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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-16-2018 Item 04 Open Space Maintenance Plan Progress Report Meeting Date: 1/16/2018 FROM: Shelly Stanwyck, Parks and Recreation Director Prepared By: Lindsey Stephenson, Administrative Analyst SUBJECT: OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE PLAN PROGRESS REPORT RECOMMENDATION Receive and file the Parks and Recreation Department’s Open Space Maintenance Plan 2017 Progress Report and the Open Space Kiosk Panels (Attachment A & B). DISCUSSION Background On December 15, 2015 the City Council adopted the City’s first Open Space Maintenance Plan. Adoption of the Open Space Maintenance Plan identified future progress reports to the Council; this Agenda Report transmits the Second Annual Report. The adopted Open Space Maintenance Plan is premised on the protection of the City’s natural resources including plants, animals, geologic, and historic features as well as the natural areas themselves. The Plan was written in a manner that affirms existing maintenance practices undertaken by staff, contractors, and volunteers. Those practices are all undertaken in a manner that is consistent with existing City policies, ordinances, and plans regarding open space. The Open Space Maintenance Plan specifically references and integrates as its foundational policy guidance the following existing City policy documents: Conservation and Open Space Element, Conservation Guidelines for Open Space Lands of the City of San Luis Obispo, and the adopted Conservation Plans for each of the City’s open space lands. In addition to implementing the Conservation Plans for specific open space and reserve properties the Plan addresses existing maintenance needs in the City’s open space lands. It articulates the enhancement and maintenance of existing trailheads and trails in a sustainable manner for passive recreation purposes only. It also articulates removal of illicit materials and trails, improvements to user and natural resource safety, land restoration and stewardship projects, invasive species treatment and control, erosion control and stabilization, education of users via patrol and outreach, and management of the wildland-urban interface areas. Plan Focus The Plan is divided is divided in three sections: 1. Maintenance Activities. Maintenance Activities have been ongoing in the City’s open space for years. They are undertaken by staff, as well as contractors and volunteers on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis. Maintenance Activities fall into six main categories of maintenance: 1) vegetation, 2) structure, 3) signage, 4) trail/road, 5) drainage, and 6) trail construction. Under each category are specific tasks. Within each of these categories are focused activities that can occur seasonally or year-round. Packet Pg 9 4 2. Trailhead Amenities. For the purpose of standardization, the City has three different sized trailheads (small, medium, and large) with differing degrees of enhancement at each. Currently, the City has 24 trailheads throughout its open space system. The plan identifies for each trailhead amenity its purpose, design specification, location, standard costs, materials, installation, maintenance, and lifespan. 3. Open Space Locations. City Ranger staff presently maintain approximately 3,700 acres of open space lands comprised of 15 properties held in open space, natural reserve, ecological reserve, or agricultural reserve status. The Conservation Plan implementation items are numerous and property specific. They include activities such as: trailhead, parking, and emergency access improvements; directional and educational trail signs and kiosks; trail installation, closures, re-routes, and erosion control; invasive species control, fire protection and native habitat restoration; and bridge, fence, and open space infrastructure replacement. Open Space Maintenance Plan Progress Report Highlights The Open Space Maintenance Plan Progress Report covers predominately calendar year 2017. It provides a visual and numerical summary for Council and the community about the work efforts undertaken to address the adopted Plan as well as the 2015-17 Major City Goal: Open Space Preservation. 2017 Open Space Maintenance and Protection efforts addressed new and deferred projects. How those efforts were accomplished is also highlighted in the report. Of particular focus for Ranger staff this past year was the installation of new informational panels and open space name headers at every trailhead kiosk, as well as “blade-style” directional signage throughout the entire open space trail system. The Open Space team, Rangers, Department Analyst and Director, worked with local firm iiiDesign over the span of six months to research, write, and develop new educational kiosk panels and trail maps. The outcome is educational panels which follow the City’s Style Guide while highlighting the beauty of its open space. The pictures in the progress report provide a visual summary of all of the wor k accomplished and Attachment B includes the entire array of maps and informational panels. This year’s results have been significant and have “caught” up the maintenance of many open space areas such that they are safer and more welcoming for the public to use and enjoy. Looking Ahead to 2018 The City’s Open Space team has planned out its priority projects for 2018. This coming year will see major improvements at Johnson Ranch and Reservoir Canyon trailheads including the installation of a 60-foot pedestrian bridge above the waterfall at Reservoir Canyon. Staff anticipates parking and fencing improvements at both sites as well as the continued construction and maintenance of trails throughout the City’s open space lands. Lastly, the recently acquired Waddell Ranch property will be included in an update to the Irish Hills Conservation Plan which will include its comprehensive study and planning for resource protection and appropriate public access. Other anticipated activities include new kiosks, bridge and gate repairs as well as fire fuel reduction, mitigation projects, and new directional blade signage throughout the city’s trail system. Packet Pg 10 4 CONCURRENCE City Administration’s Natural Resources Manager, Bob Hill, concurs with this report. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW When adopted on December 15, 2015, a Negative Declaration was approved for the Maintenance Plan. In addition, to being compliant with the Plan, all activities undertaken in protecting the City’s Open Space by the Rangers, are done in a manner consistent with all adopted City policies, ordinances, and open space and/or natural reserve conservation plans. FISCAL IMPACT This report on maintenance activities does not have a new fiscal impact. The activities are funded through the adopted 2015-17 and 2017-19 Financial Plans and include the Annual Open Space Maintenance CIP and resources from the operational budget for the Ranger Service Program in the Parks and Recreation Department. Attachments: a - 2017 Update Annual Open Space Maintence Plan b - Open Space Education Panels 2017 c - PRC Minutes 12-6-17 Packet Pg 11 4 Annual Open Space Maintenance Report 2017 PROGRESS REPORT CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE PLAN Packet Pg 12 4 Laguna Lake Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 1 NEW 2017 TRAILHEAD AMENITIES After | Spanish Oaks Islay Hill Packet Pg 13 4 Small Kiosk Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 2 Terrace Hill Bishop Street Entrance Large Kiosk NEW 2017 TRAILHEAD AMENITIES Packet Pg 14 4 Hiking Etiquette open space YIELD TO UPHILL TRAFFIC Hiking Etiquette • Hike single file, share the trail with others • No amplified music/noise • Stay on designated trails. Creating new trails or cutting switchbacks creates erosion, damages vegetation and habitat • Please DON’T litter • Uphill traffic has right of way • Hike with a plan and let others know your route • Trail runners yield to hikers/walkers • Don’t use wet trails, it causes damage • Be respectful of wildlife and livestock • Embrace Leave No Trace ethics. Using the open spaces is not a right, it’s a privilege we need to keep Recommendations for a good hike: • Bring enough water for you and your group • Use sunscreen or wear long sleeved shirts • Wear a hat to help shade the sun • Closed toe shoes are always a good idea • Have a map if you aren’t familiar with the area • Hike with a friend • Don’t just hike in one place, search out new hikes Eurasian PLATE PhilippinePLATE Pacific PLATE Juan de Fuca PLATE AntarcticPLATE Indian-AustralianPLATE North AmericanPLATE Caribbean PLATE CocosPLATE Nazca PLATE South AmericanPLATE ALEUTIAN ISLAND S ALEUTIAN TR E N C HJAPANTRENCHKURILTRENCHMARIANASTRENCHJAVA TRENCH CHILE RISEEAST PACIFIC RISEP AC IF IC-A N TA R C TIC R ID GE NE W HEBRID ES TR EN CH P ERU -C HI LE TRENCHANDUSSOUTH EAST INDIAN RISE KERMADEC TONGATRENCHMauna Loa Ngauruhoe Ruapehu Kilauea Taal Mayon Merapi DempoKrakatoaSemeru Lassen St. Helen’s Rainier KatmaiPavlof Shishaidin Klyuchevskaya Osorno Azufral Misti CotopaxiPuracéRuizPelee Soufrière IzalcoPoàs Popocatépetl Paricutin EQUATOR SACLE IS TRUE ON ON THE EQUATOR 0 0 1,000 2,000 2,000 4,000 3,000 MI KM Spreading plate boundaries Converging plate boundaries Volcanic arcs Major active volcanoes Pacific Ring of Fire Geologyour local Understanding our local geology requires a larger view of our global geology and the forces of plate tectonics at work. The rocks of our coastal ranges were originally created deep under water at the boundary of the Pacific plate and the American plate. In this region the Pacific plate, containing dense oceanic rock, was thrust beneath the American plate, containing less dense rock. This tumultuous zone is responsible for the creation of a variety of different rock types that comprise the Franciscan Formation. The age of the Franciscan spans from Early Jurassic (190 million years ago) to Late Cretaceous (75 mya). There are no known formations beneath the Franciscan and it is thought to extend downward to the upper mantle of the Earth’s crust. The Basalts, of volcanic origin, appear as a dark reddish brown and highly fractured mass. Much of our basalt has been hydrothermally and tectonically altered to “redrock”, a crumbly decomposed material that is commonly used as a dirt road base within the county. Chert is a highly weather resistant rock and is commonly seen as outcroppings. A prominent example can be seen on the King trail in Irish Hills. This rock is initially formed as a precipitate when silica in the super-heated Basalts contact and saturate sea water. Upon cooling, the silica “gels” and then is deposited as layered beds. An excellent layered example can be found at the water tank on the Felsman Loop trail at Bishop Peak. Graywacke is a poorly-sorted, coarse grained sandstone sedimentary rock that was originally deposited undersea from turbidity currents within the subduction zone. Considered a “dirty sandstone”, it doesn’t commonly appear as outcrops, as it is easily eroded compared to other Franciscan rocks. Serpentine is an easily identifiable rock, due to its bluish-green hue and amorphous structure. It is also quite common in our immediate area. Serpentine is originally intruded into fault zones in deep ocean environments. The visible Serpentine ridges –South Hills, Reservoir Canyon, Irish Hills–are the core of these intrusions made visible following uplift then erosion of the less resistant surrounding rocks. Blue Schist occurs as isolated and fragmentary lenses. It is a metamorphic rock seen occasionally but shares little universal agreement on its genesis. The blueschist may have originated as oceanic basalt that was subjected to very high pressure but relatively low temperature. This is truly an enigmatic member of the Franciscan Formation. Western coastal California has some of the most complex geology of the North American Continent. The East Pacific subduction zone, propelled by the forces of mid-oceanic spreading, shifted from one of compression/subduction to