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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCT 99-13; Steiner Property; Tentative Map (CT) (24)BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES REPORT AND IMPACT ANALYSIS EOR THE STEINER PROPERTY CITY Or CARLSBAD SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Prepared for: WESTERN PACIEIC HOUSING 2385 Camino Vida Roble, Suite 107 Carlsbad, CA 92009 Contact: Scot Sandstrom (760) 929-1600 Prepared by: DUDER |& ASSOCIATES, INC. Professional Teams for Complex Projects 605 Third Street Encinitas, California 92024 Contact: Anita M. Hayworth, Ph.D. (760) 942-5147 June 1999 Biological Resources Report at Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad, County of San Diego, California TABLE Of CONTENTS Section Page No. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS iii 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1 2.0 METHODS AND SURVEY LIMITATIONS 1 2.1 Literature Review 1 2.2 Field Reconnaissance 1 2.2.1 Resource Mapping 2 2.2.2 Flora 2 2.2.3 Fauna 2 2.2.4 Sensitive Biological Resources ". 2 3.0 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS 3 3.1 Site Description 3 4.0 RESULTS OF SURVEY 6 4.1 Botany - Plant Communities And Floral Diversity 6 4.1.1 Annual (Non-native] Grassland 6 4.1.2 Disturbed/Developed Habitat 6 4.1.3 Floral Diversity 8 4.2 Zoology - Wildlife Diversity 8 4.2.1 Birds 8 4.2.2 Reptiles and Amphibians 8 4.2.3 Mammals 8 4.3 Sensitive Biological Resources 8 4.3.1 Sensitive Plant Species 9 4.3.2 Sensitive Wildlife Species 9 4.3.3 Sensitive Habitats 10 4.3.4 Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Linkages 10 4.4 Regional Resource Planning Context 11 5.0 ANTICIPATED PROJECT IMPACTS 11 5.1 Explanation of Determination of Significance 13 5.2 Impacts to Plant Communities 13 DUDEK 2215-02 & ASSOCIATES, INC. Pafiaimal Tiara/or Cott/ili* PmjMi JUfl6 1, 1 999 Biological Resources Report & Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad/ County of San Diego/ California TABLE Or CONTENTS (Continued) Section Page No. 5.3 Impacts to Sensitive Plants 14 5.4 Impacts to Sensitive Animals 14 6.0 RECOMMENDED MITIGATION MEASURES 14 6.1 Subregional Planning Context 14 7.0 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 15 8.0 LITERATURE CITED 15 LIST OE EIGLRES Figure 1 Regional Map 4 Figure 2 Vicinity Map 5 Figure 3 Biological Resources Map 7 Figure 4 Biological Resources Map with Limits of Grading 12 LIST OE TABLES Table 1 Acreages by Habitat Type - Steiner Property 6 Table 2 Impact and Open Space Acreage for the Steiner Property 19 LIST OE APPENDICES A. Vascular Plant Species Observed on the Project Site B. Wildlife Species Observed or Detected on the Project Site C. Species Sensitivity Categories DUDEK 2215-02 |& ASSOCIATES, INC. Pmftuioml Tmasfor C™/** l^jtOs JUOS 1, 1 999 Biological Resources Report 8C Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad/ County of San Diego/ California SUMMARY OF FINDINGS The Steiner property is an approximately 2.9-acre parcel situated within Zone 21 of the City of Carlsbad in the western portion of San Diego County, California. The property is located west of El Camino Real, south of Camino Vida Roble, east of the Aviara development and north of Aviara Parkway. The property is surrounded by agriculture, open space/native habitat and some areas of residential development. Topographically, most of the site is relatively flat and has been in agricultural use and contains one residence. Thus the habitats onsite are composed of disturbed and non-native vegetation types. The eastern portion of the property, a 0.8-acre area, is slated for placement of Poinsettia Lane, a City of Carlsbad circulation element roadway, and is thus considered "not a part." The elevations onsite vary from about 250 to 290 feet above mean sea level. No species of plants listed as rare, threatened, endangered, or sensitive by the resource agencies are located onsite. No animal species listed as rare, threatened, or endangered by the USFWS or CDFG were observed onsite. DUDEK 2215-02 |& ASSOCIATES, INC. JUFIB 1, 1999 Biological Resources Report fit Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad/ County of San Diego/ California 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Steiner property is an approximately 2.9-acre parcel situated within Zone 21 of the City of Carlsbad in the western portion of San Diego County, California. The property is located west of El Camino Real, south of Camino Vida Roble, east of the Aviara development and north of Aviara Parkway. The eastern portion of the property, a 0.8-acre area, is slated for placement of Poinsettia Lane, a City of Carlsbad circulation element roadway, and is thus considered "not a part". The property is surrounded by agriculture, open space/native habitat and some areas of residential development. Biological surveys of the property were conducted in May 1999, to assess the existing conditions of the biological resources. The surveys augmented the existing data base accumulated through previous survey work (e.g., SANDAG 1994). The purposes of this report are to describe the biological character of the site in terms of vegetation, flora, wildlife, and wildlife habitats; and analyze the biological significance of the site in view of federal, state, and local laws and policies. 2.0 METHODS AND SURVEY LIMITATIONS Data regarding biological resources present on the project site were obtained through a review of pertinent literature and through field reconnaissance; both are described in detail below. 