South Mather Wetlands Management Plan Prepared by: Sacramento County Department of Economic Development With Assistance from: H. T. Harvey & Associates AECOM Sacramento Valley Conservancy Carol Witham November 2013 SOUTH MATTHER WETLANDS MANAGEMENT PLAN Prepared by: Sacramento County Department of Economic Development With Assistance from: H.T. Harvey & Associates AECOM Sacramento Valley Conservancy Carol Witham Report Date: November 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................................ i 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.1 Purpose, Organization, and Development of the South Mather Wetlands Management Plan ........... 1-1 1.1.1 Document Approach and Scope ............................................................................................... 1-1 1.1.2 Relationship to Other Documents............................................................................................. 1-2 1.2 Location and Project History .......................................................................................................... 1-3 1.3 Management Areas and Land Uses ................................................................................................. 1-7 1.4 Management Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................ 1-9 1.4.1 Natural Resource Management Goals and Objectives ............................................................... 1-9 1.5 Plan Requirements and Planning Influences ................................................................................. 1-11 1.5.1 Plan Requirements ................................................................................................................. 1-11 1.5.2 Planning Influences ............................................................................................................... 1-11 1.6 Ecosystem Management and Adaptive Management .................................................................... 1-12 1.6.1 Ecosystem Management ........................................................................................................ 1-12 1.6.2 Adaptive Management ........................................................................................................... 1-13 2 Physical Environment ............................................................................................................................ 2-1 2.1 Climate .......................................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Topography ................................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2.1 Drainage and Hydrology .......................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2.2 Historic Impacts ...................................................................................................................... 2-2 2.3 Geology and Soils .......................................................................................................................... 2-5 2.3.1 Soil Types ............................................................................................................................... 2-5 3 Biological Environment .......................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Vegetation Communities ................................................................................................................ 3-1 3.1.1 Community Descriptions ......................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Wildlife ......................................................................................................................................... 3-6 3.3 Special-status Species .................................................................................................................... 3-7 3.3.1 Species Frequently Encountered ............................................................................................ 3-11 3.3.2 Species Occasionally or Infrequently Encountered ................................................................. 3-12 3.3.3 Species with the Potential to be Found within Management Areas.......................................... 3-17 3.3.4 Species Unlikely to be Found within Management Areas ....................................................... 3-18 3.4 Invasive Species .......................................................................................................................... 3-19 3.4.1 Definition and Overview of Invasive Plant Species ................................................................ 3-19 3.4.2 Population Profiles ................................................................................................................ 3-19 3.4.3 Species Descriptions .............................................................................................................. 3-20 4 Management, Maintenance, Restoration, and Public Use Roles and Responsibilities ......................... 4-1 4.1 Wetlands preserve Owner .............................................................................................................. 4-1 4.2 Wetlands Preserve Manager ........................................................................................................... 4-2 4.3 Easement Holder ............................................................................................................................ 4-3 4.4 Qualified Personnel ........................................................................................................................ 4-3 4.5 Airport Manager ............................................................................................................................ 4-3 4.5.1 Conservation Area Management Coordination with Airport ..................................................... 4-4 4.6 Public Interest Groups .................................................................................................................... 4-4 4.7 Changes in Personnel ..................................................................................................................... 4-4 5 Habitat Management Activities ............................................................................................................. 5-1 5.1 Management Framework................................................................................................................ 5-1 5.2 Conservation Area Management Guidelines ................................................................................... 5-1 Sacramento County Department of Economic Development South Mather Wetlands Management Plan i Table of Contents 5.2.1 Thatch Management ................................................................................................................ 5-1 5.2.2 Invasive Plant Management ................................................................................................... 5-10 6 Preserve Maintenance Activities ............................................................................................................ 6-1 6.1 Fencing .......................................................................................................................................... 6-1 6.2 Signage .......................................................................................................................................... 6-1 6.3 Infrastructure ................................................................................................................................. 6-1 6.4 United States Air Force Remediation Facilities .............................................................................. 6-1 6.5 Fire Breaks .................................................................................................................................... 6-2 6.6 Right-of-way Maintenance ............................................................................................................. 6-2 6.7 Grazing Improvements ................................................................................................................... 6-2 6.8 Trash and Refuse ........................................................................................................................... 6-3 6.9 Trespass Patrol ............................................................................................................................... 6-3 6.10 Problem and Pest Wildlife Management ......................................................................................... 6-4 6.10.1 Hazardous Wildlife Management ............................................................................................. 6-4 6.10.2 Domestic and Feral Animal Control ......................................................................................... 6-4 6.10.3 Mosquito Abatement ............................................................................................................... 6-5 6.10.4 Coyote Control .......................................................................................................................