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March 2, 2015

Ashley Gungle Land Use/Environmental Planner County of San Diego Planning and Development Services 5510 Overland Avenue, 3rd Floor San Diego, CA 92123

Subject: Biological Letter Report for the Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting Project; PDS2013-LDGRMJ-00015; PDS2015-HLP-15-002; ER 15-08-003 Prepared for the County of San Diego

Ms. Gungle:

REC Consultants, Inc. has prepared this letter report to address potential impacts of the proposed private horse keeping and grape planting project to biological resources. The project proponent is Harmony Grove Partners L.E., 1000 Pioneer Way, El Cajon, , 92020.

SUMMARY

The proposed private horse keeping and grape planting project will develop the entire 42.8-acre site and result in significant impacts to approximately 20.1 acres of sensitive Diegan and 14.6 acres of non-native grassland, a pair of coastal California gnatcatchers, two coastal whiptails, two kestrels, red-tailed hawk, turkey vulture, and Cooper’s hawk. These impacts will be significant and require mitigation. Mitigation for habitat impacts will be provided by purchasing 40.2 acres of coastal sage scrub and 7.3 acres of non-native grassland in Daley Ranch Conservation Bank. Mitigation for impacts to the wildlife species will be provided through habitat-based mitigation, for which the coastal sage scrub and non-native grassland mitigation will be adequate. These mitigation measures, in conjunction with standard avoidance measures such as avoiding grading during avian breeding season, will reduce the project’s impacts to below a level of significance. Because the coastal sage scrub on-site is occupied, a Habitat Loss Permit will be required.

INTRODUCTION, PROJECT DESCRIPTION, LOCATION, SETTING

The proposed project (“Project”) consists of grading the site in order to develop a private horse keeping facility and a non-commercial grape-growing area. The Project site has been the subject of past approved land uses. Specifically, it was mined for gravel, and it was approved and partially developed with three house pads, around which fuel management zones are maintained. As part of the permitting process for another proposed grading plan, Everett and Associates performed a California gnatcatcher protocol survey and prepared a survey report in 2006 and

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prepared a biological technical report in 2007 (Everett 2007), and a Habitat Loss Permit (HLP 06-004, June 2008) was issued for proposed impacts to 20 acres of coastal sage scrub on-site.

Project Description The Project involves grading the site and constructing two grape-growing areas, a barn, a horse pen, a private horse arena, and a pasture. No off-site impacts are anticipated.

Project Location and Setting The Project site is located on Assessors’ parcel numbers 228-400-022, 228-400-016, and 232- 030-015 within the County of San Diego, between the City of San Marcos and the City of Escondido. This location is approximately 0.3 mile south of State Route 78, 1 mile west of Interstate 15, and southwest of the intersection of Country Club Lane and Auto Park Way. A map of the regional location is provided in Figure 1, and the site location and vicinity are illustrated on United States Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5’ topographic quadrangle map(s) in Figure 2. This location occurs at the intersection of four USGS 7.5’ quadrangle maps: San Marcos, Rancho Santa Fe, Escondido, and Valley Center.

The site is bordered by residential development, Country Club Drive, and industrial development to the north; residential development and the new Palomar Medical Center to the east; an undeveloped field and then residential development to the south; and fields, residential, and light industrial development to the west.

The site includes steeply to gently sloping terrain, with a high point of roughly 900 feet above mean sea level (AMSL) at a hilltop near the eastern boundary, sloping down toward the southwest to a low of roughly 710 feet AMSL along the southwestern side. An inactive gravel pit is located in the hillside in the northern part of the site.

According to the Soil Survey, San Diego Area, California (Bowman 1973), the following soil types are present on-site: Vista coarse sandy loam, 5 to 9% slopes, 9 to 15% slopes, and 15 to 30% slopes; and Cieneba coarse rocky sandy loam, 9 to 30%, eroded. The Vista series consists of well-drained, moderately deep and deep coarse sandy loams derived from granodiorite or quartz granodiorite within elevational ranges of 300 to 2,500 feet. The Cieneba series consists of excessively drained, very shallow to shallow coarse sandy loams formed in materials weathered in place from granitic rock on rolling to mountains uplands, at elevations of 500 to 3,000 feet.

REGIONAL CONTEXT

The Project region (near the intersection of Interstate 15 and State Route 78) includes land within the jurisdictions of San Diego County, the City of Escondido, and the City of San Marcos. This area is rapidly urbanizing, especially to the southwest of the freeway interchange, where light industrial development is expanding. An aerial photograph showing the regional context of the Project site is provided in Figure 3.

The Project site is in north San Diego County, within the draft North County Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP), and is designated as outside any draft Pre-Approved Mitigation

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Area (PAMA). The closest draft PAMA is approximately one mile south along Escondido Creek, and the closest edge of the proposed core California gnatcatcher area is approximately 3.3 miles southwest.

Some private and County preserves have been created in the region, including the 774-acre Del Dios Highlands County Preserve, the 784-acre Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve (both more than 2.5 miles south-southwest of the Project), and areas managed by The Escondido Creek Conservancy, but the Project is not near these preserves or Escondido Creek. The Project site is located within the watershed of Escondido Creek, which drains to San Elijo Lagoon (SELC 2013), but the Creek is approximately one mile south of the Project site without direct connectivity.

HABITATS / VEGETATION COMMUNITIES

Existing biological resources on the Project site were investigated through field reconnaissance and literature review by REC biologists.

Literature review consisted of a search and review of CNDDB records of rare and special-status and animal species within the Project USGS 7.5’ quadrangles (Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos, Valley Center, and Escondido), review of SanBIOS special-status animal records within a 5-mile radius of the site, review of the 2007 Everett and Associates biological resources report for the site (Everett 2007), recent and historical aerial photographs of the site and surrounding areas, and soil maps and descriptions from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Soil Survey, San Diego Area, California (Bowman 1973).

A general survey of the Project site was conducted by a senior REC biologist and botanist, Catherine MacGregor, to document current biological resources, including , animals, and habitats; and separate focused site visits were conducted to confirm the presence of California gnatcatcher and survey wildlife on-site. Field notes were maintained by REC biologists throughout the surveys. All on-site habitats were mapped, and all observed plant and animal species were documented. Plant species that could not be identified in the field were collected for later identification, and wildlife species were identified directly by sight or vocalizations and indirectly by scat, tracks, burrows, or nests. All observed special-status species were documented and mapped, and suitability of habitat for special-status species was evaluated. Habitats and wildlife on surrounding adjacent off-site properties were observed from the site or public roadways, but no surveys were conducted on private property other than this Project site for this report. Mapping of existing resources on the Project site was conducted on an aerial photograph scaled at 1 inch = 200 feet.

Scientific nomenclature and common names for animal species in this letter report follow American Ornithological Union (AOU 2012) for birds, Center for North American Herpetology (CNAH 2013) for reptiles and amphibians, Baker et al. (2003) for mammals, and Powell and Hogue (1979) for insects, as well as the San Diego Natural History Museum butterfly, spider, amphibian, reptile, bird and mammal checklists for subspecies (SDNHM 2002, 2005, and undated). and scientific nomenclature for plants follow the Jepson Manual, second edition (Baldwin et al. 2012) and common names are primarily from Rebman and Simpson

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(2006), with some rare plant common names from the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Rare Plant Inventory (CNPS 2013).

Table 1 summarizes the survey types, dates, times, temperature conditions, sky conditions, and wind speeds during the general and focused surveys for the Project.

Table 1. Surveys Conducted on the Project Site Temp Wind Date Time Sky Survey Type Personnel (F) (mph) California Begin: 1000 Begin: 67 Begin: 2-4 2/22/2013 Clear gnatcatcher update Ron Rizo End: 1630 End: 69 End: 2-4 (non-protocol) Sunny, Begin: 0855 Begin: 59 Begin: 0 General, habitat, Catherine 5/24/2013 hazy at End: 1135 End: 68 End: 0-2 botanical MacGregor start Begin: 0645 Begin: 65 Overcast to Begin: 0 Catherine 8/19/2013 Wildlife End: 1110 End: 75 sunny, hazy End: 0-5 MacGregor

During REC’s site surveys, two vegetation communities/habitats and two other land cover categories were observed: coastal sage scrub, non-native grassland, disturbed land, and developed land; these habitats are shown in Figure 4 and are described below. A complete list of all plants observed during REC’s 2013 surveys is provided in Appendix A.

Diegan coastal sage scrub (County Habitat Code 32500) covers approximately 20.1 acres on hillsides and gentle slopes on-site. This coastal sage scrub is dominated by coastal sagebrush ( californica) and California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum var. fasciculatum and var. foliolosum) on the north-, west-, and east-facing slopes, and by black sage (Salvia mellifera) on the south-facing slope. Other native members of the sage scrub community on-site include deerweed (Acmispon glaber), laurel sumac (Malosma laurina), coast monkey flower (Mimulus aurantiacus var. puniceus), long-stem golden-yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum), cryptantha (Cryptantha sp.), sand aster (Corethrogyne filaginifolia), chalk Dudleya (Dudleya pulverulenta) and prickly-pear (Opuntia sp.). Rock outcrops in the coastal sage scrub shelter other herbs and ferns such as Nuttall’s snapdragon (Antirrhinum nuttalianum), caterpillar phacelia (P. cicutaria var. hispida), California bee plant (Scrophularia californica), sticky silverback fern (Pentagramma triangularis subsp. viscosa) and California lace fern (Aspidotis californica). Areas of more disturbed coastal sage scrub, such as around the old gravel pit areas, contain higher numbers of disturbance-associated species such as broom baccharis (Baccharis sarothroides) and non-native species such as tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca), African fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum), sweet fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), and brome grasses (Bromus diandrus, B. madritensis subsp. rubens). Habitat quality varies from medium in less disturbed areas, to low where it has regenerated in a disturbed condition around areas of historic disturbance. Species diversity is moderately good in less disturbed areas but much poorer in more disturbed areas of scrub. It is likely that areas with more vegetative cover and/or greater species diversity provide better wildlife habitat. For a complete listing of plant species observed in coastal sage scrub on-site refer to Appendix A.

Wildlife species observed in coastal sage scrub on-site include coastal whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris stejnegeri), western fence lizard, (Sceloporus occidentalis), American kestrel (Falco

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sparverius), Anna’s hummingbird (Calypte anna), Bewick’s wren (Thryomanes bewickii), black phoebe (Sayornis nigricans), bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus), California thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum), California towhee (Melozone crissalis), coastal California gnatcatchers (Polioptila californica californica), greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus), spotted towhee (Pipilo maculatus), western scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica), Wilson’s warbler (Cardellina pusilla), wrentit (Chamaea fasciata), coyote (Canis latrans) (live and skeletons), cottontail (Silvilagus audubonii), and dusky-footed woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes) (middens only). A complete list of wildlife and estimated numbers is provided in Appendix B.

Diegan coastal sage scrub is considered sensitive by the County, State of California, and United States Fish and Wildlife Service. A Habitat Loss Permit (HLP) must be obtained from the County of San Diego before new impacts to this habitat on-site are permitted. The Project is not a discretionary action that is subject to the Resource Protection Ordinance (RPO), so coastal sage scrub on-site need not be evaluated for RPO Sensitive Lands status.

The coastal sage scrub on-site has little conservation value in terms of regional or local importance because it has become surrounded and isolated by suburban and light industrial development, and has been heavily disturbed by gravel mining and bicyclists and other trespassers, over the years. The nearest substantial blocks of undeveloped natural land are more than a mile to the west or southwest.

Non-native grassland (County Habitat Code 42200) covers approximately 14.6 acres on gently sloping portions of the site. The non-native grassland on-site is dominated by red brome (Bromus madritensis subsp. rubens) and ripgut brome (Bromus diandrus) with filaree (Erodium sp.), oats (Avena sp.), soft chess (Bromus hordeaceus), short-pod mustard (Hirschfeldia incana), and limited native species such as doveweed (Croton setiger), blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum) and occasional coastal sage shrubs like deerweed and coastal sagebrush. Grass and forb cover is fairly dense. All plants observed in non-native grassland on-site are included in Appendix A.

Wildlife observed in and over non-native grassland on-site included black phoebe, black-headed grosbeaks (Pheucticus melanocephalus), lesser goldfinch (Spina psaltria), house finch (Haemorhous mexicanus), mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), western kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis), California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi), and cottontail. A turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) and a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) were observed flying over the non-native grassland. A complete list of wildlife and estimated numbers is provided in Appendix B.

This non-native grassland is considered sensitive by the County because of its importance for foraging raptors. The non-native grassland habitat on-site supports few of the native herbs that would make it more valuable wildlife habitat, such as bunchgrasses, blue-eyed grass, and herbaceous perennials from bulbs, and it has little conservation value because it is relatively small and isolated from larger habitat areas. The Project is not a discretionary action that is subject to the RPO, so non-native grassland on-site need not be evaluated for RPO Sensitive Lands status.

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Disturbed land (County Habitat Code 11300) occurs on approximately 7.6 acres of unpaved roads and trails, within fuel management zones around existing concrete house pads, and in and around the former gravel pit location. These areas of disturbed land have been repeatedly cleared, compacted, and impacted. Vegetation on most disturbed land is primarily weedy non- native species such as scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), non-native annual grasses (Bromus spp., Avena spp.), Italian thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus subsp. pycnocephalus), tocalote (Centaurea melitensis), and globe chamomile (Oncosiphon piluliferum); or weedy native species such as horseweed (Erigeron canadensis) and telegraph weed (Heterotheca grandiflora). Plants observed growing on disturbed land on-site are included in Appendix A.

Wildlife observed on disturbed land included western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), greater roadrunner, and California ground squirrel (see Appendix B).

Developed land (County Habitat Code 12000) on-site consists of 0.5 acre on three existing concrete house pads and a paved section of driveway or access road at the northern entrance to the site. Although a few weedy plants may sprout from cracks in the concrete and pavement, this land cover category is essentially unvegetated. All plants observed growing on developed land on-site are included in Appendix A.

SPECIAL-STATUS SPECIES

For the purposes of this report, a sensitive or special-status plant or animal is any taxon (species, subspecies, or variety) that is officially listed by the State of California or the federal government as Endangered, Threatened, or Rare, or a candidate for one of those listings; classified as Fully Protected, Species of Special Concern, or Watch List animal species by CDFW; included in California Rare Plant Ranks (CRPR) 1 through 4; or included in the County of San Diego Sensitive Plant Lists A through D or Sensitive Animals Groups A or B.

Lists of special-status plants and animals with the potential to occur on the Project site were generated from the CNDDB RareFind5 database, SanBIOS database (County of San Diego 2011), and a list provided by the County of San Diego. The resulting lists include any special- status species documented within the Project site’s four USGS 7.5’ quadrangles (San Marcos, Rancho Santa Fe, Escondido, and Valley Center) within an applicable elevation range, as well as any other species requested by the County for this Project. Appendix C provides information on these special-status plant species, as well as an evaluation of the potential for each species to occur on-site, based on CNDDB search results, the CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (on-line version, 2013), Reiser’s Rare Plants of San Diego County (2001), professional botanical experience, and field observations. Appendix D provides information on these animal species, and an evaluation of the potential for each species to occur on-site, based on species requirements, CNDDB and SanBIOS search results, other biological reports conducted in this area, and field observations.

No special-status plants were observed on-site. One listed special-status animal and four other special-status animal species were observed on or over the site: coastal California gnatcatcher, coastal whiptail, American kestrel, red-tailed hawk, and turkey vulture.

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Coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) is federally listed as Threatened and classified as a State of California Species of Special Concern. This small gray songbird is a year-round resident of coastal sage scrub in southwestern California from the Los Angeles Basin through , Mexico. California gnatcatcher populations have declined due to extensive conversion of Diegan coastal sage scrub habitat to urban and agricultural uses. A series of focused protocol surveys for the California gnatcatcher was completed by USFWS-permitted biologist William Everett (Permit TE-788036) in February and March of 2006, at which time one California gnatcatcher was detected on-site. A copy of the report from the 2006 California gnatcatcher survey is provided in Appendix E. An REC biologist visited the site in February 2013 to determine if California gnatcatcher was still present; during that non-protocol survey, a single California gnatcatcher was heard and visually confirmed at the location shown in Figure 4. During REC’s August 2013 wildlife survey (also non-protocol), a pair of California gnatcatchers was heard and visually confirmed in the northeastern coastal sage scrub, as shown in Figure 4. California gnatcatcher calls and one individual were also heard and seen at the northernmost edge of coastal sage scrub (~0.1 mile from observed pair location), a pair was heard calling near the central disturbed area (~0.1 mile from observed pair location), and one scolding call was heard at the western edge of the northwestern area of sage scrub (~0.2 mile from pair location); based on the short distances, it’s possible that these could all have been the same pair seen and heard in the northeastern part of the site.

Coastal whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris stejnegeri) does not have federal or state special status but is included in the County’s Sensitive Animals List Group 2. This subspecies of the tiger whiptail occurs in coastal southern California, where much of its shrubland habitat has been developed or fragmented. Two tiger whiptails were observed on-site in 2013, darting under coastal sage scrub shrubs at the locations shown in Figure 4.

Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) is not a state or federal special-status species, but is included in the County’s Sensitive Animals List Group 1. It is also protected as a raptor under California Fish and Game Code Section 3503.5, which specifically protects all birds in the orders Falconiformes or Strigiformes (raptors, including owls and turkey vultures). It is unlawful to take, possess or destroy any such raptors or their nests and eggs except as otherwise provided in the Fish and Game Code. Turkey vultures soar over dry open country such as coastal sage scrub, mixed and chamise , grassland, mixed conifer and closed cone forest habitats, as well as riparian habitat and roadsides, in search of the carrion upon which they feed. One turkey vulture was observed flying over the site at a height of about 75 feet.

American kestrel (Falco sparverius) is not a state or federal special-status species nor included on the County sensitive animal lists, but is protected as a raptor under California Fish and Game Code. Kestrels were observed foraging over coastal sage scrub and a non-native grassland on- site. A pair of kestrels was also observed off-site to the east, perched on a large power pole near the new hospital.

Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is also neither a state nor federal special-status species nor included in the County sensitive animal lists, but is protected as a raptor under California Fish and Game Code. According to the San Diego Bird Atlas, red-tailed hawks are the most

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widespread bird of prey in San Diego County; they favor grassland with scattered trees but use all of the County's terrestrial habitat to some extent, and are even commonly seen perching on light poles along freeways. One red-tailed hawk was observed soaring high over the site in May 2013.

Raptor foraging and migratory birds:

The site serves as hunting ground for raptors. Kestrels were observed hunting over the coastal sage scrub and non-native grassland habitats, a turkey vulture flew low over the site, and a red- tailed hawk soared over the site. The site supports many prey animals such as ground squirrels, other rodents, and cottontail rabbits, as indicated by the number of live cottontails, rabbit scat, live ground squirrels, ground squirrel and other rodent burrows, and woodrat middens observed. As noted above, these raptors are protected under California Fish and Game Code Section 3503.5, which specifically protects all birds in the orders Falconiformes or Strigiformes.

California Fish and Game Code Section 3503 makes it unlawful to take, possess, or needlessly destroy the nest or eggs of any bird, except as otherwise provided by the Fish and Game Code or any regulation made pursuant to the Code, and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits the killing or transport of native migratory birds, or any part, nest, or egg or any such bird unless allowed by another regulation (such as for “game” birds), Therefore, all native, non-game birds (except for wrentit) on the Project site, and the nests and eggs of all native non-game birds, are protected during the nesting season even if these birds are not special-status or otherwise protected.

Special-status species with moderate to high potential to occur on or adjacent to the site

Based on CNDDB and SanBIOS records searches, review of the 2006 biological resources report, and evaluation of current site conditions, the following species have moderate to high potential to occur on-site:

Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is) is not a state or federal special-status species, but is included in the County’s Sensitive Animals List Group 2. No monarchs or their host plants (milkweeds, Asclepias spp.) were observed on-site, but it possible that milkweeds could have bloomed on-site and died before REC’s surveys, or that the site includes sufficient nectar plants to serve as a feeding area for monarchs. Monarchs are still somewhat widespread in San Diego County; therefore, they have moderate potential to occur on the Project site.

Orangethroat whiptail (Aspidoscelis hyperythra), a State of California Species of Special Concern and County Sensitive Animals List Group 2 species, lives in semi-arid brushy areas west of the Peninsular ranges, that typically have loose soil and rocks, including washes, rocky hillsides, and coastal chaparral and scrub. Because suitable habitat occurs on-site and the species is known to occur in the Project quadrangles, orangethroat whiptail has moderate potential to occur on the Project site.

Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii) is on the State of California Watch List and is included in the County’s Sensitive Animals List Group 1. One was documented flying over the site in 2006 as

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reported in the 2007 Everett and Associates biological resources report. Cooper’s hawks have adapted to urban and suburban settings and increased in abundance since the 1980s, and are now widespread over the San Diego County coastal slope wherever there are trees. Because the site and surrounding residential areas support eucalyptus trees and residential backyards likely to include bird feeders, Cooper’s hawk has high potential to forage on-site.

Sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus) is on the State of California Watch List and is included in the County’s Sensitive Animals List Group 1. This hawk is a widespread but uncommon winter visitor in San Diego County, especially along the coastal slope. It uses a variety of habitats, but prefers areas with trees or tall shrubs and is attracted to any place that concentrates small prey birds. Because the site is located next to residential properties that may have bird feeders, and because numerous trees and shrubs are present in the area, sharp-shinned hawk has moderate potential to use the site in winter.

Mexican long-tongued bat (Choeronycteris mexicana) is a State of California Species of Special Concern that, in California, is found in residential areas, and roosts in garages, sheds, porches, and under houses on stilts. This bat feeds on pollen and nectar, especially of agaves and columnar cacti. It will also visit hummingbird feeders and possibly avocado flowers. Because the land immediately around the site includes an abandoned home and other residences, and columnar cacti and agaves were observed in a yard adjacent to the east side of the site, the Mexican long-tongued bat has moderate potential to occur on the Project site.

Western yellow bat (Lasiurus xanthinus) is a State of California Species of Special Concern that most commonly occurs in desert palm oases, but is increasingly found in urban areas that have palm trees. This bat roosts in the hanging dead palm fronds and subsists on insects. Because the site and surrounding properties support numerous Mexican fan palms (Washingtonia robusta) and this species appears to be adapting to urban or suburban conditions, western yellow bat has moderate potential to occur on the Project site.

Large mammal use

No evidence of use by large mammals including mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and mountain lion (Puma concolor), such as scat or deer laydown areas, was found during REC’s 2013 surveys, nor were any large mammals reported in the 2007 biological resources report for the Project site. The site is likely too isolated and urbanized to support large mammals.

JURISDICTIONAL WETLANDS AND WATERWAYS

No jurisdictional wetlands or waters were found on the Project site. Two erosional features were examined for potential jurisdictional status through both on-site evaluation and off-site investigation of potential continuation to the west. These features likely formed from run-off after vegetation removal during past gravel mining activity, since each originates in a highly disturbed area. The more northern of the two contains an eroded channel with a section of bed and banks and supports a willow tree, but the channel completely fades away on-site before it reaches the western boundary. The southern erosional feature has an eroded channel with bed and banks that passes off the site onto the adjoining property to the west, and the western-most

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section has been concreted off-site, but the concrete ends and the channel completely fades before it intersects an existing paved driveway on the next parcel. The off-site investigation along the western property boundary confirmed that neither connects to any other water body or stream, and both are only non-jurisdictional erosional features.

OTHER UNIQUE FEATURES / RESOURCES

The Project site includes a hilltop and rock outcrops. A small ridgeline runs along the eastern side of the site, and this steeper portion of the site includes numerous small to medium rock outcrops. The hilltop topography is now dwarfed by the new the 11-story Palomar Medical Center that opened in 2012 on the slope just east of the site, after five years of construction (the long-term construction noise and presence of this large facility have likely contributed to degradation of habitat on the Project site).

Based on a review of aerial photography, the Project site has no connection to any wildlife corridors or linkages. The site appears to be more or less isolated in a setting that is now heavily developed for residential, light industrial, and industrial uses. State Route 78 and a railroad line are located 0.3 and 0.2 mile north of the site, respectively; Interstate 15 is located just over a mile to the east. Except for a “fringe” of residential land use next to the site, most land to the north, west, and east is developed commercially. To the south and southwest there are undeveloped field or yard areas, but beyond those areas the residential and light industrial development continues. There appears to be no possible wildlife corridor to any other open space that wouldn’t have to pass through the fenced yards of homes. This evaluation of the site’s isolation is supported by a previously issued but unused 2008 Habitat Loss Permit for the site (County of San Diego 2008), which states “The proposed project is surrounded by urban/developed lands and residential development…The project is not located within a wildlife corridor or linkage…Loss of the on-site habitat will not hinder the assembly of the preserve as it is not connected to any high-quality habitat.”

SIGNIFICANCE OF PROJECT IMPACTS AND PROPOSED MITIGATION

Impacts to biological resources can be categorized as direct, indirect, or cumulative. Direct impacts are a result of Project implementation, and generally include loss of vegetation, special- status habitats, and plant and animal populations; introduction of non-native species which may outcompete and displace native vegetation; activity-related wildlife mortality; loss of foraging, nesting, breeding, or burrowing habitat; and fragmentation of wildlife corridors. Indirect impacts occur as a result of the increase in human encroachment in the natural environment and include off-road vehicle use, which impacts special-status plant and animal species; harassment and/or collection of wildlife species; wildlife predation by domestic animals that intrude into open space areas; and increased wildlife mortality along roads.

Figure 5 depicts the direct impacts to biological resources that would occur from implementation of the Project. Direct and indirect Project impacts to habitats and special-status resources are discussed in the following sections.

Direct Impacts

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Implementation of the Project would result in impacts to 42.8 acres of land (the entire site), consisting of 20.1 acres of coastal sage scrub, 14.6 acres of non-native grassland, and 8.1 acres of developed and disturbed land. Habitat impacts resulting from implementation of the Project are summarized in Table 2.

Table 2. Habitat/Vegetation Communities and Impacts

Vegetation Community Existing Impacts Mitigation Mitigation Off-Site (acres) (acres) Ratio Required Mitigation (acres) (acres) Diegan coastal sage scrub 20.1 20.1 2:1 40.2 40.2 (County Habitat Code 32510) Non-native grassland 14.6 14.6 0.5:1 7.3 7.3 (County Habitat Code 42200) Disturbed land 7.6 7.6 - - - (County Habitat Code 11300) Developed land 0.5 0.5 - - - (County Habitat Code 12000) TOTAL 42.8 42.8 47.5 47.5

Impacts to 20.1 acres of coastal sage scrub and 14.6 acres of non-native grassland are significant and require mitigation.

