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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCT 85-39; LAUREL TREE; Planning CommissionC-r85-3? .1276 More.. B oulevard, Son Diego, CA 92110-3315 (619) 275-3732 August 11, 1987 . I Mr. Jack Henthorn OCT27 1987 Development Consultants Consortium 2892 Jefferson Street P.O. Box 2143 ... CITY OF CARLSBAD Carlsbad, CA 92008 D VELOR.pRocsERv DIV. Reference: Biological Survey of the College Boulevard Alignment (RECON Job Number R-1721) Dear Mr. Henthorn: A survey of the College Boulevard alignment between Palomar Airport Road and Poinsettia Lane in Ccisbad (Figuras 1 and ) was conducted or August , iS7 .o assess biological resources for an area 200 feet on either side of the proposed center line (400 feet width total). The reconnaissance was conducted on foot for identification of plant and animal species, and for accurate vegetation mapping. The impacts that would be incurred as a result of construction of the road along the proposed alignment are not considered significant. Botany Two native plant communities, Diegan coastal sage scrub and willow scrub, were observed within the survey boundaries (Figure 3). About one-half acre of Diegan coastal sage scrub was high quality, and about one and one-half acre was disturbed with sparse shrubs and many weedy species. The high quality scrub was immediately sith of the power lines about one-half mile south of Palomar Airport Road. The Diegan coastal sage scrub was characterized by coastal sagebrush (Artemisia californica), black sage (Salvia mellifera) and California encelia (Encelia californica) on the flatter areas. Those species and other sage scrub species, such as laurel-leaf sumac (Rhus lauina), lemonadeberry (Rhus integrifolia), mesa bushmallow (Malacothamnus fasciculatus), along with chaparral elements such as toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) and scrub oak (Quercus dumosa) dominated the shrubby slopes facing east. The proposed alignment crosses a narrow drainage running parallel to Palomar Airport Road about 450 feet south of Palomar Airport Road. This drainage supports less than 0.1 acre of scattered willows (Salix lasiolepis) and emergent aquatic vegetation such as cattails (Typha latifolia) and other native and non-native species within the 100 foot width of the proposed alignment. A patch of willow scrub also occurs outside the alignment and outside the survey area in a drainage just west of the proposed College Boulevard alignment and south of proposed Poinsettia Lane. South of Poinsettia Lane the proposed alignment enters a eucalyptus grove on the south-facing slope. This willow patch and the eucalyptus trees are outside the scope of this survey, but impacts will need to be assessed as plans proceed for continuing College Boulevard to the south. ORANGE COUNTY I AIVEFfSIDE COUNTY San Onotre Falibrook Pala A Warner Springs 41 Vista Borrego c OceansideN\ Carlsbad p San Marcos scondido PROJECT LOCATION Juiia\\ Enciriita / 7Ramona Rancho Bernardo Del Mar Poway Miramar 3 I I Lakeside _ La1Jolla ç no 7 Santee Pacific Beach - • Cajon - Alpine _______________ LaMesa,- pring Valley Point Loma Sa .L Chula Vista - Ocotillo Wells Jacumba I-- () -j FIGURE 1. THE LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT RELATIVE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO. 13-1721 7/87 - _____j - ----- .. - .- .- . - -- ..-- ,; . ; - : • sreir •-'-- .,-. - - / - ) NN Li 1 ki ? 01_::_ i'ti k:;---- S \\ •\ . :;J J 1 -.-- T - A C- A H 'E 1) -•T -- / - : -L--_--- _-'- - • _v;-- - - 1J •'• - >. ---- <- -' . '----- --: S ra&',% \ '- -. , - -- \ ----- --- - ' -- \_____ •'p \ c '. / – \ --- -- \ - / I % – ---- -- ) i •_Ict __( \ aer - / – ? ) \' 'I\ - A PROJECT LOCATION I N . r ¼ \ IN ¼ I P ---- \ 0 2000 '\ . feet I t-__ - - — FIGURE 2. PROJECT LOCATION ON U.S.G.S. 7.5 MINUTE TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS, ENC1NITAS AND SAN LUIS REY QUADRANGLES tiLL' VJ1V R-1721 7187 5.00 0•00 U,• O0 VO.W 200 3000 3b.00 000 15'00 50.00 5500 / zz- tx 11 Yli A I I , \ /t1\ i / -- ) ft / \ / / •/ I - - - f l, \ \ OJL1 M F D £ bI-' (i1I AII j -7 :/Y ,\ / 11 r C? si -;---. WILLOW SCRUB DISTURBED COASTAL SAGE SCRUB H SURVEY LIMITS 0 500 feet FIGURE 3. VEGETATION MAP OF COLLEGE BOULEVARD ALIGNMENT I oECQ.5N R-1721 8/87 Mr. Jack Henthorn -2- August 11, 1987 The remaining land has been disturbed for