Att 1-Madonna CRLF Surveys and Habitat Assessment.pdf

Madonna Creek California Red-legged Frog Habitat Assessment and Surveys

Prepared by:

Californian Environmental Services, Inc.

1904 Franklin Street, Suite 202

Oakland, California 94612

Submitted To:

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District

330 Distel Circle Los Altos, CA 94022-1404

JUNE 29, 2018

syao Text Box Attachment 1

FINAL California Red-legged Frog Habitat Assessment and Survey Report - 2018

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District June 2018 Madonna Creek Ranch i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABBREVIATIONS USED ..................................................................................................... III

1 – INTRODUCTION

2 – SITE DESCRIPTION

3 – CALIFORNIA RED-LEGGED FROG (RANA DRAYTONII)

4 – METHODS

5 – RESULTS

5.0 Mixed Riparian

5.1 Maritime Chaparral

5.2 Non-native Ruderal Grassland

5.3 Agricultural

5.4 Eucalyptus Grove

6 – DISCUSSION

7 – REFERENCES

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Project Vicinity Map Figure 2: Critical Habitat Map Figure 3: Vegetation Community Map

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

Attachment A: Plant Species List Attachment B: Representative Photographs

Madonna Creek Ranch iii

ABBREVIATIONS USED

CDFW California Department of Fish and Wildlife CES California Environmental Services CNDDB California Natural Diversity Database GIS Geographic Information System GPS Global Positioning System MROSD Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District US United States USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service

Madonna Creek Ranch 5

1 – INTRODUCTION

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) currently manages 26 open space preserves encompassing nearly 62,000 acres of montane, foothill, and baylands open space.

MROSD lands cover an area of 550 square miles which includes 17 cities (Atherton, Cupertino, East Palo Alto, Half Moon Bay, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Menlo Park, Monte Sereno, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Carlos, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, and Woodside).

MROSD’s mission is to acquire, permanently protect, and restore lands to form a regional open space greenbelt of connected habitat, preserve unspoiled wilderness, wildlife habitat, watershed, viewshed, and fragile ecosystems, and provide opportunities for low-intensity recreation and environmental education. Madonna Creek Ranch is located less than two miles east of the Pacific Ocean and less than 0.5 mile south of the intersection of Bfi Ox Mt. Landfill Road and San Mateo Road, in Halfmoon Bay, California (Figure 1).

MROSD requested that Californian Environmental Services (CES) conduct a habitat assessment of two instream ponds (Figure 1) within the perennial Madonna Creek and upland stream habitats located within Madonna Creek Ranch to determine: 1) if potentially suitable habitat is present for California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii; CRLF) and 2) the areas are capable of supporting CRLF breeding. We therefore conducted a habitat assessment followed up by two nocturnal surveys to search for CRL egg masses and two daytime larval surveys to detect evidence of CRLF breeding.

2 – SITE DESCRIPTION

Madonna Creek (Creek) is oriented in a northwest to southeast direction and is situated at the toe of a steep slope composed of maritime chaparral. The creek flows along the southern border of an active, relatively small agricultural field which spans approximately 580 feet at its widest point and stretches just over 0.5 mile in length. A gentler slope borders the agricultural field to the north and is characterized by a small portion of non-native grasslands and an expansive eucalyptus grove that continues east beyond the survey area. The area consists of a portion of Madonna Creek and two instream ponds spaced approximately 2,000 feet apart (Figure 1). Vegetation along Madonna Creek is composed of dense mixed riparian species with emergent vegetation associated with each of the ponds. CRLF Pond to the east is at an elevation of 193 while the Irrigation Pond to the west is at an elevation of 144 feet, favoring a drainage pattern to the west.

3 – CALIFORNIA RED-LEGGED FROG (RANA DRAYTONII)

Federal Status: Threatened State Status: Species of Special Concern

California red-legged frog was listed as a Federal threatened species on May 31st, 1996 (61 FR 25813) and is considered threatened throughout its range. On April 13th, 2006, United States

California Red-legged Frog Habitat Assessment and Survey Report - 2018 FINAL

June 2018 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District 6 Madonna Creek Ranch

(US) Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) designated critical habitat for CRLF which revised March 17th, 2010 was (75 FR 12815 12959). Approximately 1,636,609 acres of critical habitat in 27 California counties fall within the boundaries of the final revised critical habitat designation.

