San Onofre State Beach

Between San Clemente and Oceanside, California

A showpiece restoration project based on land imprinting and mycorrhizal inoculation

San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County, California was formerly a piece of Camp Pendleton (USMC).  The coastal terrace had been an agricultural leasehold while under military jurisdiction, and in the 1980s and 1990s the terrace was occupied by a mosaic of coastal sage scrub and exotic weeds, dominated by black mustard (Brassica nigra).  In the late 1980s an attempt had been made to restore portions of the terrace to native vegetation, the approach had depended upon container plants, irrigation systems, and other expensive methodology.  By 1994 there was no clear evidence of the earlier restoration attempt, except that certain native plant species that had been planted at that time seemed to be present at an unexpectedly high density in the coastal sage scrub patches.  The mustard patches essentially held their ground during that time.  

State Park Biologists Rick Riefner and David Pryor evidence 
concern over persistent mustard patches on the coastal terrace at
San Onofre State Beach, circa 1994.

State park officials resolved to give the project another try in 1994.  Park biologist David Pryor and biologist Rick Riefner went into conference with Dr. Ted St. John, now of BioNet LLC.  They emerged with a plan based on seed application by land imprinting, and inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi.  

The Solution: Land Imprinting and Mycorrhizal Inoculation. 

Text and photos not otherwise noted are copyright 2001 by Ted St. John, Ph.D.