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Biological Resources Assessment Aliso Canyon Park Los Angeles

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Biological Resources Assessment Aliso Canyon Park Los Angeles Biological Resources Assessment for Aliso Canyon Park Los Angeles County, California Prepared for: Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering Environmental Management Division 1149 S. Broadway, Suite 600, Mail Stop 939 Los Angeles, CA 90015-2213 Contact: William Jones (213) 485-5760 Prepared by: ICF International 811 West 7 Street, Suite 800 Los Angeles, CA 90017 Contact: Danielle LeFer (213) 627-5376 July 2010 ICF International . 2010. Biological Resources Assessment for Aliso Canyon Park, Los Angeles County, California. (00254.10.) July. Los Angeles, CA. Contents Page Chapter 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Project Location .......................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Project Description ...................................................................... 1-1 Chapter 2.0 Methods ................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Terminology ................................................................................ 2-1 2.2 Literature Review ........................................................................ 2-1 2.3 Site Visits .................................................................................... 2-1 2.4 Regulatory Constraints ............................................................... 2-2 2.4.1 Federal Laws ........................................................................ 2-2 2.4.2 State Laws and Regulations ................................................. 2-3 Chapter 3.0 Existing Condition ................................................................................ 3-1 3.1 Land Use and Disturbances ........................................................ 3-1 3.2 Topography ................................................................................. 3-1 3.3 Vegetation and Plant Communities ............................................. 3-1 3.3.1 Willow Riparian Woodland .................................................... 3-2 3.3.2 Meadow/Ruderal ................................................................... 3-2 3.3.3 Coastal Sage Scrub .............................................................. 3-3 3.4 Wildlife ........................................................................................ 3-3 Chapter 4.0 Results ................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Literature Review for Special-Status Plant and Wildlife Species ...................................................................................... 4-1 4.1.1 Special-Status Plant Species ................................................ 4-1 4.1.2 Special-Status Wildlife Species ............................................ 4-2 4.2 Other Opportunities and Constraints .......................................... 4-4 4.2.1 Nesting Birds ......................................................................... 4-4 4.2.2 Raptor Foraging .................................................................... 4-4 4.2.3 Wildlife Corridors ................................................................... 4-4 4.2.4 Jurisdictional Waters and Wetlands ...................................... 4-5 Chapter 5.0 Impacts and Mitigation ......................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Construction Impacts .................................................................. 5-1 5.1.1 Construction of Parking Lots, Equestrian Ring, and Facilities East of Aliso Canyon Creek ........................................ 5-1 5.2 Operational Impacts .................................................................... 5-2 5.3 Sensitive Plant Communities ...................................................... 5-2 5.4 Special-Status Plant Species ...................................................... 5-2 Biological Resources Assessment July 2010 Aliso Canyon Park, Los Angeles County, California i ICF 00254.10 LABOE Contents 5.5 Special-Status Wildlife Species .................................................. 5-3 5.5.1 Endangered Species ............................................................. 5-3 5.5.2 California Species of Special Concern .................................. 5-3 5.6 Other Biological Resources ........................................................ 5-4 5.6.1 Nesting Birds ......................................................................... 5-4 5.6.2 Raptor Foraging .................................................................... 5-5 5.6.3 Jurisdictional Waters ............................................................. 5-5 5.7 Recommended Measures ........................................................... 