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5. STEWARDSHIP AND MANAGEMENT STATUS OF PLANT COMMUNITIES AND WILDLIFE HABITAT TYPES
Introduction
Land Cover Analysis
Wildlife Habitat Types Analysis
IntroductionAs described in the general introduction to this report, the primary objective of Gap Analysis is to provide information on the distribution, stewardship and management status of several elements of biological diversity. This is accomplished by producing and then intersecting maps of land cover types or predicted distributions for selected animal species with a map of land stewardship and management status. The results are results are summarized by tabulating the area and percent of total mapped distribution of each element in different land stewardship and management categories.
Although GAP "seeks to identify habitat types and species not adequately represented in the current network of biodiversity management areas," (GAP Handbook, Version 1, Preface, pg. i) it is unrealistic to create a standard definition of "adequate representation" for either land-cover types or individual species (Noss et al. 1995). A practical solution to this problem is to report both percentages and absolute area of each cover type in biodiversity management areas (as described above) and allow the user to determine which types are adequately represented in natural areas. Clearly, opinions will differ among users, but this is an issue of policy, not scientific analysis.
Land-Cover Analysis
Anthropogenic cover types including irrigated cropland, dryland cropland, orchards and vineyards, conifer plantations, eucalyptus groves, and urban or built-up lands, and bare ground were mapped over approximately 21% of the state, but their conservation is not discussed in our gap analysis because they are not natural plant communities. Conservation of open water habitat is not emphasized in this analysis either, even though it provides habitat for vertebrate species, because water resources will be addressed in more detail in a future Aquatic Gap Analysis. Non-vegetated (bare) ground is also not treated here.
Land-Cover and Stewardship
As could be expected, management responsibility for plant communities follows the pattern of land ownership in California (Table 5-1). Non-military federal land management agencies share the major responsibility for plant communities of the montane forests, meadows, some chaparral types, and many of the desert and Great Basin scrub and woodland types. The Department of Defense military bases contain a significant proportion of several coastal scrub, desert scrub, and riparian communities. Most notable of these are Central Dune Scrub (21320, 45%), Central Maritime Chaparral (37C20, 40% on DoD lands), Central Coast Arroyo Willow Riparian Forest (61230, 38%), and Sycamore Alluvial Woodland (62100, 35%). Communities found in relatively large proportion on state of California lands include desert scrub, native grasslands, wetlands and riparian types, and redwood forests. State lands contain the majority of the remaining Valley Sacaton Grassland (42120, 63%). Communities of the lower elevation regions and coastal areas are often primarily located on privately-owned lands. These types include most of the coastal scrub types (ranging from 61-88% on private lands), the valley scrub types, several of the chaparral types, coastal prairie (41000, 87%), Valley Needlegrass Grassland (42110, 78%), non-native grassland (42200, 87%), most riparian woodlands, most hardwood woodlands and forest types (except those of the higher mountains such as Canyon Love Oak Forest), conifer types of the northern coast including redwoods, and many of the closed-cone pine or cypress forests. The miscellaneous category in Table 5-1 includes lands administered by non-profit organizations, Native American tribes, counties, and utility districts. Collectively, these constitute a very small proportion of the total area in the state but include relatively significant fractions of several community types. The most noteworthy of these are Alkali Meadow (45310, 71%) and Northern Maritime Chaparral (37C10, 38%).
Table 5-1. Area and percentage of each CNDDB community type in major land stewardship categories in California. The Miscellaneous category includes non-governmental conservation groups, Native American lands, and city/county/regional lands. * indicates community types added to the standard CNDDB classification (Holland 1986).
Federal (other than DoD)
DoD
State
Private
Misc.
Total
CNDDB Code
CNDDB Community Name (Holland 1986)
kmē
%
kmē
%
kmē
%
kmē
%
kmē
%
kmē
21210
Northern Foredunes
0
13.1
0
8.1
0
0.2
2
68.7
0
9.9
3
21310
Northern Dune Scrub
5
4.3
0
0
8
7.2
94
87.6
1
0.9
107
21320
Central Dune Scrub
0
0
6
44.8
6
42.5
2
12.5
0
0.2
14
22000
Desert Dunes
1,641
76.2
111
5.2
82
3.8
317
14.7
3
0.1
2,155
23300
Monvero Residual Dunes
1
31.1
0
0
0
0
2
68.9
0
0
3
31100
Northern Coastal Bluff Scrub
39
100
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
39
31200
Southern Coastal Bluff Scrub
0
0.1
0
0
3
12.7
19
85.6
0
1.6
23
32100
Northern (Franciscan) Coastal Scrub
90
19.1
4
0.8
20
4.4
339
72.3
16
3.5
469
32200
Central (Lucian) Coastal Scrub
30
4.4
135
19.9
28
4.2
454
66.7
33
4.9
681
32300
Venturan Coastal Sage Scrub
306
14.6
47
2.2
68
3.2
1,645
78.2
36
1.7
2,102
32500
Diegan Coastal Sage Scrub
184
13.9
230
17.4
24
1.8
807
61.3
73
5.5
1,317
32600
Diablan Sage Scrub
153
13.8
9
0.8
5
0.4
939
84.8
1
0.1
1,107
32700
Riversidian Sage Scrub
188
25.2
3
0.4
9
1.2
516
69.3
29
3.9
744
33100
Sonoran Creosote Bush Scrub
8,759
69.4
1,071
8.5
658
5.2
1,929
15.3
209
1.7
12,625
33200
Sonoran Desert Mixed Scrub
3,131
49.5
508
8
1,571
24.8
1,021
16.1
92
1.5
6,324
34100
Mojave Creosote Bush Scrub
26,559
60.8
7,137
16.3
1,195
2.7
8,781
20.1
39
0.1
43,712
34210
Mojave Mixed Woody Scrub
7,804
74
1,180
11.2
251
2.4
1,202
11.4
105
1
10,542
34220
Mojave Mixed Steppe
503
78.1
0
0
9
1.4
132
20.5
