Merkel & Associates, Inc. 5434 Ruffin Road, San Diego, CA 92123 Tel: 858/560-5465 • Fax: 858/560-7779 e-mail: [email protected]

June 30, 2008 Revised October 30, 2008 Revised December 18, 2008 M&A #08-078-02

Ms. Misako Hill PlanCom, Inc. 302 State Place, 2nd Floor Escondido, CA 92029

Revised Biological Resource Letter Report Verizon® Wireless Facility, Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project (County of San Diego Case/Environmental Log Numbers P08-012/E08-09-003)

Dear Ms. Hill:

Merkel & Associates, Inc. biologist, Diana Jensen (County Approved Biological Consultant) has prepared the following biological resource letter report for the County of San Diego, written in accordance with the County of San Diego Report Format and Content Requirements [for] Biological Resources, Second Revision (Public Review Draft) (County 2008d).

If you have any questions concerning this biological letter report, please do not hesitate to contact me at (858) 560-5465 or [email protected]. Sincerely,

Diana M. Jensen Project Manager/County Approved Biological Consultant

Keith W. Merkel Principal Consultant/County Approved Biological Consultant

Verizon® Wireless Facility, Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project Biological Resource Letter Report

SUMMARY

Merkel & Associates, Inc. (M&A) has prepared this biological resource letter report for the proposed Verizon® Wireless Facility, Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project, located within an unincorporated area of northern San Diego County in the Ramona Community Planning Area. The proposed project is a Major Use Permit application for a Verizon® Wireless cellular facility on a vacant private property consisting of open Engelmann oak woodland habitat. One special status floral species and 2 special status faunal species were identified on the project site during the biological survey: Engelmann oak (Quercus engelmannii), turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), and western bluebird (Sialia mexicana). The oak woodland present on the property was burned in the October 2007 Witch Fire, and consequently consists of a more open habitat with a higher predominance of non-native grassland understory species; however, the overall vegetation is representative of open oak woodland habitat, which continues off-site to the northeast and southwest as part of a much larger block of oak woodland habitat, and is considered a County of San Diego (County) Resource Protection Ordinance (RPO) sensitive habitat land with high conservation value. The proposed project would result in direct impacts to Engelmann oak woodland habitat. Construction of the facility would involve ground-disturbance activities adjacent to 2 Engelmann oak trees. Although these Englemann oak trees would not be removed, their root zones would incur impacts that could result in adverse effects to the trees; therefore, per County guidelines, a 50-foot impact radius was used to calculate the impact acreage. The potential loss of the 2 Englemann oak trees would not have a substantial adverse effect on the regional long-term survival of this species; however, the impacts to the oak woodland habitat would require habitat-based mitigation under current County regulations. A utility trench would be placed within an existing dirt access road, and the trench would be dug approximately 3 feet deep and excavated by construction equipment. Although part of the trench would be dug within oak tree root zones, the trench would be located away from the canopies of any oak trees where the roots would be thinner; therefore, the impact would be considered a temporal, less than significant impact since the trench would not form a solid barrier and the roots could grow back (County 2008, pers. com.). Since Verizon® Wireless would be leasing a portion of the private property for the construction and maintenance of the proposed facility, an on-site biological open space/conservation easement would not be feasible as mitigation credit for impacts to the Englemann oak woodland and non-native grassland; therefore, these impacts shall be mitigated through the off-site purchase of habitat. Mitigation credits for Engelmann oak woodland are currently available in the County approved Daley Ranch Conservation Bank located in the northern foothills ecoregion of San Diego County. County approved mitigation banks have signed implementing agreements with the USFWS and CDFG to ensure preservation of the biological resources in perpetuity. County approved mitigation banks have signed implementing agreements with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and

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California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) to ensure preservation of the biological resources in perpetuity. Implementation of the aforementioned project mitigation measures would reduce potential impacts resulting from the proposed project to a level below significance under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and ensure compliance with current County regulations and the County RPO.

INTRODUCTION, PROJECT DESCRIPTION, LOCATION, SETTING

Merkel & Associates, Inc. (M&A) has prepared this biological resource letter report for the proposed Verizon® Wireless Facility, Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project. The purpose of this report is to document the existing biological conditions within the project study area; identify potential impacts to biological resources that could result from implementation of the proposed project; and recommend measures to avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate significant impacts consistent with federal, state, and local rules and regulations under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), including the County of San Diego (County) Resource Protection Ordinance (RPO) (County 2007) and Guidelines for Determining Significance [for] Biological Resources, Second Revision (Public Review Draft) (County 2008c). The project site is located on a private property (Assessors Parcel Number 246-061-23) within an unincorporated area of northern San Diego County, at the end of the Sutherland Drive cul-de-sac in the Ramona Community Planning Area. The property is located within Section 29, Township 12 South, Range 2 East of the San Bernardino Base and Meridian; U.S. Geological Survey 7.5’ Ramona, California Quadrangle (Figure 1). The property consists of vacant land with open Engelmann oak woodland habitat, which burned in the October 2007 Witch Fire. The proposed project is a Major Use Permit application for a Verizon® Wireless cellular facility (County 2008a). Verizon® Wireless proposes to lease an 810 square foot (sq. ft.) area of the 15.0- acre private property for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the facility (Booth & Suarez Architects 2008). The facility would include: 12 antennas (4 panels each on 3 arrays) and one 4-foot microwave dish antenna (for telco service feed) mounted to a 40-foot tall, artificial mono-broadleaf tree; one 16-foot by 11-foot, 6-inch concrete, pre-fabricated equipment shelter with 2 wall-hung, air conditioning units, 2 Global Positioning System (GPS) antennas, and one wall-mounted, light fixture; an overhead coaxial cable ice bridge between the mono-broadleaf tree and equipment shelter; one drywell; one 30-kilovolt (kV) emergency generator with a 52-gallon, double-wall sub-base fuel tank on a poured-in-place concrete pad; and one, 1,110-gallon water storage tank. An 8-foot tall, concrete block wall with a steel, double swing gate and frame would enclose the facility and serve as a noise control element/sound wall to ensure compliance with the County Noise Ordinance.

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APN #242-061-23

Project Vicinity Map Verizon® Wireless Facility Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project Figure 1 ® County Case/Environmental Log Numbers P08-012/E08-09-003 1:24000 Source: USGS 7.5' Ramona, CA Quadrangle Merkel & Associates, Inc. Verizon® Wireless Facility, Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project Biological Resource Letter Report

Electrical service to the facility would be provided via a proposed joint utility trench that would run from the facility, north along an existing dirt road, to a meter pedestal proposed adjacent to an existing San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) electrical transformer, located adjacent to the south side of the cul-de-sac at Sutherland Drive (Booth & Suarez Architects 2008). A landscape-screening plan is proposed around the lease area to shield the facility from view (Booth & Suarez Architects 2008). Two existing Engelmann oak (Quercus engelmannii) oak trees would remain adjacent to the facility, and three 15-gallon Engelmann oak trees, thirteen 5-gallon California lilac (Ceanothus concha) shrubs, and wild strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) groundcover would be planted around the concrete block wall enclosure. All planted areas (except groundcover areas) and exposed soil areas would be covered with mulch to a minimum depth of 2 inches. The revegetated areas would be watered by an automatic, electrically controlled, temporary drip irrigation system, with the irrigation water provided from the water storage tank located within the facility enclosure. Implementation of the permanent landscaping/groundcover and irrigation system would also ensure compliance with required post-construction Best Management Practices (BMP’s). The proposed facility design is in compliance with the current County Fire Protection (FP) 2 Policy (County 2006) since a concrete block wall would enclose the site and a pre-fabricated concrete equipment shelter would be utilized; therefore, no fuel modification zone would be required (County 2008a). Verizon® Wireless would be responsible for long-term maintenance of the facility area (Booth & Suarez Architects 2008). Access to the facility site would be provided via the existing dirt access road from Sutherland Drive. There is an existing open space easement on the property; however, the easement is located approximately 200 feet to the west of the proposed facility site and the proposed project would not encroach into the open space area (Booth & Suarez Architects 2008). M&A conducted a general biological and directed sensitive species survey, as well as a site habitat assessment for the federally listed, endangered quino checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha quino) (Table 1). The study area included 100 feet beyond all proposed project elements (a total study area of 3.9 acres); portions of the study area that extended beyond the property were visually surveyed only from the parcel boundary or existing access road.

Table 1. Survey Date and Time Conditions Survey Date Time Biologist (start to end) Weather: 0%-0% cc 1110 - General biology 2008 Jun 13 Wind: 3-3 BS Amanda K. Gonzales 1345 Temperature: 82°-90° F cc = cloud cover; BS = Beaufort scale; F = Fahrenheit

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REGIONAL CONTEXT

The property is located within the central foothills ecoregion of San Diego County, southwest of Sutherland Reservoir and approximately 630 feet south of the Cleveland National Forest. The project site is situated at the southern portion of the property, at an approximate elevation of 2,343 feet above mean sea level (amsl). Underlying geology is mapped as tonalite and quartz diorite (USGS 2005), and soils are mapped as Vista coarse rocky sandy loam, 5 to 15 percent slopes (USDA NRCS 2007). Surrounding land uses include limited rural developed, private land with native habitat.

HABITATS/VEGETATION COMMUNITIES

Four habitat/vegetation types were identified on the project site during the biological survey (Table 2; Figure 2). A complete list of the floral species observed and the faunal species observed or detected on the project site during the biological surveys has been included with this report in Appendices 1 and 2, respectively.

