2001 Annual Report

Prepared by: Nature Reserve of Orange County And LSA Associates, Inc.

2001 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE RESOURCE AGENCIES

INTRODUCTION The Nature Reserve of Orange County (NROC) has prepared this annual report for the year 2001 consistent with Section 5.1.4 of the Natural Communities Conservation Plan (NCCP) Central/Coastal Implementation Agreement (IA). The preparation and submittal of this annual report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) satisfies this requirement.

1.0 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS 1.1 Monitoring NROC began and continued a number of monitoring projects. In an effort to establish baseline data and help assess the health of the Reserve lands (the land managed by NROC), the projects include the monitoring of vegetation, wildlife, and invasion by exotic plant species. These monitoring programs included the following:

 Monitoring Program for Mammalian Carnivores and Deer  Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) Program  California Gnatcatcher and Cactus Wren Monitoring for the San Joaquin Hills Burn Area  Reptile and Amphibian Monitoring at Long-Term Biodiversity Monitoring Stations  Brown-Headed Cowbird Trapping Program in the San Joaquin Hills  Pitfall Trapping of Ants at the Biodiversity Monitoring Stations  Target Bird and Cowbird Monitoring Program  Raptor Nest and Territory Monitoring Program

1.2 Restoration/Enhancement NROC has continued its effort to restore and enhance habitat throughout the Reserve, including approximately 2,100 acres of artichoke thistle and 30 acres of veldtgrass control, as well as native topsoil and plant salvage from Shady Canyon and relocation in Bommer Canyon. NROC is also in the process of developing an overall Reserve-wide restoration plan based on the mapping of exotic vegetation and prioritizing restoration opportunities based on specific criteria.

Several other restoration projects are being conducted throughout the Reserve by private landowners in association with NCCP 4(d) Special Rule mitigation, as well as other mitigation efforts.

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1.3 Fire Management The Fire Management Plan was presented to the Board and is open for further discussion.

1.4 Financial In March 2001, the NROC Board approved $18,000 for recreation monitoring contract services; however, no contract has been initiated.

The Acquisition/Restoration Small Cap Growth investments were converted to mutual funds consistent with the Board’s Investment Policies.

1.5 Acquisition Program The Reserve will continue to research and seek out potential property that could be added to the Reserve.

The Pocket Mouse Preserve will be held by a new owner, and NROC will continue as a fiduciary for the monitoring funds for the time being. The Pocket Mouse Preserve will not become part of the Reserve.

1.6 Other Lyn McAfee was hired to replace Tim Neely as Executive Director of NROC.

President Foley resigned his presidency and nominated Director Jones, who became the new President.

1.7 Public Outreach The NROC participated in a number of community outreach and educational programs, including the establishment of Orange County Wild, continued the docent training program, and prepared and distributed the “Living Close to Nature” brochure. The programs are described in more detail below.

1.8.1 Orange County Wild (OCW). Orange County Wild was designed to develop and implement a cohesive strategy to educate the public about the importance of preserving, protecting, and enhancing our wildland, forest, park and reserve resources, from the mountains to the Pacific.

Orange County Wild is a coalition of 26 Orange County wilderness landowners, managers, and stewards, including State, County, and city park systems and public conservancy groups. The OCW brochure and the Web site were completed in 2000. A symposium for countywide interpretive staff and environmental educators was held in January 2001. The Family Adventures Passport Program began in spring 2001.

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1.8.2 Docent Day. Docent Day is an annual Orange County Wild sponsored event to provide continuing education for volunteer docents, trail guides and interpretive staff throughout Orange County. The event features presentations and tours by local researchers, biologists, and specialists to share the latest information about our local wilderness.

1.8.3 Questionnaire and Brochure. The “Living Close to Nature” brochure was designed for residents living along the wilderness edge. In December 1999, 5,000 copies of the brochure were mailed to a target group of residents living directly along the edge of the NROC wilderness areas. The Wildlife and Wildlands questionnaire was developed with the assistance of Terry Hartig, Social Ecologist with the University of Uppsala, Sweden; members of the NROC Board and the NROC Technical Advisory Committee; Kevin Crooks (USDS & UW); and Shalene George. The questionnaire was mailed out in June 2000 to 2,000 of the same target group of residents receiving the “Living Close to Nature” brochure and to 2,000 residents who had not received the brochure. By the end of September, there was an 18 percent response. Compilation of the questionnaire results was provided by Shalene George.

1.8.4 Recreation Ecology. The committee has identified components of the projects including establishing parameters for trail and access road standards, a trail conditions census of existing trails (and data entry form for recording plus photo documentation recommendations), habitat conditions monitoring, and a demographic survey. The project was reviewed by the NROC Technical Advisory Committee. Training of volunteers and the trail census began in June 2001.

