San Diego Creek Reach II Operations and Maintenance Project (California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2011-052-05 (ITP))

San Diego Creek Reach II Operations and Maintenance Project (California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2011-052-05 (ITP))

Project includes the SD Creek Channel from I-405 to Campus Drive which will be restored and maintained to contain the 100-year flood carrying capacity and will include a defined 40-foot corridor or riparian vegetation on the east bank of the channel. This segment of SD Creek will be restored and maintained through vegetation management and sediment removal. Initial vegetation removal and maintenance of this segment of SD Creek Channel will allow for the full operation of the in-line channel sediment basins, providing water quality protection of Upper Newport Bay and the San Joaquin Marsh, and management of riparian habitat for sensitive wildlife species. The in-line sediment basins would be maintained by periodic removal of accumulated sediment and vegetation removal, when the sediment exceeds approx. 50% of the basin capacity. Various maintenance projects have occurred over the years within the limits of the Project area. In 2003 and 2004, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorized emergency dredging and vegetation removal activities (ER Project) within the project area that was completed in March 2004. However, seasonal restrictions prevented removal of all sediment required to reestablish food capacity in the channel. The ER Project included the removal of 11.2 acres of native riparian vegetation from project area. The SD Creek Completion Maintenance (Completion Project) authorized a one-time clearance of riparian vegetation within the exact footprint of the Emergency Project since March 2007. The Completion Project removed riparian vegetation, established since March 2004. The current project will remove riparian vegetation established within the footprint of the Emergency Project since March 2007, and an additional permanent removal of 3.9 acres and temporary removal of 0.60 acre of native riparian vegetation outside of the Emergency Project area footprint. This permit includes and adds additional conditions to the previous Completion Project's compensatory mitigation, as the Completion Project only authorized temporary removal (one-time removal). This project reflects additional conditions for approval for 15.1 acres to be permanently removed and replaced off-site. Therefore, as part of long-term operations and maintenance the above mentioned areas will be maintained for flood control and sediment capture and authorized under this Permit pursuant to the Operations and Maintenance Manual. Project will result in the permanent loss of 15.1 acres of least Bell's virea (Vireo belli pusillus) habitat and temporary impacts to 0.6 acre of least Bell's vireo habitat. The project is expected to result in incidental take of least Bell's vireo, which is designated as an endangered species under CESA. The ITP referenced above as issued by CDFW authorizes incidental take of species listed under CESA that may occur as a result of project implementation.

Irvine, Newport Beach

Orange