ATTACHMENT D
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX D2
RARE PLANT SURVEY
13346
1 June 2020
June 8, 2023 14776
Jon Rilling
Capalina SMA, LLC
179 Calle Magdalena #201
Encinitas, California 92024
Subject: Updated Focused Rare Plant Survey Report for the Capalina Apartments Project , City of San Marcos, San Diego County, California
Dear Mr. Rilling:
At the request of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Dudek conducted an additional updated focused rare plant survey, with an emphasis on thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia; CRPR 1B.1, CE, FT) and Orcutt’s brodiaea (Brodiaea orcuttii; CRPR 1B.1) on the proposed site of the Capalina Apartments Project (Project).
Dudek Botanist, Charles Adams conducted surveys for the Project on May 31, 2023. The initial rare Plant Survey was conducted in 2021, and resulted in a negative presence for Brodiaea. The Project area is a 2.5 acre parcel (Figure 1, Project Location) within the City of San Marcos, California (City). This letter report provides the methods and results of the updated focused survey.
1 Introduction
1.1 Project Location
The Project site consists of one parcel within the City, encompassed by development. The Project site is surrounded by commercial lots, paved roads, residential lots, and transportation corridors. The Project site is accessible from Capalina Road or West Mission Road in the City. Central coordinates for the Project parcel are 33.1516 North and 117.1952 West. The Project site has relatively flat topography. The Project site is at an elevation of approximately 595 feet above mean sea level.
Per the Phase I ESA completed for the project site, the project site appeared to be vacant pastureland from prior to 1939 until approximately 1974, when the northwestern perimeter of the property appeared to be vacant, rough - graded land. By 1980, the project site appeared to be vacant, rough-graded land with what appeared to be an area graded for uses as a vehicle parking area on t he southeastern portion of the property. By 1996, the property appeared to be vacant, weed -abated land. By 2005, a vehicle parking area appears to be located on the southeastern perimeter of the subject property. By 2012, the vehicle parking area was removed, and the property appeared to be vacant, weed-abated land.
DUDEK
605 THIRD STREET
ENCINITAS.
CALIFORNIA
92024
T 760 942.5147
F 760.632.0164
Jon Rilling
Subject: Focused Rare Plant Survey Report for the Capalina Apartments Project, City of San Marcos, San Diego County, California
14776
2 June 2023
2 Rare Plants
2.1 Reference Population Checks
Plant species bloom at slightly different times each year depending on temperature, rainfall patterns, elevation, and other environmental factors. Reference population checks involve locating populations of target species during a timeframe when they are k nown to be blooming or exhibiting other phenological characteristics that allow for species identification. Observations of reference populations during peak phenology provide assurance that these species would be identifiable if they were present in a Project area, and the 2022 -2023 season was an above average season for rainfall, recording over 9 -inches of rain from January 2023 – March 15, 2023 (according to local weather sources).
2.2 S pring Rare Plants
Two rare Brodiaea have high potential to occur in the vicinity of the Project site during the spring season. Orcutt’s brodiaea (Brodiaea orcuttii) and thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia) have been documented as occurring throughout the City of San Marcos . These species are members of the Brodia ea (Themidaceae) family. Thread- leaved brodiaea and Orcutt’s brodiaea bloom from March through July in grasslands, freshwater wetlands, wetland/riparian, vernal pools, foothill woodland, and coastal scrub habitats. Orcutt’s brodiaea and thread-leaved brodiaea are perennial herbs (bulbs). Thread-leaved brodiaea occur at elevations between 25 feet and 860 feet above mean sea level. Orcutt’s brodiaea occur at elevations between 25 feet and 5,249 feet above mean sea level.
