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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCDP 02-24; ST CLAIRE RESIDENCE; REVIEW OF BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES PROPOSED IMPACTS ASSESSMENT; 2000-01-1616 January 2000 Mr. John St. Claire North County Custom Homes, Inc. 1839 Freda Lane Cardiff by the Sea, CA 92071 Re: Review of Biological Resources and Proposed Impacts Assessment for the Adams Street Residential Parcels 10178 & 12773, City of Carlsbad, San Diego County, California. Dear Mr. St. Claire: This letter report summarizes my review of the existing onsite vegetation communities within parcels 10178 and 12773, discusses proposed development within each parcel, and Identifies any fatal flaws on the site that may constrain development. Parcels 10178 and 12773 are immediately adjacent to each other and are located just west of the intersection of Adams Street and Park Drive in the City of Carlsbad, San Diego County, California (See Figures 1 & 2). This report follows two site surveys conducted by myself on 19 October 1999 and 15 January 2000. METHODS AND SURVEY LIMITATIONS All plant species encountered during the field surveys were identified and recorded (See Appendix B). Latin and common names of plants used in this report follow the Jepson Manual (Hickman 1993). Where not listed In the Jepson Manual (1993), common names are taken from A Flora of San Diego County. California (Beauchamp 1986). Plant community classifications used in this report follow Holland (1986), with modifications (as applicable) to accommodate the lack of conformity of the observed communities to those of Holland. The approximate locations of rare or sensitive plant species also were noted, and numbers present were estimated. Expected wildlife use of the site was not fomially determined and site specific wildlife surveys (e.g., for the California gnatcatcher) were not conducted; however, wildlife usage is briefly discussed. 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 listed in the North County Multiple Habitat Conservation Program and the Habitat Management Plan for Natural Communities in the City of Carisbad; and (3) habitat areas or plant communities that are unique, are of relatively limited distribution, or are of particular value to wildlife. During the field visit a special effort was made to survey more thoroughly those areas suspected to support sensitive botanical resources; however, the timing ofthe 1999/2000 surveys was not optimal for the detection for most spring-blooming ephemeral plants. Biological Resources Review & Proposed Impacts Assessment Page 2 for the Adams Street Residential Parcels 10178 & 12773 HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR NATURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE CITY OF CARLSBAD The Habitat Management Plan (HMP) for the Natural Communities in the City of Carisbad (City) provides a comprehensive, citywide, program to identify how the City, in cooperation with federal and state wildlife agencies, can preserve the diversity of habitat and protect sensitive biological resources within the City while allowing for additional development consistent with the City's General Plan and its Growth Management Plan. In so doing, the HMP is intended to lead to citywide permits and authorization for the incidental take of sensitive species in conjunction with private development projects, public projects, and other activities which are consistent with the HMP. These permits would be issued under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the Califomia Endangered Species Act, and the California Natural Community Conservation Planning Act (NCCP). Based on existing distribution of vegetation communities and sensitive species, the HMP identifies Focus Planning Areas (FPAs). The FPAs are further broken down into HMP cores, linkages, and Special Resource Areas. These areas include eight core FPAs that are connected to one another and to habitat areas outside the City by a variety of linkages and wildlife corridors. Special Resource Areas are certain naturally vegetated areas in the City which are too small, edge- effected, or isolated to be considered biological Cores or linkage areas, but are nonetheless important to preserve design or the conservation of particular species. Additionally, a number of proposed public and private projects have submitted proposed hardline design for inclusion in the HMP and the preserve system. For some key properties within the City which have not submitted proposed hardline designs for inclusion in the preserve system, the HMP includes conservation goals and standards which will apply to future development proposals in these areas. The goals and standards have been an-anged according to the Local Facilities Management Zones (LFMZs) to which they apply. The planning standards are based on biological issues defined specifically for each zone based upon the existing biological conditions and preserve design considerations. It is noteworthy that the protection of coastal sage scrub habitat is of particular importance in these remaining, unplanned areas of the City. Therefore, unless othenA/ise specifically stated in the standards for a particular zone, a minimum of 67% of the coastal sage scrub shall be conserved in each of the standards areas, as well as 75% of gnatcatchers. Also of particular importance is the protection of Nan-ow Endemic species. The standard requires 100% conservation of Nan-ow Endemics within a focused planning area. CITY OF CARLSBAD LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM Parcels 10178 and 12773 lie within the Mello II geographic segment of the coastal zone. The City assumes primary responsibility for implementing the Local Coastal Program (LCP) Land Use Element as it affects private land use. The LCP is the standard for evaluating and making decisions on land use proposals in the Coastal Zone. As identified in the Mello II element of the LCP, development on steep slopes (> 25%) occupied by endangered species, or coastal sage scrub and/or chaparral habitats is restricted to 10% encroachment with exceptions made for reasonable use of a legal parcel dominated by such conditions. SITE DESCRIPTION Parcels 10178 and 12773 are located immediately west ofthe intersection of Adams Street and Park Drive, in the west-central portion of the City of Carisbad to the north of Aqua Hedionda Biological Resources Review & Proposed Impacts Assessment for the Adams Street Residential Parcels 10178 & 12773 Page 3 Lagoon (Figure 1). Onsite elevations range from 50 feet above mean sea level (amsl) along the eastern end of each parcel to 160 feet amsl at the western boundary of the parcels. Land use within both parcels includes limited acreage of ruderal land in the eastern portions, and dense native habitat/vegetation in the approximate westem two-thirds of the parcels. Biological resources within the parcels are landlocked to the west and east by residential development. Land use to the north and south consists of a remnant band of dense native habitat, which itself is landlocked. Soils mapped forthe both parcels (Bowman 1973) include Las Flores - Urban land complex, 2-9% slopes (LfC) and Loamy alluvial land-Huerhuero complex, 9-50% slopes, severely eroded (LvF3). The two soil types are described below: Las Flores - Urban land complex, 2 to 9% slopes - (LfC) - The Las Flores series soils consist of moderately well-drained loamy fine sands that have a sandy clay subsoil. These soils fonned in material weathered from siliceous marine sandstone. These soils have a slow to medium runoff rate. The erosion hazard is slight to moderate. Loamy alluvial land-Huerhuero complex, 9 to 50% slopes, severely eroded - (LvF3) - This complex occurs on old coastal ridges. The landscape is one of strongly sloping to steep, severely eroded soils and alluvial fill along drainage ways. Runoff is rapid and erosion hazard can be severe. RESULTS OF VEGETATION SURVEY Based on species composition and general physiognomy, three plant communities (or habitat types) were identified within the property: coastal sage, ruderal land, and developed areas. Coastal sage scrub exists in disturbed as well as undisturbed conditions; these are illustrated in the following Table and Figure 3, and discussed within the general headings below. Table 1. Vegetation Communities identified on the Adams Street Residentiai Parcels 10178 & 12773. HABITAT TYPE PARCEL 10178 EXISTING ACREAGE PARCEL 12773 EXISTING ACREAGE TOTAL ACREAGE Coastal sage scrub 0.44 ac 0.64 ac 1.08 ac Disturbed coastal sage scrub 0.10 ac 0.05 ac 0.15 ac Ruderal land 0.22 ac 0.04 ac 0.26 ac Developed 0.06 ac 0.06 ac 0.12 ac Totals 0.82 ac 0.79 ac 1.61 ac Coastal Sage Scrub Coastal sage scmb is a native plant community composed of a variety of soft, low, aromatic shrubs, characteristically dominated by drought-deciduous species such as Califomia sagebmsh {Artemisia califomica), flat-top buckwheat {Eriogonum fasciculatum), and sages {Salvia spp.), with scattered evergreen shrubs, including lemonadeberry {Rhus integrifolia), laurel sumac {Malosma laurina). and toyon {Heteromeles arbutifolia). It typically develops on south-facing slopes and other xeric