2.1 Literature Review Sensitive biological resources present or potentially present onsite were identified through a literature search using the following sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1989,1990,1991,1993), California Department of Fish and Game (1980,1986,1987), California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants (Skinner and Pavlik 1994), Murphy (1990), and the vegetation and sensitive species mapping performed for the North County Wildlife Forum's Multiple Habitat Conservation Program (SANDAG 1994). General information regarding wildlife species present in the region was obtained from Unitt (1984) for birds, Bond (1977) for mammals, and Stebbins (1985) for reptiles and amphibians. 2.2 Field Reconnaissance Biological surveys of the property were conducted by Dudek & Associates, Inc., biologists Anita M. Hayworth, Ph.D. and Darren Smith, during May 1999. All surveys were conducted by foot; the entire property was surveyed and inventoried for biotic components. DUDEK 2215-02 |& ASSOCIATES, INC. Professional Teams for CnmliltKPmjttl* JUPB 1, 1999 Biological Resources Report fit Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad/ County of San Diego/ California 2.2.1 Resource Mapping Plant communities were mapped in the field directly onto a clear acetate on a 200-scale (1"=200') aerial photograph of the area from Aerial Fotobank, flown 18 January 1997. Vegetation boundaries and locations of sensitive species were transferred onto a 200-scale topographic map of the site from Hunsaker and Associates. These boundaries and locations were digitized by DUDEK GIS technician Martie demons using the ArcCadd system at DUDEK. Plant community classifications used in this report follow Holland (1986), with modifications to accommodate the lack of conformity of the observed communities to those of Holland. Locations of rare or sensitive plant and wildlife species also were mapped, and the numbers present were estimated. 2.2.2 Flora All plant species encountered during the field surveys were identified and recorded. Those species that could not be identified immediately were brought into the laboratory for further investigation. Latin and common names of plants follow the Jepson Manual (Hickman 1993). Where not listed in Hickman (1993), common names are taken from Beauchamp (1986) or Abrams (1923). A list of plant species observed on the property is presented in APPENDIX A. 2.2.3 Fauna Wildlife species detected during field surveys by sight, calls, tracks, scat, or other sign were recorded. Binoculars (10 x 50 power) were used to aid in the identification of observed animals. Records from previous biological studies and accounts from local residents also were consulted. In addition to species actually observed, expected wildlife use of the site was determined by known habitat preferences of local species and knowledge of their relative distributions in the area. A list of wildlife species observed or detected onsite is presented in APPENDIX B. Latin and common names of animals follow Stebbins (1985) for reptiles and amphibians, American Ornithologists' Union (1983, 1989) for birds, Jones et al. (1992) for mammals. 2.2.4 Sensitive Biological Resources Sensitive biological resources are those defined as follows: (1) species that have been given special recognition by federal, state, or local conservation agencies and organizations due to limited, declining, or threatened population sizes; (2) species and habitat types recognized by local and DUDEK 2215-02 & ASSOCIATES, INC. ' Prpfftiional Teams for Com/rkx Pmjecti JllHB 1 , 1999 Biological Resources Report 6C Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad/ County of San Diego, California regional resource agencies as sensitive; (3) habitat areas or plant communities that are unique, are of relatively limited distribution, or are of particular value to wildlife; and 4) wildlife corridors and habitat linkages. Assessment of the property to support the quino checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha quino}, a federally listed endangered species, were conducted currently with the biological mapping and inventory of the property. Biological mapping and species inventory were conducted by a biologist who possesses a valid section 10(a)(l)(A) recovery permit for the California gnatcatcher (PoHoytila californica) and quino checkerspot butterfly. 3.0 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS 3.1 Site Description The Steiner property is a 2.9-acre property situated within Zone 21 of the City of Carlsbad in western San Diego County, California (Figure -/). It is bordered to the south and west by the Lohf property, and to the north and east by undeveloped areas, most of which contain native vegetation. The property lies approximately 3 miles east of Interstate Highway 5 and about 1.3 miles north of La Costa Avenue, and 0.2 mile west of El Camino Real. It is in the northeastern corner of the USGS 7.5 minute Encinitas quadrangle, Section 26, T.12S., R.4W. (Figure 2). Topographically, most of the site is relatively flat, has been in agricultural, and contains a residence. The elevations onsite vary from about 250 to 290 feet above mean sea level. A 0.8-acre area in the eastern portion of the property is slated for development with Poinsettia Lane, a major circulation element roadway. Thus the remaining area available