1
Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline
Land ·Use· Development Plan. Environmental Impact Report
East Bay Regional Park District
CARQUINEZ STRAIT REGIONAL SHORELINE LAND USE-DEVELOPMENT PLAN
CARQUINEZ STRAIT REGIONAL SHORELINE
Adopted: November 16, 1993 Resolution No: 1993-11-304
Prepared by:
East Bay Regional Park District 2950 Peralta Oaks Court . ..Oakland, CA 94605 (510) 635-0135 FRANKLIN HILLS UNIT PORT COSTA UNIT
MARTINEz REGIONAL SHORELINE
NE.JEDLY STAGING AREA WHITE'S RESORT
PORT COSTA CROCKE'rt HILLS UNIT
CROCKETT ECKLEY
BULL VALLEY STAGING AREA
East Bay Regional Park District, Planning Dept. 1993
FOREWORD
Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline is valued for the rural quality of its rolling grasslands and the special aspects of its shoreline location, impressive views, open water, trails, marine climate, and historic buildings. Contra Costa County residents have long recognized the Franklin Ridge and Carquinez Shoreline region as an exceptional source of natural beauty and recreation. Thus, the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) 1989 Master Plan designated Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline for acquisition and development in response to citizen demands for recreation areas and for the preservation as open space of the ridgeland between Martinez, Port Costa, and Crockett. Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline also functions as a major link in two regional trail systems that circle San Francisco Bay, the Ridge Trail and the Bay Trail.
In 1992, the District began a comprehensiveplanningstudy of the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. The first stage in this process culminated in the Resource Analysis. The preparation and adoption of the Resource Analysis laid the groundwork for evaluating the feasibility of park uses and facilities, fitting public need to available parkland. The Land Use-Development Plan (LUDP) provides a framework that will guide resource manage ment, and recreation development of Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline for the next 20 years. It presents recommendations to establish park use, facility development, and activities based on the overall Master Plan guidelines and public input. The plan has been developed to minimize negative environmental impact. The resource management and development strategies outlined here will enable the park to flourish and endure.
The core of the plan is Chapter Three, the Land Use-Development Plan (also referred to as "the plan" or "the LUDP"). This chapter describes the recreation, service facilities and circulation system for the park. The resource management policies regarding vegetation, wildlife, and water are also described in Chapter 3. The Environmental Impact Report (EIR), Chapter 5, evaluates the environmental impacts which could result from the plan and suggests means of mitigation and alternatives if necessary. The remaining sections of the report serve as background for these two major chapters.
The LUDP is based on current EBRPD land holdings. The EBRPD Master Plan supports future acquisition and park bond Measure AA and other sources will be used to expand the park. The location and timing of future expansion is not known. This LUDP will be updated and amended, as necessary, to incorporate significant future acquisitions. The implementation ofthe LUDP is accomplished through specific Capitallmprovement Plans. The LUDP does not provide cost estimates or include specific budget allocations for development projects. Funding for projects must be approved by the Board of Directors and funds must be appropriated through the annual budget process. Additional staffing, required because of new park development, must be allocated through a District-wide process. Large projects will need a detailed design investigation to resolve specific problems of grading, drainage, planting, and construction. Such projects will be designed through the capital improvement process while smaller projects may be undertaken by District staff. LAND USE-DEVELOPMENT PLAN/ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
FOREWORD I. SUMMARY...... 1
II. BACKGROUND .•...... •...... ••...... •...... •...... •....•...... 6
A. Description ...... 6 B. Parkla-nd and Place Names ...... •...•.••.•...... •....•...... •...•...... 8 C. Regional Recreation Inventory ...... •...... •...... •...... •.. 9 Recreational Needs in California ...... 9 30-Minute Planning Zone and Population ...... 9 Recreation Supply District-Wide and inthe30-MinutePianningZone ...... ;...... 11 Recreation Need and Demand ...... 12
III.LAND USE-QEVE·LOPMENT PLAN...... 14
A. Land Use Zones ...... •. .•...... •...... •..•...... •.•... 14 Recreation Units...... 14 Natural Unit...... 16 Special Protection Units ...... 16 Special Management Unit...... 16 Special Resource Unit ...... 16 B. Park Access·& Circulation ...... •...... •...... •...... •...••... 19 Parking ...... 19 Trails and Interior Roads ...... 19 Railroad Crossings...... 21 Other Local Access ...... 22 Water Access...... 22 Access Facilities for1he Disabled...... 25 C. Recreational and Interpretive Facilities ...... 26 Eckley Shoreline...... 26 White's Resort...... 30 Picnic Areas and Group Camps ...... 31 Interpretive Facilities...... 32 Utilities ...... 33 Page No.
D. Natural Resources Management Plan...... 35 Vegetation...... 35 Wildlife ...... 42 Hydrology...... 44 Geology/Soils ...... 46 Cultural Resources ...... 51 Visual Resources ...... 53
E. District Service, Public Safety and Fire Response...... 55
IV. PLAN PRIORITIES ...... 57 v. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT ...... 1-1
APPENDICES
A. References Cited ...... A-1 B. District Master Plan Policies ...... B-1 C. Planning Process ...... C-1 Purpose and Role of the East Bay Regional Park District...... C-1 Regional Shoreline Planning Guidelines (Master Plan Policies)...... C-1 Adopted Park Planning Reports (Planning History) ...... C-2 Revisions to the Plan ...... C-2 Plan Administration and Implementation ...... C-3 D. Report Preparation...... D-1 E. Grazing Unit Management Plan...... E-1
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1 Vicinity Map ...... Figure 2 Summary of Land Use-Development Plan ...... 4 Figure 3 Location Map...... 7 Figure 4 30-Minute Planning Zone...... 13 Figure 5 Land Use Zones...... 17 Figure 6 Circulation...... 23 Figure 7 Eckley...... 27 Figure 8 Natural Resource Management Plan ...... 35a
TABLES
Table 1 30-Minute Planning Zone ...... 10 Table2 Special Status & Sensitive Plants ...... 39 Carquinez Strait .Jill""' Regional Shoreline Carqulnez Strait " ...... _ .... San Pablo Boy Antioch 5:~~~~9=.:~ oo'ti o : o.a~~l.., ~ttl 0 000~0°·. 5I r·•..' .. ::·--...... ~. sa • : 17•. •• ·········-J..•• 5S • • ••.. ••• l •• •••••••••••• 55 ••. ·· ..: a...... I / ·. / ··.;• ,DI, ....ry (I Sl. ," "•.. Bay ..... ··.. . ••• ••• . I .,Byrq • •• ·:...... · .. rI I I I I I
San Francisco --I Bay I I
Exisllng EBRPO lands I -11111111 Other Agercf lands ··········-- Exisling Regiona1Trat1s I 00000000 Polenlial Regional Trans I (Sholl Tenn}
...... Potenlial Regional Trans (longTenn} l, Nt I
Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline VICINITY MAP Figure 1 East Bay Regional Park District, Planning Dept. 1993 I. SUMMARY
OVERVIEW
Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline totals 1,230 acresofbluffs and riverfront along the south shore of Carquinez Strait. Five separate land areas combine to provide a gateway to the inland reaches of California's Central Valley. This irregularly shaped parkland extends north to the Carquinez Strait, south to Highway 4, east to the City of Martinez' Rankin Park and west to the Town of Crockett.
Carq~ez Strait Regional Shoreline is unique within the regional parksystembecauseitis the only park that embodies two distinct topographic features: an extensive system of hills and ridges and a riverfront shoreline. Franklin Ridge and the Port Costa hills rise above narrow canyons that slope towards the Carquinez Strait, touching the shoreline in two locations. Visitors to Carquinez will be able to explore two strikingly different park locations. A bustling, dynamic shoreline full of the sights and sounds oftrains, ships, barges and boats that contrasts with the quietridgetops with their sweeping panoramas of the bay area. This Land Use-Development Plan (LUDP) addresses the outstanding opportunities that exist to create a regional shoreline park and a significant regional open space. Over 1,000 acres of land are in transition, shifting from industrial and agricultural uses to public parkland. Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline opened in 1990 for limited public access. Two staging areas were built at the west and east ends of the park providing public access to an existing network of trails. No other facilities have yet been developed in the park. The LUDP describes the future recreation uses and resource management of Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline.
PLAN CONCEPT
Forming a whole park from the ridge and shoreline landscapes in five separate existing park units is the definitive goal of this LUDP. The integration of these physically separate parklands must be achieved to provide a parkland that serves the bay region. The plan recognizes the resource and recreation value of the two distinct areas of this park the shoreline and the ridgelands. The shorelinecontainsopportunitiesforwater-related activities and for the interpretation of California's historic 19th century grain shipping operation. Recreation and interpretive facilities will be located along the Carquinez Shoreline for public enjoyment. New staging areas will provide public access to fishing piers and picnic sites. These activities will occur on land that was developed prior to park acquisition and will be redeveloped and restored for public park purposes. The open space resources and character ofthe ridgeland will be retained with only minimal development to improve public access. The plan also reinforces the need to strengthen the links between the ridgelands and the shoreline through future land acquisitions.
The following goals guide the policies and implementation of this plan:
Improve public access to the park, in particular, the shoreline. Provide appropriate water-related activities on and along the shoreline. Provide recreation areas throughout the park. Protect park open space and sensitive plant and animal resources. Preserve historic structures as an integral part of facilities developed for interpretation of the cultural and natural history of the park.
1 PARK ACCESS
Access to Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline is constrained by limited parking areas, landslides on Carquinez Scenic Drive, and the fragmentation of parkland into five discontinuous parcels. Additional parking areas, railroad crossings, boat landings, and walk-in entrances have all been considered to improve public access to the park Facilities that will improve public access include:
• New parking areas developed to serve recreation facilities at Eckley, Port Costa Conserva tion Society, and the Nejedly Staging Area.
• Four walk-in entrances providing local community access; from "F" Street in Martinez, from Dupuru Street in Crockett, from Winslow Avenue in Crockett, and from Port Costa.
• Water taxi service provided by private businesses and operators from Martinez Marina (or elsewhere) to provide access via Carquinez Strait to Eckley and White's Resort.
• Railroad crossings to provide access between the Carquinez shoreline and the upland at Eckley, White's Resort, and Nejedly (at Martinez Shoreline).
• Guest dock space for overnight boat tie-ups at Eckley fishing pier.
2 RECREATION
Park visitors interviewed by a user survey and participants at the public planning meeting on September 17, 1992, expressed a strong interest in specific park improvements. These requests included picnic areas, water access, fishing piers and interpretive facilities. The following facili ties are proposed to serve the recreational needs of park visitors:
• Day use picnic sites located at Eckley, Port Costa Conservation Society (PCCS), Crockett Grove, Nejedly and White's Resort.
• Rebuild fishing piers at Eckley and White's Resort including wind shelters, benches, and running water.
• Three group camp sites for overnight camping at Eckley, Shepard Canyon, and Franklin Hills.
• Self-guiding loop trails at Bull Valley and PCCS staging areas interpreting the geologic and hydrologic history of the Carquinez Strait.
• Rehabilitated historic buildings and interpretive panels at Eckley for interpretive pro grams on California's 19th century world-wide wheat trade.
NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
The natural resource management policies apply to the entire parkland. Vegetation management focuses on the management of annual grasslands to prevent resource degradation. Water quality policdes relate particularly to the shoreline, ponds and springs. Key proposals include:
• Management of eucalyptus groves to maintain a thinned stand.
• Use of rotational grazing and prescribed burning for fire hazard management and plant diversity
• Restoration and fencing of existing ponds.
• Monitoring of sensitive plant and animal species to develop conservation measures on a site-specific basis.
3 '
0 v
\ • Park Boundary
OJ Existing Parking l!l Proposed Parking
Place of Interest Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline * Public Aa:e&s SUMMARY OF LAND USE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ~ Points Figure 2 ------WHITE'S RESORT -- * Pier for fishing & water taxi * Picnic areas NE.IEDLY * Walk-/bike-in uva""'""' * Expanded parking for 20 cars " * Picnic area \ * Overcrossing to Martinez · __... \ shoreline ~ · / ,.... /
El Pie11ic Area lDD! 0 Group Camp ••••• Existing Trail ,.J Fishing 00000 Proposed Trail ~ Boat Landing ••••• Existing Regional Trail H Railroad Crossing Bay Trail Railroad Track _____----"""' ) Water Taxi Route East Bay Regional Planning Dept. 1993 II. BACKGROUND
A. DESCRIPTION
Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline totals 1,230 acres ofbluffs and riverfront alongthesouth shore of Carquinez Strait. Five separate land areas combine to provide a gateway to the inland reaches of California's Central Valley. This irregularly shaped parkland extends north to the Carquinez Strait, south to ffighway 4, east to the City of Martinez' Rankin Park and west to the Town of Crockett. (See Figure 3).
Park Units
The five land areas have been grouped into three geographic units to simplify the plan discussion. At the east end of the park, the Franklin Hills Unit is located above Carquinez Scenic Drive on the Franklin Ridge overlooking Martinez. This unit drops to sea level at White's Resort, one of two locations where the park's sloping terrain terminates at the shoreline. The Port Costa Unit encompasses grasslands rising above the east and west sides of Port Costa, forming a continuous open space westto Crockett. This unit also contains a shoreline area at the former Town of Eckley. The remnants of a former brickworks, grain wharf and sport fishing resort, dating back to the tum of the century recall the historic characterofthis site. The Crockett Hills Unit ascends steeply from the south side of Carquinez Scenic Drive to an elevation of 700 feet. This unit contains scenic ridgeland at the end of Dupuru Street, a residential road.
