HomeMy WebLinkAboutRE_ EXTERNAL_ Fw_ _EXTERNAL_ Photos of Canyon Loop Trail Work_ Diamond BarCAUTION: This message originated outside of our City of Diamond Bar network.
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Ryan
First, the hydroseed mix: following a field review on September 2, 2021, in which I and Ron Dietz, President of Dietz Hydroseeding Company (with over 30 years of mix selections and
applications for natural areas throughout much of California) discussed how to primarily provide effective erosion control within a reasonably short time period (and without any supplemental
irrigation applications to germinate and establish plant material). Following that field discussion, Ron came up with the recommendation of the Basic Native Erosion Control Mix, from
S&S Seed. This selection, which was then specified in the Project’s Special Provisions of the Specifications, was selected with the goal of providing reasonably quick erosion control,
which would ultimately be overtaken by the dominant existing plant species within the Canyon Loop Trail region. Our conclusion was that the existing native species could not be counted
on as providing a successful erosion control for several seasons (highly impacted by the annual rainfall within any given time period).
This selection was not debated with me by any City staff, and as a part of the comprehensive bid package, became an approved hydroseed mix for this project. I am not aware of any more
in-depth discussion between any other environmental consultants and other staff within the City’s team members.
X-Section Grades: Commonly used symbol for Cross-Section Grades. As directed in Detail 1 on the Title Sheet of the approved Plans, all trails are to be constructed with a minimum of
a 2% cross slope, and a maximum of a 5% cross slope. In addition, the disturbed areas, graded to transition from new trail cross-slope grades to existing grades at the limits of work,
must not exceed 2% grade. To obtain this project’s trail grade requirement, even some of the “Protect-in-Place” trail segments may need to have minor finish grading to meet this cross-slope
grade requirement. Depending on the existing cross slope-grades, the existing width of the trail prior to performing the contracted work, and the steepness/flatness of the immediately-adjacent
grades (disturbed areas), there is not a STANDARD applicable cross-section which could have been indicated on the approved plans which consistently meets the existing conditions. Once
the widened trail is 5’-0”, the Contractor must then fine-grade the immediately-adjacent “shoulder” areas to meet the trail-edge grades on one side and daylight with natural grades
on the far side of the disturbed areas.
Without a large-scale topography map to more precisely pre-determine exactly what areas are to receive this re-seeding process, it was the design team’s challenge to forecast the amount
of disturbed area, outside of the 5’-0” trail, which could be indicated on a Planting Plan/Construction Plan to show pre-determined areas to be re-seeded. That forecast calculation
is resulting in Bid Item #23, of 4,000 SF.
I hope this offers more clarity.
Dick Fisher
Richard Fisher Associates
4902 Kron Street, Irvine CA 92604
(714) 342-5467
rfisher@rfaland.com <mailto:rfisher@rfaland.com>
From: Winkleman, Ryan <Ryan.Winkleman@mbakerintl.com>
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2022 5:18 PM
To: Richard Fisher <rfisher@rfaland.com>; Ryan Wright <RWright@DiamondBarCA.Gov>; Anthony Jordan <AJordan@DiamondBarCA.Gov>
Subject: RE: EXTERNAL: Fw: [EXTERNAL] Photos of Canyon Loop Trail Work, Diamond Bar
Hi Dick,
What are the “X-section grades” that you mentioned as the reason for the temporarily wider trail width? Is there a layman’s term for that? I don’t want to say that to USFWS when I don’t
know what it means myself.
Also, I just checked with Ryan Phaneuf on my end, who is standing in for Anisha on this project while she’s on pregnancy leave and who wrote the HMMP. The scenario described below is
not part of the HMMP. The HMMP describes seeding specific areas along and outside of the trail, but in our case it seems like the bulk of the trail has been expanded beyond 5 feet,
either just the general trail width or via disturbance related to staging and/or sedimentation. Seeding the trail length is not part of the HMMP, so is there a separate plan that describes
this? In addition, can you clarify what you mean by the “approved” S&S Seed’s Basic Native Erosion Control Mix? Who approved the mix for use on the project? I looked it up and it doesn’t
include the native shrubs that make up the surrounding vegetation, which I think could raise an argument for this actually being a permanent impact still, not a temporary one. If the
area was mapped as coastal sage scrub before and is being replaced by a grass and clover mix, that’s not a 1:1 replacement to mitigate a temporary impact. That’s arguably changing the
habitat type unless the native shrubs expand into these areas, which may or may not happen and would probably be more of a long-term thing.
