MEASURE M SCRUB RESTORATION PLAN FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE ECOLOGICAL PRESERVE

December 2, 2010

Prepared by Dr. Margot Griswold, NewFields LLC Dr. Kristine Preston, Nature Reserve of Orange County & Dr. Peter Bowler, University of California, Irvine

SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION

The Nature Reserve of Orange County (NROC) is responsible for coordinating and implementing monitoring and management activities in Orange County’s Central and Coastal Natural Community Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan (NCCP/HCP). The federally- threatened California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) and the state-sensitive coastal cactus wren (Campylorhnychus brunneicapillus) are two of three Target species conserved under the NCCP/HCP. The California gnatcatcher and coastal cactus wren are also included on the Measure M Freeway Projects Proposed Species List.

The NCCP/HCP is a reserve system of ~37,000 acres, consisting of Coastal and Central Reserves with multiple land owners and managers. The 1993 Laguna Canyon Fire destroyed 75% of natural habitats in the 17,000 acre Coastal Reserve and the 2007 Windy Ridge and Santiago Canyon Fires destroyed 75% of natural habitats in the 20,000 acre Central Reserve. These fires, along with other factors such as drought and population isolation, have contributed to a more than 80% decline in the Cactus Wren population since 1992 (Mitrovich and Hamilton 2007, Leatherman 2009). California gnatcatchers have also been adversely affected by these large wildfires. However, shrubs in coastal sage scrub grow back more quickly than cactus, leading to more rapid recovery of gnatcatcher populations following fire. Cactus within the Coastal Reserve has recovered slowly after the 1993 Laguna Fire and wren populations are small and isolated. NROC’s top priorities are to recover cactus wren populations and to enhance California gnatcatcher populations within the reserve system. One measure to increase gnatcatcher and wren populations is to restore cactus scrub habitat, which consists of a mosaic of coastal sage scrub and cactus, and is occupied by both target species.

University of California, Irvine Ecological Preserve The 62-acre University of California Irvine (UCI) Ecological Preserve is enrolled in Orange County’s Central and Coastal NCCP/HCP and is part of the Coastal Reserve System. It is managed by the UCI Office of Natural Resources for the School of Biological Science (http://www.bio.uci.edu/Reserves/UCI_Ecological_Preserve.html). UCI’s long range development plan designates this land for conservation and habitat management (UCI 2007).

The Ecological Preserve supports Venturan-Diegan transitional sage scrub and grassland communities with 202 angiosperm species from 43 families (Bowler and Bramlet 2010). Despite

a high number of invasive plant species (32.6%), the Preserve supports a diverse assemblage of invertebrate and vertebrate species. The UCI Ecological Preserve is a critical site for maintaining California gnatcatchers and coastal cactus wren populations. It provided an unburned refuge from the 1993 Laguna Canyon fire, supports stable populations of wrens and gnatcatchers, and serves as a source of dispersing individuals for other areas in the Coastal Reserve System.

NROC is conducting a three year study to monitor cactus wren reproduction, dispersal and survival. One of the larger remaining clusters of cactus wrens in the Coastal Reserve is at the UCI Ecological Preserve. This population supported six territories in 2009 and 2010, with five pairs attempting to breed each year (Preston and Kamada 2009, unpublished data). Between two and four pairs were detected at the site from 2002 to 2005 (Harmsworth 2004, 2006). Over the last two years, NROC has color banded individual wrens and determined that the Preserve is a source of wrens dispersing to other areas and is important in augmenting and re-establishing wren populations in the Coastal Reserve. The UCI population is critical for recovery of cactus wrens in the NCCP/HCP.

The UCI Ecological Preserve is also an important site for California Gnatcatchers and supports a stable population. In 2009 and 2010, there were at least seven pairs documented at the site (K. Preston, Personal Observation). Previous surveys found between five and ten pairs from 1993 to 2005 (Bontrager et al. 2000, Harmsworth 2004), with seven pairs documented in 2005 (Harmsworth Associates 2006). The UCI population is across SR-73 from the approximately 5 mile long California gnatcatcher corridor created by the Transportation Corridor Authority. This corridor extends from Upper Newport Bay to Coyote Canyon Landfill, linking habitat fragments along the toll road alignment to large expanses of habitat in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and City of Irvine Open Space.