Table 2. Habitats/Vegetation Communities Study Area Holland/Oberbauer Vegetation Type Existing Code (acres) Open Engelmann oak woodland (oak trees canopy drip-line/within 100’ of each other) 71181 2.2 (includes rock outcrops) Non-native grassland 42200 1.5 (includes rock outcrops)

Disturbed habitat 11300 0.1

Urban/developed 12000 0.1

Total: 3.9

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Inset Facility View

Proposed Joint

# Utility Trench

# Existing SDG&E Transformer Proposed Facility # Proposed Meter Pedestal

#

7 265

6 265

5 265

# Proposed Joint Utility Trench

# Proposed Facility $T

Vegetation Communities - (Holland/Oberbauer Code) englemann oak woodland - canopy drip-line of mature (>6dbh) oak trees (71181) englemann oak woodland - oak trees within 100' of each other (71181) 50' root zones of englemann oak trees non-native grassland (42200) disturbed habitat (11300) urban/developed (12000) rock outcrop Sensitive Species $T western bluebird (Sialia mexicana) Flyover - turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) Other Open Space Easement Parcel Boundary Project Plans 100 0 100 Feet Impact Area Study Area

N Biological Resources Map W E Verizon® Wireless Facility Figure 2 Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project S 1" = 133' County Case/Environmental Log Numbers P08-012/E08-09-003 Merkel & Associates, Inc. Verizon® Wireless Facility, Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project Biological Resource Letter Report

The property consists of open oak woodland habitat, which burned in the October 2007 Witch Fire. The oak woodland is characterized by Engelmann oak trees (averaging 25 feet in height) that comprise 10 to 25 percent of the canopy cover, with a few rock outcrops and an extensive understory of non-native grasses. For the purpose of this report, the habitat is classified according to the Holland (1986) code classification system as modified by Oberbauer (1996), and mapped consistent with the County Biological Resource Mapping Guidelines (County 2008d). All Engelmann oak trees with a greater than 6-inch dbh (diameter breast height) are mapped as open Engelmann oak woodland (Holland/Oberbauer Code 71181), which encompasses the canopy drip- line of each oak tree and the understory vegetation between all oak trees within 100 feet of each other. The understory of the oak canopies predominantly consist of non- native grasses such as slender wild oat (Avena barbata), black mustard (Brassica nigra), short-pod mustard (Hirschfeldia incana), and wild radish (Raphanus sativus). Native fire followers such as four-spot/purple clarkia (Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera) are less common in the oak understory and root zones, and one, small patch of native purple needlegrass (Nassella pulchra) was noted under the canopy of a small Engelmann oak tree near the proposed facility site. In addition, a 50-foot buffer from the canopy edge of each oak tree is mapped as the root zones of the Englemann oak trees. The remaining land outside of the oak woodland is mapped as non-native grassland (Holland/Oberbauer Code 42200). The vegetation is dominated by non-native grasses such as slender wild oat and long-beak filaree (Erodium botrys), intermixed with California fescue (Festuca californica), black mustard, and short-pod mustard. Areas of rock outcrops are also mapped within the non-native grassland, and generally consist of rock slabs and a few non-native grasses with inclusions of Parry’s phacelia (Phacelia parryi) and coastal wishbone plant (Mirabilis laevis var. crassifolia). The existing dirt access road is mapped as disturbed habitat (Holland/Oberbauer Code 11300) (except where it is located within the mapped oak woodland habitat) based on evidence of soil surface disturbance and compaction, but the road is not frequently used and consists of up to a 30 percent cover of non-native and weedy species in some areas. Sutherland Drive is mapped as urban/developed land (Holland/Oberbauer Code 12000) up to the edge of the pavement. Wildlife species observed during the biological survey include checkered (common) white (Pontia protodice) and acmon blue (Icaricia acmon acmon) butterflies, western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), and avian species such as bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus), house wren (Troglodytes aedon), and spotted towhee (Pipilo maculates). One turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) was also noted flying over the property, and a group of 4 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus fuliginata) were observed off-site to the north.

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Regionally, oak woodlands, have extremely high wildlife value due to different habitat niches created for wildlife from the presence of several vertical layers, including ground, herb, shrub, single and multiple layered canopies, which increase species diversity by providing an abundance of breeding, roosting, foraging, and shelter habitat. Non-native grassland is now considered a naturalized vegetation community in southern California that is known to provide important linkages of connectivity for wildlife between areas of native habitat, and support some sensitive animals, as well as a good prey base and suitable hunting habitat for resident, wintering, and transient raptor populations. The oak woodland present on the property is burned and consequently consists of a more open habitat with a higher predominance of non-native understory species; however, the overall vegetation is representative of open oak woodland habitat, which continues off-site to the northeast and southwest as part of a much larger block of oak woodland habitat, and is considered a County RPO sensitive habitat land with high conservation value.

SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES

One special status floral species and 2 special status faunal species were identified on the project site during the biological survey: Engelmann oak, turkey vulture, and western bluebird (Sialia mexicana) (see Figure 2). Approximately 27 individuals of Engelmann oak were mapped within the study area. This native, deciduous tree is designated as a plant of limited distribution by the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) (List 4) and County (List D) (CDFG 2008c and County 2008b). Engelmann oak populations are relatively abundant in southern California but poor reproduction success may be limiting the distribution of this species (Reiser 2001). One turkey vulture was noted flying over the property. This species is designated as a County Group 1 sensitive species (County 2008b). The turkey vulture is a yearlong resident in San Diego County that feeds primarily on carrion, and uses extensive open areas with protective roost sites such as large trees, snags, thickets, shrubs, and the crevices of rock outcrops during the breeding season from March through June (CDFG 2005). Nesting locations of turkey vultures are difficult to detect because they typically lay eggs on the bare ground, with little or no construction of an actual nest. The property provides potential foraging habitat for this species, and could provide potential nesting sites; however, no eggs were detected within the study area during the biological survey, which was conducted at the end of the breeding season in June. One western bluebird was observed near the proposed facility site. This species is designated as a County Group 2 sensitive species (County 2008b). The western bluebird is a fairly common, yearlong resident of California that prefers open woodlands with old woodpecker holes in trees for nesting and breeds from April into July (CDFG 2005).

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In accordance with the County Report Format and Content Requirements [for] Biological Resources, Second Revision (Public Review Draft) (County 2008c), a CNDDB form for the Engelmann oak occurrence has been completed and submitted to the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), and is included with this report in Appendix 3. The turkey vulture and western bluebird are not tracked by the CNDDB; therefore, no CNDDB forms for these species have been completed for submittal to the CDFG. Additional special status species with a high potential to occur on the project site based on the presence of potentially suitable habitat include the following: coastal western whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris stejnegeri), rosy boa (Lichanura trivirgata), San Diego horned lizard (Phrynosoma coronatum blainvillii), and southern mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus fuliginata). These species are designated as Special Animals in the CNDDB and County Group 2 sensitive species; the San Diego horned lizard is also designated as a Species of Special Concern by the CDFG (CDFG 2008a and County 2008b). Although the property is located within a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recommended survey area for the quino checkerspot butterfly (USFWS 2005), this federally listed, endangered species has a low potential to occur within the study area based on the lack of potentially suitable habitat and documented populations within the project region. The property consists of a thick understory of non-native grasses, with the only open areas being along the dirt access road and a few rock outcrops. Quino checkerspot butterflies typically utilize more open areas with low growing and sparse vegetation, which include suitable habitat conditions to favor host plant growth; no dried out patches of potential quino host plant were detected within the study area during the site habitat assessment. In addition, the nearest recent documented populations of the quino checkerspot butterfly are located over 20 miles to the north of the property, beyond Highways 76 and 79 (USFWS 2007). The project site has a moderate to high potential to be utilized by large mammals, such as southern mule deer and mountain lion (Felis concolor). A group of 4 southern mule deer were observed immediately off-site to the north. Mule deer typically occur in intermediate successional stages of most forest, woodland, and brush habitats, but prefer vegetation that provides woody cover, meadow and shrubby openings, and perennial water sources; mountain lion movement closely follows its primary prey, mule deer (CDFG 2005). Both species likely utilize the property as part of a much larger territory range; however, more preferred habitat is located off-site to the north along riparian corridors that provide more vegetative cover. The southern mule deer and mountain lion are designated as County Group 2 sensitive species (County 2008b). The project area has a potential to be utilized as foraging habitat by migratory birds and raptors; however, the project site does not provide substantial foraging or nesting habitat for these species, and is not located adjacent to wetlands or other known bird concentration areas or migratory flyways.

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A summary of the special status species detected on the project site, and an evaluation of the occurrence potential for additional special status species on the project site, based on the list provided in the County initial project application review/scoping letter, dated April 29, 2008, has been included with this report in Appendix 4.

JURISDICTIONAL WETLANDS AND WATERWAYS

No jurisdictional wetlands or waterways were identified within the study area during the biological survey.

OTHER UNIQUE FEATURES/RESOURCES

The property is located in a rural developed area, but is generally part of a north-south regional, habitat linkage. The on-site oak woodland connects to larger areas of open, intact native habitat primarily to the north towards the Cleveland National Forest and Sutherland Reservoir.

