BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE SURVEY REPORT FOR THE RITZ-CARLTON BLUFF PROTECTION PROJECT, HALF MOON BAY, SAN MATEO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA DECEMBER 2017 PREPARED FOR Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay PREPARED BY SWCA Environmental Consultants BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE SURVEY REPORT FOR THE RITZ-CARLTON BLUFF PROTECTION PROJECT HALF MOON BAY, SAN MATEO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Prepared for The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay 1 Miramontes Point Rd Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 Attn: Carlson Newman Prepared by SWCA Environmental Consultants 60 Stone Pine Road, Suite 201 Half Moon Bay, California 94019 (650) 440-4160 www.swca.com SWCA Project No. 44588 December 2017 Ritz-Carlton Bluff Protection Project Biological Resource Survey Report SUMMARY SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) prepared this retroactive Biological Resource Survey Report (BRSR) at the request of the Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay for the emergency work required to demolish and remove exposed foundation elements within the Miramontes Point coastal bluff in the city of Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County (Project). This BRSR documents the existing environmental setting for the Project and the biological study area (BSA), which includes the Project Area plus a 200-foot buffer surrounding the Project Area. SWCA conducted a desktop review and field survey for sensitive biological resources with the potential to occur in the BSA, and to identify activities that may impact a Coastal Resource Area (CRA). In addition, this BRSR provides a list of recommended Avoidance and Minimization Measures (AMMs) designed to avoid Project impacts to special-status species and sensitive habitats. Based on the results of the literature review and field survey, the BSA and Project Area contains: • suitable habitat for several nesting migratory birds covered under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; • suitable dispersal habitat for two federally or state listed wildlife species (California red-legged frog [Rana draytonii] and San Francisco garter snake [Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia]); No special-status plant or animal species were observed during the survey, although suitable habitat for the above-mentioned species was observed in the BSA. Six special-status plant species (California Native Plant Society [CNPS] rare) were determined to have at least some potential to occur in the BSA; however, special-status plant species are not expected to occur in the Project Area. The Project Area is located approximately 500 meters northwest of Canada Verde Creek. The Project Area is located on the coastal bluff west of the hotel. The Project is not expected to impact a CRA as defined by the City of Half Moon Bay Land Use Plan and Zoning Ordinance, nor result in a significant biological impact provided that Avoidance and Minimization Measures provided in Section 5 of this BRSR are implemented. i Ritz-Carlton Bluff Protection Project Biological Resource Survey Report This page intentionally left blank. ii Ritz-Carlton Bluff Protection Project Biological Resource Survey Report CONTENTS Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... i 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose of Biological Resource Survey Report ............................................................................... 1 1.2 Project Location and Description ..................................................................................................... 1 2 Regulatory Background ....................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Federal Policies and Regulations ..................................................................................................... 4 2.1.1 Section 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1977 ...................................................................... 4 2.1.2 Federal Endangered Species Act ........................................................................................ 4 2.1.3 Migratory Bird Treaty Act .................................................................................................. 5 2.2 State and Local Policies and Regulations ........................................................................................ 5 2.2.1 California Endangered Species Act .................................................................................... 5 2.2.2 California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines .............................................................. 5 2.2.3 California Coastal Act and Half Moon Bay Local Coastal Program .................................. 6 2.2.4 California Fish and Game Code Section 1602 .................................................................... 6 2.2.5 California Protection for Birds (California Fish and Game Code Sections 3503, 3503.5, 3513, and 3800) ..................................................................................................... 6 3 Methodology .......................................................................................................................................... 7 3.1 Desktop Review and Literature Research ........................................................................................ 7 1.2 Field Survey ..................................................................................................................................... 7 4 Results.................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Topography and Soils ...................................................................................................................... 8 4.1 Vegetation Communities ................................................................................................................. 8 4.1.1 Northern Coastal Bluff Scrub ............................................................................................. 8 4.1.2 Annual Grassland ................................................................................................................ 8 4.1.3 Sea Cliffs........................................................................................................................... 10 4.1.4 Sandy Beach ..................................................................................................................... 10 4.1.5 Open Water ....................................................................................................................... 10 4.1.6 Ruderal/Disturbed ............................................................................................................. 10 4.1.7 Developed/Urban .............................................................................................................. 10 4.2 Sensitive Resource Assessment ..................................................................................................... 11 4.2.1 Special-Status Species with Potential to Occur ................................................................ 11 4.2.2 Nesting Migratory Passerine Birds and Raptors ............................................................... 13 4.2.3 Wildlife Habitats ............................................................................................................... 13 4.2.4 Wetlands, Floodplains, and Waters of the U.S. ................................................................ 13 4.2.5 Coastal Resource Areas .................................................................................................... 13 5 Avoidance and Minimization Measures ........................................................................................... 15 6 References ........................................................................................................................................... 17 iii Ritz-Carlton Bluff Protection Project Biological Resource Survey Report Appendices Appendix A. Photo Documentation Appendix B. CNDDB and CNPS Record List and Consideration for Potential Occurrence in the Biological Study Area Appendix C. Species Observed During the Field Survey Appendix D. CNDDB and Critical Habitat Map Figures Figure 1. Project vicinity map. ...................................................................................................................... 2 Figure 2. Project location map. ..................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 3. Vegetation community map. .......................................................................................................... 9 iv Ritz-Carlton Bluff Protection Project Biological Resource Survey Report 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Purpose of Biological Resource Survey Report This Biological Resource Survey Report (BRSR) has been prepared by SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) at the request of the Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay. The intent of this report is to identify sensitive biological resources and activities that may impact a Coastal Resource Area (CRA) per the City of Half Moon Bay’s (City) Zoning Code (City Code) and Land Use Plan (LUP) for the emergency coastal bluff protection work required on the Half Moon Bay Ritz-Carlton property (Project). This report includes the results from a desktop review, literature search, and a field survey of the Project Area, the construction footprint, and areas within a 200-foot buffer,