1.8.5 Docent Training. Docent training courses are offered at Saddleback College each fall and began at Fullerton College in the spring of 2000. In December 1999, Saddleback College graduated 42 volunteers. In spring 2000, Fullerton College graduated 23 volunteers. In fall 2000 Saddleback College graduated 35 volunteers.

1.8.6 Other Public Outreach Programs. Wilderness managers in The Nature Conservancy, Aliso & Wood Canyons Park, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Crystal Cove State Park, the City of Irvine Open Space Administrator, and the Laguna Greenbelt and Laguna Canyon Foundations developed and printed a South Coast Interpretive Trails Map in spring 2001. The map is generating revenue for the wilderness parks.

2.0 MANAGEMENT AND GOALS 2.1 Public Access And Recreation 2.1.1 Crystal Cove State Park. The Resource Management staff at Crystal Cove State Park (State Park) has continued to manage the lands in an effort to restore the disturbed site to a mosaic of native bunchgrass and coastal sage scrub communities. State Parks has continued a number of restoration projects, including removing invasive exotic species, site preparation, relieving soil compaction, and planting and seeding with native species. Most of the restoration work occurred at the narrow coastal terrace at Pelican and Reef Point, East and West Meadows adjacent to park headquarters, and the

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Bowl (one mile inland). Within these project areas, there are 24 work sites totaling over 100 acres implementing restoration techniques such as mowing, herbicide treatment, container plant installation, broadcast seeding, mycorhizae, and topsoil and plant salvage. In addition to State Park staff, hundreds of man-hours of California Department of Forestry fire crews and volunteers were used to help accomplish many of the restoration goals.

In addition, State Parks has continued to conduct presence/absence surveys for California gnatcatcher, coastal cactus wren, and snowy plover in the State Park. Illegal trails continue to be a problem within and around the Park. State Parks continues to monitor for illegal trails. In an effort to deter the use of illegal trails, signs were posted, and community outreach meetings were held with users and enforcement groups. A census was conducted of all of the trails to measure trail impacts and surface condition in association with the NROC Recreation Ecology Committee.

During the summer of 2001, the Resource Management staff cleaned up the 46 historic cottages located in the State Park. Along with the help of CDF fire crews, vegetation was cleared from around the structures.

2.1.2 County Regional Parks The County of Orange’s Public Facilities & Resources Department/Harbor, Beaches, and Parks (PFRD/HBP) manages nine regional parks that are incorporated into the Reserve system1 including the following:

 Aliso & Wood Canyons Park  Irvine Regional Park  Laguna Coast Wilderness Park  Limestone-Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park  Peters Canyon Regional Park  Santiago Oaks Regional Park  Talbert Nature Preserve  Upper Newport Bay Regional Park  Mason Regional Park

The County Parks within the Reserve System had an annual attendance of an estimated 1,228,481 people. This is down from 1,272,402 in the previous year.

The Recreation Ecology Committee (REC), made up of representatives from Harbors Beaches and Parks, The Nature Conservancy, State Parks, City of Irvine and California Department of Fish and Game, worked on an overall plan for the Reserve, which was funded by NROC to identify and

1 Includes all NCCP designated land categories including Reserve, Special Linkage, and Non- Reserve Open Space.

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manage on a long-term basis recreational use impacts. The plan includes surveying and monitoring trail locations, conditions, and habitat impacts.

The County sponsored a number of construction projects/improvements that are being implemented, including the following:

 Aliso & Wood Canyons Park: Construction of four State Parks grant funded trail footbridges and five Boy Scout constructed bridges was completed.  Laguna Coast Wilderness Park: Construction on the Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area was completed. Improvements consisted of construction of trails, parking and picnic areas, wildlife guzzlers, and 2.5 acres of habitat restoration. The habitat restoration will be monitored for five years by the County Biological Resource Monitor. The staging area is expected to open in spring 2004. Design for the nature center is under way.  Santiago Oaks Regional Park: A 54-foot section of NW Windes Trails was rerouted due to erosion damage. The old trail was revegetated to coastal sage scrub (CSS), and the new trail did not require additional impacts to native habitat.

