Peregrine Slides Repair Project (EA 01-0B500/EFIS 0112000133) Revegetation Plan, September 2015

Applicant and Contacts This revegetation plan has been prepared to satisfy requirements of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) 1602 Streambed Alteration Agreement for impacts to riparian vegetation along ephemeral drainages, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) Nationwide Permit conditions, and North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB) Section 401 Certification conditions. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is the applicant, as the party having financial responsibility for the attainment of success criteria of the proposed revegetation plan; the current and long-term owner of the proposed revegetation site; and is the party responsible for long-term maintenance of the project and revegetation site. The Caltrans Project Manager for the proposed project is Steven Blair, 1656 Union Street, Eureka CA 95501, (707) 441-5733.

The designated contact persons for this revegetation plan is Caltrans Biologist Allison Kunz, 703 B Street, Marysville CA 95901, (530) 741-4103 and Caltrans Revegetation Specialist Christina Wagner, 1656 Union Street, Eureka CA 95501, (707) 441-5898.

This revegetation plan was prepared by Biologist Allison Kunz, (530) 741-4103, and Revegetation Specialist, Christina Wagner, (707) 441-5898. The goal of this revegetation effort is to restore and revegetate jurisdictional areas affected by construction activities and to replace a 1,000-square foot area of riparian habitat (currently a mixed willow thicket) that will be removed due to construction at a 3:1 ratio. The plan outlines strategies for revegetation, including commitments for success criteria, monitoring, remedial measures and reporting.

Location and Description of Proposed Activity The project is located on State Route (SR) 101, approximately 5 miles south of Hopland in Mendocino County, California, at post mile (PM) 3.75 – 5.3. Caltrans proposes to slow down or stop the slope movement of two (2) slide locations in Mendocino County near Hopland from 0.6 miles north of Commisky Station Road to 0.6 miles south of Pieta Creek Bridge (#10-083). Both slides are on the east side of SR 101. Formoli Slide is at PM 3.75 and Peregrine Slide is at PM 5.3.

The project can be found on the Hopland U.S.G.S. 7.5-minute quadrangle, Township 12N, Range 11W, and Sections 2, 11, 14, and 23. The project is located along SR 101, adjacent to the Russian River. A gently undulating topography characterizes this stretch of SR 101. Elevation ranges from approximately 470 to 430 feet between PM 3.7 and PM 5.3 with a maximum drop in elevation of roughly 86 feet at PM 5.3 within the project environmental study limits (ESL).

The natural community types, hereafter referred to as vegetation communities, reflect the dominant species within the project ESL and are classified based on plant community names (i.e., alliances and associations) provided in A Manual of California Vegetation, 2nd edition (“MCV,” Sawyer, Keeler-Wolf, and Evens 2009; the California expression of the National Vegetation Classification 1998). Alliance names were created, based on dominant species, for communities that are currently not recognized in published literature. The vegetation communities present at the project locations are comprised of Quercus lobata-Salix laevigata/Salix exigua woodland association, Avena barbata-Avena fatua grassland, and

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Peregrine Slides Repair Project (EA 01-0B500/EFIS 0112000133) Revegetation Plan, September 2015

Nassella pulchra herbaceous alliance. No sensitive plant species nor special status plant species were observed within the ESL (see Appendix 1).

Project Impacts A total of ten (10) trees will be removed for the construction of this project. From the Peregrine Slide location, 1 Quercus lobata (valley oak), 5 Salix laevigata (red willow), and 3 Salix exigua (narrowleaf willow) will be removed. One Quercus agrifolia (coast live oak) will be removed from the Formoli Slide location. The total area lost by the removal of these 10 trees is 1,000 sq. ft.

