Lot 117

16 acres, Altos de Monterey hillside

Natives

Species are presented in order of most important to least important as a significant habitat or food for wildlife.

Greyed out entries are chaparral native candidates considered for inclusion.

Entries beginning with * are from chaparral-adjacent ecosystems (eg. savannah, coastal).

Plants

Rank	Scientific Name	Common Name	Classification	Width	Height
1	Quercus agrifolia	Coast Live Oak	tree	60	40
2	Quercus chrysolepis	Canyon Live Oak	tree	50	50
3	Pseudotsuga macrocarpa	Bigcone Douglas-Fir	tree	30	80
4	Quercus engelmannii	Engelmann Oak	tree	60	40
5	Quercus douglasii	Blue Oak	tree	60	50
6	Juglans californica	California Black Walnut	tree	40	40
7	*Quercus lobata	Valley Oak	tree	60	70
8	Pinus radiata	Monterey Pine	tree	40	80
9	Platanus racemosa	California Sycamore	tree	50	100
10	Populus fremontii	Fremont Cottonwood	tree	40	60
11	Adenostoma fasciculatum	Chamise	shrub	8	8
12	Salvia mellifera	Black Sage	perennial herb, subshrub	6	6
13	Arctostaphylos glauca	Bigberry Manzanita	shrub	15	20
14	Ceanothus spp.	California Lilac	shrub	10	15
15	Cercis occidentalis	Western Redbud	tree	20	20
16	Heteromeles arbutifolia	California Holly, Toyon	shrub, tree	15	20
17	Rhamnus californica	California Coffeeberry	shrub, tree	10	15
18	Rhus ovata	Sugar Bush	shrub, tree	15	15
19	Prunus ilicifolia	Hollyleaf Cherry	shrub, tree	20	20
20	Artemisia californica	California Sagebrush	perennial herb, subshrub	8	5
21	Salvia apiana	White Sage	perennial herb, subshrub	6	6
22	Nicotiana attenuata	Ladies' Tobacco	perennial herb	3	3
23	Ericameria ericoides	California Goldenbush	shrub	6	4
24	Eriogonum fasciculatum	California Buckwheat	shrub	4	3
25	Stipa pulchra	Purple Needlegrass	grass	3	3
26	Dendromecon rigida	Bush Poppy	shrub	8	8
27	Sambucus nigra subsp. caerulea	Blue Elderberry	tree	20	30
28	Romneya coulteri	Matilija Poppy	shrub	8	8
29	Vitis californica	California Wild Grape	vine	20	20
30	Amorpha fruticosa	Desert False Indigo	shrub	10	10
31	Baccharis pilularis	Coyote Brush	shrub	6	6
32	Artemisia tridentata	Big Sagebrush	shrub	8	8
33	Linum lewisii	Blue Flax	perennial herb	2	3
34	Toxicodendron diversilobum	Pacific Poison Oak	shrub	6	6
35	Epilobium canum	California Fuchsia	perennial herb, subshrub	3	3
36	Rhamnus ilicifolia	Hollyleaf Redberry	shrub	8	10
37	Eriophyllum confertiflorum	Golden Yarrow	perennial herb, subshrub	3	2
38	Croton setiger	Dove Weed	annual herb	3	2
39	Helianthus annuus	Common Sunflower	annual herb	3	6