The Project will also directly impact special-status wildlife species. A pair of California gnatcatchers and two coastal whiptails will be directly impacted through habitat loss, and two kestrels, a red-tailed hawk, and a turkey vulture will be directly impacted through loss of hunting/foraging land. Cooper’s hawk was not observed during REC’s surveys but was observed on-site in 2006 and has a high potential to occur on-site; therefore, loss of hunting/foraging land would be considered an impact to Cooper’s hawk as well. These impacts are significant and require mitigation. The impact to California gnatcatcher-occupied coastal sage scrub also requires a Habitat Loss Permit.

Because no special-status plant species were observed on-site or have high potential to occur on- site, the Project is not expected to result in significant direct impacts any special-status plants.

Common wildlife such as ground squirrels would be directly impacted by the Project; however, these impacts will be addressed through habitat mitigation and are not considered significant.

The Project will not result in significant impacts to any wildlife corridors, linkages, or wildlife nursery sites.

Indirect Impacts Because no special-status species have high potential to occur in the immediate Project area due to its location within a developed area, the Project is not expected to cause significant indirect impacts to any special-status plants or animals, or any wildlife corridors, linkages, or wildlife

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nursery sites.

Water quality and air quality in the Project area will be protected from significant indirect impacts by design features that would reduce environmental impacts, such as Best Management Practices that will be included in the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan.

Proposed Mitigation Because the Project will result in significant direct impacts to coastal sage scrub, non-native grassland, California gnatcatchers, coastal whiptails, kestrels, red-tailed hawk, turkey vulture, and Cooper’s hawk, mitigation will be required.

Mitigation for significant impacts to a pair of California gnatcatchers will consist of purchasing 40.2 acres of coastal sage scrub habitat/habitat credit in the Daley Ranch Conservation Bank.

Mitigation for significant impacts to two coastal whiptails, which are considered sensitive by the County of San Diego but not federal or State agencies, will be provided via habitat-based mitigation: the coastal sage scrub purchased for California gnatcatcher mitigation will also serve as coastal whiptail mitigation acreage.

Mitigation for significant impacts to turkey vulture, Cooper’s hawk, and other raptors including kestrel and red-tailed hawk, will be provided via habitat mitigation for non-native grassland; 7.3 acres of non-native grassland habitat or habitat credit will be purchased in Daley Ranch Conservation Bank.

Avoidance Measures

In addition to the mitigation measures and design features described above, the Project would incorporate these avoidance measures to prevent additional impacts:  All clearing and grubbing of vegetation and/or grading will occur outside the avian breeding season (February 15 to August 31, or sooner if a qualified biologist demonstrates to the satisfaction of the wildlife agencies that all nesting is complete).  If construction (other than vegetation clearing and grubbing) must occur during the breeding season, pre-construction surveys should be performed by a County-approved biologist within 10 calendar days prior to the start of construction to determine the presence of absence of nesting birds within 300 feet of the impact area. If nesting birds are detected, the County and Wildlife Agencies should be contacted to discuss the potential impact minimization measures to be implemented.  Project-related landscaping shall not include exotic plant species that may be invasive to native habitats. Invasive exotic plant species not to be used include those listed on the California Invasive Plant Council’s Invasive Plant Inventory.  In addition, landscaping adjacent to native habitat should not use plants that require intensive irrigation, fertilizers, or pesticides. Water runoff from landscaped areas should be directed away from adjacent habitat and contained and/or treated within the development footprint.  If the project is free of insect pests, particularly Argentine ants (Iridomyrmex humil) and fire ants (Solenopsis invicta), any planting stock to be brought onto the project site for

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landscaping should first be inspected by a qualified pest inspector to ensure it is free of pest species that could invade natural areas. Infested stock should not be allowed on the project site and should be quarantined, treated, or disposed of by qualified experts according to best management principles (i.e., in a manner that precludes invasion into natural habitats).

CUMULATIVE IMPACTS Cumulative impacts occur as a result of ongoing direct and indirect impacts from unrelated projects within a geographic area, and are assessed on a regional basis to determine the overall effect of numerous activities on a sensitive resource over a larger area. Impacts that may not be considered significant on a project-specific level can become significant when viewed in the context of other losses in the vicinity of the Project site. When evaluating cumulative impacts, CEQA states that “lead agencies should define the geographic scope of the area affected by the cumulative effect and provide a reasonable explanation for the geographic limitation used” (Sec. 15130(b)(3)). Cumulative projects that were evaluated in this analysis include those projects found within a geographic area of sufficient size to provide a reasonable basis for evaluating cumulative impacts. The geographic scope for this cumulative impact analysis includes past, present and future development projects (Tentative Tract Maps, Major Use Permits, etc.) within an approximate two (2) mile radius of the Project site.

In total, 54 cumulative projects were reviewed for this cumulative analysis, including projects located within the City of Escondido and the County of San Diego. Cumulative projects are identified in the Appendix F table and figure. The geographic scope of the analysis is based on the nature of the geography surrounding the Project site and the characteristics and properties of each resource and the region to which they apply. The analysis utilizes a conservative approach in order to capture the greatest number of projects that have the potential to create cumulatively considerable physical impacts when combined with this Project. The cumulative impact analysis focuses on reasonably searchable and foreseeable projects in the Project vicinity and also represents a reasonable and thorough analysis for the Project’s potential to create a cumulatively considerable physical impact on the environment.

Sensitive Habitats

Cumulative projects within the geographic scope of analysis have the potential to result in impacts to riparian habitat and other sensitive natural communities through direct loss of habitat from construction activities or the indirect loss of habitat from edge effects and habitat degradation. Cumulative projects may propose construction activities in undisturbed areas which would affect riparian or sensitive natural communities. Several of the cumulative projects listed in Appendix F would likely result in impacts to riparian habitat and sensitive natural communities. One such example is the Citracado Parkway Extension Project, which was determined to result in adverse impacts to sensitive natural communities such as southern willow riparian forest, southern willow scrub, coast live oak woodland and coastal sage scrub. Cumulative projects would be required to comply with applicable federal and/or state regulations, which provide protections for riparian and other sensitive habitats. In addition, many projects that affect riparian or other protected habitat types require approval from the USFWS and the CDFW. If potentially significant impacts would occur from particular cumulative

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projects, then mitigation measures would be implemented to reduce impacts to the extent feasible. However, without an adopted MSCP in place for the long-term protection of sensitive natural communities, a cumulative loss of riparian and other sensitive habitat would occur, even after mitigation has been implemented for individual projects. Therefore, a significant cumulative impact to riparian and other sensitive habitat, associated with the Citracado Parkway Extension Project and other cumulative projects, would occur. As discussed above, the Project would result in significant impacts to Diegan coastal sage scrub and non-native grassland habitat, and these impacts would contribute to a cumulative impact to sensitive natural communities. However, implementation of the mitigation identified above would ensure that this Project’s cumulative impacts are reduced to a level below significant. Therefore, the Project’s contribution, in combination with other cumulative projects, would not be cumulatively considerable.

Jurisdictional Wetlands and Waters

Cumulative projects within the geographic scope of analysis would have the potential to result in a cumulative impact associated with state and federally protected wetlands. For example, the Escondido Research and Technology Specific Plan resulted in impacts to jurisdictional wetlands. Cumulative projects would be required to comply with applicable state and federal regulations such as the Porter Cologne Water Quality Control Act and Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act. If potentially significant impacts would occur from particular cumulative projects, then mitigation measures would be implemented to reduce impacts to the extent feasible to meet the no-net-loss standard. Existing regulations would ensure that a significant cumulative impact associated with protected wetlands would not occur. As discussed above, the Project would not impact jurisdictional waters or wetlands. Therefore, the Project’s contribution, in combination with other cumulative projects, would not be cumulatively considerable.

Sensitive Species

Cumulative projects have the potential to impact sensitive species through clearing, grading, grubbing, trenching and other construction activities. Several of the cumulative projects listed in Appendix F would likely result in loss of habitat or edge effects that would significantly impact special-status plant and wildlife species. One such example is the Harmony Grove Specific Plan which would result in impacts to narrow endemic plant species. Cumulative projects would be required to comply with applicable federal and/or state regulations that provide protections for special-status plant and wildlife species, such as the Federal Endangered Species Act, the California Endangered Species Act and the California NCCP Act. In addition, some projects that affect special-status species require approval from the USFWS and the CDFW. If significant impacts occur from particular cumulative projects, then mitigation measures are usually implemented to reduce impacts to the extent feasible. However, without a comprehensive NCCP in place for the long-term protection of special-status plant and wildlife species for the entire southern California region, a cumulative loss of habitat supporting special-status plant and wildlife species would occur, even after mitigation has been implemented for individual projects. Further, past and present cumulative projects have caused the populations of some plant and wildlife species to drop below self-sustaining levels, which has resulted in their classification as candidate, sensitive or special-status. As indicated by their sensitive status, a significant

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cumulative impacts has already occurred to some of these species from past as present cumulative impacts. Therefore, a significant cumulative impact associated with special -status plant and wildlife species would occur. As discussed above, the Project would result in significant impacts related to sensitive animal species. These impacts would contribute to a cumulative impact to California gnatcatcher, coastal whiptail, kestrel, red-tailed hawk, turkey vulture, and Cooper’s hawk through loss of Diegan coastal sage scrub and non-native grassland habitat. However, implementation of the mitigation measures identified above would ensure that this Project’s contribution towards a cumulative impact is reduced to a level below significant. Therefore, the Project’s contribution, in combination with other cumulative projects, would not be cumulatively considerable.

This concludes REC’s biological letter report for the Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting Project. Please do not hesitate to contact REC with any questions.

Sincerely,

Elyssa Robertson Catherine MacGregor Principal, County QCL Biologist Senior Biologist and Botanist

REFERENCES

AOU (American Ornithologists’ Union). 2012. AOU Checklist of North and Middle American Birds (searchable online version). http://checklist.aou.org/taxa. Accessed May 2013.

Baker, R. J., L. Bradley, R. Bradley, J. Dragoo, M. Engstrom, R. Hoffmann, C. Jones, R. Reid, D. Rice, and C. Jones. 2003. “Revised Checklist of North American Mammals North of Mexico, 2003,” Occasional Papers 229, December 2003. Lubbock, Texas: Museum of Texas Tech University.

Bowman, R. H. 1973. Soil Survey, San Diego Area, California. United States Department of Agriculture. 104 pp. + appendices.

CDFW (California Department of Fish and Wildlife). 2013. “Special Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, and Lichens List.” CDFW, Natural Diversity Database, July 2013. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/cnddb/pdfs/SPPlants.pdf. Accessed April and May 2013.

CDFW. 2013a. “State and Federally Listed Endangered and Threatened Animals of California.” State of California Natural Resources Agency, Biogeographic Data Branch, California Natural Diversity Database. Sacramento. January 2013.

CDFW. 2013b. “State and Federally Listed Endangered, Threatened and Rare Plants of California. State of California Natural Resources Agency, Biogeographic Data Branch, California Natural Diversity Database. Sacramento. April 2013.

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CDFW. 2011. “Special Animals.” California Department of Fish and Game, Biogeographic Data Branch, California Natural Diversity Database, January 2011. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/ biogeodata/cnddb/pdfs/SPAnimals.pdf.

CNDDB. 2013. California Natural Diversity Data Base RareFind5 searchable database, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Accessed July 2013.

CNPS (California Native Plant Society). 2013. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (online edition, v8-02). Sacramento: California Native Plant Society. http://www.rareplants.cnps.org. Accessed July 2013.

County of San Diego. 2007. North County Multiple Species Conservation Program Preserve Planning Map, version 8.0. November 26, 2007.

County of San Diego. 2008. Habitat Loss Permit 06-004, County of San Diego Department of Public Works. Issued June 20, 2008.

County of San Diego. 2010. Guidelines for Determining Significance, Biological Resources. Department of Planning and Land Use, County of San Diego. September 15, 2010.

County of San Diego. 2010a. Report Format and Content Requirements, Biological Resources. Department of Planning and Land Use, County of San Diego. September 15, 2010.

County of San Diego. 2011. SanBIOS GIS Database, 2011.

CNAH (Center for North American Herpetology). 2013. “State herpetofauna: California.” http://www.cnah.org/stateList.aspx. Accessed July 2013.

Everett, W. T. 2007. “Revised Biological Resources Report, Project Name: Jet Ridge, Grading Plan L-14881, Escondido, California.” La Jolla, CA: Everett and Associates Environmental Consultants. May 20, 2007.

Holland, R. F. 1986. Preliminary Descriptions of the Terrestrial Natural Communities of California. Non-game Heritage Program, State of California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.

Oberbauer, T., M. Kelly, and J. Buegge. 2008. Draft Vegetation Communities of San Diego County. Based on “Preliminary Descriptions of the Terrestrial Natural Communities of California”, Robert F. Holland, Ph.D., October 1986.

Powell, J. A., and C. L. Hogue. 1979. California Insects. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Rebman, J. P. and M. G. Simpson. 2006. Checklist of the Vascular Plants of San Diego County, fourth edition. San Diego: San Diego Natural History Museum. http://www.sdnhm.org/archive/research/botany/sdplants/index.html. Accessed July 2013.

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Reiser, C. H. 2001. Rare Plants of San Diego County. Imperial Beach, CA: Aquafir Press. http://sandiego.sierraclub.org/rareplants/. Accessed 2009 and 2013.

Schoenherr, A. G., 1992. A Natural History of California. University of California Press: Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA.

SDNHM (San Diego Natural History Museum). 2002. Butterflies of San Diego County. http://www.sdnhm.org/archive/research/entomology/sdbutterflies.html. Accessed July 2013.

SDNHM. 2005. Spiders of San Diego County. http://www.sdnhm.org/archive/ research/entomology/sdspider.html. Accessed July 2013.

SDNHM. (Undated) Amphibians of San Diego County. http://www.sdnhm.org/archive/ research/herpetology/sdamphib.html. Accessed July 2013.

SDNHM. (Undated) Reptiles of San Diego County. http://www.sdnhm.org/archive/ research/herpetology/sdreptil.html. Accessed July 2013.

SDNHM. (Undated) Checklist of Birds Recorded in San Diego County, California. http://www.sdnhm.org/archive/research/birds/sdbirds.html. Accessed July 2013.

SDNHM. (Undated) Checklist of Mammal Species Recorded in San Diego County. http://www.sdnhm.org/archive/research/birds/sdmamm.html. Accessed July 2013.

Stebbins, R. C. 2003. Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibian. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.

SELC. 2013. Municipal Jurisdictions within the Escondido Creek Watershed. https://www.sanelijo.org/sites/sanelijo.org/files/images/escondido-creek-map.jpg. Accessed September 2013.

Unitt, P. 2004. San Diego County Bird Atlas. San Diego Natural History Museum: San Diego, CA.

USDA (United Stated Department of Agriculture). 2013. NRCS Web Soil Survey. http://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/app/Home Page.htm. Accessed July 2013.

USFWS (United States Fish and Wildlife Service) and San Diego Association of Governments. 2003. Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for Threatened and Endangered Species due to the Urban Growth within the MHCP Planning Area.

USFWS. 2013. United States Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Database, http://www.fws.gov/endangered. Accessed May 2013.

PREPARERS

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This report has been prepared by REC Consultants, Inc. staff: Elyssa Robertson – Principal Biologist, County QCL Biologist Catherine MacGregor – Primary Author, Senior Biologist and Botanist Hedy Levine – Field Biologist, Project Manager, and Editor Erin Crouthers – Environmental & GIS Analyst

ATTACHMENTS

Figure 1. Regional Location Figure 2. Vicinity Map Figure 3. Regional Context Figure 4. Biological Resources Figure 5. Impacts

Appendix A. Plants Observed on the Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting Project Appendix B. Animals Observed on the Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting Project Appendix C. Sensitive Plants with the Potential to Occur on the Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting Project Appendix D. Sensitive Animals with the Potential to Occur on the Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting Project Appendix E. 2006 Everett and Associates California “Report on Focused Surveys for California Gnatcatcher” Appendix F. Cumulative Projects Table and Figure

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Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community E R

Feet U G 0 1,000 2,000 I Regional Context I F 3 PRIVATE HORSE KEEPING AND GRAPE PLANTING Source: CASIL Quadrangle Mosaics, 2013. September 2013 Legend Project Boundary (42.8 ac) Survey Area (100ft buffer) Habitats (onsite acreage) CSS Coastal Sage Scrub - 32510 (20.1 ac) NNG Non-Native Grassland - 42200 (14.6 ac) O Orchard - 18100 (off-site) DIS Disturbed - 11300 (7.6 ac) D Developed - 12000 (0.5 ac) Sensitive Species !! California gnatcatcher - Polioptila californica (1) * "" California gnatcatcher - Polioptila californica (pair)** ! - Aspidoscelis tigris (1) A ! Tiger whiptail U

T Flyover: Turkey vulture - Cathartes aura (1) O

P Red-tailed hawk - Buteo jamaicensis (1) A R American kestrel - Falco sparverius (1) K

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Habitats (onsite acreage) CSS Coastal Sage Scrub - 32510 (20.1 ac) NNG Non-Native Grassland - 42200 (14.6 ac) O O rchard - 18100 (off-site) DIS Disturbed - 11300 (7.6 ac) D Developed - 12000 (0.5 ac) Sensitive Species !! California gnatcatcher - Polioptila californica (1) * A " - Polioptila californica (pair)** U California gnatcatcher T O !! Tiger whiptail - Aspidoscelis tigris (1) P A Flyover: Turkey vulture - Cathartes aura (1) R K Red-tailed hawk - Buteo jamaicensis (1) W American kestrel - Falco sparverius (1) A IVE Y * From February 2013 survey CO UNTRY CLUB DR ** From August 2013 survey

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Feet 0 100 200 Biological Resources Impacts I FIGURE5 PRIVATE HORSE KEEPING AND GRAPE PLANTING Aerial Source: Google, August 2010. September 2013 APPENDIX A PLANTS OBSERVED ON THE PRIVATE HORSE KEEPING AND GRAPE PLANTING PROJECT Species Name Common Name Family Habitat Acacia sp.* Acacia Fabaceae CSS Acmispon glaber deerweed Fabaceae CSS, DIS, NNG Acourtia microcephala sacapellote CSS Adenostoma fasciculatum chamise Rosaceae CSS Aloe sp.* aloe Asphodelaceae NNG Amaranthus albus* white tumbleweed Amaranthaceae NNG Amaranthus sp.(*) - Amaranthaceae NNG Ambrosia psilostachya western ragweed Asteraceae DIS, NNG Anagallis arvensis* scarlet pimpernel, poor man's Primulaceae DIS weatherglass Antirrhinum nuttalianum Nuttall's snapdragon Plantaginaceae CSS Artemisia californica coastal sagebrush Asteraceae CSS, DIS, NNG Aspidotis californica California lace fern Pteridaceae CSS Asteraceae unidentified small herb Asteraceae CSS Avena barbata* slender wild oat Poaceae NNG Avena sp.* oat Poaceae CSS, DIS, NNG Baccharis pilularis subsp. chaparral broom, coyote brush Asteraceae DIS, CSS consanguinea Baccharis salicifolia subsp. salicifolia mule-fat, seep-willow Asteraceae CSS, DIS, NNG Baccharis sarothroides broom baccharis Asteraceae CSS, DIS, NNG Brassica nigra* black mustard Brassicaceae NNG Brassica rapa* turnip, field mustard Brassicaceae NNG californica California brickellbush Asteraceae CSS Bromus diandrus* ripgut grass Poaceae CSS, NNG Bromus hordeaceus* soft chess Poaceae CSS, DIS, NNG Bromus madritensis subsp. rubens* red brome, foxtail chess Poaceae CSS, DIS, NNG Calystegia macrostegia morning-glory Convolvulaceae NNG Carduus pycnocephalus subsp. Italian thistle Asteraceae CSS, DIS pycnocephalus* Carpobrotus sp.* hottentot-fig, sea fig Aizoaceae NNG Centaurea melitensis* tocalote Asteraceae CSS, DIS, NNG Chaenactis glabriuscula var. yellow pincushion Asteraceae CSS glabriuscula Chenopodium album* lamb's quarters Chenopodiaceae NNG Chenopodium californicum California goosefoot Chenopodiaceae CSS Cirsium occidentale var. californicum California thistle Asteraceae CSS Clematis sp. ropevine clematis, virgin's bower Ranunculaceae CSS Corethrogyne filaginifolia sand-aster Asteraceae CSS Croton setiger doveweed Euphorbiaceae DIS, CSS, NNG Cryptantha micrantha purple-root cryptantha Boraginaceae NNG Cryptantha sp. cryptantha Boraginaceae CSS Cupressus sp.* Italian cypress Cupressaceae DIS Datura wrightii wester jimson weed Solanaceae DIS, NNG Deinandra fasciculata fascicled tarweed Asteraceae CSS, DIS Dudleya pulverulenta chalk dudleya Crassulaceae CSS Epilobium canum subsp. canum California fuchsia, zauschneria Onagraceae NNG Erigeron canadensis horseweed Asteraceae CSS, DIS, NNG Eriogonum fasciculatum var. coast California buckwheat Polygonaceae CSS, DIS fasciculatum Eriogonum fasciculatum var. inland California buckwheat Polygonaceae CSS, DIS, NNG foliolosum

September 2013 Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting REC Consultants, Inc. APPENDIX A Biological Resources Letter Report Species Name Common Name Family Habitat Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. long-stem golden-yarrow Asteraceae CSS confertiflorum Erodium brachycarpum* short-beak filaree/storksbill Geraniaceae DIS Erodium sp.* filaree/storksbill Geraniaceae NNG Eucalyptus sp.* eucalyptus Myrtaceae CSS, DIS, NNG Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia eucrypta Boraginaceae CSS Euphorbia peplus* petty spurge Euphorbiaceae DIS Festuca myuros* rat-tail fescue Poaceae CSS, DIS Foeniculum vulgare* sweet fennel CSS, DIS, NNG Galium angustifolium subsp. narrow- bedstraw Rubiaceae CSS angustifolium Glebionis coronaria* garland/crown daisy Asteraceae CSS Gutierrezia sarothrae broom matchweed/snakeweed Asteraceae CSS Hazardia squarrosa var. grindelioides southern sawtooth goldenbush Asteraceae CSS, NNG Hedypnois cretica* Crete hedypnois Asteraceae NNG Helianthus gracilentus slender sunflower Asteraceae CSS Heliotropium curassavicum var. salt heliotrope Boraginaceae DIS, NNG oculatum Heteromeles arbutifolia toyon, Christmas berry Rosaceae CSS Heterotheca grandiflora telegraph weed Asteraceae DIS, NNG Hirschfeldia incana* short-pod mustard Brassicaceae CSS, DIS, NNG Isocoma menziesii var. menziesii spreading goldenbush Asteraceae NNG Lamarckia aurea* golden-top Poaceae CSS Limonium sinuatum* notch-leaf marsh-rosemary, statice Plumbaginaceae DIS Logfia gallica* daggerleaf cottonrose, narrow-leaf Asteraceae CSS Lonicera subspicata var. denudata Johnston's honeysuckle Caprifoliaceae CSS Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. chaparral bushmallow Malvaceae CSS fasciculatus Malosma laurina laurel sumac Anacardiaceae CSS, DIS, NNG Marah macrocarpa wild-cucumber, manroot Cucurbitaceae CSS Marrubium vulgare* horehound Lamiaceae CSS, DIS, NNG Melica imperfecta coast range melic Poaceae CSS Mimulus aurantiacus var. puniceus coast monkey flower Phrymaceae CSS laevis var. crassifolia coastal wishbone plant CSS Navarretia hamata subsp. hamata hooked skunkweed Polemoniaceae CSS, DIS Nicotiana glauca* tree tobacco Solanaceae CSS, DIS, NNG Onagraceae sun cup Onagraceae CSS Oncosiphon piluliferum* globe chamomile Asteraceae DIS Opuntia sp. prickly-pear Cactaceae CSS Opuntia sp.* prickly-pear (non-native) Cactaceae NNG Paeonia californica California Paeoniaceae CSS Pelargonium sp.* geranium Geraniaceae DIS Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata bird's foot cliff-brake Pteridaceae CSS Pennisetum setaceum* African fountain grass Poaceae CSS, DIS, NNG Pentagramma triangularis subsp. sticky silverback fern Pteridaceae CSS viscosa Phacelia cicutaria var. hispida caterpillar phacelia Boraginaceae CSS Phacelia distans wild-heliotrope Boraginaceae CSS, DIS Polypogon monspeliensis* annual beard grass Poaceae DIS Pseudognaphalium bioletti bicolor cudweed Asteraceae CSS Pseudognaphalium californicum California everlasting Asteraceae CSS Pseudognaphalium canescens everlasting cudweed Asteraceae CSS Pseudognaphalium sp. cudweed, everlasting Asteraceae CSS Pyracantha coccinea* firethorn Rosaceae DIS

September 2013 Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting REC Consultants, Inc. APPENDIX A Biological Resources Letter Report Species Name Common Name Family Habitat Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia coast live oak, encina Fagaceae NNG Quercus berberidifolia scrub oak Fagaceae CSS Raphanus raphanistrum* jointed charlock Brassicaceae NNG Raphanus sativus* wild radish Brassicaceae CSS, NNG Rhamnus crocea spiny redberry Rhamnaceae NNG Rhus integrifolia lemonadeberry Anacardiaceae CSS, NNG Ricinus communis* castor bean Euphorbiaceae NNG Rumex crispus* curly dock Polygonaceae CSS, NNG Salix laevigata red willow Salicaceae CSS Salix lasiolepis arroyo willow Salicaceae DIS, NNG Salvia apiana white sage Lamiaceae CSS, NNG Salvia mellifera black sage Lamiaceae CSS Sambucus nigra subsp. caerulea blue elderberry Adoxaceae CSS Schinus molle* Peruvian pepper tree Anacardiaceae DIS Schinus terebinthifolius* Brazilian pepper tree Anacardiaceae NNG Scrophularia californica California bee plant/figwort Scrophulariaceae CSS Selaginella bigelovii Bigelow's spike-moss Selaginellaceae CSS Sisyrinchium bellum blue-eyed-grass Iridaceae NNG Sonchus asper subsp. asper* prickly sow-thistle Asteraceae NNG Stipa sp. needlegrass Poaceae CSS Tamarix sp.* tamarisk/salt-cedar Tamaricaceae CSS Toxicodendron diversilobum western poison-oak Anacardiaceae CSS Washingtonia robusta* Mexican fan palm Arecaceae DIS * Non-native ! State or federal special-status species