Table 1: Other Waters of the U.S. Impacts

Identified Impact Type Resource ID Acreage Permanent Other Waters- Ephemeral 0.036 acres

Temporary Other Waters- Ephemeral 0.010 acres

REVEGETATION MEASURES

Revegetation Goal The purpose of the proposed mitigation is to compensate for permanent and temporary effects to other waters of the United States pursuant to the required permits and agreements for the project. Construction implementation will result in removing approximately 1,000 square feet of willow thicket along the ephemeral drainage at PM 5.22 and de-watering and grading the slope to discourage accumulation of water behind the wall, to slow anticipated slope failure. To mitigate for permanent and temporary impacts, the NCRWQCB requested replacement of the willow thicket at a 3:1 ratio.

The goal of the revegetation project is to re-establish lost riparian habitat by planting 3,000 sq. ft. of willow species and valley oaks at various sites within the area disturbed by construction. Riparian habitat is often composed of willows, but it can also be composed of other genera, as long as it is within the vicinity of a riparian corridor, on the banks of a creek or river. Non- willow riparian areas are common in inland habitats, as with the Peregrine Slides project. There are valley oaks as well as willows in the riparian corridor in the vicinity of the proposed project.

According to A Manual of California Vegetation (2nd Edition), valley oak is endemic to California (Sawyer, Keeler-Wolf, and Evens 2009). Riparian and upland forests of valley oak occur in the deep, rich soil typical of flood plains and valley floors. Riparian stands of valley oak typically exist on higher portions of the floodplain than do stands of Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) and willows. What remains of these forests are only remnants of what once existed in the Central Valley, other valleys, and foothill locations in California.

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Peregrine Slides Repair Project (EA 01-0B500/EFIS 0112000133) Revegetation Plan, September 2015

Revegetation Methods All disturbed areas will receive permanent erosion control composed of locally appropriate California native grasses and forbs and a non-persistent annual grass. The erosion control seed mix will be specified by Caltrans Landscape Architect in conjunction with the Revegetation Specialist.

Typically revegetation plantings are installed approximately one year after construction to allow the soil to settle and establishment of micro-site conditions. Visibility of micro-site conditions allows for more appropriate selection and placement of species during planting. For this project, early revegetation with willow sprigging will occur at the end of construction to have the contractor install willows behind the Peregrine Slide Wall within the contour of the regraded channel, to aid in stabilizing the slope and erosion control. The contractor will collect willow material from the surrounding area within the Caltrans right of way and install willow cuttings on 3 to 5 foot centers at the end of project construction under the direction of the District Biologist and/or Revegetation Specialist (Figure 1). Caltrans understands the likelihood that the slope above the Peregrine Slide Wall may fail and accepts that credit will likely not be applied toward this planting.

In addition to having the Contractor install willows in the regraded channel above the Peregrine Slide Wall, the Contractor will also install willows while RSP is being placed at the outlet of Drainage System 4 (Figure 1). One ton rock is being specified for this outlet. In order for the willows to avoid being damaged by the RSP, the willow cuttings may need to be placed along the edges of the RSP only. This willow installation is considered experimental by Caltrans Revegetation Specialists since hydrology will be drained due to project design, and newly rooting willows will struggle in the typically hot, dry summer months, even with supplemental water. Locally, willows only occur where there are pockets of moisture retained in the soil during summer months. Because the willow planting at Drainage System 4 is considered experimental, Caltrans would like to consider this planting as supplementary. Failure for this planting to survive should not be considered a mitigation failure since it is supplementary; however, if the planting survives, Caltrans would like credit for successful establishment of the planting at Drainage System 4 as riparian mitigation.

In addition to the willow planting installed by the contractor, 3,000 sq. ft. of willow cuttings and valley oak trees will be planted along the ephemeral drainages behind the Formoli Wall as riparian mitigation to achieve the 3:1 replacement requirement of riparian habitat removed for construction (Figure 2). Willow cuttings will be installed in patches on 3 to 5 foot centers and intermingled with oaks. Fifty valley oak trees will be planted on at least 20 foot centers with willows in between. An additional option for oak planting includes downslope of post mile 5.11 within the riparian zone relating to the Russian River (Figure 3). The Revegetation Specialist will make the final determination for oak planting locations based on best available habitat and safety for planting and maintenance. Implementation Schedule Willow installation at the culvert outlet of drainage system 4 will take place during construction when RSP is being placed. Permanent erosion control seeding and initial willow sprigging at PM 5.22 drainage system will be performed by the contractor at the completion of construction. Planting of willows and oaks behind the Formoli wall and, if determined necessary, on the slope

