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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMaterials Recieved at Public HearingRobert A. Hamilton November 6, 2008 Stop Polluting Our Newport (SPON) P.O. Box 102 Balboa Island, CA 92662 Subject: Review of Biological Issues Associated with Proposed Conversion of the Hyatt Regency Golf Course to Timeshares Dear SPON, At your request, I have evaluated various technical reports and analyses regarding the potential biological effects of converting an existing golf course to timeshare units and associated amenities at the Hyatt Regency, located near the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve /John Wayne Gulch in Newport Beach (see Figure 1). The land adjacent to the Hyatt Regency is natural open space owned by the City of Newport Beach (City) that is open to public access. The proposed actions include fuel modification and landscaping within the City -owned open space. My qualifications to conduct this evaluation are provided in the attached Curriculum Vitae. . Aerial photograph from Google •o showing the area of biological along the northern boundary of itt Regency property, in light 316 Monrovia Avenue '-v ` Long Beach, CA 90803 ' .+ 562- 477 -2181 -v Fax 562433 -5292 Review of Biological Issues, Hyatt Regency Project, Newport Beach, CA Robert A. Hamilton, Consulting Biologist November 6, 2008 Page 2 of 8 Methods As part of this review, I reviewed a biological technical report dated 7 November 2007 that Glenn Lukos Associates (GLA) prepared for Sunstone Hotel Properties, Inc. I also reviewed the relevant portions of Draft and Final Environmental Impact Reports (DEIR, FEIR) that The Planning Center prepared in support of this project in 2008, with GLA serving as the biological consultant. Plant community mapping was provided as Exhibit 3 of GLA's biological technical report, which was reproduced as Figur 5.3 -2 of the DEIR. I visited the City's public open space area during afternoon hours on 29 October and 3 November 2008 in order to field- check GLA's plant community mapping and to view the resources present along the interface between the open space and the Hyatt Regency golf course. I took into the field print -outs of aerial photos from Google Earth Pro in order to create my own map of the plant communities present in the area of interest. I took numerous photographs during the second visit in order to document the conditions I encountered. I determined the area of native plant communities using Google Earth Pro. The DEIR elicited several comments from the public concerning potential impacts to coastal sage scrub and other biological resources that exist along the northern edge of the existing golf course. Some comments concerned the size of the buffer proposed between proposed new buildings and Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas identified under the City's Coastal Land Use Plan (CLUP)'. Other comments questioned was the proposal to conduct off -site fuel modification north of the Hyatt Regency property, which GLA biologists contend will not adversely affect ESHA, the federally listed California Gnatcatcher, or any other sensitive resources. In response to comments, the FEIR included "Revised DEIR Figure 5.311;' a modified plan for fuel modification and landscaping along the northern property line prepared by Lee & Sakahara Architects. My comments on fuel modification issues refer exclusively to this current plan. Results The plant community maps prepared by GLA (Exhibit 3 of the technical report and Figure 5.3 -2 of the DEIR) employ opaque screens that obscure the underlying aerial photographic image, making it difficult to evaluate their accuracy. I was better able to evaluate Exhibit 4 in GLA's technical report (California Gnatcatcher Location Map), since it used simple lines rather than screens, but Exhibit 4 shows only the mapped extent of coastal sage scrub, not wetlands or other communities. My own plant community map is provided as Figure 2 on the following page. 1 Since the City has not prepared a certified Implementation Plan to accompany its CLUP, any proposed development at the Hyatt Regency site will require a Coastal