SIGNIFICANCE OF PROJECT IMPACTS AND PROPOSED MITIGATION

The proposed project would result in direct impacts to Engelmann oak woodland habitat. Construction of facility would involve ground-disturbance activities adjacent to 2 Englemann oak trees. Although these Englemann oak trees would not be removed, their root zones would incur impacts that could result in adverse effects to the trees; therefore, per County guidelines, a 50-foot impact radius was used to calculate the impact acreage. The potential loss of the 2 Englemann oak trees would not have a substantial adverse effect on the regional long-term survival of this species; however, the impacts to the oak woodland habitat would require habitat-based mitigation under the County Guidelines for Determining Significance [for] Biological Resources, Second Revision (Public Review Draft) (County 2008c) (Table 3; see Figure 2). The utility trench would be placed within the existing dirt access road, and the trench would be dug approximately 3 feet deep and excavated by construction equipment. Although part of the trench would be dug within oak tree root zones, the trench would be located away from the canopies of any oak trees where the roots would be thinner; therefore, the impact would be considered a temporal, less than significant impact since the trench would not form a solid barrier and the roots could grow back (County 2008, pers. com.).

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Table 3. Habitats/Vegetation Communities, Impacts, and Mitigation

Mitigatio On-Site Off-Site 1 Preserved Impact Off-Site Existing n Vegetation Type Impacts Impacts On-Site Neutral Mitigation (acres) Required (acres) (acres) Ratio (acres) (acres) (acres)

Mitigation (acres) Engelmann oak woodland (oak trees canopy drip-line/ 2.2 0.32 0.0 3:1 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.9 within 100’ of each other) (includes rock outcrops) Non-native grassland 1.5 <0.13 0.0 0.5:1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 (includes rock outcrops) Disturbed habitat 0.1 <0.13 0.0 None 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Urban/developed 0.1 0.0 0.0 None 0.00.0 0.0 0.0

Total: 3.9 0.3 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.9 1 County Guidelines for Determining Significance [for] Biological Resources, Second Revision (Public Review Draft) (County 2008c). 2 Impacts would only occur to the understory vegetation within the oak woodland habitat (i.e., no Engelmann oak trees would be removed); impact acreage includes <0.1-acre of impact to the area located to the northeast of the proposed facility, mapped outside of the oak woodland habitat but within the oak tree root zone; no rock outcrops would be removed. 3 Impacts total less than 0.1 acre, and thus, are negligible and not counted towards the total impact acreage; these impacts include the trenching area for the utility line located outside of the oak woodland habitat but partially within the oak tree root zones; the utility line trench will be located within the existing dirt access road, thus, these impacts include only potential vegetation disturbance along the site access road.

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Since Verizon® Wireless would be leasing a portion of the private property for the construction and maintenance of the proposed facility, an on-site biological open space/conservation easement would not be feasible as mitigation credit for impacts to the Englemann oak woodland; therefore, these impacts shall be mitigated through the off-site purchase of habitat. Mitigation credits for Engelmann oak woodland are currently available in the County approved Daley Ranch Conservation Bank located in the northern foothills ecoregion of San Diego County. County approved mitigation banks have signed implementing agreements with the USFWS and CDFG to ensure preservation of the biological resources in perpetuity. The proposed landscape-screening plan includes native species that would be temporarily irrigated. The species included on the proposed plant palate and the periodic monitoring of the watering schedule would ensure avoidance of potential indirect impacts to the surrounding oak woodland habitat from adverse edge effects such as invasive, exotic plant intrusion, erosion, root rot, or soil borne fungus. The project has also been designed to avoid potential indirect impacts from noise and lighting through placement of the facility within a concrete block wall that would serve as a noise control element/sound wall and block light from extending into the adjacent habitat. The proposed project could result in potential impacts to the western bluebird and foraging habitat for the turkey vulture, as well as the additional special status species with a high potential to be present on the project site, including coastal western whiptail, rosy boa, and San Diego horned lizard; however, these potential impacts would not have a substantial adverse effect on the regional long- term survival of these species, and thus, would not be significant under CEQA. Since the proposed project would not result in the removal of any Engelmann oak trees where the western bluebird may potentially nest, no significant impacts to this species would occur under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) or County Guidelines for Determining Significance [for] Biological Resources, Second Revision (Public Review Draft) (County 2008c). The small footprint and design of the proposed project (i.e., concrete block wall enclosure to avoid indirect impacts from noise and lighting) would not result in a substantial or measurable effect on the movement of any native resident or migratory wildlife species, or impede the use of native wildlife nursery sites within the area. Implementation of the aforementioned project mitigation measures would reduce potential impacts resulting from the proposed project to a level below significance under CEQA, and ensure compliance with the County Guidelines for Determining Significance [for] Biological Resources, Second Revision (Public Review Draft) (County 2008c) and RPO.

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CUMULATIVE IMPACTS

The incremental effect of the proposed project would be mitigated to a level less than cumulatively considerable under CEQA. The following information provides the basis for this conclusion. Since the project site is located within an unincorporated area of northern San Diego County, M&A generated a list of past, pending, and future projects that have been submitted to the County for discretionary permit approval (via KivaNet), that could cumulatively contribute to the proposed project’s significant impacts to Englemann oak woodland. The cumulative study area was limited to a one-mile radius of the project site. A total of 3 projects are located within this cumulative study area: Verizon® Wireless Permit 3400 00-132 (withdrawn); the alternative site for this proposed project, which was previously analyzed, but it was determined that collocation with the approved cellular facility was not feasible for this proposed project (M. Hill 2008, pers. com.); and Cingular® Wireless Permit 3400 03-320 (withdrawn). This proposed project would result in additional, minor cumulative impacts to Engelmann oak woodland habitat in the region; however, implementation of the project mitigation measures would reduce impacts to a level less than cumulatively considerable under CEQA through compliance with the County Guidelines for Determining Significance [for] Biological Resources, Second Revision (Public Review Draft) (County 2008c) and RPO.

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REFERENCES

AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc., Conservation Biology Institute, Onaka Planning & Economics, and The Rick Alexander Company. 2003. Volume I, Final MHCP Plan. Prepared for the Multiple Habitat Conservation Program. Administered by SANDAG for the Cities of Carlsbad, Encinitas, Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos, Solana Beach, and Vista. 9 Sections + Attachments A and B.

American Ornithologists’ Union. 1998. Check-list of North American Birds, 7th ed. American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington D.C.

_____. 2007. Forty-eighth Supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds [Internet]. Auk 124:1109-1115. Available from: http://www.aou.org/checklist/index.php3.

American Ornithologists’ Union and Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Birds of North America On-line (Subscription) [Internet]. Available from: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna.

Booth & Suarez Architects. 2008 May 16. PDF and AutoCAD files of Verizon® Wireless, Rancho Santa Teresa Project Plans.

California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). 2005. California’s Wildlife: Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals – Life History Notes [Internet]. Available from: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/cwhr/cawildlife.asp.

_____. 2007. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). Biogeographic Data Branch. RareFind 3; GIS shapefile update CD, March 3, 2007. Sacramento, California.

_____. 2008a Feb. Special Animals [Internet]. Natural Diversity Database. 50 pp + Endnotes. Available from: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/cnddb/pdfs/SPAnimals.pdf.

_____. 2008b Apr. Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Plants List [Internet]. Natural Diversity Database. 16 pp. Available from: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/cnddb/pdfs/TEPlants.pdf.

_____. 2008c Apr. Special Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, and Lichens List [Internet]. Natural Diversity Database. Quarterly publication. 70 pp. Available from: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/cnddb/pdfs/SPPlants.pdf.

_____. 2008d May. Endangered and Threatened Animals List [Internet]. Natural Diversity Database. 12 pp. Available from: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/cnddb/pdfs/TEAnimals.pdf.

_____. 2001. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants [Internet]. 6th edition. Rare Plant Scientific Advisory Committee. David P. Tibor, convening editor. Sacramento, California. X+ 388 pp. Available from: http://cnps.web.aplus.net/cgi-bin/inv/inventory.cgi.

California Resources Agency. 2005. CEQA, The California Environmental Quality Act, Statute [Internet]. Cooperative effort among the California Resources Agency, its programs CERES

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and LUPIN, and the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. Available from: http://ceres.ca.gov/ceqa/index.html.

_____. 2007. CEQA, The California Environmental Quality Act, Guidelines [Internet]. Cooperative effort among the California Resources Agency, its programs CERES and LUPIN, and the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. Available from: http://ceres.ca.gov/ceqa/index.html.

County of San Diego. 2006. Fire Code Compliance for Cellular Facilities, Fire Protection (FP) 2 Policy. 2000, revised 2006. 3 pp. Available from: http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/dplu/Resource/docs/3~pdf/POLICY%20FP-2.pdf.

______. 2007. Resource Protection Ordinance [Internet]. Adopted 1991, Amended. 18pp. Available from: http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/dplu/Resource/docs/3~pdf/res_prot_ord.pdf.

_____. 2008a Apr 29a. Initial project application review/scoping letter package for the Sutherland Drive Wireless Telecommunications Facility Project (Case Number P08-012/Environmental Log Number 08-09-003). Department of Planning and Land Use. 6 pp. + Attachments A through H.

_____. 2008b. County of San Diego Sensitive Plant and Animal Lists. Available from County of San Diego Guidelines and Report Format and Content Requirements [for] Biological Resources, Second Revision (Public Review Draft) (Tables 2 and 3).

