2008 Annual Monitoring Report (pdf 10.9MB) - Bolsa Chica ...

Bolsa Chica Lowlands Restoration Monitoring
2008 Annual Report
Transplant site 6 may have belowground rhizomes that will persist and support new growth in the
future. Sites 11, 12, and 13 are not expected to recover because they are at a slightly lower elevation
than the other sites. Photos taken of each transplant site are presented in Appendix 1-C along with the
mean shoot density and mean canopy height at each. Photos of Sites 12 and 13 are included.
Mule Fat Scrub
Mule fat scrub occurs primarily in the southeast portion of the Seasonal Ponds, where perennial
freshwater input supports several freshwater vegetation communities, and sporadically along the
eastern boundaries of the study area near other sources of freshwater. This habitat is nearly monotypic
mule fat (Baccharis salicifolia).
Coastal Sage Scrub
Baccharis scrub occurring within the project site was mapped as coastal sage scrub. This habitat is
composed almost entirely of coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis) and Emory’s Baccharis (Baccharis
emoryi) various non-native weeds such as radish (Raphanus sativus) and black mustard (Brassica
nigra). Baccharis scrub is a sub-class of coastal sage scrub that is generally almost entirely dominated
by coyote brush and is typically indicative of greater soil disturbance, higher moisture levels, and/or
sandier soils. This vegetation occurs near the more highly disturbed eastern boundary of the study
area, however it was mapped in such limited areas that it is not visible on the habitat map.
Coastal and Valley Freshwater Marsh
A few small areas of coastal and valley freshwater marsh were mapped in the southeast corner of the
seasonal ponds. The freshwater marsh is composed primarily of broad-leaved cattail (Typha latifolia)
and narrow-leaf cattail (Typha angustifolia), with occasional California bulrush (Scirpus californicus)
and prairie bulrush (Scirpus robustus) nearby. These small freshwater marshes persist on the margins
of the coastal salt marsh due to perennial freshwater input as both surface runoff and groundwater
seepage from adjacent lands.
Southern Arroyo Willow Riparian Forest
A single mature stand of arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis) occurs adjacent to the freshwater marsh and
mule fat scrub in the southeastern portion of the Seasonal Ponds. This willow stand receives high
amounts of seepage from the adjacent bluff as well as surface runoff sources and has a small drainage
running through it out onto the salt panne.
Eelgrass
Eleven months post-transplant, 0.8 ha (2.0 acres) of eelgrass
was mapped in the FTB on June 30, 2008, marking a
doubling in area from the 0.4 ha (0.9 acre) of eelgrass
originally transplanted in 2007. (Figure 1-5). Eelgrass had
persisted at 13 of the original 15 transplant sites and spread
extensively into the southern portions of the basin. The two
transplant sites that were positioned in the center of the basin
did not appear to have persisted through to the June 2008
survey. Due to the increasing tidal muting of the FTB in
2008, eelgrass was able to establish at higher elevations than
it typically would, often growing at the base of the riprap in
the outer portions of the FTB.
Eelgrass in the FTB.
Merkel & Associates, Inc. 25