David Magney Environmental Consulting

MOJAVE RIVER WATERSHED MITIGATION BANK PROSPECTUS

Prepared for: U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS and CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

On behalf of: RICHARD LYONS & LAURIE PRANGE LYONS

Mission Statement To provide quality environmental consulting services with integrity that protect and enhance the human and natural environment

April 2015, revised November 2015

www.magney.org

DMEC

Mojave River Watershed Mitigation Bank Prospectus

Prepared for: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles Regulatory Division 915 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 930 Los Angeles, California 90017-3401 Contact: Veronica Li Phone: 213/452-3292 AND California Department of Fish and Wildlife South Coast Region 3883 Ruffin Road San Diego, California 92123 Contact: David Lawhead Phone: 858/627-3997

On behalf of: Richard Lyons & Laurie Prange Lyons P.O. Box 808 Santa Paula, California 93061

Prepared by: David Magney Environmental Consulting P.O. Box 1346 Ojai, California 93024-1346 Contact: David L. Magney Phone: 805/646-6045

13 April 2015, revised 23 November 2015

www.magney.org

This document should be cited as: David Magney Environmental Consulting. 2015. Mojave River Watershed Mitigation Bank: Prospectus. 13 April 2015, revised 23 November 2015. (PN 12-0004) Ojai, California. Prepared for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles, California, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife, San Diego, California. Prepared on behalf of Richard Lyons & Laurie Prange Lyons, Santa Paula, California.

Lyons – Mojave River Watershed Mitigation Bank: Prospectus Project No. 12-0004 23 November 2015 DMEC

Table of Contents

PAGE SECTION I. INTRODUCTION ...... 1 TYPE AND PURPOSE...... 1 PROPOSED SERVICE AREA ...... 1 PROJECT LOCATION ...... 2 OWNERSHIP ...... 6 Identity of Owner ...... 6 Identity and Responsibilities of Sponsor ...... 6 Identity of Conservation Easement Holder ...... 6 Identity of Long-term Steward ...... 6 MARKET DEMAND...... 6 SECTION II. SITE DESCRIPTION ...... 9 MAPPED SOIL UNITS ...... 12 Rositas-Carrizo Association ...... 12 Playas ...... 14 Tecopa-Rock Outcrop-Lithic Torriorthents Association ...... 14 HYDROLOGY ...... 15 FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES OF AQUATIC RESOURCES ...... 20 LIFT OF WETLAND FUNCTIONS ...... 21 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES ...... 25 Habitat Types ...... 25 Atriplex torreyi Provisional Alliance (Torrey Saltbush Scrub) ...... 29 Prosopis glandulosa Woodland Alliance (Mesquite Bosque) ...... 29 Suaeda nigra Shrubland Alliance (Bush Seepweed Scrub) ...... 30 Tamarix ramosissima Stand ...... 31 Cressa truxillensis-Distichlis spicata Herbaceous Alliance ...... 32 Flora ...... 34 Fauna ...... 38 SPECIAL-STATUS RESOURCES ...... 42 Definitions ...... 42 Special-status Plants...... 46 Special-status Wildlife ...... 47 Sensitive Habitats ...... 49 HABITAT CONNECTIVITY...... 50 Adjacent Land Use ...... 50 Connectivity Areas and Corridors...... 55 RESTORATION PLAN ...... 57 SECTION III. REFERENCES CITED ...... 60 LITERATURE CITED ...... 60 PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS ...... 63

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LIST OF TABLES PAGE Table 1. Pending Renewable Energy Project Applications in the Mojave Desert Region ...... 7 Table 2. Mitigation Bank Parcels...... 9 Table 3. Comparison of Baseline and Post-restoration FCI scores at the Bank Site ...... 23 Table 4. Plant Species Observed on the Bank Site ...... 35 Table 5. Plant Species Expected on the Bank Site...... 37 Table 6. Wildlife Species Observed and Expected on the Bank Site ...... 39 Table 7. Definitions of Special-status Species ...... 44 Table 8. California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Ranks (CNPS Lists) ...... 44 Table 9. California Native Plant Society Risk Threat Code Extensions ...... 45 Table 10. California Natural Diversity Database Element Ranking System ...... 45 Table 11. Special-status Plants Potentially Occurring Onsite ...... 46 Table 12. Special-status Wildlife Potentially Occurring Onsite ...... 47 Table 13. Sensitive Habitats Potentially Occurring Onsite ...... 50 Table 14. Area of Wetland Habitats and Types of Proposed Mitigation of the Bank Site ...... 57

LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Mojave River Watershed Mitigation Bank Service Area ...... 3 Figure 2. General Location of Mitigation Bank Site ...... 4 Figure 3. Mitigation Bank Site on 2010 Aerial Imagery ...... 5 Figure 4. Renewable Energy Projects and Potential in the Mojave Desert Region ...... 8 Figure 5. Bank Site with USGS 7.5-Minute Quadrangles ...... 11 Figure 6. NRCS Mapped Soils on Mitigation Bank Site ...... 13 Figure 7. NWI Mapped Wetlands ...... 16 Figure 8. DMEC Jurisdictional Boundary Determination ...... 17 Figure 9. Historic Flooding of East Cronese Lake ...... 18 Figure 10. Mojave River Flow Recurrence Intervals...... 19 Figure 11. Mojave Desert Playa Lakes HGM Reference Sites ...... 24 Figure 12. Land Cover in the Vicinity of East Cronese Lake ...... 27 Figure 13. Wetland Habitat Types of East Cronese Lake ...... 28 Figure 14. Land Ownership in the Vicinity of East Cronese Lake ...... 52 Figure 15. Land Use and Land Cover in the Vicinity of Cronese Basin ...... 53 Figure 16. Special Designation Areas in the Vicinity of Cronese Basin ...... 54 Figure 17. Linkage Corridors and Critical Habitat in the Vicinity of Cronese Basin ...... 56 Figure 18. Absolute Coverage of Invasive Species Onsite ...... 58 Figure 19. Restoration Areas of the Bank Site ...... 59

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SECTION I. INTRODUCTION

TYPE AND PURPOSE

Whereas, the purpose of this Banking Instrument is to establish guidelines and responsibilities for the establishment, use, operation, and maintenance of the Mojave River Watershed Mitigation Bank (Bank). The general use Bank will provide compensatory mitigation for unavoidable adverse impacts to Waters of the United States and Waters of the State, including wetlands, which result from activities authorized under Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act, provided that such activities have met all applicable requirements and are authorized by the appropriate authority. The proposed Bank contains a variety of continuous, intact Lacustrine, Palustrine, and Riverine habitats. Significant portions of these habitats have been impacted by the establishment of stands of the non-native invasive species Tamarix ramosissima (Saltcedar, Tamarisk). The actions proposed with the formation of the Mojave River Watershed Bank include restoration of these areas to natural functioning communities with continued maintenance and monitoring of these restoration activities. A wide variety of special-status species are known to occur in the vicinity of the proposed Bank. These species likely use habitats present on and adjacent to the proposed Bank. One special- status wildlife species was observed onsite: Lanius ludovicianus (Loggerhead Shrike). Uma scoparia (Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard) is known to occur on and surrounding the Bank Site, in the sand dune habitats. Other special-status species with high probability of using the site include, but are not limited to: Aquila chrysaetos (Golden Eagle), Falco mexicanus (Prairie Falcon), and Gopherus agassizii (Desert Tortoise). Although these species are likely to occur on the Bank Site, they have not been recently observed or recorded, and the sale of mitigation credits for these species is not being proposed.

PROPOSED SERVICE AREA

The proposed Service Area is the Mojave River Watershed (HUC8 sub-basin) plus very similar portions of the Mojave Basin and Range Ecoregion (EPA Level III Ecoregion). This ecoregion is defined by similar vegetation communities, faunal communities, climate, hydrology and landforms (Comer et. al 2013). Figure 1, Proposed Mojave River Watershed Mitigation Bank Service Area, illustrates the relative position of the Mojave River watershed, Mojave Basin and Range Level IV ecoregions, and the proposed Service Area. The total size of the proposed Service Area is approximately 11,771,400 acres, reduced from the originally proposed Mojave Basin and Range Ecoregion measuring 31,564,006 acres. The physiographic uniqueness of Mojave Desert Playa Lakes and adjacent habitats was considered in defining the proposed Service Area. These wetland features are not always connected to larger watersheds, but are more indicative of the Mojave Basin and Range Ecoregion as a whole. Aquatic resources such as these warrant an ecoregional approach to establishing a service area (Amato 2013).

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PROJECT LOCATION

The proposed Bank is located in East Cronese Lake, Mojave Desert in the central northern portion of San Bernardino County, California, east of the City of Barstow and west of the community of Baker along Interstate Highway 15 (I-15), as shown on Figure 2, General Location of Mitigation Bank Site. There are two distinct playa surfaces, west and east of one another, in the Cronese Basin, which are referred to in various ways on different maps and reports. This report will refer to them respectively as West Cronese Lake and East Cronese Lake (East Cronese Lake being the location of the Bank Site). Cronese is also spelled Cronise on some maps and reports. The Bank Site is located within Assessor’s Parcel Numbers (APN) 054-3-161-44 and 054-3-161- 46 (southwestern parcels). The property is located in the Cronese Valley north of the I-15 and east of the Cronese Mountains and is approximately 320 acres in size. Two additional parcels (APNs 054-3-201-34 and 054-3-171-54) located in the southeastern and eastern areas of East Cronese Lake are also included, measuring at approximately 20 and 40 acres, respectively. Two adjacent 40-acre parcels (APNs 054-3-201-41 and 054-3-201-42) occur along the eastern edge of the lake bed (northern parcels). Hereafter, the six separate parcels will collectively be referred to as the “Bank Site”. The Bank Site exists within the Cave Mountain and West Cronese Lake, California USGS Quadrangles (7.5-minute topographic maps) at the approximate geographic coordinates of 35.111N latitude and 116.292W longitude, NAD83. These six parcels in the Cronese Valley are identified on Figure 3, Mitigation Bank Site on 2010 Aerial Imagery. The City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) owns a strip of land that transects two of the six parcels (southwestern) and is immediately adjacent to a third parcel (southeastern). This LADWP land is under separate ownership and is not an easement through the Bank Site. According to the preliminary title report, there was at one time a lease agreement with the T & T Oil Company; this lease has expired and is not an encumbrance. The Bank Site is at elevations of approximately 1,075 feet to approximately 1,090 feet above mean sea level, measured from north to south. Wetlands on the site range in elevation from 1,075 to 1,085 feet above mean sea level.

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Figure 1. Mojave River Watershed Mitigation Bank Service Area

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Figure 2. General Location of Mitigation Bank Site

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Figure 3. Mitigation Bank Site on 2010 Aerial Imagery

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OWNERSHIP

The six parcels (20, 40, 40, 40, and 320 [2 parcels] acres) are owned by Richard and Laurie Prange Lyons. The proposed Bank Site property has never been used as mitigation previously nor has it been designated for a passive park, open space, or other purposed uses that are inconsistent with habitat preservation. It has not been acquired by any public entity nor were funds from a public entity used to purchase the property. There are no known restrictions to the property that prohibit it being used as a mitigation bank.

Identity of Owner

Richard and Laurie Prange Lyons P.O. Box 808 Santa Paula, California 93061 Phone: 805/525-2508 Email: [email protected] Richard and Laurie Prange Lyons own surface, mineral, and water rights.

Identity and Responsibilities of Sponsor

The Bank Sponsor and Owner are the same, Richard and Laurie Prange Lyons. The Owner/Sponsor is responsible for the interim management and long-term management of the Bank lands until all credits are sold. When this occurs, the long-term management will be transferred to the State of California or to a Conservancy. The Bank Sponsor will provide construction security, performance security, and interim management security, the details of which will be determined during the BEI stage of development.

Identity of Conservation Easement Holder

The Bank Sponsor has identified two authorized Conservation Easement holders that are CDFW- approved entities in the area, both of which are interested in holding the Conservation Easement. The Conservation Easement holder’s duties will be the compliance monitoring of the long-term management of the Bank.

Identity of Long-term Steward

The owner will be the long-term steward followed by the State of California.

MARKET DEMAND

Development activities are currently primarily occurring in the southwestern Mojave Desert in areas such as Lancaster, Victorville, and Barstow. There is limited agricultural development in the Mojave Desert due to the aridity of the region, although it does exist in areas that have surface and groundwater resources. Urban development is the dominant form of development in the region.

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In the Rapid Ecoregional Assessment of the Mojave Basin and Range Ecoregion prepared for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) by Comer et. al (2013), urban development is predicted to increase by 301,000 acres by the year 2025, which accounts for approximately 75% of total predicted development in the region. This includes urban development outside of California, such as Las Vegas. Within the proposed service area for the East Cronese Bank Site, demand for wetland mitigation credits is expected to primarily occur in the Antelope Valley and Mojave River Watershed regions of the southwestern Mojave Desert. The northern and eastern portions of the Mojave Desert region in California are primarily managed by federal agencies such as the BLM and National Park Service (NPS). These areas are expected to have little, if any, urban or agricultural development. However, it is likely that they will experience an increase in renewable energy development. Comer et. al (2013) predict that across the entire ecoregion, wind energy development will increase by 48,000 acres, and solar development will increase by 19,000 acres by 2025. Wind energy projects, solar energy projects, and transmission line construction projects have been approved on and adjacent to BLM land within the proposed service area (BLM 2015), and similar future developments are expected to be a source of demand for mitigation credits at the Bank Site. Table 1, Pending Renewable Energy Project Applications in the Mojave Desert Region, lists pending solar and wind projects within the proposed service area as of October 2015 (BLM 2015). Figure 4, Renewable Energy Projects and Potential in the Mojave Desert Region, shows the locations of approved and pending renewable energy projects and also illustrates BLM land suitable for renewable energy project applications. Due to the increasing demand for renewable energy in California1, more projects are likely to be approved in the near future, and these projects are expected to be a source of wetland mitigation credit demand.

