Photo: Arundo (Giant Bamboo) burning in Sycamore Creek January 25, 2002 without wind to carry the fire. Invasive Arundo will eventually dominate the creek and carry fire to adjacent properties under extreme weather conditions if not removed. Photo by Ken Decker.

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Introduction

The Sycamore Creek restoration project proposes to restore natural flood protection and enhance wildlife habitat. The project will remove invasive species, remove solid waste and reduce sedimentation by stabilizing stream banks with native vegetation. It will also monitor water quality and the restoration efforts. Restoration will increase public appreciation for the value of riparian areas through interpretive signage and public participation.

The objectives are to reduce growing risk of flood and fire, eliminate Arundo’s negative impacts to valuable riparian and aquatic habitats, enhance water quality and supply, and restore more natural stream geomorphology. The San Diego River and the southern segment of Sycamore Creek are experiencing explosions of Arundo donax (Giant Reed) greatly increasing flood and fire hazards. Approximately 60% of the Santee segment of Sycamore Creek is heavily impacted with Arundo or other exotic species such as Pampassgrass. The State Water Resources Control Board has identified “pollutants of special concern” within Sycamore Creek as “eutrophication, phosphorous, trash and Arundo donax.” Control and eradication of Arundo within Sycamore Creek logically precedes efforts within the San Diego River downstream.

For the first mile of Sycamore Creek north of the San Diego River, Arundo is “dominant,” (amalgamated clumps, continuous in places). Proceeding north for the next mile in the channel adjacent to urban development, Arundo is “abundant,” (20 to 200 clumps/mile). From the end of residential development on the west, for another mile and a half north and still adjacent to Padre Dam Regional Park, Campground and Sewage Treatment Plant on the east, Arundo is “scattered,” 6-20 clumps/mile.” Once past a field of Arundo adjacent to the sewage treatment plant, Arundo is absent and the creek is healthy.

Restoration will reduce the immediate risks to two bridges over Sycamore Creek at Carlton Oaks Drive and Mast Boulevard, reduce the threat to single family homes along the Creek’s western bank, and to condominiums on the east bank near the junction with the San Diego River.

Sycamore Creek is a significant tributary to the San Diego River. Winter rains bring substantial flows emanating from Sycamore, Quail, West Sycamore and Clark Canyons. The watershed drains more than 10,000 acres and includes portions of San Diego’s East Elliot, eastern Marine Core Air Station Miramar, Goodan Ranch/Sycamore Preserves and Santee’s Fanita Ranch. Restoring natural flood protection in Sycamore Creek will reduce flood risk downstream in the highly urbanized San Diego River floodplain. The western portion of the San Diego River Watershed has a large population at risk from disastrous floods. Any significant storm event now brings flooding to roads and property within Mission Valley. Flood risks are exacerbated by non-native species such as Arundo, which choke out native riparian habitat and accumulate in large mats of debris during floods. Debris dams against bridges and culverts raise water levels and substantially increase flood damage.

An increasing number of homeowners along the west bank of Sycamore Creek are clearing Arundo without removing it from the streambed or revegetating with native species. This clearing magnifies the flood and fire risk downstream as vegetation clumps and bundles with released sediments and other solid wastes. The clearing also acts as a seed source for the growing infestation without achieving any real eradication at the cleared sites. This project will work with adjacent homeowners to eradicate Arundo and revegetate banks with native species using environmentally sound techniques.

The project further proposes to halt substantial bank erosion at the Quail/Sycamore Creek junction, at the West Sycamore Creek junction that now endangers a powerline and mature oak tree, and at previously cleared areas of the Sycamore Creek streambed.

This project has several secondary biological and ecological objectives:
* Preserve existing native riparian habitat and prevent further spread of Arundo infestations.
* Restore native vegetation and processes already destroyed by Arundo.
* Protect and restore habitat for native species that depend upon native vegetation.
* Conserve water resources by reducing the Arundo biomass on the waterway.
* Protect and restore natural stream geomorphological processes by preventing channel bed aggradation, severe bank cutting, and silt deposition caused by Arundo biomass buildup.
* Protect vegetation, bank stability, and streamside property by reducing the threat of flooding and fire brought by advanced Arundo infestations.
* Reduce the volume and velocity of runoff during storm events by implementing a revegetation plan after Arundo eradication.
* Increase public appreciation for the value of riparian areas through interpretive signage, public participation and water quality monitoring.

The alien grass known as Arundo is possibly the greatest biological threat to dwindling riparian resources in San Diego County. Arundo rapidly and catastrophically alters ecological processes in riparian systems, ultimately moving formerly diverse ecosystems towards pure stands of Arundo through a regime of intensified flooding and fire.

