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The coastal cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus couesi) is a California Species of Special Concern and the coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) is a federally listed threatened species. Both are target species under California’s Natural Communities Conservation Program. Habitat loss is the driving force for population decline of both species. This study examines these target species on part of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California (approximately 41, 118 hectares in area). The purpose of this research is to delineate the local geography for each species and to demonstrate a geographic approach to avian conservation. This study defines the local geography as a combination of the landscape characteristics, specific habitat requirements, and the identification of core habitat areas for both species. Landscape characteristics refer to the composition and spatial configuration of the vegetation on the Base. Landscape characteristics have been obtained through landscape metric calculations. Specific habitat requirements refer to the habitat features that shape the spatial distribution of both species. Habitat requirements have been obtained through habitat suitability analysis and species distribution modeling. Core habitat areas reflect the landscape characteristics and the habitat features that sustain both avian populations. Lastly, core habitat areas have been identified via kernel density estimation and prioritized by a set of detailed criteria based on requirements for both species on the Base. This study provides information regarding habitat requirements of both species and overall landscape characteristics on the Base, which will aid in conservation and management of these species. On a broad scale, this research supports the regional conservation effort in southern California for the coastal cactus wren and the coastal California gnatcatcher.

Changes in the distribution and abundance of bird and small mammal species at urban-wildland edges can be caused by different factors. Edges can affect populations directly if animals respond behaviorally to the edge itself or if proximity to edge directly affects demographic vital rates (an ‘‘ecotonal’’ effect). Alternatively, urban edges can indirectly affect populations if edges alter the characteristics of the adjacent wildland vegetation, which in turn prompts a response to the altered habitat (a ‘‘matrix’’ or ‘‘habitat’’ effect). We studied edge effects of birds and small mammals in southern Californian coastal sage scrub, and assessed whether edge effects were attributable to direct behavioral responses to edges or to animal responses to changes in habitat at edges. Vegetation species composition and structure varied with distance from edge, but the differences varied among study sites. Because vegetation characteristics were correlated with distance from edge, responses to habitat were explored by using independently-derived models of habitat associations to calibrate vegetation measurements to the habitat affinities of each animal species. Of sixteen species examined, five bird and one small mammal species responded to edge independently of habitat features, and thus habitat restoration at edges is expected to be an ineffective conservation measure for these species. Two additional species of birds and one small mammal responded to habitat gradients that coincided with distance from edge, such that the effect of edge on these species was expressed via potentially reversible habitat degradation.

There is a growing body of literature covering the responses of bird species to wildland fire events. Our study was unique among these because we investigated the effects of large-scale wildland fires on entire bird communities across multiple vegetation types. We conducted avian point counts during the breeding seasons for two years before and two years after the Cedar and Otay Fires in 2003 in southern California. Our balanced sampling effort took place at two sites, one low-elevation and one high-elevation, each containing replicate stations (burned and unburned) within five vegetation types: chaparral, coastal sage scrub, grassland, oak woodland, and riparian. Although fire caused some degree of change in the vegetation structure at all of our impacted survey points, we found that the post-fire shrub and tree cover was significantly lower in only two of the vegetation types within the low-elevation site, coastal sage scrub and chaparral. We found no significant changes in cover at the high-elevation site. Using univariate and multivariate analyses, we tested whether the fires were associated with a change in bird species diversity, community structure, and the relative abundance of individuals within a species. We found that species diversity changed in only one circumstance: it increased in coastal sage scrub at the lowelevation site. Multivariate analyses revealed significant differences in the post-fire bird community structure in the low-elevation chaparral, low-elevation coastal sage scrub, and the high-elevation grassland communities. Vegetation characteristics altered by fire, such as decreases in shrub and tree cover, influenced the changes we observed in the bird communities. The relative abundance of some species (lazuli bunting [Passerina amoena] and horned lark [Eremophila alpestris]) significantly increased after the fires, while other species declined significantly (Anna’s hummingbird [Calypte anna], wrentit [Chamaea fasciata], and bushtit [Psaltriparus minimus]). We detected mixed results for the spotted towhee (Pipilo maculatus), which increased in burned chaparral and declined in burned coastal sage scrub within the low-elevation site. We suggest that the observed responses of birds to these fires may be attributed to: (1) the availability of nearby unburned refugia, (2) the continued suitability of post-fire vegetation at the study sites, and (3) the generally high mobility of this taxon.

Sahara mustard (Brassica tournefortii, aka African mustard, Asian mustard, Mostaza del Sahara) (Figure 1) is an invasive weed capable of spreading and invading a variety of habitats in California and southwestern North America. In several western states, Sahara mustard has been listed as a noxious weed or a species of concern. It grows especially well in disturbed areas but also grows well in natural sites. Sahara mustard is a short-lived winter annual that germinates from winter through spring completing its life cycle within a few months. Sahara mustard can invade a wide variety of habitats such as desert shrublands, desert dunes, ephemeral washes, grasslands, coastal sage scrub, coastal dunes, shrublands, roadsides, and abandoned or fallowed agricultural lands. It is generally found below 3,500 ft in elevation.

The Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) is a polytypic species widespread in the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico. Though closer in plumage characteristics to the desert subspecies anthonyi, populations resident in coastal sage scrub on the coastal slope of Ventura County and Los Angeles County occupy an ecological niche more similar to that of the more southerly subspecies sandiegensis. Because of fragmentation of habitat associated with urbanization, the populations on southern California’s coastal slope are almost entirely isolated from those of the deserts, and apparently from each other. They are declining precipitously for reasons not entirely understood but certainly related to loss, fragmentation, and degradation of suitable habitat. In 2012, we organized a volunteer effort to map the entire population in Ventura County and found 111 active, accessible territories with at least one adult or a fresh nest. Additional areas to which we did not have access could raise this total number to 166 territories county-wide. While historically the species occurred somewhat more widely in the eastern portion of the county, all active territories now appear to be restricted to a narrow band of cactus-rich scrub at the far western edge of the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills, from Point Mugu northeast through Thousand Oaks to the west side of Simi Valley, roughly tracking the distribution of large patches of prickly-pear (Opuntia spp.) and coast cholla (Cylindropuntia prolifera).

In 2003, southern California experienced several large fires that burned thousands of hectares ; of wildlife habitats and conserved lands. To investigate the effects of these fires on the reptile and amphibian communities, we compared the results from prefire herpetofauna and vegetation sampling to two years of postfire sampling across 38 burned and 17 unburned plots. The sampling plots were spread over four vegetation types and four open space areas within San Diego County. Our capture results indicated that burned chaparral and coastal sage scrub plots lost herpetofaunal species diversity after the fires and displayed a significant shift in overall community structure. Shrub and tree cover at the burned plots, averaged across the second and third postfire years, had decreased by 53% in chaparral and 75% in coastal sage scrub. Additionally, postfire herpetofauna community structure at burned plots was more similar to that found in unburned grasslands. In grassland and woodland/riparian vegetation plots, where shrub and tree cover was not significantly affected by fires, we found no differences in the herpetofaunal species diversity or community composition. At the individual species level, Sceloporus occidentalis was the most abundant reptile in these areas both before and after the fires. We saw increases in the net capture rates for several lizard species, including Aspidoscelis tigris, Phrynosoma coronatum, and Uta stansburiana in burned chaparral plots and Aspidoscelis hyperythra and U. stansburiana in burned coastal sage scrub plots. The toad, Bufo boreas, was detected at significantly fewer burned plots in chaparral after the fires. Additionally, we documented decreases in the number of plots occupied by lizards (Elgaria multicarinata), salamanders (Batrachoseps major), and snakes (Coluber constrictor, Lampropeltis getula, Pituophis catenifer, and Masticophis lateralis) in coastal sage scrub and chaparral after the fires. We discuss the individual species results as they relate to such life-history traits as the susceptibility to initial mortality, the response to the altered postfire habitat, and shifts in the availability of potential prey. We foresee that a continued unnatural fire regime will result in a simplification of the southern California reptile and amphibian communities.

Red Diamond Rattlesnakes (Crotalus ruber) have a very restricted range in the United States and are considered a species of special concern in California. Over a five year period (1999-2004), we used radio-telemetry to collect data on the movement ecology and habitat use of this little-studied species on protected coastal sage scrub land managed by the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park. During the study we compared the movement patterns and survivorship of “Resident” snakes (N=11; 11,090 radio-days) to several C. ruber relocated by Park staff for safety purposes (“Relocates”; N=6; 3,858 radio-days). Among Resident snakes, activity range sizes varied greatly both between individuals, and between years within individuals. Male Resident activity ranges (minimum convex polygon) were typically triple the size of Resident females (2.80 ha vs. 0.88 non-gravid females or 0.76 ha gravid females), and Resident males moved nearly twice as far during an activity season (1.38 km, Resident males vs. 0.77 km, Resident females). Overall, Resident C. ruber have relatively restricted movements when compared to other similar-sized rattlesnakes, typically never occurring more than 300 m linear distance from their winter dens. Relocates used significantly more land (mean activity range size 5.86 ha), and had greater maximum per move distances and total distances traveled during the first year after relocation than did Residents for the same time period. Activity range sizes, annual distances moved, and mean movement speed decreased over time among short distance Relocates (n=3; translocated 97 to 314 m), yet was similar or increased among long distance Relocates (n=3; translocated 856 to 1090 m). Only short distance Relocates were found near (within 50 m) their original capture site at some point during the study (30 to 364 d). Unlike most previous studies of relocated rattlesnakes, there was no detectable difference in survivorship between Residents and Relocates. If translocation is necessary for nuisance rattlesnakes, we suggest only short-distance relocations; long-distance translocations may be a potential conservation tool for future repatriations of C. ruber. We highly recommend more education and public outreach to minimize the need for snake removal.

Habitat loss and fragmentation are primary threats to biodiversity worldwide. We studied the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation on genetic connectivity and diversity among local aggregations of the California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) across its U.S. range. With a dataset of 268 individuals genotyped at 19 microsatellite loci, we analyzed genetic structure across the range using clustering analyses, exact tests for population differentiation, and a pedigree analysis to examine the spatial distribution of first-order relatives throughout the study area. In addition, we developed a habitat suitability model and related percent suitable habitat to genetic diversity indices within aggregations at two spatial scales. We detected a single genetic cluster across the range, with weak genetic structure among recently geographically isolated aggregations in the northern part of the range. the pedigree analysis detected closely related individuals across disparate aggregations and across large geographic distances in the majority of the sampled range, demonstrating that recent long-distance dispersal has occurred within this species. Genetic diversity was independent of suitable habitat at a local 5-km scale, but increased in a non-linear fashion with habitat availability at a broader, 30-km scale. Diversity declined steeply when suitable habitat within 30-km fell below 10%. Together, our results suggest that California gnatcatchers retain genetic connectivity across the majority of the current distribution of coastal sage scrub fragments, with the exception of some outlying aggregations. Connectivity may help support long-term persistence under current conservation and management strategies. However, emerging structure among more remote aggregations and associations between available habitat and genetic diversity also suggest that continued loss of habitat could threaten diversity and connectivity in the future.

Conservation management under human-induced changes to disturbance requires tools that can balancethe needs of multiple species with different life histories and habitat requirements. Despite this urgentconservation need, landscape management typically focuses on single species and rarely includes theinfluence of disturbance-dependent vegetation transitions on multiple target species. In this paper, wedescribe a simulation model that achieves these goals, ranking possible fire management strategies fromthe viewpoint of protecting endangered coastal Southern Californian wildlife. The model involves thedirect and indirect effects of fire on four animal species of conservation concern (coastal cactus wren,California gnatcatcher, Stephens’ kangaroo rat, and Pacific pocket mouse) and five vegetation types (grass,coastal sage scrub, obligate seeding and resprouting chaparral, resprouting-only chaparral, and wood-lands). Using historical fire records for the region, we predicted spatially-explicit fire frequencies andignition probabilities. For these predictions, we simulated the location and extent of fires. Combining firehistory and vegetation transition data from 1933 to 2003, we specified vegetation change probabilitiesunder simulated fire regimes. Fire occurrence in a location altered habitat suitability, directly for each ofthe animal species and indirectly by changing the vegetative community. For some open-habitat species,such as the Stephens’ kangaroo rat and Pacific pocket mouse, fairly frequent fire is required to reduce thedensity of invasive grasses and herbs. For other species, such as the coastal cactus wren and Californiagnatcatcher, frequent fire destroys the mature coastal sage scrub on which these species depend. Themodel includes a management component, allowing us to rank fire management actions. Over a 50-yeartime horizon, we find that populations of California gnatcatchers and Pacific pocket mouse are highlyvariable, and the pocket mouse is particularly prone to decline, despite prescribed burns designed toboost population viability. California gnatcatchers were also likely to be extirpated in the model, withrelatively small extirpation risks for the cactus wren and Stephens’ kangaroo rat. Despite conflictingrequirements with respect to fire and differing life history traits among the four animals, we identified abeneficial strategy for our four target species, namely, controlling fire in coastal sage scrub.

