HomeMy WebLinkAboutb1naturalresourceprogram
FROM: Michael Codron, Assistant City Manager
Prepared By: Robert A. Hill, Natural Resources Manager
Freddy Otte, City Biologist
SUBJECT: ACTIVITY REPORT FOR THE NATURAL RESOURCES
PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR 2012-13.
RECOMMENDATION
Receive and file the 2012-13 Natural Resources Protection Program annual Activity Report.
REPORT-IN-BRIEF
This Activity Report will update the City Council on the activities and initiatives of the Natural
Resources Protection Program in 2012-13, including the adoption of the Reservoir Canyon Natural
Reserve Conservation Plan and key implementation steps of the Calle Joaquin Agricultural Reserve
Master Plan. It will also point out staff’s expectations for 2014-15, such as completion of the
Laguna Lake Management Program Update and ongoing progress towards continued open space
acquisition. An overview and map of open space projects completed to date are included
(Attachment 1, Open Space Inventory, and Attachment 2, 2014 Greenbelt Map).
DISCUSSION
The fundamental purpose of the Natural Resources Protection Program is to conserve, enhance,
and restore important community natural resources. This is done through acquisition and
protection of open space, creation of conservation plans, implementation of those plans,
leadership in stormwater and water quality protection, as well as environmental review services
provided to other City departments by the City Biologist. The Natural Resources Protection
Program also works in close collaboration with the Parks and Recreation Department’s Ranger
Services Program to ensure the highest care, long-term stewardship, and appropriate public use
of the City’s open space network. Today, the City of San Luis Obispo holds 3,503 acres of open
space in fee, and 3,446 acres in conservation easements, which includes:
1. Operation of twelve large open space reserves that are managed for natural resource
protection and are available for passive recreation, as well as numerous smaller areas.
2. Maintaining thirteen conservation easements for habitat, scenic, and agricultural
purposes.
3. Protective management and restoration activities in many areas of open space lands, as
well as along San Luis Obispo Creek and its tributaries.
Open Space Goals from 2011-13. The Natural Resources Protection Program had the following
open space acquisition and conservation goals (the status of each goal is noted in italics):
B1 - 1
Natural Resources Program Activity Report for 2013 Page 2
1. A formal agreement for easement or fee ownership of the Chevron Tank Farm open space
lands (plus a sizable restricted fund to pay for maintenance thereof), resulting in the
addition of 260 acres of ecologically significant open space lands on both sides of Tank
Farm Road.
Status: This project carried forward to 2013-15. Significant progress has been made,
however, in parallel with the overall project negotiations with the Chevron team relative
to the open space component of the project. If the project moves forward pending City
Council action, completion of the open space component is expected in 2014.
2. One or possibly two new conservation easements (held either by the City or by the Land
Conservancy) on agricultural land near Camp San Luis Obispo.
Status: The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County completed an agricultural
conservation easement for the 530 acre Highland Ranch located on Los Osos Valley
Road in the Camp San Luis Obispo Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) planning area.
At a value of $1.725 million, the project represents a significant effort of the City’s long-
standing non-profit conservation partner to protect prime farmland within the City’s
Greenbelt.
3. A new conservation and public access easement at Righetti Hill in the Orcutt Specific
Plan Area, totaling about 50 acres, with future additions, allowing for trail use there.
Status: Conservation easements for both Righetti Hill and the Righetti Homestead
(corner of Tank Farm and Orcutt Roads) were completed in April 2012. The Righetti Hill
easement provides for the City to begin public access improvements upon the vesting of a
tentative tract map for the remainder of the property as contemplated in the Orcutt Area
Specific Plan.
4. Possible fee ownership of large portions of the Upper Goldtree Vineyard Tract lots (King
and Filipponi/ Twissleman properties), where proposed residential development has been
controversial for the past several years, adding up to 140 acres to the greenbelt and to
Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve.
Status: The City acquired 89 acres of the Filipponi and Twisselman family holding
within the Upper Goldtree Vineyard Tract in June 2012 that was incorporated into the
Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve Conservation Plan. The adjacent King property
remains of long-term interest for open space acquisition.
5. Preparation and completion of a Conservation Plan for Reservoir Canyon Natural
Reserve.
Status: The Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve Conservation Plan was adopted by the
City Council on November 19, 2013. Implementation of several of the projects identified
in the plan are already underway with the Ranger Services Program presently retrofitting
the pedestrian bridge over the creek, re-routing of an eroding trail, and removal of
understory leaf litter near the Lizzie Street trailhead for fuel management in the
wildland-urban interface in that area.
B1 - 2
Natural Resources Program Activity Report for 2013 Page 3
6. Possible trail connections from the Froom Ranch to Calle Joaquin and Johnson Ranch.
Status: As a result of a long-standing partnership with the Central Coast Concerned
Mountain Bikers (CCCMB), the “Filipponi Ranch Connector Trail” that links Froom
Ranch to Johnson Ranch was completed by Ranger Services in early 2013 and has
quickly become one of the most cherished trails in the City’s entire trail system. A ribbon
cutting ceremony and dedication of a bench honoring the Filipponi family was held in
December 2013.
7. Progress on implementation of the master plan for the farmland acreage at the Calle
Joaquin site.
Status: A twenty year lease was executed with Central Coast Ag Network (dba Central
Coast Grown) for operation and maintenance of the Calle Joaquin Agricultural Reserve,
sometimes also called the “SLO City Farm”. Central Coast Grown has successfully
installed a 400+ gallon per minute well and irrigation system on the site with funding
support from Madonna Enterprises and The Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation. A first
crop is expected to be put in the ground shortly. NOTE: Ms. Jenna Smith, Executive
Director of Central Coast Grown, will be on hand at the City Council meeting and will
give a brief presentation of their work to date at the site and plans for the future.
8. Measurable increases in trail lengths usable to the public.
Status: In addition to the Filipponi Ranch Connector Trail mentioned above, two other
new trails have been installed at Froom Ranch. Taken together, the City now enjoys over
three miles of new, state-of-the-art trails in this Open Space area. Daily trail work is
planned and overseen by Lead Ranger Doug Carscaden supported by Ranger Services
staff, in consultation with Natural Resources staff, together with hundreds of volunteers,
the Central Coast Concerned Mountain Bikers, California Conservation Corps, Cuesta
Fire Crews, and California Mens Colony crews.
9. Measurable improvements in conditions on the City’s waterways, such as length of near-
stream areas thinned and pruned, volume of debris removed, and amounts of exotic
vegetation removed and native species planted or established.
Status: City Biologist Freddy Otte remains very active and plays a leadership role in the
City’s Stormwater Management Program, which requires significant coordination and
facilitation with all of the City’s Departments, as well as regional and statewide partners,
to monitor, evaluate and respond to the evolving and increasing regulatory demands of
the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) stormwater permit
promulgated by the State Water Resources Control Board (the phase II permit went into
effect July, 2013). Additionally, the City Biologist coordinates with various City
Departments on capital improvement projects that involve natural resources (from
permitting to completion), including the City’s silt removal projects and various bridge
projects including the Bob Jones trail; these responsibilities include environmental
monitoring and managing the health of the creeks to ensure proper protection. The City
Biologist is also active with the Rangers in creek clean-up activities associated with
transients encampments, the annual Creek Day event, and with Zone 9 funded flood
B1 - 3
Natural Resources Program Activity Report for 2013 Page 4
control activities precedent to winter rains. All of these responsibilities, projects, and
programs require the City Biologist to be actively involved with and represent the
interests of the City with regulatory agencies. It should also be noted that the City
Biologist has worked to enhance the City’s exposure and engagement in the broader
environmental community by serving on the Board of Directors of a statewide nonprofit
non-profit organization known as the Salmonid Restoration Federation (SRF), where he
is currently President.
10. Development of a maintenance plan for Laguna Lake, including potential funding
sources.
