BIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS REPORT KFT HOLDINGS, LLC. ZONE CHANGE PROJECT KERN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA JANUARY 2019 BIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS REPORT KFT HOLDINGS ZONE CHANGE PROJECT KERN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Prepared for: KFT Holdings, LLC. 4939 Calloway Drive, Suite 101 Bakersfield, California 93312 Contact Person: Mr. Ankush Kamboj Phone: (661) 399-5846 Consultant: 5080 California Avenue, Suite 220 Bakersfield, CA 93309 Contact: Jaymie Brauer Phone: (661) 616-2600 Fax: (559) 733-7821 January 2019 © Copyright by Quad Knopf, Inc. Unauthorized use prohibited. Project #190016 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acronyms and Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................... iv Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................................. 1 SECTION 1 - Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 2 1.1 - Project Location ........................................................................................................................................... 2 1.2 - Project Description ..................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 - Purpose, Goals, and Objectives .............................................................................................................. 2 SECTION 2 - Methods ........................................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 - Definition of Biological Study Area ...................................................................................................... 5 2.2 - Definition of Special-Status Species ..................................................................................................... 5 2.3 - Literature Review and Database Analysis ......................................................................................... 5 2.4 - Reconnaissance-Level Field Surveys ................................................................................................... 7 SECTION 3 - Regulatory Setting ........................................................................................................................ 9 3.1 - Applicable Federal Regulations ............................................................................................................. 9 3.1.1 - Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (USC, Title 16, Sections 1531-1543)9 3.1.2 - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (USC, Title 16, Sections 703-711) .............................. 10 3.1.3 - Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940 (USC, Title 16, Section 668) .. 10 3.1.4 - Federal Clean Water Act (USC, Tittle 33, Sections 1521-1376) ........................... 11 3.1.5 - San Joaquin Valley Upland Species Recovery Plan .................................................... 11 3.1.6 - Applicable State Regulations ............................................................................................. 12 3.1.7 - California Environmental Quality Act (California Public Resources Code, Section 21000-21178, and Title 14 CCR, Section 753, and Chapter 3, Sections 15000- 15387)...................................................................................................................................................... 12 3.1.8 - California Endangered Species Act (California Fish and Game Code Section 2050 et seq) ........................................................................................................................................... 12 3.1.9 - Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act ................................................................... 12 3.1.10 - Various Section of the California State and Fish and Game Code ..................... 13 3.2 - Applicable Regional and Local Regulations ................................................................................... 13 3.2.1 - Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan ......................................................................... 13 3.2.2 - Metropolitan Bakersfield Habitat Conservation Plan .............................................. 14 SECTION 4 - Environmental Setting ............................................................................................................. 16 4.1 - Physical Characteristics ......................................................................................................................... 16 4.1.1 - Topography .............................................................................................................................. 16 4.1.2 - Climate ........................................................................................................................................ 16 4.1.3 - Land Use .................................................................................................................................... 16 4.1.4 - Soils .............................................................................................................................................. 17 4.2 - Hydrology .................................................................................................................................................... 17 Zone Change Project January 2019 KFT Holdings, LLC. Page i 4.3 - Vegetation and Other Land Cover ...................................................................................................... 17 4.4 - General Wildlife Observations ............................................................................................................ 17 SECTION 5 - Special-Status Resources ........................................................................................................ 21 5.1 - Special-Status Species ............................................................................................................................ 21 5.1.1 - Special-Status Plant Species ............................................................................................... 24 5.1.2 - Special-Status Animal Species ........................................................................................... 24 5.2 - Sensitive Natural Communities .......................................................................................................... 25 5.2.1 - Sensitive Plant Communities ............................................................................................. 26 5.2.2 - Critical Habitats ...................................................................................................................... 26 5.3 - Jurisdictional Aquatic Resources ....................................................................................................... 26 5.3.1 - Waters and Wetlands ........................................................................................................... 27 5.4 - Wildlife Movement .................................................................................................................................. 27 5.5 - Habitat Conservation Plans .................................................................................................................. 27 SECTION 6 - Impact Analysis and Recommended Avoidance, Minimization, and Mitigation Measures ................................................................................................................................................................ 31 6.1 - Project Impacts to Special-Status Species (CEQA Evaluation Factor A): ........................... 32 6.1.1 - Project Impacts to Special-Status Plant Species ......................................................... 32 6.1.2 - Project Impacts to Special-Status Wildlife Species ................................................... 32 6.2 - Project Impacts to Riparian Habitat and Other Sensitive Natural Communities (CEQA Evaluation Factor B) ......................................................................................................................................... 36 6.3 - Project Impacts to Federal and State Wetlands and Waters (CEQA Evaluation Factor C) ................................................................................................................................................................................... 36 6.3.1 - Project Impacts to Federal Wetlands and Other Waters ........................................ 36 6.3.2 - Project Impacts to State Regulated Waters .................................................................. 37 6.4 - Project Impacts to Fish or Wildlife Movement Corridors, Linkages, Nursery Sites, and Critical Habitat (CEQA Evaluation Factor D) .......................................................................................... 37 6.4.1 - Project Impacts to Fish and Wildlife Movement Corridors, Linkages, and Nursery Sites ......................................................................................................................................... 37 6.4.2 - Project Impacts to Designated Critical habitat ........................................................... 37 6.5 - Project Conflicts with Local Policies and Ordinances (CEQA Evaluation Factor E) ....... 38 6.5.1 - Project Conflict with Local Policies and Ordinances ................................................ 38 6.6 - Project Conflicts with Habitat Conservation Plans, Natural Community Conservation Plans, or Recover