for development is 2.1 acres. According to Bowman (1973), the following soils are present onsite: Huerhuero loam (HrD2), and Loamy alluvial land-Huerhuero complex (LvF3). Soils of the Huerhuero series consist of moderately well drained loams that have a clay subsoil. These soils developed in sandy marine sediments. Huerhuero loam (HrD2) occurs on 9 to 15 percent slopes. Because of moderate sheet erosion, the soil has an effective rooting depth of 20 to 40 inches. Loamy alluvial land consists of somewhat poorly drained, very deep, very dark brown to black silt loams and sandy loams. Areas of this land were formerly wet meadows that were subsequently drained by head cutting of gullies. The gullies eventually formed drainage ditches and thus lowered the water table. The loamy alluvial land-Huerhuero complex occurs on 9 to 50 percent slopes and occurs on old coastal ridges. The landscape is one of strongly sloping to steep, severely eroded soils and alluvial fill along drainage ways. D.U'DEK 2215-02|& ASSOCIATES, INC.! ^^^^^^^^^====^=^^=^=1;^^=;^^=;^=^^^^== Proffuionnl Ttaaufar Complex PmjltU JUR6 1 , 1 999 Orange County 1" = 8 Miles San Diego Tijuana Mexico Steiner Property - Biological Resources Report & impact Analysis Regional Map BASE MAP SOURCE: USGS 7.5 Minute Series, Encinitas Quadrangle r -zooo' Steiner Property • Biological Resources Report & Impact Analysis Vicinity Map Biological Resources Report sc Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad/ County of San Diego/ California 4.0 RESULTS OF SURVEY 4.1 Botany - Plant Communities And Floral Diversity Based on species composition and general physiognomy, two plant communities or habitat types were identified onsite: non-native annual grassland (0.3 acre) and disturbed/developed habitat (1.8 acres). These habitat types are described below, their acreages are presented in Table 1, and their spatial distribution is presented in Figure 3. TABLE 1 ACREAGES BY HABITAT TYPE - STEINER PROPERTY Non-native Annual Grassland 0.3 acres Disturbed/developed Habitat 1.8 acres TOTAL 2.1 acres 4.1.1 Annual (Non-nativel Grassland Where the native habitat has been disturbed frequently or intensively by grazing, fire, agriculture, or other activities, the native community usually is incapable of recovering. These areas are characterized by weedy, introduced annuals, primarily grasses, including especially slender wild oat (Avena barbata), bromes (Bromus diandms, B. madritensis, B. hordeaceus), black mustard (Brassica nigra) and red-stemmed filaree (Erodium cicutarium). Within the project site, most of the present-day annual grassland evidently is the result of past land uses, including mechanical disturbances. The annual grassland onsite consists of large areas with high cover of non-native grasses including slender-oat, English ryegrass (Lolium muhiflorum), ripgut grass, soft chess, rattail fescue (Vulpia myuros). This vegetation type covers approximately 0.3 acre. 4.1.2 Disturbed/Developed Habitat Disturbed habitat refers to areas that lack vegetation entirely or are dominated by landscape, ornamental, or agriculture-related plant species. These areas generally are the result of severe or repeated mechanical perturbation. Developed land refers to areas that include homes, yards, ornamental landscaping, corrals, and other highly modified lands that support structures, land use, or vegetation associated with dwellings. Within the property, disturbed/developed habitat includes dirt roads, trails, plowed land, open land containing remnants of past agricultural useage, residential Figure 3 Biological Resources Map iDUDEK 2215-02 |& ASSOCIATES, INC. aCamillafajuls JUPS 1, 1999 fitttififiiififififiiiiitifiiiiiiitifi VEGETATION TYPES: I AGL| Annual Non-native Grassland DH I Disturbed Habitat BASE TOPO/GRADING SOURCE: Hunsaker & Associates, May 1999 100 Scale in Feet Steiner Property • Biological Resources Report & impact Analysis Biological Resources Map FIGURE Biological Resources Report SC Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad/ County of San Diego/ California dwellings and outbuildings, and ornamental landscape. A total of 1.8 acres of disturbed/developed habitat is present onsite. 4.1.3 Floral Diversity A total of 67 species of vascular plants was recorded from the site (APPENDIX A). 4.2 Zoology - Wildlife Diversity 4.2.1 Birds Twelve (12) species of birds were observed during the recent survey work (see APPENDIX B). The avifauna is comprised of a moderately diverse assemblage of species associated with coastal sage scrub and chaparral. The most commonly observed species include mourning dove (Zenaida. macroura), Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna), common raven (Corvus corax), and European starling (Sturnus vulgaris). 4.2.2 Reptiles and Amphibians No species of reptiles were observed onsite. Reptiles common in the area and likely to occur onsite include side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana), Great Basin fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), southern alligator lizard (Gerrhonotus multicarinatus webHi), and gopher snake (Pituophis melanoleucus). No amphibians were observed onsite. 4.2.3 Mammals Three species of mammals were recorded from the site, including cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus sp.), California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyt), and coyote (Canis latrans). Other mammal species likely to be present include striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginica), and raccoon (Procyon lotor). 