Habitat Restoration Plan for the Abalone Cove Ecological Reserve in the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve FEBRUARY 2016 PREPARED BY: Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy 916 Silver Spur Road, Suite 207 Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 and Dudek 605 Third Street Encinitas, CA 92024 HABITAT RESTORATION PLAN for the Abalone Cove Reserve in the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve Prepared for: Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy 916 Silver Spur Road, Suite 207 Rolling Hills Estates, California 90274 Contact: Danielle LeFer Prepared by: 605 Third Street Encinitas, California 92024 Contact: Andy Thomson 760.479.4282 FEBRUARY 2016 Printed on 30% post-consumer recycled material. Habitat Restoration Plan for the Abalone Cove Reserve in the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page No. 1 INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................1 2 EXISTING CONDITIONS ...............................................................................................7 2.1 Site Description ....................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Vegetation Communities ........................................................................................ 7 2.2.1 Coastal Sage Scrub ..................................................................................... 7 2.2.2 Mixed Coastal Scrub ................................................................................... 8 2.2.3 Non-native Grassland.................................................................................. 8 2.3 Geology and Soils ................................................................................................... 8 2.4 Special-Status Species ............................................................................................ 9 2.5 Non-Native Invasive Species ................................................................................ 10 2.6 Additional Considerations .................................................................................... 11 3 RESTORATION PROGRAM ........................................................................................15 3.1 Restoration Site Goals and Objectives .................................................................. 15 3.2 Habitats to be Established or Enhanced ................................................................ 16 3.2.1 Coastal Sage Scrub ................................................................................... 19 3.2.2 Cactus Scrub ............................................................................................. 20 3.2.3 Mulefat Scrub............................................................................................ 21 3.3 Habitat to be Enhanced ......................................................................................... 22 3.4 Revegetation Materials ......................................................................................... 23 3.5 Target Functions and Values ................................................................................ 24 3.6 Time Lapse............................................................................................................ 24 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN .........................................................................................25 4.1 Rationale for Expecting Success ........................................................................... 25 4.2 Preliminary Schedule ............................................................................................ 25 4.2.1 Site Preparation ......................................................................................... 26 4.2.2 Supplemental Watering System ................................................................ 27 4.2.3 Erosion Control ......................................................................................... 28 4.2.4 Plant Installation ....................................................................................... 28 4.2.5 Seed Application ....................................................................................... 28 5 MAINTENANCE PLAN .................................................................................................31 5.1 Maintenance Activities ......................................................................................... 31 5.2 General Habitat Maintenance Guidelines ............................................................. 32 5.2.1 Weed Control ............................................................................................ 32 9085 i February 2016 Habitat Restoration Plan for the Abalone Cove Reserve in the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) Section Page No. 5.2.2 Supplemental Watering System ................................................................ 33 5.2.3 Clearing and Trash Removal .................................................................... 33 5.3 Schedule of Maintenance Inspections ................................................................... 34 6 MONITORING PLAN ....................................................................................................35 6.1 Performance Standards ......................................................................................... 35 6.2 Monitoring Methods and Schedule ....................................................................... 36 6.3 Monitoring Reports ............................................................................................... 37 6.4 Project Conclusion ................................................................................................ 37 7 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................39 FIGURES 1 Regional Map .......................................................................................................................3 2 Vicinity Map ........................................................................................................................5 3 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................................13 4 Site Photographs ................................................................................................................17 5 Abalone Cove Restoration Area ........................................................................................29 TABLES 1 Non-Native Plant Species and Associated Cal-IPC Ratings ..............................................10 2 Proposed Coastal Sage Scrub Planting Palette (Approximately 3.5 Acres) ......................19 3 Proposed Cactus Scrub Planting Palette (1.1 Acres) .........................................................21 4 Proposed Mulefat Scrub Planting Palette (Approximately 0.2 Acre) ................................22 5 Preliminary Restoration Project Schedule .........................................................................25 6 Performance Standards ......................................................................................................36 APPENDIX A Soil Test Results 9085 ii February 2016 Habitat Restoration Plan for the Abalone Cove Reserve in the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve 1 INTRODUCTION This Habitat Restoration Plan (HRP) was prepared for the Abalone Cove Reserve within the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve (PVNP) located in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, California (Figures 1 and 2). The Abalone Cove Reserve is one of ten ecological reserves within the approximately 1,400-acre PVNP. The PVNP is owned by the City of Rancho Palos Verdes and managed by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy (PVPLC). This HRP discusses implementing restoration of approximately 3.5 acres of coastal sage scrub, 1.1 acre of cactus scrub, 0.2 acre of mulefat scrub, and the enhancement of approximately 8.3 acres of mixed coastal scrub in a disturbed area of the Abalone Cove Reserve. Portions (approximately 2.2 acres) of the habitat enhancement area were identified for planting additional cactus. The HRP addresses restoration design, planting recommendations, installation procedures, maintenance requirements, monitoring methodology, and performance standards. 9085 1 February 2016 Habitat Restoration Plan for the Abalone Cove Reserve in the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK 9085 2 February 2016 Acton 138 14 San BernardinoCounty Santa Los Angeles County 126 Clarita 5 2 118 Simi 39 Valley 210 San Fernando La Canada Valley 170 Flintridge Altadena Burbank Glendale Monrovia Agoura 101 Pasadena Duarte Hills 134 tlake San Arcadia Azusa Glendora age 27 Marino La Verne Upland C Te mp le Irwindale 66 City Baldwin Beverly 83 Los Park West Hills Rosemead 10 Montclair Angeles Monterey Covina Pomona Hacienda Ontari Malibu Park Heights Walnut Montebello Industry 60 Santa Culver Pico 187 Vernon Chino Monica City Rivera Diamond Rowland Bar Chino Whittier La Habra Heights Hills 71 105 South Los Angeles County Inglewood Gate Heights Downey Santa Fe South La Orange County Springs Whittier El SegundoHawthorne 710 19 Habra Brea Norwalk La Mirada Manhattan Compton Fullerton Gardena Bellflower Placentia Beach 91 Yorba Linda Redondo Buena 90 Riverside 107 110 Cerritos Orange Coun Beach Lakewood Park Anaheim To rr an ce Cypress C Carson 405 57 Los Orange Palos 1 Garden Rancho 213 Alamitos ty Verdes Estates Grove 22 Tustin Palos Seal 47 Santa Foothills Verdes Beach Westminster 241 Ana Huntington Fountain Tustin Project Site Beach