A number of construction/improvement projects impacted County-managed Reserve lands, including the following:

 Aliso & Wood Canyons Park: In October 2001, the South Orange County Wastewater Authority (SWCWA) placed a minimal amount of ungrouted riprap as an emergency measure to support a 24-inch wastewater transmission main crossing Aliso Creek. The second phase of the project will be completed in 2002/2003. Prior to the emergency construction, southwestern pond turtles were captured and relocated to the turtle pond created by the City of Laguna Hills for mitigation associated with the Laguna Hills Community Center.  Irvine and Peters Canyon Regional Park: The Irvine Company will be submitting a Runoff Management Plan (ROMP) for the Santiago Hills II development, which will address runoff from the future East Orange development into Peters Canyon Reservoir, Irvine Regional Park, Santiago Creek, and Villa Park Basin. The ROMP will also address hydrologic, water quality, flood, and biologic impacts to these facilities.  Limestone-Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park: The Hon Development Company installed the Glass Creek segment of the Aliso Creek Regional Riding and Hiking Trail as mitigation for the construction of Foothill-Aliso Commercial Center. Also, native plants were installed as a landscape buffer between the park and Foothill Gateway Plaza.  Peters Canyon Regional Park: Orange County Code Enforcement Officers ceased illegal siphoning of creek water for an adjacent homeowner’s irrigation.  Santiago Oaks Regional Park: In February 2002, the County entered into an agreement with Sun Cal to design and construct drainage and erosion control devices to prevent erosion damage to the park and Fossil and Santiago Creeks resulting from the Serrano Heights development. In addition, repairs to the Orange Park Acres Mutual Water Company waterline located within the El Modena portion of the park resulted in disturbance of 0.15 acre of CSS and 0.04 acre of nonnative grassland. The site will be maintained and monitored until the vegetation recovers as functioning CSS. The Serrano Water District completed waterline repairs and restoration consisting of three acres of arundo and pampas grass removal from Santiago Creek.

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Several types of violations continue to be a persistent problem at most of the County Parks, including the following:

 Dogs off-leash  Trespass during evenings and rain closures  Unauthorized use of trails and development of illegal trails

2.3 Fire Management The NROC Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) reviewed the Long-Term Fire Management Plan and expressed concerns regarding the random approach for selecting prescribed burn units. Richard Montague of Firewise 2000 will present an update of the Fire Management Plan. Two fires occurred within the Reserve system:

 August 7, 2001. El Moro Canyon portion of Crystal Cove State Park, four acres  September 15, 2001. Sunflower Trail portion of Jim Dilley Greenbelt Preserve, six acres

2.4 Grazing As part of the grazing monitoring program, TNC surveyed 18 grazing monitoring stations and collected residual dry matter (RDM) samples for both grazed and ungrazed pastures. The year 2001 was the fifth year of data collection. Monitoring stations are located throughout the Reserve, including Bommer, Shady, Sand, and North Laguna Canyons in the Coastal Subregion and Loma Ridge, Hicks, and Weir Canyons in the Central Reserve. A new monitoring station was established in Fremont Canyon. Data were collected from these monitoring stations between March and May. RDM samples were collected in the same pastures where monitoring stations were established as well as at Shoestring Trap. RDM samples were collected in September 2001. This project is funded by The Irvine Company (TIC).

2.5 Biological Resource Monitoring 2.5.1 NROC Sponsored Monitoring. NROC sponsored a number of monitoring projects throughout the Reserve to establish baseline data and to help assess the health of the Reserve. The monitoring projects are summarized below.

2.5.1.1 Limestone Canyon Native Grassland Monitoring Program. In May 2001, data were collected for a third year from six monitoring stations established along Limestone Canyon Road to document the effects the Santiago Fire had on the native grasslands in Limestone Canyon. This project is funded by TIC.

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2.5.1.2 Wildlife and Road Kill Observation Data Collection. In May 1999, TNC began collecting and cataloging wildlife and road kill observation data for the NROC as well as all adjacent roads and highways. Data are input into a Microsoft Access database. Participants include rangers, docents, researchers, biologists, land managers, and public visitors. This information serves the following purposes: 1) it will provide a general idea of which species each park or wild area may be supporting; 2) observations may supplement current or future research projects; 3) changes in the number of observations made of particular species in a specific area can be monitored over time; and 4) the effect of roadways on wildlife can be monitored. Information collected includes 1) date and time of observation, 2) species and number observed, 3) type of observation, 4) whether the animal is alive or dead, 5) sex and age, 6) location, and 7) any other additional observations. In 2001, 87 observations were documented including mule deer, bobcat, golden eagle, coyote, and badger.

2.5.1.3 Monitoring Program for Mammalian Carnivores. In the summer and fall of 2001, baseline surveys continued for large mammal distribution and relative abundance in core habitat blocks and fragments within the Reserve. Two types of methods were used: track surveys and remotely triggered camera surveys. In a total of 1,798 station nights among all study sites and transects in 2001, track stations recorded 881 coyote, 425 dog, 259 human, 148 gray fox, 101 bobcat, 72 striped skunk, 26 opossum, 25 deer, 20 raccoon, 6 mountain lion, 2 spotted skunk, and 2 domestic cat visitations. Recommendations are made on how to maintain and improve the monitoring of large mammals in the Reserve.