Table 1. Pending Renewable Energy Project Applications in the Mojave Desert Region

BLM Project Name Project Type Size Location Field (Acres) Office Barstow Soda Mountain Solar 4,179 Adjacent to I-15, west of Soda Mountains Solar (Photovoltaic) WSA, east of the Mojave National Preserve Needles ReNew Energy Wind 37,219 Bristol Mountains, south of I-40 Type II Needles Homer Renewables Wind 18,852 Homer Mountain; north of I-14, east of the Mojave National Preserve Needles Arrowhead Type II Wind 18,560 North of I-14, east of the Mojave National Preserve Barstow Silurian Valley Wind 6,720 Silurian Valley, north of Baker and adjacent Wind to Highway 127 Needles Bristol Lake Type Wind 22,000 South of U.S. Route 66, east of Twentynine II Palms Marine Corps Base Needles Siberia Type II Wind 30,460 North of U.S. Route 66 and Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Base

1 California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard requires all utilities in the State to reach a target of 33% of retail electricity sales being from renewable sources by 2020 (California Energy Commission, 2015).

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Figure 4. Renewable Energy Projects and Potential in the Mojave Desert Region

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SECTION II. SITE DESCRIPTION

The proposed Mojave River Watershed Mitigation Bank (Bank Site) is located in the Cronese Basin in the Mojave Desert in the central-northern portion of San Bernardino County, California, east of the City of Barstow and west of the community of Baker along Interstate 15 (I-15). (Cronese is also spelled Cronise on some maps.) The Bank Site is located north of the I-15 and east of the Cronese Mountains (see Figure 2). The Bank Site is situated within the Cave Mountain and West Cronese Lake California Quadrangles (7.5-minute USGS maps) at the approximate geographic coordinates of 35.111N latitude and 116.292W longitude, NAD83. The Bank Site is at an elevation of approximately 1,075 feet to approximately 1,090 feet above mean sea level, from north to south. Wetlands onsite range in elevation from 1,075 to 1,085 feet above mean sea level. The Bank Site is comprised of six (6) total parcels (Assessor’s Parcel Numbers [APN] 054-3- 161-44 and 054-3-161-46, 054-3-171-54, 054-3-201-34, 054-3-201-41 and 054-3-201-42), which total 436.298 acres. The sizes and reference names used for the purpose of discussion are provided in Table 2, Mitigation Bank Parcels and are illustrated in Figure 3, Mojave River Watershed Bank Parcels with 2010 Aerial Imagery. The combined parcels and reference names are illustrated in Figure 5, Bank Site with USGS 7.5-Minute Quadrangles.

Table 2. Mitigation Bank Parcels

Assessor’s Parcel Number Name Size (acres)2 054-3-161-44 (2 parts) Southwestern 237.161 054-3-161-46 (2 parts) Southwestern 59.6663 054-3-171-54 Southeastern 39.341 054-3-201-34 Eastern 20.051 054-3-201-41 Northern 40.087 054-3-201-42 Northern 39.993 Total Bank Site 436.298

BLM Road/Trail 4N03 generally follows the side of the playa lake. Atriplex torreyi Alliance (Torrey Saltbush Scrub), Tamarix ramosissima Stand, Prosopis glandulosa Woodland Alliance (Mesquite Bosque), Suaeda nigra Shrubland Alliance (Bush Seepweed Scrub), Larrea tridentata Shrubland Alliance (Creosote Bush Scrub) and Cressa truxillensis-Distichlis spicata Herbaceous Alliance (Alkali Weed-Saltgrass Alliance) plant communities occur within and along the edges of the playa lake and form intact, continuous and contiguous habitat in all directions. A complete description of the biological resources of the Bank Site and surrounding areas are

2 Parcel sizes according to measurements calculated from the San Bernardino County Parcel database using ArcView 3.3 and ArcMap 10.2. 3 59.666 acres is the adjusted acreage to be included in the proposed mitigation bank. 75.848 acres is the total size of the parcel. The PRM area is 16.182 acres (excluded from the proposed mitigation bank).

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View of Bank property looking northward from about middle of property. Cronese Mountains to the west (left) and Soda Mountains in the background to the north and northeast (right).

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Figure 5. Bank Site with USGS 7.5-Minute Quadrangles

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MAPPED SOIL UNITS

The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has no available detailed data for the area of the Bank Site. The NRCS California Soil Survey Status map (NRCS 2013) lists the Mojave Desert Area, California (CA695) as a non-project area. Query of the fine-scale NRCS Web Soil Survey (NRCS 2014) maps the Bank Site as “NOTCOM” with no digital data available. However, the broad-scale NRCS General Soils Map of the United States (STATS2GO Database, also accessed through Web Soils Survey, NRCS 2014) maps the Bank Site as containing Rositas- Carrizo Association, Playas, and Tecopa-Rock Outcrop-Lithic Torriorthents Association. Figure 5, Mapped Soils on Mitigation Bank Site, illustrates the NRCS-defined soil boundaries in relation to the Lyons property. These associations are not included in the National List of Hydric Soils 2014 (NRCS 2014a). The NRCS General Soils Map is intended for use at the regional planning level and is not entirely accurate at finer-scale levels. Errors in soil boundaries are evident in Figure 6, particularly just west of the parcel boundary where “Playa” soils clearly extend onto rocky mountainside. However, the general classifications and associations for the East Cronese Lake area, as defined by NRCS, are still valid and useful regardless of the roughly defined boundaries.

Rositas-Carrizo Association

The Rositas-Carrizo Association is classified according to the description provided by Bowman, Soil Conservation Service (1973). This association occurs in the desert. It is comprised of soils that developed in alluvium derived from mica schist and acid igneous rock. It supports desert shrub, cactus, and annual herb vegetation communities. Rositas soils are somewhat excessively drained, light to brownish-grey loamy coarse sands to fine sand. Carrizo soils are excessively drained, very pale brown and very gravelly sands.

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Figure 6. NRCS Mapped Soils on Mitigation Bank Site

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Playas

Playas are geomorphic surfaces that occupy the lowest portion of an undrained depression or basin. “Playas” is not a distinct described soil association (NRCS 2014b) and this classification within the General Soils Map is apparently a rough-scale generalization of playa surfaces that have not been thoroughly examined. However, DMEC has observed that the soils of East Cronese Lake Playa surface typically have a thin cracked silty clay crust with unconsolidated sand to silty sand underneath, occasionally mixed with unconsolidated biotite, and/or exhibiting clay below 12 inches depth. In addition to surface crust cracks, East Cronese Lake exhibits extensive networks of deeper, gas-release created cracks, fissures, also referred to as gilgai morphology (Cooke and Warren 1973). Playa surfaces such as East Cronese Lake are typically moderately to extremely more saline than the surrounding soils.

Left: Soil core at a wetland delineation sample plot. Right: Cracked clay layer in lake bed, a clear indicator of wetland hydrology. Both on East Cronese Lake bed.

Left: gas (gilgai) bubble. Right: gas (gilgai) fissure. Both on East Cronese Lake bed.

Tecopa-Rock Outcrop-Lithic Torriorthents Association

The Tecopa-Rock Outcrop-Lithic Torriorthents Association is classified according to the Official Soil Series Descriptions (NRCS 2014b). Tecopa-Rock Outcrop-Lithic Torriorthents Association is a series of shallow, largely undeveloped soils confined to hillsides over and between solid rock outcrops. Tecopa series very gravelly sandy loam formed from weathered

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HYDROLOGY

East Cronese Lake is a distributary and the terminus of the Mojave River. During higher flood years the Mojave River also flows into Soda and Silver Lakes, and East Cronese overflows into West Cronese Lake. The hydrologic connectivity of East Cronese Lake and the Mojave River is well documented in the literature. It is repeatedly stated in both recognized scientific and regulatory literature that the Mojave River flows into East Cronese Lake or the Cronese Basin (Courtois 1984, Izbicki 2007, Lines 1996, Wells et al. 2003). The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board classifies the Cronese Lakes (east and west) as wetlands, with a wide variety of beneficial uses including, but not limited to, Wildlife Habitat and Water Quality Enhancement. This board’s Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region also includes proposed updates to include language listing the Cronese Lakes as directly receiving water from the Mojave River (State of California 2014). East Cronese Lake is also mapped as playa wetlands and emergent wetlands in the National Wetland Inventory (NWI) (USFWS 2014) as illustrated in Figure 7, NWI Mapped Wetlands. However, clear errors exist in the mapped wetlands. The wetland delineation performed by DMEC suggests expanding the boundaries and connecting the mapped riverine system of the Mojave River, as illustrated in Figure 8, DMEC Jurisdictional Boundary Determination (DMEC 2015b). Historical flooding of East Cronese Lake is clearly visible on satellite imagery (Landsat) as illustrated in Figure 9, Historic Flooding of East Cronese Lake. Figure 9 shows USGS Landsat Imagery of East Cronese Lake in an inundated state in 1984, 1993, and 2005 (specifically on 26 August 1984, 24 February 1993, and 14 April 2005). These images all correlate directly with high stream flow measurements taken by USGS at Afton Creek just upstream of the overflow wash that drains into East Cronese Lake (USGS 2014). Previous to these floods, the Cronese Basin is documented to have flooded in 1916, 1922, 1938, 1969, and 1978 (California Department of Water Resources 1964, USDI Geologic Survey 1979 as cited in Courtois 1984). East Cronese Lake has been observed to be flooded about every five years since 1991 (Chavez pers. comm. 2014). These combined historic records indicate the Cronese Basin is flooded approximately once every 5 to 10 years. Flood recurrence interval data for water years 1931 through 1994 were determined for the Mojave River, measured above Victorville. These data are provided in Figure 10, Mojave River Flow Recurrence Intervals. The two flood events identified on Figure 10 for 1978 and 1983 were classified as 30- and 12-year flood recurrence events.

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Figure 7. NWI Mapped Wetlands

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Figure 8. DMEC Jurisdictional Boundary Determination

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Figure 9. Historic Flooding of East Cronese Lake

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Figure 10. Mojave River Flow Recurrence Intervals

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FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES OF AQUATIC RESOURCES

There are no existing functional assessment models available for any wetland habitat types for desert riverine or depressional wetlands. The best method to measure wetland functions of desert wetlands is to follow the well-developed Hydrogeomorphic Assessment model (HGM) developed by the Corps and expanded by EPA. An assessment of the wetland functions will be performed using a Draft Regional Guidebook for Functional Assessment of Playa Depressional Wetlands in the Mojave Desert (DMEC 2015d). This document applies the HGM approach, but is not being called a draft HGM guidebook because an assessment team (A team) has not been assembled. Two regional HGM models were used as templates for the Mojave Desert Playas Depressional HGM model: the Prairie Potholes Depressional HGM model (Gilbert et al. 2006) and the Southern California Vernal Pools HGM model (Bauder et al. 2009), with the former model most closely representing functions of the desert playa depressional wetlands. Six wetland functions have been identified for the Prairie Potholes wetlands: 1. Surface Water Storage 2. Groundwater Recharge 3. Sediment Retention 4. Biochemical Recycling 5. Plant Community Resilience and Carbon Cycling 6. Provide Faunal Habitat The Mojave Desert playa wetlands serve the same six basic functions. The Draft Regional Guidebook for Functional Assessment of Playa Depressional Wetlands in the Mojave Desert uses the six wetland functions listed above from the Prairie Potholes HGM model (Gilbert et al. 2006), using 14 variables to measure the functional capacity index (FCI) of each of the functions. Not all 14 variables are used for each of the six functions. Some variables are weighted. The 14 variables are listed below:

1. Buffer Condition (VBUFFCONT): continuity of natural buffer adjacent to the wetland

2. Buffer Width (VBUFFWIDTH): width of natural buffer perpendicular to the wetland

3. Vegetation Composition (VVEGCOMP): vegetation composition

4. Soil Recharge Potential (VRECHARGE)estimated groundwater infiltration potential

5. Sediment (VSED): sediment deposition in the wetland

6. Soil Quality Index (VSQI): soil quality index

7. Wetland Outlet (VOUT): wetland surface outlet

8. Subsurface Outlet (VSUBOUT): subsurface drainage

9. Wetland Source Area (VSOURCE): reduction or increase in catchment area

10. Wetland Edge Index (VEDGE): modified shoreline irregularity index

11. Wetland Ratio (VCATCHWET): ratio of catchment area to wetland area

12. Upland Land Use (VUPUSE): land use within the catchment

13. Wetland Proximity (VWETPROX): proximity to nearest wetlands

14. Landscape Habitat Fragmentation (VHABFRAG): sum of the length of roads and ditches in the landscape assessment area

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The Desert Playas functional assessment regional model is based on 17 reference sites (equivalent to 17 playa wetlands) scattered about the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino and Inyo Counties (Figure 11, Mojave Desert Playa HGM Reference Sites), including:  Broadwell Lake,  Bristol Lake,  East Cronese Lake,  West Cronese Lake,  Dry Lake (Silurian Valley),  El Mirage Lake,  Harper Lake,  Ivanpah Lake,  Lucerne Lake,  Panamint Lake (north & south),  Rabbit Lake,  Searles Lake,  Silurian Lake,  Silver Lake,  Soda Lake,  Troy Lake, and  “Green Rock Mine” Lake (apparently unnamed playa approximately 1.7 mi NW of Afton Canyon Exit I-15). The reference sites include two basic playa subclasses: those considered soft and those considered hard, as defined by Motts et al. (1969). The hard playas subclass is generally associated with playas with a very shallow groundwater table and high salinity/high levels of carbonates. The soft playas have somewhat deeper groundwater levels and significantly lower levels of salinity and carbonates.