Development Permit from the California Coastal Commission pursuant to the California Coastal Act. Review of Biological Issues, Hyatt Regency Project, Newport Beach, CA Robert A. Hamilton, Consulting Biologist November 6, 2008 Page 3 of 8 Figure 2. Plant Communities. This photo shows the approximate property boundary in light blue. Of par- ticular note are (1) the 0.05 -acre cat -tail marsh shown in dark blue (I could not map the limits of the cat -tails with precision beneath overhanging vegetation, so this polygon should be regarded as approximate), (2) the Iimits of coastal sage scrub, which extend across the property boundary in the northwestern part of the site, and (3) the occurrence of native herbs and grasses in the r ideral area northeast of the property boundary. The following sections discuss three aspects of GLA's plant community mapping that I disagree with. Mapping of Cat -tail Marsh, Impacts to Freshwater Wetland ESHA I delineated approximately 2,050 square feet (0.05 acre) of freshwater marsh near the northwestern project boundary. This marsh, some of which is obscured under the canopy of tall- growing non - native trees, is dominated by native Narrow- leaved Cat -tail (Typha angus tifolia). Narrow - leaved Cat -tail has a wetland indicator status of "OBL," a ranking that applies to plants that "Occur almost always (estimated probability 99 %) under natural conditions in wetlands" (Reed, P.B., Jr. 1988. National List of Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Report 88). During both visits, I noted Review of Biological Issues, Hyatt Regency Project, Newport Beach, CA Robert A. Hamilton, Consulting Biologist November 8, 2008 Page 4 of 8 that the soils were moist in the cat -tail marsh area, and that this area is fed by runoff from Back Bay Drive as well as from the Hyatt Regency property. Figures 3 -5 show the cat -tail marsh area. . Photo taken on 3 November 2008 dense cat -tail marsh northwest of the ?gency property line. The large palm to background is located just north of erty line. Figure 4. Photo taken on 3 Never showing the proximity of the cat -tail r to the Hyatt Regency property line. i toward Back Bay Drive, and the den the background are on the Hyatt prop also various non -native plants, such Grass (Cortaderia selloana), Plumbago auriculata), as well as native Coast. Pear (Opuntia littorahs) in the foregrc are 5. Photo taken on 3 November 2008 wing contrast between dark, wet soil and .ter- colored, dry soil, at the base of the row palm tree shown in Figure 2, above. The sence of moist soil in this area suggests that ration runoff from the Hyatt Regency prop - probably contributes to supporting the cat - marsh that exists just north of the property . The marsh area is also supported by runoff Back Bay Drive. Review of Biological Issues, Hyatt Regency Project, Newport Beach, CA Robert A. Hamilton, Consulting Biologist November 6, 2008 Page 5 of S I have not conducted a formal wetland delineation at this cat -tail marsh area, but the existence of dense cat -tails and moist soil both strongly suggest that the entire cat -tail marsh area would be delineated as a wetland using any state or federal government criteria. Under Section 13577 of the California Code of Regulations, the following criteria determine "the precise boundaries of the jurisdictional areas described in the applicable provisions of the Coastal Act: " 1. the boundary between land with predominantly hydrophytic cover and land with predominantly mesophytic or xerophytic cover; 2. the boundary between soil that is predominantly hydric and soil that is predomi- nantly nonhydric; or 3. in the case of wetlands without vegetation or soils, the boundary between land that is flooded or saturated at some time during years of normal precipitation, and land that is not. This is known as the "one-parameter method" of delineating wetlands. Under this method, the cat -tail marsh area clearly qualifies as a wetland that is under the Coastal Commission's jurisdiction. Under Section 4.1.1 of the City's CLUP, coastal freshwater marsh areas (including cat -tail marshes) are presumed to be ESHA unless the property owner or project proponent demonstrate that