South Laguna Biological Resources Inventory

SOUTH LAGUMA BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES INVENTORY

Prepared for the City of Laguna Beach

By Karl in G. Marsh, Biological Consul tant

January 20, 1992

Karlin C. Marsh Biological Consultant

30262 Acorn Lane, P.O. Box 404, Silverado, California 92676 714/649-202 7 SOUTH LAGUNA BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES INVENTORY

Prepared for the City of Laguna Beach

By Karlin 6. Marsh, Biological Consultant Uith Contributions by Fred Roberts, Jr. r Dave Bramlet r Gordon Marsh Rick Reifner

January 20, 1992 Dedicated With Affection and Admiration to

FREDERICK M. LAN6

Longtime champion of South Laguna's special natural resources TABLE OF CONTENTS Page

INTRODUCTION 1

BOUNDARIES AND PHYSICAL SETTING 1

SURROUNDING AND ONSITE LAND USES; OWNERSHIP 3

METHODS 5

EXISTING LITERATURE 6

BIOTIC COMMUNITIES 8

MARITIME SUCCULENT SCRUB (2.2)

COASTAL SAGE SCRUB (2.3)

SUMAC-TOYON SOUTHERN MIXED CHAPARRAL (3.2)

SOUTHERN MARITIME CHAPARRAL (3.6)

ANNUAL GRASSLAND (4.1)

SOUTHERN COASTAL NEEDLEGRASS GRASSLAND (4.3)

RUDERAL (4.6) I SOUTHERN HARDPAN VERNAL POOL (5.1) FRESHWATER SEEP (5.3) I ALKALI MEADOW (5.2) SOUTHERN COASTAL SALT MARSH (6.1) I COASTAL BRACKISH MARSH (6.2) I COASTAL FRESHWATER MARSH (6.4) RIPARIAN HERB (7.1) I SOUTHERN WILLOW SCRUB (7.2) MULEFAT SCRUB (7.3)

SOUTHERN ARROYO WILLOW FOREST (7.6)

COAST LIVE OAK WOODLAND (8.1)

I XERIC CLIFF FACES (10.1) I XERIC BARRENS (10.1) Page

MARINE TERRACE PSAMMOPHYTE HABITAT (10.1)

MESIC CLIFF FACES (10.2)

ROCK OUTCROPS (10.3)

PERENNIAL STREAM (13.1)

INTERMITTENT STREAM (13.2)

EPHEMERAL STREAM (13.3)

VINEYARD AND ORCHARD (14.3)

ORNAMENTAL PLANTINGS (15.5)

FUEL MODIFICATION ZONES (no G.I.S. #)

3.0 UESCRIPTION OF SOUTH LA6UNAaS OPEN SPACE AREAS

3.1 HOBO CANYON

3.1.1 Overview

1. Significance 2. Biotic Communities 3. Wildlife Values 4. Rare Plant Populations Censused

A. Orange County Limited Distribution Taxa B. CNPS Limited Distribution (List 4) Species C. CNPS Rare and Endangered (List 1, 2) Species. D. State of California Threatened-Listed.

3.1.2 Habitat Description 43

1. The Highland Ridges

A. West Ridge of Hobo Canyon B. Pleistocene Marine Terrace C. Hill 1 D. Hill 2 E. Hill 3 F. Saddle G. Hill 4 North of Ridge 4A H. Lateral Ridge 4A and Adjoining North-facing Slope I. Hill 4 South of Ridge 4A 3. Hill 5

2. Hobo Canyon Slopes and Floor

A. East Slope B. West Slope C. Canyon Bottom D. Short Canyon South of Hobo Canyon Page

3.2 ALISO CANYON 5 7

3.2.1 Overview 5 7

3.2.2 Rare Plants and Animals 62

1. Flora

A. Orange County Limited Distribution Taxa B. CNPS Limited Distribution List 4 Species C. CNPS Rare and Endangered in California List 2 Species D. CNPS Rare and Endangered Taxa E. California Threatened-listed Species

2. Fauna

3.2.3 Habitat Descri~tion

1. Aliso Canyon's South-facing Slope

A. East Boundary Trail B. Trai 1 to Turnaround Loop C. Aliso-Hobo Ridge Slope Between Second and Third Trail D. Trail to Utility Pole

2. Aliso Canyon Floor and Lower Slopes

A. AWMA Plant to Golf Course B. Lower South-Facing slope of Aliso Canyon C. Lower North-Facing Slope of Aliso Canyon D. Aliso Creek

3.3 ALISO PEAK AND CEANOTHUS CANYON 9 1

3.3.1 Overview; Rare Biota 9 1

3.3.2 Aliso Peak 93

1. Seaview Park 2. Trails West of Seaview Park 3. Aliso Peak Open Space

A. Saddle B. Aliso Peak

4. Additional Species of Interest on Niguel Hill-Aliso Peak

3.3.3 Ceanothus Canyon 103

1. South-Facing Slope 2. Canyon Floor 3. North-Facing Slope 4. South Ridge iii Page

3.4 THE BADLANDS CANYONS 110

3.4.1 Overview

3.4.2 Rare Biota

3.4.3 Habitat Description

1. Canyon 1 2. Ridge Between Canyon 1 and 2 3. Canyon 2 4. Ridge Between Canyon 2, 3 and Headwater of 4, North Branch 5. Canyon 3 6. Ridge Between Canyon 3 and 4 7. Canyon 4 8. Ridge Between Canyon 4 and 5 9. Canyon 5 10. Canyon 6 11. Badlands Park

3.4.4 Wildl ife Clbserved in the Badlands Canyon Area

3.5 BINION PARCEL

3.5.1 Physical Setting

3.5.2 Methods

3.5.3 Proposed Land Use

3.5.4 Biological Setting

1. Ridge 2. Upper Slopes 3. Lower Slopes

3.5.5 Findings and Recommendations

4.0 RESOURCE SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

4.1 OVERVIEW OF CRITERIA

4.2 SENSITIVE SPECIES

4.2.1 Plants

4.2.2 Animals

4.3 SENSITIVE HABITATS

4.4 CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING BIOLOGICAL VALLIE OF OPEN SPACES IN SOUTH LAGUNA Page

4.5 SUMMARY OF SOUTH LAGUNA'S SIGNIFICANT HABITATS 170

4.5.1 Very High Biological Value 170

1. Hobo Canyon; South-facing Slope of Aliso Canyon 2. Niguel Hill, Aliso Peak, North-facing Slope of Aliso Canyon Gorge, and Ceanothus Canyon

4.5.2 High Biological Value 170

1. Badlands Canyons and Badlands Park 2. Lower Aliso Creek 3. Binion Slopes

4.5.3 Moderate Bioloaical Value 171

Urban Forests

4.5.4 Low Biological Value

1. South Portion of Open Space 2. Golf Course 3. Fuel Modification Zones

5.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION

5.1.1 Existing Conditions

5.1.2 Proposed Acquisitions

1. Hobo Canyon and Contiguous South-facing Slope of Aliso Canyon 2. North-facing Slope of Aliso Canyon 3. South Coast Water District Property 4. Other Suggested Open Space Acquisitions

5.2 RESOURCE MANAGMENT

5.2.1 Moulton Meadows

5.2.2 Aliso Creek

1. Regional Resource Management Plan 2. Onsite Rehabilitation

A. Rehabilitation Within Golf Course B. Rehabilitation Downstream from Golf Course C. Other Recommendations for Lower Aliso Creek Page

5.2.3 Niauel Hill-Aliso Peak 184

1. Landscape Materials 2. Trails

5.2.4 Ceanothus Canyon South Ridge; Badlands Canyons 186

1. Fuel Modification Zone 2. Fowlie Structure Footprint 3. Erosion

5.2.5 Badlands Park

1. Irrigation 2. Landscape Materials 3. South Bowl

5.2.6 Binion Property

5.2.7 Regional Fuel Modification Zone

6.0 APPENDIX 1 6.1 SPECIES LISTS 6.1.1 Flora Species List

6.1.2 Fauna Species List 1 6.2 REFERENCES 6.2.1 Persons and Organizations Consulted

6.2.2 Bibliography 1.0 INTRODUCTION

This report describes the biological resources of the South Laguna, California open space, excluding the seacoast. The open space consists of a total of approximately 771 acres, and includes the .following localities.

0 Hobo Canyon 0 Lower Aliso Canyon a Aliso Peak - Niguel Hill Ridge. Most of the latter is within the City of Laguna Niguel 0 Ceanothus Canyon a The South Laguna so-called Badlands Canyon Binion Parcel

In addition is partially developed and heavily fuel-modified land south of the Binion Parcel to the Dana Point City limits.

The purpose of preparing this inventory is to add a data base for South Laguna to that existing for the City of Laguna Beach prior to its annexation. The original Laguna Beach Biological Resources Inventory was prepared by the author, Fred Roberts, Jr. and John Lubina, with contributions by Gordon Marsh, in 1982-82, and submitted to the City on 1-31-83. It was followed by the Sycamore Hills Biological Resources Inventory, submitted 6-9-83 and a spring followup survey for the first study, submitted 6-27-83.

1.1 BOUNDARIES AND PHYSICAL SETTING

The South Laguna annexation area extends from Arch Beach Heights, north to Three Arch Bay in the City of Dana Point, south. The inland boundaries are Aliso and Wood Canyons Regional Park, north and the developed and undeveloped Niguel Hill ridgeline in the City of Laguna Niguel, south. The western boundary is the Pacific Ocean. South Laguna lies entirely within the City of Laguna Beach, which is located in coastal southern Orange County, California.

The topography of the remaining open space in South Laguna is steep and rugged, which has been a factor slowing its urbanization. North of the Aliso Canyon Gorge, the high hill which separates this canyon from Hobo Canyon raises to 780 feet above sea level. Niguel Hill, on the south side of the Gorge is an astonishing 936 feet above sea level, and promontory Aliso Peak towers 6.23 feet above the seacoast below. The long uplifted terrace south of Niguel Hill, separating the short coastal canyons from Arroyo Salada in the interior averages around 800 feet above sea level. Slopes and canyon dropping away oceanward from these backbone ridges and hilltops are quite precipitous. In the Aliso Canyon Gorge and in some of the smaller canyons, there are cliffs exposed which are essentially vertical. The Gorge, in particular is quite dramatic in its topography, especially when viewed from up the coast.

Several important bedrock formations underlie the community's open space. These are Tertiary San Onofre breccia, Tertiary Topanga sandstone and Quaternary marine terrace.

San Onofre breccia is composed of clasts of Catalina schist green schist and quartz in a cement-like matrix. According to Stadum, 1973, in the Tertiary Period, a peninsular range of mountains composed of this schist extended westward and southward from the present-day coast. The mountain range eventually eroded away; its debris accumulated along the south Orange County coast from the vicinity of Juanita Canyon in Laguna Beach to the Dana Point Headlands and inland some distance along Arroyo Salada (Crown Valley Parkway). The San Onofre breccia supports a regional ly rare plant community.

Topanga sandstone is of about the same age as San Onofre breccia. This is a buff yellow marine deposited sandstone which characteristically erodes, creating scenic caves and grottoes. The apparent top of the Topanga depositional surface, uplifted and then weathered in an ancient terrestrial setting is exposed on the crests of several intercanyon divide ridges here, beautifully sculpted and water stained and supporting, as discussed later, a distinctive, regionally rare plant community.

The Quaternary marine terraces are on the crests of the ridges north and south of Aliso Canyon (Moulton Meadows, north and the Niguel Hill ridge south). These are ancient, uplifted sea beaches, and are characterized by loose sandy soil, distinctive vegetation assemblages and often, interesting fauna. The terrace sands lie uncomformably on ancient Topanga and San Onofre bedrock surfaces which create barriers to downward water percolation and promote development of vernal pools, some of which still exist in degraded form in the study area.

At the foot of the steep coastal mountain front is gentle-topography Quaternary sea terrace land, now ful ly urbanized.

Important canyons have cut down through the steep coastal hills in South Laguna. As discussed later, Aliso Canyon, which divides the community in two is antecedent to the uplift of these hills and has its headwaters far inland at the front of the Santa Ana Mountains. North of Aliso Canyon is multi-branched Hobo Canyon. South of the Gorge are a series of relatively short canyons draining off of the Niguel Hill ridge. Only one of these has been named, Ceanothus Canyon, the longest and furthest north. South, draining down through scenic Topanga bedrock are a series of canyons coined in this inventory as Badlands Canyons 1 through 6. Badlands Park, at the southern edge of the Topanga block is a beautifully eroded, scenic open space which is at the very rear of the bowl-like backdrop which frames and defines the village of South Laguna. Draining out of the park, cutting dramatically down through ancient San Onofre soil is the northerly Binion parcel canyon complex. An additional canyon is south on the parcel, and three others lace partially developed land further south. 2 Well lton C. F. 40 lton C. F. 45 ~OIOC. H. 13 roc0 C. H. 15 roro C. H. 16 roro C. H. 17 ~MOC. H. 18 le C. H. 1 le C. H. 2 ie C. ti. 3 ie C. H. 6.4 ie C. H. 7 ie C. 11. 8 le C. 11. 9 le C. H. 19 Iton C. H. 14 le Beach 1 1 le 1 J

J ne 53 le 1 :ill 1 ;. Carr 2 1 2 3 4 The combination of abrupt topography and unique bedrock formations and the soils developed within them creates in South Laguna an environment for regionally unique plant communities and rare and endangered plant species. As discussed later, the largest extant U.S. population of one California threatened species and possibly the largest population in existence of a second, which is a City endemic occur in this study area. It is a semi-tropical "hotbed" for disjuncts and range-edge populations of species and plant communities which otherwise occur to the south of Orange County. The mesic, foggy, salubrious climate of South Laguna is also exploited by human gardeners who successfully grow tropicals like mangoes, cherimoyas, bananas, passion fruit and several kinds of orchids.

1.2 SURROUNDING AND ONSITE LAND USES; OWNERSHIP

Hobo Canyon is flanked by developed land on the northwest and southwest. Between these neighborhoods, open space extends due west to Goff Ridge and Alexander Canyon, finally bifurcated by Nyes Place in lower Arch-Porta-fina Canyon. The lower floor of Hobo Canyon is developed as a mobile home park. To the north and east, Hobo Canyon adjoins the very extensive open space of the Laguna Greenbelt, including Aliso and Wood Canyons Regional Park, the Moulton Meadows uplifted marine terrace and the upper Bluebird-Rancho Laguna open space. To the south are the open space slopes of Aliso Canyon.

Hobo Canyon is owned by the Esslinger family, which operates the mobile home park, and the Mahboubi-Fardi partnership. The latter parcel is reportedly landlocked within the former. Topographi- cally developable land within this acreage north of the Gorge includes the ridgeline west, which has road access, and the ridgelines north and east, where access appears to be blocked by Moulton Meadows city park and Aliso Viejo Regional Park. There is also some potential for development on the narrow ridge south of the canyon mouth with access available from an old paper street right-of-way.

Aliso Canyon's sideslopes are undeveloped in the Gorge. Devel- opment closely encroaches on the canyon at the mouth of the Gorge, but a narrow band of open space and institutional land (County parking lot and turfed parkland) extends along the floor all the way to Aliso Creek Beach. The Aliso Creek Golf Course, Ben Brown Restaurant and a condominium cluster are developed on the floor of Aliso Canyon within the Gorge. However, these uses are not of such intensity as to block wildlife movement, and Aliso Creek is the one area within the city where deer actually do go down to the surf.

The Aliso Canyon Gorge is owned by Violet Brown. The floor of the canyon is topographically developable, though Ms. Brown reportedly has no plans to change the canyon's existing land use (Eric Jessen, Orange Co. H.B.P., pers. comm.). Orange County Harbors, Beaches and Parks attempted to obtain a right-of-way through the Gorge as the final linkup of the County Mountains to Sea Trail along Aliso Creek, but was unsuccessful due to high land cost liability and geotechnical constraints, and has abandoned its efforts to extend this path to the ocean (Jessen, Ibid.). Golf courses and trails are typically incompatible because of the hazard of flying golf balls striking bikers and pedestrians.

Aliso Canyon is adjoined on the north, east and south by open space and on the west and southeast by development. Land to the west is part of the near monolithic expanse of seacoast urbanization which extends from Crystal Cove State Park, north to Camp Pendleton south, interrupted only by small remaining open spaces like the ecologically significant Dana Point Headlands, the Marblehead Coastal planned development area and San Clemente State Beach. Land to the southeast consists of the developed Niguel Hill ridgeline in the City of Laguna Niguel. An institutional land use on the canyon floor just east of the city is the Aliso Water Management Agency sewage treatment plant. Periodic breakdowns at this plant result in raw sewage spills which con- taminate the lower reach of the creek and the adjoining sea beach.

Aliso Peak and Niguel Hill define the south ridge of the Aliso Canyon Gorge. The two promontories are linked by a ridgeline saddle. To the south is the deeply downcut Ceanothus Canyon, which is ringed around its head by the Laguna Sur development and its foot by urban land in South Laguna. The open-space ridge, Aliso Peak and the extreme north edge of Niguel Hill are dedicated County open space, mitigation provided for in the development of Laguna Sur.

To the south, open space is constricted by urbanization along the ridgeline and on the sea terrace below but still extends today to the hillsides above Three Arch Bay in the City of Dana Point, finally terminating in the development area above Crown Valley Parkway. This intricately dissected steep hillside land is divided within the City of Laguna Beach into a number of small and medium-sized parcels, some of which are proposed for development. Among landowners cited in the 1983 South Laguna Specific PlanILocal Coastal Program are Fowlie, Hawthorne, Crosman (Badlands Park), South Coast Community Hospital, Binion, Dalton and Fleming. There are a number of additional smaller ownerships. Development plans are currently going forth on Binion, which lies partially within Laguna Niguel (two houses proposed in Laguna Beach, the remaining hillside to be in open space) and on Fowlie, where a road and bridge have been completed to access a single residential parcel. Additional topographically developable land is found in lower Badlands Canyon 5-6 (South Coast Community Hospital) and the ridge north (small ownerships) as well as the ridge north of Badlands Canyon 4 (small ownerships). There is some additional land which could be developed from the top, but here, access is constrained and open space land uses appear to be in place. 1.3 METHODS

The following report is based on field work over an eight month period from April 8 to December 5, 1991. Field surveys were conducted in April, June, July, September, October, November and December, with major segments in April, September-early October and late November-early December. In excess of 100 person hours were spent in the field. The bulk of the survey work was conducted by the author. Additional work was done by botanist Fred Roberts, Jr., who completed the vegetation mapping, by botanist consultant David Bramlet who assisted in tagging rare plant populations on the upper north slope of Hobo Canyon before it was goat-grazed by the Fire Department, by biologist Gordon Marsh and by lichenologist Rick Reifner, who worked with Mr. Roberts south of the Aliso Canyon Gorge. Mr. Marsh and Mr. Reifner's work was done gratis for the project as part of their duties at the (now defunct) U.C. Irvine Museum of Systematic Biology. Unfortunately, for budgeting reasons, the project team did not include a wildlife biologist. While wildlife concerns are addressed in the inventory, the reader will find it focused primarily on the study area's botanical resources.

The survey effort started in the spring north of the Aliso Can- yon Gorge; the writeup of this area consequently contains the most complete inventory of vernally evident plant species. By the time the land south of the Gorge was surveyed, spring annuals were hard to detect, though many were identified by the remnants of seed stalks. It was even possible to get an approximate plant count of rare species like Orange County Turkish rugging from these; however, many interesting wildflowers were undoubtedly overlooked south of the gorge.

In the following report, common names only are used for most plants and animals. A compendium of common and scientific names for all biota encountered and additional fauna reported by others or expected onsite is contained in the appendix species lists. Species nomenclature is according to Roberts, 1989. Laudenslayer and Grenfell, 1983, AOU, 1983 and suppl. and Lee et.al., 1980. Biotic community nomenclature and mapping for most part is according to Gray and Bramlet, in prep., 1991 (Orange County G.I.S. Project). Cowardin (U.S. Fish and Wild- life Service), 1977 is used for certain wetland designations. The author in text has further subdivided the southern maritime chaparral community into the several distinct associations found in the field. Species and community sensitivity designations are as summarized from various private, state and federal sources by Gray and Bramlet, Ibid. Local sensitivity of habitats generally follows guidelines established in the 1983 City biological resources inventory.

Contained in the South Laguna inventory are the following elements. Characterization of biotic communities present.

Vegetation mapping based on County G.I.S. maps.

Enumeration of sensitive species and communities present.

0 Area-by-area site descriptions, the "guts" of the report.

Sensitivity ranking and mapping.

0 Recommendations for land acquisition or other open space designation, rare biota protection and open space management.

0 Species lists.

0 Bib1iography.

Attachments of related pertinent information.

1.4 EXISTING LITERATURE

This inventory builds on previous biological studies done in South Laguna. This locality has long been recognized as a regionally significant ecological area and was so designated in the mid-1970's by the California Natural Areas Coordinating Council. As early as the turn of the century, biologists were exploring the area's canyons and hillsides. Mrs. F.M. Bradshaw discovered big-leaved crownbeard in the adjacent Arch Beach area in 1903; this maritime Baja California disjunct speies was essen- tialy ignored for eighty years, until the author rediscovered it during preparation of the Laguna Beach Biological Resources Inventory. The unique shrub is now a state threatened-designated species. Meanwhile, deep in the wilds of the Aliso Canyon Gorge, researchers from the Laguna Marine Laboratory (associated with Pomona College) observed as many as five bald eagles, and the canyon owner at that time, Joe Thurston confirmed that the species was nesting there (Gardner, 1914).

Later, other biologists found Pacific pond turtles, two striped gartersnakes and arroyo toads, all now rare animals, along lower Aliso Creek before it was channelized (Robert Fisher, pers. comm.). In 1948, botanist Reid Moran found what proved to be a city endemic plant, the Laguna Beach dudleya growing on the north-facing cliffs in the Aliso Canyon Gorge; this is now the type locality for the state-threatened succulent. Camm Swift of Los Angeles County Museum and Jack Nelson of University of California Santa Cruz from 1973 to 1977 conducted benchmark studies of the tidewater goby in the lower reach of Aliso Creek and in its barrier beach lagoon; this rare estuary fish is now extirpated from the drainage.

Exploration of Niguel Hill and the hillside lands south of the Gorge by a number of distinguished biologists was spearheaded by the concern and enthusiastic interest of South Laguna landscape architect Fred Lang. Starting in 1972, such specialists as David Verity, UCLA Botanical Gardens, Ted Hanes, Cal State Fullerton and Gordon Marsh, U.C. Irvine Museum of Systematic Biology, roamed the canyons and uplands, noting the variety of regionally rare plant species present and the unique southern maritime chaparral plant community to which they all seemed to belong. Consultant Walt Wright prepared a very comprehensive vegetation species list in 1981. The author inventoried the flora and habitats of the Seaview Park area in 1984 and again in 1988. Finally, the lichen flora of this maritime fog belt is becoming recognized as significant, with many rare and disjunct species as revealed by recent and current work of Peter Bowler and Rick Reifner (U.C. Irvine). 2.0 BIOTIC COMMUNITIES

Biotic communities are distinctive assemblages of plants and animals which evolve through time as uniquely adapted to locally available moisture, substrate, exposure, the seasonal tempera- ture regime and other factors. Laguna Beach and especially South Laguna possess some physical factors unique to the County, and these in turn have promoted the development of some regionally distinctive plant communities which are here, a dominant part of the landscape but elsewhere in the County virtually unknown. Because these habitats have always been in South Laguna in man's short memory, and appear to be widespread, the local citizenry and governmental decision-makers may not recognize just how significant they are. A principal one must keep always in mind is that a rare species or community may in the area in which it is best adapted, its "home turf", be quite widespread and apparently commonplace. Only when viewed from a more regional perspective is recognition gained of the biota's true rarity.

The most widespread of South Laguna's biotic communities, southern maritime chaparral is the one that, except for this area and immediately contiguous portions of Laguna Niguel and Dana Point, is virtually absent from the balance of Orange County. As discussed below, the community is so well developed here that several distinctive subtypes can be distinguished as well as the typical ceanothus-dominated chaparral. These include bush rue-spiny redberry scrub, a mixed mesic association containing San Diego mountain mahogany, big-leaved crownbeard, spiny redberry, summer holly, Moran's or maritime scrub oak and other sensitive species, and the very distinctive San Diego chamise chaparral.

Other communities and habitat types present in South Laguna are sumac-toyon coastal mixed chaparral, coastal sage scrub, southern oak woodland, xeric barrens and cliff outcrops (mesic and xeric), native perennial and adventive annual grasslands and a variety of wetland habitats associated with Aliso Creek, with smaller representations in other canyons north and south. At the urban-wildland contact are urban forests, fuel modification zones and disturbed ruderal-infested ground.

The following pages contain descriptions of habitat types found in South Laguna. Exhibit 5 is a rough draft vegetation map prepared by contributor Fred Roberts, Jr. and Dave Bramlet, based on the numerical biotic community designations of the ongoing Orange County Geographic Information System project. The smallest GIs polygons do not accommodate areas of limited extent, nor are vertical cliff faces read; therefore, this map overlooks some of the interesting microhabitats found in the field, as described in Section 3. For most part, the southern maritime chaparral subassociations are not delineated. Signifi- cant stands of San Diego chamise and the mixed mesic association are mapped in the text of Section 4 instead. Table 1 contains the community equivalents of the numerical designations on Exhibit 1. The reader will note that the exhibit includes littoral environments, which are not covered in this inventory.

TABLE 1 Orange County Geographic Information System Numerical Equivalents of Biotic Communities and Habitats Delineated in Exhibit 1 2.3 - Coastal sage scrub 3.2 - Mixed (mostly sumac-toyon) chaparral 3.3 - San Diego chamise chaparral (in GIs treated as 3.6 on Niguel Hill) 3.6 - Southern maritime chaparral (wlceanothus or Quercus or Adenostoma) 3.612.3 - wlout large shrubs or mixed CSSICH. 4.1 - Annual grassland 4.6 - Ruderal 6.1 - Coastal salt marsh 7.1 - Riparian herb 7.2115.5-Southern willow scrublornamental 11.1 - Open marine 11.3 - Rocky shore 11.4 - Sandy beach 15.1 - Urban 15.5 - Parkslornamentals 15.2 - Non-urban residential

Additional habitat types present which are not delineated on the draft G.I.S. maps are listed in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Other Habitat Types Found in South Laguna 2.2 - Maritime succulent scrub 4.3 - Southern coastal needlegrass grassland 5.1 - Southern hardpan vernal pool 5.2 - Alkali meadow 5.3 - Freshwater seep 6.2 - Coastal brackish marsh 6.4 - Coastal freshwater marsh 7.3 - Mulefat scrub (Palustrine scrublshrub wetland) 8.1 - Coast live oak woodland 10.1 - Xeric cliff faces, barrens and marine terrace sandy openings 10.2 - Mesic cliff faces 10.3 - Rock outcrops 13.1 - Perennial streams 13.2 - Intermittent streams 13.3 - Ephemeral streams 14.3 - Vineyards and orchards EXHIBIT 5

PLEASE SEE BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES MAP FOR SOUTH LAGUNA

(DISPLAY MAP FOR STUDY SESSION AND PUBLIC HEARINGS) The following pages describe in numerical order, each habitat type found in the South Laguna study area.

MARITIME SUCCULENT SCRUB (2.2)

This is a rather weakly defined biotic association in the study area. It occurs on bluff and canyon slopes within the maritime influence. In part, the so called Maritime Desert Scrub Commun- ity of Thorne, 1976 discussed in the 1983 BRI encompasses this association, as well as the bush rue-spiny redberry subcommunity of southern maritime chaparral and the sensitive southern coastal bluff scrub (2.1 GIs), still found on the Dana Point Headlands and likely here along the coast before development and consequent habitat invasion by ornamental iceplants, etc.

Maritime succulent scrub is composed of various kinds of cacti and tender-leaved suffrutescent shrubs, as listed in Table 3, below. This association is often admixed with coastal sage scrub or chaparral on the maritime slopes. Where cacti are extensive, as in the vicinity of rock outcrops, the rare coastal cactus wren is in residence (as on the north slope of Aliso Canyon). Cactus mice and various snakes and lizards also take advantage of the protection of cactus cover. Rodents and other animals feed on the sweet cactus fruit.

The community is most extensive on the north slope of Aliso Can- yon, but even there, is limited to relatively small pockets of habitat.

TABLE 3 Maritime Succulent Scrub Vegetation

Encelia califor,nica - California encelia (dominant) Isomeris arbore!a - bladderpod Oguntia "occidentalis" - hybrid western prickly pear oricola Oracle cactus Opuntia m. .-toralis - - coastal prickly pear Opuntia prolife-!ra - coastal cholla

COASTAL SAGE SCRUB (2.3)

This is a summer-dormant soft or suffrutescent waist-high aromatic shrub community which was once widespread through the coastal and interior cismontane hills of southern California. Man's consuming appetite for this land has resulted in the loss of a significant portion of a formerly common biotic community. Many characteristic component species are increasingly threatened and one, the California gnatcatcher is under active consideration for Federal listing as this inventory is written. Even a few years ago, field biologists were unconcerned about the status of coastal sage scrub because it seemed to be every- where. Today, the incremental spread of urbanization has made such inroads into southern California's plain and foothill habitats that most competent field people recognize that indeed, a threat is at hand.

In South Laguna, coastal sage scrub is fairly typical in composition, as depicted on Table 2. The community occurs on dry slopes often associated with thin soils over rock outcrops. It is well developed at the very interior of the study area on the north slope of Aliso Canyon, and on the Moulton Meadows and remaining undeveloped Niguel Hill marine terraces associated with the psammophyte assemblage. In the old fuel modification zone, coastal sage scrub infills areas previously cleared of indigenous maritime and sumac-toyon chaparrals, thus functioning as a sera1 stage of these climax communities.

In Laguna Beach and South Laguna, coastal sage scrub in the fog belt is an important source of forage and moisture (by lapping dew off of vegetation) for mule deer. The community appears to have a shortened dormancy period here because of the locally unique summer fog precipitation, and thus attracts numbers of deer from the dry interior of the San Joaquin Hills. Laguna Beach's deer are tolerant of urbanization so long as areas of forage and sufficient vacant parcel passageways are preserved. Deer populations in South Laguna, especially south of the Aliso Canyon Gorge appear to be a lot smaller than those in the city, north of the Gorge. This may be attributed to two factors, the relative paucity of coastal sage srub except on the remaining undeveloped marine terrace within the Binion property (in Laguna Niguel), and the constriction of the hillside habitat by urbanization on the ridge above and the coastal bench below. The remaining slope is deeply dissected by yawning canyons; these pose obstructions north-south to faunal movement. To move down the coast, deer and other wildlife are forced to use the urban edge fuel modification zone above or partially developed land below. Some deer indeed use these accesses, but relatively poor cover and free-running dogs pose a hazard.

Table 4 lists typical coastal sage scrub plant species in South Laguna. TABLE 4 1 Coastal Sage Scrub Flora

Widespread Dominants/Codominants Salvia mellifera - black saae ~rtemisiacalifornica - ~alifornia sagebrush Erioaonum fasciculatum - California buckwheat Other Suffrutescent Shrubs Salvia apiana - white sage (on marine terraces) Salvia mellifera x aoiana - fon marine terraces) I Isocoma veneta - coastal goldenbush Galium angustifolium - chaparral bedstraw Mimulus aurantiacus - orange bush monkeyflower Solanum umbelliferum - blue witch Dispersed Large Wood Shrubs Rhus integrifolia - lemonadeberry Malosma laurina - laurel sumac Malacothamnus fascicularis - mesa bush mallow Herbs and Grasses isillus - rattlesnake weed crassicaulis - Pacific sanicle ?ntalis - western dichondra foothill needlearass

Wildlife in the community are deer, brush rabbits, miscellaneous species of Peromyscus and Perognathus mice, snakes and lizards, red-tailed hawks and other raptors and a variety of brushland songbirds, many of which are also found in the area's chapar- als. One species unique to coastal sage scrub which was verified on the inland boundary of the study area is the California gnatcatcher.

SUMAC-TOYON SOUTHERN MIXED CHAPARRAL (3.2)

This is a widespread community through the San Joaquin - Laguna Hills. A more complex mixed chaparral is found in the foothills and lower slopes of the Santa Ana Mountains. The coastal form is found in relatively mesic, shaded north-facing situations inland from the immediate maritime slope, with coastal sage scrub the more widespread community on open slopes and ridges.

1. ** double starred species are sensitive on this table. 12 On the foggy maritime slope, however, sumac-toyon chaparral is widespread in the city north of the study area and begins to reassert dominance toward the south end of the South Laguna hillside. In the 1983 BRI, the community is referred to as Rhus (= sumac) - Heteromeles (= toyon) chaparral. Fauna of this community include the old growth chaparral indicator bird species group: wrentit, California thrasher, rufous- sided towhee and California quail. (Wrentits and thrashers also occur in southern maritime chaparral.) Other characteristic avifauna are brown towhees, bushtits, yellow-rumped warblers, golden-crowned sparrows and ruby-crowned kinglets. Mammalian fauna include dusky-footed woodrats, California mice, brush mice, brush rabbits and mule deer.

Table 5 lists typical plants.

TABLE 5 Sumac-Toyon Chaparral Flora

Large woody shrubs Rhus integrifolia - lemonadeberry (a sumac), dominant Heteromeles arbutifolia - toyon, codominant Malosma laurina - laurel sumac, sometimes codominant Quercus berberidifolia - barberry-leaved scrub oak Rhamnus ilicifolia - holly-leaved redberry (rare)

Understory plants Toxicodendron diversilobum - poison sumac (common only on north-facing and upper south-facing slope of Aliso Canyon) Salvia mellifera - black sage Ribes indecorum - white-flowered currant (rare)

Ribes s~eciosum - fuchsia-flowerinaa aooseberrv.I ~imulus'aurantiacus - orange bush monkeyflowe; Solanum dou lasii - chaparral nightshade Solanum --6%-7-urn e I erum - blue witch Marah macrocarDus - wild cucumber **Polygala cornuta fishiae - Fish's milkwort (rare)

SOUTHERN MARITIME CHAPARRAL (3.6)

This is the most regionally significant and the most widespread of South Laguna's biotic communities. The typical form was called Ceanothus Broad Sclerophyll Chaparral by Rundel, 1976 and was so designated in the 1983 BRI. Its range is from Arch-Porta- fina Canyon in the Arch Beach Heights section of the city south to the west slope of Salt Creek Canyon in Laguna Niguel. It does not appear to occur much inland from the area of direct maritime influence. The dominant species, sometimes occurring in monocultural stands is big-podded ceanothus in an apparent cline or intergrade with the sensitive warty-stemmed ceanothus. Preliminary research by Fred Roberts, Jr. in the widespread Ceanothus megacarpus populations in more northern maritime chaparrals of the Santa Monica Mountains and in mixed chaparral inland as well as C. verrucosus populations in southern San Diego County indicate important differences between the local material and either taxon. The fruit of South Laguna shrubs approximates that of C. megacarpus. The branches are like those of C. verrucosus. The leaves are quite intermediate between the two- taxa. A single population of material identified so far as -C. megacarpus on San Onofre Mountain on Camp Pendleton in north San Diego County may also fit into this intermediate category.

The bush rue-spiny redberry association is found in areas transitional from either coastal sage scrub or San Diego chamise chaparral and the typical ceanothus chaparral. Usually these bands are too diffuse to map easily in the field, but their occurrence is quite consistent in the xeric - mesic moisture gradient.

The ceanothus "typical" association and the mixed mesic sub- association are typically found on the unique San Onofre breccia, a substrate which is moderately acid and has slow drainage characteristics (sometimes, in vernal pool areas, failing to drain), and unusual texture because of all the incor- porated schist and quartz rock. The soils developed within the formation are the Soper series (Wachtell, 1978). However, specific elements or nutrients present or lacking have not been determined; these could play a profound role (like the serpen- tines of the north coastal ranges of California) in the maintenance of a rare plant community in preference to one that is more widespread in the region (like sumac-toyon chaparral).

Found on the ancient, terrestrially weathered surface of the Topanga sandstone formation is another subtype of southern maritime chaparral, San Diego chamise chaparral, dominated by a southern variety of chamise here at the very northern end of its range. A small assemblage of unique associated species is found with the gnarled, needle-leaved, aromatic dominant.

Finally, on mesic, shaded north-facing slopes from Alexander Canyon south to Ceanothus Canyon and inland to Pacific Island Drive is the richly varied mixed mesic association with its assemblage of rare shrub and subshrub species. When botanists write excitedly about the unique flora of Niguel Hill, it is most often this association to which they are referring.

Fauna characteristic in sumac-toyon chaparral are also found here. The small mammals and resident songbirds are in need of intensive studies; not a lot is known about locally interesting and unique fauna this community may support. The chamise association as well as nearby xeric barrens (10.1) and outcrops (10.3) supports the rare orange-throated whiptail lizard. Other interesting reptiles may be here as well. Table 6 lists characteristic flora of the southern maritime chaparral community.

TABLE 6 Southern Maritime Chaparral Flora

Ceanothus "Typical' Community

Large shrubs

**Ceanothus megacarpus-verrucosus - big-podded - warty-stemmed ceanothus intergrade (dominant)

Understory shrubs (all sparse)

**Cneoridium dumosum - bush rue **Verbesina dissita - big-leaved crownbeard Isomeris arborea - bladderpod **Rhamnus crocea - spiny or little-leaved redberry Understory herbs and grasses (sparse) Apiastrum angustifolium - wild-celery Thelypodium lasiophyllum - California mustard Scutellaria tuberosa - Dannie's skull cap **Calochortus weedii var. intermedius - foothill mariposa

Bush Rue - Spiny Redberry Scrub Shrubs **Cneoridium dumosum - bush rue (dominant) **Rhamnus crocea - spiny or little-leaved redberry (codominant) Herbs Diplotaxus muralis - sand rocket Draba cuneifolia - desert whitlow Streptanthus heterophyllus - San Diego jewel flower Camissonia himeldsun cups Oligomeris linifolia - narow-leaved oligomeris Antirrhinum nuttallii - Nuttall's snapdragon Antirrhinum kelloggii - Kelloggs snapdragon Lotus salsuginosus - alkali lotus

Mixed Mesic Association

Large Shrub Components **Ceanothus megacarpus-verrucosus - big-podded - warty-stemmed ceanothus intergrade **Ceanothus spinosus var. nov. - nonspined/reduced spined greenbark ceanothus 15 **Cercocarpus minutiflorus - San Diego mountain mahogany **Quercus engelmannii (hybridized with barberry-leaved scrub oak, 0. berberidifolia) - Enaelmann **~uGrcus dumosa - maritime-scrub oak or Moran's oak Heteromeles arbutifolia - toyon Rhus integrifolia - lemonadeberry **Comarostaphylos diversifolia - summer holly Understory shrubs

**Verbesina dissita - big-leaved crownbeard (dominant) Ribes speciosum - fuchsia-flowering gooseberry Erio h llum confertiflorum - golden yarrow *azar la squarrosa - saw-toothed goldenbush Symphoricarpos mollis - snowberry (abundant in canyon bottoms) Understory ferns, herbs and grasses

Polypodium californicum - California polypody **Cheilanthes californica - California lace fern Dryopteris arguta - western wood fern Pityrogramma trian ularis - goldenback fern Madia gracilis *r madia Cardamine californica - milkmaids Silene laciniata - fringed Indian pink Marah macrocar us - wild cucurr~be r Eucryp& a c r san hemifolia - COmmon eu crypta Parietaria floridana - we stern pel 1itor Y (commo Melica irr~~erfecta- small -flowered meli c araS S

San Diego Chamise Chaparral

Shrubs

**Adenostoma fasciculatum var. obtusifoliurn - San Diego chamise (dominant) **Cneoridium dumosum - bush rue **Quercus dumosa - maritime scrub oak or Moran's oak (rare)

Subshrubs, herbs, grasses Helianthemum scoparium - r ush rose Guiterrezia californica - California matchweed Lomatiurn lucidum - shinY 1omatium Castilleja foliolosa - WOO lly Indian paintbrush (rare) **Chorizanthe staticoides ssp. chrysacantha - Orange County Turkish rugging (rare) **Calochortus weedii var. intermedius - foothill mariposa Aristida purpurea - purple three-awn grass Stipa lepida - foothil 1 needlegrass ANNUAL GRASSLAND (4.1)

Adventive annual grassland occurs in man and cattle-disturbed sites, as along the inland edge of the Hobo-Aliso Canyon open space and along the South Laguna urban edge. This is an introduced community of Eurasian grasses and weedy forbs, widespread today in California and mostly brought about by extirpation of native perennial grasslands and light soil flowerfields by excessive cattle grazing. Opportunistic semiruderal elements introduced, usually inadvertently by the early Spanish settlers quickly filled the niches opened up on cattle-denuded prairie. This process happens very quickly; native grasses can be eaten into oblivion in a single growing season, replaced the following year by an adventive weedland. Once a foothold is gained, the adventive elements do not relinquish it gracefully but aggres- sively hold onto the land for many years. Particularly difficult to extirpate are the huge artichoke thistle or cardoon plants which infest old rangeland in the coastal south County, including some portions of the Hobo-Aliso inland grassland. Wild oat species and black mustard are other tenacious plants making native grassland recolonization of prairies in now protected parklands difficult.

