Paleontological Resource Assessment

Garrett-Menifee Project City of Menifee Riverside County, California

September 5, 2018 (Revised February 1, 2019)

Prepared for: The Garrett Group Two Betterworld Circle, Suite 200 Temecula, CA 92590

Prepared by: Department of PaleoServices San Diego Natural History Museum 1788 El Prado San Diego, California 92101

Katie M. McComas, M.S., Paleontological Report Writer Thomas A. Deméré, Ph.D., Principal Paleontologist

Executive Summary This paleontological resource assessment was prepared for the Garrett-Menifee Project (Project) (Tentative Tract No. 33419) in the City of Menifee, Riverside County, California. The purpose of this report is to identify and summarize paleontological resources that occur within the vicinity of the Project site, identify Project elements (if any) that may negatively impact paleontological resources, and provide recommendations to reduce any potential negative impacts to less than significant levels, if necessary. The report includes the results of institutional records searches conducted at the Western Science Center (WSC) and San Diego Natural History Museum (SDNHM). The approximately 47 acre Project site is located in the northern portion of the City of Menifee, and is bordered to the north by McLaughlin Road, to the west by Evans Road, to the south by Rouse Road, and to the east by Barnett Road. Proposed work at the site will include construction of 174 single-family residential buildings, a 1.2 acre community park, a 0.8 acre water quality basin, and attendant access roadways and wet and dry underground utilities. Specific details on planned earthwork at the site are undefined, but site-wide remedial over-excavation and recompaction earthwork is anticipated. Published geologic mapping for the Project site indicates the site is underlain by Quaternary old alluvial- fan deposits (Qof). The alluvial fan deposits are considered to be middle to late Pleistocene in age (~800,000 to 11,000 years old) at the surface. Site-specific geotechnical investigations documented the occurrence of a thin veneer (~2–3 feet) of surficial deposits of Holocene-age colluvium over the majority of the Project site. No recorded fossil collection localities at WSC or SDNHM are known from within a 1-mile radius of the Project site. However, significant fossils have been discovered less than 10 miles to the southeast in similar Pleistocene-age alluvial fan deposits exposed during construction of the Diamond Valley Lake project. Recovered fossils consist of large-bodied “Ice Age” mammals (e.g., ground sloth, weasel, skunk, badger, wolf, sabertoothed cat, American lion, puma, peccary, camel, pronghorn antelope, deer, bison, mastodon, and mammoth). Following the paleontological guidelines described in the City of Menifee’s General Plan DEIR, a high paleontological sensitivity is assigned to Quaternary old alluvial-fan deposits underlying the entire Project site. This assignment is supported by the occurrence of known fossils in the City of Menifee, and elsewhere in western Riverside County. Construction of the proposed Project has the potential to impact paleontological resources during earthwork within Quaternary old alluvial-fan deposits. Thus, implementation of a paleontological mitigation program centered around paleontological monitoring is recommended, as outlined in the provided Mitigation Measures 1–7. Implementation of the paleontological mitigation program will reduce any Project-related impacts to paleontological resources to a level that is less than significant.

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Contents Executive Summary ...... i 1.0 Introduction ...... 1 1.1 Project Description and Scope of Work ...... 1 1.2 Definition of Paleontological Resources ...... 1 1.3 Regulatory Framework ...... 3 1.3.1 Local ...... 3 2.0 Methods ...... 3 2.1 Paleontological Records Search and Literature Review ...... 3 2.2 Paleontological Resource Assessment Criteria ...... 3 2.2.1 High Potential/Sensitivity ...... 4 2.2.2 Low Potential/Sensitivity ...... 4 2.2.3 Undetermined Potential/Sensitivity ...... 4 2.3 Paleontological Impact Analysis ...... 4 3.0 Existing Conditions: Geologic Setting ...... 5 4.0 Results ...... 5 4.1 Results of the Records Searches and Literature Review ...... 5 4.1.1 Project Paleontology ...... 5 4.1.2 Project Geology ...... 5 4.2 Results of Paleontological Sensitivity Analysis ...... 8 4.3 Results of Paleontological Impact Analysis...... 8 5.0 Recommendations & Conclusions ...... 8 5.1 Mitigation Measures ...... 8 6.0 References ...... 10 Appendix ...... 11

