Tumbleweed Roundup

Celebrate Earth Month by joining Transition Habitat Staff on Portal Ridge Wildlife Preserve to remove invasive Russian thistle from the Joshua tree woodlands! THC is permitted by the State of California to conduct work in Joshua tree woodlands to remove invasive plant species, so this is a unique opportunity for those wishing to help this iconic species.

This will be very labor intensive, but will be incredibly rewarding work. The before and after will be a huge accomplishement, and allow the Joshua trees to drop their seeds and germinate!

This Preserve is the last piece of the puzzle that will connect the Angeles National Forest, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, and the Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park. The Portal Ridge Wildlife Preserve (PRWP) encompasses a substantial portion of the Portal Ridge-Liebre Mountain Significant Ecological Area. The PRWP and adjacent lands represent a transition zone between three distinct eco-regions: the San Gabriel Mountains, the Tehachapi Foothills and the westernmost portion of the Mojave Desert. A total of thirteen plant communities have been recorded and 110+ wildlife species have been observed. The Preserve contains previously unprotected transitional plant communities and significant wildlife habitat occurring between the Antelope Valley in the western Mojave Desert and Portal Ridge in Los Angeles County, California. These lands contain habitat for the state-listed threatened Swainson’s hawk, large swaths of Joshua Tree woodland, and pristine desert washes. There are 37 documented special status species, rare plant communities, and rare plants.

This is drone footage of the Portal Ridge Preserve during a superbloom year, as well as a great view of the Antelope Valley.

This image above shows what we are restoring in the Joshua tree woodlands. The Russian thistle has buried some of these woodlands.

A very happy cluster of Joshua trees after staff and volunteers removed some of the thistle last year!

After we collect all of the tumbleweeds on the fenceline, we will work with LA County fire in the upcoming weeks to burn it all! It will be very satisfying work.

Host or Publisher Transition Habitat Conservancy