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The 2014 avian survey of the Bernardo Mountain Preserve, San Dieguito River Park, San Diego County, California determined the point locations, territories, and breeding status of two rare songbirds, the California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) and the Coastal Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus cousei). Eleven field surveys conducted between 14 March and 21 June detected a total of twelve gnatcatcher and three Cactus Wren territories within the preserve. This compares favorably with previous surveys conducted after the Witch Fire of 2007 despite the continuation of a three-year drought. Our observations show that the gnatcatcher, in particular, has expanded into revegetated areas. Cactus Wrens, with their more specific requirements, are still largely confined to cactus scrub that did not burn in 2007 as replanted cactus has yet to reach a height suitable for nest-building. Other vertebrates noted during the survey include sixty-six additional species of birds, four species of mammals, and five species of reptiles.

The 2014 avian survey of the Bernardo Mountain Preserve, San Dieguito River Park, San Diego County, California determined the point locations, territories, and breeding status of two rare songbirds, the California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) and the Coastal Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus cousei). Eleven field surveys conducted between 14 March and 21 June detected a total of twelve gnatcatcher and three Cactus Wren territories within the preserve. This compares favorably with previous surveys conducted after the Witch Fire of 2007 despite the continuation of a three-year drought. Our observations show that the gnatcatcher, in particular, has expanded into revegetated areas. Cactus Wrens, with their more specific requirements, are still largely confined to cactus scrub that did not burn in 2007 as replanted cactus has yet to reach a height suitable for nest-building. Other vertebrates noted during the survey include sixty-six additional species of birds, four species of mammals, and five species of reptiles.

The annual summary report documents the management actions taken on Bernardo Mountain. This document is intended to demonstrate management activities since August 2007.

The San Dieguito River Valley (SDRV), consisting of the San Pasqual Valley and Lake Hodges, is one of the most significant natural open spaces in San Diego County. This area supports a major recreational amenity, the San Dieguito River Park (SDRP), as well as habi-tat for several species covered and permitted by the Multiple Species Conservation Pro-gram (MSCP). The 2007 Witch Fire burned a substantial portion of the SDRV, including more than 60% of the SDRP. The extremely high natural resource and recreational values in this area emphasize the need and urgency for fire recovery efforts.

In 2008 San Diego Association of Government (SANDAG) awarded to the San Dieguito River Park (SDRP) a Transnet EMP grant for several Park projects. A component of that grant was invasive plant species control. SDRP utilized the grant funds to enhance and expand several projects throughout the watershed. Projects ranged from pond and oak woodland restoration in Santa Ysabel to high salt marsh enhancement and mitigation in Del Mar.

The After the Fires Funds 2007 were utilized to provide immediate benefits to wildlife by expanding habitat adjacent to areas that did not burn and contained one or both of the restoration project's species of focus; California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica)and Coastal Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus sandiegensis). Work on this project was guided by the goal of providing immediate benefits to these birds because the fate of the San Dieguito River Park's ("Park") populations will have regionwide implications.

BACKGROUND Southern California Edison Company (SCE) is the majority owner and operator of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). The California Coastal Commission (CCC) issued a Coastal Development Permit (No. 6-81-330-A3, as amended; formerly permit No. 183-73) for the construction of SONGS Units 2 & 3 with the condition that SCE fund the independent evaluation of the impacts of SONGS' on the marine environment. The Coastal Development Permit (Permit) further requires that SCE mitigate any significant adverse impacts. The CCC determined that SONGS adversely impacted bightwide fish stocks and required SCE to mitigate those losses. As partial satisfaction of the mitigation requirements, SCE was required to create or substantially restore at least 150 acres of wetlands in Southern California. After considering the results of a site-selection study that included an evaluation of eight potential sites throughout Southern California, the CCC concluded that the San Dieguito Lagoon (SDL) in Del Mar offered the best opportunity for achieving the full objectives set forth in the Permit. A public working group consisting of resource agency representatives, non-governmental organizations, and interested members of the public worked together to develop a reasonable range of practicable alternatives for restoration of the SDL. As required by the Permit, SCE submitted a Preliminary Restoration Plan for restoration of SDL to the CCC in September 1997. Following CCC approval of the Preliminary Restoration Plan in November 1997, the wetland restoration project entered the environmental review process pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority (JPA) took the role of state lead agency under CEQA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) took the role of federal lead agency under NEPA. The JPA incorporated the SCE wetland restoration project into their overall Open Space Park Project (Park Project) for the San Dieguito River Valley area. A joint environmental impact report/environmental impact statement (EIR/S) was prepared for the entire San Dieguito Wetlands Restoration (Restoration Project) component of the Park Project, which includes the following elements: (1) creation or substantial restoration of 150 acres of tidal wetlands to fulfill SCE's SONGS Permit requirement, (2) restoration of additional wetlan