_____. 2008c. Guidelines for Determining Significance and Report Format and Content Requirements [for] Biological Resources, Second Revision (Public Review Draft). Land Use and Environment Group; Department of Planning and Land Use; Department of Public Works. 63pp.

______. 2008d. Report Format and Content Requirements [for] Biological Resources, Second Revision (Public Review Draft). Land Use and Environment Group; Department of Planning and Land Use; Department of Public Works. 73pp.

_____. 2008e. KivaNet [Internet]. Availabile from: http://landinfo.sdcounty.ca.gov/Index.cfm.

Crother BI (ed.). 2000 (2001). Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding. SSAR Herpetological Circular 29.iii +82 pp.

Crother BI, Boundy J, Campbell JA, De Quieroz K, Frost D, Green DM, Highton R, Iverson JB, McDiarmid RW, Meylan PA, Reeder TW, Seidel ME, Sites JW Jr., Tilley SG, Wake DB. 2003. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico: Update. Herpetological Review 2003, 34(3), 196-203.

Hall ER. 1981. The mammals of North America. 2nd Edition. John Wiley & Sons. New York, New York. Two volumes. 1,181 pp.

Holland RF. 1986. Preliminary Descriptions of the Terrestrial Natural Communities of California. Nongame-Heritage Program, State of California, Resources Agency, Department of Fish and Game. Sacramento, California. 157pp.

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Hill, M. 2008 Jun 11. E-mail correspondance between Misako Hill of PlanCom, Inc. and Diana Jensen of Merkel & Associates, Inc. providing clarification on the alternative site analysis.

Klein MW, San Diego Natural History Museum. 2002. Butterflies of San Diego County [Internet]. Available from: http://www.sdnhm.org/research/entomology/sdbutterflies.html.

Oberbauer T. 1996. Terrestrial Vegetation Communities in San Diego County Based on Holland’s Descriptions. 6p.

Ogden, in conjunction with the Resource Agencies, Local Jurisdictions, and members of environmental, building and development communities [Internet]. 1998. Final Multiple Species Conservation Program MSCP Plan. 8 sections + attachments. Available from: http://dplu-mscp.sdcounty.ca.gov//2_bmo/2FinalMSCPProgramPlan.pdf.

Opler PA, Pavulaan H, Stanford RE, Pogue M, coordinators. 2006. Butterflies and Moths of North America [Internet]. Bozeman, MT: Mountain Prairie Information Node. Available from: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/.

Rebman JP, Simpson MG. 2006. Checklist of the Vascular Plants of San Diego County, 4th Edition [Internet]. ISBN 0-918969-05-0. Available from: http://www.sdnhm.org/research/botany/sdplants/index.html

Reiser CH. 2001 February. Rare Plants of San Diego County. Aquafir Press. 2001 edition. 299 pp.

Stebbins, RC. 2003. Peterson Field Guide: Western Reptiles and Amphibians. 3rd Edition.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). 2007. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) database for San Diego County, California [Internet]. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Available from: http://SoilDataMart.nrcs.usda.gov/.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). 2003. Ramona Quadrangle, California; California Digital Raster Graphics, 7.5 Minute (0) Series, Albers NAD 27 [Internet]. Available from: http://casil.ucdavis.edu/casil/gis.ca.gov/drg/7.5_minute_series_albers_nad27_trimmed/.

_____. 2005. Bat Inventory of the Multiple Species Conservation Program Area in San Diego County, California, 2002-2004 [Internet]. Prepared for County of San Diego, California Departement of Fish and Game. 97 pp. Available from: http://www.werc.usgs.gov/sandiego/pdfs/San%20Diego%20County%20MSCP%20Bat%20I nventory_Final%20Report%202005.pdf.

_____. 2005. Preliminary Integrated Geological Map Databases for the United States; Western States: California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah. Version 1.2. GIS Data Download California (zip) [Internet]. Available from: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1305/#CA.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2000. Service Interim Guidelines For Recommendations On Communications Towers Siting, Construction, Maintenance, and Decommissioning [Internet]. Available from: http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/issues/towers/comtow.html.

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_____. 2005. Quino Survey Map [Internet]. Available from: http://www.fws.gov/carlsbad/Rules/QuinoDocuments/Quinopdfs/web-map20052.pdf.

_____. 2007. Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office, GIS Division Species Occurrence Data Download (zip) updated 06/06/2007 [Internet]. Available from: http://www.fws.gov/carlsbad/giswebpage/giswebpage.

Wilson DE, Reeder DM (eds). 2005. Mammal Species of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press. 2,142 pp. Available from Johns Hopkins University Press at: 1-800-537-5487 or (410) 516-6900, or http://www.press.jhu.edu/ or http://nmnhgoph.si.edu/msw/.

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PREPARER(S) AND PERSONS/ORGANIZATIONS CONTACTED

Merkel & Associates, Inc.

Diana M. Jensen, Senior Biologist/Primary Report Author (County Approved Biological Consultant)

Amanda K. Gonzales, Senior Biologist/Lead Field Biologist and Report QA/QC

Brad M. Kelly, GIS Specialist/Graphics Preparation and Numeric Analyses

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APPENDIX 1. FLORA SPECIES OBSERVED ON-SITE

Habitat Types:

O = Engelmann oak woodland G = Non-native grassland D = Disturbed habitat U = Urban/developed

* = Denotes non-native flora species.

Merkel & Associates, Inc. #08-078- A-1-1 Verizon® Wireless Facility, Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project Appendix 1

Scientific Name Common Name Habitat

DICOTYLEDONS

Adoxaceae – Adoxa Family Sambucus mexicana C. Presl blue elderberry G

Anacardiaceae - Sumac Family Toxicodendron diversilobum (Torrey & A. Gray) E. Greene western poison oak O

Apiaceae - Carrot Family Daucus pusillus Michaux rattlesnake weed G

Asteraceae - Sunflower Family Artemisia californica Less. California sagebrush G *Centaurea melitensis L. tocalote G *Cichorium intybus L. Mediterranean chickory O Filago californica Nutt. California filago O Lessingia glandulifera A. Gray var. glandulifera valley lessingia G Rafinesquia neomexicana A. Gray desert chickory O *Sonchus asper (L.) Hill ssp. asper prickly sow thistle O

Boraginaceae - Borage Family Cryptantha intermedia (A. Gray) E. Greene nievitas cryptantha G

Brassicaceae - Mustard Family *Brassica nigra (L.) Koch black mustard G *Hirschfeldia incana (L.)Lagr.-Fossat short-pod mustard G *Raphanus sativus L. wild radish G *Sisymbrium irio L. London rocket O

Cucurbitaceae - Gourd Family Marah macrocarpus (E. Greene) E. Greene var. macrocarpus manroot, wild-cucumber G

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge Family Croton setigerus Hook. doveweed G

Fabaceae - Pea Family Lotus argophyllus (A. Gray) E. Greene var. argophyllus silver-leaf lotus G Lupinus bicolor Lindley miniature lupine G Lupinus succulentus Koch arroyo lupine G *Melilotus albus Medikus white sweetclover G Trifolium albopurpureum Torrey & A. Gray var. albopurpureum rancheria clover G *Vicia villosa Roth vetch G

Fagaceae - Oak Family Quercus engelmannii E. Greene Engelmann oak/Mesa blue oak O

Merkel & Associates, Inc. #08-078- A-1-2 Verizon® Wireless Facility, Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project Appendix 1

Scientific Name Common Name Habitat

Gentianaceae - Gentian Family Centaurium venustum (A. Gray) Robinson canchalagua G

Geraniaceae - Geranium Family *Erodium botrys (Cav.) Bertol. long-beak filaree G, D

Hydrophyllaceae - Waterleaf Family Phacelia parryi Torrey Parry’s phacelia G Pholistoma auritum (Lindley) Lilja var. auritum fiesta flower O

Juglandaceae - Walnut Family Lamiaceae - Mint Family *Marrubium vulgare L. horehound O Salvia apiana Jepson white sage O

Nyctaginaceae - Four-O’Clock Family Mirabilis laevis (Benth.) Curran var. crassifolia (Choisy) Spellenb. coastal wishbone plant G

Onagraceae - Evening-Primrose Family Camissonia bistorta (Torrey & A. Gray) Raven California sun cup O, G Clarkia purpurea (Curtis) Nelson & J. F. Macbr. ssp. quadrivulnera (Douglas) Harlan Lewis & M. Lewis four-spot clarkia, purple clarkia G

Papaveraceae - Poppy Family Eschscholzia californica Cham. California poppy G *Papver rhoeas L. corn poppy G

Polemoniaceae - Phlox Family Leptosiphon floribundus (A. Gray) J. M. Porter & L. A. Johnson ssp. floribundus many-flower linanthus G

Primulaceae - Primrose Family *Anagallis arvensis L. scarlet pimpernel G

Rubiaceae - Madder Family Galium angustifolium Nutt. ssp. angustifolium narrow-leaf bedstraw O

Scrophulariaceae - Figwort Family Scrophularia californica Cham. & Schldl. ssp. floribunda (E. Greene)Shaw California figwort G

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Scientific Name Common Name Habitat

MONOCOTYLEDONS

Liliaceae - Lily Family Calochortus concolor (Baker) Purdy golden-bowl mariposa G

Poaceae - Grass Family *Avena barbata Link slender wild oat G *Bromus diandrus Roth ripgut grass G *Bromus hordeaceus L. soft chess G *Bromus madritensis L. ssp. rubens (L.) Husnot red brome, foxtail chess G *Festuca californica Vasey California fescue G Nassella pulchra (A. Hitchc.) Barkworth purple needlegrass O

Merkel & Associates, Inc. #08-078- A-1-4 Verizon® Wireless Facility, Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project Appendix 2

APPENDIX2. FAUNA SPECIES OBSERVED OR DETECTED ON-SITE

Habitat Types:

O = Engelmann oak woodland G = Non-native grassland D = Disturbed habitat U = Urban/developed FO = fly over

* = denotes introduced species

Abundance Codes (birds only):

A = Abundant: Almost always encountered in moderate to large numbers in suitable habitat and the indicated season.

