APPENDIX C Terrestrial and Marine Biological Resource Information APPENDIX C TERRESTRIAL AND MARINE BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE INFORMATION 1 C.1 RESOURCE AGENCY COORDINATION 2 The ICF terrestrial biological team also coordinated with relevant resource agencies to 3 discuss sensitive biological resources expected within the terrestrial BSA. A summary of 4 agency communications and site visits is provided below: 5 California State Parks: July 25, 2019, met with the Environmental Scientist, Stephanie 6 Little, to discuss Project design and potential biological concerns regarding the Project. 7 Ms. Little expressed the importance of considering the western snowy plover. This 8 species has been evaluated in the Biological Resources section and direct and indirect 9 impacts are avoided. 10 Consultation Outcomes: 11 • Project was designed to use HDD construction technique to go under the beach with 12 potential snowy plover habitat 13 • Pre-construction surveys associated with MM BIO-7: Conduct Pre-Construction 14 Nesting Bird Surveys and Implement Avoidance Measures on the cable landing site 15 would include surveys for western snowy plover 16 USFWS: November 19, 2019, site visit with South Coast Division’s Biologist, Dou-Shuan 17 Yang. Mr. Yang stated that USFWS would consider Meadow Creek to be habitat for 18 California red-legged frog based on known occurrence information for Meadow Creek 19 Lagoon downstream and occurrences upstream of Meadow Creek. Mr. Yang agreed that 20 direct impacts could be avoided by HDD installation method by going under the creek and 21 implementing avoidance and minimization measures in the vicinity of Meadow Creek. He 22 suggested that the Applicant have a frac-out contingency plan in place. Mr. Yang agreed 23 that Meadow Creek in the BSA does not provide suitable habitat for tidewater goby. Mr. 24 Yang suggested that the Applicant contact State Parks to determine the current status of 25 western snowy plovers and California least terns at Grover Beach. He stated that Oceano 26 Dunes Recreation Area conducts annual surveys of the beach and could provide a current 27 status of the species. He suggested that an appropriate buffer be maintained between 28 proposed work and known nests and established wintering areas. 29 Consultation Outcomes: 30 • Consider Meadow Creek to be habitat for California red-legged frog 31 • Avoided direct impacts by using HDD installation method when going under the Meadow 32 Creek and implementing avoidance and minimization measures in the vicinity of Meadow 33 Creek 1 Appendix C – Terrestrial and Marine Biological Resource Information 1 • Draft a Frac-Out Contingency Plan as a mitigation measure. A mitigation measure (MM 2 BIO-6: Prepare and Implement an Inadvertent Return Contingency Plan) has been 3 identified 4 • Not expect tidewater goby in Meadow Creek since there is no suitable habitat 5 • Contact California State Parks to their current data on western snowy plovers and 6 California least terns being at the Grover Beach 7 • Contact Oceano Dunes Recreation Area for their annual surveys for western snowy 8 plovers and California least terns in the Project area 9 • Include a mitigation measure to maintain an appropriate buffer between proposed work 10 and known nests and established wintering areas. MM BIO-7: Conduct Pre- 11 Construction Nesting Bird Surveys and Implement Avoidance Measures includes a 12 requirement for establishing setback buffers. 13 CDFW: September 3, 2019, and November 21, 2019, telephone conversations with the 14 Biologist, Brandon Sanderson, about potential resource concerns at Grover Beach. Mr. 15 Sanderson stated that he had no major concerns about the work being proposed as it 16 relates to state-listed species, in particular the California least tern (the only state-listed 17 species potentially affected), because the nearest nesting records are considerably 18 further south from Grover Beach. He said that CDFW would consider all sensitive wildlife 19 species concerns when reviewing the CEQA document but, given coordination with State 20 Parks for the bird species and no impacts on dune habitat, there should be no concerns 21 for California least tern. 22 Mr. Sanderson recommended a notification for an LSAA to CDFW in the Fresno Office 23 for boring activities under Meadow Creek. He stated that the notification should include a 24 description of the bore, minimization measures to reduce the potential for a frac-out, and 25 a frac-out contingency plan. CDFW does have concerns with tidewater goby because the 26 goby is a sensitive wildlife species that occurs in streams and lagoons under CDFW’s 27 jurisdiction; these concerns could be addressed in the LSAA. ICF responded that a 28 notification would be submitted to CDFW (Fresno Office) that would include a description 29 of the bore, minimization measures to reduce the potential for a frac-out, and a frac-out 30 plan. Mr. Sanderson agreed with that approach. 