2008 Owens Valley PM10 Planning Area Demonstration of Attainment State Implementation Plan Final Subsequent Environmental Impact Report Technical Appendix R.D Biological Resources Technical Technical Report Great Basin Unified Prepared for: Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District 157 Short Street Air Pollution Control District Bishop, CA 93514 Prepared by: Sapphos Environmental, Inc. 133 Martin Alley Pasadena, CA 91105 January 14, 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTIONS PAGE ES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................ ES-1 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Goal of the Proposed Project ............................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Project Objectives............................................................................................... 1-2 1.3 Purpose of the Biological Resources Technical Report ......................................... 1-2 1.4 Intended Audience.............................................................................................. 1-3 1.5 Scope of the Project............................................................................................. 1-3 1.6 Sources of Relevant Information .......................................................................... 1-4 1.7 Working Definitions ............................................................................................ 1-4 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Proposed Project Location ................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Existing Conditions.............................................................................................. 2-2 2.2.1 General Plan Land Use and Zoning ......................................................... 2-3 2.3 Project Elements.................................................................................................. 2-3 2.3.1 Dust Control Measures ............................................................................ 2-4 2.3.2 Other Project Elements .......................................................................... 2-11 2.4 Construction Scenario........................................................................................2-14 3.0 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK......................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Federal ................................................................................................................ 3-1 3.1.1 National Environmental Policy Act .......................................................... 3-1 3.1.2 Federal Endangered Species Act............................................................... 3-1 3.1.3 Migratory Bird Treaty Act......................................................................... 3-2 3.1.4 Section 404 of the Federal Clean Water Act............................................. 3-2 3.1.5 Owens Basin Wetland and Aquatic Species Recovery Plan: Inyo and Mono Counties, California ........................................................ 3-2 3.2 State .................................................................................................................... 3-3 3.2.1 California Endangered Species Act........................................................... 3-3 3.2.2 Section 2080 and 2081 of the State Fish and Game Code ........................ 3-3 3.2.3 Native Plant Protection Act ...................................................................... 3-4 3.2.4 California Desert Native Plants Act .......................................................... 3-4 3.2.5 Section 3503 and 3503.5 of the State Fish and Game Code ..................... 3-4 3.2.6 Section 1600 of the State Fish and Game Code........................................ 3-4 3.3 Local ................................................................................................................... 3-5 3.3.1 Inyo County General Plan........................................................................ 3-5 2008 State Implementation Plan Final Biological Resources Technical Report January 14, 2008 Sapphos Environmental, Inc. W:\PROJECTS\1064\1064-013\Documents\Bio Res Tech Report\Final\TOC.doc Page i 4.0 METHODS...................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Inyo County General Plan and Ordinances.......................................................... 4-1 4.1.1 Inyo County General Plan........................................................................ 4-1 4.2 Federal Wetlands................................................................................................. 4-2 4.3 Habitat Characterization...................................................................................... 4-5 4.3.1 Plant Community Mapping ...................................................................... 4-6 4.3.2 Delineation of Areas Subject to the State Fish and Game Code ................ 4-7 4.4 Special Status Species: Listed, Candidate, Sensitive, and Locally Important Species. ............................................................................ 4-9 4.4.1 Literature Review..................................................................................... 4-9 4.4.2 Agency Consultation.............................................................................. 4-11 4.4.3 Habitat Assessment................................................................................ 4-13 4.4.3.1 Sensitive Species........................................................................ 4-30 4.4.3.2 Locally Important Species .......................................................... 4-31 4.5 Detailed Field Surveys....................................................................................... 4-31 4.5.1 Owens Valley Vole................................................................................ 4-31 4.5.2 Western Snowy Plover........................................................................... 4-31 4.6 Native Resident or Migratory Species of Fish and Wildlife. ................................ 4-32 4.6.1 Fish ....................................................................................................... 4-32 4.6.2 Herpetofauna......................................................................................... 4-32 4.6.3 Birds...................................................................................................... 4-32 4.6.4 Mammals............................................................................................... 4-32 4.7 Consistency with Federal, State, and Regional Conservation Plans..................... 4-33 5.0 RESULTS ......................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Inyo County General Plan and Ordinances.......................................................... 5-1 5.1.1 Existing Conditions.................................................................................. 5-1 5.1.2 Impact Analysis........................................................................................5-2 5.1.2.1 Riparian Habitat and Jurisdictional “Waters” and Wetlands .......... 5-2 5.1.2.2 Biodiversity.................................................................................. 5-2 5.1.2.3 Wildlife Corridors ........................................................................ 5-2 5.1.2.4 Noxious Weeds ........................................................................... 5-2 5.1.2.5 Lower Owens River Project.......................................................... 5-2 5.1.3 Mitigation Measures................................................................................ 5-2 5.2 Federal Wetlands................................................................................................. 5-3 5.2.1 Existing Conditions.................................................................................. 5-3 5.2.2 Impact Analysis........................................................................................5-4 5.2.3 Mitigation Measures................................................................................ 5-4 5.3 Riparian and Other State-Designated Habitat ....................................................... 5-4 5.3.1 Existing Conditions.................................................................................. 5-4 5.3.1.1 Plant Communities....................................................................... 5-4 5.3.1.2 Areas Subject to Section 1600 of the State Fish and Game Code ........................................................... 5-6 5.3.2 Impact Analysis........................................................................................5-6 5.3.2.1 Areas Subject to Section 1600 of the State Fish and Game Code ........................................................... 5-6 2008 State Implementation Plan Final Biological Resources Technical Report January 14, 2008 Sapphos Environmental, Inc. W:\PROJECTS\1064\1064-013\Documents\Bio Res Tech Report\Final\TOC.doc Page ii 5.3.3 Mitigation Measures................................................................................ 5-8 5.3.3.1 Marking of Nonemissive Wetland and Upland Scrub Areas.......... 5-8 5.3.3.2 Exotic Pest Plant Control Program ...............................................