2019/20 ANNUAL REPORT And 2020/21 pre-notification for USACE, USFWS and Regional Water Quality Control Board

USACE Regional General Permit #41: File No. SPL-2008-01079-MLM

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USFWS Informal Consultation: FWS-SDG-08B0219-09I0092

File No.: R9-2019-0209 Place ID: 807511 Reg Measure ID: 434433 WDID: 9 000003503

2019/20 ANNUAL REPORT AND WORK PLAN for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Region 5 Streambed Alteration Agreement (1600): 1600-2009-0263-R5

San Diego River Watershed Invasive Non-Native Plant Control and Restoration Program

San Diego River Conservancy 11769 Waterhill Road Lakeside, CA 92040

Dustin Harrison, Environmental Scientist 619-390-0571 [email protected]

July 2020

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The San Diego River Conservancy (Conservancy) and partner organizations have carried out removal and control of the invasive non-native plant Arundo donax (giant reed) and other target invasive non-native plant species at several sites along the San Diego River and its tributaries under the Conservancy’s Watershed Invasive Non-Native Plant Control and Restoration Program (program). This report serves the dual purpose of a past year annual report as well as the pre- notification requirement for upcoming planned activities.

Th report covers restoration activities carried out from summer 2019 (July 1st) through summer 2020 (June 30th) under RGP #41: File No. SPL-2008-01079-MLM. A summary of project activities are provided along with an outline of continuing work and anticipated project areas for fiscal year (FY) 2020/21.

The program operates under a United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) RGP #41 (File No. SPL-2008-01079-MLM). United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued an informal consultation to the USACE RGP#41 project (FWS-SDG-08B0219-09I0092). Prior to this, Conservancy obtained a Technical Assistance Letter (FWS-SD-2008B0219/2008TA0213). Both documents are consistent with each other and outline the same minimization and avoidance measures. Other permits held by the Conservancy include: California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) 1602 permit and a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) which has been completed for the program. CDFW has been provided a version of this permit report updating them on work completed in the 2019-2020 as well as planned activities for 2020-21.

The maps created for this report separate current projects (purple), from proposed projects (red) and points out the City of San Diego, Public Utilities Department Stadium Wetland Mitigation Project (pink).

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Project #01: East County Arundo Control This restoration project implemented by Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy (LPRC), funded by the Conservancy’s Proposition 1 grant program covers approximately 66 acres along unnamed drainages and tributaries that lead to the San Diego River in Lakeside, California. Arundo stands are being controlled across several private and public parcels through the efforts LRPC. The Conservancy partnered with LRPC in September 2013 to implement this project. Originally funded by the State Coastal Conservancy’s (SCC) Proposition 84 grant program, these restored areas support native habitat, expand wildlife corridors and reduce the risk of flood and fire. All Arundo on site was cut by hand tools or chainsaw, and the cut canes were chipped and removed offsite to a landfill to be used as ground covering. This reporting year, LRPC cut and applied herbicide to 9.22 acres.

East County San Diego, Lakeside, CA after Arundo biomass removal

Work completed in the past year (2019-20) included: 1) 4.1 acres of new cut zones were biomassed and another 5.12 acres of re-growth were maintained. 2) Site-specific Arundo results: 1.5 acres at Goucho Lane, 1.57 acres at Wyeth Road, 1.7 acres at Toyon Road, 0.38 acre at Oak Creek Road, 0.27 acre at Oak Summit, and 3.58 acres Arundo were biomassed near Highway 8 Business Route.

Work planned for the next year (2020-21): 1) LRPC will continue to obtain Right of Entry permits to complete Arundo control in East County San Diego. 2) Work is expected to continue through October 2022.

