2016 Annual Report Submitted by the University of California, Irvine (UCI) to the Natural Communities Coalition (NCC)

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Natural Communities Coalition 13402 Old Myford Road Irvine, CA 92602

www.occonservation.org NATURE RESERVE OF ORANGE COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT 2016

Table of Contents

BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION ...... 1 RESERVE MAPS ...... 1 1.0 NATURAL COMMUNITIES COALITION ORGANIZATIONAL GOVERNANCE AND ANNUAL REPORT OVERVIEW ...... 4 1.1 Board of Directors Milestones in 2016 ...... 4 2.0 NATURAL COMMUNITIES COALITION SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM STATUS AND WORK PLAN 2016-17 ...... 5 2.1 Introduction ...... 5 2.2 Work Plan Table ...... 8 2.3 Project Descriptions ...... 10 2.4 Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Summary Tables ...... 86 3.0 NATURE RESERVE OF ORANGE COUNTY CONSERVATION CUSTODIAL FUNDS 89 3.1 2016 Pacific Pocket Mouse Custodial Fund ...... 89 3.2 2016 Cowbird Fund ...... 89 4.0 NCCP/HCP RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLANS AND POLICIES ...... 89 4.1 Fire Management Plan ...... 89 4.2 Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Plan ...... 91 4.3 Recreation Management Plan ...... 92 4.4 Grazing Management Plan ...... 92 5.0 IMPACTS TO COASTAL SAGE SCRUB HABITAT IN THE COUNTY OF ORANGE CENTRAL/COASTAL NCCP/HCP 2016 ...... 92 5.1 Authorized Take in the Reserve System by Participating Landowners as Reported to NCC in 2016 ...... 92 5.2 Take by Non-Participating Landowners – In-Lieu and Other Mitigation Fee Options ...... 93 6.0 ACCOUNTING OF FUNDS RECEIVED AND DISPERSED BY NATURAL COMMUNITIES COALITION ...... 93 7.0 BOUNDARY CHANGES/MINOR AMENDMENTS IN THE RESERVE SYSTEM ...... 93 8.0 RESERVE LANDOWNER/MANAGER PROGRESS REPORTS AND WORK PLANS ... 94 8.1 Crystal Cove State Park 8.2 California Department of Fish and Wildlife Ecological Reserves 8.3 Orange County Parks 8.4 City of Irvine 8.5 City of Newport Beach 8.6 The Irvine Company 8.7 University of California, Irvine 8.8 Irvine Ranch Water District 8.9 Transportation Corridor Agencies 8.10 Orange County Waste and Recycling

Acknowledgements The Natural Communities Coalition appreciates and thanks the reserve landowners and land managers whose hard work and collaboration makes a significant contribution to the health of the Reserve and this Annual Report.

Cover Photo Nature Reserve of Orange County 20th Anniversary Event – September 2016 Nature Reserve of Orange County

Annual Report 2016 Sections: 1.0 – 7.0 Natural Communities Coalition

BACKGROUND

The Implementation Agreement for the County of Orange NCCP/HCP Central and Coastal Subregion specifies that an Annual Report be prepared each year to describe activities of the non-profit management corporation and of landowners and land managers within the reserve system. The annual report contains a progress report for the preceding year and a work plan for the following year. This report is being submitted to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife to fulfill that requirement for the years 2016/2017. Guidelines provided by the Wildlife Agencies were used in the preparation of this report.

INTRODUCTION

In 2015 the Nature Reserve of Orange County (NROC) changed its name to the Natural Communities Coalition (NCC). The mission and legal status of the organization remains the same. The Natural Communities Coalition is the 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that was formed to manage the Natural Community Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan (NCCP/HCP) for the Central and Coastal Subregion of Orange County. The mission is “Coordinate with landowners, managers and other partners to ensure the persistence of the Reserve’s natural communities, including the full spectrum of native plant and animal species, through protection, study and restoration of native habitats and natural processes”. Thirty-nine sensitive species are protected, including nine plant and 30 animal species. The primary vegetation type in the Reserve is coastal sage scrub, coexisting in an intricate mosaic of oak woodland, native grassland, chaparral, Tecate cypress and riparian communities.

NCC helps coordinate science and land management activities of reserve landowners and managers in the nearly 38,000-acre reserve system. Additionally, it conducts biological research and monitoring, and implements habitat restoration and enhancement programs in coordination with landowners and managers. The overall biological goal of the Reserve program is to conserve healthy, functioning ecosystems at a landscape level. This is accomplished through adaptive management, a flexible approach that is open to change based on new scientific information.

RESERVE MAPS

Two maps of the Reserve system, Coastal Subregion and Central Subregion, and associated non-Reserve open space have been included in this annual report for easy reference.

Central Subregion NROC City Boundaries ¬«91 Management Units 1. Santiago Oaks RP (OC Parks) Anaheim 2. Irvine Regional Park (OC 4 Parks) 3. Irvine Ranch Open Space 4. Coal Canyon Ecological Reserve (CDFW) 3 5. Peters Canyon RP (OC Parks) 6. City of Irvine Open Space 1 241 Preserve-North Orange ¬« 7. Bowerman Landfill (OC 3 Waste and Recycling) 8. Siphon Reservoir Preserve (IRWD) 2 9. Whiting Ranch WP (OC 3 Parks)

¬«261

6 Tustin 3

7 8

9 Irvine ¬«133 ¨¦§5

Lake Forest ¨¦§405

Mission Viejo 0 1 2 Mi ¯

Coastal Subregion

1 2 3

8 4 6 5 6 NROC City Boundaries 7 6 Management Units 1. Talbert Nature Preserve (OC Parks) 9 2. Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve (CDFW) 3. UC Irvine Ecological Preserve (UCI) 4. San Joaquin Reservoir (IRWD) 5. Buck Gully (City of Newport Beach) 10 6. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park (OC Parks) 7. Crystal Cove State Park (CA) 8. City of Irvine Open Space Preserve-South 9. Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park (OC Parks) 10. Salt Creek Corridor (City of San Juan Capistrano) 0 2 4 Mi ¯

1.0 NCC ORGANIZATIONAL GOVERNANCE AND ANNUAL REPORT OVERVIEW

1.1 Board of Directors Milestones in 2016 March • Board of Directors unanimously approved the NROC 2015 Annual Report and 2016 Work Plan for submission to the Wildlife Agencies.

• Board of Directors participated in and received a final report on the Science Integration Meeting (SIM) conducted in February that produced a consensus on short-term science and land management priorities and multiyear budgets. Participants in the SIM included landowning and regional partners, and science experts from the western US.

• The audited financial statement and tax returns for 2015 were presented to and approved by the board.

• Board of Directors reviewed and approved the NCC Strategic Plan for the period of 2016 – 2018.

June • Board of Directors approved amendments to the organizational bylaws in compliance with California state law.

• Board of Directors approved a resolution allowing the creation of a SIMPLE IRA retirement plan for voluntary participation for employees.

September • Board of Directors approved the 2016-17 fiscal year budget.

• NCC hosted a 20 Year Anniversary Celebration honoring the principal architects of the NCCP/HCP for the Central and Coastal Subregion of Orange County—former Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt, former California Secretary of Resources, Douglas Wheeler, and Monica Florian, former Executive Vice President of the Irvine Company. The Coalition also cohosted with the University of California, Irvine, and its Center for Environmental Biology, a symposium and panel discussion focused on the history and future of NCCP/HCP efforts in Southern California.

• Board of Directors approved a revised employee handbook for NCC.

December • Steve LaMar was elected to a two-year term to succeed Mark Denny as the president of NCC.

• Board of Directors confirmed the appointment of Diane Doesserich (Metropolitan Water District) as Vice President, and Dean Kirk (Irvine Company) as Treasurer.

• Board of Directors approved the September 30, 2016 audited financials as presented by Windes.

2.0 NCC SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM STATUS AND WORK PLAN 2016-17

2.1 Introduction The primary responsibility of NCC is to facilitate implementation of an effective management program that maintains the long term net habitat value of coastal sage scrub habitat mosaic within the Central-Coastal Subregion. Through its biological monitoring and research program, NCC gathers key information on the status and trends of the biological resources and operation of natural systems found within the Reserve. The knowledge gained from these activities informs development of the Reserve’s science-based management program that is implemented by the signatories of the NCCP/HCP, with support from NCC, in an adaptive framework.

Habitat restoration and enhancement is critical to maintaining and enhancing the long-term viability and function of the habitat within the Reserve, and serves a key role in the Reserve’s management program. As defined by the NCCP/HCP, any activity designed to enhance existing biological functions, or restore biological functions that were present historically but no longer are present within the Reserve is treated as a restoration or enhancement activity. Traditionally, the focus of NCC’s habitat restoration program has been on the restoration of the conditions that support the target species and habitat, however, the program has the flexibility to be expanded to include the enhancement or restoration of the full range of habitats included within the Reserve, as well as, the monitoring and associated adaptive management of ongoing operation and maintenance activities, public access and recreation uses, and fire management programs.

The Work Plan Table (Section 2.2) and accompanying Project Descriptions (Section 2.3) provide updates on the progress and accomplishments of thirty projects sponsored by NCC during the 2016 calendar year. Six of these projects are complete. All others are ongoing or new projects scheduled to be implemented in 2017. Project Descriptions were written to facilitate development of a project database that allows for the standardization of tracking project status, cost, matching contributions, landowner involvement, and accomplishments. In addition, the information provided in the summary table allows projects to be directly linked to project reports, GIS data, and contracts, as well as assigns projects to different program classes and areas, and by resource.

The total approved Work Program budget for FY 2016-17 is $1,310,000. Consistent with the State’s NCCP Program and NCC Strategic Plan, the budget for FY 2016-17 includes funding for multi-year science and land management initiatives developed to support a broad-based ecosystem approach to the protection and long-term management of biological diversity present within the Reserve. Multi-year initiatives are organized across the six focus areas of wildland fire, recreation, habitat restoration, invasive species, wildlife management, and biological monitoring.

Designed to address the critical issues and threats facing the Reserve identified through the Science Panel Workshop in 2013, multi-year initiatives build upon the existing knowledge-base of land managers, scientists, and resource professionals. Following advancement of the initiatives over the last few years through discussions with members of the NCC Board, Technical Advisory Committee, key partners and stakeholders, the importance of the identified multi-year initiatives was ultimately recognized and seconded by participants of the Science Integration Meeting hosted by NCC in early 2016.

Multi-year initiatives supported by the budget include a number of new resource management and monitoring activities in direct support of the mission of the Reserve. These include: a partnership among OC Parks, The Nature Conservancy, Irvine Ranch Conservancy, UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to develop informed management strategies to address invasive beetles threatening oak and riparian woodlands (see project No. 30 under “Project Descriptions” for details); partnership with UC Irvine on development of strategies for monitoring changes in the coastal sage scrub habitat mosaic and creation of dashboard metrics of relevance to partners, the public, and elected officials concerning the health of the Reserve (project No. 29), and; work with UC Los Angeles on the continued development of management strategies to enhance protection of the rich portfolio of amphibian and reptile species protected by the NCCP (project No. 17, and No. 24).

Approval of the new budget further empowers partners through the creation of a Core Management Team made-up by resource professionals from Irvine Ranch Conservancy, OC Parks, and State Parks. In a position of leadership moving forward, members of the Core Management Team will direct implementation of a coordinated, unified approach to the management of invasive plants first described and adopted by the Back Country Council in 2013 and most recently advanced by the California Invasive Plant Council under contract with NCC (project No. 14). Additionally, the Core Management Team will collectively contribute to the identification and prioritization of restoration needs and opportunities across the Reserve by working with NCC contractors updating the Habitat Restoration Enhancement Plan for the Reserve scheduled to be complete in the fall of 2018 (project No. 20).

With respect to recreation management, the proposed budget allows for NCC staff to engage national leaders in the field of recreation ecology from Utah State University and Oregon State University to work with OC Parks, State Parks, and other partners on development of a long-term recreation management plan for the Reserve (project No. 28). Borrowing from their collective history of successful work with the National Park Service, recreation ecologists will work closely with land managers and resource professionals to collect new information and produce a road map for public agencies with enrolled lands to successfully achieve the much needed balance between human-use and resource protection within the Reserve.

Lastly, following approval of the Wildland Fire Management Plan in December 2014 by the Board and Wildlife Agencies in 2016, the new budget affords NCC staff the opportunity to implement key elements of the plan over the next couple of years. Such elements include limiting fire spread and rates of ignitions along the wildland-urban interface and roadsides through partner and contractor-based training, and establishment of new partnerships with other agencies, such as Caltrans, through implementation of priority initiatives identified by the COAST working group and development of the county-wide Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

In summary, the concentrated effort to develop multi-year initiatives of relevance to the long-term management needs of the Reserve was more than three years in the making. From meeting minutes to communications with the Board, workshop reports to programmatic elements memorialized in the NROC Annual Report, all relevant information shared during this process is now archived on the NCC Website.

Even though the total dollar amount of the proposed budget for the science program is consistent with amounts approved in years past, the multi-year initiatives supported reach further than previously funded activities as they create a partner-based collaborative supporting science- based decision making and novel communication processes. Through implementation of the initiatives identified in the new fiscal budget, a foundation will be set for the next several years, providing stability in terms of the direction of the science program and partners with access to some of the best natural resource management professionals in the country working on the focus areas of highest priority to the Reserve.

2.2 2016-2017 NCC Work Plan Table

Project Name 2015-16 2016-17

†

Fund** City of Irvine of Newportof Beach

Project Status Project The Irvine Company Irvine The Orange County Parks County Orange Project Progression* Project City Crystal Cove State Park State Cove Crystal Matching Funds Secured Funds Matching Irvine Ranch Water District Ranch Water Irvine Metropolitan Water District Water Metropolitan CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife and Fish of Dept. CA University of California, Irvine Transportation Corridor Agencies Corridor Transportation Orange County Waste and Recycling Waste County Orange

1 Rare Plant Monitoring & Mgmt O R $60,000 $90,000 X X X X X X X X X X X 2 Cactus Scrub UCI Rest/Measure M O R Y -- -- X 3 Cactus Salvage/Lake Forest O R -- -- X X 4 Cactus Rest LCWP & UCI/EEMP C R Y -- -- X X X 5 CCSP Cactus Scrub Enhancement C R Y -- -- X 6 IRC Cactus Wren Link/USDA O R Y -- -- X 7 Invasive Plant Program Mgmt O R $50,000 $120,000 X X X X X X 8 Invasive Plant Control O R $125,000 $80,000 X X X X X X 9 Sahara Mustard Control C R $10,000 -- X X X 10 Cowbird Trapping O C $40,000 $70,000 X X X X 11 Mountain Lion Project O E $10,000 $10,000 X X X X X X X 12 NCC Database Mgmt O E -- $25,000 X X X X X X X X X X X 13 OC RESTORE O R/E Y -- $20,000 X X X X X X X X X X X 14 Weed Prioritization/EDRR O R -- $60,000 X X X X X X X X X X X 15 Target Bird Monitoring O E Y $150,000 $30,000 X X X X X X X X X X X 16 Vegetation Monitoring Scoping C E -- -- X X X X X X X X X X X 17 Wildlife Mgmt Scoping/BioBlitz O R -- $20,000 X X X X X X X X X X X 18 Recreation Mgmt Scoping C R $25,000 -- X X X X X X X X 19 Adaptive Recreation Mgmt O R Y $60,000 -- X X X X X X X X 20 HREP Update O R $100,000 $100,000 X X X X X X X X X X X

Project Name 2015-16 2016-17

†

Fund** City of Irvine of Newportof Beach

21 Cactus Salvage Portola/Orchard O R $400,000 $160,000 X X X X Hills 22 Land Manager Training O R -- $15,000 X X X X X X X X X X X 23 Rest Maint/CCSP East Flank C R -- -- X X X 24 Western Spadefoot Mgmt O R $150,000 -- X X X X X X X X X X X 25 Aerial Weed Survey/Central O R Y $60,000 -- X X X X X X X 26 Reserve Photo Archive N E -- $25,000 X X X X X X X X X X X 27 BMPs/Trail Maintenance N R $15,000 -- X X X X X X X X 28 Rec Mgmt & Human Valuation N R -- $175,000 X X X X X X X X 29 Bio Monitoring & Communication N E Y -- $200,000 X X X X X X X X X X X 30 SHB Mgmt & Monitoring N R Y -- $110,000 X X X X X X X X X X X

Endowment: S160,000 S300,000 Restoration: S1,055,000 S940,000 Cowbird: S40,000 S70,000 Total: $1,255,000 $1,310,000

* Green = Project is on or ahead of schedule; Yellow = Project requires additional attention by NCC staff and/or contractors; Red = Project requires substantial attention by NCC staff and/or contractors, project is in jeopardy of not progressing; White = Project is approved, but not initiated ** R = Restoration & Acquisition Fund; E = Endowment Fund; C = Cowbird Fund † C = Complete; O = Ongoing; N = New

2.3 Project Descriptions

List of Acronyms

AIS = Aerial Information Systems BMPs = Best Management Practices CCSP = Crystal Cove State Park CDFW = California Department of Fish and Wildlife CEB = Center for Environmental Biology CNB = City of Newport Beach CNPS = California Native Plant Society COI = City of Irvine EEMP = Environmental Enhancement Management Program HCP = Habitat Conservation Plan HREP = Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Plan IRC = Irvine Ranch Conservancy IRWD = Irvine Ranch Water District LAG = Local Assistance Grant LCF = Laguna Canyon Foundation LCWP = Laguna Coast Wilderness Park MOU = Memorandum of Understanding MWD = Metropolitan Water District NCC = Natural Communities Coalition NCCP = Natural Community Conservation Plan NROC = Nature Reserve of Orange County OCIM = Orange County Invasive Management OCP = Orange County Parks OCWR = Orange County Waste and Recycling SDMMP = San Diego Management and Monitoring Program TAC = Technical Advisory Committee TCA = Transportation Corridor Agencies TIC = The Irvine Company TNC = The Nature Conservancy UCI = University of California, Irvine UCLA = University of California, Los Angeles UCR = University of California, Riverside UNB = Upper Newport Bay USDA = US Department of Agriculture USFWS = US Fish and Wildlife Service USGS = US Geological Survey VegCAMP = Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program WCS = Wildlands Conservation Science

Reporting Template for NCCP-related Science and Land Management Projects

Project ID NCC assigned unique project identification number (allows project-specific information to be linked to project reports and data) Project Title Abbreviated project title limited to 100 characters Contractor(s)/Researcher Contractors or researchers associated with the project Time Period Years project has been active Total Project Cost Total project cost in dollars and/or staff hours Amount Budgeted Dollars and/or hours spent or budgeted by calendar year Fund Endowment, Restoration, or Cowbird Funds (NCC-specific category) Matching Contribution(s) Agency (Dollar Amount) Landowner Involvement Landowners whose land is accessed for purposes of conducting the project Project Status Project may be Complete, Ongoing, or New Project Progression Project is on or ahead of schedule (Green), Project requires additional attention by staff and/or contractors (Yellow), Project requires substantial attention by staff and/or contractors, project is in jeopardy of not progressing (Red), Project is approved, but not initiated (White) Program Class Identify program class from the following categories: Monitoring/Research, Land Management, Planning, Education/Training, Database Management Program Area Identify program area from the following categories: Wildland Fire, Weed Control, Habitat Restoration, Recreation, Sensitive Biological Resources, Invasive Wildlife Control Resource Natural resource benefiting from project implementation Project Purpose Brief description limited to 50 words Available Report(s) Project reports associated with the project (project description linked to associated reports in online library through the unique project ID) Available GIS Product(s) GIS data associated with the project (project description linked to associated GIS files in online library through the unique project ID) Overview Project background limited to 1000 words (static between years) Progress Progress made to date (includes a description of past-year activities as well as activities to be achieved in the new calendar year) Key Milestones Schedule Project milestones (with due dates identified): Date milestone achieved Key Findings Updated each year as applicable Notes Updated each year as applicable

1. Rare Plant Monitoring & Mgmt

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Rare Plant Monitoring & Mgmt Contractor(s)/Researcher UC Irvine

Time Period 2013-2017 Total Project Cost $150,000 Amount Budgeted $60,000 (2015-16); $90,000 (2016-17) Fund Endowment Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, OCWR, COI, CCSP, CDFW, CNB, UCI, IRWD, TCA, TIC, MWD Project Status Ongoing Project Progression On schedule Program Class Monitoring/Research Program Area Sensitive Biological Resources Resource Rare Plants Project Purpose Inventory, map, and monitor the distribution of rare plants, describe stressors and threats to individual species, and identify and implement management measures Available Report(s) -- Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

NCC has agreed to partner with UC Irvine’s Center for Environmental Biology (CEB) to create and support a multi-year post-doctoral research position at the University for the purpose of addressing the development and implementation of the inventory and analysis phase of NCC’s Rare Plant Monitoring and Management Program. Through the position, the researcher would work on issues related to vegetation change and dynamics in the Reserve with emphasis on the compilation and analysis of rare plant abundance, distribution, and dynamics. The long-term goal of this project is to produce decision tools (such as a distribution model) that guide cost-efficient, standardized monitoring by technical stakeholders to understand the state of rare biological diversity in the Reserve, along with conservation, restoration, and mitigation activities of land managers.

Progress

As of January 2014, a post-doctoral scholar has been hired by the University to work on the project for a 12 to 24-month period. NCC staff, working with the University has developed a tentative project scope and deliverables for inclusion in a future agreement with the University. In February 2014, a data arrangement between the University and NCC was agreed to by representatives from both institutions.

In February 2015, a multi-year scope of work was developed by UCI and provided to NCC for review and comment. Working with the Director of Sponsored Projects, from the UCI Office of Research, an agreement between the University and NCC for the first phase of the project was completed in June 2015. Through discussions between the University and NCC, the project became a vehicle to operationalize a Master Agreement between NCC and UCI, covering all relevant future science-based collaborations between the two organizations.

In 2016, an updated Research Specific Agreement was developed by CEB and provided to the Technical Advisory Committee for review and comment. The document describes the updated activities and deliverables associated with year two of the collaborative project to be undertaken in 2017. Strategic areas of effort addressed by the project include: database development; database application; monitoring, planning, reporting; and data needs and threat assessment.

Key Milestones

1. Data Entry and Compilation (Due: 30 June 2016): Completed on schedule 2. Data Collection Guidelines (Due: 30 June 2016): Completed on schedule 3. Database Interoperability (Due: 30 June 2017): 4. Database Refinement (Due: 31 December 2017): In progress 5. Preliminary Alliance Relationships (Due: 31 December 2017): In progress 6. Distributional Modeling and Prioritization of Management Activities (Due: 31 December 2017): 7. Initial Field Surveys (Due: 31 March 2017) 8. Annual Progress Report and Downscaled Database Refinement (Due: 31 December 2017) 9. Development of Derived Monitoring Schemes (Due: 31 December 2017) 10. Development of a Reporting and Synthesizing Activities Assessment (Due: 31 December 2017) 11. Viability Analysis and Scenario Development (Due: 31 December 2018) 12. Development of Plans to Anticipate Evolving Data Use (Due: 31 December 2018)

Key Findings

Key findings are not available at this time, as project is still in progress. Initial findings are due to be made available in December 2017, following delivery of the first annual progress report for the project.

Notes

A total of $121,000 in NCC funds is temporarily restricted for the development of a rare plant management and monitoring plan and initial implementation of identified management strategies. The $60,000 in funding allocated by the NCC Board in 2013 was rolled forward to the FY 2015- 16, in anticipation of an agreement getting being executed in spring of 2016. The earmarked funding was to complete the first phase of program development. In September 2016, the NCC Board approved an additional $90,000 in funding to support advancement of the program through the end of 2017.

2. Cactus Scrub UCI Rest/Measure M

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Cactus Scrub UCI Rest/Measure M Contractor(s)/Researcher Land IQ; Nakae & Associates Time Period 2011-2017 Total Project Cost $368,900

Amount Budgeted -- (2015-16); -- (2016-17) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) OCTA ($359,400) Landowner Involvement UCI Project Status Ongoing Project Progression On schedule Program Class Land Management Program Area Habitat Restoration Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Restoration of 8.5 acres of coastal cactus scrub at UC Irvine Ecological Preserve Available Report(s) 2016 Performance Monitoring Report Year 4 – Measure M Cactus Scrub Restoration for the University of California Irvine Ecological Preserve. Prepared for Natural Communities Coalition. Prepared by Land IQ. Sep., 2016. Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

The Measure M Cactus Scrub Restoration Project is funded under the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Measure M environmental mitigation program. This project involves the restoration of approximately 8.5 acres of highly disturbed and non-native grassland habitat to coastal cactus scrub within the University of California Irvine (UCI) Ecological Preserve. The $359,000 Measure M grant awarded to NCC runs through 2017.

Progress

The project is considered to be progressing on schedule. The 8.5 acres of cactus scrub restoration was initiated in late 2011 with seeding occurring in late 2012. The Measure M restoration combined with the EEMP cactus scrub restoration totals 12.5 acres of cactus scrub restoration at the UCI Ecological Preserve less than six years old. The Measure M site has performed well over the last 60+ months and is regularly visited by the two target bird species, Cactus Wren and California Gnatcatcher.

In 2015, four gnatcatcher pairs and one cactus wren pair were observed within or in the vicinity of the UCI Measure M site. Prior to seeding, the site showed some natural recruitment from the soil seed bank, including, California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), doveweed (Croton setigerus), fascicled tarplant (Deinandra fasciculata), twiggy wreath plant (Stephanomeria virgata), and needlegrass (Nassella sp.). In 2015, site maintenance consisted of primarily of hand- pulling non-native grasses and cutting localized patches of short-podded mustard and black mustard. Re-sprouting of fennel in the weed control area was cut and sprayed.

In 2016, remedial actions, which included planting, watering, and weeding activities, were performed across an approximately one-acre area of the restoration site. Planting of approximately 300 rose pots of both sagebrush and bush sunflower occurred in January. Watering occurred at the time of planting and follow-up weeding and watering was performed later in the year. Remedial actions were recommended by Land IQ, as the one-acre area within the larger

14 restoration site had a continual persistence of mustard following seeding and maintenance over the last 4 to 5 years.

Monitoring results to date suggest survivorship of the planted cactus material and elderberry to be approximately 95% after the fourth year of establishment. The native cover for the restoration site was estimated to be 50-55% in 2016. The estimated cover of cactus species was approximately 5 to 10%. Exotic vegetation cover was estimated at 15-20% of the site, with bare ground/plant litter at 30-35% of the site.

Overall the cactus scrub restoration is considered to be developing within reasonable expectations for plant growth, cover and species distribution, especially after considering the historic drought conditions of the past four rain-years. Ongoing maintenance and monitoring of the Measure M funded restoration project is scheduled to occur through 2017.

Key Milestones

1. FINAL Habitat Restoration Plan (Due: 31 December 2010): Finalized on 2 December 2010 2. Initial Field Surveys (Due: 30 November 2011): Site surveys completed in spring and fall of 2011 3. Site Preparation (Due: 30 November 2011): Site preparation completed in October 2011 4. Phase I: Site Installation (Due: 31 December 2011): Cactus material and container plants installed in November 2011 5. Phase II: Site Installation (Due: 31 December 2012): Seed application completed in October 2012 6. First Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2012): Completed on schedule 7. Annual Progress Report (Due: 31 December 2012): Completed on 28 September 2012 8. Second Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2012): Completed on schedule 9. Year 1 – Annual Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 31 December 2013): Completed on 30 November 2013 10. Third Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2014): Completed by September 2014 11. Fourth Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2015): Completed by May 2015 12. Year 2 – Annual Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 31 December 2014): Completed in October 2014 13. Year 3 – Annual Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 31 December 2015): Completed in December 2015 14. Year 4 – Annual Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 31 December 2016): Completed in September 2016 15. FINAL Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 30 June 2017) 16. Performance Standards Achieved (Due: 30 June 2017)

Key Findings

Key findings are not available at this time, as the project is still in progress. The final round of monitoring is scheduled to take place in spring of 2017. The site is to be evaluated five full-years

15 after installation based on the following restoration criteria developed to assess the functions and values of the cactus restoration:

• Habitats resist invasion by exotic plant species as demonstrated by less than an average of 10 percent cover of annual grass species and less aggressive exotic forbs; • At least 95 percent of the planted cactus demonstrates establishment and growth based on sampling estimates; • At the end of five years, the performance standard is an average of 75 percent native plant cover, including cactus, shrubs, forbs, and perennial grasses

Notes

In 2014, the project restoration ecologist, Margot Griswold (of Land IQ), requested an additional year of site maintenance to be implemented by Nakae at an additional cost of $34,400. Continuing site maintenance during the initial establishment of the target native seeded species (beyond the two-years afforded by the current contract with OCTA) was considered important as the aggressive exotic species still present on the site compete with the slower growing native shrub and perennial grasses for light, water, and nutrients during the establishment period. Although the cactus scrub restoration was developing within an expected range for plant, cover and species distribution at the time of the request, the drought conditions persistent within the region beginning in 2011 (and lasting into to the winter of 2016/17), exacerbated the competitive effect of exotic species.

In spring of 2017, the Resource Agencies are scheduled to tour the Measure M site to sign-off on the mitigation funded by OCTA. The final field tour of the site will be coordinated with the University and led by Margot Griswold.

3. Cactus Salvage/Lake Forest

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Cactus Salvage/Lake Forest Contractor(s)/Researcher Land IQ; Nakae & Associates Time Period 2011-2017 Total Project Cost $353,200 Amount Budgeted -- (2015-16); -- (2016-17) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, CCSP Project Status Ongoing Project Progression On schedule Program Class Land Management Program Area Habitat Restoration Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Restoration of 7.0 acres of cactus scrub at Crystal Cove State Park, Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, and Laguna Canyon Wilderness Park Available Report(s) 2016 Performance Monitoring Report Year 4 – City of Lake Forest Cactus Salvage, Relocation, and Cactus Scrub Restoration

Project. Prepared for Natural Communities Coalition. Prepared by Land IQ. Nov., 2016. Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

The Lake Forest project involves cactus and topsoil salvage from the City of Lake Forest Sports Park and Recreation Center site near Glass Creek, at the intersection of Portola Parkway and El Toro Road. Cactus salvaged from the site was transported to three locations within the NCCP- Reserve to actively restore a total of seven acres of disturbed and non-native grassland habitats to coastal cactus scrub at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park (four acres), Crystal Cove State Park (two acres), and Laguna Coast Wilderness Park (one acre). Additionally, as part of the project, 14,700 cactus pads and 700 non-rooted ‘segments’ were salvaged and transported to land managers at 14 sites in Orange County.

Progress

The project is considered to be progressing on schedule. The seven-acre cactus scrub restoration project was initiated in late 2011 with site preparation and cactus transplantation occurring in the later part of the year. Restoration sites in Crystal Cove State Park and Laguna Canyon received seed in the fall of 2012. The restoration sites at Whiting Ranch received salvaged duff or topsoil in late 2011. Targeted herbicide treatment was conducted at all three sites in 2012. Hand-weeding of the three sites occurred in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Through 2015, survival of planted cactus material was estimated to be 90 to 95 percent across all sites after three years of establishment. Site maintenance of the restoration site in 2015 consisted of weeding activities in April 2015. Weeding consisted primarily of hand-pulling of non-native grasses and mustard species. Few exotic species were observed during monitoring visits. No weeding occurred at Crystal Cove, Laguna Canyon, or Whiting Ranch restoration sites in 2016.

All three sites are developing within an expected range of growth and are on track towards the development of cactus scrub habitat. Native species recruitment observed at Whiting Ranch has been exceptional and include, Menzies’ fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii), California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), California suncup (Camissonia, bistorta), miniature suncup (Camissonia micrantha), California goosefoot (Chenopodium californica), cobwebby thistle (Cirsium occidentale), California croton (Croton californicus), doveweed (Croton setigerus), popcorn flower (Cryptantha spp.), calabazilla (Cucurbita foetidissima), jimsonweed (Datura wrightii), bush sunflower (Encelia californica), California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasiculatum), Indian tobacco (Nicotiana bigelovii), unidentified phacelia (Phacelia spp.), black sage (Salvia mellifera), and California goldenrod (Solidago californica). In 2016, mean absolute native cover at Whiting Ranch across the restoration area was measured to be 75-80%, an increase from 2015. At Crystal Cove State Park native vegetation was estimated to be 65-75% in 2016. Within Laguna Canyon Wilderness Park, the cover of native vegetation was estimated to be about the same as in 2015, at 45-55%. Quantitative monitoring is scheduled to occur a final time in 2017 at all three sites.

Key Milestones

1. Initial Field Surveys (Due: 30 November 2011): Site surveys completed in spring and fall of 2011 2. FINAL Habitat Restoration Plan (Due: 31 December 2011): Finalized on 28 February 2012 3. Site Preparation (Due: 31 December 2011): Site preparation completed by January 2012 4. Phase I: Site Installation (Due: 31 December 2011): Cactus material and topsoil installed by January 2012 5. Deliver of Cactus Material (Due: 31 December 2011): Cactus material delivered to 14 project partners by 31 December 2012 6. Phase II: Site Installation (Due: 31 December 2012): Seed application completed by 7 December 2012 7. First Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2012): Completed on schedule 8. Annual Progress Report (Due: 31 December 2012): Completed on 17 September 2012 9. Second Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2012): Completed on schedule 10. Year 1 – Annual Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 31 December 2013): Completed on 30 November 2013 11. Third Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2014): Completed on schedule 12. Year 2 – Annual Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 31 December 2014): Completed in November 2014 13. Third Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2015): Completed on schedule 14. Year 3 – Annual Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 31 December 2015): Completed in December 2015 15. Year 4 – Annual Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 31 December 2016): Completed in November 2016 16. FINAL Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 30 June 2017) 17. Performance Standards Achieved (Due: 30 June 2017)

Key Findings

Although the project is still in progress, the restoration sites are developing within an expected range of growth and are on track towards the development of cactus scrub habitat. Performance monitoring was conducted in March and April 2016 for the fourth year following installation. Survivorship of planted cactus material was greater than 95%. The planted cactus material exhibited new growth and was observed to be in flower and fruiting in all three restoration sites. Flowering and seed production of native species was also observed at all three sites, which is an indication of a trend toward establishment and sustainability of the cactus scrub community.

Exotic vegetation has been effectively controlled, with non-native cover at the Crystal Cove and Whiting Ranch restoration sites estimated between 5 and 15 percent. At Laguna Coast non-native cover increased in 2016 due to London rocket spreading through the sites in the spring. Based on the presence of seedlings and juveniles of California sagebrush and California buckwheat interspersed with the London rocket, further weeding of the site was not recommended.

Notes

Land IQ is under contract to monitor the three coastal cactus scrub restoration sites through the summer of 2017. A final report will be prepared in 2017 marking five-full years since installation.

4. Cactus Rest LCWP & UCI/EEMP

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Cactus Rest LCWP & UCI/EEMP Contractor(s)/Researcher Land IQ; Nakae & Associates Time Period 2009-2017 Total Project Cost LCWP: $100,900; EEMP: $314,400 Amount Budgeted -- (2015-16); -- (2016-17) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) CDFW LAG ($XXXX); Caltrans ($XXXX) Landowner Involvement OCP, UCI, TCA Project Status Complete Project Progression On schedule Program Class Land Management Program Area Habitat Restoration Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Restoration of 5.2 acres of cactus scrub across a two-km habitat linkage in Laguna Canyon (Laguna Canyon Habitat Linkage) and 5.5 acres of cactus scrub across a six-km habitat linkage in Bonita Canyon, including 4-acres at the UC Irvine Ecological Preserve (EEMP Project) Available Report(s) 2015 Performance Monitoring Report Year 5 - Final Cactus Wren Habitat Linkage Coastal Reserve Nature Reserve of Orange County. Prepared for Natural Communities Coalition. Prepared by Land IQ. Dec., 2015.

2016 Performance Monitoring Report Year 5 – Final Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program - Cactus Wren Habitat Linkage Enhancement and Restoration Project. Prepared for Natural Communities Coalition. Prepared by Land IQ. Nov., 2016. Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

Restoration of the Laguna Canyon Cactus Wren habitat linkage was initiated in 2009 following receipt of a Local Assistance Grant from CDFW. The project consisted of restoration of cactus scrub habitat and enhancement to facilitate movement between breeding populations of Cactus Wrens through Laguna Canyon.

The Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program (EEMP) grant was awarded by the California Natural Resources Agency and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to NCC and its partners for the project which includes the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) in April 2010. The project consists of enhancement and restoration of cactus scrub habitat to facilitate movement of Cactus Wren among breeding

19 populations within Upper Newport Bay, the UCI Ecological Preserve, and the San Joaquin Hills as well as to provide nesting habitat at UCI.

Progress

The Laguna Canyon Cactus Wren habitat linkage project is complete. In spring of 2015, the Laguna Canyon Cactus Wren Habitat Linkage Restoration Project completed its fifth full-year of maintenance and monitoring following its establishment in spring of 2010. The restoration is developing within an expected range of growth and species composition is comparable with other non-irrigated cactus scrub restoration sites at a similar developmental stage. The planted cactus material has exhibited a substantial amount of new growth and was observed to be in flower and fruiting at the restoration sites. Over 95% of the planted cactus is estimated to have survived since being planted in 2010. Mean height of the planted prickly pear cactus (45 cm) and cholla (44 cm) increased by 50% and 75%, respectively, since 2011. The individual cactus mean total number of cladodes (16.5) increased by approximately 250% over the same time period. Absolute native cover for the restoration is estimated to range between 6 to 48% across the six restoration sites. Cactus cover is estimated to range between 2 to 30%. Exotic vegetation is estimated to range between 24 to 104%. Exotic cover is comprised mainly of annual grass species including foxtail brome and purple false brome. Bare ground/plant litter estimated at 8 to 38% across the six sites in 2015.

The Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program (EEMP) cactus scrub restoration is complete. Performance monitoring was conducted in May and June 2016 for the fifth and final year since installation of all cactus material in November 2010 and seeding of the sites in November 2011. Performance monitoring consisted of quantitative evaluation of cactus growth, plant cover, species richness, and survivorship. The project has met the performance criteria of the EEMP grant based on the vegetation and avian monitoring results. The cactus scrub has been installed and is developing within an expected range of growth and species comparable with other non-irrigated restoration sites at a similar developmental stage and is on track towards the development of cactus scrub habitat.

Avian species are using the sites, and the UCI site is being utilized by the two NCCP Target Bird Species, Cactus Wren and California Gnatcatcher. In 2016, six pairs and two single males of California Gnatcatcher and one pair and two single banded Cactus Wren were detected in the Preserve. Two of the gnatcatcher pairs had active nests and one gnatcatcher pair was observed with three fledglings. The Cactus Wren pair are believed to have had an active nest within the restoration site at UCI. The smaller restoration sites along the Bonita Creek corridor will take several years to grow before they are expected to become suitable for nesting by Cactus Wrens.

Key Milestones

Laguna Canyon Habitat Linkage

1. FINAL Habitat Restoration Plan (Due: 31 December 2009): Finalized in December 2009 2. Initial Field Surveys (Due: 30 June 2009): Site surveys completed in spring and summer of 2009

3. Site Preparation (Due: 31 December 2009): Site preparation completed in February 2010 4. Phase I: Site Installation (Due: 31 December 2009): Cactus material installed in February 2010 5. Phase II: Site Installation (Due: 31 December 2010): Seed application completed in November 2010 6. Phase III: Site Installation (Due: 31 December 2010): Container plantings completed in February 2011 7. First Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2010): Completed on schedule 8. FINAL Report to CDFW (Due: 30 March 2011): Provided to CDFW on 30 March 2011 9. Second Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2011): Completed on schedule 10. Year 1 – Annual Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 31 December 2011): Completed by 31 March 2012 11. Third Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2012): Completed on schedule 12. Year 2 – Annual Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 31 December 2012): Completed by 31 December 2012 13. Fourth Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2013): Completed on schedule 14. Year 3 – Annual Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 31 December 2013): Completed by 31 December 2013 15. Fifth Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2014): Completed in May 2014 16. Year 4 – Annual Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 31 December 2014): Completed in December 2014 17. FINAL Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 30 June 2015): Completed in December 2015 18. Performance Standards Achieved (Due: 30 June 2015): Completed in May 2015; Cactus restoration sites have developed to the point they fulfill the function of providing a linkage to facilitate movement of isolated breeding populations of Cactus Wren within the Coastal Reserve

EEMP Project

1. FINAL Habitat Restoration Plan (Due: 30 June 2010): Plan finalized on 17 June 2010 2. Initial Field Surveys (Due: 30 June 2010): Site surveys completed in spring of 2010 3. Site Preparation (Due: 30 September 2010): Site preparation completed in October 2010 4. Phase I: Site Installation (Due: 31 December 2010): Cactus material installed by 30 November 2010 5. Phase II: Site Installation (Due: 31 December 2011): Seed application completed in November 2011 6. First Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2011): Completed on schedule 7. Second Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2012): Completed on schedule 8. Year 1 – Annual Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 31 December 2012): Completed on 30 November 2013 9. Third Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2013): Completed on schedule 10. Year 2 – Annual Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 31 December 2013): Completed on 16 December 2013

11. Fourth Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2014): Completed in May 2014 12. Year 3 – Annual Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 31 December 2014): Completed in December 2014 13. Year 4 – Annual Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 31 December 2015): Completed in December 2015 14. FINAL Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 30 June 2016): Completed in November 2016 15. Performance Standards Achieved (Due: 30 June 2016): Completed in June 2016; Cactus restoration sites have developed to the point they fulfill the function of providing a linkage to facilitate movement of isolated breeding populations of Cactus Wren within the Coastal Reserve as well as habitat suitable for nesting

Key Findings

Performance monitoring for the Laguna Canyon Habitat Linkage was conducted in May (2015) for the fifth and final year. Results of the cactus measurement data show that survivorship of the planted cactus material across all restoration sites was greater than 95 percent after five years of establishment. Average native cover in 2015 for all restoration sites is 33 percent. The estimated average cover of cactus species is 23 percent. Exotic cover is 70 percent, consisting mainly of annual grasses. The planted cactus material exhibited new growth and was observed to be in flower and fruiting in the restoration sites. The restoration project is developing within an expected range of growth and species composition comparable with other non-irrigated restoration sites at a similar development stage and is on track towards the development of cactus scrub habitat. While the cactus restoration sites have not met the exotic cover criteria identified at the project’s onset, the cactus material has sufficiently established to not be threatened by the nonnative species present. The cactus restoration sites fulfill the function of providing a linkage to facilitate movement of isolated breeding populations of Cactus Wren within the Coastal Reserve. As such, no further monitoring is necessary.

Performance monitoring for the EEMP restoration project was conducted in May and June 2016 for the fifth and final year. Results of the cactus measurement data show that survivorship of the planted cactus material across all restoration sites was greater than 95 percent after five years of establishment. The mean total number of cladodes per individual cactus for all sites increased from 24 in 2015 to an average of 40 in 2016. Average height of cactus increased from 41 cm in 2015 to 49 cm in 2016. Average heights of 20 transplanted cactus clumps was 93 cm in 2016, approximately 5 cm taller than in 2015. Native cover in 2016 for the restoration site at the UCI Ecological Preserve was 52 percent of the total absolute cover, up 16 percent compared to 2013. Absolute cover of cactus species was 20 percent (a greater than 50% increase from 2013). Exotic cover was 5 percent. Bare ground and plant litter comprised 48% of the total cover.

The planted cactus material exhibited new growth and was observed to be in flower and fruiting in the restoration sites. The restoration project is developing within an expected range of growth and species composition comparable with other non-irrigated restoration sites in the fifth year of drought. While not all of the cactus restoration sites met the exotic cover criteria, the cactus material has sufficiently established to not be threatened by the non-native species present. The

cactus restoration sites fulfill the function of providing a linkage to facilitate movement of isolated breeding populations of Cactus Wren as well as potential nesting within the Coastal Reserve. As such, no further monitoring is necessary.

Notes

A total of $17,600 was requested by Land IQ to cover the monitoring costs for both habitat linkage restoration projects in 2014. Broken down by the individual projects, monitoring costs equal $12,400 and $5,200 for the EEMP and Laguna Canyon Habitat Linkage, respectively. In 2015 and 2016, additional monitoring and maintenance costs for both projects were covered under the Rest Maint/East Flank CCSP project.

5. CCSP Cactus Scrub Enhancement

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title CCSP Cactus Scrub Enhancement Contractor(s)/Researcher Land IQ; NAKAE & Associates Time Period 2013-2016 Total Project Cost $24,300 Amount Budgeted -- (2014-15); -- (2015-16) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) USDA ($11,800) Landowner Involvement CCSP Project Status Complete Project Progression On schedule Program Class Land Management Program Area Habitat Restoration Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Restoration of 2.0 acres of coastal sage scrub adjacent to the two-acre cactus scrub restoration project at Crystal Cove State Park Available Report(s) 2016 Performance Monitoring Report Year 4 – City of Lake Forest Cactus Salvage, Relocation, and Cactus Scrub Restoration Project. Prepared for Natural Communities Coalition. Prepared by Land IQ. Nov., 2016. Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

Social choice experiments implemented in 2012 as part of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grant with UC Berkeley provided for the development of a two-acre habitat enhancement project complementing the existing two-acre cactus scrub restoration at Crystal Cove State Park.

Progress

The project is considered to be complete. The specific enhancement area was defined in spring of 2013 and site preparation was completed in the fall of 2013 with the clearing of non-native vegetation. Maintenance of the site, specifically, hand weeding with spot spraying was performed in 2014. Delays in implementation of the maintenance schedule in 2015 postponed additional

weeding at the site until February, 2016. Recruitment of native species in the cleared enhancement areas was observed in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Estimated combined cover of the enhancement areas for native vegetation was 35-40% in 2016, approximately 75% greater in cover over 2015. Exotic vegetation ranged in cover from 30 to 35% and non-vegetated (bare ground & plant litter) ranged in cover from 20 to 25% in 2016, both down from 2015 numbers.

Key Milestones

1. Initial Field Surveys (Due: 31 December 2012): Site surveys completed by June 2013 2. Site Preparation (Due: 30 March 2013): Site preparation completed in October 2013 3. Initial Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2013): Completed on schedule 4. Second Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2014): Completed on schedule 5. Third Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2015): Maintenance completed in February 2016

Key Findings

A qualitative assessment of the coastal sage scrub enhancement areas adjacent to the existing cactus scrub restoration along “No Name Ridge” was performed in March, 2016 approximately 2.5 years after the enhancement areas were cleared. Forty species were noted throughout the two-acre enhancement areas, including 19 native herbaceous, 10 native shrubs, and 1 cactus species. Native shrubs included California sagebrush, coyote brush, coastal goldenbush, and California buckwheat. Dominant species included common cryptantha and California everlasting, cliff aster, and wire lettuce; other flowering native species included Menzie’s fiddleneck and sticky monkey bush.

The enhancement areas at Crystal Cove State Park are demonstrating recruitment of native species following initial clearing and weeding of exotic species over the last 3.5 years. The two- acre area will be monitored and formally assessed for a fourth and final time in 2017, in conjunction with the quantitative monitoring scheduled for the final-year of monitoring of the adjacent cactus restoration sites in spring of 2017. Results of the monitoring efforts for the enhancement areas will be reported under the Cactus Rest/Lake Forest Project in the 2017 NROC Annual Report.

Notes

A total of $12,500 was allocated to allow Nakae & Associates to maintain the site through 2015. Land IQ scheduled to monitor the site’s performance through 2017 by folding the monitoring activities into their work plan for monitoring the neighboring Cactus Salvage/Lake Forest restoration site. Performance of the enhancement site was first reported on in the 2014 Performance Monitoring Report (Year 2) City of Lake Forest Cactus Salvage, Relocation, and Cactus Scrub Restoration Project.

6. IRC Cactus Wren Link/USDA

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title IRC Cactus Wren Link/USDA Contractor(s)/Researcher Irvine Ranch Conservancy (IRC) Time Period 2012-2017 Total Project Cost $24,300 Amount Budgeted -- (2015-16); -- (2016-17) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) USDA ($8,100) Landowner Involvement COI Project Status Ongoing Project Progression On schedule Program Class Land Management Program Area Habitat Restoration Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Restoration of 2.3 acres of coastal cactus scrub to complement existing cactus scrub linkage restoration projects in North Laguna Canyon Available Report(s) -- Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

Social choice experiments implemented in 2012 as part of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grant with UC Berkeley provided for restoration of a two-acre cactus scrub habitat at a site in the City of Irvine Open Space South. The restoration project complements ongoing efforts by NCC and IRC to restore a Cactus Wren habitat linkage in North Laguna Canyon. Specifically, the project extends the northern-most linkage sites, chosen to connect patches of cactus in a line- of-site arrangement in an effort to enhance movement opportunities for the Cactus Wren through the Canyon.

Progress

The project is considered to be on schedule. The specific restoration area was defined in spring of 2012 and site preparation was completed in the fall of 2012. Initial planting of cactus material and seeding of the site is complete. In 2014, 12 large salvaged chollas were planted on site. Maintenance of the site, specifically, spot spraying of exotic annual grasses with low-dose herbicide occurred in both 2013 and 2014. Weeding activity occurred every 6 to 8 weeks in 2015 and is scheduled to continue through 2016. Native forb species were seeded across 1.4-acres of the site in November, 2015.

Maintenance in 2016 consisted of treating annual grasses around cactus plantings using a low dose fusillade. At the close of 2016, the project was considered to be 95% complete. Although it is near completion, the project was extended through 2017 to allow Irvine Ranch Conservancy an additional year to complete monitoring and any additional weeding, if needed. The project is to be uploaded to OC RESTORE following completion.

Key Milestones

1. FINAL Habitat Restoration Plan (Due: 31 December 2012): Plan finalized in November 2012 2. Initial Field Surveys (Due: 31 December 2012): Site surveys completed in September and November 2012 3. Site Preparation (Due: 1 March 2013): Site preparation completed by January 2013 4. Phase I: Site Installation (Due: 1 March 2013): Cactus material installed in February 2013 5. Phase II: Site Installation (Due: 31 December 2013): Initial seed application completed by December 2013 6. First Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2013): Completed on schedule 7. Phase III: Site Installation (Due: 31 December 2014): Completed in November 2015 8. Second Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2014): Completed on schedule 9. Third Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2015): Completed on schedule 10. Fourth Annual Site Maintenance (Due: 31 December 2016): Completed on schedule 11. FINAL Performance Monitoring Report (Due: 31 December 2016): Postponed until December 2017

Key Findings

Key findings are not available at this time, as the project is still in progress. Findings are scheduled to be reported following the close of the project in 2017.

Notes

A total of $7,800 was required to allow the Irvine Ranch Conservancy to perform additional seeding and maintenance of the site through 2017. In-kind support is being provided for the project as part of IRC’s volunteer stewardship program run through the City of Irvine Open Space.

7. Invasive Plant Program Mgmt

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Invasive Plant Program Mgmt Contractor(s)/Researcher Harmsworth Associates; IRC; Hamilton Biological; Calflora Time Period 2004-2017 Total Project Cost $563,000 Amount Budgeted $50,000 (2015-16); $120,000 (2016-17) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, COI, CCSP, CNB, UCI Project Status Ongoing Project Progression On schedule Program Class Land Management Program Area Weed Control Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Management (i.e., mapping, coordination, and reporting) of NCC and partner-sponsored weed control activities on NCCP-enrolled lands

Available Report(s) Natural Communities Coalition Exotic Plant Control Program 2016. Prepared for Natural Communities Coalition. Prepared by Harmsworth Associates. Jan., 2017.

Five-year Invasive Plant Management Plan for the Coastal Portion of the County of Orange Central & Coastal Subregion NCCP/HCP. Prepared by California Invasive Plant Council. Jan., 2017. Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

Implementation of NCC’s invasive plant control program has resulted in the control of artichoke thistle and other invasive plant species across thousands of acres of the Reserve. Since the formal program was initiated in the year 2000, over $2.5M in funds have been spent on implementation of the program, resulting in the spot application of herbicide to thousands of individual plants and reducing the distribution of target invasive species (principally artichoke thistle) from thousands to hundreds of acres within the Coastal Reserve. With the program having been largely successful at accomplishing its principal goal of reducing the cover of artichoke thistle, NCC is actively working with partnering organizations to redefine the goals of the program focusing on the long-term sustainability of the control efforts prior to its scheduled end-date in 2015. To this end, NCC has contracted with Cal-IPC to develop a coordinated, unified approach to prioritizing invasive plant control efforts across the NCCP-Reserve.

Progress

The project is considered to be on schedule, albeit in an interim stage of its evolution, as the formal program described in the Reserve’s Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Plan concluded in 2015, and 2016, under the guidance of Cal-IPC in collaboration with the Core Management Team (IRC, OC Parks, and State Parks), saw creation of a new overarching five-year management plan for the coastal portion of the Subregion.

In support of advancement of the planning efforts, Harmsworth conducted field surveys and prepared detail maps of the distribution of priority invasive plant populations for Irvine Regional Park, Peter’s Canyon, El Modena Open Space, and Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve in 2015, and Santiago Oaks and Talbert Park in 2016. Revisions to mapping efforts completed by Harmsworth between 2011 and 2015 were reviewed and amended as needed in 2016. To complement field surveys and existing spatial data on the distribution of invasive plants, aerial weed surveys were completed in 2014 and 2016, covering 46,000 acres of conserved open space. Analysis of available spatial data was conducted by Cal-IPC in 2016, and is scheduled to continue in 2017 in support of the over-arching planning work.

In 2016, Harmsworth was again tasked with managing NCC-sponsored control efforts in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, UC Irvine, and El Toro, and assisting the County in managing County- sponsored control efforts within the Reserve at the additional NCCP-enrolled County Parks, specifically, Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, Talbert Regional Park, Santiago Oaks Wilderness Park, Irvine Regional Park, Peter’s Canyon

Regional Park, and Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park. Within these parks, all mapped veldt grass, garland chrysanthemum, and Sahara mustard, and areas with at least 10% cover of artichoke thistle were targeted for treatment in 2016. In 2016, as in 2014 and 2015, NCC reached an agreement with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy (IRC) to actively manage and coordinate NCC- sponsored weed control activities on the lands under their management, specifically, City of Irvine, City of Newport Beach, and Irvine Ranch Open Space.

In early 2017, Cal-IPC finalized a comprehensive five-year plan for the coastal portion of the County of Orange Central-Coastal Subregion NCCP/HCP. The plan includes three major components: an overall conceptual framework for invasive plant management, a targeted management plan, and an early detection and rapid response plan. Together these provide detailed guidance and recommendations for land managers on the weed management priorities in specified management units. An over-arching five-year plan for the central portion of the Subregion is in development and scheduled to be finalized at the close of 2017.

In 2017, in support of implementation of the now finalized five-year plan, NCC will work with OC Parks, Irvine Ranch Conservancy, and State Parks to:

• Prepare and implement annually a management plan based on the criteria in the Plan, focused on specific species and populations of invasive plants prioritized for eradication or containment within individual management units; • Prepare and implement annually an early detection and rapid response plan, actively scouting for new detections of emergent invasive plants, vetting observations to determine which species and locations are actionable, and implementing timely control measures aimed at eradication; • Facilitate and participate in annual trainings in support of successful surveillance and treatment tied to implementation of the early detection and rapid response program; • Adopt common data protocol using the online Calflora Weed Manager annually as a purposeful, shared tool and database for mapping and tracking invasive plant populations and treatment efforts within and between years; • Share treatment progress through preparation and dissemination of a simple annual report documenting progress made toward stated goals; • Participate in an annual meeting of NCC, IRC, OC Parks, and State Parks each winter to evaluate compiled results from the previous mapping and treatment season to assess the impact of investments and adjust approaches as necessary; • Contribute financial resources and/or staff support to implementation of a region-wide invasive plant survey every five years to check progress in achieving over-arching programmatic goals, and • Collaborate with regional partners through active participation in the Santa Ana River/Orange County Weed Management Area.

Key Milestones

1. Develop Field Schedule (Due: 1 March 2016): Field schedule for fiscal-year field activities completed on schedule.

2. Manage Invasive Plant Control Implementation (Due: 30 June 2016): Management of invasive plant control activities completed in September 2016 3. Complete and Submit FINAL Report (Due: 31 December 2016): FINAL report completed January 2017 4. Enter into a Contract with Invasive Plant Management Specialist to Work with OC Parks in 2017 and 2018 (Due: 1 March 2017) 5. Enter into an Agreement with IRC to Oversee and Implement Invasive Plant Control Activities for 2017 on Lands within their Responsibility (Due: 1 March 2017) 6. Enter into a Contract with Biological Consultant to Conduct Spring and Summer Surveys for Emergent Invasive Plants (Due: 1 March 2017)

Key Findings

In 2016, a total of 865 acres of targeted invasive plants were mapped and or noted as occurring within the principal land areas of the NCCP-Reserve treated or mapped by NCC contractors working in partnership with the relevant landowners or managers (see Section 2.4 for a summary table of enhancement activities supported by NCC in 2016). Of this acreage, 75% was treated in 2016, which is an increase from preceding years. For the Coastal Reserve the total acres of invasive plants mapped or noted in principal areas was 562.9. Of this, an estimated 410 acres were treated by NCC and County contractors managed by Harmsworth Associates and State Parks. The Irvine Ranch Conservancy oversaw the removal/treatment of thousands of individual plants within the NCCP-Reserve in City of Irvine Open Space South and in the City of Newport Beach in 2016 (see Reserve Landowner/Manager Progress Reports and Work Plans). Although not a direct measure of program efficacy, the cumulative estimated total acres of treatment in the Coastal Reserve in 2016 is consistent with the targeted, long-term goal of the NROC Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Plan of reducing exotic plant species of management concern in the Coastal Reserve from greater than 3,000 acres to less than 500 acres within minimal weed maintenance by 2015.

Notes

The anticipated cost for managing NCC and County-sponsored weed control activities in 2017 is $135,000, an increase from what was budgeted for management in 2014, 2015, and 2016, as the program in 2017 includes the additional survey work for emergent invasive plant populations, funding support for use of Calflora’s Weed Manager, and increased oversight responsibilities by IRC, and the third-party oversight contractor working with OC Parks.

8. Invasive Plant Control

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Invasive Plant Control Contractor(s)/Researcher Nakae & Associates; Henry DiRocco Time Period 2000-2016 Total Project Cost $2,767,200 Amount Budgeted $100,000 (2015-16); $80,000 (2016-17) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) --

Landowner Involvement OCP, COI, CCSP, CNB, UCI Project Status Ongoing Project Progression On schedule Program Class Land Management Program Area Weed Control Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Implementation of the top weed control priorities identified in the 2003 NROC Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Plan Available Report(s) Natural Communities Coalition Exotic Plant Control Program 2016. Prepared for Natural Communities Coalition. Prepared by Harmsworth Associates. Jan., 2017. Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

Progress

The project is considered to be progressing on schedule. In 2016, the level of NCC-funded weed control activities implemented across the Reserve was similar to 2015. Specifically, in 2016, the weed control contractor, Nakae & Associates (Nakae), controlled artichoke thistle and other targeted invasive species in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park (LCWP), Crystal Cove State Park (CCSP), UC Irvine Ecological Preserve, City of Irvine Open Space, City of Newport Beach’s Buck Gully, and the El Toro Property (managed by the FBI).

Similar to 2015 and 2016, in 2017, Nakae will be tasked with controlling the population of veldt grass and other targeted invasive plants present at CCSP and LCWP. New to 2017, Nakae will work closely with State Parks to treat populations of priority invasive plants mapped during the 2014 aerial surveys located along the coastal terrace of Crystal Cove State Park. Additionally, in 2017, Nakae will engage in a rigorous sweep of invasive plants at the UCI Ecological Preserve consistent with the plans for long-term maintenance of the active restoration sites within the Preserve. Also new to 2017, the consultant, Henry DiRocco is expected to play a significant role in the implementation of the rapid response component of the now formalized Early Detection Rapid Response Program for the NCCP-Reserve in the coastal portion of the Subregion. Ensuring a rapid response is available following early detections of emergent invasive plant species

provides the greatest likelihood of successful containment of otherwise problematic invasive plant populations.

Key Milestones

1. Coordinate on Field Schedule (Due: 1 March 2016): Completed on time 2. Implement Invasive Plant Control (Due: 30 June 2016): Implementation of invasive plant control activities completed in August 2016 3. Enter into a Contract with Nakae & Associates (Due: 1 March 2017) 4. Enter into a Contract with Emergent Invasive Plant Control Contractor (Due: 1 March 2017)

Key Findings

In 2016, a total of over 200 acres of artichoke thistle, 50 acres of veldt grass, 51 acres of garland chrysanthemum, 10 acres of pampas grass, 10 acres of castor bean, 11 acres of tree tobacco, and 8 acres of St. John’s-wort were treated by Nakae in the project areas managed by Harmsworth Associates and State Parks.

In 2016 most weed species had lower than average cover due to past treatments and the dry winter. Veldt grass and garland chrysanthemum have been reduced in all areas but remain a priority within the NCCP-Reserve.

Notes

The total amount budgeted for weed control work in 2017 to be performed by Nakae is $75,000. Similar to 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016, the total workload for NCC spray contractors has been reduced as the County and Irvine Ranch Conservancy continue to expand their control efforts in areas of the Reserve traditionally treated by NCC. New maps of invasive plant populations prepared by Harmsworth and Associates in 2015 and 2016 for Irvine Regional Park, Peter’s Canyon, El Modena Open Space, Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, Santiago Oaks Regional Park, and Talbert Regional Park will provide OC Parks with increased opportunity to direct their spray contractors to treat priority areas within the NCCP-Reserve.

