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Home My WebLink AboutCT 14-04; Miles Buena Vista; PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCE ASSESSMENT; 2015-02-24• ABBREVIATED TECHNICAL REPORT PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCE ASSESSMENT MILES BUENA VISTA CITY OF CARLSBAD SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Prepared for: MILES-PACIFIC, LP c/o BHA, INC. 5115 A VENIDA ENCINAS, SUITE L CARLSBAD, CA 92008-8700 Prepared by: DEPARTMENT OF PALEOSERVICES SAN DIEGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM P.O. Box 121390 SAN DIEGO, CA 92112 Shelly L. Donohue, M.S., Paleontological Report Writer Thomas A. Demere, Ph.D., Director 24 February 2015 ~ I -' .... i..: ~ ',~' j i, 1·\ PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND SCOPE OF WORK This technical report provides an assessment of paleontological resources at the Miles Buena Vista project site in the City of Carlsbad, San Diego County, CA. The project site is located in northwest Carlsbad, CA, and is bordered to the northwest by Buena Vista Way, to the southeast by McCauley Lane, to the southwest by an existing residential and agricultural property, and to the northeast by Monroe Street (Figure 1 ). The proposed Miles Buena Vista project involves construction of a new I I-lot subdivision of single family residential homes and associated structures ( e.g., utilities, streets, driveways, sidewalks, landscaping). Proposed excavation operations associated with construction are anticipated to extend to a maximum depth of 5.5 feet below the existing grade. Because these excavations will impact native sedimentary rocks, it was determined that a paleontological resource assessment should be conducted, in order to determine whether the proposed project has potential to negatively impact paleontological resources. This assessment report is intended to summarize existing paleontological resource data in the project area, discuss the significance of these resources, examine project related impacts to paleontological resources, and suggest mitigation measures to reduce impacts to paleontological resources to less than significant levels. The assessment includes the results of an institutional records search of the paleontological collections at the San Diego Natural History Museum (SDNHM) and a pedestrian survey of the project site. This report was written by Shelly L. Donohue and Thomas A. Demere of the Department of PaleoServices, SDNHM. DEFINITION OF PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES As defined here, paleontological resources (i.e., fossils) are the buried remains and/or traces of prehistoric organisms (i.e., animals, plants, and microbes). Body fossils such as bones, teeth, shells, leaves, and wood, as well as trace fossils such as tracks, trails, burrows, and footprints, are found in the geological deposits (formations) within which they were originally buried. The primary factor determining whether an object is a fossil or not isn't how the organic remain or trace is preserved ( e.g., "petrified"), but rather the age of the organic remain or trace. Although typically it is assumed that fossils must be older than -10,000 years (i.e., the generally accepted end of the last glacial period of the Pleistocene Epoch), organic remains of early Holocene age can also be considered to represent fossils because they are part of the record of past life. Fossils are considered important scientific and educational resources because they serve as direct and indirect evidence of prehistoric life and are used to understand the history of life on Earth, the nature of past environments and climates, the membership and structure of ancient ecosystems, and the pattern and process of organic evolution and extinction. In addition, fossils are considered to be non-renewable resources because typically the organisms they represent no longer exist. Thus, once destroyed, a particular fossil can never be replaced. And finally, for the purposes of this report, paleontological resources can be thought of as including not only the actual fossil remains and traces, but