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Project #02: Restoration of Alvarado Creek, Phase I-III San Diego State University Research Foundation (SDSURF), has received funding from the Conservancy’s Proposition 1 grant program and is restoring the Alvarado Creek near SDSU. At this location, multiple floods have occurred and damaged the office buildings and equipment. Immediately upstream of this location, the City of San Diego dredged and removed invasive plants. This project began in 2015 and continues where the City’s project ended and has removed 2.6 acres invasive plant species, the majority of which are a mixture of fountain grass, wild radish and castor bean.

SDSU Research Foundation assessed the area and applied herbicide where necessary.

Palms cut, sprayed and coordinates taken for Alvarado Creek

Work planned for this year (2019-20) include: 1) No biomass was cut; however, herbicide was applied in the spring.

Work planned for the next year (2020-21): 1) Ongoing maintenance.

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Project #03: Rueda Canyon Phase I and II (Tierrasanta) Rueda Canyon totals 72 acres open space owned and managed by the City of San Diego. This project, implemented by San Diego Canyonlands was separated into two phases with Phase I of the Rueda Canyon Project containing an estimated ~10 acres of invasive pampas grass, palms and Myoporum. This phase of the project was closed out during the last cut season.

For Phase II of Rueda Canyon, located south of Phase I, ~4 acres are targeted for restoration and enhancement. Funding for both phases were approved by the Conservancy’s Proposition 1 Water Bond Program.

Herbicide with blue dye applied to palm tree

Work completed in the past year (2019-20) included: 1) Phase I has control of invasive vegetation across 25 acres. 2) Phase II saw the removal of 3 acres (785 lbs.) invasive non-native vegetation including Canary Island date palm, artichoke thistle, prickly lettuce, tocolote thistle, black mustard, horehound, tree tobacco, bristly ox tongue, fennel, smilo grass, Maltese star thistle. 3) 600 ounces of herbicide were applied from September 2019 through June 16, 2020. 4) 1600 palm fronds were removed by volunteers.

Work planned for the next year (2020-21): 1) Ongoing maintenance for Phases I and II with support from the Conservancy’s Proposition 1 grant program.

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Project #04 Shepherd Canyon San Diego Canyonlands staff and volunteers of Tierrasanta Canyons conducted habitat restoration and invasive species removal across 25 acres. This reporting season, approximately 0.1 acres of invasive species were removed. The site has been assessed, mapped for future restoration opportunities including erosion control, trail delineation and native plantings.

Work completed in the past year (2019-20) included: 1) Approximately 90 lbs. of invasive species were manually removed, including bristly ox tongue, sea lavender, acacia, tamarisk and eucalyptus. 2) Herbicide was applied from September 2019 through March 2020. 3) 25 hookers evening primrose and California mugwort were planted in February 2020.

Work planned for the next year (2020-21): 1) Proposal for funding to remove eucalyptus, tamarisk, sea lavender, acacia, Scotch broom, pampas grass, fountain grass, stinkwort, palm tree, and bristly ox tongue.

Project #05 Habitat Restoration at Walker Preserve The City of Santee received funding from the Conservancy’s Proposition 1 grant program to restore this previous sand mine operation to a native riparian/upland habitat suitable for migrating birds, aquatic organisms and least Bell’s vireo. A 2.5-acre restoration site contains 65% native plant cover while hand pulling/hand tools and herbicide spot spray-controlled weeds to below <15%. Predominant invasive species targeted are: black mustard, garland chrysanthemum, tree tobacco, castor bean, and stinkwort.

Work completed in the past year (2019-20) included: 1) 134 native one-gallon container plants and 25 native trees were installed with temporary irrigation.

Work planned for the next year (2020-21): 1) Continued maintenance is expected and quantitative transect data will be collected next year by point-line intercept methods.

Walker Preserve native habitat restoration

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Project #06: Lower Sycamore Creek (Phase I and II) Sycamore Creek is a major tributary to the San Diego River in Santee. This project, implemented by Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy, seeks to improve flood conveyance and reduced fire hazards near adjacent homes and is broken into two phases; Phase I in the southern portion with an estimated 3.3 acres of Arundo previously biomassed and hauled off site. Phase II started in 2017 in the northern section and removed approximately 3.5 acres of Arundo, Brazilian pepper tree and pampas grass. Total project area encompasses 26.4 acres.

