Coastal Rail Trail Project Biological Resources Report
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Coastal Rail Trail Project Biological Resources Report Prepared for: City of Oceanside 300 North Coast Hwy Oceanside, CA 92054 Prepared by: DOKKEN ENGINEERING 110 Blue Ravine Road, Suite 200 Folsom, CA 95630 November 2020 THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK Summary Summary The City of Oceanside, in cooperation with the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), proposes to construct approximately 2,470 linear feet of Class I path including a bicycle/pedestrian bridge over the Loma Alta Creek. The trail would be constructed predominantly within North County Transit District (NCTD) railroad right-of-way on the west side of the existing railroad tracks. The project would provide a “missing link” by closing the final gap of the Coastal Rail Trail. This Biological Resources Report is a review and evaluation of the potential impacts to threatened, endangered, proposed listed or special status species and protected habitat resources as a result of the proposed Project. Field surveys were conducted within the Biological Study Area (BSA), which was defined as the proposed Project impact area and includes all areas necessary to accommodate the design and facilitate construction. Aquatic resources were identified within the BSA during field surveys. Each of the aquatic resources were evaluated to determine their jurisdictional status. All aquatic resources within the BSA were determined to have connectivity to navigable waters and are considered to be jurisdictional waters of the U.S. (WoUS), waters of the state (WoS), and CDFW jurisdictional habitats. The Project is anticipated to result in permanent and temporary impacts to jurisdictional WoUS, WoS, and CDFW jurisdictional habitats. Literature research, habitat assessments, and biological surveys determined that 3 regional special status species have the potential to occur within the BSA, including: yellow warbler (Setophaga petechia), tidewater goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi), and southern California legless lizard (Anniella stebbinsi). None of these special status species were observed during the June 4, 2020 field surveys; however, the listed species are still considered to have the potential to occur within the BSA based on nearby known occurrences and presence of suitable habitat either within or directly adjacent to the BSA. Tidewater goby is a federally listed endangered species with potential to occur within the BSA due to presence of suitable habitat and recent documented regional occurrences. Prior to completion of the environmental review process, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will initiate and complete Section 7 Consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for potential Project related impacts to the species pursuant the Federal Endangered Species Act (FESA). In compliance with FESA, any additional avoidance and minimization measures or mitigation efforts resulting from the consultation process will be incorporated into the Project design. Considering the scale of impact, it is anticipated that the Project may affect, and is likely to adversely affect tidewater goby. The following permits will be obtained for the proposed Project prior to construction: Section 404 Nationwide Permit 7 from the USACE, Section 401 Water Quality Certification from California Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), Section 1602 Streambed Alteration Agreement from California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), California Coastal Commission (CCC) Coastal Development Permit (CDP), Construction General Permit from State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) for soil disturbance (over 1.0 acre), and a USFWS Section 7 Letter of Concurrence for project effects to tidewater goby. Coastal Rail Trail Project i Biological Resources Report - 2020 List of Figures and Tables Table of Contents Chapter 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Project Description ............................................................................................................. 1 1.1.1. Purpose ...................................................................................................................... 2 1.1.2. Need ........................................................................................................................... 2 Chapter 2. Study Methods ..................................................................................................... 7 2.1. Regulatory Requirements .................................................................................................. 7 2.1.1. Federal Endangered Species Act ................................................................................ 7 2.1.2. Clean Water Act .......................................................................................................... 7 2.1.3. Executive Order 13186: Migratory Bird Treaty Act ...................................................... 9 2.1.4. California Environmental Quality Act ........................................................................... 9 2.1.5. California Endangered Species Act ............................................................................. 9 2.1.6. Section 1602: Streambed Alteration Agreement ......................................................... 9 2.1.7. Section 3503 and 3503.5: Bird and Raptors .............................................................. 10 2.1.8. Section 3513: Migratory Birds ................................................................................... 10 2.1.9. California Coastal Act of 1972 ................................................................................... 10 2.1.10. Porter Cologne Water Quality Control Act ............................................................. 11 2.1.11. Regional Water Quality Control Boards ................................................................. 11 2.1.12. San Diego Multiple Habitat Conservation Plan ...................................................... 11 2.1.13. City of Oceanside Local Coastal Program ............................................................. 11 2.2. Studies Required ............................................................................................................. 12 2.2.1. Biological Study Area ................................................................................................ 12 2.2.2. Survey Methods ........................................................................................................ 12 2.3. Personnel and Survey Dates ........................................................................................... 13 2.4. Agency Coordination and Consultation History ................................................................ 13 2.5. Limitations That May Influence Results ............................................................................ 13 Chapter 3. Environmental Baseline ..................................................................................... 14 3.1. Description of the Existing Biological and Physical Conditions ......................................... 14 3.1.1. Biological Study Area ................................................................................................ 14 3.1.2. Physical Conditions................................................................................................... 14 3.1.3. Biological Conditions in the Biological Study Area .................................................... 14 3.2. Regional Species, Habitats, and Natural Communities of Concern .................................. 21 Chapter 4. Survey Results and Effects of the Action ........................................................... 54 4.1. Habitats and Natural Communities of Concern ................................................................ 54 4.1.1. Discussion of Waters and Wetlands .......................................................................... 54 4.2. Special Status Plant Species ........................................................................................... 58 4.3. Status Wildlife Species .................................................................................................... 58 4.3.1. Discussion of Yellow Warbler .................................................................................... 61 4.3.2. Discussion of Tidewater Goby .................................................................................. 62 4.3.3. Discussion of Southern California Legless Lizard ..................................................... 65 4.4. Migratory Birds ................................................................................................................. 67 Chapter 5. Conclusions and Regulatory Determination ....................................................... 68 5.1. Federal Endangered Species Act Consultation Summary ................................................ 68 5.2. Essential Fish Habitat Consultation Summary .................................................................. 68 5.3. California Endangered Species Act Consultation Summary ............................................. 68 5.4. Wetlands and Other Waters Coordination Summary ........................................................ 68 Coastal Rail Trail Project ii Biological Resources Report - 2020 List of Figures and Tables 5.5. Invasive Species .............................................................................................................. 69 5.6. Other...............................................................................................................................