San Luis Rey River Watershed Management Guideline Prepared by the San Luis Rey Watershed Council...

San Luis Rey RiverWatershed

Management Guideline

Prepared by the

San Luis Rey Watershed Council

October, 2001

San Luis Rey Watershed CouncilAcknowledgements:

• Mission Resource Conservation District• Upper San Luis Rey Resource Conservation District• University of California Cooperative Extension • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9• California Coastal Conservancy• Fallbrook Public Utilities District• USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Preface: The San Luis Rey River Watershed Management Guideline 2000 - Identifies General Considerations for the Watershed: Land Use Issues

Status of the Watershed

Recommendations for research and data collection

Recommendations for future management Educational Considerations

San Luis Rey Watershed

Located in the Northwest Corner of San Diego County

558 Square Miles

Drains to the Pacific Ocean

San Luis Rey WatershedBase Map

Riverside CountySan Diego County

N

CampPendleton

Oceanside

Map assembled by: Thomas ShareUSDA Natural Resources Conservation ServiceDavis, CA.

Vista

10 10 200

Data Sources:NRCS, WPS, Madalene M. Ransom, using ArcInfoSANDAG, San Diego Association of Governments

San Luis Rey WatershedManagement Project

Major Concerns• Water Quality• Invasive Plant Species• Wildlife Habitat Condition• Floodplain Management• Sand Mining• Other Watershed Issues

San Luis ReyManagement Project

Key Elements of the Program• Hired a Watershed Coordinator• Compiled and Reviewed Existing Information • Established a Watershed Council (1997)• Meetings Held Monthly• Prioritized Issues• Developed Watershed Management Guidelines• Beginning Implementation of Guidelines

• Started in 1997• Focused on Development of the Watershed

Management Guideline • Council Meetings are the Fourth Monday each

Month at 1:00 p.m. - and are Open to the Public.• Meeting Location:

• Fallbrook Public Utilities District Building990 Mission Rd. Fallbrook, CA

San Luis ReyWatershed Council

Watershed History

• 1791- Mission San Luis Rey established in Oceanside

• 1850 - California became the 31st state• 1875 - First Reservations established:

• La Jolla and Pala Reservations - 1875• Rincon Reservation - 1881• San Pasqual and Pauma Reservations - 1891

• 1891 - Mission Indian Relief Act signed

Watershed History

Watershed History

• 1895 - Escondido Canal completed• 1922 - Henshaw Dam completed • 1920’s - Citrus orchards and avocados irrigated

from locally developed water supplies• 1940’s - Irrigated agricultural enterprises

expanded

Current Status of the San Luis Rey WatershedCurrent population: Approximately 150,000

Land area: 558 Square miles

Average rainfall: 11” to 40” (Ocean to Mountains)

Land use estimates: Undeveloped: 50%Agricultural: 37%Residential: 5%Parks/Recreation: 5%Water: 2%Commercial/Office <1%Military: <1%

Generalized Land Use Map

Land UsesPublic Services / Hospital

Parks / Recreation

Agriculture

Undeveloped

Residential

Industrial / Transportation

Commercial / Office

Military

Data Source:SANDAG, San Diego Association of Governments

N

Current Status of the San Luis Rey Watershed

San Luis Rey Watershed: 558 sq. miles

Land ownership: Private: 48%Special District: 14%Indian Reservation: 14%National Forest: 12%State: 5%Military: 5%Local Government: 2%

Generalized Ownership Map

OwnershipCityCountyStateFreewaysMilitary

Indian ReservationNational ForestBLMPrivateSpecial District / Schools / Misc. Federal

N

Data Source:SANDAG, San Diego Association of Governments

Projected Population Growth

Projected Population Growth

• Areas With Greatest Projected Growth:• Fallbrook• Valley Center• Bonsall• Pala/Pauma Valley

• Areas With Less Projected Growth:• Oceanside• Vista

Agricultural Uses

Agricultural Uses

• High Cash Value Crops• Citrus Orchards• Avocados• Truck Crops• Flowers• Nurseries

• Land and Water is Expensive• Intensive irrigation• Steep Slopes• Marginal Soils

Watershed Council’s Role

• Minimize the Impact of Agriculture on Water Quality in the San Luis Rey Watershed

• Use the publication titled - “Management Options for Nonpoint Source Pollution”

• Recommends solutions for minimizing ground and surface water problems resulting from agricultural operations.

Heavy Industrial Uses

Heavy Industrial Uses

Current Uses Within the Watershed:

• Proposed Gregory Canyon Landfill• Concerns: Location is poor, with respect to the aquifer of

the San Luis Rey River.

• Watershed Council’s Role: If constructed, the Watershed Council will

monitor river for watershed health.

Heavy Industrial Uses

Current Uses Within the Watershed:• Rosemary’s Mountain Quarry:

• Concerns: • Inadequate environmental review• Water Quality Problems• Air Quality Problems

• Watershed Council’s Role:

If constructed, the Watershed Council will monitor for watershed health.

Heavy Industrial Uses

Current Uses Within the Watershed:

• Sand Mining Operations• Recognized need for sand mining• One of the few good sand sources in

San Diego County • Concerns:• Beach sand replenishment Impacted• Need for a detailed study of sand mining

impacts on the San Luis Rey River• Increased erosion and scouring of riverbed,

especially during flood events

Fire Management

Fire Management

The Watershed Council will:

• Assist with coordination of agencies involved in

fire management in the watershed. • Conduct research on flame resistant plants

available and suitable for the watershed.• Provide maps showing fire susceptibility in the

San Luis Rey Watershed on the Watershed Council website

Fire Susceptibility Map

ModerateHighVery High

Fire Fuel Rank

N

Map assembled by: Madalene M. RansomUSDA Natural Resources Conservation ServiceDavis, CA.