The UCI Ecological Preserve supports 31 acres of cactus scrub mapped by NROC in 2006 (Figure 1). The remainder of the vegetation has not been mapped since 1992, so current acreages are estimates based upon an assessment of recent aerial photos. There appears to be approximately 10 acres of coastal sage scrub or disturbed coastal sage scrub with less than 20% cactus cover. Highly disturbed areas and non-native grassland comprise the remainder of the site and typically include some native plant species, such as perennial grasses, native forbs, and isolated shrubs and cactus. It is important to note that the fuel modification zones in the UCI Ecological Preserve are outside the NCCP Reserve boundaries and comprise a portion of the disturbed habitat at the 62 acre site.

Disturbed areas at the Preserve were previously heavily grazed and as recently as 1980 supported little native shrub cover and a high abundance of invasive plant species. These invasive species included artichoke thistle (Cynara cardunculus), black mustard (Brassica nigra), and European annual grasses such as Avena and Bromus species. Since 1994, NROC has conducted an annual weed control program targeting artichoke thistle and it has been reduced to less than 2% cover over most of the UCI Ecological Preserve. While shrubs have re-established in many areas of the Preserve, other areas where artichoke thistle was eradicated have been invaded by exotic grasses and mustard. These areas of disturbed habitat are not passively recovering and will require active restoration to re-establish native cactus scrub

1.1 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE CACTUS SCRUB RESTORATION PROJECT NROC’s overall goal is to restore approximately 12.5 acres of disturbed and non-native grassland habitats to cactus scrub at the UCI Ecological Preserve in order to enhance breeding habitat for the coastal cactus wren and California gnatcatcher. NROC, the Transportation Corridor Authority (TCA), and UCI are collaborating on a project to link wren populations in the northern half of the Coastal Reserve and have received $282,000 in funding from the California State Department of Transportation’s Environmental Enhancement Mitigation Program (EEMP). The EEMP grant is being used to restore approximately 4.1 acres of cactus scrub at the UCI Ecological Preserve (Figure 2) and to plant cactus within the California gnatcatcher mitigation corridor adjacent to the Highway 73 Toll Road. NROC and UCI would use Measure M funding to restore the remaining disturbed and non-native grassland habitat at the UCI Ecological Preserve. Restoring high quality cactus scrub and enhancing native grasslands will result in increased nesting and foraging habitat for California gnatcatchers and cactus wrens. We estimate that two to three additional cactus wren territories and three to four California gnatcatcher territories could be supported at the site after full restoration. We plan to restore the site to an average of 75% cover of native , a standard that fulfills wildlife agency mitigation requirements for direct impacts to occupied habitat for these two species.

The specific goals and objectives for the Measure M project are as follows:

Goal: Increase breeding habitat for coastal cactus wrens and California gnatcatchers at the UCI Ecological Preserve by restoring and enhancing approximately 8.5 acres of cactus scrub in a mosaic of native grassland.

Objective 1. Reduce average invasive plant cover to less than 10% in approximately 8.5 acres of currently disturbed and non-native grassland habitats.

Objective 2. Plant up to 300 large salvaged prickly pear (Opuntia littoralis) cactus clumps and a minimum of 1,200 cactus pad in groups of 30 over 8.5 acres of currently disturbed and non- native grassland habitats. The exact number and location of large cactus clumps and cactus pads will depend on the results of final site mapping. Coastal cholla ( prolifera) segments that have been shed from mature plants will be searched for onsite, and if available will be integrated into the cactus groupings. Cactus will be irrigated for the first two years after planting, with up to six irrigation events (three per year) timed in response to rainfall patterns.

Objective 3. Collect native shrub, perennial grass and forb seeds from onsite and plant seeds around the cactus groupings. Mexican elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) individuals will be planted at least 15’ from cactus groupings and from each other, with approximately 15 plants per acre. Planted elderberries will be irrigated in conjunction with cactus irrigation events. Each restoration patch will vary in density and cover with an average target over the 8.5 acres of 40% cactus and shrubs with 35% cover of native grass and herbaceous species. UCI cactus wren habitat is somewhat open compared to other cactus scrub locations (T. Smith, personal observation).

