4 1919-Biological Resources Assessment
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Biological Resources Assessment 94 Via Navarro Greenbrae, Marin County May 2019 Prepared for: Angelique Riordan 121 Oak Avenue San Anselmo, CA 94960 Prepared by: Prunuske Chatham, Inc. 400 Morris Street, Suite G Sebastopol, CA 95472 Copyright © 2019 by Prunuske Chatham, Inc. All rights reserved. Table of Contents Page 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3 2. Setting ........................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 1. Project Location ................................................................................................... 4 3. Methods ........................................................................................................................ 5 4. Soils ............................................................................................................................... 7 5. Existing Conditions ........................................................................................................ 7 6. Special-status Species ................................................................................................... 9 Definition of Special-status Species ......................................................................... 9 Special-status Species Evaluation Criteria ................................................................ 9 Jurisdictional Areas ................................................................................................. 10 Sensitive Natural Communities .............................................................................. 10 Figure 2. Reported Occurrences of Special-status Species ............................................... 12 Special-status Plants ............................................................................................... 13 Special-status Animals ............................................................................................ 15 7. Conclusions and Recommendations ........................................................................... 19 General Protection Measures ................................................................................ 20 Seasonal Drainage .................................................................................................. 20 Native Plants and Natural Communities ................................................................ 20 Special-status Plants and Communities ................................................................. 21 General Wildlife Species Protection Measures ...................................................... 21 Special-status and Common Bird Species .............................................................. 22 Special-status and Common Bat Species ............................................................... 22 8. References .................................................................................................................. 23 Appendices Appendix A: Photographs Appendix B: California Department of Fish and Wildlife California Natural Diversity Database List Appendix C: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service IPaC Trust Resource Report Biological Resources Assessment 94 Via Navarro, Greenbrae, Marin County May 2019 1. Introduction Angelique Riordan, landowner, is proposing to construct a single family residence at 94 Via Navarro, Greenbrae, Marin County (APN 070-331-20; Figure 1). The 2.55-acre property is currently undeveloped. It is located within the City of Larkspur limits and zoned low-density residential (up to 5 DU/acre). The landowner is proposing to construct a multi-story residence with a driveway, parking, and garage. The residence will be located in the central portion of the site directly off Via Navarro. However, the project plans are preliminary the exact project footprint and building configuration has yet to be decided. Prunuske Chatham, Inc. (PCI) was retained by the landowner to prepare a biological resources assessment of the proposed project. The City of Larkspur (City) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) are requiring a biological assessment. The following assessment has been completed to satisfy this requirement and to determine 1) the impacts of the proposed project on sensitive biological resources and 2) if there are any biological constraints associated with the proposed project. This report summarizes a field survey and follow-up botanical assessment of the project site, describes existing biological resources, reviews potential for special-status species occurrence, and provides general recommendations to protect biological resources during project implementation. 2. Setting The project site is located at 94 Via Navarro, north of Greenbrae, Marin County (Figure 1). The site is accessed off Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to the west of Highway 101, then Eliseo Drive to Via Lerida, and then the site address. It is located 0.3 miles west of Highway 101. The site is mapped on the San Rafael 7.5’ USGS quadrangle (37.951792°N, -122.518085°W) and the elevation is range is approximately 250 feet along Via Navarro to 410 feet at the upper elevations of the property. Site drainage flows to Corte Madera Creek and then San Francisco Bay. The project site is bordered by residential parcels and small areas of open space. Biological Resources Assessment 94 Via Navarro, Greenbrae, Marin County May 2019 P a g e | 3 Parcel Figure 1. Project Location March 2019 94 Via Navarro ESRI Topo Greenbrae, Marin County 0 0.05 0.1 0.2 0.3 ± Miles 3. Methods Field Survey and Follow-up Botanical Assessment. A biological field survey of the project site was completed on February 19, 2019, by PCI’s Senior Biologist who is familiar with the region’s flora and fauna; the survey focused on the areas proposed for development and did not encompass the entire parcel. The field assessment was a general inventory of habitats within the project site and of species observed or potentially occurring within and in close proximity to the project site; it did not include focused surveys for special-status plants or animal species. Observations were limited in scope due to the seasonal phenology, distribution and/or rarity of some species. The potential for presence of special-status species and habitats was determined based on habitat conditions, presence or absence of unique habitat features, proximity of the project site to reported occurrences (CDFW 2019a), and geographic ranges of relevant species. PCI’s biological assessment followed the protocol described in Protocols for Surveying and Evaluating Impacts to Special-status Native Plant Populations and Natural Communities (CDFW 2009) and county guidelines for biological studies (Marin County undated). During the survey, an inventory of all plant and wildlife species observed was compiled and is incorporated into the Existing Conditions text below. All plants observed were identified using the Jepson eFlora (Jepson Flora Project 2019) and Marin Flora (Howe et al. 2007) to the taxonomic level necessary to determine whether they were rare. Botanical nomenclature follows the Jepson eFlora. Conditions during the survey were sunny with no wind or no cloud cover. The air temperature was 55 F at 11:00 a.m. The survey was conducted with the aid of binoculars (Swarovski™ 10 x 42). Visual cues, calls, songs, and direct observations were used to identify wildlife species. The project site was examined for presence of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates. No aquatic sampling was completed as part of the assessment. The survey consisted of evaluating the proposed project site and the habitats within it. Habitats beyond these boundaries were not evaluated. A follow-up botanical assessment was completed on April 26, 2019 by PCI’s Senior Vegetation Ecologist. This assessment focused on the area of planned disturbance; the purpose was to determine whether special-status plant species were present or likely to occur, and whether sensitive habitat was present. Figure 1 shows the project location and regional context. Figure 2 illustrates the locations of known sightings of special-status plants and animals in the vicinity of the project site (CDFW 2019a). Representative photographs taken during the field survey are provided at the end of this report in Appendix A. This level of assessment is standard at this stage of project review and is meant to guide City staff in making initial determinations for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act Biological Resources Assessment 94 Via Navarro, Greenbrae, Marin County May 2019 P a g e | 5 (CEQA), making recommendations for further study, and/or identifying mitigation, restoration, and enhancement opportunities. This biological assessment is specific to the project identified above; impacts beyond the project boundaries were not evaluated. It does not include an evaluation of the cumulative effects of the project within the context of potential future development at the site or within the region. This report represents PCI’s best professional effort to identify sensitive habitats, species, and resources of concern based on the proposed project. Background Research. A background literature and database search was conducted to determine the potential for special-status species and sensitive habitats to occur within or adjacent to the project site. The search focused on reported occurrences for the San Rafael 7 ½’USGS quadrangle within a 5-mile buffer