e47ab974-item-2-bpmp_reduced-size-for-website — Fairfax City Council, April 15, 2026 (part 3 of 4)

San Rafael | San Diego | Fort Bragg | Denver (415) 454‐8868 info@wra‐ca.com www.wra‐ca.com Old Canyon Road Bridge Scour Repair Biological Surveys and Permitting, Fremont, California WRA is teaming with David J. Powers & Associates and Schaaf & Wheeler to complete the environmental review and permitting studies necessary to repair scour on a bridge across Alameda Creek in Fremont, California.

Alameda Creek is not currently an anadromous fish stream, but restoration will begin in 2014 to construct fish ladders and return anadromous steelhead to Alameda Creek. The Old Canyon Road Bridge currently presents a low-flow fish passage barrier due to the presence of poured concrete in the creek bed beneath the bridge. The bridge scour repair will remove the concrete and install rock protection around the bridge abutments. WRA prepared Caltrans biological resources documentation for the project and engaged with the National Marine Fisheries Service in a Technical Assistance for concurrence that the design would not be detrimental to fish passage once the downstream fish ladders had been completed. WRA worked with the project engineers to assess potential fish passage issues at the bridge and to develop plans for fish passage that meet the National Marine Fisheries Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife standards for fish passage. Dan was the project lead fisheries biologist for WRA and was involved in the preparation of environmental documentation and resource agency permit applications.

Mare Island Ship Yard Dry Dock Fish Salvage, Vallejo, California Marine vessels and barges are brought to the dry docks at the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard to be serviced and repaired. In accordance with permit requirements of USFWS, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and CDFW, biologists are required to be present during final stages of dewatering to salvage (rescue) stranded fish from the dry dock. Dan serves as project manager and lead fisheries biologist. He is responsible for leading field crews, coordinating with resource agency personnel, ensuring permit compliance, and authoring technical reports following each salvage event. He has also led consultation meetings, prepared biological assessments for the NMFS and USFWS permits, and assisted with amending an existing CDFW permit to reduce mitigation requirements for the dry dock. He is authorized to handle and relocate longfin smelt, Delta smelt, steelhead, Chinook salmon and green sturgeon at this site. This project is ongoing.

Pastori Avenue Bridge Outfall, Marin County, California Dan served as the lead fisheries biologist for a bank stability and outfall project in San Anselmo Creek within the town of Fairfax. Project work included a multi-day fish rescue and relocation under the authorization of a NMFS Biological Opinion. Several juvenile steelhead were successfully relocated out of the work area prior to the initiation of construction. During project work, Dan identified the invasive New Zealand mudsnail in the creek, which had previously not been documented for this watershed. NMFS and CDFW were notified of the occurrence.

Caltrans Southern California Lagoon Study, San Diego County, California California Department of Transportation is analyzing impacts and potential sources of mitigation for sensitive species and habitat for the Interstate 5 widening in San Diego County. As part of an analysis for increases in tidal inundation, Dan participated in wetland assessments and led field crews in biological assessments and topographic surveys within six coastal lagoons in northern San Diego County. During the biological assessments, several coastal California gnatcatcher pairs were identified and suitable breeding habitat for the species was mapped. The second phase of this project, which involves computer based simulation and analysis of increased tidal inundation, is ongoing.

Salmonid Habitat Assessment and Relocation in California Dan has worked on several projects designed to assess potential habitat for salmonid species. Survey techniques include CDFG protocol level stream habitat assessment, red and carcass spawning surveys, substrate composition and permeability sampling, geomorphic surveys, water quality sampling and analysis, various forms of netting and trapping, and snorkel surveys for identification purposes. Survey work has been conducted in Napa, Sonoma, Shasta, Santa Clara, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Kern Counties.

Daniel Chase

Page 3 ends

San Rafael | San Diego | Fort Bragg | Denver (415) 454‐8868 info@wra‐ca.com www.wra‐ca.com Permanente Quarry Aquatic Baseline, Santa Clara County, California Permanente Quarry is a 3600 acre property located in western Santa Clara County at the northern extent of the Santa Cruz Mountains. As part of the quarry’s planned expansion, Dan designed and implemented a study of the habitat and aquatic fauna of two headwater creeks on the property. The following field studies were completed as part of this work: fish were surveyed by seine and visually to determine species composition, distribution and relative abundance; nocturnal time-constraint visual encounter surveys were employed to document amphibian species composition, distribution and relative abundance; benthic macroinvertebrates (BMI) were sampled at eight representative locations in accordance with the California Stream Bioassessment Procedure (CSBP). The collected BMIs were sorted by taxa and the data analyzed according to accepted metrics; and a detailed physical habitat study was conducted to quantify the condition and value of the current aquatic habitat. A technical report was completed that will serve as a baseline of the available habitat and existing fauna within the two watersheds.

Grady Ranch Creek Restoration and Permitting, Marin County, California As part of a proposed Grady Ranch Development in Marin County, a large scale creek restoration and fish passage improvement was designed and permitted. WRA provided biological services which included fish passage assessment, habitat mapping, fisheries surveys, California red-legged frog protocol level surveys, design review, agency consultation, permitting, and the preparation of long term monitoring plans. Dan served as the lead fisheries biologist for the project, and was involved with biological surveys, fish passage assessments, habitat mapping, consultation, and prepared a biological assessment to support the projects permits. While the project never went to construction, the restoration design was the process of receiving approval from the resource agencies.

Fish Passage Assessment in California
Dan has worked with several teams on the identification and assessment of fish passage barriers for anadromous species, which involved onsite qualitative habitat analysis and quantitative data collection utilizing a Total Station Survey Instrument. His survey work and professional assessments have been used as supplemental components to technical reports and as part of a state wide database that is in process for Caltrans. Fish passage assessments have been performed in various watersheds of Marin, Contra Costa, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.

Santa Clara River Estuary Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Feasibility Study, Ventura County, California
A Fisheries Restoration Grant Program through CDFW funded a feasibility study and conceptual design development for the restoration of estuarine fish habitat along the Santa Clara River Estuary. Following the preparation of an existing conditions technical report, stake holder outreach and restoration designs were crafted to focus on the conversion of an existing developed campground back to higher quality estuarine habitat. The campground would then be relocated from its current footprint. Dan served as the project manager and lead biologist. His work included a habitat assessment, report preparation, design review, participation in outreach meetings, and team management. The final feasibility report for the preferred concept will be released in 2015.

Napa Dry Bypass Flood Control, Napa County, California
As part of a comprehensive flood control program for Napa County, a high flow bypass channel and creek restoration at the confluence of Napa Creek and Napa River was constructed in downtown Napa. Dan served as the project’s lead fisheries biologist, which involved fish rescue and relocation, otter trawl fish sampling, fish exclusion, pile driving monitoring, and daily construction checks. He also assisted Napa County Flood Control District with a permit amendment to the project’s CDFW Incidental Take Permit. The completion of the dry bypass project resulted in increased flood capacity and improved habitat conditions for special-status fish including steelhead and longfin smelt.

Daniel Chase

Page 4 ends

San Rafael | San Diego | Fort Bragg | Denver (415) 454‐8868 info@wra‐ca.com www.wra‐ca.com Marin County Public Works Fisheries Services, Marin County, California Marin County Department of Public Works (MCDPW) underwent maintenance sediment removal at multiple culverts in West Marin. WRA provided biological support services for the sediment removal, which included preconstruction California red-legged frog surveys, environmental training, fish rescue and relocation and biological monitoring. During fish relocation, tidewater goby was encountered in an area they had not previously been documented to occur. Following the project work, WRA prepared a supplemental biological assessment of tidewater goby addressing sediment removal activities for MCDPW. Dan served as the project manager, lead fisheries biologist, and authored the supplemental biological assessment.

Callippe Preserve, Pleasanton, California
The Callippe Preserve was established as mitigation for the construction of the Pleasanton Municipal (Callippe) Golf Course. As a component of the wildlife management plan and USFWS Biological Opinion, Dan has conducted hydrological monitoring, annual sampling for California Tiger Salamander, and required predator monitoring and removal within the Preserve Conservation Areas. In 2009, Dan discovered a new population of California red-legged frog within a Preserve Conservation Area pond. Predator removal via hand capture, hook and line, gigging, shooting, and dipnet capture continued throughout 2009 and 2010. Successful breeding of California red-legged frog was confirmed in 2010. In October 2010, Dan, with approval of the USFWS and the landowner, dewatered the pond using a gasoline-powered trash-pump to rid it of bass and bullfrogs. Monitoring is ongoing, however California red-legged frog breeding success is expected to improve in 2012. In the fall of 2013, non-native predatory fish were detected in the golf course irrigation ponds. Dan assisted with draining the ponds and eradicate the fish in compliance with the USFWS Biological Opinion and associated management plans. Dan assisted with the captured and retention of 22 CRLF during the dewatering. CRLF were released back into the irrigation ponds as soon as refilling resumed.

Frenchman’s Creek Water District, San Mateo County, California Frenchman’s Creek Water District (FCWD) is a small water service provider located north of Half Moon Bay along coastal San Mateo County. A CDFW 1602 permit allows for the temporary installation of a flashboard dam and water withdrawal from the system. Dan serves as the fisheries biologist for this project and the FCWD, which involves monitoring flow and habitat conditions during the diversion period, permit compliance, and annual reporting. This project is currently ongoing.

Potrero Creek Restoration Carmel, California
Dan helped design, manage and implement the restoration of Potrero Creek, in the Carmel Valley, California. A large landslide altered the existing channel and was undermining a road. Dan aided with the design to restore the previous channel alignment and use the altered channel as a high water channel which would provide rearing habitat for steelhead and California red-legged frog. He conducted environmental training for the workers, pre and post restoration geomorphic surveys, served as the onsite biological monitor and restoration manager during construction, and assisted with the permitting of the project.

Draper Inverness Dock Permitting, Marin County, California In accordance with permit requirements of USFWS and NMFS, Dan performed pre-construction eelgrass surveys at a dock replacement project in Tomales Bay. Dan also performed daily construction monitoring for all inwater work, conducted environmental sensitivity training to on-site construction staff, and monitored environmental permit compliance for the project. Construction involved removal of creosote piles and installation of eelgrass friendly deck grating that allows light to penetrate beneath it. Following the construction of the dock, Dan led annual monitoring work to document the project effect on the eelgrass bed. Monitoring was completed in 2012 when the eelgrass bed was confirmed to have recovered to pre-construction conditions.

Patricia Valcarcel earned a MS in Wildlife Sciences while conducting research on the spatial ecology of the threatened giant gartersnake. She has worked on a variety of field research projects ranging from animal movements to behavior and reproduction. She has presented her work at many conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.

Patricia has extensive experience working with giant gartersnakes in the Sacramento Valley and assisted with mark-recapture surveys for San Francisco gartersnakes in San Mateo County. She has performed surveys and other activities related to California red-legged frog in Alameda, San Mateo, Los Angeles, Solano, and Sonoma Counties. Patricia also has extensive experience throughout California’s Central Valley including protocol-level surveys for Swainson’s hawk, burrowing owl, and assessments for San Joaquin kit fox and blunt-nosed leopard lizard. In addition, she has conducted observations and coordinated compliance for Pacific herring spawning in San Francisco Bay.

Patricia’s primary responsibilities are to conduct surveys, habitat assessments, and write associated biological assessment and technical reports for special-status wildlife species. She has experience with the San Joaquin County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan as one of the oncall biologists for the San Joaquin Council of Governments. In addition, Patricia is involved in environmental permitting, permit compliance, and mitigation and monitoring efforts associated with these permits.

Representative Projects
East Bay Municipal Utility District Mokelumne Aqueduct Project, San Joaquin County, California 2012 – 2013
Recoating of the Mokelumne Aqueduct Phase 8 – Slough Crossing Project will be conducted at four project sites located in San Joaquin and Contra Costa counties. In accordance with permits, a USFWS-approved giant gartersnake biologist is needed to perform pre-construction surveys and compliance monitoring. Patricia holds a USFWS Recovery Permit for giant gartersnake and was approved to perform the pre-construction surveys.

She also monitored a Swainson’s hawk nest within the Project Area to confirm nesting status of the pair and EBMUD compliance with avoidance measures.

San Joaquin Council of Governments, San Joaquin County, California 2012 – Present
WRA is contracted for on-call services related to the San Joaquin County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation and Open Space Plan (SJMSCP).

Patricia has performed pre-construction surveys and recommended avoidance and minimization measures to ensure participants are in compliance with the SJMSCP. Wildlife species and habitats Patricia has encountered as part of this work include burrowing owl, California tiger salamander, and Swainson’s hawk. In addition, Patricia prepared and consulted with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on a burrowing owl exclusion plan. Following approval by CDFW, Patricia implemented the exclusion and monitoring plan.

PATRICIA VALCARCEL, MS
Wildlife Biologist
[email protected]
o: 415.454.8868 x1220
Years of Experience: 9
Education
MS, Wildlife Sciences, Oregon State
University, 2011
BA, Environmental Sciences,
Northwestern University, 2003
Professional Affiliations/
Certifications
USFWS Recovery Permit for giant
gartersnake and San Francisco
gartersnake (TE-64146A)
California Department of Fish and
Wildlife Scientific Collecting Permit
The Wildlife Society
Specialized Training
• Biology and Management of the
Alameda Striped Racer, Alameda
County Conservation Partnership, May
2014
• San Joaquin Kit Fox Ecology,
Conservation, and Survey Techniques,
Central Coast Chapter of The Wildlife
Society, Summer 2013
• Swainson’s Hawks in California’s
Central Valley, Sacramento-Shasta
Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Spring
2012
• Workshop on the Biology and
Conservation of the California Tiger
Salamander, Alameda County
Conservation Partnership, June 2012
• Amphibian Inventory and Monitoring
Protocol, Northwest Partners in
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation,
Spring 2011
San Rafael | San Diego | Fort Bragg | Denver (415) 454-8868 [email protected] www.wra-ca.com @WrC

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
V 1
rs f1
0,
#we-/ode

PATRICIA VALCARCEL

Page 2 ends

Ridge Top Ranch Wildlife Conservation Bank, Solano County, California 2012 – 2015 WRA and Ridge Top Ranch, LLC (RTR) are in the process of developing over 280 acres of high quality California red-legged frog and callippe silverspot butterfly mitigation habitat located within Solano County, California. WRA, in consultation with the USFWs and under 10(a)(1)(A) Recovery Permit TE-212445-0, successfully translocated California red-legged frogs to created habitat within the RTR Wildlife Conservation Bank. WRA has been involved throughout the process, from selecting donor sites and planning habitat creation, to translocation of egg masses and monitoring the frogs to ensure that establishment at the receiving site was successful. Through the monitoring phase, Patricia assisted permit-holder Rob Schell in survey efforts, which included egg mass surveys at the donor site, visual counts at the receiving ponds, as well as the capture and handling of juvenile red-legged frogs to measure and install PIT tags. She also conducted a Callippe silverspot butterfly survey as part of annual monitoring efforts. Monitoring at this site is ongoing, and the Conservation Bank is in the final permitting stages.

Napa Valley Marina Permitting and Dredge Monitoring, Napa, California 2012 – Present The Napa Valley Marina is an active recreational marina along the Napa River near Bull Island. Maintenance dredging of the Marina is necessary for boat access to and from the Napa River. Patricia is involved with a variety of environmental consulting services for the maintenance dredging including preparation of applications for the Dredged Materials Management Office (DMMO) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Streambed Alteration Agreement. Maintenance dredging permits included monitoring for special-status species and habitat conditions such as temperature and salinity monitoring for longfin smelt. Patricia oversees monitoring and compliance surveys for the multi-year maintenance dredging project.

Port of Richmond Inner Harbor Maintenance Dredging, Richmond, California 2014 – 2015 Maintenance dredging of the Port of Richmond Inner Harbor Channel was necessary to maintain passageways for the active port. The Pacific herring is a protected fishery, and dredging operations within the Pacific herring spawning season were unavoidable. Patricia was a California Department of Fish and Wildlife approved observer for the Project, and she coordinated a team of observers for the maintenance dredging Project. One spawning event occurred within the Project Area during dredging activities and Patricia consulted with CDFW to establish buffers. All Project activities were completed in compliance with the Project’s Pacific Herring Work Window Waiver.

Bruno’s Island Bridge Repair Project, Southwestern Sacramento County, California 2014 Bruno’s Island is a small recreational boat harbor located off Andrus Island along the San Joaquin River in the western Delta. Bridge repair activities included sheathing piles within the channel and could potentially affect listed aquatic species. Patricia provided the hydroacoustic analysis and wrote the Section 7 Biological Assessment for Delta smelt, steelhead, and giant gartersnake. Through her work and advising on project design such as strike limits and use of bubble curtains outside of the work windows, a “Not Likely to Adversely Affect” was received from both NMFS and USFWS. This Project was completed in 2014. 12 Bridges, Santa Clara County, California 2012 – 2013
WRA was engaged by the County to prepare Natural Environment Study (Minimal Impact) reports, permitting documents, and Revegetation and Monitoring Plans for twelve bridges with critical abutment scour located throughout Santa Clara County, California. Patricia aided in the preparation of the Section 7 Biological Assessments for six of the bridges which incorporated California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, Least Bell’s vireo, and salmonid species. Based on those plans, she has conducted the pre-construction surveys and biological monitoring required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinion in 2012 and 2013 work seasons.

San Rafael | San Diego | Fort Bragg | Denver (415) 454-8868 [email protected] www.wra-ca.com

PATRICIA VALCARCEL

Page 3 ends

Burrowing Owl Surveys and Passive Exclusion, Legacy on 101, San Jose, California 2014 The Legacy on 101 project is a 16.35 acre property in Santa Clara, California that is to be developed into two 6- story industrial park/office/R&D buildings. The area is known to support burrowing owl, and a series of take avoidance surveys was conducted from 2008 to 2014. Patricia observed one burrowing owl occupying the property in 2014. Patricia developed the exclusion and monitoring plan submitted to CDFW. During the nonnesting season, she passively excluded the owl and excavated all potential burrows at the site. Patricia conducted monitoring at the site every other week until construction activities were initiated and performed a pre-construction survey immediately prior to grading, per the exclusion plan.

Napa Dry Bypass, Napa, California 2014
The Napa Dry Bypass is designed to divert 100 year flows around the oxbow reach to avoid flooding the Soscol Gateway area in downtown Napa. Patricia is a CDFW-approved biologist for this Project, and Patricia has been involved with this project by monitoring compliance and construction activities during excavations of the new river channel, as well as assisting with fish rescues within the coffer dams. Project permits include Biological Opinions from National Marine Fisheries Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife Incidental Take Permits for steelhead (Central California Coast DPS), Delta smelt, and longfin smelt.

Marin County Department of Public Works Flood Control Line Replacement, San Rafael, California 2013 The Marin County Department of Public Works manages flood control projects throughout the county, including the city of San Rafael. The project consists of replacing an aging flood diversion pipe in a low-lying residential area adjacent to the south fork of Gallinas Creek. The project area is located in a salt marsh slough and has known populations of California clapper rail and salt-marsh harvest mouse. Patricia was a USFWS-approved biological monitor for the project and has monitored construction to ensure compliance with the project’s regulatory permits. Several California clapper rails were observed at short range and within the project area, and Patricia stopped work activities until the birds had safely left of the own volition.

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Coastal Trail, San Mateo County, California 2012 – 2013 The Fitzgerald Marine Reserve project includes the design of a portion of the California Coastal Trail in San Mateo County, California. Major components of the project, in addition to the multi-use trail, included a free span pedestrian bridge and improved beach access and overlook. WRA provided environmental services in support of the proposed trail and public access improvements, and existing sensitive habitats were avoided to the extent possible in the public access design. WRA prepared the conceptual designs for the trail and improved access to the overlook and beach, performed wetland delineations, completed biological surveys, and prepared permit applications. As part of this process, Patricia was approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Biological Opinion for the project to perform the pre-construction surveys and monitoring for San Francisco gartersnake and California red-legged frog. In addition, she provided advice on the design and materials for the wildlife exclusion fence, and oversaw its installation.

San Rafael | San Diego | Fort Bragg | Denver (415) 454-8868 [email protected] www.wra-ca.com San Rafael | San Diego | Fort Bragg | Denver (415) 454-8868 [email protected] www.wra-ca.com Nick holds a B.S. degree in Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology from the University of California, Davis. His coursework included ichthyology, mammalogy, ornithology, waterfowl and wetland management, population dynamics and invasive plant ecology.

Prior to joining WRA, Nick worked as a biological monitor on a transmission line project where he gained experience working with California tiger salamander, western spadefoot toad and nesting birds. In addition, he worked for two years as a Fisheries Technician in both the private and public sector. His work primarily revolved around population monitoring, invasive species removal, water quality and habitat assessments. He has worked extensively with Lahontan cutthroat trout and native species of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Nick has also worked with the UC Davis Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology and performed a cursory study on small mammal distribution throughout the state of North Dakota. He conducted live-trapping and collected specimens for the museum. The data collected was presented to the museum and the Smithsonian Institute in support of follow-up studies.

With WRA, Nick conducts fish salvages, habitat assessments, biological monitoring, focused wildlife surveys, and writes biological assessment reports. He has trained with Rob Schell, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Permit holder for California red-legged frog (CRLF); Jason Yakich, Recovery Permit holder for California clapper rail (CCR); and Kate Allan, Recovery Permit holder for salt marsh harvest mouse (SMHM).

Representative Projects
Amy’s Kitchen, Rohnert Park, California, 2014 – Present During construction of facilities for Amy’s Kitchen in Rhonert Park, Nick was approved by CDFW as a biological monitor for California tiger salamander (CTS). During the course of the project, Nick monitored for environmental compliance at the site to assure that there was no take of covered species during construction. To date, no take of CTS has occurred.

Port of Richmond Inner Harbor Maintenance Dredging, Richmond, California 2014 – 2015
Maintenance dredging for the Port of Richmond Inner Harbor Channel was conducted in the winter of 2014 to maintain passageways for ships entering the port. Pacific herring is a protected fishery, and dredging operations within the harbor overlapped with the Pacific herring spawning season.

Nick was an approved California Department of Fish and Wildlife observer for the Project. During operations, one spawning event occurred within the Project Area. Nick observed the spawning event and informed crews on the required buffers to maintain compliance. All Project activities were completed in compliance with the Project’s Pacific Herring Work Window Waiver.

Nicholas Brinton, BS
Fisheries Biologist
[email protected]
o: 415.454.8868 x1780
c: 909.275.2358
Years of Experience: 3
Education
BS Wildlife, Fish and Conservation
Biology, UC Davis, 2012
Professional Affiliations/
Certifications
American Fisheries Society
®wra

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
5 ft
#

NICHOLAS BRINTON

Page 2 ends

San Rafael | San Diego | Fort Bragg | Denver (415) 454-8868 [email protected] www.wra-ca.com Mare Island Ship Yard Dry Dock Fish Salvage, Vallejo, California 2014, - Present Mothballed vessels from the National Defense Reserve Fleet in Suisun Bay and private ships needing repair are brought to the dry docks at the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard. In accordance with permit requirements of USFWS, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and CDFW, biologists are required to be present during final stages of dewatering to salvage (rescue) stranded fish from the dry dock. Captured fish are placed in aerated holding coolers, identified to species, counted and measured before being returned to the Mare Island Channel of the Napa River. Nick is a lead fisheries biologist for this operation. He is responsible for leading a team of biologists who conduct salvage operations. He also coordinates with resource agency personnel, ensuring permit compliance, and writes technical reports following each salvage event. He is authorized to handle and relocate longfin smelt, Delta smelt, steelhead, Chinook salmon and green sturgeon at this site. This project is ongoing.

Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Dam Spillway Repair, Healdsburg, California, 2014 The Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Dam is a flashboard dam located within the city of Healdsburg on the Russian River. The dam is installed seasonally to create a temporary recreational lake. For this project, Nick was approved as the lead fisheries biologist, and biological monitor. He conducted pre-construction surveys for breeding birds as well as pacific pond turtle (PPT), and positively identified PPT in the project area. As the lead fisheries biologist he lead a team of biologists who performed multiple fish salvages within the project area following de-watering events. His team successfully identified, and safely re-located steelhead that were salvaged during the dewatering. Nick also conducted biological monitoring for PPT and special-status fish throughout the duration of the project to ensure that project activities were in compliance with agency permits. He conducted pre-construction checks, environmental trainings, and water temperature monitoring. The project was completed in compliance with relevant permits with no take of any special-status species.

Frenchman’s Creek Water District, San Mateo County, 2013 - Present Frenchman’s Creek Water District (FCWD) is a small water service provider located north of Half Moon Bay along coastal San Mateo County. A CDFW 1602 permit allows for the temporary installation of a flashboard dam and water withdrawal from the system. Nick serves as a fisheries biologist for this project, which involves monitoring flow and habitat conditions for steelhead during the diversion period, permit compliance, and annual reporting.

This project is currently ongoing.

Napa Dry Bypass, Napa, California, 2014 - Present
The Napa Dry Bypass is designed to divert 100 year flows around the oxbow reach of the Napa River to avoid flooding the Soscol Gateway area in downtown Napa. Nick has been approved as a lead fisheries biologist on this project and has conducted multiple fish salvage operations for longfin smelt, and steelhead. Nick also assisted in the otter trawl surveys and fish exclusion work which were required during impact hammer pile driving operations. He has also been involved with this project by monitoring compliance and construction activities including impact hammer pile driving. In addition, he assisted in the design and implementation of the environmental awareness training program to comply with both the streambed alteration agreement and incidental take permits. This project is ongoing.

Pristine Sun Solar Projects Pre-construction Surveys, California, 2014-Present WRA was contracted to implement environmental compliance measures for several Pristine Sun projects.

Projects involved creating 0.5-1 MW solar generation facilities in Glenn, and Shasta Counties. As part of these measures, Nick performed pre-construction surveys for Swainson’s hawk, white-tailed kite, long-eared owl, burrowing owl, and breeding birds at two sites.

San Rafael | San Diego | Fort Bragg | Denver (415) 454-8868 [email protected] www.wra-ca.com Rob Schell has more than 12 years of experience both managing and performing key technical roles in dozens of projects throughout California.

In his role at WRA, Rob works alongside his clients to come up with efficient and cost effective solutions to complex and diverse environmental challenges. Most recently, Rob has been the lead wildlife biologist on multiple conservation banking projects. In tandem with WRA’s Senior Project Managers, his work has led to the preservation of thousands of acres of habitat for threatened and endangered species.

Rob is a herpetologist and ecologist by training. He is considered an expert on the California red-legged frog, which he is currently undertaking a first of its kind translocation. Rob also has extensive experience with California tiger salamander and vernal pool branchiopods, for which he also holds federal recovery permits. Rob also is permitted to handle bats and CESA-listed reptiles and amphibians throughout California.

Additionally, he performs surveys and assessments for many other special status species including bats.

Representative Projects
Callippe Preserve, Pleasanton, California 2009 – 2015
The Callippe Preserve was established as mitigation for the construction of the Pleasanton Municipal (Callippe) Golf Course. As a component of the wildlife management plan and USFWS Biological Opinion, Rob has annual sampling for California tiger salamander (CTS), and required predator monitoring and removal within the Preserve Conservation Areas.

In 2009, Rob discovered a new population of California red-legged frog (CRLF) within Preserve Conservation Area Pond 11. Removal of invasive aquatic predators continued throughout 2009 and 2010, leading to documented breeding of CRLF in 2010. In the Fall of 2010, Rob, with approval of the USFWS and the landowner, dewatered the pond to completely rid it of bass and bullfrogs. Monitoring is ongoing, however the CRLF breeding population now numbers in excess of 12 adults and reproductive success has been documented in 2012 and 2013. The expanding CRLF population at Callippe Preserve colonized the golf course irrigation ponds in 2011. Additionally in 2011 CTS larvae and metamorphs were captured at Pond 11 for the first time since monitoring began in 2003.

In the fall of 2013, non-native predatory fish were detected in the golf course irrigation ponds. Rob led the effort, in conjunction with golf course staff, to drain the ponds and eradicate the fish in compliance with the USFWS Biological Opinion and associated management plans. CRLF were released back into the irrigation ponds as soon as refilling resumed.

Since WRA’s involvement, the CRLF population at the Callippe Preserve has increased twenty-fold and has reached self-sustaining levels of reproduction. WRA will continue to assist the Golf Course on an asneeded basis following the completion of monitoring in 2014.

ROB SCHELL, BS
Wildlife Biologist
[email protected]
o: 415.454.8868 x1490
c: 530.220.9622
Years of Experience: 12
Education
BS Evolution and Ecology, University of
California: Davis
Professional Affiliations/
Certifications
USFWS 10(a)1(A) Recovery Permit
#TE-212445-2
• California red-legged frog
• California tiger salamander
• Vernal pool branchiopods
California Department of Fish and
Game Scientific Collecting Permit
#SC-7966
• Bats
• CESA Herps
• California tiger salamander
Amphibian Population Task Force
Western Bat Working Group
Specialized Training
40-Hour HAZWOPER Certification
Transportation Worker Identification
Credential (TWIC)
@WrC

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
— M
f s(ys .
5 4
* .

ROB SCHELL

Page 2 ends

San Rafael | San Diego | Fort Bragg | Denver (415) 454-8868 [email protected] www.wra-ca.com Midnight Sun Inc. II, Gaver Ranch, Monterey County, California 2014 –Present Gaver Ranch is an approximately 342-acre agricultural site located in unincorporated Monterey County outside the community of Castroville, California. The Project consists of three components related to the on-going agricultural activities on the Project. The first component entails the restoration of an unnamed tributary to Moro Cojo Slough, removal of excessive accumulated sediments, and replanting of native vegetation (Restoration Activities) to comply with a Stipulated Final Judgment. The second component involves a number of additional channel modifications including construction of strategically placed detention basins, catchments, and check dams to control erosion, capture and retain sediment and storm water, and to prevent on and off-site flooding.

The third component involves on-going, long-term maintenance of sediment and vegetation, as well as emergency response activities.

Rob is the Project Manager and concurrently the designated representative and designated biologist under the CDFW Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2015-023-04. He is currently responsible for overseeing compliance monitoring, and construction management associated with all three Project components. His role includes agency and client coordination and correspondence, oversight of engineering, construction and labor, Project staffing, and direct oversight of Project activities.

Vulcan Materials Company, Pilarcitos Quarry Biological Surveys, San Mateo County, California 2012 –Present
The Pilarcitos Quarry is a 53-acre aggregate mining facility located on approximately 593 acres just east of the town of Half Moon Bay in rural San Mateo County. As part of the planned expansion and ongoing operations, and in compliance with the USFWS Biological Opinion (81420-2008-F-0294-1), Vulcan, placed a conservation easement on 192.5 acres of the northern portion of the property, and constructed two mitigation ponds to provide habitat for federally listed California red-legged frog (CRLF) and San Francisco garter snake (SFGS). Rob was responsible for the compliance of the USFWS conservation measures and CDFW Streambed Alteration Agreement during the construction of the mitigation ponds.

Rob is the USFWS Authorized Biologist for the Project. In that capacity he was the lead biologist during the construction phase of the mitigation ponds and during sediment removal of operational sedimentation basins within the active quarry. Rob oversaw the biological monitoring, documentation of permit compliance and postconstruction reporting. Several CRLF were documented and relocated in compliance with permit conditions.

Construction of the mitigation ponds was completed in 2013. Rob continues working with the quarry to maintain permit compliance and perform monitoring of sensitive biological resources on-site.

Santa Clara County Bridge Scour Repair, Santa Clara County, California Twelve bridge locations within Santa Clara County were identified by Caltrans as having critical abutment scour necessitating repair. The Santa Clara County Roads and Airports Department, with funding from Caltrans, is completing the repairs, working with the Caltrans Office of Local Assistance. During the construction phase of this project, Rob has been part of a team of WRA biologists with expertise in the ecology, identification and field survey techniques of California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, steelhead and least Bell’s vireo. To ensure compliance with the regulatory permits, Rob performed pre-construction surveys for California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander and least Bell’s vireo, he conducted environmental awareness training for construction personnel, and he monitored construction activities to prevent take of special status wildlife species.

ROB SCHELL

Page 3 ends

San Rafael | San Diego | Fort Bragg | Denver (415) 454-8868 [email protected] www.wra-ca.com Oak Knoll Naval Hospital, Oakland, California 2007 – 2010 The Former Oak Knoll Naval Hospital Site is a residential redevelopment project on over 100 acres in Oakland, California. Rob has conducted breeding bird surveys for vegetation and tree removal activities and has conducted bat roosting surveys in over 80 buildings slated for removal or remediation. In consultation with California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), bat boxes have been installed to mitigate for impacts to roosting bats.

Cakebread Cellars Arroyo Creek Winery, Napa, California 2008 – 2009 Arroyo Creek winery is located in the hills southeast of Napa, California. The site is primarily composed of mixed Oak woodland and non-native grassland. Rob led pre-construction roost emergence surveys using night vision equipment and ultrasonic acoustic surveys, using Pettersson D240x detectors for tree roosting bats prior to the conversion of non-native grassland to vineyards. Several bat roosts were detected and four species of bats were identified including: California Myotis, Long-eared Myotis, Yuma Myotis and Small-footed Myotis. Through use of buffers and avoidance techniques, no active roosts were disturbed during the construction process.

Caltrans Baseline Bridge Surveys and Occupancy Modeling for Bats, Ventura County, California September – November 2005
California Department of Transportation manages 316 bridges in Ventura County and initiated a pilot study to determine occupancy of bats at all bridge sites. Bridges were ranked based on general categories of construction date, construction materials and design, urban/rural setting and the type of facility the bridge passes over (i.e. highway or waterway). Bridges were ranked into high, moderate or low potential for bat occupancy. Thirty of the 150 bridges evaluated in the field were found to have bat sign, 25 of which were categorized as high potential bridges in the initial evaluation. Rob assisted with both daytime and nighttime surveys conducted at 26 bridges using a combination of Anabat II ultrasonic acoustic detectors and periodic light sweeps. Over 6,600 acoustic calls were analyzed identifying seven bat species. This information was presented to Caltrans to manage bat occupied bridges in the future and determine seismic renovation priority.

Ridge Top Ranch Wildlife Conservation Bank, Solano County, California 2010-Present WRA and Ridge Top Ranch, LLC (RTR) are in the process of developing over 750 acres of high quality California red-legged frog (CRLF) and callippe silverspot butterfly mitigation habitat located within Solano County, California.

Rob authored a peer reviewed proposal to translocate CRLF into restored ponds within RTR under the authority of his federal 10(a)(1)(A) Recovery Permit TE-212445-1. In 2012 and 2013, Rob led a team to successfully translocate CRLF to the RTR Wildlife Conservation Bank. Rob has been involved throughout the process, from selecting the donor sites and planning habitat creation, to performing due diligence CRLF population and chytrid studies up to the translocation of egg masses and post-translocation monitoring of CRLF to ensure that establishment at the receiving site is successful. Ongoing population includes performing visual population counts of CRLF, as well as performing mark-recapture surveys to monitor the growth, demographics and breeding status of CRLF. Monitoring at this site is ongoing, and the Conservation Bank was granted final approval in 2014.

Rob has given three presentations at Regional and National Scientific Conferences based upon his original research at RTR.

Lucky Day Ranch, Gilroy, California 2007 – Present
The Lucky Day Ranch is a diverse 2000-acre property located in Santa Clara County consisting of oak woodlands, valley and foothill grasslands, serpentine outcrops, sage scrub, and a large wetland complex. Rob has conducted CTS population monitoring under the authority of his Federal Recovery Permit at the on-site breeding ponds since 2009. Rob has handled approximately 25 adult and larval CTS during these monitoring efforts.

Proposed Marin Road Bridge BPMP Project NES June 2017
This page intentionally left blank
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge
BPMP Project
Natural Environment Study
Spruce Road Bridge BPMP
Town of Fairfax, Marin County
Bridge Number: 27C 0141
Project Number: BPMP 5277 (026)
Locator: [District 4]-[MRN]-[0]-[FRFX]
September 2017
l A. —
C y
me w 3
she
Y
9 • —t
r.
r
)
^Hithltrans CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
-
.1
ahi
.e
K Cwl als
"ane’sM
“t

/ &i Xe// Date:Prepared By: 9//45
San Ansel CA 7^7/7 /
Valcarcel, Wildlife Biologist
Prepared By: Date: 1/5/17
Patricia Valcarcel, logist
Q/12/4 7
Date:

Date:

For individuals with sensory disabilities, this document is available in Braille, large print, on audiocassette, or computer disk. To obtain a copy in one of these alternate formats, please call or write to Caltrans, Attn: Local Assistance, District 4, 111 Grand Avenue, Oakland, California 94623; (510) 286- 6371 Voice, or use the California Relay Service (800) 735-2929 (TTY), (800) 735-2929 (Voice) or 711. 415-524-7542
WRA, Inc.

San Rafael, California
Micki Kelly/PWS, Principal
415-482-9703
Kelly Biological Consulting
Recommended for Concurrence by (Caltrans):

Hugo Ahumada, Associate Environmental Planner
510-622-8790
Office of Local Assistance District 4
Caltrans, District 4
Oakland, California
Approved By: ______ XO
G a rrett Toy, Town Manager
415-453-1584 KJ
Town of Fairfax
Fairfax, California
Concurred By: ____________________________
Thomas Holstein, Environmental Branch Chief
510-286-6371
Office of Local Assistance
Caltrans, District 4
Oakland, California
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge
BPMP Project
Natural Environment Study

STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Department of Transportation
Town of Fairfax
BPMP 5277 (026)
This page intentionally left blank
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES i September 2017 Summary
Purpose and Need.

Caltrans determined that Spruce Road Bridge over Fairfax Creek, in Fairfax needs preventative maintenance work. The purpose of conducting the repair work is to extend the life of the bridge.

Project Description
Spruce Road Bridge is one of three bridges included in the Fairfax BPMP Project. This Natural Environmental Study (NES) only addresses Spruce Road Bridge. The other two bridges are covered by separate NES documents. Spruce Road Bridge highly skewed bridge is a single span concrete T-beam structure over Fairfax Creek, presumed to have been constructed circa 1930, although the exact age of the bridge is unknown. The bridge is in a residential area of the town of Fairfax. The structure is approximately 22 feet long and 37 feet wide. It supports two lanes of traffic and two 5’-wide sidewalks and concrete railings nearly 12 feet above the creek bed. There are no as-built plans available from the original construction of the bridge, but a new General Plan from field measurements has been developed for the bridge. The bridge is not eligible for NRHP listing. It has a Sufficiency Rating of 53.9, but is not flagged as either Structurally Deficient (SD) or Functionally Obsolete (FO) in the latest Caltrans Bridge Inspection Report (from 2016 inspections).

The BPMP repairs for Spruce Road Bridge will consist of:
 Sealing of the deck - The asphalt concrete on the bridge deck will be removed with a specialized asphalt grinder. After cleaning the deck and repairing any unsound concrete, work will be followed by the application of the concrete sealant methacrylate. The sealant is applied with a mop throughout the deck and sprinkled with a light layer of sand for better tire grip while it is still tacky. Sealing the deck will be followed by application of polyester concrete overlay. The latter is dumped on the deck from a special polyester concrete mix truck, spread, leveled and broom-finished to proper deck grades by concrete finishers.  Repair of expansion joints - The rubber bridge expansion joint seals at each end will also be replaced and the new concrete deck grades at the ends of the bridge transitioned to the asphalt surface on the approach roadways within 10 feet of the ends of the bridge.
 The numerous bridge soffit spalls in the structural members will be cleaned up and patched with special epoxy grout. The work under the bridge will be done using a “snooper” truck lift parked on the deck, eliminating the need for scaffolding or working in the creek.

The work will be done entirely from the bridge deck and street level without being in the creek. The work is expected to take as many as ten working days from start to finish.

The bridge will be closed off to motorized traffic for a number of hours a few times during this period but will remain open to foot traffic on the sidewalks. Motorized traffic will be detoured around the neighborhood during the temporary closures.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES ii September 2017 Habitat Impacts
The proposed project will temporarily impact approximately 600 square feet (0.01 acre) of Ruderal Disturbed/Developed lands.

Special-Status Species
The proposed project will not adversely affect special-status plants, special-status wildlife, or nesting birds. Pre-construction nesting bird surveys will be conducted if the proposed project begins during the nesting bird season (February 15 through August 15). The proposed project will result in temporary impacts to developed habitats only and no in-water work is to occur. Pacific Salmonid Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) is present within the BSA; however, no work will occur within the creek bed. The proposed project will have no effect on EFH. Consultation with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will not be required to assess impacts of the proposed project on EFH. If the construction methods change such that work within the creekbed is necessary, then consultation would be required.

Invasive Species
The species found in the BSA that are listed on the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) list as High are English ivy (Hedera helix), French broom (Genista monspessulana), Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus), and fennel (Foeniculum vulgar). Several species with moderate rating were also observed, big-leaf periwinkle (Vinca major), wild oats (Avena fatua), and panic veldtgrass (Ehrharta erecta).

No work is expected in the natural areas. During construction any French broom individuals within the BSA and adjacent to the work area will be removed. English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, and big-leaf periwinkle, wild oats, panic grass will be more difficult to eradicate given that they are common upstream, and downstream of the BSA. The proposed project will remove individuals of those species in or adjacent to the work area.

New Zealand mud snail (NZMS; Potamopyrgus antipodarum) are documented within San Anselmo Creek near the confluence with Fairfax Creek, and are likely present within Fairfax Creek. Measures such as washing equipment operated below the road surface or bridge deck are included here to avoid the spread of the mud snail. The proposed project would not result in the spread of invasive species through the implementation of the avoidance and minimization efforts discussed in this document.

Resource Permits
There will be no impacts to the Perennial Stream (i.e. “other waters” or ‘Waters’) or the Riparian Woodland. A California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Streambed Alteration Agreement (CFGC 1602), Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) Clean Water Act (CWA) 401 certification, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) CWA 404 nationwide permits will not be required.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES iii September 2017 Table of Contents
Summary.......................................................................................................................... i Chapter 1 – Introduction.................................................................................................. 1 Chapter 2 – Study Methods............................................................................................. 7 Regulatory Requirements ............................................................................................ 7 Wetland and Waters................................................................................................. 7 Invasive Species ...................................................................................................... 9 Protected Species .................................................................................................... 9 Local Policies and Ordinances ...............................................................................11 Studies Required .......................................................................................................11 Personnel and Survey Dates .....................................................................................13 Agency Coordination and Professional Contacts .......................................................13 Limitations That May Influence Results......................................................................13 Chapter 3 – Results: Environmental Setting ..................................................................15 Existing Biological and Physical Conditions ...............................................................15 Biological Study Area .............................................................................................15 Physical Conditions................................................................................................15 Biological Conditions in the BSA ............................................................................16 Invasive Species ....................................................................................................19 Regional Species and Habitats and Natural Communities of Concern.......................19 Chapter 4 – Results: Biological Resources, Discussion of Impacts and Mitigation ........59 Habitats and Natural Communities of Special Concern..............................................59 Riparian Redwood Forest.......................................................................................63 Perennial Stream (“Other Waters”).........................................................................63 Special-Status Plant Species.....................................................................................64 Special-Status Wildlife Species..................................................................................69 Special-Status and non-Special-Status Nesting Birds ............................................70 Chapter 5 – Conclusions and Regulatory Determinations .............................................73 Federal Endangered Species Act Consultation Summary..........................................73 Essential Fish Habitat Consultation Summary ...........................................................73 California Endangered Species Act Consultation Summary.......................................73 Wetlands and Other Waters Coordination Summary..................................................73 Invasive Species........................................................................................................73 Other .........................................................................................................................73 Chapter 6 – References ................................................................................................74 Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES iv September 2017 List of Figures
Figure 1. Biological Study Area Location Map ................................................................3 Figure 2. Proposed Bridge Plan .....................................................................................5 Figure 3a. Biological Communities within the Biological Study Area.............................17 Figure 3b. Biological Communities Impacted within the Biological Study Area .............61 Figure 4. Special-Status Plant Species within 5 kilometers (3 miles) of the Biological Study Area .............................................................................................................65 Figure 5. Special-Status Wildlife Species within 8 kilometers (5 miles) of the Biological Study Area .............................................................................................................67 List of Tables
Table 1: Listed, Proposed Species, and Critical Habitat Potentially Occurring or Known to Occur in the BSA................................................................................................21 Table 2: Proposed Project Direct Impacts to Natural Communities of Special Concern. 59 Table 3: Proposed Project Direct Impacts to Jurisdictional Areas by Agency. ...............59 List of Appendices
Appendix A – Plant and Wildlife Species Observed during the Site Visits Appendix B – USFWS Official Species List
Appendix C – Preparers Qualifications
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 1 September 2017 Chapter 1 – Introduction
Purpose and Need
Caltrans determined that Spruce Road Bridge, in the Town of Fairfax (Town) over Fairfax Creek requires preventative maintenance work (discussed below). The purpose of conducting the repair work is to extend the life of the bridge.

Background on Proposed Fairfax BPMP (Multi-bridge) Project The entire Fairfax BPMP (Multi-bridge) Project consists of three existing bridges proposed to undergo preventive maintenance repairs through the HBP’s Bridge Preventive Maintenance Program (BPMP). Two of the bridges, on Marin Road and Spruce Road, are within a few blocks of each other, while the third creek crossing, Canyon Road Bridge, is approximately 2.35 miles away from the other two. This NES addresses Spruce Road Bridge. The other two bridges have separate NES documents.

For bridges that require work in the creek, it would be done during the dry season and the environmentally permissible window when these segments of the waterway are at their lowest flow rates. The work area would be dewatered by temporarily diverting any potential flows from the work area, using means such as short dams made with sand bags, and/or longitudinal piping to bypass the work areas. Stagnant water would be pumped out to create a completely dry work area. Best Management Practice (BMP) measures and a Water Quality Protection Plan would be implemented throughout the work period. Old debris and drift would be removed from the waterway. Water quality and turbidity would be controlled by the contractor and periodic tests required by the permits would be performed.

No trees would be cut for the construction operations. However, limited trimming and cutting of vegetation around the worksite, as well as clearing and grubbing, are expected. For application of methacrylate and polyester concrete, the contractor would be required to conform to the recommendations of a certified industrial hygienist for safe worksite operations. Hours of operations would be limited to regular daylight work hours, but at least one nighttime operation may be expected.

