Charles E. Ash
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David Magney Environmental Consulting BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES OF THE ASH PROPERTY, HIDDEN VALLEY, THOUSAND OAKS, CALIFORNIA (VENTURA COUNTY PLANNING NO: SD06-0060) Prepared for: VENTURA COUNTY PLANNING DIVISION On Behalf of: CHARLES E. ASH June 2007 DMEC Mission Statement: To provide quality environmental consulting services, with integrity, that protect and enhance the human and natural environment. DMEC Biological Resources of the Ash Property, Hidden Valley, Thousand Oaks, California (Ventura County Planning No: SD06-0060) Prepared for: Ventura County Planning Division County of Ventura Resource Management Agency Planning Division 800 South Victoria Avenue, L#1740 Ventura, California 93009 Contact: Lorie Baker, Planner Phone: 805/654-2685 On Behalf of: Charles E. Ash 1430 Hidden Valley Road Thousand Oaks, California 91361 Phone: 805/495-3940 Prepared by: David Magney Environmental Consulting P.O. Box 1346 Ojai, California 93024-1346 Contact: Cher Batchelor Phone: 805/ 646-6045 11 June 2007 This document should be cited as: David Magney Environmental Consulting. 2007. Biological Resources of the Ash Property, Hidden Valley, Thousand Oaks, California (Ventura County Planning No: SD06-0060). 11 June 2007. (PN 07-0061.) Ojai, California. Prepared for Ventura County Planning Division, Ventura, California, on behalf of Charles E. Ash, Thousand Oaks, California. Biological Resources of the Ash Property, Hidden Valley, Thousand Oaks, California Project No. 07-0061 DMEC June 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page SECTION 1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION............................................................. 1 LOCATION..................................................................................................................... 1 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE................................................................................. 1 SECTION 2. METHODS........................................................................................ 5 FIELD SURVEYS .......................................................................................................... 5 MAPPING HABITATS .................................................................................................. 5 LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................ 5 DEFINITIONS OF SPECIAL-STATUS RESOURCES ................................................ 7 SECTION 3. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES SURVEY RESULTS ................... 10 SETTING ........................................................................................................................ 10 FLORA............................................................................................................................ 10 HABITAT TYPES .......................................................................................................... 15 Grassland ............................................................................................................................... 17 Coastal Sage Scrub................................................................................................................ 19 Chaparral ............................................................................................................................... 20 Woodland .............................................................................................................................. 22 Developed/Disturbed............................................................................................................. 23 FAUNA ........................................................................................................................... 23 WILDLIFE HABITAT AND MOVEMENT.................................................................. 26 SECTION 4. SPECIAL-STATUS BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES..................... 30 SPECIAL-STATUS PLANT SPECIES.......................................................................... 32 SPECIAL-STATUS WILDLIFE SPECIES.................................................................... 39 SPECIAL-STATUS HABITATS.................................................................................... 44 SECTION 5. RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................. 46 SPECIAL-STATUS PLANT SPECIES.......................................................................... 46 SPECIAL-STATUS WILDLIFE SPECIES.................................................................... 48 WILDLIFE MOVEMENT.............................................................................................. 49 SENSITIVE HABITATS................................................................................................ 50 WETLAND HABITATS ................................................................................................ 51 SECTION 6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................. 52 SECTION 7. CITATIONS...................................................................................... 53 REFERENCES CITED ................................................................................................... 53 PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS .............................................................................. 54 APPENDIX. ASH PROPERTY PHOTODOCUMENTATION........................ A-1 SPRING PHOTOGRAPHS (MARCH 2007) ................................................................. A-2 SUMMER PHOTOGRAPHS (MAY 2007).................................................................... A-5 C:\DMEC\Jobs\Ventura\Ventura County\Planning\CEQAbio\2007\Ash-HiddenValley\Ash-SeasonalBiologicalResReport.doc Page i Biological Resources of the Ash Property, Hidden Valley, Thousand Oaks, California Project No. 07-0061 June 2007 DMEC LIST OF TABLES Page 1. Definitions of Special-Status Species .............................................................................. 7 2. California Native Plant Society List (CNPS List)............................................................ 8 3. California Native Plant Society List New Threat Code Extensions ................................ 8 4. California Natural Diversity Database Element Ranking System ................................... 9 5. Plants Observed at the Ash Property................................................................................ 11 6. Ash Property Wildlife Species ......................................................................................... 24 7. Special-Status Plant Species Observed and Potentially Present at the Ash Property ..... 33 8. Blooming Periods of Special-Status Plant Species Known and Expected Onsite ........... 37 9. Special-Status Wildlife Species Observed and Potentially Present at the Ash Property 40 10. Special-Status Habitats Observed at, and Known Near, the Ash Property ................... 44 LIST OF FIGURES Page 1. Location of the Ash Property .......................................................................................... 2 2. Aerial Photograph of the Ash Property (2005 Parcels).................................................... 3 3. Aerial Photograph of the Ash Property (Proposed Parcels)............................................. 4 4. Survey Paths on the Ash Property.................................................................................... 6 5. Habitats Observed at the Ash Property ........................................................................... 16 6. Regional Wildlife Habitat and Corridors Near the Ash Property .................................... 27 7. Wildlife Travel Routes at the Ash Property .................................................................... 28 8. Special-Status Plant and Wildlife Species Observed on the Ash Property...................... 31 9. Sensitive Habitats Observed on the Ash Property .......................................................... 45 10. Recommended Restrictive Covenant Expansion Area for the Ash Project ................... 47 C:\DMEC\Jobs\Ventura\Ventura County\Planning\CEQAbio\2007\Ash-HiddenValley\Ash-SeasonalBiologicalResReport.doc Page ii Biological Resources of the Ash Property, Hidden Valley, Thousand Oaks, California Project No. 07-0061 June 2007 DMEC SECTION 1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION LOCATION The Ash property (project site) is located at 1430 Hidden Valley Road, Thousand Oaks, California 91361. It is part of the Hidden Valley portion of an unincorporated portion of Thousand Oaks on the north side of the Santa Monica Mountains. The Ash property is north of Boney Mountain, south of West Potrero Road, east of SR 23, and west of Big Sycamore Canyon Road (Figure 1, Location of the Ash Property). The project site exists within the Newbury Park, California USGS Quadrangle ([1] SE¼, SE¼, S24, T1N, R20W; [2] E½, NE¼, S25 T1N, R20W; [3] SW1/4, SW1/4, S19, T1N, R19W; and [4] N1/2, NW1/4, S30, T1N, R19W). The center of the Ash property is located at the approximate geographic coordinates of 34.14353° north latitude and 118.92056° west longitude (NAD83), and ranges in elevation between approximately 1,060 and 1,800 feet above mean sea level. It includes four Assessor Parcel Numbers 6940170260 (northern-most parcel), 6940170270 (30.78 acres), 6940170280/90 (41.31 acres), and 6940170300 (southern-most parcel, 54.76 acres). The project site consists of grazed grassland in the northern half of the property and predominantly Coast Live Oak Woodland in the southern half of the property, as shown on Figure 2, Aerial Photograph of the Ash Property (2005 Parcels). BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Charles E. Ash (applicant and property owner)