3.4 Biological Resources
Inshore intertidal surfgrass occurs at three sites north of the receiver site; one at the surf spot known as Pill
Box, another north of Tide Park, and a third further north at Table Tops reef.
Several intertidal reef areas outside the site boundaries were noted both north and south of the site. The
closest reef area to the north is a surfing location known as Pill Box. This consisted of a 145-foot long, high
relief reef area (starting 152 feet seaward of the cliff) and a low relief reef that extended further north (from
approximately 400 to 1,000 feet north of the northern site boundary) in May 1999. In July 1999, sand
build up had reduced the above ground height of most of that reef to 27 to 29 inches except at a distance
of approximately 270 feet seaward of the cliff. At that location, the reef height ranged up to 38 inches.
Resources on the high relief area were similar between the May and July surveys and included juvenile
feather boa kelp (average size 24 inches), Ulva green algae, small leafy brown and red algae, and sea
anemones (average size 29 inches). A 145-foot by 8-foot area of surfgrass occurred on the high relief reef
just seaward (268 feet from the cliff) of the site's offshore boundary.
The low relief area supported filamentous and coralline red algae, Ulva green algae, small leafy brown
algae (e.g., Colpomenia, Dictyota/Pachydictyon sp.) feather boa kelp, and hermit crabs, which were
sparse to common in abundance. In July, a portion of the area was covered with sand, and in other areas
the low relief rock and reef ranged in height from zero (i.e., flush with sand) to eight inches. Filamentous
red algae, small leafy brown algae, and hermit crabs were common inabundance, and feather boa kelp was
very sparse in occurrence on the reef in July.
North of that location were two small patch reefs with little resource development in May 1999 that were
completely covered with sand in July 1999. Offshore Tide Park, more reef area was exposed in May than
in June and July. During the May 1999 survey, surfgrass, feather boa kelp, a variety of algae, several types
of snails (Lithopoma undosa, Kelletia kelletia, Ocenebra sp., Tegula sp.), sea hares, aggregated sea
anemones, and hermit crabs were observed. During a visit in June 1999 and the July 1999 survey, most
of the reef area was covered with sand. Surfgrass with patchy, feather boa kelp was lying on the sand
surface, algae (except filamentous red) was sparse in occurrence on any of the exposed rock, and hermit
crabs were the only visible invertebrates.
During the June 1999 site visit, it was noted that extensive mounds of turf algae and kelp were on the beach
at Tide Park. A City Parks Department bulldozer was clearing the beach of the accumulated material by
pushing it into the surfzone. During the July 1999 survey, this material was observed washed up on the
Page 3.4-28
Regional Beach Sand Project EIR/EA
99-69\SANDAG EIREA 3.4.wpd 7/17/00
Previous Page
