BIOLOGICAL MONITORING OF THE CLINTON KEITH ROAD OVERCROSSING AND UNDERCROSSING IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, 2019-2021

Cristina L Juran; Santa Ana Watershed Association (MSHCP-BMP); cjuran@biomonitoringrca.org; Melody Aimar, Andrea Campanella, Jennifer Hoffman

The Clinton Keith Road wildlife overcrossing was created during expansion of Clinton Keith Rd., Murrieta, CA, to facilitate safe movement of the endangered Quino checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha quino; QCB) across the roadway and was completed in the fall of 2018. Concurrently, the Clinton Keith Rd. bridge was constructed over nearby Warm Springs Creek creating a wildlife undercrossing. The Western Riverside County Habitat Conservation Plan’s Biological Monitoring Program has monitored these crossings since August 2019. Our objectives were to record presence of QCB and document vegetation composition of the overcrossing, and to determine wildlife use of both crossings. We conducted QCB surveys, performed a vegetation assessment, and monitored wildlife and QCB use with trail cameras. QCB was not detected. However, six Lepidopteran species known to co-occur with QCB were observed. Thirty-one plant species, 68% native and 32% non-native, were identified. Lagomorphs and coyote (Canis latrans) accounted for the majority of observations using the overcrossing. Coyote and bobcat (Lynx rufus) had the highest rate of observations using the undercrossing. Through monitoring we determined that wildlife are utilizing these crossings to maintain movement across the landscape. We suggest continued monitoring of these crossings to enhance knowledge of wildlife use and QCB presence.

Poster Session  InPerson Presentation