SECTION THREE GUIDE FOR THE FUTURE...Within Southern California, coastal wetlands serve as nurseries...

75G U I D E F O R T H E F U T U R E

Santa Ana Integrated Watershed Plan Environmental and Wetlands Component

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A. StrategiesAccording to the California EnvironmentalDialogue, habitat protection, restoration, andenhancement leads to economic benefits relativeto natural systems, recreational and leisureindustry, and reduction of conflict caused byspecies extinction, among other concerns. Inparticular, �the protection, enhancement, andrestoration of California watersheds, riparianstream zones, and wetlands will reduce the needfor costly new water treatment plants, providehigh quality drinking water at reduced cost,reduce costs of flood damage, and improve waterquality for aquatic ecosystems and humanrecreation.� When considering why the SantaAna Watershed community is interested inpursuing strategies, recommendations, andprojects/opportunities identified in thisdocument, one can reflect upon the fundamentalnature of the rich ecological resources within theWatershed as well as the community�s interestin protecting these resources for present andfuture generations.

1. Creation, Restoration, andEnhancement of Wetlands

This strategy serves to further the overall principleof improving water quality and preserving andimproving ecosystem function. Specific waysto improve water quality and preserve andimprove ecosystem function are as follows:

SECTION THREE

GUIDE FOR THE FUTURE1-A. Develop water treatment wetlands and

channels to improve water quality in asustainable manner and provide multiplebenefits.

1-B. Protect, restore and widen riparianvegetation corridors to improve waterquality, reduce impacts of stormwaterrunoff, provide habitat, and improveaesthetics.

! Reintroduce vegetated bufferstrips wherever possible along streambanks to reduce the force of a floodingcurrent against the bank, slow wateroverflowing channel banks, and allowsediment to deposit.

! Ensure that riparian vegetated bufferstrips are as wide as possible, althougha narrow strip is better than none atall.

1-C. Carefully plan human activities to reduceerosion.

1-D. Continue to utilize technologicallyadvanced sustainable solutions toresource management dilemmas, such aswater quality improvements.

1-E. Reduce or eliminate beach closuresthrough water quality improvements andreduction of contaminant discharge intothe Pacific Ocean.

History and Regulation of Wetlands

Within the State of California, estimates ofhistoric wetland acreage range from 3 to 5 millionacres; estimates of current acreage hover around450,000 acres. Worldwide, a familiar pattern hasemerged: destruction of wetlands in conjunction



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with increasing urbanization has resulted innumerous water quality problems. Californiahas had an 85 to 90 percent reduction in wetlandacreage and leads the United States in wetlandloss, tying only with Ohio. As a nation, theUnited States has experienced one of the world�sworst wetland losses. Within the Santa AnaWatershed, little information is available onhistoric wetlands, and loss estimates areuncertain. However, watershed planners withinthe Santa Ana Basin are working towardsrestoring natural wetlands and providingtreatment wetlands to provide cleaner waterwhile providing high value habitat, recreation,and educational opportunities.

Historically, wetland ecology has not been wellunderstood and humans did not grasp theimportance of wetlands to improving waterquality, maintaining healthy fisheries, andpreserving populations of native flora and fauna.Considered unclean, wetlands were viewedsolely as a breeding ground for mosquitoes andother vectors. Landowners wishing to developtheir properties were permitted by law to fill inthe wetlands and build homes or commercialdevelopment. In fact, federal laws such as theSwamp Lands Acts of the 1800s encouraged infillof wetlands by giving 65 million acres to 15 states(including California) for reclamation. Not untilthe Federal Clean Water Act was enacted in 1972was there a piece of major legislation restrictingthe filling of wetlands. Section 404 of the CleanWater Act authorized the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers to issue permits for the discharge ofdredged or fill material into waters of the UnitedStates, including wetlands. This section of theClean Water Act has been interpreted to give theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers jurisdiction overpermitting wetlands fill.

Wetlands, such as the one shown here in Upper Newport Bay Regional Park,improve water quality by filtering contaminants.Photo courtesy of EIP Associates

California wetlands policy is more restrictive thanthe federal wetland policy. The goal of CaliforniaWetlands Conservation Policy (1993) is to ensureno net loss of wetlands within the state. Thispolicy, incorporated in an executive order byGovernor Pete Wilson, also encourages a long-term net gain in the state�s quantity, quality, andpermanence of wetlands acreage and values.Interpretation of this order indicates that anydeveloper wishing to fill in wetlands forconstruction of new development must performmitigation in the form of constructed wetlandselsewhere at ratios ranging from 2:1 to 10:1. Inaddition to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,State regulatory agencies claiming jurisdictionover wetlands include the California Departmentof Fish and Game and the State Water ResourcesControl Board. Additionally, the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service becomes involved whenendangered species issues arise, as happens oftenin wetland areas. These regulatory agencies,while eager to work with landowners anddevelopers, are directed to preserve naturalwetlands over the creation of new wetlandsthrough off-site mitigation. These policies havemade it more difficult for developers to fill innatural wetlands by exercising discretionarydisproval of permits for wetland activities.



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This sketch illustrates a combined native and treatment wetland, withtreatement wetland at the center surrounded by native wetland and separatedby a transition zone.

Wetland Types

When discussing wetlands projects, it is usefulto define three types of wetlands, differentiatedby how they were formed: natural wetlands,constructed (treatment) wetlands, and createdwetlands. Natural wetlands are those formedby natural ecological processes independent ofhuman intervention. Natural wetlands includeswamps, marshes, and estuaries, such as thosefound at the mouths of rivers where both freshwater and saltwater meet or those found inlandin areas of high groundwater. Today, naturalwetlands are still threatened by development,although many developers are realizing that thecost of mitigating for lost wetlands is often higher

works (POTWs). Created wetlands are thosewetlands that are created incidentally to anotherproject. The most common example of createdwetlands is that created by a newly constructeddam.

Biology of Treatment Wetlands:How Do They Work?

Using treatment wetlands as an adjunct towastewater treatment plants provides multiplebenefits to an area. Treatment wetlands providehabitat to a multitude of species, such as birds,mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.Wetlands are much more aesthetically pleasingto the public than wastewater treatment plants.When planned in conjunction with regionaltrails, wetlands also provide recreational benefits.

Wetlands have been shown to be effective atremoving sediment, harmful bacteria,phosphorus, and nitrogen from runoff water.Additionally, advanced wetlands can reduceendocrine disruptors and other compounds thatremain after treatment in common POTWs.Within Santa Ana River Watershed, nitrogen is amajor contaminant of concern. In the case ofnitrogen removal, denitrifying microorganismspresent in the wetland substrate (denitrifiers)serve to remove nitrogen from nutrient-richwater. Wetland plants take in nitrogen richwater, transferring nitrogen to the soil throughthe photosynthetic process. The denitrifiers inthe soil process the nitrogen and ultimatelyrelease it back into the atmosphere as gas. Thisrelease of nitrogen gas is not harmful to theenvironment, as earth�s atmosphere is 71 percentnitrogen. Wetland plants also increase theefficiency of the denitrification process byproviding a significant source of needed carbonto the denitrifiers. Wetland scientists haverefined the construction of wetlands to maximizepollutant removal.

than altering site designs to avoid building onwetlands (including a wetlands buffer zone).Constructed wetlands are those designed, built,and managed to provide specific water treatmentcapabilities. Wetlands in the Santa Ana Regionare most often constructed to remove nitrogenand to treat stormwater. Many dairies areexperimenting with constructed wetlands to treatwashwater and other wastewater on site, suchas OCWD�s Fairview Farms dairy washwatertreatment demonstration project in the ChinoBasin. In addition, wetlands are constructed topolish water from publicly owned treatment



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Siting of Treatment Wetlands

The Regional Water Quality Control Boardcautions against converting existing healthyriparian habitat to treatment wetlands, citingabundant evidence that riparian habitat can bevery effective in removing contaminants fromstormwater. Riparian habitat is no less valuablethan wetland habitat, and is as much at risk. Inaddition, many threatened and endangeredspecies depend on riparian habitat in SouthernCalifornia. The replacement of functioningriparian habitat with constructed wetlands on asite that has not historically supported wetlandsdoes not improve overall ecosystem function.Healthy riparian habitat should be conserved inbalance with wetland creation. In addition,placement of treatment wetlands must take intoconsideration seasonal variability anddownstream water supply issues to ensureconsistent water supply for downstream users.It should be noted that when wetlands are locatedinland, the primary function is to reclaim orpolish treated wastewater. For 340 to 350 daysof the year, water flowing from proposed areasfor wetland treatment would not reach the oceanin this region.

Economic and Other BenefitsProvided by Wetlands

Nationwide, over 75 percent of commerciallyharvested fish are dependent on wetlands duringat least one part of their life cycle. If shellfish areincluded, this percentage increases to 95 percent.Within Southern California, coastal wetlandsserve as nurseries for commercially importantfish and shellfish species, including anchovy,bass, and California halibut. Wetland-dependantfish species caught by recreational fishers includecabezon, rockfish, and sculpin. Juvenile fish willuse the shallow waters of a wetland as a refugefrom larger fish that cannot enter such shallow

areas. In addition, wetland areas provideeconomically important tourist destinations forthose travelers wishing to bird-watch or enjoynature. Wetlands are desirable areas forbirdwatchers, as wetlands provide importantstopovers for migrating birds along the PacificFlyway. As tourism is a cornerstone of SouthernCalifornia�s economy, ensuring diverseopportunities for visitors is vital to ensuringsustainability of the region�s tourism industry.

Notable Wetlands Projects within theSanta Ana Watershed

Although the Santa Ana Watershed is home tonumerous effective wetland projects, this sectionwill focus on a few illustrative examples ofwetlands projects. These projects were chosenas representative examples of the different typesof wetland projects within the Watershed tohighlight the innovative ways in which agenciesand organizations are implementing wetlandproejcts to acheive multiple benefits. For moreinformation on wetland projects, please consultTable 3-9, which includes a much morecomplete list of wetland projects within theWatershed by geographic area.

Prado Wetlands

Within Orange County Water District�s 2,150-acre land holdings behind Prado Dam lies oneof the world�s largest constructed wetlands.Operating since 1992 and totaling 465 acres, thesystem consists of fifty shallow ponds used forwater quality improvements. The primarypurpose of the wetlands is to remove nitrogenfrom the River. Above Prado Dam, 50 percentof the base flow water is diverted into thewetlands. The wetlands system reduces nitrateconcentrations from 10 milligrams per liter(borderline for drinking water quality) to less



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Prado WetlandsPhoto courtesy of SAWPA

than one milligram per liter during summermonths. It is the Orange County Water Districts�sgoal to treat 100% of Santa Ana River flows.

The Prado Wetlands have been hailed as a successfrom a habitat conservation standpoint. Withinthe wetlands, federally endangered least Bell�svireo populations have increased dramaticallyand are used as a much publicized success storyof endangered species recovery. Within thePrado Basin, the population rose from 19 pairsin 1986 to 123 pairs in 1993. By the end of 1996,the count stood at 195 nesting pairs and thisnumber rose to 224 by 1999. This stunningrecovery is due to the provision of high-qualityhabitat for the bird species, a project in place tocontrol populations of the predatory cowbird,and other restoration efforts on the part ofagencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serviceand Orange County Water District, including theremoval of invasive plant species.

In 1997, the wetlands were reconstructed toincrease the capacity of the wetlands to handlethe increased base flow that is expected withpopulation increases. Since the River isdominated by effluent and urban runoff,population increases raise the amount of effluentproduced and therefore increase river flows.Future plans for the wetlands may includeexpansion of constructed wetlands and the Cityof Ontario�s implementation of a Wildlife andRaptor Conservation Area adjacent to the PradoWetlands.

Hemet/San Jacinto Multi-purpose ConstructedWetlands

The Hemet/San Jacinto MultipurposeConstructed Wetlands, a cooperative effortbetween the Eastern Municipal Water Districtand the Bureau of Reclamation, diverts over onemillion gallon daily from the Hemet/San JacintoRegional Water Reclamation Facility. Theconstructed wetlands are approximately 50 acresin size and support a multitude of activitiesincluding recreation, bird watching, andresearch. The project was constructed in stages:first, the Wetlands Research Facility consisting

Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District Constructed StreamPhoto courtesy of The Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District



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of a wetland plant nursery and research cells;then, the large demonstration wetlands; and,lastly, the Wetlands Water Education Facility.Multiple groups continue to do research at thesite and have produced a number of scientificpapers. Nearly 120 species of birds have beenidentified in the wetlands area. In fact, thiswetland area boasts 10-15 percent of the entireworld population of tri-colored blackbirds, andwas crucial in preventing the listing of thisspecies. The multipurpose wetlands aremanaged to reduce nitrates, create habitat, andprovide educational opportunities. Outflowfrom the wetlands is used for irrigation at nearbyfarms, a duck club, and at the San JacintoWildlife Area.

Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation DistrictConstructed Stream

The Riverside-Corona Resource ConservationDistrict has constructed a native fish stream andassociated riparian area and rearing tank facility.The native fish stream is a 300-foot recreatedstream habitat with four swirling pools lined withboulder, cobble, and gravel bottoms along itslength. Native streamside vegetation and treesadd to the local, native riparian ambiance andshade the larger pools to reduce daytime watertemperature and reduce algae growth. Fourpools average in size from 15 to 20 feet in lengthand up to five feet in depth, comprising 50percent of the streams one-quarter acre surfacearea. Native fish that currently populate thestream are the Santa Ana sucker, arroyo chub,and the speckled dace. The sucker has beenrecently introduced and is a threatened speciesthat needs flowing water with a gravely substratefor feeding and reproduction. The dace usesboth the pools and the stream sections, and thechub prefers the more tranquil water of thepools. All fish species require high water qualityand algae on the rocks for feeding.

Future Wetland Projects within SantaAna Watershed

SAWPA and its member agencies are committedto assist with the planning and implementationof native and treatment wetlands within theSanta Ana Watershed. Approximately 20wetland projects were identified during scopingmeetings or in response to SAWPA�s request forwetlands projects watershed-wide. This list isnot intended to be exhaustive, but as a snapshotof wetland projects submitted prior to release ofthis Plan. (Refer to Figure 3-6, Wetlands ProjectsMap and Table 3-9, Projects and Opportunities).Additional potential constrcuted wetland sites,as identified by OCSD, include Talbert Marshand the Santa Ana River ocean outlet.

The following projects were identified in theIWRP and are included here as a sample of thetypes of wetalnds projects undergoing planningwihtin the watershed.

Hidden Valley Wildlife Area�The HiddenValley Wildlife Area (HVWA), located inRiverside, California, consists of over 1500 acresof parkland. Through the cooperative efforts ofseveral agencies and citizen groups the HiddenValley Wetlands Enhancement Project (WEP) hasbecome an environmental asset that promisesto provide the community with years ofrecreation, education, research, and waterquality improvements.

The project is a unique example of inter-agencycooperation meeting the collective goals of thecommunity. HVWA now supports multiplebenefits:

! Restoration of high quality riparianhabitat (supporting native and transientmigratory wildlife)

! Reliable water supply for wetlandsecosystem



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! Local groundwater recharge

! An interpretive center for environmentaleducation

! Trails for recreation and equestrianactivities

! Mitigation of non-native vegetation,wildlife protection, all with thecoordination of local agency resources

Irvine Ranch Water District NaturalTreatment System�This IRWD project wouldserve as an alternative for handling dry weatherrunoff intended to provide new communityresources, riparian habitat, and water qualitybenefits throughout the watershed. Low-flownatural and urban runoff, as well as smaller stormflows, will be diverted into man-made wetlandsthroughout the San Diego Creek Watershedwhere contaminants will be removed andprevented from reaching the Upper NewportBay.

Upper San Jacinto Watershed NutrientControl�This potential LESJWA program couldprovide improvements to the upper portions ofthe San Jacinto Watershed through constructionof wetlands, levees, flood control structures,debris basins, and retention basins. Nutrientcontrol in the upper watershed would improvewater quality throughout the watershed,including Lake Elsinore at the bottom of the SanJacinto Watershed. The proposed wetlands couldbe described as flow-through wetlands thatwould provide both habitat enhancement andnutrient removal to the San Jacinto River.

Implementation

1. When siting treatment wetlands, projectproponents should take care not todestroy valuable native riparian habitat.

2. Native and treatment wetland projectsshould be designed to serve as multi-

benefit projects in addition to improvingwater quality, including increased habitatvalue, improved aesthetics, andexpanded recreational opportunities,hiking trails, educational componentsand opportunities for observation (wherefeasible).

3. Desirable wetland projects are those thataddress as many improvements as areobtainable (e.g., wetland habitat, waterquality, treatment, aesthetics, etc.)

4. Wetland projects should be designed tobe durable and either resistant topotential flood damage or quicklyrecoverable after flooding.

5. Wetland projects should be designed tominimize the production of vectorspecies.

6. Wetland projects should be designed tobe low maintenance.

2. Removal of Invasive Species�We hope that Arundo is something that you�llhave to go to a botanic garden to show yourchildren.�

�Jeff Beehler, Santa Ana Watershed ProjectAuthority, August 14, 2002

Biology of Arundo donax

Of the many nonnative species that have invadedthe riparian forests of Southern California,Arundo donax (giant reed) is particularlyproblematic due to its ability to rapidly invadeand colonize new areas and outcompete nativespecies. Although Arundo is thought to haveoriginated in freshwaters of eastern Asia,extensive cultivation has occurred throughoutAsia, southern Europe, North Africa, and theMiddle East for thousands of years. Arundo is ahydrophilic (water-loving) plant that growswithin the riparian zone of lakes, streams, rivers,



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and in other moist soils. It requires moist soilsand large amounts of water to sustain its highgrowth rates of up to 2 inches per day, using morethan 528 gallons of water per year for each meterof standing Arundo. This water uptake rateroughly equates to three times the amount ofwater used by native Southern California riparianvegetation.

This monotypic stand of Arundo donax provides poor qualityhabitat for native wildlife species.Photo courtesy of SAWPA.

This Arundo infestation at Hidden Valley Wildlife Area has been targeted forremoval by the County of Riverside Park and Open Space District.Photo courtesy of SAWPA.

SCIWP Arundo Removal Program

Operating within the Santa Ana Watershed andfacilitated by the Santa Ana Watershed ProjectAuthority, Team Arundo is recognizedthroughout the State of California as a leader inArundo removal efforts. A number of agenciesand organizations compose Team Arundo,including the Santa Ana Watershed Associationof Resource Conservation Districts (SAWA), theRiverside County Parks and Open SpaceDistrict, the Riverside County Flood ControlDistrict, the Orange County Water District, theOrange County Public Facilities and ResourcesDepartment, the Monsanto Company, theOrange County Conservation Corps, andCalifornia Conservation Corps. Historically, theNature Conservancy has also participated inTeam Arundo. The foresight and leadership ofthese groups have proven instrumental inelevating the need for Arundo removal to an issueof statewide importance. Team Arundo effortshave included securing funding, acquiringpermits, and development variousmethodologies for removal. During the summerof 2002, Team Arundo produced an ArundoRemoval Protocol, compiled with input fromTeam Arundo members, that documents Arundo

Distribution and Removal Efforts ofArundo donax in Santa AnaWatershed

Arundo infestation within the Santa AnaWatershed is extensive (see Figure 3-1) andremoval efforts began in 1988. The numerousparties making up Team Arundo within theWatershed are clearing Arundo from many areas,including the upper tributaries of the Watershed.Table 3-1 lists Arundo distribution and historicalspecific removal efforts within the Watershed,as described by Neill and Giessow (2001).Appendix A provides further information. Byproviding necessary funding, the SCIWP ArundoRemoval Program will greatly accelerate Arundoremoval efforts within the Watershed.



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removal as practiced in the Santa Ana Watershed.The protocol is included in this document asAppendix C and is available on-line atwww.sawpa.org/Arundo/index.htm.

Through Southern California IntegratedWatershed Program funding, the RiversideCounty Regional Park and Open Space Districtwill remove Arundo from the Santa Ana Riverbetween the Mission Inn Boulevard Bridge andthe Hidden Valley Wildlife Area during the firsttwo years. The Santa Ana Watershed Associationof Resource Conservation Districts (SAWA) willremove Arundo from the San Jacinto River,Redlands Zanja, Mill Creek (East Valley), SantaAna River Phase I area, East Twin Creek,Temescal, Santiago Creek, and Warm Creekduring the first year. SAWA will remove Arundofrom Highland, San Timoteo Creek, Juniper Flats,Mockingbird Canyon, Bedford Canyon, and theSanta Ana River Phase II area during the secondyear. During the third year, SAWA will removeArundo from Mill Creek (Inland Empire West),Mystic Lake, and Santa Ana River MainstemReaches 3 and 4. Additionally, SAWA plans toremove further Arundo from Mystic Lake andthe Santa Ana River during the fourth year andfrom the San Jacinto River and the Santa AnaRiver during the fifth year. The Orange CountyPublic Facilities & Resources Department mayremove Arundo from the Santa Ana River canyonin the Yorba Linda area during the first threeyears, from Weir Canyon Road to the OrangeCounty line. The Orange County ConservationCorps may remove Arundo from Featherly Parkin Orange County during the second year of theprogram. Another agency, likely the OrangeCounty Water District or SAWA, will removeArundo from other upper Watershed areas andisolated tributaries in San Bernardino andRiverside Counties. In addition, the RiversideCounty Flood Control District will removeArundo through the Arundo Removal Program.

Other Invasive Species

In addition to Arundo, team members mayremove other invasive species while undertakingArundo removal activities. These species include,but are not limited to, tree of heaven (Ailanthusaltissima), tamarisk or saltcedar (Tamarix sp.),artichoke thistle (Cynara cardunculus), castorbean (Ricinus communis), tree or wild tobacco(Nicotiana glauca), and perennial pepperweed ortall whitetop (Lepidium latifolium). These speciesdisrupt natural ecosystems by competing withnative flora for limited resources and generallyproviding poor quality habitat for native fauna.

Like most invasive species, tree of heaven isknown to establish in disturbed areas such asroadsides, highway medians, and vacant lots inurban areas. Tree of heaven spreads via seeddispersal, and once established can grow 40 to60 feet. These shade-tolerant trees producetoxins that prevent the establishment of otherplant species. Tree of heaven is very difficult toremove. Salt cedar also reproduces via seeddispersal and, like tree of heaven, is a prolificseed producer. Like Arundo, salt cedar presentsa significant fire hazard and consumes muchmore water than native vegetation. One uniquecharacteristic of salt cedar is that the plant isknown to increase soil salinity by absorbing saltfrom the surrounding soil, then concentratingsalt in the area around the tree. Increasedconcentrations of salt often precludeestablishment of other species near salt cedar.Artichoke thistle is an herb that invadesgrasslands, particularly disturbed areas such asareas associated with overgrazing. Artichokethistle, which also reproduces via wind-dispersedseeds, is closely related to the commerciallycultivated globe artichoke. Castor bean, a woodyherb that may reach 15 feet outdoors, is grownas an ornamental in gardens, sometimes as ahouseplant. Castor bean is highly toxic to



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humans and other animal species. The bean itselfhas the highest concentration of toxins and likelyto be fatal if ingested and the outer shell is brokenor chewed open, particularly if ingested by achild. However, castor bean is also the source ofcastor oil, a traditional remedy for gastro-intestinal ailments and absent of toxins. Treetobacco is also toxic to humans, although not astoxic as castor bean. This plant, known for itselongate yellow flowers, can grow up to 10 feet.Tree tobacco is closely related to domestic tobaccocultivated throughout the southeastern UnitedStates for use in cigarettes, but its leaves releasetoxins when burned.

Consequences of Arundo donaxInvasion

�More than 95 percent of the historic riparianhabitat in the southern part of the state hasbeen lost to agriculture, development, floodcontrol, and other human-caused impacts. Thegreatest threat today to the remaining ripariancorridors is the invasion of exotic plant species,primarily giant reed (Arundo donax).

�Excerpt from the Environmental Assessmentfor the Santa Ana Watershed Program

by Dick Zembal and Susan Hoffman (2000)

Given that less than 5 percent of historic riparianhabitat in Southern California remains today, theinvasion of exotic plant species dramaticallythreatens remaining habitat. As a result of pastand present introductions, its ability to colonizenew areas relatively easily, and its ability tooutcompete native species, Arundo has infestednearly every drainage system in the southwesternUnited States.

Arundo competes with native species, such aswillows (Salix sp.), mulefat (Baccharis sp.), andcottonwoods (Populus sp.) that provide nestinghabitat for threatened or endangered species

such as least Bell�s vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus),southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonaxtraillii), and countless other native species.Arundo inhibits seedling recruitment of nativeriparian species, outcompetes established nativespecies, and uses large amounts of water thatwould otherwise be available to native plants andsurrounding areas.

Ecosystem Dynamics

Disturbance within the River floodplain hasfavored the fast-growing Arundo over nativeriparian vegetation. Arundo-infested acreageincreases each year in response to annual floodevents, fires, and other ecological perturbations.Arundo readily invades native ripariancommunities at any stage of succession, inaddition to invading after floods and fires.Because of these characteristics, once Arundobecomes established in a riparian area, it altersthe ecosystem by redirecting the succession ofthe community towards pure stands of Arundo.

