Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill Presentation 11/02/2009ELL tiYt 4 ,C Lf TY City Council Presentation Annual Wetlands Maintenance November 2, 2009 Annual Wetlands Maintenance • Annual Wetlands Management • Flow Control Structure Clean Out • Vegetation Management • California Red - legged Frog Management Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility 9/09 Sequential Draining of Wetlands • Biologist survey • Sequential • Draining • Maintenance • Refilled • Negligible vegetation or biologic effect _M3 Vegetation Management • Invasive Weed Species • Aquatic Primrose (Ludwigia peploides) • Cattail Management • Prickly oxtongue (Helminthotheca echioides) and perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium). • Hand crews to remove weed/invasive species Cells A, B, C and D Invasive Weed Species California Red Legged Frog Recovery Plan • California Red -legged Frog (CRLF) is Federally listed species (threatened) • 2002 USFWS California Red Legged Frog Recovery Plan • Identifies bullfrog. crayfish and other fish species as significant factors in decline of CRLF California Red Legged Frog California Red Legged Frog Recovery Plan cont'd • Requirement is to control bullfrog/crayfish populations Minimize affect on existing CRLF habitat • Wet areas would be netted for egg masses and tadpoles • One bullfrog egg mass — 7.000 — 10,000 eggs California Red Legged Frog Recovery Plan cont'd • Annual draining of ponds common management requirement from Recovery Plan • Ponds/wetlands provide habitat for bullfrogs, which prey on CRLF • Draining breaks the bullfrog reproductive cycle California Red Legged Frog Management - Ellis Creek • Habitat present in Ellis Creek • Permits identify potential for bullfrog populations to occupy ponds and adversely affect CRLF wm California Red Legged Frog Management - Ellis Creek US Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinion Wetland draining is a requirement of the USFWS Biological Opinion • Without management - Wetlands will serve as a population source for bullfrogs - Displace existing healthy CRLF populations. • Failure to Implement - Violation under the Endangered Species Act - Subject to federal enforcement actions Other CRLF Management Programs • Sonoma County Water Agency • Bullfrog control at local conservation easements • Sonoma County Land Trust- Sears Point Restoration and Stewardship Project • County of Sonoma Central Landfill • East Bay Regional Parks District • San Francisco Estuary Project : Arastradero Creek, Santa Clara County • Contra Costa Water Agency • Controlling bullfrog populations in Los Vaqueros Watershed since 1998 Summary • Best available science • Complies with environmental laws Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility 10/09