Data Source:CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

Sierra South Region Office

Fire Management

The Watershed Council will assist in or provide information on:

• Causes of Wildfire• Methods of Reducing Wildfire Incidence• Development of a Fire Management Plan• Public Outreach:

• Website• Handout Materials• Presentations to community groups

Wildlife Management

Wildlife Management Major Issues:

• Wildlife Habitat Management and Protection• Reduction in suitable habitat • Wildlife species decline• Several species listed as threatened or

endangered

• Multiple Species Conservation Program• Provide sufficient habitat• Provide corridors and linkages• Provide mitigation easements for private

landowners

Invasive Plant Species Management

Invasive Plant Species Management

Exotic, Invasive Plant Species Found in the San Luis Rey River Watershed:• Arundo• Tamarisk• Pampas grass• Castor bean

Problems:• Cause Erosion and Flood Problems • Out-Competes Native Species in Riparian

Habitat

Invasive Plant Species Programs

Eradication Efforts:• GIS mapping of invasive plant species.• Developed a Weed Management Area (WMA) to

help fund eradication efforts.• Use WMA to mitigate Native Habitat loss.• USDA Environmental Incentives Program

(EQUIP) education program:• Landowner/Manager Awareness Program• Field Visits and Community Presentations

Flood Management

Flood Management Historical Conditions:

Major Floods: Highest Flows (Oceanside)• 1916 95,600 cubic feet /

second• 1980 (Flow data missing)• 1993 25,700 cubic feet /

second

Current Conditions:• Much more development now present in

Watershed than in 1916.• Potential still exists for great floods.• Large portions of the Watershed are not

mapped for 100-year floodplain.

Water Quality and Quantity

Water Quality and Quantity

Protection of Beneficial Uses• Status:

• State Water Resources Control Board Water Quality Assessment:

• River listed as having “intermediate” water quality.• 1996 Assessment - Recreational uses in lower watershed are

threatened by coliform contamination.• The San Luis Rey River and the 1998 303(d) List:

• No Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) established yet.• But - the coastal shoreline is listed as having a high coliform

count from unidentified point and nonpoint sources.• County and City of Oceanside Now Required to

Perform Water Quality Monitoring in Watershed.

Water Quality and Quantity

Runoff Concerns From Land Uses:• Unpaved roads and Burn areas can be sources of:

• High levels of erosion• Accompanying sediment

Water Quality and Quantity Agriculture:

• Runoff from Dairies and Grazing land, if improperly managed, may contribute:

• Nutrients• Fecal coliforms• Seepage or runoff contaminated with the above into ground

and/or surface water bodies.

Run off from urban streets may contain:• Bacteria• Oil / Phenols• Nitrogen / Phospates• Suspended solids• First Hour of moderate to heavy storm - Contributes more

pollution than most city sewer systems during same time period.

Water Quality and Quantity

Water Quality and QuantityConclusion:

Water Quality Beneficial Uses are not currently significantly impaired.

Possible exception - Fecal Coliform Bacteria

Water Quality and QuantityGuideline to Address This Issue:

All land uses potentially contributing contamination to the San Luis Rey River Watershed can implement conservation practices to reduce pollution.

Recreational and Open Space Management

Recreational and Open Space Management

There are many plans and jurisdictions that will influence open space management now

and in the future.

Recreational and Open Space Management

There is considerable public land ownership in the Watershed

Recreational and Open Space Management

• Recreational Uses• Parks• Camping• Fishing• Swimming

Recommendations On Parks:• Support Recreational Activities at Current

Public Locations.• Promote use of Best Management Practices

(BMP’s) to reduce water quality problems.

Fishing Opportunities:

• Provide greater fishing opportunities by building:

•Docks•Piers•Other Facilities

Educational Opportunities

Develop Educational Materials and Workshops for Adults and Youth:

Adult Programs:• Watershed Owners Manual • Invasive Plant Identification and Removal• Integrated Pest Management• Water Quality for Homeowners

Educational Opportunities

Youth Programs:

• History of San Luis Rey River Watershed• Agricultural Literacy

• Information and Hands-on Experience inAgricultural Production

• Water Quality Programs• Water Sampling and Analysis

• Ambient Stream Bioassesment

• Watershed Management

Wetland Restoration and Enhancement

Goals:• Provide new or restored wetland habitat.• Increase wetland species diversity.• Allow for better water filtration.• Improve water quality.• Assist landowners with restoration projects.

Recommendations for Wetland Enhancement Projects

• Restore Wetlands near sand mining operations in the eastern watershed.

• Restore Other riparian areas in the San Luis Rey River and its tributaries.

• Eliminate Invasive species throughout the Watershed.

• Pursue Partnerships and grant funding to accomplish these goals.

Recommendations for Wetland Enhancement Projects

Restore riparian areas and wetlands in San Luis Rey River and its tributaries:

• Ostrich Farm Creek, near Bonsall• San Luis Rey River, near the coast• Wilderness Gardens Preserve

In Conclusion

Additional Issues that will need to be addressed:

• Future Transportation Impacts on Watershed - more Roads and Traffic?

• Impacts of Increasing Urbanization - more Homes?

• Casino / Recreational Development on Tribal Lands?

• Endangered Species Habitat Protection - Fair Compensation for landowners?

• Need to Review and Update the Watershed Management Guideline on a regular basis.