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EIR 11-02; QUARRY CREEK MASTER PLAN; WETLAND MITIGATION PLAN; 2014-06-10
Prepared by: HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc. 7578 El Cajon Boulevard, Suite 200 La Mesa, CA 91942 Quarry Creek Wetland Mitigation Plan June 10, 2014 Prepared for: Quarry Creek Investors, LLC 2750 Womble Rd. San Diego, CA 92106 i Quarry Creek Wetland Mitigation 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 .....................................................................................3 III. MITIGATION SITE DESCRIPTION ........................................................................3 A. Mitigation Location .............................................................................................3 B. Environmental Setting .........................................................................................4 C. Existing Functions and Services .........................................................................4 1. Vegetation ......................................................................................................5 2. Hydrology .......................................................................................................5 3. Wildlife ...........................................................................................................6 D. Mitigation Site Suitability ...................................................................................6 IV. MITIGATION DESIGN CONCEPT ..........................................................................6 A. Mitigation Design ................................................................................................6 1. Design Details ................................................................................................6 B. Target Functions and Services ............................................................................8 C. Rationale for Expecting Implementation Success ...............................................8 V. PROJECT RESPONSIBILITY ...................................................................................9 A. Project Proponent ................................................................................................9 B. Restoration Specialist ..........................................................................................9 C. Landscape Architect ............................................................................................9 D. Civil Engineer ....................................................................................................10 E. Grading Contractor ............................................................................................10 F. Installation/Maintenance Contractor .................................................................10 VI. MITIGATION INSTALLATION ............................................................................10 A. Installation Schedule .........................................................................................13 B. Plant/Seed Orders ..............................................................................................13 C. Preconstruction Meeting ...................................................................................13 D. Delineating Limits of Work ..............................................................................13 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.) Section Title Page VI. MITIGATION INSTALLATION (cont.) E. Grading ..............................................................................................................14 F. Non-native Plant Removal ................................................................................14 G. Irrigation ............................................................................................................14 H. Plant/Seed Installation .......................................................................................14 I. As-built Conditions ...........................................................................................15 VII. MAINTENANCE PLAN ..........................................................................................16 A. Maintenance Activities ......................................................................................16 1. General Maintenance ....................................................................................16 2. Non-native Plant Removal ...........................................................................16 3. Invasive Plant Control ..................................................................................16 4. Irrigation .......................................................................................................17 5. Other Pests ....................................................................................................17 6. Fertilization ..................................................................................................17 7. Pruning .........................................................................................................17 B. Maintenance Schedule .......................................................................................17 VIII. MONITORING PLAN .............................................................................................18 A. Installation Monitoring ......................................................................................18 B. Maintenance Monitoring ...................................................................................19 C. Annual Technical Monitoring ...........................................................................19 1. Photo Documentation ...................................................................................20 2. General Wildlife ...........................................................................................20 3. Annual Reports .............................................................................................20 IX. SUCCESS CRITERIA ..............................................................................................20 A. 120-day Establishment Period ...........................................................................20 B. Annual Assessments ..........................................................................................21 1. General Wildlife ...........................................................................................21 2. Vegetation Criteria .......................................................................................21 C. Irrigation ............................................................................................................23 X. COMPLETION OF MITIGATION ..........................................................................23 A. Notification of Completion ...............................................................................23 B. Confirmation .....................................................................................................23 C. Long-term Management ....................................................................................24 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.) Section Title Page XI. CONTINGENCY MEASURES ...............................................................................24 A. Initiating Procedures .........................................................................................24 B. Natural Disaster .................................................................................................24 X. REFERENCES CITED .............................................................................................25 LIST OF FIGURES No. Title Follows Page No. 1 Regional Location Map .......................................................................................................2 2 Project Location Map ...........................................................................................................2 3 USACE Impacts ...................................................................................................................2 4 CDFW Impacts ....................................................................................................................2 5 Mitigation Location .............................................................................................................4 6 Buena Vista Creek Rehabilitation ........................................................................................6 7 Tributary Re-establishment ..................................................................................................6 LIST OF TABLES No. Title Page No. 1 Quarry Creek Master Plan USACE/CDFW Jurisdictional Impacts ....................................2 2 Quarry Creek Reclamation Project USACE/CDFW Mitigation Summary .........................3 3 Mitigation Plan Checklist ..................................................................................................11 4 Re-establishment Area Riparian Habitat Plant and Seed Palette .......................................15 5 Maintenance Schedule for the 5-year Restoration Period .................................................18 6 Monitoring Schedule ..........................................................................................................19 7 Re-establishment Area Success Criteria ............................................................................22 8 Rehabilitation Area Non-native Cover ..............................................................................23 iv THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 1 I. INTRODUCTION This report presents a mitigation plan 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 several resource agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), 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) and re-establishment of riparian habitat within a section of one of its side tributaries. The focus of the rehabilitation effort will be the removal of non-native/exotic plant species. This is also one of the focuses within the re-establishment effort, along with channel grading and planting/seeding. Both these efforts 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, Collins 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 urban land uses per the local zoning and General Plan land uses designated for the property. The Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 2 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 92.5 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). Permanent impacts to CDFW waters of the state (WS) include all USACE areas and an additional 0.28 acre, for a total of 0.53 acre of CDFW jurisdictional impacts (Figure 4). Other jurisdictional resources occurring on site would be avoided. Table 1 QUARRY CREEK MASTER PLAN USACE/CDFW JURISDICTIONAL IMPACTS HABITAT TYPE ACREAGE IMPACT LINEAR FEET USACE USACE WUS Total 0.25 1,909 CDFW Southern Cottonwood-willow Riparian Forest 0.34 271 Southern Willow Scrub 0.04 74 Mule Fat Scrub 0.02 80 Non-native Vegetation 0.02 33 Streambed 0.11 1,451 CDFW Total 0.53 1,909 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 MASTER PLAN MITIGATION PLAN Regional Location