right lateral shear. The offshore subduction zone later altered and shifted ashore to what is now observed as the present day San Andreas Fault. Being at the edge of an intensely violent but profoundly slow tectonic boundary, we are able to observe the complex effects of uplifting, folding, faulting, and eroding of the terrain around us. During these times of changes in sea levels and landforms, extensive marine shales were deposited in the surrounding areas beyond San Luis and Chorro Valleys. The Monterey, Pismo and Paso Robles Formations were deposited as extensive, white layered marine shale beds. The Chorro and San Luis Valleys also witnessed the creation of Bishop Peak, Cerro San Luis, Terrace and Islay Hill. These relatively recent iconic Dacite intrusions (plugs) are eroded internal remnants of volcanic cones, Oligocene in age. (22-26 mya). These volcanic vents penetrated through the underlying Franciscan Formation and are surrounded by the eroded detritus of nearby features. DESCENDING FARALLON PLATE ? ?? FRANCISCAN ASSEMBLAGE OCEANIC CRUST OF PACIFIC PLATE GREAT VALLEY SEQUENCE CONTITENTAL CRUST OF NORTH AMERICAN PLATE SIERRA NEVADA VOLCANOS 3 5 °1 7 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 7 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 7 '0 "N3 5 °1 7 '0 "N3 5 °1 6 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 6 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 6 '0 "N3 5 °1 6 '0 "N 0 0.25 0.5 1 1.5 2 MILES Open Spaces san luis obispo Please respect private property and stay on trails. Please observe the City of San Luis Obispo Open Space rules found at each location. Violators will be cited under San Luis Obispo Municipal Codes; Fines in excess of $561. Hikers and mountain bikers can explore 52+ miles of trails running through over 3,500 acres of Open Space properties belonging to the City of San Luis Obispo. In case of emergency dial 911. For Ranger Service call (805) 781-7302. For more information and downloadable trail maps visit Ranger Service page at www.slocity.org Reservoir Canyon NATURAL RESERVE South Hills NATURAL RESERVE Terrace Hill OPEN SPACE Johnson Ranch OPEN SPACE Laguna Lake NATURAL RESERVE Bishop Peak NATURAL RESERVE Irish Hills NATURAL RESERVE Cerro San Luis NATURAL RESERVE Stenner Springs NATURAL RESERVE Islay Hill OPEN SPACE Climbing Experience & Impact Even when considering its limited elevation and the total amount of climbable rock face, the hard dacite rock that is characteristic of the Morros, and Bishop Peak, provides a high quality climbing experience. This, combined with a pleasant year round climate, make Bishop Peak an ideal location for moderate climbing. Many of the crags are accessed by ‘social trails’ which have been created by frequent travel over previously undisturbed habitat. As more climbers come into the area it is important to consider the impacts of climbing on the Peak. Many of these social trails have become impacted and worn and new trails have begun to appear, particularly between the different walls. Unfortunately, these new unsanctioned trails lead to greater impacts on the land including: soil compaction, erosion, and vegetation loss at the base of climbs, and on approach and descent trails, destruction of cliffside vegetation and lichen, disturbance of cliff-dwelling animals, litter, and the visual blight of chalk marks, pin scars, bolts, and gear that has been left behind. All climbers, be they visitor or regular, are encouraged to use existing trails and be mindful of the impacts your use has on this natural resource. History Rock climbing is a long standing historic use at Bishop Peak, with evidence of early use going back as far as the World War II era. Regular climbing activity appears to have begun in the mid to late 1970’s. Most of the “roped climbing” at Bishop Peak has focused on the north facing cliffs and crags known as P-Wall, Shadow Wall and Cracked Wall as well as the Summit Blocks. In recent years, bouldering has become popular at Pete Boulder, Clorissa Boulder, Hummingbird Boulder, the Boulder in the Woods and the Potato. Climbing at bishop peak Minimum Impact Practices It is important to remember that climbing should not interfere with the overall management of Bishop Peak, which is designated as a Natural Reserve with natural resource protection its primary goal*. These impacts can be eliminated or greatly reduced by following minimum impact practices and leave no trace ethics. Though you may consider the individual impacts of your actions as insignificant, when multiplied by all of the people who climb here every year they can have a significant, long lasting effect.. *San Luis Obispo Municipal Code 12.22.050 Hard dacite rock, combined with a pleasant year round climate, make Bishop Peak an ideal location for moderate climbing !Climb at your own risk PHOTO BY: Douglas Bush Wildflowersour local “A world without open country would be universal jail.” — ED ABBEY Each year our springtime brings a profusion of wildflowers. When our surrounding hills turn green, it’s soon after they appear dusted with yellows, oranges and other colors. From the California Poppy to Mustard and the stately Yucca, the change of our seasons bring about the changing beauty of our open spaces. But the spectacular display of wildflowers neither begin nor end with the passage of Spring. All Flowering plants have their own particular bloom period. The annual wildflowers appear first and rapidly bloom, undergo pollination, and set seed before the dry summer can end their life cycle. Look for Chinese Lanterns in Oak Woodlands and Gold Fields and Baby Stars in open grass land. Perennial herbs can persist longer and into the summer months before going dormant. Late-blooming bulbs can be seen veiled on the dried grassy slopes where you’ll find Mariposa, Golden Stars and other Lilies mid-summer. In the Chaparral surrounding the City, Black Sage, Ceanothus and Sticky Monkey Flower all come into bloom to delight the observant hiker. Winter-blooming shrubs are Chaparral Current and Fuchsia- flowered Gooseberry. There are hundreds of wildflowers in our area that many can be found at any given time of the year. Most have lived here since pre-Columbian times, but many have arrived in recent years. The vast fields of mustard, the noxious thistles and the escaped ornamental plants have contributed to our springtime palette of colors. Take your time and look closely at your surroundings as you pass through them to further enjoy your outdoor experience. Wildflowers of San Luis Obispo, California is an excellent guide to initiate the trail user to our treasures that bloom. It was written by a consortium of botanists, enthusiasts and photographers with a passion for our flora and can be found at the Parks and Recreation office (1341 Nipomo Street in San Luis Obispo). Club-Haired Mariposa Lily Calochortus clavatus spp. clavatus Twinning Snapdragon Antirrhinum kelloggii Tidy Tips Layia platyglossa Coast Indian Paintbrush Castilleja affinis Palmer’s Monardella Monardella palmeri Gum Plant Grindelia hirsutula PHOTO BY: Ranger Service Staff Our open spaces are home to some of the most diverse and unique wildflowers found in the country. Wildflowers exist here that can survive in no other environment. Palmer’s Monardella (Monardella palmeri) is unique to serpentine soils. Uncommon Jewel flower (Streptanthus albidus ssp.peramoenus) is an inconspicuous flower found on disturbed serpentine slopes. NEW 2017 TRAILHEAD PANELS Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 3Packet Pg 15 4 VOLUNTEER HOURSJAN 2017 to NOV 2017764 15.5 volunteers’ value Total Hours Worked total volunteer hours spent atThe M trail Wednesday Work Days total volunteer hours spent at Saturday Work Days total volunteer hours spent at 400 total hours 39 days X 3 hrs 131by Dean arrighi Volunteer hours worked 288 total hours 15 days X 3 hrs Volunteer patrol hrs by grace demPsey $59,799.19 723 total hours 28 days X 3 hrs Number of volunteers 2225.5 Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 4Packet Pg 16 4 EQUIPMENT 2017 Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 5 Mini Excavator Sutter Of Use Hours 0 Waiting to be delivered 67 of USE Hours of USE Hours 55165 Of Use Hours Gator Tractor Packet Pg 17 4 4 recieved certs Rangers Mechanized Trail Equipment Training & Certification by Trails Unlimited LLC 200 of training Hours Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 6 EQUIPMENT TRAINING Hosted at Whale Rock Mini Excavator 2017 Packet Pg 18 4 Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 7 Junior Ranger Activity Camp (JRAC) WOW Week Trailhead information Ranger Led Hikes Laguna Lake Camp Out After School Ranger Talks TOTAL 2,133 hrs of public education 15 students X 6 hours per day X 5 days450 hrs 18 students X 6 hours per day X 5 days540 hrs 800 students X 6 min informed about rules & open space80 hrs One hike per month528 hrs 15 talks, 1 hour each, with 34 students510 hrs 3 groups X 11 people X 45 mins25 hrs August June PUBLIC EDUCATION These numbers only represent the formal education provided by ranger staff. Rangers engage with hundreds of visitors a week and are constantly educating the public about rules, wildlife plants, trail and more.Jan 1, 2017 - Present September Annual September & August Packet Pg 19 4 Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 8 Using Instagram to promote laws & trails less traveled Hike Reservoir Canyon Loop, Orange Loop, Lemon Grove Loop, King Trail, Terrace Hill, Bob Jones (Prado Rd) and Allen K. Settle Take a photo at each & tag @pixonpeaks Then come into our office to show us all the photos you receive a FREE hat! New Logo PUBLIC OUTREACH Two education campaigns2017 Hikes with Hounds and @pixonpeaks Prize Hat Community Posts using #PixOnOPeaks over 3,000 photos 500+ PAPER TRAIL MAPS GIVEN AWAY 1,500 LEASHES GIVEN AWAY AT TRAIL ENTRANCES Packet Pg 20 4 Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 9 ENFORCEMENT 2017 Dog Off Leash 88 Open Space Closed Per Director 29 Smoking 92 Camping Overnight/Riparian Corridor 19 Disposing/Collecting Trash at Riparian 5 Alcohol 45 Littering 2 Night Hiking 26 Parking Citation 10 Possessing Alcohol by a City Riparian 4 Traveling Off Trail 20 Disturbing Natural Rescources in a Riparian 4 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Types of Tickets RESERVOIR CANYON1 TICKETS PER OPEN SPACE BISHOP PEAK13 BOB JONES62 CERRO SAN LUIS35 CREEKS40 IRISH HILLS9 JOHNSON RANCH27 LAGUNA LAKE35 SOUTH HILLS9 TERRACE HILL5 ISLAY HILL1 BIANCHI OPEN SPACE8 STENNER SPRINGS0 Packet Pg 21 4 CREEK STEWARDSHIP Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 10 Rangers Total ACTUAL January 1- November 18 14,660 lbs TOTAL COMBINED as of Nov 18, 2017 40,040 lbs or 20 Tons Contract Total 2017 EST 25,380 lbs+illegal camps as of Nov 15, 2017 Contract Cleanups On-going Creek Maintenance Illegal camps create trash that rangers remove daily. 