JANUARY 13 MEETING
Mark Berninger: Tracking the Rare Plant Super Bloom in City Open Space Preserves
Join us on Monday, January 13 to hear Mark Berninger, City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department Natural Resource Manager, discuss the City's rare plant monitoring program, the individual species monitored, and why it is vitally important to preserve species. We will learn about vernal pools including how a new Vernal Pool Habitat Conservation plan has been implemented, what species it covers, and the pools' importance to local ecology.
Mark and his team of biologists manage over 28,000 acres of Open Space, and dedicated nature preserves across the city including Mission Trails Regional Park, Los Peñasquitos, and Otay Valley among others. They monitor over 90 separate endangered plant populations, and over 950 federally protected vernal pool wetlands.
Prior to working at the City of San Diego, Mark worked in the private sector for 16 years as a wetland ecologist/restoration biologist for environmental consulting firms. He also spent his early biological career as a contracted aquatic biologist collecting field samples and data for the USEPA’s Office of Research and Development. His work in the private sector brought him to over 27 different states, four foreign countries, and over 2,000 streams and rivers across the United States.
When Mark isn’t working, he can be found outdoors. He and his wife are avid travelers and outdoor adventurers who love to hike, paddle, and fish. The rest of the time he volunteers as the safety director for Heroes on the Water, a recreational therapy program that utilizes kayak fishing to help wounded veterans and first responders.
Doors open at 6PM with the presentations beginning at 6:45PM.
Free for SDHS Members
$15 Non-members, Tickets available at the door.
Free, easy parking at the Congregation Beth Israel, 9001 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, CA 92122