0
0
644
34240
Mojave Mixed Woody and Succulent Scrub
449
78.2
0
0
35
6.1
83
14.4
7
1.3
575
34300
Blackbush Scrub
1,468
81.7
100
5.5
23
1.3
158
8.8
48
2.7
1,797
35100
Great Basin Mixed Scrub
4,871
76.2
26
0.4
125
2
1,271
19.9
99
1.5
6,391
35110
Salvia dorri/ Chamaebatiaria scrub *
30
99.2
0
0
0
0
0
0.8
0
0
30
35210
Big Sagebrush Scrub
3,253
74.9
5
0.1
45
1
986
22.7
53
1.2
4,341
35211
Low Sagebrush Scrub *
1,160
71.4
3
0.2
23
1.4
432
26.6
7
0.4
1,624
35212
Silver Sagebrush Scrub *
234
54.2
0
0
16
3.6
181
42
1
0.2
431
35213
Black Sagebrush Scrub *
18
100
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
18
35220
Subalpine Sagebrush Scrub
142
82.8
0
0
3
1.7
26
15.4
0
0.1
171
35400
Rabbitbrush Scrub
216
51.6
0
0
2
0.5
194
46.2
7
1.6
419
35500
Cercocarpus ledifolius Woodland *
747
90.2
0
0
3
0.4
70
8.4
8
1
828
36110
Desert Saltbush Scrub
2,280
48.3
573
12.1
62
1.3
1,744
36.9
64
1.3
4,723
36120
Desert Sink Scrub
540
77.4
49
7.1
19
2.7
49
7
40
5.8
697
36130
Desert Greasewood Scrub
354
42.7
61
7.4
100
12
296
35.6
18
2.2
830
36140
Shadscale Scrub
2,984
85.5
7
0.2
31
0.9
102
2.9
369
10.6
3,492
36150
Desert Holly Scrub *
1,362
94.1
34
2.4
36
2.5
16
1.1
0
0
1,448
36210
Valley Sink Scrub
18
7.4
0
0
6
2.2
222
88.7
4
1.7
250
36220
Valley Saltbush Scrub
336
17.5
191
10
23
1.2
1,355
70.8
10
0.5
1,916
36320
Interior Coast Range Saltbush Scrub
6
23
0
0
1
2
20
73.5
0
1.5
28
37110
Northern Mixed Chaparral
829
50.2
28
1.7
17
1
683
41.3
96
5.8
1,652
37120
Southern Mixed Chaparral
40
18.3
24
11
3
1.5
134
61
18
8.2
219
37200
Chamise Chaparral
2,005
37.3
105
1.9
125
2.3
2,966
55.1
181
3.4
5,381
37300
Red Shank Chaparral
409
42.4
0
0
53
5.4
406
42.1
97
10.1
966
37400
Semi-Desert Chaparral
1,296
52.6
2
0.1
105
4.3
981
39.8
80
3.2
2,462
37510
Mixed Montane Chaparral
1,427
77.1
0
0
19
1
403
21.7
3
0.2
1,852
37520
Montane Manzanita Chaparral
753
56.7
3
0.2
12
0.9
560
42.1
1
0.1
1,329
37530
Montane Ceanothus Chaparral
683
63
3
0.2
20
1.9
371
34.3
7
0.6
1,084
37541
Shin Oak Brush
121
59.7
0
0
8
4.1
73
36.2
0
0
203
37542
Huckleberry Oak Chaparral
227
79
0
0
0
0.1
60
20.9
0
0
287
37550
Bush Chinquapin Chaparral
144
75.7
0
0
1
0.3
46
24
0
0
190
37610
Mixed Serpentine Chaparral
68
31.5
6
2.7
3
1.2
140
64.3
1
0.3
217
37620
Leather Oak Chaparral
33
33.1
5
4.9
0
0.3
59
59.8
2
1.8
98
37810
Buck Brush Chaparral
1,971
47
167
4
101
2.4
1,882
44.9
74
1.8
4,196
37820
Blue Brush Chaparral
10
13.8
0
0
5
7.4
56
75
3
3.8
74
37830
Ceanothus crassifolius Chaparral
1,209
57.8
46
2.2
20
1
760
36.3
57
2.7
2,093
37840
Ceanothus megacarpus Chaparral
169
29
0
0
62
10.6
329
56.4
23
4
583
37900
Scrub Oak Chaparral
1,507
69.7
24
1.1
34
1.6
524
24.2
73
3.4
2,162
37A00
Interior Live Oak Chaparral
1,425
70.7
43
2.1
30
1.5
495
24.6
22
1.1
2,015
37B00
Upper Sonoran Manzanita Chaparral
606
72.4
3
0.4
4
0.5
209
25
14
1.6
836
37C10
Northern Maritime Chaparral
1
18.3
0
0
0
0
1
43.3
1
38.3
3
37C20
Central Maritime Chaparral
12
5.6
88
40.3
25
11.5
85
38.8
8
3.8
218
37D00
Ione Chaparral
0
3.8
0
0
0
0
1
96.2
0
0
1
37E00
Mesic North Slope Chaparral
414
65.9
15
2.4
15
2.4
171
27.2
14
2.2
628
37G00
Coastal Sage-Chaparral Scrub
55
16
0
0
7
2
269
78
14
3.9
345
39000
Upper Sonoran Subshrub Scrub
151
40.3
0
0.1
6
1.6
217
57.8
1
0.2
375
41000
Coastal Prairie
62
7
8
0.9
34
3.8
763
86.7
14
1.6
880
42110
Valley Needlegrass Grassland
0
2.1
0
0
0
0.1
6
77.9
1
19.9
7
42120
Valley Sacaton Grassland
0
1.5
0
0
6
63.2
3
35.3
0
0
9
42160
Desert Native Grassland *
197
65.6
34
11.3
17
5.5
53
17.6
0
0
300
42200
Non-Native Grassland
2,144
7.8
569
2.1
354
1.3
23,943
87.1
472
1.7
27,483
42300
Wildflower Field
2
31.5
0
0
0
0
5
68.5
0
0
7
43000
Great Basin Grassland
65
55.1
0
0
7
5.6
46
39.1
0
0
118
44110
Northern Hardpan Vernal Pool
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
100
0
0
0
44120
Northern Claypan Vernal Pool
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
78.7
0
21.3
2
44131
Northern Basalt Flow Vernal Pool
4
96.8
0
0
0
0
0
3.2
0
0
4
45100
Montane Meadow
193
53.4
0
0
0
0.1
157
43.4
11
3.1
361
45200
Subalpine or Alpine Meadow
199
69.8
0
0
5
1.7
71
25
10
3.4
286
45310
Alkali Meadow
64
13.4
0
0
3
0.6
57
12
340
71.2
477
45500
Great Basin Wet Meadow *
94
47.6
0
0
20
10.1
83
42.1
0
0.1
197
46000
Alkali Playa
919
64
279
19.4
18
1.3
220
15.3
0
0
1,436
47000
Pavement Plain
8
66.8
0
0
0
0
4
33.2
0
0.1
11
51110
Sphagnum Bog
1
100
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
52110
Northern Coastal Salt Marsh
13
14.8
4
5.2
25
29.9
41
48.8
1
1.3
85
52120
Southern Coastal Salt Marsh
1
5.8
2
17.1
3
28.1
5
49
0
0
11
52200
Coastal Brackish Marsh
0
0
12
3.7
50
16.1
242
77.9
3
0.9
311
52310
Cismontane Alkali Marsh
1
4.3
0
0
0
0
23
95.7
0
0
25
52320
Transmontane Alkali Marsh
13
38
1
2.5
2
6.2
15
45.2
3
8
34
52410
Coastal and Valley Freshwater Marsh
123
24.5
1
0.3
73
14.5
297
59.3
7
1.4
501
52420
Transmontane Freshwater Marsh
136
44.6
0
0
8
2.6
146
47.8
15
5
306
61110
North Coast Black Cottonwood Riparian Forest
5
39.8
0
0
0
1.2
7
59.1
0
0
12
61130
Red Alder Riparian Forest
2
11.6
0
0
1
5.2
17
83.2
0
0
20
61210
Central Coast Cottonwood-Sycamore Riparian Forest
10
13.4
11
14.1
1
1.6
53
68.9
2
2
78
61220
Central Coast Live Oak Riparian Forest
2
7.8
1
3.2
3
10.1
23
78.9
0
0
29
61230
Central Coast Arroyo Willow Riparian Forest
0
0
16
38.0
2
3.9
23
53.3
2
4.7
43
61310
Southern Coast Live Oak Riparian Forest
15
55.9
0
0
0
0
10
38.1
2
6
26
61320
Southern Arroyo Willow Riparian Forest
4
11.5
3
6.8
3
6.7
21
55.6
7
19.4
38
61330
Southern Cottonwood-Willow Riparian Forest
18
30.8
8
13.1
2
2.8
29
47.8
3
5.5
60
61410
Great Valley Cottonwood Riparian Forest
14
4.2
2
0.5
50
15.1
259
78.5
6
1.7
330
61420
Great Valley Mixed Riparian Forest
6
7.9
1
0.7
5
6.7
57
77.3
5
7.4
73
61430
Great Valley Valley Oak Riparian Forest
3
2.9
0
0.3
2
2.4
86
93.5
1
0.9
92
61510
White Alder Riparian Forest
7
24.9
1
3.8
0
0
20
71.3
0
0
27
61520
Aspen Riparian Forest
50
83.9
0
0
0
0.3
9
15.8
0
0
59
61530
Montane Black Cottonwood Riparian Forest
9
33.4
0