Most of the various construction equipment used at the three sites would be relatively compact, including air compressors, generators, a shot blaster, shotcrete pumps and hoses, concrete saws, concrete chipping guns and drills, and soil drilling equipment.

Construction vehicles moving in and out of the construction area would be a small loader, such as a Bobcat with backhoe or bucket attachments, polyester concrete mix truck, paver, roller, small excavator, a cold planing machine, snooper lift truck, utility pickup trucks, flatbed trucks, dump trucks, dump trailers, a truck-mounted crane, concrete delivery trucks and a testing van. These vehicles and equipment would not be all at the site at the same time but move in and out, and would be staged within the APEs, as needed. No new easement or temporary or permanent right-of-way (ROW) would be necessary. Also, no utility relocations would be necessary for the work on any of the three bridges. All access to the project and staging areas would be via the areas within the APEs. Equipment, large or small, would be lowered onto the creek bed with a truck-mounted crane to avoid ramping from the top to the creek bed for vehicles. Work would be taking place both from the bridge topside as well as down below in the creek at two locations (Marin and Canyon). The operations would be done manually, as well as with power equipment. Rocks for riprap would also be lowered one by one onto the needed areas with a crane.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 2 September 2017 Proper signage, indicating construction ahead and any road closure, would be installed at all three sites on both sides of each bridge.

Project Description for the Proposed Spruce Road Bridge Spruce Road Bridge is one of three bridges included in the proposed Fairfax BPMP Project. This NES only addresses Spruce Road Bridge. The other two bridges are covered by separate NES documents. The Spruce Road Bridge is a highly skewed bridge, with a single span concrete T-beam structure over Fairfax Creek, presumed to have been constructed circa 1930, although the exact age of the bridge is unknown.

The bridge is in a residential area of the Town of Fairfax. The structure is approximately 22 feet long and 37 feet wide. It supports two lanes of traffic and two 5’-wide sidewalks and concrete railings nearly 12 feet above the creek bed. There are no as-built plans available from the original construction of the bridge, but a new General Plan (GP) from field measurements has been developed for the bridge. The bridge is not eligible for NRHP listing. It has a Sufficiency Rating (SR) of 53.9, but is not flagged as either Structurally Deficient (SD) or Functionally Obsolete (FO) in the latest Caltrans BIR (from 2016 inspections).

The Spruce Road Bridge Biological Study Area (BSA) is shown in Figure 1. The plans are provided in Figure 2.

The work will be done entirely from the bridge deck and street level without being in the creek. The work is expected to take as many as ten working days from start to finish.

Figure 1. Biological Study Area Location Map
Bridge Preventative Maintenance Program
Spruce Road Bridge NES
Marin County, California
.

Path: L:\Acad 2000 Files\22000\22304\GIS\ArcMap\BPMP\Spruce Road Bridge\Fig1_Spruce_LocMap_20160329.mxd Map Prepared Date: 3/29/2016
Map Prepared By: dchan
Base Source: Esri Streaming - NAIP 2014
Data Source(s): WRA
0 2,000 4,000
Feet
Detail Area
Biological
Study Area
‘‘495 15441
CyLn e
San Raf.el”
ttg
Richmond
Berke
4 TREASURE ISLAND G)
.CLUES ' Q.
“Il (
A LA VEDA NAVAL * O San Francisco / AIR STATION
(CLOSED)
omeda 9
)
■
Pacifica*
Sorich Ra nch 3 4. sda Open S
Co
o5
Fairfax 191 2
o b” Ave
o s
oD -6

7. P
t5
3 -
y
co
6 ? < “ve
<Os,
C
ell/ngtonAVe
T4
2 Ross
Rd
__
@wrO

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
•South San
Francisco
Deer
Park
NAVAL STAl
(CLOSED)

NAVAL BASE
(CLOSED)
pace
Park
Hercules
Pinole*
C
C.
re
C.
2-
M eadow
Club
fo
t

VET RO POL IT/

OAKLAND IN
AIRPO
*El So
’ON
U:
or
&
S
e
.783 m
Mill Valley,
No2
Bon Tempe
Lake
' in
2 o
9 in
o9
•X
—3
Rav
&
San
Anselmo 7 Y
A”
$
(
—o)
o”
o
sd?
K
(S
%
1OrAlpe
Ud
9 n Pro” Foodside >
o
■
g L= 8
—
3 gO
OAKLA^L

ARUTSAEE ,
%
%
o
o. O
20 Q.7
X
o
e et
co n ■
A
/
/
% Or
J
Dutc^va/,
h
3 36
C
"on Sprino R
%
o C
oge
oS -
%
r Q
S0
Q) $
D, 8,
$
“Us
= onyong vur
a (oCascade z
k
Daly City
t Qto . ——R co P.-
<9
C)
Jue
I’ve
8P
O
GA V pn.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 4 September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
The contractor shall verify all
controlling field dimensions before
ordering or fabricating any material.

DESIGN
I
BY N. Tamannaie

DETAILS
BY J. Caravalho
OS OSD 2138 (CADD 4/89)

QUANTITIES BY
I

CHECKED

CHECKED
I
�2��ot itJ1
1 J�ANCE LIVE LOADING: HL93 AND PERMIT DESIGN VEHICLE
LAYOUT BY N. Tamannaie

SPECIFICATIONS BY
I

I CHECKED

I PLANS AND SPECS

COMPARED

ORIGINAL SCALE IN INCHES

FOR REDUCED PLANS

PREPARED FOR THE

TOWN OF FAIRFAX

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

I I I I I I I
I
cu
EA
Deck

DIST COUNTY
04 Mrn
ROUTE

REGISTERED CIVIL ENGINEER

POST MILES

TOTAL PROJECT

SHEET TOTAL
NO. SHEETS
xx
'?�orEss, o
,11
..,<
Q:;4.,
c;:;i
('
1 0 NADER TAMANNAIE \
1 \
� NO.
37289 '.;; I/
-PLA-NS -AP_P_R-OV_A _L _D-AT_E______ t EX
. 6/30/l6
,s,ri',-CIVIL
<I:-
�,
'?: -
930ALHAMBRABLVD. SUITE220
e OF CA\..'�
0 SACRAMENTO, CA 95816
----Fill void with polyester concrete
material if "d" < 3"; rapid setting
concrete patch to bottom of
overlay if "d" > 3".
,,----sawcut vertical edge
1/2" min depth (Typ)
rFace of
� / Barrier -New polyester concrete overlay
Exist concrete
deck surface l U Exist reinf
Approximate deck surface after
removing spoiled or unsound
>
0 E
(I)
D:'.
0 ..Y. C
O 0
(I) 0
-c:, L..
c:2o en
u�
: g
-� � X (I)
<D C ;H
�
concrete and cleaning
t7ZZl
Denotes Limits
of Cone removal

UNSOUND CONC REPAIR DETAIL
No Scale
BB or EB
Top of
exist
d,7
"
�r
Jt Seal Type A (MR = 1 ")
1 /8" X 6" cont hard
board. Place Top of f'
below AC
( I
Top of AC Transition
Top of Approach AC ( 4"
deep assumed)
-�=�-------,1�.,---- I
3/4" expanded T --------� � Base (depth not known)
polystyrene--+--
>-----------,I
� SECTION THRU ABUTMENT - JT SEALS DETAILS
V Scale: 1-1/2"=1'-0"
Nader Tamannaie, PE
BRIDGE No.
27C-0144

POST MILE

DISREGARD PRINTS BEARING

EARLIER REVISION DATES

SPRUCE ROAD BRIDGE (BPMP)

REPAIR DETAILS
I REVISION DATES (PRELIMINARY STAGE ONLY) -1 I I I I I

I SHEET I OF
I I 14 I
CONTRACT NO. I
Figure 2. Proposed Spruce Road Bridge General Plan
V
I
P- /
Nlid CALrTW IrrmesmUCTu: CDLLma
#
Q
f t)
I N J
NOTE:

DESN OVERSCHT

PROJECT ENGDECR
SIGNQFy DAIE
0 1 2 3 o I
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 6 September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 7 September 2017 Chapter 2 – Study Methods
The Town’s consultants, Kelly Biological Consulting’s Micki Kelly, PWS, plant ecologist and WRA’s fish and wildlife biologists Dan Chase, Rob Schell, and Nick Brinton conducted biological resources studies in the Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer of 2014, 2015, and 2016 including a biological resources assessment, special-status plant surveys, and a delineation of Section 404 jurisdictional areas within the proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project Biological Study Area (BSA) in the Town of Fairfax, Marin County, California. The BSA was examined on foot to determine (1) vegetation communities present, (2) if existing conditions provide suitable habitat for any specialstatus plant or wildlife species that have a potential to occur within the vicinity of the BSA, and (3) the presence of potential jurisdictional wetlands and “other waters” within the BSA. The BSA biological communities and impact areas are shown in Figures 3a and 3b. The special-status species that are known to occur in the vicinity of the Biological Study Area are listed in Table 1 and mapped in Figures 4 and 5. The regulatory framework under which the assessment was conducted and the methods used to conduct the assessment are described in the following section.

Regulatory Requirements
National Environmental Policy Act
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 provides a framework which federal agencies must follow in evaluating environmental impacts of their actions.

Actions by federal agencies must “use all practicable means and measures” to avoid or lessen impacts to the environment. In 2007, formal guidance for the continuation of a pilot program was issued which allows Caltrans to assume all of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) environmental responsibilities under NEPA and other environmental laws (NEPA Delegation). This delegation authority is limited to highway projects, including Local Assistance Federal Aid projects, and specific projects within the State or a programmatic delegation. Therefore, Caltrans must ensure joint projects with FHWA or projects funded with Federal Aid are in compliance with NEPA.

WETLAND AND WATERS
Section 10 of Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899
The Rivers and Harbors Act requires permits in navigable waters of the U.S. for all structures such as riprap and activities such as dredging. The term navigable waters of the United States and all other terms relating to the geographic scope of jurisdiction are defined at 33 CFR part 329. Generally, they are those waters of the United States that are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide shoreward to the mean high water mark, and/or are presently used, or have been used in the past, or may be susceptible to use to transport interstate or foreign commerce. The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) grants or denies permits based on the effects on navigation. Fairfax Creek is a tributary to Corte Madera Creek, which is only considered navigable below the College of Marin, approximately 4 miles downstream of the site (http://www.spn.usace.army.mil).

Therefore, this creek is not considered a navigable water subject to the Rivers and Harbors Act.

Clean Water Act (CWA)
The CWA provides guidance for the restoration and maintenance of the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters. Section 404 identifies the United Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 8 September 2017 States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) jurisdiction over fill materials in essentially all water bodies, including wetlands. All federal agencies are required to avoid impacts to wetlands whenever there is a practicable alternative. Section 404 established a permit program administered by USACE regulating the discharge of dredged or fill material into Waters of the US (including wetlands).

Section 401of the CWA requires that an applicant for a federal license or permit that allows activities resulting in a discharge to Waters of the U.S., obtain a state certification that the discharge complies with other provisions of CWA. The Regional Water Quality Boards (RWQCB) administers the certification program in California. The guidelines allow the discharge of dredged or fill material into the aquatic system only if there is no practicable alternative that would have less adverse impacts.

All work will take place on the bridge. No in-water work or work within the creek channel is anticipated for the proposed project. The creek channel will not be disturbed; therefore, no need for CWA permits.

Executive Order 11990 – Protection of Wetlands
This order established a national policy to avoid adverse impacts to wetlands whenever there is a practicable alternative. The U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT) promulgated DOT Order 5660.1A in 1978 to comply with this direction. On federally funded projects, impacts to wetlands must be identified. Alternatives that avoid wetlands must be considered. If wetland impacts cannot be avoided, then all practicable measures to minimize harm must be included. This must be documented in a specific Wetlands Only Practicable Alternative Finding. An additional requirement is to provide early public involvement in projects affecting wetlands. FHWA provides technical assistance (Technical Advisory 6640.8A) and reviews environmental documents for compliance. No wetlands would be impacted by this project.

California Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act
This regulatory law is becoming more prominent on projects involving impacts to isolated Waters of the State (non-404/401 waters). The RWQCB is increasingly requiring Waste Discharge Requirement (WDR) permits for impacts to Waters of the State. No Waters of the State would be impacted by this project.

Streams, Lakes, and Riparian Habitat in California
Streams and lakes, as habitat for fish and wildlife species, are subject to the jurisdiction of California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) under Sections 1600-1616 of California Fish and Game Code. Alterations to, or work within or adjacent to streambeds or lakes, generally require a 1600 series Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement.

The term “stream”, which includes creeks and rivers, is defined in the California Code of Regulations (CCR) as “a body of water that flows at least periodically or intermittently through a bed or channel having banks and supports fish or other aquatic life [including] watercourses having a surface or subsurface flow that supports or has supported riparian vegetation” (14 CCR 1.72). In addition, the term “stream” can include ephemeral streams, dry washes, watercourses with subsurface flows, canals, aqueducts, irrigation ditches, and other means of water conveyance if they support aquatic life, riparian vegetation, or stream-dependent terrestrial wildlife (CDFG 1994). “Riparian” is defined as “on, or pertaining to, the banks of a stream.” Riparian vegetation is defined as “vegetation which occurs in and/or adjacent to a stream and is dependent on, and Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 9 September 2017 occurs because of, the stream itself” (CDFG 1994). Removal of riparian vegetation also requires a Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement from CDFW.

Under EO 13112, federal agencies cannot authorize, fund, or carry out actions that it believes are likely to cause or promote the introduction or spread of invasive species in the United States or elsewhere unless all reasonable measures to minimize risk of harm have been analyzed and considered.

PROTECTED SPECIES
Special-Status Species
Special-status species include those plants and wildlife species that have been formally listed, are proposed as endangered or threatened, or are candidates for such listing under the federal Endangered Species Act or California Endangered Species Act. These acts afford protection to both listed and proposed species. In addition, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Species of Special Concern, which are species that face extirpation in California if current population and habitat trends continue, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Birds of Conservation Concern, and CDFW special-status invertebrates are all considered special-status species. Although CDFW Species of Special Concern generally have no special legal status, they are given special consideration under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Plant species on the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Rare and Endangered Plant Inventory with California Rare Plant Rank of 1 or 2 are also considered special-status plant species and must be considered under CEQA. Rank 3 and Rank 4 species are afforded little or no protection under CEQA.

Federal Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended (16 USC 1531 et seq.), was enacted to provide a means to identify and protect endangered and threatened species.

Under Section 9 of the ESA, it is unlawful to take any listed species. “Take” is defined as harassing, harming, pursuing, hunting, shooting, wounding, killing, trapping, capturing, or collecting a listed species. “Harass” is defined as an intentional or negligent act or omission, which creates the likelihood of injury to wildlife by annoying it to such an extent as to significantly disrupt normal behavioral patterns, which include, but are not limited to, breeding, feeding, or sheltering. “Harm” is defined as an act which actually kills or injures fish or wildlife and may include significant habitat modification or degradation which actually kills or injures fish or wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, spawning, rearing, migrating, feeding, or sheltering. Actions Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 10 September 2017 that may result in “take” of a federal-listed species are subject to USFWS or National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) permit issuance and monitoring. Section 7 of ESA requires federal agencies to ensure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out by the agency is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat for such species. Any action authorized, funded, or carried out by a federal agency or designated proxy (e.g., Caltrans) which has potential to affect listed species requires consultation with the USFWS or the NMFS under Section 7 of the ESA.

Essential Fish Habitat
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 was established to conserve and manage fishery resources found off the coast, as well as anadromous species and Continental Shelf fishery resources of the United States, by exercising (A) sovereign rights for the purposes of exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing all fish within the exclusive economic zone established by Presidential Proclamation 5030, dated March 10, 1983, and (B) exclusive fishery management authority beyond the exclusive economic zone over such anadromous species, Continental Shelf fishery resources, and fishery resources in special areas.

California Endangered Species Act
CDFW is responsible for administering California Endangered Species Act (CESA, CDFG Code §§2050, et seq.), which prohibits take of species that have been listed, or are considered for listing (candidate species) as threatened or endangered species within the State of California. CESA allows for incidental take of state listed species through issuance of an Incidental Take Permit, or through a Consistency Determination in coordination with a Biological Opinion issued by the USFWS (CDFW Code Section 2081). In contrast with federal law, the definition of “take” under CESA involves actual harm to one or more members of a listed species and does not extend to modification of habitat not involving direct take.

Migratory Bird Treaty Act
This treaty with Canada, Mexico and Japan makes it unlawful at any time, by any means or in any manner, to pursue, hunt, take, capture, or kill migratory birds. The law applies to the removal of nests (such as swallow nests on bridges) occupied by migratory birds during the breeding season. California Fish and Game Code (Sec 3500) also prohibits the destruction of any nest, egg, or nestling.

Other Sensitive Biological Communities
Other sensitive biological communities not discussed above include habitats that fulfill special functions or have special values. Natural communities considered sensitive are those identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations, or by the CDFW. CDFW ranks sensitive communities as "threatened" or "very threatened" and keeps records of their occurrences in its California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB; CDFW 2017a).

Sensitive plant communities are also identified by CDFW. CNDDB vegetation alliances are ranked 1 through 5 based on NatureServe's (2010) methodology, with those alliances ranked globally (G) or statewide (S) as 1 through 3 considered sensitive.

Impacts to sensitive natural communities identified in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations or those identified by the CDFW or USFWS must be considered and evaluated under CEQA (CCR Title 14, Div. 6, Chap. 3, Appendix G). Specific habitats may also be identified as sensitive in city or county general plans or ordinances.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 11 September 2017

LOCAL POLICIES AND ORDINANCES
Tree Protection Ordinance
In 1973, the Town of Fairfax approved Ordinance No. 387 for trees. The purpose of the ordinance is to preserve the wide variety of local native trees and to protect the benefits they provide the citizens. Chapter 8.36.020 of the Town Code defines "altering" and "tree." A Tree Permit is required for removal or significant trimming of any tree, which has a circumference of 24 inches or more measured at 24 inches above the ground. In effect, this is a little less than an 8-inch diameter tree trunk.

Studies Required
The Town’s consultants, Kelly Biological Consulting and WRA conducted field studies in the entire BSA to determine the presence of wetlands and “other waters”, and to evaluate the presence or potential presence of special-status species and sensitive habitats. Methods used during the site visits to make determinations for this NES are described below.

Special-Status Species
Prior to the field site visits to the BSA, the following sources were reviewed to determine which special-status plant and wildlife species have been documented to occur in the vicinity of the BSA:
 California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) records for the Bolinas, Novato, Petaluma Point, Point Bonita, San Francisco North, San Geronimo, San Rafael, San Quentin U.S. Geological Service 7.5’ Quadrangles (CDFW 2017a)  USFWS official species list for the proposed Project through the Information for Planning and Conservation (IPaC) report (USFWS 2017)
 CNPS Inventory of Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Plants of California records for the Bolinas, Novato, Petaluma Point, Point Bonita, San Francisco North, San Geronimo, San Rafael, San Quentin U.S. Geological Service 7.5’ Quadrangles (CNPS 2017)
 CDFW Spotted Owl Database (CDFW 2017b)
 CDFW California Wildlife Habitat Relationships Online Database (CDFW 2017c)  CDFW Passage Assessment Database (CDFW 2017d)
 CDFG publication “California’s Wildlife, Volumes I-III” (Zeiner et al. 1990)  CDFW publication “Amphibians and Reptile Species of Special Concern in California” (Thomson et al. 2016)
 A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians (Stebbins 2003)  CDFG publication “California Bird Species of Special Concern” (Shuford and Gardali 2008)
 University of California at Davis, Center for Watershed Sciences. Pisces: California Fish Data and Management Software (UC Davis 2017)
 NMFS Species List and Essential Fish Habitat Maps of California (NMFS 2017)  The Marin County Breeding Bird Atlas (Shuford 1993)
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 12 September 2017  eBird online database (eBird 2017)
 Western Bat Working Group (WBWG) online species accounts (WBWG 2017) Special-Status Species. Between March-May 2015 and March-June 2016, the Town’s consultant Kelly Biological Consulting (Micki Kelly) completed floristic surveys for special-status plant species that have flowering periods, which overlap with the timing of the visits. All plant species observed and identifiable were recorded. As discussed below, WRA biologists conducted site visits in November 2014 and March 2016 to determine the potential for the BSA to support special-status fisheries and wildlife species, though the studies did not constitute protocol level surveys. Habitat conditions observed in the BSA during the site visits were used to evaluate the potential for presence of special-status species based on these literature searches and the professional expertise of the investigating biologists. Table 1 presents the results of the evaluation of habitat potential for each special-status plant and wildlife species documented to occur in the vicinity of the BSA based on the literature database search.

A list of all plant and wildlife species observed during the site visits is provided in Appendix A. The USFWS official listing of special-status species with a potential to occur in the proposed project vicinity is provided in Appendix B.

Section 404 “Waters of the U.S.” During the site visit, the BSA was evaluated for the presence of indicators of wetlands and “other waters”. Section 328.3 of the Federal Code of Regulations defines wetlands as:
"Those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas." EPA, 40 CFR 230.3 and CE, 33 CFR 328.3 (b) The methods used to delineate potential jurisdictional wetlands and waters are based on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual (“Corps Manual”; Environmental Laboratory 1987) and the Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Arid West Region (Version 2.0) (“Arid West Supplement”; USACE 2008). The routine method for wetland delineation described in the Corps Manual was used to identify areas potentially subject to USACE Section 404 jurisdiction within the BSA.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 13 September 2017 “...that line on the shore established by the fluctuations of water and indicated by physical characteristics such as clear, natural line impresses on the bank, shelving, changes in the characteristics of the soil, destruction of terrestrial vegetation, the presence of litter and debris, or other appropriate means that consider the characteristics of the surrounding areas.” Federal Register Vol. 51, No. 219, Part 328.3 (e). November 13, 1986.

Identification of the ordinary high water mark at this site followed the USACE Regulatory Guidance Letter No. 05-05, Ordinary High Water Mark Identification (USACE 2005), which provides a list of indicators, such as shelving, natural lines impressed on the bank, wrack lines, scour, and sediment deposition. These indicators were used to map the location of the ordinary high water mark for “other waters” in the BSA.

Vegetation Communities and Sensitive Habitats. Vegetation communities present in the BSA were classified based on plant community descriptions found in A Manual of California Vegetation, 2nd Edition (Sawyer, J., T. Keeler-Wolf and J. Evens 2009).

However, in some cases it was necessary to identify variants of community types or to describe non-vegetated areas that are not identified in the literature.

Biological communities were classified as sensitive or non-sensitive as defined by CEQA. Sensitive plant communities include habitats that fulfill special functions or have special values. Natural communities considered sensitive are those identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations, or by CDFW. CDFW ranks sensitive communities as ‘threatened’ or ‘very threatened’ and keeps records of their occurrences in its CNDDB. Also, vegetation alliances are ranked 1 through 5 (Sawyer, J., T. Keeler-Wolf and J. Evens 2009). Alliances ranked globally (G) or statewide (S) as 1 through 3 are considered sensitive. Impacts to sensitive natural communities identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations, or by CDFW or USFWS must be considered and evaluated under CEQA.

Personnel and Survey Dates
The Town’s consultant, Micki Kelly (Certified Professional Wetland Scientist and plant ecologist with 25 years of experience) conducted the wetland delineation on April 12, 2016 and special-status plant surveys on January 16 and March 16, 2015, as well as April 12 and June 23, 2016. Dan Chase and Rob Schell (WRA fisheries and wildlife biologists) conducted the biological resource site visits on November 17, 2014. Nick Brinton also visited the site on March 16, 2016. Their qualifications are provided in Appendix C.

Agency Coordination and Professional Contacts
In a May 18, 2016 informal Marin Project Coordination interagency meeting, Ms. Kelly briefly introduced the concept of the Fairfax BPMP bridge project prior to finalize design plans. The CDFW and RWQCB indicated that depending on the level of impact, compensatory mitigation may be necessary. No other agency coordination has been done.

Limitations That May Influence Results
The region was in a multi-year drought, making conditions drier than normal during the spring of 2015 work. The wet season 2015-6 rainfall totals were slightly above normal Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 14 September 2017 (http://www.marinwater.org/300/Water-Watch). The site visits were conducted during daylight hours and consisted of an assessment of likely habitats for special-status plants and wildlife; it did not conform to specific USFWS or NMFS protocols for any species.

No detailed fish studies were completed to identify and enumerate fish species present.

Data and documents from previous studies in the area were relied upon to evaluate potential presence of fish species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 15 September 2017 Chapter 3 – Results: Environmental Setting
This section describes the region in which the proposed project will occur. It is intended to explain context and the level of intensity of impacts. It includes a brief description of the area’s topography, soils, habitat, watercourses, and level of human or natural disturbance.

Existing Biological and Physical Conditions

BIOLOGICAL STUDY AREA
The BSA is located on and around the Spruce Road Bridge over Fairfax Creek in the Town of Fairfax, Marin County, California. Spruce Road is a local residential road. The BSA covers the areas where the proposed project-related direct or indirect actions such as ground-disturbing, construction, staging, or access activities would occur and goes beyond that to ensure that key biological issues are addressed. Spruce Road is a local road in a suburban developed area. The adjacent land use is residential (single family homes). The BSA extends up and downstream from the bridge along the stream corridor covering the primary natural area.

Site elevations range from approximately 100 to 200 feet NAVD88. Surrounding land use is primarily residential. The bridge is located on the San Rafael USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle map at latitude W37.987790, longitude N122.593195.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS
Topography
Within the BSA the creek has been channelized. The steep banks are roughly 10 to 20 vertical feet (top of bank to channel) near the bridge. Adjacent to the top of bank, lands are relatively flat. To the west of the BSA are hills.

Hydrology
Fairfax Creek is a blueline stream that is perennial at this location. The principal natural hydrological sources for the BSA are creek flow, direct precipitation, and surface run-off from adjacent lands. Fairfax Creek flows though the BSA towards the southeast. In roughly 0.3 miles, it joins San Anselmo Creek, which turns east, eventually flowing into Corte Madera Creek, then San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean.

Soils
The soils that occur in the BSA are Xerorthents-Urban land complex (0 to 9 percent slopes) on the eastern half of the site and Tocaloma-McMullin-Urban land complex (30 to 50 percent slopes) on the western half of the site (USDA NRCS 2017). The Tocaloma-McMullin-Urban land complex is a fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Haploxeroll.

Its drainage class is well drained. Soil taxonomy information is not available on the Xerorthents-Urban land complex.

The lower part of the northwest bank is a vertical concrete wall with a concrete footing, above that, is a steep natural substrate slope. The other banks are generally natural substrate.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 16 September 2017

BIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN THE BSA
Ruderal Disturbed/Developed
The Ruderal Disturbed/Developed portion of the BSA includes pavement (Spruce Road and driveways), gravel and dirt roadsides, structures (homes and outbuildings), backyards, and landscaping or bare areas. In the areas that are not landscaped, the vegetation is predominately non-native species commonly found in the region, such as privet (Ligustrum japonicum), English ivy (Hedera helix), goosegrass (Galium aparine), cut leaf geranium (Geranium dissectum), and non-native grasses.

Riparian Woodland
An open canopy woodland loosely similar to California Bay Forest Alliance (Umbellaria californica Alliance) (Sawyer, Keeler-Wolf, and Evans 2009) follows a narrow path through the BSA (Figure 3a). This habitat is somewhat common in the northern California Coast region in moist areas. Within the BSA, the overstory species include native species such as California bay, white alder (Alnus rhombifolia) and sycamore (Platanus racemosa), as well as non-natives such as black acacia (Acacia melanoxylon), cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera) and firethorn (Pyracantha sp.). The herbaceous/vine layer is comprised mainly of English ivy and Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus), with some California man-root (Marah fabacea) and scattered grasses and forbs including panic veldtgrass (Ehrharta erecta) and miners lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata).

Perennial Stream (“Other Waters”)
Fairfax Creek is a perennial creek. Flows vary with the rainfall patterns of a given season. It is supported by a local watershed, generally, the northwestern part of the Town of Fairfax and adjacent open space lands. The creek substrate is a mix of small gravel to larger cobble and rock. Indicators of the OHW mark include the slope change at the bed and earthen bank junction and wrack at the edge of the creek bed. The channel width at the OHW mark was used to determine the stream (“other waters”) boundary shown on Figure 3a. The creek is not included on the National System of Wild and Scenic Rivers published by the U.S. Department of the Interior. There are no wetlands in the BSA. The banks under the bridge are concrete. Just upstream of the bridge on the northwest side is a concrete retaining wall along the base of the bank. The other banks are earthen.

Wildlife Species in the BSA
Wildlife species common to the vicinity of the BSA include California scrub jay (Aphelocoma californica), acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) green heron (Butorides virescens), and American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos). The BSA is located upstream of a total fish passage barrier at Bolinas Avenue upstream of the confluence with San Anselmo Creek. Fairfax Creek is not considered anadromous, but does support non-anadromous native fish species.

Map Date: April 26, 2017
Map By: smortensen
Base Source: Esri Streaming - World Imagery
Bridge Preventative
Maintenance Program
Spruce Road Bridge
NES
Marin County,
California
Spruce Rd.

Arroyo Rd.

Flow
0 10 20 40
Feet
Figure 3a.

Biological
Communities within the
Biological Study Area
Path: L:\Acad 2000 Files\22000\22304\GIS\ArcMap\BPMP\Spruce Road Bridge\2017\Fig3a_Spruce_BioComms_20170426.mxd Biological Study Area - 1.49 acres
Perennial stream - 0.07 acre
Riparian woodland - 0.07 acre
Ruderal disturbed/Developed - 1.35 acres
@wrO

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
ue
-
I
I _ _
N
W h E
S
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 18 September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 19 September 2017

INVASIVE SPECIES
Federal Highway Administration guidance issued August 10, 1999, states that the State’s invasive species list, maintained by the California Invasive Species Council be used to define the invasive plants. The California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) Inventory and CDFA maintain lists of invasive plant species. Cal-IPC list categorizes plants as High, Moderate, or Limited, reflecting the level of each species’ negative ecological impact in California. Cal-IPC defines High as “species that have severe ecological impacts on physical processes, plant and animal communities, and vegetation structure. Their reproductive biology and other attributes are conducive to moderate to high rates of dispersal and establishment. Most are widely distributed ecologically.” (CalIPC 2017). The species found in the BSA that are listed on the Cal-IPC list as High are English ivy, French broom (Genista monspessulana), Himalayan blackberry, and fennel (Foeniculum vulgar). Several species with moderate rating were also observed, big-leaf periwinkle (Vinca major), wild oats (Avena fatua), and panic veldtgrass.

New Zealand mud snail (NZMS; Potamopyrgus antipodarum) are documented within San Anselmo Creek, less than one mile downstream of the BSA. Therefore, there is a high potential for NZMS to be present within the BSA. Construction equipment such as pumps, tanks, or heavy equipment which operates within an infested aquatic environment is at risk for spreading NZMS. Snails can survive in pooled water of pumps and tanks or in mud which remains attached to equipment. No work is to occur within creek channel or come into contact with potentially contaminated material. All equipment which is restricted to the road surface and deck does not need to conduct decontamination procedures. However, to ensure any equipment that is to be operated below deck, decontamination procedures will be conducted to prevent the spread of NZMS. All construction equipment operated below the road surface will be thoroughly cleaned to remove all attached soil and all water within the compartments will be dried up. Pumps and tanks will be cleaned and must remain fully dried for 72 hours following cleaning before equipment may be used on another aquatic project. In addition, any measures required by the agencies will be implemented.

Regional Species and Habitats and Natural Communities of Concern The species listed in the CDFW (2017), CNPS (2017), and USFWS (2017) records search results are discussed in Table 1. The printout of the USFWS list can be found in Appendix B. Figures 4 and 5 show the documented occurrences for special-status plant and wildlife species (respectively) in the vicinity of the BSA based on the CNDDB (CDFW 2017a) A description of habitat requirements is provided for each special-status plant or wildlife species along with an evaluation of its potential to occur within the BSA.

Potential for special-status species to occur in the BSA was determined according to the following criteria:
 Absent [A] - No habitat present and no further work needed.  Habitat Present [HP] - Habitat is, or may be present. The species may be present.
 Present [P] - Species is present
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 20 September 2017  Critical Habitat [CH] - Proposed project footprint is located within a designated critical habitat unit, but does not necessarily mean that appropriate habitat is present.

Based on these results, it was determined that 77 special-status plant species and 92 special-status wildlife species have been documented from or have a range that occurs in the San Rafael, Bolinas, San Geronimo, Novato, Petaluma Point, San Quentin, San Francisco North, or Point Bonita 7.5-minute USGS quadrangles. Of these species, 20 special-status plant species and three special-status wildlife species have documented occurrences within 5 kilometers (3 miles) of the BSA (CDFW 2017a).

Due to a lack of appropriate habitat elements (such as coastal salt marsh) and the presence of residential development in the surrounding landscape, it was determined that the BSA has the potential to support only two of the special-status plant species identified in Table 1. Site visits occurred during appropriate periods for plant species identification; however, no special-status plants were observed in the BSA during the site assessments conducted for this report.

Fairfax Creek within the BSA is listed as essential fish habitat (EFH) for Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha); however, neither species is considered present because the BSA is outside of both species current or known ranges (NMFS 2012, UC Davis 2017). A total barrier to anadromy in Fairfax Creek is located just upstream of the confluence with San Anselmo Creek and prevents steelhead from entering Fairfax Creek. Steelhead are not considered present within Fairfax Creek or the BSA because of this barrier (Ross Taylor and Associates 2006).

Based on habitat and conditions within the BSA and documented occurrences nearby, it was determined that the BSA has potential to support three special-status wildlife species identified in Table 1.

The proposed project primarily involves short-term, temporary impacts and will not disrupt connectivity in the region. All work will take place on the bridge. No in-water work or work within the creek channel is anticipated for the proposed project. The creek channel will not be disturbed. Sensitive habitat within the BSA is limited to Fairfax Creek which is a perennial waterway in this reach. Fairfax Creek is subject to USACE, RWQCB, and the CDFW jurisdiction.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 21 September 2017 Table 1: Listed, Proposed Species, and Critical Habitat Potentially Occurring or Known to Occur in the BSA.

Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Birds
tricolored
blackbird Agelaius tricolor SC, BCC,
SSC
(Nesting colony) highly colonial
species, most numerous in Central
Valley and vicinity. Largely endemic
to California. Requires open water,
protected nesting substrate, and
foraging area with insect prey within
a few kilometers of the colony.

A
The BSA does not contain any open waters
such as ponds, lakes or marsh habitat that
supports foraging or nesting by the colony.

This species has not been found within 10
miles of the BSA (CDFW 2017a).
grasshopper
sparrow
Ammodramus
savannarum
SSC
Summer resident. Nests in open
grassland habitats, generally with
low- to moderate-height grasses
and scattered shrubs. Nest typically
placed on the ground and wellhidden. Secretive.

A
The BSA does not contain annual grassland
that could support nesting or foraging by the
species. Additionally, the BSA is located
within riparian woodland habitat which is not
suitable for this species.

Bell's Sage
Sparrow
Amphispiza belli
belli BCC
(Nesting) Nests in chaparral
dominated by dense stands of
chamise. Found in coastal sage
scrub in southern portions of range.

Nests are typically located on the
ground beneath a shrub or in a
shrub 6 to 18 inches above ground.

Territories about 50 yards apart.

A
The BSA is comprised of developed surfaces,
riparian woodland, and a stream channel, it
does not contain any chaparral or coastal
sage scrub habitat. Additionally chamise, the
preferred nesting habitat for this species is
absent from the BSA.
golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos CFP,
BCC
Resident in rolling foothills,
mountain areas, sage-juniper flats,
and desert. Cliff-walled canyons
provide nesting habitat in most
parts of range; also nests in large
trees in open areas.

A
Areas within the BSA and immediately
surrounding are low-density residential
developments and comprised of riparian
woodland which do not provide suitable
nesting habitat for the species. The BSA also
does not support habitat for the preferred prey
species of golden eagle.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 22 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
great egret Ardea alba None
(Rookery) Colonial nester in large
trees. Rookery sites located near
marshes, tide-flats, irrigated
pastures, and margins of rivers and
lakes.

A
Suitable rookery trees are absent from the
BSA and immediate surrounds, however, this
species may occasionally fly over the BSA.
great blue heron Ardea herodias None
(Rookery) Colonial nester in tall
trees, cliffs, and sequestered spots
on marshes. Rookery sites in close
proximity to foraging areas:
marshes, lake margins, tide-flats,
rivers and streams, wet meadows.

A
Suitable rookery trees are absent from the
BSA and immediate surrounds, however, this
species may occasionally fly over the BSA.
short-eared owl Asio flammeus SSC
(Nesting) Found in swamp lands,
both fresh and salt; lowland
meadows; irrigated alfalfa fields.

Tule patches/tall grass needed for
nesting/daytime seclusion. Nests on
dry ground in depression concealed
in vegetation.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland which do not provide nesting habitat
for the species. Lowland marshes, tule
patches or tall grasslands that typically
support nesting by the species do not occur in
the BSA.
long-eared owl Asio otus SSC
Primarily a year-round resident.

Inhabits riparian bottomlands to tall
willows and cottonwoods; also,
belts of live oak paralleling stream
courses. Requires dense foliage
cover within occupied tree stands,
adjacent open land productive of
mice for foraging, and the presence
of old nests of other birds for
nesting.

A
This species is a very rare breeder in Marin
County. The only recorded occurrences of the
species are near Bolinas and Drake’s Bay,
both locations are greater than 5 miles from
the BSA (Shuford 1993 The BSA and vicinity
is residential development with constant levels
of anthropogenic disturbance which make the
area unsuitable for nesting by the species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 23 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
burrowing owl Athene cunicularia SSC,
BCC
Open, dry annual or perennial
grasslands, deserts, and
scrublands characterized by lowgrowing vegetation. Subterranean nester, dependent upon burrowing
mammals, most notably, the
California ground squirrel.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland which do not provide habitat for the
species. The BSA does not contain short
grasslands or open areas containing burrows
that could provide nesting or wintering habitat
for this species.
oak titmouse Baeolophus
inornatus BCC
Oak woodland and savannah, open
broad-leaved evergreen forests
containing oaks, and riparian
woodlands. Associated with oak
and pine-oak woodland and
arborescent chaparral.

HP
Riparian woodland within and surrounding the
BSA provides potential nest-trees and
foraging habitat to support this species.
marbled
murrelet
Brachyramphus
marmoratus FT, SE
(Nesting) Feeds near shore; nests
inland along the Pacific coast, from
Eureka to Oregon border, and from
Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz.

Nests in old-growth redwooddominated forests, up to six miles inland. Nests often built in Douglasfir or redwood stands containing platform-like branches.

A
This species is not known to nest within Marin
County (Shuford 1993, McShane et al. 2004,
USFWS 2009). In addition, no old growth
redwood forest is present in the vicinity of the
BSA to provide the isolation and platform like
structure required for nesting by the species.

Lawrence’s
goldfinch Carduelis lawrencei BCC
Resident to nomadic; inhabits oak
woodlands, chaparral, riparian
woodlands and other areas, often
near water. Not known to breed in
the vicinity of San Francisco Bay.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland which do not provide suitable
nesting habitat for the species. This species is
a very rare breeder in Marin County and
typically inhabits the dry southern portions of
the county.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 24 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Vaux’s swift Chaetura vauxi SSC
Summer resident, primarily in
forested areas. Nests in tree
cavities, favoring those with a large
vertical extent. Also uses chimneys
and other manmade substrates.

Forages widely for aerial insects,
often over or near rivers and lakes.

A
Trees surrounding the BSA are not adequate
in size to provide suitable cavities that are
required to support nesting by the species.
western snowy
plover
Charadrius
alexandrinus
nivosus

FT, SSC,
BCC
(Nesting) Federal listing applies
only to the Pacific coastal
population. Found on sandy
beaches, salt pond levees and
shores of large alkali lakes.

Requires sandy, gravelly or friable
soils for nesting.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland which do not provide nesting habitat
for the species. Sandy beaches, salt flats or
alkali lake flats that this species inhabits are
absent from the BSA and surrounding area.
northern harrier Circus cyaneus SSC
(Nesting) Nests and forages in
grassland habitats, usually in
association with coastal salt and
freshwater marshes. Nests on
ground in shrubby vegetation,
usually at marsh edge; nest built of
a large mound of sticks in wet
areas.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland which do not provide nesting habitat
for the species. Suitable mesic grasslands or
marsh habitat are absent from the BSA and
the immediate surrounding areas.

Lewis’s
woodpecker Melanerpes lewis BCC
Uncommon resident in California
occurring on open oak savannahs,
broken deciduous and coniferous
habitats. Primarily in ponderosa
pine forests, riparian woodlands
and disturbed pine forests but is
known to nest in orchards and oak
woodlands. Rare nester in the San
Francisco Bay Area.

A
This species is a rare nester in the Bay Area,
and is unlikely to be found within the BSA.

The narrow riparian woodland within
residential development is not sufficient to
support this species. Lewis’s woodpecker has
not been observed in the vicinity of the BSA
(Shuford 1993, eBird 2017).

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 25 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
yellow warbler
Setophaga
(Dendroica)
petechia brewsteri
SSC,
BCC
Summer resident throughout much
of California. Breeds in riparian
vegetation close to water, including
streams and wet meadows.

Microhabitat used for nesting
variable, but dense willow growth is
typical. Occurs widely on migration.

A
The riparian woodland within the BSA does
not contain dense understory typical for
nesting by this species. This species may be
observed foraging in the BSA.
western yellowbilled cuckoo
Coccyzus
americanus
occidentalis

FT, SE,
BCC
Summer resident, breeding in
dense riparian forests and jungles,
typically with early successional
vegetation present. Utilizes
densely-foliaged deciduous trees
and shrubs. Eats mostly
caterpillars. Current breeding
distribution within California very
restricted.

A
Marin County is not within the documented
breeding range of this species. Additionally,
the extensive riparian woodland habitat that
this species inhabits is absent from the BSA.
olive-sided
flycatcher Contopus cooperi SSC,
BCC
Summer resident. Breeds in
montane coniferous forests, as well
as mixed forests along the coast.

Often associated with edge
habitats.

A
The BSA contains riparian woodland
dominated by California bay trees which are
not typically used for nesting. However, the
woodland may support nesting and foraging
within the BSA.
black swift Cypseloides niger SSC,
BCC
Summer resident with a fragmented
breeding distribution; most
occupied areas in California either
montane or coastal. Breeds in small
colonies on cliffs behind or adjacent
to waterfalls, in deep canyons, and
sea-bluffs above surf. Forages
aerially over wide areas.

A
Marin County is not within the documented
breeding range of this species. Additionally,
the BSA does not contain cliffs or deep
canyons capable of providing nesting habitat
for this species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 26 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
snowy egret Egretta thula none
(Rookery) colonial nester, with nest
sites situated in protected beds of
dense tules. Rookery sites situated
close to foraging areas: marshes,
tidal-flats, streams, wet meadows,
and borders of lakes.

A
Suitable rookery trees are absent from the
BSA and immediate surrounds, however, this
species may occasionally fly over the BSA.
white-tailed kite Elanus leucurus CFP
(Nesting) Year-long resident of
open grasslands and agricultural
areas. Preys on small diurnal
mammals and occasional birds,
insects, reptiles, and amphibians.

Nests in tree-tops.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland which do not provide suitable
nesting habitat for the species. The BSA does
not contain open areas such as agricultural
fields, grasslands or marsh that are typically
used by this species. This species could
occasionally be observed flying over the BSA.

American
peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus
anatum
FD,

SD,CFP,
BCC
Year-round resident and winter
visitor in the region. Habitat
variable, though usually associated
with coasts, bays, marshes and
other bodies of water. Nests on
sheer, protected cliffs and also on
manmade structures including
buildings and bridges. Preys on
birds, especially waterbirds.

A
High cliffs, and tall buildings typically used for
nesting by this species are absent from the
BSA and vicinity. Large water-bodies which
provide foraging habitat are absent from the
BSA and immediate surrounding area.
common loon Gavia immer SSC
Winter visitor; does not nest in the
vicinity San Francisco Bay. Aquatic,
generally found in large, deep water
bodies with abundant fish.

A
Common loons do not nest in California.

Furthermore, the BSA does not contain any
open water habitat capable of supporting
foraging by this species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 27 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
saltmarsh
common
yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
sinuosa
SSC,
BCC
Resident of the San Francisco Bay
region, in fresh and salt water
marshes. Requires thick,
continuous cover down to water
surface for foraging; tall grasses,
tule patches, willows for nesting.

A
The BSA is not within the known breeding
distribution of this subspecies. Suitable salt
marsh habitat which is required for nesting
and foraging is absent from the BSA and
vicinity.
black
oystercatcher
Haematopus
bachmani BCC
Resident on rocky shores of marine
habitats along almost the entire
California coast and adjacent
islands. Breeds on undisturbed,
rocky, open shores and cliffs.

A
The BSA is not within the known breeding
distribution of this species. Rocky shoreline
and marine habitats which support nesting
and foraging by the species are absent from
the BSA and immediate surrounds.
bald eagle Haliaeetus
leucocephalus

FD, SE,
CFP,
BCC
Primarily a winter visitor in the
region; small numbers are present
year-round and breed. Favors
areas near larger bodies of water
with abundant fish: lakes and
reservoirs, rivers, and the ocean.

Nests in large, old-growth, or
dominant live tree with open
branchwork. Often roosts
communally in winter.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland which do not provide nesting habitat
for the species. The forested portions of the
BSA do not contain the tall open branch-work
needed to support nesting. Additionally,
suitable foraging habitat does not occur within
2 miles of the BSA.

Caspian tern Hydroprogne caspia BCC
Nests in small colonies inland and
along the coast on sandy estuarine
shores, levees, and salt ponds.

Found in inland fresh-water lakes
and marshes; also, brackish or salt
waters of estuaries and bays.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 28 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
yellow-breasted
chat Icteria virens SSC
Summer resident, utilizing riparian
areas with an open canopy, very
dense understory, and trees for
song perches. Nests in thickets of
willow, blackberry, and wild grape.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland which do not provide nesting habitat
for the species. The BSA lacks a dense
riparian understory that this species requires.

