Memo (Banyan Street) Rev
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Date: 19 September 2020 From: Mark J. Bellini, MS Vice President Sentinel Science Inc. 1206 Ferrara Drive Ojai, CA. 93023 801.381.0021 [email protected] To: Mr. Norman Kulla 162 Wadsworth Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90405 310-387-9335 (mobile) [email protected] A principal, IMOR LLC Re: Biological Assessment Memorandum for 12774 Banyan Street, Rancho Cucamonga, CA Dear Mr. Kulla, On 22 November 2016 a Biological Evaluation (BE) report was prepared for the property located at 12774 Banyan Street, Rancho Cucamonga, which addressed potential impacts to sensitive biological resources triggered by a proposal to develop the property with a 10 lot residential housing development (proposed action). This memorandum has been prepared to address: • Any changes in biological conditions at the site in the intervening time frame since the 2016 report. • Change to the proposed action – now 9 lots are planned as opposed to the 10 lot subdivision proposed in 2016. Scope of Work • On 3 September 2020 a Sentinel Science biologist performed a site visit and compared conditions at the site with respect to conditions that existed during the site visit in 2016 in order to determine if significant changes have occurred. • We have reviewed the sensitive species list maintained by the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) for the Cucamonga Peak USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle and compared the habitat requirements of the listed species to conditions at the site. CONCLUSION Nesting Migratory and Special Status Birds: The subject property possesses suitable habitat for nesting birds. The following avian species were noted during the recent site inspection; red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), Great- horned owl (Bubo virginianus), Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), American kestrel (Falco sparverius), mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus), California scrub-jay Biological Assessment Memorandum 12774 Banyan Street, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 1 (Aphelocoma californica), American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), Acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus). Although not observed during the site inspection, the following special status birds have the potential to occur: Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii) and loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus). In order to prevent impacts to nesting migratory and special status birds, the following measure should be implemented: 1. Initial ground clearing and vegetation removal that occurs during the nesting season (Feb 1 – Aug 31) should be preceded by a nesting bird survey, conducted by a qualified biologist, no more than ten (10) days prior to the commencement of the activities. If the biologist determines that there are active nests, appropriate buffers will be established for each nest and no work will occur inside the buffer of an active nest until the fledglings are no longer dependent on the nest or until the biologist otherwise determines the nest is no longer active. Special Status Reptiles: The following special status reptiles have the potential to occur at the site; Coast horned lizard (Phrynosoma blainvillii) and Coastal whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris stejnegeri). In order to prevent impacts to special status reptiles the following measure should be implemented: 2. A biological construction monitor (BCM) should be present during the days when initial ground clearing, best maintenance practice (BMP) installation and vegetation removal activities are occurring. The BCM will ob- serve the activities, watch for these species’ and if detected will relocate them out of harm’s way. Please contact me if you have any questions. Sincerely, Mark J. Bellini Sentinel Science Inc. (Species List and Site Photographs Found on Following Pages) Biological Assessment Memorandum 12774 Banyan Street, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 2 Sensitive Species Identified by the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) as Potentially Occurring Within the Cucamonga Peak 7.5-minute USGS Quadrangle (List Obtained 3 September 2020) SCIENTIFIC NAME STATUS HABITAT EFFECT DETERMINATION COMMON NAME / LIFE FORM Plants San Gabriel manzanita / Rocky outcrops in chaparral in the San Gabriel Mountains. ABSENT / NO EFFECT Federal: None Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. ga- Elevation: 1300 m – 1600 m Site is not within elevation or geographic State: None brielensis Blooming Period: April - May range of the species. Suitable habitat not CDFW: None present. Not detected during the field CNPS: 1B.3 Shrub inspection. Peirson’s spring beauty / Clayto- Scree slopes in subalpine coniferous forest and upper montane co- ABSENT / NO EFFECT Federal: None nia lanceolata