Both species have been recorded near the Project site (CNPS 2021; Reiser 2001). The Jepson bioregional range for thread-leaved brodiaea is based on the elevation range restrictions (Jepson 2021), which shows its potential range throughout north coastal San Diego County, western Riverside County, southern Orange County, southeast Los Angeles County, and southwestern San Bernardino County. The Jepson bioregional range for Orcutt’s brodiaea shows possibility for occurrence throughout most of San Diego County ( excluding the v ery eastern portion), southwestern Riverside County, Orange County, and the southwestern section of San Bernardino County. 3 Methods
3.1 Reference Check Methods
Dudek botanist Charles Adams conducted a reference check for thread-leaved brodiaea and Orcutt’s brodiaea on the afternoon of May 30, 2023, one day prior to conducting the rare plant survey. This reference check was based on known populations within a 5-mile radius of the Project site. Mr. Adams observed both species in full bloom (in high densities) before going to the site to perform the field surveys (Attachment A, Reference Site Photos). On May 30, 2023, temperatures for the reference check were between 63°F and 70°F, winds were 0 to 4 miles per hour, and skies were overcast.
DUDEK
Jon Rilling
Subject: Focused Rare Plant Survey Report for the Capalina Apartments Project, City of San Marcos, San Diego County, California
14776
3 June 2023
3.2 Focused Special-Status Plant Survey
Mr. Adams conducted a focused rare plant survey within the Project site on May 31, 2023. Conditions for the survey were the same as those for the reference check —temperatures were between 63°F and 70°F, winds were 0 to 4 miles per hour, and skies were moderately overcast. Surveys for special-status species were conducted within the Project site by walking transects. Mr. Adams used both the Collector mobile application and Dudek forms mobile application to record data and map any rare plant species. Transects were included in the C ollector mobile application as guidance. These transects were spread at a distance of 10 feet to cover every section of the Project site, including areas with high-density vegetation. Mr. Adams followed these 10-foot transect lines across the Project site. Focused special -status plant surveys conformed to the California Native Plant Society Botanical Survey Guidelines (CNPS 2001), Protocols for Surveying and Evaluating Impacts to Special Status Native Populations and Natural Communities (CDFG 2009), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services General Rare Plant Survey Guidelines (Cypher 2002).
3.3 Survey Limitations
There were no factors that limited the results of the focused rare plant survey.
Due to above average rainfall, the weather conditions were conducive enough that thread-leaved brodiaea and Orcutt’s brodiaea were observed less than five miles from the Project site in very high densities. Therefore, these species would have been observed if present.
All surveys were conducted during daylight hours under weather conditions that did not preclu de observation of plant species (e.g., surveys were not conducted during heavy fog or rain). 4 Results
4.1 Rare Plant Location Results
No rare plants were observed within the Project site.
5 Discussion
The focused rare plant survey found no rare plants during the spring bloom period within the Project site, which is consistent with the negative rare plant survey results in 2021.
Both brodiaea species were blooming within the City of San Marcos and City of Oceanside on two nearby parcels.
Reference checks found Brodiaea blooming with relatively high density less than five miles from this site (May 30, 2023). If thread-leaved brodiaea, Orcutt’s brodiaea, or other rare spring species were present, they would have been observed during the rare plant survey.
It should be noted that rare plants can be found on disturbed sites. However, this site was extraordinarily disturbed with European grasses and broadleaf mustards. The non -natives occurred at such a high density that few native plant species were present. Due to the density and success of non-native species on-site, monotypic stands of non- DUDEK
Jon Rilling
Subject: Focused Rare Plant Survey Report for the Capalina Apartments Project, City of San Marcos, San Diego County, California
14776
4 June 2023
native grasses and mustard have formed . The Project site has limited plant species diversity , likely due to the extensive site history of disturbance and regular mowing.
Additional rare species had low potential to occur like San Diego thorn -mint (Acanthomintha ilicifolia) and small- flowered morning glory ( Convolvulus simulans). However, due to the levels of disturbance within the Project site and sensitivity of these species, these rare plant species are not expected to occur. In addition, spreading navarretia (Navarretia fossalis) had low potential to occur but due to the absence of vernal wetlands, vernal pools, wetlands, and the sensitivity of this species to non-natives, spreading navarretia is not expected to occur.
