Summit Rock Raptor Closure

Sanborn County Park Trails Master Plan April 2008

Mitigation Measure BIO-3:

Nesting Migratory Birds:

All vegetation clearing, including trimming of shrubs or trees will take place outside the migratory bird nesting season (March 1 - July 31). If vegetation removal must occur during the nesting season, a survey for nesting migratory birds will occur within five days prior to the start of clearing or construction activities. Every attempt will be made to ensure completion of the vegetation clearing and trimming activities within the five-day period. If more than five days elapse between the initial nest search and the beginning of construction activities, another nest survey will be conducted. If any active nest(s) are detected, all vegetation clearing activities will be suspended and a 50-foot radius buffer established. All vegetation clearing activities within 50-feet of the active nest(s) will take place after the nest(s) are no longer active and chicks have fledged. CDFG generally accepts a 50-foot radius buffer around passerine and non-passerine land bird nests; however the County natural resource staff shall have flexibility to reduce or expand the buffer depending on the specific circumstances.

Nesting Raptors:

All vegetation clearing, including trimming of shrubs or trees, and/or construction activities, will take place outside the raptor-nesting season (February 1- July 31). If such activities must occur during the raptor-nesting season, all suitable raptor-nesting habitat within 500 feet of the impacted area will be surveyed for active raptor nests. If an active raptor nest is located within 500 feet of the construction area, a no-activity buffer of 250 feet will be erected around the nest while it is active to protect the nesting raptors. Every attempt will be made to protect trees and nests that contain active raptor nests. CDFG generally accepts up to a 250-foot buffer radius for raptors, however, the County natural resource staff, in consultation with CDFG, may have flexibility to reduce or expand the buffer depending on the specific circumstances such as for nests not within the line of sight of construction activity.

Implementation: Qualified County Natural Resource Staff or Qualified Consulting Biologist

Timing: During the construction phase of the project

Monitoring: County Parks Staff

Gavin Emmons / Excerpt from the 2008 Pinnacles Raptor Breeding Season Report:

...A peregrine falcon pair successfully nested and fledged 3 young in the Hawkins territory, marking the 4th consecutive year that a successful Peregrine falcon nesting effort has been documented at Pinnacles in the last 50 years.

We've been on the receiving end for years. State Parks, County Parks and MROSD have all made their anti-climber opinions well known since way back in 1996.

You don't think representatives of any climbers' organization were invited to any of those meetings surrounding the Trails Master Plan, do you?

The South Skyline Property Owners Association definitely does'nt like like people climbing at Castle, Indian and Summit. They're constantly raving about threats of arson and breaking and entering their property. Interesting too how Stu Langdoc, who used to be the self-appointed head of the so-called "Castle Rock Climbers Committee", is also on the board of directors of the SSPOA. Obviously, all those groups - State Parks, County Parks and the property association - are working together behind the scenes to make it extremely difficult to climb along the Skyline. Climbers as a group are just caught in the middle.

I think the real problem is that County Parks and State Parks are being pressured by the South Skyline Property Owners Association to reduce the number of people using Summit, Indian and Castle Rocks. Same reason NO PARKING signs have been posted every few feet all along that section of Skyline Boulevard.