1.2 PROJECT OVERVIEW Approximately 8.5 acres of highly disturbed and non-native grassland vegetation will be restored to cactus scrub consisting of prickly pear cactus and potentially coastal cholla in a mosaic of coastal sage scrub shrubs interspersed with patches of enhanced native grasses and forbs. The composition of native shrubs, grasses and forbs in the restoration and enhancement patches will reflect the local diversity and abundance of plant species onsite and will also depend on fine- scale soil and topographic characteristics. The precise location and configuration of restoration and enhancement patches will be determined based upon sensitive plant surveys and detailed vegetation mapping, including an assessment of relative native versus exotic plant cover. Our priority is to restore the most degraded areas. We will not attempt to restore trails, naturally bare and rocky areas, patches of disturbed cactus scrub, coastal sage scrub or grassland with a substantial native plant component, or areas outside the NCCP boundaries within the Reserve’s fuel modification zone.

To successfully restore these areas will require intensive site preparation to eliminate an abundant exotic plant seed bank. In addition to site preparation, maintenance of the site after planting will be required to ensure successful establishment of cactus and native shrubs, grasses and forbs. To determine the success of this restoration project will require five years of annual monitoring of the restored and enhanced vegetation and use of restored areas by the California gnatcatcher and cactus wren. The project is expected to start in spring 2011 and be completed by spring 2016.

Dr. Margot Griswold, restoration ecologist at NewFields LLC, has designed the restoration specifications. She and her staff will conduct detailed mapping and planning of the restoration patches, oversee implementation of restoration activities, and monitor performance in reaching performance standards. Nakae and Associates will implement restoration tasks, including site preparation, restoration installation and post-restoration maintenance. NROC will administer the grant, manage the project, participate in restoration planning, assess use of the restoration areas by sensitive bird species during the planning phase, monitor use of restored areas by cactus wren and California gnatcatchers for five years post-planting and assist with report preparation. Dr. Peter Bowler’s UCI restoration classes and interns may assist with post-restoration vegetation monitoring over the five year project period. If student volunteers are unavailable, then NROC staff and/or other volunteers will assist NewFields with the annual vegetation monitoring.

The following sections comprise our restoration plan, providing details on the selection of restoration patches, composition of the plant palette, restoration performance standards, site preparation, restoration, maintenance and monitoring methods, and a time-line of activities. The design and methods of the Measure M restoration are consistent with those used for the EEMP restoration at UCI Ecological Preserve (NewFields 2010a).

SECTION 2. IDENTIFYING RESTORATION PATCHES

Figure 1 shows the approximate locations of restoration areas within the 62 acre UCI Ecological Preserve. Surveys and vegetation mapping will be conducted by restoration ecologists and biologists in spring 2011 to identify and determine a more exact configuration of restoration patches. Areas currently dominated by non-native annual grasses and forbs are targeted for evaluation as restoration and creation sites, with the purpose of creating suitable habitat for California gnatcatchers and cactus wren. The following sections describe the conditions in the project area.

2.1 GEOLOGY AND SOILS OF THE PROJECT AREA The project area encompasses a portion of the San Joaquin Hills, which is characterized by low ridges and longitudinal valleys that are in part fault-controlled. The San Joaquin Hills are primarily underlain by igneous and metamorphic rocks of the pre-Cenozoic age and are overlain by both marine and fluvial terraces. The presence of marine terraces suggests that these coastal areas where submerged during the late Pleistocene (Jahns 1954). Within the vicinity of the proposed project, two general types of bedrock occur: areas of Miocene marine rock and Oligocene rock. Areas of Miocene marine rock were formed during the widespread marine and terrestrial sedimentation in the cismontane regions of southern California and have been classified as either Monterey Shale or Topanga Formation. These Miocene rocks within the San Joaquin Hills are primarily colonized by coastal sage scrub vegetation and southern cactus scrub.

