David Magney Environmental Consulting

BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES OF THE ASH PROPERTY, HIDDEN VALLEY, THOUSAND OAKS, CALIFORNIA (VENTURA COUNTY PLANNING NO: SD06-0060)

Prepared for: VENTURA COUNTY PLANNING DIVISION

On Behalf of: CHARLES E. ASH

June 2007

DMEC Mission Statement: To provide quality environmental consulting services, with integrity, that protect and enhance the human and natural environment.

DMEC

Biological Resources of the Ash Property, Hidden Valley, Thousand Oaks, California (Ventura County Planning No: SD06-0060)

Prepared for: Ventura County Planning Division County of Ventura Resource Management Agency Planning Division 800 South Victoria Avenue, L#1740 Ventura, California 93009 Contact: Lorie Baker, Planner Phone: 805/654-2685

On Behalf of: Charles E. Ash 1430 Hidden Valley Road Thousand Oaks, California 91361 Phone: 805/495-3940

Prepared by: David Magney Environmental Consulting P.O. Box 1346 Ojai, California 93024-1346 Contact: Cher Batchelor Phone: 805/ 646-6045

11 June 2007

This document should be cited as: David Magney Environmental Consulting. 2007. Biological Resources of the Ash Property, Hidden Valley, Thousand Oaks, California (Ventura County Planning No: SD06-0060). 11 June 2007. (PN 07-0061.) Ojai, California. Prepared for Ventura County Planning Division, Ventura, California, on behalf of Charles E. Ash, Thousand Oaks, California.

Biological Resources of the Ash Property, Hidden Valley, Thousand Oaks, California Project No. 07-0061 DMEC June 2007

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page SECTION 1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION...... 1 LOCATION...... 1 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE...... 1 SECTION 2. METHODS...... 5 FIELD SURVEYS ...... 5 MAPPING HABITATS ...... 5 LITERATURE REVIEW...... 5 DEFINITIONS OF SPECIAL-STATUS RESOURCES ...... 7 SECTION 3. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES SURVEY RESULTS ...... 10 SETTING ...... 10 FLORA...... 10 HABITAT TYPES ...... 15 Grassland ...... 17 Coastal Sage Scrub...... 19 Chaparral ...... 20 Woodland ...... 22 Developed/Disturbed...... 23 FAUNA ...... 23 WILDLIFE HABITAT AND MOVEMENT...... 26 SECTION 4. SPECIAL-STATUS BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES...... 30 SPECIAL-STATUS PLANT SPECIES...... 32 SPECIAL-STATUS WILDLIFE SPECIES...... 39 SPECIAL-STATUS HABITATS...... 44 SECTION 5. RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 46 SPECIAL-STATUS PLANT SPECIES...... 46 SPECIAL-STATUS WILDLIFE SPECIES...... 48 WILDLIFE MOVEMENT...... 49 SENSITIVE HABITATS...... 50 WETLAND HABITATS ...... 51 SECTION 6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...... 52 SECTION 7. CITATIONS...... 53 REFERENCES CITED ...... 53 PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS ...... 54 APPENDIX. ASH PROPERTY PHOTODOCUMENTATION...... A-1 SPRING PHOTOGRAPHS (MARCH 2007) ...... A-2 SUMMER PHOTOGRAPHS (MAY 2007)...... A-5

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LIST OF TABLES Page 1. Definitions of Special-Status Species ...... 7 2. California Native Plant Society List (CNPS List)...... 8 3. California Native Plant Society List New Threat Code Extensions ...... 8 4. California Natural Diversity Database Element Ranking System ...... 9 5. Plants Observed at the Ash Property...... 11 6. Ash Property Wildlife Species ...... 24 7. Special-Status Plant Species Observed and Potentially Present at the Ash Property ..... 33 8. Blooming Periods of Special-Status Plant Species Known and Expected Onsite ...... 37 9. Special-Status Wildlife Species Observed and Potentially Present at the Ash Property 40 10. Special-Status Habitats Observed at, and Known Near, the Ash Property ...... 44

LIST OF FIGURES

Page 1. Location of the Ash Property ...... 2 2. Aerial Photograph of the Ash Property (2005 Parcels)...... 3 3. Aerial Photograph of the Ash Property (Proposed Parcels)...... 4 4. Survey Paths on the Ash Property...... 6 5. Habitats Observed at the Ash Property ...... 16 6. Regional Wildlife Habitat and Corridors Near the Ash Property ...... 27 7. Wildlife Travel Routes at the Ash Property ...... 28 8. Special-Status Plant and Wildlife Species Observed on the Ash Property...... 31 9. Sensitive Habitats Observed on the Ash Property ...... 45 10. Recommended Restrictive Covenant Expansion Area for the Ash Project ...... 47

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SECTION 1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

LOCATION

The Ash property (project site) is located at 1430 Hidden Valley Road, Thousand Oaks, California 91361. It is part of the Hidden Valley portion of an unincorporated portion of Thousand Oaks on the north side of the Santa Monica Mountains. The Ash property is north of Boney Mountain, south of West Potrero Road, east of SR 23, and west of Big Sycamore Canyon Road (Figure 1, Location of the Ash Property). The project site exists within the Newbury Park, California USGS Quadrangle ([1] SE¼, SE¼, S24, T1N, R20W; [2] E½, NE¼, S25 T1N, R20W; [3] SW1/4, SW1/4, S19, T1N, R19W; and [4] N1/2, NW1/4, S30, T1N, R19W). The center of the Ash property is located at the approximate geographic coordinates of 34.14353° north latitude and 118.92056° west longitude (NAD83), and ranges in elevation between approximately 1,060 and 1,800 feet above mean sea level. It includes four Assessor Parcel Numbers 6940170260 (northern-most parcel), 6940170270 (30.78 acres), 6940170280/90 (41.31 acres), and 6940170300 (southern-most parcel, 54.76 acres). The project site consists of grazed grassland in the northern half of the property and predominantly Coast Live Oak Woodland in the southern half of the property, as shown on Figure 2, Aerial Photograph of the Ash Property (2005 Parcels).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Charles E. Ash (applicant and property owner) is applying to the County of Ventura for a parcel map waiver lot-line adjustment. The proposed project consists of a lot-line adjustment between three lots located in the Hidden Valley area, for which the reconfiguration would make possible one newly accessible, developable parcel. Figure 3, Aerial Photograph of the Ash Property (Proposed Parcels), illustrates the proposed lot-line adjustment. David Magney Environmental Consulting (DMEC) was contracted by the County of Ventura to conduct seasonal biological field surveys and vegetation mapping for this proposed lot-line adjustment project, and to conduct an impact analysis for any potential subsequent development of the property. DMEC conducted the early spring and early summer surveys in order to detect, observe, and map as many special-status resources onsite as possible during the first half of 2007. All accessible areas of the property, including any indicated potential development areas, were surveyed for sensitive biological resources to meet Ventura County Planning Division (VCPD) requirements. The purpose of this report is to present the results of both the spring and summer 2007 surveys and to provide the impact assessment for the Ash project.

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Figure 1. Location of the Ash Property

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Figure 2. Aerial Photograph of the Ash Property (2005 Parcels)

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Figure 3. Aerial Photograph of the Ash Property (Proposed Parcels)

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SECTION 2. METHODS

FIELD SURVEYS DMEC biologists, Cher Batchelor and William Abbott, conducted the spring biological resources survey on 14 March 2007 to capture the early-blooming plant species that might not be detected or would likely be unidentifiable during a summer survey. DMEC, a County-approved biological consulting firm, also conducted the summer biological resources surveys on 31 May 2007 to capture late-blooming species that might not have been detected, or that would likely not be unidentified, during the spring survey. The seasonal surveys were conducted onsite to identify the native and naturalized flora and fauna onsite, including special-status plant and wildlife species and sensitive habitats. The property parcels were walked over (excluding the proposed restrictive covenant portion) to account for as many observable plant and wildlife species as possible onsite. Global Positioning System (GPS) units were carried to track footpaths and to mark waypoints of findings of interest. DMEC concentrated survey efforts in and around the areas that have the potential be directly affected by any proposed construction activities, and in wetland/riparian areas. Figure 4, Survey Paths on the Ash Property, illustrates areas walked and surveyed by DMEC biologists.

MAPPING HABITATS Mapping of vegetation alliances was performed with the aid of ArcGIS programs (ArcView 3.3, ArcView 8.2, and related programs). The vegetation map was drawn onscreen at a scale of 1:2,000 to 1:5,000 using color aerial photographs (AirPhotoUSA), also used as a base layer. The polygons of this map differentiate the distinct land cover signatures related to patterns observed on the aerial photograph. These polygons were classified and attributed with different vegetation alliances after checking all available vegetation data gathered onsite by DMEC. DMEC’s field data were also consulted as ground- truthing points in order to discern the boundaries of vegetation alliances that were not easily detected with the color aerial photo.

LITERATURE REVIEW DMEC conducted a search of the California Department of Fish and Game’s (CDFG’s) California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) RareFind3 (CDFG 2007) for the Newbury Park, California USGS Quadrangle (in which the Ash property exists), and for the eight surrounding quadrangles, including Point Mugu, Camarillo, Santa Paula, Moorpark, Simi, Thousand Oaks, Point Dume, and Triunfo Pass. DMEC conducted this database search to account for special-status species tracked by CDFG in the area and with potential to occur at the project site. DMEC also conducted a literature search of California Native Plant Society’s Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (CNPS 2001, 2006) and the Checklist of Ventura County Rare Plants (Magney 2007) to account for other special-status plant species not tracked by CNDDB with potential to occur in the vicinity of the proposed project site. Projects reviewed under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) should consider impacts to Locally Important Species as significant. Generally, impacts to an entire population of one or more of the species listed herein would be considered significant. The CNDDB Special Animals List (CDFG 2006) was also referenced to determine if any wildlife species observed onsite are considered special-status.

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Figure 4. Survey Paths on the Ash Property

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DEFINITIONS OF SPECIAL-STATUS RESOURCES Special-status habitats are vegetation types, associations, or sub-associations that support concentrations of special-status plant or wildlife species, are of relatively limited distribution, or are of particular value to wildlife. Special-status species are plants and animals that are at least one of the following: • Listed as endangered or threatened under Federal or California Endangered Species Acts, • Listed as rare under the California Native Plant Protection Act, or • Considered rare (but not formally listed) by resource agencies, professional organizations (e.g. Audubon Society, CNPS, The Wildlife Society), and the scientific community. Listed species are those taxa that are formally listed as endangered or threatened by the federal government (e.g. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), pursuant to the Federal Endangered Species Act or as endangered, threatened, or rare (for plants only) by the State of California (i.e. California Fish and Game Commission), pursuant to the California Endangered Species Act or the California Native Plant Protection Act. Special-status species are defined in Table 1 below.

Table 1. Definitions of Special-Status Species

o Plants and animals legally protected under the California and Federal Endangered Species Acts or under other regulations. o Plants and animals considered sufficiently rare by the scientific community to qualify for such listing; or o Plants and animals considered to be sensitive because they are unique, declining regionally or locally, or are at the extent of their natural range. Special-Status Plant Species Special-Status Animal Species o Plants listed or proposed for listing as threatened or endangered o Animals listed/proposed for listing as under the Federal Endangered Species Act (50 CFR 17.12 for threatened/endangered under the Federal listed plants and various notices in Federal Register for Endangered Species Act (50 CFR 17.11 proposed species). for listed animals and various notices in o Plants that are Category 1 or 2 candidates for possible future Federal Register for proposed species). listing as threatened or endangered under the Federal o Animals that are Category 1 or 2 Endangered Species Act (55 CFR 6184, February 21, 1990). candidates for possible future listing as o Plants that meet the definitions of rare or endangered species threatened or endangered under Federal under the CEQA (State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15380). Endangered Species Act (54 CFR 554). o Plants considered by CNPS to be "rare, threatened, or o Animals that meet the definitions of rare endangered" in California (Lists 1B and 2 in CNPS 2001). or endangered species under the CEQA o Plants listed by CNPS as plants needing more information and (State CEQA Guidelines, Section plants of limited distribution (Lists 3 & 4 in CNPS 2001). 15380). o Plants listed by CNPS as locally rare (Magney 2007). o Animals listed or proposed for listing by the State of California as threatened and o Plants listed or proposed for listing by the State of California as threatened or endangered under the California Endangered endangered under the California Species Act (14 CCR 670.5). Endangered Species Act (14 CCR 670.5). Animal species of special concern to the o Plants listed under the California Native Plant Protection Act o (California Fish and Game Code 1900 et seq.). CDFG. Animal species that are fully protected o Plants considered sensitive by other federal agencies (i.e. U.S. o Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management) or state and local in California (California Fish & Game agencies or jurisdictions. Code, Sections 3511 [birds], 4700 [mammals], 5050 [reptiles, amphibians]). o Plants considered sensitive or unique by the scientific community; occurs at natural range limits (State CEQA Guidelines, Appendix G).

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The CNPS’ Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California (CNPS 2001, 20061) categorizes rare California plants into one of five lists (1A, 1B, 2, 3, and 4) representing five levels of species status, one of which is assigned to a sensitive species to indicate its status of rarity or endangerment and distribution. Most taxa also receive a threat code extension following the List (e.g. 1B.1, 2.3), which replaces the old R-E-D Code previously used by CNPS. Table 2, California Native Plant Society List, provides a definition for each List code number, and Table 3, California Native Plant Society List Threat Code Extensions defines the CNPS List Threat Code Extensions that indicates the level of endangerment within the state.

Table 2. California Native Plant Society List (CNPS List) CNPS List Definition 1A Presumed Extinct in California 1B Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California and elsewhere 2 Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, but more common elsewhere 3 Need more information (a Review List) 4 Plants of Limited Distribution (a Watch List)

Table 3. California Native Plant Society List Threat Code Extensions CNPS Threat Definition Code Extension Seriously endangered in California (over 80% of occurrences threatened / high .1 degree and immediacy of threat) .2 Fairly endangered in California (20-80% occurrences threatened) .3 Not very endangered in California (<20% of occurrences threatened)

The CNDDB Element Ranking system provides a numeric global and state-ranking system for all special-status species tracked by the CNDDB. The global rank (G-rank) is a reflection of the overall condition of an element (species or natural community) throughout its global range. The state rank (S-rank) is assigned much the same way as the global rank, except state ranks in California often also contain a threat designation attached to the S-rank. This Element Ranking system is defined below in Table 4, California Natural Diversity Database Element Ranking System. As described for the CNDDB ranking, not all special-status species considered in this report are tracked by CNPS at a statewide level; however, CNPS, primarily through local chapters, has developed regional/county lists of Species Of Local Concern. The Channel Islands Chapter of CNPS has developed a list of locally rare plants of Ventura County (Magney 2007), which is routinely updated. According to Magney (2007), Ventura County Locally Rare plant species are defined as plants with only 5 or fewer occurrences in Ventura County, and Ventura County Locally Uncommon species are defined as plants with only 6 to 10 occurrences in the County. The Ventura County Planning Division (VCPD) has also preliminarily adopted a list of locally rare species of plants and wildlife, referred to as Ventura County Locally Important Species, which are taxa that are declining throughout the extent of their range and have a maximum of five (5) element occurrences (VCPD 2005).

1 Changes to the Inventory as published on the CNPS website: http://www.cnps.org/programs/Rare_Plant/inventory/changes/changes_accepted.htm.

