WRA, Inc. | 2169-G East Francisco Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94901 www.wra-ca.com · ph: 415.454.8868
October 25, 2024
Attn: Ms. Kirsty Shelton
Principal Land Use Planner
Palisades Land Use Consultancy
RE: Biological Resources Assessment Letter Report for 2010-2012 Humboldt Project, (APNs 036- 054-022 and 036-054-023), Yountville, CA
Dear Ms. Shelton,
The purpose of this letter report is to provide you the results of the habitat assessment survey conducted at the site of the 2010-2012 Humboldt Project (Project) a proposed development located on APNs 036-054-022 and 036-054-023, in the Town of Yountville, Napa County, California (Study Area; Attachment 1). The Study Area consists of approximately 0.25 acre in a residential area in the Town of Yountville. Surrounding land uses include commercial and residential development with associated infrastructure. Onsite conditions are characterized as a small fallow field.
The purpose of this assessment is to provide information necessary to complete a review of biological resources under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and also to specifically evaluate whether the project site has value as habitat for endangered, rare, or threatened species to assess whether the Project qualifies for the Class 32 “Infill” exemption (CEQA Guidelines § 15332). Under § 15332, species are considered threatened or endangered if their survival or reproduction in the wild is in immediate jeopardy from one or more causes.
Rare is defined as “Although not presently threatened with extinction, the species is existing in such small numbers throughout all or a significant portion of its range that it may become endangered if its environment worsens or the species is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range and may be considered "threatened" as that term is used in the Federal Endangered Species Act.” The habitat assessment site visit was conducted on October 16, 2024 by WRA senior biologist, Aaron Arthur. This assessment is based on information available at the time of the study and onsite conditions that were observed on the date of the site visit.
1.0 REGULATORY BACKGROUND
The following natural resources are protected under one or more of several Federal, State and/or local regulations, and were considered when analyzing the Project.
Waters of the U.S.: protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA), administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps):
• Includes wetlands, streams, rivers, and other aquatic habitats meeting the guidance issued by the Corps
WRA, Inc. | 2169-G East Francisco Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94901 www.wra-ca.com · phone: 415.454.8868
2 Waters of the State: protected under the Porter-Cologne Act, administered by the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB):
• Includes surface water or groundwater, including saline waters, within the boundaries of the state, and are generally delineated following the guidance issued by the Corps.
Streams, Lakes, and Riparian Habitat: protected under the California Fish and Game Code (CFGC), administered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW):
• Includes creeks and rivers (bodies where water flows at least periodically or intermittently through a bed or channel having banks and supports fish or other aquatic life), and vegetation adjacent to associated with such (riparian habitat).
Sensitive Natural Communities: protected under the CFGC, administered by the CDFW:
• Includes terrestrial vegetation or plant communities that are ranked by NatureServe and considered “threatened” or “endangered” by the CDFW, lists of such are included in List of Vegetation Alliances and Associations (CDFG 2010).
Special-status Plant and Wildlife Species including Critical Habitat: protected under one or more of the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), California Endangered Species Act (CESA), California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and/or CDFW:
• Includes plant listed under the ESA and/or CESA, or those plants ranked by the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) as Rank 1, 2, and (occasionally) 3, and 4. • Includes wildlife listed under the ESA and/or CESA, and wildlife listed by CDFW as Species of Special Concern or Fully Protected Species, as well as bats listed as Medium or High Priority by the Western Bat Working Group (WBWG).
• In addition to regulations for special-status species, most birds, including non-status species, have baseline legal protections under both the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and CFGC. Under these laws/codes, the unauthorized and deliberate “take” (essentially, injury/harm or collection) of covered species is illegal; this protection includes active nests (those with eggs or young).
Town of Yountville Tree Ordinance: A tree removal permit is required prior to removing any protected tree in town. Protected trees are any trees that meet at least one of the following criteria: A Heritage Tree • Any native oak with a trunk that measures 10 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) or 31 inches circumference, or more • Any tree with a trunk that measures 12 inches DBH (38 inches circumference) or more • Any multi-stemmed perennial plant having an aggregate DBH of 20 inches (63 inches circumference) or more.
