APPENDIX B
Biological Resources Assessment
1 Biological Resources Assessment
Mikasa Luxury Villas Residential Develo pment
Project
City of Riversid e, Riv ersi de County, Ca lifornia
Prepared For: Impact Sciences
811 West Seventh Street, Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Report Date: September 2023
www.Bargas.com
Sacramento Valley
Inland Empire
Greater Los Angeles
San Diego
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Project Team
Report Author(s): Gregory Garcia
Field Surveyor(s): Dustin Baumbach
GIS: Dustin Baumbach
Project Manager: Dustin Baumbach
Principal In Charge Angela DePaoli
Review Teams: Anthony Hartman, Jinnah Benn, and Linda Nations
Recommended Citation: Bargas. 2023. Biological Resources Assessment – Mikasa Mu ltifamily Development, the City of Riverside, Riverside County, California. Prepared for Raney Planning & Management, Inc., September, 2023
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Table of Contents
1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Summary of Findings ................................................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Project Location ......................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Regulatory Setting ............................................................................................................................................. 4
2.1 Federal ....................................................................................................................................................... 4
2.1.1 Federal Endangered Species Act ....................................................................................................... 4
2.1.2 Migratory Bird Treaty Act .................................................................................................................. 5
2.1.3 Clean Water Act of the United States ............................................................................................... 5
2.2 State of California ...................................................................................................................................... 6
2.2.1 California Environmental Quality Act ................................................................................................ 6
2.2.2 California Endangered Species Act .................................................................................................... 6
2.2.3 California Fish and Game Code .......................................................................................................... 7
2.2.4 California Native Plant Protection Act ............................................................................................... 8
2.2.5 Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act ........................................................................................ 8
2.2.6 State Wetland Definition and Procedures ......................................................................................... 8
2.3 Local Policies and Ordinances ................................................................................................................... 9
2.3.1 Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan .......................................... 9
2.3.2 City of Riverside 2025 General Plan .................................................................................................. 9
2.3.3 Riverside Urban Forestry Policy Riverside County Code Chapter 12.24: Tree Removal ................. 10 3 Methods .......................................................................................................................................................... 11
3.1 Desktop Review ....................................................................................................................................... 11
3.1.1 Biological Setting ............................................................................................................................. 11
3.1.2 Special Status Species & Habitats .................................................................................................... 11
3.1.3 Occurrence Potential ....................................................................................................................... 12
3.2 Field Surveys ................................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 4 Results ............................................................................................................................................................. 14
4.1 Biological Setting ..................................................................................................................................... 14
4.2 Soils .......................................................................................................................................................... 14
4.3 Habitats ................................................................................................................................................... 16
4.4 Aquatic Resources ................................................................................................................................... 16 Biological Resources Assessment
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4.5 Special Status Species .............................................................................................................................. 16
4.5.1 Special Status Plants ........................................................................................................................ 16
4.5.2 Special Status Wildlife ..................................................................................................................... 19
4.6 Other Considerations .............................................................................................................................. 23
4.6.1 Wildlife Movement .......................................................................................................................... 23
4.6.2 Nesting Birds .................................................................................................................................... 23 5 Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................................................................................... 24
5.1 Special status Plant Species ..................................................................................................................... 24
5.1.1 Special status Wildlife Species ......................................................................................................... 24 6 Literature Cited ................................................................................................................................................ 25
List of Figures
Figure 1. Project Site and Vicinity .............................................................................................................................. 2 Figure 2. Area Reference ........................................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 3. Soils Map .................................................................................................................................................. 15
Appendices
A. Plants and Wildlife Observed in the BSA
B. Special Status Biological Resource Summary
C. Site Photographs
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1 1 Introduction
Bargas Environmental Consulting, LLC (Bargas) has prepared this Biological Resources Assessment (hereafter, Assessment) in support of the Mikasa Multifamily Development (Project) located in the City of Riverside, Riverside County, CA. This Assessment analyzes the potential for special-status endangered, threatened, and sensitive species and their habitats to occur within the Biological Study Area (BSA).
1.1 Summary of Findings
The BSA does not include potential habitat for special-status plant or wildlife species. No aquatic resources or other sensitive habitats were observed within the BSA.
1.2 Project Location
The proposed Project is a less than 5-acres vacant lot (Assessor Parcel Numbers [APN] 143-040-010, 143-040-011, and 143-040-012) located east of Hedrick Ave nue and west of Jones Ave nue in the City of Riverside (Figure 1).
Definitions
The following definitions for areas will be followed throughout this report:
• Project site: The Project site is defined as the less than five acres being analyzed for Project entitlements. • Biological Study Area: The BSA is defined as the Project site and a 500-foot buffer. This is the area within which biological resources were fully analyzed.
• Regional Study Area: The Regional Study Area is defined as the Project site and a 3-mile buffer. The Regional Study Area was used as the basis for determining special -status biological resource records for consideration in this report.
A map depicting these areas is provided as Figure 2.
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Figure 1
Project Site and Vicinity
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Source: ESRI ArcGIS Online Basemap - World Topographic Map, World Street Map Map Created: 9/19/2023, Created By: Dustin Baumbach, Map Revised: N/A, Bargas Project Number: 1849-23 0 4 8 Miles
0 3,000 6,000 Feet
E
Public Land Survey System (PLSS):
San Bernardino Meridian,Township 3S, Range 6W, Section 00 USGS Quad(s): Western Riverside (2022)
Watershed: Santa Ana (18070203)
Project Site Coordinates: - 33.9206154, -117.4797493
1 inch = 6,000 feet
1 inch = 8 miles
^_
Project Site
Project Site
^_
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Figure 2
Study Area
E
0 50 100 Feet
Source: Bing Maps Hybrid
Map Created: 9/19/2023, Created By: Dustin Baumbach, Map Revised: N/A, Bargas Project Number: 1849-23 Biological Study Area
1 inch = 125 feet
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4 2 Regulatory Setting
2.1 Federal
2.1.1 Federal Endangered Species Act
The Federal Endangered Species Act (FESA) is the federal government’s primary regulation protecting rare and declining plant and wildlife species. FESA is jointly implemented by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, addressing marine resources only). FESA protects species using the following status designations:
• A federally endangered species is a species of invertebrate, plant, or wildlife formally listed by the USFWS under FESA as facing extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its geographic range. • A federally threatened species is one formally listed by the USFWS as likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. • A proposed threatened or endangered species is one officially proposed by the USFWS for addition to the federal threatened or endangered species list.
• Candidate species are “plants and animals for which the USFWS has sufficient information on their biological status and threats to propose them as endangered or threatened under FESA, but for which development of a proposed listing regulation is precluded by other higher priority listing activities.” "Take" of a federally endangered or threatened species or its habitat is prohibited by federal law without a special permit. The term "take," under FESA, means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in such conduct. “Harm” is defined by the USFWS to encompass "an act which actually kills or injures wildlife. Such an act may include significant habitat modification or degradation where it actually kills or injures wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding or sheltering" (50 CFR § 17.3).
Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the FESA allows for take of a threatened or endangered species incidental to development activities once a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) has been prepared to the satisfaction of the USFWS and a Section 10(a) incidental take permit has been issued to an applicant. For federal projects (including those involving federal funding), Section 7 of the FESA allows for consultation between the affected agency and the USFWS to determine what measures may be necessary to compensate for the incidental take of a listed species.
A federal project is any project that is proposed by a federal agency or is at least partially funded or authorized by a federal agency. Additionally, if the listed species or its habitat occurs in a portion of the project subject to federal jurisdiction (such as waters of the United States by the United States Army Corps of Engineers [USACE] under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act [CWA]), then consultation under Section 7 of the FESA is usually permissible and may be required.
FESA also requires the USFWS to consider whether there are areas of habitat essential to conservation for each listed species. Critical habitat designations protect these areas, including habitat that is currently unoccupied but may be essential to the recovery of a species. An area is designated as critical habitat after the USFWS publishes a proposed federal regulation in the Federal Register and then receives and considers public Biological Resources Assessment
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5 comments on the proposal. The final boundaries of critical habitat are officially designated when published in the Federal Register.
2.1.2 Migratory Bird Treaty Act
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA) is a federal law governing the taking, killing, possession, transportation, and importation of various birds, their eggs, parts, and nests. The take of any number of a bird species listed as protected on any one of four treaty lists is governed by the MBTA's regulation of taking migratory birds for educational, scientific, and recreational purposes and requiring harvest to be limited to levels that prevent over utilization. The MBTA also prohibits taking, possession, import, export, transport, selling, purchase, barter, or offering for sale, purchase or barter, certain bird species, their eggs, parts, and nests, except as authorized under a valid permit (50 CFR 21.11).
2.1.3 Clean Water Act of the United States
The regulatory setting with regards to aquatic resources is framed by current enabling legislation and case law.
Under Section 404 of the CWA, the USACE regulates the discharge of dredged and fill materials into “waters of the U.S.” Jurisdictional waters of the U.S. include “territorial seas, and waters which are currently used, or were used in the past, or may be susceptible to use in interstate or foreign commerce, including waters which are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide; tributaries; lakes and ponds, and impoundments of jurisdictional waters; and adjacent wetlands” (33 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] § 328.3). Certain waters of the U.S. are considered “special aquatic sites” because they are generally recognized as having ecological value; such sites include sanctuaries and refuges, wetlands, mudflats, vegetated shallows, and riffle and pool complexes (40 CFR § 230). Special aquatic sites are defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and may be afforded additional consideration in a project’s permit process. The USACE also regulates navigable waters under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. Navigable waters are defined as “… those waters of the U.S. that… are presently used, or have been used in the past, or may be susceptible to use to transport interstate or foreign commerce” (33 CFR § 322.2). Projects that place fill in jurisdictional wetlands and non- wetland waters of the U.S. require a permit from the USACE under Section 404 of the CWA. The USACE issues nationwide permits for specific types of activities with minimal individual or cumulative adverse environmental impacts. Individual permits are required for large and/or complex projects or projects that exceed the impact threshold for nationwide permits. Recent federal rulemaking has modified how the USACE defines certain waters of the U.S. The most pertinent rules are summarized below.
The USEPA published a revised definition of "waters of the United States" on December 7, 2021, in response to President Biden’s Executive Order 13990 (86 Federal Register 7037) and after Pascua Yaqui Tribe v. EPA in which the U.S. District Court of the District of Arizona "vacated and remanded" the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (86 Federal Register 69372). The proposed revision was published in the Federal Register on January 18, 2023, and took effect on March 20, 2023. Due to ongoing litigation, the agencies are interpreting “waters of the United States” consistent with pre-2015 regulations and the Supreme Court cases of Rapanos v. United States and Carabell v. United States (USEPA 2008), meaning the USACE will assert jurisdiction over traditional navigable waters (TNW) and the following types of features determined to have "significant nexus" to a TNW:
1. wetlands adjacent to TNWs,
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6 2. non-navigable tributaries of TNWs that are relatively permanent where the tributaries typically flow year-round or have continuous flow at least seasonally, and
3. wetlands that directly abut non-navigable tributaries of TNWs.
2.2 State of California
2.2.1 California Environmental Quality Act
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is a public disclosure process codified by California Public Resources Code 21000, requiring decision-makers to analyze the environmental impacts of a project, disclose those impacts to the public, and mitigate environmental impacts to the extent feasible. The state or local lead agency provides an evaluation of project effects on biological resources; determining the significance of those effects is guided by Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines (AEP 2023). These evaluations must consider direct effects on a biological resource within the project site itself, indirect effects on adjacent resources, and cumulative effects within a larger area or region. Effects can be locally important but not significant according to CEQA if they would not substantially affect the regional population of the biological resource. Significant adverse impacts on biological resources would include the following:
• Substantial adverse effects on any species identified as candidate, sensitive, or special status in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations or by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) or the USFWS (these effects could be either direct or via habitat modification); • Substantial adverse impacts to species designated by the CDFW as Species of Special Concern (SSC); • Substantial adverse effects on riparian habitat or other sensitive habitat identified in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations or by CDFW and USFWS;
• Substantial adverse effects on federally protected wetlands defined under Section 404 of the CWA (these effects include direct removal, filling, or hydrologic interruption of marshes, vernal pools, coastal wetlands, or other wetland types);
• Substantial interference with movements of native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species population, or with use of native wildlife nursery sites; • Conflicts with local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources (e.g., tree preservation policies); and;
• Conflict with provisions of an adopted HCP, Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP), or another approved local, regional, or state habitat conservation plan.
2.2.2 California Endangered Species Act
The California Endangered Species Act (CESA) prohibits the take of state-listed threatened and endangered species. Under CESA, state agencies are required to consult with CDFW when preparing CEQA documents. Under CESA, CDFW is responsible for maintaining a list of rare, threatened, and endangered species designated under state law (California Fish and Game Code [CFGC] § 2070-2079). CDFW also maintains lists of candidate species, SSC, and fully-protected species. Candidate species are those taxa that have been formally recognized by the Biological Resources Assessment
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7 CDFW and are under review for addition to the state threatened and endangered list. SSC are those taxa that are considered sensitive, and this list serves as a “watch list.” The CDFW can authorize “take” if an incidental take permit is issued by the Secretary of the Interior or of Commerce in compliance with FESA, or if the director of the CDFW issues a permit under Section 2080 in those cases where it is demonstrated that the impacts are minimized and mitigated.
