Primary focus through the spring of 1997 has been
on minimizing the damage to the Park
by the flood control bypass channel project,
and in monitoring the revegetation efforts
required as part of the construction project to mitigate that damage.
Spring 1997 also marked the beginning of efforts to augment
the above plantings with additional native plants.
Goals
Note: as the project progresses,
some of these goals may well be found to be in conflict,
and tradeoffs will be made
Native habitat in its own right
Augment habitat provided by larger neighborhood.
For example, provide resources (shelter, special foods)
that are unlikely to be planted in typical yard.
Demonstration of the use of native plants to encourage wider use
in residential landscapes
and as
street trees.
Subsequent rounds of planting of natives
(in fall of 1997 and several subsequent years)
Maintenance of plants:
natives require watering for 1-3 years --
this minimizes the losses while they are getting established.
Weeding out of invasive/exotic plants:
Foxtail Grass (Calamagrostis arundinacea brachytricha)
is one of the most common of the invasive plants in park.
When its seeds ripen, they can get stuck in the nose and ears of
animals, and can require an expensive visit to the vet.
They are also an annoyance for people in the park because their
harpoon-like seeds also get caught in clothing.
More info:
from
of the
Aside: some vendors offer this as an "ornamental grass"
()
and for big bucks.
Issues (partial list)
Open space is long, thin belt:
1.25 miles by 80 feet (approximate average),
with the bike path running down the middle.
This imposes major constraints on how plants can be grouped.
Creating cover/shelter for wildlife is important,
but we probably do not have the space to be overly generous
in creating mass plantings.
Many species have territories,
and many have multilevel territories
(for example, a home/core territory that they defend vigorously
and a feed territory that they will share to some extent).
What constraints does this impose on planting scheme?
Habitat improvement:
Rocks for butterflies and bees to warm up on in morning.
Thickets: there are many species of birds that nest low to
the ground and need thick patches of vegetation to protect
their nests from predators.
Rockpiles: shelter, especially for reptiles and amphibians
Brushpiles: encourage insects, which feed birds;
also temporary shelter for small birds (for example from hawks).
from local chapter of California Native Plant Society.
The bike path is actively used by bicyclists, skaters, skateboarders,
joggers, walkers, and people walking dogs,
often off-the-leash (contrary to city ordinance).
This activity means that the normal guidelines for what wildlife
would consider safe shelter probably does not apply here.
Predators: occasional roaming dog, cats (feral and from nearby houses),
raccoons, skunks, ...
Because this open space is so close to homes,
wildfire prevention actions must be taken.
How best to locate and segregate the various species of plants
to support this requirement
without excessively unbalancing the habitat.
Mowing of annuals:
Before they become a fire threat
After they have had a chance to drop their seeds
(wildlife food and propagation for next year)
Conflicts in above, especially between species.
Disturbing nesting species?
(unlikely to have species of bird that nest on ground
in this area
due to the predators, especially the cats).
Influence the owners of adjoining open space to enhance the
native habitat.
The creek banks are quite steep in multiple places,
and might provide suitable sites for ground-nesting species of birds
(for example, quail),
by making things difficult enough for the predators.
Explore this further.
Donkey Pasture (Mickey and Pericles):
What would benefit/harm it use as pasture?
For example, want to discourage ground squirrels
because their burrows are a hazard (donkeys could break legs).