situations. Biological Resources Review & Proposed Impacts Assessment Page 4 for the Adams Street Residential Parcels 10178 & 12773 Onsite, coastal sage scrub is composed of well-established, woody, mature specimens including some chapan-al component species. Much of it is dominated by California sagebrush and black sage {Salvia mellifera), with flat-top buckwheat, laurel sumac, white sage {Salvia apiana), sawtooth goldenbush {Hazardia squarrosa), Califomia adolphia {Adolphia californica), and summer holly {Comarostaphylis diversifolia ssp. diversifolia), toyon, and charnse {Adenostema fasciculatum) as lesser chaparral components. Two patches of disturbed coastal sage scrub occur within each parcel and are dominated by deen/veed {Lotus scoparius), Califomia sagebrush, and laurel sumac. Coastal sage scrub is recognized as a sensitive community by local, state, and federal resource agencies. It supports a rich diversity of sensitive plants and animals, and it is estimated that it has been reduced by 75-80% of its historical coverage throughout southern Califomia. It is the focus ofthe current State of California Natural Communities Conservation Program (NCCP). Ruderal Land Ruderal lands are defined as areas where the native vegetation has been removed by mechanical means and weedy non-native annual dicots, such as telegraph weed {Heterotheca grandiflora), Russian-thistle {Salsola tragus), and horseweed {Conyza canadensis), predominate. This category includes open fields and other areas supporting weeds. Portions of the parcels appear to have been historically disturiaed by site access and pad grading, significantly altering the "native" grade. Developed Areas Developed areas refer to highly modified land supporting structures, land use, or vegetation associated with dwellings. The eastern access points of each parcel previously were modified in association with adjacent residential development. Floral Diversity A total of twenty-eight species of vascular plants - twenty-four native species (86%) and four non- native species (14%) - were recorded from the site (Appendix B). Two species present onsite, California adolphia and summer holly, are considered sensitive by local or regional resource agencies. SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES OBSERVED Two sensitive plant species were observed and are described below. Both species were found to be widespread within both parcels 10178 and 12773. The listing authorities for sensitive plant species and explanation of listing categories are presented in Appendix C. No other narrow endemic, HMP-listed, or other sensitive plant species were obsen/ed. Adolphia califomica - California adolphia USFWS: None CDFG: None CNPS: List 2, 1-2-1 Califomia adolphia is a moderate-sized (0.5-1.0 m), profusely branched, rigid, spinescent shrub, ranging from the Carisbad area in San Diego County, California, south into adjacent northwestem Baja Califomia, Mexico (Munz 1974. Beauchamp 1986, Skinner & Pavlik 1994). It generally occurs on clay soils and on dry south-facing slopes in chaparral and coastal sage scrub communities below about 300 m (935 ft) elevation. It blooms in late winter to spring (December-May). In San Diego County it has been reported from Morro Hill, Cerro de Calavera, Agua Hedionda, Rancho Santa Fe, Mount Soledad, Bemardo, Chollas Valley, Ban-ett Junction, Proctor Valley (Beauchamp 1986). This species is threatened by urtDanization, road construction, and grazing (Skinner 1994). I .^TATE RFAr.H Source: 1999 Thomas Bros. Guide N 1" = 1900' SITE LOCATION MAP BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE REVIEW AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT ADAMS STREET RESIDENTIAL PARCELS PM 10178 & PM 12773 VEGETATION IVIAP Biological Resources Review and Impact Assessment LEGEND COASTAL SAGE SCRUB DISTURBED COASTAL SAGE SCRUB RUDERAL LAND i DEVELOPED ® PHOTO POINT Adams Street/Park Drive Residential Parcels No. 10178 & 12773 VEGETATION IVIAP WITH PROPOSED IIVIPACTI Biological Resources Review and Impact Assessment COASTAL SAGE SCRUB COASTAL SAGE SCRUB ^ RUDERAL LAND I I DEVELOPED PROPOSED BRUSH MANAGEMENT LIMITS GRADING LIMITS^ Adams Street/Park Drive Residential Parcels No. 10178 & 12773 NORTHWEST-FACING VIEW OF COASTAL SAGE SCRUB HABITAT wrTHiN PARCEL 10178. SITE PHOTOGRAPHS - Photo Point A Biological Resources Review and Impact Assessment Adams Street/Park Drive Residential Parcels No. 10178 & 12773 Figure 1^'.'