxonomy, regional floras, ecology andmore. Join us for another great year of learning about the flora ofCalifornia!

March 4�5, 2017: Introduction to BryophytesBrent Mishler, Ken KellmanUC Berkeley and Bay Area field sites

March 11�12, 2017: Introductory Plant Morphology for theBotanically�CuriousAllyson Ayalon, Javier Jauregui LazoUC Berkeley and UC Botanical Garden field trip

March 24�26, 2017: Introduction to Desert Plant FamiliesMichael G. SimpsonAnza Borrego Desert Research Center

March 30�April 2, 2017: 50 Plant Families in the Field: San FranciscoBay AreaLinda BeidlemanUC Berkeley and Bay Area field sites

April 14�16, 2017: Plant Life of the Santa Monica MountainsPhil Rundel, Isaac MarckUCLA La Kretz Center Field Station, Malibu, California

April 20�23, 2017: 50 Plant Families in the Field: Monterey BayLinda BeidlemanHastings Natural History Reservation and Monterey Bay field sites

April 28�30, 2017: Northern California SeaweedsKathy Ann MillerUC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory

To register visit:http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/workshops/2017/regform_2017.html

ACTIVITIES

ChlorogalumpomeridianumSoap plantby Kristin Jakob

Erysimum franciscanumFranciscan wallflower

by Margo Bors

Page 4: NEWScnps-yerbabuena.org/wp-content/uploads/2017_03-1.pdf · Programs – page 1 Field Trips – pages 2-3 Activities – page 3 Focus on Rarities – pages 4, 6 Mountain Journal –

4

A Management Plan for Natural Areasin San Francisco Parksby Michael Wood

Back when dinosaurs roamed our hills (evenbefore Willie Brown was mayor) all of theCity�s public lands were viewed only throughthe prism of their utility for public recreationor development. The so-called �unimproved�properties were considered merely vacantlots. They were pretty much ignored unlessthey could be sold off for development ormodified to accommodate the public in thisintensively urbanized 49 square-miles of thePeninsula. However, to members of theCalifornia Native Plant Society (CNPS) andthose interested in the native plants, many ofthese properties were known to supportimportant examples of the City�s pre-colonialvegetation, part of our natural history. Wewere watching the last remnants of our nativeflora become degraded by encroaching invasiveplants, informal trail cutting, encampments,the dumping of rubbish, and all the othernasty things that happen in an urban landscapewhen no one is looking. The Yerba Buenachapter of CNPS was very focused on callingthis to the attention of the San FranciscoRecreation and Parks Department (RPD).

Leading this quixotic charge was none otherthan our chapter president Jake Sigg. Analumnus of the RPD himself, Jake was all toofamiliar with the challenges in changing theway bureaucracies function, especially whenit involves budgets, power struggles, and theconflicting notions of just what is importantto the residents of the City. The RPD hadenough on its plate just keeping grass cut andtrees trimmed on its 220 parks, playgroundsand open spaces covering 3500 acres where13 million annual visitors could have a placeout-of-doors to escape urban life for fewhours. As stated on their web site, the missionof the RPD is to �provide enrichingrecreational activities, maintain beautiful parksand preserve the environment for the well-being of our diverse community.� To this list,we wanted to add increasing appreciation forour natural areas for their biodiversity andthe snapshot that they offer into what�s left ofour natural history.

And so it was that in late 1994, members ofthe board of the Yerba Buena chapter of CNPSincluding Jake, Pete Holloran and myselfstarted holding meetings with the RPD toexplore ways to better manage these resources.As one possible solution, we developed a scopeof work and budget for managing contractorsand guiding work efforts. We never reallyexpected that our proposal would be actedupon, but we were hoping to prod the agencyinto tackling this issue, one that was becomingmore widely understood and one that had anincreasingly vocal constituency. Surprisingly

rapidly, the RPD established a category calledNatural Areas Banking to set aside funds forthe purchase of biological important lands,and when we said they now had to managethem, RPD acknowledged its responsibilityright away. From the perspective of the CNPS,we think the RPD has done a mostcommendable job of setting up the NaturalAreas Program (NAP) and in hiring staff.