The grassland community is not extensive onsite; South Laguna's few grasslands are extensions of those occurring on the old Moulton Ranch, now Aliso and Wood Canyons Regional Park. Exten- sive grasslands support a distinct fauna, some species of which are found in the City. This fauna may include reptiles such as gopher snake, yellow-bellied racer and Pacific rattlesnake, songbirds such as western meadowlark, horned lark, roadrunner, lark sparrow, and savannah sparrow, raptors, including kestrel, red-tailed hawk, black-shouldered kite, northern harrier, prairie falcon, barn owl, short-eared owl and burrowing owl, and mammals such as black-tailed hare, American badger, and California vole and other rodents. Grasslands are particularly vital for raptors, which hunt for rodents and reptiles here.

Annual grassland plant species inventoried onsite are listed in Table 7.

TABLE 7' Annual Grassland Flora

Grasses Avena barbata - slender wild oats (dominant) Avena fatua - common wild oats Bromus diandrus - ripgut brome (codominant) Bromus rubens - red brome Bromus hordaceus - soft chess Vulpia myuros hirsuta - foxtail fescue Brachypodium distach on - false brome Hordeum murinumA ssp eporinum - foxtail barley

1. NW - State listed Noxious Weed 17 Forbs

Centaurea melitensis - star thistle (dominant) NW Carduus pycnocephalus - Italian thistle Cirsium occidentale - cobweb thistle NW Cynara cardunculus - artichoke thistle or cardoon Hemizonia fasciculata - fascicled tarweed Silybum marianum - milk thistle Amsinckia intermedia - fiddleneck Brassica geniculata - summer mustard Brassica niara - black mustard Raphanus -sativus - wild radish Sisymbrium irio - London rocket Atriplex semibaccata - Australian saltbush Chenopodium californicum - California goosefoot (at brushland Eremocar us seti erus - do veweed &nh Indian clover Erodium cicutarium - red-s temmed filaree Erodium moschatum - white- stemmed filaree

SOUTHERN COASTAL NEEDLEGRASS GRASSLAND (4.3)

A few areas of native perennial grassland still persist in the study area. Native species are overtaking the distal end of the saddle grassland at the head of Hobo Canyon. Openings in coastal sage scrub (and sometimes, chaparral) support small needlegrass and wildflower stands. Two of these are at the urban edge, at the distal or west end of the ridge between Badlands Canyons 4 and 5, and in the fuel modification zone on the Binion parcel east of Sunset. On the back ridge of Hobo Canyon, the upper slope dropping away toward A1 iso Canyon below Moulton Meadows contains rather sizeable patches of native grassland within the coastal sage scrub matrix. These are rich with wildflowers in the spring.

Table 8 enumerates the grasses and forbs of this sensitive, aerially limited community.

TABLE 8 Native Perennial Grassland Flora

Grasses

Stipa lepida - foothill needlegrass (dominant in coastal sage scrub grassland openings) Stipa pulchra - purple needlegrass (dominant within extensive arasslandsl ~arostisdie; Forbs, Wildflowers

Sanicula arauta - shar~-toothed sanicle Sanicula -crassicaulis - Pacific sanicle (in CSS, CH openings) Achillea-. -. millefolium - white yarrow (in CSS, CH openings) Grindelia robusta - bia*- aum~lant , Hypochoeris glabra - smooth cat's-ear Lasthenia californica - goldfields Senecio vulgaris - common groundsel Cryptantha intermedia - white forgetmenot (in CSS openings) Silene gallica - windmill pink Lotus strigosus - strigose lotus Lupinus bicolor - dove lupine (also found in annual grassland) Lupinus succulentus - succulent annual lupine (also found in annual arasslandl Stachys rigida ssp: guercetorum - hi1 lside hedge-nettle Linanthus dianthiflorus - ground pink Calandrinia ciliata - red maids (also in annual grassland) Dodecatheon clevelandii - Cleveland shootina-stars Eriogonum elongatum - long-stemmed eriogonuG (in CSS openings) Ranunculus californicus - California buttercup Jepsoaparni mesa saxifrage Cast1 eja a - coast Indian paintbrush Linaria canadensis - larger blue toadflax Orthocarpus purpurascens - owl's clover (also found in annual grassland) Bloomeria crocea - golden stars Dichelosterr~mapulchella - wild hyacinth Sisyrinchium bellum - blue-eyed grass Calochortus splendens - lilac mariposa **Calochortus weedii var. intermedius - foothill mariposa (in CSS o~eninasl ~hloro~alumboheridianum - amole lily

As can be seen from the foregoing table, much of the appeal of the native community is its often lavish spring wildflower dis- plays. These are especially lovely on the so-called Moulton Meadows ridge between BluebirdIRancho Laguna Canyon, the head of Hobo Canyon, and Aliso Canyon. Just outside of the South Laguna study area, the city has preserved as open space, native grassland-coastal sage scrub mosaic slopes on the Bluebird/Rancho Laguna side of the ridge which are beautifully flowered in spring (as well as containing several rare and endangered plants, including the only known Orange County population of a diminutive fern found about vernal seeps and pools).

RUDERAL (4.6)

This primary sere association is found at and near the urban edge. It is dominated by weeds. These are included in the appendix species list, Section 6.1.1. Especially prolific here are star thistle and Russian thistle. SOUTHERN HARDPAN VERNAL POOL (5.1); FRESHWATER SEEP (5.3)

These are related habitat types; the latter is more commonly encountered in the study area, though vernal pools formerly occurred on the now-developed Niguel Hill ridgeline just beyond the city boundaries.

Two degraded vernal pools were found on the outer trail at the crest of the high hill between Hobo and Aliso Canyon. One had desiccated but the other still contained water in late spring. This, quite turbid pool had fairy shrimp in it, a very exciting find. A nearby seep zone supported an array of vernal pool and freshwater seep plants, including a large population of the rare Palmer's grappling hook, the only one known in the city. Numer- ous small seep zones are found on and offsite on the flanks of the Moulton Meadows marine terrace, where downward rainwater percolation is impeded by the unconformity at the bottom of the Quaternary formation, and it simply leaks out of the side of the upland. This same phenomenon is observable in the vicinity of the north end of the Temple Hill marine terrace, as at the site of Alta Laguna Park.

Plant species found in the vicinity of vernal pools and in freshwater seep zones are listed on Table 9.

TABLE 9 Vernal Pool-Assoc3ated and Marine Terrace Margin Seep Zone Flora

Vernal Pool-Associated Seeps

Gnaphalium luteo-album - weedy cudweed Har a onella almeri - Palmer's grappling hook **S er u aria vik - villous sand spurrey Centaurium venustum - canchalagua

Anaaallis arvensis - scarlet~ ~ - - ~im~ernel ~eleochloaschoenoides - swamb timothy Para holis incurvata - sickle grass karadoxia - paradox Canary grass Vul~iamvuros var. mvuros - rattail fescue Marine Terrace Margin Seeps

Gnaphalium luteo-album - weedy cudweed Navarretia atractyloides - holly-leaved skunkweed (dominant in zone on Niguel Hill) Sis rinchium be1lum - blue-eyed grass *anus - Mexican rush (dominant in zone on Moulton Meadows)

Perennial Seeps (at base of north-facing slope of Aliso Canyon)

Adiantum jordanii - maidenhair fern Juncus bufonius - toad rush Juncus textilis - basket rush **Epilobum ciliatum - California cottonweed CLASSIFICATION OF WETLANDS IN LOWER ALISO CANYON AND OTHER CANYONS ONSITE

Most wetlands in lower Aliso Canyon are somewhat alkaline to significantly influenced by the sea. In the field, the following types were discerned.

ALKALI MEADOW (5.2) SOUTHERN COASTAL SALT MARSH (6.1) COASTAL BRACKISH MARSH (6.2) RIPARIAN HERB (7.1) SOUTHERN WILLOW SCRUB (7.2) and SOUTHERN ARROYO WILLOW FOREST (7.6) MULEFAT SCRUB (7.3)

In text and the species list, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2 and 7.1 are as designated by the G.I.S.. 7.6 and part of 7.2 (willows exceeding 30' in height) are lumped as Palustrine Forested Wetland. 7.3 and the remaining 7.2 (<30' high) are lumped as Palustrine Scrub/Shrub Wetland. Both are Federal designations.

The Aliso Canyon wetlands are an important element of its overall significance. They, even in their degraded state related to the channelization of Aliso Creek here attract wetland birds (black phoebes, Wilson's warblers, etc., long legged waders such as great blue herons and great egrets, a few shorebirds, their number increasing in the salt marsh area approaching the coast, and rough winged swallows).

Raccoon tracks lace the channel banks, and a few deer tracks were seen as well. Severeal kinds of fish are documented from the creek. Until recently, the rare tidewater goby lived in the lower reach and in the lagoon behind the stream-mouth barrier beach; this species now appears to be extirpated from the drainage. Also apparently no longer extant in the lower reach of Aliso Creek are the rare two-striped gartersnake, arroyo toad and Pacific pond turtle, though all were reported here before the creek was channelized. The ubiquitous Pacific tree frog is still common.

In the other canyons onsite, and perched on the edge of the Niguel Hill Marine terrace in Badlands Park, there are additional areas of scrub shrub wetland, and habitats transitional between this community and sumac-toyon chaparral. In middle Ceanothus Canyon is a COASTAL FRESHWATER MARSH (6.4), an apparent source of fresh water in the early days of South Laguna. In the saddle area between Hobo and Aliso Canyon is an interesting perched scrublshrub wetland dominated by coyotebrush.

Table 10 lists wetland plants found in these habitat types. TABLE 10 Wetland Plants

Alkali Meadow Conium maculatum - poison hemlock (dominant) Cirsium vulgare - bull thistle Con za canadensis - tall horseweed Pr-icris echioides - bristly oxtongue Distichlis spicata - saltgrass Elymus triticoides - alkali rye Lolium multiflorum - Italian rye Oryzopsis miliacea - India rice grass Southern Coastal Salt Harsh

Jaumea carnosa - fleshy jaumea (dominant here) Salicornia virainica - Virainia ~ickleweed Frankenia saliia - alkali 6eath ' Scirpus maritimus - alkali bulrush Coastal Brackish Marsh/Riparian Herb (These two associations occur in mosaic habitat on the banks of lower Aliso Creek) Scirpus americanus - Olney's bulrush (dominant) Scirpus maritimus - alkali bulrush (in maritime influence) Scirpus pungens - three-square bulrush Apium graveolens - celery Aster subulatus - slender aster Bidens pilosa - beggar ticks Cotula corono~ifolia - African brass buttons Pluchea odorata - marsh fleabane Pulicaria paludosa - Spanish sunflower Xanthium strumarium - common cocklebur ~eliotro~iumcurassavicum - alkali heliotrope Atriplex patula ssp. hastata - spear orache Chenopodium arnbrosioides - Mexican tea Melilotus albus - white sweetclover Lythrum hyssopifolia - grass poly Planta o ma'or - common plantain dshfornica - yerba mansa Washinatonia- robusta - Mex ican fan palm (seedlings) Cyperus esculentus - ye110w nut-grass Agrostis semiverticillatus - water bent Di lachne uninervia - sprangletop kis spicata - saltgrass

Echinochloa crusaallid - wa ter grass Lolium multiflorum-. - Italian rye Paspalum dilatatum - ~ailis grass Polypogon monspeliensis - rabbit's-foot grass Freshwater Marsh Tv~hadominaensis - - tall cat-tail ldominantl -T ha latifolia - common cat-tail angustifolia - narrow-leaved cat-tail

- - Xanthium strumarium - common cocklebur (dominant in DeriDhervl.#, ~elilotus albus - white-sweetclover (common in periphery) Cotula coronopifolia - African brass buttons Rubus ursinus - California blackberry (in periphery) mogonmonspeliensis - rabbit's-foot grass Willow Scrub and Woodland

Salix lasiolepis - arroyo willow (dominant) Salix hindsiana - sandbar willow Ailanthus altissima - tree of Heaven (naturalized ornamental) Washin tonia robusta - Mexican fan palm (naturalized -7KkE-T) Artemisia doiglasiana - mugwort Scrub/Shrub Wetlands (including mulefat scrub) Baccharis salicifolia - mulefat (dominant in wetter sites) Baccharis pilularis ssp. consan uinea - coyotebrush (dominant in perched "bajada" wet+ ands adj to CSS) Elymus condensatus - giant rye grass (dominant along ephemeral drainages) Nicotiana ~lauca - tree tobacco (common in ephemeral drainages) Sambucus mexicana - Mexican elderberry (occasional in ephemeral drainages) Atriplex lentiformis ssp. breweri - Brewer's saltbush (common in alkaline SSW) Ricinus communis - castor bean Cassia tomentosa - senna (naturalized ornamental) Datura stramonium - thorn-apple mmnigrum - small-flowered nightshade Verbena iasiostachys - western verbena Juncus mexicanus - Mexican rush Arundo donax - giant reed (wetter sites) Cortaderia selloana - Pampas grass

COAST LIVE OAK WOODLAND (8.1)

Also called southern oak woodland. this con~munity is limited to individuals or small clumps of coait live oak i~uercus agri- folia) trees, which were observed in a tributary of Aliso Canyon (1 tree), in Ceanothus Canyon associated with the mixed mesic association of southern maritjme chaparral, and two small groves of trees in Badlands Canyon 1 surrounded by chaparral. The latter were the only ones large enough to support a distinctive mesic understory flora, but were not surveyed on the ground because of the steepness of the slope. Clumps of hybrid Engelmann x barberry-leaved scrub oak also develop woodland-like understories where western wood ferns, polypody ferns and western pellitory can be found.

The oak-wooded habitats are too small to attract much in the way of a fauna distinct from that utilizing the surrounding chaparral. These are arborescent features in what is otherwise a brushland area, and therefore are useful for raptor perch sites and perhaps nest sites. Common flickers were heard in several areas; they may forage for insects beneath the bark of indigenous oak trees as well as the eucalypts and other ornamentals at the urban edge.

XERIC CLIFF FACES, BARRENS AND MARINE TERRACE ANCIENT BEACH SANDS (10.1) ROCK OUTCROPS (10.3)

This assemblage of interrelated habitats contains some of the most interesting plant and animal species within the study region. These hostile environments provide unique niches for unusual biota which are adapted to such "pocket deserts". In sandy ground, a variety of special insects may be found, including endemic dune weevils, Trigonoscuta spp., dune beetles, Coelus spp., little rain beetles, Phoebetus, ant lion larvae whose pit traps dot the sand lands, and predaceous sphecid wasps like Bembix and Microbembix (Gordon Marsh, pers. comm.). As well as the common side-blotched and western fence lizards, the rare orange-throated whiptail lives here and, especially north of the Gorge, the rare San Diego horned lizard and silvery legless lizard may occur. The declining red diamond rattlesnake may still dwell in the study area, as well as the glossy snake. Special mammals of ridgeline and terrace barrens include the agile or Pacific kangaroo rat and possibly the rare Pacific pocket mouse, as well as the more widespread desert pack rat which lives in cliff grottoes, cactus mouse and California pocket mouse. Red-tailed hawks, ravens and barn owls likely nest in cliffside grottoes, and coyotes use them for den sites.

Each of these habitats supports a rather specific assemblage of plant species, though there is some overlap between them, species adapted to several or all of these xeric places. Table 11 lists these assemblages.

TABLE 11 Flora of Xeric Habitats Xeric Cliff Faces

Selaginella bigelovii - Bigelow spike moss Pellaea mucronata - bird's foot fern Gna halium bicolor - bicolored-leaf cudweed hxsaxatilis - cliff malacothrix Dudleya lanceolata - lance-leaved dudleya Dudleya pulverulenta - chalk lettuce (frequent) Chamaesyce albomarginata - rattlesnake weed Chamaesyce polycarpa - golondrina Eriogonum fasciculatum - California buckwheat (frequent) Sti~acoronata - crested sti~a

Xeric Ridgecrest Barrens

These are found along the headwater and the south ridge of Hobo Canyon, and on the intercanyon divide ridges in the Badlands Canyons area south of the Aliso Canyon gorge. Filaao californica - California fluffweed -Filago gallica - narrow-leaved fluffweed Gutierrezia californica - California matchweed lcommonl Rypochoeris radicata - hairy cat's-ear Microseris heterocarpa - derived microseris Senecio californicus - California butterweed Cryptantha intermedia - white forgetmenot Plagiobothrys collinus - California popcorn flower Lepidium nitidum - common peppergrass (disturbed sites) **Dichondra occidentalis - western dichondra (frequent on Hobo Canyon ridge) Crassula erecta - pigmy stonecrop **Dudleya multicaulis - many-stemmed dudleya Chamaesyce polycarpa - golondrina (common) Lotus hamatus - San Diego hosackiea

Eriodictvond crassifolium - thick-leaved dverba santa Phacelia - Parry phacelia Salvia coF= umbariae - chia sage Plantago bigelovii - alkali plantain **Chorizanthe staticoides ssp. chrysacantha - Orange County Turkish rugging Erio onum fasciculatum - California buckwheat +Ca ochortus splendens - lilac mariposa **Calochortus weedii var. intermedius - foothill mariposa Aristida adscensionis - annual three-awn Aristida purpurea - purple three-awn Bothriochloa barbinodis - beard grass Muhlenbergia microsperma - annual muhlenbergia Schismus barbatus - Arabian grass Stipa lepida - foothill needlegrass

Marine Terrace Sandy Openings

Marine terraces are vegetated by coastal sage scrub of black and white sage, California sagebrush and California buckwheat with interspersed bush rue - redberry scrub and maritime succulent scrub. Sandy openings not stabilized by this brushland contain the species listed below. As noted earlier, marine terrace environments in the study area are at Moulton Meadows and undeveloped portions of the Niguel Hill ridge (e.g., Binion Property portion within Laguna Niguel). Carpobrotus edulis - Hottentot fig (invasive ornamental) Ambrosia acanthicarpa - annual burweed Chaenactis glabriuscula - yellow pincushion flower Corethrogyne filaginifolia - common corethrogyne Wiumbeneolens - fragrant everlasting ~eterothecamora- telegraph weed Stylocline gnaphalioides - everlasting nest straw Arenaria douglasii - Douglas' sandwort Cardionema ramosissimum - sandmat (frequent) Croton californicus - California croton (frequent) Camissonia bistorta - southern suncuDs Camissonia cheiranthifolia - sand suhcups or beach evening primrose (hydromulch introduction?) ~1ant;~oerecia - California plantain rias rumsapphirinum - sapphire eriastrum Navarretia atractyloides - holly-leaved skunkweed (in vicinity of vernal seeps and pools) Emex spinosa - spiny emex

Rock Outcrops

These are a prominent landscape feature on the north slope of Aliso Canyon. Calycadenia tenella - rosin weed Ericameria pinifolia - pine goldenbush (frequent) Gna halium bicolor - bicolored-leaf cudweed hnceolata - lance-leaved dudleya Phacelia cicutaria var. hispida - caterpillar phacelia Mirabilis californicus - wishbone bush Antirrhinurn nuttallianurn - Nuttall's snapdragon Mimulus ~uniceus - red bush monkevflower ~cro~huleriacalifornica - ~a1ifo;nia bee plant Koeleria macrantha - June grass Lamarckia aurea - goldentop grass

MESIC CLIFF FACES (10.2)

This habitat is found mainly on the north-facing slope of the Aliso Canyon Gorge, where three separate cliff exposures support populations of the threatened endemic Laguna Beach dudleya. A house-sized boulder erratic on the south-facing slope has a shaded exposure which is similarly carpeted with the succulent. The cliff at the bend in Badlands Canyon 6 and north-facing canyonside rock outcrops in Ceanothus Canyon also contain 10.2 - type habitat.

Mosses, and several regionally rare lichens are associated with such cliffs, as well as the vascular plants listed in Table 12. Fauna of the cliffs include raptors and ravens which nest in the grottoes, and, in seepy areas lush with mosses and ferns, amphibians like the black-bellied slender salamander. TABLE 12 Vascular Flora of Mesic Cliff Faces

Selaginella bigelovii - Bigelow spike moss Adiantum ordanii - maidenhair fern **Cheilanthes+ ca ifornica - lace fern Pityrogramma triangularis - goldenback fern Polypodium californicum - California polypody fern (common) Hazardia squarrosa - saw-toothed goldenbush **Verbesina dissita - big-leaved crownbeard Echium fastuosum - pride of Madeira (invasive ornamental) Silene laciniata - fringed Indian pink Aeonium spp. - aeonium (invasive ornamental) **Dudleya edulis - ladies1-finger **Dudleya lanceolata octoploid population - lance-leaved dudleya segregate **Dudleya stolonifera - Laguna Beach dudleya Echeveria spp. - hens and chicks (invasive ornamental) Astragalus trichopodus - ocean locoweed Epilobium canum - California fuchsia Pteroste ia drymarioides - trailing pterostegia or granny's -mi+- Agrostis diegoensis - San Diego bentgrass

As noted earlier, marine and coastal habitats (category 11) are not inventoried in this study. While rocky shore (11.3) and intertidal and sandy beach habitats (11.4) still exist because man has not tried to pave the ocean here (but Long Beach, watch out!), urbanization extends almost monolithically down to the intertidal strand. At the mouth of Aliso Creek on the north side there still persists some natural coastal sage, maritime succulent and perhaps southern coastal bluff scrub habitat on the low bluff between Pacific Coast Highway and the ocean. There are likely additional pockets of undeveloped coastal land, just as there were in 1983 within the city, north. These could prove to contain species and habitats of interest and regional rarity.

Aliso Creek is a PERENNIAL STREAM (13.1); portions of Ceanothus Canyon are also perennial. The remaining canyons onsite are either intermittent (13.2) or ephemeral, mostly in the latter category, 13.3.

One area within the South Laguna open space is classifiable as a VINEYARD AND ORCHARD (14.3). This is on the north slope of Bad- lands Canyon 5. A variety of tropical fruit trees and fruiting vines are cultured here. See Section 3.4.3-9. The remaining open space consists of ORNAMENTAL PLANTINGS (15.5) the so-called "urban. forest" of Eucalyptus, Pittosporum, Myoporum and other ornamentals at the suburban edae. and FUEL MODIFICATION ZONES (not classified as such in the G.~.s.) within 300 feet of developed land contiguous to the open space study area. The fuel modification zone is an area where woody vegetation is thinned from anywhere to 10% to 50% of its preexisting density. The interstitial openings created may be revegetated with prostrate non-native "fire retardant" material and the zone irrigated, as below Laguna Sur and Monarch Point, or it may simply be left alone, eventually infilling with coastal sage scrub, as it has along the South Laguna suburban edge. Within other areas of the city, where mechanical clearing was done on a regular basis, the interstices of fuel breaks (narrower swaths of +I- 100' or less) have nicely infi1,led with low-growing perennial foothill needlegrass, which holds the ground well and doesn't supply enough fuel to be a fire hazard itself. Mule deer browsing and grazing north of the Gorge seems to keep coastal sage scrub at bay and the native grasses prospering. However, mule deer are scarce now south of the Gorge, in the constricted, deeply dissected habitat peninsula between the developed Niguel Hill ridge and the South Laguna village. The only place where perennial grasses were doing well in the FMZ was an area on the lower Binion parcel where deer were still active. It will be interesting to see what comes back following the past year's goat grazinglbrowsing in Laguna Beach's peripheral FMZ. 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF SOUTH LAGUNA'S OPEN SPACE AREAS

This section describes the biological setting of each of the south city's canyon and ridge landforms, from north to south. These areas include the following:

Hobo Canyon and flanking ridges Aliso Canyon 0 Niguel Hill-Aliso Peak; Seaview Park Ceanothus Canyon 0 Dissected slopes and four canyons between Mar Vista Ave. and Laguna Sur Ridge and canyon behind South Coast Hospital Badlands Park 0 Binion Parcel 0 Hillside behind NE extension of Vista del Sol

In terms of habitat complexity, extent and ecosystem intactness, Hobo Canyon is the most significant of South Laguna's open spaces and is indeed among the most biologically valuable open spaces in the entire city. Therefore, a large discussion section is devoted to it. Except for habitat modification on the canyon floor, Aliso Canyon rivals and in some respects even exceeds Hobo Canyon in its resource significance. It therefore is also described comprehensively. Finally, ongoing development pres- sures, resolved in part during the study period predicated a close scrutiny of the Binion parcel further south, and its resources are described in enough detail that the section can be extracted as needed as a standalone report.

Prior to development of the ridgeline behi'nd South Laguna, Niguel Hill was a recognized habitat of critical concern. Frag- ments of this resource area still exist around the periphery of the hill: Seaview Park, Aliso Peak and Ceanothus Canyon. Sign- ificant biota can still be found in these areas.

The remaining open space slopes, south form an important and defining backdrop to the village of South Laguna. Unfortunately, development on most of the ridge above has resulted in constriction of remaining open habitat and some increasing imbalances most noticeable in faunal populations. This is not yet "island" habitat, but there are indications that it is suffering because of spillover human and domestic animal impact, fuel modification and predator-prey imbalance. Development of the remaining ridgeline on the Binion parcel within the City of Laguna Niguel will cut the slope open space off from the significant canyon habitat inland along Pacific Island Drive, further exacerbating an already deteriorating wildlife ecosystem. 1 3.1 HOBO CANYON WATERSHED This most significant of South Laguna's open spaces is detailed on the following pages. Certain physical features are named and numbered for reader orientation. The fol lowing map shows the location of ridge1ine promontories (named hi11s) which frame the watershed, and the branches of the canyon itself.

3.1.1 Overview

1. Significance

The geology, topography and maritime climate of this area profoundly influence the composition of its biotic setting. This is a most important parcel of land with respect to the uniqueness of its habitat and its role as the final open space connection between the south end of the Laguna Greenbelt, Aliso-Wood Canyon Regional Park, and the sea.

As observed in the field by Contributor Roberts, the land block almost seems designed (by nature) as a rare plant preserve. Five rare and threatened plant species have been found, as well as six which are of regional restricted distribution or at range edge. Among the former is the State of California threatened big-leaved crownbeard, in major stands within the heart of its small U.S. population. The land block is, as well, potential habitat for two Federal candidate reptiles and a Federal candidate mammal. A regionally unique vegetative association, southern or Diegan maritime chaparral is widespread, especially on San Onofre breccia which forms most of the underpinning of this study area. The last large undeveloped Pleistocene marine terrace in Orange County forms the crest of the block. Many rare plant populations are specifically associated with the unique terrace environment, as well as vernal seep zones, native grassland wildflower stands and widespread Diegan coastal sage scrub, an increasingly threatened plant community.

Finally, as well as the seep zones noted above, dispersed vernal pool-like environments were noted along the ridge crest between Hobo and Aliso Canyons. Most of these were of limited inundation duration, but one found in Topanga substrate on the ridge still contained water and a small fairy shrimp population in mid-April. Vernal pools are almost entirely extirpated from Orange County today, though they were once widespread on now developed coastal terraces and ridgelines.

2. Biotic Communities

The most widespread plant communities onsite are southern maritime chaparral, Diegan coastal sage scrub and sumac-toyon mixed chaparral. Within the broad southern maritime chaparral classification are found three subtypes: ~eanothusmegacarpus - dominated chaparral, typical on San Onofre breccia, monotypic on dry slopes but richly species-diverse on mesic exposures (mixed mesic association), San Diego chamise chaparral, cloaking the dry Topanga ridge- crests, and the south-facing sandstone exposures of that formation, and the bush rue-spiny redberry association, which is dominant in two types of situations: transition zones between chamise and ceanothus stands and the most maritime portions of north- facing slopes. The association is mostly limited to San Onofre breccia. Diegan coastal sage scrub is dominant on marine terrace ridgeland on the high inland portion of the block, extending beyond it into the Moulton Meadows sector of Aliso and Wood Canyons regional park. Sumac-toyon chaparral is found mostly inland on slope habitats transitional from coastal sage scrub to southern maritime chaparral, typically on Topanga substrate. It is also freely admixed in coastal sage scrub, with some slopes exhibiting a 50:50 mix of the two communities. Mesic north-facina slope vegetation classifiable as maritime ~eanothu; me acar us association will also contain a substan- eamount of lemonadeberry and toyon. Habitats of more limited distribution on the land block are native and adventive grasslands, mesic and xeric barrens, maritime succulent scrub and palustrine scrub shrub wetland. Native grasslands are usually small in extent, but they are numerous on the mesic flanks of the marine terrace. Those found onsite are richly floweriferous. An adventive grassland is found in the central portion of the north boundary area in a saddle between Hill 3 and 4, on clayey soil within the Topanga bedrock area. Many native wildflowers and some native grasses have established in less-disturbed portions of what may have been a previously cleared area. Mesic and xeric barrens are found about the flanks of the back ridgeline marine terrace, on the crest of the terrace at Hill 1, on the crests of hills and ridges wrapping around the north and east side of Hobo Canyon, and about outcrops of Topanga sandstone which increase in frequency on the slopes dropping toward Aliso Canyon. The xeric barrens are specific habitat of three of the threatened and rare plant species mapped onsite, and the three Federal candidate animal species of potential occurrence here. Mesic barrens are on outcrops facing north-northeast. They contain populations of two rare plant species.

Maritime succulent scrub is not well developed onsite, but several component species are subordinates in coastal sage scrub and chaparral in seaward portions of the study area. These include California encelia, bladderpod, oracle cactus and coastal prickly pear. Pal ustrine scrub shrub wet1 and dominated by coyote brush grows in sandy canyon-bottoms.

3. Wildlife Values

The habitat of the land block is of wilderness quality. Disturbance is found only along its urban margin south and west, where fuel modification has altered brushland structure and permitted invasion of alien grassland vegetation, and along the narrow trail corridors frequented to some extent by joggers, mountain bikers and domestic dogs, and gullied by runoff erosion. 'These trails were once ranch roads but are now in an advanced state of disrepair.

The generally unsullied nature of the terrain and its contiguous position to the Laguna Greenbelt contri- bute to its significance for wildlife in this area.

The mule deer population here does not seem as extensive as in maritime slope coastal sage scrub environments further north in the City open spaces. Prodom- inance of hard chaparral which is fairly dense is probably a contributing factor. Preferred browse species such as California buckwheat and native grasses are limited in aerial extent on the block, but where they occur in quantity, deer are abundant. A major area of concentration found is on benchland on the southern flank of Hill 2, in coastal sage scrub/sumac-toyon chaparral mosaic with native grass openings which are now browsed down to mineral soil and revegetated with pigmy stonecrop (Crassul a erecta) and mosses. Deer trails are common in the block, even in chaparral, but they are hard to detect from a distance because they are essentially tunnels under the woody brush overstory.

Coyotes are moderately frequent onsite. Their tracks and scat are observable along its trails. Brush rabbits and perhaps Audubon cottontails form an important prey base, along with dusky-footed woodrats and smaller rodents. Human-tolerant mammal evidence was noted at the urban edge, west by the burrows of Beechey ground squirrels and Botta pocket gophers. As noted in the methods section, small mammal trapping was not undertaken in this study because of budgetary constraints. It would be rewarding to assess the small mammal populations within the regionally unique maritime chaparrals of the site. Among species of definite potential occurrence is the Federal Candi- date Pacific pocket mouse.

The site hosts nearly the full complement of old growth brushland management indicator avian species, low-vagility taxa which are subject to locallized extinction in habitats which are cut off from regional open space. Only those kinds which probably never occurred here because of vegetative density (e.g., roadrunner) are absent from the study area today. Management indicators present and doing well include California quail, wrentits, California thrashers, Bewick's wrens, and rufous-sided towhees. Other avian species censused include these on the list below. Additional kinds occur in winter.

turkey vulture Cooper's hawk red-tailed hawk American kestrel (A black-shouldered kite was heard in the regional park.) miscellaneous seagulls (flying over) mourning dove rock dove (urban edge) white-throated swift Anna's hummingbird black-chinned hummingbird common flicker Pacific slope flycatcher scrub jay common raven bushtit blue-gray gnatcatcher mockingbird (at urban edge) yellow-rumped warbler Wilson's warbler black-headed grosbeak California towhee savannah sparrow (in grassland) song sparrow (near bottom of Aliso Canyon) white-crowned sparrow northern oriole (near urban edge) house finch (at urban edge) lesser goldfinch (in grassland-scrub)

Reptiles typical to the area (side-blotched lizards and western fence lizards) were noted. Rattlesnakes are reported in the upper canyon by the landowner. The potential on site is optimal for the orange- throated whiptail and, in the marine terrace area, San Diego horned lizard, formerly reported there, and silvery legless lizard. Vernal pools may harbor regionally rare western spadefoot toads. Rare Plant Populations Censused

A. Orange County Limited Distribution Taxa

The limited distribution northern range edge plant species censused include the following which are wid'espread onsite.

bush rue (Cneoridium dumosum) San Diego chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum obtusifolium) I BUSH RUE Also of County limited distribution but not at codayRa&a&m &be, range edge is spiny redberry (Rhamnus crocea). It , is also widespread here. San Diego mo untain mahogany (Cercocarpus minutiflorus, perhaps in a hybrid population with C. betuloides) , at its northern range edge is commOn to dominant on mesic north-facing slopes within the ceanothus association.

More restricted onsite is narrow-leaved oligomeris (Oligomeris linifolia), a Baja California herb which occurs on ridgetop barrens on San Onofre breccia, and Danny's skullcap (Scutellaria tuberosa), in ceanothus chaparral understory.

Recently nominated for CNPS List 4 is foothill mariposa (Calochortus weedii intermedius) an Orange County endemic found on dry ridges here and elsewhere- in South Laguna. CNPS Limited Distribution List 4 Species

. .. Western dichondra (Dichondra occidentalis) occurs S.D. MOUMJATNMAHFAEJY in major stands on ridgetop knolls and bench -~kck&Abrjre. promontories, on all of the site's substrates but particularly on sandstone (both Pleistocene terrace and the older Topanga). This land block appears to host populations of the species ri- valled in Orange County only by the nearby Rancho Laguna-Bluebird Canyon east ridge, which is dedicated open space recently purchased by the City of Laguna Beach. The following stands have been censused onsite. Other patches were observed in the immediate proximity in the Moulton Meadows portion of Aliso-Wood Canyons Regional Park. Small patches of western dichondra (Ca <1' x 1') were counted; the remainder were measured. Cover- age of the species is. not necessarily continuous in the larger areas, but is concentrated in shrub understory edges.

WESTERN V7'CHONVRA @ S&n(ohd UUnivmity Phus TABLE 13 Dichondra occidentalis Inventory

Plants Clumps Area of Coverage Location not counted not counted 4' x 4' Hobo Canyon west ridge open space parcel at end of Barracuda not counted not counted 5' x 5' Hobo Canyon west ridge open space parcel at end of Barracuda, at edge of fuel mod. zone not counted not counted 2' x 2' Hobo Canyon west ridge open space parcel at end of Barracuda, at edge of fuel mod. zone not counted not counted 5' x 3' Hobo Canyon west ridge open space parcel at end of Barracuda, at edge of fuel mod. zone not counted not counted 30' x 30' Hobo Canyon west ridge open space parcel at end of Barracuda, at edge of fuel mod. zone

not measured Hill 1 not measured Ridge between Hills 1 and 2 not counted 86' x 72' Hill 2 not counted 5' x 10' Hill 2 not counted 5' x 5' Hill 2 not counted 16' x 16' Hill 2 not counted 40' x 40' Hill 2 2' x 2' Hill 3 3 not measured Hill 3 small 10' x 5' Hill 3 small 5' x 5' West slope of Hill small 1' x 5' West slope of Hill 3 not counted 300' x 300' Bench overlooking 3 A1 iso Canyon below Hill 3-4 saddle. A major stand. not measured Hill 4

Total estimated area of coverage: 2.26 acres. Habitat: coastal sage scrub-xeric barrens mosaic with interfingering native grassland. 5. CNPS Rare and Endangered (List 1,2) Some of these are also Federal candidates for ist ing)

ummer holly ( Comaros taphylis diversif-olia)

On north-facin g slope of Hobo Canyon below ridge finger 4A. 15 shrubs counted near top of this slope; many more expe cted be low but census difficult because 'V of steepness of the land and density of its vegetation. At north end of its range, southern maritime chaparral comp onent.

Many-stemmed dudleya (Dudleya multicaulis) : Federal candidate

Found on the f lanks of the Pleistocene marine terrace within the land block and in adjacent regional park Mou1 ton Meadows sec tor. Two populations onsite, on Hill 1 and the wester ly portion of Hill 2. Total plants census ed onsite were 529 on Hill 1 and 260 on tat is xeric barrens with scattered coastal sage scrub, native grasses. & \M orange County Turki sh rugging (Chorizanthe statico- -tha) : Federal candidate

"11 . Found on marine terrace sandy ground on Hill 1, on both sides of regional park fence. 77 plants were counted in the study area, Habitat is xeric barrens. Also found on headland slope of west ridge in same association, 100 plants counted. San Diego barrel cactus (Ferocactus viridescens): CNPS "rare and endangered in California" (also occurs in Baja California),

A single individual f ound on the steep slope below Barracuda dur ing the FMZ survey may be either a northern outpost disjunct or inadvertently introduced from planted/p otted stock up the hillside from material perhaps ga thered during a Mexican vacation. If of natural distribu tion, the locality here would be

highly-. signifi cant. Future focused reconnaissances of the southeast - facing slope may reveal additional Y' plants, an indication of natural distribution.

