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 City of Solana Beach
Section 3
Shoreline and Coastal Bluff Management Strategies Draft MEIR
Environmental Impact Analyses
The common fish species in the nearshore hard-bottom habitat include the wooly sculpin
(Clinocottus analis). On more developed low and high relief reefs, a variety of fish have the
potential to occur, including garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicunda), blacksmith (Chromis punctipinnis),
and black perch (Embiotoca jacksoni). Further offshore, the kelp forests typically support
surfperch and rockfish (Sebastes spp.).
The nearshore waters of the San Diego region are known to support numerous resident and
migrant marine mammals. Common species with the potential to occur in the study area
include California sea lion (Zalophus californicanus), common dolphins ( Delphinus delphis), and
bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus). California gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) can be
observed migrating offshore between December and February and between February and May.
The coastal wetland, cliff, beach, and nearshore habitats of the San Diego region support a
diverse assemblage of resident and migrant bird species. Gulls and shorebirds commonly
forage and roost on the beaches of the study area. The nearshore open water of the study area
typically supports gulls, terns, pelicans, and cormorants.
Sensitive Species and Habitats
Nearly the entire City of Solana Beach has been converted to urban development. Small, steep
canyons surrounded by development remain as native vegetation in parts of the City, but are
severely fragmented. The only appreciable area of native habitat remaining within the city
boundaries occurs along the southern edge of San Elijo Lagoon. The majority of San Elijo
Lagoon is located within the Encinitas city boundary. This coastal salt marsh habitat, as well as
the coastal salt marsh of the San Dieguito Lagoon to the south, support a wide variety of plant
and animal species. Rare plant and animal species are also known from these areas; however,
these lagoons are not considered within the study area.
Although limited habitat for sensitive species occurs within the City boundaries, adjacent areas
have the potential to support these species. A database search of the sensitive species known
from the Encinitas and Del Mar regions returned 42 plant species, 7 invertebrates, 3 reptiles, 9
birds, and 3 mammals. In addition, 5 sensitive habitat types occur in this region. Because
nearly the entire native habitat has been converted to development in Solana Beach and
especially within the study area, the potential for most of these sensitive species to occur in the
study area is extremely low. Of the sensitive species known from the region, several coastal
bird species have the potential to forage and roost on the beaches of the study area. Nesting
sites of the federal and state listed endangered California least tern (Sterna antillarum browni)
and federally listed threatened western snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) are
known from San Elijo Lagoon. These species have the potential to roost and forage within the
study area, but nesting habitat for these species does not occur in the study area. Although
suitable nesting habitat does not occur in the study area, the federal and state listed
endangered California brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus ) is known to forage in
the nearshore waters of Solana Beach.
Project No. 323530000
Page 3-43
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