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Restoration is a never ending venture at Oakwood Valley, Wolfback Ridge, Milagra Ridge, and Mori Point. This report summarizes the projects we hope to accomplish in the near future to protect sensitive habitat and the endangered and threatened species that habitat. There is much work to be done!
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PARK STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
A SUMMARY OF PROJECT FUNDING NEEDS Prepared by: Christina Crooker – Restoration Manager Ruby Kwan – Assistant Project Coordinator
August 18, 2014
Park Stewardship program – Restoration Project-based funding needs 2
This document identifies key natural resources management projects on Park Stewardship-managed
lands (Oakwood Valley, Wolfback Ridge, Milagra Ridge, and Mori Point) that cannot be completed with
current levels of staffing and volunteer support.
For each project, we provide the project need, proposed action, compliance needs, timeframe, estimated
cost, and a map of the project area. We have assigned a priority code to each project in order to best
allocate funds.
High Priority
Project footprint within endangered species habitat.
Projects with years of prior time and funding invested for maintenance and follow up.
Contractor-specific projects.
Non-native species of concern that grow rapidly and have a tremendous ability to
overtake surroundings if left unmanaged.
Medium Priority
Project footprint near endangered species habitat.
Projects that can be done by interns and Restoration Technicians if funding cannot be
secured for contractors.
Low Priority
Project footprint not near endangered species habitat.
Projects that can be done by interns and Restoration Technicians.
Projects with minimal to no prior time and funding investment.
In summary, we will need $359,877 to accomplish the invasive species removal projects outlined in this
report. We will need $150,000 to accomplish the trail related project in this report.
Park Stewardship program – Restoration Project-based funding needs 3
O A K W O O D V A L L E Y
Remove Invasive Cotoneaster from Mission blue butterfly habitat at Oakwood Valley
Priority Level: High
Project Need: Oakwood Valley is home to the northern-most population of the federally endangered
Mission blue butterfly. Butterfly populations have been declining in other parts of the park, but continue
to thrive at Oakwood. As such, it is critical to keep grasslands open for the butterfly’s lupine host plants.
Aerial photographs document a rapid invasion of woody brush, especially cotoneaster, at Oakwood.
Over the past fifteen years, the cotoneaster footprint has gone from only scattered plants to dense
monocultures and is quickly spreading into grassland habitat for Mission blues. Removal of cotoneaster
will protect this key population of an otherwise dwindling endangered butterfly.
Overall Project: We propose to cut and treat 11.92 acres of cotoneaster. This will ensure open grassland
habitat and eliminate source populations of cotoneaster in order to protect against future invasion.
This project requires contractors for chainsaw work and will build on prior efforts of staff, volunteers, and
contractors to protect Mission blue habitat by controlling woody invasives in the grasslands that support
butterfly host plants.
Compliance: This project is within the scope of actions described in the Fire Management Plan and the
Annual Veg Plan and should not require additional compliance.
Timeframe: This project should be conducted between August 1 and December 31 to avoid bird and
raptor nesting season. Completion before Oct 15 is ideal, but not necessary, to avoid rainy season.
Overall Project Cost: $217,420 (based on costs for a prior cotoneaster removal project with Go Native)
Priority Action 1: We propose to have contractors cut and treat 3.07 acres of cotoneaster within a 25-
meter buffer of known Mission blue butterfly habitat. Broom has already been removed from all Mission
blue habitat patches, and scattered cotoneaster has already been controlled near MBB patches 8, 5, 10,
and 7. Patches 11 a, 11, 12, 14, 6, 4a, and 13 still have dense cotoneaster with no prior record of
management.
Estimated Cost: $56,143 (based costs for a prior cotoneaster removal project with Go Native). Smaller
increments of this figure could also be applied to an cotoneaster reduction overall strategy.
Park Stewardship program – Restoration Project-based funding needs 4
Oakwood Valley. Woody brush such as cotoneaster, French broom, and Scotch broom has become well-established in drainages separating Mission blue habitat which are found on the ridges at Oakwood Valley.
