White Sedge (Carex albida) Seed Collection, Propagation, and Outplanting
Summary
SCH Number
2024080222
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Habitat Conservation Planning
(CDFW)
Document Title
White Sedge (Carex albida) Seed Collection, Propagation, and Outplanting
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/6/2024
Document Description
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is issuing a California Endangered Species Act and Native Plant Protection Act permit pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 2081(a) to Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation (Permit No. 2081(a)-24-011-RP)) for a project to collect, propagate, and outplant white sedge (Carex albida) to expand the declining population at Lower Pitkin Marsh. In late summer of 2024 and 2025, seed will be collected from the West and North subpopulations within Lower Pitkin Marsh. Donor seed or vegetative propagules previously collected from Lower Pitkin Marsh may also be obtained from seed banks or botanical garden living collections to be used for population expansion activities. Seed collected in 2024 will be propagated in the Laguna Foundation native plant nursery in the fall/winter of 2024/2025 or early spring 2025. Plants will be upsized into containers in the spring of 2025 prior to outplanting at Lower Pitkin Marsh receiver sites. Seed collected in 2025 will be propagated and outplanted in the spring of 2026. White sedge seed may also be amplified to provide material for broadcast seeding in Lower Pitkin Marsh receiver sites. Outplanting sites within Lower Pitkin Marsh will have geographic proximity to and/or similar wetland habitat conditions as historical locations and will include the East and North subpopulation, where the species previously occurred but is presumed extirpated. Non-native grasses and thatch will be manually removed prior to outplanting during white sedge’s dormancy period to avoid disturbance. Donor and receiver sites will be monitored for three years. White sedge distribution will be mapped, and population numbers will be counted or estimated annually each spring.
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
Ayla Mills
Agency Name
Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation
Job Title
Native Plant Nursery Program Manager
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Location
Counties
Sonoma
Regions
Countywide
Other Location Info
The Project will take place within Lower Pitkin Marsh (38.45546, -122.86976), a preserve owned by the Sonoma Land Trust in Sonoma County, California. Seed propagation will take place at the Laguna Foundation native plant nursery located at 900 Sanford Road, Santa Rosa, California (38.42620, -122.82075).
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15306 and 15307, Classes 6 and 7
Reasons for Exemption
The Project consists of basic data collection and management activities to aid recovery efforts of white sedge. The permit issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for the Project includes measures to ensure that existing populations of white sedge are adequately protected.
County Clerk
Sonoma
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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