Carex and Artemisia still grew inside the fence, but the species balance was healthier; native grasses,
preferred by livestock, were able to compete when allowed to grow to full height.
Back in the 1830s, Newport Beach was a rancho known as Bolsa de San Joaquin, owned
by a settler who
preferred livestock to seafaring: he had 14,000 head of cattle and 3,000 horses, but no boats.