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Home My WebLink About3466; OLIVENHAIN RD WIDENING & REALIGNMENT; HORTICULTURAL MONITORING REPORTS 2002- 2003; 2003-06-06S RECEIVED ame c ?(ec 6 June 2003 JUN 092003 Project No. 325400000-3003 ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT Ms. Sherri Howard Project Manager City of Carlsbad Engineering Department 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, California 92008 Subject: Olivenhain Road Widening Wetland Mitigation Site Second Horticultural Monitoring Report 2003 Dear Ms. Howard: AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc. (AMEC), submits this letter as the second of three horticultural monitoring reports for the Olivenhain Road widening wetland mitigation site to the City of Carlsbad (the City) for your records for 2003. The mitigation site visit occurred on 30 May 2003. The present status of the site. including weeding, volunteer establishment, and irrigation are addressed in this letter report. The project is authorized under U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Section 404 Nationwide Permit No. 95-20096-BH and California Department Fish and Game (CDFG) Section 160 Streambed Alteration Agreement. .No. 5-560-94. According to the Olivenhain Road Widening/Realignment and Flood Control Project Wetland Mitigation/Revegetation Plan, Carlsbad, California, November 1995, horticultural monitoring reports must be completed and sent to the City and the landscape maintenance contractor, Native Landscape, three times a year. This is the second of three horticultural monitoring visitsfor year six of the mitigation project. The site is presently performing well and has been properly maintained over the past year. Weeding is occurring regularly at the site. An unidentifiable, nonnative horticultural plant, bristly ox-tongue (Picris echioides), and yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis) were located during the site visit and AMEC recommended to Native Landscape, Inc., the landscape maintenance contractor, that these species be removed. Many volunteer riparian and upland scrub plant species are present at the site and little bare ground is present. Several plant communities, consisting of an abundance of native species that occur'in several age classes, have colonized moêt of the site. Several species including giant wild rye (Leymus condensatus), yerba mansa (Anemopsis californica), coastal goldenbush (Isocoma menziesii), and alkali heath (Frankenia sauna) were observed flowering at the site. Several new species including centaurium (Centaurium venustum) and (Lythrum hyssopifolium) were located during the site visit. The entire wetland mitigation site and the associated vegetated berm have been free of supplemental irrigation since December 2002 and exist on natural conditidns. No mortality of plant species has been observed during any of the 2003 site visits to date. The vegetation at the site is reproducing and recruitment is evident throughout the mitigation site. 32540000013151-0603L087 Page 1 Sherri Howard ist~ of Carlsbad t 6Jurie 2003 ame It is anticipated that this will be the final year of the mitigation project. The site has achieved all, success requirements, aside from remaining free of supplemental irrigation for one year. Th • year Js the first year that the entire mitigation site will be free of supplemental irrigation, although the majorit9' of the mitigation site has been free of supplemental irrigation for the past several years. A field meeting is scheduled for 18 June 2003 with AMEC, the City of Carlsbad, and Christine Fritz of CDFG to discuss future permit sign-off of the mitigation site. AMEC has tried to contact Terry Dean of ACOE several times early in June 2003 about the field meeting but has not yet made contact with him. • AMEC will continue site visits and 'subm!t letter reports in accordance withthe project's permits and agreements.. Please call me at (858) 458-9044, extension 264, or e-mail 'me at jessica.walker@amec.com,, if you have any questions. Sincerely, AMEç Earth & Environmental, Inc. • • .• 14t4U ' • Jessie.