Remove Eucalyptus trees to reduce fire hazard, protect federally endangered Mission blue
butterflies, and rehabilitate oak woodlands
Priority Level: High
Project Need: Oakwood Valley is home to the northern-most population of the federally endangered
Mission blue butterfly. Butterfly populations have been declining in other parts of the park, but continue
to thrive at Oakwood. As such, it is critical to keep the populations and associated habitats free of
threat from encroachment by invasive scrub and trees. Furthermore, fire-prone Eucalyptus trees pose a
hazard to neighboring communities on the Wildland Urban Interface.
Overall Project: We propose to remove all remaining Eucalyptus trees from Oakwood Valley. Trees will
be cut and treated, and all wood will be chipped and left in place. The project footprint will be planted
with native scrub and oak-bay woodland species. Invasive species removal will be conducted for a
minimum of three years.
This will build upon the 1999 Eucalyptus Pilot Project planning effort to remove groves along Oakwood
Valley creek. It also builds upon the Wildland Urban Interface project completed in 2004 that removed
three large groves of Eucalyptus to protect neighboring Marin City from fire originating in the park. It
further builds on the 2012 and 2013 Oak Rehabilitation Project that removed eucalyptus and acacia
saplings from oak woodlands.
Compliance: Compliance efforts could build off of those associated with the Eucalyptus Pilot Project of
the late nineties. That project encompassed these and resulted in a draft EA.
Timeframe: This project should be conducted between August 1 and December 31 to avoid bird and
raptor nesting season. Completion before Oct 15 is ideal to avoid the rainy season and issues with
sedimentation.
Estimated Cost: TBD
Priority Action 1: The leading edges of most Eucalyptus groves were controlled in 2012 as part of the
Oak Rehabilitation Project. We propose to remove 225 Eucalyptus saplings along three remaining leading
edges to achieve complete control of Eucalyptus grove expansion. Follow up work will be conducted by
Park Stewardship staff.
Compliance: within the scope of actions described in the Fire Management Plan and the Annual Veg Plan
and should not require additional compliance.
Timeframe: This project should be conducted between August 1 and December 31 to avoid bird and
raptor nesting season. Completion before Oct 15 is ideal, but not necessary, to avoid rainy season.
Estimated Cost: $10,500 (based on costs for Eucalyptus removal by size class from Marin County
Arborists)
Park Stewardship program – Restoration Project-based funding needs 7
Oakwood Valley. Eucalyptus saplings can be seen in the foreground on the larger Eucalyptus trees.
Priority Action 2: We propose to control 49 Eucalyptus trees and saplings that are spreading across a
natural containment line - the Oakwood Valley creek. This will ensure that the eastern side of Oakwood
remains native oak-bay woodland.
Compliance: This project would need to go through project review since mature trees greater than 8 “
dbh would be removed within a riparian corridor. Compliance efforts could build off of those associated
with the Eucalyptus Pilot Project of the late nineties. That project encompassed these and resulted in a
draft EA.
Timeframe: This project should be conducted between August 1 and December 31 to avoid bird and
raptor nesting season. Completion before Oct 15 is ideal to avoid the rainy season and issues with
sedimentation.
Estimated Cost: $34,737 (based on costs for Eucalyptus removal by size class from Marin County
Arborists)
Oakwood Valley. Eucalyptus trees on the western creek bank.
Remove newly detected Cape ivy patch along Oakwood Valley creek
Priority level: High
Project need: Cape ivy poses a significant threat in native habitats because it grows and establishes very
rapidly and easily. At Oakwood Valley, there are 18 cape ivy patches but due largely to early detection,
follow up, and monitoring each winter, Cape ivy has been nearly eradicated within the riparian corridor.
