Initial Study/Environmental Checklist City of Oceanside, California

Appendix B Biological Technical Data Initial Study/Environmental Checklist City of Oceanside, California

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Special Status Species

Plants and animals are afforded “special status” by federal agencies, state agencies, and/or non- governmental organizations because of their recognized rarity, potential vulnerability to extinction, and local importance. In general, such species meet one or a combination of the following definitions:

• taxa with official Federal and/or State listing status under the Federal Endangered Species Act (FESA) and/or California Endangered Species Act (CESA), including Federally Endangered (FE), Federally Threatened (FT), California Endangered (CE), California Threatened (CT) • taxa proposed for listing (FP) or candidate for listing (FC) under FESA • taxa listed as sensitive, unique or rare by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and also, if applicable, by U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Bureau of Land Management • designated as endangered, threatened, or rare under CEQA Guidelines §15380(b)-(d) and §15125 (c) • designated as a sensitive, unique, rare or uncommon species in local or regional plans, policies, or ordinances, such as the City of Oceanside (City) Draft Subarea Plan of the North County Multiple Habitat Conservation Program (MHCP) and the City General Plan

Special status plant species also include:

• taxa that are State listed as rare (CR) by CDFW • those listed in the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California (consistent with CEQA guidelines) as California Rare Plant Rank (CRPR) 1A, 1B, 2A, or 2B species1 • some species listed in CDFW California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) Special Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, and Lichens

Special status wildlife species also include:

• taxa that are protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA) and Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) • taxa that are State listed as a “Species of Special Concern” (SSC) by CDFW • those designated as a “State Fully Protected Species” (FPS) by CDFW

A review of the CNDDB RareFind 5 (CDFW 2017) and CNPS Online Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (CNPS 2017) provided a baseline of special status plant and wildlife species from the project vicinity. Species distribution information is based on documented occurrences

1 Although CRPR 3 and CRPR 4 plant species generally do not qualify for protection under CESA and CEQA, some of these may be considered special status species on the basis of local significance or recent biological information.

Scripps Health Page 1 78 & Jefferson Medical Office Facility where surveys have taken place for individual projects, known distributions and elevation ranges, and habitat utilization from the relevant literature. As such, a lack of documented occurrence in the project vicinity does not necessarily indicate that a given species is absent from the site. These databases revealed the following special status species recorded in the project vicinity (nearest occurrences to the site given), although none are expected to occur on or adjacent to the site due to the absence of suitable habitat conditions (i.e., pavement, roads/freeway, developed land uses, and highly disturbed conditions from such uses past and present)2:

Plants

Nuttall’s acmispon (Acmispon prostratus); CRPR 1B.1: Oceanside; south side of San Luis Rey River floodplain between I-5 and Pacific Street; approximately 3.1 miles northwest of the project site; sandy loam and fill/riverbank soils and flat area to south with ruderal vegetation.

Coastal dunes milkvetch (Astragalus tener var. titi); FE/CE/CRPR 1B.2: MCB Camp Pendleton; west of I-5, south side of the Santa Margarita River estuary at the ocean mouth; approximately 5.1 miles northwest of the project site; grassland of southern salt-flat estuary.

Coulter's saltbush (Atriplex coulteri); CRPR 1B.2: Oceanside; Lawrence Canyon southeast of the I-5/SR-76 junction; approximately 2.5 miles north of the project site; white sandstone soils in disturbed ground along foot path.

Smooth tarplant (Centromadia pungens ssp. laevis); CRPR 1B.1: Oceanside; residential area between Ditmar and Freeman streets and between Seagaze Drive and Topeka Street; approximately 2.4 miles northwest of the project site; grassland, chenopod scrub, meadows/ seeps, riparian woodland.

Orcutt's pincushion (Chaenactis glabriuscula var. orcuttiana); CRPR 1B.1: Oceanside; vicinity of Tyson Street Park at the Strand; approximately 2.5 miles northwest of the project site; coastal bluff scrub.

Blochman’s dudleya (Dudleya blochmaniae ssp. blochmaniae); CRPR 1B.1: MCB Camp Pendleton; both sides of the ocean mouth of Cockleburr Canyon, west of I-5; approximately 7.2 miles northwest of the project site; coastal bluff, coastal sage scrub, grasslands, vernal swale.

Sticky dudleya (Dudleya viscida); CRPR 1B.2: Oceanside; slopes above both sides of San Luis Rey River, along SR-76 between I-5 and Canyon Drive; approximately 2.9 miles northwest of the project site; coastal sage scrub, chaparral.

Cliff spurge (Euphorbia misera); CRPR 2B.2: Oceanside; south of Superior Ready-Mix plant east of El Camino Real, between Oceanside Boulevard and NCTD Light Rail tracks; approximately 1.5 miles northeast of the project site; coastal bluff, coastal sage scrub.

2 There is a potential for some of the referenced sensitive raptors to perch/nest in the onsite/offsite trees, although this potential is considered quite low due to the existing anthropogenic conditions surrounding the site (i.e., pavement, roads/freeway, developed land uses, and highly disturbed conditions from such uses past and present).

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San Diego barrel cactus (Ferocactus viridescens); CRPR 2B.1: Oceanside; north edge of San Luis Rey River, northeast of the I-5/SR-76 junction; approximately 2.5 miles north of the project site; coastal sage scrub, chaparral.

Decumbent goldenbush (Isocoma menziesii var. decumbens); CRPR 1B.2: Oceanside; north side of San Luis Rey River floodplain between I-5 and Pacific Street; approximately 3.2 miles northwest of the project site; coastal sage scrub, chaparral.

