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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCDP 2022-0008; MARTIN RESIDENCE; PALEONTOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT STUDY - JULY 19 2022; 2022-07-19PALEONTOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE MARTIN RESIDENCE PROJECT PRE-2021-0030 (DEV2021-0153) CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA APN 155-221-05 Submitted to: City of Carlsbad Planning Department 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, California 92008 Prepared for: John and Pamela Martin 3301 Lincoln Street Carlsbad, California 92008 Prepared by: Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc. 14010 Poway Road, Suite A Poway, California 92064 July 19, 2022 Paleontological Assessment for the Martin Residence Project _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Paleontological Database Information Author: Todd A. Wirths, M.S., Senior Paleontologist, California Professional Geologist No. 7588 Consulting Firm: Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc. 14010 Poway Road, Suite A Poway, California 92064 (858) 679-8218 Report Date: July 19, 2022 Report Title: Paleontological Assessment for the Martin Residence Project, City of Carlsbad, California; PRE-2021-0030 (DEV2021-0153) Prepared for: John and Pamela Martin 3301 Lincoln Street Carlsbad, California 92008 Submitted to: City of Carlsbad Planning Department 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, California 92018 Prepared by: Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc. 14010 Poway Road, Suite A Poway, California 92064 USGS Quadrangle: Section 1, Township 12 South, Range 5 West of the San Luis Rey, California (7.5-minute) Quadrangle. Study Area: 0.6 acre Assessor’s Parcel Number: 155-221-05 Key Words: Paleontological assessment; Pleistocene old paralic deposits; high sensitivity; City of Carlsbad; monitoring recommended. Paleontological Assessment for the Martin Residence Project _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents Section Page I. INTRODUCTION AND LOCATION ........................................................................ 1 II. REGULATORY SETTING ........................................................................................ 1 State of California .................................................................................................... 1 III. GEOLOGY ................................................................................................................ 4 IV. PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES ..................................................................... 4 Definition ................................................................................................................... 4 Fossil Locality Search ............................................................................................... 6 Project Survey ........................................................................................................... 6 V. PALEONTOLOGICAL SENSITIVITY ................................................................... 6 Overview .................................................................................................................... 6 Professional Standard ............................................................................................... 7 City of Carlsbad Assessment ..................................................................................... 7 VI. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................... 7 VII. CERTIFICATION ................................................................................................... 10 VIII. REFERENCES ....................................................................................................... 10 Appendices Appendix A – Qualifications of Key Personnel List of Figures Figure Page Figure 1 General Location Map ................................................................................ 2 Figure 2 Project Location Map .................................................................................. 3 Figure 3 Geologic Map .............................................................................................. 5 Paleontological Assessment for the Martin Residence Project _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1 I. INTRODUCTION AND LOCATION A paleontological resource assessment has been completed for the Martin Residence Project, located on the southeastern edge of Buena Vista Lagoon, immediately west of the intersection of Buena Vista Circle and South Buena Vista Circle in the northwestern portion of the city of Carlsbad, San Diego County, California (Figures 1 and 2). The project consists of one parcel (Assessor’s Parcel Number [APN] 155-221-05) totaling 0.6 acre. On the U.S. Geological Survey 7.5-minute, 1:24,000-scale San Luis Rey, California topographic quadrangle map, the project is located in Section 1 of Township 12 South, Range 5 West, of the San Bernardino Baseline and Meridian. The project proposes to develop the lot into a single-family residence with associated landscaping and infrastructure. Currently, the project property is undeveloped. As the lead agency, the City of Carlsbad has required the preparation of a paleontological assessment to evaluate the project’s potential to yield paleontological resources (PRE-2021-0030 [DEV2021-0153]). The paleontological assessment of the project included a review of paleontological literature and fossil locality records for a previous project in the area; a review of the underlying geology; and recommendations to mitigate impacts to potential paleontological resources, if necessary. II. REGULATORY SETTING The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which is patterned after the National Environmental Policy Act, is the overriding environmental regulation that sets the requirement for protecting California’s paleontological resources. CEQA mandates that governing permitting agencies (lead