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2005 California Desert Exotic Mustard Roadside Survey

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Anza Borrego State Park, areas before the Sahara mustard invasion, sand verbenas on sand dunes above and below, with dune Evening Primroses.

The Sahara mustard attacking in background, catastrophically blanketing the native plant habitat.

Along the Salton Sea, near the juction of S22, solid sahara mustard with scattered dying cresosote bushes

Results of a 70 mph windshield survey (or whatever the local speed limits were), of three exotic Mustards: Either not present; is present along roadsides or in medians; or is outside of the roadside to the fence line or has moved from the roadsides to infest adjacent land.

NS = None Seen. None of the three exotic Mustards of concern were seen along roadside ditches; or if divided highway, also not seen in the roadside median, or in lands adjacent to the road.

RS = Road Sides were infested. MED = In divided highways, in medians.

DES = One or more Exotic Mustards have moved from the roadsides into the desert, agricultural areas, or other lands adjacent to the roadsides. FL = Only found along the highway cyclone-fence line, but is far enough off the roadside to pose an immediate problem for the lands adjacent to the fences. At the time of the survey, did not appear to be moving off the fence line yet.

SPECIES PRESENT:

BT = Brassica tournefortii = Sahara Mustard
SL = Sisymbrium irio = London Rocket
SO = Sisymbrium orientale = Indian Hedge Mustard

PM = Post miles along highways, and numbers indicate the averages found not just at each post mile, but for 1/2 mile on either side of the post mile marker.

(Landmarks and other notes on other exotics or native plants will be in parentheses)

Survey 4/4/2005, may be periodically updated.

(Odometer miles noted because PM markers not seen)

0-1 - DES - BT to the horizon!
1 - DES - BT & SL scattered
2 - DES - BT in creosote, solid
3 - DES - BT rare
4 - NS - Badlands
5 - NS - Tabletop of badlands
6 - DES - BT rare
7 - DES - BT rare, with Schimus
7.4 - Riverside County line, Microwave tower

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Riverside County line, west to junction of Cal. 79

Raw data April 4, 2005, and may be periodically updated.

Starts at Riverside County line (PM 38.9)

38 - DES - BT rare, scattered Hilaria grassland relics
37 - RS - BT rare, badlands
36 - NS - Tabletop of badlands
35 - DES - BT scattered
34 - DES - BT scattered
33 - DES - BT thick, solid on hills
32 - DES - BT solid
31 - DES - BT solid from roadside to dry lake in Clark Valley, 3 miles away
30 - DES - BT solid
29 - DES - BT solid
28 - RS - BT scattered
27 - DES - BT scattered
26 - RS - BT scattered
25 - DES - BT taking over sand verbena areas
24 - DES - BT & SL to the horizon
23 - DES - BT & SL to the horizon
22 - DES - BT & SL scattered - town of Borrego Springs
21 - DES - BT & SL scattered
20 - DES - BT & SL solid
19 - DES - BT scattered - end of town
18 - RS - BT rare
17 - RS - BT & SL rare - upgrade begins
16 - RS - BT & SL
15 - NS - (Encelia)
14 - RS - BT rare
13 - RS - BT scattered
12 - RS - BT thick, solid
11 - DES & RS - BT thick - (Phacelia and red brome starts where Encelia ends)
10 - RS - BT - (becomes rare where foxtails and red brome is thick)
9 - RS - BT & SO
8 - DES - BT thick
7 - RS - SL rare - (scrub oaks begin)
6 - NS - Ranchita, at summit
5 - NS - (carpet of yellow wildflowers)
4 - NS - (Coast Live Oaks & evidence of last year's fire)
3 - NS - (Ripgut grass and lupines start)
2 - NS - (Carpets of goldfields)
1 - RS - SL (first California poppy seen)
0 - RS - SL common

Junction of Cal. Hwy. 79

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