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ICF Jones & Stokes conducted baseline biodiversity surveys of the County of San Diego?s (County) Lusardi Creek Preserve (Preserve) to provide the Department of Parks and Recreation with biological data to develop a Resource Management Plan (RMP) including Area Specific Management Directives (ASMDs). To provide a baseline evaluation of biological resources, the following studies were conducted by ICF Jones & Stokes: (1) vegetation mapping; (2) rare plant surveys; (3) pitfall trap arrays to sample amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals; (4) avian point counts; (5) nocturnal bird surveys; (6) acoustic sampling and roost surveys for bats; (7) small mammal trapping; (8) a track and sign survey for medium-to-large mammals; and (9) a camera station survey for medium-to-large mammals. The Preserve includes approximately 194.51 acres of native/naturalized vegetation communities including Diegan coastal sage scrub, chamise chaparral, southern maritime chaparral, southern willow scrub, nonnative grasslands, valley needlegrass grasslands, and disturbed habitat all of which are within the MSCP. The undeveloped portion of the Preserve is mapped as Pre-approved Mitigation Area (PAMA) and is considered an MSCP Preserve. The current surveys documented nine land cover types and 292 species within the Preserve. The surveys detected 177 plant species, 55 bird species, 24 mammal species (eight bats, nine small mammals, and seven medium and large bodied mammals), 12 herptiles (three amphibian and nine reptiles), and 24 invertebrate species. This list includes 31 special status species (18 wildlife and 13 plants) of which eight (six wildlife and two plants) are MSCP-covered species.

This letter constitutes the final monitoring report for the restoration effort funded through the TransNet Environmental Mitigation Program 2010 grant cycle.

The Pacific pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata) is the only native aquatic turtle species in southwestern California. While historically abundant in most major San Diego County drainages: habitat loss, human disturbance, hydrologic alterations, and invasive species have resulted in a significant decrease in Pacific pond turtle populations in San Diego and throughout California (Madden-Smith et al. 2005). Evaluating and addressing these threats is critical for the long-term persistence of Pacific pond turtle populations in San Diego County, and is a focus of the Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP), an approved Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP) in southern San Diego County. The Pacific pond turtle is a MSCP covered species with an impact avoidance condition. The condition is as follows: "Maintain and manage areas within 1500 feet around known locations within preserve lands for the species. Within this impact avoidance area, human impacts will be minimized, non-native species detrimental to pond turtles will be controlled, and habitat restoration/enhancement measures will be implemented." During a 2002-2003 study conducted by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), 72 sites within the MSCP area were surveyed for Pacific pond turtle presence. Pacific pond turtles were detected at only 5 of these 72 sites (Lake Murray, Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve, Lusardi Creek Preserve Lands, Santee Lakes, and Sycuan Peak Ecological Reserve), only 3 of which had more than one individual (Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve, Lusardi Creek Preserve Lands, and Sycuan Peak Ecological Reserve along the Sweetwater River; Madden-Smith et al. 2005). The surveys conducted by the USGS in 2002-2003, provided valuable information regarding the distribution of Pacific pond turtles, and raised management concerns about their viability. Following the 2002-2003 survey efforts, MSCP managers have sought to assess additional unsurveyed sites, and to prioritize and implement restoration actions to ensure the persistence of western pond turtles within the MSCP Preserve System. The Boulder Oaks Preserve became a part of the MSCP preserve system in 2003 after completion of the 2002-2003 USGS survey and has not been surveyed for Pacific pond turtles. Boulder Oaks Preserve includes three ponds which are potential habitat for Pacific pond turtles. Unlike other sites where restoration actions may be affected by human impacts (e.g., invasive species i