9. Sahara Mustard Control

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Sahara Mustard Control Contractor(s)/Researcher Pacific Restoration Group; IRC Time Period 2011-2016 Total Project Cost $57,500 Amount Budgeted $10,000 (2015-16); -- (2016-17) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, COI, TIC Project Status Complete Project Progression On schedule Program Class Land Management

Program Area Weed Control Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Control the highly invasive Sahara mustard at three known populations within the Central Reserve Available Report(s) Sahara Mustard Control on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks 2009-2012. Prepared by Irvine Ranch Conservancy. Feb., 2013 Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

In 2008, Sahara mustard was observed for the first time in the Reserve on Loma Ridge during a botanical survey following the Santiago Fire. Since that time, additional populations (within Agua Chinon, Orchard Hills, along Limestone Ridge, and Peter’s Canyon Regional Park) have been discovered. In 2015, new locations were reported as occurring within Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and suspected within Crystal Cove State Park, and the City of Irvine Open Space South. Active control of the populations began in 2009 and has been continued annually under the direction of the Irvine Ranch Conservancy. NCC has provided funds in support of the control efforts along Loma Ridge, Agua Chinon, and Orchard Hills since 2011.

Progress

The project is considered complete, even though the spatial extent of Sahara mustard appears to be increasing. With full eradication of the recently discovered weed now considered to not be attainable, management efforts are shifting to containment and local eradication of newly discovered populations. Management of the species will continue under the annual treatment programs implemented by Irvine Ranch Conservancy, OC Parks, and State Parks.

Through 2014, a total of 60 acres of Sahara mustard have been identified and controlled across three sites with IRC and NCC funds. One additional putative stand was located by Limestone Ridge in 2009 during a grassland survey; this population, if it existed, could not be relocated. One additional population was identified in 2012 in Peters Canyon by IRC staff and was removed by hand primarily by OC Parks hand crews with some assistance from Pacific Restoration Group.

Treatment in 2014 resulted in 1.3 acres searched at West Loma with an estimated 265 plants removed, which was down from 4,727 plants in 2013. Within Agua Chinon 10 acres were searched and 3.5 bags of plants removed in 2014. At Orchard Hills a 32-acre area was searched, with 11 trash bags of plants collected (compared to 94 in 2013 and 50 in 2012).

Monitoring and eradication efforts continued in 2015 under the management of IRC. In 2015, four new populations of Sahara mustard were found within the Irvine Ranch Open Space. Sahara mustard continued to absorb the majority of control efforts managed by IRC in the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve focusing on Orchard Hills and Area R. In total, 19.6 acres was treated in 2015 within the NCCP-Reserve in areas managed by IRC.

As in prior years, in 2016, the Irvine Ranch Conservancy coordinated and managed the work performed by Pacific Restoration Group, working under contract with NCC. In 2016, drought conditions and reduced competition were noted by IRC as again favoring Sahara mustard.

Twenty-six acres of Sahara mustard were treated in 2016 in the Irvine Ranch Open Space and 121 acres were treated across nine sites on City of Irvine Open Space and dedicated wildlands. Newly discovered populations were attributed to the spreading of seeds by vehicles and wildlife.

In 2017, IRC will put special emphasis on treating Sahara mustard as part of the organization’s invasive plant management program. Containment of populations of Sahara mustard in Irvine Ranch Open Space and the City of Irvine Open Space is a priority for IRC.

Key Milestones

Key Findings

In addition to the Irvine Ranch Open Space, populations of Sahara mustard have been discovered at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Crystal Cove State Park, City of Irvine Open Space North and South. Full eradication of the species is no longer considered a viable strategy. Management efforts will shift in future years to containment and local eradication of newly discovered populations, and are to be handled within individual annual work programs.

Notes

Including 2016, a total of $57,500 has been budgeted for control work on Sahara mustard by NCC since 2011.

10. Cowbird Trapping

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Cowbird Trapping Contractor(s)/Researcher Leatherman Bioconsulting, Inc. Time Period 1999-2017 Total Project Cost $601,500 Amount Budgeted $40,000 (2015-16); $70,000 (2016-17) Fund Cowbird Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, COI, TIC Project Status Ongoing Project Progression On schedule Program Class Land Management Program Area Invasive Wildlife Control Resource Least Bell’s Vireo Project Purpose Reduce incidence of cowbird nest parasitism for sensitive bird species, specifically California Gnatcatcher and Least Bell’s Vireo Available Report(s) 2016 San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Brown-Headed Cowbird Trapping Program Report. Prepared by Leatherman Bioconsulting, Inc. Prepared for Nature Reserve of Orange County. Oct., 2016.

Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

Per an agreement between the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), USWFS, CDFW, and NCC, the responsibility of implementing the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Brown- headed Cowbird Trapping Program was transferred from TCA to NCC in 1999. As part of this agreement, TCA also provided an endowment to NCC to cover the costs of implementing the program. The trapping duration, and number and location of traps employed each year as part of the program is determined through a combination of evaluating prior year trapping success as well as the annual performance of the endowment. Additional funds, independent of the original program endowment, from the County of Orange have provided for the deployment of one to two traps a year during this time period.

Progress

The project is considered to be progressing on schedule. Since 1993, the number of traps operated through the program has ranged from a low of 7 in 2004 and 2005 to a high of 24 in 1994. Over the last seven years, the number of traps in operation has ranged from 10 to 12, typically operational during the period extending from 15 March through 15 July. Approximately 4,850 brown-headed cowbirds have been captured and removed from the local population over the last 20+ years of implementing the program. Over the same time period, tens of thousands of non-target birds have been captured in the traps as by-catch from implementing the program. The annual mortality rate for these non-target species over this same time period is between one and two percent. No threatened or endangered species are reported to have been captured. Formal measures evaluating effectiveness of cowbird trapping on target bird nesting success are not available.

In 2016, NCC staff completed an analysis of available trapping and capture data for the San Joaquin Hills Brown-headed Cowbird Trapping Program. Results are reported below under “Key Findings”. The purpose of the analysis was to provide fodder for discussion with the Wildlife Agencies (and prospective third-party contractors) regarding next steps for moving forward with a programmatic review consistent with the NCC Strategic Plan.

In September, funding was approved by the NCC Board to review the program and make recommendations for changes for 2018 and beyond. NCC staff is to identify a third-party to analyze available data in 2017 and make recommendations for improving the program for the San Joaquin Hills. Additional data to be analyzed may include the data from TCA's Eastern Transportation Corridor Brown-headed Cowbird Trapping Program and programmatic information from MCB Camp Pendleton and others. One issue with the current program, identified by NCC Board members, is the program, as currently structured, does not allow for any definitive conclusions to be drawn about the success of the program with regards to improving the nesting success of the Least Bell's Vireo and California Gnatcatcher.

Key Milestones

1. Coordination on Trapping Schedule and Placement (Due: 1 March 2016): Completed on schedule 2. Implementation of Trapping Program (Due: 15 July 2016): Completed on schedule 3. FINAL Report (Due: 31 December 2016): FINAL Report completed in October 2016

Key Findings

Key findings are not available at this time. The information presented below, comes from a preliminary analysis of available capture and trapping data. Additional findings will be available following the formal review of the program scheduled to take place in 2017.

The effectiveness of removing cowbirds on the reproductive success of the program’s target bird species, that is, the Least Bell’s Vireo and California Gnatcatcher, is unknown, as formal measures for evaluating the effectiveness of cowbird trapping on target bird nesting success have not been developed.

Per-trap-day numbers of cowbirds captured and removed have ranged from a low of 0.04 cowbirds (in 2014 and 2016) to a high of 0.21 (in 2002). Over the last six years the per-trap-day numbers have consistently been below 0.10. In the prior 18 years, the per-trap-day numbers were below 0.10 only three times, suggesting a real decline in trapping efficacy or cowbird numbers over the last five years relative to the proceeding eighteen.

The total number of species captured by year is closely related to the number of traps deployed. Although trapping efficiency is believed to be improved by adjusting the trapping period and location, the number of cowbirds captured per trap day through time is decreasing. It is important to note, the first spike in cowbirds captured occurred in 2002, the same year the number of traps were reduced significantly (from 20 to 8) and the trapping period was most constricted (23 May to 15 July). Otherwise, the number of days of the trapping period and general timing of the trapping effort has been more or less constant since 1999.

Interestingly, the number of non-target birds captured per trap day is also decreasing through time. The similar decrease in non-target birds suggests a change in behavior (such as a learned behavior to avoid the traps by individual birds) or similar decline in local population status. A change of behavior is reasonable, as unlike the cowbirds, non-target birds are not sacrificed upon capture but released. One question to ask is whether, other regional, repeated measures (like the Christmas Bird Count) show similar local declines which would suggest greater forces are in play.

The number of females captured per trap day appears to increase in the early years of the program, and then begin a downward trajectory after reaching a high-point in 2002. The number of male and female cowbirds captured per trap day appears to be closely aligned.

The overall decrease in the number of cowbirds captured per trap day over the 24-year period suggests cowbirds may be avoiding traps more frequently than in the past, or the number of cowbirds available to be trapped has decreased. If the local population size of cowbirds has dropped, the decline could be due to trapping efforts (that is the removal of 4,854 cowbirds over the 24-year history of the program), the loss of range lands and pasture used as foraging grounds

35 by the species with the removal of cattle from the Subregion, or changes in the behaviors of parasitized host populations.

Notes

Similar to 2016, the program in 2017 will include operation and maintenance of Brown-headed Cowbird traps in open space areas in the vicinity of the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor, including lands located within the Reserve. It is expected that a total of 11 cowbird traps will be operated from March 15 to July 15 in 2017. Trap locations may be the same as in 2016. However, as in previous years, the contractor will be actively evaluating alternative location for trap placement to maximize the number of cowbirds captured, the protection of target species status species, and the safety of the daily trap monitors. A total of $40,000 has been budgeted to cover the costs of implementing the program in 2017.

11. Mountain Lion Project

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Mountain Lion Project Contractor(s)/Researcher UC Davis (Vickers) Time Period 2011-2017 Total Project Cost $85,000 Amount Budgeted $10,000 (2015-16); $10,000 (2016-17) Fund Endowment Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, OCWR, COI, TIC, CDFW, IRWD, TCA, TIC Project Status Ongoing Project Progression On schedule Program Class Monitoring/Research Program Area Sensitive Biological Resources Resource Mammalian Carnivores Project Purpose Inform land management strategies around: (1) landscape connectivity and conservation; (2) health and disease; and (3) minimizing conflicts between cougars and people. Available Report(s) UC Davis - Southern California Cougar Project 2015 Annual Report. Prepared by UC Davis Wildlife Health Center. Jan., 2016. Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

The ongoing study of the mountain lion (Puma concolor) in southern California is headed by Dr. Walter Boyce and Dr. Winston Vickers of the Wildlife Health Center at UC Davis. Dr. Vickers is the field lead for the project. The project is currently in its third phase which began on January 25, 2013, and is a follow-up to the first two phases of the study which ran from late 2000 to mid-2012. This mountain lion or cougar research focuses on: (1) landscape connectivity and wildland conservation, including road crossings and the effects of fire; (2) genetics, health, and disease, especially focused on diseases transmitted between cougars and other species, exposure to rodenticides, and genetic assessment of the population; (3) minimizing conflicts between cougars and people; (4) and predation on bighorn sheep and interactions with deer in the Peninsular

Mountain Ranges. The study area encompasses Orange, Riverside, and San Diego Counties. Cougars have been captured, sampled, and GPS-collared over a wide portion of these counties from the northern Santa Ana Mountains in Orange County to southern San Diego County. Cougars from the study have utilized lands as far north as the Highway 91 and 241 Toll Road junction in the northern Santa Ana Mountains in Orange County, and as far south as the Parque Nacional Constitución de 1857 located approximately 50 miles south of the border in Mexico. The area used by study cougars has also extended from the Pacific Ocean in the west to the Santa Rosa Mountains to the east. The project is important for NCC as the cougar is a top predator and serves a role as an ecological regulator. Cougars help to control deer populations as well as to regulate other carnivores, which has important consequences to the composition and structure of natural communities within the reserve system.

Progress

To address the goals of the third phase of the study, the researchers continued field efforts to complete capturing, sampling, and GPS collaring of cougars under a Scientific Collecting Permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The portions of the study area where the focus of field capture work was primarily directed in 2013 and 2014 were the Santa Ana Mountain Range in Orange and Riverside Counties, Western San Diego County, and the Palomar Mountains in San Diego and Riverside Counties. In addition, researchers conducted extensive camera monitoring of wildlife corridors and crossings in the Santa Ana Mountains during the 2012- 2013 field season. Included in this list of areas, are all of the major wildlife crossings along the studied sections of the 241 Toll Road in Orange County. Cameras are monitored on a monthly basis and all photos recorded in a database for analysis and reporting purposes. The Irvine Ranch Conservancy and Orange County Parks also contribute photos of cougars that are recorded on their lands, and collaborate with the researchers to identify individual animals in those photos if they have previously been captured by the study team. Camera monitoring continued in 2014 as did additional trapping efforts directed at keeping between two to four lions collared in the northwestern Santa Ana Mountains.

In 2015, the focus of the program was on assessment of mountain lion habitat use and connectivity in northern San Diego and southern Riverside and Orange Counties, with special focus on the prioritization of lands in north San Diego County associated with the Pechanga Corridor considered critical to maintaining connectivity between the Palomar and Santa Ana Mountains populations of lions.

In 2016, the team, led by Winston Vickers, engaged in an extensive genetic analysis involving all of the lions sampled to date across San Diego, Riverside and Orange Counties (around 150 animals). The genetic work allows for construction of extensive pedigrees/family trees to help define how animal movement has occurred over the time of the study and before. The work is a collaborative effort largely funded by SANDAG and The Nature Conservancy. In 2017, a Population Viability Analysis is to be advanced, providing perspective on the long-term viability of lions within southern California, given the current constraints on movement and threat presented by state-issued depredation permits.

Key Milestones

To date, no key milestones for the project have been jointly-identified by NCC and the project researchers.

Key Findings

The mortality data collected during the study suggests that cougars throughout southern California face significant, and likely increasing, threats secondary to habitat loss and fragmentation, continued expansion of the human population, roads, and development. Some sources of mortality for cougars may be mitigated through education, investment in proper road crossings and fencing, habitat conservation, prevention of habitat fragmentation, and proper domestic animal husbandry. The research team is actively pursuing a number of these mitigation measures in collaboration with partnering organizations throughout the study area. As an example of the mitigation measures being implemented, in 2014 and 2015, in consultation with the project principal investigators, TCA installed exclusion fencing along the sides of several miles of the SR241 Toll Road specifically to limit mountain lion access to sections of the road where lions and other wildlife had been struck at a high incidence by vehicles when attempting to cross.

Genetic and corridor analyses completed in 2016 highlight the importance of male lions as genetic dispersers, with home ranges averaging approximately 145 square miles in size. The isolating nature of urban development and creation of major state highways has isolated extant populations of mountain lions. In the Santa Monica Mountains, the population of lions is relatively small, and bounded by state highway 101, limiting the likelihood of continued persistence of the population beyond the next 50 years. Similarly, although connectivity still exists within the Santa Ana Mountains, state highway 15 has effectively isolated the population from lions in San Diego County and Western Riverside County. Least Cost Path analysis highlights the importance of the San Luis Rey River, Santa Margarita River, Temecula Creek, and Pechanga Creek to maintaining or enhancing connectivity between Orange County, San Diego County, and Riverside County populations of lions.

Notes

The project is a collaborative effort with many partners assisting in funding and logistics. NCC was a minor financial contributor to the project in 2011 ($25,000), 2012 ($10,000), 2013 ($10,000), 2014 ($10,000), 2015 ($10,000), and 2016 ($10,000). In 2017, NCC will again make another contribution ($10,000) to UC Davis in support of the project. Over the years, NCC funding has allowed the principal investigators to expand analyses, spend extra time on capture or camera work, and replace equipment not otherwise covered by other funding.

12. NCC Database Mgmt

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title NCC Database Mgmt Contractor(s)/Researcher UC Irvine Time Period 2014-2017 Total Project Cost $25,000 Amount Budgeted -- (2015-16); $25,000 (2016-17) Fund Endowment

Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, OCWR, COI, CCSP, CDFW, CNP, UCI, IRWD, TCA, TIC, MWD Project Status Ongoing Project Progression On schedule Program Class Database Management Program Area Multiple Resource Multiple Project Purpose Develop a coordinated approach to the long-term management of ecological data within the NCCP Reserve that focuses on system integration, interoperability, and user efficiency Available Report(s) Nature Reserve of Orange County - NROC Geodatabase Design. Produced for Orange County Community Resources, Orange County Parks. Produced by VESTRA Resources, Inc. Jan., 2014. Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

For NCC to effectively use science to inform adaptive resource management, the integration of data collection, processing, analysis, storage, retrieval and sharing is paramount among participants in the NCCP/HCP. While every partner in the NCCP/HCP operates independent systems for storage and access to data relevant to the Reserve, the integration of these tools and long-term coordination and management of the collaborative process is critical to NCC’s mission to coordinate effective management of the natural resources present within the NCCP-Reserve.

Progress

NCC staff has been discussing with UCI/Center for Environmental Biology (CEB) concerning the steps needed to effectively integrate data management and use efforts among the partners in the NCCP/HCP. Specifically, a ‘Design-Build’ process has been proposed that includes needs assessment, specific database interoperability, early-adoption by user partners, use analysis, emerging versus historical data challenges, and mutual appreciation of current partner efforts. Development of this process was influenced, in part, by several key discussions, including: a discussion between Irvine Ranch Conservancy, NCC, and UCI/CEB (in August 2013); more focused treatment by the NCC Technical Advisory Committee (August 2013) and Board of Directors (September 2013); and a discussion between OC Parks, IRC, NCC, and UCI/CEB (October 2013).

Although a database interoperability project has yet to be initiated with CEB, in an effort to further the mission of increasing data integration across the Reserve, NCC, in partnership with OC Parks, made significant progress in terms of organizing the available NCCP-related data housed by the County. In 2014, working with the County’s hired consultant, VESTRA Resources, a leader in design and management of GIS/IT systems, NCC participated in design of a GeoDatabase schema for storing existing NCC data. As designed, the schema is intended to allow for options to meet NCC’s longer term goal to provide an automated web-based solution that will allow investigators to search through existing data and provide new information in a structure that will efficiently integrate into the NCC data storage schema. In the future, NCC, together with the

County and UCI, is considering development of a viewing and delivery solution utilizing this new data structure.

In support of this vision, NCC met with UCI Libraries and CEB in November, 2015, and then followed up with a meeting amongst NCC, UCI Libraries and the GIS Manager for OC Parks, in February, 2016. Specifically, the meetings evolved around the concept of sharing NCCP data currently housed with OC Parks with the UCI Libraries. The Office of the President of the University of California recently sponsored creation of a data sharing service for the UC System, called DASH. UCI Libraries are pursuing development of this service in order to support the description, publishing, and preservation of ecological data (citing it with a permanent identifier), assigning of relevant geolocation to data, and increased search and browse capabilities. The recent push by the University of California to increase visibility and accessibility to ecological data creates a unique opportunity to potentially pair the two systems, UCI Libraries and OC Parks, to improve the distribution and use of ecological data collected by signatories to the NCCP and supporting partners over the last twenty years.

In 2016 a couple of pilot projects were advanced to support implementation of data sharing within the Reserve. In June, NCC submitted to UCI Libraries reports and available data collected as part of the vegetation classification and mapping project completed in 2015. The submission included the full geo-database and three reports, one for each phase of the project to be archived and made available to a wider audience. Following receipt, the dataset was reviewed, reformatted and added to OC Data Portal (and dash UCI) by UCI Libraries in November. The second project advanced in 2016 involves archiving of the NCC collection of 15,000 digital images of natural landscapes and resources of central and coastal Orange County. Archiving involves the donation of the collection to the UCI Libraries Special Collections and Archives Division for purposes of preserving the collection in perpetuity and increasing visibility of the collection with partners, researchers, and the public.

In 2017, NCC will continue discussions with UCI Libraries, OC Parks, CEB, as well as invest time in further development of the online library of project reports hosted on the NCC-website. Initially, the effort is to cover the last five years of funded work, and then subsequently, be advanced to cover the full 20-year history of the organization, which includes upwards of 200 annual projects.

Also in support of advancing data management in 2017, through an approved agreement with NCC, the Center for Environmental Biology will compile, curate, and disseminate common data used by partners of NCC, and signatories of the NCCP/HCP for effective decision-making. Data includes trail maps, soil types, land-use history descriptors, weather overlays, fire histories, ecological syntheses, climate and development future scenarios, and measurement locations. Data is to be consolidated to a common location to be accessed by NCC approved organizations and individuals so as to enhance data sharing and the effective use of information for adaptive management. The data is expected to take the format of GIS layers, and be available on-line.

Key Milestones

Milestones have not been identified, as aspects of the project are still evolving.

Key Findings

The County, as the signatory responsible for hosting and managing the spatial data (GIS) associated with implementation of the NCCP/HCP, is to receive and archive all reports, data, and meta-data, and share spatial data and models generated by NCC-funded projects. Successful execution of this obligation involves: development and management of online platforms to share spatial data (and models) among land managers for viewing and download; creation of an inventory of available GIS data relevant to natural resource management; and a designated “librarian” to receive and file spatial data received from NCC contractors. Because of the high level of complexity of the data in general and the variation of data collected and methodologies used across all the studies, NCC, in the designed schema employed by the County’s contractor in 2014 and 2015, chose to organize ecological data archived with the County into a two-tiered hierarchy. At the highest level, the information is collected into a set of point feature classes organized into taxonomical types (amphibian, bird, fish, habitat, invertebrate, mammal, rare plant, reptile, and vegetation). The second, or detailed, level is organized based on NCC projects. At the detailed level, users will find the geospatial data collected by the project as well as the project documents, tables, and any other information specific to that project. Notes

During the 2014 budgeting process, a total of $85,000.00 was made available for the improved long-term management of ecological data within the NCCP Reserve. Subsequently, following a refocusing of priorities, by both NCC and CEB, the amount allocated towards database developed for FY 2014-15 (and subsequently rolled-over to 2015-16 and then 2016-17) was reduced to $25,000.

13. OC RESTORE

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title OC RESTORE Contractor(s)/Researcher Sara Jo Dickens; GreenInfo Network Time Period 2014-2017 Total Project Cost $87,500 Amount Budgeted -- (2015-16); $20,000 (2016-17) Fund Restoration/Enhancement (1:1) Matching Contribution(s) USDA ($XXXX) Landowner Involvement OCP, OCWR, COI, CCSP, CDFW, CNB, UCI, IRWD, TCA, TIC, MWD Project Status Ongoing Project Progression Requires additional attention by NCC staff and/or contractors Program Class Database Management Program Area Habitat Restoration Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Create an on-line tool for tracking and informing the development of habitat restoration projects within the NCCP-Reserve Available Report(s) OC RESTORE Restoration and Conservation Web Tool Beta Test. Final report submitted to the Irvine Ranch Conservancy and

Nature Reserve of Orange County. Alex Brotman and Chase LeCroy (UCSB Bren School). Sept., 2014. Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

In 2010, Dr. Katharine Suding at UC Berkeley (UCB), Dr. Stephen Swallow at the University of Connecticut, and the Natural Communities Coalition (NCC) were awarded a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that focuses on restoring native communities invaded by exotic plants. The project funded by the grant was designed to lead to an increased understanding of the threshold dynamics of invasion and restoration so that management actions can be developed and selected with an understanding of ecological and economic constraints and trade-offs. Under the grant, NCC was responsible for the stakeholder engagement and facilitating development of the decision-making component. This involves engaging stakeholders in combining ecologically based invasion management and economic valuation components with decision support tools and centralized information exchange. One component of this was development of a web-based decision tool for determining and tracking restoration management actions. Although the USDA Grant formally ended at the close of 2013. NCC has continued to invest in development and refinement of web-based, habitat restoration decision support tool for land managers.

Progress

GreenInfo Network was brought into the project in 2012 to assist UC Berkeley in developing the online-based decision making tool. A beta-version of the tool was first unveiled to project partners and land managers in October of 2012. The meeting was held in a workshop format that was cohosted by NCC and UCB. The focus of the workshop was on introducing the web-based habitat restoration database and decision tool being produced from the collaborative efforts of UC Berkeley, NCC, land managers, and Wildlife Agencies. The beta-version of the tool unveiled at the workshop was designed based on land manager needs and interests as determined by their participation in previous workshops and applied research conducted by UC Berkeley. A second workshop in which an advanced version of the web-tool was unveiled was hosted in 2013. The tool was formerly rolled-out in late 2013, with the distribution of a draft manual and the distribution of passwords to project partners for purposes of accessing the tool.

In 2014, NCC, in partnership with Irvine Ranch Conservancy, formed an advisory team to review the beta version of the online tool, OC RESTORE. The team consisted of staff from IRC, NCC, Sara Jo Dickens (as a hired NCC project management consultant), and two interns from the Bren School of Environmental Management at UC Santa Barbara. The advisory team hosted a third workshop highlighting design changes recommended by the group following an intensive three- month testing schedule. Throughout 2014, GreenInfo participated in the project planning work as well as continued to make minor revisions to the program code in an effort to fix or bypass detected errors in computer program code. In 2015, both GreenInfo Network and Sara Jo Dickens (operating as Ecology Bridge) entered into contracts with NCC to continue to build, upgrade, and improve the OC RESTORE web database and map based on stakeholder input. In December, 2015, Sara Jo Dickens made a presented to the NCC Board of Directors on the progress made enhancing OC RESTORE and stakeholder use of the tool since NCC took ownership of the tool’s

42 development in January, 2014. The majority of tasks tied to completion of Phase II of the tool’s evolution are complete as of December 2015. These tasks include, revision of the database structure, creation of new functions to meet stakeholder requests, development of batch upload templates for faster data upload, increasing the number of geospatial data layers, and providing users with a means of downloading the geospatial layers directly as a package.

In 2016, NCC staff discussed project advancement with the Executive Committee and Sara Jo Dickens. Although much interest in the potential of the online tool was expressed by members of the Board at the December (2015) meeting, a remaining hurdle involves securing true partner buy-in to use the tool prior to NCC investing an additional $25,000 or more in tool development to address unresolved programming issues and recommended changes. An identified next step is to meet informally in 2017 with Sara Jo Dickens, key partners, and the Wildlife Agencies to discuss whether continued investment is worth the cost to the organization. The meeting needs to be scheduled and is almost a year overdue, requiring increased NCC staff attention and support to advance the project to the next level if the expected return on investment is considered to warrant continued investment of NCC staff time and funding.

Key Milestones

1. OCIM Web-tool Workshop I (Due: 31 December 2012): Workshop held 25 October 2012 2. OCIM Web-tool Workshop II (Due: 31 December 2013): Workshop held on 13 November 2013 3. Launch OCIM Web-tool (Due: 31 December 2013): OC RESTORE web-tool launched on 14 December 2013 4. Form interagency advisory team to review functionality of OC RESTORE (30 June 2014): Completed on schedule 5. OC RESTORE Workshop III (Due: 15 September 2014): Completed on schedule 6. Submission of a FINAL assessment report from advisory team (Due: 15 September 2014): Report completed on 12 September 2014 7. Complete recommended updates of database structure, map, and reports (Due: 30 June 2015): Completion of the majority of tasks outlined as part of Phase II are complete; remaining tasks are expected to be complete by 30 June 2016 8. Presentation to NCC Board of Directors (Due: 31 December 2015): Completed on 17 December 2015

Key Findings

In 2013, workshop participants provided the following feedback with the purpose of informing additional design of the tool. Highlights from the feedback provided during the workshop included a clear desire by land managers to be able to use the tool to: (1) assess proposed restoration sites; (2) search their respective management areas for sites to be prioritized for restoration; (3) search the restoration database for historical restoration data; (4) track restoration activities; and (5) assist them in meeting their reporting obligations. Following the 2014 workshop and beta testing of the tool, it became clear, NCC and NCC partners will require continued support of use OC RESTORE until users are comfortable with tool functions and all agreed upon upgrades are

43 incorporated. It is the ultimate goal of NCC to have partners regularly report management actions via the web-tool to produce a long-term database and enhance data sharing.

In 2016, Calflora Weed Manager became the preferred method by land managers for tracking and reporting on invasive plant management within the Subregion, removing the need for OC RESTORE to support tracking of weed infestations and treatments over time. Going forward, consistent with the original vision for the project, OC RESTORE is to serve exclusively as an online database (and information source) for historic, ongoing, and planned restoration projects.

To be truly effective, the quality of the data in the database needs to be improved. In 2016, based on review of the database, NCC staff noted, although the tool has the capacity to capture much information about historic and ongoing restoration projects, the data currently in the database for 100+ historical projects is relatively sparse in nature, lowering the value of any one individual project record. Investment by partnering organizations in improving the quality of the data housed in the database is needed for OC RESTORE to better reflect its potential value.

Notes

NCC is solely responsible for managing the online tool as of January 2014. To meet this need, NCC entered into agreements in both 2014 and 2015 with GreenInfo Network and Sara Jo Dickens to assist in design and user support related to development and refinement of OC RESTORE, respectively.

14. Weed Prioritization/EDRR

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Weed Prioritization/EDRR Contractor(s)/Researcher Cal-IPC Time Period 2014-2017 Total Project Cost $140,000 Amount Budgeted -- (2015-16); $60,000 (2016-17) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, OCWR, COI, CCSP, CDFW, CONB, UCI, IRWD, TCA, TIC, MWD Project Status Ongoing Project Progression On schedule Program Class Planning Program Area Invasive Weed Control Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Develop a coordinated, unified approach to prioritizing invasive weed control efforts across the NCCP-Reserve Available Report(s) Five-year Invasive Plant Management Plan for the Coastal Portion of the County of Orange Central & Coastal Subregion NCCP/HCP. Prepared by California Invasive Plant Council. Jan., 2017. Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

In 2014, California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) was brought in under contract with NCC to perform a needs assessment for the development of a coordinated, unified approach to prioritizing invasive weed control efforts across the NCCP-Reserve. Informed by the planning and coordination activities of the Back Country Council, as well as ongoing weed surveillance work, the assessment is likely to focus on evaluating the need for early detection and rapid response (EDRR) strategies for emergent invasive weed species, coordinated control of established target invasive species, and the restoration of fully degraded habitat areas. Cal-IPC is engaged in strategic prioritization and EDRR with entities across California, and is expected to bring this expertise to advise NCC planning. This will support NCC’s capacity to steward its lands into the future and to lead regional collaboration for landscape-level management. In addition, NCC’s work will provide an excellent example from which other organizations and agencies across California can benefit from lessons learned.

Progress

As of early 2015, Cal-IPC had completed the planning phase of the project, determining the next steps in developing expert recommendations for: (1) strategic prioritization for invasive plant management; and (2) early detection/rapid response protocol for new invasive plant populations. During the six-month planning phase Cal-IPC reviewed materials to become familiar with the current status of NCC’s invasive plant management and EDRR, including annual reports, management plans, the studies by UC Berkeley, datasets, maps, and recent survey results. A two-person team from the organization traveled to Orange County for a 2-day visit in November 2014, visiting both the inland and coastal areas of the NCCP-Reserve, and meeting with NCC staff and key project partners (OC Parks, IRC, and State Parks), with the goal of advancing planning for the full project. Following the visit to Orange County, Cal-IPC conducted follow-up calls with additional stakeholders not interviewed in person. Cal-IPC prepared and presented a work plan and budget for analyzing information and developing recommendations for invasive plant management and EDRR in February, 2015.

Following entry into an 18-month agreement with NCC in early 2015 to implement the work plan identified, Cal-IPC advanced the identified initiatives working collaboratively with NCC and members of the Core Management Team (consisting of representatives from IRC, OC Parks, and State Parks). Work culminated in development of a draft Five-Year Invasive Plant Management Plan for the Coastal Reserve (finalized in January 2017) and participation in the Science Integration Meeting hosted by NCC on 25 February 2016.

The draft plan describes an overarching conceptual framework proposed for managing invasive plants in the Reserve, a five-year work plan for the Coastal Reserve, and EDRR Structure. The overarching framework provides a foundation for transparent decision-making and assessment, and helps ensure coordination between land managers as they execute specific elements of the plan falling within their purview.

In 2016, NCC staff working with Cal-IPC, and members of the Core Management Team (CMT), which includes representatives from OC Parks, IRC, and State Parks, developed a new scope of

work for advancing the larger planning effort. The scope includes: (1) preparation of a 5-Year Invasive Plant Management Plan for the Central Subregion, including early detection and rapid response; and (2) assessment of progress made in invasive plant management in the Central Subregion from 2011-2016. In additional, Cal-IPC is to be available to address any recommended revisions from the first year of implementation for the 5-Year Invasive Plant Management Plan for the Coastal Subregion.

The new plan for the Central Subregion is to build on the invasive plant management framework and early detection recommendations from the plan prepared for the Coastal Subregion. Cal-IPC will synthesize existing information and tools to develop recommendations, and facilitate the region’s network of experts and stakeholders in reaching consensus on coordinated action. This will build on previous efforts in the Subregion and is expected to require significant involvement from the CMT in designing recommendations.

Key Milestones

1. Site visits and stakeholder meeting (Due: 15 November 2014): Completed in November 2014 2. Prepare and present a work plan and budget (Due: 15 January 2015): Work plan and budget completed in February, 2015 3. Prepare and Present a DRAFT Five-Year Management Plant for Coastal Reserve (Due: 15 January 2015): Completed on schedule 4. Participate in the Science Integration Meeting (Due: 31 March 2016): Completed in February 2016 5. Prepare and Submit Final Five-year Management for Coastal Reserve (Due: 30 September 2016): Completed in January 2017 6. Collect GIS Data and Conduct Spatial Analysis (Due: 30 June 2017) 7. Compare Results of 2011 and 2016 Helicopter Surveys (Due: 30 June 2017) 8. Draft Workplan and EDRR Plan (30 September 2017) 9. Prepare and Submit Final Five-year Management Plan for Central Reserve (Due: 31 December 2017)

Key Findings

Initial concerns and priorities identified varied by organization interviewed. However, several key points emerged as universally agreed-upon needs: (1) Work plan – A strategic work plan for invasive plant management, designed (and revisited) in a collaborative and transparent way, which clearly lays out priority actions and responsibilities and formalizes coordination between the region’s land management entities. Interviewees want a plan that dovetails with restoration work, has specific guidelines for each organization’s involvement, and has a consistent system for reporting on progress annually; and (2) EDRR program – A structured EDRR program for invasive plants, including a simple system for sharing information on new detections with the region’s network of land management entities and a clear protocol for how to implement response to new detections. Interviewees want an EDRR workflow with a clear streamlined structure to enable effective response from land managers who already have a lot on their plates.

Through discussions (advanced in 2015) with the core management team (Jutta Burger from Irvine Ranch Conservancy, Jennifer Naegele from Orange County Parks, and Lana Nguyen from Crystal Cove State Park), as well as examination of documents from the Backcountry Council, Harmsworth & Associates, and others, Cal-IPC developed an approach that focuses on maintaining the ecological integrity of core areas while pushing back invasive plants found in other areas of the reserve. Main recommendations and areas of work include the following:

• Create a single list of invasive plant species from the various lists developed by various entities over time, and prioritize plants for control and surveillance; • Create a GIS layer that delineates management units within the reserve, and includes neighboring lands; • Identify key management opportunities, design specifications for field work, set annual and long-term goals, and set needed investment levels; • Support “early detection and rapid response” (EDRR) work so that new invasive plant species get addressed promptly; • Structure a clear oversight system for each management site and the overall program; • Develop clear metrics and a dashboard for tracking (and presenting) progress over time.

In February 2017, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was written and submitted to partnering organizations for signatures. The purpose of the MOA is to establish the role and responsibilities of all parties during the first full year of implementation (2017) of the “Five-year Invasive Plant Management Plan for the Coastal Portion of the County of Orange Central & Coastal Subregion NCCP/HCP”.

Specifically, over the five-year term of the Plan, parties generally agree to:

• Contribute financial resources and/or staff support to implementation of a region-wide invasive plant survey every five years to check progress in achieving over-arching programmatic goals; and • Collaborate with regional partners through active participation in the Santa Ana River/Orange County Weed Management Area

Notes

The work plan approved in 2015, to be advanced in 2016 and 2017, has two main tasks: (1) generate a five-year invasive plant management work plan for the NCCP-Reserve (developing individual plans for the Central and Coastal Reserve); and (2) recommend an effective EDRR structure for new invasive plant observations.

15. Target Bird Monitoring

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Target Bird Monitoring Contractor(s)/Researcher USGS; SDMMP; Leatherman BioConsulting, Inc. Time Period 2014-2017 Total Project Cost $195,000 Amount Budgeted $150,000 (2015-16); $30,000 (2016-17) Fund Endowment Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, OCWR, COI, CCSP, CDFW, CONB, UCI, IRWD, TCA, TIC, MWD Project Status Ongoing Project Progression On schedule Program Class Monitoring/Research Program Area Sensitive Biological Resources Resource Target Bird Species – California Gnatcatcher and Cactus Wren Project Purpose Develop a comprehensive monitoring program for both the California Gnatcatcher and Cactus Wren Available Report(s) Natural Communities Coalition California Gnatcatcher Study 2016. Prepared for Natural Communities Coalition. Prepared by Leatherman Bioconsulting, Inc. Nov., 2016. Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

In support of the development and implementation of NCC’s long-term Target Bird Species monitoring program, NCC has launched a collaborative planning project with the US Geological Survey (USGS), San Diego Management Monitoring Program (SDMMP), and Colorado State University (CSU), focused on identifying goals, strategies, and objectives, in support of the long- term management and assessment of the NCCP Program in supporting conservation of the two target species. In the development of the plans, emphasis is to be placed on the identification of robust, but cost-efficient, monitoring strategies that are well-coordinated with other southern California NCCPs.

Progress

In 2014, under the leadership of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), several planning sessions were completed in support of the development of a long-term coordinated monitoring program for the California Gnatcatcher designed to determine status and trend of the species in habitat occupancy over time. The process of developing a regional monitoring program involved a team of biologists from USGS, USFWS, SDMMP, NCC, and Colorado State University evaluating previous survey efforts to select the most efficient and cost effective survey method and to determine the sampling design. Data were reviewed from the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Program, Nature Reserve of Orange County, and from USFWS surveys in San Diego County. To support study design, SDMMP developed a habitat suitability model for purposes of defining a sampling framework for the monitoring project.

In July, 2015, the USFWS, USGS, and SDMMP hosted a workshop to advance planning and coordinate sampling effort, timing, and site selection among all of the participating agencies in preparation for the anticipated 2016 field season. Protocols for standardizing the field surveys were shared and discussed among meeting participants. In December, 2015, partnering with The Nature Conservancy, NCC developed a RFP to solicit proposals from qualified contractors for completion of surveys in the Central and Coastal Subregion in 2016. Following review of submitted proposals, NCC entered into a contract with Leatherman BioConsulting, Inc. to complete the surveys in January, 2016.

In 2016, Leatherman BioConsulting, Inc. surveyed 180 spatially balanced and randomly selected plots on three separate occasions from March to the middle of April to determine occupancy by the California Gnatcatcher. Beginning in May, each plot was surveyed for vegetation, describing the structure, density, and composition of the site. A catalog of over 700 photographs, consisting of four photos of each plot, was also created and submitted to allow for comparison with the conditions of the plots during future studies.

Occupancy and vegetation data, along with the catalog of photos was submitted to the USGS for analysis of regional estimates of California Gnatcatcher occupancy following the close of the field season in June. Analysis of local estimates of occupancy is to occur in 2017 and will be handled through a separate contract with the USGS or another entity, to be named later.

Key Milestones

1. Survey Team Training (Due: 31 January 2016): Completed in early March 2016 2. Plot Assessments (Due: 15 February 2016): Completed by mid-March 2016 3. California Gnatcatcher Surveys (Due 30 April 2016): Three rounds of surveys were completed between 15 March and 30 April 4. Vegetation Survey (Due 31 May 2016): Vegetation surveys were completed 2 May through 9 June 5. Data Compilation and Submission (Due: 30 September 2016): Data submission was completed in August 2016 6. Report Preparation and Submission (Due: 30 September 2016): Final project report describing the results of the field surveys was completed in November 2016

7. Regional Data Analysis and Report Preparation (Due: 30 June 2017): 8. Analysis of Subregion Data and Report Preparation (Due: 30 September 2017):

Key Findings

Although key findings are not available at this time, as the project is still in progress, early results from the 2016 field surveys are presented below. Rigorous analysis of the collected data is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.

California Gnatcatcher was detected at a total of 53 (of the 180) plots during the three rounds of focused surveys. Highest occupancy rates were observed in the Coastal Reserve, where 31 of 80 plots were found to be occupied. In the Central Reserve and across conservation easement lands 22 of 100 plots were found to be occupied. The difference in observed rates of occupancy are attributed to the presence of mature coastal sage scrub habitat along the coast, versus the more open structure and smaller shrubs present throughout the inland sites, much of which still appears to be recovering from the wildland fires of 2007. Incidental observations made during the study included observations of gnatcatchers within 13 survey plots where no positive detections occurred during the three rounds of surveys. Comparison of observed rates of occupancy between surveys conducted in 2011 and 2016 show little difference in observations for the Coastal Reserve with 34% of surveyed areas occupied in 2011 and 39% in 2016. Larger differences in observed rates were notes between 2011 and 2016 for the Central Reserve (13% and 25%, respectively) possibly reflecting the increased recovery of the area over the last five- years following the 2007 fires.

Notes

After twenty years of serving as the flagship species for the NCCP Program in southern California, the first regional California Gnatcatcher survey was completed in 2016. The goals of the survey were to improve estimation of the current spatial distribution of the California Gnatcatchers across conserved and military lands from Ventura County to the US-Mexico border, and provide a baseline of long-term monitoring data for future repeat surveys expected to occur in 2019 and 2022. Analysis of regional data is expected to be completed by the US Geological Survey by the end of the summer season, 2017.

16. Vegetation Monitoring Scoping

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Vegetation Monitoring Scope Contractor(s)/Researcher UCI Time Period 2015-2016 Total Project Cost $25,000 Amount Budgeted -- (2015-16); -- (2016-2017) Fund Endowment Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, OCWR, COI, CCSP, CDFW, CONB, UCI, IRWD, TCA, TIC, MWD Project Status Complete

Project Progression On schedule Program Class Planning Program Area Sensitive Biological Resources Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Develop a comprehensive vegetation monitoring program for purposes of tracking long-term changes in the extent and quality of vegetation present within the NCCP-Reserve Available Report(s) -- Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

In support of the development and implementation of NCC’s long-term vegetation monitoring program, NCC has launched a collaborative planning project with UCI’s Center for Environmental Biology (CEB) focused on identifying goals, strategies, and objectives, in support of the monitoring program. The initial three to six-month collaborative project will involve CEB coordinating a team of area experts engaged in a three to six-month planning effort to produce a scope of work deliverable, including, supporting action plans and timelines, tactics and milestone chart, and multi-year budget, to be used as a planning document for identifying and prioritizing projects addressing the most prominent vegetation monitoring objectives identified by NCC and key stakeholders. Presently, the highest priority initiative identified by previous planning efforts involves the provision of defensible, objective measures of the extent and quality of habitat within the NCCP- Reserve. This will involve development of a spatially-explicit model of habitat quality that appropriately takes into account short and long-term environmental forecasts, measures of local ecological dynamics, land-use history (specifically grazing and agriculture), and fire history. Output from the model should inform how restoration and enhancement actions are applied, as well as help direct wildfire and recreation management. Progress

The project is now considered to be complete. CEB has reviewed and co-sponsored workshops discussing the status of existing plot-based, vegetation monitoring data and accompanying analyses for the Central and Coastal Subregion. An advisory team has been formed under the leadership of CEB. The team assembled includes researchers from San Diego State University (who previously worked with NCC and The Nature Conservancy on development of cost-efficient, long-term, plot-based vegetation sampling strategies), members of TNC, IRC, and NCC. Shared goals and priority objectives of the program have been discussed amongst key stakeholders as well as the NCC Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). In 2015, meetings amongst members of the advisory group continued and ideas concerning priorities for implementation were advanced, focusing on development of methods to annually assess the quality and extent of the coastal sage scrub habitat mosaic and mechanisms to communicate findings to leadership and the public. Results of the planning completed to date were presented to the NCC Board in March 2015, and shared at the Science Integration Meeting hosted by NCC on 25 February 2016.

Following the Science Integration Meeting, a concept proposal and project abstract was shared with the TAC in July 2016. In the proposal, the Center for Environmental Biology shared plans for the creation of an informative and comprehensive multi-year monitoring and reporting program for the reserve addressing ecological assessment, rare plant management and monitoring, and the development of effective communication tools. Following discussion of the proposal at the meeting of the TAC in August, NCC staff and CEB met a handful of times to further refine a way forward for addressing identified short-term needs of the vegetation monitoring program. The end result was a final scoping report highlighting opportunities to achieve programmatic benchmarks for the vegetation program communicated to the NCC Board as being attainable over the next 12- months, allowing for assembly of a team to address the items identified by partners and the TAC as immediate needs for advancing development of a long-term vegetation monitoring program.

Key Milestones

1. Presentation to NCC Board of Directors on metrics/measures considered for inclusion in the monitoring program (Due: 19 March 2015): Completed on schedule 2. Participation in the Science Integration Meeting (Due: 31 March 2016): Completed on schedule 3. Concept proposals/project abstract(s) (Due: 15 May 2015; Postponed to May 2016): Completed and shared with the Technical Advisory Committee in July 2016 4. Final Scoping Report to include a description of each priority strategy, approach, or project with supporting background rationale, goal, objectives, and methods of approach, supporting action plans/timelines, and business plan (Due: 30 June 2015; Postponed to June 2016): Completed in November 2016

Key Findings

The work outlined in the final scoping report is a first and significant step towards development of a comprehensive multi-year vegetation monitoring plan for the reserve and neighboring conservation lands. Much is expected to be learned in the first-year of implementation of the new plan, with the work going a long way to informing discussions with partners about options for development of a comprehensive long-term plan covering the next 5 to 10 years.

Specifics identified as deliverables and work products over the next 12 months resulting from the planning work are described below (as well as covered in more detail under project No. 29).

• Assessment of change in CSS cover over the last ten years • Report serving as the first tool for communication on the health of the Reserve • Identification of knowledge gaps and existing spatio-temporal gaps requiring adjustment of current monitoring approach • Refinement of existing and planned vegetation monitoring for the next two growing seasons • Conceptual model for data integration relating ecosystem features to data sources and assumptions • Work plan and protocol for scaling vegetation dynamics between field-based and remotely sensed efforts • Meta-analysis and alternative data-model techniques to maximize use of existing data

• Establishment of a common, consensus-based conceptual model of critical ecosystem dynamics • Integration with San Diego to share best practices, evaluate common trends in ecological condition, document early tipping points, and evaluate regional trends • Compilation, curation, and dissemination of common data used by the many NCC partners • Data registry, assistance with data sharing and archiving

Notes

In January, 2015, Travis Huxman of UCI prepared and submitted a pre-proposal for a NSF LTREB (Long Term Research in Environmental Biology) Grant on behalf of the vegetation monitoring advisory team addressing climate change and invasive species influence of plant community dynamics. The proposed would use the seven-years of existing vegetation monitoring data collected within Central-Coastal OC to test hypotheses relevant to the long-term assessment and management of the vegetation with the NCCP-Reserve.

In September, 2016, the NCC Board approved funding in support of development of a rigorous multi-year vegetation monitoring strategy for the reserve and development of communication tools in support of evaluating and sharing information concerning the health of the reserve.

17. Wildlife Mgmt Scoping

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Wildlife Mgmt Scope/BioBlitz Contractor(s)/Researcher UCLA Time Period 2015-2017 Total Project Cost $45,000 Amount Budgeted -- (2015-16); $20,000 (2016-2017) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, OCWR, COI, CCSP, CDFW, CONB, UCI, IRWD, TCA, TIC, MWD Project Status Ongoing Project Progression On schedule Program Class Planning Program Area Sensitive Biological Resources Resource Reptiles & Amphibians Project Purpose Develop a management and monitoring program for purposes of assessing and improving the effectiveness of the reserve system in preserving native species diversity and the structure and functioning of ecological systems Available Report(s) -- Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

In support of the development and implementation of NCC’s long-term wildlife management program, NCC has launched a collaborative planning project with UC Los Angeles (UCLA)

focused on identifying goals, strategies, and objectives, in support of the program. The initial three to six-month collaborative project will involve UCLA coordinating a team of area experts engaged in a three to six-month planning effort to produce a scope of work deliverable, including, supporting action plans and timelines, tactics and milestone chart, and multi-year budget, to be used as a planning document for identifying and prioritizing projects addressing the most prominent wildlife management and monitoring objectives as they pertain to amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates present within the NCCP-Reserve. Presently, the highest priority initiatives identified by previous planning efforts involve: (1) prioritization of the list of identified and special interest amphibian and reptile species described by the NCCP for special consideration and management intervention, and evaluation of whether other species known to inhabit the NCCP-Reserve or neighboring conservation lands should be considered based on known risk factors and/or forecasted future trends in status; (2) development of management initiatives supporting the long-term viability of amphibian and reptile species inhabiting the NCCP-Reserve considered to be in jeopardy and at greatest risk of decline; and (3) identification of monitoring strategies to establish a reliable baseline and future measures of amphibian, reptile, and invertebrate occurrence, species diversity, and trophic complexity within the NCCP-Reserve for purposes of assessing the long-term performance of the NCCP in preserving native species diversity and the structure and functioning of ecological systems. Progress

In 2014, under the leadership of Brad Shaffer of UCLA, an advisory team was formed and several meetings occurred to discuss priority species and management and monitoring opportunities. Included on the leadership team is Robert Fisher (of US Geological Survey). Robert has an extensive history with the Central/Coastal OC NCCP both as a scientific advisor and principal investigator of biodiversity inventorying and monitoring efforts conducted within the NCCP- Reserve and surrounding region between 1995 and 2002. In 2015, meetings amongst members of the advisory group continued and ideas concerning priorities for implementation were advanced. Findings by the group culminated in a presentation to the NCC Board in March 2015 and participation in the Science Integration Meeting hosted by NCC on 25 February 2016.

Following the Science Integration Meeting a concept proposal was developed for implementation of BioBlitz events in 2017. The proposal was provided to the NCC Technical Advisory Committee in July 2016, together with a description of an emerging opportunity to partner with the UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science. With regards to the partnering opportunity, NCC, together with other potential collaborators, was asked to identify priority research needs for purposes of promoting the formation of potential collaborative teams with UCLA faculty and research affiliates. The teams together with identified postdoctoral scholars would compete annually for funding from the La Kretz Center to implement two-year initiatives important to local conservation science.

Key Milestones

1. Presentation to NCC Board of Directors on metrics/measures considered for inclusion in the monitoring program (Due: 19 March 2015): Completed on schedule

2. Participation in the Science Integration Meeting (Due: 31 March 2016): Completed on schedule 3. Concept proposals/project abstract(s) (Due: 15 May 2015; Postponed to May 2016): Concept proposal for BioBlitz events completed in July 2016 4. Final Scoping Report to include a description of each priority strategy, approach, or project with supporting background rationale, goal, objectives, and methods of approach, supporting action plans/timelines, and business plan (Due: 30 June 2015; Postponed to December 2017): Findings of the final scoping report are to be informed by results of the winter and spring 2017 BioBlitz events and future discussions with the La Kretz Center and USGS

Key Findings

Although key findings are not available at this time, as the project is in progress, details concerning the planned BioBlitz events to be led by UCLA, follow. Key findings of the multi-year scoping effort are expected to be available following the conclusion of the BioBlitz events and advanced planning detailing long-term monitoring objectives tied to amphibians and reptiles.

The BioBlitz events are to provide an inexpensive overview of ecosystem health, using a course- grained survey of the many taxa within the amphibian and reptile community protected by the NCCP/HCP Reserve. Specifically, the inaugural events are centered on the inventory of the amphibian and reptile diversity still present in the NCCP Reserve (and adjoining conservation lands). This series of rapid inventories constitutes a low investment, high reward, rapid assessment of the performance of regional conservation strategies. In addition, by engaging local professional experts, UCLA can showcase the reptile and amphibian biodiversity of the NROC portfolio, potentially bring in some members of the public, and offering a high-profile series of events held on properties within NROC. With the right partnerships, the events could be expanded to include other taxa of interest.

The BioBlitz surveys would serve to confirm, or call into question, whether populations of "Identified" species and other species of interest were still present within Central/Coastal OC. In many cases, the Blitz would serve to update locality data that are at least 20 years old with rapid, high-quality field survey data. The amphibian and reptile survey events would involve a team of seven or eight biologists from several institutions, including U.S. Geological Survey, UCLA, the LA County Museum of Natural History, and local Wildlife Agencies. Participation by appropriate land owners and managers is encouraged if they have sufficient knowledge of the local fauna.

Seven loosely-defined transects have been identified that would be the focus of each BioBlitz. Four of these transects are located in the Central Subregion, including: 1) southwest of Santiago Canyon Road (Limestone Canyon and Whiting Ranch), 2) west of 241 toll road (Weir Canyon and Loma Ridge), 3) south-draining canyons north of Santiago Canyon Road (lower Fremont, Blackstar, Baker Canyons), and 4) north draining canyons north of Santiago Canyon (Gypsum and Coal Canyons). Three additional transects in the Coastal Subregion include: 5) east of Laguna Canyon (Aliso and Wood Canyons), 6) north of the Hwy 73 toll road (Shady Canyon and Serrano Ridge) and 7) south of the 73 (Bommer Ridge, Moro and Emerald Canyons).

During the BioBlitz, teams would focus on specific target taxa, and would include team members who collect tissue as well as location data for future genetic assays. In addition to providing occurrence data on species of interest, supporting the long-term assessment of the regional conservation strategy for Central/Coastal OC, the events would provide excellent outreach opportunities for the public about the status of biological resources in the reserve, fulfilling another listed goal of the NCC strategic plan.

Notes

Draft criteria for ranking science and land management projects eligible for NCC funding were developed by NCC staff in 2015 following a discussion by the wildlife advisory group on the history of listing species under the NCCP and progress made to date on regional prioritization of conservation initiatives for wildlife, specifically amphibians and reptiles.

Funding was approved in 2015 and 2016, respectively, by the NCC Board, for assessment of the status of the western spadefoot across Central-Coastal Subregion, and implementation of BioBlitz events in the winter and spring months of 2017.

18. Recreation Mgmt Scoping

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Recreation Mgmt Scoping Contractor(s)/Researcher Recreation Resource Consulting, Inc. Time Period 2015-2016 Total Project Cost $25,000 Amount Budgeted $25,000 (2015-16); -- (2016-17) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, OCWR, COI, CCSP, CDFW, CONB, UCI, IRWD, TCA, TIC, MWD Project Status Complete Project Progression On schedule Program Class Planning Program Area Recreation Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Identify highest ranking recreation management priorities related to natural resource protection present within the NCCP-Reserve Available Report(s) Orange County Recreation Use and Human Valuation Project Progress Report of Findings and Activities. Prepared by Christopher Monz, and Ashley D’Antonio, Recreation Resource Consulting and Utah State University, Mar. 2016

Recreation Use and Human Valuation on the Nature Reserve of Orange County, California – Project Prospectus. Prepared for the Natural Communities Coalition. Prepared by Christopher Monz and Ashley D’Antonio, Utah State University and Oregon State University, Jun. 2016 Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

In support of development and implementation of NCC’s long-term recreation management program, NCC is looking to launch a collaborative planning project with a team of recreation ecologists, wildlife biologists, social scientists, and land management experts focused on identifying goals, strategies, and objectives, in support of the management program. Envisioned initially as a six-month collaborative project the team of area experts are to produce a scope of work deliverable, including, supporting action plans and timelines, tactics and milestone chart, and multi-year budget, to be used as a planning document for identifying and prioritizing projects addressing the most prominent recreation management objectives identified by NCC, landowners, managers, and key stakeholders. Presently, the highest priority goals for monitoring and management assigned to the recreation program identified by previous planning initiatives, involve: (1) establishing a reliable monitoring protocol for regularly measuring human-use of NCCP-enrolled lands by the public; (2) complementing measures of human-use with measurements of biotic and abiotic environmental variables useful in identifying potential recreation associated sources of environmental degradation within the NCCP-Reserve; (3) supporting the use of human valuation studies for informing our understanding of carrying capacities of individual parks and adaptively managing recreational uses valued by the public and compatible with the conservation of the habitats and species protected by the NCCP; (4) working with landowners and managers on design and maintenance of an authorized, sustainable trail network that allows for both the enhancement of recreational opportunities for the public and the increased protection of biodiversity within the NCCP-Reserve; (5) working with landowners and managers to identify and manage for the seasonal and annual carrying capacities for human use of the individual parks enrolled in the NCCP; and (6) supporting implementation of recreation programs consistent with the values of the public and long-term management of biodiversity within the NCCP-Reserve. Progress

The project is now complete. In 2015, continuing work initiated in 2014, NCC reached out to key partners and potential collaborators to discuss assembly of a recreation advisory group to help inform development and advancement of the Reserve’s science and management program key to effective implementation of the NCCP.

Assembly of the team was advanced after meeting Dr. Chris Monz (of Utah State University) at the Science for Parks, Parks for Science Summit hosted by UC Berkeley in March, 2015. Chris Monz is recognized as an emerging national leader in the field of Recreation Ecology. His current and past research overlaps critical issues in recreation management/human valuation identified in past discussions with key partners. NCC staff hosted Chris Monz and Ashley D’Antonio (post- doctoral scholar at Utah State University) for several days in October, 2015. The visit in October introduced the researchers to the NCCP-Reserve, and leadership within key partnering organizations, specifically, OC Parks, Irvine Ranch Conservancy, and UC Irvine.

Following the October visit (in 2015), the researchers entered into an agreement with NCC to prepare the technical information needed to identify research and management priorities for recreation management/ human valuation for the NCC and partner organizations. Tasks identified

57 in the agreement include: 1) collecting and compiling meta-data on available data sets relevant to the management of recreation resources in the study area; 2) compiling a limited amount of existing data relevant to understanding the study area (e.g., GIS data layers); 3) analysis, ranking and modification of the “Near- Term Objectives” for Recreation Management/ Human Valuation component of the NCC Scientific Program 4) identification of a suite of preliminary research and management priorities for advancement over the next several years; 5) Preparation of a summary prospectus and presentation of findings from the above tasks at the Science Integration Meeting; 6) Identification of potential partners to assist in a long-term program of recreation ecology/human dimensions research. In addition to the technical/scientific aspects of conducting the above tasks, contractors, will host several conference calls with key informants from NCC partner organizations to gather additional information on both the near and long term recreation management/human valuation needs.

A progress report on the findings and activities of the research team was provided to NCC in March 2016, with the findings shared at the Science Integration Meeting hosted by NCC on 25 February 2016. At the Science Integration Meeting, Dr. Monz emphasized the importance of considering space, trends, characteristics, and planning in the development of a comprehensive recreation management program for the reserve. Good planning, was noted by Dr. Monz, as involving: thinking spatially relative to other conservation goals, understanding (and measuring) the spatial aspects of how human-use, in terms of recreation, is manifest on the landscape; documenting trends of characteristics of uses on the landscape; understanding the perceptions, characteristics, motivations of people; collecting base-line information that informs a planning process to accommodate the range of human-uses on the landscape in a way that is sustainable; understanding thresholds of acceptability of condition, of both resource and social conditions; and engagement of the public and stakeholders.

Key Milestones

1. Presentation (by NCC staff) to NCC Board of Directors on metrics/measures considered for inclusion in the monitoring program (Due: 19 March 2015): Completed on schedule 2. Participation (by researchers) in the Science Integration Meeting (Due: 31 March 2016): Completed on schedule 3. Concept proposals/project abstract(s) (Due: 15 May 2015; Postponed to May 2016): Progress report on findings and activities completed in March 2016 4. Final Scoping Report to include a description of each priority strategy, approach, or project with supporting background rationale, goal, objectives, and methods of approach, supporting action plans/timelines, and business plan (Due: 30 June 2015; Postponed to June 2016): Multi-year project prospectus submitted for review and comment in June 2016

Key Findings

In the completed project prospectus, Chris Monz and Ashley D’Antonio provide background, process and design, and timelines for developing a multi-year program in support of recreation management and human-use within Coastal-Central OC. The project prospectus provides overall guidance for the development of a multi-year, research effort. In early 2017, a scope of work serving as general guidance for an agreement between the Natural Communities Coalition and

Utah State University was finalized and shared with NCC. The scope of work specifies the tasks and responsibilities to be accomplished by Dr. Monz and associates over the next three years, beginning in 2017.

Notes

In addition to reaching out to Utah State University in 2015 and 2016, NCC has maintained an open dialogue with UCI over the last few years about the University’s capacity to support the planning effort from an informatics and human health perspective. Opportunities for future collaboration between Utah State University and UC Irvine were discussed in 2016, and are expected to continue in 2017 and beyond.

19. Adaptive Recreation Mgmt

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Adaptive Recreation Mgmt Contractor(s)/Researcher USGS; Michael Patten (University of Oklahoma) Time Period 2015-17 Total Project Cost $175,000 Amount Budgeted $60,000 (2015-16); -- (2016-17) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) CDFW ($75,000); OC Parks ($40,000) Landowner Involvement OCP, COI, CCSP, CDFW, CONB, UCI, TCA, TIC Project Status Ongoing Project Progression On schedule Program Class Research/Monitoring Program Area Recreation Resource Sensitive Biological Resources Project Purpose Adaptively manage public access and recreational uses within the NCCP-Reserve by using science to inform development of a trail network and supporting recreation program compatible with the protection and long-term management of biodiversity Available Report(s) Wildlife Response to Wilderness Access Days – Impacts on Abundance and Behavior. Final report submitted to the Irvine Ranch Conservancy and Natural Communities Coalition. Nico Alegria (UCSB Bren School). Sept., 2015.

