2007 Annual Monitoring Report (pdf 16MB) - Bolsa Chica Lowlands ...

Bolsa Chica Lowlands Restoration Monitoring2007 Annual ReportDisturbed Salt PanneDue to the use of the salt panne habitat by various migratory birds,including western snowy plovers for nesting, it is relevant to callout large areas of salt panne that are disturbed. Generally, theseareas are previously flat expanses that are traversed by varioustrucks and equipment. When disturbed during wet periods, thisactivity leaves the ground deeply rutted, less desirable to foragingand nesting birds, and of some concern in relation to harboringpests such as mosquitoes longer into the summer season.Disturbed salt panne in the seasonal ponds.Intertidal Sand ShoalThis category refers to the depositional flood shoals that occur inthe FTB inlet. The shoals are composed of unvegetated andunconsolidated sand that can be highly transitory in nature as theyare chronically accreting and reworked by the tides and waves.Inlet shoal October 2007.Intertidal MudflatThis category refers to the unvegetated intertidal mudflats occurring below elevations at whichvascular plant communities occur (typically +0.7 m NAVD88) and the lowest tides. This habitatborders the FTB and portions of the Muted Pocket Marsh. While the cordgrass shelf is above thiselevation it is also considered intertidal mudflat until such time as marsh develops.Open WaterOpen water habitat includes all permanently inundated areas in the FTB and Muted Pocket Marsh, aswell as non-seasonal waters such as Freeman Creek. Standing water in the Seasonal Ponds and FutureFull Tidal Basin (FFTB) areas were mapped as Salt Panne in consideration of their underlying,persistent substrate.Unvegetated Nest SiteThis includes Nest Sites 1, 2, & 3. They are topped with sand and groomed to appeal to targetedsensitive species that nest on such sites.Urban/DevelopedThe areas designated as Urban/Developed are comprised of paved streets, paved and unpaved oil fieldroadways and levee roads, recreational paths, oil pads, or highly disturbed areas adjacent to theresidential neighborhoods or related to oil field operations and contamination remediation.DiscussionThe January 2007 assessment of habitats at Bolsa Chica was intended to document the baselineconditions following the completion of construction. Vegetated habitats targeted by the restorationwill develop in the coming years, including pickleweed-dominated coastal salt marsh, cordgrass, andeelgrass (Zostera marina). Pickleweed marsh in the MTBs will benefit from daily tidal inundationMerkel & Associates, Inc. 23