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EIR 11-02; QUARRY CREEK MASTER PLAN; US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS HABITAT MITIGATION MONITORING PLAN; 2014-09-16
Prepared by: HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc. 7578 El Cajon Boulevard, Suite 200 La Mesa, CA 91942 Quarry Creek Master Plan Project U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Habitat Mitigation Monitoring Plan September 16, 2014 Prepared for: Quarry Creek Investors, LLC 2750 Womble Rd. San Diego, CA 92106 i Quarry Creek Master Plan U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Habitat Mitigation Monitoring Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Title Page I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................1 II. PROJECT DESCRIPTION .........................................................................................1 A. Project Location ..................................................................................................1 B. Project Description ..............................................................................................1 C. Jurisdictional Impacts ..........................................................................................2 D. Mitigation Requirements .....................................................................................2 III. MITIGATION SITE DESCRIPTION ........................................................................3 A. Mitigation Location .............................................................................................3 B. Environmental Setting .........................................................................................3 C. Existing Functions and Services ..........................................................................4 1. Vegetation ......................................................................................................4 2. Hydrology .......................................................................................................5 3. Wildlife ...........................................................................................................5 D. Mitigation Site Suitability ...................................................................................5 IV. MITIGATION DESIGN CONCEPT ..........................................................................6 A. Mitigation Design ................................................................................................6 1. Design Details ................................................................................................6 B. Target Functions and Services ............................................................................6 C. Rationale for Expecting Implementation Success ...............................................7 V. PROJECT RESPONSIBILITY ...................................................................................7 A. Project Proponent ................................................................................................7 B. Restoration Specialist ..........................................................................................7 C. Installation/Maintenance Contractor ...................................................................8 VI. MITIGATION INSTALLATION ..............................................................................8 A. Installation Schedule .........................................................................................11 B. Preconstruction Meeting ....................................................................................11 C. Delineating Limits of Work ..............................................................................11 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.) Section Title Page VI. MITIGATION INSTALLATION (cont.) D. Non-native Plant Removal ................................................................................11 E. As-built Conditions ...........................................................................................11 VII. MAINTENANCE PLAN ..........................................................................................12 A. Maintenance Activities ......................................................................................12 1. General Maintenance ....................................................................................12 2. Non-native Plant Removal ...........................................................................12 3. Invasive Plant Control ..................................................................................12 4. Other Pests ....................................................................................................12 5. Fertilization ..................................................................................................13 6. Pruning .........................................................................................................13 B. Maintenance Schedule .......................................................................................13 VIII. MONITORING PLAN .............................................................................................13 A. Initial Weed Removal Monitoring ....................................................................14 B. Maintenance Monitoring ...................................................................................14 C. Annual Technical Monitoring ...........................................................................15 1. Photo Documentation ...................................................................................15 2. General Wildlife ...........................................................................................15 3. Annual Reports .............................................................................................15 IX. SUCCESS CRITERIA ..............................................................................................15 A. Initial Weed Removal Period ............................................................................16 B. Annual Assessments ..........................................................................................16 1. General Wildlife ...........................................................................................16 2. Vegetation Criteria .......................................................................................16 X. COMPLETION OF MITIGATION ..........................................................................17 A. Notification of Completion ...............................................................................17 B. Confirmation .....................................................................................................17 