4.3 Sensitive Biological Resources The following resources are discussed in this section: (1) plant and animal species present in the project vicinity that are given special recognition by federal, state, or local conservation agencies and organizations owing to declining, limited, or threatened populations, that are the results, in most cases, of habitat reduction; and (2) habitat areas that are unique, are of relatively limited distribution, or are of particular value to wildlife. Sources used for determination of sensitive biological resources are as follows: wildlife - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS 1989,1991), California Department DUDEK 2215-02 & ASSOCIATES, INC. , 1999 Biological Resources Report & Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad/ County of San Diego/ California of Fish and Game (CDFG 1980,1986), Remsen (1978), Everett (1979), McGurty (1980), and Murphy (1990); plants -- USFWS (1990,1993), CDFG (1987), and Skinner and Pavlik (1994); and habitats - Holland (1986). 4.3.1 Sensitive Plant Species No sensitive plant species were observed onsite and none are likely to occur. 4.3.2 Sensitive Wildlife Species No sensitive wildlife species were observed onsite and none are likely to occur. One other species currently under great concern by the resources agencies is the quino checkerspot butterfly. Currently almost every property undergoing consideration for development requires addressing the likelihood of presence of the butterfly. This species is discussed below. The listing authorities and explanation of listing categories are presented in APPENDIX C. Euyhydryas editha quino - quino checkerspot butterfly USFWS: Endangered CDFG: None The quino checkerspot is the southernmost subspecies of the wide ranging, polytypic species known as Edith's checkerspot (£. editha). It formerly occurred throughout southern California from Orange (Orsak 1977) and western Riverside counties south to Baja California, Mexico (Brown, Real & Faulkner 1992). By 1977, Orsak (1977) reported that it was locally extinct in Orange County; and by 1990 it appeared to be extinct in coastal San Diego County. Many of the former localities of this species still support high quality, undisturbed vegetation; hence, the reasons for its precipitous decline are unknown. It is likely that the unique metapopulation dynamics of this species combined with habitat fragmentation as the result of development and the drought years of the mid-1980s effectively eliminated it from the western portion of San Diego County. The habitat assessment of the property determines whether the project site contains habitat components and features appropriate to support the quino checkerspot. The butterfly is associated with low elevation meadow habitats or clearings characterized by clay soils or cryptogamic plants and may occur in sparsely vegetated chaparral, coastal sage scrub, or oak woodlands. Other habitat features include the presence of host plants [dwarf plantain (Plantago erecta) or owls-clover (Castillefa exserta}], nectar plants [popcorn flower (Cryptantha sp.), goldfields (Lasthenia sp.), fiddleneck (Amsinckia intermedia'), chia (Salvia columbariae), or other spring annuals] located in sparsely vegetated areas, and hilltops and ridgelines. iDU-D-EK 2215-02 [& ASSOCIATES, INC. Pmfational Tram fa Campbx PmjM JUHB 1, 1999 Biological Resources Report & Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad/ County of San Diego, California The Steiner property is characterized by disturbed habitat in the form of agriculture usage and existing residence. In addition, there are no hilltops or ridges present on the site; the property is relatively level. No clay soils are present; the soils are dominated by sandstone based formations. No food plant or nectar source is available. Based on the lack of any of the habitat features or components required to support the quino checkerspot butterfly, no survey during the flight period would be required. 4.3.3 Sensitive Habitats Sensitive habitats are those that are considered rare within the region, support sensitive plant and/or wildlife species, or function as corridors for wildlife movement. No habitat types that are considered sensitive occur onsite. 4.3.4 Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Linkages Wildlife corridors are linear features that connect large patches of natural open space and provide avenues for the immigration and emigration of animals. Wildlife corridors contribute to population viability in several ways: (1) they assure the continual exchange of genes between populations which helps maintain genetic diversity; (2) they provide access to adjacent habitat areas representing additional territory for foraging and mating; (3) they allow for a greater carrying capacity; and (4) they provide routes for colonization of habitat lands following local populations extinctions or habitat recovery from ecological catastrophes (e.g., fires). Habitat linkages are patches of native habitat that function to join two larger patches of habitat. They serve as connections between habitat patches and help reduce the adverse affects of habitat fragmentation. Although individual animals may not move through a habitat linkage, the linkage does represent a potential route for gene flow and long-term dispersal. Habitat linkages may serve as both habitat and avenues of gene flow for small animals such as reptiles and amphibians. Habitat linkages may be represented by continuous patches of habitat or by nearby habitat "islands" that function as "stepping stones" for dispersal. No habitat linkages/wildlife corridors have been identified for the site, however, due to the location of the property within areas of extensive open space, wildlife species probably use the property in general movements through the area. Due to the small size of the property and overall lack of vegetative cover, the wildlife usage is probably relatively small. DUDEK 2215-02 |& ASSOCIATES. INC. /Yr?