0
1
5.5
16
61.1
0
0
26
61610
Modoc-Great Basin Cottonwood-Willow Riparian Forest
22
27.3
0
0
1
0.7
39
48.6
19
23.4
80
61700
Mojave Riparian Forest
18
31.1
2
3.2
8
12.8
29
48.9
2
4
59
61810
Sonoran Cottonwood-Willow Riparian Forest
0
0
0
0
0
0.1
3
99.9
0
0
3
61820
Mesquite Bosque
197
72.1
0
0
5
1.7
69
25.3
3
1
274
62100
Sycamore Alluvial Woodland
0
0.6
4
34.6
1
5.1
7
59.7
0
0
11
62200
Desert Dry Wash Woodland
1,910
63.6
434
14.5
68
2.3
553
18.4
38
1.3
3,004
62400
Southern Sycamore-Alder Riparian Woodland
6
34.3
0
0
0
0
12
65.7
0
0
18
63100
North Coast Riparian Scrub
9
9.1
0
0
2
2.4
86
87.1
1
1.4
99
63200
Central Coast Riparian Scrub
0
0
0
1.2
0
3.4
2
95.4
0
0
2
63310
Mule Fat Scrub
2
3.2
8
10.4
3
4.3
56
75
5
7.1
75
63320
Southern Willow Scrub
0
0
0
0
0
11.7
1
88.3
0
0
2
63330
Southern Alluvial Fan Scrub *
0
2.3
0
0
0
0
13
97.7
0
0
13
63410
Great Valley Willow Scrub
0
1
0
0.5
0
1
18
97.6
0
0
19
63420
Great Valley Mesquite Scrub
0
0.3
0
0
0
0
23
99.7
0
0
23
63500
Montane Riparian Scrub
59
49.4
0
0
0
0
60
49.8
1
0.8
120
63600
Modoc-Great Basin Riparian Scrub
35
41
0
0
8
9.4
27
31.5
15
18.0
85
63700
Mojave Desert Wash Scrub
1
44.6
0
0
0
0
1
55.4
0
0
2
63810
Tamarisk Scrub
31
29.7
0
0
2
1.7
63
60.4
9
8.1
105
63820
Arrowweed Scrub
1
7.4
0
0
0
0
12
92.6
0
0
13
71110
Oregon Oak Woodland
808
33.2
30
1.2
26
1.1
1,565
64.2
7
0.3
2,437
71120
Black Oak Woodland
641
39.1
1
0.1
29
1.8
951
57.9
20
1.2
1,641
71130
Valley Oak Woodland
8
0.8
29
3.2
11
1.2
870
94.4
4
0.5
922
71140
Blue Oak Woodland
1,035
9.9
194
1.9
180
1.7
8,743
83.7
298
2.9
10,452
71150
Interior Live Oak Woodland
471
27.2
10
0.6
16
0.9
1,230
71.1
3
0.2
1,732
71160
Coast Live Oak Woodland
49
4.2
34
2.9
11
0.9
1,024
87.4
54
4.6
1,172
71170
Alvord Oak Woodland
33
9.6
6
1.7
0
0.1
297
87.6
4
1.1
340
71182
Dense Engelmann Oak Woodland
36
15.2
12
5.3
1
0.3
156
66.5
30
12.8
235
71210
California Walnut Woodland
4
7
0
0.3
1
1
52
88.4
2
3.3
59
71310
Open Foothill Pine Woodland
358
24
25
1.6
58
3.9
1,016
67.9
38
2.6
1,496
71321
Serpentine Foothill Pine-Chaparral Woodland
356
42.6
0
0
11
1.3
469
56
1
0.1
837
71322
Non-Serpentine Foothill Pine Woodland
299
38
3
0.4
17
2.1
469
59.5
0
0
788
71410
Foothill Pine-Oak Woodland
1,257
12.3
169
1.7
226
2.2
8,445
83
83
0.8
10,180
71420
Mixed North Slope Cismontane Woodland
204
20.3
0
0
10
1
784
78
6
0.6
1,005
71430
Juniper-Oak Cismontane Woodland
50
16.7
0
0
0
0.1
251
83.1
0
0.1
302
71600
Oak-Piñon Woodland *
125
91.8
0
0
0
0
11
8.2
0
0
136
72100
Great Basin Woodlands
6,782
74.1
8
0.1
88
1
2,252
24.6
26
0.3
9,158
72200
Mojavean Pinyon and Juniper Woodlands
2,729
67.6
258
6.4
98
2.4
951
23.6
1
0
4,036
72300
Peninsular Pinyon and Juniper Woodlands
198
41.2
0
0
205
42.7
73
15.2
4
0.9
480
72400
Cismontane Juniper Woodland and Scrub
6
19.8
0
0
0
0.8
25
79.3
0
0
31
73000
Joshua Tree Woodland
113
91.4
0
0
3
2.8
7
5.8
0
0
123
81100
Mixed Evergreen Forest
1,335
28.7
14
0.3
79
1.7
3,007
64.7
211
4.5
4,647
81200
California Bay Forest
2
18.2
0
0
0
0.4
10
75
1
6.4
13
81310
Coast Live Oak Forest
164
7.5
30
1.4
56
2.6
1,860
84.8
83
3.8
2,194
81320
Canyon Live Oak Forest
1,089
62.7
1
0
20
1.1
579
33.3
48
2.8
1,736
81330
Interior Live Oak Forest
462
17.1
9
0.3
46
1.7
2,160
79.7
32
1.2
2,709
81340
Black Oak Forest
2,901
51.7
7
0.1
80
1.4
2,568
45.7
59
1
5,615
81400
Tan-Oak Forest
753
41.3
4
0.2
15
0.8
1,019
55.8
35
1.9
1,825
81B00
Aspen Forest
175
93.2
0
0
1
0.7
11
5.8
0
0.2
188
82100
Sitka Spruce-Grand Fir Forest
35
10.4
0
0
39
11.6
264
78
0
0
339
82310
Alluvial Redwood Forest
10
1.3
0
0
87
11.7
645
87
0
0
742
82320
Upland Redwood Forest
306
5.7
1
0
527
9.7
4,462
82.5
112
2.1
5,408
82410
Coastal Douglas-Fir-Western Hemlock Forest
12
36.6
0
0
0
0
20
62.2
0
1.1
32
82420
Upland Douglas-Fir Forest
93
27
1
0.2
13
3.8
232
67.4
6
1.6
344
82500
Port Orford Cedar Forest
5
98.9
0
0
0
0
0
1.1
0
0
6
83110
Beach Pine Forest
0
0
0
0
4
32
10
68
0
0
14
83120
Bishop Pine Forest
26
14.6
3
1.7
14
7.6
135
74.7
2
1.3
181
83130
Monterey Pine Forest
1
1.6
0
0.9
3
6.8
34
87.9
1
2.9
39
83161
Mendocino Pygmy Cypress Forest
0
0
0
0
2
21.1
8
78.9
0
0
10
83210
Knobcone Pine Forest
212
62
0
0.1
8
2.2
122
35.7
0
0
342
83220
Northern Interior Cypress Forest
20
11
3
1.4
0
0
159
87.2
1
0.4
183
83330
Southern Interior Cypress Forest
16
77.5
0
0
0
0
5
22.5
0
0
20
84110
Coast Range Mixed Coniferous Forest
8,421
62.2
0
0
117
0.9
4,778
35.3
222
1.6
13,539
84120
Santa Lucia Fir Forest
8
100
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
84130
Coast Range Ponderosa Pine Forest
249
53.1
0
0
2
0.5
213
45.5
4
0.9
469
84140
Coulter Pine Forest
242
59.8
1
0.2
12
2.9
123
30.4
27
6.6
405
84150
Bigcone Spruce-Canyon Oak Forest
317
92.7
0
0
0
0.1
23
6.8
1
0.4
342
84160
Ultramafic White Pine Forest
17
75.9
0
0
0
0
5
24.1
0
0
22
84171
Northern Ultramafic Jeffrey Pine Forest
378
76.1
0
0
0
0.1
108
21.7
10
2.1
496
84180
Ultramafic Mixed Coniferous Forest
232
88.6
0
0
3
1.1
27
10.2
0
0.1
262
84210
Westside Ponderosa Pine Forest
5,791
59.4
1
0
81
0.8
3,804
39
73
0.8
9,750
84220
Eastside Ponderosa Pine Forest
4,402
69
0
0
23
0.4
1,953
30.6
4
0.1
6,383
84230
Sierran Mixed Coniferous Forest
8,940
57.2
2
0
120
0.8
6,565
42
10
0.1
15,637
84240
Sierran White Fir Forest
785
74.4
0
0
4
0.4
266
25.2
0
0
1,056
84250
Big Tree Forest
144
84.3
0
0
13
7.6
9
5.3
5
2.8
171
84260
Modoc White Fir Forest *
601
63.7
0
0
0
0
333
35.3
9
0.9
943
85100
Jeffrey Pine Forest
2,855
87.6
0
0
25
0.8
361
11.1
16
0.5
3,258
85120
Red Fir-Western White Pine Forest *
1,490
93.2
0
0
5
0.3
104
6.5
0
0
1,599
85210
Jeffrey Pine-Fir Forest
3,769
87.5
0
0
10
0.2
528
12.3
1
0
4,309
85310
Red Fir Forest
4,012
89.6
0
0
11
0.2
453
10.1
0
0
4,476
85320
Southern California White Fir Forest
31
82.6
0
0
2
4.9
5
12.6
0
0
38
85410
Siskiyou Enriched Coniferous Forest
227
92.8
0
0
0
0
18
7.2
0
0
245
85420
Salmon-Scott Enriched Coniferous Forest
906
86.6
0
0
0
0
140
13.4
0
0
1,047
86100
Lodgepole Pine Forest
2,450
95.3
0
0
3
0.1
119
4.6
0
0
2,572
86210
Whitebark Pine-Mountain Hemlock Forest
409
95.4
0
0
0
0
20
4.6
0
0
429
86220
Whitebark Pine-Lodgepole Pine Forest
580
98.6
0
0
2
0.3
7
1.1
0
0
588
86300
Foxtail Pine Forest
235
98.9
0
0
0
0
3
1.1
0
0
238
86400
Bristlecone Pine Forest
99
100
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
99
86500
Southern California Subalpine Forest
44
84.1
0
0
8
15.9
0
0
0
0
52
86600
Whitebark Pine Forest
232
99.4
0
0
0
0.1
1
0.5
0
0
233
86700
Limber Pine Forest
21
100
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
21
91110
Klamath-Cascade Fell-field
58
99.0
0
0
0
0
1
1.0
0
0
59
91120
Sierra Nevada Fell-field
122
99.5
0
0
0
0
1
0.5
0
0
122
94000
Alpine Dwarf Scrub
610
99.9
0
0
0
0
1
0.1
0
0
611
Land-Cover and Management Status
The table found in Appendix 5-1 provides the area of the mapped distribution in square kilometers of the types by management status, and the percent of the type's total distribution in each category. For instance, Diegan Coastal Sage Scrub (32500) was mapped over 1,316.9 kmē, of which 3.8% is in status 1 management, 2.0% in status 2, 27.6% status 3, and 66.6% in status 4 (Note: In this example, Status 1 and 2 lands do not include recent conservation decisions affecting a large area of private lands in Southwestern California.)
As explained in the chapter introduction, here we provide results according to several thresholds of representation advocated in the literature to conserve biodiversity (Table 5-2). The digital data (see How To Obtain The Data) will allow the user to set any desirable threshold and perform their own analyses.
The table contains additional information about threats or ``stressors'' for each type that complements the data on the relative level of representation in California's network of managed areas. Population growth estimates indicate the potential threats both of loss of cover types and of the associated habitat degradation associated with more people and their impacts on natural communities. Roadedness, as described in Chapter 4, represents an index that summarizes a whole suite of existing human impacts from fragmentation of habitats, to noise, resource extraction, invasion by exotic species, and so on. Thus roadedness estimates past effects while population growth projections indicate the potential for additional effects in the foreseeable future. The third additional column contains qualitative estimates of threat made for plant communities by the Natural Heritage Division of the California Department of Fish and Game. The right-hand column contains additional comments taken from the scientific literature about known historical losses from land use conversions, whether the cover type is endemic to the state (that is, the type occurs nowhere else in the world), or if the type has experienced significant degradation from the introduction of alien plant species.
Table 5-2. CNDDB community types with less than 10%, 20%, and 50% representation in GAP management status 1 and 2 in California, percentage in private ownership, projected population growth through 2020, the roadedness index, and their status ranking by the California Natural Heritage Division as of 10/15/97. Comments codes: L = large historical losses; E = primarily endemic to California; X = invasion by exotic plants.
CNDDB Code
CNDDB Community Name (Holland 1986)
<10% Status 1/2
<20% Status 1/2
<50% Status 1/2
>50%Status 1/2
% Private
Projected Growth (#/kmē)
Roadedness
CNDDB Rank
Comments
21210
Northern Foredunes
14.6
68.7
24.35
40.3
S2.1
21310
Northern Dune Scrub
11.3
87.6
1.85
22.0
S1.2
21320
Central Dune Scrub
27.6
12.5
7.77
28.9
S2.2
E
22000
Desert Dunes
44.9
14.7
1.88
5.3
S2.2/3.2
23300
Monvero Residual Dunes
31.0
68.9
0.00
20.8
S1.2
E
31100
Northern Coastal Bluff Scrub
100.0
0.0
0.00
19.9
S2.2
E
31200
Southern Coastal Bluff Scrub
13.9
85.6
142.4
46.6
S1.1
E
32100
Northern (Franciscan) Coastal Scrub
23.2
72.3
67.95
21.9
S4/3.2/2.3
E
32200
Central (Lucian) Coastal Scrub
7.6
66.7
36.48
26.2
S3.3
E
32300
Venturan Coastal Sage Scrub
8.7
78.2
151.66
21.5
S3.1
L,E
32500
Diegan Coastal Sage Scrub
5.8
61.3
178.38
20.2
S3.1
L
32600
Diablan Sage Scrub
2.4
84.8
27.33
15.9
S3.2
E
32700
Riversidian Sage Scrub
7.3
69.3
239.52
24.8
S1.1/3.1
L,E
33100
Sonoran Creosote Bush Scrub
33.5
15.3
2.68
7.5
S4
E
33200
Sonoran Desert Mixed Scrub
48.0
16.1
17.34
7.6
S3.2
E
34100
Mojave Creosote Bush Scrub
31.8
20.1
20.38
13.5
S4
E
34210
Mojave Mixed Woody Scrub
58.2
11.4
15.58
8.5
S3.2
E
34220
Mojave Mixed Steppe
78.1
20.5
0.32
12.5
S2.2
E
34240
Mojave Mixed Woody and Succulent Scrub
63.0
14.4
17.65
13.5
S3.2
E
34300
Blackbush Scrub
56.9
8.8
10.16
11.6
S3.2
35100
Great Basin Mixed Scrub
7.9
19.9
0.32
13.2
S4
35110
Salvia dorri/ Chamaebatiaria scrub *
91.7
0.8
0.00
10.1
--
E
35210
Big Sagebrush Scrub
20.5
22.7
3.19
15.4
S4
35211
Low Sagebrush Scrub *
3.0
26.6
0.19
14.3
--
35212
Silver Sagebrush Scrub *
9.6
42.0
0.30
14.0
--
35213
Black Sagebrush Scrub *
96.7
0.0
0.00
0.6
--
35220
Subalpine Sagebrush Scrub
17.8
15.4
0.00
12.1
S3.2
35400
Rabbitbrush Scrub
0.7
46.2
1.41
22.6
S5
35500
Cercocarpus ledifolius Woodland *
14.9
8.4
0.35
10.0
--
36110
Desert Saltbush Scrub
17.0
36.9
62.38
22.2
S3.2
36120
Desert Sink Scrub
40.4
7.0
2.66
11.0
S3.1
36130
Desert Greasewood Scrub
8.4
35.6
0.04
21.8
S3.2
36140
Shadscale Scrub
61.5
2.9
0.64
10.0
S3.2
36150
Desert Holly Scrub *
67.0
1.1
0.52
6.8
--
36210
Valley Sink Scrub
11.2
88.7
27.35
25.9
S1.1
L,E
36220
Valley Saltbush Scrub
12.7
70.8
50.03
41.0
S2.1
L,E
36320
Interior Coast Range Saltbush Scrub
17.6
73.5
0.00
13.1
S2.1
E
37110
Northern Mixed Chaparral
7.9
41.3
76.39
17.2
S4
E
37120
Southern Mixed Chaparral
3.8
61.0
169.02
17.8
S3.2/3.3
37200
Chamise Chaparral
13.4
55.1
44.88
15.8
S4
E
37300
Red Shank Chaparral
10.6
42.1
68.58
19.1
S3.2
37400
Semi-Desert Chaparral
18.5
39.8
50.43
15.3
S3.2
E
37510
Mixed Montane Chaparral
26.4
21.7
3.20
13.8
S4
37520
Montane Manzanita Chaparral
10.8
42.1
6.98
22.9
S4
37530
Montane Ceanothus Chaparral
13.4
34.3