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Peregrine Slides Repair Project (EA 01-0B500/EFIS 0112000133) Revegetation Plan, September 2015

near PM 5.11 will be conducted in the fall or winter, one growing season after the completion of construction activities. This allows the site to go through a winter and spring growing season, allowing for natural regeneration to occur, enabling us to see water flow patterns (that then direct the planting distribution of these species) and allows us to see and address any problems resulting from winter flows. Post construction planting will be implemented using the CCC, with oversight provided by the Caltrans Revegetation Specialist and/or Project Biologist. As a safety precaution, revegetation activities will be completed between May 1st and October 15th, or when the site is dry enough to safely perform work activities.

Plant Material All seed and container plants will be from locally or regionally appropriate plant material when possible. Willow cuttings will be obtained from the vicinity of the project or from along the existing Caltrans right of way.

Watering/Irrigation Plan Plants installed post construction will be watered in at planting and will receive supplemental watering by hand until the site receives consistent seasonal rain. If a rainfall event occurs with more than 0.5 inches of precipitation prior to seasonal rain, the Revegetation Specialist will determine whether to postpone supplemental watering and the duration to postpone. For two years after initial planting, plants will be watered once every 2 weeks during the dry period, which may extend as broadly as April 1 to November 31. The watering schedule will be determined based on natural precipitation, temperature and site monitoring in an effort to determine actual needs. The goal will be to provide water necessary to successfully establish deep rooted plants that are quickly able to survive on their own, rather than surface-rooted plants that rely on regular watering. Watering will be performed by the CCC, at the direction of the Revegetation Specialist.

Maintenance Activities and Schedules Weed removal will be a necessary component of the revegetation effort due to ground disturbing activities and the presence of invasive species in the project vicinity. Weeding will be focused within the planting areas, targeting weeds surrounding installed plants to minimize competition. Common invasive plant species currently found surrounding the site and inhabiting the site preconstruction include yellow star thistle (Centaurea solstitialis), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), wild radish (Raphanus sativus), bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare), milk thistle (Silybum marianum), Italian thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus), black mustard (Brassica nigra), and wild turnip (Brassica rapa). To minimize the possibility of establishing new invasive plant species on site, a Caltrans Revegetation Specialist, Biologist, or Landscape Architect will monitor the revegetation area for the emergence of any new invasive species. If newly introduced invasive plants are found in the revegetation area they will be documented and removed from the site. All other areas disturbed by construction will be monitored and managed for the emergence and removal of any new invasive species as well, providing safe access is available. Physical control methods (removal by hand) will be utilized and no application of chemicals will be authorized.

Caltrans is proposing to provide maintenance activities at planted areas for five years. Maintenance funding will be available over the five year CCC contract to address needed measures or problems that arise. Potential maintenance will include, but are not limited to, such

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Peregrine Slides Repair Project (EA 01-0B500/EFIS 0112000133) Revegetation Plan, September 2015

activities as reseeding, replacement plantings to improve plant cover, weeding, potential caging/shading, and watering.

The planted areas will be visually inspected by the Project Biologist and/or Revegetation Specialist at least once over the first winter after planting and 2 times over the first growing season to verify plant establishment, growth, watering or maintenance needs or to ensure no problems have occurred. If no problems result, 1 inspection per year over the second through fifth year will be performed to ensure success. If problems are identified, additional inspections will be added to address issues and ensure remediation.