Achieving long-term persistence of species in urbanized landscapes requires characterizing population genetic structure to understand and manage the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on connectivity. Urbanization over the past century in coastal southern California has caused both precipitous loss of coastal sage scrub habitat and declines in populations of the cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus). Using 22 microsatellite loci, we found that remnant cactus wren aggregations in coastal southern California comprised 20 populations based on strict exact tests for population differentiation, and 12 genetic clusters with hierarchical Bayesian clustering analyses. Genetic structure patterns largely mirrored underlying habitat availability, with cluster and population boundaries coinciding with fragmentation caused primarily by urbanization. Using a habitat model we developed, we detected stronger associations between habitat- based distances and genetic distances than Euclidean geographic distance. Within populations, we detected a positive association between available local habitat and allelic richness and a negative association with relatedness. Isolation-by-distance patterns varied over the study area, which we attribute to temporal differences in anthropogenic landscape development. We also found that genetic bottleneck signals were associated with wildfire frequency. These results indicate that habitat fragmentation and alterations have reduced genetic connectivity and diversity of cactus wren populations in coastal southern California. Management efforts focused on improving connectivity among remaining populations may help to ensure population persistence.

Conversion of natural habitats to urban landscapes is happening at a rapid pace around the globe. Establishing a preserve system and restoring lands within these preserves is one way to offset the loss of natural habitats. However, often when preserves are being developed little data exists outlining the distribution of species and the habitat parameters on which they depend. We used populations of the Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus sandiegensis) inhabiting the coastal slope of California to demonstrate how to refine the general gestalt of habitat conditions for the wren into defined parameters that can be used to develop strategic restoration plans. We found that wren habitat use declined to nearly 0% when cactus patches were spaced farther than 800 m apart, regardless of size. The probability of occupancy, or habitat use, rose above 60% when cactus patches were 0.15 ha in size or greater. Elderberry is an important factor in areas with little topographic relief, as it provides perching sites. Buckwheat may not be important to the wren but could be used to select sites that have drier conditions conducive to cacti. Planting cactus to restore ruderal sites properly selected for xeric conditions, and within relatively close proximity to each other, could help meet conservation goals of connecting and increasing wren populations by establishing ecological functions at a landscape level.

Evergreen chaparral and semideciduous sage scrub shrublands were studied for five years after fires in order to evaluate hypothesized determinants of postfire recovery and succession. Residual species present in the immediate postfire environment dominated early succession. By the fifth year postfire, roughly half of the species were colonizers not present in the first year, but they comprised only 7–14% cover. Successional changes were evaluated in the context of four hypotheses: (1) event-dependent, (2) fire interval, (3) selfregulatory, and (4) environmental filter hypotheses. Characteristics specific to the fire event, for example, fire severity and annual fluctuations in precipitation, were important determinants of patterns of change in cover and density, supporting the ‘‘event-dependent’’ hypothesis. The ‘‘fire interval’’ hypothesis is also supported, primarily through the impact of short intervals on reproductive failure in obligate seeding shrubs and the impact of long intervals on fuel accumulation and resultant fire severity. Successional changes in woody cover were correlated with decreases in herb cover, indicating support for ‘‘self-regulatory’’ effects. Across this landscape there were strong ‘‘environmental filter’’ effects that resulted in complex patterns of postfire recovery and succession between coastal and interior associations of both vegetation types. Of relevance to fire managers is the finding that postfire recovery patterns are substantially slower in the interior sage scrub formations, and thus require different management strategies than coastal formations. Also, in sage scrub (but not chaparral), prefire stand age is positively correlated with fire severity, and negatively correlated with postfire cover. Differential responses to fire severity suggest that landscapes with combinations of high and low severity may lead to enhanced biodiversity. Predicting postfire management needs is complicated by the fact that vegetation recovery is significantly controlled by patterns of precipitation.

Over 75 species of alien plants were recorded during the first five years after fire in southern California shrublands, most of which were European annuals. Both cover and richness of aliens varied between years and plant association. Alien cover was lowest in the first postfire year in all plant associations and remained low during succession in chaparral but increased in sage scrub. Alien cover and richness were significantly correlated with year (time since disturbance) and with precipitation in both coastal and interior sage scrub associations. Hypothesized factors determining alien dominance were tested with structural equation modeling. Models that included nitrogen deposition and distance from the coast were not significant, but with those variables removed we obtained a significant model that gave an R2 5 0.60 for the response variable of fifth year alien dominance. Factors directly affecting alien dominance were (1) woody canopy closure and (2) alien seed banks. Significant indirect effects were (3) fire intensity, (4) fire history, (5) prefire stand structure, (6) aridity, and (7) community type. According to this model the most critical factor influencing aliens is the rapid return of the shrub and subshrub canopy. Thus, in these communities a single functional type (woody plants) appears to the most critical element controlling alien invasion and persistence. Fire history is an important indirect factor because it affects both prefire stand structure and postfire alien seed banks. Despite being fire-prone ecosystems, these shrublands are not adapted to fire per se, but rather to a particular fire regime. Alterations in the fire regime produce a very different selective environment, and high fire frequency changes the selective regime to favor aliens. This study does not support the widely held belief that prescription burning is a viable management practice for controlling alien species on semiarid landscapes.

Brachypodium distachyon is an emerging invasive species with potentially widespread ecological implications for native species, habitats, and ecosystem processes. It has increased in extent and dominance in recent years in San Diego County, possibly in response to repeated fires and climatic conditions. Brachypodium decreases native species diversity and may alter soil ecology, vegetation community structure and composition, and natural fire regimes. This species is particularly dense on restricted soils and, thus, threatens edaphic endemic plants such as Acanthomintha ilicifolia, Bloomeria clevelandii, Brodiaea filifolia, Brodiaea orcuttii, Deinandra conjugens, Dudleya variegata, Nolina interrata, and Tetracoccus dioicus, as well as native grassland and coastal sage scrub communities. These plants and habitats are conservation targets under the Natural Community Conservation Planning programs in San Diego County, California. The conserved areas selected for treatment─Crestridge Ecological Reserve and South Crest─form a central core area for linking populations of both plants and animals between north and south San Diego County preserves.

Fire can have both negative and positive impacts on the flora and fauna of southern California. The native vegetation communities have evolved with the regional fire regime and have adapted various survival strategies in response. However, as firereturn intervals decrease to more frequent than historic levels, the trend is for shrublands, whether chaparral or coastal sage scrub, to be vegetation type-converted to grasslands. Just as fires alter the composition and structure of vegetation communities, animals may experience similar shifts in community structure and species occurrence. With the type-conversion of vegetation communities, we may expect a concomitant shift and potential biodiversity loss in faunal populations. Fire may cause direct mortality or loss of habitat and food resources that result in the decline of some species. Other species that survive the fire and prefer open or disturbed landscapes may benefit, thereby increasing in numbers. The U.S. Geological Survey is investigating how plant and animal communities are responding and recovering from the massive 2003 San Diego County wildfires. The taxa being investigated include plants, invertebrates (selected terrestrial macro-invertebrate taxa and ants) and vertebrates (reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, birds, bats, and carnivores). Investigations include comparisons of post-burn conditions to pre-burn baseline conditions and comparisons of responses of the various taxa between burned and unburned control sites based on available pre-burn data and data collected over the five-year study. The goal of this study is to provide scientifically based information to aid in land management planning and reserve design. These conservation and monitoring decisions should include considerations of the effects of large wildfires on structure and function of the biological community. Many of the species documented during these efforts are covered in the habitat conservation plan of San Diego, the Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP).

Presentation for the July 19, 2022 (rescheduled from June 22, 2022) SDMMP Management and Monitoring Coordination Meeting.

Presentation for the July 27, 2022 SDMMP Management and Monitoring Coordination Meeting.

Task 3 for “Evaluation and Refinement of Vegetation Monitoring Methods for The San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP)” has been completed. The results of our 5 year data analysis were presented to a general audience on Monday, December 12, 2011, in a talk entitled Monitoring Practices for Vegetation: Pilot Studies to Power Analysis”. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation is attached to this document. During this talk we detailed the last 5 years of work, which began in 2007 with a Local Assistance Grant from the California Department of Fish and Game, and continued from 2008 forward with SANDAG funding. We covered the process of setting monitoring goals and objectives; and described the pilot study, data visualization, variance decomposition, and power analysis as a case study for establishing a monitoring project in the San Diego MSCP. The presentation also contained specific recommendations about sample sizes and techniques when monitoring coastal sage scrub (CSS) and chaparral community types. The data collected over the course of this project is contained on the CD that accompanies this document. In addition, Dr. Douglas Stow from the SDSU Geography Department and Ms. Caitlin Lippitt presented an introduction on Multiple End-member Spectral Mixture Analysis (MESMA) and a preliminary report on using MESMA for wall-to-wall monitoring applications in the MSCP (presentation also attached). This presentation largely deals with using novel remote-sensing techniques to provide full spatial coverage of the MSCP vegetation communities.

Survey protocol for mapping cactus scrub and documenting occupancy by coastal cactus wren in San Diego County

Recording from the July 27, 2022 SDMMP Management and Monitoring Coordination Meeting. Presentations from Andrew Meyer (SD Audubon): Improving fencing and signage at the Southern Wildlife Refuge to protect dune habitat for nesting and resting birds and Dr. Elsa Cleland (UCSD): The influence of drought, fire and invasion on coastal sage scrub ecosystems in San Diego.

Recording from the October 25, 2023 SDMMP Management and Monitoring Coordination Meeting. Presentations: Regional Coastal Sage Scrub and Chaparral Monitoring Program for Conserved Lands in Western San Diego County (Emily Perkins and Kris Preston, SDMMP, and Robert Fisher and Philip Gould, USGS).

Recording from the rescheduled June 2022 SDMMP Management and Monitoring Coordination Meeting on July 19, 2022. Presentation from Dr. Amy Vandergast (USGS): Subspecies differentiation and range‐wide genetic structure are driven by climate in the California gnatcatcher, a flagship species for coastal sage scrub conservation

Progress Report #4

This biological resources report was prepared for the County of San Diego (County) in order to provide information on baseline biological conditions prior to the Cedar Fire of 2003 and to assist in the formation of Area Specific Management Directives (ASMDs) for the Barnett Ranch Open Space Preserve (Preserve) on the approximately 728-acre Barnett Ranch located in the unincorporated Ramona Community Planning Area of central San Diego County east of State Route (SR) 67 and south of SR 78. The project site supports 16 vegetation communities: southern coast live oak riparian forest, southern willow scrub, freshwater seep, riparian scrub, open water, open Engelmann oak woodland, coast live oak woodland, wildflower field, Diegan coastal sage scrub (including disturbed), coastal sage-chaparral scrub, southern mixed chaparral, non-native grassland, eucalyptus woodland, extensive agriculture, disturbed habitat, and developed land.

We surveyed for coastal Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) in 507 established plots in San Diego County in 2022, encompassing 4 genetic clusters (Otay, Lake Jennings, Sweetwater/Encanto, and San Pasqual). Two surveys were completed at each plot between March 1 and July 31. Cactus Wrens were detected in 214 plots (42 percent of plots). Cactus Wrens were detected in 31 percent of plots that have been consistently surveyed since 2020, indicating less plot occupancy than in 2021 (34 percent) and 2020 (35 percent). There were 202 Cactus Wren territories detected across all survey plots in 2022. In plots that have been consistently surveyed since 2020, we documented 94 territories, which is a decrease from 113 territories in 2021 and 109 in 2020. The number of territories declined from 2021 to 2022 in the Lake Jennings and Otay genetic clusters but remained virtually the same in the Sweetwater/Encanto genetic cluster. At least 78 percent of Cactus Wren territories were occupied by pairs, and 134 fledglings were observed in 2022. We observed 24 banded Cactus Wrens in 2022, 20 of which we could identify individually by band combination. Adults of known age ranged from 3 to at least 7 years old. All individually identifiable adult Cactus Wrens remained on the same territory in 2022 that they occupied in 2021, and we detected no movement of banded Cactus Wrens between genetic clusters. Vegetation at Cactus Wren survey plots was dominated by coastal sage scrub shrubs, such as California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), lemonadeberry (Rhus integrifolia), jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), and San Diego sunflower (Bahiopsis laciniata). No definitive signs of fungal pathogens were observed on cactus within and around survey plots. Blue elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea) was detected at 39 percent of plots, and Cactus Wrens occupied proportionally more plots with elderberry than plots without elderberry. Very little dead or unhealthy cactus was observed within all survey plots, and the plots that were occupied by Cactus Wrens were likely to contain fewer dead cactus than plots that were not occupied by Cactus Wrens. Almost 80 percent of plots had more than 5 percent of cactus crowded or overtopped by vines and shrubs. Similar to 2020, Cactus Wrens occupied proportionally more plots with 5 percent or less of cactus crowded or overt

Cabrillo National Monument is the terminal point of the Point Loma Peninsula and part of the Point Loma Ecological Reserve, which protects the natural lands remaining on the peninsula in urban San Diego, California. This reserve is isolated from other natural lands by the ocean and urbanization, and is an effective island of rare habitats. These habitats include maritime succulent scrub, coastal sage scrub, and chaparral, and are the home to many sensitive species of plants and animals. Historically (through the 1930s), 19 species of reptiles and amphibians occurred on the peninsula, of which 6 are now considered sensitive at the state or federal level. Herpetofauna inventories were initiated by Robert Fisher of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Ted Case of the University of California at San Diego in August 1995, utilizing 17 arrays of pitfall traps and drift fences (Stokes et al., 2004). Data collection occurred from 1995 through 2001 to collect baseline data for the development of a long-term monitoring plan (Fisher and Case, 2000).

