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Home My WebLink AboutCUP 97-07; CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE; CARLSBAD GOLF COURSE BURROWING OWL SURVEY; 1999-01-07JAN. 7. :999 ;2:40PM D DEK & ASSOCIATES, INC. 7 January 1999 Mr. John Cahill City of Carlsbad las Palmas Avenue Carlsbad, CA 92009 Subject: Dear Mr. Cahill: -gineering, Planning, En11ironment11I Sciences and Mansgem,nt Servic11s Corporate Offic- 605 Third Street Encinitas, Califorriie 92024 Carlsbad Golf Course Burrowittg Owl Survey NO. 0453 P. 760.942.5147 Fax 760.63Z.0164 2093-01 Due to the incidental observation of a burrowing owl (Athtne cunicularia) on the proposed Carlsbad Golf Course site, a focused survey for the species was detennined to be necessary. The survey for the burrowing owl took place during the winter residency period of the owl and was completed on 4 January 1999. The purpose of the smvey was to determine the number and pattern of distribution of the burrowing owl. This letter summarizes the incidental and protocol survey results and observations. The burrowing owl is a California Department of Fish and Game Spedes of Special Concern. It was also on the Audubon Society Blue List (Tate, 1986) and was considered to be declining in San Diego County (Everett, 1979). This owl species is a diurnally active inhabitant of deserts and open grasslands. It typically perches on fence posts or stands on a mound at the entrance to its nesting burrow. The burrowing owl nests in abandoned rodent (typically ground squirrel) burrows by enlarging the opening. The presence of the burrowing owl was recorded near Palomar Airport a number of years ago and has not been documented within the area in recent years. The survey for the burrowing owl on the Carlsbad Golf Course property followed the "Burrowing Owl Survey Protocol and Mitigation Guidelines" prepared by the California Burrowing Owl Consortium (1997). The survey generally followed the winter survey guidelines which include the following methodology: survey includes four site visits on separate dates; visits to be made 2 hours before to 1 hour after sunset or 1 hour before to 2 hours after sunrise; survey conducted between December 1 and January 31; map owl sightings, occupied burrows, burrows with sign, foraging areas; initial visits include examining the burrows for owl sign; subsequent visits are conducted from numerous fixed · points to provide visual coverage of the site with minimal disturbance near potentially occupied burrowsi avoid surveys during heavy rain, high winds1 dense fog. The last survey visit was conducted during midday due to the lack of owl observations during the first three survey visits. .JAN. 7. ;ggg ;2:40PM NO. 0453 P. 2 Mr. John Cahil~ City of Carlsbad Re: Carlsbad Golf Course Burrowing Owl Survey Survey Results A burrowing owl was observed on 18 and 24 November, 1998 by Harold A. Wier. The observations were made in the afternoon. The owl was observed on the ground at a burrow entrance in the embankment of the Hidden Valley Road and within the drainage that is adjacent to and east of Hidden Valley Road, approximately 650 feet north of Palomar Airport Road. The winter survey, according to protocol, was initiated after December 1. The first visit was made on 21 December, 1998 by Brock A. Ortega. No owls were observed. According to the protocol, potential burrows were examined to search for owl sign. Two burrows were identified onsite that contain owl sign: owl excrement is located at the mouth of the burrows, owl pellets are scattered in front of the burrows, prey remains are located near the burrows, and the burrows appear to have been enlarged from the previous use as a ground squirrel bur.row. The second, third and fourth visits were made on 241 28, 81 December 1998 and 4 January 1999 by Anita M. Hayworth, Ph.D. Due to the size of the propeny and the short amount of time allowed by the smvey protocol for the early morning and late afternoon visits, two visits were required to cover the entire project area. The midday visit conducted on 4 January was completed during the one visit due to the greater amount of time available. The second visit was made 1n the morning of 24 December from 0630 to 0900 with calm, cool conditions and in the morning of 28 December from 0625 to 08551 also with calm, cool conditions. The third visit was made in the evening of 28 and 31 December from 1500 to 1730 with calm, moderate conditions. The fourth visit was made du.ring midday on 4 January 1999 from 1100 to 1355 with calm, sunny and warm conditions. No owls were observed onsite during any of the protocol visits. The burrows were observable from vantage points on the property and the excrement was observed with binoculars. The two burrows are located on the slopes within the Hidden Valley drainage and are approximately 600 and 1200 feet north of Palomar Airport Road. The locations of the burrows have been mapped on a 111 = 800' aerial photograph of the site. Although the burrowing owl was not observed onsite during the protocol winter survey, it was observed in November and owl burrows we.re identified from signs of occupation which included excrement, owl pellets, and prey remains. According to the burrowing owl survey protocol, occupancy of suitable burrowing owl ha bi tat can be verified at a site by an observation of at least one burrowing owl or owl signs at or near a burrow entrance. The protocol states that a site should be assumed occupied if at least one bur.rowing owl has been observed occupying a burrow within the last three years due to their high site fidelity. The current winter suzveywas conducted to determine the number and pattern of distribution of owls onsite. Based on the observation of one burrowing ' .. JAN. 7. ; 999 ; 2: 40PM N0. O45:i t. ,i - Mr. Joh ff-Cahill, City of Carlsbad Re: Carlsbad Gol[Course Burrowi11g Owl Survey owl on two occasions in November a.nd the identification of two burrows within the same drainage, approximately 600 feet apart, it is concluded that one owl or one pair of owls is present onsite. The proposed site design may impact one of the burrowing owl burrows. It is recommended that the impact to the burrow be mitigated by passive relocation which is defined as encouraging the owl to move from an occupied burrow to an alternate natural or artificial burrow at least 50 meters from the impacted area. Within the Hidden Valley Road drainage_, numerous ground squirrel burrows are present for potential occupation of a burrowing owl. Owls should be excluded from the impacted burrow for approximately one week prior to grading. The burrow should then be excavated using hand tools and refilled to prevent re-occupation. Please feel free to call me at (760) 942-5147 if you have any questions regarding the contents of this letter. Very truly yours, DUDEK & ASSOCIATES, INC. N-er . -w <k (;n Anita M. Hayworth, Ph.D. Biologist V cc: Howie Wier, DUDEK Brock Onega, DUDEK l!!PJ!~l-iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii-iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiioiiiiiiiiiiiii--iiiiiii-iiiiiiiiiiii-iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii-iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii;;20 ~ 9 - 3 " .. 0 3 1 ,..., ..... ir~ •• ,-... ,~,,., •• January 7, 1999