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Table 4. California Natural Diversity Database Element Ranking System

Global Ranking (G) Less than 6 viable element occurrences (pops for species), OR less than 1,000 individuals, OR <809.4 G1 hectares (ha) (2,000 acres [ac]). G2 6 to 20 element occurrences OR 809.4 to 4,047 ha (2,000 to 10,000 ac). G3 21 to 100 element occurrences OR 3,000 to 10,000 individuals OR 4,047 to 20,235 ha (10,000 to 50,000 ac). Apparently secure; rank lower than G3, factors exist to cause some concern (i.e. there is some threat, or G4 somewhat narrow habitat). G5 Population, or stand, demonstrably secure to ineradicable due to being commonly found in the world. GH All sites are historic; the element has not been seen for at least 20 years, but suitable habitat still exists. GX All sites are extirpated; this element is extinct in the wild. GXC Extinct in the wild; exists in cultivation. G1Q The element is very rare, but there is a taxonomic question associated with it. Subspecies Level: Subspecies receive a T-rank attached to the G-rank. With the subspecies, the G-rank reflects the condition of the entire species, whereas the T-rank reflects the global situation of just the subspecies or variety. For example: Chorizanthe robusta var. hartwegii is ranked G2T1. The G-rank refers to the whole species range (Chorizanthe robusta), whereas the T-rank refers only to the global condition of the variety (var. hartwegii). State Ranking (S) Less than 6 element occurrences OR less than 1,000 individuals OR less than 809.4 ha (2,000 ac). S1 S1.1 = very threatened S1.2 = threatened S1.3 = no current threats known 6 to 20 element occurrences OR 3,000 individuals OR 809.4 to 4,047 ha (2,000 to 10,000 ac). S2 S2.1 = very threatened S2.2 = threatened S2.3 = no current threats known.. 21 to 100 element occurrences OR 3,000 to 10,000 individuals OR 4,047 to 20,235 ha (10,000 to 50,000 ac). S3 S3.1 = very threatened S3.2 = threatened S3.3 = no current threats known Apparently secure within California; this rank is clearly lower than S3 but factors exist to cause some S4 concern (i.e., there is some threat, or somewhat narrow habitat). NO THREAT RANK. S5 Demonstrably secure to ineradicable in California. NO THREAT RANK. All California sites are historic; the element has not been seen for at least 20 years, but suitable habitat still SH exists. SX All California sites are extirpated; this element is extinct in the wild. Notes 1. Other considerations used when ranking a species or natural community include the pattern of distribution of the element on the landscape, fragmentation of the population/stands, and historical extent as compared to its modern range. It is important to take an aerial view when ranking sensitive elements rather than simply counting element occurrences. 2. Uncertainty about the rank of an element is expressed in two major ways: by expressing the rank as a range of values (e.g. S2S3 means the rank is somewhere between S2 and S3), and by adding a ? to the rank (e.g. S2?). This represents more certainty than S2S3, but less than S2.

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SECTION 3. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES SURVEY RESULTS

The project site flora, fauna, and habitats, including special-status biological resources, are discussed in detail in the following subsections.

SETTING

The general vegetation, observed at the Ash property in Hidden Valley on the north side of the Santa Monica Mountains, includes Grassland, Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral, and Woodland. Portions of the Ash property that were once a mosaic of these habitats are now pasture. Historic agricultural practices have since introduced nonnative plant species to these pasture areas onsite. Introduced plant species have the potential to be competitive and may inhibit establishment or growth of native indigenous plant species. Regardless, numerous biological resources exist onsite, and much of the property (especially higher elevation areas) consists of pristine and dense native vegetation with rock outcroppings and unique microhabitats. The property includes several sensitive resources, and many wildlife species are expected and known to use the resources existing within the Ash property.

FLORA

The flora of the Ash property project site includes the vascular plants (flowering) and nonvascular plants (lichens) existing onsite. Table 5, Plants Observed at the Ash Property, lists all plant species observed during the two biological resources survey conducted onsite. DMEC observed 161 vascular plant taxa. Of the 161 vascular plant taxa, 113 (70%) are native species and 48 (30%) are introduced naturalized species. Although this ratio of natives to nonnatives shows disturbance at the Ash property in terms of native species richness, it should be noted that the property is very divided. The southern half of the property is relatively pristine and is inhabited primarily by native species, while the northern half has been used for agriculture historically and is inhabited primarily by introduced plant species. Ten (10) lichen species were observed on the Ash property. The lichens of the Ash property are primarily crustose lichens growing on rock outcrops. The current National Park list for the Santa Monica Mountains (National Park Service 2003) lists 234 lichen taxa for Santa Monica Mountains. This list includes both verified and unverified reports from the Herbarium of the University of Minnesota (MIN), and from the literature including a National Park checklist. As part of a National Park Service initiative, Kerry Knudsen of University of California at Riverside (UCR) is working on a lichen flora of the Santa Monica Mountains. The lichen flora of the Ventura County portion of the Santa Monica Mountains and southern California, as published by Knudsen (2005) includes Aspicilia glaucopsina, which Knudsen believes is rare (Kerry Knudsen, pers. comm. 22 November 2005; Knudsen and Magney 2006). These lichen species were previously collected by Knudsen from Sandstone Peak. Several additional lichen species, including additional rare lichen species are expected onsite.

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Table 5. Plants Observed at the Ash Property

Scientific Name2 Common Name Habit3 WIS4 Family LICHENS Acarospora cf. socialis Cracked Lichen CL . Acarosporaceae Aspicilia cf. glaucopsina Sunken Disk Lichen CL . Hymeneliaceae Buellia sp. Button Lichen CL . Physciaceae Caloplaca cf. bolacina Waxy Firedot Lichen CL . Caloplacaceae Candelaria concolor Candleflame Lichen FoL . Candelariaceae Candelariella cf. aurella Eggyolk Lichen FoL . Candelariaceae Lecanora muralis Stonewall Rim-lichen CL . Lecanoraceae Pleopsidium sp. Gold Cobblestone Lichen L . Acarosporaceae Verrucaria sp. Speck Lichen CrL . Verrucariaceae Xanthoparmelia cumberlandia Rock-shield FoL . Parmeliaceae VASCULAR PLANTS Achillea millefolium var. californica California White Yarrow PH FACU Asteraceae Adenostoma fasciculatum Chamise S . Rosaceae Adiantum jordanii California Maidenhair PF (FAC) Pteridaceae Agoseris grandiflora Bigflower Dandelion PH . Asteraceae Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia Rancher’s Fire AH . Boraginaceae Anagallis arvensis * Scarlet Pimpernel AH FAC Primulaceae Anthemis cotula * Mayweed AH FACU Asteraceae Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. glandulosa Eastwood Manzanita S . Ericaceae Arctostaphylos glauca Bigberry Manzanita S . Ericaceae Artemisia californica California Sagebrush S . Asteraceae Artemisia douglasiana Mugwort PH FACW Asteraceae Asclepias fascicularis Narrowleaf Milkweed PH FAC Apocynaceae Avena barbata * Slender Wild Oat AG . Poaceae Baccharis pilularis Coyote Brush S (FAC-) Asteraceae Baccharis salicifolia Mulefat S FACW Asteraceae Bloomeria crocea ssp. crocea Goldenstars PH . Themidaceae Bromus carinatus var. carinatus California Brome PG . Poaceae Bromus diandrus * Ripgut Grass AG (FACU) Poaceae Bromus hordeaceus * Soft Chess AG FACU- Poaceae

2 * = Introduced/naturalized plant species. + = Escaped ornamental nonnative plant species. Bold = Special-status species. Scientific and common names follow Hickman (1993) and Flora of North America (Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993-2007). Lichen scientific and common names follow Brodo et al. (2001). 3 Habit definitions: AG = annual grass or graminoid; PG = perennial grass or graminoid; AH = annual herb; PH = perennial herb; PV = perennial vine; PF = perennial fern or fern ally; S= shrub; T = tree; CL = crustose lichen; FoL = foliose lichen; FrL = fruticose lichen.. 4 WIS = Wetland Indicator Status. The following code definitions are according to Reed (1988): OBL = obligate wetland species, occurs almost always in wetlands (>99% probability). FACW = facultative wetland species, usually found in wetlands (67-99% probability). FAC = facultative species, equally likely to occur in wetlands or nonwetlands (34-66% probability). FACU = facultative upland species, usually found in nonwetlands (67-99% probability). + or - symbols are modifiers that indicate greater or lesser affinity for wetland habitats. NI = no indicator has been assigned due to a lack of information to determine indicator status. * = a tentative assignment to that indicator status by Reed (1988). Parentheses indicate a wetland status as suggested by David L. Magney based on extensive field observations.

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Scientific Name2 Common Name Habit3 WIS4 Family Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens * Red Brome AG NI Poaceae Calandrinia ciliata Redmaids AH FACU* Portulacaceae Calochortus clavatus var. clavatus (CNPS List 4.3) Club-haired Mariposa Lily PG . Liliaceae Calystegia macrostegia var. intermedia Intermediate Morning-glory PV . Convolvulaceae Cardamine californica var. californica California Milkmaids AH . Brassicaceae Carduus pycnocephalus * Italian Thistle AH . Asteraceae Ceanothus oliganthus var. oliganthus Hoary Ceanothus S . Rhamnaceae Ceanothus spinosus Greenbark Ceanothus S . Rhamnaceae Chamomilla suaveolens Pineapple Weed AH FACU Asteraceae Chenopodium californicum California Goosefoot PH . Chenopodiaceae Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum Soap Lily PH . Agavaceae Cirsium occidentale var. occidentale Cobweb Thistle BH . Asteraceae Clarkia cylindrica ssp. cylindrica Cylindrical Godetia AH . Onagraceae Clarkia purpurea ssp. cf. quadrivulnera Four-spotted Purple Clarkia AH . Onagraceae Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana Miner's Lettuce AH FAC Portulacaceae Clematis lasiantha Pipestem Clematis PV . Ranunculaceae Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. rigidus Rigid Birds-beak AH . Orobanchaceae Corethrogyne [Lessingia] filaginifolia California Cudweed-aster PH . Asteraceae var. filaginifolia Cynosurus echinatus * Hedgehog Dogtail AG . Poaceae Delphinium patens ssp. hepaticoideum (rare) Spreading Larkspur PH . Ranunculaceae Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum Blue Dicks PG . Themidaceae Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. patulum (rare) Lowland Padre Shooting Star PH . Primulaceae Dryopteris arguta Coastal Wood Fern PF . Dryopteridaceae Dudleya lanceolata Lanceleaf Live-forever PH . Crassulaceae Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus Blue Wildrye PG FACU Poaceae Epilobium canum ssp. canum California Fuchsia PH . Onagraceae Eremocarpus setigerus Dove Weed AH . Euphorbiaceae Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum Long-stemmed Buckwheat PH . Polygonaceae Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum Golden Yarrow PH . Asteraceae Erodium cicutarium * Redstem Filaree AH . Geraniaceae Erodium moschatum var. moschatum * Whitestem Filaree AH . Geraniaceae Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia var. chrysanthemifolia Eucrypta AH . Hydrophyllaceae Euphorbia peplus* Petty Spurge AH . Euphorbiaceae Foeniculum vulgare * Sweet Fennel PH FACU Apiaceae Fraxinus velutina Velvet Ash T FACW Oleaceae Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium Chaparral Bedstraw S . Rubiaceae Galium aparine Goose Grass AH FACU Rubiaceae Galium porrigens var. porrigens Climbing Bedstraw PV . Rubiaceae Geranium dissectum * Dissected Geranium AH . Geraniaceae Hazardia squarrosa var. grindelioides Sawtooth Goldenbush S . Asteraceae Hesperoyucca [Yucca] whipplei ssp. whipplei Our Lord’s Candle S . Agavaceae Heteromeles salicifolia Toyon S . Rosaceae Hirschfeldia incana * Summer Mustard PH . Brassicaceae Hordeum murinum ssp. glaucum * Summer Barley AG . Poaceae

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Scientific Name2 Common Name Habit3 WIS4 Family Hypochaeris glabra * Smooth Cat’s-ear AH . Asteraceae Juglans californica var. californica (CNPS List 4.2) Southern Calif. Black Walnut T FAC Juglandaceae Juglans californica var. californica X J. regia Hybrid Black X English Walnut T Juglandaceae Keckiella cordifolia Heart-leaved Bush Penstemon S . Veronicaceae Lamium amplexicaule * Henbit AH . Lamiaceae Lathyrus vestitus ssp. laevicarpus (uncommon) Pacific Peavine PV . Fabaceae Lepidium nitidum var. nitidum Common Peppergrass AH . Brassicaceae Leymus condensatus Giant Wildrye PG FACU Poaceae Leymus triticoides Creeping Wildrye PG FAC+ Poaceae Lilium humboldtii ssp. ocellatum (CNPS List 4.2) Ocellated Humboldt Lily PH OBL Liliaceae Lolium multiflorum * Italian Ryegrass AG FAC* Poaceae Lonicera subspicata var. denudata Southern Honeysuckle S . Caprifoliaceae Lotus purshianus var. purshianus Spanish Clover PH . Fabaceae Lotus scoparius var. scoparius Deerweed S . Fabaceae Lupinus longifolius Long-leaved Bush Lupine S . Fabaceae Lupinus sparsiflorus ssp. sparsiflorus Few-flowered Lupine AH . Fabaceae Madia gracilis Slender Tarplant AH . Asteraceae Malosma laurina Laurelleaf Sumac S . Anacardiaceae Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus Large-fruited Man-root PV . Cucurbitaceae Marrubium vulgare * White Horehound S FAC Lamiaceae Medicago polymorpha * Common Burclover AH . Fabaceae Melica imperfecta Coast Melic Grass PG . Poaceae Micropus californicus var. californicus Slender Cottonweed AH . Asteraceae Mimulus longiflorus var. longiflorus Sticky Bush Monkeyflower S . Phrymaceae Nassella pulchra Purple Needlegrass PG . Poaceae Osmorhiza brachypoda (uncommon) Sweet Cicely PH . Apiaceae Oxalis albicans ssp. californica (rare) California White Wood Sorrel PH . Oxalidaceae Paeonia californica California Peony PH . Paeoniaceae Pellaea andromedifolia var. andromedifolia Coffee Fern PF . Pteridaceae Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis Goldenback Fern PF . Pteridaceae Phacelia cicutaria var. hispida Hispid Caterpillar Phacelia AH . Hydrophyllaceae Phacelia egena Rock Phacelia PH . Hydrophyllaceae Phalaris aquatica * Harding Canarygrass PG FACW Poaceae Piperia cf. michaelii (CNPS List 4.2) Michael Rein Orchid PG . Orchidaceae Piptatherum miliaceum * Smilo Grass PG (FACU-) Poaceae Plagiobothrys nothofulvus Rusty Popcornflower AH FAC Boraginaceae Plantago lanceolata * English Plantain PH FAC- Plantaginaceae Platanus racemosa var. racemosa California Sycamore T FACW Platanaceae Poa secunda ssp. secunda One-sided Bluegrass PG . Poaceae Polygala cornuta var. fishiae (CNPS List 4.3) Fish’s Milkwort S (FAC) Polygalaceae Polygonum aurenastrum* Common Knotweed AH FAC+ Polygonaceae Potentilla glandulosa ssp. glandulosa Sticky Cinquefoil PH FAC Rosaceae Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia Hollyleaf Cherry S . Rosaceae Pseudognaphalium bioletti Bicolored Everlasting A/BH . Asteraceae Pseudognaphalium californicum Green Everlasting A/BH . Asteraceae

