Appendix 4 Biological Resources Reports a. Biological Resources Technical Report b. Preliminary Jurisdictional Waters Wetlands Delineation Report Appendix 4a Biological Resources Technical Report Biological Resources Technical Report Del Sur Solar Project Lancaster, California Prepared For: City of Lancaster Planning Department Prepared By: Aspen Environmental Group June 2015 DEL SUR SOLAR PROJECT Biological Resources Technical Report Contents Section Title Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................................................................................4a-1 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................4a-1 2. Methodologies ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................4a-2 3. Existing Conditions ..................................................................................................................................................................................................4a-8 4. Sensitive Vegetation Communities and Habitat ......................................................................................................................... 4a-20 5. Special-Status Species ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 4a-20 6. Regulatory Environment ................................................................................................................................................................................. 4a-33 7. References ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4a-39 Tables Table 3-1. Summary of Vegetation and Cover Types in the Study Area, Solar Generating Facility, and the Gen-tie line Options ..................................................................................................................4a-9 Table 3-2. Plant Species Observed Within the Study Area....................................................................................... 4a-13 Table 3-3. Noxious and Invasive Plant Species Identified in the Study Area ............................................. 4a-15 Table 3-4. Soil Units Occurring in the Study Area ............................................................................................................ 4a-16 Table 5-1. Known and Potential Occurrence of Special-Status Plant Taxa within the Study Area ............................................................................................................................................................................. 4a-21 Table 5-2. Known and Potential Occurrence of Special-Status Wildlife within the Study Area ............................................................................................................................................................................. 4a-25 Figure Figure 1. Project Location ...................................................................................................................................................................4a-3 Figure 2a. Summary of CNDDB Results .......................................................................................................................................4a-6 Figure 2b. Detailed CNDDB Results ................................................................................................................................................4a-7 Figure 3a. Vegetation and Land Cover Communities - SGF .................................................................................... 4a-10 Figure 3b. Vegetation and Land Cover Communities - Gen-Tie Routes ....................................................... 4a-11 Figure 4. Soils ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 4a-18 Attachments Attachment A: Representative Site Photos Attachment B: Wildlife Species Observed Attachment C: Special-Status Species Accounts Appendix 4a 4a-i June 2015 DEL SUR SOLAR PROJECT Biological Resources Technical Report Executive Summary This report provides a summary of the biological resources known or with the potential to occur at the Del Sur Solar Project (project), a 100-megawatt (MW) solar energy project proposed in the western portion of the City of Lancaster in Los Angeles County, California. The project would consist of a 725-acre photovoltaic (PV) solar generating facility (SGF) and a two- to four-mile transmission line, which would interconnect to two existing or approved collector substations along West Avenue J. Biological information for this study was collected through field investigations (reconnaissance and focused surveys), review of available literature and data records from the region, and consultation with local biologists and other regional experts. Field surveys remain ongoing, and are expected to be completed in early June 2015. Habitat on the SGF site is dominated by fiddleneck fields with pockets of saltbush, California poppy fields, rubber rabbitbrush scrub, and areas of Cooper’s boxthorn scrub. The generation-tie (gen-tie) line routes are dominated by a mixture of California poppy and fiddleneck fields. California poppy fields and boxthorn scrub are considered sensitive by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Rare plants were not detected during reconnaissance surveys of the SGF or gen-tie routes. However, several sensitive species are known from the region and may not have been detectable during the initial surveys. Supplemental surveys for rare plants were conducted on March 10 and April 11, 2015. Seven special-status wildlife species were documented during surveys of the project area. These include: Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsoni), State-listed threatened; Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), California Species of Special Concern; Northern harrier (Circus cyaneus), California Species of Special Concern; Prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus), California Species of Special Concern; Loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), California Species of Special Concern; Long-billed curlew (Numenius americanus), CDFW watch list species; and Desert kit fox (Vulpes macrotis arsipus), a State Protected Furbearing Mammal Swainson’s hawk, northern harrier, and prairie falcon were observed soaring over the SGF and are well known from the region. The SGF does not support nesting habitat for these species. A burrowing owl and several active burrows were identified along the gen-tie and communication line alignment during project surveys. Suitable habitat occurs throughout the Study Area. Loggerhead shrike is locally abundant in the region, and was observed within the SGF and all of the gen-tie line routes. This species may nest in or near the SGF site. Long-billed curlew winters in the Antelope Valley and was observed on the SGF site and at multiple locations along the gen-tie line routes. Several potential burrows and tracks of desert kit fox was observed at multiple locations within the SGF. This species was not detected along the gen-tie line routes but is known to occur in the region. 1. Introduction The report describes the existing environmental conditions and biological resources that were documented or have the potential to occur at or near the project site. June 2015 4a-1 Appendix 4a DEL SUR SOLAR PROJECT Biological Resources Technical Report 1.1 Project Description The proposed project would consist of a 100-MW utility-scale PV SGF located on 725 acres in the City of Lancaster. Electricity generated by the project would be delivered by an approximately two- to four-mile gen-tie line that would extend to two previously approved collector substations just west of the existing SCE Antelope Substation, south of the SGF. 2. Methodologies Data regarding biological resources that have the potential to occur in the project area were obtained through literature and database reviews and field investigations. Aspen Environmental Group (Aspen) conducted reconnaissance-level and focused surveys in February through June, 2015. Field work conducted for the project included: Reconnaissance-level surveys for common and sensitive species, Focused surveys for Swainson’s hawks and burrowing owls, Habitat assessments for sensitive animal species, Vegetation mapping, and Focused surveys for sensitive plants. Surveys were conducted within the project footprint and adjacent areas; collectively referred to as the Study Area. The Study Area includes all portions of the project site, gen-tie routes and a buffer that extends a minimum of 500 feet from the SGF boundary, and 500 feet on either side of the gen-tie route centerline (1,000 feet on either side of the centerline for one segment of the gen-tie line routes). The Study Area comprises approximately 2,346 acres. Figure 1 identifies the project components and Study Area. Surveys for Swainson’s hawk nesting substrates were conducted within the Study Area,