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The Dune Lakes in central coastal California: Why are they dry?
Author(s) -
Kofron Christopher P.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
lakes and reservoirs: research and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.296
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1440-1770
pISSN - 1320-5331
DOI - 10.1111/lre.12261
Subject(s) - threatened species , endangered species , wetland , habitat , arid , thistle , wildlife , ecology , geography , extant taxon , environmental science , biology , evolutionary biology
The Dune Lakes comprise 10 natural lakes in the Callender Dunes in central coastal California, USA. These lakes are wetlands in an arid environment, being important habitat for native wildlife and plants, including three occurrences of the federally endangered/State threatened wetland plant, La Graciosa thistle ( Cirsium scariosum var. loncholepis ; Asteraceae). This plant is known from 21 occurrences, of which only five are extant in 2019. One extant occurrence persists at the lakes and where two other occurrences are likely extirpated. Nine lakes have recently dried, one having been dry for 5 years (2012–2017). Understanding the hydrology of the Dune Lakes is essential for conservation planning and to help prevent extinction of La Graciosa thistle. The best available information points to a combination of two primary causes for drying of the lakes. The first is extensive groundwater extraction beneath Nipomo Mesa to the east. The second is severe drought. The competing demands for water and continued development on the mesa will be obstacles to restoration of the lakes and to recovery of the endangered plant.