City of Walnut Creek Shadelands Gateway Specific Plan and The Orchards at Walnut Creek Project Draft EIR Appendix D: Cultural Resources FirstCarbon Solutions H:\Client (PN‐JN)\3611\36110005\EIR\4 ‐ EIR2\36110005 Sec99‐99 Appendix Dividers.doc Kenneth L. Finger, Ph.D. Consulting Paleontologist 18208 Judy St., Castro Valley, CA 94546-2306 510.885.1585 [email protected] July 22, 2013 Carrie Wills FirstCarbon Solutions - Michael Brandman Associates 2633 Camino Ramon, Ste. 460 San Ramon, CA 94583 Re: Paleontological Records Search: Shadelands Gateway Project (3611.0005), Contra Costa County, California Dear Ms. Wills: As per your request, I have conducted a search of the University of California Museum of Paleontol- ogy (UCMP) database for the Shadelands Gateway Project in Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County. The proposed project is located on unsectioned land, T1S, R1E, Walnut Creek Quadrangle (1995 USGS 7.5-series topographic map). From Google Earth aerial imagery, it appears that this is heavily disturbed, flat terrain. Geologic Units According to the geologic maps of Graymer et al. (1994) and Dibblee (2005), the proposed project is located on valley fill consisting of Quaternary (undivided Pleistocene and Holocene) alluvium (Qu or Qa). Tertiary and Cretaceous units are ex- posed in the hills flanking the valley, approxi- mately 3500 feet to the northeast and southwest. The closest of these are the Miocene Clerbo Sandstone, Eocene Domengene Fm. and Norton- ville Shale, and Early Cretaceous shale with mi- nor sandstone of the Great Valley sequence. This stratigraphic sequence dips into the subsurface well below the valley floor; it is, therefore, highly unlikely that project-related construction activi- ties will disturb any of these older units, all of which are paleontologically sensitive. Paleontological Records Search, Shadelands Gateway Project (3611.005) K. L. Finger UCMP Database Records Search The records search of the UCMP database focused on the Quaternary vertebrate localities and specimens of Contra Costa County. The results are 3900 Quaternary vertebrate fossils from 63 localities. Sixty-one of these localities yielded the Rancholabrean (late Pleistocene) fauna. The remaining two localities are early Pleistocene (Irvingtonian fauna) and Holocene. The diverse County Costa County fossil vertebrate fauna is represented by 60 taxa (see attached species list). Remarks and Recommendations A paleontological walkover survey of the site prior to construction is not warranted because the terrain is disturbed and devoid of geological exposures. The results of the records search indicate that excavations into previously undisturbed Pleistocene alluvium could impact significant paleontological resources. Although Pleistocene alluvium generally has a low paleontologic potential because its fossil occurrences are typically spotty and unpredictable, it should be considered as having a high paleontologic sensitivity. It would therefore be prudent to have a qualified cultural resources monitor onsite during excavations, particularly those expected to reach the Pleistocene if its local depth is known. An alternative would be to have a professional paleontologist periodically inspect all excavations of previously undisturbed alluvium. Should any vertebrate bones or teeth be unearthed by the construction crew, all work in the immediate vicinity of the discovery should cease until a paleontologist evaluates the find for its scientific value. If deemed significant, it should be salvaged and deposited in an accredited and permanent scientific institution (e.g., UCMP), where it will be properly curated and preserved for the benefit of current and future generations. If I can be of further assistance on this project, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, References Cited Dibblee, T.W., 2007. Geologic map of the Walnut Creek Quadrangle, Contra Costa County, Cal- ifornia. Dibblee Geology Center Map #DF-149 (1:24,000 scale). Graymer, R.W., Jones, D.L., and Brabb, E.E., 1994, Preliminary geologic map emphasizing bed- rock formations in Contra Costa County, California: A digital database: U.S. Geological Sur- vey Open-File Report 94-622. 