2.5.1.4 Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS). Ten MAPS stations were operated on the Nature Reserve of Orange County in 2001. Two areas were compared, the coastal reserve and the central reserve; the adult population sizes tended to be higher in the coastal reserve. Adult population sizes at NROC decreased slightly between 2000 and 2001. It is recommended that the MAPS Program continue to be included as an integral part of NROC’s long-term ecological monitoring program.

2.5.1.5 California Gnatcatcher and Cactus Wren Monitoring in San Joaquin Hills Burn Area. Harmsworth Associates continued focused surveys for the California gnatcatcher and the cactus wren in those portions of the Reserve that burned in the 1993 Laguna Beach fire. This year’s surveys constituted the seventh year of post-fire avifaunal monitoring within the burn area. The total number of gnatcatcher territories detected in 2001 increased 34 percent from 59 in 2000 to 79 in 2001. The 70 gnatcatcher pairs present in the study area in 2001 is a 52 percent increase in the number of gnatcatcher pairs from 2000, an 11 percent decrease from 1999. In contrast, the total number of cactus wren territories detected declined by one location from 2000. The number of pairs actually increased by 13 percent between 2000 and 2001. A qualitative assessment of wren habitat was requested in order to assess the causes. Several vegetative circumstances were observed where cactus wren live; a lack of suitable habitat was suggested as limiting the recovery of the wrens.

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2.5.1.6 Raptor Nest Monitoring in OC Reserve. The year 2001 was comparably much better, in regards to reproduction, for five of the nine species of raptor within the Nature Reserve of Orange County. Nest success improved greatly for Red-tailed hawks, Red-shouldered hawks, Cooper’s hawks, White-tailed hawks, and Barn owls.

2.5.1.8 Ant Pitfall Trapping at Biospecies Site. In conjunction with ongoing biospecies richness monitoring in the Reserve, ant sampling began in October 1999. The species were quantitatively sampled in the central and coastal portions of NROC at long-term study sites. Impacts from recent urbanization have created fragmented habitats along coastal southern California, and this has affected the diverse native ant community. Generic diversity is highest in core sites, with an average of 18 genera per site. Generic diversity declines in edge and fragment sites. This is due largely to the negative impact of one exotic ant species, the Argentine ant. Larger fragments of undeveloped land and decreased presence of non-natural moisture along edges of fragments are suggested in order to retain a natural ant population.

2.5.1.9 Reptile and Amphibian Monitoring at Biospecies Site. NROC sponsored surveys for reptiles and amphibians throughout the Reserve and other Orange County lands. Surveys included techniques such as drift fence arrays with pitfall and funnel traps. A total of 10 study sites have been sampled over a period of one to three years. Of the 43 species known to historically occur within Orange County, 35 species (9 amphibians and 26 reptiles) were documented within the fragmented habitat during this survey. Types of habitat survey include coastal sage scrub, chaparral, grassland, and riparian.

2.5.1.10 Target Bird and Cowbird Monitoring Program. This was the third of three focused surveys for the California gnatcatcher and coastal cactus wren in the San Joaquin Hills, in Reserve lands burned by the 1993 Laguna Canyon wildfire, to document the distribution of target birds within the burn area. Harmsworth Associates will coordinate with The Nature Conservancy, the Technical Advisory Committee, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in designing a "Habitat Suitability Study" for the cactus wren. To date, a total of 290 cowbirds have been trapped.

2.5.2 Other Monitoring Efforts 2.5.2.1 TCA Monitoring. The following areas within the NCCP reserve system were monitored by TCA in 2001.

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CENTRAL NCCP 2001 Siphon Reservoir California Gnatcatcher TCA continued its gnatcatcher nest-monitoring program within the restored habitat at Siphon Reservoir and monitored 15 pairs of gnatcatchers. Limestone Mitigation Site TCA continued its monitoring of CSS and riparian and oak woodland habitats at Limestone. Wildlife Monitoring TCA continued its wildlife studies within the Limestone Mitigation Site. Brown-Headed Cowbird TCA continued to conduct its brown-headed cowbird trapping program Trapping by placing 25 traps in the vicinity of the ETC. Sensitive Plants TCA continued to monitor and manage its sensitive plants (dudleya and chaparral beargrass) along the ETC. Coastal Sage Scrub TCA continued to monitor 220 acres of revegetated coastal sage scrub in the vicinity of the ETC. Wildlife Undercrossings TCA continued its monitoring of selected wildlife crossings along the ETC.

