Biological Resources Report for the Ocotillo Wells Solar Project PREPARED FOR: SEPTEMBER 2 0 1 3 J. Whalen Associates, Inc. 1660 Hotel Circle North, Suite 725 San Diego, CA 92108-2820 Contact: Mr. Rich Geisler and PREPARED BY: The County Of San Diego Department of Planning and Land Use 5201 Ruffin Road, Suite B Dudek San Diego, CA 92123 605 Third Street Contact: Mr. Mark Slovick Encinitas, CA 92024 THIRD FOURTH DRAFT BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES REPORT for the OCOTILLO WELLS SOLAR PROJECT CASE NUMBER(S): 3300-12-004 (MUP), 3910-12-12- 001 (ER), APN 253-390-57 and 58, KIVA PROJECT: 11-0138055 Prepared for: J. Whalen Associates, Inc. 1660 Hotel Circle North, Suite 725 San Diego, California 92108-2820 Contact: Mr. Rich Geisler and The County Of San Diego Department of Planning and Land Use 5201 Ruffin Road, Suite B San Diego, California 92123 Contact: Mr. Mark Slovick Prepared by: 605 Third Street Encinitas, California 92024 ____________________________________________ Brock Ortega JANUARY SEPTEMBER 2013 Printed on 30% post-consumer recycled material. Biological Resources Report for the Ocotillo Wells Solar Project TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page No. SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................VII GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ACRONYMS........................................................................... V 1.0 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Purpose of the Report........................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Project Location and Description......................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Survey Methodologies ......................................................................................... 1-7 1.4 Environmental Setting (Existing Conditions) .................................................... 1-17 1.5 Applicable Regulations ...................................................................................... 1-38 2.0 PROJECT EFFECTS .................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Vegetation Communities/Land Covers ................................................................ 2-1 2.2 Sensitive Plant Species ........................................................................................ 2-7 2.3 Sensitive Wildlife Species ................................................................................. 2-10 2.4 Wetlands/Jurisdictional Waters ......................................................................... 2-15 2.5 Habitat Connectivity and Wildlife Corridors ..................................................... 2-18 3.0 SPECIAL-STATUS SPECIES ...................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Guidelines for the Determination of Significance ............................................... 3-1 3.2 Analysis of Project Effects................................................................................... 3-3 3.3 Cumulative Impact Analysis .............................................................................. 3-10 3.4 Mitigation Measures and Design Considerations .............................................. 3-11 3.5 Conclusions ........................................................................................................ 3-26 4.0 RIPARIAN HABITAT OR SENSITIVE NATURAL COMMUNITY..................... 4-1 4.1 Guidelines for the Determination of Significance ............................................... 4-1 4.2 Analysis of Project Effects................................................................................... 4-3 4.3 Cumulative Impact Analysis ................................................................................ 4-6 4.4 Mitigation Measures and Design Considerations ................................................ 4-7 4.5 Conclusions .......................................................................................................... 4-8 5.0 JURISDICTIONAL WETLANDS AND WATERWAYS ......................................... 5-1 5.1 Guidelines for the Determination of Significance ............................................... 5-1 5.2 Analysis of Project Effects................................................................................... 5-1 5.3 Cumulative Impact Analysis ................................................................................ 5-1 5.4 Mitigation Measures and Design Considerations ................................................ 5-2 5.5 Conclusions .......................................................................................................... 5-2 7111-01 i January September 2013 Biological Resources Report for the Ocotillo Wells Solar Project TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) Section Page No. 6.0 WILDLIFE MOVEMENT AND NURSERY SITES ................................................. 6-1 6.1 Guidelines for the Determination of Significance ............................................... 6-1 6.2 Analysis of Project Effects................................................................................... 6-2 6.3 Cumulative Impact Analysis ................................................................................ 6-4 6.4 Mitigation Measures and Design Considerations ................................................ 6-5 6.5 Conclusions .......................................................................................................... 6-5 7.0 LOCAL POLICIES, ORDINANCES, AND ADOPTED PLANS ............................. 7-1 7.1 Guidelines for the Determination of Significance ............................................... 7-1 7.2 Analysis of Project Effects................................................................................... 7-2 7.3 Cumulative Impact Analysis ................................................................................ 7-4 7.4 Mitigation Measures and Design Considerations ................................................ 7-5 7.5 Conclusions .......................................................................................................... 7-5 8.0 SUMMARY OF PROJECT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION .................................. 8-1 9.0 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 9-1 10.0 LIST OF PREPARERS AND PERSONS AND ORGANIZATIONS CONTACTED .............................................................................................................. 10-1 7111-01 ii January September 2013 Biological Resources Report for the Ocotillo Wells Solar Project TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) Section Page No. APPENDICES A Cumulative List of Plant Species B Cumulative List of Wildlife Species C Special-Status Plant Species Documented in the Project Region but Not Observed on the Project Site D Special-Status Wildlife Species Occurring or Potentially Occurring on Site E Memo – Off-Site Mitigation for Ocotillo Wells Solar FIGURES 1 Regional Map ................................................................................................................... 1-3 2 Vicinity Map .................................................................................................................... 1-5 3 Survey Areas .................................................................................................................. 1-13 4 Biological Resources Map ............................................................................................. 1-21 5 Surrounding Land Use Map ........................................................................................... 1-39 6 Biological Resources Map with Limit of Impact ............................................................. 2-3 7 Biological Resources - Open Space ............................................................................... 2-21 8A Off-Site Mitigation Parcel - APN 201-150-06............................................................... 3-21 8B Off-Site Mitigation Parcel - Yaqui Pass Parcels ............................................................ 3-27 TABLES 1 Potential Solar Collection Systems for Ocotillo Wells Solar Farm ................................. 1-2 2 Schedule of Surveys ......................................................................................................... 1-9 3 Existing Acreages of Habitat Types/Vegetation Communities on Site ......................... 1-19 4 Direct Impacts to Vegetation Communities and Land Covers ........................................ 2-2 5 Summary of Direct Impacts to Suitable Habitat for County List A and B Plant Species and Significance Prior to Mitigation ........................................................ 3-4 6 Summary of Direct Impacts to Suitable Habitat for County List D and Other Sensitive Plant Species and Significance Prior to Mitigation................................ 3-6 7 Cumulative Impacts ....................................................................................................... 3-11 8 Proposed Mitigation for Impacts to Vegetation Communities and Land Covers ............ 4-3 9 Cumulative Impacts ......................................................................................................... 4-6 10 Cumulative Impacts ......................................................................................................... 5-2 11 Cumulative Impacts ........................................................................................................