LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE
Staff Report
Meeting Date: Sept. 12, 2023
To: Legislative Subcommittee
From: Jason Haber, Intergovernmental Affairs Director
Staff Contact: Jason Haber, Intergovernmental Affairs Director [email protected], 442-339-2958
Subject: California Department of Fish and Wildlife Update District: All
Recommended Action
Receive an update from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding the department's properties within Carlsbad and provide feedback.
Discussion
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife manages four ecological reserves within Carlsbad, including the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Ecological Reserve, Batiquitos Lagoon Ecological Reserve, Buena Vista Creek Ecological Reserve, Buena Vista Lagoon Ecological Reserve, and Carlsbad Highlands Ecological Reserve.
The following property descriptions and maps of CDFW properties located throughout the South Coast Region (Exhibits 1 and 2) are found on the department's website (www.wildlife.ca.gov):
Agua Hedionda Lagoon Ecological Reserve
The 186-acre Agua Hedionda Lagoon Ecological Reserve consists of lagoon, salt marsh, and mudflat habitats. Many species of water-associated birds have been recorded in the area and the immediate environs. Mammals, amphibians, and reptiles also use this parcel and its riparian and chaparral habitats.
The property was acquired to protect southern willow riparian forest and saltwater marsh habitats. It was designated as an ecological reserve by the Fish and Game Commission in 2002.
Batiquitos Lagoon Ecological Reserve
The Batiquitos Lagoon Ecological Reserve is a 544-acre property. Habitat types include open water/subtidal, intertidal mudflats, southern coastal salt marsh, coastal brackish marsh, nesting areas, transitional zones, and southern arroyo willow riparian forest. Dominant flora includes eelgrass, pickleweed, alkali health, and white sage. Dominant fauna includes striped mullet, great egret, horn snail, raccoon, woodrat, skunk, and ground squirrel.
Sept. 12, 2023 Item #2 Page 1 of 5
Past land use in the area includes ranching, and more recently, recreation. Batiquitos Lagoon was acquired to preserve, protect and maintain the improved coastal wetland habitat and associated species. The property was designated as an ecological reserve by the Fish and Game Commission in 1983.
Buena Vista Creek Ecological Reserve
The Buena Vista Creek Ecological Reserve is 148-acre property. Habitats include Diegan coastal sage scrub, southern arroyo willow riparian forest, coastal and valley freshwater marsh, and non-native grasslands. Several bird species are present.
The property comprises part of an important habitat linkage between the Cities of Carlsbad and Oceanside and was acquired for conservation and enhancement of riparian habitat and adjacent uplands. The property was designated as an ecological reserve by the Fish and Game Commission in 2007.
Buena Vista Lagoon Ecological Reserve
The Buena Vista Lagoon Ecological Reserve is 206 acres of coastal freshwater lagoon habitat.
Flora includes widgeon grass, pondweed, and arrow grass. Birds include cormorants, grebes, passerine birds, terns, ducks, and geese. Mammals include raccoon, skunk, and opossum, as well as vole and western harvest mouse.
In 1939, a county ordinance was approved that prohibits the discharge of firearms within the areas adjacent to the lagoon. This in effect made the lagoon a bird sanctuary. Buena Vista Lagoon was acquired to preserve, protect and maintain coastal wetland habitat and associated wildlife species. The property was designated as an ecological reserve by the Fish and Game Commission in 1968.
Carlsbad Highlands Ecological Reserve
The 473-acre Carlsbad Highlands Ecological Reserve consists primarily of coastal sage scrub and grasslands. It supports California gnatcatchers, sharp-shinned hawks, black-shouldered kites, turkey vultures and golden eagles.
This property was acquired to protect native plants and special habitats. It was designated as an ecological reserve by the Fish and Game Commission in 2000.
Bicycles are prohibited per Sections 550 (bb) and 630 (g), Title 14, California Code of Regulations.
Next Steps
None.
Public Notification
Public notice of this item was posted in keeping with the Ralph M. Brown Act and was available for public viewing and review at least 72 hours before the scheduled meeting date.
Sept. 12, 2023 Item #2 Page 2 of 5
Exhibits
1. California Department of Fish and Wildlife Map: South Coast Region -Agua Hedionda Lagoon ER, Batiquitos Lagoon ER, Buena Vista Creek ER, Buena Vista Lagoon ER, Carlsbad Highlands ER - San Diego County
2. California Department of Fish and Wildlife Map: South Coast Region -Wildlife Areas & Ecological Reserves
Sept. 12, 2023 Item #2 Page 3 of 5
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
South Coast Region
Exhibit 1
AGUA HEDIONDA LAGOON ER, BATIQUITOS LAGOON ER,
BUENA VISTA CREEK ER, BUENA VISTA LAGOON ER,
CARLSBAD HIGHLANDS ER
Approximately
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MEETING OF D\ /\'l- /1ra2..3
Agua Hedionda (AH) Reserve: a FLOOD THREAT to Rancho Carlsbad (RC) endangering the lives and homes of 800 senior residents
FACTORS
• Climate is changing: an unusually wet El Nina, first Hurricane in 84 years, forecasting a "STRONG" El Nino in 2024
• The entire drainage of AH Watershed 18,000 sq. acres flows through RC • Historically the AH and Calavera Creeks have been challenged with significant sedimentation that fills in the creek beds, decreases the water holding capacity and threatens flooding.