Work completed in the past year (2019-20) included: 1) This season 450 native plants were installed at this site. 2) Herbicide treatment was applied where Arundo re-sprouts are prevalent.

Work planned for the next year (2020-21): 1) Work is expected to run through October 2021.

Sycamore Creek after non-native vegetation biomass

Work completed in the past year (2019-20) included: 1) No biomass work was conducted in Phase II section, only herbicide re-treatment.

Work planned for the next year (2020-21): 1) Project site will be monitored and re-treatments scheduled as required.

Project #07: Mission Valley Preserve Invasive Removal Of the 51-acre preserve owned and managed by the City of San Diego, 24 acres are targeted for invasive non-native plant removal by the San Diego River Park Foundation (SDRPF). Project site contains scattered Arundo (0.25 acre), approximately 30 Brazilian pepper trees and tamarisk all

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treated by cut stump, and pampas grass removed and foliar application. Castor bean was hand pulled. Other species targeted include acacia, olive, Chinese elm, and bridal creeper.

Mission Valley Preserve before Arundo removal (left) and after Arundo removal (right)

Work completed in the past year (2019-20) included: 1) During this cut season, removal of re-growth from 6 acres of previously-cut Arundo stands were treated with herbicide approved for use in aquatic habitats (glyphosate). 2) Urban Corp assisted with the removal of large eucalyptus stands

Work planned for the next year (2020-21): 1) Remaining 3 acres and hard-to-reach tamarisk stands will be removed and treated as necessary. 2) Work is anticipated to close out September 2020.

Project #08: Mission Valley Preserve Expanded Invasive Removal Project (SEP) The San Diego River Park Foundation, with support from the City of San Diego’s Supplemental Environmental Project, is removing and controlling invasive plants in the western half of Mission Valley Preserve (27 acres).

Work completed in the past year (2019-20) included: 1) During this cut season, 250 square feet of invasive non-native plants were removed. The initial 1,000 square feet were re-treated with herbicide.

Work planned for the next year (2020-21): 1) Work is anticipated through September 2020.

Project #09: San Diego River El Capitan and Upstream Invasive Removal The Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County partnered with the San Diego River Park Foundation to control approximately 1-acre non-native invasive Arundo around the El Capitan catchment on City of San Diego-owned land. Project site was accessed by foot and had

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tools used to cut, remove then spray stalks with herbicide approved for use in aquatic habitats. The stands were bundled, carried to shore and hauled away by boat for disposal. Funding is made possible through Proposition 84 grant funds from the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA).

El Capitan Reservoir Arundo removal

Work completed in the past year (2019-20) included: 1) 0.5-acre was removed and treated. Work planned for the next year (2020-21): 1) The reaming Arundo stand on the east bank of El Capitan Reservoir was partially cut and treated. Due to its size and steep slopes, remaining biomass is expected fall 2020.

Project #10: Ruffin Canyon Restoration (Phase I) San Diego Canyonlands was awarded funding by the Conservancy to remove invasive plants from Ruffin Canyon, which included removal of palm trees in two canyon tributaries via helicopter. This project site is 3 acres. With the help of the local friends of the canyon group, San Diego Canyonlands has maintained the first Phase of a two-phased approach to controlling palm trees and other invasive vegetation in canyons (See below Proposed Project #03 for Phase II).

Work completed in the past year (2019-20) included: 1) Over 300 palms (0.81 acre) were removed

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2) Herbicide applied to pampas grass, bristly ox tongue, Mexican fan palm, Canary Island date palm, Brazilian pepper trees, tree tobacco, and fennel. Work planned for the next year (2020-21): 1) Ongoing maintenance

Helicopter Lift at Ruffin Canyon (Phase I)

Project #11: San Diego Arundo Control Project (WCB) Funding was made available from the Wildlife Conservation Board by a grant through the Mission Resource Conservation District for Arundo removal in the San Diego River watershed and another watershed in southern California. Through this partnership, the Conservancy continues to remove and control invasive plants along the San Diego River corridor. Approximately 13.3 acres of Arundo control work has been initiated.

