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Home My WebLink AboutCT 12-01; Miles Pacific Subdivision; Tentative Map (CT) (5)Robert Miles RC BIOLOGICAL CONSULTING, Inc. 12737 Campo Road, Spring Valley, CA 91978 phone: (619) 463-1072 fax: (619) 463-0859 email: info@rcbio.com RECEIVED Miles Pacific Limited Partnership 1833 Buena Vista Way Carlsbad, CA 92008 CITY OF CARLSBAD PLANNING DIVISION ~r/~·~..D,# /~-/6 Qctober19,2012 Subject: Biological Letter Report for Miles-Pacific Subdivision Dear Mr. Miles, The following letter report includes a summary of the habitats and resources identified at the above-referenced site. The letter report serves as the biological report required by the City of Carlsbad. 1.0 INTRODUCTION The proposed project is a Tentative Map that will create 17 residential lots. The project is located at 2373 and 2375 Pio Pico Drive, within the City of Carlsbad (Figure 1). The parcels extend between Pio Pico Drive in the east and Interstate 5 in the west. The entire property is developed with a residence, green houses and small storage building (Figure 2). The property lies within an area mapped as urban within the City of Carlsbad's Habitat Management Plan (HMP) (2004). The project is not located within a hardline preserve area or standard area. Geographical Limits of the Study Area, Topography and Soils The property site is located on the USGS San Luis Rey 7.5 minute Quad, Range 4 West, Township 11 South (Figure 3). On-site elevation ranges from approximately 80 to 105 feet above mean sea leveL The highest elevations are on the east. The property is generally a essentially flat. The property contains soils mapped as Marina Loamy Course Sand and Carlsbad Gravelly Loamy Sand(Bowman 1973). Marina Series The Marina series consists of somewhat excessively drained, very deep loamy coarse sands derived from weakly consolidated to noncoherent ferruginous eolian sand. These soils are on old beach ridges and have slopes of 2 to 30 percent. PROJECT LOCATION FLORES DRIVE Not to Sco.le RC Vicinity Map Biological Consulting, Inc. Figure 1 Legend c:J Project Boundary 0 100 200 400 lllllllllc:::JIIIIIII::::JIIIIBIIIBIIIIIIIIIII Feet Figure 2 -Land Use 0 500 1 ,000 2,000 11111111:=-IIII::=BIIIIIIBIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Feet Figure 3 -USGS San Luis Rey 7 .5' Quadrangle Carlsbad Series The Carlsbad series consists of moderately well drained and well drained gravelly loamy sands that are moderately deep over a hardpan. These soils formed in material weathered in place from soft ferruginous sandstone. They are on ridges and in swales and have slopes of2 to-30 percent. 2.0 SURVEY METHODOLOGY - A general biological survey of the site was conducted by Robin Church on October 18th, 2012 from 9:00AM to 9:45 PM. The weather conditions consisted of scattered clouds, 3- 5 mph wind and a temperature of approximately 73 degrees Fahrenheit. The site was walked and habitats were mapped(Figure 4). Surveys for plant and wildlife resources focused on potential sensitive plant and animal species, but all observed species were noted. Wildlife species were identified directly, by sight or by vocalization, and indirectly, by scat, tracks or burrows. The presence or absence of suitable habitat for sensitive species was also noted. Nomenclature for this report conforms to Hickman (1996) for plants, Holland (1986) for plant communities and habitat types, American Ornithological Union (AOU 1982) for birds, Jennings (1983) and Stebbins (1985) for reptiles and amphibians, Jones (1992) for mammals, and Powell (1979) for insects. 3.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS Following is a summary of the existing biological resources on the site. This section includes information on habitats and vegetation, wildlife, and sensitive biological resources onsite. Habitats are mapped on Figure 4. 3.1 Habitats The entire site consists of developed lands as shown can be seen in Figure 2, the aerial photograph of the site and surrounding area. The site contains a single family residence, shop and green houses. The access roads between the green house are covered in gravel. With the exception of a small landscape area adjacent to the house and driveway all plants onsite are in pots, i.e. essentially no plants are growing directly in the ground. No native plant species are growing onsite. Graveled Entrance Area and Shop Graveled Area Between Greenhouses and Trees in Pots Large Trees Offsite to the West in I-5 Right of Way Growing Beds Adjacent to the House on the Eastern Portion of the Site Legend 100' Developed Land -5.4 acres RC Biological Consulting, Inc. SCALE: 1" = 1 OO' . Vegetation Map Mtles -Pacific Subdivision Figure 4 3.2 Wildlife Due to the lack of habitat and developed nature of the site wildlife observed was limited to one bird species, the house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus). This species is common in urbanized areas. 