Thanks for your clarification and understanding, this is new information to me and I need to make sure I understand it before I put it in writing back to USFWS.
Ryan Winkleman | Project Manager/Senior Biologist/Certified Senior Ecologist
5 Hutton Centre Drive, Suite 500 | Santa Ana, CA 92707 | [O] 949-330-4115 | [M] (949) 533-0918
ryan.winkleman@mbakerintl.com <mailto:ryan.winkleman@mbakerintl.com> | www.mbakerintl.com <https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.mbakerintl.com%2f&c=E,1,OUUM5bwqH1-LoViBNgLi8T4ZqpK
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From: Richard Fisher <rfisher@rfaland.com <mailto:rfisher@rfaland.com> >
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2022 4:09 PM
To: Winkleman, Ryan <Ryan.Winkleman@mbakerintl.com <mailto:Ryan.Winkleman@mbakerintl.com> >; Ryan Wright <RWright@DiamondBarCA.Gov <mailto:RWright@DiamondBarCA.Gov> >; Anthony Jordan
<AJordan@DiamondBarCA.Gov <mailto:AJordan@DiamondBarCA.Gov> >
Subject: RE: EXTERNAL: Fw: [EXTERNAL] Photos of Canyon Loop Trail Work, Diamond Bar
Ryan:
In minor scenarios, the trail width is less than 5’-0” due to vegetation encroachment. Having said this, most commonly there is currently construction/disturbance activity of about
24” beyond the 5’-0” trail width goal due to adjustments in the “X-section grades” to achieve a permanent 5’-0” “trail pad”. This may be accomplished all on one side, or may be about
half this additional temporary encroachment amount on both sides. Those areas receiving “temporary disturbance” will all be hand-seeded with the approved S&S Seed’s Basic Native Erosion
Control Mix, to encourage more rapid replacement of native vegetation within these temporarily-disturbed areas.
Does this meet your needs?
Dick Fisher
Richard Fisher Associates
4902 Kron Street, Irvine CA 92604
(714) 342-5467
rfisher@rfaland.com <mailto:rfisher@rfaland.com>
From: Winkleman, Ryan <Ryan.Winkleman@mbakerintl.com <mailto:Ryan.Winkleman@mbakerintl.com> >
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2022 3:56 PM
To: Richard Fisher <rfisher@rfaland.com <mailto:rfisher@rfaland.com> >; Ryan Wright <RWright@DiamondBarCA.Gov <mailto:RWright@DiamondBarCA.Gov> >; Anthony Jordan <AJordan@DiamondBarCA.Gov
<mailto:AJordan@DiamondBarCA.Gov> >
Subject: RE: EXTERNAL: Fw: [EXTERNAL] Photos of Canyon Loop Trail Work, Diamond Bar
Thank you, Dick. For the purposes of this USFWS email I think the most important parts of your email to understand are the trail width parts and those are what I will summarize. The
BMPs will require a response from Anthony/Fabian. Can you please clarify why it’s necessary to take greater than 5 feet in order to achieve the ultimate goal of 5 feet wide? I can see
this being a point of contention. If we can demonstrate that the expanded trail width that they’re calling out now is temporarily necessary for “X” purpose during construction then
that’s a positive response we can send back, but we need to explain why it is necessary. In areas where the trail was less than 5 feet wide and is now greater than 5 feet wide during
construction but will ultimately be reconstructed to 5 feet wide by the completion of the project, how will that be accomplished? I think the restoration is going to be in a specific
area unrelated to the trail (like off on the northeast side?), right? So what is going to be done for areas that currently exceed 5 feet in order to cut them down to be only 5 feet
at the end? In other words, they’re measuring out a 7-foot wide trail right now at least in some places, so what are those areas going to look like at the end? What’s going to happen
to those extra 2 feet in order to say that the official trail is still only 5 feet wide?
If I’m not articulating well please let me know.
Ryan Winkleman | Project Manager/Senior Biologist/Certified Senior Ecologist
5 Hutton Centre Drive, Suite 500 | Santa Ana, CA 92707 | [O] 949-330-4115 | [M] (949) 533-0918
ryan.winkleman@mbakerintl.com <mailto:ryan.winkleman@mbakerintl.com> | www.mbakerintl.com <https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.mbakerintl.com%2f&c=E,1,sqHALD22a4l6Ur7rSh4qCw4vp3t
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From: Richard Fisher <rfisher@rfaland.com <mailto:rfisher@rfaland.com> >
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2022 3:29 PM
To: Winkleman, Ryan <Ryan.Winkleman@mbakerintl.com <mailto:Ryan.Winkleman@mbakerintl.com> >; Ryan Wright <RWright@DiamondBarCA.Gov <mailto:RWright@DiamondBarCA.Gov> >; Anthony Jordan
<AJordan@DiamondBarCA.Gov <mailto:AJordan@DiamondBarCA.Gov> >
Cc: Ashimine, Alan <aashimine@mbakerintl.com <mailto:aashimine@mbakerintl.com> >
Subject: RE: EXTERNAL: Fw: [EXTERNAL] Photos of Canyon Loop Trail Work, Diamond Bar
Ryan:
Let me see if I can provide any specific responses which would be helpful in your communications with USFWS.