LIFT OF WETLAND FUNCTIONS

East Cronese Lake and the Bank Site serve the six basic wetland functions described above. However, the viability of these functions has been reduced significantly as a result of invasion and colonization of a large portion of the Bank Site by invasive exotic plants, primarily Tamarix ramosissima. T. ramosissima is a phreatophytic species, meaning that it is capable of putting down deep tap roots and utilizing groundwater; however it will utilize moisture wherever it occurs (Nippert et al. 2010). As verified by Sala et al (1996), T. ramosissima is capable of using large amounts of water under the extreme evaporative demands that characterize arid environments, and mature T. ramosissima stands can lose very high quantities of water due to the maintenance of high leaf area. The active restoration of the East Cronese Lake Bank Site will increase the amount of groundwater available 4 , decrease salinity and increase the diversity of plant and wildlife

4 Little data are available regarding the current ground water level at East Cronese Lake. Historic data from the California Water Data Library (http://www.water.ca.gov/waterdatalibrary/) indicates that groundwater levels measured from wells on the lake surface ranged from approximately 16-18 ft. below the ground in 1961, and fell to approximately 18-21 ft. by 1966. A well on the periphery of the lake measured the groundwater level at 33 ft. below ground in 1980.

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Table 3. Comparison of Baseline and Post-restoration FCI scores at the Bank Site

Assessment Area Entire East Cronese Wetland Function Baseline Post-restoration Functional Lift 1 - Surface Water Retention 0.43 0.61 0.18 2 - Groundwater Recharge 0.41 0.58 0.17 3 - Retain Particulates 0.68 0.74 0.06 4 - Biogeochemical Processes 0.42 0.62 0.20 5 - Plant Community Resilience 0.41 0.61 0.20 6 - Provide Faunal Habitat 0.40 0.60 0.20 Southwestern Parcels Function Baseline Post-restoration Functional Lift 1 - Surface Water Retention 0.43 0.87 0.43 2 - Groundwater Recharge 0.41 0.82 0.41 3 - Retain Particulates 0.68 0.83 0.16 4 - Biogeochemical Processes 0.42 0.94 0.51 5 - Plant Community Resilience 0.41 0.92 0.51 6 - Provide Faunal Habitat 0.40 0.90 0.50 Southeastern Parcel Function Baseline Post-restoration Functional Lift 1 - Surface Water Retention 0.61 0.87 0.25 2 - Groundwater Recharge 0.58 0.82 0.24 3 - Retain Particulates 0.74 0.83 0.10 4 - Biogeochemical Processes 0.62 0.94 0.31 5 - Plant Community Resilience 0.61 0.92 0.31 6 - Provide Faunal Habitat 0.60 0.90 0.30 Northern and Eastern Parcels Function Baseline Post-restoration Functional Lift 1 - Surface Water Retention 0.87 0.87 0.00 2 - Groundwater Recharge 0.82 0.82 0.00 3 - Retain Particulates 0.83 0.83 0.00 4 - Biogeochemical Processes 0.94 0.94 0.00 5 - Plant Community Resilience 0.92 0.92 0.00 6 - Provide Faunal Habitat 0.90 0.90 0.00

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Figure 11. Mojave Desert Playa Lakes HGM Reference Sites

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BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES

Habitat Types

The Bank Site contains upland, riparian, and wetland habitats on steep slopes and in the floodplain of East Cronese Lake and contributing drainages. The Bank Site vegetation is comprised of three predominant habitat groups, including Sonoran- Coloradan Semi-desert Wash Scrub, Lower Bajada and Fan Mojavean-Sonoran Desert Scrub, and Southwestern North American Salt Basin and High Marsh. Specifically the Lyons property habitats are classified as the following by Sawyer et al. (2009) and as suggested by DMEC:  Sonoran-Coloradan Semi-desert Wash Scrub o Prosopis glandulosa Alliance (Mesquite Bosque) . Prosopis glandulosa/Atriplex canescens Association . Prosopis glandulosa/Pluchea sericea-Atriplex canescens Alkali Spring Association  Lower Bajada and Fan Mojavean-Sonoran Desert Scrub o Larrea tridentata Alliance (Creosote Bush Scrub) . Larrea tridentata-Atriplex canescens Association . Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia salsola Association . Larrea tridentata/Eriogonum inflatum Association . Larrea tridentata/wash  Southwestern North American Salt Basin and High Marsh o Atriplex torreyi Provisional Alliance (Torrey Saltbush Scrub) o Suaeda nigra [moquinii] Alliance (Bush Seepweed Scrub) o Tamarix ramosissima Stand

The predominant wetland habitat type onsite is classified within the Palustrine system, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States (Cowardin et al. 1979). The Palustrine system includes all nontidal wetlands dominated by trees, shrubs, persistent emergents, emergent mosses or lichens, and all such wetlands that occur in tidal areas where salinity due to ocean-derived salts is below 0.5. The Palustrine system is bounded by upland or by any of the other four systems (including Riverine, Lacustrine, Marine, and Estuarine). Within the Palustrine system there are several classes present on the Bank Site. Substantial localized variation in total vegetative cover and dominant species is present within the Palustrine system on the Bank Site, which constitute several classes as defined by Cowardin et al. (1979). All wetland classes present are classified as Intermittently Flooded. Intermittently Flooded systems have substrate that is usually exposed yet surface water is present for variable periods and without detectable seasonal periodicity. It is possible for periods of weeks, months, and years of exposed substrate to pass between periods of present surface water. The classes present on the Bank Site are:  Scrub-Shrub Broad-leaved Evergreen Wetland is characterized by woody vegetation that is at less than six meters tall (true shrubs or young trees), in the case of the Bank Site , dominated by primarily by Atriplex torreyi var. torreyi (Atriplex torreyi Provisional

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Alliance), with additional areas dominated by Suaeda nigra (Suaeda nigra [moquinii] Alliance).  Scrub-Shrub Broad-leaved Deciduous Wetland is characterized by woody vegetation that is at less than six meters tall (true shrubs or young trees), in the case of the Bank Site, dominated by primarily by Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana (Prosopis glandulosa Alliance).  Scrub-Shrub Needle-leaved Evergreen Wetland is characterized by woody vegetation that is at less than six meters tall (true shrubs or young trees), in the case of the Bank Site, dominated by Tamarix ramosissima.  Scrub-Shrub Dead Wetland is characterized by dead woody vegetation that is less than six meters tall (true shrubs or young trees) usually resulting from an impoundment of water.  Unconsolidated Bottom is characterized by at least 25% cover of particles smaller than stones, and vegetative cover less than 30%. Cowardin et al. (1979) restricts this class to subtidal, permanently flooded, intermittently exposed, and semi-permanently flooded water regimes. Considering the nature of the East Cronese Playa bottom, DMEC finds it appropriate to consider this class in regards to intermittently flooded water regime as well. The sediment of the playa surface in combination with certain sparse vegetation patches is characteristic of the unconsolidated bottom class.  Emergent Wetland is characterized by erect, rooted, herbaceous hydrophytes, excluding mosses and lichens. In areas of climactic fluctuation, large precipitation or flood events can cause emergent wetlands to revert to an open water phase periodically. Considering the nature of the East Cronese Playa bottom and its dominant vegetation (Atriplex torreyi var. torreyi and Tamarix ramosissima) DMEC finds it appropriate to consider this class despite the lack of true herbaceous hydrophytes. The clear division between the playa surface vegetation alliances and upland alliances is a function of the periodic flooding of the playa surface and is characteristic of the emergent wetland class. Emergent Wetland is also included in the USFWS National Wetland Inventory (NWI) map of the project area, illustrated in Figure 7, NWI Mapped Wetlands. The vegetated Palustrine and Riverine wetland habitats observed onsite are described below in more detail as:  Atriplex torreyi Provisional Alliance (Torrey Saltbush Scrub);  Prosopis glandulosa Woodland Alliance (Mesquite Bosque)  Suaeda nigra Shrubland Alliance (Bush Seepweed Scrub)  Tamarix ramosissima Stand  Cressa truxillensis-Distichlis spicata Herbaceous Alliance (Alkali Weed and Saltgrass) Stutzia covillei-Lepidium nitidum-Cressa truxillensis Provisional Herbaceous Association (Alkali Weed-Saltgrass Playas and Sinks) These habitats are discussed in the following subsections as suggested by DMEC, following conventions of Sawyer et al. (2009), and described in detail in the Biological Resources Report (DMEC 2015a). The general habitat types present on the East Cronese Lake parcels are illustrated in Figure 12, Land Cover in the Vicinity of East Cronese Lake. The wetland types are illustrated in Figure 13, Wetland Habitat Types of East Cronese Lake.

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Figure 12. Land Cover in the Vicinity of East Cronese Lake

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Figure 13. Wetland Habitat Types of East Cronese Lake

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Atriplex torreyi Provisional Alliance (Torrey Saltbush Scrub)

Atriplex torreyi Provisional Alliance (Torrey Saltbush Scrub) is dominated by Atriplex torreyi var. torreyi (Torrey’s Saltbush), which is a broad-leaved, evergreen, generally rounded shrub with pale brown to grey bark, sharp angled striate twigs, and pale green to grey, ovate to deltate leaves. Torrey’s Saltbush is uncommon but widely distributed east of the Sierra Nevada, through the Mojave Desert and into southwestern Utah. A. torreyi occurs predominantly in dry lakes and washes with saline clayey soils, from 300 to 2,200 meters elevation (Zacharias 2013). A. torreyi has a Wetland Indicator Status (WIS) of FAC (Lichvar 2014); however, DMEC believes this status designation is incorrect as A. torreyi only occurs in clayey soils associated with desert playas and should be assigned to either OBL or FACW since it is very rarely found growing in upland habitats. Atriplex torreyi Provisional Alliance was observed inhabiting major areas of the East Cronese Lake playa bottom. The playa bottom is comprised of a network of patches and swales with varying degrees of absolute vegetation coverage, dominant species, and dead vegetation. Most undisturbed or uninvaded areas are dominated by A. torreyi var. torreyi, which is associated with a variety of herbaceous annuals, including but not limited to: Pectocarya recurvata (Arched-nut Combseed), Amsinckia tessellata var. tessellata (Desert Fiddleneck), Cryptantha angustifolia (Narrow-leaved Forget-me-not), and Schismus spp. (Arabian and Mediterranean Grass). Scattered individuals of Tamarix ramosissima (Saltcedar) are also commonly found in A. torreyi var. torreyi dominated areas. The playa surface on the northern portion of the Lyons property is primarily Atriplex torreyi Provisional Alliance, T. ramosissima individuals become increasingly common moving south, eventually becoming dominant.