The Oligocene rock is often overlain by marine sandstone, conglomerate and siltstone of the Vaqueros formation, which formed under a shallow water environment, as suggested by fossil examination (Jahns 1954). Areas mapped as Oligocene rock are vegetated by a mosaic of coastal sage scrub, southern cactus scrub, and non-native annual grasses and forbs. The areas proposed for enhancement and restoration are dominated by annual grasses and black mustard. They occur within the area mapped as Oligocene rock, which is also interbedded with marine sediments that are in-part, Miocene and Eocene sandstone, shale, and conglomerate.

Soil survey maps will be referenced and potential sites assessed for conformity with the soil survey. The main soils described within the potential restoration sites are Myford sandy loam, Cieneba sandy loam, Alo clay, Capistrano sandy loam (USDA 1978). These soils have moderate to low water-holding capacities.

2.2 SITE SURVEYS Focused field surveys will be conducted in spring 2011 to refine the specific enhancement and restoration patches within the Ecological Preserve. The surveys will describe existing plant species, soil characteristics, relation to existing cactus scrub, as well as accessibility for planting. An important consideration will be to identify and delineate concentrations of native perennial grasses and forbs within exotic annual grasslands and disturbed areas. The objective is to reduce invasive plant cover and enhance native grassland species within these discrete patches. Native grassland patches will be integrated and embedded at a fine-scale within a mosaic of cactus and coastal sage scrub shrubs. Surveys will also be conducted to identify and map rare plants in order

to avoid disturbing these plants when implementing the restoration. Sensitive species, such as California gnatcatcher and cactus wren, that are detected during surveys will be mapped in order to avoid directly impacting these species.

SECTION 3. RESTORATION SPECIFICATIONS

Implementation of the restoration and enhancement plan will generally proceed under the following specifications that will be adaptively managed based on several factors, including the level of historic disturbance, density and type of exotic species, soil series, and distance from existing native habitats. Therefore, methods outlined in the following section will be used, or adapted, as necessary and in various combinations based on specific existing field conditions, including prevailing weather conditions during the implementation.

Restoration generally can be divided into four phases: 1) site preparation, 2) seeding/planting, 3) establishment maintenance, and 4) post-establishment, long-term monitoring and management. The following section describes site preparation, restoration implementation, and maintenance. Figure 3 shows the time-line or restoration activities for the duration of the project. Horticultural and performance monitoring are described in Section 4.

3.1 METHODS FOR CACTUS RESTORATION Restoration and enhancement activities recommended for this plan include, but are not limited to, site preparation, seeding, salvage of large cactus, planting of cactus pads, weed management, and remedial seeding if necessary. The following sections discuss general methods of recommended restoration actions. These recommended methods have been used successfully within NROC and other sites in Orange County, including recent cactus salvage and replanting at Upper Chiquita Canyon Conservation Easement and Whiting Ranch Regional Park (NewFields 2010b). These methods are also consistent with those used in the EEMP cactus scrub restoration of 4.1 acres at UCI Ecological Preserve (NewFields 2010a)

3.1.1 Site Preparation Restoration of each specified habitat requires site preparation. Site preparation will be conducted prior to installation of plant materials to control exotic species. Intensity of site preparation will vary from patch to patch depending on the density and composition of exotic species present and the density and composition of native plant species.

Physical removal of weeds is recommended in this restoration plan for site preparation, specifically weed whipping and flail mowing will be used to cut the weeds. Sites will be cleared of vegetation and vegetation thatch in the early fall of 2011, after the end of the breeding season of native birds in adjacent cactus and sage scrub habitat. Raking and removal of the weed biomass after mowing will be conducted prior to planting.

Depending on observed conditions, a combination of hand weeding, weed whipping and herbicide treatment is specified for use after planting cactus and before seeding. Weeding will reduce competition with cactus as they establish. Herbicides that are registered for use in California for natural areas are recommended for use. Only EPA-approved, systemic herbicides, such as glyphosate (e.g. Aquamaster) should be used when applying herbicides within 100 feet of a natural watercourse or body of water.

The contractor selected for weed control projects has a pest control business license which requires that at least one individual employed by the business be in possession of a qualified applicator’s license. Licenses are issued by the State of California and are currently registered in Orange County. If a qualified applicator is not present during the herbicide treatment, all applicators must have undergone documented herbicide application training. Personnel must wear all protective clothing required by law and follow all label directions and precautions. All re-entry times specified on an herbicide label shall be observed and posted. Herbicide preparation shall be allowed only in approved staging areas more than 100 feet from a stream course or body of water.