COASTAL NCCP Saltwater Marsh TCA performed its fifth year of monitoring 2.4 acres of saltwater marsh. Coyote Canyon Landfill TCA completed monitoring the remaining 31 of 122 acres of coastal sage scrub at the closed Coyote Canyon Landfill (91 acres received concurrence on meeting its performance standards in January 2000). Coastal Sage Scrub TCA completed monitoring 158 acres of revegetated and preserved coastal sage scrub in the vicinity of the SJHTC. Saltbush Scrub TCA continued to monitor 2 acres of saltbush scrub along the Bonita Channel slopes. California TCA continued gnatcatcher monitoring for a portion of Coyote Canyon Gnatcatcher Landfill and along the revegetated and restored areas of the SJHTC. Least Bell’s Vireo TCA conducted nest monitoring in portions of the Bonita Creek in the vicinity of the SJHTC. Wildlife Monitoring TCA completed the fifth year of monitoring wildlife along the Bonita Channel and near the Bonita Reservoir, which included focused bird surveys and small mammal trapping. Oak Woodlands TCA completed monitoring 15 acres of oak woodlands adjacent to the SJHTC from Laguna Canyon to Bommer Canyon. Wetlands TCA completed the monitoring of 21 acres of riparian habitat and mulefat scrub located along the Bonita Channel.

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2.5.2.2 County Regional Parks. Studies conducted in three or more regional parks in association with NROC in 2001 include the following:

 Volunteer monitoring – Western bluebird boxes at Irvine Regional Park, Mason Regional Park, and Aliso & Wood Canyons Park.  Sea & Sage Audubon bird count – Irvine Regional Park, Peters Canyon Regional Park, and Talbert Nature Preserve.

Other regional studies include the following:

 The San Diego Creek Watershed Study and Special Area Management Plan (SAMP) is ongoing and covers the same geographic range as the Central/Coastal NCCP/HCP. This study includes Mason Regional Park, Peters Canyon Regional Park, Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, Limestone-Whiting Wilderness Park, and a small portion of Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.  The draft Baseline Conditions Report for the Newport Bay/San Diego Creek Watershed Management Study was prepared, which includes findings, results and data collected for the baseline (existing) conditions pertaining to hydrology, hydraulics, sedimentation, groundwater, geology, soils, economics, and the environmental settings. This is the first of several reports leading up to the Final Feasibility Report and a Watershed Management Plan. Currently, potential project opportunities are being identified, including Natural Treatment Systems.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prepared a planning level delineation of aquatic resources and a landscape level functional assessment for the SAMP with the following objectives: 1. Evaluate the extent and condition of existing aquatic resources; 2. Develop a comprehensive reserve program for the protection, restoration, and management of aquatic resources; 3. Identify and evaluate alternative land development scenarios in context of aquatic resource reserve program. The Corps will identify potential areas to cover under a programmatic permitting process under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. These regulated activities would include residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational development; public infrastructure such as roads and utilities; and maintenance of public facilities.

Other individual County Park studies include the following:

 Aliso & Wood Canyons Park – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Aliso Creek Watershed Feasibility Study is ongoing. Comments were submitted to the ACOE in January 2002. There is concern that the modification to the stepped gabions structure and creation of additional wetland habitat needs NCCP coordination.  Santiago Oaks: Kris Waldorf (Cal State Fullerton student) completed a masters thesis on Habitat Fragmentation Effects on Coastal Sage Scrub. Bill Walker of Humboldt State University is conducting a tick survey.

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3.0 RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT In spring 2001, TNC mapped and documented additional areas of weed infestation along Santiago Creek between Modjeska and Silverado as well as areas along the roads in Fremont and Gypsum Canyons. In 2001, all data collected in 2000 and 2001 were input into the Access database and given to the County of Orange for input into its GIS system. From information gathered in 1999 and 2000, TNC, working with LSA, was able to identify priority areas for artichoke thistle control in the Coastal Subregion, in addition to areas that had been treated in previous years. New areas targeted for treatment in 2001 as a result of this process included mixed native grass/exotic annual grasslands. Although often heavily infested with artichoke thistle, many of these areas still have purple needlegrass, bulbs, and other native forbs growing in the understory of the artichoke thistle, which made them a priority for treatment.

Several restoration and enhancement projects are being conducted by various agencies within the Reserve. A summary of restoration and enhancement projects follows.

3.1 ETC Siphon Reservoir California Gnatcatcher Monitoring Fifteen pairs of California gnatcatchers were found in the Siphon Reservoir study area during the 2000 nesting season; an additional unmated male was on territory. Of 11 pairs monitored, 9 nested successfully and raised 46–52 young to fledging, for an exceptional overall fledging rate (per pair) of 4.2–4.7. For the fourth consecutive year, there was no brood parasitism by the brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater). Thirteen of the 15 pairs were in Phase I, the older western portion of the site. No adequate habitat for nesting California gnatcatchers developed on the revegetated ETC slopes during the 2001 nesting season.