CSS = Coastal sage scrub DEV = Developed land DIS = Disturbed land NNG = Non-native grassland

September 2013 Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting REC Consultants, Inc. APPENDIX A Biological Resources Letter Report

APPENDIX B ANIMALS OBSERVED ON THE PRIVATE HORSE KEEPING AND GRAPE PLANTING PROJECT Common Name Scientific Name Habitat Observed No. Invertebrates Ant Family Formicidae CSS, DIS many Beefly Family Bombyliidae CSS 1 Blue (unidentified) Subfamily Polyommatinae NNG 1 Dragonfly Suborder Anisoptera CSS, NNG several Fly Order Diptera CSS several Grasshopper Family Acrididae CSS several Marine blue Leptotes marina CSS 1 Orb weaver Order Araneae CSS 1 Snail(*) Class Gastropoda CSS, DIS, NNG many Stink beetle Eleodes sp. CSS 1 Tarantula hawk Pepsis sp. CSS, NNG several White Subfamily Pierinae CSS, DIS, NNG several Reptiles Coastal whiptail Aspidoscelis tigris stejnegeri CSS 2 Western fence lizard Sceloporus occidentalis CSS 2 Birds American crow Corvus brachyrhynchos flyover several American kestrel Falco sparverius flyover (hunting) 2 Anna's hummingbird Calypte anna CSS many Bewick's wren Thryomanes bewickii CSS 2 Black phoebe Sayornis nigricans CSS, NNG 2 Black-headed grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus NNG 2 Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus CSS many California thrasher Toxostoma redivivum CSS 4-5 California towhee Melozone crissalis CSS many Coastal California gnatcatcher! Polioptila californica californica CSS 2 Greater roadrunner Geococcyx californianus CSS, DIS (scat) Eurasian collared-dove Streptapelia decaocto NNG 2-3 House finch Haemorhous mexicanus CSS, NNG several Lesser goldfinch Spinus psaltria CSS several Mourning dove Zenaida macroura CSS, NNG several Northern mockingbird Mimus polyglottos CSS, NNG 2 Red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis flyover 1 Spotted towhee Pipilo maculatus CSS 1-several Turkey vulture Cathartes aura flyover 1 Violet-green swallow Tachycineta thalassina flyover Western kingbird Tyrannus verticalis NNG 1 Western scrub-jay Aphelocoma californica CSS 1 White-throated swift Aeronautes saxatalis flyover several Wilson's warbler Cardellina pusilla CSS (in eucalyptus) 2 Wrentit Chamaea fasciata CSS 1 Mammals California ground squirrel Spermophilus beecheyi CSS, DIS, NNG 3 Coyote Canis latrans CSS 3 live, 2 skeletons Desert cottontail Sylvilagus audubonii sanctidiegi CSS, NNG many Dusky-footed woodrat Neotoma fuscipes CSS many nests * Non-native species ! State or federal special-status species

September 2013 Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting REC Consultants, Inc. APPENDIX B Biological Resources Letter Report

APPENDIX C SENSITIVE PLANTS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO OCCUR ON THE PRIVATE HORSE KEEPING AND GRAPE PLANTING PROJECT (USGS ESCONDIDO, RANCHO SANTA FE, SAN MARCOS, AND VALLEY CENTER QUADS, 216 - 275 METERS [710 - 900 FT]) Species Name Common Name Family CRPR State/ Cnty Cnty Growth form, Habitat Potential to Occur Onsite Federal NE List bloom time Acanthomintha ilicifolia thornmint, San Diego Lamiaceae 1B.1 SE/FT X A Annual herb, Clay soil, openings in chaparral, coastal Low; no suitable clay-soil grassland on- thorn-mint Apr-Jun scrub, valley & foothill grassland, vernal site. pools; 10-960 m Adolphia californica spineshrub, California Rhamnaceae 2B.1 -/- B Shrub Clay soil in chaparral, coastal scrub, valley Low; no clay soil on-site, would have been adolphia (deciduous), & foothill grassland; 45-740 m detectable during surveys and was not Ambrosia pumila San Diego ambrosia Asteraceae 1B.1 -/FE X A PerennialDec-May herb Sandy loam or clay, often disturbed areas, Low; no suitableobserved. micro-habitat on-site, not (rhizomatous), sometimes alkaline areas, in chaparral, known to occur near project area. Apr-Oct coastal scrub, valley & foothill grassland, near vernal pools; 20-415 m Arctostaphylos glandulosa Del Mar manzanita, Ericaceae 1B.1 -/FE A Shrub Sandy maritime chaparral; 0-365 m Low; no maritime chaparral on-site, would subsp. crassifolia fe del mar manzanita (evergreen), have been detectable during surveys and Dec-Jun was not observed. Arctostaphylos rainbowensis Rainbow manzanita Ericaceae 1B.1 -/- A Shrub Chaparral; 205-670 m Low; no chaparral on-site, would have (evergreen), been detectable during surveys and was Dec-Mar not observed. Artemisia palmeri Palmer's sagewort, San Asteraceae 4.2 -/- D Biennial to Sandy, mesic soils in chaparral, coastal Low; would have been detectable during Diego sagewort perennial herb to scrub, riparian forest, riparian scrub, surveys and was not observed. subshrub, Feb- riparian woodland; 15-915 m Atriplex coulteri Coulter's saltbush Chenopodiaceae 1B.2 -/- A PerennialSep herb, Alkaline or clay soils in coastal bluff Low; no suitable habitat on-site, no Mar-Oct scrub, coastal dunes, coastal scrub, valley Atriplex observed on-site. & foothill grassland; 3-460 m Baccharis vanessae Encinitas baccharis Asteraceae 1B.1 SE/FT X A Shrub Sandstone in maritime chaparral, Low; no suitable habitat on-site, would (deciduous), cismontane woodland; 60-720 m have been detectable during surveys and Aug-Nov was not observed. Bloomeria clevelandii San Diego goldenstar Themidaceae 1B.1 -/- A Perennial herb Clay soil in chaparral, coastal scrub, valley Low; no suitable clay soil on-site. (Muilla c.) (bulbiferous), & foothill grassland, near vernal pools; 50- Apr-May 465 m Brodiaea filifolia thread-leaf brodiaea Themidaceae 1B.1 SE/FT X A Perennial herb Chaparral (openings), cismontane Low; no suitable clayey grasslands or (bulbiferous), woodland, coastal scrub, playas, valley & vernal pool habitat on-site. Mar-Jun foothill grassland, vernal pools, often on clay; 25-1120 m Brodiaea orcuttii Orcutt's brodiaea Themidaceae 1B.1 -/- A Perennial herb Mesic, clay, serpentinite soils in closed- Low; no suitable mesic, clay or (deciduous, cone coniferous forest, chaparral, serpentinite soils on-site. bulbiferous), cismontane woodland, meadows & seeps, May-Jul valley & foothill grassland, and near vernal pools; 30-1692 m Ceanothus verrucosus wart-stem-lilac, wart- Rhamnaceae 2B.2 -/- B Shrub Chaparral; 1-380 m Low; no suitable coastal chaparral on-site, stemmed ceanothus (evergreen), would have been detectable during surveys Dec-May and was not observed.

September 2013 Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting REC Consultants, Inc. APPENDIX C Biological Resoources Letter Report Species Name Common Name Family CRPR State/ Cnty Cnty Growth form, Habitat Potential to Occur Onsite Federal NE List bloom time Centromadia parryi subsp. southern tarplant Asteraceae 1B.1 - A Annual herb, Marshes and swamps (margins), valley & Low; no suitable low moist areas on-site, australis May-Nov foothill grassland (vernally mesic), vernal would have been detectable during surveys pools; 0-425 m and was not observed. Centromadia pungens smooth tarplant Asteraceae 1B.1 - A Annual herb, Alkaline soils in chenopod scrub, Low; no suitable alkaline areas on-site, subsp. laevis Apr-Sep meadows and seeps, playas, riparian would have been detectable during surveys woodland, valley & foothill grassland; 0- and was not observed. 640 m Chorizanthe procumbens prostrate spineflower Polygonaceae - -/- Annual herb, Apr- Common on sandy or gravelly soils in Low; would have been detectable during Jun central and southern South Coast, May 2013 survey and was not observed. southern , western Peninsular Ranges and northern Baja California (TJM2) Clarkia delicata delicate clarkia, Campo Onagraceae 1B.2 -/- A Annual herb, Often gabbroic soil in chaparral, Low; no suitable soils or habitat on-site, clarkia Apr-Jun cismontane woodland; 235-1000 m would have been detectable during May 2013 survey and was not observed. Comarostaphylis summer-holly Ericaceae 1B.2 -/- A Shrub Chaparral, cismontane woodland; 30-790 Low; no suitable habitat on-site, would diversifolia subsp. (evergreen), m have been detectable during surveys and diversifolia Apr-Jun was not observed. Dichondra occidentalis western dichondra, Convolvulaceae 4.2 -/- D Perennial herb Chaparral, cismontane woodland, coastal Low; not reported in project quads, not western ponyfoot (rhizomatous), scrub, valley & foothill grassland; 50-500 observed during surveys. Jan-Jul m Dudleya variegata variegated dudleya Crassulaceae 1B.2 -/- X A Perennial herb, Clay soils in chaparral, cismontane Low; no suitable clay soils on-site, would Apr-Jun woodland, coastal scrub, valley & foothill probably have been detectable during May grassland, near vernal pools; 3-580 m 2013 survey and was not observed.

Dudleya viscida sticky dudleya Crassulaceae 1B.2 - A Perennial herb, Rocky coastal bluff scrub, chaparral, Low; no suitable coastal habitat on-site, May-Jun coastal scrub; 10-550 m would have been detectable during surveys and was not observed. Ericameria palmeri var. Palmer's goldenbush Asteraceae 1B.1 -/- X B Shrub Mesic chaparral, coastal scrub; 30-600 m Low; would have been detectable during palmeri (evergreen), surveys and was not observed. Jul-Nov aristulatum var. San Diego button-celery Apiaceae 1B.1 SE/FE A Biennial to Mesic coastal scrub, valley & foothill Low; no vernal pools on-site. parishii perennial herb, grassland, vernal pools; 20-620 m Apr-Jun Ferocactus viridescens coast barrel cactus, Cactaceae 2B.1 -/- B Perennial Chaparral, coastal scrub, valley & foothill Low; would have been detectable during San Diego barrel cactus (stem succulent), grassland, near vernal pools; 3-450 m surveys and was not observed. May-Jun Harpagonella palmeri Palmer's grappling-hook Boraginaceae 4.2 -/- D Annual herb, Clay soils in chaparral, coastal scrub, Low; no suitable clay soils on-site. Mar-May valley & foothill grassland; 20-955 m Iva hayesiana San Diego marsh-elder Asteraceae 2B.2 -/- B Perennial herb to Marshes & swamps, playas; 10-500 m Low; no suitable habitat on-site; would subshrub, Apr- have been detectable during surveys and Oct was not observed. Lepidium virginicum var. Robinson's peppergrass Brassicaceae 1B.2 -/- A Annual herb, Chaparral, coastal scrub; 1-885 m Moderate; somewhat widespread and robinsonii Jan-Jul suitable habitat occurs on-site, could have (not recognized in TJM2) already bloomed and withered by May survey.

September 2013 Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting REC Consultants, Inc. APPENDIX C Biological Resoources Letter Report Species Name Common Name Family CRPR State/ Cnty Cnty Growth form, Habitat Potential to Occur Onsite Federal NE List bloom time Monardella hypoleuca felt-leaf monardella Lamiaceae 1B.2 -/- A Perennial herb to Chaparral, cismontane woodland; 300- Low; no suitable habitat on-site, would subsp. lanata subshrub 1575 m have been detectable during surveys and (rhizomatous), was not observed. Jun-Aug Navarretia fossalis spreading navarretia Polemoniaceae 1B.1 -/FT A Annual herb, Chenopod scrub, marshes & swamps Low; no vernal pools on-site. Apr-Jun (shallow freshwater), playas, vernal pools; 30-655 m Quercus dumosa Nuttall's scrub oak Fagaceae 1B.1 -/- A Shrub Sandy, clay loam soils in closed-cone Low; scrub oaks on-site are Q. (evergreen), coniferous forest, chaparral, coastal scrub; berberidifolia Feb-Aug 15-400 m Selaginella cinerascens mesa spike-moss, ashy Selaginellaceae 4.1 -/- D Perennial Chaparral and coastal scrub on Low; not reported in project quads, not spike-moss rhizomatous herb undisturbed soil. observed and site is highly disturbed. Stemodia durantifolia blue streamwort, purple Plantaginaceae 2B.1 -/- B Perennial herb, Riparian habitats, on wet sand or rocks, Low; no suitable habitat on-site, not stemodia Jan-Dec drying streambeds; <400 m (TJM2) observed during surveys. Tetracoccus dioicus Parry's tetracoccus Picrodendraceae 1B.2 -/- A Shrub, Chaparral, coastal scrub; 165-1000 m Low; generally occurs on gabbroic soils Apr-May which are not documented on-site; would have been detectable during surveys and was not observed.

