Table 3.4-1. Continued

3.4 Biological Resources

Table 3.4-1. Continued

Receiver

Site

Intertidal

Subtidal to -10 ft MLLW

-11 to -20 ft MLLW

-20 to -30 ft MLLW

Torrey Pines

Sand, 30 to 100% cobble

Sand, historical surfgrass,

Sand and localized low relief

Sand and reef at 30 ft

bands 3 to 100 ft seaward

high relief reef to south

reef, patchy surfgrass

isobath, small kelp 3,000 ft

southwest, historical kelp

1800 ft northwest

Mission

Sand

Sand at 10 ft isobath

Sand at 20 ft isobath

Sand at 30 ft isobath; small

Beach

and localized kelp beds 800 to

1,200 ft offshore

Imperial

Sand, 95 to 100% cobble

Sand at 10 ft isobath

Sand at 20 ft isobath

Sand at 30 ft isobath; kelp

Beach

band up to 110 ft seaward, 5

beds 1,900 ft offshore

to 30% cobble in localized

areas, rip-rap revetment at

back beach

All of the receiver sites tested negative for grunion eggs during surveys in May and July 1999, even when

beach and tide conditions were favorable. Testing for grunion eggs was performed with sand shovel

samples as described in Section 3.4.1. Specific factors which may attract or detract grunion at individual

receiver sites are noted in the text. Generally, those receiver sites with gentle sloping sand beaches would

be suitable, while cobble beaches would not be utilized.

South Oceanside

Within Receiver Site Boundaries

The intertidalhabitat is predominantly sand. Sand depths measured in May 1999 ranged from 12 to greater

than 48 inches with an average depth of 18 inches in the upper and mid tidal zones and 26 inches in the low

intertidal zone. Beach width under spring low tide conditions ranged from 245 feet at Marron Street to 160

feet at Cassidy Street. Organisms observed in the sand habitat included sand crabs, bean clams, and

polychaete worms.

Dense cobble was limited to a few localized areas primarily at the south end of the site. One high relief

rock, about six feet wide, occurred approximately 250 feet offshore between Crosswaithe and Witherby

Streets, which are located north of Buccaneer beach. No surfgrass was observed on the rock during the

May 1999 beach survey. Rip-rap revetment occurred along the back beach of the entire site. The green

alga, acorn barnacle, limpets, and gray littorine snails occurred in localized areas where the revetment was

in the high tide splash zone. Shorebirds were abundant and foraging in the intertidal and gulls were

observed resting in the upper intertidal during the May 1999 survey.

Page 3.4-16

Regional Beach Sand Project EIR/EA

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