BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE 8225 MARIPOSA AVENUE PROPERTY, CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA February 12, 2016 Prepared for: US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District Regulatory Division 1325 J Street, Room 1350 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 557-6865 Prepared by: Natural Investigations Company 6124 Shadow Lane, Citrus Heights, CA 95621 8225 Mariposa Ave. Bio. Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 2 1.1. PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION ..................................................................... 2 1.2. PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF ASSESSMENT..................................................................... 2 1.3. Listed Species and Critical Habitat ..................................................................................... 2 1.4. Consultation to Date ........................................................................................................... 2 2. METHODS ............................................................................................................................... 3 2.1. PRELIMINARY DATA GATHERING AND RESEARCH ..................................................... 3 2.2. FIELD SURVEY .................................................................................................................. 3 2.3. MAPPING AND OTHER ANALYSES ................................................................................. 3 3. RESULTS OF FIELD SURVEYS .............................................................................................. 4 3.1. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING ............................................................................................ 4 3.2. INVENTORY OF FLORA AND FAUNA FROM FIELD SURVEY ........................................ 4 3.3. VEGETATION COMMUNITIES AND WILDLIFE HABITAT TYPES ................................... 7 4. SPECIES ACCOUNTS ............................................................................................................. 7 4.1.1. Historical Occurrences of Listed Species ..................................................................... 7 4.1.2. Vernal Pool Species ..................................................................................................... 7 4.1.3. Reptiles and Amphibians ............................................................................................. 7 4.1.4. Other Species .............................................................................................................. 8 5. EFFECTS ................................................................................................................................. 8 5.1. Potential Impacts to Federally-listed Species ..................................................................... 8 5.2. Potential Impacts to Oak Woodland Habitat ....................................................................... 8 5.3. Potential Impacts to Jurisdictional Waters and Aquatic Habitat .......................................... 8 6. SUMMARY AND DETERMINATION ........................................................................................ 9 7. REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................... 10 8. QUALIFICATIONS OF BIOLOGIST ....................................................................................... 10 9. EXHIBITS ............................................................................................................................... 11 Page 1 8225 Mariposa Ave. Bio. Assessment 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION A biological assessment was performed on a parcel of approximately 0.75 acres at 8225 Mariposa Avenue in Citrus Heights, California (“Project Area”). The proposed action is a lot line division and the construction of a second single-family residence and an access road. An existing drainage swale would be re-routed. 1.2. PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF ASSESSMENT In support of the environmental review process, Natural Investigations Co. has prepared this assessment to provide information on biological resources within the Project Area. This assessment identifies the biological resources within the Project Area, the regulatory environment affecting such resources, any potential Project-related impacts upon these resources, and identifies mitigation measures to reduce these impacts. This field survey conformed to survey standards specified by California Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including compliance with the California Endangered Species Act and the U.S. Endangered Species Act and state and federal laws protecting migratory birds and nesting birds. This technical memo documents the findings of the special-status species surveys for state-listed and federally listed species and other special-status species (including nesting birds) and an analysis of potential adverse effects upon listed species or designated critical habitat. 1.3. Listed Species and Critical Habitat A USFWS species list was generated online using the USFWS’ IPaC Trust Resource Report System (see Exhibits). The following protected resources were identified: Amphibians o California Red-legged Frog (Rana draytonii) o California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense) Crustaceans o Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi) o Vernal Pool Tadpole Shrimp (Lepidurus packardi) Fishes o Delta Smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) o Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Insects o Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle (Desmocerus californicus dimorphus) Reptiles o Giant Garter Snake (Thamnophis gigas) Migratory Birds Critical Habitats There is no critical habitat within this project area 1.4. Consultation to Date No consultation with wildlife agencies has occurred to date. Page 2 8225 Mariposa Ave. Bio. Assessment Ramon Aberasturi (Project Manager, California Delta Branch, USACE) conducted a field verification on January 21, 2016. The following delineation report was revised with information obtained from the field verification and was submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for verification: Final Aquatic Resource Delineation Report for the Property at 8225 Mariposa Avenue, Citrus Heights, CA. February 11, 2016. Prepared for Regulatory Division, US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District. Prepared by Natural Investigations Company. 2. METHODS 2.1. PRELIMINARY DATA GATHERING AND RESEARCH Prior to conducting the field survey the following information sources were reviewed: Any readily-available previous biological resource studies pertaining to the Project Area or vicinity United States Geologic Service (USGS) 7.5 degree-minute topographic quadrangles of the Project Area and vicinity Aerial photography of the Project Area California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), electronically updated monthly by subscription to CDFG. USFWS Species List 2.2. FIELD SURVEY Biologists Dr. G.O. Graening and Christopher Gray performed the first special-status species survey on the afternoon of April 3, 2015. Dr. Graening performed additonal special-status species surveys on September 15, 2015, January 21, 2016, and February 5, 2016. A complete coverage, pedestrian survey was performed. All visible fauna and flora observed were recorded in a field notebook, and identified to the lowest possible taxon. Survey efforts emphasized the search for any listed species that had documented occurrences in the CNDDB within the vicinity of the Project Area. When a specimen could not be identified in the field, a photograph or voucher specimen (depending upon permit requirements) was taken and identified in the laboratory using a dissecting scope where necessary. Dr. Graening holds the following scientific collection permits: CDFG Scientific Collecting Permit No. SC-006802; and CDFG Plant Voucher Specimen Permit 09004. Taxonomic determinations were facilitated by referencing museum specimens or by various texts, including the following: Powell and Hogue (1979); Pavlik (1991); (1993); Brenzel (2001); Stuart and Sawyer (2001); Lanner (2002); Sibley (2003); Baldwin et al. (2012); Calflora (2015); CDFG (2007b,c); NatureServe 2015; and University of California at Berkeley (2015a,b). The locations of any listed species sighted were marked on aerial photographs and/or georeferenced with a geographic positioning system (GPS) receiver. Habitat types occurring in the Project Area were mapped on aerial photographs, and information on habitat conditions and the suitability of the habitats to support listed species was also recorded. The Project Area was also formally assessed for the presence of potentially-jurisdictional water features, including riparian zones, isolated wetlands and vernal pools, and other biologically-sensitive aquatic habitats. 2.3. MAPPING AND OTHER ANALYSES Locations of species’ occurrences and habitat boundaries within the Project Area were recorded on color aerial photographs, and then digitized to produce the final habitat maps. The boundaries of potentially jurisdictional water resources within the Project Area were identified and measured in the field, and similarly digitized to calculate acreage and to produce informal delineation maps. Geographic analyses were performed using geographical information system software (ArcGIS 9.3, ESRI, Inc.). Vegetation communities (assemblages of plant species growing in an area of similar biological and environmental factors), were classified by Vegetation Series (distinctive associations