This framework management and monitoring plan provides guidance to maintain and enhance the conservation values of the Ramona Grasslands Open Space Preserve. The Preserve supports many unique biological resources, provides a suite of important environmental services for the region, and preserves a rich cultural and historic heritage. The Ramona Grasslands Preserve functions as a core habitat area within a regional network of existing and anticipated conservation lands. The coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and oak woodlands of the surrounding landscape, together with the grasslands, riparian habitat, and vernal wetlands of the core area, constitute an exceptional concentration of regionally and globally significant resources. That significance is reflected by the near complete overlap of the Preserve area by federal Critical Habitat designations (San Diego fairy shrimp, arroyo toad, and California gnatcatcher).

Southern California supports both coastal and desert populations of the Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus). In coastal regions, Cactus Wrens are year round residents of coastal sage scrub plant communities that contain cholla and/or prickly‐pear cactus tall enough (>1 m) to support and protect nests. Mature stands of cactus are patchily distributed within coastal sage scrub leading to a naturally patchy distribution of Cactus Wren in coastal southern California. Despite this uneven distribution, Cactus Wrens were historically widespread and abundant. In the last few decades, coastal populations have shown dramatic declines and are of great conservation concern.

BACKGROUND In collaboration with Groundwork San Diego and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), AECOM was selected to enhance and restore existing and potential coastal cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) and California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) habitat in Encanto and Radio Canyons. Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek (Groundwork) is an independent, not-for-profit, environmental business that works within San Diego's Chollas Creek Watershed to improve the environment, economy, and quality of life in the area through local community projects. Over the past several years, Groundwork has been an integral part of the restoration and enhancement of the Chollas Creek area. The project was funded by SANDAG under the Transnet Environmental Mitigation Program (EMP). This project was identified as an opportunity to create and enhance habitat for the coastal cactus wren (Photo 1) and California gnatcatcher and offer a more native landscape for the community surrounding the sites. The habitat enhancement and restoration objectives included removal of nonnative plant cover and planting of approximately 20,000 new cholla cactus (Cylindropuntia prolifera), which is preferred nesting habitat for the coastal cactus wren. The California gnatcatcher would also benefit from the improved habitat, since this species is also present in the project area and uses maritime succulent scrub habitat in conjunction with coastal sage scrub habitat. Enhancement and expansion of areas with existing occupied gnatcatcher and cactus wren habitats improves and expands habitat for both species, improving the chances for the long-term health of local and regional populations. This project also offered a unique opportunity for students and residents within the surrounding canyon communities to play an important role in project planning and implementing of the coastal cactus wren. AECOM and Groundwork collaborated in the execution of project tasks. AECOM led the site mapping, habitat restoration, monitoring, maintenance, and reporting tasks, and Groundwork led the educational, community involvement, and publicity aspects of the project. The project is located in the community of Encanto in southern San Diego, California, north of Market Street between Euclid Avenue and Merlin Drive (Figures 1 and 2). The total area of both canyons combined is 73.62 acres. Encanto Canyon consists of 37.24 acres and Radio Canyon consists of 36

The Ramona Grasslands host a unique assemblage of resources: ? The southernmost population of the endangered Stephens? kangaroo rat; ? Unique vernal wetlands that support endangered San Diego fairy shrimp and several rare plant species; ? Santa Maria Creek and associated habitats are important for neotropical migrant songbirds and the endangered arroyo toad; and ? A diverse raptor community, including the largest population of wintering ferruginous hawks in San Diego. Oak savannah, riparian woodlands, alkali playas, native perennial grasslands, and rock outcrops contribute to the diversity and ecosystem functions within the grasslands. These resources are imminently threatened by the indirect impacts of urbanization and thus require science-informed monitoring and management to ensure their persistence. The Ramona Grasslands comprise a significant portion of the Santa Maria Creek subbasin of the San Dieguito River watershed. The Santa Maria Creek, which drains the urbanizing community of Ramona, flows westward through the grasslands, then through Bandy Canyon to its confluence with Santa Ysabel Creek. Below the confluence, the San Dieguito River flows through San Pasqual Valley into Lake Hodges, a City of San Diego drinking water reservoir. The creek corridor serves as both a hydrological and habitat linkage for numerous species. It also provides essential ecosystem processes, such as natural filtration of anthropogenic contaminants that may impair downstream water quality. The Ramona Grasslands Preserve functions as a core habitat area within a regional network of existing and anticipated conservation lands. The coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and oak woodlands of the surrounding landscape, together with the grasslands, riparian habitat, and vernal wetlands of the core area, constitute an exceptional concentration of regionally and globally significant resources. That significance is reflected by the near complete overlap of the Preserve area by federal Critical Habitat designations (San Diego fairy shrimp, arroyo toad, and California gnatcatcher).

Purpose The Habitat Management Plan for Natural Communities in the City of Carlsbad (Carlsbad HMP, "the Plan") proposes a comprehensive, citywide, program to identify how the City, in cooperation with federal and state wildlife agencies, can preserve the diversity of habitat and protect sensitive biological resources within the City while allowing for additional development consistent with the City's General Plan and its Growth Management Plan. In so doing, the Plan is intended to lead to citywide permits and authorization for the incidental take of sensitive species in conjunction with private development projects, public projects, and other activities, which are consistent with the Plan. These permits would be issued under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the California Endangered Species Act, the California Natural Community Conservation Planning Act. The Plan also is designed to serve the following additional functions: 1. Preserve wildlife and habitats as part of the City's permanent open space system and thereby be a component of the Open Space and Conservation Element of the City's General Plan; 2. Allow the City to construct public facility and infrastructure projects dictated by the City's Growth Management Plan; 3. Define the City's contribution to regional efforts to conserve coastal sage scrub (CSS) habitat and species under California's Natural Community Conservation Planning (NCCP) program. The Plan constitutes an Ongoing Multi-Species Plan (OMSP) that is consistent with NCCP guidelines; 4. Allow projects in the City to fulfill their federal and state Endangered Species Act (ESA) requirements for certain species through compliance with the HMP; 5. Constitute a habitat conservation plan (HCP), as described in Section lO(a)(l)B of the Endangered Species Act and Section 2835 of the California Endangered Species Act related to the NCCP Program, submitted with the City's application to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) for authorization to take certain listed species; and 6. Constitute Carlsbad's Subarea plan within the North County Multiple Habitat Conservation Plan (MHCP). Formal approval and adoption of the Plan will occur through issuance of Section lO(a) Permit and approval and execution of an Implementing Agreement between the City, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the California Department of Fish and Game. Priv

San Diego’s Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) intends to conserve the diversity and function of the southwestern San Diego County ecosystem through preservation and adaptive management of habitat. Monitoring this large network of land is scientifically and logistically challenging as well as costly. The objective of this project is to evaluate the cost and accuracy of different sampling designs and field protocols for monitoring coastal sage scrub (CSS) and chaparral vegetation communities.

ICF International (ICF) conducted a baseline biological inventory study at the Santa Margarita Preserve (Preserve) that included the following: (1) vegetation surveys with habitat community mapping, rare plant, and California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) invasive plant species mapping components, (2) butterfly surveys, (3) herpetofauna surveys including pitfall arrays, (4) ornithological surveys including diurnal point counts and nocturnal surveys, and (5) mammal surveys including small mammal trapping, camera stations for medium to large mammals, and bat surveys. This report summarizes all survey methodologies and data collected during the 2011 survey period (April through October). The Preserve includes approximately 210 acres1 and consists of 13 plant alliances or associations. The vegetation communities on-site are dominated by high quality Diegan coastal sage scrub, scrub oak chaparral, and southern willow scrub, but contain a large area of poison hemlock along the banks of Santa Margarita River. Two in a half miles of multi-use trails are located on the eastern portion of the Preserve. To the north the trails connect to the Fallbrook Public Utility Districts trails. The current survey effort documented 340 species within the Preserve. Specifically, the surveys detected 214 plant species and 126 wildlife species. Of these species, two (2) plants are considered special status and will also be covered by the Draft North County Multiple Species Conservation Project (Draft North County MSCP); 20 special-status wildlife species were detected during the surveys of which seven (7) are proposed to be covered by the Draft North County MSCP.

Dudek conducted a baseline biodiversity study of the Escondido Creek Preserve (Preserve) to provide the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) with current baseline biological data and information needed to develop a Resource Management Plan (RMP), including Area-Specific Management Directives (ASMDs), for the Preserve. The Preserve is located in the Elfin Forest community of unincorporated San Diego County and is owned and managed by DPR. This report documents the methods and results of this study, and provides various management recommendations for AMSDs to preserve and enhance the function of the Preserve as biological open space in the context of the conservation goals and guidelines of the Draft North County Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) Plan. Dudek biologists performed the following baseline biological surveys on the Preserve from summer 2010 through spring 2011: vegetation mapping, focused botanical surveys, exotic species mapping, general butterfly surveys, herpetological pitfall trap surveys, avian point count surveys, bat surveys, small mammal trapping, and large and medium mammal surveys. Thirteen vegetation communities and land cover types were identified on site including: Diegan coastal sage scrub, eucalyptus woodland, non-native grassland, southern coast live oak riparian forest, southern mixed chaparral, southern willow scrub, coast live oak woodland, southern riparian woodland, valley needlegrass grassland, non-native vegetation, disturbed habitat, developed land, and orchard. A total of 184 plant species were recorded on the Preserve during the surveys. Six special-status plant species were observed, of which two are North County MSCP-covered species. A total of 145 wildlife species were observed or detected on the Preserve during the surveys, including 4 amphibians, 12 reptiles, 83 birds, 31 mammals, and 15 butterflies. Twenty-nine special-status wildlife species were observed or detected on the Preserve, including nine North County MSCP covered species.