this presumption is rebutted by site - specific evidence. The biologists of GLA did not describe this marshy area in their report, but did map a small area of "disturbed wetland" approximately 100 feet north of the northwestern corner of the Hyatt Regency property boundary. In reality, however, the cat -tail marsh habitat extends to within 10 feet of the property boundary and lies within the area proposed for fuel modification. Policy 4.2.2 -3 of the City's CL,UP specifies that all wetland ESHA shall have a "minimum buffer width of 100 feet wherever possible." Given that this small area of freshwater marsh is adjacent to coastal sage scrub ESHA within the natural open space of Upper Newport Bay, there does not appear to be a strong argument to be made for waiving the CLUP s wetland buffer standard in this instance. Mapping of Coastal Sage Scrub, Impacts to Coastal Sage Scrub ESHA Page 5.3 -20 of the DER states: The project design would result in complete avoidance of off -site CSS. As shown on Figure 5.3 -4, Vegetation and Fuel Modification, neither grading nor fuel modification activities would remove any CSS. In addition, the project design includes minimum 50 -foot buffer between developed areas and off -site CSS to assure full compliance with the City's Coastal Land Use Policies. GLA's Figure 4 shows a coastal sage scrub boundary comparable to my own, with the limit of scrub extending southward across the Hyatt Regency property line (i.e, into the area proposed for fuel modification, even under the revised plan). As noted in the DEIR, this area of coastal sage scrub is occupied by the federally threatened California Gnatcatcher. Review of Biological Issues, Hyatt Regency Project, Newport Beach, CA Robert A. Hamilton, Consulting Biologist November 6, 2008 Page 6 of 8 Figure 6, below, shows the coastal sage scrub on the south side of the property line. hotograph taken on 3 2008 showing coastal dominated by Califor- ush (Artemisia califor- iew is to the southeast arbed wire fence that approximate northern of the Hyatt Regency Approximately 1,150 of coastal sage scrub occurs on the Hyatt :ontrarytoassurances ae DEIR, this area of P scrub ESHA is pro - ael modification treat - er the current plans. Under Section 4.1 of the City�s CLUP, areas of coastal sage scrub occupied by California Gnatcatchers satisfy ESHA criteria, yet the revised fuel modification plan by Lee & Sakahara Architects shows that sage scrub would be subject to fuel modification impacts along both sides of the property boundary in the northwestern part of the site. Furthermore, the DEIR and FEIR both claim that fuel modification in the coastal sage scrub buffer zone (as well as in coastal sage scrub itself) would be "environmentally sensitive" According to both the DEIR and FEIR, this means: Landscaping vegetation shall be limited to Carex grass species or ground cover only from the NBFD fire resistive plant list. Ground cover to be irrigated and maintained at a height of 8 inches or less and free of dead plant material. No shrubs or trees to be planted in this zone. Examining the plant palette for the Special Treatment Zone set forth in the latest fuel modification plan, the species proposed are Carex conica "Snowline," Horkelia euneata, Lotus hermannii [= Lotus heermannii],Mimulus species, Nassella lepida, NassellapuIchra, Rhus ovata, and Sisyrhynchium belli. Carex conica is a sedge native to Japan. Rhus ovata is not found at Upper Newport Bay or anywhere that I'm aware of along the coast of Orange County, and it is not thought to be valuable to the California Gnatcatcher. The species of Mimulus is unspecified, so cannot be evaluated for potential value to gnatcatchers. Since the species called for in the "special treatment" zone are not typical of coastal sage scrub, and most of them are not native to the site, I do not agree with the biologists of GLA that this treatment would be "environmentally sensitive" or useful to California Gnatcatchers, particularly when the groundcover would be maintained at a height of 8 inches or less. I would regard Review of Biological Issues, Hyatt Regcacy Project, Newport Beach, CA Robert A- Hamilton, Consulting Biologist Nuvember 6, 