Invasive Species Control for Nipomo Mesa Lupine

Invasive Species Control for Nipomo Mesa Lupine

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is issuing a permit to The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County [Permit No. 2081(a)-21-003-RP] pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 2081(a) for a project to control invasive species to promote native plant recruitment and Nipomo Mesa lupine recovery. Project activities include conducting surveys of the Nipomo Mesa lupine (Lupinus nipomensis) population, applying herbicides to non-native species infestations, and hand-weeding using hand tools. Nipomo Mesa lupine surveys will be conducted prior to and during all weed control activities on-site, and Nipomo Mesa lupine locations will be visually demarcated. A buffer zone of no less than 15 feet (but typically 25 feet) will be established around Nipomo Mesa lupine plants, and only hand-weeding using hand tools such as shovels will be performed in each buffer zone. Outside of the buffer zones, Permittee will apply herbicides with backpack sprayers and truck mounted skid sprayers. The application approach will utilize selective grass-specific herbicides to treat dense infestations of nonnative grass species. Spot spraying broad-spectrum herbicides on non-native broad-leaf species will only be used when collateral native species damage can be avoided. Invasive species will be treated multiple times each season, between November and April. A Nipomo Mesa lupine survey will be performed at the end of each treatment season for the duration of the project that documents the number of plants found, the geographic location of each plant, the status of each plant (i.e., dead, gone, set seed, or flowering). If a plant is noted as dead or gone, Permittee will record any indications of the causes of the plant death or disappearance.

San Luis Obispo

San Francisco Bay Area