In the course of formalizing the NAP, the firststep was to inventory and characterize thoseCity-owned parcels that supported significantnatural areas. With the City�s support and theinput of local environmental groups likeCNPS, the Significant Natural Resource AreasManagement Plan (SNRAMP) was preparedin 1995, addressing the ecological values andneeds of 32 natural areas covering some 1000acres. The intention of the SNRAMP is toserve as a guide for the city�s natural resourceprotection, habitat restoration, trail and accessimprovements, other capital projects, andmaintenance over the next 20 years. The RPDcreated the NAP and in 1997 hired its firststaff to implement the program. Currently,the program has ten full-time staff workingwith thousands of volunteers to protect andrestore natural habitats.

Because the formal adoption of the SNRAMP(now called the Natural ResourcesManagement Plan [NRMP]) by the Cityrequired public review pursuant to theCalifornia Environmental Quality Act(CEQA), an Environmental Impact Report(EIR) was prepared. After ten years ofpreparation (and nearly 25 years of advocacy),the final EIR (FEIR) was released this pastNovember. And with great excitement I amhere to announce that the FEIR has beencertified and the Plan approved by the PlanningCommission (6-1) and the Recreation andParks Commission (5-0), respectively.

But before we start popping corks, two appealshave been filed with the San Francisco Boardof Supervisors regarding the certification ofthe FEIR. In their January 17th appeal, theWild Equity Institute states that the FEIR failsto adequately address impacts to two federallylisted animal species, the California red-leggedfrog and the San Francisco garter snake atSharp Park. Their appeal also involves theclaim that a project that is part of the Planconstitutes a renovation of the Sharp ParkGolf Course, a contention that the RPDdenies. An appeal by the San Francisco ForestAlliance claims that the FEIR does not complywith CEQA and that the document fails toadequately evaluate the environmental impactsof the Plan.

On February 28, the Board of Supervisorswill hold a hearing on the appeals. If theyreject the appeals and uphold the certificationof the FEIR, which seems likely, Wild EquityInstitute has stated it plans to file a lawsuit.

All of this means that formal adoption of thePlan has been postponed. Meanwhile, thefolks with the NAP and its volunteers willcontinue battling windmills in the form ofFrench broom, Cape ivy, Algerian ivy,Tasmanian blue gum, jubatagrass (AKA pampasgrass), and the myriad of other non-indigenousspecies that continue their march into our lastremnants of the northern San FranciscoPeninsula�s natural habitats.

The battle to get to this point has lasted 25years. Leading the charge against the NAPwere advocates for off-leash dogs, which haveinflicted tremendous physical damage to ourpublic lands and continue to harass wildlife.This group hired a professional politicalconsultant to oppose the Plan. Their alliesincluded those opposed to the removal ofeucalyptus trees, no matter what danger theypose to public safety, and advocates for feralcats, which are very efficient killers of songbirds, reptiles and amphibians. From 1997 to2002 they worked behind the scenes, goingto about every neighborhood and communitygroup in the city misrepresenting the goalsand objectives of the NAP and convincingthem that native plants are ugly, showingphotographs in the autumn when dormant.It is no small miracle that we are on the cuspof institutionalizing the protection of some ofthe City�s natural history.

Unfortunately, this newsletter will be releasedonly days before the scheduled February 28appeal hearing. For those of you who arereading this during that short window, or ifthe Board of Supervisors should defer makinga decision on the appeal until a later date,here�s how you can write them to voice yoursupport for the NRMP and urge them to rejectthe appeals:

To contact the entire Board, send an email tothe Office of the Clerk of the Board [email protected] and requestthat your message be sent to all Supervisors.

For the email addresses of individualSupervisors, go to http://sfbos.org/roster-members.