agriculture and is now covered in an assortment of weedy species including non-native grasses (Avenafatua, Bromus mollis, Cortaderia atacamensis), ice plant (Gasoul crystaUinum), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), and cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium). The field adjacent to Palomar Airport Road was recently plowed and was not covered in vegetation. Plant species that were observed within the survey boundaries are listed in Table 1. Sensitive Plant Species No plant species listed by the state or federal governments as rare, threatened, or endangered were observed during the survey of the proposed alignment. Several plant spcies (Table 2, with codes explained in Table 3) listed by the California Native Plant Society (Smith and York, 19814) as sensitive and known to occur in the vicinity of the project, were searched for but not found during the field reconnaissance. The two Brodiaea species would not be visible among the grasses in the disturbed areas at this time of year and possibly could be present even though not observed during the survey. Zoology The search for animals along the proposed alignment revealed 17 species of birds, three species of mammals, and one reptile species (Table LI). These species were identified either by direct observation, call (for birds) or sign (coyote scat). Most were observed in the native coastal sage scrub vegetation, though western fence lizards were observed in piles of vegetation debris from nearby tomato fields. The lizards would be expected to occur throughout the survey area. Sensitive Wildlife Species No animal species listed by the state or federal governments were observed during the survey. The California black-tailed gnatcatcher, a candidate for federal listing and often present in coastal sage scrub habitat of San Diego County, was one of the major species toward which the survey was directed, but no gnatcatchers were observed within the 400-foot-wide survey area. Four raptors (American kestrel, red-tailed hawk, Cooper's hawk, and red- shouldered hawk) were observed during the survey, and all raptors are protected in the state of California. In. addition, the Cooper's hawk is a California Department of Fish and Game Species of Special Concern and is considered to be declining in San Diego County (Everett, 1979) and the rest of California (Remsen, 1979). The Cooper's hawk was observed roasting in a large shrub in the coastal sage scrub along the west side of the proposed alignment. The raptors probably use the coastal sage scrub and the disturbed weedy areas within the survy area, and the nearby cultivated areas for foraging for prey. No appropriate nesting sites are available within the. survey area, but the raptors may nest in the eucalyptus grove south of proposed Poinsettia Lane. TABLE 1 VASCULAR PLANT LIST (continued) Scientific Name Quercus dumosa Nutt. Rhus integrifolla Nutt. Rhus laurina Nutt. in T. & G. Ribes speciosum Pursh. Ricinus communis L. L . Salix lasiolepis l3enth. var. lasiolepis Salsola iberica Sennen & Pau. Salvia apiana Jeps. Salvia mellifera Greene Sambucus mexicana Presl. Sisyrfrichium beflum Wats. Solanum xanti Gray Steph anow e ria virgata Benth. ypha latifolia L. Common Name Scrub oak Lemon adebe r ry Laurel sumac F us ch ia-flowered gooseberry Castor bean Curly dock Arroyo willow Russian thistle White sage Black sage Elderberry Blue-eyed grass Purple nightshade Step hanomeria or mule weed Tall cattail Habitat Status CMC/MC N CS/CMC N CS/CMC/C CS/CMC N MI CS! CM Cl 0 M/RW/CS/CMC/0 CS! Cl M ! R W N 0/U CS/CMC/C N CS/CMC N CSICMC/FW N GICS/CMC/FW N CD I CS/CMC/C N FM N Xanthium strumarium var. canadense (Mill.) T. & G. Cocklebur MIOIU N AP IT AT c CD = Coastal strand, coastal dunes CS = Coastal sage scrub, inland sage scrub CMC = Coastal mixed chaparral, mixed chaparral, chamise chaparral G = Grasslands, pasturelands, etc. FM = Freshwater marsh TABLE 1 VASCULAR PLANT LIST (continued) FW = Foothill woodland ISS = Inland sage scrub M = Mesic areas and wetlands 0 = Open places, waste places, roadsides, burns, etc. RW = Riparian woodlands S = Saltwater marsh VP = Vernal pools YPF = Yellow pine forest OTHER TERMS C = Cistmontane U = Ubiquitous/ cosmopolitan N = Native to locality = Introduced species from outside locality 1-2-3 = Rare species CNPS code TAE.LE 2 SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES ci:PS --deral Species Code Code Habitat Type Acanthomintha ilicifolia Adolphia californIca Brodiaea filifolia- Brodiaea orcuttii Ferocactus viridescens Seiaginella cinerascens 3-3-2 CEIC2 Clay depressions on mesas and slopes in coastal sage scrub and chaparral 1-2-1 --1-- Dry slopes 3-3-3 CEIC2 Heavy clay soil in grasslands and vernal pools 1-3-2 --/C2 Grasslands and near vernal streams and pools 1-3-1 --I-- Dry hills in coastal sage scrub and grass- land 1-2-1 --I-- Slopes and mesas NOTE: See Table 3 for explanation of codes. 