C. Long-term Management ....................................................................................17 XI. CONTINGENCY MEASURES ...............................................................................18 A. Initiating Procedures ..........................................................................................18 B. Natural Disaster .................................................................................................18 X. REFERENCES CITED .............................................................................................19 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.) LIST OF FIGURES No. Title Follows Page No. 1 Regional Location Map ........................................................................................................2 2 Project Location Map ...........................................................................................................2 3 USACE Jurisdictional Areas/Impacts ..................................................................................2 4 Mitigation Location .............................................................................................................4 5 Buena Vista Creek Rehabilitation ........................................................................................4 LIST OF TABLES No. Title Page No. 1 Quarry Creek Master Plan USACE Jurisdictional Impacts .................................................2 2 Quarry Creek Reclamation Project USACE Mitigation Summary ......................................3 3 Mitigation Plan Checklist ....................................................................................................9 4 Maintenance Schedule for the 5-year Restoration Period ..................................................13 5 Monitoring Schedule ..........................................................................................................14 6 Rehabilitation Area Non-native Cover ..............................................................................16 iv THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 1 I. INTRODUCTION This report presents a habitat mitigation monitoring plan (HMMP) for jurisdictional impacts associated with the Quarry Creek Master Plan (project). A separate mitigation plan (HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc. [HELIX] 2011a) covering jurisdictional impacts identified in the Quarry Creek Reclamation Plan Biological Resources Report (HELIX 2010b) is not covered within this mitigation plan. That plan was specific to the expansion of Buena Vista Creek within the eastern portion of the project. Based on meetings and correspondences, mitigation proposed in this plan is anticipated to fulfill mitigation requirements of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Specifically, this plan will follow and provide components of a mitigation plan described in 33 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 325 and 332 and 40 CFR Part 230 Compensatory Mitigation for Losses of Aquatic Resources; Final Rule (including preamble). A separate HMMP (HELIX 2014) has been prepared to meeting mitigation obligations as required by the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), as well as meet requirements of the City of Carlsbad’s Habitat Management Plan (HMP; City of Carlsbad 2004), and fulfill the project’s obligation under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The goal of the proposed mitigation effort is the rehabilitation of riparian habitat within Buena Vista Creek (Creek). The focus of the rehabilitation effort will be removal of non-native/exotic plant species. This effort will improve the target function and values within Buena Vista Creek and the associated watershed. Nomenclature used in this report follows Oberbauer (2008) for vegetation communities, Rebman and Simpson (2006) for plants, Collens et. al. (2011) for reptiles, American Ornithologists’ Union (2009) for birds, and Baker et. al. (2003) for mammals. II. PROJECT DESCRIPTION A. PROJECT LOCATION The project consists of 156.0 acres of property located in the northeast portion of the City of Carlsbad (City), made up of two existing, large parcels: the 96-acre quarry parcel (also called the Reclamation Parcel) on the east and the 60-acre panhandle parcel on the west. The site is approximately 3.5 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, and located approximately one-half mile west of College Boulevard on the south side of Highway 78 (Figure 1). The property lies within unsectioned lands within Township 11 South, Range 4 West of the 7.5-minute U.S. Geological Survey San Luis Rey quadrangle (Figure 2). Additionally, the property is located within the Carlsbad Local Facilities Management Plan (LFMP) Zone 25. B. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The proposed project involves the development of the 156-acre property into an open space and residential-oriented planned community. The property is located in an urbanized area in the extreme north-east section of the City. The eastern 96 acres of the plan area have historically been the subject of rock and concrete mining activities, which resulted in large areas of earth removal and an excavation scar. This area has been reclaimed to a state which is usable for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 2 urban land uses per the local zoning and General Plan land uses designated for the property. The prior mining use and ongoing reclamation activities are a separate project from the proposed Master Plan. The Quarry Creek Master Plan is an effort to provide a regulatory land use document which, when implemented, will provide (a) a sustainable community, (b) protection of El Salto Falls and Buena Vista Creek, (c) compliance with the Carlsbad HMP, (d) replacement of the rock quarry with attractive urban development, and (e) consistency with adopted Smart Growth policies. To this end, this Master Plan is produced in the context of an environmentally, socially, and economically-beneficial development, and thus incorporates 3 main land use categories: open spaces, public use, and residential areas. The Master Plan preserves approximately 92.4 acres (59 percent) of the property in open space. This includes 3 separate areas of important environmental resources, including Buena Vista Creek and buffers, large tracts of riparian and wetland conservation areas, hillsides, and revegetated manufactured slopes adjacent to open spaces. The Quarry Creek Master Plan project will generate a maximum of 636 dwelling units within 4 residential neighborhoods. A Community Facility site is proposed at the Marron Road entry to the property. C. JURISDICTIONAL IMPACTS Permanent