also the fossil collecting localities and the geological formations containing those localities. GEOLOGIC SETTING The proposed Miles Buena Vista project site lies within the coastal plain of San Diego County. Along the coastal plain, the Mesozoic basement rocks of the Jurassic-Cretaceous Santiago Peak Volcanics and the Cretaceous Peninsular Ranges Batholith are nonconformably overlain by Miles Buena Vista -Paleontological Resource Assessment, February 2015 1 sedimentary rocks of Late Cretaceous, Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene age (Hanna, 1926; Kennedy and Moore, 1971; Kennedy, 1975). Previous geologic mapping (Kennedy and Tan, 2008; Figure 1) indicates that the project area is entirely underlain by Pleistocene-age terrace deposits (also referred to as Quaternary Older Paralic Deposits, Units 2-4; Qop2_4). Pleistocene terrace deposits in coastal San Diego County occur on a stair-step succession of uplifted marine abrasion platforms (ancient sea floors) that range in elevation from about 40 feet to over 500 feet above sea level and extend up to nine miles inland from the coast. The oldest platforms/terraces are in the east and may be as old as one million years (Kem and Rockwell, 1992). The terrace deposits exposed within the project area are correlated with the Bay Point Formation (700,000 to I 0,000 years old), a primarily near- shore marine rock unit best known from exposures in and around San Diego Bay and Mission Bay (Kennedy, 1975; Kem, 1977). Typical exposures of marine terrace deposits of this age consist of light gray, friable to partially cemented fine-to coarse-grained, massive to cross- bedded sandstone (Hertlein and Grant, 1939; Kennedy, 1975), which locally are overlain by non- marine alluvium and/or colluvium. Deposits of the Bay Point Formation in coastal San Diego County have produced large and exceptionally diverse assemblages of well-preserved marine invertebrate fossils, primarily mollusks (Hertlein and Grant, 1939; Valentine, 1959; Demere, 1981; 1983). Remains of fossil marine vertebrates (i.e., sharks, rays, and bony fishes) and terrestrial vertebrates (e.g., amphibians, pond turtle, lizard, snake, bird) including important records of land mammals such as rodents, rabbit, horse, tapir, camel, deer, bison and ground sloth have also been recovered (Demere and Walsh, 1993; unpublished SDNHM paleontological records). Because of the abundance of scientifically significant fossils, the Bay Point Formation is considered to have a high paleontological potential. PALEONTOLOGICAL RECORDS SEARCH A paleontological record search was conducted at SDNHM in order to discover the number of documented fossil localities within the vicinity of the project site. There are 12 fossil localities within I mile of the project (Figure 1; Appendix 1 ), that yielded fossilized remains of marine invertebrates, marine vertebrates, and terrestrial vertebrates from unnamed Pleistocene alluvial and estuarine deposits. While these deposits are about the same age as the Bay Point Formation underlying the project site, they were deposited in a coastal valley setting as part of an ancient floodplain and estuary, which differs from the deposits at the project site, which were deposited in an exposed shoreline setting (marine terrace). No fossil localities from the marine terrace deposits of the Bay Point Formation are known within 1 mile of the project site. PALEONTOLOGICAL FIELD SURVEY A paleontological field survey was conducted by Shelly L. Donohue on February 11, 2015. During the field survey, weathered deposits of the Bay Point Formation were observed in surficial exposures, and from shallow spoil piles generated from uprooted palm trees. These deposits generally consisted of oxidized, reddish brown, micaceous, poorly sorted, silty, fine-to medium-grained sandstones with occasional pebbles. Observations of deposits exposed in the slope along the eastern margin of the project site indicate that the heavily oxidized nature of the Miles Buena Vista -Paleonto/ogical Resource Assessment, February 20 I 5 2 deposits extends for at least 15 feet below existing grade, which