. i;ii -f. . • APPROXIIMATE NORTH-FACING VIEW OF RUDERAL LAND AND DISTURBED COASTAL SAGE SCRUB PORTIONS OF PARCEL 10178. SITE PHOTOGRAPHS - Photo Point B Biological Resources Review and Impact Assessment Adams Street/Park Drive Residential Parcels No. 10178 & 12773 NORTHEAST-FACING VIEW OF RUDERAL LAND AND COASTAL SAGE SCRUB PORTIONS OF PARCEL 12773. SITE PHOTOGRAPHS - Photo Point C Biological Resources Review and Impact Assessment Adams Street/Park Drive Residentiai Parcels No. 10178 & 12773 'Mm WEST-FACING OVERVIEW OF COASTAL SAGE SCRUB HABITAT WITHIN PARCELS 12773 AND 10178. SITE PHOTOGRAPHS - Photo Point D Biological Resources Review and Impact Assessment Adams Street/Park Drive Residential Parcels No. 10178 & 12773 SITE PHOTOGRAPHS - Overview Photo Biological Resources Review and Impact Assessment Adams Street/Park Drive Residential Parcels No. 10178 & 12773 APPENDIX A LITERATURE CITED Beauchamp, R. M. 1986. A Flora of San Diego County, Califomia. Sweetwater Press, National City, California. 241 pp. Bowman, R. H. 1973. Soil Survey, San Diego Area, Califomia, Part 1. United States Department of the Agriculture. 104 pp. + appendices. California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). 1987. Designated Endangered or Rare Plants. Summaiy list from Section 1904 Fish and Game Code (Native Plant Protection Act). State of California Resources Agency, Sacramento, California. City of Carisbad. April 1999. Habitat Management Plan for Natural Communities in the City of Carlsbad. City of Carlsbad. 1996. Local Coastal Program. 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. Munz, P. 1974. A Flora of Southern California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 1086 pp. 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 (Sth Edition), California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, Califomia. 338 pp. APPENDIX B VASCULAR PLANT SPECIES OBSERVED IN PARCELS 10178 AND 12773 ANGIOSPERMAE (DICOTYLEDONES) ANACARDIACEAE - SUMAC FAMILY Malosma laurina - laurel sumac Rhus integrifolia - lemonadeberry ASTERACEAE - SUNFLOWER FAMILY Artemisia californica - coastal sagebrush Baccharis pilularis - coyote brush Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum - golden yarrow Gnaphalium bicolor - bicolor cudweed Gutierrezia californica - California matchweed Hazardia squarrosa ssp. grindelioides - sawtooth goldenbush Heterotheca grandiflora - telegraph weed BRASSICACEAE - MUSTARD FAMILY Brassica nigra - black mustard CACTACEAE - CACTUS FAMILY Opuntia littoralis var. littoralis - coastal prickly pear CRASSULACEAE - STONECROP FAMILY Dudleya lanceolata - coastal dudleya CUCURBITACEAE - GOURD FAMILY l\Aarah macrocarpus - California man-root ERICACEAE - HEATH FAMILY Comarostaphylis diversifolia ssp. diversifolia - summer holly FABACEAE - PEA FAMILY Lotus scoparius - deerweed LAMIACEAE - MINT FAMILY Salvia apiana - white sage Salvia mellifera - black sage APPENDIX B (Continued) POLYGONACEAE - BUCKWHEAT FAMILY Eriogonum fasciculatum - flat-top buckwheat RHAMNACEAE - BUCKTHORN FAMILY Adolphia californica - California adolphia ROSACEAE - ROSE FAMILY Adenostoma fasciculatum - chamise Heteromeles arbutifolia - toyon SCROPHULARIACEAE - FIGWORT FAMILY Mimulus aurantiacus - bush monkeyflower SOLANACEAE - NIGHTSHADE FAMILY Nicotiana glauca - tree tobacco ANGIOSPERMAE (MONOCOTYLEDONES) LILIACEAE - LILY FAMILY Yucca schidigera - Mohave yucca POACEAE - GRASS FAMILY Bromus hordeaceus - soft chess * Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens - foxtail chess Nasella lepida - foothill needlegrass Nasella pulchra - purple needlegrass * denotes non-native, introduced species 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 1. Taxa for which the USFWS 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. Categon/ 2. 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 3. 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 SA: 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. 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). APPENDIX C (Continued) Rare. 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). Candidate. 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 (1995) Lists 1A: Presumed Extinct in California 1B: Rare or Endangered in California and Elsewhere 2: Rare or Endangered in California, More Common Elsewhere 3: Need More Information 4: Plants of Limited Distribution Note: Plants on CNPS list 1B meet California Department of Fish and Game Criteria for Rare or Endangered listing. 