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t Biological Resources, MONK &ASSOCIATES Impacts and Mitigations Tracy Facility Expansion Site 1.4.3 Impact Number 2. Western Spadefoot Toad. a - Implementation of the project as proposed could result in impacts to the western spadefoot toad. a f The western spadefoot toad is a Federal species of concern and a State species of special concern. Suitable spadefoot toad breeding habitat and upland aestivation habitat would be temporarily impacted by the project as proposed. In order to access the north side of the project site,a temporary crossing of Corral Hollow Creek would be installed during the first two years 'that the site is mined. With the exception of this creek crossing,the Corral Hollow Creek channel would be completely protected from all mining activities in the Corral Hollow Protection Corridor(see Section 5.1). The creek crossing would be approximately 30 feet wide and would consist of annual temporary installations of three parallel 48-inch diameter x 40-foot long corrugated steel culverts that would be covered with 3 feet of native material. These culverts would be installed no earlier than February 15th and removed no later than October 31St each year,but in no event would they be installed or removed while the creek is flowing. Potential impacts to the western spadefoot toad from this temporary crossing include loss of adult spadefoots that are aestivating in the soil along the creek channel's flood plain and/or banks, and temporary loss of breeding/larval development habitat. At this time it is unknown whether or not western spadefoot toads are present in the reach of Corral Hollow Creak that flows through the project,site. Until it is determined whether or not the western spadefoot toad is present in the reach of Conal H611ow Creek that flows through the project site, impacts'to this species from the proposed project are considered potentially significant. However, mitigation could be implemented that would offset this impact to a level considered less than significant. 14.4 Mitigation Measure 2-Western Spadefoot Toad Implementation of the following mitigation should offset impacts to western spadefoot toad to a level considered less than significant. At this time it is not known whether or not western spadefoot toads are present in the reach of CorralHollow Creek that flows through the project site. Hence, surveys should be conducted in Corral Hollow Creek in the spring prior to installation of the culverts to determine whether or not this species is present. If western spadefoot toads are identified in the creek during appropriately timed surveys, spadefoot larvae,juveniles, and/or adults identified during the surveys would be relocated to reaches of the creek that would not be impacted by the project. Since installation of the culverts would be temporary, and they would be removed and replaced over a two-year period,the surveys should be repeated in the second year,prior to re-installation of the culverts in the creek channel. If any spadefoots are identified during the second survey year, they would be relocated to reaches of the creek that would not be impacted by the project. This mitigation in combination with reclamation of the site after completion of mining would reduce impacts to western spadefoot toad to a level considered less than significant. 1 i pC' 1 �y L8