Prosopis glandulosa Woodland Alliance (Mesquite Bosque)

Prosopis glandulosa Woodland Alliance (Mesquite Bosque, Mesquite Thicket) is dominated by Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana (Honey Mesquite), which is a woody tree or shrub, primarily functioning as a shrub on the Bank property. It has feathery green leaves, and is winter deciduous. The small yellow flowers occur in dense dangling spikes, resembling catkins. P. glandulosa var. torreyana is a phreatophyte. It is dependent upon a permanent supply of groundwater, sending roots up to 15 meters deep to tap into water sources. It is found in deserts, commonly along the fringes of playa lakes, stream banks, floodplains, and margins of arroyos

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Suaeda nigra Shrubland Alliance (Bush Seepweed Scrub)

Suaeda [moquinii] nigra Shrubland Alliance is dominated by Suaeda nigra [formerly called S. moquinii] (Bush Seepweed), which is a shrub or subshrub typically less than 1.5 meters tall. It has small linear to narrowly lanceolate leaves, 1 to 3 centimeters long, that can range from yellowish green to red to dark purple, appearing black. The flowers occur in clusters of 1 to 12 along the stems. It is found in desert and semi-desert habitats, often in saline or alkaline soils, on flat to gently sloping valley bottoms, playas, and toe slopes adjacent to alluvial fans, and bajadas below 1300 meters elevation. S. nigra is assigned WIS of FAC (Lichvar 2014); however, DMEC believes this status designation is incorrect as S. nigra only occurs in clayey soils associated with desert playas, bottomlands, and saline/alkaline marshes and should be assigned to either OBL or FACW since it is very rarely found growing in upland habitats. Suaeda nigra was observed inhabiting areas along the eastern fringes of the East Cronese Lake playa bottom, occupying the majority of the Eastern parcel. Its distribution is quite restricted to one distinct stand on the eastern fringe of East Cronese Lake; however it is somewhat more

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Tamarix ramosissima Stand

Tamarix ramosissima Stand is dominated by Tamarix ramosissima (Saltcedar), which is a woody tree or shrub, primarily functioning as a shrub on the Bank Site. It has scale-like green leaves, turning brown and deciduous during times of drought. The flowers are fluffy white to pink racemes. Native to Asia, it has naturalized in and aggressively invaded wetland and riparian habitats of the southwestern United States. While common and highly invasive in southern California and northern Mexico, it is also found as widespread as Washington and Louisiana. It occurs in washes and along streambanks below 200 meters elevation (Gaskin 2012). Tamarix ramosissima lacks a Wetland Indicator Status [WIS] (Lichvar 2014); however, based on similar species of Tamarix and the ecological conditions it is typically found in, DMEC recommends a WIS of FACW. Tamarix ramosissima was observed inhabiting major areas of the East Cronese Lake playa bottom. The playa bottom is comprised of a network of patches and swales with varying degrees of absolute vegetation coverage, dominant species, and dead vegetation. Tamarix ramosissima becomes increasingly dominant moving southward on the East Cronese Playa bottom, particularly along the south-western portion, the east-central side of the Southwestern parcel. Tamarix ramosissima forms dense thickets with individuals occasionally reaching over three meters high. Scattered annual herbs are found among Tamarix ramosissima stands, sometimes forming dese clusters in openings, these herbaceous species primarily include: Pectocarya

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Cressa truxillensis-Distichlis spicata Herbaceous Alliance

Cressa truxillensis-Distichlis spicata Herbaceous Alliance (Alkali Weed-Saltgrass Marsh) is a low-growing herbaceous plant community occurring on saline and alkaline sinks and playas (Sawyer et al. 2009). This alliance is represented in the Cronese Basin in East Cronese Lake by a previously undescribed plant association so far unique to East Cronese Lake: Stutzia covillei- Lepidium nitidum-Cressa truxillensis Provisional Herbaceous Association. It is dominated by Stutzia covillei (Coville’s Saltbush) and Lepidium nitidum (Shiny Peppergrass), with a minor representation by Cressa truxillensis (Alkali Weed) as a subdominant. Stutzia covillei and Lepidium nitidum are both broad-leaved, spring-flowering annuals that are either typically or often found in saline wetland sites.

Left: Cressa truxillensis habit and habitat. Right: Close-up of Cressa truxillensis flowers and leaves.

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Stutzia covillei (Standl.) E.H. Zacharias [Atriplex covillei (Standl.) J.F. Macbr., Atriplex phyllostegia (Torr. ex S. Watson) S. Watson; Endolepis covillei Standl.] is uncommon but widely distributed in the San Joaquin Valley and east of the Sierra Nevada through the Mojave Desert and into southern Nevada (many occurrences in the San Joaquin Valley have been extirpated). Stutzia covillei occurs predominantly in dry lakes and flats with saline clayey soils, from below 2,100 meters elevation (Zacharias 2013b). Stutzia covillei (as Atriplex phyllostegia) has a WIS of FACW (Lichvar et al. 2014). Lepidium nitidum Nutt. [Lepidium nitidum var. howellii C.L. Hitchc.; Lepidium nitidum var. oreganum (Greene) C.L. Hitchc.] is a puberulent (very small hairs) erect to decumbent annual herb in the Mustard family (Brassicaceae). It is an early blooming species that is typically in fruit by February and March. Lepidium nitidum occurs in alkaline soils, meadows, pastures, vernal pools, fields, and beaches <1,000 m. It ranges from Washington to Baja California, Mexico. Lepidium nitidum has been assigned a FAC WIS (Lichvar et al. 2014). Stutzia covillei-Lepidium nitidum-Cressa truxillensis Provisional Herbaceous Association was observed inhabiting large areas of the East Cronese Lake playa bottom, primarily along the eastern side. The playa bottom is comprised of a network of patches and swales with varying degrees of absolute vegetation coverage, dominant species, and dead vegetation. Associated species observed with the dominants include: Amsinckia tessellata var. tessellata, Chaenactis stevioides (Esteve Pincushion), Cryptantha angustifolia, Dieteria canescens var. canescens (Hoary Aster), Malacothrix glabrata (Desert Dandelion), Salsola tragus (Russian Thistle), Sisymbrium irio (London Rocket), and Schismus spp. Suaeda nigra and Atriplex torreyi var. torreyi occur nearby.

Stutzia covillei-Lepidium nitidum-Cressa truxillensis Provisional Herbaceous Association occurring in the bottom of the playa lake in the vicinity of the Eastern parcel of the Bank Site.

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Left: Stutzia covillei. Right: Lepidium nitidum with Cressa truxillensis.

Flora

The flora of the project consists of vascular and nonvascular plants growing naturally or planted onsite. Vascular plants consist of trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses and graminoids (monocot species not in the grass family), and ferns and fern allies. Nonvascular plants consist of fungi, lichens, and bryophytes (mosses, liverworts, and hornworts). DMEC recorded direct observations of all plant taxa encountered during site visits. DMEC conducted review of the Consortium of California Herbaria (CCH) database for all recorded voucher specimens collected and tagged as containing the words “Cronese” or “Cronise”. Research and observations yielded a total of approximately 142 vascular plant taxa, of which about 92 occur on the 320-acre parcel, the remaining on land around the Bank Site. Of the 92 vascular plant taxa, 80 (88%) are native species and 12 (12%) are introduced naturalized species. Of the total observed taxa DMEC collected voucher specimens for 54 taxa. No nonvascular plants (bryophytes or lichens) were observed onsite but almost certainly occur in the Cronese Mountains immediately to the west. Table 4, Plant Species Observed on the Bank Site, lists all the vascular plants observed by DMEC onsite. Table 5, Plant Species Expected on the Bank Site, lists all species expected to occur at the Bank Site based on Consortium of California Herbaria (CCH) records.

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Table 4. Plant Species Observed on the Bank Site

Scientific Name5 Common Name Family WIS6 Evidence Abronia villosa var. villosa Hairy Sand-verbena Nyctaginaceae . collected Ambrosia dumosa White Bur-sage Asteraceae . collected

Ambrosia salsola var. salsola Cheesebush Asteraceae . collected

Amsinckia tessellata var. tessellata Desert Fiddleneck Boraginaceae (FACU) collected Argemone corymbosa Leafy Prickly Poppy Papaveraceae . photographed Arida arizonica [Machaeranthera arida] Silver Lake Daisy Asteraceae FACU photographed Atriplex canescens var. canescens Fourwing Saltbush Chenopodiaceae (FAC) observed Atriplex canescens var. laciniata Caleb Saltbush Chenopodiaceae (FAC) collected Atriplex torreyi var. torreyi Torrey Saltbush Chenopodiaceae FAC collected Bebbia juncea var. aspera Rough Sweatbush Asteraceae collected Brassica tournefortii * Sahara Mustard Brassicaceae . collected Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens * Red Brome Poaceae UPL collected Caulanthus lasiophyllus [Guillenia lasiophylla] California Mustard Brassicaceae . collected Chaenactis stevioides Esteve Pincushion Asteraceae . collected Chilopsis linearis Desert Willow Bignoniaceae (FACW) collected Chorizanthe brevicornu var. brevicornu Brittle Spineflower Polygonaceae . collected Chorizanthe rigida Polygonaceae . collected Chylismia claviformis ssp. claviformis Clavate-fruited Primrose Onagraceae . collected Cleomella obtusifolia Mojave Stinkweed Cleomaceae . collected Cressa truxillensis Alkali Weed Convolvulaceae FACW collected Narrow-leaved Forget- Cryptantha angustifolia Me-Not Boraginaceae . collected Cucurbita palmata Coyote Melon Cucurbitaceae . collected Dieteria canescens var. canescens Hoary-aster Asteraceae . collected Dithyrea californica Spectacle Pod Brassicaceae . collected Encelia farinosa Brittlebush Asteraceae . collected Ephedra Mormon Tea Ephedraceae . collected Eremalche exilis White Mallow Malvaceae . collected Eremalche rotundifolia Desert Fivespot Malvaceae . collected Eremothera [Camissonia] boothii Booth Desert Primrose Onagraceae . collected Eriogonum inflatum var. inflatum Desert Trumpet Polygonaceae . collected Eschscholzia glyptosperma Desert Golden Poppy Papaveraceae . collected Eschscholzia minutiflora Small-flowered Poppy Papaveraceae . collected Geraea canescens Hairy Desert Sunflower Asteraceae . collected

5 * = Introduced/naturalized plant species. Bold = Special-status species (CNPS 2006, 2014). Scientific and common names follow Jepson Flora Project (2014) and Flora of North America Editorial Committee (1993-2010). 6 WIS = Wetland Indicator Status. The following code definitions are according to Lichvar (2013): OBL = obligate wetland species, occurs almost always in wetlands (>99% probability). FACW = facultative wetland species, usually found in wetlands (67-99% probability). FAC = facultative species, equally likely to occur in wetlands or nonwetlands (34-66% probability). FACU = facultative upland species, usually found in nonwetlands (67-99% probability). + or - symbols are modifiers that indicate greater or lesser affinity for wetland habitats. NI = no indicator has been assigned due to a lack of information to determine indicator status. * = a tentative assignment to that indicator status by Lichvar (2013). Parentheses indicate a wetland status as suggested by David L. Magney based on extensive field observations over 30 years, and evidence discussed in the Methods – Problematic Indicators section.

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Scientific Name5 Common Name Family WIS6 Evidence Gilia sinuata Rosy Gilia Polemoniaceae . collected Heliotropium curassavicum var. oculatum Alkali Heliotrope Boraginaceae FACU collected Hesperocaulis undulata Desert Lily Agavaceae . collected Hilaria rigida Big Galleta Poaceae . collected Langloisia setosissima var. setosissima Bristly Langloisia Polemoniaceae . collected Larrea tridentata Creosote Bush Zygophyllaceae . observed Lepidium flavum Yellow Peppergrass Brassicaceae UPL collected Lepidium lasiocarpum ssp. lasiocarpum Shaggyfruit Peppergrass Brassicaceae . collected Lepidium nitidum Shinny Peppergrass Brassicaceae FAC collected Loeseliastrum schottii Scott Gilia Polemoniaceae . collected Lupinus shockleyi Shockley Lupine Fabaceae . collected Malacothrix coulteri Snake Heads Asteraceae . collected Monoptilon bellioides Desert Star Asteraceae . Observed Nama demissum var. demissum Purple Mat Boraginaceae . collected Nama densa cf. var. parviflora Purple Mat Boraginaceae . collected Nemacladus rubescens Desert Threadplant Campanulaceae . collected Nicotiana obtusifolia Desert Coyoto Tobacco Solanaceae FACU collected Oenothera deltoides ssp. deltoides Desert Lantern Onagraceae . collected Orobanche cooperi Cooper Broom-rape Orobanchaceae collected Palafoxia arida var. arida Desert Needle Asteraceae . collected Pectocarya platycarpa Wide-toothed Comb Bur Boraginaceae . collected Pectocarya recurvata Arched-nut Comb Bur Boraginaceae . collected Perityle emoryi Emory's Rock Daisy Asteraceae . collected Peucephyllum schottii Desert Pinebush Asteraceae . collected Phacelia crenulata var. crenulata Heliotrope Phacelia Boraginaceae . collected Phoradendron californicum California Mistletoe Viscaceae . collected Thick-leaved Ground Physalis crassifolia Cherry Solanaceae . collected Plantago ovata var. fastigiata Desert Plantain Plantaginaceae FACU collected Pluchea sericea Arrow Weed Asteraceae FACW collected Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana Honey Mesquite Fabaceae UPL collected Rafinesquia neomexicana Desert Chicory Asteraceae . collected Salsola tragus * Russian Thistle Chenopodiaceae (FAC) collected Schismus barbatus * Abu Mashi Poaceae (FAC) collected Sisymbrium irio * London Rocket Brassicaceae . collected Stephanomeria exigua var. exigua White-plume Wirelettuce Asteraceae . collected Stutzia covillei [Atriplex phyllostegia] Coville's Orach Chenopodiaceae FACW collected Suaeda nigra [S. moquinii] Bush Seepweed Chenopodiaceae OBL observed Tamarix aphylla * Athel Tamaricaceae FAC collected Tamarix ramosissima * Saltcedar Tamaricaceae (FAC) collected Tiquilia plicata Fan-leaved Tiquilia Boraginaceae . collected

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Table 5. Plant Species Expected on the Bank Site