2008 Page 7 of 8 this treatment as inappropriate in a coastal sage scrub ESHA buffer, let alone within areas that currently support coastal sage scrub and gnatcatchers. Considering that Coastal Prickly -pear cactus does occur in the scrub adjacent to the site, I would advocate development of a prickly- pear -based fuel modification treatmentwithin the ESHA buffer (with no direct fuel modification impacts to extant coastal sage scrub). Mapping ofRuderal Vegetation Biologists from GLA identified a larger area of " ruderal" (weedy) vegetation in the northeastern part of their plant community map than I did. I found that reasonably intact coastal sage scrub (i.e., areas dominated by native scrub species, but mixed in with ruderal species) covers a fairly large part of the area that GLA mapped as " ruderal." I also found that most of the remaining area that GLA called " ruderal" had a considerable amount of native grasses and herbaceous species in the understory, including Salt Grass (Disti'chlis spicata), needlegrass (Nassella sp.), White Everlasting (Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum), and Deer Weed (Lotus scoparius). As it appears that no impacts are proposed for the "ruderal" area in question, the mis- mapping of this area may not be of any importance at this time. Dumping of Green Wasted into Natural Open Space During my visits I noted that trash consisting of landscape plants had apparently been dumped into the natural open space; see Figures 7 and 8. Figures 7, 8. Photos taken on 3 November 2008 showing green waste that has been dumped in the natural open space adjacent to the Hyatt Regency golf course. Such activities degrade natural open space areas and may help to explain why some of the coastal sage scrub habitat adjacent to the golf course has been invaded by ruderal species. Planting of Additional Trees in Off -site Areas The revised fuel modification and landscape plan by Lee & Sakahara Architects shows plantings of various native and non -native trees in off -site areas, in the vicinity of coastal Review of Biological issues, Hyatt Regency Project, Newport Beach, CA Robert A. HamiO m Consulting Biologist November 6, 2008 page 8 of 8 sage scrub. The uplands around Upper Newport Bay naturally support coastal sage scrub and other low- growing vegetation. Planting more trees in this area may reduce the value of preserved (off -site) habitats for California Gnatcatchers and possibly other species native to the local area. For example, the new trees may provide nesting sites or foraging perches for Cooper's Hawks, American Crows, or other predatory bird species. Is the City obligated to allow the project proponent to extend project landscaping outside of the property boundaries, even if this means potentially degrading the City's natural open space? Summary and Conclusion As detailed in this letter, I do not believe that the CEQA documentation for this project accurately delineated or described the natural resources on City-owned natural open space Iocated adjacent to the Hyatt Regency property. To summarize: The limits of freshwater wetlands were mapped much farther from the property boundary than is the case. The revised fuel modification plans do not provide the minimum 100 -foot buffer called for in the CLUP. The limits of coastal sage scrub were not mapped accurately along the northern property boundary. Implementation of the revised fuel modification plans would directly impact coastal sage scrub habitat occupied by the California Gnatcatcher. The "special treatment" fuel modification proposed within and adjacent to coastal sage scrub involves introducing various plants that are not native to the local area, as well as intensive maintenance to keep the groundcover low. An approach based upon locally native cactus would provide habitat for gnatcatchers and other Iocal wildlife species and would not require invasive and repetitive mechanical disturbance to maintain an effective fire break.. I documented dumping of green waste into the City's natural open space adjacent to the Hyatt Regency proeperty. The City should carefully consider the potential ecological ramifications of allowing the applicant to