Listing Designations

CRPR - California Rare Plant Rank (from Rare Plant Status Review Group, jointly managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife [CDFW] and California Native Plant Society [CNPS]) 1A - Plants presumed extirpated in California and either rare or extinct elsewhere .1 - Seriously endangered in California (over 80% of occurrences threatened / high degree and immediacy of threat) 1B - Plants rare, threatened or endangered in California AND elsewhere .2 - Moderately threatened in California (20-80% occurrences threatened / moderate degree and immediacy of threat) 2A - Presumed extirpated or extinct in California, but more common elsewhere .3 - Not very threatened in California (<20% of occurrences threatened / low degree and immediacy of threat 2B - Plants rare, threatened or endangered in California, but more common elsewhere or no current threats known) 3 - Plants about which more information is needed - a review list 4 - Plants of limited distribution - a watch list

State of California species designations (CDFW April 2013) Federal species designations (CDFW April 2013, USFWS 2013) SE - State-listed Endangered FE - Federally listed Endangered ST - State-listed Threatened FT - Federally-listed Threatened SR - State-listed Rare FC - Federal candidate for listing

Cnty NE - an X in this column indicates the species is considered a Narrow Endemic by the County of San Diego (MSCP County of San Diego Subarea Plan 1997)

Cnty List - County Sensitive Plant List (County of San Diego 2010) A - County List A: plants rare, threatened or endangered in California and elsewhere B - County List B: plants rare, threatened or endangered in California but more common elsewhere C - County List C: plants which may be rare, but need more information to determine their true rarity status D - County List D: plants of limited distribution and are uncommon, but not presently rare or endangered

City NE - an X in this column indicates the species is considered a Narrow Endemic by the City of San Diego (Land Development Manual - Biology Guidelines 2009)

Other abbreviations: TJM2 - The Jepson Manual, 2nd edition (2012) (taxonomic authority for this report except where it conflicts with special-status plant recognition) (Common names are primarily from The Checklist of Vascular Plants of San Diego County [Rebman and Simpson 2006], and secondarily from CNPS's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants [CNPS 2010, 2013])

September 2013 Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting REC Consultants, Inc. APPENDIX C Biological Resoources Letter Report

APPENDIX D SENSITIVE ANIMALS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO OCCUR ON THE PRIVATE HORSE KEEPING AND GRAPE PLANTING PROJECT (USGS ESCONDIDO, RANCHO SANTA FE, SAN MARCOS, AND VALLEY CENTER QUADS, 216 - 275 METERS [710 - 900 FT]) Common Name Species Name State/Federal County County Habitat Potential to Occur Onsite Status NE Group INVERTEBRATES Hermes copper Lycaena hermes -/- 1 Coastal sage scrub, mixed chaparral and Low; few Rhamnus crocea observed on- chamise chaparral; Host plant is mature site, no CNDDB reports for surrounding Rhamnus crocea . quads. Monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus 2 Host plants: Asclepias spp. Moderate; no host plants observed, but may present in very low numbers; nectar plants likely present. AMPHIBIANS Western spadefoot Spea hammondii SSC/BLM-S 2 Open areas with sandy or gravelly soils, in Low; no vernal pools observed on-site mixed woodlands, grasslands, coastal sage and any other ponding areas are too scrub, chaparral, sandy washes, lowlands, river disturbed. floodplains, alluvial fans, playas, alkali flats, foothills, and mountains; rainpools free of bullfrogs, fish, or crayfish needed for breeding; activity limited to wet season, summer storms or during evenings with elevated substrate moisture levels; nocturnal, 0-4,500 ft. REPTILES Coast horned lizard Phrynosoma blainvillii SSC/BLM-S, 2 Coastal sage scrub with harvester ants Low; could occur in coastal sage scrub on- (P. coronatum b.) USFS-S (Pogonomyrmex spp.) and other native ants. site, but not observed, no scat observed, no ants clearly identified as harvester ants observed. Coast patch-nosed snake Salvadora hexalepis SSC/- 2 Grass, chaparral, woodland, desert and coastal Low; not observed, site has only limited virgultea sage scrub. Found near rock outcrops with "drainage" erosional features and habitat adjacent seasonal drainages; 0-7,000 ft. area is small to support this predator. (Coastal) rosy boa Charina trivirgata -/(USFS-S) 2 Coastal sage scrub, mixed chaparral, oak Low; not observed, habitat area is small (roseofusca) woodlands and chamise chaparral. Often found and isolated for this predator. in association with rock outcrops; 0-3000 ft. Coastal whiptail Aspidoscelis tigris -/- 2 Found in hot, dry open areas with sparse foliage Occurs on-site: two observed in coastal stejnegeri such as chaparral, woodland, and riparian areas. sage scrub in May 2013. (Cnemidophorus t. s.)

September 2013 Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting REC Consultants, Inc. APPENDIX D Biological Resources Letter Report Common Name Species Name State/Federal County County Habitat Potential to Occur Onsite Status NE Group Coronado Island skink Plestiodon skiltonianus SSC/BLM-S 2 Grassland, woodlands, pine forests, chaparral, Low; not observed, site is probably too interparietalis especially in open sunny areas such as clearings disturbed and (sub)urbanized. (Eumeces s. i.) and the edges of creeks and rivers; prefers rocky areas near streams with lots of vegetation, also found in areas away from water; inland southern California. Orangethroat whiptail Aspidoscelis hyperythra SSC 2 Semi-arid brushy areas typically with loose soil Moderate; not observed, but could occur (Belding's orange-throated (Cnemidophorus and rocks, including washes, streamsides, rocky in coastal sage scrub on-site. whiptail) hyperythrus) hillsides, and coastal chaparral and scrub; west of the Peninsular ranges, from sea level to aproximately 2,000 ft. Red-diamond rattlesnake Crotalus ruber SSS/- 2 Arid scrub, coastal chaparral, oak and pine Low; not observed, habitat area is small woodlands, rocky grassland, and cultivated and isolated for this predator. areas in southwestern California, from the Morongo Valley west to the coast and south along the peninsular ranges to mid Baja California, and rocky desert flats on the desert slopes of mountains. San Diego banded gecko Coleonyx variegatus -/- 1 Interior coastal region, west of Peninsular Low; not documented in project quads, abbotti ranges, prefers rocky areas in coastal sage and site is probably to disturbed and chaparral, nocturnal, hibernates in winter. (sub)urbanized. (San Diego) ringneck Diadophis punctatus -/USFS-S 2 Moist habitats including wet meadows, rocky Low; not documented in project quads, snake (similis) hillsides, gardens, farmland, grassland, site has little moist habitat and is chaparral, mixed coniferous forests, woodlands probably to disturbed and (sub)urbanized. along the coast and into the Peninsular Ranges; may not be distinct from San Bernardino subspecies (D. p. modestus ). Silvery legless lizard Anniella pulchra SSC 2 Occurs in moist warm loose soil and leaf litter Low; the only areas likely to have moist pulchra with plant cover, in sparsely vegetated areas of soil are erosional rills subject to flashy beach dunes, chaparral, pine-oak woodlands, flow; not reported in project quads. desert scrub, sandy washes, and stream terraces with sycamores, cottonwoods, or oaks; often under surface objects such as rocks, boards, driftwood, and logs; sometimes found in suburban gardens in southern California; lives mostly underground.

September 2013 Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting REC Consultants, Inc. APPENDIX D Biological Resources Letter Report Common Name Species Name State/Federal County County Habitat Potential to Occur Onsite Status NE Group Two-striped garter snake Thamnophis hammondii SSC/BLM-S. 1 In or near permanent fresh water, often along Low; no permanent fresh water available. USFS-S streams with rocky beds bordered by willows or other streamside growth; sometimes near vernal pools; 0-1000 ft. Western pond turtle Emys marmorata SSC/BLM-S, X 1 Major rivers and streams, especially in Low; not suitable habitat on or adjacent (southwestern pond turtle) (Clemmys marmorata USFS-S headwater areas; 0-1000 ft. to site. pallida) BIRDS Bell’s sage sparrow Artemisiospiza belli WL/BCC 1 Year-round resident in open chaparral and sage Low; not observed, site is too small and belli scrub, especially recently where burned areas or (sub)urbanized. (Amphispiza b. b.) on gabbro substrate; most common in central southern SD County; very sensitive to habitat fragmentation Burrowing owl Athene cunicularia SSC/BCC, X 1 Open dry grasslands, agricultural and range Low; not observed, no burrows observed; (burrow sites and some BLM-S lands, and desert habitats of low growing last CNDDB record in project quads was wintering sites) vegetation (associated with burrowing animals); from 1924. 0-1000 ft. Coastal cactus wren, Campylorhynchus SSC/BSS, X 1 Open coastal sage scrub with thickets of Low; not observed, no Cylindropuntia San Diego cactus wren brunneicapillus USFS-S Cylindropuntia , south- and west-facing slopes thickets observed on-site. sandiegensis below 1,500 ft, usually within quarter mile of river valleys. Coastal California Polioptila californica SSC/FT 1 Resident in southern California coastal sage Occurs on-site; one bird detected in gnatcatcher californica scrub, especially where dominated by 2006 (Everett 2007), one detected in Artemisia californica and Eriogonum February 2013, and one pair detected in fasciculatum ; may also use open chaparral next August 2013. to sage scrub; usually in coastal lowland below Cooper’s hawk Accipiter cooperii WL/- 1 Oak1,000 woodlands, ft. mature riparian woodlands, High; suitable suburban habitat with trees (nesting) eucalyptus groves in urban and suburban adjacent to site, foraging habitat on-site, settings, most common on coastal slope. documented flying over site in 2007. Golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos FP, WL, CDF-S/ X 1 Hunts in grasslands, sage scrub and broken Low; site is more than three miles from (nesting and wintering) BLM-S, BCC chaparral, mostly in foothills; most nest on cliff closest territory, which is at Lake Hodges ledges, the rest in trees on steep slopes. according to the San Diego Bird Atlas.

September 2013 Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting REC Consultants, Inc. APPENDIX D Biological Resources Letter Report Common Name Species Name State/Federal County County Habitat Potential to Occur Onsite Status NE Group Least Bell’s vireo Vireo bellii pusillus SE/FE X 1 Riparian woodland with dense canopy for Low; no suitable habitat on-site. foraging and dense understory for nesting; also forages in upland scrub, and sometimes even nests in non-riparian habitat; more common in coastal lowlands; migratory, usually arrives in SD County third week in March and between mid-August and mid-September. Loggerhead shrike Lanius ludovicianus SSC/BCC 1 Uncommon year-round resident in grassland, Low; not observed, not documented in open sage scrub and chaparral, and desert project quads, site is probably too scrub; known to retreat from urbanization. (sub)urbanized. Northern harrier Circus cyaneus SSC/- 1 Year-round resident but more common in Low; not observed, not documented in (nesting) winter; nests on ground in marsh or other dense project quads, no nesting records for vegetation, forages over grasslands. project area in Bird Atlas. Sharp-shinned hawk Accipiter striatus WL/- 1 Widespread but uncommon winter visitor in SD Moderate; not observed, but suburban County, especially coastal slope; variety of habitat with bird feeders and trees habitats, preferably with trees or tall shrubs; adjacent to site could attract sharp- attracted to any place that concentrates small shinned hawks during winter migration. prey birds. Southern California rufous- Aimophila ruficeps WL/- 1 Resident in coastal sage scrub and broken or Low; not observed; site's habitat is crowned sparrow, canescens burned chaparral in coastal lowlands and probably too small and isolated. ashy rufous-crowned foothills; favors gently rolling hillsides, average sparrow habitat is fairly steep south-facing slopes with 50% cover; usually nests on ground; sensitive to habitat fragmentation. Southwestern willow Empidonax traillii SE/FE X 1 Riparian wooded/shrubby habitat that is dense Low; no suitable habitat on-site. flycatcher extimus in all strata. (nesting) Turkey vulture Cathartes aura -/- 1 Dry open country or along roadsides; coastal Observed over site; one turkey vulture sage scrub, mixed and chamise chaparral, flew over center of site at an elecation of grassland, riparian, mixed conifer and closed about 75 feet during REC's surveys. cone forest; has retracted from heavily developed areas and is virtually eliminated along southwestern coast of SD. White-faced ibis Plegadis chihi WL/- 1 Nests in freshwater marshes and forages in Low; no suitable habitat on or adjacent to shallow water and wet grass site.

