Indian Knob Mountainbalm (Eriodictyon altissimum) Conservation Seed Banking
Summary
SCH Number
2025030050
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Habitat Conservation Planning
(CDFW)
Document Title
Indian Knob Mountainbalm (Eriodictyon altissimum) Conservation Seed Banking
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/3/2025
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 the California Native Plant Society (Permit No. 2081(a)-25-001-RP) for a project to collect Indian Knob mountainbalm seed and voucher specimens for conservation seed banking and research purposes. Project activities are expected to begin in the spring of 2025 and continue through 2027. Seed collection will target Indian Knob mountainbalm populations that have a minimum of 50 individuals when possible. The goal is to collect up to 3,000 viable seeds with no more than ten percent of the total seed produced to be collected within any given year. Each maternal plant's seeds will be collected and stored separately to maintain genetic lineages. For smaller populations with fewer than 100 individuals, methods will be adjusted to collect up to ten percent of seeds from each reproductive individual, and to implement multi-year collection strategies to build adequate samples while minimizing impact on the population. One voucher specimen will be collected from each collection site to be deposited at a Consortium of California Herbaria institution. Collected seed will be transferred to California Botanic Garden for long term conservation storage and backup samples will be sent to the National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation. Population data including mapping, monitoring, and photographic documentation will be submitted to CNDDB.
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
Kristen Nelson
Agency Name
California Native Plant Society
Job Title
Rare Plant Program Manager
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Humboldt, Los Angeles
Regions
Countywide
Other Location Info
The Project will take place at six Indian Knob mountainbalm locations in San Luis Obispo County: (1) Morro Dunes Ecological Reserve (California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) Element Occurrences 1 and 6); (2) Montaña de Oro State Park (CNDDB Element Occurrences 2 and 3); (3) Balm Ridge (CNDDB Element Occurrence 5); and (4) Davenport Creek Road (CNDDB Element Occurrence 5). Collected seed will be stored at California Botanic Garden (34.11078, -117.71513) in Claremont, Los Angeles County, and at the National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation (40.57301, -105.07964) in Fort Collins, Colorado.
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 consists of basic research and data collection activities to assist conservation efforts of Indian Knob mountainbalm. The permit issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for the Project includes measures to ensure that existing populations of Indian Knob mountainbalm are adequately protected.
County Clerks
Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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