Status: This project to prepare the Laguna Lake Management Program Update carried
forward to 2014. Plan preparation is underway, with a third public workshop followed by
hearings at the Parks and Recreation Commission and Planning Commission scheduled
for this winter and spring. The plan is then anticipated to come before the City Council
for its consideration at its July 1, 2014 meeting.
Expectations for 2014-15
The following expectations from the 2013-15 Financial Plan Other Important Objective Open
Space are:
1. Real Property Acquisition / Administration and Conservation Planning:
a. Pursue key acquisition opportunities including additions to the Reservoir Canyon
Natural Reserve and the Irish Hills Natural Reserve, as well as conservation easements
which will protect larger landscapes including scenic views and city gateways,
headwaters to San Luis Obispo Creek and several perennial streams, and valuable
habitat areas.
b. Ongoing annual monitoring of all City-owned open space preserves, open space
easements, and conservation easements.
c. Complete Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve Conservation Plan to include Upper
Goldtree property addition.
d. Complete update of the Laguna Lake Management Program.
e. Update Conservation Guidelines for Open Space Lands within the City of San Luis
Obispo to address minor inconsistencies with other policy documents.
f. Update the Saving Special Places reports pertaining to strategic open space acquisition
priorities.
g. Prepare the Islay Hill, Righetti Hill, and Terrace Hill Conservation Plan.
2. Land Restoration, Stewardship, and Monitoring:
a. Continue sediment removal project at Prefumo Creek inlet to Laguna Lake and
continue monitoring of four other sediment removal locations completed in 2012.
b. Continue vegetative stabilization efforts associated with road decommissioning
project at Froom Ranch.
c. Ongoing community outreach and education in partnership with ECOSLO.
B1 - 4
Natural Resources Program Activity Report for 2013 Page 5
d. Creek and flood protection within the City’s natural waterways through Zone 9
projects and coordination and oversight of the Stormwater Management Program.
e. Ongoing monitoring, remedial action, and enhancement, as needed, of existing
mitigation sites.
f. Complete pampas grass treatment at Froom Ranch.
g. Install wetland meadow and riparian planting / invasive species control at Calle
Joaquin Agricultural Reserve using awarded EEMP grant funds.
3. Open Space Improvements, Maintenance, User Safety, and Patrol:
a. Continue daily patrol of the City’s schools, parks, open space areas and creek
corridors.
b. Continue maintenance of existing City open space trails.
c. Continue to coordinate 65 trail work days (3,500 hours) a year utilizing volunteers.
d. Continue to partner with the Central Coast Concerned Mountain Bikers on various
open space improvements and maintenance.
e. Continue to construct additional trails at Froom Ranch consistent with the approved
Irish Hills Conservation Plan.
f. Evaluate and implement long term solution to address unsanctioned and user created
trails at Bishop Peak, and continue to evaluate and address trailhead parking burdens
in surrounding neighborhoods with signs, patrol, and dissemination of directional
information on the City’s website, trail maps, and in SLO Stewards.
g. Evaluate and plan long term solution to maintain singular and sustainable access
trail at the Maino Open Space.
h. Continue Ranger Led Hikes in the City’s open space on a monthly basis and upon
request.
i. Continue Ranger Service environmental education program and Junior Ranger Camp
to increase open space knowledge and user safety.
j. Re-route and begin construction of a trail connecting Froom Ranch to the Bureau of
Land Management’s parcel in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding
with the Department of Interior.
k. Install new trail signs and kiosks including but not limited to: Froom Ranch, Froom-
Johnson Ranch Connector Trail, and Reservoir Canyon.
l. Complete the Reservoir Canyon bridge repairs.
m. Assist staff and the public with a Donation Station program; creating avenues for
further support of open space maintenance and preservation (opportunities include
Iron Rangers in possible partnership with Public Art).