3.2 Laguna Lakes Habitat Restoration The 12-acre restoration project, located within the Laguna Canyon Wilderness Park, seeks to return the only three natural lakes occurring in Orange County to their natural condition and to institute long-term strategies to assure that the lakes continue to provide high quality wildlife habitat. Monitoring specifically addresses sediment control and the revegetation of the site. In order to continue the good progress in the habitat restoration actualized to date, recommendations are made for improved management techniques.

3.3 Native Plant Salvage and Relocation Project In 2000/2001, the NROC received a $53,545 Local Assistance Grant from CDFG to conduct native plant salvage and relocation from approved development areas (TIC Planning Area 27 and Planning Area 6) in the Coastal Subregion. This salvage and relocation project, which was coordinated by TNC on behalf of NROC, began November 2000 and was completed June 2001. Over 8,000 native shrubs, grasses, and cacti were salvaged from development areas and relocated to degraded areas within the Reserve, including Bommer Canyon, LCWP, Quail Hill, UCI Ecological Reserve, CCSP, and Muddy Canyon. In addition to the plant salvage, approximately three acres of high quality CSS

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topsoil material were salvaged from PA 27 and relocated to Bommer Canyon. NROC supplied $17,000.00 in matching funds.

In October 2001, TIC and TNC funded the salvage of coastal prickly pear, coastal cholla, lichen- covered rocks, many-stemmed dudleya, and high-quality grassland topsoil from TIC’s Planning Area 22 in Shady Canyon. The salvage area was identified through a joint effort of TNC, TIC, the City of Irvine, and Harmsworth Associates. Between 4 and 5 acres of topsoil and 30 to 40 cubic yards of cactus were salvaged. The majority of the salvaged topsoil was spread over an area of degraded grassland habitat within Bommer Canyon. The restoration area was previously dominated by artichoke thistle, which has been treated successfully for three consecutive years since 1998. In December 2001, TNC worked with a volunteer crew to spread supplemental native seed to the soil relocation site. Approximately 15 cubic yards of topsoil were relocated to “the Bowl” and “the Bluffs,” both within CCSP. In late October 2001, the cactus was relocated to several locations within the NROC that had provided coastal cactus wren habitat before the 1993 Laguna Canyon Fire. Site selection for cactus relocation was conducted by Harmsworth Associates. Sites selected are located within CCSP, LCWP, Muddy Canyon, and Bommer Canyon. The cactus was planted in February 2002. TIC and NROC provided funding for the cactus relocation project.

3.4 2001 Monitoring for the 1999/2000 Native Plant Salvage and Relocation Project In early 2001, follow-up monitoring was conducted by NROC for all restoration plots in Bommer Canyon that were planted as part of the 1999/2000 native plant salvage and relocation project, which was funded by a CDFG Local Assistance Grant in 1999. Over 87 percent of two of the most dominant CSS species, California buckwheat and coastal sagebrush, survived the first year after transplantation.

3.5 Veldtgrass Control Program In 2001, NROC implemented the third year of control in the Coastal NCCP Subregion. Funding was provided by NROC in the amount of $32,539.00 for this effort. Over 30 acres of veldtgrass within Laguna Coast Wilderness Park (LCWP) and Crystal Cove State Park (CCSP) were treated with herbicide in the spring of 2001. TNC surveyed three previously established veldtgrass monitoring plots to document the effectiveness of herbicide treatment conducted in 2000.

3.6 Artichoke Thistle Control Program In 2001 NROC funded the treatment of over 1,600 acres of artichoke thistle control in the Coastal Reserve. Funding was provided by a CDFG grant ($101,000) and matching funds from NROC ($100,000) A total of $201,000.00 was directed toward artichoke thistle control in 2001. Areas treated include Bommer, Shady, Sand, and Muddy Canyons, LCWP, CCSP, AWCWP, UCI Ecological Reserve, and north Laguna Canyon. Because of the success of previous pilot studies in 2000, the broadleaf-selective herbicide Transline was used on sites in Bommer and Shady Canyon that were dominated by native bunchgrasses. Roundup was used at all other locations. Additional monitoring stations were established in new areas that were treated for artichoke thistle in CCSP, AWCWP, North Laguna, and UCI. A total of 18 artichoke plots was monitored in 2001 to document effectiveness of the 2000 artichoke control efforts. The Irvine Company treated an additional 200

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acres within the coastal reserve, at artichoke thistle-infested locations where the reserve abuts development areas in Shady Canyon.

