CARLSBAD
FRESNO
IRVINE
LOS ANGELES
PALM SPRINGS
POINT RICHMOND
RIVERSIDE
ROSEVILLE
SAN LUIS OBISPO
20 Executive Park, Suite 200, Irvine, California 92614 949.553.0666 www.lsa.net October 21, 2024
Dave Cozzens and Susan
Heystee 566 Temple Hills Drive
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Subject: Vegetation Map and Biological Resources Review for the Cozzens Residence Project Located at 600 Buena Vista Way in Laguna Beach, Orange County, California Dear Mr. Cozzens and Ms. Heystee:
LSA Associates, Inc., (LSA) is pleased to provide this review of biological resources for a proposed single-home residential construction project located at 600 Buena Vista Way in Laguna Beach, California. LSA previously provided a memorandum that documented the vegetation communities and all observed plant species within the subject property (APN 641-373-43). In October 2024, LSA was requested to review the current project site plan (dated 10/19/22) prepared by Total Engineering, Inc.
METHODS
Project site plans, background information, and fuel modification zone shapefiles were provided to LSA Biologists Lonnie Rodriguez and Bo Gould by Jerry Canales (Firesafe Planning Solutions) in January 2021. Updated site plans were provided by Craig Schultz of Laidlaw Schultz Architects on October 16, 2024. Vegetation mapping of the project site was conducted by LSA Biologist Bo Gould on February 21, 2018. The entire project site was surveyed on foot, and all habitats and plant species observed on the project site were noted and mapped. General site conditions were also photographed. The field survey took place during sunny conditions with weather conditions conducive to the detection of all visible plant and animal species. An updated review of the project design was completed in February 2021. On October 21, 2024, LSA reviewed California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) records surrounding the project site and assessed impacts on previously mapped resources within the current site plan disturbance limits.
VEGETATION AND LAND COVER CLASSIFICATION DESCRIPTIONS
Descriptions of the vegetation and land cover types occurring on the project site are listed below, using the Orange County Habitat Classification System (HCS) as articulated by Gray and Bramlet (1992).1 A vegetation map of the project site is contained in Attachment A. A complete list of plant species identified on the project site is contained in Attachment B. It should be noted that additional annual grass, forb, and wildflower species may be present on the project site but are not observable outside the typical springtime growing season.
1 Gray, J., and D. Bramlet. 1992. Habitat Classification System, Natural Resources Geographic Information System (GIS) Project. Santa Ana, California: County of Orange Environmental Management Agency.
Attachment 5
98 10/21/24 «\\vcorp12\projects\DCO2101\Biology\600 Buena Vista Way_Updated Bio Review.docx» 2 California Sagebrush-California Buckwheat Scrub (2.3.1 of the HCS): Areas classified as California sagebrush-California buckwheat scrub have between 25 and 90 percent cover by native perennial shrubs. This vegetation community occurs mostly within the northwestern portion of the project site and is present within all three fuel modification zones. The dominant shrub species in this mixed scrub community is California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), with subdominant shrubs including California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) and black sage (Salvia mellifera). Less prevalent shrubs include chaparral mallow (Malacothamnus fasciculatus), California encelia (Encelia californica), blue elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea), and lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia).
Primary understory and interstitial species include giant wild-rye (Elymus condensatus) and California everlasting (Pseudognaphalium californicum) and, in areas with lower perennial shrub coverage, red brome (Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens).
Toyon-Sumac Chaparral (3.12 of the HCS): A small stand of toyon-sumac chaparral is located near the westernmost boundary of Fuel Modification Zone C, along the lower reaches of the slope.
Lemonade berry is the dominant shrub within this vegetation community, with giant wild-rye and sweet fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) occurring between the stands of evergreen shrubs. A sparse understory of coastal sage scrub species is present, as well as garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) and other nonnative ornamental species closer to the existing residential developments.
Ornamental Plantings (15.5 of the HCS): Ornamental landscaping consists of introduced trees (palm, pine, eucalyptus, etc.), shrubs, flowers, and turf grass. Ornamental landscaping occurs within and adjacent to the project site along the edges of existing residential developments, particularly to the west, south, and east of the project site.
Developed or Disturbed (15.6 of the HCS):Developed or disturbed areas are paved or lack vegetation due to anthropogenic disturbances. Most of the construction footprint where the proposed residential development will be placed is covered by gravel or compacted soil, and several other barren areas adjacent to the roads and existing residential developments were mapped using this classification. Several nonnative trees and sparse weed patches are present in these areas.