-Walker • ' . • . Botanist . . JW/vm • . cc: Debbie Fromme; Native Landscape, Inc. I'\ 325400000/3151-0603L087 Paë2 • LI amec* ECEIV FEB 06 2003 ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT 5 February, 2003 03-011-3151 Project No. 319721000-1007 Ms. Sherri Howard Project Manager City of Carlsbad Engineering Department 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, California 92008 Subject: Temporary Wetland Impacts of the Cannon Road Extension Project (Macario Bridge) Year Two Sixth Monthly Horticultural Monitoring Report for January 2003 Dear Ms. Howard: AMEC Earth & Environmental (AMEC) submits the sixth monthly horticultural monitoring letter report for the temporary wetland impacts for the Cannon Road Extension Project. This letter will also discuss the implementation of remedial measures for portions of the mitigation site. The project is authorized under United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Opinion on Cannon Road (Reaches 1 and 2); United States Army Corps of Engineers Permit Application No. 97-20130-TCD & 97-20131-TCD, City of Carlsbad, California (1-6-97-F-51); California Department Fish and Game (CDFG) Section 1601 Streambed Alteration Agreement No. 5-044- 97 & 5-045-97; CDFG California Incidental Take Permit (No. 2081-1998-0-5); and California Coastal Commission Coastal Development Permit No. 6-97-11. According to the Conceptual Wetland Mitigation Plan for Temporary Wetland Impacts of the Cannon-Road Extension Project Carlsbad, California, July 2000, monthly horticultural monitoring reports must be sent to the City and the landscape maintenance contractor, Native Landscape, Inc. (Native Landscape) for year's one and two of the Cannon Road Extension Project. This is the sixth monthly horticultural report for year two. On January 8, 2003 AMEC performed the sixth monthly horticultural site visit for year two of the Cannon Road Macario Bridge wetland area horticultural monitoring program. During the site visit, AMEC personnel Jessie Walker and Debbie Fromme of Native Landscape assessed the condition of the site. The irrigation system maintenance, weed control, and the health of wetland vegetation are discussed below. Supplemental irrigation is still being applied to all portions of the wetland mitigation site. Portions of the site are dry due to the lack-of rainfall. AMEC will continue to monitor the site and recommend that the irrigation be adjusted if the plants appear stressed. AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc. 5510 Morehouse Drive San Diego, CA 92121 Tel (858) 458-9044 Fax (858) 458-0943 www.amec.com 319721000-1007/3151-0203R007 Ms. Sherri Howard City of Carlsbad 5 February, 2003 amec All of the nOnnative invasive species that were previously located in the mitigation site have been removed. However', speies such as pampas grass (Cortaderia sp.) and bristly ox-tongue (Picris echioides) will most likely continue to be problem species at this site since these species are present adjacent to the, site. AMEC and Native Landscape will continue to monitor the mitigation site for all invasive' species. Remedial measures ioutlinOd in the fifth horticultural monitoring letter report, which included seeding and instal lingcuttings, were installed on the morning of January 25, 2003. Earlier in the month, AMEC provided Native Landscape an email dated January 6, 2003 (Letter Attached) and instructi6ns by mail, which discussed the seed poundage, number of cuttings and industry standard guidelines for installation of cuttings. AMEC and Native Landscape personnel met at the 'site on, January 25, 2003 to discuss the installatioh of the remedial measures, which were 'implemented shortly,after the meeting. On February 3, 2003, 'AMEC visited the mitigation site to inspect the installation of the remedial measures., The remedial measures appear to have been installed to industry standards. AMEC will continue to monitor the success of the remedial measures in the areas where they were implemented. AMEC will continue mohthiy horticultural monitoring visits and submit. monthly, progress reports: for year two in accordance with the project's permits-and agreements. Please call me at (858) 458-9044, extension 264, or email me atjessica.walker@amec.com, if you have any questions. Sincerely, AMEC Earth.