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REVISED BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT FOR THE ±58-ACRE DARKHORSE STUDY AREA NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Prepared for: Asian Pacific Group 18500 Von Karmen Ave., Ste. 500 Irvine, CA 92612 Prepared by: 11601 Blocker Drive, Suite 100 Auburn, California 95603 (530) 888‐0130 MARCH 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 1 Project Location.................................................................................................................................... 1 Project Setting ....................................................................................................................................... 1 Objectives of Biological Resources Assessment .............................................................................. 4 Methods ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Literature Review ................................................................................................................................ 4 Special-Status Species Reports ........................................................................................................... 4 Field Assessments ................................................................................................................................ 5 Survey and Literature Search Results ............................................................................................................ 5 Biological Communities ...................................................................................................................... 5 Foothill Woodland ........................................................................................................................ 9 Annual Grassland ....................................................................................................................... 10 Golf Course .................................................................................................................................. 11 Ruderal ......................................................................................................................................... 11 Developed .................................................................................................................................... 11 Waters of the United States .............................................................................................................. 12 Special-Status Species ....................................................................................................................... 12 Plants ............................................................................................................................................ 18 Wildlife ......................................................................................................................................... 18 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................. 20 Waters of the United States .............................................................................................................. 20 Streams, Pond, and Riparian Habitat ............................................................................................. 20 Tree Conservation ............................................................................................................................. 21 Special-Status Plants ......................................................................................................................... 21 Special-Status Wildlife ...................................................................................................................... 21 Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle .......................................................................................... 21 Pre-Construction Nesting Surveys ........................................................................................... 21 References and Other Resources .................................................................................................................. 23 FIGURES Figure 1. Site & Vicinty ............................................................................................................................. 2 Figure 2. Aerial Photograph ................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 3. Habitat Map ............................................................................................................................... 6 Figures 4 Tree Canopy Map .................................................................................................................... 7 Figure 5. Site Photos ................................................................................................................................. 8 Figure 6. CNDDB Special-Status Species Occurrence Locations ...................................................... 13 TABLES Table 1. Biological Communities Present Within the Darkhorse Study Area .................................. 5 Table 2. Tree Groves and Counts .......................................................................................................... 10 Table 3. Waters of the U.S ...................................................................................................................... 12 Table 4. Special Status Species Determined to have NO POTENTIAL to Occur Within the Darkhorse Study Area ............................................................................................................ 14 Table 5. Special Status Species Determined to have SOME POTENTIAL to Occur Within the Darkhorse Study Area ........................................................................................................... 17 APPENDICES Appendix A. Plant Species Observed Within the Study Area Appendix B. Wildlife Species Observed Within the Study Area Appendix C. Potentially-Occurring Special-Status Plants Appendix D. Potentially-Occurring Special-Status Animals Biological Resources Assessment for the ±58-ACRE DARKHORSE STUDY AREA INTRODUCTION In January 2016, Salix Consulting, Inc. (Salix) prepared a Biological Resources Assessment (BRA) for the ±58-acre Darkhorse Study Area (study area) located in unincorporated Nevada County, California, northwest of Lake Combie. Over the ensuing months, the proposed project was revised, and comments were received from various agencies regarding analysis they would prefer in the environmental impact assessment. Salix has reviewed and revised the BRA to ensure it 1) adequately covers the current proposed project and 2) sufficiently addresses comments from all agencies. Project Location The site occurs in the eastern portion of the existing Dark Horse Golf Course and Residential Community, located approximately 2 miles east of Highway 49, adjacent to the community of Lake of the Pines. Access to the site is provided via Combie Road and Darkhorse Boulevard. It is situated in Section 26 of Township 14 North and Range 8 East on the Lake Combie USGS 7 ½ minute quadrangle (Figure 1). The approximate coordinates for the center of the property are: 38⁰44’ 31” N and 121⁰ 12’ 40” W. Project Setting The study area is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, mostly in hilly terrain along the eastern edge of the Darkhorse golf community at elevations ranging between approximately 1630 feet and 1700 feet. Project Background In 1998, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was prepared for the entire 1,046- acre Dark Horse Golf Course and Residential Community Project (Dark Horse Community), located along the eastern side of the community of Lake of the Pines (ESA 1998). As part of the EIR, biological resources of the entire project site were evaluated and potential project-related impacts were addressed. Wetland delineation results were included in the EIR, along with tree survey results and information obtained through reconnaissance-level surveys. The current project area is comprised of several separate undeveloped areas within the study area that are part of the existing golf course and residential community established in the early 2000s (Figure 2). These areas remained undeveloped due to economic considerations, and the property ultimately changed ownership. Portions of the undeveloped areas identified in Figure 2 are now being considered for future development. Darkhorse Salix Consulting, Inc. Biological Resources Assessment 1 Revised March 2017 Legend Figure 1 Study Area (±58 acres) SITE AND VICINITY MAP 0 1,000 2,000 Darkhorse Feet Nevada County, CA 1 2 3 D a r t k h C H o d r o o s g o e a w D n n r o R Ir d A u r s i t C in t F ore s Torrey Pines Dr 4 A le xis Dr Landon Evan Ln 5 Imagery ©2017 , DigitalGlobe, U.S. Geological Survey, USDA Farm Service Agency Legend Figure 2 Study Area (±58.3 acres) AERIAL PHOTO ± Project Area (±19.4 acres) 0 400 800 Darkhorse Property Feet Nevada County, CA Objectives of Biological Resources Assessment Identify and describe the biological communities present in the study area Record plant and animal species observed in the study area Evaluate and identify sensitive resources and special-status plant and animal species that could be affected by project activities Provide conclusions