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Scientific Name2 Common Name Habit3 WIS4 Family Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia Coast Live Oak T . Fagaceae Quercus lobata Valley Oak T FAC* Fagaceae Rhamnus californica ssp. californica California Coffeeberry S . Rhamnaceae Rhamnus ilicifolia Hollyleaf Redberry S . Rhamnaceae Raphanus sativus * Wild Radish AH . Brassicaceae Rhus integrifolia Lemonade Berry S . Anacardiaceae Rhus ovata Sugar Bush S . Anacardiaceae Ribes aureum var. gracillimum Slender Golden Currant S FACW Grossulariaceae Ribes speciosum Fuchsia-flowered Gooseberry S . Grossulariaceae Rosa californica California Wild Rose S FAC+ Rosaceae Rubus discolor* Himalayan Blackberry PV FACW* Rosaceae Rubus ursinus. Pacific Blackberry PV FACW* Rosaceae Rumex crispus * Curly Dock PH FACW- Polygonaceae Salvia apiana White Sage S . Lamiaceae Salvia leucophylla Purple Sage S . Lamiaceae Salvia mellifera Black Sage S . Lamiaceae Salvia spathacea Hummingbird Sage PH . Lamiaceae Sambucus mexicana Blue Elderberry S FAC Caprifoliaceae Sanicula arguta Southern California Sanicle PH . Apiaceae Sanicula bipinnata (uncommon) Poison Sanicle PH . Apiaceae Sanicula crassicaulis var. crassicaulis Pacific Sanicle PH . Apiaceae Sidalcea malviflora ssp. sparsiflora Few-leaved Globemallow S . Malvaceae Silene laciniata ssp. major Indian Pink PH . Caryophyllaceae Sisymbrium irio * London Rocket AH . Brassicaceae Sisyrinchium bellum Blue-eyed Grass PH FAC Iridaceae Solanum cf. xantii (not flowering) Chaparral Nightshade S . Solanaceae Sonchus asper ssp. asper * Prickly Sow-thistle AH FAC Asteraceae Sonchus oleraceus * Common Sow-thistle AH NI* Asteraceae Stellaria media * Common Chickweed AH FACU Caryophyllaceae Symphoricarpos mollis Creeping Snowberry S . Caprifoliaceae Tauschia arguta Southern Tauschia PH . Apiaceae Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri (rare) Fendler Meadow-rue PH FACU Ranunculaceae Thysanocarpus curvipes Hairy Lace Pod AH . Brassicaceae Thysanocarpus laciniatus Lace Pod AH . Brassicaceae Toxicodendron diversilobum Western Poison Oak S/V (FACU) Anacardiaceae Umbellularia californica var. californica California Bay T FAC Lauraceae Urtica urens * Dwarf or Dog Nettle AH . Urticaceae Venegasia carpesioides Canyon Sunflower PH/S . Asteraceae Verbena lasiostachys var. lasiostachys Western Verbena AH FAC- Verbenaceae Vicia villosa ssp. varia * Winter Vetch AH . Fabaceae Viola pedunculata ssp. pedunculata Johnny-Jump-Up PH . Violaceae

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HABITAT TYPES

Ruderal Grassland Alliance (Pasture) occurs primarily in the valley portion of the Ash property, while Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral, and Woodland habitats exist on the higher elevations of the predominantly north-facing slope of Boney Mountain. Specifically, the predominant habitat types and associated plant communities (alliances) observed onsite are classified and mapped herein as follows: • Grassland o Wildflower Field Alliance o Native Perennial Grassland Alliance o Ruderal Grassland Alliance • Coastal Sage Scrub o Salvia leucophylla-Artemisia californica Alliance o Lichen Rock Outcrop-Dudleya lanceolata Alliance • Chaparral o Adenostoma fasciculatum Alliance o Arctostaphylos glauca Alliance o Ceanothus spinosus Alliance o Heteromeles salicifolia Alliance • Woodland o Quercus agrifolia Alliance o Quercus lobata Alliance • Developed/Disturbed

Descriptions of each general habitat and their plant alliances are provided in the following subsections. Figure 5, Habitats Observed at the Ash Property, illustrates the distribution of the plant communities making up the general habitats of the Ash property.

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Figure 5. Habitats Observed at the Ash Property

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Grassland

Grassland consists of low herbaceous vegetation that is dominated by introduced annual grasses, or less often by native perennial grasses or annual forbs, with herbaceous associates including either native wildflowers or invasive ruderal species. Grasslands generally grow in well-developed soils on gentle slopes and flats. For example, grassland covers the fine textured soils of coastal terraces, as well as the deeper soils of rolling hills at higher elevations. Areas dominated by grasses will revert to shrublands or even woodlands if disturbance frequencies are reduced. (Zedler et al. 1997.) Prior to the presence of humans and livestock in the vicinity of the Ash property, the property was likely predominated by oak woodland or savannah. The conversion of oak woodland into pasture has likely introduced the nonnative annual grass and herb species creating primarily Ruderal Grassland Alliance in the lower elevation portions of the property (northern half). Native Perennial Grassland Alliance and Wildflower Field Alliance, which included predominantly native perennial bunchgrasses and conspicuously flowering herbs (respectively), exist in the transition areas between pasture and the more pristine portions of the property, and occur in openings of the Coastal Sage Scrub habitats onsite. These grassland alliances are discussed in more detail below and are mapped in Figure 5.

WILDFLOWER FIELD ALLIANCE Wildflower Field Alliance is characterized by low-growing, naturalized, annual grasses; however, Wildflower Field Alliance includes a significant component of native spring-flowering annual and perennial herbs (wildflowers). Holland (1986) describes Wildflower Field as an amorphous grab bag of herb-dominated types noted for conspicuous annual wildflower displays, but notes that dominance varies form site to site and from year to year at each particular site. This plant community is found growing on fairly poor sites that are droughty and low in nutrients. Wildflower Field is typically associated with other grassland communities and may grow as a woodland ground layer. Wildflower Field occurs in valleys and on foothills of the California Floristic Province, except for the north coast and desert regions, up to about 1,500 meters in elevation. Wildflower Field Alliance was observed in the transition areas of grassland to Quercus agrifolia Alliance (Coast Live Oak Woodland) (described below), and this plant community was observed in the protected openings of the Quercus agrifolia Alliance in the higher elevations of the property. The native wildflowers observed contributing to this plant community on the Ash property include: Bloomeria crocea ssp. crocea (Goldenstars), Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum (Soap Lily), Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera (Four-spotted Purple Clarkia), Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. patulum (Lowland Padre Shooting Star), Lupinus sparsiflorus ssp. sparsiflorus (Few-flowered Lupine), Plagiobothrys nothofulvus (Rusty Popcornflower), Sidalcea malviflora ssp. sparsiflora (Few-leaved Globemallow), Sisyrinchium bellum (Blue-eyed Grass), and Viola pedunculata ssp. pedunculata (Johnny-Jump-Up).

NATIVE PERENNIAL GRASSLAND ALLIANCE Since introduced annual grassland plant communities have largely replaced the native perennial grassland communities throughout California, grassland can now be considered native perennial grassland when perennial grass species occupy at least approximately 10% of the plant community’s

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RUDERAL GRASSLAND ALLIANCE Ruderal Grassland Alliance is typically in early successional stages resulting from severe disturbance by natural or human causes, and/or is due to recurrent disturbance. These areas are dominated by pioneering introduced herbaceous plants that readily colonize disturbed ground. The ability of exotic species to invade disturbed areas arises from their relationship to Old World ancestors that have co- existed with humans for millennia, and thus are more adapted to exploit disturbed land. Ruderal communities are typically a threat to regional biodiversity since they continually distribute nonnative propagules into native plant communities. These exotic species can colonize natural disturbances, such as burns, and typically can successfully compete with the more ecologically important and adapted natives. (Zedler et al. 1997.) The predominant grass introduced species observed making the Ruderal Grassland and pasture areas onsite is Bromus diandrus (Ripgut Grass). Other introduced annual grass species observed include Avena barbata (Slender Wild Oat), Bromus hordeaceus (Soft Chess), Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens (Red Brome), Hordeum murinum ssp. glaucum (Summer Barley), and Lolium multiflorum (Italian Ryegrass). The predominant herbaceous species observed contributing to Ruderal Grassland Alliance onsite include: Anthemis cotula (Mayweed), Carduus pycnocephalus (Italian Thistle), Centaurea melitensis (Tocalote), Erodium cicutarium (Redstem Filaree), Geranium dissectum (Dissected Geranium), Hirschfeldia incana (Summer Mustard), Marrubium vulgare (White Horehound), Medicago polymorpha (Common Burclover), Plantago lanceolata (English Plantain), Polygonum arenastrum (Common Knotweed), Raphanus sativus (Wild Radish), Rumex crispus (Curly Dock), Silybum marianum (Milk Thistle), Sonchus oleraceus (Common Sow-thistle), and Stellaria media (Common Chickweed).

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The few native annual herb species found in the pastures onsite include: Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia (Rancher’s Fire), Chamomilla suaveolens (Pineapple Weed), Eremocarpus setigerus (Dove Weed), and Lepidium nitidum var. nitidum (Common Peppergrass). Coastal Sage Scrub Coastal Sage Scrub is a shrubland dominated by facultative drought-deciduous, low-growing, soft- leaved, and grayish-green (malacophyllus) shrubs and subshrubs. Coastal Sage Scrub habitats typically exhibit a patchy distribution, often in close association with areas inhabited by grassland or chaparral habitats. Coastal Sage Scrub is a community at risk, with approximately 90 percent already lost to development (urban and agriculture); very little Coastal Sage Scrub has been protected by any legal mechanisms, such as enforceable conservation easements (Davis et al. 1985). (Boyd 1999.) Due to stand variations, Coastal Sage Scrub is often considered part of a collection of species- specific plant alliances (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995). Coastal Sage Scrub generally occurs on the rocky exposed slopes of the project site. The plant communities observed contributing to the Coastal Sage Scrub habitat at the Ash property project site include: Salvia leucophylla Alliance, Artemisia californica Alliance, and Lichen Rock Outcrop-Dudleya lanceolata Alliance. These plant communities are described in the following paragraphs.

SALVIA LEUCOPHYLLA-ARTEMISIA CALIFORNICA ALLIANCE Salvia leucophylla-Artemisia californica Alliance is co-dominated by Salvia leucophylla (Purple Sage) and Artemisia californica (California Sagebrush). Salvia leucophylla and Artemisia californica typically form a continuous to intermittent canopy over a variable ground layer. This alliance grows on steeper north-facing slopes in colluvial-derived, rocky soils. It is considered part of the Coastal Sage Scrub alliance-collection. (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995.) Salvia leucophylla-Artemisia californica Alliance was observed as an important component of Coastal Sage Scrub within the project site. This alliance also formed mosaics throughout the Quercus agrifolia Alliance habitat onsite (described below), forming varying densities depending on the level of succession and level of shade from the oak trees. The native shrub associate species contributing to the Salvia leucophylla-Artemisia californica Alliance onsite include: Baccharis pilularis (Coyote Brush), Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium (Chaparral Bedstraw), Hazardia squarrosa var. grindelioides (Sawtooth Goldenbush), Hesperoyucca [Yucca] whipplei ssp. whipplei (Our Lord’s Candle), Keckiella cordifolia (Heart-leaved Bush Penstemon), Lotus scoparius var. scoparius (Deerweed), Malosma laurina (Laurelleaf Sumac), Mimulus longiflorus var. longiflorus (Sticky Bush Monkeyflower), Rhamnus ilicifolia (Hollyleaf Redberry), Rhus integrifolia (Lemonade Berry), Ribes speciosum (Fuchsia-flowered Gooseberry), Salvia apiana (White Sage), and Solanum xanti (Chaparral Nightshade). Several native herbaceous associate species contribute to the Salvia leucophylla Alliance onsite as well, including: Achillea millefolium var. californica (California White Yarrow), Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum (Soap Lily), Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum (Blue Dicks), Epilobium canum ssp. canum (California Fuchsia), Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum (Long-stemmed Buckwheat), Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum (Golden Yarrow), Lathyrus vestitus ssp. laevicarpus (Pacific Peavine), Leymus condensatus (Giant Wildrye), Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus (Large-fruited Man-root), Pseudognaphalium bioletti (Bicolored Everlasting), Pseudognaphalium californicum (Green Everlasting), Salvia spathacea (Hummingbird Sage), and Verbena lasiostachys var. lasiostachys (Western Verbena).

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LICHEN ROCK OUTCROP-DUDLEYA LANCEOLATA ALLIANCE Lichen Rock Outcrop-Dudleya lanceolata Alliance consists of rock outcropping inhabited by many species of lichen and includes a significant component of Dudleya lanceolata (Lanceleaf Live- Forever). Lichens of Rock Outcrop communities are pioneer plants that are adapted to mineral or generally nonsoil substrates and help the decomposition process. Rock-loving lichens can also add considerable color to the substrate, from bright chartreuses, oranges and reds, to subtle shades of gray, white, yellow, brown, and green. The lichen flora of boulders is distributed on each boulder according to aspect, light intensity, and moisture availability, all of which are related. Certain species of lichens are usually found only on the most exposed, south-facing surfaces, requiring direct sunlight, while others are typically found on protected, north-facing aspects with little or no direct sunlight. Lichen Rock Outcrop-Dudleya lanceolata Alliance was observed in openings of Quercus agrifolia Alliance and is dominated by saxicolous (rock-loving) lichens. The saxicolous lichens that occur on the Ash property occur on the boulders and rocks of hard Conejo Volcanics and the softer and decaying volcanic breccias, generally lacking soil. Rock Outcrops are scattered around the property. The hard surfaces of the boulders and rock outcrops are covered, or partially covered, with little other plant species except for a diverse population of crustose (crust-like) and foliose (leaf-like) lichens. The lichen species observed in Lichen Rock Outcrop-Dudleya lanceolata Alliance include: Acarospora cf. socialis (Cracked Lichen), Aspicilia cf. glaucopsina (Sunken Disk Lichen), Buellia sp. (Button Lichen), Caloplaca cf. bolacina (Waxy Firedot Lichen), Candelaria concolor (Candleflame Lichen), Candelariella cf. aurella (Eggyolk Lichen), Lecanora muralis (Stonewall Rim-lichen), Pleopsidium sp. (Gold Cobblestone Lichen), Verrucaria sp. (Speck Lichen), and Xanthoparmelia cumberlandia (Rock-shield). The associate vascular plant species observed in this plant community include: Bloomeria crocea ssp. crocea (Goldenstars), Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. filaginifolia, Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. patulum (Lowland Padre Shooting Star), Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum (Long-stemmed Buckwheat), Hesperoyucca whipplei ssp. whipplei, Nassella pulchra, Pellaea andromedifolia var. andromedifolia (Coffee Fern), Poa secunda ssp. secunda (One-sided Bluegrass), and Thysanocarpus curvipes (Hairy Lace Pod). Chaparral Chaparral is a type of shrubland that is dominated by evergreen shrubs with small, thick, leathery, dark green, sclerophyllous leaves. The shrubs of chaparral are relatively tall and dense, and are preadapted to periodic wildfires by stump sprouting or by germination from a dormant seed bank. These evergreen shrubs are also adapted to drought by deep extensive root systems, while their small thick leaf structure prevents permanent damage from moisture loss (Zedler et al. 1997). Many typical Coastal Sage Scrub species also grow intermixed as associates with chaparral species. Chaparral typically occurs on moderate to steep south-facing slopes with dry, rocky, shallow soils, becoming more abundant with higher elevations where temperatures are lower and moisture supplies are more ample. The Chaparral plant communities observed onsite are Adenostoma fasciculatum Alliance, Arctostaphylos glauca Alliance, and Heteromeles salicifolia Alliance. The Chaparral plant alliances observed on the Ash property include Adenostoma fasciculatum Alliance, Arctostaphylos glauca Alliance, Ceanothus spinosus Alliance, Ceanothus spinosus Alliance, and Heteromeles salicifolia Alliance.

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ADENOSTOMA FASCICULATUM ALLIANCE Adenostoma fasciculatum Alliance is dominated by Adenostoma fasciculatum (Chamise), which is the most abundant plant species in the non-desert shrublands of California. This evergreen shrub is a burled and many-branched shrub that has gray-brown trunk bark, clustered small linear leaves, and tiny white flowers. It is adapted to California’s Mediterranean climate by a dual root system that has both deep and shallow roots. Chamise individuals recover from fire by both resprouting and seedling recruitment. (Zedler et al. 1997.) Adenostoma fasciculatum Alliance forms an intermittent to continuous canopy less than three meters tall, growing over a sparse herbaceous layer, especially in older stands. Adenostoma fasciculatum is usually associated with all slope aspects, but is commonly found on the drier south- and west-facing slopes and ridges, growing in very shallow soils (mafic-derived). Adenostoma fasciculatum Alliance classifications must have at least 60% cover by Chamise. (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995.) The shrub canopy associates observed as important contributors to Adenostoma fasciculatum Alliance include: Hesperoyucca whipplei ssp. whipplei, Heteromeles salicifolia (Toyon), Rhus ovata (Sugar Bush), Malosma laurina, Rhamnus ilicifolia (Hollyleaf Cherry), and Salvia mellifera (Black Sage). Scattered understory herbaceous species include many of those listed below for the Coastal Sage Scrub plant communities.

ARCTOSTAPHYLOS GLAUCA ALLIANCE Arctostaphylos glauca is a tree-like shrub lacking a burl, and has glabrous, glaucous, or finely bristly stems. Its leaves are ovate to round with a rounded or truncate base; the leaf margin is entire to toothed, and the leaf surfaces are alike (white-glaucous, dull, or smooth). A. glauca has an open inflorescence with scale-like bracts. It has glandular flower ovaries making spheric or ovoid sticky fruit with thick leathery pulp. Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf (1995) describe Arctostaphylos glauca Alliance as occurring in rock outcrops, on north-facing slopes, and on ridges in shallow, coarse-textured, ultramafic-derived soils. Arctostaphylos glauca Alliance forms a continuous canopy to eight meters tall with a sparse groundlayer, and occurs at elevations between 600 and 1,400 meters above mean sea level. This alliance is mapped in Figure 5, and did not inhabit a large area on the property; however, this alliance was unique for the property. Associate species include several of those listed above for Adenostoma fasciculatum Alliance.

CEANOTHUS SPINOSUS ALLIANCE Ceanothus spinosus Alliance is dominated by Ceanothus spinosus (Greenbark Ceanothus). Ceanothus spinosus is an erect, tree-like shrub that can grow to six meters tall. The twigs of this evergreen shrub are olive green and thorny, and the flowers are blue to whitish. This plant community occurs on dry slopes at elevations below 900 meters and forms a continuous shrub canopy growing over a variable to sparse groundlayer. (Hickman 1993.) This alliance is mapped in Figure 5, and associate species include several of those listed above for Adenostoma fasciculatum Alliance and Salvia leucophylla-Artemisia californica Alliance.

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HETEROMELES SALICIFOLIA ALLIANCE Heteromeles salicifolia Alliance is co-dominated by Heteromeles salicifolia ([H. arbutifolia] Toyon), which is an evergreen tall shrub with oblong, leathery, sharply toothed, dark green leaves. It produces white flowers and bright red pome fruit with mealy pulp. Toyon occurs in many plant communities, at elevations below 1,300 meters (Hickman 1993). Heteromeles salicifolia Alliance requires shallow soils on steeper slopes, and forms a tall intermittent canopy over lower shrubs. Heteromeles salicifolia Alliance is mapped in Figure 5, and associate species include several of those listed above for Adenostoma fasciculatum Alliance and Salvia leucophylla-Artemisia californica Alliance.

Woodland

Woodland describes a vegetation type dominated by woody trees and tall shrub species, forming a closed to intermittent canopy over a variety of low shrubs, vines, and herbs. The woodland plant communities observed at the project site include Quercus agrifolia Alliance, Quercus lobata Alliance, and Juglans californica Alliance, which are discussed below.

QUERCUS AGRIFOLIA ALLIANCE Quercus agrifolia Alliance is dominated by Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia (Coast Live Oak), which is a broad-leaved, evergreen, wide-topped tree with furrowed, dark gray bark and spine-toothed, convex, dark green leaves. Q. agrifolia is the most widely distributed species of the evergreen oaks, and it is capable of achieving large size and old age (Zedler et al. 1997). Quercus agrifolia Alliance occurs predominantly in canyons, on steep slopes, and on raised stream banks and terraces at elevations below 1,200 meters. It forms a continuous to open 30-meter-tall canopy, growing over an understory of occasional shrubs and an herbaceous ground layer. Quercus agrifolia Alliance requires sandstone or shale-derived soils. (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995.) The associates observed contributing to the upland tree canopy of this oak woodland include Quercus lobata (Valley Oak), Juglans californica var. californica (Southern California Black Walnut), and Umbellularia californica var. californica (California Bay). The associates observed contributing to the riparian tree canopy of the ephemeral drainages meandering through the upland woodland include Sambucus mexicana (Blue Elderberry) and Platanus racemosa (California Sycamore). The understory is quite variable, including many of those associate shrub species listed above under Coastal Sage Scrub. In addition, the following native shrub species were observed specifically in the understory of Quercus agrifolia Alliance onsite: Ceanothus oliganthus var. oliganthus (Hoary Ceanothus), Ceanothus spinosus, Heteromeles salicifolia, Lonicera subspicata var. denudata (Southern Honeysuckle), Polygala cornuta var. fishiae (Fish’s Milkwort), Rhamnus californica ssp. californica (California Coffeeberry), Ribes aureum var. gracillimum (Slender Golden Currant), Symphoricarpos mollis (Creeping Snowberry), and Toxicodendron diversilobum (Western Poison Oak). The native herbs, ferns, and vines observed in the understory include: Cardamine californica var. californica (California Milkmaids), Clematis lasiantha (Pipestem Clematis), Delphinium patens ssp. hepaticoideum (Spreading Larkspur), Dryopteris arguta (Coastal Wood Fern), Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia var. chrysanthemifolia (Eucrypta), Lathyrus vestitus ssp. laevicarpus (Pacific Peavine), Lilium humboldtii ssp. ocellatum (Ocellated Humboldt Lily), Osmorhiza brachypoda

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(Sweet Cicely), Oxalis albicans ssp. californica (California White Wood Sorrel), Paeonia californica (California Peony), Pellaea andromedifolia var. andromedifolia (Coffee Fern), Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis (Goldenback Fern), Salvia spathacea, Sanicula crassicaulis var. crassicaulis (Pacific Sanicle), Tauschia arguta (Southern Tauschia), and Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri (Fendler Meadow-rue).

QUERCUS LOBATA ALLIANCE Quercus lobata Alliance is dominated by Quercus lobata (Valley Oak), which is a tall deciduous tree with light grayish bark and deeply lobed leaves. This uncommon oak species is found in slopes, valleys, and savannahs at elevations below 1,700 meters. The National Inventory of Wetland Plants (Reed 1988) lists Quercus lobata with a wetland indicator status of FAC* (tentatively, a Facultative species that is equally likely to occur in wetlands as in nonwetlands). Quercus lobata Alliance forms a less than 30-meters tall open woodlands canopy with occasional shrubs below with a grassy groundlayer. This plant community requires intermittently flooded soils, and occurs in floodplains, valley bottoms, gentle slopes, and summit valleys. (Sawyer and Keeler- Wolf 1998.) Quercus lobata Alliance was observed in the lower elevation portions of the property (northern half) and exists as Valley Oak Savannah consisting of a scattered open canopy of Valley Oak with an understory of Ruderal Grassland Alliance (described above). Wildflower Field Alliance was observed growing below Quercus lobata Alliance where Quercus agrifolia Alliance opened up.

Developed/Disturbed

Developed/Disturbed is land that has been altered, either by human activities (for building and road development purposes) or by natural causes. As a result, this altered land is generally either permanently developed or is initially bare ground until natural succession begins. Habitat succession is a slow process of reestablishing original plant communities, but successional habitats are readily invaded by ruderal introduced and often invasive plant species. Disturbed areas onsite primarily exist as dirt roads and other cleared land. Limited vegetation occurs in this land cover type and tends to be weedy.

FAUNA

Numerous species of wildlife are known to occur within the Santa Monica Mountains vicinity, and DMEC expects many to frequent and inhabit existing resources based on the presence of the resources provided by the Grassland, Scrub, Chaparral, and Woodland plant communities observed onsite. Sixty-six (66) wildlife species were observed, reported, or detected onsite, including 1 amphibian, 4 reptiles, 32 birds, 14 mammals, and 15 invertebrates. Table 6, Ash Property Wildlife Species, contains a list of animal species that were directly observed, reported by the property owner, or detected by sign in the vicinity of the Ash property. Scientific nomenclature follows Jennings (1983) and Stebbins (1985) for reptiles and amphibians, National Geographic Society (2002) for birds, Burt and Grossenheider (1976) for mammals, and Arnett and Jacques (1981) and Hogue (1993) for invertebrates.

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Table 6. Ash Property Wildlife Species

Observed, Reported, Scientific Name5 Common Name or Detected?6 Amphibians Eumeces skiltonianus Western Skink Reported Reptiles Sceloporous occidentalis Western Fence Lizard Observed Uta stansburiana elegans California Side-blotched Lizard Observed Pituophis melanoleucus Gopher Snake Reported Crotalus viridis Western Rattle Snake Observed Birds Ardea herodias Great Blue Heron Reported Anas platyrhynchos Mallard Reported Cathartes aura Turkey Vulture Observed Aquila chrysaetos Golden Eagle Reported Elanus leucurus White-tailed Kite Reported Accipiter cooperii Cooper’s Hawk Observed (flying overhead) Buteo lineatus Red-shouldered Hawk Observed Buteo jamaicensis Red-tailed Hawk Observed Falco sparverius American Kestrel Observed Callipepla californica California Quail Observed Zenaida macroura Mourning Dove Observed Tyto alba Barn Owl Reported Bubo virginianus Great-horned Owl Reported Athene cunicularia Burrowing Owl Reported Calypte anna Anna’s Hummingbird Observed Melanerpes formicivorus Acorn Woodpecker Observed Empidonax difficilis Pacific-slope Flycatcher Observed Tyrannus vociferans Cassin’s Kingbird Observed Aphelocoma californica Western Scrub-jay Observed Corvus corax Common Raven Observed Petrochelidon pyrrhonota Cliff Swallow Observed Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow Observed Psaltriparus minimus Common Bushtit Observed Sialia mexicana Western Bluebird Observed Turdus nigratorius American Robin Observed Mimus polyglottos Northern Mockingbird Observed Pipilo crissalis California Towhee Observed Pipilo maculatus Spotted Towhee Observed Zonotrichia leucophrys White-crowned Sparrow Observed

5 Bold = Special-status wildlife species. 6 Reported = reported by Mr. Ash to DMEC as being observed on his property.

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Observed, Reported, Scientific Name5 Common Name or Detected?6 Junco hyemalis Dark-eyed Junco Observed Sturnella neglecta Western Meadowlark Observed Carpodacus mexicanus House Finch Observed Mammals Didelphis virginiana Virginia Opossum Reported Sylvilagus auduboni Audubon Cottontail Observed Spermophilus beecheyi California Ground Squirrel Observed Thomomys bottae Botta’s Pocket Gopher Detected (borrows) Neotoma lepida intermedia San Diego Desert Woodrat Detected (nest) Neotoma fuscipes macrotis Long-eared Woodrat Detected (nest) Taxidea taxus American Badger Reported Observed & Canis latrans Coyote Detected (prints, scat) Urocyon cinereoargenteus Gray Fox Reported Procyon lotor Raccoon Reported Mustela frenata Long-tailed Weasel Reported Puma concolor Mountain Lion Reported Lynx rufus Bobcat Reported Observed (carcass) & Odocoileus hemionus Mule Deer Detected (prints, scat) Invertebrates Order Araneae (Spiders) Agelenopsis sp. Funnelweb Spider Observed Family Theraphosidae Tarantula Reported Order Acarina (Ticks) Dermacentor variabilis American Dog Tick Observed Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies, Moths) Vanessa cardui Painted Lady Butterfly Observed Vanessa atalanta rubria Red Admiral Observed Euphydryas chalcedona chalcedona Chalcedon Checkerspot Observed Nymphalis antiopa antiopa Mourning Cloak Observed Phoebis sp. Sulphur Observed Papilio eurymedon Pale Swallowtail Observed Pieris rapae Cabbage White Observed Family Lycaenidae Blue Observed Order Hymenoptera (Wasps, Bees) Apis mellifera* European Honey Bee Observed Family Pompilidae Tarantula Hawk Observed Bombus sp. Bumble Bee Observed Xylocopa sp. Carpenter Bee Observed

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WILDLIFE HABITAT AND MOVEMENT

Wildlife corridors link together areas of suitable wildlife habitat that are otherwise separated by rugged terrain, changes in vegetation, or human disturbance. The fragmentation of open space areas by urbanization creates isolated “islands” of wildlife habitat. Some wildlife species, especially the larger and more wide-ranging mammals, will not likely persist over time in fragmented or isolated habitat areas because they prohibit the infusion of new individuals and genetic information. Corridors mitigate the effects of fragmentation by: • Allowing animals to move between remaining habitats, thereby permitting depleted populations to be replenished and promoting genetic exchange; • Providing escape routes from fire, predators, and human disturbances, thus reducing the risk that catastrophic events (e.g. fire and disease), will result in population or local species extinction; and • Serving as travel routes for individual animals as they move in their home ranges in search of food, water, mates, and other necessary resources. Wildlife movement activities usually fall into one of three movement categories: dispersal (e.g. juvenile animals from natal areas or individuals extending range distributions); seasonal migration; and movements related to home range activities (e.g. foraging for food or water, defending territories, or searching for mates, breeding areas, or cover). A wildlife corridor, or landscape linkage, is a piece of habitat (usually linear in nature) that connects two or more core habitat patches that would otherwise be fragmented or isolated from one another. Wildlife corridors are usually bounded by urban land areas or other areas unsuitable for wildlife. The corridor generally contains suitable cover, food, and/or water to support species and facilitate movement while in the corridor. Larger, landscape-level corridors, often referred to as “habitat or landscape linkages,” can provide transitory and resident habitat for many species. A travel route is a landscape feature (such as a ridgeline, drainage, canyon, or riparian strip) within a larger natural habitat area that is used frequently by animals to facilitate movement and to provide access to necessary resources (e.g. water, food, cover, den sites). The travel route is generally preferred because it provides the least amount of topographic resistance in moving from one area to another. It contains adequate food, water, and/or cover while moving between habitats and provides a relatively direct link between target habitat areas. Figure 6, Regional Wildlife Habitat and Corridors Near the Ash Property, illustrates the SCW wildlife habitat (non-core) and landscape linkages in relation to the location of the project site. The wildlife habitats and corridors illustrated on Figure 6 are based primarily on research conducted by the South Coast Wildlands Project (Penrod et al. 2006). Based on maps provided by CDFG’s BIOS MAPS (available at: http://imaps.dfg.ca.gov) and Figure 6, the southern half of the project site is located within wildlife habitat (non-core). Figure 7, Wildlife Travel Routes at the Ash Property, presents the ridgelines, drainages, and foraging paths used by local and local wildlife. The rugged landscape and dense vegetation provides wildlife habitat that supports numerous travel routes and resources for wildlife movement, including large mammals, such as Mountain Lion. (Note: The foraging paths mapped on Figure 7 are delineated by DMEC based on recognizable paths via aerial photography, field surveys, direct observation of wildlife use, and wildlife sign [scat and tracks] as evidence of activity in specific portions of the project site.)

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Figure 6. Regional Wildlife Habitat and Corridors Near the Ash Property

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Figure 7. Wildlife Travel Routes at the Ash Property

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South Coast Wildlands (SCW) works to maintain and restore connections between isolated wildland areas in the South Coast through their program called the "Missing Linkages Project"7. One such isolated wildland area of concern is the Santa Monica Mountains. Although the Santa Monica Mountains are protected in part through state and federal ownership (Point Mugu State Park and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area [SMMNRA], respectively), this high-quality habitat area is severely isolated from other wildland areas in Southern California. Specifically, SCW has drafted a report that analyzes the potential linkage between the isolated Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills, and the much larger areas of contiguous habitat in the Sierra Madre to the north. (Penrod et al. 2006.) In their report, SCW (Penrod et al. 2006) identify multiple areas of existing and potential landscape linkage between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Sierra Madre. Using a "least cost union" methodology to determine which landscape linkages should be the focus of conservation efforts, they have identified one main corridor near the Ventura-Los Angeles County line, and one smaller "side branch" that connects the larger corridor with the western side of the Santa Monicas through the Tierra Rejada Valley. The southern edge of this western corridor lies 3.5 miles to the west of the Ash Property, along the summit of Conejo Mountain. The southernmost parcels that make up this landscape linkage can be seen in Figure 6. In their "least cost union" analysis, SCW looked at the needs of three large-area dependent species: Mule Deer, American Badger, and Mountain Lion. In addition to landscape linkage areas, SCW has identified other areas of habitat for these animals near the corridors. Large areas of habitat, in which 50 individuals of the target species could survive for multiple generations, are known as cores, whereas other, smaller habitat areas are known as patches. (Penrod et al. 2006.) Multiple habitat areas exist near the subject property, as can be seen in Figure 6. Some of these habitat areas are relatively isolated, and should be considered patches, such as those to the north of Potrero Road. The areas of habitat around and within the Ash Property, however, should be considered core habitat due to their adjacency to the target habitat area of the SMMNRA, that is at least for the Mule Deer and American Badger, since the Santa Monica Mountains is not large enough to support 50 individuals do to the Mountain Lion’s very large habitat area requirements. The natural vegetation present on the Ash Property, both within and outside of the proposed restrictive covenant area, functions together with the vegetation south of the property line as one habitat unit, which stretches to the Pacific Coast Highway. The Ash Property represents the northernmost edge of one of the most isolated areas of high quality habitat in Southern California.

7 Report is available at http://www.scwildlands.org/reports/SCML_SantaMonica_SierraMadre.pdf.

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SECTION 4. SPECIAL-STATUS BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES

One of the goals of the Ventura County General Plan is to “preserve and protect significant biological resources from incompatible land uses and development. Significant biological resources include endangered species and habitats, wetlands, wildlife migration corridors, and locally important species/communities (1.5.2). Discretionary development in these areas must be evaluated by a qualified biologist, and be sited and designed to mitigate impacts”8. Eighty-three (83) special-status elements are tracked within the CNDDB nine-quad search (CDFG 2007), including Newbury Park (in which the Ash property exists), Point Mugu, Camarillo, Santa Paula, Moorpark, Simi, Thousand Oaks, Point Dume, and Triunfo Pass, California USGS Quadrangles. Of the 83 elements, 31 are special-status plant species, 40 are special-status wildlife species, and 12 are sensitive habitat types known to occur in the vicinity of the project site. In addition, eight (8) plant species listed by CNPS (including species of local concern), were observed onsite, making a total of 39 special-status plant species known or with potential to occur onsite. The special-status species and habitats, either observed onsite or expected onsite based on habitat requirements similar to those on the Ash property project site, are discussed in the following subsections. Figure 8, Special-Status Species Observed on the Ash Property, indicates the locations of special- status plant and wildlife species observed within the project site.

8Ventura County General Plan, available at: http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:4KXd1AOp5TgJ:danr.ucop.edu/ihrmp/county/VENTURA.pdf+Ventura+Coun ty+General+Plan+Policy&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=3.

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Figure 8. Special-Status Plant and Wildlife Species Observed on the Ash Property

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SPECIAL-STATUS PLANT SPECIES

A total of 39 special-status plant species are known or reported in the vicinity of the Ash property and have the potential to occur onsite. Table 7, Special-Status Plant Species Observed and Potentially Present at the Ash Property, summarizes the CNDDB reports for 31 plant special-status plant species tracked for the nine quads, and provides each species’ scientific/common name, status, habitat requirements, and likelihood of occurrence. Table 7 also includes the remaining eight (8) plant species that were observed onsite and that are not tracked by CNDDB, but are considered locally rare or uncommon plant species in Ventura County. No federally or state listed special-status plant species were observed onsite; however, of the 39 plant species presented in Table 7, DMEC observed thirteen (13) special-status plant species during the summer and spring field surveys. CDFG’s CNDDB Rarefind3 tracks five (5) of these observed species, while eight (8) are species of local importance. None of the special-status plant species observed are included on the Ventura County Locally Important Species List (VCPD 2005). Figure 8 shows locations of the 13 special-status plant species observed onsite. The 13 special-status plant species observed at the Ash property include the following (known population counts for Ventura County are according to Magney [manuscript]): • Calochortus clavatus var. clavatus (Club-haired Mariposa Lily) - CNPS List 4.3, (~20 known extant populations in Ventura County); • Clarkia cylindrica ssp. cylindrica (Cylindrical Godetia) - Locally Uncommon (7 known extant populations in Ventura County); • Delphinium patens ssp. hepaticoideum (Spreading Larkspur) - Locally Rare (3 known extant populations in Ventura County); • Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. patulum (Lowland Padre Shooting Star) - Locally Rare (4 known extant populations in Ventura County); • Juglans californica var. californica (Southern California Black Walnut) - CNPS List 4.2 (~80 known extant populations in Ventura County); • Lathyrus vestitus ssp. laevicarpus (Pacific Peavine) - Locally Uncommon (7 known extant populations in Ventura County); • Lilium humboldtii ssp. ocellatum (Ocellated Humboldt Lily) - CNPS List 4.2, (~12 known extant populations in Ventura County); • Osmorhiza brachypoda (Sweet Cicely) - Locally Uncommon (10 known extant populations in Ventura County); • Oxalis albicans ssp. californica (California White Wood Sorrel) - Locally Rare (5 known extant populations in Ventura County); • Piperia cf. michaelii (Michael’s Rein Orchid) – CNPS List 4.2, (4 known extant populations in Ventura County); • Polygala cornuta var. fishiae (Fish Milkwort) - CNPS List 4.3, (27 known extant populations in Ventura County); • Sanicula bipinnata (Poison Sanicle) - Locally Uncommon (8 known extant populations in Ventura County); and • Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri (Fendler Meadow-rue) - Locally Rare (4 known extant populations in Ventura County).

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Table 7. Special-Status Plant Species Observed and Potentially Present at the Ash Property

Species Status9 Common CNPS List/ 10 Likelihood of Scientific Name Federal State Habitat Requirements 11 Name G-Rank12 S-Rank Local Occurrence Listing13 Listing Status14 Closed-cone coniferous forest, chaparral, coastal scrub, valley and foothill Astragalus Braunton's grassland. Recent burns or disturbed G2 S2.1 E . 1B.1 Possible brauntonii Milkvetch areas; in stiff gravelly clay soils overlying granite or limestone. 4-640 m. Coastal bluff scrub, coastal dunes, coastal scrub, valley and foothill Coulter's Atriplex coulteri G2 S2.2 . . 1B.2 grassland. Ocean bluffs, ridge tops, as Unlikely Saltbush well as alkaline low places. 10-440 m. Coastal scrub, chaparral, cismontane woodland. In Conejo volcanic Baccharis Malibu G1 S1.1 . . 1B.1 substrates, often on exposed road cuts. Possible malibuensis Baccharis May occupy oak woodland habitat. 150- 260 m. Calochortus Chaparral, cismontane woodland, valley Club-haired clavatus G4T3 S3.3 . . 4.3 and foothill grassland. Generally on Observed Mariposa Lily var. clavatus serpentine clay, rocky soils. 75-1300m. Coastal scrub, chaparral, valley and foothill grassland, cismontane woodland, Calochortus Plummer's lower montane coniferous forest. Occurs G3 S3.2 . . 1B.2 Likely plummerae Mariposa Lily on rocky and sandy sites, usually of granitic or alluvial material. Can be very common after fire. 90-1,610 m. Marshes and swamps (margins), valley Centromadia and foothill grassland, vernal pools. Southern parryi ssp. G4T2 S2.1 . . 1B.1 Often in disturbed sites near the coast; Unlikely Tarplant australis also in alkaline soils, sometimes with Saltgrass; also vernal pools. 0-425 m. Chaenactis Orcutt's Coastal bluff scrub, coastal dunes. glabriuscula G5T3 S2.1 . . 1B.1 Unlikely Pincushion Sandy sites. 3-100 m. var. orcuttiana Coastal scrub, chaparral. Dry slopes and flats; sometimes at interface of two Chorizanthe Parry's G2T2 S2.1 . . 3.2 vegetation types, such as chaparral and Possible parryi var. parryi Spineflower oak woodland; dry, sandy soils. 40- 1,705 m.

9 For special-status species definitions, refer to Tables 1 through 4 in the Methods Section. 10 Required habitat according to CDFG (2007) and Hickman (1993). 11 Likelihood of occurrence based on species’ habitat requirements and the presence of required habitat in the project site. Observed = Species was directly observed during DMEC’s spring or summer 2007 surveys; Likely = Required habitat exists at the project site and/or has been reported onsite or near by; Possible = Marginal required habitat exists onsite, and/or required habitat exists in surrounding areas; Unlikely = Required habitat does not exist at the project site nor does it exist nearby. 12 * = Ranking assigned by NatureServe (2006), not CNDDB. 13 E = Endangered; T = Threatened; R = Rare; C = Candidate. 14 LR = a Locally Rare plant species with 5 or fewer occurrences in Ventura County, and LU = Locally Uncommon plant species with 6 to 10 occurrences in the County (Magney 2007).

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Species Status9 Common CNPS List/ 10 Likelihood of Scientific Name Federal State Habitat Requirements 11 Name G-Rank12 S-Rank Local Occurrence Listing13 Listing Status14 Clarkia Cylindrical Open grassland, woodland, chaparral, cylindrica G5?T5? . . . LU Observed Godetia <1,000 m. ssp. cylindrica Cordylanthus Coastal salt marsh, coastal dunes. Salt Marsh maritimus G4?T2 S2.1 E E 1B.2 Limited to the higher zones of the salt Unlikely Bird's-beak ssp. maritimus marsh habitat. 0-30 m. Chaparral, coastal scrub. On sandstone Deinandra Santa Susana G2 S2.2 . R 1B.2 outcrops and crevices in shrubland. 280- Possible minthornii Tarplant 760 m. Delphinium Chaparral, coastal dunes (maritime). parryi ssp. Dune Larkspur G4T2 S2.2 . . 1B.2 On rocky areas and dunes. Unlikely blochmaniae 30-375 m. Delphinium Spreading Riparian woodlands and forests. patens ssp. G3?T3? . . . LR Observed Larkspur 300-1,300 m hepaticoideum Dodecatheon Lowland Moist places on grassy slopes and flats. clevelandii ssp. Padre G2G3TNR . . . LR Often on serpentine or in sub-alkaline Observed patulum Shooting Star sites. <600 m. Coastal scrub, coastal bluff scrub, valley Dudleya and foothill grassland. Open, rocky Blochman's blochmaniae G2T2 S2.1 . . 1B.1 slopes; often in shallow clays over Possible Dudleya ssp. blochmaniae serpentine or in rocky areas w/little soil. 5-450 m. Dudleya cymosa ssp. ovatifolia Agoura Hills Chaparral, cismontane woodland. G5T1 S1.2 T . 1B.2 Likely [D. cymosa ssp. Dudleya Rocky, volcanic breccia. 200-500 m. agourensis] Likely: Dudleya cymosa Marcescent Chaparral. On sheer rock surfaces and G5T2 S2.2 T R 1B.2 Reported ssp. marcescens Dudleya rocky volcanic cliffs. 180-520 m. immediately west of Ash

Santa Monica Chaparral, coastal scrub. In canyons on Dudleya cymosa sedimentary conglomerates; primarily N- Mountains G5T2 S2.2 T . 1B.2 Likely ssp. ovatifolia facing slopes. Dudleya 210-500 m.

Dudleya abramsii Coastal scrub, valley and foothill Conejo grassland. In clayey or volcanic soils on ssp. parva G2 S2.1 T . 1B.2 Likely Dudleya rocky slopes and grassy hillsides. [D. parva] 60-450 m. Chaparral, cismontane woodland, coastal Verity's Dudleya verityi G1 S1.1 T . 1B.2 scrub. On volcanic rock outcrops in the Likely Dudleya Santa Monica Mountains. 60-120 m. Chaparral, coastal scrub, valley and Eriogonum Conejo G2 S2.1 . R 1B.2 foothill grassland. Conejo volcanic Likely crocatum Buckwheat outcrops; rocky sites. 50-580 m. Californica macrophyllum Round-leaved Cismontane woodland, valley and G4 S2.1 . . 2.1 foothill grassland. Clay soil. Likely [Erodium Filaree 15-1,200 m. macrophyllum] Juglans Southern Chaparral, coastal scrub, cismontane californica California G3 S3.2 . . 4.2 woodland. Slopes, canyons, alluvial Observed var. californica Black Walnut habitats. 50-900m.