U&a.-i%ns: 6. State of California T hreatened Listed

1. SUMMER HOLLY Big-leaved crownbeard (Verbesina dissita) 1 cowtau Racbnachen- - ~bao&u The U.S. population of this species is cited in the literature as being restricted to 20-25 acres extend- I ~bh4",4~-STEMMED ing from the maritime slopes of Arch-Porta-fina Can- @~Zundo*d Univ. Pneda yon to the South Laguna open space. A portion of the ( 3. TURKISH RUGGING, @~Zundo~dUniv. Pkeaa 37 population is also located in the City of Laguna Niguel in the fuel modification zone adjacent to Laguna Sur. The population is currently impacted and fragmented by residential development, and fuel modification which removes vital overstory shade and introduces alien grasses and landscape materials which compete for'space. In order for this threatened species to continue to survive in the United States, it is vital that an open space.reserve be established encompassing a major proportion of the population. Hobo Canyon appears to qualify as appropriate with respect to species density and isolation from threat factors. The species is characteristic within the understory of Ceanothus me acar us-dominated mixed chaparral on north-facing+-r s opes especially on San Onofre Breccia substrate. These slopes are difficult to survey on foot because of their steepness and brush density. The most accurate surveys are conducted when the understory shrub is in flower in May. Floral color is a distinctive lemon yellow which differs in intensity from the butter-yellow of the similar California encelia (Encelia california).

The findings of the preliminary mid-April surveys scrutinizing the ridges and upper slope edges revealed the following stands of big-leaved crownbeard. Note that crownbeard clumps appear to be clonal (probably as a fire adaptation) and can spread out over considerable area, containing many individual shrub stems. Therefore, clumps do not equal plants. In many cases, coverage is so extensive that clumps are indistinguishable from one another, and area of coverage is an easier measurement to derive.

W LEAYW CROUNWRP @ s*anb~~aDLEVCAA* mad: 38 TABLE 14 Hobo Canyon Population: Verbesina dissita Inventory

Plants Clunlps Area of Coverage Location

I 3 1 same 3' x 8' west ridge proposed fuel modification zone

same 10' x 3' west ridge proposed fuel modification zone

same dispersed west ridge proposed fuel modification zone

not counted 50' x 100' west ridge proposed fuel modification zone

same 10' x 5' west ridge proposed fuel modification zone

5 same dispersed west ridge proposed fuel modification zone

not counted not counted 15' x 8' west ridge proposed fuel modification zone

not counted not counted 6' x 4' west ridge proposed fuel modification zone

not counted not counted 4' x 2' west ridge proposed fuel modification zone

not counted not counted 4' x 6' west ridge proposed fuel modification zone

not counted not counted 4' x 4' west ridge proposed fuel modification zone

not counted not counted large; not measured west ridge proposed fuel modification zone

not counted not counted not measured, slope west ridge proposed too steep fuel modification zone TABLE 14 Verbesina dissita Inventory (Cont'd)

Plants Clumps Area of Coverage Location not counted not counted 4' x 15' west ridge proposed fuel modification zone, at development edge

7 not counted dispersed west ridge proposed fuel modification zone, at development edge

not counted not counted 5' x 3' west ridge proposed fuel modification zone, at development edge

not counted not counted west ridge proposed fuel modification zone

not counted not cou'nted west ridge proposed fuel modification zone TABLE 14 Verbesina dissita Inventory (Cont'd)

Plants Clumps Area of Coverage Location not counted not counted 2' x 2' west ridge proposed fuel modification zone not counted not counted 10' x 3' west ridge proposed fuel modification zone not counted not counted 5' x 5' west ridge propsed fuel modification zone

not counted not counted 2' x 2' west ridge proposed fuel modification zone not counted not counted 4' x 3' west ridge proposed fuel modification zone

100+ not counted 10' x 40' west ridge proposed fuel modification zone not counted not counted 5' x 4' west ridge proposed fuel modification zone

west branch of Hobo Canyon, in and out of fuel modification zone. Includes an essentially solid stand of +I- 1 112 acres. Stand extends from 60'-80' below the houses on Barracuda Way to the canyon bottom. not counted not counted 4 ' x 25' Hobo west lateral 4 ' x 8' ridge immediately 2' x 3' east of Goff Ridge in 4 ' x 5' and out of fuel 4 ' x 5' modification zone 10' x 15' 50' x 50' (beyond FMZ) 5 ' x 5' (beyond FMZ) 15' x 15' (beyond FMZ) 10' x 10' (beyond FMZ) not measured 5 ' x 5' (beyond FMZ) Note that the proposed fuel modification zone inventory was done before the FMZ was goat-grazed in 1991. Present condition of the FMZ population unknown. TABLE 14 Verbesina dissita Inventory (Cont'd)

Plants Area of Coverage Location not counted not counted South edge of Hill 1 100 12 at canyon head not counted not measured Hill 2 along E-W powerline rd not counted 10' x 20' Hill 4 (Hobo side of ridge) 5' x 5' (A1 iso side of ridge) not counted 20' x 40' (Aliso side of ridge) 10' x 10' (crest) 10' x 10' (Hobo side of crest) 100s est. 60' x 30' (crest) 6 not counted 10' x 15' Ridge 4A 4 not counted not measured not counted not counted 40' x 40' not counted not counted 10' x 10' 100s est. not counted 50' x 100' Brush clearance zone upper north-faci ng slope of Ridge 4A many not counted Remainder of north- 1000s est. facing slope of Continuous 4A cover in upper slope surveyed. not counted +/-lo not measured Hill 4, maritime ridge slope not counted 50 20' x 20' not counted, not counted 800' x 200' Northwest-faci ng many 1000's 1200' x 200' slope of Hobo est. Canyon be1 ow ridge 4A to mouth; not counted not counted additional dispersed stands dispersed not fully inventoried, dominant on two north-facing slopes of tributary ravines. not counted not counted 600' x 100' North-facing slope of Hill 5 3.1.2 Habitat Descri~tion

1. The Highland Ridges

A. West Ridge of Hobo Canyon

Most of the west ridge of Hobo Canyon is developed. Nyes Place ascends to the ridge from the bottom of Arch - Porta-fina Canyon, north, to Balboa Avenue which extends along its spine. Sev- eral streets project off of Balboa onto flanks of the ridge; one of these, Barracuda accesses a +I- 3 213 acre area which is not yet developed.

The apex of the Hobo Canyon east ridge is known as Goff Ridge; this landform is described in the 1983 Laguna Beach Biological Resources Inventory. The north facing slope of Goff Ridge, extending into Alexander Canyon contains a major, significant population of big-leaved crownbeard. It was here that the species was rediscovered in the United States during the 1983 BRI, and perhaps where it was first collected in 1903 by Mrs. F.M. Bradshaw. The population extended up the slope to Nyes Place until recently impacted by residential construction and fuel modification.

Adjacent to Goff Ridge is a minor ravine which drains into the mouth of Hobo Canyon, and a second smaller ridge very similar in habitat and vegetation to the larger spine, but less disturbed by foot traffic and urban encroachment.

The remainder of the open space associated with the west backbone ridge is steeply sloping canyonsides and lateral ridges which descend rapidly into the bottom of Hobo Canyon. A +I-150' fuel modification zone wraps around the urban edge. This portion of the survey included a focused search for rare plant stands not previously mapped which were in the overgrown fuel modification zone. At the request of the Laguna Beach Fire Department, all rare plant stands were flagged with red and white striped surveyor's tape so they could be protected during subsequent goat grazing to reduce fuel load. As summarized in the previous section, 62 stands of big-leaved crownbeard ranging in size from a 2' x 3' patch to a nearly 1 112 acre dominant swath were located and flagged, as well as single San Diego barrel cactus, 6 western dichondra stands, a San Diego mountain mahogany hybrid patch and a population of Orange County Turkish rugging. Most of the fuel modification zone is on steep slopeland below the urban edge. The bulk of the 3 2/3 acre vacant land parcel on the ridge crest at the end of Barracuda contains dense sumac-toyon chaparral with intermixed coastal sage scrub and cacti. Typical woody species in the brush cover are lemonadeberry, and the dominant, toyon, laurel sumac, and some big- podded ceanothus and spiny redberry. Suffrut- escents include black sage, California sagebrush, Cal ifornia buckwheat and blue witch nightshade. Oracle and other prickly pear cacti are interspersed, and wild cucumber vines clamber over the brush. On the bulk of the level land, the ratio of cover ranges from 50:50 chaparral/coastal sage scrub to 80:20 coastal sage scrub/chaparral . Southward, the brush vegetation thins and is eventually replaced by natural xeric barrens and previously disturbed areas adjacent to informal roads. The natural barrens are quite interesting. These may be somewhat enlarged by deer browsing. Deer are numerous on the ridge; their trails lace its dense brushland. The substrate of the openings is gravelly, with clay beneath. The sparse vegetation includes foothill needlegrass, lance-leaved dudleya, coast Indian paintbrush, Cleveland shooting stars, white forgetmenot, fascicled tarweed, derived microseri s, wild hyacinth and such dimutive plants as California plantain, California fl uffweed and everlasting nest straw. Patches of western dichondra are found about the periphery of adjacent shrubs.

Disturbed open areas adjacent to informal dirt trails and roads contain adventive grassland, masses of white forgetmenot, and weeds. About the edges of the grassy areas, native bunch- grasses have established as well as a prolific population of rattlesnake weed, the native southern California relative of Queen Ann's lace and garden carrot.

At the southern apex of the open space block, a xeric barrens harbors a population of 100 Orange County Turkish rugging individuals, as well as sapphire eriastrum, San Diego hosackia and other tiny plants. On the steeply dropping ridge seaward in the fuel modification zone, adventive grassland is replaced by xeric habitat containing 1ittleseed muhly grass, annual three-awn grass, goldentop grass,crested stipa, white pincushion flower and chia sage.

The slopes adjacent to the urban edge have been cleared of most woody vegetation for a distance of +/-150' from the urban edge. Specimen shrubs remain, with infilled adventive and native grasses, and subshrubs includi ng Cal ifornia encel ia, coastal sage scrub species, rupicoles like wishbone bush, orange bush monkey flower, and the State threatened big-leaved crownbeard. Crownbeard is typically found about the periphery and in the canopy of the specimen shrubs (particularly ceanothus) remaining; the species exhibits intolerance to exposed sunny situations, where previously existing stands (which may re- bound after overstory brush is first removed) die out and are replaced by grasses. Among these are native perennial small flowered melic on mesic exposures, ripgut brome and on more exposed slopes, wild oat species, red brome and others. Forbs on the more mesic modified slopes include sacapell ote, common eucrypta and chaparral morning-glory.

The 1 1/2 acre solid stand of big-leaved crownbeard is on the lower west slope of the upper west headwater of Hobo Canyon directly below the fuel modification zone bordering homes along Bar- racuda. The stand extends from the canyonhead downstream, and covers the lower half of the slope. The exposure is quite mesic and sheltered; also found here was lace fern, a delicate fern which is uncommon in Orange County, and the spring wildflower, milkmaids or Cal ifornia toothwort. A single barrel cactus was found, of unde- termined species. This may be an introduction as houses and landscaping are on the slope above. However, the possibility exists that the specimen is of the native coast barrel cactus (Ferocactus viridescens), never previously known north ot San Diego County and a CNPS List 2 species. The cactus and the massive crownbeard stand were discovered by contributor David Bramlet, who later reexamined the 1ocal e with contributor Fred Roberts, Jr. Further assistance with the species' identification is being sought.

The terminal ridge which drops into the mouth of Hobo Canyon just east of the Goff Ridge spine is nearly as significant as Goff itself, and is less disturbed by human activity. Vegetation of the ridge crest is a mosaic of southern maritime bush rue-spiny redberry scrub and ceanothus chaparral. In the loose rubble of Catalina schist clasts above the cemented breccia bedrock are numerous openings fringed by crownbeard clumps, bush rue and the like. These xeric exposures contain narrow-leaved 01 igomeris, desert whitlow and wild-celery or mock parsley (A iastrum an usti- folium, which unlike its relative,++ plum or celery is a small delicate herb of dry chaparral understory and openings, not marshes and creek edges). Other tiny herbs and grasses here are field suncups, alkali lotus, Nuttall's and Kellogg's sna'pdragon, sand rocket and littleseed muhly grass. The larger ridge, Goff does have somewhat oreater herb ,.diversity, containina foothi 11 mariposa li1 ies, death cama; (zygadenus fremontii), Orange County Turkish rugging and Danny's skullcap, as well as many or most of the specjes cited ' above. The north-facing slope of this ridge, like Goff is dominated by ceanothus chaparral with a crownbeard understory. However, the Goff slope plunging precipitously into Alex- ander Canyon is much larger, and contains outcrop microhabitats edged by lace ferns and California polypodys. The preexisting significant cover of the slope +/-150' off the edge of Nyes Place has been removed by fuel modjfication activities and new construction since the 1983 BRI was published. The crownbeard population in the zone is much reduced from its former extent due to removal of most of the sheltering overstory.

Pleistocene Marine Terrace

The Pleistocene marine terrace caps the highest ridge onsite, extending from Moulton Meadows and the head of Rancho Laguna Canyon to Hills 1 and 2 onsite.

The dominant vegetation of the crest of the marine terrace is coastal sage scrub which is quite dense. The scrub is composed of black and white sage and hybrids of the two, California sagebrush, California buckwheat, deerweed, coyote brush, the woolly form of coastal goldenbush, giant rye, orange bush monkey flower, dispersed woody shrubs such as lemonadeberry, laurel sumac, spiny redberry and bush rue, and dispersed prickly pear cacti (Opuntia "occidentalis", g. littoralis, -0. oricola). On the mesic flanks of the terrace facing northeast toward Aliso Canyon are seep zones at roughly 800' elevation (40' below the crest). In the vicinity of these seeps, mesic nutcrop exposures host lance-leaved and many-stemmed dudleyas, trailing pterostegia, wishbone bush and western dichondra stands. These often are contiguous to and blend into native grassland openings of foothill needlegrass, San Diego bentgrass and colorful spring wildflowers. The latter include Cleveland shooting stars, ground pinks, blue-eyed grass, wild hyacinth, white forgetmenot, owl's clover, coast Indian paintbrush, purple and Paci- fic sanicles, larger blue toad-flax, hillside hedge-nettle, mesa saxifrage, smooth cat's-ear, amole lily, goldfields, red maids and common groundsel.

On the crest of the terrace above, interstitial openings are very sandy and host a psammophyte assemblage, including sandmat, croton, southern suncups, white pincushion flower, California fluffweed, California plantain, everlasting nest straw, pigmy stonecrop, Arabian grass, white forgetmenot, and others in small desert-like rnicro- habitats. As well as the seep zones on the terrace margins, there are vernally moist depressions on the crest. Large clumps of Mexican rush along the "rough" edge of Moulton Meadows city park indicate that past pooling may have occurred in this now developed recreation area. The depressions are found along the old ranch roads which lace the terrace. They contain sand spurrey, weedy cudweed and scarlet pimpernel.

Hill 1 is a orange-reddish sandstone promontory knob overlooking the west headwater branches of Hobo Canyon. Vegetation is scanty on the knob, which is skirted by xeric barrens containing rare Orange County Turkish rugging and many-stemmed dudleya, lance-leaved dudleya, and dispersed bush rue, spiny redberry, coastal sage scrub subshrub, beardgrass, and Hottentot fig iceplant mats. The orange-red sandstone outcrop semibarrens on the headwater slope below contain dispersed big- leaved crownbeard clumps partial ly shaded by sumacs (lemonadeberry, laurel sumac), oracle cactus and patchy coastal sage scrub. - Slopes facing north toward Aliso Canyon below the ridge connecting Hills 1 and 2 are clad, amidst coastal sage scrub and mesic native grassland I 'ILD openings, by extensive patches of poison oak "chaparral". I D. Hill 2 Hill 2 is a broad promontory between the east and west branches of Hobo Canyon. The crest of the hill, northwest is within the marine terrace. As the hill slopes south and east, underlying San Onofre breccia and some Topanga sandstone are exposed. As discussed before, the crest of the hill contains a substantial many-stemmed dudleya population while the ridge slope dropping away eastward hosts a very extensive and significant population of western dichondra. Promontory benches facing south and,'southeast are areas of mule deer concentration. The lower slope east contains a big-leaved crownbeard stand.

The vegetation of Hill 2 is principally a dense mosaic of sumac-toyon chaparral, black sage- California sagebrush coastal sage scrub and cactus. There are grassy and semibarrens openings containing rare plants and wildflowers. Wild- flower meadows are well developed on the upper north-facing slope. Bladderpod, a maritime succulent scrub species (along with the cacti) is found here and sparingly as a brushland subordinate seaward, where it is joined by another member of this community, California encelia. Hill 2 drops precipitously south and east into B LADDERPOP Hobo Canyon, revealing the plentiful Catalina schist of its underpinnings. Hills 2 and. 3 are Courr;te?l y separated from each other by the west fork of the ~admad.mAd~ociat~ east branch of Hobo Canyon, which broaches the backbone ridge between this watershed and the slopes of Aliso Canyon. In the bottom of the fork in sandy ground is palustrine scrub shrub wetland dominated by coyotebrush.

On the east ridge of the hill, grasslands increase in extent and become somewhat invaded by alien species. New native grassland plants appear such as gumplant, and millefoil or white yarrow. Blue-eyed grass and hillside hedge nettle are common. Dispersed through these floweriferous grasslands are the coastal sage scrub edge subshrubs, chaparral bedstraw and coastal goldenbush. In the sandy ground at the fork bottom, beneath the scrub shrub wetland overstory of coyote brush is Mexican rush, giant rye, blue witch nightshade and fuchsia-flowering gooseberry.

E. Hill 3

Beyond the broached ridge is Hill 3, a small promontory between the east and west fork of the east branch of Hobo Canyon. Hill 3 is underlain by Topanga Sandstone, which is exposed on the crest, creating a marine terrace-like sandy barren vegetated with western dichondra, sandmat and pigmy stonecrop. These barrens are exposed on the north flank and crest of.the hill, near and at the junction of the east-west powerline road and the ridgeline ranch road. The remainder of the hill is vegetated with coastal sage scrub, cactus and lemonadeberry shrubs.

F. Saddle Between Hill 3 and Hill 4 is a broad saddle which contains soil and habitat different from the remainder of the Hobo Canyon watershed. Here, sandy soils vegetated by coyotebrush are replaced by expansive clayey ground and a sweeping adventive grassland. The grassland extends across the saddle from the Aliso Canyon slope down onto the upper east branch slope of Hobo Canyon, where its size may have been extended by brush clearing during ranching days.

At the saddle, disturbance has promoted the establishment of artichoke thistle or cardoon, a large, aggressive forb which is difficult to eradicate, once established in grassland. On the slope below, habitat is less disturbed and cardoon is infrequent. The dominant grasses are species of wild oat on the Hobo Canyon side and a mixture of species (oats, ripgut brome, red brome, soft chess) on the Aliso Canyon side. On the Hobo Canyon side, native needlegrasses are becoming established along the meadow margin. A colorful display of California buttercups decor- ated the lower slope. Blue-eyed grass, dove or bicolored lupine, gum plant and hillside hedge nettle were also frequent. Deer beds were found in the meadow, and the margin of grass and brush was sharply defined by wildlife browsing and movement trails. The moisture-retentive nature of the ground was demonstrated by vernally wet depressions along the old ranch trail, these colonized by blue-eyed grass and hillside hedge nettle.

Moving out of the saddle toward Hill 4, grassland, coastal sage scrub and coyote brush grow in a mosaic, the coyote bush died back perhaps from frost injury. This and other coastal sage scrub habitats were surveyed for California gnatcatchers by contributor Roberts, playing back a previously recorded gnatcatcher call in hopes of [ eliciting a response from within the brush. Here, a gnatcatcher was observed but failed to answer the tape. Roberts concluded it was the unendan- gered blue gray gnatcatcher rather than the Federal proposed California gnatcatcher.

G. Hill 4 North of Ridge 4A

Hill 4 is a long ridge extending along the east side of the Hobo-Aliso Canyon divide. The northern half of the ridge is underlain by Topanga sandstone, the remainder by San Onofre breccia. As the hill is ascended, coastal sage scrub is replaced by low-growing sumac chaparral with subordinate coastal sage scrub elements, cactus, bushrue and spiny redberry. Xeric barrens are exposed along the A1 iso Canyon side of the ridge, surrounded by stunted redberries, lemonadeberries, bush rue, cactus and black sage. Within these sandy and gravelly openings are shiny lomatium, lance-leaved dudleya and foothill needlegrass c1 umps. Big-leaved crownbeard becomes quite frequent in and about such openings on either side of the ridge.

Approaching the crest of the ridge, sumac chaparral is replaced by a relatively narrow band of maritime bush rue-spiny redberry scrub which is in turn replaced on the high, dry backbone by San Diego chamise chaparral. All along, big-leaved crownbeard is an important understory plant except at the very crest, which is a monotypic Diegan chamisal. This is an open association, showing a lot of bare ground and rock outcropping. Chamise is an allelopathic species. Chemicals in the needle mulch inhibit the growth of competing vegetation, including most understory species, in monotypic stands. In slightly more mesic microhabitats, bush rue, redberry and rush rose are found in the chamisal here.

H. Lateral Ridge 4A and Adjoining North-facing Slope

The north-facing slope adjoining lateral ridge 4A is one of the most interesting and significant areas in the land block. The slope contains a diverse mixed mesic form of southern maritime chaparral. This habitat extends to the lateral ridge crest, where chamisal gives way to bush rue-spiny redberry scrub and hence to Ceanothus megacarpus chaparral as conditions become increasingly mesic. San Diego mountain mahogany, varyingly hybridized with the more widespread birch-leaved mountain mahogany is an important element of the mesic north-facing slope vegetation. Toyon, lemonadeberry, barberry- a. FAIRY SHRIMP leaved scrub oak, big-podded ceanothus, San Diego chamise, spiny redberry, bush rue and summer I holly are additional components of the dense chaparral. Beneath is an extensive stand of thousands of big-leaved crownbeard shrubs, and climbing penstemon, wild cucumber, Nuttall's I bedstraw, giant rye and herbs such as common eucryptia, pellitory, goosegrass, slender madia I and goldenback fern. Hill 4 South of Ridge 4A

Ridge 4A lies astride the faulted contact between the Topanga and San Onofre formations. To the south, the Hobo Canyon watershed is underlain by San Onofre breccia. Usually evidenced on the surface by clasts of the component Catalina schist, on the seaward slope of the ridge, the consoli- dated breccia, cement-like in appearance is exposed.

The vegetation of the maritime slopes is a rather uniform and monotypic Ceanothus me acar us chaparral. In dry ridge slope and sadd+ e areas, the big-podded ceanothus shrubs are small and widely spaced; on more mesic exposures or moisture- retentive ground, the shrubs grow tall and dense, and lemonadeberry and black sage are intermixed.

2,' . Along a portion of the ridge containing a double left valve removed trail linked by crossovers, an inundated depres- sion was found which contained many ostracods and a few fairy shrimp, While ostracods are found in many persistent puddles that can't be defined as vernal pools, the beautiful fairy shrimp is' a a. b. above true vernal pool species, now almost extirpated in Orange County. The pool found had no associ- @Samud Eddy and ated plant species, appearing as an especially large and deep mud puddle in the ranch road. Its IA'C* Ho~on water was turbid, like that of the preexisting pools about the base of the Temple Hill promontory before it was recently developed. But the presence here of even a degraded pool points to the possibility of establishing more such depressions off the roadways if the land were in dedicated open space. As discussed in Section 3.2, on the Aliso Canyon side of the ridge near the pool, a seep zone supports several kinds of vernal pool plants.

Below (south of) its crest, the ridge forks. One lateral drops to the floor of Hobo Canyon near its mouth, clad with a mixed ceanothus-bush rue chaparral, with the bush rue association dominant seaward. The second ridge descends to the sea terrace at the south edge of Hobo Canyon while the third ascends to promontory Hill 5 and then drops down to the mouth of Aliso Canyon. In the maritime fog influence, the brushland is a mosaic of spiny redberry, ceanothus, chamise, bush rue, black sage, California buckwheat, California encelia, laurel sumac and lemonadeberry. Big- leaved crownbeard is patchy within the understory.

Barren ridge exposures along the trails contain drifts of Oligomeris, an herb restricted to the southern maritime chaparral associations in Orange County.

J. Hill 5

Hill 5 is connected by a narrow saddle to the south end of Hill 4. It slopes down to the narrow mouth of Aliso Canyon, creating the north end of the tight constriction at the apex of the Gorge. Flora of the south-facing slope of the hill is discussed in the Aliso Canyon section.

The crest of Hill 5 and saddle above is vegetated in a xeric monoculture of open-spaced big-podded ceanothus shrubs.

2. Hobo Canyon Slopes and Floor

About half of the floor of Hobo Canyon is developed as a "mobile" home park (actually manufactured "double wide" structures which are mobile only in the sense that they can be hauled to the site on a flat- bed truck). The hillside facing the ocean just south of the canyon mouth is similarly developed. Most of the park was in place prior to 1968; however since that time it has extended another 1000 feet further up into the canyon.

Above the end of the mobile home park, the streambed is traversable for a short distance but rapidly becomes steep and vegetation choaked.

A. East Slope

The east slope of Hobo Canyon is oriented somewhat northward. Below the east headwater branch, which is flanked by a true north-facing slope, two well developed laterals cut into the sidewall, creating additional north-facing (and south facing) microhabitats. The entire slope is more densely vegetated than the south-oriented west slope; the true north-facing exposures markedly SO.

Viewing the east slope from head to mouth, the following vegetation units can be discerned in the field; (analysis off of aerial imagery is more difficult because of shadowing).

The east canyonhead slope near the ridge contains a mix of sumac-toyon chaparral and coastal sage scrub, with grassland in the saddle between this slope and promontory Hi11 4. Lemonadeberry chaparral also flanks the Hill 4 ridge beyond the saddle.

The east canyonhead slope below the ridge, down into the canyon bottom is dominated by ceanothus on lateral ridges and a mix of bush rue, ceanothus and lemonadeberry elsewhere.

The crest of Hill 4 as noted earlier is dominated by San Diego chamise chaparral, which fingers down the 4A ridge, eventually replaced on the ridge and west-facing slope below by the bush rue-spiny redberry association which extends down into portions of the adjacent north-facing slope. The balance of this slope contains southern maritime mixed mesic chaparral of San Diego mountain mahogany, scrub oak, toyon, big-podded (and perhaps San Diego greenbark) ceanothus, lemonadeberry and summer holly. A line of what appeared to be flowering holly was discernible in the upper east fork of the east branch along the margin of this slope. Openings on the slope reveal solid green patches of big-leaved crownbeard understory.

The more southerly oriented slope south, as well as the lateral canyons' south-oriented slopes contain an open dry-exposure mix of coastal sage scrub, bush rue-redberry scrub, lemonadeberries and big-podded ceanothus. Lateral ridges are dominated by the bush rue-redberry association, which is also abundant in the upper portions of tributary canyon draws. West-facing slopes generally above the heads of the draws contain a mix of this association and big-podded ceanothus chaparral, with the former dominant on some slopes and the latter on others. The north-facing slopes of these tributary ravines contain the same type of maritime mixed mesic chaparral as on the north-facing slope of Ridge 4A. B. West Slope

The west slope generally shows less variety in its habitat than the east slope. The majority of the slope contains an open dry mix of species similar to that found on the more xeric exposures of the opposite canyon wall. The vegetation cover is quite open, maintained by deer herbivory. Black sage-dominated coastal sage scrub, sumac- toyon chaparral, and bush rue-redberry scrub are intermixed. Big-podded ceanothus chaparral is dominant on lateral ridges dropping down toward the canyon floor. Promontory knobs of San Onofre breccia outcropping dot the ridge slope. Immedi- ately underlying Topanga sandstone is exposed on the lower slope, grottoed into impressive caves.

C. Canyon Bottom

The lower half of the canyon floor is lost to development. But except for invasion of ornamentals and fuel modification thinning, the immediately adjacent lower slopes contain quite pristine and diverse examples of indigenous southern maritime association cover. The north- facing exposures are particularly interesting. Here, the importance of San Diego mountain mahogany in the woody overstory and big-leaved crownbeard in the understory can be observed. Other notable understory species were masses of snowberry and of small-flowered clematis, dominant on steep, very mesic exposures in soil skin atop bedrock, white-flowered currant and fuchsia- flowering gooseberry, small-flowered melic grass, which dominates some fuel-modified slopes, polypody ferns, climbing penstemon, chaparral and Nuttall's bedstraw, orange bush monkeyflower, California bee plant, ocean locoweed, common eucrypta, cliff malacothrix, wild cucumber, saw- toothed goldenbush and others. Sharing the chaparral overstory with the mountain mahogany are big-podded ceanothus, toyon, lemonadeberry, scrub oak and bush rue.

The lower portions of the west slope contains an open low-growing cover composed of black sage, bush rue, big-podded ceanothus, California encelia, spiny redberry and lesser amounts of laurel sumac, toyon, lemonadeberry, California buckwheat and big-leaved crownbeard. Many rocky barrens are exposed. Rupicoles in these xeric openings include wishbone bush and birdsfoot fern. Ornamental fountain grass invades openings adjacent to the urban edge. Invasion or deliberate introduction of ornamentals on the mesic east slope (north and northwest-facing) was also noted. The most prolific invader here is Algerian ivy. Century plant, trailing African daisy and other horticultural~were also noted.

Tall components of the canyon floor vegetation immediately above the street end in the mobile home park consist of coyote brush, giant rye, Mexican elderberry, naturalized myoporum and Brazilian pepper, tree tobacco and lemonadeberry. Understory shrubs observed were California encelia, big-leaved crownbeard, spiny redberry, fuchsia-flowering gooseberry and white-flowered currant. Herbaceous elements are common cocklebur, western verbena, petty spurge, California bee plant and common eucrypta. Clematis vines clamber over some of the shrubbery. The stream floor is open and sandy in this reach, providing a pathway for wildlife (and people). Below it is variously cul verted or channelized along the access street.

As would be expected, the sheltered canyon, even along the margins of the developed area supports an array of avian species. Noted during the brief April 17th survey were many wrentits, and Wilson's warblers (Z), a Pacific slope flycatcher, California thrashers, California quail, song sparrows and a lingering white-crowned sparrow not yet departed to its northern breeding grounds. Red-tailed hawks, ravens and miscellaneous seagulls were flying overhead. The weather was also beginning to be warm enough to bring out a few side-blotched lizards, seen on the southeast-facing slope, and rattlesnakes (probably southern Pacific) reported by the park manager further up canyon.

The upper floor of Hobo Canyon was not surveyed because of legal access difficulties, which did not seem worthwhile to surmount given the quite limited extent of accessible terrain. South Laguna canyons were in general found to be trav- ersible upstream for quite limited distances because of vegetation choaking.

D. Short Canyon South of Hobo Canyon

Between Hill 5 and the ridge that extends southwest off of the end of Hill 4 is a short canyon. The slopes of this canyon are a somber gray green monoculture of big-podded ceanothus, touched at intervals with yellow-green splashes of bush rue. The canyon's south-facing slope is less densely vegetated than the opposite north-facing slope. On the north-facing slope, at least some portions of the chaparral understory is dominated by big- leaved crownbeard, undoubtedly with thousands of individual plants present. Near the urban edge, the vegetation has been fuel modified and invaded by annual grasses. Horticulturals and annual grassland grow on the narrow area of undeveloped sea terrace at the canyon mouth. A levee diverts runoff from the canyon onto a driveway accessing a water tank at the base of Hill 5.

The canyon floor above is tightly flanked by chaparral and contains palustrine shrub-scrub wetland, maritime succulent scrub, sumac-toyon chaparral, and naturalized horticultural elements, replaced above by ceanothus. Species inventoried included California encelia and giant rye both abundant, naturalized myoporums and acacias, Mexican elderberry, toyon, lemonadeberry, crownbeard and herbs such as petty spurge, common eucrypta and wi ld-celery. The stream floor is open below but vegetation-choaked above. 3.2 ALISO CANYON

3.2.1 Overview

Aliso Creek is an ancient drainage antecedent to the raise of this portion of the Laguna Hills. As the old seabeach uplifted in the Quaternary Era, the creek carved a path down through the underpinnings of San Onofre breccia and Topanga sandstone, creating the scenic gorge at its mouth today.

Aliso Creek eminates in the front range of the Santa Ana Mountains against the south slope of the Santiago escarp- ment. The east headwater then follows Country Home Road and the west headwater, Modjeska Grade Road, to Santiago Canyon Road. The creek continues down El Toro Road and through the community of El Toro, where its floodplain is urbanized. It then cuts through the southwest portion of Mission Viejo, crosses under the San Diego Freeway and subsequently passes through Leisure World. South, in the Laguna Hills and Aliso Viejo, the floodplain is impres- sively broad, the centerpiece of the so-called Saddleback Valley. Alicia Parkway follows this reach. This area in the last 13 years has gone from grazing land and dry farm agriculture of barley and garbanzo beans to intensive residential and satellite commercial development. Flat land near the confluence of a major tributary system east is the site of the "Ziggurat" or the Chet Holifield building, the center of Federal operations in the south county. Topography here provides clues of potential impending head capture of upper Aliso Creek by the west branch of Sulphur Creek. Sulphur Creek, east, is the path of Crown Valley Parkway. Sulphur Creek in turn is separated by only a low pass from the antecedent Oso Creek-Trabuco Creek watershed. The fragile works of man can keep such geomorphology static for a short span of years, but natural processes in the end will prevail.

Below the "Ziggurat", the lower reach of Aliso Creek passes through Aliso and Wood Canyon Regional Park. The Sheep Hills raising above the confluence of the two drainages is the site of the Aliso Viejo planned communi- ity; the regional park was dedicated to the county as a condition of approval for this massive development.

As the creek approaches the front range of the Laguna Hills and the Laguna Beach city limits, its floodplain narrows; canyon slopes steepen, to near vertical within the gorge at its mouth. The narrowed floodplain in the Gorge is developed as the Aliso Creek Golf Course (referred to on U.S.G.S. topo. as Laguna Beach Country Club). Urban, ocean viewshed development impinges on the flanks of the canyon at its mouth. Below the gorge, the creek is increasingly influenced by proximity to the ocean; estuary vegetation becomes established here. After passing beneath Pacific Coast Highway, the final reach of this perennial stream empties into a lagoon, cut off from the sea for much of the year by a barrier beach. In peak winter storms, upstream flow can broach this beach, or public works equipment intervenes and cuts the barrier to prevent flooding of County Park facilities here. Summer storms from tropical hurricanes at sea can generate wave height (+I-10-12') sufficient to overtop the barrier as well. This was witnessed during the field survey.

Upstream from the golf course in the Gorge, the banks of Aliso Creek are thickly vegetated with willows and mulefat. Amarshy thicket east of the creek is a dense tangle of poison hemlock, nettles and other robust phrae- tophyte herbs. But in the golf cours.e, the creek is channelized with riprap, and riparian vegetation is controlled. This results in the loss of a good opportunity to enhance wildlife habitat values by letting natural processes take place (with or without help from man). In addition to a paucity of riparian trees and shrubs, the channel is artificially straight, shallow and bereft of pools and riffles which would be of benefit to now rare native fish, and reptiles like the Federal candidate Pacific pond turtle, formerly indigenous here.

The lagoon was until recently, habitat for the Federal candidate tidewater goby. The goby population in the lagoon was studied by Los Angeles County Museum ichthyo- logist Camm Swift over a number of years. The last gobys disappeared about 11 years ago; the cause of their demise was not known. It could be speculated that one or more factors could have been involved:

Flood control activities in the lagoon and in the channel upstream, creating a lethal suspended sediment load as well as directly disturbing and narrowing habitat.

0 Raw sewage spill from Aliso Water Management Agency plant upstream in the Gorge (just above the city limits). There have been numerous such spills through the years.

Accumulation of toxic levels of pesticides or other chemicals in the lagoon, perhaps washed down from the golf course, the SCWD plant below the golf course, the regional park, or a deliberate or accidental toxics spill eminating from Coast Highway or somewhere upstream in the watershed.

Intrusion of the sea into the lagoon aided by public works barrier beach cutting. * 58 Once tidewater gobys are lost in a particular niche habitat, natural restocking is unlikely because the closest populations are separated by barriers of toxic salinity. This fish lives in rivermouth lagoons sheltered from the sea by barrier beaches, in slightly saline water. They do not tolerate sea water, and hence cannot migrate up or down the coast to other estuaries (Carnm Swift, pers. comm.). The closest extant population today is on Camp Pendleton.

Aliso Creek's role as an antecedent streamcourse also enhanced its potential as a wildlife dispersion corridor between hill and montane landforms in the county until recently, when so much of the watershed became urbanized and the remaining streamcourse habitat constricted by development and pertubated by public works activities. However, despite paucity of cover through the golf course, the creek still functions as a habitat corridor from the Laguna Greenbelt to the sea. Deer tracks were seen along the channel all the way down to the vicinity of Pacific Coast Highway, and others have reported deer in the ocean at Aliso Creek Beach. Why deer would want to go to sea is an intriguing mystery; perhaps the resource is regarded as a giant salt lick.

Besides providing a lowland passageway, the perennial creek is of significant value as a water source for wildlife in the surrounding hills, and may account for the healthy populations of predators and other fauna in this part of the open space. While the irrigated and manicured golf course is an artificial habitat in the Gorge, it is attractive to fauna which otherwise would be seen here only occasionally. The robin for instance, is a resident species.

While the floor of Aliso Canyon is extensively modified today, the slopes still exist in nearly their indigenous condition. The only modifications to the slopes are some old groves of eucalyptus trees extending up from the valley and now mostly in a state of advanced decline, and the traces of old roads now overgrown with vegetation. There is on the outer north-facing slope some invasion of cliff face habitat by exotic rupicoles from plantings about the residential edge above. These ornamental "rock garden" species threaten by competition rare native rupicoles, particularly Laguna Beach dudleya.

The slopes flanking Aliso Canyon are a treasure house of rare plants, as discussed in the next section. The south- facing slope is less steep than the north, and is dissected by a series of tributary canyons. Spectacular outcrop cliffs are found in one of these, perhaps the former nesting habitat of bald eagles (reported here as late as 1914) and golden eagles, known from Aliso Canyon up to the 1970's. Seaward from the tributary canyon is an area of open hillside strewn with blocky chunks of broken outcrop as large as houses.

The vegetation of the south-facing slope exhibits nice zonation from inland to the sea. Within Aliso and Wood Canyon Regional Park is a patchwork of coastal sage scrub and grassland, the latter community extending up from the valley floor. This habitat is found over to the northern portion of the canyonside within the city, but is eventually replaced by sumac-toyon chaparral. As the sea is approached, the latter corr~munity gives way to southern maritime ceanothus chaparral, capped on the red rock badlands habitat of the Hill 4 ridge above by San Diego chamise chaparral. Large areas of rock outcropping project into the chaparral cover; these support about their periphery maritime succulent scrub dominated by cacti, as well as mesic microhabitats containing groves of Engelmann x scrub oak. In fuel-modified setbacks near the development edge, coastal sage scrub has infilled previously cleared land, a much more flammable cover than the indigenous chaparral removed.

On the other side of the canyon, the steep north-facing slope undulates, creating microhabitat features. There are two massive outcrop headlands which project into the Gorge, the first at the west city limits and the second at the canyon mouth. These two promontories constitute the type locality for State threatened, endemic Laguna Beach dudleya. Collections made by botanist Reid Moran from Aliso Canyon were the basis for his description of this species. During his years as curator of the herbar- ium at the San Diego Natural History Museum, Moran discovered and described many species of dudleya previously unknown to science, a skill undoubtedly coupled with an intrepid disregard of the hazards of botanizing down the sides of soaring cliff faces, as well as a well-known wry sense of humor.

