Mission Bay Natural Resources Management Plan
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PREPARED FOR BARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DEVELOPMENT AND EWZRONMENTAL PLANNING, PE HNG DEPARTMENT CITY OF SM DIEGO Abbe Wolfsheimer, District 1 Ran Roberts, District 2 John Hartley, District 3 Wes Pratt, District 4 Linda Bernhardt, District 5 Bruce Henderson, District 6 Judy McCarty, District 7 Bob Filner, District 8 Park and Reer@atisw Board Bonnie Reading, Chairman Stave Alexander Mark Brucs Terrence Curren Lyndelle Fairlie ~ettiHubbard Katharine Kharas Cecilia Lorimar Eugene #cEl roy Bernie Whinerson Robert Russell Hfrsian Bay Park Camittee Steve Alexander, Chairman Leslie Bruce Thomas Chadwick Dave Crow Vern Embery Harshall Foreman Daniel Pox Debarah Green Tad Jardins Walter Rerrigan Val Kraft Brian McCarthy James Moore Jan Neil Samuel Paritsa Dan Peterson Sen Disga Park and Recreation Department George Loveland, Director David Womsy, Assistant Director Terri Carroll, Deputy Director, Coastal Division Hike Behan, Bietrict Hanager Art Belenzon, District Wanager Robert Spaulding, City Planning Director Ann Hix, Principal Planner Robin Stribley, Senior Planner Tom Huffman, Senior Planner TABLE OF COITEmS Section Page Introduction Purpose ........................... 1 Objectives .......................... 2 History ........................... 2 Agency Jurisdiction and Appl icable Clty Plans .......... 4 Agency Jurisdiction ..................... 4 City Plans Applicable to Mission Bay Park Natural Resource . 6 BS 01 ogi cal Resources ..................... 8 Marine Resources .................... 8 Wetland Resources ....................11 Terrestrial Resources ..................12 Sensitive Species .....................18 Land Use and Recreation ...................20 Sand ..................... ...... 000021 WaterQuality ........................22 Lease Development ......................25 Public Recreation ......................25 Environmental Protection ...................25 Constraints and Opportunities ..................27 Land Use Proposals ........................28 Cityprojects ..................... ...28 Private Development Projects .................30 Beach Maintenance ......................30 Developent Guidelines ......................32 California Least Tern ....................32 Eelgrass Habitat .......................33 Marine. Wetland. and Terrestrial Habitat ...........34 Dredging ...........................35 Beach Maintenance ......................36 Water Quality .........................38 Hi.tigaticuw Options and Guidelimes ................ 39 Terrestrial Habitat Mitigation ............... 39 Eelgrass Habitatllitigation .... ; ............ 40 Ewhawcment Guidelines ..................... 41 California Least Tern .................... 41 Expansion of Preserve System ................ 42 Northern Wildlife Preserve ................. 45 FiestaIsSand ........................ 45 Flood Control Channel and Southern Wi1dlif.e Preserve .... 45 MissionBayPark .......................45 Federal and State Agency Permits and Agreements ....... 48 Development Responsibilities ................ 48 City Responsibilities .................... 50 References ........................... 53 Appendix A . Bathmetry Hap of Nprthern bd9'8d'Bife Preserve LIST 86 FIGURES Figure 1 Mission Bay Park Natural Resource Management Plan Setting 3 2 Eelgrass Inventory in Missio~Bay 10 3 Terrestrial Habitat and Wildlife Preserve System in 13 Mission Bay Park 4 Maintenance Dredging Locations 37 5 Proposed Wildlife Preserve Additions in Mission Bay Park 44 The Natural Resource Management Plan recognizes the presence of natural resources in Mission Bay Park and provides guidelines and programs for the protection, enhancement, and management of these resources. The intent is that no net reduction of wildlife habitat will be allowed and that the overall quality of habitat will be improved. The Plan provides a framework to allow the continued improvement and maintenance of Mission Bay Park and sti11 ensure viable productivity and protection of the Park's natural resources. Use of the Plan can help bridge what can sometimes be a gap between the require~ilentof human activities and the need to protect and manage natural resources. The Mission Bay Park Natural Resource Management Plan helps to clarify expectations for the protection of natural resources in the Park and to facilitate the granting of federal, state, and local permits for projects in the Park. The guidelines for development and mitigation provided in the Management Plan include: dredging; methods of construction to minimize impacts to natural resources; beach maintenance restrictions; construction methods to reduce impacts to water quality; scheduling constraints; buffer zones, mitigation location