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Home My WebLink About3184; CANNON ROAD WEST; WETLAND MITIGATION AREA A NORTH AND SOUTH BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS; 2004-05-21I ASSOCIATES, INC. : :3 OTHER OFFICES: S+ FT. COLLINS L S i\LSA 20 EXECUTIVE PARK, SUITE 200 949;553.0666 TEL BERKELEY RIVERSIDE IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92614-4731 949.553.8076 FAX PT. RICHMOND ROCKLIN I May 21,:2004 Mr. Mark Girard Native Landscape, Inc. 9746 Tamarack Lane Escondido, CA 92025 Subject: Cannon Road Wetland Mitigation Area A North. and South Biological Characteristics: LSA Project No. NTJ332 Dear Mark: I This letter summarizes the findings of LSA Associates, Inc. (LSA) biologists regarding the characteristics of the Cannon Road Wetland Mitigation Areas A North and South, located east of I Cannon Road, and south of Faraday Road, in the City of Carlsbad, SaiiDiego County, California (Figure 1, all figures are attached) The mitigation areas were installed by the City of Carlsbad (City) to offset impacts to jurisdictional waters and habitat pursuant to the conditions specified in Permit No I 97-20130-TCD issued by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps),' Biological Opinion 1- 6-97-F-51 issued by the United States Fish arid Wildlife Service (USFWS),2 Streambed Alteration Agreement No 5-044-97, and California Endangered Species Act Permit No 2081-1998-05-5 issued by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG),3 and the Coastal Development Permit No. 6- 97-1 i by the California Coastal Commission.' I METHODS City of Carlsbad Engineer Sherri Howard accompanied LSA .biologists Mike Trotta, Mike Ahmer, and Jennifer Cogswell during the initial pedestrian survey of the mitigation areas on December 10, 2003. I Mr. Abmer and Ms Cogswell conducted follow-up surveys on December 19, 2003 The habitat types were assessed in the field and delineated using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) technology and I mapped and quantified using Geographic Information System (GIS) software LSA GIS specialists analyzed the recorded information and prepared map exhibits of the Mitigation Areas (Figures 2 and 3). Vegetation communities were classified according to the Thomas Oberbauer modification of the Holland Vegetation Classification System (HollandlOberbauer). The HollandlOberbauer classification I system is a modification of the Holland system specific to San Diego County. Distinct areas within vegetation communities were also mapped. I - Pursuant to SéctiOti 404 of the Cleáh Water: Act. I :2 Pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. Pursuant to Section 1600 et seq. of the California Fish and Game Code and the California Endangered Species Act. Pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act. 05/2 l/04<P:\NL1332\final revision bio letter report.docn I PLANNING ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES DESIGN - - LSA ASSOCIATES. INC. I ' RESULTS '. Cannon Road Wetland Mitigation Area A North (1.36 Acre) I The 1.36-acre Cannon Road Wetland Mitigation Area North (Figure 2) is composed of four distitict vegetation communities: mulefat scrub (0.77 acre),' southern arroyo willow riparian forest (0.34 acre),, southern willow scrub (0.21 acre), and coastal freshwater. marsh, (0.04 acre). I Mulefat Scrub (Holland/Oberbauer Code 63310) This 0 77-acre riparian scrub community is dominated by mulefat. The understory was predominantly composed of leaf litter. Southern Arroyo Willow-Riparian Forest (llolland/Oberbauer Code 61320). This 0.34-acre I vegetation community is dominated by a canopy of arroyo willow and also includes sandbar willow (Salix exiguá), western cottonwood (Populusfremontii), southwestern spinyrush, mulefat, and western ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya). Southern Willow Scrub (H011and/Oberbauer Code 63320). This 0.21-acre vegetation community I consists of arroyo willow, sandbar willow, southwestern spiny rush, mulefat, and western ragweed. I Coastal and Valley FreshwãteE Marsh Holland/Oberbauer Code 52410). This 0.04-acre vegetation community is dominated by mohotypic southwestern iny rush with a leaf litter understory. Cannon Road Wetland Mitigation Area A South (104 Acres) The Cannon Road Wetland Mitigation Area A South (Figure 3)'1s composed of three vegetation communitieS southern willow scrub, coastal freshwater marsh, and mulefat scrub. This mitigation area was installed in two phases.- The first ha'se was 2.79 acrCs, and the second phase was a 10-foot wide, 0.25-acre swath juxtaposed to the northeastern boundary of the first phase. Phase 1 (2.79 Acres). - Southern Willow Scrub (Holland/OberbaUér Code 61320); This 1.76-acre vegetation community within the project study area is dominated by arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis). Other species within this community include mulefat (Bäccharis salicfolia), miner's lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), horsetail (Equisetum sp), bristly ox-tongue (Picris echzoides), common horseweed (Conyza canadensis), willow herb (Epilobium sp.)