MANAGEMENT PLAN HAYSTACK WETLANDS MITIGATION … · 2018-07-20 · MANAGEMENT PLAN HAYSTACK WETLANDS MITIGATION PROJECT PETALUMA, SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA USACE File No. 28104N Prepared

MANAGEMENTPLANHAYSTACKWETLANDSMITIGATIONPROJECTPETALUMA,SONOMACOUNTY,CALIFORNIA

USACEFileNo.28104N

Preparedfor:

SanRafaelRockQuarry,Inc.,dbaDutraMaterials1000PointSanPedroRoad

SanRafael,California94901-8312Mr.RossCampbell

Submittedto:

U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers,SanFranciscoDistrictRegulatoryBranch,8thFloor1455MarketStreet16thFloor

SanFrancisco,California94103-1398Attention:Mr.BryanMatsumoto

(415)503-5786

Preparedby:

Ms.LucyMacmillan

EnvironmentalScientist108RisingRoad

MillValley,CA94941(415)389-9199

SEPTEMBER2017

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I Introduction.......................................................................................................................3A PurposeofProject.....................................................................................................................3B PurposeofthisManagementPlan.............................................................................................6C LandManager...........................................................................................................................6

II PropertyDescription.........................................................................................................6A ProjectSetting..........................................................................................................................6B HistoryandLandUse.................................................................................................................6C Geology,Soils,Climate,andHydrology......................................................................................7

III HabitatandSpeciesDescriptions....................................................................................10A PlantCommunities,Habitats,andSpecies................................................................................10

IV MonitoringandManagement........................................................................................13A ImplementationManagement.................................................................................................13B InterimandLong-termMonitoringandManagement..............................................................13C BiologicalResources................................................................................................................13D Security,Safety,andPublicInvolvement..................................................................................15E InfrastructureandFacilities......................................................................................................16F HabitatAssessment..................................................................................................................16G ReportingandAdministration..................................................................................................17

V Transfer,Replacement,Amendments,andNotices.........................................................18A Transfer...................................................................................................................................18B Amendments...........................................................................................................................18

VI Funding..........................................................................................................................18

REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................19

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I Introduction

A PurposeofProjectThisreportpresentsthemanagementplanfortheproposedDutraHaystackWetlandMitigationProject(project)tobedevelopedonapproximately17acresoftheproposedDutraHaystackAsphaltPlantlocatedat3355PetalumaBoulevardSouthborderingPetalumainSonomaCounty,California(Figure1).SanRafaelRockQuarry,Inc.,dbaDutraMaterials(“Dutra”)isproposingtoestablishanasphaltplantfacilityandassociatedconveyingsystemtotheapproximately35-acreHaystackLandingprojectsite.ThefacilitywilltakedeliveryofaggregateandsandfromtheLandingWaybargeoffloadfacilityandprocesssomeaggregateintothefinishedasphaltproductandselltheremainderoftheaggregatedirectlytothepublic.TheoffloadingwilloccurattheLandingWaybargeoff-loadingfacility(ownedbyShamrockMaterials,Inc.)locatedat210LandingWayinPetaluma,andwillbetransferredbyanenclosedelectricconveyorontheLandingWayproperty,overtheBartonpropertytothesouthandcrossovertheNorthernPacificRailroadTrackstotheHaystackpropertytothesouthwest.AttheHaystacksite,thematerialwillbedepositedintostockpilesattheproposedasphaltfacility.Dutrainitiallyproposedconstructionofanasphaltplantresultinginthefillingofapproximately1.37acreofseasonalwetlandsubjecttoU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers(Corps)jurisdictionpursuanttoSection404oftheCleanWaterActontheprojectsiteandremovalofanother0.47acreofseasonalwetlandonantheLandingWaysitetoconstructandmaintainanelectronicconveyorsystemtotransferaggregatematerialsfrombargesonthePetalumaRivertotheasphaltplant.ThroughanalysisofpotentialalternativesDutrahasdevelopedanalternativethatwouldavoidfilling1.32acresofwetlandproposedtobefilledundertheproposedproject.ThisReducedFillAlternative,whichDutranowproposesinsteadoftheinitiallyproposedproject,wouldfillonly0.52acreofwetland.Inconnectionwiththeinitiallyproposedproject,Dutraalsodevelopedaplantomitigatethewetlandimpactsofthatproject.TheReducedFillAlternativewouldfillonly0.52acreofwetland,lessthanonethirdthe1.84acresofwetlandsproposedtobefilledbytheinitiallyproposedproject.Whilethatreductionofwetlandimpactsnaturallywarrantscorrespondingreductionofmitigation,Dutrahasdecidednonethelesstoproposesubstantiallythesamemitigationithaddevelopedfortheproposedproject.Thismanagementplanproposesshortandlong-termmanagementstrategiesforthewetlandmitigationareainperpetuity.

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Theproposedmitigationprojectwouldincludethefollowing:

• creationof2.66acresseasonallyinundatedwetland• enhancementof8.21acresseasonallyinundatedwetland• restorationof0.02acresofbrackishmarshfrontingthePetalumaRiver• preservationof0.57acreseasonallyinundatedwetland• enhancementof3.12uplandbufferzone

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TheapprovingagenciesforthisprojectincludetheU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers(USACE)andSanFranciscoBayRegionalWaterQualityControlBoard(SFRWQCB).

