This section provides summaries, sample maps, figures and links to key project documents and appendices. If you wish to skip the summaries and view the list of complete documents, proceed to the Download Documents section at the end of this page. Documents are in draft form until approved by the Coastal Commission

George Thomson, Parks and Open Space Manager, presented the Phase 1 Implementation Plan at a public hearing to the Goleta City Council on October 17, 2023.

Council unanimously:

• Adopted the amended Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
• Approved the Development Plan and In-Concept Coastal Development Permit
• Authorized submittal of a Coastal Development Permit application to the California Coastal Commission. 

Background information and a summary of the project can be viewed in the Staff Report. A complete set of documents submitted to the City Council can be downloaded from the October 17, 2023 City Council Agenda Item 23-495 and you can watch a recording of the October 17, 2023 City Council meeting.

Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan Implementation Plan Phase 1  -
Coastal Development Permit Application June 2023

This document is the project overview. It details actions the City of Goleta will take for maintenance and management of the regionally important overwintering habitat for monarch butterflies at Ellwood. It includes background information, a project description, public input, regulatory setting, monitoring and the City's adaptive management strategy.

Download DRAFT Coastal Development Permit Application (42 pages).

Appendix A - Waiver de Minimis March 2023

This is the complete application package submitted to the Coastal Commission requesting a waiver for hazardous fuel reduction project. You can find a summary of this project and individual project documents at Ellwood Mesa Neighborhoods Hazardous Fuel Reduction project or download the complete Waiver package (521 pages).

Appendix B - Past Coastal Development Permit Special Conditions Matrix

This Appendix refers back to Attachment 7 of the Waiver de Minimis in Appendix A above.

Appendix C - Resource Avoidance Program

This table summarizes the pre, during, and post construction surveys and monitoring required by the project's Mitigated Negative Declaration and other guiding documents.

Download DRAFT Resource Avoidance Program (6 pages).

Appendix D - Monarch Butterfly Overwintering Habitat Analysis and Recommendations For Restoration April 2023 (Ellwood Technical Report)

This report prepared by Althouse and Meade, Inc. includes the technical studies that form the basis for implementation of the Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan (MBHMP) relative to monarch overwintering biology and habitat needs. It reports on five years of extensive and rigorous studies to ensure the best restoration effort can be implemented and to address concerns of community members. It includes:

1. Executive Summary.
2. Introduction and the History of Ellwood Mesa.
3. Monarch Butterfly Overwintering Habitat and Biology -including tree species consideration and selection.
4. Ellwood Mesa Background - monarch counts, climate and topography, analysis of tree mortality and its affect on monarch habitat.
5. Status of the habitat - LiDAR, hemispherical photography, and wind models help us understand the current condition and make recommendations for restoration action in each habitat area.
6. Recommendations for deferred maintenance, fuel reduction, and planting design in each habitat area.

Sample Planting Plan

Download Complete DRAFT Monarch Butterfly Overwintering Habitat Analysis and Recommendations For Restoration (234 pages, includeMonarch Habitat Analysis F - Dead Wood Removal Habitat Effects appendices)

APPENDICES

Monarch Habitat Analysis A - Hemispherical Photography Methods

Monarch Habitat Analysis B - Wind Modelling Methods

Monarch Habitat Analysis C - Mesa Monarch Counts 2015-2023

Monarch Habitat Analysis D - Habitat on the Razor's Edge

Monarch Habitat Analysis E - Ellwood Wind Data

Monarch Habitat Analysis G - Habitat Characterization Report

Appendix E - Construction Documents April 2023

This document provides maps, plans, and drawings for trail repair, public access improvements, irrigation, tree planting, grading, and erosion control. Also included are visual renderings of the culvert repair, access gate, viewing area and footbridge shown below.

