Appendix C. Biological Resources C2 Restoration Plan RESTORATION PLAN FOR THE UPPER LOS CERRITOS WETLANDS MITIGATION BANK CITY OF LONG BEACH LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Prepared for: Beach Oil Minerals Partners 4901 Birch Street Newport Beach, California 92660 Contact: Pete Zak Telephone: (949) 633-7383 Prepared by: Glenn Lukos Associates 29 Orchard Lake Forest, California 92630 Contact: Tony Bomkamp, Sheri Asgari, or Thienan Pfeiffer Telephone: (949) 837-0404 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... 1 II. LOCATION, PURPOSE, AND DESCRIPTION A. Mitigation Bank Proponents/Interested Parties ...................................................................... 5 B. Location of Mitigation Bank .................................................................................................... 5 C. Restoration Goals and Objectives ......................................................................................... 6 D. Restoration Plan Context ....................................................................................................... 8 E. Coordinating Agencies........................................................................................................... 9 F. Glossary of Key Terms .......................................................................................................... 9 III. ECOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK (EXISTING CONDITIONS) A. Ecological Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 10 B. Vegetation Alliances .............................................................................................................. 12 C. Special-Status Plant Species ................................................................................................. 16 D. Special-Status Wildlife Species ............................................................................................. 18 E. Jurisdictional Delineation ....................................................................................................... 21 F. Hydrological Conditions ......................................................................................................... 24 G. Soil Characteristics ................................................................................................................ 25 IV. BASELINE WETLAND CONDITION ASSESSMENT A. Wetland Condition Assessment ............................................................................................. 25 B. CRAM Results Summary ....................................................................................................... 26 V. IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH GRADING AND CONSTRUCTION A. Summary of Impacts .............................................................................................................. 28 VI. TARGET JURISDICTIONAL AND NON-JURISDICTIONAL ACREAGES A. Target Jurisdictional and Non-Jurisdictional Acreages to be Established, Reestablished, Rehabilitated, Enhanced, and/or Preserved .......................................................................... 31 VII. RESTORATION WORK PLAN A. Geographic Boundaries of the Project ................................................................................... 34 B. Corps and CCA Wetlands within the Mitigation Bank Area .................................................... 34 C. Impact Minimization Measures during Construction .............................................................. 34 D. Construction Methods ............................................................................................................ 35 E. Best Management Practices .................................................................................................. 39 F. Schedule/Phasing .................................................................................................................. 39 G. Planting Plans, Plant Palette, Vegetation Establishment, and Weed Control ........................ 39 H. Planting Plan Specifications .................................................................................................. 45 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. Restoration Landscape Contractor ........................................................................................ 46 J. Irrigation Plan ........................................................................................................................ 47 K. As-Built Conditions ................................................................................................................ 47 VIII. MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES DURING THE MONITORING PERIOD A. Site Maintenance ................................................................................................................... 47 B. General Maintenance Tasks and Duties ................................................................................ 48 C. Maintenance Schedule .......................................................................................................... 51 D. Responsible Parties ............................................................................................................... 51 IX. MONITORING PLAN A. Reference Site(s) ................................................................................................................... 51 B. Uniform Performance Standards ........................................................................................... 52 C. CRAM Monitoring and Performance Standards ..................................................................... 57 D. Monitoring Methods ............................................................................................................... 61 E. Monitoring Schedule .............................................................................................................. 64 F. Annual Monitoring Reports .................................................................................................... 65 G. Annual Agency Review .......................................................................................................... 65 X. ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN A. Initiating Procedures .............................................................................................................. 66 B. Natural Disturbances ............................................................................................................. 66 C. Funding Mechanism .............................................................................................................. 67 D. Responsible Parties ............................................................................................................... 67 XI. LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT PLAN A. Responsible Party for Long-Term Management of the Mitigation Bank ................................. 67 B. Long-Term Financing Mechanism ......................................................................................... 68 C. Long-Term Management Goal ............................................................................................... 68 D. Long-Term Management Strategies ...................................................................................... 69 E. Long-Term Management Task Schedule ............................................................................... 70 F. Long-Term Reporting............................................................................................................. 71 TABLES 1. Glossary of Key Terms .......................................................................................................... 9 2. Section 404 Corps Jurisdiction Mitigation Bank Area ............................................................ 23 3. CDFW Jurisdiction Mitigation Bank Area ............................................................................... 23 4. CCA Wetlands Mitigation Bank Area ..................................................................................... 24 5. CRAM Attribute Score Summary ........................................................................................... 27 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 6. Permanent Vegetation Impacts Associated with Grading and Construction .......................... 28 7. Temporary Vegetation Impacts Associated with Grading and Construction .......................... 30 8. Proposed Establishment, Reestablishment, Rehabilitation, and Enhancement ..................... 31 9. Summary of Rehabilitation by Elevation ................................................................................ 32 10. Summary of Reestablishment by Elevation ........................................................................... 33 11. Habitat Elevations Relative to Tides (Existing Sea Level) ..................................................... 40 12. Salt Marsh Plant Palette ........................................................................................................ 41 13. Buffer Plant Palette ................................................................................................................ 42 15. Maintenance Schedule .......................................................................................................... 51 16. Ecological Performance Standards (Wetlands) ..................................................................... 55 17. Ecological Performance Standards (Upland Buffers)............................................................. 57 18. CRAM Scores by Metric – Baseline and Year 5 Projections