A Living Laboratory

The living laboratory of Catalina enables the Conservancy to test different conservation methodologies, trying several treatments to discover which techniques are most appropriate on the landscape. We learn invaluable data from each project to enhance our future impact. Recently, the organization followed up on recent endeavors to analyze ways the Conservancy can adapt future conservation projects for greater success.

Plantings at Little Harbor Overlook and Campground highlighted the importance of determining appropriate locations for restoration projects. Island scrub oaks (Quercus pacifica) on the overlook did not meet with success. The further that campground plantings were from the ocean, the better they generally fared possibly due to factors such as drainage and sun protection. Little Harbor Campground oaks survived at a rate of more than 20 percent. The Conservancy is engaging with earth science consultants LandIQ to determine future planting locations at a landscape level.

Plant Program Lead Technician Rachel Boyce noted that leaving Tuley tubes, plastic sleeves that protect plant development, on the oaks hindered their growth after two years. The team recently removed the tubes and replaced more than 40 with cages that allow them room to grow. “With more than 42,000 acres to manage, it is difficult for a small team to keep up with ongoing maintenance. This project highlighted how important it is to continually support plants until they are established.”

Conservationists followed up with more oaks planted in Bulrush watershed in May 2021 using three methods of planting at four different sites. Bare planting, providing the least amount of support, did not result in healthy seedlings. Tuley tubes helped plants fare marginally better with single digit success rates. The Conservancy utilized Waterboxxes for the first time to provide additional support to the seedlings and noted a significantly higher, nearly 28 percent, average success rate.

“This shows that Waterboxxes could be a great strategy for areas on the Island that are relatively inaccessible,” said Acting Conservation Director Lauren Dennhardt Ph.D. “We dug up the Waterboxxes of the unsuccessful oaks and are using them for the Catalina nightshade (Solanum wallacei), so are already applying methodology that we learned to other projects.”

We look forward to applying information provided by these projects in restoration moving forward.