It is imperative that Sycamore Creek receive funding to control these smaller infestations before they become ecological crises. Arundo spreads very rapidly. A minor colony can quickly become a major threat to flood and fire safety, aquatic and riparian habitat quality, and water supply. Removing Arundo early is the only way to avoid expensive, disruptive large-scale eradication efforts that may now be required downstream in the San Diego River

 

		Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 15:00:47 -0800 To: JBartell@ci.santee.ca.us, JDale@ci.santee.ca.us, LHoward@ci.santee.ca.us, HRyan@ci.santee.ca.us, RVoepel@ci.santee.ca.us From: "Van K. Collinsworth" <Van27@home.com> Subject: Results - State Review of Sycamore Creek Application Dear Santee City Council members, The final review of the Sycamore Creek USRP Application has returned from the State very positive. The written review appears below. You may recall that the council dismissed the application earlier due to the misperception that the draft application had been previously scored uncompetitive. In fact, the State reviewer (Ms. Bea McKamey) has stated below and in other recent communications that the application is "competitive," "strongly written," "a model for a well written grant" and that her recommendation is for Santee to submit the Sycamore Creek Application for an Urban Streams Restoration Program Grant. Considering that this application has the potential to bring approximately $200,000 in State funds to Santee in order to address the growing flood and fire risks on Sycamore Creek, I respectfully request reconsideration of the application at the Feb 27, 2002 City Council meeting and your approval to submit the application by the grant deadline of March 6. The upcoming Council meeting is the final opportunity to meet the grant deadline of March 6. Padre Dam Municipal Water District has already voted to cosponsor the application. There is a great need for the restoration project as was demonstrated by the recent fire in the creek adjacent to homes. Giant Bamboo (Arundo) exploded in fifty-foot flames. Fortunately, wind conditions were calm at the time allowing the fire to be extinguished without property damage. The Sycamore Creek restoration project will reduce flood and fire risk by eradicating this rapidly spreading hazard and benefit native wildlife. Success of the San Diego River Park is dependent upon restoration of its major tributaries. The San Diego River Park Foundation has endorsed the project (along with other groups) and states," The Sycamore Creek Restoration Project is an essential component needed for the success of broader efforts planned in the San Diego River Watershed." California Native Plant Society stated, "Removal of Arundo from these feeder tributaries is important to the long-term removal of Arundo from the San Diego River." This is a project that can only benefit the community and that any community group or individual can participate in. I respectfully ask the Council to reconsider its prior decision at the next City Council meeting and I am at your service to address any question you may have. Sincerely, Van K. Collinsworth Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 05:33:49 -0800 (PST) From: Beatrice McKamey Subject: Sycamore Creek USRP application To: van27@home.com Van, I just finished reading your draft application for Sycamore Creek restoration. First, I want to thank you for getting it to me early for review. It was the first review application I received. Also, I am impressed by the thoroughness of the application and the readability. You apparently took my suggestions to heart and incorporated them in a very convincing way. I may use this as a model for a well-written grant in the future. As for the content of the grant, I expect it to be competetive. However, remember that we are expecting 100 or more applications and there are a lot of other deserving projects out there. The review team will have a tough time. The grant, as is, is strongly written. And, I have two suggestions for strengthening it slightly. First, add a short statement of one or two sentences explaining the relationship of the creek to the San Diego River, (e.g. the largest tributary, arundo needs to be removed before any work on the river proceeds, most densely populated tributary or whatever you feel is important). Second, strengthen question 7 by contacting West Hills High School and asking for the teacher that has the 9th grade honors science class. Work with her to develop some ideas about how the class can get involved in the creek and include that in your application. The only other suggestion I have is to provide, as an attachment, a list of the 30 sensitive animal and plant species as well as a list of the 175 birds identified. This is not critical, but it shows you have done your research. I would like to also suggestion another source of funding that you should consider. The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) has funds for Arundo chipping and disposal. You should contact them to find out if you are eligible. They are undersubscribed and I think they have an open application cycle. If you think there is a chance you could get part of the funding there, state that in this application, but don't change what you are asking for. Just include a statement that you are attempting to find other funds and if they come through you could accept less funding from USRP. Try locating a contact on their website: www.ciwmb.ca.gov. If that doesn't work, I will be back in the office on Tuesday (20) and can give you phone numbers. Send me an e-mail as a reminder. Congratulations on a well-written application. Bea McKamey Urban Streams Specialist California Dept. of Water Resources Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 07:19:52 -0800 From: "McKamey, Bea" <beam@water.ca.gov Smaller projects are more likely to be considered for funding, UNLESS it is a very, very good project. So, I think you should stay the course and apply for funding of just your Sycamore Creek project.