The Creek falls within Critical Habitat for the species (Figure 2).

CRLF occurs west of the Sierra Nevada-Cascade and in the Coast Ranges along the entire length of the state. Historically, the species occurred throughout the Central Valley and Sierra Nevada foothills south to northern Baja California but is now restricted primarily to coastal California from Sonoma and Butte Counties south to Riverside. CRLF occurs in lowlands, foothill woodlands, and grasslands, near marshes, lakes, ponds, low-gradient streams, or other water sources. This species typically prefers dense shrubby or emergent vegetation closely associated with deep still or slow-moving water; however, it has been documented occurring and breeding in un-vegetated cattle ponds as well. CRLF is typically described as a pond-dwelling species;

however, it will occupy lotic habitat as well. Generally, CRLF favor intermittent streams with water at least 2.5 feet deep and where the shoreline has relatively intact emergent or shoreline vegetation. CRLFs occupying stream habitats typically breed within backwater areas, oxbows, and/or scoured instream ponded areas with very little current flow. CRLF is known to take refuge in upland small mammal burrows during periods of high water flow and to forage widely in upland habitat during all times of the year.

CRLF is California's largest native frog, measuring up to 5.25 inches in length and is reddish-brown to gray-black in coloration, with many poorly defined dark specks and blotches.

Dorsolateral folds are present and run in a complete line from the back of the eye to the groin.

Breeding occurs from December to April, depending on geographic location, with egg masses laid in permanent bodies of water. CRLF larvae typically metamorphose late in Summer or early Fall; however, overwintering of CRLF larvae has been documented in deep, perennial water bodies.

4 – METHODS

CES herpetologists conducted a CRLF habitat assessment concurrently with egg-mass/eye shine and larval surveys to assess the potential for this species to breed in the instream ponds located in Madonna Creek. The biologist walked around each of the instream ponds and the stretch of creek between the ponds characterizing the habitat and noting whether the various habitat conditions were suitable to support CRLF breeding. The upland habitats were also assessed for their suitability in supporting upland foraging of the CRLF.

Nocturnal eyeshine surveys were conducted on March 7th and March 28th, 2018 just after sunset, when amphibians are most active. The eyeshine and egg mass surveys were conducted by two biologists using a LED mag-light and headlamps to scan the margins of the ponds and around all aquatic vegetation to observe any potential CRLF and/or amphibian eyeshine. Once eyeshine was detected, binoculars were used to confirm species identification using specific diagnostics such as presence of a dorsolateral fold complete from eye to groin and/or a smaller tympanum in relation to eye size. Body size and behavior of the individual was also taken into

CRLF Pond

Irrigation Pond

Madonna Creek

Figure 1: Site Vicinity Map Madonna Creek Ranch

1904 Franklin St, Unit 202 Oakland, CA 94612

0 250 500 Feet±

Ponds Property Boundary

Madonna Creek

Figure 2: USFWS Critical Habitat Madonna Creek Ranch

1904 Franklin St, Unit 202 Oakland, CA 94612

0 250 500 Feet±

Ponds Property Boundary CRLF Critical Habitat

Madonna Creek Ranch 11 consideration. Where possible, any visual confirmations of CRLF were photo documented. Due to safety concerns and very deep waters in Irrigation Pond, CES biologists were not able to wade into the water and thoroughly inspect all aquatic vegetation for egg mass attachment;

however, the pond and shoreline submergent vegetation were thoroughly scanned for egg masses and were inspected for CRLF adults and subadults using binoculars and spotlights. CES biologists were able to wade into CRLF Pond, and thus inspected all aquatic vegetation for CRLF egg mass attachment and conducted eye-shine surveys as well. A dense thicket of willows is present in the deeper portion of CRLF Pond making that particular area impenetrable. It therefore wasn’t possible to conduct as thorough a survey in this portion of the pond as other areas. In these cases of inaccessibility, the CES biologists thoroughly scanned the areas using flashlights and binoculars.

Two larval surveys were conducted during the morning hours of May 8th and 29th, 2018. CES biologists used surfboards to float on the water to access the floating vegetation and the margins of Irrigation Pond. Dipnets were used to survey under the floating vegetation for larvae. The dipnet was placed under the floating vegetation and was lifted to sample wildlife present in the water columns. It was not possible to use a two-pole seine in this pond due to the extreme water depths.