Inland from the Gorge, the west-facing slope within the regional park is a mosaic of sumac-toyon and mixed chaparral, and grasslands extending up from the valley below. At the AWMA treatment plant is a cove back into the canyonside where sycamores once grew prior to plant construction. Downstream from the cove, the canyon's orientation changes from south to west, with a consequent north-facing slope above. Inland, this contains sumac- toyon and mixed chaparral. On the west-facing slope of the first headland cliff is a lense of coastal sage scrub. Beyond, big-podded ceanothus dominates the hillside over to the second headland cliffs at the canyon mouth. There are prolific patches of poison oak on this slope, which is laced with the zig-zag traces of an old road from the Niguel Hill-Aliso Peak saddle. Sumac-toyon chaparral replaces ceanothus on the upper, drier slope. The foregoing "thumb-nail" sketch sets the stage for a more detailed look at Aliso Canyon contained in the following pages.

DUD LEYA ST0 LONTTERA

I CoMe~yFhed Rohm2, ,7h,

3.2.2 Rare Plants and Animals

This section summarizes information on rare biota found in the watershed of Aliso Canyon.

1. Flora

A. Orange County Limited Distribution Taxa

The limited distribution northern range-edge plant species censused include the following.

Bush rue, widespread in maritime chaparral on south-facing slope.

San Diego chamise, extending down upper south- facing slope from Hill 4 ridge.

Th e foliolose lichen , Niebla cerruchoides, dis- j unct from Baja Ca lifornia and qualifying for CE Q A threatened status in the United States. Th is species is SY "'Pa tric with the California threat ened- 1is ted endemic, Laguna Beach dud1 eY a and appears to be involved in a symbiotic re- 1a tion ship with this species, as described 1a ter.

Ladies ' fingers du dleya (Dudleya edulis), found

on the seaward nor th- facing cliff at the Gor ge 3 wi th Laguna Be ach dud leya.

Spin dberry is a 1i rnited distribution sh rub FT NGERS Y re LADTES' spec ies which is not at range edge in Ora PUVLEYA nge Coun ty It is sY mpa tric with bush rue. @~tandotd UvLiv. Paub Foothill maripos a li 1~ is a limited-distribut ion Oran ge C ounty en demi c recently nominated for C NPS List 4 status.

Octoploid lance-leaved dudleya, whose chromosomes are twice the number found in typical lance- leaved dudleya, is endemic to the Aliso Canyon Gorge (David Verity, pers. comm.). The taxon is glaucous and narrow-leaved. Its most distinctive character is that it grows in multiple clumps, not individually as is usually the case with -D. lanceolata. Flowers are scarlet. B. CNPS Limited Distribution List 4 Species

Western dichondra

Three populations of western dichondra were found on the south-facing slope. Others were probably overlooked. The largest was on a midslope bench semi-barrens opening in coastal sage scrub in the interior portion, and consi'sted of thousands of plants across an area of about 2 acres. The second is on the A1 iso Canyon side of the Hill 4 ridge, near the northern end of this backbone divide, and consists of +/-lo00 plants in a 96 square foot area.

The third is in the area of slope below the crest of Hill 4, strewn with house-sized chunks of sandstone. It consists of 10 plants in a 100 square foot area.

C. CNPS Rare and Endangered in California List 2 S~ecies-, Palmer's grappling hook (Harpagonella palmeri)

This is one of an assemblage of plants associated with a seep zone on the uppermost south-facing slope close to the ridge top vernal pool described in the Hobo Canyon section. As described in text, later, a 1/3 - 1/2 acre eroded area along an old trail contained 258 plants in 1991.

This is an exciting find; as described later in text, only a small number of populations of this unusual annual have ever been recorded from Orange County. The common name of this borage family herb is derived from the strangely hooked PALMER' GRAPPLTNG seed capsules ("fruit") . HOOK D. CNPS Rare and Endangered Taxa @ ~;tanb~trdUn&. Phmh Many-stemmed dud1 eya

A single population was found on the Aliso Canyon side of the northern portion of Hill 4. 6 plants were counted. Other stands may have been overlooked in inaccessible terrain on the south- facing slope.

Orange County Turkish ruggi ng

A rather large stand was found on the south- facing slope adjacent to the house-sized outcrop containing the newly discovered Laguna Beach dudleya population (see discussion below). 200 plants were counted in a 15 square foot area surrounded by coastal sage scrub and grasses.

Further up on the same south-facing lateral ridge off the Hill 4 peak is an even larger stand. About halfway up the hill, this dispersed population covered nearly an acre. 252 plants were counted.

Near the top of the slope just east of the roadway seep zone with its Palmer's grappling hooks is a stand of 53 plants.

Two plants were also found at the north end of the Hill 4 ridge, on the Aliso Canyon side. Others may have been overlooked nearby.

E. California Threatened-Listed Species

Big-leaved crownbeard

Stands of this disjunct from Baja California are found on both slopes of Aliso Canyon, but the species is not as widespread here as it is in Hobo Canyon, north.

On the south-facing slope, the shrub grows all through the understory of the ceanothus chaparral, across the broad, rare plant-strewn ridge which extends straight south from the Hill 4 peak. Many hundreds of plants extend through a band of chaparral at mid-slope elevation.

On the north-facing slope, the species' colony extends down the steep face from the crest of Aliso Peak. The plant count here would probably be in the 100s.

Smaller groupings of crownbeard were noted on the lower south-facing slope proximal to the mouths of the first and second tributary canyon inland from the sea. The species is found intermittently along the Hill 4 ridge, with some groupings on the Aliso Canyon side.

Laguna Beach dudleya (Dudleya stolonifera)

As noted earlier the Aliso Canyon Gorge is the type locality for Laguna Beach dudleya. Five stands are found in the Gorge, three on the north-facing slope. State botanists estimated the Gorge population to be less than 1000 individuals in 1982 in an area reduced to less than 100 square feet, but obviously they looked at only the best known stand which is located on the north-facing cliffs at the canyon mouth. This stand has been impacted by adjacent construction and competition from invasive ornamental rupicoles, particularly Aeonium haworthii, Echium and Echeveria. The coastal stand is the only one which also contains ladies fingers dudleyas; octoploid lance-leaved dudleya is also here.

Inland on the north-facing slope are two stands. One is on a tilted cliff just oceanward from the interior projecting headlands. A fairly sparse population of Laguna Beach dudleya grows along the upper margin. Plants probably number less than 1000. The second population is on the rounded inland headland cliffs. Here, the species grows in draping cap soil on the upper margin of the outcrop, and out on the cliff face within mats of lichen. Octoploid lance-leaved dudleya, California fuchsia (Epilobium canum), cliff malacothrix (Malacothrix saxatilis), wand buckwheat (Eriogonum elongatum), branching phacelia (Phacelia ramosissima) and polypody ferns (Poly- californicum) are also found on the exposure.

The number of plants on this cliff is estimated well in excess of 1000. It is the best extant population in the Gorge today, extending across 2/3 acre or so of cliffside.

The inland of the two populations on the south- facing slope is on an elevated outcrop near the mouth of the rugged cliff-girded canyon which is the second inland from the sea. 300 plants were counted, using binoculars.

The oceanward stand, newly discovered in this survey is in a niche microhabitat on the shaded northeast-facing slope of one of the house-sized boulder chunks strewn across and partially buried within the broad lower ridge south of the Hill 4 peak. On a vertical face measuring 35' x 40' are an estimated 600 Laguna Beach dudleya rosettes, including seedlings growing in "nests" of Niebla cerruchoides which appear to catch seeds falling from plants further up the outcrop. Polypody ferns, mosses, wild hyacinths (Dichelostemma ulchella) and fringed Indian pink (Silene lacin- pfaT-T a so grow on the mesic exposure. 2. Fauna

Sensitive fauna known to be extant in the Gorge are the California gnatcatcher, proposed for Fed- eral endangered listing and the San Diego cactus wren, petitio.ned for such listing; the Federal proposal package was pending as of October, 1991.

A single male gnatcatcher was located by the author on the south-facing slope on the inland edge of the city on the Aliso and Wood Canyons Regional Park boundary on July 22, 1991. Sweet- water Environmental Consultants, surveying the park for gnatcatchers at about the same time also saw this bird (Barry Jones, pers. comm.).

A pair of cactus wrens was observed on the south- facing slope in cactus scrub above the house- sized, Laguna Beach dudleya-clad outcrop by the author and Gordon Marsh on June 10, 1991.

Other sensitive animal species previously known from the Gorge were bald eagles, golden eagles, two-striped gartersnakes, Pacific pond turtles, southwestern toads and tidewater gobys. It is not likely the eagles will return to nest in COASTAL CACTUS WREN these cliffs, but aquatic management and restocking could restore the turtle, snake, toad and goby populations in the future. Habitat on the north ridge and slopes may also be appropriate for the orange-throated whiptail and San Diego horned lizard, which may have been overlooked during the survey.

I I CA LVORNIA GNATCATCHER 66 3.2.3 Habitat Description

1. Aliso Canyon's South-Facing Slope

That portion of Aliso Canyon within the city of Laguna Beach extends from near where the direction of Aliso Creek changes from south to west, on down to the ocean. The location of the west bend is easily identified in the field by the Aliso Water Management Agency (AWMA) sewage treatment plant, which is at its heel. A piece of Aliso and Wood Canyons Regional Park extends down into the Gorge at the bend, surrounding the plant site. As noted earlier, the Aliso Creek Golf Course and associated condominium housing are found on the floor of the canyon below.

The Aliso Canyon slopes are rugged and either heavily vegetated or precipitously steep. Survey work on both the south-facing and north-facing sides of the Gorge was mostly limited to reconnoitering existing old trails, and binocular inspection from the flanking ridges and overview promontories and from the canyon floor. Fred Roberts did an overland hike through the dense brush and contracted severe allergic dermati- ties from bush rue, which is abundant oceanward from the bend. Later, the author and Gordon Marsh were attacked by chiggers as a result of similar bush- whacking. The possibility of encounters with the pinhead sized tick, Ixodes acifica was a source of concern here and mehestudy area after Lyme disease-carrying ticks were confirmed in the south County.

Several dim trails remaining from old roadways are found on the slope. The first one extends east off of Hill 3 on the Hobo-Aliso Ridge down through grassland and coastal sage scrub and an area of eroded xeric barrens to the floor of Aliso Canyon well above the bend. A second trail also drops off of the ridge a short distance south, at the north end of the long ridge that culminates with Hill 4, the high promontory between Hobo and Aliso Canyons. This path extends southeast and then bends south, terminating in a turnaround loop in sumac chaparral.

The final trail is an old, overgrown and severely eroded powerline road to a pole overlooking the golf course in the Gorge. It takes off from the crest of Hill 4 and terminates 220 vertical feet above the canyon floor. There is also a dim trail out to the crest of Hill 5 which was not attempted because of the narrowness of its hogback ridge. The latter trail appears to be made by deer. Numerous additional deer trails lace the Aliso Canyon slope, often extending in dendritic patterns as short spurs off the old service roads.

A general observation about the vegetation of the south-facing slope of Aliso Canyon is that it pro- files, often quite predictably from inland to sea and from ridge to floor. As discussed earlir, from inland to sea, one sees an evolution from grassland with patchy coastal sage scrub along the city's north boundary, to coastal sage scrub, mosaics of this community and sumac-toyon chaparral which finally give way to the latter. This in turn becomes admixed with and finally replaced by southern maritime chaparral of big-podded x warty-stemmed ceanothus, bush rue and spiny redberry, with a widespread understory of State threatened big-leaved crownbeard.

A profile from the crest of Hill 4 to the floor of Aliso Canyon incorporates San Diego chamise chaparral at and below the crest for some distance, in turn replaced by an irregular band of bush rue and spiny redberry, then ceanothus, becoming admixed with and eventual ly replaced by sumac-toyon chaparral and coastal sage scrub below. The lower slopes become very rocky; here, maritime succulent scrub of cactus species and bladderpod is admixed with coastal sage scrub. The habitats on and in the immediate vicinity of the outcrops host a rupicole flora which includes the State threatened Laguna Beach dudleya and an equally rare lichen, discussed earlier and later. Finally, in the immediate vicinity of the golf course, the lowermost slopes are somewhat disturbed and contain xeric habitat herbs like California mustard, and coastal bluff scrub species like saltgrass and crystalline iceplant.

Within the horizontal and vertical scenario outlined above, the slope reconnoiters revealed many interesting features, including vernal pool habitat at the crest of Hill 4, populations of eight limited distribution, rare and threatened plant species, including one in probably the largest of a minute number of Orange County occurrences, a breeding occurrence for a Federal candidate bird species and a territory for a Federal proposed endangered songbird. Almost all of these resources are on private land within the City. See previous section for site details.

Following is a description of resources observed in the three downslope transects provided by the limited points of access on the south-facing slope. A. East Boundary Trail

The inland transect across the Aliso Canyon north slope extends from the grassland saddle between Hills 3 and 4 down the canyonside along the city's boundary with Aliso and Wood Canyons Regional Park. The lower portion of the transect crosses the narrow strip of regional park which extends south along Aliso Canyon from the large block of parkland above.

This most inland transect is strongly influenced by the ecological setting of the adjacent regional park and is more typical of the inland portions of the coastal hills than the second and third transect described later. While habitat is extensive and valuable, it is not regionally unique as is the vegetation of the maritime slopes underlain by San Onofre breccia. Coastal sage scrub and adventive annual grassland are dominant habitat types present. Patchy and sometimes extensive sumac chaparral stands are also found. On the lower reach, the trail skirts a steep-sided eroded tributary canyon slope, where much bare silty soil is exposed.

This transect was surveyed on July 22, 1991. At that time, spring flowers had for most part gone to seed. Rosinweed's white flowers were still widespread on sandy barrens, and a few of the sympatric Orange County Turkish rugging specimens were also still in bloom. Many-stemmed dudleya had gone to seed; flowering culms were an orange- tan color and were hard to spot in known localities, let alone new ones. Big-leaved crownbeard was still in flower except on exposed promontories, where it had gone to seed. A good many Laguna Beach dudleyas were still in bloom, and even when flowers were not apparent, the dis- tinctively formed and colored vegetative rosettes were easy to spot. Octoploid lance-leaved dudleya was in flower, showing scarlet-orange blooms, and the spectacular powder-white chalk lettuce dudleya was putting out flowering culms. Finally, western dichondra was still green in part, though some of the frilly leaves of this prostrate, sprawling herb had crisped and yellowed. In summary, rare plants for most part were still fairly easy to detect in their habitats without the "hands and knees" intensive seaches necessary later in the summer. The habitat characteristics of this transect, so close to the regional park do not lend themselves to the development of extensive rare plant populations, a situation quite different from that encountered in unprotected open space a little closer to the sea. Hillside habitat within Aliso and Wood Canyons Regional Park is similar to that found in the transect, though a number of areas indeed do harbor rare plants such as many-stemmed dudleya, Orange County Turkish rugging, and a recently discovered population of Laguna Beach dudleya in Mathis Canyon (John Messina, Sweetwater Environmental Biologists, pers. comm.). The point is made here that the bulk of the most unique botanical habitats in the vicinity of mouth of Aliso Canyon, as well as the critical Hobo Canyon watershed are not in the reserved open space of the County regional park. The threatened plant species which dwell here remain only at the pleasure of private landowners.

Following is a description of habitat features of the northerly transect.

Soil in this transect is rather clayey and moisture-retentive, giving raise to development of grasslands, once native but now mostly dominated by wild oat species, and an abundance of coyote brush, a marginal scrublshrub wetland shrub codominant on the upper slopes with Calif- ornia sagebrush. Native grassland elements such as purple needlegrass, blue-eyed grass and gum plant proliferate in openings along the almost overgrown trail which descends to a power pole overlooking the Aliso Creek valley here.

The simplified mix of coyote brush and sagebrush prominent on the upper slope is augmented below by orange bush monkeyflower (dominant in some portions), patches of lemonadeberry and increasingly large patches of wild oat grassland which on the lower slopes on both sides of Aliso Canyon share a habitat mosaic with coastal sage scrub. The valley floor below is grass-vegetated except for a swath of coastal sage scrub and scrublshrub wetland along the creek. Other plants encountered downslope are cactus species, bladderpod, woolly coastal goldenbush, giant rye and chaparral bedstraw. In the grasslands, as well as slender and common wild oats are nitgrass, foxtail fescue, soft chess, red brome, fennel, branching tarweed, narrow-leaved fluffweed, star thistle and scattered artichoke thistles; the latter with in- tensely brilliant blue flowers at survey time.

Oceanward from the transect, the habitat changes rather quickly. The north-facing slope of the adjacent tributary canyon supports dense chaparral of lemonadeberry, toyon, Mex,ican elderberry and large swaths of poison oak. The mesic lower canyon contains a single small coast live oak in the wild cucumber-draped chaparral thicket.

Across the Aliso Creek valley, the opposite, east slope of Aliso Canyon is mostly, in the city of Laguna Niguel. The ridge above is developed. Below the ridge, chaparral extends down the north-facing slopes of tributary canyons. The ' larger these drainages are, the further down the evergreen woody brushland descends. In between the tributary canyons, the slopes are vegetated with coastal sage scrub, with mosaic patches of "IdCucumber grassland climbing, upward from the valley below.

he Aliso Water Management Agency (AWMA) sewage reatment plant is located on the floor of Aliso anyon at the mouth of a large tributary. Syca- more trees grew on the site before the plant was contructedd (Gordon Marsh, U.C. Irvine, pers. comm.). A series of broken rock outcrops pro- trudes from the slopeland behind and above the plant.

As described elsewhere, Aliso Creek drains south until the vicinity of the AWMA plant. It then veers west through the Gorge, being flanked by steep canyon slopes facing north and south. The vegetation and habitat of the south-facing slope is characterized in the following subsections and that of the mesic north-facing slope later. The shift in habitat at the AWMA plant is dramatic. From the rather typical San Joaquin Hills vegetative patterns described above, the north-facing canyonside oceanward is dark and forboding- looking, clad with chaparral to the canyon floor and marked by overhanging cliffs. A gloom of maritime overcast and fog casts a "Night on Bald Mountain" pall of mystical quality. It is somehow not surprising to find rare plants dwelling in abundance in such a place.

Within the transect, the canyon slope steepens toward the valley floor, still supporting a mosaic of coastal sage scrub, grassland and sumac chaparral patches. A dense brushy area of black sage, lemonadeberry, toyon and poison oak teaming with bird life is encountered. Further downslope, this gives way to more typical, fairly diverse coastal sage scrub of sagebrush, black sage, California buckwheat and monkeyflower. The trail pauses at the power pole, out on a promontory headland overlooking the Aliso Canyon floor. The tributary canyon south-facing slope below is eroded and bare except for drifts of wild buckwheat and scattered sagebrush, bladderpod, cacti, Australian saltweed, cliff malaco- thris and chalk lettuce dudleya. Exposed outcropping of lumpy siltstone and derived silt-clay soil, highly eroded, characterize the steep, rugged slope.

The remainder of the transect passes through the narrow southern neck of Aliso and Wood Canyons Regional Park. The habitat here is of coastal sage scrub and dispersed sumac chaparral inland and coastal sage scrub oceanward. Within the transect area, a monoculture of California sagebrush constitutes 80% or more of the vegetative cover (the remainder, interstitial openings and the trail itself). At approximately 200' above sea level, a California gnatcatcher was encountered on the south side of the trail. The characteristic call, like the mew of a kitten was heard in the sagebrush. "Pishing" attracted the bird to a visible area at close range. The individual was male, grayish, with characteristic black cap and tail, the latter with narrow edging of white. The bird was also observed about the same time by Sweetwater Environmental Biologists (Barry Jones, pers. comm.), during a survey of the regional park for the species prior to the Fish and Game Commission hearings August 1, 1991 to consider it for California endangered listing. Sweetwater found this to be one of only three territories for the species in the park.

At the end of the transect, the upper floor of Aliso Canyon is vegetated by dense swards of ripgut brome and mustards. The AWMA road extends down the canyon on the west side of the creek, posted with no trespassing signs which reflect unresolved issues of access within the new regional park which is already open to the public on a restricted basis.

B. Trail to Turnaround Loop

A short distance south of the north boundary trail, this path is at the edge of the grassland previously described. Most of this transect passes through black sage-dominated coastal sage scrub, with California sagebrush and buckwheat, and lemonadeberry as secondary components. The trail extends out onto a grassy bench overlooking the canyon above the AWMA plant. Clusters of lemonadeberries and coyote brush on the nearby slopes may indicate seasonal seepage zones. The native grassland opening is ringed by coastal sage scrub containing quite a bit of California encelia. Below the bench, the lower slope is densely vegetated with a mixture of lemonadeberry, ceanothus and black sage.

On the bench headlands on San Onofre breccia rubble is an extensive population of western dichondra, extending across a 2 acre area. The species hides under and rings every bush in this deer-maintained opening, amidst mounded, cropped buckwheat, cropped foothill needlegrass tufts, and scattered sagebrush, black sage, lemonadeberry and some spiny redberry.

Beyond the promontory overlook, the trail bends south and terminates. in a turnaround loop, amidst dense sumac chaparral and coastal sage scrub.

The gully beyond, and the north-facing slope of the lateral ridge southwest is covered with ceanothus, toyon, spiny redberry and bushrue. In the bottom of the gully is a dense growth of clematis vines. Xeric San Diego chamise chaparral drapes down the mountainside from the Hill 4 ridge above, replaced on the lateral ridge crest below by coastal sage scrub.

Two additional gullies, one well defined, dissect the canyonside between this trail and the next discussed. These were not surveyed except below, from the golf course because of the steep terrain and brush vegetation density. The westerly of these tributaries, viewed from below and across the Aliso Canyon gorge is quite spectacular, with cave-grottoed cliffs girding its steep upper reach. As noted elsewhere, this canyon was in the early 20th century a bald eagle nesting area. A population of State-threatened Laguna Beach dudleya grows on a cliff face near the canyon mouth, and State-threatened big-leaved crownbeard is found in the mesic undergrowth along its stream channel. Aliso - Hobo Ridge Slope Between Second and Third Trai 1

This ridge is discussed earlier as it pertains to the Hobo Canyon watershed. Several additional features were noted on the Aliso Canyon side of the ridge. Two individuals of Orange County Turkish rugging were found near the junction of the ridge trail and the trail that goes down to the loop turnaround. This kind of spotty distribution was noted in several places along the ridge trail and probably represents dispersal via seed hitchhiking on animal fur out of larger populations in the area.

On the Aliso side of the ridge, the narrow-leaved prunrose or glaucous form of- Dudleya lanceolata is encountered. Accordina to research bv David Verity, university of ~aliiornia, Los ~n~eles, the prunose form is octoplaid, having double the numer of chromosomes as the typical tetraploid form. Similar material is encountered through the range of maritime Diegan chaparral in Laguna Beach all the way to Crestview Canyon, north, which is at the edge of the community range and the associated San Onofre breccia substrate. But in Aliso Canyon, the prunose form is the only one encountered of lance-leaved dudleya. A colony of these on the upper Aliso slope had bright lemon- yellow flowers rather than the typical scarlet of the octoploid forms indicating potential hybrid- ization with Laguna Beach dudleya, found lower on the same slope and in its type locality on the opposite north-facing canyon wall.

A colony of 6 plants of CNPS rare and endangered many-stemmed dudleya was also found on the Aliso Canyon side of the ridge, a short distance south of the second trail. Bright drifts of yellow pincushion flower grew nearby.

Adjacent to a Orange County surveyor's monument on the Aliso Canyon side of the ridge road, a 96 square foot area of patchy sagebrush, buckwheat and foothill needlegrass was solidly carpeted with approximately a thousand western dichondra plants. This population was on the ridge as it ascends toward the crest of Hill 4.

As described in the Hobo Canyon section, the crest of the Hobo-Aliso divide ridge including the northern portion of Hill 4 is capped by an extensive stand of San Diego chamise chaparral, a subtype of southern maritime chaparral which occurs in South Laguna on well-drained highland slopes and ridges on sandstone. Badlands Park in South Laguna is a well known local example of this habitat type. Like the more widespread common chamise chaparral of the Santa Ana Mountains in Orange County, San Diego chamise chaparral is a rather rnonotypic association because of the allelopathic herbi- cidal effect of the species' dropped needle- leaves. Two associates noted on the upper Aliso slope that apparently are not affected by this competitive strategy are rush rose and shiny lomatium. These species are also characteristic in common chamise chaparral.

At its greatest extent between the second and third trail, the chamise zone drapes a long way down the Aliso Canyon slope. This area is rubbly with broken clasts of sandstone, and the vegetation is quite open and rather low-growing.

Defining the northeastern flank of Hill 4 is the head of the well defined cliff-girded ravine previously noted. Here, chamise becomes intermixed with bush rue, spiny redberry, toyon, scrub oak, black sage and scattered ceanothus. Down- slope, the latter species becomes dominant.

A stony promontory headland lies between the well defined ravine and the less incised barranca southwest. Viewed from the Hobo-Aliso ridge above, the crest of the headland contained a mosaic of open coastal sage scrub, chaparral bedstraw, pine goldenbush, redberry and bushrue, and orange bush rnonkeyflower. Not topographically accessible for close inspection, the headland looked like a good habitat for rare plants.

D. Trail to Utility Pole

As noted earlier, this trail extends from the crest of Hill 4 down to the pole which is 220 vertical and 600 feet horizontal from the canyon floor. From this point, the interesting outcrop area on the headland overlooking the canyon floor was inspected before descending to the golf course along a deer trail through coastal cholla.

At the top of the trail, at the crest of Hill 4 is the vernal pool area and seep zone. While the actual pools are in the ridge roadway and are consequently degraded, the seep zone nearby and below is less impacted and contains several unusual plants. The most significant of these is Palmer's grappling hook (Grpagonel la palmeri) , a CNPS List 2 rare to endanFred plant in Calif- ornia whose range extends beyond the state (in this case, Baja California, the Mexican state of Sonora, and Arizona). The range of the species in California (a good bit of which may be historic now) includes Los Angeles County east to Riverside and San Bernardino County and south to the Mexican border. Munz cites it as rare and local on dry slopes and mesas in chaparral (opening) in the cismontane poriton of southern California. Notes Gordon Marsh, who had in the past encountered Harpagonella-- in several sites in San Diego County, the species is often seen in the unusual habitat around vernal pools. Other known localities for Palmer's grappling hook in Orange County include a tiny population associated with CNPS endangered Blochmann's dudleya on the Dana Point Headlands (in the path of a pending massive development project), Gabino and Christianitos Canyon on Rancho Mission Viejo, and Caspers Regional Park. The Christianitos Canyon stand is located in the Riverside Cement clay- mining lease, and in the future spillover urban growth impact area of the Foothill Transportation Corridor. A Metropolitan Water District reservoir has been proposed in Gabino Canyon.

Onsite, the prostrate annual with its unusual, multispined "hitchhiking" seed pods is growing along the eroded roadway on the south flank of the crest of Hill 4, covering an area of 113 to 1/2 acre. 258 plants were counted, most on the road itself. Some, in erosion gullies were quite large for the species, measuring a hand's breadth or around 8 inches.

Another interesting vernal pool associates noted on the slope and the ridae nearby was swamp timothy (~eleochloaschoenoides), a species not recorded in the Checklist of Vascular Plants of Orange County (~oberts,1989) or in the Flora of Southern California (Munz, 1974). The vernal pool s~ecies is introduced. and has been s~readina south from the Central ialley. The seniok autho; has also found it in a vernal pool in the Vedanta highlands at the north end of O'Neill Regional Park in the county.

A colorful vernal pool associate found was the beautiful magenta-flowered canchalagua, with masses of bright blooms in locales on the crest and flanks of the ridge near the pools. Sickle grass, an odd rush-like grass was, with swamp Timothy growing sympatrically with Palmer's grappling hook out on the sloping, eroded trail. Branching tarweed, scarlet pimpernel and the diminutive rattail fescue were other plants noted in this unusual vernally wet area.

Below the ridge on this transect is black sage- dominated coastal sage scrub with dispersed San Diego chamise shrubs. About a third of the way down, a very large Orange County Turkish rugging population was encountered along and adjacent to the road. In excess of an acre in size, this open coastal sage scrub-chaparral south-facing slope laced with deer trails contained at least 252 plants in dispersed small to large colonies. On a perfect south-facing slope, the brightly colored fuchsia annual was growing in uncharac- teristic loamy soil; (it usually prefers sandy or gravelly sites). Associated overstory species were black sage, spiny redberry, bush rue, ceanothus, prickly pear cacti, lemonadeberry, Califor- nia buckwheat and foothill needlegrass.

Further downslope, the substrate becomes ex- cessively rubble-strewn, with big chunks of sandstone and some schist. This is about midway down the canyonside. Vegetative cover is composed of coastal sage scrub, San Diego chamise and some ceanothus. Crownbeard starts to show up here, in widely dispersed clumps. The dominant overstory evolves into a ceanothus-bush rue-spiny redberry mantle beyond. In this broad midslope band, big- leaved crownbeard is the dominant understory plant, with thousands of individuals undoubtedly present. Most of the crownbeard is hidden in the shady understory. It can be spotted on the slope in places where there are breaks in the chaparral mantle.

The midslope area offers overviews of habitat to the west, on a small intermediate lateral ridge and beyond on the east-facing flank of Hill 5.

The first small ridge is open in aspect and appears deer-browsed. Crowned above with dense ceanothus, it is vegetated below with a mosaic of this and the bush rue-spiny redberry association.

The crest of Hill 5 is topped with San Diego chamise. Below this small cap is dense ceanothus with crownbeard peaking through openings. The lateral ridge descending toward Aliso Canyon from the hi1ltop contains bush rue and redberry, giving way to coastal sage scrub below. The ridge is truncated by a sheer dropoff cliff, below which is the Aliso Creek Golf Course parking lot. In the ravine which defines the east edge of Hill 5 are massive areas of rock outcropping. The outcrops are composed of conglomerate and sandstone, and their peripheries are thinly vegetated with coastal sage scrub, chamise, and bush rue and redberry. The latter association is dominant on the sideslopes of the ravine up the gully from the massive outcrop area, extending up the hillside to the ceanothus zone above.

Back to the broad ridge traversed by the third trail, the ceanothus zone is eventually replaced downslope by spiny redberry, bush rue and densely growing lemonadeberry. Crownbeard extends into this area but eventually drops out.

The lower portion of the slope is edaphically affected by the prominent sandstone blocks exposed, some as big as houses. Interstitial soil is increasingly sandy, and such herbs as California plantain, peppergrass and sapphire eriastrum become abundant, along with annual and purple three-awn grass.

Cactus becomes dominant in the coastal sage scrub, with western prickly pear, oracle cactus and a fine colony of coastal cholla present. As previously noted, pair of San Diego cactus wrens was encountered in this cactus maritime succulent scrub; this is Federally proposed for threatened1 endangered listing.

On the southwest-facing slope of a small gully east of the lower end of the trail is a solid stand of around 200 Orange County Turkish rugging plants in a 15' square area. These are ringed by sagebrush and slender wild oats, and grow in a mix of silt, sand and gravel.

Trailing pterostegia and Bigelow spike moss edge openings on thin substrate over bedrock at the margin of the brushland.

A house sized sandstone cliff comprises the can- yonslope headland on the east side of the small gully. The variety of life found on this unique microhabitat may well be mirrored in the other less accessible large outcrops up the slope and easterly of this one.

A sheltered habitat along the north and east base of the outcrop is wooded with hybrid Engelmann x scrub oaks. These form an oak-woodland type habitat with a varied, rnesic understory containing western wood ferns and California polypody ferns, fuchsia-flowering gooseberry, small-flowered melic grass, giant rye, sacapellote, wild cucumber, fringed Indian pink and Nuttall's bedstraw. Glossy-leaved toyons create an attractive dispersed shrub layer beneath the tree-like oaks.

The sandstone outcrop itself is massive and blocky. About its western flank is a colony of western dichondra (about 10 plants in a 100 square foot area), San Diego bentgrass, June- grass, goldentop grass, small flowered melic grass, white forgetmenots and masses of Califor- nia plantain, a small annual of sandy places.

On the lateral ridge approaching the block is a colony of San Diego chamise, isolated from the extensive stands on the main ridge above. Out on the level, bare top of the outcrop are tufts of Junegrass and bicolored-leaf cudweed, issuing from cracks and soil pockets.

The great surprise awaits, however on the mesic northeast facing wall of the house-sized erratic. This wall is thickly carpeted with perhaps 600 Laguna Beach dudleya plants, small rosette succu- lents with tightly arranged triangular leaves and bright yellow flower clusters. Growing with the dudleyas are two species of lichen, Niebla hamala, a common Baja California foliolose type, and the rare. DerhaDs endanaered Niebla "cerruchoides" [~iebla kerruchoid;~ Rundel & Bowler M.S. sp.), a newly described lichen with a maritime fog ' belt range. Niebla cerruchoides looks like a little fuzzy gray-green pincushion and has the unique attribute of providing seed germination habitat for Laung Beach dudleya. As noted elsewhere, the finely branched little lichens catch seed descending from dudleyas growing further up the vertical cliff face. Num- erous tiny Laguna Beach dudleya seedlings were seen in the lichen "pincushions" on this rock face. This observation is perhaps new to science, depicting a commensal relationship between two threatened plant taxa.

The Laguna Beach dudleya population on the cliff covers an area of about 35' x 40', broken by a narrow bench in the rock face about half way down. Other plants on this exposure in addition to the two lichens are polypody ferns and on the narrow bench, numbers of wild hyacinths. The common honeybee was observed pollinating the dudleya flowers. Out at the tip of the headlands at and beyond the south edge of the outcrop is a large, old colony of coastal cholla, in bloom with rich scarlet flowers in early June. It was here that the cactus wrens were observed. Other plants noted on and adjacent to this outcrop and the ones upslope (in addition to various cacti) were pine, goldenbush, wishbone bush, pigmy stonecrop, prunose octoploid lance-leaved dudleya, common eucrypta, smooth cat's-ear, Bigelow spike moss, red brome and foxtail fescue. Some of the outcrops upslope to the east were grottoed with caves.

2. Aliso Canyon Floor and Lower Slopes

This section describes habitat within the bottom and adjacent slopes of Aliso Canyon from the city line west to Pacific Coast Highway. This reach of the canyon drains west-southwest, with flanking north and south-facing slopes. A high unnamed hill (Hill 4 in Hobo Canyon section) flanks the lower canyon on the west; this hill is a southern extension of the backbone Temple Hill ridgeline which wraps around the back of the city of Laguna Beach from Laguna Canyon south. The ridge separates the Aliso Canyon watershed from other, smaller ones within the city as well as the major Laguna Canyon drainage system. On the south, lower Aliso Canyon is flanked by the Niguel Hill ridgeline, beyond which is the SaltISalada Creek watershed. While most of the Niguel Hill ridgeline has been developed within the last few years, at the distal end, the crest of Aliso Peak, towering hauntingly above the Gorge remains in open space except on the irr~mediatePacific slope, where houses are perched on the hillside high above the ocean.

Within the city, most of the floor of the canyon has been developed as the Aliso Creek Golf Course. Be- tween the golf course and the AWMA plant is the Thurston Grove, an extensive woodland of eucalyptus trees. At the opposite, west end, the South County Water District buildings are along the north side of the access road and the remainder is fallow land and salt marshlaquatic over to the inland parking lot for Aliso Creek County Beach. Adjacent to the parking lot, the Bell Telephone Co. building sits back into the hillside, in a preexisting Laguna Beach dudleya locality, (Reid Moran, pers.comm. with Gordon Marsh).

Aliso Creek Golf Course has associated with it, a number of structures, concentrated at the west end of the facility. These include the pro shop. Ben Brown restaurant and a series of condominiums which flank the creek, some set back into the Aliso Peak cliffside, perhaps resulting in the loss of preexisting Laguna Beach dudleya stands. The golf course landscaping is of various non-native pines, eucalyptus trees and weeping willows. Also used are common and weeping bottlebrushes, California and Brazilian peppers, myoporum, acacia, star pine and native California sycamore. Grassy greens and fairways are edged and defined by open plantings of ornamental trees.

Aliso Creek as it passes through the golf course is channelized with dump riprap, with a natural, sandy bottom. While emergent vegetation proliferates in the bottom, little riparian tree and shrub cover is present along the banks, except at the point where the north-facing slope comes in direct contact with the watercourse. Above and below the golf course, riparian cover is better developed. The creek is described in more detail later.

The sideslopes of the canyon are undeveloped. A narrow band of undeveloped habitat along the south- facing slope extends all the way to the ocean, except where bisected by Pacific Coast Highway. The north- facing slope is very steep, with a series of outcrop cliffs exposed. The south-facing slope is dissected by a series of canyon drainages eminating from the Hill 4 ridge. Outcrop cliffs are prominent, especially along a canyon which drains into the easterly portion of the golf course.

Habitat features of the floor and lower slopes of Aliso Canyon are detailed on the following pages.

A. AWMA Plant to Golf Course

The Thurston Grove, an old grove of blue gums and other eucalyptus trees grows between the AWMA plant and the golf course. The main grove is securely fenced, excluding access. A portion extends into golf course property, growing on the north side of the canyon floor. The grove understory is dominated by ripgut brome and is substantially invaded by native and adventive brush, especially along the margins. Mexican elderberry, lemonadeberry, toyons and tree tobacco are all well established, adding internal and edge structure to the habitat. Other understory plants noted included myoporum, spiny redbery, deerweed, chaparral nightshade, monkeyflower, bladderpod, acacia, ragweed, wild cucumber and New Zealand spinach. A kestrel was seen in the grove canopy, and a juvenile red-tailed hawk called plaintively as it soared above the canyon behind the nearby AWMA plant. Nuttall's woodpeckers and a variety of songbirds also inhabit the eucalyptus woodland.

The creek was not surveyed above the golf course because of access difficulties. View points from above and below revealed ample edging growth of arroyo willows and giant reed or king cane, the latter an invasive exotic of riparian habitats. Emergent wetland lines the streamcourse. Proximal to the riparian willows and cane is moist swale habitat dominated on the north side by native alkali rye and coastal goldenbush. On the south side close to the golf course, this habitat is overtaken by dense stands of poison hemlock.

B. Lower South-facing Slope of Aliso Canyon

Within the city, this slope is dissected by two well developed canyons and several smaller ravines. Two prominent lateral ridges extend to the floor of Aliso Canyon. Oceanward is the Hill 5 ridge, which falls to the valley floor in the vicinity of Ben Browns. This ridge is bounded by the first of the well developed canyons, which is at the back end of the golf course driving range and parking lot. The second ridge juts out to the east. On its lower crest are house-sized boulder erratics representing broken in-situ outcrops. On the east side of this headland is a steep, rugged canyon flanked by cliffs. A knife- like ridge extends along the east side of this canyon above, gentleing out into a lateral ridge apron below. Beyond are less defined short ravines which more or less disappear below.

Habitat on this slope is described from Pacific Coast Highway inland to the city boundary.

West of the golf course, the crest of the south- facing slope is developed in apartment buildings. Much breccia outcropping is exposed on the slope. Vegetation has been fuel modified and is a patchy mosaic of laurel sumac and lemonadeberry, adventive grassland, bare outcrops and a little coastal sage scrub. It is obvious that fuel modification has a deleterious impact on the latter community. A small amount of big-leaved crownbeard still remains on the slope.

