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Home My WebLink AboutPIP 98-05; Cornerstone Corporate Center; Planned Industrial Permit (PIP) (20). Preliminary Vegetation Resources Assessment for Lots 15 and 16 Carlsbad Airport Centre Carlsbad, California October 9,1997 Prepared for: Newport National Corporation 5050 Avenida Encinas, Ste 350 Carlsbad, California 92008 Prepared bv: PRELIMINARY VEGETATION RESOURCES INVENTORY LOTS 15 AND 16 CORNERSTONE COREORATE CENTRE OVERVIEW - SCOPE OF STUDY The purpose of this vegetation survey is to classify vegetation, to measure habitat area, to provide a list of species, and to prepare a map with summary data representing findings. This survey will provide an assessment of site vegetation occurring on Lot 15, and adjacent portions of Open Space Lot 16. This survey does , not address other biotic elements. Botanical field work was conducted on October 7, 1997, using a 200 scale aerial photograph dated 1-18-97, in conjunction with a proposed development overlay to assist in recording findings. The property line was . staked in the field to assist in accurately defining vegetation occurring on- and off-site. BACKGROUND Proiect Location The subject parcel is located on Palomar Oaks Way, in the Carlsbad Airport Centre ' (CAC), part of Carlsbad's Light Industrial corridor accessed by Palomar Airport Road (PAR). The primary focus of this survey is Lot 15, one of the few remaining undeveloped pads in the CAC. The site perimeter is entirely developed with the exception of Lot 16, a dedicated Open Space Lot that adjoins the site to the west. Lot 16 is also adjacent to Palomar Airport Road. Lot 16 is separated by Palomar Airport Road from a large open space corridor that trends east-west from Camino Vida Roble to 1-5. .. a Condltlons Currently Lot 15 exists as a 3.35 acre parcel, comprised of a recently scraped pad, manufactured slopes supporting ornamental vegetation, and an undisturbed area of approximately one half acre supporting primarily native vegetation. This vegetation occurs on a west-facing slope below the pad, and is contiguous to Open Space Lot 16 where native vegetation thrives. On-site native plant communities include: Diegan Coastal Sage Scrub, Chamise Chaparral, and Oak Woodland. Upland plant communities persist on the slopes of Open Space Lot 16, a bowl shaped area adjacent to Palomar Airport Road. During the initial construction of the CAC, a manufactured slope was built across the canyon mouth of Lot 16, creating a dam that forms a large desiltation basin on the Lot. The desiltation basin bottom now supports Southern Willow Scrub, Eucalyptus woodland, pockets of freshwater marsh, and ruderal species. The water flowing through this lot drains into the blue line stream occurring along the south side of Palomar Airport road. The manufactured slope dam was revegetated with Coastal Sage Scrub species with varying establichment success. Lot 16 is a diverse habitat, contiguous to larger open space areas. Though small, it possess characteristics favorable to support a variety of wildlife. Cornerstone Corporate Centre - Survey of Vegetation page 1 FINDINGS The following discussion will focus on native plant communities occurring on- site. Currently the pad exists in a highly disturbed gate supporting mostly ruderal species. Ornamentals occupy the manufactured slopes along Palomar Oaks Way,'and slopes associated to development to the south and north. Within the western-most portion of the site, contiguous to undisturbed habitat, five plant communities occur: 1) Diegan Coastal Sage Scrub (DCSS), 2) ChamiseChaparral (CC), 3) Coast Live Oak Woodland (OW), 4) Revegetated Coastal Sage Scrub (RSS), and 5) Ruderal (RU). Revegetated coastal sage scrub will be discussed along with DCSS discussion. An area of ruderal species, (0.02 acre in size), apparently the result of sewer easement work occurring in the distant past, will not receive detailed 'discussion. Native and non-native plant communities occuring off-site are not discussed here, as proposed development is highly unlikely to affect these off-site areas. DIEGAN COASTAL SAGE SCRUB Approximately 0.36 acre of Diegan Coastal Sage Scrub exists on Lot 15. Black sage, (Salvia melifera) is the dominant species, with some Coast sagebrush, (Artemesia Galifornica, Monkeyflower, (Mimulus DuniceusL Flat-top buckwheat (Erioaonum fasciculatum),and Lemonadeberry, (Rhus intearifolia) also present (see species list). The community is of mature stature with a high degree of cover. This vegetation is contiguous to larger areas of sage scrub occurring on the slopes of Lot 16. The Lot 16 sage scrub wraps around to the next canyon to the west, on slopes adjacent to the north side of Palomar Airport Road. A fairly sizable area of sage scrub results, even though significant development has interspersed pockets of ruderal vegetation within the sage scrub. Connectivity between the native areas appears to be sufficient to allow for wildlife movement to the west and to the south. An area on-site supports revegetated sage scrub that occurs on the manufactured slope built to dam the canyon for desiltation purposes. This vegetation has established sporadically and many bare spots are present. Weedy species have not inundated the revegetation site. CHAMISE CHAPARRAL Approximately 0.09 acre of Chamise chaparral occurs adjacent to the pad on the undisturbed northwestern portion of the site. It is chiefly comprised of Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), with a few