2.0 METHODS
Prior to the site visit, WRA reviewed background literature to determine potential presence of sensitive vegetation types, aquatic communities, as well as special-status plant and wildlife species. Resources reviewed for sensitive vegetation communities and aquatic features include aerial photography, mapped soil types (CSRL 2024), the California Department of Fish and WRA, Inc. | 2169-G East Francisco Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94901 www.wra-ca.com · phone: 415.454.8868
3 Wildlife’s (CDFW) California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB; CDFW 2023), and the National Wetland Inventory (NWI; USFWS 2023). Background information regarding special-status plant and wildlife species was obtained through review of the CNDDB, California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Online Database (CNPS 2024), available aerial photography, and species habitat requirements as noted in available literature.
WRA conducted an assessment of the Study Area on October 16, 2024 to determine whether the Project will have a significant impact on land that has value as habitat for endangered, rare or threatened species, and/or whether these species would be affected by the development. The Study Area was examined for indicators of wetlands, streams, and areas with an Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) (i.e., streams, rivers, ponds) potentially under the jurisdiction of the Corps, RWQCB, and CDFW, as well as other sensitive biological communities.
3.0 ASSESSMENT RESULTS
The Study Area is a flat property predominantly composed of a fallow field. It is bounded to the northeast and northwest by developed residential properties, and to the southeast and southwest by sidewalks and the streets of Humboldt and Jefferson, respectively. The vegetation is a mix of planted native trees, ornamental trees, and ruderal herbs. The land cover is not considered sensitive biological communities. Biological communities observed within the Study Area are described in greater detail below.
3.1 Sensitive Biological Communities
The Study Area was investigated for potential wetlands and waters of the U.S. and State, riparian habitat, and other sensitive biological communities. No potentially sensitive biological communities were observed in the Study Area.
3.2 Protected Native Trees
The Study Area does not contain trees covered by the Town’s tree ordinance.
3.3 Special-status Plant Species
Based upon a search of the databases described above, dozens of special-status plant species have documented occurrences within the vicinity of the Study Area, defined to include the Yountville and eight surrounding 7.5’ USGS quadrangles. Of these special-status species, all are either unlikely or have no potential to occur within the Study Area for one or more of the following reasons:
• The Study Area does not contain hydrologic conditions (e.g., freshwater, brackish, or salt marsh) necessary to support the special-status plant(s); • The Study Area does not contain edaphic (soil) conditions (e.g., serpentine or volcanics) necessary to support the special-status plant(s);
• The Study Area does not contain vegetation communities (e.g., chaparral, vernal pools) associated with the special-status plant(s);
• The Study Area and surrounding area is developed and habitat for special-status plant species is limited;
• The species was not observed during the site visit which was conducted during the bloom period of the species.
WRA, Inc. | 2169-G East Francisco Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94901 www.wra-ca.com · phone: 415.454.8868
4 3.4 Special-status Wildlife Species
Based upon a search of the databases described above, more than 50 special-status wildlife species have documented occurrences within the vicinity of the Study Area, defined to include the Yountville and eight surrounding 7.5’ USGS quadrangles. The term special-status species include species that are considered rare, endangered and threatened under CEQA, but also include species that do not meet this standard, such as CDFW species of special concern or other animals that are monitored by biological interest groups such as the Western Bat Working Group.
Of these special-status wildlife species documented in the region, no species have a moderate or greater potential to occur.
3.5 Non-status Nesting Birds and Maternity Roosting Bats Non-status native birds may utilize the vegetation and structures in the Project Area for nesting and thus could be disturbed by Project activities if they occur during the nesting season. The nesting season is typically defined as approximately February 1 to August 31. Avoidance of impacts to nesting birds, including any actions that cause birds to abandon nests and/or hatchlings, is required by California Fish and Game Code. No habitat for roosting bats is present.
4.0 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1 Sensitive Biological Communities
The Study Area is composed of a single, non-sensitive, land cover type developed/fallow field.
Consequently, there are no potentially sensitive biological communities present within the Study Area. No impacts to sensitive biological communities are anticipated; therefore, no further studies or recommendations are warranted for sensitive biological communities.
4.2 Protected Native Trees
There are no protected trees on the site and as such, no recommendations for protected native trees are indicated.
4.3 Special-status Plant Species
The Study Area does not contain special-status plant habitat. No special-status plants were observed in the Study Area during the site visit, nor have any special-status plants been documented in the Study Area previously. There is a documented occurrence of Jepson’s coyotethistle (Eryngium jepsonii; CRPR 1B) from approximately 900 feet southeast of the Study Area (CDFW 2024). This occurrence is from 1923 and is likely extirpated from Yountville. More importantly this species occurs in seasonal wetlands and requires several weeks of inundation (ponding) to promote germination. The Study Area does not support seasonal wetlands; therefore, it would not occur. No impacts to special-status plants are anticipated; therefore, no further studies or recommendations are warranted for special-status plants.