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Species Status9 Common CNPS List/ 10 Likelihood of Scientific Name Federal State Habitat Requirements 11 Name G-Rank12 S-Rank Local Occurrence Listing13 Listing Status14

Lasthenia Coastal salt marshes, playas, valley and Coulter's foothill grassland, vernal pools. Usually glabrata G4T3 S2.1 . . 1B.1 Unlikely Goldfields found on alkaline soils in playas, sinks, ssp. coulteri and grasslands. <1,400m. Lathyrus vestitus Pacific Chaparral, oak woodland, coniferous or G5T3? . . . LU Observed ssp. laevicarpus Peavine mixed forest. <1,500 m. Chaparral, cismontane woodland, lower Lilium Ocellated montane coniferous forest, riparian humboldtii Humboldt G4T3 S3.2 . . 4.2 Observed forest. Yellow-pine forest or openings, ssp. ocellatum Lily oak canyons. 30-1800m. Chaparral, coastal scrub. Primarily on Nolina Chaparral sandstone and shale substrates; also G1 S1.1 . 1B.2 Possible cismontana Nolina known from gabbro. 140-1,275 m. Orcuttia California G2 S2.1 E E 1B.1 Vernal pools. 15-660m. Unlikely californica Orcutt Grass Osmorhiza Moist ravines, coniferous forests, Sweet Cicely G4 . . . LU Observed brachypoda woodlands. 200-2,000 m. California Oxalis albicans Coastal scrub and chaparral. White Wood G5T3T4 . . . LR Observed ssp. californica <700 m. Sorrel Chaparral, valley and foothill grassland. Edges of clearings in chaparral, usually Pentachaeta Lyon's G1 S1.1 E E 1B.1 at the ecotone between grassland and Possible lyonii Pentachaeta chaparral or edges of firebreaks. 30-630 m. Coastal bluff scrub, cismontane woodland, closed-cone coniferous forest, Piperia Michael’s G3 S3.2 . . 4.2 coastal scrub, lower montane coniferous Observed cf. michaelii Rein Orchid forest. Mudstone and humus, generally dry sites. 3-915 m. Cismontane woodland, riparian Polygala cornuta woodland, chaparral. Scree slopes, Fish Milkwort G5T5 S3.3 . . 4.3 Observed var. fishiae brushy ridges, and along creeks; often with oaks. 100-1100m. Sanicula Open grassland or pine-oak woodlands. Poison Sanicle G4G5 . . . LU Observed bipinnata 20-1,000 m. Senecio Rayless Cismontane woodland, coastal scrub. G3? S1.2 . . 2.2 Possible aphanactis Ragwort Drying alkaline flats. 20-575 m. Marshes and swamps. Coastal salt Estuary Suaeda esteroa G4 S3.2 . . 1B.2 marshes in clay, silt, and sand substrates. Unlikely Seablite 0-5 m. Chaparral. Open sites; in California with Texosporium Woven-spored Adenostoma fasciculata, Eriogonum, G2 S1.1 . . . Possible sancti-jacobi Lichen Selaginella. At Pinnacles, on small mammal pellets. 290-660 m. Thalictrum Fendler Moist, open to shaded places, woodland, fendleri G5T4T5 . . . LR Observed Meadow-rue forest. 900-3,200 m. var. fendleri Thelypteris Sonoran Meadows and seeps. Along streams, puberula G5T3 S2.2? . . 2.2 Possible Maiden Fern seepage areas. 50-550 m. var. sonorensis

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CNDDB tracks 31 special-status plant species within the vicinity of the nine-quadrangle-search and the Ash property project site. Of the 31 special-status plant species tracked by CNDDB, eight (8) special-status plant species are likely to occur onsite. None of these eight species were observed onsite; however, not all portions of the property were accessible. These species are still considered likely to occur onsite since required habitat exists at the project site and/or the species has been reported nearby. The eight special-status plant species that are likely to occur onsite include: • Californica macrophyllum [Erodium macrophyllum] (Round-leaved Filaree); • Calochortus plummerae (Plummer's Mariposa Lily); • Dudleya cymosa ssp. ovatifolia [D. cymosa ssp. agourensis] (Agoura Hills Dudleya); • Dudleya cymosa ssp. marcescens (Marcescent Dudleya); • Dudleya cymosa ssp. ovatifolia (Santa Monica Mountains Dudleya); • Dudleya abramsii ssp. parva [D. parva] (Conejo Dudleya); • Dudleya verityi (Verity's Dudleya); • Eriogonum crocatum (Conejo Buckwheat). The spring survey of early March 2007 and the summer survey of late May 2007 generally captures existing conditions onsite, including the blooming period for most special-status plant species known or expected in the vicinity of the project site. These species of interest were detected, or would generally have been detected if they were present onsite, during the timing of these surveys. Table 8, Blooming Periods of Special-Status Plant Species Known and Expected Onsite, provides the likelihood of occurrence and blooming period (Magney manuscript) for each species to help determine if DMEC would have been able to detect the species onsite during the timing of the summer surveys.

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Table 8. Blooming Periods of Special-Status Plant Species Known and Expected Onsite

Likelihood of Blooming Scientific Name Common Name Comments Occurrence Period Blooming period was captured during Astragalus brauntonii Braunton's Milkvetch Possible MAR-JUN spring and summer surveys. Blooming period was captured during Atriplex coulteri Coulter's Saltbush Unlikely MAR-OCT spring and summer surveys; however, not expected onsite. Blooming period was not captured during spring or summer surveys; Baccharis malibuensis Malibu Baccharis Possible AUG however, this species is a shrub and would likely be detected if present. Calochortus clavatus Club-haired Blooming period was captured during Observed APR-JUN var. clavatus Mariposa Lily summer survey. Plummer's Mariposa Blooming period was captured during Calochortus plummerae Likely MAY-JUL Lily summer survey. Blooming period was not captured Centromadia parryi during spring or summer surveys; Southern Tarplant Unlikely JUN-SEP ssp. australis however, this species is known primarily in vernal pool habitats. Chaenactis glabriuscula Blooming period was captured during Orcutt's Pincushion Unlikely APR-JUL var. orcuttiana summer survey. Chorizanthe parryi Blooming period was captured during Parry's Spineflower Possible APR-JUN var. parryi summer survey. Clarkia cylindrica Blooming period was captured during Cylindrical Godetia Observed APR-JUL ssp. cylindrica summer survey. Cordylanthus maritimus Blooming period was captured during Salt Marsh Bird's-beak Unlikely MAY-OCT ssp. maritimus summer survey. Blooming period was not captured during spring or summer surveys; Deinandra minthornii Santa Susana Tarplant Possible JUL-OCT however, this species is a shrub and would likely be detected if present. Delphinium parryi Blooming period was captured during Dune Larkspur Unlikely MAR-APR ssp. blochmaniae spring survey. Delphinium patens Blooming period was captured during Spreading Larkspur Observed APR-JUN ssp. hepaticoideum summer survey. Dodecatheon clevelandii Lowland Padre Blooming period was captured during Observed JAN-APR ssp. patulum Shooting Star spring survey. Dudleya blochmaniae Blooming period was captured during Blochman's Dudleya Possible MAY-JUN ssp. blochmaniae summer survey. Dudleya cymosa Blooming period was captured during ssp. ovatifolia Agoura Hills Dudleya Likely MAY-JUN summer survey. [D. cymosa ssp. agourensis] Dudleya cymosa Blooming period was captured during Marcescent Dudleya Likely MAY-JUN ssp. marcescens summer survey. Dudleya cymosa Santa Monica Blooming period was captured during Likely MAY-JUN ssp. ovatifolia Mountains Dudleya summer survey. Dudleya abramsii Blooming period was captured during Conejo Dudleya Likely MAY-JUN ssp. parva [D. parva] summer survey.

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Likelihood of Blooming Scientific Name Common Name Comments Occurrence Period Blooming period was captured during Dudleya verityi Verity's Dudleya Likely MAY-JUN summer survey. Blooming period was captured during Eriogonum crocatum Conejo Buckwheat Likely APR-JUL summer survey. Californica macrophyllum Blooming period was captured during Round-leaved Filaree Likely MAR-MAY [Erodium macrophyllum] spring and summer surveys. Juglans californica Southern California Blooming period was captured during Observed APR-MAY var. californica Black Walnut summer survey. Lasthenia glabrata Blooming period was captured during Coulter's Goldfields Unlikely MAR-MAY ssp. coulteri spring and summer surveys. Lathyrus vestitus Blooming period was captured during Pacific Peavine Observed APR-JUN ssp. laevicarpus summer survey. Lilium humboldtii Ocellated Humboldt Blooming period was captured during Observed MAY-JUL ssp. ocellatum Lily summer survey. Blooming period was captured during Nolina cismontana Chaparral Nolina Possible APR-JUN summer survey. Blooming period was captured during Orcuttia californica California Orcutt Grass Unlikely MAY-JUN summer survey. Blooming period was captured during Osmorhiza brachypoda Sweet Cicely Observed MAR-MAY spring and summer surveys. Oxalis albicans California White Wood Blooming period was captured during Observed MAR-MAY ssp. californica Sorrel spring and summer surveys. Blooming period was captured during Pentachaeta lyonii Lyon's Pentachaeta Possible MAR-APR spring survey. Blooming period was captured during Piperia cf. michaelii Michael Rein Orchid Observed MAY-AUG summer survey. This subshrub species is detectable Polygala cornuta Fish Milkwort Observed JUN-AUG during all seasons, and was observed var. fishiae during both spring & summer surveys. Blooming period was captured during Sanicula bipinnata Poison Sanicle Observed APR-MAY summer survey. Blooming period was captured during Senecio aphanactis Rayless Ragwort Possible FEB-APR spring survey. Blooming period was not captured during spring or summer surveys; Suaeda esteroa Estuary Seablite Unlikely JUL-AUG however, this species is known primarily in coastal salt marsh habitats. Focused lichen surveys were not Texosporium sancti-jacobi Woven-spored Lichen Possible Unknown conducted onsite. Thalictrum fendleri Blooming period was captured during Fendler Meadow-rue Observed MAY-JUL var. fendleri summer survey. Thelypteris puberula Blooming period was captured during Sonoran Maiden Fern Possible JAN-SEP var. sonorensis spring and summer surveys.

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SPECIAL-STATUS WILDLIFE SPECIES

Table 9, Special-Status Wildlife Species Observed and Potentially Present at the Ash Property, summarizes the CNDDB search for 40 special-status wildlife species reported for the nine quads, and provides each species’ scientific and common name, status, habitat requirements, and likelihood of occurrence. Table 9 also includes one Ventura County Locally Important Species, Matilija Shoulderband Snail, that is not tracked by CNDDB, but that has potential to be present onsite. No federally or state listed special-status wildlife were observed onsite; however, eight (8) special- status wildlife species were observed, reported, or detected onsite during DMEC’s field surveys, which include the following: • Accipiter cooperii (Cooper’s Hawk) - observed; • Aquila chrysaetos (Golden Eagle) - reported; • Ardea herodias (Great Blue Heron) - reported; • Athene cunicularia (Burrowing Owl) - reported; • Elanus leucurus (White-Tailed Kite) - reported; • Neotoma lepida intermedia (San Diego Desert Woodrat) - detected; • Puma concolor (Mountain Lion) - reported; and • Taxidea taxus (American Badger) - reported. Figure 8 (above) only maps the locations of San Diego Desert Woodrat, since Cooper’s Hawk was flying overhead and all remaining special-status wildlife species were reported by Mr. Ash from a previous date prior to the DMEC surveys, and their locations are unknown. Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Barn Owl, and Great-horned Owl were also observed or were reported onsite. Although these species are not of any special-status, it should also be noted that all raptors and raptor nests are protected under Fish and Game Code Section 3503. Of the 40 special-status wildlife species tracked by CNDDB, within the nine-quadrangle-search and the vicinity of the Ash property project site, five (5) special-status wildlife species are likely to occur onsite. These species are likely to occur onsite since required habitat exists at the project site and/or the species has been reported nearby, and they include: • Aimophila ruficeps canescens (Southern California Rufous-crowned Sparrow); • Eremophila alpestris actia (California Horned Lark); • Phrynosoma coronatum (blainvillii population) (Coast [San Diego] Horned Lizard); • Phrynosoma coronatum (frontale population) (Coast [California] Horned Lizard); and • Trimerotropis occidentaloides (Santa Monica Grasshopper).

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Table 9. Special-Status Wildlife Species Observed and Potentially Present at the Ash Property

Species Status15 Habitat Likelihood of Scientific Name Common Name Federal State 16 G-Rank S-Rank CDFG18 Requirements Occurrence Listing17 Listing Southern Aimophila Resident in southern California Coastal California Sage Scrub and sparse mixed chaparral. ruficeps G5T2T4 S2S3 . . SC Likely Rufous-crowned Frequents relatively steep, often rocky canescens Sparrow hillsides with grass and forb patches. (Nesting) woodland, chiefly of open, interrupted or marginal. An uncommon year-round resident in so. Calif. Prefers woodland habitats but can also be found Accipiter cooperii Cooper’s Hawk G5 S3 . . SC in virtually any habitat during migration. Observed Typical breeding habitat in so. Calif. consists of riparian and oak woodlands, but also nests in ornamental woodlands provided by parks. (Nesting & wintering) rolling foothills Aquila mountain areas, sage-juniper flats, desert. Golden Eagle G5 S3 . . SC Cliff-walled canyons provide nesting Reported chrysaetos habitat in most parts of range; also, large trees in open areas. Colonial nester in tall trees, cliffsides, and Great Blue sequestered spots on marshes. Rookery Ardea herodias G5 S4 . . . sites in close proximity to foraging areas: Reported Heron marshes, lake margins, tide-flats, rivers and streams, wet meadows. Found in deserts and semiarid areas with Aspidoscelis Coastal Western sparse vegetation and open areas. Also G5T3T4 S2S3 . . . Unlikely tigris stejnegeri Whiptail found in woodland and riparian areas. Ground may be firm soil, sandy, or rocky. Open, dry annual or perennial grasslands, deserts and scrublands characterized by Athene low-growing vegetation. Subterranean Burrowing Owl G4 S2 . . SC Reported cunicularia nester, dependent upon burrowing mammals, most notably, the California Ground Squirrel. (Wintering) Open grasslands, sagebrush flats, desert scrub, low foothills, and Ferruginous fringes of Pinyon-Juniper habitats. Buteo regalis G4 S3S4 . . SC Mostly eats lagomorphs, California Possible Hawk Ground Squirrel, and mice. Population trends may follow lagomorph population cycles. Endemic to Los Angeles basin southern Catostomus coastal streams. Habitat generalists; Santa Ana Sucker G1 S1 T . SC Unlikely santaanae prefer sand-rubble-boulder bottoms, cool, clear water, and algae.

15 For special-status species definitions, refer to Tables 1 through 3 in the Methods Section. 16 Likelihood of occurrence based on species’ habitat requirements and the presence of required habitat in the project site. Observed = Species was directly observed during DMEC’s spring or summer 2007 surveys; Detected = Species was detected by sign during DMEC’s spring or summer 2007 surveys; Reported = Observed by property owners onsite; Likely = Required habitat exists at the project site and/or has been reported onsite or nearby; Possible = Marginal required habitat exists onsite, and/or required habitat exists in surrounding areas; or Unlikely = Required habitat does not exist at the project site nor does it exist nearby. 17 E = Endangered; T = Threatened; C = Candidate. 18 SC = A California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) “Species of Special Concern”. FP = CDFG Fully Protected Species.

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Species Status15 Habitat Likelihood of Scientific Name Common Name Federal State 16 G-Rank S-Rank CDFG18 Requirements Occurrence Listing17 Listing (Nesting) Federal listing applies only to Charadrius Western Snowy the Pacific coastal population. Sandy alexandrinus G4T3 S2 T . SC beaches, salt pond levees, and shores of Unlikely Plover nivosus large alkali lakes. Needs sandy, gravelly or friable soils for nesting. Inhabits areas adjacent to non-brackish water along the coast of California from Cicindela Sandy Beach San Francisco Bay to northern Mexico. G5T2 S1 . . . Unlikely hirticollis gravida Tiger Beetle Clean, dry, light-colored sand in the upper zone. Subterranean larvae prefer moist sand not affected by wave action. Inhabits marine shoreline, from central Cicindela senilis California coast south to salt marshes of Tiger Beetle G4T1 S1 . . . San Diego, also found at Lake Elsinore. Unlikely frosti Inhabits dark-colored mud in the lower zone and dried saltpans in upper zone. (Nesting) Riparian forest nester along the Coccyzus broad, lower flood-bottoms of larger river Western Yellow- systems. Nests in riparian jungles of americanus G5T2Q S1 C E . Unlikely billed Cuckoo willow, often mixed with cottonwoods, occidentalis with lower story of blackberry, nettles, or wild grape. Inhabitant of coastal sand dune habitat, from Bodega Head in Sonoma County Globose Dune south to Ensenada, Mexico. Inhabits Coelus globosus G1 S1 . . . Unlikely Beetle foredunes and sand hummocks; it burrows beneath the sand surface and is most common beneath dune vegetation. Winter roost sites extend along the coast from northern Mendocino to Baja Monarch California, Mexico. Roosts located in Danaus plexippus G5 S3 . . . Possible Butterfly wind-protected tree groves (eucalyptus, Monterey Pine, cypress), with nectar and water sources nearby. (Nesting) Rolling foothills/valley margins w/scattered oaks & river bottomlands or White-Tailed marshes next to deciduous woodland. Elanus leucurus G5 S3 . . FP Reported Kite Open grasslands, meadows, or marshes for foraging close to isolated, dense- topped trees for nesting and perching. Inhabits permanent or nearly permanent Emys bodies of water in many habitat types; (=Clemmys) Southwestern G3G4T2T below 6,000 ft elev. Require basking S2 . . SC Unlikely marmorata Pond Turtle 3Q sites such as partially submerged logs, pallida vegetation mats, or open mud banks. Need suitable nesting sites. Coastal regions, chiefly from Sonoma to San Diego Co. Also main part of San Eremophila California Horned Joaquin Valley and east to foothills. G5T3 S3 . . SC Likely alpestris actia Lark Short-grass prairie, "bald" hills, mountain meadows, open coastal plains, fallow grain fields, alkali flats. Brackish water habitats along the California coast from Agua Hedionda Eucyclogobius Lagoon, San Diego Co. to the mouth of Tidewater Goby G3 S2S3 E . SC the Smith River. Found in shallow Unlikely newberryi lagoons and lower stream reaches, they need fairly still but not stagnant water & high oxygen levels. Los Angeles basin south coastal streams. Slow water stream sections with mud or Gila orcuttii Arroyo Chub G2 S2 . . SC Unlikely sand bottoms. Feed heavily on aquatic vegetation and associated invertebrates.