2.2.3 California Fish and Game Code
Section 1600 et seq. – Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement. Section 1600 provides provisions for protecting riparian systems, including the bed, banks, and riparian habitat of lakes, seasonal and perennial streams, and rivers. This section requires an applicant to notify CDFW and obtain a Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement (LSAA) if their project would divert or obstruct the natural flow of any river, stream, or lake; change the bed, channel, or bank of any river, stream, or lake; use material from any river, stream, or lake; or deposit or dispose of material into any river, stream, or lake.
Section 2050 et seq. – California Endangered Species Act. CESA establishes the policy of the state to conserve, protect, restore, and enhance threatened or endangered species and their habitats. CESA is administered by CDFW and prohibits the take of any species that the California Fish and Game Commission determines to be a threatened or endangered species. CESA also mandates that “state agencies should not approve projects as proposed which would jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered species or threatened species” if reasonable and prudent alternatives are available that would avoid jeopardy. CDFW administers CESA and authorizes take through CFGC 2081 Incidental Take Permits or through Section 2080.1. (For species also listed under FESA, consistency determination is with a USFWS Biological Opinion).
Section 3511 – Fully Protected Species. The legislature of the State of California designated certain species as “fully protected” prior to the creation of CESA. Section 3511 states that “fully protected” birds or parts thereof may not be taken or possessed at any time. Lists of fully protected species were initially developed to provide protection to those animals that were rare or faced possible extinction and included fish, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, and birds. Most fully protected species have since been listed as threatened or endangered under CESA and/or FESA.
Sections 3503, 3503.5, 3505, 3513 — Birds. These CFGC sections protect all birds, including birds of prey and all nongame birds, as well as their eggs and nests, for species that are not already listed as fully protected and that occur naturally within the state. Sections 3503 and 3503.5 of the CFGC stipulate the following regarding eggs and nests: Section 3503 states that it is unlawful to take, possess, or needlessly destroy the nest or eggs of any bird, except as otherwise provided by CFGC or any regulation made pursuant thereto; and Section 3503.5 states that is it unlawful to take, possess, or destroy any birds in the orders Falconiformes or Strigiformes (birds-of- prey) or to take, possess, or destroy the nest or eggs of any such bird except as otherwise provided by CFGC or any regulation adopted pursuant thereto. Section 3513 states that it is unlawful to take or possess any migratory nongame bird as designated in the MBTA or any part of such migratory nongame bird except as provided by rules and regulations adopted by the Secretary of the Interior under provisions of the MBTA.
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8 2.2.4 California Native Plant Protection Act
The California Native Plant Protection Act of 1977 (GFGC § 1900-1913) affords the CDFW Commission the authority to designate native plants as endangered or rare and protect them from “take.” The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) maintains a list of sensitive plant species native to California and assigns each a rank in the California Rare Plant Rank (CRPR) system defined below:
• List 1A: Plants presumed extirpated in California and either rare or extinct elsewhere; • List 1B: Plants are rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere; • List 2A: Plants presumed extirpated in California, but more common elsewhere; • List 2B: Plant are rare, threatened, or endangered in California, but more common elsewhere; • List 3: Plants about which more information is needed (on a review list); • List 4: Plants of limited distribution (on a watch list).
This list is further defined as described below:
• 0.1: Seriously threatened in California, meaning there is a high degree (over 80% of occurrences) and immediacy of threat;
• 0.2: Moderately threatened in California, meaning there is a moderate degree (20-80% of occurrences) and immediacy of threat;
• 0.3: Not very threatened in California, meaning there is a low degree (less than 20% of occurrences) and immediacy of threat.
All plants on Lists 1 and 2 meet the standards for state listing under the CEQA Guidelines (14 CCR § 15380). CNPS recommends that plants on Lists 3 and 4 be evaluated for consideration under CEQA.
2.2.5 Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act
The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act of 1969 established the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and the nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB), collectively referred to as the Water Boards, and authorized them to provide oversight for water rights and water quality. It uses the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) to monitor point source discharges into the waters of the State to prevent water quality degradation. It also protects wetlands, surface waters, and groundwater from both point and nonpoint sources of pollution.
2.2.6 State Wetland Definition and Procedures
The SWRCB adopted the State Wetland Definition and Procedures for Discharges or Fill Material to Waters of the State in 2019 and completed revisions to this set of procedures in 2021 (SWRCB 2021). Four major elements are included in these procedures as described below, in addition to procedures for the submittal, review and approval of CWA Section 401 permits not described in this report.
1. Wetland definition:
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9 An area is wetland if, under normal circumstances, (1) the area has continuous or recurrent saturation of the upper substrate caused by groundwater, or shallow surface water, or both; (2) the duration such saturation is sufficient to cause anaerobic conditions in the upper substrate; and 3) the area’s vegetation is dominated by hydrophytes or the area lacks vegetation.
2. Framework for determining waters of the state:
Waters of the state are broadly defined by the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act as “any surface water or groundwater, including saline waters, within the boundaries of the state.” The 2021 procedures expand upon this definition to clearly include natural wetlands, wetlands created by modification of a surface water of the state, and artificial wetlands meeting specific criteria.
The criteria for an artificial wetland include wetlands created for agency-approved compensatory mitigation; those identified in a water quality control plan; and those greater than or equal to one acre in size unless they are constructed and maintained for wastewater treatment or disposal, sediment settling, stormwater permitting program pollutant or runoff management, surface water treatment, agricultural crop irrigation or stock watering, fire suppression, industrial processing and cooling, active surface mining, log storage, recycled water management, maximizing groundwater recharge, or rice paddies.
3. Wetland delineation procedures:
USACE-defined procedures for aquatic resources delineation (USACE 1987; USACE 2008, USACE 2010) used to assess the presence or absence of hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils, and wetland hydrology are required by the SWRCB to delineate waters of the state, with one modification being that “the lack of vegetation does not preclude the determination of such an area that meets the definition of wetland.”
2.3 Local Policies and Ordinances
The BSA is in Riverside County and is subject to the following local and regional regulations.
2.3.1 Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan The Western Riverside Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) was developed with the goal of maintaining biological and ecological diversity in Western Riverside County. This MSHCP focuses on the conservation of species and their associated habitats in a rapidly urbanizing region. The MSHCP allows participants to control land use decisions while maintaining a strong economic climate in tandem with the requirements of the state and federal Endangered Species Acts. It outlines avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures to protect special-status species in Western Riverside County.
2.3.2 City of Riverside 2025 General Plan
The City of Riverside 2025 General Plan is a planning guideline for development towards a sustainable, resilient and livable city. The General Plan contains numerous goals, policies, and strategies to protect and/or preserve biological resources.
