Appendices Appendix E Biological Resources Report The Ontario Plan Draft EIR City of Ontario Appendices This page intentionally left blank. The Planning Center April 2009 DRAFT BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES REPORT for the CITY OF ONTARIO GENERAL PLAN UPDATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT Prepared for: City of Ontario Ontario, CA Prepared by: The Planning Center 1580 Metro Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626 and Earthworks Restoration Inc. 2116 Arlington Ave. Suite 301 Los Angeles, CA 90018 October 2006 Biological Resources Report This page intentionally left blank. City of Ontario General Plan Update and EIR The Planning Center October 2006 Biological Resources Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................1 METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................1 GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING..............................................................................1 Physical Features.........................................................................................................................7 Climate ........................................................................................................................................7 Geology.......................................................................................................................................7 Soils.............................................................................................................................................7 Water Bodies and Drainages.....................................................................................................11 Built Environment/Existing Land Uses ....................................................................................12 REGULATORY SETTING ........................................................................................................12 Federal Regulations...................................................................................................................12 State Regulations.......................................................................................................................16 Local Ordinances......................................................................................................................16 EXISTING BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES ...............................................................................16 Habitats and Vegetation Communities......................................................................................17 Wildlife .....................................................................................................................................22 Sensitive Biological Resources.................................................................................................24 Jurisdictional Areas...................................................................................................................39 Regional Connectivity/Wildlife Movement Corridors..............................................................39 CONSERVATION.......................................................................................................................40 Existing Conservation Areas.....................................................................................................40 Proposed Conservation Plans and Areas...................................................................................41 REFERENCES.............................................................................................................................45 Documents ................................................................................................................................45 Websites ....................................................................................................................................46 Persons/Organizations Consulted .............................................................................................47 Preparers....................................................................................................................................47 City of Ontario General Plan Update and EIR The Planning Center October 2006 i Biological Resources Report LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page Figure 1 Regional Location..........................................................................................................3 Figure 2 Aerial Photograph ..........................................................................................................5 Figure 3 Soils................................................................................................................................9 Figure 4 Existing Land Use........................................................................................................13 Figure 5 Vegetation Associations and Land Cover....................................................................19 Figure 6 Areas of Potential Occurrence for Sensitive Species...................................................27 LIST OF TABLES Table Page Table 1 Sensitive Plant Species Known or Potentially Occurring Within the Ontario Planning Area .................................................................................................26 Table 2 Sensitive Wildlife Species Known or Potentially Occurring Within the Ontario Planning Area .................................................................................................29 APPENDIX A – Observed and Expected Fauna – City of Ontario City of Ontario General Plan Update and EIR The Planning Center ii October 2006 Biological Resources Report INTRODUCTION This summary technical report has been prepared as part of an environmental assessment for the City of Ontario General Plan Update and the associated Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). METHODOLOGY This study relies primarily upon a review of existing literature and databases to determine the general occurrence and distribution of biological resources within the City of Ontario (also referred to as the planning area). Information has been incorporated from the previous biological inventories by Envicom (1997) for the Ontario Sphere of Influence (SOI) General Plan Amendment and EIR; and EIP Associates (1999) for the City of Ontario SOI Parks, Recreation, and Biological Resources Implementation Program; and from recent environmental documents for proposed development projects within the City. Database searches of the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) and the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) On-Line Inventory were conducted to determine recorded occurrences of sensitive or rare plant or animal species and special natural communities within or near the planning area. Searches were conducted of the following U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5-minute topographic quadrangles: Guasti and Ontario. A windshield survey of the City and its surrounding areas was also conducted in summer on July 19, 2006. Field observations were conducted by driving public roads throughout the City, with frequent stops for observing habitats, watercourses, plants, and wildlife within the limited range of accessibility. Binoculars were used to observe habitats and wildlife beyond fences. Photographs were taken of open areas, water bodies, and drainages. GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING The City of Ontario is located in San Bernardino County. It is bounded by the cities of Upland and Rancho Cucamonga to the north; Montclair and Chino to the west; Fontana, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties to the east; and Chino and Riverside County to the south (see Figure 1, Regional Location). Major transportation corridors that traverse the City include Interstate 10 (I-10), Interstate 15 (I-15), and State Route 60 (SR-60). An aerial photograph of the City is included as Figure 2. The City encompasses approximately 32,000 acres (50 square miles) in the southwestern portion of the county. It is located in the upper Santa Ana Valley, which is east of and contiguous with the San Gabriel Valley. This area is roughly bounded by the San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino National Forest to the north, the San Bernardino Mountains to the northeast, the Puente Hills and Chino Hills to the southwest, and the San Jose Hills to the west (Helix 2006). City of Ontario General Plan Update and EIR The Planning Center October 2006 1 Biological Resources Report This page intentionally left blank. City of Ontario General Plan Update and EIR The Planning Center 2 October 2006 Biological Resources Report Figure 1 Regional Location 11x17 color City of Ontario General Plan Update and EIR The Planning Center October 2006 3 Biological Resources Report This page intentionally left blank. City of Ontario General Plan Update and EIR The Planning Center 4 October 2006 Biological Resources Report Figure 2 Aerial Photo 11x17 color City of Ontario General Plan Update and EIR The Planning Center October 2006 5 Biological Resources Report This page intentionally left blank. City of Ontario General Plan Update and EIR The Planning Center 6 October 2006 Biological Resources Report Physical Features The general Ontario area lies within the northern/northwestern portion of the Peninsular Geomorphic Province of southern California, which is characterized by northwest-southwest-trending faults, folds, and mountain ranges (EIP 2005). The City is