plant trees in the City's open space, in an area that does not naturally support such tall vegetation. Thank you for the opportunity to provide this independent review. If you wish to discuss any matters, please call me at 562477 -2181 or send e -mail to robb@rahamilton.com. Sincerely, Robert A. Hamilton Consulting Biologist Attachment: Curriculum Vitae Robert A. Hamilton Curriculum Vitae 316 Monrovia Avenue Long Beach, CA 90803 Expertise CEQA Analysis General Biological Surveys Endangered Species Surveys 562 -477 -2181 562 -433 -5292 fax robb ®rahamilton.com Avian Population Monitoring Open Space Planning Natural Lands Management Education 1988. Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine. Professional Experience 1995 to Present. Independent Biological Consultant. 1988 to 1995. Biologist, LSA Associates, Inc. 1987 to 1988. Independent Biological Consultant. Other Relevant Experience Field Ornithologist, San Diego Natural History Museum Scientific Collecting Expedition to Cen- tral and Southern Baja California, October/ November 1997 and November 2003. Field Ornithologist, Island Conservation and Ecology Group Expedition to the Tres Maria$ Is- lands, Nayarit, Mexico, 23 January to 8 February 2002. Field Ornithologist, Algalita Marine Research Foundation neustonic plastic research voyages in the Pacific Ocean, 15 August to 4 September 1999 and 14 to 28 July 2000. Field Assistant, Bird Banding Study, Rfo &ambf Reserve, Colombia, January to March 1997. Board Memberships, Advisory Positions, Etc. Coastal Cactus Wren Working Group (2008) American Birding Assoc.: Baja Calif. Peninsula Reg. Editor, North American Birds (2000 -2006) Western Field Ornithologists: Associate Editor of Western Birds (1999 -2008) California Bird Records Committee (1998 -2001) Nature Reserve of Orange County: Technical Advisory Committee (1996 -2001) California Native Plant Society, Orange County Chapter: Conservation Chair (1992 -2003) Other Professional Affiliations American Ornithologists' Union Cooper Ornithological Society Institute for Bird Populations Permits Southern California Academy of Sciences Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology Federal 10(A)1(a) Permit No. TE- 799557 to survey for the Coastal California Gnatcatcher and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (expires 5 March 2012) Federal Bird Banding Subpermit No. 20431 (expires 31 January 2011) State of California Scientific Collecting Permit No. SC- 001107 (expires 15 March 2009) Insurance $2,000,000 general liability policy (Hartford) $1,000,000 auto liability policy (State Farm) Curriculum Vitae, Page 2 Principal Professional Qualifications Robert A. Hamilton Perform field work throughout southern California, including 1) floral and faunal surveys, 2) directed surveys for sensitive plant and animal species, including the California Gnatcatcher, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, and Least Bell's Vireo, 3) open space monitoring and manage- ment, 4) vegetation mapping, and 5) bird banding. Recent experience includes- Since 2007, have reviewed biological resources sections of CEQA documents submitted to the County of Los Angeles Department of Regional Planning. Prepared the Department's approved list of drought- tolerant native plants for use in landscaping throughout Los Angeles County. Worked with study- design specialists and resource agency representatives to develop the long- term passerine bird monitoring program for the Nature Reserve of Orange County, and directed its implementation from 1996 to 2001. My work has included 1) annual moni- toring of 40 California Gnatcatcher and Cactus Wren study sites, 2) oversight of up to 10 constant - effort bird banding stations from 1998 to 2003 under the Monitoring Avian Pro- ductivity and Survivorship (MAPS) program, and 3) focused surveys for the Cactus Wren throughout the NROC's coastal reserve in 2006 and 2007. Served as the City of Orange's Project Biologist for the Santiago Hills II /East Orange Planned Community project, developed by The Irvine Company near Irvine Lake in central Or- ange County (SEIR /EIR certified in November 2005). Having prepared biological technical reports for