impacts to jurisdictional areas will result from the fill of several side tributaries associated with Buena Vista Creek. A total of 0.25 acre of permanent impacts to USACE jurisdictional waters of the U.S. (WUS) would occur from the proposed project (Figure 3; Table 1). Other jurisdictional resources occurring on site would be avoided. Table 1 QUARRY CREEK MASTER PLAN USACE JURISDICTIONAL IMPACTS HABITAT TYPE ACREAGE IMPACT LINEAR FEET USACE USACE WUS Total 0.25 1,909 D. MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS Pursuant to Section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act, the USACE regulates the discharge of fill material into WUS and evaluates the impacts of the placement of proposed fill into such waters. Under Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act, the RWQCB also has authority over USACE jurisdictional areas. To ensure no-net-loss of jurisdictional areas, as well as associated functions and services, the USACE requires compensatory mitigation for jurisdictional impacts. Jurisdictional impacts and mitigation can be assessed by mapping vegetation and delineating the A× Poway Oceanside Carlsbad Vista Escondido Otay Chula Vista Santee San Marcos Encinitas El Cajon La Mesa Coronado NationalCity ImperialBeach LemonGrove SolanaBeach Del Mar San Diego Camp Pendleton Lake San Marcos Lake Hodges Lake Wohlford Lake RamonaLake Poway Miramar Reservoir San VicenteReservoir Lake Murray SweetwaterReservoir Lake Jennings Otay Reservoir Pacific Ocean San D ie g o BaySantee Lakes SutherlandReservoir Lake Henshaw El Capitan Reservoir Loveland Reservoir Vail Lake O'Neill Lake Barrett Lake Tijuana UNITED STATES MEXICO Dulzura Julian Ramona Warner Springs RIVERSIDECOUNTY ORANGECOUNTY SAN DIEGOCOUNTY ! Project Site San Diego AlpineLa Jolla Aª Aª WÛ WÛ WÙ AÒ A© A£ Fallbrook ?z A© ?z A¨ A©!"^$ 56 !"a$ ?z ?h %&s( !"^$AÛ AÀ !"_$Aù !"a$ !"_$ AÀ ?j !"^$ A× ?j %&s( Figure 1 QUARRY CREEK USACE MITIGATION PLAN Regional Location MapI:\PROJECTS\M\MMC\MMC-40_QuarryCreek\Map\BIO\CorpsMitPlan\Fig1_Regional.mxd MMC-40 06/05/14 -EV0 8MilesN Project Boundary Bue n a V i s ta C re e k Source: USGS 7.5 min Quadrangle; San Luis Rey I:\PROJECTS\M\MMC\MMC-40_QuarryCreek\Map\BIO\CorpsMitPlan\Fig2_Location.mxd MMC-40 06/05/14 -EVFigure 2 QUARRY CREEK USACE MITIGATION PLAN Project Location Map 0 2,000FeetN NNB uenaVistaC reek15' 10' 5' 8'9'6'3' 1'4' 4' 3' 4'8' 9'20' 20' 15' 6'1' 1'2'4'6' 18' 9' 17'1' 2' 14' 24'6'3' 1' 3' 4' 2'3' 6' Carlsbad Village Drive Simsbury Court Tamarack Avenue A© Man-made Basin 3' Culvert Vista Way Haymar Drive Marron Road Tamarack Avenue Carlsbad Village Drive Vancouver S t r e e t Project Boundary ImpactsUSACE Jurisdictional Areas Non-wetland Waters of the U.S. Freshwater Marsh Southern Willow Scrub Southern Riparian Forest Riparian Creation/Restoration Non-wetland Waters of the U.S. Open Water Aerial Interpretation Used in Mapping I:\PROJECTS\M\MMC\MMC-40_QuarryCreek\Map\BIO\CorpsMitPlan\Fig3_USACE_Impacts.mxd MMC-40 06/05/14 -EVFigure 3 QUARRY CREEK USACE MITIGATION PLAN USACE Jurisdictional Areas/Impacts 0 400FeetN U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 3 USACE wetlands as specified in their current manuals (Environmental Laboratory 1987 and USACE 2008a). The project proponent has submitted permit applications to the USACE under Section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act, to the CDFW under Section 1600 of the California Fish and Game Code, and to the RWQCB under Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act for impacts to jurisdictional areas. The applicant proposed a mitigation ratio for USACE jurisdictional features at 1:1 for re-establishment through purchase of 0.25 acre of credits at the San Luis Rey Mitigation Bank or through re-establishment of 0.25 acre at an off-site location, and 6.3:1 for rehabilitation (Table 2). Table 2 QUARRY CREEK RECLAMATION PROJECT USACE MITIGATION SUMMARY JURISDICTION RE-ESTABLISHMENT REHABILITATION TOTAL USACE 0.251(1:1)2 1.58 (6.3:1)1 2.25 (7.3:1)2 1Purchase of 0.25 credits from the San Luis Rey Mitigation Bank or re-establishment at an off-site location 2Mitigation ratio based on 0.25 acre of impact III. MITIGATION SITE DESCRIPTION A. MITIGATION LOCATION Re-establishment of 0.25 acre of habitat will be through purchase of 0.25 acre of credits at the San Luis Rey Mitigation Bank or through re-establishment of 0.25 acre at an off-site location. All other mitigation will be located on site, with rehabilitation occurring within Buena Vista Creek (Figure 4). B. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING Much of the eastern portion of the approximately 156-acre site has been extensively modified by previous mining activities. The site includes a portion of Buena Vista Creek and its adjacent riparian vegetation. Due to the historic mining activities, the site’s topography is irregular. The southeastern portion of the site contains a steep north-facing cut slope traversed by concrete brow ditches. Rolling north-facing slopes occur within the southwestern portion of the site, while the central and northern portions of the site contain gently south-facing slopes. Buena Vista creek runs east to west across the site, largely in a man-altered channel within the eastern portion. This is the portion of the creek that has recently been expanded through other project-related mitigation activities. Elevations on site range between 62 feet above mean sea level along the creek to 328 feet above mean sea level in the southeastern portion of the site. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 4 The overall project site currently contains 17 vegetation communities, including approximately 62.76 acres of native or sensitive habitats, 51.61 acres of non-native and disturbed habitats, and 33.5 acres of developed land (HELIX 2013). In addition, the site contains 1.67 acres of non-vegetated habitats, consisting of non-vegetated channel/streambed and open water. Riparian communities include southern cottonwood-willow riparian forest (SCLORF), southern willow scrub (SWS), freshwater marsh (FWM), mule fat scrub (MFS), and southern riparian woodland (SRW). Upland communities include Diegan coastal sage scrub (DCSS [including disturbed]), baccharis scrub, southern mixed chaparral (SMC), native grassland (NG), non-native grassland (NNG), eucalyptus woodland (EUC), non-native vegetation (NNV), and disturbed habitat (DH). On site, a total of 10 sensitive species have been observed (HELIX 2013), including 1 sensitive plant (Palmer’s grapplinghook [Harpagonella palmeri]), a California Native Plant Society (CNPS)-listed species and 9 sensitive animal species which include: the federally and state-listed endangered least Bell’s vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus), federally-listed threatened coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica), white-tailed kite (Elanus leucurus), yellow warbler (Dendroica petechia brewsteri), yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens), northern harrier (Circus cyaneus), red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus), orange-throated whiptail (Aspidoscelis hyperythrus beldingi), and San Diego black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus bennettii). Four of these species were observed in riparian habitat (least Bell’s vireo, white-tailed kite, yellow warbler, and yellow-breasted chat). Soils on site include Diablo Clay (15 to 30, 30 to 50 percent slopes), Salinas Clay (2 to 9 percent slope), Las Flores loamy fine sand (9 to 15 percent slope, eroded), Cieneba very rocky coarse sandy loam (30 to 75 percent slopes), Carlsbad gravelly loamy sand (5 to 9, 15 to 30 percent slope), Linne clay loam (9 to 30 percent slope), and gravel pits (USDA 2011). C. EXISTING FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES This section provides a brief overview of the functions and services currently provided by the proposed mitigation areas based on a review of site maps and numerous site visits. 1. Vegetation The portion of Buena Vista Creek proposed for rehabilitation currently consists of mature riparian habitat that is degraded by non-native species. Common native species include willows (Salix spp.) and Fremont’s cottonwood (Populus fremontii). Non-native species exist mostly as part of the understory or as in the case of Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), within the canopy of native trees. There are also scattered non-native trees occurring in the overstory and a number of smaller trees that have not reached the canopy at this time. This section of the creek is overrun with 22 species of weeds, some of which have extensive cover. The most pernicious weed species in this area is Virginia creeper. Overall weed cover was estimated in the field. The estimate was based on walking the entire rehabilitation area, identifying polygons of higher weed cover, and locating large non-native trees and higher density weed areas with a global positioning device. Weed cover in this area ranges from 10 percent to 75 percent (Figure 5), with the majority in the 10 percent range. Three polygons had non-native cover of 75 percent with multiple non-native species present in these areas. Vista Way Haymar Drive Marron Road Tamarack Avenue Carlsbad Village Drive Vancouver S t r e e t Project Boundary Impacts Mitigation Location I:\PROJECTS\M\MMC\MMC-40_QuarryCreek\Map\BIO\CorpsMitPlan\Fig4_MitigationLocations.mxd MMC-40 09/16/14 -EVFigure 4 QUARRY CREEK USACE MITIGATION PLAN Mitigation Locations 0 400FeetN !( !( XY #* #*#* !( ") XY !( !( !( !(!( XY !(!( !(^_ ") ")!( XY !( !( !(!(")XY ") !( ") #* !( XYXY #* XY #* !( !( #* #* ") ") ") !( ") !( ") ") !( ^_ !( ") ") !( !( !( !(") !( !( !( !( Haymar Drive Buena Vista Cre e k 10% 25% 75% 75% 75% 50% 100% 50% QUARRY CREEK USACE MITIGATION PLAN Buena Vista Creek RehabilitationI:\PROJECTS\M\MMC\MMC-40_QuarryCreek\Map\BIO\CorpsMitPlan\Fig5_BuenaVistaCreek.mxd MMC-40 06/05/14 -EV0 100FeetN Project Boundary RehabilitationNon-native Target Species (Symbols may Represent Single or Multiple Plants) !(Brazilian Pepper !(Canary Island Date Palm !(Catalpa !(Chinese Elm !(English Walnut !(Field Mustard !(Florist’s-smilax !(German Ivy !(Giant Reed !(Golden Wattle !(Gopher Plant !(Hollow-stem Asphodel XY Fig XY Hottentot Fig XY Indian-fig ^_Mexican Fan Palm ^_Mousehole Tree #*Pampass Grass !(Poison Hemlock !(Prickly Ox Tongue !(Tree of Heaven ")Virginia Creeper % Represents Percentage of Non-native Cover Figure 5 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 5 The prevalence of non-native/exotic species in this area diminishes the habitat functions and values by preventing native plant establishment, outcompeting native plant species, and acting as a non-native seed source to downstream locations. Nonetheless, this area still provides a wide variety of wetland functions and services. 2. Hydrology According to the San Diego Hydrologic Basin Planning Area Map, Region 9 of the RWQCB, the project site is within the Carlsbad Hydrologic Unit (HU), 1 of 11 such drainage areas designated in the 1994 San Diego RWQCB Basin Plan, as amended. The Carlsbad HU is a roughly triangular shaped area of approximately 210 square miles, and extends from east of Lake Wohlford to Solana Beach-Carlsbad along the coast. The Carlsbad HU is divided into a number of hydrologic areas and subareas based on local drainage characteristics with the project site and vicinity located with the El Salto Hydrologic Subarea (HSA) of the Buena Vista Creek Hydrologic Area (HA). Drainage within the Carlsbad HU is provided by a number of small to moderate size streams, including Buena Vista, Agua Hedionda, San Marcos, and Escondido creeks. Surface drainage in the El Salto HSA occurs primarily through Buena Vista Creek, which includes a watershed area of approximately 14,500 acres (22.7 square miles). Buena Vista Creek extends generally east-west through the project site, and continues west before ultimately entering Buena Vista Lagoon in the City of Carlsbad approximately 2 miles downstream of the western site boundary. Annual precipitation in the Carlsbad HU ranges from approximately 11 inches along the coast to over 25 inches in the Laguna Mountains (HELIX 2008). Buena Vista Creek is now a perennial stream as a result of urban runoff from the largely developed watershed upstream. As a result a majority of the rehabilitation area currently contains wetland hydrology. Wetlands include freshwater marsh and portions of the southern willow scrub and southern cottonwood-willow riparian forest. The portion of the channel that is proposed for rehabilitation currently provides high levels of wetland functions and services for groundwater recharge, nutrient removal, flood buffering, and sediment stabilization and, despite the amount of non-native vegetation, high functions and services for wildlife usage. 3. Wildlife Existing wildlife functions and services are reduced due to the abundance of non-native/exotic species. However, the rehabilitation area currently supports sensitive species, including the federally and state-listed endangered least Bell’s vireo (HELIX 2013). The rehabilitation area is contiguous with intact native riparian and upland habitats to the west, which support a diverse assemblage of plant and animal species, including several that are listed by federal or state agencies. D. MITIGATION SITE SUITABILITY The proposed mitigation area is considered suitable for riparian habitat rehabilitation. Buena Vista Creek already has the appropriate wetland hydrology and conditions needed to support riparian species as evidenced by extensive riparian habitat, freshwater marsh, open water, and perennial stream flows. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 6 IV. MITIGATION DESIGN CONCEPT To meet USACE mitigation requirements as described in 33 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 325 and 332 and 40 CFR Part 230 Compensatory Mitigation for Losses of Aquatic Resources; Final Rule (including preamble), as appropriate, this plan recommends measures to (1) rehabilitate a portion of Buena Vista Creek containing an abundance of non-native/exotic plant species (Figure 5). Rehabilitation will improve the quality of existing riparian habitat. A. MITIGATION DESIGN 1. Design Details Non-native species will be treated with a wetland-approved herbicide (i.e. Aquamaster) and/or be cut. All treated non-native vegetation will be left in place, with exception of pampass grass seed heads. Methods for controlling Virginia creeper will likely impact some native vegetation. This is because the initial step in treatment involves cutting this species at head height. While this activity does not inherently correlate with impacting native species, the fact that it is a vine does cause a correlation. This species has become entangled with other native species (such as California grape [Vitis californica], a native vine) throughout the rehabilitation site. Because of this, there will be some impact to native species during cutting. Impacts to native vegetation will be minimized to the greatest extent possible. Methods for treating this species after cutting will focus on herbicide application at ground level. Prior to treatment, the area surrounding this non-native species will be cleared via rake or other hand tool. This material will be placed in a pile that does not exceed 4 feet in height and located in an area where surface water is not present. Clearing the area around this non-native vine will make it easier to target and allow treatment to occur at the lowest possible point. a. Riparian Habitat Rehabilitation Within Buena Vista Creek, 1.58 acres of existing riparian habitat within the open space preserve will be rehabilitated via non-native/exotic species eradication. Targeted non-natives include 22 species, including Virginia creeper, pampass grass, giant reed, and Mexican fan. This rehabilitation area currently has a high density of native riparian vegetation, with much of the non-native species occurring in the understory. As such, planting and/or seeding is not proposed. B. TARGET FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES The overall goal of this mitigation effort is to enhance the aquatic function and services within Buena Vista Creek to at least replace jurisdictional acreage and related aquatic functions and services of riparian habitat that will be impacted as part of the project. The acreage component is being met through the purchase of 0.25 credits from the San Luis Rey Mitigation Bank. The removal of non-native species in the rehabilitation area is expected to increase wildlife functions and services for Buena Vista Creek, as well as restore groundwater recharge, nutrient removal, flood buffering, and sediment stabilization to Buena Vista Creek to where these levels would be without a non-native vegetation component. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 7 C. RATIONALE FOR EXPECTING IMPLEMENTATION SUCCESS Mitigation within Buena Vista Creek will consist solely of non-native/exotic species removal. Since wetland hydrology already exists in this area, reducing their abundance will directly increase functions and values within the creek. V. PROJECT RESPONSIBILITY A. PROJECT PROPONENT The City of Carlsbad is Lead Agency for this project. Contact information is provided below. City of Carlsbad Contact: Van Lynch 1635 Faraday Ave. Carlsbad, CA 92008 (760) 602-4613 Quarry Creek Investors, LLC will be responsible for financing the installation and 5-year monitoring of the habitat creation and enhancement proposed in this restoration plan. Contact information is provided below. Quarry Creek Investors, LLC Contact: Brian Milich 2750 Womble Rd. San Diego, CA 92106 (619) 794-1208 B. RESTORATION SPECIALIST Overall supervision of the initial weeding, maintenance, and monitoring of this mitigation project will be the responsibility of a restoration specialist with experience in riparian habitat restoration. The restoration specialist will oversee the efforts of the landscape contractor(s) for the life of the project. Specific tasks of the restoration specialist include educating all participants with regard to mitigation goals and requirements; directly overseeing weeding, and maintenance; and coordinating annual assessments. The restoration specialist will ensure that the contractor does not inadvertently impact sensitive habitat areas (and sensitive species). When necessary, the restoration specialist will provide the project proponent and contractor with a written monitoring memo, including a list of items in need of attention. The restoration specialist will prepare and submit required reports to the project proponent(s) and USACE each year. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 8 C. INSTALLATION/MAINTENANCE CONTRACTOR The installation contractor will have riparian habitat restoration experience and be responsible for the initial weed control effort. The restoration specialist will supervise the contractor regarding the initial weeding effort. After the initial weeding contract is completed, the project proponent(s) will hire a maintenance contractor for the duration of the 5-year minimum monitoring period. The maintenance contractor and the installation contractor may be the same entity. The project proponent may change contractors at its discretion. The maintenance contractor will have prior knowledge regarding the maintenance of native riparian habitat and be familiar with native and non-native plants. The maintenance contractor will service the entire mitigation area according to the maintenance schedule (Section VII.B, below). Service will include, but not be limited to, weed control and trash removal. All activities conducted will be seasonally appropriate and approved by the restoration specialist. The maintenance contractor will meet the restoration specialist at the site when requested and will perform all checklist items in a timely manner as directed. VI. MITIGATION INSTALLATION A summary of all major tasks related to the project, starting with the preconstruction phase and ending with the end of the minimum 5-year maintenance and monitoring period, is provided in Table 3. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 9 Table 3 MITIGATION PLAN CHECKLIST CONSTRUCTION PHASE RESTORATION TASK APPLICABLE PARTIES Project Proponent Landscape Architect Civil Engineer Grading ContractorInstallation Contractor Maintenance Contractor Restoration Specialist Resource Agencies Preconstruction Attend preconstruction meeting X X X X 10-day notification to resource agencies X Non-native plant removal X X* Prepare/submit as-built report X 5-year Maintenance & Monitoring Period Maintain site for minimum of 5 years and beyond until signoff by resource agencies X X* X* * Inspecting work related to this task U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 10 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 11 A. INSTALLATION SCHEDULE Implementation of this mitigation plan will be concurrent with project development. Weed removal should be completed prior to completion of grading. In the event that the project applicant is wholly or partly prevented from performing obligations under the final plans (causing temporal losses due to delays) because of unforeseeable circumstances or causes beyond reasonable control, and without the fault of negligence of the project applicant, including but not limited to natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes, etc.), labor disputes, sudden actions of the elements (e.g., landslide activity), or actions by federal or state agencies, or other governments, the project applicant will be excused by such unforeseeable cause(s). Maintenance of the rehabilitation area will begin upon project approval and continue for a period of 5 years. B. PRECONSTRUCTION MEETING Prior to initiation of restoration activities, an on-site meeting will be held with the project proponent, installation contractor, and restoration specialist. Topics that will be addressed at this meeting include but are not limited to: (1) timing constraints for clearing activities; (2) identification of sensitive areas and a strategy for avoidance; (3) defining site access routes and restrictions; (4) locating staging areas; and (5) the overall project goal. C. DELINEATING LIMITS OF WORK The limits of the re-habilitation area include the entire riparian area along Buena Vista Creek as noted on Figure 5, and such will not need to be surveyed and staked. D. NON-NATIVE PLANT REMOVAL Non-native plant removal will be conducted within the 1.58-acre rehabilitation area. These areas will be maintained throughout the minimum 5-year restoration period, and in perpetuity as required by the long-term management plan. E. AS-BUILT CONDITIONS The restoration specialist shall submit a brief as-built letter report to the resource agencies within 30 days of completion of the initial weeding effort. The report will describe restoration site preparation, weed removal methods, and the as-built status of the site. To document implementation of the restoration plan and baseline site conditions, the letter will include an as-built graphic on an aerial photo base, as well as photos taken from the designated photo stations before and after the initial weeding. The as-built letter will serve as the “time zero” report, noting when the 5-year maintenance and monitoring period began. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 12 VII. MAINTENANCE PLAN A. MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES These maintenance guidelines are specifically tailored for native plant establishment. A minimum 5-year maintenance program is proposed to ensure the successful establishment and persistence of native species within the re-establishment area. The maintenance program will focus on weed control and any remedial measures deemed necessary for the success of the restoration program. Maintenance activities will be directed by the restoration specialist. 1. General Maintenance It is the contractor’s responsibility to keep all planted areas free of debris and conduct weeding. Maintenance personnel will be fully informed of the goals of the rehabilitation program so that they understand the effort’s goals and maintenance requirements. A professional with experience in and knowledge of native habitat creation will supervise all maintenance activities. 2. Non-native Plant Removal Particular emphasis will be placed on pro-active removal of non-native plants, which is the primary objective of the rehabilitation effort. During the first 3 years of the program, eradication is expected to be necessary on a monthly basis between November and April (to cover the peak growing period for most plants) and 2 additional visits for the remainder of the year. For years 4 and 5 of the monitoring program, maintenance visits may be reduced to quarterly if approved by the restoration specialist. Non-native plants should be removed by hand or controlled with the proper herbicides. Maintenance personnel should be knowledgeable in distinguishing between native and non-native species; however, additional guidance will be provided, as needed, by the restoration specialist. 3. Invasive Plant Control Non-native species considered to be highly invasive by the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) shall be totally eradicated within the rehabilitation area. Examples of invasive plants that occur within the mitigation areas include, but are not limited to, giant reed, bristly ox- tongue, Brazilian pepper tree, pampass grass, and Mexican fan palm. These species would be removed from the rehabilitation area. 4. Other Pests Insects, vertebrate pests, and diseases will be monitored. Generally, there will be a high threshold of tolerance before control measures are considered. As required by law, specific recommendations will be made only by a licensed pest control adviser. All applicable federal and state laws and regulations will be closely followed. The restoration specialist will be consulted on any pest control matters. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 13 5. Fertilization Fertilizer will not be applied except in extraordinary circumstances and only at the written direction of the restoration specialist. 