Scientific Name7 Common Name Family WIS8 Evidence9 Achyronychia cooperi Frost Mat Caryophyllaceae . CCH Aliciella micromeria [Gilia m.] Dainty Gilia Polemoniaceae . CCH Aliciella monoensis Mono Lake Aliciella Polemoniaceae . CCH Amaranthus albus * Tumbleweed Amaranthaceae FACU CCH Small-flowered Androstephium breviflorum Androstephium Themidaceae . CCH Astragalus didymocarpus var. Prostrate Two-seeded dispermus Milkvetch Fabaceae . CCH Astragalus lentiginosus var. borreganus Borrego Milkvetch Fabaceae UPL CCH Astragalus lentiginosus var. variabilis Varied Milkvetch Fabaceae UPL CCH Atriplex polycarpa Allscale Saltbush Chenopodiaceae FACU CCH Baileya pauciradiata Lax Flower Asteraceae . CCH Brickellia incana Woolly Brickellbush Asteraceae . CCH Chaenactis carphoclinia var. carphoclinia Pebble Pincushion Asteraceae . CCH Chaenactis xantiana Fleshy Pincushion Asteraceae . CCH Chamaesyce micromera Desert Spurge Euphorbiaceae . CCH Chamaesyce ocellata ssp. ocellata Valley Spurge Euphorbiaceae . CCH Chenopodium incanum var. occidentale Pigweed Chenopodiaceae . CCH Chenopodium strictum var. glaucophyllum * White-leaved Goosefoot Chenopodiaceae . CCH Chylismia brevipes ssp. brevipes Yellow Cups Onagraceae . CCH Chylismia claviformis ssp. aurantiaca Pinnate-leaved Primrose Onagraceae . CCH Croton californicus California Croton Euphorbiaceae . CCH Cryptantha barbigera var. barbigera Bearded Forget-Me-Not Boraginaceae . CCH Cryptantha circumscissa Cushion Forget-Me-Not Boraginaceae . CCH Cryptantha costata Ashen Forget-Me-Not Boraginaceae . CCH Guadalupe Island Forget- Cryptantha maritima Me-Not Boraginaceae . CCH Cryptantha micrantha var. micrantha Red-root Forget-Me-Not Boraginaceae CCH Cryptantha nevadensis Nevada Forget-Me-Not Boraginaceae . CCH Cryptantha pterocarya var. Winged-nut Forget-Me- pterocarya Not Boraginaceae . CCH

7 * = Introduced/naturalized plant species. Bold = Special-status species (CNPS 2006, 2014). Scientific and common names follow Jepson Flora Project (2014) and Flora of North America Editorial Committee (1993-2010). 8 WIS = Wetland Indicator Status. The following code definitions are according to Lichvar (2013): OBL = obligate wetland species, occurs almost always in wetlands (>99% probability). FACW = facultative wetland species, usually found in wetlands (67-99% probability). FAC = facultative species, equally likely to occur in wetlands or nonwetlands (34-66% probability). FACU = facultative upland species, usually found in nonwetlands (67-99% probability). + or - symbols are modifiers that indicate greater or lesser affinity for wetland habitats. NI = no indicator has been assigned due to a lack of information to determine indicator status. * = a tentative assignment to that indicator status by Lichvar (2013). Parentheses indicate a wetland status as suggested by David L. Magney based on extensive field observations over 30 years, and evidence discussed in the Methods – Problematic Indicators section. 9 CCH = species collected within a 2-mile radius of the bank site and deposited in an herbarium participating in the Consortium of California Herbaria (2014); or search results from CalFlora.org (2014) within a 2-mile radius; Collected, Observed, or Photographed = species encountered DMEC and the respective documentation.

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Scientific Name7 Common Name Family WIS8 Evidence9 Dalea mollissima Downy Dalea Fabaceae . CCH Dicoria canescens Desert Dicoria Asteraceae . CCH Distichlis spicata Saltgrass Poaceae FAC CCH Kidney-leaf Wild Eriogonum reniforme Buckwheat Polygonaceae . CCH Eucrypta micrantha Small-flowered Eucrypta Boraginaceae . CCH Funastrum hirtellum [Sarcostemma h.] Trailing Townula Apocynaceae . CCH Gilia stellata Star Gilia Polemoniaceae . CCH Gilia tenuiflora ssp. amphifaucalis Trumpet-throated Gilia Polemoniaceae . CCH Glyptopleura marginata White-margined Waxplant Asteraceae CCH Heliotropium convolvulaceum var. californicum Morning-glory Heliotrope Boraginaceae . CCH Isocoma acradenia var. acradenia Alkali Goldenbush Asteraceae FACU CCH Langloisia setosissima var. punctata Lilac Sunbonnet Polemoniaceae . CCH Linanthus arenicola Sand Linanthus Polemoniaceae . CCH Loeseliastrum mathewsii Desert Calico Polemoniaceae . CCH Logfia depressa Hierba Limpia Asteraceae . CCH Malacothrix glabrata Desert Dandelion Asteraceae . CCH Malvella leprosa Alkali Mallow Malvaceae FACU CCH Mentzelia albicaulis Whitestem Stickleaf Loasaceae . CCH Mentzelia desertorum Desert Stickleaf Loasaceae . CCH Mentzelia obscura Pacific Blazing Star Loasaceae . CCH Monolepis nuttalliana Nuttall's Poverty Weed Chenopodiaceae FAC CCH Nama hispidum Bristly Nama Boraginaceae . CCH Oligomeris linifolia Desert Cambess Resedaceae . CCH Panicum urvilleanum Silky Panic Grass Poaceae . CCH Pectis papposa var. papposa Chinch Weed Asteraceae . CCH Petalonyx thurberi ssp. thurberi Thurber's Sandpaper Plant Loasaceae (FAC) CCH Phacelia crenulata var. ambigua Purplestem Scorpionweed Boraginaceae . CCH Phacelia ivesiana var. pediculoides Ives' Phacelia Boraginaceae . CCH Plagiobothrys jonesii Jones' Popcornflower Boraginaceae . CCH Plantago ovata var. ovata Desert Plantain Plantaginaceae FACU CCH Pleurocoronis pluriseta Arrowleaf Asteraceae . CCH Psorothamnus spinosus Smoke Tree Fabaceae (FACW) CCH Salsola gobicola * Barbwire Russian Thistle Chenopodiaceae . CCH Salsola paulsenii * Paulsen's Russian Thistle Chenopodiaceae . CCH Schismus arabicus * Arabian schismus Poaceae . CalFlora Sesuvium verrucosum Western Sea-purslane Aizoaceae FACW CCH Spergularia marina Saltmarsh Sand-spurrey Caryophyllaceae OBL CCH Stephanomeria pauciflora Few-flowered Wirelettuce Asteraceae . CCH Stillingia spinulosa Broad-leaved Stillingia Euphorbiaceae . CCH Streptanthella longirostris Long-beaked Twistflower Brassicaceae . CCH Tamarix chinensis * Fivestamen Tamarisk Tamaricaceae FAC CCH Tidestromia suffruticosa var. oblongifolia Honeysweet Amaranthaceae . CCH Verbena bracteata Large-bracted Verbena Verbenaceae FAC CCH

Fauna

A diverse array of wildlife is known to occur in the Mojave Desert and the Cronese Basin area. DMEC recorded direct observations of wildlife and wildlife sign during all Bank Site visits. DMEC also conducted a review available literature and of museum collections within a 10-mile

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radius of the property using the online database Vertnet.org (2014). Table 6, Wildlife Species Observed and Expected on the Bank Site, contains a list of animal species observed on the Bank Site. DMEC also conducted a review of the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB, CDFW 2014) for special-status species occurring within a 10-mile radius. The CNDDB results are included in Table 10, Special-status Plants Potentially Occurring Onsite, and Table 11, Special-status Wildlife Potentially Occurring Onsite. Observation and research yielded a total of 128 taxa, including eight (8) fish, three (3) amphibians, nineteen (19) reptiles, 47 birds, 23 mammals, and 22 invertebrates. A total of fifty (50) taxa were directly observed or detected on the Bank Site by DMEC during surveys. They included three (3) reptiles, 21 birds, five (5) mammals, and 21 invertebrates. Colaptes auratus collaris (Northern Flicker) was detected by feathers, Asphondylia floccosa (Woolly Stem Gall Midge) was detected by galls, Neotoma lepida ledida (Desert Woodrat) was detected by nests and scat, Lynx rufus (Bobcat) was detected by scat, and Dipodomys sp. (Kangaroo Rat) was detected by burrows and tracks. DMEC expects that many more species frequent the Cronese Basin during periods of inundation. Anthony Chavez with BLM reported that East Cronese Lake contains Fairy Shrimp (Order Anostraca) which in turn, during periods of inundation, attract a wide variety of birds. Louis Courtois (1984) reports several species of fish present in East Cronese Lake following a flood event in April 1981. Courtois (1984) also reports the presence of Pelicanus occidentalis (Brown Pelican), a coastal bird, indicating that many undocumented waterfowl and shorebirds likely frequent the lake during periods of inundation. The fish, waterfowl, and aquatic insects listed in Table 6 below would only be likely to occur during periods of inundation.

Table 6. Wildlife Species Observed and Expected on the Bank Site

Scientific Name10 Common Name Evidence FISH Ameiurus(Ictalurus) melas* Black Bullhead Catfish Courtois 1984 Gambusia affinis* Mosquitofish Vertnet, Courtois 1984 Gila orcutti Arroyo Chub Vertnet, Courtois 1984 Gila X Lavinia Chub X Hitch Vertnet Lavinia exilicauda Hitch Vertnet Lepomis cyanellus* Green Sunfish Vertnet, Courtois 1984 Pimephales promelas* Fathead Minnow Vertnet, Courtois 1984 Siphateles bicolor mohavensis Mohave Tui Chub CNDDB AMPHIBIANS Anaxyrus (Bufo) boreas Western Toad Vertnet Pseudacris (Hyla) regilla Pacific Tree Frog Vertnet,, Courtois 1984 Rana catesbeiana* American Bullfrog Vertnet, Courtois 1984 REPTILES Aspidoscelis tigris Western Whiptail Observed Callisaurus draconoides rhodostictus Zebra-tailed Lizard Observed Chionactis occipitalis occipitalis Mohave Shovel-nosed Snake Vertnet Coleonyx variegatus Western Banded Gecko Vertnet Crotaphytus bicinctores Great Basin Collard Lizard Vertnet Dipsosaurus dorsalis Desert Iguana Vertnet

10 An asterisk “*” after the scientific name indicates non-native species.

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Scientific Name10 Common Name Evidence Emys marmorata Western Pond Turtle Vertnet/CNDDB Gambelia wislizenii Leopard Lizard Vertnet Gopherus agassizii Desert Tortoise CNDDB Leptotyphlops humilis Western Slender Blind Snake Vertnet Phrynosoma platyrhinos Desert Horned Lizard Vertnet Phyllorhynchus decurtatus Spotted Leaf-nosed Snake Vertnet Rhinocheilus lecontei Long-nosed Snake Vertnet Sauromalus ater Common Chuckwalla Vertnet Sceloporus magister Desert Spiny Lizard Vertnet Uma scoparia Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard Vertnet/CNDDB Urosaurus graciosus graciosus Western Long-tailed Brush Lizard Vertnet Uta stansburiana Side-blotched Lizard Observed Xantusia vigilis Desert Night Lizard Vertnet BIRDS Accipiter striatus Sharp-shinned Hawk Observed Aeronautes saxatalis saxatalis White-throated Swift Vertnet Agelaius phoeniceus nevadensis Red-winged Blackbird Vertnet Amphispiza belli Sage Sparrow Observed Aphelocoma californica nevadae Western Scrub Jay Vertnet Aquila chrysaetos Golden Eagle CNDDB Auriparus flaviceps acaciarum Verdin Vertnet Buteo jamecensis Red Tailed Hawk Observed Callipepla gambelii gambelii Gambel's Quail Vertnet Calypte anna Anna’s Hummingbird Observed Calypte costae Costa’s Hummingbird Observed Cathartes aura Turkey Vulture Observed Charadrius vociferus vociferus Killdeer Vertnet Chordeiles acutipennis texensis Lesser Nighthawk Vertnet Cistothorus palustris plesius Marsh Wren Vertnet Colaptes auratus collaris Northern Flicker Detected (feathers) Corvus brachyrhynchos Common Crow Courtois 1984 Corvus corax Common Raven Observed Dendroica coronata Yellow-rumped Warbler Observed Eremophila alpestris Horned Lark Observed Falco mexicanus Prairie Falcon CNDDB Falco sparverius American Kestrel Observed Gallinago delicata Wilson's Snipe Vertnet Geococcyx californianus Greater Roadrunner Observed Geothlypis trichas occidentalis Common Yellowthroat Vertnet Icterus bullockii parvus Bullock's Oriole Vertnet Junco hyemalis caniceps Grey-headed Junco CNDDB Lanius ludovicianus Loggerhead Shrike Observed Melospiza melodia montana Song Sparrow Vertnet Oreoscoptes montanus Sage Thrasher Observed Passerculus sandwichensis nevadensis Savannah Sparrow Vertnet Pelicanus occidentalis Brown Pelican Courtois 1984 Phainopepla nitens lepida Phainopepla Observed