C = Common: Usually encountered in proper habitat at the given season.

U = Uncommon: Infrequently detected in suitable habitat. May occur in small numbers or only locally in the given season.

R = Rare: Applies to species that are found in very low numbers.

“Numbers” indicate the number of individuals observed during the field survey work.

Status Codes (birds only):

M = Migrant: Uses the site for brief periods of time, primarily during the spring and fall months.

R = Year-round resident: Probable breeder on-site or in the vicinity.

S = Spring/summer resident: Probable breeder on-site or in the vicinity unless combined with transient status.

T = Transient: Uses site irregularly in summer but unlikely to breed. Not a true migrant and actual status often poorly known.

W = Winter visitor: Does not breed locally.

V = Casual vagrant: Not expected; out of normal geographic or seasonal range and by definition rare.

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Common Name Scientific Name Habitat Abundance Status

BUTTERFLIES

Pieridae (Whites and Sulfurs) checkered (common) white Pontia protodice D

Lycaenidae (Gossamer-wing Butterflies) acmon blue Icaricia acmon acmon D

REPTILES

Phrynosomatidae western fence lizard Sceloporus occidentalis D

BIRDS

Cathartidae (American Vultures) turkey vulture Cathartes aura FO C T, R

Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves) mourning dove Zenaida macroura O C R

Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers) ash-throated flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens G C M, S western kingbird Tyrannus verticalis C M, S

Corvidae (Jays, Magpies, and Crows) western scrub-jay Aphelocoma californica D C R common raven Corvus corax C R

Aegithalidae (Bushtit) bushtit Psaltriparus minimus O C R

Troglodytidae (Wrens) house wren Troglodytes aedon O C M, W, S

Turdidae (Bluebirds and Thrushes) western bluebird Sialia mexicana O C R, W

Emberizidae (Sparrows, Blackbirds and Relatives) spotted towhee Pipilo maculates O C R lark sparrow Chondestes grammacus G C W, S

Fringillidae (Finches) lesser goldfinch Carduelis psaltria D C M, R

Merkel & Associates, Inc. #08-078- A-2-2 Verizon® Wireless Facility, Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project Appendix 2

Common Name Scientific Name Habitat Abundance Status

MAMMALS

Felidae (Cats) bobcat Lynx rufus D

Canidae (Coyotes, Dogs, Foxes, Jackals, and Wolves) coyote Canis latrans clepticus D

Cervidae (Deer) mule deer Odocoileus hemionus fuliginata D

Merkel & Associates, Inc. #08-078- A-2-3 Verizon® Wireless Facility, Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project Appendix 3

APPENDIX 3. CNDDB FORMS

Merkel & Associates, Inc. #08-078- A-3-1 Mail to: California Natural Diversity Database For Office Use Only Department of Fish and Game 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): 06/13/2008

Reset California Native Species Field Survey Form Send Form Scientific Name: Quercus engelmannii

Common Name: Engelmann oak

Species Found? ✔ Reporter: Diana M. Jensen Yes No If not, why? Address: 5434 Ruffin Road ✔ Total No. Individuals 27 Subsequent Visit? yes no San Diego, CA 92123 Is this an existing NDDB occurrence? ✔ no  unk. Yes, Occ. # E-mail Address: [email protected] Collection? If yes: Phone: (858) 560-5465 Number Museum / Herbarium

Plant Information Animal Information

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

County:San Diego Landowner / Mgr.: private Quad Name: Ramona Elevation: 2,343 amsl T 12S R 2E Sec 29 , ¼ of ¼, Meridian:HM S Source of Coordinates (GPS, topo. map & type): T R Sec , ¼ of ¼, Meridian:HM 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: latitude: 33 degrees 05' 54.49" longitude: 116 degrees 47' 45.95"

Habitat Description (plant communities, dominants, associates, substrates/soils, aspects/slope): open Engelman oak woodland habitat

Other rare taxa seen at THIS site on THIS date: (separate form preferred)

Site Information Overall site/occurrence quality/viability (site + population): Excellent ✔ Good  Fair Poor Immediate AND surrounding land use: limited rural development Visible disturbances: burned in October 2007 Witch Fire 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): Amanda K. Gonzales Other: May we obtain duplicates at our expense? yes no

DFG/BDB/1747 Rev. 6/16/08 Verizon® Wireless Facility, Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project Appendix 4

APPENDIX 4. OCCURRENCE POTENTIAL OF SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES ON THE PROJECT SITE

Merkel & Associates, Inc. #08-078- A-4-1 Verizon® Wireless Facility, Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project Appendix 4

Factual Basis Habitat Potential Scientific Name Sensitivity Verified for Preferences/ To Occur Common Name1 Codes and Status2 On-Site Determination of Requirements3 On-Site Occurrence Potential PLANTS

Native, annual herb that ESA: FT prefers grassy openings in CESA: SE chaparral or sage scrub on CNPS List: 1B Acanthomintha ilicifolia gabbroic substrate with Lack of suitable substrate and CNDDB: SP No Low thornmint friable or broken clay soils, habitat. MSCP: NE, CS including vernal pools; MHCP: NE, CS distinctive microhabitat; Cnty of SD List: A blooming period Apr-Jun.

Native, perennial, bulbiferous/corm sprouting herb that prefers vernally moist grasslands, mima CNPS List: 1B mound topography, and the Brodiaea orcuttii CNDDB: SP periphery of vernal pools; Lack of suitable mesic No Low Orcutt’s brodiaea MSCP: CS will occasionally grow on habitat. Cnty of SD List: A streamside embankments; has also been found in mesic grasslands and openings within chaparral; blooming period May-Jul.

Native, annual herb that Centromadia (=Hemizonia) parryi CNPS List: 1B occurs in mesic areas within Lack of suitable mesic ssp. australis CNDDB: SP grasslands, alkaline locales, No Low habitat. southern tarplant Cnty of SD List: A vernal pools, and salt marsh; blooming period May-Nov.

Native, annual herb that Lack of more suitable mesic prefers the periphery of oak CNPS List: 1B habitat, and not observed Clarkia delicata woodlands and cismontane CNDDB: SP No Low during the biological survey, delicate/campo clarkia chaparral, typically in more Cnty of SD List: A which was conducted during mesic areas; blooming period species blooming period. Apr-Jun.

Merkel & Associates, Inc. #08-078- A-4-2 Verizon® Wireless Facility, Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project Appendix 4

Factual Basis Habitat Potential Scientific Name Sensitivity Verified for Preferences/ To Occur Common Name1 Codes and Status2 On-Site Determination of Requirements3 On-Site Occurrence Potential Native, annual herb that Saltugilia (=gilia) caruifolia occurs in sandy openings CNPS List: 4 caraway-leaf gilia/ within lower montane CNDDB: SP No Low Lack of suitable habitat. caraway-leaved gilia/ coniferous forest and high Cnty of SD List: D caraway-leaved woodland-gilia desert chaparral; blooming period Mar-Aug.

Native, inconspicuous annual, herb that typically CNPS List: 4 Harpagonella palmeri occurs on clay vertisols with Lack of suitable substrate and CNDDB: SP No Low Palmer’s grappling hook open grassy slopes in open habitat. Cnty of SD List: D sage scrub or chaparral; blooming period Mar-May. Native/California endemic, annual herb that frequents annual and perennial Not observed during the Holocarpha virgata CNPS List: 4 grasslands; usually shrub biological survey, which was ssp. elongata CNDDB: SP cover is not well developed, No Low conducted during the species graceful tarplant Cnty of SD List: D with a heavy incidence of blooming period. invasive non-native grasses and herbs; blooming period May-Nov. Native, annual herb/grass that typically occurs in saline flats Hordeum intercedens CNPS List: 3 or depressions within little barley/ CNDDB: SP grasslands or vernal pools, as No Low Lack of suitable habitat. vernal barley Cnty of SD List: C well as coastal dunes and scrub; blooming period Mar- Jun. ESA: FT Native, small, annual herb Navarretia fossalis CNPS List: 1B that prefers vernal pools and spreading prostrate navarretia/ CNDDB: SP swales, and occurs in No Low Lack of suitable habitat. Moran’s navarretia/ MSCP: NE (City of SD), CS chenopod scrub, marshes, spreading navarretia MHCP: NE, CS swamps, and playas; Cnty of SD List: A blooming period Apr-Jun.