numerous CEQA documents for projects throughout southern California, I am highly qualified to provide professional, third -party re- view of CEQA documents. Apart from my work under contract to the County of Los Angeles Department of Regional Planning, I have professionally reviewed EIRE and other project docu- mentation for the following projects: The Ranch Plan (residential/ commercial, County of Orange) Southern Orange County Transportation Infrastructure Improvement Project (Foothill South Toll Road, County of Orange) Tanner Hills (residential, City of Brea) Villages of La Costa Master Plan (residential/ commercial, City of Carlsbad) Whispering Hills (residential, City of San Juan Capistrano) Santiago Hills 1I (residential/ commercial, City of Orange) Rancho Potrero Leadership Academy (youth detention facility /road, County of Orange) Saddle Creek /Saddle Crest (residential, County of Orange) Frank G. Bonelli Regional County Park Master Plan (County of Los Angeles) References provided upon request. Selected Presentations Hamilton, R. A- Miller, W. B., Mitrovich, M. J. 2008. Cactus Wren study, Nature Reserve of Orange County, Twenty- minute Powerpoint presentation given at the Nature Reserve of Orange County's Cactus Wren Symposium, Irvine, California, 30 April 2008. Curriculum Vitae, Page 3 Robert A. Hamilton Hamilton, R. A. 2006. 1999 -2004 Results of Annual California Gnatcatcher and Cactus Wren Monitoring in the Nature Reserve of Orange County. Twenty - minute Powerpoint presentation given at the Partners In Flight meeting: Cunservation and Man- agement of Coastal Scrub and Chaparral Birds and Habitats, Starr Ranch Audubon Sanctuary, 21 August 2004, Hamilton, R. A. and K. Messer. 1999 -2004 Results of Annual California Gnatcatcher and Cactus Wren Monitoring in the Nature Re- serve of Orange County. Twenty- minute Powerpoint presentation given at the Partners In Flight meeting: Conservation and Management of Coastal Scrub and Chaparral Birds and Habitats, Starr Ranch Audubon Sanctuary, 21 August 2004: and at the Nature Reserve of Orange County 10'" Anniversary Symposium, Irvine, California, 21 November 2006. Hamilton, R.A, and K. Messer. 1999 -2001 Results of Annual California Gnatcatcher Monitoring in the Nature Reserve of Orange County. Iwenty- minute Powerpoint presentation given at the Western Field Ornithotogists' annual meeting, Costa Mesa, California, 11 October 2002. Hamilton, R.A. Preliminary results of reserve -wide monitoring of California Gnatcatchers in the Nature Reserve of Orange County. Twenty - minute Powerpoint presentation given at the Southern California Academy of Sciences annual meeting at Califor- nia State University, Los Angeles, 5 May 2001. Publications Erickson, R. A., R. A. Hamilton, M. J. Bill, R. Carmona, G. Ruiz- Campos, and Z. A. Henderson, 2008. Value of perennial archiving of data received through the North American Birds regional reporting system: Examples from the Baja California Peninsula, Narfh American Birds 62:2 -9, Erickson, R. A., R. A. Hamilton, and S. G. Mlodinow. 2008, Status review of Balding's Yellowthroat Geofitlypis beldingi, and imphca. tines for its conservation. Bird Conservation International ig:219 -228. Hamilton, R. A. 2008. Fulvous Whistling -Duck (Dendrocygna bimlar). pp, 68 -73 in Shuford, W. D. and T. Gardah, eds. 2008. California Bird Species of Special Concern: A ranked assessment of species, subspecies, and distinct populations of birds of immedi- ate conservation concern in Califomia. Studies of Western Birds 1. Western Field Ornithologists, Camarillo, CA, and Calf - fornia Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA. California Bird Records Committee (R. A. Hamilton, M. A. Patten, and R. A. Erickson, editors.). 2007. Rare Birds of California. West- am Field Ornithologists, Camarillo, CA. Hamilton, R. A. and P. A. Goode. 2005. Pink -sided a Gray - headed Juncos, Western Birds 36:150 -152, Mlodinow, S, G. and R. A. Hamilton. 2005. Vagrancy of Painted Bunting (Passvina ciris) in the United Stares, Canada, and Bermuda. Narih American Birds 59:172 -183. Erickson, R. A., R. A. Hamilton, S. Gonzalea-CuzmSn, G. Ruiz - Campos. 