Rapid urbanization has led to the loss and degradation of riparian habitats within the Southern California Coastal Sage Scrub Region. In response to the need to protect and manage riparian and other sensitive habitats in southern California, the Natural Communities Conservation Planning (NCCP) Act was enacted in 1992. The San Diego County subregional plan under the NCCP is the San Diego County Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP). The MSCP has been designated to protect such sensitive species as the arroyo toad (Bufo californicus) and western pond turtle (Emys marmorata) within its boundaries by preserving lands with known populations, controlling non-native species, minimizing human impacts, and restoring or enhancing native habitats. Direct habitat loss in conjunction with hydrological alterations and the introduction of non-native species has caused the arroyo toad to disappear from about 75% of previously occupied habitat (Jennings & Hayes 1994) and has resulted in a decrease in the number of viable populations of the western pond turtle in southern California (Brattstrom & Messer 1988; Jennings et al. 1992; Jennings & Hayes 1994). Prior to this study, little was known about the current status and distribution of the arroyo toad and the western pond turtle within the San Diego MSCP lands. In 2002 and 2003 the U. S. Geological Survey conducted focused surveys for the arroyo toad and western pond turtle within nine watersheds of San Diego County, eight of which fall within the MSCP boundaries. Daytime arroyo toad habitat surveys were conducted at 39 sites. Eighteen of these sites were determined to have potential for supporting arroyo toads because of the presence of suitable habitat and/or the close proximity of historical locality record(s) and were surveyed nocturnally for the presence of arroyo toads. Arroyo toads were located at five sites, all but one were previously known locations and all were within the MSCP boundaries. Visual and/or trapping surveys were conducted for western pond turtles at 68 sites for a total of 67 visual and 45 trapping surveys. Western pond turtles were detected at nine sites, six of which are within the MSCP boundaries, and all locations but one were previously known. Population sizes of both species appear to be small. Although mark-recapture data were not collected for arroyo toads and it is not possible to make population estimates, 18 was the largest number of arroyo toads detected at a site during the course

This biological resources report was prepared for the County of San Diego (County) in order to provide information on baseline biological conditions prior to the Cedar Fire of 2003 and to assist in the formation of Area Specific Management Directives (ASMDs) for the Barnett Ranch Open Space Preserve (Preserve) on the approximately 728-acre Barnett Ranch located in the unincorporated Ramona Community Planning Area of central San Diego County east of State Route (SR) 67 and south of SR 78. The project site supports 16 vegetation communities: southern coast live oak riparian forest, southern willow scrub, freshwater seep, riparian scrub, open water, open Engelmann oak woodland, coast live oak woodland, wildflower field, Diegan coastal sage scrub (including disturbed), coastal sage-chaparral scrub, southern mixed chaparral, non-native grassland, eucalyptus woodland, extensive agriculture, disturbed habitat, and developed land. No federally or state listed threatened or endangered plant species were observed on site; however, one plant species of federal special concern was observed: felt-leaved monardella (Monardella hypoleuca ssp. lanata). In addition, four plant species recognized as sensitive by the California Native Plant Society and/or the County were observed: delicate clarkia (Clarkia delicata), San Diego County viguiera (Viguiera laciniata), Engelmann oak (Quercus engelmannii), and ashy-spike moss (Selaginella cinerascens). No animal species listed as threatened or endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) or California Department of Fish and Game were observed on the site; however, 10 animals observed on site are federal species of concern: orange-throated whiptail (Cnemidophorus hyperythrus beldingi), coastal whiptail (Cnemidophorus tigris stejnegeri), coastal rosy boa (Lichanura trivirgata roseofusca), southern California rufous-crowned sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps canescens), loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), California thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum), white-tailed kite (Elanus leucurus), Costa's hummingbird (Calypte costae), lark sparrow (Chondestes grammacus), and Pacific slope flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis). Ten animals observed on site are California species of special concern: silvery legless lizard (Anniella pulchra pulchra), prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus), northern red-diamond rattlesnake (Crotalus exsul), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperi), sharpshinned

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.

INTRODUCTION A. Purpose for Inclusion of the Preserve Area in the Habitat Management Plan The proposed project on the Muroya property is an approximately 11.5-acre residential development within the approximately 20-acre property. The proposed preserve area of the project, a total of 8.50 acres is proposed to provide mitigation for direct impacts to the habitat on site and to be included in the assembly of the Carlsbad Habitat Management Plan (HMP; City of Carlsbad 1999, finalized 2004) preserve. This Preserve Management Plan (PMP) has been prepared for the preserved open space areas (preserve) within the Muroya project site (Figures 1 and 2). The Muroya project was approved and mitigation identified in the Mitigated Negative Declaration (State Clearinghouse 2010021061; City of Carlsbad, CA 2009). The project is identified under the following application numbers: GPA 06-09/AC 06-08/LCPA 06-09/SP 203D/CT 06-27. The City of Carlsbad is a member of the North County Multiple Habitat Conservation Plan (MHCP; San Diego Association of Governments 2001) and has adopted an HMP (Habitat Management Plan) which is a subarea plan under the MHCP. The MHCP is a comprehensive, multiple jurisdictional planning tool designed to create, manage, and monitor an ecosystem preserve in northwestern San Diego County. The HMP is a citywide program with the purpose of preserving the diversity of species and habitats as well as sensitive biological resources while allowing for development that is consistent with City plans. The objectives of the HMP are to develop a plan that conserves the full range of vegetation types with the focus on rare species and habitat; conserves areas capable of supporting covered species in perpetuity; and maintains functional wildlife corridors and habitat linkages. Under the HMP, a portion of the project area, as well as surrounding lands, are within a Focused Planning Area (FPA) of the City. FPA boundaries were created based on the existing distribution of vegetation communities and sensitive species. The FPAs were further broken down into HMP cores, linkages and Special Resource Areas. The Muroya property is located within the Local Facilities Management Zone 20 and is designated as a Standards Area in the HMP. It is located approximately in the central portion of Linkage Area F which is part of a stepping stone linkage connecting Core Areas 4, 6 and 8 and contains significant amounts of coastal sage scrub acting as a corridor for movement for the

Monitoring to detect ecological change is an important component of many environmental and conservation programs. Developing effective monitoring programs for conservation plans is scientifically and logistically challenging. The Nature Reserves of Orange County (NROC) hold 38,000 acres enrolled within the Orange County NCCP. NROC is obligated to monitor the condition of conservation values through time and has identified vegetation communities as targets for long term monitoring. The Nature Conservancy holds conservation easements on properties adjacent to NROC NCCP lands, and both entities have similar monitoring requirements. The objective of this project is to evaluate the precision and accuracy of different sampling designs and field protocols for monitoring vegetation communities in the Orange County conservation lands, primarily coastal sage scrub (CSS), chaparral, and grasslands in central Orange County. This information addresses many of the fundamental questions surrounding the selection of both response designs and sampling designs and provides a foundation for long-term monitoring. Initial sampling effort was stratified across vegetation types, including coastal sage scrub (CSS), chaparral and grasslands. Although the OC NCCP and TNC easement lands encompass many more vegetation types, CSS, chaparral and grasslands were prioritized based on previous work in the San Diego MSCP. This stratification across habitat types was coordinated with sampling in the San Diego MSCP to improve the power of the analysis and expand our understanding to the entire southern California region. This larger, combined data set will provide both sponsors a more robust set of conclusions and dramatically advance our ability to monitor southern California vegetation communities.

The purpose of this Biological Diversity Baseline Report for the Lawrence and Barbara Daley Preserve is to provide the County of San Diego with information on existing biological conditions to assist in the development of Area Specific Management Directives. The approximately 597-acre1 Preserve is located in the south central portion of San Diego County, in the community of Dulzura, north and east of Highway 94 and south of Honey Springs Road. Technology Associates International Corporation (Technology Associates) assisted by the San Diego Natural History Museum, conducted baseline biological surveys at the Preserve on behalf of the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation. Baseline surveys were conducted in the winter, spring, and summer of 2009-2010. Biologists conducted the following surveys to assess the current status of biological resources onsite: (1) mapping of vegetation communities, (2) a floral inventory including rare plant surveys, (3) butterfly inventory surveys, (4) pitfall trapping for amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals, (5) arroyo toad surveys, (6) aquatic herpetofauna surveys, (7) diurnal avian point count surveys, (8) nocturnal avian surveys, (9) acoustic bat surveys, (10) small mammal trapping, and (11) track and camera station surveys for medium and large mammals. Due to the 2007 Harris fire that burned all of the Preserve, results of these surveys may under-represent the diversity of plant and wildlife species that occupy the Preserve. Ten vegetation communities were mapped within the Preserve and consist of Diegan coastal sage scrub, coastal sage-chaparral scrub, southern mixed chaparral, native grassland, non-native grassland, southern riparian woodland, coast live oak woodland, eucalyptus woodland, disturbed habitat, and urban/developed habitat. The most abundant vegetation community on the Preserve is Diegan coastal sage scrub, which makes up approximately 417.20 acres or 70% of the total area. Floristic surveys documented 355 plant taxa occurring on site. These include both native and non-native species along with eleven sensitive (California Native Plant Society List 1-4) plant species, including: desert fragrance (Ambrosia monogyra), San Diego needlegrass (Achnatherum diegoensis), Palmer's sagewort (Artemisia palmeri), San Diego sunflower (Bahiopsis [Viguiera] laciniata), delicate clarkia (Clarkia delicata), Palmer's goldenbush (Ericameria palmeri var. palmeri), chocolate lil

Brachypodium distachyon is an emerging invasive species with potentially widespread ecological implications for native species, habitats, and ecosystem processes. It has increased in extent and dominance in recent years in San Diego County, possibly in response to repeated fires and climatic conditions. Brachypodium decreases native species diversity and may alter soil ecology, vegetation community structure and composition, and natural fire regimes. This species is particularly dense on restricted soils and, thus, threatens edaphic endemic plants such as Acanthomintha ilicifolia, Bloomeria clevelandii, Brodiaea filifolia, Brodiaea orcuttii, Deinandra conjugens, Dudleya variegata, Nolina interrata, and Tetracoccus dioicus, as well as native grassland and coastal sage scrub communities. These plants and habitats are conservation targets under the Natural Community Conservation Planning programs in San Diego County, California. The conserved areas selected for treatment─Crestridge Ecological Reserve and South Crest─form a central core area for linking populations of both plants and animals between north and south San Diego County preserves. Environmental Mitigation Program Grant No. 5001965

Southern California supports both coastal and desert populations of the Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus). In coastal regions, Cactus Wrens are year round residents of coastal sage scrub plant communities that contain cholla and/or prickly‐pear cactus tall enough (>1 m) to support and protect nests. Mature stands of cactus are patchily distributed within coastal sage scrub leading to a naturally patchy distribution of Cactus Wren in coastal southern California. Despite this uneven distribution, Cactus Wrens were historically widespread and abundant. In the last few decades, coastal populations have shown dramatic declines and are of great conservation concern (Sauer et al. 1999; Proudfoot et al. 2000; Solek and Szijj 2004; Mitrovich and Hamilton 2007). This report presents the preliminary results of studies conducted in 2012 investigating Cactus Wren genetics and parasite load, foraging ecology, and banded bird resighting surveys, to follow‐up on the 2009 to 2011 Cactus Wren reproduction, dispersal and survival study, in Orange County’s Central and Coastal Natural Community Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan (NCCP/HCP).

Monitoring to detect ecological change is an important component of many environmental and conservation programs. The Nature Reserves of Orange County (NROC) hold 38,000 acres enrolled within the Orange County NCCP. NROC is obligated to monitor the condition of conserved lands through time and has identified vegetation communities as targets for long term monitoring. Monitoring this large and heterogeneous area is scientifically and logistically challenging as well as costly. The objective of this project is to evaluate the cost and accuracy of different sampling designs and field protocols for monitoring coastal sage scrub (CSS), chaparral, and grassland vegetation communities. This report covers year two of an ongoing project. The current work emphasizes the importance of spatial coverage across the study area. As a result, we increased the number of sites and plots sampled from the first year of the project. We also eliminated the visual cover protocol and decreased the length of the transects and the number of quadrats at each plot. This year we detected a large increase in plant species richness throughout the county. This was driven largely by the increased diversity of forbs at resampled plots. Shrub cover varied spatially but was similar across years. In addition to richness, the cover of native and non-native forbs and grasses increased dramatically. We used a variance components analysis in order to develop recommendations for optimizing monitoring. We consider three major sources of variation: temporal (interannual), spatial and methodological. Spatial variation includes three nested levels: vegetation community, site and plot. Methodological variation includes two levels: protocol (quadrat vs. point intercept) and team. Several suites of response variables were analyzed including species richness, cover of major functional groups (e.g. native shrubs, non-native forbs), and several example species from each functional group. Semi-arid shrublands in southern California are highly spatial, with different species and functional groups displaying different degrees of affinity for a specific vegetation type or a different degree of patchiness across sites and plots. As a result allocating a significant amount of effort to spatial coverage is appropriate for most response variables. Some species and groups are also dramatically influenced by annual factors such as rainfall, and will require annual monitoring. Team-to-team variability is sm

We surveyed for coastal Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) in 378 established plots in southern San Diego County in 2021, encompassing 3 genetic clusters (Otay, Lake Jennings, and Sweetwater/Encanto). Two surveys were completed at each plot between March 1 and July 31. Cactus Wrens were detected in 130 plots (34 percent of plots), remaining virtually the same as the percentage of plots occupied in 2020 (35 percent). There were 113 Cactus Wren territories detected across all survey plots in 2021, an increase from 109 in 2020. At least 86 percent of Cactus Wren territories were occupied by pairs, and 50 fledglings were observed in 2021. We observed 48 color-banded Cactus Wrens in 2021, 44 of which we could identify to individual. Adults of known age ranged from 2 to at least 7 years old. Adult Cactus Wrens moved, on average, 0.1 kilometers (maximum 0.5 kilometers) from their 2020 territories to their 2021 territories. No known-identity Cactus Wrens moved between genetic clusters from 2020 to 2021. Vegetation at Cactus Wren plots typically was dominated by coastal sage scrub shrubs, such as California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), lemonadeberry (Rhus integrifolia), and San Diego sunflower (Bahiopsis laciniata). Twenty-nine percent of plots contained blue elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea), and Cactus Wrens occupied proportionally more plots with elderberry than plots without elderberry. Very little dead or unhealthy cactus was observed within all survey plots, and the plots that were occupied by Cactus Wrens were likely to contain more healthy cactus than plots that were not occupied by Cactus Wrens. Thirteen percent of plots had 5 percent or less of the cactus crowded or overtopped by vines and shrubs. Although in 2020, Cactus Wrens occupied proportionally more plots with 5 percent or less of cactus crowded or overtopped by vines and shrubs, this pattern was not found in 2021. Non-native annual cover was 5 percent or less at 29 percent of plots and, unlike in 2020, Cactus Wrens appeared to occupy proportionally more plots with less non-native annual cover than plots with more than 5-percent annual cover.