WRA, Inc. | 2169-G East Francisco Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94901 www.wra-ca.com · phone: 415.454.8868
5 4.4 Special-status and Non-status Wildlife Species
4.4.1 Recommendations to Avoid Non-status Birds
COMMON NESTING BIRDS
If project work is scheduled to occur between September 1 and January 31, which is considered to be outside of the nesting bird season, impacts to nesting birds will not occur. If work will occur between February 1 and August 31, conditions of approval requiring the following would avoid impacts to active nests are recommended:
A survey for active bird nests will be conducted by a qualified biologist no more than 14 days prior to the start of Project activities (vegetation removal, grading, tree removal, building demolition or other initial ground-disturbing activities) if they commence during the nesting season (February 1 through August 31). The survey will be conducted in a sufficient area around the Study Area to identify the location and status of any nests that could potentially be directly or indirectly affected by project activities. Upon completion of the surveys, any nests discovered will be avoided through a work exclusion buffer determined by a qualified biologist to avoid impacts. Buffers will be sufficiently large and long in duration such that nest abandonment is avoided. The qualified biologist will determine the buffer based on the species and the type of disturbance anticipated to result from Project activities.
5.0 Conclusions Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines
Based on this assessment, and with implementation of the above recommendations, the Project should be considered exempt from further environmental review because with implementation of the above-described avoidance measures and observance of existing standards, potential impacts to biological resources would be less than significant without mitigation. The site does not have any habitat value for endangered, rare or threatened species and as such is eligible for exemption under CEQA Guidelines § 15332 (Class 32 Infill Exemption).
If you have questions or require additional information, please contact us.
Sincerely,
Aaron Arthur
Senior Biologist
WRA, Inc.
List of Attachments
Attachment A. Parcel Map
Attachment B. Observed Species
WRA, Inc. | 2169-G East Francisco Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94901 www.wra-ca.com · phone: 415.454.8868
6 5.0 REFERENCES
[CDFW] California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2024. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch. Sacramento, CA. Accessed: October. [CNPS] California Native Plant Society. 2024. Online Inventory of Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Plants of California. Available at: http://www.rareplants.cnps.org/. Accessed:
October.
[CNPS] California Native Plant Society. 2024. A Manual of California Vegetation, Online Edition.
Sacramento, California. Online at: http://vegetation.cnps.org/; Accessed: October. [CSRL] California Soil Resources Lab. 2024. Online Soil Survey. Online at:
http://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/drupal. Accessed: October.
Google Earth. 2024. Aerial Imagery 1993-2024. Accessed: October. [USGS] U.S. Geological Survey. 1951. 7.5-minute Quadrangle Series: Napa, California.
Photorevised 1980.
[USFWS] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2024. National Wetlands Inventory website. U.S.
Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. Online at: http://www.fws.gov/nwi/; most recently accessed: October.
WRA, Inc. | 2169-G East Francisco Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94901 www.wra-ca.com · phone: 415.454.8868
7 Attachment A.
Parcel Map
N 60°31'53" E 107.65' N 29°29'44" W 100.60'
N 60°30'16" E 107.76' N 29°25'50" W 100.69'
57.65' 50.00'
57.76' 50.00'
LOT 1
[14 M 75]
LOT 2
[14 M 75]
LOT 3
[14 M 75]
PARCEL 3
[19 PM 77]
HUMBOLDT STREET
JEFFERSON STREET S 28°47'03" E 345.59'
23.76' 23.45'
N 60°30'16" E 370.11'
0.133± ACRES 0.116± ACRES
DRAINAGE EASEMENT
[14 M 75] NON-ACCESS [14 M 75]
WASHINGTON STREET
FND REBAR/CAP
"LS 4510"
FND REBAR/CAP
"LS 4510" N 29°29'44" W 100.63' PARCEL 1
0.249± ACRES
T
SHED
SSCO
EB EV
2 2
7 5
1 FF: 108.50 VAN
NOTES
BACK FLOW PREVENTER
CATCH BASIN / DROP INLET
WATER METER
FENCE
PROPERTY LINE
LEGEND
RECORD INFORMATION W/ REFERENCE
GAS
SANITARY SEWER
RETAINING WALL
SIGN
VALVE
FIRE HYDRANT
FOUND MONUMENT AS NOTED
CENTERLINE
EASEMENT
BOLLARD LIGHT
SANITARY SEWER MANHOLE
UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC
STORM DRAIN
WATER
ADJACENT PROPERTY LINE
STORM DRAIN MANHOLE
GAS METER
BUILDING LINE W/ DOOR
TRANSFORMER
ABBREVIATIONS
CLEAN OUT
TRAFFIC SIGNAL POLE
(100.00')
EDGE OF PAVEMENT
BUILDING OVERHANG
FOUND IRON PIPE OR AS NOTED
UTILITY BOX (SIZE VARIES)