Merkel & Associates, Inc. #08-078- A-4-3 Verizon® Wireless Facility, Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project Appendix 4

Factual Basis Habitat Potential Scientific Name Sensitivity Verified for Preferences/ To Occur Common Name1 Codes and Status2 On-Site Determination of Requirements3 On-Site Occurrence Potential

Native, perennial herb that occupies dry, shrublands and Not observed during the CNPS List: 4 woodlands, including Piperia leptopetal biological survey, which was CNDDB: SP cismontane woodland and No Low narrow-petal rein orchid conducted during the species Cnty of SD List: D lower/upper montante blooming period. coniferous forest; blooming period May-Jul.

Native, deciduous tree that Yes; CNPS List: 4 Quercus engelmannii occurs in chaparral, Approximately CNDDB: SP Engelmann oak/ cismontane and riparian 27 individuals Observed MHCP: CS Mesa blue oak woodland, and grasslands; mapped within Cnty of SD List: D blooming period Mar-Jun. the study area.

INVERTEBRATES

Small, seasonal claypan ESA: FE puddles and pools <30 cm CNDDB: SA deep. Most commonly found Branchinecta sandiegoensis MSCP: NE (Cnty of SD), CS in a 50 km wide strip of San No Low Lack of suitable habitat. San Diego fairy shrimp MHCP: NE Diego county associated with Cnty of SD Group: 1 coastal sage scrub and annual grasslands Utilizes open habitats including fields, meadows, weedy areas, marshes, and roadsides; caterpillar host plants include milkweeds Lack of potential host plants Danaus plexippus CNDDB4: SA (Asclepius sp.); adults nectar No Low detected within the study area monarch butterfly Cnty of SD Group: 2 from a variety of flowers and during the biological survey. migrate to wintering sites in central Mexico and along the California coast from Aug- Oct.

Merkel & Associates, Inc. #08-078- A-4-4 Verizon® Wireless Facility, Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project Appendix 4

Factual Basis Habitat Potential Scientific Name Sensitivity Verified for Preferences/ To Occur Common Name1 Codes and Status2 On-Site Determination of Requirements3 On-Site Occurrence Potential

Utilizes coastal habitats of sage scrub and chaparral; more inland, can be found in open meadows adjacent to sage scrub, chaparral and oak woodland, as well as juniper woodland and semi-desert scrub; habitats must have open areas with low growing and sparse vegetation; other suitable habitat conditions include dirt trails/roads, especially along hilltops, and ESA: FE Lack of potentially suitable clay soils and cryptogrammic Euphydryas editha quino CNDDB: SA habitat and documented crusts, which favor host plant No Low quino checkerspot butterfly MSCP: NE (County of SD) populations within the growth; primary caterpillar Cnty of SD Group: 1 project region. host plants include Plantago erecta at lower elevations and P. patagonica and Antirrhinum coulterianum at higher elevations; additional host plants may include Cordylanthus rigidus and Castilleja exserta; adults nectar on low growing annuals; adult flight period typically Mar-Apr, depending on winter rainfall and temperatures.

AMPHIBIANS Oak woodlands, mixed Ensatina (eschscholtzii) klauberi DFG: SSC chaparral, and mixed Lack of preferenced mesic large-blotched ensatina/ CNDDB: SA No Low coniferous forests with an habitat with surface litter. large-blotched salamander Cnty of SD Group: 1 abundance of surface litter.

Merkel & Associates, Inc. #08-078- A-4-5 Verizon® Wireless Facility, Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project Appendix 4

Factual Basis Habitat Potential Scientific Name Sensitivity Verified for Preferences/ To Occur Common Name1 Codes and Status2 On-Site Determination of Requirements3 On-Site Occurrence Potential Breeding and egg laying DFG: SSC occur almost exclusively in Spea (=Scaphiopus) CNDDB: SA shallow, temporary pools hammondii No Low Lack of suitable habitat. MHCP: CS formed by heavy winter western spadefoot toad Cnty of SD Group: 2 rains, typically within grassland habitat. REPTILES Shows a preference for areas of leaf litter and loose soil DFG: SSC Anniella pulchra pulchra along washes, beach sand CNDDB: SA No Low Lack of suitable habitat. silvery legless lizard dunes, open scrub and Cnty of SD Group: 2 woodland, and sandy benches along alluvial fans. Diurnal reptile from early DFG: SSC spring to late summer that CNDDB: SA Aspidoscelis hyperythra beldingi prefers washes and other MSCP: CS No Low Lack of suitable habitat. orange-throated whiptail sandy areas with patches of MHCP: CS brush and rocks in coastal Cnty of SD Group: 2 scrub and chaparral. Primarily diurnal reptile that is most common in and around dense vegetation in a Aspidoscelis tigris stejnegeri CNDDB: SA variety of habitats including No High Potentially suitable habitat. coastal western whiptail Cnty of SD Group: 2 chaparral, desert scrub, desert wash, alkali scrub, and grasslands. Primarily nocturnal reptile that prefers areas of rock outcrop within sage scrub and chaparral, and hides in Coleonyx variegates abbotti CNDDB: SA burrows or under surface No Lo Lack of suitable habitat. San Diego banded gecko Cnty of SD Group: 1 objects during the day; breeds during Apr and May, and hibernates through the winter, generally from Nov to Feb.

Merkel & Associates, Inc. #08-078- A-4-6 Verizon® Wireless Facility, Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project Appendix 4

Factual Basis Habitat Potential Scientific Name Sensitivity Verified for Preferences/ To Occur Common Name1 Codes and Status2 On-Site Determination of Requirements3 On-Site Occurrence Potential

Often encountered during the day under boards and flat Diadophis punctatus similis CNDDB: SA rocks in open, moist, No Low Lack of suitable habitat. San Diego ringneck snake Cnty of SD Group: 2 relatively rocky areas within chaparral and grassland habitats.

Mostly nocturnal, but sometimes crepuscular and occasionally diurnal snake that prefers habitats with a mixture of a brushy cover Lichanura trivirgata and rocky soil with moderate CNDDB: SA (= Charina trivigata roseofusca) to dense vegetation in No High Potentially suitable habitat. Cnty of SD Group: 2 (= coastal) rosy boa chaparral-covered hillsides and canyons, as well as desert scrub flats with good cover and in the mountains; greatest activity occurs from late spring to mid-summer.

Diurnal lizard that occurs in a variety of open habitats, including riparian areas, sage DFG: SSC scrub and grasslands, Phrynosoma coronatum blainvillii CNDDB: SA especially in sandy areas, No High Potentially suitable habitat. San Diego horned lizard MSCP: CS washes, and flood plains that Cnty of SD Group: 2 provide camouflage and areas of loose soils to burrow for protection from predators.

Merkel & Associates, Inc. #08-078- A-4-7 Verizon® Wireless Facility, Rancho Santa Teresa/Sutherland Drive Project Appendix 4

Factual Basis Habitat Potential Scientific Name Sensitivity Verified for Preferences/ To Occur Common Name1 Codes and Status2 On-Site Determination of Requirements3 On-Site Occurrence Potential BIRDS A breeding, year-long resident of San Diego County that frequently builds nests consisting of a stick platform lined with bark typically 20 to 50 feet above the ground, DFG4: SSC in dense stands of live oak, Lack of denser oak woodland CNDDB: SA Accipiter cooperii riparian deciduous or other habitat where this species MSCP: CS No Low Cooper’s hawk forest habitats located near typically occurs and no nests MHCP: CS water and along broken observed. Cnty of SD Group: 1 woodland habitat and edges, where it can perch under cover and hunt prey, including amphibians, reptiles, and small birds and mammals.

Winter resident only in DFG4: SSC southern California that Accipiter striatus CNDDB4: SA prefers riparian habitats and No Low Lack of suitable habitat. sharp-shinned hawk Cnty of SD Group: 1 forages in openings at habitat edges.

Feeds in grasslands and DFG4: SSC croplands, breeds near Agelaius tricolor CNDDB: SA freshwater preferably in No Low Lack of suitable habitat. tricolored blackbird MSCP: CS marshes or other emergent Cnty of SD Group: 1 wetlands.

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Factual Basis Habitat Potential Scientific Name Sensitivity Verified for Preferences/ To Occur Common Name1 Codes and Status2 On-Site Determination of Requirements3 On-Site Occurrence Potential Summer and breeding resident in foothills and lowlands west of the Cascade-Sierra Nevada crest, south to San Diego County; occurs in dense, dry or well- drained grassland, especially Not observed within the native grassland with a mix study area during the Ammodramus savannarum CNDDB: SA of grasses and forbs for No Low biological survey, which was grasshopper sparrow Cnty of SD Group: 1 foraging and nesting; builds conducted during the peak- nest of grasses and forbs in a breeding season. slight depression in ground, hidden at base of an overhanging clump of grasses or forbs; breeds early Apr to mid-Jul, with a peak in May- Jun. Yearlong resident throughout California (except the Central Valley) that uses rolling foothills and mountain terrain, wide arid plateaus deeply cut by streams and canyons, open mountain slopes, and cliffs and rock DFG4: SSC, FP outcrops; seeks cover and May forage on-site but there Aquila chrysaetos CNDDB: SA Low nests in cliffs and large trees; No is a lack of potential nesting golden eagle MSCP: NE (Cnty of SD), CS (nesting) hunts primarily by soaring habitat. Cnty of SD Group: 1 above ground in open terrain and feeds on mostly lagomorphs and rodents, but also takes other mammals, birds, reptiles, and some carrion; breeds from late Jan- Aug, with peak activity from Mar-Jul.