other shrubs intermixed, including: Mission manzanita (Xylococcus bicolor), and Scrub oak (Querecus berberidifolia), and Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia). No sensitive plant species were observed on the project site, though one individual of California adolphia (Adolphia californicq), was observed on the east facing slope of the basin. Since none of the sensitive or indicator species, or sandstone substrate are present, this stand of chaparral is not considered Southern Maritime Chaparral. Cornerstone Corporate Centre - Survey of Vegetation \ Coast Live Oak Woodiand occurs on-site as a scattered grove with two large oaks with 20-30 foot canopies, and several saplings of vpflous sizes. Though small, this is a well preserved fragment of oak woodland habltat that is growing well and even expanding on the sit.e. Other oak woodland occurs on Lot 16 around the rim of the basin, and south, near Palomar Airport Road. CONCLUSION The project as proposed does not impact any native plant communities on or adjacent to the site. Of the approximately one half acre of native vegetation occurring on-site, the 0.36 acre of.DCSS and the 0.06 acre of Coast live oak woodland are considered sensitive plant communities that may require mitigation if impacted due to construction. The 0.09 acre of Chamise chaparral is not considered a sensitive plant community. The revegetated Coastal sage scrub is an ornamental installation, not a viable native plant community. Cornerstone Corporate Centre - Survey of Vegetation FLORA OF LOTS 15 & 16 CARLSBAD AIRFORT CENTRE ANGIOSPERMAE (DICOTS) Aizoaceae - Carpetweed, Fig-marigold or Iceplant family * Mesembranthemum crvstallinum Crystalline iceplant Anacardiaceae - Sumac family Malosma laurina Rhus intearifolia Laurel sumac Lemonade berry Apiaceae - Carrot family * Foenculum vulgare Sweet fennel Asteraceae - Sunflower family Ambrosia psilostachva Western ragweed Artemisia californica Coast sagebrush Baccharis pilularis var. consanauinea Coyote brush Tocalote Conyza canadensis Horseweed Lessingia - filaginifolia Cudweed aster Encelia californica California encelia Eriophvllum confertiflorum Golden yarrow Filago gallica Narrow-leaf filago * Centaurea melitensis * * Cornerstone Corporate Centre - Survey of Vegetation GnaDhalium bicolor Bicolored cudweed Gnaphalium - palustre Lowland cudweed Hazardia sauarrosa - var. grindeliodes Saw-toothed goldenbush Cretian hedypnois Hemizonia fasciculata Tocalote, Fascicled tarweed Isocoma menziesii var. veneta Coast goldenbush Heterotheca grandiflora Telegraph weed Smooth cat's-ear Prickly lettuce Sow thistle Stephanomeria virgata Twiggy wreathplant e- * Hedvpnois cretica * Hvpochoeris glabra * Lactuca seriola * Sonchus oleraceus Brassicaceae - Mustard family * Brassica nigra Black mustard * Hirschfeldia incana Perennial mustard Cactaceae - Cactus family Opuntia littoralis Coast prickly-pear Capperaceae - Capper family Isomeris arborea Bladderpod Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle family Sambucus mexicana. Mexican elderberry Cornerstone Corporate Centre - Survey of Vegetation Chenipodiaceae - Goosefoot family * Atriplex semibacata Salsola tragus . . Australian saltbush Russian "thistle" e. * Convolvulacee - Morning-glory family Calvstepia macrosteeia Western bindweed Cuscuta californica Dodder Crassulaceae - Stonecrop family Crassula conata Dudleva edulis Dudleva lanceolata Dudleva pulverulenta Dwarf stonecrop Lady fingers Lance-leaf dudleya Chalk live-forever Cucurbitaceae - Gourd family Marah macrocarpus Wild cucumber Ericaceae - Heath family Xvlococcus bicolor Mission manzanita Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family * Ricinus communis Castor bean Fabaceae - Pea family Lotus scoparius Deerweed Cornerstone Corporate Centre - Survey of Vegetation . Fagaceae - Beech family guercus berberidifolia Scrub oak e. Geraniaceae - Geranium family * Erodium cicutarium Red-stemmed filaree Iridaceae - Iris Family Sisvrinchium bellum Blue-eyed grass Lamiaceae - Mint family Salvia Texas sage Salvia mellifera Black sage Malvaceae - Mallow Family Malacothamnus fasciculatus Chaparral mallow Myrtaceae - Wax Myrtle Family Eucalvptus SD. Euclayptus Onagraceae - Evening primrose family Camissonia sp. Primrose Polygonaceae - Buckwheat family Eriogonum - fasciculatum California buckwheat Primulaceae - Primrose family * Anagallis arvensis - Scarlet pimpernel Cornerstone Corporate Centre - Survey of Vegetation n Rhamnaceae - Buckthorn Family ! Adolphia californica California adolphia 0. Rosaceae - Rose family Adenostoma fasciculatum Heteromeles arbutifolia Chamise Toyon Salicaceae - Willow Family Salix lasiolepis Arroyo willow Scrophulariaceae - Figwort family Antirrhinum coulteri Coulter's snapdragon Mimulus aurantiacus Monkey flower Solanaceae - Nightshade family * Nicotiana glauca Tree tobacco ANGIOSPERMAE (MONOCOTS) Agavaceae - Agave family Yucca schidigera Mojave yucca Poaceae - Grass family Y Avena barbata Wild oat * Bromus diandrus Ripgut grass Soft chess * Bromus hordeaceus (= B. mollis) Cornerstone Corporate Centre - Survey of Vegetation \ r' -? , 0' * Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens (= B. rubens) > Red brome * Cortadiera selloana Pampa's grass Cvnodon dactylon Bermuda grass Distichilis spicata Salt grass * Gastridium ventricosum Nit grass Nasella pulchra Purple needlegrass VulDia mvuros Rat-tail fescue e. * * STATUS * Non-native (weed or cult.) ! Classified Sensitive Cornerstone Corporate Centre - Survey of Vegetation page 10