The Land Use and Urban Design Element of the General Plan discusses the interconnected relationship between Riverside’s natural and human-made environments and outlines a design framework to minimize impacts in this relationship. Policies with the goal to protect significant wildlife and plant habitat are listed below:
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10 • Policy LU-7.2: Design new development adjacent and in close proximity to native wildlife in a manner which protects and preserves habitat.
• Policy LU-7.2: Continue to participate in the Western Riverside County MSHCP.
The Open Space and Conservation Element of the General Plan discusses the biological resources that rapid urbanization may impact. This section defines the objectives and policies that are utilized to preserve Riverside’s natural resources. Policies that pertain to the protection of natural communities and critical habitats are listed below:
• Policy OS-5.2: Continue to participate in the MSHCP Program and ensure all projects comply with applicable requirements.
• Policy OS-5.3: Continue to participate in the Stephens’ Kangaroo Rat (SKR) Habitat Conservation Plan including collection of mitigation fees.
• Policy OS-5.4: Protect native plant communities in the General Plan Area, including sage scrub, riparian areas and vernal pools, consistent with the MSHCP.
2.3.3 Riverside Urban Forestry Policy, Riverside County Code Chapter 12.24: Tree Removal Chapter 12.24 of the Riverside County Ordinances protects native trees on any parcel or property greater than one-half acre in size on any area above 5,000 feet in elevation and within the unincorporated areas of the county. For the purposes of this ordinance, “Native Tree” is defined as:
Plants which at maturity, normally attain a height of at least thirty (30) feet and are not less than twelve (12) inches in diameter when measured four and one-half feet above the ground, and shall include woody plants indigenous to Riverside County and all smog-resistant species introduced as part of a reforestation program.
This ordinance was adopted to protect the timberlands of the county and maintain ecological balance of such timberlands by regulating the removal of living native trees. Due to the proximity of the timberlands to urban centers of the county and their unique qualities, this chapter is necessary to preserve such lands and provide welfare for the people of Riverside.
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11 3 Methods
This Assessment is informed by data from a desktop analysis of the literature and numerous resource databases, as well as field surveys. The methods used to complete these surveys and desktop analyses are described below.
3.1 Desktop Review
Prior to conducting field surveys, Bargas conducted an initial review of literature and data sources to characterize biological conditions and to compile records of sensitive biological resources that could potentially occur in the BSA. The methods used for this analysis are described below.
3.1.1 Biological Setting
The biological setting includes terrain, hydrology, soils, land uses, and other features that support or inhibit biological resources in an area. To better understand the biological setting of the project, the following resources were reviewed in detail:
• USFWS’s National Wetlands Inventory to determine if surface waters and wetlands have been mapped on or adjacent to the BSA.
• USGS’s National Hydrography Dataset to determine if hydrological features have been mapped on or adjacent to the BSA.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture National Resource Conservation Service Web Soil Survey to map and describe soil(s) within the BSA.
• Google Earth Pro aerial map images of the BSA, including historical aerial images.
3.1.2 Special Status Species & Habitats
Data Sources
Species and habitat occurrences were queried from the following resources:
• USFWS’s Information for Planning and Consultation portal (IPaC) for a list of federally listed species and designated critical habitat recommended for impact analysis consideration, based on an upload of the BSA limits.
• CDFW’s California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) for special status species and habitat records within the Regional Study Area.
• CNPS’s Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants for a list of special status plant species occurrences within the USGS 7.5-minute quadrangles that overlap the Regional Study Area. • Western Riverside County MSHCP for a list of sensitive habitats and covered wildlife and plant species.
3.1.2.1 Special Status Designations Considered
A variety of agencies and respected non-profit organizations assess the conservation status of plant and wildlife species; however, not all are applicable to this Assessment. The following special status designations were considered when determining special status species to be discussed in this Assessment:
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12 • Federal Status: Species listed as Endangered (FE) or Threatened (FT), as well as species Proposed as Endangered (FPE), Proposed as Threatened (FPT), Proposed for Delisting (FPD), and Candidates (FC) for listing under the FESA.
• California Status: Species listed as Endangered (CE) or Threatened (CT), as well as species that are Candidates for Endangered (CCE) status, Threatened (CCT) status, or Delisting (CCD) under the CESA. Also considered are species listed as Fully Protected (FP) and Species of Special Concern (SSC). • CNPS Status: All CRPR maintained by the CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants. • Vegetation Communities: All vegetation communities mapped by the CNDDB.
3.1.3 Occurrence Potential
Following the desktop review, field surveys, and habitat analyses, Bargas assessed the potential for the occurrence of special status species in the BSA. Biological conditions (vegetation communities, wildlife habitats, disturbances, etc.) and the habitat and life cycle requirements of special status species identified for analysis in the desktop review were considered. “Recent” occurrences are defined as observed within the past 30 years. Based on these considerations, species were assigned to the following categories:
• Present: Species is known to occur in the BSA based on recent surveys, CNDDB (within 30 years), or other records.
• High: Species with known recent recorded occurrences/populations near the B SA and highly suitable habitat occurs within the B SA. Highly suitable habitat includes all necessary elements to support the species (e.g., elevation, hydrology, soils, cover, habitat type, food resources). • Moderate. Species with known recent recorded occurrences/populations near the BSA; however, habitat within the B SA has been moderately disturbed, fragmented, or is small in extent. Moderately suitable habitat includes several elements to support the species (e.g., elevation, hydrology, soils, cover, habitat type, food resources). Furthermore, moderately suitable habit at may also be located at the edge of the species’ range, or there are no reported occurrences nearby. • Low. Species with few known recent recorded occurrences/populations near the B SA and habitat within the BSA is highly disturbed or extremely limited. A low potential is assigned to annual or perennial plant species that may have been detectable during a focused survey in the appropriate blooming period but was not found; however, small populations or scattered individuals are still considered to have a low potential to occur. Additionally, species for which poor-quality habitat may support the species within the BSA, but the reported extant range is far outside the B SA and/or any species observations would anticipate being migratory (i.e., not likely to reproduce within the BSA). • Presumed Absent/No Potential. Focused surveys were conducted, and the species was not detected, or the species was found in the desktop review, but suitable habitat (soil, vegetation, elevational range) was not found in the BSA, or the BSA is not within the known geographic range of the species.
The potential for bird species to occur were further distinguished into those that may: 1) nest within or near the BSA; 2) forage within or near the BSA; and/or 3) occur on or near the BSA only as transients during migratory flights or other dispersal events.
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13 3.2 Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Every effort was made to use naming standards that are recognized by the scientific community, with the understanding that – for many wildlife groups – scientists may not always agree on a standard source. Because of this, some common names used in this report may not be the same as those used by the underlying data sources for species records. Bargas maintains a yearly-updated reference species list which uses the following taxonomic sources:
• Birds – American Ornithological Society Check-list and Supplements (AOS 1998). • Mammals – The reference list in the CDFW’s California Wildlife Habitats Relationships Database (CDFW 2014), with updates based on the American Society of Mammologists Mammal Diversity Database (2020). • Reptiles and Amphibians – The technical website californiaherps.com, which is regularly updated based on the latest taxonomic literature (California Herps 2023). • Fish – Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, 7th edition (AFS 2013).
