Chamise Chaparral

Background

Description and distribution  Description and distribution. Chamise chaparral is another of the nine chaparral types in California. Chamise chapparal is a 1-3 meter tall chaparral overwhelmingly dominated by chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum). It is adapted to repeated fires by stump sprouting. Mature stands are densely interwoven with very little herbaceous understory or litter. This is a common community on the western slopes of the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains, but is not prevalent in the Plan area. Approximately 2,794 acres occurs in two areas on the lower slopes of the San Bernardino Mountains west of Whitewater Canyon, and near the western edge of the Plan area. This natural community also occurs on the Morongo Indian Reservation, which is not part of the Plan area. The other occurrence stretches in a band from the Whitewater River to Stubbe Creek. The majority of this occurrence is on BLM land. Approximately 80% of the chamise chaparral occurs on public land. Associated covered species. The species associated with this community are the desert tortoise in the area west of Whitewater Canyon and triple ribbed milkvetch (in Mission Creek and Dry Morongo Creek).