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1.0 Introduction 1.1 Project Description and Scope of Work This technical report provides an assessment of paleontological resources at the Garrett-Menifee Project (Project) site (Tentative Tract No. 33419) in the City of Menifee, Riverside County, California (Figure 1). The approximately 47 acre Project site is located in the northern portion of the City of Menifee, and is bordered to the north by McLaughlin Road, to the west by Evans Road, to the south by Rouse Road, and to the east by Barnett Road. Proposed work at the site will include construction of 174 single-family residential buildings, a 1.2 acre community park, a 0.8 acre water quality basin, and attendant access roadways and wet and dry underground utilities. Specific details on planned earthwork at the site are undefined, but site-wide remedial over-excavation earthwork is anticipated. Because the Project site occurs in an area underlain by native sedimentary deposits, a paleontological resource assessment was conducted in order to evaluate whether the proposed Project has the potential to negatively impact paleontological resources. This assessment report is intended to summarize existing paleontological resource data at the Project site, discuss the significance of these resources, evaluate possible Project related impacts to paleontological resources, and provide recommendations to reduce any impacts to paleontological resources to less than significant levels (if necessary). The assessment also presents the results of institutional records searches of the paleontological collections at the Western Science Center (WSC) and San Diego Natural History Museum (SDNHM). This report was prepared by Katie M. McComas and Thomas A. Deméré of the Department of PaleoServices, SDNHM. 1.2 Definition of Paleontological Resources As defined here, paleontological resources (i.e., fossils) are the buried remains and/or traces of prehistoric organisms (i.e., animals, plants, and microbes). Body fossils such as bones, teeth, shells, leaves, and wood, as well as trace fossils such as tracks, trails, burrows, and footprints, are found in the geologic deposits within which they were originally buried. The primary factor determining whether an object is a fossil or not isn’t how the organic remain or trace is preserved (e.g., “petrified”), but rather the age of the organic remain or trace. Although typically it is assumed that fossils must be older than ~10,000 years (i.e., the generally accepted end of the last glacial period of the Pleistocene Epoch), organic remains of early Holocene age can also be considered to represent fossils because they are part of the record of past life. Fossils are considered important scientific and educational resources because they serve as direct and indirect evidence of prehistoric life and are used to understand the history of life on Earth, the nature of past environments and climates, the membership and structure of ancient ecosystems, and the pattern and process of organic evolution and extinction. In addition, fossils are considered to be non-renewable resources because typically the organisms they represent no longer exist. Thus, once destroyed, a particular fossil can never be replaced. And finally, for the purposes of this report, paleontological resources can be thought of as including not only the actual fossil remains and traces, but also the fossil collecting localities and the geologic units containing those localities.

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1.3 Regulatory Framework Paleontological resources are considered scientifically and educationally significant nonrenewable resources, and as such they are protected under a variety of federal (e.g., Antiquities Act of 1906; National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976; Paleontological Resources Preservation Act of 1009), state (e.g., California Environmental Quality Act; Public Resources Code), and local (e.g., City of Menifee General Plan, County of Riverside General Plan) laws, regulations, and ordinances. The Project site is located within the City of Menifee, Riverside County; therefore, local laws, ordinances, and regulations are applicable, as outlined below.

1.3.1 Local The City of Menifee General Plan (Appendix F) recognizes that significant paleontological resources occur within the City and provides mapping that summarizes areas of High, Low, and Undetermined paleontological resource sensitivity (City of Menifee, 2013). The General Plan also provides standard recommendations for mitigating adverse impacts to paleontological resources. The County of Riverside General Plan contains extensive information, policies, guidelines, and recommendations concerning the treatment of paleontological resources (http://planning.rctlma.org/Portals/0/genplan/general_plan_2015/DEIR%20521/04- 09_CulturalAndPaleoResrcs.pdf).

2.0 Methods 2.1 Paleontological Records Search and Literature Review Paleontological records searches were conducted at the WSC and SDNHM in order to determine if any documented fossil collection localities occur within the Project site or immediately surrounding area. The records searches involved examination of the SDNHM paleontological database for any records of known fossil collection localities within a 1-mile radius of the Project site. A records search of the paleontological collections at WSC was completed (Western Science Center, 2018; Appendix). Additionally, a review was conducted of relevant published geologic maps (e.g., Morton, 2003; Morton and Miller, 2006), published geological and paleontological reports (e.g., Jefferson, 1991a,b; Reynolds and Reynolds, 1991; Springer et al., 2009, 2010), and other relevant literature (e.g., field trip guidebooks, theses and dissertations, unpublished paleontological mitigation reports). This approach was followed in recognition of the direct relationship between paleontological resources and the geologic units within which they are entombed. Knowing the geologic history of a particular area and the fossil productivity of geologic units that occur in that area, it is possible to predict where fossils may, or may not, be encountered. 2.2 Paleontological Resource Assessment Criteria The County of Riverside has developed standards for assessing paleontological potential/sensitivity that are based, in part, on the standards set forth by Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP, 2010), and that also take into account the possibility for adverse impacts due to human influence. The County recognizes a tripartite scale: High Potential (High A and High B subcategories), Low Potential, and Undetermined Potential.

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The City of Menifee General Plan DEIR (September 2013) adopted the County of Riverside paleontological resource standards, with the exception that the City does not distinguish subcategories within the High Sensitivity category. The specific criteria for each scale of Paleontological Sensitivity is outlined below.

2.2.1 High Potential/Sensitivity High sensitivity is assigned to geologic units known to contain paleontological localities with rare, well- preserved, critical fossil materials for stratigraphic or paleoenvironmental interpretation, and fossils providing important information about the paleobiology and evolutionary history (phylogeny) of animal and plant groups. Generally speaking, highly sensitive formations produce vertebrate fossil remains or are considered to have the potential to produce such remains. In Riverside County, High Paleontological Potential A is assigned to rock units present immediately at the surface, while High Paleontological Potential B is assigned to rock units found at a depth of 4 feet or greater below existing grade.

2.2.2 Low Potential/Sensitivity Low sensitivity is assigned to geologic units that, based on their relative youthful age and/or high-energy depositional history, are judged unlikely to produce important fossil remains. Typically, low sensitivity formations produce invertebrate fossil remains in low abundance. Low paleontological potential is also assigned to geologic formations that are entirely igneous in origin and therefore have no potential for producing fossil remains, or to artificial fill materials which lose the stratigraphic/geologic context of any contained organic remains (e.g., fossils).

2.2.3 Undetermined Potential/Sensitivity Undetermined sensitivity is assigned to geologic units that exhibit geologic features and preservational conditions that suggest significant fossils could be present, but little information about the geology and/or paleontological resources of the unit or the area is known. This may indicate the unit or area is poorly studied, and field surveys may be useful for more precisely determining the paleontological sensitivity. 2.3 Paleontological Impact Analysis Direct impacts to paleontological resources occur when earthwork activities (e.g., mass grading, utility trenching), cut into the geologic units within which fossils are buried, and physically destroy the fossil remains. As such, only earthwork activities that will disturb potentially fossil-bearing sedimentary deposits (i.e., those rated with a high or undetermined paleontological sensitivity) have the potential to significantly impact paleontological resources. Paleontological mitigation typically is recommended to reduce any negative impacts to paleontological resources to less than significant levels. The purpose of the impact analysis is to determine which (if any) of the proposed Project-related earthwork activities may disturb potentially fossil-bearing geologic units, and where and at what depths this earthwork will occur. The paleontological impact analysis involved analysis of available project documents, and comparison with geological and paleontological data gathered during the records searches and literature review.

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3.0 Existing Conditions: Geologic Setting The proposed Project site is located within the Perris Block of the Peninsular Ranges Geomorphic Province (English 1926; Norris and Webb, 1990). This structural block is surficially expressed as a relatively low relief, weathered basin punctuated by hills and small mountains, and surrounded by the Sana Ana Mountains to the west and south, the San Jacinto Mountains to the east, and the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains to the north. The Perris Block is a fault-controlled region, with the San Jacinto Fault to the northeast and the Elsinore Fault to the southwest. Faulting is responsible for the uplift of the surrounding mountain ranges, and the down drop of the Perris Block. As a consequence, the surrounding mountain ranges are actively being eroded, and the sediments derived from this erosion are being deposited in the basin lowlands as alluvial fans and/or stream channel deposits.