STREET LIGHT
NON-ACCESS
LIGHT
1. All distances shown hereon are in U.S. Survey feet and decimals thereof.
2. This boundary and easements shown on this survey was based solely on the following recorded documents:
Final Map of Whitton Place filed for record on August 20th, 1985 in Book 14 of Maps at Pages 74-76, Napa County Records.
No liability is assumed for matters of record not shown on said document that may affect the boundary lines, exceptions, or easements affecting the property.
3. The types, locations, sizes and/or depths of existing underground utilities as shown on this topographic survey were obtained from sources of varying reliability. The contractor is cautioned that only actual excavation will reveal the types, extent, sizes, locations and depths of such underground utilities. (A reasonable effort has been made to locate and delineate all unknown underground utilities.) However, the surveyor can assume no responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of its delineation of such underground utilities which may be encountered, but which are not shown on these drawings.
4. A.P.N.: 036-054-022 and 036-054-023
5. Basis of Bearings:
The bearing of North 60°34'50" East taken on the centerline of Webber Street as shown on that certain Final Map of Whitton Place filed for record on August 20th, 1985 in Book 14 of Maps at Pages 74-76, Napa County Records was taken as the Basis of all Bearings shown hereon.
6. Benchmark:
NGS Monument "E 468 Reset":
Elevation: 106.4 feet (GPS Observed) (Datum) NAVD 1988
7. Flood Zone Note:
The subject property is shown on the Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Insurance Rate Map, Community Panel Number 060205 0413 E, dated September 26, 2008, as being located in Flood Zone "X";
Areas of determined to be outside the 0.2% annual chance flood.
Information was obtained from the FEMA website (www.fema.gov) on July 11, 2022.
CONCRETE
INDEX CONTOUR
CONTOUR
CURB
TREE W/ SIZE AND ELEVATION
CURB & GUTTER
SPOT ELEVATION
BL BUILDING
BRC BACK OF ROLLED CURB
DI DROP INLET
EB ELECTRIC BOX
EP EDGE OF PAVEMENT
EV ELECTRIC VAULT
FL FLOW LINE
FNC FENCE
GV GAS VALVE
LIP LIP OF GUTTER
MB MAIL BOX
IE INVERT ELEVATION
RE RIM ELEVATION
SLB STREET LIGHT BOX
SSCO SANITARY SEWER CLEAN OUT
SSMH SANITARY SEWER MANHOLE
TC TOP OF CURB
VACINITY MAP
N.T.S
WASHINGTON ST.
SITE
PROJECT NARRATIVE
THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION IS A CONDOMINIUM PROJECT AS DEFINED IN SECTION 1350 ET.SEQ. FOR THE CIVIL CODE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND IS FILED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION MAP ACT.
THE PROJECT PROPOSES FOUR CONDOS. THE PROJECT CONSIST OF CONSTRUCTION OF TWO STORY MIX USE BUILDING WITH PARKING LOT, UTILITIES, STORM DRAIN LINES, LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION. NO ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED.
ADDITIONALLY PROJECT REQUIRES CONSTRUCTION OF STREET IMPROVEMENTS ON CITY'S RIGHT-OF-WAY.
THE MAINTENANCE OF PRIVATE WATER, SEWER AND OTHER UTILITIES TO SERVE THE PROPERTY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY PRIVATE COVENANTS, CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS.
TOTAL SQUARE FOOT OF BUILDING IS 6,807± CURRENTLY THERE IS AN EXISTING WALL SHOWN ON THE MAP THAT DIVIDES THE COMMERCIAL TENANTS.
PARKING NOTES
SITE ADDRESS
APPLICANT/OWNER
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
THIS DOCUMENT AND THE IDEAS AND DESIGN INCORPORATED HEREIN AS AN INSTRUMENT OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IS THE PROPERTY OF ams ASSOCIATES, INCORPORATED AND IS NOT TO BE USED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR ANY OTHER PROJECT WITHOUT THE WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION OF ams ASSOCIATES, INCORPORATED.