Dipnets were used to skim the bottom of CRLF pond to sample for larvae and a two-pole seine was used in the more open, deeper waters providing broader and more comprehensive coverage of the pond.

5 – RESULTS

The survey area includes five distinguishable habitat types which include mixed riparian, non-native ruderal grassland, eucalyptus grove, maritime chaparral, and agriculture (Figure 3).

5.0 MIXED RIPARIAN

Both ponds were included in the mixed riparian habitat characterization as they were both instream features and had similar vegetation characteristics to the greater riparian area.

Madonna Creek is a well-developed perennial creek situated at the toe of a steep slope along the south side of the creek, with a dense canopy over the majority of the surveyed portions of the creek. In many cases the canopy cover was nearly 100 percent with diffused sunlight penetrating through to the water level. The Creek flowed from the southeast to the northwest with the creek widening at the locations of the ponds. The Creek channel was dominated by arroyo willow (Salix laevigata), red willow (S. lasiolepis), alder (Alnus spp.), dogwood (Cornus spp.), and California black berry (Rubus ursinus). Over the surveyed span of creek, there were many drop pools and incised stream banks providing refugia for CRLF and serving as a movement corridor suitable to support CRLF. The abundance of exposed roots within the stream channel and dense vegetation along the banks of the creek provides abundant additional habitat for this species. Within this habitat, are two instream ponds described below.

12 Madonna Creek Ranch

5.0.0 Irrigation Pond

Irrigation Pond occurs at the most western edge of the survey area. At this location, Madonna Creek widens resulting in a decrease in water velocity and thus, the formation of a deep, ponded area. A narrow concrete spillway at the west end of the pond allows the water to continue westward. At its widest point, the instream pond spans at least 75 feet from bank to bank and has a depth of over six feet as CES biologists were not able to touch the bottom when surveying with dip-nets. Due to depth of the pond, pennywort (Hydrocotyle spp.), a type of floating vegetation, dominates the water surface with watercress (Nasturtium spp.) growing in shallower waters and along the banks of the pond . Pennywort forms a large mat on the pond surface blanketing approximately 75 percent of the open water areas where the pond reaches its widest point. Pennywort can provide plentiful habitat for egg mass attachment and refugia for larval development. The banks of the pond are abrupt and have very little slope. Willows and alders are thick along the banks with an abundance of branches hanging into the water providing refugia for a variety of aquatic wildlife species such as the CRLF. The dense surrounding vegetation also provides additional refugia and foraging areas for subadult and adult CRLF. The pond narrows to the east and becomes confined to a heavily incised channel, with dense riparian vegetation along the banks.

During the eyeshine/egg mass surveys, no egg masses were detected; however, two sub-adult and one adult CRLF were observed on March 7th, 2018 and five adults and two sub-adults were observed on March 28th, 2018 (Attachment B, Photograph 11). These individuals were observed along the bank near overhanging willow branches throughout the pond with the highest number of CRLFs observed at the eastern end of the pond where the willows are thickest.

During our larval surveys on May 8th and May 28th, 2018 we captured 21 CRLF larvae consisting of at least three age classes based on the variation in larval size (Attachment B, Photograph 16).

This confirms that CRLF is successfully using Irrigation Pond for breeding. CRLF larvae were captured from under the floating vegetation using dip-nets, indicating the larvae are using the roots of the plants for refugia. We were only able to survey along the margins of the floating vegetation mat as it was too dense to penetrate, and we did not want to disturb the habitat more than necessary. While CES biologists were only able to survey the margins of the floating vegetation, CES assumes many more CRLF larvae occur underneath the majority of this floating vegetation as each reproductive CRLF female deposits an average of 3,500 eggs within their egg masses. An abundance of Pacific tree frog (Pseudacris regilla) calls were also heard at this pond.

No American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) were detected.