Planning Context
With the exception of the industrial and sport fishing activities along the shoreline, the park has historically remained in agricultural and grazing land use because of its steep topography. Southern Pacific Railroad maintains an active railroad track that creates an access barrier between the park's open space areas and the shoreline. Coastal hills rise from sea level up to 750 feet in elevation and are a dominantfeature ofthe park From these hilltops,sweepingviews, 360 degrees in scope are unbroken towards Mt. Di 6 -l \ SCALE \ 0 'Ia 1 MILE -r-~ Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline LOCATION MAP Figure 3 East Bay Regional Park District, Planning Dept. 1993 B. PARKLAND AND PLACE NAMES East Bay Regional park's and facilities are generally named for recognized geographic, natural, or historic features identified within the park and its immediate surroundings. The Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline area is, of course, named for the Carquinez Strait, the dynamic waterway adjacent to the park The following place names designate particular park areas or facilities: Bull Valley -a staging area located at the west end of the park; named after the valley above Port Costa reputedly called Bull Valley because Spanish ranchers grazed cattle there. Carquinez - a name given to Indians living in what is now Crockett by Spanish explorers in 1799. Theynamed the Indians "Karkins" or"Carquins" and thewater''CarquinezStrait" from the Greek word for crab. Crochtt Grove -a eucalyptus grove and proposed day use picnic area next to Crockett. Eckley -a town built in 1870 and named for Commodore Eckley, a millionaire grain shipper and sportsman. Franklin Ridge -a ridge system adjacent to Martinez extending from Highway 4 to Carquinez Scenic Drive. fohn Muir House -the family home of John Muir currently managed by the National Park Service as a National Historic Site. Nejedly -a staging area named in honor of John Nejedly, State Senator, who was instrumental in assisting the District in acquiring portions of Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. Ozol -a United States Department of Defense military fuel depot located along Carquinez Scenic Drive west of Martinez. Port Costa -an unincorporated town east of Crockett once famous for its warehouses. Port Costa Conservation Society (PCCS) -a parcel of land owned by an organization formed in 1982, one of the first permanent open space land acquisitions between Port Costa and Martinez. Rankin Park -a Martinez city park that shares an eastern boundary with Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. Shepard Canyon -local name for the canyon south of Ozol FuelDepotin the Franklin Hills Unit. White's Resort -a former sport fishing resort dating back to the 1930s known for excellent striped bass and sturgeon game fish. C. REGIONAL RECREATION INVENTORY Recreational Needs in California By the year 2005, residents over 50 years of age are expected to increase from about one-fourth to one-third· of Contra Costa County's population. (Projections '92 Association of Bay Area Governments. July 1992). A state-wide trend toward an aging, yet health-conscious population, coupled with growing urban centers and increasing traffic levels, is reflected in California's changing recreation demands and habits. The 1993 California Outdoor Recreation Survey found that "the largest increases in participation are expected in non-strenuous outdoor activities," for example, picni<:king, hiking, camping, boating, nature study and swimming. The trend toward a growing population of all ages with limited free time will place a greater. demand on easily accessible leisure activities. In 1980, more than two-thirds of recreational activities in California took place within one hour's travel time of home, indicating the importance of public access to regional parks, state and city open space lands. California's recreation and population trends also indicate a need for nature-oriented parks close to urban areas. These preferred types of parks would provide a change from urban areas by maximizing a feeling of open space and accommo dating non-strenuous outdoor activities. Other primary recreational needs of Californians are: • safe, secure recreation areas • recreation areas and programs that increase opportunities for social interaction • new local parks in growing communities The.3Q-Minute Planning Zone and Population The 1989 EBRPD Master Plan states that "The District will plan and develop a parkland system that is designed specifically to meet the needs and demands ofDistrict residents. Generally based on a thirty-minute travel time or on a park use profile that has been adopted from the most current District-wide user survey, a planning zone identifies principal and potential users of a parkland. The District will actively seek the opinions of these users along with other interested Distrlct residents, before it designs the parkland. Consideration of certain recreational facilities may require a District-wide or larger planning zone." (1989 Master Plan, p. 32) Figure 4 shows the 30-minute planning zone based on use of both the Nejedly and Bull Valley Staging Areas. Table shows that Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline is within 30 minutes driving time of approximately one million residents, including some residents of Solano County (ABAG' s Projections '92). Carquinez Strait's planning zone population represents 79% and 21% of Contra Costa and Alameda Counties respectively. ABAG figures indictUe that from'l990-2010, the populations of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties will grow at rates of22 percent and 36 percent respectively. For the year 2010, the Rodeo Crockett area projection shows only a minor increase in population. Both Martinez and Hercules show population inqeases of 6,000 each. The largest population increases within the 30-minute planning zone will occur in the cities of Antioch and Pittsburg where 86,000 new residents are expected to live by the year 2010. 9 Table I CARQUINEZ STRAIT 30 MINUTE PLANNING ZONE Contra Costa Coun!Y Alameda County 1990 1990 Antioch (70%) 44,140 Albany (100%) 16,327 Concord (80%) 90,970 Berkeley (100%) 102,724 Danville ( 60%) 19,361 Emeryville (100%) 5,740 El Cerrito (100%) 29,332 Oakland (35%) 130,277 Hercules (100%) 16,829 Piedmont (100%) 10,602 Lafayette (1 00%) 25,067 I 265,670 Martinez.(100%) 39,743 Moraga (20%) 3,177 Orinda (65%) 10,817 Pinole (100%) 27,982 Pittsburg (100%) 65,260 Pleasant Hill (100%) 38,427 Solano County Richmond (100%) 100,150 1990 San Pablo (100%) 28,552 San Ramon (5%) 1,772 Benicia (100%) 24,446 Walnut Creek (95%) 70,227 Fairfield (50%) 40,057 Alamo-Blackhawk (40%) 7,676 Suisun City (50%) 11,500 Rodeo-Crockett (100%) 11,593 Vallejo (90%) 100,848 631,075 J 176,8511 TOTAL POPULATION SERVED IN,.....______, 30-MINUTE PLANNING ZONE =I 1,037,5961 10 Recreation Supply District-Wide and in The 30-Minute Planning Zone EBRPD Facilities Regional Parks & Recreation Areas- District regional parks within the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline 30-Minute Planning Zone include: Briones Regional Park, Las Trampas Regional Wilderness, Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve, Kennedy Grove Regional Recre ation Area, Sobrante Ridge Regional Preserve, Sibley·Volcanic Regional Preserve, Tilden Regional Park, Wildcat Canyon Regional Park and Temescal Regional Recreation Area. Regional Shorelines- EBRPD shoreline parks include: Antioch Regional Shoreline, Martinez Regional Shoreline, Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, Point Pinole Regional Shoreline, Pt. Wilson, Lone Tree Point and Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline. EBRPD will also manage the shoreline areas in Emeryville and Berkeley known as East Shore State Park Compared to these shoreline facilities, Carquinez Strait has more inland area for hiking, fewer sensitive sites and less water related recreation because of restricted access and the limited flat land next to the shoreline. Multi-Use Regional Trails- Regional Trails within the Carquinez Strait 30-Minute Planning Zone include: California Riding and Hiking Trail, Bay Area Ridge Trail (Ridge Trail), San Francisco Bay Trail, Contra Costa Canal Trail, Briones to Mt. Diablo Trail, Lafayette/Moraga Trail, East Bay Skyline National Trail, Tilden to Briones Trail and the San Ramon Valley Iron Horse Trail. Conclusions Interpretive Centers Interpretive centers are facilities that provide naturalist programs for environmental and local historical education. The District currently has seven interpretive centers. Six are located in Alameda County and only one serves Contra Costa County. Tilden Nature Study Area, located in Tilden Regional Park adjacent to Contra Costa County, is within the 30-Minute Planning Zone for Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. Group Camps Reservable sites for overnight group camps within the 30-Minute Planning Zone are available at Briones, Wildcat Canyon and Tilden Regional Parks. The majority of the District's camping facilities are located in southern Alameda County. There is a limited supply of camping in Contra Costa County and no camping facilities at any regional shoreline. Fishing Piers The District provides fishing piers at Antioch, Martinez and Point Pinole Regional Shorelines. There are no public fishing piers between Martinez and Point Pinole to serve the San Pablo Bay Area. 11 Other Regional Recreation Facilities Shoreline Facilities Within the 30-Minute Planning Zone, the cities of Antioch, Pittsburg, Crockett, Richmond, Berkeley and Emeryville all offer boating facilities and fishing piers. The water-oriented cities of Benicia and Vallejo offer these opportunities on the other side of the Strait in Solano County. East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) There are thousands of acres of EBMUD watershed land in the 30-Minute Planning Zone including San Pablo, Briones and Lafayette Reservoirs. The public.is allowed to use the boat rentals, fishing and picnicking facilities although biking and riding outside of recreation areas is by n permitH only on all EBMUD lands. Recreation Need and Demand Public Suggestions Public comments expressed atthe planning meeting of September 17, 1992 and in user surveys are summarized below: Park Access • Link Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline to Martinez Shoreline, EBMUD land, Rankin Park, and John Muir National Historic Site. • Consider new staging areas at Ozol, McEwen Road, and elsewhere in the park • Consider new park roads for auto access to the ridgetops. • Consider access from "F" Street in Martinez (Alhambra High School) • Develop park facilities accessible from the water through water taxi service and boat docks. • Develop regional trail connections from Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline to Hercules. Recreation • Develop picnic areas and drinking water. • Reconstruct fishing piers at Eckley and White's Resort. • Retain old pilings for "soft anchoring" boat tie-ups. • Develop interpretive facilities for Contra Costa County residents. • Provide group camp sites. • Preserve stage on former Shrader property. Open Space Protection • Expand parkland holdings to protect regional park open space. • Consolidate and underground utility lines on Franklin Ridge. 17 Hayward MilES SCALE MILES 0 10 0 z 1-4 16 KILOMETERS ONE (llOMETER ·-.: ~.-. MllE i\ILOMETERS Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline 30~MINUTE PLANNING ZONE Figure 4 East Bay Regional Park District, Planning Dept. 1993 III. LAND USE-DEVELOPMENT PLAN A. LAND USE ZONES A regional park is organized into land units based upon their inherent natural character and proposed uses. The goal of land use zoning is to preserve the natural qualities of a park by clustering recreational and setvice facilities at the edges of parkland whenever possible rather than dispersing them throughout natural habitats and open space. The two basic categories of land units are the Recreation Unit (RU) and the Natural Unit (NU) (See Figure 5). Within these primary units other types of land units are sometimes designated; the Special Protection Unit (SPU), Special Resource Unit (SRU), and Special Management Unit (SMU). These land units are designated wherever special management responsibilities are needed to protect and maintain special resources. The Master Plan also states that a park will be zoned according to its classification. This park is a Regional Shoreline. Several key planning guidelines were used to establish zone designations for Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. • "Maximum public access to the Regional Shoreline will be provided through compatible shoreline recreation ... picnic areas, shoreline meadow, fishing piers, boat landings and interpretive facilities ... " • "The shoreline area immediately adjacent to the water will be available for public enjoyment and education." • "Regional Shorelines will be accessible ... whenever feasible by public ferry or private boat." The two primary zones of Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline are defined by the topography of the park. The steep slopes upland from Carquinez Scenic Drive, the ridgelands, will be designated as a Natural Unit. Most of the corridor of land formed between Carquinez Scenic Drive and the shoreline will be designated as a Recreation Unit. Carquinez Scenic Drive becomes a dividing line between the active more developed areas to the north and the more passive open space portions of the park to the south. RECREATION UNITS Recreation Units contain a park's higher level of recreation use and service facilities. Such facilities include group and day use picnic areas, turf meadows, fishing piers, group camps and other outdoor activities. These areas are usually grouped together and located on a park's periphery. The Recreation Units of Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline total approximately 300 acres or 25% of the park. Development has historically occurred along Carquinez Scenic Drive and along the shoreline. Pcuk development will also be similarly located. Seven Recreation Units are designated in the LUDP and briefly described below. A more detailed discussion of specific development proposals will be found in the Facilities and Circulation sections of the Plan. 1.!1. Eckley Unit Ecldey will become a primary destination for park use because of its key location and for its shoreline access. The 67 acres of this unit also contain the only relatively level topography in the entire park. Staging areas will be developed to serve day use picnic areas, a group camp, fishing pier, ferry landing, public boat dock, and interpretive facilities. Bull Valley Unit The Bull Valley Unit, located between Ecldey and Port Costa, already serves park visitors with a staging area and trail system. An interpretive trail will be developed on existing fire roads in this unit. Port Costa Conservation Society Unit This unit includes 79 acres east of Port Costa. Boundary fencing and pedestrian gates 'have recently been installed on this property permitting local walk-in park access. A new parking area will be developed off of Carquinez Scenic Drive to serve trails and new picnic areas. Whit£'s Resort Unit White's Resort is well known for its. excellent sport fishing. This 8 acre Unit lies between Port Costa Materials and the Ozol Fuel Depot on Carquinez Scenic Drive. Landslide activity on Carquinez ScenicDrive limits access to this site to pedestrians and bicyclists. Day use picnicking and fishing will be provided at White's Resort. Nejedly Unit This Unit· includes the Nejedly Staging Area, the main entrance to the park from Martinez. This existing parking facility also serves regional park users of the Bay Trail and Ridge Trail. This site will be expanded to include parkland on the north side of Carquinez Scenic Drive for additional parking and day use picnicking. Franklin Hills and Shepard Canyon Group Camps Two group camp sites are designated as Recreation Units. These are small sites located within the Natural Unit. Both sites will be available only through reservations. NATURAL UNIT The Natural Unit designation allows activities compatible with open space park uses. Facilities development is limited to those necessary to accommodate activities such as hiking and horseback riding. This classification includes most of the land in a Regional Park. At Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline, approximately 900 acres, or 75% of the park is in the Natural Unit. This unit includes all of the ridgeland in the park above Carquinez Scenic Drive and approximately 60 acres of land below this road. SPECIAL PROTECTION UNIT Special Protection Units (SPU) are areas within the park which contain significant plant, animal or historical resources that are unique and potentially fragile. The plan designates these areas to preserve or enhance a specific resource. In Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline, four populations of rare or unusual plants occur in the Park. The plants and the structural remains of historically significant buildings warrant this designation. They include: Dirca occidentalis, Helianthella castanea, Quercus lobata, and Calochortus pulchellus, the 19th century grain warehouse, pier, office structure and residence, the Carquinez Brick and Tile Company office building, at Eckley and the Sky-Sail Mission site. SPECIAL MANAGEMENT UNIT The Special Management Unit (SMU) includes areas with special management require ments. The plan designates three areas as Special Management Units. These are three eucalyptus groves which must receive ongoing maintenance for fire protection and public safety. SPECIAL RESOURCE UNIT The Special Resource Unit (SRU) includes habitat of limited distribution within a park. The riparian drainage in the White's Resort area has been designated a Special Resource Unit because it contains dense willow thickets near the shoreline that are attractive to wildlife. This is the only habitat of this type in the park. 1h RU 4 Bull Valley Staging Area \ \_ Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline LAND USE ZONES Figure 5 17 \ I N e z White's Resort "\ '."