4.0 Results 4.1 Results of the Records Searches and Literature Review

4.1.1 Project Paleontology A records search request of paleontological collections data at the Western Science Center (WSC) generated a response that there are no recorded WSC fossil collection localities within a one mile radius of the proposed Project site (WSC, 2018; Appendix). There are also no San Diego Natural History Museum (SDNHM) fossil collecting localities known from within a one mile radius of the Project site. However, significant fossils have been discovered less than 10 miles to the southeast of the Project site in similar Pleistocene-age alluvial fan deposits exposed during construction of the Diamond Valley Lake project. Recovered fossils consist of large-bodied “Ice Age” mammals (e.g., ground sloth, weasel, skunk, badger, wolf, sabertoothed cat, American lion, puma, peccary, camel, pronghorn antelope, deer, bison, mastodon, and mammoth; Springer et al., 2009; 2010). Further, the San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) reports several recorded paleontological collection localities in the northeastern and eastern portions of the City of Menifee. These fossil localities yielded fossil remains of western camel (Camelops hesternus) and small-bodied vertebrates including lizards, rodents, and rabbits (SBCM, 2010).

4.1.2 Project Geology Published geologic mapping indicates that the Project site is entirely underlain by Quaternary old alluvial fan deposits (Qof) of middle to late Pleistocene age (Figure 2; Morton, 2003; Morton and Miller, 2006). These deposits were likely deposited by the ancient San Jacinto River or one of its tributaries, and are incised into Quaternary very old alluvial-fan (Qvof) deposits of early Pleistocene age. The modern floodplain of the San Jacinto River occurs to the north of the Project site. Morton (2003) described the Quaternary old alluvial fan deposits as indurated “reddish brown, gravel and sand alluvial fan deposits” and noted that portions of these deposits may contain a veneer of younger, Holocene-aged alluvial deposits. The geotechnical report prepared for the Project site (GeoTek, Inc., 2018) described the geology as consisting of a surficial veneer (3–4 feet) of colluvium overlying more deeply buried alluvial fan deposits. The colluvium was described as consisting of light to dark brown, fine- to coarse-grained, clayey sands and sandy clays, while the alluvial fan deposits were described as consisting of light to reddish brown, medium dense to very dense, fine- to coarse-grained sands with varying amounts of silt and clay.

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4.2 Results of Paleontological Sensitivity Analysis Quaternary old alluvial fan deposits (Qof) are assigned a high paleontological sensitivity (Figure 3) based on the occurrence of known fossils in the City of Menifee, and elsewhere in western Riverside County. This sensitivity assignment is discussed in more detail in Appendix F of the City of Menifee’s General Plan DEIR (2013) and is graphically summarized in the City of Menifee’s Exhibit OSC-4 (https://www.cityofmenifee.us/DocumentCenter/View/1085/ExhibitOSC- 4_Paleologic_Resource_Sensitivity_HD0913?bidId). 4.3 Results of Paleontological Impact Analysis Mass grading figures for the proposed Project indicate an approximate total cut volume of 53,420 cubic yards and an approximate fill volume of 98,753 cubic yards. Depth of cut figures range from less than 1 foot to more than 5 feet. In addition, the geotechnical report (GeoTek, 2018) recommends that “…native soils should be over-excavated to a depth of at least three feet below existing or proposed grade, whichever is deeper.” The report further recommends that this remedial grading should be conducted across the entire site area where “surface improvements and/or fill is proposed.” Given these proposed earthwork activities and the geotechnical recommendations for over-excavation, it is likely that mass grading and remedial grading will directly impact the Quaternary old alluvial fan deposits (high paleontological sensitivity) that underlie the entire Project site.