& Environmental, Inc. --- . Jessie Walker Botanist JW/css Enclosure , Debbie Fràmme; Native Landscape, Inc. File Contracts 319721000-1007/3 15 1-0203R007 Page 2 January 6, 2003 Ms. Debbie Fromme Native Landscape, Inc. Subject: CannonRoad Remedial -Measures Year Two Remedial Measures Introduction Dead container plants and cuttings and areas with little to no vegetative cover were identified in the mitigation site during the month of October. Remedial measures are recommended for these dead container plants and cuttings and areas with little vegetation to ensure that the site meets success standards. Overall description The Cannon Road Wetland Mitigation Site is comprised of approximately 2.56 acres of southern willow scrub and freshwater marsh revegetated habitat. Limited remedial measures shall be employed before the end of January of 2003. The site is irrigated and is comprised of a revegetated access road, an area underneath the Macario Bridge and a revegetated slope on the northeastern side of the wetland mitigation site. The remedial measures outlined below include the collecting and installing of willow and mulefat cuttings and hand seeding approximately 0.05 acre of wetland habitat. AMEC shall accompany Native Landscape, Inc. to show them the coflection, planting, and seeding 0.05-acre areas, which need remedial measures. Task 1. Collect and Install Cuttings Arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis), black willow (Salix goOddingi,) and mulefat (Baácharis salicifolia) cuttings shall be collected from areas adjacent to the wetland mitigation site and install'd. Cuttings shall be collected in January during the willow and mulefat dormancy period and installed to industry standards within 24 hours after collection. Approximately 10 arroyo willow, 10 black willow, and 15 mulefat cuttings shall be collected and installed in the designated areas. Task 2. Seeding Hand rake or rip soil and hand seed wetland species (Table 1) in designated areas and include wheat bran in the seed mix. All purchased seed should come from a local source, when possible. Prior to seeding, the restoration ecologist will mark areas to be seeded and verify that seed mixes are accurate. All seed labels shall be kept and given .to the restoration ecologist, after seeding is completed. The seed poundage has been doubled since hydroseeding was employed originally. Table 1 CANNON ROAD WETLAND MITIGATION SITE REVISED SEED MIX FOR FALL 2003 REMEDIAL MEASURES Scientific Name Common Name Original Pounds per Acre from Hydroseeding Remedial Pounds per Acre for 0.05 Acre Minimus Percent Pure Live Seed Ambrosia psilostacya western ragweed 2 0.2 Not available Anemopsis californica yerba mansa 2 0.2 27 Artemisia douglasiana Douglas mugwort 4 0.4 5 Scientific Name Common Name Original Pounds per Acre from Hydroseeding Remedial Pounds per Acre for 0.05 Acre Minimus Percent Pure Live Seed• Baccharis salicifolia mulefat 5 0.5 1 If you have any questions please contact me at (858) 458-9044, extension 264. I will be in touch with you to confirm receipt of this request, schedule a walkthrough for this week if possible, and confirm implementation of the remedial measures before the end of February. ' ) •.• Sincerely, • Jessie Walker I • ) RECEIVED JUL 10 2002 Am R.M-, r July 2002 ENGINEERING 02-124-3151 DEPARTMENT Project No. 3-25400000-1001-3151 Ms. Sherri Howard Project Manager City of Carlsbad Engineering Department 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, California 92008 Subject: Olivenhain Road Widening Wetland Mitigation Site-Second Horticultural Monitoring Report 2002 and Triannual Formal Field Meeting Dear Ms. Howard: AMEC Earth & Environmental (AMEC) submits this letter as the second of three horticultural monitoring reports for the Olivenhain road widening wetland mitigation site to the City of Carlsbad (the City) for your records for 2002. This letter also details a triannual field visit between the City and Native Landscape, Inc. (Native Landscape)' and AMEC on 16 June 2002. The present status :of the site including weeding, volunteer establishment, and irrigation are addressed in this letter report. The project is authorized under U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Section 404-Nationwide Permit No. 95-2009613H and California Department Fish and Game Section 1601 Streambed Alteration. Agreement No. 5-560-94. According to the Olivenhain Road Widening/Realignment and Flood Control Project Wetland Mitigation/Revegetation Plan Carlsbad, California, November 1995, horticultural monitoring reports must be completed and sent to the City and the landscape maintenance contractor, Native Landscape, three