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Factual Basis Habitat Potential Scientific Name Sensitivity Verified for Preferences/ To Occur Common Name1 Codes and Status2 On-Site Determination of Requirements3 On-Site Occurrence Potential Occurs in open dry grasslands, agricultural, DFG: SSC rangelands and desert Some rodent burrows found Athene cunicularia CNDDB: SA habitats. Inhabits grass, forb No Low on-site but no owl sign burrowing owl MSCP: NE (Cnty of SD), CS and shrub stages of pinyon detected. Cnty of SD Group: 1 and ponderosa pine habitats as well as urban areas. Freshwater ponds and wetlands, moist grasslands, Branta canadensis moffitti MSCP: CS agriculture land, and No Low Lack of suitable habitat. Canada goose Cnty of SD Group: 2 meadows. Winter visitor to the San Diego County area. Dense riparian areas with Buteo lineatus Cnty of SD Group: 1 adjacent edges and open No Low Lack of suitable habitat. red-shouldered hawk areas for hunting. DFG: SSC Buteo regalis CNDDB4: SA Dry, open habitats, typically No Moderate Potentially suitable habitat. ferruginous hawk MSCP: CS grasslands. Cnty of SD Group: 1 Yearlong resident throughout most of California, that uses extensive open areas with protective roost sites provided by large trees, snags, thickets, shrubs, and nest sites in the crevices of Yes; Cathartes aura rock outcrops; nesting Observed Cnty of SD Group: 1 Present turkey vulture locations are difficult to flying over the detect because they typically property. lay their eggs on bare ground, with little or no construction of an actual nest; hunts from the air or by perch, aided by the sense of smell, and feeds primarily on carrion.

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Factual Basis Habitat Potential Scientific Name Sensitivity Verified for Preferences/ To Occur Common Name1 Codes and Status2 On-Site Determination of Requirements3 On-Site Occurrence Potential

Yearlong and winter resident in California that uses flat, or hummocky, open areas of tall, dense grasses, moist or dry shrubs, and edges for nesting, cover, and feeding; hunts by making low, DFG4: SSC quartering flights above open Circus cyaneus CNDDB: SA ground, and dives from flight No Low Lack of suitable habitat. northern harrier MSCP: CS or hover; feeds mostly on Cnty of SD Group: 1 voles and other small mammals, birds, frogs, small reptiles, crustaceans, and insects; nests built of a large mound of sticks in wet areas, and a smaller cup of grasses on dry sites; breeds Apr-Sep, with peak activity Jun-Jul. Yearlong resident throughout most of California that frequents open habitats with sparse shrubs and trees, bare ground, and low or sparse herbaceous cover; builds nests on a stable branch in DFG4: FP Elanus (= caeruleus) densely-foliaged shrub or leucurus CNDDB: SA No Moderate Potentially suitable habitat. tree, usually well-concealed, white (= black)-shouldered kite Cnty of SD Group: 1 approximately 0.4 to 15 m (1.3 to 50 ft) above ground; hunts for prey from a perch and feeds on mostly large insects; lays eggs from Mar- May, and young become independent in Jul-Aug.

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Factual Basis Habitat Potential Scientific Name Sensitivity Verified for Preferences/ To Occur Common Name1 Codes and Status2 On-Site Determination of Requirements3 On-Site Occurrence Potential DFG: SSC Grasslands, disturbed areas Eremophila alpestris actia CNDDB: SA and open habitats with No Moderate Potentially suitable habitat. California horned lark Cnty of SD Group: 2 sparse, low vegetation.

Found within grassland or DFG4: SSC open habitats with bare Lanius ludovicianus CNDDB: SA ground and sparse shrub No Moderate Potentially suitable habitat. loggerhead shrike Cnty of SD Group: 1 and/or tree cover for nesting and perching. Occurs in open ocean, beaches, bays, estuaries, DFG: SSC Larus californicus lagoons, as well as garbage CNDDB4: SA No Low Lack of suitable habitat. California gull dumps, agricultural fields, Cnty of SD Group: 2 and freshwater ponds and lakes. Yearlong resident in California, west of the Cascade, Sierra Nevada, Transverse, and Pennisular Ranges; typically uses a mix of deciduous riparian and adjacent oak habitats, and may move upslope after breeding; feeds on adult and Species heard calling from Picoides nuttallii larval insects, primairily Low off-site; may forage on-site CNDDB4: SA No Nuttall’s woodpecker beetles; nests located mostly (nesting) but habitat not typically in riparian habitat in dead preferred for nesting. (occasionally live) trunks or limbs of willow, sycamore, cottonwood, or alder, but rarely in oaks; excavates nesting cavity from 0.6 to 18 m (2-60 ft) above ground; breeds from late Mar to early Jul.

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Factual Basis Habitat Potential Scientific Name Sensitivity Verified for Preferences/ To Occur Common Name1 Codes and Status2 On-Site Determination of Requirements3 On-Site Occurrence Potential Yes; MSCP: CS Sialia mexicana Open woodlands, farmlands, Observed near MHCP: CS Present western bluebird and orchards proposed Cnty of SD Group: 2 facility site. MAMMALS

Nocturnal bat species that is a yearlong resident throughout California and occurs in a wide variety of habitats, including grasslands, DFG: SSC Antrozous pallidus shrublands, woodlands, and CNDDB: SA No Low Lack of suitable pallid bat forests, but prefers rocky Cnty of SD Group: 2 outcrops, cliffs, and crevices with access to open habitats for foraging, may forage up to 2.5 km (3 mi) from day roost.

Nocturnal mammal of the raccoon family that is a yearlong resident throughout most of California and utilizes a mixture of forest and shrubland in close association with rocky areas Bassariscus astutus Cnty of SD Group: 2 or riparian habitats; usually No Low Lack of suitable habitat. ringtail not found more than 1 km (0.6 mi) from permanent water; nests in rock recesses, hollow trees, logs, snags, abandoned burrows, or woodrat nests, with young reportedly born in May-Jun.

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Factual Basis Habitat Potential Scientific Name Sensitivity Verified for Preferences/ To Occur Common Name1 Codes and Status2 On-Site Determination of Requirements3 On-Site Occurrence Potential Nocturnal species that occurs in a variety of habitats, DFG: SSC Chaetodipus californicus femoralis including coastal scrub, CNDDB: SA No Moderate Potentially suitable habitat. Dulzura (California) pocket mouse chaparral and grasslands, Cnty of SD Group: 2 typically in brushy areas along grass-chaparral edge.

Nocturnal species that occurs in a variety of habitats, DFG: SSC Chaetodipus fallax fallax including coastal scrub, CNDDB: SA No Moderate Potentially suitable habitat. northwestern San Diego pocket mouse chaparral and grasslands, Cnty of SD Group: 2 typically in brushy areas along grass-chaparral edge.

Cave rooster, feeds in DFG: SSC Corynorhinus townsendii forest/woodland habitats or CNDDB: SA No Low Lack of suitable habitat. Townsend’s western big-eared bat along habitat edges within 15 Cnty of Group: 2 km of roost site.

The majority of the study area lacks this species’ more preferred open habitat with ESA: FE Areas of sparse vegetation, sparse vegetative cover. CESA: ST Dipodomys stephensi primarily grasslands, but may More potentially suitable CNDDB: SA No Moderate Stephens’ kangaroo rat occur in sage scrub or habitat would be located to MHCP: CS disturbed areas the southeast of the study Cnty of SD Group: 1 area where the understory vegetation is more open with loose soils.

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Factual Basis Habitat Potential Scientific Name Sensitivity Verified for Preferences/ To Occur Common Name1 Codes and Status2 On-Site Determination of Requirements3 On-Site Occurrence Potential Nocturnal bat species that occurs in many open, semi- arid to arid habitats, DFG: SSC including woodlands, coastal Eumops perotis CNDDB: SA scrub, grasslands, chaparral, No Low Lack of suitable habitat. western mastiff bat Cnty of SD Group: 2 desert scrub, and urban areas; roosts in crevices in vertical cliff faces, high buildings, trees, and tunnels.

Mostly nocturnal and crepuscular large mammal that occurs throughout California and typically requires extensive areas of riparian vegetation and brushy stages of various habitats, with interspersions Potentially suitable habitat Puma (=Felis) concolor MSCP: CS of irregular terrain, rocky and primary prey (mule deer) No Moderate mountain lion Cnty of SD Group: 2 outcrops, and tree/brush observed in the property edges, where prey, vicinity. predominantly consisting of mule deer, are present; active yearlong, but has season movement during the fall within a fixed range in response to migrating deer herds (generally Aug to Oct).

Occurs in CA in coastal Lasiurus blossevillii CNDDB: SA lowlands and roosts in large No Low Lack of suitable habitat. western red bat Cnty of Group: 2 shrubs and fruit trees.

