Guide to Visiting California's Grasslands
California's native grasslands are incredibly diverse and biologically important ecosystems. Yet grasslands remain one of the most under-protected of California's vegetation types, and native grasslands have undergone the greatest percentage loss of any habitat type in the state--including much-publicized losses in wetland and riparian systems.
The individual profiles in this Guide to Visiting California's Grasslands are written to open the readers' eyes to the diversity and natural beauty of native grasslands, to provide specific information about each site's ecology and management, and to make it possible for you to visit native grasses in the ground.
All of the locations included are publicly accessible grasslands. The profiles will tell you how to reach the site, best times to visit, what to look for, and where you may find similar sites. You are encouraged to print the profile and take it with you when you visit.
- Alkali Sacaton Grassland--San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Kesterson Unit*
- Coastal Grassland--Tilden and Wildcat Canyon Regional Parks*
- Inner Coast Range Prarie--Bear Creek Botanical Management Area
- Native Dune Grasslands--Asilomar State Beach
- Purple Needlegrass Grassland--Lake Chabot Regional Park, Fairmont Ridge*
- Purple Needlegrass Grassland--Pacheco State Park, Pig Pond*
- Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve--Southwestern Riverside County*
- Serpentine Grassland--Redwood Regional Park, Skyline Serpentine Prairie*
- Tufted Hairgrass Grassland--Point Reyes National Seashore, "F" Ranch*
- Vernal Pool Grassland--Pixley Vernal Pools Preserve*
- Wagon Creek Research Natural Area--Los Padres National Forest
* elements developed with the assistance of a LEGACI Grant from the Great Valley Center
