MONK & ASSOCIATES Environmental Consultants ADMINISTRATIVE DRAFT BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE ANALYSIS NEWPORT POINTE BIXLER ROAD, DISCOVERY BAY CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Revised August 30, 2010 Prepared for Contra Costa County Community Development Department 651 Pine Street, N. Wing – 4th Floor Martinez, California 94553 On Behalf of Mr. William Schrader Disco Bay Partners LLC 164 Oak Road Alamo, California 94507 Prepared by Monk & Associates, Inc. 1136 Saranap Avenue, Suite Q Walnut Creek, California 94595 1136 Saranap Ave., Suite Q i Walnut Creek i California i 94595 (925) 947-4867 i FAX (925) 947-1165 Revised - Biological Resources Analysis MONK & ASSOCIATES Newport Pointe Bixler Road Project, Discovery Bay Contra Costa County TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 1 2. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................... 1 2.1 Monk & Associates’ Background Research in 2010 .............................................................. 1 2.2 Monk & Associates’ Field Reconnaissance in 2005 .............................................................. 1 2.3 Wetland Delineation in 2006 ................................................................................................... 2 2.4 Rare Plant Surveys in 2006 ..................................................................................................... 2 3. LIMITATIONS OF MONK & ASSOCIATES’ STUDY ............................................................... 2 4. EXISTING CONDITIONS .............................................................................................................. 3 4.1 Setting/Project site Description ............................................................................................... 3 4.2 Proposed Project ...................................................................................................................... 3 5. PROJECT SITE ANALYSIS ........................................................................................................... 3 5.1 Project Site Soils ...................................................................................................................... 3 5.2 Project Site Topography and Hydrology ................................................................................ 4 5.3 Plant Communities and Associated Wildlife Habitats ........................................................... 4 5.3.1 NON-NATIVE ANNUAL GRASSLAND ........................................................................................ 4 5.3.2 SEASONAL WETLANDS ............................................................................................................ 5 5.3.3 OFF-SITE DRAINAGE ................................................................................................................ 5 6. SPECIAL-STATUS SPECIES DEFINITION ................................................................................. 6 6.1 Definitions ................................................................................................................................ 6 7. POTENTIALLY OCCURRING SPECIAL-STATUS PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES ......... 8 7.1 Special Status Plant Species .................................................................................................... 8 7.1.1 DELTA BUTTON-CELERY .......................................................................................................... 9 7.1.2 BIG TARPLANT .......................................................................................................................... 9 7.1.3 DIABLO HELIANTHELLA ........................................................................................................... 9 7.1.4 CAPER-FRUITED TROPIDOCARPUM .......................................................................................... 9 7.1.5 HEARTSCALE .......................................................................................................................... 10 7.1.6 BRITTLESCALE ....................................................................................................................... 10 7.1.7 SAN JOAQUIN SPEARSCALE .................................................................................................... 10 7.1.8 ALKALI MILK-VETCH ............................................................................................................. 10 7.1.9 LARGE-LEAF STORKSBILL ...................................................................................................... 11 7.1.10 DIAMOND-PETALED CALIFORNIA POPPY ............................................................................ 11 7.1.11 RECURVED LARKSPUR ......................................................................................................... 11 7.2 Special-Status Wildlife Species ............................................................................................ 11 7.2.1 VERNAL POOL FAIRY SHRIMP ............................................................................................... 11 7.2.2 CALIFORNIA TIGER SALAMANDER ........................................................................................ 13 7.2.3 CALIFORNIA RED-LEGGED FROG ........................................................................................... 14 7.2.4 WESTERN POND TURTLE ........................................................................................................ 14 7.2.5 SWAINSON’S HAWK ................................................................................................................ 15 7.2.6 WESTERN BURROWING OWL .................................................................................................. 17 8. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR NATIVE WILDLIFE, FISH, AND PLANTS .............. 18 8.1 Federal Endangered Species Act ........................................................................................... 18 8.1.1 RESPONSIBLE AGENCY .......................................................................................................... 20 8.1.2 APPLICABILITY TO THE PROPOSED PROJECT ......................................................................... 20 8.2 Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act ....................................................................................... 21 i Revised - Biological Resources Analysis MONK & ASSOCIATES Newport Pointe Bixler Road Project, Discovery Bay Contra Costa County 8.2.1 APPLICABILITY TO PROPOSED PROJECT ................................................................................ 21 8.3 State Endangered Species Act ............................................................................................... 22 8.3.1 SECTION 2081 OF THE STATE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT .................................................. 22 8.3.2 APPLICABILITY TO PROPOSED PROJECT ................................................................................ 24 8.4 California Fish and Game Code § 3503, 3503.5, 3511, and 3513 ....................................... 24 8.4.1 APPLICABILITY TO THE PROJECT ........................................................................................... 24 8.5 Protected Amphibians ........................................................................................................... 25 8.5.1 APPLICABILITY TO THE PROJECT ........................................................................................... 25 8.6 Applicable CEQA Regulations ............................................................................................. 25 8.6.1 APPLICABILITY TO PROPOSED PROJECT ................................................................................ 25 8.7 County General Plan .............................................................................................................. 25 8.7.1 VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE GOALS ...................................................................................... 26 8.7.2 VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE POLICIES ................................................................................... 26 8.7.3 APPLICABILITY TO THE PROPOSED PROJECT ......................................................................... 28 9. USE OF EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN .............. 28 9.1.1 APPLICABILITY TO PROPOSED PROJECT ................................................................................ 30 REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES AND STATE .................................................................................................................................. 30 9.2 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jurisdiction and General Permitting .................................. 31 9.2.1 SECTION 404 OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT ............................................................................ 31 9.2.2 APPLICABILITY TO THE PROPOSED PROJECT ........................................................................ 34 9.3 State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) / California Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) ............................................................................................................ 36 9.3.1 SECTION 401 OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT ............................................................................ 36 9.3.2 APPLICABILITY TO THE PROPOSED PROJECT ........................................................................ 36 9.3.3 PORTER-COLOGNE WATER QUALITY