Photo: Eric Zahn
| Lewis’ Evening Primrose (Camissoniopsis lewisii). Los Cerritos Wetlands is home to a handful of plants considered to be “special status” by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. That means they are animals and plants facing significant risks such as habitat loss or decline. Through funding from the Warne Family Endowment Fund, the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust supported the mapping of rare plants throughout the 103.5-acre Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands Restoration Project area. As part of this investigation, three different special status plant species were documented, including an annual wildflower called Lewis’ Evening Primrose (Camissoniopsis lewisii). The small yellow-flowered plant is commonly found in dune habitats, but in the Los Cerritos Wetlands, it covers approximately 3.76 acres on two sandy deposits composed of fill material. This sand likely came from a nearby shoreline dredging project and was placed in the wetlands sometime around the mid-19th century. Dunes are one of the rarest coastal plant communities in southern California, so a plan to conserve this wayward population of Lewis’ Evening Primrose is an important objective for the restoration of Los Cerritos Wetlands. We will keep you updated as we traverse this primrose’s path to conservation. |
| Belding’s Savannah Sparrow One of the wetlands’ most iconic endangered residents is the Belding’s Savannah sparrow, a small songbird found only in coastal marshes of Southern California and northern Baja California. Unlike migratory sparrows, Belding’s Savannah sparrows live year-round in salt marshes and depend heavily on dense pickleweed vegetation for nesting and shelter. Scientists have found that the species is especially vulnerable to habitat fragmentation because isolated marshes often cannot sustain stable populations over time. The Los Cerritos Wetlands provides important nesting habitat for these birds. Current restoration efforts for the wetlands emphasize preserving healthy pickleweed stands, as they are essential to the birds’ survival. Perhaps you might consider celebrating Endangered Species Day by making a contribution to our advocacy and public education efforts to protect and restore Los Cerritos Wetlands. You can donate using Zelle at elizabeth@lcwlandtrust.org. Or make a donation through other means on our website. But more than anything else, we thank you for being part of our effort to improve and restore this rare landscape. No matter how you support us, I am certain we couldn’t do it without you. Sincerely, Elizabeth Lambe Executive Director Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust |