1 Draft Master Resource Management Plan 2 Appendix C
3 Site Descriptions
4
5 Introduction
6 Biological resource setting in this appendix of the Draft Master Resource 7 Management Plan (MRMP) is derived from Appendix E of the 2004 Draft EIR 8 for the DMF/PDP as amended in the January 2005 FEIR. The information is 9 based primarily on a review of existing information and coordination with local, 10 state, and federal agencies.
11 Jones & Stokes’ biological team (consisting of a wildlife biologist and a 12 botanist/wetlands ecologist) also conducted a 2-day reconnaissance-level field 13 visit (July 23 and 24, 2002) to become familiar with the project area and 14 proposed development components.
15 Table E-1 provides a chronology and describes the types of biological surveys 16 that have been conducted in the project area over the past 12 years. These survey 17 results and the additional sources listed below were used to prepare the existing 18 conditions and impact analysis portions of this section.
19 A record search of the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) for 20 the Monterey and surrounding (Marina, Seaside, Mt. Carmel, and Soberanes 21 Point) U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5-minute quadrangles (CNDDB 22 2002).
23 The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Inventory of Rare and 24 Endangered Vascular Plants of California (CNPS 2001).
25 A USFWS list of endangered and threatened species that may occur on the 26 Pebble Beach Company Property (USFWS 2002a).
27 Jones & Stokes file information on biological resources in the Monterey Bay 28 area.
29 Other biological references cited below in the text and included in the 30 bibliography in Appendix E of the MRMP. 31 In addition to reviewing this existing information, information also was obtained 32 through discussions with and correspondence from resource agencies, as listed 33 below.
34 USFWS (2002a), CCC (2002a), and DFG (2002a and 2002b) comments on 35 the NOP.
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-1
Table E-1. Summary of Biological Surveys Conducted in the Project Area Page 1 of 4
Survey Period Survey Type and Area Report Title 1 1991 Botanical surveys Botanical Report for Del Monte Forest Lot Area M of the Proposed Golf Course Development Program, Del Monte Forest Subdivision 15 *
(Allen 1991) 1992 Botanical surveys Botanical Report for Del Monte Forest Lot Spanish Bay Driving Range (Area C), Development Program, Del Preservation Areas I-1 and J, Residential Monte Forest Subdivisions 8, Area K and Conservation Area K, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 17 * Preservation Area L, and Area M and V (Proposed Golf Course) (Allen 1992a) 1992 Botanical surveys Botanical Report for Del Monte Forest Lot Residential and Preservation Area PQR Development Program, Development Area P/Q/R, Pebble Beach *
(Allen 1992b) June 22-24, 1993; and various Reconnaissance field surveys Pebble Beach Lot Program dates February through June 1995 Revised EIR (combined with wildlife survey Lot Program Area dates in Revised Draft EIR (County of Monterey 1995) [County of Monterey 1995]) December 1993 and January 1994 Monarch butterfly surveys Report on the Presence/Absence of Monarch Del Monte Forest (not clear where exactly Butterfly Aggregations at the was surveyed) Proposed Del Monte Forest Residential and Recreational Development.
(Murphy, D.D. 1994) 1994 Sandmat manzanita surveys Occurrence of sandmat manzanita in the Del Monte Del Monte Forest Forest*
(Allen 1994b) 1994 Hooker’s manzanita surveys Occurrence of Hooker’s manzanita in the Del Monte Del Monte Forest Forest*
(Allen 1994a) August and September 1994 Habitat and acoustic surveys for bats Biological Resources of the Del Monte Forest, Special- Employee Housing/Preservation Area B, status Species, Del Monte Spanish Bay Driving Range (Area C), Forest Preservation and Preservation Areas G, H, and I-1, Residential Development Plan and Conservation Area K, Preservation Area L, Proposed new Golf Course (MNOUV),and (Zander Associates 2001b) Preservation and Residential Area PQR Table E-1. Summary of Biological Surveys Conducted in the Project Area Page 2 of 4
July 1994 and winter 1995 Systematic surveys for Monterey dusky- Biological Resources of the footed woodrat Del Monte Forest, Special- Status Species, Del Monte Del Monte Forest Forest Preservation and Development Plan
(Zander Associates 2001b) Late spring 1994 and May 1995 Hand surveys and raking surveys in duff Survey of potential habitat for layer for black legless lizards black legless lizard
Remnant sands adjacent to Spyglass Pit (Allen, 1995) April-June 1995 Target rare plant surveys for 6 coastal plant Final Recovery Strategies for species Six Coastal Plant Species on the Monterey Peninsula See report for survey sites within Del Monte Forest (Jones & Stokes 1996a) Late winter/early spring months Two consecutive years of surveys for Results of Two Consecutive in 1995 and 1996 Yadon’s piperia that focused on counting Years of Surveys for Yadon’s basal leaves Piperia (Piperia yadonii) 1995 and 1996 Surveys conducted on all lands within and outside Pebble Beach that contain suitable (Allen 1996) habitat for the species April and May 1999; January Wetland Delineation for Refined Alternative Monterey Local Coastal Plan through May 2000 2 Wetland Determination for Pebble Beach Lot Program Proposed Golf Course, New Equestrian Refined Alternative 2 Center (Sawmill), and Employee Housing/Preservation Area (Area B), Spanish (EcoSynthesis 2000) Bay C, H, K, and L. Did not include Huckleberry Hill and Area PQR. June 11 through August 25, 2000 Presence/Absence Surveys for Smith’s Blue Former Quarry at Spyglass Butterfly Hill and Stevenson Roads in Pebble Beach, CA Report on Former quarry at Spyglass Hill and Presence/Absence Survey in Stevenson’s Road = Areas M and N 2000 of Smith’s Blue Butterfly
(Entomological Consulting Services 2000 in Zander Associates 2001b) October 1999 and May-June 2000 California red-legged frog surveys Pebble Beach Company, Field Review of Modified New Golf Report states that all identified wetland areas Course Planning Area within the golf course project area and wetlands associated with proposed driving (letter from Jeff Froke, range near Spanish Bay resort were included Golfauna 2000)
Spring and summer 2001 Coastal dunes botanical surveys Biological Resources of the Del Monte Forest Coastal Signal Hill Dune/Spyglass Pit Area Dunes Del Monte Forest Preservation and Development Plan
(Zander Associates 2001a) Table E-1. Summary of Biological Surveys Conducted in the Project Area Page 3 of 4
November 2000 to March 2001 Wetland functions assessment and Wetlands - Del Monte Forest reconnaissance-level wetland surveys Preservation and Development Plan, Monterey County, Areas B, C, H, K, L, MNOUV, PQR, California Sawmill site (Wetlands Research Associates 2001) March through September 2001 General floristic surveys Biological Resources of the Del Monte Forest – Special- All of the Del Monte Forest west of Highway Status Species – Del Monte 68 (excluding the Huckleberry Hill Natural Forest Preservation and Area) Development Plan
(Zander Associates 2001b)
Del Monte Forest Database
(Yadon 2001a)
Biological Resources of the Del Monte Forest – Monterey Pine and Monterey Pine Forest Habitat
(Zander 2002a) April and October of 2001 Monterey pine forest sampling and Biological Resources of the assessment program (data collected on the Del Monte Forest – Monterey structure of the forest, seedling regeneration, Pine and Monterey Pine Forest distribution of pitch canker and understory Habitat composition and distribution) (Zander 2002a) Del Monte Forest Forest Management Plan for Del Monte Forest Preservation and Development Plan
(Webster 2002)
April 10 through May 12, 2001 Avian surveys including nesting raptors Avian Survey Report for the Del Monte Forest Preservation B, C, F-1, F-2, F-3, G, H, I-1, I-2, J, K, L, and Development Plan MNOUV, PQR, Sawmill, and Huckleberry Hill (Chris Tenney 2001) Early spring 2002 Revisit of Yadon’s piperia occurrences to M. Zander will be revising count basal leaves and assess population maps and preparing a report
“Numbers varied / overall trend the same – population very stable. Distribution same” (M. Zander July 30, 2002)
All known occurrences in Del Monte Forest Table E-1. Summary of Biological Surveys Conducted in the Project Area Page 4 of 4
September 19, 2002 Habitat assessment for California red-legged California Red-Legged Frog frog Site Assessment Report – Pebble Beach, California B, C, Sawmill, MNOUV, H, J, K, L, and PQR (Wetlands Research Associates, Inc. 2002a) Dates not specified Biological resources assessments for roadway Memorandum to Carmel improvements along Congress Road and 17 Development Company Mile Drive, SFB Morse Drive, Congress Road, Sunridge and Lopez Roads, Stevenson (Zander Associates 2002b) Road, Forest Lake Road, and Ondulado Road, Alva Lane, and Portola Road October 11-12 and 21-22, 2002 California red-legged frog surveys California Red-Legged Frog Field Survey Report, Pebble Area C, Golf Course, Area L (Seal Rock Beach, California Creek), and 4 water hazards on Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and two Corporate Yard ponds (Wetlands Research Associates, Inc. 2002b). October 2002, January 2003, May Additional wetland surveys of select areas Updated Wetland 2003 within Area C and Area MNOUV Determination Report
(EcoSynthesis 2003) February and March 2003 Additional California red-legged frog surveys California Red-Legged Frog Field Survey Report, Pebble Areas B, C, HHNA, Sawmill, Corp. Yard, F- beach, California 2, I-1, MNOUV, PQR (Wetlands Research Associates, Inc. 2003) March 28th to April 14th, 2003 Avian surveys including nesting raptors Avian Survey Report 2003 May 5th to 14th, 2003 (Tenney 2003) B, C, F-1, F-2, F-3, G, H, I-1, I-2, J, K, L, MNOUV, PQR, Sawmill, and Huckleberry Hill
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 July 31, 2002 – Meeting with Monterey County, DFG, USFWS, and CCC.
2 August 28, 2002 – Meeting with Monterey County and CCC.
3 September 9, 2002 – CCC memorandum (2002b) regarding Wetlands 4 Determination.
5 October 4, 2002 – CCC memorandum (2002c) to Monterey County regarding 6 October 2, 2002 field visit with Monterey County, CCC, and the applicant.
7 October 7, 2002 – Email message from USFWS (2002c) Ventura to Richard 8 Arnold regarding the results of 2000 surveys for Smith’s blue butterfly at the 9 Spyglass Quarry.
10 December 12, 2002 – Telephone conversation with USFWS regarding 11 California red-legged frog habitat assessment conducted by Wetland 12 Research Associates, Inc.
13 April 1, 2003 – Field visit and meeting with USFWS regarding California 14 red-legged frog habitat. 15 Given the project history, including prior independent environmental 16 documentation, several years of resource surveys, and the extensive resource 17 evaluations that have been conducted for the project, it was determined that an 18 independent field review would not be necessary to support preparation of this 19 EIR.
20 Biological Resource Setting
21 The Del Monte Forest lies on the Monterey Peninsula, an area that is overlain by 22 nutrient-poor, sandy soils derived from uplifting ancient marine terraces and 23 decomposed granite soils. Most of the Del Monte Forest is subject to marine fog 24 incursion and other maritime climatic influences, such as wind and salt spray. 25 Historically, fires occurred frequently and were an integral part of ecosystems 26 found on the peninsula. All these physical influences have resulted in the 27 evolution and/or persistence of many plants, biological communities, and 28 conditions that are endemic to the Monterey Peninsula.
29 Biological Communities
30 The project area is dominated by six major biological communities: Monterey 31 pine forest, central maritime chaparral (Monterey Phase), Monterey pygmy 32 forest, central dune scrub, riparian habitats, and wetland habitats. Shoreline and 33 marine habitats are also briefly described below as background for assessment of 34 indirect effects (e.g., runoff). The descriptions of biological communities were 35 largely derived from the discussions of RA2 in the prior uncertified Final EIR 36 (County of Monterey 1997); the Monterey Local Coastal Plan Wetland 37 Determination for Pebble Beach Lot Program Refined Alternative 2 38 (EcoSynthesis 2000); Wetlands – Del Monte Forest Preservation and 39 Development Plan, Monterey County, California (WRA 2001); and other 40 existing sources of information listed previously.
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-2
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Monterey Pine Forest
2 Monterey pine forest is the dominant biological community in the Del Monte 3 Forest, occupying 680 acres (including development, preservation, and 4 conservation areas) within the project area. Monterey pine forest is found on or 5 adjacent to all project sites within the project area as summarized in Table E-2.
6 Table E-2. Acreages of Monterey Pine Forest Within Project Areas
Project Location Acres Proposed Golf Course (Area MNOUV) 116.0 New Equestrian Center (Sawmill Site) 16.2 (1) Spanish Bay Resort 1.7 The Lodge at Pebble Beach 0.0 Spanish Bay Employee Housing/ Preservation Area B 24.3 Spanish Bay Driving Range/Conservation Area C 29.1 Preservation Area D 17.1 Residential Area F-2 19.5 Residential Area F-3/Conservation Area F-3 16.8 Preservation Area G 47.9 Preservation Area H 53.8 Preservation Area I-1 38.2 (2) Residential Area I-2 18.7 Preservation Area J 0.8 Residential Area K 3.0 Conservation Area K 3.9 Preservation Area L 18.2 Residential Area PQR 12.8 Preservation Area PQR 233.1 Corporation Yard Preservation Area 6.5 Internal Road Improvements 2.0 Highway 1/68 Improvements 0.0 Total (3) 679.5 (1) Includes only area of Native Forest. (2) Areas reduced by 2.2 acres to account for PBCSD expansion. (3) Additional areas of MPF located in HHNA, but as existing preserved area, not included in project totals. Sources: FMPs (Webster 2002, Staub, 2001), as supplemented and amended by Zander 2003a, 2003b 2002a, 2002b and by PBC 2003b, 2003d. 7
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-3
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 The natural range of native Monterey pine forest comprises five areas: three in 2 California and two on islands off the coast of Baja California. The three 3 occurrences of Monterey pine forest in California are on and adjacent to the 4 Monterey Peninsula, near Año Nuevo in San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties, 5 and in and around Cambria in San Luis Obispo County (see Figure E-1 in MRMP 6 Appendix B).
7 The Monterey Peninsula supports the largest Monterey pine forest of the extant 8 natural occurrences (see Figure E-2 in MRMP Appendix B). It is estimated that 9 Monterey pine forest historically covered approximately 18,000 acres on the 10 Monterey Peninsula and vicinity, of which approximately 9,300 acres of 11 Monterey pine forest with natural understory (i.e., undeveloped forest) remain in 12 2002 (Jones & Stokes 2004 – see Appendix C of the FEIR). Estimates of the 13 historical extent and remaining undeveloped forest vary depending on inventory 14 methodology. Another study conducted in the mid-1990s (Huffman 1994) 15 estimated that the historical extent of the Monterey pine forest in the Monterey 16 area covered 11,000–12,000 acres and that the remaining undeveloped natural 17 stands cover about 6,400 acres (Huffman and Associates 1994). The extent of 18 remaining native stands of Monterey pine forest at Año Nuevo (1,500 acres), 19 Cambria (2,300 acres), Cedros Island (370 acres), and Guadalupe Island (220 20 trees in 2001) are far smaller than those on the Monterey Peninsula (Jones & 21 Stokes 1996b; Rogers 2002). Jones & Stokes mapped the extent of undeveloped 22 forest in 1994 based on 1993 aerial imagery and partially updated that mapping 23 in 2004 using 2002 aerial imagery. A comparison of the two mapping efforts 24 identified removal of approximately 79 acres of forest due to development or a 25 loss of 1%. The actual change in undeveloped forest could be higher than this 26 estimate, as use of aerial imagery does not allow for a precise assessment of 27 potential loss of understory within forested areas. For this report, the estimate of 28 undeveloped Monterey pine forest used as baseline to measure project impacts is 29 9,300 acres (Jones & Stokes 2004 see Appendix C of the FEIR).
30 Of the estimated extant undeveloped Monterey pine forest, approximately 3,000 31 acres are protected through local or state public ownership in parks or preserves 32 (such as Point Lobos State Reserve), through ownership by conservation 33 organizations (such as the SFB Morse Preserve, owned by the Del Monte Forest 34 Foundation) or private lands with prior dedication of scenic and conservation 35 easements (such as Huckleberry Hill Natural Area, owned by the applicant). 36 Table E-3 summarizes the areas presently identified as protected.
37 Monterey pine forest is dominated by Monterey pine. In the Monterey area, 38 coast live oak is a common associate as a canopy or subcanopy tree. Other trees 39 that occur occasionally within Monterey pine forest are Monterey cypress, 40 Bishop pine, Gowen cypress, coast redwood, Douglas fir, white alder, Scouler’s 41 willow, and arroyo willow. Typical understory shrubs are shaggy-barked 42 manzanita, California huckleberry, bush monkeyflower, California blackberry, 43 poison oak, coyote brush, California coffeeberry, and creeping snowberry. The 44 herbaceous understory vegetation includes native bracken fern, Douglas iris, 45 spreading common rush, yarrow, blue wildrye, giant wildrye, California 46 polypody, California bedstraw, California strawberry, coast sanicle, and a variety
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-4
Table E-3. Protected Areas With Undeveloped Monterey Pine Forest in Monterey Region
Name Owner Location Nature of Protection (1) Acres (2) Notes Asilomar State Beach State Pacific Grove State ownership 0 From J&S GIS Canada Woods Private ownership Carmel Valley Conservation and Scenic 68 Acreage from WWD 2003 Easement based on J&S forest layer. Carmel River State Beach State Carmel State ownership 0 From J&S GIS Carmel River State Park State Carmel State ownership 3 From J&S GIS Carmel Way DMFF DMF DMFF fee ownership 2 From J&S GIS Community Hospital of CHOMP Monterey Open Space Easement 1 Presumed all of protected Monterey Peninsula area is MPF Crocker Grove DMFF DMF DMFF fee ownership 0 From J&S GIS Deer Flats Park Deer Flats HOA Inland Open Space parcels 34 Assumed 90% of area is MPF (GIS layer slightly offset) Del Mesa Carmel Open Space Private ownership Carmel Valley Conservation and Scenic 251 Assumed 95% of area is Easement MPF (GIS layer slightly offset) Don Dahvee Greenbelt City of Monterey City of Monterey City ownership 31 From J&S GIS El Estero Park City of Monterey Monterey City ownership 22 From J&S GIS Fisherman's Flat Park City of Monterey DMF City ownership 4 Assumed 90% of area is MPF (GIS layer slightly offset) Forest Hills Park City of Carmel Monterey City ownership 0 From J&S GIS George Washington Park City of Pacific Pacific Grove City ownership 21 From J&S GIS Grove Hatton Canyon State Parks and East of Highway 1 State ownership 65 Assumed to be 50% of site Recreation as no map of state park area obtained. Herman Property DMFF DMF DMFF fee ownership 4 From J&S GIS Huckleberry Hill Natural Area DMFF DMF DMFF easement 274 From J&S GIS Huckleberry Hill Natural U.S. Army City of Monterey Army lease to City 67 From J&S GIS Reserve
Table E3. Protected Areas With Undeveloped Monterey Pine Forest in Monterey Region
Name Owner Location Nature of Protection (1) Acres (2) Notes
Indian Village DMFF and PBC DMF DMFF fee ownership 28 From J&S GIS DMFF easement
Jacks Peak Park, w/ Monterra Regional Parks Inland County ownership 819 From J&S GIS Ranch, and Pacific Meadows Housing Conservation Easement dedication Authority of Monterey County Macomber Open Space Private Owners DMF Scenic Easements 40 Presumed Scenic Easement and HOA is all MPF Mission Trails Park City of Carmel City of Carmel City ownership 31 From J&S GIS Monterra Ranch/Tehama Private South of Airport Future Open Space Parcel, 151 Acreage from WWD 2003 Scenic Easement based on J&S forest layer. Navajo Tract/Rip Van Winkle DMFF/Pacific DMF DMFF fee ownership 48 From J&S GIS Park Grove City Park Pacific Grove Parks City of Pacific Pacific Grove City park 0 From GIS 2003 Grove Palo Corona Ranch Open Big Sur S. of Carmel River Non-profit ownership 124 BST, and open space Space Trust/MPRPD estimated from J&S GIS Scenic Easements Quail Lodge Where MPF present within parcel with SE, all MPF within SE presumed within SE portion Pescadero Canyon DMFF DMF DMFF fee ownership 76 From J&S GIS Pescadero Drainage PBC DMF Negative Easement 8 Presumed easement area is all MPF. Pescadero Point DMFF DMF DMFF fee ownership 0 From J&S GIS Poppy Hills NCGA DMF Access Easement Offer to 10 As of 2003 OTD still valid Dedicate (OTD) (expires in 2005), so identified as protected for this analysis, Point Lobos Ranch State Pt. Lobos State/Trust ownership 450 From J&S GIS Table E3. Protected Areas With Undeveloped Monterey Pine Forest in Monterey Region
Name Owner Location Nature of Protection (1) Acres (2) Notes
Big Sur Land Trust Point Lobos State Reserve State Pt. Lobos State Reserve 204 From J&S GIS Santa Lucia Preserve Rancho San South of Quail Conservation Easement 15 From J&S GIS Carlos Lodge SFB Morse Reserve DMFF DMF DMFF fee ownership N/A Included w/HHNA total. Shepherd's Knoll PBC City of Monterey Dedicated easement 30 Includes PBC parcels From J&S GIS Skyline Drive Greenbelt City of Monterey City of Monterey City ownership 26 Inventoried from City- owned parcels along Skyline Drive.
State of California State Parks and Gibson Creek State ownership N/A Included in Pt. Lobos total Recreation above Veterans Memorial Park City of Monterey City of Monterey City ownership 24 From J&S GIS Via Paraiso Park City of Monterey Monterey City ownership 0 From J&S GIS Warren Private owners Carmel Highlands Scenic Easement 34 MPF within in protected parcel. MPRPD Deed Restriction Public Ownership Whispering Pines City of Monterey City of Monterey City ownership 1 MPF within in protected parcel. TOTAL 2,965 (1) “Protected” defined as areas of local or state public ownership for park or preserve purposes, private conservation organization ownership, or areas of scenic/conservation easements.
(2) Undeveloped pine forest defined using GIS mapping from Jones & Stokes 1994a, 1996b
Sources: Jones & Stokes 1994a, Jones & Stokes 1996b, Huffman 1996, Zander 2002a, Jones & Stokes 2003 (GIS data review), WWD 2003 (GIS data review), PBC 2003a (title search/easement information), County of Monterey 2002a (parcel data).
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 of nonnative grasses and herbs. The overstory and understory composition and 2 structure of Monterey pine forest vary depending on site conditions.
3 Monterey pine forest on the Monterey Peninsula and surrounding areas has been 4 substantially reduced from its historical extent. Huffman and Associates (1994) 5 estimated that 57–63% of historical Monterey pine forest remained in 6 undeveloped stands. Jones & Stokes (1996b) estimated that 51% of historical 7 Monterey pine forest remained in undeveloped stands (i.e., Monterey pine forest 8 stands with natural or relatively undisturbed understory).
9 Forest Ecology 10 As a result of proposals to remove portions of the undeveloped Monterey pine 11 forest on the Monterey Peninsula, a number of technical reports have been 12 prepared that address Monterey pine as a species and Monterey pine forest as a 13 natural community (Huffman and Associates 1994; Jones & Stokes 1994a,
14 1994b, 1996b; Monterey County 1997, 1995; Zander Associates 2002a). In these 15 reports, different approaches were used to divide Monterey pine forest into forest 16 subtypes that could be used in establishing a priority for protection of forest.
17 Monterey County (1995, 1997) identified four Monterey pine forest plant 18 associations:
19 Monterey pine with coast live oak;
20 Monterey pine with woody understory;
21 Monterey pine with herbaceous understory; and
22 Monterey pine on young stabilized dunes.
23 Zander Associates (2002a) identified six Monterey pine forest subtypes based on 24 understory structure and composition:
25 Herbaceous subtype 1 (with hydric/mesic grasses, sedges, rushes, and forbs);
26 Herbaceous subtype 2 (with mesic grasses and forbs);
27 Shrub subtype 1 (soft-leaved shrubs);
28 Shrub subtype 2 (hard-leaved shrubs);
29 Mixed subtype 1 (mix of understory herbaceous subtype 2 and shrub subtype 30 1); and
31 Mixed subtype 2 (mix of understory herbaceous subtype 2 and shrub subtype 32 2).
33 Jones & Stokes (1994b) described a potential relationship between soils, 34 vegetation (canopy and understory), and geomorphic surfaces of the Monterey 35 Peninsula. The report summarized the expected Monterey pine forest subtype(s) 36 associated with each geomorphic surface. Monterey pine forest was described 37 based on understory dominants, percent shrub cover, overstory dominants, 38 canopy closure, and stunted versus full height Monterey pine canopy.
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-5
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Monterey County (1995, 1997) and Zander Associates (2002a) identified 2 subtypes of Monterey pine forest based on understory vegetation. These reports 3 however, did not address the underlying ecological conditions (e.g., soils, 4 elevation, moisture, distance from coast, disturbance, successional patterns) that 5 cause variation in Monterey pine forest understory composition. Zander 6 Associates (2002a) indicated that “there are trends in the distribution [of forest 7 subtypes] that appear to follow an elevation and moisture gradient, and to some 8 extent, type and depth of soils.” These trends are similar to those observed by 9 Jones & Stokes (1994b). Jones & Stokes used geomorphic surfaces as a 10 composite unit for elevation, moisture, landscape position, and soil type 11 variation.
12 Natural communities rarely have definite boundaries. Boundaries of natural 13 communities are defined on the basis of human constructs for the purpose of 14 distinguishing different parts of the landscape. Monterey pine forest and its 15 subtypes do not have definite boundaries. Monterey pine intermixes with other 16 canopy trees that define other natural biological communities. Examples of these 17 species and communities are: coast live oak/coast live oak woodland; bishop 18 pine/bishop pine forest; coast redwood/coast redwood forest; Gowen cypress and 19 bishop pine/Monterey pygmy forest; and Monterey cypress/Monterey cypress 20 forest. Where Monterey pine dominates the canopy, sites are typically mapped 21 as Monterey pine forest; where other tree species are dominant, sites are mapped 22 as another natural community type. Different approaches to defining and 23 mapping Monterey pine forest was one reason that Huffman and Associates 24 (1994) and Jones & Stokes (1994a) differed in their estimates of Monterey pine 25 forest extent. Zander Associates (2002a) stated that the forest understory 26 subtypes do not follow “mapable boundaries,” and that several different subtypes 27 can occur in the same general area where there are “no obvious distinctions in the 28 forest structure or physical characteristics such as soils or geomorphic surface.” 29 Jones & Stokes (1994b) used geomorphic surfaces as “short-hand” to distinguish 30 among different patches of landscape that support different ecological conditions 31 and to predict the dominant subtype of Monterey pine forest expected to be 32 present.
33 Pathogens and Pests of Monterey Pine 34 More than 70 pathogens are known to affect Monterey pine (Offord 1964). In 35 addition to pathogens, over 56 insect species are known to attack Monterey pine 36 (Furniss and Carolin 1977). In addition the parasitic plant, dwarf mistletoe, is 37 common on Monterey pine. Important fungal diseases that affect California’s 38 native stands and plantations include pine pitch canker, which affects many parts 39 of the tree; western gall rust and coast gall rust, which attack the stem; and 40 annosus root rot, shoestring fungus rot, and velvet top fungus, which are diseases 41 of the root system. Monterey pine has evolved in the presence of all of these 42 diseases except the pitch canker, which has recently entered California and is 43 now found in all three California populations of Monterey pine forest.
44 Pine pitch canker, caused by the fungus Fusarium circinatum (formerly known as 45 Fusarium subglutinans ssp. pini), was discovered in California in 1986 at New 46 Brighton State Beach in Santa Cruz County and has spread rapidly (Storer et al. 47 1994a, 1994b). By 1996, it was found in 17 counties from Mendocino to San
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-6
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Diego (Pine Pitch Canker Task Force 1996), and it is present in the DMF (Jones 2 & Stokes 1994a). The pitch canker infects the shoots, branches, roots, and trunks 3 of a wide range of native and nonnative pines. The disease is characterized by 4 the presence of resinous cankers on the surface of shoots, branches, roots, and 5 trunks; honey-colored and resin-soaked wood; yellow to light reddish-brown 6 needles that eventually fall off; and die-back of the tree crown (Storer et al. 7 1994a, 1994b). Pitch canker often causes the death of the tree. It is spread by 8 beetles and other insects, the seeds of infected plants, and possibly through soil 9 (Jones & Stokes 1996b). A high level of tree mortality results from the 10 combined effects of pitch canker and beetle infestations of canker-weakened 11 trees. Monterey pine varies in susceptibility to pitch canker, with some 12 individual trees appearing to be resistant and other infected trees able to survive 13 with the infection (Jones & Stokes 1996b). Up to 30% of Monterey pine trees 14 may have some amount of resistance to pitch canker (Zander 2002a). Evidence 15 supports the conclusion that resistance to pitch canker is genetically based 16 (Rogers 2002). There is some indication that some infected trees may go into 17 “remission” and recover, at least temporarily, from the disease (Zander 2002a).
18 Wildlife Habitat Uses 19 Monterey pine forest provides a variety of microhabitat conditions that may be 20 used by several common wildlife species. The canopy may be used as perching, 21 roosting, and nesting sites by raptors such as red-tailed hawks. Small 22 insectivorous birds, such as pygmy nuthatch and Townsend’s warbler, forage on 23 the trunks and branches of the pines. Dark-eyed junco, Northern flicker, and 24 rufous-sided towhee forage on or near the forest floor. Anna’s hummingbird also 25 occurs in Monterey pine forest, foraging on nectar produced by shrub and 26 herbaceous plant species in the understory. The scattered coast live oak trees in 27 the Monterey pine forest produce acorns, an important food source for Western 28 scrub-jays, acorn woodpeckers, and deer. Downed wood on the forest floor 29 provides cover for amphibians such as slender and arboreal salamanders.
30 Central Maritime Chaparral
31 Central maritime chaparral (Monterey phase) is found scattered through the 32 project area in project sites and occurs in openings in the forest. Specific 33 locations of maritime chaparral in the project area have not been delineated as 34 this community most commonly occurs in the DMF within Monterey pine forest, 35 often as an understory assemblage. Thus, no specific mapping of this community 36 has been developed.
37 The Monterey phase of central maritime chaparral is limited to the coastal areas 38 of stabilized Pleistocene dunes between Watsonville and the Carmel Highlands. 39 The largest patches of this chaparral type are found on BLM lands at the former 40 Fort Ord. The Monterey phase of central maritime chaparral includes endemic 41 species not found in other chaparral communities. The community as 42 represented in the Del Monte Forest includes shaggy-barked, Hooker’s, and 43 sandmat manzanita which may occur with coyote brush, sticky monkeyflower, 44 California lilac, Monterey ceanothus, and other shrubs and herbs.
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-7
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Birds such as orange-crowned warbler, rufous-sided towhee, California thrasher, 2 and California quail feed and nest in chaparral. California mouse, brush rabbit, 3 Heerman’s kangaroo rat, and brush mouse find forage and cover in dense 4 chaparral, while narrow-faced kangaroo rat favors sparsely vegetated openings 5 within the thick vegetation. These small mammals are preyed upon by gray fox, 6 bobcat, spotted skunk, and western rattlesnake. Chaparral communities also 7 provide important forage and cover for resident black-tailed deer.
8 Monterey Pygmy Forest
9 Monterey pygmy forest is found at the HHNA and is the largest stand of this 10 natural community known to occur in California. The only other occurrence is 11 found inland of the Point Lobos Peninsula.
12 The dominant trees in Monterey pygmy forest are Bishop pine and Gowen 13 cypress (Cupressus goveniana spp. goveniana). These trees are typically 10–25 14 feet tall. Monterey pines are sometimes scattered through the pygmy forest; they 15 grow taller (about 20–30 feet) than Bishop pine or Gowen cypress, but are 16 severely stunted in comparison to their normal height. The understory of mature 17 pygmy forest is dominated by shaggy-barked manzanita and huckleberry, with 18 occasional California coffeeberry.
19 Open canopy stands of pygmy forest support a more diverse shrub understory, 20 including shaggy-barked manzanita, Hooker’s manzanita, chamise, and 21 huckleberry. Scattered individuals of bush monkeyflower, toyon, and black sage 22 may be present. Open canopy pygmy forest occurs at sites of recent fires and on 23 the most shallow, severe pygmy forest soils. These soils also have easily 24 damaged cryptogamic crusts of special interest.
25 Monterey pygmy forest can be subdivided into three types: stands that support 26 pure Bishop pine, stands that are a mix of Bishop pine and Gowen cypress, and 27 stands that are nearly pure Gowen cypress. Preliminary evidence indicates that 28 these types may represent a sequence in soil development, with pure Gowen 29 cypress pygmy forest occurring on the shallowest and most acidic soils, the 30 mixed pygmy forest on intermediate soils, and Bishop pine pygmy forest on the 31 least extreme of the pygmy forest soils (Jones & Stokes 1996).
32 Central Dune Scrub
33 In the project area, approximately 33 acres of remnant dune (Signal Hill Dune) 34 occur along the northern edge of the Proposed Golf Course (Areas M and N), and 35 0.4 acre occurs at the western edge of Area L (Zander Associates 2001a). 36 Central dune scrub is the predominant plant community in these areas. It is 37 characterized by low-to-prostrate growing vegetation that often consists of 38 succulents. This coastal community is typically dominated by herbaceous 39 perennial or subshrub species with a subdominance of annual species that grow 40 on sand dunes and form associations based on the stability of the sand. Where
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-8
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 the sand is dynamic, herbaceous plants spread by burying long rhizomes deep in 2 the sand; these species are adapted to the constant accumulation and erosion of 3 sand caused by the wind. As the sand becomes more stable, the species diversity 4 increases from the low herbaceous species to shrubby species that provide greater 5 cover. Dunes that have been stabilized for longer periods of time may also be 6 vegetated by Monterey pine forest or central maritime chaparral.
7 Total cover in central dune scrub communities varies from 20% to 100%. 8 Herbaceous species in this community include sand verbena, beach bur, live- 9 forever, dune aster, beach evening primrose, sand mat, and dune blue grass. 10 Shrubby species may include coyote brush, mock heather, dune wild buckwheat, 11 and lizardtail.
12 Wildlife diversity is greater in dune scrub than in other dune communities 13 because soils are more stable and vegetation is more abundant. White-crowned 14 Sparrow is a common nesting species and Golden-crowned Sparrow is a common 15 winter visitor in dune scrub habitat. Deer mouse and brush rabbit burrow in the 16 more stable soils and feed on seeds and native vegetation. Western fence lizard 17 is common. These small animals are preyed upon by raptors, foxes, and coyote.
18 The former Spyglass Quarry, a sand mine, is adjacent to the east side of the 19 Signal Hill Dune ESHA. Much of the dune habitat in this area, including most of 20 the sandy dune substrate, was removed in the course of sand mining. Moreover, 21 the site has been used as an equestrian center, as a skeet-shooting range, and for 22 equipment and materials staging and storage.
23 Remnant dune areas are shown in Figures E-9 and E-21 in MRMP Appendix B 24 for the Proposed Golf Course location (Area MNOUV) and Area L.
25 Wetland Habitat
26 Wetlands are uncommon and important biological resources in the Del Monte 27 Forest. A total of 10.46 acres of wetlands occur within the project area: 5.9 28 acres within development site boundaries and 4.6 acres within proposed 29 preservation/conservation areas (see Table E-4 and Table E-5a in this appendix; 30 Table E-5b lists riparian areas). Additional wetlands are located within the 31 existing preserved area in HHNA and S.F.B. Morse Preserve.
32 USACE, CCC, and DFG have jurisdiction over wetlands, as shown in Table E-6.
33 For the purpose of this EIR, wetlands are grouped into freshwater marsh and 34 seasonal wetlands. These general wetland types are described below. Table E-4 35 provides a summary of wetland and riparian acreages by area. The biological 36 resource figures in MRMP Appendix B show the locations of wetlands for all 37 development, preservation, and conservation areas in the project area.
38 Two recent wetland studies were conducted for the Del Monte Forest area: one 39 by Wetland Research Associates (WRA 2001) and one by Ecosynthesis (2000,
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-9
Revised Table E-4. Summary of Wetlands and Riparian Areas Within Project Areas
Project Area Freshwater Seasonal Total Riparian Marsh Wetland Wetland Linear Feet Area (LF) Proposed Golf Course Area 0.12 4.31 4.43 0 (MNOUV) New Equestrian Center (Sawmill) 0.19 1.20 1.39 0 1.14 0.25 Spanish Bay Employee Housing 0.00 0.03 0.03 Preservation Area B 1,147 Spanish Bay Driving Range Conservation Area C 0.81 0.00 0.80 0 0.80 Preservation Area H 0.00 1.30 1.30 0 Preservation Area I-1 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,309 Preservation Area J 0.20 0.00 0.20 86 0.00 0.20 Conservation Area K 0.35 0.00 0.35 400 0.00 0.35 Preservation Area L 0.01 0.04 0.05 215 Preservation Area PQR 0.00 1.73 1.73 400 1.70 1.70 Corporation Yard Preservation Area 0.00 0.17 0.17 0 Total in Project Development and 1.68 8.78 10.46 4,557 Preservation Areas 2.63 7.83 Subtotal in Project Development Areas 0.31 5.54 5.85 0 1.26 4.59 Subtotal in New Preservation Areas 1.37 3.24 4.61 4,557 4.59 Existing Preserved Area Huckleberry NA NA 10.01 0 Hill Natural Area
Sources: EcoSynthesis 2000; EcoSynthesis 2003; WRA 2001; EIP 1997; EIP 1995; WWD, 2002, various correspondence.
Revised Table E-5a. Wetlands Identified Within the Pebble Beach Company DMF/PDP Development and Preservation Areas Page1 of 5 Wetland Area Watershed Description 100' Buffer Infringement Area Notes (acres)
Wetlands Within Development Areas A1 MNOUV Fan Shell Seasonal Wetland Hole 11 (tee box); paved cart path 0.03 Proposed Golf Course
A2 MNOUV Fan Shell Seasonal Wetland Hole 11 (tee box); Hole 9 (tee box) 0.04 Proposed Golf Course B1 MNOUV Fan Shell Seasonal Wetland Hole 11 (green, fairway, sandtrap) 0.12 Proposed Golf Course
B2 MNOUV Fan Shell Seasonal Wetland Hole 11 (green, fairway, sandtrap) 0.02 Proposed Golf Course
C MNOUV Fan Shell Seasonal Wetland Hole 11 (sandtrap); Hole 12 (fairway, tee box) 0.11 Proposed Golf Course
D MNOUV Fan Shell Seasonal Wetland Hole 12 (fairway, tee box); paved cart path; bridge 0.20 Proposed Golf Course
F1 MNOUV Fan Shell Seasonal Wetland Hole 3 (fairway) 0.81 Proposed Golf Course
F2 MNOUV Fan Shell Seasonal Wetland No 0.05 Proposed Golf Course
F3 MNOUV Fan Shell Seasonal Wetland Hole 3 (tee box) 0.01 Proposed Golf Course
G MNOUV Fan Shell Seasonal Wetland Hole 3 (tee box, fairway); 9 (green, fairway); paved 0.94 Proposed Golf Course cart path; bridge H MNOUV Fan Shell Seasonal Wetland 10 (tee boxes, fairway) 0.70 Proposed Golf Course
I MNOUV Fan Shell Seasonal Wetland 10 (tee boxes, fairway); 13 (tee box); paved cart path 0.16 Proposed Golf Course and bridge over I drainage J MNOUV Fan Shell Seasonal Wetland Hole 13 (green, fairway); Hole 18 (green); paved cart 0.04 Proposed Golf Course path K MNOUV Fan Shell Seasonal Wetland Hole 13 (green, fairway); Hole 18 (fairway); paved 0.12 Proposed Golf Course cart path L1 MNOUV Fan Shell Seasonal Wetland Paved cart path 0.03 Proposed Golf Course
L2 MNOUV Fan Shell Freshwater Marsh Hole 18 (fairway); paved cart path 0.12 Proposed Golf Course
M MNOUV Fan Shell Seasonal Wetland Hole 14 (tee box); paved cart path 0.75 Proposed Golf Course Revised Table E-5a. Wetlands Identified Within the Pebble Beach Company DMF/PDP Development and Preservation Areas Page 2 of 5 Wetland Area Watershed Description 100' Buffer Infringement Area Notes (acres)
N MNOUV Fan Shell Seasonal Wetland Hole 14 fairway 0.17 Proposed Golf Course
O MNOUV Fan Shell Seasonal Wetland Hole 1 (tee box); paved cart path 0.01 Proposed Golf Course
B-B B Moss Beach Seasonal Wetland New Trail 0.03 Employee Housing Area
S-A1 Sawmill Sawmill Gulch Freshwater Marsh Turnaround area within 100'; temporary event 0.19 Within New EQ Center use within 100' S-A2 Sawmill Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland Turnaround area within 100'; temporary event use 0.95 Within New EQ Center within 100' S-B Sawmill Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland Yes 0.03 Within New EQ Center
S-C Sawmill Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland Yes 0.05 Within New EQ Center
S-D Sawmill Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland Yes 0.06 Within New EQ Center
S-E Sawmill Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland Yes 0.01 Within New EQ Center
S-F Sawmill Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland Yes 0.10 Within New EQ Center Revised Table E-5a. Wetlands Identified Within the Pebble Beach Company DMF/PDP Development and Preservation Areas Page 3 of 5 Wetland Area Watershed Description 100' Buffer Infringement Area Notes (acres)
Wetlands Within New Preservation/Conservation Areas
C-A C Moss Beach Freshwater Marsh No 0.04 Within New Conservation Area
C-B C Moss Beach Freshwater Marsh No 0.77 Within New Conservation Area
1 PQR Carmel Bay Seasonal Wetland No 1.21 Within New Preservation Area ASBS 2 PQR Carmel Bay Seasonal Wetland No 0.06 Within New Preservation Area ASBS 3 PQR Carmel Bay Seasonal Wetland No 0.04 Within New Preservation Area ASBS 4a PQR Carmel Bay Seasonal Wetland No 0.25 Within New Preservation Area ASBS 4b PQR Carmel Bay Seasonal Wetland No 0.10 Within New Preservation Area ASBS 4c PQR Carmel Bay Seasonal Wetland No 0.07 Within New Preservation Area ASBS 3 Corp Yard Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland New Trail; no direct; buffer area previously disturbed 0.17 Within New Preservation Area
H-A H Seal Rock Seasonal Wetland No 0.07 Within New Preservation Area Creek H-B H Seal Rock Seasonal Wetland No 0.04 Within New Preservation Area Creek H-C H Seal Rock Seasonal Wetland No 1.19 Within New Preservation Area Creek J-1 J Seal Rock Freshwater marsh No 0.20 Within New Preservation Area Creek K-A K Seal Rock Freshwater marsh No 0.35 Within New Conservation Area Creek L-A L Seal Rock Seasonal Wetland No 0.04 Within New Preservation Area Creek L-B L Seal Rock Freshwater marsh No 0.01 Within New Preservation Area Creek Revised Table E-5a. Wetlands Identified Within the Pebble Beach Company DMF/PDP Development and Preservation Areas Page 4 of 5 Wetland Area Watershed Description 100' Buffer Infringement Area Notes (acres)
Wetlands Within Existing Preserved Area in HHNA
1 HHNA Sawmill Gulch Freshwater Marsh No 0.07 Existing Preserved Area 2 HHNA Sawmill Gulch Freshwater Marsh No 0.47 Existing Preserved Area
4 HHNA Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland No 0.40 Existing Preserved Area
5 HHNA Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland No 0.03 Existing Preserved Area
6 HHNA Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland No 0.01 Existing Preserved Area
7 HHNA Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland No 0.04 Existing Preserved Area
8 HHNA Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland No 0.01 Existing Preserved Area 9 HHNA Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland No 0.84 Existing Preserved Area 10 HHNA Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland Possibly less than 100' to edge of new EQ Center 0.30 Existing Preserved Area road 11 HHNA Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland No 0.02 Existing Preserved Area 12 HHNA Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland No 0.04 Existing Preserved Area
13 HHNA Sawmill Gulch Freshwater Marsh No 2.61 Existing Preserved Area
14 HHNA Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland No 0.12 Existing Preserved Area
15 HHNA Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland No 4.04 Existing Preserved Area
16 HHNA Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland No 0.17 Existing Preserved Area
17 HHNA Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland No 0.01 Existing Preserved Area
18 HHNA Sawmill Gulch Seasonal Wetland No 0.83 Existing Preserved Area Revised Table E-5a. Wetlands Identified Within the Pebble Beach Company DMF/PDP Development and Preservation Areas Page 5 of 5 Wetland Area Watershed Description 100' Buffer Infringement Area Notes (acres)
Subtotals By Type and Development Freshwater Marsh in Development Areas 0.31 Freshwater Marsh in New Preservation/Conservation Areas 1.37 Seasonal Wetland in Development Areas 5.54 Seasonal Wetland in New Preservation/Conservation Areas 3.24 Total in Project Development and Preservation Areas 10.46 Subtotals By Area MNOUV 4.43 Sawmill 1.39 B 0.03 C 0.81 H 1.30 HHNA 10.01 Corporation Yard 0.17 J 0.20 K 0.35 L 0.05 PQR 1.73 Subtotals By Development/Preservation Total in Development Areas 5.85 Total in New Preservation/Conservation Areas 4.61 Total in Existing Preserved Areas 10.01 Sources: Ecosynthesis 2000; Ecosynthesis 2003; WRA 2001; EIP 1997; EIP 1995; various correspondence Notes: Wetlands in bold are considered "Freshwater Marsh" and to meet DMF LUP definition of ESHA. Wetland S-A in the Sawmill Gulch is partially categorized as an ESHA freshwater marsh (“S-A1” – 0.19 acre) and partially as a non-ESHA seasonal wetland (“S-A2” – 0.95 acre. ESHA identification in HHNA based on WRA, 2001 description; all semi-permanently saturated wetlands presumed to be freshwater marsh ESHA determination for Wetland L-2 (Proposed Golf Course), Wetlands C-A, and C-B (Spanish Bay Driving Range); and Wetland S-A based on Ecosynthesis 2003 ESHA identification for Wetland J-1, K-A, L-B, based on EIP 1995 and EIP 1997.
Table E-5b. Riparian Areas Identified Within the Pebble Beach Company DMF/PDP Development and Preservation Areas
Area Watershed Description Source for Riparian Notes Description (LF) PQR Carmel Bay ASBS Riparian Drainages (Pescadero Creek tributaries) EIP 1995 400 Preservation Area B Moss Beach Unnamed Riparian Drainage EIP 1995 1147 Preservation Area HHNA Sawmill Gulch Riparian Drainages (Sawmill Gulch and Tribs) EIP 1995 Unknown Existing Preserved Area I-1 Seal Rock Creek Seal Rock Creek EIP 1995 2309 New Preservation Area J Seal Rock Creek Seal Rock Creek EIP 1995 86 New Preservation Area K Seal Rock Creek Seal Rock Creek EIP 1995 400 New Conservation Area L Seal Rock Creek Seal Rock Creek EIP 1995 215 New Preservation Area TOTAL 4557
Table E-6. Wetland Jurisdiction California Department of California Coastal Commission U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fish and Game Regulation Coastal Act of 1976: Clean Water Act, Section 404: California Fish and Game Code, Sections 1600-1607: Authority Issues all coastal developmental permits Regulates placement of dredged or fill Regulates activities resulting in alteration of flow, bed, material into waters of the United States channel, or bank of streams and lakes Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972: Rivers and Harbors Act if 1899, Section 10: Issues notice that work is consistent with state coastal management plan Regulates work in navigable waters of the United States CEQA, NEPA: Requires 401 water quality waiver or CEQA, NEPA: Commenting Authority certification from RWQCB Commenting Authority
If project may adversely affect a federally listed species or critical habitat, Section 7 consultation with the US FWS required. Determination Wetlands, Other Water Bodies, and Other Water-Associated Habitats. Wetlands shall be Waters of the United States include Streams and Lakes. Streams can include intermittent and of defined as land where the water table is at, near, or above the land surface long enough to wetlands. Wetlands are those areas that are ephemeral streams, rivers, creeks, dry washes, sloughs, promote the formation of hydric soils or to support the growth of hydrophytes, and shall also inundated or saturated by surface or ground blue-line streams, and watercourses with subsurface flows. Jurisdictional include those types of wetlands where vegetation is lacking and soil is poorly developed or water at a frequency and duration sufficient Canals, aqueducts, irrigation ditches, and other means of Limits absent as a result of frequent and drastic fluctuations of surface water levels, wave action, to support, and that under normal water conveyance can also be considered streams if they water flow, turbidity or high concentrations of salts or other substances in the substrate. circumstances do support, a prevalence of support aquatic life, riparian vegetation, or stream- Such wetlands can be recognized by the presence of surface water or saturated substrate at vegetation typically adapted for life in dependent terrestrial wildlife. some time during each year and their location within, or adjacent to, vegetated wetland or saturated soil conditions. Wetlands deepwater habitats. (14 CCR 13577) generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, Wetlands. Wetlands have been defined by the Department and similar areas. (33 CFR 328.3) of Fish and Game in a similar manner as the definition adopted by the CCC. However, DFG does not have any regulatory power over projects that fill wetlands except as a commenting agency through CEQA. If any state listed species are present in wetlands, DFG will also require a 2801 approval. One-parameter test to determine wetland boundaries: hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils, or Three-parameter test to determine wetland Everything below the top of the stream or lake bank, or wetland hydrology can serve as positive indicators of wetland status. boundaries: hydrophytic vegetation, hydric inside the edge of riparian or wetland vegetation, soils, and wetland hydrology. Except in whichever is wider, is included in the stream or lake disturbed or nonnormal circumstances, jurisdictional boundary. positive indicators of all three must be present for the site to qualify as a One-parameter test to determine wetland boundaries: jurisdictional wetland. hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils, or wetland hydrology can serve as positive indicators of wetland status. If only one parameter present, habitat for aquatic species must be present for area to be considered a wetland. Protection of The project proponent must obtain a coastal development permit which complies with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act requires The project proponent must obtain a Streambed Alteration Jurisdictional wetlands policies and other policies established by the California Coastal Act and with the that private, state and federal entities obtain Agreement with DFG to ensure no net loss of wetland Coastal Commission’s Statewide Interpretive Guidelines for Wetlands. In general, these a permit from the Corps before depositing values or acreage prior to construction. An SBA cannot be Areas policies allow wetlands to be filled ONLY for water-dependent activities when no feasible or discharging dredged or fill materials into issued until local CEQA action is completed, otherwise, uplands alternatives exist, and they require wetland impacts to be avoided or minimized. waters of the United States which includes DFG will act as the lead agency for CEQA compliance wetlands. The Monterey County Local Coastal Program requires a setback of 100 feet from the landward edge of wetlands and from the mean high water line of the ocean. No landscape The permit must also be certified (or such alterations are allowed in this setback area unless accomplished in conjunction with certification waived) by the Regional Water restoration and enhancement and unless it is demonstrated that no significant disruption of Quality Control Board under Section 401 of environmentally sensitive habitat will result. the Clean Water Act.
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 updated in 2003). In the WRA wetland study, the freshwater marsh and seasonal 2 wetlands were divided into “natural” and “man-made” wetlands. These wetlands 3 were further defined using USFWS’s classification system (Cowardin et al. 4 1979). Wetlands within the project area were classified as palustrine 5 emergent/forested (seasonally saturated), palustrine emergent (semi-permanently 6 flooded), and palustrine emergent (semi-permanently saturated). This 7 information was used to determine the extent of areas that would be subject to 8 USACE, DFG, and CCC regulation; to assess wetland functions and quality; to 9 identify wetland areas that may be considered ESHAs under the Del Monte 10 Forest Area LUP; and to identify specific measures to manage wetlands 11 identified in the Del Monte Forest.
12 The wetland determination report prepared by EcoSynthesis (2000) covered the 13 Sawmill site, Proposed Golf Course location, and the Spanish Bay Driving Range 14 (Area C). This report was verified by USACE on November 13, 2002 (USACE 15 2002). As part of this verification, USACE made a determination that one of the 16 wetlands in the upper Sawmill site (see Figure E-10 in MRMP Appendix B) is 17 “isolated” and is not considered jurisdictional based on a January 9, 2001, U.S. 18 Supreme Court decision (see the discussion of Section 404 of the Clean Water 19 Act (CWA) in Appendix C, Regulatory Setting in the DEIR). Although this 20 wetland is not subject to USACE jurisdiction, it is considered a wetland under 21 DFG and CCC definitions. USACE verified that the remaining five wetlands and 22 one 10-foot-wide drainage on the Sawmill site, all of the wetlands on the 23 Proposed Golf Course, and one wetland in the proposed Spanish Bay Driving 24 Range (Area C) would be considered jurisdictional features and subject to 25 regulation under Section 404 of the CWA (see Figures E-9, E-10, and E-11 in 26 MRMP Appendix B). EcoSynthesis updated its determination report in 2003; the 27 update identified one additional wetland (A2) and refined the boundaries of 28 several other wetland areas (Wetlands C, G, and H) in the Proposed Golf Course 29 location. Potential wetland areas in the Spanish Bay Driving range (Area C) and 30 the New Equestrian Center (Sawmill site) were also reviewed, but no new areas 31 were delineated as wetlands.
32 Freshwater Marsh (Palustrine Emergent/Semi-Permanently Flooded 33 and Palustrine Emergent/Semi-Permanently Saturated Wetlands) 34 The project development areas contain a total of 0.3 acres of freshwater marsh on 35 the Proposed Golf Course and New Equestrian Center at the Sawmill site 36 (EcoSynthesis 2003). Freshwater marshes are also located in several of the 37 proposed preservation and conservation areas, containing 1.37 acres. Freshwater 38 marsh is characterized by year-round surface ponding or soil saturation from 39 groundwater seepage and/or runoff. This wetland type primarily supports 40 hydrophytic herbaceous vegetation such as sedges, soft rush iris-leaved rush, 41 horsetail, and cattails. Freshwater marsh occurs in openings in the forest canopy; 42 Monterey pine does not tolerate prolonged soil saturation. Cattails and rushes 43 growing in freshwater marshes provide nesting habitat and cover for sora, red- 44 winged blackbird, and marsh wren. Pacific treefrog and western toad use marshes 45 for egg laying and larval development. These aquatic species are preyed upon by 46 garter snakes, and raccoons. Northern rough-winged swallow and violet-green 47 swallow forage for insects over marshes.
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-10
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Seasonal Wetland (Palustrine Emergent/Forested/ Seasonally 2 Saturated Wetlands) 3 The project development areas contain 5.5 acres of seasonal wetlands (County of 4 Monterey 1997; WRA 2001; EcoSynthesis 2000 and 2003). These wetlands 5 occur on the Proposed Golf Course, Area B and the Sawmill site. Additional 6 seasonal wetlands occur on the proposed preservation areas. According to 7 previously conducted wetland studies, many of these areas appear to have been 8 created by vegetation trampling and road construction.
9 Seasonal wetlands in the project area occur where soil is saturated to a level 10 below the surface, or where surface saturation occurs but is of relatively short 11 duration, or is seasonal. These wetlands are typically dominated by toad rush 12 and sedges with a subdominance of spikerush, hydrophytic grasses, and other 13 hydrophytes.
14 Riparian Habitat
15 In the project area, approximately 4,557 linear feet of riparian habitat occurs in 16 and adjacent to Areas B, I-1, J, K, L, and PQR (WRA 2001). (See Table E-4, 17 Table E-5b, and the biological resource figures in MRMP Appendix B) Riparian 18 habitats in the project area occur along intermittent and perennial drainage 19 systems. These drainage systems generally drain to the west and north, 20 eventually discharging into either Carmel Bay or the Pacific Ocean.
21 Riparian habitat in the project area is generally dominated by sedges, rushes, 22 nettle, poison-oak, and hemlock. Woody riparian species, such as willows, occur 23 along a few drainages in the project area (WRA 2001).
24 The moist conditions associated with riparian areas provide habitat for California 25 newt, Pacific treefrog, California slender salamander, and arboreal salamander. 26 As discussed below, some of the riparian habitat (in lower Seal Rock Creek) is 27 occupied by California red-legged frog, and other riparian areas provide suitable 28 habitat for the species. The thickly vegetated understory is used by Wilson’s 29 warbler, dark-eyed junco, common bushtit, and song sparrow for nesting and 30 cover. Riparian corridors provide important forage, cover, and water for resident 31 black-tailed deer, as well as serving as travel corridors for predators such as 32 coyote.
33 Marine Habitat
34 Del Monte Forest marine resources include significant intertidal areas, offshore 35 rocks which are used as major rookeries, roosting, and haul-out sites, extensive 36 kelp beds which support numerous species of sport fish as well as the threatened 37 southern sea otter, the endangered California brown pelican, the Carmel Bay 38 State Ecological Resource, and the Carmel Bay Area of Special Biological 39 Significance (County of Monterey 1984). The Pescadero watershed and most the
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-11
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Pebble Beach planning area drains to Carmel Bay. The remaining watersheds 2 drain directly to the Pacific Ocean (see Figure 3.4-1 in MRMP Appendix B).
3 Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas (ESHA)
4 Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas are defined under the California Coastal 5 Act (Public Resources Code, Section 30107.5) as:
6 Areas in which plant or animal life or their habitats are either rare or especially 7 valuable because of their special nature or role in an ecosystem, and which 8 could be easily disturbed or degraded by human activities and developments.
9 ESHAs in the project area are defined in the LUP under the Monterey County 10 Local Coastal Program. One of the goals of the LUP is to recognize and 11 accommodate rare and endemic biotic resources. Figure 2 of the LUP shows the 12 location of areas in the Del Monte Forest that qualify as ESHAs; Appendix A of 13 the LUP provides a complete list of ESHAs for the Del Monte Forest. Resource 14 areas that qualify as ESHAs within the project area are summarized below. 15 ESHAs located within project development, preservation, and conservation areas 16 are listed in Table E-7a. General locations of ESHAs in the Del Monte Forest are 17 shown in Figure E-8 in MRMP Appendix B.
18 Freshwater marshes and natural seasonal pond
19 Freshwater marshes in the project area are considered ESHA. As noted above, 20 freshwater marshes are found within development areas at the Proposed Golf 21 Course and the New Equestrian Center.
22 Natural seasonal ponds in the project area are considered ESHA. A natural 23 seasonal pond area was delineated within a drainage between Drake Road and 24 Cypress Point golf course on the Proposed Golf Course location.
25 Riparian habitat
26 In addition to the LUP, riparian habitats are considered sensitive biological 27 communities because they provide a variety of ecological and water quality 28 functions. DFG also supports a “no net loss” policy for riparian habitat acreage 29 and value. A number of riparian areas are located within proposed preservation 30 areas.
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-12
Table E-7a. Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas (ESHAs) Within Project Development and Preservation Areas
Site ESHA Location Proposed Golf Course Area Freshwater marsh (Wetland L-2) Between proposed Holes #13, #14, and #18; 100 foot buffer proposed Proposed Golf Course Area Seasonal pond (in Drainage I) Between the front and back tees on proposed Hole #13; 30 foot buffer proposed Proposed Golf Course Area Remnant dunes with native vegetation Northwest of proposed Holes #15 and (Signal Hill Dune) containing ESHA plants (Menzie's #16; Small portion of ESHA crossed by wallflower, Monterey Indian Paintbrush, proposed golf maintenance trail Tidestrom's lupin and host-plant for Smith's blue butterfly) New Equestrian Center Freshwater marsh (Wetland S-A) In lower Sawmill area
Preservation Area B Riparian habitat along unnamed drainage Eastern side of Area B Approx. 350 feet east of proposed Employee Housing Conservation Area C Freshwater marsh (Wetland C-A/C-B) Southwest corner of Area C 100 foot buffer proposed between driving range development area. Proposed new utility line crosses within buffer area but not within wetland. Residential Area F-3 Gowen's Cypress/Bishop Pine Forest Small area within north lot Conservation Area F-3 Remaining within conservation area Preservation Area G Monterey Clover Habitat Within preservation area Preservation Area I-1 Riparian Habitat (Seal Rock Creek) Within preservation area Preservation Area J Riparian Habitat (Seal Rock Creek) Within preservation area Freshwater marsh Conservation Area K Riparian Habitat (Seal Rock Creek) Within conservation area Freshwater marsh Preservation Area L Remnant dune habitat on natural vegetation West side of Area L within preservation Riparian habitat (Seal Rock Creek) area Freshwater marsh Preservation Area PQR Riparian habitat (Pescadero Creek tributary) New proposed trails in PQR may cross in Sandmat manzanita (significant occurrence) or near riparian habitat Huckleberry Hill Natural All areas within Huckleberry Hill Natural Entire HHNA Area/S.F.B. Morse Preserve Area are designated ESHA for either sensitive terrestrial habitat or plants NOTE: Other sensitive biological communities that do not meet the DMF LUP definition of ESHA are described in Table 3.3-9b Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Remnant coastal dunes where the natural landform is 2 stabilized by Monterey pine forest or other native 3 vegetation
4 Coastal dune scrub is a sensitive biological community because it provides 5 habitat for several special-status species in the Monterey Bay region and has been 6 reduced from its historic extent along the California coast. Remnant dunes are 7 found in the Signal Hill area adjacent to the Proposed Golf Course location and 8 within Preservation Area L
9 Gowen cypress forest community and the disjunct 10 Bishop pine forest, mixed and pure stands
11 In addition to the LUP, DFG considers Monterey pygmy forest (Gowen 12 cypress/Bishop pine) a sensitive biological community because it is restricted in 13 distribution. The forest community also provides a variety of biological 14 functions and values to resident and migratory wildlife species. The areas of 15 pygmy forest on Huckleberry Hill are considered ESHA under the Del Monte 16 Forest LUP (County of Monterey 1984). An adjacent portion of Area F-3 also 17 contains a mixed stand of Bishop pine/Gowan cypress and is also considered 18 ESHA.
19 LUP specified ESHA plants
20 Areas that support the following specified special status plants are considered 21 ESHA by the LUP:
22 Hickman’s potentilla habitat, known from Seal Rock Creek Area;
23 Coastal dunes milkvetch habitat, dune areas;
24 Menzies’ wallflower habitat, dune areas;
25 Tidestrom’s lupine habitat, dune areas;
26 Eastwood’s goldenfleece habitat, sandy areas including Gowen cypress;
27 Monterey clover habitat, Gowen cypress area;
28 Sandmat manzanita, significant occurrences only;
29 Monterey Indian paintbrush; and
30 Pt. Lobos buckwheat (a synonym for seacliff buckwheat) in shoreline areas 31 within Smith’s blue butterfly habitat.
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-13
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Sensitive Habitats (Non-ESHA)
2 Other sensitive habitats that are not designated ESHA by the DMF LUP are listed 3 in Table E-7b and described below.
4 Monterey Pine Forest
5 DFG considers Monterey pine forest a natural community of special concern. 6 Natural communities of special concern are habitats that are especially diverse, 7 regionally uncommon, or of special concern to local, state, and federal agencies. 8 The California Natural Diversity Database (CNDD)(1999) maintains a list of 9 these communities and maintains occurrence records for some of the most 10 sensitive types. Elimination or substantial degradation of these communities 11 would be an adverse effect. Monterey pine forest is a natural community of 12 special concern identified by the California Department of Fish and Game 13 (CDFG) in the natural diversity database (CNDD 1999).
14 The forest community also provides a variety of biological functions and values 15 to resident and migratory wildlife species. Monterey pine forest is not itself 16 identified as an ESHA in the Del Monte Forest LUP (Figure 2/Appendix A of 17 LUP) (County of Monterey 1984). However, remnant coastal dune habitat where 18 the natural landform is stabilized by Monterey pine forest or other native 19 vegetation and the endemic Monterey pine/Bishop pine association are 20 considered ESHA. Monterey pine is considered by CNPS to be “rare, threatened, 21 or endangered in California”(CNPS List 1B) (CNPS 2001), but the species is not 22 listed as rare, threatened, or endangered by the state or federal government.
23 Without an accepted convention for dividing Monterey pine forest into subtypes 24 that could be used to assign priorities for protection of different sites (see 25 discussion above), all patches of undeveloped Monterey pine forest must be 26 considered sensitive and of equal importance to conservation of this resource
27 Wetland Areas
28 Wetlands in the project area are of two major types: freshwater marsh and 29 seasonal wetland. Freshwater marsh are considered ESHA as noted above. 30 Seasonal wetlands are also considered sensitive communities at they provide 31 important seasonal habitat for wildlife species that are water-dependent during 32 their larval stage and water quality functions. Seasonal wetlands are not 33 considered ESHAs under the Monterey County Local Coastal Plan. Details 34 regarding wetlands were discussed above under “Biological Communities”
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-14
Table E-7b. Sensitive Communities (non-ESHA) Within Project Development and Preservation Areas
Site Community Location Proposed Golf Course Area Monterey pine forest Throughout central part of site Seasonal wetlands In central part of site New Equestrian Center Monterey pine forest Native stand around periphery Seasonal wetlands Upper and lower Sawmill Inn at Spanish Bay Monterey pine forest Remnant native stand
Lodge at Pebble Beach None within project areas
Area B Monterey pine forest Most of site Seasonal wetland Northwest part of site Area C Monterey pine forest Entire site
Area F-2 Monterey pine forest Entire site Area F-3 Monterey pine forest Entire site Area G Monterey pine forest Entire site Area H Monterey pine forest Entire site Seasonal wetlands Along drainage Area I-1 Monterey pine forest Entire site
Area I-2 Monterey pine forest Entire site
Area J Monterey pine forest Entire site
Area K Monterey pine forest Entire site
Area L Monterey pine forest Entire site
Area PQR Monterey pine forest Entire site Seasonal wetlands Along drainages Corporation Yard Monterey pine forest Northern part of site in preservation area Wetland Detention pond in northwest corner
Huckleberry Hill Natural Monterey pine forest Interspersed with Monterey pygmy forest Area/S.F.B. Morse Preserve Seasonal wetlands Along drainages
NOTE: This table does not repeat the sensitive resources/communities that are defined as ESHA by the DMF LUP; these are identified in Table 3.3-9a. Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Special-Status Species
2 Special-status species are plants and animals that are legally protected under the 3 California Endangered Species Act (CESA), the federal Endangered Species Act 4 (ESA), or other regulations, as well as species considered sufficiently rare by the 5 scientific community to qualify for such listing as summarized in this appendix. 6 Special-status plant species found on the project sites include 8 federally listed 7 species (of which 5 are also state-listed), 1 state-listed species (that is not also 8 federally listed), and 6 other special-status species (such as “Species of Special 9 Concern” or CNPS List 1B species and other species that meet the CEQA 10 definition of “rare”). Suitable habitat is present is found on the project sites for 2 11 federally listed wildlife species and 10 other special-status species.
12 For the purpose of this EIR, special-status species are defined as:
13 species listed or proposed for listing as threatened or endangered under the 14 federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) (Title 50, Code of Federal 15 Regulations [CFR], Section 17.12 for listed plants, 50 CFR 17.11 for listed 16 animals, and various notices in the Federal Register [FR] for proposed 17 species);
18 species that are candidates for possible future listing as threatened or 19 endangered under ESA (67 FR 40657, June 13, 2002);
20 species that are federal species of concern;
21 species that are listed or proposed for listing by the State of California as 22 threatened or endangered under CESA (Title 14, California Code of 23 Regulations [CCR], Section 670.5;
24 plants listed as rare under the California Native Plant Protection Act of 1977 25 (California Fish and Game Code, Section 1900 et seq.);
26 plants considered by CNPS to be “rare, threatened, or endangered in 27 California and elsewhere”(List 1B species) (List 4 species were included as 28 special-status species if they were identified as ESHAs in Appendix A of the 29 LUP);
30 species that meet the definitions of rare or endangered under the State CEQA 31 Guidelines, Section 15380;
32 species listed as ESHAs in Appendix A of the LUP; and
33 animals fully protected in California (California Fish and Game Code, 34 Section 3511 [birds], 4700 [mammals], and 5050 [reptiles and amphibians]).
35 Animal species of special concern to the California Department of Fish and 36 Game (Remsen 1978 [birds]; Williams 1986 [mammals]; and Jennings and 37 Hayes 1994 [amphibians and reptiles]).
38 Information on special-status plants and wildlife is provided separately below. 39 Only special-status species that have the potential to occur in the Del Monte 40 Forest and surrounding region are described in this section. Special-status
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-15
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 species were included in the analysis if suitable habitat is present or if the species 2 has been documented in the Del Monte Forest or surrounding region.
3 Special-Status Plants
4 Extensive botanical surveys have been conducted through the entire Del Monte 5 Forest and have resulted in the identification of several special-status plants 6 (primarily associated with Monterey pine forest and coastal dune and terrace 7 communities). The most recent and comprehensive surveys were conducted 8 during the spring and summer months of 2001; these covered the entire Del 9 Monte Forest. The results of these surveys are reported in the Del Monte Forest 10 Plan Biological Resources Report – Special-Status Species (Zander 2001b) and 11 are summarized in this section.
12 Based on a review of botanical survey results, the CNDDB (2002), the prior 13 uncertified Final EIR (County of Monterey 1997), other sources of information 14 (see the introduction of this appendix), and the presence of suitable habitat 15 conditions, 44 special-status plants were identified as having the potential to 16 occur in the Del Monte Forest and surrounding region (see Table E-8). Fourteen 17 of these species have been documented in the project area, and several others are 18 located in nearby areas. Table E-9 summarizes the total acres of occupied habitat 19 and/or number of individual species located on each of the project sites. Special- 20 status plant population/occurrences in the project area are shown on a site-by-site 21 basis in the biological resource figures in MRMP Appendix B.
22 The USFWS has developed a draft recovery plan for five plant species on the 23 Monterey Peninsula, three of which have been documented within project 24 development, preservation, or conservation areas (*indicates occurrence on 25 project site): coastal dunes milkvetch, Monterey clover*, Hickman’s potentilla, 26 Yadon’s piperia*, and Gowen cypress* (USFWS 2002b). Recovery plans were 27 developed for these species because of their narrow distributions and immediate 28 threats from coastal development. Detailed information on each of these species 29 can be found in Final Recovery Strategies for Six Coastal Plant Species on the 30 Monterey Peninsula (Jones & Stokes 1996a) and Draft Recovery Plan for Five 31 Coastal Species (USFWS 2002b). Where appropriate, information from this 32 report is summarized below for each of the species known to occur in the project 33 area.
34 Yadon’s Piperia
35 Status and Description. Yadon’s piperia (Piperia yadonii) (also referred 36 to as Yadon’s rein orchid) was federally listed as endangered in 1996 and is a 37 CNPS List 1B species. This species is a relatively inconspicuous terrestrial 38 orchid that produces strap-shaped basal leaves in the early spring and spike-like 39 bloom stalks in the mid- to late-summer months. Plants grow for several years 40 before producing flowering stalks. The single flowering stalk can reach 31 41 inches in height. The upper sepal is green with white margins and the lower
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-16
Revised Table E-8. Special-Status Plants Documented or Identified as Having the Potential to Occur in the Project Area Page 1 of 6 A B Species Status Habitats Distribution in California and Identification Occurrence in Project Sites Fed/State/CNPS Monterey County C Period
Allium hickmanii --/--/1B Closed-cone conifer Monterey Peninsula and near Jolon, April-May New Golf Course (MNOUV) and forest, chaparral, and Monterey County Areas F-3, G, H, I-1, and PQR Hickman's onion grasslands 23 occurrences in California; 17 of these occurrences are reported from Monterey County (CNDDB 2002) Arctostaphylos edmunsii var. --/--/1B Coastal bluff scrub and Monterey County Year round None edmundsii chaparral Little Sur manzanita Arctostaphylos edmundsii var. --/R/1B Chaparral Monterey County Year round None parvifolia Hanging gardens manzanita Arctostaphylos hookeri ssp. hookeri --/--/1B Chaparral, closed-cone Near the coast in Monterey and Santa Feb-May New Golf Course (MNOUV); F- coniferous forest, and Cruz Counties 2, F-3, G, H, I-1, I-2, PQR; Hooker's manzanita coastal scrub Congress Road improvement; 10 occurrences in California; 6 of these HHNA, and SFB Morse Preserve occurrences are reported from Monterey County (CNDDB 2002) Arctostaphylos montereyensis --/--/1B Chaparral, oak woodland, Monterey and San Luis Obispo Year round None and coastal scrub Counties Toro manzanita Arctostaphylos pajaroensis --/--/1B Sandy hills in chaparral Monterey County Year round None Pajaro manzanita Arctostaphylos pumila (A. uva-ursi --/--/1B Closed-cone conifer About Monterey Bay Year round Areas F-2, F-3, H, I-1, PQR, and var. pumila) * forest, coastal scrub, and SFB Morse Preserve. coastal dunes 15 occurrences in California; all of Sandmat manzanita these occurrences are reported from Monterey County (CNDDB 2002) Astragalus tener var. titi E/E/1B Coastal dunes Monterey Bay and San Diego Bay Mar-May None Coastal dunes milk vetch
Castilleja latifolia * --/--/4 Coastal dunes and scrub Central Coast April-May New Golf Course (Signal Hill Dune), Area L, Indian Village Monterey Indian paintbrush
Revised Table E-8. Special-Status Plants Documented or Identified as Having the Potential to Occur in the Project Area Page 2 of 6 A B Species Status Habitats Distribution in California and Identification Occurrence in Project Sites Fed/State/CNPS Monterey County C Period
Ceanothus cuneatus var. rigidus * --/--/4 Widespread in maritime Monterey Peninsula Feb-Mar (SFB Morse Preserve) chaparral; closed-cone Monterey ceanothus conifer forest on sandy hills and flats Chorizanthe rectispina --/--/1B Chaparral, oak woodland, Coast Ranges of Monterey and San Jun-Jul None and grassland Luis Obispo Counties Straight-awned spineflower Chorizanthe robusta var. robusta E/--/1B Coastal dunes and scrub Coastal Santa Cruz and Monterey May-Sept None on dry, sandy places Counties Robust spineflower below 1,000 feet Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens T/--/1B Maritime chaparral, Monterey Peninsula and coastal north Apr-Jun New Golf Course (Signal Hill cismontane woodland, Monterey County Dune), Area L, Indian Village Monterey spineflower coastal dunes, coastal scrub, valley and foothill grassland, sandy soils 27 occurrences in California; 19 of these occurrences are reported from Monterey County (CNDDB 2002) Collinsia multicolor --/--/1B Dry, stony and grassy San Francisco County to San Mateo Mar-May None slopes in coastal scrub and County San Francisco collinsia closed-cone coniferous forest Cordylanthus rigidus spp. littoralis --/E/1B Coastal scrub, closed-cone Coast Ranges of Monterey and Santa May-Sep None conifer frst, oak Barbara Counties Seaside bird's-beak woodland, and chaparral on dry, sandy soils below 3,000 feet Cupressus goveniana spp. T/--/1B Closed-cone coniferous Monterey County Areas F-2, F-3; I-1, L (probably govenianam * forest, maritime chaparral planted?), and native occurrences 3 occurrences in California; all of these in HHNHA, SFB Morse Gowen Cypress occurrences are reported from Botanical Reserve Monterey County (CNDDB 2002) Cupressus macrocarpa * --/--/1B Closed-cone coniferous Monterey County Year round New Golf Course (MNOUV), forest Lodge at Pebble Beach, Inn at Monterey cypress 2 occurrences in California; both Spanish Bay, Area F-3, I-1, L, occurrences are reported from (all planted) Monterey County (CNDDB 2002)
Revised Table E-8. Special-Status Plants Documented or Identified as Having the Potential to Occur in the Project Area Page 3 of 6 A B Species Status Habitats Distribution in California and Identification Occurrence in Project Sites Fed/State/CNPS Monterey County C Period
Delphinium hutchinsoniae --/--/1B Coastal scrub, coastal Monterey County Mar-Jun None prairie, and mixed ever- Hutchinson's larkspur green forest Delphinium umbraculorum --/--/1B Cismontane woodland; Monterey and San Luis Obispo April-Jun None usually shaded places Counties Umbrella larkspur
Ericameria fasciculata --/--/1B Closed-cone conifer Monterey and Carmel Bays Jul-Oct SFB Morse Preserve forest, chaparral, and Eastwood's goldenbush coastal scrub Eriogonum butterworthianum --/R/1B Chaparral Monterey County Jun-Jul None Butterworth's buckwheat Eriogonum nortonii --/--/1B sandy soils in chaparral, Monterey and San Benito Counties May-Jun valley and foothill Pinnacles buckwheat grassland, often on recent None burns Erysimum ammophilum --/--/1B Coastal dunes Coastal areas of Montery and Santa Feb-Jun None Cruz County, and Santa Rosa Island; Coast wallflower known from only 10 occurrence, nearly extirpated on the Monterey Peninsula (CNPS 2001) Erysimum menziesii ssp. Menziesii E/E/1B Coastal dunes Monterey County and from Fort Braff Mar-Jun New Golf Course (Signal Hill to north of Humboldt Bay Dune), Indian Village Menzies' wallflower 10 occurrences in California; 7 of these occurrences are reported from Monterey County (CNDDB 2002) Erysimum menziesii spp. yadonii E/E/1B Coastal dunes Monterey County Jun-Aug None Yadon’s wallflower Fritillaria liliacea --/--/1B Coastal scrub and Sonoma County to Monterey County Feb-Apr None grassland; often on ultra- Fragrant fritillary mafic soils Revised Table E-8. Special-Status Plants Documented or Identified as Having the Potential to Occur in the Project Area Page 4 of 6 A B Species Status Habitats Distribution in California and Identification Occurrence in Project Sites Fed/State/CNPS Monterey County C Period
Gilia tenuiflora ssp. Arenaria E/T/1B Coastal dunes and scrub Monterey Bay region Apr-Jun New Golf Course (Signal Hill Dune) Sand gilia 30 occurrences in California; 29 of these occurrences are reported from Monterey County (CNDDB 2002) Horkelia cuneata ssp. Sericea --/--/1B Sandy and gravelly places Along the coast from Sonoma County Apr-Sept None in coastal scrub and to Santa Barbara County Kellogg’s horkelia closed-cone coniferous forest Layia carnosa E/E/1B Widely scattered stations Humboldt County to San Francisco Apr-Jul New Golf Course (Signal Hill on coastal sand dunes County and historically to Point Dune) Beach layia Concepcion 27 occurrences in California; 4 of these occurrences are reported from Monterey County (CNDDB 2002) Layia jonesii --/--/1B Chaparral and grassland Monterey and San Luis Obispo Mar-May None Counties Jones's layia Lupinus tidestromii var. tidestromii E/E/1B Coastal dunes Monterey Peninsula May-Jun New Golf Course (Signal Hill * Dune) 20 occurrences in California; 11 of Tidestrom's lupine these occurrences are reported from Monterey County (CNDDB 2002) Malacothamnus palmeri var. --/--/1B involucratus None Carmel Valley Bush Mellow Malacothrix saxatilis var. --/--/1B Rocky open banks of Monterey and Santa Barbara Counties Jun-Dec arachnoidea chaparral and mixed ever- green forest None Carmel Valley cliff-aster Plagiobothrys uncinatus --/--/1B Chaparral and possibly Monterey and San Benito Counties Apr-May None grassland and cismontane Hooked popcornflower woodland Potentilla hickmanii * E/E/1B Scrub, closed-cond Known from only two occurrences on Apr-Aug Indian Village coniferous forest and the Monterey Peninsula Hickman’s potentilla (also known vernally mesic sites as Hickman’s cinquefoil) Revised Table E-8. Special-Status Plants Documented or Identified as Having the Potential to Occur in the Project Area Page 5 of 6 A B Species Status Habitats Distribution in California and Identification Occurrence in Project Sites Fed/State/CNPS Monterey County C Period
Pinus radiata --/--/1B Closed-cone coniferous Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Luis Occurs on or adjacent to all forest, cismontane Obispo, and San Mateo Counties, Baja project sites Monterey Pine woodland California, 5 occurrences in California; 2 of these occurrences are reported from Monterey County (CNDDB 2002) Piperia yadonii E/--/1B Coastal bluff scrub, Monterey County. 20 occurrences in May-Aug New Golf Course (Area closed-cone coniferous California; all of these occurrences are MNOUV) and Areas B, F-1, F-2, Yadon’s piperia (aka Yadon’s forest, maritime chaparral, reported from Monterey County F-3, G, H, I-1, I-2, J , K, L, and rein orchid) on sandy soils (CNDDB 2002) PQR. HHNA and SFB Morse Preserve. Potential habitat in the Congress Road improvement area. Rosa pinetorum --/--/1B Pine woodlands and Central coast, San Francisco Bay and May-Jul New Golf Course (Area canyons Southern Coast Range. 6 occurrences MNOUV), F-2, F-3, G, H, I-1, I- Pine rose in California; 5 of these occurrences 2, L, and in Drainage adjacent to are reported from Monterey County Sawmill site (HHNA) Sidalcea hickmanii spp. hickmanii --/--/1B Hillsides in chaparral Monterey County Jun-Jul None Hickman’s checkerbloom Sidalcea malachroides --/--/1B Coastal scrub, perennial North coast and northern central coast Feb-Mar None grassland, Redwood from Humboldt County to Monterey Maple-leafed checkerbloom forest, Douglas-fir forest, County, Oregon in open, often disturbed areas, 5-2,300' Stebbinsoseris decipiens --/--/IB Open areas in broad- Monterey, Marin and Santa Cruz Apr-May leaved upland forest, Counties Santa Cruz microseris closed-cone coniferous None forest, chaparral, coastal prairie, and coastal scrub, sometimes serpentinite Trifolium buckwestiorum --/--/1B Moist grassy areas on San Francisco Bay area and central May-Oct margins of broad-leaved coastal California, Endemic to Santa Santa Cruz clover upland forest, cismontane Cruz County, also known from None woodland, and coastal Monterey and Sonoma Counties prairie, sometimes in disturbed areas, 200-1,800' Revised Table E-8. Special-Status Plants Documented or Identified as Having the Potential to Occur in the Project Area Page 6 of 6 A B Species Status Habitats Distribution in California and Identification Occurrence in Project Sites Fed/State/CNPS Monterey County C Period
Trifolium polydon * --/R/1B Closed-cone coniferous Known only from three occurrences on Apr-Jun New Golf Course (in existing EQ forst, coastal prairie, the Monterey Peninsula center); Indian Village Pacific Grove clover meadow 12 occurrences in California; all of these occurrences are reported from Monterey County (CNDDB 2002) Trifolium trichocalyx * E/E/1B Closed-cone coniferous Monterey County Jun-Nov Area G forest, openings, burned Monterey clover areas 2 occurrences in California; both of these occurrences are reported from Monterey County (CNDDB 2002)
Notes: A Species (significant occurrences only) identified with an * are listed as Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas in Appendix A of the Del Monte Forest Land Use Plan. Additional “watch list” plants (CNPS List 4) have been documented in the Del Monte Forest but are not evaluated in this EIR because they do not fit the definition of special-status species and more importantly, they occur largely within open space areas. This CNPS List 4 species include small-leaved lomatium (Lomatium parvifolium), adder’s tongue fern (Ophioglossum californicum), and Gairdner’s yampah (Perideridia gairdnerii). B Status Definitions – = no listing. Federal E = listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. T = listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. SC = species of concern; species for which existing information indicates it may warrant listing but for which substantial biological information to support a proposed rule is lacking. State E = listed as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act. R = listed as rare under the Cal. Native Plant Protection Act. This category is no longer used for newly listed plants, but some plants previously listed as rare retain this designation. – = no listing. California Native Plant Society (Note: CNPS is a private environmental group. Presence on a CNPS list is not indicative of any formal local, state, or federal status or protection. However, List 1B species are commonly determined to meet the CEQA definition of a “rare” species and do so for the plants noted above related to the Proposed Project.) 1B = List 1B species: considered to be rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere. 4 = List 4 species: considered to be plants of limited distribution – a watch list. C Distribution information was obtained from the California Native Plant Society’s (CNPS’s) (2001) 6th Edition Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California. The total number of recorded occurrences in California and in Monterey is provided for special-status plants documented in the project area and was obtained from the California Department of Fish and Games NDDB (2002) Revised Table E-9. Special Status Plant Location Summary by Project Area
[NOTE: For Yadon’s Piperia see PRDEIR Table P2-1)
Hooker's Hickman’s Yadon's piperia manzanita Onion Other Special Status Plants Site acres individuals acres acres occurrences Proposed Golf Course Area 41.8 14,730 1.9 0.02 Pacific grove clover, pine rose, and dune plants (MNOUV) (Monterey spineflower, Menzies’ wallflower, beach layia, sand gilia, Tidestroms’ lupine, and Monterey Indian paintbrush) New Equestrian Center 0.0 0 0.0 Pine rose Inn at Spanish Bay 0.0 0 0.0 Lodge at Pebble Beach 0.0 0 0.0 Spanish Bay Employee Housing and 0.6 425 0.0 Preservation Area B Spanish Bay Driving Range and 0.0 0 0.0 Conservation Area C Preservation Area D 1.0 177 N/A 18.4 Site not surveyed to date as no development proposed. Residential Area F-2 0.4 99 18.4 16.8 Gowen cypress, pine rose, sandmat manzanita Residential Area F-3 11.8 1,579 16.8 33.5 0.01 Gowen cypress, pine rose, sandmat manzanita Preservation Area G 9.1 966 33.5 22.5 0.01 Monterey clover, pine rose Preservation Area H 13.9 1,940 22.5 9.8 0.01 Pine rose, sandmat manzanita Preservation Area I-1 0.1 32 9.8 15.6 0.07 Pine rose, sandmat manzanita Residential Area I-2 0.2 102 15.6 0.0 Pine rose Preservation Area J 1.5 1,526 0.0 Residential Area K 0.2 199 0.0 Conservation Area K 0.5 321 0.0 Preservation Area L 2.3 255 0.0 3.8 Pine rose, Monterey spineflower Monterey Indian paintbrush Residential Area PQR 45.9 15,643 3.8 25.3 0.00 Sandmat manzanita Preservation Area PQR 0.0 0 25.3 0.0 5.52 Sandmat manzanita (15 occurrences, including significant (ESHA) occurrence. Internal Road Improvements Potential Potential 0.4 0.00 Highway 1/68 0.0 0 0.0 0.00 TOTAL 129.3 37,944 148.0 5.64 HHNA/SFB Morse Preserve Not Est. 7, 578 22.8 Gowen cypress and multiple other species Sources: Allen 1996, EIP 1997, Yadon 2001, WWD 2002, Pebble Beach Company Biological Resource maps 2002, PBC 2003b, 2003d, Zander 2003a and 2003b, 2002b. Area I-1 revised per PBCSD plans for 2.2-acre expansion.
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 sepals are white. Lateral petals are green with white margins and the lower petal 2 (lip) is white. The plant is dormant from about September through January.
3 Yadon’s piperia is distinguished from other rein orchids by its short spur, white 4 margins on upper sepals and petals, white lower sepals and petals, and cylindric 5 rather than one-sided inflorescence.
6 Distribution and Occurrence in the Project Area. Distribution of 7 this species is centered in the Monterey Peninsula, where plants are found 8 throughout large undeveloped tracts of the Del Monte Forest. The species’ range 9 extends north to Las Lomas near Santa Cruz County and south to near Palo 10 Colorado Canyon along the Big Sur Coast. Yadon’s piperia has been found only 11 4–6 miles inland despite searches of lands further east.
12 Dense groupings of this species are found throughout the Del Monte Forest, 13 especially in Huckleberry Hill; S. F. B. Morse Reserve; Area PQR; and areas 14 adjacent to Stevenson Drive, Drake Road, and Forest Lake Road. Other dense 15 concentrations are found at the Old Capitol site in the city of Monterey. Yadon’s 16 piperia is found on the following project development sites: Proposed Golf 17 Course; Areas B, F-2, F-3, I-2, K, and PQR; and possibly in the Congress 18 Road/New Equestrian Center area. It is found on the following proposed 19 preservation/conservation areas: Proposed Golf Course (Bristol Curve); Areas B, 20 F-3, G, H, I-1, J, K, L, and PQR. It is also found in the existing preservation area 21 in the HHNA.
22 A survey of Yadon’s piperia was conducted within the project development and 23 preservation sites in spring 2004. Reconnaissance-level surveys have also found 24 populations of Yadon’s piperia at Skyline Forest Drive, Veteran’s Park, Point 25 Lobos, Riley Ranch (east of Highway 1 near Point Lobos), Manzanita Park, and 26 vicinities to the east of Long Valley and ridgetops north of Long Valley. Figures 27 E-4 and E-5 (MRMP Appendix B) show the known distribution of Yadon’s 28 piperia.
29 Table E-10 identifies the locations of known Yadon’s piperia locations. The two 30 largest (by occupied acreage and size of population) known occurrences are at 31 Area MNOUV (the Proposed Golf Course location) and Area PQR. Further 32 information on Yadon’s piperia in the project area is included in the PRDEIR as 33 well as in the 2004 survey reports in Appendix D of the MRMP.
34 The biological resource figures in MRMP Appendix B show the locations of 35 Yadon’s piperia in the project development, preservation, and conservation areas.
36 Habitat Requirements. Yadon’s piperia was predominantly found where 37 the Monterey pine forest supports a herbaceous understory and where shady
38
39
40
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-17
Table E-10. Yadon's Piperia Known Locations
Location Region Ownership Area PQR (Pescadero Tract) Monterey Peninsula/DMF PBC Area MNOUV Monterey Peninsula/DMF PBC PBC SFB Morse/Huckleberry Hill Monterey Peninsula/DMF DMFF Area K Monterey Peninsula/DMF PBC Area F-1 Monterey Peninsula/DMF PBC Area I-1 Monterey Peninsula/DMF PBC Area J Monterey Peninsula/DMF PBC Area G Monterey Peninsula/DMF PBC Area H Monterey Peninsula/DMF PBC Area B Monterey Peninsula/DMF PBC Forest Lake Road Monterey Peninsula/DMF PBC Area L Monterey Peninsula/DMF PBC Area F-2 Monterey Peninsula/DMF PBC Area F-3 Monterey Peninsula/DMF PBC Area I-2 Monterey Peninsula/DMF PBC Crocker Grove Monterey Peninsula/DMF PBC Monterey Peninsula Airport Monterey Peninsula Public Old Capitol Site Monterey Peninsula PBC Naval Post-Graduate School Monterey Peninsula USN Skyline Forest Drive in Monterey Monterey Peninsula Unknown Presidio of Monterey Monterey Peninsula DOD N. Side of Carmel Valley Below Jack's Peak Monterey Peninsula Unknown Washington Park Monterey Peninsula Monterey Don Dahvee Park Monterey Peninsula Monterey Veterans Park Monterey Peninsula Monterey Aguajito Monterey Peninsula PBC Blohm Ranch Prunedale Nature Conservancy Ridges South of Blohm Ranch Prunedale Unknown Ridge Line South of Manzanita Park Prunedale Unknown Manzanita Park Prunedale Monterey County Ridges between Tucker Road and Long Canyon Prunedale Unknown East of Tucker Road Prunedale Unknown Vierra Canyon/101 Prunedale Private State Park Riley Ranch E of Point Lobos Private Fort Ord/SR1 Marina Unknown Palo Colorado Canyon Palo Colorado Unknown TOTAL
Sources: Allen 1996 (Survey Report); J&S 1996a (Conservation Strategies); USFWS 2002 (Draft Recovery Plan); PBC DMF/PDP Resource Maps (2001), Graff (unpublished data) Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 conditions and well-drained soils with moderate moisture retention abilities in the 2 rainy season are present. Where conditions are too moist, Yadon’s piperia is 3 replaced by Pacific reed grass. Yadon’s piperia also occurs inland, between or 4 under the perimeter of shrubs on shallow soils in chaparral habitats, typically 5 associated with Hooker’s manzanita. It does not occur where shrub cover is 6 dense or in densely vegetated drainages. It has been observed colonizing 7 disturbed sites such as old road cuts.
8 Yadon’s piperia occurs on a variety of soil types and geomorphic surfaces. Most 9 occurrences of Yadon’s piperia tend to be on Narlon soils. Flowering occurs 10 May–August. Seeds are minute and wind dispersed. As is typical of orchids, the 11 roots of Yadon’s piperia form a close symbiotic association with mycorrhizal 12 fungi.
13 Deer browsing on flowering stalks and leaves of Yadon’s piperia appear to 14 detrimentally affect the plant. A preliminary study found that 80% of caged 15 plants produced flowering stalks, while only 2% of non-caged plants subject to 16 deer browsing produced stalks.
17 Recovery Plan Recommendations. The focus of protection and 18 recovery of Yadon’s piperia is recommended to be through protection and 19 management of existing populations, especially large populations. Because of 20 the mycorrhizal-orchid mutualism, native soil with fungal spores would need to 21 be used in any programs developed to grow or transplant the orchid. Although 22 establishing new orchid populations may be feasible, it is a less certain approach 23 than working to maintain and enhance the existing populations. Sites with some 24 existing protected status that support large orchid populations should be managed 25 to maintain populations. Within the Del Monte Forest, these sites are the HHNA 26 and S. F. B. Morse Reserve. Population sizes at each site should be monitored to 27 determine whether they are stable, declining, or increasing. An adaptive 28 management approach should be used to address declining populations. Other 29 efforts should focus on protecting large populations of this species on currently 30 unprotected sites.
31 Gowen Cypress
32 Status and Description. Gowen cypress (Cupressus goveniana ssp. 33 goveniana), is federally listed as threatened and is a CNPS List 1B species. 34 Gowen cypress is a small coniferous tree in the cypress family. This sparsely 35 branched tree grows to 15–25 feet tall with a short, broad crown. The scale-like 36 leaves are light green to yellow-green. Gowen cypress is distinguished from its 37 close relative, pygmy or Mendocino cypress (Cupressus goveniana ssp. pigmaea) 38 by its taller stature, lack of long whip-like terminal shoot, and lighter colored 39 leaves.
40 Distribution and Occurrence in the Project Area. This species is 41 one of several members of the cypress family with a limited range scattered in 42 isolated populations throughout California and elsewhere. Only two natural
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-18
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 stands of Gowen cypress are known; both are located in the Del Monte Forest 2 and in Point Lobos State Reserve. No historical distribution beyond these two 3 natural sites is known.
4 In the Del Monte Forest, Gowen cypress is found primarily within the S. F. B. 5 Morse Botanical Reserve and HHNA.
6 In the project area, isolated native Gowen cypress (approximately 23 trees) occur 7 in Areas F-2 and F-3. The proposed conservation area in Area F-3 contains 8 approximately 3.5 acres of Bishop pine/Gowen cypress forest.
9 Gowen cypress trees were planted as part of the quarry reclamation project in the 10 upper and lower sawmill quarry. The species has also been planted in other 11 project areas for landscaping purposes.
12 Habitat Requirements. Gowen cypress occurs as a dominant tree with 13 Bishop pine in Monterey pygmy forest, and as scattered trees in Monterey pine 14 forest. In pygmy forest, Gowen cypress occurs as nearly pure stands, in mixed 15 stands with Bishop pine, or as scattered individuals within Bishop pine stands.
16 Soil types vary between the two natural stands. Within the pygmy forest, Gowen 17 cypress dominates sites where soils are shallow, acidic, strongly leached, and 18 poorly drained.
19 Gowen cypress is a fire-adapted species. The cones remain on the tree for many 20 years and open in response to the heat of a fire, although they also open with age. 21 Regeneration following a fire is rapid and prolific. The species is wind 22 pollinated. Seeds are wind dispersed, but are not light enough to be carried far 23 from the parent plant.
24 Recovery Plan Recommendations. Both Gowen cypress stands are in 25 existing protected areas (except for the adjacent portion of Gowen cypress within 26 Area F-3; Area F-2 contains scattered individual trees). The stand in the Del 27 Monte Forest is located on privately owned land with an open space designation 28 (HHNA), and is subject to a conservation easement held by the Del Monte Forest 29 Foundation. The Point Lobos State Reserve stand is protected by the California 30 Department of Parks and Recreation.
31 The best management of Gowen cypress habitat would include fire as a 32 management tool. However, management of the HHNA stand, which is 33 surrounded by development, would need to satisfactorily address the potential 34 risks to life and property posed by fire. The tolerance of Gowen cypress to 35 extremely poor soil conditions probably prevents it from being overtaken by 36 other trees on sites of shallow, acidic soils even in the absence of fire. Some 37 vegetation-clearing disturbance would likely benefit Gowen cypress. For 38 instance, pygmy forest trees and shrubs could be cut, chipped, and left to 39 regenerate. If permits and public acceptance can be obtained, the chipped 40 material could also be burned in blocks of habitat surrounded by fire roads.
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-19
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Monterey Clover
2 Status and Species Description. Monterey clover (Trifolium 3 trichocalyx) is state-and-federally listed as endangered and is a CNPS List 1B 4 species. It is a small annual in the legume family. The palmately compound 5 leaves have three leaflets that are 0.2–0.4 inches long. The flower head 6 comprises up to 10 pink to lavender flowers. Monterey clover is considered to be 7 most closely related to whitetip clover; it may also be a hybrid of whitetip clover 8 and a noninvolucrate species of clover. Monterey clover is distinguished from 9 whitetip clover by its hairy calyx and smaller, more deeply cut involucre.
10 Distribution and Occurrence in the Project Area. Monterey clover 11 occurs in a few restricted populations in the central portion of the Monterey 12 Peninsula within the Del Monte Forest. Before the 1987 fire at Huckleberry Hill, 13 Monterey clover was known only from occurrences at the S. F. B. Morse Reserve 14 and near State Route 68. In spring 1988, larger populations were identified along 15 Costanilla Way and Los Altos Road. A few plants were observed near State 16 Route 68 at the Presidio of Monterey following a fire in 1990.
17 In the project area, Monterey clover was observed in large numbers on the 18 extreme northern portion of Area G, occupying 8.2 acres of habitat. This area 19 burned in the 1987 Pebble Beach fire, and the population has apparently 20 disappeared under a dense growth of regenerating shrubs and Monterey pine 21 saplings. This area is shown in Figure E-18 in MRMP Appendix B.
22 Habitat Requirements. Monterey clover is a fire follower, only appearing 23 in large numbers after a fire has removed the vegetative cover. It occurs in large 24 numbers in the spring following crown fires in Monterey pine forest. As the 25 forest recovers, the dense stands of pine and cypress seedlings and recovering 26 shrubs shade and crowd out Monterey clover; subsequently the clover population 27 rapidly declines.
28 Monterey clover occurs on poorly drained Narlon loamy fine sand and on well 29 drained Sheridan coarse loamy sand. These soils support a thin or loamy sand 30 surface underlain by compacted sandy clay (USFWS 2002b).
31 Monterey pine, Hooker’s manzanita, shaggy-barked manzanita, and huckleberry 32 are often associated with Monterey clover. In pygmy forest, Monterey clover is 33 associated with Bishop pine and Gowen cypress. Herbaceous species often 34 associated with Monterey clover are wild oats, annual fescues, and thimble 35 clover.
36 Monterey clover blooms April through June. As with other clovers, small bees 37 are likely important pollinators.
38 Recovery Plan Recommendations. Fire is a pivotal factor in the 39 ecology of Monterey clover. However, because development surrounds 40 Monterey clover habitat, the use of fire for habitat management should only be 41 considered with appropriate measures to protect life and property. Lower-risk
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-20
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 methods of burning to create clover habitat could be used. This may include 2 cutting, chipping, and clearing Monterey pine forest and setting fire within areas 3 confined by fire roads. The appropriate seasonal timing of burns for maximum 4 reproduction of Monterey clover should be investigated and the results 5 incorporated into a management plan. Any use of controlled burning would need 6 to be permitted and approved by the public.
7 Germination requirements of Monterey clover requires study. If Monterey clover 8 is found to respond to cues other than fire, it may be possible to incorporate 9 management techniques that do not include fire and that therefore avoid the risk 10 of fire near developed areas.
11 Sites supporting potential suitable Monterey clover habitat could be used to 12 establish new populations.
13 No Adverse Impact. Area G is the only project site that contains occupied 14 habitat for Monterey clover. As part of the Proposed Project, Area G would be 15 placed under a conservation and scenic easement. The applicant is proposing to 16 regenerate the seed bank in Area G and/or other existing habitat areas by using 17 prescribed burning, if authorized by the California Division of Forestry (Zander 18 2001b). This habitat management proposal, if implemented appropriately, 19 supports the recommendations for habitat and population recovery (Jones & 20 Stokes 1996a; U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2002b). This proposal should be 21 incorporated into the site-specific RMPs for Area G and the Annual Work Plan. 22 No new trails or other development activities are proposed in Monterey clover 23 habitat areas. No adverse impact of the Proposed Project is identified for this 24 species. This species is thus not discussed in the impact section.
25 Hickman’s Potentilla
26 Status and Description. Hickman’s potentilla (Potentilla hickmanii) is 27 state-and-federally listed as endangered and is a CNPS List 1B species. It is also 28 known as Hickman’s cinquefoil.
29 Hickman’s potentilla is a small perennial herb in the rose family. It dies back in 30 the summer to a woody taproot. Stems are prostrate to decumbent and more or 31 less glabrous. Leaves form a rosette from a thick, woody taproot. The annually 32 produced leaves are pinnately compound into generally six-paired, palmately 33 cleft leaflets. Inflorescences generally have fewer than 10 flowers. Petals are 34 yellow and are 0.24–0.31 inches long. Distinguishing characteristics of 35 Hickman’s potentilla include slender styles 0.08–0.12 inches long that are 36 attached near the tip of the ovary; four to seven leaflets, each divided midway to 37 the base; and subglabrous herbage.
38 Distribution and Occurrence in the Project Area. Historically, 39 Hickman’s potentilla is known to occur in only three locations: near the 40 reservoir which supplies Pacific Grove, along the road to Cypress Point (Forest 41 Lake or Pacific Grove Reservoir); at Moss Beach near Half Moon Bay; and in a
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-21
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 meadow opening in Monterey pine forest in Indian Village near Area L. The 2 Pacific Grove Reservoir occurrence is believed to be extirpated; the species is 3 currently known to exist only at the Indian Village location in Del Monte Forest, 4 and at a second location in the hills above Martini Creek (near Devil’s Slide) in 5 San Mateo County. Population numbers at the San Mateo location were 6 approximately 2, 600 in 1995 and 2,000 in 1996. The Indian Village population 7 has fallen to as few as 14 plants and presently consists of fewer than 40. Most of 8 these are growing in a small exclosure constructed for their protection by the 9 applicant. Ownership of the land at Indian Village has been transferred to the 10 Del Monte Forest Foundation. The proposed preservation area in Area L is 11 directly adjacent to Indian Village, and supports a population of this species. 12 This area is shown in Figure E-21 in MRMP Appendix B, and in the biological 13 resource map of Area L in this appendix.
14 Habitat Requirements. The Monterey Peninsula population of Hickman’s 15 potentilla is found in loamy fine sandy soils that support a small meadow 16 community of nonnative grasses and several nonnative and native herbs. The site 17 consists of Santa Ynez soils, supporting an upper surface of sand and organic 18 material underlain by clay layers. At this site, Hickman’s potentilla occurs 19 within a fenced exclosure with no vegetation management. The exclosure is 20 dominated by soft chess, slender oats, annual fescues, and wild barley. Some 21 vegetation disturbance (e.g., mowing, ground fire, or grazing) may be beneficial 22 to this species by reducing competition without resulting in high mortality.
23 Hickman’s potentilla has protogynous flowers: the stigma is receptive to pollen 24 before the pollen-bearing anthers open on the same flower. This timing 25 mechanism facilitates a greater chance of outcrossing. Hickman’s potentilla is 26 likely pollinated by a variety of flies, beetles, and bees. Seed production occurs 27 late in the season; in dry years, few or no seeds are produced.
28 Recovery Plan Recommendations. Recommendations for recovery 29 include expanding available habitat. In Indian Village, with the approval of the 30 Del Monte Forest Foundation (property owner), this would entail moving or 31 consolidating all recreation activities to one area. If recreation could be 32 controlled, grassland on site would recover and Hickman’s potentilla would 33 likely establish with little or no assistance. All designated habitat should be 34 fenced off from pedestrian and equestrian traffic. The grassland should be 35 managed to keep grasses from outcompeting Hickman’s potentilla and to prevent 36 Monterey pines from creating excessive shade. An adaptive management 37 program should be applied that would test light, mowing, and grazing as possible 38 vegetation management techniques.
39 No Adverse Impact. There are no known occurrences of this species within 40 the project area. The Proposed Project would include dedication of Area L as a 41 preservation area; this dedication would assist ongoing efforts to protect the 42 extant population in Indian Village by enlarging the protective buffer zone. No 43 adverse impact to this species from the Proposed Project is identified and this 44 species is not discussed in the impact section.
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-22
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Coastal Dune Species
2 The remnant dunes (Signal Hill Dune) adjacent to the Proposed Golf Course 3 location support populations of Monterey spineflower (Chorizanthe pungens var. 4 pungens), Menzies’ wallflower (Erysimum menziesii), beach layia (Layia 5 carnosa), sand gilia (Gilia tenuiflora var. arenaria), Tidestroms’ lupine (Lupinus 6 tidestromii var. tidestromii), and Monterey Indian paintbrush (Castilleja 7 latifolia). These species occur along the northwestern edge of the Proposed Golf 8 Course within an area that is considered an ESHA and that would be dedicated as 9 a conservation area with implementation of the Proposed Project. Occurrences of 10 Monterey Indian paintbrush and Monterey spineflower have also been reported in 11 the proposed preservation area in Area L. Most of these species have also been 12 found in remnant dunes at Indian Village. The locations of sensitive plants (with 13 the exception of Monterey Indian paintbrush) in the Signal Hill Dune area 14 adjacent to the Proposed Golf Course location are shown in Figure E-9 in MRMP 15 Appendix B.
16 Pacific Grove Clover
17 Status and Description. Pacific Grove clover (recognized by CNPS 18 Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants as Trifolium polyodon), is state-listed 19 as rare and is a CNPS List 1B species.
20 Pacific Grove clover stems are semi-prostrate and the leaves are palmately 21 compound with three obovate to wedge-shaped leaflets. Flower petals are light 22 with paler tips. Fruits are two-seeded pods. This species is an annual herb; it is a 23 plant of uncertain taxonomic position, possibly of hybrid origin. Hickman 24 (1993) identifies Pacific Grove clover as a phase of whitetip clover (Trifolium 25 variegatum). The distinguishing characteristic of Pacific Grove clover is its 26 three-toothed calyx lobes. Pacific Grove clover flowers tend to be smaller and 27 paler in color than those of whitetip clover, and the plants are typically smaller 28 overall.
29 Distribution and Occurrence in the Project Area. Pacific Grove 30 clover is limited to populations on the Monterey Peninsula and vicinity. Known 31 locations of this plant include Point Lobos, Spanish Bay, 17- Mile Drive, Indian 32 Village, Pebble Beach Equestrian Center, and an inland site near Highway 68.
33 In the project area, one large population of Pacific Grove clover occurs at the 34 Proposed Golf Course location (Area MNOUV), with approximately 10,000 35 plants occurring within a 0.4-acre area in the existing Equestrian Center (Jones & 36 Stokes 1996a; County of Monterey 1997). As the population size can vary with 37 time, the current size could be larger or smaller that that found in 1996 and 1997.
38 Habitat Requirements. Pacific Grove clover’s habitat is typically without 39 overstory and has shallow soils that are subject to saturation in the rainy season 40 and desiccation during the summer. The species prefers moist swales and wet 41 depressions in grasslands and coastal prairie, and has been found on Antioch,
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-23
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Santa Ynez and Narlon soils. Pacific Grove clover is tolerant of vegetation and 2 soil disturbance, and may even benefit from it. It has been found in pastures, 3 trails, horse training areas, parking areas, picnic grounds, abandoned roads, and 4 under grandstands, where it is regularly subject to disturbance regimes including 5 horse and pedestrian trampling.
6 Recovery Strategy Recommendations. Alterations to current 7 disturbance regimes should be cautiously attempted at sites that contain Pacific 8 Grove clover. Disturbance regimes should be gradually transitioned toward 9 controlled disturbance management with the approval of landowners. 10 Recreational activities should be kept at existing levels. Potential suitable sites 11 for Pacific Grove clover, where the clover currently does not exist, should be 12 considered for establishment of new populations. Seeds should be collected from 13 nearby Pacific Grove clover populations from which natural dispersal would be 14 most likely. New populations may require some form of artificial disturbance 15 regime, such as livestock grazing, to maintain the quality of the Pacific Grove 16 clover habitat.
17 Hooker’s Manzanita
18 Status and Description. Hooker’s manzanita (Arctostaphylos hookeri), a 19 CNPS List 1B species, is a low-growing woody shrub that forms conspicuous 20 mounds on sandy soils in maritime chaparral and Monterey pine forest 21 communities.
22 Distribution and Occurrence in the Project Area. The species’ 23 range extends from southern Santa Cruz County south to Monterey County. The 24 primary populations occur in Larkin Valley, Prunedale Hills, the former Fort 25 Ord, Monterey Peninsula, and the northern end of the Santa Lucia Range (Figure 26 E-6 in MRMP Appendix B). The largest population is located in maritime 27 chaparral at the former Fort Ord and managed by BLM. Hooker’s manzanita is 28 found throughout the Del Monte Forest. A substantial population of Hooker’s 29 manzanita (the most abundant occurrence of the species within the Del Monte 30 Forest) is found in the HHNA in Monterey pygmy forest and maritime chaparral.
31 In the project area, Hooker’s manzanita occupies approximately 48 acres within 32 development areas (Proposed Golf Course location [MNOUV], F-2, F-3, I-2, 33 PQR, Congress road improvements) and approximately 99 acres within proposed 34 preservation/conservation areas (Proposed Golf Course location [Bristol Curve 35 preserve area], F-3, G, H, I-1, and PQR). An undetermined amount of occupied 36 habitat is located in HHNA within the previously dedicated preservation area. 37 These areas are identified in Table E-9 and in the biological resource maps in this 38 appendix.
39 Habitat Requirements. Hooker’s manzanita is a common component of 40 central coast maritime chaparral and Monterey pygmy forest communities of the 41 Monterey Bay region and is found in some occurrences of Monterey pine forest.
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-24
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Hickman’s Onion
2 Status and Description. Hickman’s onion (Allium hickmanii), a CNPS 3 List 1B species, is a small perennial herb that forms an underground bulb.
4 Distribution and Occurrence in the Project Area. This species is of 5 limited distribution, with small populations centered on the Monterey Peninsula, 6 near Jolon in Monterey County, and in San Luis Obispo County. A rather large 7 population (394 acres) occurrence has been reported at the former Fort Ord; all of 8 this occurrence will be preserved as base reuse proceeds. Hickman’s onion 9 occurs on 9.5 acres on the east side of Hatton Canyon; it also occurs in Carmel 10 Valley.
11 In the project area, Hickman’s onion occupies a 0.02-acre area within the 12 Proposed Golf Course site (Area MNOUV) and approximately 5.6 acres within 13 proposed preservation/conservation areas in Areas F-3 and PQR, and has also 14 been reported in proposed preservation Areas G, H, and I-1 (Yadon 2001a). 15 These areas are identified in Table E-9 and in the biological resource maps in this 16 appendix.
17 Habitat Requirements. Hickman’s onion is typically found in small 18 clearings within the forest where shallow, rocky soil conditions and lack of 19 competing vegetation allow for the species to establish.
20 Sandmat Manzanita
21 Status and Description. Sandmat manzanita (Arctostaphylos pumila) is a 22 CNPS List 1B species but is not state-or-federally listed.
23 Distribution and Occurrence in the Project Area. The species 24 occurs only in northern coastal Monterey County, with its main population 25 centered in maritime chaparral at the former Ford Ord. The populations found in 26 Monterey pine forest in the Del Monte Forest constitute less than 1% of the total 27 species population.
28 Sandmat manzanita is found in the proposed development areas in Areas F-2, F- 29 3, and residential portion of Area PQR. Occurrences are also found in the 30 proposed preservation area in Areas H, I-1 and PQR. The southern population in 31 Area PQR is the largest in the Del Monte Forest, constituting a significant 32 occurrence, and is designated an ESHA. These locations are identified in Table 33 E-9 and in the biological resource figures in MRMP Appendix B.
34 Habitat Requirements. Sandmat manzanita is a spreading shrub that 35 occurs primarily in central maritime chaparral and coastal scrub habitats with 36 outlying occurrences in the closed-cone coniferous forests of the Monterey 37 Peninsula.
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-25
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Pine Rose
2 Status and Description. Pine rose (Rosa pinetorum) is a CNPS List 1B 3 species. It is a dwarf shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae) with pinnately 4 compound leaves. Leaflets are glabrous to hairy. Flowers are generally pink 5 with 5 petals.
6 Distribution and Occurrence in the Project Area. Pine rose is 7 endemic to California; it occurs in the San Francisco Bay area, central coast, and 8 Southern Coast Ranges. In the project area, the shrub has been observed in the S. 9 F. B. Morse Drive road improvement area along the banks of an ephemeral 10 drainage adjacent to the Sawmill site (Zander 2002c). The species has also been 11 reported in the Proposed Golf Course location (Area MNOUV) and in 12 development areas F-2, F-3, and I-2 (Yadon 2001a). The shrub is also reported 13 in proposed preservation areas G, H, I-1, and L (Yadon 2001a)
14 Habitat Requirements. Pine rose generally occurs in pine woodlands and 15 canyons at elevations of less than 985 feet.
16 Special-Status Wildlife
17 Based on a review of wildlife survey results; the CNDDB (2002); RDEIR 18 (County of Monterey 1995); the uncertified final EIR (County of Monterey 19 1997); (Zander 2001b); recent CRLF assessments and surveys (WRA 2002a, 20 2002b, and 2003) and other sources of information (see Table E-1), 29 special- 21 status wildlife species were initially identified as having the potential to occur in 22 the project area (Table E-11).
23 Four of these species, California red-legged frog, Monterey dusky-footed 24 woodrat, Sharp-shinned hawk and Shite-tailed kite, have been documented in the 25 project development, preservation, and conservation areas; nine additional 26 species (including two subspecies of legless lizard) have the potential to occur in 27 the project areas based on the presence of suitable habitat conditions.
28 A brief description of the thirteen special-status animals, their habitats, and their 29 locations on the project sites are provided below. Although the project includes 30 no marine areas, three additional listed marine-associated wildlife species are 31 included in the assessment in order to consider indirect effects related to runoff.
32 California Red-Legged Frog
33 Status. California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii) (CRLF) is one of 34 two subspecies of red-legged frog (R. aurora) found on the Pacific coast. CRLF 35 was federally listed as threatened on June 24, 1996. It is also a state species of 36 special concern.
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-26
Table E-11. Special-Status Wildlife Species Documented or Identified as Having Potential to Occur in the Page 1 of 7 Project Area a Species Status Habitats California Distribution Occurrence in Project Area State/Fed
Invertebrates Monarch Butterfly (wintering --/-- Winter roosts in wind protected Marin County south to Baja No aggregations were observed, but sites) tree groves with nectar and water California did see individual butterflies sources nearby. throughout the DMF area during Danaus plexippus surveys in 1993 and 1994. Suitable habitat in Areas H, I-1, and PQR (Zander 2001). Smith’s Blue Butterfly --/E Coastal dunes and hillsides that Localized populations along the None observed during surveys in support seacliff buckwheat immediate coast and in coastal 2000. Suitable habitat and host Euphilotes enoptes smithi (Eriogonum parvifolium) or coast canyons of Monterey County; single plants occur in Areas M, N, and L buck-wheat (Eriogonum populations reported in Santa Cruz (Zander 2001). latifolium); these plants used as a and San Mateo Counties nectar source for adults and host plant for larvae Amphibians California tiger salamander SSC/C* Favors open woodlands and Occurs only in California from the None (Zander 2001). grasslands; requires water for coastline to the Sierra Nevada crest Ambystoma californiense breeding and burrows or cracks in and from Sonoma County to Santa the soil for summer dormancy Barbara County California red-legged frog SSC/T Permanent and semi-permanent West of Sierra-Cascade crest and Documented in lower Seal Rock aquatic habitats, such as quiet along the Coast Range from Marin Creek, adjacent to water hazards on Rana aurora draytonii pools of streams, marshes, and County south to northern Baja the Spyglass Hill golf course, and at ponds with extensive vegetation. California two locations on the Proposed Golf Course Suitable aquatic habitat exists in other development and project areas, but have not been documented as occupied in surveys to date (WRA 2002, 2003) Table E-11. Special-Status Wildlife Species Documented or Identified as Having Potential to Occur in the Page 2 of 7 Project Area a Species Status Habitats California Distribution Occurrence in Project Area State/Fed
Foothill yellow-legged frog SSC/SC Creeks or rivers in woodland, Occurs in the Klamath, Cascade, None (EIP 1995). forest, mixed chaparral, and wet north Coast, south Coast, Transverse, Rana boylii meadow habitats with rock and and Sierra Nevada Ranges up to gravel substrate and low approximately 6,000 feet overhanging vegetation along the edge. Usually found near riffles with rocks and sunny banks nearby. Reptiles Black legless lizard SSC/-- Coastal dunes with native Monterey Bay region Occurs in dune habitats at Spanish vegetation or chaparral, pine-oak Bay. Suitable habitat in remnant Anniella pulchra nigra woodland, or riparian areas with dune habitat in Areas M, N, and L loose soil for burrowing (Zander 2001). Silvery legless lizard SSC/SC Habitats with loose soil for Along the Coast, Transverse, and Similar suitable habitat as for black burrowing or thick duff or leaf Peninsular Ranges from Contra Costa legless lizard in Areas M, N, and L Anniella pulchra pulchra litter; often forages in leaf litter at County to San Diego County with (Zander 2001). plant bases; may be found on spotty occurrences in the San Joaquin beaches, sandy washes, and in Valley woodland, chaparral, and riparian areas California horned lizard SSC/SC Occurs in areas with sandy soils Occurs in Central Valley from Suitable habitat in chaparral habitats and moderate cover Tehama County south to Tulare in the Huckleberry Hill area and Phrynosoma coronatum County and Coast Ranges from remnant dune habitat in areas M, N, frontale Sonoma County south to San Diego and L (Zander 2001). County Table E-11. Special-Status Wildlife Species Documented or Identified as Having Potential to Occur in the Page 3 of 7 Project Area a Species Status Habitats California Distribution Occurrence in Project Area State/Fed
Southwestern pond turtle SSC/SC Woodlands, grasslands, and open Occurs along the central coast of No records or observations (EIP forests; occupies ponds, marshes, California east to the Sierra Nevada 1995). Suitable habitat in water Clemmys marmorata pallida rivers, streams, and irrigation and along the southern California hazards and pools in creek habitat in canals with muddy or rocky coast inland to the Mojave and Areas B and L. and possibly other bottoms and with watercress, Sonora Deserts; range overlaps with creek locations. cattails, waterlilies, or other that of the northwestern pond turtle aquatic vegetation throughout the Delta and in the Central Valley from Sacramento County to Tulare County Birds Sharp-shinned hawk (nesting) SSC/-- Found in riparian forests, conifer Permanent resident in the Sierra Observed nesting in Area B in 1993. forests, and oak woodlands Nevada, Cascade, Klamath, and Suitable habitat in Monterey Pine Accipiter striatus north Coast Ranges, as well as along Forest (Zander 2001). the coast in Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Monterey Counties; winters over the rest of the state except at high elevations; breeds and winters throughout North America
Cooper's hawk (nesting) SSC/-- Nests in riparian forests and dense Found in all parts of California Suitable habitat in Monterey Pine canopy oak woodlands; forages in except high altitudes in the Sierra Forest (Zander 2001). Accipiter cooperi open woodlands Nevada; winters in the Central Valley, southeastern desert regions, and the plains east of the Cascade Range; permanent resident throughout the lower 48 states Golden Eagle (nesting and SSC,FP/ Nest on cliffs and escarpments or Foothills and mountains throughout None (Zander 2001). wintering) -- in tall trees overlooking open California. Uncommon nonbreeding country. Forages in annual visitor to lowlands such as the Aquila chrysaetos grasslands, chaparral, and oak Central Valley woodlands with plentiful medium and large-sized mammals Table E-11. Special-Status Wildlife Species Documented or Identified as Having Potential to Occur in the Page 4 of 7 Project Area a Species Status Habitats California Distribution Occurrence in Project Area State/Fed
Short-eared owl (nesting) SSC/-- Freshwater and salt marshes, Permanent resident along the coast None (Zander 2001). lowland meadows, and irrigated from Del Norte County to Monterey Asio flammeus alfalfa fields; needs dense tules or County although very rare in summer tall grass for nesting and daytime north of San Francisco Bay, in the roosts Sierra Nevada north of Nevada County, in the plains east of the Cascades, and in Mono County; small, isolated populations Burrowing owl (burrow sites) SSC/SC Level, open, dry, heavily grazed Lowlands throughout California, None (Zander 2001). or low stature grassland or desert including the Central Valley, Athene cunicularia vegetation with available burrows northeastern plateau, southeastern deserts, and coastal areas. Rare along south coast Western snowy plover (nesting) SSC/T Found along beaches above the Intermittent nesting sites along the None. The Project area lies outside (coastal population) high tide limit; also uses shores of Pacific Coast from Washington to of the nesting range of the species salt ponds and alkali or brackish Baja California (Zander 2001). Charadrius alexandrinus inland lakes nivosus Northern harrier (nesting) SSC/-- Grasslands, meadows, marshes, Occurs throughout lowland None (Zander 2001). and seasonal and agricultural California. Has been recorded in fall Circus cyaneus wetlands at high elevations Black swift (nesting) SSC/SC Nests in moist crevice or cave on Breeds very locally in the Sierra None (Zander 2001). Cypseloides niger sea cliffs above the surf, or on Nevada and Cascade Range, the San cliffs behind, or adjacent to, Gabriel, San Bernardino, and San waterfalls in deep canyons Jacinto mountains, and in coastal bluffs from San Mateo county south to near San Luis Obispo county Table E-11. Special-Status Wildlife Species Documented or Identified as Having Potential to Occur in the Page 5 of 7 Project Area a Species Status Habitats California Distribution Occurrence in Project Area State/Fed
Yellow warbler (nesting) SSC/-- Nests in riparian areas dominated Nests throughout California except None (Zander 2001). by willows, cottonwoods, syca- the Central Valley, the Mojave Dendroica petechia brewsteri mores, or alders; may also use Desert region, and high altitudes in oaks, conifers, and urban areas if the Sierra Nevada; winters along the they are near streamcourses Colorado River and in parts of Imperial and Riverside Counties; also has small permanent populations in San Diego and Santa Barbara Counties; occurs throughout North America except in the southeast states White-tailed kite (nesting) SSC/SC Common to uncommon, yearlong Inhabits herbaceous and open stages Preservation Area L (Tenney 2003) resident in coastal and valley of most habitats mostly in Elanus leucurus lowlands. cismontane California. Has extended range and increased numbers in Uncommon resident of open recent decades. valleys and riparian woods in
Monterey County California horned lark SSC/-- Common to abundant resident in Found throughout much of the state, None (Zander 2001). a variety of open habitats, usually less common in mountainous areas of Eremophila alpestris actia where large trees and shrubs are the north coast and in coniferous or absent. Grasslands and deserts to chapparal habitats dwarf shrub habitats above tree line Table E-11. Special-Status Wildlife Species Documented or Identified as Having Potential to Occur in the Page 6 of 7 Project Area a Species Status Habitats California Distribution Occurrence in Project Area State/Fed
Prairie falcon (nesting) SSC/-- Nests on cliffs or escarpments, Permanent resident in the south None (Zander 2001). usually overlooking dry, open Coast, Transverse, Peninsular, and Falco mexicanus terrain or uplands northern Cascade Ranges, the southeastern deserts, Inyo-White Mountains, foothills surrounding the Central Valley, and in the Sierra Nevada in Modoc, Lassen, and Plumas Counties. Winters in the Central Valley, along the coast from Santa Barbara County to San Diego County, and in Marin, Sonoma, Humboldt, Del Norte, and Inyo Counties
American peregrine falcon E,FP/De Nests and roosts on protected Permanent resident on the north and None (Zander 2001). (nesting) listed, ledges on high cliffs, usually south Coast Ranges; winters in the SC adjacent to water sources that Central Valley south through the Falco peregrinus anatum support large bird populations Transverse and Peninsular Ranges and the plains east of the Cascade Range; occurs along both coasts of the United States and parts of Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, and the borders of Idaho Loggerhead shrike (nesting) SSC/SC Prefers open habitats with Resident and winter visitor in None (Zander 2001). scattered shrubs, trees, posts, lowlands and foothills throughout Lanius ludovicianus fences, utility lines, or other California. Rare on coastal slope perches north of Mendocino County, occurring only in winter California brown pelican E/E Typically in littoral ocean zones, Present along the entire coastline, but None (Zander 2001). (nesting colony) just outside the surf line; nests on does not breed north of Monterey offshore islands County; extremely rare inland Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Table E-11. Special-Status Wildlife Species Documented or Identified as Having Potential to Occur in the Page 7 of 7 Project Area a Species Status Habitats California Distribution Occurrence in Project Area State/Fed
Mammals Pallid Bat SSC/-- Occurs in a variety of habitats Occurs throughout California except None observed during surveys. from desert to coniferous forest. the high Sierra from Shasta to Kern Suitable habitat occurs near mature Antrozous pallidus Most closely associated with oak, County and the northwest coast, oaks and streamcourses within yellow pine, redwood, and giant primarily at lower and mid elevations Project Area (Zander 2001). sequoia habitats in northern California and oak woodland, grassland, and desert scrub in southern California. Relies heavily on trees for roosts Ringtail FP/-- Occurs primarily in riparian Little information on distribution and Suitable habitat occurs in ruaprian habitats but also known from abundance. Apparently occurs and forest habitats within the Project Bassariscus astutus most forest and shrub habitats throughout the state except for the area (Zander 2001). from lower to mid elevations southern Central Valley and the Modoc Plateau Southern sea otter FP/T Coastal waters, typically within 1 Occurs from the vicinity of Half None in project areas (Zander 2001). km of shoreline. Often associated Moon Bay south to Gaviota, Found offshore in kelp beds. Enhydra lutris nereis with kelp beds California.
