SU0000431 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

a Mr. Richard Larrouy 2 The larvae of the threatened valley elderberry longhorn beetle feed and mature within the elderberry shrub. Use of the plants by the early stages of the animal, a wood borer, is very rarely apparent. Frequently, the only exterior evidence of the use of the shrub by the beetle is the exit hole created by the larvae prior to the pupal stage. The beetle has been found in plants with trunks possessing a diameter of one inch or greater. If direct and indirect impacts to the elderberry shrubs that were discussed with the biological consultants are carried out then take of the threatened valley elderberry longhorn beetle will be avoided. The information we have received indicates that vernal pools are found on the southside of the proposed project. Over 90 percent of vernal pools in the Central Valley have been lost due to past agricultural conversion, urban development, and flood control activities. Wetlands provide important resting, feeding, and nesting habitat for many species of migratory birds. Because of the value of this habitat to migratory birds and because of the scarcity of this habitat, the wetland areas with the project area belong in Resource Category 2 as defined in our Mitigation Policy. For unavoidable impacts to this habitat the Service recommends provision of mitigation that results in no net loss of in-kind habitat values or acres. These pools may also provide habitat for the California linderiella (Linderiella occidentalis) and the vernal pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynch!) . Although candidate species are not protected, the 1988 amendments to the Act require the Service to monitor their status. If any of these candidates decline precipitously, they could be listed under an emergency basis. We, therefore, encourage your department to address impacts to these candidates. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service encourages all efforts to protect, improve and restore fish, wildlife and naturally functioning aquatic and wetland ecosystems of our nation. Under the provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the Service advises the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on projects involving dredge and fill activities in waters and wetlands of the United States. The proposed projects allowed under the General Plan revision may require a Corps of Engineers permit, thus triggering Service involvement per the Coordination Act. Because of our interest in the biological integrity of our Nation's waters, we generally recommend against a project when its construction would result in the destruction of wetland habitat values and is not water dependent. When projects impacting waterways or wetlands are deemed acceptable to the Service, full mitigation is recowmnended for any fish and wildlife value losses shown to be unavoidable. However, as directed by Section 404(b) (1) of the Clean Water Act, the project proponent must first demonstrate that there are no other less damaging, practicable alternatives to the proposed project that would achieve the basic project purpose. The Council of Environmental Quality regulations for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act define mitigation to include: 1) avoiding the impact; 2) minimizing the impact; 3) rectifying the impact; 4) reducing or eliminating the impact over time; and 5) compensating for impacts. The Service supports and adopts this definition of mitigation and considers the specific elements to represent the desirable sequence of steps in the mitigation planning process. Accordingly, we maintain that the best way to mitigate for adverse biological impacts is to avoid them altogether.