Wildlife Conservation Board Arundo Removal Project Work completed in the past year (2019-20): 1) 12.6 acres herbicide was applied by foliar treatment. 2) 8-acres were re-vegetated with native cuttings.

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Work planned for the next year (2020-2021): 1) Treat 0.7-acre patch of Arundo and install native willow and mulefat cuttings.

Project #12: Fashion Valley Mall Invasive Removal Project (SEP) The San Diego River Park Foundation is working with Simon Property Group at the Fashion Valley Mall to remove Arundo. Small stands of Arundo (1,770 sq. ft.) were cut with loppers/brush cutters and monitored until 4 feet high then foliar application of herbicide was applied by a licensed applicator. All treatments and removal are timed appropriately by species and in compliance with nesting season and other permit conditions. Funding provided by the City of San Diego Supplemental Environmental Project.

Work completed in the past year (2019-20): 1) Biomass was transported to a California state approved disposal facility and the area was re-treated.

Work planned for the next year (2020-2021): 1) Work is anticipated to continue next cut season.

Project #13: Restoration of Alvarado Creek Smoke Tree HOA/ SDSU This riparian habitat restoration and invasive plant removal project is being implemented by San Diego State University Research Foundation. The project’s goals and objectives include managing 1,050 linear feet along Alvarado Creek. Approximately 3 acres of invasive non-native vegetation will be removed and re-vegetated with local plants and monitored for three years to maintain native vegetation.

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Lower Alvarado Creek near Smoke Tree HOA

Work completed in the past year (2019-2020) 1) This cut season, 1.4 acres or 202.8 tons of biomass primarily eucalyptus, was removed from onsite. Herbicide was applied where appropriate.

Work planned for the next year (2020-21): 1) Work in this area is expected to continue for the next couple of years.

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Project #14: Implementation of Weed Management Plan for Sycamore Canyon/ Goodan Ranch Preserve This habitat enhancement project will last one year removing invasive vegetation to support native regrowth. The project is spread across 32 acres of southern mixed chaparral and coastal sage scrub to remove artichoke thistle, eucalyptus, tamarisk, Italian thistle, melilotus, mustard, palm trees, pampas grass, rumex, stinkwort, tocolote, wild radish and heavily infested invasive non-native grasses totaling approximately 16 acres. Since May 2020, 7.25 acres have been treated.

Work completed in the past year (2019-2020) 1) This cut season 14 eucalyptus trees covering ½ acre were stump cut. An additional 6.75 acres of vegetation cover were treated. Seed heads were bagged and vegetation removed to an off-site landfill. Small annual weeds were treated by basil bark, foliar or stump herbicide treatment methods.

Herbicide application at Goodan Ranch, Sycamore Canyon Preserve

Work planned for the next year (2020-21): 1) Control of invasive non-native weeds will continue in 2020-2021.

Project #15: Chaparral Canyon Habitat Restoration Project This riparian habitat restoration project will enhance riparian ecosystem located directly downstream of Murray Reservoir. The City of San Diego – Public Utilities Department will control 3.4 acres non-native vegetation for 2.5 years across 10 acres, addressing anthropogenic activities such as trash, debris and illegal encampments. Targeted non-native species for removal include: evergreen ash, pampas grass, Mexican fan palm, Brazilian pepper tree, Peruvian pepper tree, Canary Island date palm, ngaio tree and salt cedar. Restoration includes re-vegetation using local plant community, native re-growth through seeding and container pots.

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Dense patch of invasive vegetation below Murray Reservoir.

