Goats impacting area immediately NE of arrow. Not pictured below, illegal cattle trespass also occurring on Tolowa Dunes State Park, all within USFWS recovery area for the threatened Oregon silverspot butterfly.
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Close up of trampled Eriogonum latifolium--Coast Buckwheat Native dune plant that is being heavily impacted by goat grazing on the Lake Earl Peninsula. Some plants appear to be pulled up from their roots by grazing animals.
Page 66 of the Lake Earl Management Plan: "The lands north and east of the area headquarters on Old Mill Road are allocated for non-consumptive and natural history interpretive uses. Hiking and riding trails are planned."
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Goat hoof tracks cover dunes after native vegetation is heavily grazed. Page 70 of the Lake Earl Management Plan: "d. Scientific and Education Use - 1,000 User Days Scientific studies by competent investigators will be encouraged as long as such studies do not adversely impact biological resources. Proposed uses of the area for scientific purposes must be approved by the area manager and they must be in compliance with Fish and Game Code and Title 14 regulations. Educational use will also be encouraged..."
2 of 2 Photos of currently occurring goat grazing impacts on dune and wetland vegetation on the "peninsula area" of the Lake Earl Wildlife Area Most photos below taken on 1-13-08.
Page 68 of the Lake Earl Management Plan: "The area north and east of the area headquarters encompassing about 300 acres will be devoted primarily to non-consumptive uses compatible with natural resource protection. Two riding and hiking trails will be constructed...Numbered markers will be placed along the trail to correspond with numbered sections in handout material which will discuss habitat/wildlife associations. Interpretive group tours will be offered by prior arrangement with the area manager or interpretive specialist."
Lake Earl Mgt. Plan Page 40: "The emergent bulrushes and cattails at various locations along the shoreline created habitat suitable for rails and bitterns. This vegetation is also important for nesting grebes and some passerine birds...Since the land has been under DFG management efforts have been made to restore these wetlands by construction of low dikes and water control structures designed to slow drainage and store water run-off."
Stripped stems of Oregon Grape and heavily grazed Polygonum paronychia (Beach Knotweed) showing the remaining lower red stems at the base of the plant.
As written in the USFWS 2001 revised recovery plan for the Oregon silverspot butterfly "The Nature Conservancy recommends that at least five different species of native nectar plants be maintained at a density of no fewer than five flowering stems per square meter (square yard) in habitat areas (D. Pickering, The Nature Conservancy, pers. comm. 2001).
Site managers should ensure that each habitat area maintains nectar sources in flower throughout the entire flight period of the Oregon silverspot butterfly."