29.03
18.3
S4/3.3
37541
Shin Oak Brush
15.3
36.2
0.00
10.1
S3.3
E
37542
Huckleberry Oak Chaparral
37.9
20.9
0.10
8.0
S3.3
E
37550
Bush Chinquapin Chaparral
20.0
24.0
0.11
14.1
S3.3
E
37610
Mixed Serpentine Chaparral
1.0
64.3
2.62
8.9
S2.1
E
37620
Leather Oak Chaparral
18.2
59.8
4.17
14.0
S3.2
E
37810
Buck Brush Chaparral
17.5
44.9
21.91
11.5
S4
E
37820
Blue Brush Chaparral
13.4
75.0
47.55
18.7
S4
E
37830
Ceanothus crassifolius Chaparral
15.5
36.3
118.53
14.5
S3.2
E
37840
Ceanothus megacarpus Chaparral
18.5
56.4
138.98
23.4
S3.2
E
37900
Scrub Oak Chaparral
23.4
24.2
40.18
9.4
S3.3
E
37A00
Interior Live Oak Chaparral
26.6
24.6
31.87
11.0
S3.3
E
37B00
Upper Sonoran Manzanita Chaparral
20.1
25.0
30.29
14.5
S4
E
37C10
Northern Maritime Chaparral
18.3
43.3
32.78
28.8
S1.2
E
37C20
Central Maritime Chaparral
13.5
38.8
16.48
21.4
S2.2
E
37D00
Ione Chaparral
0.0
96.2
30.62
33.4
S1.1
E
37E00
Mesic North Slope Chaparral
29.4
27.2
5.58
9.2
S3.3
E
37G00
Coastal Sage-Chaparral Scrub
5.1
78.0
183.33
20.6
S3.2
E
39000
Upper Sonoran Subshrub Scrub
25.8
57.8
3.02
12.9
S3.2
E
41000
Coastal Prairie
10.0
86.7
53.77
26.5
S2.1
42110
Valley Needlegrass Grassland
21.7
77.9
63.68
24.0
S3.1
L,E,X
42120
Valley Sacaton Grassland
64.7
35.3
4.40
14.2
S1.1
L,E,X
42160
Desert Native Grassland *
0.5
17.6
7.50
11.9
--
42200
Non-Native Grassland
4.8
87.1
40.21
22.5
S4
L,X
42300
Wildflower Field
0.0
68.5
80.13
22.7
S2.2
43000
Great Basin Grassland
11.5
39.1
0.00
17.9
S1.1
X
44110
Northern Hardpan Vernal Pool
0.0
100.0
0.00
19.5
S3.1
E
44120
Northern Claypan Vernal Pool
21.3
78.7
66.96
9.2
S1.1
E
44131
Northern Basalt Flow Vernal Pool
0.0
3.2
0.00
8.9
S2.2
E
45100
Montane Meadow
26.8
43.4
3.36
15.9
S3.2
45200
Subalpine or Alpine Meadow
31.6
25.0
2.08
18.2
S3.2
45310
Alkali Meadow
9.8
12.0
5.20
26.1
S2.1
45500
Great Basin Wet Meadow *
10.4
42.1
0.00
14.3
--
46000
Alkali Playa
20.1
15.3
7.21
11.0
S3.2
47000
Pavement Plain
1.0
33.2
32.28
45.3
S1.1
E
51110
Sphagnum Bog
92.2
0.0
0.00
7.9
S1.2
52110
Northern Coastal Salt Marsh
44.5
48.8
42.73
10.5
S3.2
L
52120
Southern Coastal Salt Marsh
33.7
49.0
175.36
29.0
S2.1
L
52200
Coastal Brackish Marsh
15.7
77.9
74.02
18.8
S2.1
L
52310
Cismontane Alkali Marsh
4.0
95.7
60.74
45.3
S1.1
L,E
52320
Transmontane Alkali Marsh
27.3
45.2
0.00
21.3
S2.1
52410
Coastal and Valley Freshwater Marsh
38.5
59.3
27.62
20.9
S2.1
L
52420
Transmontane Freshwater Marsh
35.3
47.8
0.29
16.4
S2.2
61110
North Coast Black Cottonwood Riparian Forest
1.2
59.1
6.88
36.2
S1.1
61130
Red Alder Riparian Forest
15.8
83.2
45.51
32.5
S2.2
61210
Central Coast Cottonwood-Sycamore Riparian Forest
8.9
68.9
29.57
34.8
S3.2
E
61220
Central Coast Live Oak Riparian Forest
15.4
78.9
4.18
19.8
S3.2
E
61230
Central Coast Arroyo Willow Riparian Forest
1.8
53.3
21.75
32.0
S3.2
E
61310
Southern Coast Live Oak Riparian Forest
16.2
38.1
76.39
15.8
S4
E
61320
Southern Arroyo Willow Riparian Forest
7.6
55.6
171.98
36.3
S2.1
E
61330
Southern Cottonwood-Willow Riparian Forest
7.4
47.8
111.65
21.3
S3.2
E
61410
Great Valley Cottonwood Riparian Forest
19.0
78.5
42.62
22.6
S2.1
L,E
61420
Great Valley Mixed Riparian Forest
15.6
77.3
43.73
23.0
S2.2
L,E
61430
Great Valley Valley Oak Riparian Forest
4.5
93.5
57.79
31.4
S1.1
L,E
61510
White Alder Riparian Forest
17.7
71.3
76.33
20.5
S4
61520
Aspen Riparian Forest
7.4
15.8
0.00
18.1
S3.2
61530
Montane Black Cottonwood Riparian Forest
18.1
61.1
2.30
29.4
S3.2
61610
Modoc-Great Basin Cottonwood-Willow Riparian Forest
2.0
48.6
1.02
24.1
S2.1
61700
Mojave Riparian Forest
15.6
48.9
113.34
17.6
S1.1
E
61810
Sonoran Cottonwood-Willow Riparian Forest
0.1
99.9
172.15
19.3
S1.1
L,E
61820
Mesquite Bosque
58.6
25.3
12.25
10.4
S2.1
L
62100
Sycamore Alluvial Woodland
5.1
59.7
21.87
41.8
S1.1
E
62200
Desert Dry Wash Woodland
20.9
18.4
3.37
9.2
S3.2
E
62400
Southern Sycamore-Alder Riparian Woodland
6.6
65.7
230.97
23.5
S4
E
63100
North Coast Riparian Scrub
3.9
87.1
4.29
29.2
S3.2
E
63200
Central Coast Riparian Scrub
3.4
95.4
41.61
52.4
S3.2
E
63310
Mule Fat Scrub
7.2
75.0
95.47
24.6
S4
63320
Southern Willow Scrub
0.0
88.3
103.61
12.3
S2.1
L
63330
Southern Alluvial Fan Scrub *
0.0
97.7
536.08
66.6
NR
E
63410
Great Valley Willow Scrub
1.0
97.6
32.25
21.5
S3.2
E
63420
Great Valley Mesquite Scrub
0.3
99.7
85.14
19.3
S1.1
L,E
63500
Montane Riparian Scrub
24.1
49.8
7.19
22.1
S4
L
63600
Modoc-Great Basin Riparian Scrub
15.1
31.5
2.26
23.0
S2.1
63700
Mojave Desert Wash Scrub
0.0
55.4
147.97
31.1
S3.2
E
63810
Tamarisk Scrub
11.8
60.4
28.13
28.0
S4
X
63820
Arrowweed Scrub
0.0
92.6
34.84
28.2
S3.3
71110
Oregon Oak Woodland
2.5
64.2
3.96
21.3
S3.3
71120
Black Oak Woodland
4.9
57.9
16.91
22.8
S3.2
E
71130
Valley Oak Woodland
1.3
94.4
27.39
25.9
S2.1
E
71140
Blue Oak Woodland
3.8
83.7
13.02
17.8
S3.2
E
71150
Interior Live Oak Woodland
4.1
71.1
17.93
20.5
S3.2
E
71160
Coast Live Oak Woodland
4.0
87.4
51.53
23.8
S4
E
71170
Alvord Oak Woodland
1.3
87.6
16.32
25.8
S2.2
E
71182
Dense Engelmann Oak Woodland
3.5
66.5
130.36
19.8
S2.1
E
71210
California Walnut Woodland
2.9
88.4
265.72
24.1
S2.1
E
71310
Open Foothill Pine Woodland
10.8
67.9
12.96
17.9
S4
E
71321
Serpentine Foothill Pine-Chaparral Woodland
2.8
56.0
3.11
12.4
S3.2
E
71322
Non-Serpentine Foothill Pine Woodland
8.4
59.5
10.38
16.4
S4
E
71410
Foothill Pine-Oak Woodland
3.2
83.0
16.58
20.3
S4
E
71420
Mixed North Slope Cismontane Woodland
1.7
78.0
10.62
21.0
S3.2
71430
Juniper-Oak Cismontane Woodland
0.8
83.1
2.99
12.7
S3.2
E
71600
Oak-Piñon Woodland *
64.5
8.2
0.00
2.5
--
E
72100
Great Basin Woodlands
11.0
24.6
0.36
11.8
S3.2/4
72200
Mojavean Pinyon and Juniper Woodlands
35.5
23.6
40.46
10.3
S3.2/4
E
72300
Peninsular Pinyon and Juniper Woodlands
73.2
15.2
9.74
12.1
S3.2
E
72400
Cismontane Juniper Woodland and Scrub
4.5
79.3
10.48
10.8
S2.1
E
73000
Joshua Tree Woodland
86.9
5.8
0.08
4.7
S3.2
E
81100
Mixed Evergreen Forest
14.3
64.7
20.73
19.8
S4
81200
California Bay Forest
4.6
75.0
37.62
16.5
S3.2
E
81310
Coast Live Oak Forest
4.9
