Appendix C Biological Resource Reports 626 Wilshire Boulevard esassoc.com Suite 1100 Los Angeles, CA 90017 213.599.4300 phone 213.599.4301 fax April 3, 2019 Grace Alvarez Habib Motlagh 24 S. D Street, Suite 100 Perris, CA 92572 Subject: Biological Resource Reconnaissance Report for the City of San Jacinto Esplanade Widening Phase I Project, Riverside County, California Dear Ms. Alvarez: This letter report documents the findings of a biological resource reconnaissance survey for wildlife species and vegetation communities on the City of San Jacinto’s Esplanade Widening Phase I Project (Project). A description of the Project, methods used during the reconnaissance, survey results, and recommendations for avoiding and minimizing impacts to biological resources during construction of the Project are described below. Project Description The City of San Jacinto (City) proposes to widen Esplanade Avenue the width of two additional lanes north of the current alignment from Sanderson Avenue to Warren Road, approximately 1.5 miles (also referred to herein as “Project site”) (Figure 1). The City’s General Plan calls for a major arterial [112-foot right-of-way (ROW)] along Esplanade Avenue from Ramona Expressway to Warren Road to be expanded. The expansion will include providing four lanes of travel (two in each direction), curb or painted median, curb, gutter and sidewalk (Figure 2). The Project would be implemented in two phases (Phase 1 and Phase 2) and the scope of this report only covers Phase 1 of the Project. Methods Biological Resource Reconnaissance The biological resource reconnaissance was conducted by Environmental Science Associates (ESA) biologists’ Lily Sam and Ryan Villanueva on February 8, 2019 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Temperatures during the reconnaissance ranged between 36 - 54° Fahrenheit with winds ranging between 0 to 3 miles per hour (mph) and clear skies. The reconnaissance consisted of mapping the vegetation communities and land uses that would be impacted by the Project (Figure 3) and noting the dominant species that comprise the communities. 1 UV60 ¨¦§10 BANNING MORENO VALLEY Ø 79 PROJECT Perris Duck Ponds UV Reservoir LOCATION BEAUMONT RIVERSIDE COUNTY San Jacinto River San Jacinto Res. Cottonwood Lake SAN JACINTO Ø PROJECT LOCATION MENIFEE UV74 HEMET Little Lake \03_MXDs_Projects\Fig1_RegionalLoc.mxd, Janderson 3/21/2019 Janderson \03_MXDs_Projects\Fig1_RegionalLoc.mxd, 02 N Miles Path: U:\GIS\GIS\Projects\18xxxx\D181073_SanJacinto_EsplandeAve Path: SOURCE: ESRI San Jacinto Esplanade Avenue Figure 1 Regional Location \03_MXDs_Projects\Bio\Vicinity_Topo.mxd, JYL 2/26/2019 JYL \03_MXDs_Projects\Bio\Vicinity_Topo.mxd, Proposed Project Right-of-Way 02,000 N Feet Study Area Path: U:\GIS\GIS\Projects\18xxxx\D181073_SanJacinto_EsplandeAve Path: SOURCE: USGS 7.5' Topo Quad Lakeview 1976, 1980; San Jacinto 1978, 1980 San Jacinto Esplanade Avenue Figure 2 USGS Topographic Map NEWCASTLE WAY SEVENTH ST 7TH ST R D W O D A E M Y S S A R G S W EET CLOVE ON AVE R A B E E A V AV N A N R I E C SANDERS T S Detail A Detail R B T A D C \03_MXDs_Projects\Bio\Veg_LandCover_BSA.mxd, JYL 3/18/2019 JYL \03_MXDs_Projects\Bio\Veg_LandCover_BSA.mxd, L E A E N N O O T T S S R R G E N RD D V A R I R E RE DR C N S Study Area W O CLAREMONT ST R T WAR I D S N LLIE G E E Plant Community/Land Cover Types STO N C I MI P S Agriculture Bare Ground EATON AVE R SORKSBILL DR D Developed R R E Disturbed D W S O S L Open WaterA F 01,200 R N G N R SprangletopN Grass Patch (in detail) Feet LLE DR O A I C MI Path: U:\GIS\GIS\Projects\18xxxx\D181073_SanJacinto_EsplandeAve Path: VE D AWTHORNE DR SOURCE: ESRI San Jacinto Esplanade Avenue Figure 3 Plant Community/Land Cover Map Biological Resource Reconnaissance Report for the City of San Jacinto Esplanade Widening Phase I Project, Riverside County, California The biological reconnaissance was conducted along the proposed Project impact area, including a 500-foot buffer in all directions (i.e., study area). While all of the Project features were able to be surveyed, much of the 500 feet buffer area contained limited access as a majority of the areas adjacent to the proposed pipeline contained private property, active agricultural lands, and fenced areas. Areas with limited access were scanned with binoculars. Accessible areas were walked with 100% visual coverage to verify the plant communities, habitats, and the presence of burrows or burrowing owls. Any signs or direct observations of wildlife and wildlife activity were noted. The information gathered during the reconnaissance was used to assess the potential for special-status species1 to occur and confirm whether California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) sensitive natural communities2 are present within the Project impact areas. Plant communities were characterized based on A Manual of California Vegetation, Second Ed. (Sawyer et al 2009), or by species dominance. Plant taxonomy followed Baldwin, et al. (2012). The reconnaissance also included a burrowing owl habitat assessment