agencies) set their own guidelines for the protection of nonrenewable paleontological resources under their jurisdiction. State of California Under “Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act,” as amended in December 2018 (California Code of Regulations [CCR] Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3, Sections 15000 et seq.), procedures define the types of activities, persons, and public agencies required to comply with CEQA. Section 15063 of the CCR provides a process by which a lead agency may review a project’s potential impact to the environment, whether the impacts are significant, and provide recommendations, if necessary. In CEQA’s Environmental Checklist Form, one of the questions to answer is, “Would the project directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature?” (Appendix G, Section VII, Part f). This is to ensure compliance with California Public Resources Code Section 5097.5, the law by which protects nonrenewable resources including fossils, which is paraphrased below: Paleontological Assessment for the Martin Residence Project _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 4 a) A person shall not knowingly and willfully excavate upon, or remove, destroy, injure, or deface, any historic or prehistoric ruins, burial grounds, archaeological or vertebrate paleontological site, including fossilized footprints, inscriptions made by human agency, rock art, or any other archaeological, paleontological or historical feature, situated on public lands, except with the express permission of the public agency having jurisdiction over such lands. b) As used in this section, “public lands” means lands owned by, or under the jurisdiction of, the state, or any city, county, district, authority, or public corporation, or any agency thereof. c) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor. III. GEOLOGY Geomorphically, the project borders the southern edge the Buena Vista Lagoon about a half-mile east of the coastline (see Figure 2). The project property occupies an elevated terrace, at an elevation of approximately 43 feet (13 meters) above mean sea level, which slopes down to the edge of the lagoon. Geologically, as shown on Figure 3 after Kennedy and Tan (2007), multiple marine terraces in the project area’s terrace complex have truncated the older, underlying Eocene- aged Santiago Formation (brown areas labeled as “Tsa” on Figure 3). These terrace sediments, including their overlying alluvial and colluvial deposits, are referred to as Pleistocene “old paralic deposits” (symbolized as “Qop2-4” and “Qop6-7”). As shown on Figure 3, the project is mapped as underlain by younger old paralic deposits (Qop6-7), where Kennedy and Tan (2007) grouped deposits of the “Bird Rock terrace” with deposits of the older (higher and slightly farther inland) “Nestor terrace” (~120,000 years old). IV. PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES Definition Paleontological resources are the remains of prehistoric life that have been preserved in geologic strata. These remains are called fossils and include bones, shells, teeth, and plant remains (including their impressions, casts, and molds) in the sedimentary matrix, as well as trace fossils such as footprints and burrows. Fossils are considered older than 5,000 years of age (Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 2010) but may include younger remains (subfossils) when viewed in the context of local extinction of the organism or habitat, for example. Fossils are considered a nonrenewable resource under state and local guidelines (Sections II and V of this report). Paleontological Assessment for the Martin Residence Project _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6 Fossil Locality Search A literature search and an examination of museum and university fossil collections and/or locality records of the San Diego Society of Natural History (SDSNH) revealed a number of nearby fossil localities assigned to upper Pleistocene terrace and estuarine deposits, all located southeast of the project along the northern edge of Buena Vista Lagoon. The closest is SDSNH locality (loc.) 4007, located just over a half mile to the north, and yielded a partial mammoth tusk. Several additional SDSNH localities, rich with late Pleistocene marine invertebrate fossils, were recovered at the Pacific Coast Plaza Project that borders State Route 78 in Oceanside (SDSNH locs. 4024 through 4033). These localities represent a diverse assemblage of mollusks, as well as yielding shark teeth and unidentified mammal remains (Deméré and Riney 2000), and represent marine high-stand conditions of approximately 300,000 to 400,000 years ago (Kennedy and Browne 2007). The closest known published locality with late Pleistocene invertebrate fossils was reported by Peska (1976), who reported eight species of bivalves and one gastropod species approximately 1.5 miles east of the project, near where El Camino Real crosses Buena Vista Creek. Finally, a fossil whale rib was discovered about 25 feet deep at the Oceanside Beachfront Resort Project, approximately two miles up the coast (Wirths 2020). There are no known fossil localities from the frequently fossiliferous Santiago Formation within one mile of the project. Project Survey Personnel with Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., under the supervision of Principal Paleontologist Todd A. Wirths, conducted a survey of the Martin Residence Project on October 5, 2021. Parallel survey transects spaced at approximately three-meter intervals were utilized throughout the entire project. The topography of the project was noted as generally flat. The surface of the site, including all exposed ground surfaces, rodent burrows, and disturbed areas, was carefully inspected. In general, the subject property has been impacted by grading and the surrounding developments. The majority of the property was covered in sparse, low-lying grasses, resulting in good ground visibility. No paleontological resources, or