APPENDIX B 2008 Focused Thread-leaf Brodiaea and Orcutt’s Brodiaea Survey HDR Engineering, Inc. (Revised April 2009)

April 23, 2009

Jerry Backoff City of San Marcos 1 Civic Center Drive San Marcos, CA 92069

Reference: Results of a Focused Thread-leaf Brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia) and Orcutt’s Brodiaea (Brodiaea orcuttii) Survey for the University District Project

Dear Mr. Backoff:

This letter report summarizes the findings of a focused thread-leaf brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia) and Orcutt’s brodiaea (Brodiaea orcuttii) survey for the University District Project (project). The project is located within the City of San Marcos, south of Highway 78 in the vicinity of Twin Oaks Valley Road (Figure 1). These species are known to occur in the San Marcos area on similar habitat that is found on the project site warranting a focused survey. In 2001, Dudek detected B. orcuttii within the mesic grasslands located in the area of the project site. However, in 2002 and 2003, Merkel conducted an updated survey and no brodiaea were found. B. filifolia is state listed as Endangered and federally listed as a Threatened species. Orcutt’s brodiaea is a California Native Plant Society List 1B.1 sensitive species.

Methodology

The brodiaea survey was conducted by Shannon Allen (Senior Biologist) and Allegra Simmons (Assistant Biologist) within the project site and suitable adjacent areas on May 29, 2008. The survey was conducted on foot, traversing all appropriate habitat within the project site. Favorable environmental conditions were encountered during the survey (Table 1).

Table 1. Survey Dates and Weather Conditions Percent Survey Cloud Cover Temperature Date Time Start Stop Start Stop Winds 05/29/2008 1205-1745 clear clear 73°F 71°F 5-8 mph skies skies westerly

8690 Balboa Avenue 858-712-8400 Suite 200 858-712-8333 (fax) San Diego, CA 92123

Mr. Jerry Backoff April 23, 2009 Page 2

Results

Focused surveys for brodiaea were conducted in the western portion of the project site (Figure 1). Within the surveyed area, 31 B. orcuttii blooms were identified at 10 locations (Figure 1). All identified B. orcutti occurred south of the project area.

These individuals were in bloom and occurred within a non-native grassland vegetation community. Any potentially occurring B. filifolia occurring within the survey area would have been readily identifiable at the time of the survey. During the survey, no B. filifolia were detected.

Within the project area, developed parcels and areas exhibiting repeated disturbance were not surveyed. Areas dominated by habitats such as closed canopy Diegan coastal sage scrub, mature Eucalyptus woodland, and dense riparian vegetation were not surveyed.

Several areas, primarily occurring in the eastern portion of the project area, had been recently mowed or disced (Figure 1). These areas were not surveyed because Brodiaea would not be able to be detected.

Discussion

At the time of the May 29, 2008 Brodiaea survey, B. orcuttii was observed adjacent to the project site; therefore, impacts to Brodiaea shall be avoided through mitigation measures implemented during construction. Areas in the eastern portion of the project site could not be surveyed because of recent ground disturbance to the area. Due to the disturbance Brodiaea was not detectable.

Sincerely,

Shannon Allen Senior Biologist

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Legend Source: Data Source; YEAR | G:\Projects\200595_SANMARCOS\67907_HEART\map_docs\mxd\BrodiaeaSurvey\FocusedBrodiaea.mxd | Last Updated : 06-11-08 : Updated Last | G:\Projects\200595_SANMARCOS\67907_HEART\map_docs\mxd\BrodiaeaSurvey\FocusedBrodiaea.mxd | YEAR Source; Data Source:

APPENDIX A –Site Photographs

Photograph 1. Representative Brodiaea habitat. Location of B. orcuttii indicated in red.

Photograph 2. Detail of flowering B. orcuttii (indicated in red).

APPENDIX C 2008 Protocol California Gnatcatcher Survey Report HDR Engineering, Inc. (Revised April 2009)

University District California Gnatcatcher Protocol Survey Report San Marcos, California

September 2008 Revised April 2009

Prepared for City of San Marcos 1 Civic Center Drive San Marcos, CA 92069

Prepared by HDR Engineering, Inc. 8690 Balboa Avenue, Suite 200 San Diego, California 92123

California Gnatcatcher Protocol Survey Report

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION...... 1

2.0 STUDY AREA LOCATION ...... 1

3.0 SURVEY METHODS AND LIMITATIONS ...... 1

4.0 SUITABLE HABITAT ...... 4

5.0 SURVEY RESULTS...... 4

6.0 CONCLUSIONS ...... 5

Appendices

Appendix A Avian Species Observed Appendix B Site Photographs

Figures

Figure 1. Regional and Vicinity Map...... 2 Figure 2. Gnatcatcher Survey Area and Routes ...... 3

Tables

Table 1. Focused California Gnatcatcher Survey Dates, Times, and Climatic Conditions ...... 4

Coastal California Gnatcatcher Survey i City of San Marcos University District September 2008, Rev. April 2009

California Gnatcatcher Protocol Survey Report

1.0 INTRODUCTION

At the request of the City of San Marcos, HDR Engineering, Inc. conducted a U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) protocol presence/absence California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) (CAGN) survey for the proposed University District project (Figure 1).

The proposed project would amend the City of San Marcos General Plan and Heart of the City Specific Plan to allow mixed-use development on approximately 204 acres. The proposed amendment would change the land use designation to Mixed Use and would rezone the area from Specific Plan Area – Business Park and Neighborhood Commercial to Specific Plan Area – University District Mixed Use. Uses within the proposed project area would include multi-family residential, student housing, medical office, retail/commercial, a school, developed park space, and habitat preservation associated with San Marcos Creek, as well as roadways.