Refer to 'City of Carlsbad Drainage Master Plan Update EIR 2007' ( see pg 2) • Increasing accumulation of debris, sediment and vegetation over the years has significantly reduced water flow through the Reserve which impedes water flow through RC as witnessed by the stalling of creek flow at the north end of El Camino Real bridge (video) • Stalling of AH Creek backs up water flow in the Calavera channel; raising the water level up the banks and threatening homes
GOAL
Remove the excessive debris dams from Agua Hedionda Reserve to provide a maintainable clear channel. This will ensure free flowing water through the Reserve and Rancho Carlsbad.
THIS NEEDS ADDRESSING BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!
Extensive debris dams in AH Reserve Stalling of the AH CREEK on north side of El Camino Real Bridge
Presentation to Carlsbad Sub Committee 9/10/2023 Page 1 of 2 ' . " ., ... .. . . .
City of Carlsbad Drainage Master Plan Update EIR
04080135 Carlsbad DMP EIR.doc 12/ 11/2007
Previous Channel Configuration Work
The original segments of Agua Hedionda and Calavera creeks were reconstructed as man-made, earthen trapezoidal channels in conjunction with the development of the Rancho Carlsbad community development according to plans dated Jwie 1969. Approximately 1.2 miles of the Agua Hedionda and Calavera creeks were reconstructed as part of the overall development for the Rancho Carlsbad community. In 1998, additional channel enhancement and repair work occurred west of El Camino Real with the construction of Cannon Road Bridge over Agua Hedionda Creek. The Agua Hedionda Creek work provided for a bottom widt11 of 80 feet under Cannon Road Bridge to a width of l 00 feet midway between Cannon Road and El Camino Real bridges; Agua Hedionda Creek has a 44-foot width upstream of the confluence between Calavera , • Creek and Agua Hedionda Creek. The approximate channel depth is 11.5 feet with 2:1 (Horizontal:Vertical [H:V]) side slopes. The Calavera Creek has an approximate bottom width of 4 feet and a channel depth of9 feet with 2:1 (H:V) side slopes.
A combination of factors, including changing land uses and rainfall intensity projections, low channel gradient, and erodible soils, has created a situation conducive to sediment accumulation and flooding within the creek channels as they extend through Rancho Carlsbad. The channels are not able to accommodate the estimated 100-year discharge of 8,092 cubic feet per second (cfs) at El Camino Real.
Agua Hedionda Creek has historically been subject to substantial sedimentation. The relatively fla~ gradient downstream of Rancho Carlsbad Drive Bridge results in stream velocities as little as
3.65 feet per second during major storm events, which led to the deposition of up to 6 feet of sediment in the channel. As a result of sedimentation, Agua Hedionda Creek had a diminished capacity to convey storm water, and as many as 278 of the total 504 Rancho Carlsbad homes became subject to inwid.ation during a I 00-year storm event (Rick Engineering Company 2004).
This represents approximately 55 percent of the total homes existing within the Rancho Carlsbad
Presentation to Carlsbad Sub Committee 9/10/2023
City of Carlsbad Drainage Master Plan Update ElR
fH.(!$0JJJCa l,ltod D.ilP £/RA,c 12 'JJ.1()07
Mission Statement
To manage California's diverse fish,
wildlife, and plant resources, and the
habitats upon which they depend, for
their ecological values and for their use
and enjoyment by the public.
San Diego
County
Lands
Program
One Supervisor
Three Land Managers –
Environmental Scientists
2 seasonal aids and 2 scientific aids
48,545 acres in San Diego County
Land Manager for Carlsbad
Properties– Gabriel Peñaflor
1575 acres in Carlsbad in 5
properties
717 acres outside Carlsbad City
Limits
CDFW Lands within the City
carlsbad of Carl Carlsbad
Buena Vista
Lagoon ER
Carlsbad Highlands ER
Aga Hedionda Lagoon ER
Batiquitos Lagoon ER
Buena Vista
Creek ER
CDFW Lands
Staff for
Carlsbad,
Oceanside
and Del Mar
Gabriel Peñaflor
Also manages San Dieguito Lagoon ER in
Del Mar and Pilgrim Creek in Oceanside
¼ time seasonal or scientific aid when
staffed
Currently position is vacant
Supported by Regional wildfire resiliency
staff – one Fish and Wildlife Technician and
one Seasonal Aid
These Two Staff members work from Santa
Barbara to San Diego County
Batiquitos Lagoon
CDFW Management actions:
Dredging of flood shoal sand
deposit and placing on W2 nesting
area within the lagoon and on
adjacent beaches (Fall 2024)
Maintaining nesting sites (Annually)
Removing invasive non-native
species
Coordination with:
Cities of Carlsbad and Encinitas
Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation
Carlsbad Highlands
CDFW Management actions
Maintain trails in a safe condition by
removal of illegally constructed
jumps
Work to remove illegally
constructed trails
Work to prevent illegal activities
Plan and conduct fuel reduction
projects
Manage Rare plant site
Buena Vista Lagoon
CDFW Management Actions
Assist Audubon Society with
restoration projects and public
access.
