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

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Bolsa Chica Lowlands Restoration Monitoring2007 Annual ReportCalifornia killifish, and a single arrow/shadow goby. A total of 1,396 fish were captured in the MPM,93% of which were topsmelt. Biomass figures at Stations 1 and 2 were more similar than comparisonsof abundance between the two stations and were generally driven by the size and number of topsmeltcaptured. The MPM had the lowest biomass due to the small size of the topsmelt captured there.The limited number of species, low biomass, and few individuals captured is similar to conditionsdocumented in the October 1997 survey during the first year post-opening of Batiquitos Lagoon,reflecting the early stages of site development. In addition, the October 2007 FTB sampling and theOctober 1997 sampling at Batiquitos Lagoon found a paucity of mature fish, with both systemsdominated instead by first year juvenile fish. This observation would tend to suggest that in bothcases, early colonization of the new coastal embayments was by larval and juvenile recruitment andless by adult immigration.It is recommended that fisheries monitoring be extended into Year 3 to document the colonization ofthe FTB and development of the fish community.BENTHIC COMMUNITYThe Monitoring Plan does not call for benthic monitoring to be initiated until Year 2 of the monitoringprogram, in January and July. The first monitoring was conducted January 2008 so data will bepresented in the second annual report.The Monitoring Plan calls only for 2 sampling events in the first four years of the FTB opening. It isrecommended that benthic monitoring be extended into Year 3 in order to better document andunderstand the development of benthic resources available for avian and fish communities.AVIAN COMMUNITYAvian surveys began in October 2007 to mark the start of Year 2 of the monitoring program and willcontinue every other month for a 2-year period. October surveys counted a total of 7,256 individualbirds representing 90 species, while December surveys included a total of 9,333 individual birdsrepresenting 92 species. Many migrating birds were observed in October, with many wintering birdsobserved in December. Each bird species observed was assigned to one of 9 ecological guilds. Themost abundant bird guild for both surveys was shorebirds with 4,406 individuals (61% of all birdsobserved) in October and 5,431 individuals (58% of all birds) in December. The second most abundantguild over both surveys was dabbling ducks/geese with 757 individuals (10% of all birds) in October and1,663 individuals (18% of all birds observed) in December. The large increase in individuals during theDecember surveys can be attributed to the arrival of wintering ducks as well as some migrant geese. Thethird most abundant guild over both surveys was upland birds with 915 individuals (13% of all birds) inOctober and 789 individuals (9% of all birds) in December. Diving duck/grebes/cormorants were thefourth most abundant guild with 371 individuals (5% of all birds) in October and 785 individuals (8% of allbirds) in December 2007.Inundated salt panne was the most utilized habitat type (35% of all birds) during the October 2007survey. This is primarily due to shorebird usage, accounting for 68% of all shorebirds during theOctober survey. This changed in the December survey with an increased use of mudflats (33% of allbirds) and open water (29%) above inundated salt panne (13%). The increased use of open water wasrelated to the arrival of diving and dabbling ducks by December. When standardized by the availableMerkel & Associates, Inc. 3
Bolsa Chica Lowlands Restoration Monitoring2007 Annual Reportarea of each habitat, bird densities were greatest in October in the willow/riparian (87 birds/ha), nonnativevegetation (53 birds/ha), all salt panne (35 birds/ha), disturbed salt marsh (33 birds/ha), andmudflat (35 birds/ha). In December bird densities were greatest on mudflat (101 birds/ha), freshwatermarsh (56 birds/ha), non-native vegetation (52 birds/ha), and willow/riparian (44 birds/ha).Species richness was highest in October in the salt marsh (38 species), inundated salt panne (33species), mudflat (30 species) and open water (29 species). In December species richness was greatestin open water (43 species), mudflat (42 species), and salt marsh (38 species). All other habitats had 20species or less during both periods.Surveys for the state endangered Belding's Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis beldingi)were performed in April 2007. A total of 351 territories were identified within the study site.Territories appeared to be relatively evenly dispersed throughout areas where pickleweed dominatedsalt marsh occurred. Using area of salt marsh available and the number of territories recorded, theaverage territory size was estimated to be 1,450 m 2 . The Future Full Tidal Basin supported the mostterritories, followed by the Muted Tidal Basins, then Seasonal Ponds.California least tern (Sternula antillarum browni) nest monitoring occurred on North Tern Island(NTI), South Tern Island (STI), Nest Site 1 (NS1), Nest Site 2 (NS2), and Nest Site 3 (NS3). The ternsnested on STI and NS1 and did not utilize NTI, NS2, or NS3. From an estimated number of 212 pairs,a total of 392 eggs were laid in 226 nests. The average clutch size was 1.7 and the first least ternfledgling was recorded on 2 July. Nest predation was high at 65 nests (31%) and fledgling success forthe 2007 season was limited to 15 fledglings (3.8%). Ninety-five percent of documented mortality wasdue to depredation (175 chicks and 65 eggs).The western snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) nested on STI, NS1, NS3, and a numberof cells within the Seasonal Ponds, with a total of 50 nests. From the 143 total eggs produced, 130chicks were produced. None of the 50 nest attempts were lost to predators, however, 2 completeclutches failed to hatch. Of these 130 total chicks produced in 2007, a maximum of 25 chicks (19.2%)were estimated to have survived to fledge. Fledglings per nest (0.50 fledglings/nest) ranked the lowestout of 10 years of fledgling estimates. One hundred five chicks were most likely lost to predation.Management of the California least tern and western snowy plover nesting sites is expected to beadaptive due to enhancement of the Bolsa Chica area and the creation of new nesting and foragingareas.Avian monitoring recommendations include increasing the Belding’s Savannah sparrow monitoringprogram to include a minimum of 2 surveys per breeding season, and implementation of themanagement recommendations detailed in the plover and tern reports attached as appendices to thisreport.INLET FLOOD SHOALThe rate and distribution of sand accretion in the inlet flood shoal maintenance area of the FTB wasassessed during three surveys in the first year: January 19 and June 27, 2007 and January 10, 2008.The flood shoal volume deposited during the first year, August 2006 through August 2007, wasapproximately 169,500 m 3 (222,000 y 3 ). The actual shoaling rate is 34% higher than the 126,200 m 3(165,000 y 3 ) predicted by modeling as the first year shoal volume. The second year shoaling rate fromMerkel & Associates, Inc. 4
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Sampling Location CoordinatesCalifo
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Cordgrass Transplant in Bolsa Chica
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Shorebirds (cont'd)Upland birdsRudd
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2007 Breeding Season for the Califo
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Final ReportWestern Snowy Plover Ne
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2007 Nest LocationsNest LocationAt
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