* Concrete swales (18” wide and 9” deep) are an integral part of the construction amenities for the project (Detail #4 on the Title Sheet of the approved plans). The Bid Form (Item
#12) indicates the construction of 571 LF of swales, as does the Construction Note #4 on the Title Sheet. Concrete swales are being constructed in (7) locations, as follows:
* (2) locations for shade shelter pads
* (3) locations where adjacent to new timber steps
* (1) location adjacent to/behind Gabion Wall No. 1
* (1) location adjacent to widened trail at T-intersection with existing Summit Ridge Trail. At this location, the completed concrete swale will be filled up with rock cobble, so as
to avoid pedestrians’ mis-stepping off the trail and into the concrete swale.
* Reduction of Erosion and Surface Soil Displacement
* Throughout the trail length, (exclusive of the steep segments now receiving timber steps) where the grade of the trail, longitudinally, is great enough where potential erosion down
the trail surface is likely (historically been occurring in significant rain events), strategically-placed Trail Water Diverters are being constructed to quickly remove more significant
flows of rain water, directing such flows off the trail and down the lower side of the trail topography while still in small quantities. All “run-off” water is being directed into
natural vegetation areas, where it will be absorbed into the natural terrain in small volumes. There are (19) Trail Water Diverters (Construction Item No. 3 on the Title Sheet).
* The bottom line goals for this project includes REDUCING natural erosion activities which this trail system has encountered over its many years of existence.
* No run-off water, from this project’s trails improvement work, is anticipated to get within 650 feet of any established storm water conveyance systems.
* Concerning the trail width:
* All trail improvements are to be reconstructed to 5’-0” in width at the completion of the project (Construction Notes #1 on Title Sheet).
* The note on the plans at various locations say: “Existing Trail/Protect in Place”. This note has been used in those locations where new grading and/or trail widening is not necessary.
HOWEVER, (just as was anticipated), in order to widen those portions of the trail prior to/after these noted “protect-in-place areas”, there will be trail disturbance (within the existing
5’ trail width) due to hauling construction materials over them with mechanical equipment, and must be fine-graded and compacted again. The purpose of this Protect-in-Place note is
to differentiate between trail distances needing widening to 5’-0” and those trail areas which already meet the 5’-0” width, as well as to pre-determine how much square footage of native
vegetation areas will be impacted (and reported within the Environmental Documents for the project).
* In all areas where the existing trail was less than the 5’-0” designated width (to be attained at the completion of the project), and residual grading must occur on either one side
or both sides, the limited displacement of existing vegetation (some of which will be native vegetation, while substantial growth is actually invasive weed material) will be necessary.
These designations are being called out by the project’s botanist team, which have been on-site during clearing and grubbing activities to help guide where the removal of plant material
has the least impact on native vegetation. During project design, the design team made anticipated calculations of the amount of (SF) area projected for disturbance; and the actual
areas are being calculated by the naturalists as the project progresses.
* For discussions regarding clarifications on the BMP’s, please communicate with the City Engineering staff (Fabian?)
Hopefully this information will be helpful.
Best,
Dick Fisher
Richard Fisher Associates
4902 Kron Street, Irvine CA 92604
(714) 342-5467
rfisher@rfaland.com <mailto:rfisher@rfaland.com>
From: Winkleman, Ryan <Ryan.Winkleman@mbakerintl.com <mailto:Ryan.Winkleman@mbakerintl.com> >
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2022 2:03 PM
To: Ryan Wright <RWright@DiamondBarCA.Gov <mailto:RWright@DiamondBarCA.Gov> >; Anthony Jordan <AJordan@DiamondBarCA.Gov <mailto:AJordan@DiamondBarCA.Gov> >; Richard Fisher <rfisher@rfaland.com
<mailto:rfisher@rfaland.com> >
Cc: Ashimine, Alan <aashimine@mbakerintl.com <mailto:aashimine@mbakerintl.com> >
Subject: FW: EXTERNAL: Fw: [EXTERNAL] Photos of Canyon Loop Trail Work, Diamond Bar
Importance: High
Gentlemen,
I received the email below from USFWS a little while ago. See below and attached. I know Ryan and I talked briefly about the Lee Paulson letter early last week but now that we’ve got
a federal agency asking about it I think it may be better for me to get official text from the City and/or Dick regarding the project design and width. I do not want to misstate anything
from my perspective and cause any additional questions. Can one of you send me something back, or at least confirm that the project is being implemented as designed in Dick’s plans
and that there haven’t been any major changes? I can throw the latest permanent impact acreages into my response back to her.