Monterey dusky-footed woodrat SSC/-- Uses habitats with moderate to Restricted to Monterey County and Six active nests observed during dense cover and abundant dead northern San Luis Obispo County surveys in Area PQR (Zander 2001). Neotoma fuscipes luciana wood for nest construction; mari- time chaparral and coastal live oak woodland at Fort Ord Monterey shrew (aka Salinas SSC/ Found in a variety of riparian, Restricted to the Monterey Bay No records, but subspecies is ornate shrew) woodland, and upland region; historical occurrences at the endemic to Monterey Peninsula; communities where there is thick mouth of the Salinas River and Moss suitable habitat occurs in riparian and Sorex ornatus salarius duff or downed logs Landing in Monterey County forest habitats within the Project area (Zander 2001). * California tiger salamander populations in Santa Barbara and Sonoma Counties are federally listed as endangered Federal Status E = Endangered, T = Threatened, C = Candidate species, SC = Species of concern State Status E = Endangered, SSC = Species of special concern, FP = Fully protected species Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Reasons for Decline. The decline of CRLF is attributed to a variety of 2 factors. During the late 1800s to mid-1990s, the species was substantially 3 reduced by conversion of millions of acres from wetland habitat to agricultural 4 uses in the Central Valley and elsewhere. Continued recent declines are 5 attributed to ongoing loss of wetland and stream habitat (especially from dam 6 construction and water management activities) and introduction of nonnative 7 predators and competitors such as bullfrogs, crayfish, and nonnative fish species 8 (smallmouth bass and mosquitofish) (Kiesecker and Blaustein 1998; USFWS 9 2002). CRLF are also eaten by native predators such as raccoon, great blue 10 heron, and garter snakes (Thamnophis spp.) (USFWS 2002d).
11 Distribution and Occurrence in the Project Area. CRLFs have been 12 found at elevations from sea level to about 5,000 feet. It is believed to have been 13 common in coastal habitats from Marin County to northwestern Baja California 14 before the arrival of Europeans (USFWS 2002d). Historically, CRLF was known 15 from 46 counties, but the taxon is now extirpated from 24 of these counties 16 (USFWS 1996). CRLF occurs in isolated localities in the Sierra Nevada, 17 Northern Coast, and northern Transverse Ranges, but is still relatively common 18 in the San Francisco Bay area (including Marin County) and along the central 19 coast (USFWS 2002d).
20 This taxon is widespread in Monterey County; nearly all coastal drainages from 21 Garrapata Creek south to Salmon Creek, including the Little and Big Sur 22 drainages and the vicinity of Pfeiffer State Beach, support CRLF. CRLFs occur 23 in the Carmel River watershed and most of its tributaries. More than 350 adults 24 have been observed on Rancho San Carlos, a private ranch on the upper portion 25 of the Carmel River Valley (USFWS 2002d).
26 The CNDDB lists 26 occurrences of CRLF in Monterey County; however, none 27 of these are from the Monterey Peninsula. The nearest previously (pre-2002) 28 documented observation is approximately 3.5 miles southeast of the Proposed 29 Golf Course; this observation was of a single CRLF in a scour pool in a culvert 30 flowing underneath Carmel Valley Road and into the Carmel River just east of 31 Highway 1 (CNDDB 2002).
32 Since preparation of the prior uncertified FEIR for the Proposed Project 33 (Monterey County 1997), new information regarding the distribution of CRLF at 34 and near the project site has become available. WRA completed CRLF site 35 assessments and field surveys in 2002 and 2003 for portions of the project area 36 and throughout watersheds in the Del Monte Forest. In these assessments and 37 surveys in the project area, CRLFs have been identified in the lower watershed of 38 Seal Rock Creek; in water hazards in the immediately adjacent to Spyglass Hill 39 Golf Course; and in two locations in the Proposed Golf Course location (see 40 Figure E-7 in MRMP Appendix B). No CRLFs were found outside of the lower 41 portion of Seal Rock Creek or the Proposed Golf Course location in other 42 development, preservation, or conservation areas.
43 Based on the findings of CRLF assessments and surveys, lower Seal Rock Creek 44 and associated water hazards on the Spyglass Hill golf course provide breeding, 45 foraging, and dispersal habitat for CRLF. This is the apparent center of the
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-27
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 CRLF population in the Del Monte Forest. The seasonal wetlands, seasonal 2 pond, and Drainage I on the golf course provide foraging and dispersal habitat 3 but are not considered breeding habitat due to their limited ponding period and 4 high salinity.
5 Figure E-7 in MRMP Appendix B shows the documented occurrences in and 6 adjacent to the project areas. Table E-12 provides a summary of documented 7 and suitable aquatic habitat for CRLF in and adjacent to project development, 8 preservation, and conservation areas in the Del Monte Forest. The biological 9 resource figures in MRMP Appendix B show the locations of occupied and 10 potential CRLF habitat.
11 Habitat Requirements. CRLFs use a variety of habitat types, including 12 various aquatic systems, riparian habitats, and upland habitats (USFWS 2002d). 13 CRLFs breed in aquatic habitats such as streams, creeks, ponds, marshes, sag 14 ponds, deep pools and backwaters in streams and creeks, dune ponds, lagoons, 15 and estuaries. Breeding adults are often associated with dense, shrubby riparian 16 or emergent vegetation and areas with deep (>27 inches), still or slow-moving 17 water. However, these frogs often successfully breed in artificial ponds (with 18 sufficient ponding duration) with little or no emergent vegetation and have been 19 observed in stream reaches that are not covered in riparian vegetation. Another 20 important factor influencing the suitability of aquatic breeding sites is the general 21 lack of introduced aquatic predators (USFWS 2002d).
22 When they are present in aquatic habitat, CRLFs spend a substantial amount of 23 time resting and feeding in riparian vegetation. Dispersal sites typically provide 24 forage or cover opportunities and include boulders or rocks and organic debris 25 such as downed trees or logs; industrial debris; and agricultural features such as 26 drains, watering troughs, spring boxes, and abandoned sheds (66 FR 14626). 27 CRLFs also use small mammal burrows and moist leaf litter (Jennings and Hayes 28 1994). Incised stream channels with portions narrower and deeper than 18 inches 29 may also provide habitat (61 FR 25813). Use of this habitat type by CRLFs is 30 most likely dependent on year-to-year variations in climate and habitat 31 suitability, as well as varying requisites per life stage (66 FR 14626).
32 Reproduction. Red-legged frogs typically lay their eggs in clusters around 33 aquatic vegetation from late November to early April. Eggs hatch in 6–14 days 34 (Jennings 1988). Larvae undergo metamorphosis 3.5–7 months after hatching 35 (USFWS 2002d). In coastal lagoons, the most significant mortality factor in the 36 prehatching stage is water salinity (Jennings et al 1992). Mortality of 100% 37 occurs in eggs exposed to salinity levels greater than 4.5 parts per thousand 38 (Jennings and Hayes 1990).
39 Because CRLFs live in a Mediterranean climate where habitat quality varies 40 spatially and over time, population sizes can vary widely between years. During 41 favorable years, reproductive rates can be high and large numbers of dispersing 42 young can increase the number of occupied sites. Conversely, during extended 43 droughts, the species may disappear from previously occupied sites (66 FR 44 14626). Under natural conditions, survival from hatching to metamorphosis has 45 been estimated as ranging from less than 1% (Jennings et al. 1992) to 1.9%
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-28
Table E-12. Potentially Suitable Aquatic Habitat Within, Adjacent, and Nearby Page 1 of 2 Project Development Areas Identifier Area Description
Occupied Breeding and Other Presumed CRLF Habitat Within Lower Seal Rock Creek
Seal Rock Creek Preservation Area J Seal Rock Creek Seal Rock Creek Conservation Area K Seal Rock Creek Spyglass Hill Golf Course Seal Rock Creek Preservation Area L Seal Rock Creek WH-SHGC Spyglass Hill GC Water hazards on Hole 7,12,14, and 15 Wetland L-A Preservation Area L Seasonal wetland Wetland L-B Preservation Area L Freshwater marsh Wetland J-1 Preservation Area J Freshwater marsh Wetland K-A Conservation Area K Freshwater marsh
Occupied Foraging and Dispersal Habitat at the Proposed Golf Course
Drainage I/Seasonal Proposed Golf Course Seasonal pond/drainage pond Drake Pool Proposed Golf Course Plunge pool for EQ center drainage
Suitable Aquatic Foraging and Dispersal Habitat at Proposed Golf Course (but no CRLF found in surveys to date)
Wetland A1 Proposed Golf Course Seasonal wetland Wetland A2 Proposed Golf Course Seasonal wetland Wetland B1 Proposed Golf Course Seasonal wetland Wetland B2 Proposed Golf Course Seasonal wetland Wetland C Proposed Golf Course Seasonal wetland Wetland D Proposed Golf Course Seasonal wetland, w/ shallow pools Wetland F1 Proposed Golf Course Seasonal wetland Wetland F2 Proposed Golf Course Seasonal wetland Wetland F3 Proposed Golf Course Seasonal wetland Wetland G Proposed Golf Course Seasonal wetland Wetland H Proposed Golf Course Seasonal wetland, w/ pools Wetland J Proposed Golf Course Seasonal wetland Wetland K Proposed Golf Course Seasonal wetland Wetland L1 Proposed Golf Course Seasonal wetland Wetland L2 Proposed Golf Course Freshwater marsh Wetland M Proposed Golf Course Seasonal wetland, w/ pools up to 18” Wetland N Proposed Golf Course Seasonal wetland, w/ one pool Wetland O Proposed Golf Course Seasonal wetland, w/ culvert pool up to 18”
Table E-12. Potentially Suitable Aquatic Habitat Within, Adjacent, and Nearby Page 2 of 2 Project Development Areas Identifier Area Description
Suitable Aquatic Habitat at Other Locations in DMF (CRLF not found in surveys to date; areas containing suitable breeding habitat noted with *; remainder are considered dispersal and foraging habitat) Moss Beach Watershed Unnamed Drainage Rip Van Winkle Open Space Riparian Drainage* Preservation Area B Pools up to 24” deep* Spanish Bay Golf Course Pond at mouth near 14th hole* Wetland B-B Employee Housing in Area B Seasonal wetland Wetland C-A, C-B Conservation Area C Freshwater marsh* Sawmill Gulch Watershed Sawmill Gulch HHNA Sawmill Gulch and Tributaries* Sawmill Gulch On MPCC Channelized drainage with shallow pools Wetland 3 Corp Yard Preservation Area Detention pond; Seasonal wetland* Quarry Pond Corp Yard Employee Housing Open Water, Emergent vegetation* Wetland 2 HHNA Wetland w/ small Pool Wetland 4 HHNA Seasonal wetland Wetland 5 HHNA Seasonal wetland Wetland 6 HHNA Seasonal wetland Wetland 7 HHNA Seasonal wetland w/shallow pool Wetland 8 HHNA Seasonal wetland Wetland 9 HHNA Seasonal wetland Wetland 10 HHNA Seasonal wetland Wetland 11 HHNA Seasonal wetland Wetland 12 HHNA Seasonal wetland Wetland 13 HHNA Freshwater marsh w/shallow pool Wetland 14 HHNA Seasonal wetland Wetland 15 HHNA Seasonal wetland, w/shallow pools Wetland 16 HHNA Seasonal wetland Wetland 17 HHNA Seasonal wetland Wetland 18 HHNA Seasonal wetland Wetland S-A Sawmill (New Equestrian Center) Freshwater marsh/seasonal wetland Wetland S-B, C, D, Sawmill (New Equestrian Center) Seasonal wetlands E, F WH-SBGC-8 Spanish Bay GC Water hazard on 8th hole at Spanish Bay GC* WH-MPCC Monterey Peninsula Country Club Water hazard pond with emergent vegetation* Upper Seal Rock Creek Watershed Seal Rock Creek Preservation Area I-1 Seal Rock Creek* Wetland H-A, B, C Preservation Area H Seasonal wetlands WH-PHGC Poppy Hills GC Water hazard on 5th and 10th hole on Poppy Hills GC* Area I-1 Preservation Area I-1 Forested wetland/wet meadow area with pools up to 4’* Carmel Bay Watershed Pescadero Creek Preservation Area PQR Pescadero Creek and tributaries with some pools* Wetland 1 Preservation Area PQR Seasonal wetland Wetland 2 Preservation Area PQR Seasonal wetland Wetland 3 Preservation Area PQR Seasonal wetland Wetland 4a Preservation Area PQR Seasonal wetland Wetland 4b Preservation Area PQR Seasonal wetland Wetland 4c Preservation Area PQR Seasonal wetland
Sources: WRA 2002a, WRA 2002b,WRA 2003, Ecosynthesis 2001, Ecosynthesis 2003, EIP 1995, EIP 1997, Pebble Beach Company Biological Resource maps 2002
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 (Cook 1997). Bullfrog predation can dramatically lower reproduction success; in 2 one controlled pond study (e.g., not natural conditions) fewer than 5% of CRLF 3 tadpoles reached metamorphosis when bullfrog tadpoles were placed in the ponds 4 with them. Conversely, the study indicated that as many as 30–40% of CRLF 5 larvae reached metamorphosis in ponds that did not have bullfrog tadpoles 6 (Lawler et al 1999).
7 Movement. Beginning with the first rains in the fall, some individuals make 8 overland excursions through upland habitats during periods of wet weather. 9 However, CRLF juveniles and adults may disperse from breeding sites at any 10 time of the year. CRLFs have been found living in streams more than 1.8 miles 11 from their breeding sites. They have been observed in adjacent dense riparian 12 vegetation more than 328 feet from water, although they typically occur within 13 200 feet of water. CRLFs have been observed to make long-distance 14 movements that are straight-line, point-to-point migrations rather than using 15 corridors for moving between habitats. Most overland movements take place at 16 night (66 FR 14626).
17 USFWS Recovery Plan Recommendations. The project area is 18 located within the Central Coast recovery unit where the core population of 19 CRLF is located in the Carmel River watershed (USFWS 2002d). The recovery 20 potential is considered high for this recovery unit based on the large population 21 of CRLF, areas of high habitat suitability, and the existing level of threats. 22 However, the specific project area more closely meets the definition of low 23 recovery potential based on the few existing populations and low habitat 24 suitability overall, due to the conversion of substantial areas of the Del Monte 25 Forest to residential and recreational development that has separated remaining 26 areas of suitable habitat.
27 Overall, the strategy in the Recovery Plan for recovery of CRLF involves:
28 protecting existing populations by reducing threats;
29 restoring and creating habitat that will be protected and managed in 30 perpetuity;
31 surveying and monitoring populations and conducting research on the 32 biology of and threats to CRLF; and
33 reestablishing populations of CRLF within its historic home range.
34 Smith’s Blue Butterfly
35 Status. Smith’s blue butterfly (Euphilotes enoptes smithi) is federally-listed as 36 endangered.
37 Distribution and Occurrence in the Project Area. Smith’s blue 38 butterfly is found in coastal sand dunes along the central California coast in San 39 Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Mateo Counties (Arnold , pers. 40 comm.). Although Smith’s blue butterfly are known to occur in the general
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-29
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Monterey area, there are no historical records from Pebble Beach or Pacific 2 Grove (Entomological Consulting Services 2000).
3 Presence/absence surveys were conducted for Smith’s blue butterfly and its 4 habitat in the remnant dunes on the Proposed Golf Course location in 2000 5 (Entomological Consulting Services 2000). Surveys were also conducted along 6 17-Mile Drive to identify populations of seacliff buckwheat (Eriogonum 7 parvifolium), the species’ host plant. Surveys for the species on the proposed 8 golf course found that no Smith’s blue butterflies or their larvae were observed 9 during the surveys. Two small patches of seacliff buckwheat were observed in 10 Areas M and N near their boundary with Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Seacliff 11 buckwheat was also observed at 14 locations (including Area L) between 12 Pescadero Point and the restored dunes at Spanish Bay. Prior land uses 13 throughout much of Areas M and N, including a quarry, have greatly disturbed 14 the native vegetation and encouraged various invasive nonnative plant species to 15 become dominant (see Figure E-9 in MRMP Appendix B). These conditions are 16 not favorable for the establishment and growth of seacliff buckwheat. The 17 survey concluded that the Proposed Golf Course location supports a limited 18 amount of suitable but degraded habitat for Smith’s blue butterfly.
19 Habitat Requirements. In the project vicinity, both the adult and larvae 20 feed only on the flowers of seacliff buckwheat. The butterflies prefer buckwheat 21 stands that consist of mature plants because these plants produce more flowers. 22 Accordingly, buckwheat stands that consist of younger plants, which produce 23 fewer flowers, may not be visited by Smith’s blue butterflies until the plants 24 mature; similarly, stands that consist of senescent individuals may not be visited.
25 Southern Sea Otter
26 Although the project area does not include any shoreline or offshore areas, the 27 southern sea otter was included in the wildlife impact assessment because of the 28 potential for indirect effects due to runoff from project areas in adjacent marine 29 areas.
30 Status. The southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) is federally listed as 31 threatened and state fully-protected.
32 Distribution and Occurrence in the Project Area. Occurs from the 33 vicinity of Half Moon Bay south to Gaviota. Not found in project areas, which 34 are onshore and not directly adjacent to the shoreline. Occurs offshore Del 35 Monte Forest.
36 Habitat Requirements. Coastal waters, typically within 1 km of shoreline. 37 Often associated with kelp beds.
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-30
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 California Brown Pelican
2 Although the project area does not include any shoreline or offshore areas, the 3 California brown pelican was included in the wildlife impact assessment because 4 of the potential for indirect effects due to runoff from project areas in adjacent 5 marine areas.
6 Status. The California brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) is 7 federally-and-state listed as endangered.
8 Distribution and Occurrence in the Project Area. Present along the 9 entire coastline, but does not breed north of Monterey County; extremely rare 10 inland. Not found in project areas, which are onshore.
11 Habitat Requirements. Typically in littoral ocean zones, just outside the 12 surf line; nests on offshore islands.
13 Western Snowy Plover
14 Although the project area does not include any shoreline or offshore areas, the 15 western snowy plover was included in the wildlife impact assessment because of 16 the potential for indirect effects due to runoff from project areas in adjacent 17 marine areas.
18 Status. The western snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) is 19 federally listed as threatened and is a state species of concern.
20 Distribution and Occurrence in the Project Area. Intermittent 21 nesting sites along the Pacific Coast from Washington to Baja California.
22 Habitat Requirements. Found along beaches above the high tide limit; also 23 uses shores of salt ponds and alkali or brackish inland lakes. No salt ponds, 24 beaches, or alkali/brackish lakes located within project area.
25 Legless Lizards
26 Status. Black legless lizard was proposed for federal listing as endangered in 27 1997. The proposed rule was withdrawn by USFWS in August 1998; USFWS 28 contended that intervention was unnecessary because ongoing dune restoration, 29 preservation projects, and protection from urbanization on public lands were 30 protecting habitat (Kuhnz 2001). Both silvery and black legless lizards remain 31 California species of special concern; silvery legless lizard is a federal species of 32 concern.
33 Distribution and Occurrence in the Project Area. Silvery legless 34 lizard (Aniella pulchra) occurs in the western portion of California from the San
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-31
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Francisco Bay area to northern Baja California. Dark-colored individuals that 2 occur in the general Monterey region are known as black legless lizard and are, at 3 present, considered a distinct subspecies (A. pulchra nigra) (County of Monterey 4 1997). Black legless lizards have been found in the dune habitats at Spanish Bay 5 (County of Monterey 1997; Zander 2001a, 2001b). The majority of Monterey 6 pine forest habitat in the project area is mostly closed canopy with very few open 7 areas and, therefore, provides marginal habitat for this species. Within the 8 project area, the remnant dunes in Areas M, N, and L provide potential habitat 9 for black and silvery legless lizards (see Figure E-9 and Figure E-21 in MRMP 10 Appendix B). Random hand surveys in the duff layer of native dune shrubs 11 during the late spring of 1994, and systematic raking surveys conducted in May 12 1995, revealed no evidence of legless lizards in the areas of remnant sands 13 adjacent to Spyglass Pit. Fusari (1996) assessed habitat suitability in the project 14 area and concluded that although the potential for occurrence, even in the 15 remnant dune areas (e.g., Area M), is low due to isolation from other dune 16 systems, past disturbances, a relatively low degree of litter development, and the 17 domination by nonnative vegetation (principally ice-plant mats) in much of the 18 area (County of Monterey 1997). Areas of native-dominated dune scrub 19 associated with the Spyglass Hill and Indian Village remnant dunes are more 20 likely to support occurrences of this species.
21 Habitat Requirements. Legless lizards are typically found in dune habitats 22 supporting bush lupine and mock heather. They require friable (easily crumbled 23 or pulverized) soils with relatively open or incomplete plant cover. Although 24 many previous occurrence records for the species are from dunes and other loose- 25 sand habitats, it also occurs in openings in grassland, oak woodland, pine-oak, 26 and maritime chaparral habitats, where friable soils permit burrowing by a 27 species lacking limbs (Jennings and Hayes 1994; Fusari 1996).