• Invertebrates – No naming standard was identified that was current and applicable to freshwater and terrestrial invertebrates. Names used by the underlying data sources when a species was first identified were retained.
• Plants – The Jepson eFlora database (Jepson Flora Project 2021) Biological Resources Assessment
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14 4 Results
This section discusses in detail what is known about biological resources in the B SA based on information from the field survey, six CNDDB records, four CNPS records, nine IPaC records, and no critical habitat determinations in the Regional Study Area (RSA). A list of plant and wildlife species observed within the B SA is included in Appendix A and the special-status biological resource summary is included as Appendix B.
4.1 Biological Setting
The RSA is located in Riverside County north of the Santa Ana Mountain Range and south of the San Gabriel Mountain Range in southern California. The RSA is largely disturbed by residential and commercial development.
Land that is not developed and is used for recreation is comprised of grassland and shr ub communities with elevations ranging from 656 to 1,520 feet above sea level. The Santa Ana River is located approximately three miles north of the BSA. The BSA is located in an urban area surrounded by private residences.
4.2 Soils
The BSA consists of two soil types: Fallbrook sandy loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes, eroded; and Buchenau loam, slightly saline-alkali, 0 to 2 percent slopes (NRCS 2023). Figure 3 is a map of the soils that occur within the Project site.
FaD2
BhA
BhA
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Figure 3
Soils MapE
0 75 150 Feet
Source: Bing Maps Hybrid, NCRS Soils Data (10/2021)
Biological Study Area
Surrounding SSURGO Soils
BhA - Buchenau loam, Slightly Saline-
Alkali, 0 to 2 Percent
FaD2 - Fallbrook Sandy Loam, 8 to 15
Percent
1 inch =125 feet
Map Created: 9/19/2023, Map Revised: N/A, Bargas Project Number: 1849-23 Biological Resources Assessment
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16 4.3 Habitats
The BSA is highly disturbed and located in an urban area with ornamental urban vegetation . Vegetation is comprised of Peruvian Pepper tree (Schinus molle ), Beach Sheoak (Casuarina equisetifolia ), Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra), Common Purslan e (Portulaca oleracea), Chinese Banyan (Ficus microcarpa), Pine sp. (Pinus sp.), Orange Tree (Citrus sinensis ), Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia ), Ash sp. (Fraxinus sp.), Silver -leaf Nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium), Olive (Olea europaea ), Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana ), Turkey Mullein (Croton setiger), Eucalyptus sp. (Eucalyptus sp.), Palmer’s Agave (Agave palmeri), Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), Indian Fig Opuntia (Opuntia ficus -indica), Southern Russian Thistle (Salsola tragus ), Athel Tamarisk (Tamarix aphylla), Nettle-leaved Goosefoot (Chenopodiastrum murale), White Leadtree (Leucaena leucocephala), Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia), Queen Fan Palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana), and Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia robusta).
4.4 Aquatic Resources
No aquatic resource habitats were detected during the survey.
4.5 Special Status Species
4.5.1 Special Status Plants
The desktop review determined that seven plant taxa with special status had been documented as occurring within the Regional Study Area. These taxa and their occurrence potential are summarized.
4.5.1.1 Taxa with No Potential for Occurrence
The following seven special status plant taxa from desktop analysis were determined to have No potential for occurrence in the BSA.
San Diego Ambrosia
Asteraceae > Ambrosia pumila
FESA: Federal Endangered, CESA: None, CRPR 1B.1
California Endemic: False
Growth Habit: perennial rhizomatous herb blooms Apr-Oct Habitat Requirements: Chaparral, Coastal scrub, Valley and Foothill Grassland, Vernal pools at elevations ranging from 65 to 1,360 feet.
Microhabitat: Alkaline (sometimes), Clay (sometimes), Disturbed areas (often), Sandy (sometimes)
Inclusion Source(s): CNDDB, CNPS, IPaC
CNDDB Records: 1
Nearest CNDDB Record: 1 to 3 Miles
Habitat Present: Not Present
Soils Present: Unknown
Determination Reason: Suitable habitat not present. The BSA does not support natural plant communities and lacks vernal pool habitat to support this species.
Coulter's Goldfields
Asteraceae > Lasthenia glabrata ssp. coulteri
FESA: None, CESA: None, CRPR 1B.1
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17 California Endemic: False
Growth Habit: annual herb blooms Feb-Jun
Habitat Requirements: Marshes and swamps, Playas, Vernal pools at elevations ranging from 5 to 4,005 feet.
Inclusion Source(s): CNPS
CNDDB Records: 0
Nearest CNDDB Record: None
Habitat Present: Not Present
Soils Present: Unknown
Determination Reason: Suitable habitat not present. The BSA does not support aquatic habitat.
Nevin's Barberry
Berberidaceae > Berberis nevinii
FESA: Federal Endangered, CESA: California Endangered, CRPR 1B.1 California Endemic: True
Growth Habit: perennial evergreen shrub blooms (Feb) Mar-Jun Habitat Requirements: Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Coastal scrub, Riparian scrub at elevations ranging from 230 to 2,705 feet.
Microhabitat: Gravelly (sometimes), Sandy (sometimes)
Inclusion Source(s): IPaC
CNDDB Records: 0
Nearest CNDDB Record: None
Habitat Present: Not Present
Soils Present: Unknown
Determination Reason: Suitable habitat is not present. The BSA does not support natural plant communities for Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Coastal scrub, or Riparian habitats.
Many-stemmed Dudleya
Crassulaceae > Dudleya multicaulis
FESA: None, CESA: None, CRPR 1B.2
California Endemic: True
Growth Habit: perennial herb blooms Apr-Jul
Habitat Requirements: Chaparral, Coastal scrub, Valley and Foothill Grassland at elevations ranging from 50 to 2,590 feet.
Microhabitat: Clay (often)
Inclusion Source(s): CNDDB
CNDDB Records: 1
Nearest CNDDB Record: 1 to 3 Miles
Habitat Present: Not Present
Soils Present: Unknown
Determination Reason: Suitable habitat not present. The species prefers rocky slopes and bluffs which are not present at the BSA.
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18 Brand's Star Phacelia
Hydrophyllaceae > Phacelia stellaris
FESA: None, CESA: None, CRPR 1B.1
California Endemic: False
Growth Habit: annual herb blooms Mar-Jun
Habitat Requirements: Coastal dunes, Coastal scrub at elevations ranging from 5 to 1,310 feet.