At the base of the slope are the S.C.W.D. district headquarters and maintenance buildings, flanked by the access road and a bare area used for employee parking and pipe and equipment storage, which faces onto Aliso Creek. Gray San Onofre breccia outcropping continues inland to the first canyon, where it becomes interdigitated with buff-colored Topanga sandstone. Breccia outcrops are lightly vegetated with chalk lettuce dudleya, prickly pear and coastal cholla cacti and some big-leaved crownbeard. Above is coastal sage scrub, patchy lemonadeberry and some bush rue and spiny redberry.

The lower portion of the canyon behind the golf course parking lot is occupied by the driving range, which is enshrouded by protective screening to protect cars and patrons nearby. Coyote brush scrub/shrub wetland grows on the canyon floor above. Big-leaved crownbeard is found on the lower, mesic portions of the flanking sideslopes. Typical coastal sage scrub grows on the higher canyonsides, and ceanothus chaparral drapes down off the crest of the ridge above onto the apron between the two headwater branches of the canyon.

Beyond this canyon, the headland of the lateral ridge supports, as discussed in an earlier section, substantial maritime cactus scrub within the coastal sage scrub matrix. One of the house sized outcrops on the crest of this ridge supports the newly discovered Laguna Beach dudleya population described earlier. Smaller outcrops along the golf course edge are studded with chalk lettuce and octoploid lance-leaved dudleya.

The second large tributary canyon is flanked by a series of cave-grottoed sandstone cliffs capped with chaparral and buckwheat scrub. Mesic habitat below in the canyon supports thickets of poison oak, branching phacelia, big-leaved crownbeard, California bee plant, and lemonadeberry and coastal sage scrub species. A wildlife trail extends up into the canyon and onto the adjacent headland.

The cliffs are best developed on the west canyonside. The lower set of cliffs harbors a population of at least 300 Laguna Beach dudleya plants (quite possibly double this number). Other rupicoles here are lichens, pine goldenbush, Nuttall's snapdragon, polypody fern, fringed Indian pink and small-flowered melic grass. The higher cliffs appeared not to contain any Laguna Beach dudleyas, as scanned with lox 40 binoculars from below. The lower cliff is quite close to the outcrop erratic where the species was newly discovered. The population on the lower cliff may be the same one that was discovered some years ago by Sid England, Steve Nelson and Gordon Marsh, but not entered into any regional data base (G. Marsh, pers. comm.).

California thrashers, song sparrows and scrub jays were observed here. Turkey vultures soared over the higher cliffs, whose grottoes might provide nest sites. As noted elsewhere these same grottoes housed nesting bald eagles early in this century.

The lower headland east of this canyon is very sandy, supporting good stands of the rupicole, sand mat, as well as white forgetmenot, Califor- nia plantain, a wild snapdragon and paintbrush. Big-leaved crownbeard shrubs are also dispersed through the mantle of coastal sage scrub.

Beyond the headland, the shallow cove above the Aliso Canyon floor contains the beginning of the old eucalyptus grove described earlier. The slopes in back have many small outcrop exposures, some edged by crownbeard. A mosaic patchwork of coastal sage scrub and grassland mantles the slope below, to the edge of the grove.

C. Lower North-facing Slope of Aliso Canyon

This slope is described from the east boundary of the golf course oceanward to the mouth of ~liso Canyon. Three zones of outcropping on the slope constitute the type locality of Dudle a stolonifera, Laguna Beach dudleya, a S Aa e hreatened listed succulent. Despite construction impacts several thousand plants still likely survive here. Also present on the cliffs is the unique octoploid form of lance-leaved dudleya, glaucous, clumping in growth habit, rather narrow-leaved, small in stature and scarlet flowered. The north- ernmost coastal locality of ladies' fingers dudleya (Dudleya edulis) is on the outcrop zone near the canyon mouth. The north face is a major locality for the rare lichen, Niebla "cerruchoides", and for a variety of additional lichen species.

Finally, these cliffs once harbored nesting golden eagles, before nearby development encroached on their large nest-critical zone. Two of the cliffs are of Topanga sandstone, the third, at the canyon mouth, of San Onofre breccia. Intervening slopes are steep, mesic and brush-covered. Descriptions of the varying habitat niches on the north face follow.

The easterly of the cliff outcrops appears to support the largest extant colony of Laguna Beach dudleya in the Gorge, and still remains free of direct or spillover impacts. This cliff is rounded and bulky in configuration, and is about halfway up the canyon slope. On the rock face, mats of dudleya and lichens grow together apparently in the same sympatry as observed in the new population described earlier. Also observed were octoploid lance-leaved dudleyas, polypody ferns, cliff malacothrix, California fuchsia, elongate buckwheat (~rio~onumelongatum), branching phacelia and foxtail fescue. Reid Moran. who discovered and named Laguna Beach dudleya, also noted mesa saxifrage (~epsoniaparryi). on the outcrops (CNDDB element occurrence report).

As is typical with Topanga exposures, this cliff is deeply grottoed, containing caves of sufficient size to have functioned as rock shelters for native Americans.

Below the easterly cliffs is a mesic tangle of elderberry, toyon, lemonadeberry, poison oak, giant rye, fuchsia-flowering gooseberry, stinging nettles, poison hemlock, wild blackberry and wild cucumber. The regionally rare basket rush (Juncus textilisl as discovered here as well. This mav have been an important plant for native ~merican; dwelling in the canyon, though only a small stand remains at present.

Above the easterly cliffs is amesic mixof coastal sage scrub and sumac chaparral.

The central cliff area is around the south end of the lateral ridge headland of the easterly cliffs. The central cliffs are dramatically tilted toward the southwest. The rock layers are eroded into a series of shelves. Large bird nests (of ravens or hawks) and grottoes strewn with guano, perhaps of great horned owls indicate the importance of these cliffs to large avian species.

Laguna Beach dudleya grows in cap soil along the upper margin of the central cliffs. The colony is sparser and less extensive than on the first cliffs. Cactus grows on the highest part of the ti1ted outcrop.

Between the east and central cliffs is a dryish, south-facing slope with small outcrops in a coastal sage scrub matrix. These are sparsely vegetated with chalk lettuce and octoploid 1ance-leaved dud1 eyas.

Below the central cliffs is a sloping bajada covered with black sage along with some sagebrush and lemonadeberry. This cover is replaced by weedy grass1 and of ripgut brome, mustards and horehound near the golf course edge. Along the edge of the fairway are elderberry bushes, Calif- ornia pepper trees and undergrowth of poison oak and fuchsia-fl owering gooseberry.

Below the low, west end of these cliffs is rock rubble festooned with poison oak.

Habitat changes beyond the west end of the central cliffs. A rugged drainage drops down the canyon slope. Beyond, oceanward, the slope is heavily cloaked with chaparral and poison oak. A trail zig-zags down through the brush from Aliso Peak. A cove at the base of the slope contains an old eucalyptus woodland-savannah. Other eucalyptus trees, some dead, protrude through the chaparral above.

A small headland at the west end of the cove extends a1 1 the way to the creek channel . A narrow green crosses the headland below. At the creek end beyond is a thicket of arroyo and sandbar willows, elderberry, mu1 efat and giant reed. The main body of the headland supports a brushy melange of poison oak (the dominant), elderberry, toyon, English ivy and robust herbs such as poison hem1 ock, stinging nettles, bull thistle, bristly oxtongue, wild radish and lamb's quarter.

At the front of the headland along the golf course edge, outcropping is mantled with delicate maidenhair ferns, an ornamental mahonia or Oregon holly (Berberis sp.), lemonadeberries and weedy herbs.

Beyond the headland is dense sumac chaparral and mostly dead eucalyptus trees below high San Ono- fre breccia cliffs. No Laguna Beach dudleya was seen on the highest cliffs, but a little big- leaved crownbeard was noted. This is the beginning of the third series of cliffs, all of the schist breccia which extend to the canyon mouth. Beyond the west end of the golf course proper, the cliffs drop to the creek. Here they are impacted by houses above and on the slope, and an apartment/condominum building at the base, tightly tucked in between the now- channelized creek and the hillside. As noted earlier, additional impact was experienced by the construction of the telephone company building at the canyon mouth.

Impact on the San Onofre breccia cliffs and the dudleyas they harbor is from past direct habitat removal and from invasion of habitat by ornamental rupicoles, namely pride of Madeira, aeonium and echivera. Nevertheless, these are still the most floristically interesting of the three outcrop habitats on the north-facing slope of Aliso Canyon. On the lower westerly cliffs are good stands of Laguna Beach dudleya. Beyond the condominium, one can actually walk along the creek and look up to dudleya mats growing at close range, an excellent place to interpret the species to nature study groups if access restric- tions are resolved in the future. (At present, this area is posted with no trespassing signs, probably in response to past visitations by CNPS groups and individual botanists.) In adition to the threatened endemic, the lower cliffs support the only population of ladies-fingers dudleya in the canyon, octoploid lance-leaved dudleya, polypody ferns and lichens.

Laguna Beach dudleya grows on the third outcrop subzone inland from the mouth of Aliso Canyon, inland to the inner edge of the San Onofre breccia exposure. This area is across the creek from as well as adjacent to condominiums associated with the golf course development. As noted before, a series of single family residences extends up the oceanward crest of Aliso Peak above the dispersed population.

Directly associated wtih Laguna Beach dudleya colony here, in addition to the species cited above are chaparral bedstraw, California fuchsia, frinaed Indian ink and small-flowered rnelic gras;. Niebla pincushion lichens grow in a vertical band on a shaded portion of the outcrop.

There is a rockledge cave in this portion of the outcrop. Other caves were also noted in the formation near the mouth of Aliso Canyon. The San Onofre breccia differs from the naturally erosive Topanga sandstone inland, being of more consistent and solid makeup. It might be speculated that caves in the San Onofre had a little help in their formation by early man.

Oceanward, a second outcrop subzone contains ladies' fingers dudleya, cacti, the pincushion Niebla lichens, polypody ferns, wild buckwheat and prostrate mats of lemonadeberry.

This outcrop zone is separated from the previous one by an intervening brushy area of coastal sage scrub, toyons and elderberry bushes. A mesic drainage bowl lush and dense with elderberry bushes, toyons, myoporum, trees of Heaven, poison oak and naturalized nasturtiums separates .the exposure from the cliffs girding the canyon mouth.

These last contain substantial stands of ladies' fingers dudleya but are invaded by pride of Madeira, aeonium and echivera, the latter exotics similar to native dudleyas in form as well as habitat. Native capping vegetation away from the overtopping residences is a mosaic of coastal sage scrub, bush rue, cacti and prostrate lemonadeberry bushes. Positioned catercorner to the canyonmouth outcrop zone is the telephone company building. A large area is excavated behind the buildings. On the canyon floor in front is the inland parking lot for Aliso Creek Beach, and peripheral landscaped and fallow ground.

D. Aliso Creek

As discussed previously, Aliso Creek is substantially managed and controlled as it passes through the City. Little scrublshrub or forested wetland is permitted to become established within the golf course. Channel sides are reinforced with dump riprap, through which vegetation pro- trudes. The channel is straight, its waters shallow. This is effective for water conveyence, but not for establishment and perpetuation of sensitive native aquatic fauna. The lagoon at the mouth was historically inhabited by the tidewater goby, a Federal candidate species. As noted elsewhere, recent focused survey work by LA County Museum personnel failed to refind this sensitive native fish.

Other, upstream reaches of Aliso Creek support or have supported populations of Pacific pond I turtles, a Federal candidate for threatened1 endangered listing. Channel configuration in this reach is no longer appropriate for the I sensitive reptile, which requires deep pools, -undercut banks and other attributes of natural stream action lacking here. Emergent wetlands are fairly well developed all along the creek, proliferating on the moist floodplain between the inundated channel and the riprap sideslopes. Toward the ocean, this zone is substantially invaded by sera1 salt marsh vegetation.

Common emergent wetland species throughout the city reach are Olney's bulrush, three-square bulrush, tall cat-tail and narrow-leaved cat- tail. In areas of greater diversity proximal to remaining scrublshrub and forested wetland area are additional species such as brass buttons, celery, rabbit's-foot grass, Dallis grass, water grass and sprangletop. Such an area exists where the east cliff headland intrudes into the creek, in the golf course. The slope above contains a thicket of arroyo and sandbar willows, giant reed, mulefat, Brewer's saltbush and mugwort. Above and below the golf course, willow thickets are frequent, except along the managed edge of the Aliso Creek Beach parking lot, which is landscaped with myoporum, Mexican fan palm, non- native willows, and native sycamores and white alders. CELERY (Apium groveolens). 1 / 2 X. I As the mouth of Aliso Creek is approached, in zones of increasing alkalinity, the introduced Spanish sunflower is abundant. Across from the S.C.W.D. buildings, the creek habitat is quite I interesting and increasingly influenced by its proximity to the sea. A profile from west to I east reveals the following features. e Riprap slope with dispersed willow and mulefat clumps, naturalized myoporum, coastal sage scrub, iceplant and ruderals. Many ground squirrel burrows in the riprap, which is infilled with earth. Mulefat is abundant just beyond end of golf course.

e A swale zone between the riprap and the channel edge sand zone and emergent wetland. In- land in the tone is alkali rye, sprangletop, water bent and the unusual alkali marsh perennial.wildflower, yerba mansa. Oceanward, the zone is dominated by fleshy jaumea, a pioneer I salt marsh species. A little Virginia pickleweed is also established. Persisting freshwater swale species present in the predomin- I ately salt marsh type vegetation are western ragweed and white sweetclover.

o An open sandy zone, predominately bare but I with a light scattering of common cocklebur, Spanish sunflower, mulefat and tamarisk seed- ings, alkali heliotrope, saltgrass and I rabbit's-foot grass.

0 Emergent wetland of Olney's and three-square I bulrush, tall cat-tail, rabbit's-foot grass, celery and slender aster.

Creek channel, with the floating hyposaline I alga, Enteromorpha. I 0 Landscaped riprap adjacent to parking lot. The habitat decreases in interest as Pacific Coast Highway is approached. The banks are eroded I and steep-sided here, and the stream edge riparian zone narrowed. PICKLEWEED . After passing beneath the highway, the mouth of I the creek is enclosed in a barrier beach lagoon. The lagoon is within Aliso Creek Beach County Park, and is posted to prohibit swimming because I of water pollution. To the north is a small, coastal sage scrub-vegetated headland. The lagoon above and below the highway was until about 10 years ago the habitat of the tidewater goby I (along with a few green sunfish and the odd grunion washed in from the sea). Its hyposaline waters were well suited for the estuarine goby, I which does not tolerate seawater. Possible reasons for the species' demise here are dis- I cussed earlier.

Figure 1. Female tidewater goby, from Aliso Cmk ~yaion, LACM 42369-1,33 mm SL, scale = 10 mm. (from Swift, et. a1 ., 1989) 3.3 ALISO PEAK AND CEANOTHUS CANYON

3.3.1 Overview; Rare Biota

This section and.th.ela.ter section about the Binion property describe the last extant pieces of the Niguel Hill open space. Niguel Hil.7 has been long identified as one of Orange County's premiere significant habitats because of its unique assemblage of southern maritime chaparral plants, its marine terrace crestline psammophytelcoastal sage scrub habitat and its vernal pools. The last remnants of the latter still exist today on the Binion parcel at the south end of the ridge, but, beyond the protection of the City of Laguna Beach, perhaps not for long. We now know that excellent quality southern maritime chaparral replete with rare and special plants is found north of the hill in the Hobo and Aliso Canyon watershed, so there is still a large, intact area that is biologically significant in addition to the fragments and pieces of habitat set aside in open space about the periphery of the hill.

The three -important open space parcels discussed in the following pages are Seaview Park on the north-facing slope and rim of Niguel Hill within the City of Laguna Niguel, Aliso Peak, the promontory extension of the hill which overlooks the ocean, and Ceanothus Canyon, the long, winding canyon just south of Aliso Peak. An additional important southern maritime chaparral and rare plant area not discussed is the Pacific Island Drive canyon located on the inland side of the ridge within Laguna Niguel. A large development has recently been proposed in the latter canyon. Aliso Peak, Seaview Park and Ceanothus Canyon are in open space, dedicated to the County of Orange in exchange for development approval of Laguna Sur on the crest of the ridge.

Special biota known from Niguel Hill includes summer holly, the non-spined form of greenbark ceanothus, San Diego mountain mahogany, maritime scrub oak, San Diego chamise, big-leaved crownbeard, Orange County Turkish rugging, western dichondra, Fish's milkwort, foothill mariposa and the orange-throated whiptail lizard. The Pacific pocket mouse may also occur here. Specific information on the location of rare biota populations is contained in the site description sections. Biotic "hot spots" in the open space are these:

a North margin of Niguel Hill in Seaview Park: summer holly, non-spined greenbark ceanothus, western dichondra, Fish's milkwort, many spring wildflowers. 8 North-facing slope of upper Ceanothus Canyon: summer holly, non-spined greenbark ceanothus,maritime scrub oak, San Diego mountain mahogany, big- leaved crownbeard, Jesuit flower, coast live oak trees, red-tailed hawk nest.

8 South ridge of Cea,nothus Canyon: Orange-throated whiptail, Orange County Turkish rugging, San Diego charnise.

North-facing slope of Aliso Peak: big-leaved crownbeard.

3.3.2 Aliso Peak

Aliso Peak towers 623 feet above the sea at the mouth of Aliso Canyon. The north-facing slope of the peak is the spectacular cliff looming over the Gorge of Aliso Canyon.

Aliso Peak is the westerly, distal extension of Niguel Hill. Niguel Hill is crested with a sandy marine terrace. Before the construction of Laguna Sur, Monarch Summit and the other residential developments that now cap the ridge, this terrace hosted an interesting assemblage of plants and animals and several well-developed vernal pools (Fred Lang, Ann Christoph, pers. comm.). The south- westerly end of the terrace in 1991 still remained in open space beyond the Monarch Point tract, but was in the process of being planned for yet another development. This unique area is described later in the report within the discussion of the Binion parcel.

In the mitigation plan for Laguna Sur, 113 acres were dedicated as open space to the County of Orange, including Aliso Peak, Ceanothus Canyon and Seaview Park. Originally, all of these areas were considered to be within the South Laguna area of concern, and the Review Committee for the then-unincorporated village took an active role in open space and urban interface planning. Today, the ridgetop developments and Seaview Park lie within the city of Laguna Niguel, along with the terraceland on the Binion parcel and the highly sensitive canyon traversed by Pacific Island Drive (the east slope of which is now proposed for development which will involve extensive landform alteration). Contained within Laguna Beach are Aliso Peak and Ceanothus Canyon, and dissected hillside land south, framing the ampitheater-like backdrop of the South Laguna village.

The following description of Aliso Peak includes an up- date of conditions within Seaview Park, even though it is outside of the city now. It was the dedicated citizenry of South Laguna which helped bring this special place about. Seaview Park is the last undeveloped remnant of land on the crest of 936' high Niguel Hill, proper. The park incorporates the margin of the high hill and the north-facing slope of Aliso Canyon below.

1. Seaview Park

Seaview Park contains a rich assemblage of southern or Diegan maritime chaparral mixed mesic association species. Special plants here are summer holly, the non-spined greenbark ceanothus and San Diego mountain mahogany, as well as the more typical big-podded ceanothus, toyon, lemonadeberry and the like. Mesic interstices at the margin of the ridge contain native perennial grasses, mosses and lichens, delicate wildflowers and ferns. Among species inventoried by the author here in the spring of 1985 were these:

California polypody fern shiny lomatium Pacific and purple sanicles big-leaved crownbeard California toothwort western dichondra many-stemmed dudleya Cleveland shooting stars mesa saxifrage wild hyacinth blue-eyed grass foothill mariposa amole lily Alaska rein orchid San Diego bentgrass foothill needlegrass (from Marsh, K., i985, Monarch Summit - Hilltop Park Area Plant Species List, prepared for South Laguna Review Committee).

The crest of ridge beyond the development edge within the park contains a narrow strip of marine terrace terrain; this is underlain by San Onofre breccia and Topanga sandstone which are exposed along the margin and on the slope below. As is typical on the terrace sand, coastal sage scrub and psammophytes abound here. Several depressions still extant in the park retain water in the spring for short periods; it was hoped that these could have been developed as vernal pools. A vernal pool restoration plan was prepared (Marsh, 1988) but was dropped by the County of Orange in favor of planting Torrey pines along the ridge, to provide additional mitigation for the loss of vernal pools and other habitats in the Laguna Sur development. The range of the Torrey pine today does not extend north of the La Jo11a area of San Diego County though conceivably it might have once been native to Orange County's coastal ridges.

Vegetation on the remaining undisturbed terrace consists of coastal sage scrub with interstitial openings rich in a variety of herbaceous species. Some of these are sandmat, sapphire eriastrum, blue- eyed grass, western dichondra, coast Indian paintbrush, smooth cat's-ear, wild hyacinth, mesa saxifrage, Cleveland shooting star, purple sanicle, small-flowered cryptantha, foothill needlegrass and rat-tail fescue (Marsh, Ibid.). Previously graded land adjacent to the Laguna Sur development dedicated back to the park has been revegetated as kind of a transition zone between the urban edge and the natural habitat. This zone is irrigated and contains a melange of white yarrow, gaillardia or blanket flower, coastal goldenbush, deerweed, Bermuda grass and miscellaneous ruderal grasses and forbs.

A paved trail extends along the ridgecrest in the park. Along the trail are concrete kiosks containing picnic tables and trash receptacles. Kiosks are surrounded by landscaping of prostrate coyote brush, coast live oaks, Torrey pines, summer holly and toyon. The coyotebrush is doing very well, and there could be a risk of it naturalizing elsewhere in the open space. This is a horticulturally developed strain of prostrate habit representing a different subspecies (Baccharis pilularis prostrata) than the regionally indigenous B. p. consan uinea. Another concern would be hvbriaizatione o native and introduced -B. pilularis material.

In addition, the question arises regarding the geographic origin of the summer holly shrubs planted around the kiosks and along the trail. The most likely source of such plantings is the southern San Diego County Mission Valley area, an area of even more moderate climate than the site. As discussed later, the Comarostaphylos population of the South Laguna area is geographically isolated and may be genetically different than populations south. In fact, the material onsite may be intermediate between -C. diversifolia diversifolia of San Diego County and -C. d. var. planifolia of the coastal mountains of Los Angeles and Santa Barbara County and the Channel Islands. Swamping the habitat with C. diversifolia diversifolia could in the future interfere with the genetic character of the indigenous population.

This problem of compromising the integrity of indigenous species by introduction of closely related taxa is not limited to Seaview Park. Elsewhere along the edge of Laguna Sur, in the fuel modification zone at the urban-wildland interface, brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) has been introduced. This desert species freely hybridizes with locally indigenous California encelia (E. californica), a component of the maritime succulent-scrub and coastal sage scrub-communities. The resultant progeny may be unable in the long term, to cope with maritime climate. The danger is if habitats are swamped by hydromulch-introduced brittlebush, large areas of the California encelia distribution could be genetically compromised. This appears to be happening in some portions of Orange County alreadv. as in Hicks Canvon on the Irvine Ranch. ~nland,~the ranges of E. ;alifornica and E. farinosa overlap and there, natural hybrids abound in such areas .as the hilis north of cbrona. Perhaps fortun- ately for the coastal California encelia population in South Laguna, the brittlebushes in Laguna Sur's fuel modification zone are not thriving. They are small and weak look-ing and their demise may soon be forthcoming.

In addition to the potential risks posed by introduction of non-indigenous plant material, the park today is suffering some impact from spillover trampling in the fragile native groundcover habitat north of the paved trail, despite strategically placed "no entry" signs. The spillover impact is greatest near the beginning of the trail. There is also some invasion of Russian thistle and other ruderals, especially along the trail edge.

A series of sturdy stone-like monuments function as self-guiding nature trail features, identifying examples of indigenous vegetation in the park. These monuments appear to be vandal-resistant. The location of the park in an affluent residential neighbor- hood and under the scrutiny of Laguna Sur entry station security personnel likely also help reduce overt vandalism. Unfortunately, despite success of summer holly plantings elsewhere in the park, the specimen at the marker has died and should be replaced.

The monuments are a nice feature. However, opportunities for interpretation are being missed. Seaview Park is the single area open to the public within the special and regionally unique southern maritime chaparral habitat in Orange County. The significance and evolution of this setting and that of the uplifted marine terrace with its coastal sage scrub and sand plants should be pointed out. Viewshed interpretation is another opportunity. From atop the ridge, a sweeping panorama of the Aliso Creek valley is offered. The gentle grassland of the valley floor is flanked by coastal sage scrub slopes which transition to sumac-toyon chaparral and then to southern maritime chaparral toward the ocean. Far up the valley, Wood Canyon with its oak and sycamore forests joins Aliso below the terminus of the Sheep Hills, now crowned by urban development. Below, Aliso Creek gently meanders through the old pastureland of the Moulton Ranch, its eroded banks fringed with scattered clumps of willows and mulefat thickets. Future plans may change this setting to "rice-paddy" forest- lands of sycamores and other riparian trees, enhancement financed by the developer of the Sheep Hills to mitigate for impacts elsewhere on its lands. Such is the opportunity in a series of signs, or alternatively a little brochure, to help park visitors understand a very special setting, and the history, present and future of the viewshed beyond.

At the west end of the paved trail is a viewshed kiosk providing a look into the rugged rock outcrop area of lower Aliso Canyon's south-facing slope. Three separate zones can be seen. Oceanward are blocky, house-sized boulders and some ledge shelters. This is the location of the newlv discovered Laquna Beach dudleya population growing symbiotical ly with the foliolose lichen, Niebla "cerruchoides".

Inland is the canyon of spectacular ledges and cliffs. As noted earlier, it was not possible to hike up this canyon because of prolific brush and poison oak density, as well as the steepness of the terrain. However, the rock shelters below the ledge overhangs may once have been homesites for native Americans and are probably important today as denning habitats for mammalian predators and nesting sites for ravens, hawks, owls and perhaps Turkey vultures. As noted in earlier discussion golden eagles nested near the mouth of Aliso Canyons until the relatively recent past. Earlier, bald eagles apparently nested there as well, very likely in these cliffs. Following is an interesting account of the bald eagles once dwelling in Laguna Beach.

"Haliaeetus leucocephalus leucocephalus (Linn.) Bald Eagle.

There are five Bald Eagles that are commonly seen along the beach near Laguna. When followed, they are always found to come to rest on the high, rocky west slope of Aliso Canyon (down the coast from Laguna). The owner of the canyon, Mr. Joe Thurston, tells me that for years a pair has bred there, and these other three are young that did not leave the vicinity. He is very jealous of their safety, and it is to be hoped they may always be kept there as a natural attraction. This is one of the few breeding points along the coast from which the Bald Eagle has not been driven. In March, 1895, Mr. E. Davis took two fresh eggs of the Bald Eagle near Laguna Beach. It would be very interesting to know whether or not he obtained them from the same canyon; if so, this must be a very old breeding place." (Leon L. Gardner, 1914 in "Third Report from the ~agunaMarine Labora- toryU,Pomona College Journal of Entomology and Zoology 6(4) 12-1914. As noted earlier, in the lower part of this spectacular canyon is a Laguna Beach dudleya population found by England and Nelson with G.A. Marsh and relocated by the author.

The third area of outcropping along the upper margin of the inland edge of this same canyon is less visu- ally dramatic than the cliffs and ledges on the oceanward or west slope, but is nonetheless a potential habitat for sensitive biota. It was examined only near the canyon mouth.

2. Trails West of Seaview Park

Beyond the viewshed kiosk, closed area signs are posted. However, an informal, steep trail drops (precipitously) down the slope of Niguel Hill to a street cul de sac at the development edge. Beyond the cul de sac, an improved and signed trail extends out to the saddle between Aliso Peak and Niguel Hill. From there a network of improved and unimproved paths spikes off in various directions. A trail straight up the side of Aliso Peak is signed as closed. As discussed later, the upper part of this trail is very steep and rubble-strewn. Another trail follows an old roadway wrapping around the south side of Aliso Peak, eventually looping back around the front of the hill to a fenced-in compound containing a water tank. A third trail, improved and signed drops down to the floor of Ceanothus Canyon and hence to the South Laguna urban edge, where it can be accessed off of the R.O.W. of Valido Street. A fourth, now unimproved trail follows an old road which cuts back to the head of the north branch of Ceanothus Canyon where it apparently accesses what may have been a bedrock barrow site. A fifth trail, also following an old road zigzags down the steep north-facing slope of Aliso Canyon. This trail is substantially overgrown with chaparral.

Legal public access to Aliso Peak from the east as via Seaview Park appears to be impeded by the closed area in between the overview kiosk and the dedicated County hiking trail which eminates from the street cul de sac below. Public entry via Laguna Sur surface streets would appear to be prohibited since this is a private guarded gate development. Obviously, hikers are using the informal trail to get from the park to the peak. It would seem logical for the County (or the Laguna Sur community association) to improve the safety aspects of the steep trail by installing stairsteps, rather than ignoring what is an ongoing trespass, with its attendant exposure to liability. Use of the informal trail "as-is" also promotes erosion of the slope. The steep connector trail passes through the fuel modification zone (FMZ) which rings Laguna Sur. Unlike the FMZ along the southern and eastern edge of Ceanothus Canyon and the heads of drainages south, the zone here appears to avoid the use of introduced "fire retardant" groundcover, relying mainly on the (sensitive) pruning and thinning of the chaparral shrub cover, allowing the release of native perennial understory grasses to infill interstices between specimen shrubs and shrubbery clumps remaining. The resultant visual effect is very pleasing, and would be a good example for the Laguna Beach Fire Depart- ment to emulate.

One enters the City of Laguna Beach probably along the steep informal connector trail. Given the liability risk of this pathway and its substantial use, it would be prudent for the City to know its exact boundary here. The other trails described above are all within the City (except for the paved path through Seaview Park). The only other trail which appears to expose the City (and County) to significant liability risk is the climb up to Aliso Peak itself. Human nature being what it is, hikers want to get to the top of the peak, and ignore closed area signs in their effort to do so. There are also precipitous drop-offs on the north side of the peak, where careless hikers could fall to their deaths.

3. Aliso Peak Open Space

A. Saddle

The ridge saddle trail between Niguel Hill and Aliso Peak is edged by ceanothus chaparral and sumac-toyon chaparral on the upper north-facing slope of Aliso Canyon, and by coastal sage scrub and sumac-toyon chaparral on the upper south- facing slope of Ceanothus Canyon. This melange of vegetation gives way oceanward to pure stand big-podded ceanothus chaparral on the peak and its slopes.

In the bottom of the saddle between the two promontories is an area of sandy ground. Here, there is a small stand of Orange County Turkish rugging along the backbone trail, and a much larger population on the adjacent upper south-facing slope near and on the old roadcut trail that heads back toward upper Ceanothus Canyon. The latter stand numbered about 80 individual plants in 1991, growing with sapphire eriastrum in what must have been a dazzling blanket of fuchsia and blue. When discovered on September 12, 1991, of course, only the dried remnants of these annual wildflowers remained.

The upper slope of Ceanothus Canyon in the saddle is quite xeric, containing dispersed coastal chollas and prickly pear cacti within the coastal sage scrub and sumac-toyon chaparral cover. There are numerous barren openings. These appear to be maintained by mule deer. The area is laced with deertrails. Mesopredator activity was also noted, and a large den, of fox or coyote was found.

On the opposite slope is the overgrown trail to the floor of Aliso Canyon. This old road descends, east to a tributary ravine, then continues with a long sloping drop west to another, bowl-like drainagecourse and finally, a short jog northeast to the floor of the Gorge within the golf course. A short length of the first, upper path was explored, and whether the entire trail still exists intact is unknown. Some of it may have eroded away, especially in the area of the sharp bends. Poison oak is abundant on the middle of the north-facing slope, and likely the trail is infested with it there. Of course, at present, there is no open access to the floor of the Gorge, and will not be unless a public trail right of way can be negotiated through the golf course.

The upper slope of Aliso Canyon near the saddle is vegetated mostly in sumac-toyon chaparral, with large shrubs impeding access along the trail at many points.

Even close to the ridge, the exposure is mesic and there is an ample secondary canopy of lower- growing shrubs such as fuchsia-flowering gooseberry (an excellent barrier plant!), orange bush monkeyflower, saw-toothed goldenbush, golden yarrow and nightshade species. Small mesic outcrops are fringed with bedstraws, woolly Indian paintbrush, spiny redberry, white sage and San Diego bentgrass. Mosses and lichens carpet sheltered exposures.

B. Aliso Peak

Aliso Peak slopes moderately to the south and west, but plunges off near-vertical slopes to the north. The south slope is (apparently) in the Ceanothus Canyon open space; however, fresh stakes and flagging along the old road raise the specter of development here. The west slope of the peak is developed; a series of streets zig- zag up the side, offering dramatic ocean views to residents abiding there. Several houses are perched along the distal edge of the peak, at its northwest end. Below these houses and the crest of the peak above, the sheer north-facing slope is marked by cliffs of San Onofre breccia, where native Laguna Beach and ladies1-fingers dudleyas compete for habitat niches with introduced ornamental aeoniums, echiums and echiveries. Also clinging to the outcrops and issuing from fis- sures on the rock wall are big-leaved crown- beards, saw-toothed goldenbushes, bush rue and coastal sage scrub suffrutescents. The growth of crownbeard is quite prolific in the shade of ceanothus, toyons and other large shrubs just below the crest of the peak.

Elsewhere on the peak and its slopes, big-podded ceanothus is dominant, growing in monocultural stands on some portions of the hillside. Minor amounts of spiny redberry, lemonadeberry, laurel sumac, bush rue, coastal sage scrub and oracle and western prickly pear cacti are also present on the crest of the peak beyond the barren impact zone at the very top.

From the top of Aliso Peak, there is even on relatively hazy days a quite incredible panorama of the Pacific Ocean from Newport Beach to Dana Point. The clear weather vista can only be imagined for its sweep and grandeur.

Pure stand ceanothus characterizes the south flank of the peak, beyond the lemonadeberry- coastal sage scrub cover of the saddle. In the monotypic stands of ceanothus, there is virtually no understory. One area contains a secondary concentration of maritime succulent scrub (bladderpod, encelia), bush rue and some crownbeard.

Near the development edge, the brush had been cleared and was replaced by adventive grasses and cacti. Laurel sumac and lemonadeberry become admixed with ceanothus on undeveloped portions of the west slope beyond the water tank.

4. Additional Species of Interest on Niguel Hill- Aliso Peak

Other plant species of interest found in the study area of Niguel Hill-Aliso Peak are these: 0 Holly-leaved redberry. One of the only places this common inland shrub was noted in the South Laguna Biological Resources Inventory open space was on the saddle between Aliso Peak and Niguel Hill, and in Seaview Park on the hill.

Fish's milkwort. +I- 10 plants were observed on the upper north-facing slope of Aliso Can- yon in Seaview Park opposite the second to last kiosk west. The clambering subshrub was growing beneath and up through dense chaparral shrubbery. a Western dichondra. A small population grows on the lower portion of the steep trail between Niguel Hill and the street cul de sac at the beginning of the dedicated Country trai1.

0 Foothill mariposa. Pod remnants of this Orange County endemic lily were observed on the south east flank of Aliso Peak near the "wraparound" trai 1. Ceanothus Canyon

The name for this large, undeveloped drainage on the south side of Aliso Peak was coined by Eric Jessen in his 1972 study of the open space of the Laguna Beach area. Ceanothus Canyon extends in a lazy S from its headwater abutting Laguna Sur to its ocean confluence seaward from the junction of West Street and Coast Highway. Urban development intrudes on the lower canyon south slope along West Street, Paso del Sur and other strets. The steeply sloped upper canyon is intruded on along its headwater margins by Laguna Sur but is otherwise pristine open space, forming a habitat continuum with Aliso Peak and the north-facing slope of Aliso Canyon beyond. This open space is broadly linked to the Laguna Greenbelt via Aliso and Wood Canyons Regional Park. This means that there are good wildlife dispersion opportunities tolfrom the canyon. The drainage is not a cut-off ecological island but part of a regional open space which extends from the Greenbelt proper south to the southern City limits. Ceanothus Canyon forms the north side of the framing ampitheater slopes wrapped around the back of the South Laguna village, and is thus an integral part of the open space which defines and characterizes this community . Ceanothus Canyon is part of the Laguna Sur open space dedication. The Fowlie property is a relatively narrow strip of land which extends north from behind the South Coast Water District tank to the south ridge of Ceanothus Canyon; a dwelling unit is proposed here and the property is gated and signed.

Ceanothus Canyon was surveyed from viewpoints on the south and north ridge (the latter constituting the saddle between Niguel Hill and Aliso Peak) and from along the County hiking trail which traverses the oceanward portion of the canyon floor. Beyond the point where this trail ascends the south-facing slope toward the Niguel Hill- Aliso Peak saddle, the canyon floor is very densely vegetated, limiting further survey efforts. The canyon was studied on portions of three separate field days, September 3 and 12, and October 1, 1991.

1. South-Facing Slope

The south-facing slope is described from head to mouth. Generally, three vegetative zones are discernible on the slope. In the upper canyon, the slope faces southwest so is more mesic than a true south-facing exposure. Here, big-podded ceanothus is dominant, with lenses of sumac-toyon chaparral and bush rue scrub, and rock outcropping providing variety in the southern maritime chaparral mantle. A small area of San Diego chamise is found near the canyon bottom adjacent to a dissecting draw.

In true transition fashion, at the point just before the canyon bends from a northwest to a due west orientation, ceanothus gives way to a melange of bush rue and lemonadeberry sumac.

On the midcanyon slope, sumac-toyon chaparral and coastal sage scrub are codominant, with the former on oceanward exposures and the latter on inland-oriented faces. These microhabitat exposures are created by the several drainage gullies which dissect the slope. As noted in the previous section, there is also a moderate amount of cactus on the drier exposures. Toyon is dominant in the drainagecourses.

In the vicinity of the County hiking trail, vegetation is a mix of sumac-toyon chaparral, big-podded ceanothus, coastal sage scrub and, near the ridge at the saddle, cacti. This is a transition zone. Beyond, below Aliso Peak, the slope oceanward is heavily dominated by the ceanothus, with some interspersed bush rue.

2. Canyon Floor

The canyon flor is described from the South Laguna urban edge upstream.

An Orange County hiking trail follows an old road into the canyon in the vicinity or right of way of Valido Street. As noted elsewhere, the lower canyon slopes are fuel modified. This thinning extends to the creek and about 100 feet beyond, up the undeveloped south-facing slope. Remaining vegetation consists of scattered ceanothus, lemonadeberry and other chaparral shrubs, and an infill of coastal sage scrub, grasses, Australian saltbush and ruderals. Some areas are eroded and vegetation-free.

On the lower, sheltered north-facing slope in the fuel modification zone, saw-toothed goldenbush and State-threate.ned big-leaved crownbeard are prolific. These species were undoubtedly present in the preexisting dense chaparral, and removal of the overstory allowed them to proliferate. This would not be the case for the crownbeard on higher, more exposed slopeland, where the species needs the shelter of an overstory to do well, but here, near the creek, orientation of slope combined with narrowness of the canyon provide enough of a mesic, shaded environment so that survival and proliferation are possible in the absence of the tall woody shrub canopy. I The lower reach of the creek supports a brushy melange of toyon, Mexican elderberry, bush ma1 low, tree tobacco, castor bean, giant rye and fennel. There is a lot of bird life along the streamcourse and in the sheltered slopes which flank it. Scrub jays, house finches, mockingbirds, California thrashers, wrentits and Anna's hummingbirds were among species active when the area was surveyed around noontime on October 1, 1991, a day where even here on the coast, temperatures were in the high 80 degrees.

