Introduced from Spanish barnyards, it covers most open fields in Carmel Valley. Cream cups, Platystemmon californicus among the first of the spring flowers just now emerging in upper Carmel Valley's sandy fields. Weather Report Things are looking surprisingly dry. That is, streams continue to flow at about the same rates seen last fall. Our streams rose briefly to bankful, and that for only a few hours on Feb 11-12.
Vernal ponds remain partially filled and the smaller ones are dry.
Tiger salamanders have not moved to the ponds in any numbers, and relatively few newts have hiked cross-county to their ponds. Compared to the eight previous years we have been monitoring the ponds, the amphibian numbers are dramatically down this year. In January, at the request of Dr. Alex Glazer, I submitted a proposal to the Natural Reserve System, UC Office of the President to expand our outreach to K-12. In February, we learned it was approved and we are moving on a couple of fronts. First, we will be working with Pat Stadille of the Carmel Middle School.