Woolsey Canyon
Residential Development
Biological Constraints Analysis
– Ventura County
This report has been prepared directly by, and under the direction of Carl Wishner, Principal Biologist of Envicom Corporation. Mr. Wishner has been with Envicom Corporation for 20 years, and has served on SEATAC for over ten years. Mr. Wishner holds baccalaureate and master’s degrees in botany (Cum Laude) and biology from Humboldt State University, 1977 and 1985. Additional analysis and report preparation was performed by Dr. Jack Blok, baccalaureate in geography UCLA 1964, master’s in physical geography in geomorphology, UCLA 1967, Ph.D. in Geography and natural resources management, Oregon State University 1973, and MBA in finance/resources management, UCLA 1982.
Most of the field work was conducted by Mr. Wishner in late winter and early spring of 2005. All surveys were conducted on foot. Surveys of the vascular plant flora, and much of the bryophyte flora were obtained through repeated visits during the peak period for observation, and in a season of a penultimate high rainfall record year. No survey of lichens was performed. Numerous roads and trails traverse the site, allowing visual access to all but the densest areas of chaparral. A few collections of noteworthy plant taxa were made.
Casual bird and other vertebrate wildlife species observations were recorded during floristic surveys, and certain survey times were focused upon bird observation as the primary endeavor. The presence of birds was ascertained by voice, whenever possible, and by direct sighting aided by binoculars. Brief, but focused surveys for direct sighting of amphibians and reptiles involved lifting and looking beneath of refuse and debris that is, unfortunately, abundant on the site. This was done during cold and wet periods, and in relatively warm periods. Observations of mammals was casual, with direct sighting and inference from sign, mainly track, scat, and burrow. Invertebrate surveys were not performed.