? ! / ~~ SPECIAL MANAGEMBNTUNIT Eucalyptus Groves SPU 1 Dirca Occidentelis SPU 2 Helianthetla castenea . JlECREA'IlON UNITS SPU 3. QuettUS lobata SPU 4 Historic Structures SPU 5 Sky Sail MISSion Site NAroRAL UNITS SPU 6 Calochortus pulchellus East Bay Regional Park District, Planning Dept. 1993 1 Q. B. PARK ACCESS AND CIRCULATION Parking Two parking areas serve Carquinez Strait Re gional Shoreline alongCarquinez Scenic Drive, at the west and east ends of the park. Bull Valley and NejedlyStaging Areas provide lim ited parking for trail use of the park's open space. The current parking ·capacity within Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline is insuffi cient to serve additional recreational use of the park. (See Figure 6) Policy: Provide onsite parking to serve recreational use of the shoreline and park open space. Cluster major staging facilities at the edge of the park to minimize their impact. Bull Valley Staging Atea Implementation: • Provide a 100 car parking area to accommodate water-related and other recreation facilities at Eckley. The parking area will be upland from the shoreline, adjacent to picnic areas and designed to minimize its visual impact. The access road to the parking lot will include a public drop-off areanexttothe shoreline, picnic sites, play areas, and interpretive exhibits. (Design) • Develop a 20 car parking area to serve hiking and picnicking on the Port Costa Conservation Society (PCCS) parkland. This lot will be located off of Carquinez Scenic Drive near a trailhead. Development of an additional parking area between this PCCS staging area and White's Resort will be considered if an opportunity arises. (Design) • Expand existing parking at Nejedly Staging Area to include 20 additional spaces on the north side of Carquinez Scenic Drive. (Design) , • "Cross road" advance warning signs should be installed on Carquinez Scenic Drive to warn drivers they are approaching an intersection or parking area. This would include the intersection of Carquinez Scenic Drive and the Eckley access road, and at the intersection of Carquinez Scenic Drive and the Nejedly Staging areas. Trails and Interior Roads Circulation routes within Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline include graded multi-use service roads. Service roads provide access for police and fire control vehicles and general park maintenance. The existing trail system includes these roads and functions adequately; serving hikers, runners, equestrians and bicyclists. Two popular regional trails, the San Francisco Bay Trail and the Ridge Trail are aligned through this park. At the Nejedly Staging Area, the two trails converge. The Ridge Trail continues south to the John Muir House and the Bay Trail follows Carquinez Scenic Drive. Caltrans has funded a bike shuttle service between the Benicia and Martinez Amtrak station to assist the Bay and Ridge Trail programs. Trail links would improve internal circulation in the Crockett Hills Unit and pedestrian connections to other local parks and regional trails. This section also addresses public access and service roads. (See Figure 6) Policy: Provide a well-marked trail system to promote pedestrian, bicycle and equestrian access throughout Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. Implementation: • Improve internal circulation at Eckley and Crockett Hills to provide loop trails. (Operations) • Improve trail connections and sign ing between Carquinez and Rankin Park,. John Muir National Historic Site and Martinez Regional Shore line. (Operations) • Maintain Carquinez Scenic Drive be tween Ozol and Port Costa Materials Quarry for multi-use trail and ser vice road use. (This section of the road will require ongoing mainte nance because of the damage result ing from frequent landslide activ ity.) (Operations) • New trails will be sited to avoid areas with a high potential for the existence of undiscovered cultural resources. Trails will be posted with signs requiring hikers to use only established trails. Park Rangers will make daily patrols of areas of high sensitivity. (Operations) • Close Carquinez Scenic Drive be tweenNejedlyStaging Area and Ozol on weekends for recreational trail Access road to Eckley needs improvement 20 use of this Bay Trail alignment. Install an electronically controlled gate across the road at Nejedly to permit access to Ozol Fuel trucks. This proposal was addressed in the 1988 Environmental Impact Report prepared for the Nejedly Staging Area and Carquinez Shoreline Trail. (Operations/Design) • Expand opportunities to provide regional trail connections for the Crockett to Franklin Canyon Trail, the Hercules to Martinez Trail. and the Ridge Trail from Carquinez to Mt. Wanda of the John Muir National Historic Site, and Briones Regional Park (Acquisition) • Improve public access road into Eckley for two-lane traffic. (Design) • Maintain service road into White's Resort for emergency response and park maintenance. (Operations) • Provide a h·ail easement connecting "F Street" pedestrian entrance to Ridge trail on existing fire roads, currently maintained by City of Martinez and the Martinez Unified School Dishict. (Operations) • "Side road" advance warning signs should be installed at the intersection of Carquinez Scenic Drive and the Port Costa proposed access road. This measure should be executed in coordination with the EBRPD and the County. (Operations) • Name and sign all unmarked trails. These include: Leatherwood Loop and Crockett Hills Trail in the Port Costa Unit, and Carquinez Shoreline Trail (also called Bay Trail) along Carquinez Scenic Drive. (Operations) • When future acquisitions are completed, provide staging area and trails to serve expanded Crockett Hills Unit. (Planning/Design/ Operations) Railroad Crossings Railroad crossings are essential to the success of this regional shoreline. Railroad crossings are needed to link waterfront and upland areas of the park in three locations. Public Utility C,ommission approval will be required prior to building any crossings. Policy: Provide railroad crossings for safe access to the Carquinez Shoreline. Implementation:, • Construct an ongrade pedestrian cross ing where feasible at Eckley and White's Resort. Consider alternative overcrossing Railroad Tracks at Eckley locations at these sites. (Acquisition/Design) 21 • Construct a pedestrian overcrossing of the railroad north of the Nejedly Staging Area linkingCarquinez to Martinez Regional Shoreline. This overcrossingmay also seiVe equestrian use given the appropriateness ofthe site; land for high crossing and room for a long gently sloping ramp. (Acquisition/Design) ""F Street Entrance to Franklin Hills Open Space Other Local Access Several opportunities exist to provide additional local public access to the park from Crockett and Martinez. These park entrances can be provided through mi nor changes to a site by installing pedes trian gates and signing. These are sites for walk-in access only. Policy: Increase public access to Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. Continue to pursue opportunities for additional entrances to the park Implementation: • Install entrance signs and a pedestrian gate at the end ofDupuru Drive for walk-in access to the Crockett Hills Unit. Install signs and a pedestrian gate off of Winslow Avenue in Crockett to provide walk-in access to Crockett Grove. (Operations) • Install entrance signs and a pedestrian gate at the end of "F" Street in Martinez. On street parking will also be available atthislocation next to the Alhambra Union High School for local community park access. (Operatins) • Sign Rankin Park trail connection to Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. (Opera tions) Water Access The Master Plan states that "regional shorelines will be accessible by public transit whenever feasible; by public ferry or private boat". Water taxis and boat landings could provide feasible options for public access to Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. Eckley and White's Resort both include waterfront areas suitable for boat docks. Developed full seiVice marinas are not recommended in this plan because of the high cost of constructing, maintaining, and staffing this type of facility. Additionally, marina facilities are available nearby in Martinez, Benicia and Vallejo. A pier and boat dock, however, are appropriate facilities for this park A small passenger water taxi could link cities, open space and historic sites together for park visitors. Water taxis could also provide a bicycle connection for Bay Trail riders between Benicia and Carquinez. ?.?. ~-- CROCKE'IT-- ~- _ ~ --- - OVERLOOK \ LEGEND + WALK-IN ACCESS fil EXISTING PARKING PROPOSED PARKING Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline lfl CIRCULATION e e ee e EXISTING TRAILL Figure 6 21 '\ \ \ \ \, \ ooooo PROPoSED TRAIL. ••••• EXISTING REGIONAL TRAIU PROPOSED REGIONAl TRAIL --® BUS STOP• l RAILROAD CROSSING 24 Policy: Develop facilities and services to provide water access to Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. Implementation: • Contract water taxi service provided by private businesses and operators to Eckley and White's Resort. Construct a pier for a water taxi landing. (Operations) • Construct a guest dock for overnight public boat tie-ups. (Design/ Operations) • Investigate the feasibility of developing a regional water route connecting Car quinez Strait Regional Shoreline with Benicia, Vallejo, Martinez and Port Costa. (Planning/ Operations) • Investigate expansion of regional water trail to connect Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline to destinations east in the Delta and west to Crockett, Rodeo, Richmond, and Berkeley. (Advanced Planning/Planning) Access Facilities for the Disabled The only facilities constructed in Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline for park access are the Bull Valley and Nejedly Staging Areas. Both of these facilities include restrooms and parking spaces designed for disabled park visitors. All new park facilities, where feasible, will be designed to provide access for persons who are disabled. Policy: The District will provide access to parkfacilities for persons who are disabled according to ADA requirements and changes in those requirements. Implementation: • Review all site designs to meet or exceed ADA standards. (Design) • Seek funding to assist with disabled accessible projects such as railroad crossings, boating and fishing access. (Grants Specialist) • The District will produce and distribute publications which describe the accessibil ity of the parkland and identify sites in the recreation areas. (Public Affairs) • Specific disabled access improvements might include additional parking spaces, restrooms, picnit areas, public phones, shoreline access, raitroad crossings, and boat access. (Design) C. RECREATIONAL AND INTERPRETIVE FACILITIES Recreation areas located in Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline are intended to provide an overlap of facilities, (parking, restrooms, etc.) for park users while extending the range of uses and activities available to parkvisitors in the form of picnicking, fishing, strolling, and boating. Eckley Shoreline Eckley will become a key destination of Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline, with its 67 acres of· open meadows, wooded groves, and flat land adjacent to the shoreline. This site also contains shoreline north of the railroad tracks including mudflats and a sandy beaCh cove jutting out between the old wood pilings of the 19th century granary wharves. The historic structures still visible at Eckley were once part of the .. five warehouses that lined the southern shoreofCarquinezStraitbetween Crock ett and Martinez by 1882. Grain from the Central Valley was transported to Port Costa by boat or train, stored in these warehouses, then shipped to Eu rope. By 1887, four-fifths of all the grain produced in Northern California was exported around the world through one of these grain warehouses. Eckley Shoreline Eckley will serve regional park users from nearby I-80, a major highway which makes this area easily accessible from cities in the East Bay, Solano, and Marin Counties. Eckley will also be a destination for bicyclists travelling on the Bay Trail,. to or along Carquinez Scenic D~ve, pedestrains hiking in from Port Costa or Bull Valley, and boaters arriving from San Francisco Bay. Eckley can be treated as both an entrance to Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline and a self-contained complex with supportive facilities (fishing, historic inter~ pretive displays, parking, and picnicking). The recreation furnished at Eckley will emphasize the shoreline'Charaeterofthis>site an&complementCarquinez Strait Regional Shoreline adding to the total recreational opportunities available in the park. Parking will generally be Channelled into areas 100 feet upland from the shoreline. Picnic areas will be developed in association with parking areas. The meadow next to the waterfront will be open, informal, and unstructured for the most part, containing paths, an informal play area, interpretive displays, trees and shelter forwind protection and day use picnic areas. A railroad crossing will link the upland portions of Eckley to the shoreline, including a fishing pier, boat dock, and ferry land (See Figure 7). 26 Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline ECKLEY RECREATION UNIT Figure------7 East Bay Park District, 1993· Policy: Locate water-related activities and appropriate recreational uses at Ecldey. Shoreline Implementation: • Retain historic character of grain wharf area to be used for fishing and boat access. (Design) • Construct a new fishing pier. ·Retain old pilings to maintain productive fish habitat and to provide tie-up locations for soft anchor fishermen. Shoreline construction will not occur during the migration period of the delta smelt and the winter-run chinoock salmon. (Design/ Stewardship) • Locate a boat dock at the end of the fishing pier to serve as a ferry landing and guest dock for overnight boat tie-ups. (Design/ Operations) • Develop turf meadows, play area, and day use picnic sites next to the shoreline. (Design) Implementation: • Develop two picnic sites in two locations at Ecldey, the upland meadow area and along the shoreline. (Design) • Develop two picnic sites on PCCS land, one adjacent to proposed staging area, a second on the ridgetop with views of the Strait. (Design/ Operations) • Develop a picnic site across from the Nejedly Staging Area. (Design/ Operations) • Develop walk-in picnic sites in Crockett Grove. (Operations) • Designate a back pack camp in the Franklin Hills. This site will be located on a former homestead containing level ground, a pit toilet, a small stage, and excellent connections to the Ridge Trail (California Hiking and Riding Trail). (Operations) • Construct two group camp sites for overnight camping, one located in the Eckley upland, the other in Shepard Canyon in the Franklin Hills Unit. (Design/ Opera tions) • Expand parkboundaries to provide additional group camping opportunities within the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. (Acquisition) • Determine feasibility of stabilizing historic structures and develop interpretive exhibits based on the early industrial history of Eckley using existing Port Costa Brick & Tile office building. (Interpretation/Design) Recreation. Implementation: • Design an overnight group camp area and day use picnic sites in the upland wooded portion of Eckley. (Design) • Establish and sign trail connections to Crockett Grove, Bull Valley, and Carquinez Overlook Loop. (Operations) White's Resort In contrast to the accessible location and level meadows of Eckley, the White's Resort area has extremely constrained automobile access and less than an acre of flat land. Active landslides occur alongCarquinez Scenic Drive to the east and west of the steep service road that descends to White's Resort at the shoreline. This continuing hazardous condition Pier at White's Resort prolu"bits automobile access to White's Resort and it's small size discourages the develop ment of public parking areas. Automobile access to White's may be possible from the west end of Carquinez Scenic Drive after the expansion of the quarrying operation at Port Costa Materials is completed. Carquinez Scenic Drive will be relocated between the quarry and White's Resort primarily for trail and service road use. The access road into White's will serve only maintenance vehicles. 30 Despite the lack of automobile access to this site, White's Resort will still have a shoreline focus and small waterfront developed for recreation. White's Resort is an ideal destination for hikers and bicyclists travelling on Carquinez Scenic Drive. The section of Carquinez Scenic Drive between Ozol and White's Resort will be maintained as a multi-use trail and service roads. On weekends, Carquinez Scenic Drive will be free of automobile activity between Nejedly and White's Resort. This site is best suited for developments as a day use facility with primary access from the east end of Carquinez Scenic Drive for pedestrians and bicyclists. Policy: Develop water-related facilities and recreation areas at White's Resort. Implementation: • Maintain multi-use trail access to White's Resort for public access. (Operations) • Construct a new fishing pier to replace existing structure that will also function as a water taxi landing and day use public dock. (Design) • Remove existing buildings to develop area next to shoreline for day use picnic sites. (Design/ Operations) • Consider renovating existing residence for overnight hiker /bicyclist hostel. (De sign I Operations) • Construct railroad crossing to connect upland to fishing pier. (Design) Picnic Areas and Group Camps Picnicking and camping are classic forms of recreation that rank with hiking as a desirable activity. Throughout this planning process, public comment has consistently favored including picnic facilities in the LUDP. Picnicking can take place anywhere in the park. However, for those who wish to spread out a lunch on a table and possibly cook a meal, picnic sites are proposed. Day use picnic areas will include tables grouped together, in some places around a small barbeque stove. Where possible, picnic areas will be located for easy access and wind protection. Group camp sites will be available through the District's Reservations Department. These designated areas will accommodate up to 40 people for overnight camping. For a fee, a group camp will provide the following facilities: restrooms, barbecues, picnic tables, water, and a location dose to parking and trail connections. A back pack camp is a less developed site containing only a flat area for camping, a pit toilet, and posts to tether horses and place reservation notices. The potential for camping is limited along the shoreline. Future park acquisitions may provide additional locations for group camp sites. (See Figure 2) Policy: Sites for day use picnic areas, group camps, and back pack camps will be located within the limits of the land available in the Recreation Unit. Implementation: • Develop picnic sites in two locations at Eckley, the upland meadow area and along the shoreline. (Design) • Develop two picnic sites on PCCS land, one adjacent to proposed staging area, a second on the ridgetop with views of the Strait. (Design/ Operations) • Develop a picnic site across from the Nejedly Staging Area. (Design/ Operations) • Develop walk-in picnic sites in Crockett Grove. (Operations) • Designate a back pack camp in the Franklin Hills. This site will be located on a former homestead containing level ground, a pit toilet, a small stage, and excellent connections to the Ridge Trail (California Hiking and Riding Trail). (Operations) • Construct two group camp sites for overnight camping, one located in the Eckley upland, the other in Shepard Canyon in the Franklin Hills Unit. (Design/ Opera tions) • Expand parkboundaries to provide additional group camping opportunities within the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. (Acquisition) Interpretive Facilities Several educational themes have been envisioned at Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline for interpretive facilities and programs. The existing grain warehouse, residences, and brick office building at Eckley convey some of the original ap pearance and feeling of this former 19th century industrial settlement. Interpre tive programs based on the history of Carquinez Strait could operate from Eckley. Natural resources topics for public interpretation include the geo logic formation of the Strait and the hydrodynamics of the northern and cen tral California watershed. Carquinez Brick & Tile Company office building 32 Policy: Interpret the historical and natural resources of Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. Implementation: • Design and install a historical display of Eckley using the Port Costa Brick & Tile office building ~s the focal point. (Interpretation) • Provide naturalist led tours of the Eckley shoreline and Bull Valley area including the 1880 grain warehouse. (Interpretation) • Install interpretive panels on the Carquinez Overlook Loop Trail for a self guided tour