3.7 The Irvine Company Mitigation Below is a table summarizing TIC mitigation sites located within the Reserve System.

Mitigation Expected (or Expected Site(s) in Actual) (or Actual) Mitigation Reserve Areas Installation Completion/ Project or Special Location of Description of Completion Approval Name Linkages Mitigation Site(s) Mitigation Date Date Reserve Status Location B: Park 2000- Bayside Ave., 0.5 acre of CSS Non-Reserve Newport Feb-96 seeking Newport Beach restoration Open Space Apartments approval

University Drive Location C: off-ramp from 1.1 acres of CSS University Drive northbound May-99 2002 Reserve restoration Baypoint off-ramp MacArthur Ave., Newport Beach

2.1 acres of CSS Off Bonita Creek restoration; 1.4 acres Location D: corridor between of native scrub Dec-99 2002 Reserve Bonita Village MacArthur/Prairie restoration within Dr. fuel-mod zone.

1.05 acre of riparian and marsh creation; Bonita Bonita Canyon West of San 2.38 acres of CSS Canyon Spring 2000 Spring 2005 Reserve Dam Joaquin tollway buffer creation (also Dam part of riparian mitigation)

Slope within Brookfield Regional Park Peters Canyon Restoration of 0.46 Homes adjacent to Nov-00 2005 Reserve Regional Park acre of CSS. Landslide Brookfields Homes development

Restoration of 4.24 Between San acres of CSS, to El Capitan Joaquin Reservoir El Capitan Park serve as CA Mar-95 1999 Special Linkage Park and San Joaquin gnatcatcher habitat Hills Rd. linkage.

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Mitigation Expected (or Expected Site(s) in Actual) (or Actual) Mitigation Reserve Areas Installation Completion/ Project or Special Location of Description of Completion Approval Name Linkages Mitigation Site(s) Mitigation Date Date Reserve Status 0.63 acre of CSS Above Catalina El Morro restoration El Morro Sliver Toll Plaza on SR- tbd n/a Reserve Sliver (hydroseeding and 73 container plants)

Executive 41.9 acres of CSS Pelican Hill Golf PCH and Newport Spring-Fall Golf installed (14.7 acres Jan-96 Special Linkage Club Courses Coast Drive 1993 Course required)

East of and Restoration of 7.2 adjacent to ETC acres of CSS; CSS: East Hicks Hicks alignment in Hicks Restoration of 1.1 2001Oak Canyon Jan-97 Reserve Canyon Canyon and East acres of oak woodland: Retarding Basins Hicks Canyon woodland (215 acorn 2002-2003 Washes plantings)

Old Roadway in Restoration of 1.46 Los Trancos NCCP Los Trancos acres of CSS along Feb-95 Aug-02 Reserve Los Canyon old roadway. Trancos Mitigation Slopes of Los Installation of 3.1 Site Trancos 66kV NCCP Los Trancos acres of CSS along Mar-95 Jul-98 Reserve Access Road graded slopes.

Restoration/ installation of 7.7 acres of CSS, native Newport grassland, oak Coast Bommer Canyon, Off-site woodland, willow Dec-96 Oct-01 Reserve Drive NCCP riparian forest, Extension sycamore woodland, mulefat scrub, and freshwater marsh.

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Mitigation Expected (or Expected Site(s) in Actual) (or Actual) Mitigation Reserve Areas Installation Completion/ Project or Special Location of Description of Completion Approval Name Linkages Mitigation Site(s) Mitigation Date Date Reserve Status

50 acres of CSS and native grassland restoration; Newport identification of Coast Open Los Trancos NCCP open most cost-effective Space Canyon, Muddy Winter 2001 2003 Reserve space site preparation Enhance- Canyon in NCCP. weed eradication ment methods; 300 acres treated for artichoke thistle.

Newporter Knoll Backbay Dr. and Restoration of 8.8 Non-Reserve 1995 n/a CSS Shellmaker Rd. acres of CSS Open Space

Harbor Cove; Newporter between Jamboree Restoration of 6.0 North Newporter North Rd., San Joaquin acres of CSS; Non-Reserve Jan-97 2000 CSS Hills Rd, Backbay enhancement of 3.6 Open Space Dr., and John acres of CSS. Wayne Gulch.

Restoration of 32.87 acres of CSS in > 20 Pelican Hill subareas; eucalyptus PA 1C/11B Pelican Crest Rd/Newport Coast Fall-94 2002 Special Linkage and artichoke thistle Dr. removal from 58.86 acres.