is consistent with the boring logs published in the geotechnical report (GeoSoils, Inc., 2014). No fossils were observed during the paleontological field survey. Further, the heavily oxidized nature of the sandstones suggests a low fossil preservation potential for the Bay Point Formation at the project site. In a setting like this, oxidation typically is a result of post-depositional processes involving chemical interactions with groundwater as it flows through sedimentary rocks, destroying contained fossil remains along the way by chemical leaching. RECOMMENDATIONS Because of the weathered and oxidized nature of the Bay Point Formation strata at the project site, the lack of known fossil resources in these strata within I -mile of the project site, and the relatively shallow depth (less than 5.5. feet) of proposed excavations, it is believed that the Miles Buena Vista project, as currently proposed: will not impact p,a)eantalogical reso.w:c.es. As a result, paleontological mitigation is not recommended for the Miles Buena Vista project. Miles Buena Vista -Paleonto/ogical Resource Assessment, February 2015 3 l!!ii] ~dtpo9b l§J""J.."'tr*- lllii)~~d.po91ls ~~,r-- Miles Buena Vista -Paleontological Resource Assessment, February 2015 ... ..... 4 REFERENCES Demere, T.A. 1981. A newly recognized late Pleistocene marine fauna from the City of San Diego, San Diego County, California. In, P.L. Abbott and S. O'Dunn (eds.), Geologic Investigations of the San Diego Coastal Plain. San Diego Association of Geologists, fieldtrip guidebook, pp. 1-10. Demere, T.A. 1983. The Neogene San Diego Basin: A review of the marine Pliocene San Diego Formation . .m_,_ D.K. Larue and R.J. Steel (eds.), Cenozoic Marine Sedimentation, Pacific Margin, U.S.A .. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Pacific Section 28:187-195. Demere, T.A., and S.L. Walsh. 1993. Paleontological Resources, County of San Diego. Prepared for the Department of Public Works, County of San Diego, 68 p. Hanna, M.A., 1926. Geology of the La Jolla Quadrangle, California. University of California Publications in Geological Sciences 16:187-246. Hertlein, L. G. and Grant, U.S., IV. 1939. Geology and oil possibilities of southwestern San Diego County: California Journal of Mines and Geology 35:57-77. GeoSoils, Inc., 2014. Preliminary Geotechnical Evaluation, Proposed Residential Subdivision, 1833 Buena Vista Way, Carlsbad, San Diego County, California. Prepared for Miles- Pacific, LLC c/o BHA, Inc. by R.B. Boehmer, D.W. Skelly, J.P. Franklin. March 17, 2014. Kennedy, M.P., 1975, Western San Diego Metropolitan area: Del Mar, La Jolla, and Point Loma 7.5 minute quadrangles: -California Division of Mines and Geology, Bulletin 200:1-39. Kennedy, M.P. and G.W. Moore. 1971. Stratigraphic relations of upper Cretaceous and Eocene formations, San Diego coastal area, California. American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Bulletin 55:709-722. Kennedy, M.P. and S.S. Tan, 2008, Geologic map of the Oceanside 30' x 60' quadrangle, California: California Geological Survey, Regional Geologic Map No. 3, scale 1: 100,000. Kem, J.P. 1977. Origin and history of upper Pleistocene marine terraces, San Diego, California. Geological Society of America, Bulletin 88: 1553-1566. Kem, J.P. and T.K. Rockwell. 1992. Chronology and deformation of Quaternary marine shorelines, San Diego County, California. In, Quaternary Coasts of the United States: Marine and lacustrine Systems. SEPM Special Publication 48:377-382. San Diego Natural History Museum (SDNHM), unpublished paleontological collections data and field notes. Valentine, J.W. 1959. Pleistocene molluscan notes. I. The Bay Point Formation at its type locality. Journal of Paleontology 33:685-688. Miles Buena Vista -Paleontological Resource Assessment, February 2015 5 APPENDIX Miles Buena Vista -Paleontological Resource Assessment, February 2015 6 DATE 02/23/15 TIME 15:30:58 SAN DIEGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM DEPARTMENT OF PALECJI/TOLOGY LOCALITY LI ST PAL 120 NUMBER ---LOCALITY NAME AND GEOGRAPHIC LDCATIO!I-------------ROCK ANO TIME UNITS-ROCK TYPE-FIELO