2 CHECKLIST OF UCMP PLEISTOCENE VERTEBRATES FROM CONTRA COSTA COUNTY (Compiled by K.L Finger, 07/22/13) CLASS CHONDRICHTHYES (cartilaginous fish) ORDER RODENTIA (rodents) Myliobatus (bat ray) Dipodomys (kangaroo rat) Microtus californicus (California meadow vole) CLASS ACTINOPTERYGII (bony fish) Neotoma fuscipes (dusky-footed wood rat) Orthodon (blackfish) Otospermophilus beecheyi (Calif. ground squirrel) Gasterosteus aculeatus (three-spined stickleback) Perognathus (pocket mouse) Peromyscus californicus (California deer mouse) CLASS AMPHIBIA (amphibians) Peromyscus maniculatus (white-footed mouse) Ambystoma (mole salamander) Peromyscus truei (pinyon mouse) Aneides lugubris (aboreal salamander) Reithrodontomys raviventris (salt marsh harvest mouse) Pseudacris (chorus frog) Sciurus (squirrel) Rana (true frog) Spermophilus beecheyi (California ground squirrel) Taricha (western newt) ` Tamias (chipmunk) Thomomys bottae (Botta’s pocket gopher) CLASS REPTILIA (reptiles) Clemmys marmorata (western pond turtle) ORDER CARNIVORA (carnivores) Crotalus (rattlesnake) Cynodesmus thooides (extinct canid) Gerrhonotus coeruleus (alligator lizard) Enhydra lutris (sea otter) Uta (sideblotched lizard) Procyon lotor (northern raccoon) Taxidea (badger) CLASS AVES (birds) Urocyon cinereoargenteus (gray fox) Aechmophorus occidentalis (western grebe) Ursus americanus (black bear) Anas acuta (pintail duck) Asio flammeus (short-eared owl) ORDER PROBOSCIDEA (elephants) Callipepia (quail) Mammut americanum (American mastodon) Centrocercus (sage grouse) Mammuthus columbi (Columbian mammoth) PUBL. Geococcyx (roadrunner) Melanitta (scooter) ORDER PERISSODACTYLA (odd-toed ungulates) Equus caballas (modern horse) CLASS MAMMALIA (mammals) Equus pacificus (Pacific horse) Tapirus merriami (Merriam’s tapir) ORDER INSECTIVORA (insectivores) Scapanus latimanus (broad-footed mole) PUBL. ORDER ARTIODACTYLA (even-toed ungulates) Sorex ornatus (ornate shrew) Antilocapra pacifica (Pacific pronghorn) PUBL. Bison bison antiquus (ancient bison) ORDER CHIROPTERA (bats) Bison latifrons (long-horned bison) PUBL. Antrozous pallidus (pallid bat) Camelops hesternus (Yesterday’s camel) Eptesicus fuscus (big brown bat) Capromeryx minor (diminutive pronghorn) Lasiurus (hairy-tailed bat) Cervus (deer, elk) Odocoileus (mule deer) ORDER XENARTHA (ground sloths) Sphenophalos (pronghorn) Glossotherium harlani (Harlan’s ground sloth) Megalonyx jeffersoni (Jefferson’s ground sloth) ORDER LAGOMORPHA (rabbits) Sylvilagus bachmani (Bachman’s cottontail) Lepus (jackrabbit) Sacred Lands File & Native American Contacts List Request NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE COMMISSION 915 Capitol Mall, RM 364 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 653-4082 (916) 657-5390 – Fax [email protected] Information Below is Required for a Sacred Lands File Search Date: June 20, 2013 Project: Shadelands 7 Project PN 3611.0005 County: Contra Costa County USGS Quadrangle Name: Walnut Creek Township: 1 North Range: 1 West Section: 18 Company/Firm/Agency: Michael Brandman Associates Contact Person: Carrie D. Wills M.A., RPA Street Address: 2633 Camino Ramon, San Ramon, CA 94583 Cell 925.788.9097 Preferred number as I’m in the field so often! Office Phone: 925.830.2733 Fax: 925.830.2715 Email: [email protected] Project would include development of various types of office structures. July 11, 2013 Katherine Erolinda Perez PO Box 717 Linden, CA 95236 Subject: Proposed Shadelands Project, City of Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County Dear Katherine Erolinda Perez: At the request of the City of Walnut Creek, FirstCarbon Solutions is conducting a Cultural Resources Assessment for a proposed Specific Plan Project within the City of Walnut Creek, CA. The Shadelands Gateway Specific Plan (Specific Plan) will guide the direction of future land uses and development within the approximately 25-acre Plan Area. The approximately 25-acre property is located in the northeastern portion of the City of Walnut Creek in central Contra Costa County within the Shadelands Business Park. It consists of a square-shaped property comprised of three parcels (APNs 143-040-086, -087, and 0-88) located on the northwest corner of Ygnacio Valley and Oak Grove Roads. The project area is slated to be field surveyed on July 16, 2013. Consultation The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires the City to consider the effect this project may have on historic properties. The definition of “historic properties” includes, in some cases, properties of traditional religious and cultural significance to Native American tribes. To determine whether any historic properties may be affected by the project, FCS-MBA has consulted with the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) and received a response letter indicating that there may be additional information to be gained from individual tribal members and/or tribal organizations. FCS-MBA is sending this letter to give you the opportunity to provide any additional information you may have about the project area. Because public involvement is a key ingredient in successful CEQA consultation, we are soliciting your input as part of this process. Please feel free to contact me at 925.788.9097 or via email at [email protected] if you have any questions or would like to discuss the project in more detail. Sincerely, Senior Scientist, Archaeology FirstCarbon Solutions 2633 Camino Ramon Ste. 460 San Ramon, CA 94583 Mobile Phone 925.788.9097 Office 925.830.2733 FAX 925.830.2733 Enc: Project Location Map 36110005 .