APPENDIX F Sensitive and Endangered Species in the San Diego Creek Watershed From: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2005. Upper Newport Bay/San Diego Creek Watershed Feasibility Study, Preliminary Draft, Appendix 7.1. APPENDIX 7.1 SENSITIVE SPECIES A brief description of sensitive plant and wildlife species known to occur or with the potential to occur within the San Diego Creek watershed, as described by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2001), State of California (2002), Reiser (2001), and Hamilton and Willick (1996), is presented below. A. Plants Sensitive plant species known to occur or with the potential to occur in the San Diego Creek watershed are listed in Table A-1. Sensitivity codes are listed in Table A-2. 1. Salt marsh bird's-beak (Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. maritimus) Salt marsh bird's-beak is federally and state listed as endangered. This species is a low- growing, semi-parasitic annual in the snapdragon family (Schropulariaceae), which has gray-green leaves that are tinged purple and small white flowers. This plant is found in salt marsh habitat along the coast from San Luis Obispo County south to Baja California, Mexico (Reiser 2001). Salt marsh bird's-beak prefers to grow on hummocks in salt marsh habitat; however, it is also known from coastal dune and salt pan habitats. The primary .<, threat to salt marsh bird's-beak is loss of habitat due to coastal development. In Orange County, salt marsh bird's-beak occurs in Upper Newport Bay (Reiser 2001; State of California 2002). 2. Big-leaved crownbeard (Verbesina dissitu) Big-leaved crownbeard is federally listed as endangered and is a California Native Plant Society (CNPS) List 1B species. A member of the aster family (Asteraceae), big-leaved crownbeard is a low-growing, semi-woody perennial shrub with bright yellow flowers. This species is found on rugged hillsides in dense maritime chaparral from Laguna Beach in Orange County south to the Baja California, Mexico. Big-leaved crownbeard is also known to occur in Venturan coastal sage scrub (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS] 1996a). Big-leaved crownbeard is threatened by urban development, fuel modification activities, and changes in the southern California fire regime (USFWS 1996a). In Orange County, big-leaved crownbeard appears to be restricted to a five-mile stretch of coastline in Laguna Beach vegetated with southern maritime chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and mixed chaparral (USFWS 1996a). Populations have been estimated at several thousand plants (USFWS 2001). A large population of this species is found on private TABLE A-1 SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES KNOWN TO OCCUR OR WITH THE POTENTIAL TO OCCUR IN THE SAN DIEGO CREEK WATERSHED StatelFederal CNPS Species Status List Habitat/Bloonling Period Comments - - - - - - - - - - Abronia villosa var. nurita -1- 1B Annual herb; sandy floodplains in inland, arid Moderate potential to occur in Chaparral sand-verbena areas of coastal sage scrub and open chaparral; appropriate upland habitat blooms Jan.-Aug.; elevation 3004,300 feet. throughout the SDC watershed. Aphnnisma blitoides -1- 1B Annual herb; coastal bluff scrub, coastal sage Known to occur in UNB (State Aphanisma scrub; sandy soils; blooms March-June; elevation of California 2002). less than 1,000 feet. Atriplex coulteri -1- 1B Perennial herb; coastal bluff scrub, coastal dunes, Known to occur at PCW, SJM, Coulter's saltbush coastal sage scrub, valley and foothill grassland, and historically known from alkaline or clay soil; blooms Mar.-Oct.; elevation UNB (State of California 2002; less than 1,050 feet. USFWS 2001). Atriplex pacifica -1- 1B Annual herb; coastal bluff scrub, coastal dunes, Known to occur in UNB (State South Co 1st salt-scale coastal sage scrub, playas; blooms Mar.-Oct.; of California 2002). elevation less than 500 feet. Atriplex pnriskii -1- 1 B Annual herb; chenopod scrub, playas. vernal pools; Not expected to occur. Parish's brittlescale blooms June-Oct.; elevation 100-6,500 feet. Historically known from Laguna Beach, presumed extinct. Not expected to occur. Atriplex serenana var. davidsonii 1B Annual herb; coastal bluff scrub, coastal sage Known to occur in PCW and in Davidson's saltscale scrub, alkaline soil; blooms April-Oct.; elevation the vicinity of SJM (State of less than 1,000 feet. California 2002). TABLE A-1 SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES KNOWN TO OCCUR OR WITH THE POTENTIAL TO OCCUR IN THE SAN DIEGO CREEK WATERSHED (continued) StateFederal CNPS Species Status List Habitat/Blooming Period Comments Brodiaea jlifolia CERT 1B Perennial herb (bulbiferous); cismontane Known to occur in SCC (State Thread-leaved brodiaea woodland, coastal sage scrub, playas, valley and of California 2002). foothill grassland, vernal pools, often clay: blooms March-June; elevation less than 4,000 feet. Calochortzts catalinae -1- 4 Perennial herb (bulbiferous); chaparral, cismontane Potential habitat in BCC Catalina mariposa lily woodland, coastal sage scrub, valley and foothill (USACE 2001). grassland; blooms Feb.