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Scientific Name10 Common Name Evidence Piranga rubra Summer Tanager CNDDB Polioptila caerulea amoenissima Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Vertnet Pyrocephalus rubinus flammeus Vermillion Flycatcher Vertnet/CNDDB Regulus calendula cineraceus Ruby-crowned Kinglet Observed Salpinctes obsoletus Rock Wren Observed Sialia mexicana Western Bluebird Courtois 1984 Sayornis nigricans semiatra Black Phoebe Vertnet Sayornis saya saya Say's Phoebe Observed Sphyrapicus nuchalis Red-naped Sapsucker Observed Thryomanes bewickii eremophilus Bewick's Wren Observed Turdus migratorius American Robin Courtois 1984 Tyrannus sp. Kingbird Observed Tyrannus verticalis Western Kingbird Vertnet Zonotrichia leucophrys White-crowned Sparrow Observed MAMMALS Antrozous pallidus Pallid Bat CNDDB Ammospermophilus leucurus leucurus White-tailed Antelope Squirrel Vertnet Canis latrans Coyote Observed Chaetodipus formosus mohavensis Long-tailed Mojave Pocket Mouse Vertnet Chaetodipus penicillatus angustirostris Desert Pocket Mouse Vertnet Chaetodipus penicillatus mohavensis Desert Pocket Mouse Vertnet Chaetodipus penicillatus stephensi Desert Pocket Mouse Vertnet Dipodomys sp. Kangaroo Rat Detected (tracks/burrows) Dipodomys deserti deserti Desert Kangaroo Rat Vertnet Dipodomys merriami merriami Merriam's Kangaroo Rat Vertnet Lynx rufus Bobcat Detected (scat) Lepus californicus Black-tailed Jackrabbit Observed Mus musculus House Mouse Vertnet Myotis thysanodes Fringed Myotis CNDDB Neotoma lepida lepida Desert Woodrat Detected (nest/scat) Onychomys torridus pulcher Ramona Grasshopper Mouse Vertnet Ovis Canadensis nelsoni Desert Bighorn Sheep CNDDB Peromyscus crinitus stephensi Canyon Mouse Vertnet Peromyscus eremicus eremicus Baja Deermouse Vertnet Thomomys bottae melanotis Botta's Pocket Gopher Vertnet Thomomys bottae perpallidus Botta's Pocket Gopher Vertnet Vulpes macrotis arsipus Desert Kit Fox Vertnet Xerospermophilus mohavensis Mohave Ground Squirrel CNDDB INVERTEBRATES Class Aracnida (Spiders) Family Homalonychidae: Homalonychus sp. Desert Spider Observed Family Thomisidae Crab Spider Observed Family Ctenizidae Trapdoor Spider Observed Order Scorpiones Scorpion Observed Order Coleoptera (Beetles) Family Tenebrionidae: Asbolus verrucosus Desert Ironclad Beetle Observed Family Tenebrionidae: Eleodes sp. Desert Stink Beetle Observed

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Scientific Name10 Common Name Evidence Family Meloidae: Cysteodemus armatus Inflated Beetle Observed Family Meloidae: Lytta magister Master Blister Beetle Observed Family Curculionidae: Orphryastes sp. Striped White Weevil Observed Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies, Moths) Family Sphingidae: Hyles lineata White Sphinx Moth (caterpillar) Observed Family Nymphalidae; Vanessa cardui Painted Lady Butterfly Observed Order Diptera (Flies) Family: Bombyliidae Bee Fly Observed Family Asilidae Robber Fly Observed Family Cecidomyiidae: Asphondylia floccosa Woolly Stem Gall Midge Detected (gall) Order Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets) Gray Bird Grasshopper Observed Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Wasps, Bees) Family Formicidae Tiny Red Ant Observed Family Formicidae Red Harvester Ant Observed Family Formicidae Black Harvester Ant Observed Order Hymenoptera Black Wasp Observed Order Hymenoptera: Apis mellifera European Honey Bee Observed Order Anostraca (Fairy Shrimp) Unknown Fairy shrimp (not to species) Chavez, pers. comm. 2014 Class Gastropoda (Snails and Slugs) Unknown Turban-like Snail Observed Eremarionta immaculate White Desert Snail Observed

SPECIAL-STATUS RESOURCES Definitions

Special-status habitats are vegetation types, associations, or sub-associations that support concentrations of special-status plant or wildlife species, are of relatively limited distribution, or are of particular value to wildlife. Special-status species are plants and animals that are at least one of the following: Listed as Endangered or Threatened under Federal or California Endangered Species Acts; Listed as Rare under the California Native Plant Protection Act; or Considered rare (but not formally listed) by resource agencies, professional organizations (e.g. Audubon Society, California Native Plant Society [CNPS], The Wildlife Society), and the scientific community. Listed species are those taxa that are formally listed as Endangered or Threatened by the Federal government (e.g. USFWS), pursuant to the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) or as Endangered, Threatened, or Tare (for plants only) by the State of California (i.e. California Fish and Game Commission), pursuant to the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) or the California Native Plant Protection Act, or those formally adopted by a local (e.g. county or city government) agency as of local concern or rare, or similar status. Special-status species are defined in Table 7, Definitions of Special-Status Species.

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The CNPS’ Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (CNPS 2001, 2007) categorizes rare California plants into one of five lists (1A, 1B, 2, 3, and 4) representing five levels of species status, one of which is assigned to a sensitive species to indicate its status of rarity or endangerment and distribution. Most taxa also receive a threat code extension following the List (e.g. 1B.1, 2.3), which replaces the R-E-D Code previously used by CNPS. Table 8, California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Ranks, provides a definition for each List code number, and Table 9, California Native Plant Society Risk Threat Code Extensions, defines the CNPS Risk Threat Code Extensions that indicate the level of endangerment within California. The California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) Element Ranking system provides a numeric global and state-ranking system for all special-status species tracked by the CNDDB. The global rank (G-rank) is a reflection of the overall condition of an element (species or natural community) throughout its global range. The state rank (S-rank) is assigned much the same way as the global rank, except state ranks in California often also contain a threat designation attached to the S-rank. This Element Ranking system is defined in Table 10, California Natural Diversity Database Element Ranking System.

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Table 7. Definitions of Special-status Species o Plants and animals legally protected under the California and Federal Endangered Species Acts or under other regulations. o Plants and animals considered sufficiently rare by the scientific community to qualify for such listing; or o Plants and animals considered to be sensitive because they are unique, declining regionally or locally, or are at the extent of their natural range. Special-Status Plant Species Special-Status Animal Species o Plants listed or proposed for listing as threatened or o Animals listed/proposed for listing as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act (50 threatened/endangered under the Federal CFR 17.12 for listed plants and various notices in Federal Endangered Species Act (50 CFR 17.11 for Register for proposed species). listed animals and various notices in o Plants that are Category 1 or 2 candidates for possible Federal Register for proposed species). future listing as threatened or endangered under the Federal o Animals that are Category 1 or 2 candidates Endangered Species Act (55 CFR 6184, February 21, for possible future listing as threatened or 1990). endangered under Federal Endangered o Plants that meet the definitions of rare or endangered Species Act (54 CFR 554). species under the CEQA (State CEQA Guidelines, Section o Animals that meet the definitions of rare or 15380). endangered species under the CEQA (State o Plants considered by CNPS to be "rare, threatened, or CEQA Guidelines, Section 15380). endangered" in California (Lists 1B and 2 in CNPS 2001). o Animals listed or proposed for listing by the o Plants listed by CNPS as plants needing more information State of California as threatened and and plants of limited distribution (Lists 3 & 4 in CNPS endangered under the California 2001). Endangered Species Act (14 CCR 670.5). o Plants listed by CNPS as locally rare (Lake 2004, Magney o Animal species of special concern (SSC) to 2007a, Wilken 2003). the CDFG. o Plants listed or proposed for listing by the State of o Animal species that are fully protected in California as threatened or endangered under the California California (California Fish & Game Code, Endangered Species Act (14 CCR 670.5). Sections 3511 [birds], 4700 [mammals], o Plants listed under the California Native Plant Protection 5050 [reptiles, amphibians]). Act (California Fish and Game Code 1900 et seq.). o Animals considered rare or sensitive locally o Plants considered sensitive by other federal agencies (i.e. by a local agency or scientific community U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management) or state (State CEQA Guidelines, Appendix G) and local agencies or jurisdictions. o Plants considered sensitive or unique by the scientific community; occurs at natural range limits (State CEQA Guidelines, Appendix G).

Table 8. California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Ranks (CNPS Lists)

CNPS Rank Definition 1A Presumed Extinct in California 1B Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California and elsewhere 2 Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, but more common elsewhere 3 Need more information (a Review List) 4 Plants of Limited Distribution (a Watch List)

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Table 9. California Native Plant Society Risk Threat Code Extensions

Threat Code Extension Definition Seriously endangered in California (over 80% of occurrences threatened / x.1 high degree and immediacy of threat) x.2 Fairly endangered in California (20-80% occurrences threatened) x.3 Not very endangered in California (<20% of occurrences threatened)

Table 10. California Natural Diversity Database Element Ranking System

Global Ranking (G) Less than 6 viable element occurrences (pops for species), OR less than 1,000 individuals, OR <809.4 G1 hectares (ha) (2,000 acres [ac]). G2 6 to 20 element occurrences OR 809.4 to 4,047 ha (2,000 to 10,000 ac). 21 to 100 element occurrences OR 3,000 to 10,000 individuals OR 4,047 to 20,235 ha (10,000 to 50,000 G3 ac). Apparently secure; rank lower than G3, factors exist to cause some concern (i.e. there is some threat, or G4 somewhat narrow habitat). G5 Population, or stand, demonstrably secure to ineradicable due to being commonly found in the world. GH All sites are historic; the element has not been seen for at least 20 years, but suitable habitat still exists. GX All sites are extirpated; this element is extinct in the wild. GXC Extinct in the wild; exists in cultivation. G1Q The element is very rare, but there is a taxonomic question associated with it. Subspecies Level: Subspecies receive a T-rank attached to the G-rank. With the subspecies, the G-rank reflects the condition of the entire species, whereas the T-rank reflects the global situation of just the subspecies or variety. For example: Chorizanthe robusta var. hartwegii is ranked G2T1. The G-rank refers to the whole species range (Chorizanthe robusta), whereas the T-rank refers only to the global condition of the variety (var. hartwegii). State Ranking (S) Less than 6 element occurrences OR less than 1,000 individuals OR less than 809.4 ha (2,000 ac). S1.1 = very threatened S1 S1.2 = threatened S1.3 = no current threats known 6 to 20 element occurrences OR 3,000 individuals OR 809.4 to 4,047 ha (2,000 to 10,000 ac). S2.1 = very threatened S2 S2.2 = threatened S2.3 = no current threats known.. 21 to 100 element occurrences OR 3,000 to 10,000 individuals OR 4,047 to 20,235 ha (10,000 to 50,000 ac). S3 S3.1 = very threatened S3.2 = threatened S3.3 = no current threats known Apparently secure within California; this rank is clearly lower than S3 but factors exist to cause some S4 concern (i.e. there is some threat, or somewhat narrow habitat). NO THREAT RANK. S5 Demonstrably secure to ineradicable in California. NO THREAT RANK. All California sites are historic; the element has not been seen for at least 20 years, but suitable habitat still SH exists. SX All California sites are extirpated; this element is extinct in the wild.

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Notes 1. Other considerations used when ranking a species or natural community include the pattern of distribution of the element on the landscape, fragmentation of the population/stands, and historical extent as compared to its modern range. It is important to take an aerial view when ranking sensitive elements rather than simply counting element occurrences. 2. Uncertainty about the rank of an element is expressed in two major ways: by expressing the rank as a range of values (e.g. S2S3 means the rank is somewhere between S2 and S3), and by adding a ? to the rank (e.g. S2?). This represents more certainty than S2S3, but less than S2.

Special-status Plants

A total of eight (8) special-status plant species tracked by CNDDB are known or reported in the vicinity of the Bank Site and have the potential to occur onsite. Table 11, Special-status Plants Potentially Occurring Onsite, summarizes the CNDDB reports for the eight special-status plant species tracked for the surrounding quads, and provides scientific and common names, status, habitat requirements, and likelihood of occurrence for each species. Although many of these species are likely to occur on the Bank Site, they have not been recently observed or recorded, and the sale of mitigation credits for these species is not being proposed.

Table 11. Special-status Plants Potentially Occurring Onsite

11 Species Status Likelihood 12 Scientific Name Common Name G- S- Federal State CNPS Habitat Requirements of 13 Rank14 Rank15 Listing16 Listing List17 Occurrence Androstephium Small-Flowered Open desert scrub, sandy to G5 S2S3 - - 2B.2 Likely breviflorum Androstephium rocky soil; 100–1,600 m. Astragalus Borrego G5T4T lentiginosus var. S3.3 - - 4.3 Sand; -67–1,200 m. Desert. Likely Milkvetch 5 borreganus Bouteloua eriopoda Black Grama G5 S3.2 - - 4.2 Dry, open, sandy to rocky Likely slopes, flats, drainages, scrub,

11 For detailed special-status species definitions, refer to Tables 3 through 6 in the Special Status Resources section. 12 Required habitat according to CDFG (2014) and Jepson Flora Project (2014). 13 Likelihood of occurrence based on species’ habitat requirements and the presence of required habitat in the bank site. Known = Required habitat exists at the bank site and has been reported onsite; Likely = Required habitat exists at the bank site and/or has been reported nearby; Possible = Marginal required habitat exists onsite, and/or required habitat exists in surrounding areas; or Unlikely = Required habitat does not exist at the bank site nor does it exist nearby. 14 Ranking in parentheses are suggested ranking when NatureServe has not yet established a ranking. G1 or S1 = Critically Imperiled Globally or Subnationally (state). G2 or S2 = Imperiled Globally or Subnationally (state). G3 or S3 = Vulnerable to extirpation or extinction Globally or Subnationally (state). G4 or S4 = Apparently secure; factors exist to cause some concern. Not a threat rank. G5 0r S5 = Demonstrably secure to ineradicable due to being commonly found Globally or Subnationally (state). Not a threat rank. 15 SNR= State rarity ranking; same as for G ranking 16 E = Endangered; T = Threatened; R = Rare; C = Candidate. 17 CNPS (California Native Plant Society) Rarity Rank Lists: 1B = plants rare and endangered; 2B = plants rare and endangered in California but may be more common elsewhere; 4 = plants of limited distribution but not endangered at this time.