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 Biological Resources Review & Proposed Impacts Assessment Page 13 for the Adams Street Residential Parcels 10178 & 12773 Califomia adolphia was obsen/ed within both parcels. The total numbers are estimated at 100+ individuals within parcel 10178 and 200+ individuals within parcel 12773. Comarostaphylis diversifolia ssp. diversifolia - summer-holly USFWS: former Category 2 candidate CDFG: None CNPS: List IB, 2-2-2 Summer-holly is a large shnjb generally occuning on north-facing canyons and slopes in chaparral and foothill habitats below about 700 m (2,297 ft) in scattered locations from the Pacific coast in San Diego County south into Baja Califomia. Reported localities in the County include San Marcos Mountains, Mount Whitney, Rancho Santa Fe, Gonzales Canyon, Encinitas, Mount Soledad, Penasquitos Canyon, Del Mar Heights, Iron Mountain, canyons of Mission Valley, Jamul Valley, and Otay Mountain (Beauchamp 1986). This species is threatened by development and gravel mining (S'Kinner & Pavlik). Summer holly was observed within both parcels. The total numbers are estimated at 100+ individuals within parcel 10178 and 200+ individuals within parcel 12773. This species is an identified HMP species, and therefore it should be conserved to the maximum extent feasible. SENSITIVE HABITATS Sensitive habitats are those that 1) are considered rare within the region, 2) are listed by the North County Multiple Habitats Conservation Program and the Habitat Management Plan for the Natural Communities in the City of Carlsbad, 3) support sensitive plant and/or wildlife species, or 4) function as corridors for wildlife movement. Onsite, these include coastal sage scrub and disturbed coastal sage scrub. Regionally, coastal sage scmb provides habitat for numerous sensitive plant and wildlife species. Animals confined primarily to this habitat include California gnatcatcher, cactus wren, orange- throated whiptail, and San Diego horned lizard. Sensitive plants characteristic of coastal sage scrub include San Diego barrel cactus, ashy spike-moss, and California adolphia. Corridors. Wildlife conidors 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. 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. Owing to the geographic position of the parcels in the context of surrounding urbania and the dominance of steep slopes, it is unlikely that the property receives significant use from larger Biological Resources Review & Proposed Impacts Assessment for the Adams Street Residential Parcels 10178 & 12773 Page 14 mammals such as mule deer, coyote, and bobcat. Coastal sage scrub habitat in this location most likely doesn't function as a habitat corridor due to it's lack of connectivity at its northern and southem temnini; however, this habitat area may act as a linkage, owing to its geographic proximity to Aqua Hedionda Lagoon, providing a "stepping stone" for species dispersal. ANTICIPATED PROJECT IMPACTS This section addresses potential impacts to biological resources that would result from implementation ofthe proposed project, and provides analyses of significance for each potential impact. 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. Direct impacts are quantified in Table 2 below. Table 2. Anticipated Vegetation Community Impacts Associated with Proposed Development of Adams Street Residentiai Parcels 10178 & 12773. HABITAT TYPE EXISTING ACREAGE PROPOSED IMPACTS REMAINING ACREAGE SENSITIVE HABITAT % LOST/REMAINING PM 10178 Coastal sage scrub 0.44 ac 0.12 ac 0.32 ac 27.3 / 72.7 Disturbed coastal sage scrub 0.10 ac 0.10 ac \ — 100/0 Ruderal land 0.22 ac 0.22 ac — Developed Area 0.06 ac ... ,li — ... Subtotal 0.82 ac 0.44 ac 0.32 ac PM 12773 Coastal sage scrub 0.64 ac 0.17 ac 0.47 ac 26.6 / 73.4 Disturbed coastal sage scrub 0.05 ac 0.05 ac — 100/0 Ruderal land 0.04 ac 0.04 ac — ... Developed Area 0.06 ac — — — Subtotal 0.79 ac 0.26 ac 0.47 ac Direct Impacts Direct impacts are anticipated in association with the development of one residential lot within each parcel, for a total of two residences. A significant factor in lot development is the need for a thirty- foot wide bmsh management building setback for fire control and emergency access. Direct loss of coastal sage scrub habitat primarily is due to the brush management setback. Biological Resources Review & Proposed Impacts Assessment Page 15 for the Adams Street Residential Parcels 10178 & 12773 Coastal Sage Scrub A total of 0.29 acre of coastal sage scmb would be directly impacted by the development Of this total, 0.20 acre of impact would be the result of bmsh management. An additional 0.15 acre of disturiDed coastal sage scmb would be lost to grading and lot development. Because coastal sage scmb is a depleted habitat type and the focus of regional conservation programs (e.g., NCCP), all impacts to coastal sage scmb are considered