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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEastbluff Drive to University Drive• c • July, 1973 • City of Newport Beach DeparLmeisL of Public Works INTTTAL ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY FOR JAMBOREE BLVD, - EASTBLUFF DRIVE (NO.) TO UNIVERSITY DRIVE (110,) Ray E. Williams Ecological Consultant 1723 Port Sheffield Place Newport Beach, California 92660 INITIAL EPNVIRONMENTAL STUDY FOR JAMBOREE BLVD. - EASTBLUFF DRIVE (NO,) TO UNIVERSITY DRIVE (N0.) Biological Description of Project Environs • Jamboree Blvd". crosses San Diego Creek just inland from Upper Newport Bay.. This portion of the bay was modified in the early 1900's into a series of salt ponds. .The salt works operated until the floods of 1969 destroyed some of the dikes. No attempt has been made either. to re;nove or repair• the dikes. Hence., the area to the west of Jamboree Blvd.'is• in a disturbed ecological condition, The proposed -project -of adding an additional lane each direction to Jamboree Blvd. will necessitate the placing of fill on the bay side of the existing road bed a distance of about fifteen feet away from the limits of:the present:road bed. On the east side of Jamboree, the road bed has been determined to be wide enough in its present -form to allow for an additional 'lane. Operating under the assumption that. no additional fill is needed on the east side of Jamboree; no biological assess- ment of that area is presented here. Statements applying to the widening' of the bridge on the west- side apply equally to ' such work on the east side, however. The slope of the road bed on the West side of Jamboree is covered with the typical herbaceous (non -woody), mostly annual plants associated with dry slopes of this region (see list in next section). On. the south side of San Diego Creek, the widening pro- ject will fill a small portion of the existing salt ponds which are presently covered with salt crystals, to a depth of -one to three inches. The salt crystals almost completely restrict plant growth, A well -used equestrian trail divides the salt pond and the slope of the road bed. On the north side of San Diego Creek, the addition of • Ray E> Willinii ti 2 fill material will cover a dirt road which parallels Jamboree and will also cover most of the dry ground bordering a ditch parallel to the dirt road and west of it. It is,doubtful that the water -filled ditch with its associated marsh . vegetation will be affected. Inventory of Species Plants • Descriptive Code •H - herb S - shrub T - tree ✓ .- vine R - riparian' M - dry areas Cat -tail (Tvnha latifolia) HR common near creek Sprangleton Lentochloa uninerva) HR fairly -common near creek Crab Grass (Syntherisma sanzuinalis) HR uncommon near creek ' California Bulrush (Scirnus californicus) HR abundant near creek Yellow Willow (Salix lasiandra _TR common in clumps near creek Sandbar Willow Salix sestilifolia leucodendroides) TR uncom- mon near creek Curly Dock (Rumex crispus) HRM fairly common in lower -areas Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasoiculatum) SM scattered individuals. Pickleweed (Salicornia subterminalis) HR abundant Russian Thistle (Salsola. kali) HM fairly common • Ice Plant (Mesembrya.nthemum crystallinum) HM abundant Common Yellow Mustard (Brassica cambestris) BM -common Black Mustard (Brassica niara) HM less common White Sweetclover M?elilotus alba) HRM common Yellow Bush Clover (Melilotus indica) HRM less common Lotus sconarius HM few Tree Tobacco (Nicotinna ulauca) SM few Bristly Oxtongue (Picris echioides) HM scattered individuals Mule Fat (Baccharis viminaa) SM few Telegraph Weed (Heterotheca zrandiflora) HM scattered; fairly common - Cocklebur (Xanthium cana.dense) HR•common near Creek • California Sa ebrush7Artemesia caljfoznica) SM common on slope Brass Buttons (Catula corononifolia) HR common near creek • -a-- Ray E, �lilliamC • Birds • Descriptive.Code 3 R - Permanent resident -.entire life spent in the. vicinity of the project area - O - Occasional - animal passes through on an irregular . S - Summer use - animal (normally a bird) rears its young in the area: basis • W : Winter use - animal (normally a bird) uses the area in Fall. and Winter Pied -billed Grebe (road -kill on Jamboree) 0 Mallard (with young) OS Turkey Vulture 0 Killdeer 0 Black -necked Stilt OW Mourning Dove 0 Cliff Swallow (nests under bridge) R Common Crow 0 Starling 0 Yellowthroat- R English Sparrow R Meadowlark R Red -winged Blackbird 0 Savannah Sparrow R Song Sparrow R The above list of birds was compiled during the study. period in July, 1973, Since many birds are migratory, it should be recognized that the list is necessarily incomplete. The region encompassing Upper Newport Bay supports .some 200 or more species of birds during the winter.. Mammals Audubon Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) R Beechey Ground Squirrel (Otoslnnrm6philus beecheyi) R Botta Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae) R ''Deer Mouse (Peromysous.maniculatus )R Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) Q The above list was compiled through trapping studies conducted during July, 1973, by direct observation, through • • • 1110 -Ray E. Willie(' 4' indirect observations (droppings, tracks), and road kill records, Potential Impact of Proposed Project . fThis project does not appear to have much direct impact upon the biological community nearby. The plants on the existing slopes of the roadway are those which would tend to reoccur after the widening project is completed. In nature eoir seldom remains bare unless it is unstable (as Are some sand dunes), If soil is -exposed as occurs through the road -building process, a gradual repopulation occurs which is known as ecological succession., In succession,. .certain plants which are able to colonize bare soil will do so; these in turn may be followed by different species which tolerate conditions established by the colonizers, but which cannot tolerate open soil. There may be a series of -four or five or more changes in the dominant species -during -the, -- twenty or more years of succession until., finally, the:, climax community appears. This is the final, long -lasting -sue -case sional stage. On the slopes of Jamboree Blvd„ the natural climax . community is not likely 'to be very different from what is there now. Later in this piper, therefore, will be found suggestions as to how the slopes might -be improved through supplemental plantings, No rare and endangered species of'flora or fauna appear to be affected by this proposed work. It is doubtful that the completed