B PurposeofthisManagementPlanThepurposeoftheManagementPlanistoestablishtaskstomonitorthevariouswetlandhabitatswithinthemitigationarea.ThisManagementPlanisconsideredtheinterimandlong-termmanagementplanandisabindingandenforceableinstrumenttobeimplementedbytheLandManager.

C LandManagerTheLandManagerforthepropertywillbeanaturalresourcemanagementorganizationapprovedbytheUSACE.Ifnolandmanagercanbefound,theapplicantwillretainownershipofthepropertyanditsassociatedmanagementresponsibilities.TheLandManagerwillberesponsibleformitigationmonitoringandcooperativelyworkingwiththeagenciestomanagethepropertyinperpetuity.

II PropertyDescription

A ProjectSettingTheHaystackLandingprojectsiteconsistsofthreeassessorparcelsonthePetalumaRiverUSGSquadrangleinthemiddleportionofSection2inSonomaCounty,California.Twooftheseparcels(APN019-320-023andAPN019-320-022)formanapproximately35-acretrapezoidalparcelboundtotheeastbytheSonomaMarinAreaRailTransittracksandtothewestbyHighway101(hereafterjointlyreferredtoasParcelA).Thethirdparcel(APN019-220-001)occurseastoftherailroadtracksandfrontsthePetalumaRiver(alsoknownastheBartonParcel,hereafterreferredtoasParcelB).Finally,aportionoftheLandingWayFacility(approximately0.47acre)wouldbeusedtoconstructanelectricconveyorthatwouldtransportmaterialsoff-loadedattheShamrockMaterials,Inc.LandingWayfacilitytothe35-acreparcelwheretheasphaltplantwillbeconstructed.

B HistoryandLandUseHistorically,ParcelAwasusedasadairyfarmuntil1968whenthesitewaspurchasedbyAmericanRockandlaterDutra.Thenorthern27acresofthesitewereleasedbacktothedairyrancherandtheremaining10+-acreslocatedinthesouthernportionofthesitewereusedforthedisposalofquarrywashwatertransferredfromaquarrylocatedonthewestsideofHighway101justnorthoftheprojectsite.Since1968,variousdikesandsiltationpondswere

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constructedontheHaystacksite;eventuallyfivesiltationpondswereconstructedforsettlingquarrywashwater.In1976,thenorthernmostsiltationpondwasfilledwithearthenmaterialexcavatedfromanadjacenthill.Theremainingponds,includingtheoneoriginallyconstructedin1968atthesouthernmostportionofthesite,wereactivelyusedbythequarryforthedisposalofquarrywashwateruntilthemid-1970s.Twoofthepondslocatedonthesouthwesternportionofthesitewereincontinuoususeuntilatleast19901.Accordingtothecurrentpropertyowners,noneofthesiltationpondshavebeenactivelyusedforquarryorotheroperationssince1990.Anhistoricfarmhouseoccurredonthenorthern4acresoftheprojectsiteuntilitburneddownin2004.Severalbarnsandoutbuildingsusedtostoremiscellaneousmaterialslocatedsouthofthehouseweredemolishedin2004aspermittedbyaCountydemolitionpermitaswell.ParcelBfrontsthePetalumaRiverandcoversapproximately0.8acreofrelativelyflatland.Historicallythissitehadasmallresidenceonitandwasprimarilyvegetatedwithnon-nativegrassesandvariousshrubsincludingcoyotebush.TheLandingWaypropertywashistoricallyadredgedisposalareauntiltheLandingWayOperationalFacility(anaggregatedistributionfacility)wasconstructedin2005.

C Geology,Soils,Climate,andHydrologyTheprojectsitehasclimatecharacteristicssimilartootherlocationsonthelowlandssurroundingthenorthwestcornerofSanPabloBay.Ingeneral,thesiteislocatedintheMediterraneanclimatezonetypicalofcentralcoastalCalifornia.Thisclimatezoneischaracterizedbycool,wetwintersandhot,drysummerstempered,inthiscase,byproximitytoSanPabloBayandbytheoccurrenceofoccasionalcoastalfog,especiallyinlatespringandsummer.ThewindiestmonthsareMayandJune,whenturbiditiesintheBayandPetalumaRivercanfrequentlypersistatlevelsof200to500nephelometricturbidityunits(NTUs).Situatedinthe‘rainshadow’ofcoastalmountains,theprojectsitereceivesameanannualprecipitationofapproximately22inches.Theaveragerainfallvalueisthestatisticalmeanofrainfalltotalsthatshowawiderangeofvaluesstronglyinfluencedbyglobalweatherpatterns,suchastheElNinoSouthernOscillationandprolongedperiodsofdrought.ThelocationofthesitenorthandeastofBolinasandBigRockRidges,MountBurdellandChilenoValleyhills,andwestoftheSonomaMountainsstronglyinfluenceseventtotals.ReferenceevapotranspirationatPetalumaaverages44inchesperyear.2Referenceevapotranspirationistheevapotranspirationofawell-watered4-to6-inchtallcool-seasongrass;evapotranspirationfromsmallseasonallyinundatedoremergentwetlandvegetationcanbe10to15percenthigher.

