SU0014502 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Administrative Draft Environmental Impact Report Gill Medical Center Project 4.6 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES This section of the EIR describes existing biological resources located on the Project site and evaluates the potential impacts on these resources in accordance with impact significance criteria provided in Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines. Information presented in this section is based on the technical study Biological Resources Assessment Gill Medical Center(BRA, ECORP 2020), which is included as Appendix E to this Draft EIR. The purpose of the BRA was to assess the potential for occurrence of special-status plant and animal species and their habitats, and sensitive habitats such as wetlands and riparian communities within the Project Study Area. The Study Area consists of the Project grading limits which is assumed to include the majority of the entire 42.4-acre project site.This section includes information generated from the reconnaissance-level site assessment and does not include a wetland delineation performed according to U.S.Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) standards, nor does it include determinate field surveys for special- status plant and animal species. This assessment includes a preliminary analysis of impacts on biological resources anticipated to result from the Project.The mitigation recommendations presented in this section are based on a review of existing literature, results of BRA field work and the presence or absence of sensitive species and habitats as defined below. 4.6.1 Environmental Setting The Study Area is situated in an agricultural setting at an elevation of approximately 35 feet above mean sea level in the southern San Joaquin Valley subregion of the Great Central Valley region of the California floristic province (Baldwin et. al. 2012).The vast majority of the Study Area is currently a vineyard with a fallow field and ruderal areas. The vineyard is comprised of uniform rows of grapes growing on posts and cables.The south half of the Woodbridge Irrigation District canal is located onsite along the northern boundary of the Study Area (where it runs adjacent the site, the ditch center line defines the northern property boundary). Representative photographs of the Study Area can be found in Appendix E of this Draft EIR. The surrounding lands include vineyards, orchards, undeveloped pastures, and light industrial and rural residential uses. 4.6.1.1 Vegetation Communities and Land Cover Types The Project is currently comprised primarily of a vineyard with a small patch of fallow agricultural field and ruderal roadside areas along access roads and boundaries (Figure 4.6-1. Vegetation Community and Land Cover Types/Preliminary Wetland Assessment). Vineyard The vineyard is comprised of wine grapes (Vitis species) planted in uniform rows.The rows are approximately 10 feet apart and include a trellis of posts and wires. Grape plants can attain heights of six to eight feet of dense growth prior to pruning.Vines are pruned in the fall and winter. There is sparse Biological Resources 4.6-1 October 2021