FOCUS ON RARITIES

(RARITIES continued on page 6)

"God never made an ugly

landscape. All that the sun

shines on is beautiful, so

long as it is wild."

� John Muir

4

Page 5: NEWScnps-yerbabuena.org/wp-content/uploads/2017_03-1.pdf · Programs – page 1 Field Trips – pages 2-3 Activities – page 3 Focus on Rarities – pages 4, 6 Mountain Journal –

A Chronicle of Natural History on San Bruno Mountainby Doug Allshouse

The cold wind was blowing softly from the east and there was amixture of fog and haze compliments of the East Bay. A lazy, hazycloud cover served as a canvas for the early morning sunlight that casta peachy glow in the sky and, consequently, all the way to the ground;this was before the actual sunrise. I took a few pictures but no cameracan capture the full ambience. It was a rare and joyous moment thatI experience a few times a year, but sadly it lasts for only 10-15minutes.

October and November celebrates the full glory of the female coyotebush with her white and fluffy pappi that are attached to the achenes,awaiting a stiff breeze to blow the seeds away. Looking south fromthe Guadalupe Trail reveals the female bushes as puffs of white on themountain across Colma Canyon. Winter also exposes the hugecommunities of snow berry in the canyon. Since it is deciduous andrhizomatous the communities appear as amorphous, dark mahoganypatches that dominate the color scheme of scrub. Snow berry is veryphotogenic in early winter with its thin bare branches and snow-whiteberries.

Discovering new species is especially exciting, as is finding newlocations for extant species. This interesting story began on December3, 2016 and there is a backstory to help unravel a mystery.

Elizabeth McClintock and Walter Knight were the primary authorsof two published floras of the San Bruno Mountains, each along witha third author - Neil Fahy (1968) and Paul Reeberg (1990). The firstwas part of The Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, a ratherlarge tome since the flora spanned pages 587-677. In 1990 an expandedflora of 223 pages was published primarily to document plant speciesbefore impending development destroyed habitat. In January 2013,David Nelson and I began working on an updated version, The NaturalHistory of the San Bruno Mountains complete with color photographs.

One of the joys of writing the book is the field research that we doalmost every Saturday. We decided it was time to find salal (Gaultheria),a member of the heather family that includes manzanitas. The 1990Flora said it was in �Cable Ravine on rocky outcrop above Eucalyptus grove.�After visiting every rocky outcrop and coming up empty we pushedonward toward the top of the ravine. We were off the Summit Trailnear a small grove of pine trees when David summoned me over tolook at something at his feet. �That�s suborbiculata!� I shoutedenthusiastically. We had found a new and shockingly large populationof a form of bearberry manzanita, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi formasuborbiculata, miniature manzanita.

In 1968 there were no recognized forms of uva-ursi, the only speciesof manzanita that has made it around the world. By 1990 there wereeight forms recognized internationally. Five forms are in the CaliforniaFloristic Province, which is home to all the manzanita species. Threeforms are present on San Bruno Mountain and two are endemic,including our new discovery. Quite special for such a small area. Amonth after the discovery I looked in the 1968 Flora for Arctostaphylosuva-ursi. Several locations were given including one that read �CableRavine, about 30 yards from the Monterey pine, largest colony on mountain.�This obviously was the location we had found. In the 1990 flora underA. uva-ursi forma suborbiculata the location given was �their only localityon Kamchatka Point.� My first thought was why Elizabeth failed to listthis form of manzanita which was also in Cable Ravine. In 1968 theauthors mentioned �on Kamchatka Point there is a low-growing form withsmall suborbicular leaves borne onassurgent branchlets coming off of cord-likebranches which are absolutely prostrate.� Somehow the authors did noteven mention the endemic Cable Ravine population in the 1990 flora.It was completely forgotten. So, the two of us identified a new locationfor the endemic miniature manzanita.