times a year. The June 2002 visit is the second of three horticultural monitoring visits for year five of the mitigation. The site is presently performing well and has been properly maintained over the past year. Weeding is occurring regularly at the site and no invasive and/or nonnative species were detected at the site. 0 Many volunteer riparian and upland scrub plant species are present at the site and little bare ground is present. Plant communities consisting of an abundance of native species that occur in several age classes have colonized most of the site. Several species including giant wild rye (Leymus condensatus), California sage (Artemisia californica), and Hooker's evening primrose (Qenothera elata ssp. hirsutissima) were observed flowering or setting seed at the site. Supplemental irrigation is presently being applied to the northern dike portion adjacent to the mitigation site and the northwestern edge of the wetland mitigation site. All other portions of the dike and the wetland mitigation site are existing on natural conditions. AMEC recommended modifying the irrigation schedule for the dike and a portion of the western part of the wetland mitigation site during the May horticultural visit and during this triannual formal field meeting. Please see the May letter report for the irrigation schedule - modification. Native Landscape implemented this irrigation schedule modification during the last week in June 2002. AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc. 5510 Morehouse Drive 0 San Diego, CA 92121 Tel (858) 458-9044 Fax (858) 458-0943 www.amec.com 325400000-1001/3151-0702R065 325400000-1001/3151-0702R065, Page ' . / S Ala Ms. Sherri Howard City of Carlsbad. 8 July 2002 Past issues regarding the dike portion adjacent to the wetland mitigation site have been resolved and are explained in detail in the fourth annual report AMEC will continue site visits and submit letter reports in accordance with the project's permits and, agreements. Please call me at (858) 458-9044, extension 264, or. e-mail me at jessica.walker@amec.com, if you have any questions. . . Sincerely, . AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc. Jessie Walker -. Botanist- . JW/css cc: Debbie Fromme, Native Landscape, Inc.' . File Contracts / a An ifflK 6 June 2002 02-101-3151 Project No.315052000-11006 Ms. .Sherri Howard Project Manager City of Carlsbad Engineering Department 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, California 92008 RECEIVED JUN 1 0 2002 ENGINEERING EPARTMENT Subject: Olivenhain Road Widening Wetland Mitigation Site-Second Horticultural, Monitoring Report 2002 Dear Ms. Howard: AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc. (AMEC) submits this letter as the second of three horticultural monitoring reports for the Olivenhain road widening wetland mitigation site to the City of Carlsbad (the City) for your records for 2002. This letter also details afield visit between the Native Landscape, Inc. . (Native Landscape) and AMEC on 22 May 2002. The present status of the site including irrigation, weed abatement, container plant health, and\established plant vigor are discussed in this letter. The project is authorized under U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (KCOE) Section 404 Nationwide Permit. No. 95-20096-BH and California Department of Fish and Game Section 1601 Streambed Alteration Agreement No. 5-560-94. According to the Olivenhain Road Widening/Realignment and Flood Control Project Wetland Mitigation/Revegetation Plan Carlsbad, California, November 1995, horticultural monitoring reports must be completed and sent to the City and the landscape maintenance contractor, Native Landscape, three times .a year. TheMay 2002 visit is the second of three horticultural monitoring visits for year five of the mitigation. The site is presently performing well and has been properly maintained. Supplemental irrigation is presently being applied to the northern dike portion adjacent to the site and the northwestern edge of the wetland mitigation area. All other portions of the site are existing on natural conditions. . . In order to promote deep root growth so that the container plants can be weaned off irrigation, AMEC recommends the following alterations to the irrigation schedule. The areas receiving irrigation will be irrigated for 30 minutes, 2 