D.R. Horton - Western Pacific [Housing] Series is proposing a residential development on the Lyons Canyon Ranch property in Lyon Canyon, located immediately west of Interstate 5, south of the Stevenson Ranch development, and north of Towsley Canyon Park.   The Lyons Canyon Ranch project site contains portions of two Los Angeles County designated Sensitive Ecological Areas (SEAs): Lyon Canyon SEA 63 and Santa Susana Woodlands SEA 20.   DMEC is preparing the EIR for the project and has prepared a wetland delineation and biological constraints report for the project.   The DEIR was made available in October 2006.

Below are PDF copies of the SEA constraints analysis report, "Significant Ecological Areas Biological Constraints for Lyons Canyon Ranch, Newhall, California" (September 2005) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-verified "Delineation of Jurisdictional Waters and Riparian Habitats for Lyons Canyon Ranch, Newhall, California" (June 2004).

SEATAC commended DMEC for its "very good, thorough Biological Constraints Analysis" report, which contained an "excellent" vegetation map.

• SEA Bio Constraints Report (6.4 MB)
• SEA Bio Constraints Report Appendix A (36.1 MB - VERY large file)
• SEA Bio Constraints Report Appendix B (0.36 MB)
• Wetland Delineation Report (57.2 MB - VERY large file)
• Wetland Delineation Field Datasheets (45.9 MB - VERY large file)

DMEC is assisting developer Peter Daru obtain permits to fill wetlands at the proposed North Vineyard Greens development project site, located in the North Vineyard Station Specific Plan Area of southern Sacramento County, California, approved in 1998.   The approved housing development will provide approximately 750 homes, single-family and multiple-family units in the middle of the specific plan area.   DMEC prepared an Alternatives Analysis as required under Section 404(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act as part of the Individual Permit application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to fill at total of 1.60 acres of seasonal wetlands, including 0.15 acre of vernal pool wetlands.   Based on that analysis, the Corps required 1.75 acres of onsite mitigation for impacts to seasonal wetlands (1:1 creation of non-vernal pool seasonal wetlands and 2:1 creation of vernal pool wetlands).   DMEC then prepared the mitigation and monitoring plan to satisfy permit application requirements, proposing to create 1.75 acres of seasonal wetlands onsite in disturbed annual grassland habitat under existing electric transmission lines.   Corps Regulatory Project Manager, Andrea Jones, wrote of the plan, "I am impressed with the thoroughly researched background information provided for context.   This is a much more 'together' plan than I am used to seeing".
The mitigation and monitoring plan report has been converted to PDF and divided into sections for easier download.   If you have difficulty viewing or downloading the complete report, please try one of the smaller sections.

• Alternatives Analysis Report - March 2007 (3.39 MB)
  

• Complete Mitigation Plan - August 2007 (14.4 MB - VERY BIG file)
  • Mitigation Plan w/o Appendices (2.21 MB)
  • Appendix A - Photos (6.23 MB)
  • Appendix B - HGM Methods (5.63 MB)
  • Appendix C - Baseline Floristics (190 KB)
  • Appendix D - Monitoring Forms (580 KB)

• Biological Assessment Report - February 2008 (5.12 MB)
  

DMEC characterized all the streams and drainages within the City of Ojai and developed generic and specific stream habitat restoration projects intended to improve aquatic and riparian habitat conditions of the City's streams.   This study was paid for with a grant from the California Department of Fish and Game in support of improving conditions for Southern Steelhead Trout in the Ojai Valley.

This report has been converted to pdf and divided into sections for easier download.   If you have difficulty viewing or downloading the complete report, please try one of the smaller sections.

• Complete Report - August 2005 (19.0 MB - VERY BIG file)
  • Cover & Table of Contents (0.25 MB)
  • Executive Summary (0.13 MB)
  • Introduction (2.3 MB)
  • Methods (0.35 MB)
  • Existing Conditions
    • Physical Environment (2.2 MB)
    • Biological Environment (1.9 MB)
    • Adjacent Land Uses, Impervioius Cover, & Barriers (6.5 MB)
    • Summary (1.6 MB)
  • Restoration Plan (3.8 MB)
  • Conclusions, Citations, & Acknowledgements (0.14 MB)
  • Appendices (less Appendix A) (1.3 MB)
    • Appendix A Stream Characteristics (field datasheets) (3.7 MB)
    • Appendix A Water Quality (field datasheets) (4.5 MB)

DMEC prepared a Natural Environment Study to satisfy Caltrans/Federal Highways Administration grant requirements for the Creek Road repair project.   The Ojai Public Works Department is planning to shore up the bank of Stewart Canyon Creek along Creek Road to prevent road failure during future flood events.   DMEC surveyed the biological resources of the creek at the repair sites and described and documented existing biological resources, and made recommendations to mitigate for adverse impacts to biological resources.   This study was paid for with a grant from Caltrans.