A brightly colored dye is recommended in all herbicide applications to aid the applicator in achieving good coverage of the target species. The material shall be a non-toxic material such as Blazon, Turfmark or equivalent. The dye shall be mixed with the herbicide at no more than half the rate specified on the label.

Herbicide treatment shall be conducted only when weather conditions are conducive to effective uptake of the herbicide by the target species (e.g. sunny, dry with ambient temperatures 65 degrees Fahrenheit) and when plants are at the specified growth stage. Wind conditions should be five miles per hour (mph) or less to minimize herbicide drift. Treated plants or stumps shall not be disturbed until the applied herbicide has had time to take effect per the manufacturer’s instruction.

3.1.2 Plant Sources and Species Cactus for restoration of the UCI Ecological Preserve will be salvaged from areas slated for future development on the campus (Figure 4). Seeds for shrubs and native forbs will be harvested onsite in starting in Spring 2011 through fall from coastal sage scrub at the Preserve and approved local areas.

Southern Cactus Scrub The species selected for the cactus scrub habitat restoration type are based on species noted in native cactus scrub habitat within the region. The majority of plants species will be seeded by hand following cactus planting. The plants and seeds to be installed in the cactus scrub restoration areas are listed in Table 1. Additional species have been included in the seed mix as a nurse crop until the native cactus scrub species establish.

3.1.3 Seeding and Planting Specifications The following methods will be used to plant and seed during the restoration of native southern cactus scrub.

Planting This restoration plan focuses on planting pads and approximately 300 large plants of prickly pear cactus distributed across the restoration patches. To plant the pads, holes will be dug by hand and

the pads planted just deep enough to bury approximately one inch of the pad to avoid rotting. For the larger intact cactus plants, large holes will be dug by backhoe so that the entire root structure can be accommodated. Planting will follow the final site preparation event that will occur in fall 2011. Planting will therefore require irrigation of the transplanted cactus. Cactus will grow faster to a height usable by Cactus Wrens more quickly with irrigation. A shallow basin will be required around each cactus plant. Planting will occur in patches of approximately 12 meters in diameter. A total of 300 large cactus and 1200 pads will be harvested from the UCI donor site and planted at the UCI Ecological Preserve.

Table 1. Cactus Scrub Palette

Cactus Pad & Bulk Pounds of Scientific Name Common Name Container Plant Seed Spacing1 Per Acre2,3 Artemisia californica California sagebrush 0.5 3.0’ o.c. Cylindropuntia prolifera Coast cholla - within groups Grindelia camporum Gumplant 0.5 Deinandra fasciculata Fascicled tarweed 1.0 Encelia californica Bush sunflower 0.5 Eriogonum fasciculatum California buckwheat 1.5 Isocoma menziesii Coast goldenbush 0.1 Isomeris arborea Bladderpod 0.1 Lotus scoparius Deerweed 0.5 Nassella lepida Foothill needlegrass 1.5 Nasella pluchra Purple needlegrass 3.0’ o.c. Opuntia littoralis Coast prickly pear - within groups Phacelia ramosissima Branching phacelia 0.1 Rhus integrifolia Lemonadeberry 0.2 Sambucus mexicana Mexican elderberry 15’ - 1 Cactus will include up to 300 large salvaged cactus clumps and at least 1,200 cactus pads that will be planted in groups of 30 with between 120 and 210 plants per acre around the cactus clumps; species used are based on what can be salvaged directly for UCI. Elderberry individuals will be planted at least 15’ from cactus groupings and from each other with 15 plants per acre. 2 Bulk seed rate may be adjusted depending on results of tests for germination. o.c. – On center 3 Only seeds collected on UCI Ecological Reserve and approved sites will be used, and therefore may differ in species and amount depending on local availability.

Seeding Seeding will be implemented in the fall 2012 a year after the cactus planting so that there can be a year of weed control to improve success that germinating native plants can establish. Seeding will be implemented using a hand spreader or “belly grinder”. The seed will be lightly raked into the soil with minimal soil disturbance. Seeding will be implemented in the fall before the end of October to take advantage of the entire rainy season.

