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Birds | Plant Communities Upland Plant Communities
Pampas Grass
When discussing plants, we often speak in terms of plant communities. A plant community is a group of plants typically found together and dominated by key species. There are five upland plant communities at Batiquitos Lagoon:
ScrubThe scrub plant community grows in dry conditions and can be found on the dry slopes above beaches and lagoons. Because it is adapted to dry conditions, the plants in this community often are either woody or succulent. At Batiquitos Lagoon, much of the scrub community has reestablished after historical disturbances ended. The community can be found in a line from La Costa Avenue to the north, bordering the wetlands of the eastern lagoon basin. The scrub community is dominated by California sagebrush, flat-top buckwheat, and laurel sumac. High-quality scrub can be found on the north side of the central basin, as well as south of La Costa on the bluffs. These areas support native succulent plants, such as lady fingers, lance-leaf dudleya, and sea dahlia, as well as native woody plants, such as coast cholla and coastal prickly pear. Some upland areas, particularly along the northeastern boundaries of the eastern basin, have been invaded by nonnative and horticultural plants. These weedy species include pampas grass, fan palm, and giant cane. As these species expand, they compete with native plants for nutrients and moisture. Weedy species usually require aggressive eradication efforts to keep them under control. 
Juncus
GrasslandThe grassland plant community contains mostly nonnative plants. This community has colonized several locations on the heavily disturbed upland borders of the Batiquitos Lagoon wetlands. Eurasian grasses, such as wild oats, and weedy herbs, such as filaree, dominate the grassland community. Willow RiparianThe willow riparian plant community is found along bodies of fresh water and is made up mostly of willows. In Batiquitos Lagoon, arroyo willow and Goodding's willow dominate the willow riparian community. Other plants in this community include salty Susan, saltgrass, cattails, bulrushes, and umbrellas sedges. Willow riparian habitat is an important habitat type along Encinitas Creek in the east basin. Willows are not particularly tolerant of high salinity levels, and as the lagoon returns to a more salt water environment, willows are expected to die back. Some isolated willows along the lagoon fringe already are dying where tidal influence has significantly increased the salinity of the water. Willows still grow next to La Costa Avenue, along the middle of the southern shore of the eastern basin. Runoff and natural seepage from the steep hillsides to the south feed this willow riparian community. Other small areas of willow can be found in the extreme northeastern corner of the lagoon, next to El Camino Real. Unvegetated Sand FlatFive unvegetated sand flats were created to provide nesting sites for two special-status species: the California least tern , which is on both the federal and state endangered species lists, and the western snowy plover, which is on the federal threatened species list. These sand flats are kept clear of vegetation to maintain suitable nesting conditions. Along the fringe of the sand flats are native plants, such as sea rocket and telegraph weed, commonly associated with back dune habitat, as well as nonnative upland species, such as horseweed. The easternmost portion of the island colony (E-3) in the eastern basin is noticeably weedier than the sandy peninsulas farther west. 
W-2 Nesting Site
Saline MeadowThe saline meadow plant community is located at the northern border of the eastern basin and is made up of a mix of plants that is hard to classify: the mix exhibits traits of both upland and wetland plant communities. Saline meadow plants are tolerant of salt water and are dominated by native coast goldenbush, wild radish, pickleweed, and glasswort. Also represented in this mix are nonnative Eurasian grasses, cocklebur, and marsh fleabane. The saline meadow represents the transition from a salt marsh community to an upland community. As conditions continue to stabilize in the eastern basin, sandy hummocks a few feet above the surrounding marshland are expected to be colonized by coast goldenbush. 
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