Desert Fan Palm Oasis Woodland

Background

Description and distribution  This community is composed of open to dense groves dominated by fan palm (Washingtonia filifera) to 75 - 100 feet tall. The understory is sparse in dense groves where the ground is mulched by fallen fronds, or in more alkaline areas. Washingtonia is a relict species and this community is restricted to areas with available water in and around the Salton Basin and south into Baja California. Washes along the San Andreas Fault are the site of emergence of underground water and, therefore, the location of many oases. Other oases are present in washes and on hillsides where exposed strata or other geological structures produce permanent water. Of the 1,355 acres of this community in the Plan area, 49% currently occurs on public land or private conservation land.

Associated covered species. The species associated with this community are peninsular bighorn sheep, southern yellow bat, desert slender salamander, and riparian bird species which use the community in migration: least Bell's vireo, yellow warbler, yellow-breasted chat, southwestern willow flycatcher, and summer tanager.