5.0.1 CRLF Pond

CRLF Pond occurs at the most eastern extent of the survey area. Madonna Creek widens at this location thus reducing the of creek flow velocity at this point. CRLF pond is much shallower than Irrigation Pond, with a maximum depth of approximately 3.5 feet; however, much of the pond had a depth of only one to two feet. Emergent vegetation (knotweed (Polygonum spp.) and watercress), dominate the shallow areas (Attachment B, Photograph 4) with dense willows growing in the deeper water areas (Attachment B, Photograph 5). The willows growing within the deeper portions of the pond are dense and impenetrable lacking any emergent or floating http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=9597

Madonna Creek Ranch 13 vegetation as an understory. Emergent vegetation dominates the shallower areas only. Willows and alders are present along the banks of the pond forming a relatively continuous canopy with diffused sunlight penetrating to the pond surface waters. The willows form a dense thicket that was impenetrable in some locations. CRLF Pond is heavily shaded by the willows and eucalyptus trees bordering to the north. A large fallen eucalyptus tree is present and has been obscured by willows that have grown around the fallen tree. Dominant vegetation surrounding the pond, consists of eucalyptus trees directly north of the pond, stinging nettles (Urtica dioica), an abundance of California black berry, wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum), and poison oak. The emergent vegetation and dense willow within the pond provide suitable habitat for egg mass attachment and larval development. The dense surrounding vegetation also provided additional refugia and foraging areas for subadult and adult CRLF.

No CRLF egg masses were detected during the nocturnal eyeshine/egg mass surveys; however, one sub-adult CRLF was observed during the March 7th, 2018 nocturnal survey and during the May 8th, 2018 larval survey (Attachment B, Photograph 13). No additional CRLF detections were

5.1 MARITIME CHAPARRAL

The maritime chaparral habitat community occurs just south of Madonna Creek beginning where the mixed riparian habitat ends. This habitat community occurs on a steep north facing slope. Dominant vegetation consists of coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) in some areas, stinging nettle, poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), and dogwood sparsely mixed in. Though there are steep slopes, CRLF is known to readily traverse this sort of terrain as dense vegetation provides adequate cover. This habitat type can provide plentiful foraging areas for adult CRLF and dispersing subadults.

5.2 NON-NATIVE RUDERAL GRASSLAND

A small sliver of non-native ruderal grassland is present directly adjacent to the agricultural field to the north, closer to the middle of the field. This habitat is composed of largely non-native species dominated by rip gut brome (Bromus diandrus), cheeseweed (Malva parviflora), soft chess (Bromus hordeaceus), black mustard (Brassica nigra), and poison hemlock. This habitat is minimal in size, but due to its relatively close proximity to the riparian area, CRLF can potentially use this habitat to forage.

5.3 AGRICULTURAL

The agricultural field has been recently planted with new sprouts visible. The crop type is unknown, but agricultural fields have been known to be used by CRLF for foraging purposes. No small mammal burrows were identified during the surveys, so little refugia for CRLF is present.

This habitat type currently provides foraging habitat only.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortaderia_selloana

Madonna Creek

Figure 3: Vegetation Community Map Madonna Creek Ranch

1904 Franklin St, Unit 202 Oakland, CA 94612

0 250 500 Feet±

Ponds Property Boundary Agricultural Maritime Chaparral Mixed Riparian Eucalyptus Grove Non-native Ruderal Grassland

Madonna Creek Ranch 17

5.4 EUCALYPTUS GROVE

A eucalyptus grove occurs north of the agricultural field. The grove consists of large and small eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus spp.) with a fairly dense undergrowth. Dominant undergrowth vegetation consists of California black berry, poison oak, wild radish, coffee berry (Frangula californica), and black mustard. Due to its relatively close proximity to the riparian area, CRLF may forage within this vegetation community. made during the other two surveys. An abundance of breeding California newts (Taricha torosa) were observed in this pond during the March 28th, 2018 nocturnal survey (Attachment B, Photograph 12). Several male newts were observed swarming around a single female forming a ball. Calling Pacific tree frogs were abundant at CRLF Pond. Dense willows are present in areas of deeper water and were impenetrable; thus, it is possible that CRLF were present but undetected in that area.

6 – DISCUSSION

Madonna Creek provides substantial high-quality breeding, foraging, and dispersal habitat for CRLF. Dense riparian vegetation, drop pools within the creek, exposed roots along the bank, overhanging vegetation, undercut banks, and fallen trees for refugia all meet the definition of Principal Constituent Elements as outlined in the USFWS 5-Year Recovery Plan for the species.

Madonna Creek likely serves as a corridor for dispersing adult, sub-adult, and/or young of the year CRLF which have just metamorphosed from Irrigation Pond.

