±7.0-Acre Truckee Palisades Study Area
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Special-Status Plant Survey Report FOR THE ±7.0-ACRE TRUCKEE PALISADES STUDY AREA TOWN OF TRUCKEE, NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Prepared for: REYNOLDS & BROWN 1200 Concord Avenue; Suite 200 Concord, CA 94520 Prepared by: 12240 Herdal Drive, Ste. 14, Auburn, California 95603 (530) 888‐0130 OCTOBER 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 1 METHODS .................................................................................................................................................... 4 Special-Status Species Reports ........................................................................................................... 4 Noxious Weed Program ..................................................................................................................... 4 Field Surveys ........................................................................................................................................ 5 POTENTIALLY OCCURRING SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES ........................................................................... 5 SURVEY RESULTS ...................................................................................................................................... 10 Habitat Types in the Project Area ................................................................................................... 10 Drainage Channel ....................................................................................................................... 13 Disturbed Sage Scrub ................................................................................................................. 13 Riparian ........................................................................................................................................ 13 Sage Scrub .................................................................................................................................... 13 Upland Meadow ......................................................................................................................... 14 Wetland Meadow ........................................................................................................................ 14 SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................................. 14 Special-Status Species ....................................................................................................................... 14 Noxious Weeds .................................................................................................................................. 14 RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................................................... 14 Special-Status Species ....................................................................................................................... 14 Noxious Weeds .................................................................................................................................. 14 REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................................. 15 FIGURES Figure 1. Site and Vicinity Map ............................................................................................................... 2 Figure 2. Aerial Photograph .................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 3. CNDDB Plant Species Occurrence Locations ....................................................................... 6 Figure 4. Habitat Map ............................................................................................................................. 11 Figure 5. Site Photos .............................................................................................................................. 12 TABLES Table 1. Potential for Occurrence of Special-Status Species Known from the Region Surrounding the Truckee Palisades Study Area ............................................................................................. 7 Table 2. Biological Communities/Habitat Types Within the Truckee Palisades Study Area ...... 13 i APPENDICES Appendix A. Plant Species Observed During Field Surveys Appendix B1. Special-Status Plant Species Occurring in the Area Surrounding the Project Area (CNDDB) Appendix B2. Special-Status Plant Species Occurring in the Area Surrounding the Project Area (CNPS) ii SPECIAL-STATUS PLANT SURVEY REPORT FOR THE ±7.0-ACRE TRUCKEE PALISADES STUDY AREA INTRODUCTION On behalf of Reynolds & Brown, Salix Consulting, Inc. (Salix) conducted a Special-Status Plant survey on the approximately 7.0-acre Study Area, located in the Town of Truckee, Nevada County, California1. The Study Area is located at the southwest corner of the junction of Brockway Road and Palisades Drive (Figures 1 and 2). The location corresponds to Section 14 of Township 17 North and Range 16 East on the 7.5 minute Truckee, California USGS quadrangle (Figure 1). The coordinates of the approximate center of the property are 39°19’32.5”N and 120°10’ 38.64”W. The Assessor’s Parcel Number for the property is 019-450-042. The purpose of this survey was to conduct appropriately timed presence/absence surveys for special-status plant species and conclude whether or not any exist on the site. During the surveys, the surveyor identified each plant species observed to the extent necessary to determine whether it is a special-status species. SETTING The project site is located on the east slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The site is relatively flat, and elevations range from approximately 5,864 feet at the northern end of the property to approximately 5,879 feet at the southwest corner. The site is a largely an undeveloped parcel to the north of an existing multi-family housing complex and east of a light industrial/commercial area. The site slopes slightly from south to north toward Brockway Road. The primary vegetation types are meadow in the southern area and sagebrush in the northern area. A few minor drainage ditches occur on the upper slope. Woody riparian vegetation abuts the primary west-east drainage ditch, particularly in the southeastern corner. The topography south of the ditch and the property line rises steeply towards the apartment complex. An aerial photo of the project site is shown as Figure 2. 1 The size of the Study Area has been adjusted from ±7.4 acres to ±7.0 acres due to lot line adjustments made by the Nevada County Assessor’s Office. The current Study Area size is based on the most recent Assessor Parcel Map. Truckee Palisades Study Area Salix Consulting, Inc. Special-Status Plant Survey 1 October 2013 Project Site Sources: Esri, DeLorme, NAVTEQ, USGS, Intermap, iPC, NRCAN, Esri Japan, Study Area Copyright:© 2013 National Geographic Society, i-cubed Source Maps: USGS Topographic Map, Truckee (1971), CA Quadrangle, Figure 1 1:24,000 ± VICINITY MAP 0 1,000 2,000 Truckee Palisades Feet Town of Truckee, Nevada County, CA October 9, 2013 E River Street Brockway Road Palisades Drive Study Area Schaffer Drive Sara Bear Lane Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community Study Area (±7 acres) Figure 2 ± AERIAL PHOTO 0 150 300 Truckee Palisades Feet 2010 Aerial Photo Town of Truckee, Nevada County, CA October 9, 2013 METHODS Special-Status Species Reports Salix biologists queried the California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB) for location records for special-status species known to occur in the region surrounding the Study Area. Quadrangles included in the query were Truckee, Granite Chief, Kings Beach, Martis Peak, Independence Lake, Hobart Mills, Boca, Norden, and Tahoe City. Salix biologists also reviewed the special-status species lists for the Truckee USGS quadrangle and Nevada County created by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Inventory was checked for special-status plants occurring in the area. For the purposes of this report, special-status species are those that fall into one or more of the following categories, including those: listed as endangered or threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act (including candidates and species proposed for listing), listed as endangered or threatened under the California Endangered Species Act (including candidates and species proposed for listing), designated as rare, protected, or fully protected pursuant to California Fish and Game Code, designated a Species of Concern by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), defined as rare or endangered under Section 15380 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), or designated as Ranks 1 or 2 on lists maintained by the California Native Plant Society. Noxious Weed Program Salix biologists checked the California Food and Agriculture Code list of Noxious Weed Species for non-native invasive plants that are designated as noxious weeds (California State-listed Noxious Weeds). These noxious weeds are ranked by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) as A, B, C, or which denotes the appropriate action (eradication, containment, etc.) to be taken when such species are detected. The ratings reflect CDFA's view of the statewide