Reintroduction of Beach Layia (Layia carnosa) at Little River State Beach
Summary
SCH Number
2024050661
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Habitat Conservation Planning
(CDFW)
Document Title
Reintroduction of Beach Layia (Layia carnosa) at Little River State Beach
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/15/2024
Document Description
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is issuing a California Endangered Species Act scientific, educational, or management permit (Permit No. 2081(a)-24-009-RP) pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 2081(a) to California State Parks North Coast Redwoods District for a project to collect beach layia seeds to re-establish a population in the Little River State Beach Habitat Restoration Area. Beach layia seed will be collected by hand between May and July in 2024 from populations at the Samoa airstrip and Mad River County Beach. Seed collection will be limited to no more than an estimated five percent of seeds and no more than 10 percent of plants within each subpopulation. Seeding beach layia in vegetated restored dunes on the north side of Little River State Beach will occur shortly following collection in 2024. Seeding recently restored unvegetated areas to the south will occur in fall 2024. Seed will be sown by hand into multiple 2 meter radius circles at least 10 meters apart within the northern and southern part of the Habitat Restoration Area. Seeding areas will be selected based on suitable habitat criteria including sparse vegetation, open sand, few invasive European beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria) resprouts, and outside of the dune swales. Seed collection and seeding activities as outlined in this permit may be repeated annually for the term of the permit.
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
Location
Counties
Humboldt
Regions
Northern California
Other Location Info
The Reintroduction of Beach Layia (Layia carnosa) at Little River State Beach project (Project) will take place in the coastal dunes between the towns of Samoa and Westhaven in Humboldt County, California. Beach layia seeds will be collected from the Samoa/Eureka subpopulation on a City of Eureka parcel located behind the Samoa airstrip (Samoa 1: 40.78053, -124.21424, and Samoa 2: 40.78260, -124.21562), and from the Mad River County Beach subpopulation (40.92083, -124.135805). The restoration area to be seeded with beach layia is located at Little River State Beach (41.01266, -124.11298). Seeds may be temporarily stored at the California State Parks Mill Creek Nursery (41.73278, -124.09435).
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15306, Class 6
Reasons for Exemption
The Project will facilitate the recovery of the California endangered Layia carnosa by attempting to establish an additional self-sustaining population of the species within its historic range. The permit issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for the Project includes measures to ensure that existing populations of Layia carnosa are not impacted, and that the re-introduced population is adequately protected.
County Clerk
Humboldt
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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