MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK 3.7. West Sycamore The West Sycamore area is bounded by residential uses on the west, the two-lane Sycamore Canyon Road on the north, Goodan Ranch Sycamore Canyon Preserve to the east, and MCAS Miramar to the south. The subarea is separated from the rest of the park by about 3.5 miles spanning the breadth of MCAS Miramar. Except for the portion occupied by SDG&E electrical transmission lines and associated access roads, most of the area is in a natural state. The area is characterized by a dominant ridgeline that separates the Peñasquitos Creek and San Diego River watersheds and incised canyons with moderate to steep slopes. West Sycamore (Source Bing 2012) As mentioned previously, the West Sycamore area was acquired through an Extraordinary ry Benefi ts Agreement between the City of San Diego and Sycamore Estates, L.L.C., approved by the San Diego City Council on July 19, 2001 as part of the Rancho Encantada Precise Plan. This obligated the developer to convey land for the purposes of habitat conservation to the City of San Diego. PUBL DRAFT 3.7.1. Ownership and Land Use The West Sycamore area is approximately 1,360 acres in size completely within in the jurisdiction of the City of San Diego and the Rancho Encantada community plan area (Figure 3-42). Land uses within this area include multiple le SDG&E utility easements, with a vast majority of the West Sycamore area being preserved within the City s MHPA, except for previously developed areas along the main ridgeline. 3.7.2. Utilities There are several utilities within the West Disturbed ridgeline south of Staging Area Sycamore area. SDCWA operates and maintains two regional water supply pipelines. SDG&E operates and maintains a high voltage electrical transmission line. The City of San Diego PUD operates and maintains water and sewer main pipelines supporting the residential development along the western edge of the area (Figure 3-42). 3-87
2016 MASTER PLAN UPDATE Figure 3-42: West Sycamore Ownership and Utilities y P kw a ay s Po w Scripp C LI Key Map WAY MCAS Miramar SANTE E 52 U V 0 1,500 Feet Municipal Boundaries 3-88 Electric Lines CITY OF SAN DIEGO E Water Mains Parcel Ownership Water Supply Pipelines LA MES A 8 3,000 EL CAJON 125 V U 15
3.7.3. Biological Resources West Sycamore is dominated by chaparral and coastal sage scrub with additional areas of oak woodland and grassland. Populations of San Diego barrel cactus, willowy monardella, and decumbent goldenbush are found here. Mule deer frequent this area. The California gnatcatcher and the southern California rufouscrowned sparrow utilize the areas of coastal sage scrub. Both the San Diego horned lizard and the Belding s orange-throated whiptail utilize the areas dominated by rock outcrops. This is also the only area of MTRP that supports the Coastal Cactus Wren. Figure 3-43 shows the location and general eral extents of the vegetation communities and sensitive species. Table 3-25 summarizes the vegetation communities and Table 3-26 lists the known sensitive species within the area based on existing survey data and may not represent a comprehensive list. The NRMP (Appendix A) provides additional information on these resources, including recommended management actions. MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK PU DRAFT Willowy monardella habitat Coastal Cactus Wren habitat Table 3-25: West Sycamore Vegetation Communities Vegetation Community Acres Chamise Chaparral 372.1 Coast Live Oak Woodland 4.4 Diegan Coastal Sage Scrub 337.7 Disturbed Habitat 57.2 Eucalyptus Woodland 1.5 Native Grassland 7.0 Non-native Grassland 17.1 Southern Mixed Chaparral 561.6 1,358.6 LIC 3-89
2016 MASTER PLAN UPDATE Figure 3-43: West Sycamore Vegetation Communities and Sensitive Species y Pkwa ay s Po w Scripp IC Key Map WAY MCAS Miramar SANTE E 52 U V 0 1,500 Feet 3,000 E Southern Mixed Chaparral E 3-90 Invertebrates Mammals X Bats Reptiles / Amphibians " k Disturbed Habitat Plants Eucalyptus Woodland Diegan Coastal Sage Scrub LA MES A Non-native Grassland 8 Sensitive Species # Birds Coast Live Oak Woodland Chamise Chaparral Native Grassland Vegetation Types Municipal Boundaries MTRP Boundary EL CAJON 125 V U 15
Table 3-26: West Sycamore Sensitive Species MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK MSCP Covered Sensitive Plant Species San Diego barrel cactus Ferocactus viridescens Willowy monardella Monardella linioides spp. Viminea MSCP Covered Sensitive Animal Species Belding's orange-throated whiptail Aspidoscelis hyperthra beldingi Coastal horned lizard Phrynosoma blainvillii Cooper's hawk Accipiter cooperi Southern California rufous-crowned sparrow Aimophila rufi ceps canescens California gnatcatcher Polioptila californica californica Southern mule deer Odocoileus hemionus fuliginata Mountain lion Puma concolor Non-MSCP Covered Sensitive Species Western whiptail Aspidoscelis tigris Red diamond rattlesnake Crotalus ruber Coast patch-nosed snake Salvadora hexalepis virgultea Palmer's sagewort Artemisia palmeri Quino checkerspot butterfl y Euphydryas editha quino Grasshopper sparrow Ammodramus savannarum Black tailed jackrabbit Lepus californicus Palmer's grappling hook Harpagonella palmeri DRAF PUB 3.7.4. Circulation and Parking The area is accessed from Stonebridge Staging Area. The gate at the staging area is open daily from 8am to 5pm from November through February and 8am to 7pm from March through October. Of the 9.26 miles of circulation routes, 6.39 miles are utilized for vehicular access. The entrance road is the only paved road within the area. There are also nearly six miles of unpaved utility and park access roads within the area (Figure 3-44 and Table 3-27). Off street parking is provided at the Stonebridge Staging Area. Additional parking and access is available from the staging area for Goodan Ranch Sycamore Canyon Preserve at the end of Sycamore Canyon Road. T Entry to West Sycamore Staging Area Table 3-27: West Sycamore Vehicular Circulation Miles Percent Paved Park Road 0.50 5.41% Paved Maintenance Road - 0.0% Unpaved Park Road 0.41 4.42% Unpaved Utility Road 5.48 59.11% Total 6.39 3-91
2016 MASTER PLAN UPDATE Figure 3-44: West Sycamore Vehicular Circulation and Parking s Pow Scripp w ay Pk ay C LI Key Map P MCAS Miramar SANTEE 52 15 125 EL CAJON LA MESA 8 MTRP Boundary Municipal Boundaries Existing Circulation Paved Park Access Unpaved Maintenance Access Unpaved Park Access 3-92 0 1,500 Feet 3,000
3.7.5. Facilities and Uses MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK The parking lot and picnic area at the Stonebridge Staging Area are the only developed uses within the area. Future plans call for the addition of a Ranger s offi ce and comfort station to be added to the staging area. 3.7.6. Recreational Use There are approximately 6 miles of recreational trails, within the West Sycamore area primarily utilizing narrowed existing utility access roads (Figure 3-45 and Table 3-28). Equestrian use is allowed on designated trails with access from the future facilities at the staging area at the end of Stonebridge Parkway, or from within the adjacent Goodan Ranch Sycamore Canyon Preserve via trail connections. ns. Public trespass onto MCAS Miramar currently A section of recently constructed trail occurs on a regular basis as users follow utility access roads or unauthorized user created trails that t cross training related safety zones, operational areas, potential unexploded ordnance (UXO) as shown in Figure 3-8 on page 3-12. Table 3-28: West Sycamore Recreational al Trails Miles Percent Class I Multi-use Path - 0.0% Hike/Bike Trail 0.45 4.83% Hiking Trail - 0.0% Multi-use Trail 5.45 58.80% Unauthorized Trail - 0.0% Total 5.89 DRAFT PUBLIC 3-93
2016 MASTER PLAN UPDATE Figure 3-45: West Sycamore Recreational Trails ay s Pow Scripp Pkwa y D Stonebridge St S Stone n Staging Stagin ng Area IC Key Map P MCAS Miramar SANTEE 52 15 125 EL CAJON LA MESA 8 MTRP Boundary Municipal Boundaries Existing Trail Use Hike/Bike Trail Multi-use Path Non-Trail Road 3-94 0 1,500 Feet 3,000