Goleta Community Plan Update Ecology, Biology, and Habitats
GVPAC Meeting Agenda [Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 6:00PM] Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call Public Comment Period Administrative December 2 nd Meeting Minutes Long Term Scheduling Goleta Valley Van Tour Information Sheet Template Presentation: Detailed Discussion Ecology, Biology and Habitats Discussion of Resources and Constraints Adjourn until GVPAC Meeting #7 2
Public Comment Period The Public Comment period is set aside to allow public testimony on items not on today s agenda. The time allocated to each speaker will be set at the discretion of the Chair. 3
Administrative Review Meeting Minutes from Dec 2, 2008 Approval from GVPAC Long Term Meeting Schedule Goleta Valley Van Tour Review Draft Info Sheet Template and Example 4
Environmental Planning in the Goleta Valley Ecology, Biology, and Habitats of the Urban and Rural Landscapes 5
Review of Project Oct Dec 2008 Environmental Resources and Constraints Reviewed 1/3 of the 1993 Goleta Community Plan Issues, Current Trends, Modern Planning Tools Identified Linkages between natural and built environment, land use planning, and local plans. Coming up: Public Facilities and Services Land Use Designation Update Community Goals 6
Resources and Constraints 7
Resources and Constraints 8
Environmental Planning Biology is the study of life and living organisms and how they interact with each other and their environment. Species Habitats Biodiversity is the variation of life forms within an ecosystem and is often used as a measure of the health of biological systems. Ecosystems consist of all plants, animals and microorganisms in an area functioning together with all of the non-living physical factors of the environment. 9
Biologic Resources 10
Biologic Resources Biologic resources are species and ecological communities of particular value. Special protection required for rare, unique and endangered resources: Federally or State Listed Threatened and Endangered Species Federally or State Listed Special Concern Species Species of Local Concern 11
Biologic Resources Federally or State Listed Threatened and Endangered Species in GVPA include: Southern Tarplant Belding's Savannah Sparrow Western Snowy Plover Burrowing Owl White-tailed Kite Steelhead Trout 12
Biologic Resources Ecosystems provide habitat for sensitive species: Coastal Saltmarsh Coastal Bluff Native Grassland Rare Freshwater Habitats (Vernal Pools, Marshes, Streams) Coastal Sage Scrub/Mixed Chaparral 13
Biologic Resources Specific ecosystems in Goleta Valley: Goleta Slough/Marsh Campus Point Intertidal Mixed Chaparral near San Marcos Pass (up to 3,000 ft) More Mesa Grasslands Painted Cave Oak Woodland/Evergreen Forest San Jose Creek Monarch & Turkey Vulture Roosting Trees 14
Biologic Resources What threatens Biologic Resources? Development Encroachment Pollution/Noise/Light Human Use/Recreation Invasive Species 15
Biologic Resources Pollution, Noise, Light and Encroachment from activities outside the habitat area can harm sensitive species: Pollution Development Encroachment Noise 16
Biologic Resources Human Use and Recreation in Habitats can harm native sensitive species: Bluff and Bank Erosion Tide Pool Walking Rec Fields and Structures Off-road Vehicles Trash Dumping in Creeks 17
Biologic Resources Invasive species threaten to push out native sensitive species: Eucalyptus Green Fountain Grass Periwinkle Iceplant Pampas Grass Quagga Mussel 18
Biologic Resources Biologic Resources can be protected and enhanced through: Avoidance Mitigation and Restoration Low Impact Development Ecological Principles in Land Use Planning Watershed Planning Principles in Land Use Planning 19
Ecological and Watershed Land Use Planning 20
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Ecological Land Use Planning 22
Ecological Land Use Planning Ecology ties many issue areas together in the Goleta Valley Hydrology Geology Habitat Resource Usage Built and Natural Environments Watersheds = Ecosystems 23
Environmental Planning Why is a healthy watershed important? Water Quality and Provision Habitat and Ecology Flooding and Drainage Erosion Aesthetics/Recreation Community Identity 24
Environmental Planning Each must be considered in context with the others, because change in one spurs changes in the others, creating a different system outcome. 25
Ecological Planning Guidelines Understand Impacts of Local Decisions in a Regional Context Plan for Long-Term Change and Unexpected Events Preserve Rare Landscape Elements and Associated Species Avoid Land Uses that Deplete Biologic Resources over a Broad Area 26
Ecological Planning Guidelines Retain Large Contiguous or Connected Areas that Contain Critical Habitats Minimize the Introduction and Spread of Nonnative Species Avoid or compensate for Effects of Development on Ecological Processes 27
Ecological Land Use Planning Ecological Principles can be applied to any land use decision, large or small: Regional transportation plans Shopping center redevelopments Single family home Open Space preservation Habitat Restoration Projects 28
Biologic Resources [Linkages to Land Use] The Conservation Element of the Comprehensive Plan identifies a number of ecological systems and biologic resources in the Goleta Valley. Maps and describes both general and specific species, habitats, and ecosystems. Acknowledges the importance of biodiversity and habitat connectivity. 29
Biologic Resources Conservation Element Individual preserves must be made as large as possible to minimize the extinction rate of particularly vulnerable species have low birth rates, such as birds and mammals. To minimize the amount of edge in relation to area, preserves should be kept as round as possible. Preserves should be clustered as near each other as possible so that if a species goes extinct in one, the chances of recolonization from a neighboring preserve are maximized. Where possible, preserves should be surrounded by buffer zones in which only light recreation activities are permitted. 30
Biologic Resources Goleta Community Plan recognizes biologic interdependence. Habitat connectivity and Wildlife corridors Species dependence on viable habitat areas Large, Connected, Biodiversity, Food, Shelter, etc. Habitat dependence on other issue areas Water Quality, Noise, Air Quality, Geology, 31
Biologic Resources Goleta Community Plan provides policies and standards for specific categories of biologic resources: General ESH and RP Policies Specific Habitat Protection Policies Native Woodlands Monarch Butterfly Habitat Riparian Woodlands/Corridors Native Grasslands Coastal Sage Scrub Native Grasslands General Resource Protection Policies 32
Ecological Land Use Planning 33
Biologic Resources Sensitive Species and Habitats are protected from development impacts with two primary mechanisms: Overlays: Environmentally-Sensitive Habitat (ESH) Area designation Riparian Corridor (RC) Area designations General Policies/Development Standards Ex: Buffers from specific biologic resources Exist in Goleta Community Plan and Coastal Land Use Plan 34
Ecological Land Use Planning 35
Ecological Land Use Planning 36
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Comments, Questions, and Discussion 38
Biology, Ecology, and Habitats [Focus Questions] How can land use planning in the Goleta Community Plan best utilize watershed planning to unify the environmental issue areas discussed thus far? What land use patterns and components in the Eastern Goleta Valley tend to protect or endanger biologic resources, such as species and habitats, and ecologic functions, such as watersheds? How best can land use planning in the Goleta Community Plan realize improvements to the natural environment while protecting the built environment from natural hazards? How can the Ecological and Watershed Planning principles be integrated into Land Use Planning? 39
Case Study: Maravilla 40
Next GVPAC Meeting 1/21/09 Public Services and Facilities Fire: Urban and Wildfires Law Enforcement Schools Other Facilities 41