Furthermore, it is not known to nest within 10
miles of the BSA.
loggerhead
shrike Lanius ludovicianus SSC,
BCC
Primarily a year-round resident in
open habitats including woodland,
grassland, savannah and
agricultural areas. Prefers areas
with sparse shrubs, trees, posts,
and other suitable perches for
foraging. Preys upon large insects
and small vertebrates. Nests are
well-concealed in a denselyfoliaged shrub or tree.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland which do not provide nesting habitat
for the species. The BSA does not contain
open areas such as agricultural fields,
grasslands or marsh that are typically used by
this species.

California black
rail
Laterallus
jamaicensis
coturniculus

ST, CFP,
BCC
Resident in marshes (saline to
freshwater) with dense vegetation
below four inches in height. Prefers
larger, undisturbed marshes close
to a major water source.

A
The BSA is not within the known breeding
distribution of this species. The BSA lacks any
marsh habitat that this species requires for
nesting and foraging.

Alameda song
sparrow
Melospiza melodia
pusillula
BCC,
SSC
Year-round resident of salt
marshes bordering the south arm
of San Francisco Bay. Inhabits
primarily pickleweed marshes;
nests placed in marsh vegetation,
typically shrubs such as gumplant.

A
The BSA is not within the known breeding
distribution of this species. The BSA lacks
any marsh habitat that this species requires
for nesting and foraging.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 29 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Samuel’s song
sparrow
Melospiza melodia
samuelis
SSC,
BCC
Resident of salt marshes along the
north side of San Francisco and
San Pablo Bays. Inhabits tidal
sloughs in the Salicornia marshes;
nests in Grindelia bordering slough
channels.

A
The BSA is not within the known breeding
distribution of this species. The BSA lacks any
marsh habitat that this species requires for
nesting and foraging.

San Pablo song
sparrow
Melospiza melodia
samuelis
BCC,
SSC
Year-round resident of tidal
marshes along the north side of
San Francisco and San Pablo
Bays. Typical habitat is dominated
by pickleweed, with gumplant and
other shrubs present in the upper
zone for nesting. May forage in
areas adjacent to marshes.

A
The BSA lacks any marsh habitat that this
species requires for nesting and foraging. The
nearest documented occurrence for this
species is located approximately 4 miles
northwest of the BSA (CDFW 2017a).
long-billed
curlew
Numenius
americanus BCC
Winter visitor to large coastal
estuaries, upland herbaceous
areas, and agricultural lands. Within
California, nests only in the
northeastern portion of the state in
wet meadow habitat.

A
Long-billed curlew does not nest in Marin
County. The BSA lacks beach, agricultural or
herbaceous upland habitat capable of
supporting nesting by this species.
black-crowned
night heron
Nycticorax
nycticorax None
(Rookery) colonial nester, usually in
trees, occasionally in tule patches.

Rookery sites located adjacent to
foraging areas: lake margins, mudbordered bays, marshy spots.

A
Suitable rookery trees are absent from the
BSA and immediate surrounds, however, this
species may occasionally fly over the BSA.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 30 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Bryant’s
savannah
sparrow
Passerculus
sandwichensis
alaudinus
SSC
Year-round resident subspecies,
associated with the coastal fog belt.

Occupies upper tidally-influenced
habitats and moist grasslands,
often occurring where wetland
communities merge into grassland.

Nests in vegetation on or near the
ground.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland which do not provide nesting habitat
for the species. The BSA lacks the tidally
influenced habitats or grasslands that this
species requires.

American white
pelican
Pelecanus
erythrorhynchos SSC
(Nesting colony) colonial nester on
large interior lakes. Nests on large
lakes, providing safe roosting and
breeding places in the form of wellsequestered islets. Winter visitor to the San Francisco Bay Area.

A
This species does not nest in Marin County.

Additionally, suitable foraging habitat does not
occur within 2 miles of the BSA.

California brown
pelican
Pelecanus
occidentalis
californicus

FD, SD,
CFP
(Nesting colony) colonial nester on
coastal islands just outside the surf
line. Nests on coastal islands of
small to moderate size which afford
immunity from attack by grounddwelling predators.

A
This species does not nest in Marin County.

Additionally, suitable foraging habitat does not
occur within 2 miles of the BSA.
short-tailed
albatross
Phoebastria
albatrus FE, SSC
Highly pelagic; comes to land only
when breeding. Nests on remote
Pacific islands. A rare non-breeding
visitor to the eastern Pacific.

A
Short-tailed albatross does not nest in Marin
County. Additionally, suitable marine foraging
habitat does not occur within 5 miles of the
BSA.

Nuttall’s
woodpecker Picoides nuttallii BCC
Resident in lowland woodlands
throughout much of California west
of the Sierra Nevada. Typical
habitat is dominated by oaks.

HP
Riparian woodland habitat within and
surrounding the BSA may provide suitable
nest-trees and foraging habitat which may
support this species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 31 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
purple martin Progne subis SSC
Summer resident. In northwestern
California, typically breeds in
coniferous forest and woodlands.

Nest in tree cavities, usually high off
the ground, and in the cavities of
manmade structures (e.g. bridges,
utility poles). Forages for aerial
insects.

A
The BSA contains riparian woodland
dominated by California bay trees which do
not provide cavities which can support
nesting. No snags or cavities were observed
within the BSA capable of supporting nesting
by this species. However, this species may be
observed foraging within the BSA.

California
clapper rail
Rallus longirostris
obsoletus

FE, SE,
CFP
Resident in tidal marshes of the
San Francisco Bay Estuary.

Requires tidal sloughs and mud
flats for foraging, and dense
vegetation for nesting. Associated
with abundant growth of cordgrass
and pickleweed. Largest
populations in south San Francisco
Bay.

A
The BSA is not within the known breeding
distribution of this species. The BSA lacks any
salt marsh habitat which this species requires
for nesting and foraging.
bank swallow Riparia riparia ST
Migrant in riparian and other
lowland habitats in western
California. Colonial nester in
riparian areas with vertical cliffs and
bands with fine-textured or finetextured sandy soils near streams, rivers, lakes or the ocean.

A
Bank swallow does not nest in Marin County.

The BSA lacks any cliff habitat which this
species requires for nesting. The species may
pass through the BSA on migration.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 32 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Allen’s
hummingbird Selaphorus sasin BCC
Breeds along the California
coastline in habitats including mixed
evergreen, Douglas fir, redwood
and Bishop pine forests, riparian
woodlands, nonnative eucalyptus
and planted cypress groves, and
occasionally live oak woodlands
and coastal scrub with at least a
scattering of trees, such as on
north-facing slopes
HP
Riparian woodland habitat within and
surrounding the BSA may provide suitable
nest trees and foraging habitat in surrounding
residential development may support this
species.
rufous
hummingbird Selasphorus rufus BCC
Spring migrant; does not breed in
California. Favors habitats rich in
nectar-producing flowers. Nests in
berry tangles, shrubs, deciduous
forests and conifers. Favors
habitats rich in nectar-producing
flowers.

A
The BSA is outside of the known breeding
range for this species, but rufous
hummingbird may be observed during
migration seasons.

California least
tern
Sternula antillarum
browni

FE, SE,
CFP
Summer resident along the coast
from San Francisco Bay south to
northern Baja California; inland
breeding also very rarely occurs.

Nests colonially on barren or
sparsely vegetated areas with
sandy or gravelly substrates near
water, including beaches, islands,
and gravel bars.

A
The BSA does not contain sandy or gravel
bars to support nesting of this species and is
outside the known range.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 33 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
northern spotted
owl
Strix occidentalis
caurina

FT, ST,
SSC
Old-growth forests or mixed stands
of old-growth and mature trees.

Occasionally in younger forests with
patches of big trees. Prefers high,
multistory canopy dominated by big
trees, trees with cavities or broken
tops, woody debris and space
under canopy.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland which does not typically support the
species or its preferred prey. This species has
been recorded within 0.5 mile of the BSA;
however, the observations are in areas of
undeveloped and forested open space. The
BSA is greater than 0.3 mile from the nearest
potentially suitable nesting habitat.
yellow-headed
blackbird
Xanthocephalus
xanthocephalus SSC
Migrant and local summer resident.

Nests colonially in freshwater
emergent wetlands with dense
vegetation and deep water, often
along borders of lakes or larger
ponds. Forages primarily on large
aquatic insects during the breeding
period.

A
The BSA does not contain any open waters
such as ponds, lakes or marsh habitat that
supports foraging or nesting by the colony.

The shrubs located along the banks in the
vicinity of the BSA are not sufficiently dense
or large enough to support nesting by this
species.

Mammals
pallid bat Antrozous pallidus
SSC,
WBWG:

High
Found in deserts, grasslands,
shrublands, woodlands, and
forests. Most common in open,
forages along river channels. Roost
sites include old ranch buildings,
rocky outcrops and caves within
sandstone outcroppings. Roosts
must protect bats from high
temperatures. Very sensitive to
disturbance of roosting sites.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland with no rock outcroppings or ranch
type buildings to provide roosting sites. The
bridge has no exposed cracks or seams and
is regularly disturbed by vehicles and
pedestrians, making the structure and the
surrounding area unsuitable for the species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 34 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Point Reyes
mountain beaver
Aplodontia rufa
phaea SSC
The Point Reyes mountain beaver
is only known to occur in western
Marin County, almost entirely within
Point Reyes National Seashore. It
occurs on cool, moist, north-facing
slopes in moderately dense coastal
scrub. Burrows are typically
constructed in dense thickets or in
forest openings; and it feeds on
coyote brush, sword fern, cow
parsnip, black berries, poison oak,
California nettle, and thistle.

A
The BSA is not within the known breeding
distribution of this species. The BSA and
immediate vicinity are residential development
and riparian woodland. The BSA does not
contain any coastal scrub habitat which is
required by the species.
ringtail (ringtailed cat)
Bassariscus
astutus CFP
Is widely distributed throughout
most of California, but absent from
some portions of the Central Valley
and northeastern California. The
species is nocturnal, primarily
carnivorous and is associated with
a mixture of dry forest and
shrubland in close association with
rocky areas and riparian habitat,
using hollow trees and cavities for
shelter.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland with an open understory.

Anthropogenic disturbances in the area and
an absence of suitable trees to provide
cavities make the species unlikely to occur.

Townsend's bigeared bat
Corynorhinus
townsendii

SC, SSC,
WBWG:

High
This species is associated with a
wide variety of habitats from
deserts to mid-elevation mixed
coniferous-deciduous forest.

Females form maternity colonies in
buildings, caves and mines and
males roost singly or in small
groups. Foraging occurs in open
forest habitats where they glean
moths from vegetation.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland. Buildings in the area are
maintained and do not provide suitable
roosting habitat. Additionally, there are no
caves, mines or suitable openings in the
bridge structure to support roosting by the
species within the BSA.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 35 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
western red bat Lasiurus blossevillii
SSC,
WBWG
High
This species is typically solitary,
roosting primarily in the foliage of
trees or shrubs. Day roosts are
commonly in edge habitats adjacent
to streams or open fields, in
orchards, and sometimes in urban
areas. There may be an association
with intact riparian habitat (willows,
cottonwoods, and sycamore).

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and disturbed riparian
woodland. The complexity of edge habitats
required by the species is not present within
the BSA. The species may forage over the
BSA.
hoary bat Lasiurus cinereus WBWG:

Medium
Prefers open habitats or habitat
mosaics, with access to trees for
cover and open areas or habitat
edges for feeding. Roosts in dense
foliage of medium to large trees.

Feeds primarily on moths. Requires
water.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland. The BSA does not provide suitable
open foraging habitat and no potential roost
sites are present.

San Pablo vole
Microtus
californicus
sanpabloensis
SSC
Saltmarshes of San Pablo Creek,
on the south shore of San Pablo
Bay. Constructs burrow in soft soil.

Feeds on grasses, sedges and
herbs. Forms a network of runways
leading from the burrow
A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland which do not provide habitat for the
species. Salt marshes that support this
species do not occur within or adjacent to the
BSA.
fringed myotis Myotis thysanodes WBWG:

High
Associated with a wide variety of
habitats including mixed coniferousdeciduous forest and redwoods/sequoia groves.

Buildings, mines, and large snags
are important day and night roosts.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland. No snags are present in or
adjacent to the BSA to provide roosting
habitat. The bridge structure has no suitable
seams, cracks or crevices that might provide
roosting habitat for the species. The species
may occasionally fly through or forage over
the BSA.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 36 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
long-legged
myotis Myotis volans WBWG
High
Typically occupies mountainous or
relatively rugged areas, dry
coniferous forests, and sometimes
oak or streamside woodlands, and
deserts. Large hollow trees, rock
crevices and buildings are
important day roosts. Other roosts
include caves, mines and buildings.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland. The BSA does not contain mines
abandoned buildings or snags for roosting.

There are no suitable openings in the bridge
structure such as seams or cracks to allow
bats to roost. The species may occasionally
fly through or forage over the BSA.
salt-marsh
harvest mouse
Reithrodontomys
raviventris

FE, SE,
CFP
Found only in the saline emergent
wetlands of San Francisco Bay and
its tributaries. Pickleweed is primary
habitat. Does not burrow, but builds
loosely organized nests. Require
higher areas for flood escape.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland. Salt marshes that are required to
support this species do not occur in the BSA.

Suisun shrew Sorex ornatus
sinuosus SSC
Tidal marshes of the northern
shores of San Pablo and Suisun
Bays. Require dense low-lying
cover and driftweed and other litter
above the mean high tide line for
nesting and foraging.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland. Marshes and tidal marine
environments that are required to support
nesting by the species do not occur in the
BSA.
salt-marsh
wandering
shrew
Sorex vagrans
halicoetes SSC
Confined to small remnant stands
of salt marsh found around the
southern arm of the San Francisco
Bay in San Mateo, Santa Clara,
Alameda and Contra Costa
counties. Inhabits salt marshes that
provide dense cover with driftwood
and other debris.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland. Salt marshes that are required to
support nesting by the species do not occur in
the BSA.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 37 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
American
badger Taxidea taxus SSC
Most abundant in drier open stages
of most shrub, forest, and
herbaceous habitats, with friable
soils. Requires friable soils and
open, uncultivated ground. Preys
on burrowing rodents.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland. Friable soils which support the
preferred prey for badgers and badger dens
do not occur within the BSA.

Point Reyes
jumping mouse
Zapus trinotatus
orarius SSC
Bunch grass marshes on the
uplands of Point Reyes in areas
safe from continuous inundation.

Builds grassy nests on ground
under vegetation, burrows in winter.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland. The BSA lacks marsh or
grasslands that this species requires for
nesting and foraging.

Amphibians and Reptiles
western pond
turtle
Actinemys
marmorata SSC
Associated with permanent or
nearly permanent water in a wide
variety of habitats. Requires
basking sites. Nests sites may be
found up to 0.5 kilometers from
water.

A
There are no known occurrences of this
species in the watershed or vicinity. The BSA
is over 2.5 miles from the nearest
documented occurrence in a different
watershed (CDFW 2017a).

California giant
salamander
Dicamptodon
californiense SSC
Occurs in the north-central Coast
Ranges. Moist coniferous and
mixed forests are typical habitat;
also uses woodland and chaparral.

Adults are terrestrial and fossorial,
breeding in cold, permanent or
semi-permanent streams. Larvae
usually remain aquatic for over a
year.

A
There are no known occurrences of this
species within 2.5 miles of the BSA. The
modifications to the creek channel within the
BSA including retaining walls and concrete
bed reduce potential for this species to occur
within the BSA.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 38 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
foothill yellowlegged frog Rana boylii SSC
Found in or near rocky streams in a
variety of habitats. Prefers partlyshaded, willow streams and riffles with a rocky substrate; requires at
least some cobble-sized substrate
for egg-laying. Needs at least 15
weeks to attain metamorphosis.

Feeds on both aquatic and
terrestrial invertebrates.

A
This species has not been documented within
the watershed, and does not occur outside of
aquatic habitats. Documented occurrences
are in different watersheds than the BSA
(CDFW 2017a).

California redlegged frog Rana draytonii FT, SSC
Lowlands and foothills in or near
permanent sources of deep water
with dense, shrubby or emergent
riparian vegetation. Requires 11 to
20 weeks of inundation for larval
development. Must have access to
estivation habitat.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland. No ponds, lakes, or creek
backwaters exist nearby that could provide
adequate still water habitat to support
breeding by the species. This species is not
known within 5 miles of the BSA.

Fishes
green sturgeon Acipenser
medirostris FT, SSC
Spawn in the Sacramento River
and the Klamath River. Spawn at
temperatures between 8-14
degrees C. Preferred spawning
substrate is large cobble, but can
range from clean sand to bedrock.

A
The BSA is not within the known spawning
distribution of this species. A total barrier to
fish passage at Bolinas Avenue prevents
anadromous fish such as sturgeon from
accessing the BSA.
tidewater goby Eucyclogobius
newberryi FE, SSC
Brackish water habitats along the
California coast from Agua
Hedionda Lagoon, San Diego
County to the mouth of the Smith
River. Found in willow lagoons and
lower stream reaches, they need
fairly still but not stagnant water and
high oxygen levels.

A
The BSA is not within the known distribution
of this species. Additionally, the BSA lacks
any lagoon habitat, which is required by this
species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 39 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
delta smelt Hypomesus
transpacificus

FT, SE,
RP
Lives in the Sacramento-San
Joaquin estuary in areas where salt
and freshwater systems meet.

Occurs seasonally in Suisun Bay,
Carquinez Strait and San Pablo
Bay.

A
The BSA is not within the known spawning
distribution of this species. Additionally, the
BSA lacks any brackish water habitat which is
required by this species.

Tomales roach
Lavinia
symmetricus ssp.
symmetricus
SSC
Habitat generalists. Tolerant of
relatively high temperatures and
low oxygen levels; however, unable
to tolerate very saline water.

Tributaries to Tomales Bay.

A
The BSA is not within the known spawning
distribution of this species, and Fairfax Creek
is not tributary to Tomales Bay.

Coho salmon -
central
California coast
Oncorhynchus
kisutch FE, SE
State listing is limited to Coho south
of San Francisco Bay. Federal
listing is limited to naturally
spawning populations in streams
between Humboldt County and
Santa Cruz County. Spawn in
coastal streams 4-14C.

A
This species is considered extirpated from the
waters of San Francisco Bay and its
tributaries (NMFS 2012).
steelhead -
central
California coast
Oncorhynchus
mykiss FT
Occurs from the Russian River
south to Soquel Creek and Pajaro
River. Also in San Francisco and
San Pablo Bay Basins. Adults
migrate upstream to spawn in cool,
clear, well-oxygenated streams.

Juveniles remain in fresh water for
1 or more years before migrating
downstream to the ocean.

A
A total barrier to fish passage at Bolinas
Avenue prevents anadromous fish such as
steelhead from being able to access the
creek. Therefore, steelhead and suitable
habitat are absent from the BSA.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 40 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
chinook salmon
– Sacramento
River winter-run
Oncorhynchus
tshawytscha

FE, SE,
RP
Occurs in the Sacramento River
below Keswick Dam. Spawns in
Sacramento River but not in
tributary streams. Adults migrate
upstream to spawn in cool, clear,
well-oxygenated streams.

A
The BSA is not within the known spawning
distribution of this species, and a total barrier
to fish passage at Bolinas Avenue prevents
anadromous fish such as smelt from being
able to access Fairfax Creek and the BSA.
chinook salmon
- Central Valley
spring-run
Oncorhynchus
tshawytscha FT,ST
Occurs in the Sacramento River
below Keswick Dam. Spawns in the
Sacramento River but not in
tributary streams. Adults migrate
upstream to spawn in cool, clear,
well-oxygenated streams.

A
The BSA is not within the known spawning
distribution of this species, and a total barrier
to fish passage at Bolinas Avenue prevents
anadromous fish such as smelt from being
able to access Fairfax Creek and the BSA.
chinook salmon
- California
coastal ESU
Oncorhynchus
tshawytscha FT, RP
California Coastal Chinook Salmon
ESU includes all naturally spawned
populations of Chinook salmon from
rivers and streams south of the
Klamath River (exclusive) to the
Russian River (inclusive). Adult
numbers depend on pool depth and
volume, amount of cover, and
proximity to gravel.

Sacramento
splittail
Pogonichthys
macrolepidotus SSC
Endemic to California’s Central
Valley and the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta. Primarily freshwater
fish, but are tolerant of moderate
salinity. Spawn on submerged
vegetation in temporarily flooded
upland and riparian habitat.

A
The BSA is not within the spawning or known
distribution of this species. The BSA does not
contain any flooded upland or slow slough like
habitat which this species requires for
spawning.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 41 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
longfin smelt Spirinchus
thaleichthys

FC, ST,
SSC
Euryhaline, nektonic and
anadromous. Found in open waters
of estuaries, mostly in middle or
bottom of water column. Prefer
salinities of 15 to 30 ppt, but can be
found in completely freshwater to
almost pure seawater.

Pacific lamprey
Entosphenus
(=Lampetra)
tridentatus
SSC
Spawn between March and July in
gravel bottomed streams in riffle
habitat. Larvae drift downstream to
areas of low velocity and fine
substrates and are relatively
immobile in the stream substrates.

A
A total barrier to fish passage at Bolinas
Avenue prevents anadromous fish such as
lamprey from being able to access the creek.

This species and its habitat are not present.
eulachon Thaleichthys
pacificus FT, SSC
Occur in nearshore ocean waters
and to 1,000 feet (300 m) in depth,
except for the brief spawning runs
into their natal (birth) streams.

Ranges from northern California to
southwest Alaska and southeastern
Bering Sea.

A
The BSA is not within the known spawning
distribution of this species. The BSA lacks any
marine or brackish water habitats which may
be used for foraging or rearing habitat by the
species.

Invertebrates
Tomales isopod Caecidotea
tomalensis SSI
Inhabits localized fresh-water ponds
or streams with still or near-still
water in several San Francisco Bay
Area counties. Found in several
localities from Sonoma to San
Mateo counties. This aquatic
species prefers practically still to
slow-moving, vegetated water, such
as from spring-fed ponds.

A
This species requires ponds that are fed by
springs, these features are not present within
the BSA. The BSA does contain freshwater,
however it does not support aquatic
vegetation.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 42 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Marin blind
harvestman Calicina diminua SSI
Occurs in mesic habitats, but are
absent from situations where soils
are saturated or periodically
inundated. Most species occur
under medium to large undisturbed
rocks that are in contact with the
soil.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland. Any rock rip rap at the base of the
bridge is a recent addition and is unlikely to
support this species because of creek flows
through the BSA.

San Bruno elfin
butterfly
Callophrys mossii
bayensis FE, SSI
Inhabits coastal mountainous areas
with grassy ground cover, mainly in
the vicinity of San Bruno Mountain,
San Mateo County. Colonies are
located on steep, north-facing
slopes within the fog belt. Larval
host plant is Sedum spathulifolium.

A
The BSA is not within the known breeding
distribution of this species. The BSA and
immediate vicinity are residential development
and riparian woodland. The BSA contains no
grassland that may support the host plants
required by the species.
monarch
butterfly Danaus plexippus SSI
Winter roost sites extend along the
coast from northern Mendocino to
Baja California, Mexico. Roosts
located in wind-protected tree
groves (eucalyptus, Monterey pine,
Monterey cypress), with nectar and
water sources nearby.

A
Roost sites for monarchs are primarily in
eucalyptus groves along the coast. No groves
used as roost sites have been recorded within
7 miles of the BSA. The BSA is inland of the
coast; however, the species may migrate
through the area in route to roost and foraging
sites.
black abalone Haliotes cracherodii FE, SSI
Generally occur in areas of
moderate to high surf in mid to low
rocky intertidal areas.

A
The BSA does not contain any intertidal
shores or marine environments which are
required to support the species.
white abalone Haliotis sorenseni FE, SSI
Rocky pinnacles and deep reefs in
southern California; especially
those off the Channel Islands. Live
at depths from 80 to 200 feet.

A
The BSA does not contain any intertidal
shores or marine environments which are
required to support the species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 43 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Ricksecker's
water scavenger
beetle
Hydrochara
rickseckeri SSI
Aquatic; known only from pond
habitats scattered around the San
Francisco Bay area.

A
The BSA and immediate vicinity are
residential development and riparian
woodland. The creek within the BSA does not
provide pond habitat known to support the
species.
mission blue
butterfly Icaricia icarioides
missionensis

FE, RP,
SSI
Inhabits grasslands of the San
Francisco Peninsula. Three larval
host plants: Lupinus albifrons, L.
variicolor, and L. formosus, of which
L. albifrons is favored.

Bay checkerspot
butterfly
Euphydryas editha
bayensis

FT, SSI,
RP
Restricted to native grasslands on
outcrops of serpentine soil in the
vicinity of San Francisco Bay.

Plantago erecta is the primary host
plant; Orthocarpus densiflorus and
O. purpurscens are the secondary
host plants.

Callippe
silverspot
butterfly
Speyeria callippe FE, SSI
Restricted to the northern coastal
scrub of the San Francisco
Peninsula. Host plant is Viola
pedunculata. Most adults found on
east-facing slopes; males
congregate on hilltops in search of
females.

Myrtle's
silverspot
butterfly
Speyeria zerene
myrtleae

FE, RP,
SSI
Restricted to the foggy, coastal
dunes/hills of the Point Reyes
peninsula; extirpated from coastal
San Mateo County. Larval food
plant thought to be Viola adunca.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 44 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
California
freshwater
shrimp
Syncaris pacifica FE, SE,

RP, SSI
Endemic to Marin, Napa, and
Sonoma counties. Found in low
elevation, low gradient streams
where riparian cover is moderate to
heavy. Willow pools away from
main stream flow. Winter: undercut
banks with exposed roots. Summer:
leafy branches touching water.

A
The BSA is not within the known breeding
distribution of this species. Suitable habitat for
the species is primarily found within northern
Marin County along the border with Sonoma
County. This species has not been
documented in Fairfax Creek.

Plants and Sensitive Natural Communities
Sensitive Natural Communities
Coastal
Brackish Marsh,
Coastal Terrace
Prairie,
Northern
Coastal Salt
Marsh,
Serpentine
Bunchgrass

NA NA NA A
The BSA does not contain any of these
habitats. No further actions are
recommended for these Sensitive Natural
Communities.

Sensitive Plants
Sonoma
alopecurus
Alopecurus
aequalis var.
sonomensis
FE,
CNPS
1B.1
Freshwater marsh and swamp,
and riparian scrub. 5-360 m.

Flowers May-July.

HP
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with
coastal freshwater marsh and swamp, and
riparian scrub. The BSA limited, poor quality,
habitat for this species. No Alopecurus
species were observed. No further actions
are recommended for this species.

Napa false
indigo
Amorpha
californica var.
napensis
CNPS
1B.2
Broadleaf upland forest, chaparral,
cismontane woodland; openings in
forest, woodland, and chaparral.
120-2,000 m. Flowers April-July.

A
The BSA provides poor habitat for this
species. This woody perennial was not
observed during the field surveys, which
were conducted when this species would be
identifiable. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 45 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Bent-flowered
fiddleneck Amsinckia lunaris
BLMS,
CNPS
1B.2
Cismontane woodland, valley and
foothill grassland. 5-500 m.

Flowers March-June.

A
The natural areas within the BSA are too
shady for this species. This perennial species
was not observed during the field surveys,
which were conducted during the flowering
period. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

Franciscan
manzanita
Arctostaphylos
franciscana
FE,
CNPS
1B.1
Serpentinite outcrops in chaparral.
60-300 m. Flowers January-April. A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with
serpentine substrates. The BSA lacks
suitable serpentine soils and chaparral
habitat. No manzanitas (a woody perennial)
were observed in the BSA. No further actions
are recommended for this species.

Mt. Tamalpais
manzanita
Arctostaphylos
montana ssp.
montana
CNPS
1B.3
Generally serpentinite soil, valley
and foothill grassland. 160-760 m.

Flowers February-April.

A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with
serpentine substrates. The BSA lacks
suitable serpentine soils; and no manzanitas
(a woody perennial) were observed in the
BSA. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

Presidio
manzanita
Arctostaphylos
montana ssp.
ravenii
FE,SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Serpentinite soil, chaparral, coastal
prairie, coastal scrub. 20-215 m.

Flowers February-April.

A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with
serpentine substrates. The BSA lacks
suitable serpentine soils and chaparral
habitat. No manzanitas (a woody perennial)
were observed in the BSA. No further actions
are recommended for this species.

Marin
manzanita
Arctostaphylos
montana ssp.
virgata
CNPS
1B.2
Broad-leaved upland forest, closed
cone coniferous forest, chaparral,
north coast coniferous forest,
generally on sandstone or granitic
soil. 160-760 m. Flowers
December-March.

A
The BSA lacks suitable habitat. No
manzanitas (a woody perennial) were
observed. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 46 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Marsh sandwort Arenaria
paludicola

FE, SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Freshwater marsh. 10-170 m.

Flowers May-August. A No suitable habitat. No further actions are recommended for this species.

Coastal marsh
milk-vetch
Astragalus
pycnostachyus
var.
pycnostachyus
BLMS,
CNPS
1B.2
Coastal salt marshes, coastal
dunes, coastal scrub, stream
sides. 0-30 m. Flowers AprilOctober.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Alkali milk-vetch Astragalus tener
var. tener
CNPS
1B.2
Alkali playa, valley and foothill
grassland, vernal pools. 1-170 m.

Flowers March-June.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Tiburon
mariposa lily
Calochortus
tiburonensis

FT, ST,
CNPS
1B.1
Serpentinite soil, valley and foothill
grassland. Open rocky, serpentine.
50-150 m. Flowers March-June.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Seaside
bittercress
Cardamine
angulata
CNPS
2B.1
North coast coniferous forest,
lower montane coniferous forest,
wet places. 65-951 m. Flowers
April-June.

A
This perennial species was not observed
during the field surveys, which were
conducted during the flowering period. The
closest known occurrence of this species is a
1915 observation near the Town of
Lagunitas, over 5 miles away. No further
actions are recommended for this species.

Bristly sedge Carex comosa CNPS
2B.2
Marshes and swamps, lake
margins, wet places. 5-1,005 m.

Flowers July-September.

A
Closest known occurrence was in 1866 near
San Francisco. No suitable habitat. No
further actions are recommended for this
species.

Lyngbye’s
sedge Carex lyngbyei CNPS
1B.1
Brackish or freshwater marshes. 0-
10 m. Flowers May-August. A
Closest known occurrence was in 1927 in
Stinson Beach. No suitable habitat. No
further actions are recommended for this
species.

Tiburon Indian
paintbrush
Castilleja affinis
ssp. neglecta

FE, ST,
CNPS
1B.2
Rocky serpentinite soil, valley and
foothill grassland. 75-400 m.

Flowers April-June.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Mason's
ceanothus
Ceanothus
masonii
CNPS
1B.2
Dry rocky areas, chaparral. 230-
500 m. Flowers March-April. A No suitable habitat. No further actions are recommended for this species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 47 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Point Reyes
bird’s beak
Chloropyron
maritimum ssp.
palustre
BLMS,
CNPS
1B.2
Coastal salt marsh. 0-10 m.

Flowers June-October. A
No suitable coastal salt marsh habitat. No
further actions are recommended for this
species.

Soft bird’s beak
Chloropyron molle
(previously
Cordylanthus
mollis ssp. mollis)
FE, SR
CNPS
1B.2
Marshes and swamps (coastal
salt). 0-10 m. Flowers JulyNovember.A No suitable habitat. No further actions are recommended for this species.

San Francisco
Bay spineflower
Chorizanthe
cuspidata var.
cuspidata
CNPS
1B.2
Sandy soil, coastal bluff scrub,
coastal dunes, coastal prairie,
coastal scrub. 3-250 m. Flowers
April-August.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Franciscan
thistle Cirsium andrewsii CNPS
1B.2
Moist places in broadleafed upland
forest on the coast, coastal bluff
scrub, coastal prairie, and coastal
scrub. 0-150 m. Flowers MarchJuly.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Mt. Tamalpais
thistle
Cirsium
hydrophilum var.
vaseyi
CNPS
1B.2
Moist places in broadleafed upland
forest, chaparral, meadows and
seeps. Serpentine streams. 240-
620 m Flowers May-August.

A No suitable serpentine habitat. No further
actions are recommended for this species.

Presidio clarkia Clarkia
franciscana

FE, SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Serpentinite soil, valley and foothill
grassland. 25-335 m. Flowers
May-July.

A No suitable serpentine habitat. No further
actions are recommended for this species.

Round-headed
Chinese houses
Collinsia
corymbosa
CNPS
1B.2
Coastal dunes.0-20 m. Flowers
April-June. A No suitable dune habitat. No further actions are recommended for this species.

San Francisco
collinsia Collinsia multicolor CNPS
1B.2
Closed-cone coniferous forest,
coastal scrub, on decomposed
shale in humus. 30-250m. Flowers
March-May.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 48 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Robust
spineflower
Chorizanthe
robusta var.
robusta
FE, Rank
1B.1
Chaparral (maritime), cismontane
woodland (openings), coastal
dunes, coastal scrub, sandy or
gravelly.3-300 m. Flowers AprilSeptember.

A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with
sandy/gravelly soils in coastal habitat. The
BSA lacks suitable sandy/gravelly soils in
coastal habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

San Francisco
Bay spineflower
Chorizanthe
cuspidata var.
cuspidata
CNPS
1B.2
Coastal bluff scrub, coastal dues,
coastal prairie. Coastal scrub,
sandy. 10-305 m. Flowers JuneAugust.

A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with sandy
soils in coastal habitat. The BSA lacks
suitable sandy coastal habitat. No further
actions are recommended for this species.

Sonoma
spineflower
Chorizanthe
cuspidata var.
valida

FE, SE,
Rank
1B.1
Sandy coastal prairie. 10-305 m.

Flowers June-August. A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with sandy
soils in coastal prairie habitat. The BSA lacks
suitable sandy coastal prairie habitat. No
further actions are recommended for this
species.

Golden larkspur Delphinium luteum

FE, SR,
CNPS
1B.1
Chaparral, coastal prairie, coastal
scrub/rocky. 1-100 m. Flowers
March-May.

A
The BSA is not within the critical habitat area.

This site lacks suitable chaparral, coastal
prairie habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Western
leatherwood Dirca occidentalis CNPS
1B.2
Mesic sites, broadleafed upland
forest, closed-cone conifer forest,
chaparral, cismontane woodland,
north coast coniferous forest,
riparian forest, riparian woodland.
25-425 m. Flowers January- April.

A
The natural areas within the BSA are in a
narrow channelized stream zone that
provides low quality habitat. This perennial
woody shrub species was not observed
during the field surveys. No further actions
are recommended for this species.

Tiburon
buckwheat
Eriogonum
luteolum var.
caninum
CNPS
1B.2
Serpentinite soil, chaparral, coastal
prairie, valley and foothill
grassland. 0-700 m. Flowers JuneSeptember.

A
No suitable habitat. No buckwheats were
observed during surveys. No further actions
are recommended for this species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 49 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Koch's cord
moss
Entosthodon kochii CNPS
1B.3
Cismontane woodland and valley
foothill grassland. Know from
Plumas NF on serpentine river
bank. 500-1,000 m. Flowers N/A.

A No suitable serpentine habitat. No further
actions are recommended for this species.

Minute pocket
moss
Fissidens
pauperculus
USFSS,
CNPS
2B.2
North coast coniferous forest. On
damp soil on the coast and in dry
streambeds and banks on soil in
humus comprised of heavily
decayed wood. 10-100 m. Flowers
N/A (best observed during the wet
season).

HP
Though not coniferous forest, mesic
substrates within the BSA have limited the
potential to support this species. Though
scour alters the duff in large storm events.

This species was not observed during the
field surveys, which occurred during the wet
season when this species is identifiable. No
further actions are recommended for this
species.

Marin checker
lily
Fritillaria
lanceolata var.
tristulis (F. affinis
var. t.)
CNPS
1B.1
Coastal bluff scrub, coastal prairie,
coastal scrub. Spruces and
riparian areas and rocky outcrops.
15-150 m. Flowers February-April.

A
Though not coastal, there is a narrow strip of
riparian like habitat adjacent to the creek. No
Fritillaria were observed during the field
surveys, which were conducted during the
flowering period. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Fragrant
fritillary Fritillaria liliacea
USFSS,
CNPS
1B.2
Coastal scrub, valley and foothill
grassland, coastal prairie. Usually
on clay soils, often on serpentine in
grassland.3-410 m. Flowers
February- April.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Blue coast gilia Gilia capitata ssp.
chamissonis
CNPS
1B.1
Coastal dunes, coastal scrub.

Elevation range: 2-180 m. Flowers
April-July.

A
The BSA lacks suitable coastal dune and
scrub habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 50 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Woolly-headed
gilia
Gilia capitata ssp.
tomentosa
CNPS
1B.1
Rocky serpentine outcrops in
coastal bluff scrub and valley and
foothill grassland. 10-220 m.

Flowers May-July.

A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with
serpentine soils in coastal bluff scrub and
valley and foothill grassland. The BSA lacks
suitable serpentine soils in coastal bluff scrub
and valley and foothill grassland habitat. No
further actions are recommended for this
species.

Dark-eyed gilia Gilia millefoliata
CNPS
1B.2,
BLMS
Coastal dunes. 2-30 m. Flowers
April-July. A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with
coastal dunes. The BSA lacks suitable
coastal dune habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Diablo
helianthella
Helianthella
castanea
CNPS
1B.2,
BLMS
Broadleaved upland forest,
chaparral, coastal scrub,
cismontane woodland, riparian
woodland, valley and foothill
grassland. 25-1150 m. Flowers
April to June.

A
This species requires more sun than is found
in the BSA. No Helianthella were observed
during the field surveys, which were
conducted during the flowering period. No
further actions are recommended for this
species.

Congested
headed hayfield
tarplant
Hemizonia
congesta ssp.
congesta
(Hemizonia
congesta ssp.
leucocephala)
CNPS
1B.2
Coastal scrub, valley and foothill
grassland; located in grassy
valleys, hills, and fallow fields. 20-
550 m. Flowers April-November.

A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with
coastal scrub and valley and foothill
grassland. Surveys were conducted during
the flowering period. The BSA lacks suitable
habitat. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

Marin western
flax
Hesperolinon
congestum

FT, ST,
CNPS
1B.1
Serpentinite soil, chaparral, valley
and foothill grassland. Known only
from Marin, San Francisco, and
San Mateo counties. In serpentine
barrens and in serpentine
grassland chaparral. 5-370 m.

Flowers April-July.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 51 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Water stargrass
Heteranthera
dubia
CNPS
2B.2
Requires a pH of 7 or higher,
usually in slightly eutrophic waters.

Marshes and swamps (alkaline,
still or slow-moving water). 30-
1495 m. Flowers July-October.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Santa Cruz
tarplant
Holocarpha
macradenia

FT, CE,
CNPS
1B.1
Coastal prairie, coastal scrub,
Valley and foothill grassland, often
clay. 10-20 m. Flowers JuneOctober.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Kellogg’s
horkelia
Horkelia cuneata
var. sericea
CNPS
1B.2,
BLMS
Closed-cone coniferous forest,
chaparral (maritime), coastal
dunes, coastal scrub, openings,
sandy/gravelly. 10-200 m. Flowers
April-Sept.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Thin-lobed
horkelia Horkelia tenuiloba
CNPS
1B.2,
BLMS
Broadleaf upland forest, chaparral,
valley and foothill grassland/mesic
openings, sandy. 50-500 m.

Flowers April-July.

A
Mesic soils within the BSA are in the lower
part of the creek bank, however the site gets
very limited sunlight. No Horkelia were
observed during the field surveys, which
were conducted during the flowering period.

No further actions are recommended for this
species.

Small
groundcone Kopsiopsis hookeri CNPS

2.3 North coast coniferous forest,
generally on salal (Gaultheria
shallon) and Vaccinium. 90-885 m.

Flowers April-August.

A
The BSA lacks suitable habitat for this
species. No host plant, salal present. No
further actions are recommended for this
species.

Contra costa
goldfields
Lasthenia
conjugens
FE,
CNPS
1B.2
Cismontane woodland, playas
(alkaline), valley and foothill
grassland, vernal pools. 0-470 m.

Flowers March-April.

A
The BSA does not provide suitable habitat.

This species was not observed during the
surveys, which were conducted during the
flowering period. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Beach layia Layia carnosa

FE, SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Sandy soil, coastal dunes, coastal
scrub. 0-60 m. Flowers March-July. A The BSA lacks suitable habitat. No further actions are recommended for this species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 52 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Rose
leptosiphon
Leptosiphon
rosaceus
CNPS
1B.1
Coastal bluff scrub. 0-100 m.

Flowers April-July. A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with
coastal bluff scrub. The BSA lacks suitable
habitat. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

San Francisco
lessingia
Lessingia
germanorum

FE, SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Coastal scrub (remnant dunes) 25-
110 m. Flowers June-November. A The BSA lacks suitable habitat. No further actions are recommended for this species.

Tamalpais
lessingia
Lessingia
micradenia var.
micradenia
CNPS
1B.2
Chaparral, valley and foothill
grassland; usually located on
serpentine substrate, often
roadsides. 10-500 m. Flowers
June-October.

A
The BSA lacks serpentine and suitable
habitat. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

Pitkin Marsh lily Lilium pardalinum
ssp. pitkinense

FE, SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Cismontane woodland, meadows
and seeps, marshes and swamps
(freshwater), mesic and sandy. 35-
65 m. Flowers June-July.

A
Known only from areas near Sebastopol. The
mesic area in the BSA does not provide
appropriate habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Sebastopol
meadowfoam
Limnanthes
vinculans

FE, SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Meadows and seeps, valley and
foothill grassland, vernal pools,
vernally mesic. 15-305 m. Flowers
April-May.

A
The BSA lacks suitable grassland and vernal
pool habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Tidestrom’s
lupine Lupinus tidestromii

FE, SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Coastal dunes. 0-100 m. Flowers
April-June. A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with
coastal dunes. The BSA lacks suitable
coastal dune habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Marsh
microseris
Microseris
paludosa
CNPS
1B.2
Moist places, closed-cone
coniferous forest, cismontane
woodland, coastal scrub, valley
and foothill grassland, (Moist
grassland or open woodland). 5-
300 m. Flowers April-June.

A
This species is typically found in areas that
receive more sunlight than the BSA. It was
not observed during the field surveys, which
were conducted during the flowering period.

No further actions are recommended for this
species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 53 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Elongate
copper moss
Mielichhoferia
elongata
CNPS
2B.2
Cismontane woodland/
metamorphic, rock typically with
high levels of heavy metals,
usually vernally mesic. 500-1300
m.

A
This species is often found along road cuts in
the foothills. It was not observed during the
field surveys. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Marin County
navarretia Navarretia rosulata CNPS
1B.2
Rocky serpentinite soil, closedcone coniferous forest, chaparral. 200-635 m. Flowers May-July.

A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with
serpentinite soil. The BSA lacks suitable
habitat. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

White-rayed
pentachaeta
Pentachaeta
bellidiflora

FE, SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Valley and foothill grassland,
coastal scrub, coastal prairie, open
dry rocky areas, often serpentine.
35-620 m. Flowers March-May.

A
The BSA lacks suitable open dry rocky habit.

This species was not observed during the
field surveys, which were conducted during
the flowering period. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Choris'
popcorn-flower
Plagiobothrys
chorisianus var.
chorisianus
CNPS
1B.1
Moist places, coastal prairie,
coastal scrub, chaparral, seasonal
marsh. Known only from San
Francisco southward. 60-485 m.

Flowers March-June
A
The BSA lacks suitable habit. This species
was not observed during the field surveys,
which were conducted during the flowering
period. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

San Francisco
popcorn-flower
Plagiobothrys
diffusus
SE,
CNPS 1B
Seasonally moist places, coastal
prairie, valley and foothill
grassland. Known only from San
Francisco southward. 0-100 m.

Flowers April-June.

A
The BSA lacks suitable habit. This species
was not observed during the field surveys,
which were conducted during the flowering
period. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

Hairless
popcorn-flower
Plagiobothrys
glaber CNPS 1A
Alkaline meadows and seeps,
coastal salt marshes.0-100 m.

Flowers March-May
A
Historically occurred on grassy slopes with
marine influence. The BSA lacks suitable
habit. This species was not observed during
the field surveys. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 54 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
North coast
semaphore
grass
Pleuropogon
hooverianus
BLMS,
ST,
CNPS
1B.1
Moist, open to shaded areas,
broadleafed upland forest,
meadows and seeps, north coast
coniferous forest. Marshy
areas.10-1,150 m. Flowers MayAugust.

A
The BSA lacks suitable habit. The creekbed
is not vegetated and the banks are too dry.

This species was not observed during the
field surveys, which were conducted during
the flowering period. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Oregon
polemonium
Polemonium
carneum
CNPS
2B.2
Coastal prairie, coastal scrub,
lower montane coniferous forest.
0-1,830m. Flowers AprilSeptember.

A
The BSA lacks suitable habitat. This species
was not observed during the field surveys,
which were conducted during the flowering
period. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

Hickman’s
potentilla
Potentilla
hickmanii

FE, SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Coastal bluff scrub, closed-cone
coniferous forest, meadows and
seeps (vernally mesic), marshes
and swamps (freshwater). 10-149
m. Flowers April-August.

A
The closest known occurrence is south of
San Francisco. The BSA lacks suitable
habitat. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

Tamalpais oak
Quercus parvula
var.
tamalpaisensis
CNPS
1B.3
Lower montane coniferous forest.
100-750 m. Flowers March-April. A
Suitable habitat for this species is not present
in the BSA. This species is a woody shrub,
which if present, would have been observed
during the field surveys. No further actions
are recommended for this species.

Adobe sanicle Sanicula maritima
USFSS,
SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Chaparral, coastal prairie,
meadows and seeps, valley and
foothill grassland, often clay and
serpentine. 30-240 m. Flowers
February-May.

A
Suitable clay and serpentine habitat for this
species is not present in the BSA. The
closest known occurrence is a population
believed to be extinct, south of San
Francisco. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Point Reyes
checkerbloom
Sidalcea calycosa
ssp. rhizomata
CNPS
1B.2
Freshwater marshes and swamps
near the coast. 3-75 m. Flowers
April-September.

A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with marsh
habitat. The BSA lacks suitable marsh
habitat. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 55 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Marin
checkerbloom
Sidalcea hickmanii
ssp. viridis
CNPS
1B.3
Chaparral; located on serpentine
or volcanic substrate; often
observed following burns. 50-425
m. Flowers May-June.