Irrigation Pond provides excellent habitat to support CRLF populations and breeding. Clear evidence of breeding is evident due to the CRF larvae detected during larval surveys. Both ponds have aquatic vegetation with dense willows and alders along the banks providing additional refugia. A variety of invertebrate fauna were observed throughout the Property serving as a plentiful food source for the CRLF. The agricultural field and maritime chaparral habitats provide additional movement corridors and foraging grounds.

CRLF Pond provides excellent nursery habitat for subadult and metamorphic CRLF and would also be excellent foraging habitat for CRLF. It is interesting that no CRLF larvae were detected;

however, the pond is shallow and therefore highly vulnerable to exploitation by terrestrial mammals such as raccoon (Procyon lotor) and skunk (Mephitis mephitis), that prey on amphibians. It is possible that the absence of larvae in the pond is due to predators exploiting the relatively shallow waters as there is no apparent reason why CRLF would not use the pond for breeding. On a different project site, CES biologists have personally witnessed a blue heron (Ardea herodias) virtually clean out a 2-foot deep pond of all amphibian larvae - which consisted of California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) and western spadefoot toad (Spea hammondii) larvae. It took the heron less than two hours to consume virtually every larva in the pond. It is also possible that California newts preyed on CRLF egg masses which has been observed in the field as well. It may be a combination of all these factors that results in a lack of detecting CRLF larvae at CRLF Pond. Alternatively, it is also possible that CRLF egg laying was not have occurred due to the late rains in February 2018. Per the District, there have been less overall detections of CRLF larvae across District lands this year as well, so the results obtained

18 Madonna Creek Ranch at this pond could simply be due to timing being off for that pond (i.e. late rains), or that it was simply not a great year for CRLF breeding overall, or alternatively could just be part of a natural cycle. CRLF Pond could be enhanced by dredging the pond to remove vegetation and built up sediment choking the pond and to increase pond depth to facilitate breeding by CRLF.

During the CRLF eyeshine/egg mass surveys of Irrigation Pond, two sub-adult and one adult CRLF was observed during the March 7th, 2018 survey and five adults and two sub-adults were observed during the March 28th, 2018 Survey. During the May 8th, 2018 larval surveys 21 CRLF larvae were captured with three different age classes present. There were a few auditory detections of Pacific tree frogs in this pond and this species was more abundant at CRLF Pond.

No California newts nor evidence of California newt breeding were observed within Irrigation Pond. Breeding habitat for CRLF is provided primarily by Irrigation Pond. There were no CRLF detections within the stream, but we did have detections at the intergrade zone between the pond area at Irrigation Pond and the stream proper.

During the CRLF eyeshine/egg mass surveys at CRLF Pond, one sub-adult CRLF was observed on March 7th, 2018. No CRLF were detected during the March 28th, 2018 surveys. Pacific tree frog and California newt are abundant in CRLF Pond. Mating California newts were observed in CRLF Pond during the March 28th, 2018 surveys and auditory detections of breeding Pacific treefrogs were abundant.

In conclusion, Irrigation Pond currently has the most abundant population of CRLF with adults, subadults, and larvae from three different larval cohorts present. Only one sub-adult CRLF was observed in CRLF Pond. CRLF egg masses may be vulnerable to predation by California newts, as that species is quite abundant in CRLF Pond and the shallowness of its waters may allow exploitation of the pond by terrestrial predators that prey on eggs and larvae.

7 – REFERENCES

Bulger, J.B., N.J. Scott Jr, and R.B. Seymour. 2003. Terrestrial activity and conservation of adult California red-legged frogs (Rana aurora draytonii) in coastal forests and grasslands.

Biological Conservation, 110(1):85-95.

Fellers, G.M. and P.M. Kleeman. 2007. California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) movement and habitat use: implications for conservation. Journal of Herpetology, 41(2):276-286.

Jennings, Mark R. and M.P. Hayes. 1994. Amphibian and reptile species of special concern in California. California Department of Fish and Game, Inland Fisheries Division, Rancho Cordova, California. iii+255 p.

Padgett-Flohr, G.E. 2008. Pathogenicity of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in two threatened California amphibians: Rana draytonii and Ambystoma californiense. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 3(2):182-191.

Madonna Creek Ranch 19

Stebbins, R.C. 2003. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians. 3rd Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. Pp. 82-83.