The project would include infrastructure improvements to Twin Oaks Valley Road and East Barham Drive/Discovery Street. The project would also include offsite improvements, including a flyover structure over State Route 78 (SR-78) connecting the project site to San Marcos Boulevard via Johnston Lane. Offsite intersection improvements would also be required, including additional lanes and signal improvements at San Marcos Boulevard/Grand Avenue.

The purpose of this survey was to identify if CAGN are located within the 11.6-acre survey area and to determine the size of their territories. Approximately 11.6 acres of Diegan coastal sage scrub (DCSS) occur within the study area (Figure 2).

2.0 STUDY AREA LOCATION

The project study area is a hill that supports an 11.6-acre patch of Diegan coastal sage scrub (DCSS) located within the University District project area. The study area is located within the community of San Marcos, south of SR-78, west of South Twin Oaks Valley Road, and north of Discovery Street. Surrounding vegetation communities include disturbed habitat and commercial development to the south, eucalyptus woodland to the west, non-native grassland to the north, and residential development to the east. A single-family home is located on the northern edge of the DCSS patch. 3.0 SURVEY METHODS AND LIMITATIONS

In accordance with the USFWS’ current mandatory CAGN breeding season survey protocols, appropriate sage scrub habitats located within the study area were surveyed. The survey was conducted by CAGN permitted biologist Shannon Allen (TE-038065-2), and Eric Peffer in a supervisory role.

Per the CAGN survey protocol, a total of three separate surveys were conducted. Each survey visit was conducted no less than seven calendar days apart and no more than 80 acres of appropriate CAGN habitat were covered per survey session (Table 1). All accessible portions of the study area with appropriate habitat were surveyed on foot to allow for direct visual observation of all DCSS within the site’s property boundaries. The scientific nomenclature used in this report follows the standard references: vegetation communities (Holland 1986) and birds (American Ornithologists' Union 2000) (Appendix A).

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Table 1. Focused California Gnatcatcher Survey Dates, Times, and Climatic Conditions

Cloud Surveyors Survey Date Times Cover Temperature Winds S. Allen /E. Peffer 29 August 2008 0800-1100 75% - 50% 68° - 77° F 0-2 mph S. Allen / E. Peffer 5 September 2008 0800-1015 Clear skies 75° - 82°F No wind S. Allen 12 September 2008 0730-1045 Overcast 65-73°F No wind

Throughout the survey routes during each survey, a CAGN tape recording was played at 15 to 20 observation points to elicit a response from any CAGNs occurring within the survey area (Figure 2). The recording was played for 5-10 seconds from each observation point toward appropriate habitat. The recording was played a minimum of five minutes apart at a maximum of three times per observation point, until either a CAGN was observed or there was no response. The CAGN tape was not played at observation points where corvids (i.e., common raven, American crow, and scrub jay) were present. As previously stated, a presence/absence survey was conducted. CAGN were not observed within the study area and thus, nest assessments were not conducted as part of the survey.

The surveys were conducted during morning hours (between 0730 and 1100 hours) under clear skies to overcast conditions (0-100% cloud cover), with air temperatures between 65° and 82° Fahrenheit, and wind velocities between 0 and 2 miles per hour (Table 1).

In general, DCSS is made up of low, soft woody shrubs which are mostly drought-deciduous species that can live in various conditions. The characteristic species observed in this vegetation community include California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), flat-top buckwheat (Eriogonum fasiculatum), lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia) and laurel sumac (Malosma laurina). Depending on the distribution of the habitat the sub-dominants may include various sage (Salvia spp.), toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), and deer weed (Lotus scoparius). DCSS occurs within areas of low moisture content, such as gently rolling to steep xeric slopes or clay-rich soils. At higher elevations, DCSS can intergrade with several chaparral species including mission manzanita (Xylococcus bicolor) and chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum).

4.0 SUITABLE HABITAT

The suitable habitat surveyed totaled 11.6 acres. Indicators in the northern portion of the moderate quality DCSS habitat include black sage (Saliva mellifera) and laurel sumac with flat-top buckwheat and California sagebrush as less common associate species (Photographs 1 and 2 in Appendix A). The south-facing slopes of DCSS have experienced previous disturbance (abandoned dirt roads are present), are vegetated primarily by laurel sumac and a herbaceous annual understory with occasional flat-top buckwheat, presenting low quality CAGN habitat (Photograph 3 in Appendix A).

5.0 SURVEY RESULTS

The protocol survey did not detect any CAGNs within the study area.

Coastal California Gnatcatcher Survey 4 City of San Marcos University District September 2008, Rev. April 2009 California Gnatcatcher Protocol Survey Report

6.0 CONCLUSIONS

The University District project area does not support CAGN. The eastern and southern portion of the DCSS (Photograph 3 in Appendix A) is open, composed primarily of laurel sumac and a grassland understory. The northern portion of the study area is dominated by black sage and is denser (Photograph 2 in Appendix A); however, this portion of the study area contains relatively few California sage plants that are preferred for nesting by CAGN. In addition, the DCSS that is present on-site it is likely too isolated from off-site patches of DCSS that may support CAGN.

CERTIFICATION

I certify that the information in this survey report and attached exhibits fully and accurately represent my work. Please contact me with any questions or concerns.

Shannon Allen TE-038065-2 858-712-8400

Coastal California Gnatcatcher Survey 5 City of San Marcos University District September 2008, Rev. April 2009