4.0 Environmental Setting, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures 4.4 Biological Resources 4.4.1 Introduction This section describes biological resources, with focus on terrestrial and wetland resources, and assesses potential impacts that could occur with implementation of the Russian River Estuary Management Project (Estuary Management Project or proposed project). Fisheries resources are addressed in Section 4.5, Fisheries. Terrestrial and wetland resources include terrestrial, wetland, and non-fisheries-related species, sensitive habitats or natural communities, special-status plant and animal species, and protected trees. Impacts on terrestrial and wetland resources are analyzed in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) significance criteria (CEQA Guidelines, Appendix G). For impacts determined to be either significant or potentially significant, mitigation measures to minimize or avoid these impacts are identified. Information Sources and Survey Methodology The primary sources of information for this analysis are the existing biological resource studies and reports prepared for the Russian River Estuary (Estuary) (Heckel, 1994; Merritt Smith Consulting, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000; Sonoma County Water Agency [Water Agency; SCWA in references] and Merritt Smith Consulting 2001; SCWA, 2006; SCWA and Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods, 2009). These reports, incorporated by reference, present the methods and results of vegetation classification and mapping, fish and invertebrate sampling, amphibian surveys, and observations of bird and pinniped1 numbers and behavior, as well as other sampling efforts (e.g., water quality sampling) conducted in the Russian River Estuary. In addition to the reports listed above, information was obtained from conservation and management plans and planning documents prepared for lands within the project vicinity (Prunuske Chatham, Inc., 2005; California Department of Parks and Recreation [State Parks], 2007), as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS], 2010), California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) (CDFG, 2010), California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Electronic Inventory (CNPS, 2010), and standard biological literature. Water Agency staff biologists also conducted field surveys in August 2010 to gather additional information on vegetation communities and wildlife habitats. Definitions Project Area, Estuary Study Area, Project Vicinity As previously noted in Chapter 2.0, Project Description, the Estuary Study Area comprises the Russian River Estuary (Estuary), which extends approximately seven miles from the mouth of the Russian River upstream to just beyond the confluence of Austin Creek. Although Estuary water levels may backwater as far as Monte Rio when the barrier beach closes the Estuary, as described in Section 2.2.2 the Estuary is defined as tidally influenced, saline waters extending from the 1 Marine mammals including seals, sea lions, fur seals, and walrus. Russian River Estuary Management Project 4.4-1 ESA / 207734.01 Draft EIR December 2010 4.0 Environmental Setting, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures 4.4 Biological Resources mouth of the Russian River upstream to the community of Duncans Mills area and below Austin Creek. Therefore, for this analysis, project area is defined as the estuarine habitat supporting fish and other wildlife resources within the 9-foot contour line in the lower 7 miles of the Russian River. Included within the project area are the lower portions of the several tributaries to the Russian River in the project area, including Willow Creek, Sheephouse Creek, Freezeout Creek, and Austin Creek. This area also includes the mouth of the Russian River at Goat Rock State Beach, as well as the Goat Roack State Beach parking and beach access areas. The Estuary Study Area includes the lands within the project area and immediately adjacent lands within the 14-foot contour line, creating a contiguous area around the project area within which indirect impacts may occur. Under certain closed conditions, the Estuary may backwater to Monte Rio, and as far upstream as Vacation Beach. Where appropriate, discussion of impacts within the Estuary Study Area and the larger Maximum Backwater Area, which extends upstream past Austin Creek approximately seven miles to Vacation Beach, is provided (Please refer to Figure 2-3 in Section 2.0, Project Description). Project vicinity is occasionally used when discussing lands outside the Estuary Study Area, but which may be used by transient wildlife (e.g., birds with large spatial-use patterns). Wildlife Movement and Nursery Sites Wildlife movement is defined as movements that generally fall into one of the following three categories: dispersal, seasonal migration, and local movements within a home range2. A number of terms have been used in various wildlife movement studies, such as “travel route,” “wildlife corridor”, and “wildlife crossing” to refer to areas in which animals move from one area to another. Wildlife nursery sites are areas where animals concentrate for hatching and/or raising young, such rookeries and breeding areas. Pinniped Haulouts Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi), and occasionally California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), collectively referred to as pinnipeds, haulout at the mouth of the Russian River. Haulout is defined is an area where pinnipeds temporarily leave the water for land in between foraging periods to rest and nurse. The Jenner haulout, located at the mouth of the Russian River on Goat Rock State Beach, is considered the largest in Sonoma County. There are also several known haulouts in the Estuary at logs and rock outcroppings. Special-Status or Sensitive Natural Communities Special-status or sensitive natural communities are defined as communities that are of limited distribution statewide or within a county or region and are often vulnerable to environmental effects of projects. These communities may or may not contain special-status species (as defined below) or their habitat. Sensitive natural communities are usually identified by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) in the CNDDB and/or by other agencies in local or regional plans, policies 2 The extent of area with a defined probability of occurrence of an animal during a specific time period. Russian River Estuary Management Project 4.4-2 ESA / 207734.01 Draft EIR December 2010 4.0 Environmental Setting, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures 4.4 Biological Resources or regulations. Furthermore, most types of wetlands and riparian communities are considered special-status or sensitive natural communities due to their limited distribution in California. Special-Status Plant and Animal Species Special-status plant and animal species are defined as those species that fall into one or more of the following categories: 1. Officially listed or proposed for listing under the State and/or Federal Endangered Species Acts. 2. State or Federal candidate for possible listing. 3. Species meeting the criteria for listing, even if not currently included on any list, as described in Section 15380 of the CEQA Guidelines. 4. Protected under the Federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. 5. Species considered by the CDFG to be a “Species of Special Concern.” 6. Species that are biological rare, very restricted in distribution, declining throughout their range, or have a critical, vulnerable stage in their life cycle that warrants monitoring. 7. Populations in California that may be on the periphery of a species’ range, but are threatened with extirpation in California. 8. Species closely associated with habitat that is declining in California at an alarming rate (e.g., wetlands, riparian, old growth forests, desert aquatic systems, native grasslands, vernal pools, etc.). 9. Species designated as a special-status, sensitive, or declining species by other state, or federal agencies, or non-governmental organizations. Sensitive Biological Resources Sensitive biological resources include special-status or sensitive natural communities, in addition to wetlands and other waters of the U.S. and state as defined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), CDFG, and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) (see Section 4.4.3, Regulatory Framework, below), special-status plant and animal species, and protected tree species. 4.4.2 Setting Regional Setting As discussed in Chapter 2, Project Description, the Estuary is located approximately 60 miles northwest of the San Francisco Bay, near the community of Jenner, Sonoma County, California (see Figure 2-1 and Figure 2-2). The Russian River Watershed encompasses a 1,485 square mile drainage basin, with numerous tributary streams feeding into the main river. The headwaters of the Russian River are in the Potter Valley area of Mendocino County, with the river joining the Russian River Estuary Management Project 4.4-3 ESA / 207734.01 Draft EIR December 2010 4.0 Environmental Setting, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures 4.4 Biological Resources Pacific Ocean 110 miles downstream, near Jenner. Warm summers and mild winters characterize the temperate Mediterranean climate of the Russian River Watershed. The watershed landscape generally consists of a series of valleys surrounded by mountain ranges, with elevations ranging from 4,480 feet to sea level. Vegetation communities and wildlife habitats within the Russian River Watershed include a mosaic of herbaceous, shrub, and tree dominated types, as