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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3338; Agua Hedionda & Calavera Creek Dredging; Agua Hedionda Survey SW Willow Flycatcher; 2005-09-231927 Fifth Avenue San Diego. CA 92101-2358 P619.308.9333 F 619.308.9334 www.recorMjs.com RECON September 23, 2005 Mr. Daniel Marquez U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Carlsbad Field Office 6010 Hidden Valley Road Carlsbad, CA 92009 Reference: Post-Survey Notification of Focused Survey Results for the Least Bell's Vireo and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher on the Agua Hedionda Site in the City of Carlsbad, California (RECON Number 4138B) Dear Mr. Marquez: This letter is to notify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) of the results of focused surveys for the least Bell's vireo (Vireo belliipusillus) and southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) conducted on the Agua Hedionda Site (site) in the City of Carlsbad, California. The survey area is located along the southwestern and northeastern sides of El Camino Real, the eastern and western sides of Cannon Road, and approximately four miles east of Interstate 5 (Figures 1, 2, and 3). Agua Hedionda Creek flows through the site, which is immediately bounded by residential development, roads, and undeveloped riparian and upland habitat (see Figure 3). The site is comprised of undeveloped upland and riparian habitat, and developed land (see Figure 3). Methods RECON biologist Cynthia Jones conducted the focused surveys for southwestern willow flycatcher under USFWS permit number TE-811615 according to USFWS survey guidelines (USFWS 2000), which requires five surveys. One survey is conducted in each of the two periods from May 15 through May 31 and from June 1 through June 21. Three surveys are conducted between June 22 and July 17, with at least five days separating consecutive surveys. Surveys were conducted by walking meandering transects throughout and adjacent to areas of suitable southwestern willow flycatcher habitat. A vocalization tape was played at approximately 200-foot intervals in an attempt to elicit a response from the birds. Approximately 3.16 acres of suitable habitat was surveyed on- site. All bird species observed during the surveys were noted. The specifics of survey dates, times, and weather conditions are provided in Table 1. RECON biologists Darin Busby and Amy Clark conducted the focused surveys for least Bell's vireo according to USFWS survey guidelines (USFWS 2001), which requires eight surveys at least 10 days apart between April 1 and July 31. Surveys were conducted by walking meandering transects throughout and adjacent to areas of suitable least Bell's vireo habitat. Approximately 3.16 acres of suitable habitat was surveyed on-site. All bird species observed during the surveys were noted. The specifics of survey dates, times, and weather conditions are provided in Table 1. Existing Conditions Twelve vegetation communities and land cover types occur in the 19.24-acre study area: willow riparian forest, freshwater marsh, southern willow scrub, revegetated southern willow scrub, mule fat scrub, revegetated mule fat scrub, revegetated coastal sage scrub, disturbed coastal sage scrub, revegetated coastal salt marsh, unvegetated channel, ornamerttal vegetation, and \ \ Survey Area RECON FIGURE 1 Regional Location M:\jobs2'.4138\common _gis\figt .mxd 09/23/05 Map Source: USGS 7.5 minute topographic map series, San Luis Rey quadrangle "£ -t; «'i r--J A /••">» •//alef.Tr»-ik I i I.: • --V .T.'; ^r* . aV ^'" {: ^* f £~~?Y '•• .v. x''«5«*T r-^ + v . •V'.'.v; *"C^ilavera ,- 51 .--,.• V^/- • /. .^Hiintry Cluh • - ' Survey Area RECON M:\jobs2\4138teommon._gis\fig2.mxd 09K3I05 FIGURE 2 Project Location on USGS Map Image source: Copyright 2004 AirPhotoUSA, LLC, All Rights Reserved (flown April 2004) RICON M:*|06s2i4138'commcn_gis>fig3.mxci 09/16,05 Vegetation communities Ornamental vegetation Southern willow scrub i j Developed HH Revegetated coastal sage scrub • Unvegetated channel | Disturbed coastal sage scrub Revegetated coastal salt marsh Willow riparian forest Freshwater marsh ^ Revegetated mule fat scrub Revegetated southern willow scrub 0 Feet 300 Mule fat scrub FIGURES Vegetation Communities H0@@e& TABLE 1 &MVWi»17VV9^w<*»«?