Risk of Fire

Arundo is highly combustible, increasing firefrequency and intensity. For example, a singlefire in April 2002 swept through approximately

Arundo fueled fire near Hidden Valley Wildlife Areacleared an estimated 200 acres of Arundo.Photo courtesy of Riverside Co. Park and Open Space District.



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200 acres of riverbed near Martha McLean AnzaNarrows Park in Riverside County. Althoughthe cause of the fire is unknown, the flames werefueled by extensive stands of Arundo.Unfortunately, removal of Arundo by wildfiresis not permanent and does not constitute a�silver lining� to these fires. One and halfmonths after the Riverside fire, the burnedArundo had resprouted to about 3 feet.

Flooding Issues

By virtue of its great biomass, rapid growth, anddense, interconnected root masses, Arundo posesa substantial flood management problem.Floodwaters strip portions of the standing cropof Arundo and root masses from the substrateand these mats combine with trash and otherdebris to form substantial debris dams. Incontrast, native riparian species tend to bendrather than break during high flows, greatlyreducing the amount of vegetative debriswashed downstream. Heavy rains wash debrisdams of Arundo downriver, pushing mats ofdense roots and stalks against bridge abutments.These mats can damage the abutments, clogriver channels, and re-direct river flows, therebyflooding adjacent lands.

For example, Riverside County�s River RoadBridge near Norco was damaged twice withinthree years, causing almost $1 million in damage.The Riverside County Board of Supervisorssubsequently authorized $8 million to constructa new River Road Bridge. Furthermore, as theselarge quantities of Arundo move downstream,they eventually find their way to the ocean, andsubsequently wash up on local beaches. Theannual cleanup of this debris costs the publicmillions of dollars each year.

Arundo damaged the River Road Bridge in Riverside County,causing over $1 million in damage.Photo courtesy of SAWPA.

Decreases in Water Quality andQuantity

Arundo absorbs a great deal of water through itsroots, effectively removing much water from theavailable supply. Ideally, as Arundo is removed,native plants that require less water will replaceit. As previously mentioned, it is estimated thatnative vegetation uses one-third of the waterused by Arundo. For example, the removal ofevery 1,000 acres of Arundo and subsequentrecovery of native vegetation will yield a watersavings of approximately 3,800 acre-feet per year.This is enough to supply almost 20,000 urbanresidents with water annually.

Extensive stands of Arundo along rivers lack thedense foliage canopy and habitat complexity ofnative riparian forests. As a result, near-shorestream habitats lack the shade offered by thenative vegetation�s canopy, and watertemperatures are several degrees higher thanunder natural conditions. Higher watertemperatures have a direct negative impact onnative stream fishes, such as the Arroyo chub(Gilia orcutti) and the threatened Santa Anasucker (Catostomus santaanae). Highertemperatures not only increase algal growth andlower oxygen concentration within the water,they can also lead to increased algal



8787

This Hydro-axe is a common machine used to remove Arundo.Photo courtesy of SAWPA.

photosynthetic activity that has been found toincrease pH levels within the shallower sectionsof the River. Increases in pH can facilitate thechemical conversion of ammonium (NH4

+) saltsto the toxic nonionized ammonia form (NH3),resulting in reduced water quality for bothaquatic organisms and downstream users.

the spread of Arundo will preclude the furtherdeterioration of habitat for many of the sensitive,threatened, and endangered riparian species. Asareas of Arundo are removed and converted backto native riparian habitat, rare species will be ableto expand their populations throughout theSanta Ana River Watershed. Replacing thesestands of exotics with native riparian vegetationwill, in time, result in sufficient overhangingfoliage to provide the necessary cooler watertemperatures, bank cover, and improved waterquality needed to protect populations of nativefish species and other aquatic organisms.

In addition, Arundo removal would result inmore in-stream water for both residents of theWatershed and the native aquatic organisms.Given that the costs associated with providingimported water to residents will only increaseover time, the savings to the water suppliers, andultimately to the Watershed residents, would besubstantial.

Methods of Arundo Removal

Removal of Arundo can be accomplished by avariety of methods. Each method differs in cost,time, and can be specific to certain areas or typesof infested habitat. Removal methods includemechanical removal, chemical control, andbiological control, in addition to a comprehensiveintegrated weed management approach.Prevention of further invasion or reinfestationshould also be considered in conjunction withremoval methods.

Combination of Mechanical Removal and FoliarSpraying

One common method of removal used by TeamArundo members involves a combination ofmechanical removal and foliar spray. Crews willchip or cut Arundo stalks, then return two to fourweeks later when the plants are between 2 and 4

Benefits of Removal of Arundo donax

Because this exotic plant alters ecosystemdynamics and interrupts and redirectssuccession, the removal of Arundo from theWatershed offers numerous direct and indirectbenefits to landowners, land managers, publicagencies, and other Watershed residents. Thesebenefits include reduction in risk of flooding andfire, improvements in water quality, increases inwater conservation, and restoration of habitat fornative species, including several threatened andendangered species.

Riparian vegetation serves as critical habitat formany State- and federally listed threatened andendangered species, such as the least Bell�s vireo.Suitable habitat for listed species within theWatershed has been reduced over time by asmuch as 95 percent and Arundo has replaced over50 percent of the remaining habitat. Preventing



8888

Figure 3-1 Arundo Removal within the Watershed



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feet tall to apply a foliar spray solution of aglyphosate-based herbicide. The primaryadvantages of this method is that the amount ofherbicide used on the fresh growth is greatlyreduced from that used on the 30 to 40-foot-tallArundo stalks (as with full foliar spraying), andthat herbicide coverage is better when the stalksare shorter and of a uniform size. One drawbackassociated with this method is that cutting thestalks induces the plant to re-enter the growthstage, thereby causing it to translocate less of theherbicide to the roots and rhizomes. However,as with most removal methods, supplementaltreatments are generally required in Arundoremoval, and total root kill is almost neverachieved with a single application of herbicidewhen the plants are already established.

Integrated Weed Management

The Integrated Weed Management (IWM)approach most closely describes Team Arundo�soverall methodology. IWM is defined in thefederal Noxious Weed Act as, �a system for theplanning and implementation of a program,using an interdisciplinary approach, to select amethod for containing or controlling undesirableplant species or groups of species using allavailable methods, including education,prevention, physical or mechanical methods,biological control agents, herbicide methods, andgeneral land management practices.� The goalof IWM is to minimize the impact of controlactions on the nontarget environment and publichealth while maximizing the effectiveness ofpractical control methods. Team Arundomembers combine mechanical control andchemical control, and strives to incorporateelements from IWM such as landowner andnursery education. Landowner education isimportant to discourage landowners fromplanting new Arundo in their yard and toencourage them to eradicate current stands,

while nursery education is important because itis still legal to sell Arundo within the State ofCalifornia. Both SAWPA and SAWA haveproduced educational brochures forhomeowners about the impacts of Arundo andSAWPA has produced a PowerPoint presentationtargeting nurseries to discourage the sale ofArundo.

IWM includes �cultural methods� of exoticspecies invasion prevention, which involve themodification of human behavior both withinand around the area of infestation. Recreational,economic, and urban land uses that contributeto the introduction and proliferation of invasivespecies are discouraged by this method. Withinthe Santa Ana Watershed, behavioralmodifications include altered planting practicesthat encourage the use of native plant speciesfor landscaping, rather than Arundo or otherexotic species. Other native or less invasivespecies can be substituted for bank stabilizationand aesthetic purposes.

Arundo disposal

Cut Arundo may be removed from treatmentareas through burning, chipping, or vehiculartransportation. The removal of the cut cane isimportant due to the untreated cane�s ability tore-root and colonize new areas either at the siteor downstream (if washdown occurs). Althoughburning is the most cost effective method todispose of the dead cane, Team Arundo membersseldom burn cane due to environmentalconsiderations and requirements for AQMDpermits. Cutting, chopping, and chipping is themost common method of disposal, with TeamArundo members using this method to disposeof 80 to 100 percent of the cut biomass. Ifchipped and left on site, pieces of cane shouldbe chipped to about ¼ inch to 1 inch to preventresprouting.



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One company in California spent five years onresearch and development to determine thecommercial viability of Arundo as an alternativeto wood pulp. This company has produced thefirst commercial run of bleached Arundo pulpand has shown an interest in taking Arundo fromremoval projects. Producing 300 tons of pulpper month would require about 8,000 tons permonth of green Arundo chips (equivalent to 400semi-truck loads). Disposal of chipped Arundothough recycling for paper is desirable as itprovides fiber for a sustainable tree- and chlorine-free product and minimizes potential impactsassociated with stockpiling Arundo. However,certain issues must be considered, such aspreventing the accidental spread of Arundoduring transport and the sustainability of theindustry once all of the Arundo has beenremoved.

�It takes 250,000 acres of trees to provide thesame amount of pulp provided by 25,000 acresof Arundo.�

�Fred Martin, Samoa Pacific, Cellulose, LLC

Permitting for Arundo removal

Applicable permits and regulatory complianceare measures identified in Table 3-2. Whileimplementing the Arundo Removal Program,specific impact avoidance measures described ineach permit must be followed. Obtainingcurrent permits and adhering to the permitrequirements are the individual responsibility ofeach Team Arundo member. According to federallaw, herbicide applicators must comply with thelabel requirements and instructions for eachherbicide used. Appendix C of the ArundoRemoval Protocol contains the labels andmaterial safety data sheets (MSDS) for herbicidescommonly used for Arundo removal within theSanta Ana Watershed. The MSDS providesinformation to supplement label requirements,such as toxicity and ecological data.

Invasive Species to Watch

Perennial Pepperweed�The Next Arundo?

Although extensive removal efforts within theSanta Ana Watershed have not focused onperennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium), thisplant has been identified as a potential threat tothe Watershed. Perennial pepperweed, alsocalled tall whitetop due to its thick clusters ofwhite flowers, reproduces by sprouting newshoots off existing roots. However, the plant alsoproduces up to 6 billion seeds per acre, whichare spread by forces of nature such as wind andwater over great distances and allow the plant tocolonize new areas. Although not nearly aspervasive (yet), pepperweed has been referredto as �the next Arundo.� Like other invasivespecies, pepperweed harms native flora andfauna by outcompeting native species, forminga monoculture that is inhospitable to native andspecial status wildlife species such as the leastBell�s vireo.

Chipping of Arundo after removal is necessary to prevent resprouting.Photo courtesy of Inland Empire West Resource Conservation District.



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According to an informal field survey performedduring June 2001, pepperweed is dominant inopen riparian areas near Chino Creek at Euclidand on the north side of Prado Basin. Isolatedpatches are present near Van Buren Bridge inthe City of Riverside. Small populations arepresent below Prado Dam and at Rancho JurupaPark. The plant is also present near Temecula inthe Santa Margarita watershed. Pepperweed isa hardy plant; it�s invaded all western statesexcept Arizona. Pepperweed has been found toinvade after removal of other invasive species,such as Arundo. Given that the purpose ofinvasive species removal is to encouragereestablishment of native vegetation and to avoida monoculture of invasive species, the invasion

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9292

of new invasives following removal of otherspecies should be strongly monitored andmanagement measures should be taken to avoidsuch a situation.

Implementation

The following implementation measures areoffered to acheive invaisve species removalgoals. Remoaval of invasive species is vital tohabitat restoration and improvement ofecosystem function. Given the rising cost ofland acquisition in Southern Californira,restoration of habitat is less expensive thanand equally important to acquiring furtherhabitat. Removal of invasive species is anexcellent way to increase ecosystem function.

1. Continue seeking funding for furtherremoval of Arundo and other invasivespecies and long term monitoring ofprevious removal efforts.

2. As groups remove Arundo within thewatershed, post-removal monitoringshould include identification,documentation, and removal of perennialpepperweed for a minimum of threeyears. This recommendation is crucialfor the Hidden Valley area to preventspread of pepperweed to the RiversideCounty Parks land above Van BurenBridge. Control of the species belowPrado Dam is crucial to prevent spreadto the Orange County River Channel.

3. Facilitate other groups beyond TeamArundo to perform removal andmaintenance.

4. Facilitate efforts by agencies and groupswho maintain the river.

3. Increasing Connectivity ofRegional Trail System

�The common link connecting all of theprojects that we�ve discussed today is the SantaAna River Trail. This trail is the golden threadrunning throughout planning efforts withinthe watershed.�

�Jonathan Jones, City of Corona, Santa Ana ScopingMeeting, July 26, 2002

As explained in Section 2C, Open Space andRecreation, several segments of the Santa AnaRiver Trail totaling approximately 40 miles havebeen constructed, out of 110 miles of total traillength. Conceptual plans are basically completefor the remaining 70 miles (as well as a numberof feeder trails and connections) and full fundinghas been secured for some segments. Refer toFigure 3-2 for a map of the current status of theSanta Ana River Trail, including plannedsegments. One goal of the Santa Ana IntegratedWatershed Plan is to assist in securing funds forthose trail segments that have not yet receivedfunding. Trail status is most easily discussed bycounty, as follows.

Orange County�The backbone of the SantaAna River Trail is basically complete throughOrange County, from the mouth of the SantaAna River to the Orange County line. However,parts of the trail are in need of aestheticimprovements, as the trail runs along a dryconcrete channel for much of the Orange Countyportion. At the mouth of the River, the trailconnects very smoothly to the Pacific Coast Trail,which runs along the beach from Sunset Beachto Balboa Beach. In Orange County, the trailallows access to Arrowhead Pond, a large sportingevent and concert venue, home to the MightyDucks of Anaheim Hockey Team, and EdisonField, home to the Anaheim Angels Baseball



9393

FIGURE 3-2 Santa Ana Watershed Trail System



9494

Team. The proximity of the Trail to these eventcenters provides a unique opportunity for trailusage; event attendees could make use of thetrail to avoid traffic and parking fees.

The trail in Orange County is dual use for muchof the route, with an unpaved hiking/equestriantrail running next to the Class I bikeway (a ClassI bikeway provides a completely separated right-of-way for the exclusive use of bicycles andpedestrians with cross-flow of motorized trafficminimized). However, the unpaved portion isnot contiguous and does not run all the way tothe Pacific Ocean. Although there are a fewequestrian features, such as unpaved paddocksthat serve as �rest areas� for horses, regionalequestrians see the need for more equestrianstaging areas. Also, equestrian trails are viewedas ephemeral, highlighting the need to ensurepermanent easements for equestrians to accessthe Riverbed.

Tri-County Area�The tri-county area, at theintersection of Orange, Riverside, and SanBernardino Counties, includes one of the largestchallenges for completion of the trail. A major�missing link� in the trail is the area aroundPrado Dam and Prado Wetlands. A large looparound Prado Dam is planned, but funding hasnot yet been secured for this section, which willbe primarily constructed through RiversideCounty. Planning of this trail segment must becoordinated with the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers in accordance with the agency�s plansto raise Prado Dam, as raising the Dam willincrease the area of the flood basin. In addition,trail planning through this area is difficult dueto the large amount of restricted habitat and thehigh number of special status species in thevicinity of Prado Basin. Please refer to Figure 3-3 for a map of the conceptual trail loop aroundPrado Wetlands.

Riverside County�Completing the trailthrough Riverside County may prove to be morechallenging than in Orange County or SanBernardino County. In Riverside County, theSanta Ana River runs through three cities after

The following statements are based on the original 1990

Santa Ana River Trail Plan and modified according to recent

input.

The goal of the Santa Ana River Trail and Parkway

project is to develop a continuous multi-use

regional trail system and parkway along the Santa

Ana River corridor. In support of the overall goal,

planning and implementation activities will

accomplish the following objectives:

1. Provide for a continuous, safe trail

linkage system.

2. Provide trail linkage to feeder trail

systems.

3. Provide multi-use, barrier-free trail

opportunities within the trail system.

4. Provide environmental education

opportunities within the trail system.

5. Provide protection of the natural

resources for the Santa Aria River

corridor through operation and

management guidelines.

6. Provide new park facilities and upgrade

interfaces with existing parks as needed

at appropriate intervals along the river

corridor

7. Provide interesting venues for

interaction with the community and

commercial interests along the river

corridor.



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Figure 3-3 Santa Ana River Trail from Weir Canyon Road to Prado Dam



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crossing the Orange/Riverside County Line. Thetrail is in long-term development plans as itpasses through the City of Corona and the Cityof Norco, and the trail is nearing completionthrough the City of Riverside.

The most comprehensive trail plan to date is the1990 �Santa Ana River Corridor Trail System,�which predicted that the longer the trail took toimplement, the more difficult implementationwould be. This statement has proven propheticin the case of routing the trail from Prado Basinthrough the City of Corona. A residentialneighborhood has been built over the original1990 plan trail route, and rerouting the trailaround the neighborhood would place it insensitive habitat. An alternative route alongRincon Street looks implausible. Although theroad is planned for widening, there is inadequateright-of-way for a bike lane and the road passesthrough dense riparian habitat under regulatoryprotection.

Completing the trail through the City of Norcowill also prove challenging in many areas, aspotential trail sites travel through residentialneighborhoods with little to no right of way fora bike path. Two segments along the City ofNorco need completion: from Pedley Avenue toHamner Avenue is likely to be completed beforethe Hamner Avenue to River Road segment, asthe Army Corps of Engineers has recentlycompleted a bank stabilization project and haspaved part of the trail.

The City of Riverside boasts a contiguous stretchof trail, starting just west of the Van Buren Bridgeat Tyler Street and traveling east forapproximately 7.5 miles, ending at Market Streetin the City of Riverside. This is a pleasant stretchof trail, passing through Anza Narrows andMount Rubidoux Parks, ending near Evans Lakein Fairmont Park. Although the trail is not

complete through the City of Riverside, the Cityhas completed planning the unfinished segmentsand is seeking funding to complete the trail.

San Bernardino County�Currently, there is noofficial Santa Ana River Trail and Parkway in SanBernardino County. Eighteen miles of theplanned trail fall under the jurisdiction of SanBernardino County, from the Riverside/SanBernardino County Line to the boundary of U.S.Forest Service land in the foothills of the SanBernardino Mountains. As the Pacific Crest Trailruns through U.S. Forest Service Land, the U.S.Forest Service has jurisdiction over connectingthe Santa Ana River Trail to the Pacific Crest Trail.This connection would provide 35 miles of trail,but may never be paved as a Class I bikeway.Approximately 11.3 miles of the San BernardinoCounty portion of the trail have been plannedin three phases, with the remaining 7 miles stillin conceptual stages. Phase I (3.3 miles) hasreceived some funding, but more funding isneeded before engineering design can begin. TheCounty has secured funding to completeconstruction of Phase II, which should begin inFall 2002. The County has also secured fundingfor Phase III and engineering design should beginFall 2002. Much of the future trail in SanBernardino County will be built on existing floodcontrol levees that will require little to no gradingand clearing of vegetation. San BernardinoCounty trail planners have applied to variousgrant programs to fund the rest of the trail.

Another trail area in San Bernardino County isthe California Field Office Rail-Trail ProjectsRancho Cucamonga Pacific Electric Trail. Thecities of Montclair, Upland, Rancho Cucamonga,Fontana and Rialto have agreed to work togetherwith SANBAG, the San Bernardino Associationof Governments to develop a 20-mile trail alongthe alignment of the old Pacific Electric line fromLos Angeles. The route connects with many



9797

schools, shopping districts, and residential areas,and would stretch from Claremont to Rialto.Area trail planners should investigate linkagesto connect this trail to the Santa Ana Rvier Trail.

Implementation

Trail Completion

1. Construct those sections of the Santa AnaRiver Trail for which funding has beensecured (namely, Phase I in SanBernardino County).

2. Secure funding for completion of thosesections that have been planned: PhasesII, III, and IV in San Bernardino Countyand Phase I: Part 2, Phase IIIB: Part 2,Phase IV, and Phase V in RiversideCounty (refer to Table 3-3, Status of theSanta Ana River Trail, by County andSegment).

3. Complete other vital links such asTemescal Wash/San Jacinto Wash to SanJacinto Mountains and connections to thenew San Timoteo State Park

4. Best utilize up to $10.0 million in fundingprovided by Proposition 40 to completethe trail.

5. Employ better communication andintegrated review to assist city andcounty planners in assessing trail impactswhen considering proposed projects.Trail users are concerned about pieces ofpotential trail connections disappearingpermanently once development isapproved without provision for trails.Therefore, there is a need to coordinatetrail planning efforts with other projectefforts to avoid conflicting land uses. Forexample, each county�s Parks andRecreation/Trail Planning Departmentshould coordinate with other County andCity partners regarding potential projects(e.g., planning and public worksprojects).

6. Integrate individual cities� trail planningefforts to ensure connectivity and toensure that the Santa Ana River Trail�susefulness reaches its full potential.

7. Institute a trail overseer role. Forexample, SAWPA could assist thewatershed community in developing atrail overseer role, so that when proposedprojects undergo environmental reviewthrough the CEQA process, not only willthe lead agency/City/County look at trailimpacts, but the trail overseer could alsodo the same.

Amenities

The American Association of Highway andTransportation Officials (AASHTO) and theCalifornia Department of Transportation(Caltrans) have developed national standards forbikeways. Caltrans advises that all standards inthe Caltrans Highway Design Manual, Chapter1000: Bikeway Planning and Design be followed,including mandatory and advisory standards.The following are additional recommendationsfor the Santa Ana River Trail, identified andrecommended by watershed participants eitherin writing or at scoping meetings. Theserecommendations are intended to complementChapter 1000 of the Caltrans Highway DesignManual and none of these recommendationsshall be interpreted to supersede or conflict withCaltrans standards.

8. Ensure consistent trail mileage. OrangeCounty�s mileage system begins with thePacific Ocean as Mile Zero, and thismileage system should be carried outalong the length of the Trail, with theconnection to the Pacific Crest Trailapproximating Mile 110. A mileagesystem is important safety issue becauseit allows users to know their location,



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distance traveled, and distance left totravel. In addition, those training formarathons and other fitness events thatrequire specific mileage goals duringtraining may use the trail.

9. Trail should include the availability ofwater fountains for user refreshment andsafety.

10. Trail should include restroom access,such as maintained port-a-potties.

Example of dual trail: unpaved horse/hiking trail alongsidepaved Class I bikeway.Photo courtesy of EIP Associates.

11. Trail should include frequent shade treesto provide relief from the sun and heatof inland Orange, Riverside, and SanBernardino Counties. Native speciesshould be used for these shade trees.

12. Trail should include staging areas forequestrian use and paddocks to serve asrest areas for horses.

This interpretive sign alerts Orange County trail usersto an osprey nesting platform along the Santa Ana RiverPhoto courtesy of EIP Associates.

This paddock serves as a �rest area� for horses using the trailPhoto courtesy of EIP Associates.

13. Trail should include bike racks to allowriders to secure bicycles when usingtrailside amenities.

14. Trail should include ample disposalfacilities for garbage, including garbagecans, recycling bins, and elevated�bicycle-friendly� garbage cans that areconvenient for bikers to utilize.

15. Trail should include access to air hosesfor bikes that need to inflate their tires.

16. Trail should include interpretive signagefor environmental and wildlife education.

17. Trail should include some bike �n� hikeprimitive campgrounds for thoseinterested in biking or riding from coastto crest (these campgrounds should beaccessible by foot, not requiring a car).Once challenge in implementing thesecampgrounds will be security issues,including personal safety and emergencyvehicle access.



9999

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Other Implementation

18. Continue outreach and contact with lawenforcement to pursue trail access andsafety.

19. To draw attention to the trail, its plannersshould host annual 2-day Bike n� Rideevents with camping on the first night.This event could be timed such thatparticipants could join in at various pointsalong the trail.

4. Multi-objective ConservationPlanning and Projects

Key actions to restoring ecological functionwithin the Santa Ana Watershed include habitatacquisition, enhancement, and restoration.Agencies and organizations within the watershedengaged in conservation activities should balancepriorities and funding allocation between habitatacquisition and habitat restoration.



100100

Recommendation #2: Protect and RestoreHabitat Resources

2-A. Restore natural wetland habitats in floodplains of the River and its tributaries.

! Look for opportunities in naturalundeveloped areas to add wetlandsthat will increase complex naturalhabitats in juxtaposition to the streamsystem.

! Connect wetlands to the streamcorridor through the addition ofchannels and vegetation.

2-B. Protect and restore remaining nativespecies and habitats.

! Recreate meanders and backwaterswhere possible within the River andits tributaries to enhance native fishhabitat.

! Create drop structures and otheroxygenation devices that do notinhibit fish passage.

! Reestablish riffle substrates.

! Develop instream structures topromote pool and flow complexes.

2-C. Identify public and private agencies andorganizations to maintain acquired landsand funding sources.

2-D. Acquire key parcels of land forconservation.

! Establish conservation goals andtarget selection criteria.

! Identify key potential parcels based onselection criteria.

! Negotiate conservation easements asan alternative to outright purchase oflands.

2-E. Promote the identification,establishment, and protection of wildlifecorridors.

