DRAFT

January 11, 2010

Sandra Marquez U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 6010 Hidden Valley Road Carlsbad, California 92011

SUBJECT: Submittal Report for coastal California Gnatcatcher for the Ponte Vista Project, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California

Dear Ms. Marquez:

This letter report summarizes the methodology and findings of presence/absence surveys for the federally listed threatened coastal California gnatcatcher ( Polioptila californica californica ) conducted by Glenn Lukos Associates, Inc. (GLA) for Ponte Vista Project (hereinafter referred to as the “Project Site”) in Los Angeles, California. Focused surveys for the Project Site were conducted in order to satisfy requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

INTRODUCTION

The coastal California gnatcatcher is Federally listed as Threatened and is also designated as a California Species of Special Concern. The coastal California gnatcatcher is a small blue-gray songbird that measures only 4.5 inches (11 cm) and weighs 0.2 ounces (6 grams). It has dark blue-gray feathers on its back and grayish-white feathers on its underside (USFWS). The wings have a brownish wash to them. Its long tail is mostly black with white outer tail feathers. They have a thin, small bill. The males have a black cap during the summer, which is absent during the winter. Both males and females have a white ring around their eyes. It belongs to the old-world warbler and gnatcatcher Sylviidae family (USFWS).

The California gnatcatcher is a resident of scrub dominated plant communities (including Venturan coastal sage scrub, Diegan coastal sage scrub, maritime succulent scrub, Riversidean sage scrub, Riversidean alluvial fan sage scrub, southern coastal bluff scrub, and coastal sage- chaparral scrub) from southern Ventura County into Baja California, Mexico (American Ornithologists’ Union 1957, Atwood 1980, 1990; Jones and Ramirez 1995). The majority of the plant species that occur in sage scrub habitat are low growing, drought-deciduous shrubs and include California sagebrush ( Artemisia californica ), California buckwheat ( Eriogonum Sandra Marquez U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service January 11, 2010 Page 2

fasciculatum ), California encelia ( Encelia californica ), white sage ( Salvia apiana ), and black sage ( Salvia mellif era) (Holland 1986, Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995). Other commonly occurring species include lemonadeberry ( Rhus integrifolia ), coast goldenbush ( Isocoma menziesii ), laurel sumac ( Malosma laurina ), boxthorn ( Lycium spp.), cliff spurge ( Euphorbia misera ), and jojoba ( Simmondsia chinensis ). Succulent species, such as cacti ( Opuntia littoralis , O. prolifera, Ferocactus viridescens ), and Dudleya spp. are represented in maritime succulent and southern coastal bluff scrubs. Coastal California gnatcatchers also use chaparral, grassland, and riparian plant communities where they occur adjacent to or intermixed with sage scrub.

The breeding season of the coastal California gnatcatcher extends from about February 15 through August 30, with the peak of nesting activity occurring from mid-March through mid- May. Incubation takes 14 days. The young fledge at 8 to 13 days of age and are dependent upon their parents for as little as three to four weeks (ERCE 1990), but fledglings may associate with their parents for several months.

SITE LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

The 61.5-acre Ponte Vista Project Site is located in the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California [Exhibit 1 – Regional Map]. The project site is located north of Fitness Drive and a residential area, east of north Taper Avenue and a United States Naval Reservation, south of Palos Verdes Drive and a United States Naval Reservation, and west of Western Avenue. The Project Site can be found on the U.S. Geological Survey 7.5' Torrance Quadrangle [dated 1964 and photorevised in 1981]) in unsectioned Township 5 South, Range 14 West [Exhibit 2 – Vicinity Map]. The Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates approximately corresponding to the site are 378944 mE and 3737257 mN.

The property site is bounded by undeveloped land owned by the U.S. Defense Fuel Support Point (DFSP) to the north and east, Green Hills Memorial Park (Cemetery) to the northwest, and urban areas to the south and west. Representative photographs of the project site are attached as Exhibit 3. Currently, the project site is occupied by abandoned duplex-style military housing. An approximate three-acre slope located along the northern property boundary, bordering the DFSP, is undeveloped and supports a mix of non-native grassland, invasive ornamentals, and sparse, fragmented patches of coastal sage scrub. The northern slope has previously been graded and is currently subject to intensive grazing by goats ( Capra hircus ) that are kept on the property.

