California's native grasslands are among the most-threatened natural communities in the United States. As an ecosystem, the native Central Valley Prairie has been eliminated, but remnant populations of native prairie species still exist in scattered locations. Many of these populations are small and vulnerable and could easily be lost by urbanization, agriculture, roadside- weed control programs, or competition from invasive weeds. Even Jepson Prairie, which includes one of the best remaining stands of native prairie in the Central Valley, is saturated with alien plants that suppress many native species. APA format. 8 pgs, bibliography lists 10 sources.