2-F. Connect upland vegetation and habitatsthrough edge habitats and corridors.

! Locate isolated habitat patches andestablish corridors suitable to increasethe habitat diversity available to allspecies.

! Plant native trees, shrubs, and forbsto establish wildlife-friendly pathwaysalong roads and channels.

2-G. Remove and control exotic species.

! Continue active programs for removalof established invasive species.

! Identify and control recentlyestablished invasive species to preventfurther spread.

! Prevent introduction of future invasivespecies.

Habitat Acquisition

Several areas within the watershed offer excellentopportunities for habitat acquisition,enhancement, and restoration. Watershedplanning participants recognize that habitatacquisition is equally important as habitatrestoration. As the watershed continues tourbanize, land values are expected to rise,increasing the difficulty of land acquisition witheach passing year. Refer to Figure 3-4 for a mapof potential resource conservation areas withinthe watershed, as determined by representativesfrom community-based organizations, cities,counties, State Parks, and the California CoastalCommission.

Ideally, the parcels of land targeted forpreservation will help to connect open space, link



101101

existing recreational trails, increase public accessto water, provide habitat, protect wildlifecorridors, positively contribute to groundwaterrecharge, and prevent development inenvironmentally sensitive areas. Alternatives toland acquisition include the negotiation ofconservation easements whereby the leadagency or organization for the land acquisitionproject does not gain fee simple property rights(full ownership). Through these types ofagreements, private property owners retainownership of their land, but surrender some oftheir property rights, such as the right to developthe property, in exchange for federal income andestate tax advantages. Implementation ofconservation easements is generally much lessexpensive than purchasing a property outright.Refer to sample Conservation Easement Deedissued by California Department of Fish andGame, Appendix G.

Habitat Restoration andEnhancement

Restoration strategies include invasive speciesremoval, debris removal, wetlandsenhancement, beach renourishment, andrevegetation projects. Potential restorationprojects include culvert daylighting, as discussedin section 2G, Flood Control. In addition torestoring ecological function, appropriateimplementation of these restoration activities canprevent listing of threatened or endangeredspecies, as well as providing economic and otherbenefits to the region. Economic and publicsafety benefits of removing invasive species arediscussed in Section 3A-2, Invasive SpeciesRemoval. Additionally, beach renourishmentprovides recreational and economic benefits tothe region.

Beach Renourishment

Beach renourishment is an economicallyimportant restoration strategy that has becomenecessary within Southern California. Coastalstreams and rivers provide 70 to 90 percent ofCalifornia�s beach sand, with the remaining 10to 30 percent provided by gully, terrace, andbluff erosion. Flood control measures such as

ESSENTIAL RESOURCECONSERVATION AREAS

Source: Watershed Stakeholders, SAWPA

Scoping Meeting, August 14, 2002

1. Santa Ana River Mouth to Fairview Park

2. Bolsa Chica Wetlands

3. Upper Newport Bay

4. Lower Newport Bay

5. Santiago Creek

6. Temescal Canyon

7. Palomar- Santa Ana Mountains linkages

8. Featherly Park

9. Prado Basin

10. Coal Canyon

11. City of Chino- Sphere of Influence

12. Box Springs Mountains

13. San Timoteo Canyon

14. Carbon Canyon Creek

15. Connection from City of Whittier to

Chino Hills State Park

16. Lytle Creek

17. Mystic Lake



102102

LAND ACQUISITION TARGET SITE SELECTIONThe following outlines steps for targeting specific sites for land acquisition. Source: EIP Associates, 2002

A. Identify clear and concise objectives for selecting target sites1. What are the intended uses of these sites

(e.g., recreation, trails, habitat conservation, groundwater recharge)?2. Will this site conserve habitat for particular species or at the community level? Which species?

What communities?3. What is the available budget for acquiring and maintaining lands for conservation?

B. Develop criteria for selecting sites based on the stated objectives1. Work with stakeholders and scientists to create a list of criteria that will be used to select

target sites.2. Some examples of possible criteria that may be used:i. Habitat Conservation! Reserve size: minimum dynamic area required for supporting natural processes, disturbance regimes,

recovery from disturbance, and species ranges.! Connectivity between target sites for allowing migrations and distribution of genetic material.! Uniqueness of species or communities found within a site. Are rare, endemic, or threatened/endangered

species found within the site?! Anthropogenic threats to the potential sites. For example, is development encroaching on particular sites,

suggesting that either the site will be eradicated if not protected or that the site is not viable as humanpressures will overwhelm natural communities? We might look at the distance of sites from urban sprawl,sites that occur in the urban/wildland interface, etc.

! What are the specific demands of the species of concern? What types of sites are required to ensuretheir long-term conservation?

ii. Open Space/Recreation/Public Access! Recreational potential of site, including the effect that it would have on conservation objectives

Existing land use! Connectivity of trail network! Accessibility to river, tributaries, and oceaniii. Groundwater Recharge/Water Quality! Runoff estimate and groundwater recharge potential! Soil characteristics (permeability/infiltration, erosion hazard, etc.)! Effects of upstream/downstream point and non-point source pollutantsiv. Wetland Conservation/Enhancement! Acreage and type of existing wetland features! Sensitivity ratings of existing wetland features! Potential for wetland restoration or enhancementv. Political and Fiscal Feasibility! How much would it cost to conserve a particular site in comparison with others?! What are the political hurdles associated with each potential site?

What are the current land use designations for each site, and what value would each site have with other land uses?! Are conservation easements a potential vehicle for conserving the site?

C. Develop model for optimizing the reserve design based on criteria and available data1. Which data layers will be used and why?2. What are the individual parameters for each criterion?3. What are the assumptions inherent in the model?

D. Conduct analysis and generate maps of alternative target sites1. Use GIS to evaluate sites based on the selected criteria.2. Identify several alternative target sites to be presented to SAWPA and relevant stakeholders.

E. Work with stakeholders, scientists, and agencies to identify an optimal group of target sites based on both politicalfeasibility and environmental effectiveness



103103

Figure 3-4 Essential Resource Conservation Areas



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1 Average sedimentation rate from 1941 to 1979 was 1,130,000 cubic yards per year. From 1979 to 1988, this rate was estimated to rise to at least 1,380,000.Although upstream construction of the Seven Oaks Dam, completed in 1999, may have reduced the sedimentation rate behind Prado Dam, total sedimentationrates behind Santa Ana River dams would not have decreased as a result of the Seven Oaks Dam.

Huntington Beach, a world-famous surf spot, is an important recreational area for Southern California residents.Photo courtesy of EIP Associates.

dams, debris basins, and river channelizationmay reduce the amount of sand reaching thecoast, while harbor structures may obstruct alongshore sand movement. According to Flick(1993), the most drastic sand deficit in SouthernCalifornia exists along Orange County�s coastline,where the natural sediment supply has decreasedup to 85 percent. It is estimated that Prado Damalone reduces sand and gravel flow byapproximately 67 percent each year. Accordingto the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and theU.S. Interagency Advisory Committee on WaterData, historic sedimentation rates behind PradoDam have averaged well over 1,000,000 cubicyards per year1.

Preventing the Listing of Species

With respect to wildlife, it is imperative to focustime, energy, and funding on those native speciesthat are not yet listed as threatened orendangered, such as the speckled dace, a nativefish species. Once a species is placed on State orfederal lists, engaging in actions that help thespecies may actually become more difficult dueto regulatory requirements. Activities that arebeneficial in the long term can often cause short-term disturbances that impede the permittingprocess when working with threatened andendangered species. Recovery efforts that focuson only one species should be avoided in favorof multiple benefit projects.



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Strategies for thinking ahead to create aconservation strategy that ensures the long-termviability of the watershed�s native flora, fauna,and aquatic communities will preventdegradation of the watershed�s delicateecosystem. By overlaying significant resourcedata such as the Riverside County landacquisition priority map with other watershedstudies, better decisions will be made with regardto habitat restoration and enhancement efforts.Planning and discussion amongst key watershedparticipants will ensure that the best possibletargets for restoration land acquisition will beselected.

A related strategy proposed in this plan, whichcould help to prevent sensitive or threatenedspecies from becoming endangered, would bethe creation of an Aquatic Resources Committee(ARC), expanding the role of the Santa AnaSucker Discussion Group, to include other nativefish, for example. While participation in ARCwould be voluntary, the objective would be toencourage the active involvement of state andfederal resource agencies, cities, counties, otherlocal jurisdictions, and the private sector, incoordinating and developing programs andspecific projects focused on preventing futurelisting of native fish such as the arroyo chub andthe speckled dace. Refer to Appendix G, AquaticResources Assessment, for more detail.

5. Education�In the end, we will conserve only what welove, we will love only what we understand, wewill understand only what we are taught.�

�Baba Dioum, Senegalese Conservationist

�We have an opportunity to help peopleunderstand the remarkable amount ofresources within the Santa Ana Watershedand the work that is being done to protect andenhance these resources.�

�Martha Davis, Inland Empire Utilities AgencyJuly 23, 2002

Environmental educational programs strive toprovide proactive�rather than reactive�solutions to water quality and waste disposalproblems. The ultimate goal of environmentaleducational programs is to provide informationand a context for behavioral change. Educationalmessages must be powerful enough to inspiresomeone to break a habit such as over-fertilizinga lawn or taking 45-minute showers. Theimplementation of environmental educationwithin the watershed may be accomplishedthrough a combination of three strategies:public outreach, educational programs, andinterpretive signage.

With respect to water resources, one of the mosteffective ways to reduce non-point sourcepollution is through public education.Throughout the watershed, point sources ofwater contamination have been reduced, andwater quality improved, through use of bettertechnology and through efforts of the regulatorsas well as the regulated community. Non-pointsources of water contamination are areasdischarges to soil, groundwater, and surfacewaters, such as inappropriate application ofwaste and fertilizers and atmospheric depositionof contaminants to the soil and water bodies.



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Table 3-4 Education Program Types and Examples

While point sources can be traced back to a singlesource, such as the end of a pipe, non-pointsources can rarely be traced back to individualsand will require regions behavioral changes toreduce contamination.

The importance of education is easy to overlookwithin the watershed, as no specific organizationhas jurisdiction over education, unlike trails,wetlands, and habitat projects. Beyond standardclassroom curriculum, educational programs donot have specific agency oversight as mandatedby law, although many water agencies do havewater education programs in place. Educationalprograms are decentralized throughout theregion, carried out by individual water agenciesor nonprofit organizations. Whereas manygroups are educating people about waterconservation or habitat improvement within thewatershed, few groups if any specifically educateabout the Santa Ana Watershed. The watershed

concept is not yet widely understood�manypeople are not sure what a watershed is, or whichone they live in. Agencies, organizations, andindividuals within the watershed recognize theneed for additional educational opportunitieswithin the Santa Ana Watershed.

Huell Howser, shown here with Joe Grindstaff, SAWPA General Manager,produced an educational video about the Santa Ana Watershed.Photo courtesy of SAWPA.

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On Saturday, April 27, 2002, SAWPA and EIPAssociates hosted a booth at the annualEnvironmental Expo at Cal State San Bernardino.The primary focus was to solicit input from SantaAna Watershed residents and other stakeholderssuch as organizations and agencies involved withresource conservation or recreation. Twodifferent surveys were produced for the event:a Household Survey, aimed at watershedresidents, and an Organization and AgencySurvey. SAWPA and EIP staff spent great dealof time educating watershed residents andstakeholders about watershed issues and thedevelopment of the Environment and Wetlandsportion of the Santa Ana Integrated WatershedPlan

While not enough household surveys werecompleted to yield any statistically significantresults, survey tabulation from the Expo andSanta Ana River Symposium did generate someinteresting information. For example, completedsurveys reflected the fact that many people donot know what a watershed is. The Expoattracted watershed residents that have at leastsome interest in and knowledge ofenvironmental issues. Therefore, the samplepopulation was biased in that they were morelikely to know what a watershed is than arandom population sampling. However, surveyrespondents reacted to the fill-in-the-blankquestion �What is a watershed?� in one of fourways. 32% of respondents answered thequestion incorrectly, 25% left the question blank,14% answered with �I don�t know� or similarexpression, while only 29% of respondentsanswered the question correctly. It should alsobe noted the survey station (where most peoplefilled out their survey) furnished a conspicuouslyposted watershed definition.

Recommendation #3: Engage theCommunity through Education andRecreation

3-A. Improve recreational opportunities forthe region, including access to streams,lakes, and beaches through dedicationof easements and land acquisition.

3-B. Increase water conservation and decreaseimported water use through publiceducation and provision of water savingdevices.

3-C. Involve the public through outreach andeducation coordinated with the agenciesand schools in the watershed.