MapI:\PROJECTS\M\MMC\MMC-40_QuarryCreek\Map\BIO\MitigationPlan\Fig1_Regional.mxd MMC-40 06/05/14 -EV0 8MilesN Project Boundary B u e n a V i s ta C re ek Source: USGS 7.5 min Quadrangle; San Luis Rey I:\PROJECTS\M\MMC\MMC-40_QuarryCreek\Map\BIO\MitigationPlan\Fig2_Location.mxd MMC-40 06/05/14 -EVFigure 2 QUARRY CREEK MASTER PLAN 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 2' 1' 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\WetlandMitPlan\Fig3_Corps_Impacts.mxd MMC-40 10/30/14 -EVFigure 3 QUARRY CREEK MASTER PLAN MITIGATION PLAN USACE Jurisdictional Areas/Impacts 0 400FeetN 3'2'4' 3' 1' 3'6'24' 14' 2' 1' 17' 9' 10' 18' 6'4'2'1' 1' 9' 8'4' 3' 4' 4' Buena Vist a C r e ek3' 6' 8' 11'12'8'6' Vista Way A©Haymar Drive Marron Road Tamarack AvenueSimsbury Court Carlsbad Village Drive Vancouver S t r e e t Project Boundary Impacts Freshwater Marsh Mule Fat Scrub Southern Willow Scrub Southern Riparian Woodland Southern Riparian Forest Riparian Creation/Restoration Disturbed Wetland Streambed Open Water Non-native Vegetation Streambed (width in feet)I:\PROJECTS\M\MMC\MMC-40_QuarryCreek\Map\BIO\WetlandMitPlan\Fig4_CDFW_Impacts.mxd MMC-40 10/30/14 -EVFigure 4 QUARRY CREEK MASTER PLAN MITIGATION PLAN CDFW Jurisdictional Areas/Impacts 0 400FeetN Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 3 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 USACE wetlands as specified in their current manuals (Environmental Laboratory 1987 and USACE 2008a). The CDFW regulates impacts to habitats pursuant to Section 1602 of California Fish and Game Code. 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, 6.3:1 for rehabilitation, and buffer re-establishment would be 1.6:1. The mitigation ratios for CDFW WS would be 1.36:1 for re-establishment through the 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 through on-site re-establishment of 0.47 acre. The mitigation ratio for rehabilitation would be 3:1 for a total mitigation ratio of 4.3:1(Table 2). Table 2 QUARRY CREEK RECLAMATION PROJECT USACE/CDFW MITIGATION SUMMARY Jurisdiction Re-establishment Rehabilitation Buffer Total USACE 0.251(1:1)2 1.58 (6.3:1)1 0.42 (1.6:1)2 2.25 (9:1)2 CDFW 0.72 (1.36:1)3 1.58 (3:1)3 -- 2.30 (4.3:1)3 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 3Mitigation ratio based on 0.53 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 and re-establishment occurring within a section of tributary connecting to Buena Vista Creek (Figure 5). Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 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. 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. 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\WetlandMitPlan\Fig5_MitigationLocations.mxd MMC-40 10/30/14 -EVFigure 5 QUARRY CREEK MASTER PLAN MITIGATION PLAN Mitigation Locations 0 400FeetN Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 5 1. Vegetation Buena Vista Creek 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. Weed cover in this area ranges from 10 percent to 75 percent. 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. Tributary to Buena Vista Creek Vegetation in the section of the tributary proposed for re-establishment is a mix of upland and riparian species, primarily mule fat (Baccharis salicifolia), and broom baccharis (Baccharis pilularis). Invasive non-native species such as pampas grass (Cordata jubata) and bristly ox-tongue (Picris echiodes) occur in this area, along with non-native grasses. Riparian habitat in this area is disturbed and segmented, and occurs in narrow widths. 2. Hydrology Buena Vista Creek Buena Vista Creek currently contains wetland hydrology. The portion of the channel that is proposed for restoration currently provides various levels of wetland functions and services for groundwater recharge, nutrient removal, flood buffering, and sediment stabilization. Tributary to Buena Vista Creek This is an ephemeral drainage. Historically, the entire tributary had a defined bed and bank, but a section currently lacks these features. The area likely facilitates drainage sub-surface, or via sheet flow prior to connecting with portions of the tributary with defined bed and bank. Wetland hydrology is also present to a degree, which is evident by the presence of riparian vegetation. Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 6 3. Wildlife Buena Vista Creek 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. 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. Tributary to Buena Vista Creek Existing wildlife functions and services are limited in this area. This is due to the minimal amount of riparian vegetation occurring within this drainage and lack of surface water. It is possible that wildlife occurring within Buena Vista Creek utilize this tributary on occasion. There is also appropriate breeding habitat for some of the less restricted riparian habitat-associated avian species (such as the song sparrow [Melozpizia melodia]). D. MITIGATION SITE SUITABILITY The proposed mitigation areas are considered suitable for riparian habitat rehabilitation and re- establishment. Buena Vista Creek already has the appropriate wetland hydrology and conditions needed to support riparian species. Historic aerial photographs show that the section of tributary proposed for re-establishment once had a discernible bed and bank. Grading will open up the area for planting and reduce the distance from the soil surface and the water table. These actions will improve the abiotic conditions for the establishment of riparian vegetation. IV. MITIGATION DESIGN CONCEPT To meet USACE, CDFW, RWQCB, and City of Carlsbad (hereafter referred to as “resource agencies”) mitigation requirements, 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 6) and (2) re-establish streambed within a section of a tributary connecting to Buena Vista Creek (Figure 7). Rehabilitation will improve the quality of existing riparian habitat. Re-establishment activities will restore existing, disturbed riparian areas and create additional riparian habitat. A. MITIGATION DESIGN 1. Design Details Buena Vista Creek 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 !