A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with
serpentine or volcanic substrates. The BSA
lacks suitable serpentine or volcanic
substrate habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

San Francisco
campion
Silene verecunda
ssp. verecunda
CNPS
1B.2
Coastal bluff scrub, chaparral,
coastal prairie, coastal scrub,
valley and foothill grassland, often
mudstone, one on serpentine. 30-
645 m. Flowers March-August.

A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with
mudstone or serpentine in coastal scrub or
bluff scrub, chaparral, coastal prairie or valley
and foothill grassland. The BSA lacks
suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Santa Cruz
microseris
Stebbinsoseris
decipiens
CNPS
1B.2
Open areas in broadleafed upland
forest, closed-cone coniferous
forest, chaparral, coastal prairie,
coastal scrub, valley and foothill
grassland. 30-645 m. Flowers
April-May.

A
Suitable habitat for this species is not present
in the BSA, however, this species was not
observed during the field surveys, which
were conducted during the flowering period.

No further actions are recommended for this
species.

Tamalpais
jewel-flower
Streptanthus
batrachopus
CNPS
1B.3
Serpentinite soil, chaparral, closedcone coniferous forest. 305-650 m.

Flowers April-June.

A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with
serpentine outcrops or openings. The BSA
lacks suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Mt. Tamalpais
bristly jewelflower
Streptanthus
glandulosus ssp.
pulchellus
CNPS
1B.2
Serpentinite soil/talus, chaparral,
valley and foothill grassland. 150-
800 m. Flowers May-July.

Tiburon jewelflower
Streptanthus
glandulosus ssp.
niger (previously
Streptanthus
niger)

FE, SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Serpentinite soil, valley and foothill
grassland. 30-150 m. Flowers
May-June.

A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with willow
rocky serpentine soil. The BSA lacks suitable
habitat. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 56 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Suisun Marsh
aster
Symphyotrichum
lentum
CNPS
1B.2
Brackish and freshwater marshes
and swamps.0-3 m. Flowers MayNovember.A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are found along
seasonally wet sloughs and marshes. The
BSA has dynamic flows and lacks suitable
habitat. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

Two fork clover Trifolium
amoenum
FE,
CNPS
1B.1
Coastal bluff scrub, valley and
foothill grassland (sometimes
serpentinite), open sunny sites.5-
415 m. Flowers April-June.

A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are found in open sunny
sites in chaparral and grassland. The BSA
does not have suitable habitat. This species
was not observed during the field surveys,
which were conducted during the flowering
period. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

Saline clover
Trifolium
hydrophilum (syn.

Trifolium
depauperatum var.
hydrophilum)
CNPS
1B.2
Marshes and swamps, valley and
foothill grassland (mesic, alkaline),
vernal pools. 0-300 m. Flowers
April-June.

A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with
alkaline or saline wetlands. The BSA lacks
suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

San Francisco
owl's-clover
Triphysaria
floribunda
CNPS
1B.2
Coastal prairie, coastal scrub,
valley and foothill grassland,
generally serpentinite soil.10-160
m. Flowers April-June.

A
The BSA does not provide suitable habitat.

This species was not observed during the
field surveys, which were conducted during
the flowering period. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Coastal
triquetrella
Triquetrella
californica
CNPS
1B.2
Coastal prairie, coastal scrub.

Grows within 30 meters of the
coast on gravelly rocky soil. 30-150
m. Flowers May-June.

A
Known in CA from fewer than ten small
coastal occurrences The BSA does not
provide suitable habitat. No further actions
are recommended for this species
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 57 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
* Key to status codes:

FE Federal Endangered
FT Federal Threatened
FD Federal Delisted
FC Federal Candidate
BCC USFWS Birds of Conservation Concern
MMPA Species protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act SC State Candidate
SE State Endangered
ST State Threatened
SR State Rare
SSC CDFW Species of Special Concern
CFP CDFW Fully Protected Animal
WBWG Western Bat Working Group (High or Medium) Priority species BLMS Bureau of Land Management Sensitive Species
USFSS U.S. Forest Service Sensitive Species
CNPS 1A CNPS Rare Plant Rank 1A: Plants presumed extirpated in California and either rare or extinct elsewhere CNPS 1B CNPS Rare Plant Rank 1B: Plants rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere CNPS 2A CNPS Rare Plant Rank 2A: Plants presumed extirpated in California, but more common elsewhere CNPS 2B CNPS Rare Plant Rank 2B: Plants rare, threatened, or endangered in California, but more common elsewhere CNPS 3 CNPS are Plant Rank 3: Plants about which more information is needed – a review list CNPS 4 CNPS Rare Plant Rank 4: Plants of limited distribution – a watch list CNPS Rare Plant Threat Ranks

0.1-Seriously threatened in California (over 80% of occurrences threatened / high degree and immediacy of threat)

0.2-Moderately threatened in California (20-80% occurrences threatened / moderate degree and immediacy of threat)

0.3-Not very threatened in California (<20% of occurrences threatened / low degree and immediacy of threat or no current threats known) *Presence:

Absent [A] - no habitat present and no further work needed.

Habitat Present [HP] -habitat is, or may be present. The species may be present.

Present [P] - the species is present.

Critical Habitat [CH] - proposed project footprint is located within a designated critical habitat unit, but does not necessarily mean that appropriate habitat is present.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 58 September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 59 September 2017 Chapter 4 – Results: Biological Resources, Discussion of Impacts and Mitigation
Habitats and Natural Communities of Special Concern
Habitats are considered to be of special concern based on (1) federal, state, or local laws regulating their development; (2) limited distributions; and/or (3) the habitat requirements of special-status plants or animals occurring on site. Two natural communities of special concern were found to be present in the BSA: Riparian Woodland and Perennial Stream (CWA “Other Waters”).

The impact areas are summarized in Table 2 and 3 and shown Figure 3b. Permanent impacts are a conversion of a natural community to structures such as, bridge support or to an area of engineered slope stabilization. Temporary impacts are disturbances to existing natural communities that would be restored to the same natural community type following construction (such as dewatering). No impacts to the stream or its banks are expected. All work will be conducted on the bridge surface and restricted to the Ruderal Disturbed/Developed community.

Table 2: Proposed Project Direct Impacts to Natural Communities of Special Concern.

Natural Community of Special Concern Permanent Impacts Temporary Impacts Riparian Woodland 0 acre (0 ft.
2 ) 0 acre (0 ft.
2 )
Perennial Stream (“Other Waters”) 0 acre (0 linear ft.) 0 acre (0 linear ft.) Table 3: Proposed Project Direct Impacts to Jurisdictional Areas by Agency.

Agencies Jurisdiction Permanent Impacts Temporary Impacts CDFW (Riparian woodland and creek bed) 0 acre (0 ft.
2 ) 0 acre (0 ft.
2 )
USACE, RWQCB, NMFS (creek bed) 0 acre (0 ft.
2 ) 0 acre (0 ft.
2 )
Figure 3b shows the areas of the proposed project’s impacts. The following sections present a discussion of the impacts and mitigation for each natural community of special concern.

Permanent impacts are a conversion of a natural community to structures such as, bridge support or to an area of engineered slope stabilization. Temporary impacts are disturbances to existing natural communities that would be restored to the same natural community type following construction (such as dewatering).

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 60 September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
Map Date: April 26, 2017
Map By: smortensen
Base Source: Esri Streaming - World Imagery
Spruce Rd.

Arroyo Rd.

Flow
0 10 20 40
Feet
Bridge Preventative
Maintenance Program
Spruce Road Bridge
NES
Marin County,
California
Figure 3b.

Biological
Communities Impacted
within the Biological
Study Area
Path: L:\Acad 2000 Files\22000\22304\GIS\ArcMap\BPMP\Spruce Road Bridge\2017\Fig3b_Spruce_Effects_20170427.mxd Permanent Effect
to developed:

Repair expansion
joints (243.10 sq.ft.)
Permanent Effect
to developed:

Repair expansion
joints (349.29 sq.ft.)
Permanent Impact Area
Biological Study Area - 1.49 acres
Perennial Stream
(0 acre within the BSA)
Riparian Woodland
(0 acres within the BSA)
Ruderal disturbed/Developed
(0.01 acre within the BSA)
@wrO

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
- M
y.
r
►
c
s*
N
W h E
S
» - - I
a
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 62 September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 63 September 2017

RIPARIAN REDWOOD FOREST
Riparian Woodland Survey Results
The Riparian Woodland is loosely similar to California Bay Forest Alliance (Umbellaria californica Alliance) (G4, S3), Sawyer, J., T. Keeler-Wolf and J. Evens. 2009). The S3 ranking indicates a natural community of special concern (sensitive) within California, though it may be more common elsewhere. The overstory consists of native tree species (California bay, white alder, and sycamore) as well as non-natives (black acacia, cherry plum, and firethorn). The term ‘riparian’ is used here as a descriptor to indicate the slightly more mesic conditions within the stream’s general influence. Approximately 0.07 acres of Riparian Woodland is present in the BSA (Figure 3a).

Riparian Redwood Forest Avoidance and Minimization Efforts The following avoidance and minimization measures will be employed to avoid or minimize impacts to the greatest extent possible:
 Work would be conducted from the top of the bridge to avoid impacts.  Appropriate BMPs would be used during construction.
 Orange construction fencing would be installed along the limits of work to prevent encroachment into undisturbed habitats.

Riparian Redwood Forest Project Impacts
As summarized in Table 2 above, there will be no impacts to this community. This community will be avoided and no permanent, temporary, or indirect impacts are anticipated.

Riparian Redwood Forest Compensatory Mitigation
No impacts are anticipated. Hence, compensatory mitigation is not required.

Riparian Redwood Forest Cumulative Impacts
No future public or private activities are known to be planned or reasonably foreseen for the BSA vicinity. Therefore, cumulative effects are not anticipated for this proposed project.

PERENNIAL STREAM (“OTHER WATERS”)
Perennial Stream (“Other Waters”) Survey Results
The Perennial Stream Biological Community consists of the Fairfax Creek streambed, which is approximately 0.07 acres (270 linear feet) of “other waters” within the BSA. There are no wetlands in the BSA. The creek is supported by a local watershed, generally, the northwestern part of the Town of Fairfax and adjacent open space lands. The creek substrate is a mix of small gravel to larger cobble and rock. Indicators of the OHW mark include the slope change at the bed and earthen bank junction and wrack at the edge of the creek bed. The channel width at the OHW mark was used to determine the stream (“other waters”) boundary shown on Figure 3a. The banks under the bridge are concrete. Just upstream of the bridge on the northwest side is a concrete retaining wall along the base of the bank. The other banks are earthen. The creek Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 64 September 2017 is not included on the National System of Wild and Scenic Rivers published by the U.S.

Department of the Interior.

Pursuant to the Clean Water Act Section 404 and 401 the creek below OHW would be within the USACE and RWCQB jurisdiction. It would also be protected by Porter Cologne (RWQCB).

There are no areas in the BSA that would be considered only Waters of the State. The bed and banks would be within CDFW’s jurisdiction.

Perennial Stream Avoidance and Minimization Efforts
The following measures are included to avoid impacts to creek habitat resulting from the use of mechanical equipment in the creek bed.
 All work will be conducted from the top of the bridge. The work under the bridge will be done using a “snooper” truck lift parked on the deck, eliminating the need for scaffolding or working in the creek.
 All workers will ensure that food scraps, paper wrappers, food containers, cans, bottles, and other trash from the BSA are deposited in covered or closed trash containers. The trash containers will not be left open and unattended overnight.

With the implementation of these measures, it is expected that the proposed project will not result in adverse impacts to creek habitat.

Perennial Stream Project Impacts
As summarized in Table 2 above, there will be no impacts to this community. This community will be avoided and no permanent, temporary, or indirect impacts are anticipated.

Perennial Stream Compensatory Mitigation
No impacts are anticipated. Hence, compensatory mitigation is not required.

Perennial Stream Cumulative Impacts
No future public or private activities are known to be planned or reasonably foreseen for the BSA vicinity. Therefore, cumulative effects are not anticipated for this proposed project.

Special-Status Plant Species
Based upon a review of the resources and databases discussed in Section 2, 77 special-status plant species have been documented in the vicinity of the BSA. No critical habitat for specialstatus plants exists within the proposed project area. Table 1 discusses the potential for each of the special-status plant species to occur in the BSA, and Figure 4 shows special-status plant species documented within 5 kilometers of the BSA (CDFW 2017a). Suitable habitat is present in the BSA for two of the species. Key points regarding those species are summarized here.  Sonoma alopecurus (Alopecurus aequalis var. sonomensis, FE, CNPS 1B.1). All known occurrences of this species in the vicinity of the BSA are associated with coastal freshwater marsh and swamp, and riparian scrub. The BSA limited, poor quality, habitat for this species. No Alopecurus species were observed. No further actions are recommended for this species.
 Minute pocket moss (Fissidens pauperculus, USFSS, CNPS 1B.2). Though not coniferous forest, mesic substrates within the BSA have limited the potential to support 5-km. buffer from Biological Study Area
2 11 1
12 13 10
8 15
19 8
8 8
15 20
20 14 15
8 8
8 4
8 9
8 15
18 18
18 18
18 8
8 15
8 18
3 8
18 8
18 8
8 3
18 18
18 3
15 8
8 8
3 15 3
7 8
15 8 3
18 8
17 8
14 3
3 15
8 8 8
18 18
8 7
14 3 14
8 8
8 7
9 7
18 8
18 18
10 15
10 10
8 7
7 7
18 18
18 15
16 4
Figure 4. Special-status Plant Species Occurrences within 5 Kilometers of the Biological Study Area
Bridge Preventative Maintenance Program
Spruce Road Bridge NES
Marin County, California
0 0.5 1 2
Miles
Path: L:\Acad 2000 Files\22000\22304\GIS\ArcMap\BPMP\Spruce Road Bridge\2017\Fig4_Spruce_CNDDB_Plants_20170426.mxd Map Prepared Date: 4/26/2017
Map Prepared By: smortensen
Base Source: Esri Basemap - National Gegraphic
Data Source(s): WRA, CNDDB
1, congested-headed hayfield tarplant
2, Marin checkerbloom
3, Marin County navarretia
4, Marin manzanita
5, Marin western flax
6, Mason's ceanothus
7, Mt. Tamalpais bristly jewelflower
8, Mt. Tamalpais manzanita
9, Mt. Tamalpais thistle
10, Napa false indigo
11, North Coast semaphore grass
12, Point Reyes checkerbloom
13, Santa Cruz tarplant
14, Tamalpais jewelflower
15, Tamalpais lessingia
16, Tamalpais oak
17, thin-lobed horkelia
18, Tiburon buckwheat
19, two-fork clover
20, white-rayed pentachaeta
Biological
Study Area
101
Holl. Open
h San Geronimo
Woodatre
/
N
c oll l
C
6 1.
eyert I dek — C
i * )
O
Creek V
g --2
/ A o
€ J ) e. (
rOW X nselmo
) / I
$
%o1
)
Larksp
S C.

C) A
0 %
t
a
W
t @wrO

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
03 Mill
Valley
).

N
-
g
k
C.

Y
■ o’’
ne, s
0 L
(G
%
1 )
A
s
1 1
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
f
(
% .O
' C" 3 (ow
07tes
V ■
I
I
I
v
‘ R
687
~ - ( 1 7 /
> r
S
S
D.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 66 September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
5-km. buffer from Biological Study Area
5 4
1 1
3 2
6 6
6 6
6 Figure 5. Special-status Wildlife Species Occurrences within 5 Kilometers of the Biological Study Area
Bridge Preventative Maintenance Program
Spruce Road Bridge NES
Marin County, California
0 0.5 1 2
Miles
Path: L:\Acad 2000 Files\22000\22304\GIS\ArcMap\BPMP\Spruce Road Bridge\2017\Fig4_Spruce_CNDDB_Wildlife_20170426.mxd Map Prepared Date: 4/26/2017
Map Prepared By: smortensen
Base Source: Esri Basemap - National Gegraphic
Data Source(s): WRA, CNDDB
1, California giant salamander
2, coho salmon - central California coast ESU
3, hoary bat
4, pallid bat
5, San Bruno elfin butterfly
6, western pond turtle
Biological
Study Area
101
4 ice Pre
“ano tronimo of( Woodacre North "
-
A
MA
I
“on V
Big Carson C
0 e
% 27 ‘ee. C
7 Anselmo
C
Ross
e.
„entf/ld
N
*
0) Gr
5 Gy Corte
Madera
y
d
y
U o
W
t @wrO

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
U.
o
I
/
/ •
Larkspur
c., |
»
»
2 c
I
•
I
I
I
I
1 I
I
I
1 1
1 1
s
t
t
t
t
w
C\
0 4
-%
, S an
i Rafael
39 5.0501
5 A
T,
?-
%,
c
(C y
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 68 September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 69 September 2017 this species. Scour alters the duff in large storm events further limiting the likelihood of this moss occurring in the BSA. It was not observed during the field surveys, which occurred during the wet season when it would be identifiable. No further actions are recommended for this species.

Special-Status Wildlife Species
Ninety-two special-status wildlife species have been documented in the CNDDB and USFWS records as potentially occurring in the quadrangles or noted in a review of other resources as having overlapping ranges and habitat requirements (Table 1). Six of these special-status wildlife species have been documented in CNDDB within 5 kilometers (3 miles) of the BSA (Figure 5), and a total of three species have a moderate or high potential to occur based upon habitat conditions present in the BSA and documented ranges. No special-status wildlife species were observed within the BSA during the site visit. Those species with potential to occur include: Allen’s hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin), oak titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus), and Nuttall’s woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii). The BSA also has potential to support non-specialstatus nesting birds. These species and their potential for occurrence in the BSA are discussed in further detail below.

The remaining 89 species identified in Table 1 are unlikely to occur within the BSA because of existing conditions within and surrounding the BSA. Roadways, residential development, and various anthropogenic disturbances greatly reduce the amount of available breeding, rearing, and foraging habitat for most special-status species. Several habitat types or habitat conditions that are required to support special-status wildlife species are also absent from the BSA, such as marsh, open grassland, coniferous forests, marine, and serpentine habitats.

Northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina), a Federal threatened and State threatened species, are documented within 0.5 mile of the BSA. However, northern spotted owls require undisturbed forests for foraging and nesting. The preferred forest types including fir or other coniferous trees are not present within or adjacent to the BSA. Typical disturbance buffers for northern spotted owl are 0.25 mile. The nearest potential nesting habitat and nearest documented occurrences are both greater than 0.25 mile from the BSA; therefore, the proposed project is not anticipated to disturb northern spotted owl nesting in the region. The absence of fir and redwood forest within the BSA, distance to suitable habitat, and baseline levels of anthropogenic disturbance from surrounding residential development reduce the potential for northern spotted owl to be present near the BSA or for spotted owls to be disturbed by proposed project activities. In addition, no trees are to be removed by the proposed project. Therefore, the proposed project will have no effect on northern spotted owl.

Trees within the BSA are primarily California bay and do not provide cavities or complex foliage required to support tree roosting bats. The underside of the bridge structure is also solid with no gaps, openings, or seams which could potentially be used by roosting bats.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 70 September 2017 The BSA also receives a high level of human disturbance from the residences and traffic in the vicinity further reducing the potential for special-status bat species such as Townsend’s bigeared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) or western red bat (Lasiurus blossevillii) to occur within the BSA. Both of these species are highly sensitive to disturbance at roost sites. The absence of roost sites and other habitat features within the BSA makes the presence of special-status bats or other bat species unlikely. Therefore, the proposed project will have no effect on roosting bats.

Special-status amphibian and reptile species such as California giant salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus), foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii), California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii), and western (Pacific) pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata) are also unlikely to occur. No occurrences of these species have been documented within the watershed, and California redlegged frog is not known within this portion of Marin County nor documented within 5 miles of the BSA. Nearby occurrences of foothill yellow-legged frog and western pond turtle are located outside the watershed and greater than 1.25 miles from the BSA. In addition, the BSA lacks suitable pool habitat and has too high flows during the breeding season to support foothill yellow-legged frog; therefore, the BSA does not contain suitable breeding habitat for this species. The BSA also lacks suitable basking and upland habitats for western pond turtle. The modified creek habitat including cement bed and banks precludes California giant salamander from breeding in the BSA and is unlikely to occur within this portion of Fairfax Creek. The lack of nearby occurrences, connectivity with occupied habitats, or suitable habitat within the BSA make it unlikely that special-status amphibian and reptile species will occur within the BSA; thus, the proposed project will have no effect on California giant salamander, foothill yellowlegged frog, California red-legged frog, or western pond turtle.

Fairfax Creek is a tributary of San Anselmo Creek which currently supports an annual run of steelhead. However, a total barrier exists at the downstream end of Fairfax Creek before the confluence with San Anselmo Creek. A concrete box culvert located at Bolinas Avenue terminates at a vertical drop of approximately 4 feet, and has an overall length of 458 feet with a slope of 0.94 percent (Ross Taylor and Associates 2006). An assessment of the culvert concluded that adult steelhead, and resident rainbow trout have a zero percent chance of passing the barrier because of the vertical drop height, length, and slope of the culvert (Ross Taylor and Associates 2006). In addition, historical records have documented an absence of steelhead in Fairfax Creek since about 1960 (CEMAR 2005). The proposed project will have no effect on steelhead.

Fairfax Creek is designated as EFH for Pacific Salmonids including Coho and Chinook salmon.

Coho salmon are considered extirpated from San Francisco Bay and all of its tributaries, thus they will not be affected by the proposed project (NMFS 2012). Fairfax Creek is outside of the known range for Chinook salmon, thus they will not be affected by the proposed project (UC Davis 2017). Although these species have no potential to occur within the BSA, EFH is still present. The proposed project does not include in-water work or work within the bed and banks of Fairfax Creek. Therefore, the proposed project will have no effect on EFH.

SPECIAL-STATUS AND NON-SPECIAL-STATUS NESTING BIRDS
Three special-status species of birds including: Allen’s hummingbird, oak titmouse and Nuttall’s woodpecker, have potential to nest within the BSA. A brief discussion on these species is provided below. In addition to special-status bird species, non-special-status birds have the potential to nest within the BSA. Most native birds in the United States, including non-status species, are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. Under this legislation, destroying active nests, eggs, or young is illegal.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 71 September 2017  Allen’s hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin, USFWS Bird of Conservation Concern).

Allen’s hummingbird is found in a wide variety of habitats that provide nectar-producing flowers. The species is considered a common breeder throughout much of the San Francisco Bay area.
 Oak titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus, USFWS Bird of Conservation Concern). This relatively common species is year-round resident throughout much of California including most of the coastal slope, the Central Valley and the western Sierra Nevada foothills. Its primary habitat is woodland dominated by oaks. Local populations have adapted to woodlands of pines and/or junipers in some areas (Cicero 2000). The oak titmouse nests in tree cavities, usually natural cavities or those excavated by woodpeckers, though they may partially excavate their own (Cicero 2000). Seeds and arboreal invertebrates make up the birds’ diet.
 Nuttall’s woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii, USFWS Bird of Conservation Concern).

Nuttall’s woodpecker typically reside in lowland woodlands throughout California, west of the Sierra Nevada. This species is associated with intact oak and riparian woodlands, rarely in conifers, and is a primary cavity nester.

Nesting Birds Survey Results
Vegetation within and surrounding the BSA may provide potential nest sites or foraging habitat for Allen’s hummingbird, oak titmouse, and Nuttall’s woodpecker. In addition, the bridge structure and low lying brush may support non-special-status bird nesting. No special-status species were observed during the November 17, 2014 or March 16, 2016 site visits.

Nesting Birds Avoidance and Minimization
Although potential nesting habitat for breeding birds would not be lost as a result of the proposed project, construction activities could disturb active nests. The following measures will be implemented to avoid and minimize potential impacts to special-status and non-specialstatus nesting bird species:
 If proposed project activities begin between February 15 and August 15, preconstruction surveys will be conducted by a qualified biologist prior to ground disturbance to determine whether active nests containing eggs, chicks, or young are present in the BSA. Pre-construction surveys for active nests will be conducted no more than 14 days prior to ground disturbing activities.
 If active nests containing eggs, chicks, or young are not observed during preconstruction surveys, construction can proceed.  If active nests containing eggs, chicks, or young are observed, ground-disturbing activities will be avoided within a 25- to 100-foot exclusion zone for passerine birds and a 200- to 500-foot exclusion zone for raptors and special-status species. Exclusion size will be dependent upon species and nest location. Appropriate exclusion distances will be determined by a qualified biologist based on the species present and location of the nest relative to construction activities (e.g., the nest is sufficiently shielded from construction to avoid disturbance). Construction within this buffer will be prohibited until the qualified biologist determines that the nest is no longer active. If an active nest is found after the completion of the pre-construction surveys or after construction begins, all construction activities will stop until a qualified biologist has evaluated the nest and determined an appropriate buffer to be placed around the nest. If avoidance of a buffer Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 72 September 2017 zone is not feasible, CDFW will be contacted to coordinate an appropriate course of action.
 If proposed project activities begin during the non-nesting season (August 16 through February 14), no pre-construction nesting bird surveys will be required.

Nesting Birds Project Impacts
The BSA contains potential nesting habitat for special-status and non-special-status nesting birds. Although this habitat would not be lost as a result of the proposed project, construction activities could result in direct impacts to active nests, and construction noise could result in temporary indirect impacts to active nests. The BSA will be restored to pre-project conditions, and as such, no permanent direct impacts to nesting birds are expected.

The proposed project will not result in any changes to existing land use and that the BSA will be restored to pre-project conditions, no indirect effects are expected.

Nesting Birds Compensatory Mitigation
No permanent impacts are anticipated. Hence, compensatory mitigation is not required.

Nesting Birds Cumulative Impacts
No future public or private activities are known to be planned and or reasonably foreseen for the BSA. Therefore, cumulative effects on special-status and non-special-status nesting birds are not anticipated for the proposed project.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 73 September 2017 Chapter 5 – Conclusions and Regulatory Determinations
Federal Endangered Species Act Consultation Summary
There has been no federal Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation to date with the USFWS and/or NMFS. The proposed project is anticipated to have no effect on northern spotted owl, a federally threatened species, or its habitat; therefore, no consultation is necessary with USFWS. Coho salmon are considered extirpated from San Francisco Bay (NMFS 2012, Brown and Moyle 1991) and CCC steelhead are considered to be absent in Fairfax Creek because of a total fish barrier, and no in-water work is anticipated as part of the proposed project. Therefore, the project will have no effect on Coho salmon or steelhead and consultation is not required.

Essential Fish Habitat Consultation Summary
Although no species covered under EFH are anticipated to occur, the BSA contains habitat identified as Pacific Salmon EFH. No loss of habitat function or value is anticipated from the proposed project, and no in-water work or work within the bed and banks of Fairfax Creek is anticipated as part of the proposed project. Therefore, the proposed project will have no effect on EFH and no consultation with NMFS is required.

California Endangered Species Act Consultation Summary
California state-listed species do not have potential to occur within the BSA including northern spotted owl. No take of state-listed or candidate species is anticipated to occur during the proposed project; therefore, consultation in relation to the California Endangered Species Act is not necessary for the proposed project.

Wetlands and Other Waters Coordination Summary
As summarized in Table 2 above, no temporary or permanent impacts to potentially jurisdictional “other waters” (creek bed) are proposed. There will be no need for a Streambed Alteration Agreement (CDFW), CWA 401 certification (RWQCB), and/or a CWA 404 Nationwide Permit
Invasive Species
With implementation of the avoidance and minimization efforts in Section 3, the proposed project would not result in severe infestations of invasive plant species or spread of the New Zealand mud snail.

Other
Migratory Bird Treaty Act and California Fish and Game Code. Although potential nesting habitat for nesting birds would not be lost as a result of the project, construction could result in temporary impacts if active nests are disturbed. Measures including preconstruction surveys and establishment of buffers if active nests are found will ensure that the project will not affect nesting birds.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 74 September 2017 Chapter 6 – References
Baldwin, B.G., D.H. Goldman, D.J Keil, R. Patterson, T.J. Rosatti, and D.H. Wilken (Eds.). 2012. The Jepson Manual: Vascular Plants of California, second edition. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.

Brown, L. R., and P. B. Moyle. 1991. Status of Coho Salmon in California. Report to National Marine Fisheries.

UC Davis, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Biology: 131 p.

CDFW. 1994. A Field Guide to Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements, Sections 1600-1607, California Fish and Game Code. Environmental Services Division, Sacramento, CA.

CDFW. 2009. List of California Vegetation Alliances. Biogeographic Data Branch. Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program, Sacramento, CA.

CDFW. 2003. List of California Terrestrial Natural Communities Recognized by the California Natural Diversity Database Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch. Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program, Sacramento, CA.

CDFW. 2017a. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, Sacramento, CA.

CDFW 2017b. Spotted Owl Database, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch. Sacramento. Accessed:

June.

CDFW 2017c. California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System online database. Online at:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/cwhr/; accessed March.

CDFW 2017d. California Passage Assessment Database. Online at: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/PAD/; accessed March.

California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC). 2017. California Invasive Plant Inventory Database. California Invasive Plant Council, Berkeley, CA. Online at: http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/inventory/index.php ; most recently accessed: April.

California Invasive Species Council. 2017. http://www.iscc.ca.gov/ most recently accessed: April.

California Native Plant Society (CNPS). 2017. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California. CNPS, Sacramento, California. Online at: http://www.rareplants.cnps.org ; most recently accessed: April.

Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration (CEMAR). 2012. Estuary Improvement Program. San Anselmo Creek, Center Boulevard Fish Passage Design.

Cicero, C. 2000. Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.).

Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online:
http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/485a
eBird. 2017. Audubon and Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Online at: http://ebird.org/ebird/map/ ; accessed February.

Environmental Laboratory. 1987. Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual. Department of the Army, Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Mississippi 39180-0631.

Federal Register. November 13, 1986. Department of Defense, Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army, 33 CFR Parts 320 through 330, Regulatory Programs of the Corps of Engineers; Final Rule. Vol. 51, No. 219; page 41217.

Friends of Corte Madera Creek Watershed (FOCMCW). 2016. Fish Habitat Restoration Projects. http://www.friendsofcortemaderacreek.org ; accessed April.

Google Earth. 2017. Aerial Imagery. Accessed March.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 75 September 2017 Lobianco, R. M., and D. Fong. 2003. 2002 California freshwater shrimp (Syncaris pacifica) surveys within Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Prepared for U.S. National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Division of Natural Resource Management and Science, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, California, USA.

Moyle, P.B. 2002. Inland Fishes of California Revised and Expanded. University of California Press, Berkeley.

National Marine Fisheries Service. (NMFS). 2012. Final Recovery Plan for Central California Coast Coho Salmon Evolutionarily Significant Unit. National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Region, Santa Rosa, California.

National Marine Fisheries Service. (NMFS). 2007. Essential Fish Habitat. Online at:
http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/protection/efh/index.html; accessed April.

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 2016. Intersection of USGS Topographic Quadrangles with NOAA Fisheries ESA Listed Species, Critical Habitat, Essential Fish Habitat, and MMPA Species Data. California Species List, West Coast Region. Online:
http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/maps_data/california_species_list_tools.html; accessed April 2017.

Ross Taylor and Associates. 2006. Catalog of Stream Crossings with Culverts, and other Manmade Impediments to Fish Passage Located on Anadromous Stream Reaches Within San Anselmo Creek, Corte Madera Creek Watershed Marin County California. Prepared for Friends of Corte Madera Creek Watershed.

Sawyer, J., T. Keeler-Wolf and J. Evens. 2009. A Manual of California Vegetation, Second Edition. California Native Plant Society, Berkeley, CA.

Shuford, W. D. 1993. The Marin County Breeding Bird Atlas: A Distributional and Natural History of Coastal California Birds. California Avifauna Series 1. Bushtit Books, Bolinas, CA.

Shuford, W.D., and T. Gardali (eds). 2008. California Bird Species of Special Concern: A ranked assessment of species, subspecies, and distinct populations of birds of immediate conservation concern in California.

Studies of Western Birds 1. Western Field Ornithologists, Camarillo, California, and CDFG, Sacramento.

Stebbins, R.C. 2003. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, third edition. The Peterson Field Guide Series, Houghton Mifflin Company, NY.

Thomson, R.C., A.N. Wright, and H.B. Shaffer. 2016. California Amphibian and Reptile Species of Special Concern. Co-published by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and University of California Press.

Oakland, California.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). 2008. Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Arid West Region (Version 2.0).

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 2005. Regulatory Guidance Letter No. 05-05. Ordinary High Water Mark Identification.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). 2017. Soil Web Online Soil Mapper. http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx; most recently accessed April.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2012. Protocol for surveying proposed management activities that may impact northern spotted owl. Revised. Available: http://www.fws.gov/yreka/ES/2012RevisedNSOprotocol2-15-12.pdf U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2017. Official Species List for the Spruce Road Bridge Preventative Maintenance Project. Consultation Code: 08ESMF00-2016-SLI-1016. June.

University of California at Davis. 2017. Center for Watershed Sciences. Pisces: California Fish Data and Management Software. Available online at: http://pisces.ucdavis.edu/. Most recently accessed: February.

Western Bat Working Group (WBWG). 2017. Western bat species accounts. Available:
http://wbwg.org/western-bat-species/. Accessed March.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 76 September 2017 Zeiner, D.C., W.F. Laudenslayer, Jr., K.E. Mayer, and M. White. 1990. California's Wildlife, Volume I-III:

Amphibians and Reptiles, Birds, Mammals. California Statewide Wildlife Habitat Relationships System, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES September 2017 Appendix A – Plant and Wildlife Species Observed during the Site Visits
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
Appendix A1. Plant Species Observed During the Fairfax BPMP Bridges Site Visits (Bridges 27C0146, 27C0143, and 27C0141) on November 17, 2014, January 16 and March 16, 2015, April 12, 2016and June 23, 2016
Family Scientific Name Common Name
Other
Hornwort
(Anthocerotaceae) Anthceros sp. -
lichen Ramalina menziesii lace lichen
liverwort
(Lunulariaceae)
Lunularia sp. -
liverwort (Aytoniaceae) Reboulia sp. (cf) -
moss Alsia californica -
moss Brachythecium albicans -
moss Ceratodon purpureus -
moss Claopodium whippleanum -
moss Dendroalsia abietina -
moss Epipterygium tozeri -
moss Fissidens crispus -
moss Pohlia sp. -
moss Syntrichia princeps prince of mosses
moss Tortula muralis
Cupressaceae Sequoia sempervirens redwood
Dryopteridaceae Polystichum munitum western swordfern
Equisetaceae Equisetum arvense common horsetail
Polypodiaceae Polypodium californicum California polypody Pteridaceae Adiantum jordanii California maidenhair fern - - various landscape plantings
Eudicots
Acanthaceae Acanthus mollis bear's breeches
Anacardiaceae Toxicodendron diversilobum poison oak
Apiaceae Foeniculum vulgare fennel
Apiaceae Sanicula crassicaulis sanicula
Apiaceae Scandix pectin-veneris Venus’ needle
Apiaceae Torilis arvensis ssp. purpurea hedge parsley
Apocynaceae Vinca major big leaf periwinkle
Araliaceae Hedera helix English ivy
Asteraceae Adenocaulon bicolor trail marker
Asteraceae Carduus pycnocephalus Italian thistle
Asteraceae Taraxacum officinale common dandelion
Betulaceae Alnus rhombifolia white alder
A-1
Family Scientific Name Common Name
Boraginaceae Myosotis latifolia broadleaf forget me not Brassicaceae Lunaria annua lunaria
Caprifoliaceae Lonicera japonica Japanese honeysuckle
Caprifoliaceae Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus snowberry Caryophyllaceae Stellaria media common chickweed
Chenopodiaceae Chenopodium album lambs quarters
Cucurbitaceae Marah fabacea California man-root
Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia peplus petty spurge
Fabaceae Acacia melanoxylon blackwood acacia
Fabaceae Genista monspessulana French broom
Fabaceae Medicago polymorpha bur clover
Fabaceae Trifolium dubium little hop clover
Fabaceae Vicia sativa ssp. nigra narrow leaved vetch
Fagaceae Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia coast live oak Fagaceae Quercus kelloggii black oak
Geraniaceae Erodium botrys storks bill
Geraniaceae Erodium cicutarium storks bill
Geraniaceae Erodium (moschatum?) California filigree
Geraniaceae Geranium dissectum cut leaf geranium
Geraniaceae Geranium molle woodland geranium
Hypericacaeae Hypericum anagalloides Tinkers penny
Juglandaceae Juglans cinerea butternut
Lamiaceae Mentha pulegium penny royal
Lamiaceae Mentha spicata spearmint
Lamiaceae Stachys rigida var. querectorum hedge-nettle
Lauraceae Umbellularia californica California bay
Montiaceae Claytonia perfoliata miners lettuce
Moraceae Ficus carica edible fig
Myrsinaceae Lysimachia arvensis scarlet pimpernel
Oleaceae Ligustrum japonicum privet
Oxalidaceae Oxalis incarnata crimson wood sorrel
Oxalidaceae Oxalis pes-carpe Bermuda buttercup
Papaveraceae Fumaria capreolata white ramping fumitory
Plantaginaceae Plantago lanceolata English plantain
Platanaceae Platanus racemosa
(P. x hispanica?)
sycamore
Polygonaceae Rumex acetosella sheep sorrel
Polygonaceae Rumex conglomeratus dock
A-2
Family Scientific Name Common Name
Polygonaceae Rumex (obtusifolius?) bitterdock
Ranunculaceae Clematis ligusticifolia western virgins bower Rosaceae Amelanchier utahensis service berry
Rosaceae Cotoneaster pannosus silverleaf cotoneaster
Rosaceae Prunus sp. prunus
Rosaceae Pyracantha angustifolia firethorn
Rosaceae Rosa sp. rose (landscape plant)
Rosaceae Rubus armeniacus Himalayan blackberry
Rosaceae Rubus ursinus California blackberry
Ruscaceae Maianthemum (racemosum?) False Solomon’s seal Rubiaceae Galium aparine goosegrass
Sapindaceae Acer macrophyllum big leaf maple
Sapindaceae Acer negundo boxelder
Sapindaceae Aesculus californica buckeye
Urticaceae Urtica dioica stinging nettle
Monocots
Alliaceae Allium triquetrum Three-cornered leek
Amaryllidaceae Galanthus sp. snowdrop (landscape plant) Araceae Zantedeschia aethiopica calla-lily
Cyperaceae Carex sp. sedge
Cyperaceae Cyperus eragrostis tall flat nut-sedge
Iridaceae Chasmanthe aethiopica coral lily (landscape plant) Iridaceae Freesia sp. (landscape planting) freesia
Juncaceae Juncus articus var. balticus Baltic rush
Juncaceae Juncus patens rush
Juncaceae Juncus sp. rush
Poaceae Agrostis sp. bent grass
Poaceae Avena barbata slender wild oat
Poaceae Avena fatua wild oat
Poaceae Bromus diandrus ripgut brome
Poaceae Bromus sp. brome
Poaceae Cortaderia jubata pampus grass
Poaceae Cynosurus echinatus hedgehog dogtail
Poaceae Ehrharta erecta panic veldtgrass
Poaceae Festuca myuros rattail grass
Poaceae Festuca perennis perennial ryegrass
Poaceae Hordeum murinum sp. murinum wall barley
Poaceae Poa annua annual bluegrass
A-3
A-4
Appendix A2. Wildlife Species Observed During the Fairfax BPMP Bridges Site Visits (Bridges 27C0146, 27C0143, and 27C0141) on November 17, 2014 and March 15, 2016 Site Visits.

Scientific Name Common Name
Mammals
Felis catus feral cat
Sciurus griseus western gray squirrel
Sciurus niger fox squirrel
Odocoileus hemionus columbianus black-tailed deer
Birds
Aphelocoma californica California scrub-jay
Baeolophus inornatus oak titmouse
Cathartes aura turkey vulture
Corvus brachyrhynchos American crow
Euphagus cyanocephalus Brewer’s blackbird
Haemorhous mexicanus house finch
Melanerpes formicivorus acorn woodpecker
Picoides nuttallii Nuttall’s woodpecker
Poecile rufescens chestnut backed chickadee
Corvus corax common raven
Cyanocitta stelleri Steller’s jay
Spinus psaltria lesser goldfinch
Zenaida macroura mourning dove
Zonotrichia leucophrys white-crowned sparrow
Fish
Gasterosteus aculeatus threespine stickleback
Cottus asper prickly sculpin
Invertebrates
Potamopyrgus antipodarum New Zealand mud snail
Pieris rapae cabbage white
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES September 2017 Appendix B - USFWS Species List
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
June 05, 2017
United States Department of the Interior

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Sacramento Fish And Wildlife Office
Federal Building
2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2605
Sacramento, CA 95825-1846
Phone: (916) 414-6600 Fax: (916) 414-6713
In Reply Refer To:

Consultation Code: 08ESMF00-2016-SLI-1017
Event Code: 08ESMF00-2017-E-06072
Project Name: Spruce Road Bridge Preventative Maintenance Project Subject: Updated list of threatened and endangered species that may occur in your proposed project location, and/or may be affected by your proposed project To Whom It May Concern:

The enclosed species list identifies threatened, endangered, proposed and candidate species, as well as proposed and final designated critical habitat, under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) that may occur within the boundary of your proposed project and/or may be affected by your proposed project. The species list fulfills the requirements of the Service under section 7(c) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 ).et seq.

Please follow the link below to see if your proposed project has the potential to affect other species or their habitats under the jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries Service:
http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/protected_species/species_list/species_lists.html New information based on updated surveys, changes in the abundance and distribution of species, changed habitat conditions, or other factors could change this list. Please feel free to contact us if you need more current information or assistance regarding the potential impacts to federally proposed, listed, and candidate species and federally designated and proposed critical habitat. Please note that under 50 CFR 402.12(e) of the regulations implementing section 7 of the Act, the accuracy of this species list should be verified after 90 days. This verification can be completed formally or informally as desired. The Service recommends that verification be completed by visiting the ECOS-IPaC website at regular intervals during project planning and implementation for updates to species lists and information. An updated list may be requested through the ECOS-IPaC system by completing the same process used to receive the enclosed list.

The purpose of the Act is to provide a means whereby threatened and endangered species and the ecosystems upon which they depend may be conserved. Under sections 7(a)(1) and 7(a)(2) of the Act and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 402 ), Federal agencies are required to et seq. z I.M. 1 s. fhe
4FCH 3.sw"

FISH & WILDLIFT
SEHVIE
06/05/2017 Event Code: 08ESMF00-2017-E-06072 2
utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the conservation of threatened and endangered species and to determine whether projects may affect threatened and endangered species and/or designated critical habitat.

A Biological Assessment is required for construction projects (or other undertakings having similar physical impacts) that are major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment as defined in the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4332(2) (c)). For projects other than major construction activities, the Service suggests that a biological evaluation similar to a Biological Assessment be prepared to determine whether the project may affect listed or proposed species and/or designated or proposed critical habitat. Recommended contents of a Biological Assessment are described at 50 CFR 402.12.

If a Federal agency determines, based on the Biological Assessment or biological evaluation, that listed species and/or designated critical habitat may be affected by the proposed project, the agency is required to consult with the Service pursuant to 50 CFR 402. In addition, the Service recommends that candidate species, proposed species and proposed critical habitat be addressed within the consultation. More information on the regulations and procedures for section 7 consultation, including the role of permit or license applicants, can be found in the "Endangered Species Consultation Handbook" at:
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/TOC-GLOS.PDF Please be aware that bald and golden eagles are protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668 ), and projects affecting these species may require et seq. development of an eagle conservation plan
(http://www.fws.gov/windenergy/eagle_guidance.html). Additionally, wind energy projects should follow the wind energy guidelines (http://www.fws.gov/windenergy/) for minimizing impacts to migratory birds and bats.

Guidance for minimizing impacts to migratory birds for projects including communications towers (e.g., cellular, digital television, radio, and emergency broadcast) can be found at:
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/CurrentBirdIssues/Hazards/towers/towers.htm; http://www.towerkill.com; and
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/CurrentBirdIssues/Hazards/towers/comtow.html.

We appreciate your concern for threatened and endangered species. The Service encourages Federal agencies to include conservation of threatened and endangered species into their project planning to further the purposes of the Act. Please include the Consultation Tracking Number in the header of this letter with any request for consultation or correspondence about your project that you submit to our office.

Attachment(s):

Official Species List
06/05/2017 Event Code: 08ESMF00-2017-E-06072 1
Official Species List
This list is provided pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, and fulfills the requirement for Federal agencies to "request of the Secretary of the Interior information whether any species which is listed or proposed to be listed may be present in the area of a proposed action".

This species list is provided by:

Sacramento Fish And Wildlife Office
Federal Building
2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2605
Sacramento, CA 95825-1846
(916) 414-6600
06/05/2017 Event Code: 08ESMF00-2017-E-06072 2
Project Summary
Consultation Code: 08ESMF00-2016-SLI-1017
Event Code: 08ESMF00-2017-E-06072
Project Name: Spruce Road Bridge Preventative Maintenance Project Project Type: BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION / MAINTENANCE
Project Description: Spruce Road Bridge (Caltrans Bridge No. 27C-0141) is a single span concrete T-beam structure over Fairfax Creek, in the Town of Fairfax, California. The bridge is presumed to have been constructed circa 1930, although the exact age of the bridge is unknown. The bridge is in a residential area of the town of Fairfax. The structure is approximately 22 feet long and 37 feet wide. It supports two lanes of traffic and two 5’-wide sidewalks and concrete railings nearly 12 feet above the creek bed. Repairs for Spruce Road Bridge will consist of sealing the deck, repair expansion joints, and patching soffit spalls. The work will be done entirely from the bridge deck and street level without being in the creek or creekbed. The work is expected to take as many as ten working days from start to finish and will occur within one dry season (April 15 - October 15).

Project Location:

Approximate location of the project can be viewed in Google Maps:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/37.98780032616711N122.59314460413627W Counties: Marin, CA
“To =“
Manor
A
dt 0
Spy
-
f
(
Fairfax
h %
-c
X
Rd S
3 “roadwa
R 4 98
PT.
/O
"E
(amas.
9i..
*
o
%
06/05/2017 Event Code: 08ESMF00-2017-E-06072 3
Endangered Species Act Species
There is a total of 18 threatened, endangered, or candidate species on your species list. Species on this list should be considered in an effects analysis for your project and could include species that exist in another geographic area. For example, certain fish may appear on the species list because a project could affect downstream species. See the "Critical habitats" section below for those critical habitats that lie wholly or partially within your project area. Please contact the designated FWS office if you have questions.

Mammals

NAME STATUS
Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris)
No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/613
Endangered
06/05/2017 Event Code: 08ESMF00-2017-E-06072 4
Birds

NAME STATUS
California Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris obsoletus) No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/4240
Endangered
California Least Tern (Sterna antillarum browni)
No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/8104
Endangered
Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)
Population: U.S.A. (CA, OR, WA)
There is a final critical habitat designated for this species. Your location is outside the designated critical habitat.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/4467
Threatened
Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina)
There is a final critical habitat designated for this species. Your location is outside the designated critical habitat.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/1123
Threatened
Short-tailed Albatross (Phoebastria (=Diomedea) albatrus) No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/433
Endangered
Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus)
Population: Pacific Coast population DPS-U.S.A. (CA, OR, WA), Mexico (within 50 miles of Pacific coast)
There is a final critical habitat designated for this species. Your location is outside the designated critical habitat.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/8035
Threatened
Amphibians

NAME STATUS
California Red-legged Frog (Rana draytonii)
There is a final critical habitat designated for this species. Your location is outside the designated critical habitat.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/2891
Threatened
06/05/2017 Event Code: 08ESMF00-2017-E-06072 5
Fishes

NAME STATUS
Delta Smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus)
There is a final critical habitat designated for this species. Your location is outside the designated critical habitat.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/321
Threatened
Steelhead (Oncorhynchus (=Salmo) mykiss)
Population: Northern California DPS
There is a final critical habitat designated for this species. Your location is outside the designated critical habitat.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/1007
Threatened
Tidewater Goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi)
There is a final critical habitat designated for this species. Your location is outside the designated critical habitat.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/57
Endangered
Insects

NAME STATUS
Mission Blue Butterfly (Icaricia icarioides missionensis) No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/6928
Endangered
Myrtle's Silverspot Butterfly (Speyeria zerene myrtleae) No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/6929
Endangered
San Bruno Elfin Butterfly (Callophrys mossii bayensis)
No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/3394
Endangered
06/05/2017 Event Code: 08ESMF00-2017-E-06072 6
Flowering Plants

NAME STATUS
Marin Dwarf-flax (Hesperolinon congestum)
No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/5363
Threatened
Santa Cruz Tarplant (Holocarpha macradenia)
There is a final critical habitat designated for this species. Your location is outside the designated critical habitat.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/6832
Threatened
Showy Indian Clover (Trifolium amoenum)
No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/6459
Endangered
White-rayed Pentachaeta (Pentachaeta bellidiflora)
No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/7782
Endangered
Critical habitats
There are no critical habitats within your project area.

Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES September 2017 Appendix C – Preparers Qualifications
Proposed Spruce Road Bridge BPMP Project NES September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
. Kelly Biological Consulting
5San Anselmo, CA 94960
(415) 482-9703
P.O. Box 1625
Truckee, CA 96160
(530) 582-9713

PRINCIPAL
Micki Kelly, Principal, Plant Ecologist
Professional Wetland Scientist (Certification #001007)
 Experienced in conducting plant surveys and wetland delineations in a wide variety of habitats.  Managed the wetland permitting tasks for construction of a gas transmission line that crossed over 200 wetlands and "other waters" in California, Oregon, and Nevada. Negotiated with 3 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Districts, 5 Regional Water Quality Control Boards, and other agencies pursuant to the Clean Water Act Sections 401, 402, and 404, and the Porter Cologne Act.  Taught plant identification and ecology for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wetland delineation 40- hour training program. Also taught a class in Sierra Nevada flora and special status plants.  Designed and implemented a monitoring plan that provided accurate comprehensive data while controlling costs for the 230-mile Tuscarora Gas Transmission Line and the 164-mile Alturas Intertie Project.
 Developed and implemented two large-scale off-site wetland mitigation areas.  Received written commendation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and California Department of Fish and Wildlife on a wetland permit and mitigation plan for a project in the Sierra foothills involving a Section 7 consultation.

CAPABILITIES
Kelly Biological Consulting is a WBE certified, small business experienced in conducting wetland delineations and special status plant surveys, creating vegetation maps, preparing permits, mitigation plans, and the vegetation sections of CEQA and NEPA environmental documents. The firm's primary goals are responding to client needs and providing top quality work using the knowledge that comes from years of experience. Kelly Biological Consulting subcontracts wildlife and fisheries biologists to offer a full range of biological services. 7 . .0
2 Ms. Kelly has 25 years of relevant experience, successfully managing multi-faceted projects with wetland and endangered species issues, supervising staff and subcontractors. She completes projects on time and within budget. She studied plant ecology, taxonomy, and statistics at the University of Michigan, San Francisco State University, and the University of California, Berkeley. She has taught plant identification and ecology for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wetland delineation 40-hour training program. Prior to establishing Kelly Biological Consulting in 1994, she worked as a plant ecologist for WRA, CH2MHill, and Harding Lawson Associates.

Ms. Kelly has conducted sensitive plant species surveys and written impact and mitigation texts for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents and as well as baseline information on restoration sites. She is experienced in designing sensitive plant surveys in accordance with the current California Native Plant Society and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife guidelines. She has conducted vegetation studies in habitats ranging from coastal salt marsh to foothill riparian and montane meadows in California and Nevada. She has extensive experience in designing suitable search patterns based on the desired level of intensity. Ms. Kelly has prepared biological assessments and developed special status plant mitigation and monitoring plans requiring substantial understanding of plant ecology.

Ms. Kelly has performed wetland assessments and delineations on numerous projects including complex filled and excavated problem wetlands, montane areas, farmed wetlands, two diked historic salt marshes that were over 1,000 acres, numerous small emergent wetlands, several 2,000+ acre sites in the Sierra Nevada, alkali playas, foothill riparian zones, and coastal salt marsh restoration sites. Ms. Kelly has expertise in Army Corps of Engineers approved sampling techniques and the data analysis that is used in performing routine and comprehensive delineation. She has developed and implemented wetland monitoring plans using the techniques currently known to be the most successful in wetland mitigation design and construction.

Ms. Kelly has extensive experience in the legal aspects of sensitive species and wetland protection. She has authored Army Corps of Engineers Permits involving Section 7 consultations, one of which received written commendation from the Army Corps of Engineers and Department of Fish and Game.

EDUCATION
BS Botany, University of Michigan
Graduate studies, University of California Berkeley and San Francisco State University

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
Society of Wetland Scientists, Certified Professional Wetland Scientist California Native Plant Society, Past Marin Chapter Board Member (8 years) Society for Ecological Restoration
California Botanical Society
California Native Grass Association
California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC)

REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS
Project: Central Marin Police Station, Larkspur, CA
Client: Central Marin Police Authority
The Twin Cites Police Authority was planning to rebuild their police station when concerns about the existing storm drain outfalls and bank stability arose. Initial building construction was pending. Therefore, the first challenge was obtaining the federal and state permits quickly, even though sensitive brackish marsh habitat was adjacent to the site. Kelly Biological Consulting was able to conduct the wetland delineation and special status species surveys, and expedite the permits within the project deadlines. The second challenge was the site constraints (physical and biological). The site is on the outside bank of a ninety-degree bend in the creek, at the junction of freshwater and tidal flows. It is subject to large hydraulic forces in the winter and high salinity in the summer. In conjunction with the project geotechnical firm and the engineers, Ms. Kelly developed a restoration 3 design that successfully addressed the difficult site conditions. Ms. Kelly is currently conducting the wetland monitoring.

Project: Doherty Drive, Larkspur, CA
Client: Larkspur Department of Public Works (partially funded by Caltrans) The Larkspur Department of Public Works rebuilt Doherty Drive and replaced storm drain outfall structures to address flood control and other road problems. In addition, they incorporated an NTTP bike path. One of the challenges of the project was dealing with construction within brackish marsh habitat where special status species are known to occur, while working within a tight schedule. Kelly Biological Consulting conducted a wetland delineation and botanical studies. The firm prepared the permit applications, and negotiated with the regulatory agencies with the goal of constructing the outfalls in a timely, cost effective manner. Construction was completed with positive reviews from the agencies.

Project: Alexander Avenue Bridge Retrofit/Rehabilitation, Larkspur, CA Client: Larkspur Department of Public Works (partially funded by Caltrans) The Larkspur Department of Public Works retrofitted and rehabilitated the Alexander Ave. Bridge. Kelly Biological Consulting provided pre-construction monitoring which was conducted by WRA as a subcontractor. Ms Kelly also negotiated with California Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding tree removal and planted acorns as mitigation for tree removal.

Project: Doherty Drive Bridge Replacement, Larkspur, CA Client: Larkspur Department of Public Works (partially funded by Caltrans) The Larkspur Department of Public Works replaced Doherty Drive Bridge. The project required construction within brackish marsh habitat and a creek where special status species are known to occur. Kelly Biological Consulting provided construction monitoring with WRA as a subcontractor. Due to schedule issues, the project required working within protected species work windows. Ms Kelly negotiated with the regulatory agencies with the goal of completing construction to avoid the additional impacts to the community that would have occurred had construction been halted until the following season.

Project: Highway Interchange, San Benito, CA
Client: Subcontractor to WRA
A proposed project required the evaluation of potential interchange alternatives. The site was near the Pajaro River. Kelly Biological Consulting conducted the special status plant surveys and contributed to preparation of the NES.

Project: Caltrans Marin Narrows Road Widening, Marin County, CA Client: Subcontractor to WRA
Kelly Biological Consulting conducted a wetland delineation for the proposed Highway 101 widening in Marin as a subcontractor to WRA and CH2MHill. Work included field analysis, report and map preparation, and supervising WRA and CH2MHill staff. The most challenging element of the work was addressing SWANCC and Rapanos issues along a highway that had highly altered hydrology.

Project: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Training Class, CA Client: San Francisco State University
Ms. Kelly has taught the plant ecology portion of a wetland delineation class. The students learned the basic elements of plant identification, methods for determining wetland status, dominant species, and the wetlandupland boundary.

Information on additional projects available on request.

San Rafael | San Diego | Fort Bragg | Denver (415) 454‐8868 info@wra‐ca.com www.wra‐ca.com During his time with WRA, Dan has managed and worked on a diversity of fisheries and wildlife related projects including permitting, endangered species consultation, protocol level surveys, habitat evaluation and assessments, rescue and relocation, and monitoring. He has extensive experience with fisheries related issues throughout California, and currently holds a Recovery Permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for tidewater goby. His technical expertise includes fisheries ecology, fish passage evaluation, geomorphic surveying, special status species surveys, habitat assessments, and eelgrass surveys. Dan’s environmental work experience prior to starting with WRA includes fisheries and wildlife work in southern California, eelgrass work in Washington, and oil spill response in the Gulf of Mexico.

Dan has experience with environmental permitting including Endangered Species Act Section 7 and Essential Fish Habitat consultation, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Streambed Alteration Agreements, CDFW Incidental Take Permits (2081), and biological resource assessments prepared for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

His experience includes the preparation of technical documents and implementation of permit compliance, mitigation, and monitoring requirements for these permits. Dan has experience with special status species including: longfin smelt, tidewater goby, steelhead, Chinook salmon, Santa Ana sucker, unarmored threespine stickleback, California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, burrowing owl, clapper rail, black rail, Swainson’s hawk, Bay checkerspot butterfly, Callippe silverspot butterfly, pool fairy shrimp, and tadpole shrimp.

Representative Projects
County of Santa Clara, Bridge Scour Natural Environmental Studies, Santa Clara County, California
Twelve bridge locations within Santa Clara County were identified by Caltrans as having critical abutment scour necessitating repair. The Santa Clara County Roads and Airports Department, with funding from Caltrans, is completing the repairs, working with the Caltrans Office of Local Assistance. To complete these repairs, each bridge site was required to complete a Natural Environment Study (Minimal Impact) (NES MI) to evaluate the potential for impacts to biological resources, analyze permit requirements, and describe avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures. Dan served as a lead biologist and his project work included site visits, design of mitigation and avoidance measures, and agency coordination in the preparation of the documents. Once permits were issued, including a National Marine Fisheries Service Biological Opinion, he lead fish salvage crews during dewatering activities.

DANIEL CHASE, MS
Associate
Fisheries Biologist
[email protected]
o: 415.524.7252
c: 707.363.5045
Years of Experience: 10
Education
MS, Physiology and Behavioral Biology,
San Francisco State University, 2014
BS, Conservation and Resource
Studies, University of California,
Berkeley, 2005
Professional Affiliations/
Certifications
USFWS Recovery Permit for Tidewater
Goby (TE-237061)
CDFG Scientific Collectors Permit
(#8472)
Transportation Worker Identification
Credential (TWIC)
American Association for the
Advancement of Science
Specialized Training
40-Hour HAZWOPER Training
Fish Passage Design & Engineering
Workshop, CDFG, NOAA Fisheries
Backpack Electrofishing: Principles and
Practices
Freshwater Fish Identification –
Biology, Ecology & Morphology
@)WrC

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
F
I
Mi
iiii
Daniel Chase

Page 2 ends

Daniel Chase

Page 3 ends

Daniel Chase

Page 4 ends

She also monitored a Swainson’s hawk nest within the Project Area to confirm nesting status of the pair and EBMUD compliance with avoidance measures.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
V 1
rs f1
0,
#we-/ode

PATRICIA VALCARCEL

Page 2 ends

San Rafael | San Diego | Fort Bragg | Denver (415) 454-8868 [email protected] www.wra-ca.com

PATRICIA VALCARCEL

Page 3 ends

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
5 ft
#

NICHOLAS BRINTON

Page 2 ends

This project is currently ongoing.

Pristine Sun Solar Projects Pre-construction Surveys, California, 2014-Present WRA was contracted to implement environmental compliance measures for several Pristine Sun projects.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge
BPMP Project
Natural Environment Study
Canyon Road Bridge BPMP
Town of Fairfax, Marin County
Bridge Number: 27C 0146
Project Number: BPMP 5277 (026)
Locator: [District 4]-[MRN]-[0]-[FRFX]
September 2017
—
3 s 5
1" : t
", F. r r
3*; Svx
e. y- “5p h %,Pk
2070
22 d.p IIIIIII—La “Alst 0.
=
ils Th
^Hithltrans CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
h
27%
-22
—vo
-ee ri
*.:
2aAAr

lk 2/ro/
al
7 / Date:

S, Principal
Kelly Biological Consulting
San Anselmo, T 0)).U0 CA

22.0.20 Valcarcel, Wildlife Biolog
Date:

Biologist
Date: 9/13/%
Date:

Date:

Town of Fairfax
Fairfax, California
For individuals with sensory disabilities, this document is available in Braille, large print, on audiocassette, or computer disk. To obtain a copy in one of these alternate formats, please call or write to Caltrans, Attn: Local Assistance, District 4, 111 Grand Avenue, Oakland, California 94623; (510) 286- 6371 Voice, or use the California Relay Service (800) 735-2929 (TTY), (800) 735-2929 (Voice) or 711. 415-524-7542
WRA, Inc.

San Rafael, California
Prepared By:

Patricia
Recommended for Concurrence by (Caltrans):

Hugo Ahumada, Associate Environmental Planner
510-622-8790
Office of Local Assistance District 4
Caltrans, District 4
Oakland, California
Concurred By: ________________________________
Thomas Holstein, Environmental Branch Chief
510-286-6371
Office of Local Assistance
Caltrans, District 4
Oakland, California
Prepared By:

Micki Kelly, PV
415-482-9703
Approved By:

Garrett Toy, Towi
415-453-1584
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge
BPMP Project
Natural Environment Study

STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Department of Transportation
Town of Fairfax
BPMP 5277 (026)
This page intentionally left blank
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES i September 2017 Summary
Purpose and Need.

Caltrans determined that Canyon Road Bridge over San Anselmo Creek, in Fairfax needs preventative maintenance work. The purpose of conducting the repair work is to extend the life of the bridge.

Project Description
Canyon Road Bridge is one of three bridges included in the Fairfax BPMP Project. This NES only addresses Canyon Road Bridge. The other two bridges are covered by separate NES documents. Canyon Road Bridge is a single-span precast voided slab concrete superstructure constructed in 1996 on two abutments remaining from a previous bridge over San Anselmo Creek at this location. This bridge is in a strictly residential area of the town of Fairfax leading to Cascade Drive, a major thoroughfare.

The proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP repairs would consist of:
 Replacing the existing northwest wingwall. Currently, the wall is made up of a bulging stack of solidified concrete sacks. A cluster of old redwood trees behind the wingwall is causing the wingwall to bulge, making it a hazard. The stacked concrete sacks would be removed while protecting the redwood trees. The new vertical wingwall would be reinforced concrete, tied in with soil nails, and supported by a footing. A recessed course of rock riprap with geotextile lining would be placed in front of the foundation of the wall to protect the footing from scour. Natural substrate (similar to the nearby stream channel) would be placed on top of the rock riprap. The final grade will be flush with the creek bed. A new cable railing would be installed on top of the wall for fall protection.  Repair of the structural damage to the north abutment. To prevent further deterioration of this bridge’s structural support, this work would consist of manually removing approximately two inches of the concrete from the surface of the abutment wall, exposing the rebar grid behind the surface and cleaning the reinforcement. Then, the reinforcement grid in the wall would be covered with a new two-inch layer of special grout and finished smoothly.  Repair of the northeast bridge wingwall. The short existing northeast wingwall on the right side of the above abutment would be removed and replaced with an extended wall to envelope an existing storm drain pipe daylighting adjacent to the bridge. The new wingwall would be doweled into the abutment wall and angled into the creek bank, avoiding any intrusion into the current hydraulic space. The wingwall extension would be fortified with a couple of soil nails into the exiting bank and have a short triangular footing in front, the top of which would be flush with the creek bed, joining with the existing invert slab. The downstream edge of the wall would be protected from erosion with a 2’ wide by 2’ deep course of rock riprap buried into the creek bank and flush with the exposed slope. A new cable railing would be installed on top of the wall for fall protection.  Sealing the cracks in the bridge deck. This would be done with methacrylate. No polyester concrete would be used here. Since this is a one-lane bridge and it would be closed (after heavy traffic hours at night) for the sealing of its deck for a few hours.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES ii September 2017 This proposed project also includes installation of two Narrow Bridge signs, one at each approach to the bridge and replacing wooden approach railings with metal beam guard railings. The work is expected to take fifteen working days from start to finish.

Habitat Impacts
The proposed project will temporarily impact 55 square feet (<0.01 acre) of Intermittent Stream (“other waters”) and 11 square feet (<0.01 acre) of Ruderal Disturbed/Developed lands. It will permanently impact 121 square feet (<0.01 acre) of Ruderal Disturbed/Developed lands.

Special-Status Species
The project will not adversely affect special-status plants, breeding birds, or other nonfish wildlife species. However, it may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect northern spotted owl (NSO), Central California Coast (CCC) steelhead, designated critical habitat for CCC steelhead and Coho salmon, and Pacific Salmonid Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). Both NSO and CCC steelhead are federally threatened species, and NSO is state listed as threatened. Consultation with United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will be required to assess impacts of the project and avoidance and minimization measures, such as work windows, to be implemented to reduce impacts to NSO. A letter requesting a Consistency Determination is also recommended for NSO consultation with California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Consultation with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will be required to assess impacts of the project as well as avoidance and minimization measures to be implemented to reduce impacts on steelhead, designated critical habitat for steelhead and Coho salmon, and Pacific Salmonid EFH. This segment of San Anselmo Creek is anticipated to be dry during all work.

No nesting habitat is present for NSO within the BSA; however, NSO is known to nest within 0.25 mile of the BSA. No trees are to be removed and no direct effects are anticipated from the proposed Project. Construction activities are recommended to occur outside of the NSO nesting season (February 1 through August 31) to avoid acoustic disturbances to nesting NSO. If work within the nesting season cannot be avoided, protocol-level surveys will be conducted to determine nesting status, and if nesting is confirmed within 0.25 mile of project activities, no work will be conducted until August 31.

The proposed Project is not anticipated to result in adverse effects to NSO through implementation of work windows or avoidance and minimization measures determined through consultation with USFWS. Therefore, the proposed Project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect NSO.

Project construction will result in temporary impacts to critical habitat and EFH; however, no permanent adverse impacts are anticipated to critical habitat or EFH. The project is scheduled to occur when the BSA is dry. The bridge work will repair wingwalls and existing structures but will not decrease the amount of creekbed, create a barrier across the channel, decrease flows, or change substrate size. A minor loss of creek bank will occur from extension of the northwest wingwall; however, it is not anticipated to result in a detectable change in flows. The existing fish ladder in the BSA will remain in place and not be changed. The stream channel and banks will be restored to near pre-project conditions following the completion of bridge work including restoring the current gradient. Restoration will use the excavated cobble and gravel substrate to mimic the channel conditions prior to excavation including creek gradient. As such, the project will not change fish passage conditions. The project will be scheduled when the BSA is dry; therefore, no fish will be present, and no direct or temporary impacts to steelhead are anticipated during project activities. Although temporary impacts will occur to critical Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES iii September 2017 habitat and EFH, the proposed Project is not anticipated to result in an adverse impact to critical habitat or EFH because fish passage conditions will remain unchanged and the BSA does not contain spawning or rearing habitat.

Invasive Species
The invasive plant species found in the BSA are English ivy (Hedera helix), French broom (Genista monspessulana), and Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus). The project will remove individuals of these species in areas where the vegetation is disturbed by construction activities.

New Zealand mud snail (NZMS; Potamopyrgus antipodarum) are documented within San Anselmo Creek. Measures such a washing equipment are included here to avoid the spread of the mud snail. With implementation of the avoidance and minimization efforts discussed in this text, the proposed project would not result in the spread of invasive species.

Resource Permits
There will be impacts to the Intermittent Stream (i.e. “other waters” or ‘Waters’). A preliminary Jurisdictional Determination will be submitted to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for verification. Permits that will be required include a California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Streambed Alteration Agreement (CFGC 1602), Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) Clean Water Act (CWA) 401 certification, and USACE CWA 404 nationwide permit. In May 2016, CDFW and RWQCB indicated that depending on level of impacts, compensatory mitigation may be necessary.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES iv September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES v September 2017 Table of Contents
Summary.......................................................................................................................... i Chapter 1 – Introduction.................................................................................................. 1 Chapter 2 – Study Methods............................................................................................. 7 Regulatory Requirements ............................................................................................ 8 Wetland and Waters................................................................................................. 8 Invasive Species ...................................................................................................... 9 Protected Species ..................................................................................................10 Local Policies and Ordinances ...............................................................................11 Studies Required .......................................................................................................12 Personnel and Survey Dates .....................................................................................14 Agency Coordination and Professional Contacts .......................................................14 Limitations That May Influence Results......................................................................14 Chapter 3 – Results: Environmental Setting ..................................................................15 Existing Biological and Physical Conditions ...............................................................15 Biological Study Area .............................................................................................15 Physical Conditions................................................................................................15 Biological Conditions in the BSA ............................................................................16 Invasive Species ....................................................................................................19 Regional Species and Habitats and Natural Communities of Concern.......................19 Chapter 4 – Results: Biological Resources, Discussion of Impacts and Mitigation ........57 Habitats and Natural Communities of Special Concern..............................................57 Riparian Redwood Forest.......................................................................................61 Intermittent Stream (“Other Waters”)......................................................................62 Special-Status Plant Species.....................................................................................64 Special-Status Wildlife Species..................................................................................69 Northern spotted owl ..............................................................................................70 Steelhead, Critical Habitat, EFH, and Fish Passage...............................................74 Special-Status and non-Special-Status Nesting Birds ............................................76 Chapter 5 – Conclusions and Regulatory Determinations .............................................79 Federal Endangered Species Act Consultation Summary..........................................79 Essential Fish Habitat Consultation Summary ...........................................................79 California Endangered Species Act Consultation Summary.......................................79 Wetlands and Other Waters Coordination Summary..................................................79 Invasive Species........................................................................................................80 Other .........................................................................................................................80 Chapter 6 – References ................................................................................................81 Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES vi September 2017 List of Figures
Figure 1. Biological Study Area Location Map ................................................................3 Figure 2. Proposed Bridge Plan .....................................................................................5 Figure 3a. Biological Communities within the Biological Study Area.............................17 Figure 3b. Biological Communities Impacted within the Biological Study Area .............59 Figure 4. Special-Status Plant Species within 8 kilometers (5 miles) of the Biological Study Area .............................................................................................................65 Figure 5. Special-Status Wildlife Species within 8 kilometers (5 miles) of the Biological Study Area .............................................................................................................67 List of Tables
Table 1: Listed, Proposed Species, and Critical Habitat Potentially Occurring or Known to Occur in the BSA................................................................................................21 Table 2: Direct Impacts of the Proposed Project to Natural Communities of Special Concern. ................................................................................................................57 Table 3: Direct Impacts of the Proposed Project to Jurisdictional Areas by Agency.......57 Table 4. Acoustic disturbance analysis for NSO as per USFWS (2006) ........................72 Table 5. Estimated harassment distance due to elevated action-generated sound levels for proposed actions affecting NSO, by sound level (USFWS 2006) ......................72 List of Appendices
Appendix A – Plant and Wildlife Species Observed during the Site Visits Appendix B – USFWS Official Species List
Appendix C – Preparers Qualifications
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 1 September 2017 Chapter 1 – Introduction
Purpose and Need
Caltrans determined that Canyon Road Bridge, in the Town of Fairfax (Town) over San Anselmo Creek needs preventative maintenance work (discussed below). The purpose of conducting the repair work is to extend the life of the bridge.

Background on Proposed Fairfax BPMP (Multi-bridge) Project The entire Fairfax BPMP (Multi-bridge) Project consists of three existing bridges proposed to undergo preventive maintenance repairs through the HBP’s Bridge Preventive Maintenance Program (BPMP). Two of the bridges, on Marin Road and Spruce Road, are within a few blocks of each other, while the third creek crossing, Canyon Road Bridge, is approximately 2.35 miles away from the other two. This NES addresses Canyon Road Bridge. The other two bridges have separate NES documents.

Stagnant water would be pumped out to create a completely dry work area. Best Management Practice (BMP) measures and a Water Quality Protection Plan would be implemented throughout the work period. Old debris and drift would be removed from the waterway. Water quality and turbidity would be controlled by the contractor and periodic tests required by the permits would be performed.

No trees would be cut for the construction operations. However, limited trimming and cutting of vegetation around the worksite, as well as clearing and grubbing, are expected. For application of methacrylate, the contractor would be required to conform to the recommendations of a certified industrial hygienist for safe worksite operations.

Hours of operations would be limited to regular daylight work hours, but at least one nighttime operation may be expected.

Construction vehicles moving in and out of the construction area would be a small loader, such as a Bobcat with backhoe or bucket attachments, polyester concrete mix truck, paver, roller, small excavator, a cold planing machine, snooper lift truck, utility pickup trucks, flatbed trucks, dump trucks, dump trailers, a truck-mounted crane, concrete delivery trucks and a testing van. These vehicles and equipment would not be all at the site at the same time but move in and out, and would be staged within the APEs, as needed. No new easement or temporary or permanent right-of-way (ROW) would be necessary. Also, no utility relocations would be necessary for the work on any of the three bridges. All access to the project and staging areas would be via the areas within the APEs. Equipment, large or small, would be lowered onto the creek bed with a truck-mounted crane to avoid ramping from the top to the creek bed for vehicles. Work would be taking place both from the bridge topside as well as down below in the creek at two locations (Marin and Canyon). The operations would be done manually, as well as Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 2 September 2017 with power equipment. Rocks for riprap would also be lowered one by one onto the needed areas with a crane.

Project Description for Canyon Road Bridge
As mentioned above Canyon Road Bridge is one of three bridges included in the proposed Fairfax BPMP Project. This NES only addresses Canyon Road Bridge. The other two bridges are covered by separate NES documents. The Canyon Road Bridge is a single-span precast voided slab concrete superstructure constructed in 1996 on two abutments remaining from a previous bridge at this location over San Anselmo Creek.

This bridge is in a strictly residential area of the town of Fairfax leading to Cascade Drive, a major thoroughfare. The structure is approximately 30 feet long and a little over 15 feet wide. It supports a single lane of traffic and railings nearly 15 feet above the creek bed and has no sidewalks on it. Two sheets of as-built plans are available for the 1996 deck replacement project, but none are available for the original abutment supports in the creek. A new General Plan (GP) based on field measurements has been developed for the bridge. The bridge has a Sufficiency Rating (SR) of 72.8 and is flagged as Functionally Obsolete (FO) by Caltrans in the latest Bridge Inspection Report (BIR) (2014) due to its narrow width. However, the narrow width is due to the Town’s decision to construct the new deck for a single lane bridge and the bridge should not be considered as FO for this reason. The bridge is not eligible for NRHP listing.

There is an elaborate concrete fish ladder that begins just upstream of the bridge and ends just downstream of it. It consists of a concrete invert on top of the creek bed covering the creek bed from abutment to abutment, and a depressed rectangular fish ladder structure in the middle having steel guides. The Canyon Road Bridge Biological Study Area (BSA) is shown in Figure 1. The plans are provided in Figure 2.

The proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP repairs would consist of:

Replacing the existing northwest wingwall. Currently, the wall is made up of a bulging stacks of solidified concrete sacks. A cluster of old redwood trees behind the wingwall is causing the wingwall to bulge, making its collapse a real hazard. The stacked concrete sacks would be removed manually one by one and hauled away. The redwood tree cluster would be exposed thus and protected in place during the construction operations.

The new vertical wingwall would be an approximately 15 feet long by seven to eight feet tall reinforced concrete wall, located a short distance in front of the redwood cluster and connected to the left edge of the existing bridge abutment. It would also be held back to the soil behind it with several soil nails going through the trunks and/or roots of the redwood trees. An arborist has determined no real harm would come to the trees from the drilling or operations. The new wingwall surface would come to the edge of the existing concrete fish ladder and would have a vertical expansion joint in it to allow the tree trunk to grow outwardly. Approximately a 9-foot segment of the wall would have a footing, protruding three feet away from the face of the wall. Excavation at the edge of the creek for the wingwall and its footing would be done manually as well as with small power equipment lowered from the top. The surface of the new wingwall would be flush and in line with the existing abutment wall in order not to protrude into the waterway and impact flows or flow capacity. The space behind the wingwall, housing the redwood tree roots and base, would be backfilled with soil. A new cable railing would be installed on top of the wall for fall protection. A recessed 2’ wide by 2’ deep course of rock riprap Figure 1. Biological Study Area Location Map
Bridge Preventative Maintenance Program
Canyon Road Bridge NES
Marin County, California
.

Path: L:\Acad 2000 Files\22000\22304\GIS\ArcMap\BPMP\Canyon Road Bridge\Fig1_Canyon_LocMap_20160329.mxd Map Prepared Date: 3/29/2016
Map Prepared By: dchan
Base Source: Esri Streaming - NAIP 2014
Data Source(s): WRA
0 2,000 4,000
Feet
Detail Area
Biological
Study Area
-S, se/P (
G) $
7 1OO O
3 omeda oce . A 2
Foodside 7 5 Q 148 3
=7
r y
)
y
C)
? 4.
%
C co6
708 <0
- C.
— Fairfax
GA
e co ) 4° ' ive
o
Tue
Ive
)
08 o
San R.fael” "El So
Berke

TREASURE ISLAND
5 .Oa
(CLOSED)
(35). ’Daly City
•4
Pacifica*
@wrO

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
•South San
Francisco

NAVAL BASE
(CLOSED)

MAREISLAI
14/AL STA

CLOSED)
Deer
Park
G
or
Alpine
Lake
Medow
Club
e K.

Hercules
Pinole*
s O
ME79000L174

OAKLAND IN
AIRPO
A.

C
C.O
(00
Q.
re
t
8 Ud 6
wd?
Cu
a —C
C
Bon Tempe
Lake
= Conyon
so
“e .0 ce
Alpve
%
OOr.
36 --Y5P .C
San Francisco.

Ro
— . , LiTTON Richmond
r
• C
9 e.
c
A”
Joda
"on Sprint R
i
'o
2 o

9. &
783 m
Mill Valley,
%
%
0no
f 4° R.
5 (D1
,%
A
% Ave 1% "Or,%
3 r9
Dr
. &
“oge
% O. C
Ln

OAKLAND ( ARMTBASE
J2 .

Cascade
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 4 September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
BB
39'-0"±
(Limits of methacrylate CD )
30' -8"± Measured along t. Bridge EB
� �
� � Decorative
:: :. light, Tot 4 R1=::::::::fl:::::::�OI!III[IJIIIlIDIIIlJI!IIITI[IJIIIlIDIIIl][lIIIDI!III[IJI:[IIIJ][lIIIDIDJJ[IJIIIlID�--,r·-··-rr- --�� __________ _J_l ____ _U__ll,t--1 _ -------------------------------------------- _ �--�==1 t= �=�� Fl -------
' IL I I I '
,,,,
L
-
==i=J�-:
-----------------------------------
=s-------...J
-
�,-:----------------
',, I I , ' ' 0- ' ' ' 6" ss -
'
,,,, ! ! '7 / � OG
,
,
,
, ' /
,,,_ i i �
----
: : {
Cone channel
Datum Elev 150'
�---- I I f== lining
'L1-J:::-_:-::-:: ::fl_ ,,q:: ::�-::-::

Abut 1 1 L __ � __ J I Abut 2
L-------�Fish ladder

ELEVATION
1" = 5'-0"
Approx Right of Way
Approx Right of Way
PLAN
1" = 5'-o"
wall
cone pipe
remain----
DESIGN BY N. Tamannaie CHECKED �2��ot itJ1
1 J�ANCE LIVE LOADING: HL93 AND PERMIT DESIGN VEHICLE
OS OSD 2138 (GADD 4/89)

DETAILS
BY J. Caravalho

QUANTITIES BY

CHECKED

CHECKED
LAYOUT BY N. Tamannaie

SPECIFICATIONS BY

CHECKED

PLANS AND SPECS

COMPARED

ORIGINAL SCALE IN INCHES

FOR REDUCED PLANS
exist
trees
Apprax edge
pavement (AC
1'-4"±

DIST COUNTY
04 Mrn
ROUTE

REGISTERED CIVIL ENGINEER

PLANS APPROVAL DATE

POST MILES

TOTAL PROJECT
_jj\.,11/l\ ·.. 930 ALHAMBRA BLVD. SUITE 220
C.'L'<'I'.' ln•imt:ru":(�,!,1.U",'�i SACRAMENTO, CA 95816 V <t Canyon Rd
15'-4"±
12' -8"± (Limits of methacrylate CD ) '-4"
I

SHEET TOTAL
NO. SHEETS
xx
I �\ Cone barrier rail, Typ i /f-1
Sheet metal cover
2" gas
I ·�------------------ /f 5 1/2" Topping slab(D ---l �� · ·/
r i."' '"' '1 '"' '"' 7 '"' '"' '1 '"' ,:=tr'"' '"' '"' '"' r '"' '"' '1 '"' ,,7 ,-� Pipe�, ji
l 1 l 1 1 l 1 l ,i1 l 1 l 1 1 l 1111111 l 1 l 1 l 1 l 1111 l 1 l 1 1 l 1U_l ' I U U U U U • U U U U U • U U U U" U U U U U
L�.,'
,,
_b-c __________ J ________ JL _______ L __ --,
- ---
__ ___c::: __ :::i 8 water pipe
_____ ::]
CD
®
G)
CD
®
®
(j)
®
®
NOTES
Precast plank

TYPICAL SECTION
1/2" = 1'-o"
6" SS pipe
Clean deck and seal entire surface with methacrylate
Repair concrete surface at abutments.

New cone wall with soil nails in front of trees
Remove all exist cone bags
New ''L" shaped cone wall with soil nails
Remove partial exist cone wingwall/ Abut for new wall
Soil backfill (lightly compacted)
Repair spall at rail post
Extend cone invert to new wall as shown
NOTE
Contractor to post bridge closure signs one
week prior to methacrylate application. During
the closure time the bridge must open for
emergency vehicles by covering bridge deck
surface with plywood.

LEGEND
Indicates existing structure
Indicates new structure
Indicates direction of travel
Indicates direction of flow
Denotes limits of cone removal
NOTES:

Bridge As-built drawing shown is approximate
re-creation of existing configurations. The
contractor shall verify all controlling field
dimensions before ordering or fabricating any
material.

Adjust the alignement of soil nail to clear
manhole by 1' laterally.

Denotes sign code. See "Signage & Traffic
Detour Plans"

PREPARED FOR THE

TOWN OF FAIRFAX

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
Nader Tamannaie, PE
BRIDGE No.
27C-0144

POST MILE

CANYON ROAD BRIDGE (BPMP)

GENERAL PLAN
cu
EA
CONTRACT NO.

DISREGARD PRINTS BEARING

EARLIER REVISION DATES

REVISION DATES PRELIMINARY STAGE ONLY SHEET OF
8 Figure 2. Proposed Canyon Road Bridge General Plan
O
C

NADER TAMANNAIE

0. (1eOF CAU
T 1 L
I
I
I 4
I !
]
—
I
Exist
7 Riprap
7 3 Exist Cone invert, Typ A Planter
Cone wingwall
4 nrT: T
H H EE W5- X
ITT— T T Timber rail (remove) j
Remove timber rail
I
I
il t Canyon Rd
AC I
I
(
) Cone slab on grade, Typ I 1 AC 2 i
16’ MBGR I I _I 2222 #=EIE 1 .1. i; 8 Manhole - See note B OE Temi T EF H H Bi ----- Timber
3 \ <\ —Wo
ove timber rail —- \
j
*
I | Dn
W5-3 I I < Wood retaining wall I 0) I
Remove $| III 3 ! !
o ।
I I 11 Q
a 5
Riprap'
*

DESAIN OVERSIGHT
PROJECT ENGWNcR
SiGAQFi DATE
T

T T T ( )
1 2 3 ...................................._
NOEXP.

I
I
I
I
0 Q
2 Clusters of
Redwood
0 5
&
37289
6/30/16
CIVIL _
-Cone Etg
EB
1 11
1 I
12’± MBG
R=10’
16’ MBGR stop at
redwood tree —
Soil nail,
Typ
Q
7 30
To
Cone Etg
BB
Exist 16”± 0
to
rail (remove)
-23’± MBGR
R=15’
Code
To
CD ' ■ *1
s0
COnyo,
—; i
11 3
Cos
Ni
I l
6” SS pipe
eeoFESS/O,,
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 6 September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 7 September 2017 with geotextile lining would be placed in front of the foundation of the wall to protect the footing from scour. Six inches of natural substrate (such as cobble) that is similar to the nearby stream channel would be placed on top of the rock riprap. The final grade will be flush with the creek bed.

Repair of the structural damage to the north abutment. To prevent the further deterioration of this bridge structural support, this work would consist of manually removing approximately two inches of the concrete on the surface of the north abutment wall, exposing the rebar grid behind the surface and cleaning the reinforcement. The concrete and dust from chipping and grinding the concrete surface would be captured and hauled away. Next, the reinforcement grid in the wall would be covered with a new two-inch layer of special grout and finished smoothly.

Repair of the northeast bridge wingwall. The short existing northeast wingwall on the right side of the above abutment would be removed and replaced with an extended wall to envelope an existing storm drain pipe daylighting adjacent to the bridge. The pipe discharge is eroding the creek bank next to the bridge. The new wingwall would be doweled into the abutment wall and angled into the creek bank, avoiding any intrusion into the current hydraulic space. The wingwall extension would be fortified with a couple of soil nails into the exiting bank. This wall would also have a short triangular footing in front, the top of which would be flush with the creek bed, joining with the existing invert slab. The downstream edge of the wall would be protected from erosion with a 2’ wide by 2’ deep course of rock riprap buried into the creek bank and flush with the exposed slope. A new cable railing would be installed on top of the wall for fall protection.

Sealing the cracks in the bridge deck. This would be done with methacrylate. No polyester concrete would be used here. Since this is a one-lane bridge and it would be closed (after heavy traffic hours at night) for the sealing of its deck for a few hours, two measures to meet the needs of the residents would be implemented. First, a firstresponse crew and vehicle from Fairfax Fire Department would be positioned on the south end of the bridge for emergency situations. Secondly, the bridge would be opened for crossing by covering the sealing agent with plywood if an emergency crossing would be needed during the short duration of bridge closure. Prior notifications would be sent to the neighborhood.

This proposed project includes installation of two Narrow Bridge signs, one at each approach to the bridge a short distance away. Also, the existing wooden approach railings at all four corners of the bridge would be replaced with metal beam guard railings.

An Area of Potential Effects (APE) drawing and a preliminary Bridge General Plan for the repairs have been developed for this bridge. The work would be at both the deck and below deck levels and is expected to take as many as fifteen working days from start to finish.

Chapter 2 – Study Methods
The Town’s consultants, Micki Kelly, PWS, plant ecologist of Kelly Biological Consulting and WRA fish and wildlife biologists Dan Chase and Nick Brinton conducted biological resources studies in the Spring/Summer of 2015 and Spring 2016 including a biological resources assessment, special-status plant surveys, and a delineation of Section 404 jurisdictional areas within the proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project BSA in the Town of Fairfax, Marin County, California (Figure 1). The BSA was examined on foot to determine (1) vegetation communities present, (2) if existing conditions provide suitable Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 8 September 2017 habitat for any special-status plant or wildlife species that have a potential to occur within the vicinity of the BSA, and (3) the presence of potential jurisdictional wetlands and “other waters” within the BSA. The BSA and impact areas are shown in Figures 3a and 3b. The special-status species that are known to occur in the vicinity of the BSA are listed in Table 1 and mapped in Figures 4 and 5 (CDFW 2017a). The regulatory framework under which the assessment was conducted and the methods used to conduct the assessment are described in the following section.

WETLAND AND WATERS
Section 10 of Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899
The Rivers and Harbors Act requires permits in navigable waters of the U.S. for all structures such as riprap and activities such as dredging. The term navigable waters of the United States and all other terms relating to the geographic scope of jurisdiction are defined at 33 CFR part 329. Generally, they are those waters of the United States that are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide shoreward to the mean high water mark, and/or are presently used, or have been used in the past, or may be susceptible to use to transport interstate or foreign commerce. The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) grants or denies permits based on the effects on navigation. San Anselmo Creek is a tributary to Corte Madera Creek, which is only considered navigable below the College of Marin, approximately 4 miles downstream of the site. (http://www.spn.usace.army.mil). Therefore, this creek is not considered a navigable water subject to the Rivers and Harbors Act.

Clean Water Act (CWA)
The CWA provides guidance for the restoration and maintenance of the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters. Section 404 identifies the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) jurisdiction over fill materials in essentially all water bodies, including wetlands. All federal agencies are required to avoid impacts to wetlands whenever there is a practicable alternative. Section 404 established a permit program administered by USACE regulating the discharge of dredged or fill material into Waters of the US (including wetlands).

Section 401of the CWA requires that an applicant for a federal license or permit that allows activities resulting in a discharge to Waters of the U.S., obtain a state certification that the discharge complies with other provisions of CWA. The Regional Water Quality Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 9 September 2017 Boards (RWQCB) administers the certification program in California. The guidelines allow the discharge of dredged or fill material into the aquatic system only if there is no practicable alternative that would have less adverse impacts.

The term “stream”, which includes creeks and rivers, is defined in the California Code of Regulations (CCR) as “a body of water that flows at least periodically or intermittently through a bed or channel having banks and supports fish or other aquatic life [including] watercourses having a surface or subsurface flow that supports or has supported riparian vegetation” (14 CCR 1.72). In addition, the term “stream” can include ephemeral streams, dry washes, watercourses with subsurface flows, canals, aqueducts, irrigation ditches, and other means of water conveyance if they support aquatic life, riparian vegetation, or stream-dependent terrestrial wildlife (CDFG 1994). “Riparian” is defined as “on, or pertaining to, the banks of a stream.” Riparian vegetation is defined as “vegetation which occurs in and/or adjacent to a stream and is dependent on, and occurs because of, the stream itself” (CDFG 1994). Removal of riparian vegetation also requires a Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement from CDFW.

INVASIVE SPECIES
Executive Order 13112 – Invasive Species
On February 3, 1999, President William J. Clinton signed Executive Order (EO) 13112 requiring federal agencies to combat the introduction or spread of invasive species in the United States. The order defines invasive species as “any species, including its seeds, eggs, spores, or other biological material capable of propagating that species, that is not native to that ecosystem whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health." Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidance issued August 10, 1999 directs the use of the State’s invasive species list, Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 10 September 2017 maintained by the California Invasive Species Council (Cal-IPC 2015) to define the invasive plants that must be considered as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis for a proposed project. Under the EO, federal agencies cannot authorize, fund, or carry out actions that it believes are likely to cause or promote the introduction or spread of invasive species in the United States or elsewhere unless all reasonable measures to minimize risk of harm have been analyzed and considered.

These acts afford protection to both listed and proposed species. In addition, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Species of Special Concern, which are species that face extirpation in California if current population and habitat trends continue, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Birds of Conservation Concern, and CDFW special-status invertebrates are all considered special-status species. Although CDFW Species of Special Concern generally have no special legal status, they are given special consideration under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Plant species on the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Rare and Endangered Plant Inventory with California Rare Plant Rank of 1 or 2 are also considered special-status plant species and must be considered under CEQA. Rank 3 and Rank 4 species are afforded little or no protection under CEQA.

Federal Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended (16 USC 1531 et seq.), was enacted to provide a means to identify and protect endangered and threatened species.

Section 7 of ESA requires federal agencies to ensure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out by the agency is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat for such species. Any action authorized, funded, or carried out by a federal agency or designated proxy (e.g., Caltrans) which has potential to affect listed species requires consultation with the USFWS or the NMFS under Section 7 of the ESA.

Essential Fish Habitat
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 was established to conserve and manage fishery resources found off the coast, as well as anadromous species and Continental Shelf fishery resources of the United States, by Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 11 September 2017 exercising (A) sovereign rights for the purposes of exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing all fish within the exclusive economic zone established by Presidential Proclamation 5030, dated March 10, 1983, and (B) exclusive fishery management authority beyond the exclusive economic zone over such anadromous species, Continental Shelf fishery resources, and fishery resources in special areas.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 12 September 2017 Studies Required
The Town’s consultants, Kelly Biological Consulting and WRA conducted field studies in the entire BSA to determine the presence of wetlands and “other waters”, and to evaluate the presence or potential presence of special-status species and sensitive habitats. Methods used during the site visits to make determinations for this NES are described below.

Special-Status Species
Prior to the field visits to the BSA, the following sources were reviewed to determine which special-status plant and wildlife species have been documented to occur in the vicinity of the BSA:
 California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) records for the Bolinas, Novato, Petaluma Point, Point Bonita, San Francisco North, San Geronimo, San Rafael, San Quentin U.S. Geological Service 7.5’ Quadrangles (CDFW 2017a)  USFWS Information for Planning and Conservation (IPaC) Species List (USFWS 2017)
 CNPS Inventory of Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Plants of California records for the Bolinas, Novato, Petaluma Point, Point Bonita, San Francisco North, San Geronimo, San Rafael, San Quentin U.S. Geological Service 7.5’ Quadrangles (CNPS 2017)
 CDFW Spotted Owl Database (CDFW 2017b)
 CDFW California Wildlife Habitat Relationships Online Database (CDFW 2017c)  CDFW Passage Assessment Database (CDFW 2017d)
 CDFW publication “California Amphibians and Reptile Species of Special Concern” (Thomson et al. 2016)
 CDFG publication “California Bird Species of Special Concern” (Shuford and Gardali 2008).
 University of California at Davis, Center for Watershed Sciences. Pisces: California Fish Data and Management Software (UC Davis 2017)
 NMFS Species List and Essential Fish Habitat Maps of California (NMFS 2017)  The Marin County Breeding Bird Atlas (Shuford 1993)
 eBird online database (eBird 2017)
 Western Bat Working Group (WBWG) online species accounts (WBWG 2016) Special-Status Species. During the March-May 2015 and March-June 2016 site visits, the Town’s consultant Kelly Biological Consulting completed floristic surveys for specialstatus plant species with flowering periods that overlapped with the timing of the visits.

All habitats with potential to support special-status plant species were traversed on foot, and all plant species observed and identifiable were recorded. For special-status wildlife species, WRA biologists completed a survey to determine the potential for the BSA to support special-status species, but the studies did not constitute protocol level surveys.

Habitat conditions observed in the BSA during the site visits were used to evaluate the potential for presence of special-status species based on these literature searches and the professional expertise of the investigating biologists. Table 1 presents the evaluation of habitat potential for each special-status plant and wildlife species documented to occur in the vicinity of the BSA based on the literature database search. A list of all plant Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 13 September 2017 and wildlife species observed during the site visit is provided in Appendix A. The USFWS official listing of special-status species with a potential to occur in the proposed project vicinity is provided in Appendix B.

The BSA was evaluated for the presence or absence of indicators of the three wetland parameters described in the Corps Manual and Arid West Supplement. The three parameters are the presence of: (1) hydrophytic vegetation, (2) wetland hydrology, and (3) hydric soils. According to the Corps Manual, for areas not considered “problem areas” or “atypical situations”:
“... [E]vidence of a minimum of one positive wetland indicator from each parameter (hydrology, soil, and vegetation) must be found in order to make a positive wetland determination."
This study also evaluated the presence of unvegetated “other waters” potentially subject to USACE jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Besides wetlands, other areas subject to Corps jurisdiction include lakes, rivers and streams in addition to all areas below the high tide line (HTL) in areas subject to tidal influence. No tidally influenced areas are present in the BSA. Jurisdiction in non-tidal areas extends to the ordinary high water (OHW) mark defined as:
“...that line on the shore established by the fluctuations of water and indicated by physical characteristics such as clear, natural line impresses on the bank, shelving, changes in the characteristics of the soil, destruction of terrestrial vegetation, the presence of litter and debris, or other appropriate means that consider the characteristics of the surrounding areas.” Federal Register Vol. 51, No. 219, Part 328.3 (e). November 13, 1986.

Vegetation Communities and Sensitive Habitats. Vegetation communities present in the BSA were classified based on existing plant community descriptions described in A Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 14 September 2017 Manual of California Vegetation, 2nd Edition (Sawyer, J., T. Keeler-Wolf and J. Evens. 2009). However, in some cases it was necessary to identify variants of community types or to describe non-vegetated areas that are not described in the literature.

Biological communities were classified as sensitive or non-sensitive as defined by CEQA. Sensitive plant communities include habitats that fulfill special functions or have special values. Natural communities considered sensitive are those identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations, or by CDFW. CDFW ranks sensitive communities as ‘threatened’ or ‘very threatened’ and keeps records of their occurrences in its CNDDB. Also, vegetation alliances are ranked 1 through 5 (Sawyer, J., T. Keeler-Wolf and J. Evens. 2009). Alliances ranked globally (G) or statewide (S) as 1 through 3 are considered sensitive. Impacts to sensitive natural communities identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations, or by CDFW or USFWS must be considered and evaluated under CEQA.

Personnel and Survey Dates
The Town’s consultant, Micki Kelly, Certified Professional Wetland Scientist and plant ecologist with 25 years of experience, conducted the wetland delineation on April 12, 2016 and special-status plant surveys on January 16 and March 16, 2015, as well as April 12 and June 23, 2016. WRA biologists Claire Woolf (wildlife biologist) as well as Daniel Chase and Nicholas Brinton (fisheries biologists) conducted the biological resource site visits on November 17, 2014, and March 15, 2016. Their qualifications are provided in Appendix C.

Limitations That May Influence Results
The region was in a multi-year drought, making conditions drier than normal during the spring of 2015 work. The wet season 2015-6 rainfall totals were slightly above normal (http://www.marinwater.org/300/Water-Watch). The site visits were conducted during daylight hours and consisted of an assessment of likely habitats for special-status plants and wildlife; it did not conform to specific USFWS or NMFS protocols for any species.

No northern spotted owl (NSO; Strix occidentalis caurina) surveys or detailed fish studies were completed to identify and enumerate fish species present. Data and documents from previous studies in the area were relied upon to evaluate potential presence of fish species.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 15 September 2017 Chapter 3 – Results: Environmental Setting
This section describes the region in which the proposed project will occur. It is intended to explain context and the level of intensity of impacts. It includes a brief description of the area’s topography, soils, habitat, watercourses, and level of human or natural disturbance.

Existing Biological and Physical Conditions

BIOLOGICAL STUDY AREA
The BSA is located on and around the Canyon Road Bridge over San Anselmo Creek in the Town of Fairfax, Marin County, California. Canyon Road is a local residential road.

The BSA covers the areas where the proposed project-related direct or indirect actions such as ground-disturbing, construction, staging, or access activities would occur and goes beyond that to ensure that key biological issues are addressed. Canyon Road is a local road in a suburban developed area. The adjacent land use is residential (single family homes). The BSA extends up and downstream from the bridge along the stream corridor covering the primary natural area.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS
Topography
Within the BSA the creek flows to the southeast. The steep banks are approximately 10 vertical feet (top of bank to channel) near the bridge and 20 vertical feet downstream of the fish ladder. Adjacent to the top of bank, lands are relatively flat. To the north and south of the BSA are ridges.

Hydrology
The principal natural hydrological sources for the BSA are creek flow, direct precipitation, and surface run-off from adjacent lands. West of the BSA (upstream), Cascade Creek joins San Anselmo Creek. San Anselmo Creek then flows though the BSA towards the southeast then turns to the northeast. In roughly 1.4 miles, it joins Fairfax Creek and turns east, eventually flowing into Corte Madera Creek, then San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. At the bridge location the flow is intermittent. At the time of some of the fieldwork, there was no surface flow, though water was ponded in several pools below the fish ladder.

Soils
The soils that occur in the BSA are predominately Xerorthents-Urban land complex (0 to 9 percent slopes), with a small area of Tocaloma-McMullin complex, (50 to 75 percent slopes) to the south of the site (USDA NRCS 2017). The Tocaloma-McMullin-Urban land complex is a fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Haploxeroll. Its drainage class is well drained.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 16 September 2017

BIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN THE BSA
Riparian Redwood Forest Association
The BSA consists of mature semi-closed canopy forest similar to Redwood Forest Alliance more specifically a subset of that know as the Redwood Forest Association (Sequoia sempervirens-Acer macrophyllum-Umbellaria californica Association (Sawyer, Keeler-Wolf, and Evans 2009). This habitat is somewhat common in the northern California Coast region in moist areas (Figure 3a). Within the BSA, the overstory species include native tree species such as redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), big-leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), and California bay (Umbellularia californica). The understory is sparse. There are few shrubs. The herbaceous/vine layer is comprised mainly of English ivy (Hedera helix) and Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus), with some California polypody (Polypodium californicum), and scattered grasses and forbs including panic veldtgrass (Ehrharta erecta) and white ramping fumitory (Fumaria capreolata).

Intermittent Stream (“Other Waters”)
At this location, San Anselmo Creek is an intermittent creek with flows that vary with the rainfall patterns of a given season. The watershed that supports it is local, generally the western part of the Town of Fairfax and adjacent open space lands. Flows within the creek during a March 2016 site visit extended to the edges of the creek bed. During site visit in April 2015 flows were minimal to absent. Though, there were a few remnant small pools that held water. In addition to slope change at the bed and bank junction, wrack observed at the edge of the creek bed was used as an indication of OHW mark. The creek substrate under the bridge (and immediately downstream of the bridge) consists of concrete and a metal fish ladder. The remaining areas upstream and downstream are a mix of small gravel to larger cobble. Downstream of the fish ladder are numerous chunks of concrete. The channel width at the OHW mark was used to determine the intermittent stream (“other waters”) boundary shown on Figure 3a. The creek is not included on the National System of Wild and Scenic Rivers published by the U.S. Department of the Interior. There are no wetlands in the BSA. The banks under the bridge are concrete, just upstream of the bridge on the northwest side is a concrete sack retaining wall.

Ruderal Disturbed/Developed
The Ruderal Disturbed/Developed portion of the BSA includes pavement (Canyon Road and driveways), the gravel and bare dirt roadsides, structures (homes and outbuildings), backyards, landscaping or bare areas, and the concrete sack retaining wall on the northwest side of the bridge. In the areas that are not landscaped, the vegetation is predominately non-native species commonly found in the region, such as privet (Ligustrum japonicum), English ivy (Hedera helix), goosegrass (Galium aparine), cut leaf geranium (Geranium dissectum), and non-native grasses.

Wildlife Species in the BSA
The BSA is situated within riparian redwood forest, and wildlife species known to occur in the vicinity include Stellar’s jay (Cyanocitta stelleri), western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus), and chestnut-backed chickadee (Poecile rufescens). Additionally, the portion of San Anselmo Creek within the BSA is located above two partial fish passage barriers at Saunders Avenue and a flood control channel where Corte Madera Creek feeds into a larger slough. San Anselmo Creek is still considered anadromous because the barriers only deter passage during low flow portions of the year. Central California Coastal (CCC) steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is considered present within the watershed (UC Davis 2017, Leidy et al. 2005).

Canyon Rd.

Flow
Figure 3a. Biological Communities within the Biological Study Area Bridge Preventative Maintenance Program
Canyon Road Bridge NES
Marin County, California
Path: L:\Acad 2000 Files\22000\22304\GIS\ArcMap\BPMP\Canyon Road Bridge\2017\Fig3a_Canyon_BioComms.mxd Biological Study Area - 1.76 acres
Intermittent stream - 0.21 acre
Riparian redwood forest - 0.27 acre
Ruderal disturbed/Developed - 1.28 acres
Map Prepared Date: 5/15/2017
Map Prepared By: smortensen
Base Source: Esri Streaming - NAIP 2014
Data Source(s): WRA
0 15 30 60
Feet
-
••
P. J
—
— : J
,mh l
11 > )
$
e
#
It
□ is f
he z
S
A
-
> or
A 2
Ct
■■"
1 d
I
25 ;
- -• -" I
6 ..
4 -tri *
- - I
I
l . .

WNE @wrO

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
P 7
'Jr — "h fP
2;
av
s4
AA .
—r
w
r “a
kj
y,
" -
.d
y
r ;
C-C1
y
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 18 September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 19 September 2017

INVASIVE SPECIES
Federal Highway Administration guidance issued August 10, 1999, states that the State’s invasive species list, maintained by the California Invasive Species Council be used to define the invasive plants. The California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) Inventory and CDFA maintain lists of invasive plant species. Cal-IPC list categorizes plants as High, Moderate, or Limited, reflecting the level of each species’ negative ecological impact in California. Cal-IPC defines High as “species that have severe ecological impacts on physical processes, plant and animal communities, and vegetation structure. Their reproductive biology and other attributes are conducive to moderate to high rates of dispersal and establishment. Most are widely distributed ecologically.” (CalIPC 2015). The species found in the BSA that are listed on the Cal-IPC list as High are English ivy (Hedera helix), French broom (Genista monspessulana), Himalayan blackberry, and pampus grass (Cortaderia jubata) Several species with moderate rating were also observed, big-leaf periwinkle (Vinca major), Italian thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus), and panic grass (Ehrharta erecta).

During construction the several French broom and Italian thistle individuals within the BSA and in or adjacent to the work area will be removed. The English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, and big-leaf periwinkle, panic grass will be more difficult to eradicate given that they are common outside the BSA in nearby areas and upstream. The proposed project will remove individuals of those species in areas where the vegetation is removed for construction activities, and stabilize the soil with appropriate erosion control measures, as needed.

New Zealand mud snail (NZMS; Potamopyrgus antipodarum) are documented within San Anselmo Creek. Construction equipment such as pumps, tanks, or heavy equipment which operates within an infested aquatic environment is at risk for spreading NZMS. Snails survive in pooled water in pumps and tanks or in mud which remains attached to equipment. To prevent the spread of NZMS, all construction equipment that comes into contact with a wetted channel will be thoroughly cleaned to remove all attached soil and all water within the compartments will be dried up. Pumps and tanks will be cleaned and must remain fully dried for 72 hours following cleaning before equipment may be used on another aquatic project. In addition, any measures required by the agencies will be implemented.

Regional Species and Habitats and Natural Communities of Concern The species listed in the CDFW (2017a), CNPS (2017), NMFS (2017), and USFWS (2017) records search results are discussed in Table 1. The printout of the USFWS list can be found in Appendix B. Figures 4 and 5 show the documented occurrences for special-status plant and wildlife species (respectively) in the vicinity of the BSA based on the CNDDB (CDFW 2017a). A description of habitat requirements is provided for each special-status plant or wildlife species along with an evaluation of its potential to occur within the BSA. Potential for special-status species to occur in the BSA was determined according to the following criteria:
 Absent [A] - No habitat present and no further work needed.  Habitat Present [HP] - Habitat is, or may be present. The species may be present.
 Present [P] - Species is present
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 20 September 2017  Critical Habitat [CH] - Proposed project footprint is located within a designated critical habitat unit, but does not necessarily mean that appropriate habitat is present.

Based on these results, it was determined that 77 special-status plant species and 91 special-status wildlife species have been documented from or have a range that occurs in the San Rafael, Bolinas, San Geronimo, Novato, Petaluma Point, San Quentin, San Francisco North, or Point Bonita 7.5-minute USGS quadrangles. Of these species, 22 special-status plant species and eight special-status wildlife species have documented occurrences within 5 kilometers (3 miles) of the BSA.

Due to a lack of appropriate habitat elements (such as coastal salt marsh) and the presence of residential development in the surrounding landscape, it was determined that the BSA has the potential to support only six of the special-status plant species identified in Table 1. No special-status plants were observed in the BSA during the site assessments conducted for this report.

The BSA is designated Critical Habitat for steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and the species is presumed present within this section of San Anselmo Creek (UC Davis 2017, Leidy et al. 2005). The BSA is also listed as designated Critical Habitat for Coho salmon (O. kisutch), although this species is considered extirpated from the tributaries and waters of San Francisco Bay (NMFS 2012, Brown and Moyle 1991). Additionally, the BSA contains EFH for Pacific salmonids. Based on habitat and conditions within the BSA and documented occurrences nearby, it was determined that the BSA has potential to support CCC steelhead, NSO, and five other the special-status wildlife species identified in Table 1.

The proposed project primarily involves short-term, temporary impacts and will not disrupt connectivity in the region. Project activities will occur when San Anselmo Creek within the BSA is dry. The creek channel will be restored to conditions similar to preproject conditions which will allow for continued fish passage following the completion of work. Sensitive habitat within the BSA is limited to San Anselmo Creek which is an intermittent waterway in this reach. San Anselmo Creek is subject to USACE, RWQCB, and the CDFW jurisdiction.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 21 September 2017 Table 1: Listed, Proposed Species, and Critical Habitat Potentially Occurring or Known to Occur in the BSA.

Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Birds
northern spotted
owl
Strix occidentalis
caurina

FT, ST,
SSC
Old-growth forests or mixed stands
of old-growth and mature trees.

Occasionally in younger forests with
patches of big trees. Prefers high,
multistory canopy dominated by big
trees, trees with cavities or broken
tops, woody debris and space
under canopy.

HP
The BSA and immediately surrounding area
are low-density residential developments;
however, riparian redwood forest community
is in proximity to the BSA. This species has
been documented to nest in dense forest
within 800 feet south of the BSA (CDFW
2017b).
short-eared owl Asio flammeus SSC
Found in swamp lands, both fresh
and salt; lowland meadows;
irrigated alfalfa fields. Tule
patches/tall grass needed for
nesting/daytime seclusion. Nests
on dry ground in depression
concealed in vegetation.

A
The BSA and immediately surrounding area
are low-density residential developments and
riparian redwood forest which do not provide
nesting habitat for the species. Lowland
marshes, tule patches or tall grasslands that
typically support nesting by the species do not
occur in the BSA.
long-eared owl Asio otus SSC
Primarily a year-round resident.

A
This species is a very rare breeder in Marin
County (Shuford 1993). The only recorded
nesting occurrences of the species are near
Bolinas and Drake’s Bay. Both locations are
greater than 5 miles from the BSA (Shuford
1993). Areas within the BSA and immediately
surrounding do not contain riparian
communities suitable for nesting by this
species.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 22 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
burrowing owl Athene cunicularia SSC,
BCC
Open, dry annual or perennial
grasslands, deserts, and
scrublands characterized by lowgrowing vegetation. Subterranean nester, dependent upon burrowing
mammals, most notably, the
California ground squirrel
A
The BSA and immediately surrounding area
are low-density residential developments and
largely forested landscape. The BSA does not
contain short grasslands or other open areas
suitable for nesting or foraging by this
species.
golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos
EPA,
CFP,
BCC
Resident in rolling foothills,
mountain areas, sage-juniper flats,
and desert. Cliff-walled canyons
provide nesting habitat in most
parts of range; also nests in large
trees in open areas.

A
The BSA and immediately surrounding area
are low-density residential developments and
riparian redwood forest which do not provide
suitable nesting habitat for the species. The
BSA also does not support habitat for the
preferred prey species of golden eagle.
bald eagle
Haliaeetus
leucocephalus

FD, SE,
EPA,
CFP,
BCC
Primarily a winter visitor in the
region; small numbers are present
year-round and breed. Favors
areas near larger bodies of water
with abundant fish: lakes and
reservoirs, rivers, and the ocean.

Nests in large, old-growth, or
dominant live tree with open
branchwork. Often roosts
communally in winter.

A
Although the BSA is within this species’
historic breeding range, bald eagles are no
longer known to breed in Marin County
(Shuford 1993). The BSA and the vicinity do
not provide larger open bodies of water to
support foraging or nesting.
northern harrier Circus cyaneus SSC
(Nesting) Nests and forages in
grassland habitats, usually in
association with coastal salt and
freshwater marshes. Nests on
ground in shrubby vegetation,
usually at marsh edge; nest built of
a large mound of sticks in wet
areas.

A
The BSA and immediately surrounding area
are low-density residential developments and
largely forested landscape which do not
provide nesting habitat for the species.

Suitable mesic grasslands or marsh habitat
are absent from the BSA and the immediate
surrounding areas.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 23 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
white-tailed kite Elanus leucurus CFP
(Nesting) Year-long resident of
open grasslands and agricultural
areas. Preys on small diurnal
mammals and occasional birds,
insects, reptiles, and amphibians.

Nests in tree-tops.

A
The BSA and immediately surrounding area
are low-density residential developments in a
largely forested landscape and do not provide
nesting habitat for the species. The BSA
does not contain open areas such as
agricultural fields, grasslands or marsh that
are typically used by this species.

American
peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus
anatum
FD,

Forages widely.

A
High cliffs and tall buildings typically used for
nesting by this species are absent from the
BSA and immediate surrounding area. Large
water-bodies which provide foraging habitat
are absent from the BSA and vicinity.
prairie falcon Falco mexicanus BCC
Year-round resident in areas of
California and winter visitor.

Inhabits dry, open terrains,
including foothills and valleys.

Breeding sites located on steep
cliffs. Forages widely.

A
Although this species winters in Marin County,
it does not nest there (Shuford 1993).

Additionally, the BSA does not contain xeric
open areas such as grasslands that are
typically used by this species. This species
could occasionally be observed flying over the
BSA during migration.
ferruginous
hawk Buteo regalis BCC
Winter visitor to open habitats,
including grasslands, sagebrush
flats, scrub, and low foothills
surrounding valleys. Preys on
mammals. Does not breed in
California.

A
Although this species winters in Marin County,
it does not nest there (Shuford 1993).

Additionally, the BSA does not contain xeric
open areas such as grasslands that are
typically used by this species. This species
could occasionally be observed flying over the
BSA during migration.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 24 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
American white
pelican
Pelecanus
erythrorhynchos SSC
Colonial nester on large interior
lakes. Nests on large lakes,
providing safe roosting and
breeding places in the form of wellsequestered islets. Winter visitor to the San Francisco Bay Area.

A
American white pelican does not nest in Marin
County (Shuford 1993). Additionally, suitable
foraging habitat does not occur within 2 miles
of the BSA.

California brown
pelican
Pelecanus
occidentalis
californicus

FD, SD,
CFP
Colonial nester on coastal islands
just outside the surf line. Nests on
coastal islands of small to moderate
size which afford immunity from
attack by ground-dwelling
predators.

A
California brown pelican does not nest in
Marin County (Shuford 1993). Additionally,
suitable foraging habitat does not occur within
2 miles of the BSA.
marbled
murrelet Brachyramphus
marmoratus FT, SE
Feeds near shore; nests inland
along the Pacific coast, from
Eureka to Oregon border, and from
Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz.

Nests in old-growth redwooddominated forests, up to six miles inland. Nests often built in
Douglas-fir or redwood stands
containing platform-like branches.

A
Despite the presence of riparian redwood
forest within and surrounding the BSA and the
designated critical habitat 3.5 miles south of
the BSA, marbled murrelet is not known to
breed within Marin County (Shuford 1993,
McShane et al. 2004, USFWS 2009).
short-tailed
albatross
Phoebastria
albatrus FE, SSC
Highly pelagic; comes to land only
when breeding. Nests on remote
Pacific islands. A rare nonbreeding visitor to the eastern Pacific.

A
Short-tailed albatross does not nest in Marin
County. Additionally, suitable marine foraging
habitat does not occur within 5 miles of the
BSA.
black
oystercatcher
Haematopus
bachmani BCC
Resident on rocky shores of marine
habitats along almost the entire
California coast and adjacent
islands. Breeds on undisturbed,
rocky, open shores and cliffs.

A
The BSA is not within the known breeding
distribution of this species. Rocky shoreline
and marine habitats which support nesting
and foraging by the species are absent from
the BSA and vicinity.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 25 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Caspian tern Hydroprogne
caspia BCC
Nests in small colonies inland and
along the coast on sandy estuarine
shores, levees, and salt ponds.

Found in inland fresh-water lakes
and marshes; also, brackish or salt
waters of estuaries and bays.

California least
tern
Sternula antillarum
browni

FE, SE,
CFP
Colonial breeder on barren or
sparsely vegetated, flat substrates
near water. Breeding colonies in
San Francisco Bay along estuarine
shores and in abandoned salt
ponds.

A
The BSA is not within the known breeding
distribution of this species. Islands, shores,
levees or salt ponds that support nesting by
this species are absent. The BSA does not
occur near marine environments to support
foraging.
black skimmer Rynchops niger SSC,
BCC
Found primarily in southern
California; South San Francisco
Bay has a small resident
population. Nests colonially on
gravel bars, low islets, and sandy
beaches
A
The BSA is not within the known breeding
distribution of this species. Islands, shores,
levees or salt ponds that support nesting by
this species are absent. The BSA does not
occur near marine environments to support
foraging.
western snowy
plover
Charadrius
alexandrinus
nivosus

FT, SSC,
BCC
Federal listing applies only to the
Pacific coastal population. Found
on sandy beaches, salt pond levees
and shores of large alkali lakes.

Requires sandy, gravelly or friable
soils for nesting.

A
The BSA and immediately surrounding area
are low-density residential developments
within a largely forested landscape. Sandy
beaches, salt flats or alkali lake flats that this
species inhabits are absent from the BSA and
vicinity.

California
Ridgway’s rail
Rallus obsoletus
obsoletus

FE, SE,
CFP
Resident in tidal marshes of the
San Francisco Bay Estuary.

Requires tidal sloughs and mud
flats for foraging, and dense
vegetation for nesting. Associated
with abundant growth of cordgrass
and pickleweed. Largest
populations in south San Francisco
Bay.

A
The BSA is not within the known breeding
distribution of this species. The BSA lacks any
salt marsh habitat which this species requires
for nesting and foraging.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 26 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
California black
rail
Laterallus
jamaicensis
coturniculus

ST, CFP,
BCC
Resident in marshes (saline to
freshwater) with dense vegetation
below four inches in height. Prefers
larger, undisturbed marshes close
to a major water source.

A
The BSA is not within the known breeding
distribution of this species. The BSA lacks any
marsh habitat that this species requires for
nesting and foraging.
great egret Ardea alba None
(Rookeries tracked by CDFW)
Colonial nester in large trees.

Rookery sites located near
marshes, tide-flats, irrigated
pastures, and margins of rivers and
lakes.

A
Suitable rookery trees are absent from the
BSA and vicinity; however, this species may
occasionally fly over or forage within the BSA.
snowy egret Egretta thula none
(Rookeries tracked by CDFW)
Colonial nester, with nest sites
situated in protected beds of dense
tules. Rookery sites situated close
to foraging areas: marshes, tidalflats, streams, wet meadows, and borders of lakes.

A
Suitable rookery trees are absent from the
BSA and vicinity; however, this species may
occasionally fly over or forage within the BSA.
great blue heron Ardea herodias None
(Rookeries tracked by CDFW)
Colonial nester in tall trees, cliffs,
and sequestered spots on marshes.

Rookery sites in close proximity to
foraging areas: marshes, lake
margins, tide-flats, rivers and
streams, wet meadows.

A
Suitable rookery trees are absent from the
BSA and vicinity; however, this species may
occasionally fly over or forage within the BSA.
black-crowned
night heron
Nycticorax
nycticorax none
(Rookeries tracked by CDFW)
Colonial nester, usually in trees,
occasionally in tule patches.

Rookery sites located adjacent to
foraging areas: lake margins, mudbordered bays, marshy spots.

A
Suitable rookery trees are absent from the
BSA and vicinity; however, this species may
occasionally fly over or forage within the BSA.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 27 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
double-crested
cormorant
Phalacrocorax
auritus none
(Rookeries tracked by CDFW)
Colonial nester on coastal cliffs,
offshore islands, and along lake
margins in the interior of the state.

Nests along coast on sequestered
islets, usually on ground with
sloping surface, or in tall trees
along lake margins.

A
Suitable rookery cliffs or other structures are
absent from the BSA and vicinity; however,
this species may occasionally fly over the
BSA.
black swift Cypseloides niger SSC,
BCC
Summer resident with a fragmented
breeding distribution; most
occupied areas in California either
montane or coastal. Breeds in
small colonies on cliffs behind or
adjacent to waterfalls, in deep
canyons, and sea-bluffs above surf.

Forages aerially over wide areas.

A
Marin County is not within the documented
breeding range of this species (Shuford
1993). Additionally, the BSA does not contain
cliffs or deep canyons capable of providing
nesting habitat for this species.

Vaux’s swift Chaetura vauxi SSC
Summer resident, primarily in
forested areas. Nests in tree
cavities, favoring those with a large
vertical extent. Also uses chimneys
and other manmade substrates.

Forages widely for aerial insects,
often over or near rivers and lakes.

A
Trees within the BSA did not contain cavities
typical of this species, and no snags are
present. Redwood trees in the BSA did not
have snags or limb loss with potential to
create a large cavity for use by this species.

This species is documented as an infrequent
nester in Marin County (Shuford 1993).
purple martin Progne subis SSC
Summer resident. In northwestern
California, typically breeds in
coniferous forest and woodlands.

Nest in tree cavities, usually high off
the ground, and in the cavities of
manmade structures (e.g. bridges,
utility poles). Forages for aerial
insects.

HP
Although no obvious cavities suitable for use
by this species were observed within the BSA,
the large redwoods may contain cavities
which were not visible. The bridge did not
contain cavities suitable for use; however,
adjacent redwood and large trees may
provide nesting habitat for this species.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 28 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
bank swallow Riparia riparia ST
Migrant in riparian and other
lowland habitats in western
California. Colonial nester in
riparian areas with vertical cliffs and
bands with fine-textured or finetextured sandy soils near streams, rivers, lakes or the ocean.

A
Bank swallow does not nest in Marin County.

The BSA lacks any cliff habitat which this
species requires for nesting. The species may
pass through the BSA during migration.
olive-sided
flycatcher Contopus cooperi SSC,
BCC
Summer resident. Typical breeding
habitat is montane coniferous
forests. At lower elevations, also
occurs in wooded canyons and
mixed forests and woodlands.

Often associated with forest edges.

Arboreal nest sites located well off
the ground.

HP
This species is known to the area and the
BSA contains riparian redwood forest that
this species may use for nesting (Shuford
1993, eBird 2016).

Nuttall’s
woodpecker Picoides nuttallii BCC
Resident in lowland woodlands
throughout much of California west
of the Sierra Nevada. Typical
habitat is dominated by oaks.

HP
Oak woodland typical of this species is not
present within the BSA; however, this species
is known to inhabit residential areas in the
region and may occur within the BSA.
oak titmouse Baeolophus
inornatus BCC
Oak woodland and savannah, open
broad-leaved evergreen forests
containing oaks, and riparian
woodlands. Associated with oak
and pine-oak woodland and
arborescent chaparral
HP
Oak woodland typical of this species is not
present within the BSA; however, this species
is known to inhabit residential areas in the
region and may occur within the BSA.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 29 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Allen’s
hummingbird Selaphorus sasin BCC
Breeds along the California
coastline in habitats including mixed
evergreen, Douglas fir, redwood
and Bishop pine forests, riparian
woodlands, nonnative eucalyptus
and planted cypress groves, and
occasionally live oak woodlands
and coastal scrub with at least a
scattering of trees, such as on
north-facing slopes
HP
Riparian redwood forest within and
surrounding the BSA may provide suitable
nest-trees and foraging habitat which may
support this species.
rufous
hummingbird Selasphorus rufus BCC
Spring migrant; does not breed in
California. Favors habitats rich in
nectar-producing flowers. Nests in
berry tangles, shrubs, deciduous
forests and conifers. Favors
habitats rich in nectar-producing
flowers.

A
The BSA is outside of the known breeding
range for this species, but rufous
hummingbird may be observed during
migration seasons.
loggerhead
shrike Lanius ludovicianus SSC,
BCC
Primarily a year-round resident in
open habitats including woodland,
grassland, savannah and
agricultural areas. Prefers areas
with sparse shrubs, trees, posts,
and other suitable perches for
foraging. Preys upon large insects
and small vertebrates. Nests are
well-concealed in a denselyfoliaged shrub or tree.

A
The BSA and immediately surrounding area
are low-density residential developments and
largely comprised of riparian redwood forest
which does not provide nesting habitat for the
species. The BSA does not contain open
areas such as agricultural fields, grasslands
or marsh that are typically used by this
species.
yellow warbler
Setophaga
(Dendroica)
petechia brewsteri
SSC,
BCC
Summer resident throughout much
of California. Breeds in riparian
vegetation close to water, including
streams and wet meadows.

Microhabitat used for nesting
variable, but dense willow growth is
typical. Occurs widely on migration.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 30 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
saltmarsh
common
yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
sinuosa
SSC,
BCC
Resident of the San Francisco Bay
region, in fresh and salt water
marshes. Requires thick,
continuous cover down to water
surface for foraging; tall grasses,
tule patches, willows for nesting.

A
The BSA is not within the known breeding
distribution of this species. Suitable salt marsh
habitat which is required for nesting and
foraging is absent from the BSA and vicinity.
yellow-breasted
chat Icteria virens SSC
Summer resident, utilizing riparian
areas with an open canopy, very
dense understory, and trees for
song perches. Nests in thickets of
willow, blackberry, and wild grape.

A
The BSA and immediately surrounding area
are low-density residential developments in a
forested landscape and open understory. The
BSA lacks the dense riparian understory that
this species requires for nesting.
grasshopper
sparrow
Ammodramus
savannarum
SSC
Summer resident. Nests in open
grassland habitats, generally with
low- to moderate-height grasses
and scattered shrubs. Nest
typically placed on the ground and
well-hidden. Secretive.

A
The BSA does not contain annual grassland
that could support nesting or foraging by the
species. Additionally the BSA is located within
coniferous forest which is not suitable for this
species.

Alameda song
sparrow
Melospiza melodia
pusillula
SSC,
BCC
Year-round resident of salt marshes
bordering the south arm of San
Francisco Bay. Inhabits primarily
pickleweed marshes; nests placed
in marsh vegetation, typically
shrubs such as gumplant.

A
The BSA is not within the known breeding
distribution of this species. The BSA lacks any
marsh habitat that this subspecies requires for
nesting and foraging.

Samuel’s (San
Pablo) song
sparrow
Melospiza melodia
samuelis
SSC,
BCC
Resident of salt marshes along the
north side of San Francisco and
San Pablo Bays. Inhabits tidal
sloughs in the Salicornia marshes;
nests in Grindelia bordering slough
channels.

A
The BSA is not within the known breeding
distribution of this species. The BSA lacks any
marsh habitat that this subspecies requires for
nesting and foraging.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 31 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Bryant’s
savannah
sparrow
Passerculus
sandwichensis
alaudinus
SSC
Year-round resident subspecies,
associated with the coastal fog belt.

Occupies upper tidally-influenced
habitats and moist grasslands,
often occurring where wetland
communities merge into grassland.

Nests in vegetation on or near the
ground.

A
The BSA lacks the tidally influenced habitats
and grasslands that this subspecies requires.

The BSA is within low-density residential
development and forested landscape.

A
The BSA is within low-density residential
development and forested landscape. This
species is a very rare breeder in Marin County
and typically inhabits the dry southern
portions of the county, and the BSA does not
contain chaparral or other xeric landscapes to
support this species (Shuford 1993).
tricolored
blackbird Agelaius tricolor SC, BCC,
SSC
(Nesting colony) highly colonial
species, most numerous in Central
Valley and vicinity. Largely
endemic to California. Requires
open water, protected nesting
substrate, and foraging area with
insect prey within a few kilometers
of the colony.

A
The BSA does not contain any open waters
such as ponds, lakes or marsh habitat that
supports foraging or nesting by the colony.

The blackberry shrubs located along the
banks in the vicinity of the BSA are not
sufficiently dense or large enough to support
nesting by this species.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 32 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Mammals
pallid bat Antrozous pallidus SSC,
WBWG
Found in deserts, grasslands,
shrublands, woodlands, and
forests. Most common in open,
forages along river channels.

Roost sites include old ranch
buildings, rocky outcrops and caves
within sandstone outcroppings.

Roosts must protect bats from high
temperatures. Very sensitive to
disturbance of roosting sites.

A
The BSA and immediately surrounding area
are low-density residential developments with
no rock outcroppings or ranch type buildings
to provide roosting sites. Trees did not
contain cavities suitable for this species. The
bridge has no exposed cracks or seams and
is regularly disturbed by vehicles and
pedestrians, making the structure and the
surrounding area unsuitable for the species.

Townsend's bigeared bat
Corynorhinus
townsendii
SSC,
WBWG
This species is associated with a
wide variety of habitats from
deserts to mid-elevation mixed
coniferous-deciduous forest.

Females form maternity colonies in
buildings, caves and mines and
males roost singly or in small
groups. Foraging occurs in open
forest habitats where they glean
moths from vegetation.

A
The BSA and immediately surrounding area
are low-density residential developments.

Buildings in the area are maintained and do
not provide suitable roosting habitat.

Additionally, there are no caves, mines or
suitable openings in the bridge structure to
support roosting by the species within the
BSA.
western red bat Lasiurus blossevillii SSC,
WBWG
This species is typically solitary,
roosting primarily in the foliage of
trees or shrubs. Day roosts are
commonly in edge habitats adjacent
to streams or open fields, in
orchards, and sometimes in urban
areas. There may be an
association with intact riparian
habitat (willows, cottonwoods, and
sycamore).

A
The complexity of edge habitats required by
the species is not present within the BSA, and
the BSA does not contain densely foliated
riparian trees and shrubs to support roosting.

This species may occasionally fly over the
BSA.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 33 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
hoary bat Lasiurus cinereus WBWG
Prefers open habitats or habitat
mosaics, with access to trees for
cover and open areas or habitat
edges for feeding. Roosts in dense
foliage of medium to large trees.

Feeds primarily on moths.

Requires water.

A
The BSA does not provide suitable open
foraging habitat mosaics which are required
by the species, and the BSA does not contain
densely foliated trees and shrubs to support
roosting.
fringed myotis Myotis thysanodes WBWG
Associated with a wide variety of
habitats including mixed coniferousdeciduous forest and redwoods/sequoia groves.

Buildings, mines, and large snags
are important day and night roosts.

A
The BSA does not contain snags or trees
large enough to contain cavities to provide
roosting habitat. Additionally, no trees are to
be removed by the proposed project. The
bridge structure has no suitable seams,
cracks or crevices that might provide roosting
habitat for the species. This species may
occasionally fly through or forage over the
BSA.
long-eared
myotis Myotis evotis WBWG
Occurs in semiarid shrublands,
sage, chaparral, and agricultural
areas, but is usually associated with
coniferous forests from seal level to
9000 feet. Individuals roost under
exfoliating tree bark, and in hollow
trees, caves, mines, cliff crevices,
and rocky outcrops on the ground.

They also sometimes roost in
buildings and under bridges.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 34 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
long-legged
myotis Myotis volans WBWG
Typically occupies mountainous or
relatively rugged areas, dry
coniferous forests, and sometimes
oak or streamside woodlands, and
deserts. Large hollow trees, rock
crevices and buildings are
important day roosts. Other roosts
include caves, mines and buildings.

A
The BSA does not contain snags or trees
large enough to contain cavities to provide
roosting habitat. Additionally, no trees are to
be removed by the proposed project. The
bridge structure has no suitable seams,
cracks or crevices that might provide roosting
habitat for the species. This species may
occasionally fly through or forage over the
BSA.
silver-haired bat Lasionycteris
noctivagans. WBWG
Summer habitats include coastal
and montane coniferous forests,
valley foothill woodlands, pinyonjuniper woodlands, and valley foothill and montane riparian
habitats. This species is primarily a
forest dweller, feeding over
streams, ponds, and open brushy
areas. It roosts in hollow trees,
snags, buildings, rock crevices,
caves, and under bark.

FE, SE,
CFP
Found only in the saline emergent
wetlands of San Francisco Bay and
its tributaries. Pickleweed is
primary habitat. Do not burrow,
build loosely organized nests.

Require higher areas for flood
escape.

A
The BSA and immediately surrounding area
are low-density residential developments and
riparian redwood forest. Marshes and tidal
marine environments that are required to
support this species do not occur within or
near the BSA.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 35 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
salt-marsh
wandering
shrew
Sorex vagrans
halicoetes SSC
Confined to small remnant stands
of salt marsh found around the
southern arm of the San Francisco
Bay in San Mateo, Santa Clara,
Alameda and Contra Costa
counties. Inhabits salt marshes that
provide dense cover with driftwood
and other debris.

San Pablo vole
Microtus
californicus
sanpabloensis
SSC
Saltmarshes of San Pablo Creek,
on the south shore of San Pablo
Bay. Constructs burrow in soft soil.

Feeds on grasses, sedges and
herbs. Forms a network of runways
leading from the burrow
A
The BSA and immediately surrounding area
are low-density residential developments and
riparian redwood forest. Marshes and tidal
marine environments that are required to
support this species do not occur within or
near the BSA.

American
badger Taxidea taxus SSC
Most abundant in drier open stages
of most shrub, forest, and
herbaceous habitats, with friable
soils. Requires friable soils and
open, uncultivated ground. Preys
on burrowing rodents.

A
The BSA and immediately surrounding area
are low-density residential developments and
riparian redwood forest. Open areas with
friable soils which support the preferred prey
for badgers and badger dens do not occur
within the BSA.

Point Reyes
jumping mouse
Zapus trinotatus
orarius SSC
Bunch grass marshes on the
uplands of Point Reyes in areas
safe from continuous inundation.

Builds grassy nests on ground
under vegetation, burrows in winter.

A
The BSA and immediately surrounding area
are low-density residential developments and
riparian redwood forest. The BSA lacks marsh
or grasslands that this subspecies requires for
nesting and foraging, and the BSA is outside
the known range of this subspecies..

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 36 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Point Reyes
mountain beaver Aplodontia rufa
phaea SSC
The Point Reyes mountain beaver
is only known to occur in western
Marin County, almost entirely within
Point Reyes National Seashore. It
occurs on cool, moist, north-facing
slopes in moderately dense coastal
scrub. Burrows are typically
constructed in dense thickets or in
forest openings; and it feeds on
coyote brush, sword fern, cow
parsnip, black berries, poison oak,
California nettle, and thistle.

A
The BSA is not within the known distribution
of this species. The BSA and immediately
surrounding area are low-density residential
developments and primarily comprised of
riparian redwood forest. The BSA does not
contain any coastal scrub habitat which is
required by the species.
ringtail (ringtailed cat)
Bassariscus
astutus CFP
Is widely distributed throughout
most of California, but absent from
some portions of the Central Valley
and northeastern California. The
species is nocturnal, primarily
carnivorous and is associated with
a mixture of dry forest and
shrubland in close association with
rocky areas and riparian habitat,
using hollow trees and cavities for
shelter.

A
The BSA and immediately surrounding area
are low-density residential developments and
riparian redwood forest. Anthropogenic
disturbances in the area and an absence of
suitable trees to provide cavities make the
species unlikely to occur.
southern sea
otter
Enhydra lutris
nereis
FT,
MMPA:

SSC, CFP
Nearshore marine environments
from about Año Nuevo, San Mateo
County to Point Sal, Santa Barbara
County.

A
The BSA is not within the known breeding
distribution of this species. Additionally, The
BSA lacks any marine habitat which is
required by this species.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 37 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Amphibians and Reptiles
western pond
turtle
Actinemys
marmorata SSC
Associated with permanent or
nearly permanent water in a wide
variety of habitats. Requires
basking sites. Nests sites may be
found up to 0.5 kilometers from
water.

A
There are no known occurrences of this
species in the watershed or vicinity. The BSA
is over 2 miles from the nearest documented
occurrence in a different watershed (CDFW
2017a). The BSA is canopied and does not
provide suitable basking areas to support the
species.

California giant
salamander
Dicamptodon
ensatus SSC
Occurs in the north-central Coast
Ranges. Moist coniferous and
mixed forests are typical habitat;
also uses woodland and chaparral.

Adults are terrestrial and fossorial,
breeding in cold, permanent or
semi-permanent streams. Larvae
usually remain aquatic for over a
year.

A
There are no known occurrences of this
species in San Anselmo Creek (CDFW
2017a); and this section of San Anselmo
Creek is not perennial. The banks of the
creek within the BSA are developed and
cemented; thus, no refugia is present for
adults.
foothill yellowlegged frog Rana boylii SSC
Found in or near rocky streams in a
variety of habitats. Prefers partlyshaded, willow streams and riffles with a rocky substrate; requires at
least some cobble-sized substrate
for egg-laying. Needs at least 15
weeks to attain metamorphosis.

Feeds on both aquatic and
terrestrial invertebrates.

A
This species has not been documented within
the watershed, and the closest documented
occurrence is 2.5 miles east of the BSA in a
different watershed (CDFW 2017a).

A
No ponds or lakes exist nearby that could
provide adequate still water habitat to support
breeding by this species. Additionally, this
species has not been documented in this
portion of Marin County; the nearest
documented occurrences are over 5 miles
from the BSA (CDFW 2017a).

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 38 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Fishes
pacific lamprey
Entosphenus
(=Lampetra)
tridentatus
SSC
Spawn between March and July in
gravel bottomed streams in riffle
habitat. Larvae drift downstream to
areas of low velocity and fine
substrates and are relatively
immobile in the stream substrates.

A
Two barriers to anadromy exist downstream
of the BSA; however, San Anselmo Creek is
considered anadromous (CDFW 2017d). The
BSA does not contain suitable spawning or
larval habitat for this species based upon
gradient and substrate and this species has
not been documented within San Anselmo
Creek.
river lamprey Lampetra ayresi SSC
Lower Sacramento River, San
Joaquin River and Russian River.

May occur in coastal streams north
of San Francisco Bay. Adults need
clean, gravelly riffles, Ammocoetes
need sandy backwaters or stream
edges, good water quality and
temps < 25 degrees C.

A
Two barriers to anadromy exist downstream
of the BSA; however, San Anselmo Creek is
considered anadromous (CDFW 2017d).

However, the BSA is not within the known
distribution of this species (UC Davis 2017).
white sturgeon Acipenser
transmontanus SSC
Found in most estuaries along the
Pacific coast. Adults in the San
Francisco Bay Estuary system
spawn in the Sacramento River and
are not known to enter freshwater
or non-tidal reaches of Estuary
streams. Spawn May through June.

A
The BSA is not within the known distribution
of this species (UC Davis 2017). Additionally,
The BSA lacks any estuarine/river habitat
which is required by this species for breeding.
green sturgeon Acipenser
medirostris FT, SSC
Spawn in the Sacramento River
and the Klamath River. Spawn at
temperatures between 8-14
degrees C. Preferred spawning
substrate is large cobble, but can
range from clean sand to bedrock.

A
The BSA is not within the known distribution
of this species (UC Davis 2017). Additionally,
The BSA lacks any marine habitat which is
required by this species for foraging.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 39 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
tidewater goby Eucyclogobius
newberryi FE, SSC
Brackish water habitats along the
California coast from Agua
Hedionda Lagoon, San Diego
County to the mouth of the Smith
River. Found in willow lagoons and
lower stream reaches, they need
fairly still but not stagnant water and
high oxygen levels.

A
The BSA is not within the known distribution
of this species (UC Davis 2016). Additionally,
The BSA lacks any lagoon habitat which is
required by this species.
delta smelt Hypomesus
transpacificus

FT, SE,
RP
Lives in the Sacramento-San
Joaquin estuary in areas where salt
and freshwater systems meet.

Occurs seasonally in Suisun Bay,
Carquinez Strait and San Pablo
Bay.

A
The BSA is not within the known distribution
of this species (UCDvis 2017). Additionally,
the BSA lacks any brackish water habitat
which is required by this species.

Tomales roach
Lavinia
symmetricus ssp.
symmetricus
SSC
Habitat generalists. Tolerant of
relatively high temperatures and
low oxygen levels, however unable
to tolerate very saline water.

Tributaries to Tomales Bay.

A The BSA is not within the known distribution
of this species (UC Davis 2017).

A, CH
San Anselmo Creek is designated as critical
habitat for the species. However, the species
is considered extirpated from the tributaries of
San Francisco Bay (NMFS 2012, Brown and
Moyle 1991).

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 40 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
steelhead -
central
California coast
DPS
Oncorhynchus
mykiss FT
Occurs from the Russian River
south to Soquel Creek and Pajaro
River. Also in San Francisco and
San Pablo Bay Basins. Adults
migrate upstream to spawn in cool,
clear, well-oxygenated streams.

Juveniles remain in fresh water for
1 or more years before migrating
downstream to the ocean.

P, CH
San Anselmo Creek is designated as critical
habitat for the central California coastal DPS
of this species. Though two barriers to
anadromy exist downstream of the BSA, the
species is considered present within the
creek.
chinook salmon
– Central Valley
fall/late fall-run
ESU
Oncorhynchus
tshawytscha SSC
Populations spawning in the Central
Valley, Napa and Petaluma Rivers
and their tributaries. Adults migrate
upstream to spawn in cool, clear,
well-oxygenated streams.

Juveniles remain in fresh water for
1 or more years before migrating
downstream to the ocean
A
The BSA is not within the known distribution
of this species (UC Davis 2017). This ESU
only spawns in and in tributaries of the
Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers.

Additionally, the BSA lacks any marine or
brackish water habitats which may be used for
foraging or rearing habitat by the species.
chinook salmon
- California
coastal ESU
Oncorhynchus
tshawytscha FT, RP
California Coastal Chinook Salmon
ESU includes all naturally spawned
populations of Chinook salmon from
rivers and streams south of the
Klamath River (exclusive) to the
Russian River (inclusive). Adult
numbers depend on pool depth and
volume, amount of cover, and
proximity to gravel.

A
The BSA is not within the known breeding
distribution of this species (UC Davis 2017).

This ESU is only known to spawn in tributaries
along coastal California that lead directly to
the ocean without going through San
Francisco Bay. Additionally, the BSA lacks
any marine or brackish water habitats which
may be used for foraging or rearing habitat by
the species.

A
The BSA is not within the known distribution
of this species. The BSA does not contain any
flooded upland or slow slough like habitat
which this species requires for spawning.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 41 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
longfin smelt Spirinchus
thaleichthys

FC, ST,
SSC
Euryhaline, nektonic and
anadromous. Found in open
waters of estuaries, mostly in
middle or bottom of water column.

Prefer salinities of 15 to 30 ppt, but
can be found in completely
freshwater to almost pure seawater.

A
The BSA is not within the known distribution
of this species. Additionally, the BSA lacks
any marine or brackish water habitats which
may be used for foraging or rearing habitat by
the species.
eulachon Thaleichthys
pacificus FT, SSC
Occur in nearshore ocean waters
and to 1,000 feet (300 m) in depth,
except for the brief spawning runs
into their natal (birth) streams.

Ranges from northern California to
southwest Alaska and southeastern
Bering Sea.

A
The BSA is not within the known distribution
of this species. Additionally, the BSA lacks
any marine or brackish water habitats which
may be used for foraging or rearing habitat by
the species.

Invertebrates
Tomales isopod Caecidotea
tomalensis SSI
Inhabits localized fresh-water ponds
or streams with still or near-still
water in several San Francisco Bay
Area counties.

A
San Anselmo Creek which flows through the
BSA is a flowing creek which does not provide
the still water or pond habitat required by the
species.

Marin blind
harvestman Calicina diminua SSI
Known only from the type locality.

Taken under serpentine on a
grassland hillside on San Marin
Drive, Novato, Marin County. They
occur in mesic habitats, but are
absent from situations where soils
are saturated or periodically
inundated. Most species occur
under medium to large undisturbed
rocks that are in contact with the
soil.

A
Soils within San Anselmo Creek are
periodically inundated and would thus
preclude this species’ presence. This species
has only been documented at the type locality
in Novato, approximately 7 miles north of the
BSA.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 42 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Bay checkerspot
butterfly
Euphydryas editha
bayensis FT, SSI
Restricted to native grasslands on
outcrops of serpentine soil in the
vicinity of San Francisco Bay.

Plantago erecta is the primary host
plant; Orthocarpus densiflorus and
O. purpurscens are the secondary
host plants.

San Bruno elfin
butterfly Callophrys mossii
bayensis FE, SSI
Inhabits coastal mountainous areas
with grassy ground cover, mainly in
the vicinity of San Bruno Mountain,
San Mateo County. Colonies are
located on steep, north-facing
slopes within the fog belt. Larval
host plant is Sedum spathulifolium.

A
The BSA is not within the known distribution
of this species. Areas within the BSA and
immediately surrounding are low-density
residential developments and are largely
comprised of coniferous forest. The BSA
contains no grassland that may support the
host plants required by the species.
monarch
butterfly Danaus plexippus SSI
Winter roost sites extend along the
coast from northern Mendocino to
Baja California, Mexico. Roosts
located in wind-protected tree
groves (eucalyptus, Monterey pine,
Monterey cypress), with nectar and
water sources nearby.

A
Roost sites for monarchs in the areas
surrounding the BSA are primarily in groves
along the coast. No groves used as roost sites
have been recorded within 6.5 miles of the
BSA. The species may migrate through the
area.

Ricksecker's
water scavenger
beetle
Hydrochara
rickseckeri SSI
Aquatic; known only from pond
habitats scattered around the San
Francisco Bay area.

A
San Anselmo Creek within the BSA does not
provide pond habitat which is required to
support the species.
mission blue
butterfly Icaricia icarioides
missionensis

FE, RP,
SSI
Inhabits grasslands of the San
Francisco peninsula. Three larval
host plants: Lupinus albifrons, L.
variicolor, and L. formosus, of which
L. albifrons is favored.

A
The BSA is not within the known distribution
of this species. The BSA does not contain
grassland required to support the host plants
of the species.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 43 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Callippe
silverspot
butterfly
Speyeria callippe FE, SSI
Restricted to the northern coastal
scrub of the San Francisco
peninsula. Host plant is Viola
pedunculata. Most adults found on
east-facing slopes; males
congregate on hilltops in search of
females.

A
The BSA is not within the known distribution
of this species. The BSA is in a low-density
residential and forested habitat which does
not contain scrub required to support the host
plants of the species.

Myrtle's
silverspot
butterfly
Speyeria zerene
myrtleae

FE, RP,
SSI
Restricted to the foggy, coastal
dunes/hills of the Point Reyes
peninsula; extirpated from coastal
San Mateo County. Larval food
plant thought to be Viola adunca.

A
The BSA is not within the known distribution
of this species. The BSA is in a low-density
residential and forested habitat. No dune or
grassland habitat is present to support the
host plants or foraging by the species.

California
freshwater
shrimp
Syncaris pacifica FE, SE,

RP, SSI
Endemic to Marin, Napa, and
Sonoma counties. Found in low
elevation, low gradient streams
where riparian cover is moderate to
heavy, willow pools away from main
stream flow. Winter: undercut banks
with exposed roots. Summer: leafy
branches touching water.

A
The BSA is not within the known distribution
of this species. Suitable habitat for the
species is primarily found within northern
Marin County along the border with Sonoma
County. This species has not been
documented in San Anselmo Creek.

Plants and Sensitive Natural Communities
Sensitive Natural Communities
Coastal
Brackish Marsh,
Coastal Terrace
Prairie,
Northern
Coastal Salt
Marsh,
Serpentine
Bunchgrass

NA NA NA A
The BSA does not contain any of these
habitats. No further actions are
recommended for these Sensitive Natural
Communities.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 44 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Sensitive Plants
Sonoma
alopecurus
Alopecurus
aequalis var.
sonomensis
FE,
CNPS
1B.1
Freshwater marsh and swamp,
and riparian scrub. 5-360 m.

Flowers May-July.

A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with
coastal freshwater marsh and swamp, and
riparian scrub. The BSA lacks suitable,
sufficiently mesic habitat. No further actions
are recommended for this species.

Napa false
indigo
Amorpha
californica var.
napensis
CNPS
1B.2
Broadleaf upland forest, chaparral,
cismontane woodland; openings in
forest, woodland, and chaparral.
120-2,000 m. Flowers April-July.

HP
Woodland habitat within the BSA could
support this species, however, this woody
perennial was not observed during the field
surveys, which were conducted when this
species would be identifiable. No further
actions are recommended for this species.

Bent-flowered
fiddleneck Amsinckia lunaris
BLMS,
CNPS
1B.2
Cismontane woodland, valley and
foothill grassland. 5-500 m.

Flowers March-June.

Mt. Tamalpais
manzanita
Arctostaphylos
montana ssp.
montana
CNPS
1B.3
Generally, serpentinite soil, valley
and foothill grassland. 160-760 m.

Flowers February-April.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 45 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Presidio
manzanita
Arctostaphylos
montana ssp.
ravenii
FE,SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Serpentinite soil, chaparral, coastal
prairie, coastal scrub. 20-215 m.

Flowers February-April.

A
Limited, low quality, habitat occurs in the
BSA. No manzanitas (a woody perennial)
were observed. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Marsh sandwort Arenaria
paludicola

FE, SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Freshwater marsh. 10-170 m.

Flowers May-August. A No suitable habitat. No further actions are recommended for this species.

Coastal marsh
milk-vetch
Astragalus
pycnostachyus
var.
pycnostachyus
BLMS,
CNPS
1B.2
Coastal salt marshes, coastal
dunes, coastal scrub, stream
sides. 0-30 m. Flowers AprilOctober.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Alkali milk-vetch Astragalus tener
var. tener
CNPS
1B.2
Alkali playa, valley and foothill
grassland, vernal pools. 1-170 m.

Flowers March-June.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Tiburon
mariposa lily
Calochortus
tiburonensis

FT, ST,
CNPS
1B.1
Serpentinite soil, valley and foothill
grassland. Open rocky, serpentine.
50-150 m. Flowers March-June.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Seaside
bittercress
Cardamine
angulata
CNPS
2B.1
North coast coniferous forest,
lower montane coniferous forest,
wet places. 65-951 m. Flowers
April-June.

HP
This perennial species was not observed
during the field surveys, which were
conducted during the flowering period. The
closest known occurrence of this species is a
1915 observation near the Town of
Lagunitas, over 5 miles away. No further
actions are recommended for this species.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 46 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Bristly sedge Carex comosa CNPS
2B.2
Marshes and swamps, lake
margins, wet places.5-1,005 m.

Flowers July-September.

A
Closest known occurrence was in 1866 in the
Delta. No suitable habitat. No further actions
are recommended for this species.

Tiburon Indian
paintbrush
Castilleja affinis
ssp. neglecta

FE, ST,
CNPS
1B.2
Rocky serpentinite soil, valley and
foothill grassland. 75-400 m.

Flowers April-June.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Mason's
ceanothus
Ceanothus
masonii
CNPS
1B.2
Dry rocky areas, chaparral. 230-
500 m. Flowers March-April. A No suitable habitat. No further actions are recommended for this species.

Point Reyes
bird’s beak
Chloropyron
maritimum ssp.
palustre
BLMS,
CNPS
1B.2
Coastal salt marsh. 0-10 m.

Flowers June-October. A
No suitable coastal salt marsh habitat. No
further actions are recommended for this
species.

San Francisco
Bay spineflower
Chorizanthe
cuspidata var.
cuspidata
CNPS
1B.2
Sandy soil, coastal bluff scrub,
coastal dunes, coastal prairie,
coastal scrub. 3-250 m. Flowers
April-August.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Franciscan
thistle Cirsium andrewsii CNPS
1B.2
Moist places in broadleafed upland
forest on the coast, coastal bluff
scrub, coastal prairie, and coastal
scrub. 0-150 m. Flowers MarchJuly.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Mt. Tamalpais
thistle
Cirsium
hydrophilum var.
vaseyi
CNPS
1B.2
Moist places in broadleafed upland
forest, chaparral, meadows and
seeps. Serpentine streams. 240-
620 m Flowers May-August.

A No suitable serpentine habitat. No further
actions are recommended for this species.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 47 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Presidio clarkia Clarkia
franciscana

FE, SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Serpentinite soil, valley and foothill
grassland. 25-335 m. Flowers
May-July.

A No suitable serpentine habitat. No further
actions are recommended for this species.

Round-headed
Chinese houses
Collinsia
corymbosa
CNPS
1B.2
Coastal dunes.0-20 m. Flowers
April-June. A No suitable dune habitat. No further actions are recommended for this species.

San Francisco
collinsia Collinsia multicolor CNPS
1B.2
Closed-cone coniferous forest,
coastal scrub, on decomposed
shale in humus. 30-250m. Flowers
March-May.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Robust
spineflower
Chorizanthe
robusta var.
robusta
FE, Rank
1B.1
Chaparral (maritime), cismontane
woodland (openings), coastal
dunes, coastal scrub, sandy or
gravelly.3-300 m. Flowers AprilSeptember.

San Francisco
Bay spineflower
Chorizanthe
cuspidata var.
cuspidata
CNPS
1B.2
Coastal bluff scrub, coastal dues,
coastal prairie. Coastal scrub,
sandy. 10-305 m. Flowers JuneAugust.

Sonoma
spineflower
Chorizanthe
cuspidata var.
valida

FE, SE,
Rank
1B.1
Sandy coastal prairie. 10-305 m.

No further actions are recommended for this
species.

Golden larkspur Delphinium luteum

FE, SR,
CNPS
1B.1
Chaparral, coastal prairie, coastal
scrub/rocky. 1-100 m. Flowers
March-May.

A
The BSA is not in the critical habitat area.

This site lacks suitable chaparral, coastal
prairie habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 48 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Western
leatherwood Dirca occidentalis CNPS
1B.2
Mesic sites, broadleafed upland
forest, closed-cone conifer forest,
chaparral, cismontane woodland,
north coast coniferous forest,
riparian forest, riparian woodland.
25-425 m. Flowers January- April.

HP
Woodland habitat within the BSA may
support this species. This perennial woody
shrub species was not observed during the
field surveys, which were conducted when
this species would be identifiable. No further
actions are recommended for this species.

Tiburon
buckwheat
Eriogonum
luteolum var.
caninum
CNPS
1B.2
Serpentinite soil, chaparral, coastal
prairie, valley and foothill
grassland. 0-700 m. Flowers JuneSeptember.

A
No suitable habitat. No buckwheats were
observed during surveys. No further actions
are recommended for this species.

Koch's cord
moss
Entosthodon kochii CNPS
1B.3
Cismontane woodland and valley
foothill grassland. Know from
Plumas NF on serpentine river
bank. 500-1,000 m. Flowers N/A.

A No suitable serpentine habitat. No further
actions are recommended for this species.

HP
Mesic substrates within the BSA may have
the potential to support this species. This
species was not observed during the field
surveys, which occurred during the wet
season when this species is identifiable,
though common member of the same genus
was found (Fissidens crispus). No further
actions are recommended for this species.

Marin checker
lily
Fritillaria
lanceolata var.
tristulis
CNPS
1B.1
Coastal bluff scrub, coastal prairie,
coastal scrub. Canyons and
riparian areas and rocky outcrops.
15-150 m. Flowers February-April.

HP
Though not coastal, there is canyon like
habitat adjacent to the creek. No Fritillaria
were observed during the field surveys,
which were conducted during the flowering
period. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 49 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Blue coast gilia Gilia capitata ssp.
chamissonis
CNPS
1B.1
Coastal dunes, coastal scrub.

Elevation range: 2-180 m. Flowers
April-July.

A
The BSA lacks suitable coastal dune and
scrub habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Woolly-headed
gilia
Gilia capitata ssp.
tomentosa
CNPS
1B.1
Rocky serpentine outcrops in
coastal bluff scrub and valley and
foothill grassland. 10-220 m.

Flowers May-July.

Marin western
flax
Hesperolinon
congestum

Flowers April-July.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 50 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Water stargrass
Heteranthera
dubia
CNPS
2B.2
Requires a pH of 7 or higher,
usually in slightly eutrophic waters.

Marshes and swamps (alkaline,
still or slow-moving water). 30-
1495 m. Flowers July-October.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Santa Cruz
tarplant
Holocarpha
macradenia

FT, CE,
CNPS
1B.1
Coastal prairie, coastal scrub,
Valley and foothill grassland, often
clay. 10-20 m. Flowers JuneOctober.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Kellogg’s
horkelia
Horkelia cuneata
var. sericea
CNPS
1B.2,
BLMS
Closed-cone coniferous forest,
chaparral (maritime), coastal
dunes, coastal scrub, openings,
sandy/gravelly. 10-200 m.

Flowers April-Sept.

A No suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Thin-lobed
horkelia Horkelia tenuiloba
CNPS
1B.2,
BLMS
Broadleaf upland forest, chaparral,
valley and foothill grassland/mesic
openings, sandy. 50-500 m.

Flowers April-July.

No further actions are recommended for this
species.

Small
groundcone Kopsiopsis hookeri CNPS

2.3 North coast coniferous forest,
generally on salal (Gaultheria
shallon) and Vaccinium. 90-885 m.

Flowers April-August.

A
The BSA lacks suitable habitat for this
species. No salal present. No further actions
are recommended for this species.

Contra costa
goldfields
Lasthenia
conjugens
FE,
CNPS
1B.2
Cismontane woodland, playas
(alkaline), valley and foothill
grassland, vernal pools. 0-470 m.

Flowers March-April.

A
The BSA does not provide suitable habitat.

This species was not observed during the
surveys, which were conducted during the
flowering period. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Beach layia Layia carnosa

FE, SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Sandy soil, coastal dunes, coastal
scrub. 0-60 m. Flowers MarchJuly.A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with
coastal scrub and dunes. The BSA lacks
suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 51 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Rose
leptosiphon
Leptosiphon
rosaceus
CNPS
1B.1
Coastal bluff scrub. 0-100 m.

San Francisco
lessingia
Lessingia
germanorum

FE, SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Coastal scrub (remnant dunes) 25-
110 m. Flowers June-November. A The BSA lacks suitable habitat. No further actions are recommended for this species.

Tamalpais
lessingia
Lessingia
micradenia var.
micradenia
CNPS
1B.2
Chaparral, valley and foothill
grassland; usually located on
serpentine substrate, often
roadsides. 10-500 m. Flowers
June-October.

A
The BSA lacks serpentine and suitable
habitat. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

Pitkin Marsh
lily
Lilium pardalinum
ssp. pitkinense

FE, SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Cismontane woodland, meadows
and seeps, marshes and swamps
(freshwater), mesic and sandy.
35-65 m. Flowers June-July.

A
Known only from areas near Sebastopol. The
mesic area in the BSA does not provide
appropriate habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Sebastopol
meadowfoam
Limnanthes
vinculans

FE, SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Meadows and seeps, valley and
foothill grassland, vernal pools,
vernally mesic. 15-305 m.

Flowers April-May.

A
The BSA lacks suitable grassland and vernal
pool habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Tidestrom’s
lupine Lupinus tidestromii

A
This species is typically found in areas that
receive more sunlight than the site. It was not
observed during the field surveys, which
were conducted during the flowering period.

No further actions are recommended for this
species.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 52 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Elongate
copper moss
Mielichhoferia
elongata
CNPS
2B.2
Cismontane woodland/
metamorphic, rock typically with
high levels of heavy metals,
usually vernally mesic. 500-1300
m.

A
This species is often found along road cuts in
the foothills. It was not observed during the
field surveys. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Marin County
navarretia Navarretia rosulata CNPS
1B.2
Rocky serpentinite soil, closedcone coniferous forest, chaparral. 200-635 m. Flowers May-July.

A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with
serpentinite soil. The BSA lacks suitable
habitat. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

White-rayed
pentachaeta
Pentachaeta
bellidiflora

FE, SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Valley and foothill grassland,
coastal scrub, coastal prairie, open
dry rocky areas, often serpentine.
35-620 m. Flowers March-May.

A
The BSA lacks suitable open dry rocky habit.

This species was not observed during the
field surveys, which were conducted during
the flowering period. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Choris'
popcorn-flower
Plagiobothrys
chorisianus var.
chorisianus
CNPS
1B.1
Moist places, coastal prairie,
coastal scrub, chaparral, seasonal
marsh. Known only from San
Francisco southward. 60-485 m.

San Francisco
popcorn-flower
Plagiobothrys
diffusus
SE,
CNPS 1B
Seasonally moist places, coastal
prairie, valley and foothill
grassland. Known only from San
Francisco southward. 0-100 m.

Flowers April-June.

A
The BSA lacks suitable habit. This species
was not observed during the field surveys,
which were conducted during the flowering
period. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

Hairless
popcorn-flower
Plagiobothrys
glaber CNPS 1A
Alkaline meadows and seeps,
coastal salt marshes.0-100 m.

North coast
semaphore
grass
Pleuropogon
hooverianus
BLMS,
ST,
CNPS
1B.1
Moist, open to shaded areas,
broadleafed upland forest,
meadows and seeps, north coast
coniferous forest. Marshy
areas.10-1,150 m. Flowers MayAugust.

A
The BSA lacks suitable habit. The creekbed
is not vegetated and the banks are too dry.

This species was not observed during the
field surveys, which were conducted during
the flowering period. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 53 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Oregon
polemonium
Polemonium
carneum
CNPS
2B.2
Coastal prairie, coastal scrub,
lower montane coniferous forest.
0-1,830m. Flowers AprilSeptember.

A
The BSA lacks suitable habitat. This species
was not observed during the field surveys,
which was conducted during the flowering
period. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

Hickman’s
potentilla
Potentilla
hickmanii

FE, SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Coastal bluff scrub, closed-cone
coniferous forest, meadows and
seeps (vernally mesic), marshes
and swamps (freshwater). 10-149
m. Flowers April-August.

A
The closest known occurrence is south of
San Francisco. The BSA lacks suitable
habitat. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

Tamalpais oak
Quercus parvula
var.
tamalpaisensis
CNPS
1B.3
Lower montane coniferous forest.
100-750 m. Flowers March-April. HP
Suitable habitat for this species may be
present in the BSA. This species is a woody
shrub, which if present, would have been
observed during the field surveys. No further
actions are recommended for this species.

Adobe sanicle Sanicula maritima
USFSS,
SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Chaparral, coastal prairie,
meadows and seeps, valley and
foothill grassland, often clay and
serpentine. 30-240 m. Flowers
February-May.

Point Reyes
checkerbloom
Sidalcea calycosa
ssp. rhizomata
CNPS
1B.2
Freshwater marshes and swamps
near the coast. 3-75 m. Flowers
April-September.

A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are associated with marsh
habitat. The BSA lacks suitable marsh
habitat. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

Marin
checkerbloom
Sidalcea hickmanii
ssp. viridis
CNPS
1B.3
Chaparral; located on serpentine
or volcanic substrate; often
observed following burns. 50-425
m. Flowers May-June.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 54 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
San Francisco
campion
Silene verecunda
ssp. verecunda
CNPS
1B.2
Coastal bluff scrub, chaparral,
coastal prairie, coastal scrub,
valley and foothill grassland, often
mudstone, one on serpentine. 30-
645 m. Flowers March-August.

A
Limited suitable habitat for this species may
be present in the BSA, however, this species
was not observed during the field surveys,
which were conducted during the flowering
period. No further actions are recommended
for this species.

Tamalpais
jewel-flower
Streptanthus
batrachopus
CNPS
1B.3
Serpentinite soil, chaparral, closedcone coniferous forest. 305-650 m.

Flowers April-June.

Mt. Tamalpais
bristly jewelflower
Streptanthus
glandulosus ssp.
pulchellus
CNPS
1B.2
Serpentinite soil/talus, chaparral,
valley and foothill grassland. 150-
800 m. Flowers May-July.

Tiburon jewelflower
Streptanthus
glandulosus ssp.
niger (previously
Streptanthus
niger)

FE, SE,
CNPS
1B.1
Serpentinite soil, valley and foothill
grassland. 30-150 m. Flowers
May-June.

Suisun Marsh
aster
Symphyotrichum
lentum
CNPS
1B.2
Brackish and freshwater marshes
and swamps.0-3 m. Flowers MayNovember.A
All known occurrences of this species in the
vicinity of the BSA are found along
seasonally wet sloughs and marshes. The
BSA lacks suitable habitat. No further
actions are recommended for this species.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 55 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
Two fork clover Trifolium
amoenum
FE,
CNPS
1B.1
Coastal bluff scrub, valley and
foothill grassland (sometimes
serpentinite), open sunny sites.5-
415 m. Flowers April-June.

Saline clover
Trifolium
hydrophilum (syn.

Trifolium
depauperatum var.
hydrophilum)
CNPS
1B.2
Marshes and swamps, valley and
foothill grassland (mesic, alkaline),
vernal pools. 0-300 m. Flowers
April-June.

San Francisco
owl's-clover
Triphysaria
floribunda
CNPS
1B.2
Coastal prairie, coastal scrub,
valley and foothill grassland,
generally serpentinite soil.10-160
m. Flowers April-June.

A
The BSA does not provide suitable habitat.

This species was not observed during the
field surveys, which were conducted during
the flowering period. No further actions are
recommended for this species.

Coastal
triquetrella
Triquetrella
californica
CNPS
1B.2
Coastal prairie, coastal scrub.

Grows within 30 meters of the
coast on gravelly rocky soil. 30-150
m. Flowers May-June.

A
Known in CA from fewer than ten small
coastal occurrences, and in in OR from only
one occurrence. The BSA does not provide
suitable habitat. No further actions are
recommended for this species
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 56 September 2017 Common
Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Habitat
Present/
Absent
Rationale
* Key to status codes:

FE Federal Endangered
FT Federal Threatened
FD Federal Delisted
FC Federal Candidate
BCC USFWS Birds of Conservation Concern
MMPA Species protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act SE State Endangered
ST State Threatened
SR State Rare
SSC CDFW Species of Special Concern
CFP CDFW Fully Protected Animal
WBWG Western Bat Working Group (High or Medium) Priority species BLMS Bureau of Land Management Sensitive Species
USFSS U.S. Forest Service Sensitive Species
CNPS 1A CNPS Rare Plant Rank 1A: Plants presumed extirpated in California and either rare or extinct elsewhere CNPS 1B CNPS Rare Plant Rank 1B: Plants rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere CNPS 2A CNPS Rare Plant Rank 2A: Plants presumed extirpated in California, but more common elsewhere CNPS 2B CNPS Rare Plant Rank 2B: Plants rare, threatened, or endangered in California, but more common elsewhere CNPS 3 CNPS are Plant Rank 3: Plants about which more information is needed – a review list CNPS 4 CNPS Rare Plant Rank 4: Plants of limited distribution – a watch list CNPS Rare Plant Threat Ranks

0.1-Seriously threatened in California (over 80% of occurrences threatened / high degree and immediacy of threat)

0.2-Moderately threatened in California (20-80% occurrences threatened / moderate degree and immediacy of threat)

0.3-Not very threatened in California (<20% of occurrences threatened / low degree and immediacy of threat or no current threats known) *Presence:

Absent [A] - no habitat present and no further work needed.

Habitat Present [HP] -habitat is, or may be present. The species may be present.

Present [P] - the species is present.

Critical Habitat [CH] - proposed project footprint is located within a designated critical habitat unit, but does not necessarily mean that appropriate habitat is present.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 57 September 2017 Chapter 4 – Results: Biological Resources, Discussion of Impacts and Mitigation
Habitats and Natural Communities of Special Concern
Habitats are considered to be of special concern based on (1) federal, state, or local laws regulating their development; (2) limited distributions; and/or (3) the habitat requirements of special-status plants or animals occurring on site. Two natural communities of special concern were found to be present in the BSA, Riparian Redwood Forest and Intermittent Stream (CWA “Other Waters”). These communities are summarized in Table 2 and discussed below, and shown on the Biological Communities Map Figure 3a. The “Other Waters” is also considered sensitive by federal and state agencies, due to the regulatory aspects discussed in more detail in Chapter 2, above and in the Jurisdictional Delineation Report.

Figure 3b shows the proposed project’s impact areas. The following sections present a discussion of the impacts and mitigation for each natural community of special concern.

Table 2: Direct Impacts of the Proposed Project to Natural Communities of Special Concern.

Natural Community of Special Concern Permanent Impacts Temporary Impacts Riparian Redwood Forest 0 ft2 0 ft2
Intermittent Stream
“Other Waters” 0 ft2/ 0 linear feet 0.001 acre (55 ft2)/ 12 linear feet
Total (and Total for Critical Habitat for CCC
steelhead and Coho salmon.) 0 acre (0 ft2
) 0.001 acre (55 ft2)
Table 3: Direct Impacts of the Proposed Project to Jurisdictional Areas by Agency.

Agencies Jurisdiction Permanent Impacts Temporary Impacts CDFW (creek bed and bank) <0.01 acre (110 ft2) 0.001 acre (55 ft2) USACE and RWQCB (creek bed) 0 acre 0 ft2) 0.001 acre (55 ft2) NMFS (creek bed and bank because of
critical habitat)
0 acre (0 ft2) 0.001 acre (55 ft2)
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 58 September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
Map Date: 5/15/2017
Map By: smortensen
Data Source: WRA,
Base Map: ESRI Streaming Imagery
Bridge Preventative
Maintenance Program
Canyon Road Bridge
NES
Marin County,
California
Canyon Road
Flow
Riprap
Sacks to be removed
& Soil Backfill
Wall
Wall
Railing
Railing
Railing 0 5 10 20
Feet
Figure 3b. Biological
Communities
Impacted within the
Biological Study Area
Path: L:\Acad 2000 Files\22000\22304\GIS\ArcMap\BPMP\Canyon Road Bridge\2017\Fig3b_Impacts_20170425.mxd Biological Study Area
Bridge Plan
Impact Type (totals)
Permanent (<0.01 ac. / 121.35 sq.ft.)
Temporary (<0.01 ac. / 65.25 sq.ft.)
Biological Communities
Intermittent stream
Riparian redwood forest
Ruderal disturbed/Developed
Detail Area
Permanent Impacts Square Feet
Ruderal disturbed/Developed 121
Temporary Impacts
Intermittent stream 55
Ruderal disturbed/Developed 11
Total Temporary Impacts 65
Project Impacts
@wrO

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
1 110)
6 n o
o
O
N
7) o W h E
3 s
□
□
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
61 Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 61 September 2017

RIPARIAN REDWOOD FOREST
Riparian Redwood Forest Survey Results
Upland plant communities in the BSA are comprised of Ruderal Disturbed/Developed, which is not a habitat of concern, and Riparian Redwood Forest, which is discussed here. The Riparian Redwood Forest is similar to the Sequoia Sempervirens Forest Alliance (G3, S3.2, Sawyer, J., T. Keeler-Wolf and J. Evens. 2009). The G3 S3.2 ranking indicate that it is considered a natural community of special concern (sensitive) at the state and global level; though the Redwood Forest plant community is prevalent along California’s northern coast. The overstory consists of native tree species (such as redwood, big leaf maple, and California bay). The term ‘riparian’ is used here as a descriptor to indicate the slightly more mesic conditions within the stream’s general influence. It should be noted that the plant community would be considered a forest rather than a traditional riparian zone because of the lack of willows, alders, or other typical riparian species. There is a cluster of three redwood trees conjoined at the base adjacent to the northwest wing wall. This cluster is within the Ruderal Disturbed/Developed community and is presumed planted based on location between an existing house and bridge structures. In addition, an arborist has examined these trees and provided recommendations. In general, the proper stabilization of the wingwall is expected to protect the trees. Riparian Redwood Forest is avoided by the proposed project (Figure 3b), and no Riparian Redwood Forest is anticipated to be impacted by the proposed project.

Riparian Redwood Forest Avoidance and Minimization Efforts The Riparian Redwood Forest community is avoided by the proposed project, and no Riparian Redwood Forest is anticipated to be impacted by the proposed project. Although the redwood tree cluster is not within the Riparian Redwood Forest community, the following avoidance and minimization measures will be employed to avoid or minimize impacts to the greatest extent possible:
 The proposed Canyon Road Bridge work has been designed to avoid impacts to trees to the maximum extent feasible. An arborist has provided professional advice on the best approach to protecting the redwoods that are near the wingwall proposed to be replaced.

The soil nails are not expected to damage the trees roots. The expansion joints in the new wingwall would help the wall withstand the force of continued root growth,  Silt fencing or other approved sediment trapping will be installed down gradient of the work site to minimize off-site transport of sediments.
 Exclusion fencing will be installed along the limits of clearing and grubbing to prevent encroachment into undisturbed habitats.

Riparian Redwood Forest Project Impacts
As summarized in Table 2 above, no permanent impacts and no temporary impacts to Riparian Redwood Forest are anticipated as a result of proposed project construction. Tree trimming is currently not anticipated, but may result in discountable temporary direct effects, if needed, for construction access. The redwood trees will be protected during removal of the concrete sacks and soil nails are not expected to damage roots. Minor temporary indirect impacts to Riparian Redwood Forest may result from construction activities including increased dust deposition on adjacent vegetation.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 62 September 2017 Riparian Redwood Forest Compensatory Mitigation
The proposed project avoids the Riparian Redwood Forest community. No temporary impacts to this natural community are anticipated from the proposed project. No permanent direct or indirect, or temporary direct or indirect impacts to typical riparian tree species such as alders or willows are proposed.

INTERMITTENT STREAM (“OTHER WATERS”)
Intermittent Stream (“Other Waters” Survey Results
The streambed consists of the Intermittent Stream Biological Community, which is comprised of approximately 0.22 acre (320 linear feet) of “other waters”. There are no wetlands in the BSA.

Flows vary with the rainfall patterns of a given year. The watershed that drains into the creek consists of the western part of the Town of Fairfax and adjacent open space lands. Flows within the creek during the March 2016 site visit extended to the edges of the creek bed. During site visits in spring 2015 flows were minimal to absent. Though, there were a few remnant small pools that held water. In addition to slope change at the bed and bank junction, wrack observed at the edge of the creek bed was used as an indication of OHW mark. The substrate under the bridge and extending roughly 40 feet downstream of the bridge consists of a concrete apron with a metal fish ladder seated in it. Downstream of the fish ladder are numerous chunks of concrete. The remaining areas upstream and downstream are a mix of small gravel to larger cobble. The channel width at the OHW mark was used to determine the Intermittent Stream (“other waters”) boundary shown on Figure 3a. The creek is not included on the National System of Wild and Scenic Rivers published by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The banks under the existing bridge are poured concrete, just upstream of the bridge on the northwest side is a concrete sack retaining wall.

Pursuant to the Clean Water Act Section 404 and 401 the creek below OHW would be within the USACE and RWCQB jurisdiction. It would also be protected by Porter Cologne (RWQCB).

There are no areas in the BSA that would be considered only Waters of the State (not Waters of the US).

Intermittent Stream Avoidance and Minimization Efforts
The following measures are included to avoid and/or minimize and restore potential impacts to creek habitat resulting from the use of mechanical equipment in the creek bed.  The primary construction will be completed during the dry season, between April 15 and October 15, and work within the creek bed and banks will occur when the work area is dry.
 Final grading in the creek bed will conform to the existing creek channel both downstream and upstream (except in the areas of permanent fill), and existing bed materials will be replaced with similar sized materials.  Regulatory approval will be obtained for all work within potential jurisdictional areas, including approval from the USACE, RWQCB, CDFW, and NMFS. All work within these areas will conform to any conditions imposed by the regulating agencies.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 63 September 2017  Prior to any clearing, grubbing, pruning, or groundbreaking activity, the limits of construction will be fenced with temporary high-visibility construction fencing to protect environmentally sensitive areas, to prevent any equipment from unnecessarily extending the work area or entering the creekbed. In addition, silt fencing will be installed at the base of the construction fencing to prevent debris from entering the creek. All fencing will be removed upon project completion.
 Prior to construction, the contractor will be required to prepare an Accidental Spill Prevention and Cleanup Plan.
 To minimize fluid leaks during operation, refueling, and maintenance of stationary equipment spill control absorbent material will be in place underneath this equipment at all times to capture potential leaks. All refueling and maintenance of equipment, other than stationary equipment, will occur outside the creek’s top-of-bank. Any hazardous chemical spills will be cleaned immediately.
 All stockpiling of construction materials, equipment, and supplies, including storage of chemicals, refueling and maintenance, will occur outside the creek channel. No equipment will be washed where runoff could enter the creek.  No motorized equipment is to be left within the channel (top of bank to top of bank) overnight, unless a container or similar method is securely placed beneath the equipment to catch any fluid leakage. All contained fluids will be disposed of in a permitted manner.
 The contractor will be required to use a drilling mud and slurry seal that is nontoxic to aquatic life if there are drilling activities related to construction of the proposed project.

All drilling muds and fluid will be contained on-site in tanks and disposed of in a permitted manner. Fluids from saw cutting and other activities will be collected and not allowed to flow into the creek.
 No equipment, including concrete trucks, will be washed within the channel of the creek, or where wash water could flow into the channel. Prior to proposed project construction, the contractor will establish a concrete washout area for concrete trucks in a location where wash water will not enter the creek or adjacent areas. The washout area will follow the practices outlined in the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board Erosion and Sediment Control Field Manual (page 107-108, July 1999) or more recent guidelines. Substitution of the designated concrete washout area or methods will require prior approval of the Town of Fairfax.
 All water that comes in contact with wet concrete must be pumped directly into tanks and disposed of at a permitted location.
 If work is to occur on the roadway and bridge approaches during the period October 15 to June 15, all drainage inlets within the proposed project site will be protected from receiving polluted storm water through the use of filters such as fabrics, gravel bags, straw wattles, or other appropriate BMPs.
 Water encountered during construction of the bridge foundations will be managed in accordance with an approved dewatering plan.
 All workers will ensure that food scraps, paper wrappers, food containers, cans, bottles, and other trash from the BSA are deposited in covered or closed trash containers. The trash containers will not be left open and unattended overnight.  The Town of Fairfax will require that all disturbed areas in the stream channel be regraded to match the surrounding topography by October 15. Seed and certified weedfree straw will be placed on disturbed areas in the proposed project site (with the exception of the lower creek banks, creek bed, and areas below the OHW mark). A jute mesh type or equivalent matting will be placed over the straw, installed per the Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 64 September 2017 manufacturer’s instructions. This matting will have no plastic incorporated into it.

Substitution of materials or erosion control methods will require prior approval of the Town of Fairfax.
 After construction, the proposed project site will be inspected following the first heavy rain, during the middle of the rainy season and at the end of the rainy season. During each visit areas of significant erosion or erosion control device failure will be noted and appropriate remedial actions taken.

With the implementation of these measures, it is expected that the proposed project will not result in substantial adverse impacts to creek habitat.

The closest recorded occurrence of this species is a 1915 observation near the Town of Lagunitas, over 5 miles away.
 Western leatherwood (Dirca occidentalis, CNPS 1B.2). Woodland habitat within the BSA could support this species. However, this woody perennial species, which is typically over 3 feet tall was not observed during the field surveys.  Minute pocket moss (Fissidens pauperculus, USFSS, CNPS 1B.2). Mesic substrates within the BSA may have the potential to support this species. This species was not observed during the field surveys; though, a common member of the same genus was found (Fissidens crispus).
 Marin checker lily (Fritillaria lanceolata var. tristulis, CNPS 1B.1). Though not coastal, there is riparian habitat within the BSA. No Fritillaria (a perennial bulbiferous herb) were observed during the field surveys, which were conducted during the flowering period.  Tamalpais oak (Quercus parvula var. tamalpaisensis, CNPS 1B.3). Though, the BSA provides potential habitat, this species is a woody shrub, which would have been identifiable during the site visits. No shrubby oaks were observed during the field surveys.

The remaining special-status plant species documented in the vicinity are unlikely to occur in the BSA based on lack of suitable habitats (such as coastal dunes, coastal prairie, coastal salt marsh or vernal pools) or specific substrates (i.e. serpentine, volcanic rock). The BSA is in a residential area, with structures (houses, sheds, etc.), fenced backyards, and landscape areas nearby. Most of the creek bank (below the top of bank) is sparsely vegetated. There are a few dense patches of English ivy and Himalayan blackberry. The areas that are not vegetated, are bare dirt, rock, or duff. The creek bed is generally unvegetated.

No special-status plant species were observed in the BSA during floristic surveys completed during the appropriate flowering periods. No effects on special-status plant species are anticipated and no further discussion of special-status plant species is necessary. 5-km. buffer from Biological Study Area
Figure 4. Special-status Plant Species Occurrences within 5 Kilometers of the Biological Study Area
Bridge Preventative Maintenance Program
Canyon Road Bridge NES
Marin County, California
0 0.5 1
Miles
.

Path: L:\Acad 2000 Files\22000\22304\GIS\ArcMap\BPMP\Canyon Road Bridge\Fig4_Canyon_CNDDB_Plants_20160329.mxd Map Prepared Date: 3/30/2016
Map Prepared By: dchan
Base Source:

Data Source(s): WRA
Marin County navarretia
Marin checker lily
Marin checkerbloom
Marin manzanita
Marin western flax
Mason's ceanothus
Mt. Tamalpais bristly jewelflower
Mt. Tamalpais manzanita
Mt. Tamalpais thistle
Napa false indigo
North Coast semaphore grass
Point Reyes checkerbloom
San Francisco Bay spineflower
Santa Cruz tarplant
Tamalpais jewelflower
Tamalpais lessingia
Tamalpais oak
Tiburon buckwheat
congested-headed hayfield tarplant
thin-lobed horkelia
two-fork clover
white-rayed pentachaeta
Biological
Study Area
Preserve
O
Fran cis-Drake Blvd “n
Sleepy Hollow

1. .* Y o TFr€, 4 c.O
VO
- (r -
WI
$
S: e
C
—P
. 1

3. 9 N' • (o Coun C ___ ___ -
t. 6
„ Happen
pr
—E /Dee r l
I

Y A I V
, D 5
r 77
AoCS C 'to
N,So
%
o9tHill V trm
A
U
1 • —
Jutao (ing
Z E*
J
A
_______ wLPA/S
[ ] 3
[ ]
[ ]
10 [ ]
@wrO

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
]
y
A)
@"P
11Imo
irse
</
24 1
I
I
$
t
4 I 1
1 All a $
%
1 1
1 1
1 1
1 /J
(
b
a Line
eepy
llow
SP
A
Ba
he a
PlDQ
d g e
C
ny
3 9
8 3
Tee
6 8
9do r 4 "d
2 o
0 as
( Ere S ■&
—ElRedHilliAvd — hu.
“15
Open Space
Pie se re
Samed,
Ss.
“o
Povonov
w
____
%
al
„■
San -
s lino
%
9 2
' r
»
O -
• 33
2 C.

C
%
■ o
%
“e.
' Wooshrre
(or e
- SAveCn‘C
60 : .6-
4 O
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 66 September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
6 5
7 1
1 4
2 8
8 1
3 3
8 8
3 Figure 4. Special-status Wildlife Species Occurrences within 5 kilometers of the Biological Study Area
Bridge Preventative Maintenance Program
Canyon Road Bridge NES
Marin County, California
0 0.5 1 2
Miles
.

Path: L:\Acad 2000 Files\22000\22304\GIS\ArcMap\BPMP\Canyon Road Bridge\2017\Fig5_Canyon_CNDDB_Wildlife5km_20170425.mxd Map Prepared Date: 5/8/2017
Map Prepared By: pkobylarz
Base Source: Esri Streaming - National Geographic
Data Source(s): WRA, CNDDB April 2017
1, California giant salamander
2, coho salmon - central California coast ESU
3, foothill yellow-legged frog
4, hoary bat
5, pallid bat
6, San Bruno elfin butterfly
7, western bumble bee
8, western pond turtle
Biological
Study Area
5 km buffer
__________________ L_______
d
to
s <0 ©
NOT
R
(1 C
O
eno onimo A Y "II Wco '^Ln Y I (s
A
A
F
eye, or
onO
"Y ..I V O 3 Big Carsoek
(
/

2. 1 I
2 I
I J.

O.
-
I
I ay b
O A Co-. (J Sar l
I Rafa
I
I
\ O m or. Ross
A Kentfi/ld
4 A /
1 5
3 )
C
Y O
E= — V
tn
C
e
—P
“o. C
SCN 9eC oud M 100 r 6
Un ’reserve
y € t
-O
( %
Dipsea Rd 4
@wrO

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
n.(
g
lines
n Open
s
/
9 6
/
a
t
3 €
. c.
$"s °p—
&
v
%.
_
Q
"o G
Sleepy
Ho How Open
Space Preserve
6 c
sen 3y
nu
3 101
A] |
se9 0
6 te
4 e.
“07
oG
°st
Botnw't
= a “oy
(
%onl Us.
s'
Grl
.9
8 / /
Twh
e* t "
( o e / "Prado y
/ ’ (
w I 1
00 o
2 €85
C.
a
-—*—2 C l
. Anselmo
Larkspur
kipur Crftk
PP-dy,
go V '
Rd
/
3 Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 68 September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 69 September 2017 Special-Status Wildlife Species
Ninety-one special-status wildlife species have been documented in the background literature as potentially occurring in the quadrangles or noted in a review of other resources as having overlapping ranges and habitat requirements (Table 1). Eight of these special-status wildlife species have been documented in CNDDB within 8 kilometers (5 miles), and those documented within 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) of the BSA are shown in Figure 5 (CDFW 2017a).

