Biological Report Addendum Pacific Coast Western Snowy Plovers 3093 Beachcomber Drive APN: 065-120-001 Morro Bay, CA Owner: Paul LaPlante Permit #29586 Prepared by V. L. Holland, Ph.D. Plant and Restoration Ecology 1697 El Cerrito Ct. San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Prepared for: John K Construction, Inc. 110 Day Street Nipomo, CA 93444 [email protected] and Paul LaPlante 1935 Beachcomber Drive Morro Bay, CA 93442 August 6, 2014 BIOLOGICAL SURVEY ADDENDUM ON WESTERN SNOWY PLOVER 3093 BEACHCOMBER DRIVE, MORRO BAY, CA 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE ....................................................................... 3 LOCATION AND PHYSICAL FEATURES ........................................................... 3 METHODS ............................................................................................................ 5 RESULTS ............................................................................................................. 5 CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................... 8 REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 11 BIOLOGICAL SURVEY ADDENDUM ON WESTERN SNOWY PLOVER 3093 BEACHCOMBER DRIVE, MORRO BAY, CA 3 INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE In March 2013, I submitted a biology report for an undeveloped residential lot (APN: 065-120-001) located at 3093 Beachcomber Drive, Morro Bay, CA. The lot is in an existing residential development in northern Morro Bay, CA. In July 2014, I was asked to conduct a follow up study to address the potential impacts of the proposed project on the Pacific Coast Western Snowy Plovers (Charadrius alexandrines nivosus). This report summarizes my findings after discussing the project with Vince Cicero, California State Parks Biologist. The subject site is identified as Lot 1, Tract 1124, 12 MB 24, which is part of the Rancho Cayucos Land Grant, in Township 29 South, Range 12 East, Mt. Diablo Base Meridian. The rectangular shaped lot, owned by Paul LaPlante, is near the intersection of Beachcomber Drive and Hatteras Street. It is approximately 135 feet by 60 feet or 8,100 sq. ft. in area. The subject lot fronts on Beachcomber Drive, which forms the its eastern boundary, and adjoins a residential lot with an existing home along its southern boundary. The western and northern boundaries of the lot adjoin State Park land (Atascadero/Morro Strand State Beach); however, maps identify a road, Driftwood Avenue, along the western boundary of the lot. There is a trail approximately 80 feet north of the subject lot that provides access to the State Park lands and the beach along Estero Bay. There are existing homes on the lots along the west and east sides of Beachcomber Drive next to the subject lot. The subject lot is highly disturbed and is currently covered by anthropogenic (ruderal) vegetation consisting of thick patches of Carpobrotus edulis (ice plant) mixed with a diversity of invasive weedy plants. Weedy plants (ruderal vegetation) also cover the State Park land along the northern boundary of the subject lot. The northwestern portion of the lot extends to the edge of the coastal dune scrub vegetation, which covers the stabilized dunes between the subject lot and the unstabilized pioneer dunes and beach along Estero Bay. The owner, Paul LaPlante, is applying for a permit to construct a single-family home on the lot. LOCATION AND PHYSICAL FEATURES The subject lot fronts on Beachcomber Drive, which forms the its eastern boundary, adjoins a residential lot with an existing home along its southern boundary, and State Park lands along the lot’s western and northern boundaries (Figure 1). Subdivision maps identify a road, Driftwood Avenue, along the western boundary of the lot. This road does not currently exist. The western boundary of the lot is approximately 920 feet east of the Estero Bay shoreline, 870 feet west of State Highway 1, 1.3 miles northwest of the Highway 41/Highway 1 intersection, 1.9 miles north of Morro Rock, and 3.4 miles southeast of Cayucos. BIOLOGICAL SURVEY ADDENDUM ON WESTERN SNOWY PLOVER 3093 BEACHCOMBER DRIVE, MORRO BAY, CA 4 The subject lot is mostly flat with a slight downward slope at the western end (a gradient of approximately 5 to 1). The elevation of the subject lot ranges from 23 feet above mean sea level along its eastern portion (Beachcomber Drive) to 16 feet at its northwest corner where it adjoins the coastal dune scrub on State Park land. A trail that provides beach access is approximately 80 feet north of the lot. Morro Strand State Beach Campground is approximately 350 feet northwest of the subject lot, and an unnamed seasonal drainage is approximately 200 feet north of the lot. This small drainage flows from the east to the west and dissipates in the sandy beach along Estero Bay. Figure 1. Aerial view showing the approximate boundaries of 3093 Beachcomber Drive, Morro Bay (outlined in black) and the distribution of ice plant along the western portion of the lot (outlined in white). The ice plant (dark green color) also extends along the