explaining the geologic formation of Carquinez Strait. (Interpretation) • Install interpretive panels on the Port Costa Trail for a self guided tour explaining the hydrodynamics of the northern California watershed. (Interpretation) • Consider preparing a self-guided trail book with numbered stops and exhibit panels along Carquinez Scenic Drive explaining historical and natural resource informa tion of the area. (Interpretation) Utilities Water Service There are no domestic water services supplied to Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. Natural water resources in the park are scarce. Low production springs and shallow ponds exist within the park. A functioning well with a windmill has been restored in the Franklin Hills Unit for livestock watering. Well water exists at both White's Resort and Eckley. These water supplies are unsafe because of past disposal practices. The provision of drinking water would be desirable at Nejedly Staging Area, Eckley, and White's Resort. Contra Costa County Water District (CCCWD) maintains water lines located next to the Southern Pacific railroad tracks. Water could be made available to Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline by tapping into CCCWD service. Another option for developing water service to the NejedlyStaging Area is through the City of Martinez Water System. An eight inch line could be constructed and located under Carquinez Scenic Drive to extend the water main from the county cemetery to the park. Water for drinking fountains and horse troughs could also be trucked to sites and stored in a 500 to 1,000 gallon tank. Further investigation will be necessary to determine the best option for developing water in the park. Sewer Service Sewer service is not currently provided to the park. The nearest sewer system at the eastern edge of the park is the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (CCCSD). CCCSD services the residential area immediately east of Nejedly Staging Area. The west side of the park falls outside of the service provided by the West Contra Costa County Sanitary District. Sewage disposal at Eckley and White~ s Resort has been by cesspool. A pit toilet is located on a former homestead site in the Franklin Hills. Chemical toilets are located at the Nejedly and Bull Valley Staging Areas. In general, septic systems may not be feasible for Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline because the predominantly clay soils within the park may not provide adequate percolation of wastewater. Electricity, Telephone, and Gas Electricity and telephone services are provided by overhead lines at Eckley and White's Resort and the former Shrader property (Franklin Hills Unit). A natural gas tank is also located at White's Resort. Overhead electric lines interfere with the viewshed in the Franklin Hills. Policy: The District will provide adequate dtinking water and restroom facilities to serve recreation areas of the park. The District will, as funding becomes available, underground powerlines to mitigate their impact on the open space quality of the ridgeland. (Design) Implementation: • The Distlict will tie into municipal water systems where feasible to provide drinking water to the Nejedly Staging Area, White's Resort, and Eckley. (Design) • The District will provide restrooms at new Eckley, Port Costa Conservation Society, and White's Resort Staging Areas. (Design, Operations) • Sewer development will be District owned and for park use only. (Design) D. NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN VEGETATION The Crockett Hills, Port Costa, and Franklin Hills Units form part of a semi-contiguous expanse of private and public open space from Crockett to Martinez. The scattered parcels of parkland existing within this broader framework of open space contain representative segments of the grassland, coastal scrub, eucalyptus forest, and oak woodland plant communities found throughout this area. These plant communities occupy varying proportions of land on each of the different units comprising the public open space and extend into surrounding, undeveloped, private land. (See Figure 8) Grassland and Woodland Understory The introduction of exotic plants by early settlers to California resulted in the virtual replacement of the original herbaceous vegetative cover with non-native grasses and forbs. These plants dominate most grassland areas, and have become naturalized tbroughoutthewestemtwo-thirds of the state. The annual grasses that characterize the Non-Native Grassland community are more competitive, productive, and prolific than the native plants with which they coexist, and some levelofmanagementtocontroltheir growth is usually necessary. Elements of other native herbaceous plant communities such as Valley Needlegrass Grassland, Valley Wildrye Grassland, Pine Bluegrass Grassland, and Wildflower Field occur intermixed within the Non-Native Grassland type. A diversity of native herbaceous plants in grassland and oak woodland understories can be maintained and enhanced by reducing the accumulation of plant residue from the non-native grasses and forbs. In the absence of a mechanism to control vegetation growth, most productive non-native grassland and some woodland understory sites accumulate large amounts of dead plant material, which acts as a mulch to diminish native herbaceous plant diversity and to increase the risk of wildfire. Some sites may be subject to encroachment by weed and brush species, such as mustard, fennel, poison oak, coyote brush, and broom. Policy: Vegetation in grasslands and oak savanna understories will be managed to control non-native herbaceous vegetationgrowth,achieve biodiversity, maintain a high representation of native plants, and reduce fire hazards. These areas will be man aged consistent with the physiological and ecological needs and requirements of the vegetation. Reseeding methods will maintain and enhance the existing natural vegetation. Seeding will be used primarily to rehabilitate disturbed ground and minimize erosion. Seeding to enhance plant production and to increase the cover of palatable and nutritious forage species for grazing animals is not a management objective. MANAGE EUCALYPTUS GROVES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ABATEMENT. GRAZE AND PRESCRffiE BURN ANNuAL GRASSLANDS FOR PLANT DIVERSITY AND FIRE ABATEMENT. PROTECT AND MONITOR SENSITIVE Pl..ANT- POPUlATIONS. LEGEND Grassland ~ IIIIIII Coastal Shrub ~ Eucalyptus Oak Woodlands Bay-Oak Woodlands Sensitive Plant Population *• Pond· Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN Figure 8 "1.-. ~ ~ GRAZE AND PRESCRIBE BURN ANNUAL GRASSLANDS FOR PLANT DIVERSITY AND FIRE ABATEMENT.. East Bay Regional Park District, Planning Dept. 1993 35-b Implementation: • Management will include the use of grazing, mechanical treatment, prescribed burning, integrated pest management, habitat pro tection and habitat restoration. These applications will be used in such a way as to maintain and enhance native plant diversity, particularly in areas where na tive grasses comprise a signifi cant part of overall plant compo sition. (Stewardship) • The park's existing land base and new land added to the park in the future will be surveyed for rare plant populations, concentrations of native grasses, and other features, which may require special management. (Operations/Stewardship) • Areas proposed for seeding will be appraised individually to determine the appropriate methods to be used. Native and naturalized annual and perennial species adapted to the conditions of the site will be employed. Species representa tive of the surrounding natural vegetation will be preferred. Severely disturbed sites with a potential for serious erosion will be stabilized as rapidly as possible by establishing an herbaceous plant cover. All seeding will take place in the proper season. Grazing and recreational use may be deferred to promote plant establish ment. (Operations I Stewardship) Oak Woodlands The oak woodlands on the park consist primarily of the oak/bay woodland type containing various species of oaks intermixed with the more dominant California bay laurel. The density of oaks and other associated tree species within this type varies considerably, as does the ground cover, which ranges from little more than a layer of plant litter to a well-developed, diverse understory of native shrubs, herbs, ferns, and grasses. A large expanse of blue oak woodland occurs in the northern portion of the Franklin Hills Unit above Carquinez Scenic Drive. The somewhat cooler and moister conditions afforded by its north-facing exposure gives rise to a relatively diverse understory of native wildflowers and grasses that grow interspersed with the more dominant non native species. Several unusual and significant plant species, such as the western hoptree, Ptelea crenulata, nemophila, Nemophila parviflora var. parviflora, coast ellisia, Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia var chrysanthemifolia, and others, are occasionally encoun tered in this woodland. An isolated rock outcrop within the oak woodland supports a small island community of chamise chaparral containing several uncommon plant species. Several valley oaks, Quercus lobata, occupy the small valley justbeyond the west entrance gate off Carquinez Scenic Drive. 36 Policy: The management policy, insofar as possible, will be to allow natural ecologi cal processes to take place. Grassland and oak savanna areas interspersed in mosaic fashion within the oak woodland will be actively managed consistent with the policies established for grassland and woodland understory vegetation. Implementation: • A conservation-oriented approach that allows and encourages natural, ecological processes to occur will govern management of oak woodlands .on the park. Prescribed fire and/ or mechanical methods, may be required in limited situations to reduce fire hazard conditions, influence understory plant composition, or to sustain production and recruitment of tree species. (Operations/ Stewardship) • Efforts to encourage oak regeneration, where necessary, may include adjusting graiing practices, protecting oak seedlings, releasing seedlings from competing vegetation, or planting acorns and seedlings from local genetic stock. (Operations I Stewardship) Eucalyptus Woodland Eucalyptus tree removal work was under taken on the middle portion of the Port Costa Unit in 1989 to eliminate standing dead snags burned in an earlier wildfire and posing a safety hazard. Prior to this time the eucalyptus woodlands formed a dense thicket of trees. A large amount of leaf and bark litter had accumulated on the ground surface, and understory vegetation was virtually absent. The eucalyptus have since become re-established from stump sprouting, and form an open configuration of scattered, young trees, with an herba ceous understory of grasses andforos. Other eucalyptus stands on the park occur north and west of the Nejedly Staging Area in the , Franklin Hills Unit and on the Eckley site in the Port Costa Unit. Policy: Eucalyptus stands on the park , will be actively managed, where necessary, toreducefirehazard, enhance native plant diversity or improve wildlife habitat. Nest ingtrees should be identified and protected. Eualyptus Woodland 37 Implementation: • Manage eucalyptus woodland to maintain thinned stands, where necessary. Work may involve any of the following: tree cutting; mechanical uprooting, piling, and burning of select trees; removal of downed trees; contract harvesting and chipping of select trees; herbicide use to control stump resprouting following tree removal. (Operations I Stewardship) ShTilbltJntls The two main shrubland community types found throughout the park are northern coyote brush scrub and poison oak scrub. These communities occur in settings ranging from semi-open associations of brush, grass or trees, which can contribute important habitat for native plants and wildlife, to impenetrable stands covering entire hillsides, where the brush essentially becomes ·the .. dominant species, diminishing species diversity, reducing food and cover for wildlife, and increasing the risk of catastrophic wildfire that could severely impact other natural resources. California sagebrush chaparral occurs intermittently, and small, scattered stands of chamise chaparral occupy shallow, rocky soils in the northern portion of the Franklin ltills Unit. Coyote brush and poison oak will colonize open grasslands in the absence of active management, such as grazing, burning, or mowing. This effect is evident on the EBRPD-managed Port Costa Conservation Society property in the Port Costa Unit, and onthe former McNear property in the Franklin Hills Unit. The encroachment of these brush species was discouraged in the past by the interaction of recurring fire and subsequent browsing by native and introduced animals that fed on shrub regeneration and inhibited seedling establishment. Successful suppression of fire during this century and the elimination of grazing from many areas has contn"buted to the expansion of coyote brush and poison oak into areas formerly occupied by grassland (McBride and Heady 1968, McBride 1974). Continued livestock grazing has been effective in minimizing the incursion of these shrub species into grasslands of the East Bay. Policy: Appropriate action will be taken when excessive shrub growth increases fire hazard conditions, diminishes existing plant or wildlife habitat, or interferes w i t h public recreation and enjoyment. Efforts to achieve fire control and resource manage ment objectives will be consistent with maintaining shrubland community dynamics. Implementation: • Management o1 ~hrubland vegetation, if necessary, may include the use of pre scribed burning, mechanical methods, grazing, and/ or chemical treatments. The need for such management will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. (Operations/ Stewardship) • Prescn"bed burning, when used, will achieve concurrent objectives of reducing fire hazards and of rejuvenating shrubland communities. (Operations/Public Safety) TABLE 2: SPECIAL STATUS AND SENSITIVE PLANTS SPECIAL PROTECTION UNIT PRESCRIPTIONS ------~---- Scientific Na!!!!il Federal State CNPS Supporting Known COillllOn Name Status Status Status Habitat Sites Management Monitoring Calochortus eYlchellus None None 1-1-3 chaparral 2 Protect population; Observe on annual basis Mt. Diablo Fairy Lantern List 4 oak woodland avoid adverse impacts to to assess status of the coastal scrub plants during project population. work; clear competing vegetation from around plants, if necessary. Helianthella castanea C2 None 3-2-3 ecotonal areas in 4 Provide appropriate Assess effects of Diablo Helianthella List 18 grassland, woodland, management needed to vegetative cover, plant chaparral, scrub sustain and enhance litter accumulation, population(s) clear livestock grazing, competing vegetation burning annual climatic from around plants, if variations on plants; necessary; avoid adverse prepare detailed impacts to plants during inventory map showing project work. plant locations. Dirca occidentalis None None 1-2-3 chaparral, coastal 3 Protect populations; Protect plants from Western Leatherwood scrub clear competing disturbance; observe on vegetation from around annual basis to assess plants, if necessary; status of populations. protect seedlings from browsing; avoid adverse ~ impacts to plants during project work. Quercus lobata None None 1-2-3 oak woodland many Allow natural ecological Prepare detailed Valley Oak List 4 processes to occur; thin inventory of tree and prune other locations in park; competing tree species. observe on annual basis If necessary, protect to asses status of tree seedlings from browsing; health and seeding release seedlings from regeneration. competing vegetation. SPECIAL STATUS AND SENSITIVE PLANT DEFINITIONS Federal Status CNPS R-E-D tmE C1 =Enough data are on file to support the federal listing R (Rarity) C2 = Threat and/or distribution data are insufficient to support federal 1-Rare, but found in sufficient numbers and distributed widely enough listing that the potential for extinction is low at this time. C3c = Too widespread and/or not threatened 2-0ccurrence confined to several populations or to one extended FE= Federally listed, endangered population. 3-0ccurrence limited to one or a few highly restricted populations, or State Status present in such small numbers that it is seldom reported. CE =State listed, endangered E (Endangered) CR =State listed, rare 1-Not endangered 2-Endangered in a portion of its range The CNPS Lists 3-Endangered throughout its range List 1A = Plants presumed extinct in California D (Distribution) List 18 =Plants that are rare or endangered in California and elsewhere 1-More or less widespread outside California List 3 =Plants about which we need more information (a review list) 2-Rare outside California List 4 = Plants of Limited Distribution (a Watch List) 3-Endemic to California Riparian and Othu Wetland Areas The wetland communities found on the park include Great Valley Mixed Riparian Forest, North Coast Riparian Scrub, Central Coast RiparianSaub,and Freshwater Seep. Assorted variations of these plant associations occur along intermittent creeks, and in perennially wet locations along drainages, within and around ponds, and in small, wet meadows associated with springs and seeps. Appropriate conservation-oriented management is necessary to preserve and enhance riparian and other wetland vegeta tion resources on the park. Policy: Protection will be provided to riparian and other wetland areas, especially in locations where grazing occurs on the park. ·Where natural water .. sources are developed for grazing use, water storage facilities will be located on dry ground outside of the exclosures. Troughs will be designed to accommodate wildlife use. Spring-fed ponds will be protected once alternate drinking water for grazing animals has been provided outside of or near the enclosed area. Implementation: • Limited information is currently available regarding the management of rare plants and their associated habitats. The District, however, will endeavor to maintain, perpetuate, increase, or restore, rare, threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant species and their supporting habitats consistent with available scientific research and information. Special Status Plants Special status plants include those species that are state and/ or federally listed as rare, threatened, and endangered, category 1 or2 candidates for federal listing, or designated State candidate species by the California Fish & Game Commission. The East Bay Regional ParkDistrict Master Plan also provides for the protection of "sensitive" plants and their habitats that have been proposed for listing by a competent authority, regardless of whether they have been formally afforded protective status by the state or federal governments. Sensitive species are determined by District staff, using the California National Diversity Data Base, the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, District records and their own professional knowledge and judgment. All special status and sensitive plant species found on the park are included as. Special Protection Units in the Zoning section of the plan. Carquinez Regional Shoreline contains several known species of plants that fall into one of these categories. The Crockett Hills Unit contains an isolated population of the Mt. Diablo sunflower, Helianthella castanea, a federally listed category 2 species, and scattered occurrences of the sensitive western Ieatherwood, Dirca occidentalis. Mt. Diablo sunflower also occurs in the Port Costa Unit and the Franklin Hills Unit. Two populations of the sensitive