In 2011 we discovered a new patch of Cape ivy along the creek. Since we have invested a significant
amount of time managing Cape ivy throughout Oakwood Valley, and since Cape ivy is a species of high
concern, it is important that we control this patch with the goal of complete eradication to prevent it
from spreading in place or downstream.
This project builds on the 1999-2001 grant to remove Cape ivy park-wide as well as long-term follow-up
efforts after the grant’s completion.
Proposed action: We propose to remove this patch with the help of contractors due to dense tangles of
poison oak. Removal will be done using the “scorched earth technique” where all vegetation is cut, the
soil is raked to bare earth, and all cut vegetation is piled and tarped. Follow-up will be conducted by Park
Stewardship staff and interns for years to come.
Compliance: This project is consistent with the Fire Management Plan and the Annual Veg Plan and
would not require additional compliance.
Timeframe: This project should be conducted between August 1 and February 1 to avoid bird nesting
season. Implementation in January and February is ideal because poison oak, willows, and thimbleberry
have gone dormant.
Estimated cost: $6,000 (based on a quote for this project from Go Native).
Oakwood Valley. Cape ivy patch grows near the creek.
Remove broom species from the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) at Alta Avenue to maintain
fuel breaks
Priority level: High
Project need: This project will maintain our 2004 investment in clearing invasive brooms from the
Wildland Urban Interface along Alta Avenue. The fuel reduction project was initiated in 2004 to protect
neighboring Marin City from fire originating on parkland. Long-term follow-up has been conducted using
project funds. Project funds are now expended but annual maintenance needs have plateaued at about
$6000 per year.
Proposed action: Fund restoration technicians or contractors to remove broom species from 15 feet on
either side of Alta Avenue annually.
Compliance: This project is consistent with the Fire Management Plan and the Annual Veg Plan and
would not require project review.
Timeframe: This project should be completed in the spring before broom seed matures.
Estimated cost: $6,000 per year (based on past costs for Restoration Technicians)
Oakwood Valley. Wildland Urban Interface along Alta Avenue.
Park Stewardship program – Restoration Project-based funding needs 11
Remove striated broom at Marincello
Priority Level: Medium
Project Need: Despite long-term efforts to eradicate striated broom at Marincello with the help of
volunteers, it continues to persist. Plants are too large to weed wrench so volunteers have been cutting
or cutting and peeling bark in the fall. The percent kill of this method is yet to be determined and the
amount of broom exceeds our available volunteer resources. Additionally, much broom is within thick
scrub and poison oak and is difficult to access.
This project is best completed with contractors who can use chainsaws.
This project will build on the efforts of the Habitat Restoration Team, which historically manages broom
above the Marincello Road and upon the efforts of Park Stewardship, which manages broom below the
road. It will also build on a 2010 5K contract which targeted part of the striated broom footprint in
scrublands at Marincello.
Overall Project: We propose to have contractors cut and treat broom along both sides of Marincello
Road to eliminate the seed source.
Compliance: This project is consistent with the Fire Management Plan and the Annual Veg Plan and no
additional compliance is required.
Timeframe: This project can be completed at any time; however, cut stump herbicide treatments are
most effective in the fall.
Overall Estimated cost: $18,000
Priority Action 1: Remove striated broom below Marincello Road on Park Stewardship-managed land.
Estimated Cost: $9,332 (based on a 2009 striated broom removal contract with Go Native)
Marincello. Striated broom (yellow) grows on both sides of Marincello road.
Remove Cape ivy at Alta Avenue
Priority Level: Low
Project Need: Cape ivy poses a significant threat in native habitats because it grows and establishes very
rapidly and easily.
This project builds on the 1999-2001 grant to remove Cape ivy park-wide as well as long-term follow-up
efforts after the grant’s completion. This patch has never been controlled.
Proposed action: We propose to remove this patch with the help of contractors due to dense tangles of
poison oak. Removal will be done using the “scorched earth technique” where all vegetation is cut, the
soil is raked to bare earth, and all cut vegetation is piled and tarped. Follow-up will be conducted by Park
Stewardship staff and interns for years to come.
