Ukiah Western Hills Open Land Acquisition & Limited Development

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Ukiah Western Hills Open Land Acquisition & Limited Development Ukiah Western Hills Open Land Acquisition & Limited Development Agreement Draft Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration Attachments April 16, 2021 ATTACHMENT A Existing Site Photographs Existing access road Existing water tank site Existing "house site" on one of the proposed Development Parcels ATTACHMENT B Prepared For: Michelle Irace, Planning Manager Department of Community Development 300 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah, CA 95482 APNs: 001-040-83, 157- 070-01, 157-070-02, and 003-190-01 Prepared by Jacobszoon & Associates, Inc. Alicia Ives Ringstad Senior Wildlife Biologist [email protected] Date: March 11, 2021 Updated: April 8, 2021 Biological Assessment Report Table of Contents Section 1.0: Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Section 2.0: Regulations and Descriptions ....................................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Regulatory Setting ................................................................................................................................................................. 2 2.2 Natural Communities and Sensitive Natural Communities .................................................................................................... 3 2.3 Special-Status Species............................................................................................................................................................ 3 Section 3.0: Field Survey Methodology ........................................................................................................................................... 3 3.1 Assessment Methods .............................................................................................................................................................. 3 3.2 Database and Resource Descriptions ..................................................................................................................................... 4 3.3 Database Resource Assessment ............................................................................................................................................. 5 3.4 Biological Communities ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 3.4.1 Non-sensitive Biological Communities ........................................................................................................................... 7 3.4.2 Sensitive Biological Communities .................................................................................................................................. 7 3.5 Special-status Species ............................................................................................................................................................ 8 Section 4.0: Study Area Setting ....................................................................................................................................................... 9 4.1 Climate and Hydrology .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 4.2 Topography and Soils ............................................................................................................................................................ 9 4.3 Biota and Land Use .............................................................................................................................................................. 10 Section 5.0: Field Survey Results................................................................................................................................................... 10 5.1 Biological Communities ...................................................................................................................................................... 10 5.1.1 Non-sensitive Biological Communities ......................................................................................................................... 15 5.1.2 Sensitive Biological Communities ................................................................................................................................ 16 5.2 Special-status Species .......................................................................................................................................................... 16 5.2.1 Special-status Plant Species ......................................................................................................................................... 16 Section 6.0: Assessment Summary and Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 26 6.1 Biological Communities ...................................................................................................................................................... 26 6.2 Special-status Species .......................................................................................................................................................... 28 6.2.1 Special-status Plant Species ......................................................................................................................................... 28 6.2.2 Special-status Wildlife Species ..................................................................................................................................... 29 6.3 Wildlife Corridors ................................................................................................................................................................ 30 6.4 Critical Habitat ..................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Section 7.0: References .................................................................................................................................................................. 31 Appendix A: Table of Potential for Special-Status Plants and Wildlife within the Study Area ....................................................... 0 Appendix B: List of Species Observed .......................................................................................................................................... 34 Appendix C: Photographs .............................................................................................................................................................. 39 Appendix D: Maps ......................................................................................................................................................................... 63 Appendix E: Supporting Documents ............................................................................................................................................. 64 Page 1 of 101 Section 1.0: Introduction This biological assessment was prepared by Jacobszoon and Associates Inc. for the City of Ukiah for the purpose a lot line adjustment to reconfigure parcels for future single-family residential development on approximately 55 acres. The project site is located just west of Ukiah, CA within Sections 19 and 30, Township 15N, Range 12W, Mount Diablo Base and Meridian, in the Ukiah USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle, APNs: 001-040-83, 157-070-01, 157-070-02, and 003- 190-01 (Appendix D: Map 1, Study Area- Topographic Map). A site visit was conducted on February 5, 2021. A botanical survey was conducted on March 30, 2021. Additional botanical survey results will be amended in once completed. The purpose of this study was to identify and map areas within the parcel that are potential sensitive natural communities and to locate special-status plants and special-status animal habitats to determine if they would be directly or potentially impacted by the proposed project. The Study Area referred to within this report comprises approximately 55 acres and includes existing dirt and gravel roads, fire breaks, water tank pad sites, and areas cleared for potential house sites (Appendix D: Map 2, Study Area-Aerial Map). This report includes the following: • Regulations and Project Description (Section 2) • Field Survey Methodology (Section 3) • Study Area Setting (Section 4) • Field Survey Results (Section 5) • Assessment Summary and Recommendations (Section 6) • Tables of Special-Status Plants and Wildlife within CNDDB nine quads (Appendix A) • List of Species Observed (Appendix B) • Representative Photographs of Study Area (Appendix C) • Supporting Maps (Appendix D) • Supporting Documents (Appendix E) Section 2.0: Regulations and Descriptions 2.1 Regulatory Setting In addition to the requirements of Mendocino County’s permitting process, the project shall comply with Federal, State, and local regulations designed to protect sensitive natural resources. The following natural resources are protected under one or more of several Federal and/or State regulations and should be considered when designing and/or implementing the proposed project within the Study Area: Essential Fish Habitat: protected through changes to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to maintain sustainable fisheries in the United States, administered by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS):
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