HomeMy WebLinkAboutCT 99-08; Spyglass II; Tentative Map (CT) (57)Icidwig Design Group, Inc.
November 9, 2001
Van Lynch
City of Carlsbad
1635 Faraday Avenue
Carlsbad, CA 92008
RE: STATUS REPORT, PERENNIAL GRASSLAND RE-VEGETATION PROJECT FOR THE
SPYGLASS DEVELOPMENT, CITY OF CARLSBAD
(LADWIG DESIGN GROUP, INC. JOB NO. L-1065)
Dear Van:
Enclosed is a status report for the perennial grassland re- vegetation project for Spyglass dated
October 25, 2001. Mitch Beauchamp, our biologist, showed in bold his intended remedial actions
that he is proposing, depending on the upcoming rainy season. Please look the report over and if you
have any questions, please call Mitch Beauchamp or myself.
Sincerely,
LADWIG DESIGN GROUP, INC.
Robert C. Ladwig, President
RCL:mo
Enclosures
cc: Terry Stewart, U.S. Department of Fish and Game
Kim McKee, U.S. Department of Fish and Game
Don Rideout, City of Carlsbad
Nancy Gilbert, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Michael Ugar, Concordia Homes
STATUS REPORT
PERENNIAL GRASSLAND REVEGETATION PROJECT
SPYGLASS DEVELOPMENT MITIGATION
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA
Donor Site:
UTM: 3,670,OOOmN, 470,OOOmE
Receptor-Mitigation Site
UTM: 3,669,OOOmN, 473,OOOmE
Prepared for
Concordia Homes of California, LLC
7130 Avenida Encinas, Suite 200
Carlsbad CA 92009-4657
and
Ladwig Design Group, Inc.
703 Palomar Airport Road, Suite 300
Carlsbad CA 92009
Prepared by
Pacific Southwest Biological Services, Inc.
Post Office Box 985
National City CA 91951-0985
Telephone 619 477 5333
Facsimile 619 477 5380
E-mail: bio@psbs.com
PSBS # T472B
25 October 2001
R. Mitchel Beauchamp, M. Sc.,President
RECEIVED
NOV 06 2001
LADWIG DESIGN GR
PSBS #T472C
STATUS REPORT
PERENNIAL GRASSLAND REVEGETATION PROJECT
SPYGLASS DEVELOPMENT MITIGATION
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA
25 October 2001
INTRODUCTION
The development of a site at the southeast corner of El Camino Real and Carlsbad
Village Drive (Elm Street), called Spyglass II (CT 99-08/SDP 99-04.SUP 99-047 HDP 99-07)
impacted a remnant Perennial Grassland by landform alteration of the site. As mitigation for this
three-acre impact to native Perennial Grassland, the establishment of a 10.3-acre area of
Perennial Grassland was required to fulfill Condition 5 of the Mitigating Measures for the
Spyglass II project.
This Status Report chronicles actions and results to date to establish that habitat in an
area formerly involved with agricultural use and now covered by weedy, non-native grasses and
forbs. Intended remedial actions are indicated in bold type. The site is a portion of land
owned by the State of California and administered by the Departments of Transportation and
Fish and Game as a mitigation bank and natural preserve. The site lies northwest of another area
proposed as a mitigation area, called Holly Springs.
The site was considered suitable for restoration to Perennial Grassland by virtue of the
Altamont clay soils on the site and the proposed land uses nearby. The site lies between 80 and
200 feet in elevation and is generally a west to northwest facing slope system. The lands to the
south are owned by the Carlsbad Unified School District and presumable will be developed as a
school site. Having a natural preserve next to an educational facility offers opportunities for
educational and monitoring activities.