• N.E.S. Report - 14 December 2007 (4.3 MB PDF file)

Mr. Ash is proposing lot-line adjustments for his property in Hidden Valley, near Thousand Oaks, California, for three existing parcels to reconfigure them for management and development.   DMEC conducted a preliminary Initial Study of the project site on behalf of the Ventura County Planning Division.   Focused surveys of biological resources were needed to better understand and document those resources onsite, focusing on only the northern half of the property. &nbsl Two field surveys were conducted, in March and late May 2007.   A biological resources and impact assessment report for the Ash parcels was prepared and submitted to VCPD.   The report identified several special-status species and sensitive habitats that are present onsite, and included general mitigation measures for rare plants and wildlife, and oak trees. Additional focused field surveys were recommended in future development sites prior to grading.   This report was prepared to meet the environmental impact assessment requirements of the Ventura County Planning Division for discretionary projects under CEQA review.   The project site is dominated by Coast Live Oak Woodland, Valley Oak Woodland/Savannah, and Chaparral vegetation on Conejo Volcanics rock outcrops and shallow soils containing a rich saxicolous and terricolous lichen flora.   Project Planner: Lorie Baker, 805/654-2685.

• Ash Property Biological Initial Study Checklist - June 2007 (986 KB PDF)
• Ash Property Biological Resources Report - June 2007 (6.6 MB PDF)
• VCPD CEQA Determination Letter - 8 November 2007 (88 KB PDF)

DMEC prepared a detailed revegetation plan for Bruce Dickinson's property located at the top of Yellowhill Road, Santa Monica Mountains, Ventura County, California.   This report was prepared to meet the requirements of the Ventura County Planning Division for past code violations resulting from vegetation clearing without a permit.   The project site is dominated by Chamise Chaparral and Coastal Sage Scrub vegetation on the ridgetop south of Clark's Peak.

• Dickinson Property Revegetation Plan (2.7 MB PDF)

Biological resources and impact assessment report for two adjacent proposed large single-family homes in lower Ramirez Canyon, Malibu, California.   Attorney: Diane Matsinger, Esq.   This report was prepared to identify biological resoucrce present at and adjacent to two development sites within the Coastal Zone, and to determine if and where Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas (ESHA) were present.   DMEC also reviewed biological resources reports submitted to the City of Malibu by the applicant.   The project sites contain ESHA Coastal Sage Scrub and two special-status plant species, Baccharis plummerae and Juglans californica ssp. californica.

• Ramirez Canyon ESHA Impact Summary (234 KB PDF)
• Ramirez Canyon ESHA Impact Assessment (23.2 MB PDF)
• 5900 Ramirez Canyon Road ESHA Impact Summary - 21 March 2007 (2.8 MB PDF)

Mountians Restoration Trust was authorized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, to use their Headwaters Corner property in Calabasas as a wetland mitigation site, using monies from offsite in-lieu mitigation funds collected by the Corps.   Dry Creek flows through the Headquarters property and had been significantly degraded by historic land use activities.   DMEC assisted MRT by conducting a delineation of jurisdictional wetlands, creating a baseline HGM wetlands functional assessment, and preparing a detailed wetlands mitigation and monitoring plan, all of which were approved by the Corps, and used to implement the restoration onsite.

• MRT Dry Creek Reports Page

Preconstruction endangered species survey and construction monitoring report for a small project on San Antonio Creek, Ojai Valley, Ventura County, California.   California Red-legged Frog, a federally listed endangered species, was found at the project site, and DMEC conducted preconstruction surveys to protect the frog.

• San Antonio Creek Rare Species Report (4.7 MB)

Wetland delineation report for proposed housing development (Centex) at northwest corner of Reino Road and Maurice Drive, Newbury Park, Ventura County, California.