Interim Report Local Assistance Grant #P1482109 – Assessing Effectiveness of Adaptive Recreation Management Strategies and Evaluation of Core Habitat Areas. Prepared by University of Oklahoma. Mar., 2016

The Urban Edge: Ecological Light Pollution within the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve. Nathan Burroughs (UCSB Bren School). Sept., 2016 Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

The objectives of this study are to: (1) test the utility of the specific recreation management guidelines (hypotheses) developed from the previous LAG report; (2) evaluate the current pattern of human use and associated trail systems in relation to core or otherwise sensitive areas for wildlife; and (3) make recommendations for modification and/or expansion of the human-use monitoring program established under a previous Local Assistance Grant funding from the State to California, awarded to the Irvine Ranch Conservancy in 2010, to core habitat areas within the NCCP-Reserve where a rigorous, standardized human-use monitoring system is presently absent.

General methods of approach involve: (1) assessment of recreation management strategies used on approximately 50% of the NCCP-Reserve through analysis of seven years of camera-trap data (data identifies patterns of human use and use of Reserve lands by mammalian carnivores and deer); (2) analysis of location data collected over the last decade from studies conducted in the NCCP-Reserve to estimate and visualize bobcat space use in relation to landscapes features, including the current trail network; (3) estimation and visualization of the spatial extent of high- value areas for wildlife within the NCCP-Reserve associated with general landscape features; (4) validation of modeling of high-value areas using available multi-taxa animal data; (5) identification of prospective hotspots for recreation management through evaluation of the spatial relationship between known high-use areas of bobcats and high-value (or core) habitat areas and the current trail network within the NCCP-Reserve; and (6) based on the results of the proposed study, development of recommendations for expansion/refinement of the current human-use and wildlife monitoring program.

Progress

An initial planning meeting for all project team members was completed in March, 2015, following the beginning of the grant period. The meeting, coordinated by NCC, allowed for coordination among team members on work tasks, discussion of deliverables, timelines, and information transfer among members of the project team. Project team members include Dr. Milan Mitrovich (NCC), Dr. Jutta Burger (IRC), Dr. Michael Patten (University of Oklahoma), Dr. Erin Boydston (US Geological Survey; USGS), Dr. Jeff Tracey (USGS), Will Miller (US Fish and Wildlife Service), and Christine Beck (California Department of Fish and Wildlife). In 2015, analysis of camera-trap data was advanced by both Michael Patten and Nico Alegria (UC Santa Barbara) under the guidance of Jutta Burger (IRC). A project report was finalized by Nico Alegria in September, 2015, highlighting diel shifts in activity in key wildlife species on days with and without human disturbance. Analyses by the USGS have focused on development of maps and GIS models of the spatial complexity of the Coastal and Central Subregions, in support of identification of potential Core Habitat Areas for wildlife.

In 2016, the project team met as a group in both May and October in Irvine to discuss and share results of ongoing analyses and advance the project. Following the first meeting, general schedules were outlined for completing any outstanding analyses and to advance written drafts of findings related to components the first (“Assessment of Recreation Management Strategies”) and second (“Identification of Core Habitat Areas and Management Hotspots”) components of the project. The focus of the second team meeting centered on identifying: the critical questions

needing to be addressed by expanding the human-use monitoring system; management implications of the present work with respect to recreation or (more generally) human-use within the study area.

An interim report was prepared by Dr. Michael Patten and submitted to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for review and comment in March, 2016. Nathan Burroughs (UC Santa Barbara) under the guidance of Jutta Burger (IRC) and others, described edge disturbance across the study area, characterizing light pollution and other types of habitat degradation occurring along the urban-wildland interface. Nathan’s findings were summarized in a report completed in September 2016.

Key Milestones

1. Project Setup and Initial Planning Meeting (Due: 15 March 2015): Completed on 12 March 2015 2. Compile and Analyze Camera-trap Data (Due: 15 September 2016): In progress 3. Identification of Core Habitat Areas and Recreation Management Hotspots (Due: 15 September 2016): In progress 4. Interim Progress Report (Due: 15 March 2016): Completed on schedule 5. Second Team Planning Meeting (Due: 15 May 2016): Completed on 24 May 2016 6. Third Team Planning Meeting (Due: 15 September 2016): Completed on 21 October 2016 7. Recommendation for Expansion of Human-use and Wildlife Monitoring (Due: 31 December 2016): In progress 8. Draft Final Report + GIS Models and Maps (Due: 15 January 2017): In progress 9. Final Project Report (Due: 15 March 2017)

Key Findings

Although the project is still in progress and key findings are not yet available, preliminary findings shared and discussed by the project team at the planning meetings follow.

Camera-trap Data Analysis

• Human presence (within the prior 24 hours) leads to temporal shifts by wildlife in areas already accustomed to human disturbance. Consistent with the findings of earlier research conducted on bobcats and other wildlife, camera-trap data showed evidence of strong behavioral shifts, especially for coyotes and mule deer to more nocturnal activity periods. Shifts by both species leads to enhanced predator-prey dynamics as the mule deer activity period becomes more nocturnal allowing for greater overlap with its principal predator, the mountain lion. Similarly, shifts by the coyote to nocturnal conditions, presents greater overlap between predator (coyote) and known prey (gray fox), increasing the vulnerability of gray fox to higher rates of predation. • In areas generally not accessible to the public, human activity spikes associated with large events lead to temporal shifts by wildlife to more nocturnal activity, prior to returning to pre-event levels within a few days.

• Time-series analysis identified seasonal variability in wildlife activity exists between years, suggesting there are select times of the year when wildlife may be more vulnerable to human-presence (or disturbance) than others. • Although there is no detectable increase or decrease in mammal captures across the nine years of data, a negative correlation between mammal detection and human presence was identified at the landscape-level. • Increasing use of wildlands over time by humans is obvious and only highlights the importance of developing a human recreation management program for the NCCP- Reserve and adjoining conservation lands.

Movement Based Estimation and Visualization of Bobcat Space-use:

• Modeling efforts based on employing home range as a continuous surface highlight the need by female bobcats for contiguous quality habitat for home range placement. Female (more so than male) bobcats are strongly associated with natural areas. Results indicate the NCCP-Reserve within the Coastal Subregion is critically important to bobcats as contiguous, quality open space is limited along the coast. • Modeling efforts based on selection within a home range or fine-scale selection across a landscape highlight the additional (marginal) habitat outside of the NCCP-Reserve within the Coastal Subregion that may be of benefit to bobcats. Modeling efforts do not take into account local connectivity. Identified habitat may ultimately serve as a source or sink to bobcats, depending on other landscape factors, such as the presence or absence of roads. • Although, the first level of assessment of high-value habitat areas highlight the limited amount of contiguous habitat available to bobcats within the Coastal Subregion, and thus the importance of the NCCP-Reserve, with implementation of appropriate protection measures within the greater Subregion, an opportunity exists to cobble together marginal habitats (identified through fine-scale selection modelling effort) to expand the resource base for the population of bobcats in the South Coast Wilderness, and support a potentially larger population than what is otherwise present today.

Notes

NCC was awarded a Local Assistance Grant for $75,000 in support of the project from CDFW in late 2014. In addition to the $40,000 contribution from OC Parks, project support includes $23,230 in in-kind services from the Irvine Ranch Conservancy.

20. HREP Update

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title HREP Update Contractor(s)/Researcher Land IQ Time Period 2015-18 Total Project Cost $300,000 Amount Budgeted $100,000 (2015-16); $100,000 (2016-17) Fund Restoration

Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, OCWR, COI, CCSP, CDFW, CONB, UCI, IRWD, TCA, TIC, MWD Project Status Ongoing Project Progression On schedule Program Class Planning Program Area Habitat Restoration Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Update the Habitat Restoration Enhancement Plan, identifying and prioritizing habitat restoration opportunities and constraints by management area across the NCCP-Reserve Available Report(s) -- Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

Advance the NCC Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Plan (HREP) by funding a team of professional restoration ecologists to assess habitat restoration opportunities and constraints across the NCCP-Reserve working at both the scale of the Reserve as well as individual Management Units. Efforts are to include facilitation of a stakeholder-driven process for identifying and prioritizing the identified restoration opportunities. Updating of the HREP is expected to be a three-year process, with year-one focused on building consensus across the landowners, land managers, and key partners on the landscape-level priorities for restoration within the Reserve System.

Progress

In 2014 and 2015, NCC staff hosted multiple planning sessions with Land IQ (contractor identified to facilitate update of the HREP) to discuss project goals, objectives, and approach. A draft scope of work was developed by Land IQ covering the three-year project. NCC reviewed the scope, highlighting opportunities to integrate the restoration planning initiative with other overlapping science and land management initiatives supported by NCC. Following revision of the original scope of work, and supporting timelines for implementation, NCC entered into an agreement with Land IQ to complete the first year of an envisioned three-year effort in September, 2015. Specifically, the first-year comprises a number of tasks directed at completing a regional conceptual design and management visions to guide the development of park-level habitat restoration planning.

In 2016, Land IQ participated in strategic planning efforts and meetings including the Science Integration Meeting hosted by NCC on 25 February 2016. At the Science Integration Meeting the team identified the types of broad restoration opportunities to be considered for pursuit in the upcoming years. Opportunities were identified based on needs and success measures based on review of the existing Habitat Restoration Enhancement Plan, new datasets, feedback from other NCC planning efforts and practitioner expertise.

In 2016, Land IQ developed a GIS-based model of monthly soil moisture patterns (storage, demand, and deficit) of the Reserve’s complex topography and soil, combined with other

correlates (e.g., soil texture, past land use), to identify site-specific ecologically appropriate vegetation community restoration targets. Conversations with UC Irvine followed development of the models and centered on the results of the modelling efforts, climate change forecasts and adjustment of restoration targets, and identifying characteristics of sites that are believed to be stable and or increasing in native cover. In 2016, Land IQ also advanced development of Best Management Practices (BMPs) based on lessons learned from active and historic restoration projects and practitioner expertise; initiated analysis of costs tied to successful landscape-scale restoration methodologies; and participated in preliminary discussions with NCC staff about 1 to 2 large projects for immediate pursuit of grant funding.

In 2017, Land IQ is planning to finalize BMPs and layout the details of a landscape-scale habitat restoration process for large projects (~100 acres) that is cost-effective, adapts to site-specific uncertainty of outcome, and primarily relies upon natural rainfall for implementation. Field assessments are to begin in 2017 to validate and refine the results of reserve-wide analysis of restoration opportunities, needs, targets, and success measures. Prospective restoration opportunities are to be identified by management unit following field surveys and conversations with local stakeholders and species and subject matter experts.

In 2018, Land IQ will work with local stakeholders, partnering agencies, and land owners/managers, to make a consensus selection of priority project opportunities to develop further. Select projects found to be multi-benefit and multi-partner will be advanced for purposes of pursuing outside funding with matching funds provided by NCC. A finalize updated, landscape- level habitat restoration plan is to be submitted to the NCC Board and Wildlife Agencies for approval in the fall.

Key Milestones

1. Strategic Planning Document (Due: 31 March 2016): Document prepared in June 2016 and shared with the TAC in July 2. Geospatial Database, Existing Conditions Report and Bibliography (Due: 30 June 2016): In progress 3. Summary Profiles and Conceptual Models (Due: 30 June 2016): In progress 4. Regional Habitat Restoration Potential Report and Geodatabase (Due: 30 June 2016): In progress 5. Regional HREP Goals and Objectives Workshop Summary (Due: 31 August 2016): Postponed until August 2017 6. NCC Habitat Restoration BMPs (Due: 31 August 2016): In progress 7. Draft Park-Level HREP Objectives & Priorities (Due: 31 August 2016): Postponed until August 2017 8. Park-Level HREP Plans, including Work Packages for 4 to 6 Management Units (Due: 31 August 2017) 9. Park-Level HREP Plans, including Work Packages for Remaining Management Units (Due: 31 August 2018) 10. Final HREP Document (Due: 31 August 2018)

Key Findings

Findings are not available at this time, as the project is ongoing. Key themes being addressed following the first year of implementation of the project include: landscape-scale habitat restoration; sources of uncertainty tied to climate change, fire, and seedbank condition; adaptive management; cost-effect methods; natural rainfall driven restoration; maximize return on investment; integration of planning efforts; measures of success; and stakeholder & resource agency engagement.

Notes

Funding for years two and three of the project (2017, 2018) was approved by the NCC Board in the fall of 2016.

21. Cactus Salvage Portola/Orchard Hills

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Cactus Salvage Portola/Orchard Hills Contractor(s)/Researcher Land IQ; Nakae; Stice Company Time Period 2015-2021 Total Project Cost $1,150,000 (estimated) Amount Budgeted $400,000 (2015-16); $160,000 (2016-17) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, COI, CCSP, TIC Project Status Ongoing Project Progression On schedule Program Class Land Management Program Area Habitat Restoration Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Salvage topsoil and cactus material from development sites for use in the restoration of coastal sage scrub and cactus scrub within the NCCP-Reserve Available Report(s) 2016 Performance Monitoring Report Year 1 – Crystal Cove State Park Cactus Salvage and Cactus Scrub Restoration Project. Prepared by Land IQ. Nov., 2016.

Installation Report – Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park Cactus Salvage and Restoration Project. Prepared by Land IQ. Dec., 2015.

Restoration of Nesting Habitat for the Coastal Cactus Wren Using Salvaged Cactus on Irvine Ranch Conservancy – Managed NCCP Lands. Prepared by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy. Feb., 2016. Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

Separate opportunities emerged in 2014 and 2015 to work with partnering organizations, specifically the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, OC Parks, State Parks, and the Irvine Company to

salvage topsoil and cactus from future development sites located outside of the NCCP-Reserve for use in the restoration of coastal sage scrub and cactus scrub within the NCCP-Reserve. These opportunities involve conducting salvage operations within the geographic areas of Portola Hills, Portola Center, and Orchard Hills. Working together with IRC, TNC, contractors, and the landowners, topsoil and cactus are to be salvaged from the sites for distribution within the Central and Coastal Reserves. Specifically, captured topsoil is being considered for delivery to active restoration areas within the Central Reserve within the County-owned Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park and Irvine Ranch Open Space. In addition to Whiting Ranch and Irvine Ranch Open Space, salvaged cactus is to be considered for delivery to sites within the Coastal Reserve to complement existing cactus scrub restoration fostering recovery of the Cactus Wren population.

Progress

In 2014, cactus (34 clumps and 1,000 pads) were salvaged from the Portola Hills development site and delivered to the active West Loma and Mule Deer restoration sites managed by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy on behalf of OC Parks, and City of Irvine, respectively. Also, in 2014, cactus from the same salvage site was captured and moved for planting at CCSP, following site preparation activities across 9.7 acres of degraded habitat above Muddy Canyon. The new restoration at CCSP complements 4.0 acres of ongoing, NCC-sponsored, cactus scrub restoration occurring in the State Park.

At Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, 6.8-acres of planned cactus scrub restoration was postponed until the fall of 2015, as local conditions (i.e., saturated soils) prevented access to the restoration site by heavy equipment for purposes of site preparation. In an effort to save mature cactus present at the Portola Center development site prior to clearing activities, mature cactus clumps were salvaged in February 2015 and planted in a fallow field adjacent to the McFadden Ranch House at Whiting Ranch. The total amount of salvaged cactus clumps planted at the McFadden Ranch House (500) is expected to support approximately 20 acres of new cactus scrub restoration within Whiting Ranch and neighboring areas of the Central Reserve over the next few years.

Expanding upon the salvage activities conducted in 2014, in the fall of 2015, cactus scrub restoration was initiated across 5.7-acres of disturbed non-native grassland habitats at Whiting Ranch. In October and November, work conducted by NCC contractors resulted in a total of 62 clumps of mature cactus being moved from the McFadden Ranch House and 4,290 pads and 372 segments collected and transported from the Orchard Hills development area to support restoration efforts at Whiting Ranch. The establishment maintenance period commenced after the installation was completed and is to continue for approximately five seasons, and will include two irrigation events and weed control for two years prior to seeding. The level of maintenance required for each of the five years will depend on weather conditions and site development.

In the late winter of 2015-16 a fourth salvage project was initiated. Working with IRC, OC Parks, and the Irvine Company, NCC partnered to salvage 4,000 CY of native topsoil and mature cactus plants and pads from the development site owned by the Irvine Company located in North Irvine (Orchard Hills) for purposes of restoring approximately seven acres of coastal sage scrub habitat (at West Loma, Hicks Canyon, and Portola Staging Area) and select breeding sites for the Cactus

Wren within the NCCP-Reserve at six sites (Buck Gully, Quail Hill, Mule Deer/North Laguna Canyon, West Loma, Limestone Canyon, Portola Orchard). Through this operation, a total of 118 mature clumps and 600 pads of cactus from Orchard Hills were salvaged and planted. Coordination with, and funding from, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), resulted in additional clumps and pads being transported and planted on easement lands bordering the Reserve at West Loma in both 2014 and 2015.

In 2016, site maintenance at Crystal Cove State Park continued with weed control events in February, March, and June. Open areas were sprayed and the basins, containing the planted cactus were hand weeded. The dominant weeds controlled were non-native grasses and mustard species. Performance monitoring was conducted in spring 2016 and consisted of qualitative evaluation of cactus growth and survivorship, estimated plant cover, species abundance, and photo documentation. The new restoration project at Whiting Ranch was monitored by Land IQ throughout 2016. Maintenance activities included spraying of weed species, largely mustard and annual grasses. Performance monitoring is to occur both at Crystal Cove State Park and Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in 2017.

Key Milestones

1. Field assessments of Portola Hills and Portola Center salvage sites (Due: 1 July 2014): Completed on schedule 2. Initial field surveys of prospective restoration sites at CCSP and Whiting Ranch (Due: 1 July 2014): Completed on schedule 3. Secondary field surveys of prospective restoration sites at CCSP and Whiting Ranch (Due: 31 October 2014): Completed on schedule 4. FINAL Habitat Restoration Plan for CCSP (Due: 31 October 2014): Completed in October, 2014 5. FINAL Habitat Restoration Plan for Whiting Ranch (Due: 31 October 2014): Completed in October, 2014 6. Phase I Salvage, transfer, and planting of cactus at West Loma and Mule Deer Sites: (Due: 31 December 2014): Completed in November 2014 7. Site Preparation CCSP (Due: 31 December 2009): Site preparation completed in December 2014 8. Site Installation CCSP (Due: 31 December 2014): Cactus material salvaged and installed in December 2014 9. Field surveys and site flagging at Whiting Ranch (Due: 15 January 2015): Completed in January, 2015 10. Cactus salvage at Portola Center and planting-in at the McFadden Ranch House at Whiting Ranch (Due: 15 February 2015): Completed on schedule 11. Site preparation Whiting Ranch (Due: 30 September 2015): Completed on schedule 12. Field assessments of Orchard Hills salvage site (Due: 1 October 2015): Completed on schedule 13. Cactus salvage at Orchard Hills and planting-in at Whiting Ranch and six additional sites within the NCCP-Reserve (Due: 15 December 2015): Completed in November 2015

14. Site installation of large campus clumps at Whiting Ranch (Due: 31 December 2015): Completed by 15 December 2015 15. Soil salvage site prep West Loma, Hicks Canyon, and Portola Staging Area (Due: 15 December 2015): Completed by 31 December 2015 16. Soil salvage capture, delivery, spreading, and erosional control measures (Due: 31 December 2015): Completed by 31 January 2016 17. Installation Report Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park (Due: 31 December 2015) Completed on schedule 18. Year 1 – Annual Performance Monitoring Report for CCSP (Due: 31 December 2016): Completed in November 2016 19. First and Second Annual Site Maintenance CCSP (Due: 31 December 2015 & 2016): Completed on schedule in both 2015 and 2016 20. First Annual Site Maintenance Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park (Due: 31 December 2016): Completed on schedule

Key Findings

Although key findings are expected to evolve over time as the project is ongoing, in 2014 and 2015, a total of 22.5 acres of cactus scrub (15.4 acres) and coastal sage scrub (7.1 acres) restoration have been initiated within the NCCP-Reserve through soil and cactus salvage efforts. Additionally, over the same period, in support of the creation of new nesting opportunities for the Cactus Wren, 1,600 pads, 100 segments, and 152 cactus clumps were strategically planted across six sites within the NCCP-Reserve.

In 2016, the restoration project at Crystal Cove State Park was noted as developing within an expected range of growth and is on track towards the development of cactus scrub habitat. Planted cactus material exhibited new growth and flower development, and flowering, seed development, and recruitment of native species was observed. Native vegetation was estimated to cover 10 to 15% of the site. Seventy to seventy-five percent of the sites was non-vegetated, and 10 to 15% of the site was covered by exotic vegetation.

Notes

In 2014, $500,000 was approved for the salvage and restoration projects related to development of the Portola Hills and Portola Center sites. The allocated funding was to cover to cost associated with the salvage and initial establishment of cactus and topsoil. Additional funding was recognized as being required to cover the long-term maintenance costs of the restoration resulting from the salvage efforts. A minimum of 20-acres of cactus scrub restoration is expected to be implemented through the multi-year initiative.

In 2015, an additional $400,000 was approved by the Board to support soil and cactus salvage within the Reserve. The recently identified opportunities to salvage topsoil are envisioned to be the first, in a series of opportunities likely to be presented over the next five years tied to future development. Working through the partnerships established over the last two years, the intent of NCC staff is to work within the timelines and guidelines established by the Irvine Company, to salvage up to 15,000 Cubic Yards of soil in a given year, repeating the effort no more than three

times over a five-year period, recognizing soil salvage is to be used to support habitat restoration in the Reserve and not used at sites already highlighted for mitigation or contractual obligations.

In 2016, $160,000 was approved by the Board to support the final three years (2017, 2018, and 2019) of maintenance of the 9.7-acre site at CCSP. Maintenance activities largely involve hand weeding of the site.

The temporary planting of 500 mature, salvaged cactus clumps at the McFadden Ranch House at Whiting Ranch in 2014 has provided for the support of ongoing and future cactus scrub restoration within the Park and adjoining conservation lands.

22. Land Manager Training

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Land Manager Training Contractor(s)/Researcher Land IQ; Time Period 2014-2017 Total Project Cost $45,000 Amount Budgeted -- (2015-16); $15,000 (2016-17) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, OCWR, COI, CCSP, CDFW, CONB, UCI, IRWD, TCA, TIC, MWD Project Status Ongoing Project Progression On schedule Program Class Education/Training Program Area Habitat Restoration Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Provide land manager training in the field of habitat restoration and fuels management Available Report(s) -- Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

The land manager training program is to provide both classroom and field-based training in the field of habitat restoration and fuels management. As envisioned, training would involve site visits to active habitat restoration sites and fuel modification zones both within and outside the NCCP Reserve, demonstration projects, as well as field and lab based lectures on pertinent restoration and fuel management topics, including, but not limited to: soils, mycorrhizae, site selection, site preparation, seed collection, use of topsoil, seed and planting, irrigation, vegetation thinning, and site maintenance. The training program would be offered to land managers, landowners, and key partners involved with the Central/Coastal OC NCCP.

Progress

In 2014, NCC, together with Land IQ, sponsored a two-day training workshop on the role of soils in habitat restoration for land managers, researchers, and conservation practitioners. The

69 workshop featured the soil scientist, David Kelley, and was structured to offer a morning in-class lecture experience followed by an afternoon field program on both days. The relationship between soils and southern California plant communities was highlighted, as well as techniques in soil assessment and habitat restoration methodologies. The in-class lectures were held at the IRWD Community Meeting Room. Upper Chiquita Canyon served as the focus area for the field lectures and hands-on training.

In the spring of 2015, NCC, together with Land IQ, sponsored a second workshop on soils and restoration in partnership with Crystal Cove State Park. The two-day training workshop was designed to highlight two long-running restoration projects on the bluffs at Crystal Cove State Park and San Onofre State Beach. The two projects emphasize the role of soil compaction and microbes in the restoration of coastal sage scrub. Over the course two-days in April, participants, together with David Kelley and the team from Land IQ, explored both restorations and discussed the specific strategies used to overcome the unique challenges presented by each site. In addition to David Kelley and the team from Land IQ, David Pryor, retired environmental scientist with State Parks, attended the workshop to share his experience with participants as the project lead both at San Onofre and the bluffs at Crystal Cove State Park.

No training activities were offered in 2016. A third workshop, initially consider for the fall of 2016, on the use of native seeds in restoration has been postponed indefinitely. In lieu of the workshop, informal communications have taken place (and are due to continue) among partners and knowledgeable restoration contractors on the potential for development of a native seed storage cooperative, and collection and use policy for the Reserve.

New to 2017, following approval of the Wildland Fire Management Plan/Stakeholder Implementation Guide, NCC staff is developing a workshop and training opportunities to work with landowners and contractors to educate and promote the vegetation treatment methods outlined in the Fuel Management Standards section of the Guide.

Key Milestones

1. Organize and host Soils Workshop (Due: 31 December 2014): Workshop organized and completed in November, 2014 2. Organize and host Soils Workshop II (Due: 15 May 2015): Workshop organized and completed in February, 2015 3. Organize and host Fuels Management Workshop (Due: 15 December 2017)

Key Findings

Key findings are not available at this time, as the effectiveness of the training has yet to be formally reviewed. Key findings are to be summarized at the close of 2017, following NCC staff reflections on lessons-learned following the creation and implementation of the first three years of land manager-based workshops.

When asked to provide comments, participants of the first two workshops on soil and restoration expressed appreciation for the opportunity to learn from the extremely knowledgeable professionals teaching the multi-day classes. Participants appreciated being given instruction and

70 lectures in both the classroom and field settings. Comments received from the first workshop helped to direct the location and topics covered in the second workshop.

Notes

In collaboration with COAST and other partners, NCC is developing a strategic plan to reduce roadside ignitions and limit the spread of fires into wildlands. Working with partners, NCC is identifying and prioritizing strategies for roadside vegetation management, restoration, fire detection, roadside operations and maintenance standards, and public education. Training opportunities tied to advancement of this work are numerous and will be explored by NCC staff.

23. Rest Maint/CCSP East Flank

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Rest Maint/CCSP East Flank Contractor(s)/Researcher -- Time Period 2015-2016 Total Project Cost $50,000 Amount Budgeted -- (2015-16); -- (2016-17) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, CCSP Project Status Complete Project Progression On schedule Program Class Land Management Program Area Habitat Restoration Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Provide ongoing maintenance of several restoration sites in the Coastal Reserve Available Report(s) -- Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

Funding covers the cost of on-going maintenance of the East Flank Restoration Project at Crystal Cove State Park, a priority restoration project identified by the Back Country Council in 2013. Funding is also to cover costs of additional maintenance required of NCC-sponsored, active restoration projects in 2015 and 2016 that have moved beyond the budgeted, initial two to three- year period for site maintenance.

Progress

The project is considered to be complete. The East Flank Restoration at CCSP site was visited by contract biologists and NCC in late 2014 and early 2015. Information transfer relative to the 10-year history of the restoration site occurred between past and present project managers in 2014. Ideas concerning how to advance the project were discussed in 2015. In 2016, the East Flank restoration site was not advanced by NCC staff or contractors. State Park staff continued maintenance activities at the site in 2016, focusing on the control and local eradication of invasive

plants present at the site. Until further discussions about the project warrant continued involvement by NCC, the pathway forward for addressing the remedial actions needed at East Flank will be managed directly by State Parks.

With respect to advancing the maintenance of other ongoing restoration projects, in 2015, remedial actions at UC Irvine (covering approximately 1.5 acres at both the EEMP and Measure M projects) were approved for funding with implementation occurring in early 2016. Actions at the EEMP site in 2016 included the planting of 300 rose plots of native shrubs, California sage (150) and bush sunflower (150), across 1.5 acres on the southwest lobe where a heavy mustard load persists and native shrub germination has been limited. Similarly, at the Measure M site remedial planting of 300 rose plots of native shrub species across approximately 1.5 acres of the northwest portion where mustard persists was performed in early 2016. Maintenance of the Measure M site in 2016 consisted of weeding events in the remedial planting area targeting the removal of mustard species, sowthistle (Sonchus sp.), and tocalote.

Monitoring initiatives supported by the funding of the project, included monitoring/reporting preparation for the final year two-years (2015 and 2016) of LCWP & UCI/EEMP restoration projects.

Key Milestones

1. Maintenance and Monitoring Program Advancement East Flank (Due: 31 December 2015): Program has yet to be advanced and is need of additional attention from NCC staff 2. Monitoring/Reporting initiatives for LCWP & UCI/EEMP (Due: 30 June 2015): Completed in December 2015 3. Remedial plantings at EEMP and Measure M (Due: 31 January 2016): Completed on schedule in January 2016, with additional maintenance of the sites continued through the end of the calendar year

Key Findings

Maintenance/monitoring activities associated with existing restoration sites are ongoing and formal advancement of the East Flank project has yet to be initiated. Future advancement of the project is under the supervision of State Parks.

Notes

Additional maintenance/monitoring efforts funded through this project include the Cactus Rest LCWP & UCI/EEMP, Cactus Scrub UCI Rest/Measure M, and the 2-acre component of the Cactus Salvage/Lake Forest occurring at CCSP.

24. Western Spadefoot Mgmt

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Western Spadefoot Mgmt Contractor(s)/Researcher -- Time Period 2016-2017

Total Project Cost $150,000 Amount Budgeted $150,000 (2015-16); -- (2016-17) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, OCWR, COI, CCSP, CDFW, CNB, UCI, IRWD, TCA, TIC, MWD Project Status Ongoing Project Progression On Schedule Program Class Research/Monitoring Program Area Sensitive Biological Resources Resource Western Spadefoot Project Purpose Identify movement corridors or hotspots of genetic diversity for purposes of directing the location and informing the restoration strategy for construction of new breeding pools to augment the viability of the Western Spadefoot in Central-Coastal OC Available Report(s) Project Update Western Spadefoot Population Genetics. Prepared by University of California, Los Angeles. July, 2016. Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

Funding covers a two-year study conducting cutting-edge genetic analysis of all Western Spadefoot breeding sites within and around the Nature Reserve of Orange County. The work is to include analysis of comprehensive historical specimens sampled over the last two decades from throughout southern California, and new samples to be non-destructively collected in 2016 and 2017 breeding seasons from Central-Coastal OC.

Collectively, this effort will use population and landscape genetics methods to: quantify population size and connectivity as it has existed across the region historically, and in present-day; evaluate whether current, relatively passive management has led to healthy and stable populations; and, identify regions within the migratory capacity of the species where newly constructed vernal pool breeding sites stand the best chance of augmenting the viability of the species across Orange County, focusing on Central-Coastal.

Field visits in 2016 and 2017 will follow significant rainfall events. Survey locations are to be determined using GIS tools, expert advice and experience, and knowledge of known historical sites. All laboratory work and analysis of genetic data will be completed at UCLA.

Progress

In 2016, field surveys of known breeding locations within Central-Coastal OC were completed following rain events in both early and late 2016. Although the amount of rainfall was limited in early 2016, researchers from UCLA, working with the US Geological Survey and The Nature Conservancy, were successful in collecting tissue from several locations in the central portion of the Central-Coastal Subregion.

Lab work conducted in 2016 at UCLA included DNA extraction from Orange County tissues collected in 2016 and previously (totaling approximately 600 samples), and preparation of DNA

libraries for sequencing, and submission of completed libraries for sequencing. Data analysis completed in 2016 included range-wide population genetic analyses using previously-generated genetic data (5 genetic loci) and ecological niche models were completed in 2016. Results of the work indicated that S. hammondii is comprised of two genetically and ecologically distinct Northern and Southern clusters that, pending further analysis, may be recommended for recognition as unique species. Results were presented in a talk on July 8 in New Orleans at the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.

In 2017, additional tissue collection throughout Orange County will proceed as the rainy season continues. Lab work and data analysis is expected to continue through the summer and fall.

Key Milestones

1. Pond surveying and tissue sampling (Due: 1 June 2017): Ongoing 2. DNA extraction and RADseq library preparation (Due: 31 December 2016): Ongoing 3. Analysis of genetic sequence data (Due: 1 August 2017): Ongoing 4. Interim Report Preparation (Due: 1 November 2016): Completed in July 2016 5. Draft Report Preparation (Due: 31 October 2017) 6. Final Report Preparation and Delivery of GIS Data (Due: 31 December 2017)

Key Findings

Although findings are largely not available at this time, as the project is ongoing, the discovery of two distinctive Spea hammondii lineages, a southern and northern California lineage, together with the greater amount of habitat loss across the range of the southern lineage than in the north, suggests Spea hammondii in Orange County and the rest of southern California may require more urgent protection than previously believed. Additional findings are expected to be available at the close 2017 following submission of deliverables.

Notes

Expected products or deliverables to include the following: map of all surveyed sites with presence or absence of spadefoot toads noted; genetic-based estimates of the current and historical effective population sizes of identified population units (breeding pools, pond complexes, whole study area); maps of spadefoot genetic connectivity and diversity, both currently and historically; and recommendations of localities for potential establishment of new artificial breeding ponds or migration corridors, based on observed genetic connectivity and diversity.

25. Aerial Weed Survey/Central

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Aerial Weed Survey/Central Contractor(s)/Researcher Wildlands Conservation Science, LLC Time Period 2016-2017 Total Project Cost $132,000 Amount Budgeted $60,000 (2015-16); -- (2016-17) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) OCP ($20,000); IRC ($44,000); TNC ($8,000)

Landowner Involvement OCP, COI, CDFW Project Status Ongoing Project Progression On schedule Program Class Monitoring/Research Program Area Weed Control Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Identify the relative abundance and geographic distribution of targeted invasive plant species within the Central Subregion Available Report(s) -- Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

Since 2011, the Irvine Ranch Conservancy (IRC) and OC Parks have used information from aerial surveys to guide annual control efforts for targeted invasive plants within the Irvine Ranch Open Space and neighboring areas. Information gained from the inaugural aerial survey implemented in 2011 and covering 27,000+ acres is considered to have been invaluable in helping land managers develop and implement a multi-year treatment program for priority invasive weeds over the last five years. Conducting a repeat survey of the 2011 effort in 2016 is to provide a new perspective on the distribution and cover of invasive plants and help in evaluating the effectiveness of the invasive plant program implemented in the Central Subregion over the last five years. The resulting project report and supporting spatial data are to be shared with the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) in support of their anticipated 2016-17 effort to develop a more systematic regional prioritization of invasive plants within the Central Subregion. The new spatial information on the distribution of invasive plants will also be provided to Land IQ for consideration during the update of the Habitat Restoration Enhancement Plan, currently scheduled to run through 2018.

Progress

In 2016, NCC worked with Cal-IPC, and partners, IRC and OC Parks, to identify specific partner needs and evaluate different approaches proposed by Wildlands Conservation Science (the aerial weed survey contractor) for completing the surveys. An outreach plan was developed with a “News Release” uploaded to the NCC website and provided to OC Parks, Irvine Ranch Conservancy, City of Lake Forest, and City of Anaheim for notification of residents and park visitors of the planned flights to take place above Santiago Oaks Regional Park, Peters Canyon Regional Park, Irvine Regional Park, Irvine Ranch Open Space, Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, Coal Canyon Ecological Reserve, City of Irvine Open Space North, and Siphon Reservoir. Irvine Ranch Conservancy and NCC reached out to the Emergency Operations Center and Anaheim Police Department to make sure law enforcement was notified.

Wildlands Conservation Science (WCS) completed surveys in June using a small helicopter flown at low speed and altitudes. Flights were limited to the hours between 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Daily updates were provided by WCS to IRC, OC Parks, and NCC through the duration of the surveys. Surveys lasted 9 days and covered 28,000 of the originally planned 32,000 acres. Compiled data was submitted to partners and Cal-IPC for analysis.

In 2017 a new budget, timeline and abbreviated scope of work to cover the remaining areas needed to be flown to complete the survey work (Coal Canyon, Santiago Oaks, Loma Ridge, and Siphon Reservoir) is expected to be submitted to NCC by WCS for review and approval, allowing WCS to complete the work in the spring season. A final report for the completed 2016 surveys is overdue, although a contract extension is likely to allow for delayed submission of the final report until after the final round of surveys are completed in 2017.

Key Milestones

1. Project Planning and Coordination (Due: 1 June 2016): Flight schedule and outreach plan developed and executed prior to the initiation of flights in June 2016 2. Execution of Aerial Weed Survey (Due: 31 July 2016): Approximately 90% of planned survey area was surveyed in June 2016 3. Compilation of Survey Data (Due: 31 September 2016): Final dataset for area surveyed in 2016 submitted in November 2016 4. Final Report Preparation and Delivery (Due: 30 November 2016):

Key Findings

Findings are not available at this time, as the project is ongoing. Findings are expected to be available at the close 2017.

Notes

Any new data generated by the two-days of flights tentatively scheduled for spring 2017 is to be immediately provided to Cal-IPC at the conclusion of the survey to be included in their analysis of changes in the distribution of invasive plants across the Central Subregion between 2011 and 2016 and 2017.

26. Reserve Photo Archive

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Reserve Photo Archive Contractor(s)/Researcher -- Time Period 2016-17 Total Project Cost $25,000 Amount Budgeted -- (2015-16); $25,000 (2016-17) Fund Endowment Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, OCWR, COI, CCSP, CDFW, CNB, UCI, IRWD, TCA, TIC, MWD Project Status New Project Progression Project is approved, but not initiated Program Class Database Management Program Area Sensitive Biological Resources Resource Coastal Sage Scrub

Project Purpose Compile, format, reference, and archive NCC’s historical photo inventory of the natural resources and landscapes present within the NCCP-Reserve Available Report(s) -- Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

Since the mid-1990s, working with key partners, NCC has compiled a photo library of approximately 15,000 digital images of the Reserve. Most of the photos were originally taken and organized by The Nature Conservancy, working with NCC on development of an over-arching habitat restoration and enhancement plan for the Reserve in the late 1990s. The images offer a unique visual perspective of the Reserve’s landscapes and natural resources dating back 15 to 20 years ago.

Progress

Although the project has yet to be formally initiated, NCC has reviewed and catalogued many of the available digital images and researched different opportunities to archive the collection for purposes of making the images available to partners and the public. In 2016, NCC met with UCI Libraries - Special Collections and Archives Division to discuss the opportunity to partner with the University to house and archive the collection of images. UCI Libraries expressed much interest in receiving the collection and a dialogue about the potential donation by NCC of the images to the University is to continue in 2017.

Key Milestones

Milestones have not been identified, as the project has yet to be formally initiated.

Key Findings

Findings are not available at this time, as the project has yet to be formally initiated.

Notes

As a precursor to the donation of the landscape images, in 2016, NCC began a discussion with the Head of Special Collections and Archives for UCI Libraries about donating the Wilson Collection to the University for preservation and accessibility purposes. The Wilson Collection is a collection of 600+ slides of birds and life list, currently in the possession of NCC, first put together by amateur photographer, Russell Wilson. Mr. Wilson generated the collection over the course of his lifetime from the many birding trips he took throughout California, Arizona, southern Texas, Florida, and Canada in 1940s, 50s, and 60s. Part of the collection is currently showcased as part of the fall 2016 exhibit entitled "Striking a Balance" presented by UCI Libraries.

Following the donation to the University of the collection, NCC will be granted special access to the collection which is to be housed and managed by UCI Libraries Special Collections and Archives in a digital format for the benefit of the public, in perpetuity. The donation of this collection

77 to UCI Libraries is the first of potentially several more donations of images and information from NCC to the University for preservation and accessibility purposes.

27. BMPs/Trail Maintenance

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title BMPs/Trail Maintenance Contractor(s)/Researcher -- Time Period 2016-2017 Total Project Cost $15,000 Amount Budgeted $15,000 (2015-16); -- (2016-17) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, COI, CCSP, CDFW, CONB, UCI, TCA, TIC Project Status New Project Progression Project is approved, but not initiated Program Class Management Program Area Recreation Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Provide support for the identification, development, and publication of BMPs supporting a sustainable trail network. Available Report(s) -- Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

In support of sharing science, monitoring, and land management information among partnering organizations involved in management of the NCCP-Reserve, NCC has allocated funding to provide support for the identification, development, and publication of Best Management Practices (BMPs) supporting a sustainable trail network, with the focus in 2015 on identifying methods for minimizing impacts to natural resources during trail maintenance activities.

Progress

Initiation of the project has been postponed indefinitely. In 2015, NCC reached out to key partners and visited field sites in an effort to better understand priority trail maintenance issues. Although no specific scope of work or action plan has been developed to date, in 2015, NCC staff initiated new discussions with outside experts concerning available knowledge in the scientific literature and applied in practice by California Department of Parks and Recreation, and the National Park Service applicable to operations within Central-Coastal OC.

In 2016, plans to connect to outside experts associated with State Parks, Cleveland National Forest, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, as well as contacts within the East Bay Regional Park District to discuss trail maintenance programs and outreach material implemented through their organizations were postponed.

Key Milestones

Milestones have not been identified, as the project has yet to be initiated.

Key Findings

Findings are not available at this time, as the project has yet to be initiated.

Notes

Investment by NCC in funding development of BMPs for trail maintenance has been postponed until first-year field assessments are completed by the team of recreation ecologists from Utah State University and Oregon State University.

28. Recreation Mgmt & Human Valuation

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Recreation Mgmt & Human Valuation Contractor(s)/Researcher Utah State University Time Period 2017-2020 Total Project Cost $492,000 Amount Budgeted -- (2015-16); $175,000 (2016-17) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) -- Landowner Involvement OCP, OCWR, COI, CCSP, CDFW, CONB, UCI, IRWD, TCA, TIC, MWD Project Status New Project Progression Project is approved, but not initiated Program Class Planning Program Area Recreation Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Identify highest ranking recreation management priorities related to natural resource protection present within the NCCP-Reserve Available Report(s) -- Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

Managers of urban-proximate wildland settings must often strike a careful balance with providing nature-based recreation experiences with the maintenance of ecological integrity. With over 3 million residents within a 30-minute drive of the natural areas of central and coastal Orange County, the demand for recreation experiences is ever present, and increasing. Equally important is the increasing need and desire for the conservation of natural resources and preservation of the rich natural heritage of an iconic area of the California coast. Resource management planning and implementation strategies in natural areas are often more successful when informed by interdisciplinary research that combines both ecological and social science approaches in a location specific manner. The Natural Communities Coalition has partnered with national leaders in the field of recreation ecology from Utah State University and Oregon State University to implement a multi-year project designed to address ecological

79 aspects, human benefits and values, and contemporary management approaches tied to recreation within the region. Fourteen management units within the Nature Reserve of Orange County are considered a high priority for assessment and monitoring of recreation use and associated management uses. The majority of units fall under the management of OC Parks, California State Parks, and the Irvine Ranch Conservancy. The project will employ both continuous assessment and sampling approaches to establish baselines conditions. Work is to include field assessment of the location and condition of trails, sites, and other areas of visitor use, determination of the spatial distribution of use, and assessment of visitor attributes and preferences, demographics, motivations, values and judgements of resource and social conditions. Work will be conducted in two distinct phases. The first phase is three years in duration, with social and biophysical field sampling to begin spring 2017. Progress

In early 2017 a scope of work was finalized to serve as a general guidance for an agreement between the Natural Communities Coalition and Utah State University. The scope covers the first phase of research that is to cover a three-year period beginning in 2017 and extending to 2020.

Key Milestones

1. Finalization of Scope of Work (Due: 1 January 2017): Completed on schedule 2. Execution of Agreement between NCC and USU (Due: 31 January 2017): Completed on schedule 3. Project Initiation Meeting with Managers and Stakeholders (Due: 30 March 2017) 4. Field Sampling (Social and Biophysical) (Due: 30 September 2017) 5. Data Analysis and First Annual Report (Due: 30 March 2018)

Key Findings

Findings are not available at this time, as the project has yet to be formally initiated.

Notes

The research project, as designed, is to have four overall dimensions: 1) a determination of visitor use levels and spatial distributions; 2) an assessment of biophysical resource conditions; 3) an understanding of visitor perceptions, values and judgements; and 4) providing scientific expertise in park planning and management.

29. Bio Monitoring & Communication

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title Bio Monitoring & Communication Contractor(s)/Researcher Center for Environmental Biology Time Period 2017 Total Project Cost $350,000 Amount Budgeted -- (2015-16); $200,000 (2016-17) Fund Endowment

Matching Contribution(s) Voth Family Foundation ($150,000) Landowner Involvement OCP, OCWR, COI, CCSP, CDFW, CNB, UCI, IRWD, TCA, TIC, MWD Project Status New Project Progression Project is approved, but not initiated Program Class Monitoring/Research Program Area Sensitive Biological Resources Resource Coastal Sage Scrub Project Purpose Monitor landscape-level change in vegetative composition and structure through time and create dashboard metrics concerning the health of the Reserve Available Report(s) -- Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

Discussed collectively among partnering agencies and organizations over the last couple of years, development of an effective vegetation monitoring program for the Reserve is being led by UC Irvine’s Center for Environmental Biology (CEB). The program, as presently outlined, will provide defensible, objective measures of the extent and quality of coastal sage scrub and associated habitats within the Reserve and adjacent conservation lands. Collected information is to capture changes in vegetative community composition, structure, and dynamics over time, promoting a shared understanding of the vegetative response to drivers and informing decisions related to management.

In a related context, NCC is working with CEB to explore opportunities to leverage the structures and activities of the established National Climate Assessment (supported by the U.S. Global Change Research Program) for purposes of developing a sound and informative assessment of the health of the Reserve. Working at the scale of the Reserve, the assessment would help partners understand, assess, predict, and respond to natural and human-induced processes tied to global change. NCC, together with CEB, recognizes the assessment needs to be clear and supported by good science for communicating successfully with the NCC Board, elected officials, partners, the public, and to support priorities for next step monitoring, science, and management action. At present, the process outlined for development of the assessment of Reserve health includes establishment of an advisory committee, creation of a local knowledge network and supporting activities, hosting of an annual integration congress, writing of an annual policy impact report, and dissemination of findings.

Progress

Following the meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee, in August 2016, in which preliminary plans for advancement of a vegetation monitoring and communications program were shared, NCC staff and the Center for Environmental Biology met to identify a way forward for addressing identified short-term needs of both programs. The end result was a scope of work from the Center for Environmental Biology covering the first 12 months of the monitoring and communications program. Specifically, the scope: (1) highlights opportunities to achieve programmatic benchmarks for the vegetation program communicated to the NCC Board as being attainable over

81 the first 12-months, and (2) allows for assembly of a team to address the items identified by partners and the TAC as immediate needs for advancing development of a long- term vegetation monitoring program. Work outlined is a first and significant step towards development of a comprehensive multi-year vegetation monitoring plan for the Central-Coastal Subregion. The work is expected to go a long way to informing discussions with partners and members of the TAC about options for development of a comprehensive long-term plan covering the next 5 to 10 years.

Deliverables and work products to be delivered over the first 12 months:

• Assessment of change in CSS cover over the last ten years based on analysis of existing vegetation monitoring data collected by SDSU and other partners; • Based on the results of the assessment, production of a report serving as the first tool for communication on the health of the Reserve; • Identification of knowledge gaps and existing spatio-temporal gaps requiring adjustment of current monitoring approach; • Refinement of existing and planned vegetation monitoring for the next two growing seasons (2017-18, and 2018-19); • Finalization of a consensus conceptual model for data integration relating ecosystem features to data sources and assumptions, applicable to adaptive management of key ecosystem types within the Reserve; • Creation of a work plan and development of a protocol for scaling vegetation dynamics between field-based protocols and remotely sensed efforts; • Meta-analysis and description of alternative data-model techniques to maximize use of existing data; • Establishment of a common, consensus-based conceptual model of critical ecosystem dynamics; • Integration with San Diego to share best practices, evaluate common trends in ecological condition, document early tipping points, and evaluate regional trends; • Compilation, curation, and dissemination of common data used by the many NCC partners for effective decision-making (GIS data layers); and • Data registry, assistance with data sharing and archiving, and documenting partner plans for data collection and use

Key Milestones

1. Assessment of Change in CSS Cover (Due: 30 September 2017) 2. Work-plan for Scaling Vegetation Dynamics Between Field-based Protocols and Remotely Sensed Efforts (Due: 15 October 2017) 3. Refinement of Vegetation Monitoring (Due: 15 December 2017) 4. Protocols for Integration of Data Streams into the Monitoring Plan (Due: 31 December 2017) 5. Creation of an On-line, Updated, Shared GIS Database (Due: 31 December 2017) 6. Propagation of Data to OC Data Portal (Due: 31 December 2017)

Key Findings

Findings are not available at this time, as the project has yet to be formally initiated.

Notes

The total estimated cost for NCC for the work is $200,622 with an estimated $151,741 in matching funds provided by CEB. The project is to be a Research Specific Agreement (RSA) falling under the approved Master Agreement with UCI limited to 17.5% overhead.

30. SHB Mgmt & Monitoring

Project ID XXXX-XX Project Title SHB Mgmt & Monitoring Contractor(s)/Researcher UC Riverside; UC Santa Cruz Time Period 2017-2019 Total Project Cost $412,000 Amount Budgeted -- (2015-16); $110,000 (2016-17) Fund Restoration Matching Contribution(s) CDFW LAG ($175,000); OC Parks ($85,000); TNC ($25,000); IRC ($17,000, in-kind) Landowner Involvement OCP, OCWR, COI, CCSP, CDFW, CNB, UCI, IRWD, TCA, TIC, MWD Project Status New Project Progression Project is approved, but not initiated Program Class Monitoring/Research Program Area Invasive Wildlife Control Resource Riparian Woodland Project Purpose Define a path forward for making informed decisions on best approaches to management of the invasive shot hole borer Available Report(s) -- Available GIS Product(s) --

Overview

The exotic pest complex Fusarium Dieback (FD) is recognized by state and federal agencies as a serious threat to the viability of native riparian and oak woodland plant communities throughout the greater South Coast Ecoregion. FD is formed by two invasive Shot Hole Borer (SHB) beetle species each associated with specific fungal pathogen species (Fusarium spp.). The broad range of alternative hosts has fostered rapid spread throughout urban and wildland forests and commercial avocado groves in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and most recently Riverside and Ventura Counties. Recent observations confirm previous predictions indicating native riparian plant communities in southern California are particularly susceptible to invasion and mortality by FD-SHB, leading to creation of a State SHB Coalition organized by CDFW in southern California.

At these early stages of the epidemic, preventative and containment measures are believed to have the ability to be effective, providing adequate, rapid assessment of key landscape factors. At present, knowing which management approaches are more effective is limited by the lack of

83 data on how the pest-disease complex spreads across a complex landscape. Monitoring efforts have recently focused on avocado groves (due to immediate investment in research and development by the agricultural industry), but the broader landscape must be considered to allow for regional planning and land management that will reduce or manage this threat within the Central & Coastal Subregion and neighboring protected areas.

In 2016, NCC was awarded a Local Assistance Grant from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) supporting a two-year, initiative directed at the management and monitoring of the pest complex across the 208,000-acre planning area for the County of Orange Central & Coastal Subregion NCCP/HCP. The funded work defines a path forward for making informed decisions on best approaches to management. Working with CDFW, NCC, together with the greater project team, is committed to supporting development of a policy and management response in-line with the magnitude of the identified problem and working collaboratively with agencies and personnel advancing complementary research and management initiatives throughout southern California. Because no control methods are currently available for use in native vegetation, the project will be a success when habitats most vulnerable to the disease complex and important to its spread are identified and control measures supporting elicit rapid and effective management responses evaluated.

Progress

The project is scheduled to begin in 2017, following finalization of an agreement with UC Riverside. The greater project team, in addition to NCC, includes, UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz, OC Parks, The Nature Conservancy, and Irvine Ranch Conservancy. The first objective of the two-year initiative is centered on development of a predictive model to identify which native habitats are most vulnerable to FD-SHB invasion and impacts. Based on site conditions, the model will be used to help identify those sites most likely to suffer FD-SHB damage and the riparian corridors serving as transmission vectors. In support of development of the model, data on beetle population dynamics and distribution will be repeatedly collected across 75+ permanent monitoring plots across the study area. The project team recognizes opportunities to collect additional data over the same period in other areas in southern California will support development, parameterization, and validation of an over-arching regional model allowing for better prediction of the risk and spread of FD-SHB throughout OC and the greater region.

The second objective relies on using cultural and molecular techniques to identify beneficial endophytic fungal and bacterial candidates for biocontrol measures from core samples collected from select trees in the monitoring plots. Sampling of trees will allow team members to test for differences in the microbial communities between infested and non-infested trees within host species. Through repeat sampling, team members will be able to determine how endophytic communities change over time and evaluate how widespread the association is between beneficial endophytes that inhibit the growth of Fusarium spp. pathogens and natural limits of the FD-SHB infestation, forecasting use of endophytes as a control measure to slow the rate of spread and ameliorate the effects of the exotic pest complex on the land.

Key Milestones

1. Project Set-up: Coordination & Information Transfer (Due: 31 March 2017): 2. Permanent Plot Establishment (Due: 30 April 2017) 3. Permanent Plot Monitoring (Due: 31 January 2019) 4. Trap Monitoring, Counting, and Morphological Identification (Due: 31 January 2019) 5. Results of Endophyte Screening & Evaluation (Due: 31 January 2019) 6. Predictive Model Analysis (Due: 15 February 2019) 7. DRAFT Report Preparation (Due: 15 February 2019) 8. FINAL Report, Risk Model, and GIS Data & Field Workshop (Due: 30 March 2019)

Key Findings

Findings are not available at this time, as the project has yet to be formally initiated.

Notes

Phase I, of the envisioned four-year project, was funded in 2016 by NCC with $302,000 in assistance from project partners. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife awarded NCC a Local Assistance Grant in 2016 for the amount of $175,000 to offset the cost of the first two years (Phase I) of the project; OC Parks committed $85,000; The Nature Conservancy committed $25,000; and $17,000 in in-kind support was committed by IRC.

2.4 Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Summary Tables

2016 NCC Invasive Plant Control Summary Table

Target Target Invasive

Species Plant Species Park

Ranking

Regional

OCP)

Canyon (OCP) Canyon

Laguna Coast Wilderness ParkLaguna Coast Wilderness (OCP) Muddy (OCP) Trancos Los Aliso & Wood Canyons Park (OCP) Wilderness Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park (OCP) Park (OCP)Irvine Regional Park Regional Peters Canyon (OCP) BayUpper Newport Nature Preserve (OCP) Oaks Santiago (OCP) El Modena ( Crystal Park State Cove El Toro Property (FBI) UC Irvine Ecological Preserve 2016 Total 1 Artichoke 47.6 71.8 10.9 132.3 74.7 0.8 10.0 1 to 12 0.7 -- 211.8 1.9 2.3 564.8 Thistle (92%) (99%) (100%) (1%) (78%) (100%) (93%) Points (0%) (100%) (100%) (100%) (73%) 1 Veldt Grass 49.7 ------1.0 -- 50.7 (100%) (100%) (100%) 1 Sahara mustard 1.3 0.4 ------1.7 (100%) (100%) (100%) 2 Garland 1 or 2 -- 0.3 10.0 0.1 -- 21.9 -- 0.5 -- -- 50.5 -- 83.3 chrysanthemum Points (100%) (15%) (100%) (100%) (0%) (100%) (98%) 2 Sweet Fennel ------12.0 1 or 2 1.8 37.5 4.2 9.6 7.1 -- -- 1 or 2 72.2 (16%) Points (94%) (97%) (98%) (0%) (0%) Points (61%) 2 Pampas Grass 9.5 -- -- 1.9 0.1 -- -- 4.5 1 to 3 ------1 or 2 16.0 (100%) (100%) (0%) (71%) Points Points (91%) 3 Tree Tobacco 7.8 0.8 -- 5.6 0.5 5.1 27.7 3.2 9.9 3.9 -- 2.7 1 or 2 67.2 (87%) (100%) (27%) (0%) (84%) (99%) (100%) (0%) (0%) (100%) Points (70%) 3 Castor Bean ------5.4 5.2 30.0 0.7 10.0 1 or 2 -- 10.3 -- 61.6 (100%) (75%) (98%) (100%) (0%) Points (100%) (81%) Not St. John’s-wort 8.0 ------8.0 ranked (100%) (100%) Not Italian/Milk ------ranked Thistle Not Mexican Fan ------ranked Palm Not Russian Thistle ------ranked Total 865.1 (75%)

Total acres mapped of targeted invasive plant species with the percent treated (in parenthesis) in 2016 organized by management area (OCP = Orange County Parks; FBI = Federal Bureau of Investigation). Treatment involves the application of herbicide to targeted plants coupled with the occasional mechanical means of control (i.e., cutting).

Control efforts at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, Irvine Regional Park, Peters Canyon Regional Park, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, Santiago Oaks Regional Park, and El Modena, were performed by the County’s spray contractor, with NCC’s Invasive Plant Program management contractor, Harmsworth, providing oversight and mapping services in 2016.

At Crystal Cove State Park, State Park staff oversaw the control efforts implemented by NCC’s spray contractor in 2016 as well implemented control efforts across the Park on their own.

Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff oversaw control efforts implemented by NCC’s spray contractors and volunteers at City of Irvine Open Space Preserve, City of Newport Beach’s Buck Gully, and the County’s Irvine Ranch Open Space. Results of the 2016 efforts for the City of Newport Beach, City of Irvine Open Space Preserve, and Irvine Ranch Open Space, although supported in part by funding provided by NCC, are reported in the sections of the Annual Report written by Irvine Ranch Conservancy.

2016 NCC Habitat Restoration Table

Total acres of new, ongoing, and completed upland habitat restoration sponsored by NCC in 2016 organized by management area

Land Area New Ongoing Completed Total

Laguna Canyon Wilderness Park (OCP) -- 1.0 5.2* 6.2

Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park (OCP) -- 9.7 -- 9.7

Crystal Cove State Park -- 13.7 -- 13.7

San Diego Creek (OCFCD) -- -- 0.2 0.2

Bonita Canyon (TCA ) -- -- 0.6 0.6

Coyote Canyon Landfill (OCWR) -- -- 0.3 0.3

UC Irvine Ecological Preserve -- 8.5 4.0 12.5

Irvine Ranch Open Space (OCP) -- 4.3 -- 4.3

City of Irvine Open Space** -- 2.9 -- 2.9

Total -- 40.1 10.3 50.4

*Includes 3.7 acres of elderberry enhancement OCP = Orange County Parks OCFCD = Orange County Flood Control District TCA = Transportation Corridor Agencies OCWR = Orange County Waste & Recycling **Portola Staging Site

3.0 NROC CONSERVATION CUSTODIAL FUNDS

3.1 2016 Pacific Pocket Mouse Custodial Fund Pursuant to a Letter of Agreement between the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Natural Communities Coalition, a fund was created in 1998 to support research, recovery and enhancement efforts for the Pacific pocket mouse.

The agreement obligated Chandis Sherman (now Headlands Reserve LLC) to deposit funds annually for seven years into a segregated custodial account held by NCC, for a total of $350,000. All funding has been received. Funds are dispersed at the direction of USFWS and CDFW for projects in support of pocket mouse research, recovery and enhancement. The 2016 calendar year beginning balance of the Pacific Pocket Mouse Custodial Fund was $133,728.18, and the ending balance on December 31, 2016 was $119,115.75. The decrease was the result of contract fees associated with archeological assessments and oversight in preparation for the reintroduction of Pacific pocket mice to OC Parks’ Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. .

3.2 2016 Cowbird Fund The beginning balance of the Cowbird Fund in the 2016 calendar year was $1,530,566.86 and the ending balance on December 31, 2015 was $1,607,889.77. A total of $34,727.01 was spent on the Brown-headed cowbird management program in 2016. The results are summarized in project descriptions (Section 2.0) above.

The 2017 NCC work plan includes a reassessment of goals, methodology and results to date in light of efforts nationally, and evaluating costs and the economies of scale associated with the current management program.

4.0 NCCP/HCP RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLANS & POLICIES

4.1 Fire Management Plan A major milestone for 2016 was the approval of the Wildland Fire Management Plan (WFMP). On July 21st, following two rounds of draft reviews, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife approved the final version of WFMP, formatted as the Stakeholder Implementation Guide (SIG).

The 2017 work plan is set forth in the 2016-2018 NCC Strategic Plan focused on implementation of the WFMP. Key components include: educate land owners/managers on the theory, science, and implementation of actions specified in the plan; assessment of the status and condition of vegetation management along fuel modification zones on Orange County Park property; and coordinating management activities with our partners. Important 2016 milestones and activities for 2017 are described below.

• WFMP Introduction Meeting: Present to the land owners/managers the WFMP/SIG, highlighting the tools available to conduct fire management activities, including the specific pre-fire fuel management actions to be undertaken in specific areas on each property enrolled in the Reserve. Meeting to be scheduled for early spring 2017.

• County of Orange Area Safety Taskforce (COAST): Continue participating on taskforce to discuss, plan, and implement initiatives aimed at decreasing fire risk and increasing fire safety throughout county. Main activities for 2016 include the development of the county-wide Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) and discussions with Caltrans on the Roadside Ignition Reduction Strategic Plan.

• Roadside Ignition Reduction Strategic Plan: Continue participating in a COAST working group to develop a strategic plan to reduce roadside ignitions within the County. Several meetings in 2016 have resulted in an increased understanding of the need to develop a long-term plan and sharing of vegetation maintenance data to be used in the plan. The overall goal is to produce a multiyear plan with proposed projects to be included in the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Submit project applications to available grant programs aimed at vegetation management.

• County-Wide CWPP: Contribute time and resources to the implementation of the CWPP now that the final draft is expected by summer 2017. Implementation includes assisting our partners in fire and fuels management project development and submission to grant programs, and outreach and education to homeowners and HOAs on reducing structural ignitability and fire-safe landscaping. The lead consultant for the CWPP will collaborate with OCFA in meetings centered on using demonstration sites to engage others in issues regarding fuels management near communities. Participating on this project will help strengthen professional relationships, and benefit the Reserve by providing more opportunities for collaboration on vegetation management project funding.