1LSAAssociates,Inc.1995.DeterminationofCorpsJurisdictionalArea,HaystackLanding,

Petaluma.2CaliforniaIrrigationManagementInformationSystem(CIMIS)station144;http://wwwcimis.water.ca.gov/cimis/frontStationDetailInfo.do?stationId=144&src=info;Stationaverages:Jan0.98,Feb1.65,Mar2.81,Apr4.25,May5.61,Jun,6.26,Jul6.47,Aug5.86,Sep4.49,Oct3.05,Nov1.54,Dec0.98,Annual43.95inches.

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Theprojectsiteissituatedintheupperreachesofthetidally-influencedportionofthePetalumaRiver,inazoneoftransitionbetweenfreshwaterrunoffandsalinewateroftheSanPabloBay.Itisonthewesternflankofthevalley,onlowlandsadjacenttoshallow400-to500-foothillshavingroughly30-percentslopes,inanareacharacteristicfortidal-fringehabitats.Amileupstream,theTownofPetalumaisaclassic‘bridgepoint’town,foundedattheheadoftidewater,atanothertransitionfromfresherheadwaterhabitatstodownstreamsalt-marshhabitats.Hence,thesiteaffordsanopportunitytorestoremuchofthesametypesoflandward-edge-of-tidewaterwetlandsuponwhichmuchofdowntownPetalumahasbeenestablished,andwhichhasdisproportionatelybeenfilledoraffected–bothinthePetalumaRiversystem,andthroughouttheSanFranciscoBayregion.Inthevicinityoftheprojectsite,riversalinityseasonallyfluctuatesdowntoabout7partsperthousand(ppt)duringwet-seasonrunoffandincreasestoabout25pptduringdry-seasonbaseflow.Tidalwatercirculatesontotheprojectsitethrougha20-footwideslougheastoftheSonomaMarinAreaRailTransit(NWPRR)tracks,andbeneaththetracksthrougha2-footby2-footoldwoodenboxculvert.Flowthroughtheculvertisconstrainedbysediment,aquaticgrowthandfloatingdebris.Westofthetracks,tidalwatersflowintheditchalongthetracksandontotheprojectsiteviavariousdrainageditches.Tidalactionreachesanoff-sitedikedpondofabout8to10acre-feetinsizelocatedtothesoutheastofParcelA.OnParcelA,tidalcirculationislimitedtothedrainageditches,andonlyduringthehighest,primarilywintertidesdoeswaterspillfromdrainageditchDD2toWetlandH.Theditcheson-sitedrainpoorlyrelativetotheoff-siterailroad-trackditchandsloughdownstream,andalwayshavewaterbelow2.6-footelevation,owingtothenearlylevelchannelslope,accumulatedsedimentandwetlandvegetationabovetheconfluences.MeanHighWater(MHW)is3.0-footelevation,andMeanHigherHighWater(MHHW)is3.4footelevation.Theseelevationsareoptimalforpickleweedcolonization.On-siterunoffduringthewetseasoncollectsintheseasonallyinundatedwetlandareasand/orsheetflowstothedrainageditches.WetlandsAandHoverflowtodrainageditchDD2,andWetlandBdrainstotherailroadtrackditch.Otherwetlands,suchasWetlandE,donotgeneraterunoffexceptduringthemostextremeevents.Duringthedryseason,allofthewetlandsdesiccate.OnlydrainageditchesDD1andDD2receivetidalwater.Tidalwatersextendintheseditchesasfarupstreamastheonsiteaccessroadandnotbeyond.Off-siterunofffromtheuplandslopestothewestentersthesitefromtwolocations:1)atthesouthwestcornerofParcelAfromawatershedareaof53acres;and2)atthenorthwestcornerofParcelAfromanareaof20acres.Regionalrunoffaveragesabout6inchesperyear.TheHaystackLandingsiteislocatedwithintheCoastRangeGeomorphicProvinceofCalifornia,whereslopesdevelopedonolderbedrockmeetthegeologically-recentdepositsofSanPabloBay.Theregionalbedrockgeologyinthevicinityoftheprojectsiteprimarilyconsistsofcomplexlyfolded,faulted,sheared,andalteredsedimentary,igneous,andmetamorphicrockoftheJuarrasic-andCretaceous-ageFranciscanComplex.TolayVolcanicsofMioceneageoutcropintheregion–mostnotablyBurdellMountain–andarefoundjustnorthwestofthesiteintheareaoftheDutraquarryPetalumafromwhichthesourcerockwasextractedforaggregateprocessing(mappedbyBlakeandothers,1974).SouthofthisTolayVolcanicsoutcrop,Franciscanbedrockformtheshallowhillsimmediatelywestofthesite.Quaternaryalluvium