Mt. Diablo fairy lantern, Calochortus pulchellus, are found in an area of the Franklin Hills Unit north of Carquinez Scenic Drive. The park also contains potential habitat for Mount Diablo buckwheat, Eriogonum truncatum. This species has not been documented as occurring in the park at this time. Site-specific rare plant surveys were conducted May 1993 within the areas proposed to accommodate expanded parking and recreation facilities at the Eckley, Port Costa Conservation Society and Nejedly Staging Area sites. No special status plants were located. Additional surveys are desireable to determine the extent of special status and sensitive plants throughout the park and will be undertaken over time as feasible. Policy: Special status and sensitive plant species and their associated habitats will be conserved and protected. All potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts upon these species and their supporting habitats will be assessed, and conservation and protection measures will be developed on a site-specific basis. Implementation: • Limited information is currently available regarding the management of special status and sensitive plants and their associated habitats. The District, however, will endeavor to maintain, perpetuate, increase, or restore the populations of these plant species and their supporting habitats consistent with available scientific research and information. • All existing and potential adverse impacts to special status and sensitive plant populations will be mitigated. This may include changing recreational use patterns, relocating roads, trails, facilities and structures, and/ or adjusting grazing practices, if necessary. Planning and implementation for new projects will incorporate relevant preservation strategies. • The Distlict will assign Special Protection Unit status to the populations and suppmting habitats of special status and sensitive plants. For the purpose of the plan, the physical limits ofthe plants and the habitatimmediately surrounding them comprise the Special Protection Unit boundalies. Management prescriptions are outlined in Table 2. • Additional inventories will be conducted to determine the full extent of special status and sensitive plant populations on the park as feasible. A monitoring program will be established to pe1iodically observe population size, habitat condi tions, reproduction, viability, and changes in geographical distribution for known special status and sensitive species. All sitings are reported to the California Natural Diversity Data Base. This information will be used to provide appropliate manage ment for these species, and to avoid potential adverse impacts. Site-specific plant surveys and wetland surveys will be conducted prior to project implementation. Pest Species Yellow starthistle (Centaurea salstitialis) is a widespread summer-maturing annual plant occuring on much of the open grasslands found throughout the hills of the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. Once established, this invasive weed species impacts grassland habitat by displacing more desirable grasses, forbs and native plants and associated fauna. When thistle numbers are dense, they create a nuisance for park visitors. While yellow starthistle is an excellent source of pollen for honeybees, it can be highly toxic to horses when ingested. Dense stands have been observed in the rolling grassland areas of Crockett Hills, Bull Valley Staging Area, Eckley, Port Costa, Franklin Hills and White's Resort. During the late summer, early fall, yellow starthistle is one of the most prominent summer plants in the open grasslands of the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. Policy: The District will continue to monitor and manage by containment grassland starthistle species. Monitoring will include evaluation of the impact of this thistle species on established grasslands. The District will focus its management on newly introduced or pioneer colonies by physical, chemical and mechanical means or biological control agents as appropriate. Implementation: • The District will identify and monitor new introductions and pioneer yellow starthistle colonies in this regional shoreline location. • The District will utilize preventative management strategies to reduce the impact of yellow starthistle in high-use areas of Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. These strategies will include giving priority to thistle management in new development sites for public recreational use. The District's short-term strategy will employ physical, mechanical, chemical management practices and re-vegetation with desirable and competitive native species to displace established yellow starthistle stands. The District will, as a long-term strategy, continue physical removal of small introduced colonies of yellow starthistle and introduce appropriate biological control agents to limit the spread of this starthistle species . .4?. WILDLIFE Carquinez Strait Regional Park is comprised of a variety of habitats that support numerous wildlife species. The diversity of habitat types range from wetlands as shoreline and waterways to grassland and woodland communities on the ridges. Scattered ponds and seasonal wet drainages also function to concentrate wildlife activity, especially during breeding and the drier summer months. Numerous species are attracted to the park due in part to its location along the Sacramento delta. This area serves as a functional corridor for dispersal and movements of waterbirds and other migratory species. In addition, many species utilize the habitat within the transition areas from the shoreline to bills. Through the protection and maintenance of these diverse habitats, the District will insure a healthy balanced ecosystem. Associated plant and animal populations will continue to benefit from this management. Special Status Species Although the various habitats of Carquinez Strait support a wide array of wildlife species, there have been very few special status species identified. Rare or unusual species are generally associated with specific habitat types or a particular feature. There are limited wetlands and other topographic features present at Carquinez Strait that would support rare species. There are no cliffs or rocky outcrops and no tidal wetlands that generally support populations of rare species (i.e., falcons, rails) else where. Also, the area is not within the breeding range of other locally listed species (i.e., Alameda whipsnakes, Masticophis laterallis euryxanthus). Only two species occurring here, the Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperi) and the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), are listed by the state as species of special concern. These two raptors occupy different habitats. The Cooper's hawk nests in thick oak/bay woodland and is commonly found nesting close to a water source. At Carquinez Strait it is nesting above a seasonal stream in the former McNear property. The burrowing owl, in contrast, prefers an open grassland in which it occupies holes of ground squirrels or uses culverts for roosting and nesting. It feeds on insects and rodents in the grasslands. Unique or Limited Habitats Riparian drainages in the White's Resort area feeding into the delta from the ridges typically supports red willow, arroyo willow, poison oak, live oak, bay, and other brush. These drainages could be effected by land use changes in the upper watershed which is in private ownership. The combination of these dense thickets, moist drainages and their proximity to the shoreline make them particularly attractive to songbirds and many small animals. These areas are used for nesting and as access points from the hills to the shoreline. This attribute is especially important during the drier months of the year. They also function to concentrate songbirds migrating along the delta. Policy: According to the Master Plan (1988) the District will conserve wildlife populations to foster native species and to protect or increase the populations of endangered species. Implementation: • Routine maintenance and common forms of recreation may subject wildlife to unnatural pressures and cause disruption of nesting, den rung or other sensitive activities. It is necessary to identify and imple ment protective measures to mini mize the chance of disturbance. These include: (1) prior to any tree or brush removal, staff will check areas for wildlife use, especially nesting birds. Tree maintenance will be performed in the non-breeding season, unless in response to an emergency. The Wildlife Specialist will be notified when a nest has been identified. No tree maintenance should be scheduled from April-July, (2) trail development and maintenance, especially new trail routes, should be identified and surveyed for potential impacts to wildlife species and habitat prior to development, (3) where feasible, springs and ponds will be enclosed to eliminate trampling of vegetation and reduction of water quality by grazing livestock, and (4) surveys of wildlife species will be done to maintain records of the status of existing species. When appropriate, further protective measures maybe implemented. (Operations/Stewardship) • Trail use will be maintained in existing areas and future trails will avoid bisecting riparian areas or stream corridors. Little disturbance to nesting Cooper's hawks and other species is anticipated. (Operations) • During culvert replacement maintenance staff will check for existing burrowing owls. This information will be forwarded to the District wildlife specialist. Where feasible, artificial owl burrows may be developed and placed in the park to safeguard the owl's use. (Operations/Stewardship) • Activities near or in the drainages at White's Resort should be minimized. No new trail development or culvert installation should be initiated that might disrupt the vegetation or the natural flow of water through the areas. (Operations/Steward ship) • Controlled bums within the park should be timed to avoid spring breeding seasons and should take place during periods of low winds and high humidity. (Opera tions/ Stewardship) 4.4. HYDROLOGY Except for a few constructed small stock water ponds and several low production springs, surface water features are non existent within parkland units. Even these features typically dryupduringlatesummerandespeciallyduringdroughtconditions. Onedevelopedwell exists at the Old Schrader residence (Franklin Hills Unit) that supplied water for the ranch needs, but its depth and production characteristics are unknown. Slopes and canyons throughout the area typically drain relatively rapidly after storm events. Drainage is either directly to Carquinez Strait or on the south facing side of ridgelines facing Franklin Canyon from a portion of headwaters of either Franklin Creek (Alhambra Creek watershed) or Pinole Creek. Both Alhambra Creek and Pinole Creek have been considered for riparian and fish habitat restoration projects by local govern ments, but the parklands are situated well upstream of any proposed restoration efforts to date. Water quality of the Schrader Well and one spring situated on the Spencer property used to supply water for cattle elicits good water quality based upon one sample effort in June 1992 (Table I). Water quantity rather than quality, is the major limiting factor for development of water sources to support park use other than to satisfy localized use for cattle and wildlife drinking water sources. Existing groundwater resources may be threatened by leakage of petroleum products into the ground from the former TOSCO refinery storage tank site adjacent to Port Costa Oay Products and from a much larger and currently active refueling and underground tank storage site adjacent to the Department of Defense OZOL Terminal near Martinez. Both sites have been subject to cleanup and abatement proceedings through the local Regional Water Quality Control Board. Policy: Preserve and develop the limited water supplies to support wildlife and cattle needs. Implementation: • Develop springs by horizontal drilling to improve flows and install water troughs where appropriate. (Stewardship) • Investigate production characteristics of the old Schrader property windmill well and if sufficient water is available, use the water to maintain a small existing nearby pond with water to support wildlife. (Operations/Stewardship) Policy: Protect groundwater resources from degradation. Implementation: • The District will monitor remediation activities of the OZOL terminal petroleum product contamination as required by the Regional Water Quality Control Board. (Land Acquisition/ Stewardship) • The District will inspect the old TOSCO tank site periodically for evidence of oil seeps to assure prior cleanup efforts at that site were successful. {Operations/ Stewardship) • The District will provide adequate sanitary waste disposal facilities for the recre ational facilities at White's Resort and to prevent potential groundwater contami nation at the Eckley Townsite. • The District will comply with the District IPM Policies and Guidelines to assure no threat of pesticide contamination of water supplies. (Operations/ Stewardship) • Provide a water storage tank at the Shrader windmill for drinking water at the Franklin Hills backpack camp. (Design) • Construction should take place from August through October to coincide with the dry season. (Design/Construction) • Avoid discharge of any construction materials and fluids into riparian drainages to prevent damage to riparian vegetation, water quality, and associated wildlife. A sediment erosion plan shall be prepared to eliminate migration of sediment laden runoff into riparian drainages. (Design) • Establish a 50' foot buffer zone extending from the top of each riparian drainage bank to either side of each waterway (totalling 100' feet), as is currently recommended by the California Department of Fish & Game to ensure an adequate upland buffer zone. (Design/ Operations) GEOLOGY The Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline is located in the Coast Range physiographic province that is generally characterized by northwest-trending ridges and intervening valleys (Norris and Webb, 1976). The topography of the Port Costa Unit is dominated by northwest-trendingrolling hills that reach elevations of about 300feet, and that are drained to Carquinez Strait by primary northwest-trending (e.g., Bull Valley) and northeast trending (e.g., Big Bull Valley) ephemeral streams. Local relief is on the order of 100 to 300 feet, between the shoreline and the hill tops. The slopes are generally moderately dipping (15-25 degrees) with the steepest (30-35 degrees) occurring along, and above the SP railroad tracks. The topography of the Franklin Hills Unit is characterized by higher and more rugged northwest-trending ridges than the Port Costa Unit. Franklin Ridge reaches elevations in excess of 740 feet, and is incised by numerous northeast-trending drainages that exit into Carquinez Strait. Local relief is typically on the order of 400-600 feet with slopes ranging from low-dipping to moderate, and steep. The low-dipping slopes occur primarily along the ridge tops and valley bottoms, and are generally from 5-10 degrees. Moderately dipping slopes are from 25-30 degrees and generally occur along the mid-slopes of the ridges. The steepest slopes occur along the north side of the unit above the SP tracks, and are on the order of 30-40 degrees. The hills and ridges of the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline are underlain predomi nantly by marine sedimentary rock of Cretaceous (approximately 66-144 million years old) andearlyTertiary(approximately58-66millionyearsold)age(Dibblee, 1980;Wagnerand Bortugno, 1982; EBRPD, 1992). Quaternary age (past 1.6 million years) thin surficial deposits (alluvium, colluvium and landslides) occur locally in valley bottoms and they mantle the side slopes. Cretaceous marine shale, mudstone, sandstone and conglomerate, primarily associated with the Panoche Formation, underlie the southern Franklin Hills Unit, and the Port Costa Unit. The early Tertiary (Paleocene) Martinez Formation, that consists of marine quartzose sandstone, with some interbeds of conglomerate and shale, underlies the northern part of the Franklin Hills Unit. Quaternary alluvium fills valley bottoms with unconsolidated silt, sand and gravel with thicknesses that are likely to be on the order of a few feet to less than a few tens of feet. Colluvium mantles mid and lower slopes with unconsolidated soil and bedrock debris that is generally less than about ten feet thick Landslides are present along many of the steeper slopes in both the Port Costa and Franklin Hills units. The regional orientation of the bedrock is generally northwest-striking, with both south westerly, and northeasterly dips. Bedrock dips can vary from low to steep, and are complicated where the rock has been cut by faults, such as the Southhampton fault that strikes northwest through the Franklin Hills Unit (EBRPD, 1992; Wagner and Bortugno, 1982; Dibblee, 1980). The Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline is located in a region of high seismicity in terms ofthe magnitude and frequency of recurrence of historic and pre-historic earthquakes. The earthquakes are associated with the interaction between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates. This interaction is accommodated by active displacement of major strike- slip faults within the San Andreas fault system (e.g., the San Andreas, Hayward, Calaveras, Concord-Green Valley, Rodgers Creek-Healdsburg, Greenville faults), and by folding and associated faulting in the Coast Ranges. The closest active (Holocene-age; past 11,000 years) faults to the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline are (Jennings, 1992; a:>MG, 1990; Wagner and Bortugno, 1982): • the Concord-Green Valley fault, located about 6.5 km (4 mi) east of the Franklin Hills Unit, • the Hayward fault, located about 16 km (10 mi) southwest of the Port Costa Unit, and • the West Napa fault, located about 16 km (10 mi) northwest of the Pori: Costa Unit. Based on earthquake hazard evaluations by the U.S. Geological Survey (1990), Golder Associates (1990) and Wesnousky (1986), these faults have the potential of generating earthquakes in the magnitude range ofMs6.5to 7.5. In addition, the U.S. Geological Survey (1990) indicates that, at least for the Hayward fault, there is a high probability (23-28 percent) that a magnitude 7 or greater earthquake could occur in the next 30 years. Soil Erosion Due to the steep, hillside nature of Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline the potential for erosion along trails and roads in the p.ark exists. Some erosion has occurred along the existing road through Bull Valley leadingto the Eckley shoreline and possible shrink-swell cracks are visible in the road itself. Near the site of the proposed pedestrian railroad crossing in the western part of the Eckley town site area minor sloughing and erosion are visible in the locally steep (45-50 degrees) slope of the south foundation material In the White's Resort Area the planned service road would likely involve minimal excavation and fill, with some grading and subgrade improvement. Some minor erosion and sloughing of the soil in the existing road cut slopes is visible. Most of the existing access road appears to be founded in colluvium that has developed from sandstone and shale bedrock. In the area of the proposed pedestrian railroad overcrossing the bedrock is composed of fine grained, silty sandstone and occurs in a slope that is about 50-60 feet high. The slope adjacent to the tracks is steep; about 70-80 degrees, and exhibits some minor erosion and sloughing. Intermittent creeks occur in both the Eckley and White's Resort areas. Sedimentation could be increased by erosion into these water courses, particularly in very wet winters. Policy: Limit soU•erosion along roads1· trails and water courses. 