Compliance: This project is consistent with the Fire Management Plan and the Annual Veg Plan and
would not require project review.
Timeframe: This project should be conducted between August 1 and February 1 to avoid bird nesting
season. Implementation in January and February is ideal because poison oak will have lost its leaves
making working conditions safer.
Estimated cost: $15,000 (based on previous Cape ivy removal projects by acre with Go Native)
W O L F B A C K R I D G E
Remove broom throughout Wolfback Ridge to protect Mission blue butterfly habitat
Priority Level: High
Project Need: Although the population is small, Mission blue butterflies have been observed at Wolfback
Ridge as recently as May 2014. Since 2011, we have been planting lupine host at Wolfback to expand
and diversify mission blue habitat to facilitate a population increase. As such, it is critical to keep the
small population and associated habitat free woody broom species.
Woflback Ridge is not volunteer friendly due to steep terrain, poison oak and abundant western black-
legged ticks. Just this year, staff and Restoration Technicians dedicated 380 hours of work to manage
broom throughout the site. This level of staff time is not sustainable each year. By July, much of the
broom was removed although there are areas that we could not get to. Given the 20-year history of
controlling broom here, we should conduct control the broom to flowering and seeding each year to
exhaust the seed bank.
This project builds upon a large contract to remove broom in 1999. Since that time, broom has been
removed yearly from Wolfback by volunteer and paid staff.
Proposed Action: We propose to have contractors cut and treat French and Scotch broom in areas where
broom has been managed before.
Compliance: This project is consistent with the Management Plan for Wolfback Ridge and the Annual Veg
Plan and would not require additional compliance.
Timeframe: This project should be conducted in the spring before broom seeds mature.
Estimated cost: $10,000 (based on 400 hours of Restoration Technicians) Partial increments of this
amount could be applied to an overall broom management strategy.
Wolfback Ridge. Annual comparison of French broom individuals treated. Not all individuals were treated each year..
19,500
5,620
12,510
0
5,026
8,095
14,026
5893
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
CY 2006 CY 2007 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013
Ind
ivid
ual
s Tr
eate
d
Park Stewardship program – Restoration Project-based funding needs 17
Remove non-native trees to protect Mission blue butterfly habitat at Wolfback Ridge
Priority Level: High
Project Need: Mission blue butterflies have been observed at Wolfback Ridge as recently as May 2014.
The population at Wolfback Ridge is small; as such it is critical to keep the small population and
associated habitat free of threat from encroachment by non-native trees.
Proposed Project: We propose removing all invasive trees from Wolfback Ridge. Tree debris would be
bucked up and scattered or stashed on site.
Compliance: This project would require project review or inclusion in FY2015 Annual Veg Plan since the
trees are larger than 8” dbh.
Timeframe: This project should be conducted between August 1 and Dec 31 to avoid bird nesting season.
Implementation prior to the rainy season is ideal.
Overall Cost: $36,720
Priority Project 1: All trees less than 8 inches dbh have already been cut by Park Stewardship staff. We
propose to have contractors cut, treat, and buck up the remaining 20 large Eucalyptus trees and
remaining pine trees. We estimate it will take 3 days for an experienced crew.
This project would build upon the CalTrans pine tree removal project near Waldo Tunnel. An additional
benefit of pine removal is that it would make conditions unfavorable for Ehrharta erecta which currently
grows in the understory and is managed each year. This is the only patch of Ehrharta in the surrounding
area.
Estimated Cost: $ 12,240 (based on costs for 3 days of Marin County Arborists)
Wolfback Ridge. The Eucalyptus, cypress, and pine trees are the sole source population on the site and threaten to spread and
encroach into Mission blue butterfly habitat. Furthermore, the cypress trees in the drainage create favorable conditions for
Ehrharta erecta.
