leafybye's Journal

Write your SLO County Supervisor, and the SLO Tribune (or other newspapers).

re: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/leafybye/106365-the-time-to-complete-the-guadalupe-nipomo-dunes-national-wildlife-refuge-is-now

https://www.newtimesslo.com/news/sierra-club-files-appeal-to-protect-buffer-area-in-phillips-66-refinery-site-16289131

This parcel, the former Tosco Refinery Buffer, now the Phillips 66 Refinery Buffer is a very rare habitat known as Central coast dune scrub.

The Nipomo Mesa Lupine lives here, and almost nowhere else.

https://rareplants.cnps.org/Plants/Details/?taxon=Lupinus+nipomensis

As you can see, it is so rare, only three populations exist, and one is presumed exirpated (gone).

With whatever is going on in the world, here is something YOU, a nature lover can advocate for, right now, right here, locally. Think globally, act locally.

Take some time to write the Tribune, see their letters to the editor page online. I have done this, but we need anyone who cares about endangered species to speak up.

Write your SLO County Supervisor. At the 1999 dedication SLO County Supervisor Khatchik Achadjian, the Nature Conservancy, and Tosco Refinery staff were present.

What has happened, and why are we going backward in time?

Now is the time to save biodiversity, not destroy it. This plant is worth raising hell over.

What's wrong with the County Board these days? So much work was done since the 1980's to preserve the dunes, so why are we not respecting the past hard work of all these people?

Thanks for reading, and please, write, or meet with your County Supervisor.

If not you, then who? If not now, then when? It could be too late.

Thanks!

I finally got around to posting these: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2023-04-08&subview=table&user_id=leafybye&verifiable=any

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/guadalupe-nipomo-dunes

Established in 2000, the refuge has plans in place to expand in case adjacent land owners either donate or allow management under the existing refuge.

Namely the Oso Flaco Lake Natural Area (owned by ODSVRA), the Tosco Refinery Buffer (owned by Phillips 66), Black Lake (owned by the Land Conservancy of SLO), and the Dune Lakes (owned by private hunting groups, etc.). See pages 25 and 18 of the pdf below.

Let's raise awareness of this issue, especially since the extremely rare Nipomo Lupine is in the refinery buffer area!

Here is a newspaper article about the Tosco (now P66) refinery buffer:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R7TiFs1Cfz8_aO6og1CT57G9tecmiEIf/view?usp=sharing

Here is the detailed information about the land parcels that may be added to the refuge:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v86mSnwLexdU1_mnZlLFc0ck97nfISXr/view?usp=sharing

All parcels can become part of the refuge through some combination of one or more of the following: Donation, Cooperative Agreemen, Easement/Fee Purchase.

Tell State Parks (ODSVRA), Phillips 66, The Land Conservancy of SLO, and the private landowners (Ducks Unlimited, etc.) - the time is NOW.

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/75273-Acmispon-heermannii

Jepson eFlora: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=82705

iNaturalist has not yet caught up, but Acmispon heermannii is now invalid.

I recently became aware of this. I have not seen any yet, but there are populations of Layia on the Central Coast considered distinct from L. glandulosa.

https://bioone.org/journals/madro%C3%B1o/volume-69/issue-1/0024-9637-69.1.88/A-NEW-SPECIES-OF-LAYIA-COMPOSITAE-FROM-THE-CENTRAL-COAST/10.3120/0024-9637-69.1.88.short

There was interest from CNPS-SLO in doing an iNaturalist hike to show people who are not familiar with the platform how to use it and tips.

I will be hosting this event, and it will be in Irish Hills.

I don't know how many people will attend - it could be 2, or it could be 40. RSVP was not required.

If anyone local to SLO here on iNat would like to attend and help newer users one on one, please stop by.

Aside from the basics, let me know if there is anything I should cover or mention to new users of iNat.

We are going to meet at the city park, but it is likely we will need to enter the Irish Hills on Sterling Lane due to a partial closure.

https://cnpsslo.org/event/cnps-inaturalist-outdoor-training-workshop-1/

FOREST ORDER NO. 05-07-00-23-02 SPECIAL CLOSURE – PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a), and to provide for public health and safety, the following act is prohibited within the Los Padres National Forest. This Order is effective from January 13, 2023, at 12:00 PM through March 14, 2023 at 12:00 PM. Going into or being upon any area of the following National Forest System administrative units: a. Monterey Ranger District b. Santa Lucia Ranger District c. Santa Barbara Ranger District d. Ojai Ranger District 36 C.F.R. § 261.53(e). Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order: (1) Persons with a Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order. (2) Owners or lessees of land in the area, to the extent necessary to access their land; (3) Residents who live within the National Forest Boundary, to the extent necessary to access their residences; (4) Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire-fighting force in the performance of an official duty. This prohibition is in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A. A violation of this prohibition is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581. Done at Solvang, California this 13th day of January, 2023.

A group hiked the road to the forest boundary. I was lucky to be there and learn from Bill, the leader and so many others about the soil, plants, and ecology. We observed the Arctostaphylos luciana and A. glandulosa. Also Tanoak, Coulter Pine, Knobcone Pine, and a hybrid of the two! I learned better how to identify the oak named Quercus wislizeni. Join CNPS-SLO and attend the next Manzanita hike for bontanizing, conversation, fresh air, and exercise!

Nobody has posted these on iNaturalist, but Calflora has some observations. Be on the lookout...

Pine Mountain has old growth forest, and is a montane area of botanical interest. Several conifer species grow in the area, as well as other uncommon plants for the county, due to the higher elevation.

While I understand the need for timber, I believe we can achieve this through sustainable tree farms, and not by cutting down old growth forest, and thus destroy a very biodiverse habitat.

Many organizations support ending the plans to log the area, including the SLO CNPS:

https://www.protectpinemountain.org/