2017 158 May 2, 2017 May 3, 2017 June 15, 2018 Aug 14, 2017 Oct 6, 2017 Nov 21, 2017 3,750 lbs 3500 lbs 2840 lbs 5100 lbs 4300 lbs 5890LBS Packet Pg 22 4 Ranger Service Team 2017 2017 PROGRESS REPORT CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE PLAN Packet Pg 23 4 3 5 °1 7 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 7 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 7 '0 "N3 5 °1 7 '0 "N3 5 °1 6 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 6 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 6 '0 "N3 5 °1 6 '0 "N 0 0.25 0.5 1 1.5 2 MILES Open Spaces san luis obispo Please respect private property and stay on trails. Please observe the City of San Luis Obispo Open Space rules found at each location. Violators will be cited under San Luis Obispo Municipal Codes; Fines in excess of $561. Hikers and mountain bikers can explore 52+ miles of trails running through over 3,500 acres of Open Space properties belonging to the City of San Luis Obispo. In case of emergency dial 911. For Ranger Service call (805) 781-7302. For more information and downloadable trail maps visit Ranger Service page at www.slocity.org Reservoir Canyon NATURAL RESERVE South Hills NATURAL RESERVE Terrace Hill OPEN SPACE Johnson Ranch OPEN SPACE Laguna Lake NATURAL RESERVE Bishop Peak NATURAL RESERVE Irish Hills NATURAL RESERVE Cerro San Luis NATURAL RESERVE Stenner Springs NATURAL RESERVE Islay Hill OPEN SPACE Packet Pg 24 4 Packet Pg 25 4 Packet Pg 26 4 Packet Pg 27 4 Packet Pg 28 4 Packet Pg 29 4 Packet Pg 30 4 Packet Pg 31 4 Packet Pg 32 4 Packet Pg 33 4 Packet Pg 34 4 Packet Pg 35 4 Hiking Etiquette open space YIELD TO UPHILL TRAFFIC Hiking Etiquette • Hike single file, share the trail with others • No amplified music/noise • Stay on designated trails. Creating new trails or cutting switchbacks creates erosion, damages vegetation and habitat • Please DON’T litter • Uphill traffic has right of way • Hike with a plan and let others know your route • Trail runners yield to hikers/walkers • Don’t use wet trails, it causes damage • Be respectful of wildlife and livestock • Embrace Leave No Trace ethics. Using the open spaces is not a right, it’s a privilege we need to keep Recommendations for a good hike: • Bring enough water for you and your group • Use sunscreen or wear long sleeved shirts • Wear a hat to help shade the sun • Closed toe shoes are always a good idea • Have a map if you aren’t familiar with the area • Hike with a friend • Don’t just hike in one place, search out new hikes Packet Pg 36 4 Trail Etiquette & Safety open space Nice Matters when sharing trails. Trail users in SLO County have established a culture of sharing trails courteously. That sharing culture allows land managers to continually expand the trail system, and improves all users’ trail experience. Cyclists •Use a bell. Using a bell sends the message that you intend to share the trail courteously – a message that hikers and equestrians greatly appreciate. •Expect to see other users on the trail. Slow down around corners and where your view of the trail ahead is limited. •Yield to hikers and runners. Stop and step to the side of the trail as soon as you see another user approaching. Riding up to them makes them think you are not going to stop. •If other users choose to yield to you, dismount or ride very slowly as you pass. •Downhill traffic stops for uphill traffic (these are narrow trails). Dog Owners •Keep your dog on a leash, many users are frightened by dogs. •Bag your dog’s waste and put it in a trash can at the trailhead. •Never leave poop bags, even if you intend to collect them on your way out. Carry them with you, or immediately drop them in trailhead trash cans. The trail system around San Luis Obispo accommodates hikers, runners, and cyclists. All Users, please: • Stay on signed trails and roads •Be alert for other users on the trail. If using headphones, keep one ear open. •Downhill traffic yields to uphill traffic. STOP when yielding, step toward the side and wait for the other user to pass. •When other users yield to you, stay on the trail. Don’t go off-trail to get around them. Please do your part to ensure that others will enjoy these trails as much as you and that our local trail system continues to expand. Nice Matters: Smile, be positive & be sympathetic to others’ concerns. Packet Pg 37 4 Wildflowersour local “A world without open country would be universal jail.” — ED ABBEY Each year our springtime brings a profusion of wildflowers. When our surrounding hills turn green, it’s soon after they appear dusted with yellows, oranges and other colors. From the California Poppy to Mustard and the stately Yucca, the change of our seasons bring about the changing beauty of our open spaces. But the spectacular display of wildflowers neither begin nor end with the passage of Spring. All Flowering plants have their own particular bloom period. The annual wildflowers appear first and rapidly bloom, undergo pollination, and set seed before the dry summer can end their life cycle. Look for Chinese Lanterns in Oak Woodlands and Gold Fields and Baby Stars in open grass land. Perennial herbs can persist longer and into the summer months before going dormant. Late-blooming bulbs can be seen veiled on the dried grassy slopes where you’ll find Mariposa, Golden Stars and other Lilies mid-summer. In the Chaparral surrounding the City, Black Sage, Ceanothus and Sticky Monkey Flower all come into bloom to delight the observant hiker. Winter-blooming shrubs are Chaparral Current and Fuchsia- flowered Gooseberry. There are hundreds of wildflowers in our area that many can be found at any given time of the year. Most have lived here since pre-Columbian times, but many have arrived in recent years. The vast fields of mustard, the noxious thistles and the escaped ornamental plants have contributed to our springtime palette of colors. Take your time and look closely at your surroundings as you pass through them to further enjoy your outdoor experience. Wildflowers of San Luis Obispo, California is an excellent guide to initiate the trail user to our treasures that bloom. It was written by a consortium of botanists, enthusiasts and photographers with a passion for our flora and can be found at the Parks and Recreation office (1341 Nipomo Street in San Luis Obispo). Club-Haired Mariposa Lily Calochortus clavatus spp. clavatus Twinning Snapdragon Antirrhinum kelloggii Tidy Tips Layia platyglossa Coast Indian Paintbrush Castilleja affinis Palmer’s Monardella Monardella palmeri Gum Plant Grindelia hirsutula PHOTO BY: Ranger Service Staff Our open spaces are home to some of the most diverse and unique wildflowers found in the country. Wildflowers exist here that can survive in no other environment. Palmer’s Monardella (Monardella palmeri) is unique to serpentine soils. Uncommon Jewel flower (Streptanthus albidus ssp.peramoenus) is an inconspicuous flower found on disturbed serpentine slopes. Packet Pg 38 4 Climbing Experience & Impact Even when considering its limited elevation and the total amount of climbable rock face, the hard dacite rock that is characteristic of the Morros, and Bishop Peak, provides a high quality climbing experience. This, combined with a pleasant year round climate, make Bishop Peak an ideal location for moderate climbing. Many of the crags are accessed by ‘social trails’ which have been created by frequent travel over previously undisturbed habitat. As more climbers come into the area it is important to consider the impacts of climbing on the Peak. Many of these social trails have become impacted and worn and new trails have begun to appear, particularly between the different walls. Unfortunately, these new unsanctioned trails lead to greater impacts on the land including: soil compaction, erosion, and vegetation loss at the base of climbs, and on approach and descent trails, destruction of cliffside vegetation and lichen, disturbance of cliff-dwelling animals, litter, and the visual blight of chalk marks, pin scars, bolts, and gear that has been left behind. All climbers, be they visitor or regular, are encouraged to use existing trails and be mindful of the impacts your use has on this natural resource. History Rock climbing is a long standing historic use at Bishop Peak, with evidence of early use going back as far as the World War II era. Regular climbing activity appears to have begun in the mid to late 1970’s. Most of the “roped climbing” at Bishop Peak has focused on the north facing cliffs and crags known as P-Wall, Shadow Wall and Cracked Wall as well as the Summit Blocks. In recent years, bouldering has become popular at Pete Boulder, Clorissa Boulder, Hummingbird Boulder, the Boulder in the Woods and the Potato. Climbing at bishop peak Minimum Impact Practices It is important to remember that climbing should not interfere with the overall management of Bishop Peak, which is designated as a Natural Reserve with natural resource protection its primary goal*. These impacts can be eliminated or greatly reduced by following minimum impact practices and leave no trace ethics. Though you may consider the individual impacts of your actions as insignificant, when multiplied by all of the people who climb here every year they can have a significant, long lasting effect.. *San Luis Obispo Municipal Code 12.22.050 Hard dacite rock, combined with a pleasant year round climate, make Bishop Peak an ideal location for moderate climbing !Climb at your own risk PHOTO BY: Douglas Bush Packet Pg 39 4 Hazardsopen space Safety starts by being mindful of these hazards and staying on trail while in our open space. Ticks Ticks are commonly found along trails waiting to attach to a host walking by. They are most active during the summer months. Ticks are small parasitic insects that may attach to your skin and begin feeding on your blood. They will gorge themselves and after approximately 24-hours, can potentially release harmful bacteria from their bodies back into their host’s blood system. Deer ticks and Brown Dog ticks are the most common species and both can carry the bacteria known as Borrelia burgdorferi, which can cause Lyme disease, an infection that attacks people in the form of rashes, arthritis, numbness, neurological disorders, or worse. If found early, a doctor can easily remove the tick ensuring to get all parts of the arachnid’s body. If a tick has been attached for a while and a red ring is evident, further testing and treatment may be needed to prevent a serious disease. Rattlesnakes Rattlesnakes commonly emerge in the spring and are active in the summer months. It is important to stay on trails since they blend in and can deliver a venomous bite if startled. Rattlesnakes are a native reptile that live in rugged chaparral habitat. These snakes are “pit” vipers which means they have small pores on the front of their heads that sense heat from prey. Once they hone in on where their prey is, they lunge and deliver a venomous bite to incapacitate their victim. Once the poison has had time to work, they will consume their prey. Rattlesnakes range from 1-7 feet in length, have a diamond shaped head and a rattle on their tail. The rattle is formed when the snake sheds its skin to allow for growth and the number of buttons on the rattle usually indicates the relative age of the snake (one button for each skin shedding). Being ectothermic, or cold blooded, they can usually be found in places sunning themselves to allow for quicker movement. They are ovoviviparous meaning that the female carries the eggs of the young inside her until they hatch, and then has live birth. Rattlesnakes are long lived, ranging from 10-25 years. Poison oak Careful trekking in open space and staying on the trail will offer enough distance for you and poison oak to live together. Poison oak is a native riparian plant species with a kick. If the oils of this plant come into contact with your skin a serious rash can develop. Poison oak is a woody vine that is a member of the sumac family. This plant can be found in riparian and chaparral habitats. “Leaves of three, let it be” is the common saying to help remember what to look for. Urushiol is the irritating oil present on the plant that causes an allergic reaction. Poison oak is deciduous but the woody vines can still cause a reaction. When the plants leaf out in the spring and are in full bloom in the summer, they are likely to pass along their oils to you. Adult Female ‹ Adult Male Nymph Larva PHOTO CREDIT: TickEncounter Resource Center Packet Pg 40 4 Oak Woodlandsthe Oak Woodlands are a major component of San Luis Obispo’s natural landscape. Oak Woodlands are valuable for many reasons, including natural resource diversity and ecology, environmental benefits, and aesthetic and open space values. Natural Resources Diversity & Ecology Much of the diversity of the state’s wildlife is found in oak ecosystems. Oaks provide habitat to more different animals than any other ecosystem in the state. Over 320 terrestrial vertebrates and thousands of invertebrates are associated with California’s oak landscapes. Acorns as well as oak leaves, wood and sap are sustenance for a myriad of insects, birds, and mammals. Many other species, including amphibians, reptiles and birds, do not directly feed on oaks but prey heavily on insects