'Limit sediment from entering water courses. Implementation: • If areas occur where severe erosion or sedimentation is evident, these areas will be identified and mapped. (Stewardship) AO • Structures necessary to stabilize eroding creek banks will be constructed as necessary. (Design/ Operations) • Culverts (particularly along the proposed Eckley road) and other erosion control devices will be regularly checked and maintained by park staff. (Operations) • Planting of native vegetation will be undertaken in areas of bare soil that are subject to surface erosion. (Design/ Operations) • The District will incorporate erosion and dust control plans into construction plans for all projects that involve grading or other activities that expose soil. (Design) • The District will continue staff training in erosion control practices. This will include monitoring tenant grazing practices to ensure that overgrazing does not occur and cause erosion problems on steep hillsides. (Stewardship/Operations) • Restrict grading to the dry season between mid-April and mid-October. (Opertions) • Wet season construction will be conducted only in emergency situations. (Opera tions) Landslides Landslides have occurred and are common on the steeper slopes of the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline, particularly along the slopes above the SP railroad right-of-way that borders the northern boundary of the park Landslide activity on these slopes will continue regardless of whether the planned park development proceeds, and this activity has the potential of affecting the SP right-of-way and facilities located within the right-of-way. In addition, continued activity can affect facilities higher on the slopes. For example, renewed slump block or debris slide activity could result in land slide material burying or damaging the SP tracks, the dirt access road at the base of the slope, or the underground oil/gas pipeline(s) and telecommunicationscable(s) that run along the base of the slope. It is considered less likely that large volume slump block failure would affect the SP right-of-way because of the low velod- Road failure on Carquinez Scenic Drive 49 ities and short toe runoutlengthsinvolved, and more likelythatthesmallervolume, higher velocity and longer toe runout length debris stide activity would potentially impact the right-of-way. Additionally, renewed failure of the large slump block/ debris stide landslide between the "Brickworks and the Ozol Fuel Depot has the potential of not only affecting the SP right-of way, butitalsomaycompletelyeHminatethesmallremainingportions ofCarquinez Scenic Drive. Renewed activity of this landslide is likely, and such activity would likely result in failure of the bedrock material underlying the road. Complete failure of the remaining material in this landslide would constrain east-west access along Carquinez Scenic Drive. Typical remedial measures for this landslide such as toe buttressing, landslide mass excavation, and lowering of the slope angle, do not appear feasible because of the steep, long and high slope involved, and because theDistrict does not own or control the property above Carquinez Scenic Drive. Grading to widen the current remaining road will only exacerbate the potential for renewed landsliding. Because of the numerous landslides within the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline, and particularly on the slopes above the SP right-of-way, it may not be economically feasible to remediate or stabilize each individual one. The characterization and engineering costs associated with remedial investigations and design for each landslide (not to mention remedial construction costs) would, in aggregate, be high. It may be more reasonable to deal with the landslides in a slope maintenance manner; that is, dealing with the individual failures as they occur, and employing remedial measures only as appropriate. Policy: Minimize the risks of potential landslide related damages to private prop erty, park resources and park users. Implementation: • The District will minimize park uses and construction activities on existing land slides, or on steep, potentially unstable slopes. • The District will seek agreements with adjacent property owners (particularly above Carquinez Scenic Drive) to avoid development which could increase the likelihood of landslides onto park property. Policy: Maintain Carquinez Scenic Drive as a multi-use trail and service road linking the east and west portions of the park. Implementation: • Landslide debris shall be cleared as soon as possible from the lesser slide areas along Carquinez Scenic Drive. • During and after heavy rains, the major slide areas along Carquinez Scenic Drive will be closed until possible landslide damage can be assessed. • The District will perform a reconnaissance at major slide sites duringwintermonths and will undertake reasonable remedial action where possible. • In those areas that are currently not major slide areas (smaller slides along Carquinez Scenic Drive) remedial stabilization plans will be considered if slide potential appears to be increasing. These plans will be designed by a geotechnical consultant. ..... CULTURAL RESOURCES An archaeological literature review and field inspection of Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline was completed by Miley Holman Associates in January 1992. No evidence of prehistoric use of this area was discovered. An architectural evaluation of the buildings located on the Ecldeysite was prepared byDell Upton,· an architectural historian, in 1988. All structures on this site have been documented and photographed. Five historic phases have been identified at this site: ·1) the Eckley home stead (c. 1870-1889); 2) a grain warehouse (c.1880-1942); 3) a brickworks (c.1906-1914); 4) a fishing resort(c. 1921-1970); and 5) resid~ntial uses (c. 1970-park acquisition). Existing struc tures remain from the grain warehouse, brick works, and fishing resort phases. The grain warehouse, house and office, builtbythe Grang ers Business Association between 1880 and 1889 are historically significant and may be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. These buildings are all located along the water's edge, north of the railroad tracks. Although, theDistrict has fenced offthese struc~ tures at the shoreline to protect them, the office and house structure are still repeatedly vandal ized. The grain warehouse sits on pilings some distance from. the shoreline, its silhouette evok ing the presence of past industrial activity. Further evaluation is needed to determine whether stabilization of these buildings is fea sible. Funding will be sought for the preserva tion of these historic structures if feasible while minimizing potential hazards to the public. Eckley ruins Brick Office building&Grain Warehouse Other structures at Eckley that were evaluated include the small Port Costa Brick & Tile office building, the snack bar from the fishin,g resort and the remains of the ferry "Garden City''. None of these structures are deemed historically significant. The burnt wreckage of the ferry "Garden City'' is submerged off-shore from Eckley directly opposite a sandy beach cove. At low tide, the ferry structure is within walking distance of the shoreline thereby presenting a possible safety hazard. The snack bar and the brick office building have potential park uses. The brick office building will serve as the focal point for historic interpretive displays. The final parking and picnic design for the area will determine whether or not the snack bar building is saved. Policy: The District will protect significant historic resources. 52 Implementation: • Complete historic sites inventory for all identified historic resources. • Designate a Special Protection Unit for the grain warehouse, pier, office structure, residence, and brick office building. SPU 4 Figure 5. (Planning) • Determine feasibility of stabilizing historic structures with the help of a preservation architect. (Design) • Nominate the historic site to the National Register of Historic Places. (Consultant) • Retain Snack bar for park users if the final design of the parking and picnic areas so designate. (Design) • Remove the "Garden City" ferry ruins along the shoreline because it is a potential safety hazard. (Operations) • If cultural resources (Ue discovered during park development, all work within 100 feet will be suspended to make recommendations for the preservation management ofthe resources. If it is determined to be an important cultural resource, the project's schedule will be altered and its contingency funding shall be made available to assure either "in situ" preservation or salvage excavation will be accomplished. (Operations) • The design of the wayside exhibit shelter proposed for the brick building should follow Federal and State Historic Building Codes. Rehabilitation should preserve the exterior and interior architectural style and detail where feasible. (Design) VISUAL RESOURCES Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline is part of a ridge system that is a major visual landmark for thousands of travellers on interstate highways. The park also provides a significant and nearly continuous open space backdrop to much of the north bay region, particularly to the communities of Martinez, Crockett, Port Costa, Benicia, and Vallejo. The most noticeable and familiar aspects of the parkare the open rolling grasslands and coastal bluffs. Although the spaciousness and rounded peaks of the ridgelands are the dominant feature of the park, the narrow canyons that drop to the shoreline create a sense of enclosure and retreat for park visitors. Views to the south and east are unbroken towards Briones, Las Trampas, and Mt. Diablo. Long views west extend to San Francisco Bay and Mt. Tamalpais. Views to the north include Vallejo and Benicia. Policy: Minimize intrusions upon the park viewshed. The visual impacts of devel opment in or adjacent to the park will be ameliorated whenever possible. Implementation: • Trails and facilities will be located to take advantage of shoreline and panoramic views. New facilities will be designed to be unobtrusive to the open space quality of the park. (Design) • When feasible, utility poles and powerlines will be placed underground and unnecessary fencing, signs, structures, or debris will be removed from the park. (Operations) • The District will monitor any proposed land use changes for properties adjacent to Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline to protect visual, environmental, and recre ational resources. The District will support Federal, State, County, and City of Martinez and Crockett efforts to retain adjacent lands as open space. (Advanced Planning) E. DISTRICf SERVICE, PUBLIC SAFETY AND FIRE RESPONSE Park Service Facilities Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline is maintained by District field staff housed at the service yard located in Martinez, approximately one mile east of the Nejedly Staging Area. The existing level of maintenance is adequate for the current limited public use of the park. Once full recreational facilities are established at Eckley and in other park locations, additional field staff may be required to adequately maintain the park. H parkboundaries expand to include more open space acreages, a security residence and service yard may be located in the park to ensure protection of park facilities and park users. Public Safety Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline receives primary police services from the District's Public Safety Department, the primary law enforcing authority for the parks. City of Martinez police are capable of providing a three to five minute response time to most areas of the park Martinez police routinely patrol the Nejedly Staging Area. The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department provides services to the unincorporated towns of Crockett and Port Costa. The County Sheriff's Department patrols the Carquinez Shoreline Trail along Carquinez Scenic Drive. The Contra Costa Sheriff and the Coast Guard patrol the waters of the Strait, providing emergency rescue assistance. Roadways are the responsi bility of the California Highway Patrol. Formal mutual-aid agreements are in place to provide assistance during major incidents or disasters. Park open space is patrolled by the District's helicopter, dirt bikes, mountain bikes and an equestrian unit. Public safety concerns at Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline include: accidents along Carquinez Scenic Drive, railroad crossings, juvenile/ adult loitering west of Nejedly Staging Area and the hazards created by existing shoreline structures. The dilapidated structures located along the Eckley shoreline have been constantly vandalized and are an attractive nuisance. The overall impact of water focused transportation and recreation at Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline will require water rescue and enforcement activities in addition to the existing services available from those agencies listed. Fire Protection Fire protection services are provided by four agencies in the vicinity.of Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline.'TheDistrictmaintains·a'firefighfingtuutrespoil5iblefor fire protection on regional parkland through mutual assistance agreements with Consolidated Fire of Contra Costa County, the California Department of Forestry, and the Crockett Carquinez Fire Department. Consolidated Fire of Contra Costa County provides initial response (within three to five minutes) to medical and fire emergencies from Nejedly Staging Area to Port Costa. The Crockett Carquinez Fire Department responds to emergencies occuring in the western portions of the park. The open space parkland falls within the state's area of responsibility for the California Department of Forestry. The parkland has a history of fires dating back to the warehouse fires of the tum of the century. The existing vegetation cover of grasses, coastal scrub, and trees presents wildfire potential in the area, particularly during the dry summer. Wildfires, fueled by dry grasses and spurred by winds from Carquinez Straits, can spread through park ridgelands. Policy: The District will provide for the safety and protection of park users, natural resources, park facilities, and staff. Service Facility Implementation: • Consider locating a service yard across from the Nejedly Staging Area if the maintenance of future park acquisitions over burden existing field staff resources located outside of the park in Martinez. (Operations) • Expansion of park boundaries from the Franklin Hills south to Highway 4 may require the development of a security residence to protect park facilities and open space. (Operations) • Develop a security residence at the Nejedly Staging Area to discourage loitering at this road closure point and to provide emergency aid to campers at the Franklin Hills backpack camp. Public Safety Implementation: • Remove ferry ruins submerged in mudflats offshore from Eckley. (Operations) • Remove deteriorated structures at Eckley shoreline. (Operations) • Fence shoreline areas along railroad tracks at Eckley, White's Resort, Crockett Grove, and Nejedly picnic area to prevent people from walking across tracks except at designated pedestrian crossings. (Operations) Garden City Ferry Ruins 56 • Post San Francisco Bay Trail signs along Carquinez Scenic Drive to discourage motorists from speeding. (Operations) • Install lighting and security residence at Nejedly Staging Area to discourage late night loitering. (Design) • Provide standard two-way gating with tire spikes at new parking area to ensure compliance with park curfews. (Design) • Provide emergency phones near camping areas to call for assistance. (Operations) Fire Protection Implementation: • Maintain existing fire roads for emergency fire service. (Operations) • Maintain Franklin Hills well and windmill for firefighting. Develop additional water resources at Nejedley and Eckley to supply fire flows at these facilities. • Limit barbecue use only in Recreation Units near developed water supplies. (Operations) • Comply withDistrictsmoldng, campfire, barbecue, and park closure regulations set forth in Ordinance 38, and with the Fire Park Closure Program. (Operations) • Improve communication between responsible public safety agencies to develop cooperative fire prevention, emergency response, and firefighting techniques. (Operations /Public Safety) • Continue the grazing program to reduce fuel levels in grasslands. (Stewardship) • Manage eucalyptus groves to maintain a thinned stand. (Operations) • Capital improvements would be reviewed by the Public Safety Department to ensure adequate fire and emergency prevention features to reduce potential fire and emergency impacts to levels below significance. (Public Safety) IV. PLAN PRIORITIES The Land Use-Development Plan contains a number of specific capital projects to be accomplished within the 20 year life of the Plan. The priorities of these projects are based on: the need to upgrade and relocate existing facilities for safety and efficient operation urgency due to potential hazards and compliance with regulatory agency require ments critical paths, where certain proje~ must precede others Capital funding resources are limited. Where cost factors or special funding opportunities change; or where volunteer labor or other incentives become available; District priorities may also change. Decisions regarding funding for these projects are made as part of the annual District budget process. Approval ofthe Plan does not constitute a commitment of funds for project implementation within any given year within the 20 year life of the Plan. Other actions specified in the Plan will be reviewed by District staff at a plan implemen tation meeting following adoption of the Land Use-Development Plan by the Board of Directors. 58 OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT CAPITAL PROJECTS PRIORITIES PRIORITIES PUBLIC ACCESS AND SAFETY PUBLIC ACCESS AND SAFETY Primary Primary - Upgrade access road to Eckley - Install pedestrian gates at Crockett Hills - Develop parking areas at Eckley Unit and Alhambra High School - Construct Eckley railroad crossing and - Sign new trails: Leatherwood Loop, fencing Crockett Hills Trail, Port Costa Trail, and - Remove ferry wreck and shoreline Carquinez Shoreline Trail buildings - Maintain trail access along Carquinez - Develop PCCS parking area Scenic Drive - Monitor fuel levels throughout park for fire Secondary safety - Contract Ferry service Secondary - Fence shoreline at White's Resort and Nejedly - Develop trail improvements in Crockett - Construct railroad crossings at White's and Hills Nejedly - Improve and sign trail link to Rankin Park JrnCREATION RECREATION Primary Primary - Develop picnic and informal play areas at - Install picnic tables at PCCS Unit Eckley - Develop interpretive programs and exhibit~ - Reconstruct Eckley pier for Eckley - Develop Eckley group camp - Install picnic tables in Crockett Grove Secondary Secondary - Develop Nejedly picnic area - Provide utilities to Eckley and Nejedly - Develop Shepard Canyon group camp - Develop interpretive self-guided walk/ - Construct railroad crossing at White's displays for Bull Valley and PCCS Resort - Develop Naturalist programs - Install picnic areas and fish pier at White's Resort 59 APPENDIX A REFERENCES Bellchamber, Pam, City of Vallejo Transit Program, (personal communication), 1993, Vallejo, California California Department ofFish and Game,1989. ·"'NaturalDiversit:fData Base", Non-game Heritage Division, Sacramento, California, Antioch quad (John C. Palmer). California Department of Parks and Recreation, 1985. "'Cultural Resources Inventory of Diablo State Park", MS on file at DPR headquarters, Sacramento, California. "'California Outdoor Recreation Plan- 1988. An Element of the California Outdoor Recre ation Planning Program". State of California,The Resources Agency, Dept. of Parks and Rec• reation. 