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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEIR 93-02; Green Valley; Environmental Impact Report (EIR) (58)STATE OF CALIFORNIA-THE RESOURCES AGENCY PETE WILSON, Gowmor DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME 330 GOLDEN SHORE, SUITE 50 ONG BEACH, CA 90802 r (310) 590-5113 April 21, 1993 Mr. Christer Westman City of Carlsbad Planning Department 2075 Las Palmas Drive Carlsbad, California 92009 Dear Mr. Wes%man: Notice of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Green Valley Master Plan The Department of Fish and Game (Department) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the 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 r Impact Report (DEIR) : 1. A complete assessment of the flora and fauna within and adjacent to the project area, with particular emphasis upon identifying endangered, threatened, and locally unique species and sensitive habitats. s H a. b. C. d. 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 1) . A complete assessment of sensitive wildlife species. Seasonal 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 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 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 c Mr. Christer Westman April 21, 1993 Page Two species and habitats, including Significant Natural Areas identified under Chapter 12 of the Fish and Game Code. 2. A thorough discussion of the direct, indirect and cumulative impacts expected to adversely effect biological resources, with specific measures to offset such impacts. _c -- a. b. C. d. 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 on resources that are rare or unique to the region. Project impacts should also be analyzed relative to their effect on off-site habitats. Specifically, this should include nearby public lands, open space, adjacent natural habitats and riparian ecosystems. Impacts to and maintenance of wildlife corridor/movement areas and access to habitat in the surrounding area should be fully evaluated and provided in the DEIR. 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 communities and wildlife habitats. An analysis of the regional conservation programs that are relevant to the project should be described. The effect that the project may have on the completion and implementation of such efforts should be included. Under Sections 2800-2840 of the Fish and Game Code, the Department, through the Natural Communities Conservation Planning (NCCP) Program, is coordinating with local jurisdictions, landowners and the Federal Government to preserve local and regional biological diversity as well as meeting the objectives of the State and Federal Endangered Species Acts to conserve habitats before species become endangered with extinction. The analysis should include the project's status in the NCCP Program as well as the lead agency's status [enrolled, not enrolled, Ongoing Management Plan (OMP), etc.]. 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 locations should also be evaluated in areas with lower resource sensitivity, where appropriate. F Mr. Christer Westman April 21, 1993 Page Three 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 may 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. -_ 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. 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 , 4. a. A Department-approved Mitigation Agreement and Mitigation Plan is required for plants listed as rare under the Native Plant Protection Act. 5. The Department opposes the elimination of water courses and/or their conversion to subsurface drains and channelization. All wetlands and watercourse, 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 populations. a. The Department has direct authority under Fish and Game Code Sections 1600-1603 in regard to any proposed activities which would divert, obstruct or affect the natural flow or change in 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 proposed project may be required to avoid or reduce impacts to fish and wildlife resources. rc Mr. Christer Westman April 20, 1993 Page Four 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 proposed to alleviate such impacts. c. A specific discussion relating to the potential for adverse impacts to Batiquitos Lagoon Ecological Reserve, with mitigation measures proposed to alleviate such impacts. Thank you for this opportunity to comment. Questions regarding this letter and further coordination on these issues should be directed to Mr. Curt Taucher, Environmental Services Supervisor. He can be reached at 330 Golden Shore, Suite 50, Long Beach, CA 90802; (310) 590-5137. Sincerely, Regional Manager Region 5 Attachment cc: Ms. Carrie Phillips U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Carlsbad, California Mr. J. Dice Plant Ecologist San Diego, California Mr. T. Dillingham Wildlife Biologist San Diego, California Ms. T. Stewart Wildlife Biologist La Mesa, California Ms. T. Dickerson Environmental Specialist San Diego, California