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Species Status15 Habitat Likelihood of Scientific Name Common Name Federal State 16 G-Rank S-Rank CDFG18 Requirements Occurrence Listing17 Listing Matilija G1 Helminthoglypta Terrestrial. A Ventura County Locally Shoulderband (Nature- . . . . Possible willettii Important Species (VCPD 2005). Snail Serve) Microtus South Coast Tidal marshes in Los Angeles, Orange californicus G5T1T2 S1S2 . . SC Unlikely Marsh Vole and southern Ventura Counties. stephensi Coastal scrub of southern California from San Diego County to San Luis Obispo Neotoma lepida San Diego Desert County. Moderate to dense canopies G5T3? S3? . . SC Detected intermedia Woodrat preferred. They are particularly abundant in rock outcrops and rocky cliffs & slopes. Federal listing refers to pops from Santa Southern Maria River south to southern extent of Oncorhynchus Steelhead - range (San Mateo Creek in San Diego G5T2Q S2 E . SC Co.). Southern Steelhead likely have Unlikely mykiss irideus Southern greater physiological tolerances to California ESU warmer water and more variable conditions. Wandering Southern California coastal salt marshes. Panoquina errans (=Saltmarsh) G4G5 S1 . . . Requires moist Saltgrass for larval Unlikely Skipper development. Passerculus Belding's Inhabits coastal salt marshes, from Santa Barbara south through San Diego County. sandwichensis Savannah G5T3 S3 . E . Unlikely Nests in Salicornia on and about margins beldingi Sparrow of tidal flats. (Nesting colony) colonial nester on Pelecanus coastal islands just outside the surf line. California Brown Nests on coastal islands of small to occidentalis G4T3 S1S2 E E . Unlikely Pelican moderate size, which afford immunity californicus from attack by ground-dwelling predators. Phrynosoma Coast (San Coastal Sage Scrub and chaparral in coronatum Diego) Horned G4G5 S3S4 . . SC arid/semi-arid climate conditions. Prefers Likely (blainvillii Lizard friable, rocky, or shallow sandy soils. population) Frequents a wide variety of habitats, most Phrynosoma common in lowlands along sandy washes Coast (California) with scattered low bushes. Open areas coronatum G4G5 S3S4 . . SC Likely (frontale Horned Lizard for sunning, bushes for cover, patches of population) loose soil for burial, & abundant supply of ants & other insects. Obligate, permanent resident of Coastal Polioptila Sage Scrub below 2,500 ft in southern Coastal California California. Low, Coastal Sage Scrub in californica G3T2 S2 T . SC Possible Gnatcatcher arid washes, on mesas & slopes. Not all californica areas classified as Coastal Sage Scrub are occupied. From sea level to 10,000 feet. Typical habitat is steep, rocky canyon country, or mountainous terrain. Male territories range from 15 to 30 square miles, and females range from 5 to 20 square miles, G5 (S3) FSC . SC Puma concolor Mountain Lion depending on the number of young. They Reported may hunt in a radius of 30 to 50 miles. Mountain Lion territory sometimes is not one large area, rather several separate ones connected by paths.

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Species Status15 Habitat Likelihood of Scientific Name Common Name Federal State 16 G-Rank S-Rank CDFG18 Requirements Occurrence Listing17 Listing Found in salt marshes traversed by tidal Rallus sloughs, where Cordgrass and Pickleweed Light-footed are the dominant vegetation. Require longirostris G5T1T2 S1 E E . Unlikely Clapper Rail dense growth of these species for nesting levipes or escape cover; feeds on molluscs and crustaceans. (Nesting) colonial nester; nests primarily in riparian and other lowland habitats west of the desert. Requires vertical Riparia riparia Bank Swallow G5 S2S3 . T . Unlikely banks/cliffs with fine-textured/sandy soils near streams, rivers, lakes, ocean to dig nesting hole. Southern Sorex ornatus Coastal marshes in Los Angeles, Orange, California G5T1? S1 . . SC and Ventura Counties. Requires dense Unlikely salicornicus Saltmarsh Shrew veg. and woody debris for cover. Spea Occurs primarily in grasslands, but can Western also in valley-foothill hardwood (=Scaphiopus) G3 S3 . . SC Possible Spadefoot woodlands. Vernal pools for breeding, hammondii egg-laying. (Nesting colony) nests along the coast from San Francisco Bay south to northern Sterna antillarum California Least Baja California. Colonial breeder on bare G4T2T3Q S2S3 E E . Unlikely browni Tern or sparsely vegetated, flat substrates: sand beaches, alkali flats, landfills, or paved areas. Endemic to western Riverside, Orange, & San Diego Cos. in areas of tectonic Streptocephalus Riverside Fairy swales/earth slump basins in grassland & G1 S1 E . . Possible woottoni Shrimp Coastal Sage Scrub. Inhabit seasonally astatic pools filled by rains. Hatch in warm water later in the season. Most abundant in drier open stages of most shrub, forest, and herbaceous American habitats, with friable soils. Need Taxidea taxus G5 S4 . . SC Reported Badger sufficient food, friable soils & open, uncultivated ground. Prey on burrowing rodents. Dig burrows. Coastal California from vicinity of Salinas to northwest Baja California. Thamnophis Two-striped From sea to about 7,000 ft elevation. G3 S2 . . SC Highly aquatic, found in or near Unlikely hammondii Garter Snake permanent fresh water. Often along streams with rocky beds and riparian growth. Trimerotropis Santa Monica Known only from the Santa Monica G1G2 S1S2 . . . Mountains. Found on bare hillsides and Likely occidentaloides Grasshopper along dirt trails in chaparral. Inhabits coastal lagoons, estuaries, and Mimic Tryonia salt marshes, from Sonoma County south (=California to San Diego County. Found only in Tryonia imitator G2G3 S2S3 . . . Unlikely Brackishwater permanently submerged areas in a variety Snail) of sediment types; able to withstand a wide range of salinities. (Nesting) summer resident of southern California in low riparian in vicinity of Vireo bellii water or in dry river bottoms; below Least Bell's Vireo G5T2 S2 E E . Unlikely pusillus 2,000 ft. Nests placed along margins of bushes or on twigs projecting into pathways, willow, Baccharis, mesquite.

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SPECIAL-STATUS HABITATS

Table 10, Special-Status Habitats Observed at, and Known Near, the Ash Property, summarizes the CNDDB search for sensitive habitat types reported for the nine quads surrounding and including the project site. Table 10 provides the habitat’s name, status, and whether it was observed onsite. Of the 12 sensitive habitats tracked by CNDDB, within the vicinity of the nine-quadrangle-search and the Ash property, DMEC observed five (5) sensitive habitats onsite, including the following: • Coast Live Oak Woodland; • Coastal Sage Chaparral Scrub; • Valley Needlegrass Grassland; • Valley Oak Woodland; and • Wildflower Field. These observed habitats, and respective alliances (plant communities), are discussed in detail above in the Habitat Descriptions subsection above in Section 3. Table 10 includes the plant alliance names described in the Habitat Descriptions subsection of this report for each sensitive habitat observed. Figure 9, Sensitive Habitats Observed on the Ash Property, shows the distribution of CNDDB- tracked sensitive habitats observed onsite.

Table 10. Special-Status Habitats Observed at, and Known Near, the Ash Property

Species Status19 Scientific Name Observed Onsite? Global Rank State Rank California Walnut Woodland G2 S2.1 Not Observed Coast Live Oak Woodland G4 S4 Observed (Quercus agrifolia Alliance [upland & riparian]) Coastal Sage Chaparral Scrub (Salvia leucophylla-Artemisia californica Alliance & G3 S3.2 Observed Lichen Rock Outcrop-Dudleya lanceolata Alliance) Southern Coast Live Oak Riparian Forest G4 S4 Not Observed Southern Coastal Salt Marsh G2 S2.1 Not Observed Southern Riparian Forest G4 S4 Not Observed Southern Riparian Scrub G3 S3.2 Not Observed Southern Sycamore Alder Riparian Woodland G4 S4 Not Observed Southern Willow Scrub G3 S2.1 Not Observed Valley Needlegrass Grassland G1 S3.1 Observed (Native Perennial Grassland Alliance) Valley Oak Woodland G3 S2.1 Observed (Quercus lobata [Savannah] Alliance) Wildflower Field G2 S2.2 Observed (Wildflower Field Alliance)

19 For special-status species definitions, refer to Tables 1 through 4 in the Methods Section.

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Figure 9. Sensitive Habitats Observed on the Ash Property

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SECTION 5. RECOMMENDATIONS

The Ash property project has the potential to impact sensitive biological resources existing within the project site parcels. However, impacts can be minimized by selecting development sites that avoid the maximum sensitive resources as possible. Using the pasture areas and avoiding areas with more pristine habitats will minimize impacts significantly. DMEC recommends extending the proposed restrictive covenant north to protect special-status species, sensitive habitats, and wildlife resources the maximum extent possible. Figure 10, Recommended Restrictive Covenant Expansion Area for the Ash Project, illustrates DMEC’s recommended expansion area in addition to the originally proposed restrictive covenant. The northern boundary of this expansion area cuts west to east across the property; as drawn, it avoids the existing water tank and associated dirt access road along the western property line, areas of corrals under oak canopy, and all outbuildings of the Ash residence. The proposed expansion of the restrictive covenant would, however, incorporate an existing well onsite near the eastern property line. DMEC’s proposed restrictive covenant will avoid significant impacts to almost all of the special- status plant species observed onsite (Polygala cornuta var. fishiae falls outside), and would preserve the limited, unique, and diminishing wildlife habitat of the Santa Monica Mountains. DMEC believes that the proposed covenant area will not restrict all possible future development sites, such as the northern portion of the proposed parcel 694-0-170-300. Some impacts to oak woodland may still result from such development, but those impacts would be mitigable onsite. The following subsections provide mitigation recommendations for potential impacts to specials- status biological resources observed and potentially occurring onsite that may result from future development of the Ash property. These mitigation measures are general recommendations. Once final project/construction plans are delineated, the impacts to specials-status biological resources can be more accurately and quantitatively defined. Mitigation for impacts to specials-status biological resources is not expected to be limited to the general recommendations discussed below.

SPECIAL-STATUS PLANT SPECIES

No Federally or State-listed plant species were observed on the Ash property. However, 13 special- status plant species were observed onsite. Detailed construction and grading plans must be submitted to the County in order to assess the impacts to these and potentially other special-status plant species resulting from any future development project onsite. In addition, focused lichen surveys should be conducted prior to any development to account for any special-status lichen species onsite. After lichen surveys have been conducted and development plans have been submitted, if impacts to special-status lichens are expected, then mitigation for such impacts must be developed.

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Figure 10. Recommended Restrictive Covenant Expansion Area for the Ash Project

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If any individuals of special-status species considered rare statewide are impacted, the impact would be considered significant and mitigation or avoidance would be required. In addition, if an entire population of a locally important species will be lost due to any future construction activities, or no portion of the population remains viable, this impact would also be considered significant and mitigation or avoidance would be required. If a special-status plant species, or if an entire population is found to exist within the areas of impact, the location of the project or aspects of the project should be relocated, or (1) prior to construction, the extent of the species should be fully delineated to determine the extent of the impacts to the population and individual plants resulting from the proposed project, and (2) a detailed mitigation plan shall be developed and implemented. If mitigation is required for impacts to special-status plant species, a detailed mitigation plan should be developed to minimize impacts and to ensure successful mitigation for impacts to special-status plant species. Mitigation ratios for any significant impacts to special-status plant species is recommended generally at a 10:1 ratio, but this ratio may vary depending upon the status of the species impacted and how well the species is expected to be reestablished. The mitigation plan should include but not be limited to the following measures: • Conducting floristic surveys prior to any construction to delineate the extent of the impacts to the population and individual plants resulting from the proposed project; • Flagging off plants to be avoided outside of the development envelope; • Preserving the topsoil within the development envelope as a seed bank to promote special-status species revegetation; • Collecting seeds of special-status plant species in the immediate vicinity of the project site, to ensure that the genetic integrity of the local landscape remains intact; • Sowing the seed back onsite (and outside of any potential fuel modification zones) after construction activities have been completed. (A qualified botanist should be present during implementation of mitigation measures to aid in successful mitigation.); and • Maintaining and monitoring restoration/planting sites for a minimum of five (5) years to determine mitigation success/failure, and implementing remedial measures to satisfy mitigation objectives. SPECIAL-STATUS WILDLIFE SPECIES No Federally or State-listed wildlife species were observed onsite or within the potential impact areas. However, eight special-status wildlife species were observed, reported, and detected onsite (Cooper’s Hawk, Golden Eagle, Great Blue Heron, Burrowing Owl, White-Tailed Kite, San Diego Desert Woodrat, Mountain Lion, and American Badger). Detailed construction and grading plans must be submitted to the County in order to assess the impacts to these and potentially other special- status wildlife species resulting from any future development project onsite. If any special-status wildlife species are impacted as a result of any future development project, the project site shall either be relocated to another location within the identified project areas to avoid the impact, or a mitigation plan will be developed and implemented by a County approved biologist to minimize impacts and to ensure successful mitigation for impacts to special-status wildlife species. This mitigation plan shall include, but not be limited to the measures discussed in the following paragraphs. A County-approved Biologist shall develop a mitigation plan to safely relocate the sensitive wildlife species (may include trapping) and install appropriate temporary fencing prior to development to prevent re-entry. If any state or federal endangered or threatened listed species are detected during the pre-development surveys, then the County, and the respective regulatory agencies, will be immediately notified, and development will not be permitted until such time as a letter of no-effect or

C:\DMEC\Jobs\Ventura\Ventura County\Planning\CEQAbio\2007\Ash-HiddenValley\Ash-SeasonalBiologicalResReport.doc Page 48 Biological Resources of the Ash Property, Hidden Valley, Thousand Oaks, California Project No. 07-0061 June 2007 DMEC the appropriate take permit(s) is issued. If development is approved, a County-approved Biologist shall also be present during development to ensure that sensitive wildlife species will not be directly disturbed, harmed, or lost. Measures should be taken to ensure no harm or impacts to any wildlife species (special-status or otherwise) during construction activities (construction monitoring). Prior to grading or activities, a qualified biologist should survey the construction areas of the site to determine if wildlife species are foraging, frequenting, or nesting on or adjacent to the construction areas. If any wildlife species, including special-status wildlife species, are observed during construction activities, the contractor shall allow the animal to escape or a qualified biologist shall relocate the animal to a preserved/undeveloped area with similar required habitat. If a special-status wildlife species is observed onsite, a biological monitor shall be notified to implement all measures necessary to protect the sensitive species. The equipment operators shall be informed of the species’ presence and/or be provided with pictures in order to help avoid impacts to this species to the maximum extent possible. Three special-status raptor birds were observed onsite including, Cooper’s Hawk, White-Tailed Kite, and Golden Eagle. In addition, five other raptor birds were observed or reported onsite, including Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Barn Owl, and Great-horned Owl. Although these species are not of any special-status, it should be noted that all raptors and raptor nests are protected under Fish and Game Code Section 3503. Bird nesting typically occurs between 1 February and 30 June, but may vary depending upon the species. Although the observed and reported raptors are not expected to be directly impacted by any future development, and no other bird nests are expected to be impacted onsite (no nests observed during surveys), to avoid violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act or Fish and Game Code Section 3503, a County-approved biologist should survey the construction sites thirty (30) days prior to the onset of construction activities to identify any bird nests that would be directly or indirectly affected by the construction activities. If any active non-raptor bird nests are found, they should be flagged off 300 feet in radius around the nest, and that area shall be avoided until the nest becomes inactive (vacated). If any active raptor bird nests are found, they should be flagged off 500 feet in radius around the nest, and that area shall be avoided until the nest becomes inactive (vacated). Inactive raptor nests are also protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and any inactive raptor nests shall be protected and shall not be destroyed. If raptor nests are not found, and if active non-raptor nests are not found, no further mitigation is required. (Natasha Lohmus, pers. comm. 29 March 2007.) WILDLIFE MOVEMENT The project site is mapped by SCW as existing within wildlife habitat. The areas of habitat around and within the Ash property should be considered core habitat due to their adjacency to target habitat. The natural vegetation present on the Ash property, both within and outside of the proposed restrictive covenant area, functions together with the vegetation south of the property line as one habitat unit, which stretches to the Pacific Coast Highway. The Ash property represents the northernmost edge of one of the most isolated areas of high quality habitat in Southern California. Future development of the Ash property (depending upon the extent of development) is not expected to significantly impact wildlife movement and migration in the vicinity of the Ash property project site; however, significant temporary and permanent impacts to the wildlife habitat onsite may result from development. Temporary impacts impeding use of the resources onsite would include noise, lighting, dust, and human presence. Permanent impacts include permanent loss of vegetation and species-specific wildlife habitat.