( !( XY #* #*#* !( ") XY !( !( !( !(!( XY !(!( !(^_ ") ")!( XY !(!( !(!(")XY ") !( ") #* !( XYXY #* XY #* !( !( #* #* ") ") ") !( ") !( ") ") !(^_ !( ") ") !( !( !( !(") !( !( !( !( Haymar Drive Buena Vista Cre e k 10% 25% 75% 75% 75% 50% 100% 50% QUARRY CREEK MASTER PLAN MITIGATION PLAN Buena Vista Creek RehabilitationI:\PROJECTS\M\MMC\MMC-40_QuarryCreek\Map\BIO\MitigationPlan\Fig6_BuenaVistaCreek.mxd MMC-40 06/05/14 -EV0 100FeetN Pro ject Bo undary CDFW Bo undary Enhancement Area !(Brazilian Pepper !(Canary Island Date Palm !(Catalpa !(Chinese Elm !(English Walnut !(Field Mustard !(Flo rist’s-smilax !(German Ivy !(Giant Reed !(Go lden Wattle !(Go pher Plant !(Ho llo w-stem Aspho del XY Fig XY Ho ttento t Fig XY Indian-fig ^_Mexican Fan Palm ^_Mo useho le Tree #*Pampass Grass !(Po iso n Hemlo ck !(Prickly Ox To ngue !(Tree o f Heaven ")Virginia Creeper Figure 6 5%0.726 0.166 0.148 0.082 0.039 0.045 0.01 0.01 0.005 0.023 0.02 0.063 0.008 0.001 I:\PROJECTS\M\MMC\MMC-40_QuarryCreek\Map\BIO\WetlandMitPlan\Fig7_Tributary.mxd MMC-40 10/30/14 -EV0 100FeetN QUARRY CREEK MASTER PLAN MITIGATION PLAN Tributary Re-establishment KEY MAP Map Extent Rehabilitation Areas 100% Rehabilitation 5% Rehabilitation Figure 7 Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 7 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. Tributary to Buena Vista Creek Habitat re-establishment is proposed within the side tributary to Buena Vista Creek. The channel will be graded along an approximately 682-foot section of a tributary connecting to Buena Vista Creek. The area proposed for grading has no discernible bed or bank. Channel elevations post- grade will be in alignment with channel elevations located immediately upstream and downstream of the re-establishment area. Grading will extend on either side of the channel to allow for the creation of additional riparian habitat. In most instances, only 1 foot of soil removal is appropriate, with the maximum depth of soil removal being around 2 feet. The depth of soil removal was determined in the field and based on information obtained from soil pits. 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. Numerous pampas grass plants that exist within the tributary where re-establishment is proposed will also be removed, as will the large eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus sp.) growing in the riparian woodland at the west end of this on-site drainage. The removal of the eucalyptus and pampas grass will add approximately 0.25 acre of rehabilitation. The eucalyptus trees would be drilled and killed and left in place. b. Riparian Habitat Re-Establishment Channel grading is proposed along an approximately 0.47-acre (682-foot) section of a tributary connecting to Buena Vista Creek in an area that has no discernible bed or bank. Channel elevations post-grade will be in alignment with channel elevations located immediately upstream and downstream of the re-establishment area. Grading will extend on either side of the channel to allow for the establishment of additional riparian habitat. Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 8 Grading would avoid existing riparian and upland (coyote bush) plants and would be tapered away from those plant locations. The grading would be done with a bobcat and overseen by the restoration specialist, so as to mimic a natural riparian landscape condition. Equipment will access the re-establishment area along existing dirt roads. Excess soil will be lost on site within the development footprint. Planting will occur in the graded areas and include willow and mule fat, which are the dominant shrub and tree species in the adjacent extant habitat. A native seed mix will also be included. B. TARGET FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES The overall goal of this mitigation effort is to enhance the aquatic function and services within Buena Vista Creek and a section of one of its tributaries to at least replace jurisdictional acreage and related aquatic functions and services of riparian habitat that will be impacted as part of the project. Re-establishment activities within the tributary will improve the abiotic conditions for the establishment of riparian vegetation by creating more mesic surface soil conditions. Wetter conditions will also be less suitable for pampas grass, further improving the prospects of a successful conversion to native riparian habitat. These actions will also improve the biotic conditions for riparian establishment by eliminating the weed seed bank in the surface soils. 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. Re-establishment within the tributary is anticipated to be successful due to its location along an existing creek, with intact native riparian habitat located both up- and downstream. Although the re-establishment area is in a degraded state, the following measures will assist with the establishment of healthy riparian habitat: (1) the area will be graded to the same elevation as existing, adjacent riparian habitat (or within 12-24 inches of the groundwater table) immediately adjacent to the existing channel, and gradually sloping away to the outer edge of the channel; (2) the site shall be left in a rough grade state with micro topographic relief (including channels) that mimics natural topography; (3) the planting and seed palette has been based on species observed in existing on-site riparian habitat; and (4) temporary irrigation will be used to aid plant establishment. Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 9 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 installation, 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 grading, planting, seeding, 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 resource agencies each year. C. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT A licensed landscape architect will prepare the necessary construction documents, including grading, irrigation, and planting plans, and will provide the draft landscape plans to the agencies for review and approval prior to initiating construction. This person will inspect the irrigation system and assist in other inspections (e.g., plant deliveries), as necessary. Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 10 D. CIVIL ENGINEER If required by the resource agencies, a registered civil engineer will prepare plans for rough grading. However, this is not expected due to the minimal amount of grading work associated with the re-establishment component of the mitigation effort. E. GRADING CONTRACTOR The grading contractor will be responsible for soil salvage and site grading, under the direction of the restoration specialist. F. INSTALLATION/MAINTENANCE CONTRACTOR The installation contractor will have riparian habitat restoration experience and be responsible for irrigation installation, pre-planting weed control, and planting and seeding. The restoration specialist will supervise the contractor regarding the installation of riparian plants. After the installation 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, irrigation maintenance, trash removal, watering, dead plant replacement, and re-seeding. 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. Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 11 Table 3 MITIGATION PLAN CHECKLIST CONSTRUCTION PHASE RESTORATION TASK APPLICABLE PARTIES Project Proponent1 Landscape Architect Civil Engineer Grading ContractorInstallation Contractor Maintenance Contractor Restoration Specialist Resource Agencies Preconstruction Order container plantings and seed1, 2 X Prepare Landscape Plans2,3 X X X* Attend preconstruction meeting X X X X 10-day notification to resource agencies X Install perimeter fencing2 X X* Install erosion control to protect existing habitat2 X X* Document pre-installation site conditions2 X During Construction Remove soil/grading2 X X* Grading inspection/potential soil replacement2 X X X X Grading inspection/potential modifications2 X X* Installation Install irrigation2 X X* Inspect irrigation2 X X Install container plantings and seed2 X X* Non-native plant removal X X* Submit as-built mark-ups2,4 X X Prepare/submit as-built report X 120-day Establishment Period Maintain site for 120 days, or until signoff by the restoration specialist2 X X* X* Replace dead container plantings2 X X* 5-year Maintenance & Monitoring Period Maintain site for minimum of 5 years and beyond until signoff by resource agencies X X* X* 1 Must provide all source locations and receive authorization of final seed and plant lists prior to ordering 2 Re-establishment area only and only if deemed necessary by the restoration specialist. 3 Will only be prepared if required by the regulatory agencies. 4 Only applies if landscape plans are required. * Inspecting work related to this task Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 12 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 13 A. INSTALLATION SCHEDULE Implementation of this mitigation plan will be concurrent with project development. Necessary site preparation and planting should be completed immediately upon 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). Construction and installation dates will be dependent on seasonal hydrological conditions within the re-establishment area. Following completion of these activities, irrigation will be installed and the re-establishment area will be planted and seeded. Monitoring of the mitigation effort will begin with the delineation of the re-establishment area, continue throughout the installation, and continue for a minimum of 5 years following completion of installation. Maintenance of the rehabilitation area will begin upon project approval and continue for a period of 5 years. Maintenance of the re-establishment area will begin following completion of installation and also continue for a minimum of 5 years. B. PLANT/SEED ORDERS The plant species selected for installation in this mitigation site have been documented to occur on site (HELIX 2013) or are common in the region and known from this watershed. All plants and seed installed at the site will be propagated from on site or nearby sources. The collected seed will be labeled and stored in a cool, dry location until it is used at the mitigation site. The restoration specialist must approve all seed and container stock orders, including specific species and source locations, prior to finalizing. C. PRECONSTRUCTION MEETING Prior to initiation of restoration activities, an on-site meeting will be held with the project proponent, grading contractor, installation contractor, and restoration specialist. Topics that will be addressed at this meeting include but are not limited to: (1) timing constraints for clearing/grubbing/grading 