September 2013 Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting REC Consultants, Inc. APPENDIX D Biological Resources Letter Report Common Name Species Name State/Federal County County Habitat Potential to Occur Onsite Status NE Group Yellow-breasted chat Icteria virens SSC/- 1 Summer visitor in dense riparian woodland, Low; no suitable habitat on or adjacent to (nesting) most common in coastal lowland, strongly site. concentrated in NW corner of County; usually return to SD second week in April and start to leave by early August MAMMALS American badger Taxidea taxus SSC/- 2 Most common in drier open stages of most Low; no badger burrows observed, site is shrub, forest, and herbaceous habitats with probably too small and isolated/ friable soils. (sub)urbanized. Big free-tailed bat Nyctinomops macrotis SSC/- 2 Rocky arid habitat, roosts in crevices in rock Low; site has rock outcrops that could be faces, although two early 20th century San suitable for roosting, but this species is Diego specimens were found in buildings; rare in California and last Escondido migrates to Mexico for winter. record was in 1988. California leaf-nosed bat Macrotus californicus SSC/BLM-S, 2 Desert scrub, formerly occurred in coastal Low; not known from project area, very USFS-S basins from LA to SD, one colony known to rare west of mountains, no caves or persist in tunnel at "inland valley site in tunnels on-site. southern San Diego County"; roosts in caves and abandoned buildings and mines; doesn't hibernate; some are resident and some migrate to Mexico for winter. Dulzura pocket mouse Chaetodipus SSC/- 2 Variety of habitat including coastal sage scrub, Low; uncommon, last CNDDB record californicus femoralis chaparral, and grassland, attracted to grass- from project quads is 20 years old. chaparral edges. Hoary bat Lasiurus cinereus -/- Roosts in trees and fencerows, migrates to Low; site is likely too (sub)urbanized. southern California for winter, seldom found in urban settings. Mexican long-tongued bat Choeronycteris SSC/- 2 In CA, found in residential areas, roosts in Moderate; columnar cacti and agaves mexicana garages, sheds, porches, and under houses on observed on adjacent property; nearby stilts; feeds on pollen and nectar, especially of residential areas likely include suitable agaves and columnar cacti, and will visit roosts. hummingbird feeders and possibly avocado flowers; seen in fall and winter, presumed to not breed in CA. Mountain lion Puma concolor -/- 2 Needs large areas of habitat in forested or Low; site is too isolated/(sub)urbanized brushy regions, or rugged terrain with woods or and open. rocks; avoids open areas. Mule deer, southern mule Odocoileus hemionus -/- 2 Woodlands, riparian areas, margins of meadows Low; no scat observed, site is too deer fuliginata and grasslands, and open shrublands. isolated.

September 2013 Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting REC Consultants, Inc. APPENDIX D Biological Resources Letter Report Common Name Species Name State/Federal County County Habitat Potential to Occur Onsite Status NE Group Northwestern San Diego Chaetodipus fallax SSC/- 2 Sandy, herbaceous areas, usually associated Low; nearest record two miles south of pocket mouse fallax with rocks or coarse gravel, in coastal scrub, Harmony Grove, site is probably too chaparral, grasslands, sagebrush in western San (sub)urbanized; would not have been Diego County; nocturnal. detectable during surveys. Pallid bat Antrozous pallidus SSC/BLM-S, 2 Once common in SD County west of the Low; site is too (sub)urbanized. USFS-S mountains in riparian, chaparral, oak savannah, and cultivated areas but now known at only a few inland valley sites in southern San Diego County; intolerant of human development; roosts in crevices. Pocketed free-tailed bat Nyctinomops SSC/- 2 Chaparral and creosote scrub, associated with Low; no suitable habitat on-site. femorosaccus prominent rock features such as large boulder piles or rocky canyons; roosts in rock crevices, will use abandoned rock quarries.

San Diego black-tailed Lepus californicus SSC/- 2 Grasslands, agricultural fields, sparse Low; no jackrabbits or scat observed. jackrabbit bennettii shrublands, edges of citrus groves on coastal side of mountains, sea level to over 6,000 ft, mostly west of National Forest lands in SD County. San Diego desert woodrat Neotoma lepida SSC/- 2 Coastal sage scrub, oak woodlands and Low; all woodrat middens on-site intermedia chaparral with rock outcroppings, boulders, and appeared to be of N. fuscipes . cacti; middens are typically smaller than those of N. fuscipes and built in rock and rock crevices rathern than in shrubs; nocturnal. Southern grasshopper Onychomys torridus SSC/- 2 Originally in low, open and semi-arid scrub Low; not documented in project quad, mouse ramona habitat including coastal sage scrub, mixed project area is probably too chaparral, low sagebrush, riparian scrub, and (sub)urbanized. annual grassland with scattered shrubs, in mesas and valleys from coast to as far inland as Boulevard; nocturnal; no recent records from western San Diego County. Stephens' kangaroo rat Dipodomys stephensi ST/FE 1 Grasslands with strong forb component and Low; difficult to detect, but no CNDDB limited shrubs such as Artemisia californica records in project quads or SanBIOS and Eriogonum fasciculatum. records within 5 miles; part of site is too steep and soil to shallow, most of remaining site has too-dense non-native grass cover.

September 2013 Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting REC Consultants, Inc. APPENDIX D Biological Resources Letter Report Common Name Species Name State/Federal County County Habitat Potential to Occur Onsite Status NE Group Western mastiff bat Eumops perotis SSC/BLM-S 2 Open semi-arid to arid habitats; crevices in cliff Low; typically forages over wide-open californicus faces, high buildings, trees, and tunnels are areas, project area is probably too required for roosting; typically forages over developed. wide-open spaces in various habitats. Western yellow bat Lasiurus xanthinus SSC/- Desert areas with palms and, increasingly, year- Moderate; thought to be increasing in round in urban areas in planted palms; roosts in southwestern CA as adapting to planted hanging palm fronds. palms in (sub)urban conditions, Washingtonia robusta (Mexican fan palm) observed on/near site.

Yuma myotis Myotis yumanensis -/BLM-S 2 Forages primarily over open water; optimal Low; no water for feeding close to site. habitat is open forest or woodland near open water; roosts in caves, mines, buildings, bridges, and tree cavities; relatively urban- adapted and relative common in soutwestern CA. ` *Listing Designations Federal Listing (USFWS 2013, CDFW 2011) State Listing (CDFW 2011, 2013) FE - Federal-listed Endangered SE - State-listed Endangered FT - Federal-listed Threatened ST - State-listed Threatened FC - Federal Candidate for listing FP - CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Fully Protected BCC - US Fish and Wildlife Service Bird of Conservation Concern SSC - State Species of Special Concern BLM-S - Bureau of Land Management Sensitive WL - CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Watch List USFS-S - US Forest Service Sensitive CDF-S - CA Dept. of Forestry Sensitive Cnty NE - an X in this column indicates the species is considered a Narrow Endemic by the County of San Diego (MSCP County of San Diego Subarea Plan 1997) County Group (County of San Diego 2010) 1 - County of SD Sensitive Animal List Group 1 2 - County of SD Sensitive Animal List Group 2

September 2013 Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting REC Consultants, Inc. APPENDIX D Biological Resources Letter Report

Mail to: California Natural Diversity Database For Office Use Only California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Source Code Quad Code 1807 13th Street, Suite 202 Sacramento, CA 95811 Elm Code Occ. No. Fax: (916) 324-0475 email: [email protected] EO Index No. Map Index No. Date of Field Work (mm/dd/yyyy):

California Native Species Field Survey Form Scientific Name:

Common Name:

Species Found? ‰ ‰ Reporter: Yes No If not, why? Address: Total No. Individuals Subsequent Visit? ‰ yes ‰ no Is this an existing NDDB occurrence? ‰ no ‰ unk. Yes, Occ. # E-mail Address: Collection? If yes: Phone: Number Museum / Herbarium

Plant Information Animal Information

% % % Phenology: # adults # juveniles # larvae # egg masses # unknown vegetative flowering fruiting ‰ ‰ ‰ ‰ ‰ ‰ wintering breeding nesting rookery burrow site other Location Description (please attach map AND/OR fill out your choice of coordinates, below)

County: Landowner / Mgr.: Quad Name: Elevation: T R Sec , ¼ of ¼, Meridian: H … M… S… Source of Coordinates (GPS, topo. map & type): T R Sec , ¼ of ¼, Meridian: H … M… S… GPS Make & Model DATUM: NAD27 … NAD83 … WGS84 … Horizontal Accuracy meters/feet Coordinate System: UTM Zone 10… UTM Zone 11 … OR Geographic (Latitude & Longitude) … Coordinates:

Habitat Description (plants & animals) plant communities, dominants, associates, substrates/soils, aspects/slope: Animal Behavior (Describe observed behavior, such as territoriality, foraging, singing, calling, copulating, perching, roosting, etc., especially for avifauna):

Please fill out separate form for other rare taxa seen at this site.

Site Information Overall site/occurrence quality/viability (site + population): ‰ Excellent ‰ Good ‰ Fair ‰ Poor Immediate AND surrounding land use: Visible disturbances: Threats:

Comments:

Determination: (check one or more, and fill in blanks) Photographs: (check one or more) Slide Print Digital Keyed (cite reference): Plant / animal Compared with specimen housed at: Habitat Compared with photo / drawing in: Diagnostic feature By another person (name): Other: May we obtain duplicates at our expense?… yes… no

CDFW/BDB/1747 Rev. 4/26/13

Mail to: California Natural Diversity Database For Office Use Only California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Source Code Quad Code 1807 13th Street, Suite 202 Sacramento, CA 95811 Elm Code Occ. No. Fax: (916) 324-0475 email: [email protected] EO Index No. Map Index No. Date of Field Work (mm/dd/yyyy):

California Native Species Field Survey Form Scientific Name:

Common Name:

Species Found? ‰ ‰ Reporter: Yes No If not, why? Address: Total No. Individuals Subsequent Visit? ‰ yes ‰ no Is this an existing NDDB occurrence? ‰ no ‰ unk. Yes, Occ. # E-mail Address: Collection? If yes: Phone: Number Museum / Herbarium

Plant Information Animal Information

% % % Phenology: # adults # juveniles # larvae # egg masses # unknown vegetative flowering fruiting ‰ ‰ ‰ ‰ ‰ ‰ wintering breeding nesting rookery burrow site other Location Description (please attach map AND/OR fill out your choice of coordinates, below)

County: Landowner / Mgr.: Quad Name: Elevation: T R Sec , ¼ of ¼, Meridian: H … M… S… Source of Coordinates (GPS, topo. map & type): T R Sec , ¼ of ¼, Meridian: H … M… S… GPS Make & Model DATUM: NAD27 … NAD83 … WGS84 … Horizontal Accuracy meters/feet Coordinate System: UTM Zone 10… UTM Zone 11 … OR Geographic (Latitude & Longitude) … Coordinates:

Habitat Description (plants & animals) plant communities, dominants, associates, substrates/soils, aspects/slope: Animal Behavior (Describe observed behavior, such as territoriality, foraging, singing, calling, copulating, perching, roosting, etc., especially for avifauna):

Please fill out separate form for other rare taxa seen at this site.

Site Information Overall site/occurrence quality/viability (site + population): ‰ Excellent ‰ Good ‰ Fair ‰ Poor Immediate AND surrounding land use: Visible disturbances: Threats:

Comments:

Determination: (check one or more, and fill in blanks) Photographs: (check one or more) Slide Print Digital Keyed (cite reference): Plant / animal Compared with specimen housed at: Habitat Compared with photo / drawing in: Diagnostic feature By another person (name): Other: May we obtain duplicates at our expense?… yes… no

CDFW/BDB/1747 Rev. 4/26/13

Mail to: California Natural Diversity Database For Office Use Only California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Source Code Quad Code 1807 13th Street, Suite 202 Sacramento, CA 95811 Elm Code Occ. No. Fax: (916) 324-0475 email: [email protected] EO Index No. Map Index No. Date of Field Work (mm/dd/yyyy):

California Native Species Field Survey Form Scientific Name:

Common Name:

Species Found? ‰ ‰ Reporter: Yes No If not, why? Address: Total No. Individuals Subsequent Visit? ‰ yes ‰ no Is this an existing NDDB occurrence? ‰ no ‰ unk. Yes, Occ. # E-mail Address: Collection? If yes: Phone: Number Museum / Herbarium

Plant Information Animal Information

% % % Phenology: # adults # juveniles # larvae # egg masses # unknown vegetative flowering fruiting ‰ ‰ ‰ ‰ ‰ ‰ wintering breeding nesting rookery burrow site other Location Description (please attach map AND/OR fill out your choice of coordinates, below)

County: Landowner / Mgr.: Quad Name: Elevation: T R Sec , ¼ of ¼, Meridian: H … M… S… Source of Coordinates (GPS, topo. map & type): T R Sec , ¼ of ¼, Meridian: H … M… S… GPS Make & Model DATUM: NAD27 … NAD83 … WGS84 … Horizontal Accuracy meters/feet Coordinate System: UTM Zone 10… UTM Zone 11 … OR Geographic (Latitude & Longitude) … Coordinates:

Habitat Description (plants & animals) plant communities, dominants, associates, substrates/soils, aspects/slope: Animal Behavior (Describe observed behavior, such as territoriality, foraging, singing, calling, copulating, perching, roosting, etc., especially for avifauna):

Please fill out separate form for other rare taxa seen at this site.

Site Information Overall site/occurrence quality/viability (site + population): ‰ Excellent ‰ Good ‰ Fair ‰ Poor Immediate AND surrounding land use: Visible disturbances: Threats:

Comments:

Determination: (check one or more, and fill in blanks) Photographs: (check one or more) Slide Print Digital Keyed (cite reference): Plant / animal Compared with specimen housed at: Habitat Compared with photo / drawing in: Diagnostic feature By another person (name): Other: May we obtain duplicates at our expense?… yes… no

CDFW/BDB/1747 Rev. 4/26/13

APPENDIX E

EVERETT AND ASSOCIATES’ 2006 “REPORT ON FOCUSED SURVEYS FOR CALIFORNIA GNATCATCHER”

JET RIDGE GRADING PLANEVERETT L-14881 AND A SSOCIATES GNATCATCHER SURVEY REPORT

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS ESTABLISHED IN 1975

POST OFFICE BOX 1085 (760) 765-3377 TELEPHONE LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA 92038 (760) 765-3113 FACSIMILE

27 March 2006

Mr. Michael Wunderlin, RCE Emerald Crest Engineering Post Office Box 461300 Escondido, CA 92046

Re: Report on the Jet Ridge (APNs 228-400-13, 228-400-16, & 232-030-15) California Gnatcatcher Presence/Absence Surveys, Escondido, San Diego County, California.

