ARCHIVED REPORTS_1981 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Vegetation The study area occurs in a region which would naturally support a California valley grassland community if not impacted by modifying forces. The plant community would consist largely of perennial bunchgrasses and annual grass species all of which would be indigenous to the Central Valley. However, such is not the case. At the present time, the site shows definite signs of overgrazing over an extended period of time. Clearly, most native California plant species have been replaced by introduced European species and no native California perennial bunchgrasses were observed during a field inspection. Grasses and forbs are the dominant plant form with a complete absence of shrubs. Only one small cluster of nine black locust trees inhabit the site. Due to the time of year that the field inspection was conducted, not all species inhabiting the site could be identified. However, the following table lists those which were observed: Common Names Black locust GRASSES AND FORBS *Turkey mullein *Fitch's spikeweed *Tarweed *Lambsquarter *Blue curls *Telegraph plant Oats Brome Fescue *Curly dock Botanical Names Robinia pseudoacacia Eremocarpus setigerus Hemizonia fitchii Holocarpha virgata Chenopodium album Trichostema lanceolatum Heterotheca grandiflora Avena spp. Bromus spp. Festuca spp. Rumex crispus *indicates ruderal species not palatable to livestock The rangeland quality of the site is presently relatively poor due to excessive grazing pressure in the past. Years of heavy grazing use have dis- advantaged palatable, nutritious grasses while giving the unpalatable species a competitive advantage. However, the rangeland quality of the site could be improved markedly by proper range management in the future.