CDFW Seeks Public Comment Related to Gerry’s Curly-Leaved Monardella

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 10:13:51 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking data and public comments on a petition to list Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella (Monardella sinuata subsp. gerryi) under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).

Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella is an annual herb in the mint family (Lamiaceae) that occurs in the Camarillo and Las Posas Hills in Ventura County. Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella is restricted to soil derived from Las Posas sand. The species has been documented from just three occurrences with fewer than 500 individuals in total. Threats to Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella include agricultural conversion, development, land clearing and grading, maintenance and construction of roads or trails, nonnative plants, vegetation succession and erosion.

On February 19, 2025, the California Native Plant Society submitted a petition to the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) to list Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella as an endangered species under CESA. The Commission published findings of its decision to make the species a candidate for listing as an endangered species on October 24, 2025, and as such, Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella now receives the same legal protection afforded to an endangered or threatened species (Fish and Game Code sections 2074.2 and 2085).

As of October 24, 2025, CDFW has 12 months to conduct a status review that will inform the Commission’s final decision on whether to list Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella as endangered under CESA. As part of the status review process, CDFW is soliciting information regarding the species’ ecology, genetics, life history, distribution, abundance, habitat, the degree and immediacy of threats to its reproduction or survival, the adequacy of existing management and recommendations for management of the species.

CDFW respectfully requests that data and comments be submitted before February 2, 2026, to allow sufficient time to evaluate this information during the status review period. Submit comments and general information on the petitioned action to CDFW’s Native Plant Program by email at NativePlants@wildlife.ca.gov and include “Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella” in the subject line. Comments may also be submitted by mail to California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Native Plant Program, Attn: Kristi Lazar, P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090. If you have occurrence data on Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella, visit https://wildlife.ca.gov/Data/CNDDB/Submitting-Data for data submission instructions or contact CDFW’s California Natural Diversity Database at CNDDB@wildlife.ca.gov. Please note that any information you submit (including your contact information) will become part of the public record and may be disclosed in response to a Public Records Act request.

CDFW will produce a peer-reviewed report based upon the best scientific information available, which will include a recommendation as to whether the petitioned action to list Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella as endangered under CESA is warranted (Fish and Game Code section 2074.6). The report will be made publicly available on CDFW’s website for at least 30 days before the Commission considers acting on the petition. Please note, the Commission — which is a legally separate entity from CDFW — is charged with making the final determination on whether to list a species as endangered or threatened under CESA (Fish and Game Code section 2075.5). CDFW serves in a scientific advisory role to the Commission during this process. See the California Fish and Game Commission webpage for details on submitting comments to the Commission and receiving email alerts for upcoming Commission meetings.

The listing petition, CDFW’s petition evaluation report and updates on the listing process are available on the Commission’s website.

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Media Contacts:
Kristi Lazar, CDFW Native Plant Program, (916) 594-5425
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120

California Fish and Game Commission: No maximum size limit adopted for striped bass; CESA evaluation coming for one of state’s rarest plants

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:12:13 GMT

After years of discussion and consideration of public comment and scientific research, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) did not approve a proposed regulation amendment to set a maximum size limit for recreational striped bass fishing. This decision and regulatory action affecting California’s natural resources took place at the Commission’s October 8-9 meeting in Sacramento.

For recreational striped bass harvest, proposed regulatory amendments requested through an externally submitted petition would have kept the minimum size limit at 18-inches and set a maximum length limit at 30 inches for harvest of striped bass in anadromous waters. The petition’s stated goal was to protect larger, mature fish. The Commission voted 3-2 to not set a maximum size limit.

California Endangered Species Act (CESA) candidacy was granted for Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella and Pacific pocket mouse. Commissioners found sufficient scientific information to warrant possible CESA listings.

Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella is considered one of California’s rarest plants and the Pacific pocket mouse was once thought extinct. Each face threats such as habitat loss due to development. These species will now receive CESA protections while a status review is underway for potential CESA listing.

The Commission adopted regulations adding invasive non-native mussels, including golden mussel, pond mussel and axe-head mussel, and green crab to the list of live animals restricted from importation, transportation and possession.

As part of an emergency regulation, golden mussel was added to the list of restricted species in December 2024 after the discovery of golden mussel in California in October 2024. Golden mussel was first detected in the Port of Stockton and have since spread from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta into other California waterways that receive water from the Delta.

Golden mussel, pond mussel, axe-head mussel and green crab pose threats to ecosystems, water infrastructure and economies. These invasive mussels can clog water pipelines, colonize inside boat engines and alter food webs affecting native species. Green crab outcompetes native species for food and habitat, disrupting marine ecosystems and threatening native fisheries; they also prey on farmed bivalves.

Inductees to the 2025 California Waterfowlers Hall of Fame were recognized at this Commission meeting. Fritz Reid, Mike Passaglia and Rex Carr were honored as individuals who have made significant contributions to enhance and conserve waterfowl and their habitats in California.

The closure of commercial bull kelp harvest in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties was extended through January 2029. Initially a three-year restriction on commercial bull kelp harvest from Sonoma County to the Oregon border was adopted in February 2022 in response to multi-year declines in bull kelp populations. Bull kelp has shown only limited reestablishment, warranting an extension.

Meeting Participation and Next Meeting

Commission President Erika Zavaleta, Vice President Samantha Murray and commissioners Jacque Hostler-Carmesin, Eric Sklar and Darius Anderson were in attendance for both days of the October Commission meeting.

The complete agenda for the meeting, along with supporting information, is available on the Commission website. Archived video of past Commission meetings is available online. The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled for December 10-11 at the California Natural Resources Building, second floor, 715 P St., Sacramento. Participants are encouraged to attend in person, with options available for Zoom or phone; for the agenda and more information visit the Commission website.

The Commission authorized staff to notify the public of potential regulation changes related to:

Recreational take of groundfish (PDF) A discussion hearing is scheduled for December 10-11 and an adoption hearing Febuary 11-12 on proposed amendments to regulations regarding recreational take of rockfish, cabezon, greenling and lingcod.

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Media Contacts: 
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120
Katie Talbot, CDFW Communications, (916) 204-1381

CDFW News

CDFW Seeks Public Comment Related to Gerry’s Curly-Leaved Monardella

California Fish and Game Commission: No maximum size limit adopted for striped bass; CESA evaluation coming for one of state’s rarest plants