Drainage-cypress
Eucalyptus Ridge - cypress
Park Stewardship program – Restoration Project-based funding needs 18
Priority Project 2: We propose removing a
patch of blackwood Acacia within grassland
habitat that continues to expand on the eastern
slopes of Wolfback Ridge.
Estimated Cost: $12,240 (based on estimated 3
days of Marin County Arborist time)
Priority Project 3: We propose removing a
patch of blackwood Acacia that continues to
expand upslope from the riparian area on the
lower eastern slopes of Wolfback Ridge.
Estimated Cost: $12,240 (based on estimated 3
days of Marin County Arborist time)
Acacia project 2
Acacia project 3
Park Stewardship program – Restoration Project-based funding needs 19
Park Stewardship program – Restoration Project-based funding needs 20
M I L A G R A R I D G E
Remove tower of jewels (Echium pininana) at Milagra Ridge
Priority Level: Low
Project Need: Tower of jewels has establishing and spreading in drainages at Milagra Ridge. We are
seeing it start to encroach upon the grasslands supporting Mission blue butterfly.
Proposed Action: We propose to have contractors or Restoration Technicians cut and paint tower of
jewels in two areas, patches 1 and 3 on the Oceana slope. Both stands are situated on a steep slope and
dense poison oak, thus eliminating the possibility of engaging volunteers. We have been hand sawing
ECPI at the tops of patch 1 but have not made it down to the bottom due to the poison oak. There is no
history of management or investment in patch 3. The two patches of ECPI are the biggest and only source
population at Milagra Ridge. Eliminating the concentrated stands would reduce the possibility of spread
into Milagra.
Compliance: This project is consistent with the Milagra Ridge Management Plan and Annual Veg Plan and
no addition compliance is required.
Timeframe: This project can be conducted at any time. However, it would ideally be conducted in the
late winter when poison oak is dormant or the early spring before Echium sets seed.
Estimated Cost: $5,500. Estimate based on Go Native’s work rate of $230/hr. for a crew of 4, including a
supervisor which equates to $1840 for one days’ work (8 hours approx.). We estimate that it would take
21 hours to clear the ECPI, equating to approximately 3 days of work.
Milagra Ridge. Echium pininana in Patch 1 (above) and 3 (below).
M O R I P O I N T
Upgrade Headlands Trail to protect and restore coastal bluff wildflowers
Priority Level: Medium
Project Need: The Headlands Trail along the Point is
the most visited destination at Mori Point. Although
degraded and compacted due to prior mining
operations and motorcycle racing, it houses the
spectacular wildflower displays that make Mori Point
beloved by so many. Long-time visitors regularly
express concern about a decrease in wildflowers at
the Point. With an increase in overall visitation to
Mori Point due to trail and habitat improvements, the
Point is subject to more trampling than ever before.
In May 2014, Park Stewardship conducted a visitor
use survey at the Point to map visitor use patterns
on social trails. Park Stewardship led a field visit
with Christine Fitzgerald and Kirsten Holder to
summarize the results of the survey and brainstorm
on a trail design and implementation. The general
plan for the trail as of the field visit is to establish
one trail from the top of the Bootlegger Steps out to
the Point and both sides of the trail would be fenced
with visually unobtrusive fencing.
This project will build on the successful
implementation of the Mori Point Restoration and Trail Plan beginning in 2007.
Proposed Project: We propose establishing a trail system that guides visitor use along one main trail
rather than along several social trails, and attempt to revegetate barren areas with native wildflowers.
Experimental plots to revegetate this area have been successful, increasing the viability of limiting visitor
access while restoring barren areas.
Compliance: This project would require project review.
Timeframe: This project could be conducted anytime but implementation prior to the rainy season is
ideal.
Estimated Cost: $150,000 for trail establishment (based on high-end projections by NPS Trails). More
detailed cost estimates are being formulated. Revegetation to be conducted by Park Stewardship
Program.
Mori Point. The Point has been degraded by years of off trail use.
Mori Point. The Point offers visitors views of the Pacific coastline as well as a native wildflower show each spring.