BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES ANALYSIS REPORT FOR THE DELTA PRODUCTS PROPERTY FREMONT, CALIFORNIA Prepared for: CITY OF FREMONT PLANNING DIVISION 39550 Liberty Street Fremont, California 94538 Prepared by: OLBERDING ENVIRONMENTAL, INC. Wetland Regulatory Consultants 3170 Crow Canyon Place, Suite 260 San Ramon, California 94583 Phone: (925) 866-2111 ~ FAX (925) 866-2126 Contact: Jeff Olberding MAY 2012 Revised JULY 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 3 2.0 LOCATION .......................................................................................................................... 3 3.0 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................... 3 4.0 REGULATORY SETTING ................................................................................................. 4 4.1 Federal Regulatory Setting ........................................................................................ 4 4.1.1 Plants and Wildlife ...................................................................................... 4 4.1.2 Wetlands/Waters ......................................................................................... 4 4.1.3 Migratory Bird Treaty Act .......................................................................... 6 4.1.4 The Federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act ................................... 6 4.2 State Regulatory Setting ............................................................................................ 7 4.2.1 Plants and Wildlife ...................................................................................... 7 4.2.2 Wetlands/Waters ......................................................................................... 7 4.2.3 California Environmental Quality Act ........................................................ 8 5.0 METHODS OF ANALYSIS FOR GENERAL BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES .................. 9 5.1 Soils Evaluation ....................................................................................................... 10 5.2 Plant Survey Methods .............................................................................................. 10 5.2.1 Review of Literature and Data Sources .................................................... 10 5.2.2 Field Surveys ............................................................................................ 11 5.3 Wildlife Survey Methods ......................................................................................... 11 5.3.1 Review of Literature and Data Sources .................................................... 11 5.3.2 Field Surveys ............................................................................................ 11 6.0 RESULTS FOR GENERAL BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES ............................................. 12 6.1 Soil Evaluation Results ............................................................................................ 12 6.2 Plant Survey Results ................................................................................................ 13 6.2.1 Floristic Inventory and Habitat Characterization ..................................... 13 6.2.2 Special-Status Plant Species ..................................................................... 14 6.3 Wildlife Survey Results ........................................................................................... 18 6.3.1 General Wildlife Species and Habitats ..................................................... 18 6.3.2 Special-Status Wildlife Species ................................................................ 19 7.0 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................ 25 7.1 Wetlands .................................................................................................................. 25 7.2 Special-Status Plants ................................................................................................ 25 7.3 Special-Status Wildlife ............................................................................................ 26 8.0 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................... 27 9.0 LITERATURE CITED ....................................................................................................... 30 ATTACHMENTS ATTACHMENT 1 FIGURES Figure 1 Regional Map Figure 2 Vicinity Map Figure 3 USGS Quadrangle Map Figure 4 Aerial Photograph Figure 5 CNDDB Map of Special-Status Animals Figure 6 CNDDB Map of Special-Status Plants Figure 7 USFWS Designated Critical Habitat Locations Figure 8 Soils Map Figure 9 Potential Wetland Areas and Photo Locations Map ATTACHMENT 2 TABLES Table 1 Plant and Wildlife Species Observed Within/Adjacent to the Survey Area Table 2 Special-Status Species Occurring within the Calaveras Reservoir, La Costa Valley, Milpitas, Mountain View, Newark, and Niles 7.5 Minute Quadrangle Maps ATTACHMENT 3 SITE PHOTOGRAPHS This report should be cited as: Olberding Environmental, Inc. July 2012. Biological Resources Analysis Report for the Delta Products Property, Prepared for the City of Fremont Planning Department, Fremont, California. SUMMARY On March 20 and May15, 2012 a field reconnaissance investigation of the Delta Products Property (Property) was conducted for the purpose of identifying sensitive plant and wildlife species, sensitive habitats, and biological constraints. The survey area for this report incorporates approximately 15.5 acres within the City of Fremont, Alameda County, California. In summary, based on the initial reconnaissance survey, it was found that the Property contains areas that exhibit positive indicators of wetland soils, vegetation, and hydrology. Drainage swales were observed on the west and east boundaries of the Property (refer to Attachment 1 Figure 9 and photos 1 through 10). These areas exhibited positive indicators of wetland characteristics used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the identification of jurisdictional wetlands. Also, a large swale was identified in the mid portion of the Property diverging into two separate swales meandering to adjacent properties (refer to Attachment 1 Figure 9 and photos 1 through 10). Pickleweed (Salicornia europeae) habitat was also identified in portions of these features. Subsequent conversations with the civil engineer and the Property owners’ biological consultant indicate that the wetland habitat observed on site is part of an on-going mitigation project associated with planned development of the parcel. The wetland features have been constructed for the sole purpose of mitigation site hydrology augmentation associated with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Permit Number 23205S. As such, these wetlands would not be regulated as jurisdictional wetlands by the Corps. It is suggested that the Corps be contacted concerning this assessment and concurrence verified. The CNDDB identified seven plant species which had the potential to occur on the Property based on suitable habitat types and/or occurrences within the vicinity of the site in the last 10 years. An initial botanical survey was performed in March with a follow-up survey conducted in May 2012. These surveys resulted in a negative finding for any of the seven special-status species. However, it was determined that one special-status plant species, Congdon’s tarplant (Centromadia parryi ssp. congdonii), has the potential to occur on the Property as an unidentified tarplant was observed during the survey. Congdon’s tarplant (blooms June to November) has been historically observed on the subject Property. The unidentified tar plant should be keyed to species during the blooming period. Several CNDDB occurrences of California tiger salamander have been made within the vicinity of the Property (0.73 mile) within the last ten years (Attachment 1, Figure 5). CTS breeding habitat does not occur on the Property; however, seasonal ponds were identified on the adjacent Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge. The Property occurs within the recognized CTS dispersal distance (1.2 miles) from these ponds. The Property also contains ground squirrel burrows providing suitable upland habitat for this species. Due to the identification of breeding habitat and recent occurrence information on the adjacent Refuge property and the availability of suitable upland habitat provided on the subject Property, it has been determined that CTS has a potential to occur on the Property. However, Laguna Creek which is located along the western boundary of the Property, may act as a barrier to dispersal. It is suggested that the Property owner contact both the US Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Game to validate this assessment. 1 The habitats on and adjacent to the Property provide foraging habitat but do not provide nesting habitat for the Cooper’s hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, red-tailed hawk, white-tailed kite, prairie falcon and northern harrier. No nests were observed during the March/May 2012 survey, though a foraging prairie falcon and northern harrier were observed. Due to the presence of small mammal burrows observed during the survey, low vegetation growth, and portions of bare ground, the Property is considered suitable habitat to support