USFWS. 1996. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of Threatened Status for the California Red-Legged Frog. Federal Register, 61(101):25813-25833.

Madonna Creek Ranch 21

Attachment A: Plant Species List

Plant Species List Common Name Scientific Name

California buckeye Aesculus californica Common yarrow Achillea millefolium Alder Alnus sp.

Wild oat Avena fatua Coyote brush Baccharis pilularis Black mustard Brassica nigra Ripgut brome Bromus diandrus Soft chess Bromus hordeaceus Bull thistle Cirsium vulgare Poison hemlock Conium maculatum Dogwood Cornus sp.

Pampas grass Cortaderia selloana Flatsedge Cyperus sp.

Red stemmed filaree Erodium cicutarium Eucalyptus Eucalyptus sp.

Italian ryegrass Festuca perennis Fennel Foeniculum vulgare Coffee berry Frangula californica Bedstraw Galium aparine Cutleaf geranium Geranium dissectum Bristly oxtongue Helminthotheca echioides Cow parsnip Heracleum maximum Foxtail barley Hordeum murinum pennywort Hydrocotyle sp.

Cheeseweed Malva parviflora Watercress Nasturtium sp.

Tanoak Notholithocarpus densiflorus Pine Pinus sp.

English plantain Plantego lanceolata Knotweed Polygonum sp.

Wild radish Raphanus raphanistrum Himalayan black berry Rubus armeniacus Thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus California blackberry Rubus ursinus Arroyo willow Salix laevigata Red willow Salix lasiolepis Blue elderberry Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea Milk thistle Silybum marianum Night shade Solanum sp.

Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus Poison oak Toxicodendron diversilobum Stinging nettles Urtica dioica Common vetch Vicia sativa http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=111 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortaderia_selloana http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=3448 http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=3603 http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=10902 http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=9597

Madonna Creek Ranch 23

Attachment B: Representative Photographs

B - 1 June 2018

Photographs

Photograph 1:

May 29, 2018

Irrigation Pond.

Abundant pennywort floating on the water surface forming a dense vegetation mat.

Water depth is over six feet at this location.

Photograph 2:

March 7, 2018

Northern portion of the Irrigation Pond.

Dense willows are growing in the pond. This is also the location where several CRLF were observed.

B - 2 June 2018

B - 3 June 2018

Photographs Continued

Photograph 3:

Just west of CRLF Pond.

Dense riparian habitat and a drop pool within Madonna Creek.

Photograph 4:

March 28, 2018

CRLF Pond.

Dense willows, knotweed, and watercress dominate the area. The depth of the pond is approximately one to two feet in this area.

B - 4 June 2018

B - 5 June 2018

Photograph 5:

May 8, 2018

Dense willows within CRLF Pond are impenetrable in some areas.

This portion of the pond was approximately

3.5 feet in depth.

Photograph 6:

Dense mixed riparian habitat growing along Madonna Creek can be seen on the right-hand side of the photo. A portion of the agricultural field can be seen on the left.

B - 7 June 2018

Photograph 7:

Another view of the dense riparian habitat taken just east of the previous photo.

Photograph 8:

May 29, 2018.

A portion of the agricultural field and the maritime chaparral plant community occurring along steep slopes.

B - 8 June 2018

B - 9 June 2018

Photograph 9:

May 29, 2018.

The relatively small valley hosting the agricultural field. The eucalyptus grove and non-native ruderal grassland can be seen on the left, segmented by an access road.

Photograph 10:

May 28, 2018.

A view of the eucalyptus grove just north west of CRLF Pond facing west. Also showing the understory vegetation.

B - 10 June 2018

B - 11 June 2018

Photograph 11:

An adult CRLF within Irrigation Pond.

Photograph 12:

Many California newts were observed mating in CRLF Pond.

B - 12 June 2018

B - 13 June 2018

Photograph 13:

May 8, 2018.

A sub-adult CRLF located at CRLF Pond.

Photograph 14:

Dip netting activities within CRLF Pond.

B - 14 June 2018

B - 15 June 2018

Photograph 15:

Dip netting activities at Irrigation Pond.

A dip net was used to capture CRLF larvae hiding within the root system of the floating plants.

Photograph 16:

CRLF larvae that were captured from under the roots of the floating plants.

Two different ages classes of larvae can be seen in this photo.