4. Urban-Wildland Interface Fuel Reduction:
a. Bowden Ranch Open Space eucalyptus thinning
b. Irish Hills Open Space eucalyptus thinning and mowing
c. Terrace Hill Open Space mowing
d. Islay Hill Open Space mowing
e. Maino Open Space / Lemon Grove eucalyptus thinning
With the receipt of this report, staff respectfully requests that Council provide direction if
B1 - 5
Natural Resources Program Activity Report for 2013 Page 6
changes to the work program are desired so that they can be made as part of the 2013-15
Financial Plan Supplement. For example, it has been suggested that the preparation of an update
to the Bishop Peak Natural Reserve Conservation Plan (2004) may be warranted at this time in
lieu of other work plan items.
FISCAL IMPACT
Since its inception in 1995 the Natural Resources Protection Program has utilized approximately
$4,302,500 in City general fund monies for Open Space acquisition. This includes about
$952,500 in Measure Y funds since July 2007. This total has been matched by $4,785,000 in
outside funding support, including private, other local, State, and Federal sources, as well as
$4.050,000 in donated land value. The total value of all Open Space acquisitions since 1996 is
$13,137,500. In addition, many enhancement projects have also utilized City funds and outside
grants, or have benefitted from donations or volunteer support. The total cost of these projects is
over $1,000,000. The land transaction history and their cost breakdowns are included in attached
Open Space Inventory.
Staff has not yet spent any of the $400,000 allocated in the 2013-15 financial period to the Open
Space CIP, but expects to do so. Historically, open space acquisition funds have been matched at
a ratio of approximately 3:1; this is a “running average” of all projects, although some projects
have enjoyed substantially more matching funds, and some less. $125,000 is available in
Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program (EEMP) grant funds in contract from the
California Natural Resources Agency for the purposes of implanting riparian restoration and
installing a “wetland meadow” along Prefumo Creek at the Calle Joaquin Agricultural Reserve.
ALTERNATIVE
1. Continue the item and direct staff to make revisions or include additional information.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Open Space Inventory
2. Greenbelt Map
T:\Council Agenda Reports\2014\2014-02-18\Natural Resources Prg Annual Report (Hill-Ott)
B1 - 6
Open Space Inventory of the City of San Luis Obispo
as of January 1, 2014
I. Pre-1996 Open Space lands
Terrace Hill Open Space, 30 acres
Lemon Grove Open Space, 43 acres
Ferrini Open Space, 136 acres
Laguna Lake Open Space, 140 acres
Let It Be Nature Preserve, 5 acres
South Hills Open Space, 62 acres
Reservoir Canyon Open Space, 203 acres
Lopez Canyon Open Space, 320 acres
Wolfe Open Space Easement Dedication, 95 acres
Madonna Open Space Easement Dedication, 20 acres
Islay Hill Open Space Easement Dedication, 70 acres
Total: 939 acres fee, 185 acres easement (1,124 acres total)
II. Lands Acquired 1996 through 1999
Guidetti Ranch Easement, 1,480 acres (November 1996)
$400,000 City funds
Maino Open Space, 75 acres (March 1997)
$950,000 City funds
$400,000 donation value
Bishop Peak Open Space, 108 acres (February 1998)
$400,000 City funds
$450,000 State and private funds
Total this period: 183 acres fee, 1,480 acres easement
III. Lands Acquired, 2000 – 2001
Filipponi Ecological Area, 75 acres (March 2000)
$175,000 City funds
$350,000 State grants
Stenner Springs Open Space, 49 acres (April 2000)
$55,000 City funds
$10,000 Federal grant
DeVaul Open Space, 182 acres (December 2000)
$182,000 donation value
Prefumo Canyon Open Space, 360 acres (January 2001)
$360,000 donation value
Guidetti Ranch Easement amendment, 1,480 acres (January 2001)
$50,000 City funds
