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Rialto Channel

Rialto Channel. 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

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Rialto Channel

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  1. Rialto Channel San Bernardino County Flood Control District Ecological Resource Specialist

  2. 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.

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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)

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. Rialto Channel conservation area

  9. 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)

  10. 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

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

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

  13. October 2004 Storms

  14. October 2004 Storms

  15. 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

  16. 2010 Floods • We consulted quickly with USFWS and in coordination with RCRCD, ACOE and CDFW and agreed that trees should be removed

  17. 2012 Invasive Plant Removal • Coordination with RCRCD, CDFW and USFWS and Cal Fire • Non-native vegetation removal • Non-native fish removal

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. Unexpected - 2012 Non-native fish removal • Yellow bullhead catfish • Gambusia Photo courtesy of Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

  21. 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

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

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

  24. Questions

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