times a week, for the next 6 weeks. After the initial 6 weeks, the water schedule should be changed to 30 minutes, once a week, for approximately 1 m onth. . After 1 month the water schedule should be changed to 30 minutes every 2 weeks for approximately 2 months. During fall irrigation Will be used to -mimic seasonal rain conditions if we do not receive normal rainfall. AMEC will monitor the, site to ensure that the site remains healthy and that the supplemental water is penetrating the soil and reaching the roots. AMEC will work with Native Landscape to ensure that the irrigation schedule is altered. AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc. 5510 Morehouse Drive San Diego, CA 92121 Tel (858) 458-9044 . Fax (858) 458-0943 . . www.amec.com 7- S. • Ms. Sher ri Howard City of Carlsbad 6 June 2002 amec / Weeding has not occurred regularly at the site since April, but will resum'>e. Nonnative and/or nonnative noxious weed establishment does not appear to be a.threatto the success of the site, as the site is stable and most of the native perennial vegetation has become established. Many volunteer riparian and upland scrub plant species have become established, and several age classes are evident. AMEC willcontinue site visits and submit letter reports in accordance with the project's permits and agreements. Please call me at (858) 458-9044, extension 264, or e-mail me at jessica.walker@amec.com, if you have any questions. Sincerely, AMEC Earth & Environmental,, Inc. Jessie Walker ' •. Botanist JW/css • ' ' • cc: Dëbbiè Fromme; Native Landscape; Inc. File' Contracts AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc. 5510 Morehouse Drive - San Diego, CA 92121 • Tel (858) 458-9044 , ' Fax (858) 458-0943 www.amec.com 315052000-1006/3151-0602R041 Page , 01-1963151 amee November 1, 2001 Ms. Sherri Howard Project Manager City of Carlsbad Engineering Department 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, California 92008 Subject: Olivenhain Road Widening Mitigation Site-Second and Third Horticultural Reports and Discussion on Loss of Mitigation Acreage During the Triannual Formal Field Meeting Dear Ms. Howard: AMEC Earth & Environmental (AMEC) submits this letter as the second and third horticultural monitoring reports for the Olivenhain road widening mitigation area to the City of Carlsbad (The City) for your records. A horticultural letter report was written that covered the month of April 2001 and this report covers the months of August and September 2001. This letter also details a site visit on 19 October 2001 to discuss the loss of 0.991 acres of mitigation at the Olivenhain site. The-project has U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 Nationwide Permit No. 95- 20096-BH and California Department Fish and Game Section 1601 Streambed Alteration Agreement No. 5-560-94. According to the Olivenhain Road Widening/Realignment and Flood Control Project Wetland Mitigation/Revegetation Plan. Carlsbad, California, November 1995, horticultural monitoring reports must be completed and sent to The City and the landscape maintenance contractor, Native Landscape, Inc. (Native Landscape) three times a year. The August and September 2001 visits complete the horticultural monitoring for the fourth year of the Olivenhain Road widening mitigation site. A representative from Native Landscape, Debbie Frômme, and a biologist from AMEC visited the site on 17 August 2001. During the site visit, the irrigation system, native plant health and recruitment, and weeding of the site were discussed No maintenance recommendations resulted from the August meeting. During the September site visit, AMEC initiated the botanical monitoring (results to be included in the fourth annual report) of the site and completed the third and final horticultural, monitoring of the site for this year. Overall, the site is progressing extremely well. Volunteer recruitment, of many plants such as willow (Salix sp.), 'mule fat (Baccharis salicifolia), arrow weed (Pluchea sericea), salt marsh.fleabane (Pluchea odorata), gàldenbush (Isocoma 'menziesii), and giant wild rye (Leymus condensatus), have occurred throughout the site. There is continuous native plant cover, many vigorous native plants, and several evident age classes that have established throughout the site. A list of plant species presently occurring on site