Download DRAFT Construction Documents (45 pages)

Appendix F - Biological Resources Assessment Report February 2023

The Biological Resources Assessment conducted by Rincon Consultants, Inc. documents the biological resources that occur, or have the potential to occur, based on results of field visits and a desktop review, and provides an assessment of potential impacts to those resources from proposed activities associated with the project site. The report also includes recommended avoidance and minimization measures for protection of sensitive resources occurring in and adjacent to the project site. It is a comprehensive inventory of hydrology, soils, vegetation and wildlife including special status species and sensitive habitat areas. 

Download complete DRAFT Biological Resources Assessment Report (522 pages, includes appendices)

APPENDICES

Biological Resources Report A - Regulatory Setting

Biological Resources Report B - Site Photographs

Biological Resources Report C - Floral and Faunal Compendium

Biological Resources Report D - Special Status Species Evaluation Tables

Biological Resources Report E - Native Tree Matrix

Biological Resources Report F - Overwintering Monarch Butterfly Survey Report 2021-2022

Biological Resources Report G - Initial Study Mitigated Negative Declaration

Biological Resources Report H - IS:MND App D Mitigation and Monitoring Plan

Biological Resources Report I - Jurisdictional Delineation Report

Biological Resources Report J - Phase 1 Mitigation and Monitoring Plan

Biological Resources Report K - Special Conditions from NOI Permit Application No. 4-18-1223

Appendix G - Jurisdictional Delineation Report February 2023

This report was prepared by Rincon Consultants, Inc. to assist with the planning of the Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Implementation Plan Phase 1 project, and for use by:

• United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to confirm extent of potential jurisdiction pursuant to Section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA)
• Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) to confirm
  extent of potential jurisdiction pursuant to Section 401 of the CWA and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act
• California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to confirm extent of
  potential jurisdiction pursuant to California Fish and Game Code (CFGC) Section 1600 et seq
• California Coastal Commission (CCC) to confirm extent of coastal wetlands pursuant to the CaliforniaCoastal Act (CCA).

Figure 5 National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) and National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)

Download DRAFT Jurisdictional Delineation Report (90 pages)

Wildlife Species Protection Plan October 3, 2023

Storrer Environmental Services, LLC and Rincon Consultants, Inc. prepared the Wildlife Species Protection Plan (WSPP) on behalf of the City of Goleta for approved activities within the Ellwood Mesa/Sperling Preserve Open Space (Ellwood Mesa). The purpose of the WSPP is to summarize the protocols and methods that will be implemented to avoid/minimize impacts to special status wildlife species during implementation of covered activities in Ellwood Mesa (e.g., emergency tree removals, emergency public access and infrastructure repairs, hazardous fuel reduction, and implementation of the Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan [MBHMP]). The WSPP incorporates the goals, policies, actions, implementation priorities, and schedules from the 2019 Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan (Appendix A) and other applicable policy and environmental documents.

In addition to this document, the Nesting Bird Management Plan (next section below) applies during nesting bird season (Feb 1-Sep 15).

WSPP Figure 2 California Natural Diversity Database Wildlife Occurrences 

Download Wildlife Species Protection Plan (19 pages)

Nesting Bird Management Plan October 3, 2023

Storrer Environmental Services, LLC prepared the Nesting Bird Management Plan (NBMP) on behalf of the City of Goleta (City) for proposed covered activities within the Ellwood Mesa/Sperling Preserve Open Space (Ellwood Mesa) (Figure 1). The purpose of the NBMP is to summarize the protocols and methods that will be implemented to avoid/minimize impacts to nesting birds when covered activities within the Ellwood Mesa (e.g., emergency tree removals, emergency public access and infrastructure repairs, hazardous fuel reduction, implementation of the Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan [MBHMP]) occur during the nesting bird season (Feb 1-Sep 15). 

The plan includes required and City proposed environmental protection practices including  training, best practices, survey and monitoring methodology, recommended buffers, and reporting.

Figure 2 - Historic Raptor Nesting Sites

Download Nesting Bird Management Plan (18 pages)

Questions, comments or ideas? We'd like to hear from you. Please contact the Parks and Open Space Division at ellwoodmesa@cityofgoleta.org