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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAttach 1 Appendix E SUMMARY OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY H. T. HARVEY & ASSOCIATES AT DUBLIN RANCH AREA E AND AREA F NORTH May 31, 2001 RARE PLANT SURVEY OF THE EAST DUBLIN PROPERTY. Project 555-03. August 21, 1990. The Dublin Ranch site was surveyed by H. T. Harvey & Associates for special-status plants in the Spring of 1990. A list of potentially occurring plants was generated by reviewing the Eastern Dublin General Plan Amendment/Specific Plan EIR, appropriate local references, and the California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB). The entire site was surveyed to locate potential habitat for any potentially occurring species. Transects were then established and surveyed through appropriate habitat, searching for any special-status species potentially on site. No special-status plants were found. Due in part to regular grazing of the site, vegetation height, biomass, and diversity were low. EASTERN DUBLIN GOLDEN EAGLE PHASE I REPORT. Project 555-04. September 27, 1990. The Golden Eagle nest site that had been identified by Biosystems Analysis in the Eastern Dublin General Plan Amendment/Specific Plan EIR was resurveyed by H. T. Harvey & Associates in 1990. The nest site was monitored throughout the spring. Two chicks were observed at the nest site in 1990. One chick died prior to fledging, while the remaining chick fledged in late June 1990. ADDITIONAL GOLDEN EAGLE SURVEYS H. T. Harvey & Associates raptor biologists have continued to monitor Golden Eagle nest sites on the property since 1990. Eagles did not nest on the property during the years of 1991 and 1992. During these years the pair probably bred at an alternative nest site (or sites) off the property because the nest tree they had been using (a eucalyptus tree) was largely defoliated during an extended hard freeze during the winter of 1990-1991. In 1993, after the foliage returned to the nest tree, the pair again nested in this tree. The birds successfully fledged one young from the nest. In 1994 the birds attempted to rebuild the nest but it apparently collapsed. The pair then moved to an alternative eucalyptus tree (tree #2) in the same drainage but closer to Tassajara Road, late in the season, and fledged one young. The pair used tree #2 again in 1995, when at least one young eagle was observed in the nest. The pair returned to tree #2 in 1996. They laid eggs, and at least one chick was observed in the nest in late April. By early May, no adult eagles were seen near the nest, nor were nestlings seen. It was determined that the site had failed and that the nest had been abandoned. The old nest (the one used prior to 1994) had completely collapsed. The pair nested successfully in tree #2 in 1997, fledging at least one young, but in 1998, a nesting attempt in tree #2 failed shortly after the eggs hatched. In 1999, the pair nested successfully in tree #2. Eggs were laid during the second week of February, and two eggs hatched the third week of March. The two chicks left the nest on 18 and 22 May, respectively. During the next four weeks the two juveniles remained on a ridge east of the East Dublin water tank, where favorable wind currents provided easy lift-off for predator avoidance and sustained lift for flight practice. By the third week of June both juveniles were flying well and expanding their range beyond the ridge where they had been staging for four weeks. In late September 19'~9, both adults and the two juveniles were sighted flying over mid and upper Doolan Canyon. SAN JOAQUIN KIT FOX SURVEYS, DUBLIN RANCH, ALAMEDA COUNTY. Project 555-07. November 7, 1991. The San Joaquin kit fox is known from sites seven or more miles to the east and northeast of Dublin Ranch. The range and agricultural lands of the Ranch and surrounding areas would be low to moderate quality kit fox habitat. Previous surveys on portions of the Dublin Ranch and surrounding areas did not detect kit foxes, but detected several possible tracks. These prior surveys were conducted for the Eastern Dublin General Plan Amendment/Specific Plan EIR by Biosystems Analysis. H. T. Harvey & Associates conducted kit fox surveys at twice the intensity recommended at that time (1991) by California Department of Fish and Game