If such information is obtained early in the planning process, needless conflicts, stalled permits, and the costs of project delay may all be avoided. Data can be accessed by searching for individual counties, quads, or taxa, and various reports are possible. These data are presented as a vellum overlay to a specific topographic map along with an accompanying text report on the rare elements appearing on the overlay. The most common users are conservationists, state and federal agencies, consultants, and researchers. You may request information for local areas by contacting us at the address below.
Most requests take about two weeks to process.
Biologists throughout the state have contributed to collection of these data which describe the locations, ecology, and status of these elements. The original data set for plants largely stemmed from herbarium records from institutions such as the University of California Berkeley, California Academy of Sciences, U.C. Riverside, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Humboldt State University, and others. Recent, updated plant location data comes largely from surveys done by members of the California Native Plant Society, agency biologists, and consultants. Data contributions are strongly encouraged. We have new and improved versions of the forms for both species and natural communities available to all.