• Assessment of fuel modification zones/Defensible Space Zone Management Plan (OC Parks): Participate in working group to build management plan that develops policy and protocol for defensible space zone management on OC Parks property. The plan’s scope-of-work includes developing best management practices for these areas, treatment protocols and inspections, examples of well-maintained defensible space zones, and steps involved implementing a project that minimizes impacts to habitat. This plan focuses on areas adjacent to older communities that don’t have an existing fuel modification plan. This project also updates the inventory on fuel modification on OC Parks property that may overlap the NCCP boundary. Information relevant to the Reserve will be incorporated into the revision of the WFMP.

• Fire Resource Advisory Information and Contact Protocol: Updated fire resource and tactical advisory maps for use during wildfires. Previous version was from 2007. These are important reference documents to ensure compliance of fire suppression activities during a wildfire in the Reserve. Improved communications for resource advising among land owner/manager contacts within Reserve during a wildfire. Activities for 2017 include review of maps with resource managers and introduction to new OCFA Wildfire Resource Planner starting in the summer.

Wildfires- Despite the drought, wildfire activity in and adjacent the Reserve was low for 2016 in terms of area burned; all fires were less than 50 acres. The number of ignitions remains high and human activity continues to be the cause of ignitions and this is an obvious concern because of the potential for large, damaging wildfires if these ignitions were to occur during periods of low humidity and high winds. Furthermore, most of these ignitions are avoidable.

Fire management activities that focus on reducing ignitions will continue to be the number one priority. Table below shows fire statistics for 2016. FMU, Fire Management Unit.

Date Area Cause Size (ac) 6/4, Irvine Ranch Open Space Roadside ignitions-suspected 0.04, 7/23, (IROS)- Santiago Canyon debris from vehicle <0.01, 8/6 Road 0.15 6/4 IROS- Black Star Canyon Roadside ignition- suspected 0.14 Road- FMU 10.4 debris from vehicle 6/26 Laguna Coast Wilderness Human ignition- homeless 47 Park (LCWP)- FMU 2.09 encampment campfire 7/20 Bommer Canyon- FMU 4.01 Roadside ignition- vehicle fire <0.01 on Hwy 73 9/12 LCWP- FMU 4.06 Roadside ignition- vehicle 20 catalytic convertor on Hwy 133 10/21 IROS- FMU 7.02 Mechanical, related to 3.3 adjacent business activities Santiago Oaks RP-FMU 11 Unknown <0.5 Irvine RP-FMU 11.01 Unknown <0.25 Talbert Nat. Pres. FMU 13.01 12 ignitions in 2016, unknown All <0.25

4.2 Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Plan The HREP was completed and approved by the Board of Directors in 2003, and has periodically been reviewed, but not formally updated since that time. In September, 2015, NCC engaged Land IQ in a three-year effort to review and revise the Plan, and propose a list of prioritized sites within the Reserve for specific restoration actions. Key themes being addressed over the course of the project include: landscape-scale habitat restoration; sources of uncertainty tied to climate change, fire, and seedbank condition; adaptive management; cost-effect methods; natural rainfall driven restoration; maximization of return on investment; integration of planning efforts; measures of success; and stakeholder and resource agency engagement.

In 2016, in advancement of the project, Land IQ developed a GIS-based model of monthly soil moisture patterns of the Reserve’s complex topography, soil, and soil texture, combined with past land use to identify site-specific, ecologically appropriate restoration targets within the Reserve. Conversations with UC Irvine followed development of the model and centered on results of modelling efforts, climate change forecasts, adjustment of restoration targets, and characteristics of sites believed to be stable and or increasing in native cover. Also, in 2016, lessons learned from active and historic restoration projects and practitioner expertise were captured by the project team and converted to Best Management Practices (BMPs). Cost analysis tied to successful landscape-scale restoration methodologies was completed, and ongoing discussions with NCC staff about 1 or 2 large projects for immediate pursuit of grant funding were continued.

In 2017, the project team is to lay out the details of a landscape-scale habitat restoration process for large projects (~100 acres) that is cost-effective, adapts to site-specific uncertainty of outcome, and primarily relies upon natural rainfall for implementation. Additionally, field assessments are to begin in 2017 to validate and refine the results of reserve-wide analysis of restoration opportunities, needs, targets, and success measures. Prospective restoration opportunities are to be identified by management unit following field surveys and conversations with local stakeholders, landowners, and species and subject matter experts.

In 2018, Land IQ will work with local stakeholders, partnering agencies, and land owners and managers, to make a consensus selection of priority project opportunities to develop further. Select projects found to be multi-benefit and multi-partner will be advanced for purposes of pursuing outside funding with matching funds provided by NCC. The finalized, updated Habitat Restoration & Enhancement Plan is to be submitted to the Board of Directors and Wildlife Agencies for approval in the fall of 2018.

4.3 Recreation Management Plan In support of development and implementation of a long-term recreation management program for the Nature Reserve of Orange County, NCC partnered with national leaders in the field of recreation ecology from Utah State University and Oregon State University in 2016 to plan and implement a multi-year research project. As designed, the research project is to have four overall dimensions focused on: (1) determining visitor use levels and spatial distributions; (2) assessment of biophysical resource conditions; (3) understanding of visitor perceptions, values, and judgements; and (4) providing of scientific expertise in park planning and management.

Working with signatories of the NCCP and other partners, the project leads identified fourteen management units in 2016 within the Nature Reserve of Orange County as a high priority for assessment and monitoring of recreation use and associated management uses. The majority of units fall under the management of OC Parks, California State Parks, and the Irvine Ranch Conservancy. The project, as designed, will employ both continuous assessment and sampling approaches to establish baselines conditions. Work is to include field assessment of the location and condition of trails, sites, and other areas of visitor use, determination of the spatial distribution of use, and assessment of visitor attributes and preferences, demographics, motivations, values and judgements of resource and social conditions. Work will be conducted in two distinct phases. The first phase is three years in duration, with social and biophysical field sampling to begin spring 2017.

4.4 Grazing Management Plan Though a Grazing Management Plan was adopted, grazing in the reserve by livestock ceased in 2002. And there are no serious plans at this time to reintroduce livestock as a management tool. As a result, there is nothing to report in 2016 and no 2017 Work Plan.

5.0 IMPACTS TO COASTAL SAGE SCRUB HABITAT IN THE COUNTY OF ORANGE CENTRAL/COASTAL SUBREGION NCCP/HCP 2016

5.1 Authorized Take in the Reserve System by Participating Landowners as Reported to NCC in 2016

The Natural Communities Coalition directs readers to the individual reports submitted by reserve landowners for a detailed accounting of authorized take of coastal sage scrub since the inception of the NCCP/HCP.

There were no reported authorized take of CSS in 2016 within the Central/Coastal Subregion by Participating Landowners in 2016 other than that which was reported by the Irvine Ranch Water District and described in the table of Section 5.2 below.

5.2 Take by Non-Participating and Participating Landowners – In-Lieu and Other Mitigation Fee Options

The US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife approved a total of five (5) Participating and Non-Participating Landowners projects to participate in the In- Lieu Mitigation Fee Option. There was a total take of 8.41 acres of coastal sage scrub and $546,650 of mitigation payments. The table below summaries the project impacts and approved mitigation:

Non- Participating Project Acres of Approved In- Date Fee Participating Landowner Description CSS Lieu Received Landowner Approved Mitigation by NCC Take Fee Private Property 0.35 $22,750.00 01/25/2016 Resident, Enhancement City of Orange Irvine Ranch Baker Water 1.35 $87,750.00 02/10/2016 Water District Treatment Plant & Serrano Summit Toll Brothers, Parkside at 0.87 $56,550.00 02/26/2016 Inc. Baker Ranch City of Lake Civic Center 5.59 $363,350.00 07/21/2016 Forest Trabuco Alternate Raw 0.25 $16,250.00 08/19/2016 Canyon Water Water District Transmission Line

Totals 8.41 $546,650.00

6.0 ACCOUNTING OF FUNDS RECEIVED AND DISPERSED BY NCC

No funds were dispersed to NCCP/HCP participants. However, NCC provided in-kind contributions and science and land management services through its contracts to reserve landowners in the form of invasive plant eradication and habitat restoration on reserve lands. For a detailed breakdown of expenditures and success of the program in 2016, see Section 2 above.

7.0 BOUNDARY CHANGES/MINOR AMENDMENTS IN THE RESERVE SYSTEM

There were no Boundary Amendments considered by the Boundary Amendment and Acquisition Committee of NCC or approved by the Board of Directors in 2016.

Nature Reserve of Orange County Annual Report 2016 Section: 8.1 Crystal Cove State Park CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK 2016 NCCP/HCP ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

I. Recreation Use, Monitoring and Management

A. Current Use Policies

Crystal Cove State Park (CCSP) includes approximately 2,400 acres of backcountry and 400 acres along the coastal terrace. There are 18 miles of marked backcountry trails, both dirt road and single track, open to all hike, bike and equestrian users. There are 3 environmental campgrounds located from 2 to 3 miles inland as well as the Moro Campground and Day Use area with 60 campsites. Paved bike/pedestrian paths along the coastal terrace connect with 6 beach-access parking lots and 10 access ramps. The park’s 3.2 miles of beach is fringed with intertidal reef pools that connect with the 1,140 acre Underwater Park/Marine Life Refuge. The Crystal Cove Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places which consists of 46 beach cottages built in the vernacular style of architecture between 1920 and 1940 set within its similarly distinctive historic landscape. General park areas are open every day from 6 AM until dark, while the Historic District welcomes day use fee visitors from 6AM to 10PM daily and currently hosts registered guests overnight in sixteen of the cottages. The park is part of the Irvine Ranch National Natural Landmark and the Irvine Ranch California Natural Landmark.

B. Recreation Monitoring

All legal trails are named and found on free maps and at signed trail intersections in the backcountry. Some illegal trails have been marked with signs noting closure/resource impacts, fenced and obscured with cut vegetation. This effort has also been undertaken on the Coastal Terrace in areas where dry vegetation has become trampled.

TRAFx brand trail counters have been installed at all of the nine entrance points into the backcountry portion of the park. With the software included, DPR is now able to accurately estimate backcountry use of Crystal Cove. Park use of the backcountry varied from 14,000 in October to just under 33,000 in April. These are rough numbers; the total number of users was halved to account for entrance and exit in an attempt to eliminate double counting. We also experienced issues with theft and vandalism; we lost 2 trafx counters and are in the process of replacing them, so the numbers are low for May and October-December. Our highest months of backcountry use in 2016 despite missing some data were February and April and lowest were October and November. We also discovered that Saturdays were the busiest day of the week and Tuesday the slowest. We plan on continuing this program to try to determine recreation patterns and hope to expand to the coastal side of the park.

A total of 171 Special Events and 153 film shoots were permitted in 2016. Weddings, picnics, parties, photo shoots and group gatherings were the most

1 CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK NCCP/HCP ANNUAL REPORT popular events located primarily along the coast. Events are reviewed for potential impacts by the Special Events Program Permit Coordinator and Supervising Peace Officer. A small gathering may need no more than a reminder to haul out trash, whereas larger events may go through the Department’s project review process for compliance with CEQA, PRC 5024.5 and applicable permitting requirements. As necessary the department will assign patrol officers and resource monitors at events. All events are allowed only with approved activities or conditions as necessary to ensure no adverse impacts to park natural or cultural resources. Special event program guidelines were updated during 2012 and again in 2014 to ensure protection of park resources and to address the park and concession operations at the Historic District.

C. User Compliance Programs

Park facilities and trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset, but may be closed seasonally due to rain-saturated roads or extreme fire danger. The area in and immediately adjacent to the Historic District is open until 10PM.

Several groups have embraced coordination with and education of the public within the park, including: The Crystal Cove Alliance (Crystal Cove’s cooperative association), Inside the Outdoors, SHARE (a biking / conservation group), Trails 4 All, the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, the Laguna Canyon Foundation, Friends of the Newport Coast, REI as well as trained docents to lead tours on the topics of the Historic District, the backcountry, the beach and tide pools, flora, geology, and cycling. The park participates in other area-wide coordinating groups, including: Orange County Wild, Orange County Marine Protected Area Council, South Coast Wilderness Group, the Backcountry Council, Orange County Coastkeeper, and the Marine Life Refuge Committee, a subset of the Orange County Coastal Coalition.

The park has a current staff of nine State Park Peace Officers [one State Park Peace Officer (Ranger), two State Park Peace Officer Supervisor I (Lifeguard)’s, and six State Park Peace Officer (Lifeguard)’s]. They patrol and monitor all sectors of the park and enforce rules and regulations with warnings, citations, and arrests. The park attracts approximately one and a half million visitors each year and is projected to steadily increase with nearby residential and commercial property development. The beach and Historic District continue to be the major visitation attraction although the backcountry wilderness trails and campsites have experienced steadily increasing visitation as well. Public safety/law enforcement activity increased in terms of total contacts in 2016. 563 swimmer rescues were made during 2016 with an additional 3,050 preventative aquatic actions. 73 major medical aids occurred in the park and 986 minor medical aids were recorded. State Park law enforcement action included 58 citations, 14 arrests, 2,157 warnings for violations and thousands more public contacts.

D. Educational Outreach

Interpretive and educational programs are a core component of the State Park mission of informing and educating the public about natural, cultural, and historic resources. In 2016, over 4,000 students attend 87 guided school programs as well as thousands of member of the public attend public interpretive programs including Historic District tours, tide pools tours, beach processes, gray whales, geology,

2 CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK NCCP/HCP ANNUAL REPORT subtidal life, terrestrial habitats, native flora, Native American culture, raptors, night animals and bats, and mountain biking etiquette. Classes were taught by professional interpreters, park docents, and partners such as CCA and Inside the Outdoors. In addition, virtual field trips using online videoconferencing courtesy of PORTS (Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students) has allowed students from all over the nation to visit Crystal Cove State Park remotely and participate in tide pool study, reaching just under 8,000 students. Additional interpretive activities include contact with visitors through self-guided tours, trails, videos, brochures, or contact with volunteers at the visitor centers.

Community outreach efforts include coordination with neighboring homeowners associations on mission-based resource topics such as pet and feral cats and dogs in the park, over-watering and water quality, exotic invasive plants, enforcement patrols, water safety, fuel modification zones and fire safety. Other activities include volunteer events such as Earth Day, which draws volunteers from the local community as well as three corporate events which worked on several projects including habitat restoration/vegetation planting, trail maintenance, power-washing of park monument signs, clean-up of the maintenance yard. The park benefitted from 19,316 hours of volunteer labor in 2016.

II. Recreation Facility Construction and Maintenance

A. New Construction/Expansion

Crystal Cove State Park was purchased in 1979, a General Plan adopted in 1982, and the majority of recreational facilities and infrastructure constructed by 1985. A General Plan Amendment and EIR were finalized in November 2003 resulting in the Crystal Cove Historic District – Preservation and Public Use Plan (PPUP). The first phase of cottage restoration, a $14.2 million public works project, was completed on March 29, 2006 and included the restoration of 22 cottages, road and utility improvements, slope stabilization, accessibility improvements, infrastructure upgrades, a new entrance station, accessibility and parking improvements, historic landscape restoration, and water quality measures. On November 16, 2007, the Office of Historic Preservation presented a Governor’s Historic Preservation Award to Crystal Cove State Park for the Phase I Restoration of the Historic District cottages.

In March of 2006, State Parks awarded a twenty-year concession contract to the non-profit Crystal Cove Alliance for the management and operation of food and lodging services in the park. These concession amenities include the Crystal Cove Shake Shack located on PCH, the Beachcomber Café in Cottage #15, and 13 cottages for overnight lodging. The lodging operation opened to public use on June 26, 2006 and has since enjoyed an astounding 99% occupancy rate. The Beachcomber Café which opened on August 15, 2006 continues to generate favorable reviews and gain in popularity. The concession operation generated over $12 million in gross revenues during 2016 and has proven to be a successful model for business partnerships serving the people of California.

Phase II of restoration was completed in 2012. This phase restored seven cottages and a series of garages: two cottages were restored as overnight rentals; three for educational purposes, research and special events; cottage 13 will be a museum

3 CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK NCCP/HCP ANNUAL REPORT dedicated to film history; one garage was converted to public restrooms and the remainder are storage for State Parks and CCA as well as a prep kitchen for the Beachcomber restaurant. Phase III, which includes the restoration of the final 17 cottages is currently in the permitting and fundraising stage.

The Moro Campground and Day Use Area, formerly a trailer park, opened to the public July 1st, 2011. The coastal campground boasts 60 campsites with ocean views. The day use area features picnic areas that can be rented for special events, 200 day use parking stalls with beach access, an interpretative area, public restrooms, water quality improvements and habitat enhancement.

The Berns Environmental Study Loop was completed in January 2014. The study loop development included improvements to the amphitheater, an interpretive facility near the amphitheater, and 5 educational stations exploring various resource-based research themes and installations allowing for such programming as citizen science projects and cultural heritage demonstrations.

B. Maintenance of Existing Facilities

Efforts continue to replace the modular structure at Los Trancos with an upgraded, current code compliant structure. Park-wide, the 30 plus year old infrastructure is consistently becoming more and more of a burden. State Parks continues repairing buildings as they begin to fail in an attempt to keep our infrastructure sound. Annual maintenance continues to increase in cost with reduction in long-standing benefit within the challenge of such a dynamic marine-influenced environment and aging infrastructure.

For example, the relatively new Moro Campground is already beginning to suffer failures, including plumbing and sewer lift station issues.

The Historic District is a focus of heavy maintenance attention, and we are fairly successful in keeping the restored facilities in good shape due to the funds dedicated for maintenance through the concession contract.

C. Facility Replacement/Repair

In 2016, several sewer lift stations were repaired throughout the park, including the stations on the South Beach and Hollow areas of the Historic District. In addition several water line leaks were repaired and reflect the growing concerns of addressing a large deferred maintenance need for much of the now 30 year old infrastructure.

Major upgrades to the main sewer lift station in the Crystal Cove Historic District were completed in 2016. This upgrade replaced the original 10 year old equipment with more equipment that is more efficient and reliable. The improvement was a joint maintenance project undertaken with both the concessionaire and State Parks.

In 2016 Crystal Cove State Park secured a grant for $10,000 through Crystal Cove Alliance for improved trail signage and trail maintenance. Currently, plans are underway for the installation of trail markers at all trail intersections with directional

4 CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK NCCP/HCP ANNUAL REPORT arrows and trail names affixed to 4’ x 4’ posts. Signs have been ordered, and an Eagle Scout has expressed interest in assisting with the installation. In addition, Southern California Edison ordered “Dead End/Utility Road” signs to be installed in 2017 at all the SCE spur roads that do not connect with the rest of the trail system. This additional signage will hopefully reduce the number of lost park visitors.

III. Infrastructure Construction and Maintenance Operation and maintenance activities are focused within existing footprints of developed areas, i.e. parking lots, restrooms, operations buildings, and roads and paved paths. The interface of open space with these facilities is controlled along their edges by brushing back to maintain Department standards for safe operations and viewshed. Trails and backcountry roads are also brushed back or weeds mown to maintain Department trail standards. If these maintenance activities are conducted during sensitive bird nesting season, a biological monitor will conduct surveys to identify conditions and measures for ensuring adverse impact avoidance.

State Parks worked with our concession partner on a comprehensive repaving and restriping maintenance project at Los Trancos Parking Lot. This work, as well as additional ADA compliance, public safety, and visitor serving elements including pedestrian safety lighting, shuttle stop and a improved parking control system, will be completed in 2017.

IV Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Since 1982, State Parks has undertaken continuous restoration efforts in support of coastal sage scrub, grassland, and riparian habitats within the park. Using Department funding sources during 2016, several hundred acres of weeds were controlled by use of herbicides, mowing, and hand pulling. Artichoke thistle, black mustard, fennel, arundo, iceplant and hemlock were the primary targets as well as some newer invasives such as Sahara mustard, Emex spinosa and Asphidelis sp. Over 70 acres of artichoke thistle were treated by NCC contract crews with an additional 140 acres and 305 hours of labor from State Park natural resource staff. All of the sites were treated with a combination of the herbicides Transline and Telar at an early growth stage.

At various locations a total of about 1,900 container plants were planted throughout the park. These plants were focused in ongoing restoration areas, including East Meadow and West Rest and were planted with NRM staff, volunteers, contract crews, and Cal Fire inmate crews. We also planted cactus as an earth day event in high traffic off trail areas at Reef Point and Treasure Cove as part of a volunteer effort on Earth Day.

The habitat restoration partnership with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy on East Flank has ended, and discussions continue with NCC to develop a plan with Land IQ to further restoration of this 10 acre site. False brome and artichoke thistle continue to be problems, and treatment of the artichoke thistle was done several times in 2016.

Two acres of mature cactus restoration was started in 2011, led by NCC in an effort to create habitat suitable for coastal cactus wrens. Degraded sites were chosen within eyesight of existing cactus patches that support nesting cactus wrens. The

5 CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK NCCP/HCP ANNUAL REPORT sites were cleared of all thatch which was then removed from the sites. Mature cactus up to 5 feet tall and 7-8 feet across were moved by truck and heavy equipment from a site in Lake Forest slated for development. Cactus branches as well as pads were also planted and watered in. The cactus patches will then be weeded and monitored for the next few years. At year 4, these sites have really taken off with lots of CSS germination and budding cactus pads. An additional 9.7 acres was established in 2014 along the “No Brains” closed trail. At this point, the cactus pads, segments and clumps have been planted and watered in, and weeding treatments continue. In addition, an interpretive Cactus Wren panel was created and has been installed at the original restoration areas.

Crystal Cove State Park is a pilot park for a state-wide trail inventory program that commenced in 2012. In the summer of 2011, park staff reviewed digital maps of the park and assigned attributes to each segment of trail, including use type, trail vs. road, dimensions, material, accessibility, etc. Once this phase was complete, park staff was outfitted with a Toughbook, GPS, rolling wheel, and GPS camera to walk every segment. The goal of this exercise is to ground truth the original assessment, as well as capture other data such as trail construction, failures and issues with the trails, potential problem areas, geologic features such as major and minor drainages and unstable slopes. Work continues on this project and will wrap in 2017.

Crystal Cove is also a pilot park for State Parks’ early detection rapid response program (EDRR). With help from the State Parks’ botanist, 16 weeds were identified as targets. The majority of designated search areas (pre-determined based on proximity to roads, facilities, and high traffic areas) within Crystal Cove were searched this year. As a result, NRM discovered and treated several populations of Sahara mustard throughout the park, spending 40 staff hours treating this emergent weed. NRM will continue EDRR efforts and will continue to monitor the sites where targets were previously discovered.

Park staff spent 313.5 staff hours monitoring trail use using trail counters at all the entrances to CCSP as well as on two illegal trails. The cameras are regularly monitored to determine traffic up and down the illegal trails. Efforts to shut down the “Nothing Better To Do” illegal trail have been largely successful with only occasional use. NRM spent over 200 staff hours brushing over illegal trails, installing signage and planting cactus in strategic areas to deter illegal trail use with mixed results; efforts will continue into 2017.

Natural resource staff conducted two California Gnatcatcher survey on the coastal terrace in late spring. A total of 57 birds were detected. This survey will be repeated in 2017.

Crystal Cove has also supported various research initiatives in the park some of which include looking at soil mycorrhizae and its relationship with native and non- native plants; spadefoot toad dispersal and genetics; several intertidal projects looking at the effects of sea level rise on intertidal communities/diversity; several citizen science projects including field trips on boats looking at plankton and fish diversity with the marine protected area of Crystal Cove; invasive seaweeds; anthropogenic effects on coastal populations of subtidal and intertidal species; global warming effects on coastal sage scrub recruitment; and water quality within the Area of Special Biological Significance .

6 CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK NCCP/HCP ANNUAL REPORT

V Fire Management Activities No controlled burns were conducted at CCSP in 2016 as most of the fire-prepared plots have recently received intense planting and seeding and jeopardy to young plants is thus avoided.

Annual fuel breaks were treated by the Department surrounding the park HQ and above El Morro School. Fuel Modification Zones were cut by contract under existing agreements with Emerald Bay, Irvine Cove Crest, and Phase 1 of Crystal Cove Heights. Pre-maintenance breeding bird surveys were conducted by the Department in coordination with the various homeowner associations.

In 2016 the community of Emerald Bay received a grant through Cal Fire to improve the existing fuel modification area within the park and immediately adjacent to the community. This will take place in 2017 and will include removal of non-native species such as tocolote and Russian thistle and the planting of rooted cactus and cactus pads. This project is currently in the permitting stage and is expected to start in spring 2017.

VI Miscellaneous Activities

None to report.

7 CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK NCCP/HCP ANNUAL REPORT Nature Reserve of Orange County

Annual Report 2016 Sections: 8.2 California Department of Fish and Wildlife Ecological Reserves

Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve Newport Beach, Orange County

Annual Work Report

Prepared by:

Carla Navarro Woods Land Management Program South Coast Region 5 California Department of Fish and Wildlife

February 2017

I. Introduction and Summary

The Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve (UNBER) is located in Newport Beach in Orange County, California. UNBER is a 752 acre coastal wetland located along the upper reaches of the Newport Bay, Orange County, California. Newport Bay is divided into two distinct areas: (1) the heavily developed lower Bay, know for its recreation and commercial significance; and, (2) the less developed upper Bay, known for its ecological significance. UNBER generally includes most of Upper Newport Bay north of the Pacific Coast Highway, from the southwestern boundary at Shellmaker Island along the center line of Back Bay Drive to the northeastern boundary at Jamboree Road Bridge.

UNBER is one of the last remaining coastal wetlands in southern California that continues to play a significant role in providing critical habitat for a variety of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and endangered species of birds and plants. The unique marine and terrestrial habitats within UNBER provide habitat for approximately 200 species of birds, 75 species of fish, 19 species of herpetofauna, 17 species of mammals, 12 orders of insects, and over 1,000 species of marine invertebrates. In addition, UNB is of commercial significance because it provides critical habitat for commercially important species of fish, such as California halibut (Paralichthys californicus), sand bass (Paralabrix spp.), topsmelt (Atherinops affinis), and anchovy (Engraulis spp.).

UNBER was designated as an ecological reserve by the California Fish and Game Commission in 1975 to conserve, restore, and enhance wetland habitats. The creation of UNBER was the result of several years of efforts by Federal, State, and local agencies as well as members of the community to preserve UNB from increasing pressures from surrounding development. The creation of UNBER was made possible by the Newport Bay Settlement Agreement, signed by the Irvine Company (TIC), the County of Orange, the City of Newport Beach, and the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). The initial land agreement included 527 acres; an additional 214 acres was added to UNBER in 1989. The guiding document for UNBER is the Land Management Plan (Gerstenberg 1988). The property has not had a PAR analysis performed and there is no endowment for management.

The purpose of this Annual Report is to report on the accomplished tasks from January 1- December 31, 2016. The Department fiscal year encompasses the period from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016. Department supported program numbers for the Back Bay Science Center are for the Department fiscal year, not calendar year. Unless otherwise stated, all tasks were performed by Department staff, including Carla Navarro Woods (Orange County Land Manager), Robin Madrid (Education Coordinator), Tim Ford (Fish and Wildlife Technician), and Scientific Aides.

II. Management Activities

A. Improvements

1. General Maintenance 1. North eastern boundary. To protect sensitive habitat, approximately 16 linear feet of split doweled fencing was placed near Jamboree Bridge to protect the marsh from illegal trail use. ‘Area Closed’ signage was placed on the fencing. We have not observed foot or horse traffic enter the area since fencing was erected. 2. Big Canyon trail. Trail is regularly maintained by DFW staff to remove vegetative overgrowth and/or repair the trail surface. 3. Big Canyon. Approximately 80 feet of doweled wood fencing was placed in an open area adjacent to the parking lot. It created a small gathering area for Inside the Outdoors education groups and public visitors while protecting the marsh from human intrusion. We plan to add benches to the area to enhance the visitor experience. 4. Ongoing sign replacement and/or repair when needed.

B. Biological Surveys

1. California least tern (Sterna antillarum browni) monitoring There is one least tern colony that nests at Tern Island (also referred to as ‘Hot Dog Island”). In May, remote monitoring begins upon when birds are observed on the island. Weekly nest searches are conducted by CDFW staff to document the numbers of eggs, nesting pairs, nesting sites, and estimated fledglings. All of the data is sent to Nancy Frost of DFW in the South Coast Region.

2016 Season During 2016, 20 nests were observed at Tern Island. Of these, 5 nests produced 10 chicks, 8 nests had an unknown fate, 6 nests were non-viable, and 1 nest was abandoned after second breeding wave.

Black Skimmer Use This season, black skimmers established a large nesting colony on the eastern side of the island. Approximate counts of black skimmer individuals ranged from 50 to several hundred throughout the breeding season. The enhanced presence of black skimmers may have contributed to a general decrease of avian predation on Least terns; large groups of skimmers were observed loafing gregariously on the adjacent mudflats and harass other birds that came close to the nest site. Before the last dredge cycle, black skimmers had established a large nesting colony on ‘Skimmer Island’, a small nesting island located to the north of Tern Island. In order to increase basin capacity for sediment input from the watershed, Skimmer Island was removed and the colony was displaced. DFW tried unsuccessfully to re-establish the colony on the newly created ‘New Least Tern Island’.

2017 Season Planning Nest site preparation was performed by DFW staff and volunteers in November and December. Target cover during the breeding season is 15-30% cover. To accomplish this, vegetative cover is reduced to approximately 10% cover to account for expected vegetative growth during the breeding season.

In an effort to identify potential predators and document nest attendance, we will be placing two trail cameras on Hot Dog Island before the start of the 2017 breeding season. Two concealed cameras will be placed on the island; one Bushnell trail camera and a panoramic camera to obtain a wider angle. Methodologies are still being worked out, but efforts are being made to duplicate the methodologies used on other Least tern colonies to add to an existing dataset. More information will be included in the next Annual Report. Camera deployment, maintenance, photo downloads and analysis will be performed by Department staff and/or volunteers

2. Light footed Ridgway’s rail (Rallus obsoletus levipes) Monitoring is provided annually under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Dick Zembal. The MOU allows for annual nest searches and egg collection to the breeding program at the SeaWorld Surveys were conducted during the start of the breeding season and include approximately coastal wetlands from the Ventura County to the Mexican Border. The survey data is provided as part of a final annual report submitted to DFW.

In 2016, 12 rail rafts were constructed by Dick Zembal and volunteers for placement throughout the reserve. The rafts are used as excape cover during extreme high tides, when the marsh plain is inundated. The raft is composed of a small wooden platform (24 in. x 33 in.) constructed of pine boards on the top and sides. The bottom contains compartments with secured styrofoam for flotation. The entire raft is anchored with PVC onto the marsh. Each platform has a cover; the cover is created of willow or metal caging material then covered with palm fronds to create a refuge from elements and make the platform less conspicuous in the marsh.

2016 Season In 2016, a total of 202 pairs were documented to exhibit breeding behavior. Although it still represents the largest subpopulation in the state, there was an overall decline of 13.7% compared to 2015.

3. Beldings savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis rostratus) Monitoring is provided every five years under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Dick Zembal. The last survey effort was completed in April 2015 and next survey effort would occur in five years in 2020. In 2015, 278 territories were recorded at Upper Newport Bay; this represents a 4% increase from 268 territories identified in 2011. This subpopulation is ranks 5th within a total of 30 marshes. The majority of the territories were observed in the northwest corner of the bay, above the salt dike, and below the Muth Center towards Jamboree Bridge. Colonies are concentrated in dense pickleweed (Salicornia sp.) in the mid marsh, a little higher than they are typically observed. It is thought that they are nesting in higher marsh areas to avoid more frequent tidal inundation. However, this makes the population more vulnerable to human and pet trespass, mammalian predators, stands of Algerian sea lavender, and habitats dominated by song sparrows. Management efforts for 2017 will be focused on removal of Algerian sea lavender and reducing human trespass.

4. Algerian Sea Lavendar Department staff began presence/absence surveys of Algerian Sea Lavender in the upper reaches of the bay, prioritizing sensitive habitats necessary for bird nesting. The project is growing with the help of Newport Bay Conservancy, Dick Zembal of Orange County Water District, and potential funding provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The program objective is to identify areas of heavy infestation and test removal techniques such as tarping, hand removal and herbicide application. At time of publication, grant was being finalized and more details will follow in the next annual report.

5. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) The BBSC has a nesting platform that was erected in 1993 and has been successfully utilized by nesting ospreys from 2006-2016. In 2016, three chicks were banded by Pete Bloom and his associates. The male osprey that tended the nest was an untagged bird that was frequently observed by staff and photographers perched in areas around the Back Bay Science Center. During summer 2016, DFW staff found an untagged and partially decomposed osprey carcass during marsh surveys. The male osprey has not been observed since late summer, and we suspect that the osprey carcass may have been the male. In December 2016, a new male osprey and the old female were observed nest building on the platform at the Back Bay Science Center.

Below is a summary of the Osprey data to date. 1993 - Nest Platform Constructed and Erected by Russ Kerr and the California Department of Fish and Game 2003 - Nest Spruced up - more Sticks Added 2005 - First Attempt at Nesting Produced 2 Failed Eggs 2006 - First Successful Fledging of 2 Chicks 2007 – Two Chicks Successfully Fledged Platform moved after breeding season to its current location to complete the Back Bay Science Center. 2008 - Three Chicks Fledged, both were banded. 2009 – Four Chicks Banded and Fledged 2010 - Three Chicks Banded and Fledged 2011 - Three Chicks Banded and Fledged 2012- Three chicks banded and fledged 2013- Reproductive failure, cause unknown. 2014-Three chicks banded and fledged. 2015-Two chicks banded and fledged. One egg unhatched and taken for analysis. 2016-Three chicks banded and fledged.

C. Habitat Restoration and Maintenance

1. The California Coastal Commission's Community-Based Restoration and Education Program. The Restoration program is working at sites on City of Newport Beach, County of Orange and State of California property. Through monthly "ROOTS Events", large groups (up to 120 volunteers) remove invasive plants and install native plants to restore coastal sage scrub habitat. During weekly "Steward Days", small groups (12- 15) of volunteers focus on propagating native plants that will be installed in the field during the rainy season. The group operates a native plant nursery of Department of Fish and Game property at the Back Bay Science Center. They are currently working in Newport Valley, a City property adjacent to Back Bay Drive. For specific program information, please contact Matt Yurko. Mr. Yurko’s email is: [email protected]

2. Exotic Weed Removal Herbicide application and/or hand removal of nuisance or non-native vegetation is part of the maintenance routine at UNBER. Prior to the start of the avian breeding season (September 2-March 1), the primary focus is non-native vegetation removal and during the breeding season (March 1 –September 1) the maintenance efforts shift to trail maintenance, repairs and sign replacement. The nesting season does vary by species and year, so access to sensitive areas may be restricted at any time from January through September. Approximately 5 acres were treated for non- native and/or nuisance species throughout the reserve.

3. Nesting Island Maintenance UNBER has two nesting islands located in the upper reaches of the bay. Tern Island, is an island that is used by California Least terns, Black Skimmers, American Avocets, and killdeer for nesting. Every winter and early spring the island is maintained by removing non-native vegetation through hand removal and herbicide treatment. New Least Tern Island is a new island created in 2008 by the Upper Newport Bay Restoration Project. It is 2.3 acres at MLLW. Tern (aka HotDog) Island is the primary nesting location for a small colony of California Least Terns. For the 2015 season, vegetation management of Tern Island began early with hand removal and herbicide treatment of nuisance vegetation. Breeding information for the Least terns are provided under Biological Surveys section. The rare and endangered coastal woolly head (Nemacaulis denudata) has an established population on the island. We take care to avoid any damage to this annual species.

D. Public Services The Back Bay Science Center and the Ecological Reserve provide planned research, education, and recreational opportunities provided through the Department or in coordination with our partners and local non-governmental organizations. Many of these services include volunteer coordination, educational programs and public outreach, access requests, trail designation, maintenance of lands and facilities, patrol, enforcement and research.

Public Events within the Reserve 1. Newport Bay Conservancy (NBC) The Newport Bay Conservancy is a local nongovernmental organization that supports the DFW lands mission by providing educational opportunities for the community at large to learn about our watershed and ecology of the Newport Bay. NBC hosted BBSC public tours, kayak tours, outrigger tours, docent-led walking tours around the bay to help support education and outreach of the estuary. For more information, please visit their website at: www. newportbayconservancy. org

2. Newport Beach Triathlon The Newport Beach Triathlon is a race event that utilizes Back Bay Drive for the bike portion of its race. The event begins at Newport Dunes with a one mile swim, then participants ride their bikes on a loop through Back Bay Drive, and return to Newport Dunes for the final three mile run. A special event permit was granted to the race organizers and the race was held in October 2016 with approximately 500 participants. Pre- and post-event coordination and meetings have been handled the Reserve Manager.

3. CROP Hunger Walk Each year, the Our Lady Queen of Angels elementary school holds a small walking event to raise money for disadvantaged youth. The event is usually held in October, where walkers use a portion of Back Bay Drive from San Joaquin Hills to East Bluff as part of the charity walk route. In October 2016, the event attracted approximately 100-125 walkers to participate. The organizers provided one water station at the Big Canyon parking lot where walkers stop to hydrate and throw their trash into receptacles before continuing.

4. Sea and Sage Audubon Society Monthly Bird Counts Every third Wednesday of each month, the Sea and Sage Audubon Society conducts monthly bird counts at the Reserve. The Newport Sea Base provides a pontoon for birders to count birds observed from the southern Reserve boundary to New Least Tern Island. Monthly reports are provided to the Department. Bird species list can be found on the Audubon Society website at: www.seaandsageaudubon.org.

Research Access at Upper Newport Bay 1. Chris Crompton, Orange County Watersheds The County of Orange/OC Watersheds is required by the Santa Ana Regional Quality Control Board to conduct water quality, algae, and sediment monitoring as described in the Municipal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and the Nutrient Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Monitoring Program for Newport Bay. Monthly water, benthic and algal samples are collected from established sampling locations each year during favorable tides. Quarterly reports are made available to the Department and also published online for the public to review. Advance notice of sampling dates are coordinated with the Reserve Manager. 2. Richard Ambrose, UCLA Long term climate change and sedimentation. Access allows researchers to conduct vegetation surveys, collect sediment cores, and install tidal loggers on intertidal mudflats Data collection is ongoing.

3. Sea and Sage Audubon Society Monthly bird counts, as described above under ‘Public Events’

Educational Programs and Outreach at the Back Bay Science Center The Back Bay Science Center is a teaching and research facility located at the southeast corner of the ecological reserve on Shellmaker Road, off Back Bay Drive. The facility has three buildings and is maintained through a joint partnership between the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the City of Newport Beach and County of Orange. The administrative building provides office space for staff and volunteers of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, City of Newport Beach, and California Coastal Commission. A second building provides office and laboratory space for the County of Orange Public Health Laboratory and a third building is a teaching lab used for education and research.

Educational programs are coordinated through DFW staff Robin Madrid. During the fiscal year, the Department provided 186 educational programs for 9,034 participants from school groups, youth organizations, and the community at the Back Bay Science Center. The BBSC hosted and/or provided meeting space for Boy Scouts of America, Orange County Marine Protected Area Council, Newport Bay Conservancy, DFW staff, UC Irvine, and the Community Restoration Program.

1. Marine Aquaria There are four indoor aquaria and three outdoor tanks at the Back Bay Science Center (BBSC), which are used as educational displays of native fish and invertebrate species from the Newport Bay. These tanks are used in educational programs, tours, and public outreach events. Aquaria maintenance is possible through the efforts of volunteers and scientific aides. Some of the duties include: weekly water changes, regularly scheduled cleanings and feedings, food preparation and storage, regular system checks and repairs, water quality testing, supplies and equipment orders, and the coordination of volunteers and staff to assist with each task.

2. Marine Life Inventory and Research Ongoing monitoring studies have been taking place at the BBSC for several years. The Marine Life Inventory (MLI) is one of the most popular and well-known programs. The MLI occurs one Saturday of each month, as determined by the tide schedule. This program is designed to monitor seasonal changes as well as natural and/or human- mediated changes observed throughout the year in the Back Bay. To study these changes we call on the help of high school students, college students, and sometimes the general public to assist our scientists and educators in collecting data. There are three different collection methods used to collect marine life from different habitat areas of the estuary: (1) a mud grad collects mudflat inhabitants; (2) a 100’ seine net collects fish and invertebrates from the water column; and, (3) an otter trawl collects bottom dwellers. The marine life are collected, identified, measured, and then released. This long term monitoring information is collected and inputted into computer database. The BBSC also collaborates with several local colleges to coordinate research projects, provide access letters, or letters of support. This fiscal year, 12 MLI events were held for 231 students/volunteers participants.

3. Coastal Cleanup Day In September 2016 approximately 1,000 participants from the community attended the clean-up efforts around the Back Bay as part of the state-wide Coastal Cleanup Day. The Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center is the headquarters for the land-based clean-up, which is coordinated by OC Parks and the Newport Bay Conservancy (NBC). Land based cleanup effort is focused within the Upper Newport Bay Preserve that is managed by OC Parks. The Back Bay Science Center is the headquarters for the water-based clean-up, which is coordinated by the Department, with assistance and support from NBC, and 150 volunteers arrived for clean up at this site. Four months of planning and preparation go into this event, spearheaded by Robin Madrid.

4. Earth Day Each year, around April 22, the Newport Bay Conservancy and OC Parks take the lead on organizing a public outreach event to encourage environmental awareness and stewardship. For the past four years the event has been held at the Muth Interpretive Center. In 2016, approximately 600 participants visited the Muth Center and reserve for this special event. Our department/program participates by attending on the day of the event with a canopy and table to provide information about Upper Newport Bay wildlife and regulations.

5. Newport Bay Conservancy (NBC) Public Programs The NBC usually holds one major public event each quarter for the community at the Back Bay Science Center. The primary focus of these events is to inform the public of current research at the Bay or topics of interest to the general public.

6. Boy Scouts of America and the Newport Sea Base The Boy Scouts regularly collaborate with the BBSC for Eagle Scout Projects. This calendar year, approximately 200 linear feet of split doweled fencing and trex were installed at the Back Bay Science Center. These projects require careful planning and coordination, and permit preparation through the Department and the California Coastal Commission. The BBSC also offers two summer programs from June-September: the Shark Camp and Fishing for Science for Boy Scout participants. DFG coordinates these events with the Newport Sea Base to teach fishing techniques, fishing safety, shark and skate ecology, and most importantly, teach a strong sense of conservation values. The Newport Sea Base is part of the Boy Scout program that offers sailing and marine education open to both boys and girls ages 5-17. The majority of their programs are hosted at their own facility In Newport Beach but they also utilize the Reserve and the Back Bay Science Center for educational programs about our local watershed and coastal wetlands ecology. Advance coordination with the Reserve Manager and Educational Programs coordinator is required for an Access Permit and space availability at the BBSC.

Patrol and Enforcement 1. Staff Patrol Department staff provide regularly scheduled outreach and information for the Reserve, other DFW properties in Orange County, and at local fishing areas. Frequent property patrols are performed to identify missing signage and property damage on the Reserve. There are many access points to the Reserve and adequate monitoring of illegal uses is difficult.

2. Unplanned Public Contact These are often unplanned encounters with the pubic that require information or enforcement. Throughout the Reserve we have areas of sensitive habitat that the public is not allowed to enter or have equipment and/or activity restrictions. These common occurrences often require immediate attention from the Reserve Manager.

E. Operations Administration Training and meetings

1. Coordination Meetings, Reserve Manager a. The Reserve Manager usually meets with each Access Letter Permitee to review permit conditions, resolve issues, and coordinate event needs at the Reserve. b. BBSC Facilities Meeting. Quarterly meetings of the BBSC operating partners to discuss facilities issues. c. NCC Landowners Meetings. Quarterly meetings with NCC to discuss issues of participating NCCP properties. At UNBER, only the upland portions are part of the NCCP. d. Orange County Marine Protected Area Council. Quarterly meeting to coordinate research, monitoring, and enforcement of marine protected areas. e. Newport Bay Watershed Executive Committee Meetings. Quarterly meetings to discuss watershed issues among the participating cities, including: Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, Irvine, Newport Beach, Lake Forest, and Tustin. For more information please visit website at: http://www.ocwatersheds.com/programs/ourws/wmaareas/wmacentraloc/nbexecc omm f. Public Events meetings. Access coordination to ensure habitat protection on the day of the event.

III. Workload

A. Supervision and Staffing

Tim Dillingham Lands Supervisor / \ Carla Navarro (70%) Robin Madrid (100%) Reserve Manager Education Coordinator / \ / \ TJ Gaven Tim Ford Dave Meyer Brittany Poloni Kathleen Sheridan Scientific Aide Fish & Widlife Tech Scientific Aide Scientific Aide Scientific Aide

Tim Dillingham is the Lands Program Supervisor for staff in Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara, and San Diego Counties. All special projects, access letters, and large public events require management staff approval. Educational programs, special events, and volunteer activities that operate within the BBSC complex are under the jurisdiction of Robin Madrid. Restoration, biological monitoring, construction projects and volunteer activities that occur within the Reserve and are outside of the BBSC are under the jurisdiction of Carla Navarro. Programs or events that overlap the BBSC and the reserve are cooperatively managed by both Carla Navarro and Robin Madrid.

B. Scheduling

The schedule in Appendix 2 identifies the approximate schedule of field work throughout the fiscal year. Those tasks (both field and non-field) with specific critical milestone dates are listed below in chronological order. The field tasks with critical dates are bolded in the schedule.

Appendix 1: Annual Task Schedule

Task July-September October- January - April - June December March Nest Site Preparation After September 15th X Before March 15th

Least Tern Monitoring X X X X X X Weed Eradiation

Habitat Restoration X X X X X Trail Maintenance CA coastal gnatcatcher surveys X X Light footed clapper rail survey

Coal Canyon Ecological Reserve

Annual Work Report

Prepared by:

Carla Navarro Land Management Program South Coast Region California Department of Fish and Wildlife

February 2017

I. Introduction and Summary

Coal Canyon Ecological Reserve (CCER) is located in the 11 miles west of Corona, just off CA 91 freeway in Orange County, California. The Reserve is sandwiched between the Cleveland National Forest to the east, Chino Hills State Park to the north, and the County of Orange Parks to the south. CCER is nestled in the Santa Ana Mountains where the vegetation is dominantly chaparral and chamise-chaparral. The shrub community is dominated by chamise, Yerba Santa, and lilac species. Other commons species include manzanita, black sage, Lord’s candle, and chapparal beargrass. Coal Canyon ER contains Tecate cypress (Cupressus forbesii), a rare and endemic tree species. In southern California, Tecate cypress are restricted to several small and disjunct populations in the Santa Ana Mountains in Orange County and on the Otay Mesa in San Diego County.

The purpose of this Annual Report is to report on the accomplished tasks in the reserve. The Department’s fiscal year is June 30, 2015 –July 1, 2016. However, for the purposes of this report, activities are recorded for the calendar year, January 1- December 31, 2016. Unless otherwise stated, all tasks were performed by Department staff, including Carla Navarro (Land Manager), Tim Ford (Fish and Wildlife Technician), TJ Graven (Scientific Aide) and Kyle Maxwell (Scientific Aide).

II. Lands Maintenance

In 2015, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided Wildlife Restoration Act grant funding to support dedicated staff, materials and equipment necessary to maintain area security while assuring protection of wildlife habitat and species values. The Wildlife Habitat Development and Maintenance grant was dedicated for three unstaffed properties in Orange County: Coal Canyon Ecological Reserve, Laguna Laurel Ecological Reserve and Trabuco Canyon. Additional Department properties in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara Counties were also included as part of the grant but will not be part of this report. The primary grant objective is to protect, enhance, and restore the maritime chaparral, riparian, grassland, oak woodland, and scrub habitats for a diversity of species that rely on them while allowing compatible wildlife dependent public uses. The overall purpose is to provide site security, public access, public education, invasive species management, and/or habitat restoration at the unstaffed Orange County properties through funding of one temporary staff and related equipment. This annual report details some of the broader grant accomplishments at Coal Canyon Ecological Reserve during the calendar year.

A. Accomplishments 1. Site Security, Maintenance and Geodatabase. To ensure security, vulnerable portions of the property boundaries were reinforced with new fencing to prevent unauthorized access. New signs were installed and/or replaced on property boundaries, gates, and trails (authorized and unauthorized) to clearly identify ownership and allowed uses. All main trails, illegal trails, access points and signs were mapped using GPS. GIS maps were created to show property access points, boundaries, trespass areas and main trails. Created a signage maintenance log with GIS maps and photos to ensure signs are replaced when damaged. Property boundaries and trails were regularly monitored for unauthorized uses, encroachments, and trespass. Regular property patrols were conducted to identify unauthorized entries and land uses. Trail cameras were purchased to monitor illegal public uses in unauthorized areas.

2. Visitor, Recreation, Access Management. One kiosk was installed near the Main Divide Road, in an area of frequent visitor use. A second kiosk is planned, but location has not yet been finalized. Currently working with DFW staff to add a new trail map and updated regulatory signage. Existing trails and access points were monitored and maintained to allow public access. Routine site monitoring was conducted to located unauthorized entry points. Unauthorized entry points were identified and made impassible. Illegal trails were mapped. Performed regular coordination with adjacent landowners to reduce illegal trespass and

3 coordinate unauthorized trail closures.

3. Habitat Improvements and Invasive Species Management. Coordinated biological surveys of Sahara mustard and other priority weeds at Coal Canyon ER. Invasive weed populations were identified and mapped by the Nature Conservancy and the information shared among neighboring public properties. A weed eradication plan is being developed to address invasive weeds along roadways. Hand removal will begin in spring, after the end of the avian breeding season. When possible, roadside weeds will be targeted first due to ease of access and conspicuous location.

4. Equipment Maintenance and Storage. Purchased equipment parts and supplies for fencing and sign installation, including: t-posts, smooth wire, and lumber. Purchased new hand and power tools, hardware and lumber needed to build kiosks. Purchased container to be used as storage area for equipment parts and supplies. Container is currently being stored at the Back Bay Science Center in Newport Beach. Site was chosen as most secure due to presence of office staff and location behind locked gate. This is also the reporting location for Scientific Aide.

5. Hunting and Water Source Development. Coal Canyon Ecological Reserve is the only location where hunting is allowed in Orange County. Only archery and shotguns are permitted on the property. We recommend that people walk in from Chino Hills State Park to scout out the areas so they have a clear understanding of the Chino Hills State Park and Coal Canyon Ecological Reserve boundaries. Access with firearms is permitted through the Cleveland National Forest, Trabuco Ranger District, in Corona.

In response to severe drought conditions that persisted through 2016, Coal Canyon ER was evaluated for water source development. The property was assessed for suitable habitat areas, maintenance and personnel needs, and potential access issues. We are in the process of evaluating hunter needs, opportunities and potential conflicts.

B. Planning and Reporting

NCC. Coal Canyon ER participates in the Central/Coastal Orange County Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP). The NCCP was created to protect habitats and wildlife in large-scale ecosystem landscapes. The Natural Communities Coalition coordinates quarterly meeting between landowners participating in the coastal and central NCCP. The meetings are an opportunity to share recent research, management strategies, and identify priority tasks for the Reserve system. The Central Orange County NCCP requires an Annual Report that describes activities within the reserve system.

4 Each landowner is responsible for annual reporting of activities that occur on each property. Wildlife Restoration Grant. Annual performance reports are submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for detailing progress on grant objectives.

C. Supervision and Staffing

Tim Dillingham Lands Supervisor / Carla Navarro (30%) Reserve Manager

Tim Dillingham is the new Lands Program Supervisor for the South Coast Region. All special projects and access letters require his prior approval. The Reserve Manager is Carla Navarro and the Scientific Aide is Kyle Maxwell.

Appendix 1: Location Maps

6 Nature Reserve of Orange County Annual Report 2016 Sections: 8.3 – 8.6 Orange County Parks City of Irvine City of Newport Beach The Irvine Company

February 9, 2017

Mr. James Sulentich Executive Director Natural Communities Coalition 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue Irvine, California 92618

Subject: 2016 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT and 2017 ANNUAL WORK PLAN NATURAL COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PLAN (NCCP) and HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN (HCP) IMPLEMENTATION AGREEMENT (IA), SECTION 4.4.5

Dear Mr. Sulentich:

Please find attached the NCCP/HCP Annual Progress Report for 2016 and Annual Work Plan for 2017 for lands owned by OC Parks, City of Irvine, City of Newport Beach and the Irvine Company. The report satisfies the NCCP/HCP IA Section 4.4.5 requirements.

The report was prepared in accordance with the Natural Communities Coalition (NCC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) guidelines and uses the NCC recommended table format.

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me at (714) 508-4778.

Sincerely,

Sherry Fuller Director, Senior Business Operations Manager

Attachments

cc: Stacy Blackwood, OC Parks Michelle Clemente, City of Newport Beach Jonathan Nicks, OC Parks Dan Miller, Irvine Company John Gannaway, OC Parks Dean Kirk, Irvine Company John Gump, OC Parks Mike O’Connell, IRC Jennifer Naegele, OC Parks David Raetz, IRC Laurie Hoffman, City of Irvine John Graves, IRC Darin Loghrey, City of Irvine Laura Detweiler, City of Newport Beach

NCC Annual Report 2016

Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Introduction: This progress report and annual work program was prepared following the guidelines provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish & Wildlife “Recommended Outline for Reserve Owner/Manager Annual Work Programs”, dated February 10, 2003 using the NCC recommended table format.

Note: All 2017 research, monitoring, and management projects summarized on the following pages that require NCCP compliance determinations (specifically, projects directly related to the conservation and management of NCC Target Habitat and Species, namely, sage scrub (CSS), California Gnatcatcher, Cactus Wren, and Orange-Throated Whiptail) or those projects requested by the NCC Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for review, will be developed as full proposals using the format recommended by USFWS and CDFW (project justification, methods [hypotheses, approach, methodology, sites, analysis], timeline, project outputs, evaluation of potential impacts, investigators, literature cited & reviewed, tables or figures). These proposals will be submitted for review by the TAC as they are developed prior to the initiation of each project. The NCC review period is 45 days, after which projects may be initiated if no comments are received. All CDFW, USFWS, and NCC nesting bird and exotic species control guidelines will be followed. Highest priority issues include fire prevention and control, rapid landscape-scale restoration of native habitats, and landscape connectivity for wildlife. Projects initiated by NCC on OC Parks-owned land are not included in this reporting or work plan (e.g., NCC oak survey, NCC cactus wren survey, NCC California Gnatcatcher survey, NCC vegetation survey), although we look forward to continuing to coordinate and collaborate with these efforts. Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Recreation Use, Monitoring & Management:

Current Use Policies: Docent-led hiking, mountain biking, passive Existing policies will remain as the general rule recreational fitness activities, and equestrian through 2017. programs for the public. Limit is generally 25 participants with a minimum of 2 “IRC-Certified” Managed self-guided wilderness access days will volunteers. However, on the paved Hicks Haul continue in Limestone Canyon and Black Star / Road, when adequate volunteer coverage is Baker Canyons.* Identified sensitive areas, such available we have experimented splitting as raptor nesting locations, will be gated off to participants into two groups, with a minimum of self guided access and volunteer patrols will be four volunteers and a limit of 30 participants. This deployed to monitor the public user groups. have also allowed for increased safety of small groups travelling closer together. We will continue to have in 2017 one wilderness access day per month on IRC-managed areas: Managed self guided access days continued to OC Parks Open Space and the City of Irvine’s be implemented in Limestone Canyon and Black Open Space Preserve. This allows Wilderness Star / Baker Canyons* in 2016 with the addition Access Days to rotate between three separate of a 75-person Exploration Day for hikers, and locations to minimize human impacts on wildlife mountain bike users in Agua Chinon. Trails used movement. for this new self-guided program were Agua Chinon to the West Sinks Deck up Cactus to A self-guided Exploration Day will continue in Limestone Ridge to East Sinks Deck. Markel 2017, held every other month in Agua Chinon. Spur has also been made available to users. This will allow access to the West and East Sinks Decks and Markel Spur loop.

Large Events- Large Events There were two Into the Wild Trail Run events In 2017 large events (more than 100 people)

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

held in 2016. In May of 2016 there were 199 such as Into the Wild trail runs and mountain bike runners and 20 spectators in Baker/Black Star.* races are planned for the following months and In November of 2016 there were 117 runners and locations: 25 spectators in Limestone. In addition, there was May- MTB Race, Limestone. an OC MTB Limestone XC race in September of June-Trail Run, Black Star/Baker.* 2016. This race had a total of 52 mountain bike September-MTB Race, Limestone. racers. 34 made one lap. 18 of the racers September-Trail Run, Fremont.* completed 2 laps. There were a total of 30 Into November-MTB Race, Fremont.* the Wild volunteers and spectators. November-Trail Run, Limestone.

An average of 3 events per month were offered Activities will continue at the Mesa, with on the Mesa using the temporary Canyons fluctuation dependent on construction activities in Staging Area.* the temporary Canyons Staging Area.*

Public access was cancelled due to wet weather depending on the trail assessment by OC Parks rangers. Conditions are now relayed through a color coded trail map providing access abilities dependent on trail conditions, and on days with Red Flag Warning conditions and/or Santa Ana Winds as determined by the Orange County Fire Authority and the National Weather Service.

* Note: not a part of NCCP but is adjacent * Note: not a part of NCCP but is adjacent protected open space included for reference. protected open space included for reference.

Recreational Monitoring: The Irvine Ranch Conservancy offers an array of The volunteer program will continue to expand in - Use & Access programs on the OC Parks portion of the historic an effort to manage and implement recreational Irvine Ranch. This land is currently referred to as and interpretive use of the property, and connect the Irvine Ranch Open Space. The following more people to the land in meaningful ways. totals include recreation, education, restoration,

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

citizen science and more. These include NCCP Public access will continue to be suspended and easement land.* The time frame is from during Red Flag Warning conditions and/or Santa January 1 through December 31, 2016. Ana Winds as determined by the Orange County Fire Authority and the National Weather Service. Total activities offered: 1376 Total activities implemented: 1230 The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks Website in Total volunteers: 5753 partnership with multiple land owners and Total volunteer hours: 19,335 partners will continue to be enhanced in an effort Actual public participants: 9,699 to increase the public awareness and Public participant stewardship/trail work hours: participation in the land. 2,038 The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks also has a The following public recreation and interpretation Facebook tool, which will continue to be used to programs were offered from January 1 through expand the public awareness and participation in December 31, 2016. Some programs were the land. cancelled due to the Red Flag Warnings, Rain Closure and Santa Ana Wind events. The quarterly program brochure will continue to expand and include the listing of program Total recreation programs offered: 675 options throughout the NCCP locations. Total recreation programs implemented: 582 Total volunteers: 3,129 Total volunteer hours: 9,890 Actual public participants: 8,790 Number of programs per NCCP Location: Limestone Canyon: 387 Weir Canyon: 66 Fremont Canyon: 65* Black Star/Baker: 148*

Total Trail Crew programs offered: 40 Total Trail Crew implemented: 39

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Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Total volunteers: 87 Total volunteer hours: 515 Total public participants: 40

Bi-monthly managed self-guided Wilderness Access Days in Limestone Canyon and Black Star / Baker Canyons* were continued in 2016. Sensitive areas were gated off to self guided access and volunteer patrols were deployed to monitor the public user groups.

The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks Website in partnership with multiple land owners and partners continues to be used to connect the community with available programs. The site receives more than 70,000 page views and has approximately 6,900 active users per month.

A joint effort quarterly program brochure continues to expanded to include Irvine Ranch Conservancy, City of Irvine, OC Parks, State Parks, Laguna Canyon Foundation, Newport Bay Conservancy, Sea and Sage Audubon, City of Newport Beach and the Coastal Commission programs. This brochure is distributed county wide through all of the above mentioned organizations and other outside organizations.

* Note: not a part of NCCP but is adjacent protected open space included for reference.

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Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Recreational Monitoring: Private programs, outreach programs and patrols Private programs, outreach programs and patrols - Private Programs, have been incorporated into the above recreation will continue in 2017. Outreach Programs and interpretation numbers. and Patrols

User Compliance Unauthorized Access Monitoring Program: Enforcement activities and monitoring equipment Programs: used in the Unauthorized Access Monitoring - Access Monitoring Camera traps, video surveillance, trail counters Program will continue in 2017. and patrols were conducted to identify and monitor levels of unauthorized access and unauthorized trail use. This allowed the Irvine Ranch Conservancy and OC Park Rangers to establish unauthorized use patterns and focus resources to manage the issue.

In an effort to reduce unauthorized public access, OC Parks implemented targeted enforcements based on use patterns of unauthorized public access. Enforcement activities included patrols, visual deterrence, and citation of individuals primarily by 3 OC Parks staff, (1 vacancy) assigned to the Irvine Ranch Open Space.

