Land Management Plan - Part 2 Los Padres National Forest Strategy

September 2005 Land Management Plan Part 2
Los Padres National Forest Strategy
respect: each of these five species (though rare) have geographic distributions that are fairly wide
and consist of relatively isolated,
disjunct populations. In the vernal pools, at least two species of
federally listed fairy shrimp (Conservancy fairy shrimp and vernal pool fairy shrimp) are found.
These vernal pools are unique in that they occur in a montane setting, surrounded
by pine forest,
near the top of a watershed. Odd geologic folding has created the setting
for the vernal pools,
which in some years never fill with water and in others are wet for several consecutive months.
One pool is large enough to be classified as a pond, and it provides habitat for a different suite of
aquatic invertebrates. Natural aquatic habitats (especially vernal pools, ponds, and lakes) are
very rare in the western Transverse Range.
Four types of vegetation are present within a relatively small area: on the Lockwood clay paleyellow
layia (Layia heterotricha) is found; on the margins of the vernal pools is Baja navarretia
(Navarretia peninsularis); on open, buckwheat covered flats is pine-green gentian (Swertia
neglecta); and in the pinyon woodlands, flax-like monardella (Monardella linoides ssp.
oblonga). All of these plants are sensitive. The Lockwood clay soil provides habitat for an
assemblage of plants that is repeated elsewhere, wherever Lockwood clay is found. Lockwood
clay has a limited distribution in the western Transverse Range and in some areas the clay is
mined for use in aggregate. Other plants in this assemblage
include stink bells (Fritillaria
agrestis),
Mt. Pinos onion (Allium howellii var . clokeyi),
and heart-leaf thornmint
(Acanthomintha obovata ssp. cordata). The buckwheat (Eriogonum wrightii ssp. subscaposum)
covered flats appear to have a 'pebble plain' appearance. Odd associates include bitterroot
(Lewisia rediviva) and desert mariposa (Calochortus kennedyi).
The area provides ecologists and biogeographers the opportunity to study ecological relations,
gene flow, population
biology, and migration theory. The Foster Bear Ponds area also
provides
excellent opportunities for guided and self-guided interpretation.
The Foster Bear Ponds is not a well-known location and currently experiences little scientific
attention and little recreation use. The primary recreation use is hunting and dispersed (roadside)
camping. The area is within the Piru Allotment.
Description of area: The Foster Bear Ponds Botanical
Special Interest Area is in a saddle
between the upper headwaters
of Lockwood Creek and Piru Creek near San Guillermo
Mountain.
Access: Interstate 5 to Frazier Mountain Road, west to Lockwood Valley Road, west on
Lockwood Valley Road about 9 miles to Forest Road 7N03 (Grade Valley Road), south on Grade
Valley Road about 1.6 miles.
Desired condition: Habitats
remain largely unaltered and as close
to
natural potential as
possible. Recreation remains
at cu rrent levels or increases five to fifteen
percent, with increased
emphasis on interpreting and appreciating natural history.
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