HomeMy WebLinkAboutCP 97-02; Calavera Hills Village L-1; Condo Permit (CP) (10)Anita M. Hayworth
Biological Consultant
June 9, 1997
Mr. Don Clurman
The Clurman Company
455 Linden Street
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Re: California Gnatcatclier Survey for Calavera Hills Village L-l Project
Dear Mr. Clurman:
As requested by the City of Carlsbad, a survey for the presence/absence of the California
gnatcatcher (Polioptila ealifomica) was conducted for the 6.3-acre Calavera Hills Village L-l
project site The property is located on Harwich Drive adjacent to the proposed Edgeware
Way in Carlsbad, California. The lower slope of the property is adjacent to Tamarack
Avenue.
Methods
The focused survey for the California gnatcatcher was conducted on the project site on May
29, June 5, and 12, 1997 by Anita M. Hayworth, Ph.D. Dr. Hayworth holds a federal permit
(PRT-781084) to conduct surveys for the gnatcatcher The survey was conducted following
the currently accepted protocol of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Scientific
Review Panel, The survey included three visils to the site at weekly intervals. All areas of
vegetation within the project site were visited during each survey. The route used to survey
the habitat varied during each visit and was arranged to ensure complete coverage of the
habitat. The weather conditions were generally pleasant and mild as shown in Table 1.
Temperatures ranged from 61 to 65°F. The winds were low (0-8 MPH) and skies were
partly cloudy to clear. The time of day for the surveys was 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for
approximately one-half hour for each visit to survey the 1.7 acres of coastal sage scrub
habitat. A tape of recorded vocalizations was used in order to elicit responses from the
species, if present.
Table I. Suivey Conditions for Calavera Hills Village L-l
Date
May 29, 1997
June 5, 1997
June 12, 1997
Time
0830 - 0900
0600 - 0630
0900 - 0930
Air
Temperature
61 -61
63 - 63
65 - 65
Winds peed
0 - ) MPH
5 - 8 MPH
1 - 3 MPH
Cloud Cover
Clear
Clear
Overcast
1235 Meadow Wood Place / Encinitas, CA 92024 / (760) 753-2301
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Page 2
The California gnatcatcher is a. federally threatened species and a California Department of
Fish and Game species of special concern. It is closely associated with coastal sage scrub
(CSS) habitat, particularly that dominated by California sagebrush (Artemisia califomica) and
California buckwheat (Eriogonttm fasciculatum). It typically occurs below 950 feet elevation
and on slopes less than 40%. The species is threatened primarily by loss, degradation and
fragmentation of coastal sage scrub habitat and is also impacted by brown-headed cowbird
parasitism.
Results
No California gnatcatchers were observed on the project site. The amount of habitat available
for use by the gnatcatcher on Village L-l is very small. No brown-headed cowbirds were
observed on the site.
Most of the project site is cleared of vegetation and has been graded. The edges of the slopes
below the graded portion are also either cleared or contain non-native plant species such as
wild fennel, grasses such as brome and wild oat, or landscape plants such as acacia. Below
the cleared area and on the remaining portion of the slope the vegetation community consists
of coastal sage scrub (CSS). The vegetation is dominated by California sagebrush (Artemisia
cafifornica) (40%), flat-topped buckwheat (Erioftomm Jasciculoium) (10%), laurel sumac
(Malosma Icairina) (20%), black sage (Salvia mellifent) (20%), with other typical coastal sage
scrub species present such as California encelia (Encelia califomica), coyotebrush (Baccharis
pillularis var. consangninea), and lemonadebeny (Rhits inicgrifolia). The overall shrub cover
is approximately 90% with shrub height averaging 1 meter. The patch of CSS habitat shows
little, if any, signs of previous disturbance. The patch is contiguous with additional habitat
along the slope both north and south of the project site. A total of 1.7 acres of CSS is
located on the property.
No impacts to native vegetation communities or biological resources would occur as a result
of the development of the site. The area proposed for development is currently disturbed
habitat and contains little- to no vegetation and no native plants or vegetation communities.
Coastal sage scrub habitat is considered a sensitive habitat by the resource agencies because
of its decline in recent years and the fact that it may be occupied by the federally listed
threatened California gnatcatcher.
Conclusion
A total of 1.7 acres of CSS habitat will remain on the property outside of the development
and the brush management zone. This area is proposed to be placed in an open space
easement.
Please contact me at (760) 753-2301 if you require additional information about this project.
Sincerely,
Anita M. Hayworth
Owner/Biologist
1235 Meadow Wood Place / Encinitas, CA 92024 / (760) 753-2301
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