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VEGETATION

Areas of potential suitable habitat were comprised of a few small isolated patches of coastal sage scrub consisting almost entirely of California encelia ( Encelia californica ), with one individual California sagebrush ( Artemisia californica ).

Other plant species occuring within the survey area included hottentot fig (Carpobrotus edulis) , black mustard ( Brassica nigra ), Brazilian peppertree ( Schinus terebinthifolius ), European olive (Olea europaea ), and a non-native pine ( Pinus sp.).

METHODOLOGY

Protocol surveys for the coastal California gnatcatcher were performed in all suitable areas of Coastal sage scrub on site. Surveys were conducted in accordance with the 1997 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) guidelines, which stipulate that during the non-breeding season, nine surveys shall be conducted in all areas of suitable habitat with at least two weeks between site visits. The USFWS survey guidelines also stipulate that no more than 80 acres of suitable habitat shall be surveyed per biologist per day. The overall Site comprises approximately 61.5 acres of which approximately 0.09 acre consists of coastal sage scrub.

GLA biologists Jeff Ahrens (TE052159-3) and Kevin Livergood (TE172638-0) conducted the protocol surveys on August 14, August 28, September 11, September 25, October 12, October 28, November 11, November 25, and December 9, 2009. All surveys were conducted during the morning hours and were completed before 12:00 P.M. No surveys were conducted during extreme weather conditions (i.e., winds exceeding 15 miles per hour, rain, or temperatures in excess of 35ºC). All areas of suitable habitat were surveyed on foot by walking slowly and methodically. Taped vocalizations and “pishing” sounds were utilized to elicit a response from gnatcatchers that might be present. The detection of coastal California gnatcatchers on site was based on both sight and call. Table 1 summarizes survey dates and weather conditions recorded during the surveys.

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Table 1. Summary of Survey Dates and Weather Conditions.

Wind speed Start End Permitted Temp ºC % Cloud Cover Date mph Time Time Surveyor (start/end) (start/end) (start/end) August 14, 2009 0820 10:15 JA 63/68 1/1 50 / 30 August 28, 2009 0835 0940 JA 60/64 4/4 Clear September 11, 2009 0830 1000 JA 65/69 1/3 Clear September 25, 2009 0815 0945 KL 74/78 0/2 Clear October 12, 2009 0915 1040 KL 65/68 0/4 Overcast October 28, 2009 0835 0940 JA 59/63 4 / 4 Clear November 11, 2009 0840 1015 JA 65/69 1/2 Clear November 25, 2009 0855 1010 JA 68/72 1/1 Clear December 09, 2009 0900 1030 JA 53/56 3 / 4 20 / 20 JA – Jeff Ahrens, KL – Kevin Livergood

RESULTS

GLA biologists did not detect the California gnatcatcher on site during the focused surveys. In addition, no California gnatcatchers were detected off site at the adjacent Naval Depot property. No other sensitive species were detected during the focused surveys. In addition, no brown- headed cowbirds ( Molothrus ater ) were detected within the Project boundary.

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REFERENCES

Atwood, J. 1980. The United States distribution of the California black-tailed Gnatcatcher. Western Birds 11: 65-78.

Atwood, J. 1990. Status review of the California gnatcatcher ( Polioptila californica ). Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, Massachusetts.

Environmental and Energy Service Company. 1990. Phase I Report Amber Ridge California Gnatcatcher Study. Report for the County of San Diego Department of Planning and Land Use Environmental Quality Division. San Diego, California.

Holland, R. 1986. A Description of the Terrestrial Natural Communities of California. California Department of Fish and Game, October.

Jones, C. and R. Ramirez. 1995 Sighting of California Gnatcatcher in Ventura County. Poster presented at the Symposium on the Biology of the California Gnatcatcher held 15-16 September, 1995, University of California, Riverside.

Sawyer, J. and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A Manual of California Vegetation. California Native Plant Society.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1997. Coastal California Gnatcatcher ( Polioptila californica californica ) Presence/Absence Survey Guidelines. 4 pp.

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If you have any questions regarding the methodology or findings of this report, please contact me at (949) 837-0404, ext 40.

I hereby certify that the statements furnished above and in the attached exhibits are true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

Sincerely,

GLENN LUKOS ASSOCIATES, INC.

