HomeMy WebLinkAboutEIR 93-02; Green Valley; Environmental Impact Report (EIR) (54)STATE OF CALIFORNI(~-THE &SOURCES AGENCY PETE WILSON, Gowmr
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
330 GOLDEN SHORE, SUITE 50
/-“ONG BEACH, CA 90802
(310) 590-5113
May 6, 1993
Mr. Christer Westman
City of Carlsbad
2075 Las Palmas Drive
Carlsbad, California 92009
Notice of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report
for the Green Valley Master Plan, SCH 93041014
Dear Mr. Westman:
The Department of Fish and Game (Department) appreciates the
opportunity to comment on the above-referenced project, relative
to impacts to biological resources. To enable Department staff
to adequately review and comment on the proposed project, we
recommend the following information be included in the Draft
Environmental Impact Report:
1. A complete assessment of the flora and fauna within and
adjacent to the project area, with particular emphasis upon
species and sensitive habitats.
/I identifying endangered, threatened, and locally unique
a) A thorough assessment of rare plants and rare natural
communities, following the Department’s May 1984
Guidelines for Assessing Impacts to Rare Plants and
Rare Natural Communities (Attachment).
b) A complete assessment of sensitive wildlife species.
Winter, spring and summer use should be addressed.
Focused species-specific surveys, conducted at the
appropriate time of year and time of day when sensitive species are active or otherwise identifiable, is
required. Acceptable species-specific survey
procedures should be developed in consultation with the
Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
c) Rare and endangered species to be addressed should include all those which meet the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) definition of rare and
endangered (See CEQA Sec. 15380).
The Department’s California Natural Diversity Data Base
in Sacramento should be contacted at (916) 327-5960 to
obtain current information on any previously reported
sensitive species and habitats, including Significant
Natural Areas identified under Chapter 12 of the Fish
and Game Code.
d)
Mr. Christer Westman
May 6, 1993
Page Two
2. A thorough discussion of the direct, indirect and cumulative
impacts expected to adversely effect biological resources,
with specific measures to offset such impacts.
a) CEQA Section 15125(a) directs that knowledge of the
regional setting is critical to an assessment of
environmental impacts and that special emphasis should
be placed an resources that are rare or unique to the
region.
b) Project impacts should also be analyzed relative to
their effect on off-site habitats. Specifically, this
should include nearby public lands, open space to
adjacent natural habitats and riparian ecosystems.
Impacts to and maintenance of wildlife
corridors/movement areas and access to habitat in the
surrounding area should be fully evaluated and
provided.
c) A cumulative effects analysis should be developed as
described under CEQA Section 15130. General plans,
specific plans, as well as past, present and
anticipated future projects should be analyzed relative
to their impacts on similar plant community and
wildlife habitats.
3. A range of alternatives should be analyzed to ensure that
alternatives to the proposed project in this area are fully
considered and evaluated. A range of alternatives which
avoid or otherwise minimize impacts to sensitive biological
resources should be included. Specific alternative location
should also be evaluated in areas with lower resource
sensitivity, where appropriate.
a) Mitigation measures for project impacts to sensitive
plants, animals and habitats should emphasize
evaluation and selection of alternatives which avoid or
otherwise minimize project impacts. Off-site
compensation for unavoidable impacts through
acquisition and protection of high quality habitat
elsewhere should be required.
b) Rare Natural Communities and their level of sensitivity
represent threatened habitats that are both regionally
and locally significant and should be fully avoided and otherwise protected from project-related impacts.
Mr. Christer Westman
May 6, 1993
Page Three
rc
c) The Department generally does not support the use of
relocation, salvage, and/or transplantation as
mitigation for impacts to rare, threatened or
endangered species. Department studies have shown that
these efforts are experimental in nature and largely
unsuccessful.
4. If the project has the potential to adversely affect species
of plants or animals listed under the California Endangered
Species Act, either during construction or over the life of the project, a permit must be obtained under Section 2081 of
the Fish and Game Code. Such permits are issued to
conserve, protect, enhance and restore state-listed
threatened or endangered species and their habitats. Early
consultation is encouraged, as significant modifications to
a project and mitigation measures may be required in order
to obtain a 2081 permit.
a) A Department-approved Mitigation Agreement and
Mitigation Plan is required for plants listed as rare
under the Native Plant Protection Act.
b) A focused survey for least Bell’s vireo must be performed at the appropriate time of year.
5. The Department opposes the elimination of water courses
and/or their conversion to subsurface drains and
channelization. All wetlands and watercourses, whether
intermittent or perennial, must be retained and provided
with substantial setbacks which preserve the riparian and
aquatic habitat values and maintain their value to on-site
and off-site wildlife population.
a) The Department has direct authority under Fish and Game Code 1601-1603 in regard to any proposed activities
which would divert, obstruct or affect the natural flow
or change the bed, channel or bank of any river, stream
or lake. Department jurisdiction under Section 1603
applies to all lands within the 100 year floodplain.
Early consultation is recommended, since modification
of the propbsed project may be required to avoid or
reduce impacts to fish and wildlife resources.
b) A discussion of potential adverse impacts from any
increased runoff, sedimentation, soil erosion, and/or
urban pollutants on streams and watercourses on or near
the project site, with mitigation measures propose to
alleviate such impacts.
Mr. Christer Westman
May 6, 1993
Page Four
Thank you for this opportunity to comment. Questions
regarding this letter and further coordination on these issues
should be directed to Mr. Tim Dillingham, Wildlife Biologist, at (619) 525-4215.
Fred
Region 5
Attachment
cc: Mr. Tim Dillingham
Department of Fish and Game
San Diego, California
Mr. Paul Webb
California Coastal Commission
San Diego, California
Ms. Terri Dickerson Department of Fish and Game
Laguna Hills, California