3.1.4 Site Maintenance One of the goals for the restoration is to provide self-sustaining habitats. However, maintenance of the restoration area will be initially necessary to establish the native cactus. Competition for light may have a great impact on cactus growth. Therefore, weeding may be necessary to optimize growth. Maintenance may include the following:

• Weed control for target invasive species, e.g. tree tobacco, black mustard, short pod mustard, exotic annual grasses and any other invasive species designated by the restoration specialist to be a target invasive species

• Replacement seeding in areas where target seed germination failed.

The establishment maintenance period is approximately two seasons with irrigation and weeding for the cactus and elderberry planting. Following this initial establishment period, there will be weed control and site maintenance for another three years, to equal a total of five years of maintenance. The amount of maintenance each year will depend on weather conditions and how well the site develops. The following specifications for maintenance may require adjustments as determined by the restoration specialist over the maintenance period.

Irrigation Approximately six irrigation events during the first two years following cactus planting will be required to establish and increase the height of the cactus. Only cactus and elderberry plants will be irrigated. Irrigation will be by hand with a hose connected to a temporary irrigation system.

Weed Control Mustard and annual grasses will need to be controlled during the maintenance period to limit competition with the cactus and the native plant seed mix. Maintenance of weeds to enhance native plant establishment and growth will be carried out for five years following the initial cactus planting. If vegetation monitoring indicates a continued need for weed control after five years, then it will be extended. An annual assessment will be made early each spring and weed control implemented as needed through NROC’s annual Invasive Plant Control Program. Weed control activities will be discontinued once invasive plant cover meets performance standards. Weed control will mainly employ hand and mechanical methods, with the targeted use of herbicides as needed.

During the active maintenance period, the target cover of exotic weed species will be generally 5 percent or less, with less than one percent of the cover of exotics by target invasive species such as artichoke thistle, and purple false brome. Control of purple false brome is especially important because it is a highly invasive annual grass, and annual grasses have been shown to compete with shrub species in restoration (Eliason and Allen 1997; Corbin and D’Antonio 2004). Purple false brome is a relatively recent invader to southern California, and the habitat of this species is relatively dense growth.

Cactus Pad/Plant Replacement It is not anticipated that cactus pads or plant survivorship will fall below 95 percent during the establishment period. In the event of significant mortality, pads will be replaced if funds are available and once the cause of mortality is determined.

SECTION 4. RESTORATION MONITORING

Adaptive Management is based on a framework that allows for the adjustment of restoration plans to future uncertainties by incorporating flexibility into the management system (Ecological Restoration Institute 2009). Ecological restoration is filled with uncertainties due to the great variance in many of the factors that influence native vegetation (i.e. different weather patterns from year to year, introduction of new exotic species and different land management activities surrounding the restoration area). The benefit of an Adaptive Management approach is that it incorporates the input of regular monitoring during the various stages of the restoration to facilitate adjustments to the plan if necessary. Therefore, monitoring is a key component of adaptive management and is necessary for tracking changes over time within the restoration site as well as allow for comparison between sites.

The cactus restoration site should be monitored quarterly in the first year after installation is complete in order to assess weeds and the necessity for weed management. A combination of qualitative and quantitative performance monitoring will be conducted annually for approximately five years to document native plant establishment. Qualitative vegetation monitoring will occur during years 1, 2 and 4 post-restoration (Figure 3). Quantitative vegetation measurements will be made in years 3 and 5. Quantitative monitoring should consist of a stratified sampling method locating transects within each restoration site. Photo-documentation at permanent photo points will be taken each year. Annual monitoring reports will be prepared describing the maintenance that was performed, quantitative description of habitat development over the site, and recommendations for future maintenance.

Annual performance monitoring should take place each year in mid-spring or as close to mid- spring as each year's rainy season permits to capture the majority of native annual as well as native perennial species within the restoration sites. Results from the annual performance monitoring will be used to evaluate the progress of each habitat toward the ultimate criteria of the project. Performance monitoring can be conducted by teams of interested volunteer, students and interns with oversight by a qualified restoration ecologist.