Rock Outcrop (10.3 of the HCS): The northeastern portion of the project site immediately adjacent to the proposed building footprint contains a large exposed rock formation. While this area is generally unvegetated, several nonnative species including red brome and Hottentot-fig (Carpobrotus edulis), as well as California sagebrush, coastal deerweed (Acmispon glaber), and California buckwheat, are sparsely represented on the rock outcrop.
Ruderal (4.6 of the HCS): Ruderal areas generally contain a high percentage of bare ground and occur at any site that has been disturbed by natural or human causes. Areas classified as ruderal within the project site consist of disturbed areas that appear to be maintained for fuel modification purposes. At the time of survey, these areas were dominated by weedy and pioneering plant species including Russian-thistle (Salsola tragus), spotted spurge (Euphorbia maculata), shortpod mustard (Hirschfeldia incana), garden nasturtium, redstem filaree (Erodium cicutarium), nonnative brome grasses, and Bermuda buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), among others. Isolated native shrubs (lemonade berry) as well as several nonnative palm trees also occur in these areas. 99 3
OTHER BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
No special-status plant or animal species were observed during the site survey, and no specialstatus biological resources have been recorded on or adjacent to the property based on the current CNDDB records. No wetlands, drainage features, or riparian habitat areas were recorded on the property during the site survey, and the project site does not function as a wildlife movement corridor.
If you have any questions regarding the contents of this memorandum, please contact Bo Gould at (949) 553-0666 or [email protected].
Sincerely,
LSA Associates, Inc.
Bo Gould
Associate/Senior Biologist
Attachments: A: Vegetation Map
B: Vascular Plant Species Observed
10/21/24 «\\vcorp12\projects\DCO2101\Biology\600 Buena Vista Way_Updated Bio Review.docx» 100
600 B UENA VISTA WAY
L AGUNA BEACH , ORANGE C OUNTY , C ALIFORNIA
ATTACHMENT A
VEGETATION MAP
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Service Layer Credits: © 2021 Microsoft
Corporation © 2021 Maxar ©CNES (2021)
Distribution Airbus DS
Fuel Modification Zone *
Zone A
Zone B
Zone C
Vegetation / Land Cover Classification
10.3 Rock Outcrop
15.5 Ornamental Plantings
15.6 Developed / Disturbed
2.3.1 California Sagebrush - California Buckwheat Scrub
3.12 Toyon - Sumac Chaparral
4.6 Ruderal SOURCE: Bing (2015); (Leyva & Wilde, Inc. 2021) I:\DCO2101\GIS\MXD\Vegetation.mxd (2/1/2021)
FIGURE 1
Cozzens Residence Project
Vegetation Mapping
0 25 50
FEET
*Approximations based
on geographic references
and measurements.
Proposed
Grading
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ATTACHMENT B
VASCULAR PLANT SPECIES OBSERVED
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PL A N T INVEN TORY
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D-1
VASCULAR PLANT SPECIES OBSERVED
The following vascular plant species were observed on the project site (including the proposed construction footprint and associated fuel modification areas) on February 21, 2018. The Vegetation Community column provides the Habitat Classification Code in which the species were primarily detected on the project site. * = introduced species not native to Southern California POLYPODIOPSIDA Vegetation
Community
Pteridaceae Maidenhair fern family
Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis goldenback fern 2.3.1
GYMNOSPERMS
Pinaceae Pine family
Pinus canariensis* Canary island pine 4.6, 15.6
EUDICOTS
Adoxaceae Muskroot family
Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea blue elderberry 2.3.1, 3.12, 15.5 Aizoaceae Carpet weed family
