Pine Gulch Creek Watershed Enhancement Project
| Status | Completed | County | Marin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Type | Compensatory mitigation | Location | Not Mapped |
| Project Area (Acres) | 11.50 | Last Updated | 13 April 2022 |
| Project Abstract | The Pine Gulch Creek Watershed Enhancement Project, administered by the Marin Resource Conservation District (MRCD), is designed to improve summer habitat conditions for aquatic species in the Pine Gulch Creek watershed, Bolinas, Marin County. MRCD is working with local organic farms to construct a series of off-channel water storage ponds. | ||
| Administrative Region | San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board - Xavier Fernandez, SFBRWQCB | ||
Project Identification
| ID | Type |
|---|---|
| 759631 | SWRCB - CIWQS Place Number |
Habitat Plan
| Site Name | Phase | Activity | SubActivities | Habitat | SubHabitat | Acres | Activity Status | Water Regime |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Gulch Creek | None | Creation/Establishment | Water Management | Depressional Wetland | Unknown/Unspecified | 6.20 | Construction completed | Unknown/Unspecified |
| Pine Gulch Creek | None | Enhancement | Water Management | Depressional Wetland | Unknown/Unspecified | 0.70 | Construction completed | Unknown/Unspecified |
| Pine Gulch Creek | None | Unknown/Unspecified | Unspecified | Depressional Wetland | Marsh and unvegetated flats | 4.60 | Completed | Unknown/Unspecified |
Related Habitat Impacts
| Impact Project Name | Habitat | Acres Lost | Type of Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Data | |||
Sites
| Name | Status | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Pine Gulch Creek | Construction completed | 6.90 |
Events
People
| Type | Name | Organization | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | Elise Suronen | Marin Resource Conservation District | Not applicable/Unknown |
Funding
| Phase | Activity | Funder | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Data | |||
Related CRAM Assessments
| Visit Date | Version | Site Name | Wetland Type | Index Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Data | ||||
Performance Criteria
| Status | Details | Evaluation Date |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown/Unspecified | To compensate for conversion of seasonal wetlands to ponds, the Pine Gulch Creek Watershed Enhancement Project Biological Mitigation Plan (Mitigation Plan) dated January 24, 2007, will be implemented. In addition, 60 trees will be planted along the riparian corridor on Star Route Farm. The monitoring requirements and functional goals for pond creation and riparian enhancement will be as follows: To verify that at least 20% of each pond is occupied by hydrophytic vegetation, the Applicant will perform visual assessments and photographic documentation annually for a minimum of 5 years after completing the project. The visual assessments will consist of estimating the percentage of pond occupied by hydrophytic vegetation and taking field notes on the condition of these plants and general observations of pond functioning, including, but not limited to, red-legged frog sightings. Photographic documentation will consist of taking photographs of the entire pond and close ups of the vegetated and open water portions of the pond from at least 4 locations equidistant around the perimeter of the pond. To verify that creation of the ponds results in approximately 5 acres or more of aquatic habitat, with approximately 1 acre of this habitat consisting of wetlands around the periphery of the ponds, the Applicant will perform a formal delineation of the ponds 5 years after creating ponds. The delineation shall be performed in accordance with the latest USACE Wetlands Delineation Manual. Field indicators of hydric soils are not anticipated to be present by Year 5 in the created wetlands because hydric soils typically develop over longer periods of time (e.g., tens to hundreds of years). As such, the protocol outlined in Section F “Atypical Situations,” Subsection 4 “Man-Induced Wetlands” of the describing the use of two parameters (hydrology and plants) or an equivalent protocol will be followed. The condition of the ponds will be evaluated using the California Rapid Assessment Method in the third and fifth year following completion of the project to provide an indication of the overall condition of the ponds. To verify the recovery of 0.64 acres of native riparian woodland, the Applicant will measure the percent survival of planted trees for 5 years after completing the Project. In Year 1, the functional goal shall be 90% survival of planted trees. In Year 2, the functional goal shall be 85% survival of planted trees. In Year 3, the functional goal shall be 80% survival of planted trees. In Year 4, the functional goal shall be 75% survival of planted trees. In Year 5, the functional goal shall be 75% survival of planted trees. To verify that invasive species have been eradicated and are not recolonizing the riparian enhancement site, the Applicant will measure the absolute cover of invasive species annually for 5 years. The goal will be less than 5% absolute cover by invasive species. | 2015-06-15 |
No files found.
How to Use the Habitat Development Curve
Habitat Development Curves (HDCs) are used to determine the developmental status and trajectory of on-the-ground projects to create, restore, or enhance California wetland and stream habitats. Each HDC is based on assessments of habitat condition for different age areas of one habitat type that in aggregate represent the full spectrum of habitat development. The assessments of condition are provided by expert applications of the California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM). Visit the CRAM website for more information about CRAM.
For each HDC, reference condition is represented by areas of a habitat that consistently get very high CRAM scores, have not been subject to disruptive management practices, and exist within landscapes that are protected and managed for their natural conditions. The horizontal lines intersecting the top of an HDC represent the mean CRAM score and standard deviation of scores for 25 qualifying reference areas.
The age of a project is estimated as the elapsed time in years between the groundwork end date for the project and the date of the CRAM assessment. To add or update a groundwork end date, use the Project Events form in Project Tracker (ptrack.ecoatlas.org). The minimum age in years of a non-project area, including any natural reference area, is estimated from all available local information, including historical maps and imagery, historical written accounts, and place-specific scientific studies of habitat development.
An HDC can be used to address the following questions:
- At what time in the future will the area of assessed habitat achieve the reference condition or other milestones in habitat development? The HDC can answer this question if the CRAM score for the assessed area is within the confidence interval of the HDC. The answer is the time in years along the HDC between the current age of the assessed area and the future date corresponding to the intersection of the HDC and the reference condition or other milestone.
- Is the area of assessed habitat likely to develop faster, slower, or at the same pace as most other areas of the same habitat type? The habitat area is likely to develop faster, slower, or at the same pace if the CRAM score for the area is above, below, or within the confidence interval of the HDC, respectively.
- What can be done to improve the condition of the habitat area or to increase its rate of development? HDCs by themselves cannot answer this question. Possible answers can be inferred by the following analysis that involves HDCs:
- Examine the HDC for each of the four CRAM Attributes;
- Identify the Attribute(s) scoring below the HDC;
- For any low-scoring Attribute, examine the component Metric Scores (note: the Metric Scores for any public CRAM assessment in the CRAM database can be obtained through EcoAtlas);
- Assume the low score of an Attribute is due to its low-scoring Metric(s);
- Consider modifying the design or management of the habitat area in ways that will sustainably increase its score(s) for the low-scoring Metric(s).
For more information about CRAM Attributes and Metrics, including their scientific rationale, see the CRAM Manual.