-.southwestern spiny rush (Juncus acutus ssp. leopldii), bulrush (Scirpus spp.), cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium), and wild celeiy (Apium graveoläns,). Coastal and Valley Freshwater Marsh Holland/Obérbauer Code 52410). LSA mapped areas with unique characteristics within the 0.65-acre coastal freshwater marsh habitat. Within this vegetation community in the south site, various portions. are co-dominated by cattail 0512 l/04eP:\NU332\final revision bio letter report.doc 2 LSA ASSOCIATES, INC. I (Typha sp.) and bulrush for a total of 0;05 acre-,other portions' are dominated by southwestern spiny rush and mugwort (Artemista douglasiana) for a total of 0.60 acre Other species observed within these communities include sedges (Carex spp), stinging nettle (Urtica I holosericea dioecia), and marsh fleabane (Pluchea odorata) A small area dominated by southwestern spiny rush (0.02 acre) had been cut down to a few inches above the: soil surface. Mulefat Scrub (Hóllaiid/Oberbauér Code 63310). This Q.38-aôre'riparian scrub community is dominated by mulefat. The understory was predominantly comprised of leaf litter. I Phase 2 (0.25 acre I Southern Willow Scrub. Southern willow scrub accounts for 0.07 acre of the 10-foot-wide Phase 2 portion of the south Site and is similar to the southern willow scrub in the Phase 1 portion. Mulefat Scrub. Mulefat scrub accounts: for 0.09 acre of the Phase 2 portion of the south site 'I and is similar to the mulefat scrub in Phase 1. Coastal And Valley 'Freshwater Marsh. Spiny rush dominates the areas within Phase 2 areas mapped as coastal freshwater marsh A total of 0 09 acre of spiny rush was mapped, and 0101 acre' of this was trimmed 'at the time of survey. .1 .. I .coNcLusIoNs . . Cannon Road Wetland Mitigation Area A North Vegetative cover in Mitigation Area A North was estimated to exceed 90 percent based on visual assessment Mulefat scrub is the dominant vegetation community, and the revegetated areas have assimilated with previously existing adjacent nparian habitat With the exception of an occasional pampas grass (Cortaderta sp.), which occurs throughout the nparian systems in the region, the I mitigation area 'was relatively free of nonnative invasive species; The area appears to provide functioning riparian habitat and to be self-sustaining Cannon Road Wetland Mitigation Area A South Vegetative' cover in Mitigation Area A South is now estimated to exceed 90 percent based on visual assessment Arroyo willows provide canopy cover in areas mapped as southern willow scrub This area appears to provide functioning riparian habitat and to be self-sustaining 05/2 1/04eP:\NL1332\final revision NO letter reportdocn • 3 :. LSA ASSOCIATES, INC. . -. :1 ,.. ... .:. I Revegetation in Area A South was phased. An approxitnately 10-foot-wide strip along the northeastern boundary of the mitigation area was installed subsequent to, and is not as mature as, the remainder of the site Average vegetative cover along this portion of Mitigation Area A was visually estimated tote 85 percent.. Please feel freeto contact me with any questions or comments regarding this ltterreport. I . Sincerely, : LSA ASSOCIATES, INC I Michael B. Trottá . . ...... . Associate . .. .. Biológit . I .cc: Sherri Howard, City of Carlbad . . . . Attachment:. Figures 1-3. . HI . . .. 1 . . TI........... .. . . I .: . ... .. TIi . . . .... . 05/2 l/O4eP:\NL1332\final revision bio letter report.doo> . 4 U - L S A Vegetation Communities FIGURE 2 I Southern Willow Scrub (0.21 acre) Mulefat Scrub (0.77 acre) [II] Southern Arroyo Willow /4/ North Site Boundary (1.36 acres) Riparian Forest (0.34 acre) I Coastal and Valley Freshwater Marsh (0.04 acre) 45 0 45 90 Feet II Spiny Rush Scrub (0.04 acre) Cannon Road Mitigation Area A North Site Vegetation Communities SOURCE: Aenal:City of Carlsbad Community Development (2001) i:\n11332\gis\mitigationA.apr (04/14/04) I .••• '\ .yp. • \ '$ç3 t .. : \ - s •;• . . )j. .' ..... ._A321m . .V ' • u •• •- '. : •- N I 'r • , '• -ic - . . - ... - . I ?p. is. - - 14, 41 I I - - . •-. .5, • a • . \. Vegetation Communities I Vegetation Communities of 2.79 acres in Phase I Area . 5•'•• -. Southern Willow Scrub (1.76 acres) .5 ' I__I Mulefat Scrub (0.38 acre) I .. Coastal and Valley Freshwater Marsh (0.6 acre) U II iCat-tail Scrub (0.05 acre) S Spiny Rush Scrub (0.58 acre) -. LijijiTrimmed Spiny Rush Scrub (0.02 acre) I Vegetation Communities of 0.25 acre in 10 foot wide ..• Phase 2 Area I Iffiffiff Southern Willow Scrub (0.07 acre) . . . - • fflffl!Mulefat Scrub (0.09 acre) .-: • . . , Coastal and Valley Freshwater Marsh (0.09 acre) . . '. I . 1llIllESpiny Rush Scrub (0.08 acre) b jjJIlITrimmed Spiny Rush Scrub (0.0' acre) . - .NN . . South Site Boundary (3.04 acres) : I •:• . L S A FIGURE 3 75 0 75 150 Feet Cannon Road Mitigation Area A South Site Vegetation Communities I SOURCE: Aerial - City of Carlsbad Community Development (200 1) i:\n11332\gis\mitigationA.apr (05/12/04)