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Reso 146-12 Alameda Cty Conservation Strategy
RESOLUTION NO. 146-12 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE EAST ALAMEDA COUNTY CONSERVATION STRATEGY AS GUIDANCE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING FOR PROJECTS AFFECTING HABITAT AND ENDANGERED SPECIES IN EASTERN ALAMEDA COUNTY WHEREAS, species and habitat conservation programs and project mitigation in the Tri- Valley area occur incrementally on a case by case basis; and WHEREAS, the result is piecemeal mitigation that can be more time consuming, expensive, and less effective at preserving and connecting the open space and natural communities found in Eastern Alameda County; and WHEREAS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in conjunction with the California State Department of Fish & Game and the Regional Water Quality Control Board, encouraged local cities and other pertinent agencies and districts in the Tri-Valley area to participate in the development of an East Alameda County Conservation Strategy to streamline permitting and resource agency review; and WHEREAS, the East Alameda County Conservation Strategy is a regional approach to conservation that will facilitate the connection of Tri-Valley open space and habitat in the Alameda Creek watershed with adjacent natural areas and watersheds in Contra Costa, San• Joaquin, and Santa Clara Counties; and WHEREAS, the East Alameda County Conservation Strategy is intended to facilitate the coordination and acceleration of project mitigation for land use, transportation, and infrastructure projects; and WHEREAS, a City Council Staff Report dated August 21, 2012, and incorporated herein by reference, described the goals and purpose of the East Alameda County Conservation Strategy and its benefit to the City of Dublin; and WHEREAS, the City Council reviewed the East Alameda County Conservation Strategy at a noticed Public Meeting oh August 21, 2012, at which time all interested parties had the opportunity to be heard; and WHEREAS, the City Council did hear and consider all said reports, recommendations and testimony described herein and used its independent judgment to evaluate the East Alameda County Conservation Strategy and Staff's recommendation to accept the Conservation Strategy as guidance for environmental permitting for public projects. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the foregoing recitals are true and correct and made a part of this Resolution. Page 1 of 2 • BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council hereby accepts the East Alameda County Conservation Strategy (included as Exhibit A to this Resolution) as guidance for environmental permitting for public projects affecting habitat and endangered species in Eastern Alameda County. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 21st day of August 2012 by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Biddle, Hart, Hildenbrand, Swalwell, and Mayor Sbranti NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None (JV ice, Mayor • ATTEST: Jas Deputy City CH' , • Reso No. 146-12,Adopted 8-21-12, Item 7.1 Page 2 of 2 x f It . I , ... .. .. s . �. 1 .- '�yIryr1 tiia. �► ; t t. .. ... . .. 1 r� w ,.: 4:..:7„,!....: 9 r Mr i • y lost_ is logikw, . . _ . 0114...., • 1 OCTOBER 2010 EAST ALAMEDA COUNTY CONSERVATION STRATEGY FINAL DRAFT Alameda County Congestion Management Agency Alameda County Resource Conservation District Alameda County Waste Management Authority California Department of Fish and Game City of Dublin City of Livermore City of Pleasanton County of Alameda East Bay Regional Park District Natural Resources Conservation Service San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board 'CF U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service Zone 7 Water Agency INTERNATIONAL FINAL DRAFT EAST ALAMEDA COUNTY CONSERVATION STRATEGY PREPARED FOR: East Alameda County Conservation Strategy Steering Committee 100 North Canyons Parkway Livermore,CA 94551 Contact: Mary Lim 925.454.5036 PREPARED BY: ICF International 2841 Junction Avenue, Suite 114 San Jose,CA 95134 Contact: Troy Rahmig 408.434.2244 October 2010 r_ ICF INTERNATIONAL • • • • ICF International. 2010. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy. Final Draft. October. (ICF 00906.08.) San Jose, CA. Prepared for: East Alameda • County Conservation Strategy Steering Committee, Livermore, CA. • Contents • List of Tables vi • List of Figures viii Chapter 1 Introduction 1-1 1.1 Introduction 1-1 1.1.1 Overview 1-1 1.1.2 Background 1-2 1.1.3 Purpose 1-3 1.2 Overview of the Planning Process 1-4 1.2.1 Steering Committee 1-4 1.2.2 Users Advisory Group 1-5 1.2.3 Public Outreach and Involvement 1-6 1.3 Scope of Conservation Strategy 1-7 1.3.1 Study Area 1-7 1.3.2 Regulatory Scope 1-8 1.3.3 Focal Species 1-8 1.4 Regulatory Setting 1-11 1.4.1 Federal and State Endangered Species Laws 1-11 1.4.2 Other Federal and State Species Laws 1-17 1.4.3 National Environmental