SADDLE MOUNTAIN OPEN SPACE P R E S E R V E MANAGEMENT PLAN JUNE LAND FOR LIFE ——————–– 2019 1 • SADDLE MOUNTAIN OPEN SPACE PRESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN SADDLE MOUNTAIN OPEN SPACE PRESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................1 1.1 Regional Setting ..........................................................................................................................1 1.2 History of Preserve Establishment ....................................................................................2 1.3 Vision Statement .......................................................................................................................2 1.4 Conservation Purpose ...........................................................................................................3 1.5 Goals and Objectives ..............................................................................................................3 1.6 Existing Plans and Partnerships ........................................................................................3 1.6.1 Existing Plans ...................................................................................................................3 1.6.2 Existing Studies ..............................................................................................................4 1.6.3 Existing Partnerships ...................................................................................................5 1.6.4 Funding Opportunities ...............................................................................................6 1.7 Management Plan Development Process .....................................................................6 1.7.1 Data Acquisition and Analysis .......................................................................................... 7 1.7.2 Public Participation in Planning ...................................................................................... 7 1.7.3 Management Plan Updates ............................................................................................. 7 1.8 Management Plan Structure ............................................................................................... 7 2. DESCRIPTION OF SADDLE MOUNTAIN OPEN SPACE PRESERVE ..........9 2.1 Location and Boundaries.......................................................................................................9 2.2 Legal Features .......................................................................................................................... 9 2.3 Adjacent Ownership .............................................................................................................10 2.4 Public and Private Access ..................................................................................................10 2.5 Infrastructure ........................................................................................................................... 11 2.6 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................ 12 2.8 Landscape Disturbance ...................................................................................................... 13 2.8.1 Disturbance by Fire .................................................................................................... 13 2.8.2 Disturbance by Grazers ........................................................................................... 14 2.9 Topography and Elevation .................................................................................................15 2.10 Geology and Soils ................................................................................................................16 2.10.1 Geologic Units ............................................................................................................16 2.10.2 Soil Types .......................................................................................................................17 2.11 Climate and Precipitation ..........................................................................................19 2.12 Water Resources...........................................................................................................19 2.12.1 Surface Waters ............................................................................................................19 2.12.2 Groundwaters ...........................................................................................................20 2.12.3 Stream Depth and Flow ......................................................................................... 21 2.12.4 Dams and Impoundments .................................................................................... 21 2.13 Vegetation Communities ................................................................................................. 22 2.13.1 Annual Grassland (AGS) ............................................................................................... 23 2.13.2 Coastal Oak Woodland (COW)......................................................................... 24 2.13.3 Closed-Cone Pine-Cypress (CPC) .................................................................25 2.13.4 Douglas-Fir (DFR) ...................................................................................................25 2.13.5 Fresh Emergent Wetland (FEW) ..................................................................... 26 2.13.6 Lacustrine (LAC) .......................................................................................................27 2.13.7 Mixed Chaparral (MCH) .........................................................................................27 2.13.8 Montane Hardwood-Conifer (MHC) .............................................................. 28 I • SADDLE MOUNTAIN OPEN SPACE PRESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2.13.9 Montane Riparian (MRI) ....................................................................................... 28 2.13.10 Wet Meadow (WTM) ........................................................................................... 29 2.14 Sensitive Habitats ................................................................................................................30 2.14.1 Freshwater Seeps ....................................................................................................30 2.14.2 Vernal Pool ................................................................................................................... 31 2.14.3 Valley Needlegrass Grassland ............................................................................ 31 2.14.4 Serpentine Chaparral and Bunchgrass ........................................................... 31 2.14.5 Habitats Occupied by Listed Species .............................................................. 31 2.15 Sensitive Plant Species ...................................................................................................... 31 2.15.1 Clara Hunt’s Milk-Vetch ........................................................................................ 32 2.15.2 Lobb’s Buttercup ..................................................................................................... 32 2.15.3 Napa False Indigo .................................................................................................... 33 2.15.4 Narrow-Anthered California Brodiaea .......................................................... 33 2.15.5 Sonoma Ceanothus ............................................................................................... 33 2.15.6 Sonoma Manzanita ................................................................................................. 34 2.15.7 St. Helena Morning Glory ..................................................................................... 34 2.16 Animal Species ..................................................................................................................... 34 2.16.1 Native Wildlife.................................................................................................................... 34 2.16.2 Naturalized Exotic Animals ................................................................................. 34 2.17 Listed Wildlife Species ......................................................................................................35 2.17.1 Fishes ..............................................................................................................................35 2.17.2 Amphibians .................................................................................................................35 2.17.3 Reptiles .........................................................................................................................35 2.17.4 Birds ................................................................................................................................35 2.17.5 Mammals ......................................................................................................................35 3. OVERVIEW OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ISSUES ............................. 36 3.1 Erosion and Sedimentation ...............................................................................................36 3.1.1 Approach to Erosion Control .................................................................................36 3.1.2 Condition of Road Network ....................................................................................37