West Mojave Plan FEIR/S - Desert Managers Group

considerable importance to the botanical history of the western Mojave Desert.Regulatory Status. No special status.Threats Affecting the Parish’s Alkali Grass: Anything that lowers the water table atthe springs will likely result in the destruction of the only known California population of thisspecies, as this plant is absolutely dependent upon continued surface flows for its existence.Grazing, and potential road maintenance or widening threatens the small population.3.3.8.14 Parish’s PhaceliaLife History: Parish's phacelia is found on alkaline flats, that is, playas and dry lakebeds.It is most common on the silty and clayey soils of the lowest portion of the dry lakebeds south ofFort Irwin.Population Status in the Planning Area: This species has a large population inCalifornia, disjunct from its primary range in Nevada. It occurs on the series of unnamed drylakes (playas) south of Fort Irwin between the Manix tank trail and Coyote Dry Lake.Regulatory Status: No special status.Threats Affecting the Parish’s Phacelia: No threats have been identified, but vehicleactivity, including military vehicles, could be a major impact to the population. Surfacedisturbance on the private lands could eliminate the plants in those locations. The likelihood ofdevelopment of these lands is very low. Because there are only one or two known occurrences inCalifornia, it may be at risk of stochastic or catastrophic extinction.3.3.8.15 Parish’s Popcorn FlowerLife History: Parish’s popcorn flower is a distinctive member of a large genus of annualwildflowers, many of which are found in wetlands. This species is a wetland obligate.Population Status in the Planning Area: A single site at Rabbit Springs in LucerneValley supports this species, which emerges and flowers every year because of the reliability ofthe groundwater at this alkali seep. The only other recent records of this plant in California arefrom freshwater springs at the edge of Owens Lake in Inyo County.Regulatory Status: BLM Sensitive.Threats Affecting the Parish’s Popcorn Flower: No current threats. Groundwaterpumping has been reported as a potential threat. Because the single location is so small, evenminor disturbances to the seep habitat could significantly affect the population.Chapter 3 3-192