4.0 RARE, THREATENED, ENDANGERED, ENDEMIC AND/OR SENSITIVE SPECIES OR MSCP COVERED SPECIES Sensitive or special interest plant and animal species and habitats are those which are considered rare, threatened, or endangered within the state or region by local, state or federal resource conservation agencies. Sensitive habitats, as identified by these same groups, are those that generally support plant or wildlife species considered sensitive by resource protection agencies or groups. Sensitive species and habitats are so called because of their limited distribution, restricted habitat requirements, or particular susceptibility to human disturbance, or a combination of these factors. Sources used for the determination of sensitive biological resources include: the City of Carlsbad HMP (City of Carlsbad 2004), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (USFWS 2010, 2011); California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) (CDFG 2009, 2010a, 2010b, 2010c); and California Native Plant Society (CNPS online). 4.1 Sensitive Habitats The City of Carlsbad Subarea Plan protects sensitive habitats. Sensitive habitats are those which are considered rare in the region, support sensitive plants or animals, or receive regulatory protection. No sensitive habitat occurs onsite. The entire site is composed of developed lands. 4.2 Sensitive Plants Sensitive plants include those listed by the USFWS (2010, 2011) CDFG (2010a, 2010c), and California Native Plant Society's Electronic Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California database (CNPS online) and previous candidates for listing. The CNPS list is sanctioned by CDFG and essentially serves as its list of candidate species for listing. No sensitive plant species were found on-site nor are any anticipated to occur as a result of the developed nature of the site. 4.3 Sensitive Wildlife Sensitive animal species include those species listed by City Diego MSCP Subarea Plan (1997), USFWS (2010, 2011), CDFG (2009, 2010b), and candidates for listing. No listed or sensitive animal species were observed onsite nor are any anticipated to occur due to the developed nature of the site. Potential for Raptor Nesting Raptors are large predatory or scavenger birds that typically require tall trees for perching and nesting associated with adjacent open grasslands to forage. Due to declining habitat and the associated declining numbers of these species on the whole, many raptor species, have been designated as California Species of Special Concern by the CDFG. These species are protected, especially during their critical nesting and wintering stages. No large trees occur onsite that have the potential to support raptor nesting. 5.0 PROJECT IMPACT ANALYSIS Impacts on biological resources can be characterized as direct, indirect or cumulative. Direct impacts are a result of project implementation, and generally include: the loss of vegetation and sensitive habitats and populations; activity-related mortalities of wildlife; loss of foraging, nesting or burrowing habitat; destruction of breeding habitats; and fragmentation of wildlife corridors. Indirect impacts occur as a result of the increase in human encroachment in the natural environment and include: off-road vehicle use which impacts sensitive plant or animal species; harassment and/or collection of wildlife species; intrusion and wildlife mortality by pets in open space areas following residential development; and inadvertent increased wildlife mortalities along roads. Cumulative impacts occur as a result of on-going direct and indirect impacts for unrelated or fragmented projects overall. Cumulative impacts are assessed on a regional basis and determine the overall effect of numerous activities on a sensitive resource over a larger area. Direct Impacts Direct impacts will occur to the entire site as a result of the project. No sensitive habitats will be impacted as a result of the project. The entire consists of developed