Monitoring Methods and Schedule Monitoring will be performed once each year between May 1 and September 30, for a period of five years by the Project Biologist, or Revegetation Specialist. Qualitative monitoring will include photo points. Quantitative monitoring will measure the area of willow and oak establishment and include survival counts of individual oak plantings. Results will be documented on aerial photos or project plans. Permanent photo points will be set up to document the mitigation effort. Annual Reports Results from monitoring will be documented and forwarded to the CDFW, NCRWQCB, and USACE annually or as required by permits. The first monitoring report will be due one year after the completion of the mitigation implementation (after oak and willow planting). The report will assess progress to date, the attainment of yearly performance criteria, progress towards final success criteria and address adaptive management measures.

Performance and Success Criteria

Performance criteria for Year 1 through Year 4 will be achieved if the following conditions are met: a) An annual increase of vegetative cover of willows and oaks in 1st – 4th years after willows are installed. OR b) A minimum of 40 surviving oak trees, including volunteers, at the end of year 1 and a minimum of 30 surviving oak trees, including volunteers, at the end of year 4.

Success criteria for Year 5 will be achieved if the following conditions are met: a) A minimum of 50% of vegetative cover of willows and oaks by 5th year of monitoring. OR b) At least 25 surviving oak trees, including volunteers, by 5th year of monitoring.

Adaptive Management Measures If a performance criterion is not met for all or any portion of the mitigation project in any year, additional effort will be implemented to meet the criterion stated above. The reason for not meeting the criterion will be evaluated and corrected. If significant adaptive management measures are needed, the planting strategy will be re-evaluated, including looking at soil conditions, hydrology, site preparation, planting techniques and materials. If attempts at adaptive management have resulted in partial attainment of the performance or success criteria,

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Peregrine Slides Repair Project (EA 01-0B500/EFIS 0112000133) Revegetation Plan, September 2015

Caltrans will coordinate with permitting agencies to determine if the partial willow and oak survival is adequate replacement of the riparian vegetation, even though the criteria, as written, are not met. If significant measures are needed, the maintenance and monitoring obligations will continue until the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board give the final project confirmation.

References Sawyer, J.O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J.M. Evens. 2009. A Manual of California Vegetation, 2nd Edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.

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Caltrans - EA: 01-0B500 Peregrine Slides Repair Project MEN-101 PM 5.3 ¯ Waters of the U.S. Impacts

Legend Environmental Study Limits PM 5.11 Permanent Impacts PM 5.17 Permanent Impacts PM 5.22 Permanent Impacts Culverts Cut Lines 00.02 0.04 0.08 Miles Fill Lines Caltrans - EA: 01-0B500 Peregrine Slides Repair Project MEN-101 PM 3.75 ¯ Waters of the U.S. Impacts

Legend Environmental Study Limits PM 3.72 Permanent Impacts Culverts Wetland ESA Fencing 0 0.01 0.02 0.04 Miles Cut Lines Caltrans - EA: 01-0B500 Peregrine Slides Repair Project MEN-101 PM 5.3 ¯ Waters of the U.S. Impacts

Legend Environmental Study Limits PM 5.11 Permanent Impacts PM 5.17 Permanent Impacts PM 5.22 Permanent Impacts Culverts Cut Lines 0 0.02 0.04 0.08 Miles Fill Lines

