WRIGHT SOLAR PARK HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN P REPARED FOR : Wright Solar Park, LLC. 1777 Borel Place, Suite # 102 San Mateo, CA 94402 Contact: Tom Fitzgerald Phone: 650.539.3380 P R E P A R E D B Y : ICF International 75 East Santa Clara Street, Suite 300 San Jose, CA 95113 Contact: Troy Rahmig Phone: 408.216.2814 July 2014 ICF International. 2014. Wright Solar Park Habitat Conservation Plan. July. (ICF 00462.13.) San Jose, CA. Prepared for Wright Solar Park, LLC., San Mateo, CA. Contents Chapter 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Overview .......................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.2 Background ...................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.3 Scope of the Plan ............................................................................................................. 1-2 1.3.1 Covered Activities (Project) ............................................................................................. 1-2 1.3.2 Permit Area ...................................................................................................................... 1-3 1.3.3 Permit Term ..................................................................................................................... 1-3 1.3.4 Covered Species ............................................................................................................... 1-3 1.4 Regulatory Setting............................................................................................................ 1-5 1.4.1 Federal and State Endangered Species Laws ................................................................... 1-6 1.4.2 Other Federal and State Wildlife Laws and Regulations ................................................. 1-9 1.4.3 National Environmental Policy Act ................................................................................ 1-11 1.4.4 California Environmental Quality Act ............................................................................ 1-12 1.5 Document Organization ................................................................................................. 1-12 Chapter 2 Covered Activities ................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Covered Activities ............................................................................................................ 2-1 2.2.1 Construction Activities ..................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2.2 Operations and Maintenance Activities .......................................................................... 2-6 2.2.3 Site Decommissioning ...................................................................................................... 2-7 2.2.4 Activities Associated with HCP Implementation .............................................................. 2-8 Chapter 3 Physical and Biological Resources ............................................................................ 3-1 3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Physical Setting ................................................................................................................ 3-1 3.2.1 Location............................................................................................................................ 3-1 3.2.2 Topography ...................................................................................................................... 3-2 3.2.3 Geology ............................................................................................................................ 3-2 3.2.4 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 3-2 3.2.5 Climate and Hydrology..................................................................................................... 3-4 3.3 Land Use ........................................................................................................................... 3-5 3.3.1 Agriculture ....................................................................................................................... 3-5 3.3.2 Existing Open Space ......................................................................................................... 3-5 3.4 Biological Resources ........................................................................................................ 3-5 Wright Solar Park Habitat Conservation Plan July 2014 i ICF 00462.13 3.4.1 Land Cover ....................................................................................................................... 3-5 3.4.2 Covered Species ............................................................................................................. 3-10 Chapter 4 Impact Assessment and Level of Take ...................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Introduction and Approach.............................................................................................. 4-1 4.2 Definitions ........................................................................................................................ 4-1 4.3 Impact Assessment Methods ........................................................................................... 4-2 4.4 Effects on San Joaquin Kit Fox ......................................................................................... 4-2 4.4.1 Direct Effects on Individuals and Habitat ........................................................................ 4-3 4.4.2 Indirect Effects on Habitat ............................................................................................... 4-6 4.4.3 Effects of Conservation Actions ....................................................................................... 4-6 4.5 Effects on Blunt-Nosed Leopard Lizards .......................................................................... 4-6 4.5.1 Direct Effects on Individuals and Habitat ........................................................................ 4-7 4.5.2 Indirect Effects on Habitat ............................................................................................... 4-8 4.5.3 Effects of Conservation Actions ....................................................................................... 4-8 4.6 Effects on California Tiger Salamander ............................................................................ 4-8 4.6.1 Direct Effects on Individuals and Habitat ........................................................................ 4-8 4.6.2 Indirect Effects on Habitat ............................................................................................. 4-10 4.6.3 Effects of Conservation Actions ..................................................................................... 4-10 4.7 Cumulative Effects ......................................................................................................... 4-11 4.8 Estimated Level of Take ................................................................................................. 4-13 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy ............................................................................................. 5-1 5.1 Overview and Purpose ..................................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Biological Goals and Objectives ....................................................................................... 5-1 5.2.1 Covered Species ............................................................................................................... 5-2 5.3 Avoidance and Minimization Measures .......................................................................... 5-3 5.3.1 Project Design Features ................................................................................................... 5-3 5.3.2 General Avoidance and Minimization Measures ............................................................. 5-4 5.3.3 Species-Specific Avoidance and Minimization Measures ................................................ 5-6 5.4 Habitat Preservation ........................................................................................................ 5-9 5.4.1 Total Conservation Area ................................................................................................ 5-10 5.4.2 Habitat Management within the Project Site ................................................................ 5-10 5.4.3 Offsite Mitigation ........................................................................................................... 5-10 5.5 Monitoring ..................................................................................................................... 5-11 5.5.1 Effectiveness Monitoring ............................................................................................... 5-11 5.5.2 Compliance and Long-Term Monitoring .......................................................................