5.0 Recommendations & Conclusions Implementation of a paleontological mitigation program, in the form of paleontological monitoring, is recommended for earthwork at the Project site that will directly impact the Quaternary old alluvial fan deposits. Implementation of the following mitigation measures will reduce any Project-related impacts to paleontological resources to a level that is less than significant. 5.1 Mitigation Measures 1. A qualified Project Paleontologist should attend the pre-construction meeting to consult with grading and excavation contractors concerning excavation schedules, paleontological field techniques, and safety issues. (A qualified Project Paleontologist is defined as an individual with an M.S. or Ph.D. in paleontology or geology that is experienced with paleontological procedures and techniques, who is knowledgeable in the geology and paleontology of Riverside County, and who has worked as a paleontological mitigation project supervisor for at least 1 year.) 2. A paleontological monitor should be on-site during all earthwork operations that directly impact the Quaternary old alluvial fan deposits. The paleontological monitor should be equipped to salvage fossils as they are unearthed, to avoid construction delays, and to remove samples of sediments that are likely to contain small fossil invertebrates and vertebrates. Monitors must be empowered to temporarily halt or divert equipment to allow removal of abundant or large specimens. Paleontological monitoring may be reduced (e.g., part-time monitoring or spot- checking) or eliminated, at the discretion of the Project Paleontologist and in consultation with appropriate agencies (e.g., Project proponent, City of Menifee representatives). Changes to the paleontological monitoring schedule shall be based on results of the mitigation program as it unfolds during site development, and current and anticipated conditions in the field. (A paleontological monitor is defined as an individual who has experience in the collection and salvage of fossil materials. The paleontological monitor should work under the direction of a Project Paleontologist.)

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3. If fossils are discovered, the Project Paleontologist (or paleontological monitor) should make an initial assessment to determine their significance. All identifiable vertebrate fossils (large or small), uncommon invertebrate, plant, and trace fossils are considered to be significant and should be recovered (SVP, 2010). Representative samples of common invertebrate plant and trace fossils should also be recovered. Although in many cases fossil salvage can be completed in a relatively short period of time, the Project Paleontologist (or paleontological monitor) should be allowed to temporarily direct, divert, or halt earthwork during the initial assessment phase. If it is determined that the fossil(s) should be recovered, all effort should be made to complete the recovery in a timely manner. It is important to keep in mind that some fossil specimens (e.g., a large mammal skeleton) may require an extended salvage period. Because of the potential for the recovery of small fossil remains (e.g., isolated teeth of small vertebrates), it may be necessary to collect bulk- matrix samples for screenwashing. 4. In the event that fossils are discovered during a period when a paleontological monitor is not on site (i.e., an inadvertent discovery), earthwork within the vicinity of the discovery site shall temporarily halt, and the Project Paleontologist be contacted to evaluate the significance of the discovery. If the inadvertent discovery is determined to be significant, the fossils shall be recovered, as outlined in Mitigation Measure 3. 5. Fossil remains collected during monitoring and salvage should be cleaned, repaired, sorted, identified, and cataloged as part of the mitigation program. Fossil preparation may also include screen-washing for microfossils or other laboratory analyses (e.g., radiometric carbon dating), if applicable. Fossil preparation and curation activities may be conducted at the laboratory of the contracted Project Paleontologist, at an appropriate outside agency, and/or at a designated repository and shall follow the standards of the designated repository. 6. Prepared fossils, along with copies of all pertinent field notes, photos, and maps, should be housed in a established, accredited museum repository with permanent, retrievable paleontological storage (e.g., Western Science Center). These procedures are also essential steps in effective paleontological mitigation and CEQA compliance. The Project Paleontologist must have a written repository agreement in hand prior to the initiation of mitigation activities. Mitigation of adverse impacts to significant paleontologic resources is not complete until such curation into an established, accredited museum repository has been fully completed and documented. 7. A final summary report should be completed that outlines the results of the mitigation program. The report and inventory, when submitted to the appropriate Lead Agency along with confirmation of the curation of recovered specimens into an established, accredited museum repository, will signify completion of the program to mitigate impacts to paleontologic resources. A copy of the paleontological monitoring report should be submitted to the City of Menifee Planning Department and to the designated museum repository.