guidelines. These surveys (September- October 1991) did not detect kit fox activity on or near Dublin Ranch. DUBLIN RANCH SPECIAL-STATUS AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE SURVEYS. Project 555-09. July 20, 1993. Surveys were conducted by H. T. Harvey & Associates for special-status amphibian and reptile species on the Dublin Ranch property during the spring of 1993. The focus of these surveys included California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog, and western pond turtle. No California tiger salamanders were found during the survey. Fifteen subadult California red- legged frogs were found at two locations. Ten were along the northern boundary of the site in a stock pond adjacent to the intermittent channel of the Northern Drainage. Five more were found along Fallon Road along the southeastern edge of the site. Two adult western pond turtles were found off-site along Tassajara Creek. These findings were consistent with the 1989 surveys conducted by Biosystems for the Eastern Dublin General Plan Amendment/Specific Plan EIR. 2 DUBLIN RANCH: 1995 SPECIAL-STATUS AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE SURVEYS. Project 555-11. March 25, 1996. H. T. Harvey & Associates conducted additional surveys in the spring of 1995 to determine if the distribution and abundance of special-status reptiles and amphibians had changed. These surveys were initiated in a rainfall season (1994-1995) that was nearly 200% of normal. Surveys were undertaken to provide updated data for the City of Dublin, which was undertaking a stream corridor restoration plan and grazing management plan for the vicinity. No California tiger salamanders were detected anywhere on the site. Seven juvenile California red-legged frogs were detected in the same two locations (the Northern Drainage and Fallon Road ponds) as in previous surveys. Two western pond turtles were detected off-site along Tassajara Creek. The location and abundance of the California red-legged frog and western pond turtle have been consistent throughout three separate studies. DUBLIN RANCH FAIRY SHRIMP SURVEYS. Project 555-10. July 15, 1996. Small, claypan pools occurring in the southwestern portion of the Dublin Ranch property were monitored for listed fairy shrimp from December 1995 to April 1996. The only fairy shrimp observed in the pools was Lindahl's fairy shrimp, which is not a special-status species. This species of fairy shrimp tolerates a wide range of conditions and is the most common fairy shrimp in California. In general, the pools supported a low diversity of invertebrates and contained primarily weedy, opportunistic species as mosquito larvae and midgefly larvae. DISTRIBUTION OF THE SAN JOAQUIN KIT FOX IN THE NORTH PART OF ITS RANGE. Project 673-11. March 13, 1997. All known records of the San Joaquin kit fox and the results of kit fox surveys in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, as well as the western portion of San Joaquin County, were compiled and summarized by H. T. Harvey & Associates. These results were used to delineate the limits of the northern edge of the range of the San Joaquin kit fox based on specific, empirical data rather than on more subjective assessments of habitat quality as had been done previously. Data from surveys on and near Dublin Ranch were used in this report. It was determined that there were only two confirmed sightings of kit fox in the region west of Vasco Road; one was reportedly seen in 1992 on Black Hawk Road, and another was observed along Morgan Territory Road, both in Contra Costa County. This report concluded that the sighting along Black Hawk Road is likely an outlier and does not represent a resident kit fox population. While grassland habitat occurs west of kit fox sightings in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, kit fox have not expanded into these areas in recent years, nor is there any evidence that they have ever used these areas historically. Despite considerable survey effort in these areas, there is little evidence to support assertions of their presence in the areas west and south of the range boundary presented in this report. SAN JOAQUIN KIT FOX SURVEYS, DUBLIN RANCH, ALAMEDA COUNTY. PHASE I, 1993 USFWS PROTOCOL, FALL 1996. Project 555-10. June 11, 1997. The Dublin Ranch site was surveyed by H. T. Harvey & Associates following the 30 April 1993 protocol of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Surveys were conducted in October and November 1996 and again in May 1997, using five survey methods: walking transects of the entire project site to detect occupied or potential dens; spotlighting surveys; automatic camera stations; track plate stations; and a compilation of information derived from other surveys and sightings within 10 miles of the Dublin Ranch site. Although 36 potential dens were found, only one was occupied by canids (coyotes), and no inactive canid dens were detected. No evidence of kit fox presence was detected dunng spotlighting surveys, at camera stations, or on track plates. A review of previous kit fox sightings and survey results revealed only two confirmed sightings of kit fox in the region west of Vasco Road; one was reportedly seen in 1992 on Black Hawk Road, and another was observed along Morgan Territory Road, both in Contra Costa County. Summaries of known kit fox sightings and the results of other surveys within 10 miles of the project site indicated that while grassland habitat providing potential dens and at least moderate prey abundance is present in the Dublin/Livermore area, there is no kit fox population west of Vasco Road. DUBLIN RANCH SAN JOAQUIN KIT FOX PRELIMINARY REPORT AND RESULTS FROM EARLIER PHASES OF KIT FOX SURVEYS. Project 555-13. June 11, 1997. This preliminary report was prepared in accordance with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 1997 Survey Protocol for the San Joaquin kit fox. This report consisted of a map showing the location of the Dublin Ranch site; a description of habitat suitability for the kit fox on the Dublin Ranch site; a description of vegetative communities found on the project site using CNDDB; a map showing kit fox sightings within a 10-mile radius of the site; a description of the continuity of the vegetative communities between the site and kit fox sightings; results of walking transects of the entire site, assessing habitat suitability (prey availability and denning potential); and an analysis of potential adverse effects of the project, cumulative impacts, and mitigation recommendations (if any). The survey methodology used by H. T. Harvey & Associates in the first phase of the survey consisted of five elements: walking transects, spotlighting surveys, automatic camera stations, track plate stations, and compilations of information derived from other surveys and sightings within 10 miles of the Dublin Ranch site. Two sets of walking transects were completed. Although a number of potential dens were located, only one active canid den (that of a coyote) and no inactive canid dens were found. No evidence of kit fox was detected during spotlighting surveys, at camera stations, or on track plates. 4 It was concluded that kit fox are absent from the Dublin Ranch site. Therefore project development would not result in project-specific or cumulative impacts to kit fox, and no mitigation for impacts to kit fox is necessary. DUBLIN RANCH SAN JOAQUIN KIT FOX SURVEY (REVISED). Project 555-13. October 9, 1997. In April 1997, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) revised its 1993 survey protocol for the San Joaquin kit fox in the north part of its range. This report summarized the results of H. T. Harvey & Associates' spotlighting surveys and the use of track stations and camera stations on the Dublin Ranch site in May and June 1997, according to the April 1997 USFWS protocol. No evidence of kit fox presence on the Dublin Ranch site was detected during this survey. It was determined that the relative value of the site for kit fox is low due to the low density of ground squirrels and other prey. Also, the presence of competitors such as coyotes and red fox may constrain the expansion of kit fox into the Dublin area. DUBLIN RANCH FAIRY SHRIMP SURVEYS 1996/1997 WET SEASON. Project 555-10. December 2, 1997. Fairy shrimp surveys were conducted by H. T. Harvey & Associates for a second year according to the protocol outlined in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 1996 Interim Survey Guidelines. Pools in the southeastern portion of the Dublin Ranch site were monitored for fairy shrimp from December 1996 until the pools dried in March 1997. The only fairy shrimp observed in the pools was