3-D. Increase available open spacethroughout the region, includingbalancing open space availability amongvarious communities by increasingparkland acreage in densely urbanizedareas.

A. Public Outreach

Many watershed residents do not understandthat the storm drain system is completelyseparate from the sewer system in the watershed:there is no treatment system or filter between astorm drain on the street and the Pacific Ocean.Used motor oil or a cigarette butt thrown out of

Santa Ana River Symposium, April 2002.Photo courtesy of EIP.



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Santa Ana River, April 2002Photo courtesy of EIP Associates

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a car window�be it in Corona, Big Bear, or CostaMesa�will ultimately end up on the beach.Unclean stormwater runoff flowing into thePacific Ocean causes swimmers and surfers tobecome sick and may result in beach closures.Public education will make clear the linkagesbetween the condition of the watershed and thehealth and well-being of the population, wildlife,and ocean. Public service campaigns addressnonpoint source pollution, as well as thereduction of trash, animal waste, organic matter,and other pollutants that wash into storm drainsand then into the rivers and ocean. Publicinvolvement programs should also encourage

residents to become involved in the cleanup ofthe rivers and build upon existing programs,such as the use of volunteers in monitoring riverwater quality.

In addition to those issues most directly relatedto the condition of the watershed, outreachprograms should also address broaderenvironmental issues, including sustainability. Atthe simplest level, sustainability is the ability tomeet current needs without compromising theability of future generations to meet their ownneeds. This goal encompasses a range ofconcepts, such as recycling, energy and waterconservation, use of appropriate buildingmaterials, minimizing use of hazardous materials,appropriate transportation planning, and thepurchase of environmentally friendly productsand packaging.

Furthermore, public outreach programs shouldstrive to inform watershed residents of politicalawareness issues and ballot initiatives, such aspark and water bonds that provide funding forhabitat acquisition and restoration, trailplanning, and water quality improvements. Forexample, the SAWPA quarterly newsletterprovides information on upcoming bond issuesand includes descriptions of projects funded withprevious bond money.

B. Educational Programs

Educating children is equally important ascontinuing education for adults. Incorporatingmore environmental and water resourceeducation into school curriculum, including asmany field trips and hands-on programs asfeasible, is the most effective way to ensure that



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the watershed�s next generation will becommendable environmental stewards.Education programs for children should be builtupon the extensive network of existing resourcessuch as those presented in Table 3-5.

Education programs for adults should includedevelopment of backyard habitat for wildlife,gardening techniques that minimize pesticideand herbicide use, natural methods of pestcontrol, composting, organic gardening,planning and construction of stormwaterdrainage systems that promote groundwaterinfiltration, and low-water gardening andlandscaping using improved irrigation andmulches. For example, Western MunicipalWater Distrct and Elsinore Valley MunicipalWater District offer annual landscape workshopsfor homeowners, which include instruction inlandscape design, drip irrigation, and sprinklerdesign. The Riverside-Corona RCD hascontracted with the Riverside County FloodControl District since 1996 to provide Santa AnaHomeowner Garden Workshops, AdultEducation Program.

Kerwin Russell of the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation Districtis shown here leading a SAWA field trip.Photo courtesy of EIP Associates.

Scoping Meeting Two, July 26, 2002Photo courtesy of EIP Associates

The watershed is home to several highereducation institutions, such as California StateUniversity, San Bernardino; University ofCalifornia, Riverside; University of California,Irvine; California State University, Fullerton;University of Redlands; The Claremont Colleges;California State Polytechnic University, Pomona;and Loma Linda University. These institutionshave opportunities to conduct research andteaching related to the condition of the watershed.Given the interrelationships between the physicaland natural environment, this includes a varietyof fields, including hydrology, biology,environmental planning, ecology, urbanplanning, architecture, civil engineering,transportation planning, atmospheric sciences,geography, education, sociology, chemicalengineering, and public health.

For example, Cal State San Bernardino is hometo the Water Resources Institute (WRI). WRIoffers a number of services for the watershed.These comprise public conference and speakersseries, such as the annual �Sharing the Waters�conference held each fall; a water resourcesarchive that includes Inland Empire well datadating back over 80 years, aerial photos datingto the 1930s, maps, USGS and other governmentpublications dating back nearly 100 years, andoral histories; a website that houses large



110

amounts of water-related data and fun factsabout water (http://wri.csusb.edu/); and disputeresolution services for water and other publicagencies. Educational resources availablethrough WRI consist of water-related researchon technical or public policy issues; academicprograms, including a BS degree inEnvironmental Geology and an Master�s Degreeof Public Administration with a Water ResourcesManagement Specialization; and K�12curriculum development related to waterresources, the environment, and conservation.In addition, the University hosts an annualInland Empire Environmental Expo each spring,with attendance upwards of 10,000 people.

Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD),Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District(EVMWD), Riverside-Corona ResourceConservation District, and Western MunicipalWater District (WMWD) have designed the�Teaching Southern California�s Water Story�course through Fresno Pacific University and CalState San Bernardino�s College of ExtendedLearning. The fast-paced, independent studycourse allows students to earn professional creditwhile exploring several Southern California watersites. The course was designed to assist teachersin enhancing their water lessons and ties into theHistory and Social Science Frameworks forCalifornia public schools.

WMWD also offers a number of regionalprograms via the Water Education AdvisoryCouncil. The Council, funded by WMWD,provides

! Theater program performances;

! Science fair contests;

! Mini-grant program for teachersimplementing new and innovative watereducation programs;

! H2O Explorer Badge program; and

! Book/materials distribution.

Through the Water Education Advisory Council,EVMWD offers Project Wet, a groundwatermodel demonstration program that teachesstudents about the use of groundwater as aresource, the water cycle, and the water cycle�srole in groundwater replenishment. Theprogram also highlights hydrogeology, nonpointsource pollution, identification of the water table,watershed protection, and water recycling.Grades 4 through 6 are targeted; however, thelesson can be tailored for both lower and highergrade levels. EVMWD has been using thegroundwater model for classroom presentationsfor ten years.

EMWD�s Education Program is a free resourcefor teachers and students in over 100 schoolswithin the watershed. The mission of EMWD�sEducation Program is to foster understandingof water and wastewater issues and to promotewise water use among the future leaders of theSanta Ana Watershed community. They go aboutfulfilling this mission through a facilities tourprogram (1,624 student reached in 2001/02school year); water awareness theater assemblies(27,939 students reached); classroompresentations (2,051 students reached); watereducation materials (19,454 students reached);

Storm drain stencils are an excellent example ofpublic outreach through signage. The Riverside Corona RCD has stencilledover 1,336 storm drains since 1996 with a similar message.Photo courtesy of Heal the Bay



111

career days (13,375 students reached); sciencefair assistance (67 students reached); a waterawareness poster contest (3,300 studentsparticipated in 2001/02); and teacher in-services(1,035 students reached). In the 2001/02 schoolyear, 68,845 students were reached with a waterand/or wastewater message.

EMWD also offers an extensive hands-onwetlands education program to school groupsand other community groups at its Hemet/SanJacinto Multipurpose Constructed Wetlands. Aprofessional groundwater model is a tool that istaken to classrooms for presentations and is alsodemonstrated with each group touring EMWD�sWetland Water Education Facility. Watershed andgroundwater issues are key components ofEMWD�s overall education program.

Dan Bogan of the Riverside County Park and Open Space District explainingthe massive root structure of Arundo donaxPhoto courtesy of EIP Associates.

receives over 10,000 visitors each year andseminars are conducted for the general publicaddressing such topics as appropriate plantselection, efficient irrigation methods, andnatural pest control. In addition, WMWDprovides about 50 different free brochures onwater to the public. WMWD has also been aleader in the field of water education supportfor area schools since 1982, offering free materialsincluding student workbooks, teachers� guides,videos, speakers, field trips, theater programs,grants for teachers, scholarships for studentsstudying water related curriculum, and bookdonations to school libraries.

C. Interpretive Opportunities

When people visit open space, parks,community gardens, historic sites, culturalresources, riverfront walks, bike paths, wetlands,or habitat preserves, opportunities to learn aboutwhat they see and experience should be available.This requires interpretive programs that translateinformation for a variety of audiences. Theinformation presented could be scientific,environmental, cultural, or even artistic innature. Within the watershed, interpretiveprograms include hands-on programs at naturecenters and museums, docent-led nature walks,summer day-camps for families, tours of waterresources or flood management facilities, bird-watching or wildlife viewing events, living historyexhibits at cultural sites, or signage andinformational materials at accessible locations inparks, along trails, or at wetlands or habitatpreserves.

The Metropolitan Water District (MWD) offersextensive educational programs throughoutSouthern California. MWD�s Diamond ValleyLake has a museum and offers tours and fieldtrips to the Santa Rosa Nature Preserve inMurrieta.

Western Municipal Water District offers severalexcellent programs to educate watershedresidents and students about water conservationand landscaping. WMWD�s �LandscapesSouthern California Stylesm� program is a waterconservation demonstration garden, aninterpretive project that includes over 250 speciesof water-wise plants on one acre. The garden



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Further interpretive opportunities include theWatershed and Waterway Signage Program, inwhich the Santa Ana Watershed ProjectAuthority and its member agencies would workwith Caltrans to implement a signage programfor the watershed.

For example, watershed signage would includesigns saying, �You are entering the Santa AnaWatershed� at, among others, the followinglocations:

! I-5 near La Mirada

! I-5 in unincorporated Orange County

! I-10 in Pomona

! I-10 in Beaumont

! I-15 near Lake Elsinore

! I-215 in northern San Bernardino County

! SR-71 near Pomona

! SR-91 near Cypress

! SR-60 near Pomona

! SR-55 near Newport Beach

! SR-57 near Brea

In addition, roads and highways over waterwaysshould have signs indicating the waterwaycrossed (e.g., Santa Ana River, Santiago Creek).These locations would include, among others,the following:

! SR-91, I-405, I-15, SR-60, I-10, I-215, andI-5 as they cross the Santa Ana River

! I-15 as it crosses Lytle Creek

! I-215 as it crosses the San Jacinto River

! SR-71 as it passes along the PradoWetlands

The Watershed and Waterway Signage Programwould enlighten Santa Ana Watershed residentsas to which watershed they reside in andfamiliarize them with the names of localwaterways. With the help of Caltrans and theCalifornia Resources Agency, this program couldbe implemented Statewide to create a networkof watershed signage. California residents andvisitors would not only grasp the concept that�wherever you are, you�re in a watershed,� butwould become familiar with the names of thewatersheds they live in and travel through, thuscreating these important connections to the landand water.

5. Partnerships

Recommendation #4: Plan for the Future

4-A. Facilitate partnerships among groupswith similar goals and supportcommunity based sub-watershedgroups.

4-B. Work with the State Resources Agencythrough the California WatershedManagement Forums and other standardRegional Agencies to achieve State andregional goals.

Orange County River ParkPhoto courtesy of The Newport Beach Chapter Surfrider Foundation



113

4-C. Use the best scientific data available andregional collaboration to make complexresource management decisions.

4-D. Promote effective watershed monitoring,data management, and project evaluationprograms.

4-E. Identify and pursue future sources offunding to complete watershed projects.Funding source identification shouldinclude provisions for operation andmaintenance of projects in addition tocapital expenditures.

4-F. Utilize this Santa Ana IntegratedWatershed Plan, Environmental andWetlands Component as a livingdocument, including regular updates tomaintain current watershed-wideplanning and coordination.

Why Partner?

Communication is an essential element withinany watershed, especially among groups with theauthority to manage natural resources. Aswatershed planning has catapulted to an issueof international significance throughout the pastfew decades, awareness of watershed ecology andhydrology has illuminated the need for managerswithin each watershed to work together tomanage resources. Watersheds are made up ofmultiple interests; no one group or individualcan manage all of a watershed�s resources bythemselves. Watershed partnering meansbringing together different combinations ofcitizen groups at difference scales and helpingthem to work together to value and enhance theresources within the watersheds.

Due to its large size, the Santa Ana Watershedprovides the opportunity to coordinate themanagement of 1.7 million acres within one

ecological unit. Assembling seeminglyconflicting interests at same table to resolve issuesof concern has proven very successful within theSanta Ana Watershed, and has resulted in uniqueand effective partnerships. The large scale ofSanta Ana Watershed is both a challenge and asignificant opportunity. There are many groupsto bring together, but when everyone is workingtogether, there is a much greater ability to achievelandscape-level resource management goals.Whereas watershed planning may be easierwithin smaller watersheds, the difficulty of

Team ArundoRiverside County Parks and Open Space District

Orange County Public Facilities and Resources

Department

Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority

(SAWPA)

Santa Ana Watershed Association

of Resource Conservation Districts (SAWA)

! Riverside-Corona Resource

Conservation District

! Inland Empire West Resource


! East Valley Resource Conservation

District

! San Jacinto Basin Resource


! Elsinore-Murrieta Resource


Riverside County Flood Control and Water


Orange County Water District

California Conservation Corps

Orange County Conservation Corps

California Exotic Pest Plant Council

Monsanto Corporation



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planning within larger watersheds is balancedby the ability to affect large-scale regionalresource management and the opportunity topool resources on a regional scale.