The segment of San Anselmo Creek which runs through the BSA is designated critical habitat for both Coho salmon (64 FR 24049, 73 FR 7816) and CCC steelhead (70 FR 52488, 70 FR 52630), and EFH for Pacific Salmonids. Coho salmon is considered extirpated from San Francisco Bay and all of its tributaries, thus they will not be affected by the proposed project (NMFS 2012, Brown and Moyle 1991). However, CCC steelhead are presumed present in San Anselmo Creek (UC Davis 2017). All work will be conducted when the creek is dry, such that no temporary effects to steelhead or its critical habitat are anticipated. Following implementation of avoidance and minimization measures outlined in the section below, the proposed project is anticipated to have no permanent adverse effect on steelhead, critical habitat, or EFH.

Coniferous forest adjacent to the BSA has documented occurrences of nesting NSO (CDFW 2017b). The BSA itself does not provide suitable nesting habitat for NSO, and no trees within or adjacent to the BSA are anticipated to be removed for the proposed project, and following the implementation of avoidance and minimization measures outlined in the section below, the proposed project is anticipated to have no permanent adverse effect to NSO.

Of the 91 special-status wildlife species documented to occur in the vicinity, seven species have potential to occur within the BSA. The remaining 84 species identified in Table 1 are unlikely to occur within the BSA because of existing conditions within and surrounding the BSA.

Roadways, residential development, and various anthropogenic disturbances reduce the amount of available breeding, rearing, foraging, and refugia habitat for most special-status species. Several habitat types or habitat conditions which are required to support special-status wildlife species are also absent from the BSA, such as marsh, open grassland, woodland riparian, and serpentine habitats.

Trees within the BSA are primarily California bay and small redwoods which do not provide cavities or complex foliage required to support tree roosting bats. The underside of the bridge structure is also solid with no gaps, openings, or seams which could potentially be used by roosting bats. The BSA also receives a high level of human disturbance from the residences and traffic in the vicinity further reducing the potential for special-status bat species such as Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) to occur within the BSA. This species is highly sensitive to disturbance at roost sites. The absence of roost sites and other habitat features within the BSA makes the presence of special-status bats or other bat species unlikely.

Additionally, no trees are anticipated to be removed for the project. Therefore, the project will have no effect on roosting bats.

Special-status amphibian and reptile species such as foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii), California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii), California giant salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus), and western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata) are also unlikely to occur. No occurrences of these species have been documented within the watershed, and California red-legged frog is not known within this portion of Marin County nor has it been documented within 5 miles of the BSA (CDFW 2017a). Nearby occurrences of foothill yellow-legged frog and western pond turtle are located outside the watershed and are greater than 2 miles from the BSA (CDFW 2017a). In addition, the BSA lacks suitable pool habitat and sufficient water levels during the breeding season for foothill yellow-legged frog; therefore, it does not contain suitable breeding habitat for this species. The BSA also lacks an open canopy where significant sunlight can penetrate to the Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 70 September 2017 water as well as suitable basking and upland habitats for western pond turtle. California giant salamander, is not documented within San Anselmo Creek and the lack of perennial water and refugia in the BSA preclude presence of this species. The developed banks lack underground refugia for adults. The lack of nearby occurrences and suitable habitat within the BSA make it unlikely most special-status amphibian and reptile species will occur within the BSA; thus, the project will have no effect on foothill yellow-legged frog, California red-legged frog, California giant salamander, or western pond turtle.

Based on the habitat conditions present on the BSA and documented range and occurrence information for special-status wildlife species (CDFW 2017a and 2017b), it was determined that in addition to CCC steelhead and NSO, the BSA contains potential habitat for five other specialstatus or protected wildlife species including: Allen’s hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin), purple martin (Progne subis), olive-sided flycatcher (Contopus cooperi), oak titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus), and Nuttall’s woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii). The BSA also has potential to support non-special-status nesting birds. These species and their potential for occurrence in the BSA are discussed in further detail below.

NORTHERN SPOTTED OWL
The NSO is a federally threatened and state threatened resident spotted owl subspecies found in cool temperate forests in the coastal portion of California, from Marin County northward. The natural history of this subspecies is summarized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS 2008) and Gutiérrez et al. (1995). Typical habitat consists of old-growth coniferous forests, or mixed stands of old-growth and mature trees; younger (second-growth) forests with patches of large trees are also occasionally used. High-quality year-round habitat features a tall, multitiered, multi-species canopy dominated by big trees, trees with cavities and/or broken tops, and woody debris and space under the canopy. NSO breeding pairs are usually monogamous and also demonstrate site fidelity, maintaining nesting territories and home ranges across years. The general breeding season is February through August, and nesting occurs on platform-like substrates in the forest canopy. Substrates used as nest sites include tree cavities, broken tree tops, epicormic branching (i.e., multiple branches forming from a single node), large horizontal branches, and old nests built by other birds or squirrels. While NSO nesting occurs predominantly in coniferous trees throughout its range, the population in Marin County is somewhat more generalist and has also been documented to use hardwoods for nesting (Chow 2001). Within Marin County, NSO young leave the nest (by gliding and climbing through the canopy) in late May through June, though they remain dependent on their parents for several weeks thereafter as they learn how to fly and forage independently. NSOs forage for nocturnal mammals; dusky-footed woodrats (Neotoma fuscipes) are the primary prey in northern California.

Survey Results
Within the BSA, the riparian redwood forest habitat consists primarily of California bay trees and small redwoods. This forest is low density within and directly adjacent to the BSA because of the presence of creek channel and development in the immediate area. However, dense, undeveloped coniferous forest is located adjacent to the BSA to the south and upslope.

Per the CDFW Spotted Owl Viewer database (CDFW 2017b), there are 38 documented NSO observations between the years 1998 and 2014 within 0.25 mile of the Study Area. All of these observations are located within entirely forested areas approximately 175-700 feet south of the BSA. NSO have been documented to nest in several different trees in this area in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2011.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 71 September 2017 No NSOs or indication of presence of this species (e.g., pellets or feces stains below potential nest or roost sites) were observed during the March 2016 site visit. Within the BSA, the canopy is more open and trees do not contain platform-like structures that are found in adjacent forest to the south of the BSA. The trees within the BSA are therefore unlikely to support nesting NSO. Although NSOs in the area are unlikely to nest within the BSA, they may use the BSA as foraging habitat. The area of forest containing documented occurrences of NSO south of the BSA was not investigated during the site visit. However, available aerial photography suggests that these areas feature contiguous stands of primarily older, larger conifers that provide more typical NSO habitat (Google Earth 2017).

The USFWS has published guidance on acoustic and visual disturbances for NSO (USFWS 2006). The term “disturbance-only” describes projects that will not impact NSO habitat directly, but will generate acoustic and/or visible disturbances potentially leading to nest abandonment.

For such projects, potential NSO habitat areas within 0.25 mile (1,320 feet) of such disturbance point-sources are included in impact analyses (USFWS 2011). Because no trees are anticipated to be removed as part of the proposed Project, there will be no impacts to the amount of NSO habitat in and around the BSA and the proposed Project is considered “disturbance only.” Regarding visual disturbances, USFWS (2006) provides a general setback distance of 131 feet from active nests (i.e., those with eggs or young, or being attended by adults in preparation for nesting). The BSA is equal to or greater than 175 feet from the nearest documented nest tree, and is thus beyond the visual disturbance setback. Additionally, no trees within 131 feet of the BSA are likely to be used as nest trees due to a lack of platform-like tree structures and densely wooded vegetation characteristics. Thus, it is unlikely that NSO will nest within the 131-foot visual disturbance zone.

Ambient acoustic conditions during the site visit averaged approximately 54 decibels, with a maximum reading of 79 decibels. Anthropogenic activities within the vicinity of the BSA included noise from residential properties and vehicle traffic over the Canyon Road Bridge. A summary of potential project-generated disturbances that would likely provide the highest decibel levels and their “relative sound level” is provided in Table 4 below. Also included are ambient decibel levels that were observed during the site visit.

The USFWS (2006) provides an acoustic analysis matrix that compares ambient conditions to project conditions, and then derives an estimated linear distance from disturbance point-sources at which nesting NSOs have been documented (and/or should be expected) to be harassed/disturbed (Table 4). The harassment distance is the minimum buffer necessary to avoid acoustic impacts to an active NSO nest.

The potential acoustics of bridge maintenance have an average relative sound level of “High.” In contrast, average ambient conditions in the immediate vicinity of the BSA appear to be “Very Low” to “Moderate.” Using a conservative approach in which ambient conditions are considered with an average level of 54 decibels, or “Very Low,” and proposed project conditions considered “High”, the estimated harassment distance is 330 feet. However, ambient sound levels were often observed to be in the “Low” pre-project sound levels which would result in an estimated harassment distance of 165 feet. The nearest documented NSO nesting occurrence is located approximately 175 feet south of the BSA. The BSA may be within the area of potential acoustic impact if “Very Low” or “Natural Ambient” ambient sound levels are used as the basis for existing conditions and dependent upon nest location in the year of construction.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 72 September 2017 Table 4. Acoustic disturbance analysis for NSO as per USFWS (2006) Disturbance regime Disturbance Decibel level
(“standardized”)
Relative sound
level
Yelling 70 Moderate
Flatbed pickup truck 77 Moderate
Generator (low end) 78 Moderate
Backhoe (high end) 84 High
Generator (high end) 84 High
Concrete mixer (high
end)
85 High
Pumps, generators,
compressors (high end)
87 High
Jackhammer 89 High
Medium construction
(high end)
89 High
Ambient
(existing conditions)
Power tool use from
adjacent properties,
light vehicle traffic, birds
singing, wind.
45 - 79 (measured
during the March 15,
2016 site visit)
Natural Ambient to
Moderate
Table 5. Estimated harassment distance due to elevated action-generated sound levels for proposed actions affecting NSO, by sound level (USFWS 2006) Existing (ambient)
pre-project sound
level (dB) 1,2
Anticipated action-generated sound level (dB) 2,3
Moderate
(71-80)
High
(81-90)
Very High
(91-100)
Extreme
(101-110)
“Natural Ambient”4
(<=50) 165 feet 500 feet 1,320 feet 1,320 feet
Very Low
(51-60) 0 feet 330 feet 825 feet 1,320 feet
Low
(61-70) 0 feet 165 feet 5 825 feet 1,320 feet
Moderate
(71-80) 0 feet 165 feet 330 feet 1,320 feet
High
(81-90) 0 feet 165 feet 165 feet 500 feet
1 Existing (ambient) sound levels includes all natural and human-induced sounds occurring at the project site prior to the proposed action, and are not casually related to the proposed action. 2 Sound levels provided in USFWS technical guidance document. 3 Action-generated sound levels are given in decibels (dB) experienced by a receiver, when measured or estimated at 50 feet from the sound source.
4 “Natural Ambient” refers to sound levels generally experienced in habitats not substantially influenced by human activities.
5 Estimated dB level of proposed project activities, by estimated by dB level of natural ambient sound.

Avoidance and Minimization
Although the BSA does not contain habitat suitable for nesting NSO, NSO that nest in forest adjacent to the BSA may be affected by noise from proposed project activities during nesting.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 73 September 2017 The following measures will be implemented to avoid and minimize potential project impacts to NSO:
 Final avoidance and minimization measures will be determined in consultation with the USFWS to ensure project design including avoidance and minimization measures do not result in adverse effects to NSO.
 Work within the BSA will be conducted outside the nesting season (September 1 through January 31) to avoid disrupting nesting NSO within and adjacent to the BSA. Work outside of this period during the nesting season will require protocol-level surveys to determine nesting status and location and consultation with the USFWS and CDFW.  If work within the BSA must occur during the nesting season (February 1 through August 31), protocol-level surveys in accordance with the USFWS Protocol for Surveying Proposed Management Activities that may Impact Northern Spotted Owls (2012). For “disturbance only” projects (see Project Impacts section below), six surveys will be required during the nesting season of the BSA and the surrounding 0.25-mile area (survey area).
 If protocol-level surveys indicate that NSOs are nesting within the potential acoustic impact distance to be determined in consultation with the USFWS, project work may not commence until the end of the nesting season, i.e. September 1.  If protocol-level surveys determine that NSO are not nesting or not nesting within the potential acoustic impact zone during the year of the surveys, project work may commence June 1. June 1 is the earliest date non-nesting status can be confirmed.  If project work begins in the non-nesting season and is to continue into the nesting season, project work will cease January 31 and will not recommence until protocol-level surveys as described above determine the nesting status of the survey area.

Project Impacts
No trees will be removed by the proposed project. Project construction may result in temporary acoustic impacts to nesting NSO in the vicinity; however, no permanent impacts are anticipated.

The BSA is not visible from documented occurrences of NSO in the vicinity and NSO is unlikely to nest within the 131-foot visual buffer zone of the BSA because of a lack of suitable nest trees.

Thus, no visual disturbances to nesting NSO will occur from the proposed project. The proposed project will either be scheduled outside of the nesting season from September 1 to January 31, or protocol-level surveys will occur during the nesting season prior to construction. If survey results indicate that NSO are nesting within the exclusion zone distance of the BSA, no construction activities will occur until the end of the nesting season.

The proposed project will not result in loss of habitat for NSO, and implementation of avoidance and minimization measures will prevent acoustic impacts to NSO that may nest nearby.

Therefore, the proposed project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect NSO.

Cumulative Impacts
No future public or private activities are known to be planned or reasonably foreseen for the BSA. The proposed project does not include any additional activities beyond those discussed in this document. Therefore, cumulative effects on NSO are not anticipated for the proposed project.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 74 September 2017

STEELHEAD, CRITICAL HABITAT, EFH, AND FISH PASSAGE
The CCC steelhead Distinct Population Segment (DPS) is federally threatened. This steelhead DPS includes all naturally spawned populations of steelhead and their progeny in California streams from the Russian River to Aptos Creek and the drainages of the San Francisco and San Pablo bays westward to and including the Napa River, excluding the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Basin.

Steelhead typically migrate to marine waters after spending 2 years (although up to 7) in freshwater. They then reside in marine waters for 2 to 3 years prior to returning to their natal stream to spawn as 4- or 5-year-olds. Steelhead adults typically spawn between December and June. In California, females generally spawn two times before they die. Preferred spawning habitat for steelhead is composed of perennial streams with cool to cold water temperatures, high dissolved oxygen levels, and fast-flowing water. Abundant riffle areas with gravel or cobble substrate for spawning and deeper pools with sufficient riparian cover for rearing are necessary for successful breeding. The resident life form of steelhead is called rainbow trout, and are also protected in anadromous streams.

Survey Results
Within the BSA, San Anselmo Creek is intermittent and primarily contains riffle habitat with substrate composed of gravels and cobble, as well as a concrete curtain and Denil fish ladder beneath the bridge. Banks have been stabilized with large riprap and shotcrete to prevent erosion around the foundation of the bridge and the concrete curtain underneath the bridge.

During the November 17, 2014 site visit, no water was flowing and the creek was dry. During the March 15, 2016 site visit, flows spanned the entire width of the creekbed under the bridge.

Channel width was approximately 50 feet beneath the bridge. Water depths overtop of the curtain were between 1 and 6 inches. A majority of the water was focused through the Denil fish ladder. Slow riffle habitat is located upstream of the bridge for approximately 150 feet. Flows below the bridge were primarily fast riffle with some pool habitat on either side of the fish ladder.

Fish passage downstream of the BSA has been improved in recent years with the retrofit of the Center Boulevard box culvert in 2012 (CEMAR 2012). According to a 2006 fish passage assessment conducted by Taylor and Associates of Corte Madera Creek and its tributaries, four partial or complete barriers remain downstream of the BSA that reduce passage. There is a partial barrier at Fairfax-Bolinas Road where a box culvert reduces passage for adult salmonids and eliminates passage for immature fish. A concrete flood channel along Corte Madera Creek near McAllister Avenue impedes fish passage at low flows due to insufficient depths. The two remaining barriers consist of sub-standard Denil fish ladders. In 2006, Ross Taylor and Associates performed a functional analysis of the ladders at Saunders Avenue and Pastori Avenue. The ladder at Saunders Avenue was classified as a total barrier, while Pastori was classified as a partial barrier. The ladder at Saunders Avenue does not meet required Denil fish ladder criteria and has a 42-foot-long concrete flume below the ladder which impedes the approach to the ladder (Taylor and Associates 2006). The ladder at Pastori was determined to have a flow capacity and ladder slope which make the ladder unusable by fish during many flow conditions (Taylor and Associates 2006). The combination of these barriers limits fish passage below the BSA. Assessments for the removal or modification of the Saunders and Pastori barriers have been completed and await funding and permitting through the group, Friends of Corte Madera Creek (FOCMCW 2017). The fish ladder in the BSA is at a large enough angle it may reduce fish passage upstream (Taylor and Associates 2006).

Despite potential barriers to fish passage below the BSA, San Anselmo Creek is still considered an anadromous stream because the barriers only prevent adult steelhead passage during portions of the year when flows are inappropriate for fish passage (Taylor and Associates 2006).

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 75 September 2017 Moreover, steelhead have been observed in San Anselmo Creek above the Saunders Avenue fish ladder, which is the most difficult of the four barriers for fish to overcome (CDFW 2017d, FOCMCW 2017). Thus, steelhead are considered present within San Anselmo Creek and may be present if suitable water depths and conditions are met. San Anselmo Creek within the BSA is intermittent and has potential to contain steelhead only when water is present.

Avoidance and Minimization
Habitat in the BSA is within critical habitat for both Coho salmon and steelhead, and is within EFH for Pacific salmonids. As mentioned above, Coho salmon are considered extirpated in the watershed, but CCC steelhead are assumed present. In addition to the measures identified for the Intermittent Stream Biological Community; the following measures will be implemented to avoid and minimize potential project impacts to steelhead, critical habitat for steelhead and Coho Salmon, and EFH.
 Consultation with NMFS will be conducted to ensure proposed project design will not result in permanent adverse effects to steelhead, critical habitat, or EFH.  Work within the channel will be conducted during the dry season (June 1 through October 31) and when no water is present in the work area to avoid the time when fish may be present. Work outside of this period will require formal consultation with NMFS.  Concrete, dust, and other debris from concrete removal activities will be captured and removed from the work site so as not to enter the creek channel.  The creek bed will be restored to pre-project conditions following the completion of work.  The existing fish ladder will be left in place and avoided by Project activities. Where disturbed, the creek channel will be restored to the pre-project grade using native cobble, gravel, and soils in appropriate ratios to mimic pre-project conditions.

Project Impacts
As summarized in Table 2 above, 0.001 acre (55 square feet) of temporary impacts to critical habitat and EFH will occur from the proposed project. Critical habitat and EFH are encompassed by the Intermittent Stream habitat within the BSA. No work will occur when water is present; therefore, no fish will be present during work within the creekbed and no direct impacts to steelhead are anticipated. No permanent loss of Intermittent Stream habitat is anticipated from the proposed project.

The bridge work will replace and extend the existing northern wingwalls but will not create a barrier across the channel, decrease flows, or change substrate size. The extension of wingwalls is outside of the creekbed and restricted to developed bank habitat. Minor channelization of the stream will occur from the northwest wingwall extension; however, a detectable change in flow rate from the extension is not anticipated. The stream channel will be restored to near pre-project conditions following the completion of bridge work, recreating the gradient which currently exists. Restoration will use previously excavated cobble and gravel substrate to mimic the channel conditions prior to excavation including creek gradient. The existing fish ladder will be left in place and avoided by project activities. As such, the proposed project will not change fish passage conditions.

The proposed project will not result in any changes to existing land use; and the BSA will be restored to conditions similar to those before the project. Therefore, no indirect impacts are expected.

The proposed project will not result in loss of habitat for steelhead or a reduction or detectable change in the physical and biological properties of critical habitat or EFH. Therefore, the Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 76 September 2017 proposed project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect steelhead, critical habitat, and EFH.

Cumulative Impacts
No cumulative effects are anticipated from the proposed project. Downstream fish passage improvements have been recently made and the future improvements to the Saunders and Pastori Avenue crossings are planned (FOCMCW 2017). The improvement of these structures will remove and/or improve passage over the partial barriers which currently impede anadromy during certain flow conditions. The proposed project will restore the BSA to near pre-project conditions and not result in changes to fish passage within the BSA. Restoration to near preproject conditions will ensure that no barriers are created to fish passage during proposed project activities, and any improvements to downstream fish passage will not be hindered by the proposed project.

SPECIAL-STATUS AND NON-SPECIAL-STATUS NESTING BIRDS
Five special-status species of birds including: Allen’s hummingbird, purple martin, olive-sided flycatcher, oak titmouse and Nuttall’s woodpecker, have potential to nest within or adjacent to the BSA. A brief discussion on these species is provided below. In addition to the special-status bird species, non-special-status birds have the potential to nest within the BSA. Most native birds in the United States, including non-status species, are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and California Fish and Game Code. Under these legislations, destroying active nests, eggs, or young is illegal.
 Allen’s hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin, USFWS Bird of Conservation Concern).

Allen’s hummingbird, common in many portions of its range, is a summer resident along the majority of California’s coast and a year-round resident in portions of coastal southern California and the Channel Islands. Breeding occurs in association with the coastal fog belt, and typical habitats used include coastal scrub, riparian, woodland and forest edges, and eucalyptus and cypress groves (Mitchell 2000). It feeds on nectar, as well as insects and spiders.
 Purple martin (Progne subis, CDFW Species of Special Concern). The purple martin is an uncommon summer resident in California, occurring in woodlands and lowelevation hardwood and coniferous forest. It usually feeds on insects captured in flight 100-200 feet above ground. The purple martin nests in cavities often located in tall, isolated trees or snags in open forest or woodland.
 Olive-sided flycatcher (Contopus cooperi, CDFW Species of Special Concern, USFWS Bird of Conservation Concern). This species if found within the coniferous forest biome, most often associated with forest openings, forest edges near natural openings (e.g. meadows, canyons, or rivers) or human-made openings (e.g., harvest units), or open to semi-open forest stands (Altman, 2000).  Oak titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus, USFWS Bird of Conservation Concern). This relatively common species is year-round resident throughout much of California including most of the coastal slope, the Central Valley and the western Sierra Nevada foothills. Its primary habitat is woodland dominated by oaks. Local populations have adapted to woodlands of pines and/or junipers in some areas (Cicero 2000). The oak titmouse nests in tree cavities, usually natural cavities or those excavated by woodpeckers, though they may partially excavate their own (Cicero 2000). Seeds and arboreal invertebrates make up the birds’ diet.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 77 September 2017  Nuttall’s woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii, USFWS Bird of Conservation Concern).

Nuttall’s Woodpecker, common in much of its range, is a year-round resident throughout most of California west of the Sierra Nevada. Typical habitat is oak or mixed woodland, and riparian areas (Lowther 2000). Nesting occurs in tree cavities, principally those of oaks and larger riparian trees. Nuttall’s woodpecker also occurs in older residential settings and orchards where trees provide suitable foraging and nesting habitat. This species forages on a variety of arboreal invertebrates.

Survey Results
Trees and vegetation within and surrounding the BSA may provide potential nest sites or foraging habitat for Allen’s hummingbird, purple martin, olive-sided flycatcher, oak titmouse, and Nuttall’s woodpecker, and for non-special-status bird species.

Avoidance and Minimization
Although potential nesting habitat for nesting birds would not be lost as a result of the proposed project, construction could disturb active nests. The following measures will be implemented to avoid and minimize potential impacts to special-status and non-special-status nesting birds:
 If proposed project activities begin between February 15 and August 31, preconstruction surveys will be conducted by a qualified biologist prior to ground disturbance or vegetation removal to determine whether active nests containing eggs, chicks, or young are present in the BSA. Pre-construction surveys for active nests will be conducted no more than 14 days prior to ground disturbing or vegetation removal activities.
 If active nests containing eggs, chicks, or young are not observed during preconstruction surveys, construction can proceed.  If active nests containing eggs, chicks, or young are observed, ground-disturbing activities will be avoided within a 25- to 100-foot exclusion zone for passerine birds and a 200- to 500-foot exclusion zone for raptors and special-status species. Exclusion size will be dependent upon species and nest location. Appropriate exclusion distances will be determined by a qualified biologist based on the species present and location of the nest relative to construction activities (e.g., the nest is sufficiently shielded from construction to avoid disturbance). Construction within this buffer will be prohibited until the qualified biologist determines that the nest is no longer active. If an active nest is found after the completion of the pre-construction surveys or after construction begins, all construction activities will stop until a qualified biologist has evaluated the nest and determined an appropriate buffer to be placed around the nest. If avoidance of a buffer zone is not feasible, CDFW and/or the USFWS will be contacted to coordinate an appropriate course of action.
 No surveys will be required if project activities begin during the non-nesting season, September 1 and February 14.

Project Impacts
The BSA contains potential nesting habitat for special-status and non-special-status nesting birds. Although this habitat would not be lost as a result of the proposed project, construction activities could result in direct impacts to active nests, and construction noise could result in indirect impacts to active nests. No trees are anticipated to be removed, and the BSA will be Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 78 September 2017 restored to pre-project conditions, and as such, no permanent direct impacts to nesting birds are expected.

The proposed project will not result in any changes to existing land use and the BSA will be restored to pre-project conditions; therefore, no indirect effects are expected.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 79 September 2017 Chapter 5 – Conclusions and Regulatory Determinations
Federal Endangered Species Act Consultation Summary
There has been no federal Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation to date with the USFWS and/or NMFS. The proposed project may affect but is not likely to adversely affect NSO, a federally threatened species. Impacts to NSO may be avoided by restricting construction activities to the non-nesting season, September 1 through January 31. However, if avoiding the nesting season is not feasible, protocol-level surveys must be conducted in the year of proposed project activities to determine nesting status. Consultation with USFWS will be required to assess impacts of the proposed project and avoidance and minimization measures used to limit effects to NSO. A Biological Assessment and a request for concurrence will be submitted to USFWS as part of the consultation process.

The proposed project may affect but is not likely to adversely affect CCC steelhead, a federally threatened species, and designated critical habitat for CCC steelhead and Coho salmon. The project will be scheduled when San Anselmo Creek is dry within the BSA. No work will occur when fish have potential to be present within the work area. Consultation is required from NMFS to assess impacts of the project as well as avoidance and minimization measures used to reduce impacts on steelhead and designated critical habitat for steelhead and Coho salmon. This may include a review of the project design by NMFS for fish passage consideration, and compensatory mitigation. A Biological Assessment and a request for concurrence will be submitted to NMFS as part of the consultation process.

Coho salmon are considered extirpated from San Francisco Bay (NMFS 2012, Brown and Moyle 1991); therefore, the proposed project will have no effect on Coho salmon and consultation is not required.

Essential Fish Habitat Consultation Summary
As discussed in the previous section, the proposed project may affect designated critical habitat for steelhead and Coho salmon. Coho salmon are covered by EFH in California; however, this species is extirpated from the tributaries of San Francisco Bay and are therefore not present within San Anselmo Creek. Although no species covered under EFH are anticipated to occur, the BSA still contains habitat identified as Pacific Salmon EFH. No work will occur when water is present in the work area. No loss of habitat function or value is anticipated from the proposed project. The proposed project is not anticipated to adversely affect EFH.

California Endangered Species Act Consultation Summary
California state-listed species do not have potential to occur within the BSA. Northern spotted owl is listed as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act and may occur near the BSA. The proposed project will not take NSO under the definition of CESA, and no take of any other state-listed species is anticipated to occur during the proposed project; therefore, consultation in relation to CESA is not necessary for the proposed project. However, a Consistency Determination with USFWS is recommended to be requested from CDFW.

Wetlands and Other Waters Coordination Summary
As summarized in Table 2 above, less than 0.001 acre (55 square feet, approximately 12 linear feet) of temporary impacts to potentially jurisdictional “other waters” (creek bed) are proposed.

A preliminary Jurisdictional Determination will be submitted to the USACE for verification. The permits that will be required include a Streambed Alteration Agreement (CDFW), CWA 401 Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 80 September 2017 certification (RWQCB), and CWA 404 Nationwide Permit 3 (Maintenance) or 14 (Linear Transportation Projects) (USACE).

Invasive Species
With implementation of the avoidance and minimization efforts in Section 3, the proposed project would not result in severe infestations of invasive plant species or spread of the New Zealand mud snail.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 81 September 2017 Chapter 6 – References
Altman, B., and R. Sallabanks. 2000. Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi). In The Birds of North America, No. 502 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

Baldwin, B.G., D.H. Goldman, D.J Keil, R. Patterson, T.J. Rosatti, and D.H. Wilken (eds.). 2012. The Jepson Manual: Vascular Plants of California, second edition. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.

Brown, L. R., and P. B. Moyle. 1991. Status of Coho Salmon in California. Report to National Marine Fisheries.

UC Davis, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Biology: 131 p.

CDFG. 1994. A Field Guide to Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements, Sections 1600-1607, California Fish and Game Code. Environmental Services Division, Sacramento, CA.

CDFG. 2009. List of California Vegetation Alliances. Biogeographic Data Branch. Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program, Sacramento, CA.

CDFG. 2003. List of California Terrestrial Natural Communities Recognized by the California Natural Diversity Database Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch. Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program, Sacramento, CA.

CDFW. 2017a. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, Sacramento, CA.

CDFW 2017b. Spotted Owl Database, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch. Sacramento. Accessed:

March.

CDFW 2017c. California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System online database. Online at:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/cwhr/; accessed March.

CDFW 2016d. California Passage Assessment Database. Online at: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/PAD/; accessed March 2016.

California Invasive Species Council. 2016. http://www.iscc.ca.gov/ most recently accessed: December 2016.

Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration (CEMAR). 2012. Estuary Improvement Program. San Anselmo Creek, Center Boulevard Fish Passage Design.

Chow, N. 2001. Distribution and Habitat Associations of Northern Spotted Owls in Marin County, California.

M.S. Thesis, Humboldt State University.

Cicero, C. 2000. Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.).

Environmental Laboratory. 1987. Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual. Department of the Army, Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Mississippi 39180-0631.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 82 September 2017 Friends of Corte Madera Creek Watershed (FOCMCW). Fish Habitat Restoration Projects. http://www.friendsofcortemaderacreek.org; accessed April.

Google Earth. 2017. Aerial Imagery 1993-2016. Accessed March.

Gutiérrez, R. J., A. B. Franklin and W. S. Lahaye. 1995. Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/179
Jennings, M.R. 2004. An Annotated Check List of Amphibians and Reptile Species of California and Adjacent Waters, third revised edition. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA.

Leidy, R.A, G.S. Becker, and B.N. Harvey. 2005. Historical distribution and current status of steelhead/rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in streams of the San Francisco Bay Estuary, California. Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration, Oakland, CA.

Lowther, Peter E. 2000. Nuttall's Woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online:http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/555
McShane, C., T. Hamer, H. Carter, G. Swartzman, V. Friesen, D. Ainley, R. Tressler, K. Nelson, A. Burger, L.

Spear, T. Mohagen, R. Martin, L. Henkel, K. Prindle, C. Strong, and J. Keany. 2004. Evaluation report for the 5- year status review of the marbled murrelet in Washington, Oregon, and California. Unpublished report. EDAW, Inc. Seattle, Washington. Prepared for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1. Portland, Oregon.

Mitchell, D.E. 2000. Allen's Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin), The Birds of North America Online (A Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online:http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/501.

Moyle, P.B. 2002. Inland Fishes of California Revised and Expanded. University of California Press, Berkeley.

Sawyer, J., T. Keeler-Wolf and J. Evens. 2009. A Manual of California Vegetation, Second Edition. California Native Plant Society, Berkeley, CA.

Shuford, W. D. 1993. The Marin County Breeding Bird Atlas: A Distributional and Natural History of Coastal California Birds. California Avifauna Series 1. Bushtit Books, Bolinas, CA.

Studies of Western Birds 1. Western Field Ornithologists, Camarillo, California, and CDFG, Sacramento.

Stebbins, R.C. 2003. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, third edition. The Peterson Field Guide Series, Houghton Mifflin Company, NY.

Oakland, California.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 83 September 2017 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). 2008. Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Arid West Region (Version 2.0).

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 2005. Regulatory Guidance Letter No. 05-05. Ordinary High Water Mark Identification.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2006. Transmittal of Guidance: Estimating the Auditory and Visual Disturbance to Northern Spotted Owls and Marbled Murrelets in Northwestern California. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arcata, California. July. 12 pp.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2008. Final Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl, Strix occidentalis caurina. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon. xii + 142 pp.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2009. Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) 5-Year Review. Washington Fish and Wildlife Office, Lacey, WA. June 12.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2012. Protocol for surveying proposed management activities that may impact northern spotted owl. Revised. Available: http://www.fws.gov/yreka/ES/2012RevisedNSOprotocol2-15-12.pdf U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2017. Official Species List for the Canyon Road Bridge Preventative Maintenance Project. Consultation Code: 08ESMF00-2016-SLI-1016. May 9.

USFWS. 2016. National Wetlands Inventory website. U.S. Department of the Interior, USFWS, Washington, D.C. http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Wetlands-Mapper; most recently accessed April 2016.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). 2015. Bolinas, Novato, Petaluma Point, Point Bonita, San Francisco North, San Geronimo, San Rafael, San Quentin U.S. Geological Service 7.5’ Quadrangles. 7.5 minute topographic maps.

University of California at Davis. 2016. Center for Watershed Sciences. Pisces: California Fish Data and Management Software. Available online at: http://pisces.ucdavis.edu/ Most recently accessed: March.

Western Bat Working Group (WBWG). 2017. Western bat species accounts. Available:
http://wbwg.org/western-bat-species/. Accessed March.

Zeiner, D.C., W.F. Laudenslayer, Jr., K.E. Mayer, and M. White. 1990. California's Wildlife, Volume I-III:

Amphibians and Reptiles, Birds, Mammals. California Statewide Wildlife Habitat Relationships System, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES 84 September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES September 2017 Appendix A – Plant and Wildlife Species Observed during the Site Visits
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
Appendix A1. Plant Species Observed During the Fairfax BPMP Bridges Site Visits (Bridges 27C0146, 27C0143, and 27C0141) on November 17, 2014, January 16 and March 16, 2015, April 12, 2016and June 23, 2016
Family Scientific Name Common Name
Other
Hornwort
(Anthocerotaceae) Anthceros sp. -
lichen Ramalina menziesii lace lichen
liverwort
(Lunulariaceae)
Lunularia sp. -
liverwort (Aytoniaceae) Reboulia sp. (cf) -
moss Alsia californica -
moss Brachythecium albicans -
moss Ceratodon purpureus -
moss Claopodium whippleanum -
moss Dendroalsia abietina -
moss Epipterygium tozeri -
moss Fissidens crispus -
moss Pohlia sp. -
moss Syntrichia princeps prince of mosses
moss Tortula muralis
Cupressaceae Sequoia sempervirens redwood
Dryopteridaceae Polystichum munitum western swordfern
Equisetaceae Equisetum arvense common horsetail
Polypodiaceae Polypodium californicum California polypody Pteridaceae Adiantum jordanii California maidenhair fern - - various landscape plantings
Eudicots
Acanthaceae Acanthus mollis bear's breeches
Anacardiaceae Toxicodendron diversilobum poison oak
Apiaceae Foeniculum vulgare fennel
Apiaceae Sanicula crassicaulis sanicula
Apiaceae Scandix pectin-veneris Venus’ needle
Apiaceae Torilis arvensis ssp. purpurea hedge parsley
Apocynaceae Vinca major big leaf periwinkle
Araliaceae Hedera helix English ivy
Asteraceae Adenocaulon bicolor trail marker
Asteraceae Carduus pycnocephalus Italian thistle
Asteraceae Taraxacum officinale common dandelion
Betulaceae Alnus rhombifolia white alder
A-1
Family Scientific Name Common Name
Boraginaceae Myosotis latifolia broadleaf forget me not Brassicaceae Lunaria annua lunaria
Caprifoliaceae Lonicera japonica Japanese honeysuckle
Caprifoliaceae Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus snowberry Caryophyllaceae Stellaria media common chickweed
Chenopodiaceae Chenopodium album lambs quarters
Cucurbitaceae Marah fabacea California man-root
Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia peplus petty spurge
Fabaceae Acacia melanoxylon blackwood acacia
Fabaceae Genista monspessulana French broom
Fabaceae Medicago polymorpha bur clover
Fabaceae Trifolium dubium little hop clover
Fabaceae Vicia sativa ssp. nigra narrow leaved vetch
Fagaceae Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia coast live oak Fagaceae Quercus kelloggii black oak
Geraniaceae Erodium botrys storks bill
Geraniaceae Erodium cicutarium storks bill
Geraniaceae Erodium (moschatum?) California filigree
Geraniaceae Geranium dissectum cut leaf geranium
Geraniaceae Geranium molle woodland geranium
Hypericacaeae Hypericum anagalloides Tinkers penny
Juglandaceae Juglans cinerea butternut
Lamiaceae Mentha pulegium penny royal
Lamiaceae Mentha spicata spearmint
Lamiaceae Stachys rigida var. querectorum hedge-nettle
Lauraceae Umbellularia californica California bay
Montiaceae Claytonia perfoliata miners lettuce
Moraceae Ficus carica edible fig
Myrsinaceae Lysimachia arvensis scarlet pimpernel
Oleaceae Ligustrum japonicum privet
Oxalidaceae Oxalis incarnata crimson wood sorrel
Oxalidaceae Oxalis pes-carpe Bermuda buttercup
Papaveraceae Fumaria capreolata white ramping fumitory
Plantaginaceae Plantago lanceolata English plantain
Platanaceae Platanus racemosa
(P. x hispanica?)
sycamore
Polygonaceae Rumex acetosella sheep sorrel
Polygonaceae Rumex conglomeratus dock
A-2
Family Scientific Name Common Name
Polygonaceae Rumex (obtusifolius?) bitterdock
Ranunculaceae Clematis ligusticifolia western virgins bower Rosaceae Amelanchier utahensis service berry
Rosaceae Cotoneaster pannosus silverleaf cotoneaster
Rosaceae Prunus sp. prunus
Rosaceae Pyracantha angustifolia firethorn
Rosaceae Rosa sp. rose (landscape plant)
Rosaceae Rubus armeniacus Himalayan blackberry
Rosaceae Rubus ursinus California blackberry
Ruscaceae Maianthemum (racemosum?) False Solomon’s seal Rubiaceae Galium aparine goosegrass
Sapindaceae Acer macrophyllum big leaf maple
Sapindaceae Acer negundo boxelder
Sapindaceae Aesculus californica buckeye
Urticaceae Urtica dioica stinging nettle
Monocots
Alliaceae Allium triquetrum Three-cornered leek
Amaryllidaceae Galanthus sp. snowdrop (landscape plant) Araceae Zantedeschia aethiopica calla-lily
Cyperaceae Carex sp. sedge
Cyperaceae Cyperus eragrostis tall flat nut-sedge
Iridaceae Chasmanthe aethiopica coral lily (landscape plant) Iridaceae Freesia sp. (landscape planting) freesia
Juncaceae Juncus articus var. balticus Baltic rush
Juncaceae Juncus patens rush
Juncaceae Juncus sp. rush
Poaceae Agrostis sp. bent grass
Poaceae Avena barbata slender wild oat
Poaceae Avena fatua wild oat
Poaceae Bromus diandrus ripgut brome
Poaceae Bromus sp. brome
Poaceae Cortaderia jubata pampus grass
Poaceae Cynosurus echinatus hedgehog dogtail
Poaceae Ehrharta erecta panic veldtgrass
Poaceae Festuca myuros rattail grass
Poaceae Festuca perennis perennial ryegrass
Poaceae Hordeum murinum sp. murinum wall barley
Poaceae Poa annua annual bluegrass
A-3
A-4
Appendix A2. Wildlife Species Observed During the Fairfax BPMP Bridges Site Visits (Bridges 27C0146, 27C0143, and 27C0141) on November 17, 2014 and March 15, 2016 Site Visits.

Scientific Name Common Name
Mammals
Felis catus feral cat
Sciurus griseus western gray squirrel
Sciurus niger fox squirrel
Odocoileus hemionus columbianus black-tailed deer
Birds
Aphelocoma californica California scrub-jay
Baeolophus inornatus oak titmouse
Cathartes aura turkey vulture
Corvus brachyrhynchos American crow
Euphagus cyanocephalus Brewer’s blackbird
Haemorhous mexicanus house finch
Melanerpes formicivorus acorn woodpecker
Picoides nuttallii Nuttall’s woodpecker
Poecile rufescens chestnut backed chickadee
Corvus corax common raven
Cyanocitta stelleri Steller’s jay
Spinus psaltria lesser goldfinch
Zenaida macroura mourning dove
Zonotrichia leucophrys white-crowned sparrow
Fish
Gasterosteus aculeatus threespine stickleback
Cottus asper prickly sculpin
Invertebrates
Potamopyrgus antipodarum New Zealand mud snail
Pieris rapae cabbage white
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES September 2017 Appendix B - USFWS Species List
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
May 09, 2017
United States Department of the Interior

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Sacramento Fish And Wildlife Office
Federal Building
2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2605
Sacramento, CA 95825-1846
Phone: (916) 414-6600 Fax: (916) 414-6713
In Reply Refer To:

Consultation Code: 08ESMF00-2016-SLI-1016
Event Code: 08ESMF00-2017-E-05168
Project Name: Canyon Road Bridge Preventative Maintenance Project Subject: Updated list of threatened and endangered species that may occur in your proposed project location, and/or may be affected by your proposed project To Whom It May Concern:

FISH & WILDLIFT
SEHVIE
05/09/2017 Event Code: 08ESMF00-2017-E-05168 2
utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the conservation of threatened and endangered species and to determine whether projects may affect threatened and endangered species and/or designated critical habitat.

Attachment(s):

Official Species List
05/09/2017 Event Code: 08ESMF00-2017-E-05168 1
Official Species List
This list is provided pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, and fulfills the requirement for Federal agencies to "request of the Secretary of the Interior information whether any species which is listed or proposed to be listed may be present in the area of a proposed action".

This species list is provided by:

Sacramento Fish And Wildlife Office
Federal Building
2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2605
Sacramento, CA 95825-1846
(916) 414-6600
05/09/2017 Event Code: 08ESMF00-2017-E-05168 2
Project Summary
Consultation Code: 08ESMF00-2016-SLI-1016
Event Code: 08ESMF00-2017-E-05168
Project Name: Canyon Road Bridge Preventative Maintenance Project Project Type: BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION / MAINTENANCE
Project Description: Canyon Road Bridge (Br. No. 27C-0146) is a single-span precast voided slab concrete superstructure constructed in 1996 on two abutments remaining from a previous bridge at this location over San Anselmo Creek, Town of Fairfax, California. This bridge is in a strictly residential area leading to Cascade Drive, a major thoroughfare. The structure is approximately 30 feet long and a little over 15 feet wide. It supports a single lane of traffic and railings nearly 15 feet above the creek bed and has no sidewalks on it. There is a concrete fish ladder that begins just upstream of the bridge and ends just downstream of it. Repairs to Canyon Road Bridge will include replacement of the existing northwest wingwall, repair of the northeast wingwall, repair structural damage to the north abutment, and sealing cracks on the bridge deck. San Anselmo Creek in this region is intermittent.

The work will be at both the deck and below deck levels and is expected to take as many as fifteen working days from start to finish, and will be completed during one dry season when the work area is dry (April 15 - October 15).

Project Location:

Approximate location of the project can be viewed in Google Maps:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/37.97511969176422N122.60638848711471W 5 5
o
Or.

Or
D
6 n’dBolin as
a
% 7 Tunne
P
Po ■
Canyon a
05/09/2017 Event Code: 08ESMF00-2017-E-05168 3
Counties: Marin, CA
Endangered Species Act Species
There is a total of 18 threatened, endangered, or candidate species on your species list. Species on this list should be considered in an effects analysis for your project and could include species that exist in another geographic area. For example, certain fish may appear on the species list because a project could affect downstream species. See the "Critical habitats" section below for those critical habitats that lie wholly or partially within your project area. Please contact the designated FWS office if you have questions.

Mammals

NAME STATUS
Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris)
No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/613
Endangered
05/09/2017 Event Code: 08ESMF00-2017-E-05168 4
Birds

NAME STATUS
California Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris obsoletus) No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/4240
Endangered
California Least Tern (Sterna antillarum browni)
No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/1123
Threatened
Short-tailed Albatross (Phoebastria (=Diomedea) albatrus) No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/8035
Threatened
Amphibians

NAME STATUS
California Red-legged Frog (Rana draytonii)
There is a final critical habitat designated for this species. Your location is outside the designated critical habitat.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/2891
Threatened
05/09/2017 Event Code: 08ESMF00-2017-E-05168 5
Fishes

NAME STATUS
Delta Smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus)
There is a final critical habitat designated for this species. Your location is outside the designated critical habitat.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/57
Endangered
Insects

NAME STATUS
Mission Blue Butterfly (Icaricia icarioides missionensis) No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/6928
Endangered
Myrtle's Silverspot Butterfly (Speyeria zerene myrtleae) No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/6929
Endangered
San Bruno Elfin Butterfly (Callophrys mossii bayensis)
No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/3394
Endangered
05/09/2017 Event Code: 08ESMF00-2017-E-05168 6
Flowering Plants

NAME STATUS
Marin Dwarf-flax (Hesperolinon congestum)
No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/6832
Threatened
Showy Indian Clover (Trifolium amoenum)
No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/6459
Endangered
White-rayed Pentachaeta (Pentachaeta bellidiflora)
No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

Species profile: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/7782
Endangered
Critical habitats
There are no critical habitats within your project area.

Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES September 2017 Appendix C – Preparers Qualifications
Proposed Canyon Road Bridge BPMP Project NES September 2017 This page intentionally left blank
. Kelly Biological Consulting
5San Anselmo, CA 94960
(415) 482-9703
P.O. Box 1625
Truckee, CA 96160
(530) 582-9713

EDUCATION
BS Botany, University of Michigan
Graduate studies, University of California Berkeley and San Francisco State University

Information on additional projects available on request.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
F
I
Mi
iiii
Daniel Chase

Page 2 ends

Fairfax City CouncilApril 15, 2026

Fairfax City Council
April 15, 2026