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PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCE ASSESSMENT CRITERIA <br /> The potential paleontological importance of the proposed project site can be assessed by identifying the <br /> paleontological importance of exposed rock units within the project area. Because the areal distribution of a rock <br /> unit can be easily delineated on a topographic map,this method is conducive to delineating parts of the project <br /> area that are of higher and lower sensitivity for paleontological resources and to delineating parts of the project <br /> area that may require monitoring during construction. <br /> A paleontologically important rock unit is one that has a high potential paleontological productivity rating and is <br /> known to have produced unique, scientifically important fossils. The potential paleontological productivity rating <br /> of a rock unit exposed at the project site refers to the abundance/densities of fossil specimens and/or previously <br /> recorded fossil sites in exposures of the unit in and near the project site. Exposures of a specific rock unit at the <br /> project site are most likely to yield fossil remains representing particular species in quantities or densities similar <br /> to those previously recorded from the unit in and near the project site. <br /> An individual vertebrate fossil specimen may be considered unique or significant if it is identifiable and well <br /> preserved, and it meets one of the following criteria: <br /> ► a type specimen(i.e.,the individual from which a species or subspecies has been described); <br /> ► a member of a rare species; <br /> ► a species that is part of a diverse assemblage (i.e., a site where more than one fossil has been discovered) <br /> wherein other species are also identifiable, and important information regarding life history of individuals can <br /> drawn; <br /> ► a skeletal element different from, or a specimen more complete than,those now available for its species; or <br /> ► a complete specimen(i.e., all or substantially all of the entire skeleton is present). <br /> For example, identifiable vertebrate marine and terrestrial fossils are generally considered scientifically important <br /> because they are relatively rare. The value or importance of different fossil groups varies depending on the age <br /> and depositional environment of the rock unit that contains the fossils,their rarity,the extent to which they have <br /> already been identified and documented, and the ability to recover similar materials under more controlled <br /> conditions such as part of a research project. Marine invertebrates are generally common,well developed, and <br /> well documented. They would generally not be considered a unique paleontological resource. <br /> The following tasks were completed to establish the paleontological importance of each rock unit exposed at or <br /> near the project area: <br /> ► The potential paleontological productivity of each rock unit was assessed,based on the density of fossil <br /> remains previously documented within the rock unit. <br /> ► The potential for a rock unit exposed at the project area to contain a unique paleontological resource was <br /> considered. <br /> RESOURCE INVENTORY RESULTS <br /> Stratigraphic Inventory <br /> Regional and local surficial geologic mapping and correlation of the various geologic units in the vicinity of the <br /> project area has been provided at a scale of 1:500,000 by Bartow(1991), 1:250,000 by Wagner, Bortugno, and <br /> McJunkin(1991), and 1:62,500 by Atwater(1982). <br /> Manteca WQCF and Collection System Master Plans EIR EDAW <br /> City of Manteca 4.8-3 Paleontological Resources <br />