Laguna Wetlands Preserve Restoration and Management Plan December 23, 2015 Adopted January 5, 2016
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Laguna Wetlands Preserve Restoration and Management Plan December 23, 2015 Adopted January 5, 2016 Prepared for: City of Sebastopol 7120 Bodega Ave. Sebastopol, CA 95472 Prepared by: Prunuske Chatham, Inc. Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation 400 Morris Street, Suite G 900 Sanford Road Sebastopol, CA 95472 Santa Rosa, CA 95401 Table of Contents Page 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 Vision for Preserve Use and Management ................................................................................ 1 Regional Setting and Conservation Values ................................................................................ 2 Plan Purpose .............................................................................................................................. 3 Plan Development Methods ...................................................................................................... 4 2 Setting ............................................................................................................................. 4 Property Descriptions ................................................................................................................ 4 Adjacent Ownership and Land Uses ........................................................................................ 10 Related Local Plans .................................................................................................................. 12 Applicable County, State, and Federal Regulations ................................................................. 16 3 Physical Features ............................................................................................................ 25 Hydrology and Topography...................................................................................................... 25 Geology and Soils ..................................................................................................................... 26 Climate .................................................................................................................................... 28 4 Biological Resources ....................................................................................................... 29 Valley Oak Woodland/Savanna................................................................................................ 30 Riparian Forest ......................................................................................................................... 33 Aquatic Habitats ....................................................................................................................... 35 Recreational and Ornamental Landscape Areas ...................................................................... 40 5 Cultural and Historical Resources .................................................................................... 41 6 Facilities ......................................................................................................................... 41 Trails, Signage, and Other Low-Intensity Recreational Facilities ............................................. 42 Baseball Fields and Playground................................................................................................ 44 Other Buildings and Utilities .................................................................................................... 44 Parking .................................................................................................................................... 45 7 Restoration and Resource Management ......................................................................... 46 Natural Resource Target Conditions and Functions ................................................................ 46 Protecting Existing Habitat ...................................................................................................... 48 Restoration Opportunities and Methods ................................................................................. 50 Invasive Plant Management .................................................................................................... 60 Invasive Wildlife Management ................................................................................................ 64 Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation ............................................................................ 65 Cultural Resource Protection ................................................................................................... 67 8 Public Use and Engagement ............................................................................................ 67 Preserve Identity, Accessibility, and Connectivity ................................................................... 68 Educational Opportunities ....................................................................................................... 73 Engaging and Managing Volunteers ........................................................................................ 75 9 Maintenance Methods and Best Management Practices ................................................. 77 Erosion Control and Water Quality Protection ........................................................................ 77 Landscaping and Building Maintenance .................................................................................. 78 Managing Camping, Littering, and Informal Trails ................................................................... 79 Managing Other Public Uses .................................................................................................... 83 Biological Surveys and Trainings .............................................................................................. 85 Trail Maintenance, Construction, and Decommissioning ........................................................ 86 Mosquito Control ..................................................................................................................... 88 10 Integration with Regional Efforts .................................................................................... 89 Middle Reach of the Laguna Management .............................................................................. 89 Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Management Program ........................................................... 90 Laguna de Santa Rosa TMDL .................................................................................................... 91 Sonoma County Biodiversity Plan ............................................................................................ 92 11 Data Gaps ...................................................................................................................... 92 12 Implementation, Cost Estimates, and Funding ................................................................. 92 Possible Funding Opportunities ............................................................................................... 93 13 Calendar ........................................................................................................................ 96 14 References ..................................................................................................................... 97 Tables Table 1. Summary of Regulatory Agency Jurisdiction by Project Type ......................................... 23 Table 2. Soil Types of the Preserve ................................................................................................ 27 Table 3. Preserve Habitat Types and Target Qualities .................................................................. 47 Table 4. Preserve Restoration Opportunities ................................................................................ 51 Table 5. Calendar of Maintenance and Monitoring Activities....................................................... 96 Figures 1. Location and Regional Context 2. (a-d). Topography and Hydrology, by Property 3. Soils 4. Habitat Types 5. Special-status Species Occurrences in the Vicinity 6. Existing and Proposed Trails and Recreational Facilities 7. Restoration Opportunities and Areas of Management Concern Appendices 1. Summary of Management Objectives and Actions 2. Wildlife Observed or Potentially Occurring on the Preserve 3. Plant Species Observed on the Preserve 4. Plant Species Suitable for Restoration Plantings, By Habitat Type 5. Special-Status Plant Species Reported in the Preserve Vicinity 6. Invasive Species and Management Guidelines 7. Summary of Community Input on the Plan 8. Implementation Cost Estimate Acknowledgements We thank Chief of Police Jeff Weaver and Sergeant David Ginn and Public Works Superintendent Rich Emig for their help in providing background information, as well as Jacob Newell, Kathleen Marsh, Sheri Emerson, and Jennifer Kuszmar of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District; Stephen Bargsten and Kaete King of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board; Jason Sequeira of the Marin Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District; Ken Tam and Jim Piercy of Sonoma County Regional Parks; Stephanie Buss of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife; and Denise Cadman of the City of Santa Rosa, for providing helpful input. We also thank Geoffrey Skinner for his historical fact-checking and trail planning help; and Mara Vejby and Jay Reti of Locality, Lynn Deedler, and the many other residents and friends of Sebastopol