-May; elevation less than 2.300 feet. Calochortus plliminerae -1- 1B Perennial herb; chaparral, coastal scrub, Known to occur in SCC (State Plumrner's mariposa lily cismontane woodland, valley and foothill of California 2002). grassland; granitic, rocky soil; blooms May-July; elevation 330-5.600 feet. Calochortus weedii var. intemedius -1- 1B Perennial herb; chaparral, coastal scrub, valley and Potential habitat in BCC and Foothill mariposa lily foothill grassland; rocky soil; blooms May-July; SCC (USACE 2001). Known to elevation 590-2,830 feet. occur in Peters Canyon Regional Park in PCW (USFWS 2001). TABLE A-1 SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES KNOWN TO OCCUR OR WITH THE POTENTIAL TO OCCUR IN THE SAN DIEGO CREEK WATERSHED (continued) StatelFederal CNPS Species Status List HabitatBloorning Period Conunents Centromadia parpi ssp. australis -1- 1 B Annual herb; margins of marshes ru~dswamps, Potential habitat in BCC, known Southern tarplant valley and foothill grassland, vernal pools; blooms to occur in the vicinity (USACE May-Nov.; elevation less than 1,400 feet. 2001 ;State of California 2002). Known to occur in PCW, UNB, SJM, SAD, SCC, SDC, and Sand Canyon (State of California 2002; USFWS 2001 ). Cordylarlthus n~aritinl~rsssp. maritinlzis CEIFE 1B Annual herb; coastal dunes, coastal salt marshes Known to occur in UNB (State Salt marsh bird's-beak and swamps; blooms May-Oct.; elevation less than of California 2002). Potential 100 feet. habitat in SAD and SJM. Dudleya blochmarliae ssp. bloclzmnniae -1- 1B Perennial herb; coastal sage scrub, coastal bluff Appropriate habitat in upland Blochman's dudleya scrub, chaparral, grasslands; blooms April-June; habitats throughout SDC elevation less than 1,500 feet. Known from fewer watershed. than 20 occurrences in California and fewer than 5 in Baja California. Dudleya n~nltica~rlis -1- 1B Perennial herb; chaparral, coastal sage scrub. Known to occur in BCC, PCW, Many-stenuned dudleya grassland; mostly clay soils; blooms April-July; SCC, HRC, UNB, and in the elevation 2,600 feet. vicinity of SDC (USACE 200 1 ; State of California 2002). TABLE A-1 SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES KNOWN TO OCCUR OR WITH THE POTENTIAL TO OCCUR IN THE SAN DIEGO CREEK WATERSHED (continued) S tateEedera1 CNPS Species Status List HabitatBlooming Period Comments Dudleya stolorl[fera CTIFT 1B Perennial herb; chaparral, coastal scrub, valley and Low potential to occur in SDC Laguna Beach dudleya foothill grassland, cismontane woodland; rocky watershed given the limited soils; bloonls May-July; elevation 30-850 feet. number of known occurrences. Known from only 6 occurrences near Laguna Beach. Dudleya viscida -1- 1B Coastal sage scrub, mesic, north-facing slopes in Appropriate habitat in upland Sticky-leaved dudleya shade, gabbroic rock; May-June. habitats throughout SDC watershed. Helianthis rzuttallii ssp. parishii -1- 1A Perennial herb; coastal and freshwater marshes and Historic 1918 occurrence in Los Angeles sunflower swamps; blooms Aug.-Oct.; elevation 30-1.650 UNB (State of California 2002). feet. Considered to be extirpated from Orange County (CNPS 2001). Horkelia cuneata ssp. yuberula -1- 1B Perennial herb; chaparral, coastal sage scrub, Appropriate habitat in upland Mesa horkelia cismontane woodland; blooms Feb.-Sept.; habitats throughout SDC elevation less than 2,700 feet. watershed. Isocoma menziesii var. decumbens -1- 1B Shn~b;chaparral, coastal sage scrub; sandy soils, Appropriate habitat in upland Decumbent goldenbush often in disturbed areas; blooms April-Nov.; habitats throughout SDC elevation less than 500 feet. watershed. Jurlcus aczctus ssp. leopoldii -1- 4 Perennial herb; coastal dunes, meadows and seeps. Known to occur in riparian Southwestern spiny rush coastal salt marsh, riparian; blooms May-June: habitat in BCC, SAD, and SDC elevation less than 3,000 feet. (USACE 2001). TABLE A-1 SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES KNOWN TO OCCUR OR WITH THE POTENTIAL TO OCCUR IN THE SAN DIEGO CREEK WATERSHED (continued) StatelFederal CNPS Species Status List HabitatBlooming Period Comments Lasthenia glabrata ssp. coulreri -1- 1 B Annual herb; coastal salt marsh, vernal pools, Appropriate habitat in UNB, Coulter's goldfields playas; alkaline areas; blooms Feb.-June; elevation SJM, and SAD. less than 4,000 feet. Lepidiunz virginicum var. robinsonii -1- 1B Annual herb: coastal sage scrub, chaparral; blooms Appropriate habitat in upland Robinson's peppergrass Jan.-July; elevation less than 1,700 feet. habitats throughout SDC watershed. Nemacaulis denudata var, derzudata -1- 1B Annual herb; coastal dunes: blooms April-Sept.; Known to occur on UNB (State Coast woolly-heads elevation less than 300 feet. of California 2002). Quercus dumosa -1- 1 B Evergreen shrub; closed-cone coniferous forest, Appropriate habitat in upland Nuttall's scrub oak coastal chaparral, coastal sage scrub, sandy and habitats throughout SDC clay loam soils; blooms Feb.-March; elevation less watershed. than 1,300 feet. Rorippa gambellii CTIFE 1B Perennial herb; marshes and swamps; blooms Low potential to occur, Gambel's water cress April-Sept.; elevation less than 1,100 feet. Known considered extirpated from from only four occurrences in California. Orange County (CNPS 2001).