Lindahl's fairy shrimp, which is not a special- status species. As in the previous winter, the pools were of low quality for the listed species, and characteristics of the pools were not typical of those where the listed species occur. It was concluded that it would be highly unlikely for the listed species to be present on the site. DUBLIN RANCH FAIRY SHRIMP SURVEYS 1997/1998 WET SEASON. Project 555-17. October 9, 1998. This report summarized a third winter of surveys for special-status fairy shrimp in the southeastern portion of Dublin Ranch. H. T. Harvey & Associates conducted surveys according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife's 1996 Interim Survey Guidelines from December 1997 until the pools dried in May 1998. Again, no special-status fairy shrimp were detected. Therefore, based on the distribution of the listed fairy shrimp, the poor quality of the pools on the site, and the negative results from three consecutive years of surveys, it was concluded that these special-status fairy shrimp are absent from the site. DUBLIN RANCH: 1998 SPECIAL-STATUS AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE SURVEYS. Project 555-21. November 6, 1998. Previous surveys for special-status reptiles and amphibians on the Dublin Ranch project site had been conducted in 1989, 1993, and 1995. Dunng these surveys, California red-legged frogs had been detected in the Northern Drainage and in a pond along Fallon Road, although neither the California tiger salamander nor the western pond turtle had been previously detected on the site. H. T. Harvey & Associates conducted surveys for the California tiger salamander, California red- legged frog, and western pond turtle throughout the Dublin Ranch site on a number of dates between October 1997 and May 1998. The Northern Drainage and two stock ponds (one next to Fallon Road and one west of Fallon Road in the middle of Area B) were surveyed intensively using daytime and nocturnal visual searches, dip net sampling, and seining. Two juvenile red-legged frogs were located in the Northern Drainage, but no red-legged frogs were detected elsewhere on the site. A pond in the Northern Drainage previously found to support red-legged frogs was no longer suitable for breeding due to the failure of the dam, while the suitability of the Fallon Road pond had declined due to siltation and partial failure of the dam. This pond is also apparently stocked with mosquitofish. Two California tiger salamander larvae were found in a pond west of Fallon Road, in the middle of area B; this species had not been detected during previous surveys on the Dublin Ranch site. No western pond turtles were observed in 1998. PAO YEH LIN PROPERTY SPECIAL-STATUS SPECIES SURVEYS. Project 555-23. May 18, 1999. Surveys for special-status plant and wildlife species, and for habitat potentially suitable for such species, were conducted by H. T. Harvey & Associates on a number of dates in 1998 on the former Pao Yeh Lin property, in the southwestern corner of the larger Dublin Ranch site. No special-status plant species were observed on the site during surveys in June and October 1998, although additional surveys were recommended. During a number of surveys for special- status reptiles and amphibians, conducted between January and august 1998, the only special- status species detected on the site was the California tiger salamander; a number of larvae were detected in the Area F stock pond. No California red-legged frogs or western pond turtles were observed. No Burrowing Owls or American badgers were detected on the site, although potentially suitable habitat was found to be present. Reconnaissance-level kit fox surveys on 23 and 24 July 1998 failed to detect any evidence of kit fox on the site and found only two burrows of appropriate size for kit fox. Based on the paucity of burrows on the site and the negative results of numerous kit fox surveys elsewhere in the project vicinity, kit fox were determined to be absent from the site. Pools within Area H were surveyed for listed fairy shrimp, prior to drying, on four days in May and June 1998. No evidence of fairy shrimp was found. DUBLIN RANCH, ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA IDENTIFICATION OF WATERS OF THE U. S. Project 555-30. June 17, 1999. H. T. Harvey & Associates surveyed the entire Dublin Ranch project site