COMMISSION
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from Twin Cities District, Gold Fields District, and<br />
the Natural Resources Division assessed 22 plots<br />
within the 176-acre burn site. Eleven plots were<br />
selected in upland grassland areas and 11 were<br />
selected in vernal pools. Data were collected on<br />
vegetative cover (percent of total) for each species<br />
identified within a plot.<br />
Monitoring of the prescribed burn indicates<br />
some goals were met and others not. Native<br />
species richness has not increased; however,<br />
Prescribed burn on vernal pool grasslands<br />
the dominance of invasive species has declined and the survey plots are indicating a more<br />
even distribution of plant species, both native and nonnative to the grasslands of California.<br />
These results are promising and monitoring will continue at Prairie City SVRA to help<br />
determine a proper frequency for further prescribed burns or whether management should<br />
be shifted to another method for invasive species control in the vernal pool grasslands.<br />
Storm Water Management and Restoration<br />
Storm water management and restoration are key components of the natural resource<br />
program at Prairie City SVRA. Due to the vegetation removal and mechanical erosion that<br />
occurs with the spinning wheels of motorized vehicles, establishing programs to achieve<br />
both erosion control and sediment control are vital to stay in compliance with water quality<br />
standards. The Division updated the Soil Conservation Standard and Guidelines in 2008 to<br />
address the issue and have a framework for management.<br />
Restoration and rehabilitation efforts are<br />
one component of increasing vegetative<br />
cover and limiting the presence of erodible<br />
soils. Recontouring of areas that are prone<br />
to rutting and gully erosion are prioritized on<br />
the maintenance schedule, and seeding both<br />
with a hydroseeder and through broadcast<br />
methods is conducted throughout the winter<br />
rainy season.<br />
For sediment control, rip-rap channels and energy dissipaters are used throughout the<br />
park to slow the rate of high volume water flows, catch sediment, and limit erosion. Burlapwrapped<br />
straw wattles and silt fence can be seen in specific areas to help contain and filter.<br />
2017 Program Report 157
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