The etymology of suborbiculata is Latin for �almost round and flat ordisk-shaped�, referring to the leaf blades being suborbicular; somewhatconcave instead of convex. The leaf and branching of this form of uva-ursi is quite unique and striking when compared to the very commonform coactilis which is found in seven California counties; Del Norte,Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, San Mateo, and Sonoma.

Beginning last October two very good things began to happen. Steadyrain totals of 3.53 inches in October, 2.57 inches in November, 5.07inches in December and 9.77 inches in January plus cold weatherwith lows in the 30s and 40s should bode well for spring wildflowers.One big surprise for me was discovering a sky lupine in full bloomon the Bog Trail on Thanksgiving Day!!? In late January, we saw patchesof blennosperma, a small yellow flower, blooming on the lower ridgeof Owl Canyon. I expect to see huge patches of yellow blennospermain upper Owl Canyon in a few weeks. A walk down a grassy ridgeunder the East PG&E Powerline in Brisbane Acres a week earliertreated the eyes to hundreds of milkmaids. Buttercups, San Franciscowallflower and toyon berries also provided a lot of joy.

The blustery storms in late January brought down a large trunk of aCalifornia bay tree, blocking a trail in Owl Canyon where it crosseda swollen creek, which was raging with water from the ridge. Thecreek had several waterfalls cascading 15-20 feet from sudden dropslocated halfway up the canyon. Makeshift creeks ran down from theDay Camp, across and down the Old Guadalupe Trail to a collectionbox over a hundred yards away and down the hill to Colma Creek.The lower Bog Trail became a small creek and even walking to thesides of the trail produced squishy sounds under my shoes. I did getsome awesome videos of water running in areas that I hadn�t seensince 2010. Even the gopher holes were gushing and Colma Creekwas flush with fresh water.

See you on the mountain...

DOUG�S MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

5

Arctostaphylosuva-ursi formasuborbiculata

�Like winds and sunsets, wild things were taken forgranted until progress began to do away with them.�Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac

Page 6: NEWScnps-yerbabuena.org/wp-content/uploads/2017_03-1.pdf · Programs – page 1 Field Trips – pages 2-3 Activities – page 3 Focus on Rarities – pages 4, 6 Mountain Journal –

6

Please help us update these listings. If you havecorrections or additions, please send them [email protected].

Bookmark the daily event calendar athttp://cnps-yerbabuena.org/calendar

Alemany Natives at Alemany Farm.1st Mondays & 3rd Sundays, 1 to 4:30pm. Contact:Craig Heckman [email protected] or JamesCartan [email protected] Hill. 2nd SaturdaysContact Joe Grey [email protected] Hilltop. 3rd Saturdays,10 am to 12 pm. Work party contact Rachel [email protected]; Groups contact Joe Grey415-831-6328.Brooks Park. Contact Joe [email protected] Vista Park. 1st Saturdays, 9am to noon.Contact [email protected] or415-831-6328.Candlestick State Park Nursery. 1150 CarrollStreet. 1st Saturdays, 10am to 2pm. Bay Youth forthe Environment. Contact Patrick [email protected] Open Space. Contact DaveThompson or Gloria Koch-Gonzalez415-821-7601.CNPS Native Plant Restoration Team. EveryWednesday, noon to 3pm. Contact Jake Sigg415-731-3028 or [email protected] Heights. Last Saturdays,10 am to noon.Contact Russ Hartman 650-242-2679 [email protected] .Golden Gate National Recreation Area.Weekdays and weekends around the Bay Area.Contact [email protected] or415-561-3044.

