Biological Resources Assessment the Ranch ±530- Acre Study Area City of Rancho Cordova, California
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Biological Resources Assessment The Ranch ±530- Acre Study Area City of Rancho Cordova, California Prepared for: K. Hovnanian Homes October 13, 2017 Prepared by: © 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Project Description ........................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Regulatory Framework ........................................................................................................ 2 2.1. Federal Regulations .......................................................................................................... 2 2.1.1. Federal Endangered Species Act ............................................................................... 2 2.1.2. Migratory Bird Treaty Act ......................................................................................... 2 2.1.3. The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act ............................................................... 2 2.2. State Jurisdiction .............................................................................................................. 3 2.2.1. California Endangered Species Act ........................................................................... 3 2.2.2. California Department of Fish and Game Codes ...................................................... 3 2.2.3. Native Plant Protection Act ...................................................................................... 3 2.3. Jurisdictional Waters ........................................................................................................ 3 2.3.1. Federal Jurisdiction ................................................................................................... 3 2.3.2. State Jurisdiction ....................................................................................................... 5 2.4. CEQA Significance ............................................................................................................. 5 2.4.1. California Native Plant Society .................................................................................. 6 2.4.2. California Department of Fish and Wildlife Species of Concern............................... 7 2.5. Draft South Sacramento Habitat Conservation Plan ....................................................... 7 2.6. City of Rancho Cordova General Plan .............................................................................. 7 3.0 Methods ............................................................................................................................... 8 4.0 Results ................................................................................................................................ 10 4.1. Study Area Location and Description ............................................................................. 10 4.2. Physical Features ............................................................................................................ 10 4.2.1. Topography and Drainage....................................................................................... 10 4.2.2. Soils ......................................................................................................................... 10 4.3. Biological Communities .................................................................................................. 12 4.3.1. Annual Grassland .................................................................................................... 12 4.3.2. Developed/Disturbed.............................................................................................. 12 4.3.3. Seasonal Wetland ................................................................................................... 13 4.3.4. Vernal Pool .............................................................................................................. 13 4.3.5. Intermittent Drainage ............................................................................................. 13 THE RANCH ±530-ACRE STUDY AREA I K. HOVNANIAN HOMES BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT FOOTHILL ASSOCIATES © 2017 4.3.6. Seasonal Wet Swale ................................................................................................ 13 4.3.7. Detention Basin Outfall ........................................................................................... 13 4.4. Special-Status Species .................................................................................................... 14 4.4.1. Listed and Special-Status Plants ............................................................................. 15 4.4.2. Listed and Special-Status Wildlife ........................................................................... 16 4.5. Sensitive Habitats ........................................................................................................... 19 4.5.1. Jurisdictional Waters of the U.S. and State ............................................................ 19 5.0 Conclusions and Recommendations .................................................................................. 20 5.1. Special-Status Plant Species ........................................................................................... 21 5.2. Western Spadefoot ........................................................................................................ 21 5.3. American Badger ............................................................................................................ 22 5.4. Vernal Pool Branchiopods .............................................................................................. 22 5.5. Swainson’s Hawk ............................................................................................................ 23 5.6. Burrowing Owl ................................................................................................................ 23 5.7. Golden Eagle Foraging Habitat ....................................................................................... 24 5.8. Other Raptors and Migratory Birds ................................................................................ 24 5.9. Pallid Bat ......................................................................................................................... 25 5.10. Sensitive Habitats ....................................................................................................... 26 5.10.1. Jurisdictional Waters ........................................................................................... 26 5.11. Summary of Avoidance and Minimization Measures ................................................ 27 6.0 References ......................................................................................................................... 28 List of Tables Table 1 — Impacts to Biological Communities ............................................................................. 20 Table 2 — Impacts to Sensitive Habitats ...................................................................................... 26 List of Figures Figure 1 — Site and Vicinity .......................................................................................................... 30 Figure 2 — Soils ............................................................................................................................. 31 Figure 3 — Biological Communities .............................................................................................. 32 Figure 4 — Proposed Project Impacts to Biological Communities ............................................... 33 THE RANCH ±530-ACRE STUDY AREA II K. HOVNANIAN HOMES BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT FOOTHILL ASSOCIATES © 2017 List of Appendices Appendix A — Applicable Sections of Rancho Cordova General Plan and South Sacramento Habitat Conservation Plan Appendix B — Regionally Occurring Listed and Special-Status Species Appendix C — Plants and Wildlife Observed in the Study Area THE RANCH ±530-ACRE STUDY AREA III K. HOVNANIAN HOMES BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT FOOTHILL ASSOCIATES © 2017 Executive Summary Foothill Associates’ biologists synthesized the results of June 12 and 13, 2017, surveys within the 530-acre Study Area and past studies and biological reports to produce an up to date biological resources assessment of The Ranch Project located within the City of Rancho Cordova, California. The Study Area lies immediately east of Rancho Cordova Parkway and a half mile south of Douglas Road. The purpose of this document is to summarize the general biological resources within the Study Area, to assess the suitability of the Study Area to support special-status species and sensitive habitat types, and to provide recommendations for regulatory permitting or further analysis that may be required prior to development activities occurring on the site. The Ranch site (Study Area) consists of ±530 acres of land that is dominated by annual grassland that is bisected northeast to southwest by an intermittent drainage and interspersed with numerous vernal pools and other seasonal wetlands. Land uses surrounding the Study Area include livestock grazing and residential development. Known or potential biological constraints in the Study Area include the following: • Wetlands and other waters of the U.S. subject to Clean Water Act 404/401 and Section 1600 of Fish and Game Code regulations; • Potential habitat for special-status plants Ahart’s dwarf