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(BayMudmarshdeposits)largelyoverliesbedrockwithinthePetalumaRivervalleylowlands,andsoiltypesareunderlainbyvalleyalluviumandhaveclayhardpans.atthesite,theartificialfillandwashdeposits(depositedfromquarryoperations)overlieBayMud.NaturalsoilsdevelopedinplacebeforequarryfinesweredepositedandconsistedofReyessiltyclayunderlyingmuchofthesite,andGouldingcobblyclayloamalongthewesternboundaryofthesite,risingfromthelowlandstoHighway101andbeyond(SonomaCountySoilSurvey,USDA,byMiller,1972).ReyessiltyclaydevelopedonBayMudandlow-gradientstreamalluvium.Poorlydrained,itiscommoninsalineandbrackishmarshessurroundingtheBay.Incontrast,Gouldingsoilsarewelldrainedandarefoundonhillyvolcanic(andesiteorbasalt)bedrockwestandsouthofthesite.Gouldingsoilsalsoextendfromthesiteaboutamiletothenorthwest,tothequarryfromwhichthesourcerockwasextractedforaggregateprocessing.Othersoilsfurtherwestofthesite,onthelowhillsdrainingtothesitefromwestofHighway101arealsowelldrained.TheyconsistofDiabloclayandLosOsosclayloam,whichbothcommonlyformonweatheredFranciscansandstoneandshale.Thequarryfinesonsiteconsistofsiltsandclayswashedfromthematerialprocessedatthequarry,primarilycomposedofTolayVolcanicswithsomeoutcropsoftypicalFranciscanbedrock.AgeotechnicalinvestigationofthetailingsonthesouthernportionofthesitedesignatedfortheproposedwetlandsmitigationprojectwasconductedbyMillerPacificEngineeringGroup(2004).SubsurfaceexplorationwasperformedonMay21,2004andconsistedofdrilling6soilboringsutilizingtruck-mounteddrillingequipmentwith6-inchhollow-stemcontinuousflightaugers.Thesubsurfaceconditionsencounteredwereconsistentwiththemappedgeologyandsoils.MillerPacificstafffound6.5to11.0feetofvariableartificialfill/washsediments.Thefillmaterialsencounteredconsistedofsofttoverystiff,hightolowplasticitysandyandsiltyclaysanddenseclayeysands.Soft,highlycompressibleBayMudvaryinginthicknessfrom8.0to13.5-feetunderliesthefill.OlderalluvialdepositsunderlietheBayMud.Thesedepositsconsistofverydensesandyclaysandstiff,mediumtohighlyplastic,sandysiltsandclays.BayMudthicknesscontoursareconsistentwiththesoilssurvey,whichshowsBayMud‘pinchingout’alongthewesternportionofthesite.Thelowestground-waterlevels(duringlatesummerandfall)areexpectedtobeneartheBayMudsurfaceorslightlyhigher(MillerPacificEngineeringGroup,2004).Ground-waterconditionsinwintercanbevariable,dependingonamountofandtheelapsedtimesincesignificantrainfall.Tominimizetheseeffects,wemeasuredconditionsthreeweeksintoatypicalmid-winterdrought.Wet-seasonground-waterlevels,aswellassubsurfacespecificconductance(salinity)andtemperaturelevels,wereevaluatedonFebruary4,2005byBalanceHydrologics,followingthis3-weekmid-winterdryspellaftera2-weekperiodofheavyrainfallduringearlyJanuary.Withinthetailingsbasinsonthesouthernportionofthesite,depthtowaterwas2to3feetbelowgroundsurfaceinareasfurthestfrominundatedwetland,andtransitioningtoapproachingthegroundsurfaceatthewetlands.

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III HabitatandSpeciesDescriptions

A PlantCommunities,Habitats,andSpeciesBotanicalsurveyswereconductedonParcelAoftheHaystackLandingsiteonMarch31andJune6and11,2003,andonParcelBonApril30,2004.Descriptionsofthevegetativecommunitiesidentifiedareprovidedbelow.

