The goal of this three-year project (#5004730) is to increase the amount of suitable habitat and improve connectivity for the coastal cactus wren along Otay River Valley through restoration and enhancement of degraded habitat areas. This project will complement the existing coastal cactus wren habitat restoration project proposed by the City of Chula Vista within the Otay River Valley and Salt Creek as part of the current Transnet EMP grant cycle. The coastal cactus wren restoration program in the Otay River Valley and Salt Creek area address the immediate needs of the coastal cactus wren where loss and degradation of existing wren habitat has occurred due to historical cattle grazing, increase of invasive plant species, unauthorized off-road vehicle use, drought, and vegetation succession processes. Activities included in this program include invasive species control with follow-up herbicide treatments, shrub thinning, collecting and planting coast cholla and coast prickly pear cuttings, native grass and forb seed collection and redistribution, vegetation monitoring, and focus cactus wren monitoring. An additional grant (#5004944) was awarded the first year of project implementation that provided access control fencing to the #5004730 project. Activities for the proposed project include the installation of t-post barbless wire fencing around the 3.5 acre CACW restoration area, in addition to installing 8 signs stating "Habitat Restoration Area - No Trespassing." This project would fulfill the immediate need for access control to the CACW restoration area, deterring off-road vehicles, bikers, equestrians, and other trails users from entering the project site. By providing funding for access control to this restoration and enhancement site, it will increase the success of EMP Grant #5004730.
Cactus Wren, Coastal cactus wren
County of San Diego
Annabelle Bernabe
Annabelle Bernabe
Deborah Mosley
Goal: Protect, enhance, and restore suitable cactus scrub habitat for coastal cactus wrens to increase effective population size in each genetic cluster at a short term sustainable level (e.g. 50-100 wrens), rehabilitate habitat destroyed by wildfire, improve habitat quality to maintain populations during drought, enhance connectivity within and between genetic clusters to increase genetic diversity and rescue small populations, and manage anthropogenic predation risk to ensure the long term persistence (>100 years) of cactus wrens on Conserved Lands in the MSPA.
Management units: 2, 3, 4
From 2017 through 2021, continue implementing high priority management actions to: expand coastal cactus wren populations; rehabilitate habitat destroyed in the 2003 Cedar and 2007 Harris wildfires; improve connectivity within and between the Otay and San Diego/El Cajon genetic clusters (see occurrence table); and manage high risk of anthropogenic predation of adults and nestlings. These priority management actions are identified in the South San Diego County Coastal Cactus Wren Habitat Conservation and Management Plan prepared in 2015.
| Action | Statement | Action status | Projects |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMP-1 | Following best practices in the South San Diego County Coastal Cactus Wren Habitat Conservation and Management Plan, design cactus scrub enhancement and restoration projects to provide high quality nesting and foraging habitat with large patches of cacti >1 m tall in a mosaic of open scrub that provides sufficient food resources for reproduction and survival, especially during drought. As they become available, incoporate the results from the Cactus Wren Demography, Foraging and Arthropod Study to create restoration palettes that favor plant species associated with important arthropod food resources. Design planting layouts to maximize water availability by allocating a portion of the plantings to more mesic sites, such as ravines, at the bottom of slopes, and on northerly and easterly aspects. Control invasive nonnative plants to =20% absolute cover to reduce competition with native plants for water and light. | some occurrences are in progress | Otay River Valley Cactus Wren Habitat Restoration and Enhancement , Salt Creek Coastal Cactus Wren Habitat Restoration Project |
| IMP-2 | Implement management actions, as needed, to reduce anthropogenic predation on wrens and their nests in fragmented habitats bordered by development where wrens are vulnerable to predation by cats, Cooper's hawks, corvids and other human-subsidized predators. Actions could include removing selected trees within or bordering cactus scrub that provide hunting, roosting, and nesting perches for hawks and corvids and avoiding cactus scrub restoration in areas where the terrain and location make wrens especially vulnerable to predation. Other measures could involve humanely removing feral cats from Conserved Lands and providing educational material and signage encouraging neighboring homeowners to keep their cats indoors so that wrens are protected and cats are safe from predation by wild animals, such as coyotes. | some occurrences are in progress | Otay River Valley Cactus Wren Habitat Restoration and Enhancement , Salt Creek Coastal Cactus Wren Habitat Restoration Project |
| Criteria | Deadline year |
|---|---|
| By 2021, =3 High Priority Management Actions Implemented from the 2015 South San Diego County Coastal Cactus Wren Habitat Conservation and Management Plan | 2021 |
| Threat Name | Threat Code |
|---|---|
| Altered fire regime | ALTFIR |
| Climate change | CLICHN |
| Herbivory/predation | |
| Invasive plants | INVPLA |
| Loss of connectivity | LOSCON |
| Urban development | URBDEV |
Goal: The goal for managing human use of preserves is to understand and reduce the impacts of human uses on Conserved Lands where human use is reducing the population levels and/or viability of MSP species populations.
Management units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Beginning in 2017, limit or restrict passive recreation uses within Important Management Areas and/or significant occurrences of MSP species during the breeding season for animals and peak growing season for plants and minimize adverse effects from vegetation trampling, erosion, and trash.
| Action | Statement | Action status | Projects |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMP-1 | Identify where passive recreation uses may impact Important Management Areas and/or significant occurrences of MSP species on preserves. If possible, implement restrictions on use of these areas during the breeding season and peak growing season for plants. | Furby-North Preserve Unauthorized Control Project, Proctor Valley Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Barrier, Otay River Valley Cactus Wren Habitat Restoration and Enhancement , Spring Canyon/Goat Mesa Vernal Pool Restoration | |
| IMP-2 | Implement litter control measures, such as closed garbage cans and recycling bins, at preserve access points. | Furby-North Preserve Unauthorized Control Project, Proctor Valley Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Barrier, Otay River Valley Cactus Wren Habitat Restoration and Enhancement , Spring Canyon/Goat Mesa Vernal Pool Restoration |
| Criteria | Deadline year |
|---|---|
| Restrictions on Passive Recreation Implemented for the Protection of MSP Resources | 2021 |
| Threat Name | Threat Code |
|---|---|
| Human uses of the Preserves | HUMUSE |
| File name | Lead Author | Year | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otay River Valley Cactus Wren Fence Project Final Report | County of San Diego, Department of Parks and Recreation | 2017 | report |
| Year 3 Annual Report for the Otay River Valley Cactus Wren EMP Grant (SANDAG Grant Number 5004730; RECON Number 8116) | RECON Environmental, Inc. | 2018 | report |