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11 Species Status Likelihood 12 Scientific Name Common Name G- S- Federal State CNPS Habitat Requirements of 13 Rank14 Rank15 Listing16 Listing List17 Occurrence woodland; 900–1,900 m. Dry, gravelly washes, slopes, Emory's plains; ± 650 m. Common Castela emoryi Crucifixion- G4 S2S3 - - 2B.2 Likely name used for 2 other desert Thorn plants. Sandy or rocky alluvium, Coryphantha Foxtail Cactus G3 S3.2 - - 4.3 creosote-bush scrub; 75–600 Likely alversonii m. Threatened by collecting. Fine sand deposits (coarser Ribbed Cryptantha costata G4G5 S3.3 - - 4.3 soils), creosote-bush scrub; < Likely Cryptantha 600(1,000) Eriastrum Harwood's Sand dunes in creosote-bush G2 S2 - - 1B.2 Likely harwoodii Eriastrum scrub; < 1,000 m. Utah Vine Open, dry, sandy or gravelly Funastrum utahense G4 S3.2 - - 4.2 Likely Milkweed areas; < 1,000 m.

Special-status Wildlife

A total of fifteen (15) special-status wildlife species tracked by CNDDB are known or reported in the vicinity of the Bank Site and have the potential to occur onsite. Table 11, Special-status Wildlife Potentially Occurring Onsite, summarizes the CNDDB reports for the 15 special-status wildlife species tracked in a 10 mile radius of the Bank Site, and provides scientific and common names, status, habitat requirements, and likelihood of occurrence for each species. Although many of these species are likely to occur on the Bank Site, they have not been recently observed or recorded, and the sale of mitigation credits for these species is not being proposed. In addition to the species listed in Table 12, it should be noted that all raptors, raptor nests (active or inactive), and other active bird nests are protected under Fish and Game Code Section 3503.

Table 12. Special-status Wildlife Potentially Occurring Onsite

Species Status18 Common Habitat Likelihood of Scientific Name Federal State 19 Name G-Rank S-Rank CDFW21 Requirements Occurrence Listing20 Listing Deserts, grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, and forests. Most Antrozous pallidus Pallid Bat G5 S3 - - SSC Possible common in open, dry habitats w/rocky areas for roosting.

18 For special-status species definitions, refer to Tables 1 through 3 in the Methods Section. 19 Likelihood of occurrence based on species’ habitat requirements and the presence of required habitat in the project site. Observed = Species has been observed onsite; Known = Required habitat exists at the bank site and has been reported onsite; Likely = Required habitat exists at the project site and/or has been reported onsite or nearby; Possible = Marginal required habitat exists onsite, and/or required habitat exists in surrounding areas; or Unlikely = Required habitat does not exist at the project site nor does it exist nearby. 20 E = Endangered; T = Threatened; C = Candidate. 21 SSC = A California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) “Species of Special Concern”. FP = CDFW Fully Protected Species, WL = CDFW Watch List

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Species Status18 Common Habitat Likelihood of Scientific Name Federal State 19 Name G-Rank S-Rank CDFW21 Requirements Occurrence Listing20 Listing Roosts must protect bats from high temperatures. Very sensitive to disturbance of roosting sites. (Nesting & wintering) rolling foothills mountain areas, sage- juniper flats, desert. Cliff- walled canyons provide nesting habitat in most parts of range; Aquila chrysaetos Golden Eagle G5 S3 - - FP Likely also, large trees in open areas. Documented nests occur on nearby Cave Mountain (Panorama Environmental Inc. 2013). Inhabits permanent or nearly permanent bodies of water in many habitat types; below 6,000 Western Pond ft elev. Require basking sites Emys marmorata G3G4 S3 - - SSC Unlikely Turtle such as partially submerged logs, vegetation mats, or open mud banks. Need suitable nesting sites. (Nesting & wintering) foothills and mountains with cliffs and escarpments that provide a sheltered ledge with loose debris Falco mexicanus Prairie Falcon G5 S3 - - WL Likely or gravel for a nest. Prefer sites overlooking foraging habitat, such as treeless or open country with low vegetation. Occupy a variety of vegetative communities; populations are most dense in creosote bush scrub. Prefer flats, valleys, Gopherus agassizii Desert Tortoise G3 S2 T T - Likely bajadas, and rolling hills typically from 2000 to 3300 feet. Friable soils are important for burrows. (Wintering) prefers to forage on seeds and fruits along the Junco hyemalis Grey-headed G5T5 S1 - - WL ground and in open shrubland Possible caniceps Junco habitats. Seeks shelter of low tree branches or shrubs. Prefers open habitats with scattered shrubs, trees, posts, fences, or other perches. High densities in a variety of Loggerhead Lanius ludovicianus G4 S4 - - SSC vegetation alliances including Observed Shrike desert riparian alliances. Nests well concealed in trees or shrubs, nearly always lower than 4.5 m (15 ft). Widely distributed in a variety of habitats including woodlands, grasslands, and deserts. Roosts Myotis thysanodes Fringed Myotis G4 S4 - - - in rock crevices, caves, mines, Possible large snags, under exfoliating bark, and in buildings. Disturbance can cause

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Species Status18 Common Habitat Likelihood of Scientific Name Federal State 19 Name G-Rank S-Rank CDFW21 Requirements Occurrence Listing20 Listing abandonment of roost site. Open, steep, rocky habitats such as mountainous terrain above the desert floor. Known to Ovis Canadensis Desert Bighorn G4T4 S3 - - FP infrequently traverse the desert Possible nelson Sheep floor between mountain ranges. Largest populations found associated with surface water. Widely distributed in a variety Summer of habitats including deserts. Piranga rubra G5 S2 - - SSC Possible Tanager Prefers woodlands but also found in open scrublands. Prefer open areas with scattered shrubs, or agricultural areas. Pyrocephalus Vermillion G5 S2S3 - - SSC Occasionally found in riparian Possible rubinus Flycatcher woodlands. Often found near water. Historically occurred in the Mojave River Basin associated with deep pools and sloughs. Siphateles bicolor Mohave Tui G4T1 S1 E E FP Current known populations are Unlikely mohavensis Chub restricted to 5 locations in isolated man-man ponds and channels. Require fine aeolian sands including sand dunes, margins of dry lakebeds and washes and Mojave Fringe- isolated pockets against Uma scoparia G3G4 S3S4 - - SSC Known toed Lizard hillsides. Found in these sandy locations often within creosote scrub desert between 300 and 3,000 ft. Found in all major scrub habitats of the western Mojave Desert. Prefers flat to moderate Mohave Xerospermophilus terrain, generally not found in Ground G2G3 S2S3 - T - Likely mohavensis steep territory. Most often Squirrel found in sandy and alluvial soils, but occasionally found in gravelly or rocky soils.

Sensitive Habitats Table 12 Sensitive Habitats Potentially Occurring Onsite, summarizes the CNDDB search results for sensitive habitat types reported for a 10 mile-radius around Bank Site. Table 13 provides the habitat’s name, status, and whether it was observed onsite. There were no sensitive habitats observed on the Bank Site. However, the naturally occurring Atriplex torreyi Provisional Alliance (Torrey Saltbush Scrub) appears to be a relatively rare habitat restricted to playa lake bottoms and shorelines. DMEC has submitted habitat relevé surveys to CNPS for evaluation and consideration of A. torreyi as a new and potentially rare plant alliance or association.

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Table 13. Sensitive Habitats Potentially Occurring Onsite

CNDDB Sensitive Habitats G Rank22 S Rank Fed CA Presence Onsite23 (Holland 1986, CDFW 2014) Crucifixion Thorn Woodland G3 S1.2 - - Not Observed Mojave Riparian Forest G1 S1.1 - - Not Observed

HABITAT CONNECTIVITY Adjacent Land Use

All land immediately adjacent to the Bank Site is undeveloped. Outside the boundaries of the parcels currently owned by Mr. and Mrs. Lyons, the land cover includes Lacustrine/Palustrine habitats to the east and north, dune desert upland habitats (undeveloped) to the south, and steep rocky mountainous habitat to the west (Cronese Mountains), as shown on Figure 15, Land Use and Land Cover in the vicinity of Cronese Basin. Remnants of a water well and an old out- building exist on the private property immediately to the east. The Southeastern parcel is immediately surrounded by Lacustrine habitats on all sides, with Dune Desert upland habitats (undeveloped) slightly farther to the east. The Eastern parcel is bordered by Lacustrine habitats to the north and mixed desert wash habitats to the south, east and west (all undeveloped). Two sets of electric transmission lines run along a property corridor owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power which bisects the southern section of the Southwestern parcel, and are located to the south of the other parcels. The surrounding land ownership patterns are illustrated in Figure 14, Land Ownership in the Vicinity of East Cronese Lake. The majority of the surrounding land is held by the United States Government and managed by the BLM’s Barstow Field Office. Several specially-designated conservation areas overlap, or exist in the vicinity of the Bank Site. The Bank Site is within the Cronese Basin Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), approximately 3.7 miles northeast of the Afton Canyon ACEC, and approximately 5.8 miles northwest of Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard/Mesquite Hills/Crucero ACEC. The Bank Site is approximately 1.4 miles east of the Superior/Cronese ACEC, which is also USFWS designated Desert Tortoise Critical Habitat and a designated Desert Wildlife Management Area. Recreational use surrounding the Bank Site is limited. One developed BLM campsite, Afton Canyon, is approximately 7.5 miles SW of the Bank Site. The Rasor OHV area is on the Rasor Dunes, approximately 7 miles east-southeast of the Bank Site. Land use in these areas is isolated and is unlikely to impact the proposed Bank Site. It is possible that dispersed camping occurs on BLM land surrounding the Bank Site, or on the project parcels. However, there are no signs of heavy OHV or camping use on or around the Bank Site, and it is unlikely that these activities will impact the habitats in the immediate area in any significant way. Any detrimental activities on the ACEC and WSA lands surrounding the Bank Site would be regulated by the BLM.

22 See Tables 6 through 9 above for descriptions of rank and status categories. Federal (Fed or F) and State (CA or S) status listings: E = Endangered; T = Threatened; R = Rare; C = Candidate; SC = Species of Concern. 23 Observed [P] = Habitat present onsite [Present]; Not Observed = Habitat not present onsite though some constituents of the habitat may be present as noted; [CH] = Project footprint is within a Critical Habitat unit.

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The Bank Site is more or less contiguous with the southern boundary of the Soda Mountains Wilderness Study Area (the Southwestern parcel shares a boundary and the Southeastern and Eastern and two Northern parcels are separated by only one private parcel, a distance of approximately 1,300 feet). The Bank Site is also approximately 5.4 miles north of the Cady Mountains Wilderness Study Area and approximately 8.1 miles from the western boundary of the Mojave National Preserve. The surrounding designated conservation areas are illustrated in Figure 16, Special Designation Areas in the Vicinity of Cronese Basin. BLM is managing all the land it administers as sensitive habitat either formally as ACEC or for wilderness consideration. The Cronese Basin is not being considered by BLM for energy production, and it is unlikely the surrounding lands designated as ACEC and WSA would have any renewable energy production in the future. All the privately owned parcels are currently undeveloped and there are no known plans for any type of development. Groundwater is unsuitable for irrigation or human consumption and is a major limiting factor in any type of development. Solar energy development is a possibility; however, the configuration and sizes of the remaining private parcels, along with the bisection of some parcels by the LADWP transmission lines, restricts the size of any such development, as well as constraints represented by the presence of sensitive biological resources. The likelihood of incompatible development occurring on the adjacent parcels is therefore very low in the foreseeable future.

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Figure 14. Land Ownership in the Vicinity of East Cronese Lake

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Figure 15. Land Use and Land Cover in the Vicinity of Cronese Basin

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Figure 16. Special Designation Areas in the Vicinity of Cronese Basin

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Connectivity Areas and Corridors

The Bank Site is within the general path of Priority 1 Desert Tortoise connectivity areas as designated by USFWS. USFWS used suitable habitat in conjunction with low-cost available property to identify areas with priority for acquisition that lie between large intact Desert Tortoise Conservation Areas. The mapped priority areas do not comprise a contiguous corridor, which is likely due to expensive private inholdings. However, the general path of the corridor is visible and the Bank Site represents a significant parcel within this path. The Bank Site is also within a connectivity corridor identified by CalTrans and CDFW’s California Essential Habitat Connectivity Project (Spencer et al. 2010). The mapped connectivity corridors and special habitat designations in the vicinity of the Bank Site are illustrated in Figure 17, Linkage Corridors and Critical Habitat. The Bank Site is within several different mapped connectivity corridors. The Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) Condition of Connectivity Corridors Model assigns the Bank Site and surrounding area a relatively low score. Bank Site scores range from -0.47 to 0.05 on a scale of -1 to 1, poor to good respectively (Conservation Biology Institute, 2014). These low scores are likely due to the Bank Site’s proximity to I-15, as evident by consistently low scores following the I-15 corridor and the obvious impacts the highway presents to wildlife movements. However, DMEC considers the project area condition scores to be underrepresented due to the presence of the “Mojave River Overflow” I-15 bridges (bridge numbers 54 0642L & 54 0642R). These bridges create a significant movement corridor for wildlife to safely cross underneath the barrier created by I-15. This corridor allows for unimpeded and unmolested movement and dispersal of animals between the varied functioning habitats that exist to the north and south of the I-15. The BLM Cronese Lake Grazing Allotment was canceled in 2005 (Chavez pers. comm. 2014). No grazing in the allotment has occurred since then. While not all Bank Site parcels are contiguous, most are adjacent to BLM lands that are managed for resources, such as through ACEC designation or under study for wilderness designation. Private parcels adjacent to the Bank Site parcels are undeveloped. While there is a possibility that one or more of the private parcels could be developed, major constraints to development for residential or agricultural purposes exist that would either preclude or seriously hamper the owner’s ability to do so. Constraints include lack of potable water, saline soils, and periodic flooding, none of which are easily mitigated.