ParcelA

Atotalof119speciesofvascularplantswereobservedonParcelA.Ofthese,31speciesarenativetothesite,and86speciesarenon-native.Fortwospecies,itcouldnotbedeterminedwhetherornotthespeciesisnativetothesite.Oneofthesespecies(Atriplexsp.)couldonlybeidentifiedtogenusatthetimethesurveywasconductedandcouldbeeitheranativespeciesoranon-nativespecies.SincetherearenoknownrareAtriplexspeciesinSonomaCounty,alate-summervisitofthesitewasnotmadetopositivelyidentifythespecies.InaccordancewithCDFW’ssurveyprotocol,thisplantwasidentifiedatthelevelnecessarytodetermineitsraritystatus(thatis,tothegenuslevel).Theotherspecies,Pacificmadrone(Arbutusmenziesii),isnativetotheregion,butmayhavebeenplantedonthissite.Althoughrecognitionofhabitattypesontheseparcelsissomewhatarbitraryduetotheirhighlydisturbednature,thefollowingfivehabitattypeswererecognized:settlingponds,levees,drainageditches,pond/seasonalwetland,anddeveloped/ruderal.Thefirstthreeofthesehabitattypesencompassesthesettlingpondcomplexinthesouthernportionofthesite.Thedeveloped/ruderalhabitattypeencompassesmostoftheremainderofthesite.Thepondhabitattypecharacterizesthetwosmallpondsnearthewesternsiteboundary.Withthepartialexceptionofthepondhabitattype,noneofthesehabitattypescouldbeconsidered“natural”;allhavebeencreatedand/ormaintainedbyintensivedisturbanceandlarge-scalealterationofthesite,andtheymostlydonotresemblenativevegetationtypes,althoughthedrainageditcheshabitattypeisdominatedbynativespecies.Briefdescriptionsofeachhabitattypearepresentedbelow.Settlingponds.Thebedsthathavedevelopedonthesettlingpondsaregentlyslopingorsomewhatundulating,sothatsomeareasreceivemoreseasonalinundationthanothers.Thevegetationonthepondbottomsisaheterogeneousassemblageofnativeandnon-nativespecies,withbothcoverandspeciescompositionvaryingconsiderablyovershortdistances.Muchofthisvariationisclearlycorrelatedwiththeexactelevationofparticularportionsofthepondbottomandthedegreeofseasonalinundation.Thenorthernsettlingpond,whichprobablyreceivesrelativelylittleseasonalinundation,isdenselyvegetated(cover100percentornearlyso),primarilywithnon-nativegrassesandherbs.CharacteristicspeciesincludeItalianryegrass(Loliummultiflorum),bird’s-foottrefoil(Lotuscorniculatus),Mediterraneanbarley

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(Hordeummarinumssp.gussoneanum),curlydock(Rumexcrispus),bristlyox-tongue(Picrisechioides),softchess(Bromushordeaceus),blackmustard(Brassicanigra),yellowstarthistle(Centaureasolstitialis),wintervetch(Viciavillosassp.varia),and,inthelowestareas,annualbeardgrass(Polypogonmonspeliensis).Scatteredindividualsofthenativeshrubcoyotebrush(Baccharispilularis)occurinthissettlingpond.Onelargeclump(perhapsasingleclone)ofarroyowillow(Salixlasiolepis)occursinthenortheastportionofthissettlingpond.Inthesouthwesternsettlingpond,whichreceivesmoreseasonalinundationthanthenorthernsettlingpond,thehigherareasarelargelydominatedbyItalianryegrass,andtheassociatesaremostlynon-native,withaspeciescompositionsimilartothatofthenorthernsettlingpond.Thenon-nativethistleItalianthistle(Carduuspycnocephalus)occursinscattereddensepatchesinthisarea.Thereisconsiderableyellowstarthistleatthesouthend,andtheescapedornamentalspeciessweetpea(Lathyrusodoratus)islocallyabundantinthenortheastcorner.Lower-lyingareasinthissettlingpondaredominatedbythenativepickleweed(Salicorniavirginica),thenativeperennialgrasssaltgrass(Distichlisspicata),andthenon-nativespeciesannualbeardgrassandbrassbuttons(Cotulacoronopifolia).Thesoutheasternsettlingpondisprobablysimilartothesouthwesternsettlingpondinthedegreeofseasonalinundation,althoughthelowest-lyingportionontheeastsideapparentlyhasstandingwaterforalongerperiodthananyotherportionofthesettlingponds.Thehigherportionsofthissettlingpondarelargelydominatedbyweedynon-nativegrasses,includingripgutgrass(Bromusdiandrus),six-weeksfescue(Vulpiabromoides),softchess,slenderwildoat(Avenabarbata),Mediterraneanbarley,andItalianryegrass,withconsiderablebird’s-foottrefoilandItalianthistle;cut-leavedgeranium(Geraniumdissectum)isalsolocallyabundant.Somewhatlower-lyingareasaredominatedbybird’s-foottrefoil,annualbeardgrass,andpickleweed,withconsiderablebareground,orbyannualbeardgrassandbristlyox-tongue.Thelowest-lyingareaisoverwhelminglydominatedbyannualbeardgrass,withsourclover(Melilotusindica)andpickleweedtheonlyabundantassociates.Asmallamountofnarrow-leavedcattail(Typhaangustifolia),aspeciesgenerallyindicatingprolongedinundation,occursinthesoutheastcorner.Levees.Theleveesareelevatedlinearfeaturesthatseparatethesettlingpondsfromeachotherandfromborderingareas.Theseleveescouldhavebeenincludedinthedeveloped/ruderalhabitattype,but,becausetheyformadistinctpartofthesettlingpondcomplex,theyaretreatedseparately.Denseclumpsofcoyotebrushoccurlocallyonthelevees,andadensepatchoftheinvasivenon-nativeshrubFrenchbroom(Genistamonspessulana)occursatonelocationontheleveebetweenthenorthernandsouthwesternsettlingponds.Theleveesareotherwiselargelyvegetatedbyweedynon-nativeherbsandgrasses,includingfuller’steasel(Dipsacusfullonum),poison-hemlock(Coniummaculatum),purplevetch(Viciabenghalensis),Italianryegrass,Mediterraneanbarley,andyellowstarthistle.Sweetpeaislocallyabundantontheleveesborderingthesouthwesternandsoutheasternsettlingponds.Drainageditches.Drainageditchesoccuradjacenttosomeofthelevees.Theseditchesareartificiallyexcavatedandholdstandingwaterpermanentlyorforvaryingperiodsprimarilyduringtheseason.Wherevegetated,thespeciescompositionofthedrainageditchesconsistsmostlyofnativemoisture-lovingspecies,principallycosmopolitanbulrush,narrow-leavedcattail,pickleweed,cordgrass(Spartinasp.),andsaltgrass.

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Pond.Thetwosmallpondslocatednearthewesternboundaryofthesiteapparentlyholdwaterforall,oratleastmost,oftheseason.Narrow-leavedcattailandannualbeardgrassarerelativelyabundant,especiallyaroundthemarginsoftheseponds,withbrassbuttonsalsorelativelyabundantaroundthesouthernpond.Severalindividualsofarroyowillowoccuraroundthemarginsofthenorthernpond.Developed/ruderal.Thedeveloped/ruderalhabitattypeincludestheentiresitenorthofthenorthernsettlingpondanditsassociatedleveeandditch,aswellasanarrowstripoflandbetweenthesettlingpondsandtheHighway101right-of-way.Thenorthern,mostelevatedportionofthesitesupportsanassemblageofspeciesthatisquiteheterogeneousinbothspeciescompositionandphysiognomy,butthatconsistsprimarilyofweedyspecies.Someareashavebeenrepeatedlymowed;theseareasarevegetatedwithalow,rathersparsecover.Wherenotmowed,thevegetationistallandgenerallydense.Numerouslarge,plantedtreesofthenon-nativespeciesEnglishelm(Ulmusprocera),NorthernCaliforniablackwalnut(Juglanscalifornicavar.hindsii,nativetoNorthernCaliforniabutnotindigenoustothissite),andnon-nativebluegum(Eucalyptusglobulus)arescatteredinthisarea.Thefirstoftheseisreproducingbysuckers,whilethelattertwospecieshavereproducedfromseed.Twolargevalleyoak(Quercuslobata)trees,anativespecies,arelocatedonthenorthsideoftheabandonedhouse.Severaldenseclumpsofthetall,robustnon-nativegrassgiantreed(Arundodonax)occurneartheborderofParcelA.ThenorthcentralportionofParcelAislargelyunvegetated;themarginsandseveraladjacentdirtpilesaresparselytomoderatelydenselyvegetatedbyweedyspecies.Betweenthisparkinglotandthenorthernsettlingpondisalevelareawithhard-packedsoil,probablygradedinthepast,withalowtotall,sparsetolocallydensevegetation,mostlyofweedyspecies.ThereareanumberofsmallPacificmadronetrees(Arbutusmenziesii)inthisarea,perhapsplanted,aswellasonesmallindividualofthenativetreespeciescoastliveoak(Quercusagrifolia).ThestripofruderalhabitatbetweenthesettlingpondsandHighway101,whichisinterruptedbythetwosmallponds,isvegetatedwithamostlydensecoverofweedyspecies.

ParcelB

AbotanicalsurveywasconductedonParcelBonApril30,2004.In2004,thisparcelwasprimarilydominatedbyruderalgrassesandherbswithscatteredindividualsofthenativecoyotebush.Thenarrowanddiscontinuousstripoflandborderingtheriver(whichisevidentlybrackishinthisareaduetotidalflow)isoccupiedbyacoastalbrackishmarshhabitattype.Withinthestudyarea,thishabitattypeisnotwell-developedandcontainsfewspecies,duetoitsrelativelysmallareaandtothefrequentfloodingandscouringfromtheriver,butitisdominatedbynativespecies,particularlythreespeciesoftuleorbulrush:cosmopolitanbulrush,viscidtule(Schoenoplectusacutus),andthree-square(Schoenoplectusamericanus).Associatesincludetherhizomatous,perennialsaltgrassandthesucculentpickleweed.LandingWayMitigationAreaOneseasonalwetlandcoveringatotalareaof0.47acreoccursontheareatobedecommissionedaspartoftheproposedproject.Themajorityofthewetlandareaisdominatedbynon-nativegrassesandherbsincludingrip-gutbrome(Bromusdiandrus),soft-

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chessbrome(Bromushordeaceus),oat(Avenabarbata),bristlyoxtongue(Picrisechiodes),poisonhemlock(Coniummaculatum),andItalianryegrass(Loliummultiflorum).“Wetter”portionsofthewetlandareaaredominatedbyfacultativeandfacultativewetlandspeciesincludingfox-tailbarley(Hordeummurinumssp.gussoneanum),andrabbit’sfootgrass(Polypogonmonspeliensis).Special-statusPlantandAnimalSpeciesNospecial-statusspeciesplantoranimalspeciesareknowntooccurontheprojectsitebutsomedooccurinthevicinity,includingRidgway’srail,Californiablackrail,andsaltmarshcommonyellowthroat.

IV MonitoringandManagementTheoverallgoalofimplementingthetasksspecifiedinthisplanwillbetomonitorthewetlandhabitatsinamannerthatwillfosterthelong-termviabilityoftheseresourcesandthewildlifehabitatfunctionsandvaluestheyprovide.