that do. Oaks also contain nooks, crannies, perches and passages, places that are homes, breeding grounds and resting areas for many animal species. Small mammals such as mice, voles, gophers, moles and others rely upon and may assist oaks. By eating mycorrhizal fungi, they spread the spores of this beneficial fungus into areas where young trees are growing. The fungi attach to the roots of oaks and enhance the uptake of inorganic nutrients from the soil. Even though these mammals often kill young oaks by eating their bark, roots or leaves, in other cases they appear to enhance their chances of survival. Aesthetic and Open Space Values The presence of attractive trees such as the Oak is associated with positive perceptions about a place. Looking at trees reduced stress in individuals, so much so that hospital patients who have a view of trees and natural areas have significantly shorter stays, require less pain medicine and have fewer postoperative complications. People feel more comfortable in a shaded, open area of trees, compared to parking lots or other hard-surfaced areas. Urban residents who lived in “greener” surroundings reported lower levels of fear, fewer incivilities, and less aggressive and violent behavior. Research found that the “greener” an apartment building’s surroundings were, the fewer crimes were reported. Research into children with Attention Deficit Disorder has found the “greener” a child’s play area, the less severe his or her attention deficit symptoms and that these children function better than usual after activities in green settings. Because of these and other reasons, over 100 California municipalities, including the City of San Luis Obispo, have enacted preservation ordinances for oak protection. Source: County of San Luis Obispo Voluntary Oak Woodlands Management Plan, 2003 Environmental Benefits Like all trees, oaks produce oxygen and through their normal respiration reduce air pollutants. The air pollutants partially controlled by oaks include nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides, carbon monoxides, carbon dioxide, ozone as well as particulate matter smaller than 10 microns in size. Other benefits of oak trees are extensive. They include shade, wind control, improved air quality, oxygen production and carbon dioxide reduction, reduced water runoff and erosion and improved water quality, noise abatement, glare reduction, animal habitat, visual enhancement, and reduced cooling and heating expenses. ‹ Ash Throated Flycatcher Pictured Above: A House Wren PHOTOS BY: Terra Verde Environmental Packet Pg 41 4 Steelhead Trout Steelhead trout are the anadro- mous form of resident rainbow trout. Anadromous means that these fish are born in fresh wa- ter, live up to 2 years as juve- niles in our local creeks and then begin to move down the watershed toward the estuary. They will move out into the ocean for 1-3 years and then come back to the same creek they were born in to lay Conservation The City of San Luis Obispo works with many partners to protect and enhance Steelhead populations in our watershed. Creating and restoring habitat for their rearing, opening up barriers to allow for greater access and controlling stormwater pollution in the creeks are all ways we are working to save these iconic fish. This 24-inch male adult Steelhead was rescued from Cuesta Park as the creek began to dry up. We were able to capture this fish and relocate it to a perennial section of the mainstem of SLO Creek further down in the watershed. This fish resumed its life in another section of San Luis Obispo Creek and hopefully was able to reproduce another time. Anadromous Fish Steelhead Trout are the anadromous form of resident Rainbow Trout. Anadromous describes fish that are born in fresh water, live up to 2 years as juveniles in local creeks and then begin to move down the watershed toward an estuary. They will move out into the ocean for 1-3 years and then come back to the same creek they were born in to lay their eggs and complete the cycle. These fish have adapted their life cycle to survive over a variety of climatic conditions. Fire, drought, sporadic winter deluges; Steelhead have been able to survive for thousands of years because of their phenomenal adaptability. Steelhead can be truly anadromous and go to the ocean before reproducing. They move to the estuary and then migrate back upstream to lay their eggs, or they can stay in the creek and remain resident fish. Watersheds A watershed is the entire area that drains to one central creek from the ridge tops down to the ocean. The San Luis Obispo Creek watershed is about 84 square miles and the mainstem San Luis Obispo Creek is about 15 miles in length. There are several main tributaries that feed SLO Creek such as Prefumo Creek, Reservoir Canyon Creek and Stenner Creek, which is the biggest Steelhead producing tributary. During the winter, Steelhead enter the creek and begin their ascent toward prime spawning habitat high up in the watershed, looking for year round flows. Steelhead Troutthe The Steelhead Trout has been able to survive for thousands of years because it has adapted its life cycle to survive over a variety of climatic conditions. Migration Steelhead Trout undertake an amazing journey during their life. After they are born in freshwater, they spend about two years in the creek and then move out into the ocean to develop into adult fish. They will spend one to three years somewhere in the ocean but to date, where they go is still a mystery. Do they stay in the nearshore environment? Do they school up like salmon? Where do they go? These are relevant issues for the protection of the species that they undertake a journey in this vast environment. With many unknown hazards, it is challenging to offer their protection. Obstacles Steelhead Trout are resilient fish with the ability to face and overcome many obstacles, but dams and old diversion structures built to provide water storage or delivery can prevent them from getting back to their spawning grounds. The City has worked and continues to work toward removing impediments in the creek to allow these fish to access all portions of the watershed. Fresh Juvenile Phase WATER WET SEASON WET SEASON DRY SEASON (1-3 YEARS) Ocean Residency Ocean Entry Smolts WinterRun “Kelts” “Parr” Fry Eggs (2-3 YEARS) FreshwaterResidency FreshwaterResidentAdults*FreshwaterJuveniles*** LagoonJuveniles Spawning Spawning ? AnadromousAdults** Other PopulationsElsewhere (2-3 YEARS) WATERSalt ma turation * Rainbow Trout ** Steelhead Trout *** Individual-level plasticity foranadromous vs. freshwater fates is not currently known TYPICAL LIFE HISTORIES OFOncorhynchus mykiss KNOWN TO OCCUR IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA A PARTIAL ENUMERATION Packet Pg 42 4 Many San Luis Obispo families experienced life on the slopes of Terrace Hill, including the Callaway and Mazza families. The Callaway Family In March of 2010, an oral history was undertaken with the now late Bill Callaway (retired City of San Luis Obispo Fire Marshal) and his mother “Sis” Callaway. Mrs. Callaway was born in 1918 on a ranch above the old County Hospital just off of what today is Bishop Street. Mrs. Callaway recalled milking cows before going to school in the mornings. The Mazza Family Pacifico Mazza, a Southern Pacific railroad employee purchased a five- bedroom house at the corner of Rachel Street and Rachel Court, along with a significant portion of the Terrace Hill land. Mr. Mazza built four additional houses north of and east of the existing five- bedroom house. This large house was once a boarding house, and some of the railroad crews from San Francisco and Los Angeles would stay there, as well as in one of the smaller houses northwest of the Big House. The Mazza Family kept cattle on Terrace Hill until around 1950, when some of the property on the hill was sold to a gravel operation. Terrace Hill Open Space history Terrace Hill is the only open space property included in the City of San Luis Obispo’s “Contributing Property List of Historic Resources” due to its association with important historic events and people. The Morros Terrace Hill is one of nine “Morros,” geologically speaking. The Morros are ancient volcanic peaks that have eroded to the core plugs. The ancient peaks, located on the Pacific Plate, originated some 400 miles southeast near the present-day area of San Diego during the Miocene era about 25 million years ago. Known as the “Nine Sisters,” or sometimes the “Seven Sisters,” the Morros include Morro Rock (State Historical Landmark No. 821), Black Hill, Cerro Cabrillo, Hollister Peak, Cerro Romauldo, Chumash Peak, Bishop Peak, Cerro San Luis Obispo, and Islay Hill. The deeply submerged Davidson’s Seamount in Estero Bay, Righetti Hill and Terrace Hill are typically omitted from the named sisters (Mountains of Fire: San Luis Obispo’s Famous Nine Sisters- A Chain of Ancient Volcanic Peaks. Dickerson, 1990.) Early Inhabitants The earliest inhabitants near and around Terrace Hill were the Chumash Native Americans, followed by the Spanish and the Alta California Missions. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was one of the more economically successful missions and ran considerable numbers of cattle. The mission placed sentinels on the top of Terrace Hill to look out for marauding outsiders. The Buena Vista Addition By the mid 1880’s San Luis Obispo and San Francisco leading businessmen/speculators were pushing for the Southern Pacific Railroad to continue the line from San Francisco further up the Salinas Valley and eventually extend down Cuesta Grade to San Luis Obispo. Money was to be made by opening the Central Coast beyond the more limited coastal steam ships and the Pacific Coast Railway. This was the impetus for extensive land speculations. The speculators purchased lands surrounding the small town and added named additions to the town, which were in turn divided into lots for residential development. One such subdivision was the Buena Vista Addition, a subdivision that included the top of Terrace Hill. The name Terrace Hill originates from the Buena Vista Addition subdivision, filed in 1887, by Edwin Goodall, president of The Goodall Syndicate Lands (Rails Across the Ranchos. Nicholson, 1980.) During World War II, the hilltop was used for the location of an enemy aircraft lookout. According to Caltrans documentation, in 1948 earthen fill and rock were taken from Terrace Hill to be used for portions of the construction of Highway 101. Finally, in 1986, the 22.96-acre Terrace Hill was dedicated to the City of San Luis Obispo as Open Space as part of the subdivision of Tract 926. Source: Terrace Hill Open Space Conservation Plan, City of San Luis Obispo, 2015 Packet Pg 43 4 Early Water Supply Reservoir Canyon was identified very early in the history of the City of San Luis Obispo as a source of reliable water of good quality. In the late 1800’s the private San Luis Obispo Water Company purchased about 200 acres of land in the canyon and constructed several small diversion dams to divert water out of the creek and a series of pipelines to carry the water to a distribution reservoir just below the canyon. The company also constructed an earthen dam at the mouth of the canyon to also capture water for distribution into the City’s water supply. It was this structure that gave the name Reservoir Canyon to the area. Prior to that time it had been known as Fillmore Canyon. In 1900 the City of San Luis Obispo purchased the water company in its entirety and became the water purveyor for the community. At that time the water collection system consisted of several diversion structures on San Luis Obispo Creek and several of its tributaries, including Reservoir Canyon Creek, Hansen Creek, and Gularte Creek, as well as the dam on Reservoir Canyon Creek. The purchase of the water company also included property for a potential dam site on Stenner Creek. However, this dam was never built. These facilities continued to operate into the 1950’s. By this time the City had secured rights to water from the Salinas