A yawning cave was noted along the creek in apparent Topanga sandstone underlying the San Onofre breccia which mantles most of the study area. The grotto is large enough to have sheltered native Americans in the past and may be a den site for wild animals today. As described elsewhere, there are additional caves further up the creek and in outcrop cliffs which loom above it. There is a nice surprise along the hiking trail - a water feature. The old road ends at what must be a long-persisting freshwater wetland; perhaps a source of drinking water in old-time South Laguna. Today, a small freshwater marsh thrives behind an earthen dam reinforced with a grouted spillway. Beneath the spillway is a corugated steel culvert. At the mouth of the culvert, water trickles out into a little pool where thrashers and other birds come to drink in the I.< hot mid-day. At night the lower canyon's mammals and : reptiles probably do likewise.

The marsh is dominated by tall cat-tails. Narrow- leaved cat-tails are also present. The outer edges of the wetland are dominated by common cocklebur. Additional vegetative components of the marsh are white sweet-clover, Mexican tea, lamb's quarter, small-flowered nightshade, weedy cudweed, scarlet pimpernel, white and purple sweet alyssum, nasturtium and rabbit's-foot grass. Annual bur ragweed and : fennel are found in dry, sandy to stony ground of a mini "alluvial scrub" above the marsh. At the base of the north-facing slope adjacent to the wetland, a colony of wild blackberry thrives. Blackberry canes trail across the sandy trail which skirts through the north edge of the wetland.

The wetland is at the terminus of the old road. , Beyond, the County hiking trail climbs up the steep south-facing slope. In portions, rough stair-steps , have been cut into the steepest portions; however, erosion is beginning on this relatively new trail, and periodic maintenance will be required to keep the I path in good condition. The marsh is 400 or so feet downstream from the bend in the canyon. It is above this bend that the significant mixed mesic southern maritime chaparral association thrives, with its array of rare and limited distribution shrubs. An attempt was made to follow the creek upstream from the marsh, but foreward progress was ultimately blocked by a thick stand of Pampas grass, clumps of a saw-bladed escaped exotic which grow taller than a man. Poison oak was also increasingly prolific above.

In the reach successfully surveyed, there was a four- foot high waterfall (dry in early fall) and small pools of fresh water along a damp channel. An un- usually timed freak thunderstorm had assaulted the area a few days before the survey, so it is not known whether these pools persist through the dry season. If they do, they are of significant benefit to the canyon's wildlife as a drinking water source.

The channel is deeply incised and narrow. Vertical slopes closely hug the narrow passageway, which is intermittently choked with low-hanging brush. On the steep banks which gird the waterway is a variety of mesic habitat vegetation: chaparral nightshade, orange bush monkeyflower, snowberry (which is prolific further upcanyon), fuchsia-flowering gooseberry, coyotebrush, bush mallow, cliff malacothrix and giant rye. Rabbit's-foot grass, Spanish sunflower, Mexican tea, scarlet pimpernel, weedy cudweed and fennel grow along the streamfloor. Near the point of obstruction to further passage, poison oak and a few dispersed Jesuit flower shrubs were encountered. Some naturalized red fescue probably spread from Laguna Sur, above was noted in the channel. Yarrow was observed in a side channel, also probably naturalized from wildland transition plantings at Laguna Sur.

One of the reasons an attempt was made to get into the upper canyon mesic zone was the tantalizing glimpse of a fuchsia-scarlet-flowered bush or vine seen within a thicket of green-barked ceanothus on the lower north-facing slope just beyond the bend. The glimpse was afforded from the hiking trail up the south-facing slope. Was this some yet additional naturalized ornamental, perhaps the Channel Islands native malva rose, which is widely established in the mesic canyons of Lacjuna Beach? Or was it instead a rare natjve such -as the chaparral pea (Pickeringia montana) or the south San Diego County rarity, pride of California (Lathyrus splendens)? With the propen- sity of this reaion of the coast to harbor northern or southern disjincts, possibilities are ripe to discover yet additional botanical treasures hidden away in inaccessible and sheltered niches like upper Ceanothus Canyon. The following paragraph gives in overview the upper canyon habitat. But present diffi- culty of access means that many special resources were undoubtedly overlooked.

As viewed from the saddle between Niguel Hill and Aliso Peak, one can see that there is a large rock outcrop in the canyon bottom upstream from where the County hiking trail leaves the canyon. The watercourse in the upper canyon supports a densely vegetated mesic habitat. The mixed mesic form of southern mixed chaparral prominent on the north-facing slope extends into the canyon bottom, where it is admixed with Mexican elderberry bushes, giant rye and large patches of snowberry.

3. North-Facing Slope

The north-facing slope of Ceanothus Canyon contains highly significant habitat and an assemblage of rare shrub species characteristic of the mixed mesic association of southern maritime chaparral.

Near the mouth of the canyon, as noted earlier, suburban development intrudes onto the slope. Paso del Sur and Valido Road snake along the south ridge of the canyon oceanward; fuel modification to protect : structures extends down the north-facing slope. Here, coastal sage scrub and miscellaneous ornamentals have replaced the maritime chaparral of the undisturbed slope further up canyon. On the ridge at the upper end of the developed area is a concentration of "urban forest" habitat. As later described, the undeveloped ridge above is capped by San Diego I chamise chaparral. Upcanyon from the fuel modification zone around Valido and Paso del Sur, slope orientation is ini- tially toward the northwest. Here, big-podded I ceanothus is dominant, with a secondary admixture of sumac-toyon chaparral. I Then, slope orientation shifts to true north and the habitat becomes dominated by the highly significant mixed mesic association of maritime chaparral. This is on the steep slope right below the upper end of I the Fowlie property, and a house built on the ridge above would require fuel modification significantly I intruding into the critical habitat. Within this setting are the unique nonspined greenbark ceanothus, the threatened maritime scrub oak, CNPS listed summer holly, regionally rare San Diego mountain mahogany and, in the understory, State threatened-listed big-leaved crownbeard. Big-podded ceanothus, toyon and a few coast live oak trees are also found here. There is quite a bit of brush dieback in the zone, perhaps as a response to the continuing drought or to unusual freezing temperatures the previous winter.

At the end of the street above, in Laguna Sur, is a newly constructed mansion, built atop a documented orange-throated whiptail habitat (Fred Roberts, Jr., pers. comm.). The slopes below the house are fuel- modified. Below the edge of the brushed out zone are large, vertically pitched outcrops, which extend into the canyon bottom. There may be a red-tailed hawk nest in one of the caves in these cliffs, judging from behavior observed of an individual flying about in the canyon.

The mansion is perched out on a natural overlook on the south ridge. The upper canyon wraps around this overlook. The maritime mixed mesic chaparral association extends all the way to the head of the canyon, but beyond the mansion, it is substantially pertubated by fuel modification and introduction of non- indiaenous "fire retardant" elements such as triplex, Cistus and the like. PVC pipe lying on the cleared and reveqetated slope supplies water to rain- bird sprinklers for periodic irrigation of the habitat. (It is not known whether southern maritime chaparral tolerates or benefits from summer watering, though reportedly [Ted Hanes, CA State Fullerton, pers. comm.], more typical chaparrals of the region can be irrigated without harm.) Irrigation helps keep chaparral vegetation well hydrated, so that it is less likely to burn. A clump of coast live oaks was noted in the upper canyon; these definitely will be adversely affected by summer irrigation which promotes proliferation of harmful root fungi. Rare maritime scrub oaks also grow here. They will be similarly affected.

In addition to the introductions, native understory species released in the mesic zone are proliferating. These include blue witch nightshade and California bee plant.

4. South Ridge

As described earlier, the upper and lower south ridge of Ceanothus Canyon are developed. However, the middle ridge still remains in open space. A trail extends off the cul de sac above, forking below. One fork extends along the ridge backbone while the other drops down a lateral ridge to the southwest, where there is a cleared building pad, possibly for the Fowlie dwelling unit. (If so, the structure would be a sufficient distance from the north-facing slope sensitive habitat that fuel modification would probably not affect it.)

On the upper portion of the undeveloped ridge, the ground is sandy, and some orange-throated whiptails may still survive here. There are also some areas of moisture-retentive ground showing polygonal mud- cracking, potential remnant vernal pool habitat, though degraded at present and containing only the weedy scarlet pimpernel. Brush vegetation is dominated by big-podded ceanothus, with secondary amounts of bush rue, lemonadeberry and black sage. At the upper lip of the sensitive north-facing slope, big- leaved crownbeard is dominant in the understory of the ceanothus, with hundreds of plants visible from the ridge.

The lower ridge is gated and signed private land (Fowlie, etc.?). There are several cleared openings below. These are edged by ceanothus on the lip of the north-facing slope and a mix of ceanothus, coastal sage scrub, San Diego chamise and sumac-toyon chaparral on the lip of the south-facing slope of the next canyon south. Foothill needlegrass is common in openings.

This habitat grades further downslope and on the south facing unnamed canyonside into a good example of San Diego chamise chaparral, with eroded sandstone exposures like those of Badlands Park. Crustose lichins adorn rocks beneath chamise shrubs. A lot of matchweed grows along the trail edge; this was noted as a species of local interest by Verity, 1972. Other chamisal components present are rush rose and shiny lomatium.

At the lower end of the chamisal ridge slope is the large cleared, now grassy pad which may be the site of the proposed dwelling unit. The pad with its old picnic table is ringed by dense chamisal and big- podded ceanothus shrubs. Fuel modification at this locale will result in the removal of a substantial area of San Diego chamise, a limited-distribution species rare in Orange County. This, however is pre- ferable to the loss of the highly significant maritime mixed mesic chaparral on the north-facing slope of Ceanothus Canyon. 3.4 THE BADLANDS CANYONS

Overview

Between Ceanothus Canyon on the north and the Binion property on the south are a series of deeply incised, rugged canyons separated from one another by arid ridges with many exposed sandy barrens, sites of rare plant populations and animal habitats. The culmination of these interesting desert-like openings is found within the sculpted windswept outcroppings of Badlands Park, at the south end of this study area. Also remarkable are canyonside cliffs, grottoed with caves. Underpinnning the bulk of the study area is buff-colored Topanga sandstone bedrock, rather than the gray-green San Onofre breccia typical of most of South Laguna. (A thin band of San Onofre crosses the lower slopes.)

All of the canyons described herein eminate from the developed portion of the Niguel Hill marine terrace ridgeline, specifically from the Laguna Sur and Monarch Point tracts. At their foot, the coastal plain is urbanized all the way to its inland edge, with some housing creeping up the lower slopes of this open space backdrop. The dissected hillsides are thus today an open space peninsula stretching south from the Laguna Greenbelt. Close encroachment of urbanization appears to have had an impact on the diversity of at least some elements of the preexisting faunal assemblage. As noted by respected zoologist, Dr. Richard MacMillen of University of Calif- ornia Irvine, the diversity of the small rodent species assemblage appears to be significantly reduced since the Niguel Hill Terrace was developed. The author observed only limited mule deer activity on the slopes. In contrast, MacMillen observes that predators are still doing well, with several families of coyotes in residence in the Topanga sandstone canyonside caves. As also noted later in the discussion of the Binion parcel, coyotes howl in unison with the frequently heard ambulance and fire truck sirens eminating from the coastal plain below. Predator numbers indeed may be out of balance with the current prey populations, accounting for the apparent successive local extinctions of several rodent species. These are not verified findings, but point to the need for a focused scholarly survey dealing with such faunal issues.

The study area still possesses numbers of rare plant stands, as discussed later. Away from the development edge, plant community diversity is unchanged from its preexisting wilderness state. However, in proximity to the urbanized neighborhoods above and below, the twin impacts of fuel modification and invasion of alien ruderals afflict the wildlands.

The following sections discuss six canyons which lie between Ceanothus Canyon and the Binion property. Topo- graphically, these form the north half of the bowl backdrop of the village of South Laguna, with the Binion property forming the south half and Badlands Park at the central watershed apex just below the Monarch Point tract.

These canyons share a rugged topography, deeply incised, often with outcrop cliffs in their headwater and upper reach portions. Two are in the process of being head captured by adjacent drainages to the north. This might be an indication of lateral ground movement on the upper slope related to the fault traced beneath the Niguel Hill Quaternary marine terrace. An additional fault cuts across the lower slope at the development edge. The thin band of San Onofre breccia on the lower hillsides is found along this second faultline (see Vedder, et. al., 1957). Badlands Park is at the southern boundary of the distinctive Topanga block which underlies this study area and extends north and inland from it to Aliso Canyon and the headwaters of Hobo Canyon. Badlands Park is a won- derful geologic complex of weather-sculpted sandstone exposures, desert-like windblown sands and soft pebbly substrate through which dramatically downcut gullys, the headwaters of several canyons, feed into the Binion parcel below.

Several habitat types are present on the slopes. On the crests of ridges separating the canyons from one another are xeric barrens. These are often the tops of cliff outcrops which gird the canyonsides below. Distinctive plant assemblages and rare plants and animals are associated with these barrens.

Also found on the ridges and adjacent south-facing slopes, typically on the ancient weathered and sculpted Topanga surface is San Diego chamise chaparral. Gnarled and often wizened chamise shrubs cling tenaciously to scanty footholds in the inhospitable bedrock, creating a setting of austere beauty accented by resiny fragrance.

Ceanothus chaparral, widespread just north, becomes mosaiced with sumac-toyon chaparral in much of the study area. The latter association is especially widespread in canyon bottoms, sometimes intermixed with a marginal scrub/shrub wetland of giant rye and tree tobacco.

Coastal sage scrub is found in proximity of slopeland bedrock outcrops, often adjacent to xeric barrens on the sandstone surface and its derived sandy ground. Coastal sage scrub also infills areas cleared for fuel abatement, making the old fuel modification zone along the edge of South Laguna a more dangerous fire hazard than the original chaparral removed. These fuel modification zones are today, sera1 brushlands. While coastal sage scrub occurs as a climax community inland, and further north in the city, here it is an intermediate vegetative form in the temporal evolution of maritime chaparral toward its preexisting climax condition. Of course, repeated clearing and disturbance will maintain successional conditions, first cleared ground, then weedy grassland, coastal sage scrub and finally, if allowed, climax chaparral. Some areas of early succession wild oat grasslands are found along the urban fringe, as well as one small, interesting patch of native perennial grassland at the apex of the ridge between Canyons 4 and 5.

In the most mesic portions of the northerly canyon (1) are patches of southern oak woodland, a community rare in the study area.

"Urban forest" plantings of ornamentals are found in several areas adjacent to the South Laguna urban fringe, and in one large stand on fairly gentle topography benchland flanking Canyon 5. This most interesting area of tropical fruit trees and vines is described later.

The Badlands Canyons were surveyed on 11/26, 12/3 and 12/5/91.

Rare Biota

Rare biota inventoried in the study area included sightings of one animal, the orange-throated whiptail, and inferential burrow evidence of two others, American badger and possibly the Pacific pocket mouse.

Among rare plants, the most often encountered was Orange County Turkish rugging. Nine stands encompassing approximately 1052 plants were encountered (see Table 15). All except one were growing in ridgetop xeric barrens. As all barrens were not visited because of topographic constraints, additional populations may have been overlooked. One stand, interestingly was surviving in a graded, irrigated open area adjacent to a paved lane at the southwest end of Laguna Sur, from what was likely a preexisting ridgecrest barrens population. How long this latter stand will survive is open to speculation, as irrigation will bring on more robust competitive plant material.

Five stands of big-leaved crownbeard totaling around 660 plants were found (see Table 16). The southernmost, growing in association with the limited distribution San Diego mountain mahagony, occurs just west of the evolving head capture area of Canyon 6 by Canyon 5, downslope from Monarch Point fuel modification zone. As far as is known, this represents the south edge of the United States population of this state threatened-listed species; none were found on the Binion property.

Three groves of the rare maritime scrub oak were found in and in the vicinity of Badlands Park. The large grove on the Binion parcel adjacent to Monarch Point has recently died, an apparent victim of spillover impact including infiltration of irrigation water and establishment of ruderals and ruderal-behaving natives (see Section 3.5). A second, in the park may be similarly threatened, but a third is sufficiently distant from the development edge to be secure.

Down in the canyon bottoms, additional rare plants were found. A stand of Jesuit flower was encountered in Canyon 5 and Coulter's matilija poppy in Canyon 3. The poppy, otherwise unknown from the San Joaquin-Laguna Hills was found in natural habitat close to the South Laguna urban edge and may have been naturalized from a nearby landscape planting or deliberately introduced here many years ago.

The Orange County endemic foothill mariposa is occasional on dry ridges throughout the study area. Table 15

Orange County Turkish Rugging Stands in the Badlands Canyons Area of South Laguna (all in xeric barrens except the first)

Approximate Location Number of Plants Associated Species

Upper ridge between 20 Plantaao biaelovii. heads of Cyn.2 and 4 Atriplex semibaccata, in irrigated area Schismus barbatus adjacent to paved lane

Ridge between Canyon Filago spp., Plantago erecta 3 and 4

Ridge between Canyon Adenostoma fasciculatum 3 and 4 obtusifolium, Gutierrezia californica, Helianthemum sco~arium.Cneoridium dumo sum,

Ridge headlands slope roughly 50 not inventoried; population between north and south observed with binoculars from branch of Canyon 4 adjacent ridge, south

Upper part of ridge Gutierrezia californica, between Canyon 4 and 5 Stephenomeria virgata, Chamaes ce polycarpa, Opuntia Aoccidenta is, Centaurea melitensis

Outcrop band at edge of 70 Salvia mellifera nearby, ridge north of Canyon 5 Gutierrezia californica, Stipa coronata. Erioaonum hil&iWvir ata Chamaes ce 01 car a lanceolata. Pellaea mucronata

Outcrop band at edge of 100 Aristida purpurea, Selaginella ridge north of Canyon 5 bigelovii

Outcrop band at edge of 425 Similar to the two above ridge north of Canyon 5

Outcrop band at edge of 101 Similar to the three above, ridge north of Canyon 5 plus Salsola australis. (upper slope) Navarretia atractyloides abundant on bench nearby Table 16

Big-Leaved Crownbeard Stands in the Badland Canyons Area of South Laguna

Approximate Number Location of Plants Community Associated Species

South ridge S.D. chamise Adenostoma fasciculatum between Canyons chaparral obtusifolium, 1 and 2, on Helianthemum sco~arium. border of 2 Cneordium dumosum, coastal sage scrub species

South ridge S.D. chamise Same as above, plus between Canyons chaparral Ceanothus megacarpus 1 and 2, on border of 2

Ridge between Mosaic of Rhus integrifolia, Canyon 2 and southern Ceanothus megacarpus, Canyon 3-4 head maritime and Cneoridium dumosum, capture area sumac-toyon Malosma laurina; Salvia chaparrals, mellifera and other coastal sage coastal sage scrub scrub; xeric spp., Calochortus barrens weedii intermedius

Ridge at north Xeric barrens Stipa coronata, S. margin of Canyon lepida, ~utierre7ia 4, north branch californica, Eriogonum fasciculatum. stephenomeria virgata, Cardionema ramosissimum, Lotus sco~arius

Upper ridge Mixed mesic Ceanothus megacarpus, between Canyon 5 association of Cercocar us minuti- and north branch southern eeromeles of 6 maritime arbutifo-lia, Rhus chaparral integrifolia,mvia mellifera, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Rhamnus crocea 3.4.3 Habitat Description

1. Canyon 1

,This is a twin-branched canyon at the north end of the Badlands Canyons study area. Both headwaters eminate off the custom estates area of Laguna Sur. The canyon drains below beneath the South Coast Water District tank facility off of Paseo del Sur in south Laguna.

This most mesic of the Badlands Canyons contains the only coast live oak tree groves in this study area. Southern maritime ceanothus chaparral is widespread here, as well as San Diego chamise chaparral which dips off of the adjacent ridges north and south, as well as the ridge slope between the two branches.

Like the other canyons adjacent to the developed Niguel Hill marine terrace, the upper 300 feet of this drainage watershed is fuel-modified. This fuel modification zone consists of widely spaced pruned indigenous native chaparral shrubs and an introduced, mostly non-native groundcover. The zone is periodi- cally irrigated; white irrigation PVC pipe lies on top of the ground, prey to weathering, and damage from tumbling rocks or pedestrian trampling.

Species noted in the fuel modification zone were indigenous ceanothus, spiny redberry, laurel sumac, lemonadeberry, toyon, bush rue and a little San Diego chamise and bush mallow. The introduced groundcover is of Australian saltbush, brittlebush (see previous section for comments on this species), rock rose, , Pampas grass, gazinia and sand suncups. . . The lower reach of Canyon 1 is very deeply incised and flanked by rock outcrops. Scrublshrub wetland of Mexican elderberry and castor bean is admixed with laurel sumac and toyon on the canyon floor, The road . Coast Live OAK to the Fowlie property bridges the lower canyon.

2. Ridge Between Canyon 1 and 2

This is a broad, stony ridge which is bifurcated below by a short drainage gully. The wide ridgecrest is covered with San Diego chamise chaparral, blending below into a mix of ceanothus and coastal sage scrub, and on the sideslopes of the adjacent canyons with southern maritime chaparral dominated by big-podded ceanothus.

This xeric, weathered sandstone-underpinned setting is habitat of the rare orange-throated whiptail lizard. Numerous small burrows of the size appropriate for Pacific pocket mouse were also noted.

The chamisal here is one of the four largest stands in the city. (The others are on the ridge between Hobo and Aliso Canyon, between Ceanothus Canyon and Badlands Canyon 1 and at Badlands Park.) Associates of the dominant San Diego chamise are rush rose, California matchweed, bush rue, foothill needlegrass, shiny lomatium and lesser amounts of California buckwheat, black sage, lemonadeberry, saw toothed goldenbush, prickly pear cacti, derived microseris, mariposa lily species and a minor amount of big-leaved crownbeard (first two stands cited in table in 3.4.2). There is also an interesting variety of ground-encrusting lichens.

The ridge widens below, finally being broached by a head-cutting gully which creates a pocket badlands above. This naturally disturbed xeric bowl's loose soil is incompletely stabilized by sparse vegetation of matchweed, California buckwheat and sagebrush and the dormant stalks of last spring's mariposa lilies.

Noted on this slope and elsewhere is an echo of urban spillover impact which, in the form of establishment of alien ruderals and invasion of human-tolerant fauna in otherwise natural habitat, extends around 200 feet from the urban edge above and below. Among alien plants which gain footholds in this zone are star thistle, Russian thistle and filarees. House finches, mockingbirds and the like also forage in the wildland edge beyond the limits of fuel modification zones. These findings point to the consequences of permitting continued ingression of development in the remaining open space. The impacts not only encompass the dwelling unit (or infrastructure) footprint but its landscaped fringe, wide fuel modificaiton zone and finally, this subtle alteration of supposedly undisturbed habitat beyond. In South Laguna south of the Aliso Peak ridge, the habitat is already narrowed by development on the Niguel Hill marine terrace above and the coastal terrace below. Especially in areas which are already narrowed (Canyons 1,2,3), Russian THISTLE 112 X. additional urban step-outs will have significant incremental impacts. I 3. Canyon 2 This is a typical deeply incised, very rugged canyon, containing a two-branched headwater. It is bounded on the north by the broad chamisal ridge described above and on the south by a somewhat narrower ridge containing a variety of habitats. The south head of Canyon 2 nearly captures the north head of Canyon 4, which cuts across the headland slope above Canyon 3. (In time, the latter may capture Canyon 4.)

The slopes of this canyon are mantled with big-podded ceanothus, admixed above with sumac-toyon chaparral and below with coastal sage scrub. A line of lemonadeberries extend up the canyon bottom. A small stand of chamise grows on outcroping along the south edge of the south branch of the canyon, as well as the extensive cover on the ridge north of the canyon. An abandoned car was noted over the side in the upper north branch.

The lower reach of the canyon is choked with urban forest vegetation (avocado, citrus, etc.) and sumac- toyon chaparral.

4. Ridge Between Canyon 2, 3 and Headwater of 4, North Branch

This ridge contains a variety of habitats. Beyond the end of the graded strip at the northwest end of the Monarch Point development, the upper slope supports a mosaic of ceanothus, sumac-toyon chaparral and coastal sage scrub. Below, the ridgeline is quite dry, and contains xeric barrens and San Diego chamise habitats and rare plant populations. Slopes on either side are mantled with ceanothus, replaced below on the north side by urban forest ornamentals.

The north headwater of Canyon 4 cuts back toward the graded upper ridge very dramatically. The canyon is deeply downcut as it drops away toward the south. On its west slope is a stand of thick-leaved yerba santa shrubs. This species is rare in the coastal hills of Orange County.

The mosaic habitat of the upper slope is a dense mix of lemonadeberry, big-podded cenothus and bush rue, with lesser amounts of laurel sumac, black sage, and California buckwheat and sagebrush. As thinly vegetated semi-barrens habitat is reached below, fairly small stands of 25 to 50 big-leaved crownbeard plants are encountered; downslope, these patches increase in frequency and size, the largest containing in excess of 100 plants. Golondrina and Parry phacelia are also found. At the lower end of the dry ridgecrest is a patch of chamise. Clumps of purple three-awn grass grow along its margin. 5. Canyon 3

Canyon 3 is short; its headwaters originating on the upper middle hillside, narrowly separated from the north headwater of Canyon 4 by a dike of sandstone which descends into the latter watershed.

The headwaters of Canyon 3 contain coastal sage scrub, with ceanothus chaparral draped down the headlands behind and the north-facing slope. The south-facing slope is covered with San Diego chamise, below the hogback xeric barrens on the ridgecrest above. The lower portion of the canyon has been fuel-modified in the past and now contains coastal sage scrub and patchy sumac-toyon chaparral and ceanothus. Siltstone outcrops are exposed on the canyonsides.

A trail extends up the lower canyon floor for a short distance, through grassy habitat with scattered laurel sumac shrubs. As noted earlier, a CNPS limited-distribution matilija poppy shrub was found entangled with a lemonadeberry near the mouth of the canyon. In the upper canyon, giant rye is extensive along the drainagecourse.

6. Ridge Between Canyon 3 and 4

The dramatic geology of Canyon 4 affects this upland as well, specifically the extensive Topanga cliff outcrops which are found about the confluence of the north and south branches of this drainage. As noted above, the top of the sandstone block which forms the cliff on the north side of the canyon createsahogback ridge of interesting xeric barrens flanked by chamise chaparral. Below, this habitat is replaced on San Onofre breccia by a mixture of southern maritime and sumac chaparral. A large stand of eucalyptus grows at the north toe of the ridge at the development edge.

The sandstone hogback pitches off vertically into Canyon 4, posing a risk to careless hikers. A well used wildlife trail extends down the hogback. Inter- esting xeric barrens vegetation includes about 100 big-leaved crownbeard plants, 142 Orange County Turkish rugging plants, and Bigelow spike moss, crested stipa and foothill needlegrass, matchweed, fluffweed, California plantain, sandmat, foothill mariposa lily and California butterweed. California buckwheat, tall stephenomeria, deerweed, bush rue and the like are also found. The habitat grades on the sideslopes and ridge below into charnisal with numerous xeric barrens openings. An additional Turkish rugging population of about 59 plants was found here, along with matchweed, rush rose, golondrina, bush rue and California buckwheat.

Beyond the lower edge of the Topanga, as noted above, this interesting xeric habitat is replaced by fairly dense chaparral of ceanothus, bush rue, spiny redberry and laurel sumac. Within the old fuel modification zone extending upslope from the development edge, the habitat is dominated by (highly flammable) coatal sage scrub and dispersed southern maritime and sumac-toyon chaparral. Wild-celery is abundant in the understory, indicating relatively mesic conditions.

7. Canyon 4

Canyon 4, Ceanothus Canyon north and the complex of Canyons 5, 6 and the adjacent Binion canyons south are the three major drainages of South Laguna south of the Niguel Hill-Aliso Peak ridge. The South Laguna drainage map shows the Canyon 4 creek extending beyond the hillside down onto the coastal terrace. Canyon 5-6 and the north Binion complex in contrast confluence beneath South Coast Hospital, no more to be seen despite the impressive watershed above.

As noted earlier, the north branch of Canyon 4 juts in an unusual fashion northward, just as does the north branch of Canyon 6. Interesting head captures by adjacent canyons could happen in the future. As noted earlier, this odd north extension may be related to lateral fault movement at and below the crest of the south ridge of Niguel Hill.

A complex of habitats is associated with this canyon. The upper watershed and lower canyon contain a mix of southern maritime and sumac-toyon chaparral, with the latter community prominent in the canyon bottom. In the vicinity of the confluence of the headwater branches are very extensive sandstone outcrop cliffs, grottoed with caves utilized by ravens and coyotes. Chamise chaparral grows on the ridge apron between the headwater legs; a stand of Orange County Turkish rugging thrives on sandstone outcrops on the adjacent sloped headland that ultimately pitches into the confluence. A line of outcropping extends from the confluence area downcanyon on the south wall; this is lightly vegetated by coastal sage scrub and bush rue- redberry scrub.

The south branch of Canyon 4 is itself divided into two headwaters, with an apron in between mantled with ceanothus below and lemonadeberry above. The lowest reach of the canyon at the urban edge contains ornamental myoporums and sumac-toyon chaparral. It is flanked on the north by coastal sage scrub, cacti, bush rue and scattered outcrops studded with chalk lettuce. On the south is urban forest and the characteristic ceanothus - lemonadeberryltoyon mosaic of this portion of the South Laguna watershed. Urban forest components here are eucalyptus trees, fan palms, pines and giant yuccas.

8. Ridge Between Canyon 4 and 5

This historically was probably the key movement corridor for wildlife dispersing between the south part of the Niguel Hill uplifted marine terrace and the South Laguna sea terrace below. With development of the Niguel Hill ridge, the old path is one from nowhere to no place for most wildlife. However, opportunistic species such as coyotes in search of an easy dinner of housecat will continue to find this topographic linkage useful. The human species now increasingly uses the wildlife pathway (which started perhaps as an old badly eroded road trace). A young boy and his teenage nanny were hiking from Monarch Point down to the hospital and back the day the author explored the upper ridge.

The profile of this ridge (and the one to the north) consists of rather steep slopeland dropping down from the Niguel Hill ridge, and then a long, gently sloping finger of land which extends down to the South Laguna urban edge. On the lower portion of the ridge, a private dirt road leads to an old parked recreational vehicle surrounded by potted plants and gardening debris. An elaborate botanical garden of fruit trees and vegetable patches has been developed on the gentle sideslope of Canyon 5 nearby.

At the very top of the ridge just below the Monarch Point fuel modification zone is an interesting flat terrace of silty ground mantled with the strange, thorny herb called holly-leaved skunkweed (Navarretia atractyloides) . This terrace could have potential for vernal pool development. Nearby, at the head of Canyon 5, the habitat grades into an outcrop barrens supporting an Orange County Turkish rugging population.

Below this headlands, the steep upper hillside is covered with a mosaic of sumac-toyon chaparral, coastal sage scrub and some ceanothus and bush rue. Thick-leaved yerba santa and prickly pear cacti are dispersed through dry openings. There is a lot of golden yarrow established near the edge of the fuel modification zone, perhaps introduced from its hydromulch. A patch of barberry-leaved scrub oak grows on the upper north-facing slope of the south headwater of Canyon 4.

Numerous small barrens dot the upper hillside. The old trail going down this steep slope is treacherous- ly eroded.

Xeric barrens are extensive at and below the base of the steep headlands slope and along the margin of Canyon 5. These support major stands of Orange County Turkish rugging (around 831 plants counted), golondrina, matchweed, fluffweed, oligomeris, stephenomeria, prickly pears and adventive star thistle. There are also zones of sandstone rock outcropping along the upper margin lip of Canyon 5, the crests of cliffs which gird the sidewall below. Crested stipa, purple three-awn grass, lance-leaved dudleya, Bigelow spike moss and birdsfoot fern are among interesting plants found about the outcrops. Coastal sage scrub grows in thin soil areas across the upper middle ridge in this outcrop band which extends from the headwater confluence area of Canyon 4 to the cliffs on the south-facing slope of Canyon 5. Black sage is dominant here.

Wildlife species of interest are found in this quite extensive aridland. An apparent badger den with characteristic sidewall claw marks, tail drags like those of the (agile) kangaroo rat and the tiny scat of brush rabbits were seen. The habitat is also appropriate for the Pacific pocket mouse.

Southern maritime ceanothus chaparral and admixtures of this community and sumac-toyon chaparral cloak the lower part of the ridge on the San Onofre breccia formation's mantle of silty soil. Property line stakes marked by PVC pipe cross the lower ridge and the one to the north.

At the apex of the ridge in the old fuel modification zone is coastal sage scrub, admixed with sumac-toyon chaparral on the slope of Canyon 5-6 and with grassland above Canyon 4. A small area of pure stand native perennial grassland here is dominated by needlegrasses and contained the remnants of succulent annual lupine and numbers of lilac mariposa lilies. Substrate is clayey.

The "urban forest" botanical garden lies in a bowl- like indentation on the south side of the ridge. A network of trails accesses different levels in the garden, which is encircled with native chaparral. The garden provides its owner with an array of fruits and several kinds of vegetables. There are many fruit trees: cherimoyas, mangoes, avocadoes, bananas, oranges, peaches, apricots, strawberry guavas, loquats, date palms, as well as black walnut trees and numerous passion fruit vines. There are also beds of tomatoes and of asparagus. Strictly ornamental features are myoporums, bush poppies, a clump of golden bamboo, poinsettias, aeoniums, jade plants, elephant's food and schefflera or Queensland umbrella tree. Vegetation is drip irrigated. While establishment of the garden resulted in the loss of native chaparral, and if repeated in every canyon in South Laguna on the scale implemented here, would result in significant adverse impact on the local brushland ecosystem, this garden and the way of life it typi- fies have much to admire and respect.

9. Canyon 5

Canyon 5 and 6 join near the urban edge, below the botanical garden. They are then joined to the northerly Binion canyon complex only to disappear beneath South Coast Hospital. Unlike Canyon 6, whose headwater is offset to the left from the main stem, Canyon 5 proceeds in a straightforward fashion down the hillside from Monarch Point. The north edge of the canyon above the botanical garden consists of a cave-pocketed vertical outcrop; a transient's shelter, like a modern day midden was seen in one of the larger grottoes. The canyon bottom is of sumac-toyon chaparral and the north-facing slope, southern maritime ceanothus chaparral. In the upper reach, head- capture of the north branch of Canyon 6 appears imminent; this area contains very dense chaparral including some of the mixed mesic southern maritime association. Within this stand are numbers of San Diego mountain mahoganies and what may be the southernmost Laguna Beach (and hence, U.S.) population of big-leaved crownbeard.

Below, the botanical garden extends all the way to the canyon floor, and a trail has been cut beyond. The drainagecourse is brushy with California encelia and black sage. One clump of the regionally sensitive Jesuit flower was found. Sideslopes dense with ceanothus and sumac-toyon chaparral closely encroach on the narrow channel.

The ridge slope between Canyons 5 and 6 contains some outcropping at the lip of the latter, but is mostly cloaked in southern maritime chaparral, grading into sumac-toyon chaparral approaching the confluence of the two drainages. 10. Canyon 6 This is a canyon of dramatic sweep and vertical scale. There are a number of headwater barrancas between the left lateral offset north branch, and the south branch which comes out of Badlands Park. The north branch is the main stem; as it arches westward toward the sea, it is girded by somber cliffs. . . 8 The upper reach of the north branch drains through mosaic chaparral habitat of southern maritime ceanothus, sumac-toyon and some San Diego chamise. The broad hillside between the two branches is skirted above by the Monarch Point fuel modification zone and a County hiking trail. Numerous small dissecting gullies and ravines lace this slope. Southward, these are separated from one another by areas of outcropping. On the north side of the canyon, ceanothus and bush rue-redberry chaparrals extend downslope from the stand on the intermediate ridge. Opposite, the outcrop cliffs tower above the bend, flanked by mixed ceanothus - sumacltoyon chaparral and crested by the extensive Badlands Park San Diego chamise stand. Downcanyon, the north-facing slope continues to be very steep and is probably underlain by a continu- ation of the cliff exposed above, now mantled by a mixture of southern maritime chaparral and coastal sage scrub. This vegetation type shifts dramatically to a nearly pure stand of lemonadeberry below the 5-6 confluence, on the ridge nose between Canyon 6 and the northerly Binion canyon.

The lower portion of the canyon floor is walkable, having been cleared in the past. See Section 3.5; this portion is within the Binion holdings. Above, a rough scrublshrub wetland of tree tobacco and giant rye is admixed with laurel sumac, lemonadeberry and toyon along the channel. Badlands Park

Badlands Park is an open space dedication in the city of Laguna Niguel at the east apex of the South Laguna bowl backdrop. The Topanga sandstone bedrock which has extended all along the upper hillsides from Aliso Canyon and the headwaters of Hobo Canyon stops abruptly here; beyond is San Onofre breccia.

Beautiful windswept sandstone exposures representing the ancient Topanga land surface show through,the scrubby mantle of San Diego chamise with its conifer- like needle-leaves. Many of the outcrops are lichen- encrusted. On the outer slopes, sandstone is replaced by breccia soils studded like fruitcake with clasts of schist and quartz. The Binion north canyon headwaters slice wickedly down through this soft mantle, lending a badlands-like appearance to their upper reaches. There are two topographic bowls eroded out of the side of the Quaternary marine terrace within the dedication area. Their floors are covered with small dunes of windswept sand, laced with the tracks of coyotes, rabbits and birds. The southern bowl contains dispersed scrublshrub wetland of mulefat, coyotebrush and Pampas grass, as well as a long- abandoned vehicle. Scattered clumps of chamisal extend into the northern bowl. As noted earlier, the open space contains two small groves of the rare maritime scrub oak, one of which may be threatened by irrigation water seepage. (The species appears to be intolerant of irrigation, and another, larger clump at the development edge has died.) Attractive split MULEFAT rail fencing wraps around the north bowl, with a wide set of stairs leading down into the bottom. There are no improvements at this point (December, 1991) in the vicinity of the south bowl. The old road leading into the north bowl is now blocked by the fence, but is continuing to erode. Some areas contain litter, perhaps left over from past uncontrolled access. The transition zone between the park and urban edge is planted with a variety of mostly native species. Brittlebush has unfortunately been introduced here, posing a genetic threat to the nearby California encelia population, if it thrives. And, as noted, irrigation in proximity to the maritime scrub oak stand along the fenceline trail may harm or kill it. These are management issues beyond the jurisdiction of the City of Laguna Beach but should be of interest to members of the former South Laguna Review Commit- tee, which worked long and hard to see this park a reality.