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DMEC and Mr. Ash observed and reported several wildlife species and signs of several wildlife species, including Mule Deer, Coyote, Mountain Lion, Bobcat, American Badger, and several wildlife travel routes were also observed onsite (DMEC primarily used existing travel routes onsite to conduct the seasonal surveys). DMEC fully expects these larger species, as well as smaller wildlife species, to use the roads, creeks, and ridgelines as well. The following mitigation measures will be required to reduce potential development impacts to the minimum extent possible: • Avoid removing natural vegetation to the maximum extent possible within the project area; • Avoid contact with, or aggravating, any wildlife that may be encountered; • Reduce noise levels during the night hours between 10:00 P.M. and 5:00 A.M.; • Reduce night lighting; and • Restrict the use of chemicals or poisons around construction areas and completed project.

SENSITIVE HABITATS Five (5) sensitive habitats exist in the immediate vicinity of the Ash property, including the following as tracked by CNDDB: Coast Live Oak Woodland, Coastal Sage Chaparral Scrub, Valley Needlegrass Grassland, Valley Oak Woodland, and Wildflower Field. Substantial impacts to sensitive habitats, resulting from any future proposed project onsite, will be considered significant. The proposed project may result in significant direct and cumulative impacts if any sensitive habitats are cleared as a result of the direct development onsite and/or from any subsequent required fuel modification and access roads. All areas proposed to be impacted directly or indirectly should be delineated, submitted to the County, and provided to an approved biologist. Once final construction/grading plans are submitted, the biologist may accurately assess potential impacts to sensitive habitats onsite and recommend appropriate mitigation for those impacts. If no impacts to sensitive habitats result from future development, no mitigation is necessary. However, if impacts to sensitive habitats result from the proposed project, mitigation should be set at a 3:1 ratio, and a detailed mitigation plan should be developed to minimize impacts and to ensure successful mitigation for impacts to sensitive habitats. The mitigation plan should include, but not be limited to, the following: • Collect seeds of plant species from the sensitive habitat to be impacted in the immediate vicinity of the project site, to ensure that the genetic integrity of the local landscape remains intact; • Revegetate and enhance the preserved sensitive habitats within the property boundaries by hand- sowing seeds and planting container plants of native indigenous plant species; • Control and remove invasive exotic plant species from the restoration site(s) to enhance species richness and create a less competitive growing environment for native successional and planted species; • Implement erosion control measures to protect the integrity of the restoration site and to allow plantings and natural natives to germinate; • Facilitate natural habitat regeneration and habitat succession to aid in the restoration effort; • Increase native plant species richness, structural diversity, native vegetative cover, and increase forage, cover, and nesting habitat for terrestrial wildlife frequenting and inhabiting the property. • Monitor work of the planting contractors to keep impacts to biological resources during mitigation implementation to the minimum extent possible; and • Monitor the restoration plantings and restoration site to ensure that success is achieved.

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WETLAND HABITATS

DMEC observed several ephemeral drainages in the Quercus agrifolia Alliance onsite, otherwise classified as Coast Live Oak Riparian Forest. This habitat onsite was not extensive; however, the drainages included well-defined bed and banks, and included old-growth Platanus racemosa as well as other herbaceous wetland species, including Artemisia douglasiana, Rosa californica (California Wild Rose), and Rubus ursinus (Pacific Blackberry). Wetlands, such as the Coast Live Oak Riparian Forest observed by DMEC, are protected under the Ventura County General Plan Policy, which states “discretionary development within 300’ of a stream is to be evaluated by a biologist for potential impacts.” Discretionary development occurring within 100 feet of riparian wetlands is generally prohibited under County General Plan Policies 1.5.2.1 and 1.5.2.2. Road crossings over streams are permitted; however, replacement mitigation is typically required, with in-kind habitat replacement or enhancement. Portions of the Coast Live Oak Riparian Forest plant community observed onsite may meet the definition of wetlands per Ventura County, and may be within the jurisdictional authority of Ventura County, California Department of Fish and Game (pursuant to Section 1600 et seq. of the California Fish and Game Code), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), and the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LARWQCB) (Section 404 and Section 401, respectively of the Clean Water Act). CDFG will likely require a Streambed Alteration Agreement for within and impacts to the riparian habitat onsite, which will require a detailed mitigation and monitoring program to be developed to avoid impacts to the maximum extent possible and to mitigate for any impacts to riparian habitats. The wetland habitat onsite may be considered Waters of the U.S., including wetlands, which are regulated by the Corps and LARWQCB, pursuant to Sections 404 and 401 of the Clean Water Act, respectively. Any impacts to the riparian habitat onsite may also require a permit from these regulatory agencies. A wetland delineation may be required to determine the extent of wetlands onsite. A detailed mitigation and monitoring program shall be developed to avoid impacts to the maximum extent possible and to mitigate for any impacts resulting from fill and dredge activities. Any impacts to the wetland habitats onsite would be considered a significant impact, and a detailed mitigation and monitoring plan (similar to that described above in the Sensitive Habitats subsection) shall be developed to mitigate for impacts to County, state, and federally-defined wetland habitats. All applicable permits shall be obtained prior to any construction activities in or near a jurisdictional wetland.

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SECTION 6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This report was written by Cher Batchelor with assistance from William Abbott. David Magney reviewed and edited this report. Mr. Abbott created all graphics for this report and mapped all vegetation onsite. Ms. Batchelor and Mr. Abbott conducted the biological resources surveys and photographed the property on March and May 2007.

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SECTION 7. CITATIONS

REFERENCES CITED

Arnett, R.H., Jr. and R.L. Jacques, Jr. 1981. Simon and Schuster’s Guide to Insects. Simon and Schuster, New York, New York. Behler, J.L. and F.W. Wayne. 1992. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians (Tenth Printing). Alfred A. Knopf, New York. Boyd, S. 1999. Vascular Flora of the Liebre Mountains, Western Transverse Ranges, California. November. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, California. Brodo, I.M., S.D. Sharnoff, and S. Sharnoff. 2001. Lichens of North America. Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut. Burt, W.H. and R.P. Grossenheider. 1976. A Field Guide to the Mammals: North America North of Mexico. 3rd edition. (The Peterson Field Guide Series.) Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston, Massachusetts. California Department of Fish and Game. 2006. Special Animals List (824 taxa). February 2006. The Resources Agency, Biogeographic Data Branch. (available at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/whdab/pdfs/SPAnimals.pdf). California Department of Fish and Game. 2007. California Natural Diversity Database search of RareFind3. (Updated 28 April 2007) The Resource Agency, State of California, Sacramento, California. California Native Plant Society. 2001. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California. Sixth edition. (Special Publication No. 1.) Rare Plant Scientific Advisory Committee, David Tibor, Convening Editor, Sacramento, California. September. California Native Plant Society. 2006. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California. Sixth edition. Rare Plant Scientific Advisory Committee, David Tibor, Convening Editor, Sacramento, California. September. Changes to the Inventory as published on the CNPS website (http://www.cnps.org/programs/Rare_Plant/inventory/changes/changes_ accepted.htm). Consortium of California Herbaria. 2007. Database of plant specimen vouchers for plants collected within California and deposited at one or more California public herbaria. Available at: http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/consortium/. Update 2 February 2007. Davis, F.W., P.A. Stine, D.M. Stoms, M.I. Borchert, and A.D. Hollander. 1985. Gap Analysis of the Actual Vegetation of California: 1. The Southwestern Region. Madroño 42(1):40-78. Flora of North America Editorial Committee. 1993-2007. Flora of North America. Oxford University Press. New York, New York. Volumes 1 through 26 (incomplete). Hickman, J. ed. 1993. The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California. Hogue, C.L. 1993. Insects of the Los Angeles Basin. Second edition. Natural History Museum Foundation, Los Angeles, California. Holland, R.F. 1986. Preliminary Description of the Terrestrial Natural Communities of California. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California. Jennings, M.R. 1983. An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of California. California Department of Fish and Game 69(3):151-171. Knudsen, K. in ed. Lichens of the Santa Monica Mountains, Part Two. Opuscula Philolichenum. Knudsen, Kerry. 2005. Lichens of the Santa Monica Mountains, Part One. Opuscula Philolichenum 2:27-36. Available at http://clade.acnatsci.org/lendemer/paper6.pdf.

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Knudsen, K. 2006. Lichens on the Beltrami Property, Santa Monica Mountains, Ventura County, California. 30 March 2006. The Herbarium, Department of Botany & Plant Sciences, University of California Riverside, CA 92521- 0124. [email protected]. Magney, D.L. Manuscript. A Flora of Ventura County, California. David Magney Environmental Consulting, Ojai, California. Magney, D.L. 1992. Descriptions of Three New Southern California Vegetation Types: Southern Cactus Scrub, Southern Coastal Needlegrass Grassland, and Scalebroom Scrub. Crossosoma 18(1):1-9, June. Magney, D.L. 1999. Preliminary List of Rare California Lichens. California Lichen Society Bulletin 6(2):22-27. Available at http://128.32.109.44/red.html or http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/rlmoe/cals6_2.html. Magney, D.L. 2007. Checklist of Ventura County Rare Plants. 23 January 2007. California Native Plant Society, Channel Islands Chapter, Ojai, California. Available at http://www.cnpsci.org. Mayer, Kenneth E. and William F. Laudenslayer, Jr. 1988. A Guide to Wildlife Habitats of California. State of California, Resources Agency, Department of Fish and Game. Sacramento, CA. 166 pp. (also available at: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/whdab/html/wildlife_habitats.html.) National Geographic. 2002. Field Guide to the Birds of North America (Fourth Edition). Washington, D.C. National Park Service. 2003. List of Lichens Collected from Pinnacles National Park. http://data2.itc.nps.gov/nature/documents/Lichen2003List.pdf. NatureServe. 2006. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. October 2006. Version 6.1. NatureServeve, Arlington, Virginia. Available at: http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. Penrod, K., C. Cabañero, P. Beier, C. Luke, W. Spencer, E. Rubin, R.M. Sauvajot, S. Riley, an D Kamradt. 2006. South Coast Missing Linkages Project: A Linkage Design for the Santa Monica-Sierra Madre Connection. June 2006. South Coast Wildlands, Idyllwild, California. http://www.scwildlands.org. (Accessed: 5 June 2007.) Reed, P.B., Jr. 1988. National List of Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands: California (Region 0). (Biological Report 88[26.10].) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ft. Collins, Colorado. Sawyer, J.O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A Manual of California Vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, California. Stebbins, R.C. 1985. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians. (The Peterson Field Guide Series.) Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. Ventura County Planning Division (VCPD). 2005. Ventura County Locally Important Species. 5 May 2005. Ventura, California. Zedler, P., S. DeSimone, J. Giessow, D. Lawson, J. Else, and S. Bliss. February 1997. The Plant Communities of Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, California. San Diego State University, Department of Biology, Ecology Program. San Diego, California.

PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS

Knudsen, Kerry, Lichen Herbarium Curator, UC Riverside. Personal communication providing list of vouchered specimens collected from the Santa Monica Mountains, dated 28 December 2003, and 22 November 2005. Lohmus, Natasha, California Department of Fish and Game. Telephone conversation of 29 March 2007 regarding Migratory Bird Treaty Act or Fish and Game Code Section 3503.

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APPENDIX. ASH PROPERTY PHOTODOCUMENTATION

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SPRING PHOTOGRAPHS (MARCH 2007)

Left: Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. patulum making up Wildflower Field Alliance in opening of Quercus agrifolia. Right: View north of valley floor from steep north-facing slope of Ash property (foreground = Quercus agrifolia).

Left: Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. patulum. Right: View southwest of the higher elevation portion of the Ash property.

Left: View northeast from steep north-facing slope of Ash property. Right: Trail walked by DMEC during survey.

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Left: Giant boulder existing in the transition area between the higher elevations and the valley floor portion of the Ash property. Right: Foreground is Heteromeles salicifolia and Quercus agrifolia; showing the dense vegetation onsite.

Left: Wildflower Field Alliance. Right: Lilium humboldtii ssp. ocellatum.

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Left: Stand of Nassella pulchra making up the Native Perennial Grassland Alliance onsite. Right: Transition area between the higher elevations with dense vegetation and the valley floor (pasture) portion of the Ash property; Quercus agrifolia Alliance with very little understory structure.

Left 3: Piperia cf. michaelii. Right: Dudleya lanceolata (below) and Polypodium californicum (above) on rock outcrop.

Left: Sanicula bipinnata. Right: Quercus lobata Alliance (Valley Oak Savannah).

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SUMMER PHOTOGRAPHS (MAY 2007)

Left & Right: Quercus lobata (Savannah) Alliance with Ruderal Grassland Alliance growing below (pasture).

Left: Lichen Rock Outcrop-Nassella pulchra-Wildflower Field Association in the transition area between the pasture valley and the densely vegetated higher elevations of the property. Right: Lichen boulder in the same field as in the picture on the left.

Left: Same location as above left. Right: Chalcedon Checkerspot on Salvia mellifera.

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Left: Clarkia cylindrica ssp. cylindrica. Right 2: Polygala cornuta var. fishiae.

Left: Cirsium occidentale var. occidentale. Right: Calochortus clavatus var. clavatus.

Left: Boulder covered with crustose lichens. Right: View east of dense oak woodland/chaparral canopy observed onsite.

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Nassella pulchra Alliance/Needlegrass Grassland

Views southward from pasture to the higher elevation portions of the Ash property.

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