HomeMy WebLinkAboutCT 99-08; Spyglass II; Tentative Map (CT) (59)Pacific Southwest BiologQal Services, Inc.
Post Office Box 985, National City, California 91951-0985 • (619) 477-5333 • FAX (619) 477-5380
Second Status Report
Perennial Grassland Revegetation Project
Spyglass Development Mitigation
Carlsbad, California
PSBS # T472B
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
31 October 2002
R. Mitchel Beauchamp, M. Sc., President
RECEIVED
LADWIG DESIGN GR i\
Second Status Report
Perennial Grassland Revegetation Project
Spyglass Development Mitigation
Carlsbad, California
31 October 2002
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 99-04/ 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 is the second status report on the mitigation
area, the first having been produced on 25 October 2001.
This Second Status Report chronicles actions and results between 25 October
2001 and 30 October 2002 to establish that habitat in an area formerly involved with
agricultural use and now covered by weedy, non-native grasses and forbs. 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, supplemental to those originally set forth in 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. Due to the
severe drought condition at the site, response of the seeding was very poor. Several
remedial steps were taken to prepare the site for anticipated rainfall and the planning for
an irrigation system was also moved forward.
Pacific Southwest Biological Services, Inc.
PSBS #T472B
Herbicide Treatment
The growth of Field Mustard was excessive despite the prior solarization of the
soil. A certified pest control operator, Joe Knott, completed application of a mixture of
Telar Round-up and Garlon-4 on 27 February 2002. Spraying of the site required the
issuance of a CDFG 880 Form 8 from the Department of Fish and Game issued by John
Ekhoff.
Supplemental Site Seeding
Supplemental hand seeding occurred using the following seed mixture. The
seeding occurred during 6 and 7 March 2002.
80 pound of Nassella pulchra
50 pounds of Aristida purpurea var. purpurea
The Aristida has been previously unavailable for seeding, so this application
completed one of the important grass elements in the mitigation.
Mycorrhizal Inoculant Application
A mixture of various fungal symbionts was hand applied to the site. The material
is sold under the marketing name of Gro-Power and 3000 pounds were applied to the site.
The application was made during one of the infrequent rain showers of the season during
6 and 7 March 2002.
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 minimal. Small seedlings are
still evident but predation by rabbits desperate for forage eradicated the surviving growth.
Irrigation
Since the target date of January 2002 arrived without adequate rainfall, the
contingency of a temporary, field designed irrigation system was initiated in the restoration
area for the 2002-2003 rain season.
With the assistance of Ladwig Design Group, the coordination for the installation
of an irrigation system was begun. Meters were located and access issues are still in
processing with the adjacent property owner, McMillin Communities.
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
Pacific Southwest Biological Services, Inc.
PSBS #T472B
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 continued hand removal of
Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) and Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). Vandalism, aside from
graffiti on the barrier wall, 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 June and the poor results did not warrant
any quantitative measurements due to the low density of seedlings.
A supplemental irrigation plot was established in the summer to test the potential
for growth of the seedbed. The irrigated plot indicated that grasses and annuals were still
present as viable seed and that no additional seeding is needed. The rabbit population
heavily grazed the test plot, however.
A grid system was established at the site to facilitate the reporting of various areas.
The southern wall has 50-foot markers that are part of the grid system and a series of
interior PVC pipes are in place as part of the grid.
Pacific Southwest Biological Services, Inc.
TO
LADWIG DESIGN GROUQNC.
703 Palomar Airport Rd., SuitedOO
CARLSBAD, CA 92009
(760) 438-3182 Fax (760) 438-0173
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