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Biological Resources Assessment for the Ione Sands Moto-X Project

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Biological Resources Assessment for the Ione Sands Moto-X Project Amador County, California Prepared For: US Mine Corporation July 24, 2017 Biological Assessment for Ione Sands Moto-X CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Location .................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Methods ............................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 FEDERAL REGULATIONS .............................................................................................................. 3 2.1 Federal Endangered Species Act .................................................................................. 3 2.2 Critical Habitat ............................................................................................................ 3 2.3 Migratory Bird Treaty Act ............................................................................................. 4 2.4 Federal Clean Water Act .............................................................................................. 4 3.0 METHODS ................................................................................................................................... 5 3.1 Literature Review ................................................................................................................. 5 3.2 Site Reconnaissance ............................................................................................................. 5 3.3 Special-Status Species Considered for the Project ................................................................... 6 4.0 RESULTS ................................................................................................................................... 11 4.1 Site Characteristics and Land Use ........................................................................................ 11 4.2 Vegetation Communities ..................................................................................................... 11 4.3 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 12 4.3.1 Sedimentary Rock Land (Sa) ...................................................................................... 12 4.3.1 Mokelumne soils and Alluvial Land (Mt) ...................................................................... 12 4.4 Potential Waters of the U.S. ................................................................................................ 15 4.4.1 Drainage Ditch .......................................................................................................... 15 4.4.2 Seasonal Wetland ..................................................................................................... 15 4.4.3 Pond ........................................................................................................................ 15 4.5 Wildlife .............................................................................................................................. 15 4.6 Evaluation of Species Identified in the Literature Search ....................................................... 16 4.6.1 Plants ....................................................................................................................... 19 4.6.2 Invertebrates ............................................................................................................ 19 4.6.3 Fish .......................................................................................................................... 20 4.6.4 Amphibians ............................................................................................................... 20 4.6.5 Reptiles .................................................................................................................... 21 4.6.6 Birds ........................................................................................................................ 21 4.6.7 Mammals .................................................................................................................. 21 4.6.8 Wildlife Movement/Corridors ...................................................................................... 21 5.0 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................................. 22 5.1 Waters of the U.S. .............................................................................................................. 22 5.2 Special-Status Plants ........................................................................................................... 22 5.3 Special-Status Invertebrates ................................................................................................ 22 EcoUrban Designs, Inc. i July 24, 2017 5.4 Special-Status Fish .............................................................................................................. 23 5.5 Special-Status Amphibians .................................................................................................. 23 5.6 Special-Status Reptiles ........................................................................................................ 23 5.7 Special-Status Birds and MBTA Protected Birds (including Raptors) ........................................ 23 5.8 Special-Status Mammals...................................................................................................... 24 6.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................. 24 7.0 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 26 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Species Identified During the Literature Search ........................................................................ 6 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Project Location and Vicinity .................................................................................................. 2 Figure 2. Project Location .................................................................................................................. 13 Figure 3. Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Types ............................................................... 14 Figure 4. Preliminary Wetland Assessment .......................................................................................... 17 Figure 5. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) Occurrences of Federally Listed Species .......... 18 July 24, 2017 ii EcoUrban Designs, Inc. Biological Resources Assessment for Ione Sands Moto-X 1.0 INTRODUCTION At the request of US Mine Corporation, EcoUrban Designs, Inc. has conducted a biological resources assessment for the proposed Ione Sands moto-X (Project) located in Amador County, California. The purpose of the assessment was to collect information on the biological resources present within the Project area, and to determine any potential biological constraints to Project activities. 1.1 Project Location The ±162-acre Project site is located on Highway 124 located south of the City of Ione. The Project site corresponds to a portion of unsectioned land, Township 6 North, and Range 9 East (MDBM) of the Ione, California” 7.5-minute quadrangle (U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geologic Survey [USGS] 1962)(Figure 1. Project Location and Vicinity). The approximate center of the Project site is located at 38° 19' 42.0276'' North and 120° 56' 22.5888'' West within the Upper Mokelumne Watershed (18040012, USGS 2015). 1.2 Methods Prior to the field surveys, California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB, 2017) was searched. Since the site is in the central part of the USGS 7.5 minute Ione topographic quadrangle, the CNDDB search encompassed this quadrangle. This CNDDB search is approximately 120 miles surrounding the site. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) list of Federally Threatened and Endangered species that may occur in or be affected by projects in the Ione topographic quadrangles (attached) was also reviewed. The purpose of this biological resource assessment (BRA) is to assess the potential for occurrence of special-status plant and animal species or their habitat, sensitive habitats such as wetlands within the Project site. Field surveys were conducted on April 29, 2017. The surveys consisted of driving and walking throughout the site, making observations and noting habitat conditions, surrounding land uses, and plant and wildlife species. We conducted a search for jurisdictional Waters of the U.S. (a term that includes wetlands) as defined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE, 1987; 2017), sensitive species and suitable habitat for sensitive species (e.g., elderberry shrubs, vernal pools). The BRA is prepared to support The Environmental Assessment pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and to support the USFWS consultation. The conclusions and recommendations presented in this BRA are based upon a review of the referenced documents and site reconnaissance. For this assessment, special-status species are defined as the following: are listed, proposed for listing, or candidates for future listing as threatened or endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act (FESA); or are
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