back of the homes south of the subject lot. The boundary of the coastal dune scrub vegetation west of the subject lot is outlined in green. It extends westward toward the beach along Estero Bay. The eastern portion of the subject lot is covered by ruderal vegetation consisting of weedy grasses and forbs. The trail visible in the photo is approximately 80 feet north of the lot and provides access to the beach along Estero Bay. BIOLOGICAL SURVEY ADDENDUM ON WESTERN SNOWY PLOVER 3093 BEACHCOMBER DRIVE, MORRO BAY, CA 5 METHODS I had a phone conversation with Vince Cicero, State Parks Biologist on August 5, 2014 to discuss the potential impacts of the proposed project on Pacific Coast Western Snowy Plovers (Charadrius alexandrines nivosus). I researched the information available on the U. S. Fish and Wildlife website to determine the location, size, and habitat features of the Atascadero Beach/Morro Strand State Beach Critical Habitat located west of the subject lot (Figure 2). I used aerial photographs to determine the location of the subject lot in relationship to the Atascadero Beach/Morro Strand State Beach Critical Habitat unit (Figure 3). Based on my research and my conversation with Vince Cicero, I developed the results and recommendations provided in this report. RESULTS Pacific Coast Western Snowy Plovers (Charadrius alexandrines nivosus) is listed as threatened by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, endangered by the State of California, and as a Species of Special Concern by the Department of Fish and Game. Plovers forage for invertebrates on wet sand areas of intertidal zones, in dry, sandy areas above high tide lines, on tidal flats, and along the edges of salt marshes where there is little vegetation such as around Morro Bay. Winter birds are seen on sandy beaches throughout San Luis Obispo County. Summer residents are more localized. Pacific Coast Western Snowy Plovers nest in areas with little or no vegetation cover on coastal sand spits, beach strands, gravel bars, open areas around estuaries, and on beaches at river mouths. They usually nest from the first part of March to the third week in July. However, locally their breeding season is considered to be March 1 to September 30. Pacific Coast Western Snowy Plovers are known to breed along the Morro Bay sand spit (across the harbor mouth from Morro Rock) and along the dune complex of Montana de Oro and Atascadero/Morro Strand State Beach. Of these areas, the Sand Spit seems to have a higher density of nesting pairs. Both eggs and nests, which are no more than shallow scrapes in the sand lined with bits of debris, are extremely difficult to see even at close range. As a result, they are easily disturbed by human activity. Chicks leave the nest within hours of hatching but cannot fly for about a month. Pacific Coast Western Snowy Plovers are site-faithful nesters, returning to successful nesting sites year after year. The Pacific coast population of the western snowy plover is threatened primarily by human disturbance, loss of nesting habitat to development, and encroachment of European beach grass, ice plant, and other introduced plant species on nesting grounds. Common predators include crows, ravens, foxes, BIOLOGICAL SURVEY ADDENDUM ON WESTERN SNOWY PLOVER 3093 BEACHCOMBER DRIVE, MORRO BAY, CA 6 coyotes, domestic dogs and cats, and other native and non-native predators. Natural factors, such severe weather, may also affect the quality and quantity of snowy plover habitat. While the Pacific Coast Western Snowy Plovers utilize some beach areas along the Atascadero/Morro Strand State Beach in the general vicinity of the proposed project site, the subject lot itself and many areas immediately around the lot are highly disturbed and do not provide foraging or nesting habitat for the plovers. However, because the subject lot is near the Atascadero/Morro Strand State Beach Critical Habitat for the Pacific Coast Western Snowy Plovers, a description of the area is included in this report. The description is from the Federal Register/Vol. 77, No. 118/Tuesday June 19, 2012/Rules and Regulations Department of the Interior, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 CA 29. Atascadero Beach/Morro Strand State Beach, which is located just north of the City of Morro Bay in San Luis Obispo County, covers approximately 213 acres (86 ha) immediately along the Pacific Ocean. It extends approximately 2.25 miles (4 km) north along the beach from the parking area northeast of Morro Rock to an unnamed rocky outcrop opposite the end of Yerba Buena Street at the north end of the City of Morro Bay. The Atascadero Beach/Morro Strand State Beach Critical Habitat unit encompasses approximately 64 acres (26 ha) of State land, 51 acres (21 ha) of local jurisdictional land, and 98 acres (40 ha) of private land. Western Snowy Plovers occupied the area at the time of listing by the U. S Fish and Wildlife Service and continue to use it. This unit is an important breeding area that has supported as many as 24 breeding Pacific Coast Western Snowy Plovers in a single season (U.