31 Consultation Outcomes: 32 • Survey for least-tern (only state-listed species potentially affected) in the Pre-Construction 33 Surveys even CDFW staff expects them to be further south from Grover Beach 34 • Submit documents to the CDFW (Fresno Office) including a description of the bore, 35 minimization measures to reduce the potential for a frac-out, and a frac-out plan 36 • Confirmed that CDFW was not expecting tidewater goby to be impacted by the Project 37 because no streams and lagoons would be impacted since HDD construction techniques 38 would be used. If needed these would be address in the CDFW’s LSAA. 2 Appendix C – Terrestrial and Marine Biological Resource Information 1 California Department of Parks and Recreation: January 14, 2020, telephone 2 conversation with the Oceano Dunes District’s Senior Environmental Scientist, Ronnie 3 Glick about the Project happened. ICF biologist Angela Alcala asked Mr. Glick whether 4 data were available for the 2019 breeding season on documented western snowy plover 5 and California least tern nests in the vicinity of Grover Beach. Mr. Glick emailed Ms. Alcala 6 a copy of the 2019 nesting report that included monitoring efforts on Grover Beach. 7 Consultation Outcomes: 8 • Incorporate the most recent 2019 breeding season data in the MND for western snowy 9 plover and California least tern 3 Appendix C – Terrestrial and Marine Biological Resource Information Table C-1. Special-Status Wildlife Species with Potential to Occur in the Terrestrial Biological Study Area Common Name Statusa Potential for Occurrence in the Habitat Requirements Scientific Name Federal/State Terrestrial Biological Study Area Invertebrates Vernal pool fairy shrimp FT/– Occurs in the Central Valley, central None—No suitable habitat is present in Branchinecta lynchi and south Coast Ranges from the BSA. Surrounding areas are Tehama County to Santa Barbara developed. County. Inhabits vernal pools and is found in sandstone rock outcrop pools. Monarch butterfly –/– Coastal conifer forests or eucalyptus None—No suitable wintering habitat is Danaus plexippus Wintering sites groves protected from wind, with present in the BSA. Closest known protected water and nectar sources nearby for wintering site is 0.35 mile north along wintering sites. Breeds in milkweed. Meadow Creek, adjacent to the North Beach Campground (CDFW 2019c). Amphibians California red-legged FT/SSC Found in still waters in ponds, Moderate—Known to occur downstream frog marshes, and stream pools near in Meadow Creek Lagoon. Protocol Rana draytonii woodlands, coastal scrub, and surveys in 2005 within Meadow Creek streams with dense vegetative cover. through the BSA did not locate the Most common in lowlands and species. The species is known to occur foothills from sea level to 5,000 feet. in Arroyo Grande Creek (CDFW 2019c) and in the lower portions of Meadow Creek Lagoon (Terra-Verde 2012). Suitable dispersal and foraging habitat is present within Meadow Creek in the BSA. The species is unlikely to breed in the BSA due to lack of sufficient ponding to support juvenile metamorphosis. Reptiles Northern California –/SSC Occurs along the Coast, Transverse, High—Potential habitat is present in legless lizard and Peninsular ranges from Contra annual brome grassland and arroyo Anniella pulchra Costa County to San Diego County willow thicket near the cable landing site. with spotty occurrences in the San Historical CNDDB occurrence for the 4 Appendix C – Terrestrial and Marine Biological Resource Information Table C-1. Continued Common Name Statusa Potential for Occurrence in the Habitat Requirements Scientific Name Federal/State Terrestrial Biological Study Area Joaquin Valley. Found in habitats with species overlaps within the BSA (CDFW loose soil for burrowing or thick duff or 2019c). leaf litter; may be found on beaches, sandy washes, and in woodland, chaparral, and riparian areas. Western pond turtle –/SSC Occurs throughout California west of Moderate—Pond turtles are known to Emys marmorata the Sierra-Cascade crest. Occupies occupy Meadow Creek Lagoon ponds, marshes, rivers, streams, and downstream from the BSA (Terra-Verde irrigation canals with muddy or rocky 2012). The lack of permanent water bottoms and with watercress, cattails, within Meadow Creek in the BSA limits water lilies, or other aquatic pond turtle use of the BSA. vegetation in woodlands, grasslands, and open forests. Blainville’s horned –/SSC Occurs in the Sierra Nevada foothills Moderate—Potential habitat is present in lizard and along central and southern annual brome grassland and arroyo Phrynosoma blainvillii California coasts. Uses a variety of willow thicket near the cable landing site. habitats, from brushlands to coniferous forests, including annual grassland. Requires open areas of sandy soils and low vegetation for sunning. Harvester ants are the primary food source. Two-striped garter –/SSC Highly aquatic species that is Moderate—Suitable habitat is present snake associated with permanent or semi- along Meadow Creek and within adjacent Thamnophis hammondii permanent water sources, often in riparian and annual grassland habitat in rocky areas. Associated with a variety the BSA.