San Bernardino County Flood Control District

Ecological Resource Specialist

Cactus Basins Improvement Project Within the City of Rialto

South of the 210 Freeway, north of Baseline Road, west of Cactus Avenue

To meet the flood control needs of the surrounding community an improvement project has been proposed to increase the flood attenuation.

Cactus Basin Improvement Project Flows originate in the

foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and flow to the Cal Trans Intercept Channel to Cactus Channel to Cactus Basins 3, 2, 1 to Rialto Channel and then finally the Santa Ana River

Cactus Basin Improvement Project • Former sand and gravel

pits north of Basin 3 are proposed to be expanded to Cactus Basin 4 and 5 Cactus Channel will be

absorbed into Cactus Basin 4 & 5

Attenuate flows

Possible water percolation

Cactus Basin Improvement Project Impacts

Riparian vegetation and mulefat scrub

Least Bell’s vireo habitat

Riversidean alluvial fan sage scrub

San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat

1 male captured in 2001, 2006 and then again in 2012 (hopefully not the same guy)

Cactus Basin Improvement Project On-site Mitigation

Restoration similar to Cucamonga Basin #6 Riversidean alluvial fan

sage scrub on slopes

Riparian and mulefat along basin bottom

Wetland vegetation in wetted areas

Cucamonga Basin #6 in the City of Upland

Cactus Basin Improvement Project Off-site Mitigation

45 acres of Riversidean alluvial fan sage scrub

Required by 1988 EIR

Conservation easement over Rialto Channel and the confluence with the Santa Ana River

Riparian vegetation

Mulefat scrub

Riversidean alluvial fan sage scrub

Santa Ana Sucker

Santa Ana woolly star

Least Bell’s vireo habitat

Rialto Channel conservation area

Rialto Channel conservation area Majority of the

consistent flows originate from the City of San Bernardino RIX facility

Only known spawning habitat of the Santa Ana Sucker (Catostomus santaanae)

Rialto Channel - Mitigation Conservation Easement

Habitat Maintenance and Monitoring Plan Annual non-native/Invasive

plant management

Annual non-native fish removal

Annual non-native amphibian removal

Maintenance activities identified Minimization measures

Agency partnerships

Rialto Channel - Up to now

Relatively no regular maintenance activities

Emergency driven

Limited planning

Immediate to no consultation

Partnerships based on availability

October 2004 Storms Massive damage to the

east side of Rialto Channel

Edison lines undermined

Ungrouted rock destroyed habitats downstream

October 2004 Storms

October 2004 Storms

2010 Floods Several large storm events

caused massive damage throughout San Bernardino County and more were predicted. Two large trees were knocked down and blocking the main flow path downstream of La Cadena.

Operation staff felt removal was essential to prevent a repeat of the 2004 flooding

2010 Floods We consulted quickly

with USFWS and in coordination with RCRCD, ACOE and CDFW and agreed that trees should be removed

2012 Invasive Plant Removal Coordination with

RCRCD, CDFW and USFWS and Cal Fire

Non-native vegetation removal

Non-native fish removal

2012 Invasive Plant Removal San Bernardino County

Flood Control District removed 33 tons of non-native vegetation from the channel

Castor bean

Tree of heaven

Eucalyptus

Fan Palm

Chinaberry

2012 Invasive Plant Removal 2 native trees were

removed which were completely blocking flows and fish passage

Trash was picked up by Cal Fire crews

Several shopping carts

Car bumpers

Plastic bags

Unexpected - 2012 Non-native fish removal Yellow bullhead catfish

Gambusia

Photo courtesy of Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

2013 Nesting bird surveys Multiple pairs of least

Bell’s vireo in channel

Bull frog

have never been heard before in Rialto Channel

Non-native vegetation resprouting

Upcoming focus Securing a third party to

hold conservation easement and start management activities

Continue open lines of communication with agency partnerships

Continuing challenges Aquatic predators

Non-native / invasive plants

Upstream trash impacts

Unauthorized impacts due to fishing, off-road traffic, trash dumping.

Questions