Climate Science Alliance Tribal
Outreach
Cattail fuels management along
southern boundary of the reserve
Planning efforts for lagoon restoration
Encampment cleanup and removal
Buena Vista
Creek
CDFW Management Actions
Homeless camp removal and
clean up
Coordination with CNLM on
projects
Coordination with USFWS on
management (Section 6 Grant
Requirement)
Management of Rare Plant site
Agua Hedionda
Lagoon
CDFW Management Actions
Remove non-native
invasive species
Monitor encroachment
Maintain site security
Maintain ADA trail system
between Park Drive and
Via Hinton
Coordinate with Caltrans
on restoration projects.
Manage Passive
Restoration Site
2002 Donation of
Land by Kelly
Ranch
Development
Donation required by
Coastal Development
Permit for the Kelly
Ranch Development
Areas within the
donated land included
mitigation sites for
multiple projects
including K&B Homes,
SDGE, and Cannon
Road
Agua Hedionda Lagoon
– Potential Projects
Exotic vegetation removal
Phoenix palm tree removal
Invasive non-native tree
trapping sediments
Debris removal
Removal of debris deposited
from upstream sources
Image taken in Agua
Hedionda Lagoon Ecological
Reserve on north side of Cannon
Road looking east; 8/29/23
Aerial View Upstream
View east of El Camino Real on Bridge,
looking east; 8/29/23
East of El Camino Real on Bridge,
looking Northeast; 8/29/23
East of El Camino Real, Looking at
spillway north of Rancho Carlsbad;
8/29/23
East of El Camino
Real looking north;
8/29/23
West of El Camino Real Under Bridge,
Looking East left side, 8/29/23
West of El Camino Real, Under bridge middle section;
8/29/23
West of El Camino Real, Under bridge, right section;
8/29/23
West of El Camino Real, in
Channel looking North;
8/29/23
West of El Camino Real, in Channel looking
North; 8/29/23
West of El Camino
Real, in Channel
looking West; 8/29/23
South of Cannon, West of El Camino
Real, looking east; 8/29/23
South of Cannon, West of
El Camino, Looking North;
8/29/23
Under Cannon Bridge,
Looking South; 8/29/23
Under Cannon Bridge,
South side, Looking West;
8/29/23
Under Cannon Bridge,
South side, Looking West;
8/29/23
South of Cannon, Under
Bridge right side, Looking
North; 8/29/23
South of Cannon, Under
Bridge right side, Looking
North; 8/29/23
North of Cannon, Under Bridge
middle section, Looking South;
8/29/23
North of Cannon, Under Bridge
middle section, Looking South;
8/29/23
North of Cannon, Under Bridge
right side, Looking South;
8/29/23
North of Cannon,
Under Bridge right
section, Looking
South; 8/29/23
North of Cannon,
Under Bridge, Looking
West; 8/29/23
North of Cannon,
Under Bridge, Looking
North; 8/29/23
North of Cannon, Under Bridge,
Looking West; 8/29/23
Contacts – CDFW South Coast
Region 5
Tim Dillingham
Environmental Program Manager
[email protected]
Gabriel Penaflor
Environmental Scientist
[email protected]
RANCHO CARLSBAD (RCOA)
• We are a 55+ retirement community of 800 residents
• 1972 Rancho Carlsbad founded; 1979 Fema established ; 2002 Agua Hedionda Reserve designated
• RCOA sandwiched between Agua Hedionda Watershed
and Agua Hedionda Reserve
• Recent weather changes and the significant increase to creek bed elevation are alarming
• Past actions have been taken to protect against flooding • This presentation will focus on how the Agua Hedionda Reserve slows the water flow
• Slow water flow => sediment precipitation => creek bed elevation => decreased water capacity => flooding
• We need your support to improve the flow of water
through the Reserve
THE AGUA HEDIONDA WATERSHED
> 18,800 acres or 30 sq miles
RCOA
Agua
Hedionda
Reserve
EL CAMINO REAL BRIDGE ..All of the waters from the Agua Hedionda Watershed flow under this bridge. (3/15/23)
Cannon Rd Bridge
Water flow into the
Agua Hedionda Reserve
(3/15/23)
High water at
5118 Don Ricardo
(4/10/20)
One month later
Debris in the Area between the two bridges
And around the pilings
4/9/23 DEBRIS accumulation in the Agua Hedionda Reserve Agua Hedionda creek bed
2016
Agua Hedionda creek bed
2022
AUGUST 2020
He is standing in the same
area
Water level on piling
remains the same
The creek bed has risen
nearly 5 ft.
3 years later
April 23/2023
SUMMARY
• Our location in watershed and future weather is beyond our control
• A strategy to improve water flow through the Reserve is vital • We have met with City, State and Federal representatives who are supportive of our concerns
• Now we require CDFW approval and an official entity to take action
• YOUR support is critical to ensure the necessary action is taken
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION