Los Osos Habitat Conservation Plan DRAFT Prepared By: February 2005 Draft Los Osos Habitat Conservation Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Overview....................................................................................................................1-1 1.2 Goals of the Habitat Conservation Plan..................................................................... 1-2 1.3 Overall Approach....................................................................................................... 1-4 1.3.1 Jurisdictional Boundaries and Subareas...................................................... 1-4 1.3.2 The Approach for Smaller Parcels (Less than Five Acres)......................... 1-7 1.3.3 The Approach for Large Parcels in the Urban Area and All Parcels in the Dunes Sands SRA....................................................................................... 1-7 1.3.4 Voluntary Fee.............................................................................................. 1-7 1.3.5 A “Cushion” to Start the Program .............................................................. 1-7 1.3.6 Form a Non-Profit Organization to Serve As Preserve Manager ............... 1-8 1.3.7 Some Key Terminology.............................................................................. 1-9 1.4 Background – Need for the LOHCP........................................................................ 1-10 1.5 Regulatory Setting ................................................................................................... 1-12 1.5.1 Federal Regulations .................................................................................. 1-12 1.5.1.1 The Endangered Species Act ..................................................... 1-12 1.5.1.2 The National Environmental Policy Act.................................... 1-13 1.5.2 Regulations of the State of California....................................................... 1-14 1.5.2.1 California Endangered Species Act ........................................... 1-14 1.5.2.2 California Environmental Quality Act....................................... 1-14 1.5.2.3 California Coastal Act of 1976 .................................................. 1-14 1.6 Plan Participants....................................................................................................... 1-17 1.6.1 Permittors – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Game ................................................................. 1-17 1.6.1.1 Permittor – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) .............. 1-17 1.6.1.2 Permittor – California Department of Fish and Game............... 1-17 1.6.2 Permittees – Los Osos Community Service District and San Luis Obispo County ........................................................................... 1-18 1.6.2.1 General Responsibilities ............................................................ 1-18 1.6.2.2 Specific Requirements of the Los Osos Community Services District..................................................................................... 1-18 1.6.2.3 Specific Requirements of San Luis Obispo County .................. 1-19 1.6.2.4 Third Party Beneficiary.............................................................. 1-19 1.6.3 California Coastal Commission ................................................................ 1-19 1.7 Organization of the LOHCP .................................................................................... 1-19 CHAPTER 2:ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND EXISTING BIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS 2.1 Introduction................................................................................................................2-1 2.2 Overview and Location.............................................................................................. 2-1 2.3 Climate....................................................................................................................... 2-5 2.4 Hydrology .................................................................................................................. 2-5 2.5 Geology...................................................................................................................... 2-5 2.6 Soils............................................................................................................................ 2-6 i February 2005 Draft Los Osos Habitat Conservation Plan 2.7 Historical Vegetation ............................................................................................... 2-11 2.8 Biological Resources ............................................................................................... 2-15 2.8.1 Ecosystem and Landscapes....................................................................... 2-15 2.8.2 Habitat Types............................................................................................ 2-16 2.8.3 Vegetation Communities and Series......................................................... 2-16 2.8.4 Wildlife and Plant Species in the LOHCP Area ....................................... 2-29 CHAPTER 3: EXISTING LAND USE 3.1 Land Use ....................................................................................................................3-1 3.1.1 Demographics ............................................................................................. 3-5 3.1.2 Urban Development.................................................................................... 3-5 3.2 LOHCP Jurisdictions ................................................................................................. 3-5 3.2.1 Wastewater Service Area............................................................................ 3-7 3.2.2 Outside the Wastewater Service Area......................................................... 3-7 3.3 Preserved Parcels ....................................................................................................... 3-8 CHAPTER 4: COVERED SPECIES 4.1 LOHCP Covered Species........................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Covered Species......................................................................................................... 4-2 4.2.1 Morro shoulderband snail ........................................................................... 4-3 4.2.1.1 Conservation Status and Description........................................... 4-3 4.2.1.2 Conservation Planning Areas and Critical Habitat ...................... 4-3 4.2.1.3 Life History.................................................................................. 4-7 4.2.1.4 Distribution and Habitat Requirements ....................................... 4-7 4.2.1.5 Threats........................................................................................ 4-12 4.2.1.6 Recovery Objectives .................................................................. 4-12 4.2.1.7 Information Gaps ....................................................................... 4-14 4.2.2 Morro Bay kangaroo rat............................................................................ 4-15 4.2.2.1 Conservation Status and Description......................................... 4-15 4.2.2.2 Life History................................................................................ 4-15 4.2.2.3 Distribution and Habitat Requirements ..................................... 4-16 4.2.2.4 Threats........................................................................................ 4-17 4.2.2.5 Recovery Objectives .................................................................. 4-17 4.2.2.6 Information Gaps ....................................................................... 4-18 4.2.3 Splitting Yarn Lichen................................................................................ 4-21 4.2.3.1 Conservation Status and Description......................................... 4-21 4.2.3.2 Life History................................................................................ 4-21 4.2.3.3 Distribution and Habitat Requirements ..................................... 4-21 4.2.3.4 Threats........................................................................................ 4-21 4.2.3.5 Recovery Objectives .............................................................. …4-21 4.2.3.6 Information Gaps ....................................................................... 4-21 4.2.4 Morro Manzanita ...................................................................................... 4-22 4.2.4.1 Conservation Status and Description......................................... 4-22 4.2.4.2 Life History................................................................................ 4-22 4.2.4.3 Distribution and Habitat Requirements ..................................... 4-22 4.2.4.4 Threats........................................................................................ 4-25 February 2005 ii Draft Los Osos Habitat Conservation Plan 4.2.4.5 Recovery Objectives .................................................................. 4-25 4.2.4.6 Information Gaps ....................................................................... 4-26 4.2.5 Indian Knob mountainbalm ...................................................................... 4-26 4.2.5.1 Conservation Status and Description......................................... 4-26 4.2.5.2 Life History................................................................................ 4-26 4.2.5.3 Distribution and Habitat Requirements ....................................