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4 DATE: June 15, 2026
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Stefan Chatwin, City Manager
Marlene Subhashini, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Derek Schweigart, Parks and Recreation Director
Frank Fanara, Parks Maintenance Manager
DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT: INTEGRATED ADAPTIVE CANADA GOOSE MANAGEMENT
PLAN PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION QUARTERLY REPORT
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council, by Minute Order, receive and accept the general update report on the implementation of the Integrated Adaptive Canada Goose (CAGO) Management Plan for Reporting Period 2 (January 1, 2026 through March 31, 2026).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Following City Council approval of the CAGO Management Plan on February 6, 2023, the City began implementing the Plan’s recommended management strategies. On December 2, 2024, City Council adopted the Plan along with the associated Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program. The City subsequently issued a Request for Proposals and, on August 4, 2025, awarded a professional services contract to Wildlife Innovations to implement the Plan through a three-year pilot program.
This report provides an update on Reporting Period 2 (January 1, 2026 through March 31, 2026), when the program moved from initial setup and monitoring into active implementation. Key activities during this period included expanded hazing operations, monitoring and data collection, GPS tracking of geese movement patterns, and initial nesting surveillance and management efforts.
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4 During this phase, multiple hazing methods were implemented and evaluated at priority parks, including Catamaran, Edgewater, Erckenbrack, Gull, Leo J. Ryan, Marlin, and Sea Cloud Parks. These efforts resulted in measurable reductions in goose activity and related impacts within the treatment areas. Monitoring data indicated that the management actions contributed to reductions beyond normal seasonal fluctuations, supporting the effectiveness of the City’s integrated management approach in year 1 of the three-year pilot program.
Implementation efforts will continue to align with seasonal goose behavior, with an increased focus on nesting activity, post-nesting deterrence, and CAGO management during the molting period. This item is presented for informational purposes only, and no action is required.
BACKGROUND
Resident Canada geese have posed ongoing challenges within Foster City parks, open spaces, and along the lagoon system for many years. The City’s lagoon, shoreline, and maintained turf areas provide favorable conditions for foraging and loafing, resulting in turf damage, fecal accumulation, water quality concerns, and conflicts with recreational park use.
In response to these conditions, the City implemented a range of non-lethal management measures over time, including egg addling, visual deterrents, and increased maintenance efforts. While these actions provided temporary and localized relief, they did not result in sustained reductions in goose presence or long-term mitigation of impacts.
Recognizing the need for a more comprehensive approach, City Council authorized development of the CAGO Management Plan on February 6, 2023. The Plan established a long-term, non-lethal framework focused on monitoring, deterrence, habitat modification, and adaptive management strategies.
On December 2, 2024, City Council adopted the Plan and associated environmental documentation. Following adoption, the City issued a Request for Proposals to support implementation and, on August 4, 2025, awarded a contract to Wildlife Innovations to implement the Plan through a three-year pilot program focused on seven (7) priority parks.
ANALYSIS
Since execution of the professional services contract with Wildlife Innovations, implementation has progressed in a phased manner consistent with City Council direction. This reporting period reflects the transition from program setup into active field implementation and evaluation.
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4 During this period, staff and the consultant conducted coordinated hazing operations across priority parks using multiple tools, including a trained dog team, remote- controlled devices, drones, and other deterrent methods. These tools were applied strategically based on site conditions and observed goose behavior, with an emphasis on adaptive use of multiple techniques to achieve effective displacement. A total of 316 hazing events were conducted, collectively displacing 1,623 geese from priority park areas.
Since hazing efforts began, CAGO observation counts declined 57% across all parks, with treatment parks averaging a 66% decline compared to 48% at control parks. This reduction suggests that hazing efforts may have attributed more to these declines in goose presence beyond seasonal trends alone (i.e. behavioral shifts due to nesting season).
Figure 1. Average number of Canada Geese observed per park before and during hazing.
Similarly, CAGO scat piles (geese droppings) declined 76.6% since the onset of hazing, with treatment parks averaging an 83% reduction while control parks increased by 6%, further supporting that more significant declines in CAGO activity were the result of hazing efforts as opposed to seasonal shifts exclusively.
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4 Figure 2. Average scat piles per transect visit per park before and during hazing.
Monitoring and data collection efforts indicate that these actions resulted in measurable reductions in goose presence and associated impacts within treatment parks.
Comparative observations between treated and untreated locations suggest that these reductions exceeded what would be expected from seasonal behavioral changes alone, supporting the effectiveness of active management efforts.
GPS tracking of collared geese provided additional insight into movement patterns and site fidelity. Data confirmed that while some geese utilize areas beyond Foster City, many continue to return to local parks and lagoon-adjacent areas, reinforcing the need for sustained and consistent management over time.
Nesting surveillance was initiated during this period using a combination of drone technology, field observation, and public reporting. These efforts supported early identification and management of nesting activity, helping to reduce successful hatching and limit long-term imprinting within City parks. Imprinting occurs when young geese identify an area as their home range after hatching, increasing the likelihood they will return to the same locations in future years.
As implementation advances, management activities will continue to align with seasonal Canada goose behavior and life-cycle patterns. Upcoming phases of work will focus on continued nesting monitoring and management, intensified hazing efforts during the post-nesting return and molting periods, and evaluation of additional tools such as habitat modification and audio deterrent systems.
Nesting-season management actions, including egg addling, will continue as part of the overall implementation of the CAGO Management Plan and may occur outside City
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4 limits. These efforts will be coordinated with continued deterrence and monitoring to reduce sustained use of priority parks and improve overall park conditions.
The program will continue to be evaluated through ongoing monitoring and data collection, with findings used to refine management strategies and inform future recommendations to City Council over the course of the pilot program.
The next quarterly report covering the months of April to June is expected to be presented to the City Council in August 2026.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
On December 2, 2024, the City Council adopted an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND), including all findings, standard conditions of approval, and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP), pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15074, for the Integrated Adaptive Canada Goose Management Plan. The approval of the professional services agreement with Wildlife Innovations authorizes implementation of the Management Plan. Implementation activities, including the use of various management techniques, were contemplated and analyzed as part of the approved IS/MND. The project is being implemented in a manner consistent with the adopted IS/MND, and no additional environmental review or action is required.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with receiving this informational update. All work to date has been completed within previously approved appropriations for the CAGO Management Plan.
CITY COUNCIL VISION, MISSION, AND VALUE/PRIORITY AREA
Facilities and Infrastructure
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 - Integrated Adaptive Canada Goose Management Plan Project Implementation 2026 1st Quarter Report