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Campus Lagoon supports a diverse array of habitats despite its small size. |
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A back dune and dune swale region includes Juncus mexicanus, Juncus acutus, Jaumea carnosa (Jaumea), Frankenia salina (Alkali Heath), Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy), Deinandra increscens (Tarweed), Lupinus arboreus (Bush Lupine), Lotus scoparius (Deerweed), Isocoma menziesii (Coast Goldenbush), Distichlis spicata (Saltgrass). Student interns and CCBER staff helped with this project.
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Planting of coast live oaks on Lagoon Island and Campus point allow for the development of an oak woodland which supports a much higher diversity of plants, vertebrate and invertebrate organisms. |
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Oak Woodland… in 20 years!
CCBER initiated four restoration projects around the Campus Lagoon this year designed to enhance the lagoon area so it supports a higher diversity of native species. Because of the coastal influence and the steep slopes, Campus Lagoon supports a diverse array of habitats despite its small size (94 acres). The two coastal mesas (Campus Point and Lagoon Island) have north-facing slopes with deep loamy soils capable of supporting California’s coast live oaks. Reference sites - nearby areas with similar physical features and more intact plant communities - for this habitat include the Douglas Preserve and More Mesa. Acorns were collected in September and planted after the early rains in November and December at 1000 sites. Nearly 20 members of the campus ROTC volunteered on a Saturday to clear sites and install weed cloth and blue tubes. The tubes surround the acorns above and below the ground to protect the young oaks from predation by squirrels and gophers. Weed cloth around each planting site reduces competition by non-native annual grasses and radish. Elementary students from Montessori Center School helped plant over 250 sites with acorns.
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Tree tubes and weed cloth protect germinating acorns from squirrel and
gopher damageand competition from weeds for water and light |
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