Current SDecies Status: This plan addresses six vernal pool species that are listed as endangered and one that is proposed for threatened status: Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii (San Diego button-celery), Orcuttia calfornica (California Orcutt grass), Pogogyne abramsii (San Diego mesa mint), Pogogyne nudiuscula (Otay mesa mint), Riverside fairy shrimp (Streptocephalus woottoni), San Diego fairy shrimp (Branchinecta sandiegonensis), and Navarretiafossalis (spreading navarretia). Pogogyne abramsii was listed as endangered on September 28, 1978. Pogogyne nudiuscula, Orcuttia ca1~fornica, Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii, and the Riverside fairy shrimp were listed as endangered on August 3, 1993. The San Diego fairy shrimp was listed as endangered on February 3, 1997. Navarretia fossalis was proposed for listing as threatened on December 15, 1994. Historically, San Diego, vernal pool habitat probably covered no more than 6 percent ofthe county, approximately 520 square kilometers (200 square miles). Currently levels estimate a loss of vernal pool habitat in the San Diego County around 95 to 97 percent because ofintensive cultivation and urbanization (Bauder and McMillan 1998). Lack ofhistorical dataprecludes the same depth of analysis for Los Angeles County, Riverside County, Orange County, or San Bernardino Counties, but losses are considered nearly total (USFWS 1993). The current distribution ofpools in northern Baja California, Mexico, probably comes much closer to the historic condition (Bauder and McMillan 1998). Habitat Requirements and Limiting Factors: Following winter rainstorms, vernal pools form in depressions above an impervious soil layer or layers. Water evaporates from these pools during the spring and early summer. Vegetation communities associated with adjacent upland habitats that surround the vernal pools in southern California are valley needlegrass grassland, annual grasslands, coastal sage scrub, maritime succulent scrub, and chaparral. iii Prior to 1945, the primary threats to southern California vernal poois were grazing. water impoundments, and conversion to agriculture. In recent years, urbanization and construction of infrastructure have resulted in losses of habitat estimated to be as high as 97 percent. Urbanization can directly impact pools through elimination of the habitat by soil alteration, vegetation alteration, alterations in hydrological regimes, and water quality. Where pools remain th

River Partners implemented Phase 1 of a comprehensive riparian restoration and enhancement plan of 55 acres on the County of San Diego's Lawrence and Barbara Daley Preserve (Preserve). A major goal of Phase 1 was to remove invasive non-natives plants in order to enhance the local habitat and promote ecosystem health in the downstream portion of the watershed by limiting the amount of invasive seeds and propagules being transported. In addition, a comprehensive restoration plan was designed in order to direct future restoration efforts of native vegetation (Phase 2). Restoring native vegetation to riparian and coastal scrub habitat, while targeting the desired habitat structure of the California gnatcatcher (Polioptila califomica), yellow-breasted chat (lcteria virens), and other neo-tropical migratory birds will greatly expand their available habitat and resources as well as thwart the re-colonization of non-native invasive species. The Daley Preserve Project is important because it contains patches of both live oak riparian forest (MSCP Tier I habitat) and Diegan coastal sage scrub (MSCP Tier II habitat). Biological surveys have shown that Dulzura Creek is also an important wildlife movement corridor, as well as breeding and foraging grounds for several MSCP covered species such as the coastal California gnatcatcher. The enhancement and restoration of 55 acres of riparian and coastal scrub habitat along Dulzura Creek will improve the quality and continuity of habitat for a variety of neo-topical migratory and resident birds, including several threatened and endangered species, as well as other native wildlife. Additionally, the project is a valuable component to the success of downstream restoration efforts in that it is important to remove invasive species and restore native vegetation in upstream reaches in order to suppress the subsequent reinfestation of invasive species and their spread downstream.

Achieving long-term persistence of species in urbanized landscapes requires characterizing population genetic structure to understand and manage the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on connectivity. Urbanization over the past century in coastal southern California has caused both precipitous loss of coastal sage scrub habitat and declines in populations of the cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus).

The purpose of this report is to document biological baseline data for the County of San Diego's Furby‐ North Property (Property). The 78.53 acre1 Property is located in the southwestern portion of San Diego County (see Figure 1‐1) south of Otay Mesa Road and east of Interstate 805. The Property is located within the Multiple Habitat Planning Area (MHPA) preserve boundaries of the City of San Diego's Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) Subarea Plan. It is managed by the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation, and the information contained in this report will be used to direct future Property management and monitoring and the development of a Resource Management Plan. Inventory surveys conducted in 2011 included vegetation communities mapping, rare plant surveys and invasive species identification, butterfly surveys and habitat assessment for the Quino checkerspot butterfly, herpetological surveys using pitfall trap arrays, diurnal and nocturnal avian point count surveys and the identification of potential cactus wren habitat, active and passive bat surveys using Anabat, small mammal trapping, and medium/large mammal surveys using track stations and remote camera stations. Vegetation communities were mapped applying the new Vegetation Classification System for Western San Diego County (AECOM et al. 2011) and then cross‐walked to the Oberbauermodified Holland system (Oberbauer et al. 2008, Holland 1986). Surveys were conducted between the months of April and July 2011. The Property consists of 11 plant alliances, associations, or semi‐natural stands. The vegetation communities on‐site are dominated by high quality Diegan coastal sage scrub and maritime succulent scrub, but contain patches of non‐native grassland dominated by garland chrysanthemum in the northern portion of the Property, and a relatively dense unauthorized trail system from off‐road vehicle use in the southern portion of the Property. Trails and dirt roads traverse the entire Property, some of which are easements across the Property used by the City of San Diego and San Diego Gas and Electric. One potential vernal pool was observed in the northern portion of the Property and another potential vernal pool was observed adjacent to the northern boundary of the Property. A total of 115 plant taxa were observed on the Property during the 2011 surveys. Approximately 32 percent of these are non‐native species, many of which are gr

The Simon Preserve (Preserve) consists of approximately 617 acres in unincorporated San Diego County. Dudek biologists performed the following baseline biological surveys from spring through fall 2009: vegetation mapping, focused botanical surveys, exotic species mapping, general butterfly surveys, herpetological pitfall trap surveys, avian point count surveys, bat surveys, small mammal trapping, and large and medium mammal surveys. This report documents the methods and results of these surveys, and provides various management recommendations to preserve and enhance the function of the Preserve as biological open space in the context of the regional conservation goals of the draft North County Multiple Species Conservation Plan (North County MSCP). The County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) proposes to manage the Preserve in accordance with a Resource Management Plan (RMP) including Area-Specific Management Directives (ASMDs) that will be prepared based upon the baseline biological survey information established in this report. Based on species composition and general physiognomy, a total of 15 native or naturalized plant communities, including disturbed forms and mixed vegetation types, were identified on site: Diegan coastal sage scrub, disturbed Diegan coastal sage scrub, chamise chaparral, coastal sage scrub-southern mixed chaparral, disturbed coastal sage scrub-southern mixed chaparral, southern mixed chaparral, non-native grassland, southern coast live oak riparian woodland, southern cottonwood-willow riparian forest, southern riparian woodland, southern willow scrub, arrowweed scrub, coast live oak woodland, open Engelmann oak woodland, and eucalyptus woodland. In addition, disturbed habitat, developed land, and orchard land covers were identified. A total of 203 vascular plant species were recorded on the Preserve during surveys. Four specialstatus plant species were observed, of which three are covered under the North County MSCP, and one, San Diego thorn-mint (Acanthomintha ilicifolia), is federally and state listed. A total of 93 wildlife species were observed or detected on the Preserve during surveys, including 8 reptiles, 52 birds, 16 mammals, and 17 invertebrates. Seventeen special-status wildlife species were observed or detected on the Preserve, including five species covered under the North County MSCP.

This work plan has been developed from the guidelines for goals and objectives set forth in the Calavera Hills Phase II Final Habitat Management Plan (HMP)(Planning Systems 2002), the Robertson Ranch East Village Open Space Land Management Plan (Planning Systems 2006) and the Robertson Ranch West Village Open Space Preserve Land Management Plan (Planning Systems 2007). These Habitat Management Plans have been reviewed by and agreed upon by the City of Carlsbad, United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). The Center for Natural Lands Management (Center) holds conservation easements (since June 2006 for Calavera Hills Phase II, and February 2007 for Robertson Ranch East Village, and December 2007 for Robertson Ranch West Village Parcel 23C Phase I) on the Calavera Hills and Robertson Ranch Habitat Conservation Area (HCA) and performs or oversees the tasks identified in the three Habitat Management Plans (collectively HMP's). The HCA is comprised of seven parcels, commonly referred to as Village H, R, U, W, and X, Robertson Ranch East Village, and Robertson Ranch West Village PA 23C Phase I, the first phase of a two phase parcel recordation process. The Center has merged the funding and reporting for these two areas as we provided the developer a financial discount for selecting the Center to manage both properties. In other words, the funding for the Robertson Ranch areas is less than what we would normally charge had we not already received funding for the Calavera Hills Phase II areas. This will also simplify future budgetary, reporting, and planning considerations. The purpose of this work plan is to identify the tasks and budget required to complete the management activities for the upcoming management year that will begin on October 1, 2010 and end on September 30, 2011. Unless otherwise stated, all tasks will be performed by Center's Preserve Managers Patrick McConnell and Jessica Vinje and Rangers Justin Trujillo, Zadok Othniel and Roberto Bejar. Summary of Tasks and Goals for the Management Year: - Maintain signs and existing fences - Install signage, smooth-wire fencing, and vegetation to limit pedestrian and vehicular access - Census and conduct habitat assessments of thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia), and San Diego thornmint (Acanthomintha ilicifolia) - Continue to set up and monitor coastal sage scrub (css) long-term monitoring plots - C

San Diego’s Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) is a comprehensive Habitat Conservation Plan developed with the goal of conserving native vegetation communities and associated species in a nearly 2,500-square-kilometer area in southwestern San Diego County. A biological monitoring program was proposed in 1996, but was never widely adopted. Over the past 10 years, several attempts have been made to develop a comprehensive monitoring program that is supported by the many jurisdictions and stakeholders. The objective of this NCCP Local Assistance Grant project is to evaluate different sampling designs and field protocols for monitoring coastal sage scrub (CSS) and chaparral vegetation communities. This effort addresses one of the two broad goals of the monitoring program, namely monitoring biodiversity and ecosystem function.