1988. Curry, Bill, Department of Boating and Waterways, (personal communication), 1993, Sacra mento, California. East Bay Regional Park District, 1992. "'Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline Resource Analysis". East Bay Regional Park District, 1989. "'Master Plan". "Environmental Impact Report Carquinez Shoreline Trail and Staging Area", 1988. EIR Associates Holland, Robert F., 1986. "'Preliminary Descriptions of the Terrestrial Natural Communi ties of California". California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California. Holman, Miley Paul., 1992. "'An Archaeological Literature Review and Field Inspection of the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline". Lake, Diane, 1992, "Unusual and Significant Plants of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties Occuring in the East Bay Regional Park District", California Native Plant Society, East Bay Chapter. Leonard, Carole, Coyote Point Marina, (personal communication), 1993, Martinez, California McNaughton, S.J., 1968. "'Structure and Function in California Grasslands", Ecology 49:962-972. Mesic, Jean, City of Martinez Planner (personal communication), 1993, Martinez, California "'The Northern and Southern California Boater's Guide to Harbors and Marinas," Bald Eagle Enterprises, San Francisco, California, 1993 Al 1 ' Projections '92- Forecasts for the San Francisco Bay Area to the Year 2010". Association o f Bay Area Governments. July 1992. Sindinsky, John, Central Contra Costa Transit Authority, (personal communication), 1993, Martinez, California Smith, J.P., and K. Berg, 1988, #Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of C a I i fomia", California Native Plant Society Special Publication No.1, p. 168. Upton, Dell., 1988. "Evaluation of the Eckley Townsite, Carquinez Strait, Contra Costa County". Weisling, Barry, City of Martinez, Harbormaster, (personal communication), 1993, Martinez, California APPENDIX B DISTRICT MASTERPLAN POLICIES Purpose of the East Bay Regional Park District TheEastBayRegionalParkDistrict(EBRPD)willacquire,preserve,protect,developandoperateregional parklandsinAlamedaandContraCostacountiesinperpetuityforpublicuse. Itwillconservetheselands to maketheoutdoorenvironmentavailable for the enjoyment and education ofthepublic. (The California Public Resources Code, Article 3, 5500 series describes the purpose and powers ofthe EBRPD.) The Board ofDirectorshas established the following goals as being necessary to accomplish the EBRPD' s purpose. These objectives are intended to provide the public, the Board ofDirectors, the EBRPD staff, other governmental agencies and the private sector with a clear statement that will guide the EBRPD in implementing this Master Plan. The District will: a. Provideadiversifiedland-and-watersystem ofregional parks, preserves, shorelines, wildernesses, open space, recreational areas, land banks, trails and parkland-related services, which will offer EBRPD residents opportunities for creative use ofoutdoor leisure time. b. Acquire and preserve significant systems ofthe natural environment including biologic, geologic, scenic, prehistoric and historic resources that exist within the EBRPD boundaries. c. Cooperatewithotherpublicagenciesinacquiring,preservingandmanagingnon-parkopenspace lands and ecosystems and in fostering sound land stewardship practices. d. Balance environmental concerns andregionalrecreationopportunities within regional parklands. e. Provide appropriate recreational development so that it both fosters use, and preserves the remoteness and natural values ofthese lands. t: Preserve andmanagethe parklands so that they retain their important scenic, natural and cultural values. g. Enhance access and use of the parks by members of special populations, such as disabled, disadvantaged and elderly visitors. h. Interprettheparklands, by focusing both on the visitor's relationship to nature, and theparklands' values, natural processes, ecology and history. L TheDistrictwillbea"goodneighbor''toadjacentownersbymanagingitsresources,andplanning, developing and operating its parks ina manner that does not conflict with adjacent management practices orthatreducesimpacts to the greatest extent possible. B-1 Resource Policies The natural resources ofthe District, the lands, waters, vegetation, wildlife, and historical and cultural resources, are the fundamental features from which all parkplanninganddevelopment begin The following policies are designed to reflect the importance of these resources and to provide guidelines for their protection, enhancement, utilization and management. V egetationManagement-The Districtwillmaintainandenhancevegetationforitsownintrinsic value, as important wildlife habitat, and will use state-of-the-art practices to provide optimum conditions for publicrecreationandenjoymentinappropriateareas. TothatendtheDistrictwilldevelopandmaintain a tree hazard program. Agriculturally designated weedy plant species that degrade theland and recreational use values will be managed when and where appropriate. Habitat Restoration-The District may designate appropriate areas for restoring or reclaiming lost or altered natural biotic communities, such as wetlands, grasslands or riparian woodlandsfortheirintrinsic wildlife and educational values. Wildlife Policy-The District will conserve wildlife populations to foster native species, and to protect or increase the populations of endangered species. Following the principles of integrated pest management, the District will controlhealthandsafety conflicts between humans and wildlife. Endangered Species-The District will protect and maintain plants and animals, and their habitats that are officially listed under state or federal Endangered Species acts and those species that a competent authority has proposed for such listing such as threatened species and species ofspecial concern. Fisheries Management-The District will operate a variety of:freshwater and saltwater fisheries, and will allow fishing in accordance with both state regulations and District ordinances. Water Management-TheDistrictwillmaintain the necessary quality ofwater in streams and lakes toprovideplantcommunities,suitablewildlifehabitatandrecreationvalues. Soil Management-The District will constructandmaintainits roads, trails and other improvements toavoiderosionandsoilfailure. TheDistrictwillincludeanerosion-controlplanaspartofallcapital improvementprojectsthatinvolve substantial soil disruption. Trails, roadsandotherparkimprovements willbedesignedtoavoidorminimizeimpactsonsensitivewildlifehabitatsandrareplantpopulations. HistoricandCulturalResources-TheDistrictwillprotectandmaintainhistoricbuildingsorcultural resource sites within its lands. TheDistrictmayacquirehistoric buildings or cultural resource sites when they lie within a larger area that meets the parkland classification criteria. The District will preserve culturalresources"insitu"wheneverfeasible. Afterconsultingwithrecognizedauthoritiesandgroups, the Board will adopt a reinterment plan for the remains ofNative Americans and their associated artifacts. B-2 Energy Resources - The District will conserve nonrenewable energy resources to the greatest practical extent. It will periodically study alternative systems and strategies to reduce energy consumption. The District will not develop or permit any development ofenergy resources on its lands that is not compatible with park purposes. Hazardous Materials-The District will protect the environment and the health and safety ofits staff and park users from hazardous materials. The District will require all contractors and concessionaires who use hazardous materials to certify that they operate in accordance with the regulations ofthe state and federal offices for the Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration (CALOSHA/OSHA) and to provide copies ofall relevant CALOSHA/OSHA inspection reports. Encroachment on Parklands-The District will seek to eliminate orminimize any adverse effects on parkland or proposed land use on adjacent property. The District will plan an active educational role in workingwithadjacentproperty owners and public agencies regarding the means and necessities for protecting wildland resources. Regional Park Purpose A Regional Park provides a spacious land area with outstanding natural features and many outdoor recreation opportunities for the enjoyment and education ofthe public. Minimum Standards To beconsideredasaRegionalPark,anareamusthavethefollowingcharacteristics: a. Be an area ofland, or land and water, of 500 or more acres. b. Have, or potentially have, a scenic or natural character in 70% to 90% of its area. The District designatesthisportionasaNaturalUnitforplanningandmanagementpurposes. c. Be able to accommodate a variety ofrecreational activities on up to 30% ofits area. The District designates this portion as a Recreation Unit for planning and management purposes. Planning and Management Guidelines: Natural Unit a. The Natural Unit will contain the significant natural features ofthe parkland ina cohesive area to be preserved and enhanced. b. OnlyactivitiesthatarecompatiblewiththeenvironmentalvaluesoftheNaturalUnitwillbeallowed, whilepreserving--orrestoringwherenecessary--scenic, near-naturallandscape conditions. B-3 c. DevelopmentwillbelimitedtomakingtheNaturalUnitavailableforpublicenjoymentinamanner consistent with the preservation ofnatural resources. Development may include basic, but not elaborate,improvementsthatarenecessaryforhiking,naturestudy,horsebackriding,camping,and related outdoor activities. d. A Natural UnitmaycontainaRegionalPreserve Unit. e. A Natural Unit may contain peripheralaccessstagingfacilities for internal trails. Planning and Management Guidelines: Recreation Unit a. ARecreationUnitwillcontainallrecreationaldevelopmentandstagingfacilitiesincludingcamp grounds, picnic areas, snack bars and concessions, outdoor education and interpretive facilities, equestrian facilities, bathhouses, turfed meadows, archery fields, and other regional outdoor recreational facilities. The Recreation Unit will belocatedattheedgeoftheNatural Unit whenever possible. b. The design, landscape, andmanagementofall facilities will harmonize with the surrounding natural landscape. B-4 APPENDIX C PLANNING PROCESS Purpose and Role of the East Bay Regional Park District The East Bay RegionalParkDistrict("EBRPD" or"District''), is a State authorized SpecialDistrictofContra Costa and Alameda Counties. The District contains 49 parklands occupying 60,000 acres ofland and 13 regional trails. The District derives its powers from State Public Resources Codes, Section 5500-5 595. The District is governed by an elected Board ofDirectors,responsibleforproviding direction to fulfill the District'sroleinthecommunityandforestablishingpoliciesandobjectives,asnecessary, to accomplish the District's purposes. The District's policies and objectives asdescribedin the EBRPD Master Plan are: (1) to provide a diversified land and water system ofregional parks; (2) to acquire, preserve and interpret significant examples ofthe natural and cultural environment; (3) to cooperate with otherpublic agencies in developing non-park, open space lands; (4) to balance environmental concerns with regional recreation opportunities; and ( 5) to developadispersedparklandssystemclosetothepeople. (SeeAppendixEforentirequoteofMasterPlan "Policies and Objectives.") Regional Shoreline Planning Guidelines The Land Use-DevelopmentPlan directs the future use and development ofa shoreline based on policies established in the District's 1989 Master Plan. The Master Plan has designated Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline as a "Regional Shoreline." The Regional Shoreline purpose and standards state: Purpose A Regional Shoreline preserves for public use significant recreational, educational, natural, or scenic values on land, water, and tidal areas, along the bay, a river, or an estuary. Minimum Standards To be considered as a Regional Shoreline, an area must have one ofthe following characteristics: Be a shoreline area (or a group of smaller areas that are connected by trail or water access) that possesses a variety of natural environments and manageable units of tidal, near-shore areas, wetlands, and uplands that can be used for scientific, educational or environmental purposes. C-1 Planning and Management Guidelines A Regional Shoreline will conserve the significantresourcevaluesoftheAlamedaand Contra Costa shorelines and ofshoreline-related recreation. Maximum public access to the Regional Shoreline will be provided through a variety ofcompatible shoreline recreational opportunities, while the District preserves or, when necessary, restores near natural shoreline environments. Trails, roads, and other park improvements will be designed to avoid or minimize impacts on sensitive wildlife habitats and rare plant populations. The District may develop areas within a Regional Shoreline that are designated as Recreation Units for active recreational pursuits. These may include beaches, picnic areas, shoreline meadow or turfed areas, shoreline and pier :fishing areas, small marinas, boatlandings and launch ramps, visitor centers, outdoor educational orinterpretive facilities, viewpoints, and necessary concessions. The shoreline area immediately adj acentto the water will be available for public enjoyment and education. The natural areas are designated as Natural Units. The District will confine, where possible, all staging facilities (exceptforthosethatmust be on the shoreline oroverthe water surface) to uplands that are a minimum ofl 00 feet from the actual shoreline. Facilities such as parking that do not depend on water will be in areas that are outside the general view ofthe public. Regional Shorelines will be accessible bypublictransitwheneverfeasible, by public ferry or private boat; or by a transportation system that connects to an inland site. Adopted Park Planning Reports The Resource Analysis for Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline was accepted by the Board inNovember, 1992. Two Land Evaluations were prepared to open Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline for interim public access. The Land Evaluations address issues ofresource protection, public safety, and public access for park acquisitions prior to the comprehensive LUDPprocess. ALandEvaluation was completed for the Bull Valley Staging Area in 1988 and another was prepared for the Nejedly Staging Area in 1990. An Environmental Impact Report was also adopted in 1988 for the Carquinez Shoreline Trail and Nejedly Staging Area. Revisions to the Plan This Plan is intended to serve as Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline's Master Plan for the next20 years. The Land U se-DevelopmentPlanand theEIRcan be amended as needed. However, major amendments, that would include substantial changes altering the basic land use designations, roads or resource protection measures created by the Plan, require appropriate California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documentation and Board approval. Suggestions concerning amendments to the Plan should be made to the Planning/Stewardship Department. Development or use proposals submitted by outside individuals or groups will follow the District's application permit procedure. C-2 Plan Administration and Implementation This Plan will be implemented under the direction ofthe East Bay Regional Park District General Manager's office upon adoption by the Board ofDirectors. Ifthere are ownership changes or use penni ts required, these will be executed by the Acquisition Department to implement details ofthe Land Use-Development Plan. Capital Improvement Plans and contract documents shall be created and administered by the Design Department Maintenance ofthe existing and proposed facilities shall be by the appropriate parkland crews, under the supervision ofthe Park Supervisor and Unit Managers. The Park Supervisor is responsible for seeing that maintenance is consistent with the adopted Plan. Any questionsregardingthisconsistencywill be discussed with the Plan Be a shoreline area ofland and water that can provide a variety ofregional recreational activities, such as swimming, fishing, boating, or viewing. C-3 APPENDIX D REPORT PREPARATION This Land Use-DevelopmentPlan was prepared by JocelynReal, Park Planner, with assistance from the Planning/ Stewardship Department. The Planning staffunder the direction ofThomas H. Mikkelsen, Assistant General Manager, Planning/Stewardship, Construction and Design; and Maxine Temer, ChiefPlanning/Stewardship; included work by Brad Gallup, GIS Analyst; Josephine Orozco, Planning Technician; and LindaF aria, Secretary. The Stewardship team, underthe direction ofKenBurger, Stewardship Manager, included work by Ray Budzinski, Range Management Specialist and Joe DiDonato, Wildlife Specialist. The Environmental Impact Report is prepared by Jill Singleton and in association with Environmental Science Associates, Inc., with Darcy Rosenblatt as Project Manager. The ideas, information, and support ofother departments within the District, particularly the Operations Department and Public Safety, and Jerry Kent, Assistant General Manager, Operations & Interpretation; Steve Jones, Chief, Park Operations; Ray Dawson, Shoreline Unit Manager; and Bill Nichols, Park Supervisor are gratefully acknowledged. The ideas and information suggested by other agencies, groups, and individuals contributed greatly inthedevelopmentofthisplan. D-1 APPENDIX£ GRAZING UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN Introduction The grasslands, woodlands, and shrublands that comprise Carquine~ Shoreline Regional Parkand the surrounding area are a small-scale reminder of what was once the larger Bay Area landscape. Although many elements of the flora and fauna have changed, numerous native plants and animals remain. Management in the context of the changes that have occurred is necessary to maintain remnant natural areas as viable, functioning ecosystems. The purpose of this plan is to describe the role of grazing in managing the vegetation resources within the various units of Carquinez Shoreline Regional Park. Vesetation Management Some level of vegetation management is often required to meet fire safety objectives and maintain the ecological integrity of open space natural areas. There are several methods commonlyusedformanagingvegetation, which may involve habitat preservation through no action, or include such management techniques as grazing, prescribed burning, mechanical treatment, chemical methods and/ or biological control. Each method has advantages and disadvantages that determine its suitability for particular situations. General Vegetation Management Policies Overall vegetation management policies for the regional parks are outlined in the Master Plan and the Wildland Management Policies and Guidelines manual. Additional manage ment prescriptions are included in the Natural Resource Management Plan section of the Land Use Development Plan for the park. Woodlands In general, woodlands are managed under a conservation-oriented approach that allows and encourages natural, ecological processes to take place. Prescribed