28 Several recent projects in the Monterey Bay area have provided information on 29 legless lizard locations and abundance, and have established successful 30 precedents for capture and release as a means of preventing impacts on the 31 species. Specifically, in 1997–98, more than 3,500 legless lizards were captured 32 from a 3.88-acre site at Moss Landing and moved to an adjacent area of sand 33 habitat (Kuhnz 2001). The lizards were found in a variety of microhabitats and 34 as deep as 4.3 inches in the soil.
35 California Horned Lizard
36 Status. California horned lizard (Phrynosoma coronatum frontale) is a 37 California species of special concern and a federal species of concern.
38 Distribution and Occurrence in the Project Area. Historically, this 39 species had a spotty distribution from Shasta County southward along the edges 40 of the Sacramento Valley into much of the South Coast Ranges, the San Joaquin 41 Valley, and the Sierra Nevada foothills to northern Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, 42 and Ventura Counties (Jennings and Hayes 1994). There are no recent records 43 from Monterey County (CNDDB 2002). The known elevational range for this
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-32
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 taxon extends from near sea level at Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Seaside to 2 approximately 6,500 feet in Kern County (Jennings and Hayes 1994).
3 Habitat Requirements. The species occurs in habitats similar to those 4 occupied by legless lizard. California horned lizard requires friable soils for 5 cover and insects (primarily ants and beetles) for food. This species typically is 6 found in open, usually sandy areas between shrubs in dunes, coastal scrub, and 7 chaparral habitats near a reliable food source. In addition to the upper areas of 8 remnant dune in Areas M, N, and L, the scrub habitat in the new equestrian 9 center also provide potentially suitable habitat for this species (Zander 2001b) 10 (see Figure E-9, Figure E-10, and Figure E-21 in MRMP Appendix B). Potential 11 habitat within the project area is considered marginal for the reasons presented 12 above in the discussion of legless lizard (County of Monterey 1995).
13 Southwestern Pond Turtle
14 Status. Southwestern pond turtle (Clemmys marmorata pallida) is a California 15 species of special concern and a federal species of concern.
16 Distribution and Occurrence in the Project Area. The species has 17 been divided into two subspecies: northwestern pond turtle (C. m. marmorata) 18 ranges from Washington to northern California and the Sacramento Valley; 19 southwestern pond turtle ranges from the Monterey area south through the Coast 20 Ranges and the San Joaquin Valley into Baja California. The two subspecies 21 intergrade in the northern San Joaquin Valley and the Sacramento–San Joaquin 22 River Delta.
23 In a 1993 survey of the Carmel River watershed (including its tributaries and 24 reservoirs), southwestern pond turtles were observed throughout the watershed 25 from Los Padres Reservoir downstream to side ponds near the Carmel Lagoon 26 (Mullen 1996).
27 The CNDDB (2002) lists no records of southwestern pond turtles from the 28 project area. However, there is potential for southwestern pond turtles to occur 29 in sites where there might be ponded water, such as plunge pools along riparian 30 corridors in Areas B and L, in water hazards, and in the Corporation Yard ponds 31 (see figures in MRMP Appendix B).
32 Habitat Requirements. Western pond turtles inhabit waters with little or 33 no current (Behler and King 1998). The banks of inhabited waters usually have 34 thick vegetation, but basking sites such as logs, rocks, or open banks must also be 35 present (Zeiner et al. 1988). Pond turtles are omnivorous and feed on aquatic 36 plant material, aquatic invertebrates, fishes and frogs, and even carrion (Zeiner et 37 al. 1988). Depending on the latitude, elevation, and habitat type, pond turtles can 38 either become inactive during winter or remain active year-round. Pond turtles 39 lay their eggs in nests in upland areas, including grasslands, woodlands, and 40 savannas up to 0.25 mile from aquatic habitat. The nest sites are typically found 41 on unshaded slopes with a high clay or silt composition (Jennings and Hayes
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-33
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 1994). Egg laying occurs from March to August, depending on local conditions, 2 and incubation lasts 73–80 days (Zeiner et al. 1988).
3 Monterey Dusky-Footed Woodrat
4 Status. Monterey dusky-footed woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes luciana), a 5 California species of special concern, is endemic to the Monterey Peninsula. It is 6 one of eleven taxa of woodrat that occur generally in evergreen oak woodland 7 habitats from Oregon to Baja California. Monterey dusky-footed woodrat prefers 8 forest habitats with a moderate canopy and a relatively dense brushy understory 9 with suitable nest-building materials. Some forest habitats in the project area, 10 especially in ravines, provide suitable habitat for this species.
11 Distribution and Occurrence in the Project Area. Systematic 12 surveys conducted for Monterey dusky-footed woodrat throughout the Del Monte 13 Forest in July 1994 (County of Monterey 1995) found no evidence of woodrats 14 except in a dense, poison-oak–dominated drainage ravine that is a tributary of 15 Pescadero Creek (Figure E-22 in MRMP Appendix B) in Area PQR. Subsequent 16 return visits to the area have confirmed the persistence of this colony of woodrats 17 over time.
18 Pallid Bat
19 Pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus), a California species of special concern, is 20 associated with oak woodlands in coastal California. It is expected in habitats 21 with an abundance of mature oak trees because it uses tree cavities for daytime 22 roosting areas. Habitat and acoustic surveys conducted by bat specialists in 23 1994, found conditions to be suitable for tree-roosting bats in many areas 24 throughout the Del Monte Forest (Areas G, H, B, C, K, L, and PQR, and the 25 Proposed Golf Course location). Acoustic surveys showed high levels of bat 26 activity in most of those areas (Areas G, H, I-1, B, C, and PQR). Acoustic 27 analysis of bat calls identified most of the calls as those of more common bat 28 species. However, five sequences within the frequency range, and not 29 distinguishable from pallid bat were noted, primarily in Areas B, C, K, L, and 30 PQR near mature oaks and/or stream courses. Because this frequency range is 31 shared by common brown bat, the surveys do not confirm the presence of pallid 32 bat; however, it was judged possible that pallid bat occurs within the project area. 33 (County of Monterey 1995).
34 Ringtail
35 Ringtail (Bassariscus astutes), a fully protected species under the California Fish 36 and Game Code, is a widely distributed member of the raccoon family that 37 inhabits a variety of riparian habitats throughout California and southern Oregon 38 (Ingles 1965). The riparian and forest habitats within the project area could
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-34
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 support this species, although the CNDDB (2002) lists no records of the species 2 in the Del Monte Forest.
3 Monterey Ornate Shrew
4 Monterey ornate shrew (Sorex ornatus salarius), a California species of special 5 concern, is an endemic subspecies of shrew that occurs on the Monterey 6 Peninsula. This insectivore prefers riparian habitats and other moist 7 microclimates. The riparian and forest habitats within the project area could 8 support this species, although there are no records of the taxon in the Del Monte 9 Forest.
10 Raptors and Owls
11 Sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus), a California species of special concern, 12 is a forest and woodland species that was observed nesting in dense Monterey 13 pine forest canopy adjacent to Area B in 1993. Return surveys in 2001 and 2003 14 did not locate a nest site or breeding evidence for this species, although a 15 foraging individual was seen near the 1993 nest site in 2001 (Tenney 2001 and 16 2003; also see Appendix B in Zander 2001b). Nonetheless, both sharp-shinned 17 hawk and Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperi), have the potential to occur in 18 suitable habitats within the Del Monte Forest. White-tailed kite (Elanus 19 leucurus), a California species of concern, was first reported nesting on the 20 Monterey peninsula during 2001-2002. An active nest was found in 2003 in 21 Preservation Area L and second pair of kites were observed interacting with the 22 nesting pair (Tenney 2003).
23 Red-shouldered hawk and American kestrel have been documented nesting 24 within areas in Del Monte Forest (Tenney 2003). Other common raptor species, 25 such as red-tailed hawk and turkey vulture have been observed in the Del Monte 26 Forest and may also utilize forest habitat for nesting. Several species of common 27 owls, such as great horned owl, western screech owl, and barn owl, may also 28 utilize forest habitat in the project area for all or part of their life cycle. Great 29 horned owl and western screech owl are possible breeders on the Monterey 30 peninsula and in the Del Monte Forest, although nesting has not been 31 documented in recent years (Tenney 2003).
32 Site-Specific Environmental Conditions
33 This section provides a project site-by-site discussion of environmental 34 conditions and sensitive biological resources. Tables summarizing acreage 35 calculations of sensitive biological resources by site follow each discussion. 36 Only unique features of each site are noted. Figures illustrating known sensitive 37 biological resources at each site are included in MRMP Appendix B.
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-35
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Development Areas, Preservation Areas, and 2 Conservation Areas
3 This discussion addresses areas proposed for new development as well as areas 4 within development site boundaries that are proposed for preservation or 5 conservation through dedication of conservation easements. Entire areas 6 proposed for preservation are discussed separately below. Conservation areas are 7 discussed along with the adjacent development area.
8 Proposed Golf Course Location
9 As discussed above, a portion of the Signal Hill remnant dune is located within 10 Areas M and N adjacent to the Proposed Golf Course location. This area of 11 approximately 33 acres contains remnant dune habitat that supports five sensitive 12 species (Monterey spineflower, Menzies’ wallflower, beach layia, Tidestrom’s 13 lupine, and Monterey Indian paintbrush) and is considered an ESHA. This area 14 is proposed for conservation through a dedicated easement and management for 15 habitat values. An existing recreational trail (the “Green” trail) crosses the 16 western part of this area. The remnant dune also contains suitable habitat for 17 California horned lizard, two subspecies of legless lizard, and Smith’s blue 18 butterfly.
19 The area east of the remnant dune area (Area M) consists mostly of disturbed 20 remnant sand dunes. This disturbed sand dune habitat is defined as a 21 rehabilitation area in the LUP. Much of this area has been excavated and is 22 devoid of dunes. The dominant feature of this area is the pit created by previous 23 sand mining operations of the Spyglass Quarry. Weeds such as pampas grass, 24 golden wattle, and iceplant are common throughout this portion of the site 25 (County of Monterey 1997). There is also a small area of remnant dune along 26 Spyglass Hill Road east of the pit.
27 The central portion of the site (approximately 116 acres in Areas N, O, U, and V) 28 consists largely of Monterey pine forest. The forest is crossed by Drake Road, 29 Stevenson Drive, dirt roads and a number of equestrian trails. In the forested 30 areas the understory of the Monterey pine forest consists of a patchwork of 31 grasses and shrubs associated with Monterey pine forests. Coast live oaks 32 comprise 5–20% of the tree cover. Prevalent common shrubs include coffeeberry 33 and California blackberry. The most densely forested area of this site is 34 concentrated in the center of Area N. The forested areas to the south (Area U) 35 and north (Area O) tend to be less dense. The forested areas support the second 36 largest known population of Yadon’s piperia. High concentrations of Yadon’s 37 piperia occur in the eastern and southwestern portions of the site; some patches 38 contain more than 500 plants. Low densities of Hooker’s manzanita occur in the 39 understory of the forested northeastern corner of the site. Patches of Hickman’s 40 onion are found in the southeastern part of the site near the existing driving 41 range. The forested areas contain seasonal wetlands scattered in the center and 42 southwestern portions of the site. A freshwater marsh in the center of the site 43 (Wetland L2) and a seasonal pond within a drainage between Drake Road and
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-36
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Cypress Point Golf Course (Drainage I) are considered ESHA. A single 2 California red-legged frog was found in the Drake Pool along Drake Road in 3 2002, and a single CRLF was found in the seasonal pond in 2003 (WRA 2002b, 4 2003).
5 The southern portion of the site contains the existing Equestrian Center and its 6 associated residences, stables, and facilities; Collins Field; and the Pebble Beach 7 driving range. A disturbed area within the Equestrian Center contains a 8 population of Pacific Grove clover. Table E-13 provides a summary of the 9 sensitive biological resources and potential habitat located on this site.
10 Table E-13. Proposed Golf Course Location, Sensitive Biological Resources
Resource Occurrence Monterey pine forest (acres) 116.0 Pacific Grove clover (acres) 0.4 Wetlands (acres) 4.4 Yadon's piperia (#) 14,730 Hooker's manzanita (acres) 1.8 Hickman's onion (acres) 0.02 Pine rose Occurrence mentioned in Yadon, 2001. Dune Special Status Plants Monterey spine flower, Menzies’ wallflower, beach layia, and Tidestrom’s lupine, and Monterey Indian paintbrush. Sensitive Wildlife Habitat Suitable legless and horned lizard habitat in Remnant Dune; CRLF found in Drake Pool and seasonal pond in Drainage I, and may use other wetlands on site; potential raptor and pallid bat habitat in forest; Smith’s blue butterfly host plant in remnant dune area. ESHA Remnant dunes and associated plants; Seacliff buckwheat (host plant for Smith’s blue butterfly); Freshwater Marsh (Wetland L-2); Seasonal Pond (in Drainage I). Conservation Areas (acres) 39.9 (1)(2) Notes: Conservation areas: (1) 33 acres of remnant dune; (2) 7 acres of Monterey pine forest along Bristol Curve. Applicant proposes to dedicate additional areas, including 0.4 acres containing Pacific Grove clover and 21 acres containing wetlands and adjacent forest. These areas do not meet the definition of conservation because they are located within the golf course itself and are subject to ongoing indirect effects. 11
12 New Equestrian Center at Sawmill Site
13 The Sawmill site consists of a former sand mining area that is partially 14 revegetated as a result of past restoration efforts required under the Spanish Bay 15 development permits in the late 1980s; this area is surrounded by native forest. 16 Native vegetation on site generally comprises Monterey pine and associated 17 shrubs and grasses. Six wetlands have been identified on this site. According to 18 EcoSynthesis (2003), the largest wetland, located in the northern portion of the 19 site, is the only ESHA of the six, as defined in the Del Monte Forest LUP. This 20 wetland is located in the lower Sawmill area and is likely a feature that formed
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-37
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 because prior sand mining created a flat topography in this portion of the site and 2 intercepted the water table.
3 The site is surrounded by HHNA on the south, east, and northeast (SFB Morse 4 Preserve, part of HHNA, is adjacent on the southwest side); the resources in the 5 adjacent HHNA are discussed separately below. Two tributaries to Sawmill 6 Gulch flow immediately north and south of the site; these tributaries may provide 7 suitable habitat for CRLF, but to date they have not been fully assessed. 8 Improvements to an existing crossing over the northernmost of these tributaries, 9 to improve the connection to SFB Morse Drive, is included in the Proposed 10 Project. This drainage supports some hydrophytic vegetation and a population of 11 pine rose along the banks of the channel. The open sandy areas between scrub 12 habitats provide suitable habitat for California horned lizard.
13 Based on aerial photographs prior to sand extraction for the original Spanish Bay 14 Resort construction in the late 1980s, the lower Sawmill site was mostly devoid 15 of extant vegetation and the portions of the upper Sawmill site were also devoid 16 of extant vegetation due to prior sand mining activity. Permit conditions for the 17 prior Spanish Bay project required revegetation of the Sawmill site with native 18 vegetation. A replanting effort was conducted after sand extraction was 19 complete. Planted species included Monterey pine, Bishop pine, and Gowen 20 cypress. As shown in current aerial photography of the Sawmill site (see Figure 21 E-10 in MRMP Appendix B), replanting growth has varied across the site, with 22 some areas of greater relative density approaching adjacent native areas, and 23 some areas (like the central part of the lower Sawmill site) having much lower 24 relative densities.
25 Table E-14 provides a summary of the sensitive biological resources located on 26 this site.
27 Table E-14. New Equestrian Center (Sawmill Site) Sensitive Biological Resources
Resource Occurrence Monterey pine forest (acres)* 16.2 Wetlands (acres) 1.4 Sensitive Plants Pine rose (along Sawmill Gulch). Sensitive plants and pygmy forest in adjacent HHNA and SFB Morse Preserve (see separate discussion below). Sensitive Wildlife Habitat Horned lizard potential habitat; potential nesting raptor and pallid bat habitat in forested areas; potential adjacent suitable habitat for California red-legged frog in Sawmill Gulch tributaries. ESHA Freshwater Marsh in lower area
Notes: Existing Native Monterey pine forest covers about 16 acres; restored forest of varying growth rates about 15 acres; restoration areas with limited growth rates about 10 acres (FMP, Webster 2002). 28
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-38
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Spanish Bay Resort and The Lodge at Pebble Beach Expansions. 2 Both sites are developed and support little native vegetation. The Lodge at 3 Pebble Beach site consists largely of hotel accommodations, restaurant, 4 commercial/retail area, two banks, offices, a tennis facility, parking, and 5 surrounding golf course. The Spanish Bay Resort site contains The Inn at 6 Spanish Bay, including clubhouse, tennis courts, and hotel accommodations. No 7 sensitive biological resources are located at either site, except a small remnant 8 stand of native Monterey pine forest at Spanish Bay.
9 Area C (Proposed new Driving Range and Conservation Area). 10 Monterey pine forest is the dominant plant community on this site. The forest 11 habitat is an unevenly-aged stand. There are many young trees as well as some 12 mature trees with large diameters. Area C also includes some of the largest and 13 most abundant oak trees found in the Del Monte Forest (Zander 2002a). Some 14 snags in this area provide habitat for a variety of wildlife, including 15 woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches and screech owls. The understory is 16 composed of mesic shrubs associated with Monterey pine forest. Some central 17 maritime chaparral occurs on drier areas of the site. The understory is a mixture 18 of shrubby and herbaceous species that provide nearly 100% cover. There is no 19 bare ground except for a few trails crossing the site (County of Monterey 1997).
20 A natural freshwater marsh is located in the southwestern corner of the site and is 21 immediately behind residences and along a residential road. This wetland meets 22 the definition of an ESHA (Ecosynthesis 2000). This wetland provides suitable 23 habitat for CRLF, although no none have been observed in surveys to date (WRA 24 2002a, 2002b, 2003). This wetland is located immediately adjacent to residences 25 to the south and Majella Road to the west. Table E-15 provides a summary of the 26 sensitive biological resources located on this site.
27 Table E-15. Spanish Bay Driving Range (Area C), Sensitive Biological 28 Resources
Resource Occurrence Monterey pine forest (acres) 29.1 Wetlands (acres) 0.8 Sensitive Wildlife Habitat Suitable CRLF habitat in wetland area (surveys to date negative); potential nesting raptor and pallid bat habitat in forested areas.
ESHA Freshwater Marsh. Conservation Areas (acres) 3.3
Notes: Conservation area contains ESHA marsh and buffer area. Scenic buffer area (50 feet wide) also to be placed in easement around driving range (approx. 4 acres); not considered conservation area due to limited width and it being subject to ongoing indirect effects. 29
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-39
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Area B (Proposed Employee Housing and Preservation 2 Area)
3 Area B consists of Monterey pine forest in association with coast live oak. The 4 site is densely forested with a nearly 100% closed canopy. Because of the dense 5 canopy, seedlings and recruits are not abundant on this site; rather, the area 6 supports larger, mature trees with diameters up to and exceeding 3 feet (Zander 7 2002a). The relatively dense understory is composed of mesic shrubs and herbs 8 associated with Monterey pine forest. There is little bare ground except for the 9 fire roads and trails crossing the site. Snags and downed wood are common 10 throughout the site. More than 200 Yadon’s piperia plants are scattered 11 throughout the center of the site. Another 100 Yadon’s piperia plants are located 12 along the northern portion of this site. Riparian habitat along the eastern portion 13 of the site is considered ESHA; this habitat supports contains suitable habitat for 14 CRLF. A small man-made seasonal wetland is present west of the proposed 15 housing area. Table E-16 provides a summary of the sensitive biological 16 resources located on this site.
17 Table E-16. Employee Housing/Preservation Area (Area B), Sensitive Biological 18 Resources
Resource Occurrence Monterey pine forest (acres) 24.3 Wetlands (acres) 0.03 Riparian habitat (LF) 1,147 Yadon's piperia (#) 425 Sensitive Wildlife Habitat Suitable CRLF, ringtail, and Monterey shrew habitat in riparian area; sharp-shinned hawk observed nesting in 1993; potential nesting raptor and pallid bat habitat in forested areas. ESHA Riparian Habitat. Preservation Areas (acres) 20.3 Notes: Preservation area contains Monterey pine forest, Yadon's piperia, and riparian. 19
20 Area F-2 (10 Proposed New Residential Lots)
21 The northern end of Area F-2 is densely forested by Monterey pine, with 22 scattered clusters of Gowen cypress and Bishop pine. Hooker’s manzanita, 23 huckleberry, and shaggy-bark manzanita are co-dominants in the shrub 24 understory throughout the site, with toyon and coffeeberry also occurring in the 25 northern quarter. Understory shrubs thin out toward the south and are replaced 26 with grasses and sticky monkeyflower. Some Gowen cypress were planted along 27 the northern boundary of this site when Poppy Hills Golf Course was 28 constructed, but these trees do not constitute an ESHA. Some Bishop pines are 29 located near Gowen cypress in the northern portion of the project site and also
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-40
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 near the fire road that crosses the site. Yadon’s piperia is found in the 2 northwestern corner and in the southern quarter of Area F-2. Hooker’s 3 manzanita occurs throughout the site; it occurs in low density in the northern 4 three-quarters and in high density in the remainder of the site. Pine rose is also 5 found on the site. The fire road and a nursery exist on the site (County of 6 Monterey 1997). Table E-17 provides a summary of the sensitive biological 7 resources located on this site.
8 Table E-17. Area F-2 Residential Area, Sensitive Biological Resources
Resource Occurrence Monterey pine forest (acres) 19.5 Yadon's piperia (#) 177 Hooker's manzanita (acres) 18.4 Other sensitive plants Gowen cypress, Sandmat manzanita, pine rose. Sensitive Wildlife Habitat Adjacent water hazard on PHGC suitable habitat for CRLF, but not occupied in surveys; potential nesting raptor and pallid bat habitat in forested areas. 9
10 Area F-3 (Four Proposed New Residential Lots and 11 Conservation Area)
12 Monterey pine forest is the dominant plant community in Area F-3. The northern 13 third of this site consists of Bishop pine and Gowen cypress forest, which is 14 considered an ESHA under the LUP. Gowen cypress is abundant on both sides 15 of an unpaved road that runs east–west through the northern corner. Gowen 16 cypress extends into the forest from the southern side of the road. A dense stand 17 of Gowen cypress occurs on the north side of the road. Bishop pine and other 18 plant species appear to be stunted in this portion of the site.
19 The understory of the northern third of this site is dense huckleberry, salal, and 20 shaggy-bark manzanita. In the understory of the southern two-thirds of the site, 21 Hooker’s manzanita replaces shaggy-bark manzanita. Bishop pines are dense in 22 the northern section, becoming sparser toward the south. A small population of 23 Hickman’s onion occurs near the corner of Lopez and Sunridge Roads. An 24 occurrence of Yadon’s piperia in the southern third of the site contains 25 approximately 100 plants. Hooker’s manzanita is found in high density 26 throughout the site (County of Monterey 1997; Zander 2002a).
27 Table E-18 provides a summary of the sensitive biological resources located on 28 this site. 29
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-41
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Table E-18. Area F-3 Residential Area/Conservation Area Sensitive Biological 2 Resources
Resource Occurrence Monterey pine forest (acres) 16.8 Yadon's piperia (#) 99 Hooker's manzanita (acres) 16.8 Hickman's onion (acres) 0.01 Other sensitive plants Sandmat manzanita, pine rose.
Sensitive Wildlife Habitat Potential nesting raptor and pallid bat habitat in forested areas. ESHA Gowen cypress/Bishop pine (3.5 acres). Conservation Areas (acres) 8.6 Note: Gowen cypress/Bishop pine, Yadon's piperia and Hickman's onion in conservation. 3
4 Area I-2 (11 Proposed New Residential Lots).
5 Area I-2 is a narrow site along the southern perimeter of Poppy Hills Golf 6 Course. The Monterey pine forest on this site is relatively open, and the trees are 7 of mixed ages. Coast live oaks also occur on this site. Central maritime 8 chaparral shrubs are scattered throughout the understory, but do not form 9 impenetrable stands. There are three small patches of Yadon’s piperia in Area I- 10 2 supporting approximately 30 plants. Most of the site is covered by a high- 11 density understory of Hooker’s manzanita (County of Monterey 1997).
12 Table E-19 provides a summary of the sensitive biological resources located on 13 this site.
14 Table E-19. Area I-2 Residential Area Sensitive Biological Resources
Resource Occurrence Monterey pine forest (acres) 18.7 Yadon's piperia (#) 32 Hooker's manzanita (acres) 15.6 Other Sensitive Plants Pine rose. Sensitive Wildlife Habitat Potential nesting raptor and pallid bat habitat in forested areas. 15
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-42
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Area K (One Proposed New Residential Lot, Open Space 2 Recreation, Conservation Area)
3 Area K includes the back nine holes of the Spyglass Hill Golf Course and 4 adjacent undeveloped land along the east and west sides of Stevenson Drive. A 5 3-acre parcel along Stevenson Drive is proposed for a new residential lot. A 3.9- 6 acre parcel on the west side of Stevenson Drive is proposed to be dedicated in a 7 conservation easement.