Glen Canyon. Wednesdays & 3rd Saturdays,9am to noon. Friends of Glen Canyon. [email protected] Gate Heights Sandy Dunes NativePlant Community Garden. Contact BarbaraKobayashi [email protected] Gate Park Oak Woodlands.2nd Saturdays, 10am to 12:30pm.Contact Rob Bakewell 415-710-9617 [email protected] Hairstreak Butterfly Corridor.3rd Saturday, 10 am to noon. Contact Nature inthe City [email protected] Moon Bay State Beach. 650-726-8801 [email protected]�s Head Park. 2nd Saturdays, 9am to noon.Contact Raynelle Rino 415-282-6840 [email protected] Merced. 3rd Saturdays, 10am to noon.Contact Joe Grey [email protected] Mar State Beach 4th Sundays,10am tonoon. Contact 650-451-1130 [email protected] Headlands Native Plant Nursery.Wednesday, 1 to 4 pm & Saturday, 9am to noon.Contact 415-332-5193 [email protected] Park. 2nd Saturdays of even months,10am to noon. Contact [email protected] or415-831-6328.McKinley Square Hillside. 2nd Sundays, 10amto noon. www.McKinleySquare.com [email protected] Creek Bank. Generally Saturdaymornings. Contact Ginny Stearns for times 415-552-4577 or [email protected]. Sutro. Wednesdays 9:30am-12:30pm at thenursery; 1st and 3rd Saturdays 9am to 1pm.Contact [email protected]

Pacifica�s Environmental Family. 4th Sundays,10 am. Contact Lynn Adams 650-355-1668.Pigeon Point Lighthouse. Contact RestorationCoordinator 650-726-8801.San Bruno Mountain. Tuesdays, 10:30 am to12:30 pm: Earthcare Wetlands Project;Wednesdays, 10am to 12:30pm: Greenhousevolunteers-Mission Blue Nursery;Saturdays, 10am to 12:30pm: Weed WarriorsStewardship Outing; Saturdays, 10am to noon: BogRestoration; 4th Fridays & Saturdays, 9am to noon:South San Francisco Weed Rangerswww.mountainwatch.org, 415-467-6631.SF Recreation & Parks Department. NaturalAreas Program. [email protected] or415-831-6330.San Pedro Valley County Park, Pacifica. 3rdSaturdays, 9am. Contact Carolyn Pankow650-355-7466.Save the Bay. Tidal marsh habitats. Saturdays,9 am to noon. Native Plant Nursery work on thefirst two Wednesdays of the month. Contact CaseyOgden 510-452-6850 [email protected], orwww.saveSFbay.org/volunteer.Shields/Orizaba Rocky Outcrop. ContactPaul Koski at [email protected] Open Space. Serpentine grasslandon Potrero Hill. 2nd Saturdays, 9:30 am to noon.Contact Tom [email protected] Valley Nursery and Stewards.Every Tuesday, 10am to noon & 1 to 4pm.Contact 415-289-1860 [email protected] Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve.1st & 3rd Saturdays, 9am to 12:30pm. [email protected] or 415-665-1077.White-Crowned Sparrow3rd Saturdays, 9am - noonContact [email protected]

HABITAT RESTORATION

Literature Cited and Useful Links

San Francisco Planning Department. 2011. Significant Natural ResourceAreas Management Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report (Vol. I).August.Maps of the Natural Areas of San Francisco (Appendix B ofthe EIR).Part 1: http://sfmea.sfplanning.org/2005.0912E_DEIR2.pdfPart 2: http://sfmea.sfplanning.org/2005.0912E_DEIR3.pdf

San Francisco Planning Department. 2011. Significant Natural ResourceAreas Management Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report (Vol. I).August.http://sfmea.sfplanning.org/2005.0912E_DEIR.pdf

San Francisco Planning Department. 2011. Significant Natural ResourceAreas Management Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report (Vol. I).August.Biological Resources of San Francisco�s Natural Areas(Appendix D of the EIR � scroll to page 134 of the pdf.)http://sfmea.sfplanning.org/2005.0912E_DEIR4.pdf

San Francisco Planning Department. 2016. Significant Natural ResourceAreas Management Plan. Responses to Comments (Vol. III).November.http://sfmea.sfplanning.org/2005.0912E_SNRAMP_VolumeIII_RTC_2016-11-16.pdf