/F.«u>«fl/ Teams far Compkx Pnyecb JUH6 1, 1999 Biological Resources Report & Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad/ County of San Diego/ California 4.4 Regional Resource Planning Context In San Diego County, three major, coordinated conservation planning efforts currently are in progress with the long-term goal of identifying a system of preserves that will protect native habitat lands and their associated biota. The three efforts are (1) the City of San Diego's Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP), administered by the Metropolitan Wastewater Department, focused on biological resource planning for the southwestern one-fourth of the County; (2) the San Diego Association of Government's (SANDAC) Multiple Habitat Conservation Program (MHCP), funded by a consortium of jurisdictions in northern San Diego County known as the North County Wildlife Forum, focusing on the northwestern one-fourth of the County; and (3) the County of San Diego Open Space Plan, which focuses on the portion of the County east of the MSCP and MHCP study areas. The ultimate goal of these plans is the establishment of biological reserve areas in conformance with the State of California's Natural Community Conservation Program (NCCP). These programs are moving forward under the regulatory influence of the 4(d) Rule pursuant to the Endangered Species Act, which allows for the interim loss of 5% of existing coastal sage scrub until the preserves (NCCPs) are formalized. In this context, the Steiner property lies within the City of Carlsbad Focus Planning Area of the MHCP and is within Preserve Planning Area 4 of the Carlsbad Habitat Management Plan (HMP). The property is located within a Standards Area that has been designated to receive some level of conservation. Typically, the standards areas identify that the development should be restricted to 25% of the property with development focused on the disturbed/agricultural useage areas. Due to the extremely small size of the Steiner property, this standard is inappropriate for use. The entire site, excepting that identified for the Poinsettia Lane alignment, is formerly agriculture useage or is currently residential use. 5.0 ANTICIPATED PROJECT IMPACTS This section addresses potential impacts to biological resources that would result from implementation of the proposed project, and provides analyses of significance for each potential impact. Impacts were quantified by overlaying the limits of project grading on the biological resources map of the site (Figure 4)- For purposes of this assessment, all biological resources within the limits of grading for development are considered 100 percent lost. Impacts to biological resources can be direct - resulting from the permanent removal of habitat, or indirect - resulting from changes in land use adjacent to natural habitat (e.g., increased light, noise, and urban runoff, interruption of wildlife movement, etc.). Both of these types of impacts and their levels of significance are discussed in this section. DUDEK 2215-02 & ASSOCIATES, INC.] =^==^^^^=^=^=^^=^=^^^^^^^==^=^= June 1,1999 10 i i i i i i i i i r i i i i i \ i s i i f i r i i i i i i i i i Proposed Limits of Grading BASE TOPO/GRADING SOURCE: Hunsaker & Associates, May 1999 VEGETATION TYPES: | AGL | Annual Non-native Grassland "DH"l Disturbed Habitat Scale in Feet Steiner Property - Biological Resources Report & Impact Analysis Biological Resources Map With Proposed Grading Limits Biological Resources Report 6C Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad/ County of San Diego/ California 5.1 Explanation of Determination of Significance For this section, the following criteria are used to determine the significance of an impact: • Substantial effect on a rare or endangered species plant or animal or habitat of that species is considered a significant impact. • Substantial interference with the movement of any resident or migratory fish or wildlife species is considered a significant impact. • Substantial reduction of habitat for fish, wildlife, or plants is considered a significant impact. 5.2 Impacts to Plant Communities Direct Impacts Implementation of the proposed project would result in the direct loss of 1.9 acres (see Table 2), including impacts to the following habitat types: « 0.3 acre of non-native grassland — less than significant • 1.6 acres of disturbed/developed land - less than significant TABLE 2 IMPACT AND OPEN SPACE ACREAGE FOR THE STEINER PROPERTY Direct Impact Open Space Non-native Grassland 0.3 acre 0.0 acre Disturbed/developed Habitat 1.6 acres 0.2 acres TOTAL 1.9 acres 0.2 acre In general, the proposed plan results in impacts to the bulk of the property. Although the location of non-native grassland on a property frequently leads to usage of a site by raptors for foraging, due to the extremely small size of the habitat and adjacency to residences, the patch would not function as raptor foraging habitat. Impacts to the vegetation communities onsite are considered less than significant. DUDEK 2215-02 |& ASSOCIATES, INC.