8 The undeveloped areas are dominated by Monterey pine forest. The understory 9 is composed of mesic shrubs and herbs. The pine overstory consists of mature, 10 even-aged trees. A high concentration (approximately 4,300 plants) of Yadon’s 11 piperia occurs in undeveloped patches west of the golf course and west of 12 Stevenson Drive (Allen 1996).
13 A riparian drainage crosses the proposed conservation area west of Stevenson 14 Drive and includes a wetland area. Both features are ESHAs as defined by the 15 LUP.
16 The riparian drainage is a tributary of Seal Rock Creek. CRLFs have been 17 observed further downstream in Seal Rock Creek and along the water hazards on 18 Holes 12 and 14, which are within the open-space recreation area on Area K.
19 Tables E-20a and E-20b provide a summary of the sensitive biological resources 20 located on this site. 21
22 Table E-20a. Area K Residential Area, Sensitive Biological Resources
Resource Occurrence Monterey pine forest (acres) 2.9 Yadon's piperia (#) 1,526 Sensitive Wildlife Habitat Potential nesting raptor and pallid bat habitat in forested areas.
ESHA None Conservation Areas (acres) None 23
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-43
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Table E-20b. Area K Conservation Area, Sensitive Biological Resources
Resource Occurrence Monterey pine forest (acres) 3.9 Wetlands (acres) 0.3 Riparian areas (LF) 400 Yadon's piperia (#) 199 Sensitive Wildlife Habitat CRLF found downstream in Seal Rock Creek, and may be present on site; suitable ringtail and Monterey shrew habitat in riparian area; potential nesting raptor and pallid bat habitat in forested areas. ESHA Riparian Habitat; Freshwater Marsh.
Conservation Areas (acres) 3.9
2 Area PQR (Seven Proposed New Residential Lots)
3 This description addresses the two areas on the north side of Area PQR that are 4 proposed for seven new residential lots. The remainder of Area PQR, which is a 5 proposed preservation area, is described separately below.
6 The proposed residential lot areas are predominantly vegetated by Monterey pine 7 forest. Some of the site is moderately to steeply sloping. A population of 8 Yadon’s piperia (255 plants) occurs on proposed lots 6 and 7. Lots 1, 2, and 3 9 support a medium-density understory of Hooker’s manzanita. Several individual 10 sandmat manzanita plants occur in some of the proposed lot areas (County of 11 Monterey 1997).
12 Table E-21 provides a summary of the sensitive biological resources located on 13 this site.
14 Table E-21. Area PQR Residential Area, Sensitive Biological Resources
Resource Occurrence Monterey pine forest (acres) 12.8 Yadon's piperia (#) 255 Hooker's manzanita (acres) 3.8 Sandmat manzanita Several individuals. Sensitive Wildlife Habitat Potential nesting raptor and pallid bat habitat in forested areas. 15
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-44
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Corporation Yard Employee Housing
2 The Corporation Yard is almost all developed with offices, a vehicle maintenance 3 building, indoor and outdoor storage, and a rock and decomposed granite mining 4 operation (that is planned to cease operation by the end of 2003). A portion of 5 the site along the northern and southern boundary supports Monterey pine forest. 6 The northern corner also contains some oaks. The northern portion (6.5 acres) is 7 proposed by the applicant to be dedicated for preservation. The remainder of the 8 site is either unvegetated or developed. The HHNA is adjacent to the site on the 9 north.
10 Internal Roadway Improvement Locations
11 Congress Road between Lopez Road and the Sawmill Site is immediately 12 adjacent to the western edge of the S.F. B. Morse Preserve and the HHNA. 13 There are also forested areas to the west between Congress Road and Poppy Hills 14 Golf Course. Improvements would occur along a 4,930 foot stretch of Congress 15 Road. Within the estimated impact area for road improvements is approximately 16 2 acres of Monterey pine forest with natural shrub and grassland understory as 17 well as areas that have been disturbed. Within this area, approximately 0.42 18 acres of medium to high-density Hooker’s manzanita has been located. Yadon’s 19 piperia is also widespread in the vicinity, although no specific locations for 20 individuals have been mapped within the work limits (Zander 2002b). Pine rose 21 is also noted as being potentially present along with Gowen cypress (Zander 22 2002b). Two tributaries to Sawmill Gulch cross under this portion of Congress 23 Road via culverts, and thus construction will be in proximity to portions of these 24 drainages.
25 The work area for the improved intersection at Sunridge and Lopez contains 26 Monterey pines with a disturbed understory.
27 The characterization of biological resources for the Proposed Golf Course above 28 included the areas or road realignment, abandonment, and improvements related 29 to Stevenson Drive, Ondulado Road, Alva Lane, Portola Road and Forest Lake 30 Road. The characterization of biological resources for the New Equestrian 31 Center above at the Sawmill site included the areas of road improvements related 32 to SFB Morse Drive including the entrance road to the Sawmill site. At the road 33 improvements at Congress Road and 17-Mile Drive, no work beyond the existing 34 edge of pavement is proposed, so no resources are present at this location 35 (Zander 2002b).
36
37
38
39
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-45
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Table E-22. Internal Road Improvements, Sensitive Biological Resources
Resource Occurrence Monterey pine forest (acres) 2.0 Yadon's piperia (#) Potential Hooker's manzanita (acres) 0.4 Other sensitive plants Gowen cypress; potentially pine rose. Sensitive Wildlife Habitat Potential nesting raptor and pallid bat habitat in forested areas; Sawmill gulch tributaries. 2
3 Highway 1/Highway 68/17-Mile Drive Interchange 4 Improvement
5 The project area for the interchange improvement is located within a disturbed 6 and degraded urbanized area of Monterey pine forest. It includes planted and 7 naturally occurring Monterey pines as well as mature and young coast live oak. 8 Ruderal vegetation consisting of weedy non-native grasses and broad-leaved 9 plants occur on roadcuts, along the roadway and in other disturbed areas where 10 the tree canopy is relatively open. Wildlife use is limited due to the site’s 11 proximity to Highway 1 and Highway 68. The only special status plant species 12 identified on the site were Monterey pine and Monterey cypress. There are about 13 52 Monterey pines (6” in diameter or greater) within work limits that will be 14 removed; most of these are thought to have been planted as part of highway 15 landscaping in 1961. The five individual Monterey cypress thought to be planted 16 at that time would not be affected by the project and the oaks would not be 17 removed. No special-status wildlife species are expected to be present at the site 18 (LSA 2001).
19 Proposed Preservation Areas
20 The proposed preservation areas (intended for dedication of conservation 21 easements) are described below. Note that the proposed Area B Preservation 22 Area was discussed above in conjunction with the other development proposed 23 for Area B. The Corporation Yard preservation area was discussed above along 24 with the Employee Housing development proposed for the Corporation Yard.
25 Preservation Area D
26 This area (17.1 acres) is located north and east of S.F.B. Morse Drive and is just 27 north of the Sawmill site. The dominant overstory is Monterey pine. Sawmill 28 Gulch flows through the proposed preservation area. No specific inventory of 29 resources in this area has been prepared to date, although this area is expected to 30 be similar in character to nearby areas dominated by Monterey pine forest.
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-46
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Preservation Area G
2 The northern third of this site was burned in 1987. Shrubs are currently 3 resprouting in the burned area, and Monterey pine saplings form an almost 4 impenetrable stand. Monterey pine is the dominant overstory species on the site, 5 although a few coast live oaks are found within the canopy. Huckleberry, 6 shaggy-bark manzanita, Hooker’s manzanita, coyote brush, and poison-oak are 7 all common in the understory (County of Monterey 1997).
8 On the western slope of the southern two-thirds of the site, Monterey pines form 9 a closed canopy. Forbs such as bedstraw, California strawberry, western bracken 10 fern, hedge nettle, and snowberry dominate between widely spaced huckleberry 11 shrubs in the understory. On the eastern half of the unburned portion, grassy 12 clearings are interspersed with dense maritime chaparral shrubs and scattered 13 Monterey pines (County of Monterey 1997).
14 The burned portion of the site supports Monterey clover (Zander 2001b). A 15 small population of Hickman’s onion grows near a footpath that transects the 16 site. A population of approximately 1,600 Yadon’s piperia plants occurs in the 17 southern portion of the site. The eastern two-thirds of the site is covered with a 18 medium–density understory of Hooker’s manzanita (County of Monterey 1997).
19 Table E-23 provides a summary of the sensitive biological resources located on 20 this site.
21 Table E-23. Preservation Area G, Sensitive Biological Resources
Resource Occurrence Monterey pine forest (acres) 47.9 Yadon's piperia (#) 1,579 Hooker's manzanita (acres) 33.5 Monterey clover (acres) 8.2 Hickman's onion 0.01 Other sensitive plants Pine rose. Sensitive Wildlife Habitat Potential nesting raptor/pallid bat habitat in forest.
ESHA Monterey clover. Preservation Areas (acres) 47.9
Notes: All resources within preservation area. 22
23 Preservation Area H
24 Two intermittent drainages flow through the steep eastern third of the site to the 25 flatter western portion, where Monterey pines of exceptionally large girth and
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-47
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 height are widely spaced. The forest floor is dominated by native grasses. The 2 drainages support large Monterey pines and thickets of coffeeberry, coast live 3 oak, and huckleberry; the southern drainage also supports many large sword ferns 4 (County of Monterey 1997). An unpaved and gated section of Spruance Road 5 bisects the site.
6 In the northern portion of the site, several small areas of Hickman’s onion occur 7 in an open area near Lopez Road, where the steep slope levels off. Yadon’s 8 piperia occurs in patches over most of the site, comprising approximately 1,000 9 plants. Hooker’s manzanita occurs in high density in the northern portion and 10 southern corner of the site (County of Monterey 1997). Wetlands occur in the 11 western portion of the site.
12 Table E-24 provides a summary of the sensitive biological resources located on 13 this site.
14 Table E-24. Preservation Area H, Sensitive Biological Resources
Resource Occurrence Monterey pine forest (acres) 53.8 Wetlands (acres) 1.3 Yadon's piperia (#) 966 Hooker's manzanita (acres) 22.5 Hickman's onion (acres) 0.01 Other sensitive plants Sandmat manzanita; pine rose.
Sensitive Wildlife Habitat Potential nesting raptor and pallid bat habitat in forested areas. Preservation Areas (acres) 53.8
Notes: All resources within preservation area; Size of area from APN acreage. 15
16 Preservation Area I-1
17 Monterey pine forest is the dominant plant community of Area I-1. An 18 unevenly-aged stand of Monterey pine provides 90% of the total canopy cover on 19 the site. Coast live oaks form an intermediate canopy layer in the southern 20 portion of the site. The understory consists of a mosaic of central maritime 21 chaparral shrubs and herbs. Standing snags and fallen trees are relatively 22 abundant (County of Monterey 1997; Zander 2002a).
23 The northern and southern channels of Seal Rock Creek are located in the 24 southern half of Area I-1. The riparian areas that border these channels are 25 designated ESHAs by the LUP. CRLF has been found downstream in Seal Rock
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-48
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Creek and in water hazards on the Spyglass Hill Golf Course; suitable habitat is 2 present at this location, though CRLF has not been found in surveys to date.
3 Hickman’s onion occurs near the southeastern corner. Yadon’s piperia occurs in 4 patches over much of the site, with concentrations of individuals along the edge 5 of the site. Eastern portions of the site are covered by a high-density understory 6 of Hooker’s manzanita. A small occurrence of sandmat manzanita is found in the 7 southeastern portion of the site.
8 The acreage of this site and the numbers of Yadon’s piperia have been reduced 9 from applicant submitted material to account for the 2.2 acre expansion of the 10 PBCSD property.
11 Table E-25 provides a summary of the sensitive biological resources located on 12 this site.
13 Table E-25. Preservation Area I-1, Sensitive Biological Resources
Resource Occurrence Monterey pine forest (acres) 38.2 Riparian areas (LF) 2,309 Yadon's piperia (#) 1,940 Hooker's manzanita (acres) 9.8 Hickman's onion (acres) 0.07 Other sensitive plants Sandmat manzanita; pine rose.
Sensitive Wildlife Habitat CRLF found downstream in Seal Rock Creek, and may be suitable habitat; suitable Ringtail and Monterey shrew habitat in riparian area; potential nesting raptor/pallid bat habitat in forested areas.
ESHA Riparian habitat (Seal Rock Creek). Preservation Areas (acres) 38.2
Notes: All resources within preservation area. 14
15 Preservation Area J
16 This description addresses the area proposed for preservation (0.8 acre) as well as 17 two existing lots (total 8.6 acres) that are not part of the Proposed Project (but 18 which are considered in the cumulative analysis). The site is divided into three 19 distinct sections that are separated by Spyglass Woods Drive, existing homes, 20 and stream channels. The dominant plant community of all three portions of 21 Area J is Monterey pine forest. Understory vegetation is typical of species that 22 are associated with Monterey pine forest under slightly mesic conditions.
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-49
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 The proposed preservation area contains a confluence of two stream channels 2 that feed a seasonal wetland. An occurrence of about 100 Yadon’s piperia plants 3 is present in the proposed preservation area. The stream channels, riparian 4 habitat, and wetland on this site are considered ESHAs; the wetland is not 5 considered an ESHA (County of Monterey 1997).
6 The northern existing lot contains two drainages that meet downstream (off site) 7 and flow to the preservation area. This lot contains about 150 Yadon’s piperia 8 plants. The southern existing lot contains a portion of the drainage that drains the 9 water hazard on Hole 12 of the Spyglass Hill Golf Course. This lot supports 10 approximately 1,300 Yadon’s piperia plants.
11 Table E-26 provides a summary of the sensitive biological resources located 12 within the proposed preservation area.
13 Table E-26. Preservation Area J, Sensitive Biological Resources
Resource Occurrence Monterey pine forest (acres) 0.8 Wetlands (acres) 0.2 Riparian areas (LF) 86 Yadon's piperia (#) 102 Sensitive Wildlife Habitat CRLF found downstream in Seal Rock Creek and may be present on site; suitable Ringtail and Monterey shrew habitat in riparian area; potential nesting raptor and pallid bat habitat in forested areas.
ESHA Natural freshwater marsh; Riparian habitat.
Preservation Areas (acres) 0.8
Notes: Resources noted above located within preservation area (does not include resources within 2 existing lots not included in project). 14
15 Preservation Area L
16 The Monterey pine forest of Area L is densely vegetated with pines and some 17 well-developed coast live oaks. The understory is composed of more mesic 18 shrubs and herbs.
19 Along the western border of the site, the Monterey pine forest serves to stabilize 20 remnant sand dunes. The remnant dunes contain Monterey Indian paintbrush and 21 Monterey spineflower, and provide suitable habitat for Smith’s blue butterfly and 22 several lizard species. A small population of Yadon’s piperia is located on the 23 eastern portion of the site.
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-50
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Several stream channels that are tributaries of Seal Rock Creek cross the eastern 2 portion of the site. Plants growing along these drainages include cattail, rush, 3 sedge, blackberry, currant, coffeeberry, wax-myrtle, and chain fern. The stream 4 channel with riparian vegetation is considered an ESHA. A small wetland in the 5 eastern portion of the site is also considered an ESHA.
6 CRLFs have been found in one of these drainages and further downstream in 7 Seal Rock Creek. White-tailed kites have been documented nesting on the site.
8 Table E-27 provides a summary of the sensitive biological resources located on 9 this site.
10 Table E-27. Preservation Area L, Sensitive Biological Resources
Resource Occurrence Monterey pine forest (acres) 18.2 Wetlands (acres) 0.05 Riparian areas (LF) 215 Yadon's piperia (#) 321 Other Sensitive Plants Pine rose, Monterey spineflower, Monterey Indian paintbrush.
Sensitive Wildlife Habitat White-tailed kite nesting; Suitable Smith's blue butterfly habitat in Remnant Dune; suitable legless and horned lizard habitat in Remnant Dune; CRLF found in Seal Rock Creek; may use other wetlands on site; suitable Ringtail and Monterey shrew habitat in riparian area; potential nesting raptor and pallid bat habitat in forested areas. ESHA Remnant Dune habitat; Freshwater marsh; riparian habitat.
Preservation Areas (acres) 18.2 Notes: All resources within preservation area. 11
12 Preservation Area PQR
13 Area PQR contains the second largest unfragmented tract of Monterey pine forest 14 remaining in the Del Monte Forest. This site is vegetated by Monterey pine 15 forest, some shrub-dominated areas, meadows, and other relatively open areas. 16 Most of the site is moderately to steeply sloping (Zander 2002a). The Monterey 17 pine forest varies from evenly-aged to mixed-aged stands. The understory is 18 predominantly central maritime chaparral, but consists of native grasslands and 19 meadows in some areas. A relatively large (approximately 6 acres) meadow, 20 known as Spruance Meadow, is located in the western portion of the site. The 21 soil conditions of the meadow create a soil moisture regime of complete 22 saturation in the winter and little or no water in the summer. Because trees and 23 shrubs cannot survive such mesic conditions, a variety of herbs that are rare 24 elsewhere have established in the meadow. Some of these species are coyote 25 thistle, large-flowered star tulip, sun cups, shooting star, tarweed, and Hickman’s 26 onion (County of Monterey 1997).
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-51
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Area PQR contains tens of thousands of Hickman’s onion plants. Many patches 2 occur in the meadow and in other smaller clearings in the Monterey pine forest. 3 This site also supports one of the largest known populations of Yadon’s piperia, 4 containing approximately 16,000 plants. The southwestern portion of the site is 5 covered by a medium-density understory of Hooker’s manzanita. A number of 6 sandmat manzanita plants occur in the southern portion of the site; this area is 7 considered an ESHA (County of Monterey 1997).
8 Several tributaries of Pescadero Creek drain the eastern portion of the site, and 9 several small wetland areas are present on the site. A small riparian area along 10 one of the drainages is considered an ESHA (County of Monterey 1997). 11 Monterey dusky-footed woodrat nests have been found along one of these 12 drainages.
13 Table E-28 provides a summary of the sensitive biological resources located on 14 this site.
15 Table E-28. Area PQR Preservation Area, Sensitive Biological Resources
Resource Occurrence Monterey pine forest (acres) 233.1 Wetlands (acres) 1.7 Riparian areas (LF) 400 Yadon's piperia (#) 15,643 Hooker's manzanita (acres) 25.3 Hickman's onion (acres) 5.5 Sandmat manzanita 15 occurrences Sensitive Wildlife Habitat Monterey dusky-footed woodrat nests; suitable Ringtail and Monterey shrew habitat in riparian area; potential nesting raptor and pallid bat habitat in forested areas.
ESHA Riparian habitat (Pescadero Creek tributary); Sandmat manzanita (significant occurrence). Preservation Areas (acres) 233.1 Notes: All resources within preservation area. 16
17 Huckleberry Hill Natural Area (including S.F.B Morse 18 Preserve) and Adjacent Corporation Yard Preservation 19 Area
20 The HHNA, which contains S.F.B. Morse Preserve, is included within the project 21 area because the New Equestrian Center may result in indirect effects to the 22 biological resources of this area. The applicant has proposed a new preservation 23 area north of the existing Corporation Yard (south of HHNA). The resources
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-52
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 described below are those found in HHNA, the SFB Morse Preserve, and these 2 adjacent areas. General communities are identified from aerial photographs.
3 HHNA contains areas dominated by Monterey pine forest, and Monterey pygmy 4 forest. The SFB Morse Preserve also contains elements of both forests. The 5 Corporation Yard preservation area contains both Monterey pine forest and 6 Gowen’s cypress. Numerous special status plants are found within the HHNA 7 and S.F.B. Morse Preserve. There is a sizable Yadon’s piperia population within 8 S.F.B. Morse Preserve and HHNA (about 7,500 plants) (Allen 1996). There are 9 also areas of low, medium, and high-density Hooker’s manzanita (acreage not 10 estimated), with some located in the northern part of the Corporation Yard 11 preservation area.
12 The headwaters of Sawmill Gulch are located mostly within the HHNA and S. F. 13 B. Morse Preserve. Riparian vegetation is present in portions of the upper 14 drainages, which may also provide suitable habitat for CRLF (although frogs 15 have not been found in surveys to date). Approximately 10 acres of wetlands 16 have been identified in the HHNA and S. F. B. Morse Preserve (WRA 2001). 17 All the area within the HHNA and S. F. B. Morse Preserve is considered an 18 ESHA in the LUP, as are riparian areas. Table E-29 provides a summary of the 19 sensitive biological resources located in these areas. Figures E-18 and E-23 in 20 MRMP Appendix B show the location of sensitive biological resources.
21 Table E-29. Huckleberry Hill Natural Habitat Area, SFB Morse Preserve 22 Sensitive Biological Resources, and Corporation Yard Preservation Area
Resource Occurrence Monterey pine forest (acres) Estimated at about 274 acres in HHNA/SFB Morse; 6 acres in adjacent Corp. Yard preservation area. Monterey pygmy forest (acres) SFB Morse Preserve is predominantly Monterey pygmy forest and pygmy forest is found throughout the HHNA. Wetlands (acres) 10 acres in HHNA/SFB Morse; 0.2 acres in Corp. Yard Preservation Area. Riparian Areas (LF) Present in Sawmill Gulch, but extent not estimated. Yadon's piperia (#) 7,578 in HHNA/SFB Morse. Hooker's manzanita (acres) 22.8 acres including small area in Corp. Yard preservation area. Other sensitive plants Sandmat manzanita, Gowen’s cypress, Eastwood’s goldenbush, pine rose, Monterey clover. Sensitive Wildlife Habitat Suitable CRLF habitat may be present; suitable ringtail and Monterey shrew habitat in riparian area; potential nesting raptor and pallid bat habitat in forested areas.
ESHA Entire HHNA and SFB Morse Preserve is designated ESHA; Corp Yard preservation area is not. Preservation Areas (acres) HHNA was previously dedicated to DMFF. SFB Morse Preserve is owned by DMFF. Corp Yard preservation area (6 acres) is new dedication. 23
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-53
Monterey County Appendix C Site Descriptions
1 Native Trees
2 Baseline information on individual native trees was determined using the tree 3 removal and retained charts in the FMP for the Proposed Project within the Del 4 Monte Forest (Webster 2002); the proposed tree removal tally provided in the 5 FMP for the Phase 1B Interim Improvements for Route 68 6 Widening/Improvement Project (Staub 2001); and subsequent clarifications 7 provided in correspondence by the applicant.
8 A cruise of the entire project area that was conducted in April and October 2001 9 is reported in the FMP for the Proposed Project (Webster 2002). Forest 10 inventory information was collected from 164 sample plots, each encompassing 11 0.1 acre. The 2001 inventory represents a 2.4% cruise of the Del Monte Forest. 12 For the first 52 sampling locations, two forestry plots were inventoried per 13 location, yielding 104 plots. One plot was placed at either end of a 50-meter 14 transect line. The plot at one end of the transect was at or near the edge of a 15 road, and the plot at the opposite end was in the interior of the forest. For the 16 remaining 60 locations, a single plot in the interior of the forested areas was 17 inventoried.
18 All trees within each sample plot were tallied into the following size categories 19 based on diameter at breast height (dbh): 1–4 inches, 4–12 inches, 12–24 inches, 20 and >24 inches. Seedlings were counted within a 0.001-acre area in the center of 21 the 0.1-acre plot (6.6 by 6.6 feet). Seedlings were defined as tree specimens less 22 than 12 inches tall. Canopy coverage was estimated visually and recorded by the 23 following classes: Class 1 = 0–25%, Class 2 = 26–50%, Class 3 = 51–75%, and 24 Class 4 = 76–100%.
25 The forestry plot data were sorted according to the designated components of the 26 project and were converted to provide per-acre estimates of tree density by size 27 class. These estimates were used to estimate the number of Monterey pine and 28 coast live oak trees to be removed and retained. The tree removal totals in 29 subdivision areas include roadway and potential home sites within the building 30 envelope.
31 Additional tree counts and removals were reported for the Phase 1B Interim 32 Improvements for Route 68 Widening/Improvement Project (Staub 2001). As 33 part of this FMP, information on diameter, general health, presence or absence of 34 disease or defect in individual trees, and precise location was gathered.
35 No adjustments were made by Jones & Stokes concerning the tree removal or 36 retainage estimates provided by the applicant’s consultants. The area of tree 37 removal assumed for the analysis is that area identified within the disturbance 38 lines in the biological resource figures in MRMP Appendix B.
Pebble Beach Company’s DMF/PDP January 2005 Draft Master Resource Management Plan C-54