Another fruit of the Committee's work is the sensitive pruning of native shrubs in the Monarch Point fuel modification zone. Two styles of pruning are used; all work is done by hand (not by goat). One prunes up, creating discrete tree-like forms. The second prunes down, creating clumps of low-growing shrubbery which wide refuge for small wildlife species in the zone. These low-cut shrubs resemble the wind-sheared chaparral of the most seaward headlands, except that the cover is broken up so that ladders of flame do not extend from the heavy chaparral below to the urban edge. 3.4.4 Wildlife Observed In the Badlands Canyons Area

Around 28 faunal species were detected onsite during the survey by sighting, voice, skeletal material, scat or burrows. These included one amphibian, the Pacific tree frog (in residence in the Canyon 5 botanical garden), three reptiles, western fence lizard, side-blotched lizard and the rare orange throated whiptail, 18 bird species and 6 or so mammals. Among birds inventoried were three raptors: the red-tailed hawk, kestrel and turkey vulture, Anna's hummingbird, common flicker and three corvids: the raven, crow and scrub jay. Others were bushtit, wrentit, robin, mockingbird and California thrasher, yellow rumped warbler and four seed-eaters: California towhee, white-crowned sparrow, lesser goldfinch and house finch. Numerous small rodent burrows were observed in sandy substrate; these may include species of Perognathus as well as Peromyscus. Dr. Richard MacMillen has trapped the cactus mouse (Peromyscus eremicus), Cali- fornia mouse (!: californicus) and the desert packrat (Neotoma lepida) In lower Canyon 5-6, and noted the Cali- fornia pocket mouse (Perognathus californicus) on the undeveloped Niguel Hill part of the marine terrace above. The potential exists for occurrence of the rare Pacific pocket mouse (Perognathus longimembris pacificus) on xeric barrens, in chamisal and on the marine terrace. The author noted in a single area, beginning burrow exca- vations and tail-drags characteristic of kangaroo rat, now almost extirpated from this area. The species native to Orange County is the Pacific or agile kangaroo rat (Dipodomys agilis).

As described earlier, coyotes are common here denning in caves in the sandstone cliffs. They were heard howling; many tracks and scat-piles were observed and one skull of a young animal was found. The den of what appeared to be an American badger, a sensitive species, was found.

Deer are quite rare here. No tracks were seen on the slopes. A cast horn was found in the fuel modification zone. There is still some deer activity along the remaining undeveloped Niguel Hill ridgecrest, but this will likely cease when the Binion project is built out. 3.5 BINION PARCEL

Because of the interest evidenced by the City and residents of South Laguna in the fate of this piece of land, the analysis herein presented is given at a level of detail exceeding some of the other survey areas which are either "in limbo" or in protected open space, includes an evaluation of the impacts of proposed development of the site and a description of resources on the parcel outside as well as inside the city limits. Evalu- ation of land outside the city limits was not done at the city's request, nor financed by the South Laguna Biological Resources Inventory budget. It was felt that a comprehensive look at the whole site was needed, since actions on the parcel outside city limits could have an impact on open space lands and wildlife resources within City boundaries nearby.

This section, while intended for inclusion in the South Laguna Biological Resources Inventory is presented in such a way that it will function, if needed as a standalone report.

3.5.1 Phvsical Settina

The Binion parcel is a square of about 52 acres extent. About 30 acres are within Laguna Beach; the remainder are in Laguna Niguel. The Laguna Niguel portion includes the last undeveloped part of the Niguel Hill marine terrace ridgeline, a finger that juts out on the southwest edge of the distinctive backbone framing South Laguna's open space. The Laguna Beach portion is the intricately dissected maritime slope that drops away from the uplifted ancient seabeach of the ridge toward the present day seaplain. The configuration of the slopeland is bowl- like; the Binion property is the southern part of a dissected topographic bowl which encompasses the preserved open space of Badlands Park, just north, and extends beyond, ultimately to the ridgeline which frames Ceano- thus Canyon below Aliso Peak. Thus, the Binion slopes provide part of the sheltered backdrop of the South Laguna community, slopes which give the village its distinctive and isolated visual quality in a region where cities seem to run one into another without edges or boundaries.

Four or five separate drainages dissect the slopeland. The largest is itself composed of six distinct branches, in topography and visual setting in continuum with that of Badlands Park.

Substrate of the crest of the terrace here is Pleistocene- age marine terrace sands. The slopes below, as well as the southern distal end of the ridge are mostly underlain by Tertiary San Onofre breccia; a small amount of Ter- tiary Topanga sandstone is also present. San Onofre breccia, as discussed elsewhere in the BRI creates a distinctive edaphic environment harboring the unique, Baja California-resembling Diegan or southern maritime chaparral of South Laguna, found from San Clemente Canyon south to Crown Valley Parkway on the ocean slopes, but nowhere else in Orange County.

The marine terrace above, while not in Laguna Beach is worthy of comment especially since plants and animals are not cognizant of city boundaries. A generalized discussion of the biotic significance of these formations is therefore a necessary component of this section.

Marine terraces are uplifted segments of ancient shore- lines. Those in Orange County now form the front ridges of the coastal hills. The dissected slopes below were until recent geologic time submerged beneath the sea. Marine terraces are unique edaphic habitats; their sandy ground may support rare biota, such as Pacific pocket mouse, San Diego horned lizard, orange-throated whiptail, silvery legless lizard, Orange County Turkish rugging, many-stemmed dudleya, western dichondra and others. Because the Pleistocene beach sands unconformably overlie an ancient Tertiary land surface, there is often a cemented hardpan at the contact zone which functions as a barrier to the downward percolation of water. This promotes development of vernal pools, springs and seeps. Three remnant vernal pools were found during the survey; other, well-developed pools were present on nearby Laguna Sur's part of the ridgeline before that planned community was developed (Fred Lang, Ann Christoph, pers. comm.). The loss of these pools was never mitigated in kind, though the author prepared a restoration plan to accom- plish this task. Finally, the unique marine terrace habitat has all but disappeared in Orange County. The Irvine Company is in the process of converting its highly biologically significant Pelican Hill terrace to resort- commercial and residential development land. In Laguna Beach, save for the knoll overlooking Laguna Canyon and nearby upland around Alta Laguna Park, the Temple Hill Terrace, including the promontory hill itself is fully developed. To the south, part of the Arch Beach Heights terrace (Moulton Meadows) remains undeveloped; this area is a delight for lovers of rare plants, colorful wildflowers and indigenous habitat. Fuel modification manage- management using goats may threaten its integrity and rare plant stands; the effects of this ongoing practice need to be monitored. South, in Dana Point, vernal pools containing regionally rare spadefoot toads were destroyed by ongoing development several years ago.

Methods

The Binion parcel was surveyed on September 4 and 6, 1991, with a total of 9 hours in the field. On September 4, there was a great deal of fog and overcast; temperatures were in the high 60s-low 70s degree range. On September 6, the sky was mostly clear and temperatures were about 10 degrees higher.

During the field reconnaissances, the terrace was walked over, the upper slopes examined with 10 x 40 binoculars and the lower slopes subject to limited sorties.

The topography and vegetative density of the hillsides made a more comprehensive evaluation infeasible. There- fore, sensitive biota in this area may have been over- 1ooked.

3.5.3 Proposed Land Use

The Binion ridge, in Laguna Niguel is proposed for extensive development. Site plans have not been examined. 32 dwelling units are proposed. Within the Laguna Beach slopeland, the City and property owner have made an agreement which will permit development of one or two homes on a total of 2 acres (semidisturbed land near the South Laguna village edge). The remaining 28 acres, pristine hillsides, would be in open space. The City also has the option of buying the entire 30 acres (for about $1.2 million), with exclusive negotiation rights through fall of 1992 and right of first refusal on the open market thereafter (Fletcher, 1991, Ann Christoph, pers. comm. ) . 3.5.4 Bioloaical Settina

This discussion is broken up into a description of the ridge, upper slopes and lower slopes, and a species list of biota observed. Since this is not an EIR assessment, detailed discussion of biotic community composition is not included. This information is contained in other portions of the BRI.

1. Ridge

The marine terrace contains a mosaic of coastal sage scrub and sumac-toyon chaparral, with minor representations of Diegan maritime chaparral. Sandy openings along trails and in between more heavily vegetated areas contain an assemblage of psammophytes, native grasses and wildflowers.

Coastal sage scrub here is composed principally of California sagebrush, black sage and California buckwheat. Common large woody shrubs are lemonadeberry and toyon; spiny redberry, laurel sumac and big- podded ceanothus are also present. Now dead, obviously as a consequence of inadequate open space setback from the Monarch Point development are the uniaue maritime scrub oaks (Ouercus. . dumosal x -enael- mannii). Their habitat has infilled with ruderals (e.q., summer mustard. Russian thistle) and ruderal- behaving natives such as California everlasting and giant rye.

Cacti are common southward; oricle cactus and western prickly pear are widespread species. Cacti, bladderpod and California encelia are components of the maritime succulent scrub community.

The most interesting aspects of terrace vegetation are the psammophytes (e.g., sapphire eriastrum, fluffweeds, sandmat) and the grass/wildflower vegetation of openings. Native foothill needlegrass and San Digego bentgrass, and blue-eyed grass (a small iris-relative), purple mariposa and wild hyacinth were noted; other delicate wildflowers would be apparent in the spring of the year.

The crest of the ridge contains Pleistocene marine terrace substrate, sand with an underlying hardpan which has promoted the development of three or more vernal pool-like depressions, which are unfortunately degraded because of their location in dirt roadways and trails. Due to survey timing, fauna of these temporary pools could not be determined. As discussed earlier in the BRI, a vernal pool on the ridge north of Aliso Canyon contained fairy shrimp this spring. Vernal pools are almostly entirely extirpated in Orange County though they were once common on coastal terraceland.

Underlying San Onofre breccia-derived soil is exposed on the southerly portion of the ridge. Here, sumac- toyon chaparral (lemonadeberry, toyon, some laurel sumac) is the dominant cover. At the head of the canyon on the east side of the narrow apex of the ridge (a tributary of the long canyon containing Pacific Island Drive) is exposed reddish gravel, overlying the San Onofre breccia, which is gray-green in color. This canyon lies along a fault line.

1. The true -Q. dumosa is limited to small, isolated maritime populations extending from Santa Barbara County to northern Baja, California. The widespread scrub oak of interior mountains is now separated from -Q. dumosa and assigned the name, -Q. berberidifolia. The reddish material may be a lense of Topanga sandstone. It creates an interesting barrens exposure and supports several plant species not found elsewhere on the property, including coastal cholla, chalk lettuce dudleya and lance-leaved dudleya, and chartreuse, pale olive and gray encrusting lichens. Caves pocket the blocky breccia exposures below in the canyonhead cut. These are of sufficient size to shelter wild animals. The northwest facing slope of the canyon, including the Binion property supports a richly mesic and dense mixed chaparral of big-podded ceanothus, lemonadeberry, toyon, some scrub oak (species not determined), spiny redberry and laurel sumac.

Mammal evidence noted on the ridge included a relatively small number of mule deer (which were more abundant on the lower slopes), coyotes, brush rabbits, and numerous small rodents (as detected by burrow evidence). An assemblage of coastal sage scrub and chaparral songbirds such as wrentit, California thrasher, scrub jay and brown towhee, as well as mockingbirds and house finches eminating from the urban edge, overflying ravens, red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures were birds seen. Side-blotched lizards were also noted.

Habitat on the sandy terrace is ideal for the rare, Federal candidate Pacific pocket mouse (Perognathus longimembris pacificus); the numerous small rodent burrows are an indication that live trapping by a mammalogist to determine the species present would be worthwhile.

2. Upper Slopes

As noted earlier, the slopeland onsite is part of a dissected bowl which extends north first to a long ridge containing some rural development below. At the base of this immediate bowl is South Coast Com- munity Hospital and the central portion of the village of South Laguna, with Mar Vista Ave. and Sunset Drive skirting the binion open space. Beyond, the larger ampitheater-like backdrop is framed north by the Ceanothus Canyon south ridge.

Topographically, Badlands Park is part of the Binion watershed. The park is at the head of the north tributary of the multi-branched main canyon within the parcel.

Although specific microhabitat differences can be noted from slope to slope in between the numerous dissecting drainagecourses, overall, the vegetation b of the Binion property hillsides can be characterized as a mosaic of Diegan maritime and sumac-toyon chaparral. The dominant shrub is big-podded ceanothus; I lemonadeberry is subdominant. On dry exposures, bush rue may be dominant in patches. Toyon, lemonadeberry and laurel sumac are dominant along the drainagecourses. Steep, dry canyonsides may contain coastal I sage scrub patches. Chamisal of the limited-distribution San Diego chamise dom'inates the Badlands Park upper slope immediately north of the property; this I species may extend onto the site a short distance. The chamise is restricted to the Badlands redrock area I at the margin of the ridge. At the opposite, south end of the slopeland, sumac- toyon chaparral replaces ceanothus as the dominant vegetation. As noted earlier, the adjacent part of I the ridgecrest is also dominated by lemonadeberry and toyon. The other slopeland area dominated by this community is on a hill-like projection on the lower I portion of the divide ridge between the north and main drainage system onsite. I The upper portions of the maritime slopes were surveyed with binoculars from vantage points above and below, with only limited sorties into the periphery of the steep, rugged and densely vegetated habitat. I Therefore, microhabitat features and understory vegetation were not censused. Possibly overlooked were sensitive resources such as the State threatened big- I leaved crownbeard. A family of coyotes dens somewhere on the middle slopes either on or directly adjacent to the Binion I' property. On the first survey day, curtains of fog drifted in from the sea, disguising the slopes. Twice, when ambulances tolfrom the hospital were running I their sirens, the family joined in with howling wails EMONADEBERRY(R~US~~~~~~~/~I~~,..~~several pitches (at least 3 could be separately C distinguished). A pair of red-tailed hawks were seen hunting across the slopes, their legs and talons dangling as they ~ I soared at eye level from the adjacent ridge. Turkey ! vultures and ravens were also noted. Wrentits, Calif- ornia thrashers and scrub jays frequented the chaparral. White-throated swifts soared above the lateral ridges. , ' 3. Lower Slopes The major shift in slope vegetation occurs at the fuel modification zone (FMZ), which extends some 200 feet or more up the hillside from the development edge of the South Laguna community. Drier portions of the zone are dominated by coastal sage scrub (mostly California buckwheat), while more mesic slopes support native perennial grassland with dispersed chaparral and coastal sage scrub. Disturbed areas, as in the immediate periphery of the development edge contain weedy introduced grassland. A variety of horticultural trees and shrubs, the most prominent red gum eucalyptus and Queensland box create an "urban forest" environment at the immediate edge of the community; ornamentals are naturalized in some of the ravine channels above.

The lower reaches of the ravines and canyons are densely brushy and relatively mesic, with probably a richer plant species assemblage than the drier upper channels. Bird life is most abundant and diverse in the sheltered lower drainages; this is true throughout the South Laguna study area. Deer are also numerous, all across the lower slopes. Many active trails are maintained.

Above the edge of the fuel modification zone, the lower slopes are vegetatively a continuum of the hillsides above and north, a mosaic of big-podded ceanothus, lemonadeberry, toyon, bush rue and spiny redberry.

The vegetation of the fuel modification zone reflects a release of indigenous understory plants by removal of most of the overstory. On drier sites, the understory is coastal sage scrub, which assumes dominance, especially in maturing FMZs. The mesic slope zone is a valuable native grassland habitat dominated by foothill needlegrass (perhaps joined by its relative, purple needlegrass), and San Diego bentgrass. Non- native grasses such as red brome, soft chess, false brome, foxtail fescue and nitgrass are subordinate components. Foothill mariposa, an Orange County endemic limited-distribution species, purple and Pacific sanicle, shiny lomatium, windmill pink, wild- celery, San Diego jewel flower, chaparral morning- glory and California butterweed were spring wildflowers inventories from dried remnants; perhaps others were overlooked. A population of regionally rare venegasia or Jesuit flower, a shrubby understory composite somewhat resembling the State threatened big-leaved crownbeard, was discovered beneath a large toyon in the mesic part of the FMZ.

Mule deer appear to be maintaining the native grass FMZs, along with help from Audubon's cottontails and other small herbivores. The lower drainagecourses are mesic tangles of brush. Laurel sumac, toyon, lemonadeberry, giant rye, black sage and orange bush monkeyflower are prominent elements, with giant rye abundant in the channels. Adventive tree tobacco is common near the mouth of the northerly drainage, only a small part of which crosses the property. Up in this sheltered canyon are western wood ferns, fuchsia-flowering gooseberries and climbing penstemon, species found only in the most mesic, shaded locales.

Among the songbirds frequenting the lower canyons and ravines are wrentits, California thrashers, rufous-sided and California towhees, house wrens, lesser goldfinches, bushtits, scrub jays, and eminating from the urban edge, mockingbirds, house finches and rock doves. A red-tailed hawk is in residence in the urban forest eucalyptus stand above Sunset Drive. Turkev vultures and ravens soared above these slopesu as well as the ridge east.

TABLE 17 I Binion Parcel Vegetation Species List (legend at the end of list) FAMILY SPECIES COMMUNITY ASPIDIACEAE Dryopteris arguta - western STCH (mesic) wood fern CUPRESSACEAE *Cupressus sp. - cypress ANACARDIACEAE Malosma laurina - laurel sumac STCH Rhus integrifolia - lemonadeberry STCH (dominant) APIACEAE Apiastrurn angustifolium - wild- NGLICH edge celery I *Foeniculurn vulgare - fennel RLI D Lomatium lucidurn - shiny lornatium NGLICH edge CCH Sanicula arguta - sharp-toothed NGL I sanicle Sanicula crassicaulis - Pacific NGLICH edge sanicle ASTERACEAE Artemisia californica - California CSS (codominant) sagebrush *Centaurea melitensis - star thistle AGL Corethro ne filaginifolia - PSAM (here) +cud weed *Cynara cardunculus - artichoke RUD thistle Encelia californica - California MSS encel ia Eriophyllum confertiflorum - STCH golden yarrow *Filago gallica - narrow-leaved PSAM fluffweed *Gazinia linearis - gazinia UF, FMZ Gna~haliumcalifornicum - RUD (here) California everlasting "Gnaphalium luteo-album - weedy VP cudweed Gutierrezia californica - matchweed XB (lateral ridges) Hazardia squarrosa - saw-toothed CH aoldenbush ~eGizoniafasciculata - fascicled RUD, AGL tarweed Heterotheca grandiflora telegraph weed Isocoma veneta (including succulent CSS (woolly and woolly forms) - coastal golden on ridge) bush Malacothrix saxatilis - cliff XB, FMZ malacothrix Osteospermum f ruticosum - freeway U F daisy Senecio californicus - California SMCH edge butterweed *Sonchus oleraceus - common sow RUD thistle Stephenomeria virgata - tall RU D stephenomeria **Vene* asia carpesioides - Jesuit NGL-CH edge

BRASSICACEAE "Brassica aeniculata4 - summer mustard AGL. RUD *Sisymbrium irio - London rocket RU D Streptanthu~terophyllus - San NGL-CH edge Diego jewel flower CACTACEAE *Cereus peruvianus - night-blooming UF cereus *Opuntia ficus-indica - Indian fig UF *Opuntia "occidentalis" - western MSS prickly pear ~puntiabricola - oracle cactus MSS Opuntia prolifera - coastal cholla MSS CAPPARACEAE Isomeris arborea - bladderpod MSS CARYOPHYLLACEAE Cardionema rarnosissimum - sand mat PSAM *Silene aallica - windmill uink NGL CHENOPODIACEAE *Atriplex semibaccata - Australian XB (roadcuts, saltbush etc .) *Salsola australis - Russian RU D thistle or tumbleweed

CONVOVULACEAE Calystegia macrostegia - chaparral NGL-CH mosaic morning-glory in FMZ CUCURBITACEAE Marah macrocarpus - wild cucumber CH-mes ic FABACEAE Lotus scoparius - deerweed CSS *Spartiurn junceum - Spanish broom UF FAGACEAE Quercus cf. berberidifolia - SMCH barberrv-leaved scrub oak **Quercus dimosa x en elmannii - SMCH maritime scrub -mann (extirpated) oak hybrids JUGLANDACEAE *Juglans sp. - walnut LAMIACEAE "Marrubium vulgare - horehound RUD Salvia apiana - white sage CSS **Salvia a iana x mellifera - white CSS sage =%-b ack sage hybrid ~alviamellifera - - black sage CSS (codominant) MALVACEAE **Lavatera assurgentiflora - malva UF (introduced rosa here) Malacothamnus fasciculatus - bush CSS ma1 low

MYOPORACEAE *Myoporum laetum - myoporum UF MYRTACEAE *Eucalyptus camaldulensis - red gum UF *Eucalyptus ficifolia - scarlet gum UF PITTOSPORACEAE *Pittosporum undulatum - Queensland UF box POLEMONIACEAE Eriastrum sapphirinum - sapphire PSAM eriastrum Navarretia atractyloides - hol ly- PSAM, VP leaved skunkweed POLYGONACEAE Eriogonum fasciculatum - California CSS (codorninant) buckwheat PRIMULACEAE *Anagallis arvensis - scarlet VP pimpernel RESEDACEAE Oligomeris linifolia - narrow- SMCH leaved oligomeris

RHAMNACEAE Ceanothus megacarpus (x **C. SMCH verrucosus) - big-podded ceanothus **Rhamnus crocea - spiny redberry SMCH ROSACEAE **Adenostoma fasciculatum var. CCH obtusifolium - San Diego chamise *Eriobotrya japonica - loquat UF Heteromeles arbutifolia - toyon STCH *Prunus lyonii - Catalina cherry UF *Prunus persica - peach UF RUBIACEAE Galium angustifolium - chaparral CSS, CH bedstraw Galium nuttallii - Nuttall's bedstraw RUTACEAE **Cneoridium durnosum - bush rue SMCH SAXIFRAGACEAE Ribes speciosum - fuchsia-flowering STCH-mesic gooseberry

SCROPHULARIACEAE Keckiella cordifolia - climbing STCH -mes ic en stem on ~imulusaurantiacus - orange bush CH monkeyf lower Scro hularia californica - bee plant SOLANACEAE *Datura cf. stramonium - thornapple SSW *Nicotiana glauca - tree tobacco SSW Solanum douglasii - chaparral CH -mes ic nightshade Solanum cf. umbellatum - blue witch CH-mesic TROPAEOLACEAE *Tropaelurn majus - nasturtium UF AGAVACEAE *Agave attenuata UF (*here) Yucca whipplei - our Lord's UF candle AMARYLLIDACEAE Dichelostemma pulchellum - wild NGL, NGL-CSS hyacinth mosaic

ARECACEAE *Phoenix cf. dactylifera date palm IRIDACEAE Sisyrinchium bellum - blue-eyed NGL, NGL-CSS grass mosaic LILIACEAE *Asparagus officinalis - asparagus UF (natz. in FMZ ) Calochortus splendens - lilac NGL-css mari~osa mosaic, NGL **~alochortus weedii var. intermedius - NGL (in FMZ) foothill mariposa POACEAE Agrostis diegoensis - San Diego NGL-CSS bentgrass mosaic, NGL *Avena barbata - slender wild oats AGL *Brachypodium distachyon - false NGL (here) brome *Bromus diandrus - ripgut brome AGL *Bromus hordeaceus - soft chess NGL, AGL *Bromus rubens - red brome AGL, NGL *Cortaderia selloana - Pampas grass SSW, UF tlymus condensatus - giant rye SSW, CH-mesic *Gastridium ventricosum - nitgrass NGL, NGL-CSS mosaic *Hordeurn murinum ssp. leporinum - AGL foxtai 1 barlev ~elicaimperfecia - small-flowered melic *Oryzopsis miliaceae - India rice- arass *~einisetumsetaceum - African X B fountain qrass (roadcuts), UF *phyl lostachys aurea - golden bamboo UF Sti~ale~ida - foothill needlearass NGL-CSS mosaic, NGL (dominant) Stipa cf. pulchra - purple NGL needleqrass *Vulpia myuros - rattail fescue VP, PSAM Vul~iamvuros var. hirsuta - NGL I- foxtail fescue

Community and Habitat Legend

AGL Adventive (non-native) annual grassland CCH San Diego chamise chaparral (SMCH subtype) CH Chaparral, generally distributed within SMCH Southern maritime chaparral (ceanothus, cneoridium, spiny redberry, etc.) FMZ Fuel modification zone MSS Maritime succulent scrub (cacti, bladderpod, encelia) NGL Native perennial grassland PSAM psammophyte (= XBIS in main BRI species list) RUD ruderal (weed) SSW palustrine scrub shrub wetland STCH sumac-toyon chaparral (lemonadeberry dominant) 11 F urban forest (= H in main BRI species list) V P vernal pool areas (= VM in main BRI species list) X B xeric barrens, rock outcrops, roadcuts, etc.

Status Legend (left of name) no stars - native species, no special status * - introduced species ** - regionally rare or of limited distribution TABLE 18 Binion Parcel Wildlife Observed Evidence

stern fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) sighting de-b lotched lizard (Uta stansburiana) sighting r k ey vulture ( CatharE aura) sightings (several ) red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) sightings (several, incl. a pair) *rock dove (Columba livia) feathers on ground . *spotted dove (Streptopelia chinensis) sighting at urban edge white-th roated swift (Aeronautes saxatalis) voice Anna's hummi ngbird (Calypte anna) sighting Nuttall ' S wo odpecker (Picoides nuttallii) voice scrub jaY (! phelocoma coerulescens) sightings common r aven ICorvus coraxl sightings bushtit (~saliri~arusminimus) sighting house wren (Troglodytes aedon) sighting wrentit (Chamaea fasciata) voice, sightings (many) northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) sightings California thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum) sightings, voice (several) *European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) sighting at urban edge rufous-sided towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmu voice California towhee (Pipilo fuscus) sightings house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) sightings lesser goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria) voice brush rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani) scat Audubon cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) sighting Beechey ground squirrel (Spermophi lus beech burrows Botta pocket gopher (Thomom s bottae) burrows pocket mouse (Perogna+ us sp.) burrows dog (Canis familiaris) scat coyot~'nislatrans) voice, family of 3 or more, scat raccoon (Procyon lotor) or other mesopredator scat mule deer lOdocoi leus hemionus) tracks, scat

*Starred species are non-native 3.5.5 Findings and Recommendations

The Binion property today is an ecologically intact habitat within the remaining open space of the Niguel Hill landform. This open space forms a continuum with that of the Laguna Greenbelt and helps to frame and give unique character to the South Laguna village. The last undeveloped portion of the Niguel Hill ridge marine terrace is here. Remnant vernal pools, unique psammophyte habitat, good quality coastal sage scrub and potentially populations of Federal threatened/endangered candidates Pacific pocket mouse, orange-throated whiptail and San Diego horned lizard are or may be elements of significance on the unique sandy terrace, one of only two still remaining in extensive natural habitat in Orange County.

The rugged slopes falling away from the ridge toward the village below contain a good quality, dense chaparral which is a blend of the regionally unique southern maritime community and the more common coastal mixed stands of lemonadeberry and toyon, so called sumac-toyon chaparral. In Orange County, southern maritime chaparral is restricted to the southern portion of Laguna Beach and adjacent hillsides in Laguna Niguel and extreme northern Dana Point. The dominant is a ceanothus which, according to botanists Dave Verity (UCLA) and Fred Roberts, Jr. (UCI) appears to be strongly infiltrated by the Califor- nia Native Plant Society list 2 warty-stemmed ceanothus (C. verrucosus), though it is classified as the more common big-podded ceanothus. The local maritime Orange County population may be an intergrade between the northerly distributed C. me acar us and southerly distributed -C. verrucosus. TNPS List species are rare, threatened or endangered in California but more common outside the state (in this case, northern Baja California, until the maritime habitats there- are eventually extirpated by resort development benefitting U.S. visitors). Several other community components are also of special interest. Bush rue is a Diegan/ Baja species reaching its northern limit in or in the vicinity of Laguna Beach. Spiny redberry occurs both south and north of Orange County but within the County, occurs only in the maritime chaparral of the coastal southern Laguna Beach area. As noted before, State threatened big-leaved crownbeard is a community component which could be present here, though not found.

In openings in the slope habitat is the Orange County endemic foothill mariposa lily, which has been proposed for CNPS listing. Jesuit flower, also found here in mesic habitat is rare in Orange County, known from but a small handful of localities. Both ridge and slope are important wildlife habitats, for deer, coyotes and other predators and for coastal sage scrub and chaparral dependent low-vagility avifauna such as the wrentit, California thrasher and rufous-sided towhee. The coyote den on the slope is noteworthy. The ridge and its periphery may be especially important for deer during the fawning season; when the parcel was surveyed in September, deer were in larger numbers on the lower slopes. Deer are much more numerous here than in the Badlands and Ceanothus Canyon area, north. They are probably dispersing onto the site from the Pacific Island Drive canyon tributary, crossing the terrace above.

Ridge development, in the City of Laguna Niguel will have a regionally significant adverse biological impact because it will destroy one of only two remaining sandy marine terrace ridgelines remaining in Orange County. This impact will be of even greater consequence if the presence of Federal candidate fauna can be demonstrated there. As well as the unique psammophyte habitat and the remnant vernal pools, development will destroy a substantial area of coastal sage scrub, a threatened plant community. With mention of coastal sage scrub, the possibility of presence of the California gnatcatcher, a species now proposed for Federal endangered listing, is raised. The site was specifically searched for the diminutive bird, and no evidence of it was detected. How- ever, survey timing was not optimum as the species is more likely to be located by its distinctive call during the spring breeding season. Full development of the ridge will also block the suspected mule deer crossover points described above.

Minimal development on the slope will have a small impact associated with direct habitat loss and fuel modification zone habitat pertubation. These impacts by themselves are probably not significant except in the very locallized area where they occur. However, coupled with fuel modification on the upper slope to protect the houses above, the lower FMZ stepout into pristine chaparral will be incrementally significant. It must be acknowledged that the specific building pad sights have not been scrutinized by a walkover survey, and that their precise location has not been relayed to the author.

Several actions are recommended with respect to the Binion parcel.

A careful, correctly-timed biological monitoring of the ridgeline should be done to determine the presence/ absence and abundance if present of the Pacific pocket mouse, orange-throated whiptail, silvery legless lizard, San Diego horned lizard and California gnatcatcher. A springtime survey is strongly recommended. If one or more of these species is found on the ridge, especially in "significant" populations, the advisability of allowing the project to go foreward really should be reconsid- ered by Laguna Niguel. It is hoped that that municipality would have the environmental conscience to take this action. Whether or not rare biota exist on the ridge, its development will be a great environmental loss.

The ownership of the "south bowl" of the Badlands should be determined. If it is in the Binion parcel, it must be set aside as open space and added to the park.

A study should focus on mule deer movement in and out of the Binion parcel slopeland. If it is determined that these deer are crossing over the crest of the terrace from the Pacific Island Drive Canyon, then a cross-ridge dispersion corridor must be set aside for them. This probably could be accommodated at the north or south end of the terrace. This corridor should be at least 300 feet in width and contain adequate screening vegetation which has not been fuel modified to afford cover for wildlife movement. If developed at the north end, valuable marine terrace habitat would be protected, and the strip could be added to Badlands Park.

There should be a setback of the development from the terrace edge, to minimize fuel modification on the slope and to decrease the visual impact of ridgeline development from below. This setback will also be beneficial for wildlife movement along the margin of the terrace if sufficient cover is allowed to remain.

The precise footprint area of the 1-2 homesites within Laguna Beach's portion of the parcel should be scrutinized on the ground by a biologist. The preliminary finding of minimal significance should be verified, and site-specific mitigation specified. If minimal significance is found by this assessment, it would be advisable for the City of Laguna Beach to save its open space acquisition funds for more vital and sensitive undeveloped lands in South Laguna, discussed previously. RESOURCE SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

4.1 OVERVIEW OF CRITERIA

The estimation of sensitivity of various portions of the South Laguna open space is based on these factors.

a Criteria established in the 1983 Laguna Beach Biological Resources Inventory; conformity with equivalent levels of sensitivity in previously surveyed portions of the City.

a Presence of sensitive plant or animal. species, as designated by the Federal and State government, the California Natural Diversity Data Base and by the Orange County Geographic Information System (G.I.S.) project.

a Presence of sensitive biotic communities, as designated by the California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB) and/or the Orange County G.I.S. project.

a Presence of jurisdictional wetlands, within the aegis of the California Department of Fish and Game 1601-03 agreement procedure andlor Federal Clean Water Act Section 404.

Criteria for establishing sensitivity levels used in the 1983 BRI included biological diversity and wildlife carrying capaci- ty. Specifically analyzed factors in the 1983 study were:

a number of plant species per area

a ratio of native to adventive plant species

a number of sensitive plant species per area

a extent of indigenous habitat

The first two factors were quantified in the 1983 study but are only estimated here. The "ranking game" is specious when applied to South Laguna's open space because it is much more an ecological unit than the balance of the city, and, although impinged on to a greater or lesser degree by urbanization, the vast bulk of it is sensitive. 4.2 SENSITIVE SPECIES

4.2.1 Plants

Table 19 lists sensitive vascular plant species found during the field surveys for this study, and their Federal, State and local status, as summarized by the Orange County G.I.S. project. Many of these are northern outpost taxa associated with the Baja California-southern San Diego County-centered southern maritime chaparral community. These include the following sensitive plants:

San Diego chamise warty-stemmed ceanothus (here in intergrade with big-podded ceanothus San Diego mountain mahogany bush rue summer holly San Diego barrel cactus big-leaved crownbeard (disjunct from Baja California)

Others are local or regional endemics. These include:

foothill mariposa lily (County endemic) Orange County Turkish rugging (San Joaquin Hills endemi c ) octoploid lance-leaved dudleya (Aliso Canyon Gorge endemic) Laguna Beach dudleya (City endemic) Coulter's matilija poppy (Santa Ana Mountains endemi c )

Some are more frequent outside Orange County but are quite rare in the local area.

yerba mansa ladies' fingers dudleya basket rush spiny redberry Jesuit flower

And yet others are endangered, rare or of limited distribution throughout their range.

nonspined greenbark ceanothus (may be a south Orange Co. - north San Diego County evolving endemic taxon) western dichondra many-stemmed dudleya (near-endemic to Orange County) Palmer's grappling-hook Fish's milkwort maritime scrub oak (Moran's oak) Engelmann oak TABLE 19

VASCULAR PLANT SPECIES OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN SOUTH LAGUNA 1 Status Species Federal State CNDDB US FS CNPS Other Location

Adenostoma fasci cul atum 1ocal Hobo-A1 iso Canyon ridge var. obtusifol ium interest S. ridge of Ceanothus San Diego chami se species Canyon Badl ands Canyons Badl ands Park Anemopsi s cal ifornica 1ocal ly Yerba mansa rare A1 iso Creek

Calochortus weedii locally Hobo- A1 iso ridge var. intermedius rare Niguel Hi11 - A1 iso Peak Foothill mariposa 1ily Badl ands Canyons Bi nion marine terrace

Z Ceanothus megacarpus x 1oca.1 Throughout South Laguna P verrucosus interest Bi g-podded - warty-stemmed taxon ceanothus intergrade

Ceanothus spinosus var. nov. local Hobo Canyon NFS non-spi ned greenbark interest Ceanothus Canyon NFS ceanothus taxon Ni guel Hill

Cercocarpus mi nutifl orus 1ocal Hobo-Goff ridge San Diego mountain mahogany interest Hobo Canyon NFS species Ceanothus Canyon NFS Niguel Hill Badl ands Canyon

Chori zanthe staticoides Hobo-Goff Ridge var. chrysacantha Hobo-Moul ton Meadows ridge Orange County Turkish Hobo - Aliso ridge rugging SFS A1 iso Canyon Niguel Hill - Aliso Peak Ceanothus Canyon S. ridge Badlands Canyons TABLE 19 (Cont'd) 1 Status : Spec ies Federal State CNDDB US FS CNPS Other Location

Cneoridium dumosum local Throughout South Laguna ~ushrue interest species

Comarostaphyl is diversi fol ia C2 List l'B Hobo Canyon NFS Geanothus Canyon NPS SSD.--, - diversifol ia Summer holly Niguel Hi11

Dichondra occidentalis List 4 Hobo-Goff ridge Western dichondra Hobo-Moul ton Meadows ridge Hobo-Aliso Canyon ridge SFS Aliso Canyon

Dudleya edul is 1 ocal Aliso Canyon Gorge, cn* Ladies' fingers interest N FS species

Dudl eya 1 anceol a ta 1ocal Rl iso Canyon Gorge, NFS, Octoploid population interest spari ngly on Hobo- A1 iso A1 iso Gorge 1ance-1 eaved species ridge dudl eya

Dudl eya mu1 ticaul is List 1B Hobo-Goff Ridge Many-stemmed dudl eya Moul ton Fleadows and Hobo- Moul ton ridge Hobo-A1 iso Canyon ridge

Dudl eya stoloni fera List 1B A1 iso Canyon, both slopes Laguna Beach dudl eya (major stands on NFS)

Ferocactus viri descens List 2 Hobo Canyon SFS San Diego barrel cactus

List 2 Hobo- A1 iso ridge var. palmeri Palmer ' s grappl ing-hook TABLE 19. (Cont'd)

Status :l Species Federal State CNDDB US FS CNPS Other Location

Juncus texti1 is locally Aliso Canyon Basket rush rare

Polygala cornuta List 4 Niguel Hill var. fishiae Fish's milkwort guercus dumosa 1ocal ly Ceanothus Canyon Coastal or maritime rare Badlands Park scrub oak (:,loran's oak) (de facto Binion marine terrace threatened SP. Quercus engel manni i List 4 (hybridized with -Q. Engelmann oak berberidi fol ia) NFS Hobo Canyon SFS Aliso canyon

Rhamnus crocea 1ocal Sporadic throughout Spiny redberry interest South Laguna, usually species with bush rue

Romneva coul teri List 4 Badlands Canyons var. coul teri Coul tir Is mati 1i ja poppy

Venegasia carpesioides 1ocal ly Ceanothus Canyon Canyon sunflower, Jesuit flower rare Badl ands Canyons Binion canyons and slopes

Verbesi na dissi ta List 1B Hobo Canyon - entire Bi g- 1eaved crownbeard SFS Aliso Canyon Aliso Peak Ceanothus Canyon, NFS Badl ands Canyons TABLE lg(continued)

STATUS CATEGORE3

Federal Status (as of June 1991):

FE: Species designated as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act. Endangered = "any species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range." See 50 CFR 17.11 for most recent listing.

FT: Species designated as threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act. Threatened = "species likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range." See 50 CFR 17.12 for most recent listing.

FPE: Proposed for federal listing as endangered. + P 4 FPT: Proposed for federal listing as threatened.

C1,2,3: "Candidate" species are taxa the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering for listing as endangered and threatened species. These spedes, however, have yet to be the subject of a proposed rule. Cate~ow1 (CJ candidates are "tam for which the Service currently has on file substantial information on biological vulnerability [relating to autecology and distribution] and threat@) to support the appropriateness of proposing to list the taxa as endangered or threatened species." The development and publication of proposed rules for these plants will take several years. Cateplotv 2 (C2) candidates are "taxa for which information now in the possession of the Service indicates that proposing to list them as endangered or threatened species is possibly appropriate, but for which substantial data on biological vulnerability and threat@) are not currently known or on file to support the immediate preparation of rules." Thus, the two categories delimit level of information and not degree of threat or biological vulnerability.

The non-candidates (plants previously considered candidates and included on past lists) constitute Cateeorv 3 0.These former candidate plants have been grouped into three subcategories: extinct (3A), taxonomically invalid or not meeting the Service's definition of a "species" (3B), or too widespread or not threatened at this time (3C).

The most recent candidate list is in Federal Register 55: 6184,21 February 1990. TABLE 1 qcontinued)

State Status (as of June 1991)

The definitions of rare, threatened, and endangered are shown below from Section 19090, Chapter 10 of the Fish and Game Code:

SR: Rare = "a species is rare when, although not presently threatened with extinction, it is in such small numbers throughout its range that it may become endangered if its present environment worsens."