A ImplementationManagementThelandmanagerwillinstallthree-strandbarbedwirefencingalongtheperimeterofthepropertyfollowingcompletionofconstruction.Oneaccessgatewillbeinstalledatthewesternportionofthemitigationareaadjacenttotheasphaltplantforthepurposeofeasyaccessbylandmanagersandmonitors.Inaddition,thisaccessgatewillprovidevehicularaccessformowingandothermanagementactivities.Emergencyvehiclescouldalsoaccessthesitethroughthisgateifneeded.

B InterimandLong-termMonitoringandManagementBothinterimandlong-termmonitoringandmanagementactivitieswillincludefencemaintenanceandrepair,weedcontrol,firemanagement,trashcollection,andothertasksasdescribedinthisplan.Long-termmonitoringandmanagementresponsibilitiesassumedbythedesignatedlandmanager(payee)willbefundedbytheendowmentdedicatedtothetrusteeforthisproject.

C BiologicalResourcesTheprimarygoalofthemanagementprogramistopreservewetlandhabitats.Thewetlandhabitatswillbequalitativelymonitoredonanannualbasistoassessgeneralconditionsandtrendsasspecifiedinthemitigationplanfortheproject.Theprimaryaspectsthatwillbemonitoredandmayrequiremanagementactionsareerosion,invasionbyexoticspecies,waterquality,vegetationmanagement,andfirehazard.Towardthelong-termprotectionofthesite’sbiologicalresources,thefollowingarespecificmeasurestobeimplementedduringtheinitialandlong-termmanagementofthesite:

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Element1-InvasiveSpecies

Goal:Monitorandmaintaincontrolovermajornoxiousweedsand/or otherstronglyinvasiveplantsorwildlifeonthesitethatdiminishsite quality.

Task:Eachyearanannualwalk-throughsurveywillbeconductedandincludeaqualitativeassessmentofpotentialorobservedweedinvasions,primarilyinoraroundthewetlands.Non-nativespeciesoccurringinsomeabundance,atleastlocally,includepepperweed(Lepidium

latifolium),curlydock(Rumexcrispus),commonknotweed(Polygonum

arenastrum)andItalianryegrass.Adaptivemanagementtechniqueswillbeadoptedandimplementedannuallybasedonmonitoringtheabundanceanddistributionofpreviouslytreatedinvasivenon-nativeplantsand/ortheidentificationofnewspecies.Commonadaptivemanagementtechniquesutilizedforseasonalwetlandanduplandchaparralhabitatinclude:1)targetingspecificinvasivenon-nativespeciesforaggressiveness,invasiveness,abilitytooutcompete,oralterhydrologicconditions;and2)focusonspecifichabitatlocations(i.e.wetlands,orbufferecotoneregions),dependingonthedistributionand/orspecificspeciesofinvasivenon-nativeplantornativeplantdiversitygoalforthathabitat.Forpepperweed,coloniesofpepperweedthatexceed10percentcoverwillbesprayedwithanaquaticapprovedherbicideeachspringbeforetheplantsflower.Within2-3weeksfollowingthefirstspray,thebasalportionoftheplantwillthenberesprayed.Thisshouldeffectivelykilltheplant.Inaddition,qualitativeassessmentofcordgrass(Spartinaspp.)colonizationatthesitewillbeconductedatleastonceannually.Thisinvasiveplantcanquicklybecomeestablishedinrestorationmarshesandhasresultedinmitigationprojectfailures.Sincethenon-nativespeciesofcordgrassarenearlyimpossibletodistinguishfromthenativespecies,periodicallythevegetationmonitorshouldcollectsomecordgrasssamplesonsiteandtakeittothemembersofthevolunteerCoastalConservancySpartinaProjecttohavetheDNAofthisplantcheckedtodetermineifthenon-nativecordgrasshasbecomeestablishedonsite.Ifnon-nativecordgrassisidentifiedwithinthemitigationarea,theCoastalConservancySpartinaProjectcanimplementremedialactionmeasurestoremovethisplantfromthemitigationsiteaspartofitsvolunteerprogram.

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Element2-VegetationandFireManagement

Goal:Maintainvegetationheightandcompositionsimilartothetargetedhabitattypes.Inaddition,maintainsiteasrequiredforfirecontrolbutlimitingimpactsonsitebiologicalvalues.Targetspeciestobecontrolledincludesweetfennel,poisonhemlock,Italianthistle,starthistle,pampasgrass,Frenchbroom,Scotchbroom,eucalyptus(withtheexceptionoftheeucalyptusthathistoricallysupportedegrets),stinkwort,giantreed,non-nativecordgrass,pepperweed,acaciaandothercommonexotics.Suppressweedyspeciestomaintainhigherqualityhabitat. Task:Conduct3annualvisits(earlyspring,summerandearlyfall)tomonitorweeds.Implementanymethodsthatareallowedandcosteffectivethathavetheleastimpactstositebiologicalresources.Preferredmethodsforremovalwouldbehandremovalortargeteduseofherbicidesdesignedforuseinsensitivewetlandareas.Smallmowersorweedwhackersmaybeusedonadjacentbufferzonesdominatedbyuplandgrassesaslongasplantingsarenotaffected.Diskingisnottobeusedforfirecontrol.Keeptrackofanytrendsinparticularinvasivespeciesandtargetthosemostaggressive.Includeobservationsinannualreport.