project would have any effect -on the movement.' of resident wildlife. There may be some effect during con- struction, however. The bridge work would be most significant. Air quality will be further reduced as we provide for more traffic. It is suggested, though, that vehicles which are moving at efficient speeds contribute fewer pollutants • • Ray F, willia • 5 than vehicles standing at idle --the implication being that the need for widening Jamboree is to ease congestion both now and in the future, Noise levels will also increase. It is likely, however, that species affected'by the noise'af ' man's activities have already left the area. The species which remain seem to- be less offended by the noise than we are. Water quality will not be. likely to change on a per-. manent basis. Road spills, however, constitute a -potential hazard should the spill be allowed to run off into the creek or the bay. It is doubtful that contamination of water supply or ground water will occur. The project should have no influence on potential flooding. . - .-. Some temporary siltation is possible during construction of the bridge. It is recommended that construction .be done during periods of low stream flow to keep siltation localized.,_ The widening of this road should offer no more inter--' Terence with scenic vistas than already exists. -It will no.t produce a new structure on a prominently visual'area. ,Indeed, the "scenic vista" could be improved if appropriate slope plantings are utilized. The proposed project seems to be compatible with existing development in the area. It does not appear to constitute an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of coastal zone resources. Oil and mineral deposits (other than salt) are not known in the area involved. AS it provides for increased traffic flow, it may be said to provide for increased use of limited fuel resources. On' the other hand, if the project can be shown to increase travel efficiency, it may be beneficial in .the saving of fuel. The widening of Jamboree is likely to reduce public access to the fossil bed which is exposed by the road -out on Ray E. Williams 6 the west side of Jamboree between the bridge and Bristol.. Presently, the road margin is wide enough to provide parking space, it is assumed that this margin will be the basis for' the new lane to be added. The parking area which,presently exists gets considerable use by local schools not only to provide access. to the fossils, but as a'key vantage point from which to describe the 'geology of the surrounding area. Although the 'area Involved is subject to flooding, the ' proposed work does not appear to create additional hazards on a long term basis. This project is one of several road -building projects proposed for the area around San Diego- Creek and embracing the MacArthur Blvd. --Jamboree Blvd. territory, In itself„ the widening of Jamboree Blvd. is but a smail•project. How- ever, in this ecologically sensitive area.; -:and with the -several' projects of the California Division of Highways proposed for the area, the cumulative impact appears to be considerable., The combined effect would be to reduce air quality and in- crease noise levels, both of which are here suggested to be detrimental to wildlife and plants. • Migratory species which follow the San, Diego Creek may find it difficult to move through an area crossed by several bridges in just.a short stretch of creek. Among birds, some species fly high enough so that changes in local land marks may not interfere with their navigation. Such species would tend to include gulls, some shore birds, and many of the ducks. However, other species,.such as typical song birds, some shore birds and some of -the marsh birds such as the sora rail, - tend to stay close to the ground as they move around. Indeed, ails tend to fly only reluctantly in their daily activities, In addition, the sora.compounds its navigational problems by migrating at night, as do numerous species of birds. It may be argued that this project has a growth inducing effect by making available still more road surface in the Ray E. William( o 7 !Newport Beach area, By doing this, we are making it "easier" for people to move around in the area, However, in time, the immigration of more people, both resident and.non-resi- dent, will require still. further road facilities,' Eventually; it may be construed, there will be so many roads that .the amenities of Newport Beach will be•lost in the•maze of roadways. Conversely,, it may be- stated that since the people. are - coming anyway, congestion will'..be eased if - we provide for them. The problem of carrying capacity of a given area seems at present to be unsolvable. There seems to be no way to limit the numbers of people who can use an area. They just keep on coming: Density limits seem to be changeable at the discretion of governmental bodies and the influx of visitors is limited only by the number of parking spaces (and our ' aim, it appears, is to provide more). While this discussion is not intended;necessarily:to reflect against the Jamboree Blvd. project, the implications are, nonetheless, evident. Limits do -need to be set which ,will provide a pleasant environment forman and.the wild beasts, while at the same time providing"a sound economic base for existence, In the opinion of this writer, the environ mental priority is more important than the economic one,. (What good is wealth without health?) Recommendations to Lessen Impact Some local users of Upper Newport Bay have commented' that Jamboree Blvd. as it crosses San Diego Creek detracts from the scenic vista which existed' prior to the building•of Jamboree Blvd. It is suggested that. while it•a.s difficult ,to hide the bridge, plantings of native shrubbery on the banks of the road would improve the view. Such plantings would also help to maintain the slopes, Ray B. 'William 8 The following -plants are recommended for use on the slopes: toyon (Heterome:les arbutifolia.), laurel sumac (Rhus laurina.), lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia), blue elder • - berry (Sambucus glauca), coyote brush (Baccharis'pilularis), and various species of Ceonothus.. Not only would these Plants be attractive to people, they would also be valuable. food sources for certain birds and mammals of the area; Provision should be'mad-e to entrap road spills to avoid contamination of the creels or the bay. Construction should be done during periods of low stream flow to localize any siltation. It is recommended that parking sufficient foi- sir cars be provided near the fossil bed on the'west= side of Jamboree just north of the bridge,