84.8
40.90
20.9
S4
E
81320
Canyon Live Oak Forest
21.8
33.3
5.93
11.8
S4
E
81330
Interior Live Oak Forest
3.4
79.7
18.43
20.6
S4
E
81340
Black Oak Forest
7.9
45.7
5.60
19.8
S4
E
81400
Tan-Oak Forest
7.1
55.8
3.81
22.8
S4
E
81B00
Aspen Forest
20.0
5.8
6.02
10.0
S3.2
82100
Sitka Spruce-Grand Fir Forest
22.0
78.0
9.68
37.3
S1.1
82310
Alluvial Redwood Forest
4.9
87.0
10.92
28.4
NR
E
82320
Upland Redwood Forest
12.6
82.5
17.12
26.9
S2.3
E
82410
Coastal Douglas-Fir-Western Hemlock Forest
8.4
62.2
9.44
23.3
S2.1
82420
Upland Douglas-Fir Forest
17.6
67.4
20.16
14.6
S3.1
82500
Port Orford Cedar Forest
88.2
1.1
0.00
2.8
S2.1
83110
Beach Pine Forest
32.0
68.0
0.50
33.3
S2.1
83120
Bishop Pine Forest
20.5
74.7
10.61
40.8
S1.1/2.2
E
83130
Monterey Pine Forest
7.5
87.9
53.30
44.2
S1.1
E
83161
Mendocino Pygmy Cypress Forest
10.5
78.9
22.45
45.7
S2.1
E
83210
Knobcone Pine Forest
3.8
35.7
2.59
13.7
S4
E
83220
Northern Interior Cypress Forest
0.7
87.2
0.00
24.0
S2.2
E
83330
Southern Interior Cypress Forest
6.7
22.5
55.01
10.0
S2.1
E
84110
Coast Range Mixed Coniferous Forest
14.7
35.3
1.58
17.4
S4
84120
Santa Lucia Fir Forest
100.0
0.0
0.00
0.0
S2.2
E
84130
Coast Range Ponderosa Pine Forest
22.8
45.5
1.43
19.2
S3.2/1.1
84140
Coulter Pine Forest
20.5
30.4
39.24
16.5
S3.2
E
84150
Bigcone Spruce-Canyon Oak Forest
46.5
6.8
13.60
6.4
S3.2
E
84160
Ultramafic White Pine Forest
51.5
24.1
10.17
11.0
S3.2
E
84171
Northern Ultramafic Jeffrey Pine Forest
24.2
21.7
0.89
14.4
S3.2
E
84180
Ultramafic Mixed Coniferous Forest
15.9
10.2
1.58
15.4
S4
E
84210
Westside Ponderosa Pine Forest
13.8
39.0
8.24
25.4
S2.1
E
84220
Eastside Ponderosa Pine Forest
2.3
30.6
1.34
24.7
S2.1
84230
Sierran Mixed Coniferous Forest
8.7
42.0
4.12
24.9
S4
E
84240
Sierran White Fir Forest
22.9
25.2
2.44
19.2
S4
E
84250
Big Tree Forest
37.0
5.3
0.00
14.6
S3.2
E
84260
Modoc White Fir Forest *
9.1
35.3
0.00
22.3
--
E
85100
Jeffrey Pine Forest
22.1
11.1
1.54
16.9
S4
E
85120
Red Fir-Western White Pine Forest *
57.3
6.5
0.70
4.9
--
E
85210
Jeffrey Pine-Fir Forest
29.4
12.3
1.27
14.1
S4
E
85310
Red Fir Forest
47.5
10.1
1.34
11.0
S4
E
85320
Southern California White Fir Forest
34.8
12.6
21.84
18.4
S4
E
85410
Siskiyou Enriched Coniferous Forest
44.3
7.2
0.00
13.0
S1.2
E
85420
Salmon-Scott Enriched Coniferous Forest
55.1
13.4
0.04
7.1
S1.2
E
86100
Lodgepole Pine Forest
69.8
4.6
1.47
6.0
S4
86210
Whitebark Pine-Mountain Hemlock Forest
82.7
4.6
0.16
1.8
S4
86220
Whitebark Pine-Lodgepole Pine Forest
68.0
1.1
0.21
1.9
S4
86300
Foxtail Pine Forest
97.7
1.1
0.00
0.1
S3.3
E
86400
Bristlecone Pine Forest
52.3
0.0
0.00
0.7
S2.3
86500
Southern California Subalpine Forest
92.3
0.0
0.00
2.1
S3.3
E
86600
Whitebark Pine Forest
60.7
0.5
0.29
0.6
S4
86700
Limber Pine Forest
81.2
0.0
0.00
0.5
S2.3
91110
Klamath-Cascade Fell-field
94.6
1.0
0.10
2.9
S4
E
91120
Sierra Nevada Fell-field
55.2
0.5
0.00
2.0
S4
E
94000
Alpine Dwarf Scrub
63.0
0.1
0.00
0.7
S4
Population growth projections by plant community types were modeled with the following data and assumptions (details in Stoms, unpublished manuscript). The California Department of Finance (1997) made county projections through the year 2020 (see Appendix 5-2 of this report). We expect that some lands within each county were much more likely to be developed than others and therefore that some plant communities are more threatened, somewhat independently of their level of protection in managed areas. Consistent statewide information for all counties on where development is allowed under current zoning or general plans is not available. Therefore we could not identify specific tracts of land where natural plant communities would be converted to human land uses. We chose instead to estimate average human population density as a general measure of the range of effects of human presence. Thus we could avoid debates about what level or density of development constitutes land use change. First we assumed that population growth could only occur on private lands. Growth may take different forms in different parts of the state. In coastal southern California, continued suburban sprawl appears to be the norm. Much of the development in the Sierra Nevada foothills is "exurbanization" in which the land is partitioned into "ranchettes" of 1-20 acres. For our general approximation of average population density within plant communities, we assumed that growth in the next two decades would occur in bands around existing urban areas and to a lesser extent along major road corridors. A band 8 km around landscapes mapped by CA-GAP as urban (i.e., type 11100) was considered the primary zone of development. We realized that small to wns, particularly in agricultural areas, were not always delineated by CA-GAP, and so point locations of towns obtained from USGS were used to generate 2 km bands around the center points of these additional populated places. A similar band of 2 km was created around state and federal highways but was constrained to extend only eral highways but was constrained to extend only up to 10 km from the CA-GAP urban areas. All projected population growth in each county was then assumed to occur uniformly across privately owned lands within these bands of potential development, both currently developed and undeveloped. The number of people predicted to occur in each land-cover type within these growth bands was summed over each county and then re-aggregated to predict total population increase in each land-cover type. This total population gain was then converted to increased population density by dividing by the total mapped distribution of the type. As a point of reference, development of 1 dwelling unit per 10 acres corresponds to approximately 100 people per km2 or what would be considered rural residential development. Several plant communities exceed that density in the projections, particularly coastal scrub and chaparral and riparian communities in southern California.
