Habitat Areas
The Plan identifies eight distinct habitats on the Foothills and gives special attention to the ways in which organisms survive by interacting with each other. Each habitat on San Marcos Foothills has its own botanical, animal, and functional attributes. The habitat reflects the underlying features—the soils, vegetation, subsurface geology, hydrology, aspect, and slope.

Through more than 70 field visits, we have built upon existing knowledge and added to the knowledge base in critical areas such as distribution of birds and presence of wetlands.

The property includes all of the typical foothills habitats:

• Willow Riparian: 1.1 acres
• Oak Riparian: 41.6 acres
• Chaparral: 33.2 acres
• Grasslands: 204.6 acres
• Oak Savannah: 31.6 acres
• Oak Woodland: 2.0 acres
• Coastal Sage Scrub: 46.5 acres
• Wetlands: 51.8 acres

For descriptions of each of these habitats see the San Marcos Foothills Stewardship Plan, Natural Resources Section, Part III.

Stewardship
Four guiding principles underlie the Goals and Policies that comprise the Stewardship section of the Plan. They are:

• Share this valuable property with the public in ways that are consistent with long-term protection of scenic and natural resources.
• Manage the resources in a manner that facilitates the self-sustaining processes of the land.
• Support these processes without placing unreasonable burdens or costs on adjacent or downstream landowners.
• Restore and sustain the property’s natural resources incorporating the best science available.

The Plan employs Goals and Policies to express a vision of stewardship and as a guide to future action. Action Opportunities are also identified. A summary of the Policies follows.

Ecosystem and Resource Management

1. General Resource Management. Preserve, protect, and enhance natural diversity and communities associated with each habitat. Manage water resources and activities to support all communities.
   
   
2. Ecosystem and Restoration. To maintain bio-complexity, protect sensitive junctions of habitats, and improve ecological linkages and corridors that connect the site to other areas. Recover significant populations and reintroduce plants and animals historically present, including those important to Chumash culture.

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