ARCHIVED REPORTS_1993_1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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III. Environmental Setting, Impacts,and Mitigations F. Vegetation and Wildlife Methodolo&v ESA initiated its investigation through perfomance of a preliminary biological site visit on Apri14, 1991. Subsequent site visits were conducted on September 5, 1991, July 2, 1992, and March 19, 1993 to perform specific surveys and investigations of the site's biotic resources,and to supplement and update previously gathered information. Examination of the California Natural Diversity DataBase-Rarefind(CNDDB)inventory and California Native Plant Society (CNPS)inventory,as well as consultation with pertinent regulatory agency representatives, provided additional information regarding local biological resources. This information was used to focus the effort of ESA's subsequent field work. Field work was performed to assess and map the presence and extent of natural plant communities,including wetlands and drainages;record direct and indirect observations of wildlife presence and relative abundance; and evaluate on-site habitat suitability for special status plant and animal species,including performance of temporally sensitive surveys for special status species known to occur in the general vicinity of the project area. The site was reconnoitered by automobile and by foot during each site visit. The perimeter of the site(i.e.,along Austin Road, Newcastle Road,and site access roads)was initially driven to assess the boundaries and features of the property. A random meandering foot survey was then used to cover the site during each visit,with more intensive investigations performed within the areas harboring more substantial concentrations of biological resources(i.e.,field peripheries,drainages). These latter areas were subjected to a 100 percent survey by foot during special status species'surveys performed on the property. Rare plant surveys were conducted according to Nelson's recommendations (Nelson, 1986). Every plant species encountered was identified to the point that its rarity could be confirmed. Additionally,each plant community encountered was examined to determine the dominant plant species comprising the community and the presence of indications of associated wildlife species,either through direct observation or indirectly in the form of scat,tracks,or burrows. Veen Relatively few native species of plants grow on the project site,largely due to the area's history of intensive agricultural disturbance. Plant communities observed on the property during field reconnaissance include primarily abandoned agricultural field/non-native grassland(CYA and III.F.3