Examples of Notable Partnershipswithin the Watershed

The Santa Ana River Watershed Group (SARWG)

SARWG is a collaborative effort of public andprivate sector agencies and interests focused onwater quality management concerns in the SantaAna River Watershed area. Principal Convenersinclude San Bernardino, Riverside and OrangeCounties, the Santa Ana Watershed ProjectAuthority and the Orange County SanitationDistrict. Among the members are dairy owners,environmental representatives, the major

counties spanning the watershed area (Riverside,San Bernardino and Orange), and otherstakeholders�nearly 50 groups in all. A tri-county memorandum of understanding hasenabled SARWG to discuss and think aboutregional issues together with so many diversestakeholder groups.

Team Arundo

Operating within the Santa Ana Watershed,Team Arundo is recognized throughout the Stateof California as a leader in Arundo removal efforts.Team Arundo members have undertaken anumber of ambitious invasive species removaland restoration projects throughout thewatershed. In addition to the partners listedbelow, the Nature Conservancy was historicallya part of Team Arundo. The foresight andleadership of these groups have proveninstrumental in elevating the need for Arundoremoval to an issue of statewide importance.

Counties:RiversideOrangeSan Bernardino

Cities:ColtonHighlandLoma LindaRedlandsRiversideAnaheimOrangeSanta AnaVilla ParkCoronaHuntington BeachNorcoRialtoSan Bernardino

Agencies:Orange County Water DistrictU.S. Forest Service, San BernardinoNational ForestSanta Ana Watershed ProjectAuthority

Organizations:Orange County Equestrian CoalitionLoma Linda University CommunityOutreachU.S. Army Corps of EngineersCalifornia Department of Parks andRecreationTrails 4 AllSan Bernardino RidersMike Carona FoundationNational Park Service, Rivers andTrails Conservation AssistanceOrange County Sheriff�s Office

Consultant Groups:Dangermond GroupEDAWWithers and Sandgren

Santa Ana River Trail Parnters

Orange Coast River Park Partners

! Friends of Harbors, Beaches, and Parks

! City of Costa Mesa

! City of Huntington Beach

! City of Newport Beach

! City of Laguna Beach

! County of Orange

! California Coastal Conservancy

! Surfrider Foundation, Newport Beach

Chapter

! California Department of Fish and Game

! U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

! U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

! Huntington Beach Wetlands

Conservancy

! The Irvine Company



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Santa Ana River Trail

The Santa Ana River Trail is discussed at lengthin Sections 2C and 3A-3, and the followingprovides a list of major partners in the trail effort,many of whom have been involved for three orfour decades.

as the Orange Coast River Park, which wouldcreate a 1,400-acre park at the mouth of the SantaAna River. This park would be �assembled froma patchwork quilt of neighboring lands ownedand individually managed by three cities; theCounty of Orange; several regional, State, andfederal agencies; and private entities� (OrangeCoast River Park Proposal 2001).

Chino Basin Program

Chino Basin is one of the largest groundwaterbasins in southern California, and is faced withsignificant organics management and waterquality challenges. Through the collaborationof community leaders including the MilkProducers Council, Inland Empire UtilitiesAgency, Chino Basin Watermaster and manyothers, the Basin has developed an awardwinning organics management andgroundwater protection strategy that offers an

Orange Coast River Park

With a paid membership of over 500 personsand organizations, the Friends of Harbors,Beaches, and Parks was established to promotethe protection, enhancement, and expansion ofOrange County regional parks, open spacepreserves, recreational trails, and coastalrecreational facilities. Shortly after establishmentin 1997 the group set its highest priority project

Chino Basin Partners

! Inland Empire Utilities Agency

! Santa Ana River Watershed Group

(SARWG)

! Milk Producer�s Council

! Synagro

! Orange County Water District

! Chino Basin Watermaster

! All of the Chino Basin Cities

! Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority

! U.S. Department of Agriculture/Natural

Resources Conservation Service

! U.S. Department of Energy and the California

EnergyCommission

! Santa Ana Watershed Association of

Resource Conservation Districts

! San Bernardino County

! Orange County Flood Control

! Orange County Sanitation District

Santa Ana Sucker Discussion Group

SUPPORTING PARTICIPANTS:

City of Riverside

City of San Bernardino

County of Orange PFRD

Orange County Sanitation District

Orange County Water District

Riverside County Flood Control and Water


San Bernardino County Flood Control District

SAWPA

OTHER PARTICIPANTS:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

California Department of Fish and Game

Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board

Riverside-Corona RCD

City of Corona



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integrated (multiple benefit) watershed plan fortreating, recycling and reusing organic materials.This strategy will deliver significant water andair quality improvements for the region, enhancethe reliability of local water supplies, generateclean renewable energy and recycled organicmaterials, provide significant local economicbenefits and contribute to enhanced wildlifehabitats within the Chino Basin. Innovativeprojects under construction include state-of-the-art anaerobic digesters and composting facilities,as well as California�s first platinum �LEED� ratedwater and energy efficient office building thatwill serve as the new headquarters for the InlandEmpire Utilities Agency.

Santa Ana Sucker Discussion Group

The Santa Ana Sucker Discussion group, whichmeets regularly at SAWPA headquarters, hasrecently completed a draft Conservation Programfor the federally threatened fish. The program,which has been submitted to the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service, enumerates activities that maybe undertaken by organizations within theWatershed to minimize effects on the sucker.Conservation Program partners (which do notinclude all discussion group members)contribute financially to the program on anannual basis, which helps support much neededresearch and conservation measures for thesucker.

Lake Elsinore and San Jacinto WatershedsAuthority (LESJWA)

The joint powers agency referred to is the LakeElsinore and San Jacinto Watersheds Authority(LESJWA), which was created under a JointPowers Agreement on March 8, 2000. A waterresource improvement program has beenestablished for the 700-square-mile San Jacintoand Lake Elsinore watersheds. Theseimprovements address the following objectives:

! Provide nonpoint pollution control

! Develop flood control projects

! Protect wildlife habitat

! Protect and enhance recreationalresources

LESJWA meets monthly and is governed by aBoard of Directors comprised of onerepresentative from each of the memberagencies. The Board is also supported by aTechnical Advisory Committee and a PublicRelations Committee, which meets regularly.

LESJWA has entered into agreements with theRegional Water Quality Control Board for thepurpose of conducting nutrient, pathogen, andtoxic TMDL monitoring programs. Studiesincluded are a Canyon Lake Pathogen TMDL andInternal Loading and Nutrient Cycling in LakeElsinore. A TMDL Workgroup currently meetson a monthly basis to enlist the participation ofstakeholders in solving the various TMDL issues.

LESJWA Partners

City of Canyon Lake

Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District

City of Lake Elsinore

County of Riverside

Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority

San Jacinto River Watershed Council

The Council is a multi-agency non profitcollaborative group of watershed stakeholders.Their purpose is �to ensure that the current andpotential uses of the San Jacinto RiverWatershed�s resources are sustained, restored,and where possible, enhanced, while promotingthe long-term social and economic vitality of the



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region. The council will be serving in an advisaryrole in the development of the San JacintoWatershed Management Plan.

Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project

The Southern California Wetlands RecoveryProject is a partnership of public agenciesworking cooperatively to acquire, restore, andenhance coastal wetlands and watershedsbetween Point Conception and the internationalborder with Mexico. Using a non-regulatoryapproach and an ecosystem perspective, theWetlands Project will work together to identifywetland acquisition and restoration priorities,prepare plans for these priority sites, pool fundsto undertake these projects, implement priorityplans, and oversee post-project maintenance andmonitoring. The goal of the Southern CaliforniaWetlands Recovery Project is to accelerate thepace, the extent, and the effectiveness of coastalwetland restoration in Southern Californiathrough developing and implementing aregional prioritization plan for the acquisition,restoration, and enhancement of SouthernCalifornia�s coastal wetlands and watersheds.Ultimately, the Wetlands Project�s efforts willresult in a long-term increase in the quantity andquality of the region�s wetlands.

Implementation

1. The Santa Ana Watershed communityshould continue to create newpartnerships and projects that improvethe ecological health of the naturalsystems of the Watershed. SAWPA andother interested agencies, organizations,and individuals could help facilitate thisprocess.

2. SAWPA should continue to facilitateWatershed discussions to educate andinform Watershed leaders in thecommunity about funding opportunities

and partnerships that would be beneficialto initiating and completing projectsidentified through this Plan and beyond.

3. SAWPA should continue to work withthe counties and appropriate cities toexpand Watershed cooperation.

4. County and city planners shouldparticipate in Watershed projectdiscussions so that the process ofimplementing the projects identified inthis Plan is carried forward.

5. SAWPA should continue to develop andsponsor watershed and subwatershedgroups and task forces.

6. Watershed participants should investresources to ensure that watershedinterests such as connectivity, trails, openspace, biological diversity, water qualityand supply, wetlands, are supported andincluded in the County of San BernardinoGeneral Plan Update.

7. As projects are proposed throughcollaborative funding opportunities,watershed partners should utilize theMSHCP in making decisions regardingland acquisition areas within RiversideCounty.

8. Watershed stakeholders should continueto engage in watershed-wide(interjurisdictional) collaborationregarding connectivity, trails, and otherwatershed needs so that landscapelinkages, public/private partnerships,acquisition, in-holdings, and publiccoastal access goals are realized in theCounty of Orange General Plan Updateand related planning efforts.

7. Funding

Watershed participants agree that one of thegreatest obstacles to implementing good projectsin the region is the lack of funding. While



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Table 3-6 Potential Watershed Project Funding Sources



119

Table 3-6 Potential Watershed Project Funding Sources



120

significant seed money and partnerships arecurrently in place for a number of watershedprojects such as the Santa Ana River Trailcompletion, there are many more projects, bothlarge and small, which require funding. Thisdocument highlights many of the projects thatwould result in improvements within theWatershed. It also identifies funding needs forthese projects. If funding can be secured forthese projects through increased awareness ofthe needs of this community, then thefundamental goal of this watershed plan willhave been accomplished.

In an effort to facilitate greater understandingof potential funding sources available to projectproponents, Table 3-6 was compiled. This tablewas derived from the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency, Catalog of Federal FundingSources for Watershed Protection, SecondEdition, and from the Los Angeles RegionalWater Quality Control Boards website, SummaryDocument on Grant Funding Sources. Forexpanded information on the programs in Table3-6, please refer to Appendix J. The tableidentifies different areas of interest or topics ofprogram funding. These include: Research/Education; Restoration/Conservation; WaterResource/Water Quality; Wildlife/Habitat;Watershed; Wetlands/Estuaries; Fisheries;Economic Development/ Redevelopment;Recreation; Pollution control; Flood control. Thecolumn labeled �Eligible entities� describes thetypes of organizations or individuals eligible forthe program.

8. Monitoring and Assessment

Outcome indicators are a useful way to measurechange within an area. In this case, outcomeindicators are used as part of the Santa AnaIntegrated Watershed Plan, Environmental andWetlands Component plan to measure changes

in the Santa Ana Watershed as a result of theefforts of SAWPA, SAWPA�s member agencies,other governmental agencies, and citizens�groups. These changes can be the result ofprojects identified within the plan and otheropportunities implemented throughout thewatershed. The first step in categorizingoutcome indicators is to distinguish indicatorsof outcome from those that measure the quantityof work activity done. The number of publicityflyers distributed or the number of water qualityreadings taken is an indicator of work activity.The knowledge levels of those targeted by thepublicity flyers and the nitrogen levelsdetermined from the water quality readings areindicators of outcome. It is extremely importantto distinguish between different types ofindicators in order to set a realistic, achievabletimeframe to reach benchmarks. The U.S.Environmental Protection Agency describes fourcategories of outcome indicators. These arepresented in Table 3-7.

To illustrate, distributing flyers to educatehomeowners on fertilizer application is a workactivity. The percentage of homeowners thatreduced their fertilizer application after flyerdistribution is a first order outcome indicator.The second order outcome indicator is theamount of fertilizer running off of private homes(a hard indicator to measure). Improvements inwater quality in a neighborhood pond fromreduced fertilizer load, such as lowered nitrogenlevels, are a third-order outcome. Finally,improvement in the health of fish that are nolonger threatened by eutrophication is a fourth-order outcome.