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6.0 References City of Menifee. 2013. City of Menifee General Plan. Draft Environmental Impact Report. Prepared by The Planning Center/DC&E. https://www.cityofmenifee.us/262/Draft-Environmental-Impact- Report. English, W.A. 1926. Geology and oil resources of the Puente Hills Region, California: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 768. 110 p. GeoTek, Inc. 2018, Revised Update Geotechnical Evaluation, Proposed Single-Family Residential Development, Tentative Tract No. 3341p, Menifee 157 Project, Southwest Corner of McLaughlin Road and Sun City Boulevard, Menifee, Riverside County, California. Unpublished technical report prepared August 27, 2018 for Redhawk Communities. Jefferson, G.T. 1991a. A Catalogue of Late Quaternary Vertebrates from California: Part One. Non- marine Lower Vertebrate and Avian Taxa. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Technical Reports, Number 5, Los Angeles. Jefferson, G.T. 1991b. A Catalogue of Late Quaternary Vertebrates from California: Part Two. Mammals. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Technical Reports, Number 7, Los Angeles. Morton, D.M. 2003. Geologic map of the Romoland 7.5’ quadrangle, Riverside County, California. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 03-102. Scale 1:24,000. Morton, D.M., and F.K. Miller. 2006. Geologic map of the San Bernardino and Santa Ana 30’ x 60’ quadrangles, California. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2006-1217. Scale 1:100,000. Norris, R.M., and R.W. Webb. 1990. Geology of California. Wiley and Sons, New York. Reynolds, S.F.B., and R.L. Reynolds. 1991. The Pleistocene beneath our feet: near surface Pleistocene fossils in inland southern California basins. In: M.O. Woodburne, S.F.B. Reynolds, and D.P. Whistler (eds.) Inland Southern California: the Last 70 Million Years. Redlands: San Bernardino County Museum Special Publication 38(3&4), p. 41-43 San Diego Natural History Museum (SDNHM), unpublished paleontological collections data and field notes. San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM). 2010. Paleontological Literature and Records Review, City of Menifee General Plan, Riverside County, California. Prepared for Discovery Works, Inc. by E. Scott. 1 June 2010. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP). 2010. Standard Procedures for the Assessment and Mitigation of Adverse Impacts to Paleontological Resources. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, p. 1-11. Springer, K., E. Scott, J.C. Sagebiel, and L.K. Murray. 2009. The Diamond Valley Lake local fauna: late Pleistocene vertebrates from inland southern California. In: L.B. Albright III (ed.) Papers on Geology, Vertebrate Paleontology, and Biostratigraphy in honor of Michael O. Woodburne. Museum of Northern Arizona, Bulletin 65:217-235. Springer, K., E. Scott, J.C. Sagebiel, and L.K. Murray. 2010. Late Pleistocene large mammal faunal dynamics from inland southern California: The Diamond Valley Lake local fauna. Quaternary International 217: 256–265. Western Science Center. 2018. Unpublished paleontological records search prepared for the San Diego Natural History Museum by Darla Radford on August 30, 2018.

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Appendix

Records Search Results: Western Science Center

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August 30, 2018

San Diego Natural History Museum Thomas A. Deméré, Ph.D. P.O. Box 121390 San Diego, CA 92101

Dear Dr. Deméré,

This letter presents the results of a record search conducted for the Garrett-Menifee Project in the city of Menifee, Riverside County, California. The project site is located north of Rouse Road, east of Evans Road, and west of Sun City Boulevard in Section 16, Township 5 South, Range 3 West on the Romoland USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle.

The geologic units underlying this project are mapped entirely as old alluvial fan deposits dating from the late to middle Pleistocene period (Morton, 1991, 1995-1996). Old alluvial fan units are considered to be of high paleontological sensitivity. The Western Science Center does not have localities within the project area or within a 1 mile radius, but does have fossil localities in similarly mapped units associated with the Diamond Valley Lake Project within 10 miles of the project area that resulted in hundreds of fossil localities and over 250,000 Pleistocene fossil specimens.

Any fossils recovered from the Garrett-Menifee Project area would be scientifically significant. Excavation activity associated with development of the project area would impact the paleontologically sensitive Pleistocene units and it is the recommendation of the Western Science Center that a paleontological resource mitigation program be put in place to monitor, salvage, and curate any recovered fossils associated with the current study area.

If you have any questions, or would like further information about the Diamond Valley Lake Project, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]

Sincerely,

Darla Radford Collections Manager

2345 Searl Parkway ♦ Hemet, CA 92543 ♦ phone 951.791.0033 ♦ fax 951.791.0032 ♦ WesternScienceCenter.org