COMMISSION

with a shortening of hydrological connections, two tactics outlined in this program. Special
attention will be given to developing buffer zones near drainages by limiting trail density and
soil disturbance within these areas to provide adequate bio-filtration (sediment control).
The last completed RMA, Harrison Hill, took approximately seven months to complete, and
has had an increase in vegetation, more storm water friendly trails, and a lower overall trail
length (7,840 linear feet, compared to the previous 30,000 linear feet). The trail design was
established using the Carnegie Advisory Team, which is a group of local enthusiasts that
are well versed in enhancing the user experience.
Monitoring Program Overview
The following section provides an overview of natural resource monitoring programs that
are part of the SVRA’s WHPP and HMS.
Vegetation Monitoring
In order to modernize vegetation survey
techniques and to provide for a more robust
and efficient vegetation monitoring program,
the monitoring program was revised in 2014
to rely on LiDAR (light detection and ranging)
data. LiDAR is a remote sensing technology
that measures distance by illuminating a
target with a laser and analyzing the reflected
light. Vegetation reflection data is collected
that can provide information on vegetation
type and cover. Airborne LiDAR data allows a
California juniper woodlands
greater area to be surveyed with more accuracy and significantly less staff time compared
to on-the-ground vegetation transect monitoring. On April 19, 2014, Carnegie SVRA (both
areas of use and non-use) was flown by REY Engineers out of Folsom. This resulted in a
very large dataset (65 GB) (de Silva and Meisel 2015, 8).
Avian Monitoring Program
Birds are surveyed using a point count system. The sample points were randomly
generated independently from one another using GIS software (ESRI Arc Map 9.3).
The distribution was based on a stratified random sample of eight levels. To provide for
statistical independence and since data collection will focus partially on birds (which tend
to move around and have large home ranges), the habitat sites were buffered from one
another by 200 meters. In other words, no site could be within 200 meters of another site.
2017 Program Report 87