| —».^^^—^—^—— —^^^——^—• ——June 1,1999 12 Biological Resources Report & Impact Analysis Steiner Property, Carlsbad/ County of San Diego/ California Indirect Impacts Indirect impacts from the proposed development include the following: • Reduction in carrying capacity of adjacent native habitats as a result of noise and lighting associated with development. • Inadvertent potential increase of feral rat, cat, and other small predator populations in native habitats adjacent to proposed development areas. These impacts probably are most severe within the first 50 feet of development. Because the first 50 feet already is considered 100 percent impacted from the brush management zones, and indirect impacts from these sources are minimal beyond 50 feet, these impacts are consider less than significant. 5.3 Impacts to Sensitive Plants No impacts to sensitive plant species would occur. 5.4 Impacts to Sensitive Animals No impacts would occur to sensitive animal species. 6.0 RECOMMENDED MITIGATION MEASURES Due to lack of significant impacts resulting from the development of the property, no mitigation measures are required. 6.1 Subregional Planning Context In a regional context, the biological resources present of the Steiner property are regionally . The Steiner property is located within Preserve Planning Area 4 of the Carlsbad HMP andis designated as a "Standards" area. DUD E K 2215-02 |& ASSOCIATES, INC. m June 1,1999 13 Biological Resources Report & Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad/ County of San Diego/ California 7.0 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This report was prepared by DUDEK biologist Anita M. Hayworth, Ph.D. Graphics were provided by Martie A. demons; Tonette S. Foster provided word processing assistance. 8.0 LITERATURE CITED Abrams, L. 1923. Illustrated flora of the Pacific States. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. American Ornithologists'Union. 1983. The Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Lawrence, Kansas. American Ornithologists' Union. 1989. Thirty-seventh Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-List of North American Birds. The Auk 106:532-538. Atwood, J. L. 1990. Status review of the California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica). Unpublished technical report, Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, Massachusetts. 79 pp. Beauchamp, R. M. 1986. A flora of San Diego County, California. Sweetwater Press, National City, California. 241 pp. Bond, S. I. 1977. An annotated list of the mammals of San Diego County, California. Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. 18: 229-248. Bowman, R. H. 1973. Soil Survey, San Diego Area, California, Part 1. United States Department of the Agriculture. 104 pp. + appendices. Bury, B. 1971. Status report on California's threatened amphibians and reptiles. California Department of Fish and Game, Inland Fisheries Administrative Report #72-2. California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). 1980. At the Crossroads: A Report on the Status of California's Endangered and Rare Fish and Wildlife. State of California Resources Agency, Sacramento. California. California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). 1986. Endangered, Rare, and Threatened Animals of California. State of California Resources Agency, Sacramento, California. DUDEK 2215-02 & ASSOCIATES, INC. \iottal Team f*Comfkxl'n<jicls JUPe1,1999 14 Biological Resources Report & Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad, County of San Diego/ California California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). 1987. Designated Endangered or Rare Plants. Summary list from Section 1904 Fish and Game Code (Native Plant Protection Act). State of California Resources Agency, Sacramento, California. Everett, W. T. 1979. Sensitive, threatened and declining bird species of San Diego County. San Diego Audubon Society Sketches 29:2-3. Grinnell, J. and A. Miller. 1944. The distribution of the birds of California. Pacific Coast Avifauna 27: 1-608. Hickman, J. C. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley. 1400 pp. Holland, R. F. 1986. Preliminary descriptions of the terrestrial natural communities of California. Nongame-Heritage Program, California Department of Fish and Game. 156 pp. Jones, J. K., Jr., D. C. Carter, H. H. Genoways, R. S. Hoffman, and D. W. Rice. 1992. Revised Checklist of North American Mammals North of Mexico. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Texas Tech University, no. 143. McGurty, B. M. 1980. Survey and status of endangered and threatened species of reptiles natively occurring in San Diego, California. San Diego Herpetological Society. Munz, P. 1974. A flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 1086 pp. Remsen, J. V. 1978. Bird species of special concern in California: An annotated list of declining or vulnerable bird species. Administrative Report No. 78-1. Nongame Wildlife Investigations, Wildlife Management Branch, California Department of Fish and Game. SANDAG (San Diego Association of Governments). 1994. Vegetation and sensitive species maps prepared for the North County Wildlife Forum. Skinner, M. W. and B. M. Pavlik. 1994. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California. Special Publication No. 1 (5th Edition), California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, California. 338 pp. Smith, J. P., Jr., and K. Berg. 1988. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and DUDEK 2215-02 |& ASSOCIATES, INC. nal Tmu far ConplaPnjai JUIie1,1999 15 Biological Resources Report & Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad/ County of San Diego/ California Endangered Vascular Plants of California. Special Publication No. 1 (4th Edition), California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, California. 168 pp. Stebbins, R. C. 1985. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass. Stewart, G. R. 1971. Rare, endangered, and depleted amphibians and reptiles in California. Herpetology5:29-35. United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1989. Federal Register, Part 4, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Animal Notice of Review. 50 CFR Part 17. Department of the Interior. United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1990. Federal Register, Part 4, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Plant Taxa for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species, Notice of Review. 50 CFR Part 17. Department of the Interior. United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1991. Federal Register, Part 8, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Animal Candidate Review for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species, Proposed Rule. 50 CFR Part 17. Department of the Interior. United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1993. Federal Register, Part 8, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Plant Taxa for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species. 50 CFR Part 17. Vol. 58. No. 188. Department of the Interior. Unitt, P. A. 1984. Birds of San Diego County. Memoir 13, San Diego Society of Natural History. 287 pp. Wiggins, I. L. 1980. A flora of Baja California. Stanford University Press. 1025 pp. Willet, G. 1933. Revised list of birds of southwestern California. Pacific Coast Avifauna 21:1-204. DUDEK 2215-02 & ASSOCIATES, INC.| ———^^^—^^^^^__^^^———^^^^—^^^^—«^^_^^^^^— June 1,1999 16 APPENDICES PUDER | & ASSOCIATES, INC. Professional Teams for Complex Projects Biological Resources Report 6C Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad/ County of San Diego/ California APPENDIX A VASCULAR PLANTS OBSERVED WITHIN STEINER PROJECT AREA Scientific name 1 Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum 2 Rhus integrifolia 3 Ambrosia psilostachya var. californica 4 Artemisia calif ornica 5 Baccharis pilularis 6 * Cotula australis 7 Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum 8 Gnaphalium stramineum 9 Hazardia squarrosa ssp. grindelioides 10 Hemizonia fasciculata 11 Heterotheca grandiflora 12 * Hypochaeris glabra 13 Isocoma menziesii ssp. veneta 14 * Silybum marianum 15 * Sonchus oleraceus 16 * Taraxacum officinale 17 Cryptantha sp. 18 * Raphanus sativus 19 * Silene gallica 20 Marah macrocarpus 21 Lotus scoparius 22 Quercus dumosa 23 Salvia mellifera 24 Chlorogalum pan/iflorum 25 * Eucalyptus sp. 26 Plantago erecta 27 * Limonium perezii 28 * Avenabarbata 29 * fl/wmw diandrus 30 * 5/0/mw madritensis ssp. rubens 31 * Cortaderia selloana 32 * Vulpiamyuros 33 Navarretia hamata 34 Eriogonum fasciculatum common name small-flowered ice plant lemonadeberry western ragweed coastal sagebrush coyote brush Australian brass-buttons cotton-batting plant saw-toothed goldenbush fascicled tarweed telegraph weed smooth car's-ear coastal golden bush milk thistle common sow-thistle common dandelion wild radish common catchfly wild cucumber deerweed Nuttall's scrub oak black sage small-flowered amole eucalyptus dot-seed plantain Perez rosemary slender oat ripgut grass foxtail chess pampas grass rattail fescue hooked navarretia California buckwheat FAMILY AIZOACEAE - CARPET-WEED FAMILY ANACARDIACEAE - SUMAC FAMILY ASTERACEAE - SUNFLOWER FAMILY ASTERACEAE - SUNFLOWER FAMILY ASTERACEAE - SUNFLOWER FAMILY ASTERACEAE - SUNFLOWER FAMILY ASTERACEAE • SUNFLOWER FAMILY ASTERACEAE - SUNFLOWER FAMILY ASTERACEAE - SUNFLOWER FAMILY ASTERACEAE - SUNFLOWER FAMILY ASTERACEAE - SUNFLOWER FAMILY ASTERACEAE - SUNFLOWER FAMILY ASTERACEAE - SUNFLOWER FAMILY ASTERACEAE - SUNFLOWER FAMILY ASTERACEAE - SUNFLOWER FAMILY ASTERACEAE - SUNFLOWER FAMILY BORAGINACEAE - BORAGE FAMILY BRASSICACEAE - MUSTARD FAMILY CARYOPHYLLACEAE • PINK FAMILY CUCURBITACEAE - GOURD FAMILY FABACEAE - PEA FAMILY FAGACEAE - BEECH FAMILY LAMIACEAE - MINT FAMILY LILIACEAE - LILY FAMILY MYRTACEAE - MYRTLE FAMILY PLANTAGINACEAE - PLANTAIN FAMILY PLUMBAGINACEAE - LEADWORT FAMILY POACEAE - GRASS FAMILY POACEAE - GRASS FAMILY POACEAE - GRASS FAMILY POACEAE - GRASS FAMILY POACEAE - GRASS FAMILY POLEMONIACEAE • PHLOX FAMILY POLYGONACEAE - BUCKWHEAT FAMILY DUDEK |& ASSOCIATES, INC. l Tarn, for CompUt PmjMi JllPB 1, 1999 2215-02 Biological Resources Report 8C Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad/ County of San Diego, California APPENDIX A {Continued) VASCULAR PLANTS OBSERVED WITHIN STEINER PROJECT AREA Scientific name common name FAMILY 35 * Rumexcrispus curly dock POLYGONACEAE - BUCKWHEAT FAMILY 36 * Anagallis arvensis scarlet pimpernel PRIMULACEAE - PRIMROSE FAMILY 37 Adenostoma fasciculatum chamise ROSACEAE - ROSE FAMILY 38 Heteromeles arbutifolia toyon ROSACEAE - ROSE FAMILY 39 Mimulus aurantiacus bush monkeyflower SCROPHULARIACEAE - FIGWORT FAMILY 