METHODOLOGY
The following actions, generally following the plan for the project, dated 13 December
2000, were implemented in the establishment and maintenance of the native, perennial grassland
cover for the site that affords watershed protection, reduces fuel loading, retains populations of
grassland-associated native plants and provides a prey base of rodents as foraging habitat for
native raptors
Site Preparation
Severe infestations of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and Giant Artichoke (Cynara
cardunculus) were selective hand removed and disposed of in a 40 cuyd dumpster. The
remaining infestation of weeds was initially controlled by the overall tractor disking to a depth of
6 inches of the entire site.
Pacific Southwest Biological Services, Inc.
PSBS #T472C
Minor Recontouring of the Site
Minor portions of the site have been deformed in association with off-highway vehicular
use of the site and erosion. These old roads and gullies were reshaped using farming tractor
equipment during the site plowing.
Solarization
In order to destroy the upper layer of the weed seedbed, selective solarization using black
plastic sheets was done over rain-moistened soils. The timing of the sheet placement was too
early in the season, and adequate killing temperatures were not achieved. Once this problem was
determined and the need to seed prior to any further rainfall, this method of weed abatement was
abandoned.
Seeding
Following the attempted solarization treatment of the planting site, the entire site was
over seeded by hand with the below cited seed mixture.
PLANT MATERIALS PLANTING DENSITY (pounds per acre)
Aristida purpurea 2
Nassella lepida 1
Nassella pulchra 3
The following plant material was spot seeded for visual effect:
A Ilium praecox 0.5
Bloomerid crocea 0.5
Calochortus splendens 0.5
Castilleja exserta 2
Dichelostemma capitatum 0.5
Eschscholzia californica 3
Gilia capitata 2
Hazardia squarrosa 1
Isocoma menziesii 0.5
Lasthenia californica 3
Layia platyglossa 2
Lupinus succulentus 5
Penstemon spectabilis 3
None of the specialty species could be located for clay endemic plants. These include
San Diego Thornmint (Acanthomintha ilicifolid) and Clay Morning-glory (Convolvulus
simulans). An attempt will be made during the 2001-2002 rainy season to place these plant
materials.
Supplemental Plowing
The level of weed infestation in selected portions of the site was deemed to be so severe
that hand removal was not possible. The decision was made to re-plow these area, about 40% of
the site in anticipation of seeding during the 2001-2001 winter season. The level to which the
prior native plant seeding would persist after this treatment is unknown.
Pacific Southwesl Biological Services, Inc.
PSBS #T472C
Donor Site Salvage
The development site had a substantial amount of salvageable plant materials that were
appropriate for transplantation to the receptor site. Prior to grading for development of the site,
these plant materials, in the form of salvaged grass clumps, Dichondra clumps, and bulbs and
corms, were salvaged by hand from the donor site and directly replanted at me receptor site. The
salvaged materials were planted at the plowed, lower, northwestern portion of the project site.
Fencing
Fencing was placed to prohibit entry of motorcycles, which run unregulated in the area
despite signs prohibiting such activity. A K-rail system was placed to create this barrier yet
allow for foot access.
Plant Establishment
Due to the poor level of rainfall that could be utilized by the seeding event, the
germination and establishment of the native material was marginal. Small seedlings are still
evident and the extent to which this initial seeding is successful will be evident following the
next major storm. Re-seeding will be done prior to the next rainy season.
Irrigation
If by January 2002 rainfall is not adequate the contingency of a temporary, field
designed irrigation system will implemented in the restoration area. This system would be
installed above ground and will have 100% coverage and both manual override and automatic
controls. The irrigation system is to be operated for up to a period of 5 years and probably less if
the vegetation responds to an adequate level of establishment. Prior to the removal of the system,
its operations will be gradually phased out to avoid stressing newly established young plants.
Maintenance
Maintenance of the restoration area has been largely the hand removal of the more noxious
weeds, particularly Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus). Vandalism and trash accumulation have not
been a problem at the site, due largely to the investment of the wall structure.
Monitoring
The restoration site has been monitored for both successful plant growth and biological
functioning. Monitoring was done in May and the poor results did not warrant any quantitative
measurements due to the low density of seedlings.
Pacific Southwest Biological Services, Inc.