The following OC Parks enforcement activities were implemented: Contacts: 148 Warning citations: 11 Citations (parking & civil): 7 Medical assists/aid: 9 Maintenance tasks: 96

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Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Patrol hours: 1,591 Patrol miles: 12,432

User Compliance Seasonal closures for nesting raptors in Wilderness Access Days will continue to take Programs: Limestone Canyon were again not implemented place in Limestone Canyon and Black Star - Monitoring and Human because there were no active nests in the Wilderness Area. Alternative trails will be Access Management immediate vicinity of trails. available during Wilderness Access Days in the Data from public access program reports was event of seasonal trail closures due to sensitive compiled and overlaid onto a trail layer to species’ breeding activity. produce a map of recreational activity for 2016. Data are subject to both reporting and entry error Access by entry permit holders will continue to be and do not include some private hikes and tracked with an access request and calendar access from management activities. system to reducing scheduling conflicts and avoid excessive activities in particular areas. CDFW LAG funding was received by NCC in collaboration with IRC to study recreation and its OC Parks will continue to allocate up to four effects on wildlife. Funding totaled $75K and Rangers to the property. Rangers will be on duty included a supplemental in-kind match from NCC, seven days per week 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. IRC, and OC Parks. Project title: Assessing Their hours will flex depending on the effectiveness of adaptive recreation management unauthorized access monitoring results and the strategies and evaluation of core NCCP habitat creation of targeted enforcement. OC Parks will areas. continue to document the number of unauthorized interceptions, warnings and Human monitoring access cameras: citations on a monthly basis. Total days scheduled: 43 OC Parks will add two maintenance staff in 2017. Total implemented: 38 Total volunteers: 86 Total volunteer hours: 210 Total public participants: 0 Total Cameras: 33

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Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Total Images Processed: 676,218

User Compliance Designed and implemented a web-based photo Budget permitting, implement live-feed still-photo Programs: database for all trailhead human access camera camera locations targeted at known areas of - Monitoring and Human locations. IRC management and Field Patrol high-risk activities, that is to say areas of Access Management personnel (OCP Rangers) will have direct extensive nighttime use, fire pits, unauthorized encrypted access to human access photos as vehicles, etc. These cameras will have the ability well as a database spreadsheet of unauthorized to relay photos directly to a web-based storage access. This photo data will provide more drive and provide instant notification to selected effective means for field patrol personnel to target patrol personnel of unauthorized presence in the specific days, times and locations for their area. patrols.

Educational Outreach: IRC’s Citizen Science program is designed to Existing Citizen Science Programs will continue - Irvine Ranch implement scientific research by trained and in 2017 in the Irvine Ranch Open Space. Conservancy Citizen supervised volunteers. Citizen Science activities Science Program in the Irvine Ranch Open Space in 2016 included: wildlife camera trapping, butterfly counts, raptor and other bird monitoring, and vegetation monitoring.

Citizen Science Programs: Total programs offered: 173 Total programs implemented: 151 Volunteers participating: 471 Volunteer hours: 2455 Public participants: 110 Public participant hours:472

Educational Outreach: The Irvine Ranch Conservancy conducted two The Land Steward Program will continue to - Irvine Ranch Land Steward trainings, three Native Farm include invasive species removal and restoration.

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Conservancy Land Steward trainings, and several individual trainings Nursery activities and community stewardships Steward and Farm for invasive control digital data basing and will continue to be offered and implemented in Steward Program herbicide use for lead land stewards. 2017. A Farm Steward Program - will continue to Stewardship activities included invasive species be operated separately. control, restoration, and native seed farm maintenance. This program was expanded in 2016 to include trail closure and staging area community stewardship plantings (recorded under Restoration). A native plant nursery in Augustine Staging Area was built to support community stewardship activities in 2016. Several lead land stewards conducted private solo stewardship activities with great success. A digital invasive control reporting tool continues to be utilized by Lead Land Stewards. An online map link continues to be available for land stewards to view status of invasive control across reserve areas is available upon request. Note that programs offered and implemented include individual private activities and span both NCCP and non-NCCP.

Invasive Control Programs: Total programs offered: 34 Total programs implemented: 30 Volunteers participating: 100 Volunteer hours: 420 Public participants: 42 Public participant hours: 148

Restoration Programs:

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Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Total programs offered: 85 Total programs implemented: 73 Volunteers participating: 247 Volunteer hours: 880 Public participants: 184 Public participant hours: 479 Native Farm Programs: Total programs offered: 60 Total programs implemented: 56 Volunteers participating: 199 Volunteer hours: 806 Public participants: 491 Public participant hours: 1489

Educational Outreach (All Conducted volunteer Trail Crew Training and Continue training Trail Crew volunteers, and offer Areas): implemented the Adopt-A-Trail program to assist advanced training in specific areas of trail work, - Trail Crew Training with ongoing monitoring and maintenance of trail i.e.: power equipment, rock armoring, specialty Programs system. construction techniques. Completed Volunteer Trail Projects: 3 Trail Crew training sessions: 1 Trail maintenance projects: 4

Recreation Facility Construction and Maintenance:

New Construction or Continued implementation of comprehensive sign Continue implementation of coordinated sign Expansion (All Areas): program for all managed areas, addressing program through refurbishment/replacement of - Signage regulatory, directional and informational signs. damaged/outdated/missing signs in all areas of Semi-annual UV treatment to maintain trail way- land management. Replace/add perimeter “No

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

finding signage was conducted on most signs. Trespassing” signs on existing fences/gates/armatures where needed to address vandalism and unauthorized access. Apply semi-annual UV treatment to maintain trail way-finding signage (scope dependant on available staff resources).

New Construction or Grew native prickly pear and cholla cactus plants Continue growing stock of native prickly pear Expansion (All Areas): for selected field application as a native barrier to cactus in 15 gallon containers and cholla for use - Natural Barriers limit unauthorized access. in restoration efforts and for trail access management. Native prickly pear cactus plants may be installed on a limited basis, at selected perimeter fence locations or trail turn-back areas to deter unauthorized off-trail access.

Maintenance of Existing Continued maintenance of roads/trails, erosion Conduct maintenance of roads/trails, erosion Facilities (All Areas): control features, and perimeter fencing/gates to control features, and perimeter fencing/gates to - Existing ranch roads, maintain authorized access. To maintain trail maintain authorized access. To maintain trail trails, private drives, standards, efforts included: standards, efforts will include: bridges, kiosks - clearing of fallen trees across ranch roads - clearing of fallen trees across ranch roads and perimeter and trails damaged from rain, wind, and fires and trails damaged from rain, wind, and fires fencing/gates (materials from native trees were left in place at (materials from native trees were left in place the roadside edge); at the roadside edge); - repair and grading of ranch utility roads (if - repair and grading of ranch utility roads (if needed); needed); - mowing the center lines of double track trails - mowing the center lines of double track trails (as needed); (as needed); - trimming and grooming of single track trails; - trimming and grooming of single track trails; - repair of perimeter fencing and gates - repair of perimeter fencing and gates when damaged from use or vandalism; when damaged from use or vandalism; - removal of existing interior ancillary wire - removal of existing interior ancillary wire

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Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

fencing was continued throughout on a fencing was will continued throughout on a measured basis, dependant on staff measured basis, dependant on staff resources. resources. Annual maintenance surveys were conducted of Annual maintenance surveys will be conducted of the existing engineered trail bridges. the existing engineered trail bridges. Trail erosion control devices, such as grade dips Trail erosion control devices, such as grade dips and reversals, check dams, rock armoring, and reversals, check dams, rock armoring, culverts, and rock buttresses were maintained culverts, and rock buttresses will be maintained and additional ones installed to address key and additional ones installed to address key problem areas. problem areas.

As noted in the Trail Implementation Master Plan of the approved Recreation and Resource Management Plan, some existing ranch roads/trails will be removed and reclaimed to native habitat or converted to single track.

Budgeting and time-permitting, inspect existing bridge and deck structures; if warranted, replace decking with Alaskan Yellow Cedar Glu-Lam timber deck panels.

Maintenance of Existing Monitored and maintained cameras and trail Ongoing camera and trail counter monitoring will Facilities (All Areas): counters at key gates and trail sections to monitor continue for both authorized and unauthorized - Trail Use Monitoring: level and type of activities. activities. Camera and Trail Counter

Maintenance of Existing Performed maintenance of ranch-wide radio Continue performing annual monitoring of Facilities (All Areas): operation. existing solar radio repeaters and ongoing - Radio Network maintenance of radios.

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Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Remote radio repeater units from West Loma and Fremont Canyon were relocated to alternate locations to improve system-wide radio reception. The West Loma Repeater was relocated to East Loma (33o43’ 58.01”N / 117o 41’ 54.16” W @ 1,775 ft above sea level)

Maintenance of Existing Continued monitoring of trail cameras to Continue monitoring area for unauthorized Facilities ((Gypsum Cyn.): determine level of unauthorized access on newly access and if appropriate install additional - Trail Cameras, Signage, created trail from Coal Canyon Ecological counters and cameras to better inform Park and natural barriers Reserve. Continued to monitored unauthorized Rangers of need for additional enforcement trail through Tecate forest area. activities. Installed natural barriers of locally sourced cacti to deter use of existing unauthorized trails. Installed signage at the upper entrances to the unauthorized trails at the Coal Canyon Ecological Preserve boundary to further educate and deter unauthorized use.

New Construction or N/A Previously surveyed vehicle pull-outs in Weir Expansion (Weir Cyn.): Canyon will be marked by appropriate signage. - Vehicle Pull-outs Vehicle pull-outs will be installed/maintained as part of annual road maintenance and shown on area maps for use by authorized personnel conducting patrols and scientific research/field monitoring.

New Construction or Continued routine maintenance of staging area At Weir Staging Area (located off-site at Outdoor Expansion (Weir Cyn.): and restroom service at the Weir Staging Area Education Center) install vehicle stops/restroom - Staging Area (located off-site at Outdoor Education Center). surround. Budget permitting, replace 2 existing picnic tables with 3 new tables, with at least one

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Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

compliant with ADA requirements.

Maintenance of Existing Performed routine maintenance of all gates Replace locking mechanism on gate 1744Y with Facilities (Weir Cyn.): including replacement signage, painting, and new stainless steel multi-padlock mechanism. - Gates lubrication as required. Replace existing pedestrian gate padlock mechanism on gate 1744X with a stainless steel single lock slide bar.

Maintenance of Existing Replaced existing degraded piping, valves, and Reduce depth of existing concrete cistern with Facilities (Weir Cyn.): float at watering trough serviced by the concrete clean fill (Rip Rap & Gravel) and remove old - Concrete Cistern and cistern. wooden debris. watering trough

Maintenance of Existing Cleared non-native vegetation and performed trail Perform maintenance improvements to the Facilities (Weir Cyn.): maintenance to the Oxcart Monument. existing pathway to the Oxcart Monument, and - Oxcart Monument formalize the viewing area to minimize impact to the surrounding native vegetation.

Maintenance of Existing Monitored all signage and replaced faded signs Monitor signage and repair/refresh as needed. Facilities (Weir Cyn.): as needed. - Signage

Facility N/A N/A Replacement/Repair (Weir Cyn.):

New Construction or Upgraded the existing gravel parking area with a Continue to monitor and maintain the Tecate Expansion (Fremont Cyn): compacted mix of CMB to facilitate an all-weather Cypress demonstration grove. - Staging Area parking surface. Budget permitting, assist Community Programs Installed recycled plastic parking wheel stops to with the implementation of a temporary native delineate and manage staging area parking. plant nursery adjacent to the staging area, to

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Implemented a Tecate Cypress demonstration facilitate restoration of the adjacent areas. grove near the Fremont Staging area with approximately 90 local sourced surplus seedlings. The grove will provide interpretive value as well as a protected seed bank for future restoration projects.

Maintenance of Existing Began the maintenance implementation of the Budget and schedule permitting, complete the Facilities (Fremont Cyn): Waterworks Trail. Received and placed maintenance implementation of the Waterworks - Waterworks Trail approximately 620 cubic yards of Rip-Rap, and trail from Irvine Park/Fremont gate 2244X to the CMB within the limits of the existing concrete V- existing Fremont Staging area. ditch.

Cleared the existing V-ditch of all surface debris from the Fremont Gate 2244X to the existing Fremont Staging area.

Facility Continued conversion of Pasture Road from a Install “No Access – Sensitive Habitat” signs and Replacement/Repair paved road to natural surface single-track trail. additional gates/fencing/native barriers to area (Fremont Cyn): Implemented additional management tools to adjacent to Irvine Lake to deter unauthorized deter unauthorized access into OC Parks land access. from Irvine Lake, including identifying “No Access” areas of sensitive habitat and improved Survey and obtain biological review for proposed fencing/gates/native barriers to deter maintenance alignments of the existing Pasture unauthorized access. Road/trail conversion connection to the existing lower lake trail adjacent to the bait shack pad.

New Construction or Perform routine maintenance of vehicle pull-outs Expansion (Loma Ridge): as needed. - Vehicle Pull-outs

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

New Construction or N/A Along Santiago Road consider installation of fire Expansion (Loma Ridge): hardening options at roadway edge to deter fires - Fire Hardening originating from vehicles, compliant with OCFA and OC Public Works design standards.

New Construction or N/A As needed, maintain berm and native planting Expansion (Loma Ridge): around portable restroom to screen facility from - Portable Restroom EOC entry drive.

Maintenance of Existing Repaired and refreshed signage as needed. Refresh way-finding signage at vehicle turn-outs Facilities (Loma Ridge): and on existing sign posts as needed. - Signage

Maintenance of Existing Remote radio repeater unit from West Loma was Continue performing annual monitoring of Facilities (Loma Ridge): relocated to alternate location to improve system- existing solar radio repeater. - Radio Repeater wide radio reception. The West Loma Repeater was relocated to East Loma (33o43’ 58.01”N / 117o 41’ 54.16” W @ 1,775 ft above sea level)

Maintenance of Existing Performed routine maintenance on road drains Will monitor road condition and will make Facilities (Loma Ridge): and erosion control features to maintain access additional repairs if needed. - West Loma Road for restoration efforts, and utility access.

Facility N/A N/A Replacement/Repair (Loma Ridge):

New Construction or Constructed 8’ by 24’ viewing platform at the East Expansion (Limestone Sinks location at the Limestone

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Cyn.): Ridge/Hangman’s intersection. - East Sinks Viewing Area Added enhancements included a scheduled bicycle parking area and equestrian tie area to manage visitor access.

New Construction or 16’ vehicle access gates were installed at the Budget permitting, an additional recreational gate Expansion (Limestone intersection of Hangmans and Limestone Ridge may be added at the current northern terminus of Cyn.): (gate 3253Z), and East Loma at the Bowerman Round Canyon Trail. - Vehicle Gates Landfill access (gate 3049Z).

New Construction or Performed ongoing maintenance of staging area Budget permitting, implement enhancements to Expansion (Limestone improvements and grounds, including mowing, staging area and the existing hay barn to include Cyn.): weeding, trimming, and fence repairs as needed. shade screening, maintenance replacement of - Augustine Staging Removed existing parking Botts-dots at existing concrete. Areas equestrian parking area. Replace with permanent flexible end-post parking stall Install steel gates to existing restroom surrounds. delineators and temporary traffic cones for Re-configure vehicle access road to Wilderness Access Day parking delineation. accommodate U-turn of incoming vehicles when Replaced existing equestrian watering trough parking lot of adjacent staging area is full. with smaller unit for reduced maintenance requirements. Replace existing locking mechanisms at gates 2648X with new stainless steel multi-padlock Replaced existing locking mechanisms at dual locking mechanism. gate 2749W with new stainless steel multi- padlock locking mechanism.

An inter-departmental collaboration effort resulted in the construction and opening of a native plant nursery in the Augustine Staging Area in 2016, which will provide native plants to community stewardship programs.

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

New Construction or N/A Designate small overlook area at Loma Ridge Expansion (Limestone East (near UCI Climate Study area) to focus Cyn.): public viewing to a limited area and deter - East Loma Ridge unauthorized access. The overlook location will Overlook be selected to avoid sensitive native habitat.

New Construction or N/A Along Santiago Canyon Road, consider Expansion (Limestone installation of fire hardening options at roadway Cyn.): edge to deter fires originating from vehicles, - Fire Hardening compliant with OCFA and OC Public Works design standards. Support efforts by OC Public Works to remove Eucalyptus trees along Santiago Canyon Rood.

New Construction or N/A Time and resources permitting, survey and Expansion (Limestone evaluate for implementation (consistent with the Cyn.): approved Recreation & Resource Management - Agua Chinon Trail Plan), an alternative alignment to replace the Realignment southern-end of the existing Agua Chinon ranch road. If appropriate, agency review and approval will be requested, detailing proposed alignment options and trail design features.

New Construction or Continued maintenance monitoring and repairs of Continue maintenance monitoring and repairs of Expansion (Limestone fencing at the Mustard and Bolero intersection as fencing at the Mustard and Bolero intersection as Cyn.): needed. needed. - Fencing

Maintenance of Existing N/A N/A Facilities (Limestone Cyn.):

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

- Vehicle Gates

Maintenance of Existing Maintained vehicle pull-outs and associated Vehicle pull-outs will be maintained as part of Facilities (Limestone Cyn.): signage at designated areas. annual road maintenance and shown on area - Vehicle Pull-outs maps for use by authorized personnel conducting patrols and scientific research/field monitoring. Additional signage will be placed on the markers to identify the location of each pull-out.

Maintenance of Existing Monitored visitor use of viewing platform for Budgeting and time permitting, replace decking Facilities (Limestone Cyn.): adherence to authorized access and performed at the viewing deck with Alaskan yellow cedar - West Sinks Viewing routine maintenance, including replacement of glu-lam timber deck panels. Interpretive signage, Deck the bench’s seating boards and guardrail’s top explaining the geological event creating the rail. Maintained additional rope barriers along “Sinks”, is being considered. single track trail to viewing platform to deter off- trail use.

Maintenance of Existing Repaired fencing at various locations along Monitor fencing at perimeter and along Santiago Facilities (Limestone Cyn.): Santiago Canyon Road, near Goat Gate, and at Canyon Road. Repair/replace fencing as - Fencing southern end of Aqua Chinon damaged due to needed. Budget permitting, replace long vandalism or vehicle accidents. sections of old fencing on Santiago Road with new fencing. Consider removal of barbed wire fencing on interior sections of Limestone Canyon if not needed to deter unauthorized access.

Maintenance of Existing Monitored existing water pipeline from Box Spring Budget permitting, begin the replacement of the Facilities (Limestone Cyn.): to the Sinks’ water trough. Line periodically fails existing water line with ‘” galvanized steel pipe - Sinks Water Trough and is carefully “spot” fixed to remove blockage from the Box Springs to the Box Springs Trough. or leaks. Remove existing equestrian ties from the Box Springs trough location to eliminate duplicate

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

facilities with the new Sinks Viewing deck equestrian tie area.

Maintenance of Existing Performed regular maintenance trimming to Will trim branches of fallen Oak tree to reopen Facilities (Limestone Cyn.): maintain tread width for passive recreational existing foot path. - Box Springs Trail access. Will continue to monitor the east terminus Box Spring Trail at the shallow drainage crossing. If deemed necessary, a short-span puncheon bridge may be added for more sustainable access to the trail.

Maintenance of Existing Replaced rail cap at existing Raptor Trail Bridge Budgeting and time permitting, replace decking Facilities (Limestone Cyn.): with a 100% recycled plastic lumber product. at the Raptor bridge with Alaskan yellow cedar - Raptor Trail glu-lam timber deck panels

Maintenance of Existing Monitored road for weed abatement. Trimmed Perform weed abatement/trimming of brush Facilities (Limestone Cyn.): and brushed vegetation protruding into shoulder within the paved area of Hicks Haul Road as - Hicks Haul Road of Hick Haul Road needed. (paved) Installed four 24x36 “Caution, Multi-Use” trail Efforts to convert of a portion of Hicks Haul Road signs along Hicks Haul Road to increase public to a multi-use regional bikeway and trail, between safety for regularly scheduled programs. Santiago Road and Loma Ridge may continue in 2017, dependant on future funding commitments.

Maintenance of Existing Conversion of Dripping Springs Trail to a single Will continue to monitor trail use and maintain Facilities (Limestone Cyn.): track continued. The Dripping Springs Trail Dripping Springs trails according to their - Dripping Springs remained closed to visitor programs to allow re- authorized tail characters. Conversion growth of the vegetation into a single track. The The triangularly-configured trail intersection new single track alignment has been mowed and between Dripping Springs trail and Limestone significant native planting and invasive removal Canyon trail will be reworked, creating a single have occurred, with volunteer support, in “T” intersection of trails. Conversion of the trail to degraded areas adjacent to the trail and in the old a single track may include installation of several

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

trail footprint as a bmp to restore habitat and multi use bridges over existing creek crossings. discourage use of retired alignment. Budget permitting, begin the final conversion of Installed a control gate, portal and barrier fencing the upper segment from the Dripping Springs at the Dripping Spring Spur junction to manage Spur to Sand Trap (Approximately .9 mile) from access during future public programs. road to single-track. Install temporary out-of-bound barrier fencing to protect trail-side areas currently under restoration. Community stewardship activities, which include planting and invasive-removal, will continue through 2017.

Maintenance of Existing Performed maintenance to trail tread including May implement the repair of a segment of Facilities (Limestone Cyn.): improving existing bench cut and cleared existing stairs and trail pathway at the end of the - Dripping Springs Trail overhead vegetation as needed. Dripping Springs Spur Trail. A 40' long segment Spur of the pathway (near the trail end) may be refurbished and stabilized to a 4' wide trail or boardwalk to safely accommodate managed hiking and animal access to the adjacent natural spring.

Maintenance of Existing Performed routine maintenance on erosion Monitor repairs and trail conditions, taking Facilities (Limestone Cyn.): control features (grade-dips and drains) as corrective measures to minimize additional - Cactus Canyon Trail required to minimize erosion. damage from future storms.

Maintenance of Existing Repairs to the East Loma Ridge Road are Condition of the roadway and repairs will be Facilities (Limestone Cyn.): complete where it intersects with the OCTA monitored, taking corrective measures to - East Loma Road Failure restoration area at Bee Flat Canyon. The minimize additional damage from future storms. At Bowerman Landfill improved drainage has reduced the risk of further erosion of road. Clean boulders were installed down slope at several wash-out areas and under roadbed to prevent further erosion. The road was

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

re-graded to allow cross-slope drainage and improve sustainability of the road.

Maintenance of Existing A major landslide removed a portion of the Loma Continue assistance to the land owner and OC Facilities (Limestone Cyn.): Ridge Trail adjacent to the existing Bowerman Waste on the trail’s reconstruction. Monitor the - Loma Ridge Trail Landfill. All access on this portion of the trail has progress of the rebuilding effort to assure long- been closed while OC Waste stabilizes the area term sustainability of the trail and appropriate and rebuilds the trail. Temporary barricades and installation of native plantings. Monitoring and signage have been installed to alert trail users to assistance will continue until the trails’ the closure. Input on the alignment of the construction and native plant restoration is replacement trail has been provided to the land complete and the trail is reopened for public owner, identifying appropriate design standards programs. and erosion control features of a sustainable trail. Additional input is being provided during the reconstruction of the trail.

Maintenance of Existing Continued monitoring and maintenance of Monitor condition of newly rerouted trail for signs Facilities (Limestone Cyn.): enhancement native plantings. of erosion. Implement repairs and corrective - Markel Spur Trail Added native cactus pads to inside turns of trail actions to deter future damage to trail. Additional switchbacks to solidify trail anchors and deter native planting to occur in degraded areas short-cutting by user groups. adjacent to the trail and in the old trail footprint as a bmp to restore habitat and discourage use of retired alignment. Limited trail use by the public (via docent-led programs) is planned in 2017 if sufficient vegetation growth occurs from winter rains.

Maintenance of Existing Repaired and refreshed existing signage and Refresh way-finding signage at gates, vehicle Facilities (Limestone Cyn.): replaced as needed. turn-outs, and on existing sign posts as needed. - Signage

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Maintenance of Existing Performed annual mowing and trail maintenance Continue to mow and clear vegetation to Facilities (Limestone Cyn.): as needed. maintain Round Canyon as a 4’ wide multi-use - Round Canyon trail.

Maintenance of Existing Identified corrective action to deter further erosion Monitor condition of newly repaired trail for signs Facilities (Limestone Cyn.): of steep sections of the Sand Canyon Trail (in of erosion. If needed, implement minor - Sand Trap consultation with County maintenance team). refinements and repairs to deter future damage County implemented major repairs, installing new to trail. drain-outs and out-sloping of trail components to reduce future trail erosion.

Facility N/A N/A Replacement/Repair (Limestone Cyn.):

Infrastructure Construction & Maintenance:

Maintenance (Limestone The County of Orange inspected and maintained Inspection and maintenance by County of the Cyn. by Others): the rain gauge facility on a regular basis. Access installation. - Orange County Rain and inspection of the facility was coordinated by Gauge the Irvine Ranch Conservancy.

Habitat Restoration & Enhancement: (Note: Funding Sources noted in first column if other than Land Owner)

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Exotic Plant Eradication: Key invasive species were searched for and Eradication and control efforts are ongoing. See - Program Summary removed/treated across approximately 1723 below for species-specific details. If funds permit, acres (OCP Fig. 2). Eradication and control a limited amount of control work in remote projects were implemented by contract labor, locations will again be completed by helicopter. volunteers, and staff, totaling approximately 7456 man-hours. See “Educational Outreach” for volunteer participation. Helicopter-facilitated control work was not possible in 2016 because of contractor commitment to aerial survey work.

In 2016, drought conditions and reduced competition again favored species such as Sahara mustard. Control efforts continued to broaden to this and other emerging species with the decrease of artichoke thistle control.

Exotic Plant Eradication: Priority species targeted for eradication (for which Conservancy staff, contractors and volunteers - Monitoring and all populations will be treated if possible) continue will continue to treat previously prioritized species Prioritization to be: Sahara mustard, yellow star thistle, and populations, with special emphasis on the (NCC in part) perennial pepper weed, tree of heaven, giant emerging weeds Sahara mustard, yellow star reed, Cape ivy, garland chrysanthemum, Spanish thistle, perennial pepper weed, cape ivy, tree of broom, tamarisk. Moderate priority species heaven and new invaders such as Stinknet. targeted for control (populations will be strategically treated) are: artichoke thistle, castor Staff will continue to work with NCC and Cal-IPC bean, Canary Island date palm, Mexican fan on more systematic regional prioritizations in palm, pampas grass, fountain grass, and bull 2017 and will assist with coordinating an aerial thistle. Milk thistle, Italian thistle, tree tobacco and survey of the remaining sections of IROS not fennel were only treated in key locations. A few covered in 2016. isolated plants of two new invasive species

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

(stinknet and onionweed) - were found. These Attention will continue to be expanded to the were removed and will be prioritized for identification, documentation and control of eradication. emerging invasive species in an effort to prevent larger-scale invasions and associated ecological Bee Flat Canyon, Agua Chinon, Lower Silverado impacts. Canyon, and West Loma sub watersheds have specific invasive control programs associated with mitigations, which include removal of the above species as well as a few other species.

A digital invasive control reporting system estimating both net control and gross control area as well as search area is continuing to be used to track weed control work. A link to an online map of work is available upon request. The map is regularly updated with new control efforts.

Staff assisted NCC in conducting a follow-up 2016 aerial weed survey of the Irvine Ranch Open Space and adjacent wildlands. The survey was flown in June and is 80% complete.

Two additional coordination and planning meetings were conducted with NCC and Cal-IPC to develop a coordinated region-wide prioritization and strategy for invasive species control. The Coastal plan is in a draft form.

Exotic Plant Eradication: - Treatment within NCCP: Sites will continue to be visited until three Jutta DONE • 56 gross acres, 0.09 Net (versus 87 gross successive visits without thistles can be verified. - Artichoke Thistle and 0.01 net in 2016) Search areas will be modified based on 2016

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

• Estimated 4014 plants (6963 in 2016) treatment results. Aerial survey information will be used to target additional remote and isolated Overall population size and distribution of populations for control. IRC will again work to artichoke thistles across NCCP and Easement coordinate with Caltrans to facilitate management decreased from previous years due to drought of adjacent right-of-ways. and successful treatment. Thistles were treated from 22 Jan - 1 June and again on 26 Aug. with aminopyralid+triclopyr or glyphosate. Nesting bird surveys were conducted during the breeding season in any sensitive bird habitat before each application. Adjacent right-of-ways were not treated by Caltrans.

- Fennel Treatment within NCCP: Fennel will continue to be treated where it co- • 21 Gross acres, 0.06 Net (down from 77 occurs with artichoke thistle and in Silverado Gross, 0.15 Net in 2015) Canyon. Stands still occur in Santiago Wash that • Estimated 1465 plants (4657 in 2016) have not been targeted.

Target areas for fennel control continue to be West Loma and Silverado Canyon. Treatment was primarily with glyphosate and triclopyr.

- Spanish broom Treatment within NCCP: Spanish broom control efforts will continue within (OCTA Measure M, in part) • 10.3 Gross acres, 0.05 Net (up from 6.9 the Santiago, Black Star, and Silverado Creek Gross and 0.03 Net in 2015) area. • Estimated 876 plants (down from 946 in 2015)

Control areas continue to be in Silverado, Black Star, and Santiago Canyon. Santa Ana Watershed Association (SAWA) also controlled Spanish Broom within Santiago Canyon for one

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

day as part of ongoing maintenance of Mountain Park mitigation. Treatment was primarily cut- stump with glyphosate or Pathfinder application.

- Milk and Italian Thistle Treatment within NCCP: Both milk and Italian thistle will continue to be a (OCTA Measure M, in part) • 38 Gross acres, 0.31 Net (down from 0.55 Net lower priority for control outside of mitigation due acres in 2015) to their broad distributions. Control efforts will • Estimated 26795 plants (down from 77,047 in continue where they are included in mitigation 2016) contracts and key areas along Limestone and Shoestring trail. Milk and Italian thistle were removed primarily in Bee Flat Canyon, Agua Chinon, Lower Silverado and West Loma as part of mitigation activities. Control was both manual and with glyphosate.

- Sahara Mustard Treatment in NCCP: Monitoring and eradication efforts will continue in • 26.2 Gross acres, 0.08 Net acres (up from 2 2016, using staff contract and volunteer labor. gross and 596 ft2 in 2015; new populations discovered) • Estimated 17,627 plants

Sahara mustard population size at Loma Ridge increased from previous year’s estimate of 265 plants). An additional sub-population was found approximately 100m from the original site. All plants were hand-pulled at the original site. Populations continue to spread via vehicles, (presumably) grading, and wildlife.

- Bull thistle Treatment within NCCP: Bull thistle will continue to be removed at known • 0.46 Gross acres, 0.004 Net acres accessible locations as resources permit.

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

• 83 plants

- Arundo Treatment within NCCP: Arundo removal will continue within Santiago and (OCTA Measure M, in part) • 1.75 Gross acres, 0.02 Net acre Silverado Creek. IRC will continue to work with • Estimated 686 stems (up from 80; one new water districts and SAWA to support follow-up stand found) Arundo control around Irvine Lake.

Stands occurred primarily in Santiago and Silverado Creek. SAWA continued follow-up control work around Irvine Lake (data not shown) as part of a mitigation contract. All treatment consisted of cut-stump application of aquatic-safe glyphosate or foliar spray of regrowth.

- Perennial Pepper weed Treatment within NCCP: Pepper weed will continue to be controlled where (OCTA Measure M, part) • 0.0.74 Gross acres, 0.001 Net acres (down it is found. Restoration funding for Silverado from 75 ft2 in 2015) Creek will help to fund intensified efforts to • Estimated 50 plants (up from 35) control this species. OC Parks control efforts will focus on the new population found at the mouth Perennial Pepper weed was searched for and of Silverado Creek. controlled primarily within lower Silverado Canyon as part of mitigation efforts. Additional plants were targeted in nearby Santiago Canyon. A large stand at the mouth of Silverado Creek was targeted in 2016. Plants were difficult to find and were therefore likely not all treated.

- Tree Tobacco Treatment within NCCP: Tree tobacco removal will continue within the (OC Waste and Recycling, • 6.8 Gross acres, 0.15 Net areas targeted previously and with special part, OCTA Measure, part) • 437 plants emphasis in Agua Chinon, supported by mitigation funding from OC Waste and Recycling.

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Tree tobacco was searched for and removed manually or by stump cut with glyphosate. Control work is opportunistic and largely based on mitigation requirements and volunteer interest. Focus areas continue to be Limestone, lower Fremont, Hicks, Bee Flat, Silverado and Agua Chinon Canyons.

- Castor Bean Treatment within NCCP: Castor bean removal will continue within the (OC Waste & Recycling, • 5.6 Gross acres, 0.05 Net (down from 1.94 areas targeted previously and in any new areas part) net acres) that it is found if resources permit. Special • Estimated 1384 plants (down from 34,703) emphasis will be put on Agua Chinon and will be supported by mitigation funding. Mature castor bean was removed primarily by stump cut with glyphosate or Pathfinder. The seedling flush from 2015 did not extend into 2016. Focus areas continue to be Agua Chinon, Santiago, and Silverado Canyon.

- Tamarisk Treatment within NCCP: Tamarisk will continue to be targeted for removal (OC Waste & Recycling, • 1.15 Gross acres, 0.08 Net acres (up from and search efforts will expand further in lower part; OCTA Measure M, 646 ft2) Silverado Canyon and Agua Chinon with part) • Estimated 152 plants (down from 204) supplemental funding.

Tamarisk was searched for and treated with stump cut and triclopyr and/or imazapyr. Search and control efforts have increased with riparian mitigation funding.

- Pampas Grass Treatment within NCCP: Pampas grass will continue to be targeted for (OC Waste and Recycling, • No plants were treated removal. Efforts will focus in Agua Chinon with

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

part) supplemental mitigation funding and with potential helicopter assistance.

- Fountain Grass Treatment within NCCP: Select fountain grass sites will be treated/re- • 1.50 Gross acres, 0.02 Net acre treated, primarily by the EOC on Loma ridge, • 556 plants (up from 31) along Santiago Canyon, and in more remote areas using helicopter access.

- Mexican Fan Palm Nine Mexican fan palms were removed within Mexican fan palm will continue to be treated NCCP opportunistically.

- Tree of Heaven Treatment within NCCP: Tree of Heaven continue to be treated as new • No Tree of Heaven was found in 2016 (down populations are discovered. Existing sites will be from 62 seedlings in 2015) revisited annually.

-Onion weed Treatment within NCCP: Onion weed will continue to be treated as new • 0.02 Gross acres (<0.001 Net acres_ populations are discovered. Existing sites will be • 28 plants revisited annually. Recently discovered; first year of treatment.

-Stinknet Treatment within NCCP: Stinknet will continue to be treated as new • Four plants removed populations are discovered. Existing sites will be Recently discovered; first year of treatment. revisited annually.

-Miscellaneous 25 Eucalyptus, 2054 Horehound, 6 ice plant, 7 Miscellaneous species will continue to be treated Palo Verde, 4 Peruvian peppertree removed in opportunitistically or with external mitigation NCCP. contract funding.

Exotic Animal Control: Goldspotted Oak Borer beetle was discovered in Topical treatment and removal of infested and

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

- Goldspotted Oak Borer December 2014 in Weir Canyon. In Winter/Spring newly discovered infested trees will continue. A Monitoring 2016, the infestation site was carefully monitored select number of potential brood trees will be by trained staff and volunteers for a second year. removed. A small number of highly infested trees In total, over 900 trees were surveyed for GSOB may be destructively sampled to estimate current in the area immediately around the known larval population in treated trees (treatment infestation. The outbreak stayed localized across efficacy). Supplemental funding may be needed one main and two satellite sites within the to continue treatment. A report of treatment canyon. In total, 271 trees were found to have results will be completed and provided to NCC exit holes in spring surveys. Thirty-three and OC Parks. moderately and highly infested trees were physically removed and either ground off-site or debarked in place. Carbaryl treatment was intensified with application extending to approximately 1219 trees in a 100m buffer area surrounding the infestation. Carbaryl was applied in an acidic formulation to prolong pesticide half life. Dinotefuran (Safari®) was applied to a subset of trees in May. Beatle flight season was tracked through weekly records emergence from sealed barrels (in collaboration with UC Extension). Beginning October 2016, the area was resurveyed to document treatment success and spread. Final survey results are pending. Numerous dead adult GSOB were found in new exit holes, suggesting that surface treatment was effective.

Exotic Animal Control: Access cameras captured 38 (through October IRC will continue to collect data on exotic animals - Exotic And 2016) incidents of unauthorized dogs in OCP from existing wildlife cameras. Access cameras Domestic Animal land. Problem areas are at the Anaheim Hills may also provide new monitoring locations for Monitoring Gate (1744X) and Baker Canyon (OCFA grid exotic animal monitoring. Incidental observations

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

2653). Weir continues to be a hotspot for from animal releases will be reported. Guidelines unauthorized users and dogs. regarding animal release and disposal of In addition, two feral cats were captured at the carcasses are being drafted. Augustine Staging Area in the beginning of 2016. They were transferred to OCAC shortly after being captured.

Exotic Animal Control: Bait card surveys of argentine ants (Linepithema Collaborative work may continue with UC - Argentine Ant Monitoring humile) were conducted monthly in Agua Chinon Riverside to further test selective baits. Because (OC Waste) throughout the summer of 2016. A standard irrigation is not planned to be used extensively in protocol was used (baiting note cards with syrup 2017, the immediate need for ant control has and leaving them out in transects or arrays to be lessened. checked in a few hours) to monitor the presence of L. humile in relation to the irrigated OCWR restoration polygons.

Collaborative work with the Choe Lab at UC Riverside continued for the purpose of finding a method to suppress L. humile selectively in Agua Chinon. A pheromone was developed in the UCR lab that was specifically targeted for L. humile. This pheromone was combined with the pesticide thiamethoxam and a gel to create small gel pieces that were distributed in areas where L. humile were concentrated. The gel bait was tested in early summer of 2016 but did not show the selectivity that was desired. Further trials were put on hold due to time constraints.

Habitat Restoration: Forty 15 m diameter patches of cactus pads were No planned activity. - Post-Burn Restoration planted in 2009 in groups of 2-10 in 5 locations in

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

of Nesting Habitat for the Central Reserve (Figure 3). Some sites had 5 the Coastal Cactus gallon potted cactus planted as well. Wren The restoration is complete and in its monitoring phase.

Habitat Restoration: West Loma I /Hangman’s Tree Canyon: Approximately 3,500 container plants will be - West Loma I • Approximately 53 total acres installed in January 2017. • 25 polygons/restoration subunits based on desired habitat, aspect, slope, and restoration Site preparation and maintenance will continue approach (Fig. 3) as needed throughout restoration polygons. • Majority of the project is in the maintenance phase. Exceptions include two polygons which need to be re-seeded either due to false brome, Russian thistle, or severe drought just after seeding. Additional seeding will occur in these polygons in the future, but due to limited funds they are currently being mowed once per year. • Desired states: CSS, native grassland • Initiated in 2009 with multiple years of site preparation. • Depending on polygon: hand seeding, drill seeding, container planting; hand weeding, wick, selective herbicide. • Approximately 3,000 container plants were installed in January of 2016 and are establishing successfully. • Approximately four acres of upland were seeded by hand with a Coastal Sage Scrub

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

mix in November 2016. • Approximately three acres of upland were drill seeded with Stipa pulchra in November 2016.

Portola Springs (PA6) November 11, 2014, Opuntia littoralis and Plants will be photographed and monitored for Cactus Salvage: Cylindropuntia prolifera were transplanted as survival by IRC staff. West Loma site whole plant clumps at 6 locations selected for Funding: NCC, TNC their potential suitability for the Coastal Cactus Wren. Each location had 4 clumps for a total of 24 whole plant clumps.

In addition, 1000 pads and 100 branches were delivered at planted around these clumps at two locations. Additionally, TNC funded the planting of 14 clumps on easement lands and the delivery of 2 dump trucks of bulldozed cactus segments. These segments were planted to supplement restoration activities at West Loma I.

Orchard Hills Cactus and The 150 mature cacti and over 1,500 cactus pads Planted cactus will continue to be monitored and Soil Salvage that were transplanted from the Orchard Hills maintained as needed by IRC staff, including (Funded by NCC, TNC) salvage site to six sites throughout the Irvine periodic checks and possible weed removal. Ranch Open Space (two of which are on OC Parks land) in October, 2015 were periodically In 2017, receiver sites will continue to be monitored in 2016. Transplanted cacti have monitored and maintained to limit the established well at all sites. All the mature cacti establishment and spread of weeds. For the have grown additional pads and appear healthy. West Loma and Hicks Hall sites, no additional Mature cacti were watered once in 2016. seeding is planned since native cover is adequate (approximately 30%). However, some In December of 2015, nearly 4000 cubic yards of supplemental seeding and erosion control is soil was transferred from the upper 4 inches of planned for the Portola site in areas where native

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

soil from the Orchard Hills donor site and spread cover is lacking and erosion is still an issue. at 4 inches depth across three recipient sites at West Loma (2.2 ac), Hick Haul ( 2.1 ac), and near A report summarizing the cactus salvage efforts the Portola Staging ( 2.85 ac). All three receiver from both Portola Springs and Orchard Hills will sites were monitored regularly and maintained as be written by IRC staff and submitted to NCC needed in 2016. Maintenance activities included: documenting locations, activities, and general • a low-dose herbicide application in success is pending. Soil salvage sites will also be January at all sites to kill early- maintained by IRC and a description of sites germinating weeds (mostly mustard and included in the report. brome grasses) • Remedial erosion control measures were implemented at Portola staging (previously a terraced orchard), including hydromulching, reinforcement of drainage paths, and recontouring. • Follow-up spot-herbicide application and hand-weeding on three separate occasions at all sites from February through June 2016. • In June of 2016, vegetation monitoring transects were established at all sites and vegetation was monitored for percent cover by all species recorded. Rare species not detected on transects were also recorded to obtain a complete species account. While the establishment of native species from the salvage soil seed bank was less than expected, current cover of native vegetation at West Loma, Hicks Hall, and most of the Portola site does not warrant additional seeding or

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

planting.

Habitat Restoration: - Agua Chinon Sub watershed Restoration: Site Maintenance: 17 acres, irrigation and weed - Agua Chinon • 21 restoration polygons and invasive control control Sub watershed buffer area Restoration • 17 total restoration acres and 287 total acres Monitoring: photo points, yellow pan traps (bees), (Mitigation funding by of target invasive control Argentine ants, invasive species, nesting and OCWR) • 17 restoration acres currently active, sensitive birds, horticultural monitoring approximately 200 acres of invasive buffer were visited and treated at least once and 25 Planting/seeding: container plant and live stake acres were treated 2-3 times. replacement and addition, seed replacement • Approximately 40% complete. • Target vegetation communities: Mulefat Invasive control: spot spraying, hand pulling, Scrub, Mulefat scrub/Sage Scrub, Elderberry mowing, cut stump herbicide application. Shrubland, Oak Riparian, Coastal Sage Scrub • Year started: 2013; anticipated completion: 2018. • Restoration methods: Planting/Seeding: hand seeding, container planting, live staking; Site Maintenance: hand weeding, spot spraying, mowing overhead irrigation; Invasive control: spot spraying, hand pulling, cut stump herbicide application • Monitoring: photo points, vegetation transects and quadrats, arthropod pitfall traps, yellow pan traps (bees),Argentine ants, invasive species, nesting and sensitive birds, horticultural monitoring, CRAM • Factors most influencing success: rainfall/weather

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Habitat Restoration: Agua Chinon Restoration: Planting/seeding: irrigation system installation, - Agua Chinon • 13 restoration polygons container plant and live stake planting, seed Mitigation OCTA Project I • Approximately 20% complete planting (OCTA Funding) • 6 total acres • 6 acres currently active, site preparation Site Maintenance: 6 acres: irrigation and weed complete control • Target vegetation communities: Elderberry Shrubland/Sage Scrub, Mulefat Monitoring: photo points, vegetation transects Scrub/Herbaceous Riparian, Oak Riparian and quadrats, arthropod pitfall traps, yellow pan • Year started: 2013; Anticipated completion: traps (bees), Argentine ants, invasive species, 2021 nesting and sensitive birds, horticultural • 1. monitoring, CRAM Restoration methods: • Sprayed broad leaf weeds and began a broad leaf weeding schedule. Mowed flowering non native grasses. • Cut dead wood from mulefat shrubs. Planted mulefat pole cuttings. Spot watered stressed cuttings through summer. • Mowed and raked Ambrosia to open up space for seeding and planting, Planted shrubs and broadcast seed mix. • Started a water schedule for the overhead sprinklers to keep soil moist. • Monitoring: Argentine ants, yellow pan traps (bees), invasive species • Factors most influencing success: rainfall/weather

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Habitat Restoration: Bee Flat Canyon Sub watershed Restoration: Site Maintenance: 84 acres, irrigation and weed - Bee Flat Canyon • 78 restoration polygons control Sub watershed • Approximately 65% complete Mitigation OCTA Project I • 84 total acres Monitoring: invasive species, nesting and (OCTA Funding) • 84 acres currently active across two phases sensitive birds, horticultural monitoring. of treatment • Target vegetation communities: CSS, Planting/seeding: seed planting Perennial Grassland, Chaparral, Oak Woodland • Year started: 2011; Anticipated completion: 2018 • Restoration methods: Site Maintenance: hand weeding, spot spraying, selective and wick herbicide, selective irrigation • Monitoring: photo points, vegetation transects and quadrat, arthropod pitfall traps, invasive species, nesting and sensitive birds, horticultural monitoring • Factors most influencing success: rainfall/weather

Habitat Restoration: West Loma II and OCTA Project III Project: Site Preparation: 36 acres: mowing and herbicide - West Loma II, OCTA • See Figure 3 treatments Project III Mitigation • 26 restoration polygons (OCTA Funding) • Approximately 15% complete Seeding and Planting: container plant and live • 62.47 total acres stake installation, seeding • Approximately 25 acres currently active (Upland Elderberry Shrubland polygons, Maintenance: approximately 15 acres of seeded

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Native Grassland polygons) Elderberry Shrubland polygons and 11 acres of • Target vegetation communities: Coastal Sage Grassland polygons Scrub, Elderberry Shrubland, Mulefat Shrubland, Native Grassland, Red Willow Monitoring: photo points, yellow pan traps (bees), Woodland invasive species, nesting and sensitive birds, • Year started: 2014; Anticipated completion: horticultural monitoring, vegetation transects, 2022 quadrats, and large shrub/tree density • Site Prep: mowing, two year grow/kill with herbicide • Planting/Seeding: hand seeding, imprinting, drill seeding, hydroseeding, container planting, live stakes • Site Maintenance: hand weeding, spot spraying, selective and wick herbicide, supplemental watering by hand • Monitoring: photo points, vegetation transects and quadrats, rapid assessment, arthropod pitfall traps, nesting and sensitive birds, horticultural monitoring Approximately 10 acres drill seeded with Stipa pulchra in November 2016 • Approximately four acres of upland seeded with Coastal Sage Scrub mix in November 2016 • Coal Canyon wildlife connectivity plan approved by the OCTA Environmental Oversight Committee in November 2016 • Factors most influencing success: rainfall/weather

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Tecate Cypress Restoration Tecate Cypress Restoration: Survival will be monitored in Summer 2017. Phase I and II • initiated in January 2011 (Partial funding by OC • 10.3 acres (5 polygons) Parks, FWS Partners • During summer monitoring, 168 Phase I and Program, and NCC) 104 Phase II and 218 Phase III trees survived • 29 tecate cypress container plants were planted in 2016. 29 survived to October 2016. • Monitoring: seedling survival, height, health, number of branches, surrounding vegetation. • Maintenance only as needed.

Habitat Restoration: Plants are permanently tagged to be measured at A more detailed summary of results will be - Pilot Cactus Scrub 3-year intervals (next monitoring 2017). compiled if time permits. Cacti will be measured Restoration Study Two of four pilot cactus restoration study sites, again in 2017. initiated in the winter of 2008/2009, occur in OC Parks. Cactus transplant size and vigor have been monitored annually from planting in 2009 until 2014, in order to determine the effect of microsite on establishment and growth of prickly pear pads and transplants and the speed of transplant growth of cholla and prickly pear. Prickly pear joints had grown to an average of 16.5 joints and 36 cm height. Cacti are permanently marked and will be measured at three-year intervals moving forward.

Habitat Restoration: Approximately seven acres of growing area were Seven acres of growing area will be maintained - Native Seed Farm planted at the new “Gateway” area seed farm in at the seed farm in 2017, consisting of 10 2016. In year 1, 10 native shrubs, 32 native forbs, perennial shrub species, 38 forb species, and 4 and 4 native grasses were successfully perennial grass species, to be used for future

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

planted/maintained to serve as a source of seed restorations in the Central Reserve. Work will for current and future restoration, occurring begin on the development of a volunteer staging primarily in the Central Reserve. Plants were area. Staging area and additional infrastructure started and maintained by staff, volunteer, and will be phased in from 2017-2020. contract help. Harvests included arroyo lupine, chick lupine, miniature lupine, California poppy, owlsclover, cobweb thistle, Strigose lotus, Coulter’s snapdragon, Parry’s phacelia, blue wild rye, miniature plantain, California fuschia, cliff aster, white pincushion, yellow pincushion, popcorn flower, wishbone bush, cudweed aster, mugwort, California croton, white sage, black sage, coast golden bush, California sage, California buckwheat, and California bush sunflower. Farm harvested seed totaled over 1,000 lbs. and served as the primary source for restoration seeding. Development of infrastructure within 2.5 dedicated acres included the installation of a nursery, seed drying area, and refrigerated seed storage container.

Miscellaneous Activities: N/A N/A

Fire Management Activities:

Fire Watch Trained and outfitted approximately 41 new Continue the Orange County Fire Watch volunteers bringing the program total to 219 Program. This program was conducted in volunteers ready to monitor “high risk” areas on conjunction with the Greater Laguna Canyon Fire

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

the border of the wild lands. There were 9 “high Safe Council, Inter-Canyon League Fire Safe risk” days in 2016 that necessitated Fire Watch Council, Trabuco Canyon Defense Against deployment on OC Park’s Irvine Open Space Wildfire, Modjeska Canyon Fire Watch, the Preserve lands. The Fire Watch program is Orange County Fire Authority, OC Parks and conducted in conjunction with the Greater Laguna Crystal Cove State Park to create a network of Canyon Fire Safe Council, Inter-Canyon League Fire Watch programs. IRC will work with NCC to Fire Safe Council, Trabuco Canyon Defense support completion of the Fire Management Plan. Against Wildfire, Modjeska Canyon Fire Watch, Conversations will continue in 2017 about the Orange County Fire Authority, OC Parks and expanding the Fire Watch program into other Crystal Cove State Park to create a network of Orange County wilderness areas. In addition, Fire Watch programs. Fire Watch Coordinator will continue working on increasing the number of trained volunteers and In addition, the Fire Watch Coordinator deployed possibly engaging the services of other agencies volunteers for 16 public outreach events to and volunteer organizations such as CERT educate the public on wildland/urban interface (Community Emergency Response Teams) risks, including a July 4th Fire Watch deployment program participants. at two OC Parks facilities. The City of Newport Beach became the newest member of the Orange County Fire Watch Program in 2016.

Post-Fire Management: - IRC and OC Parks are collaborating to ensure Survey forms will continue to be used for fires as General Approach that small fires perimeters are digitized and that guides for data collection and an assessment fire severity and wildlife mortality are recorded in report will be written for each fire. Small fire a consistent manner. Each fire is surveyed, perimeters and dozer lines will be digitized and assessed for resource damage, and larger fire perimeters will be obtained from recommendations for repair are made. OCFA.

Post-Fire Management: - Four roadside ignitions occurred in 2016 in the 2016 ignitions were small and will not warrant - Specific fires IROS. These included three ignitions along special attention in 2017.

Santiago Canyon Road (0.04 ac on 6/4, 0.005 ac

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

on 7/23, and 0.15 ac on 8/6) as well as one ignition along Black Star Canyon road (0.14 ac on 6/4). Ignitions appear to have been from objects thrown from vehicles and may have been arson attempts.

Maintenance of Fuel N/A N/A Breaks/Modification Zones:

Miscellaneous Activities and Management Programs - IRC:

Unhealthy Oak Survey A summer intern from the Bren School for the In 2016 this survey will continue in major Environment at UC Santa Barbara (with canyons outside of Weir Canyon. substantial assistance from Conservancy staff and volunteers) conducted a 3-month assessment of unhealthy oak trees across several OC Parks management units; Weir Canyon, Limestone Canyon, Black Star Canyon, and Hangman’s Tree Canyon. The purpose of the study was to identify oak woodland with high densities or clusters of poorly performing oak trees by comparing aerial images from 2012, 2014, and 2015, and to conduct subsequent field surveys to determine the cause(s) of declining health. The initial survey of aerial images uncovered a number of clusters of unhealthy

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

oaks, but no new infestations of Gold Spotted Oak Borer (GSOB) were found during follow-up field surveys. Instead, drought stress, coupled with past wild fire in some areas, was determined to be the likely cause of declining oak tree health. The full report of this study is available to OC Parks upon request.

Monitoring Habitat Stability The IRC has been conducting long-term Data will be summarized. and Resilience through vegetation monitoring for coastal sage scrub Long-term Vegetation about every three years since 2009. We Transects coordinate with TNC and their monitoring on easement lands. TNC monitoring focuses on describing the overall status of the vegetation over space and time, while the IRC focuses on a series of transects across a gradient of invasive species cover. Sites were monitored in spring 2016 with the help of UCI interns.

Passive Restoration Trial Initiated 2010. Purpose: Assess the efficacy of In 2017, passive weed control treatments will UCI (in part) using a passive restoration approach to restoring continue with winter spot spraying and spring degraded coastal sage scrub communities. The hand weeding/wicking. Monitoring will continue following data continues to be collected annually: as well by UCI. cover and density in smaller germination quadrats. In 2016, plots were maintained for their sixth year by IRC and monitored by the Huxman lab into their fifth year. Data have been summarized and significant treatment effects were found over time with respect to native and non-native cover, richness, and germination, with generally greater

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

effects in the coastal reserve sites vs. the central.

Restoration Database : IRC organized IRC restoration data for uploading IRC will upload data into OC Restore in January - OC RESTORE to OC RESTORE. 2017 and continue to work with NCC on inputting data into the tool and review its progress.

Development of Biological The IRC maintained and updated the Both fauna and flora databases will continue to Database geodatabase for Conservancy-managed areas. be updated.

Soil Characteristics of A soil analysis of 45 sites differing substantially in If collaborator time permits, results will be Restored Grassland Sites S. pulchra cover was continued in collaboration summarized. EASEMENT AND NCCP with UCI. UCI (part)

Trail Condition Monitoring Monitoring for this program, which traditionally The condition of trails and trail-side vegetation takes place annually during the summer quarter will be monitored in 2017. and performed primarily by a Bren intern, was postponed in 2016. Conservancy staff decided it was more important that the 2016 Bren intern monitor the health of oak trees given the recent outbreak of GSOB in Weir Canyon. This monitoring effort is summarized under Unhealthy Oak Survey.

Raptor Nest Surveys IRC partnered with Bloom Biological Inc. (BBI) to Raptor surveys will continue in 2017 across the (including an expanded conduct raptor breeding (nesting) surveys across IRNL. A copy of the 2016 report is available upon volunteer survey area) the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks (Figure 4). request. Monitoring occurred regularly from March through

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

June, 2016.The 2016 nest monitoring report (Bloom Biological, August 2016) indicated raptor breeding activity in 2016 was again below the historic average, but an improvement over the last two nesting seasons. Of the 80 historic nest sites surveyed on OC Parks property in 2016, 48 (or 60%) were found to be inactive (i.e. no attempt at nesting was made) while 32 (or 40%) were active. Of the 32 active nests, 21 nests (66% of active territories) were successful (i.e., produced young at least 3 weeks of age) and 10 failed. While both nest occupancy and nest success were relatively low in 2016, they both improved from 2014 and 2015. The authors were, however, particularly concerned about the low occupancy of red-shouldered hawks, which were down to 11% nest occupancy (i.e. only 11% of the known red-shouldered hawk territories contained an active nest). For comparison, 77% of the known red-tailed hawk nest territories were occupied this season. The report was careful not to blame low nest occupancy and success completely on drought because previous periods of droughts have not been associated with a lack of nesting in so many traditionally active territories. The authors suggest that other factors may be involved and/or interacting with drought,

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

including disease (e.g., West Nile Virus) and exposure to anticoagulants in pest control products. The full draft report, including data for individual raptor species, can be made available upon request.

Cactus Wren Artificial Nest A total of 13 cactus wren artificial nest boxes All nest boxes will be monitored again for nesting Box Structures remain in place across the Irvine Ranch Open activity in the spring of 2017. Space. Nest boxes were not surveyed in 2016 but incidental observations suggested no occupancy.

Wildlife Monitoring Wildlife activity in the central and coastal reserve Camera trapping will continue as a tool for has been monitored since 2007 using remote monitoring wildlife and human activity in 2017. infra-red-triggered cameras, operated by IRC Additional cameras may be installed if deemed staff and volunteer citizen scientists. necessary.

Forty-seven remote cameras are currently A second DFG-LAG grant funded study to further operating, 33 of which occur on OC Parks land. investigate the relationship between human Data from photographs is entered manually. The access and wildlife activity will be completed in database currently contains more than 124,360 2017. Results of the study will be summarized in entries. the 2017 NCC report.

Quarterly data (March, June, September, and All wildlife cameras will be tested in early 2017 December) is analyzed for species trends an for proper function using a protocol developed in annual basis. 2013 by IRC staff and volunteers. Analyses from a LAG-funded project in 2012 suggest large mammals avoid humans and the number of trail users affects the activity of wildlife in the short term. Long-term effects on wildlife

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Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

activity and population viability remain unclear.

Trends in Wildlife Activity by Species

Analysis of camera data from January through December, 2016 indicate:

Deer: • Activity dropped significantly after 2007 Santiago Fire but has remained steady. • Strong peak in activity during late summer (September) and drop in winter and spring.

Coyote: • Annual activity has increased slightly since 2013 • Activity is greatest in winter (December) and lowest in summer (September) but fluctuates widely.

Grey fox: • Activity decreased significantly following the 2007 Santiago fire and has not recovered. Only 31 grey fox images were captured in 2016. • Weir Canyon, specifically Lower Weir, gets the highest grey fox activity on the reserve. • No seasonal pattern of activity detected from camera traps.

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Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Bobcat: • Annual activity has remained consistent since 2011, the year after the most significant rain on record. • No seasonal pattern of activity detected from camera traps.

Mountain lion: • Annual activity continues to fluctuate but has increased since 2013 when the lowest activity was recorded. • No seasonal pattern of activity detected from camera traps. • Two mountain lions had cubs in 2016. Irvine Mesa Trail Monitoring: On Jan. 26, 2015, three trail-side wildlife cameras were installed along the single track section of the Irvine Mesa Trail adjacent to Silverado Canyon. The cameras are intended to collect baseline data on unauthorized trail use and wildlife activity prior to and after the opening of the trail to docent-led activities on the Dec. 4, 2015. Over this two-year time period, activity rates for bobcat, coyote, and deer have not changed significantly (see figure below). However, domestic dog activity has increased significantly. Human activity presumably increased once authorized programs began on Irvine Mesa Trail but this was not tested. These results suggest that the (assumed) increase in authorized activity, as well as the

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

apparent increase in unauthorized dog activity, has not significantly altered the activity level of relatively common wildlife species. It is possible that wildlife are exhibiting a short-term avoidance response to human activity, e.g. shifting their activity to later in the day, which we have seen elsewhere.

Trap-door Spiders Three marked trap-door spider colonies were Monitoring of trapdoor colony demography will again monitored. Due to more bare ground being continue in 2017. If additional colonies are found, exposed due to drought again in 2016, several they will be marked and monitored as time new burrows were found in Limestone Canyon. permits. Colony size estimates (=questionable/live burrows) were: Hicks Hall – 3, Limestone – 75, and MWD – 7 burrows.

Pollinator Restoration and Citizen Science Butterfly Count. Monthly butterfly All activities are ongoing. butterfly monitoring surveys were conducted for a fifth full year along 11.5 miles of trail in Limestone Canyon; they were led by staff and included trained IRC volunteers and select trained members of the public. Surveys have recorded over 46 butterfly species and 16,085 individuals to date. All survey data were submitted to the Butterflies and Moths of North America butterfly monitoring online database (PollardBase) as part of the Orange County Butterfly Monitoring Network. A presentation of survey results was given to the Orange County chapter of the North American Butterfly Association as well as to the Lourquin Society and IRC’s Science Friday. Monitoring

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

training was conducted for new prospective participants and two new routes have been initiated at Dilley Preserve and Crystal Cove State Park.

IRC Native Seed Farming. The seed farm continued to target seed multiplication of native plant species that are valuable as pollinator magnets and as larval host plant for butterflies. These species will be planted in wildland restoration sites.

Bee monitoring. Bees are being surveyed for at riparian restoration sites (Silverado and Agua Chinon) using yellow pan traps. Surveys should identify current native bee diversity and future trends with restoration.

Climate Change IRC continues to stay abreast and supportive of Ongoing. climate change research relevant to local habitats.

Wildlife Corridors and IRC’s habitat mitigation plan for West Loma II Ongoing. Connectivity funded by OCTA (see West Loma II above under habitat restoration) was approved to include connectivity enhancements at Coal Canyon.

Alternative Pest No activity. No activity. Management

Christmas Bird Count and The Christmas Bird Count occurred on 18 IRC will consider expanding point count

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Partners in Flight Count December but was partially impacted because of locations. road closures due to rain. Quarterly PIF Point Count bird surveys were conducted by Sea and Sage Audubon as well as through the Conservancy’s Citizen Science program. As of 2008, Audubon is providing IRC with CBC and PIF data specifically for Reserve areas.

Conservation Capacity Conservation capacity is being maintained on the Ongoing. IROS as outlined below: 1. Implementing landscape-scale restoration. The purpose of restoration efforts is to increase habitat resilience to disturbance, enhance diversity, and support wildlife and ecosystem processes. Since 2012, implementation has been funded largely by external mitigation contracts, but also includes Land-owner funded restoration. 2. Implementing landscape-scale invasive control. The purpose of targeted invasive control is to remove the threat of future habitat degradation by highly invasive pests. Implementation is funded primarily by land management agreement as well as by external mitigation funding and NCC funding for emerging invasives. It is informed by current monitoring and collaborative prioritization. Efforts expanded and will continue to expand to the evaluation of new threats, such as Gold Spotted Oak Borer and Shothole Borer.

