Earlier today, the City of Carlsbad presented the 19th annual report on the Habitat Management Plan at a community meeting. The report highlights the coordinated efforts taken over the last year to protect sensitive plants and wildlife in dedicated open spaces across the city.

Protecting Carlsbad’s natural environment is one of the top goals in the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan. As part of its ongoing commitment to conservation, the city has set aside about 6,200 acres of preserves under its Habitat Management Plan to help native plants and animals thrive. The city works with land management organizations and nonprofit conservancy groups to protect these natural lands in Carlsbad.

To keep habitats healthy, preserve managers spent more time during 2023’s above-average rainy season treating and removing invasive non-native plants. Approximately 20 inches of rain fell during the reporting year, and while rain is a good thing in our arid climate, it can be a double-edged sword when it comes to habitat preservation. For instance, lots of rain can fuel the growth of invasive non-native plants in our natural open spaces, disrupting sensitive ecosystems, increasing wildfire risks and choking out endangered plants and animals.

About the plan
The City of Carlsbad is the only city in North San Diego County with an approved Habitat Management Plan. The plan was created to guide sustainable development, conserve native habitat, allow for wildlife movement and permanently protect 47 rare plant and animal species within the city.

Since the plan was adopted in 2004, 6,208 acres of natural land have been preserved as habitat for plants and wildlife, never to be developed. The goal is to preserve 6,478 acres of natural open space after all development in the city has occurred. So far, the city has achieved 96% of that target.

Under the plan, large habitat areas are connected by wildlife movement corridors that help preserve a healthy ecosystem. Before Carlsbad’s plan was adopted, habitat areas in the city were set aside on a project-by-project basis without a coordinated, big-picture approach.

The city’s preserves include wetland habitats, such as aquatic marsh and willow scrub, and various upland habitat types, such as coastal sage scrub, native grasslands and oak woodlands.

To learn more about the city’s preserve system and the work being done to protect and preserve native habitats, visit the Habitat Management Plan web page and sign up for environmental sustainability email updates.

Removing invasive non-native species
Invasive non-native species can be pretty – some wildflowers fall into that category – but don’t let their looks fool you.

Two invasive non-native plants that grow in our area are fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), below left, and artichoke thistle (Cynara cardunculus), right. Fennel is a noxious weed that actually changes the composition of the soil, making it harder for native plants to grow. Artichoke thistle can grow up to five feet tall with dozens of flowers that contain up to 200 seeds each and can be spread by wind, insects or animals.

Last year, these invasive non-native species were targeted through new projects at two local preserves:

• The Rancho Carrillo Master Association Preserve, near Melrose Drive and Poinsettia Lane, where artichoke thistle and fennel were encroaching on two threatened and endangered species, the native San Diego thornmint (Acanthomintha ilicifolia) and the thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia). Because thornmint is so small, crews had to hand-clip weeds in that area. They also used rakes and a mechanical tool known as a tri-blade to remove invasive non-native plants near the brodiaea.
• The Ranch Preserve in southeast Carlsbad, where a patch of native grassland was being threatened by artichoke thistle, fennel, shortpod mustard and black mustard. Protecting native grasslands is particularly important because they help remove carbon from the atmosphere, provide soil stability, capture and filter water and prevent erosion. The invasive non-native species were removed with mechanical tools and rakes.

Native species: Thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia), left, and San Diego thornmint (Acanthomintha ilicifolia), right.

The Habitat Management Plan annual report also highlighted other important conservation work completed over the past year, including:

• Focused monitoring efforts of 11 rare plants and nine animals, almost all of which are state or federally threatened or endangered
• Patrolling, monitoring and treating invasive species across approximately 4,300 acres, representing 70% of the preserve system
• Efforts to prevent unauthorized access to preserve areas, including trespassing and illegal or unauthorized activities like dumping, vandalism and graffiti
• Monitoring wildlife movement, including at the Village H South property
• Mapping native habitats
• Repairing and replacing damaged signage and fencing
• Installing measures to control and repair erosion
• Working with volunteers to educate and engage the community in habitat preservation

“Invasive, non-native species are one of the greatest threats to our habitat preserves. Non-native plants can smother out native flora, making the habitat a less inviting space for native plants, pollinating insects and wildlife. And as they dry up in the summer, non-native plants can provide flammable fuel for wildfire,” said Rosanne Humphrey, a senior program manager for the city who oversees Carlsbad’s Habitat Management Plan. “We are all working together as a first line of defense to create a healthy, fire-safe ecosystem into the future.”

More information
Rosanne Humphrey, Senior Program Manager, rosanne.humphrey@carlsbadca.gov
Habitat Management Plan Annual Report
Habitat Management Plan annual meeting
Habitat Management web page
Habitat Management Plan