Inclusion Source(s): CNPS
CNDDB Records: 0
Nearest CNDDB Record: None
Habitat Present: Not Present
Soils Present: Unknown
Determination Reason: Suitable habitat not present. The BSA does not contain natural coastal sage scrub communities and is not in a coastal region.
Slender-horned Spineflower
Polygonaceae > Dodecahema leptoceras
FESA: Federal Endangered, CESA: California Endangered, CRPR 1B.1 California Endemic: True
Growth Habit: annual herb blooms Apr-Jun
Habitat Requirements: Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Coastal scrub at elevations ranging from 655 to 2,495 feet.
Microhabitat: Sandy
Inclusion Source(s): IPaC
CNDDB Records: 0
Nearest CNDDB Record: None
Habitat Present: Not Present
Soils Present: Unknown
Determination Reason: Suitable habitat not present. Urbanization poses a significant threat and the BSA is heavily developed.
Santa Ana River Woollystar
Polemoniaceae > Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanctorum
FESA: Federal Endangered, CESA: California Endangered, CRPR 1B.1 California Endemic: True
Growth Habit: perennial herb blooms Apr-Sep
Habitat Requirements: Chaparral, Coastal scrub at elevations ranging from 300 to 2,000 feet.
Microhabitat: Gravelly (sometimes), Sandy (sometimes)
Inclusion Source(s): CNPS
CNDDB Records: 0
Nearest CNDDB Record: None
Habitat Present: Not Present
Soils Present: Unknown
Determination Reason: Suitable habitat not present. Species is known to grow in alluvial fans. The BSA does not support this habitat.
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19 4.5.2 Special Status Wildlife
The desktop review determined that nine wildlife taxa with special status had been documented as occurring within the Regional Study Area. These taxa and their occurrence potential are summarized below.
4.5.2.1 Taxa With Low Potential for Occurrence
The following three special status wildlife taxa from desktop analysis were determined to have Low potential for occurrence in the BSA.
Southwestern Willow Flycatcher
Tyrannidae > Empidonax traillii extimus
Federal Endangered; California Endangered
Life History: The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax trailii extimus) is one of four subspecies of Empidonax trailii. Southwestern Willow Flycatchers are neotropical migrants that breed in patches of riparian habitat throughout the American southwest. Their breeding habitat currently ranges from southern California, through southern Nevada, southern Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, southwestern Colorado, and historically included western Texas and extreme northwestern Mexico. They travel south to winter ranges in Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. While their current distribution is similar to their historic range, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher population numbers have declined precipitously in response to the loss of suitable riparian habitat throughout the region. Source: https://www.nps.gov/articles/southwestern- willow-flycatcher.htm
Inclusion Source(s): IPaC
CNDDB Records: 0
Nearest CNDDB Record: None
Habitat Present: Not Present
Determination Reason: The BSA does not support riparian habitat required for breeding and nesting.
The Santa Ana River is present approximately three miles north of the Project site. This species may use the Project site for foraging or transit. This species is known to use unsuitable nesting habitat for foraging and migration.
4.5.2.2 Taxa With No Potential for Occurrence
The following six special status wildlife taxa from desktop analysis were determined to have No potential for occurrence in the BSA.
Monarch - California Overwintering Population
Nymphalidae > Danaus plexippus
Federal Candidate
Life History: The iconic black and orange Monarch butterfly is known for its astonishing long- distance annual migration and reliance on milkweed as its obligate larval host plant. Though genetically similar, there are two subpopulations of Monarchs in North America, with the eastern population overwintering in Mexico and breeding in the midwestern states, and the western population overwintering in coastal California and fanning out across the west from Arizona to Idaho. Both North American migratory populations have declined over the past twenty years
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20 due to a suite of interrelated factors including habitat loss in breeding and overwintering sites, habitat degradation, disease, pesticide exposure, and climate change. Recently the western population has experienced dramatic swings, for a low of less than 2,000 in 2020-21 to over 200,000 in 2021-22. While it is unclear which of the many factors are driving these dynamics, insect population commonly fluctuate from year to year. Though more research is needed, a stable population for western monarchs is likely closer to the historic averages in the 1980s, which are estimated to have ranged between one to four million overwintering butterflies. Source:
https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invertebrates/Monarch-Butterfly Inclusion Source(s): IPaC
CNDDB Records: 0
Nearest CNDDB Record: None
Habitat Present: Not Present
Determination Reason: While Monarchs are widespread and likely occur as flyovers, this sensitive status pertains to locations where they winter en masse. All known locations are coastal.
Santa Ana Sucker
Catostomidae > Catostomus santaanae
Federal Threatened
Life History: Occur in the watersheds draining the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains of southern California. Their historical distribution extended from upper watershed areas to the Pacific Ocean; hence, they are capable of occupying habitats as diverse as mountain streams and rivers in alluvial floodplains. The streams that the Santa Ana sucker inhabits are generally perennial streams with water ranging in depth from a few inches to several feet and with currents ranging from slight to swift. Perennial flows with suitable water quality and substrate are needed to support breeding, feeding, and sheltering. These streams are also naturally subject to periodic severe flooding and may experience extended periods of low flow as a result of drought conditions that are typical of southern California climate cycles. Over the course of their life cycle, each life stage uses different portions of the watercourse, each with different physical properties. Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2017. Recovery Plan for the Santa Ana sucker. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, California. xii + 92 pp.
Inclusion Source(s): IPaC
CNDDB Records: 0
Nearest CNDDB Record: None
Habitat Present: Not Present
Determination Reason: The BSA does not support aquatic habitat suitable for this species.
San Diegan Legless Lizard
Anniellidae > Anniella stebbinsi
California Species of Special Concern
Life History: This secretive fossorial lizard is common in suitable habitats in the Tehachapi Mountains west of the desert, and the mountains of southern California. The
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21 specific identity of some populations within this range is unknown. Elevation is from near sea level to about 1800 meters (6,000 feet) in the Sierra Nevada.
Common in several habitats but especially in Coastal Dune, Valley-Foothill, Chaparral, and Coastal Scrub types. Source: California Department of Fish and Wildlife. California Interagency Wildlife Task Group. 2014. CWHR version 9.0 personal computer program. Sacramento, CA.
Inclusion Source(s): CNDDB
CNDDB Records: 1
Nearest CNDDB Record: 1 to 3 Miles
Habitat Present: Not Present
Determination Reason: Suitable habitat not present. The BSA is highly developed with no natural communities present.
Orange-throated Whiptail
Teiidae > Aspidoscelis hyperythra
No special status
Life History: The Orange-throated Whiptail is uncommon to fairly common over much of its range in Orange, Riverside, and San Diego Counties west of the crest of the Peninsular Ranges, especially in areas with summer morning fog. Also occurs in southwestern San Bernardino County near Colton. In California, its elevational range extends from near sea level to 1040 meters (3,410 feet). This species inhabits low-elevation Coastal scrub, Chamise-redshank chaparral, Mixed chaparral, and Valley-Foothill hardwood habitats. Source: California Department of Fish and Wildlife. California Interagency Wildlife Task Group. 2014. CWHR version 9.0 personal computer program. Sacramento, CA.
