Dollar Creek Shared-Use Trail Natural Environment Study Placer County, CA June 2012 Natural Environment Study Dollar Creek Shared Use Trail Placer County, CA June, 2012 Placer County, CA North Tahoe Public Utility District California Tahoe Conservancy Prepared By: Hauge Brueck Associates 310 Dorla Court, Ste. 209 Zephyr Cove, NV 89448 ESA 2600 Capitol Ave., Ste. 200 Sacramento, CA 95816 916.564.4500 www.esassoc.com Recommended for Approval By: ___________________________________ Date: ____________ Approved By: ___________________________________ Date: ____________ Table of Contents Table of Contents Cover Sheet i Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................... iii! List of Figures .......................................................................................................................... vii! List of Tables .......................................................................................................................... viii! List of Abbreviated Terms ........................................................................................................ ix! Chapter 1.! Introduction .................................................................................................... 1! 1.1.! Project History ............................................................................................................ 1! 1.2.! Project Description ..................................................................................................... 1! Chapter 2.! Study Methods ................................................................................................ 5! 2.1.! Regulatory Requirements ............................................................................................ 5! 2.2.! Studies Required .......................................................................................................... 5! 2.3.! Personnel and Survey Dates ....................................................................................... 6! Chapter 3.! Results: Environmental Setting ...................................................................... 7! 3.1.! Description of the Existing Biological and Physical Conditions ................................ 7! 3.1.1.! Biological Study Area .......................................................................................... 7! 3.1.2.! Physical Conditions .............................................................................................. 7! 3.1.3.! Biological Conditions in the Biological Study Area ............................................ 8! 3.2.! Regional Species and Habitats of Concern ............................................................... 11! 3.3.! Noxious Weeds .......................................................................................................... 17! Chapter 4.! Results: Biological Resources, Discussion of Impacts and Mitigation ........ 19! 4.1.! Natural Communities of Special Concern ................................................................. 19! 4.1.1.! Montane Riparian Scrub ..................................................................................... 19! 4.1.1.1.! Survey Results ............................................................................................. 20! 4.1.1.2.! Avoidance and Minimization Efforts .......................................................... 20! 4.1.1.3.! Project Impacts ............................................................................................ 20! 4.1.1.4.! Compensatory Mitigation ............................................................................ 21! 4.1.1.5.! Cumulative Impacts ..................................................................................... 21! 4.1.2.! Jurisdictional Water of the U.S. ......................................................................... 21! 4.1.2.1.! Survey Results ............................................................................................. 24! 4.1.2.2.! Avoidance and Minimization Efforts .......................................................... 24! 4.1.2.3.! Project Impacts ............................................................................................ 25! 4.1.2.4.! Compensatory Mitigation ............................................................................ 25! 4.1.2.5.! Cumulative Impacts ..................................................................................... 25! 4.2.! Special-Status Plant Species ..................................................................................... 26! 4.2.1.! Upswept moonwort (Botrychium ascendens) .................................................... 27! 4.2.1.1.! Survey Results ............................................................................................. 27! 4.2.1.2.! Avoidance and Minimization Efforts .......................................................... 28! 4.2.1.3.! Project Impacts ............................................................................................ 28! 4.2.1.4.! Compensatory Mitigation ............................................................................ 29! 4.2.1.5.! Cumulative Effects ...................................................................................... 29! 4.2.2.! Scalloped moonwort (Botrychium crenulatum) ................................................. 29! 4.2.2.1.! Survey Results ............................................................................................. 29! 4.2.2.2.! Avoidance and Minimization Efforts .......................................................... 30! 4.2.2.3.! Project Impacts ............................................................................................ 30! 4.2.2.4.! Compensatory Mitigation ............................................................................ 30! 4.2.2.5.! Cumulative Effects ...................................................................................... 30! 4.2.3.! Mingan moonwort (Botrychium minganense) .................................................... 30! Dollar Creek Shared-Use Trail Project NES iii Table of Contents 4.2.3.1.! Survey Results ............................................................................................. 30! 4.2.3.2.! Avoidance and Minimization Efforts .......................................................... 31! 4.2.3.3.! Project Impacts ............................................................................................ 31! 4.2.3.4.! Compensatory Mitigation ............................................................................ 31! 4.2.3.5.! Cumulative Effects ...................................................................................... 31! 4.2.4.! Davy’s sedge (Carex davyi) ............................................................................... 32! 4.2.4.1.! Survey Results ............................................................................................. 32! 4.2.4.2.! Avoidance and Minimization Efforts .......................................................... 32! 4.2.4.3.! Project Impacts ............................................................................................ 32! 4.2.4.4.! Compensatory Mitigation ............................................................................ 33! 4.2.4.5.! Cumulative Effects ...................................................................................... 33! 4.2.5.! Woolly-fruited sedge sedge (Carex lasiocarpa) ................................................ 33! 4.2.5.1.! Survey Results ............................................................................................. 33! 4.2.5.2.! Avoidance and Minimization Efforts .......................................................... 33! 4.2.5.3.! Project Impacts ............................................................................................ 33! 4.2.5.4.! Compensatory Mitigation ............................................................................ 34! 4.2.5.5.! Cumulative Effects ...................................................................................... 34! 4.2.6.! Mariposa sedge (Carex mariposana) ................................................................. 34! 4.2.6.1.! Survey Results ............................................................................................. 34! 4.2.6.2.! Avoidance and Minimization Efforts .......................................................... 35! 4.2.6.3.! Project Impacts ............................................................................................ 35! 4.2.6.4.! Compensatory Mitigation ............................................................................ 35! 4.2.6.5.! Cumulative Effects ...................................................................................... 35! 4.2.7.! Northern meadow sedge (Carex praticola) ........................................................ 35! 4.2.7.1.! Survey Results ............................................................................................. 36! 4.2.7.2.! Avoidance and Minimization Efforts .......................................................... 36! 4.2.7.3.! Project Impacts ............................................................................................ 36! 4.2.7.4.! Compensatory Mitigation ............................................................................ 36! 4.2.7.5.! Cumulative Effects .....................................................................................