4.1 RESTORATION PERFORMANCE CRITERIA Restoration criteria have been developed to assess the functions and values of the cactus restoration, as stated in the goals for the restoration. Thus, the restoration will be assessed as the sites develop trends in cactus survivorship and growth for cover and height, as well as general native species cover. Specifically, the restoration will be evaluated by the following criteria:

• The habitats resist invasion by exotic plant species as demonstrated by less than an average of 10% cover of annual grass species and less aggressive exotic forbs. There shall be no target invasive species, such as tree tobacco. • At least 95% of the planted cactus demonstrates establishment and growth based on sampling estimates. • At the end of five years, the performance standard is an average of 75% native plant cover, including cactus, shrubs, forbs and perennial grasses, recognizing that cactus plants grow

slowly. The target cover over the 8.5 acres of cactus and shrub species is on average 40% with 35% cover from native grasses and herbaceous species. These proportions will vary from patch to patch, given the fine-grained mosaic of native forbs and perennial grasses at the Ecological Preserve.

4.2 QUANTITATIVE MONITORING METHODOLOGY The selection of variables measured for the annual site performance and the final quantitative performance monitoring will be based on the goals of the restoration program, development characteristics of cactus, and the performance standards outlined above. Variables will include cactus cover, height of cactus, other native species cover, exotic species cover, percent bare ground and litter, as well as species diversity in monitoring transects.

The restoration sites will be monitored annually for the first five years for habitat development, and exotic species cover, including permanent photographic documentation points for each restoration site. Focused cactus wren surveys will also be conducted annually to assess their use of restored patches. A final monitoring report will be prepared at the end of the fifth year

4.2.1 Vegetation Sampling Quantitative vegetation sampling in the cactus restoration sites will utilize the point-intercept method to measure vegetation cover. This method is best suited to measure scrub vegetation and will provide the most efficient and reliable method for estimating cover and species composition over the restoration sites. This method has been tested within NROC for accuracy and efficiency as documented by Deutschman and Strahm (2008).

Locations of transects will be stratified within the restoration sites such that each transect is centered within a site. The trajectory of each transect through a mitigation site will be randomly determined, and permanently established using sub-meter GPS and marking the beginning and end with rebar covered with PVC pipe. At each determined location, a 50-meter point intercept transect will be performed. Points will be taken every meter. Each plant species and ground cover type (bare ground or litter) that intersect the transect tape and the vertical plane under the tape will be recorded. Data to be recorded will include the species, and in the case of cactus, the height. Bare ground will be recorded as areas with no ground cover and litter will be recorded in areas with dead vegetative matter covering the ground. Soil crusts will also be recorded. Cover data will be reported as absolute percent cover determined by dividing the total number of hits for each species or ground cover by the total number of points on the transect. Height data will be reported as the average height of cactus along transects. To evaluate cactus growth, at least 30 planted cactus per restoration patch will be measured. The cactus measurements for growth will be randomly selected from cacti along permanent transect lines.

4.2.2 Avian Sampling Annual spring surveys for cactus wren will be performed by NROC biologists for five years following initial planting of the cactus (Figure 3). Protocol surveys for cactus wren will be employed so that data will be comparable with standard surveys throughout the Coastal and Central Reserve. Sites will be surveyed in the morning (dawn to 11:00 am) under suitable weather conditions. Surveys will be conducted from a single vantage point that allows unobstructed views of one or more restoration sites. Cactus wren vocalization tapes will be played for one minute periods to enhance the ability to detect birds and will be interspersed with two minute periods of silence. Once a wren is detected, the use of taped vocalizations will be discontinued for that survey. Each survey period will last six minutes. All cactus wrens observed during the survey will be mapped. Any observations of cactus wren outside of the survey period will also be mapped, but clearly noted as an incidental observation. Movements of individual cactus wrens between restoration sites will also be recorded. During cactus wren surveys, all California gnatcatchers that are detected will be mapped and any use of restored habitat will be recorded.

SECTION 5. LONG-TERM OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

The UCI Ecological Preserve is owned by the University of California and no future change in ownership is likely. The land is identified in UCI’s Long Range Development Plan as being enrolled in the NCCP/HCP and is designated for long term habitat conservation and management (UCI 2007).