D Security,Safety,andPublicInvolvementThesitewillhavenogeneralpublicaccessoranyregularpublicorprivateuse.Fencingaroundtheperimeterofthesiteisthemostvulnerableportionofthesitetopotentialtrespass.PotentialmosquitoissuesassociatedwithwetlandhabitatswillbeaddressedthroughtheprovisionofaccesstotheMarin-SonomaMosquitoandVectorControlDistrictstaffandthroughmanagementofthewetlandsforminimalmosquitoproduction.Potentialwildfirefuel(drygrass)willbereducedasneededbymowinginareaswhereappropriateasspecifiedinElement2above.

Element3-Trashremovalandtrespass

Goal:Monitorsourcesoftrashandtrespass3timesayear.Collectandremovetrash,repairvandalizedstructures,andrectifytrespassimpacts. Task:Collectandremovetrashandrepairandrectifyvandalismand trespassimpacts.

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E InfrastructureandFacilitiesFenceandgatemaintenanceandrepairfrequencywillbedependentontrespassandaccesscontrolissues. Element4-FenceRepairandReplacement

Goal:Monitorconditionoffences.Maintainfencestopreventcasualtrespass,allownecessaryaccess,andfacilitatemanagement. TaskA:Duringeachsitevisit,recordconditionoffences.Record location,type,andrecommendationstoimplementfencerepairor replacement. TaskB:Maintainfencesasnecessarybyreplacingposts,wire,etc.

Element5–GateRepairandReplacement

Goal:Monitorconditionofgate.Maintaingatetopreventcasualtrespass,allownecessaryaccess,andfacilitatemanagement. TaskA:Duringeachsitevisit,recordconditionofgate.Recordlocation, type,andrecommendationstoimplementgaterepairorreplacement. TaskB:Maintaingateandreplaceasnecessary.

F HabitatAssessmentSiteandhabitatconditionsshouldbeevaluatedwiththegoalofmaintainingbiologicalresourcevaluesonthesite.Elementsofsiteandhabitatconditionsthatshouldbeevaluatedincludedrainageofwetlandareastowetlandsonadjacentproperties.MaintenanceoftheculvertundertheSonomaMarinAreaRailTransittrackswillbeconductedbyrailroademployeesduringtheirregularmaintenanceandoperationactivitiesandisnottheresponsibilityofthelandmanager.Element6–Habitatinspectionandsiteevaluation

Goal:Maintainandpotentiallyenhancehabitatqualityovertime.

TaskA:Walkprojectsiteandevaluatewetlandhabitats.Recordobservationsandgeneralassessmentofhabitatconditions,particularlythosehabitatsadjacenttoaccessroadsandwetlandhabitatsonadjacentproperties.Noteconditionofaccessroadandpotentialerosionorsedimentationproblemsandprovidewrittenrecommendationsregardingremedialmeasuresasappropriate.

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G ReportingandAdministration Element7–AnnualReport

Goal:ProvideannualreportonactivitiesconductedandgeneralsiteconditionstoUSACE.

TaskA:Prepareannualreportsummarizingresultsofmonitoringandmaintenanceandanykeyproblemsorissues.Remediesforproblemsshouldbeprovided.CompleteandcirculatetoagenciesandotherpartiesbyFebruary15ofeachyearforreviewandapprovalofproposedactions.

TaskB:Makerecommendationswithregardto(1)anyhabitatenhancementmeasuresdeemedtobewarranted,(2)anyproblemsthatneedneartermattention(e.g.,weedremoval,fencerepair,erosioncontrol),and/or(3)anychangesinthemonitoringormanagementprogramthatappeartobewarrantedbasedonmonitoringresultstodate.

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V Transfer,Replacement,Amendments,andNotices

A TransferAconservationeasementandassociatedmanagementresponsibilitiesspecifiedinthisplanwillremainineffectshouldthepropertybetransferredtoanotherparty.Thepropertycannotbetransferredwithouttrusteeconcurrenceandthenewownermustagreetofollowthetermsoftheconservationeasementforthesite.

B AmendmentsAmendmentstothisplandesignedtobettermeetmanagementgoalsandpreservethehabitatandconservationvaluesofthepropertywillonlybeallowedwiththeapprovalofthetrusteeincooperationwiththelandmanager.Anyamendmentsmustbeapprovedinwritingbythetrustee.Anyamendmentstotheplanshallbeimplementedwithoutanyadditionalcosttothelandmanager.

VI FundingBasedonthetasksspecifiedinthisplan,therewillbecostsassociatedwiththelong-termmanagementforthesite.Theseincludeestimatestoconductweedandfireabatement,trashremoval,fencerepair,andfundingneededtofullyreplacethefences.Estimatedcostsforlong-termmaintenancewillbeprovidedintheformofanendowmentmatrixpriortogroundbreaking.ThisfundingestimatewillrequireapprovalbytheCorpsfortheproject.

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