![\"ran_prairie\"](\"https:\/\/dev-clm-blog.pantheonsite.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/ran_prairie.jpg\")
<\/a>Ranunculus californicus<\/em> at Iceberg Point<\/p><\/div>\n Zygadenus venosusus<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Eriophyllum lanatum<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Iceberg Point is an 88 acre parcel of land on the south west portion of the island.\u00a0 It\u2019s a mix of forest, small pockets of prairie, and intertidal rocks.\u00a0 As with other sites in the San Juan Islands, it was tended for hundreds of years by Salish tribes, who would live in the area in the summer seasons.\u00a0 These areas were burned regularly and probably weeded to an extent to promote the growth of Camas (Camassia leichtinii<\/em> and quamash) and other food crops.\u00a0 Though these burns ended almost a century ago, we still see their legacy in the vibrant wildflower community here.\u00a0 Each spring is an eruption of blue and yellow, purple and pink. \u00a0The common flowers include great camas (Camassia leichtinii<\/em>), meadow death camas (Zygadenus venosusus<\/em>), taper tip onion (Allium acuminatum<\/em>), chocolate lily (Fritillaria affinis<\/em>), Oregon sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum<\/em>), Coastal gumweed (Grindelia integrifolia<\/em>), western and Californian buttercups (Ranunculus occidentalis<\/em> and californicus<\/em>), lance leaf sedum (Sedum spathulifolium<\/em>), early spring violet (Viola adunca<\/em>), blue eyed grass (Sisirynchium angustifolium<\/em>), spring gold (Lomatium utriculatum<\/em>), and prickly pear (Opuntia fragilis<\/em>).\u00a0 It also includes three listed imperiled species: California buttercup (Ranunculus californicus<\/em>), showy Jacob\u2019s ladder (Polemonium pulcherrimum<\/em>), and white topped aster (Sericocarpus rigidus<\/em>).<\/p>\n Viola adunca<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Camassia leichlinii<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n With its robust plant community\u00a0the sound, Iceberg Point has long been a favorite spot of botanists and the Lopez Island community.\u00a0 People nearby think of Iceberg as their backyard, and walking its trails every day is a form of meditation for many residents. However, Iceberg Point faces several challenges.\u00a0 Since fire and grazing (Iceberg Point was grazed for a short period) have been removed from the landscape, there has been considerable encroachment from shrubs and trees.\u00a0 In many spots, what used to be dense camas gardens have turned into thickets of rose and snowberry (Rosa nutkana<\/em> and Symphoricarpos albus<\/em>).\u00a0 In other areas, young stands of\u00a0Doug Fir (Psuedostuga menzezii<\/em>) and Grand Fir (Abies grandis<\/em>) have shaded out shrubs as the land slowly returns to its natural state. \u00a0Iceberg Point has also seen an increase in use in recent years.\u00a0 New user- created trails pop up each year, creating a mosaic of footpaths cutting through sensitive lichen heaths and plant communities.\u00a0 Trails cut through populations of all three listed species on Iceberg Point.\u00a0 It bums me out.<\/p>\n Delphinium menzesii<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Iceberg Point was included in the San Juan Islands National Monument in 2013.\u00a0 This proclamation has brought more attention and likely more people to visit places like Iceberg Point, a fact that many residents bemoan.\u00a0 \u00a0However, Monument status also means permanent protection of some clearly defined natural values.\u00a0 As people enter into monument planning, deciding what is important to the landscape, I have great hope that they will make it a goal to protect the integrity of Iceberg Point.\u00a0 I acknowledge (sometimes begrudgingly) that we all have the right to visit these beautiful and historic public lands.\u00a0 As public land managers and citizens, we also have the responsibility to conserve, protect, and restore those lands for the benefit of both visitors and community, both plant and people.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The San Juan Islands National Monument includes a variety of public lands.\u00a0 Each have their own value and allure.\u00a0 There are historic light house locations, where you can view orcas from the porch of light keeper’s quarters.\u00a0 There are small … Continue reading <\/a><\/a><\/a>