Reservoir, constructed in 1942 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of the war effort to supply water to Camp San Luis Obispo, which was a major training facility during the war. With such a large water supply available, the smaller local supplies became uneconomical to continue to operate and were eventually abandoned as part of the City’s water supply. Today all that remains of the local water supply system are remnants of a diversion dam on San Luis Obispo Creek, a few sections of pipeline, some remains of small concrete diversion dams in the tributary creeks, including Reservoir Canyon Creek, and the dam face at the mouth of Reservoir Canyon. The reservoir itself became silted in following the 1985 Las Pilitas Fire and today only holds a small volume of open water. Water still flows over the reservoir’s outlet in a 15-foot waterfall, which is a popular walking destination for visitors. As part of the 1994 General Plan update, the City Council formally declared that the Reservoir Canyon property would be kept as a portion of an open space system envisioned for the community. Since that time the 284-acre Hastings property, the 207-acre Bowden Ranch property, and the 89-acre Upper Goldtree Vineyard property have been added. Today, the total land area of Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve is 783 acres. La Loma Adobe History La Loma Adobe is Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve’s most notable cultural and historic feature, located near the top of Lizzie Street within the Reserve. With La Loma Adobe when one considers the site and structure together as a historic landscape, our understanding becomes that much richer. It is typical to observe the presence of natural resources surrounding early settlements; it is likely that La Loma Adobe was constructed where it is because of the perennial spring that flows adjacent, the elevated views off-site to the Mission and the surrounding valley, and the proximity to game species and pasture for cattle. City staff’s preliminary research is inconclusive as to how large the original land holding surrounding La Loma Adobe was. It is known that by the beginning of the early California period the La Viña property (which included La Loma Adobe) was large enough to support a substantial cattle operation when it transferred from Baptiste Garcia to the tenure of Estevan Quintana in 1852. Following a dispute with the U.S. Land Grant Commission in 1853 in which Estevan Quintana’s claim that La Viña rancho was deeded by the Mexican government was denied, there was a subsequent exchange for a portion of La Viña rancho for 3,166 acres of the 3,506.33-acre Rancho Potrero de San Luís Obispo, which lay on Stenner Creek about five miles northeast. The exchange was made with Doña María Concepción Boronda de Muñoz, one of the prominent Boronda family of Monterey County, CA (Dana, 1970). It is also known that an additional quarter section of land (160 acres) adjacent to La Loma Adobe was homsteaded by the Boronda de Muñoz family in 1870 (Sanchez, 1998). Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve history La Loma Adobe “La Loma de la Nopalera Adobe” Literally translated, it is the sun-dried mud brick house on the hill of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia spp.). The core structure is thought to have been constructed around 1782 or earlier and it is a rare example of a two-story adobe of “Monterey style” architecture, making it of substantial historic significance. Packet Pg 44 4 Thistles Not all thistles in San Luis Obispo are non-native. In fact, the Chorro Creek Bog Thistle (Cirsium fontinale var. obispoense) is an extremely rare plant which grows exclusively in San Luis Obispo County. The bog thistle is listed as a federal endangered spices. It has very specific habitat requirements, growing only in and around serpentine springs and seeps. In wet years their habitat can expand out in to the moist fringes of the seeps but in dry years their habitat range is restricted. in our area Thistles are annual or biennial plants which are part of the sunflower family (Asteraceae). The purple or yellow flowers turn in to furry seeds that are dispersed by the wind. Controlling Invasive Plants Control of invasive plants can be a very daunting task. There are a variety of ways to go about control: manual, chemical, mechanical, and biological. Manual an be extremely hard work and very expensive in labor costs. In some cases, biological control can be an effective and low cost solution, although extreme care must be taken. In Canada the Weevil (Rhinocillus conicus) was introduced to combat their invasive thistle problem. This little beetle burrows into the thistle, eating the developing seeds before they can mature. The weevil population surged as they ate the invasive thistles and when their food source ran low, the weevils moved on to the native thistle population. This effectively turned the biological control into an invasive species. Mechanical means such as mowing are not very effective because thistles can regenerate new seed heads every time they are cut. Thistles need to be cut off 4 inches below ground level to effectively kill the plant. Thistles can produce viable seed heads at only 3 inches tall. Chemical application can have many draw backs as well, including water contamination and adversely affecting other plants and animals. Invasive Thistles & Native Plants There are many varieties of thistle, unfortunately most of the thistle species in San Luis Obispo are non-native and invasive. These thistles displace and out compete native plants for space, water, nutrients and sun light. Since these thistles are relatively new to this region the native plants have not had adequate time to develop strategies to compete with them. For example, the keystone, late succession plant species in this area is the Coast Live Oak. It takes hundreds of years for this tree to fill its niche in the ecosystem. It holds its place by creating a canopy that native plants can’t survive under. It drops acorns and leaves, creating a thick layer of duff that native plants can’t sprout through. But Italian Thistle can grow fine through the thick duff and canopy shade of the live oak, and when that oak tree finally falls, it might not foster the next generation of Oak saplings but a field of thistle instead. Unchecked invasive thistles can dominate the flora in some areas, minimizing biodiversity and making ecosystems more vulnerable to disease and less hospitable for wildlife. Invasive Thistles & Agriculture Not only do invasive thistles adversely affect our natural environment but also San Luis Obispo’s long tradition of agriculture. This region’s history of grazing land has shaped the landscape, perhaps more than any other human activity. As invasive thistles move into grasslands, cattle eat around them looking for more palatable plants, leaving the thistles free to seed in the newly disturbed area. In time this can render large areas completely unviable for grazing cattle and change the historic and cultural landscape of San Luis Obispo. Some of the most common invasive thistles in San Luis Obispo are: Italian Thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus), Yellow Star Thistle (Centaurea solstitialis), and Woolly Distaff (Carthamus lanatus). Packet Pg 45 4 Birds of Preyour local Birds of prey, or “Raptors” are some of the most iconic and well known bird species. The term ‘bird of prey’ taken literally, would encompass many species of bird that hunt and feed on animals and also birds that eat very small insects. Raptors The term ‘Raptor’ is derived from the Latin word rapere which means ‘to take by force’. Even these powerful large birds are vulnerable to the effects of our actions. Many Raptors are endangered and all are protected under state law. Threats to these large birds of prey are varied, and include loss of foraging areas, loss of nesting habitat, pesticide poisoning, lead poisoning and collision with man-made structures. Raptors, being apex predators, are more susceptible to the accumulation of pesticides and chemicals that have been ingested by species lower down the food chain. This is known as Biomagnification. Issues that arise within raptor populations can be indicators to possible risks to another apex predator: humans. Apex Predators Many raptors are considered Apex Predators (the top of the food chain) and will even feed on other bird species (Avivores). Most will eat carrion (the decaying flesh of dead animals) occasionally with Vultures and Condors having this consist as their main food source. These birds have excellent vision that allows them to spot prey during flight. They usually hunt during the daytime (diurnal), with the exception of owls who hunt at night (nocturnal). Raptors have, in general, powerful beaks for tearing flesh and strong talons and feet for holding down their prey, with the exception of Turkey Vultures. The sweeping grasslands and oak woodlands around San Luis Obispo provide great habitat for Raptors. Beneath the canopy of the Oak woodlands the Cooper’s Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk, with their shorter wings and rapid twisting flight, use their agility to pursue and catch small birds. Other raptors that hunt this way are falcons and kites. The open fields, meadows, and the hills of the Morros, where warm thermal updrafts lift the broad winged Red-tailed Hawk or Golden Eagle high up allowing them to stay aloft as they scour the landscape with their keen vision for any movement below. Very common around San Luis Obispo is the Turkey Vulture. These unusually silent birds can soar at low altitudes where they use their sense of smell to find carrion. PHOTO BY: Ranger Service Staff PHOTO BY: Terra Verde Environmental Bald Eagle › Great Horned Owl › ‹ Red-Tailed Hawk ‹ Northern Harrier ‹ Turkey Vulture Packet Pg 46 4 Eurasian PLATE PhilippinePLATE Pacific PLATE Juan de Fuca PLATE AntarcticPLATE Indian-AustralianPLATE North AmericanPLATE Caribbean PLATE CocosPLATE Nazca PLATE South AmericanPLATE ALEUTIAN ISL A N D SALEUTIAN T R E N C HJAPANTRENCHKURILTRENCHMARIANASTRENCHJAVA TRENCH CHILE RISEEAST PACIFIC RISEPAC IFIC -AN TARC TIC RID G E N E W H E B RID E S T R E N C H P E R U - C HI LE TRENCHANDUSSOUTH EAST INDIAN RISE KERMADEC TONGATRENCHMauna Loa Ngauruhoe Ruapehu Kilauea Taal Mayon Merapi DempoKrakatoaSemeru Lassen St. Helen’s Rainier KatmaiPavlof Shishaidin Klyuchevskaya Osorno Azufral Misti Cotopaxi PuracéRuizPelee Soufrière Izalco Poàs Popocatépetl Paricutin EQUATOR SACLE IS TRUE ON ON THE EQUATOR 0 0 1,000 2,000 2,000 4,000 3,000 MI KM Spreading plate boundaries Converging plate boundaries Volcanic arcs Major active volcanoes Pacific Ring of Fire Geologyour local Understanding our local geology requires a larger view of our global geology and the forces of plate tectonics at work. The rocks of our coastal ranges were originally created deep under water at the boundary of the Pacific plate and the American plate. In this region the Pacific plate, containing dense oceanic rock, was thrust beneath the American plate, containing less dense rock. This tumultuous zone is responsible for the creation of a variety of different rock types that comprise the Franciscan Formation. The age of the Franciscan spans from Early Jurassic (190 million years ago) to Late Cretaceous (75 mya). There are no known formations beneath the Franciscan and it is thought to extend downward to the upper mantle of the Earth’s crust. The Basalts, of volcanic origin, appear as a dark reddish brown and highly fractured mass. Much of our basalt has been hydrothermally and tectonically altered to “redrock”, a crumbly decomposed material that is commonly used as a dirt road base within the county. Chert is a highly weather resistant rock and is commonly seen as outcroppings. A prominent example can be seen on the King trail in Irish Hills. This rock is initially formed as a precipitate when silica in the super-heated Basalts contact and saturate sea water. Upon cooling, the silica “gels” and then is deposited as layered beds. An excellent layered example can be found at the water tank on the Felsman Loop trail at Bishop Peak. Graywacke is a poorly-sorted, coarse grained sandstone sedimentary rock that was originally deposited undersea from turbidity currents within the subduction zone. Considered a “dirty sandstone”, it doesn’t commonly appear as outcrops, as it is easily eroded compared to other Franciscan rocks. Serpentine is an easily identifiable rock, due to its bluish-green hue and amorphous structure. It is also quite common in our immediate area. Serpentine is originally intruded into fault zones in deep ocean environments. The visible Serpentine ridges –South Hills, Reservoir Canyon, Irish Hills–are the core of these intrusions made visible following uplift then erosion of the less resistant surrounding rocks. Blue Schist occurs as isolated and fragmentary lenses. It is a metamorphic rock seen occasionally but shares little universal agreement on its genesis. The blueschist may have originated as oceanic basalt that was subjected to very high pressure but relatively low temperature. This is truly an enigmatic member of the Franciscan Formation. Western coastal California has some of the most complex geology of the North American Continent. The East Pacific subduction zone, propelled by the forces of mid-oceanic spreading, shifted from one of compression/subduction to right lateral shear. The offshore subduction zone later altered and shifted ashore to what is now observed as the present day San Andreas Fault. Being at the edge of an intensely violent but profoundly slow tectonic boundary, we are able to observe the complex effects of uplifting, folding, faulting, and eroding of the terrain around us. During these times of changes in sea levels and landforms, extensive marine shales were deposited in the surrounding areas beyond San Luis and Chorro Valleys. The Monterey, Pismo and Paso Robles Formations were deposited as extensive, white layered marine shale beds. The Chorro and San Luis Valleys also witnessed the creation of Bishop Peak, Cerro San Luis, Terrace and Islay Hill. These relatively recent iconic Dacite intrusions (plugs) are eroded internal remnants of volcanic cones, Oligocene in age. (22-26 mya). These volcanic vents penetrated through the underlying Franciscan Formation and are surrounded by the eroded detritus of nearby features. DESCENDING FARALLON PLATE ? ?? FRANCISCAN ASSEMBLAGE OCEANIC CRUST OF PACIFIC PLATE GREAT VALLEY SEQUENCE CONTITENTAL CRUST OF NORTH AMERICAN PLATE SIERRA NEVADA VOLCANOS Packet Pg 47 4 Birdsour local Birds are essential to the function of a well-rounded ecosystem. Birds serve as pollinators, predators, scavengers, and seed dispersers. They also help us to gauge ecosystem health because they are quick to respond to climatic changes and are easy to detect by sight and sound. Birds are unique in that they are the only animals that have feathers, having evolved from feathered dinosaurs. Like dinosaurs, birds lay eggs, but are warm blooded, like mammals. To identify the species of the bird, first observe its overall size and shape: the color and shape of the bill, wings, breast and tail. Birds have developed many specific adaptations that allow them to thrive in their respective habitats. Note these features and think about the type of environment you are in. This information, together with a good guidebook and a pair of binoculars, can make identification achievable and fun. Try to move slowly and quietly so as not to disturb the wildlife around you; do not intentionally frighten birds and take care not to disturb nesting or resting birds. The California Towhee can be spotted scratching at the ground as it forages for seeds. You will likely hear the distinctive “bouncing ball” song of the Wrentit echoing across the landscape, but you will be lucky to see one. You might just catch a glimpse of the California Thrasher using its long, curved bill to probe leaf litter for insects and grubs. A covey of California Quail (our state bird) might surprise you as they hurriedly scuttle across the trail or explode into startled bursts of flight. Take a minute to stop and listen; you will soon become aware of a variety of sights and sounds. As you open your ears and eyes, this seemingly tranquil landscape is filled with life. Bird Diversity California hosts diverse and abundant avian life. Over 650 avian species reside in California, 450 of which have been spotted in San Luis Obispo County. Bird Watching The best time of day to spot birds is in the early morning, before the sun is fully up. Song birds are most active near dawn and dusk, but waterfowl, seabirds, shorebirds and hawks may be seen all day. Forest edges are a great place to look, especially during migration times. ‹ California Towhee ‹ Wrentit ‹ California Quail California Thrasher › Chaparral Many of the open spaces around San Luis Obispo contain chaparral. This habitat is dominated by evergreen shrubs that have evolved to cope with the long, dry summers characteristic of this region. Chaparral may seem dense and impenetrable, but this makes it an ideal habitat for many birds. Packet Pg 48 4 Bellevue School the The one-room school with a view More than 100 years ago, girls and boys attended first through sixth grades in a one-room schoolhouse located on the Johnson Ranch. Bellevue School was built in 1897 and held 20 to 25 students. The building had no indoor plumbing so the students and their teachers used an outhouse. Most people didn’t have bathrooms during this time, so an outhouse was not thought to be a terrible hardship. Bellevue’s original location was further up the canyon. To make the walk to school easier for the children, the building was moved closer to the public road (then called San Luis-Avila Road, now South Higuera Street). Bellevue faced east, looking out over San Luis Obispo from atop a knoll where the South Higuera Street underpass crosses Highway 101 today. As you can see, the view is indeed beautiful. The Bellevue School merged with another school in 1947 and became the Bellevue-Santa Fe School. That building still has its bell tower and sits close to its original site near Ontario Road. It is visible from Highway 101 as a restored multi- use historic building. The present- day Bellevue-Santa Fe School still exists as a charter school on See Canyon Road. From the Students GEORGE CHAPMAN “I attended the Bellevue school from 1940 to 1942 in the first, second, and third grades. I lived across Highway 101 from Karen Hewlett in the big white house that still exists. The house was on the Smith Ranch - my grandparents’. I would walk to Highway 101 and be picked up by Mrs. Ball, the teacher at the time. When the flats were flooded as they were each year, I would walk along the mountain to a schoolmate’s house and cross the creek on the only available bridge to get to the school. Behind the school was the ‘Out House’ - a real ‘two seater.’ In the front yard lived many tarantulas that we could play with. After December 7, 1941 (the day Pearl Harbor was bombed), we would practice air raid drills by evacuating the school and cuddling in a slight depression to the west of the school along the road to the Johnson Ranch.” Mr. Chapman now lives in New Jersey. KAREN HEWLETT WOODMAN “I remember all of those kids you mentioned but haven’t thought of for years. Do you remember Mrs. Ball’s great old car? Every once in a while she would give us a ride down the highway. Mrs. Lind was great. I went to sixth grade with her daughter Daphne and we were good friends. I only went to the fourth and fifth grade there and then Mrs. Lind got me into sixth grade at Fremont (in San Luis Obispo) so I could meet some kids before starting Junior High.” Ms. Woodman now lives in Utah. HERB FILIPPONI “I remember Mrs. Ball’s old car with a fancy spare tire cover on the back. She would pick me up on the way to school because it was on the way. I remember some of the fun chores assigned to kids like putting up the flag on our old flag pole every day. One time I slipped on the pole and gashed my knee. I was embarrassed so I never told anyone. A special treat was if you were picked to ring the bell (pull the rope) to call the kids in from recess. We often played a type of hide and seek game - ‘All the all the outs in free’- I thought it was Ollie Ollie oxen free. Our thanks to Bellevue student and long-time San Luis Obispo resident, Herb Filipponi, who provided history, photos, and fond memories from himself and other Bellevue students of their days in the school. The Bellevue School building was purchased by a church in 1947 and moved from Johnson Ranch to Windward Drive in Shell Beach, where it served as a church for many years. A new hall was built in Shell Beach next to the old schoolhouse that is rented out as a non- denominational wedding chapel and reception room. The old school building, which still looks very much like it did in this photo from almost a century ago, currently serves as a honeymoon suite. Students at Bellevue School, about 1940. Standing left to right: Virginia Oliveira, Merle Feliz, Lucille Sarmento, Lena Oliveira, Manuel Santos, Marie Santos, Luis Silveira (behind Marie), Irvin Silveira, Johm Oliveira, Ken Ball‹ › The Bellevue School in its original location on a knoll overlooking San Luis Obispo, east of the current entry to Johnson Ranch where the highway in now located Packet Pg 49 4 Cheapskate Hill history In the early 1920s, Exposition Park’s one-mile track was billed as the nation’s fastest dirt oval and attracted the top drivers in the country. A “Sensational Racing Romance” One of South Hills’ main contributions to San Luis Obispo history was a great view of the auto races held at what was known in the early 1920s as Exposition Park. Paying fans could watch the races from the grandstand, but for those who didn’t wish to pay, the view from “Cheapskate Hill”, now known as South Hills Natural Reserve, was just fine. The racetrack was not a commercial success, and the property was sold after about three years. The grandstand remained as part of a baseball field for a number of years and, in time, 18 acres of the original 80-acre property became Meadow Park. A crowd gathers at Exposition Park at the scene of a wreck. Photo courtesy of the SLO Tribune Traces of the track could still be seen shortly after Meadow Park was built. Photo courtesy of the SLO Tribune 1923 1950 PHOTO COURTESY OF: Special Collections and Archives, Cal Poly PHOTO COURTESY OF: Special Collections and Archives, Cal Poly Packet Pg 50 4 Greenbelt Protection Program history As we look forward to the future, the City will be working hard with its partners and with the trust of private landowners to complete the Greenbelt. Purchasing the land is the easy part, but securing the permanence of our conservation efforts in order to take care of the land – forever – will be the challenge that is incumbent upon all of us who care deeply about the landscapes that make San Luis Obispo special. Laguna Lake wildflower hike, 1996 1996 The City of San Luis Obispo has established a proud land conservation legacy through its signature Greenbelt Protection Program. In 1995 the stated program goals were “to permanently conserve and protect prime agricultural land, sensitive wildlife habitat, and scenic land surrounding the City.” Today, over 7,000 acres have been safeguarded for these purposes. The City of San Luis Obispo acquired its first open space property at the turn of the century, in the Reservoir Canyon area. This was done for the purpose of securing a municipal water supply for the City’s growing population. Other important greenbelt property interests were acquired over the years prior to the formal establishment of the Greenbelt Protection Program. These include the Laguna Lake properties and scenic hillsides such as Islay Hill, Terrace Hill, and the South Hills. Once the Greenbelt Protection Program was formally established open space acquisition expanded rapidly. Signature land conservation efforts that were achieved in the early days of the program included portions of Cerro San Luis and Bishop Peak, perhaps the two most majestic and prominent peaks in the entire region. Diverse wildlife habitat and oak woodlands were acquired through a series of purchases and land dedications that would become the Irish Hills Natural Reserve. Large ranch properties will remain in active agriculture, while also protecting watershed lands and sensitive habitats, through the purchase of conservation easements at the Guidetti Ranch, Brughelli Ranch and Stenner Ranch. Prime farmland will remain in production at the Calle Joaquin Agricultural Reserve. Important habitat and city gateway properties were protected with the acquisition of Johnson Ranch and the Filipponi Ecological Reserve. The headwaters of two local creeks were acquired with the Stenner Springs and Waddell Ranch properties, as well. Johnson Ranch at time of acquisition, September 2001Bishop Peak Dedication, 1998 1998 2001 Ebenezer Howard and the Modern Greenbelt The notion of the modern greenbelt is most often attributed to Ebenezer Howard. In his 1898 book, Garden Cities of Tomorrow, Howard put forth a new model for cities in reaction to the crowded, polluted, unbalanced, and inequitable cities of the industrial age. Howard’s vision of a “garden city” included the provision of a permanent belt of open land, to be used for agriculture as an integral part of the city, and the use of this land to limit the physical spread of the city from within, or encroachments from urban development not under control at the perimeter of the city. Ebenezer Howard’s model of a “garden city” is surprisingly consistent with the goals set forth by the City of San Luis Obispo’s Greenbelt Protection Program. In fact, Howard’s idea of small, planned cities surrounded by greenbelts was thought to represent a higher, more cooperative stage of civilization based on ecologically balanced communities. Reservoir Canyon Falls › The original Greenbelt map from 1993 Packet Pg 51 4 The Johnson Family history A Century of Hard Work and Hardware Mark Johnson was born in Denmark in 1851 and immigrated to America when he was 17. He bought land near what is now Los Osos Valley Road and Foothill Boulevard, and in 1901, Mark and his wife Emelia purchased the Johnson Ranch, which the family owned for 100 years. Mark and Emelia Johnson had four sons: Christian (1886), Frederick (1887), Allen (1890), and George (1893). The family lived together at the ranch until Mark passed away in 1916. Emelia, George, and Allen continued to live at the ranch for many more years. After George’s death in 1981, the family rented the property to others until deciding to sell it to the City of San Luis Obispo in 2001. Chris and Fred moved to town and ran Union Hardware & Plumbing on Garden Street. Allen ran A Better Plumbing Co. in San Luis Obispo for years. Chris and his wife Ida had three children: Jeanette, Mark, and Randi. It is through the efforts of Jeanette Johnson Ayres, with support from her cousins Steve Curtiss and Carolyn Silacci, that the Johnson Ranch was conserved and the history of a prominent local family retained. Johnson Ranch, a living legacy Most of the ranch buildings remain in use today as part of the continuing agricultural operation. Two of the old barns are used for storage and agricultural operations. Though not open to the public at this time, the ranch buildings can be seen from the trail above. ‹ The sons of Mark and Emelia Johnson, left to right: George Johnson, Chris Johnson, Fred Johnson, and Allen Johnson Jeanette Johnson on the left, with her cousins Nadine Johnson and Margaret Johnson. The adult is Nadine’s mother, Belva. Jeanette’s married name was Ayres; she was instrumental in having the Johnson Ranch preserved as public open space. › Mark & Emelia Johnson, 1885 › Exterior and interior views of the Union Hardware and Plumbing Company building on Garden Street in San Luis Obispo, operated by the Johnson family, 1912. This will be the Garden Street Terrace project / Serra Hotel. ‹ Johnson Ranch House, 1915 View of the Johnson Ranch farm buildings, about 1910. The barns and main farm house still exist. The smaller building is gone. A few orchard trees remain, as do most of the eucalyptus trees pictured. Packet Pg 52 4 Thank you for your cooperation, and enjoy your visit to the Johnson Ranch! through the years Johnson Ranch The Quarry Spur and Forbes Pond For a short time in the early 1900s, a railroad spur came off the Pacific Coast Railway line and ran alongside Dry Creek to a rocky bluff, which was quarried for gravel. Once the quarry was no longer used, it filled with water that seeped from Dry Creek. Over the years, willows and cattails grew, people introduced fish, and the quarry area became a small wildlife refuge, which it remains today. This little jewel is now named Forbes Pond, in honor of Bert and Candee Forbes, whose donation allowed the City to purchase Johnson Ranch. Development of the Highway and Its Effect on Johnson Ranch In the early 1950s, the San Luis Obispo-Avila Road was replaced by a modern highway with only limited access points. The Johnson family lost its access to Avila Road until a long driveway was built parallel to the highway permitting access to Ontario Road. This driveway remains the main access to the ranch today. Grading for the highway also destroyed the site of the original Bellevue School. Miramonte Ranch Easement Please do not hike on the road or near the nesting site at Forbes Pond. A legal easement granting access across what is now the Johnson Ranch was made in 1883 to allow several neighboring owners to go across Johnson property to reach their ranches further to the west. This easement remains as a legal access for the successors to those owners, and the easement road does get vehicle traffic on a regular basis. For this reason, and because the road passes near the heron nesting site at Forbes Pond, visitors are asked to stay off the road and utilize the trails provided. The pond can be viewed from several areas along the trail. Packet Pg 53 4 Old Quarrythe Forbes Pond In the early 1900s this area was quarried for gravel, which was shipped out on a railroad spur connected to the Pacific Coast Railway. The quarry was abandoned and over time, water seeped into it from Dry Creek. Willows and cattails grew, fish were brought in, and the quarry eventually became a small wildlife refuge. This little jewel is now named Forbes Pond, in honor of Bert and Candee Forbes, whose significant donation allowed the City to purchase Johnson Ranch. You may see large flocks of red-winged blackbirds and cedar waxwings, or the elusive black-crowned night herons, who make their homes here. Please stay on the trails and avoid disturbing the birds.‹ Black-Crowned Night Heron Packet Pg 54 4 At least three small chromite mining efforts occurred in the Irish Hills between the 1880s and early 1900s. The remains consist only of the actual working faces, foundations and mine tailings of low grade ore. Small sheds probably existed to store fuel, equipment, or explosives, but no larger buildings have been discovered. Early Mining Historyirish hills Chromite is a mineral found in certain rocks, including serpentine, which underlies much of the Irish Hills Natural Reserve. Chromium is known for its high shine when polished, and is used as a protective and decorative coating on car parts, cutlery, and many other items. A major industrial development was the discovery that steel could be made highly resistant to corrosion and discoloration by adding chromium to form rustproof stainless steel. This process would prove to be important to the World War I effort. The form of chromium found here is not considered hazardous. Falling hazards may still be present and caution is always urged around such areas due to the danger of unstable slopes or falling rocks. C12H17 H17C12 H17C12 Cr–Cr C12H17 C12H17 R = Cr Irish Hills prospectors find value in Chromite “As a mining county, San Luis Obispo is most widely known for its production of chromic iron. In years past many mines were worked here, but, owing to the low prices obtained in recent years, nothing is now being done. Chromic iron occurs, however, in large quantities and, under favorable conditions, will again be mined.” Now, in 1918, 13 years after the above was written, it is interesting to note that, while quicksilver production also adds largely to San Luis Obispo’s fame as a mining county, the chromic iron mines are, under present favorable conditions, supplying a steady tonnage of ore to an eager market. Froom’s (Mrs.) Chrome Deposits. Mrs. Froom of San Luis Obispo owns some old chrome properties in the southern part of Rancho Laguna, 4.5 miles southwest of the city. There are five old tunnels on the property, one of which is still open for 50 feet. This tunnel is driven entirely in serpentine and shows some granules of chrome ore scattered through the rock. There is an old open cut with a face 40 feet high from which it is reported quite a tonnage of ore was extracted in the past. A small amount of prospecting has recently been done on the property. California Division of Mines Bulletin, 1918 Packet Pg 55 4 We are fortunate to have remnant, intact native grasslands in San Luis Obispo that are now all but gone throughout most of California. Serpentine Scene the Quite a few of these species are considered very rare by the California Native Plant Society, while others are listed as threatened or endangered. Some notable examples of especially rare plants that are known only from San Luis Obispo and a few other locations include: Jones’ layia (Layia jonesii), Adobe Sanicle (Sanicula maritima), Club-Haired Mariposa Lily (Calochortus clavatus spp. clavatus) and Chorro Creek bog thistle (Cirsium fontinale var. obispoense). Native California perennial bunchgrasses, such as purple needlegrass (Stipa pulchra) are also commonly found in serpentine areas throughout the Greenbelt. The State of California designated purple needlegrass as the official state grass in 2004. Tolerant of summer drought and heat once established, these grasses have deep roots that help stabilize soils and prevent erosion, as well as retain soil moisture content. We are fortunate to have remnant, intact native grasslands in San Luis Obispo that are now all but gone throughout most of California. Botanical Diversity The San Luis Obispo Greenbelt contains outstanding botanical diversity, primarily due to numerous locations where serpentine rock and soil are present. In fact, over 1,400 native plants are known from the Greenbelt, representing more plant diversity than is found in the entire state of Alaska! (Keil and Ritter, 2016). Club-Haired Mariposa Lily Calochortus clavatus spp. clavatus Adobe Sanicle Sanicula maritima Chorro Creek Bog Thistle Cirsium fontinale var. obispoense Jones’ Layia Layia jonesii Purple Needlegrass (Stipa pulchra) Packet Pg 56 4 The Bob Jones Trail draws focus to this vital feature of our landscape while providing outdoor recreational opportunities. Please take a moment to consider this intricate and dynamic natural system and bear in mind its need for care and protection. San Luis Obispo Creek watershed The thin ribbon of water that threads its way from the Santa Lucia Range through San Luis Obispo, until ultimately emptying into the Pacific Ocean, has been the foundation of local human existence. Our area Chumash tribes subsisted on its water and the associated wildlife. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, founded in 1772, could only have been established and exist by the water it provided. Likewise, it is questionable if San Luis Obispo would have ever been founded without the establishment of the Mission. The nearby creek provided the Mission with not only an irrigation source but power to operate a grist mill. San Luis Obispo Creek also contributes to the San Luis Obispo Valley Groundwater Basin aquifer which supplies our town with an additional municipal water source. The importance of San Luis Obispo Creek can never be overstated, however it has been the recipient of considerable abuse and neglect. During the early years of San Luis Obispo, before our now high level of wastewater infrastructure and treatment, residential and commercial wastewater was simply piped to and discharged into this once pristine and vibrant waterway. Imported urban vegetation has escaped cultivation and established itself in the creek corridor resulting in the displacement of prime native riparian vegetation. Broken concrete and other erosion control methods have prevented the replenishment of sediments and accelerated channel incising. Unknown to many is the cavernous quarter mile section under downtown ominously known as “deep dark” that flows beneath the City from Cheng Park to Mission Plaza. Homeless populations, the presence of trash, and urban storm water heavily impact the integrity of any creek system. San Luis Obispo Creek is not always the tranquil creek we see that meanders through town. In unusual winters when rain saturates the soil and subsequent heavy rains occur, San Luis Obispo Creek can become a devastating torrent. Trees, limbs and debris carried by the turbulent water can clog the numerous bridges forcing water out of the channel and down City streets. Continued urbanization exacerbates run off with impermeable pavement, hardscapes and buildings. ‹ Collections of debris and trash in SLO Creek, 1966 PHOTO BY: The Tribune ABOVE THREE PHOTOS COURTESY OF: The History Center of San Luis Obispo County Broad St bridge, before Mission Plaza Corner of Montery and Chorro Streets, circa mid 1960’s Mission plaza under construction, circa 1971 Packet Pg 57 4 Minutes - DRAFT PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION 06 December 2017 Regular Meeting of the Advisory Body Commission CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission was called to order on the 6th day of December 2017 at 5:32 p.m. in the Parks and Recreation Administration Conference Room located at 1341 Nipomo Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Avakian. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Greg Avakian, Vice Chair Rodney Thurman and Commissioners Kari Applegate, Keri Schwab, Bob Spector Absent: Commissioner Olson, Commissioner Whitener Staff: Parks and Recreation Director Shelly Stanwyck, Recreation Manager Melissa Mudgett, Recreation Supervisor Ranger Service Doug Carscaden, Recreation Supervisory Aquatics/Facilities Devin Hyfield, Administrative Analyst Lindsey Stephenson PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Representative of the SLO Pickleball Club, Brian O’Kelly, thanked the Commission and staff, specifically Rich Ogden Sports Supervisor, for the pickleball pilot program, the multi-use lines at French Park Tennis Courts and the future dedicated pickleball courts. The SLO Pickleball Club invited the Commission to come out and play. CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES ACTION: APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION FOR NOVEMBER 1, 2017. 1.Consideration of Minutes CARRIED 5:0:0:2 to approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Body for the regular meeting of 11/01/2017 as amended as motioned by Vice Chair Thurman and second by Commissioner Spector. AYES: APPLEGATE, AVAKIAN, SCHWAB, SPECTOR, THURMAN, NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: OLSON, WHITENER Packet Pg 58 4 DRAFT Minutes – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of December 6, 2017 Page 2 2. Consideration of 2018 Meeting Schedule ACTION: APPROVAL OF THE 2018 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ADVISORY BODY MEETING SCHEDULE. CARRIED 5:0:0:2 to approve the 2018 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting schedule as motioned by Vice Chair Thurman and second by Chair Avakian. AYES: APPLEGATE, AVAKIAN, SCHWAB, SPECTOR, THURMAN, NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: OLSON, WHITENER 3. Discussion of the 2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan Parks and Recreation Director Shelly Stanwyck, Recreation Manager Melissa Mudgett and Recreation Supervisor Devin Hyfield provided an overview of the Departments’ first annual 2020 Strategic Plan report. Strategic Plan progress and accomplishments made in 2017 were highlighted. Baseline data for future year-to-year comparisons and determining performance measures for the Department was collected in 2017. In response to public comments received and some confusion over Council direction and budget allocation Director Stanwyck summarized information on a specific action item of the 5- year plan, the pursuit of a park North of Broad Street. Staff Hyfield said that in 2018 staff will focus on core areas to help the Parks and Recreation Department maximize limited available resources, provide an array of programming designed to meet the needs of diverse park users and better define our future relationship with the community. Public Comment Kit Gould, SLO Resident, asked the Commission to add information about staff’s work in exploring a park North of Broad Street in the 2017 Progress Report of the Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan. Ms. Gould asked to be kept in the loop regarding progress. Mila Vujovich-LeBarre, SLO Resident, said that Council previously allocated $750,000 for a park in the North of Broad Street neighborhood. She asked the Commission to consider active bike paths with the development of new parks. Ms. Vujovich-LeBarre recommended the City partner with the School District, use public service announcements and outreach to caregivers for Senior programming. Commission Comments followed Commissioner Spector asked about the process for the Parks and Recreation Element Update and Master Plan. Director Stanwyck responded that there will be significant public engagement to determine the community’s top priorities. Commissioner Spector asked about other Senior programs offered by the City. Staff responded that in addition to the SLO Senior Center and activities, the Golf Course is largely used by active senior citizens, adult volleyball and adult table tennis is available at the Ludwick Community Center and drop-in Boomer Softball is played year-round. Packet Pg 59 4 DRAFT Minutes – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of December 6, 2017 Page 3 Commissioner Applegate shared that she had conversations with a neighbor and relayed their input that if a new park is not feasible in the North of Broad Street neighborhood then an installation of restrooms at Anholm Park would greatly assist in activating the park. Chair Avakian thanked staff for the hard work and programming this year. 4. Presentation of the Open Space Maintenance Plan: 2017 Annual Report The Recreation Supervisor for Ranger Service, Doug Carscaden, provided an overview of the Open Space Maintenance Plan progress and reported on accomplishments in 2017. Staff Carscaden said the 2017 Open Space Maintenance and Protection efforts addressed both new and deferred projects which included new trail amenities, the purchase of specialized equipment, and public outreach and education efforts. Staff Carscaden provided a highlight of 2018 Opening Space Maintenance projects which could include major improvements at Johnson Ranch and Reservoir Canyon trailheads, parking and fencing improvements, more kiosks, bridge and gate repairs as well as fire fuel reduction, mitigation projects, and new directional blade signage throughout the city’s trail system. Staff Carscaden concluded that the Ranger program has benefited from an enormous number of dedicated volunteers and volunteer hours that make ranger service, trail maintenance, and creek cleanup possible. Public Comment Harry Busselen, SLO Resident for Bishop Peak neighborhood, expressed his concerned with fire issues and night activities at Bishop Peak. He asked for data on Open Space rescues. Director Stanwyck responded that data is being collected for Open Space in city-limits but that a challenge is that not all Open Space is within City limits; for which the City would not have data available. Director Stanwyck added that Ranger staff continue night patrols of Open Space and performed fuel reduction activities this summer at Bishop Peak. Commission Comments followed Commissioner Schwab asked about the comparison between enforcement citations from last year. Ranger Carscaden responded that less citations were issued this year; a result of compliance. Commissioner Spector asked about the interaction between Ranger staff and the transient population during creek cleanup. Ranger Carscaden responded that Ranger Service works collaboratively with the Police Department and local social services. Director Stanwyck added that the construction of Prado Day Center may help alleviate some of issues if staff can connect individual with services. Commissioner Spector asked if anyone has completed all trails for PixonPeaks. Staff Stephenson responded that the PixonPeaks program has helped to introduce many people to new trails. Commissioner Applegate thanked staff for their efforts on trail maintenance and public education. She added that she has experienced many of the trails and have enjoyed the new kiosks and maps. Packet Pg 60 4 DRAFT Minutes – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of December 6, 2017 Page 4 5. Update of the Parks and Recreation Element and Master Plan Project Director Stanwyck provided the Commission with an update on the Parks and Recreation Element and Master Plan project. Director Stanwyck said on November 7th the Council approved the Request for Proposals for consultant services. Director Stanwyck said that the City received four proposals today and consultant interviews are scheduled for early January 2018. She added that the Department has hired an intern to assist staff in gathering baseline parks data. COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS 6. Director’s Report Director Stanwyck provided a brief update of current Parks and Recreation programming and City updates. • Rich Ogden Sport Supervisor is retiring after 31 years of City Service • Night Golf Thursday at Laguna Lake Golf Course • Facility Closures for annual maintenance December 25 through January 5, 2018. Parks and Recreation offices closed December 25-29, 2017. SLO Swim Center has various closures over Christmas and New Year holidays. • Sinsheimer Park Playground still a huge success with hundreds of visitors and families daily. Construction project planned to extend the artificial turf. • Council Meeting December 12th for Fiscal Health Response Plan LIAISON REPORTS 7. Subcommittee Liaison Reports Director Stanwyck provided a background on Commission liaison assignments. The Commission discussed past practice, current assignments, and desired changes to assignment or the practice. By consensus the Commission nominated Commissioner Spector to serve as the liaison for Adult and Senior Programming. • Adult and Senior Programming: Liaison position is currently vacant. • Bicycle Advisory Committee: Commissioner Olson was absent. No Report. • City Facilities (Damon Garcia, Golf, Pool & Joint Use Facilities): Chair Avakian reported the AYSO season is over and Field C is closed for renovation, Jack House Garden will be closed for maintenance beginning in January. Golf Course has installed new driving range nets, received new golf carts, Gobble Wobble a huge success in partnership with SLO Food Bank, and night golf is Thursday. Adult softball concluded and Youth Basketball starts in January 2018. • Jack House. Commissioner Whitener was absent. No report. • Tree Committee: Vice Chair Thurman said there was no Tree Committee Report. • Youth Sports: Commissioner Schwab said YSA meets in January. There was no report. 8. Commission Communications None Packet Pg 61 4 DRAFT Minutes – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of December 6, 2017 Page 5 ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m. to the next Special meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission held on January 10, 2018 at 5:30 p.m., in the Parks and Recreation Department Conference Room located at 1341 Nipomo Street, San Luis Obispo, California. APPROVED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION: 1/10/2018 Packet Pg 62 4