San Diego marsh-elder (Iva hayesiana); CRPR 2B.2: Oceanside; north side of San Luis Rey River floodplain between I-5 and Pacific Street; approximately 3.2 miles northwest of the project site; marshes, swamps.

Coulter's goldfields (Lasthenia glabrata ssp. coulteri); CRPR 1B.1: MCB Camp Pendleton; north edge of Santa Margarita River, just east of I-5; approximately 5.2 miles northwest of the project site; coastal salt marsh, vernal pools.

Sea dahlia (Leptosyne maritima); CRPR 2B.2: Oceanside; Lawrence Canyon just east of the I-5/SR-76 junction and south of San Luis Rey River; approximately 2.5 miles north of the project site; coastal bluff scrub.

Coast woolly-heads (Nemacaulis denudata var. denudata); CRPR 1B.2: Oceanside; south side of San Luis Rey River floodplain between I-5 and Pacific Street; approximately 3.1 miles northwest of the project site; coastal dunes.

Slender cotton-heads (Nemacaulis denudata var. gracilis); CRPR 2B.2: Oceanside; south side of San Luis Rey River floodplain between I-5 and Pacific Street; approximately 3.1 miles northwest of the project site; coastal dunes.

Brand’s star phacelia (Phacelia stellaris); CRPR 1B.2: MCB Camp Pendleton; west of I-5, north side of the Santa Margarita River estuary at the ocean mouth; approximately 5.1 miles northwest of the project site; coastal dunes.

Wildlife

Glossy snake (Arizona elegans occidentalis); SSC: Oceanside; residential area on Home Place about 0.33 acre west of I-5; 1.25 miles west of the project site; prefers scrub and grassland habitats, often with loose or sandy soils.

Red diamond rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber); SSC: Oceanside; Lawrence Canyon just east of the I-5/SR-76 junction and south of San Luis Rey River; approximately 2.5 miles north of the project site; chaparral, woodland, grassland, desert, and rocky areas with dense vegetation; requires rodent burrows, cracks in rocks.

Belding's savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis beldingi); CE: MCB Camp Pendleton; mouth of Santa Margarita River; approximately 5.4 miles northwest of the project site; coastal salt marsh; nests in Salicornia on and about margins of tidal flats.

Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos); FP: MCB Camp Pendleton; approximately 5.1 miles north of the project site; Ysidora Cliffs, west of Santa Margarita River, with surrounding vegetation dominated by coastal sage scrub and riparian.

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Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni); CT: MCB Camp Pendleton; Sycamore Canyon; approximately 5.5 miles north of the project site; breeds in grasslands with scattered trees, riparian areas, and agricultural or ranch lands with groves of trees, and requires adjacent suitable foraging areas such as grasslands, or alfalfa or grain fields supporting rodent populations.

Coastal cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus sandiegensis); SSC: MCB Camp Pendleton; north of Santa Margarita River; 0.25 mile west of Stuart Mesa Road; approximately 5.3 miles north of the project site; coastal sage scrub; requires tall opuntia cactus for nesting and roosting.

Western snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus); FT/SSC: MCB Camp Pendleton; mouth of Santa Margarita River; approximately 5.4 miles northwest of the project site; sandy beach.

Northern harrier (Circus cyaneus); SSC: MCB Camp Pendleton; Santa Margarita River; approximately 5.5 miles north of the project site; nests on ground in shrubby vegetation, usually at edges of marshes and grasslands, with nests built of a large mound of sticks in wet areas.

Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus); FE/CE: MCB Camp Pendleton; Santa Margarita River; 0.6 mile northeast of Stuart Mesa Road/Vandegrift Boulevard intersection; approximately 5.5 miles north of the project site; riparian woodland.

Light-footed Ridgway's rail (Rallus obsoletus levipes); FE/CE: MCB Camp Pendleton; mouth of Santa Margarita River; approximately 5.4 miles northwest of the project site; high, pickleweed-dominated marsh with ample salt flats with small area of freshwater marsh habitat; requires dense pickleweed or cordgrass growth for nesting or escape cover.

Coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica); FT/SSC: Oceanside; Lawrence Canyon just east of the I-5/SR-76 junction and south of San Luis Rey River; approximately 2.5 miles north of the project site; coastal sage scrub, southern willow scrub, and vernal pools.

California least tern (Sternula antillarum browni); FE/CE: MCB Camp Pendleton; mouth of Santa Margarita River; approximately 5.4 miles northwest of the project site; sandy beach.

Least Bell's vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus); FE/CE: MCB Camp Pendleton; San Luis Rey River, adjacent to SR-76, upstream of Lilac Road; approximately 10.25 miles north of the project site; riparian woodland.

Western mastiff bat (Eumops perotis californicus); SSC: MCB Camp Pendleton; west side of I-5 and just south of Santa Margarita River; approximately 5.3 miles northwest of the project site; roosts in crevices in cliff faces, high buildings, trees and tunnels.

Lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae); FE: Oceanside; hanging under a canopy over the front door of a bussiness; approximately 2.4 miles northwest of the project site.

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Pacific pocket mouse (Perognathus longimembris pacificus); FE/SSC: MCB Camp Pendleton; mouth of Santa Margarita River; approximately 5.4 miles northwest of the project site.

References California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). 2017. Biogeographic Data Branch, California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), RareFind Version 5. Accessed October 30.

California Native Plant Society (CNPS). 2017. The Online Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (8th Edition). Available online at http://www.rareplants.cnps.org/. Accessed October 30.

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