restrictions; habitat replacement ratios such as 1:1 ratio for eelgrass, salt pan, salt marsh, and any coastal strand habitat supporting sensitive species; eelgrass mitigation options; mitigation plans; and mitigation monitoring plans. A nesting site management program for the endangered California least tern proposes: coordination with resource agencies and regional experts; provision of suitable nesting substrate free of unnecessary vegetation; placement of 1east tern decoys ; imp1 ellientation of predator control ; inclusion of chick protection devices; maintenance and installation of signs, gates, and fences; and provision for one person once a week for four months a year to aid in monitoring least tern nesting sites. Two of the seven least tern,nesting sites in Mission Bay Park are proposed for a1 ternate uses. These changes are considered to be significant adverse impacts but will be mitigated. The western boundary of the Southern Wildlife Preserve in the Flood Control Channel is proposed for western expansion to a point in line with the east edge of Hospitality Point. Non-motorized watercraft would be allowed to utilize the area west of Ingraham Street Bridge from April through September by permit only. A maximum of 10 permits for any given day would be issued by the Park and Recreation Department. Fishing would only be a1 lowed from Dog Beach. In .additin to the salt marsh expansion at Crown Point Shores, previously discussed, another wildlife perserve is proposed for the approximately 110 acres of land currently occupied by sludge beds, south of the road on Fiesta Island. A variety of'habitats would be created as part of the preserve. This preserve would also include an embayment for the planting of eelgrass. The eelgrass embayment, as well as the new preserve areas, would be considered a mitigation "bank". The bank would provide mitigation credit for future projects. Educational and research opportunities are provided for in the Management Plan. Regular eelgrass surveys (every 3 years), general bird surveys (every 5 years), and least tern foraging studies (2 consecutive years) are proposed. Efforts to cooperate in sharing of information with universities and individuals is encouraged with the goal of maintaining a current data base. Educational signs are proposed and would be strategically placed for maximum benefit without creating negative environmental impacts. A small nature center and boardwalk system is proposed for either the new preserve expansion at Crown Point Shores or the northwestern corner of the new preserve for F~iestaIsland. The nature center complex would include a smal l structure (about 1,000 square feet), interpertive displays and signs, observation platforms, and a nature trail boardwalk system. The nature center design would be unobtrusive and blend with the preserve. It would serve as a focal point for nature enthusiasts, school and community groups for educational tours, and a focal place for natural resource management meetings. The Mission Bay Park Natural Resource Management Plan - Technical Appendices is available for referencing the most recent eelgrass, bird and least tern data, as well as resource agency information pertinent in developing mitigation plans. The Appendices will be periodical ly updated to keep the data current and expanded as data becomes available for other resources. INTRODUCTION PURPOSE The primary purpose of the Mission Bay Park Natural Resource Management Plan is to allow the continued improvement and maintenance of Mission Bay Park and still ensure viable productivity of the Park and its various natural resources. This Plan is intended to not only recognize the presence of natural resources, especially sensitive natural resources, but also provide for the protection, enhancement and management of these resources. The Natural Resource Management Plan provides for comprehensive management of sensitive biological resources, and ensures that these resources are properly considered during the planning and development of projects and master plan areas in Mission Bay Park. Preparation of the Mission Bay Park Natural Resource Management Plan involved close coordination with affected agencies, including the Cal ifornia Coastal Commission, Cal ifornia Departnient of Fish and Ganie, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the University of California Natural Reserve System. A comprehensive plan specifying the future character of Mission Bay Park's natural resources will facilitate the review of individual per4niit appl ications by these agencies. Under the present system, assessment of the col lective impacts and the effectiveness of mitigation for individual project proposals is difficult. With the Natural Resource Management Plan, a comprehensive approach to habitat protection can