San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. 2006. Final Draft:

Significant Natural Resource Areas Management Plan. February.http://sfrecpark.org/parks-open-spaces/natural-areas-program/significant-natural-resource-areas-management-plan/snramp/

San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. No date. NaturalResource Areas Management Plan Overview.https://glenparknews.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/snramp-overview.pdf

San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. Website:http://sfrecpark.org/about/

San Francisco Recreation and Park Department.Website.Natural AreasProgram.http://sfrecpark.org/parks-open-spaces/natural-areas-program/

San Francisco Forest Alliance. 2017. Appeal to Board of Supervisor ofEIR Certification. January 5.https://sfforest.org/2017/01/08/san-francisco-forest-alliance-appeals-to-board-of-supervisors/

Wild Equity Institute. 2017. Appeal of the Final Environmental ImpactReport and Project Approval for the Significant Natural Resources AreaManagement Plan. January 17.https://wildequity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/CEQA-SNRAMP-FEIR-BOS-Appeal.pdf

FOCUS ON RARITIES (continued)

Page 7: NEWScnps-yerbabuena.org/wp-content/uploads/2017_03-1.pdf · Programs – page 1 Field Trips – pages 2-3 Activities – page 3 Focus on Rarities – pages 4, 6 Mountain Journal –

7

A Note of Thanks from the Programs Co-Chairby Mila Stroganoff

It was truly heartwarming to see all of you at Steve Hartman�s lectureon desert plants in February. Not only were many members andfriends of the Yerba Buena Chapter present, but we were blessed withthe presence of representatives from the Santa Clara Valley, Marin,East Bay, and North Coast Chapters and our illustrious ExecutiveDirector, Dan Gluesenkamp. We had a remarkable turnout! It wastruly an auspicious beginning to the 2017 series of monthly members�programs.I wish to also thank the many dinner guests who came todine, chat, and have a relaxing time with the guest speaker before theformal part of the evening began.We have a very interesting line-up of speakers this year, and I lookforward to seeing many of you at our programs. Consider attendingthe pre-meeting dinner where we welcome our evening�s speaker.Spring is a time of year to be out enjoying nature and its many beautiesand should definitely not be missed. I have agreed to be the temporaryfield trip coordinator for the spring while there is a search on for afield trip chair or coordinator.The field trip selection is not as vastas it could be, but that will undoubtedly be quickly remedied by theperson who takes over.I wish to thank all of you for your active participation and hope tosee a great many of you throughout the year. Wishing you all the verybest in 2017!

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Mila Stroganoff

at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

Community ThriftThank you to all who have donated furniture, clothing, books,CDs, and housewares to Community Thrift and designated CNPSas the beneficiary. Donating is easy. Simply drop off clean andsaleable items at the CT donation door, open from 10 am to 5 pmevery day, and ask them to list CNPS (charity #152) as thebeneficiary. The donation door is located on the south side ofthe building on Sycamore Alley, parallel to 18th Street andperpendicular to Mission and Valencia Streets. Sycamore runs oneway from Mission toward Valencia. Please note that, because ofthe February 2009 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act,CT can no longer accept any children�s items. CT is a 501(c)(3)non-profit organization. Your donations are tax-deductible, andproduce more chapter income than you might think.

CHAPTER NEWS BOARD MEETINGSBoard meetings are open to all Chapter members. They are heldon the second Monday of every month (except August andDecember) at 350 Amber Drive (SF Police Academy) and start at7 pm. Contact Ellen Edelson ([email protected]) for moreinformation.

