Orchard Hills Biological Technical Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Title Page S SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ S-1 1.0 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................1 1.1 Purpose of the Report ........................................................................................1 1.2 Project Location and Description ......................................................................1 1.2.1 Project Location .....................................................................................1 1.2.2 Project Description ................................................................................1 1.3 Survey Methods .................................................................................................1 1.3.1 Literature Review ..................................................................................1 1.3.2 General Biological Survey .....................................................................2 1.3.3 Focused Species Surveys .......................................................................3 1.3.4 Jurisdictional Delineation ......................................................................3 1.3.5 Nomenclature .........................................................................................4 1.4 Environmental Setting .......................................................................................4 1.4.1 Regional Context ...................................................................................5 1.4.2 Habitat Types/Vegetation Communities ................................................5 1.4.3 Flora .......................................................................................................7 1.4.4 Fauna ......................................................................................................7 1.4.5 Sensitive Plant Species ..........................................................................7 1.4.6 Sensitive Animal Species .......................................................................8 1.4.7 Wetlands/Jurisdictional Waters .............................................................8 1.4.8 Habitat Connectivity and Wildlife Corridors .........................................8 1.5 Applicable Regulations ......................................................................................9 1.5.1 Federal Government...............................................................................9 1.5.2 State of California ................................................................................10 1.5.3 County of San Diego ............................................................................11 2.0 PROJECT EFFECTS ................................................................................................12 2.1 Special Status Species ......................................................................................12 2.2 Riparian Habitat or Sensitive Natural Community ..........................................12 2.3 Jurisdictional Wetlands and Waterways ..........................................................12 2.4 Wildlife Movement and Nursery Sites ............................................................13 3.0 SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES ..................................................................................13 3.1 Guidelines for the Determination of Significance ...........................................13 3.2 Analysis of Project Effects ..............................................................................14 3.3 Cumulative Impact Analysis ............................................................................16 i TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.) Section Title Page 3.0 SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES (cont.) 3.4 Mitigation Measures and Design Considerations ............................................19 3.4.1 Plant Species ..........................................................................................20 3.4.2 Animal Species ......................................................................................20 3.5 Conclusions ......................................................................................................20 4.0 RIPARIAN HABITAT OR SENSITIVE NATURAL COMMUNITY ...................20 4.1 Guidelines for the Determination of Significance ...........................................20 4.2 Analysis of Project Effects ..............................................................................21 4.3 Cumulative Impact Analysis ............................................................................22 4.4 Mitigation Measures and Design Considerations ............................................22 4.5 Conclusions ......................................................................................................23 5.0 JURISDICTIONAL WETLANDS AND WATERWAYS .......................................23 5.1 Guidelines for the Determination of Significance ...........................................23 5.2 Analysis of Project Effects ..............................................................................23 5.3 Cumulative Impact Analysis ............................................................................23 5.4 Mitigation Measures and Design Considerations ............................................23 5.5 Conclusions ......................................................................................................23 6.0 WILDLIFE MOVEMENT AND NURSERY SITES ...............................................23 6.1 Guidelines for the Determination of Significance ...........................................23 6.2 Analysis of Project Effects ..............................................................................24 6.3 Cumulative Impact Analysis ............................................................................25 6.4 Mitigation Measures and Design Considerations ............................................26 6.5 Conclusions ......................................................................................................26 7.0 LOCAL POLICIES, ORDINANCES, AND ADOPTED PLANS ...........................26 7.1 Guidelines for the Determination of Significance ...........................................26 7.2 Analysis of Project Effects ..............................................................................27 7.3 Cumulative Impact Analysis ............................................................................29 7.4 Mitigation Measures and Design Considerations ............................................29 7.5 Conclusions ......................................................................................................29 8.0 SUMMARY OF PROJECT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION .................................29 9.0 LIST OF PREPARERS AND PERSONS/ORGANIZATIONS CONTACTED ......33 10.0 REFERENCES .........................................................................................................35 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.) LIST OF APPENDICES Letter Title A Plant Species Observed B Animal Species Observed or Detected C Sensitive Flora and Fauna Potential Species List D Explanation of Status Codes for Plant and Animal Species E CNDDB Sensitive Species Forms LIST OF FIGURES Follows Number Title Page 1 Regional Location Map ..............................................................................................2 2 Project Location Map ..................................................................................................2 3 Aerial Photograph .......................................................................................................6 4 Vegetation Communities and Sensitive Resources ....................................................6 5 Vegetation Communities and Sensitive Resources/Impacts .....................................12 6 Cumulative Projects ..................................................................................................16 LIST OF TABLES Number Title Page 1 Survey Information .....................................................................................................2 2 Existing Vegetation Communities/Habitats ................................................................5 3 Cumulative Biological Resources Impacts ...............................................................17 4 Summary of Vegetation Communities, Impact, and Mitigation for the Orchard Hills Project .......................................................................................................................30 5 Summary of Mitigation Measures for the Orchard Hills Project ..............................31 iii GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ACRONYMS BMO Biological Mitigation Order CDFG California Department of Fish and Game CDFW California Department of Fish and Wildlife CEQA California Environmental Quality Act CNDDB California Natural Diversity Database CNPS California Native Plant Society Corps U.S. Army Corps of Engineers County County of San Diego CWA Clean Water Act DCSS Diegan coastal sage scrub DEV Developed land DH Disturbed habitat EPA Environmental Protection Agency ESA Endangered Species Act EW Eucalyptus woodland HCP Habitat Conservation Plan HELIX HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc. HLP Habitat Loss Permit MBTA Migratory Bird Treaty Act MSCP Multiple-Species Conservation Plan NCCP Natural Communities Conservation Program NNG Non-native grassland NPPA Native Plant Protection Act OHWM Ordinary high water mark PAMA Pre-Approved Mitigation Area RCA Resource