for areas meeting the regulatory definition of "Waters of the U. S." Jurisdictional waters were identified and mapped within the project boundaries and included approximately 0.12 acres of tributary waters, 0.23 acres of other waters, and 2.29 acres of potential wetlands. PAO YEH LIN PROPERTY FAIRY SHRIMP SURVEYS 1998/1999 WET SEASON. Project 555-27. October 26, 1999. Surveys for listed fairy shrimp were conducted by H. T. Harvey & Associates in a complex of seasonal pools on Areas G and H of the former Pao Yeh Lin property, in the southwestern comer of the larger Dublin Ranch site. These surveys were conducted according to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) 1996 Interim Survey Guidelines. No listed species were observed, the only fairy shrimp found on the site being the common, widespread Lindahl's fairy shrimp. The pools on Area H are hydrologically connected to the pools to the east, which had been previously surveyed according to USFWS protocols and were found not to support these species. Pools containing Lindahl's fairy shrimp on the project site are generally of poor quality and not typical of known pools where the listed fairy shrimp usually occur. Based on the negative findings of surveys on Area H, the negative findings for three years (1995/96 to 1997/98) of surveys from the adjacent (and hydrologically connected) Area C, the distribution of the listed fairy shrimp, and the poor quality of the pools, it was determined that listed fairy shrimp are very unlikely to occur on the Pao Yeh Lin site. DUBLIN RANCH AREAS F, G, AND H (PAO YEH LIN PROPERTY) ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION. Project 555-26. November 1, 1999. H. T. Harvey & Associates compiled and analyzed the results of previous surveys on the former Pao Yeh Lin property and on adjacent portions of Dublin Ranch, summarized ecological impacts that would result from development of this portion of the Dublin Ranch site, and recommended mitigation for these impacts. Impacts to wetland and riparian habitats regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the California Department of Fish and Game were determined, and mitigation for these impacts was proposed. Impacts to two special-status plant species, the Congdon's tarplant and San Joaquin spearscale, were determined to be potentially significant, requiring further surveys and/or mitigation. California tiger salamanders, as well as their breeding habitat within the Area F stock pond and their surrounding upland estivation habitat, would be lost due to project 7 development. The loss of the Area F stock pond would also represent a loss of California red- legged frog habitat, as an individual had been found in the pond during a previous survey. Mitigation measures were proposed to compensate for the loss of tiger salamander and red- legged frog habitat, minimize/avoid the loss of individual tiger salamanders and red-legged frogs, and prevent impacts to active raptor nests, occupied Burrowing Owl burrows, and active American badger dens. PAO YEH LIN PROPERTY FAIRY SHRIMP SURVEYS 1999/2000 WET SEASON. Project 555-27. June, 2000. Surveys for listed fairy shrimp were conducted by H. T. Harvey & Associates in a complex of seasonal pools on the former Pao Yeh Lin property, in the southwestern comer of the larger Dublin Ranch site. These surveys were conducted according to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) 1996 Interim Survey Guidelines. None of the listed fairy shrimp were detected during the 1999/2000 surveys. DUBLIN RANCH: 2000 SPECIAL-STATUS AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE SURVEYS. Project 555-31. March 5, 2001. This report summarizes the findings of surveys conducted within the Fallon Road Pond, the pond west of the Fallon Road Pond, the stockpond and associated drainage of the northwestern neighboring Area F, Tassajara Creek through the Lin Property, and the Northern Drainage and associated stockpond (Redgewick property). Surveys were conducted either by Dr. Jeffery A. Wilkinson or Dr. Mark R. Jennings between November 30, 1999 and August 24, 2000. DUBLIN RANCH PROJECT AREA MITIGATION AND MONITORING REPORT. (Draft). Project 555-26. May 15, 2001. This draft report summarizes mitigation measures to compensate for impacts to USACE and CDFG jurisdictional area with the Dublin Ranch Project Area (Areas B, C, F, and H). USACE area impacts totaled 10.22 acres while CDFG area impacts totaled 5.51 acres. USACE impacts occur to all drainages, wetlands, and stockponds on-site. CDFG impacts occur to on-site drainage channels and riparian vegetation. Mitigation to compensate for these impacts is located on the project site within the On-Site Drainage Mitigation area and off-site at three locations, Tassajara Creek, the Northern Drainage, and Lin Livermore. USACE mitigation consists of creating 20.67 acres of new jurisdictional area. Mitigation includes new drainage channels at the On-Site Drainage mitigation area, four (4) ponds at the Northern Drainage and Lin Livermore sites, and a complex of seasonally ponded wetlands at Lin Livermore. CDFG mitigation consists of creating 7.48 acres of new jurisdictional area. Mitigation includes new bed and banks within the On-Site Drainage mitigation area, expansion of riparian habitat along Tassajara Creek, and new willow-riparian habitat along the Northern Drainage. DUBLIN RANCH PROJECT AREA BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE CALIFORNIA RED-LEGGED FROG. Project 555.27. May 15, 2001. The purpose of this document was to review the proposed Dublin Ranch Project Area development in sufficient detail to determine to what extent the proposed action may affect any federally listed endangered or threatened species, or critical habitat for said species. This document was a revised version of the 17 April 2000 Project Area Biological Assessment for the Red-legged Frog compiled by H. T. Harvey & Associates. The only federally threatened, endangered, proposed threatened or proposed endangered species on the site and determined to be potentially affected by the project is the California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii). 9 H. T. Harvey & Associates Dublin Reports H.T. Harvey & Associates. 1990a. Eastern Dublin Golden Eagle Phase I Report. Project No. 555-04. H.T. Harvey & Associates. 1990b. Rare Plant Survey of the East Dublin Property, Alameda County. Project No. 555-03. H.T. Harvey & Associates. 1991. San Joaquin Kit Fox Surveys, Dublin Ranch, Alameda County. Project No. 555-07. H.T. Harvey& Associates. 1993. Dublin Ranch Special-Status Amphibian and Reptile Surveys. prOJect No. 555-09. H.T. Harvey & Associates. 1996a. Dublin Ranch: 1995 Special-Status Amphibian and Reptile Surveys. Project No. 555-11. H.T. Harvey & Associates. 1996b. Dublin Ranch Fairy Shrimp Surveys. Project No. 555-10. H.T. Harvey & Associates. 1997a. Distribution of the San Joaquin Kit Fox in the North Part of Its Range. Project No. 673-11. H.T. Harvey & Associates. 1997b. Dublin Ranch Fairy Shrimp Surveys 1996/1997 Wet Season. Project No. 555-10. H.T. Harvey & Associates. 1997c. Dublin Ranch San Joaquin Kit Fox Preliminary Report and Results from Earlier Phases of Kit Fox Surveys. Project Number 555-13. H.T. Harvey & Associates. 1997d. San Joaquin Kit Fox Surveys, Dublin Ranch, Alameda County. Phase I, 1993 USFWS Protocol, Fall 1996. Project No. 555-10. H.T. Harvey & Associates. 1997e. Dublin Ranch San Joaquin Kit Fox Survey (revised). Project No. 555-13. H.T. Harvey & Associates. 1998a. Dublin Ranch: 1998 Special-Status Amphibian and Reptile Surveys. Project No. 555-21. H.T. Harvey & Associates. 1998b. Dublin Ranch Fairy Shrimp Surveys 1997/1998 Wet Season. Project No. 555-17. H.T. Harvey & Associates. 1999a. Dublin Ranch, Alameda County, California Identification of Waters of the U.S. Project No. 555-30. H.T. Harvey & Associates. 1999b. Pao Yeh Lin Property Fairy Shrimp Surveys 1998/1999 Wet Season. Project No. 555-27. 10 H.T. Harvey & Associates. 1999c. Pao Yeh Lin Property Special-Status Species Surveys. Project No. 555-23. H.T. Harvey & Associates. 1999d. Dublin Ranch Areas F, G, and H (Pao Yeh Lin Property) Ecological Impacts and Mitigation. Project No. 555-26. H. T. Harvey & Associates. 2000. Pao Yeh Lin Property Fairy Shrimp Surveys 1999/2000 Wet Season. Project No. 555-27. H. T. Harvey & Associates. 200la. Dublin Ranch: 2000 Special-Status Amphibian and Reptile Surveys. Project No. 555-31. H. T. Harvey & Associates. 200lb. Project Area Biological Assessment for the Calilbrnia Red- legged Frog. Project No. 555-27. H. T. Harvey & Associates. 2001c. Project Area Mitigation and Monitoring Plan Dublin, California (Draft). Project No. 555-26. 11