Dear Mr. Wunderlin,

This report presents the results of three focused presence/absence surveys that I recently conducted for the federally threatened Coastal California Gnatcatcher Polioptila californica californica. The surveys were conducted within the above-referenced parcels totaling approximately 43 acres near the western boundary of the City of Escondido.

The California Gnatcatcher is a federal threatened species, a state species of concern, and is a "target species" of the NCCP process. This species is a non-migratory resident whose range covers the coastal plains and foothills of Southern California and northern Baja California. In San Diego County, it is widespread in coastal lowlands below about 2,000 feet elevation and typically occurs in or near Coastal Sage Scrub (CSS). The California Gnatcatcher population is seriously declining due to loss of habitat. Between 85% and 90% of this species’ habitat has been lost to urban or agricultural development. It is almost extirpated from Ventura, San Bernadino, and Los Angeles counties. The U.S. population is estimated to be just under 5000 pairs. San Diego County appears to be the center of abundance within the United States for this species.

The survey site is situated along the western boundary of the City of Escondido, in an area contiguous with County of San Diego jurisdiction and near the eastern boundary of the City of San Marcos (Figures 1 and 2). The approximate USGS coordinates for the site are 33°07’N, 117°07’W (San Marcos 7.5 minute series quadrangle, see Figure 3), as determined on-site by Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. The property is bounded on the west by an area of existing industrial development, and on the east by the area under development for a power- producing facility and other industrial uses. Existing single-family residences border the site on the north and northeast. Land uses to the south include low-density residential, agricultural, or undisturbed native vegetation.

SITE CONDITIONS AND VEGETATION COMMUNITIES

Much of the central portion of the site was historically used as a quarry and gravel pit. Since abandonment of the gravel operation native plants typical of Diegan Coastal Sage Scrub have re-established. However, the habitat is low-quality at best, due to the relative low density of JET RIDGE GRADING PLAN L-14881 GNATCATCHER SURVEY REPORT

native plants, the original severe soil disturbance, and the high proportion of weedy non-native vegetation. Surrounding the historic gravel operation are areas of former avocado and citrus groves. Portions of these areas are currently dry-farmed to grow plant material to be baled and used for erosion-control purposes. At the present time, single-family homes are under construction on each of the three parcels. Permitted grading and clearing of pads, driveways, and cut and fill slopes has removed vegetation from these areas. Within the remaining undisturbed portions of the parcels are two areas of medium to high quality Diegan Coastal Sage Scrub (Figure 4).

METHODS

I surveyed the site three times in conformance with current USFWS protocol guidelines. The surveys were conducted under the authority granted to me by USFWS permit # TE-788036. The surveys were conducted by slowly walking routes within the project site (See Figure 4). After stopping, listening, and observing at intervals of approximately 30 meters, taped Coastal California Gnatcatcher vocalizations were played for 30 seconds. After the vocalizations were played, an additional two minutes were spent observing and listening before moving to the next observation site. Weather conditions and time of day were appropriate for the detection of Coastal California Gnatcatchers (Table 1).

TABLE 1 SCHEDULE OF SURVEYS AND CONDITIONS JET RIDGE PROJECT

Date Time (hours) Temperature ( F) Wind Speed (mph) Cloud Cover (%) 2/23/06 0900-1115 62-64 0-3 NW 0 3/15/06 0830-1100 64-66 0-3 NW 10 3/25/06 0815-1045 76 3-8 WSW 10

RESULTS

A single California Gnatcatcher was detected on-site during the focused surveys (See Figure 4). Although the CSS on-site is relatively undisturbed, its fragmentation, relatively small size, and isolation from any nearby larger tracts of CSS (by dense industrial and residential development), limits the long-term viability of its values and functions as gnatcatcher habitat. Therefore, even though it is occupied at this time, this habitat on-site is considered medium- quality.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to conduct this work and prepare this report. Please contact me if you need any additional information or clarification.

Sincerely, William T. Everett Certified Biological Consultant U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service California Gnatcatcher Survey Authorization Permit # TE-788036

JET RIDGE GRADING PLAN L-14881 GNATCATCHER SURVEY REPORT cc: USFWS

SURVEY SITE

Figure 1. Location of survey site in regional context. Thomas Bros. Map page #1129, D2.

SURVEY SITE

Figure 2. Detail location map of survey site. Thomas Bros. Map page #1129, D2. JET RIDGE GRADING PLAN L-14881 GNATCATCHER SURVEY REPORT

SURVEY SITE

Figure 3. Topographical map showing survey site location. Approximate project site boundaries are outlined in red. Taken from USGS San Marcos 7.5 minute series quadrangle.

JET RIDGE GRADING PLAN L-14881 GNATCATCHER SURVEY REPORT

Figure 4. Satellite photograph of survey site (photograph by SANDAG/SanGIS 2006), showing parcel boundaries for project site (outlined in red) and adjacent properties in yellow. Note that the image was not taken in 2006, but at least three years or more prior to the current date. Survey route is indicated by the yellow dashed line. Areas currently containing undisturbed Diegan Coastal Sage Scrub are outlined in orange. Location of California Gnatcatcher sighting is indicated by the yellow triangle. Top of photo is true north.

APPENDIX F – CUMULATIVE PROJECTS LIST PRIVATE HORSE KEEPING AND GRAPE PLANTING PROJECT Map Cumulative Project Name Location ID County of San Diego 1 623 ROSS DR 623 ROSS DR 2 SANCHEZ APT 1665 HILCORTE DR 3 HALL-MCNARY, OVERSIZED STRUCTURE, 1019 DEODAR RD AD08-0 4 ANAYA, ACCESSORY APT, AD 09-005 1944 ROCK SPRINGS RD 5 SHOMO AD PERMIT FENCE AD 09-015 21230 QUESTHAVEN RD 6 TONDELLI, AD 11-010 2ND DWELLING 2919 HILL VALLEY DR 7 HOOVER BOUNDARY ADJ 2506 COUNTRY CLUB DR 8 3064 EDEN VALLEY LN 3064 EDEN VALLEY LN 9 2843 HILL VALLEY DR 2843 HILL VALLEY DR 10 1678 COUNTRY CLUB DR 1678 COUNTRY CLUB DR 11 1857 SKYHILL 1857 SKYHILL 12 1330 REES RD 1330 REES RD 13 1505 AVOCADO WY 1505 AVOCADO WY 14 1413 CALAVO DR 1413 CALAVO DR 15 JET RIDGE B/C 558 COUNTRY CLUB LN 16 748 SUZANNE LN 748 SUZANNE LN 17 ULLE CC 1012 COUNTRY CLUB DR 18 1127 REES RD 1127 REES RD 19 SUNRISE GARDENS CC 1223 BARHAM DR 20 DZBIKOWSKI,C/C,ONE LOT 2629 GINGER WY 21 ASHLOCK, CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE NO ADDRESS CC 11 22 1377 CALAVO DR 1377 CALAVO DR 23 2665 HARMONY HEIGHTS RD 2665 HARMONY HEIGHTS RD 24 LUPA TPM 1561 ANTHONY HEIGHTS RD 25 SAN MARCOS ASSESSOR LUEG BUILDINGS 161 CARMEL 26 HANSON AGGREGATES ER 553 W 09TH AV 27 1365 MCLANE LN 1365 MCLANE LN 28 HAGEN PROPERTY SD60XC087-F 1368 ROCK SPRINGS RD 29 SAN ELIJO HILLS-2 CA 8996A 21247 QUESTHAVEN RD 30 NS0334 RINCON DEL DIABLO 2608 HARMONY HEIGHTS RD 31 MT WHITNEY TV FACILITY 910 WASHINGTONIA DR 32 HYDRA COMMUNICATIONS INC 8208 INDIAN RIDGE RD 33 EL NORTE ESTATES PRD 1264 RACHEL CR 34 MT WHITNEY TV TOWERS NO ADDRESS 35 SAN MARCOS CONGREGATION P68-017M1 1111 LA MOREE RD 36 HARMONY GROVE/BOEKE MUP 2937 LIVE OAK PL 37 ASHLAND GRANITE 2070 COUNTRY CLUB DR 38 2601 KAUANA LOA DR 2601 KAUANA LOA DR

October 2013 Appendix F Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting REC Consultants, Inc. Biological Resources Letter Report 39 WAGENVELD 2ND DWELLING UNIT ZAP No location 40 I-15/EL NORTE MINOR USE PERMIT 1415 LELAND WY WIRELESS 41 EDEN HILLS PROJECT, MPA 12-004 1125 LA MOREE RD 42 RANCHO VERDE SUBDIVISION TM 1515 GOLDEN CREST DR 43 ROBOTTA PRD TM & TM/TE4906 779 VIA GORDO 44 SCHMITT TPM 841 SAINT PAUL DR 45 JOUBRAN RESIDENCE 1514 CALAVO DR 46 RANCHO LOMA DE ORO/TPM/4 LOTS 2060 LEMON AV 47 EL NORTE TPM 1987 PIZARRO LN 48 HARMONY GROVE VILLAGE 2823 HARMONY GROVE ROAD City of Escondido 1 CLASSICAL ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL 207 EAST PENNSYLVANIA RELOCATION AVE. 2 CITY PLAZA MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT 328 SOUTH ESCONDIDO BOULEVARD 3 CITYSQUARE DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL 203 SOUTH ORANGE STREET PROJECT 4 11TH AVENUE PARK MASTER PLAN AND 1517 WEST 11TH AVENUE ZONE CHANGE 5 CITRACADO PARKWAY EXTENTION AVENIDA DEL DIABLO TO ANDREASEN DRIVE 6 ESCONDIDO RESEARCH AND 2185 CITRACADO PARKWAY TECHNOLOGY SPECIFIC PLAN

SEE ATTACHED FIGURE FOR LOCATIONS

October 2013 Appendix F Private Horse Keeping and Grape Planting REC Consultants, Inc. Biological Resources Letter Report

Legend Project Site !!47 !!11 !!# City of Escondido Project !!12 40 !!# County Project !!27 !! !!2 !!39 !!33 County Projects !18 1. 623 ROSS DR ! !!4 2. SANCHEZ APT 3. HALL-MCNARY, OVERSIZED STRUCTURE 4. ANAYA, ACCESSORY APT, AD 09-005 !!24 5. SHOMO AD PERMIT FENCE AD 09-015 6. TONDELLI, AD 11-010 2ND DWELLING 78 45 7. HOOVER BOUNDARY ADJ ÃÃÆ !! 28 8. 3064 EDEN VALLEY LN 13 !! 9. 2843 HILL VALLEY DR !! !14 10. 1678 COUNTRY CLUB DR 21 ! !25 !! 22 11. 1857 SKYHILL ! !!!!3 12. 1330 REES RD 13. 1505 AVOCADO WY !44 14. 1413 CALAVO DR ! 15. JET RIDGE B/C 16 16. 748 SUZANNE LN Project Site !! 17. ULLE CC

$ $ 43 18. 1127 REES RD ! CENTRE CITY PARKWAY 35 19 ! 19. SUNRISE GARDENS CC !! !! 20. DZBIKOWSKI,C/C,ONE LOT 15 21. ASHLOCK, CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE !!41 !! 22. 1377 CALAVO DR !!1 23. 2665 HARMONY HEIGHTS RD !!1 24. LUPA TPM !!6 !!9 !!20 25. SAN MARCOS ASSESSOR LUEG BUILDINGS X15 26. HANSON AGGREGATES ER WZY 27. 1365 MCLANE LN !!17 !6 28. HAGEN PROPERTY SD60XC087-F ! 29. SAN ELIJO HILLS-2 CA 8996A !!3 30. NS0334 RINCON DEL DIABLO 8 !2 31. MT WHITNEY TV FACILITY !! ! 32. HYDRA COMMUNICATIONS INC 33. EL NORTE ESTATES PRD 34. MT WHITNEY TV TOWERS 35. SAN MARCOS CONGREGATION P68-017M1 36. HARMONY GROVE/BOEKE MUP !32 !48 !!10 37. ASHLAND GRANITE ! ! !26 38. 2601 KAUANA LOA DR !!34 !38 !!5 ! 39. WAGENVELD 2ND DWELLING UNIT ZAP ! 40. I-15/EL NORTE MINOR USE PERMIT !!23 41. EDEN HILLS PROJECT, MPA 12-004 30 42. RANCHO VERDE SUBDIVISION TM !! 43. ROBOTTA PRD TM & TM/TE4906 !!4 44. SCHMITT TPM 31 !37 45. JOUBRAN RESIDENCE !! ! 46. RANCHO LOMA DE ORO/TPM/4 LOTS !!29 47. EL NORTE TPM !!48 48. HARMONY GROVE VILLAGE City of Escondido Projects 7 !! !!42 1. CLASSICAL ACADEMY HIGH RELOC. 5 36 46 2. CITY PLAZA MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT !! !! !! 3. CITYSQUARE DOWNTOWN RES. 4. 11TH AVE PARK MASTER PLAN 5. CITRACADO PARKWAY EXTENTION 6. ESCONDIDO RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY SPECIFIC PLAN

Miles Cumulative Projects 0 0.5 1 I PRIVATE HORSE KEEPING AND GRAPE PLANTING Source: County of San Diego, 2013. October 2013