Work completed in the past year (2019-2020) 1) Approximately 0.252 acre (50 tons of vegetation, trash, and debris) were removed from the canyon by Urban Corps. Work planned for the next year (2020-21): 1) Work is expected to continue with funding from the Conservancy’s Proposition 1 grant program.

Project #16: San Diego River Healthy Headwaters Restoration Project El Capitan Reservoir Catchment Weed Assessment (SDCWA)

Funding is made possible through Proposition 84 grant by the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) to the Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County. The Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County partnered with the City of San Diego, Public Utilities Department to control 2.5 acres Arundo. Biomass will go to the landfill and crews will spray herbicide according to a set schedule.

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Chocolate Creek Arundo Removal Work completed in the past year (2019-2020) 1) No work was conducted this cut season Work planned for the next year (2020-21): 1) Future work entails biomass removal from Chocolate Creek, herbicide application, photo documentation and mapping.

Project #17: Healthy Headwaters Initiative for the Alpine/ El Capitan Catchment Basin (SDCWA)

The Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County partnered with Back Country Land Trust (BCLT) to remove invasive plants within a 57-acre project footprint, primarily targeting Arundo and tamarisk. Funding is made possible through Proposition 84 grant from the San Diego County Water Authority to the Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County. BCLT has received several different grants to implement riparian restoration (non-native plant control) in the area around Alpine through establishment of native riparian vegetation. The Conservancy’s work with BCLT began in September 2013 and has encompassed over 68 properties within the El Capitan catchment basin. More than 1,700 native plants have been planted in riparian habitat and approximately 4.6 acres of Arundo to date have been removed in Alpine, California.

Work completed in the past year (2019-2020) 1) No work was conducted this cut season. Work planned for the next year (2020-21): 1) Future work is anticipated to resume 2020-21 cut season.

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Project #18: Arundo Removal at Alvarado Creek Near MTS Grantville Station (MTS) The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (SDMTS) targeted just under one acre (40,000 square feet) of Arundo on SDMTS property using hand tools and herbicide approved for aquatic ecosystems. Arundo stands were removed and controlled by applying herbicide treatment once cut down to 4-6 inches. Access to steep creek banks posed a challenge to hauling cut Arundo stalks.

Steep banks made Arundo removal difficult at Alvarado Creek

Work completed in the past year (2019-2020) 1) Urban Corp of San Diego County removed Arundo in November 2019. 2) Herbicide was applied to 4-6” stalks by a certified applicator

Work planned for the next year (2020-21): 1) Future work is anticipated to resume through winter 2022 by applying herbicide 3 times every 2 months and remove new re-growth.

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The following three Proposition 1 applications are under review for the San Diego River Conservancy’s 5th Round of grant program funding.

Proposed Project #01: El Monte Valley Alluvial Habitat Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy is seeking funds to address the overgrown tamarisk (salt cedar) in El Monte Valley. These tall shrubs have out competed native willows and cottonwoods and have higher evapotranspiration rates with deep tap roots. Proposed project covers 17.26 acres of alluvial habitat important for rare reptiles and amphibians.

Proposed Project #02: Alvarado Creek SDSU Phase V San Diego State University is continuing efforts to remove non-native vegetation, including large palm trees and Arundo in the lower reach of Alvarado Creek near Adobe Falls. Current ongoing project adjacent to this site covers 3.1 acres which is the site of a recent wildfire that burned approximately 38 acres. If awarded funds, this project would biomass and treat up to 20 acres.

Proposed Project #03: Ruffin Canyon Invasive Removal Phase II San Diego Canyonlands is seeking funds to continue implementation of palm removal in Ruffin Canyon south of Phase I. This two-phased approach to remove invasives uses helicopters to lift felled trees out of two canyon tributaries thereby reducing impacts to riparian/wetland vegetation communities.

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Map 1. San Diego River Conservancy’s Invasive Non-Native Plant Removal & Control Program FY 19/20 for the lower watershed.

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Map 2. San Diego River Conservancy’s Invasive Non-Native Plant Removal & Control Program FY 19/20 for the middle watershed.

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