5-5 Chapter 6.0 References ............................................................................................ 6-1 6.1 Printed References ..................................................................... 6-1 Appendix A Floral and Faunal Memorandum Appendix B Site Photographs Appendix C USFWS Species Letter Biological Resources Assessment July 2010 Aliso Canyon Park, Los Angeles County, California ii ICF 00254.10 LABOE Contents Figures Figure Follows Page 1 Aliso Canyon Park Project Vicinity .......................................................... 1-2 2 Portion of Oat Mountain, 7.5' USGS (1:24000) Topographic Map Showing the Project's General Location .................... 1-2 3 Concept Design Drawing Showing Layout of Project Components ........................................................................................... 1-2 4 Study Area Boundary and Vegetation at Aliso Canyon .......................... 3-2 Biological Resources Assessment July 2010 Aliso Canyon Park, Los Angeles County, California iii ICF 00254.10 LABOE Contents Acronyms BMPs best management practices CDFG California Department of Fish and Game CEQA California Environmental Quality Act CNDDB California Natural Diversity Database CNPS California Native Plant Society FACW Facultative Wetland LABOE Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering LBV Least Bell’s vireo MBTA Migratory Bird Treaty Act OBL Obligate RWQCB Regional Water Quality Control Board SAA Streambed Alteration Agreement USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service USGS U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Assessment July 2010 Aliso Canyon Park, Los Angeles County, California iv ICF 00254.10 Chapter 1.0 Introduction This report contains the results of a biological resources assessment for the City of Los Angeles proposed improvements to Aliso Canyon Park in the Community of Porter Ranch. The proposed project would construct a 7-acre equestrian day use and park facility in an existing, undeveloped City park. 1.1 Project Location The Aliso Canyon project site is located on Rinaldi Street between Hesperia and Chimineas Avenues, just north of Highway 118, within the City of Los Angeles, in the County of Los Angeles, California (Figure 1). The project site is depicted on the Oat Mountain, California 7.5-minute U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) quadrangles in Aliso Canyon Park in the Community of Porter Ranch (Figure 2). 1.2 Project Description The project includes the construction of a 1,800 square-foot community building, parking area for six equestrian trailers and 24 passenger vehicles, a 220-foot by 110-foot horse riding ring with a small (27-foot long by 5-row) observation bleacher, open meadow areas, pedestrian paths, picnic areas with both covered and uncovered tables (Figure 3). Additional amenities and improvements include upgraded site access, modular restrooms, horse waterers, hitching posts, split rail fencing, a bioswale to entrain stormwater runoff, and landscaping with California native plant species. Two creek crossings of Aliso Canyon Creek also are proposed. An equestrian bridge spanning approximately 60 feet would replace an existing wet crossing. A pedestrian/cyclist bridge spanning approximately 50 feet would be located 600 feet south of the equestrian bridge opposite from the equestrian parking area. The bridges would provide access to an existing horse/pedestrian canyon trail along the western side of Aliso Canyon Creek. Biological Resources Assessment July 2010 Aliso Canyon Park, Los Angeles County, California 1-1 ICF 00254.10 126 14 Placerita Canyon State Park 5 Santa Clarita Angeles National Forest 5 210 210 Project Location 405 San Fernando 118 118 405 Los Angeles San Luis 27 Obispo Kern Santa San Bernardino Barbara Ventura Los Angeles 0 0.5 1 2 Riverside Miles Orange Source: ESRI StreetMap San North America (2008) Pacific Ocean Diego k:\san diego\projects\city_of_los_angeles\00254_10_laboe_aliso_canyon\mapdoc\2010july\figure_01_project_vicinity.mxd SM (07-06-10) Figure 1 Aliso Canyon Park Project Vicinity Aliso Canyon Park Project Site 0 2,000 Feet k:\san diego\projects\city_of_los_angeles\00254_10_laboe_aliso_canyon\mapdoc\2010july\figure_02_project_map.mxd SM (07-06-10) SOURCE: USGS 7.5' Quad., CA: Oat Mountain (1980) Figure 2 Portion of Oat Mountain, 7.5' U.S.G.S. (1:24000) Topographic Map Showing the Project's General Location roject_outline.ai SM (07-06-10) k:\san diego\projects\city_of_los_angeles\00254_10_laboe_aliso_canyon\mapdoc\2010july\figure_03_p k:\san Figure 3 Concept Design Drawing Showing Layout of Project Components Chapter 2.0 Methods 2.1 Terminology The study area in this report is the project boundary area as depicted in Figure 3. The project footprint refers to those areas within the study area that would be impacted by the proposed project
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