«»«P« SOUTHWESTERN WILLOW FLYCATCHER AND LEAST BELL'S VIREO Date Personnel 5/9/05 Darin Busby Amy Clark 5/19/05 Darin Busby Cindy Jones 6/2/05 Darin Busby Cindy Jones 6/13/05 Darin Busby 6/23/05 Darin Busby Cindy Jones 6/29/05 Cindy Jones 7/12/05 Darin Busby Cindy Jones 7/25/05 Darin Busby 8/5/05 Darin Busby FOCUSED Survey LBV#1 LBV #2 WIFL#1 LBV #3 WIFL#2 LBV #4 LBV #5 WIFL#3 WIFL#4 LBV #6 WIFL#5 LBV #7 LBV #8 SURVEY DATES, Time 1 0:00-1 1:00 A.M 1 0:00-1 1:00 A.M 10:00-1 1:00 A.M 10:00-1 1:00 A.M 9:00-1 0:00 A.M. 9:00-9:30 A.M. 8: 15-9:05 A.M. 7:30-8:20 A.M. 7:1 0-8:00 A.M. TIMES, AND WEATHER CONDITIONS Weather Conditions 70°F; 20% cloud cover and haze; wind 2-3 mph 75-77°F; 0% cloud cover; wind 1-5 mph 70°F; 1 00% cloud cover and haze; wind 2-5 mph 72°F; 1 00% cloud cover and haze; wind 0-1 mph 65°F; 100% cloud cover and haze; wind 0-2 mph 66-68°F; 90% cloud cover, breaking up; wind 0-3 mph 69-70°F; 100-50% cloud cover and haze; wind 0-5 mph 69-70°F; 100% cloud cover and haze; wind 0 mph 64-65°F; 100% cloud cover and haze; wind 0-1 mph °F = degrees Fahrenheit; % = percent; mph = miles per hour. RECON Mr. Daniel Marquez ' Page 2 ) September 23, 2005 j developed land. The surveys for southwestern willow flycatcher and least Bell's vireo were conducted in the suitable habitat within willow riparian forest, southern willow scrub, mule fat scrub, * and freshwater marsh vegetation communities. > ;:j Willow riparian forest habitat, totaling approximately 2.22 acres, occurs along the main channel of ;•» Agua Hedionda Creek. The dominant tree species in this community is black willow (Salix gooddingii), although lesser quantities of arroyo willow (S. lasiolepis) and narrow-leaved willow * (S. exigua) are also present. Willow riparian forest supports many native and non-native herbaceous species in the understory. t Approximately 0.86 acre of freshwater marsh occurs in the western portion of the study area. The dominant plants in this community include cattails (Typha spp.), spiny rush (Juncus acutus ssp. leopoldii), rush (Juncus sp.), California bulrush (Scirpus californicus), and yerba mansa (Anemopsis californica). A total of approximately 0.62 acre of southern willow scrub and 0.06 acre of revegetated southern willow scrub occur along Agua Hedionda Creek in the portions of the study area to the west and to the south of the intersection of El Camino Real and Cannon Road. The vegetation community is dominated by arroyo willow, with some areas containing understory plant species such as spiny rush and saltgrass (Distichlis spicata). Mule fat scrub is present on approximately 0.09 acre in the western portion of the study area. In addition, approximately 0.12 acre of revegetated mule fat scrub is present in the revegetated native habitat to the northwest of the intersection of El Camino Real and Cannon Road. This vegetation community is dominated by mule fat (Baccharis salicifolia). Approximately 0.63 acre of revegetated coastal sage scrub and 0.39 acre of disturbed coastal sage scrub occur west of the intersection of El Camino Real and Cannon Road. The community is dominated by California sagebrush (Artemisia californica) and California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum var. fasciculatum). Black sage (Salvia mellifera), blue elderberry (Sambucus mexicana), laurel sumac (Malosma laurina), bladderpod (Isomeris arborea), and broom baccharis (Baccharis sarothroides) are also present. Understory species include both native and non-native species, such as slender stephanomeria (Stephanomeria virgata), coast goldenbush (Isocoma menziesii), filaree (Erodium sp.), wild oats (Avena sp.), and California broom (Lotus scoparius). Non-native plant species within the disturbed coastal sage scrub include filaree, ripgut grass (Bromus diandrus), tocolote (Centaurea melitensis), black mustard (Brassica nigra), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Russian thistle (Salsola tragus), and tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca). Revegetated coastal salt marsh is present in the northwestern portion of the project area. Totaling approximately 1 .22 acres, this vegetation community is dominated by pickleweed (Salicornia spp.) and alkali-heath (Frankenia salina), with lesser amounts of other native halophytes. Unvegetated channel occurs in Agua Hedionda Creek and Calaveras Creek with the residential development to the east of the intersection of El Camino Real and Cannon