Map layers
▾What you're looking at
Each point is a community plant observation recorded on iNaturalist inside our Trabuco Creek work area. The map updates itself — it pulls the latest observations from iNaturalist each time it loads, so it stays current as the team documents more.
Add to the map: anyone can contribute. Make a public iNaturalist observation of a plant inside the work area and it will appear here automatically the next time the map loads. For the best chance at a confirmed ID, photograph the whole plant plus close-ups of the leaves and flowers.
Together these are a working picture, not a complete or formally field-verified survey. Research grade means the identification has been confirmed by the iNaturalist community; needs ID is still awaiting confirmation. Plants are sorted into native, invasive/non-native, and other as a first pass for planning — these calls are easy to refine as the team reviews them in the field. Tap any plant, then open Photos & details to see its photos, a short note on its habitat and role in the creek, and links out to iNaturalist.
In the field: tap the ◎ button at the top-left of the map to show your live location, the way Google Maps does, and see which documented plants are right around you.
New to iNaturalist, or made one that isn't showing up?
It only takes a minute in the free app, and you don't need to know the plant — the community helps with the ID. Three things make sure an observation lands on this map:
- Location on. Let the app use your location (or turn on your phone's GPS) so the observation gets a map point. No location means it can't appear here.
- Keep it public. Leave the observation public and don't set its geoprivacy to obscured or private — those hide or scramble the location so it won't map here.
- Don't forget Upload. Observations saved in the app aren't shared until you tap Upload.
Full walkthrough: iNaturalist's "How to Make an Observation" guide ↗.