evidence of paleontological resources, were observed. V. PALEONTOLOGICAL SENSITIVITY Overview The degree of paleontological sensitivity of any particular area is based on a number of factors, including the documented presence of fossiliferous resources on a site or in nearby areas, the presence of documented fossils within a particular geologic formation or lithostratigraphic unit, and whether or not the original depositional environment of the sediments is one that might have been conducive to the accumulation of organic remains that might have become fossilized over time. Holocene alluvium is generally considered to be geologically too young to contain significant nonrenewable paleontological resources (i.e., fossils) and is thus typically assigned a Paleontological Assessment for the Martin Residence Project _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7 low paleontological sensitivity. Pleistocene (more than 11,700 years old) alluvial and alluvial fan deposits are known to yield important terrestrial vertebrate fossils, such as extinct mammoths, mastodons, giant ground sloths, extinct species of horse, bison, and camel, saber-toothed cats, and others (e.g., Deméré 2008). These Pleistocene sediments are thus accorded a High paleontological resource sensitivity. Professional Standard The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP 2010) has drafted guidelines that include four categories of paleontological sensitivity for geologic units (formations) that might be impacted by a proposed project, as listed below: ● High Potential: Rock units from which vertebrate or significant invertebrate, plant, or trace fossils have been recovered. ● Undetermined Potential: Rock units for which little information is available concerning their paleontological content, geologic age, and depositional environment, and that further study is needed to determine the potential of the rock unit. ● Low Potential: Rock units that are poorly represented by fossil specimens in institutional collections or based upon a general scientific consensus that only preserve fossils in rare circumstances. ● No Potential: Rock units that have no potential to contain significant paleontological resources, such as high-grade metamorphic rocks and plutonic igneous rocks. Using these criteria, based on the geologic formation at the project, the Pleistocene old paralic deposits can be considered to have a high potential to yield significant paleontological resources. City of Carlsbad Assessment The City of Carlsbad has assigned sensitivity ratings of paleontological potential to geologic formations within the city limits (City of Carlsbad 2017). The geologic unit mapped within the project, Pleistocene old paralic deposits, is assigned a “high” paleontological sensitivity. Geologic units assigned a high sensitivity are said by the City of Carlsbad (2017) to “…have the highest potential to produce unique invertebrate fossil assemblages or unique vertebrate fossil remains.” VI. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Based on the proposed scope of the project, earth disturbance activities may adversely impact potential paleontological resources that may exist within the Pleistocene old paralic deposits. These deposits are assigned a high paleontological sensitivity by the City of Carlsbad Paleontological Assessment for the Martin Residence Project _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8 for their record of yielding fossils in the region. As a result, paleontological monitoring is recommended during mass grading, trenching, and excavation activities in undisturbed strata of the old paralic deposits, in order to mitigate any adverse impacts (loss or destruction) to potential nonrenewable paleontological resources. Monitoring of disturbed soils is not warranted. A proposed paleontological monitoring plan is detailed below. When implemented with the provisions of CEQA, the City of Carlsbad, the guidelines of the SVP (2010), this paleontological monitoring plan would mitigate any adverse impacts (loss or destruction) to potential, nonrenewable paleontological resources (fossils), if present, to a level below significant. Paleontological Monitoring Plan 1. Prior to the issuance of a grading permit, the project owner or developer shall provide written verification to the lead agency stating that a qualified paleontologist has been retained to implement the monitoring program. 2. Prior to initiation of any grading, drilling, and/or excavation activities, a preconstruction meeting will be held and attended by the project paleontologist, representatives of the grading contractor and subcontractors, the project owner or developer, and a representative of the lead agency. The nature of potential paleontological resources shall be discussed, as well as the protocol that is to be implemented following the discovery of any fossiliferous materials. 3. Monitoring of mass grading and excavation activities shall be performed by a qualified paleontologist or paleontological monitor. Starting at the surface, monitoring will be conducted full-time in areas of grading or excavation in undisturbed Pleistocene old paralic deposits. 4. Paleontological monitors will be equipped to salvage fossils as they are unearthed to avoid construction delays. The monitor must be empowered to temporarily halt or divert equipment to allow removal of abundant or large specimens in a timely manner. The paleontological monitor shall temporarily halt and/or divert grading activity to allow recovery of paleontological resources. The discovery area shall be cordoned off with a 50-foot radius. Monitoring may be reduced if the potentially fossiliferous units are not present in the subsurface, or, if present, are determined upon exposure and examination by qualified paleontological personnel to have low potential to contain fossil resources. The monitor shall notify the project paleontologist, who will then notify the concerned parties of the discovery. 