6. Pruning No post-installation pruning is necessary unless otherwise directed by the restoration specialist. B. MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE Maintenance will be performed as necessary to prevent re-seeding by non-native plants and will likely change with varying site conditions and seasons; the schedule outlined herein (Table 4) serves only as a guideline. The maintenance contractor will be responsible for all maintenance activities during the minimum 5-year maintenance and monitoring period. For the first 3 years of the 5-year maintenance and monitoring period, maintenance is expected to be required once per month between November and April (to cover the peak growing period for most plants) and 2 additional visits for the remainder of the year. Maintenance visits may be reduced and become quarterly in Years 4 and 5 if approved by the restoration specialist. The installation/maintenance contractor(s) will complete maintenance requests from the restoration specialist within 14 days of any written request or monitoring report. Table 4 MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR THE 5-YEAR RESTORATION PERIOD* TIME FRAME SCHEDULE Installation Contractor Initial Weeding Period As needed to complete initial weed removal Maintenance Contractor Year 1 through Year 3 November – April May – October 8 visits per year Monthly August and October Years 4 and 5 Quarterly *This schedule is only a guideline; maintenance will be performed as necessary and as directed by the restoration specialist. VIII. MONITORING PLAN Monitoring and annual assessments will be carried out under direction of the restoration specialist. This monitoring program will begin with habitat installation and continue for a minimum of 5 years following the end of the 120-day establishment period. Monitoring of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 14 restoration effort is divided into 3 phases: (1) initial weed removal monitoring, (2) maintenance monitoring, and (3) annual technical monitoring. Details of each phase are provided in this section of the mitigation plan. A. INITIAL WEED REMOVAL MONITORING A restoration specialist will monitor all phases of the installation process, including site preparation (non-native plant removal) (Table 5). The restoration specialist must inspect and authorize each phase of work before the next phase may begin. The resource agencies will be notified in writing that work will be initiated at least 10 days before the anticipated start date. Pre-installation photos will be taken from designated photo documentation stations. This information will be used later to track the changes in vegetation as a result of site restoration. Table 5 MONITORING SCHEDULE* PHASE SCHEDULE Initial Weed Removal Period Initial weed removal Daily 5-year Restoration Period Year 1 through 3 November to April May to October 8 visits per year Monthly August and October Years 4 and 5 Quarterly *This schedule is only a guideline; monitoring will be performed as necessary, as determined by the restoration specialist. B. MAINTENANCE MONITORING Following initial weed removal, the restoration specialist will monitor maintenance activities during the minimum 5-year restoration effort (Table 5), beginning immediately following the initial weed removal period. For Years 1 through Year 3, monitoring visits will be conducted monthly from January through June, which corresponds with the growing season for riparian vegetation, and 2 other times during the remainder of the year. In Years 4 and 5, monitoring will be conducted 6 times per year. This monitoring schedule is the minimum; more frequent inspections may be necessary if there are problems with contractor performance or habitat development. Monitoring memos noting any issues with plant establishment, irrigation, sediment control, etc., will be provided as necessary to the installation/maintenance contractor(s) and project proponent(s). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 15 C. ANNUAL TECHNICAL MONITORING In addition to maintenance monitoring visits, the restoration specialist will conduct an annual technical monitoring visit in August of each year during the 5-year restoration period. The timing of this assessment should correspond with the peak of the riparian vegetation growth for that year. Technical monitoring of the rehabilitation area will include qualitative (visual) assessments, consisting of the following for the rehabilitation area: (1) photo documentation; (2) cover by non-native plant species; (3) a complete list of plant and animal species observed; (4) general observations of plant health; and (5) observations of site hydrology. 1. Photo Documentation Photos will be taken as part of all 5 annual monitoring events and will be included in the respective year’s annual report. Photos will be taken at the same photo locations that are established prior to the start of the rehabilitation effort. The photo locations will be permanently marked in the field and the mapped on an aerial photograph in the baseline monitoring report) an all subsequent annual reports. 2. General Wildlife During each of the 5 annual assessments, all wildlife incidentally observed or detected will be documented separately for the rehabilitation area. 3. Annual Reports An annual report will be prepared each year during the 5-year monitoring period. The first 2 annual reports will be based on qualitative assessment data and focus on what (if any) adjustments are necessary to ensure ultimate success of the mitigation project. For Years 3 through 5, the annual reports will use quantitative data to determine success of the rehabilitation area. Each report will evaluate the success of the mitigation effort to date, along with any recommendations for future work that may be deemed necessary. Baseline photos, as well as photos from the respective annual assessment, will be included in the annual reports, which will be submitted to the resource agencies following each full year of monitoring and maintenance. IX. SUCCESS CRITERIA The following sections provide standards to determine the successful completion of the mitigation effort as well as measurement methods for success criteria. Attainment of these standards indicates that the mitigation areas are progressing toward attaining the habitat function and services targeted by this plan. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 16 A. INITIAL WEED REMOVAL PERIOD Success at the end of the initial weed removal period will be met if all areas have been treated and the site is in a clean condition. B. ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS 1. General Wildlife No success criteria are specified for wildlife, but increasing use of the overall mitigation area by species found at the impacted area would be a positive indicator that target wildlife functions and services have been improved/created at the site. 2. Vegetation Criteria Native Cover Target Cover by native plants within the canopy is currently at or near 100 percent for the rehabilitation area, while the understory is largely lacking where there is a closed canopy. Based on the existing condition, and the primary goal of the restoration effort to remove non-native species from the rehabilitation area, a specific native cover target for the rehabilitation area is not proposed. Indirectly, native cover will be tracked annually, starting in Year 3 along 2 established transects and five 10m2 plots. Non-native Cover Limit Non-native plants are typically a problem in habitat restoration projects, particularly at their outset. Native cover will initially have a higher allowance but will ultimately have the same threshold as the re-establishment area by Year 5 (Table 6). The initial allowance is higher within this area due to the abundance of non-native species and difficulty to access some of the locations. Access to non-native species is expected to become easier through time, thus the end goal remains the same. Table 6 REHABILITATION AREA NON-NATIVE COVER YEAR NON-NATIVE COVER LIMIT (percent) INVASIVE PLANT COVER LIMIT (percent) 1 20 0 2 15 0 3 10 0 4 10 0 5 5 0 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 17 Invasive Cover Limit A number of Cal-IPC highly invasive plant species have been observed within the mitigation areas, including giant reed, bristly ox-tongue, Brazilian pepper tree, pampass grass, and Mexican fan palm. The acceptable cover value for each of these species within the rehabilitation area will be 0 percent, which should then be maintained until the end of Year 5 (Tables 5 and 6). Additional species may be added to this list if found to be a threat to the long-term success of the rehabilitation effort. X. COMPLETION OF MITIGATION A. NOTIFICATION OF COMPLETION The resource agencies will be notified of completion of the mitigation effort through the submittal of the final (Year 5) monitoring report. B. CONFIRMATION If the project meets all success standards at the end of the 5-year monitoring period or sooner, then the re-habilitation component of the mitigation effort will be considered a success; if not, the maintenance and monitoring program will be extended 1 year at a time until the standards are met. Specific remedial measures (approved by the USACE) will be used during any such extension. Monitoring extensions will be done only for areas that fail to meet final success criteria. This process will continue until all Year 5 standards are attained or until the USACE determines that other mitigation measures are appropriate. Should the mitigation effort meet all goals prior to the end of the 5-year monitoring period, the USACE, at their discretion, may terminate the monitoring effort. If requested, a site visit may be conducted with the USACE to verify site conditions. C. LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT Following completion of mitigation, the rehabilitation area will be preserved in perpetuity within a recorded conservation easement, or similar preservation mechanism, which will be managed and maintained in perpetuity via the establishment of a non-wasting endowment funded by contributions from the responsible party. Long-term maintenance and management will be executed by a Habitat Manager, in accordance with a site-specific habitat management plan. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 18 XI. CONTINGENCY MEASURES A. INITIATING PROCEDURES If the USACE determines upon receipt of any of the annual monitoring reports that the mitigation effort is not meeting success standards for the project, the USACE shall notify the project proponent in writing that the restoration effort may require augmentation for successful implementation. The project proponent shall then have 30 days to respond to the correspondence, confirming that contingency measures will be required. The project proponent shall be responsible for all costs associated with restoration, monitoring, and any remedial measures. B. NATURAL DISASTER Should the rehabilitation and/or re-establishment areas fail due to a natural disaster such as an earthquake or flood, the project proponent will not be held responsible for replanting of any riparian habitat. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 19 XII. REFERENCES CITED AMEC Earth & Environmental (AMEC) and Conservation Biological Institute (CBI). 2004. Review Draft Final Oceanside Subarea Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Communities Conservation Plan (HCP/NCCP). April. American Ornithologists’ Union. 2009. List of the 2,055 Bird Species (with Scientific and English Names) Known from the AOU Check-list Area. URL: http://www.aou.org/checklist/north/full.php Baker, R.J., L.C. Bradley, R.D. Bradley, J.W. Dragoo, M.D. Engstrom, R.S. Hoffmann, C.A. Jones, F. Reid, D.W. Rice, and C. Jones. 2003. Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico. Occasional Papers of the Museum, Texas Tech University 223. Bowman, R.H. 1973. Soil Survey of the San Diego Area, California, Part I. U.S. Department of Agriculture. California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC). 2006. California Invasive Plant Inventory. February. URL: http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/inventory/index.php. City of Carlsbad. 2004. Habitat Management Plan. Environmental Laboratory. 1987. Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual. Technical Report Y-87-1. U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Mississippi. 100 pp. with Appendices. HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc. (HELIX). 2014. Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek Master Plan. June 10. 2013. Quarry Creek Master Plan Biological Technical Report. January 7. 2010a. Biological Technical Report for the Former South Coast Quarry Amended Reclamation Plan. January. 2010b. Former South Coast Quarry Amended Reclamation Plan. Final Subsequent EIR. May. Natural Resource Conservation Service. 2004. Hydric Soils of the U.S. Internet web site. URL: http://www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/mlra02/abouthyd.html. Oberbauer, Thomas. 2008. Terrestrial Vegetation Communities in San Diego County Based on Holland’s Descriptions. Revised from 1996 and 2005. July. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / September 16, 2014 20 Rebman, Jon P. and Michael G. Simpson. 2006. Checklist of the Vascular Plants of San Diego County, 4th Edition. San Diego Natural History Museum and San Diego State University. Reed, P.B., Jr. 1988. National List of Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands: California (Region 0). USFWS Biological Report 88 (26.10). Sawyer, J.O. and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A Manual of California Vegetation. CNPS. 472 pp. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). 2008a. Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Arid West Region (Version 2.0). Eds. J.S. Wakely, R.W. Lichvar, and C.V. Noble. ERDC/EL TR-08-28. Vicksburg, MS; U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. 2008b. Compensatory Mitigation for Losses of Aquatic Resources: Final Rule. April 10.