2002. Primeros registrus de anidaci6n del Pato Friso (Anal strepera) en M6xice. Angles del Institute de Biologia, Universidad National Aut6noma de M €xico, Serie Zoologfa 73(1):67- 71, Hamilton, R. A. and J. L. Dunn. 2002. Red -noped and Red - breasted sapsuckers. Western Birds 3a:129-13c- Hamilton, R, A. and S. N. G. Howell. 2002. Gnatcatcher sympatry near San Felipe, Baja California, with notes on other species. West- ern Birds 33:123 -124. Hamilton, R. A., W A. Erickson, E. Policies, and R. Carmona. 2001 +. North American Birds quarterly reports for the Baja California Peninsula Region starting with the Fall 2000 season. Hamilton, R. A. 2001. Book review: The Sibley Guide to Birds. Western Birds 32:95 -96. Hamilton, R. A. and R. A. Erickson. 2001. Noteworthy breeding bird records from the Vizcafno Desert, Baja California Peninsula, Pp, 102 -105 in Monographs in Field Ornithology No. 3. American girding Association, Colorado Springs, CO. Hamilton, R. A. 2001. Log of bird record ducumentaticn from the Baja California Peninsula archived at the San Diego Natural His- tory Museum. Pp. 242 -253 in Monographs in Field. Ornithology No. 3. American Binding Association, Colorado Springs, CO, Hamilton, R. A. 2001. Records of caged birds in Baja California. Pp. 254 -257 in Monographs in Field Ornithology No. 3. American girding Association, Colorado Springs, Co. Erickson, R. A., R. A. Hamilton, and S. N. G. Howell. 2001. New information on migrant birds in northern and central portions of the Baja California Peninsula, including species new to Mexico. Pp. 112 -170 in Monographs in Field Ornithology No. 3. Amer- ican girding Association, Colorado Springs, CO. Howell, S. N. G., R. A. Erickson, R. A. Hamilton, and M. A. Patten. 2001. An annotated checklist of the birds of Baja California and Baia California Sur. Pp. 171 -203 in Monographs in Field Ornithology No. 3. American Btrding Association, Colorado Springs, CO. Ruiz - Campos, G., GonzAlez- Guzman, S., Erickson, R. A., and Hamilton, R. A. 2001. Notable bird specimen records from tine Baja California Peninsula. Pp. 230 -241 in Monographs in Field Ornithology No. 3. American girding Association, Colorado Springs, CO. W ureter, T. E., R. A. Erickson, R. A. Hamilton, and 5, N. Cl. Howell. 2001. Database of selected ohscrvatio ra. an augment to new information on migrant birds in northern and central portions of the Baja California Peninsula. Pp. 204 -237 in Monographs in Field Ornithology No. 3. American Birding Association, Colorado Springs, CO. Erickson, R. A. and R. A. Hamilton, 2001. Report of the California Bird Records Committee: 1998 records. Western Birds 32:1349, Hamilton, R. A., J. E. Pike, T. E. Wurster, and K. Radamaker. 2000. First record of an Olive- backed Pipit in Mexico. Western Birds 31:117 -119. Hamilton, IC A. and N. J. Schmitt. 2000. Identification of Taiga and Black Merlins, Western Birds 31:65 -67. Hamilton, R. A. 1998, Book review: Atlas of Breeding Birds, Orange County, California. Western Birds 29:129 -130. Hamilton, R. A. and D. R. WBlick. 1996. The Birds of Orange County, Cati €orma: Status and Distribution. Sea & Sage Press, Sea & Sage Audubon Society, Irvine. Hamilton, R. A. 1996-98. Photo Quizzes. Binding 27(4):298 -301, 28(1):46 -50, 2&(4):309 -313, 29(1): 59.64, 30 (1):55 -59, Erickson, R. A., and Hamilton, R. A. 1995. Geographic distribution: Lampropelfis getula califerniae (California Kingsnake) in Baja Cali- fornia Sur. Herpetological Review 26(4):210. Bontrager, D. R., R. A. Erickson, and R. A. Hamilton. 1995. Impacts of the October 1993 Laguna fire on California Cnatcatchers and Cactus Wrens, in ). E. Keeley and T. A. Scott (editors). Wildfires in California Brushlands: Ecology and Resource Manage- ment. International Association of W ildland Fire, Fairfield, Washington, Erickson, R. A., R. A. Hamilton, 5. N. G. Howell, M. A. Patten, and P. Pyle, 1995. First record of Marbled Murrelet and third record of Ancient Murrelet for Mexico. Western Birds 26: 39-45, Erickson, R. A., and R. A. Hamilton, 1993. Additional summer bird records for southern Mexico. Euphonia 2(4): 81 -91. Erickson, R. A., A. D. Herron, and R. A- Hamilton. 1992. A resent Black Rail record for Baja California. Euphoma 1(1): 19 -21.