M&A #08-166-05 & 06 SAN DIEGO COUNTY HAZARDOUS FUELS REDUCTION PROJECT GREATER JULIAN (WHISPERING PINES AND SR 78-79 CORRIDOR) AREA Biological Resources Report Revised October 20, 2010 June 30, 2010 Prepared for: Environmental Resource Solutions, Inc. Contact: Ms. Bonnie Burchill P.O. Box 592 Julian, CA 92036 Phone: (760) 765-1331 E-mail: [email protected] and County of San Diego Contact: Mr. Tom Oberbauer 5201 Ruffin Road, Suite B San Diego, CA 92123-1666 Phone: (858) 694-3701 E-mail: [email protected] Prepared by: Merkel & Associates, Inc. Contact: Diana Jensen 5434 Ruffin Road San Diego, California 92123 Office: (858) 560-5465 Direct/Cell: (619) 884-5524 E-mail: [email protected] Diana M. Jensen, County Approved Biologist/Project Manager Keith W. Merkel, County Approved Biologist/Principal Consultant Biological Resources Report Merkel & Associates, Inc. #08-166-05 & 06 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ACRONYMS............................................................................... IV SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................................V 1.0 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................1 1.1. PURPOSE OF THE REPORT ..........................................................................................................1 1.2. PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION .....................................................................................1 1.3. SURVEY METHODOLOGIES ........................................................................................................6 1.4. EXISTING BIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS..........................................................................................9 1.4.1. Regional Context...............................................................................................................9 1.4.2. Habitat Types/Vegetation Communities..........................................................................12 1.4.3. Flora................................................................................................................................41 1.4.4. Fauna ..............................................................................................................................41 1.4.5. Sensitive Plant Species....................................................................................................41 1.4.6. Sensitive Animal Species.................................................................................................42 1.4.7. Wetlands/Jurisdictional Waters ......................................................................................43 1.4.8. Habitat Connectivity and Wildlife Corridors..................................................................43 1.5. APPLICABLE REGULATIONS.....................................................................................................45 2.0 PROJECT EFFECTS .............................................................................................................48 3.0 SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES................................................................................................50 3.1. GUIDELINES FOR THE DETERMINATION OF SIGNIFICANCE........................................................50 3.2. ANALYSIS OF PROJECT EFFECTS ..............................................................................................50 3.3. AVOIDANCE MEASURES AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS .........................................................51 3.4. CONCLUSIONS .........................................................................................................................52 4.0 RIPARIAN HABITAT OR SENSITIVE NATURAL COMMUNITIES...........................53 4.1. GUIDELINES FOR THE DETERMINATION OF SIGNIFICANCE........................................................53 4.2. ANALYSIS OF PROJECT EFFECTS ..............................................................................................53 4.3. AVOIDANCE MEASURES AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS .........................................................54 4.4. CONCLUSIONS .........................................................................................................................54 5.0 WILDLIFE MOVEMENT AND NURSERY SITES...........................................................55 5.1. GUIDELINES FOR THE DETERMINATION OF SIGNIFICANCE........................................................55 5.2. ANALYSIS OF PROJECT EFFECTS ..............................................................................................55 5.3. AVOIDANCE MEASURES AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS .........................................................55 5.4. CONCLUSIONS .........................................................................................................................56 6.0 LOCAL POLICIES, ORDINANCES, AND ADOPTED PLANS.......................................57 6.1. GUIDELINES FOR THE DETERMINATION OF SIGNIFICANCE........................................................57 6.2. ANALYSIS OF PROJECT EFFECTS ..............................................................................................57 6.3. AVOIDANCE MEASURES AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS .........................................................58 San Diego County Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project i Greater Julian (Whispering Pines and SR 78-79 Corridor) Area Biological Resources Report Merkel & Associates, Inc. #08-166-05 & 06 Table of Contents 6.4. CONCLUSIONS .........................................................................................................................58 7.0 CUMULATIVE IMPACT ANALYSIS.................................................................................59 8.0 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................60 9.0 PREPARER(S) AND PERSONS/ORGANIZATIONS CONTACTED .............................64 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Habitats/Vegetation Communities....................................................................................12 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Greater Julian Project Area Vicinity Map.......................................................................5 Figure 2. Environmental Setting Map.............................................................................................11 Figure 3-1. Biological Resources Map.............................................................................................13 Figure 3-2. Biological Resources Map.............................................................................................14 Figure 3-3. Biological Resources Map.............................................................................................15 Figure 3-4. Biological Resources Map.............................................................................................16 Figure 3-5. Biological Resources Map.............................................................................................17 Figure 3-6. Biological Resources Map.............................................................................................18 Figure 3-7. Biological Resources Map.............................................................................................19 Figure 3-8. Biological Resources Map.............................................................................................20 Figure 3-9. Biological Resources Map.............................................................................................21 Figure 3-9a. Biological Resources Map...........................................................................................22 Figure 3-9b. Biological Resources Map...........................................................................................23 Figure 3-9c. Biological Resources Map...........................................................................................24 Figure 3-9d. Biological Resources Map...........................................................................................25 Figure 3-10. Biological Resources Map...........................................................................................26 Figure 3-11. Biological Resources Map...........................................................................................27 Figure 3-12. Biological Resources Map...........................................................................................28 Figure 3-13. Biological Resources Map...........................................................................................29 Figure 3-14. Biological Resources Map...........................................................................................30 Figure 3-15. Biological Resources Map...........................................................................................31 Figure 3-16. Biological Resources Map...........................................................................................32 Figure 3-17. Biological Resources Map...........................................................................................33 Figure 3-18. Biological Resources Map...........................................................................................34 Figure 3-19. Biological Resources Map...........................................................................................35 Figure 3-20. Biological Resources Map...........................................................................................36