APPENDIX G. Biological Resources Reports

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1 APPENDIX G Biological Resources Reports

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3 November 9, 2009 David Geiser Merlone Geier Management, LLC 3580 Carmel Mountain Rd., Suite 260 San Diego, California RE: Neighborhood at Deer Creek, Petaluma, Sonoma County: Biotic Assessment Update Dear Mr. Geiser: In 2003, Zentner and Zentner (Zentner) completed a biotic assessment of the 37-acre Neighborhood at Deer Creek site in Petaluma, California (Project Area). In November 2009, W RA reviewed the 2003 Zentner report, completed a brief site visit, and reviewed available literature to identify any new or previously unreported biological constraints existing within the Project Area. This letter report provides an updated biological resource assessment for the Project Area. Project Area Based on the 2003 Zentner report and the 2009 site assessment by WRA, plant communities in the Project Area have not changed significantly since The Project Area continues to be disced annually for weed and fuel/fire control. Due to decades of agricultural activity, discing, and isolation by development, the Project Area is dominated by non-native annual grasses and weeds. Methods Literature Review Potential occurrence of special status species in the Project Area was evaluated by first determining which special status species occur in the vicinity of the Project Area through a literature and database search. The following sources were reviewed to determine which special status plant and wildlife species have been documented to occur in the vicinity of the Project Area: California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) California Natural Diversity Database records (CNDDB) (CDFG 2009) CDFG publication California s Wildlife, Volumes I-III (Zeiner et al. 1990) CDFG publication Amphibians and Reptile Species of Special Concern in California (Jennings and Hayes 1994) California Bird Species of Special Concern: A ranked assessment of species, subspecies, and distinct populations of birds of immediate conservation concern in California (Shuford and Gardali 2008) Santa Rosa Plain Conservation Strategy (USFWS 2005)

4 Site Assessment A site visit was made to the Project Area to search for suitable habitats for species identified in the literature review as occurring in the vicinity. The potential for each special status species to occur in the Project Area was then evaluated according to the following criteria: 1) No Potential. Habitat on and adjacent to the site is clearly unsuitable for the species requirements (foraging, breeding, cover, substrate, elevation, hydrology, plant community, site history, disturbance regime). 2) Unlikely. Few of the habitat components meeting the species requirements are present, and/or the majority of habitat on and adjacent to the site is unsuitable or of very poor quality. The species is not likely to be found on the site. 3) Moderate Potential. Some of the habitat components meeting the species requirements are present, and/or only some of the habitat on or adjacent to the site is unsuitable. The species has a moderate probability of being found on the site. 4) High Potential. All of the habitat components meeting the species requirements are present and/or most of the habitat on or adjacent to the site is highly suitable. The species has a high probability of being found on the site. 5) Present. Species is observed on the site or has been recorded (i.e. CNDDB, other reports) on the site recently. The site assessment is intended to identify the presence or absence of suitable habitat for each special status species known to occur in the vicinity in order to determine its potential to occur in the Project Area. The site visit does not constitute a protocol-level survey and is not intended to determine the actual presence or absence of a species; however, if a special status species is observed during the site visit, its presence will be recorded and discussed Results Based upon a review of the resources and databases listed above, the Project Area was assessed for 71 special status plant species documented in Sonoma County. The Project Area has the potential to support none of these species based on decades of agricultural land use, dominance by non-native grasses and weeds, and annual discing of the project area. This is consistent with the findings in the 2003 Zentner report Fifty-nine special status species of wildlife have been recorded in Sonoma County in or adjacent to upland habitats. None of these special status wildlife species were observed in the Project Area during either the 2003 Zentner study or the 2009 WRA site assessment. WRA concurs with the Zentner findings that the Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), a CDFG Species of Special Concern and USFW S Bird of Conservation Concern, may forage/nest in or adjacent to the Project Area. Although the White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus), a CDFG Fully Protected Species, may occasionally forage on the site, it is unlikely to attempt to nest due to high levels of human activity. Several wildlife species have either been removed or added to state and federal special status species lists since the 2003 list reported in Zentner; however, only one of the new species on the lists, Bryant s Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus), has a moderate potential to occur in the Project Area. This songbird, a CDFG Species of Special Concern, may 2

5 occur in the Project Area in winter, and may occasionally attempt to nest during the breeding season, but would probably find nesting more attractive in less disturbed grasslands elsewhere in the vicinity. Conclusion Following a literature review and site assessment, WRA concurs with the findings of the 2003 Zentner biotic assessment that two special status species of birds (White-tailed Kite and Loggerhead Shrike) may use the Project Area, and that one new bird species (Bryant s Savannah Sparrow) added to the special status lists since 2003 may also use the site. However, any potential project-related impacts to these birds during construction can be reduced to a less than significant level by implementing the following measures: Grading should be conducted between September and February Any removal of trees and shrubs should be conducted between September and February If grading or tree and shrub removal must be conducted between March and August, conduct pre-construction breeding bird surveys no more than 14 days prior to start of work. If active nests are found, exclusion zones of a distance appropriate for the species will be established (usually 50 to 100 feet). No work will occur within the exclusion zones until all young have become independent of the nest. If no active nests are found, no work restrictions will be necessary. Please let me know if you have any questions. Sincerely, Jeff Dreier Senior Wildlife Ecologist References California Department of Fish and Game Natural Diversity Database, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch. Sacramento. Jennings, M. R. and M. P. Hayes Amphibian and reptile species of special concern in California. Final report submitted to the California Department of Fish and Game, Inland Fisheries Division, Rancho Cordova, California. Contract No Shuford, W.D., and Gardali, T., editors California Bird Species of Special Concern: A ranked assessment of species, subspecies, and distinct populations of birds of immediate conservation concern in California. Studies of Western Birds 1. Western Field Ornithologists, Camarillo, California, and CDFG, Sacramento. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Santa Rosa Plain Conservation Strategy. Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office. Zeiner, D. C., W. F. Laudenslayer, Jr., K. E. Mayer, and M. White California's Wildlife, Volume I-III: Amphibians and Reptiles, Birds, Mammals. California Statewide Wildlife Habitat Relationships System, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento. 3

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