Carpobrotus edulis* Hottentot-fig 2.3.1, 10.3
Amaranthaceae Amaranth family
Amaranthus blitoides prostrate pigweed 4.6, 15.6
Anacardiaceae Sumac family
Malosma laurina laurel sumac 3.12, 4.6, 2.3.1
Rhus integrifolia lemonade berry 2.3.1, 3.12
Apiaceae Carrot family
Foeniculum vulgare* sweet fennel 2.3.1, 3.12, 4.6
Asteraceae Sunflower family
Ambrosia psilostachya western ragweed 2.3.1
Artemisia californica California sagebrush 2.3.1, 3.12, 10.3 Baccharis pilularis ssp. consaguinea coyote brush 2.3.1 Centaurea melitensis* tocalote 2.3.1, 4.6
Encelia californica California encelia 2.3.1, 10.3
Ericameria pinifolia pine-bush 2.3.1
Erigeron canadensis common horseweed 2.3.1
Heterotheca grandiflora telegraph weed 2.3.1, 15.6
Isocoma menziesii var. vernonioides coastal goldenbush 2.3.1 Malacothrix saxatilis var. tenuifolia cliff malacothrix 2.3.1 104
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B-2
Pseudognaphalium biolettii bicolored cudweed 2.3.1
Pseudognaphalium californicum California everlasting 2.3.1 Stephanomeria diegensis San Diego wreath-plant 2.3.1, 4.6 Boraginaceae Borage family
Phacelia ramosissima branching phacelia 2.3.1
Brassicaceae Mustard family
Brassica nigra* black mustard 2.3.1, 4.6
Hirschfeldia incana* shortpod mustard 2.3.1, 4.6
Chenopodiaceae Goosefoot family
Atriplex semibaccata* Australian saltbush 4.6
Chenopodium album* lamb’s quarters 4.6, 15.6
Salsola tragus* Russian-thistle 4.6, 15.6
Crassulaceae Stonecrop family
Crassula ovata* jade plant 15.5
Dudleya pulverulenta ssp. pulverulenta chalk dudleya 2.3.1 Cucurbitaceae Gourd family
Marah macrocarpus wild cucumber 2.3.1, 3.12, 4.6
Euphorbiaceae Spurge family
Chamaesyce maculata* spotted spurge 4.6, 15.6
Ricinus communis* castor bean 4.6, 15.6
Fabaceae Pea family
Acmispon glaber coastal deerweed 2.3.1, 10.3
Acacia pycnantha* golden wattle 15.5 (adjacent to
northwest Zone C)
Geraniaceae Geranium family
Erodium cicutarium* redstem filaree 4.6, 15.6
Grossulariaceae Gooseberry family
Ribes speciosum fuchsia-flowered gooseberry 2.3.1
Lamiaceae Mint family
Salvia mellifera black sage 2.3.1
Malvaceae Mallow family
Malacothamnus fasciculatus chaparral mallow 2.3.1
Myrtaceae Myrtle family
Eucalyptus spp.* gum tree 15.5
Nyctaginaceae Four-o’clock family
Mirabilis laevis var. crassifolia wishbone bush 2.3.1, 10.3 105
PL A N T INVENTORY
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B-3
Oxalidaceae Wood sorrel family
Oxalis pes-caprae* Bermuda buttercup 4.6, 15.6
Phrymaceae Monkey-flower family
Mimulus aurantiacus bush monkey flower 2.3.1
Plantaginaceae Plantain family
Antirrhinum nuttallianum Nuttall’s snapdragon 2.3.1, 10.3 Polygonaceae Buckwheat family
Eriogonum fasciculatum California buckwheat 2.3.1
Rosaceae Rose family
Heteromeles arbutifolia toyon 2.3.1, 3.12
Scrophulariaceae Figwort family
Scrophularia californica California figwort 2.3.1
Solanaceae Nightshade family
Datura wrightii jimsonweed 4.6, 15.6
Nicotiana glauca* tree tobacco 4.6, 15.6
Tropaeolaceae Nasturtium family
Tropaeolum majus* garden nasturtium 4.6, 15.5
MONOCOTS
Agavaceae Agave family
Agave americana* American century plant 15.5
Arecaceae Palm family
Phoenix canariensis* Canary Island palm 4.6, 15.5, 15.6 Syagrus romanzoffiana* Queen palm 4.6, 15.5, 15.6
Washingtonia robusta* Mexican fan palm 4.6, 15.5, 15.6
Poaceae Grass family
Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens* red brome 4.6, 15.6
Cynodon dactylon* Bermuda grass 4.6
Elymus condensatus giant wild-rye 2.3.1, 3.12
Festuca myuros var. myuros* rattail fescue 4.6, 15.6
Poa annua* annual blue grass 4.6, 15.6
Stipa pulchra purple needle grass 2.3.1
Strelitziaceae Bird of paradise family
Strelitzia reginae* bird of paradise 15.5
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