Inclusion Source(s): CNDDB
CNDDB Records: 1
Nearest CNDDB Record: 1 to 3 Miles
Habitat Present: Not Present
Determination Reason: Suitable habitat not present. The BSA is highly developed with no natural communities present. The nearest CNDDB record is from 1951 and was recorded
2.24 miles from the Project site.
Yellow Rail
Rallidae > Coturnicops noveboracensis
California Species of Special Concern
Life History: Because of its secretive behavior in densely vegetated marshes, the life history of the Yellow Rail is poorly known. For breeding, Yellow Rails require sedge marshes/meadows with moist soil or shallow standing water. In winter, Yellow Rails inhabit wet meadows and coastal tidal marshes, but there are few data on their requirements at that season. Occurs year round in California, but in two primary seasonal roles: currently as a very local breeder in the northeastern interior, and as a winter visitor (early Oct to mid-Apr) on the coast and in the Suisun Marsh region. Although the Yellow Rail is still considered extremely rare in California, recent records indicate that small numbers winter regularly in a few coastal marshes and the Suisun Marsh region, where the Central Valley merges with the San Francisco Bay estuary. Source: Shuford, W. D., and Gardali, T.,
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22 editors. 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 California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
Inclusion Source(s): CNDDB
CNDDB Records: 1
Nearest CNDDB Record: 1 to 3 Miles
Habitat Present: Not Present
Determination Reason: The BSA does not support riparian habitat required for mating and breeding.
Most recent CNDDB record is over 100 years old and found within Marsh habitat.
Stephens’ Kangaroo Rat
Heteromyidae > Dipodomys stephensi
Federal Endangered; California Threatened
Life History: Known from 16 localities in and around San Jacinto Valley from Riverside, Riverside County, south to vicinity of Vista, San Diego County. The number of verified localities has declined over the past half century, due mainly to urbanization and cultivation of suitable habitat. Occurs primarily in annual and perennial grassland habitats, but may occur in coastal scrub or sagebrush with sparse canopy cover, or in disturbed areas. Preferred perennials are buckwheat and chamise; preferred annuals are brome grass and filaree. Source: California Department of Fish and Wildlife. California Interagency Wildlife Task Group. 2014.
CWHR version 9.0 personal computer program. Sacramento, CA.
Inclusion Source(s): IPaC
CNDDB Records: 0
Nearest CNDDB Record: None
Habitat Present: Not Present
Determination Reason: Suitable habitat is not present in the form of Grassland or Coastal scrub habitat.
Urbanization and habitat fragmentation are significant threats to this species and the BSA will not support individuals.
Least Bell's Vireo
Vireonidae > Vireo bellii pusillus
Federal Endangered; California Endangered
Life History: Formerly, a common and widespread summer resident below about 600 meters (2,000 feet) in western Sierra Nevada, throughout Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, and in the coastal valleys and foothills from Santa Clara County south.
Also was common in coastal southern California from Santa Barbara County south, below about 1200 meters (4,000 feet) east of the Sierra Nevada, in Owens and Benton Valleys, along Mojave River and other streams at western edge of southeastern deserts, and along the entire length of the Colorado River.
Has declined drastically or vanished entirely throughout its California range in recent decades, apparently from cowbird parasitism and habitat destruction and degradation. Now a rare, local, summer resident below about 600 meters (2,000 feet) in willows and other low, dense valley foothill riparian habitat and lower portions of canyons, mostly in San Benito and Monterey Counties; in coastal southern California from Santa Barbara County south; and along the
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23 western edge of the deserts in desert riparian habitat. Source: California Department of Fish and Wildlife. California Interagency Wildlife Task Group. 2014. CWHR version 9.0 personal computer program. Sacramento, CA.
Inclusion Source(s): IPaC
CNDDB Records: 0
Nearest CNDDB Record: None
Habitat Present: Not Present
Determination Reason: The BSA does not support suitable riparian habitat for the species. Suitable foraging habitat is not present in the form of dense forests or desert habitat.
California Gnatcatcher
Polioptilidae > Polioptila californica
Federal Threatened; California Species of Special Concern Life History: A local, uncommon, obligate resident of arid coastal scrub below about 500 meters (1,500 feet) from eastern Orange and southwestern Riverside Counties south through the coastal foothills of San Diego County; along the immediate coast at Palos Verdes Peninsula, Los Angeles County; at Camp Pendleton and in Tijuana River Valley, San Diego County. May still occur along lower, coastal slopes of San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains, Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, but status uncertain. Source: California Department of Fish and Wildlife. California Interagency Wildlife Task Group. 2014. CWHR version 9.0 personal computer program. Sacramento, CA.
Inclusion Source(s): CNDDB; IPaC
CNDDB Records: 1
Nearest CNDDB Record: 1 to 3 Miles
Habitat Present: Not Present
Determination Reason: Suitable habitat not present. Species prefers dense coastal sage scrub communities. Nearest CNDDB record is from 1997 approximately 2.4 miles to the east of the BSA.
4.6 Other Considerations
4.6.1 Wildlife Movement
While largely developed, the RSA does include suitable habitat for some sensitive wildlife species. The Santa Ana River mainstem is a known habitat corridor found two miles north of the BSA; however, there should be no impacts to wildlife movement due to the presence of a 1.5-mile urban barrier. Given the 1.5-mile urban barrier, it is unlikely that transient wildlife will cross into the Project site.
4.6.2 Nesting Birds
Due to high disturbance in the area from vehicular traffic and residential development there is a moderate chance some birds may nest in the vegetation in the area. However, there are some species that will nest in human-made structures and will have a high probability of doing so in neighborhood structures.
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24 5 Conclusions and Recommendations
5.1 Special status Plant Species
There are no suitable habitat s for special status plant species within the BSA. No special status plants were observed during the site assessment.
5.1.1 Special status Wildlife Species
There are no suitable habitats for special status wildlife species within the BSA. No special status wildlife species were observed during the site Assessment.
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25 6 Literature Cited
AEP. 2023. 2023 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Statute & Guidelines. AEP (eds.) 2023. CEQA Handbook, p. 387. https://www.califaep.org/docs/CEQA_Handbook_2023_final.pdf.
American Fisheries Society (AFS). 2013. Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, 7th edition. Special Publication 34.
American Ornithological Society (AOS). 1998. Check -list of North American Birds (and Supplements). American Ornithologists Union and American Ornithological Society.