was compiled during this visit (Table 1). AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc. 5510 Morehouse Drive San Diego, CA 92121 Tel 858-458-9044 Fax 858-458-0943 www.amec.com Ms. Sherri Howard • . . ca • November 1, 2001 ame Page 2. There are a small number of dead container plants at the site. One hundred twenty-five container plants were planted in April 2001 as part of a remedial action at the site. During the September site visit, approximately 10 of these container plants were dead, and another .10 appeared stunted and unhealthy from lack of water and/or rabbit herbivory. It is not recommended at this time that these dead container plants be replaced since the majority of the container plants have survived and there are many native, volunteer plant species on site. Weeds are not a problem on site at this time. The levels, of non-native 'and/or invasive weed species on site were low and have obviously been controlled. Many of the non- native and/or invasive 'plant species such as pampas grass (Cortaderia sp) have previously been removed from the site. There are some non-native species on site such. as black mustard (Brassica nigra), poison hemlock (Conium rnaOulatum),. horseweed (COnyza canadeQsis), and cocklebur. (Xanthium strumarium). They are present in low numbers, but should be removed by Native Landscape during one of their regular site 'visits. It has become apparent, over the last year that. a portion of the mitigation site was taken over by a housing development. Approximately 0.991 acres located on the southern dike portion of the site was bladed and is now part of a housing development. Concordia Homes. developed portions of the mitigation site after The City vacated a site easement: The site history, loss of mitigation acreage, and the current site conditions, Were discussed ,during the triann'uàl formal field meeting. which occurred on .19 October ,..with Native Landscape, Dudek and Assoôiates (Dudek), and AMEC. ,The City. 'determined that' Dukek would determine the 'remaining mitigation acreage using geographic 'positioning system technology, and. locate a suitable wetland/upland mitigation site, at a 'determuied mitigation ratio, to replace the 0.991 acreage that Was developed AMEC would research the' site history, assist Dudek in locating a wetland/upland mitigation parcel, coordinate discussions and 'proposals with necessary agencies, and prepare a conceptual mitigation and monitoring, plan for the new mitigation site. AMEC will continue site visits and submit letter reports, including the fourth annual report, in accordance with the project's permits and agreements. Please call me at (858) 458-9044, extension 264, or e-mail me at jessica.walker@amec.com, if you have any questions. Sincerely, Jes'e Walker Botanist Attachment cc: Debbie Fromme - Native Landscape, Inc. amec TABLE I OLIVENHAIN ROAD WETLAND MITIGATION AREA FLORAL SPECIES LIST September 2001 Scientific Name Common Name * Ana gal/is arvnsis Anemopsis californica Artemisia douglasiana Artemisia ca/iforriica Artemisia palmer! BacOhatis sa/icifolia Baccharis pi/u/àris * Brassica nigra * Carpobrotus edu/is * Conium mabu/atum * Conyza canadensis Cyperus escu/entus • Distich/is spicata Encelia californica EschschO/zia californica Frankenia sauna * Gnàphalium species Hëterome/es arbutifo/ia Isocoma menziesi Isoméris árborëa Junbus acutus Leymus cOndensatus * Lobu/aria maritima • Lotus scoparius * Me/lotus a/ba * Me/lotus indica Oenothera hooker! * Picris echioides Pluchea odorata Pluchea serica * Polypogon monsp/iensis Rumex crispus Sa/icornia virginica Sa/ix exigua Sa/ix /asio/epis Scirpus ca/ifornicus Scirpus robusta * So/anum nigrurn * Sonchus oleraceus * . Washingtonia rObusta Xanthium strumarium * Denotes non-native and/or invasive species scarlet pimpernel yerba mansa Douglas mügwort California sagebrush Palmer's sagewort mule fat coyote bush black mustard Hoténtot fig Poison hemlock horseweed yellow nutsedge saltg rass coastal sunflower California poppy alkali heath. cudweed toyon coastal goldenbush bladderpod spiny rush giant wild rye sweet alyssum deerweed sweetclover sourclover Hooker's evening primrose bristly ox-tongue salt marsh fleabane arrow weed rabbit's foot grass curly dock pickleweed narrow-leaved willow. arroyo willow bulrush alkali rush black nightshade annual sow thistle Mexican fan palm cocklebur