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By: Anna Luo
What are the names of the plants and weeds that populate San Diego? If shown a picture, most people wouldn’t know the names of the species they see on a daily basis, much less realize how many of them are in danger.
Therefore, the AAPASD Student Leadership Club has come together with the Friends of Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve (FLPCP) organization to give students the opportunity to learn more about and help restore habitats in the Black Mountain Open Space Park!
A main goal of the restoration project is to rebuild coastal sage scrub habitats, which is home to a variety of endangered species and used to be very common in San Diego. However, due to various reasons, coastal sage scrub habitats are now extremely rare.
Outside of the restoration site, SLC members met one of the volunteers leading the restoration project. As they walked through the park, students learned about the history of Black Mountain. In fact, the original Rancho de los Peñasquitos was the first Mexican land grant in California, granted in 1823. Until 1962 when it was sold, the land was primarily used for cattle grazing and agriculture, which destroyed a variety of native vegetation and damaged the soil.
Baccharis, a type of shrub native to San Diego and pictured to the right, was one such plant that they saw along the way.
Upon reaching the restoration site, volunteers discussed the afternoon’s goals. Cattle grazing and plowing as recent as the 2000’s had destroyed the soil structure and killed the native grass or shrubs. As of now, there are approximately 2,000 acres of weeds, and this restoration event is the seventh in a series of projects aimed to help restore the land. Thus, one of the major goals would be weeding. Members were introduced to the weeds they would be seeing, such as artichoke thistle, black mustard, and wild oat plants.
Additionally, the group was introduced to prickly pear cacti. Cochineals, a type of insect which live on cacti to feed on moisture and nutrients, are a main source of red dye. The acid in their guts are commonly used in textiles, cosmetics, and a variety of foods. All the volunteers were then given a demonstration on how the red dye was produced, and were able to take a close look at the cochineals.
Finally, volunteers learned about the animals they may see around the site. Coastal cactus wren, a species only found in Southern California, are often found near the prickly pear cacti as they require healthy cacti for nesting. However, due to the deterioration of their habitat, their population is dwindling, a fact that has only been exacerbated by fires near Black Mountain. Similarly, California gnatcatchers also call Black Mountain their home, but are federally threatened and designated as a Bird Species of Special Concern by California. Other animals such as the orange throated whiptail lizard, black tailed jackrabbits, cottontail rabbits, and roadrunners, are all common in the area, though many of their populations are suffering.
Through replanting native vegetation, the volunteers aim to prevent extinction and strengthen the population of native plants and animals.
Over the course of the afternoon, volunteers dispersed to apply the knowledge they had gained.
Some began planting the new prickly pear cacti, and were able to check on the cacti they had planted in August.
Volunteers also planted California sagebrush, a shrub that serves as a nesting habitat for many birds. One of which is the aforementioned California gnatcatcher!
Additionally, using plant protectors they constructed themselves, volunteers placed them around each plant. These prevent damage from the sun’s UV rays, along with protecting against animals.
Finally, volunteers ended the afternoon by learning how to identify different types of weeds, and which tools to use for each. For instance, the flowers on weeds were collected separately to prevent regrowing. Certain types of weeds could be removed just by pulling at the plant, and others required garden hoes.
Overall, volunteers were able to leave the restoration site feeling accomplished with their contributions, and proud of having learned something new. Next month, volunteers will be able to revisit the species they planted and learn more about the park.
Interested in joining or helping out your local community? Find out how you can contribute by visiting https://www.penasquitos.org/ and https://www.studentleadershipclub.org/home!
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