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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCT 06-13; Tabata 10; Tentative Map (CT) (2)Habitat Mapping Report Tabata 10 Proiect RECEIVED JUN 1 8 2008 CITY OF CARLSBAD PLANNING DEPT Dossey & Associates 18826 Cmto Cantilena #112 San Diego. Ca 92128 Introduction The Tabata 10 Project is located at the end of Camino Hills Road in the City of Carlsbad (Figure ]), The property is approximately 10.2 acres consisting of 2 parcels (APN 212- 050-32 & 212-050-33). The project also includes expanding Camino Hills Road to City standards. This will include some offsite impacts north ofthe property. The purpose of this study is to provide habitat mapping and evaluate the potential biological impacts of the current proposed project design. The current project design proposes 26 home sites on 10.2 acres ofthe property. . Site Description The most distinctive landmark on the property is the existing residence on a hill in the northem part of the property. The flat portions ofthe property have been plowed within the last year. Currently there is a temporary staging area for J. Fletcher Cream and Sons Contractors in the westem portion of the property. The site ranges in elevation from 75' AMSL to 170' AMSL, with the lowest area in the northwest comer of the property and the highest point in the southeastem comer of the property at the top of a manufactured slope. The property predominantly consists of a flat area with landscaped manufactured slopes along the southern and westem edges. A hill sits in the northem portion ofthe property with the existing residence. A one lane paved road runs across the northem edge ofthe property. This is the existing end of Camino Hills Road. North of the road are additional manufactured slopes and a small area of the property. A major road (El Camino Real) is east of the property. Soils mapped on-site by Bowman (1973) are predominantly Altamont Clay. There are small areas of Salinas clay and Las Flores loamy fme sand also mapped in the project area. The property is most easily accessed by taking Camino hills to its very end. It can also be accessed from El Camino Real to the East. Methods and Survev Limitations On Monday, October 1, 2007 Dossey & Associates biologists surveyed the approximately 10.2 acre site, traversing the entire site on foot. Habitat types mapped (Figure 3, Attached Map). All species observed during the survey were identified. Only species which would have been expected to be active at the time of the survey would have been visible. 2007 is the third driest year on record for San Diego County and this negatively impacts biological studies. Prior to the survey, the Califomia Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB, October 2006) was consulted to determine if there were any prior reports of sensitive species in the vicinity. A portion of the site was revisited on October 4, this was to assess the offsite areas and review the mapping of those areas. Table I Surveys Time and Purpose Date Weather Activity Firm Biologist 10-1-2007 Clear and Sunny Habitat Mapping Dossey & Associates Rod Dossey 10-4-2007 Clear and Sunny Review of Habitat Mapping in offsite areas Dossey & Associates Rod Dossey Survev Results Physical Characteristics The entire property was disturbed all the flat areas had been plowed and the adjacent slopes were landscaped. There were very few native plant s observed anywhere on the property outside of the eucalyptus woodland. The majority of those were on the slopes around the house. There were no drainages or wetland habitats observed during the surveys. Habitat No native habitats were observed in the project area . Five exotic habitats were observed and are described below. They are shown on the Biological Resources Map for the Tabata 10 Project, included with this report. Disturbed habitat- Characterized by a high level of disturbance and a lack of significant vegetation the plowed areas, and those used by the construction staging areas were mapped as disturbed. Generally disturbed areas have little or no habitat value. The ^ils at this site combined with the disturbed habitat creates conditions that potentially can support a City of Carlsbad Narrow endemic plant species thread leaved brodiaea {Brodiaea filifolia). No other habitat value would be anticipated. Disturbed habitats are not considered sensitive in the Carlsbad HMP, but are mitigated by a per acre in lieu of mitigation fee. Landscaped- These area are dominated by exotic species that are being irrigated and maintained. Species include exotic eucalyptus, mellilucca, Acacias and varieties of iceplant. There is no value other than using the trees as nesting sites. Landscaped Habitats are not considered sensitive in the Carlsbad HMP. Developed- This area is a single house and a paved road. There is no habitat value in this area at all. .Non-native grasslands- These areas provide minimal habitat value. They are located primarily on the slopes ofthe existing hill upon which the house is built. There are a few native species intermixed with the majority exotic grasses. The dominant species are exotic bromes, mustard and wild oats. Non-Native grassland are considered a Group E habitat and are mitigated at 0.5 :1 ratio, or by a per acre in lieu of mitigation fee. Eucalyptus Woodland- Beneath the eucalyptus trees in the small area on the north edge of the property there is a large number of native plants overwhelmingly dominated by Lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia). Eucalyptus woodlands are not considered sensitive in the Carlsbad HMP, but are mitigated by a per acre in lieu of mitigation fee. Citv of Carlsbad Narrow Endemics The Carlsbad HMP identifies fifteen plant