appendix b final 2008 biological surveys of los angeles and long ...

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8.0 Eelgrass 8.5 HISTORICAL COMPARISONS Based on the multitude of physical and biological factors shaping eelgrass community growth, recruitment, and productivity, the Ports’ 2008 eelgrass surveys should be viewed in a regional and historical context. While seasonal differences between the 2008 spring and fall surveys were not significant in terms of changes in the spatial extent of eelgrass, they reinforce the need to examine trends from broader time scale and regional perspective. The examination and evaluation of eelgrass communities throughout southern California has increased significantly since 1990 and provides expanded data sets of similar eelgrass systems that should be considered when evaluating trends in eelgrass distribution within bays and harbors. Surveys of eelgrass resources within the Ports study area were conducted for the Port of Los Angeles in 1996 and again in 1999 by the Southern California Marine Institute (SCMI) and in both Ports for the 2000 baseline study (MEC 2002). The 1996 report only covered eelgrass areas at Cabrillo Beach, while the 1999 report looked at both Cabrillo Beach and the Pier 300 Shallow Water Habitat (Gregorio 1999). The 2000 baseline study surveyed all waters of both Ports for eelgrass, and was conducted prior to eelgrass transplantation at the Pier 300 shallow water habitat mitigation site, which was completed in the winter of 2002/2003. Survey methods utilized during the 1996 and 1999 investigations did not include side-scan sonar imagery, but provide important data records on the areal extent and turion density within eelgrass areas delineated during the present (2008) study and the 2000 baseline study. Considering the discontinuous nature of the eelgrass data sets available for the Port of Los Angeles, the combined data sets provide generally limited information on site-specific eelgrass trends. Equally important to site-specific eelgrass distribution and density variations within the study area are their relationship to regional trends documented in other bays and harbors throughout southern California. Data sets available on the areal extent of eelgrass within the Ports are most comprehensive for the Cabrillo Beach areas (Figure 8.3-6). Off Cabrillo Beach, a total of 24.6 acres of eelgrass was reported in 1996 (season unknown), increasing to 54.5 acres in October 1999 (Gregorio 1999). The 2000 baseline survey reported 42.3 acres of eelgrass within the Cabrillo Beach area in August 2000 and the 2008 baseline survey mapped 26.7 acres within the same location. Differences in the spatial extent of eelgrass within the Port of Los Angeles between the 2000 and 2008 baseline surveys are attributed to natural variability and, to a lesser extent, changes in hydrology. The existing data sets provide sufficient trend data for comparisons with other bay and estuarine eelgrass data and compares favorably with trend data collected in San Diego Bay. Eelgrass data from San Diego Bay provides a more long-term and comprehensive basis for comparing changes in eelgrass distribution and abundance in a southern California harbor environment. In order to help understand relative trends in the areal extent of Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach eelgrass communities, San Diego Bay eelgrass communities are presented for comparison in Figure 8.3-8. Factors that influence eelgrass growth, reproduction, and health can be somewhat localized, but also can be driven by regional water masses and weather conditions that are broadly applicable within the Southern California Bight. The increase in eelgrass coverage observed at Cabrillo Beach between 1996 and 1999/2000 was approximately 72% while San Diego Bay reported an increase of 57% between 1994 and 1999 (Figure 8.3-8). San Diego Bay investigations reported an additional expansion of 27% between 1999 and 2004 followed by a decrease of 37% between 2004 and 2008. In relative terms, the Port of Los Angeles Cabrillo Beach eelgrass coverage follows a similar trend to that of San Diego Bay, although without any data for comparison with the 2004 trend in San Diego Bay. Eelgrass coverage and health is well documented as being adversely affected by ENSO events in 1997/1998 and displayed substantial recovery during 1999 (Merkel & Associates 2000). The 2000 baseline study (MEC 2008 Biological Surveys of Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors 8–15 April 2010
8.0 Eelgrass 2002) inferred that the significant increases in eelgrass coverage observed during the 2000 surveys were a result of recovery following a prior ENSO event. Eelgrass coverage reported from the present (2008) baseline survey for Cabrillo Beach areas is thought to be representative of regional performance by these communities. Historical comparisons of eelgrass distribution for the Pier 300/Seaplane Lagoon area are more difficult to access because of changes in depth and habitat quality within that area. Prior to the construction of Pier 400 in 1996, eelgrass appeared to be mostly confined to the edges of Seaplane Lagoon and near the Pier 300 Terminal Site. However, construction of Pier 400 and the associated shallow water habitat mitigation site between the Seaplane Lagoon and the terminal likely caused subsequent changes in the circulation and bathymetry of the area. Based on eelgrass delineations between the 2000 and 2008 baseline surveys, eelgrass within the Seaplane Lagoon remained confined to the same areas previously documented and total coverage changed only slightly in spring and fall, respectively, from 6.29 and 4.28 acres in 2000 to 4.84 and 4.58 acres in 2008. The eelgrass area described in the 2000 baseline study at Pier 300 is currently divided into two distinct areas: the Mitigation Site and the Terminal Site (Figure 8.3-4). During construction of the Mitigation Site, rock revetments were established to support the dredge fill material that was placed to form the mitigation site and create suitable habitat for eelgrass transplantation. Eelgrass delineations for the Pier 300 area, as documented in the 2000 baseline report, indicated eelgrass communities well offshore of the Terminal Site in water that is now greater than -15 ft MLLW and which no longer supports eelgrass