and burrow search in accordance with the requirements of the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Program (MSHCP), which included a visual survey of the entire Project site, including a minimum 500-foot buffer, in search of suitable burrows that can be used by burrowing owl for wintering and nesting. This included identification of any sign of burrowing owl occupancy, such as white wash, pellets, feathers, and tracks. A formal delineation of potential jurisdictional resources3 was performed on the same visit as the reconnaissance as well. The results of the jurisdictional delineation are provided in a separate report, but are summarized further below in this letter report. Representative photographs taken during the reconnaissance are provided in Attachment A. Literature and Database Review Prior to conducting the site reconnaissance, database searches of the CDFW California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB) (CDFW 2019a), United States Fish and Wildlife’s (USFWS) Critical Habitat Mapper (USFWS 2019a) and the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Rare Plant Inventory (CNPS 2019) were conducted to query special-status biological resources that have been recorded in the region and that could potentially occur on the Project site. The query included the Lakeview United States Geological Survey (USGS) Quadrangle 7.5- minute map for which the Project site is located, as well as the surrounding eight USGS quadrangles (Sunnymead, El Casco, Beaumont, Perris, San Jacinto, Romoland, Winchester and Hemet). In addition, the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority’s (RCA) website and MSHCP Information Application was reviewed (RCA 2019). Regulatory Framework The following provides a general description of the applicable regulatory requirements for the Project, including federal, State, and local policies and guidelines. 1 Special-status species include those listed as endangered, threatened, or candidate by the CESA or FESA. This also includes species with a California Rare Plant Rank (CRPR) of 1A, 1B, 2A, or 2B; California Fully Protected Species; Watch List Species and CDFW Species of Special Concern. 2 CDFW sensitive natural communities include those communities given a State rank of S1-S3 (CDFW 2019b). 5 Biological Resource Reconnaissance Report for the City of San Jacinto Esplanade Widening Phase I Project, Riverside County, California Federal Endangered Species Act (USC, Title 16, § 1531 through 1543) The Federal Endangered Species Act (FESA) and subsequent amendments provide guidance for the conservation of endangered and threatened species and the ecosystems upon which they depend. In addition, the FESA defines species as threatened or endangered and provides regulatory protection for listed species. The FESA also provides a program for the conservation and recovery of threatened and endangered species as well as the conservation of designated critical habitat that USFWS determines is required for the survival and recovery of these listed species. Section 7 of the FESA requires federal agencies, in consultation with and assistance from the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate, to ensure that actions they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of threatened or endangered species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat for these species. The USFWS and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) share responsibilities for administering the FESA. Regulations governing interagency cooperation under Section 7 are found in CCR Title 50, Part 402. The opinion issued at the conclusion of consultation will include a statement authorizing “take” (i.e., to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, wound, kill, etc.) that may occur incidental to an otherwise legal activity. Section 9 lists those actions that are prohibited under the FESA. Although take of a listed species is prohibited, it is allowed when it is incidental to an otherwise legal activity. Section 9 prohibits take of listed species of fish, wildlife, and plants without special exemption. The definition of “harm” includes significant habitat modification or degradation that results in death or injury to listed species by significantly impairing behavioral patterns related to breeding, feeding, or shelter. “Harass” is defined as actions that create the likelihood of injury to listed species by disrupting normal behavioral patterns related to breeding, feeding, and shelter significantly. Section 10 provides a means whereby a nonfederal action with the potential to result in take of a listed species can be allowed under an incidental take permit. Application procedures are found at 50 CFR 13 and 17 for species under the jurisdiction of USFWS and 50 CFR 217, 220, and 222 for species under the jurisdiction of NMFS. Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 USC 703 through 711) The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) is the domestic law that affirms, or implements, a commitment by the U.S.