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. D. DELINEATING LIMITS OF WORK The limits of the re-establishment area will be surveyed and staked. To avoid unnecessary impacts to existing habitat and maximize the success of the mitigation effort, a restoration specialist will inspect the staking and modify, as necessary. The outer limits of the re-establishment area will be delineated with orange construction fencing. To protect existing adjacent habitat from potential construction and erosion impacts, silt fencing and/or other erosion Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 14 control measures will be installed along the periphery. All fencing will be inspected by a restoration specialist prior to the start of construction activities. E. GRADING The re-establishment area should be graded between 12 and 24 inches. The restoration specialist will identify areas where depths should be at the 12-inch vs. 24-inche mark, and make changes as necessary, based on field conditions. All graded material will be lost on site within the development footprint. Grading would avoid existing riparian and upland (coyote bush) plants and would be tapered away from those plant locations. The grading would be done with a bobcat and overseen by the restoration specialist so as to mimic a natural riparian landscape condition. Grading should occur outside of the bird breeding season (February 15 to September 15), unless a qualified biologist demonstrates to the satisfaction of the resource agencies that all nesting is complete. Any plant material, trash, and other debris removed from the re-establishment area will be disposed of in a licensed landfill. Planting and irrigation should not be installed until the resource agencies have approved of the re-establishment area grading, provided that the resource agencies provide their review within 15 days of notification that the grading has been completed. All plantings should be installed in a way that mimics natural plant distribution, not in rows. F. NON-NATIVE PLANT REMOVAL Non-native plant removal will be conducted within the 1.58-acre rehabilitation area, along with the 0.47-acre re-establishment area. These areas will be maintained throughout the minimum 5- year restoration period, and in perpetuity as required by the long-term management plan. G. IRRIGATION Temporary, above-ground irrigation will be installed throughout the re-establishment area. The irrigation system will incorporate the use of moisture sensors connected to an irrigation controller; this will allow for the application of water on an as-needed basis. The project landscape architect, together with the installation contractor, will inspect the irrigation to ensure full coverage of target areas prior to plant/seed installation. The riparian rehabilitation area will not be irrigated. Irrigation will be removed prior to signoff of the restoration effort by the resource agencies. H. PLANT/SEED INSTALLATION Container stock and seed from a variety consisting of plants occurring within other portions of the tributary where re-establishment is occurring, and within Buena Vista Creek, will be installed within the re-establishment area (Table 4). The restoration specialist must inspect all plant material prior to installation. Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 15 Table 4 RE-ESTABLISHMENT AREA RIPARIAN HABITAT PLANT AND SEED PALETTE (0.47 acre) CONTAINER PLANTINGS * Scientific Name Common Name Spacing on Center (feet) Grouping Size Number Per Acre Quantity Required Artemisia palmeri San Diego sagewort 5 5 150 71 Baccharis salicifolia mule fat 6 3 500 235 Populus fremontii western cottonwood 15 3 60 28 Salix exigua sand bar willow 12 3 150 71 Salix gooddingii black willow 12 3 300 141 Salix lasiolepis arroyo willow 12 3 300 141 TOTAL 1460 687 SEED MIXTURE Scientific Name Common Name % Purity / Germin. Lbs./Acre Lbs. Required Ambrosia psilostachya western ragweed 20/30 4 1.9 Artemisia douglasiana mugwort 15/50 3 1.4 Baccharis salicifolia mule fat 10/20 3 1.4 Isocoma menziesii goldenbush 40/30 2 1.9 Oenothera elata ssp. hookeri evening primrose 98/80 0.5 0.2 TOTAL 12.5 6.8 *All plantings will be in 1-gallon sized containers. I. AS-BUILT CONDITIONS The restoration specialist shall submit a brief as-built letter report to the resource agencies within 30 days of completion of re-establishment activities and the 120-day establishment period. The report will describe restoration site preparation, installation methods, activities conducted during the 120-day establishment period, 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 restoration installation. The as-built letter will serve as the “time zero” report, noting when the 5-year maintenance and monitoring period began. Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 16 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 and rehabilitation areas. The maintenance program will focus on weed control, irrigation system maintenance, irrigation application rates and schedules, and any remedial measures deemed necessary for the success of the restoration program (e.g., re-seeding and re-planting in the re-establishment area). 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, monitor irrigation function and scheduling, monitor plant material condition and health, and conduct weeding and erosion control. Maintenance personnel will be fully informed of the goals of the rehabilitation and re-establishment 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. Damage to plants, irrigation systems, and other facilities occurring as a result of unusual weather or vandalism will be repaired, as directed by the restoration specialist. The cost of such repairs will be paid for as extra work. The contractor will repair any damage caused by the contractor’s inadequate maintenance or operation of irrigation facilities, as determined by the restoration specialist. 