In April 1964, the U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service (SCS) and the California Department of Fish and Game entered into an agreement to screen woody plants for their potential use as upland game cover. From 1964 through 1971, initial evaluations were made at the SCS Pleasanton Plant Materials Center. From 1972 through 1979, evaluations were continued at the new Lockeford Plant Materials Center. A total of 494 accessions were screened at these two Centers. Plants that passed the initial screening phase were established at secondary testing sites (Field Evaluation Plantings, FEPs) to determine their establishment requirements and range of adaptation. Over a fifteen-year period, approximately 75 accessions were tested at 8 locations: (1) Gray Lodge Wildlife Management Area (WMA); (2) Spencevil1e WMA; (3) Los Banos WMA; (4) Sunol (Alameda Co.); (5) Black Butte (Glenn Co.); (6) Lake Pardee (Amador Co.); (7) Cedarville (Modoc Co.); and, (8) Antelope Valley Resource Conservation District Nursery, Lancaster, CA. Those species that performed well in FEPs were moved on to Field Plantings where they were tested under actual field conditions. This third stage of testing took place on state, federal, and private lands. Of all the species tested, only a small percentage met the requirements established at the beginning of the program. Many plants were eliminated because of their narrow range of adaptation. Three shrubs proved to be outstanding and have been released as distinct varieties. These are: 'Marana' fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens); 'Casa' quailbush (Atriplex lentiformis); and 'Dorado' bladderpod (Isomeris arborea).
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