40 * Nicotiana glauca tree tobacco SOLANACEAE - NIGHTSHADE FAMILY 41 Solatiumparishii Parish's nightshade SOLANACEAE - NIGHTSHADE FAMILY 42 * Urtica urens dwarf nettle URTICACEEAE - NETTLE FAMILY "denotes non-native species DUDEK 2215-02 |& ASSOCIATES, INC. ftti/«™™' Tarn for Cam/ikx Pmj«:ls JUHB 1, 1999 Biological Resources Report fit Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad, County of San Diego, California APPENDIX B WILDLIFE SPECIES OBSERVED OR DETECTED ON THE PROJECT SITE TERRESTRIAL VERTEBRATES BIRDS ACCIPITRIDAE - HAWKS Buteo jamaicensis - red-tailed hawk COLUMBIDAE - PIGEONS & DOVES Zenaida macroura - mourning dove TROCHILIDAE - HUMMINGBIRDS Calypte anna - Anna's hummingbird TYRANNIDAE - TYRANT FLYCATCHERS Tyrannus verticalis - western kingbird CORVIDAE - JAYS & CROWS Afhelocoma coemlescens - scrub jay Corvus corax - common raven MIMIDAE - THRASHERS Mimus polyglottos - northern mockingbird EMBERIZIDAE - WOOD WARBLERS, TANAGERS, BUNTINGS & BLACKBIRDS Pipilo erythwfhthalmus - rufous-sided towhee Pifilo crissalis - California towhee Melosfiza melodia - song sparrow FRINGILLIDAE - FINCHES Carpodacus mexicanus - house finch Carduelis psaltria - lesser goldfinch mJDEK 2215-02 |& ASSOCIATES, INC. Pnfiamul Tama far Qimfikx r™j,ai JURS 1, 1999 Biological Resources Report SC Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad, County of San Diego/ California APPENDIX B (Continued) MAMMALS LEPORIDAE - HARES & RABBITS Sylvilagus sp. - cottontail rabbit SCIURIDAE - SQUIRRELS Spermophilus heecheyi - California ground squirrel CANIDAE - WOLVES & FOXES Canis latrans - coyote DUDEK _ 2215-02 & ASSOCIATES, INC. ~~ Proftuional Teams for Complex Pjviecu JU06 1, 1999 Biological Resources Report fit Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad/ County of San Diego/ California APPENDIX C SPECIES SENSITIVITY CATEGORIES Federal (1993) Endangered. Taxa threatened throughout all or a significant portion of their range. Threatened. Taxa likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. Category!. Taxa for which the USF WS currently has on file substantial information on biological vulnerability and threat(s) to support the appropriateness of proposing to list them as endangered or threatened species. Category^. Taxa for which information now in possession of the USFWS indicates that proposing to list them as endangered or threatened is appropriate but for which substantial data on biological vulnerability and threat(s) are not known or on file to support the immediate preparation of rules. Category^. Taxa that were once considered for listing as endangered or threatened, but are currently not receiving such consideration. These taxa are included in one of the following three subcategories. Subcategory 3A: Taxa presumed to be extinct. Subcategory 3B: Taxa whose names do not meet the Endangered Species Act's legal definition of species. Subcategory 3C: Taxa now considered to be more widespread that originally thought. Note: The taxa in Categories 1 and 2 are candidates for possible addition to the list of endangered and threatened species. The USFWS encourages their consideration in environmental planning. DUDEK 2215-02 & ASSOCIATES, INC. ;===^^^====^^=^^========^===^========^^^^^=^^====== JUH6 1, 1999 Biological Resources Report sc Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad/ County of San Diego/ California APPENDIX C (Continued) State of California (1990) Endangered. Taxa which are in serious danger of becoming extinct throughout all, or a significant portion, of their range due to one or more causes including loss of habitat, change in habitat, over exploitation, predation, competition, or disease (Section 2062 of the Fish and Game Code). Threatened. Taxa which, although not presently threatened with extinction, are likely to become endangered species in the foreseeable future (Section 2067 of the Fish and Game Code). Rare. Candidate. Taxa which, although not presently threatened with extinction, are present in such small numbers throughout their range that they may become endangered if the present environment worsens (Section 1901 of the Fish and Game Code). Taxa which the Fish and Game Commission has formally noticed as being under review by the Department in addition to the list of threatened and endangered species. California Native Plant Society (1994) Lists 1A: IB: 2: 3: 4: Presumed Extinct in California Rare or Endangered in California and Elsewhere Rare or Endangered in California, More Common Elsewhere Need More Information Plants of Limited Distribution Note: Plants on CNPS list IB meet California Department of Fish and Game Criteria for Rare or Endangered listing. DU-DE-K & ASSOCIATES, INC. 2215-02 , 1999 Biological Resources Report fit Impact Analysis Steiner Property/ Carlsbad/ County of San Diego/ California APPENDIX C (Continued) R-E-D code R (Rarity) 1- Rare, but found in sufficient numbers and distributed widely enough that the potential for extinction or extirpation is low at this time. 2- Occurrence confined to several populations or to one extended population. 3- Occurrence limited to one or a few highly restricted populations, or present in such small numbers that it is seldom reported. E (Endangerment) 1- Not endangered 2- Endangered in a portion of its range 3- Endangered throughout its range D (Distribution) 1- More or less widespread outside of California 2- Rare outside California 3- Endemic to California DUDEK 2215-02 |& ASSOCIATES, INC. June 1,1999