Overall, the site is exceptionally disturbed, lacks rare spring plant species, and is encompassed by development.
If you have any questions regarding this letter report, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].
Sincerely,
____________________________________
Charles Adams
Botanist
Att.: Figure 1, Project Location
Attachment A, Reference Site Photos
Attachment B, Project Site Photos
cc: Jon Rilling
Patricia Schuyler, Dudek
Vanessa Scheidel, Dudek
6 References
Calflora. 2021. Calflora Plant Database. Accessed July 2020. https://www.calflora.org/.
CDFG (California Department of Fish and Game). 2009. Protocols for Surveying and Evaluating Impacts to Special Status Native Plant Populations and Natural Communities. Prepared by the California Natural Resources Agency, Department of Fish and Game. November 24, 2009.
CDFW (California Department of Fish and Wildlife). 2021. Natural Communities List Arranged Alphabetically by Life Form. January 24, 2018. Accessed April 2021. https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx? DocumentID=153398&inline.
CNPS (California Native Plant Society). 2001. California Native Plant Society Botanical Survey Guidelines.
December 9, 1983; revised June 2, 2001. https://cnps.org/wp- content/uploads/2018/03/cnps_survey_guidelines.pdf.
DUDEK
Jon Rilling
Subject: Focused Rare Plant Survey Report for the Capalina Apartments Project, City of San Marcos, San Diego County, California
14776
5 June 2023
CNPS. 2021. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (online edition, v8-03 0.39). Accessed 2021. http://www.rareplants.cnps.org.
Cypher, E. 2002. General Rare Plant Survey Guidelines. https://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es/Survey-Protocols- Guidelines/Documents/rare_plant_protocol.pdf.
Jepson Flora Project. 2021. “Jepson eFlora.” The Jepson Herbarium. Accessed May 2021. http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/interchange/index.html.
Reiser. 2001. The Rare Plants of San Diego County. Accessed July 2020. https://download- pdfs.com/v6/preview/?pid=6&offer_id=398&ref_id=15ae1c2c6c59dae7cf96a4nE0Th5QmOh_e6cef1e 4_c28f910b&sub1=fh9643&keyword=Rare%20plants%20of%20San%20Diego%20County%20- %20Craig%20H.%20Reiser.
USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture). 2021. “California.” State PLANTS Checklist. Accessed May 2021. http://plants.usda.gov/dl_state.html.
DUDEK
Date: 12/2/2022 - Last saved by: hmcomber - Path: Z:\Projects\j1477601\MAPDOC\DOCUMENT\BIO\Figure1_ProjectLocation.mxd Project Location
Capalina Apartments Project
SOURCE: USGS 7.5-Minute Series San Marcos Quadrangle
Township 12S; Range 3W, Section 9
02 ,0001,000
Feet
Project Boundary
FIGURE 1
Carlsbad
Chula Vista
Coronado
Dana
Point
Del
Mar
El Cajon
Encinitas
Escondido
Imperial
Beach
Irvine
La
Mesa
La
Quinta
Lemon Grove
Menifee
Murrieta
Oceanside
Palm Springs
Poway
San Clemente
San Diego
San
Juan
Capistrano
San Marcos
Santee
Temecula
Vista
Wildomar Riverside
County
905
52 54 94
163
241
125
98 73 195
56 78
86 1117474
76 79
805
215
15 5
8 Project Site
SAN DIEGO
COUNTY
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Attachment A
Reference Site Photos
ATTACHMENT A
REFERENCE SITE PHOTOS
14776
A-1 June 2023
Orcutt’s brodiaea (Brodiaea orcuttii) Threadleaf brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia)
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ATTACHMENT A
REFERENCE SITE PHOTOS
14776
A-2 June 2023
INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
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Attachment B
Project Site Photos
ATTACHMENT B
PROJECT SITE PHOTOS
14776
B-1 June 2023
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ATTACHMENT B
PROJECT SITE PHOTOS
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B-2 June 2023
INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
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