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Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

3. Expand and enhance wildlife conservation actions. Raptor surveys, camera monitoring, point counts and arthropod surveys continued in 2016. Projects will be strategically developed in 2017 to expand capacity to monitor and manage positively for wildlife. 4. Maintain current geospatial database for sensitive species and habitats. The purpose of maintaining and adding to the geodatabase is to inform conservation priorities and management actions with the purpose of maintaining and enhancing these resources. Activities include developing long- term and regional monitoring programs. 5. Partner with other organizations to achieve landscape-wide conservation goals. In 2016, activities included: (1) participating in the NCC TAC and several regional working groups, (2) providing regional expertise on regional conservation and land management issues where appropriate, (3) Working closely with OCFA to minimize fire risk, implement fire response consistent with protection of sensitive natural resources, and support organization, (4) Collaborating on a regional prioritization of invasive weeds through Cal-IPC and NCC, (5) Successfully initiating Year 2 of a LAG-funded study on recreation and wildlife response analysis, and (6) Maintaining four externally funded landscape-level sub watershed

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restoration projects. 6. Providing opportunities for collaboration, internships, scholarship, and research on the Reserve. Research partnerships continued with UC Irvine and UC Riverside. Several student interns completed work supporting conservation efforts. These included two summer UCSB Bren School graduate student interns. UCI students. 7. Working with collaborators to obtain funding for important conservation actions. , IRC collaborated with NCC on the submission of a (since awarded) LAG grant proposal to study patterns of Fusarium dieback on native trees and evaluate biological control methods. Funding was also received to enhance the new native seed farm operation. LAG funding for wildlife monitoring analysis funded one graduate Bren School intern. 8. Engaging volunteers in resource management. Stewardship and citizen science activities continued to be offered, which increased conservation capacity and enriched the volunteer experience through direct interaction with staff.

Miscellaneous Activities and Management Programs - Non-IRC Research:

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Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Steven Allison, Nameer Purpose: Controls over decomposition by Future focus on a separate IRC/CEB Baker, Jennifer Martiny, microbial communities under climate change. collaborative research project aimed at assessing Claudia Weihe, Kathleen Field work was performed during 2015-2016 and germination physiology and germination niche of Treseder, Adam Martiny. measurements were collected from Artemisia coastal sage scrub annuals and perennial plant UC Irvine. californica at 5 different Center for Environmental species. Biology weather stations (from coast inland to Foothills). Data collected is listed below. Measurements in bold indicate those where data was significantly different between sites.

Kathy Baumberger, USGS, Purpose: Western spadefoot (Spea hammondii) Project complete. TNC breeding habitat assessment, Irvine Mesa. Pond depth was monitored and spadefoot were measured and tagged.

Erin Boydston, USGS Purpose: Landscape genetics of mule deer in Ongoing. Southern California; Initiated 2015. Fecal samples were collected to evaluate genetic structure and gene flow from the inland areas to coastal areas which are divided by I-5 and I-405. The focal study region centers on wildlife habitat in Chino Hills State Park, Prado Basin, and Santa Ana Mountains along the Santa Ana River. An interim report was completed and is available upon request.

Dr. Jennifer Funk, Purpose: Limiting similarity as a tool for native Ongoing. Chapman University plant restoration. Purpose: Experiment assessing the competitive abilities of native plant functional

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

groups and invasive species.

Dr. Winston Vickers, Purpose: Mountain Lion monitoring and Ongoing. University of California, movement. Movement patterns continue to be Davis monitored with radio collars.

Dr. Ann Sakai and Dr. Purpose: Impacts of changing precipitation Ongoing. Steven Weller, University of patterns on invasive fountain grass populations in California, Irvine (funding coastal sage scrub and grassland communities. from UCI Center)

Dr. Michael Goulden, Purpose Climate Change Experiment: Ongoing. University of California, Understand changes in vegetation due to Irvine changing rainfall and nitrogen deposition patterns. The data are uploaded to the internet (http://128.200.14.200/index.html), and shared with regional weather websites, such as Mesowest. The inland weather stations generally report more extreme temperatures (higher highs and lower lows). We are currently compiling the rainfall data to determine whether there are differences in precipitation across the transect.

Dr. Sarah Kimball, and Dr. Weather station gradient. Purpose: Use Ongoing. Michael Goulden; University observational stations to quantify Orange of California, Irvine, CEB County's weather gradient, focusing on a north- south transect that spans the original Irvine Ranch from Crystal Cove State Park to Gypsum Canyon. (Also COI)

Matthew Garrambone (UCI, Sample collection to compare two CSS species Study complete. Work shifted to collaboration

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

PI Travis Huxman) across a coastal – inland gradient. with Steve Allison (see above).

Dr. Peter Bloom, Bloom Raptor monitoring and movement. Determine Ongoing. Biological raptor nesting activity among several canyons and how they vary over time as well as possible factors driving activity numbers.

Stankowich and Collins, Urban wildlife monitoring – Coyotes. Camera Ongoing CSULB traps were set up along an urban-wildland gradient focused around Santiago Canyon Road. Initiated late 2016. Planned to be a long-term study.

Tracy Brown, CSU San Horned Toad demography Reconnaissance planned for 2017. Marcos

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Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

OCP Fig. 1

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

OCP Fig. 2

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

OCP Fig. 3

Annual Report 2016

Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

OCP Fig. 4

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Irvine Ranch Open Space - Central/Coastal Orange County Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Coyote - North Activity Mountain Lion Annual Activity Dec 09 0.4 0.1 Dec 08 Dec 11 0.08 0.3 Dec 10 0.06 0.2 0.04

Rate Activity 0.1 0.02 Rate Activity 0 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Year Year

North Ranch - Mule Deer Activity Raw Abundance of Wildlife from '07-'16

2.5 350 Sept 07 300 2 250 200 1.5 150 Bobcat Sept 14 100 1 Sept 12 50 Sept 10 Gray Fox

Rate Activity 0

Sept 08 0.5 Raw Count of of Animals Count Raw Coyote 0 2:00 PM 2:00 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 2:00 AM 2:00 4:00 AM 4:00 AM 6:00 AM 8:00 12:00 PM 12:00 PM 10:00 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 AM 12:00 AM 10:00 Mountain Time of Day Lion Year

OCP Fig. 5: Wildlife Activity Patterns 2007 - 2016

NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

OC Parks-managed Wildlands

General Management Programs & Activities: (All facilities)

General Use Policies: Designated trails open to mountain biking, hiking and equestrian use. Dogs allowed on 6-ft. leash on designated trails (including all Regional Trails). Special uses/events allowed with OC Parks permit. All permit requests reviewed by park staff.

Closure Policies: Majority of NCCP parks open from 7:00 am to sunset. Parks may close for up to 72 hours following rain events. Parks are evacuated and closed in emergency situations such as fire, flooding and mountain lion incidents.

Ordinance Enforcement: Park Rangers obtain compliance with Orange County Codified Ordinances and use progressive enforcement, utilizing citation authority as “last resort.” Volunteer Park Ranger Reserves supplement park patrols throughout the year.

Fire Watch Volunteer Park volunteers monitor for fire and suspicious activity in majority of NCCP facilities on Red Flag Program: days.

Natural Resources Reform Natural Resources Management Group to include one Natural Resources Manager to focus Management Staffing: on programming and large-scale initiatives, and two Resource Management Specialists assigned to parks to focus on facility Resource Management Plans, invasive plant management, habitat restoration and BMP implementation.

NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Five-year Weed Partner with Natural Communities Coalition (NCC), California State Parks and Irvine Ranch Management Plan: Conservancy (IRC) with California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) contract to develop consistent, mutual approaches to prioritizing target weeds for annual treatment and inclusion of an Early Detection, Rapid Response (EDRR) component. Initial phase includes Coastal Reserve facilities.

Defensible Space Zone Developing OC Parks Defensible Space Zone Management Plan through contract in collaboration Management Plan: with OC Fire Authority, Irvine Ranch Conservancy, local fire departments, NCC and other partners.

Tree Monitoring Program: Following plan to monitor tree health throughout OC Parks facilities.

Maintenance Best Plans to develop BMP brochures and training for OC Parks staff, focusing on reducing maintenance Management Practices: impacts to natural resources in parks.

ALISO AND WOOD CANYONS WILDERNESS PARK

Recreation Use, Monitoring & Management:

Recreation Monitoring: Patrolled regularly to monitor for new Ongoing. Increase recreation attendance - Trail Monitoring unauthorized trails. Continued brushing and monitoring utilizing volunteers. blocking unauthorized trails while utilizing outreach and progressive enforcement to gain user compliance. Monitored recreation attendance with volunteers.

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Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Educational Outreach: Conducted school tour programs beginning in Ongoing. Increase Native American heritage - Parks & Laguna Canyon March. Continued LCF programs in Spring. Kept programming based on strategies outlined in Foundation Educational public updated via interpretive signage. park’s Resource Management Plan (RMP). Programs Maintained native plant garden with interpretive signs.

Recreation Facility Construction & Maintenance:

New Construction or Developed plans for park office, visitor center Finalize plans by January 2017 and complete Expansion: and public restroom at main park entrance. construction by August 2017. - Park Office and Interpretive Center

Maintenance of Existing County Design Division staff implemented main No further action planned at this time. Facilities: park entrance improvements as outlined in park’s - Park Office and RMP. Entrance Improvements

Maintenance of Existing LCF initiated development of master plan for trail Finalize plan and initiate implementation. Facilities: maintenance throughout park. - Laguna Canyon Foundation (LCF) Trail Maintenance Master Plan

65 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Maintenance of Existing Initiated development of homeless encampment Execute contract with pilot project work. Facilities: cleanup scope of work and located contractor to - Homeless Encampment perform work. Cleanup

Maintenance of Existing Planned improvement public day use area at Implement improvements. Facilities: junction of Aliso Canyon and Wood Canyons with - Day Use Area new tables, interpretive signage, mulch and large Improvements boulders.

Habitat Restoration & Enhancement:

Exotic Plant Control: Utilized labor resources including staff and Ongoing. - Manual Removal of volunteers and special groups to remove Non-native, Invasive targeted species including poison hemlock, Plants Russian and artichoke thistles, mustard, pepper (OC Parks Funding) trees, Eucalyptus and Arundo. Mowed non-native grasses in lower meadows to deplete seed bank.

Exotic Plant Control: - Targeted 38 acres for treatment of artichoke - Ongoing. Implement 5-year Weed Management - Herbicide Treatment of and Russian thistles, Pampas grass, poison Plan. Non-native, Invasive hemlock and Arundo with County contractor in - Continue maintenance phase of Aliso Creek Plants coordination with NCC oversight contractor. Arundo control project. (Natural Communities - Entered Year 3 maintenance phase of Prop. 50 Coalition, OC Parks, Arundo treatment project targeting Prop. 50 Funding) approximately 30 acres of Aliso Creek.

66 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Exotic Animal Control: Continued trapping in two areas along Aliso Ongoing. - Cowbird Trapping Creek East. (Natural Communities Coalition Funding)

Habitat Restoration: Initiated cactus scrub restoration project with staff Continue planting; maintain and monitor. - Cactus Scrub Habitat and volunteers near Canyon Acres over 2-acre (OC Parks Funding) site.

Habitat Restoration: De-compacted unauthorized trails including Itchy Ongoing. - Unauthorized Trail Sticks, Dripping Cave Trail off-shoot and Ranger Rehabilitation Station Trail. (OC Parks Funding)

Habitat Restoration: City of Aliso Viejo Public Works initiated Complete work by January 2017. Monitor and - Dairy Fork Natural installation of NTS to improve water quality over retreat as needed. Treatment System (NTS) 13 acres in Dairy Fork portion of park with (City of Aliso Viejo, Prop. Proposition 54 funds. 54 Funding)

Habitat Restoration: ACOE proposing large-scale restoration project Additional stakeholder presentations and surveys - Army Corp of Engineers of lower Aliso Creek. Conducted biological to be completed by ACOE before selecting Aliso Creek Restoration surveys. restoration design. (ACOE Funding)

67 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Habitat Restoration: No action. Work with partners to obtain funding for Arundo - North of AWMA Bridge removal north of AWMA Bridge to complete Aliso Arundo Project Creek Arundo control efforts. Complete planning (Funding To Be process and submit permit applications. Determined)

Habitat Mitigation: Mathis Canyon Trail repair required 0.12-acre Ongoing to 2018. Contractors install riparian - Mathis Canyon Trail wetland and 0.22-acre riparian mitigation. species to meet final criteria and continue (OC Parks Funding) Mitigation installed in 2012-13. Completed fourth maintaining site pending approval of regulatory year of maintenance and monitoring with County agencies. contractors. Site met all performance criteria except riparian cover due to failed willow plantings from drought conditions.

Habitat Mitigation: Initiated preliminary development of wetland- Complete planning process and submit permit - OC Public Works riparian mitigation projects along Wood Canyon. applications. - SOCWA (OC Public Works, South Orange County Wastewater Authority Funding)

Fire Management Activities:

Fire Prevention: See “General Management Programs & Ongoing, as needed. - Fire Watch Program Activities.”

68 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Fire Prevention: - Continued permitted grazing with City of Ongoing. - City of Laguna Beach Laguna Beach contractor per agreement with Fuel Modification city. - Ridgeview Fuel Mod - Fulfill obligations to perform vegetation Tract reduction adjacent to homes to OCFA standards.

2016 Fires: N/A N/A

Post-Fire Management: N/A N/A

Miscellaneous Activities & Management Programs:

N/A N/A N/A

EL MODENA OPEN SPACE (SANTIAGO OAKS REGIONAL PARK)

Recreation Use, Monitoring & Management:

Recreation Monitoring: Installed trail counter to monitor after-hours Install additional camera. - Trail Monitoring usage.

69 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Recreation Facility Construction & Maintenance:

New Construction or N/A N/A Expansion:

Maintenance of Existing Installed trashcans and trailhead signage with No further action. Facilities: park rules and information at entry locations. - Signage & Trashcans

Maintenance of Existing Continued performing weed abatement via Ongoing. Facilities: mowing and line trimming per County Agricultural - Weed Abatement Commissioner postings along areas adjacent to NCCP boundaries.

Habitat Restoration & Enhancement:

Exotic Plant Control: N/A N/A - Manual Treatment of Non-native, Invasive Plants

Exotic Plant Control: No action. Plan herbicide treatment in Winter 2016-17 with - Herbicide Treatment of fountain grass as a primary target. Non-native, Invasive Plants

70 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Revegetation: No action. Plan revegetation to deter public from degrading - Overlook Rehabilitation overlook site.

Revegetation: No action. Utilize contractor to reactivate revegetation site in - Gregory Encroachment conjunction with Overlook Rehabilitation to increase overall habitat quality.

Exotic Animal Control: N/A N/A

Fire Management Activities:

Fire Prevention: N/A N/A

2016 Fires: 1/2-acre fire in cactus scrub. Monitor post-fire.

Post-Fire Management: N/A N/A

Maintenance of Fuel Staff and contractor maintained fuel modification Ongoing. Breaks/Modification Zones: zones identified by City of Orange Fire and OC Fire Authority.

Miscellaneous Activities & Management Programs:

71 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Mitigation: Mitigation project to create cactus scrub habitat No further action. - Waterline Mitigation met all performance criteria in final year of maintenance and monitoring.

IRVINE REGIONAL PARK

Recreation Use, Monitoring & Management:

Recreation Monitoring: Captured data from one camera and one trail No further action. - Trail Monitoring counter along Regional Trail to monitor recreation use. Relocated trail monitoring equipment to another OC Parks facility.

Recreation Monitoring: Contracted Park Attendants provided monthly Ongoing. - Attendance Tracking attendance statistics and volunteers tracked visitor attendance at Nature Center.

Recreation Monitoring: Continued public satisfaction surveys at four Ongoing. - Public Surveys locations in park. Results charted by OC Parks Communications for Balanced Scorecard Reports to County Board of Supervisors.

72 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

User Compliance Continued contracted special event to educate Ongoing. Programs: public about keeping dogs leashed. - Paws for Pink

Educational Outreach: Continued opening Nature Center to public on Ongoing. Obtain additional volunteers to staff - OC Parks Public weekends and weekdays with volunteer staffing. Nature Center and lead hikes. Reinitiate 2nd Programs Held programs throughout year including Bark Saturday Trail Day. Patrol, Paws for Pink, Night Hike Series and IRC to host Irvine Park Land Steward Days. California History for 4th Graders. Added movie nights and Kids’ Fishing Clinic.

Educational Outreach: Purchased trailer in 2014 for travel to various No further action. - OC Parks Nature on the parks and multi-agency events. Go Completed trailer and initiated programs. Educational trailer relocated to Mile Square Regional Park.

Educational Outreach: ITO naturalists continued to provide educational Ongoing. - OC Department of interpretive programs during school year. Education “Inside the Outdoors” School Field Trips

Educational Outreach: Developed outreach materials for hiking and Distribute materials to park users. - Public Flyers biking etiquette.

73 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Recreation Facility Construction & Maintenance:

New Construction or Continued developing plans to improve park Continue in coordination with Project Managers. Expansion: entrance for user traffic flows, drainage and - Park Front Entry signage. Redesign

New Construction or Continued developing projects to replace existing Complete Restroom 9 in 2016. Expansion: restrooms with new, structurally sound unisex - Restrooms 9 and 11 restrooms. Initiated work on Restroom 9; Restroom 11 on hold pending funding.

Maintenance of Existing Slurried and striped all roadways for No further action until needed. Facilities: maintenance. - Roadways

Maintenance of Existing Continued replacement of aged signage Complete new signage installation. Facilities: throughout park for clarity and consistency. - Signage

Maintenance of Existing Developed scope of work to replace fencing No further action until completion of Facilities: along park perimeter. Project on hold due to development. - Fencing adjacent Santiago Hills Phase II development.

74 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Maintenance of Existing Continued annual tree trimming with County Ongoing. Facilities: contract outside of nesting season. - Tree Trimming

Maintenance of Existing Reduced irrigation by 28% and identified turf Consider replacing irrigation with reclaimed water Facilities: zones to be type-converted to drought-tolerant source in conjunction with installation of Santiago - Water Conservation landscapes in 2015. Hills Phase II development. Installed ½ acre of turf conversion zones to further reduce watering by 60%.

Maintenance of Existing County contractor performed rodent control for Ongoing. Facilities: public safety and aesthetics. - Gopher and Ground Squirrel Control

Maintenance of Existing County contractor performed lake treatment for Ongoing. Facilities: algae blooms as needed. - Lake Maintenance

Habitat Restoration & Enhancement:

75 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Exotic Plant Control: Volunteers and Juvenile Work Program crews Ongoing. - Manual Removal of hand-removed non-native, invasive species Invasive Non-native including artichoke, milk and Russian thistles, Plants (OC Parks, Funding) horehound, tree tobacco, castor bean, mustard, fennel, fountain grass, Pampas grass, white bladder-flower and Palms.

Exotic Plant Control: Treated 30 acres targeting tree tobacco, castor Ongoing. - Herbicide Treatment of bean, fennel, fountain grass, horehound, milk Invasive Non-native thistle and umbrella sedge throughout park. Plants (OC Parks Funding)

Exotic Animal Control: NCC contractor monitored and maintained a Ongoing. - Cowbird Trapping minimum of three traps. (NCC Funding)

Habitat Restoration & - Volunteers continued Hardy Trail planting and - Continue planting maintenance on Hardy Trail. Revegetation: maintenance. - Plant 24 coast live oak trees as mitigation for - OC Parks Projects - Outdoor Education Center completed eight oak trees removed for maintenance yard (OC Parks Funding) maintenance of Santiago Creek Trail planting. construction pending relief from drought conditions. - Evaluate unauthorized trails for revegetation.

76 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Habitat Restoration & Continued practice of retaining identified dead Ongoing. Revegetation: trees within park for habitat enhancement for - Snag Retention wildlife. Project sponsored by Southern California (OC Parks Funding) Bluebird Club and Cavity Conservation Initiative.

Fire Management Activities:

Fire Prevention: See “General Management Programs & Ongoing, as needed. - Fire Watch Program Activities.”

2016 Fires: - 1/4 -acre of degraded riparian scrub burned No further action. - Stables near stables. - Base Camp - Served as fire base camp for “Holy Fire” at Holy Jim.

Post-Fire Management: N/A N/A

Maintenance of Fuel N/A N/A Breaks & Fuel Modification Zones:

Miscellaneous Activities & Management Programs:

77 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Study: Sea & Sage Audubon Society volunteers Ongoing. - Bluebird Nest continued monitoring in Spring.

Survey: Pete Bloom surveyed nesting sites in June. Ongoing. - Owl Surveys

Treatment: Vector Control inspected for and treated Ongoing. - Red Imported Fire Ants widespread populations of red imported fire ants throughout park.

Treatment: Vector Control inspected for and treated kissing Ongoing. - Kissing Bugs bug populations throughout park.

Survey: Surveyed for potential restoration projects. Continue. - NCC

Survey: NCC contracted gnatcatcher surveys. Continue. - Gnatcatchers

Survey: PSHB found to be present at low levels. Continue. - Polyphagous Shot Contractor conducted soil drench treatments on Hole Borer selected oak and sycamore trees. Ten traps were set out in May and monitored weekly.

78 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Study: CSULB initiated study of coyote diet and Continue. - Coyote movement throughout park.

Study: Resumed research not conducted by UC Continue. - Yellow Jacket Cooperative Extension Agriculture & Natural Resources and UC Riverside in 2015. Study includes 55 stations.

Study: USGS initiated study of golden eagle Continue through 2017. - Golden Eagles populations.

Study: Completed USDA continued beetle trap No further action. - Emerald Ash Borer monitoring. Monitoring

LAGUNA COAST WILDERNESS PARK

Recreation Use, Monitoring & Management:

79 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Recreation Monitoring: Patrolled regularly to monitor for new Ongoing. - Trail Monitoring unauthorized trails. Continued brushing and blocking unauthorized trails while utilizing outreach and progressive enforcement to gain user compliance. Volunteers monitored photos from remote wildlife cameras and reported unauthorized use to staff. Monitored Lizards, 9 to 5 and Drunken Sailor Trails with trail counters and wildlife cameras.

Recreation Monitoring: Tracked total park, Nix Nature Center, program Ongoing. - Attendance Tracking and cell phone tour attendance. Tracked public and school programs and quarterly newsletter mailings.

User Compliance Staff and volunteers continued utilizing wildlife Ongoing. Programs: cameras to monitor presence of dogs in park and

informed visitors with dogs about park policy. Patrolled for homeless encampments and unauthorized access/use. Targeted after-hours (night) access violations.

80 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Educational Outreach: Conducted school and public programs Ongoing. - OC Parks & throughout year. Updated two Nix Nature Center Laguna Canyon exhibits. Foundation Docent Programs

Recreation Facility Construction & Maintenance:

New Construction or Previously unauthorized Lizards Trail was Continue to maintain trail. No further activity Expansion: opened in 2015 following coordination and planned. - Lizards Trail stakeholder meetings through NCC, Coastal Greenbelt Authority, Laguna Canyon Foundation and OC Parks. Rehabilitation was undertaken in 2015 to permanently close surrounding unauthorized trails. Monitored Lizards Trail with wildlife cameras and trail counters. Opened trail received regular visitor use. Addressed maintenance issues upon observance by LCF and wildlife camera captured two grey foxes and coyote activity.

New Construction or Identify connection to rectify missing trail loop for Work with OC Parks Design Division to gather Expansion: bikers to connect from El Toro Road (Woods End stakeholder input and assess options. - Woods End-Ridge Top- entrance) to Nix Center and propose converting Gravel Road Connection trail from hiker only to multi-use.

81 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

New Construction or No action. Both roads are currently dead ends. Evaluate options for connection between bottom Expansion: of Emerald Canyon and Boat Road. - Emerald Canyon to Boat Road Connection

New Construction or Undertook trail maintenance improvements and Complete Laguna Ridge Trail maintenance Expansion: vegetation rehabilitation on Laguna Ridge and improvements and vegetation rehabilitation. - Laguna Ridge Trail Old Emerald Trails to address sustainability, Monitor through first rain season. Improvements - Old Emerald Trail maintenance and recreational issues. Completed Improvements work on Old Emerald Trail.

Maintenance of Existing Identified Marie Callendars and additional Work with park staff and partners to implement Facilities: unnamed unauthorized trails (approximately 3/4 - closures. - Unauthorized Trail miles in length) for closure with volunteer groups. Closure

Habitat Restoration & Enhancement:

82 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Exotic Plant Control: Utilized park staff, LCF volunteers, CCC crews Ongoing. - Manual and Mechanical and Irvine Ranch Conservancy to control target Removal of Invasive species including Tamarix, poison hemlock, Non-native Plants (OC Parks, LCF mustard, non-native grasses, veldt grass, Funding) Pampas grass, tocalote and Italian thistle, castor bean, perennial pepperweed, Sahara mustard and areas with mixed invasive species. Methods included hand removal, weed eating, mowing and tractor.

Exotic Plant Control: NCC and OC Parks contractors treated target Implement 5-year Weed Management Plan - Herbicide Treatment of non-native, invasive plants including Tamarix, focusing control efforts on highest priority species Non-native, Invasive veldt grass, Arundo and fountain grass and first. Plan developed in partnership with Plants (Natural Communities mixed invasive species. California State Parks, Irvine Ranch Coalition, OC Parks, Conservancy and Natural Communities Coalition. Caltrans Funding)

Exotic Animal Control: No action. No action.

83 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Habitat Restoration & - Nix Nature Center: continued site maintenance. - Nix Nature Center: Continue maintenance; no Revegetation: - Camarillo Canyon: Maintained and further further action planned. - OC Parks Projects enhanced riparian restoration. - Camarillo Canyon: Monitor, seed and weed. (OC Parks & Laguna Canyon Foundation - Willow: Planted approximately ½-acre between - Willow- Supplement planting with native seed. Funding) trailer and parking lot. - Barbara’s Hill: Continue planting and - Barbara’s Hill: Removed invasive species and monitoring. installed native coastal sage scrub species.

Habitat Restoration & Actively closed, rehabilitated and monitored Continue monitoring for unauthorized activity Revegetation: unauthorized trails 9-5 and Drunken Sailor in from Bommer Ridge Road; no further action - Unauthorized Trail conjunction with opening Lizards Trail and planned. Rehabilitation (OC Parks & Laguna establishing sustainable trail network in 2015. Canyon Foundation Monitored trail counters and wildlife cameras. No Funding) signs of human activity beyond first 100 yards of trail.

Habitat Restoration & OCPW contractor maintained 17-acre riparian Completion of mitigation project, pending sign-off Revegetation: mitigation along Laguna Canyon Road. by regulatory agencies. Issues with habitat type - Laguna Canyon Road success criteria continue. (OC Public Works & Caltrans Funding)

Fire Management Activities:

Fire Prevention: See “General Management Programs & Ongoing, as needed. - Fire Watch Program Activities.”

84 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Fire Prevention: Homeowners Association obtained grant with Continue working with Homeowners Association - Emerald Bay OCFA to install 1997 Fuel Management Concept and OCFA through project completion. Community Fuel Mod Plan specifying 300-foot fuel management zone. Plan Plan modified to plant prickly pear within existing Defensible Space Zone.

2016 Fires: - Laguna Ridge Fire burned 47 acres of coastal Monitor and maintain BMPs. - Laguna Ridge Fire sage scrub in June. - 11-acre Fire - 11-acre Fire burned nonnative grasses near Stagecoach North in September. Post-fire assessments performed on both fires. Laguna Ridge Trail was closed for three months.

Post-Fire Management: July 2015 fire initiated by SCE Powerline burned Continue to monitor and maintain BMPs as site - 2015 Laguna Fire 14-acres adjacent to Laguna Canyon Road. revegetates. No further action planned. Burned primarily coastal sage scrub with some degraded habitat. Installed erosion control measures.

Maintenance of Defensible Continued planting and maintaining (outside of Ongoing. Space / Fuel Modification nesting season) OCFA-mandated plant palette in Zones: 170-foot fuel mod zone around Nix Nature - Nix Nature Center Center. Planted additional bunchgrasses.

85 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Maintenance of Defensible Continued grazing permit with City contractor, Ongoing. Space / Fuel Modification Laguna Beach Fire Department. Zones: - City of Laguna Beach Fuel Modification

Miscellaneous Activities & Management Programs:

Proposed Introduction: USFWS reintroduced endangered Pacific Pocket Continue to coordinate with USFWS on project. - Pacific Pocket Mouse Mouse (PPM) to park per PPM Reintroduction Plan.

Encroachment: In 2015, discovered two sites encompassing 45 Continue monitoring sites and removing debris - Marijuana Grove acres of approximately 2,000 plants in Los as access allows. Trancos and Muddy Canyon and removed majority of debris from sites. Continued to monitor site.

PETERS CANYON REGIONAL PARK

Recreation Use, Monitoring & Management:

86 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Recreation Monitoring & Initiated developing both GDP and RMP with Continue developing plans. Management: County contract. Contractor conducted biological, - General Development recreational and infrastructure surveys to support Plan (GDP) - Resource Management plans. Plan (RMP)

Educational Outreach: Continued hosting Restoration Sundays Ongoing. - OC Parks Programs volunteer events to remove non-native, invasive plants and restore native vegetation. Held programs for several community schools and conducted Bark Patrol to increase awareness of responsible dog ownership in parks.

Recreation Facility Construction & Maintenance:

87 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

New Construction or In 2015, IRWD submitted plans to install Unknown; dependent on IRWD. Expansion: approximately 200 yards of pipeline along Peters - IRWD Water Treatment Canyon Trail to Jamboree and expand footprint Station of treatment station. Work was originally slated for completion in 2016, however IRWD has not yet initiated project.

New Construction or 84-inch pipe with header planned for installation Work anticipated to begin in 2017. Expansion: to drain water from Santiago Hills Phase II - Santiago Hills Phase II development into Peters Canyon Reservoir. Drainage No action.

Maintenance of Existing Initiated planning to reroute portion of East Ridge Defer installation of reroute to General Facilities: View Trail currently subject to steep grade, Development Plan. - East Ridge View Trail severe erosion and peripheral habitat loss of coastal sage scrub.

Maintenance of Existing Contractor to perform trail maintenance and Complete all trail maintenance activities. Facilities: improvements through installation of drains, - Eucalyptus Trail addressing minor grading issues, installing - Scout Trail - East Ridge View Trail fencing in strategic locations, etc. Work - Lake View Loop Trail scheduled to begin in December 2016. - Cactus Point Trail

Habitat Restoration & Enhancement:

88 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Exotic Plant Control: Volunteers, staff and contractor removed target Ongoing. - Manual Removal of Non- non-native species, including artichoke and native, Invasive Plants Russian thistles, tocalote, castor bean, fennel (OC Parks Funding) and black mustard during restoration volunteer days. Removed fan palms and Eucalyptus with contract.

Exotic Plant Control: No action. Ongoing. Plan 2016 weed treatment in Winter of - Herbicide Treatment of 2015-16. Non-native, Invasive Plants (Natural Communities Coalition, OC Parks Funding)

Exotic Animal Control: Natural Communities Coalition contractor Ongoing. - Cowbird Trapping monitored and maintained three traps. (Natural Communities Coalition Funding)

Habitat Restoration & Continued planting and maintaining coastal sage Continue planting and maintaining. Revegetation: scrub species and prickly pear cacti at main park - OC Parks Projects entrance. (OC Parks Funding)

89 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Habitat Restoration & OCPW contractor continued project initiated on Ongoing until regulatory agency sign-off. Revegetation: October 24, 2011 to restore 25 Acres of coastal - Peters Canyon Wash sage scrub, oak woodland and riparian habitat Mitigation (OC Public Works along Peters Canyon Creek. Removed T-posts Funding) from site.

Fire Management Activities:

Fire Prevention: See “General Management Programs & Ongoing, as needed. - Fire Watch Program Activities.”

2016 Fires: N/A N/A

Post-Fire Management: N/A N/A

Maintenance of Defensible Park staff maintained fuel modification zones Ongoing. Space / Fuel Modification identified by OC Fire Authority and Country Zones: Agricultural Commissioner.

Miscellaneous Activities & Management Programs:

N/A N/A N/A

90 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

SANTIAGO OAKS REGIONAL PARK

Recreation Use, Monitoring & Management:

Recreation Monitoring: No action. Form trail sub-committee for recreational trail - Recreation Planning flow planning under umbrella of Friends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks.

Educational Outreach: Hosted Mountain Bike Skills Clinics, SHARE Ongoing. - OC Parks Programs & Poker Ride, Non-dot Adventures Race, Into The Special Events Wild Race, Moonlight Stroll Night, Volunteer Habitat Restoration and Trail Work Days. Conducted Backcountry Patrol to increase awareness of responsible dog ownership in parks.

91 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Educational Outreach: Hosted ITO field trips with habitat themes March- Ongoing. - OC Department of May. Education “Inside the Outdoors” School Field Trips

Educational Outreach: Developed trail etiquette mountain bike outreach Install trail etiquette signage in strategic locations - Trail Etiquette materials to educate all user groups about trail throughout park. safety and etiquette.

Recreation Facility Construction & Maintenance:

Maintenance of Existing Obtained all permit approvals. Implement pending Project Manager scheduling. Facilities: - Arizona Crossing Repair

Maintenance of Existing Planning of trail improvements. - Improve sustainability of Anaheim Hills-Weir Facilities: Canyon loop connector. - Anaheim Hills Trail - Improve sustainability of Peralta Hills-Anaheim - Peralta Hills Trail Hills Regional Riding & Hiking Trail connector. - Chutes Trail - Improve sustainability of Chutes Trail in anticipation of Santiago Hills Phase II development.

Maintenance of Existing Improved maintenance regime. Develop grove management BMPs and refine Facilities: irrigation under contract. - Orange Grove

92 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Habitat Restoration & Enhancement:

Exotic Plant Control: Utilized staff, volunteers and contracts to Ongoing. - Manual Removal of Non- opportunistically remove small patches of non- native, Invasive Plants native plants throughout park, including artichoke (OC Parks Funding) and Russian thistles, Pampas grass, Spanish broom, Arundo and palm trees.

Exotic Plant Control: No action. Planning weed control in Winter 2016-17. - Herbicide Treatment of Non-native, Invasive Plants

Habitat Restoration & Staff and volunteers revegetated unauthorized Ongoing. Revegetation: trails with prickly pear salvaged from Glenn - OC Parks Projects Ranch-El Toro Road development (NCC). (OC Parks, NCC Funding)

Habitat Restoration & OCWR contractor continued monitoring and Ongoing. OCWR contractor to maintain coast live Revegetation: maintaining oak woodland mitigation project oaks through 2021. - Oak Woodland installed in 2011. Mitigation (OC Waste & Recycling Funding)

Fire Management Activities:

93 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Fire Prevention: See “General Management Programs & Ongoing, as needed. - Fire Watch Program Activities.”

2016 Fires: 1/2-acre fire in ruderal vegetation at park satellite Monitor site. - Cannon location in Santiago Creek under Cannon bridge.

Post-Fire Management: Followed Best Management Practices (BMP’s) No further action. - Windy Ridge Fire recommended by contractor at high-priority sites. Response Plan

Maintenance of Defensible County contractor conducted fuel load reduction Ongoing. Space / Fuel Modification along Weir Canyon developments. Zones:

Miscellaneous Activities & Management Programs:

Study: Contractor and UC Cooperative Extension Ongoing. - Park Trees monitored trees for disease, post-fire stress and presence of beetles. Except for emergency situations, all tree work performed outside of nesting season.

Survey: UC Extension staff surveyed and identified a high Continue monitoring for PSHB presence. - Polyphagous Shot Hole count of infested sycamores and lower counts of Borer cottonwoods oak, all with low levels of PSHB infestation.

94 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Encroachment: No action. Habitat restoration pending conclusion Initiate habitat restoration, pending conclusion of - Chen Property of negotiations with OC Parks Real Estate and negotiations. homeowner.

Encroachment: No action. Habitat restoration pending conclusion Initiate habitat restoration, pending conclusion of - Lower Santiago of negotiations with OC Parks Real Estate and negotiations. homeowner.

TALBERT NATURE PRESERVE (NORTH COASTAL FACILITIES)

Recreation Use, Monitoring & Management:

Recreation Monitoring: Patrolled regularly to monitor for new Ongoing. Increase patrols. - Trail Monitoring unauthorized trails. Continued brushing and blocking unauthorized trails.

Educational Outreach: None. Ongoing. - Educational Programs

Recreation Facility Construction & Maintenance:

95 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

New Construction or N/A N/A Expansion:

Maintenance of Existing Remove fencing from Victoria Lake. No further action. Facilities: - Fencing

Maintenance of Existing Standard facility maintenance. Ongoing. Facilities:

Habitat Restoration & Enhancement:

Exotic Plant Control: No action. Large-scale mechanical removal of Pampas - Manual Removal of Non- grass in South Talbert. native, Invasive Plants

Exotic Plant Control: No action. Treat Pampas grass re-sprouts and other non- - Herbicide Treatment of native species as needed. Implement 5-year Non-native, Invasive Weed Management Plan focusing control efforts Plants on highest priority species first. Plan developed in partnership with California State Parks, Irvine Ranch Conservancy and Natural Communities Coalition.

Exotic Animal Control: N/A N/A

96 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Habitat Restoration & Discontinued 1rst Sundays habitat restoration To be determined. Revegetation: program run by park volunteers due to staffing. - OC Parks Projects (OC Parks Funding)

Habitat Restoration & Initiated stakeholder input to develop Habitat To be determined. Revegetation: Restoration Plan for park and completed - OC Parks Habitat feedback process. Restoration Plan (OC Parks Funding)

Habitat Restoration & No action. Complete work plan and submit to NCC and Revegetation: California Resources Agency, pending OC Parks - South Talbert Wetland Design action. Enhancement Project (California Resources Agency Coastal Impact Assistance Program Funding)

Habitat Restoration & OCFC contractor continued to monitor and Ongoing. Revegetation: maintain project initiated in 2009. Riparian - OC Flood Control mitigation monitoring showed high plant mortality District Mitigation (OCFCD Funding) due to high salt content in soils; contractor experimented with planting native halophyte species and improving irrigation.

97 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Fire Management Activities:

Fire Prevention: N/A N/A

2016 Fires: Twelve fires in 2016, all less than ¼-acre in size. Reduce Pampas grass biomass and limb up Burned habitat included non-native ruderal sites Myoporum trees to reduce fire hazards. and willow riparian vegetation.

Post-Fire Management: N/A N/A

Maintenance of Defensible N/A N/A Space / Fuel Modification Zones:

Miscellaneous Activities & Management Programs:

Survey: Surveys identified heavy, widespread PSHB Remove hazard trees as needed. - Polyphagous Shot Hole infestation of sycamores and willows throughout Borer park.

Study: No action. Consider permit application to survey human- - Recreation Impacts vegetation impacts in South Talbert.

98 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

UPPER NEWPORT BAY NATURE PRESERVE (NORTH COASTAL FACILITIES)

Recreation Use, Monitoring & Management:

Educational Outreach: - Early College High School Service Learning Ongoing. - OC Parks Programs Project- Worked for eleventh year with ECHS freshman on year-long Service Learning Project learning about and performing habitat restoration over 3-acre site. - Held 2nd Sundays Habitat Restoration & Specialty Volunteer Restoration Events monthly at various restoration sites throughout Bay. - Hosted Coastal Cleanup, Earth Day and educational events.

99 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Educational Outreach: Reduced programming due to staffing. Partnered Ongoing. - OC Parks Partnerships with local organizations including YMCA, Newport Bay Conservancy, Newport Aquatic Center, UC Irvine and ECHS.

Educational Outreach: Continued partnership with City of Newport Continue partnership to finalize and place - Park Signage Beach, Department of Fish and Wildlife and interpretive panels.

Newport Bay Conservancy to create interpretive panels for placement in strategic locations throughout the Bay.

Educational Outreach: Hosted ITO field trips with habitat themes during Ongoing. - OC Department of school year. Education “Inside the Outdoors” School Field Trips

Recreation Facility Construction & Maintenance:

New Construction or N/A N/A Expansion:

100 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Maintenance of Existing Cultural and Paleontological Resource Phase I No action, pending Mitigated Negative Facilities: Survey Report completed. Draft F&G Section Declaration. Continue to close bridge during - FEMA Site Repairs: 1600 application and COE 404 permit / 401 heavy rain events. Site 1, PW# 2916 Storm Repair Project 2004/05, certification completed in 2015 and engineers Bayview Bridge Erosion recommended bridge closure during heavy rain Repair events. No action.

Maintenance of Existing Considered replacing current outdoor Determine direction and implement. Facilities: amphitheatre seating of decomposed granite, - Muth Interpretive Center wood and rock with lower maintenance, higher Improvements functioning alternative. Considered adding “sail cloth” shades to Muth entrance to increase shade for visitors.

Maintenance of Existing Resurfaced parking lot with decomposed granite Meet with Project Manager to determine direction Facilities: and sealer for maintenance. Considered and implement. - Parking Lot replacing decomposed granite parking lot with concrete aggregate.

Maintenance of Existing Removed damaged kiosk, relocated trashcans No further action. Facilities: and replaced chain-link with post-and-cable - Minor Entrance fencing at Constellation entrance. Redesign

101 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Habitat Restoration & Enhancement:

Exotic Plant Control: Volunteers, staff and partners removed target Ongoing. - Manual Removal of Non- non-native species, including Brazilian pepper native, Invasive Plants trees, ice plant, mustard, tocalote and bristly ox- (OC Parks, California Coastal Commission tongue. ROOTS Funding)

Exotic Plant Control: Treated 36 acres of invasive species with County Ongoing. Plan herbicide treatment in Winter - Herbicide Treatment of contract. 2015-16. Non-native, Invasive

Plants (OC Parks Funding)

Exotic Animal Control: N/A N/A

Habitat Restoration & Continued planting, maintaining and removing Ongoing. Revegetation: weeds to enhance approximately five acres of - OC Parks Projects coastal sage scrub and estuarine sites, including (OC Parks, California Coastal Commission Constellation, Plateau, Bayview Restoration Site, ROOTS, UCI Funding) Banner Point and Parking Lot Sites. Expanded planting along perimeters of existing sites.

102 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Habitat Restoration & 8-acre coastal sage scrub and grassland habitat Facility staff to enter project into Project Portal for Revegetation: restoration project declined, following end of prioritization and assignment to a Project - Westbay Habitat maintenance period with County contractor. Manager. Restoration Project (American Oil Trader Native vegetation matured and began to self- Spill Settlement propagate in many areas; however, vegetation Funding) declined in areas with renewed erosion issues. No action.

Fire Management Activities:

Fire Prevention: See “General Management Programs & Ongoing, as needed. - Fire Watch Program Activities.”

2016 Fires: N/A N/A

Post-Fire Management: N/A N/A

Maintenance of Defensible N/A N/A Space / Fuel Modification Zones:

Miscellaneous Activities & Management Programs:

103 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Study: UC Irvine researchers continued genetics study Continue. - Climate Change and on approximately 0.25 acres near Muth Native Plant Genetics Interpretive Center.

WHITING RANCH WILDERNESS PARK

Recreation Use, Monitoring & Management:

Recreation Monitoring: Patrolled regularly to monitor for new Ongoing. - Trail Monitoring unauthorized trails and after-hours unauthorized access. Continued brushing and blocking unauthorized trails while utilizing progressive enforcement to gain user compliance. Maintained two trail counters and monitored three trail cameras for wildlife activity and ordinance violations.

Recreation Monitoring: Partnered with NCC to complete biological Continue implementing planning BMPs. No - Event Monitoring surveys pre-, during and post- bike race event in further action. 2015. Implemented feedback from biologist recommendations into planning for bike race events.

104 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Educational Outreach: Assisted O’Neill Regional Park with Acorn Day Ongoing. - OC Parks Programs & and volunteer events. Held annual mountain bike Special Events Poker Ride event and Non Dot race and conducted individual interpretive programs as requested. Initiated volunteer group for back country projects, including maintenance and interpretive programs.

Recreation Facility Construction & Maintenance:

New Construction or Edison continued negotiations to annex Continue negotiations until resolution. Expansion: approximately 101-acre “Edison Viejo” mitigation - Edison Viejo Mitigation bank to Whiting Ranch. Bank

New Construction or Considered options for relocating park office No further action. Expansion: and/or Bird of Prey Center to Glenn Ranch Road - Park Office and Bird of park entrance parking lot. Decided to locate Bird Prey Center of Prey Center to O’Neill Regional Park.

New Construction or Baldwin & Sons initiated grading for residential Work anticipated to continue until completion. Expansion: development adjacent to secondary park Coyote Brush Road to be rerouted along OC - Development Adjacent to entrance and Edison Viejo parcel. Trail/road Parks easement upon project completion. Park along Glenn Ranch access to park via Coyote Brush Road closed. Road

105 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Maintenance of Existing Applied for permits to restore Borrego Creek Initiate project pending permits. Facilities: entrance and trail after major storm damage - Borrego Trail sustained in 2010. Posted Mitigated Negative Declaration.

Habitat Restoration & Enhancement:

Exotic Plant Control: Continued removal of approximately ½-acre of Ongoing. - Manual Removal of Non- exotic plants, including tree tobacco, artichoke native, Invasive Plants thistle, horsenettle, goat head and mustard with (OC Parks Funding) Juvenile Work Crews, volunteers and staff.

Exotic Plant Control: Treat 52 acres of mixed target invasive species Ongoing. Plan weed control in Winter 2016-17. - Herbicide Treatment of throughout park with County contract. Non-native, Invasive Plants (OC Parks Funding)

Exotic Animal Control: N/A N/A

Habitat Restoration & Maintained duff material and prickly pear cacti Ongoing. Continue to control non-natives and Revegetation: salvaged from intact coastal sage scrub habitat monitor. - Glass Creek Cactus and slated for development in 2012. Natural Duff Salvage Communities Coalition recipient sites are (OC Parks, Natural approximately 4 acres; OC Parks recipient site is Communities Coalition, approximately 1.5 acres. City of Lake Forest Funding)

106 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Habitat Restoration & Utilized local elementary school group to grow Ongoing. Continue to plant, maintain and monitor Revegetation: native plants for restoration site and installed site. - Serrano-Raptor Planting plants with Environmental Nature Center (OC Parks, Foothill volunteers. Ranch Elementary School, Environmental Nature Center Funding)

Habitat Restoration & Seeded, planted and maintained approximately Monitor site. No further action planned. Revegetation: ½-acre for slope stabilization with coastal sage - Bolero scrub and grassland species in 2014. (OC Parks Funding) Continued to maintain site.

Habitat Restoration & Determined recipient site along Concourse Road Ongoing. Monitor and maintain site. Revegetation: to receive prickly pear cactus salvaged from - Portola Center Cactus Baldwin & Sons development. Completed site Salvage (Natural restoration plan, site preparation and cactus pad Communities Coalition planting. Funding)

Fire Management Activities:

Fire Prevention: See “General Management Programs & Ongoing, as needed. - Fire Watch Program Activities.”

2016 Fires: N/A N/A

Post-Fire Management: N/A N/A

107 NCC Annual Report 2016

OC Parks - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Maintenance of Defensible N/A N/A Space / Fuel Modification Zones:

Miscellaneous Activities and Management Programs:

Survey: Sea and Sage Audubon conducted annual Ongoing. -Christmas Bird Count Christmas bird count in mid-December.

Survey: Identified approximately 25 western sycamore Determine management actions, if any. - Polyphagous Shot Hole trees infested with PSHB along Aliso Creek. Borer

108 Annual Report 2016

City of Irvine - Open Space Preserve

Program, Project, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Recreational Use Monitoring & Management:

Current Use Policies: Self-guided access seven-days per week from IRC plans to continue to offer the same 7:00 am to sunset on the Bommer Meadows recreational access configurations throughout Trail, Nature Loop Trail, Bommer Pass Trail, COI as long as compliance with the NCCP/HCP West Fork Trail and Turtle Ridge Trail beginning can be rigorously maintained. from the new Bommer Canyon Trailhead up to the current seven-day trailhead at Ridge Park Sensitive areas or areas experiencing impacts and Turtle Ridge. Quail Hill Loop Trail and Quail from recreational use will be fenced off or planted Trail also have self guided access seven-days with native plants including shrubs and cactus to per week from 7:00 am to sunset beginning from assist in managing self guided access over time. the Quail Hill Trailhead. The Quail Trail connects Irvine Open Space Patrol and volunteer patrols to the seven day per week access configuration will be deployed to monitor the public user on Serrano Ridge in Laguna Coast Wilderness groups. Park.

Docent-led hiking, mountain biking, trail running and equestrian tours for the public with once per month managed wilderness access days is the current access configuration for all other trails not mentioned above. The maximum limit for docent- led activities is 25 participants with a minimum of 2 “IRC-Certified” volunteers. Irvine Ranch Conservancy led programs include the south portion of the Preserve (Bommer, Shady Canyon, and Quail) as well as activities held in Portola, Round Canyon, Orchard Hills, Hicks Haul Road,

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and the Native Seed Farm. The New staging area in Orchard has been popular for hiking, tai chi and children programs.

Public access days in the south portion of the preserve (Bommer Canyon, Shady Canyon) are managed with Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff and an array of “IRC-Certified” volunteers. These are offered once per month.

In October of 2016, a self-guided Exploration Day for 70 hikers and bikers was implemented. This activity is supported by IRC staff and volunteers, along with OC Parks Open Space ranger assistance. This activity begins in the City of Irvine Portola Staging area and continues into OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon Preserve.

The public notice procedure for rain and wildfire closure was updated to include use of signage, phone line, and web-based information to improve public compliance to weather closures.

Public access on all Irvine Open Space Preserve trails is cancelled because of Red Flag Warning conditions and/or Strong Santa Ana Winds as determined by the Orange County Fire Authority and the National Weather Service. In addition, the Conservancy recommends City staff to cancel public access for a minimum of 72 hours following a rainfall event greater than half an

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inch. Multi-day wind events, prolonged rainfall periods, or major rainfall events in excess of one inch can cancel access for extended periods of time. The Irvine Police Open Space Patrol is a group of non-sworn officers that patrol the open space during scheduled programs and other times of need (when possible).

The permanent Orchard Hills Staging Area was constructed and is used for guided access programs

Note: In the following sections, the term “activities offered” refers to the number of programs publicized for public participation and the term “activities implemented” refers to the number of programs that occurred, accounting for cancellations due to conditions noted above.

Recreational Monitoring: The Irvine Ranch Conservancy offers an array of Access policies shall remain the same for 2017. - Use & Access programs on the City of Irvine Open Space Volunteer programs are likely to grow as (Public Access Preserve. The following totals include recreation, popularity increases. managed by the Irvine education, trail maintenance, restoration, citizen Ranch Conservancy science, volunteer-only activity and more. Hiking and mountain biking on the Hicks Haul January 1 to Road will continue in 2017. December 31, 2016) Total activities offered: 838 Total activities implemented: 752 Total volunteers: 3,277 Total volunteer hours: 10,503 Actual participants: 7,360

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Public participant volunteer stewardship/Trail Crew hours: 1,520

The following totals are for public recreation, fitness and interpretive programs. Total recreation programs offered: 506 Total recreation programs implemented: 454 Total volunteers: 1,929 Total volunteer hours: 6,325 Actual participants: 6,483

Total Trail Crew public programs offered: 28 Total Trail Crew public programs implemented: 20 Total volunteers: 68 Total volunteer hours: 300 Public participants: 9 (Note: The Trail Crew Program trains volunteers to lead or assist in managing trail/habitat maintenance & restoration projects.)

Trail Crew-only training programs Total trail crew programs offered: 6 Total trail crew implemented: 6 Total volunteers: 24 Total volunteer hours: 108 Total public participants: 9

Estimated Annual 7 Day Access of Trails (COI Fig. 1): Bommer Meadow: 62,481 (based on average use

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from an infrared trail counter)

Bommer Pass: 9,549 (based on average use from cameras with 4 second delay)

Turtle Ridge: 11,085 (Minimum use based on average use from cameras with one minute delay) West Fork: 6,471 (Based on average monthly use from infrared trail counter) Quail Trail: 26,126 (based on average monthly use from infrared trail counter; Note trail requires a minimum 6 mile round trip for most users)

Recreational Monitoring: Private Programs, Outreach Programs and Will continue to offer private programs, outreach - Private Programs, Patrols have been integrated into the Use and programs and volunteer patrols upon request. Outreach Programs Access numbers identified above. and Patrols

Recreation Monitoring: The City of Irvine’s Community Services The City will continue to offer programs in and - City of Irvine Community department offers programs to the public around the Cattle Camp area. Services programs including classes, summer camps, badge programs, family campouts (Cattle Camp) and outreach. 2016 youth day camps provided themed activity weeks such as “Naturally Native”, “Trail Blazers”, “Ocean Observers”, and “Earth Defenders”. Programs offered: 16 weeks of camp Programs implemented: 16 weeks of camp Actual participants: 829

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User Compliance Camera sites, video surveillance, trail counters Continue use of camera sites, video surveillance, Programs: and patrols were conducted to identify and trail counters and patrols to identify and monitor - Access Monitoring monitor levels of unauthorized access and levels of authorized and unauthorized access unauthorized trail use. This allowed the Irvine and trail use. Ranch Conservancy to establish unauthorized use patterns and focus resources to manage the Aggressively deter unauthorized access through issue. a number of means. These include closures of unauthorized trails, gate and fence management, IRC continued its human access monitoring. signage, increased patrols, citation and other Data monitoring volunteers collected and enforcement activities. processed access camera data bi-weekly throughout the year. Additional trail counters may be implemented Total Days Scheduled 25 and rotated throughout the Irvine Open Space to Total days implemented: 23 compile user pattern data for unauthorized use of Access monitoring volunteers: 43 both the sanctioned and non-sanctioned trails. Volunteer hours: 90.5 Some of these counters may be placed at In an effort to reduce unauthorized public access, camera trap sites to obtain the most accurate targeted enforcements were implemented based possible data about unauthorized use. on use patterns of unauthorized public access. Enforcement activities included patrols, visual Data will continue to be compiled into a matrix to deterrence and warnings issued by the Irvine be distributed to the City of Irvine Open Space Open Space Patrol. Patrol personnel to help keep them informed of use patterns in the NCCP areas outside of the Data was compiled into a matrix, and distributed scheduled docent led programs, the operating to the City of Irvine Open Space Patrol personnel hours of the area, the use of any non-authorized and IPD personnel via a secure cloud-based trails, and entry of dogs into the area. document website. Authorized personnel have direct access to data matrix spreadsheets and The City of Irvine Police Department and Animal photographs of unauthorized uses of the Open Control Services will continue to issue citations Space Preserve. when deemed necessary for unauthorized use

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and dog infractions. The enforcement step is The following Irvine Police enforcement activities necessary to address problems created from a were conducted: change in the human access configuration. This Total hours details assigned: 2,491 step also aligns with the guidelines identified in Number officers assigned: 2 Open Space the NCCP document. Rangers, 1 Sergeant, and 3-5 officers who assist periodically on bike patrol. Educational Policing Contacts: 2,672 (emphasized an education first mentality) Citations issued: 37 Warning issued: 2,672 Arrests issued: 0 The location in the document is 5.8.3 Public Access and Recreation Policies and states:

6. Because of the importance of appropriately managing recreational use within the reserve in order to protect habitat areas from intrusions, reserve managers shall take the following steps to increase enforcement capabilities and thereby minimize impacts of recreational use on reserve habitat values:

• Trail user groups shall be encouraged to participate in "self monitoring and policing" programs to minimize instances of off-trail activities and other abuses to habitat resources within the reserve; • If allowed by state and local regulations, park rangers shall be given the authority to issue citations for misuse of trail or

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other park facilities; • Fines levied for abuse of park facilities resulting in harm to species or sensitive habitat shall be sufficient to discourage repeat occurrences; Repeated offenses by multiple users shall provide the grounds for temporary closure of trail segments and, where necessary, entire parks as a means of avoiding unacceptable adverse impacts to habitats/species within the reserve. Such temporary closures also will serve to educate users concerning the need to obey park and reserve rules and regulations, thereby reducing future recreational impacts on the biological resource of the Reserve System.

User Compliance Nine remote wildlife cameras are currently being Wildlife cameras will continue to be operated Programs: maintained to concurrently monitor wildlife and using Scoutguard cameras. Wildlife response will - Monitoring and Human human activity. Two permanent trail counters be closely monitored to identify long-term Access Management continue to be operated at West Fork and Quail changes in usage patterns relative to human Trail to more accurately estimate 7-day access activity. patterns. Trail transects will be surveyed again in 2017. Thirteen trail transects have now been installed in the COI-OSPS and were monitored in 2016 to USFW Local Assistant Grant (LAG) funding will track trail condition and trail use impacts on trail be used to collaboratively continue a three year dimensions, erosion, and trailside invasive evaluation of wildlife activity patterns in relation species cover. A draft report of trail condition to recreational and total human trail use. changes is available upon request. A UCSB Bren Management hypotheses developed in 2012 will School Graduate Intern assisted in monitoring be tested and an evaluation of core wildlife areas

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and report writing. will begin.

Trail use is recorded digitally via post program reports for managed access and, in part, using remote cameras. Seven day access areas are monitored primarily using trail counters and remote cameras.

An estimate of 2016 COI-OSPS trail use is provided in COI Fig. 1. Data are comprised of public program records for all restricted trails and trail counter or remote camera data for 7-day access trails.

CDFW LAG funding was received by NCC in collaboration with IRC to study recreation and its effects on wildlife. Funding totaled $75K and included a supplemental in-kind match from NCC, IRC, and OC Parks. Project title: Assessing effectiveness of adaptive recreation management strategies and evaluation of core NCCP habitat areas.

User Compliance Continued implementation of a web-based photo Budget permitting, implement live-feed still-photo Programs: database for all human access camera locations. camera locations targeted at known areas of - Monitoring and Human IRC management and Field Patrol personnel high-risk activities, such as areas of extensive Access Management (COI Open Space Patrol Rangers and IPD nighttime use, fire pits, unauthorized vehicles, Officers) will have direct encrypted access to etc. These cameras will have the ability to relay human access photos as well as a database photos directly to a web-based storage drive and spreadsheet of unauthorized access. This photo provide instant notification to selected patrol data will provide more effective means for field personnel of unauthorized presence in the area.

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patrol personnel to target specific days, times and locations for their patrols.

Educational Outreach: IRC’s Citizen Science program is designed to Citizen Scientists will continue to collect camera - Irvine Ranch implement scientific research by trained and trap data to monitor wildlife activity in relation to Conservancy supervised volunteers. Citizen Science activities human access, assess the type and level of Citizen Science in the Irvine Open Space Preserve in 2016 unauthorized access, and track trends in wildlife Program included: wildlife camera trapping, both public diversity and abundance over time and space. and volunteer-only invasive and restoration The program will continue to include invasive monitoring, and select research projects. species and restoration monitoring in the City of Irvine Open Space. Total citizen science programs offered: 62 Total citizen science programs implemented: 55 Citizen science volunteers: 121 Volunteer hours: 521 Public participants: 0 Total public hours: 0

Educational Outreach: The Irvine Ranch Conservancy conducted two The Land Steward Program will continue to - Irvine Ranch Land Land Stewardship Trainings, three Native Farm include invasive species removal and restoration. Steward/Lead Land Steward trainings, and several individual trainings Nursery activities and community stewardships Steward Program for invasive control digital data basing and will continue to be public program opportunities herbicide use for lead land stewards. in 2017.

Stewardship activities included invasive species A Farm Steward Program - with quarterly trainings - will continue to be operated control, restoration, native seed farm and native separately. The Land Steward Manual will be plant nursery maintenance. This program was updated accordingly. expanded to include native cactus planting to

block unauthorized/social trails and staging area Lead land stewards will continue to conduct the community stewardship plantings (recorded

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under Restoration). Several lead land stewards majority of invasive control work within COI- conducted private solo stewardship activities with OSPS in areas where NCC has retired its weed great success. A digital invasive control reporting control program. More restoration activities will tool continues to be utilized by Lead Land become available with the initiation of cactus Stewards. An online map link continues to be scrub restoration work at Mule Deer. available for land stewards to view status of invasive control across reserve areas is available upon request. A small native plant nursery has been established at the Quail Loop Trailhead maintenance facility, supporting community stewardship programs with locally sourced plants. Note that programs offered and implemented include individual private activities and span both NCCP and non-NCCP.

Invasive Control Programs: Total programs offered: 35 Total programs implemented: 30 Volunteers participating: 91 Volunteer hours: 439 Public participants: 31 Public participant hours: 101

Restoration Programs: Total programs offered: 63 Total programs implemented: 56 Volunteers participating: 80 Volunteer hours: 236 Public participants: 262 Public participant hours: 404

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Native Farm Programs: Total programs offered: 68 Total programs implemented: 64 Volunteers participating: 244 Volunteer hours: 900 Public participants: 353 Public participant hours: 1092

Educational Outreach (All Conducted volunteer Trail Crew training and Continue training Trail Crew volunteers, and offer Areas): implemented the Adopt-A-Trail program to assist advanced training in specific areas of trail work, - Trail Crew Training with ongoing monitoring and maintenance of trail i.e.: power equipment, rock armoring, specialty Programs system. construction techniques. Completed Volunteer Trail Projects: 6 Trail Crew training sessions: 1 Trail maintenance projects: 11

Recreation Facility Construction & Maintenance

New Construction or N/A N/A Expansion (Loma Ridge): - Orchard Hills Trailhead

Maintenance of Existing New wayfinding signage and fencing were Signage will be monitored and maintained as Facilities (Loma Ridge): installed on Changala’s Pass trail to formalize necessary. - Signage this connection for increased programs there.

Maintenance of Existing Installed 11 new drainage dips and removed ruts Continue vegetation management when

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Facilities (Loma Ridge): from 150’ of the Orchard Hills Upper Loop. necessary. - Orchard Hills Loop Trails & Changala’s Pass Human access monitoring cameras were placed Monitor and perform repairs on existing trail as on the Orchard Hills Upper Loop and Lower Loop needed. to monitor unauthorized access. With concurrence of City of Irvine, remove dead Began closure of unauthorized social trail eucalyptus trees adjacent to the trail system as connecting Changala’s Pass and West Loma by needed. planting cactus, spreading chaff and vertically mulching. Continue closure of Changala’s Pass social trail by adding fencing and seeding.

Possibly install additional cameras to monitor unauthorized access.

Facility Repeater was tested and serviced to address Repeater may be removed or modified to Replacement/Repair radio reception issues. improve radio reception. (Loma Ridge): Radio Repeater

New Construction or N/A N/A Expansion (Limestone Cyn.): - Portola Staging

Maintenance of Existing Performed general cleanup, weeding and General cleanup, weeding and maintenance will Facilities (Limestone Cyn.): maintenance. continue at this staging area in 2017. - Portola Staging Area Stained kiosk & Bike Skills Area features. Continue refinements of the Bike Skills Area with minor additions of signage, training features, Installed minor adjustments such as signage and fencing and shade components. a trail connection to accommodate Agua Chinon

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Exploration programs.

New Construction or N/A N/A Expansion (Bonita Cyn.):

Maintenance of Existing Monitored area for unauthorized activities and Continue to monitor area for unauthorized Facilities (Bonita Cyn.): trails. activities and trails.

Facility N/A N/A Replacement/Repair (Bonita Cyn.):

Maintenance of Existing Continued to manage and maintain the Nature Continue to weed and plant in bare spots in the Facilities (Bommer Cyn.): Garden including weeding, watering, repairing Garden. Monitor and maintain fencing. -Nature Garden fences, planting cactus, coordinating gate repair, Coordinate with City on maintenance and repairs maintaining drains, trimming vegetation and of adjacent facilities in Cattle Camp. adding mulch to mitigate weeds. Monitor signs and repair/replace as needed.

Maintenance of Existing Planted cactus pads to close gaps in landscaping A radio charging station is to be placed at the Facilities (Bommer Cyn.): and eliminate social trails connecting trailhead Bommer Canyon Trailhead. The station will - Bommer Trailhead with Bommer Meadow trail. contain six radios to be utilized by the program docents during public programs.

Continue to coordinate with City staff when necessary regarding trailhead maintenance.

Maintenance of Existing All Trails – Performed routine trimming, mowing All Trails - Continue vegetation management Facilities (Bommer Cyn.): and tread maintenance to keep trails open and when necessary. Monitor and perform repairs on -Bommer Meadow, control erosion. existing trails as needed, especially clearing and

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Nature Loop, Ridge Route, improving drainage features. Cattle Camp, Turtle Ridge, Bommer Meadow - Monitored and repaired Bommer Pass, West Fork fences closing shortcut trails and added 1 new Bommer Meadow - Continue to monitor and drainage dip. close any additional unauthorized social trails that appear. Nature Loop - Monitored condition of decomposed granite trail surface, repaired Nature Loop - Repair decomposed granite trail fences. surface where necessary.

Ridge Route - Monitored for creation of social Ridge Route - Continue to monitor and close trails connecting Ridge Route with Bommer Pass. social trails connecting Bommer Pass & Ridge Route. Add native shrub plantings to screen Cattle Camp Area - Painted and serviced vehicle radio repeater. and pedestrian gates around Cattle Camp. Replaced 6x6” post in cable fence damaged by Cattle Camp Area - A small radio repeater is Cattle Camp vendor. planned for the Cattle Camp area (near the existing staff trailer) to further enhance program Turtle Ridge - Monitored fire pit location, repaired and emergency radio coverage within the Open fences, installed 1 new drainage dip at west end, Space Preserve. removed 6 out of service utility poles and 1,000’+ of old cable and other utility infrastructure to Turtle Ridge - Perform drainage improvements improve view and eliminate perceived fire risk. along entire length of trail. Continue monitoring fire pit location. Bommer Pass - Performed routine maintenance Bommer Pass - Continue to water social trail repairs to the trail tread to improve drainage. restoration plantings as needed. Re-build trail Monitored and maintained 11 social trails closed tread to original width. Plant additional shrubs to in 2013 including planting new cacti and discourage off trail use. maintaining fences. West Fork - Monitor and perform repairs on West Fork - Performed vegetation trimming at the existing trail as needed. Upon City approval, upper and lower connections of the trail to relocate the existing upper West Fork gate to the

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maintain vehicle width for emergency access. upper terminus trail connection at Pacific Rebuilt 21 drainage dips and removed ruts. Ridge/Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

Maintenance of Existing Painted and serviced vehicle and recreation Monitor locks on gates to ensure only authorized Facilities (Bommer Cyn.): gates. parties have access. - Gates Install locks on vehicle gate at entrance to Cattle Camp to reduce trespassing in Cattle Camp.

Maintenance of Existing Moved repeater to new location on Ridge Route. Continue performing semiannual monitoring of Facilities (Bommer Cyn.): existing solar radio repeater. - Radio Repeater Painted repeater cabinet, raised antenna 8’ and adjusted audio gain to improve radio reception. Work with new vendor to improve radio performance.

Maintenance of Existing Monitored signage and replaced/updated signs Continue to monitor sign condition and replace Facilities (Bommer Cyn.): as needed. as needed. - Signage

Maintenance of Existing Performed semi-annual maintenance checks on Continue semi-annual maintenance checks. Facilities (Bommer Cyn.): existing bridges. - Bridges

Maintenance of Existing Installed and repaired existing fencing where Fence will be monitored and repaired as needed. Facilities (Bommer Cyn.): needed. - Fencing

Facility N/A N/A Replacement/Repair (Bommer Cyn.):

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New Construction or N/A N/A Expansion (Shady Cyn.):

Maintenance of Existing All Trails - Performed routine trimming, mowing All Trails - Continue to monitor and perform Facilities (Shady Cyn.): and tread maintenance to keep trails open and repairs on existing trails as needed. Install - Quail Trail, Cattle Crest, control erosion. enhancements to trail tread such as rock Rabbit Run, Fox Run and armoring, drainage features and berms Shady Oaks Quail Trail – Re-built 8 bermed turns, built 11 rock armored drains, removed rut from 150’ of Quail Trail - Continue restoration planting in trail. Planted cactus, shrubs and rocks to define 2 abandoned road bed and in between turns. turns and close 2 shortcuts. Monitor drains and tread and repair as Rabbit Run – Built 11 drainage dips. Monitored necessary. and improved section of trail rerouted in 2014 including closed section. Rabbit Run - Monitor and reinforce closed section to ensure restoration to natural habitat. Cattle Crest - Cleared drainage dips, Monitored closed section associated with 12/2013 reroute to Cattle Crest - Clear drainage dips. Continue to ensure restoration to natural habitat. monitor and reinforce closed section to ensure restoration to natural habitat. Shady Oaks Road Closure – Monitored. Shady Oaks Road Closure – Continue to Shady Oaks Single Track – Built 6 drainage dips monitor. and removed rut from 350’ of trail (south end). Shady Oaks Single Track – Build drains and Fox Run – Performed drainage overhaul remove rut from north end of trail. including building 32 drains and removing rut from ~900’ of trail. Fox Run – Complete drainage overhaul by building 2 more drains and removing rut from an additional 150’ of trail. Reroute trail where unsustainable.

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Maintenance of Existing Performed semi-annual maintenance checks on Continue semi-annual maintenance checks. Facilities (Shady Cyn.): existing bridges. - Bridges Cleaned and performed application of water based stain to all bridge surfaces with Valspar chestnut stain to match existing wood components in the area.

Maintenance of Existing Performed a semiannual maintenance check of Monitor signage at all trail intersections with Facilities (Shady Cyn.): the closed restoration site. closed Shady Oaks Road Restoration Site. - Shady Oaks restoration

Maintenance of Existing Monitored signage and updated and replaced Monitor signage & kiosks and replace as Facilities (Shady Cyn.): where necessary. necessary. - Signage

Facility Relocated radio repeater to top of Turtle Ridge. Continue to troubleshoot repeater. Replacement/Repair (Shady Cyn.):

Maintenance of Existing Performed periodic patrols to inspect fences and Continue to patrol parcels. Report unusual Facilities (City of Irvine monitor condition of the land. Report dumping conditions to City and make minor repairs where parcels in City of Newport and graffiti to City. appropriate. Beach): Monitored unauthorized social trail from Ridge Park Rd to Newport Coast Drive with trail counter. Estimated the trail receives 241 passes per year.

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Maintenance of Existing Installed and maintained 2 monitoring cameras. Continue to monitor, repair fencing and install Facilities (Veeh Creek): Made frequent repairs to barbed wire boundary new “No Trespassing” signage. fencing. Work with City of Irvine on future of site. Discovered several encampments and coordinated with City of Irvine to remove 1.5 truckloads of debris. Established relationship with Irvine Police Dept homelessness liaison.

Discovered marijuana growing site, reported to Irvine Police Dept.

Discovered dirt jumps, leveled them and seeded the area with native shrub species.

Infrastructure Construction & Maintenance:

Removal of Inactive Field No removal initiated. IRC will evaluate all active and inactive field Research Materials studies and mitigation sites and remove field markers no longer deemed active or necessary.

Habitat Restoration & Enhancement: (Note: Funding Sources noted in first column if other than Land Owner)

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Exotic Plant Eradication: Priority invasive species were searched for Eradication and control efforts are ongoing. See - Program Summary across 1755 acres, and removed/treated across below for species-specific details. (NCC, in part) 487 acres within NCCP and an additional 131 acres of non-NCCP open space within City NCC will again be contracting IRC to oversee its property and pending property (currently TIC) invasive control activities within the City of Irvine boundaries. A total of 11825 man hours were Open Space Preserve – South. A regional spent on control. IRC continued management of annual coordination meeting is planned to the NCC-funded component of the COI-OSPS update neighboring land owners and managers invasive control program. Artichoke thistle was a on control efforts and prioritization. major target species due to past effort invested and the ability of this species to rebound without A memo of NCC-funded activities will be control. However efforts continued to expand to provided to NCC in January 2017. include other species, such as Sahara mustard, garland chrysanthemum and fountain grass. Invasive control activities were conducted by staff, contractors and volunteers. No herbicides were used beginning April 2016, when the City clarified its recent policy regarding avoidance of non-organic herbicides.

Sahara mustard continued to absorb the majority of control effort in COI-OSPN and were funded in part by NCC.

NCC-funded invasive control work focused primarily on artichoke thistle in Shady Canyon and Quail Hill management areas.

Exotic Plant Eradication: Control efforts within COI-OSPN continued to be IRC will utilize the draft Invasive Plant - Monitoring and based on past prioritization from the 2011 aerial Management Plan for the Coastal reserve in its Prioritization weed survey prioritization in the Central Reserve invasive control planning for 2017. Control

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(NCC in part) and new emergent weed observations. Particular efforts will include monitoring and treatment of effort was placed on Sahara mustard control in previously treated areas to the degree possible Orchard Hills and Area R. Species prioritized for without use of non-organic herbicides. reserve-wide control included Sahara mustard, yellow star thistle, perennial pepper weed, giant reed, garland chrysanthemum, Spanish broom, tamarisk, pampas grass, bull thistle, artichoke thistle, castor bean, and tree of heaven. Several emergent invasive species identified by the Back Country Council and OC-CNPS have not yet been observed within the COI-OSP but are continuing to be monitored for on an incidental basis. A new population of garland chrysanthemum was re-treated in Shady Canyon. A new population of Sahara mustard was discovered and pulled in near Mule Deer. A population of Sahara mustard and pepper weed identified by aerial survey were ground-truthed but not found.

A collaborative aerial weed survey that documented the distribution and abundance of 35 invasive plant species across the Coastal Reserve in 2014 continued to guide control efforts.

Volunteer-led invasive species patrols were conducted in Bommer Canyon, Turtle Ridge, and along Ridge Route, Quail Trail, Serrano Ridge, and Mule Deer.

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A draft final Invasive Plant Management Plan was completed by Cal-IPC for NCC and land managers for use in prioritizing and coordinating control efforts.

Exotic Plant Eradication: Treatment within NCCP: Artichoke thistle control will continue as funds - Artichoke Thistle • 376 Gross acres, 0.5 Net (0.5 acres net in permit 2017 via manual control given lack of (NCC in part) 2015) control efficacy of organic herbicides. • Estimated 4593 plants (7094 in 2015)

Treatment outside of NCCP: • 94 Gross acres, 21 Net (same net acres as 2015) • Estimated 17,400 plants (down from 74,337 plants in 2015)

Artichoke thistles were manually removed by stump cut after March 31. • Artichoke thistle removal within Bommer Canyon and Quail Hill was done primarily by volunteers with some staff assistance using manual removal (multiple cut). • No artichoke thistle plants were observed to set seed in seed in Quail Hill in 2016.

- Sahara Mustard Treatment within NCCP: Year 7 of Sahara mustard eradication efforts in (NCC-funded, in part) Orchard Hills and Area R will continue in 2016 • 87.9 Gross acres, 0.56 Net (more than 2015) with support from NCC. An interim report will be • Estimated 77,317 plants (62 bags) completed and will be available upon request.

Treatment outside of NCCP:

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• 33.28 Gross acres, 0.71 Net (more than 2014) • Estimated 118,032 plants (127 bags)

A total of nine sites now occur on COI-OSP and COI-dedicated wildlands, several of which were newly discovered in orchards. Individual populations that have been pulled/treated for years have lower net cover but new satellite populations are emerging and full control looks doubtful.

- Garland Treatment within NCCP: Garland Chrysanthemum will continue to be Chrysanthemum • 0.02 Gross acres, <0.001 Net (down from treated where it has been found. 0.74 Gross and 0.01 Net in 2015) • Estimated 306 plants (down from 1000 in 2015) Treatment outside of NCCP: • None

- Fennel Treatment within NCCP: Fennel control will continue opportunistically. • none

Treatment outside of NCCP: • None

- Fountain Grass Treatment within NCCP: Fountain grass control will be opportunistic and • 2.47 Gross Acres, 0.006 Net acres (up from prioritized if sufficient resources are available.

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<0.001 Net acres in 2015) • Estimated 100 plants (up from 10 in 2015)

- Milk and Italian Thistle Treatment within NCCP: Milk and Italian thistle control will continue • 0.36 Gross acres, 0.146 Net acres (up from opportunistically as a lower priority. 2015) • Estimated 800 plants (986 in 2015)

- Bull Thistle Bull thistle was not found in the Preserve. Bull thistle control will continue where it is observed.

- Tree Tobacco Documented Treatment within NCCP: Tree tobacco control will continue in areas • 9.62 Gross acres,0.25 Net acres (down from previously identified and as resources permit. 0.31 net ac in 2015) • Estimated 159 plants (down from 1016 in 2015)

Treatment outside of NCCP: • 1.11 Gross acres, 0.01 Net acres (up from 0.001 Net acres in 2015 • 11 plants

- Castor Bean Treatment within NCCP: Castor bean control will continue in areas they • 2.93 Gross acres, 5.29 Net have been identified as resources permit. • Estimated 3080 plants (down from 45300 in 2015)

•

- Pampas Grass No pampas grass was treated within the COI- Pampas grass Will not be treated until non-

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OSP in 2015. organic herbicides are permitted or another effective control measure is found.

-Tamarisk Treatment within NCCP: Tamarisk identified in coastal weed survey will • 0.02 Gross acres, 0.25 Net acres (up from not be treated until non-organic herbicides are none in 2015) permitted or another effective control measure is found.

Exotic Animal Control: Wildlife cameras: 39domestic dogs were Enforcement of ‘no dog’ policy will continue Exotic Animal Monitoring observed on trails where dogs are prohibited in within the Preserve. the months of March, June, September, and December. Most occurred on the West Fork trail Invasive amphibians will again be removed from and the camera bordering the Shady Canyon the Turtle pond. neighborhood. Access cameras: 36 domestic dogs were observed in the COI-OSPS land but they occurred at the Bommer Pass camera facing the parking lot.

A total of 26 African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) and one American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) were captured and removed from the turtle pond in 2016.

Invasive Pest: During the summer of 2016, At this stage, IRC does not have a feasible Polyphagous and Kuroshio treatment or management strategy but will Shot hole Borer In 2016, IRC continued to monitor for the continue to monitor for these tree pests, All emergent tree pests Polyphagous Shot hole checked trees will be gps’d and maintained in a Borer (PSHB) and Kuroshio Shot Hole database. Infested trees will be verified by UC Borer (KSHB). This fall, an IRC biological monitor Riverside specialists and data made available to discovered three sycamore and three willow trees land managers and researchers tracking and

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in Butterfly Canyon (the latter by the turtle pond) managing infected trees. Any plans to treat with suspected PSHB infections. Research trees, preventatively, or otherwise will be collaborators at UC Riverside confirmed the reviewed by specialists because information on presence of Fusarium dieback and infection by the complex and its treatment is developing Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer for all six trees. In rapidly. September, an IRC staff member participated in the Southern California Shot Hole Borer/ Fusarium Dieback Management Strategy for Natural and Urban Landscapes conference call which presented a strategic approach for prioritizing, guiding, and implementing control mechanisms. In addition, IRC has continued to keep updated on the subject by attending the 2016 Southern California Tree Pest Council Symposium at UC Riverside where up to date information and preventative best management practices concerning tree pests including PSHB, KSHB, and GSOB where discussed by experts in the field.

Habitat Restoration: IRC made progress on its contractual obligation In 2017, IRC staff will develop a detailed Program and prioritization to restore 20 acres or degraded open space by restoration plan and schedule for the 8 acre site 2025, an average of 2 acres per year over the identified in Bommer Canyon. term of the contract. In addition to completing a COI-OSP-wide habitat restoration prioritization model in ArcGIS to assist in the prioritization of areas for future habitat restoration in the Open Space Preserve, IRC carried out 2 acres of native grassland and coastal sage scrub restoration in the Quail Hill area. As described below, the science department maintained and

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managed efforts at several other restoration sites in the IOSP. Science staff also selected a new, 8- acre site in the Bommer Canyon area.

Restoration Database : IRC prepared summary information for multiple IRC will upload restorations in January and - OC RESTORE restoration projects for upload into OC Restore. continue to work with NCC on inputting data into the tool and review its progress.

Habitat Restoration & IRC completed a habitat restoration prioritization In 2017, IRC staff will develop a detailed Revegetation: model in ArcGIS to assist in the prioritization of restoration plan and schedule for the 8 acre site Restoration Planning- areas for future habitat restoration in the Open identified in Bommer canyon. Initial on-the- Bommer Canyon and Quail Space Preserve. Based on the results of this ground site preparation, particularly weed Hill model, IRC science staff selected an removal will begin in the spring of 2017. approximately 8-acre polygon in Bommer Canyon to focus habitat restoration efforts over the next 5 years. For more information concerning model parameters and processes, please see last year’s report (2016) under “Restoration Planning.”

Habitat Restoration & IRC is under contract with the City to conduct a A similar number of stewardship work days at Revegetation: minimum of 15 stewardship work days per year. these same locations are planned for 2017. - Stewardship Work Days In total, 21 stewardship work days were held in 2016. Of these, 13 occurred in the Quail Hill area; seven were devoted to habitat restoration activities on a 1.8 acre site in the southeast portion of the reserve and another six were devotes to artichoke thistle control. The remaining 8 stewardships took place at the mule deer restoration area. Several additional days were dedicated to invasive species control within

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the Preserve by lead land stewards, primarily in the Bommer Canyon area (COI Fig. 2). Stewardship activities along the Turtle Ridge trail were continued, as well as trailside planting events to curtail unauthorized trail use.

Habitat Restoration & Cactus Wren Habitat Linkage Restoration: The east canyon sites will be monitored in 2017 Revegetation: • Goal: Extend the area of NCC’s cactus but no activities are planned unless an additional - Cactus Wren Habitat linkage project by adding two additional year of invasive control is expected to Linkage Restoration- cactus patches. These sites are the northern- substantially enhance cactus and/or other native East Canyon Sites most linkages which connect patches of vegetation. This could include either spring cactus in a line-of sight arrangement in an weed-eating of flowering heads or application of effort to enhance movement opportunities for organic herbicide in the early winter after the Cactus Wren. germinating rains in areas where there are not • See Figure 3 native annuals. • 2 polygons • 95% complete • Total project area: 0.63 acres • Goal vegetation types: Cactus (Opuntia littoralis) • Year started: 2010, Anticipated completion: 2017 • Restoration methods: Sites evaluated in 2010, patches planted in 2010 and 2011 with salvaged pads from Siphon Reservoir area. Low-dose Fusillade (grass-specific herbicide) has been used since 2011 to control non- native grasses around plantings. • Maintenance in 2016 consisted of treating exotic annual grasses around cactus plantings using a low dose fusillade.

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Habitat Restoration & Approximately seven acres of growing area were Seven acres of growing area will be maintained Revegetation: planted at the new “Gateway” area seed farm in at the seed farm in 2017, consisting of 10 - Native Seed Farm 2016. In year 1,10 native shrubs, 32 native forbs, perennial shrub species, 38 forb species, and 4 and 4 native grasses were successfully perennial grass species, to be used for future planted/maintained to serve as a source of seed restorations in the Central Reserve. Work will for current and future restoration, occurring begin on the development of a volunteer staging primarily in the Central Reserve. Plants were area. Staging area and additional infrastructure started and maintained by staff, volunteer, and will be phased in from 2017-2020. contract help. Harvests included arroyo lupine, chick lupine, miniature lupine, California poppy, owlsclover, cobweb thistle, Strigose lotus, Coulter’s snapdragon, Parry’s phacelia, blue wild rye, miniature plantain, California fuschia, cliff aster, white pincushion, yellow pincushion, popcorn flower, wishbone bush, cudweed aster, mugwort, California croton, white sage, black sage, coast golden bush, California sage, California buckwheat, and California bush sunflower. Farm harvested seed totaled over 1,000 lbs. and served as the primary source for restoration seeding. Development of infrastructure within 2.5 dedicated acres included the installation of a nursery, seed drying area, and refrigerated seed storage container.

Habitat Restoration & Many-stemmed dudleya (Dudleya multicaulis) Planted Dudleya will be checked in the spring of Revegetation: plants that were planted were not surveyed 2017. Reference sites will also be visited to - Dudleya Restoration during drought conditions in 2013-2016. compare phenology such as the time of blooming.

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Habitat Restoration & This small enclosed area is currently being Community Programs will continue nursery Revegetation: utilized for community stewardship events by the activities, planting and site maintenance with the - Stewardship Restoration Public Programs department. help of IRC-certified volunteers in 2017. Trial

Habitat Restoration & Two of four pilot cactus restoration study sites, A more detailed summary of results will be Revegetation: initiated in the winter of 2008/2009, occur in COI- compiled if time permits. - Cactus Restoration Pilot OSPS. Cactus transplant size and vigor have Cacti will be measured again in 2017. been monitored annually from planting until 2014, in order to determine the effect of microsite on establishment and growth of prickly pear pads and transplants and the speed of transplant growth of cholla and prickly pear. After six years (2014/2015), single cholla joints had grown to an average of 42 joints and 50 cm height. Prickly pear joints had grown to an average of 16.5 joints and 36 cm height. Plants are permanently marked and will be measured at three-year intervals.

Habitat Restoration & In November of 2014,12 prickly pear and cholla IRC will maintain and photograph salvaged Revegetation: were planted at the Mule Deer Site. To date, all cactus along with other restoration activities at - Portola Springs Salvage transplants have survived and appear healthy. Mule Deer. Cactus to Mule Deer Restoration Site: (Funded by NCC)

Habitat Restoration & In October of 2015, mature cacti were Planted cactus will be maintained by IRC staff, Revegetation: transplanted from the Orchard Hills salvage site including periodic checks to determine whether - Orchard Hills Cactus and to six sites receiver sites throughout the NCCP they need watering in their first year. A report

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Soil Salvage lands. Within the COI-OSP, cacti were summarizing the cactus salvage efforts from both (Funded by NCC) transplanted to the Mule Deer Restoration Site Portola Springs and Orchard Hills will be written (see above) and to East Canyon sites. by IRC staff and submitted to NCC documenting locations, activities, and general success. Soil In December of 2015, close to 4000 cubic yards salvage sites will also be maintained by IRC and of soil from the upper 6 inches of the Orchard a description of sites included in the report. Hills donor site were transported and spread at 4 inches depth across three recipient sites, one of which , the Portola site, was on Irvine Company property, irrevocably dedicated to City of Irvine. The Portola Staging site in Area R is 2.85 ac. A trial comparing the establishment of both native and non-native plants at different soil depths (2 in., 4 in., and 6 in.) at each site was established by IRC and monitored during the 2016 growing season by IRC staff and UCI-CEB interns.

Conservancy staff continued with maintenance and monitoring activities at all three soil salvage sites; West Loma, Hicks Hall and Portola. Two complete rounds of herbicide application occurred at all three sites to control non-native weeds, particularly brome grasses, mustards, and Russian thistle. One round occurred in April and another in June using a combination spot- spraying, wicking, and hand-pulling. Native cover improved across sites as shrubs continued to grow, with the dominant native species being deer weed (Acmispon glaber). Two, 50-meter belt transects were established in June at each site to monitor vegetation dynamics over time.

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Data from the first-year growing season will be summarized in the forthcoming annual report. During this quarter, Conservancy staff also worked with researchers and students from UC Irvine’s Center for Environmental Biology to collect data on a study looking at the depth of soil salvage (2, 4, or 6 inches of salvage soil) and its effects on both 1) burying the existing non- native seed bank at the receiver sites, and 2) establishing native plant cover and diversity. Results from this study indicated that two inches of soil is sufficient to significantly bury weed seeds at receiver sites, especially those of non- native grass. Additional salvage soil depth (4 and 6 inches) showed no added benefit of weed suppression. While native species richness and native cover tended to increase with increasing soil salvage depth, the differences do not appear significant. The preliminary results of this study suggest that spreading salvage soil at two inches depth is the most cost effective (compared to 4 and 6 inches). The Orchard Hills soil salvage project and these preliminary findings were presented to volunteers, Conservancy and OC Parks staff at a June Science Friday presentation hosted by IRC.

Habitat Restoration & • Mule Deer Cactus Scrub Restoration Site maintenance (weed removal mostly) will Revegetation: • Figure 3 continue to occur in 2017 through monthly - Cactus Wren Linkage • 8 restoration polygons stewardship programs and through as-needed

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Restoration Mule Deer • Approximately 80% complete contact labor (e.g. every 6-8 weeks during the site in the City of Irvine • 2.32 total acres spring). • 0.7 acres actively being seeded and planted Spring-time vegetation monitoring is also with CSS; 1.41 acres actively being seeded planned in 2017. with native grasses and forbs; 0.21 acres of grassland being passively restored through weed removal only. • Target vegetation communities: cactus scrub, coastal sage scrub & native grassland • Year started: 2012, Anticipated completion: 2017 • Restoration methods: Site preparation for all areas included initial site mowing in fall 2012 followed by a one year grow & kill cycle. o Active cactus scrub: Ten, 15x15 m patches of cactus were planted in 2013. Each patch contained 4500 single pads, 4 large salvaged cacti, and 2 Mexican elderberry plantings. o In 2014, 12 large (2 m tall) salvaged chollas from a planned development site were planted in 3 patches on site. o Active CSS polygons: planted in strips with shrub containers in 2013 and hand seeded in strips in 2014. o Active grassland polygons: A second grow & kill cycle was used in 2013 followed by drill and hand-seeding of Stipa pulchra in late 2014. Establishment was fair and patchy across the site. o Weeding activity occurred every 6-8

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weeks in 2015 and 2016 by staff, volunteers and contractors. o Native forb species were seeded in the 1.41 acre grassland polygon in November of 2015. • Vegetation is monitored bi-annually using line transects to estimate percent cover of natives and non-native shrubs, grasses and forbs. • Factors most influencing success: Significant drought. Drought in 2013 and 2014 led to postponement of seeding CSS polygons in 2013 and 2014. Despite drought, almost all shrubs (.7 acres) planted in 2013 established, aided by monthly watering during the spring and summer of 2015 and 2016.

Habitat Restoration & • 2 restoration polygons Approximately 500 more container plants, Revegetation: • Approximately 70% complete including native grasses, will be planted in early - Quail Hill Pilot Plantings • 1.8 total acres; 0.4 acres actively being 2017 Site maintenance, including weed removal seeded and planted with CSS; 1.2 acres and hand watering of newly installed plantings actively being seeded and planted with native will also occur in 2017. grasses and forbs • Target vegetation communities: native grassland & coastal sage scrub • Year started: 2014, Anticipated completion: 2017 • Restoration methods: Site preparation included the eradication of dense stand of artichoke thistle and mustard using primarily herbicide application. • Container plants were installed across about

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0.7 acres of the site, many by IRC volunteers and UC Irvine students. • Seed of native bunchgrass and forbs were sown by hand across 1.4 acres of land in late November 2015. The native forbs established well during the 2016 growing season, but native grass cover was disappointing. • An additional 1-acre area was drill-seeded in mid December 2016 to increase native grass cover of the site. This was followed by hand- seeding of annual wildflowers in late December by staff and volunteers to increase overall plant diversity and structure. • All 1.8 acres of the restoration site continued to receive as-needed invasive control via hand-weeding and herbicide application.

Habitat Restoration: Initiated 2010. Purpose: Assess the efficacy of In 2017, passive weed control treatments will - Passive Restoration using a passive restoration approach to restoring continue to be jointly managed by IRC and UCI Trial degraded coastal sage scrub communities. Cover with winter spot spraying and spring hand (UC Irvine, part) and density were monitored in smaller weeding/wicking. Monitoring will continue by UCI germination quadrats. as well. A manuscript should be submitted. In 2016, plots were maintained for their sixth year by IRC and monitored by the Huxman lab at UCI Graduate study Emily Griffoul has summarized data thus far and found significant treatment effects over time with respect to native and non- native cover, richness, and germination, with generally greater effects in the coastal reserve sites vs. the central.

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Habitat Restoration & • IRC continued to manage the Shady Canyon In 2017, the Conservancy will continue to: Revegetation: Turtle Pond for the maintenance of • Maintain adequate water supply to the - Shady Canyon Turtle southwestern pond turtles. pond Pond Mitigation Site • In August of 2016, IRC staff made • Manage invasive frogs via fall trapping Maintenance preparations in the field for the sediment and removal of captured individuals removal and prevention project that was • Trim vegetation as needed planned and approved by the natural • Remove weeds from newly seeded areas resource agencies in 2015 (CDFW, ACOE, and RWQCB). • Notification was also provided to the natural resource agencies prior to initiating turtle trapping and sediment removal efforts that were initiated in late September and early October of 2016, respectively. • Activities during this quarter included flagging the locations of temporary access paths and the permanent placement of a gabion structure to trap future sediment. Work areas were also marked with flagging to minimize impact to existing native vegetation. Non- native vegetation was trimmed and several downed tree limbs were sawed to make the temporary access paths. Turtle trapping (led by USGS partners) began in late September. All captured turtles were cared for at the Santa Ana Zoo. The main project was completed by November 1st, 2016. • Sediment removal was carried out over a 4- day period using a mini excavator and tracked skid-steer with a front bucket. Removed sediment was stockpiled within a

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designated receiver site and spread and seeded with native species shortly thereafter.

Fire Management Activities

Post-Fire Management: No active wildfires occurred on COI Preserve Any wildfires occurring on the Open Space - Specific fires property. A fire occurred on 10/21/2016 adjacent Preserve will be surveyed, mapped, and (several hundred meters) to City of Irvine documented. Property- COI Loma. It was contained at ~3 acres. Post-fire report is available by request.

Maintenance of Fuel Centerlines of all existing roads were mowed in In collaboration with City agencies, OCFA, Breaks/Modification Zones: order to reduce the risk of fire from authorized transportation agencies, and academic partners, This seems like field ops vehicle access. land manager will continue evaluation of wildland domain. edges and internal localities for potential actions Existing vehicle turn outs, and fire personnel safe that may reduce fire ignitions (e.g., roadside zones along Serrano Ridge were mowed and barriers and removal of alien plants). graded as required.

Fire Prevention: Trained and outfitted approximately 41 new Deployment of volunteers and staff on Red - Irvine Ranch volunteers bringing the program total to 219 Flag Warning days and/or during Santa Ana Conservancy volunteers ready to monitor “high risk” areas wind events to deter fire ignition will Fire Watch Program on the border of the wild lands. There no continue. “high risk” days in 2016 that necessitated Fire Watch deployment on City of Irvine Continued expansion of the Fire Watch Open Space Preserve lands. In addition, the program by increasing the number of trained Fire Watch Coordinator deployed volunteers volunteers and possibly engaging the for 15 public outreach events to educate the services of other agencies and volunteer

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public on wildland/urban interface risks and organizations such as the CERT programs led a July 4th Fire Watch deployment at two (Community Emergency Response Teams). OC Parks facilities. The Fire Watch program is conducted in conjunction with the Greater Laguna Coast Fire Safe Council, Inter- Canyon League Fire Safe Council, Trabuco Canyon Defense Against Wildfire, Modjeska Canyon Fire Watch, OC Parks, State Parks, Orange County Fire Authority and more.

Miscellaneous Activities and Management Program:

Sensitive Plant Monitoring • Fred Roberts completed a sensitive plant and A rare plant survey is planned to take place in invasive plant survey in seven main parcels the Newport Beach Parcels in the spring of 2017. within the turtle Rock area totaling 366 acres. Surveys were conducted for development of a Resource and Recreation Management Plan for Turtle Rock. • Only one Local Rare plant species was discovered during the rare plant survey; San Diego ground-cherry (Physalis crassifolia), • 55 species of non-native plants were recorded, 27 of which are rated by the California Invasive Plant Council. • A full report is available upon request.

Trail Condition Monitoring Trail condition monitoring was postponed in 2016 The condition of trails and trail-side vegetation

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to address monitoring for emerging tree pests. will be monitored again in the summer of 2017.

Wildlife Monitoring Wildlife activity in the City of Irvine has been The wildlife camera trapping program will monitored since 2007 using remote infra-red- continue to operate in 2017. triggered cameras, operated by IRC staff and volunteer citizen scientists: Additional cameras may be installed if deemed necessary. • Forty-seven remote cameras are currently operating on IRC managed lands, 9 of which A second DFW-LAG study is underway to occur on City of Irvine open space. Data from investigate the relationship between human photographs is entered manually. The access and wildlife activity. Results of the study database currently contains more than will be summarized in the 2017 NCC Report. 124,360 entries. • Activity level for five common wildlife species- All wildlife cameras will be tested in the -mule deer, mountain lion, coyote, bobcat and beginning of 2017 for proper function using a grey fox are estimated on a Quarterly basis protocol developed in 2013 by IRC staff and (March, June, September, and December). volunteers. This data is used to test for changes in wildlife activity, both seasonally, annually, and regionally (Central versus Coastal Reserve). • Analyses from a LAG-funded project in 2012 suggest large mammals avoid humans and the number of trail users affects the activity of wildlife in the short term. Long-term effects on wildlife activity and population viability remain unclear.

Trends in Wildlife Activity by Species from 2007 to 2016

Results from this long-term study in the Coastal

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Reserve indicate:

Deer: • Activity has remained consistent with previous year’s data. On average, deer activity in the Coastal Reserve has not changed since the programs initiation in 2007. • Greatest(?) deer activity is found at the Shady Canyon Turtle Pond possibly due to the constant water source. • Strong peak in activity during late summer (September) and drop in winter and spring.

Coyote: • Average coyote activity dropped sharply from 2007 to 2010 and has remained consistently low through 2016. • Coyotes have been detected at all 9 camera locations in the COI-OSPS and do not show location preferences. • Activity is greatest in winter (December) and lowest in summer (June)

Grey Fox: • No gray fox were observed in the COI-OSPS.

Bobcat: • Average bobcat activity in the Coastal Reserve decreased from 2009 to 2013 and has remained relatively low through 2016.

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• No specific location preference has been identified from the data. • No seasonal pattern of activity detected from camera traps.

Mountain lion: • There remain no confirmed reports of mountain lions within the COI-OSPS.

Light Pollution Mapping UCSB Bren School Graduate Intern Nathan None. A final report of this work is available. DFW Local Assistance Burroughs mapped and modeled light pollution Grant to NCC. within the COI-OSPS and adjacent lands to (1) assess the level of nighttime light pollution entering the urban reserve and (2) to create a light disturbance GIS layer that could be used to help describe spatial patterns of wildlife activity.

Development of The geodatabase will continue to be maintained Both fauna and flora databases will continue to Biological Database and updated for Conservancy-managed areas. be updated.

Raptor Surveys • IRC partnered with Bloom Biological Inc. Raptor breeding surveys in the COI-OPS are (BBI) to conduct annual raptor breeding planned to take place again in 2017. surveys across the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks (Figure 4). Monitoring by IRC staff, volunteers, and Bloom biologists occurred regularly from March 10th through June 6th 2016. A summary report was submitted by Bloom Biological in August of 2017. • Only 2 active nests were discovered in the

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COI-OSP in 2016; one at mule deer that successfully fledged young and one in Butterfly Valley which failed. • Three historic nesting territories in Bommer Canyon were inactive in 2016. • Reserve wide (which includes OCP and COI lands managed by IRC), raptor breeding activity in 2016 was again below the historic average, but an improvement over the last two nesting seasons. • Of the 85 historic nest sites surveyed in 2016, 51 (or 60%) were found to be inactive (i.e. no attempt at nesting was made) while 34 (or 40%) were active. Of the 34 active nests, 22 nests (65% of active territories) were successful (i.e., produced young at least 3 weeks of age) and 11 failed. • While both nest occupancy and nest successes were relatively low in 2016, they both improved from 2014 and 2015. The authors were, however, particularly concerned about the low occupancy of red- shouldered hawks, which were down to 11% nest occupancy (i.e., only 11% of the known red-shouldered hawk territories contained an active nest). For comparison, 77% of the known red-tailed hawk nest territories were occupied this season. • The report was careful not to blame low nest occupancy and success completely on

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drought because previous periods of droughts have not been associated with a lack of nesting in so many traditionally active territories. The authors suggest that other factors may be involved and/or interacting with drought, including disease (e.g., West Nile Virus) and exposure to anticoagulants in pest control products. • The full draft report, including data for individual raptor species, can be made available upon request.

Cactus Wren Foraging Project goal: A final report will be written if time permits. Analysis • To assess the importance of arthropod (Partial funding by UCI abundance, community composition, and Center for Environmental habitat structure as determinants of habitat Studies and NCC) quality for Cactus Wren. • All field sampling of arthropods and their identification completed. • Analysis of barcoded diet data is in process

Preliminary results show that: • Arthropod communities differ among common habitat elements (i.e. plant species). • The abundance of large spiders and caterpillars are positively correlated with wren reproductive output. • Percent cover of native bunch grasses within territories is also strongly correlated with wren reproductive output.

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Cactus Wren Artificial Nest A total of 8 cactus wren artificial nest boxes Nest boxes will be surveyed in March of 2017. Box Structures remain in place across the City of Irvine Open (Partial Funding by DFW) Space Preserve. Nest boxes were not formally surveyed in 2016 although no nesting activity was observed during opportunistic checks of nest boxes.

Climate Change IRC staff is participating in a vulnerability IRC will continue to participate in EcoAdapt’s assessment for southern California through vulnerability assessment into 2016. EcoAdapt for the USFS and CA Landscape In addition, areas considered refugia for sensitive Conservation Cooperative. The process will habitats will be incorporated into IRC’s provide an assessment and modified restoration prioritization model of COI OSP management strategies for identified habitats and lands. species based on their sensitivities, exposures, and adaptive capacities.

Turtle Rock RRMP Conservancy staff worked with subcontractors to In 2017, IRC will assist the City in hosting two complete several components of the Turtle Rock public meetings to share study findings and RRMP, including wildlife survey reports, a rare solicit responses and input from local residents plant survey report, and a weed survey map. A concerning the future of these City owned fuels management assessment and an parcels. Following the public meetings, IRC compile separate assessments into a cohesive assessment of existing and potential recreational Resource and Recreation Management Plan resources are pending. (RRMP).

Conservation Capacity Conservation capacity was increased as noted Ongoing. below:

1. Build Capacity. A new Land Management Agreement with expanded scope was signed

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between COI and IRC. Changes allow for more capacity to implement restoration and maintain a western pond turtle pond. The scope also increases the acreage that is being managed. 2. Expand restoration planning. The purpose of restoration efforts is to increase habitat resilience to disturbance, enhance diversity, and support wildlife and ecosystem processes. Several restoration projects have been initiated, in part with external funding. New potential projects include OC Waste and Recycling-funded restoration. 3. Implement landscape-scale invasive control. The purpose of targeted invasive control is to remove the threat of future habitat degradation by highly invasive pests. Implementation is funded primarily by land management agreement and, more recently informed by collaborative prioritization. Efforts to coordinate efforts regionally are ongoing and now facilitated by Cal-IPC. As new threats emerge, such as Sahara mustard and the polyphagous and other shot-hole borers, increasing effort must be placed on early detection and rapid response. 4. Collect sensitive species occurrence data and maintain geospatial data for sensitive species and habitats. The purpose of maintaining and adding to the geodatabase is to inform conservation priorities and

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management actions with the purpose of maintaining and enhancing these resources. Activities include developing long-term and regional monitoring programs. 5. Partner with other organizations to achieve landscape-wide conservation goals. In 2015, activities included: (i) participating in the NCC TAC, several regional working groups, and participating in monthly update meetings with the City, (ii) providing regional expertise on regional conservation and land management issues where appropriate, (iii) Working closely with OCFA to minimize fire risk, implement fire response consistent with protection of sensitive natural resources, and support organization, (iv) Collaborating on a coastal weed prioritization with Cal-IPC and other partner organizations, (v) Collaborating with NCC on a LAG-funded study of recreation and wildlife response, and (vi) successfully partnering with NCC, TNC, and OC Parks to execute soil and cactus salvage from Orchard Hills development. 6. Provide opportunities for collaboration, internships, scholarship, and research on the Reserve. Several interns completed work supporting conservation efforts. These included three summer UCSB Bren School graduate student interns, several undergraduate interns managed primarily by

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UCI, and IRC volunteers. Research projects primarily by UCI were facilitated, advised, and in some cases collaborated on. 7. Work with collaborators to obtain funding for important conservation actions. IRC is partnering on two separate externally funded projects benefiting the Preserve: State LAG funding for study of the interaction of recreation and wildlife and its facilitation and coordination of both soil and cactus salvage, funded by NCC and made available by the Irvine Company. 8. Engage volunteers in resource management. Stewardship and citizen science activities continued to be offered, which increased conservation capacity and enriched the volunteer experience through direct interaction with staff.

Miscellaneous Activities and Management Programs - Non-IRC Research:

Dr. Sarah Kimball, Dr. Purpose: Use observational weather stations to Planning update to UC website to include new Mike Goulden, University quantify Orange County's weather gradient, weather stations that have been placed at the of California, Irvine, CEB focusing on a north-south transect that spans the UC Natural Reserve System sites, including the original Irvine Ranch from Crystal Cove State Steele Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Park to Gypsum Canyon. CEB is continuing to Center. Currently pplying for funding that would maintain the weather stations and the data it fund someone who could develop a website that generates. The data are uploaded to the internet would include summary statistics for weather at

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(http://128.200.14.200/index.html), and shared our Orange County sites with regional weather websites, such as Mesowest. The inland weather stations generally report more extreme temperatures (higher highs and lower lows). Currently compiling the rainfall data to determine whether there are differences in precipitation across the transect.

Dr. Sarah Kimball and Dr. Native Seed Farm Study. Purpose: Compare None. Travis Huxman, University competitive ability of natives with and without of California, Irvine, CEB annual weed competition Further measurements taken in 2016. Study completed with closure of original seed farm location.

Dr. Ann Sakai and Dr. Invasive potential of fountain grass (Cenchrus Ongoing. Steven Weller, University setaceus) in central Orange County' Purpose: of California, Irvine, CEB Impacts of changing precipitation patterns on invasive fountain grass populations in coastal sage scrub and grassland communities.

Dr. Kailen Mooney, Cactus wren foraging and arthropod abundance Paper in preparation. University of California, across vegetation types. DNA sequencing and Irvine, CEB preliminary diet analysis completed.

Dr. Peter Bloom, Bloom Purpose: Raptor monitoring and movement. Ongoing Biological

Dr. Kathleen Treseder and Purpose: Fungal Facilitators of Ecosystem None Mia Maltz, University of Services in the Irvine Ranch. California, Irvine, CEB Articles published:

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Maltz, M. R., C. E. Bell, M. J. Mitrovich, A. R. Iyer, and K. K. Treseder. 2016. Invasive plant management techniques alter arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Ecological Restoration 34: 209-215.

Aprahamian, A. M., M. E. Lulow, M. R. Major, K. Balazs, K. K. Treseder, and M. R. Maltz. 2016. Arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation in coastal sage scrub restoration. Botany, 10.1139/cjb- 2015-0226.

Maltz, M. R. (2016). PhD dissertation: Ecological restoration of fungi. Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Irvine, CA, University of California Irvine. 89 p.

Dr. Erin Boydston, Landscape Genetics of Mule Deer in Southern Final report expected December 2017. Devaughn Lee Fraser, California USGS Mule Deer pellet samples were collected and analyzed for 15 microsatellites to describe genetic composition of Mule Deer in southern California.

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COI Fig. 1: Estimated Annual 7 Day Access of Trails on COI-OSPS

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COI Fig. 2: Invasive Control

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COI Fig. 3: Projects and Surveys

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COI Fig. 4: COI-OSPS - Restoration Habitat Acreage 2016

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COI Fig. 5: COI-OSPS – Wildlife Activity Patters 2007 – 2016

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COI Fig. 6: Light Pollution within the Orange County Coastal NCCP Reserve.

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City of Newport Beach - Buck Gully

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Recreation Use, Monitoring & Management:

Current Use Policies: 7 day 7:00 a.m. to sunset public hiking and 7 day 7:00 a.m. to sunset public hiking and mountain biking is the current access mountain biking will continue to be the access configuration. configuration.

Supplemental docent led activities were Supplemental docent-led activities will also be conducted as outreach opportunities. The used as outreach opportunities. maximum limit for docent-led activities is 25 participants with a minimum of 2 “IRC-Certified” volunteers.

Recreational Monitoring: This land is referred to as the Buck Gully Docent-led activities for the public will continue to - Use & Access Preserve. The following totals include be offered in 2017. The maximum limit for recreation/interpretive, Trail Crew, invasive docent-led activities is 25 participants with a removal and citizen science programs. The time minimum of 2 “IRC-Certified” volunteers. frame is from January 1 through December 31, 2016. Activities include public interpretive, recreational, trail work, or stewardship programs. New contract Total activities offered: 128 areas and possible programs may be listed for 2017. Total activities implemented: 117 Total volunteers: 783 Total volunteer hours: 2,007 Actual public participants: 228 Public participant stewardship/trail hours: 85 All public use was managed according to the policies noted in the approved RRMP.

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The following public recreation/interpretive and Trail Crew programs were offered from January 1 through December 31, 2016. When necessary, programs are cancelled due to the Red Flag Warnings, Rain Closure and Santa Ana Wind events.

Total recreation programs offered:17 Total recreation programs implemented: 13 Total volunteers: 81 Total volunteer hours: 210 Actual public participants: 177

Total Trail Crew programs offered: 5 Total Trail Crew programs implemented: 5 Total volunteers: 7 Total volunteer hours: 39 Actual public participants: 0

Recreational Monitoring: Public outreach of the Buck Gully and Big Private volunteer activities and patrols may occur - Private Programs, Canyon programs are integrated into the Irvine in preparation and development of public Outreach Programs Ranch Natural Landmarks website and quarterly programs. and Patrols activity guide (distributed countywide), and the City of Newport Beach website and Navigator Patrols may also be used to monitor human magazine. Content about Buck Gully and Big access and deter non approved uses. Canyon programs are also posted on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks social media sites. Public outreach via the referenced outlets will continue.

Recreational Monitoring: Citizen Science Volunteers spent approximately IRC’s Citizen Scientists will continue to collect

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- Volunteer Wildlife 40 hours maintaining wildlife cameras throughout camera trap data to monitor human access, Activity & Human Buck Gully. assess the type and level of unauthorized Access Monitoring access, track trends in wildlife diversity and abundance over time and space, and further develop activity and disturbance profiles for wildlife species in Buck Gully.

User Compliance Trail counter data indicate 21,957 people visited Wildlife and human access monitoring will Programs: Buck Gully in 2015, about 60 persons per day. continue using remote cameras and trail - Access Monitoring The counter is located at the 5th Street and counters. Poppy trailhead in the southwest corner of the Reserve. It therefore captures any person(s) who access at least a few feet along the start of the trail.

Based on photographs taken from a single trailside camera in the more remote, northeast corner of the Reserve, 3,575 people visited Buck Gully in 2015. For comparison, 2,821 people were detected by the camera trap in 2014.

The large discrepancy in visitation estimated by trail counter versus camera has two sources. First, the camera has a longer time-delay between capture events; 1 minute for camera versus 1.5 seconds for trail counter. So large groups of people are often under-captured by the camera. The other difference is that the trail counter captures access in the most heavily used section of Buck Gully, whereas the camera is located in a remote part of the Reserve. Hence,

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while about 22,000 people step foot into the Reserve each year, only about 3,575 access remote areas or cover large sections of trail.

About 90 photographs of dogs were captured by the single trail camera in Buck Gully. Dogs are not permitted in Buck Gully Preserve.

User Compliance N/A Budget permitting, implement a web-based photo Programs: database for all trailhead human access camera - Monitoring and Human locations. IRC management and Field Patrol Access Management personnel (NP Rangers and Natural Resource Supervisor); will have direct encrypted access to human access photos as well as a database spreadsheet of unauthorized access. This photo data will provide more effective means for field patrol personnel to target specific days, times and locations for their patrols. Budget permitting, implement live-feed still-photo camera locations targeted at known areas of high-risk activities, that is to say areas of extensive nighttime use, fire pits, unauthorized vehicles, etc. These cameras will have the ability to relay photos directly to a web-based storage drive and provide instant notification to selected patrol personnel of unauthorized presence in the area.

Educational Outreach: IRC continued to operate wildlife camera Wildlife camera trapping and raptor monitoring - Irvine Ranch Citizen monitoring activities using citizen scientists and will continue. If resources permit, a monthly Science Program occasionally employs volunteer help to assist in citizen science butterfly survey will be initiated.

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other monitoring activities. The following public and volunteer-only programs were offered IRC and the City of Newport Beach Natural January 1 to December 31, 2016. Note that Resource and Recreation Staff will work closely programs offered and implemented include some together to coordinate programs offered individual private activities. throughout the City’s natural areas, addressing programming, monitoring and restoration when Total citizen science programs offered: 28 appropriate. Total citizen science programs implemented: 25 Citizen science volunteers: 53 Volunteer hours: 204 Public participants: 0 Public participant hours:0

Educational Outreach: The Irvine Ranch Conservancy conducted two IRC will maintain and work to increase - Irvine Ranch Land land steward training sessions and two herbicide stewardship programs through continued regular Steward Program training workshops for land stewards. The Land offerings. Steward program was deployed to assist with monthly restoration programs. One seed collection program was also implemented with three volunteers. Note that programs offered and implemented include some individual private activities.

Invasive Control: Total stewardship programs offered: 0 Total programs implemented: 0 Land steward volunteers: 0 Land steward volunteer hours: 0 Public participants: 0 Public participant hours: 0

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Restoration: Total stewardship programs offered: 20 Total programs implemented: 16 Land steward volunteers: 47 Land steward volunteer hours: 154 Public participants: 33 Public participant hours:85

Educational Outreach (All Conducted volunteer Trail Crew training and Complete transition of program name from Trail Areas): implemented the Adopt-A-Trail program to assist Crew to Trail Crew. - Trail Crew Training with ongoing monitoring and maintenance of trail Programs system. Continue training Trail Crew volunteers and offer Completed Volunteer Trail Projects: 2 advanced training in specific areas of trail work Trail Crew training sessions: 1 such as power equipment, rock armoring and Trail maintenance projects: 16 specialty construction techniques.

Recreation Facility Construction and Maintenance:

New Construction or N/A Implement additional informational signage (trail Expansion (Buck Gully): courtesy).

Design and implement a human access monitoring system with the use of cameras or trail counters located at the three primary trailhead access points.

Coordinate volunteer Eagle Scout projects with the City of Newport Beach. These projects may

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include additional site benches, informational signage, interpretive bird blinds, and trail-side viewing decks.

Maintenance of Existing The IRC managed 20 volunteer trail maintenance Monitor the trail system for the creation of Facilities (Buck Gully): work sessions. These programs focused on unauthorized social trails and perform closure of vegetation trimming of the poison oak to maintain any social trails as needed. If required, install the desired trail-corridor width of 4’ (tread is to fencing to limit social trail use. remain 2’ wide). Continue to monitor the area with historical runoff Painted and serviced gates. from Pelican Hill and perform necessary maintenance as required. Continue to coordinate Maintained signage. with City to respond to and report flooding. Maintenance may include the expansion of the Brushed over unauthorized social trails. previously installed causeway, rock armoring or boardwalk installation.

Continue to monitor the trail tread for signs of Coordinated with City to continue to implement erosion, and install new drainage features the trail closure protocol and signage system. throughout to the trail as needed.

Continue to monitor the slope adjacent to the trail and shore up any eroding areas (using boulders or retaining walls) if necessary. Perform a semi-annual inspection and maintenance of all bridges, gates and kiosks.

Improve graffiti resistance of signage by adding graffiti coating to signs.

Facility N/A N/A

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Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Replacement/Repair (Buck Gully):

Infrastructure Construction and Maintenance:

Removal of Inactive Field None found. IRC will evaluate and remove inactive field Research Materials research materials if they are no longer deemed useful.

Habitat Restoration & Enhancement: (Note: Funding Sources noted in first column if other than Land Owner)

Exotic Plant Eradication: Invasive plant species, specifically artichoke Artichoke thistle, fennel, castor bean, garland Program Summary thistle, fennel, garland chrysanthemum, chrysanthemum, and pampas grass will continue (NCC, in part) Moroccan knapweed, Canary Island date palm, to be controlled along trails and habitat edges. In Mexican fan palm, Brazilian peppertree, Pride of addition, ornamental trees planted or naturally Madeira, pampas grass, and tree tobacco were established will begin to be removed in high treated across 8.0 total acres of land (gross area) priority areas and, as acceptable native shrub (1.1 acres of which occurred outside the NCCP supplies permit, will be replaced with natives. boundary). Weeds were targeted for removal within reserve and park boundaries as well as A report on NCC-funded 2016 control activities along roads, trails, and fuel modification areas will be submitted to NCC in January 2017. (NPB Fig. 1). Many invasive plants are residing along the reserve and park edges, including non-

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City (HOA) properties.

The primary species targeted for eradication within Buck Gully Reserve currently is pampas grass. Other species targeted for include castor bean, garland chrysanthemum, artichoke thistle, fennel, and tree tobacco. Russian thistle was also treated along the northern hazard reduction zone of Buck Gully.

The primary species targeted for eradication within Big Canyon Nature Park is Moroccan knapweed (Volutatria tubuliflora).

Most control efforts were carried out by IRC staff and staff-led volunteer groups during public stewardship events. Additionally, IRC oversaw two days of control work contracted by NCC for pampas grass and exotic tree treatment along Buck Gully stream.

Exotic Plant Eradication: Buck Gully Invasive survey results from 2012 in Buck Gully - Exotic Plant Monitoring Invasive control efforts in 2016 were prioritized and 2015 in Big Canyon will continue to inform based on both spring-time monitoring in 2016 invasive plant removal work in the foreseeable and a comprehensive survey and mapping effort future. of vegetation along all fuel modification zones in 2012.

Big Canyon

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Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Exotic Plant Eradication: Treatment within NCCP (Buck Gully): Control work will continue as needed. - Artichoke Thistle • 18,607 gross m2, 242 net m2 (increase from ’15) • Estimated 838 plants

- Fennel Treatment within NCCP (Buck Gully): Control work will continue as needed. • 236 gross m2, 2.6 net m2 (decrease from ’14) • Estimated 6 plants

- Prostrate Acacia Treatment within NCCP (Buck Gully): Control work will continue as needed. • None

- Tree Tobacco Treatment within NCCP (Buck Gully): Control work will continue as needed. • 171 gross m2, 35 net m2 (increase from ’15) • Estimated 5 plants

- Castor Bean Treatment within NCCP (Buck Gully): Control work will continue as needed. • 180 gross m2, 35 net m2 (increase from ’15) • Estimated 300 plants

- Pampas Grass Treatment within NCCP (Buck Gully): Control work will continue as needed. (NCC, in part) • 2738 gross m2, 80 net m2 (increase from ’16) • Estimated 75 plants

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Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

- Canary Island Palm Treatment within NCCP (Buck Gully): Control work will continue as needed. (NCC, in part) • 2846 gross m2, 1078 net m2 (increase from ’15) • Estimated 49 plants

- Mexican Fan Palm Treatment within NCCP (Buck Gully): Control work will continue as needed. (NCC, in part) • 1409 gross m2, 890 net m2 (increase from ’15) • Estimated 15 plants

- Iceplant Treatment within NCCP (Buck Gully): Control work will continue as needed. • None

- Garland Treatment within NCCP (Buck Gully): Control work will continue as needed. Chrysanthemum • 20 gross m2, 1 net m2 (increase from ‘15) • Estimated 10 plants

- Peppertree Treatment within NCCP (Buck Gully): Control work will continue as needed. • 1390 gross m2, 398 net m2 (increase from ‘15) • Estimated 25 plants

- Russian Thistle Treatment within NCCP (Buck Gully): Control work will continue as needed. • 94 gross m2, 1.5 net m2 (sim. To 2015) • Estimated 2 plant

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Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

- Poison Hemlock Treatment within NCCP (Buck Gully): Control work will continue as needed. • None

- Lollypop tree Treatment within NCCP (Buck Gully): Control work will continue as needed • 421 gross m2, 70 net m2 (Increase from 2016) Estimated 10 plants

- Pride of Madeira Treatment within NCCP (Buck Gully): Control work will continue as needed • 57 gross m2, 3.5 net m2 (Increase from 2016) Estimated 2 plants

- Moroccan Knapweed Treatment within NCCP (Buck Gully): This species is prioritized for eradication. (Volutaria tubuliflora) • None; not present.

Exotic Animal Control: About 151 photographs of dogs were captured by Monitoring for exotic animals will continue in the single trail camera in Buck Gully (up from 90 2017 and actions will be taken if wild exotic in 2016). Dogs are not permitted in Buck Gully animals are found. Preserve. A survey in Buck Gully for all reptiles, including exotic reptiles and amphibians will take place in the winter and spring of 2017.

Habitat Restoration and In 2016, the following activities occurred: An addition 200 container plants will be installed Revegetation: • 7 public stewardships in the Waterwise demonstration area in the winter Restoration activities • Approximately 300 more container plants of 2017. Fuel Modification were installed on the site.

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Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Restoration Demonstration • Approximately 10 pounds of native CSS and Regular (1 day/ month) monitoring and weed grassland seed was hand seeded on site. removal activities will continue through 2017. • Staff and volunteers watered and mulched plantings every 6-8 weeks from late spring An interpretive sign about the project will be through late fall. installed in 2017. • Staff and volunteers continued to collect seed from native plants that were added to restoration projects in November of 2016.

Habitat Restoration & IRC staff and volunteers monitored and weeded Planted cactus will continue to be monitored and Revegetation: around salvaged cacti (28 large and 400 pads) maintained by IRC staff in 2017. -Orchard Hills Salvage that were transplanted from the Orchard Hills Cactus to Buck Gully salvage site in October of 2015. Fire Management Activities:

Fire Prevention: None at this time None at this time. - Fire Watch Program

Maintenance of Fuel Newport Beach Fire Department agreed to adjust IRC will continue to coordinate with the Newport Breaks/Modification Zones: seasonal fuels trimming of hazard reduction Fire Department on habitat-friendly vegetation areas from summer to late spring to decrease management along reserve borders. viable seed set from non-native species. Natives were flagged and vegetation management crews Fire Watch Coordinator will initiate a plan for were instructed to avoid plants. Thinning was public outreach events in 2017 to educate the implemented by Southland Landscape public on wildland/urban interface risks in the City Maintenance. Managed areas are adjacent to of Newport Beach. Deployment of volunteers and NCCP. staff on Red Flag Warning days and/or during Santa Ana wind events to deter fire ignition will Starting 2016, the City of Newport Beach continue.

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became the latest member of the Orange County Fire Watch Program. No deployments in Newport Fire Watch Coordinator will continue expansion of Beach land were needed in 2016. the Fire Watch program by increasing the number of trained volunteers and possibly engaging the services of other agencies and volunteer organizations such as CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams) program participants.

Maintenance of Fuel IRC worked with City, NCC, CNPS, and Fire Brochure continues to be available. Breaks/Modification Zones: Authority to create an informational brochure - Brochure describing best management practices for fuel modification areas and home owners. The emphases of the brochure are to: 1. reduce fire risk, 2. reduce the spread of exotic species, and 3. reduce water consumption. The brochure was sent to all neighboring residents and is available at local volunteer and public events.

Miscellaneous Activities and Management Programs:

Trail Condition Monitoring Trail condition monitoring was postponed in 2016 The condition of trails and trail-side vegetation to address monitoring for emerging tree pests. will be monitored again in the summer of 2017.

Raptor Surveys IRC partnered with Bloom Biological Inc. (BBI) to Raptor surveys will continue in 2017 across the conduct annual raptor breeding surveys across IRNL.

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the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Monitoring by IRC staff, volunteers, and Bloom biologists occurred regularly from March 10th through June 6th 2016. A summary report was submitted by Bloom Biological in August of 2017. • No active nests were discovered in Buck Gully or Big Canyon 2016. This is the third year in a row where no active raptor nests were found in Buck Gully. • Reserve wide (which includes NPB, OCP, and COI lands managed by IRC), raptor breeding activity in 2016 was again below the historic average, but an improvement over the last two nesting seasons. • Of the 85 historic nest sites surveyed in 2016, 51 (or 60%) were found to be inactive (i.e. no attempt at nesting was made) while 34 (or 40%) were active. Of the 34 active nests, 22 nests (65% of active territories) were successful (i.e., produced young at least 3 weeks of age) and 11 failed. • While both nest occupancy and nest successes were relatively low in 2016, they both improved from 2014 and 2015. The authors were, however, particularly concerned about the low occupancy of red- shouldered hawks, which were down to 11% nest occupancy (i.e., only 11% of the known red-shouldered hawk territories contained an active nest). For comparison, 77% of the

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known red-tailed hawk nest territories were occupied this season. • The report was careful not to blame low nest occupancy and success completely on drought because previous periods of droughts have not been associated with a lack of nesting in so many traditionally active territories. The authors suggest that other factors may be involved and/or interacting with drought, including disease (e.g., West Nile Virus) and exposure to anticoagulants in pest control products. • The full draft report, including data for individual raptor species, can be made available upon request.

Sensitive Species Buck Gully: CAGN, CAWR, and LBV monitoring in Buck Gully Monitoring: Surveys for California gnatcatcher (CAGN), will continue in 2017. coastal cactus wren (CAWR), and Least Bell’s vireo (LBV) were conducted in Buck Gully Herp (amphibians and reptiles) surveys in Buck Reserve in 2016. A total of 8 CAGN individuals Gully are planned for the winter and spring of (3 pairs and 2 individual males) were detected in 2017. 2016 at 5 separate territories. CAWR were not detected in Buck Gully in 2016. CAWR have not been detected in Buck Gully since 2013. Two LBV individuals were observed along Buck Gully stream in late July 2016 but no active nests were detected. Both were presumed to be dispersing juveniles.

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Project, Program, Activity 2016 Progress Report 2017 Work Plan

Scientific Research: IRC staff and volunteers currently service and maintain seven cameras in and around Buck IRC is continuing to operate its wildlife camera Gully Reserve, three of which occur within the monitoring program across the central and Reserve. coastal reserves in 2017.

Camera data are used for a variety of projects including tracking use and movement by native wildlife, identification of individual bobcats, and monitoring changes in and impacts of human access.

In the summer of 2016, IRC staff analyzed 9 years worth of data (from 2007 to 2016) from all 47 remote cameras currently operating on IRC managed lands. The analysis revealed the following trends in the Coastal Reserve (which includes Buck Gully and the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve):

Deer: • No mule deer were detected in Buck Gully • On average, deer activity in the Coastal Reserve has not changed since the programs initiation in 2007. • Greatest deer activity is found at the Shady Canyon Turtle Pond possibly due to the constant water source. • Strong peak in activity during late summer (September) and drop in winter and spring.

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Coyote: • Average coyote activity dropped sharply from 2007 to 2010 and has remained consistently low through 2016. • Activity is greatest in winter (December) and lowest in summer (June)

Grey Fox: • No gray fox were observed in Buck Gully.

Bobcat: • Average bobcat activity in the Coastal Reserve decreased from 2009 to 2013 and has remained relatively low through 2016. • No specific location preference has been identified from the data. • No seasonal pattern of activity detected from camera traps.

Mountain lion: There remain no confirmed reports of mountain lions in the Coastal Reserve.

Light Pollution Mapping UCSB Bren School Graduate Intern Nathan None. A final report of this work is available. DFW Local Assistance Burroughs mapped and modeled light pollution Grant to NCC. within Buck Gully and adjacent lands to (1) assess the level of nighttime light pollution entering the urban reserve and (2) to create a light disturbance GIS layer that could be used to help describe spatial patterns of wildlife activity.

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Conservation Capacity: IRC will continue to manage Buck Gully Conservation actions will focus on invasive consistent with the Buck Gully 2009 Resource species control, continued camera trapping to and Recreation Management Plan and the 2012 monitor wildlife, and the continuation of active assessment of Fire modification zones. These restoration activities in priority fuel management documents indentified encroachment, weed areas. All activities will incorporate volunteer invasion, run-off, and erosion of edge habitat as assistance to increase capacity. primary threats to habitat, and fragmentation and road mortality as primary threats to wildlife. Management goals for 2016 included final implementation of a showcase hazard reduction zone replanting, eradication and control of target invasive species, and continued monitoring of wildlife activity.

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Newport Beach Fig. 1

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ATTACHMENTS 2016 Progress Report & 2017 Work Plan

NCC Annual Report 2015 ATTACHMENTS OC Parks, City of Irvine, Newport Beach and the Irvine Company - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

TABLE OF CONTENTS Page

Irvine Company Mitigation Matrix Habitat Mitigation - Sites Page 1 of 1 A2

Contact Sheet OC Parks Wildlands - OC Parks Managed A3 OC Parks Wildlands - IRC Managed A4 City of Irvine Wildlands - IRC Managed A4 City of Newport Beach Buck Gully Wildlands - IRC Managed A5 Irvine Company Wildlands - IRC Managed A5 Highlights – IRC Managed Areas – OC Parks, City of Irvine, Newport Beach A6

Attachments - Page A1 NCC Annual Report 2015 ATTACHMENTS OC Parks, City of Irvine, Newport Beach and the Irvine Company - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Attachments - Page A2 NCC Annual Report 2015 ATTACHMENTS OC Parks, City of Irvine, Newport Beach and the Irvine Company - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

CONTACT LIST:

Phone OC Parks/OCP Managed Contact 714-973-3743 OC Parks General Contacts Stacy Blackwood, OC Parks Director 714-973-6868 Jonathan Nicks, OC Parks Deputy Director 949-923-3742 Jennifer Naegele, Restoration Ecologist 949-923-2201 Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park Joanne Taylor, Senior Park Ranger 949-923-2299 Zak Salazar, Park Ranger II 714-973-6864 John Gannaway, Parks Division Manager 714-973-6621 El Modena Open Space Mike Wilson, Senior Park Ranger 714-973-2291 (Santiago Oaks Regional Park) Bill Reiter, Parks Division Manager 714-973-6834 Irvine Regional Park Jim Simkins, Supervising Park Ranger 714-973-6837 Derrick Ankerstar, Park Ranger II 714-973-6836 Maura Hay, Park Ranger I 714-973-2291 Bill Reiter, Parks Division Manager 949-923-2233 Laguna Coast Wilderness Park Barbara Norton, Supervising Park Ranger 949-923-2234 Brad Barker, Park Ranger II 949-923-3701 Laura Cohen, Resource Specialist 714-973-6864 John Gannaway, Parks Division Manager 949-923-2244 Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park Candice Hubert, Senior Park Ranger 949-923-2298 Josh Goldsmith, Park Ranger II 714-973-6864 John Gannaway, Parks Division Manager 714-973-6623 Peters Canyon Regional Park Steve Jax, Senior Park Ranger 714-973-2291 Bill Reiter, Parks Division Manager 714-973-6621 Santiago Oaks Regional Park Mike Wilson, Senior Park Ranger 714-973-6863 Bill Reiter, Parks Division Manager 949-923-2293 Talbert Regional Park Scott Fegley, Operations Manager 949-923-2297 (North Coastal Facilities) Jamie Montgomery, Park Ranger II 714-973-2291 Bill Reiter, Parks Division Manager 949-923-2293 Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve Scott Fegley, Operations Manager 949-923-2297 (North Coastal Facilities) Jamie Montgomery, Park Ranger II 714-973-2291 Bill Reiter, Parks Division Manager

Attachments - Page A3 NCC Annual Report 2015 ATTACHMENTS OC Parks, City of Irvine, Newport Beach and the Irvine Company - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Phone OC Parks/IRC Managed Contact 714-721-4212 John Gump, OC Parks Operations Manager 714-920-0177 Irvine Ranch Wildlands Ron Slimm, OC Parks Senior Ranger 714-5084750 Michael O’Connell, IRC Executive Director 714-508-4763 David Raetz, IRC Deputy Director 714-508-4765 Dr. Jutta Burger, IRC Managing Dir. Science/Stewardship 714-508-4762 Adam Maywhort, IRC Sr. Manager, Planning & Field Ops.

Phone City of Irvine/IRC Managed Contact 949-724-6692 Laurie Hoffman, Director - Irvine Community Services 949-724-6642 Irvine Open Space Preserve Darin Loughrey, Manager – Irvine Comm. Services 714-5084750 Michael O’Connell, IRC Executive Director 714-508-4763 David Raetz, IRC Deputy Director 714-508-4765 Dr. Jutta Burger, IRC Managing Dir. Science/Stewardship 714-508-4725 Jill Sprance, IRC Field Ops. Manager

Phone City of Newport Beach/IRC Managed Contact 949-644-3157 Laura Detweiler, N. B. Recreation. & Sr. Services Director 949-644-3036 Buck Gully Michelle Clemente, N. B. Natural Resource Supervisor 714-5084750 Michael O’Connell, IRC Executive Director 714-508-4763 David Raetz, IRC Deputy Director 714-508-4765 Dr. Jutta Burger, IRC Managing Dir. Science/Stewardship 714-508-4725 Jill Sprance, IRC Field Ops. Manager

Phone Irvine Company/IRC Managed Contact 949-720-2609 Dan Miller, Irvine Company Senior Vice President 949-720-2878 Dean Kirk, Irvine Company Senior Director 714-5084750 Michael O’Connell, IRC Executive Director 714-508-4763 David Raetz, IRC Deputy Director 714-508-4765 Dr. Jutta Burger, IRC Managing Dir. Science/Stewardship 714-508-4752 John Graves, IRC Director, Planning & Field Ops.

2016 NCCP REPORT SUMMARY - IRC

Attachments - Page A4 NCC Annual Report 2015 ATTACHMENTS OC Parks, City of Irvine, Newport Beach and the Irvine Company - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

OC Parks- Irvine Ranch Open Space

Accomplished

• Continued docent-led and self-guided managed access programs including an Exploration Day program for hikers, and mountain bike users in Agua Chinon • Camera traps, video surveillance, trail counters and patrols were conducted to identify and monitor levels of unauthorized access and unauthorized trail use • To reduce unauthorized access, OC Parks implemented targeted enforcements based on use patterns of unauthorized access • Seasonal trail closures for nesting raptors in Limestone Canyon were not implemented because there were no active nests in the immediate vicinity of trails • Maintained staging areas, gates, signage, trails, roads and vehicle pull-outs • Maintained radio network for staff and volunteer communication • Repaired/refreshed Fremont Staging Area parking area to address ADA compliance • Continued conversion of Dripping Springs Road to single track • Began maintenance implementation of Waterworks trail within existing concrete V-ditch • Continued conversion of Pasture Road to single track • Implemented viewing deck as management tool to control visitor access at East Sinks Area • Monitored restoration of double track trail adjacent to Bowerman Landfill damaged in previous landslide • Completed Year 2 of Goldspotted Oak Borer (GSOB) monitoring and control which successfully quantified and maintained the pest population within upper Weir Canyon • Maintained large-scale externally mitigation-funded restoration sites at Bee Flat Canyon, Agua Chinon, West Loma and Silverado Canyon • Maintained over 50 acres of land management agreement-funded restoration at West Loma • Provided all restoration polygons and associated summary information to OC Restore database managers for upload • Maintained cactus and soil salvage sites for which installation was funded by NCC • Facilitated 80% completion of aerial weed survey in collaboration with NCC • Implemented invasive control program, with focus shifting towards containment of more recently arrived invasive plant species with smaller acreages • Maintained a wildlife monitoring program that included permanently installed cameras, raptor monitoring, avian point counts and butterfly monitoring

Attachments - Page A5 NCC Annual Report 2015 ATTACHMENTS OC Parks, City of Irvine, Newport Beach and the Irvine Company - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

• Supplied data and support for state Local Assistance Grant-funded wildlife and human activity analysis using camera data • Completed an assessment of unhealthy oaks across the IROS to map ensure no further spread of GSOB • Maintained 8 acre native seed farm and produced well over 1000 lbs of seed for restoration

Planned

• Existing access program policies of previous years to remain as the general rule • Continue camera traps, video surveillance, trail counters and patrols to identify and monitor levels of unauthorized access and unauthorized trail use • Continue targeted enforcements based on use patterns of unauthorized public access • Maintain all ongoing projects • Implement Coal Canyon undercrossing enhancement as part of West Loma Mitigation Contract (OCTA III) • Evaluate and expand wildlife monitoring program to the extent possible with existing funding • Facilitate remaining 20% of aerial weed survey and assist with completion of a comparative analysis of 2011 and 2014 surveys • Collaborate to initiate draft Central Invasive Plant Management Plan and associated early detection/rapid response program • Transition invasive control tracking to CalFlora

Attachments - Page A6 NCC Annual Report 2015 ATTACHMENTS OC Parks, City of Irvine, Newport Beach and the Irvine Company - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

City of Irvine

Accomplished

• Continued docent-led and self-guided managed access programs, including self-guided access seven-days per week from 7:00 am to sunset on the Bommer Meadows Trail, Nature Loop Trail, Bommer Pass Trail, West Fork Trail and Turtle Ridge Trail • Camera traps, video surveillance, trail counters and patrols were conducted to identify and monitor levels of unauthorized access and unauthorized trail use • To reduce unauthorized access, the City of Irvine implemented targeted enforcements based on use patterns of unauthorized access • Maintained trailheads, gates, bridges, signage, trails, roads and vehicle pull-outs • Maintained radio network for staff and volunteer communication • Drained, dredged and removed invasive frogs from Shady Canyon Turtle Pond, installed gabions for silt retention and completed exhaustive survey of western pond turtles (current count = 65) • Completed survey of riparian edge habitat for Polyphagous Shothole Borer and recorded first incidence of species • Ceased use of non-organic herbicides as per the City’s recent restrictions on its use and assessed fiscal impacts in order to maintain program • Maintained restorations at Mule Deer and Quail Hill • Completed prioritization for City of Irvine Open Space Preserve and selected land management agreement-funded restoration site in Bommer Canyon • Collaborated on development of a draft Coastal Invasive Plant Management associated early detection/rapid response program with neighboring land managers/owners, NCC and Cal-IPC. • Supported and facilitated NCC-funded invasive control activities and maintained land-management agreement-funded program, including volunteer-led control of Bommer Canyon and Quail Hill artichoke thistle populations • Maintained wildlife and human activity monitoring program with eight permanently stationed wildlife cameras and raptor surveys • Completed sensitive plant survey of Bommer Canyon • Supported state Local Assistance Grant-funded wildlife and human activity analysis with data and an assessment of light pollution in the Coastal Reserve. • Adopted management of Newport Beach open space parcels deeded to the City and including NCCP acreage • Maintained 8 acre native seed farm and produced well over 1000 lbs of seed for restoration

Planned Attachments - Page A7 NCC Annual Report 2015 ATTACHMENTS OC Parks, City of Irvine, Newport Beach and the Irvine Company - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

• Existing access program policies of previous years to remain as the general rule • Continue camera traps, video surveillance, trail counters and patrols to identify and monitor levels of unauthorized access and unauthorized trail use • Continue targeted enforcements based on use patterns of unauthorized public access • Maintain all ongoing projects • Execute NCC and City funded invasive control plan using manual control • Initiate site preparation at an eight-acre restoration site in Bommer Canyon • Collaborate to complete final Coastal Invasive Plant Management Plan and associated early detection/rapid response program • Transition invasive control tracking to CalFlora

Attachments - Page A8 NCC Annual Report 2015 ATTACHMENTS OC Parks, City of Irvine, Newport Beach and the Irvine Company - Central/Coastal OC NCCP Wildlands

Newport Beach (Buck Gully)

Accomplished

• Continued docent-led and self-guided managed access programs, including 7 day 7:00 a.m. to sunset public hiking and mountain biking • Camera traps, video surveillance, trail counters and patrols were conducted to identify and monitor levels of unauthorized access and unauthorized trail use • To reduce unauthorized access, Newport Beach implemented targeted enforcements based on use patterns of unauthorized access • Maintained trailheads, bridges, gates, signage, and trails • Maintained radio network for staff and volunteer communication • Completed two acre WaterWise restoration project within the Buck Gully Hazard Reduction zone, successfully converting an iceplant dominated slope to urban-edge appropriate native plantings • Completed NCC and land management agreement funded invasive control activities, focused on removal of pampas grass, garland chrysanthemum, palms and artichoke thistle • Supported state Local Assistance Grant-funded wildlife and human activity analysis with data and an assessment of light pollution in the Coastal Reserve. • Maintained wildlife monitoring program through permanently stationed wildlife cameras, annual California gnatcatcher counts and raptor surveys

Planned

• Existing access program policies of previous years to remain as the general rule • Continue camera traps, video surveillance, trail counters and patrols to identify and monitor levels of unauthorized access and unauthorized trail use • Continue targeted enforcements based on use patterns of unauthorized public access • Maintain all ongoing projects • Conduct herpetological survey of Buck Gully Reserve • Expand of WaterWise restoration to the extent possible with available funding • Collaborate to complete final Coastal Invasive Plant Management Plan and associated early detection/rapid response program • Transition invasive control tracking to CalFlora

Attachments - Page A9 Nature Reserve of Orange County Annual Report 2016 Section: 8.7 University of California, Irvine James M. Sulentich, Executive Director Natural Communities Coalition 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue Irvine, California 92618

RE: Annual Report for the University of California, Irvine to the Natural Communities Coalition (NCC), formerly the Nature Reserve of Orange County (NROC), for lands enrolled in the Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP)

This is the 2016 Annual Report submitted by the University of California, Irvine (UCI) to the Natural Communities Coalition (NCC). UCI has lands enrolled in the NCCP including a closed landfill on the North Campus, an adjacent section of San Diego Creek, the UCI Ecological Preserve on the main campus, and a strip adjacent to the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor (SR-73) along the campus’s southwestern boundary from the UCI Ecological Preserve to the terminus of campus lands on the western side of Bison Drive. This report follows the general guidelines recommended by US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) (FWS/CDFG-OR-2257.5) where applicable, although these guidelines were intended for much larger areas with different use patterns. To provide some background about the three areas that compose the UCI NCCP lands, there are a few features of our enrolled habitats that distinguish them from most of the other NCCP lands. The landfill is an historic county facility that was closed and capped in 1960, and is fenced, posted, and is not open to public access. The San Diego Creek channel abutting the Landfill is estuarine, and the drop structure at the MacArthur bridge has been colonized by salt marsh species such as Juncus acutus and Jaumea carnosa – and, unfortunately, the exotic and highly invasive Limonium ramossisimum (Algerian sea lavender, also present along Bonita Creek and which has colonized the salt marsh habitat of Upper Newport Bay) and Lepidium latifolium. Least Bell’s Vireos use the riparian habitat in the San Diego Creek channel and California Least Terns forage in the Creek. The biological corridor (strip) along the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor (73) consists of a steep slope with no trails or public access. It sustains a healthy stand of coastal sage scrub that is used by California gnatcatchers. In conjunction with UCI and other collaborators, the Natural Communities Coalition (NCC) has taken the lead in conducting studies of the coastal cactus wren and California gnatcatcher, and has initiated a large- scale (12.5 acres) cactus transplantation effort to increase wren habitat. These restoration efforts have been funded through EEMP and Mitigation Measure 2. The Natural Communities Coalition, UCI and others have an on-going experiment to determine the most feasible method for eradication of black mustard on the Preserve and in other NCC-enrolled habitats. With the exception of the Preserve where there is a 12.5 acre restoration initiated in 2011, management strategy and conditions within our enrolled lands have remained the same during the past year and no changes are anticipated during 2017. During 2016 unneeded trails and educational signage was installed in the Ecological Preserve. Since there has been no change in the following categories of Natural Communities Coalition concern (recreation use, monitoring and management; recreation facility construction and maintenance; infrastructure construction and maintenance; fire management activities; and miscellaneous activities and management programs), they are not addressed in this report. The monitoring of the cactus transplantation and mustard eradication projects is managed by the NCC (see the 2016 reports, schedule and figures below), and a county-wide vegetation mapping project was completed in 2015 (see Aerial Information Systems, Inc. 2015 and Buck-Diaz and Evens, 2015 – cited in last year’s report). The following summary addresses the issues identified in the USFWS/CDFWS (formerly CDFG) template, where applicable, to the three UCI areas enrolled in the NCCP:

I. Recreation Use, Monitoring and Management - Current Use Policies • UCI Ecological Preserve: The UCI Ecological Preserve is open to the public, with five access points through walk-in gates. Access is permitted throughout the year, and the trail system is widely appreciated by the University Hills and other members of the surrounding community. Several information kiosks created by Eagle Scouts have been established at key access points, the primary one being at Los Trancos and Locke Streets. User recommendations were developed by UCI in collaboration with the NCC and are posted at several entry points. Each year Bowler and his students collect trash on the Preserve, usually accumulating several garbage bags full. Educational signage and the closure of inappropriate trails were implemented through a UCI (Associated Students of UCI) TGIF grant to the Center for Environmental Biology. • Biological Corridor: There are no public access, trails or access points on the steep, narrow biological corridor adjacent the SR-73. • Landfill: Public access is not allowed on the landfill on North Campus. The landfill is fenced and posted. • The San Diego Creek segment within the NCCP enrollment area has a hiking and riding trail along the levee passing through it.

Recreation Monitoring • UCI Ecological Preserve: The access gates are all linked to existing trails and the public is limited being on them. Special events are not permitted in the Ecological Preserve. Drs. Peter Bowler and Travis Huxman, the Co-Faculty Advisors for the Preserve, consider any special uses and approve or deny them (and there have been no events aside from the trail closure and a signage opening event during the reporting period). It is possible that class and other scheduled educational or research on the Preserve will be monitored through the UC Natural Reserve System’s “RAMS” (Research Application Management System) and that these uses will be recorded in the UCNRS use data pool for UCI. • Biological Corridor and Landfill: Public access is not allowed or available on the habitat strip along SR-73 or the landfill on North Campus. A hiking and riding trail passes beside the Landfill on the San Diego Creek levee.

User Compliance Programs • This does not apply to the UCI NCCP-enrolled lands. There has been occasional trespass from equestrians and joggers on the landfill, and UCI Facilities Management has had to repair a jogger access point that was made in the landfill fence in the past. Landfill fences have been repaired and posting has been re-established following discovery of trespass/vandalism damage in 2015 (and in previous years). Though there has been jogger trespass in 2016, the fences have not been cut. These areas are not patrolled on a regular basis and no citations have been issued.

Educational Programs/Outreach • UCI Ecological Preserve: An educational signage project funded by The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF; UCI, ASUCI) to the UCI Center of Environmental Biology was completed in 2016. Definition of accepted trails and decommissioning of inappropriate spider trails were undertaken as part of this project. • Biological Corridor and Landfill: This does not apply to the NCCP-enrolled strip along the SR-73 or the landfill on North Campus.

II. Recreation Facility Construction and Maintenance

Construction of New Recreational Facilities or Expansion of Existing Facilities • This does not apply to UCI’s three sites, none of which has existing or planned recreational facilities.

Maintenance of Existing Recreation Facilities • This does not apply to UCI NCCP/NCC-enrolled lands.

III. Infrastructure Construction and Maintenance • Does not apply to NCCP/NCC-enrolled UCI lands.

IV. Habitat Restoration and Enhancement • Ongoing maintenance and management of the 12.5 acres of Measure M and EEMP cactus scrub restorations were conducted by Nakae and NewFields. Use of the Measure M restoration site by Cactus Wrens and California Gnatcatchers was monitored by N and/or one of its contractors in 2016 (see Land IQ, 2016a and Land IQ, 2016b). • In 2016, the NCC again accessed the UCI Preserve as part of its longer-term effort to control artichoke thistle, and, as necessary, other targeted weed species within the NCCP/HCP Reserve. To implement control activities, the NCC will continue to contract with the weed monitoring and control team that has been used in previous years.

Exotic Plant Eradication • UCI Ecological Preserve: Over the past dozen years extensive artichoke eradication using sprayer-applied Roundup has reduced Cynara cardunculus from a severe problem to a minor one in the UCI Ecological Preserve. These efforts have been funded by grants and by the NCC/CDFWS grants to The Nature Conservancy. There is little artichoke remaining, and the NCC sprayed them again during the past year. The NCC is leading an experiment to determine the most feasible way to control black mustard on the Preserve and other NCC lands. Through the EEMP and M2 funded projects, exotics will be controlled for several years on the 12.5 acres that are being restored. Overall cover of invasive plants, aside from black mustard, was low throughout the • Biological Corridor: The biological corridor restoration along SR-73 has been spot treated for artichoke each spring since the site’s creation, and artichoke is not a problem in it. Because of the success of historic treatments it was not necessary to continue the program at this site in 2016. • Landfill: The landfill has a dense population of ice plant, which should be eradicated. Malophora crocea from the landfill has invaded a relatively small area within the UC Natural Reserve System’s San Joaquin Marsh Reserve, and its managers are in the process of attempting to eradicate its occurrence in the Reserve.

Habitat Restoration/Revegetation • UCI Ecological Preserve: A 12.5 acre coastal cactus scrub restoration project was initiated in 2012 by the NCC, UCI and other partners (see 2016 monitoring reports by Land IQ for Measure M and EEMP funded efforts). This project transplanted whole cactus plants and individual pads from a donor site near the corner of Anteater and Bonita Canyon on UCI lands. The NCC was awarded EEMP and Measure M2 funds to restore and expand coastal sage and cactus scrub habitat on the Preserve to enhance the cactus wren and California gnatcatcher populations. • Biological Corridor: Nine acres of coastal sage scrub have been created in the biological corridor, and the primary activity on this strip along the SR-73 has been spot treatment of artichoke when plants are discovered. • Landfill: The University has no current plans or implementation schedule for habitat restoration on the landfill. Post-closure landfill operations including a landfill gas recovery system, groundwater monitoring system, and storm water management systems operated by the County of Orange and UCI currently preclude habitat restoration on the landfill.

Recommended NCC funded restoration and enhancement activities Continued Exotic Plant Eradication • UCI Ecological Preserve: The NCC accessed the UCI Ecological Preserve in April, 2016 and treated 2.2 acres to control artichoke thistle (Cynara cardunculus). To implement control activities, NCC contracted with the weed monitoring and control team that has been used in previous years. Almost all areas treated had less than 1% cover by artichoke thistle. Nakae, working under the guidance of Harmsworth, also treated a handful of individual tree tobacco, sweet fennel, and pampas grass plants lying outside of these areas. • Biological Corridor: Exotics are not a problem in the biological corridor strip at this time. If a problem emerges, treatment will be incorporated into other eradication efforts on the NCCP/NCC lands. • Landfill: The landfill has a large ice plant (Malephora crocea) problem, and ice plant is the dominant vegetative cover. • The San Diego Creek channel and MacArthur Drop Structure next to the landfill: Algerian sea lavender (Limonium ramosisissum) and Lepidium latifolium have established large populations that need to be eradicated. Algerian sea lavender has already invaded Upper Newport Bay near Jamboree. Garland chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronatum) also occurs along the channel sides. All of these have invaded the UCNRS San Joaquin Marsh Reserve, but are being controlled through removal efforts.

Exotic Animal Control • UCI Ecological Preserve and Biological Corridor: The primary potential exotic animal problem for the sage scrub habitats on the UCI Ecological Preserve and the biological corridor is the possible intrusion of brown-headed cowbirds. Though not in recent years, the TCA conducted very effective cowbird removal using traps in the San Joaquin Marsh Reserve and Bonita Canyon. It is possible that feral cats could hunt these sites, but none have been seen. The exotic (“garden”) landsnail Cornu aspersum (formerly Helix aspersa) escapes from irrigated landscaping into both of the sage scrub habitats, but in general this species does not do well far from wet habitats. The Spanish milk snail, Otala lactea, occurs on the UCI Ecological Preserve, but does not appear to be a significant problem at this time. This mollusk can tolerate much more xeric conditions than C. aspersum. Both of these exotic mollusks seem to inhabit microhabitats different from the native Helminthoglypta tudiculata that is associated with sage scrub. The decollate snail has been introduced within the San Diego Creek watershed and occurs along the flood control periphery, and these predators could prey upon Helminthoglypta. • Landfill: The Spanish milk snail (Otala lactea) has a large population at the San Diego Creek facing side of the landfill and also on the top of the landfill where there are places one cannot walk without crushing dozens of these exotic landsnails. Because there is no native habitat on the landfill, it is nearly devoid of animal life. In the winter Canada geese graze on European annual grasses as they appear on the landfill.

Other Restoration and Enhancement Activities • Aside from activities carried out by the NCC, at present there are no other proposed exotic plant eradication, habitat/restoration, or exotic animal control programs planned during the next year funded by extra-mural funding. As was discussed above, a 12.5 acre coastal cactus scrub restoration/enhancement project was implemented and UCI is a partner in these projects. Current NCC-partnered projects include the ongoing maintenance and management of the 12.5 acres of Measure M and EEMP cactus scrub restoration by Nakae and Land IQ.

With regards to active restoration, Nakae performed continuing maintenance (remedial actions) of the now completed 4.0-acre EEMP cactus scrub restoration site and the, soon to be completed, 8.5-acre Measure M restoration site in 2016. Remedial actions included planting, watering, and weeding of an approximately 1.5-acre area at both restoration sites in 2016. In January, both 1.5-acre areas were planted with 300 rose pots. The rose pots included both sagebrush and bush sunflower. Watering occurred at the time of planting and follow-up weeding and watering was performed. Remedial actions were recommended by Land IQ, as both areas within the larger restoration sites had a continual persistence of mustard following seeding and maintenance over the last 4 to 5 years.

See the attached final reports for EEMP (Year 5 of 5) and Measure M (Year 4 or 5). This spring (June, 2017), the agencies will be visiting the Measure M site to sign off on the mitigation funded by OCTA. As we get closer to setting a date and agenda, the NCC will coordinate the visit with the University and will invite UCI in contact with Margot Griswold to discuss any final thoughts on the work completed over the last six years. Fire Management Activities • UCI Ecological Preserve: The UCI Ecological Preserve is surrounded entirely by roads, housing (University Hills) or landscaped areas. At present the eastern side abuts The Irvine Company’s Research Park, and there is a landscaped break between the urban interface and the habitat. There is a defensible space zone (maintained by the Irvine Campus Housing Authority in consultation with the Orange County Fire Authority) located between the Ecological Reserve and University Hills, a faculty and staff housing development. This zone consists of irrigated green vegetation within the development area, followed by a hand-cleared break of ca.15-20 feet, and then by a 100-foot zone of vegetation that has been thinned. The patchy nature of shrub fuel load is such that this zone is mostly grass and herbaceous exotics. There are no proposed burns or other fuel management projects for the UCI Ecological Preserve. • Biological Corridor: The strip of coastal sage scrub along the SR-73 lies between the Toll Road and parking lots, greatly reducing any fire threat fire along this narrow zone. There is no proposed burn or fuel management proposal for the habitat strip along the Toll Road. • Landfill: There is no fuel load on the ice plant covered/barren landfill, and the San Diego Creek segment along the landfill does not support fire-risk vegetation.

Maintenance of Existing Fuel Breaks or Fuel Modification Zones • This does not apply to UCI NCCP/NCC habitats.

Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions regarding activities on UCI’s NCCP/NCC sites, please do not hesitate to forward them to us.

Relevant Reports Conducted in 2016

Land IQ. September, 2016a. 2016 Performance Monitoring Report, Year 4. Measure M Cactus Scrub Restoration for the University of California Irvine Ecological Preserve. 43 pages.

Land IQ. November, 2016b. Performance Monitoring Report, Year 5 - Final. Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program. Cactus Wren Habitat Linkage Enhancement and Restoration Project. 79 pages.

Nature Reserve of Orange County

Annual Report 2016 Section: 8.8 Irvine Ranch Water District NROC NCCP/HCP Annual Report 2016 Irvine Ranch Water District Siphon Reservoir Preserve

Recreation Use, Monitoring & Management:

Project, Program, Activity 2016 Status 2017 Work Plan

Siphon Reservoir is not open to the public. On-going fishing club IRWD will continue the fishing club lease through 2017. A private fishing club uses the site primarily use. on weekends. There are no trails or other recreational Monitoring complete Weekly site monitoring will continue in 2017. amenities at the site. The area is visited by IRWD staff 1-2X/week. In addition, IRWD’s biologist inspects the site approximately once per month to monitor site conditions. No educational or outreach programs are None None provided on the site.

Recreation Facility Construction & Maintenance:

Project 2016 Status 2017 Work Plan

No recreational facilities were None None build or are planned for the site.

Infrastructure Construction & Maintenance:

Project 2016 Status 2017 Work Plan IRWD conducted regular Complete IRWD will continue to conduct maintenance on the dam required maintenance on the face in 2017. Vegetation removal on the dam face is Siphon Reservoir dam. This required by the State of California, Division of Dam Safety. included removal of all vegetation on the dam face. The vegetation removal was monitoring by a qualified biologist

Habitat Restoration & Enhancement:

Project Funding Source 2016 Status 2016 Work Plan No projects are IRWD funds No large outbreaks of IRWD will continue to monitor the site for invasive currently in place, invasive species invasive species were species. however, invasive monitoring at this recorded at the site. species are monitored site. at the site.

Fire Management Activities:

Fuel Treatment Accomplished 2016 Proposed for 2017 None None None

2 Miscellaneous Activities and Management Programs:

Project 2016 Status 2017 Plan IRWD regularly collects Complete IRWD will continue to conduct water quality sampling in and tests the water Siphon Reservoir throughout 2017, per State requirements quality of the reservoir for recycled water. approximately once a week as required by state regulations.

3 Nature Reserve of Orange County

Annual Report 2016 Sections: 8.9 Transportation Corridor Agencies NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) have been working on numerous restoration sites in Orange County, most of which are within the Orange County Central/Coastal NCCP Reserve System since the mid-1990s. These sites, which include Siphon Reservoir, Limestone, Coyote Canyon Landfill, Bonita Creek Channel, San Diego Creek Salt Water Marsh, Strawberry Farms, Glenwood/Pacific Park, Bonita Reservoir, and the University of California, Irvine (UCI) Preserve area are shown on the map below. Restoration work at Siphon Reservoir, UCI Preserve, and Bonita Reservoir is complete and the sites have been transferred to other entities for permanent management. The TCA; however, continues to work on, and monitor, the remaining sites. Other 2016 TCA environmental activities included the completion of the State Route (SR) 241 Wildlife Protection Fence Project between the SR-91 and SR-261, within the NCCP Central Subarea. A brief overview of TCA mitigation sites (excluding the three transferred sites) is provided below and the 2016 specific activities are detailed in the tables that follow.

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

Limestone Canyon

The 50-acre Limestone Canyon mitigation site is located west of Santiago Canyon Road and traversed by the Santiago Creek. Site restoration efforts began in 1995 as part of the required mitigation for the ETC impacts to wetland and streambed resources. Prior to the habitat restoration, the site was dominated by disturbed barrens as a result of previous aggregate mining operations. The 1993 Final Wetland and Streambed Resource Mitigation Plan for the ETC identified 34.6 acres of restoration area at the Limestone site, including willow woodland, mulefat scrub, sycamore woodland, oak woodland, and floodplain scrub. Additionally, the plan identified approximately five acres of existing CSS for enhancement at the site. The site is part of Limestone Regional Park. TCA continues to monitor the site. The wetland mitigation areas have achieved compliance with all the conditions contained in the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Streambed Alteration Agreement, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Individual Permit, and the USFWS Biological Opinions.

Coyote Canyon

The closed Coyote Canyon Landfill was identified in the NCCP as a habitat restoration area that provides connectivity between other core habitat conservation areas. As part of CSS mitigation for the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor (SR 73), CSS restoration was implemented in 1994 on 122 of the 262 acres of the landfill. The TCA successfully completed the CSS revegetation program and in 2003, USFWS provided concurrence that TCA had met the performance standards, which

concluded TCA’s monitoring responsibilities. Coyote Canyon 122 Acres

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

Bonita Creek

Located in the City of Newport Beach, the Bonita Creek Channel was a former underground culvert that now includes 21 acres of riparian woodland habitat/mulefat scrub, and 15 acres of revegetated CSS. This mitigation site was developed as part of construction of SR 73. After purchase of the land by TCA in 1994 the area was restored to a thriving wetland and CSS community. One goal of the revegetation program was to provide self- sustaining riparian habitats that would achieve specific patterns of vegetation cover and height. In 2002, USFWS provided concurrence that TCA had met the performance standards for the CSS habitat; however, TCA has management responsibilities for the site. An evaluation of the hydrologic, biogeochemical, and biologic conditions of the site indicates a functioning riparian habitat. Furthermore, the site is utilized as a wildlife corridor connecting the San Joaquin Hills and Upper Newport Bay. The Bonita Creek restoration site is a valued environmental education resource with its public use trails and proximity to numerous K-12 schools, colleges, and recreational facilities. The site provides an excellent educational demonstration of habitat restoration by applying science to solve real world problems.

San Diego Creek Salt Water Marsh

The 2.4-acre San Diego Creek Salt Water Marsh was acquired by TCA for restoration as part of the SR 73 Comprehensive Mitigation Program, which includes a goal to create a wildlife movement corridor linking Upper Newport Bay to the San Joaquin Hills through the creation and revegetation of wetland and upland habitats. The main criteria dictating the location of the Salt Water Marsh was: (1) the potential for appropriate soils and hydrology for marsh creation and revegetation; and (2) the link to existing wetland habitats to facilitate wildlife use of the site. The Salt Water Marsh has achieved the set performance standards, as indicated by monitoring program results. The monitoring program and wetland mitigation areas have achieved compliance with all conditions contained in the Coastal Development Permit, CDFW Streambed Alteration Agreement, ACOE Individual Permit, and USFWS Biological Opinion, including but not limited to:

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

• Demonstration of the intended hydrologic regime for tidal influence in the salt water marsh; • Achievement of the expected range of growth for vegetation cover in the intertidal zone and on the surrounding slopes; • Vegetation self-sustaining for growth and reproduction, as evidenced by its recovery from wildfire events; and • Regular use of the site as a coastal wetland habitat by the endangered California least tern and as foraging habitat for many other bird species.

ETC Wildlife Safety Fence Project

TCA continues to monitor the now-completed Eastern Transportation Corridor (ETC) Wildlife Safety Fence, which runs along both sides of a 6.5-mile stretch of SR 241, from the SR 261 junction north to the SR-91 Freeway. During construction of SR 241, the USFWS required the TCA to construct four wildlife undercrossings and conduct a five-year post-construction study to document the usage of the crossings. Although the study documented a substantial number of wildlife using the undercrossings, concerns regarding the number of wildlife still crossing the roadway at-grade remained. In response, TCA contracted with the University of California, Davis (UCD) to conduct an assessment of SR 241 and formulate recommendations to enhance wildlife movement.

Results confirmed existing wildlife-crossing structures along SR 241 are adequate in size, type, and location to allow wildlife movement. However, due to the ease with which wildlife can access the roadway and cross at-grade, UCD recommended that state-of-the-art wildlife 4

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

protection fence be constructed. The fence is 10-to-12 feet (3-3.7 meters) high; has an 18-inch (46-centimeter) “outrigger,” is buried 24 inches (0.6 meter) to prevent animals from digging under the fence; and is in close proximity to the roadway shoulder to minimize natural habitat loss. The fence is expected to reduce collisions by 90 to 95 percent. In the event that animals breach the fence and become trapped within the road side, jump-out ramps that provide animals with an escape back into the open space have been included. Post-construction monitoring of the fence is now underway to establish the effectiveness of the fence in reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and efficacy of the undercrossings. Effectiveness of the fence and efficacy of the undercrossings is being evaluated through an adaptive management approach over a three-year period. This includes reviewing Caltrans maintenance records; as well as, monitoring cameras at three bridge undercrossings, 27 jump-out-ramps, five culverts, and fence end-points to detect any breaches by wildlife.

Strawberry Farms

Strawberry Farms is a 15-acre site located within the 360-acre Quail Hill Preserve owned and managed as open space by the City of Irvine. When the Quail Hill Preserve was dedicated within the NCCP/HCP, the Irvine Company (Company) retained the right to perform habitat restoration for mitigation credits within the project parcel. In 2010, the TCA was granted rights through an agreement with the Company and the City to design, implement, and manage habitat restoration within the site, with the approval of the resource agencies. The area is being restored with a mosaic of native habitat types as surplus mitigation for future TCA capital improvement projects. Long-term management of the parcel will be the responsibility of the City of Irvine, once it has achieved successful and resilient restoration and enhancement.

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

Recreation Use, Monitoring & Management:

Project, Program, 2016 Status 2017 Work Plan Activity Limestone Canyon None. None.

Coyote Canyon None None. Landfill

Bonita Channel Use of public trail. Use of public trail.

San Diego Creek None None Saltwater Marsh

Strawberry Farms None None

ETC Wildlife Fence None None Project

Recreation Facility Construction & Maintenance:

Project 2016 Status 2017 Work Plan Limestone Canyon None. None.

Coyote Canyon None. None. Landfill

Bonita Channel Trail maintenance – vegetation, None. As-needed trail maintenance primarily saltbush, trimmed provided by Caltrans. along the public bike path.

San Diego Creek None None Saltwater Marsh

Strawberry Farms None None

ETC Wildlife Fence None None Project

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

Infrastructure Construction & Maintenance:

Project 2016 Status 2017 Work Plan Limestone Canyon None. None.

Coyote Canyon None. None. Landfill

Bonita Channel None. As needed maintenance of the Austin Sand Filter at Bison Ave.

San Diego Creek None None Saltwater Marsh

Strawberry Farms None None

ETC Wildlife Fence Installation of new wildlife Monitoring and maintenance. Project protective fencing Phases 1 and 2 and 2B.

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

Habitat Restoration & Enhancement:

Funding Project 2016 Status 2017 Work Plan Source

Limestone Canyon TCA None Developing an alternative Mitigation site plan.

Coyote Canyon NRA Cactus scrub restoration NCC will continue to oversee Landfill EEMP at 2 sites (totaling 2.5 maintenance, monitor the Grant and acres) on coastal sage restoration sites and document bird NCC* scrub-restored landfill use as the restored habitat matures. slopes. Maintenance of Sites will be weeded as needed. the restoration sites was overseen by NCC in 2015. Sites were weeded.

Bonita Channel TCA Vegetation trimmed As-needed trail maintenance along the public bike provided by Caltrans. path in 2015.

Exotic species and trash removal NRA Exotic species and trash from the channel occurs every two EEMP removal conducted in years therefore the channel will be Grant and 2015. weeded in 2017. NCC*

Cactus scrub restoration NCC will continue to oversee at 6 sites (totaling 0.6 maintenance, monitor the acres) on slopes along restoration sites and document bird the channel. use as the restored habitat matures. Maintenance of the Sites will be weeded as needed. restoration sites was overseen by NCC in 2015. Sites were weeded. Year 5 Performance Monitoring conducted in 2016 and has met establishment

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

obligations.

San Diego Creek NRA Cactus scrub restoration NCC will continue to oversee Saltwater Marsh EEMP at 2 sites (totaling 0.2 maintenance, monitor the Grant and acres) on adjacent restoration sites and document bird NCC* slopes. Maintenance of use as the restored habitat matures. the restoration sites was Sites will be weeded as needed. overseen by NCC in Monitoring conducted in 2016 and 2016. Sites were has met establishment obligations. weeded. Year 5 Performance Monitoring conducted in 2016.

Strawberry Farms TCA Establishment Continue maintenance, weeding maintenance, weeding and irrigation (as needed). Year 4 and irrigation conducted Performance Monitoring will be throughout 2016. Year 3 conducted in 2017. Performance Monitoring conducted in 2016.

ETC Wildlife TCA None Maintenance and monitoring. Fence Project

Fire Management Activities:

Fuel Treatment Accomplished 2015 Proposed for 2016 Limestone Canyon None. None.

Coyote Canyon None. None. Landfill

Bonita Channel None. None.

San Diego Creek None None Saltwater Marsh

Strawberry Farms None None

ETC Wildlife Fence None Caltrans performs fuel modification Project activities within their 14' buffer

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

zone.

Miscellaneous Activities and Management Programs:

Project 2015 Status 2016 Plan Siphon Reservoir Cowbird trapping. TCA Conduct cowbird trapping. TCA will coordinated with IRWD for notify IRWD prior to the start of the access. trapping effort. Limestone Canyon Cowbird trapping conducted. Conduct cowbird trapping.

Coyote Canyon None. None. Landfill

Bonita Channel None. None.

San Diego Creek None None Saltwater Marsh

Strawberry Farms None None

ETC Wildlife Fence None None Project

*Natural Resources Agency Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program through Natural Communities Coalition (NCC) (formerly Nature Reserve of Orange County [NROC]) for 2010-2012.

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

MITIGATION MATRIX 1997--2016 Mitigation Sites within the Orange County Central/Coastal NCCP Reserve System

Mitigation Location of Development Project Being Geographic Description of Performance Performance Site(s) & Date Mitigation Current Status Name Mitigated Region Mitigation Standards Summary Standards Status Installed Sites

Siphon Phase 1 Eastern Siphon Siphon 112-acre coastal Provide self-sustaining In 2000, native Site met the Reservoir implemented Transportation Reservoir, Ridge, west sage scrub CSS habitat with cover vegetation made up conditions of the Mitigation Site 1994/95; Corridor (SR- Orange of Bee (CSS) & species distribution 98% of cover. The USFWS Biological Phase 2 241, 261 & County, Canyon, restoration of similar to existing CSS. established CSS Opinion (BO). implemented 133) California. north of El former citrus Demonstrate self supported 15 pairs of Received 1995/1996 construction Off of Bee Toro MCAS groves and 102- sustainability and either CAGN which raised at concurrence from Canyon base in acre CSS 1) Site supports least 49 young to fledge USFWS. Entire site access road, Irvine, CA preservation breeding California that season. CSS was continues to recover north of the gnatcatchers (CAGN); developing within an from the October intersection expected range for 2007 Santiago Fire of Bee 2) Site has structure and vegetation cover for a but appears to be Canyon and composition of restoration site. recovering with Portola naturally occurring significant native Parkway. CAGN habitat or fully cover and several functional CSS; or pairs of California gnatcatchers. 3) Site is not statistically different Permanent ownership from functional CSS for of Siphon Reservoir cover and diversity. Mitigation Site was conveyed to Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) on January 4, 2010. IRWD will continue managing the site for habitat

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

purposes.

Cowbird trapping by TCA will continue.

Limestone Planted Eastern 50-acre site Limestone Site Produce a self- In 2007, willow Site continues to Canyon 1995/1996 Transportation within the Canyon, preservation sustaining riparian and woodland habitat had recover from the Mitigation Site Corridor (SR- northeastern adjacent to and upland habitat similar established with 115% October 2007 241, 261 & portion of Santiago revegetation of to existing habitat in the native cover. Native Santiago Fire. And 133) Limestone Creek. 50-acre area. Establish 2.6 acres tree cover was 56% in scouring flows of construction Regional Between wetland/riparian willow woodland; 7.5 2007. Sycamore trees 2011. Park in Silverado woodland and acres sycamore met 5th year criteria for Orange and upland habitat elderberry woodland; height. Cowbird trapping by County. Modjeska within a 14.3 acres upland or TCA will continue. South of Canyons, degraded oak woodland. Average height of

Santiago immediately alluvial mulefat, elderberry, increased in 2007 but Canyon north of the floodplain. Road. junction of performance criteria Adjacent to Williams Revegetation of had not yet been met Santiago Canyon and willow for oak woodland, Creek, north Santiago woodland, sycamore/elderberry of the Creek. mulefat scrub, tree canopy cover and intersection sycamore/elder floodplain scrub native of Jackson berry woodland, shrub cover. Ranch Road oak woodland,

and Santiago CSS, and Canyon floodplain sage Road. scrub.

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

Canyon sites San Joaquin Coyote Coyote 122 acres CSS Provide self-sustaining In 1999, Coyote Sites met the seeded Hills Canyon Canyon in restoration CSS habitat that will Canyon (91 acres) conditions of the Coyote 1993/1994. Transportation Landfill, the San including 91- achieve similar patterns achieved performance USFWS BO. Canyon Re-seeding Corridor (SR- south of the Joaquin acres in Coyote of cover and species standards. In 2001 the Received Landfill East & South 73) SJHTC and Hills, Canyon; 13 distribution as an 18 acres achieved the concurrence from Mitigation Site Canyons construction west of the southeast of acres East & existing CSS cover requirement and USFWS. 1995/1996. 18- open space Bonita South Canyons; community. had 3 CAGN pairs acre of the San Creek, east and 18-acre successfully nested. NRA EEMP Grant: restoration site Joaquin of San restoration site Demonstrate self- The South Canyon Performance criteria planted Hills in Joaquin adjacent to sustainability of the achieved the of the EEMP grant 1997/1998. south Reservoir Coyote Canyon. site, and either, performance criteria of has been met based Orange supporting successfully on the vegetation and 1) Site supports County. East NRA EEMP breeding CAGN. The avian monitoring breeding CAGN; and South Grant through East Canyon (8 acres) results. Canyons NCC*: had not achieved the 2) Site has structure and NCC will continue to located east cover requirements. Cactus scrub composition of oversee maintenance, of Newport restoration on naturally occurring monitor the EEMP Coast Drive, In 2001 there were 12 2.5 acres of CAGN habitat or fully restoration sites and between SR- CAGN territories coastal sage functional CSS; or document bird use as 73 and San within the 122 acres of scrub-restored the restored habitat Joaquin 3) Site has minimum habitat. 10 territories landfill slopes matures. Hills Road cover of 70% of sage were occupied by installed in nesting pairs and scrub species. 2010 to enhance unmated males habitat and NRA EEMP Grant: defended 2 territories. create linkage The 10 pairs produced for cactus The habitats resist 53-58 fledglings. wrens. Sites invasion by exotic plant seeded in 2011. species demonstrated NRA EEMP Grant: by < 25% cover of annual grasses and less Survivorship of the

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

aggressive forb species. planted coast prickly No target invasive pear cactus across all species, such as sites was greater than artichoke thistle, 95 percent after three mustard species, poison years of establishment. hemlock, and tree tobacco.

At least 95% of planted cactus demonstrates establishment & growth based on sampling estimates.

Bonita 1. Planted in San Joaquin Bonita Bonita 1. Restoration 1. Provide self- 1. In 2001 the site met Sites met the Channel March – May Hills Creek/Chan Creek/Chan of 21.1 acres of sustaining riparian the 5th year conditions of the Wetland 1996. Two Transportation nel, south of nel, riparian habitat that will achieve performance standard USFWS BO. Mitigation Site small areas Corridor (SR- SJHTC, southeast of woodland and similar patterns of for cover and height; Received adjacent to 73) between the San mulefat scrub. cover and species met the definition of a concurrence from Bison and construction University Diego Creek Additional distribution as an jurisdictional wetland, USFWS. MacArthur Drive and Channel to habitat under existing riparian and supported wildlife Bridges were Bonita Bonita bridges is not community. characteristic of a Minimal maintenance planted and Canyon Reservoir counted in the riparian woodland along the County trail seeded March Road, mitigation 2. & 4. The habitat is habitat. Wildlife use, is performed as 1997. Newport acreage. occupied by breeding including invertebrates, needed, including Beach. pairs of CAGN; or bird and small and large cutting back saltbush 2. & 3. Planted 2. Creation of mammals was every two years and The site has values of in 1996/1997. 15.0 acres of documented over the 5 exotic species percent cover and CSS on the year monitoring period. removal of 4. Seeded in Bonita Channel species diversity not eucalyptus saplings Fall 1997. Slopes. statistically different Avian woodland and pampas grass from high quality

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

3. Creation of habitat in the vicinity; species increased as seedlings every five 2.4 acres of or USFWS and FHA species typical of open years. saltbush scrub unanimously agree that marsh and riparian adjacent to the habitat has structure scrub decreased NRA EEMP Grant: Bonita Channel. and composition of mirroring the Performance criteria naturally occurring development of the of the EEMP grant 4. Preservation/ CAGN or fully riparian woodland has been met based functional CSS. habitat. In 2001, a least on the vegetation and Restoration of 6 Bell’s vireo pair nested avian monitoring acres CSS 3. The habitat is on the site and CAGN results. adjacent to occupied by breeding and willow flycatcher Bonita NCC will continue to pairs of CAGN; or foraged in the Reservoir. oversee maintenance, mitigation area. Large USFWS and FHA monitor the EEMP mammals use the site as NRA EEMP unanimously agree that restoration sites and a movement corridor. Grant through the habitat has structure document bird use as NCC*. and composition of the restored habitat naturally occurring matures. Cactus scrub saltbush scrub habitat; 2. In 2001 the Bonita restoration on or Channel slopes 0.6 acres on supported successfully slopes along the The total cover by breeding CAGN for a channel native saltbush scrub 3rd season and installed in species is at least 70 vegetation cover values 2010 to enhance percent, and the sites were comparable to habitat and are not being artificially naturally occurring create linkage sustained. CSS. In 2001 7 pairs of for cactus CAGN nested in the wrens. Sites NRA EEMP Grant: mitigation area and seeded in 2011. The habitats resist fledged 32-39 young. invasion by exotic plant

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

species demonstrated 3. In 2001, the saltbush by < 25% cover of scrub achieved the annual grasses and less performance criteria for aggressive forb species. vegetation cover. No target invasive species, such as 4. In 2001, the artichoke thistle, restoration area mustard species, poison achieved the hemlock, and tree performance standards tobacco. for breeding CAGN.

At least 95% of planted NRA EEMP Grant: cactus demonstrates Survivorship of the establishment & growth planted coast prickly based on sampling pear cactus across all estimates. sites was greater than 95 percent after three years of establishment.

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

San Diego Planted and San Joaquin Southeast of North and Creation and Provide high quality, In 2001 the site Site met the condition Creek Salt seeded in Hills the adjacent to revegetation of self-sustaining, tidal achieved the of the USFWS BO, Water Marsh 1996. Transportation intersection San Diego 2.4 acres of salt marsh habitat that performance standards CDFG SAA, Corps Mitigation Site Corridor (SR- of Jamboree Creek at the water marsh provides a link to for the site by 404 permit, and CCC 73) Road and confluence and adjacent existing wetland demonstrating the Coastal Development construction Bayview of Bonita slopes. habitats and facilitates intended hydrologic Permit. Way. East Channel and wildlife movement regime for tidal and adjacent San Diego NRA EEMP linking Upper Newport influence in the salt NRA EEMP Grant: to Jamboree Creek, just Grant through Bay to the San Joaquin water marsh. The site Performance criteria Road in east of NCC*. Hills. achieved the 95% cover of the EEMP grant Newport Upper in the intertidal zone has been met based Cactus scrub Beach. Newport NRA EEMP Grant: and 99% vegetation on the vegetation and restoration on Bay. cover on the avian monitoring 0.2 acres of The habitats resist surrounding slopes. The results. adjacent slopes invasion by exotic plant site is utilized by installed in species demonstrated NCC will continue to wildlife including 2010 to enhance by < 25% cover of oversee maintenance, benthic invertebrates, habitat and annual grasses and less monitor the aquatic insects, fish, create linkage aggressive forb species. restoration sites, and birds, and small and for cactus No target invasive document bird use as large mammals. wrens. Sites species, such as the restored habitat seeded in 2011. artichoke thistle, NRA EEMP Grant: matures. mustard species, poison hemlock, and tree Survivorship of the tobacco. planted coast prickly pear cactus across all At least 95% of planted sites was greater than cactus demonstrates 95 percent after three establishment & growth years of establishment. based on sampling estimates.

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

1. Planted in Bonita Canyon Southwest Bonita 1. Creation of 1. Provide self- 1. In 1998 the mulefat Sites met the December Drive Project of the Creek 1.2 acres sustaining riparian scrub met the conditions of the Bonita Canyon 1994. Seeded construction intersection Channel riparian habitat that will achieve performance criteria for USFWS BO, CDFG Drive Project in February of SR-73 near the woodland (Area similar patterns of vegetation quality and SA and Corps (formerly Ford 1995. and Bonita Bonita 1) and 1.1 acres cover and species habitat self- Nationwide Permit. Road Canyon Reservoir of mulefat scrub distribution as an sustainability. In 2000 Extension and 2. Majority Road in and Bonita (Area 2). existing riparian the riparian woodland Realignment planted in Newport Canyon community. site met the 5th year Project) 1994/1995, Beach. Road. 2. Restoration performance criteria for Wetland with less than of 1.2 acres of 2. Provide self- percent cover and 2 of 5 Mitigation Site 0.5 acre 1. Area 1 is coastal sage sustaining CSS habitat target tree species met planted in located scrub habitat that will achieve similar the 5th year 1995/1996. adjacent to and patterns of cover and performance criteria for Bonita revegetation of species distribution as a average height. The Reservoir. 1.1 acres of local existing CSS remaining 3 tree species Area 2 is CSS on the community; or were expected to located west graded slopes of achieve the height If USFWS agrees that of and Bonita Canyon standard the following the mitigation sites below the Road. season. reservoir. provide habitat for CAGN or coastal cactus 2. In 1998 USFWS 2. CSS wren. agreed that CSS Revegetatio Restoration Area B had

n mitigation achieved the area is performance criteria for located success both for adjacent to vegetation quality and Bonita presence of breeding Reservoir CAGN. In 1999, the and a CSS Revegetation Area portion of and Restoration Area A

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

the riparian achieved the mitigation performance standards. Area 1. CSS Restoration Area A was Restoration part of the territory of a Area A is pair of breeding adjacent to gnatcatchers for the the graded second year. slope south of the roadway and CSS Restoration Area B is west of and below Bonita Reservoir (next to the mulefat scrub Area 2).

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

Strawberry Restoration Surplus Southwest Sand Restoration and 1. The site does not Site installation Maintenance, Farms 15-acre planning in mitigation for corner of the Canyon enhancement of require significant completed in 2012. weeding, and Parcel Habitat 2011. Site TCA’s future 360-acre Reservoir, 13.3 acres of maintenance during the irrigation (as needed) Restoration preparation capital Quail Hill Strawberry CSS, including last 2 years of the 5 Permanent photo points currently in progress. Site and cactus improvement Preserve, Farms Golf 0.39 acres of year establishment were established to transplantation projects. City of Course, and native perennial period. track the development in Irvine. Sand Strawberry grassland. 1.86 of the vegetation January/Febru Canyon Farms west acres within the 2. Soil is stable with no Establishment ary 2012. Reservoir to and adjacent CSS restoration significant erosion. maintenance, weeding, west and to preserve. area to be 3. Native plant cover and monitoring open space Shady improved with after 3rd year of conducted in 2013, north, east, Canyon is coastal prickly monitoring is greater 2014, and 2015. and south. south/southe pear than 35% absolute Accessed ast; 405 transplantation cover with at least 25% Second year of from Freeway to to develop absolute cover from performance Strawberry northeast; coastal cactus perennial species. At monitoring was Farms Road University wren habitat. end of 5th year, total conducted in 2015. of Drive is native cover is greater University northwest Median native aerial than 70% absolute Drive. to west. vegetation cover class cover with at least 55% was 50-75%. Median from perennial species. native perennial cover 4. Species diversity is class was 25-50%. 80% of immediately Establishment of adjacent, existing, container plants and natural CSS. cactus is greater than 95 5. Majority of native percent after two years. plant species set seed and seedlings of at least 5 CSS species

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

demonstrate recruitment in year 5.

6. After 5th year, no Cal-IPC List A species present and exotic grass and forb species make up no more than 10% absolute cover.

Eastern Phase 1 Eastern Both sides Orange Installation of The fence is a 10-to 12- Construction-Related Phases 1, 2A, and 2B Transportation installation Transportation of SR 241 County. new wildlife foot high chain link Minimization Measures new wildlife Corridor April 2014 – Corridor from the SR SR241 runs protective fence with an 18-inch from the Joint EIR/EIS protective fencing Wildlife Fence March 2015. construction. 91 from fencing as a outrigger angled away for the Central/Coastal installation Project interchange Rancho corrective from the road and Orange County completed as of Phase 2A to the SR Santa measure for the buried 24-inches to NCCP/HCP January 2016. installation 261 Margarita to existing wildlife discourage animals implemented in 2014 - January 2015 – interchange. Yorba crossings on the from digging under the 2015. September Linda. north leg of SR fence. Earthen jump 2015. Within the Route 241 241 out ramps at periodic Biological monitoring Central/Coa connects intervals along the during CSS vegetation Phase 2B stal Orange with SR roadway provide escape clearing was conducted installation County 133, SR routes in the event in 2014 -2015. September NCCP/HCP. 261, and SR animals breach the 2015 – January 500-foot buffers were 91. The fence and become 2016. established around route begins trapped on the roadway active CAGN nests at Oso side of the fence. identified by surveys Parkway conducted during near Rancho nesting season for Santa Phases 1 and 2A. No Margarita,

NCC Annual Report 2016 Transportation Corridor Agencies

runs construction occurred northward within the buffer areas through until after nesting birds Irvine, had fledged. meets SR 133, continues north, meets SR 261 near Irvine Lake, runs northeastwar d to its northern terminus at SR91 near the Santa Ana River.

*Natural Resources Agency Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program through Natural Communities Coalition (NCC) (formerly Nature Reserve of Orange County [NROC])

Nature Reserve of Orange County Annual Report 2016 Section: 8.10 Orange County Waste & Recycling