NROC will continue to include the UCI Ecological Preserve within its long-term monitoring and management programs after the restoration project is completed. The Preserve will be part of NROC’s Target and Identified Species monitoring and will be periodically surveyed for California gnatcatchers and cactus wren. It will also be included in NROC’s vegetation monitoring program. Finally, the Preserve will be included in the Invasive Plant Program and weed control will be conducted as needed over the long-term.

SECTION 5. REFERENCES

Bontrager, D.R., M. Madden, D. Kamada, J.L. Atwood, and P.A. Bowler. 2000. Population dynamics, dispersal, and demography of California Gnatcatchers in Orange Co., California (999 Progress Report). University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California.

Bossard, C.C., J.M. Randall, and M.C. Hoshovsky, editors. 2000. Invasive Plants of California’s Wildlands. University of California Press. Berkeley, California. 360 pp.

Bowler, P.A. and D. Bramlet. 2010. Vascular Plants of the University of California, Irvine Ecological Preserve. http://www.bio.uci.edu/Reserves/UCI_Ecological_Preserve.html

Corbin, J. D. and C. D’Antonio. 2004. Competition between native perennial and exotic annual grasses: implications for historical invasion. Ecology 85(5)1273-1283.

Deutschmann, D. and S. Strahm. 2009. Improving Statistical Sampling and Vegetation Monitoring for the NROC Reserves in Central Orange County: Year 2. Report prepared for the Nature Reserve of Orange County. January 2009. 106 pp.

Ecological Restoration Institute. Northern Arizona University. Accessed February 2009. http://www.eri.nau.edu/joomla/content/view/223/148/lang,en/

Eliason, S.A. and E.B. Allen. 1997. Exotic grass competition in suppressing native shrubland re- establishment. Restoration Ecology 5:245-255.

Freudenberger, D. O., B. E. Fish, and J. E. Keeley. 1987. Distribution and stability of grasslands in the Los Angeles California, USA Basin. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 86:13-26.

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Figure 1. Existing cactus scrub is outlined in black and approximate boundaries of coastal sage scrub with less than 20% cactus are shown in green. Areas in yellow indicate non- native grassland and disturbed areas with varying degrees of native plant cover, including coastal sage scrub shrubs, native grasses, forbs and cactus.

Figure 2. General locations of areas that will be restored to cactus scrub at UCI Ecological Reserve are outlined in the broken black line. Existing cactus scrub areas are outlined in black and approximate boundaries of coastal sage scrub with less than 20% cactus are shown in green. The blue dotted line delineates the area in which cactus scrub will be restored under the EEMP grant awarded to NROC, TCA and UCI.

I. Conduct sensitive species surveys and map restoration and enhancement areas, Spring 2011 2011 Tasks Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Map restoration areas to define areas of planting/seeding and Complete final restoration specifications

II. Site preparation, cactus salvage and planting, Fall 2011

Tasks September October November December

Prepare donor site for cactus (3 men) harvesting Salvage cactus clumps and (8 men) cut pads at donor site Prepare site and plant cactus clumps at UCI Ecological (4 men) Preserve Plant hardened cactus pads and water cactus at UCI (12 men) Ecological Preserve

Figure 3. Time-line of restoration and monitoring activities at UCI Ecological Preserve

III. Plant native shrub and forb seeds, Fall 2012

Tasks September October November December

Prepare restoration sites for seeding Seed native seeds (exact timing determined by weather)

IV. Site maintenance, January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2014 Winter Spring SummerFall Winter Spring SummerFall Winter Spring SummerFall Tasks 2012 2012 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 Quarterly monitoring to assess weeds and plant health Irrigate up to 3 times/year, depending on precipitation timing and amount Hand weed restoration and enhancement areas

V. Restoration Monitoring, Spring 2012 - 2016 Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring Tasks 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Qualitative performance monitoring Quantitative performance monitoring (vegetation sampling) Survey for Cactus Wren

Figure 3 continued. Timeline of restoration and monitoring activities at UCI Ecological Preserve.

Figure 4. Location of cactus donor site for restoring cactus scrub at UCI Ecological Preserve.