Santa Clara River Trail Final Master Plan - Development Services ...

Chapter 1: Existing Conditions
The proposed project is located on an existing flood control maintenance road, where no agricultural
activities occur. No existing agricultural operations or prime soils are located within or border the
project area; the nearest significant agricultural operations are located across the river to the north and
west of N. Victoria Avenue (City of Oxnard 2004).
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
The project site borders the Santa Clara River for approximately 3.87 miles. The river is a wide perennial
drainage that supports important native plant communities and hosts a variety of wildlife, including
some special status species. The City of Oxnard’s 2030 General Plan, Open Space/ Conservation Element
identifies riparian habitat throughout this reach
of the Santa Clara River that borders the project
site. However, this habitat varies significantly,
with areas west of Highway 101 characterized by
large stands of mature native trees and more
perennial flows and areas to the east by more
seasonal flows characterized by few mature trees
and large areas of open sandy channel. During the
summer months, flow is frequently limited to the
low-flow channel; however winter rains can
bring flash flows with high scour potential.
These factors exert a strong influence on the
types of plant communities found in the area.
Plant communities in the vicinity of the project
tend to be dominated by southern
cottonwood/ willow riparian forest, southern
The Santa Clara River and associated riparian
and scrub vegetation provide valuable habitat
to sensitive species including the least Bell’s
vireo.
riparian scrub and emergent wetlands west of
Highway 101. To the east, open wash, coastal sage scrub, scattered southern cottonwood/ willo w riparian
forest and southern riparian scrub are the dominant plant communities.
The southern cottonwood/willow riparian forest that occurs adjacent to the eastern end of the project
site is of high value for wildlife species, particularly nesting birds. This plant community is dominated by
Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), and arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis). The most common plant
community adjacent to the project site is southern riparian scrub, which is characterized by dense shrubs
and willows within the riverbed. This community is often transitional between uplands, and open wash
and is dominated by Arroyo willow; however, significant amounts of sandbar willow (Salix hidsiana) and
mulefat (Baccharis glutinosa) are also present.
This dense growth of native riparian trees, shrubs and associated vegetation provide habitat for a variety
of birds and small animals. The southern riparian scrub and open channel habitats adjacent to the project
site are known to support the southern California steelhead trout (Oncorhyn chus mykiss), a federally
endangered species. In addition, the Federal and California endangered least Bell’s vireo (Vireo bellii
pusillus), and California endangered western yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus accidentalis) have
been recorded in the project vicinity near the Highway 101 bridge (California Department of Fish and
Game 2009). Further, special status species such as the silvery legless lizard (Anniella pulchra Gray),
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