INTRODUCTION A. Background The Robertson Ranch Master Plan area is approximately 398 acres of planned development located within the north-central area of the city of Carlsbad (Figure 1). Through the CEQA review for the Robertson Ranch Master Plan project, the project was determined to result in significant impacts to sensitive upland biological resources. As mitigation for these impacts, the two Robertson Ranch landowners are obligated to set aside for permanent conservation significant amounts of open space, including large tracts of native and restored Diegan coastal sage scrub (ʺDCSSʺ) habitat. This habitat conservation and revegetation provides for a habitat corridor running diagonally through the Robertson Ranch site from north-east to southwest, but also meanders throughout the hillsides of the property. The Robertson Ranch is owned by two separate entities, as follows: East Village - Calavera Hills II, LLC West Village - Robertson Family Trust This Robertson Ranch East Village Open Space Land Management Plan (ʺPlanʺ) constitutes the land management plan for the open spaces of the East Village only. The East Village open spaces subject to this Plan are identified as the East Village Habitat Conservation Area (ʺEVHCAʺ) (Figure 2). This is the area affected by the requirements of this Plan. This Plan is intended to provide guidance to the open space manager, to ensure the perpetual conservation and maximization of the biological resource values of the EVHCA. The EVHCA is being preserved in accordance with the requirements of the City of Carlsbad Habitat Management Plan (ʺHMPʺ), in concurrence with the City of Carlsbad, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (ʺUSFWSʺ) and the California Department of Fish and Game (ʺCDFGʺ). The primary goal of this habitat conservation is to protect the habitat of the federally listed coastal California gnatcatcher, as well as other listed species and sensitive plant and wildlife species that are covered under the Multiple Habitat Conservation Plan (ʺMHCPʺ). A total of two (2) gnatcatchers have been observed to occupy the East Village preserve area in the survey (2002) by Merkel & Associates used to determine the preserve areas. To confirm the presence of coastal California gnatcatcher, a presence/absence survey shall be undertaken by long-term management entity within 60 days of officially accepting the property. The subject EVHCA constitutes the implementation of the

This report summarizes the management activities carried out on the Kelly Ranch Habitat Conservation Area (Preserve) by the Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM) during the fiscal year of October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2007. The tasks and objectives discussed below are those derived from the Kelly Ranch Habitat Conservation Area Management Plan, prepared by CNLM in November of 2002 (CNLM 2002). The Preserve is located approximately two miles inland from the Pacific Ocean and lies at the east end of Agua Hedionda Lagoon (Figures 1 and 2). Roads near the Preserve include Cannon Road along the northern boundaries and Faraday Avenue near the eastern boundary. The Preserve (63 acres) is not one unit, but is comprised of multiple parcels varying in size from a few acres to about 15 acres that are located within the housing development of Kelly Ranch and surrounding communities. Most of the Preserve and adjacent land was formerly known as Evans Point. The Preserve was set aside to protect its habitat, coastal sage scrub and southern maritime chaparral, and the threatened coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica).

This is the seventh annual HMP summary report, covering the period of November 1, 2010 to October 31, 2011. This report summarizes the preserve status, implementation activities, and preserve gains and losses that have occurred during the current reporting period. Highlights of HMP activities are summarized below. Current Status of Preserves The existing preserves continued to be managed, monitored, and/or maintained during the reporting period. Established private and City‐owned Hardline Preserves were managed and monitored in accordance with their approved Preserve Management Plans; California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) preserves were managed subject to available funding and resources; and pre‐existing natural open space areas were maintained according to their respective Open Space Easements, if applicable. Several future preserves made progress towards full management and monitoring during the reporting period, namely: Cantarini, Carlsbad Raceway, Dos Colinas, Manzanita Apartments, Muroya, Poinsettia Place, and Quarry Creek. Descriptions of the different categories of preserves and details of the progress towards preserve establishment during the reporting period are contained in Section 1.3. City Mitigation Parcel (Lake Calavera Preserve) A total of 1.7 acres were debited during the reporting period; cumulative debits to date are 84.5 acres. A total of 171.5 acres (credits) remain. Carlsbad Gnatcatcher Core Area Obligation At the start of the reporting period, the remaining Core Area obligation consisted of (1) acquisition of 43.02 acres of occupied coastal sage scrub habitat, and (2) reimbursement for 50.13 acres Core Area habitat previously purchased by Lennar Corporation (and currently managed). There were two highlights during this reporting period: (1) the City met its first funding obligation of a four‐year agreement to fund an endowment on the Perkins property, owned by Center for Natural Lands Management, bringing the remaining Core Area obligation to 35.49 acres, and (2) the City purchased the 50.13 acres of conservation credit from Lennar. E‐2 Annual Report for the Carlsbad HMP, Year 7 June 4, 2012 Land Acquisitions There were no land acquisitions inside of the HMP Planning Area during the reporting period. Habitat Gains and Losses There were no habitat gains or losses inside of the preserve system during the current reporting period. Rough Step Preserve Assembly The rough step policy stat

We establish a framework for building conceptual models for species, communities, and landscapes in San Diego's Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) and present four case studies which illustrate the construction of conceptual models and their utility in identifying components for monitoring. We present case studies of conceptual models for a covered plant (Ambrosia pumila) and animal species (California gnatcatcher), a community (coastal sage scrub), and a landscape (coastal sage scrub-chaparral-grassland). As this is an iterative process, we present a first version of each model, followed by comments made at a workshop with the MSCP partners, our responses, and a revised version of the model. We also identify key uncertainties for each case study. We recommend four major steps in conceptual model development to help identify the parameters and elements to be monitored: 1. Identify the monitoring goals for the relevant species, community, or landscape. 2. Identify the major current and historical anthropogenic threats, natural drivers, and population or community parameters that dictate current or future status and trends. 3. Identify potential management responses for the relevant species or system. 4. Identify what to monitor based on the main parameters that link to the dynamics of the relevant species or community in the context of the monitoring goals. Using the case studies presented here as a guide, the MSCP partners can develop conceptual models for other species, communities, and landscapes as the monitoring program proceeds. These models can and should be updated as the knowledge base for these systems improves as a result of monitoring and management implementation.

Prioritization of communities for monitoring was based on the following criteria: representativeness, extent, fragmentation, endangerment and threats. Aggregated communities that received high priority rankings based on several criteria include CSS and meadows & freshwater wetlands. Communities with high endangerment or threats should also receive high priority and include: Southern foredunes, Southern coastal salt marsh, Southern coastal bluff scrub, Maritime succulent scrub, Diegan coastal sage scrub, Southern maritime chaparral, Valley needlegrass grassland, Cismontane alkali marsh, Southern arroyo willow riparian forest, Southern willow scrub, Engelmann oak woodland, Torrey Pine forest, and Tecate Cypress forest. This report will: describe the current state of the MSCP Preserve, discuss natural community assemblages and alternative vegetation community classifications for the MSCP, describe the use of landscape stratification based on environmental variables as an alternative to vegetation classification, discuss the grouping of communities for the monitoring program, and prioritize natural communities for monitoring protocol development.

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY This work plan has been developed from the guidelines for goals and objectives set forth in the City of Carlsbad Preserve Management Plan (PMP) for the Carlsbad Oaks North Habitat Conservation Area (HCA) dated January 2005 (Tierra Data 2005) and as agreed to by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). This annual work plan also includes additional management activities that the Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM, referred to in-text as the Center) feels are appropriate to protect and maintain the natural resources at the HCA in perpetuity. The HCA covers 326 acres, of which 108.4 acres are located within a conservation easement (CE) on lands owned by the County of San Diego. The CE was transferred to the Center in November of 2005. The Center received funds to manage the CE portion in May of 2006 at which time management activities commenced. The Center received fee title for the remaining 219.6 acres from the previous owner, Techbilt Construction Corporation (Techbilt), in March of 2007. The purpose of this work plan is to identify the tasks and budget required to complete the management activities for the upcoming management year that will begin on October 1, 2010 and end on September 30, 2011. This is the fifth annual work plan submitted for this HCA since receiving the original CE portion in May 2006. Unless otherwise stated, all tasks will be performed by the Center's Area Manager, Markus Spiegelberg, Center HCA Managers Patrick McConnell and Jessica Vinje. Summary of Tasks and Goals for the Management year: - Install and maintain existing signs and fences - Map all sensitive wildlife species observed, note all animal species observed - Continue census and habitat assessment efforts for the San Diego thornmint (Acanthomintha ilicifolia) and thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia) - Conduct coastal sage scrub (css) long-term monitoring - Conduct coast live oak forest (clof) long-term monitoring - Track dead zone extent in southern parcel in CE portion of HCA - Begin restoring impacted thread-leaved brodiaea habitat - Monitor and control nonnative, exotic plants in restoration and enhancement areas in coordination with the developer of the Carlsbad Oaks North business park - Control non-native hollow-stem asphodel (Asphodelus fistulosus), artichoke thistle (Cynara cardunculus), Mexican fan palm (Washington

Surveys for coastal Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) were done in 378 established plots in southern San Diego County in 2020, encompassing three genetic clusters (Otay, Lake Jennings, and Sweetwater/Encanto genetic clusters). Two surveys were completed at each plot between March 1 and July 31. Cactus Wrens were detected in 131 plots (35 percent of plots). This is a slight increase over the proportion of occupied plots in 2019. One hundred and nine Cactus Wren territories were detected across all survey plots in 2020, an increase from 83 in 2019. At least 85 percent of Cactus Wren territories were occupied by pairs, and 62 fledglings were observed in 2020. There were 89 color-banded Cactus Wrens observed in 2020, 84 of which we could identify to individual. Adults of known age ranged from 1 to at least 6 years old. Adult Cactus Wrens moved on average 0.2 kilometers (km; maximum 3.8 km) from their 2019 territories to their 2020 territories. Cactus Wrens that fledged in 2019 moved on average 1.2 km (maximum 9.9 km) to their 2020 territories. No known-identity Cactus Wrens moved between genetic clusters from 2019 to 2020. Vegetation at Cactus Wren plots typically was dominated by coastal sage scrub shrubs such as California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), lemonadeberry (Rhus integrifolia), California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), and broom baccharis (Baccharis sarothroides). Very little dead or unhealthy cactus was observed within Cactus Wren survey plots. Thirty-eight percent of plots had at least 25 percent of the cactus crowded or overtopped by vines and shrubs. Non-native annual cover was greater than 25 percent at 35 percent of plots.

AECOM conducted baseline biological surveys of the County of San Diego?s Sage Hill Preserve (Preserve). This effort was undertaken to provide biological data, information, and analysis to the San Diego County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to aid their development of a Resource Management Plan with Area Specific Management Directives for the Preserve. To evaluate the Preserve?s biological resources, AECOM performed the following studies: a) vegetation mapping; b) sensitive plant surveys; c) invasive plant surveys; d) butterfly surveys; e) amphibian surveys; f) reptile pit traps and surveys; g) avian point counts; h) nocturnal bird surveys; i) acoustic surveys and roost surveys for bats; j) small mammal trapping, and k) camera survey stations for medium and large mammals. This report describes all survey methodologies, data collected, and analyses performed during the survey, which occurred from February through December, 2009. The report also includes management recommendations based on the survey results. These recommendations cover management and monitoring of sensitive plant and animal species, including species covered by the North County Multiple Species Conservation Program (North County MSCP). It also includes recommendations for management and monitoring of vegetation communities, control of invasive non-native plant species, and other recommendations to ameliorate illegal collection of animal species from the Preserve. The Preserve covers approximately 231.51 acres of native and non-native habitats, including Diegan coastal sage scrub, southern maritime chaparral, coastal sage-chaparral scrub, coastal and valley freshwater marsh, southern oak riparian forest, non-native grassland, disturbed habitat, and tamarisk scrub. All of the Preserve is within the proposed North County MSCP preserve system. The 2009 surveys documented 8 vegetation types and 239 species within the Preserve. The species detected included 146 plant species (of which 97 were native), wildlife surveys detected 13 butterfly species, 4 amphibian species (including one non-native), 8 reptile species, 48 bird species (including one non-native), and 20 mammal species (including one non-native). Of these species, there are 11 special-status species of which six are North County MSCP-covered species (2 plants and 4 animals).

Consistent with our proposal dated March 25, 2008, the Irvine Ranch Conservancy and consulting biologist Robert Hamilton have built, installed, and monitored several experimental artificial nesting substrates for the Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus; CACW) in the Irvine Ranch Wildlands in central and coastal Orange County, California, within the larger Nature Reserve of Orange County. The wren is one of two avian ―focal species‖ of the Natural Communities Conservation Plan (NCCP) for coastal sage scrub in southern California, and its populations in both the central and coastal NCCP reserves are of special conservation concern due to rapidly declining numbers, reduced availability of favorable habitat with adequate nesting sites related to the wildfires of the past 16 years, and increasingly isolated sub-populations.

The County of San Diego's Barnett Ranch Preserve (Preserve) is part of the South and North County Multiple Species Conservation Programs (MSCP) and managed by the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) pursuant to management and monitoring guidelines identified in the South County MSCP and in the Barnett Ranch Preserve Area Specific Management Directives (ASMD). A baseline monitoring study conducted between 2001 and 2003 collected biological data on the Preserve. However, the Cedar Fire in 2003 burned the entire Preserve, effectively changing short term habitat conditions. This report details results of the monitoring surveys conducted in 2009, and provides analysis and conclusions relative to habitat conditions and specific-specific management recommendations. MSCP monitoring guidelines are currently being updated, revised and developed. Regional monitoring approaches and specific habitat monitoring protocols are being studied by researchers of San Diego State University (SDSU); animal monitoring protocols are being drafted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the latter of which is also researching specific monitoring protocols for sensitive plants. In lieu of the availability of preserve-specific monitoring protocols, monitoring methods for the 2009 surveys either used established protocols or draft regional MSCP monitoring protocols adapted for preserve-level monitoring. The following monitoring surveys were performed in 2009: vegetation communities mapping, general wildlife, habitat monitoring, herpetological pitfall array, and wildlife corridor/movement surveys. The Preserve consists mainly of non-native grassland habitats in the center of the Preserve, which were historically influenced by grazing. Chaparral habitats are also well represented and seem to be recovering from the effects of the 2003 Cedar Fire, although vegetation community transitions and chaparral ecotones are unusually frequent on the Preserve. However, coastal sage scrub, which has historically covered large portions on the site, seems to be receding, possibly due to the effects of several wildfires that have burned the site. Results from habitat monitoring surveys suggest that type conversion from scrub habitats to non-native grasslands seem to be occurring, most likely as a result of the 2003 Cedar Fire. In addition, the Preserve's oak woodlands were also significantly affected by t

The SDMMP established a subcommittee in 2019 which proposed a Grazing Monitoring Pilot Project (GMPP) with goals to investigate the efficacy of grazing to: a) reduce fire risk, b) enhance disturbed native habitats, and c) promote MSP species. This document presents an annotated review of the core literature related to the GMPP goals and is intended to provide SANDAG and the SDMMP with links to relevant published experimental, observational, model-based, reviews/book chapters, and technical reports. The collection of literature reviewed below is presented in a bibliographical format with accompanying abstracts, summaries, purposes, or conclusions (primarily taken from the original documents) to help inform development of an efficient and effective MSP Grazing Monitoring Plan benefitting southern California native habitats and species. The specific subtopics start with historical background and the use of predictive models, move to topics of fire risk reduction, grazing to enhance disturbed native grasslands and forbland habitats, and grazing to enhance disturbed coastal sage scrub habitat. Then it reviews topics of climate/drought responses, coastal sage scrub type conversion, grazing in relation to some MSP species, monitoring, and the benefits and tradeoffs of different grazing animals. Finally, we provide some summary observations and conclusions.

Monitoring to detect ecological change is an important component of many environmental and conservation programs. Developing effective monitoring programs for conservation plans is scientifically and logistically challenging. The Nature Reserves of Orange County (NROC) hold 38,000 acres enrolled within the Orange County NCCP. NROC is obligated to monitor the condition of conservation values through time and has identified vegetation communities as targets for long term monitoring. The Nature Conservancy holds conservation easements on properties adjacent to NROC NCCP lands, and both entities have similar monitoring requirements. The objective of this project is to evaluate the precision and accuracy of different sampling designs and field protocols for monitoring vegetation communities in the Orange County conservation lands, primarily coastal sage scrub (CSS), chaparral, and grasslands in central Orange County. This information addresses many of the fundamental questions surrounding the selection of both response designs and sampling designs and provides a foundation for long-term monitoring. Initial sampling effort was stratified across vegetation types, including coastal sage scrub (CSS), chaparral and grasslands. Although the OC NCCP and TNC easement lands encompass many more vegetation types, CSS, chaparral and grasslands were prioritized based on previous work in the San Diego MSCP. This stratification across habitat types was coordinated with sampling in the San Diego MSCP to improve the power of the analysis and expand our understanding to the entire southern California region. This larger, combined data set will provide both sponsors a more robust set of conclusions and dramatically advance our ability to monitor southern California vegetation communities. Methods: We set up eight plots throughout the inland portions of open space in central Orange County. A total of six plots were established on TNC easement lands with the remaining two established on NROC NCCP lands. We used plots that were 20m by50 m (0.1ha) and included ten 100m2 (10mx10m) subplots, two 50m point-intercept transects and the twenty 1m2 quadrats. All three data collection protocols were used by each team at all visited plots. Plot set-up was performed in late April, and field sampling was conducted by two teams in mid-May. Our field protocols recorded a number of response variables, including the species richness of the vegetation being sampled and the cover of individual spe

In 2003 and 2007, southern California experienced several large fires which burned thousands of hectares of wildlife habitats and conserved lands. In order to investigate the effects of the fires on plant communities, we compared the results from vegetation sampling conducted prior to the fires to results from four consecutive years of post-fire sampling among 38 burned and 17 unburned plots. The sampling plots were spread over four vegetation types (chaparral, coastal sage scrub, woodland/riparian, and grassland) and four open space areas within San Diego County. Our survey results indicated that burned plots of chaparral and coastal sage scrub lost shrub and tree canopy cover after the fires and displayed shifts in overall community structure. Post-fire community structure within burned chaparral and coastal sage scrub plots was more similar to that found in grasslands. We did not find differences in species richness or community composition in grasslands or woodland/riparian vegetation where shrub and tree cover did not significantly change after the fires. Across all plots both before and after the fires, non-native grass was the most abundant “species”, followed by chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) which was consistently the second most abundant species. We saw increases in the cover rates for several species, including peak rush-rose (Helianthemum scoparium) and Ceanothus spp., in burned chaparral and coastal sage scrub plots. California sagebrush (Artemisia californica) and California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) appear to have declined drastically in our coastal sage scrub samples with little to no signs of recovering. Chamise, Tecate cypress (Cupressus forbesii), and pines (Pinus spp.) also declined, but it apprears that there has been some progress in the post-fire recovery of these species. We discuss these individual species results as they relate to specific life history traits, such as susceptibility to initial mortality and post-fire changes in habitat suitability. We foresee that a continued unnatural fire regime for southern California will result in a simplification of the southern California vegetation communities, especially in the shrublands.

Introduction This Preserve Management Plan (PMP) details the activities necessary to preserve existing Coastal Sage Scrub and Southern Maritime Chaparral habitat within the 8.3-acre open space lot on the La Costa Collection Townhomes project site (Project). Preservation of the preserve area is to be partial compensatory mitigation for the environmental impacts from the La Costa Collection residential development project. This PMP has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the original project (i.e. the Moonstone Residential Development Project), and the Carlsbad Habitat Management Plan (HMP). The Carlsbad HMP is a subarea plan of the Multiple Habitat Conservation Program (MHCP), a landscape-level habitat conservation plan developed under the auspices of the State's Natural Community Conservation Planning (NCCP) program.

The San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy began this project in 2017 aiming to eradicate perennial veldt grass, Ehrharta calycina (veldt grass), from San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve (Reserve). At the start of the project this highly invasive, non-native grass occurred in Diegan coastal sage scrub, southern maritime chaparral, and southern riparian scrub, covering a total of 7 acres (although additional populations were found during the project period). During the project additional occurrences were found in the Reserve, bringing the total to 8.5 acres. At the end of this project percent cover of veldt grass was at less than 1 or 0 percent across all sites, meeting all success criteria. Each site had been treated at least twice per growing season (veldt grass goes dormant during the summer and fall and does not respond to herbicide treatment.) With that said, successful invasive species eradication takes many years to complete. It is likely that a veldt grass seed bank still exists in these sites, so there is a need for continued management going forward.

The County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) prepared a master plan in 2007 outlining the creation of the San Luis Rey River Park (SLRRP) in northern San Diego County. Per the Park Implementation Process outlined in the SLRRP Master Plan, the County has acquired approximately 500 of the 1,700 acres planned for the SLRRP. DPR is proposing to manage the SLRRP in accordance with a resource management plan (RMP), including areaspecific management directives (ASMDs). Dudek conducted a baseline biodiversity study of the SLRRP parcels to provide DPR with current biological data needed to prepare an RMP. This report documents the methods and results of this study and provides various management recommendations for ASMDs to preserve and enhance the function of the SLRRP as biological open space in the context of the conservation goals and guidelines of the Draft North County Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) Plan. Dudek biologists performed the following baseline biological surveys on the parcel additions from fall 2010 through spring 2011: vegetation mapping, focused botanical surveys, exotic species mapping, general butterfly surveys, herpetological pitfall trap surveys, aquatic amphibian surveys, avian point count surveys, bat surveys, small mammal trapping, and large and medium mammal surveys. Eight vegetation communities or land covers were identified on site, including southern cottonwood-willow riparian forest (including disturbed forms), disturbed habitat, non-native grassland, developed land, orchard, tamarisk scrub, agriculture, and Diegan coastal sage scrub. A total of 168 plant species were recorded within the study area during surveys. No special-status plant species were observed. A total of 166 wildlife species were observed or detected in the study area during surveys, including 3 fish, 4 amphibians, 10 reptiles, 63 birds, 31 mammals, and 55 invertebrates. Eighteen special-status wildlife species were observed or detected in the study area, including two species proposed for coverage under the Draft North County MSCP.

Background and Purpose of Fire Monitoring Plan: The 286-acre Blossom Valley Habitat Conservation Area (HCA) burned during the Cedar Fire of 2003. Pre-fire, the HCA contained roughly 180 acres of coastal sage scrub, 58 acres of oak woodland and 50 acres of southern mixed chaparral. The Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM) took title to the property in July of 2004. This Plan fulfills CNLM?s intent to develop a monitoring program that allows preserve managers to determine along what kind of trajectory the HCA is recovering.

This long-term management plan (LTMP) provides a framework for the enhancement and management of thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia) populations, Diegan coastal sage scrub, native grassland, and southern willow scrub on the Fox-Miller Property open space, which includes approximately 18.11 acres of land in the city of Carlsbad, San Diego County. The dedication of the open space and the implementation of the associated LTMP fulfill a portion of the mitigation for impacts to the biological resources associated with development of the property. This plan will become effective following the completion and approval of the five-year maintenance and monitoring activities associated with the approved restoration plan prepared for this project. The open space will be managed in perpetuity to maintain and improve the habitat quality onsite. Habitat enhancement of the open space will benefit the thread-leaved brodiaea as well as a variety of wildlife species using the open space. Management guidelines and the responsible parties are identified in this document. This plan was written and is believed to be in conformance with the Multiple Habitat Conservation Program (San Diego Association of Governments [SANDAG] 1998), the City of Carlsbad's Habitat Management Plan for Natural Communities (City of Carlsbad 1999), and Section D of the draft Open Space Management Plan.

We monitored populations of Palmer?s goldenbush (Ericameria palmeri var. palmeri) on the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge between October 4 and October 31, 2002. Palmer?s goldenbush is a rare, perennial, yellow-flowered shrub in the Family Asteraceae that occurs below 600 meters elevation along coastal drainages and dry valleys, in Diegan coastal sage scrub, and in mesic chaparral. According to the MSCP ?Biological Monitoring Guidelines?, Third Priority Covered Species, such as Palmer?s goldenbush require biological monitoring once every 5 years. The Guidelines recommend (require) using permanent photo plots for monitoring of Third Priority plant species. Although photo plot methods may provide some useful information such as areal extent of a species or changes in plant cover of a particular species, more valuable data such as population structure, plant phenology, and site attributes are required to determine the trends that make long-term monitoring effective. Because of these reasons we chose a more rigorous, yet simple method to monitor Palmer?s goldenbush on the Refuge.

Introduction A. Background The Calavera Hills Phase II Habitat Preserve (Preserve) is a 144 acre open space set aside for permanent conservation by Calavera Hills II, LLC, the developer of Calavera Hills Phase II. This conservation area has been set aside as partial mitigation for impacts to natural habitat resulting from the approved Phase II development. The limits of the Preserve (Figure 1) have been approved by the City of Carlsbad, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) with the primary goal of protecting habitat of the federally listed coastal California gnatcatcher, as well as other listed species and other sensitive plant and wildlife species that are covered under the City of Carlsbad Habitat Management Plan (HMP). A varying number of gnatcatchers have been observed to occupy the preserve area in different yearly surveys. The site has been evaluated through the Calavera Hills Phase II Environmental Impact Report. It contains approximately 110 acres of coastal sage scrub (CSS), approximately 8 acres of southern mixed and chamise chaparral (SMC), approximately 16 acres of nonnative grasslands (NNG), 2 acres of eucalyptus woodland (EUC), and 8 acres of other vegetation types including disturbed and ruderal vegetation. Listed and sensitive animal and plant species also occupy the site. Pursuant to the requirements of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) Biological Opinion dated March 14, 2002, Calavera Hills II, LLC is required to name and endow a public or private natural land management entity to manage the conserved area resources in perpetuity. The resource agencies and organizations have determined that setting lands aside and preventing development is not sufficient to preserve and protect biological integrity. Identifying the critical processes and elements that need protection, then planning, budgeting and funding for sustaining these processes and elements in perpetuity is the essence of long-term land protection. B. Purpose The purpose of this Habitat Management Plan is to establish the parameters for the permanent protection and management of the conservation area. The intent of this plan is to assure that the monitoring and management provides for the protection of vegetation within the area is protected from future disturbance in order that it can persist as viable California gnatcatcher nesting habitat and that the preserved area becomes biolo

Baseline surveys were conducted in the winter, spring, and summer of 2008. Biologists conducted the following surveys to assess the current status of biological resources onsite: (1) mapping of vegetation communities, (2) a floral inventory including rare plant surveys, (3) checklist butterfly surveys, (4) pitfall trapping to sample amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals, (5) focused arroyo toad surveys, (6) aquatic herpetofauna surveys, (7) diurnal avian point count surveys, (8) nocturnal avian surveys, (9) acoustic sampling and roost and foraging surveys for bats, (10) small mammal trapping using live Sherman traps, and (11) track and camera station surveys for medium and large mammals. Due to a series of drought years and recent wildfires that have burned much of the Preserve, results of these surveys may under-represent the diversity of plant and wildlife species that occupy the Preserve. Nine vegetation communities were mapped within the Preserve and consist of southern coast live oak riparian forest, Diegan coastal sage scrub, southern mixed chaparral, mafic southern mixed chaparral, non-native grassland, coast live oak woodland, eucalyptus woodland, disturbed habitat, and urban/developed. The most abundant vegetation community on the Preserve is southern mixed chaparral. Floristic surveys documented 337 plant taxa occurring in the nine vegetation communities. These include both native and non-native species along with seven sensitive plant species: Brewer?s calandrinia, Humboldt?s lily, Cleveland?s bush monkey flower, felt-leaved monardella, Fish?s milkwort, Robinson?s pepper-grass, and Engelmann oak. A total of 150 animal species were documented from the Preserve during the 2008 baseline surveys. These include 16 species of butterflies, three species of amphibians, 16 species of reptiles, 78 species of birds, and 37 species of mammals. No federally or state listed species were detected; however, 13 non-listed sensitive species were detected during baseline surveys.