The rating by the Natural Heritage Division of the California Department of Fish and Game estimates both the rarity of communities and the level of threat to them (Keeler-Wolf 1993). The "S" in the ranking indicates that this ranking applies to the state, not to the type's global distribution. The first number in the ranking shows the level of rarity, with 1 being most rare and 4 and 5 being widespread and secure. The decimal part of the ranking deals with threat, where .1 means very threatened and .3 meaning no current threats known. Thus the NHD ranking uses different criteria from GAP's and so provides a complementary assessment for prioritization. These two factors can be used to supplement the management status information from gap analysis when evaluating conservation needs. Multiple ratings are shown for some community types where the ratings have only been assigned where CA-GAP mapped a higher level type than the types rated by Fish and Game. For example, type 22000, Desert Dunes, is described in Holland (1986) as two communities, Active Desert Dunes (22100) and Stabilized and Partially-stabilized Desert Dunes (22200). CA-GAP was unable to distinguish these two communities reliably from satellite data and limited field reconnaissance and so the two types were merged in the land-cover map. The Active Desert Dunes type is rated as S2.2, and thus is considered more rare but equally at-risk as the Stabilized Dunes type, which was rated S3.2.
Seventy-three out of 194 mapped plant community types have less the 10% representation in GAP status 1 and 2. Nineteen of these, many of which are riparian woodland and scrub types, have mapped distributions less than 25 km2. The more widespread types mostly fall into several general types: coastal scrub, Great Basin scrub, prairie grasslands, hardwood woodlands, and some conifer types, particularly coastal and Sierran mixed conifer forests. The coastal scrub types are of great concern both because they are often prime land for urbanization along California's coastal plains and large proportions of their historical extent has already been converted. As a result, they harbor a large percentage of the state's threatened and endangered plant and animal species. Native grasslands have been similarly affected through conversion to agriculture, invasion by exotic Old World annual plants, and change in fire regime, so that all are considered highly threatened. As noted above, most hardwood types occur principally on private lands and are subject to a number of impacts such as grazing, fuelwood cutting, clearing for pasture or cultivation, and fire suppression. Several oak species, notably Valley oak (Quercus lobata), Blue oak (Q. douglasii), and Engelmann oak (Q. engelmannii), have exhibited low rates of recruitment in recent decades, adding to the concern about the long-term viability of these ecosystems. The under-represented conifer types tend to contain the most commercially valuable timber species such as redwoods, ponderosa pine, and douglas-fir. Even though these types have not been extensively converted to other uses, they y have been heavily altered in composition or structure either by selective removal of favored species (e.g., sugar pine) and/or great reduction in the extent of late successional stands.
Forty-six types were found to have between 10-20% representation in GAP status 1 and 2. Many of these are chaparral types which in general were assigned low levels of threat in the NHD rankings. These tend to occur in steep terrain with few resource conflicts. The primary issue in preserving chaparral is fire management.
Also in the 10-20% group are some of the riparian forest types, most of which are considered threatened or very threatened in the NHD rankings. Several of the saltbush or sink scrub communities also are in this category. All are considered threatened by NHD due to past losses from irrigated agriculture and the accidental flooding of the Salton Basin at the beginning of the century.
Forty-four cover types have 20-50% representation in GAP status 1 and 2. Most of these types are from the deserts, marshes, and the upper conifer forest zone. Included here are the creosote scrub communities of both the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, Alkali Playas, Desert Dry Wash Woodland, Desert Sink Scrub, and Mojavean Pinyon and Juniper Woodland. The montane types include communities such as Big Tree, Jeffrey Pine and Red Fir Forests, Huckleberry Oak Chaparral, Canyon Live Oak Forest, and meadows. Most of these types are not considered threatened in the NHD rankings, but there are several notable exceptions such as Desert Sink Scrub, Valley Needlegrass Grassland, Sitka Spruce-Grand Fir Forest, Beach Pine and Bishop Pine Forests, Siskiyou Enriched Coniferous Forest, and the wetland types.
Thirty-one types out of the 194 that were mapped have over half of their distribution in status 1 or 2 managed areas. Of these, 8 were mapped over less than 25 km2. Two types (Northern Coastal Bluff Scrub and Santa Lucia Fir Forest) occur entirely within protected areas. The majority of types in this category are Mojave Desert scrub or subalpine conifer forests and alpine communities, corresponding to the areas where protected areas are most concentrated. The remaining types tend to be rather rare or highly localized and often the focus of conservation action. Examples of this are the Salmon-Scott Enriched Coniferous Forest, Port Orford Cedar, and Valley Sacaton Grassland. The latter is ranked as very threatened by the NHD and has suffered extensive reductions from agricultural land uses. Some of the few remaining stands have been recently acquired by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, but additional management action may still be required to preserve this type.
Wildlife Habitat Types AnalysisWildlife Habitats and Stewardship
The stewardship pattern for wildlife habitat types (Table 5-3) is similar to that for plant communities. Federal ownership predominates for habitats of the desert regions and the montane forest and alpine zones. Redwood, oak woodlands, annual grassland, and coastal scrub tend to be primarily in private ownership. Stewardship of the Mixed Chaparral and Chamise-Redshank Chaparral types are shared between the federal government and private landowners. The state of California manages significant proportions of redwood forest in state parks, palm oasis, desert succulent scrub in Anza-Borrego State Park, and the wetland habitats in various ecological reserves and wildlife management areas. The Miscellaneous category in Table 5-3, consisting of lands managed by non-governmental organizations, Native American tribes, and local governments are never over 10% of the total area for any habitat type. This group does provide a relatively large amount of coastal oak woodland, alkali desert scrub, Joshua tree, and riparian forest types.
Table 5-3. Area and percentage of each WHR habitat type in major land stewardship categories in California. The Miscellaneous category category includes non-governmental conservation groups, Native American lands, and city/county/regional lands.
Federal
State
Private
Misc.