and three animal species as being sufficiently rare and specialized in their habitat requirements to warrant designation as Narrow Endemics. Narrow Endemics receive protection measures when found outside the proposed preserved system. The following seventeen narrow endemics were evaluated for their occurrence on the Tabata-9 property. San Diego thommint {Acanthomintha illicifolia): Potentially could occur in the clay soils on the property, but is not expected due the disturbed nature of the site. San Diego ambrosia {Ambrosiapumila): Most often found in dry lakebeds or along the periphery of large riparian or wetland areas. Neither of these habitats occurs on this property. This species is not expected to occur on site. Del Mar manzanita {Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. crassifolia): Potentially could have occurred on site, though is more often associated with chaparral type habitats. This is a perennial species and would have been evident at the time of the surveys. This species was not observed during either survey and is not expected to occur on site. Encinitas baccharis {Baccharis vanessae): This is a deciduous species, but would have been evident at the time of the surveys. This species was not observed during either survey and is not expected to occur on site. -T-hread leaved brodiaea {Brodiaea filifolia): Potentially could occur on site, and typically occurs in disturbed habitats like those found on site, ^wsng surveys for this species is ^ racommendedr Orcutt's brodiaea {Brodiaea orcuttii): Potentially could occur on site, and typically occurs in soils like those found on site. The severe disturbance ofthe site reduces the likelihood of this species being on site. Orcutt's spineflower {Chorizanthe orcttiana): Usually occurs in areas of sandstone soils. The soils at the two remaining known location of this species are dramatically different from the soils in the project area. This species would not be expected to occur on site. Del Mar sand aster {Corethrogynefilaginifolia var. linifolia): Potentially could occurred on site, the recently disturbed nature of the site reduces the likelihood of this species being there. Blochman's dudleya {Dudleya blochmaniae ssp. blochmaniae): Usually found in open clay soils, this species had some potential to occur on site, but the disturbed nature of the site makes it unlikely this species occurs there. San Diego button celery {Eryngium aristulatum yax:.parishii): This is a vemai pool species. Locally it is found in association with vernal pools. There are no vernal pools on site or in the vicinity of the property. This species is not expected to occur on site. Orcutt's golden bush {Hazardia orcuttii): This species would have been observable at the time of the surveys. Neither it nor its similar appearing relative, sawtooth goldenbush [Hazardia squarrosa) was observed during the surveys. San Diego goldenstar {Muilla clevelandii): Usually found in open clay soils, this species had some potential to occur on site, but the disturbed nature of the site makes it unlikely this species occurs there. Little mousetail {Myosaurus minimus ssp. apus): This is a vemal pool species. Locally it is found in association with vemal pools. There are no vernal pools on site or in the vicinity of the property. This species is not expected to occur on site. Prostrate navarettia {Navarettiafossalis): This is a vemai pool species. Locally it is found in association with vemal pools. There are no vemal pools on site or in the vicinity of the property. This species is not expected to occur on site. Orcutt's grass {Orcuttia californica): This is a vemal pool species. Locally it is found in association with vemal pools. There are no vemal pools on site or in the vicinity of the property. This species is not expected to occur on site. Hermes copper {Lycaena Hermes): This butterfly is found in associarion with its host plant spiny redberry {Rhamnus crocea). Typically this species occurs in large stands of the host plant. There was no spiny redberry observed during the surveys. This species is not expected to occur on site. Riverside fairy shrimp {Streptocephalus wootonii)- This is a vemal pool species. Locally it is found in association with vemal pools. There are no vemal pools on site or in the vicinity of the property. This species is not expected to occur on site. San Diego fairy shrimp {Branchinecta sandiegoensis)- This is a vemal pool species. Locally it is found in association with vemal pools. There are no vernal pools on site or in the vicinity of the property. This species is not expected to occur on site. Proiect Impacts The property impacts five forms of habitat. The landscaped and developed areas have no mitigarion required. The disturbed, non-native grassland and eucalyptus woodland areas all require either mitigation on site or a per acre fee in lieu of mitigation. The fee is determined by the City of Carlsbad. Mitigation for the non-native grasslands can be done at 0.5:1 ratio (though a per acre fee in lieu of mitigation is also allowed for the Non-Native Grasslands) (Source; Carlsbad HMP:1999). Table 2. Acreages of Habitats to be impacted Habitat Not Impacted On-Property To be Impacted On-Property To Be Impacted Off-Site Total to be Impacted Disturbed 0.0 7.6 0.1 7.7 Non-Native Grassland 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.9 Eucalyptus Woodland 0.0 <0.04 0.3 0.3 Developed 0.0 1.0 0.2 1.2 Landscaped 1.1 0.0 <0.04 <0.04 There is some potential for one narrow endemic and very low potential for a few others on the property. Spring surveys are recommended, if any of these plant species are found to be in the project area it will be necessary to redesign the project to reduce impacts to those species.