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i. Confine clearing to the minimal area necessary to facilitate construction activities. If vegetation clearing activities require removal within 200 feet of the banks of giant garter snake aquatic habitat, a qualified biological monitor will be on-site to monitor the clearing activity. m. In areas where wetlands, irrigation ditches, marsh areas, or other potential giant garter snake habitats occur on the site: (1) Install temporary fencing at the edge of the construction area and the adjacent wetland, marsh, or ditch, delineating these areas as Environmentally Sensitive Areas, prior to ground disturbance; (2) Restrict working areas, spoils and equipment storage, and other project activities to areas outside of marshes, wetlands and ditches; and (3) Maintain water quality and limit construction runoff into wetland areas through the use of hay bales, filter fences, vegetative buffer strips, or other accepted equivalents_ n. Prior to ground disturbance, all on-site construction personnel shall be given instruction regarding the presence of giant garter snakes and the importance of avoiding impacts to this species and their habitat. o. If wetlands, irrigation ditches, marshes, etc. shall not be relocated in the vicinity, then the aquatic habitat shall be dewatered at least two weeks prior to commencing construction. p. Pre-construction surveys for the giant garter snake (conducted after completion of environmental reviews and prior to ground disturbance) shall occur within 24 hours of ground disturbance. (1) Survey of the project area shall be repeated if a lapse in construction activity of two weeks or greater has occurred. If a giant garter snake is encountered during construction, activities shall cease until appropriate corrective measures have been completed or it has been determined that the snake shall not be harmed. Report any sightings and any incidental take to the Service immediately by telephone at(916)414-6600. (2) Following project completion, all areas temporarily disturbed during construction shall be restored following the "Guidelines for Restoration and/or Replacement of Giant Garter Snake Habitat"outlined below. A. The disturbed area shall be graded to its preexisting contour and ripped, if necessary, to decompact the soil. B. The area shall be hydroseeded. Hydroseed mix shall contain at least 20-40 percent native grass seeds. Some acceptable native grasses include annual fescue (Vulpia spp.), California brome (Bromus carinatus), blue wildrye (Elymus glaucus), and needle grass (Nassella spp.). The seed mix shall also contain 2-10 percent native forb seeds, five percent rose clover(Trifolium hirtum), and five percent alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Approximately 40-68 percent of the mixture may be non-aggressive European annual grasses, such as wild oats(Avena sativa), wheat (Triticum sp.), and barley (Hordeum vulgare). Aggressive non-native grasses shall not be included in the seed mix. These grasses include perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), fescue (Festuca sp.), giant reed (Arundo donax), medusa-head(Taeniatherum caput- medusae), or Pampas grass (Cortederia selloarra). Endophyte-infected grasses shall not be included in the seed mix. q. Measures consistent with the current Caltrans' Construction Site Best Management Practices (BMPs) Manual (including the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan [SWPPP] and Water Pollution Control Program [WPCP] Manuals [http://www.dot.ca.gov/hg/construc/ Construction_Site_BMPs.pdf]) shall be implemented to minimize effects to giant garter snake (e.g., siltation, etc.) during construction. Conditions of Approval -4 - PA-0700074