OFFICERS & CONTACTSPresidentEllen Edelson [email protected]

Vice PresidentGerry [email protected]

TreasurerAdrian Stroganoff [email protected]

SecretaryPosition vacant

Chapter Council DelegateEllen Edelson [email protected]

Conservation ChairJake Sigg [email protected]

San Mateo CountyConservationMike Vasey [email protected]

Education CoordinatorPosition vacant

Field Trips ChairPosition vacant

Garden TourCoordinator needed

Hospitality CoordinatorsPosition vacant

Invasive ExoticsMark Heath [email protected]

Legislation ChairLinda Shaffer [email protected]

LepidopteristLiam O�Brien [email protected]

Membership DevelopmentPosition vacant

Membership RecordsGeorge Suter [email protected]

Newsletter EditorKipp McMichael [email protected]

Photo DocumentationMargo Bors [email protected]

Greg Gaar [email protected]

Plant Sale CoordinatorEllen Edelson [email protected]

Posters and Book Sales ChairLudmila Stroganoff [email protected]

Programs Co-ChairJake Sigg [email protected]

Programs Co-ChairLudmila Stroganoff [email protected]

PublicityRachel KeselBob Hall [email protected]

Rare Plants Co-ChairPeter [email protected]

Rare Plants Co-ChairMichael Wood [email protected]

Rare Plants ChairSan Mateo CountyDavid Nelson [email protected]

San Bruno Mountain ChairDoug Allshouse [email protected]

Technology Co-ChairsEddie [email protected] [email protected]

WebmasterKipp [email protected]

If you prefer mail delivery, do nothing.Members and subscribers will continue to receive mailedpaper newsletters unless they request a change.

If you prefer electronic delivery:Send an email indicating your wish to:

[email protected]

Make the switch to theElectronic Newsletter!

If you would prefer to receive your Yerba Buena Newselectronically instead of by postal mail, we are able to offerthis alternative. You may want to choose the electronicnewsletter to help save trees or to reduce chapter printing andmailing costs. Or perhaps it is your preference because thecomputer is your communication mode of choice.

Page 8: NEWScnps-yerbabuena.org/wp-content/uploads/2017_03-1.pdf · Programs – page 1 Field Trips – pages 2-3 Activities – page 3 Focus on Rarities – pages 4, 6 Mountain Journal –

Learn to understand California�s unique flora and help topreserve this rich heritage for future generations.

____Yes, I�d like to join.

Affiliation: Yerba Buena Chapter

Membership Category____ $1,500 Mariposa Lily____ $ 600 Benefactor____ $ 300 Patron____ $ 100 Plant Lover____ $ 75 Family____ $ 45 Individual____ $ 25 Limited Income/Student

Make your check out to �CNPS�and mail with this form to: California Native Plant Society 2707 K Street, Suite 1 Sacramento, CA 95816-5113

Name ____________________________Address ________________________City _____________________ State _______Zip __________ Telephone _____________email _________________________________

Dues above the $12 for publications are tax deductible. You willreceive the Yerba Buena News, the informative triannual journalFremontia, and a statewide news bulletin. Members of otherchapters may subscribe to the Yerba Buena News alone for $10per year, renewable annually. Send a check made out to �CNPS�to 1 Alviso Court, Pacifica, CA 94044-4239.

JOIN THE CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

California Native Plant SocietyYerba Buena Chapter338 Ortega StreetSan Francisco, CA 94122

Visit: www.cnps-yerbabuena.org

N E W S

Y E R B ABUENA

THE YERBA BUENA

CHAPTER OF THE

C A L I F O R N I A

N A T I V E P L A N T

S O C I E T Y F O R

SAN FRANCISCO

AND NORTHERN

SAN MATEO COUNTY

Printed on recycled paper ALL ADDRESS CHANGES TO: [email protected] - subject: Member Address Change

YERBA BUENA NEWSVolume 31, number 1 (March 2017)

Published quarterly by the Yerba Buena ChapterCalifornia Native Plant Society

Design & Production � Kipp McMichaelProofreading � Linda Shaffer

Masthead design � Barry DeutschChapter logo � Nancy Baron

DEADLINES FOR JUNE NEWSLETTERArticles & general copy � April 25Time-dependent material � May 5

Late-breaking news � By arrangement

Clarkia rubicundaFarewell to spring

by Margo Bors