The Hermes copper butterfly, Lycaena [Hermelycaena] hermes is a rare butterfly endemic to the coastal sage scrub (CSS) community in San Diego County and northern Baja California. Conservation groups and wildlife agencies recognize that Hermes copper butterfly is threatened by recent urbanization and wildfires; however this species has yet to be listed as threatened or endangered on the Endangered Species Act. Until recently, relatively little was known about Hermes copper and this lack of information resulted in negative 90-day findings by Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to list the species in 1993 and 2006 (US Fish and Wildlife Service 1993, 2006). However, in 2010 a positive 90-day finding was issued, and the species is currently being reviewed for listing. This project provides an initial evaluation of Hermes copper populations on conserved land in San Diego County from the 2010 flight season.

Introduction A. Background The Rancho La Costa Habitat Conservation Area (HCA) is an over 1,400 acre open space set aside by the Real Estate Collateral Management Company (RECMC), Brookfield Homes, and Scandia Development as mitigation for impacts to natural habitat as part of the Villages of La Costa and University Commons developments. The limits of the Preserve have been approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) with the primary goal of protecting habitat of the federally listed coastal California gnatcatcher, as well as other listed species, and numerous sensitive plant and wildlife species that are covered under the Fieldstone Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), the City of San Marcos' MHCP Subarea Plan and Carlsbad's Habitat Management Plan (HMP). B. Habitat Conservation Area History The Rancho La Costa HCA resulted from over ten years of effort (Fieldstone HCP, University Commons EIR) that evolved into a unique planning process for a project specific plan, characterized by a consideration of range-wide conservation issues, open public participation and negotiations with conservation interests and federal, state and local agencies. The biological significance of the HCA comes from its location in relation to other important natural resource lands located nearby. The eastern portions of the Preserve form the western tip of the largest, contiguous stretch of coastal sage scrub and natural open space in northern San Diego County, and is the primary link between the City of Carlsbad's and San Marcos' natural communities and the larger regional ecosystem in the City of Escondido and San Diego County. The Center for Natural Lands Management (Center) has been (or will be) deeded title to all parcels that make up the HCA and has received endowments to manage these parcels in perpetuity. Management commenced in January 2002 for about one half of the total property with management of the additional acreage commencing between January 2002 and December 2004. La Costa Villages off-site mitigation properties have yet to be deeded to the Center (as of January 2005). Parcels that were deeded to the Center either fall in the City of Carlsbad or City of San Marcos jurisdictions and therefore, subsequent sub-area plans. If the properties were for "off-site" mitigation and were located in the County of San Diego, the conservation credit, and therefore management, is

Monitoring to detect ecological change is an important component of many environmental and conservation programs. The Nature Reserves of Orange County (NROC) hold 38,000 acres enrolled within the Orange County NCCP. NROC is obligated to monitor the condition of conserved lands through time and has identified vegetation communities as targets for long term monitoring. Monitoring this large and heterogeneous area is scientifically and logistically challenging as well as costly. The objective of this project is to evaluate the cost and accuracy of different sampling designs and field protocols for monitoring coastal sage scrub (CSS), chaparral, and grassland vegetation communities. This report covers year two of an ongoing project. The current work emphasizes the importance of spatial coverage across the study area. As a result, we increased the number of sites and plots sampled from the first year of the project. We also eliminated the visual cover protocol and decreased the length of the transects and the number of quadrats at each plot. This year we detected a large increase in plant species richness throughout the county. This was driven largely by the increased diversity of forbs at resampled plots. Shrub cover varied spatially but was similar across years. In addition to richness, the cover of native and non-native forbs and grasses increased dramatically. We used a variance components analysis in order to develop recommendations for optimizing monitoring. We consider three major sources of variation: temporal (interannual), spatial and methodological. Spatial variation includes three nested levels: vegetation community, site and plot. Methodological variation includes two levels: protocol (quadrat vs. point intercept) and team. Several suites of response variables were analyzed including species richness, cover of major functional groups (e.g. native shrubs, non-native forbs), and several example species from each functional group. Semi-arid shrublands in southern California are highly spatial, with different species and functional groups displaying different degrees of affinity for a specific vegetation type or a different degree of patchiness across sites and plots. As a result allocating a significant amount of effort to spatial coverage is appropriate for most response variables. Some species and groups are also dramatically influenced by annual factors such as rainfall, and will require annual monitoring. Team-to-team variability is small

In 2009-10, the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) acquired the Pascoe, Cielo Azul, and Helix-Lambron parcels as additions to the Del Dios Highlands Preserve (Preserve). The County manages the Preserve in accordance with an existing Resource Management Plan (RMP) including Area-Specific Management Directives (ASMDs). Dudek conducted a baseline biodiversity study of the parcel additions to provide DPR with current biological data needed to revise the existing Del Dios Highlands Preserve RMP to include the Pascoe, Cielo Azul and Helix-Lambron parcels. This report documents the methods and results of these surveys and provides various recommendations for ASMDs to preserve and enhance the function of the parcel additions as biological open space in the context of the existing Preserve RMP as well as the Draft North County Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) Plan and South County MSCP. Dudek biologists performed the following baseline biological surveys on the parcel additions from fall 2010 through spring 2011: vegetation mapping, focused botanical surveys, exotic species mapping, general butterfly surveys, herpetological pitfall trap and coverboard surveys, aquatic amphibian surveys, avian point count surveys, bat surveys, small mammal trapping, and large and medium mammal surveys. Eight vegetation communities were identified on site including: Diegan coastal sage scrub, southern mixed chaparral, non-native grassland, southern coast live oak riparian woodland, southern willow scrub, coast live oak woodland, eucalyptus woodland, and disturbed habitat. A total of 136 plant species were recorded on the parcel additions during surveys. Four specialstatus plant species were observed, of which two are MSCP-covered species, and one of these, Encinitas baccharis (Baccharis vanessae), is federally and state listed. A total of 147 wildlife species were observed or detected on the parcel additions during surveys, including 4 amphibians, 13 reptiles, 73 birds, 35 mammals, and 22 invertebrates. Twenty-eight special-status wildlife species were observed or detected on the Preserve, including 13 MSCP-covered species.

A study to determine the current status of the California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica) was conducted in the Central and Coastal Reserves in 2011. The purpose of this study was to establish a baseline population estimate of habitat occupancy for the California gnatcatcher throughout the reserve system in order to evaluate trends in occupancy over time and in response to management actions. A plot based transect approach was used to survey for the California gnatcatcher throughout the Central and Coastal Reserves. A total of 149 randomly selected plots were surveyed for occupancy by California gnatcatchers three times each. Data were also collected on the vegetation types in each plot, including the composition and estimated cover of the dominant shrubs in the coastal sage scrub, which will allow the NROC to develop and evaluate habitat suitability models for the California gnatcatcher. Incidental observations of California gnatcatchers (outside the plots), cactus wrens ( Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus), and other covered species were recorded throughout the study period. California gnatcatchers were detected at a total of 34 plots during the three rounds of surveys. Twenty-four plots were occupied during the first round of surveys, 22 during the second round, and 22 during the third round. The distribution of gnatcatchers is highly skewed toward the Coastal Reserve where 24 of the 34 occupied plots were located. This appears to be the result of the 2007 fires that burned approximately 75% of the Central Reserve. Early successional shrub species, primarily deerweed (Lotus scoparius) and bushrnallow (Malacothamnus fasciculatus ), dominated many of the plots in the bum areas but do not provide quality nesting habitat. These relationships will be investigated more fully by NROC and USFWS when data are analyzed statistically. A substantial number (136) of incidental observations of 18 other target and covered species were made during study. These incidental observations included 25 locations for California gnatcatchers (mostly pairs and individuals) outside of survey plots.

Brachypodium distachyon is an emerging invasive species with potentially widespread ecological implications for native species, habitats, and ecosystem processes. It has increased in extent and dominance in recent years in San Diego County, possibly in response to repeated fires and climatic conditions. Brachypodium decreases native species diversity and may alter soil ecology, vegetation community structure and composition, and natural fire regimes. This species is particularly dense on restricted soils and, thus, threatens edaphic endemic plants such as Acanthomintha ilicifolia, Bloomeria clevelandii, Brodiaea filifolia, Brodiaea orcuttii, Deinandra conjugens, Dudleya variegata, Nolina interrata, and Tetracoccus dioicus, as well as native grassland and coastal sage scrub communities. These plants and habitats are conservation targets under the Natural Community Conservation Planning programs in San Diego County, California. The conserved areas selected for treatment─Crestridge Ecological Reserve and South Crest─form a central core area for linking populations of both plants and animals between north and south San Diego County preserves.

The City of San Diego (City) contracted with URS to conduct protocol presence/absence surveys for California gnatcatcher. Nine sites located throughout the City?s MSCP preserve were surveyed to determine presence of California gnatcatcher at each site in spring of 2001. The sites were located at Lake Hodges, San Pasqual Valley, Black Mountain, Los Penasquitos Canyon, Mission Trails Regional Park, Spooner?s Mesa, Otay Mesa/Spring Canyon, Lower Otay Reservoir, and Marron Valley. Gnatchaters were detected at all of the sites.

The objectives of this document are to review the current status of the component of the monitoring program that focuses on rare plants, and to make recommendations for an efficient program design that propels conservation forward in the region. For conservation to be effective, ecological monitoring must be efficient and sustainable, responsive to agency management needs, regionally integrated, and flexible enough to respond to emerging issues as they arise. The monitoring must be focused on the assessment of how populations of MSCP taxa respond to management regimes and particular management actions. Thus, this review takes a look at program vision and structure, implementation plans, available data, and institutional support of the current monitoring efforts. We provide recommendations for a revised rare plant monitoring framework based on current concepts in conservation biology (especially adaptive management), data analyses, and agency and stakeholder feedback. We use the framework to develop an example Monitoring and Management Plan protocol for San Diego ambrosia (Ambrosia pumila).

The MSCP identifies two primary biological goals: conserving diversity and function of the ecosystem, and conserving populations of specific species. The MSCP Plan and the BMP also identify specific objectives for the monitoring program, including the documentation of ecological trends and evaluation of the effectiveness of management activities. The goals and objectives of the MSCP and its monitoring plan provide a good foundation, but their effectiveness would improve if conservation targets and triggers for management were created, based on the best available data. The implementation of the MSCP biological monitoring plan has been partially successful, as baseline surveys have been conducted for many MSCP parcels and for a variety of covered species. Studies have been commissioned on a diverse array of topics. However, the protocols described in the original BMP have not been adopted by most jurisdictions or agencies. An important exception is the City of San Diego?s rare plant monitoring program and their additional surveys and studies on other monitoring issues. The County has surveyed many of their lands and contracted out studies on several important issues. The primary wildlife agencies USGS, USFWS, and CDFG have also surveyed MSCP lands and studied relevant questions. Some important aspects of the monitoring program must be improved for the plan to be successful. Important areas to improve include the lack of: (1) a central repository of spatial and non-spatial data and MSCP-related documents; (2) updated and scientifically-defensible monitoring priorities; (3) management-oriented conceptual models; (4) data analysis and synthesis capacity; and (5) feedback between decision-makers and land managers.