Animals

Rank	Scientific Name	Common Name	Classification
1	Canis latrans	Coyote	mammal
2	Puma concolor	Mountain Lion	mammal
3	Bubo virginianus	Great Horned Owl	bird
4	Tyto alba	Barn Owl	bird
5	Megascops kennicottii	Western Screech-Owl	bird
6	Crotalus oreganus	Western Rattlesnake	reptile
7	Corvus corax	Common Raven	bird
8	Otospermophilus beecheyi	California Ground Squirrel	mammal
9	Sciurus griseus	Western Gray Squirrel	mammal
10	Thomomys bottae	Botta's Pocket Gopher	mammal
11	Mephitis mephitis	Striped Skunk	mammal
12	Procyon lotor	Northern Raccoon	mammal
13	Calypte anna	Anna's Hummingbird	bird
14	Chamaea fasciata	Wrentit	bird
15	Odocoileus hemionus	Mule Deer	mammal
16	Sialia mexicana	Western Bluebird	bird
17	Callipepla californica	California Quail	bird
18	Sylvilagus bachmani	Brush Rabbit	mammal
19	Lynx rufus	Bobcat	mammal
20	Sceloporus occidentalis	Western Fence Lizard	reptile
21	Elgaria multicarinata	Southern Alligator Lizard	reptile
22	Latrodectus hesperus	Western Black Widow Spider	insect
23	Aptostichus spp.	California Trapdoor Spider	insect
24	Hogna carolinensis	California Wolf Spider	insect
25	Araneus spp.	Orb Weaver Spider	insect
26	Phidippus spp.	Jumping Spider	insect
27	Adelpha californica	California Sister Butterfly	insect
28	Nymphalis antiopa	Mourning Cloak Butterfly	insect
29	Pogonomyrmex spp.	Harvester Ant	insect
30	Stenopelmatus spp.	Jerusalem Cricket	insect

Invasives

Presented in order of most invasive to least.

Greyed out entries have been eradicated fully.

Plants

Rank	Scientific Name	Common Name	Classification	Width	Height
1	Ailanthus altissima	Tree of Heaven	tree	80	50
2	Schinus terebinthifolius	Brazilian Pepper Tree	tree	40	30
3	Schinus molle	California Pepper Tree	tree	50	25
4	Washingtonia robusta	Mexican Fan Palm	tree	15	70
5	Ulmus parvifolia	Chinese Elm	tree	60	40
6	Fraxinus uhdei	Tropical Ash	tree	60	40
7	Ricinus communis	Castor Bean	shrub	12	6
8	Spartium junceum	Spanish Broom	shrub	10	6
9	Vinca major	Greater Periwinkle	perennial herb, vine	1	0.5
10	Oxalis pes-caprae	Bermuda Buttercup	perennial herb	1	0.5
11	Carduus pycnocephalus	Italian Thistle	annual herb	5	2
12	Helminthotheca echioides	Bristly Oxtongue	annual herb	4	2
13	Kali tragus	Russian Thistle	annual herb	5	2
14	Nicotiana glauca	Tree Tobacco	shrub, tree	20	10
15	Sonchus oleraceus	Common Sowthistle	annual herb	4	1
16	Lactuca serriola	Prickly Lettuce	annual herb	5	2
17	Solanum nigrum	Black Nightshade	annual herb	3	1
18	Malva parviflora	Cheeseweed	annual herb	3	1
19	Euphorbia peplus	Petty Spurge	annual herb	1	0.5
20	Marrubium vulgare	White Horehound	perennial herb	2	1

Animals

Rank	Scientific Name	Common Name	Classification
1	Rattus rattus	Black Rat	mammal
2	Rattus norvegicus	Norway Rat	mammal
3	Felis catus	Domestic Cat (feral populations)	mammal
4	Passer domesticus	House Sparrow	bird
5	Sturnus vulgaris	European Starling	bird
6	Columba livia	Rock Pigeon	bird
7	Oryctolagus cuniculus	European Rabbit	mammal
8	Sylvilagus floridanus	Eastern Cottontail	mammal
9	Hemidactylus frenatus	Common House Gecko	reptile
10	Apis mellifera scutellata	Africanized Honeybee	insect
11	Pomacea canaliculata	Channeled Apple Snail	insect
12	Lithobates catesbeianus	American Bullfrog	amphibian
13	Cyprinus carpio	Common Carp	fish
14	Mus musculus	House Mouse	mammal
15	Didelphis virginiana	Virginia Opossum	mammal, marsupial
16	Sus scrofa	Feral Pig	mammal
17	Corvus splendens	House Crow	bird
18	Arion vulgaris	Spanish Slug	insect
19	Linepithema humile	Argentine Ant	insect
20	Loxosceles reclusa	Brown Recluse Spider	insect
21	Latrodectus geometricus	Brown Widow Spider	insect
22	Cheiracanthium mildei	Long-Legged Sac Spider	insect

Exotic

Corymbia citriodora, Lemon-scented gum

Cultivated

Salvia rosmarinus, Rosemary
Cotoneaster integerrimus, Common cotoneaster

Maps

Yearly Brush Clearance

firezone

Every year public works contracts for brush clearance of 100' from structures and power lines immediately adjacent to Illinois Drive and the two residences on either end. This area is roughly 1.25 acres with the red box indicating the 1.1 acres visible from Illinois Drive.