PA 8/13 San Joaquin Hills Restoration Upper Buck Restoration of 15.4 Rd/ Newport Coast Dec-97 2002 Reserve -- Buck Gully acres of CSS. Dr. Gully Ford Road/Bonita Restoration of 7.41 12/1/1996 Partially in Ford Road 2003 Canyon Rd acres of CSS (Phase I) Reserve

Newport Coast Restoration of 4.0 Buck Gully Dr./San Joaquin Dec-96 2003 Reserve PA 22 acres of CSS. (Formerly Hills Rd. PA 21) Between Rivage 10.7 acres of PA 22 Fuel Mod development and CSS/Fuel Mod zone Spring-2001 n/a Reserve Zone San Joaquin restoration reservoir

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Mitigation Expected (or Expected Site(s) in Actual) (or Actual) Mitigation Reserve Areas Installation Completion/ Project or Special Location of Description of Completion Approval Name Linkages Mitigation Site(s) Mitigation Date Date Reserve Status Pacific Coast PCH Crystal Cove Restoration of 3.4 Highway, Newport Oct-95 2001 Reserve Widening State Park acres of CSS. Beach

Preservation of 90 acres of “Golf Shady Canyon Shady Shady Canyon Golf Course Open Space” Special Linkage n/a n/a Special Linkage Canyon Course and “Preserved Area Drainage” including 61 acres of CSS.

Wishbone/ Pacific Coast Crystal Cove Restoration of 7.9 Crystal Highway, near Los Mar-96 Sep-00 Reserve State Park acres of CSS. Cove Trancos Canyon

4.0 BUDGET The NROC’s budget and actual figures are as follows:

($) 2001 Budget 2001 Actual 2002 Budget Total Expenses $ 922,500 $ 1,087,231 $ 892,938

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5.0 FUNDING PRIORITIES Top funding priorities for 2002 include the following:

Task Total Biological Monitoring Reptile/Amphibian Monitoring $ 90,000 Ant Monitoring $ 25,000 Bird Banding (MAPS) $ 50,000 CAGN/CAWR Monitoring $ 50,000 Raptor Monitoring $ 25,000 Carnivore Monitoring $ 50,000 Small Mammal Monitoring $ 49,000 Rare Plant Monitoring $ 20,000 Subtotal $ 319,000

Restoration Management Veldtgrass Control $ 30,000 Artichoke Thistle Control $ 160,000 CSS Salvage $ 15,000 Cactus Salvage $ 6,000 Subtotal $ 211,000

Grand Total $ 530,000

6.0 IN-LIEU MITIGATION FEE During the year 2001, project applicants paid mitigation fees of $625,660 for 12.51 acres of CSS Take.

Take Record # Date Applicant Purpose of Take Amount Acres NR01-01 11/30/00 Scott Lanni, Gale & Pacific Commercentre $386,500 7.73 Wentworth CA Business Park NR01-02 2/7/01 Anna-Lisa Armanino, Festival Ridge Test $14,160 0.28 Stonegate Borings, Anaheim Development NR01-03 2/7/01 Gene Spindler, Shea Baker Ranch, Lake $225,000 4.50 Properties Forest

$625,660 12.51

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7.0 ACCOUNTING FUNDS RECEIVED AND DISBURSED TO PARTICIPATING AGENCIES

NROC took in $193,299 from the California Department of Fish & Game, of which $72,389 was used for restoration and enhancement in the Reserve, and $120,910 was used for biological monitoring in the Reserve. No funds were distributed directly to participating agencies for management and acquisition activities related to the NCCP/HCP.

8.0 AMOUNT AND LOCATION OF TAKE The only take of CSS within the Reserve was the removal by The Irvine Company of 0.07 acre associated with the Chambord Road entry wall. The Irvine Company used 0.07 acre of its take allocation for impacts.

9.0 LANDS ADDED TO RESERVE SYSTEM The Central and Coastal Reserve was amended six times during the year 2001 as follows:

Land Land Added Removed Net Change Amendment # Amendment Name Applicant (acres) (acres) (acres) MA 01-01 Planning Area 27 TIC 5.9 2.6 3.3 6.2 MA 01-02 Planning Area 17 TIC 7.2 1 Newport Coast Phases MA 01-03 IV-3/IV-4 Crystal Cove TIC 5.5 2.9 2.6 East Orange/Santiago MA 01-04 TIC Canyon Landfill

72.9 29.1 43.8 Strawberry Farms IRWD MA 01-05 1.07 0.99 0.08 County of MA 01-06 Concourse Park Orange 46.77 8.3 38.47 Total 139.34 44.89 94.45

10.0 MODIFICATIONS TO POLICIES AND PROGRAMS

The NROC is in the process of collecting baseline data that can be used to establish trends that will serve as the basis for modifications to policies and programs. Based on the data collected to date, no changes are recommended at this time.

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REFERENCES

County of Orange, Public Facilities & Resources Department; Harbors, Beaches & Parks Division. December 1, 1999–November 30, 2000. Annual NCCP Activity Report.

Meade, R.J. (1995). Natural Community Conservation Plan and Habitat Conservation Plan. County of Orange, Environmental Management Agency.

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