Draft Del Dios Highlands Preserve RMP May 2009 Technical Appendices APPENDIX A Biological Diversity Baseline Report for the Del Dios Highlands Preserve County of San Diego Biological Diversity Baseline Report for the Del Dios Highlands Preserve County of San Diego Prepared for: Department of Parks and Recreation County of San Diego 9150 Chesapeake Dr., Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92123 Contact: Jennifer Haines Prepared by: Technology Associates 9089 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92123 Contact: Christina Schaefer November 4, 2008 Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................1 1.1 Purpose of the Report...................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Project Location.............................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Project Description.......................................................................................................... 1 2.0 STUDY AREA......................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Geography & Topography .............................................................................................. 9 2.2 Geology and Soils...........................................................................................................9 2.3 Climate.......................................................................................................................... 14 2.4 Fire Cycles .................................................................................................................... 15 2.5 Hydrology ..................................................................................................................... 19 3.0 METHODS .............................................................................................................19 3.1 Background Literature Review..................................................................................... 19 3.2 Biological Field Surveys............................................................................................... 19 3.2.1 Vegetation Communities Mapping............................................................................ 20 3.2.2 Floristic Surveys ........................................................................................................ 21 3.2.3 Lepidoptera Surveys .................................................................................................. 22 3.2.4 Herpetofauna Surveys................................................................................................ 22 3.2.4.1 Terrestrial Herpetofauna Surveys........................................................................ 22 3.2.5 Avian Surveys............................................................................................................ 23 3.2.5.1 Diurnal Point Count Surveys............................................................................... 23 3.2.5.2 Nocturnal Surveys............................................................................................... 27 3.2.6 Mammal Surveys ....................................................................................................... 31 3.2.6.1Bats........................................................................................................................ 31 3.2.6.2 Small Mammals................................................................................................... 35 3.2.6.3 Medium and Large Mammals ............................................................................. 39 4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION..............................................................................45 4.1 Vegetation Communities............................................................................................... 45 4.1.1 Southern Mixed Chaparral (37120) ........................................................................... 49 4.1.2 Diegan Coastal Sage Scrub (32500) .......................................................................... 50 4.1.3 Southern Coast Live Oak Riparian Forest (61310).................................................... 50 4.1.4 Southern Willow Scrub (63320) ................................................................................ 50 4.1.5 Eucalyptus Woodland (11100).................................................................................. 51 4.1.6 Disturbed Habitat (11300) ......................................................................................... 51 4.1.7 Urban/Developed (12000)......................................................................................... 52 4.2 Flora .............................................................................................................................. 52 4.2.1 Sensitive Plant Species .............................................................................................. 52 4.2.1.1 Observed Sensitive Plant Species........................................................................ 53 4.2.1.2 Potentially Occurring Sensitive Plants: Previously Documented........................ 60 4.2.1.3 Potentially Occurring Sensitive Plants: Based on Habitat and Distribution ....... 63 4.3 Fauna............................................................................................................................. 64 4.3.1 Lepidoptera ................................................................................................................ 65 4.3.1.1 Observed Lepidoptera......................................................................................... 65 4.3.1.2 Potentially Occurring Lepidoptera: Previously Documented.............................. 66 4.3.2 Terrestrial Herpetofauna............................................................................................ 66 4.3.2.1 Observed Herpetofauna....................................................................................... 66 4.3.2.2 Potentially Occurring Herpetofauna: Based on Habitat and Distribution ........... 70 Baseline Biodiversity Survey Report November 2008 Del Dios Highlands Preserve i Technology Associates 4.3.3 Avifauna..................................................................................................................... 70 4.3.3.1 Observed Avifauna.............................................................................................. 70 4.3.3.2 Potentially Occurring Avifauna: Previously Documented .................................. 73 4.3.4 Bats ............................................................................................................................ 73 4.3.5 Small Mammals......................................................................................................... 74 4.3.5.1 Observed Small Mammals .................................................................................. 74 4.3.5.2 Potentially Occurring Small Mammals: Based on Habitat and Distribution....... 79 4.3.6 Medium and Large Mammals.................................................................................... 79 4.3.6.1 Observed Medium and Large Mammals ............................................................. 79 4.3.6.2 Potentially Occurring Medium and Large Mammals: Based on Habitat and Distribution.......................................................................................................... 80 4.3.7 Sensitive Wildlife Species ......................................................................................... 81 4.3.7.1 Observed Sensitive Wildlife Species................................................................... 81 4.3.7.2 Potentially Occurring Sensitive Wildlife: Previously Documented.................. 106 4.3.7.3 Potentially Occurring Sensitive Wildlife: Based on Habitat and Distribution.. 107 4.4 Habitat Connectivity and Wildlife Corridors.............................................................. 111 5.0 CONCLUSIONS AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ......................112 5.1 Vegetation Communities............................................................................................. 112 5.2 Flora ............................................................................................................................ 113 5.3 Lepidoptera ................................................................................................................. 113 5.4 Herpetofauna............................................................................................................... 114 5.5 Avifauna...................................................................................................................... 115 5.6 Mammals..................................................................................................................... 116 5.6.1 Bats .......................................................................................................................... 116 5.6.2 Small Mammals....................................................................................................... 117 5.6.3 Medium and Large Mammals.................................................................................. 117 5.7 Wildlife Corridors....................................................................................................... 118 5.8 Additional Management Recommendations ............................................................... 118 5.8.1 Fire ..........................................................................................................................