Native Species Pruned in October

Hard Pruning (Pruning Back to the Stump or Near Ground Level):

These plants benefit from being pruned heavily, often back to the stump or near ground level. They are ideal for slope stabilization due to their deep roots and spreading habit.

Matilija Poppy (Romneya coulteri) - Deep roots make it excellent for stabilizing slopes, thrives in morning sun.
Bush Sunflower (Encelia californica) - Fast-growing with spreading roots, great for erosion control.
California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum) - Low, sprawling growth helps cover bare soil, thrives with partial sun.
Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea) - Helps stabilize soil in shaded areas, thrives in partial sun.
California Goldenrod (Solidago velutina californica) - Thrives in partial sun, attracts pollinators, and stabilizes soil.
Deer Grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) - Excellent for stabilizing steep slopes with deep roots, suitable for partial sun.
Creeping Wild Rye (Elymus triticoides) - Dense mat-forming growth helps control erosion, thrives in partial shade.
California Fescue (Festuca californica) - Helps bind soil with its fibrous root system, prefers partial sun.
Purple Needlegrass (Stipa pulchra) - Thrives with morning sun, great for stabilizing hillsides.

Moderate Pruning (Pruning to Control Shape and Remove Spent Growth)

These plants benefit from moderate pruning to control their shape, improve health, and encourage growth. They thrive on east-facing slopes that receive morning sun and some afternoon shade.

Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii) - Thrives in morning sun, great for erosion control.
Black Sage (Salvia mellifera) - Ideal for rocky hillsides, deep roots stabilize soil effectively.
White Sage (Salvia apiana) - Provides erosion control and is suitable for partial sun conditions.
California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) - Thrives in partial sun, excellent for erosion control.
Bush Mallow (Malacothamnus spp.) - Fast-growing and effective for stabilizing soil, tolerates partial sun.
Coyote Mint (Monardella villosa) - Low-growing and ideal for slopes, provides ground cover and attracts pollinators.
Sugar Bush (Rhus ovata) - Suitable for partial sun, deep roots stabilize the soil.
Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) - Thrives in partial sun, provides erosion control with deep roots.
California Lilac (Ceanothus spp.) - Thrives in partial shade, improves soil with nitrogen-fixing properties.
Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus) - Spreading habit helps stabilize soil, suitable for morning sun.
Showy Penstemon (Penstemon spectabilis) - Adds color and helps stabilize soil, suitable for partial sun.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) - Effective for controlling erosion on slopes, thrives in partial sun.

Light Pruning (Selective Removal of Old or Dead Branches)

These plants benefit from light pruning to improve air circulation, control size, and maintain health. They are well-suited for east-facing hillsides that receive morning sun and partial shade.

Chaparral Current (Ribes malvaceum) - Provides seasonal interest and helps with soil stability, suitable for partial sun.
Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.) - Dense growth helps stabilize soil, thrives with morning sun.
California Wild Rose (Rosa californica) - Provides erosion control and habitat, thrives in partial sun.
Creeping Sage (Salvia sonomensis) - Forms a dense mat that helps stabilize soil, ideal for partial shade.
Creeping Snowberry (Symphoricarpos mollis) - Thrives in partial shade, provides dense ground cover.
Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum) - Suitable for partially shaded slopes, provides spring blooms.
Island Alum Root (Heuchera maxima) - Thrives in partial to full shade, helps stabilize soil.

Status

The City owns 15.89 acres of unimproved land in the Altos de Monterey hillside residential tract, referred to as Lot 117. This area is considered an open-space resource to the neighborhood and is not intended for future development.

2021–2029 General Plan Housing Element (Revised, Fifth Draft)
May 2023, p. 153

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