Final
Biological Survey Summary Report Volume I
Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project
Submitted to:
Navigant Consulting, Inc.
In association with:
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Submitted by:
Sacramento, California April 2001
Final
Biological Survey Summary Report
Volume I
Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project
Prepared for: Navigant Consulting, Inc. 3100 Zinfandel Drive, Suite 600 Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 Contact: Don Wagenet 916/852-1300 and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation 2800 Cottage Way Sacramento, CA 95825 Contact: Mary Marshall 916/978-5248
Prepared by: Jones & Stokes 2600 V Street Sacramento, CA 95818-1914 Contact: Steve Centerwall 916/737-3000
April 2001 Executive Summary
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), Mid Pacific Region, and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) are the federal and state lead agencies, respectively, for the Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project (Restoration Project). Reclamation and SWRCB are working cooperatively with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (the Licensee), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Marine Fisheries Service, and California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) to reestablish salmon and steelhead habitat on Battle Creek by modifying the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project 1121 (Hydroelectric Project). Jones & Stokes was retained by Navigant Consulting, Inc., to conduct biological resource studies to support the preparation of a joint National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) document and associated state and federal permits that will be required for the Restoration Project. This report presents information on botanical, wetland, and wildlife resources in the project area.
No state-listed or federally listed plant species were located in the project area during the spring and summer 2000 field surveys. Bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), federally listed as threatened and state-listed as endangered, were seen flying over several project sites; however, no active nests were found within the study area. Thirty-four blue elderberry shrubs (Sambucus mexicana) were identified as potential habitat for valley elderberry longhorn beetle (VELB), federally listed as threatened; however, no VELB were observed in the field. In addition to bald eagle and the suitable VELB habitat, little willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii brewsteri), state-listed as endangered and a federal species of concern, was observed in the project area.
Sensitive Plant Communities
The following sensitive plant communities were documented in the Battle Creek project area during field surveys: