Habitat Conservation Plan Outline
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Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for Endangered Sandhills Species at the Clements Property, Santa Cruz County California Prepared by: Prepared for: Submitted to: Jodi McGraw, Ph.D. Ron and Natalie Clements Mr. Steve Henry Principal and Ecologist 8225 Ridgeview Drive Field Supervisor Jodi McGraw Consulting Ben Lomond, CA 95005 US Fish and Wildlife Service PO Box 221 2493 Portola Road, Suite B Freedom, CA 95019 Ventura, CA 93003 September 2017 HCP for the Clements Property, Ben Lomond, CA Contents Executive Summary 1 Section 1. Introduction and Background 3 Overview/Background ........................................................................ 3 Permit Holder/Permit Duration ............................................................ 3 Permit Boundary/Covered Lands ........................................................ 3 Species to be Covered by Permit ....................................................... 5 Regulatory Framework ....................................................................... 5 Federal Endangered Species Act ............................................ 5 The Section 10 Process - Habitat Conservation Plan Requirements and Guidelines ................................................. 7 National Environmental Policy Act .......................................... 8 National Historic Preservation Act ...................................................... 8 California Endangered Species Act .................................................... 8 California Environmental Quality Act .................................................. 8 County of Santa Cruz Sensitive Habitat Ordinance ............................ 9 Section 2. Project Description/Activities Covered by Permit 10 Project Description ........................................................................... 10 Activities Covered by Permit ............................................................. 12 Section 3. Environmental Setting/Biological Resources 13 Environmental Settings ..................................................................... 13 Climate ................................................................................. 13 Topography/Geology ............................................................ 13 Hydrology/Streams, Rivers, Drainages ................................. 13 Existing Land Use ................................................................. 14 Plant Communities ................................................................ 14 Adjacent Land Use ............................................................... 14 Covered Species .............................................................................. 15 Mount Hermon June beetle ............................................................ 15 Zayante Band-Winged Grasshopper .............................................. 18 Ben Lomond Spineflower ............................................................... 19 Other Sandhills Endangered Species in the Region ......................... 21 Section 4. Potential Biological Impacts/Take Assessment 22 Direct Impacts .................................................................................. 22 Indirect Impacts ................................................................................ 26 Anticipated Take of Covered Species ............................................... 26 Effects on Critical Habitat ................................................................. 27 Anticipated Impacts of the Taking ..................................................... 27 HCP for the Clements Property, Ben Lomond, CA Cumulative Impacts .......................................................................... 28 Section 5. Conservation Program 28 Biological Goals and Objectives ....................................................... 30 Avoidance, Minimization, and Mitigation Measures .......................... 30 Measures to Minimize Impacts ......................................................... 30 Measures to Mitigate Unavoidable Impacts ...................................... 32 Monitoring ........................................................................................ 34 Reporting .......................................................................................... 34 Section 6. Plan Implementation 36 Changed Circumstances .................................................................. 36 Summary of Circumstances .................................................. 36 Listing of New Species .......................................................... 37 Discovery of Currently Listed Species in Project Site ............ 37 Unforeseen Circumstances .............................................................. 37 Amendments .................................................................................... 38 Minor Amendments ............................................................... 38 Major Amendments ............................................................... 38 Suspension/Revocation .................................................................... 39 Renewal of the Section 10(a)(1)(B) Permit ....................................... 39 Permit Transfer................................................................................. 40 Section 7. Funding 41 Costs of HCP Implementation .......................................................... 41 Funding Source(s) ............................................................................ 41 Section 8. Alternatives 43 Summary .......................................................................................... 43 Alternative 1: No Action Alternative .................................................. 43 Alternative 2: Redesign Project ........................................................ 43 Alternative 3: Proposed Project ........................................................ 44 Literature Cited 45 Appendices Appendix A. Project Plans Appendix B: Habitat Assessment Appendix C: Conservation Bank Letter of Intent HCP for the Clements Property, Ben Lomond, CA Tables and Figures Table Page 1 Size of Proposed Project Areas .................................................. 10 2 Special-Status Species of the Sandhills ...................................... 21 3 Project Impacts to Open Soil Areas ............................................ 24 4 Species Impacts and Compensatory Mitigation .......................... 25 5 Estimated Costs to Implement the Conservation Strategy .......... 42 Figure Page 1 Project Location ............................................................................ 4 2 Map of Project Site ..................................................................... 11 3 Mount Hermon June Beetle ........................................................ 16 4 Zayante Band-Winged Grasshopper ........................................... 18 5 Ben Lomond Spineflower ............................................................ 20 HCP for the Clements Property, Ben Lomond, CA Executive Summary Executive Summary Ron and Natalie Clements (the Clementses) are seeking an incidental take permit, under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Endangered Species Act, to cover take of the federally endangered Mount Hermon June beetle (Polyphylla barbata) and Zayante band-winged grasshopper (Trimerotropis infantilis), as well as impacts to the Ben Lomond spineflower (Chorizanthe pungens var. hartwegiana), which is addressed in the plan’s conservation strategy. Impacts to the three covered species will result from construction of a swimming pool, outdoor kitchen, sport court, solar panels, patios and other hardscapes, retaining walls, landscaping beds, and a fence in the back and side yards of the applicants’ primary residence, which is located at 8225 Ridgeview Drive near the unincorporated town of Ben Lomond in Santa Cruz County, central coastal California. The project activities will occur within a 24,500-ft2 (0.56- acre) portion of the 3.6-acre parcel (APN: 072-441-01). Within this broader project area, the improvements are estimated to cover 11,506 ft2 (Table 1) of which 2,787 ft2 features existing impervious surfaces including primarily pavement associated with walkways. Construction will also impact a 600-ft2 area where soil will be stockpiled. A three-year permit term is requested to address incidental take due to vegetation removal, grading and evacuation, construction, and also seeding and planting. These activities were initiated in winter 2016, when the applicants conducted vegetation removal, excavation, grading, and paving, as well as installation of the solar panel rack. The project was discontinued when the applicants received a stop-work order from the County of Santa Cruz. Once the applicants receive a local building permit and a federal take permit, which will enable the project to resume, the remaining activities including additional grading, paving, construction, landscaping, and erection of a fence are anticipated to be completed within a three-month period; however, a three-year permit is requested to address construction delays that may be encountered. The project area and improvements within the Sandhills ecosystem, and provides habitat for the Mount Hermon June beetle, Zayante band-winged grasshopper and Ben Lomond spineflower. This habitat has been degraded by land uses that occurred prior to initiation of the project, including livestock keeping and vehicle use. Nonetheless, the covered species have high potential to occur in the project area as they are adapted to disturbance and habitat the intact