San Bernardino County Flood Control District Ecological Resource Specialist

Cactus Basins Improvement Project Within the City of Rialto South of the 210 Freeway, north of Baseline Road, west of Cactus Avenue To meet the flood control needs of the surrounding community an improvement project has been proposed to increase the flood attenuation.

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

Cactus Basin Improvement Project Former sand and gravel pits north of Basin 3 are proposed to be expanded to Cactus Basin 4 and 5 Cactus Channel will be absorbed into Cactus Basin 4 & 5 Attenuate flows Possible water percolation

Cactus Basin Improvement Project Impacts Riparian vegetation and mulefat scrub Least Bell’s vireo habitat Riversidean alluvial fan sage scrub San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat 1 male captured in 2001, 2006 and then again in 2012 (hopefully not the same guy)

Cactus Basin Improvement Project On-site Mitigation Restoration similar to Cucamonga Basin #6 Riversidean alluvial fan sage scrub on slopes Riparian and mulefat along basin bottom Wetland vegetation in wetted areas Cucamonga Basin #6 in the City of Upland

Cactus Basin Improvement Project Off-site Mitigation 45 acres of Riversidean alluvial fan sage scrub Required by 1988 EIR Conservation easement over Rialto Channel and the confluence with the Santa Ana River Riparian vegetation Mulefat scrub Riversidean alluvial fan sage scrub Santa Ana Sucker Santa Ana woolly star Least Bell’s vireo habitat

Rialto Channel conservation area

Majority of the consistent flows originate from the City of San Bernardino RIX facility Only known spawning habitat of the Santa Ana Sucker (Catostomus santaanae)

Rialto Channel - Mitigation Conservation Easement Habitat Maintenance and Monitoring Plan Annual non-native/Invasive plant management Annual non-native fish removal Annual non-native amphibian removal Maintenance activities identified Minimization measures Agency partnerships

Rialto Channel - Up to now Relatively no regular maintenance activities Emergency driven Limited planning Immediate to no consultation Partnerships based on availability

October 2004 Storms Massive damage to the east side of Rialto Channel Edison lines undermined Ungrouted rock destroyed habitats downstream

October 2004 Storms

2010 Floods Several large storm events caused massive damage throughout San Bernardino County and more were predicted. Two large trees were knocked down and blocking the main flow path downstream of La Cadena. Operation staff felt removal was essential to prevent a repeat of the 2004 flooding

2010 Floods We consulted quickly with USFWS and in coordination with RCRCD, ACOE and CDFW and agreed that trees should be removed

2012 Invasive Plant Removal Coordination with RCRCD, CDFW and USFWS and Cal Fire Non-native vegetation removal Non-native fish removal

2012 Invasive Plant Removal San Bernardino County Flood Control District removed 33 tons of non- native vegetation from the channel Castor bean Tree of heaven Eucalyptus Fan Palm Chinaberry

2012 Invasive Plant Removal 2 native trees were removed which were completely blocking flows and fish passage Trash was picked up by Cal Fire crews Several shopping carts Car bumpers Plastic bags

Unexpected Non-native fish removal Yellow bullhead catfish Gambusia Photo courtesy of Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

2013 Nesting bird surveys Multiple pairs of least Bell’s vireo in channel Bull frog have never been heard before in Rialto Channel Non-native vegetation resprouting

Upcoming focus Securing a third party to hold conservation easement and start management activities Continue open lines of communication with agency partnerships

Continuing challenges Aquatic predators Non-native / invasive plants Upstream trash impacts Unauthorized impacts due to fishing, off-road traffic, trash dumping.

Questions