Grasslands and Vernal Pools
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Mapping and monitoring delicate habitat
CNPS is engaged in a multi-year effort to study and document California’s precious grasslands and vernal pool alliances. Since the initiative began, the team has collected more than 300 new field samples, defined seven new herbaceous alliances, and 37 new herbaceous associations not previously published in the Manual of California Vegetation. Today, vegetation program staff are finalizing 15 years of vernal pool classification work that will represent a significant contribution to our understanding of these fragile systems. Read on to see project updates and related information.
Grassland and vernal pool resources
Project background
Presentations and publications
Collaborating partners
California Native Grassland Association:
The Mission of the California Native Grasslands Association is to promote, preserve, and restore the diversity of California’s native grasses and grassland ecosystems through education, advocacy, research, and stewardship.
California Rangeland Conservation Coalition:
Ranchers, environmentalists, and agencies working together to benefit all.
Natural Resources Conservation Service:
With the mission of “Helping People Help the Land,” the Natural Resources Conservation Service provides products and services that enable people to be good stewards of the Nation’s soil, water, and related natural resources on non-Federal lands.
Grasslands Reports
Place-based reports
Carrizo Plain National Monument
- Vegetation Report
- Vegetation Mapping Report
- Color Vegetation Map of Carrizo Plains National Monument: Full-size (jpg, 3.6Mb), Preview (jpg, 122kb)
Great Valley Ecoregion
Inner Central Coast
Field updates
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Tejon Ranch is one of California’s most important places for native plants. Now, 30,000 acres of this incredible region is under threat.
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CNPS Grassland Initiative Update
The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) is actively working to categorize, map, and conserve California’s grassland vegetation. -
CNPS Grassland Initiative Update (July 2011)
Non-native and invasive plant species detected in recent field surveys were analyzed at nine sites within the study area.