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Factual Basis Habitat Potential Scientific Name Sensitivity Verified for Preferences/ To Occur Common Name1 Codes and Status2 On-Site Determination of Requirements3 On-Site Occurrence Potential Diurnal and crepuscular herbivore that occurs in DFG: SSC Lepus californicus bennettii herbaceous and desert-shrub Lack of more preferred open CNDDB: SA No Low San Diego black-tailed jackrabbit areas and open, early stages habitat. Cnty of SD Group: 2 of forest and chaparral habitats. Little is known about the habitat preferences of this nocturnal bat species, but they are known to inhabit rocky areas, and seem to prefer open stands in forests, woodlands, and brushy habitats; feed on a variety of Myotis leibii melanorhinus (=ciliolabrum) CNDDB: SA small flying insects while No Low Lack of suitable habitat. small-footed myotis Cnty of SD Group: 2 flying over water and among trees; requires more water than most other bats; roosts in caves, buildings, crevices and sometimes under bark and bridges, preferring more humid areas; hibernates from Nov-Mar. Nocturnal bat species that is found in nearly all brush, woodland, and forest habitats, from sea level to at least 2700 m (9000 ft), but prefers coniferous woodlands Myotis evotis evotis CNDDB: SA and forests; roosts in No Low Lack of suitable habitat. long-eared myotis Cnty of SD Group: 2 buildings, crevices, spaces under bark, and snags, and uses caves primarily as night roosts; feeds along habitat edges, in open habitats, and over water; hibernates.

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Factual Basis Habitat Potential Scientific Name Sensitivity Verified for Preferences/ To Occur Common Name1 Codes and Status2 On-Site Determination of Requirements3 On-Site Occurrence Potential Nocturnal bat species that is found in a variety of habitats, but seems to prefer pinyon- juniper, valley foothill hardwood and hardwood- conifer, generally at 1300- 2200 m (4000-7000 ft); Myotis thysanodes thysanodes CNDDB: SA roosts in caves, mines, No Low Lack of suitable habitat. fringed myotis Cnty of SD Group: 2 buildings, and crevices, and may use separate day and night roosts; forages over water, in open habitats and early successional stages, streams, lakes, and ponds, by gleaning from foliage; hibernates from Oct-Mar. Nocturnal bat species that is typically found in woodland and forest habitats above 1200 m (4000 ft), and also forages in chaparral, coastal scrub, Great Basin shrub habitats, and in early successional stages of woodlands and forests; not Myotis volans interior CNDDB: SA typically found in desert and No Low Lack of suitable habitat. long-legged myotis Cnty of SD Group: 2 arid grassland habitats; roosts in rock crevices, buildings, under tree bark, in snags, mines, and caves; forages at fairly low heights 3-5 m (10- 15 ft) over water, close to trees and cliffs, and in openings in woodlands and forests; hibernates.

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Factual Basis Habitat Potential Scientific Name Sensitivity Verified for Preferences/ To Occur Common Name1 Codes and Status2 On-Site Determination of Requirements3 On-Site Occurrence Potential Nocturnal bat species that is found in a wide variety of habitats ranging from sea level to 3300 m (11,000 ft), and prefers open forests and woodlands with sources of water over which to feed; Myotis yumanensis saturatus CNDDB: SA roosts in buildings, mines, No Low Lack of suitable habitat. Yuma myotis Cnty of SD Group: 2 caves, or crevices, as well as abandoned swallow nests and under bridges, and uses separate day and night roosts; feeds over water sources on a wide variety of small flying insects found by echolocation; hibernates. Mainly nocturnal, but also crepuscular and occasionally diurnal small mammal that is active year-long and prefers coastal scrub or juniper/sagebrush habitat, with moderate to dense canopies, particularly in areas of rock outcrops and rocky DFG: SSC Neotoma lepida intermedia cliffs and slopes; nests are Lack of suitable habitat and CNDDB: SA No Low San Diego desert woodrat constructed of twigs, sticks, no nests observed. Cnty of SD Group: 2 cactus parts, and rocks, dependent on the availability of surrounding building materials, and are usually built against a rock crevice or in the lower branches of trees; is dependent on prickly pear for water balance in desert habitats.

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Factual Basis Habitat Potential Scientific Name Sensitivity Verified for Preferences/ To Occur Common Name1 Codes and Status2 On-Site Determination of Requirements3 On-Site Occurrence Potential Nocturnal species that occurs in woodlands, and desert DFG: SSC Nyctinomops femorosaccus scrub, riparian, wash, alkali CNDDB: SA No Low Lack of suitable habitat. pocketed free-tailed bat scrub habitats, and prefers Cnty of SD Group: 2 rock crevices in cliffs for roosting. Nocturnal species that prefers rugged, rocky canyons but DFG: SSC has been found in urban Nyctinomops macrotis CNDDB: SA areas; roosts in buildings, No Low Lack of suitable habitat. big free-tailed bat Cnty of SD Group: 2 caves, and occasionally holes in trees, and feeds primarily on large moths. Typically crepuscular species, but may be active during the day or night, that occurs in early to intermediate successional MSCP: CS Odocoileus hemionus fuliginata stages of most forest, A group of 4 individuals MHCP: CS No High southern mule deer woodland, and brush observed off-site to the north. Cnty of SD Group: 2 habitats, but prefers a mosaic of various-aged vegetation that provides woody cover, meadow and shrubby openings, and free water. Variety of habitats, including DFG: SSC Onychomys torridus ramona grasslands, sage scrub and CNDDB: SA No Moderate Potentially suitable habitat. southern grasshopper mouse chaparral, where friable soils Cnty of SD Group: 2 occur Nocturnal and diurnal carnivore that is most DFG: SSC abundant in drier open stages Taxidea taxus CNDDB: SA of most shrub, forest, and No Moderate Potentially suitable habitat. American badger MSCP: CS herbaceous habitats with Cnty of SD Group: 2 friable soils for digging burrows for cover.

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Note: The species addressed in this table are from the list provided in the County of San Diego intial project application review/scoping letter, dated April 29, 2008. 1Scientific Nomenclature: flora, Rebman and Simpson (2006); butterflies, Klein and San Diego Natural History Museum (2002); amphibians and reptiles, Crother et al. (2001 and 2003); birds, American Ornithologists’ Union (1998 and 2007); and mammals, San Diego Natural History Museum/(species level) Wilson and Reeder (1993) and (sub-species level) Hall (1981). 2Sensitivity Codes and Status (AMEC 2003, CDFG 2008a-d, County 1997 and 2008b, Ogden et al. 1998) Endangered Species Act (ESA) Listing Codes: FE = Federally-listed as Endangered; FT = Federally-listed as Threatened; FPE = Federally proposed for listing as Endangered; FPT = Federally proposed for listing as Threatened; FPD = Federally proposed for delisting; FC = Federal candidate species (former Category 1 candidates); SC = Species of concern (list established by the National Marine Fisheries Service [NMFS] effective April 15, 2004); Delisted species are monitored for 5 years. California Endangered Species Act (CESA) Listing Codes: SE = State-listed as Endangered; ST = State-listed as Threatened; SCE = State candidate for listing as Endangered; SCT = State candidate for listing as Threatened; SCD = State candidate for de-listing; SR = California Rare Species. California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Sensitivity Codes: SSC = Species of Special Concern;; FP = California fully protected species; SR = State-listed rare California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Sensitivity Codes: List of Species Designation: 1A = Plants presumed extinct in California; 1B = Plants rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere; 2 = Plants rare, threatened, or endangered in California, but more common elsewhere; 3 = Plants about which more information is needed (a review list); 4 = Plants of limited distribution (a watch list). California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) Sensitivity Codes: Special Plants (SP)/Special Animals (SA) = A general term that refers to all of the taxa the CNDDB is interested in tracking, regardless of their legal or protection status; these taxa fall into one of the above categories and/or one or more of the following categories: 1) Taxa which meet the criteria for listing, even if not currently included on any list, as described in Section 15380 of the CEQA Guidelines; 2) A Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), or U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Sensitive Species; 3) Taxa that are biologically rare, very restricted in distribution, declining throughout their range, or have a critical, vulnerable stage in their life cycle that warrants monitoring, but not currently threatened with extirpation; 4) Populations in California that may be on the periphery of a taxon’s range, but are threatened with extirpation in California; 5) Taxa closely associated with a habitat that is declining in California at an alarming rate (e.g., wetlands, riparian, old growth forests, desert aquatic systems, native grasslands, valley shrubland habitats, vernal pools, etc.); and 6) Taxa designated as a special status, sensitive, or declining species by other state or federal agencies, or non-governmental organization (NGO) (e.g., The World Conservation Union [IUCN], American Fisheries Society [AFS], Audubon Watch List; California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection [CDF], U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] Forest Service [FS], Fish and Wildlife Service Birds of Conservation Concern [FWS BCC], The American Bird Conservancy Green List [ABC Green List], The U.S. Bird Conservation [USBC] Watch List, The Western Bat Working Group [WBWG], and The Xerces Society). County of San Diego Sensitivity Codes: Plants; List A = Plants rare, threatened or endangered in California and elsewhere; List B = Plants rare, threatened or endangered in California but more common elsewhere; List C = Plants which may be quite rare, but need more information to determine their true rarity status; List D = Plants of limited distribution and are uncommon, but not presently rare or endangered. Animals; Group 1 = Animals rare, threatened or endangered in California and elsewhere; Group 2 = Animals rare, threatened or endangered in California but more common elsewhere. Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) Status: Narrow Endemic = NE; Covered Species = CS. Multiple Habitat Conservation Program (MHCP) Status: Narrow Endemic = NE; Covered Species = CS. 3References for Habitat Preferences/Requirements: (plants) Reiser 2001 and CNPS 2007; (butterflies) Faulkner and Klein 2004, Opler 2006; (amphibians and reptiles) Stebbins 2003, CDFG 2005; (birds) AOU Birds of North America On-line and CDFG 2005; (mammals) CDFG 2005. 4Sensitivity codes and status apply to nesting sites only 5Sensitivity codes and status apply to wintering sites only

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