fire and/ or mechanical methods may be used in limited situations to reduce fire hazard conditions, influence understory plant composition, or to sustain production and recruitment of tree species. Shrublands Management of shrublands centers around their maintenance as naturally-functioning ecosystems. If necessary, management can include the use of prescribed burning, mechanical methods, grazing, and/ or chemical treatments. Action may be taken when excessive shrub growth increases fire hazard conditions, diminishes existing plant or wildlife habitat, or interferes with public recreation and enjoyment. The need for such management is assessed on a case-by-case basis. E-1 Riparian and Wetland Management of riparian and other wetland areas involves the protection of these valuable resources, particularly in areas where grazing occurs. Where natural water sources have been developed for grazing use, water storage facilities are located on dry ground away from wetland areas, which are protected by fencing. The enclosed areas include a buffer zone that incorporates the entire wetland plant community and associated ecotone. Grasslands Grassland and oaksavanna understoriescansustainadiversity ofnative herbaceous plants by reducing the accumulation of plant residue from the non-native grasses and forbs. In the absence of a mechanism to control vegetation growth, most productive non-native grassland and some woodland understory sites accumulate large amounts of dead plant material, which acts as a mulch to diminish native herbaceous plant diversity and increase the risk of wildfire. Some sites may be subject to encroachment by weed and brush species, such as mustard, fennel, poison oak, coyote brush, and broom. Consequently, many of these areas are actively managed using grazing, mowing, prescribed burning, chemical, and biological control methods, alone or in combination, to achieve vegetation, wildlife, and integrated pest management objectives. Grazing as A Vegetation Management Alternative Livestock grazing offers a practical, readily available, diverse, and easily regulated resource management tool to accomplish various vegetation management objectives. It is often used in combination with other vegetation management alternatives, where appro priate. Grasslands and oak savanna understories on the park are grazed to regulate the growth of non-native annual grasses, which helps maintain native plant diversity and reduces fire hazards. The grazing program is conducted according to rangeland manage ment principles and standards. Stocking levels are determined using a scientific method of analyzing forage production. Residual dry matter standards are used to determine the amount of vegetation that should remain on the ground at the end of the grazing season. A resource value rating for vegetation is applied to measure the relative presence and composition of native herbaceous plant species as a function of range condition on different sites. Monitoring is carried out to verify compliance to established standards for livestock grazing, and to insure conformity to lease provisions. General Grazing Managem~nt Prescriptions The following provides overall direction for how grazing management will be conducted on the park. Additional guidelines are contained in the grazing section of the Wildland Management Policies and Guidelines manual. E-2 • Evaluate the relative presence, abundance, dominance, and composition of native herbaceous plant species to assess range conditions on various sites throughout the park. Establish permanent vegetation transects and photo points in the various units for monitoring purposes, and measure periodically to assess changes in plant composition. • Conductanongoingassessmentofthe effectenvironmentalinfluences and manage ment practices (e.g. grazing, burning, mowing, recreational use, weather, and other disturbances) are having on rare plant species in the park. • Implement residual dry'matter standards to ensure that enough plant material remains on the ground after grazing to protect the soil against erosion, to encourage nutrient recycling, and t0 provide a suitable.microclimatefor subsequent regrowth and adequate habitat for ground-dwelling animals. Prohibit supplemental feeding that is intended to prolong grazing use in areas where established forage utilization levels have been reached or exceeded. • Develop Geographic Information System (GIS) models to classify various vegeta tion types, refine the range analysis process used for establishing carrying capacity of the units, and to identify areas that may provide potential supporting habitat for rare plants and animals. • Change the grazing regime when and where necessary to eribance vegetative conditions by improving livestock distribution through the use of fencing, herding, water development, supplemental feed placement, or by reducing stocking levels and/ or introducing alternate grazing systems, such as seasonal or rotational grazing. • Maintain, reconstruct, or replace all range improvements in need of attention in conformance to grazing license provisions and District policy. Construct new and modify existing range improvements to conform to District standards. • Introduce grazing in currently ungrazed areas when and where appropriate, and exclude grazing from areas otherwise suitable for grazing when exclusion is needed to protect other resource values. • Continue efforts to control purple starthistle, Centaurea calcitrapa, using integrated pest management procedures and practices. Unit Descriptions and Site-Specific Management Recommendations The park is separated into four, separate, grazing lease areas: 1) the entire Crockett Hills Unit; 2) all land within the Port Costa Unit east of Eckley; 3) a 567 acre area consisting of most of the former McNear and all of the Shrader properties south of Carquinez Scenic Drive in the Franklin Hills Unit; and 4) the 100 acre former Zuppan property in the Franklin Hills Unit, managed in conjunction with City of Martinez and park land to the east and south. Areas of the park where the dense vegetation does not lend itself to management by grazing include the old town site of Eckley, and all EBRPD-owned land situated between Carquinez Scenic Drive and the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks from White's Resort east to Alhambra Cemetery. Management strategies are tailored to address the fire safety and conservation needs of the resources on each lease area. Crockett Hills Unit The 240 acre Crockett Hills Unit includes 150 acres of Non-Native Grassland, 52 acres of California Bay I Coast Live Oak Woodland, and 38 acres of Northern Coyote Brush Scrub. These plant communities extend into surrounding, undeveloped, private rangeland. A residential neighborhood is situated on the unit's northwestern boundary. Vegetation on park land is managed to reduce fire hazards, maintain and enhance native plant diversity, and minimize the encroachment of coyote brush and poison oak into the open grasslands~ Grazing Management The Crockett Hills Unit is used as part of a grazing operation that includes smaller acreages of adjacent private land to the north, east, and west. The south, east, west, and portions of the north boundaries of the park unit are fenced. Livestock range freely between the public and private land to the north and west, utilizing the forage and I or water on both. Private land to the east is isolated from the unit by boundary fencing and is used separately. The current lessee has conducted ranching operations in the Crockett and Port Costa area for over 50 years, and leases additional private and public grazing land elsewhere. The lessee maintains a cow-calf operation, in which a base herd of mother cows are retained throughout their reproductive life. The calves are either sold or kept as replacement animals. Grazing use is seasonal and is allowed on the unit during the late fall, winter, and spring. Livestock are removed from parkland to another location for the summer and early fall. The livestock carrying capacity of the land is determined by estimating how much vegetation will be available for consumption in any given year, and then allocating an appropriate number of animals for an 8 month period. Livestock distribution is governed by the availability of water. Two developed springs are located in a small valley in the central part of the unit. A developed spring on leased private land to the northwest is accessible to livestock that collectively graze the two properties. Forage utilization is lighter in the southern portion of the unit, because livestockmust travel some distance uphill from available water to reach this area. Supplemental feeds are used to attract livestock here to encourage their use of the natural forage. Rare Plants Several populations of western Ieatherwood, Dirca occidentalis, occur in a California Bay I Coast Live Oak/ Northern Coyote Brush Scrub association in the northern part of the unit. E-4 The Diablo helianthella, Helianthella castanea, inhabits a grassland/ woodland transition zone of coyote brush and poison oak found along some of the ridges. Known populations of this plant exist on park land and on adjacent private land to the east. Additional inventory work is needed to determine the extent of these plants' occurrence on the property. The populations of western Ieatherwood and Diablo helianthella, while susceptible to potential trampling, do not appear to be affected by the presence of grazing animals on the unit. The western Ieatherwood is represented by several age classes of plants. The Diablo helianthella populations appear vigorous. Regular monitoring, however, will be carried out to evaluate the effect of current management activities on the plants, and to take corrective action, if necessary. Wildlife The mosaic of different plant communities on the Crockett Hills Unit provides a variety of wildlife habitats. Grazing occurs primarily in the grassland areas, and incidentally in the steeper, adjacent shrubland and woodland types that support an herbaceous understory. Current grazing practices result in a patchwork of moderate to lightly grazed vegetation. The moderately grazed areas encourage a greater diversity of forbs, which benefits wildlife species that require these plants as a food source. The lightly grazed to ungrazed areas supply food and cover for rodents and ground-nesting birds, which require heavier vegetative growth. No known wildlife species of special concern occupy the unit. Management Recommendations • Regulate grazing in the grasslands to reduce fire hazard conditions without compromising vegetation and wildlife resources. • Expand protective area around the developed spring sources. • Improve livestock distribution by attracting grazing animals to the lightly grazed southern portion of the unit using supplemental feeds. • Preserve and enhance populations of rare plants according to management pre scriptions outlined in the Land Use Development Plan for the park • Explore alternative strategies for managing park land in association with adjacent private land. Port Costa Grazing Unit The Port Costa Grazing Unit incorporates the majority of the former Maguire, Bema, and Tosco properties, as well as EBRPD-managed Port Costa Conservation Society land. Grazing is used as a resource management tool on approximately 225 acres of the 265 acre E-5 unit. The remaining acreage is ungrazed and includes an area around the old town site of Eckley and the steep, heavilyvegetated slopes above the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks that extend along the unit's northern edge. Fire hazard reduction and native plant conservation are the primary management objectives for the unit. The majority of the unit is made up of Non-Native Grassland, with Northern Coyote Brush Scrub and Poison Oak. Scrub occurring as scattered patches and isolated plants. The former Bema property contains about 20 acres of Eucalyptus Forest, which, in 1989, was thinned to create an open stand of young trees with an herbaceous understory of grasses and forbs. Native perennial grasses are well-represented in the grassland community on EBRPD managed Port Costa Conservation Society land and the former Tosco property. In some areas of the unit purple needlegrass, Nasella pulchra, is one of the dominant grasses. Colonies of the rhizomatous creeping wildrye, Leymus triticoides, are fairly common. Other native grasses are variously represented. Grazing Management The Port Costa Unit is divided into two separate fields. The land west of Port Costa (former Bema and Maguire properties) is grazed intermittently throughout the year, with most of the use occurring in the late winter and spring months, after which time livestock are removed or their numbers reduced. Natural sources of water are limited in this field, and drinking water for permitted livestockis obtained from a Contra Costa Water District water main. Management of the area east of Port Costa (former Tosco property and Port Costa Conservation Society land) is oriented toward maintaining and enhancing native perennial grasses. Grazing is allowed from December through March to reduce annual grass production and to stimulate tiller growth on the perennial grasses. The land is then rested during the critical growth stages of the native grasses to allow the plants to mature and disperse seed. Grazing is allowed to resume in mid- to late-summer through early fall, and is followed by another two month rest period. The availability of natural water is limited to a single, weak, developed spring. Additional livestock drinking water is obtained from private sources (St. Patrick's Church and The Warehouse) along the western boundary of Port Costa. A remnant oil-storage related catchment basin straddling the boundary of the Port Costa Conservation Society and Tosco properties functions as a seasonal pond. Rare Plants Diablo helianthella is known to occurin one location on what appears to be Southern Pacific Railroad land in close proximity to the park boundary. Similar supporting habitat occurs throughout the Northern Coyote Brush Scrub community and along its ecotone with the Non-Native Grassland on both Southern Pacific and EBRPD land. A comprehensive inventory is needed to determine the extent of the Diablo helianthella and other rare plants on the unit. E-6 Wildlife - Resource management practices are geared toward enhancing habitat conditions favorable to the greatest number of resident, native wildlife. Research suggests that a moderately grazed Non-Native Grassland community provides potential habitat for a number of different animal species. The California Wildlife Habitat Relationships (WHR) database indicates that moderate grazing has either a positive or negligible effect on a majority of the birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles using the Non-Native Grassland habitat. The largest percentage of animals (15%) upon which grazing has a detrimental effect are birds. By contrast, only one per cent of mammals, amphibians, and reptlles are adversely affected by the moderate removal of plant material through management. No· known wildlife species of special concern occur on the unit. Management Recommendations • Regulate grazing in the grasslands to reduce fire hazard conditions without compromising vegetation and wildlife resources. • Tailor grazing management practices around the maintenance and enhancement of existing native perennial grasses. • Preserve and enhance populations of rare plants according to management pre scriptions outlined in the Land Use Development Plan for the park. • Replace boundary fencing between park and Southern Pacific Railroad land and along the border of park land and the town of Port Costa on the former Bema property. • Deepen the pond located on the border of the former Tosco property and Port Costa Conservation Society land to increase water storage capacity. Franklin Hills Unit This 667 acre unit forms the largest contiguous area of parkland within Carquinez Regional Shoreline. The landscape is a diverse mosaic of Non-Native Grassland, various Oak and Oak/Bay Woodland communities, Northern Coyote Brush and Poison Oak Scrub, Euca lyptus Forest, Chamise Chaparral and California Sagebrush Chaparral. The oak wood lands occurring on theunit' s northern flanl< support a diverse complement of understory vegetation. Native· grasses and wilaflowers areucommon and SeVeral unusual and significant plant species are occasionally encountered here. Valley oaks, Quercus lobata, occur in various locations on the unit. A vegetation management program that uses grazing to reduce fire hazards, maintain and enhance native plant diversity, and minimize the encroachment of coyote brush and poison oak into the grasslands is being conducted on all land within the Franklin Hills Unit south E...,.7 of Carquinez Scenic Drive. Most of the grazing use is concentrated on the gxassy,.... areas and ridges, with minimal use occurring in the steeper oak woodlands.. The former McNear and Shrader properties constitute a separate lease area---- conjunctionwithadjacentprivateland to the west. Gates in thefences.arel-.,..talt•' grazing animals to range freely between public and private land, utilizing the forage a!DII/ or water on both. Livestock use occurs seasonally throughout the late fall, winter, ..aacl spring months. The former Zuppan property is grazed in association with park, private, and City of Martinez land to the east. This area has been traditionally grazed onayear-roundbasis due to poor quality or nonexistent fencing between the properties involved. The District intends to establish a seasonal grazing program by fencing park land to afford greater control over the intensity and duration of grazing use. Natural water sources on the Franklin Hills Unit are generally scarce. The former McNearI Shrader area contains fourponds. Twooftheponds are completely silted in, one is partially filled with sediment, and the third retains runoff water for a portion of the year before drying out. Water is periodically hauled to a storage tank and trough situated along the ridge to assure a reliable supply of water for grazing and fire control purposes. The former Shrader property has a functioning well outfitted with a windmill. Two seasonal ponds are located on the former Zuppan property. The maintenance and development of water resources on these collective properties is intended to benefit grazing, wildlife, fire management, and equestrian uses. Rare Plants The Mt. Diablo Fairy Lantern, Calochortus pulchellus, exists in an area north of Carquinez Scenic Drive. Valley oak, Quercus lobata, occurs in scattered locations throughout the unit. There are several possible sites that may support the rare Diablo sunflower, Helianthella castanea. A comprehensive inventory will need to be conducted to establish the extent of rare plant occurrences on the unit. Wildlife Resource management activities on the Franklin Hills Unit are intended to benefit both native vegetation and wildlife relative to the concepts outlined for the other units. No known wildlife species pf .special concern occur within the area. Management Recommendations * Regulate grazing in the grasslands to reduce fire hazard conditions, enhance native plant diversity, and minimize coyote brush and poison oak encroachment into the grasslands. • PreseiVe and enhance populations of rare plants according to management pre scriptions outlined in the Land Use Development Plan for the park • Remove accumulated silt from existing non-spring fed ponds and maintain these structures as a source of livestock drinking water and wildlife habitat. • Construct new fencing along the eastern boundary of the former Zuppan property to create a separate pasture area.