communities. Additionally, the 2000 baseline report noted eelgrass adjacent to what is now the western edge of the mitigation site. This area is now dominated by various marine algae associated with the rock revetments. Changes in circulation or sedimentation may be responsible for a welldeveloped berm observed in 2008 along the sandy beach that defines the associated eelgrass bed, and which was documented in 2000 as extending offshore and east towards what is now the mitigation site. Currently, few eelgrass plants are present in waters greater than -12 ft MLLW throughout the Ports. Considering the proximity of the Cabrillo Beach area to the open ocean and the influence of coastal nearshore circulation supplying clear, cool, and fresh waters to the area, deeper eelgrass populations would be expected similar to reports in San Diego Bay (-20 ft MLLW) and Newport Beach (-16 ft MLLW). Overall, eelgrass coverage within the Pier 300/Seaplane Lagoon appears to have remained fairly consistent, with the March 2000 baseline surveys reporting a total of 28.5 acres compared to 30.7 acres during the April 2008 surveys. The noticeable seasonal increase in coverage observed between the spring and fall 2000 surveys was not apparent in 2008. The distribution and extent of eelgrass communities surveyed during the 2008 baseline study within the Ports are generally consistent with results from the 2000 baseline survey and follow regional fluctuations documented within similar bays and harbors such as San Diego Bay. 8–16 2008 Biological Surveys of Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors April 2010
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APPENDIX B FINAL 2008 BIOLOGICAL SU
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FINAL 2008 BIOLOGICAL SURVEYS OF LO
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Table of Contents 3.4.3 Summary of
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Table of Contents 8.2.1 Aerial Phot
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Table of Contents Table 3.4-2. Tabl
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Table of Contents Table 8.3-3. Tabl
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Table of Contents Figure 6.2-1. Rip
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Table of Contents This page intenti
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Executive Summary otter trawls to s
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Executive Summary Van Veen) and ana
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Executive Summary which was collect
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1.0 Introduction 1.0 INTRODUCTION T
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1.0 Introduction 1.4 STUDY OBJECTIV
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1.0 Introduction Historical compari
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1.0 Introduction Figure 1.1-2. Map
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CHAPTER 2 WATER QUALITY
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2.0 Water Quality The CTD was deplo
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2.0 Water Quality Outer Harbor area
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2.0 Water Quality Table 2.2-1. Wate
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2.0 Water Quality Figure 2.2-1. Wat
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2.0 Water Quality This page intenti
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3.0 Adult and Juvenile Fishes 3.0 A
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3.0 Adult and Juvenile Fishes speci
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3.0 Adult and Juvenile Fishes and b
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3.0 Adult and Juvenile Fishes sampl
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3.0 Adult and Juvenile Fishes No si
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3.0 Adult and Juvenile Fishes croak
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3.0 Adult and Juvenile Fishes gobie
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3.0 Adult and Juvenile Fishes Table
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3.0 Adult and Juvenile Fishes Figur
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CHAPTER 4 ICHTHYOPLANKTON
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4.0 Ichthyoplankton studies (Horn a
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4.0 Ichthyoplankton more likely to
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4.0 Ichthyoplankton The results of
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4.0 Ichthyoplankton Table 4.3-1. To
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4.0 Ichthyoplankton Table 4.3-2. To
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4.0 Ichthyoplankton Table 4.3-4. We
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4.0 Ichthyoplankton Table 4.3-5. We
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4.0 Ichthyoplankton Table 4.3-6. Se
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4.0 Ichthyoplankton Table 4.5-1. Ar
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4.0 Ichthyoplankton LA05 LA14 2D St
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5.0 Benthic and Epibenthic Inverteb
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CHAPTER 6 RIPRAP BIOTA
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9.0 Birds 40 35 30 riprap aerial Nu
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9.0 Birds Number Observed 3500 3000
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9.0 Birds Figure 9.5-1. Total numbe
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9.0 Birds Number of Individuals 400
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9.0 Birds 7000 Mean Number of Indiv
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CHAPTER 10 MARINE MAMMALS
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10.0 Marine Mammals Gray whales dif
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10.0 Marine Mammals This page inten
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11.0 References 11.0 REFERENCES Abb
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11.0 References Dennison, W.C. and
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11.0 References Jacques, D.L., C.S.