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 and crucial in the re-establishment 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 and re-establishment areas. 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 both the rehabilitation and re-establishment areas. Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 17 4. Irrigation Irrigation will only occur within the re-establishment area. The goal is to obtain germination and growth with the least amount of irrigation. Frequent irrigation encourages weed invasion and leaches nutrients from the soil; therefore, water will be applied infrequently and only as needed to prevent plant and seedling mortality. Native plantings that are infrequently irrigated may grow slower initially but will ultimately be better able to withstand natural variations in rainfall and, therefore, be more successful in the long term. The irrigation schedule will attempt to develop deep-root growth with evenly spaced, infrequent, deep applications of water. To obtain deep penetration of water, the irrigation system may be activated several times in one 24-hour period. Irrigation will be minimized to the extent possible following natural rainfall events. The irrigation system will be maintained until the restoration specialist determines that supplemental water is no longer required. At that time, irrigation will be permanently disconnected (e.g., the mainline will be cut) but not removed. Above-ground portions of irrigation will be required to be removed removed prior to final mitigation sign-off. 5. 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. 6. Fertilization Fertilizer will not be applied except in extraordinary circumstances and only at the written direction of the restoration specialist. 7. 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 5) serves only as a guideline. At a minimum, the installation contractor will conduct monthly maintenance during the 120-day establishment period until the restoration specialist recommends sign off of the 120-day establishment period in writing. 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 Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 18 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 5 MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR THE 5-YEAR RESTORATION PERIOD* TIME FRAME SCHEDULE Installation Contractor 120-day Establishment Period Monthly 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 restoration effort is divided into 3 phases: (1) installation monitoring, (2) maintenance monitoring, and (3) annual technical monitoring. Details of each phase are provided in this section of the mitigation plan. A. INSTALLATION MONITORING A restoration specialist will monitor all phases of the installation process, including site preparation (fencing, grading, and non-native plant removal) and installation of irrigation, plants, and seed (Table 6). 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 installation is to begin 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. Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 19 Table 6 MONITORING SCHEDULE* PHASE SCHEDULE Installation Period Grading Full time Remainder of site preparation and installation Daily 5-year Restoration Period 120-day establishment period Monthly Years 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 installation, the restoration specialist will monitor maintenance activities during the minimum 5-year restoration effort (Table 6), beginning immediately following the 120-day establishment period. For Years 1 through 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). 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. Due to the small size of the re-establishment area (0.47 acre), it will only be assessed qualitatively during each annual assessment (Years 1 through 5). Qualitative monitoring within the re-establishment area will consist of: (1) photo documentation; (2) visual estimates of Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 20 container planting survivorship, cover by native and non-native plants, and average height of tree and shrub 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 and re-establishment effort. To visually demonstrate the progress of the restoration effort, photos taken immediately after restoration installation will be included in each report for comparison with the respective year’s annual assessment photos. The photo locations will be permanently marked in the field and the mapped on an aerial photograph in the baseline monitoring report (as-built report following the 120-day establishment period) 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 and re-establishment areas. 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. Success of the re-establishment area in Years 3 through 5 will remain qualitative. 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. A. 120-DAY ESTABLISHMENT PERIOD Success at the end of the 120-day establishment period will be met if non-native cover is less than 10 percent at the time of the inspection, there is 80 percent survivorship of container stock (planting is proposed to occur at a higher than typical initial density to allow for some plant mortality; therefore, survivorship is not set at 100 percent), the irrigation system provides Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 21 adequate cover, and there are no erosion-related issues. If any re-planting is conducted, container stock shall be in the ground for at least 30 days prior to the end of the establishment period. The minimum 5-year maintenance and monitoring period will begin immediately following this 120-day establishment period. There is not a 120-day establishment period for the rehabilitation area. No planting or seeding is proposed in this area. 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 is a key component of determining success within the re-establishment area. Annual performance goals relative to the impact site have been set to track the progress of the mitigation effort. No specific cover criteria have been established for Years 1 or 2 because this is early in the development stage; however, cover will be assessed visually and if the vegetation is not on target to meet Year 3 goals, corrective measures (e.g., re-planting, re-seeding, adding cuttings, irrigation adjustments, and/or increasing removal of non-native species) should be implemented. Starting in Year 3, the re-establishment areas should attain at least 60 percent native cover (Table 7). At the end of the 5-year monitoring period, native cover will be at least 80 percent. If annual goals for vegetative cover are not met, remedial measures, including reseeding, planting, and increased weeding, may be implemented to ensure final success. Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 22 Table 7 RE-ESTABLISHMENT AREA SUCCESS CRITERIA YEAR NATIVE COVER TARGET (percent) NON- NATIVE COVER LIMIT (percent) INVASIVE PLANT COVER LIMIT (percent) SPECIES RICHNESS TARGET (species) 1 -- 20 0 -- 2 -- 10 0 -- 3 60 10 0 5 4 70 5 0 7 5 80 5 0 8 There is not a native cover target for the rehabilitation area. Indirectly, native cover will be tracked annually, starting in Year 3 along 2 established transects and five 10 meter squared (m2) plots. Non-native Cover Limit Non-native plants are typically a problem in habitat restoration projects, particularly at their outset. The areas designated for habitat re-establishment will be disturbed by grading, which favors the establishment of fast-germinating and fast-growing non-native annual species. These species are currently common in the proposed re-establishment area (providing a seed bank in the soils), as well as in the surrounding habitat. As the re-establishment effort takes hold, non-native cover should decrease as a result of diligent removal of these species and expanding cover by native vegetation. In Year 1, cover by non-native species, exclusive of highly invasive species, shall account for no more than 10 percent within the re-establishment area. In Years 2 and 3, cover shall not exceed 10 percent, and in Years 4 and 5, cover shall not exceed 5 percent. Within the rehabilitation area, native cover will initially have a higher allowance but will ultimately have the same threshold as the re-establishment area by Year 5 (Table 8). 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. Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 23 Table 8 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 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 creation, restoration, and enhancement areas will be 0 percent, which should then be maintained until the end of Year 5 (Tables 7 and 8). Additional species may be added to this list if found to be a threat to the long-term success of the rehabilitation and re-establishment effort. Native Species Richness The Year 5 goal is for the re-establishment area is to contain at least 8 native species (Table 7). If interim species richness goals are not met, corrective measures (e.g., reseeding, planting, etc.) will be taken to help ensure eventual achievement of the 5-year goal. C. IRRIGATION To demonstrate that established vegetation is self-sustaining, all artificial water supplies will be off for at least 2 years prior to re-establishment area sign off. 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, and all irrigation has been discontinued for at least 2 years, then the re-establishment component of the mitigation effort will be considered a success; if not, the maintenance and monitoring Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 24 program will be extended 1 year at a time until the standards are met. Specific remedial measures (approved by the resource agencies) 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 resource agencies determine that other mitigation measures are appropriate. Should the mitigation effort meet all goals prior to the end of the 5-year monitoring period, the resource agencies, at their discretion, may terminate the monitoring effort. If requested, a site visit may be conducted with the resource agencies to verify site conditions. C. LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT Following completion of mitigation, the rehabilitation and re-establishment areas 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. XI. CONTINGENCY MEASURES A. INITIATING PROCEDURES If any of the agencies determine upon receipt of any of the annual monitoring reports that the mitigation effort is not meeting success standards for the project, the agencies 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. Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 25 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) 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. 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. Wetland Mitigation Plan for Quarry Creek / MMC-40 / June 10, 2014 26 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.