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ESTERO (1,638 acres) - The Estero FMU is located at the northern end
of Drake's Estero, along the edges of Schooner and Home bays. This area supports
primarily grassland and mixed coyote brush and poison-oak scrub habitats, with
patches of wax-myrtle (Myrica californica) in seasonal drainages. A stand of Monterey
pine occurs in the southeast corner of the FMU. The Seashore has been using prescribed
fire and mowing treatments to control the non-native plant Scotch broom (Cytisus
scoparius) in this FMU since 1993, and plans to continue with these treatments.
Populations of Point Reyes mountain beaver occur in shrubby drainages within this
unit. This species, although not federally listed, is of concern to Seashore managers
as it is a rare species whose populations were significantly reduced by the Vision
Fire in 1995. This FMU also supports nine plant species of management concern,
five of these are federal Species of Concern.
Photo: Douglas Iris at the Estero by Susan Van Der Wal
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