Assessing Impacts of Drought and Woody Debris on North Coast Semaphore Grass (Pleuropogon hooverianus)
Summary
SCH Number
2023120500
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Habitat Conservation Planning
(CDFW)
Document Title
Assessing Impacts of Drought and Woody Debris on North Coast Semaphore Grass (Pleuropogon hooverianus)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/18/2023
Document Description
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is issuing a California Endangered Species Act (CESA) permit to Dr. Justin Luong (Permit No. 2081(a)-23-018-RP) pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 2081(a) for a project to investigate how North Coast semaphore grass responds to drought with and without the presence of woody debris in a controlled greenhouse experiment to inform adaptive management strategies and aid recovery efforts. Seeds collected on June 7, 2023, by Mendocino County Resource Conservation District (MCRCD) under authority of CESA permit 2081(a)-19-006-RP will be transferred to the Permittee in December 2023. Seeds will be germinated in trays with potting mix and transferred to four-liter containers once established. A total of 32 containers are expected to be propagated for the experiment. The following simulated treatments will be applied four weeks after an initial growth period: (1) control; (2) drought only; (3) woody debris only; and (4) woody debris and drought. Plants receiving the drought treatment will experience a sequence of episodic drought for four weeks, followed by watering for two weeks, followed by drought conditions for another four weeks before final data collection. Wooden dowels will be added to the soil surface of plants receiving the woody debris treatments to better understand impacts of mimicked woody debris on soil moisture and development of North Coast semaphore grass. Following the experiment, two individuals from each treatment will be harvested and sampled for leaf traits (mass and area). Aboveground biomass will be oven dried and measured for total mass. Belowground roots will be washed, oven dried, and measured for total mass. Seed production, survival, weekly soil moisture, and morphological trait data (e.g., plant height, basal circumference, leaf area, and leaf dry matter content) will also be recorded. Following the greenhouse experiment, seeds will be collected and returned to MCRCD in 2024 to be broadcast at the site from which they were collected.
Contact Information
Name
Joanne Heraty
Agency Name
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Habitat Conservation Planning Branch
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist- Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Name
Dr. Justin Luong
Agency Name
California Polytechnic State University, Humboldt
Job Title
Assistant Professor of Rangeland Management
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Address
Phone
Location
Cities
Arcata
Counties
Humboldt
Regions
Northern California
Other Location Info
The Project will take place at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt greenhouse facilities in Humboldt County, California
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Sections 15306 and 15307, Classes 6 and 7
Reasons for Exemption
The Project consists of basic data collection and research activities to inform adaptive management strategies and aid recovery efforts of Pleuropogon hooverianus. The permit issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for the Project includes measures to ensure that existing populations of Pleuropogon hooverianus are not impacted.
County Clerk
Humboldt
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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