Jeff Ahrens Biologist

s:0448-9a.CAGN.RPT.doc

APPENDIX A

AVIAN COMPENDIUM

The avian compendium lists bird species identified on the Site. * = non-native species

CATHARTIDAE New World Vultures Cathartes aura turkey vulture

ACCIPITERIDAE Hawks, Old World Vultures and Harriers Accipiter cooperii Cooper’s hawk Buteo jamaicensis red-tailed hawk

FALCONIDAE Caracas and Falcons Falco sparverius American kestrel

CHARADRIIDAE Plovers and Relatives Charadrius vociferous killdeer

COLUMBIDAE Pigeons and Doves * Columbia livia rock pigeon Zenaida macroura mourning dove * Streptopelia decaocto Eurasian collared-dove

TROCHILIDAE Hummingbirds Calypte anna Anna’s hummingbird

PICIDAE Woodpeckers and Wrynecks Picoides nuttallii Nuttall’s woodpecker Colaptes auratus northern flicker

TYRANNIDAE Tyrant Flycatchers Sayornis nigricans black phoebe Sayornis saya Say’s phoebe Tyrannus vociferans Cassin’s kingbird

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CORVIDAE Jays, Magpies and Crows Aphelocoma californica western scrub-jay Corvus brachyrhynchos American crow

HIRUNDINIDAE Swallows Petrochelidon pyrrhonota cliff swallow

AEGITHALIDAE Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus bushtit

TROGLODYTIDAE Wrens Thryomanes bewickii Bewick’s wren

SYLVIIDAE Old World Warblers And Gnatcatchers Polioptila caerulea blue-gray gnatcatcher

MIMIDAE Mockingbirds and Thrashers Mimus polyglottos northern mockingbird

STURNIDAE Starlings and Allies * Sturnus vulgaris European starling

PARULIDAE Wood Warblers and Relatives Dendroica coronata yellow-rumped warbler

EMBERIZIDAE Emberizines Melospiza melodia song sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys white-crowned sparrow Pipilo crissalis California towhee Pipilo maculatus spotted towhee

CARDINALIDAE Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and Allies Pheucticus melanocephalus black-headed grosbeak

ICTERIDAE Blackbirds, Orioles, and Allies Icterus bullockii Bullock’s oriole Sturnella neglecta western meadowlark

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FRINGILLIDAE Finches Carduelis psaltria lesser goldfinch Carpodacus mexicanus house finch

PASSERIDAE Old World Sparrows * Passer domesticus house sparrow

Exhibit 1 Exhibit PROJECT LOCATION PROJECT Regional Map Regional PONTE VISTA PONTE

Adapted from USGS Los Angeles quadrangle 02 4 6 NORTH MILES Exhibit 2 Exhibit PROJECT LOCATION PROJECT Vicinity Map Vicinity PONTE VISTA PONTE

Adapted from USGS Torrance, CA quadrangle 01,000 2,000 3,000 NORTH FEET Legend

Survey Area CSS D D/DEV/O D/NNG D/NNG/O DEV IO MOWS

0150 300 Survey Area ± Feet

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v PONTE VISTA

A CAGN Survey Area Map

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W Survey Area

X:\0363-THE REST\0448-9PONT\448-9GIS\448-9BIO\448-9SurveyArea.mxd January 2009 Exhibit 4 Exhibit

Photograph 1. View looking west towards Western Avenue (background) from Photograph 2. View looking northwest from near the central portion of the sur- the northwestern corner of property. Note the DFSP fence boundary to the right vey area. Note the DFSP fence boundary to the right of the photograph. of the photograph. A

Photograph 3. View looking southweast at the largest coastal sage scrub (CSS) Photograph 4. Closer view of the same CSS patch depicted in Photograph 3. Note the DFSP fence boundary in the background. patch on site. In this photo, the Encelia had not yet begun to leaf. Note the Site Photographs PONTE VIST DFSP fence boundary to the left of the photograph. Exhibit 4 Exhibit

Photograph 5. View looking northwest from the top of the slope. A few Encelia Photograph 6. View looking northwest from near the northern extent of the plants are depicted in the foreground. Note the DFSP fence boundary to the property. Note the DFSP fence boundary to the right of the photograph. right of the photograph. A

Photograph 7. View looking southeast from the top of the slope close to the Photograph 8. View looking southeast from the northeastern portion of the site. Note the small Encelia patch in the foreground (left). eastern extent of the property. Note the DFSP fence boundary to the left. Site Photographs PONTE VIST