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11.0 References North, W.J. 1983. S
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APPENDIX A STATION LOCATIONS
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Appendix A Station Coordinates (NAD
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Appendix B (A) Temperature (°C), S
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APPENDIX C FISHES
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Appendix C Table C-1. Combined Fish
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Appendix C LA01 LA02 LA03 LA04 LA05
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Appendix C Table C-3. Otter Trawl C
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Appendix C Table C-5. Otter Trawl B
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Appendix C Table C-7. Otter Trawl B
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Appendix C Table C-8. Lampara Catch
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Appendix C Table C-10. Lampara Catc
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Appendix C Scientific Name Table C-
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Appendix C Table C-14. Beach Seine
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Appendix D Table D-1. Ichthyoplankt
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Appendix D fish eggs (undeveloped)
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Appendix D fish eggs unid. unidenti
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fish eggs unid. unidentified fish e
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Appendix D Eggs Oligocottus / Clino
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Appendix D Eggs Rhinogobiops nichol
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Appendix D Juvenile Eggs Heterostic
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Appendix D Eggs Liparis spp. snailf
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Appendix D Juvenile Eggs Heterostic
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Appendix D Table D-11. Ichthyoplank
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APPENDIX E INFAUNA
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Appendix E Taxon LA-1 LA-10 LA-11 L
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Appendix E Protothaca laciniata Tax
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Appendix E Taxon LA1 LA2 LA3 LA4 LA
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Appendix E Table E-4. Otter Trawl,
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Appendix E Taxon LA1 LA2 LA3 LA4 LA
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Appendix E Octopus sp. 1 Philine sp
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Appendix E This page intentionally
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Appendix F Table F-1. Total Abundan
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Appendix F LARR-1 LARR-2 LARR-3 LAR
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APPENDIX G KELP AND MACROALGAE
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Appendix G Date Survey Site Observe
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Appendix G Species T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T
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Appendix H APPENDIX H-1 AVIAN ECOLO
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Appendix H Table H-1. Avian Ecologi
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Appendix H GUILD 8 - UPLAND BIRDS G
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Appendix H APPENDIX H-2 NUMBER OF I
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Appendix H Table H-2. December A 20
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Appendix H Table H-3. December B 20
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Appendix H Table H-4. January A 200
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Appendix H Table H-5. January B 200
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Appendix H Table H-6. February A 20
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Appendix H Table H-7. February B 20
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Appendix H Table H-8. March A 2008
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Appendix H Table H-9. March B 2008
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Appendix H Table H-10. April A 2008
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Appendix H Table H-11. May A 2008 S
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Appendix H Table H-13. July A 2008
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Appendix H Table H-15. August B 200
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Appendix H Table H-16. September A
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Appendix H Table H-17. September B
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Appendix H Species Totals Zones 1 2
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Appendix H Species Totals Zones 1 2
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Appendix H Zones Species Totals 1 2
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Appendix H Zones Species Totals 1 2
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Appendix H Date ELEGANT TERN — OB
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APPENDIX I MARINE MAMMALS
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Appendix I Common Survey Station/ N
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Appendix I Common Name Survey Type
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Appendix I This page intentionally
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