• Centex Wetland Delineation Report (less field datasheets) (11.6 MB)
• Link to Site Maps and Photographs

Wetland Functional Assessments (HGM) of the Camarillo Regional Park Wetland and Golf Course Project Scenarios, Ventura County, California.   This study was conducted on behalf of the California Coastal Conservancy to identify expected direct and indirect affects to wetland functions resulting from implementation of four different project scenerios (two golf course project scenarios, and two wetland restoration project scenarios.   DMEC used a regional HGM model to compare changes in wetland functions of the four project scenarios compared to baseline conditions.

• Camarillo Regional Park Wetland Assessment Report (10.2 MB)

DMEC completed an intensive and watershed-wide study of existing wetlands within the Calleguas Creek Watershed in October 2000, and developed wetland restoration plans for several sites within the watershed.   DMEC conducted this work for the Coastal Conservancy on behalf of the Calleguas Creek Watershed Habitat and Recreation Subcommittee through a grant issued to the Conservancy by the U.S. EPA.   All data gathered for this effort have been input into a robust GIS database, using Arc/Info and ArcView 3.2 software.   The Calleguas Creek watershed occupies the southeastern portion of Ventura County, California.

• Calleguas Creek Watershed Wetlands Plan Report - October 2000 (15.6 MB PDF)
• Appendix B - Geomorphology Field Data - October 2000 (354 KB PDF)
• Appendix B - Vegetation Field Data - October 2000 (230 KB PDF)

Harwood's Milkvetch Surveys, Chuckwalla Desert Wildlife Management Area, Riverside County, California

• Harwood's Milkvetch Report (6.5 MB)

Rare plant survey report of Defense Fuel Support Facility, San Pedro (Palos Verdes Peninsula), Los Angeles County, California

• Complete Report (less field datasheets) (5.1 MB)

Draft Environmental Impact Report prepared by DMEC on behalf of NCWD's proposed water main extension to serve Vasquez Canyon Road area, Los Angeles County, California

• Cover (0.2 MB)
• Table of Contents (0.3 MB)
• Executive Summary (0.4 MB)
• Introduction (0.1 MB)
• Project Description (1.5 MB)
• Environmental Setting (3.7 MB)
• Policy Consistency (0.1 MB)
• Environmental Impact Assessment (7.5 MB)
• Growth Inducement (0.2 MB)
• Alternatives (0.1 MB)
• Acknowledgments & Citations (0.2 MB)
• Appendices Cover Pages (0.1 MB)
• Appendix A: Notice of Preparation (0.3 MB)
• Appendix A: NOP Comments A (0.6 MB)
• Appendix A: NOP Comments B (0.1 MB)
• Appendix B: Initial Study Checklist (1.0 MB)
• Appendix C: Biological Resources Report (3.4 MB)
• Appendix D: Wetland Delineation Report (1.9 MB)
• Appendix E: Archaeological Report (7.4 MB)
• Appendix F: Geotechnical Report (3.7 MB)
• Appendix G: Noise Report (0.4 MB)

Wetland HGM functional assessment report for project impacts and restoration of riparian wetlands of Conejo Creek tributary in Conejo Valley, Ventura County, California, and a detailed wetland mitigation and monitoring report

• HGM Assessment Report (0.7 MB)
• Wetland Mitigation Plan (2.6 MB)

Botanical resources and wetland HGM functional assessment report for the Bridle Ridge development project (1998), Santa Barbara County, California, and critical reviews of the Preserve @ San Marcos project EIR and supporting documents (2004-2005)

• Additional San Marcos Foothills information

This book focuses on the vascular plant flora of Dry Lakes Ridge, in central western Ventura County, California.   The ridge is entirely within the Los Padres National Forest, with the "Dry Lakes" supporting a relictual population of Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa) from the Pleistocene era.   The flora contains chapters on geography, topography, geology, botanical collecting history, plant communities, and an annotated catalogue of all the vascular plants known to occur on the ridge.   The flora was published by the UCSB Herbarium.   Copies of this book can be obtained by sending a check for $19.16 (includes sales tax and shipping) to CNPS (California Native Plant Society, Channel Islands Chapter) at P.O. Box 6, Ojai, CA 93024-0006.