NOTES---------------------COLLECTORS-COMPILED BY ENTERED BY-DONOR------------4025 Pacific Coast Plaza unnamed u, i t 8.0. Riney, C.P. Majors 10 Jul 1996 Oceanside San Diego Co. CA U.S.A. Cenozoic Quaternary late Pleistocene T.A. Demere 27 ·Feb 1997 33°10 '51 "N--117°20 °40"11 sdst-estuarine H.P. Don Vito 27 Feb 1997 San Luis Rev CA 1 :24000 USGS 1968(1975) B.O. Rinev NB/118:113 114· NB/119:16 17 24 Gatlin Develnnn<>nt C=nv 10 Jul 1996 4026 Pacific Coast Plaza unnamed uni t B.D. Riney 30 Jul 1996 Oceanside San Diego Co. CA U.S.A. Cenozoic Quaternary late Pleistocene T .A. Demere 27 Feb 199,7 33°1 o 15711N· -111°20 12411w sdst-estuarine H.P. Don Vito 27 Feb 1997 San Luis Rev. CA 1 :24000 USGS 1968(1975) B.D. Riney NB/118:130 Get l in Devel Ol'YRfmt Cnmnanv 30 Jul 1996 4028 Pacific Coast Plaza unnamed uni t e.o. Riney 10 Sep 1996 Oceanside San Diego Co. CA U.S.A. Cenozoic Quaternary late Pleistocene T .A. Demere 27 Feb 1997 33°10' 55"N--117°20°34"11 sdst-estuarine H.P. Don Vho 27 Feb 1997 San Luis Rev CA 1:24000 USGS 196811975\ S.O. Rinev HS#19:37 Gatlin Develo~nt C=nv 10 Seo 1996 4030 Pacific Coast Plaza unnamed uni t S.O. Riney 11 Sep 1996 Oceanside San Diego Co. CA U.S.A. Cenozoic Quaternary late Pleistocene T .A. Demere 27 Feb 1997 33°10 '54"N·· 117'20 °33"11 sdst-estuarine H.P. Don Vito 27 Feb 1997 San Luis Rev CA 1 : 24000 USGS 1968( 1975 l B.O. Rinev NS#19:35 Gatlin Devel-t c-anv 11 Seo 1996 4031 Pacific Coast Plaza unnamed unit B.O. Riney 14 Aug 1996 Oceanside San Diego Co. CA U.S.A. Cenozoic Quaternary late Pleistocene T .A. Demere 27 Feb 1997 33°10 '53"N--117°20 °34"W sdst ... estuurine H.P. Don Vito -;:r Feb 1997 San Luis Rev CA 1:24000 USGS 1968(1975) B.D. Rinev Gatlin Devel-t c~anv 14 AU<! 1996 4032 Pacific Coast P laze unnamed uni t B.O. Riney 16 Sep 1996 Oceanside San Diego Co. CA U.S.A. Cenozoic Quaternary lat~ Pleistocene T .A. Demere 27 Feb 1997. 33°10 '56"N--117°20°25"11 sdst-estuarine H.P. Don Vito 27 Feb 1997 San Luis Rev CA 1:24000 USGS 196811975\ B.O. Rinev Gatlin o .. velo-t c~nv 16 Seo 1996 4033 Pacific Coast Plaza unnamed ii,it 8.D. Riney 26 Aug 1996 Oceanside San Diego Co. CA U.S.A. Cenozoic Quaternary late Pleistocene T.A. Demere 27 Feb 1997 33°10' 57"N· • 117'20 °33"W sdst-estuarfne H.P. Don Vito 27 Feb 1997 San Luis Rev. CA 1:24000 USGS 1968(1975\ e.o. Rinev NB/119:16 17 Gatlin Devel~nt c~anv 26 Auo 1996 4045 Pacific Coast Pla2a unnMled uni t R.O. Riney 20 Sep 1996 Oceanside San Diego Co. CA U.S.A. Cenozoic Quaternary lete Pleistocene Rancholabreen T .A. Demere 23 Jii, 1997 33'10' 56"N· • 117°20 °25"11 sdst-estuarfne H.P. Don Vito 23 Jii, 1997 San Luis Rev CA 1 :24000 USGS 1968(1975) B.D. Riney Gatlin Oevel ............. nt C ............ anv 20 s~ 1996 5468 The Sum,it at Carlsbad -Tagelus Bed unnamed estuarine l.lf1i t B.O. Riney, G. Calvano, G. Aron 17 Mar 2004 Carlsbad San Diego Co. CA U.S.A. Cenozoic Quaternary late Plei.stocene B.O. Riney 5 Nov 2004 33 °10 '42"N--117°19' 20"W sdst-estuarine H.P. Don Vito 5 Nov 2004 San Luis Rev CA 1:24000 USGS 1968C1975l SOR book # 29 oaoes 28-29 Pacific Pr~rties 17 Har 2004 5469 The Sum,i t at Carlsbad unnamed river terrace B.O. Riney, G. Galvano 14 Hay 2004 Carlsbad San Diego Co. CA USA Cenozoic Quaternary late Pleistocene Rancholabrean B.D. Riney 11 Oct 2004 33°10 °43''N· • 117°19119"11 sltst-flwial K.A. R•ndaH 27 Dec 2004 San Luis Rev CA 1 :24000 USGS 196811975\ SOR book #29 P!lS 28-29 Pacific Prnn.>rties 14 Mav 2004 5470 The Sunmit at Carlsbad unnamed river terrace B~D-Riney, G-Calvano, H.M. llagner 12 May 2004 Carlsbad San Diego Co. CA USA Cenozoic Quaternary late Pleistocene Rancholebrean B.D. Riney 11 Oct 2004 33°10 '43"N--117°19' 16"11 •dst·flwial K.A. Randall 27 Dec 2004 San Luls Rev CA 1: 24000 USGS 1968(1975\ BDR book II 29 oa9s 28-29 Pacific Prooerties 12 Hav 2004 5471 The Sum,it at Carlsbad unnamed river terrace G. Calvano 27 Apr 2004 Carlsbad San Diego Co. CA USA Cenozoic Quaternary late PI ei stocene Ranchol abrean B.D. Riney 11 Oct 2004 33' 10 '45"N-• 117°19' 18"11 sltst·flwial K.A. Randall 27 Dec 2004 San Luis Rev CA 1 :24000 USGS 1968(1975) BOR book #29 oq 28 Pacific Prnn,,rties 27 Aor 2004