Benchmarks

Quantitative goals should accompany outcomeindicators; however, some goals forimprovement will take many years to reach, or



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may never be reached due to unforeseenimpediments. Therefore, it is important tocelebrate successes by setting benchmarks, suchas the attainment of 50 percent of the goals.Reaching both overall goals and benchmark goalsprovides opportunities for additional publicityto the Santa Ana Watershed efforts andrecognizes the amount of hard work performed.

Santa Ana Watershed DataManagement System (SAWDMS)

The Santa Ana Watershed Data ManagementSystem (SAWDMS) will be available forstakeholders to use for a variety of purposes. Thiswatershed-wide database management systemwould include standardization of data fromnumerous stakeholders in the watershed, wouldenable Internet access to the data by appropriateentities, and would be used as a tool to improvewater quality in the watershed.

The data collected would integrate surface andgroundwater data to assist numerous waterquality and water management programs.

Arundo Removal

With respect to the above classification ofmeasurable goals, it is not feasible at this time todevelop a monitoring matrix for all elements ofthe Santa Ana Integrated Watershed Plan,Environmental and Wetlands Component.However, the classification of measurable goalsfor the removal of Arundo donax would be asshown in Table 3-8.

Examples of Measurable Goals andIndicators

The following are examples of further types ofmeasurable goals and indicators that would beidentified after completion Environmental andWetlands Component of the Santa AnaIntegrated Watershed Plan:

1. Protect and Restore Habitat Resources

Remove Invasive Exotic Species

! Acres of land from which exotics havebeen removed

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! Percentage of this land that has remainedinvasive-free after 5 years, 10 years, etc.

! Amount of new riparian habitat created

2. Improve Water Quality and Avoid FutureReductions to Ecosystem Function

Improve Water Quality

! Number of impaired water bodies withinwatershed (waterbodies removed fromthe State Water Resources Control Board�s303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies)

! Use of water quality indicators such asdissolved oxygen, salinity, turbidity, andtemperature.

! Percentage of groundwater basins thatmeets drinking water standards

Increase water conservation/Decrease importedwater use/Reduce salinity

! Watershed wide use of recycled water(measured by millions of gallons per day)

! Per capita daily water use (measured bygallons per day)

! Amount of water imported to theWatershed (measured by acre-feet peryear)

! Use of local water sources and storage oflocal water (measured by acre-feet peryear)

! Water �banked� in groundwater basins(measured by acre-feet per year)

! Reduction and elimination of sources ofsalt in the Watershed

3. Engage the Community throughEducation and Recreational Opportunities

Improve Outdoor Recreational Opportunities

! Miles of biking and hiking trails withinthe Watershed

! Number of mega-connected trails (e.g.over 5 miles long)

! Number of publicly provided campingsites

! Number of equestrian staging areas

Increase Open Space

! Acres of land under protection on variouslevels within the watershed (e.g., private,city, county, state, and conservationeasements)

! Acres of land covered in permeable vs.nonpermeable surfaces

! Public space acreage per 1,000 people(from SCAG data)

! Acreage of open space that provide multi-purpose benefits

Promote Watershed Education / CommunityOutreach

! Percentage of watershed residents that canaccurately answer the questions, �Whatis a watershed?� and �What watersheddo you live in?�

! Incorporation of water conservationcurriculum into Orange County,Riverside County, and San BernardinoCounty Schools

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! Participation of watershed residents inannual Coastal Clean-up (sponsored bythe Center for Marine Conservation)

4. Plan for the Future

Identify Future Sources of Funding

! Number of grant applications made forwatershed projects from

a. Local funding sources

b. State funding sources

c. Federal funding sources

! Number of grants won for watershedprojects from

a. Local funding sources

b. State funding sources

c. Federal funding sources

! Operational and maintenance fundingbudgeted (measured per millions ofdollars invested)

! Number of broad programmatic fundingsources identified

Santa Ana River WatershedCitizens Monitoring Project

The Santa Ana River Watershed CitizensMonitoring Program is funded through theU.S.EPA and the SWRCB, and administeredthrough the Santa Ana RWQCB. The programis run by the Orange County Coastkeeper, withassistance from the Riverside Corona RCD andthe East Valley RCD. Watershed citizens engagein monitoring activities to identify sources ofnonpoint source contaminants. Public outreachand education is an integral part of the project,which trains volunteers to collect water qualitydata that is later reported to the RWQCB.

B. Opportunities

Watershed Projects

The following projects, shown in Table 3-9, havebeen proposed by watershed stakeholdersincluding cities, counties, agencies,organizations, and individuals. These are projectsthat may be in need of partnering or funding.While some projects are further along thanothers, all of these projects would enhance theecological function of systems within theWatershed. Types of projects include wetlands,education, trails, habitat, and invasive speciesremoval. Many of these are multi-objectiveconservation projects serving two or moreecological purposes. Refer to Figure 3-5, for amap of potential wetland projects and Figure 3-6 for a map of other projects and opportunitieswithin the Watershed. In Figure 3-6, the maplegend identifies project categories. In addition,Appendix A, Scoping Meeting Notes andAppendix B, Watershed Project Database andSummary include more detail on projects if thisinformation was available at the release of thePlan.

�Self-maintaining systems have certainattributes of a size, amount and shape torespond to forces of change, and to persist. Atleast four critical functions must be maintainedand be able to support wildlife despitedisturbance if the ecosystem is to be self-supporting. The health of a stream and itsability to withstand disturbance can beassessed by (1) habitat amount, (2) conduit ofnecessary elements, (3) connectivity betweenpatches of habitat, and (4) transition betweenedges of habitats.�

�Jim Steele, EIP Associates



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Figure 3-5 Potential Wetland Projects within the Watershed



125

Figure 3-6 Other Projects and Opportunities within the Watershed



126

Table 3-9 Watershed Projects and Opportunities



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128




129




130




131




132




133




134




135




136




137




138




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Watershed Structure andFunction RestorationRecommendations

The restoration recommendations are intendedto allow jurisdictions, communities, and groupsto advance, promote, and enable the conceptsbelow.

Recommendation #1: Improve WaterQuality and Preserve and ImproveEcosystem Function

1-A. Develop water treatment wetlands andchannels to improve water quality in asustainable manner and provide multiplebenefits.

1-B. Protect, restore and widen riparianvegetation corridors to reduce impacts ofstormwater runoff, provide habitat, andimprove aesthetics.

! Reintroduce vegetated buffer stripswherever possible along stream banksto reduce the force of a floodingcurrent against the bank, slow wateroverflowing channel banks, and allowsediment to deposit.

! Ensure that riparian vegetated bufferstrips are as wide as possible, althougha narrow strip is better than none atall.

1-C. Carefully plan human activities to reduceerosion.

1-D. Continue to utilize technologicallyadvanced sustainable solutions toresource management dilemmas, such aswater quality improvements.

1-E. Reduce or eliminate beach closuresthrough water quality improvements andreduction of contaminant discharge intothe Pacific Ocean.

Recommendation #2: Protect andRestore Habitat Resources

2-A. Restore natural wetland habitats in floodplains of the River and its tributaries.

! Look for opportunities in naturalundeveloped areas to add wetlandsthat will increase complex naturalhabitats in juxtaposition to the streamsystem.

! Connect wetlands to the streamcorridor through the addition ofchannels and vegetation.

2-B. Protect and restore remaining nativespecies and habitats.

! Recreate meanders and backwaterswhere possible within the River andits tributaries to enhance native fishhabitat.

! Create drop structures and otheroxygenation devices that do notinhibit fish passage.

! Reestablish riffle substrates.

! Develop instream structures topromote pool and flow complexes.

2-C. Identify public and private agencies andorganizations to maintain acquired landsand funding sources.

2-D. Acquire key parcels of land forconservation.

! Establish conservation goals andtarget selection criteria.

! Identify key potential parcels basedon selection criteria.

! Negotiate conservation easements asan alternative to outright purchase oflands.



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2-E. Promote the identification,establishment, and protection of wildlifecorridors.

2-F. Connect upland vegetation and habitatsthrough edge habitats and corridors.

! Locate isolated habitat patches andestablish corridors suitable to increasethe habitat diversity available to allspecies.

! Plant native trees, shrubs, and forbsto establish wildlife-friendlypathways along roads and channels.

2-G. Remove and control exotic species.

! Continue active programs for removalof established invasive species.

! Identify and control recentlyestablished invasive species to preventfurther spread.

! Prevent introduction of futureinvasive species.

Recommendation #3: Engage theCommunity through Education andRecreation

3-A. Improve recreational opportunities forthe region, including access to streams,lakes, and beaches through dedication ofeasements and land acquisition.

3-B. Increase water conservation and decreaseimported water use through publiceducation and provision of water savingdevices.

3-C. Involve the public through outreach andeducation coordinated with the agenciesand schools in the watershed.

3-D. Increase available open space throughoutthe region, including balancing openspace availability among variouscommunities by increasing parklandacreage in densely urbanized areas.

Recommendation #4: Plan for theFuture

4-A. Facilitate partnerships among groupswith similar goals and supportcommunity based sub-watershedgroups.

4-B. Work with the State Resources Agencythrough the California WatershedManagement Forums and other standardRegional Agencies to achieve State andregional goals.

4-C. Use the best scientific data available andregional collaboration to make complexresource management decisions.

4-D. Promote effective watershed monitoring,data management, and project evaluationprograms.

4-E. Identify and pursue future sources offunding to complete watershed projects.Funding source identification shouldinclude provisions for operation andmaintenance of projects in addition tocapital expenditures.

4-F. Utilize this Santa Ana IntegratedWatershed Plan, Environmental andWetlands Component as a livingdocument, including regular updates tomaintain current watershed-wideplanning and coordination.

C. Next Steps

Plan Life Continues BeyondToday

In as much as this Plan presents a snapshot ofthe innovative projects and summarizes the plansand projects of many agencies, it will quicklyage. SAWPA has received excellent feedbackfrom agencies, groups, and individuals in thisprocess.



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The dynamic nature of projects and plans in theWatershed necessitates their update and renewalon a relatively frequent basis. This Plan will beused by agencies in the Watershed to helpintegrate plans and to focus funding on projectsthat are most effective and ready to proceed. Thisinformation must remain current to be effective.

Additionally, revisions to this Plan�s strategiesaimed at restoring the ecological function of theWatershed will develop over time forming aculture for the Watershed community. Futurerevisions of this document will capture thesedevelopments, new projects that are created, andprojects currently listed that develop and evolve.

The SAWPA Commission will adopt this plan aspart of the Integrated Watershed Plan for theSanta Ana River Watershed and will use it toguide funding and development priorities.

As the need for update and the funding isavailable, SAWPA will initiate efforts to updateand refine this Plan. Necessary elements forinclusion in Phase II of the Environmental andWetlands Component are as follows:

! More information on the natural historyof the watershed, including vegetationdescriptions.

! An assesment of remaining significanthabitat is needed. This assessment isessential for setting priorities. A moredetailed description of natural resources,including vegetation, and a morecomprehensive analysis of the ecologicalfunction of the Santa Ana River is needed.

! An expanded, more comprehensiveassessment of ecological/open space/recreational resources and theirsignificance to the region, the state, andthe nation would be useful in seekingfurther funding.

! Further information to explain what isspecial about the Santa Ana Watershedas a system, and what it contributes toCalifornia�s and the nation�s resourcesoverall.

! Development of a multi-benefit, multi-agency strategy to help achieve agreed-upon watershed goals.

! Gap analysis for the watershed.

! Development of a coordinated, multi-benefits, multi-agency strategy to helpachieve agreed upon watershed goals.

Given that everyone associated with the SantaAna Watershed is inextricably linked from themountains to the Pacific Ocean, additionalpartnering with State, federal, and regionalagencies to further watershed planning efforts isvital. The actions of upstream users impact thequality of life of downstream users, and keepingthis connection in mind is very important toimproving both the overall ecological functionof the watershed and the quality of life of itsresidents.

Prado WetlandsPhoto courtesy of SAWPA



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Finally, further efforts to engage the planningcommunity (i.e., community development andplanning staff at Watershed cities and otheragencies at every level of government as well asprivate sector planning) should include training,workshops, and other educational forums tofacilitate free exchange of innovative ideas andinformation related to the implementation ofwatershed planning. Realization of therecommendations and projects in this documentand future iterations of this document requireplanning staff engagement and dedication. TheSanta Ana Watershed is making progress towarda healthier and more ecologically sustainablewatershed through continued collaboration andleadership in the protection of its resources.

SECTION THREE GUIDE FOR THE FUTURE...Within Southern California, coastal wetlands serve as nurseries...

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