ST: ' Threatened = "a species that, although not presently threatened with extinction, is likely to become an endangered species in the foreseeable future in the absence of the special protection and management efforts required by this Act."

SE: Endangered = "a species is endangered when its prospects of survival and reproduction are in immediate jeopardy from one or more causes."

Sat, SCT, + P SCE: State candidate for listing as rare, threatened, or endangered. CO CNDDB Designations

"Special Plants' is a broad term used to refer to all the plant taxa inventoried by the Natural Diversity Data Base, regardless of their legal or protection status. Special Plant taw are species, subspecies or varieties that may fall into one or more of the following categories:

Officially listed by California or the Federal Government as Endangered, Threatened or Rare;

A candidate for state of federal listing as Endangered, Threatened or Rare under Section 15380(d) of the CEQA guidelines;

A Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or U.S. Forest Service Sensitive Species;

Taxa listed in the California Native Plant Society's Inventorv of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California;

Taxa that are biologically rare, very restricted in distribution or declining throughout their range but not currently threatened with extirpation; TABLE 1?continued)

Population(s) in California that may be peripheral to the major portion of a taxon's range but are threatened with extirpation in California;

Taxa closely associated with a habitat that is declining in California at an alarming rate (e.g. wetlands, riparian, old growth forests, desert aquatic systems, native grasslands, valley shrubland habitats, vernal pools, etc).

The state has applied a ranking designations as follows:

S1 = extremely endangered S2 = endangered S3 = restricted range, rare S4 = apparently secure S5 = demonstratably secure SH = all sites are historical

A more precise degree of threat to the element is sometimes expressed by a decimal followed by a number. The possible range of value is 1 - 3 with "1" representing the most threatened and "3" signifying the least threatened. "?" indicates uncertainty with regard to ranking.

U.S. Forest Service Status (as of June 1991): SS = "sensitive species." Plants considered "sensitive" under the provisions of the Pacific-Southwest Region (R-5)Sensitive Plant Program, Section 2670 of the Forest Service Manual. Sensitive species are defined as those plant and animal species identified by a Regional Forester for which population viability is a concern, as evidenced by: a. Significant current or predicted downward trends in population numbers or density; b. Significant current or predicted downward trends in habitat capability that would reduce a species' existing distribution."

CNPS Status based on California Native Plant Society's Inventorv of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California (Smith and Berg, 1988):

Ibt 1A: Plants Rcsumed EMnct in Calbrnia The plants of List 1A are presumed extinct because they have not been seen or collected in the wild for many years. Although most of them are restricted to California, a few are found in other states as well. There is a difference between "extinct" and "extirpated." A plant is extirpated if it has been locally eliminated. It may be doing quite nicely elsewhere in its range. All of the plants constituting List 1A meet the definitions of Sec 1901, Chapter 10 (Native Plant Protection) of the California Department of Fish and Game Code and are eligible for state listing. TABLE lg(continued)

Lbt 1B: Plants Ram, Thratened or Endangmd in California and The plants of List 1B are rare throughout their range. All but a few are endemic to California. All of them are judged to be vulnerable under present circumstances or to have a high potential for becoming so because of their limited or vulnerable habitat, their low numbers of individuals per population (even through they may be wide ranging), or their limited number of populations. All of the plants constituting List 1B meet the definitions of Sec. 1901, Chapter 10 (Native Plant Protection) of the California Department of Fish and Game Code and are eligible for state listing.

Lbt 2: Plants Rue, TMcatcnal or Endan- in Woda, But More Common EWwhere Except for being common beyond the boundaries of California, the plants of List 2 would have appeared on List 1B. Based on the "Native Plant Protection Act," plants are considered without regard to their distribution outside the state. All of the plants constituting Lit 2 meet the definitions of Sec. 1901, Chapter 10 (Native Plant Protection) of the California Department of Fish and Game Code and are eligible for state listing.

Ibt 3: PbnU About Which We Necd Mom Informatiobd Review Ut The plants that comprise Lit 3 are an assemblage of taxa that have been transferred from other lists or that have been suggested for consideration. The necessary information that would assign most to a sensitivity category is missing.

Ust 1: PLnts of Mted Dktn'bu~Watcb bt The plants in this category are of limited distribution in California and their vulnerability or susceptibility to threat appears low at this time. While these plants cannot be called "rare" from a statewide perspective, they are uncommon enough that their status should be monitored regularly. Many of them may be significant locally. Should the degree of endangerment or rarity of a plant change, they will be transferred to a more appropriate Ust.

Other Status: Designations by consensus of local biologists indicating rarity of a species within Orange County only. Locally rare species are as designated by the Orange County G.I.S. Project. Local interest species or taxa are as determined by the author of the South Laguna Biological Resources Inventory.

Legend for Table 19 reproduced from Orange County GIs In addition to rare vascular plants, South Laguna's open space is habitat for several rare lichens of the maritime fog belt in coastal southern Califonria and northern Baja California. There are many kinds of more common lichens, as well. According to preliminary survey findings of Rick Reifner, the rare ones include the following.

Hypogyrnnia mollis, a foliolose lichen with gray, flat inflated lobes. Occurs from San Luis Obispo to San Diego County. South Laguna the only known orange County locai- ity.

Pertusaria flavicunda, a yellow-green crustose lichen with a lizard-like skin. found on sandstone. Most common here on Niguel Hill. Rare coastal fog belt species from Santa Monica Mountains and Channel Islands south to Punta Bands in Baja California.

Parmotrema hypoleucinum, a foliolose grayish lichen found on the branches of shrubs. rare in coastal saoe scrub and chaparral along the southirn California coast:

Niebla cerruchoides, a bushy little gray-green foliolose lichen found in the coastal foo belt from Marin County to Baja California. Locally, it is this species which provides habitat nests on the sheer outcrop cliffs of the Aliso Canyon Gorge for Laguna Beach dudleya seedlings. This species has been just recently described, by a former and a current resident of South Laguna, Phil Rundel and Peter Bowler.

4.2.2 Animals

Table 20 lists sensitive animal species either known at present, formerly documented or reasonably expected from South Laguna. A survey of marine wildlife was not conducted; offshore islands may function as rookeries for sensitive seabirds. Aliso Canyon was formerly a highly significant habitat for a number of sensitive species, many of which have been extirpated quite recently (within the last 25 years). Multiple impacts on the lower canyon, from the construction and use of the golf course, the channelization and straightening of the creek, repeated sewage spills and urban encroachment have spelled the demise of a regionally critical habitat. The marine terrace habitats are also now nearly gone, but extant portions, especially at Moulton Meadows at the inland edge of the city likely still support sensitive fauna. Recreational facilities proposed by Orange County Harbors, Beaches and Parks may, however impact this largest remaining undeveloped marine terrace within the county. As discussed later, wildlife, both rare and common depend on large areas of habitat and broad corridor connections. North of the Gorge, both are present. South of the Gorge, overland connections to various parts of the open space are blocked by deep canyons. The ridge above and sea bench below are developed.

The open space is gradually being squeezed like a tube of toothpaste between these flanking phalanxes of urbanization. All forms of wildlife are deleteriously affected, and a predator-prey imbalance appears to exist, reducing diversity and numberrs of the small, interesting herbivores here. TABLE 20

VERTEBRATE ANIMAL SPECIES OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN SOUTH LAGUNA

1 Species Status Scientific Name Common Name Federal State CNDDB USFS Audubon Other Occurrence Location

OSTEICHTHYES FISH

Gobi idae Gobies

-Eucycl ogobi us newberryi Tidewater goby CSC recently A1 iso Creek extirpated 1agoon

AMPHIBIA AMPHIBIANS

Bufonidae True toads

Bufo microscaphus Arroyo southwestern C2 CSC extant or Aliso Creek recently Ln cal iforni cus toad N extirpated

REPTILIA REPTILES

Emydi dae Box and Water Turtles

Clemmys marmorata Southwestern pond C2 recently A1 iso Creek pallida turtle extirpated

Anni el1 i dae Leg1ess Lizards

Annie1 1a pu1chra pulchra Si1 very 1 egl ess 1i zard -- - - 1ocall y of possible Moul ton Meadows. rare occurrence and Niguel Hi11 marine terraces Bad1 ands Park

Iguanidae Iguanids

Phrynosoma coronatum San Diego horned CSC of possi ble marine terraces -blainvillei 1i zard occurrence and sandy/ gravel ly ridges TABLE 2Q (Cont'd)

Species Status Scientific Name Common Name Federal State CNDDB USFS Audubon Other Occurrence Location

Tei i dae Whi ptai 1 s and Re1 atives

Cnemidophorus hyperthrus Orange-throated C S CSC SA SS -- - - extant Badlands 1 whi ptai 1 Canyons, on saridy ridges

Col ubri dae Col ubrids Arizona el egans Cal i fornia glossy ------locally of mari ne occidentalis snake rare possi bl e terraces and occurrence sandy ridges

Diadophi s punctatus Ri ngnec k snake C2 ------locally expected bottoms and rare north-faci ng slopes of canyons in oak woodland arid arborescent chaparral

Tanti 11a ei seni Cal i fornia black------locally of A1 i so-Hobo headed snake rare possible saddle and occurrence inland portion of Aliso Canyon SFS in clayey soil grasslands, under rocks

Thamnophis hammondi Two-striped garter C2 - - S A - - - - locally extant or Aliso Creek snake recently extirpated

Vi peri dae Rattlesnakes , Vipers and Relatives of Crotal us --ruber ruber Red diamond - - CSC SR ------rocky up1 ands , rattlesnake possible throughout occurrence TABLE 20(Cont1d)

1 Species Status Scientific Name Common Name Federal State CNDDB USFS AUdubon Other Occurrence Location

AVES BIRDS

Pel ecanidae Pel icans

Pelecanus occidentalis Cal iforni a brown FE SE, S A ------of offshore cal ifornicus pel ican FP possible islands (nesting colony) occurrence

Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants

Phalacrocorax auritus Doubl e-cres ted - - CS C S A - - BL - - of offshore cormorant possi ble isl ands (rookery site) occurrence

Acci pitridae Hawks, Kites , cn P Harriers and Eagles

-Acci piter cooperi Cooper's hawk CSC S A - - BL - - of Thurston Grove, (breeding) possi ble A1 iso Canyon breeding occurrence

Aquila chrysaetos Go1 den eagle - - CSC, SA SS -- - - recently A1 iso Canyon (breeding and FP extirpated Gorge wi nteri n g)

Buteo jamaicensis Red- tai1 ed hawk - - 1ocal extant Aliso Canyon concern breeder Gorge, Ceanothus Canyon

Buteo lineatus Red-shoul dered ------BL local of possible Thurston Grove hawk concern breeding A1 iso Canyon occurrence

El anus caerul eus Bl ack-shoul dered - - FP S A ------extant A1 iso Canyon kite (breeding) poss ibl y breedi ng just in1and from city V) K KO0 aJ 0 ha 1' > n .t- K 0 KO0 n C,LU mI I OLL ZEaJ aJOV) 0 0 Za 3 aJLL no V) mEJ L'C s V) 'I- ug 0 U 0 u .r w U - 0 tn 0 E K-4 aJ h't m4 cn V) L't a V) mu- uu -t- 3 .I- > - I-=,-- E't K-I- m -rOmL at- U U

V)C, L OmL 3 QLmu 'tar U OEO

-~ ~ aJ ,-- r 'I- v 3

V)s t' w aJ m at- ,-- m I ==m======D===

TABLE 20(Cont1d)

1 Species Status Scientific Name Common Name Federal State CNDDB USFS Audubon Other Occurrence Location Hi rundi nidae Swal 1ows Stel gidopteryx Narthern rough-wing ------locally extant along Aliso serri penni s swal low rare Creek Trogl odytidae Wrens Campy1 orhynchus Coastal cactus c2 , CSC SA ------extant south-faci ng brunnei capi 11 us wren FPE sibope of couesi A1 iso Canyon Musci capi dae Thrushes, Gnatcatchers and Kinglets Pol iopti 1 a cal i forni ca Cal i forni a C 2 CSC, SA SS -- - - extant i nl and portion c. ~1 gnatcatcher FPE SCE of SFS, Aliso m Canyon Lani i dae Shrikes Lani us 1 udovi cianus Loggerhead shrike C2 ------B L locally expected inland portion , rare in grassy areas Thurston Grove

Emberi zi dae Sparrows, Bunti ngs , Warblers and Re1 ati ves Aimophil a ruficeps Rufous-crowned C 2 locally of possible chaparral , canescens sparrow (southern rare occurrence throughout race ) Ammodramus savannarum Grasshopper sparrow -- locally of possible native grass- rare occurrence 1 ands , A1 i so- Hobo saddle, etc. h m al V)&aJ - C, U MaJ mar C,V) EUE .r3 l- 0 OEO WE 000 LWL .rC, mwm 'CaJ m~ m -rr CUE UU mom mo Y~Yna aJ Y KC, aJ 0 fu w .r L V) "U U wV)aJ rrE 0 fuO%aJ V) -ham .r W EWU fu laFF'r- 2 moSr~ TABLE 20(continued)

' STATUS CATEGORIES

Federal Status (as of Dee -19911

FE2 Species designated as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act. Endangered = "any species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range." See 50 CFR 17.11 for most recent listing.

Species designated as threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act. Threatened = "species likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range." See 50 CFR 17.12 for most recent listing.

FPE: Proposed for listing as endangered.

FPT: Proposed for listing as threatened.

C1 vl J,3: "Candidate" species are taxa the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering for listing as endangered and threatened species. These species, however, have a yet to be the subject of a proposed rule. Cateaorv 1 (C1) candidates are "taxa for which the Service currently has on file substantial information on biological vulnerability [relating to autecology and distribution] and threat(s) to support the appropriateness of proposing to list the taxa as endangered or threatened species." The development and publication of proposed rules for these species will take several years. Cateeorv 2 (C2) candidates are "taxa for which information now in the possession of the Service indicates that proposing to list them as endangered or threatened species is possibly appropriate, but for which substantial data on biological vulnerability and threat(s) are not currently known or on file to support the immediate preparation of rules." Thus, the two categories delimit level of information and not degree of threat or biological vulnerability.

The non-candidates (species previously considered candidates and included on past lists) constitute Cate~ov3 (a).These former candidate species have been grouped into three subcategories: extinct (3A), taxonomically invalid or not meeting the Service's definition of a "species" (3B), or too widespread or not threatened at this time (3C).

The most recent candidate lists are in Federal Register 49: 21664,22 May 1984 for invertebrates and Federal Register 54: 554,6 January 1989 for vertebrates.

1RJR: "Recommended" for Category 1 or Category 2 status by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. TABLE ZD(continued)

State Status (as of June 1991)

The definitions of rare, threatened, and endangered are shown below from Section 19090, Chapter 10 of the Fish and Game Code:

Threatened = "a species that, although not presently threatened with extinction, is likely to become an endangered species in the foreseeable future in the absence of the special protection and management efforts required by this Act."

SE: Endangered = "a species is endangered when its prospects of survival and reproduction are in immediate jeopardy from one or more causes."

SCE: State candidate for listing as endangered.

SCT: State candidate for listing as threatened.

CSC California Department of Fish and Game Species of Special Concern, as listed by CNDDB in August 1991. The rarity of these species has been documented by Williams (1986) for mammals, Jennings (1983) for reptiles and amphibians, and Remsen (1978) for birds. + 0 FP: Fully-protected = Fish and Game Code sections relating to fully protected animals state that fully protected birds (Section 3511), mammals (Section 4700), reptiles and amphibians (Section 5050), and fish (Section 5515), "or parts thereof, may not be taken or possessed at any time and no provision of this code or any other law shall be construed to authorize the issuance of permits or licenses to take any fully protected (animal) and no such permits or licenses heretofore issued shall have any force or effect for any such purpose; except that the commission may authorize the collecting of such species for necessary scientific research and may authorize the live capture and relocation of such species pursuant to a permit for the protection of livestock. Legally imported fully protected (animals) or parts thereof may be possessed under a permit issued by the department."

CNDDB SA: "special animals" are species that meet requirements for one or more of the following categories as designated by CNDDB in August 1991: Species considered endangered or rare under Section 15380(d) of CEQA guidelines. Species that are biologically rare, very restricted in distribution, or declining throughout their range. Population(s) in California that may be peripheral to the major portion of a taxon's range, but which are threatened with extirpation within California. Species closely associated with a habitat that is declining in California at an alarming rate (e.g., wetlands, riparian, old growth forests, desert aquatic systems, native grasslands). Offcially listed or proposed for listing under the State andlor Federal Endangered Species Acts. State or Federal candidate species for possible listing. California Department of Fish and Game Species of Special Concern. Designated as "sensitive species" by the BLM or USFWS e B o ." E M u 1 2 2 c c c .- 3 .-c m 0 f .- 8 .9 = 0 5 g - oQ) E .: '5 3 3 B c.Y 0 = .s - !2= 9 k 5 ."V) P g a 3 m 5 8 n; CI z Q) V) 3 .Y 2 .-m .- t? s 3 0 s u 5 &-- $ C g 8 0 ;2 s 5 cn c .-'El 5 .g 8 .9 m 5 " -5 2 & d 7n -m .-0 E ;; - m E 5 2 A - .tz w 23 3 2 5 5% 32 =l. si 0 m C ox O 8';.- i2 SF-;: A= Es z.2 g 5 O 2 E z 5 .s 9;; 3 e $3 32 M .=0 .aE$ 82 -g L? "P a- -2 €2 22 ;& 052 .B E .9 2s -0 c v, .sa "2. e 9" o d 0 1= .- c 2.2 35 a*- $?= mr -us = '=.a -0.e sll sa $! -5 a,,B 3 F 3 -2 0 s '8 88% a4:- ?.!t Q)cm us%g8 218- - gs $5 a .J ag '2 a a Q, m

Wil dl ife Species of Interest Vegetation Species of Interest (lower case in block letters) 7in script) Aba - American badger b4u - ban hct 4unh *ccw - coastal cactus wren Cmp - Ca&mtn rnm!iLL ja poppy *Cgc - Cal ifornia gnatcatcher *cnb - big-leaved cnownbmd fsh - fairy shrimp a6 - meeping hnowbmy mde - mule deer(habitat) 6hm - 600;tkiee matcipaaa (&a an XB, otw - orange - throated whiptail SDC 1 fmt - FAhln miehwalLt gbc - vwmpined gaeenbmh ceanofhun Habitats of Interest (in capitals) 361 - J~lLi;t~~OWUL *LBd - Laguna Bmch dudeeya FWM - freshwater marsh lad - Radiu ' d&gm dudeeya MMC - mixed mesic maritime chaparral mhb - maidenhah 6an OW - oak woodland mhd - many-htmed dudeeya QTM - Quaternary terrace, marine with ma - mahi;time nmub aah nonmarine over1 ay Nec - Niebh cmuchaidu SM - salt marsh SDC - San Diego chamise chaparral XB - xeric barrens (a1 1 O.C. Turkish rugging habitat also XB) SDh - San Viego bmel cactw bho - bmm iioUg S%m - San Picgo mountain mahogany w;td - w~?l;tmdichondha

*starred species are proposed for Federal threatened or endangered 1isting or are State-1 isted threatened species EXHIBIT lla

PLEASE SEE BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES MAP FOR SOUTH LAGUNA

(DISPLAY MAP FOR STUDY SESSION AND PUBLIC HEARINGS) 4.3 SENSITIVE HABITATS

Table 21 lists sensitive, special interest habitats as designated by CNDOB and the Orange County G.I.S. Of these, by far the most significant, in terms of extent, and percentage of South Laguna's portion of the total area of coverage in Orange County is the southern maritime chaparral community. The bulk of this regionally unique chaparral within the County is located in South Laguna. The community, as noted before extends from Juanita Canyon in the "old" city of Laguna Beach south to Salt Creek and inland to some of the canyons draining out onto Crown Valley Parkway. The classic, richly diverse community area extends from the north-facing slope of Goff Ridge south to Bad- lands ParkIBinion Parcel and inland to the Pacific Island Drive canyon in Laguna Niguel. Niguel Hill is at the heart of the maritime chaparral distribution and is thus used as a reference for its location in earlier literature.

Also of great significance in the study area are the mesic cliff faces in the Aliso Canyon Gorge, historic habitat of eagles, the type locality of Laguna Beach dudleya, and environment for several additional sensitive plant species, including rare lichens.

Marine terraces (included in 10.1 xeric habitats), and xeric ridgetops are also of great interest, and biotic value for rare species, as are the vernal pools and seep zones found along the ridge flanking Hobo Canyon, and the flower-rich native grasslands edging the Moulton Meadows marine terrace.

The variety of wetlands along Aliso Creek, though now mostly degraded by channelization and vegetation management still con- tribute value to the study area. This could be considerably enhanced if the stream was allowed to return to a more natural flow pattern, meandering rather than straight in its course, and well vegetated by marshland and riparian plants, including trees and shrubs. This, of course is not likely to happen as long as the golf course is in operation; the alternative to this land use in the Gorge is too dreadful to contemplate. Aliso Creek is an antecedent, major perennial drainage in Orange County; the last piece of its bottomland between AlisoIWood Canyon Regional Park and the ocean should remain forever in open space land use. TABLE 21

HABITAT TYPES OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN SOUTH LAGUNA

CNDDB Designations -- Global State Habitat Types -Code Rank Rank Location 2.1 Southern coastal bluff scrubb 31200 sparse, SFS of Aliso Canyon 2.2 Maritime succulent scrub SFS of Aliso Canyon

2.3 Venturan-Diegan transitional mar i ne coastal sage scrub terraces, inland SF slopes of A1 iso Canyon, spotty elsewhere. Successional in FMZ's

3.6 Southern maritime chaparral Extensive. Hobo Canyon, A1 iso Canyon, Ceanothus Canyon, Bad- lands Canyons and Park 4.3 Southern coastal Hobo Canyon- needlegrass grassland Moulton Meadows ridge and Hobo- Aliso saddle

5.1 Southern hardpan vernal pool Hobo-Aliso ridge. Remnants on Binion marine terrace

5.2 A1 kali meadow A1 iso Canyon nr. Thurston Grove

5.3 Freshwater seep NFS Aliso Canyon, Hobo- Moulton Meadows ridge TABLE 21 (Cont'd)

HABITAT TYPES OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN SOUTH LAGUNA

CNDDB Designations

Global State ( Habitat Types Code Rank Rank Location 6.1 Southern coastal salt marsh 52120 62 S2.1 Aliso Creek lagoon

I 6.2 Coastal brackish marsh 52200 62 S2.1 Aliso Creek ( 6.4 Coastal freshwater marsh Ceanothus Canyon I ( 7.1 Riparian herb Aliso Creek 7.2 Southern willow scrub Aliso Creek 1 7.3 Mulefat scrub Aliso Creek 7.4 Southern sycamore Aliso Creek, riparian woodland extirpated at I AWMA plant ( 8.1 Coast live oak woodland Badlands Canyon , Ceanothus I Canyon 10.1 Xeric cliff faces, Moulton ridgetops, marine terraces Meadows. Hobo- Moulton Meadows ridge. SFS Aliso Cyn. Hobo-Aliso Ridge. Badlands Canyons, Bad- lands Park, Niguel Hill marine terrace

10.2 Mesic cliff faces Aliso Canyon ' ) Gorge Ceanothus Canyon

10.3 Rock outcrops SFS Aliso Canyon TABLE 21 (Cont8d)

HABITAT TYPES OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN SOUTH LAGUNA

CNDDB Designations

Global State Habitat Types Code Rank Rank Location

11.1 Marine open water and N/A N /A N/A Pacific subtidal shore

11.2 Bay and lagoon open water N/A N/A N /A Aliso Creek 1agoon

11.3 Rocky shore and intertidal N/A N /A N/A Pacific shore zone

11.4 Sandy beach and tidal flats N/A N/A N /A Pacific shore

13.1 Perennial rivers and streams N/A N/A N/A Aliso Creek, Ceanothus Canyon

13.2 Intermittent streams and N/A N/A N/A All other creeks canyons in study area TABLE ',l(concluded)

Designations by the California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB). NIA = not applicable because the CNDDB has not assigned a code or sensitivity ranking.

Global Ranks (worldwide status):

GI = extremely endangered G2 = endangered G3 = restricted range, rare G4 = apparently secure G5 = demonstratably secure

State Ranges: status within the state, as above. A more precise degree of threat to the element is sometimes expressed by a decimal followed by a number. The possible range of values is 1-3 with 1 representing the most threatened and 3 signifying the least threatened.

Tahle 21 1 egend repr~ducedfrom Orange County GTS 4.4 CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING BIOLOGICAL VALUE OF OPEN SPACES IN SOUTH LAGUNA

Exhibits 11 and 12 depict, respectively the locations of rare biota and critically sensitive habitats, and biological value levels within South Laguna's open spaces. Criteria established herein for determination of very high, high, moderate and low habitat value on Exhibit 12 are as follows.

Very High Biological Value

1. The habitats of endangered, threatened, rare and limited- distribution plant species.

Orange County Turkish rugging summer holly western dichondra many-stemmed dudleya Laguna Beach dudleya San Diego (or coastal) barrel cactus Palmer's grappling hook Fish's milkwort Moran's oak (coastal or maritime scrub oak) Coulter's matilija poppy big-leaved crownbeard

2. Known denning/nesting/territorial habitats of endangered, threatened or limited-distribution animal species. Known raptor nest sites.

orange-throated whiptail red-tailed hawk (nest critical zones) coastal cactus wren California gnatcatcher American badger

3. Critical concern unique environments and microhabitats

north-facing slope mixed mesic association of southern maritime chaparral vernal pools and seep zones floweriferous native grassland xeric barrens on ridges, sandy marine terraces, rock outcrops, weathered Topanga surfaces containing San San Diego chamisal mesic cliff faces coast live oak woodland High Biological Value

1. Habitats of locally rare and local interest plant species

San Diego chamise (except within 3, above) yerba mansa big poddedlwarty-stemmed ceanothus intergrade (except within 3, above) nonspined greenbark ceanothus foothill mariposa lily San Diego mountain mahogany (except within 3, above) bush rue ladies' fingers dudleya (but see 3, above) octoploid lance-leaved dudleya (except within 3, above) basket rush (but see 3, above) spiny redberry Engelmannlbarberry-leaved scrub oak hybrids Jesuit flower

2. Known habitats of local concern animal species

northern rough-winged swallow agile kangaroo rat (of local interest in the City) mule deer

3. Historic habitats of endangered, threatened and limited distribution species reasonably expected to support these if reintroduced in the future.

tidewater goby southwestern toad two-striped gartersnake Pacific pond turtle golden eagle and other rare cliff-dwelling raptors

4. Potential habitats of endangeretl, threatened and limited- distribution animal species reasonably expected. However, many of these are already included in the "verh high value" category.

San Diego horned lizard silvery legless lizard ringneck snake Cooper's hawk red-shouldered hawk common barn owl loggerhead shrike Pacific pocket mouse long-tailed weasel

5. Except as included within the "very high" ranking above, CNDDB and O.C.G.I.S. habitats of special interest maritime succulent scrub coastal sage scrub of significant extent (not including sera1 scrub in FMZs) southern maritime chaparral south coastal needlegrass (native perennial) grassland alkali meadow a1 kal i meadow south coastal salt marsh coastal brackish marsh coastal freshwater marsh riparian herb southern willow scrub mulefat scrub xeric cliff faces lagoons per.ennia1 streams intermittent streams

Moderate Biological Value

sumac- toyon chaparral coastal sage scrub of limited extent (not including sera1 scrub of FMZs) annual grassland of large extent, or in patchwork with coastal sage scrub eucalyptus woodlands bnd other "urban forests" of large extent

Low Biological Value

fuel modification zones smaller "urban forests" and ornamental plantings, especially at the development interface smaller disturbed annual grasslands atlnear the development interface golf courses cut-off habitat "islands'

Little to No Biological Value

disturbed weedy areas atlnear the urban edge graded and cleared areas urban land 4.5 SUMMARY OF SOUTH LAGUNA'S SIGNIFICANT HABITATS

4.5.1 Very High Biological Value

Using the criteria established in the foregoing section, these localities within South Laguna possess very high biological value.

1. Hobo Canyon; South-facing Slope of Aliso Canyon

Hobo Canyon, including its surrounding ridges, extending north to and including Goff Ridge and inland to and including the Moulton Meadows marine terrace, and the contiguous south-facing slope of Aliso Canyon down to the golf course is the single most significant habitat block in South Laguna. The area is rich in rare, threatened and endangered species and unique habitats, is the center of distribution and contains the largest extant stand of Cali- fornia threatened big-leaved crownbeard in the United States, and is broadly connected to the permanent protected open space of the Laguna Greenbelt, thus insuring that wildlife diversity and use will continue to be high.

2. Niguel Hill, Aliso Peak, North-facing Slope of Aliso Canyon Gorge and Ceanothus Canyon

This is the second most important habitat unit in the study area, and was much more significant prior to urban encroachment on the ridge and golf course development below. This area is the type locality of endemic State threatened Laguna Beach dudleya and contains a number of other sensitive plant species as well as critical habitat niches: mesic cliff faces, cliffside caves and grottoes which are raptor nest sites and perhaps animal dens, mixed mesic association maritime chaparral, a marine terrace edge, remnant vernal pools and floweriferous ridgeline openings.

4.5.2 High Biological Value

1. Badlands Canyons and Badlands Park

This habitat unit is ranked overall, number 3 in biological significance, containing moderate, high and very high value habitat areas. It is a very interesting land of exposed and beautifully weathered ancient Topanga sandstone surfaces vegetated with San Diego chamisal and bush rue scrub. Large populations of Orange County Turkish rugging are found here, as well as orange-throated whiptails, agile kangaroo rats and at least one den of the American badger. Cliffside caves contain families of coyotes, which sing in unison with the ambulance sirens at South Coast Hospital, below. Badlands Park even preserves an area of marine terrace environment, potential home of silvery legless lizards and Pacific pocket mice.

2. Lower Aliso Creek

Aliso Creek possesses a variety of Orange County G.I.S. rated sensitive wetland habitats, and until recently, supported several kinds of sensitive fauna within the study reach. The creek has great restoration potential, which could bring it back to a "very high" level of habitat value. It is unusual in Orange County in that it is a perennial stream with year around flow, and antecedent to the uplift of the coastal hills, making it a logical dispersion corridor for wildlife from the mountians to the sea (or vice versa). The viability of this corridor today is lessened because of impinging urban uses and channelization and vegetation management in some reaches, including that within the study area. However, what has been done can in many cases be undone, especially with the help of 16001404 mitigation-compensation funding.

3. Binion Slopes

The Binion parcel slopeland contains "moderate" and some "high" value habitats. The marine terrace above is ranked "very high" but is outside of the City. While the Binion ridge is yet undeveloped, urbanization appears imminent here. This will seriously affect the area's ability to support mule and other mammalian wildlife, which now gain access to the hillside open space via the level ridge above. The Binion parcel is ranked currently of overall "high" value in the City because it appears to be the best utilized mule deer habitat south of the Gorge.

4.5.3 Moderate Bioloaical Value

Urban Forests

Several large urban forests in the study area are of sufficient size to be of value to nesting raptors and other avifauna. The most important of these is the Thur- ston eucalyptus grove which lies at the edge of the city in Aliso Canyon, between the golf course and the AWMA sewage treatment plant. Kestrels and perhaps other raptors nest here.

Smaller but still extensive stands of eucalyptus are found along the edge of South Laguna village south of Ceanothus Canyon. Forests of an acre or more would be included in the "moderate value" category.

The extensive tropical fruit orchard in Badlands Can- yon 5 is also within the "moderate" category. This "forest" is likely to be of considerable culinary interest to the local raccoon, fox and coyote population, as well as visitant flocks of fruit-eating wax- wings, tanagers and the like.

4.5.4 Low Biological Value

1. South Portion of Open Space

The remaining open space south of the Binion parcel as well as portions of it adjacent to the South Laguna suburban edge is mostly low value habitat pertubated by fuel modification and old grading areas, and fragmented by a patchwork of rural and infrastructure development draping down the southwest toe of the Niguel Hill marine terrace ridge.

2. Golf Course

The Aliso Creek Golf Course contains a mix of low and moderate value habitat. There is a rather unique value provided by the extensively irrigated turf savannah, dotted with ornamental trees.

Robins and perhaps other birds (western bluebirds, tree swallows) find this artifical habitat replicates the grassy meadows and groves of their preferred homelands, whether north in Oregon's Willamette Valley or the farmlands of northeastern United States. Thus, numbers of locally uncommon songbirds can be found concentrated in golf course habitats. On the minus side, lack of undergrowh, herbicide and pesticide use, overfertilization and heavy, constant human use are factors that lessen the value of golf courses for wildlife species.

3. Fuel Modification Zones

These border the urban edge north and south of the Gorge. Modification zones south of the Gorge contri- bute to the pincer-like impact on the remaining wild open space reducing its total extent. Managed FMZs typically provide only sparse cover for wildlife, though the pruning techniques developed by landscape architect Fred Lang, used in the Monarch Point FMZ does provide habitat island refuges for small animals. Weedy growth and introduced ornamentals sully the living fabric of these zones; the one bordering South Laguna Village is regrown in a thicket of buckwheat and other coastal sage scrub sera1 growth creating a greater fire hazard than the indigenous chaparral removed. A well-managed FMZ can provide significant wildfire protection to a suburban community, but typically at a cost to indigenous vegetation communities and wildlife species. EXHIBIT 12

PLEASE SEE BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES MAP FOR SOUTH LAGUNA

(DISPLAY MAP FOR STUDY SESSION AND PUBLIC HEARINGS) 5.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION

5.1.1 Existing Conditions

The City of Laguna Beach is a leader in the region in acquiring and protecting wildlands. It is opportune that some of the most significant habitats in the County are located in a community which recognizes, values and acts to preserve these.

Part of the study area is now in designated open space, including Aliso Peak and Ceanothus Canyon, as well as the crest of Niguel Hill and Badlands Park within immediately adjacent portions of Laguna Niguel. Owners of several parcels south of Ceanothus Canyon appear to be con~mitted to protecting significant open space within their boundaries, sometimes in exchange for limited development rights. Most of the Binion slopeland in the City would be thusly protected in exchange for the right to develop two residences in a rather degraded portion at the edge of South Laguna village. However, impacts in the adjacent portion of Laguna Niguel by proposed housing construction will be substantive.

In the Aliso Canyon Gorge, the Thurston Grove, owned by the Y organization and planned for group camping, the Violet Brown property (the golf course and adjacent canyonsides) and a strip of fallow land and salt marsh owned by South Coast Water District lie between Aliso and Wood Canyons Regional Park and the sea. As discussed earlier, Violet Brown is reportedly committed to maintaining open space and golf course land use on her property despite attractive offers from developers. The upland portion of the Water District property is used for employee parking and materials storage.

Hobo Canyon and the ridges which flank it are owned by the Esslinger family as well as a land-locked inholding by Mahboubi-Fardi. Development plans put forth a few years ago aroused public opposition and did not move for- ward. The Esslinger family has no formalized plans for the property at this time, other than continuing to oper- ate the Laguna Terrace Mobile Home Park in the lower canyon floor. However, there could be some interest in the future in developing two portions, the lower south slope above the mobile home park, where a rough trail now follows an apparent street easement, and the level north ridge adjacent to the south end of Barracuda Way (Darren Esslinger, pers. comm.). 5.1.2 Proposed Acquisitions

1. Hobo Canyon and Contiguous South-facing Slope of Aliso Canyon

This top-priority acquisition area would include the Esslinger and Mahboubi-Fardi open space as well as a portion of the Violet Brown property. Since two State threatened-listed plants grow on the land block, one in its most significant U.S. population, State endangered species habitat acquisition funds should be sought to assist in this purchase. The purpose of the purchase would be habitat preservation; while continued informal use of existing trails could be accommodated, recreational use would be secondary to resource protection and scientific study. Therefore, this acquisition should not be looked at as the final linkup in the Aliso Creek mountains-to-sea trail, if for no other reason than excessive topography where the ridge drops toward the sea. The land here is too fragile to be subjected to the impacts of mountain bikes and the like.

Alternatives or supplements to outright purchase of this land block in its entirety include the following

e Granting Esslinger development rights on the north ridge off Barracuda and or the lower south slope above the mouth of the canyon in the old street easement area in exchange for open space dedication of the balance of the family's property. Rare and endangered biota, particularly big-leaved crownbeard and similarly listed species should be protected as much as possible in the areas where development was allowed.

e Negotiating an open space easement across the Aliso Canyon slope within the Violet Brown property. Provisions should be included in the easement to help insure that hikers and nature study groups remain a sufficient distance upslope to not pose a liability risk to the landowner (from flying golf balls). Monitoring and scientific study of the lower slope should be conducted in cooperation with and accessed at the pleasure of golf course management.

Legal access to the significant upland portions of the Esslinger/Mahboubi-Fardi land block appears to be blocked by Moulton Meadows City Park and the County Regional Park. However, the City should keep a watch- ful eye on the property even if it is not prepared to actively pursue its purchase or dedication in the near future. With the potential development value of the land, there is no guarantee that its access pro- blems are insurmountable.

2. North-facing Slope of Aliso Canyon

This land within the Gorge is mostly within the ownership of Violet Brown, except for a multiplicity of small lot ownerships at the canyon mouth. If it has not already done so because of lack of knowledge about the very significant inland populations of Laguna Beach dudleya, The Nature Conservancy should extend its landowner agreement process protecting this species to the Violet Brown property, and en- couraged by the City to do so. An open space easement for the purpose of protection of the sensitive mesic cliff habitats should be sought from Violet Brown.

3. South Coast Water District Property

County of Orange Harbors, Beaches and Parks (HBP) proposes to acquire this strip of land north of Aliso Creek for development of the "Pacific Gateway" to Aliso and Wood Canyons Regional Park. The strip would be used as a 70 car parking lot (EMA Environmental Planning, 12/11/91).

This is a poor use for the land, and would forever doom any opportunity to significantly expand the lower Aliso Creek salt marsh and lagoon. It is recommended that the land be acquired, but not for parking. (The inland parking facility across the creek appears to be underutilized.) Rather, this land should be excavated to expand wetland habitat, including the lagoon and its fringing salt marsh, prior to reintroduction of the tidewater goby. The City should formally relay these concerns to County HBP. The Pacific Gateway may be moot at this time anyway, since construction of a regional bike and hiking trail through the golf course linking the regional park to the sea has proven infeasible, and plans for it have been abandoned by HBP (Eric Jessen, HBP Program Planning, Kathie Matsuyama, HBP Design, pers. comm.) . 4. Other Suggested Open Space Acquisitions

It appears that open space protection in South Laguna south of Ceanothus Canyon (dedicated to Orange Co. HBP) is proceeding well on an owner-by-owner basis. The task thus ably begun should continue in this area. In terms of the Binion property, short of successfully blocking the entire development and thus preserving the significant ridgeline beyond the City boundary, Laguna Beach's open space dollars would probably be better spent on EsslingerIMahboubi-Fardi than attempting to acquire the entire Binion slope. The development of two residences in fairly degraded habitat would seem to be a fair tradeoff for preservation of the balance of the slope providing that this open space extends all the way to the margin of the marine terrace, and that houses are sufficiently set back from the edge to retain a strip of level open space along the top of the slope, for wildlife movement. An open space corridor through the community should also be provided for at least limited wildlife movement between this slope and the open space canyon on the inland side of the terrace. If the "south bowl" of the badlands is within the Binion Property, it should be dedicated open space and added to Badlands Park.