1) CNPS R-E-D CODE 3) FEDERAL CANDIDATES AND FEDERALLY LISTED PLANTS R (Rarity) 1- Rare, but found in sufficient numbers and distributed widely enough that the potential for extinction or extirpation is low at this time. 2- Occurrence confined to several populations or to one extended population. 3- Occurrence limited to one or a few highly restricted populations, or present in such small numbers that it is seldom reported. E (Endangerment) 1- Not endangered 2- Endangered in a portion of its range 3- Endangered throughout its range D (Distribution) 1- More or less widespread outside California 2- Rare outside California 3- Endemic to California 2) STATE USTW PLANTS CE' State listed, endangered CR= State listed, rare FE= Federally listed, endangered FT= Federally listed, threatened C1= Enough data are on file to support the federal listing 0 Enough data are on file to support federal listing, but the plant is presumed extinct C2= Threat and/or distribution data are insufficient to support fed- eal listing C2*=Th rea t and/or distribution data are insufficient to support fed-- eral listing; plant presumed extinct C3a= Extinct 0b=Taxonomically invalid C3c= Too widespread and/or not threatened 4) MSCELLANEOUS ABBREVIATIONS B. L. M. Bureau of Land Management ned. inedita, not yet published S. R. Status report, a CNPS summary on that plant U. S. F. W. S. United States Fish and Wildlife Service + In this state and others -H- Widespread outside California -* Extinct or extirpated Source: Smith and York 1984. TABLE 3. CNPS RATING CODES FECWN TAELE 1 WILDLIFE OBSERVED Common Name Birds Cooper's hawk Red-shouldered hawk Red-tailed hawk American kestrel California quail Mourning dove Anna's hummingbird Black phoebe Scrub jay Bushtit Northern mockingbird W ren ti t Lesser goldfinch House finch Brown towhee Hooded oriole Domestic pigeon Mammals California gound squirrel Rabbit Coyote Reptile Western fence lizard Scientific Name Accipiter cooperii Buteo lineatus elegans Buteo jamaicensis subspp. Falco sparverius subspp. Callipepla californica californica Zenaida macroura marginella Archilochus anna yornis nigricans semiatra Aphelocoma coerulescens obscura Psaitrioarusminimus minimus vttmus pLyyIoioS pjygAotios Chamaea fascata henshawi Carduelis psaltria hesperophilus Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis Pipilo fuscus senicula Icterus cucullatus nelsoni Columba livia c_ Syiviaus sp. Canis Iatrans Scel000rus occidentalis 9 - Mr. Jack Henthorn -3- August 11, 1987 Impacts Impacts that would be incurred by the construction of College Boulevard between Palomar Airport Road and Poinsettia Lane would include one-half acre of good coastal sage scrub, one and one-half acres of disturbed coastal sage scrub and less than 0.1 acre of willow scrub. These habitats occur as patches surrounded by disturbed weedy areas and cultivated fields. No sensitive species would be directly impacted, though foraging area for the raptors would be lost. The impacts are not considered significant. Recommendations Crossing the drainage (indicated as a blue line on the U.S.G.S. Encinitas Quadrangle) parallel to Palomar Airport Road will require a permit from the California Department of Fish and Game under Section 1603 of the Fish and Game Code. If you have any questions, please call. Sincerely, Bobbie A. Steele Biologist IMMISM References Cited Everett, William T. 1979 Threatened, Declining and Sensitive Bird Species in San Diego County. - Sketches 29(10):2-3. Remsen, Jan 1979 Species of Special Concern: California's Imperiled Birds. Western Tanager 45(8):1-8. Smith, J. P., and R. York, eds. - 1984 Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California. California Native Plant Society Special Publication No. 1, 3rd edition. September. cr85- 3? '7 3na1 nvironme onL?rTs fr\ 1276 Morena Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92110-3815 (619) 275-3732 - August 10, 1987 Mr. Jack Henthorn Development Consultants Consortium 2892 Jefferson Street OCT27 1987 P.O. Box 2143 Carlsbad, CA 92008 CITY OF CARLSBAD Reference: Archaeological Survey of the College FON Job Number R-1721) Dear Mr. Henthorn: The following is a report of the results of a cultural resources survey of the College Boulevard alignment between Palomar Airport Road and Poinsettia Lane in Carlsbad (Figure 1). The survey included an on-foot inspection of the project area, record searches at local research institutions, and consultation of proj- ect files housed at RECON. As a result of this survey, it has been determined that no historic or prehistoric cultural resources will be impacted by construc- tion of this alignment. No mitigation measures are proposed. According to record searches requested from the San Diego Museum of Man and San Diego State University, and files housed at RECON, four prehistoric archaeol- ogical sites have been recorded near the selected alignment. Two of the sites, SDI-9607/W-113 and. SDI-9479/W-3291, are located in the southern portion of the project area, within the l-lillebrecht property. The sites were noted by SRS in 1982 (Desautels 1982) as very disturbed shell scatters. This property is currently in agriculture. The sites, located on a prominent hill west of the proposed roadway, were tested by RECON in 1985 (Hector 1985). As a result of the 1985 excavations, all impacts to the sites were mitigated; a report was prepared describing the investigation, and no further studies of these sites were recommended. Site SDI-9607 was originally recorded by Malcolm Rogers as a scattered shell midden with bedrock milling features. No trace of any cultural material was noted in this area either in 1985 nor during the most recent investigation. Site SDi-9479 was recorded as a shell midden with stone tools. Artifacts on the surface of this site were collected and analyzed, and test units were excavated by RECON in 1985. The site was found to be a highly disturbed temporary camp. No portions of this site were noted within the alignment. Two additional sites have been recorded on the ridge running parallel to the west of the proposed roadway. These sites are SDi-6752/W--1875 and SDI-94781W- 3290. Both are located on top of the ridge, away from the alignment. They are located more than 400 feet west of the center line of College Boulevard. It is highly unlikely that they could be impacted by road construction. Site SDI-6752 is recorded as a sparse shell and lithic scatter. One tool and several flakes were noted on the site form. Site SDI-9478 is a similar site, although a mano was recorded on the surface in 1982. Mr. Jack Henthorn -2- August 10, 1987 I conducted a field survey of the alignment on —August Lt, 1987 -.----The entire alignment was surveyed, with the addition of ridge edges east and west of the project area. Because much of the area has been disturbed by agricultural activities, visibility was excellent. Transects measuring 200 feet on both sides of the center line of the road were surveyed, for a total covered width of 400 feet.. No traces of any cultural materials were found during the survey; no portions of the four sites described above will be impacted by construction of the project. Therefore, project implementation will not cause adverse impacts to historic or prehisforic cultural resources, and no mitigation measures are necessary. If you have any questions about the information provided in this letter, please contact me. Sincerely, Susan N4.M. Hector, Ph.D. Director, Cultural Resources SMH:st References Cited Desautels, Roger 1982 Cultural Resources Report on the Rancho La Costa Properties Located in the County of San Diego. Scientific Resource Surveys, Inc. Hector, Susan M. 1985 Archaeological Test Excavations on the Hillebrecht Property, Carlsbad, California. RECON. # " I • . •-''j :. ' ; t ,..-.... --- -------, -,--,.--,---- '-I _,-- - • •, , -'- I_ servoir '- ater :\ \S\ ask 41 pop, \ \ ' \\\ I \ ' \ I \ \ I 7-' ' 'E -G 11j A Ii D co -\O\'\&\ ) -// • \( XN AA \\ \ -( /) r Tan k -2- -Sm i-a Iei• ''• \QX It ti PROJECT LOCATION \ ' r r 1 r 'I 7 C F-c-i • 'ç :-S- / It 1 '\' j-'.\ \ '!\(I'•--) 0 2000 feet -. - - ------ FIGURE I. PROJECT LOCATION ON U.S.G.S. 75 MINUTE TOPOGRAPHC MAPS, ENCINITAS AND SAN LUIS REV QUADRANGLES RECWN R-1721 7/87