Appendix 1

Botanical Inventory

Plants observed at Peregrine Slides project locations April, June, September, 2012 and July, 2015 01-0B500 MEN-101 PM 3.7 Scientific Name Common Name Family TREES Aesculus californica buckeye Sapindaceae Arbutus menziesii Pacific madrone Ericaceae Populus fremontii Fremont cottonwood Betulaceae Quercus agrifolia coast live oak Fagaceae Quercus lobata valley oak Fagaceae Umbellularia californica Bay laurel Lauraceae SHRUBS Baccharis pilularis coyote brush Asteraceae Ceanothus cuneatus buckbrush Rhanmaceae Heteromeles arbutifolia toyon Rosaceae Toxicodendron diversilobum poison oak Anacardiaceae GRASSES Avena barbata slender oat Poaceae Avena fatua wild oat Poaceae Briza maxima rattlesnake grass Poaceae Briza minor annual quaking grass Poaceae Bromus diandrus ripgut brome Poaceae Bromus hordeaceus soft chess Poaceae Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens red brome Poaceae Cynosurus echinatus hedgehog dogtail grass Poaceae Dactylis glomerata orchard grass Poaceae Elymus (=Taeniatherum) caput-medusae medusahead Poaceae Elymus glaucus blue wildrye Poaceae Festuca myuros (=Vulpia myuros) rat-tailed fescue Poaceae Festuca perennis (=Lolium multiflorum) rye grass Poaceae Holcus lanatus velvet grass Poaceae Hordeum murinum ssp. leporinum hare barley Poaceae Phalaris aquatica Harding grass Poaceae Poa pratensis ssp. pratensis Kentucky bluegrass Poaceae Polypogon monspeliensis rabbitfoot grass Poaceae Stipa (=Nassella) pulchra purple needle grass Poaceae HERBACEOUS FLOWERING PLANTS Brodiaea elegans harvest brodiaea Themidaceae Carduus pycnocephalus Italian thistle Asteraceae Centaurea solstitialis yellow star-thistle Asteraceae Chlorogalum pomeridianum soap plant Agavaceae Convolvulus arvensis orchard bindweed Convolvulaceae Foeniculum vulgare fennel Apiaceae Geranium dissectum cranesbill Geraniaceae Helminthotheca (=Picris) echioides bristly ox-tongue Asteraceae Hemizonia congesta ssp. clevelandii hayfield tarweed Asteraceae Hypochaeris radicata rough cat's-ear Asteraceae

Lactuca serriola prickly lettuce Asteraceae Lotus corniculatus bird's-foot trefoil Fabaceae Lupinus microcarpus chick lupine Fabaceae Medicago polymorpha California burclover Fabaceae Melilotus indica sourclover Fabaceae Mentha pulegium mint Lamiaceae Plantago coronopus cutleaf plantain Plantaginaceae Plantago lanceolata English plantain Plantaginaceae Silybum marianum milk thistle Asteraceae Sonchus asper ssp. asper prickly sow thistle Asteraceae Sonchus oleraceus common sow thistle Asteraceae Stachys ajugoides hedge nettle Lamiaceae Taraxacum officinale dandelion Asteraceae Tragopogon porrifolius salsify Asteraceae Trifolium fragiferum strawberry clover Fabaceae Trifolium hirtum rose clover Fabaceae Trifolium incarnatum crimson clover Fabaceae Trifolium repens white clover Fabaceae Triteleia laxa Ithuriel's spear Liliaceae Vicia sativa spring vetch Fabaceae Vicia villosa ssp. varia hairy vetch Fabaceae Wyethia glabra smooth mules ears Asteraceae Zeltnera venusta California centaury Gentianaceae 01-0B500 MEN-101 PM 5.3 Scientific Name Common Name Family TREES Acer macrophyllum big-leaf maple Sapindaceae Populus fremontii Fremont cottonwood Betulaceae Quercus lobata valley oak Fagaceae Salix laevigata red willow Salicaceae SHRUBS Baccharis pilularis coyote brush Asteraceae Heteromeles arbutifolia toyon Rosaceae Salix exigua sandbar willow Salicaceae Salix lasiolepis arroyo willow Salicaceae Toxicodendron diversilobum poison oak Anacardiaceae GRASSES Avena barbata slender oat Poaceae Briza maxima rattlesnake grass Poaceae Briza minor annual quaking grass Poaceae Bromus diandrus ripgut brome Poaceae Bromus hordeaceus soft chess Poaceae Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens red brome Poaceae Cynodon dactylon Bermuda grass Poaceae Cynosurus echinatus hedgehog dogtail grass Poaceae Elymus (=Taeniatherum) caput-medusae medusahead Poaceae Elymus elymoides squirrel tail Poaceae Elymus (=Leymus) triticoides beardless wildrye Poaceae