lands. Sensitive Plant Species No sensitive plant species will be impacted as a result of the project due to the developed nature of the site. Sensitive Wildlife Species No sensitive wildlife species were observed onsite nor are anticipated to occur as a result of the developed nature of the site. No significant impacts will occur to sensitive wildlife species. Wetlands No wetlands occur onsite. Indirect Impacts The project already consists of developed lands. It is an infill project between existing development. The project will not result in indirect impacts from noise, lighting, domestic animals, landscape plants and runoff to sensitive habitats. The project will not result in significant indirect impacts. Cumulative Impacts The project will not impact any sensitive resources as a result will not contribute to a cumulatively significant impact. 6.0 MITIGATION No mitigation is required because no sensitive resources will be impacted. 7.0 CONCLUSION No significant impacts will occur as a result of the proposed project. The site consists entirely of developed lands and is surrounded by development. No mitigation is required. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call. Sincerely, p,~ CiLuAcJ1 Robin Church, Principal 11.0 LITERATURE CITED OR REVIEWED AOU. American Ornithological Union. 1982. Thirty-Fourth Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Checklist ofNorth American Birds. Auk99(3). Bowman, R. H. 1973. Soil Survey, San Diego Area, California, Part 1. United States Department of Agriculture. 104 pp. + appendices. City of Carlsbad 2004. Habitat Management Plan for Natural Communities within the City of Carlsbad. As amended 1999, Final Approval November 2004. CDFG 2010a. California Department ofFish and Game. "Special Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, and Lichens List." Biogeographic Data Branch, California Natural Diversity Database. Sacramento, CA. Quarterly publication. 71 pp. CDFG 2010b. California Department of Fish and Game. "State and Federally Listed Endangered and Threatened Animals of California." Biogeographic Data Branch, California Natural Diversity Database. Sacramento, CA. January 2010. CDFG 2010c. California Department ofFish and Game. "State and Federally Listed Endangered, Threatened and Rare Plants of California." Biogeographic Data Branch, California Natural Diversity Database. Sacramento, CA. April2010. CDFG 2009. California Department ofFish and Game. "Special Animals (883 taxa)." Biogeographic Data Branch, California Natural Diversity Database. Sacramento, CA. July 2009. CNDDB 2012. Biogeographic Data Branch. "Monthly CNDDB Data Download." Biogeographic Data Branch, California Natural Diversity Database. Sacramento, CA. CNPS. online. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California. California Native Plant Society. Electronic version, Hickman, J. C. 1993. The Jepson Manual Higher Plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley. Holland, R. F. 1986. Preliminary Descriptions ofthe Terrestrial Natural Communities of California. Non-game Heritage Program, State of California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento. Jennings, M. R. 1983. An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Southern California. California Department ofFish and Game 69(3):151-171. Jones, J.K., ET AL. 1992. Revised Checklist of North American Mammals North of Mexico, 1991. Occasional Papers The Museum Texas Tech. University. Number 146. February 7, 1992. ' . --------------------------------------, Oberbauer, T. 1996. Terrestrial Vegetation Communities in San Diego County Based on Holland's Descriptions. San Diego Association of Governments, San Diego, CA 6 p. Powell, J.A., C.L. Hogue. 1979. California Insects. University of California Press, Berkeley. Stebbins, R. C. 1985. Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians Houghton Miffiin Co., Boston. USFWS. 2010. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Birds of Conservation Concern. U.S. Department of the Interior. United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Division of Migratory Bird Management. Arlington, VA. 85 pp. USFWS. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2011. U.S. Endangered, Threatened and Candidate Plant and Animal Species by State and Lead Region. U.S. Department of the Interior. United States Fish and Wildlife Service Threatened and Endangered Species System http://www .fws.gov/cndangcred/listing/index.html.