var. peirsonii niferous forest. Suitable scree habitat not present. Not State: None Elevation: 1510 m – 2745 m detected during the field inspection. CDFW: None Perennial herb Blooming Period: March – June CNPS: 1B.3 Sandy or rocky, openings in chaparral, cismontane woodland, ABSENT / NO EFFECT Parry’s spineflower / Federal: None coastal scrub, valley and foothill grassland. Suitable habitat not present. Not de- Chorizanthe parryi var. parryi State: None Elevation: 275 m – 1220 m tected during the field inspection. CDFW: None Blooming Period: April - June Annual Herb CNPS: 1B.1 Johnston’s buckwheat / Rocks, rocky outcrops in lodgepole Forest, subalpine forest, red fir ABSENT / NO EFFECT Federal: None Eriogonum microthecum var. forest. Predominately in forests in the San Gabriel Mountains. Site is not within elevation range of the State: None johnstonii Elevation: 2600 m – 2900 m species. Suitable habitat not present. CDFW: None Blooming Period: July – September Not detected during the field inspection. CNPS: 1B.3 Shrub / Perennial Herb Maritime chaparral, cismontane woodland, and coastal scrub habi- ABSENT / NO EFFECT Mesa horkelia Federal: None tats with sandy or gravelly soils. Suitable habitat not present. Not de- Horkelia cuneata var. puberula State: None Elevation: 70 m - 810 m tected during the field inspection. CDFW: None Blooming Period: February - September Perennial Herb CNPS: 1B.1 Mesic habitat within lower montane coniferous forest, meadows and ABSENT / NO EFFECT Lemon lily / Federal: None seeps, riparian forest, upper montane coniferous forest. Site is not within elevation or geographic Lilium parryi State: None Elevation: 1220 m – 2745 m range of the species. Suitable habitat not CDFW: None Blooming Period: July – August present. Not detected during the field Perennial Bulbiferous Herb CNPS: 1B.2 inspection. Biological Assessment Memorandum 12774 Banyan Street, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 3 Sensitive Species Identified by the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) as Potentially Occurring Within the Cucamonga Peak 7.5-minute USGS Quadrangle (List Obtained 3 September 2020) SCIENTIFIC NAME STATUS HABITAT EFFECT DETERMINATION COMMON NAME / LIFE FORM Rocky, openings in chaparral, lower montane coniferous forest, up- ABSENT / NO EFFECT San Gabiel linanthus / Federal: None per montane coniferous forest Site is not within elevation or geographic Linanthus concinnus State: None Elevation: 1520 m – 2800 m range of the species. Suitable rocky hab- CDFW: None Blooming Period: April – July itat not present. Not detected during the Annual Herb CNPS: 1B.2 field inspection. Steep scree or talus slopes between breccia, secondary alluvial ABSENT / NO EFFECT Jockert’s monardella / Federal: None benches along drainages and washes, within chaparral, lower mon- Site is not within elevation range of the Monderella australis ssp. jokerstii State: None tane coniferous forest. Known only from the San Gabriel Mountains species. Suitable steep scree or talus CDFW: None Elevation: 1350 m – 1750 m habitat not present. Not detected during Perennial Herb CNPS: 1B.1 Blooming Period: July – September the field inspection. Gravel or talus in lower montane coniferous forest, subalpine conif- ABSENT / NO EFFECT Wooly mountain-parsley / Federal: None erous forest or upper montane coniferous forest Site is not within elevation or geographic Oreonana vestita State: None Elevation: 1615 m – 3500 m range of the species. Suitable habitat not CDFW: None Blooming Period: March – September present. Not detected during the field Perennial Herb CNPS: 1B.3 inspection. Freshwater wetlands, wetland-riparian habitat. ABSENT / NO EFFECT Sanford’s arrowhead / Federal: None Elevation: 0 m – 650 m Suitable wetland habitat not present. Sagittaria sanfordii State: None Blooming Period: May - October Not detected during the field inspection, CDFW: None which occurred during the blooming pe- Perennial Rhizomatous Herb CNPS: 1B.2 riod. Grey-leaved violet / Meadows and seeps in subalpine coniferous forest and upper mon- ABSENT / NO EFFECT Federal: None Viola pinetorum ssp. grisea tane coniferous forest. Site is not within elevation or geographic State: None Elevation: 1500 m – 3400 m range of the species. Suitable damp CDFW: None Perennial Herb Blooming Period: April - May habitat not present. Not detected during CNPS: 1B.3 the field inspection. Rocky, calcareous soils in chaparral, coastal scrub, and valley and ABSENT / NO EFFECT Intermediate mariposa lily / Calo- Federal: None foothill grassland habitat. Suitable rocky calcareous soils not pre- chortus weedii var. intermedius State: None Elevation: 105 m – 855 m sent at the site. Not detected during the CDFW: None Blooming Period: May - July field inspection. Perennial bulbiferous herb CNPS: 1B.2 Biological Assessment Memorandum 12774 Banyan Street, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 4 Sensitive Species Identified by the California Natural Diversity