5. Paleontological salvage during trenching and boring activities is typically from the generated spoils and does not delay the trenching or drilling activities. Fossils will be collected and placed in cardboard flats or plastic buckets and identified by field number, collector, and date collected. Notes will be taken on the map location and stratigraphy of the site, which will be photographed before it is vacated and the fossils are removed to a safe place. On mass grading projects, discovered fossil sites will be Paleontological Assessment for the Martin Residence Project _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9 protected by flagging to prevent them from being overrun by earthmovers (scrapers) before salvage begins. Fossils will be collected in a similar manner, with notes and photographs being taken before removing the fossils. Precise location of the site is determined with the use of handheld GPS units. If the site involves remains from a large terrestrial vertebrate, such as large bone(s) or a mammoth tusk, that is/are too large to be easily removed by a single monitor, a fossil recovery crew shall excavate around the find, encase the find within a plaster and burlap jacket, and remove it after the plaster is set. For large fossils, use of the contractor’s construction equipment may be solicited to help remove the jacket to a safe location. 6. Isolated fossils will be collected by hand, wrapped in paper, and placed in temporary collecting flats or five-gallon buckets. Notes will be taken on the map location and stratigraphy of the site, which will be photographed before it is vacated and the fossils are removed to a safe place. 7. Particularly small invertebrate fossils typically represent multiple specimens of a limited number of organisms, and a scientifically suitable sample can be obtained from one to several five-gallon buckets of fossiliferous sediment. If it is possible to dry screen the sediment in the field, a concentrated sample may consist of one or two buckets of material. For vertebrate fossils, the test is usually the observed presence of small pieces of bones within the sediments. If present, multiple five-gallon buckets of sediment can be collected and returned to a separate facility to wet-screen the sediment. 8. In accordance with the “Microfossil Salvage” section of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology guidelines (2010:7), bulk sampling and screening of fine-grained sedimentary deposits (including carbonate-rich paleosols) must be performed if the deposits are identified to possess indications of producing fossil “microvertebrates” to test the feasibility of the deposit to yield fossil bones and teeth. 9. In the laboratory, individual fossils will be cleaned of extraneous matrix, any breaks will be repaired, and the specimen, if needed, will be stabilized by soaking in an archivally approved acrylic hardener (e.g., a solution of acetone and Paraloid B-72). 10. Recovered specimens will be prepared to a point of identification and permanent preservation (not display), including screen-washing sediments to recover small invertebrates and vertebrates. Preparation of individual vertebrate fossils is often more time-consuming than for accumulations of invertebrate fossils. 11. Recovered specimens will be identified and curated into a professional, accredited public museum repository with a commitment to archival conservation and permanent retrievable storage (e.g., the San Diego Natural History Museum) shall be conducted. The paleontological program should include a written repository agreement prior to the initiation of mitigation activities. Prior to curation, the lead agency (e.g., the City of Carlsbad) will be consulted on the repository/museum to receive the fossil material. 12. A final report of findings and significance will be prepared, including lists of all fossils Paleontological Assessment for the Martin Residence Project _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10 recovered and necessary maps and graphics to accurately record their original location(s). The report, when submitted to, and accepted by, the appropriate lead agency, will signify satisfactory completion of the project program to mitigate impacts to any potential nonrenewable paleontological resources (i.e., fossils) that might have been lost or otherwise adversely affected without such a program in place. VII. CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the statements furnished above and in the attached exhibits present the data and information required for this paleontological report, and that the facts, statements, and information presented are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, and have been compiled in accordance with CEQA criteria. July 19, 2022 Todd A. Wirths Date Senior Paleontologist California Professional Geologist No. 7588 VIII. REFERENCES City of Carlsbad. 2017. Carlsbad Tribal, Cultural, and Paleontological Resources Guidelines. Prepared for the City of Carlsbad, California, by ECORP Consulting, Inc. Deméré, T.A. 2008. Paleontological mitigation report, Robertson Ranch East Village, City of Carlsbad, San Diego County, California. Unpublished paleontological monitoring report prepared for Calavera Hills II, LLC, San Diego, by the Department of PaleoServices, San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego. Deméré, T.A., and Riney, B.O. 2000. Paleoenvironments, paleoecology, and molluscan paleontology of a late Pleistocene bay, Oceanside, San Diego County, California. Western Society of Malacologists, Annual Report, 32: 13-14. Kennedy, G.L., and Browne, I.D. 2007. Paleontology and geochronology of the middle and upper Pleistocene marine record in the downtown San Diego area, San Diego County, southern California. Western Society of Malacologists, Annual Report, 36: 13-34, fig. 1, tables 1- 2. Kennedy, M.P., and Tan, S.S. 2007. Geologic map of the Oceanside 30' x 60' quadrangle, California. California Geological Survey, Regional Geologic Map Series, 1:100,000 scale, Map No. 2. Paleontological Assessment for the Martin Residence Project _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 11 Peska, F.J. 1976. A day’s digging in San Diego County. Paleontological News; Bulletin of the Southern California Paleontological Society, vol. 8, no. 5, 6, and 7 (July). Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. 2010. Standard procedures for the assessment and mitigation of adverse impacts to paleontological resources; by the SVP Impact Mitigation Guidelines Revision Committee. https://vertpaleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/SVP_Impact_ Mitigation_Guidelines-1.pdf. Wirths, T.A. 2020. Paleontological Monitoring Report for the Oceanside Beachfront Resort Project, Oceanside, California. Unpublished paleontological monitoring report prepared for S.D. Malkin Properties, San Diego, California, by Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California. Paleontological Assessment for the Martin Residence Project _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ APPENDIX A Qualifications of Key Personnel To dd A. W ir ths , MS, PG No. 7588 Senior Paleontologist Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc. 14010 Poway Road — Suite A — Phone: (858) 679-8218 — Fax: (858) 679-9896 — E-Mail: twirths@bfsa-ca.com Education Master of Science, Geological Sciences, San Diego State University, California 1995 Bachelor of Arts, Earth Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz 1992 Professional Certifications California Professional Geologist #7588, 2003 Riverside County Approved Paleontologist San Diego County Qualified Paleontologist Orange County Certified Paleontologist OSHA HAZWOPER 40-hour trained; current 8-hour annual refresher Professional Memberships Board member, San Diego Geological Society San Diego Association of Geologists; past President (2012) and Vice President (2011) South Coast Geological Society Southern California Paleontological Society Experience Mr. Wirths has more than a dozen years of professional experience as a senior-level paleontologist throughout southern California. He is also a certified California Professional Geologist. At BFSA, Mr. Wirths conducts on-site paleontological monitoring, trains and supervises junior staff, and performs all research and reporting duties for locations throughout Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, San Diego, and Imperial Counties. Mr. Wirths was formerly a senior project manager conducting environmental investigations and remediation projects for petroleum hydrocarbon- impacted sites across southern California. Selected Recent Reports 2019 Paleontological Assessment for the 10575 Foothill Boulevard Project, City of Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino County, California. Prepared for T&B Planning, Inc. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California. 2019 Paleontological Assessment for the MorningStar Marguerite Project, Mission Viejo, Orange County, California. Prepared for T&B Planning. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California. Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc. 2 2019 Paleontological Monitoring Report for the Nimitz Crossing Project, City of San Diego. Prepared for Voltaire 24, LP. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California. 2019 Paleontological Resource Impact Mitigation Program (PRIMP) for the Jack Rabbit Trail Logistics Center Project, City of Beaumont, Riverside County, California. Prepared for JRT BP 1, LLC. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California. 2020 Paleontological Monitoring Report for the Oceanside Beachfront Resort Project, Oceanside, San California. Prepared for S.D. Malkin Properties. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California. 2020 Paleontological Resource Impact Mitigation Program for the Nakase Project, Lake Forest, Orange County, San California. Prepared for Glenn Lukos Associates, Inc. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California. 2020 Paleontological Resource Impact Mitigation Program for the Sunset Crossroads Project, Banning, Riverside County. Prepared for NP Banning Industrial, LLC. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California. 2020 Paleontological Assessment for the Ortega Plaza Project, Lake Elsinore, Riverside County. Prepared for Empire Design Group. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California. 2020 Paleontological Resource Record Search Update for the Green River Ranch III Project, Green River Ranch Specific Plan SP00-001, City of Corona, California. Prepared for Western Realco. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California. 2020 Paleontological Assessment for the Cypress/Slover Industrial Center Project, City of Fontana, San Bernardino County, California. Prepared for T&B Planning, Inc. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California. 2020 Paleontological Monitoring Report for the Imperial Landfill Expansion Project (Phase VI, Segment C-2), Imperial County, California. Prepared for Republic Services, Inc. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California. 2021 Paleontological Assessment for the Manitou Court Logistics Center Project, City of Jurupa Valley, Riverside County, California. Prepared for Link Industrial. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California. 2021 Paleontological Resource Impact Mitigation Program for the Del Oro (Tract 36852) Project, Menifee, Riverside County. Prepared for D.R. Horton. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California. 2021 Paleontological Assessment for the Alessandro Corporate Center Project (Planning Case PR-2020- 000519), City of Riverside, Riverside County, California. Prepared for OZI Alessandro, LLC. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California. 2021 Paleontological Monitoring Report for the Boardwalk Project, La Jolla, City of San Diego. Prepared for Project Management Advisors, Inc. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California.