PARCEL SUMMARY
WRA, Inc. | 2169-G East Francisco Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94901 www.wra-ca.com · phone: 415.454.8868
8 Attachment B.
Observed Species
Page B-1
Table B-1. Plant species observed in the Study Area: October 16, 2024 FAMILY SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME LIFE FORM ORIGIN RARE STATUS1 INVASIVE STATUS2 WETLAND INDICATOR3Asteraceae Cichorium intybus chicory perennial forb non-native -- -- FACU Asteraceae Lactuca serriola prickly lettuce annual forb non-native -- assessed FACU Asteraceae Leontodon saxatilis ssp. longirostris hawkbit annual forb non-native -- -- FACU Caryophyllaceae Spergularia rubra red sandspurry perennial forb non-native -- -- FAC Convolvulaceae Convolvulus arvensis field bindweed perennial forb non-native -- assessed NL Fagaceae Quercus agrifolia coast live oak evergreen tree native -- -- NL Fagaceae Quercus lobata valley oak deciduous tree native -- -- FACU Juglandaceae Juglans hindsii black walnut deciduous tree native -- -- FAC Oleaceae Olea europaea olive evergreen tree non-native -- limited NL Papaveraceae Eschscholzia californica California poppy perennial forb native -- -- NL Poaceae Avena barbata wild oat annual graminoid non-native -- moderate NL Poaceae Bromus diandrus rip-gut brome annual graminoid non-native -- moderate NL Poaceae Bromus hordeaceus soft chess annual graminoid non-native -- limited FACU Poaceae Festuca bromoides brome fescue perennial graminoid non-native -- -- FACU Poaceae Festuca perennis Italian rye grass annual graminoid non-native -- moderate FAC Polygonaceae Rumex acetosella sheep sorrel perennial forb non-native -- moderate FACU Polygonaceae Rumex crispus curly dock perennial forb non-native -- limited FAC Rosaceae Pyrus calleryana Callery pear deciduous tree non-native -- -- NL All species identified using the Jepson Manual, 2nd Edition (Baldwin et al. 2012), The Jepson Flora Project (eFlora 2024), and A Flora of Napa County (Ruygt 2020); nomenclature follows The Jepson Flora Project (eFlora 2024) unless otherwise noted Page B-2
Sp.: “species”, intended to indicate that the observer was confident in the identity of the genus but uncertain which species Cf.: “confer” or “compared with”, intended to indicate a species appeared to the observer to be specific, but was not identified based on diagnostic characters
1Rare Status: The CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (CNPS 2024a) FE: Federal Endangered FT: Federal Threatened SE: State Endangered ST: State Threatened SR: State Rare LR Locally Rare CRPR 1A: Plants presumed extirpated in California and either rare or extinct elsewhere CRPR 1B: Plants rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere CRPR 2A: Plants presumed extirpated in California, but more common elsewhere CRPR 2B: Plants rare, threatened, or endangered in California, but more common elsewhere CRPR 3: Plants about which we need more information – a review list CRPR 4: Plants of limited distribution – a watch list 2Invasive Status: California Invasive Plant Inventory (Cal-IPC 2006) High: Severe ecological impacts; high rates of dispersal and establishment; most are widely distributed ecologically.
Moderate: Substantial and apparent ecological impacts; moderate-high rates of dispersal, establishment dependent on disturbance; limited moderate distribution ecologically
Limited: Minor or not well documented ecological impacts; low-moderate rate of invasiveness; limited distribution ecologically Assessed: Assessed by Cal-IPC and determined to not be an existing current threat 3Wetland Status: National List of Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands, Arid West Region (Corps 2022) OBL: Almost always a hydrophyte, rarely in uplands FACW: Usually a hydrophyte, but occasionally found in uplands FAC: Commonly either a hydrophyte or non-hydrophyte FACU: Occasionally a hydrophyte, but usually found in uplands UPL: Rarely a hydrophyte, almost always in uplands NL: Rarely a hydrophyte, almost always in uplands NI: No information; not factored during wetland delineation Page B-3
Table B-2. Wildlife species observed in and around the Study Area: October 16, 2024
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
Birds
Corvus brachyrhynchos American crow
Turdus migratorius American robin
Melozone crissalis California towhee
Sturnus vulgaris European starling