significant. Ruderal Lands and Developed Areas Impacts to these habitat types are considered not significant. Sensitive Plant Species Within both parcels, California adolphia and summer holly are found in significant numbers throughout the coastal sage scmb habitat. It is estimated that approximately 50 individuals of each species would be directly impacted within the brush management zone. These impacts are considered not^ignificant. Indirect Impacts Separate from the direct loss of habitat by construction, site development plan will cause indirect effects to the biota. Indirect impacts are those that do not actually result in the physical loss of habitat, but may affect use of habitat, reduce population numbers, and promote pest species as a result of use of the area by an increased number of people, vehicles, their pets, pest plants and animals, lighting, and noise. Often, indirect effects are perceived to expand the impact area of a development out into otherwise natural habitat. Biologists have documented the occun-ence of indirect effects (e.g., Soule et al 1988), but the importance of the effect on the biota usually is not known. Examples of activities and their possible indirect effects include: lighting into natural areas, increasing predation risk of native animals; introduction of predatory pets, increasing predation on reptiles, birds and small mammals; unauthorized brush clearing, trash dumping and trail blazing, causing habitat degradation; use of pesticides and herbicides on landscaping, causing mortalities to wildlife using the affected areas; uncontrolled runoff, causing erosion, loss of vegetation, deposition of material into habitat; increased noise, primarily from roads, causing changes in use of habitats adjacent to the noise source; and traffic, causing mortality to animals attempting to cross the road. It is expected that the most important indirect effect of site development within Parcels 10178 and 12773 will be increased lighting and noise, and possible introduction of predatory pets. It is not likely that indirect effects referred to above will extend far into the conserved coastal sage scmb area, especially given the steep topography of the western portions of the parcel; therefore, these impacts are consider less than significant DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Parcels 10178 and 12773 lie within Local Facilities Management Zone 1 (LFMZ 1). Neither parcel is identified within an HMP core area, linkage, special resource area, existing or proposed hardline conservation area, or proposed standards area. The Conservation Goal for LFMZ 1 states: Conserve the majority of habitats in or contiguous with biological core areas, including no net loss of wetland habitat, and preserve, as feasible, coastal sage scmb and maritime succulent scrub adjacent to the lagoons. Retain and manage natural habitats adjacent to lagoons to buffer wetland resources from adverse Biological Resources Review & Proposed Impacts Assessment Page 16 for the Adams Street Residential Parcels 10178 & 12773 effects and provide upland nesting habitat for pond turtles and other HMP species. No wetland habitats were observed within either parcel. Furthermore, neither parcel contributes to the Aqua Hedionda Lagoon as a wetland buffer. As previously mentioned, unless othen/vise indicated in an identified standards area for a particular zone, a minimum of 67% of the coastal sage scmb (ess) habitat shall be consen/ed within the standards area. As proposed, site development with the illustrated bmsh management limits would consen/e 72.7% ofthe ess within parcel 10178 and 73.4% ofthe ess within parcel 12773. When the loss of disturbed ess is factored in, the onsite conservation percentages drop to 60% within parcel 10178 and 68% within parcel 12773. Adjustment of the bmsh management limits during more detailed design review may increase the onsite conserved habitat numbers; however, ess is significantly conserved as proposed.. Mitigation The HMP does not require offsite mitigation for projects that conserve at least 67% of the habitat onsite. Given the limited development proposed within each parcel and the conserved habitat numbers mentioned above, offsite mitigation should not_be,required by the City. Therefore, no il!lt|gatiqn is suggested. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions or require additional information at (760) 806- 7802. Very^ruly yours, rV Jeff t>JPhomas Environmental Consultant Attachments: Appendix A Literature Cited Appendix B Vascular Plant Species Observed in Parcels 10178 & 12773 Appendix C Species Sensitivity Categories