$950,000 State and private grants
Hastings Open Space, 284 acres (March 2001)
$70,000 City funds
$130,000 State grant
Attachment 1
B1 - 7
Froom Ranch Easement Dedication, 150 acres (May 2001)
$150,000 donation value
Foster Open Space, 154 acres (September 2001)
$300,000 City funds
$915,000 Federal and State grants
Johnson Ranch Open Space, 242 acres (November 2001)
$300,000 City funds
$1,300,000 Federal, State, and private grants
$150,000 donation value
Bowden Ranch Easement Donation, 195 acres (December 2001)
$195,000 donation value
Total this period: 1,346 acres fee, 345 acres easement (plus amendment on 1,480 easement acres)
IV. Lands Acquired 2002 – June 2007
Bowden Ranch Open Space Dedication, 27 acres (August 2003)
$54,000 donation value
Kuden Donation, 2 acres (September 2003)
$300,000 donation value (per appraisal)
Olson Donation, 1 acre (December 2004)
$250,000 donation value (per appraisal)
Boysen Ranch Easements, 30 acres (June 2005)
$60,000 donation value
Congregation Beth David Easement, 63 acres (June 2005)
$126,000 donation value
Bowden Ranch Fee Donation, 185 acres (50% undivided interest)(October 2005)
$90,000 donation value (per appraisal---encumbered by easement)
Gearhart/McBride Donation, 12 acres (November 2005)
$60,000 donation value (“basic” farmland value)
Brughelli Ranch Easement, 390 acres (December 2006)
$650,000 City funds
$100,000 private grants
$250,000 donation value
Margarita Area Easement donation (King), 71 acres (June 2007)
$142,000 donation value
Union Pacific Railroad property donation (Land Conservancy), 315 acres (June 2007)
$448,000 donation value (per appraisal)
Total this period: 542 acres fee, 484 acres easement
V. Lands Acquired July 2007 – present (Using Measure Y funds)
Elks Lodge Creek and Trail Easement donation (Elks Lodge), 3 acres (May 2008)
$6,000 donation value
Stenner Ranch and Stenner Creek Road property easements, 852 acres (December 2008)
$300,000 Measure Y funds
$200,000 from sale of 14 acre property
$350,000 Federal funds
Attachment 1
B1 - 8
$150,000 donation value (Stenner Ranch)
$28,000 donation value (Stenner Creek Road property)
Bowden Ranch Open Space , 185 acres (December 2008)
$120,000 from sale of surplus 14 acre property
Froom Ranch agricultural easement (Irish Hills West, Inc.), 7 acres, June 2010
$35,000 donation value
Froom Ranch, 310 acres, July 2010
$310,000 Measure Y funds
$350,000 Federal and private grants
$40,000 donation value (Phyllis Madonna)
BLM property management agreement, 78 acres, July 2010
No financial consideration
Prefumo Commons donation (Irish Hills Plaza West, Inc.), 12 acres, August 2010
$60,000 donation value
O’Connor Ranch agricultural conservation easement (held by Land Conservancy of SLO
County), 191 acres (October 2010)
$107,500 City funds
$850,000 Federal grant
300 Lawrence Drive lots donation (Inland Pacific Co.), 1 acre, December 2011
$2,000 donation value
Rockview Close open space lot donation, (Asset Logic Group), 3 acres, December 2011
$6,000 donation value
Foster/Spangler property conservation easement donation, 38 acres (December 2011)
$250,000 donation value
Righetti Hill and Righetti Homesite conservation easements, 56 acres (April 2012)
$112,000 donation value
Upper Goldtree Vineyard Tract lots, 89 acres (June 2012)
$235,000 City funds
$15,000 Land Conservancy of SLO County grant
$325,000 donation value (Filipponi / Twisselman)
Total Acres this Period: 493 acres fee, 952 acres easement
Total Since Inception of Natural Resources Protection Program: 2,564 acres fee, 3,331 acres
easement (5,895 acres total)
Overall Total Acres: 3,503 acres fee, 3,446 acres easement (6,952 total)
Total City Funds Expended : $4,302,500 (Including $952,500 in Measure Y funds)
Total of all “Outside” Funding Support: $4,785,000
Total Donation Value: $4,050,000
Grand Total: $13,137,500
Attachment 1
B1 - 9
Attachment 2
B1 - 10