I am not sure about BMPs but the photos certainly don’t show any that I can see (such as silt fencing, etc.). In many cases this is not a big deal because there aren’t many appreciable
slopes down the sides and it is generally very gradual and flat-ish but it is probably most relevant in the switchback area where the illegal trail is being cut off, as that is a steep
grade and there are clearly piles of sediment coming down the sides. I looked in the IS/MND and saw that the project is required to have a SWPPP with applicable BMPs. Do we have the
SWPPP and do we know if the contractor has implemented any BMPs from it, at least when rain is forecast? This is especially important this week because there is rain forecast in a few
days. I’m currently seeing about 1.25 inches forecast between Thursday and Sunday, with the bulk on Thursday. Did they put any BMPs in place for the prior rain days? I think these were
days when the biologists weren’t around anyway.
Obviously the sooner I can respond the better, because right now USFWS is clearly on our side by the fact that she’s reaching out just to me personally and in such an informal manner.
I don’t want to leave her waiting too long before I get back to her.
Btw note that the drone photos include multiple shots of that v-ditch, which will probably trigger a response from CDFW.
Thanks very much!
Ryan Winkleman | Project Manager/Senior Biologist/Certified Senior Ecologist
5 Hutton Centre Drive, Suite 500 | Santa Ana, CA 92707 | [O] 949-330-4115 | [M] (949) 533-0918
ryan.winkleman@mbakerintl.com <mailto:ryan.winkleman@mbakerintl.com> | www.mbakerintl.com <https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.mbakerintl.com%2f&c=E,1,2374glovgs-K6xYxt7N4koSZPjY
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From: Kershek, Lauren <lauren_kershek@fws.gov <mailto:lauren_kershek@fws.gov> >
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2022 1:10 PM
To: Winkleman, Ryan <Ryan.Winkleman@mbakerintl.com <mailto:Ryan.Winkleman@mbakerintl.com> >
Subject: EXTERNAL: Fw: [EXTERNAL] Photos of Canyon Loop Trail Work, Diamond Bar
Hi Ryan,
I wanted to give you a heads up that we've gotten a complaint from a concerned citizen about the impacts associated with the Canyon Loop Project. We just wanted to check in and make
sure everything is being implemented as laid out in the MND. The specific concerns appear to be regarding the erosion control BMPs and width of the trail. If you could confirm that
the project is being built as planned and that all BMPs are appropriately placed, we would greatly appreciate it and we will be happy to prepare a response regarding the ITP question.
Lauren Kershek (she, her, hers)
Fish and Wildlife Biologist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
2177 Salk Ave, Ste 250
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(760)431-9440 x208*
*I am working mostly from home and infrequently checking my office voicemail. Email is the best way to reach me if you'd like to schedule a call or meeting.
________________________________
________________________________
From: Robert Hamilton <robb@hamiltonbiological.com <mailto:robb@hamiltonbiological.com> >
Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2022 7:31 PM
To: Snyder, Jonathan <Jonathan_d_Snyder@fws.gov <mailto:Jonathan_d_Snyder@fws.gov> >
Cc: Lee Paulson <lee@silverlightpress.com <mailto:lee@silverlightpress.com> >; Cynthia Robin Smith <diamondbarbeautiful@gmail.com <mailto:diamondbarbeautiful@gmail.com> >; Dan Silver
<dsilverla@me.com <mailto:dsilverla@me.com> >; Medak, Christine <Christine_Medak@fws.gov <mailto:Christine_Medak@fws.gov> >; Fritz Reiman, CDFW <Frederic.Rieman@wildlife.ca.gov <mailto:Frederic.Riem
an@wildlife.ca.gov> >; Erinn Wilson <Erinn.Wilson-Olgin@wildlife.ca.gov <mailto:Erinn.Wilson-Olgin@wildlife.ca.gov> >
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Photos of Canyon Loop Trail Work, Diamond Bar
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