SU0006291 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

California.Department of Fish and.Game [CDFGJ or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS]) or recognized conservation organizations (e.g.,,California-Native Plant Society, Audubon Society, or California Natural Diversity.Data,Base [CNDDBI)will be.determined. The project area is located within the unmapped portion of the service area included within the San Jcoaquin County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation" and Open Space Plan- (SJMSCP). MBA biologists will consult with SJIiMSCP staff prior to conducting',field work'ta help define likely sensitive species issues for the protect site ;Based on MBA staff knowledge of the area (for the area Jnclud6d lnthe `;C.l"emerits'' 7 5 minute USGS quadrangle), habitat potentially suitable to support the following species will need to be assessed:.tricolored blackbird (AgeWus tricolor),;Californiai.tiger salamander(Ambystoma californiense), vernal pool fairy shrimp (Branchini?cta lynchi), California 4inde'riella (Linderiella occidentalis), Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsorn), Valley elderberry longhorn beetle (Desmocerus califormcus dimorphus), and western pond-turtle (Emys marmorate). Other potentially occurring sensitive species to be addressed in the EIR will include vernal pools, wetlands, special-status plant communities, and oak woodland. Wetlands and riparian areas within proposed project boundaries will be identified and generally mapped, in accordance with CEQA requirements. Regulated waters, including wetlands, that may occur within the project boundaries include ephemeral streams that are tributary to Bear Creek, perennial or intermittent streams, ponds, seasonal wetlands, emergent marsh, and vernal pools. Some of these features may be considered "waters of the United States" and therefore, could be covered under the federal Clean Water Act. To determine the need for these permits, MBA's field surveys for sensitive biological resources must satisfy three criteria: first, they must be conducted within a window of time when the resources are present in the field and identifiable; second, they must have a reliable system of locating resources and conveying the location rapidly; and lastly (and most frequently overlooked), they must consistently and effectively report what mining phases have been surveyed and sensitive environmental elements were not found. Field surveys will be conducted by MBA's field biologists. Normally field teams will be composed of biologists skilled in identifying both botanical and wildlife elements. For this project, additional personnel skilled in fisheries habitat evaluations will also be included in the field teams. Field surveys will focus on each mining footprint and other habitat areas that may be indirectly linked to the Project(i. e. haul roads). Habitat linkages (wildlife corridors) will also be identified and addressed as sensitive resources. General biological habitats and both known and potential sensitive biological resources will be mapped with the aid of the 200-scale (1 inch equals 200 feet)topographic maps and aerial photographs. The sizes of these resource areas will be quantified. A list of site flora and fauna will be prepared, including indications of abundance, habitat, and whether they are native or introduced species. In addition. MBA will describe general wildlife and plant species observed, in addition to descriptions of habitat types referenced to the Wildlife Habitat Relationships (WHR) database, which will be used in the CEQA documentation to categorize wildlife impacts. All potentially significant direct and indirect impacts (adverse and beneficial) on biological resources posed by the proposed project will be assessed. Proposed habitat removal will be quantified by habitat type. Feasible mitigation measures available to minimize or eliminate the potential adverse impacts of the Project on biological resources will be recommended. Emphasis will be placed on providing maximum attainable compatibility between the Project and protection of biological resources. Unavoidable adverse impacts will be enumerated, if applicable. To automate the data recording and reporting process, MBA will plot the locations of known occurrences of biologically sensitive resources in our GIS database prior to conducting