Road. Unvegetated channels are typically found within ephemeral drainages in southern California, where periodic high flows from seasonal storm events prevent the establishment of vegetation. In this case, however, approximately 2.78 acres of Unvegetated channel occur in relatively wide, gently sloping, perennially flowing streambeds due to regular vegetation removal by the surrounding community for flood control purposes. A total of 9.77 acres of ornamental vegetation is present along Agua Hedionda Creek and Calaveras Creek within the community to the east of the intersection of El Camino Real and Mr. Daniel Marquez Page3 September 23, 2005 Cannon Road. Although some native tree species such as western sycamore (Platanus racemosa) occur along these creeks, the highly disturbed and widely spaced nature of the vegetation precludes the development of functional riparian habitat in these regions. No shrub or herbaceous component exists within this vegetation community other than ornamental grass and other scattered non-native species. Approximately 0.48 acre of developed land occurs in the study area. These areas are composed of dirt trails and roads. Survey Results Least Bell's vireo and a migratory willow flycatcher were observed on-site during the focused surveys conducted for these species. In addition, two California species of special concern, yellow warbler (Dendroica petechia) and yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens auricollis), were detected on- site during the focused surveys. One willow flycatcher and two least Bell's vireo were detected within the southern willow scrub along Agua Hedionda Creek west of the intersection of El Camino Real and Cannon Road. The willow flycatcher was detected during the first of the five focused surveys and was not seen during any of the subsequent surveys, indicating the individual was using the habitat as a stopping point during its migration north. One yellow warbler was detected within the southern willow scrub along Agua Hedionda Creek west of the intersection of El Camino Real and Cannon Road. One yellow- breasted chat was detected within the southern willow scrub along Agua Hedionda west of the intersection of El Camino Real and Cannon Road. The locations of these sensitive bird species are shown in Figure 4. Birds commonly observed in the riparian areas during the surveys for least Bell's vireo and southwestern willow flycatcher included western scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica), wrentit (Chamaea fasciata henshawi), lesser goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria hesperophilus), Pacific slope flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis), Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna), bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus), orange-crowned warbler (Vermivora celata), common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas), spotted towhee (Pipilo maculatus), European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), and Nuttall's woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii). Two brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) were detected within the southern willow scrub along Agua Hedionda Creek south of Cannon Road and west of El Camino Real (see Figure 4). If you have any questions concerning the focused surveys or the contents of this letter, please contact Wendy Loeffler at (619) 308-9333. Sincerely, Wendy Loeffler Biologist DAB:WEL:ash cc: David Hauser, City of Carlsbad Glen Van Peski, GVP Consultants Cynthia Jones Image source: Copyright 2004 AirPhotoUSA, LLC, All Rights Reserved (flown April 2004) RECON O Least Bell's vireo • Willow flycatcher (migrant-05/19/05) O Yellow-breasted chat © Yellow warbler O Brown-headed cowbird M:\iobs2M 138'.common_gis'.fig4 mxd 09/20/05 0 Feet 300 FIGURE 4 Sensitive Wildlife Mr. Daniel Marquez Page 4 September 23, 2005 References Cited !t U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) | 2000 Survey Protocol for the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Revised. July 1 1 . 2001 Least Bell's Vireo Survey Guidelines. January 19. •••if I certify that the information in this survey report and attached exhibits fully and accurately represents my work. CWw- &-•9/20/05 Clark \ Date Cindy Jones (7 Date Permit Number TE-81 1615 No longer employed at RECON; signature not available. Darin Busby Date