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Figure 17. Linkage Corridors and Critical Habitat in the Vicinity of Cronese Basin

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RESTORATION PLAN

Wetland functions at the Bank Site will be restored to near reference-standard conditions through the removal of dominant invasive exotic plants, primarily Tamarix ramosissima. The areas containing T. ramosissima will be treated to remove the shrubs and seedlings in phases until the entire Bank Site has been treated. Other invasive exotics to be eradicated include Brassica tournefortii and Salsola tragus. Figure 18, Absolute Cover of Invasive Species Onsite, and Figure 18, Restoration Areas of the Bank Site illustrate the cover and gradients of invasive species that will be restored to native habitat. The two Northern and the Eastern parcels are primarily composed of native vegetation and have little area that can be restored. The proposed Bank will be maintained basically free of Tamarix ramosissima through annual and periodic treatments, particularly after flooding events. The proposed Bank contains approximately 419.7 acres of jurisdictional waters of the U.S., including wetlands. The wetland habitats within the six parcels that make up the Bank Site contain Palustrine, Lacustrine, and Riverine habitats, as classified by Cowardin et al. (1979). The proposed bank includes both restoration (rehabilitation) credits and preservation credits. Restoration credits are proposed for areas with high cover of invasive plants, primarily Tamarix ramosissima, as shown in Figure 19, Restoration Areas of the Bank Site. Preservation credits are proposed for areas with low cover of invasive plants; these areas will be protected from disturbances and preserved as intact wetlands. Table 14, Area of Wetland Habitats and Types of Proposed Mitigation of the Bank Site, shows the total number of acres for each proposed mitigation type, listed by Cowardin System wetland habitat type.

Table 14. Area of Wetland Habitats and Types of Proposed Mitigation of the Bank Site

Cowardin System Wetland Type Restoration Preservation Total (Rehabilitation) Area Area Riverine (Streambed) 11.36 8.2 19.56 Palustrine (Scrub-shrub wetland) 172.21 140.02 312.23 Palustrine (Emergent wetland) 23.58 43.61 67.19 Lacustrine (Unconsolidated Bottom) 0 19.42 19.42 Total 206.72 211.73 418.424

As illustrated on Figure 13, Wetland Habitat Types, and as summarized in Table 14, the majority of wetland habitat onsite is Palustrine Scrub-Shrub Wetland, dominated by Tamarix ramosissima, Atriplex torreyi, and/or Suaeda nigra. A detailed habitat restoration plan and long-term management plan has also been prepared: Habitat Mitigation and Monitoring Plan for Mojave River Watershed Mitigation Bank at East Cronese Lake (DMEC 2015c), 30 September 2015.

24 The total area of wetland habitats varies slightly from the amount that is considered jurisdictional waters/wetlands since not all habitats that are classified as wetlands according to the Cowardin et al. (1979) system are jurisdictional in some circumstances.

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Figure 18. Absolute Coverage of Invasive Species Onsite

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Figure 19. Restoration Areas of the Bank Site

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SECTION III. REFERENCES CITED

LITERATURE CITED

Amato, P. 2013. Lessons Learned on Setting Service Areas. National Wetlands Newsletter. March – April 2013, pp. 10-11. Bowman, Roy H. 1973. Soil Survey, San Diego Area. United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. Brostoff, W., R. Lichvar, and S. Sprecher. 2001. Delineating Playas in the Arid Southwest: A Literature Review. April. (Technical Report ERDC TR-01-4.) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Hanover, New Hampshire. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), California. 2015. Pending Renewable Energy Applications. Available at http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/energy/pendingapps.html. Accessed 13 October 2015. Busch, D.E. and Smith, S.D. 1995. Mechanisms Associated with Decline of Woody Species in Riparian Ecosystems of the Southwestern U.S. Ecological monographs, 65 (3) pp. 347- 370. California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2014. California Natural Diversity Database search of RareFind4. The Resource Agency, State of California, Sacramento, California. California Energy Comission. 2015. Renewable Energy – Overview. Last updated September 3, 2015. Comer, P., P. Crist, M. Reid, J. Hak, H. Hamilton, D. Braun, G. Kittel, I. Varley, B. Unnasch, S. Auer, M. Creutzburg, D. Theobald, and L. Kutner. 2013. Mojave Basin and Range Rapid Ecoregional Assessment Report. Prepared for the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 173 pp + Appendices. Cooke, Ronald U. & Warren, A. 1973. Geomorphology in Deserts. University of California Press. Courtois, Louis A. 1984. Temporal Desert Riparian Systems – The Mojave River as an Example. California Riparian Systems: Ecology, Conservation, and Productive Management (eds. Warner, R. E., & Hendrix, K. M.). University of California Press. 688-693. Conservation Biology Institute. 2014. Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan Gateway. Data provided by Conservation Biology Institute, DRECP, SC Wildlands, USFWS, and collaborators. http://drecp.databasin.org/. Accessed 1 May 2014. Consortium of California Herbaria (CCH). 2014. Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria. Available online: http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/consortium/. Accessed: 30 March 2014. Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet, and E.T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States. (FWS/OBS-79/31.) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Washington, DC.

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Courtois, Louis A. 1984. Temporal Desert Riparian Systems – The Mojave River as an Example. California Riparian Systems: Ecology. Conservation and Productive Management. pp. 688-693. David Magney Environmental Consulting (DMEC). 2015a. Biological Resources of the Mojave River Watershed Mitigation Bank. 21 August 2014, updated 30 September 2015. (PN 12-0004.) Ojai, California. Prepared for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles, California, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife, San Diego, California. Prepared on behalf of Richard Lyons and Laurie Prange Lyons, Santa Paula, California. David Magney Environmental Consulting (DMEC). 2015b. Mojave River Watershed Mitigation Bank at East Cronese Lake: Delineation of Jurisdictional Wetlands. 18 August 2014, revised 30 September 2015. (PN 12-0004.) Ojai, California. Prepared for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch, Los Angeles, California, on behalf of Richard Lyons and Laurie Prange Lyons, Santa Paula, California. David Magney Environmental Consulting (DMEC). 2015c. Habitat Mitigation and Monitoring Plan for Mojave River Watershed Mitigation Bank at East Cronese Lake (Corps File No. 08-000000-6211). 22 February 2015, updated 30 September 2015. (PN 12-0004.) Ojai, California. Prepared for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles, California, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife, San Bernardino, California. Prepared on behalf of Richard Lyons and Laurie Prange Lyons, Santa Paula, California. David Magney Environmental Consulting. 2015d. Draft Regional Guidebook for Functional Assessment of Playa Depressional Wetlands in the Mojave Desert. 20 November 2015. (PN 12-0004) Ojai, California. Prepared for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles, California. Prepared on behalf of Richard Lyons and Laurie Prange Lyons., Santa Paula, California. David Magney Environmental Consulting. 2015e. Wetland Functional Assessment of East Cronese Lake. 20 November 2015. (PN 12-0004) Ojai, California. Prepared for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles, California. Prepared on behalf of Richard and Laurie Lyons., Santa Paula, California. Environmental Laboratory. 1987. Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual. (Technical Report Y-87-1.) U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station. Vicksburg, Mississippi. Gaskin, John F. 2012. Tamarix, in Jepson Flora Project (eds. B. Baldwin, D. Keil, S. Markos, B. Mishler, R. Patterson, T. Rosatti, D. Wilken) Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_IJM.pl?tid=71461, accessed on Mar 28 2014 Izbicki, John A. 2007. Physical and Temporal Isolation of Mountain Headwater Streams in the Western Mojave Desert, Southern California. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 43(1):26-40. Jepson Flora Project. (eds. Baldwin, Bruce, D. Keil, S. Markos, B. Mishler, R. Patterson, T. Rosatti, D. Wilken). 2014. Jepson eFlora. http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/IJM.html, accessed on 28 March 2014. Lichvar, Robert W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List. (ERDC/CRREL TR-12-11.) Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Hanover, New Hampshire. Prepared for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC.

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Lines, Gregory C. 1996. Ground-Water and Surface-Water Relations along the Mojave River, Southern California. (Water-Resources Investigations Report 95-45189.) United States Geological Survey. Lollock, D. 1987. The Status of Wetland Habitat and its Protection, Enhancement, and Expansion. Presented before the Fish and Game Commission on March 9, 1987 by Glenn Rollins. California Department of Fish and Game. Sacramento, California. Lovich, J.E., T.B. Egan, R.C. de Gouvinain. 1994. Tamarisk Control on Public Lands in the Desert of Southern California: Two Case Studies. 46th annual weed conference, California Weed Science Academy. pp. 166-177. Motts, W.S., D. Carpenter, C. Groat, D. Matz, R.F. Walker. 1969. Geology and Hydrology of Selected Playas in Western United States. University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Prepared for Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories, Hanscom Field, Bedford, Massachusetts Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). 2007. 2007 National Hydric Soils List by State. United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service. Available at: http://soils.usda.gov/use/hydric/. ______2013. California Soil Survey Status. United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service. Available at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs144p2_063838.pdf. Accessed: 30 March 2014 ______2014. Web Soil Survey. Soil Survey Staff, United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service. Available at: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx. Accessed: 30 March 2014. ______2014a. National List of Hydric Soils 2014. Soil Survey Staff, United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service. Available at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/use/hydric/. Accessed: 30 March 2014 ______2014b. Official Soil Series Descriptions. 2014. United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service. Available at: https://soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/osdname.asp Accessed: 30 March 2014 Nippert J.B.j Butler J.J.Jr, Kluitenberg G.J. Whittenmore D.O., Arnold D., Spals. E. and ward J.K. (2010) Patterns of Tamarix Water Use During a Record Drought: Oecologia, Vol, 62, No2, pp 283-292 Panorama Environmental Inc. 2013. Biological Resources Technical Report – Soda Mountains Solar. San Bernardino County, CA. (BLM Case Number CACA 49584.) http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/barstow/renewableenergy/soda_mountain.html. Accessed 1 May 2014 Sala, A., S.D. Smith, and D.A. DeVitt. 1996. Water Use by Tamarix ramosissima and Associated Phreatophytes in a Mojave Desert Floodplain. Ecological Applications 6(3):888-889. Sawyer, J.O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J.M. Evens. 2009. A Manual of California Vegetation. Second Edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, California.

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Soil Conservation Service (SCS). 1987. Hydric Soils of the United States. United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. In cooperation with the National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils. Spencer, W.D., P. Beier, K. Penrod, K. Winters, C. Paulman, H. Rustigian-Romsos, J. Strittholt, M. Parisi, and A. Pettler. 2010. California Essential Habitat Connectivity Project: A Strategy for Conserving a Connected California. Prepared for California Department of Transportation, California Department of Fish and Game, and Federal Highways Administration. State of California. 2014. Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region. Regional Water Quality Control Board, Lahontan Region. http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/lahontan/water_issues/programs/basin_plan/. Accessed 3 February 2014. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). 2008. Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Arid West Region. (Version 2.0.) September 2008. Environmental Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Wetlands Regulatory Assistance Program, Vicksburg, Mississippi. United States Geological Survey [USGS] 2014. Peak Streamflow for the Nation: Hydrologic Unit Code 18090208, Site Number 1026300. http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/peak. Accessed 3 February 2014. Vertnet.org. 2014. Data provided by contributing collaborators from a variety of universities, museums, and online databases. http://portal.vertnet.org/search. Accessed 27 March 2014. Walker, H.A. (ed)(2006) Southwestern Avian Community Organization in Exotic Tamarix: Current Patterns and Future Needs, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO. Wells, Stephen G., Brown, W.J., Enzel, Y., Anderson, R.Y., McFadden, L.D. 2003. Late Quaternary Geology and Paleohydrology of Pluvial Lake Mojave, Southern California. (Special Paper 368.) Geological Society of America, pp. 79-114. Zacharias, Elizabeth H. 2013. Atriplex, Revision 1, in Jepson Flora Project (eds. B. Baldwin, D. Keil, S. Markos, B. Mishler, R. Patterson, T. Rosatti, D. Wilken) Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_IJM.pl?tid=71461, accessed on 28 March 2014.

PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS

Chavez, Anthony, Resource Specialist, Bureau of Land Management, Barstow, California. Telephone conversation on 29 April 2014 with Richard Lyons regarding conditions of East Cronese Lake and the Lyons property.

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