Festuca (=Vulpia) microstachys fescue Poaceae Festuca perennis (=Lolium multiflorum) rye grass Poaceae Hordeum murinum ssp. leporinum hare barley Poaceae Phalaris aquatica Harding grass Poaceae Polypogon monspeliensis rabbitfoot grass Poaceae Stipa (=Nassella) pulchra purple needle grass Poaceae Triticum aestivum wheat Poaceae GRAMINOIDS Cyperus eragrostis umbrella sedge Cyperaceae Juncus bufonius toad rush Juncaceae Juncus xiphioides iris-leaved juncus Juncaceae Typha angustifolia narrow-leaf cattail Typhaceae Typha latifolia broadleaf cattail Typhaceae HERBACEOUS FLOWERING PLANTS Achillea millefolium common yarrow Asteraceae Acmispon americanus (=Lotus purshianus) Spanish lotus Fabaceae Acmispon brachycarpus (=Lotus humistratus) hill lotus Fabaceae Acmispon parviflorus (=Lotus micranthus) small-flowered lotus Fabaceae Anagallis arvensis scarlet pimpernel Myrsinaceae Brassica nigra black mustard Brassicaceae Carduus pycnocephalus Italian thistle Asteraceae Centaurea solstitialis yellow star-thistle Asteraceae Chlorogalum pomeridianum soap plant Agavaceae Cichorium intybus chicory Asteraceae Convolvulus arvensis orchard bindweed Convolvulaceae Dipsacus fullonum wild teasle Dipsacaceae Erodium botrys long beaked filaree Geraniaceae Eschscholzia californica California poppy Papaveraceae Foeniculum vulgare fennel Apiaceae Geranium dissectum cranesbill Geraniaceae Helminthotheca (=Picris) echioides bristly ox-tongue Asteraceae Hemizonia congesta ssp. clevelandii hayfield tarweed Asteraceae Heterotheca grandiflora telegraph weed Asteraceae Hypochaeris glabra smooth cat's-ear Asteraceae Lactuca serriola prickly lettuce Asteraceae Lathyrus angulatus angled pea Fabaceae Lathyrus latifolius perennial sweetpea Fabaceae Lathyrus odoratus garden sweet pea Fabaceae Lotus corniculatus bird's-foot trefoil Fabaceae Lupinus arboreus yellow bush lupine Fabaceae Lupinus bicolor miniature lupine Fabaceae Lupinus microcarpus chick lupine Fabaceae Lythrum hyssopifolia loosestrife Lythraceae Marrubium vulgare horehound Lamiaceae Medicago polymorpha California burclover Fabaceae Mimulus aurantiacus var. aurantiacus monkeyflower Phrymaceae Oenothera biennis common evening-primrose Onagraceae

Parentucellia viscosa parentucellia Orobanchaceae Plagiobothrys stipitatus pocorn flower Boraginaceae Plantago major common plantain Plantaginaceae Raphanus sativus wild radish Brassicaceae Rumex crispus curly dock Polygonaceae Rumex pulcher fiddle dock Polygonaceae Silybum marianum milk thistle Asteraceae Sinapis arvensis charlock Brassicaceae Sisymbrium officinale hedge mustard Brassicaceae Sisyrinchium bellum blue-eyed grass Iridaceae Sonchus asper ssp. asper prickly sow thistle Asteraceae Sonchus oleraceus common sow thistel Asteraceae Torilis arvensis tall sock-destroyer Apiaceae Tragopogon porrifolius salsify Asteraceae Trifolium fucatum forked clover Fabaceae Trifolium hirtum rose clover Fabaceae Trifolium incarnatum Scarlet clover Fabaceae Trifolium subterraneum subterranean clover Fabaceae Triphysaria eriantha ssp. Eriantha butter-and-eggs Orobanchaceae Triteleia laxa Ithuriel's spear Liliaceae Vicia villosa ssp. varia hairy vetch Fabaceae Xanthium strumarium cocklebur Asteraceae Zeltnera venusta California centaury Gentianaceae