American Society of Mammologists. 2020. Mammal Diversity Database (Version 1.2) [Data set]. Zenodo. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4139818
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). California Interagency Wildlife Task Group. 2014. CWHR version 9.0 personal computer program. Sacramento, CA.
California Herps. 2023. A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of California, https://californiaherps.com Jepson Flora Project (eds.) 2021. Jepson eFlora, https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/.
NRCS. 2023. Web Soil Survey. https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/.
SWRCB. 2021. State Policy for Water Quality Control: State Wetland Definition and Procedures for Discharges of Dredged or Fill Material to Waters of the State. State Water Resources Control Board. p. 28 USEPA. 2008. Clean Water Act Jurisdiction Following the U.S. Supreme Court's Decision in R apanos v. United States & Carabell v. United Station. United States Environmental Protection Agency, p. 13.
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Appendix A. Plants and Wildlife Observed in the BSA
Bargas has documented the presence of 19 plant taxa and five wildlife taxa. Taxa are presented in taxonomic order.
Plants
Common Name Scientific Name Family Major Clade Nativity Elm sp. Ulmus sp. Ulmaceae Eudicots —
Agave sp. Agave sp. Agavaceae Monocots —
Mission Prickly-Pear Opuntia ficus-indica Cactaceae Eudicots Naturalized Pepper Tree Schinus molle Anacardiaceae Eudicots Naturalized Prickly Russian Thistle Salsola tragus Chenopodiaceae Eudicots Naturalized Bindweed, Orchard Morning-
Glory Convolvulus arvensis Convolvulaceae Eudicots Naturalized Common Persimmon,
Possumwood Diospyros virginiana Ebenaceae Eudicots Naturalized Doveweed, Turkey-Mullein Croton setiger Euphorbiaceae Eudicots Native Olive Olea europaea Oleaceae Eudicots Naturalized
Purslane Portulaca oleracea Portulacaceae Eudicots Naturalized White Horse-Nettle Solanum elaeagnifolium Solanaceae Eudicots Naturalized Athel Tamarix aphylla Tamaricaceae Eudicots Naturalized Chinese Elm Ulmus parvifolia Ulmaceae Eudicots Naturalized Queen Palm Syagrus romanzoffiana Arecaceae Monocots Waif Mexican Fan Palm Washingtonia robusta Arecaceae Monocots Naturalized Pine sp. Pinus sp. Pinaceae Gymnosperms —
Pigweed sp., Goosefoot sp. Chenopodium sp. Chenopodiaceae Eudicots — Eucalyptus sp. Eucalyptus sp. Myrtaceae Eudicots —
Ash sp. Fraxinus sp. Oleaceae Eudicots —
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Wildlife
Common Name Scientific Name Family Introduced/Endemic
Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves) Introduced
Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans Tyrannidae (Tyrant
Flycatchers) —
House Sparrow Passer domesticus Passeridae (Old World
Sparrows) Introduced
Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria
Fringillidae (Fringilline and
Cardueline Finches and
Allies)
—
California Towhee Melozone crissalis Passerellidae (New World Sparrows) —
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Appendix B. Special Status Biological Resource Summary
The research conducted for this report included a desktop review of numerous resource databases in order to determine a list of special status biological resources, including seven plant taxa and nine wildlife taxa to be analyzed for potential occurrence. The result of this analysis is summarized in the tables below. Table column definitions:
• Common Name: The most widely-accepted English common name for the taxon. • Scientific Name: The most widely-accepted scientific name for the taxon. • Source(s): The desktop review source(s) that contained this taxon. • Legal Status: The legal protected status of the taxon. These terms are described in detail in the Methods section of this report.
• Habitat: The quality of the habitat on the Project site for supporting the taxon. Classification of habitats is described in detail in the Methods section of this report.
• Soils: The suitability of soils on the Project site to support the taxon, if known. Classification of soils is described in detail in the Methods section of this report.
• Potential: The potential for the taxon to be found on the Project site. Ranking of potential is described in detail in the Methods section of this report.
Plants
Common Name Scientific Name Source(s) Legal Status Habitat Soils Potential San Diego
Ambrosia Ambrosia pumila CNDDB, CNPS,
IPaC
FE, CRPR 1B.1 Not Present Unknown None
Coulter's
Goldfields
Lasthenia
glabrata ssp.
coulteri
CNPS CRPR 1B.1 Not Present Unknown None
Nevin's Barberry Berberis nevinii IPaC FE, CE, CRPR
1B.1
Not Present Unknown None
Many-stemmed
Dudleya
Dudleya
multicaulis
CNDDB CRPR 1B.2 Not Present Unknown None
Brand's Star
Phacelia Phacelia stellaris CNPS CRPR 1B.1 Not Present Unknown None Slender-horned
Spineflower
Dodecahema
leptoceras
IPaC FE, CE, CRPR
1B.1
Not Present Unknown None
Santa Ana River
Woollystar
Eriastrum
densifolium ssp.
sanctorum
CNPS FE, CE, CRPR
1B.1
Not Present Unknown None
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Wildlife
Common Name Scientific Name Source(s) Legal Status Habitat Potential Monarch - California
Overwintering Population
Danaus plexippus
pop. 1
IPaC Federal Candidate Not Present None
Santa Ana Sucker Catostomus
santaanae
IPaC Federal Threatened Not Present None
San Diegan Legless Lizard Anniella stebbinsi CNDDB California Species of Special Concern
Not Present None
Orange-throated Whiptail Aspidoscelis
hyperythra
CNDDB — Not Present None
Yellow Rail Coturnicops
noveboracensis
CNDDB California Species of Special
Concern
Not Present None
Southwestern Willow
Flycatcher
Empidonax traillii
extimus
IPaC Federal Endangered;
California Endangered
Not Present Low
Least Bell's Vireo Vireo bellii pusillus IPaC Federal Endangered; California Endangered
Not Present Low
California Gnatcatcher Polioptila
californica
CNDDB;
IPaC
Federal Threatened;
California Species of Special
Concern
Not Present Low
Stephens’ Kangaroo Rat Dipodomys
stephensi
IPaC Federal Endangered;
California Threatened
Not Present None
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Appendix C. Site Photographs
Photo 1. Overview of Study Area
Photo 2. Overview of Study Area with Debris
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Photo 3. Overview of Southern End of Study Area
Photo 4. Fence on Site that Splits Property
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Photo 5. Overview of Southern Section of Study Area
Photo 6. Silver-leaf Nightshade Found on Site
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Photo 7. Gate Entrance to South End of Property
Photo 8. Field Bindweed Found on Site
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Photo 9. Disturbed Area on Site
Photo 10. Indian Fig Opuntia Found on Site
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Photo 11. View along Project Boundary
Photo 12. Wood Debris on Site
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Photo 13. View of Neighboring Property
Photo 14. View of Study Area toward Jones Street