Total
WHR Code
WHR Habitat Name (Mayer and Laudenslayer 1988)
km2
%
km2
%
km2
%
km2
%
km2
SCN
Subalpine Conifer
3,713
95.4
9
0.2
169
4.4
0
0.0
3,891
RFR
Red Fir
5,094
88.0
13
0.2
680
11.7
0
0.0
5,787
LPN
Lodgepole Pine
2,008
95.8
5
0.3
82
3.9
0
0.0
2,097
SMC
Sierran Mixed Conifer
1,641
64.5
82
0.9
317
34.6
3
0.1
14,606
WFR
White Fir
1,946
66.3
12
0.4
973
33.2
3
0.1
2,935
KMC
Klamath Mixed Conifer
3,733
72.7
16
0.3
1,358
26.4
30
0.6
5,137
DFR
Douglas-Fir
2,322
54.8
27
0.6
1,861
43.9
28
0.7
4,239
JPN
Jeffrey Pine
6,333
79.4
72
0.9
1,536
19.3
37
0.5
7,980
PPN
Ponderosa Pine
9,871
59.7
117
0.7
6,434
39.3
52
0.3
16,385
EPN
Eastside Pine
3,252
69.3
6
0.1
1,423
30.4
8
0.2
4,690
RDW
Redwood
350
5.4
656
10.1
5,395
82.8
116
1.8
6,517
PJN
Pinyon-Juniper
5,533
87.0
126
2.0
689
10.8
10
0.2
6,359
JUN
Juniper
5,086
62.0
132
1.6
2,968
36.2
22
0.3
8,210
ASP
Aspen
224
90.0
1
0.3
24
9.5
1
0.2
249
CPC
Closed-Cone Pine-Cypress
750
60.8
38
3.1
434
35.2
12
1.0
1,233
MHC
Montane Hardwood-Conifer
4,365
42.2
133
1.3
5,558
53.7
292
2.8
10,349
MHW
Montane Hardwood
4,430
39.8
179
1.6
6,280
56.5
228
2.1
11,118
BOW
Blue Oak Woodland
1,250
11.8
154
1.5
8,911
84.2
262
2.5
10,579
VOW
Valley Oak Woodland
183
5.8
45
1.4
2,836
90.6
66
2.1
3,130
COW
Coastal Oak Woodland
490
11.1
104
2.4
3,582
81.1
243
5.5
4,419
BOP
Blue Oak-Foothill Pine
2,699
18.7
332
2.3
11,225
78.0
141
1.0
14,400
MRI
Montane Riparian
218
41.6
10
1.9
256
48.8
41
7.7
524
VRI
Valley-Foothill Riparian
100
12.5
71
8.9
599
75.0
29
3.6
800
DRI
Desert Riparian
249
68.4
17
4.7
77
21.3
20
5.6
363
POS
Palm Oasis
6
87.1
1
12.2
0
0.7
0
0.0
7
JST
Joshua Tree
153
40.5
6
1.5
201
53.1
19
5.0
379
ADS
Alpine-Dwarf Shrub
751
99.5
0
0
4
0.5
0
0
755
LSG
Low Sage
2,058
74.1
35
1.3
661
23.8
23
0.8
2,778
BBR
Bitterbrush
164
75.5
1
0.6
49
22.4
3
1.5
218
SGB
Sagebrush
10,174
74.4
247
1.8
3,029
22.2
203
1.5
13,668
MCP
Montane Chaparral
2,190
70.6
20
0.7
888
28.6
5
0.2
3,104
MCH
Mixed Chaparral
8,306
58.1
371
2.6
5,255
36.8
367
2.6
14,300
CRC
Chamise-Redshank Chaparral
4,896
46.6
255
2.4
4,963
47.3
383
3.6
10,498
CSC
Coastal Scrub
1,728
22.7
203
2.7
5,442
71.6
224
2.9
7,598
DSS
Desert Succulent Shrub
2,652
59.5
1,072
24.1
654
14.7
80
1.8
4,459
DSW
Desert Wash
2,325
77.1
63
2.1
597
19.8
32
1.1
3,017
DSC
Desert Scrub
54,603
77.6
2,805
4.0
12,674
18.0
260
0.4
70,343
ASC
Alkali Desert Scrub
11,570
68.5
290
1.7
4,096
24.3
927
5.5
16,885
AGS
Annual Grassland
3,027
10.5
404
1.4
25,007
86.5
482
1.7
28,921
PGS
Perennial Grassland
144
30.2
23
4.9
306
64.2
4
0.7
477
WTM
Wet Meadow
341
50.7
28
4.2
282
41.9
22
3.2
672
FEW
Freshwater Emergent Wetland
399
30.3
135
10.3
749
56.9
34
2.6
1,317
SEW
Saline Emergent Wetland
20
14.3
28
20.9
87
63.9
1
0.9
136
EST
Estuarine
9
4.3
36
16.5
37
17.3
134
61.9
216
BAR
Barren
7,102
85.9
106
1.3
771
9.3
290
3.5
8,269
Wildlife Habitats and Management Status
Table 5-4 summarizes the percentage of status 1 and 2 lands for each habitat type by grouping into columns showing less than 10, 10 to 20, 20 to 50, and greater than 50%. The right-hand column adds the percentage in private ownership. A complete summary of management status by habitat type is provided in Appendix 5-3.
Table 5-4. WHR habitat types with less than 10%, 20%, and 50% representation in GAP management status 1 and 2 in California, and percentage in private ownership.
WHR Code
WHR Habitat Name (Mayer and Laudenslayer 1988)
<10% Status 1/2
<20% Status 1/2
<50% Status 1/2
>50%Status 1/2
% Private
SCN
Subalpine Conifer
66.1
4.4
RFR
Red Fir
43.6
11.7
LPN
Lodgepole Pine
71.9
3.9
SMC
Sierran Mixed Conifer
11.7
34.6
WFR
White Fir
20.2
33.2
KMC
Klamath Mixed Conifer
25.1
26.4
DFR
Douglas-Fir
11.1
43.9
JPN
Jeffrey Pine
15.4
19.3
PPN
Ponderosa Pine
10.8
39.3
EPN
Eastside Pine
2.5
30.4
RDW
Redwood
12.2
82.8
PJN
Pinyon-Juniper
34.2
10.8
JUN
Juniper
8.6
36.2
ASP
Aspen
18.8
9.5
CPC
Closed-Cone Pine-Cypress
17.8
35.2
MHC
Montane Hardwood-Conifer
11.5
53.7
MHW
Montane Hardwood
9.9
56.5
BOW
Blue Oak Woodland
3.7
84.2
VOW
Valley Oak Woodland
2.4
90.6
COW
Coastal Oak Woodland
6.9
81.1
BOP
Blue Oak-Foothill Pine
3.9
78.0
MRI
Montane Riparian
12.5
48.8
VRI
Valley-Foothill Riparian
13.5
75.0
DRI
Desert Riparian
50.0
21.3
POS
Palm Oasis
63.0
0.7
JST
Joshua Tree
36.7
53.1
ADS
Alpine-Dwarf Shrub
60.6
0.5
LSG
Low Sage
5.4
23.8
BBR
Bitterbrush
2.0
22.4
SGB
Sagebrush
17.4
22.2
MCP
Montane Chaparral
21.2
28.6
MCH
Mixed Chaparral
19.6
36.8
CRC
Chamise-Redshank Chaparral
13.6
47.3
CSC
Coastal Scrub
8.6
71.6
DSS
Desert Succulent Shrub
45.7
14.7
DSW
Desert Wash
20.2
19.8
DSC
Desert Scrub
38.5
18.0
ASC
Alkali Desert Scrub
29.7
24.3
AGS
Annual Grassland
4.9
86.5
PGS
Perennial Grassland
4.6
64.2
WTM
Wet Meadow
29.5
41.9
FEW
Freshwater Emergent Wetland
32.0
56.9
SEW
Saline Emergent Wetland
30.6
63.9
EST
Estuarine
18.8
17.3
BAR
Barren
63.9
9.3
Of the 45 habitats not converted to human-dominated uses, 12 have less than 10% area in status 1 or 2 managed areas. These least well-represented habitats include most of the hardwood woodland types, coastal scrub, grasslands, and a few types from the Great Basin such as juniper, bitterbrush, low sage, and Eastside pine. Most of these types occur primarily on private lands.
Fourteen types have between 10 and 20% representation in status 1 and 2 lands. These tend to be the montane and riparian forests, sagebrush, and chaparral types. Another 14 habitats have 20-50% representation, including the desert habitats, wetlands, pinyon-juniper, and higher elevation conifers. Four widespread subalpine and alpine habitat types have greater than 50% representation. In addition, palm oasis appears well-represented with the data from CA-GAP. This habitat type was not mapped in great detail, however, so estimates of its extent and level of protection are probably not very reliable.
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