Carrizo Plain National Monument Wildflower Report: "Super Bloom" of 2017
These photos were taken at the Carrizo Plain National Monument and Vicinity on 3-7 April 2017. The entire Plain is about 50 miles long and less than 10 miles wide. It lies along the southwest side of the San Andreas fault and is roughly midway between Bakersfield and San Luis Obispo.
Two weeks after I took these photos, President Trump announced his Executive Order that this is one of the National Monuments that he has under review for being down-graded or eliminated.
Read MoreTwo weeks after I took these photos, President Trump announced his Executive Order that this is one of the National Monuments that he has under review for being down-graded or eliminated.
Solar farms are also spreading across unprotected areas of the Carrizo Plain, covering what had been grazing lands for pronghorn antelope and habitat for many other species. There are large areas of abandoned junkyards and other degraded land nearby that could be used instead of destroying the natural areas.
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One of many County-permitted Cannabis farms on the unprotected part of the Carrizo Plain
When California legalized marijuana, these walled farms began rapidly proliferating across parts of the Carrizo Plain that do not have National Monument protection. They are permitted by the County of San Luis Obispo. The posted permit for this one said the farm was limited to 99 plants.