Policy Act 1-19 1.4.4 California Environmental Quality Act 1-20 1.4.5 Federal and State Wetland Laws and Regulations 1-20 1.5 Document Organization 1-22 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting 2-1 2.1 Introduction - 2-1 2.2 Land Use 2-2 2.2.1 Existing Conditions 2-2 2.2.2 Land Use Categories 2-3 2.2.3 Land Use Controls 2-7 2.2.4 Open Space (Public Lands and Private Easements) 2-9 2.3 Physical Resources 2-15 2.3.1 Location 2-15 2.3.2 Topography 2-15 2.3.3 Geology and Soils 2-16 2.3.4 Climate 2-19 • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy i October 2010 ICE 00906.08 • • 2.3.5 Hydrology 2-21 - 2.4 Biological Resources 2-23 2.4.1 Methods 2-23 2.4.2 Biological Diversity in the Study Area 2-31 2.4.3 Natural Communities and Land Cover Types 2-32 2.4.4 Habitat Connectivity and Wildlife Linkages 2-76 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy 3-1 3.1 Overview 3-1 3.2 Project-Level Use of the Strategy 3-3 3.2.1 Standardized Mitigation 3-4 3.2.2 Impact/Mitigation Scoring of Focal Species Habitat 3-5 3.3 Independent Conservation Actions 3-6 3.4 Methods and Sources 3-6 3.4.1 Conservation Gap Analysis 3-7 3.4.2 Geographic Units of Conservation 3-8 3.5 Conservation Goals and Objectives 3-9 3.5.1 Landscape-Level Goals and Objectives 3-10 3.5.2 Natural Community—Level Goals and Objectives 3-12 • 3.5.3 Focal Species Goals and Objectives 3-40 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones 4-1 4.1 Conservation Zone 1 4-3 4.1.1 Background 4-3 • 4.1.2 Conservation Priorities 4-4 4.1.3 Summary 4-4 4.2 Conservation Zone 2 4-4 4.2.1 Background 4-4 4.2.2 Conservation Priorities 4-5 4.2.3 Summary 4-6 4.3 Conservation Zone 3 4-6 4.3.1 ' Background 4-6 4.3.2 Conservation Priorities 4-6 4.3.3 Summary 4-7 4.4 Conservation Zone 4 4-8 4.4.1 Background 4-8 4.4.2 Conservation Priorities 4-8 . 4.4.3 Summary 4-9 • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy ii October 2010 • ICF 00906.08 4.5 Conservation Zone 5 4-10 • 4.5.1 Background 4-10 4.5.2 Conservation Priorities 4-11 4.5.3 Summary 4-12 4.6 Conservation Zone 6 4-13 4.6.1 Background 4-13 4.6.2 Conservation Priorities 4-13 4.6.3 Summary 4-15 4.7 •Conservation Zone 7 4-15 4.7.1 Background 4-15 4.7.2 Conservation Priorities 4-16 4.7.3 Summary 4-17 4.8 Conservation Zone 8 4-17 4.8.1 Background 4-17 4.8.2 Conservation Priorities 4-17 4.8.3 Summary 4-18 4.9 Conservation Zone 9 4-19 4.9.1 Background 4-19 4.9.2 Conservation Priorities 4-19 • 4.9.3 Summary 4-21 4.10 Conservation Zone 10 4-21 4.10.1 Background 4-21 4.10.2 Conservation Priorities 4-22 4.10.3 Summary 4-24 4.11 Conservation Zone 11 4-25 4.11.1 Background 4-25 4.11.2 Conservation Priorities 4-25 4.11.3 Summary 4-26 • 4.12 Conservation Zone 12 4-26 4.12.1 Background 4-26 4.12.2 Conservation Priorities 4-27 4.12.3 Summary • 4-28 4.13 Conservation Zone 13 4-28 4.13.1 Background 4-28 4.13.2 . Conservation Priorities 4-29 4.13.3 Summary 4-30 • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy iii October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • 4.14 Conservation Zone 14 4-31 4.14.1 Background 4-31 4.14.2 Conservation Priorities 4-31 4.14.3 Summary 4-32 4.15 Conservation Zone 15 4-33- 4.15.1 Background 4-33 4.15.2 Conservation Priorities 4-33 4.15.3 Summary 4-35 4.16 Conservation Zone 16 4-35 4.16.1 . Background 4-35 4.16.2 Conservation Priorities 4-35 4.16.3 Summary 4-37 4.17 Conservation Zone 17 4-38 4.17.1 Background 4-38 4.17.2 Conservation Priorities 4-38 4.17.3 Summary 4-39 4.18 Conservation Zone 1.8 4-40 4.18.1 Background 4-40 • 4.18.2 Conservation Priorities 4-40 4.18.3 Summary 4-41 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation 5-1 5.1 Overview 5-2 5.2 Implementation Structure 5-3 5.2.1 Implementation Committee 5-3 5.2.2 Public Advisory Committee 5-5 5.2.3 Annual Meeting 5-5 5.2.4 Data Tracking and Reporting 5-6 5.3 Funding 5-9 5.4 Participating Entities 5-9 5.4.1 Local Governments 5.9 5.4.2 State and Federal Resource Agencies 5-10 5.4.3 Special Districts and Agencies 5-10 5.5 Project-by-Project Regulatory Compliance 5-11 5.5.1 National Environmental Policy Act 5-11 • 5.5.2 California Environmental Quality Act 5-11 5.5.3 Federal Endangered Species Permitting 5-12 • 5.5.4 State Endangered Species Permitting 5-14 • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy iv October 2010 ICF 00906.08 5.5.5 Federal Clean Water Act Permitting 5-14 • 5.5.6 Clean Water Act Section 401 and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act 544 5.5.7 State Streambed and Lake Alteration Agreement 5-15 5.6 Conservation through Mitigation 5-15 5.6.1 Roles and Responsibilities of Project Applicants 5-16 5.6.2 Land Acquisition for Mitigation 5-18 5.6.3 Conservation Easements for Mitigation 5-20 5.6.4 Conservation or Mitigation Banks 5-24 5.6.5 New Concepts for Mitigation Planning 5-25 5.7 Conservation Actions Unrelated to Mitigation—Voluntary Conservation Actions 5-26 5.7.1 Existing Stewardship Programs 5-27 5.7.2 New Stewardship Programs and Tools 5-29 Chapter 6 Literature Cited 6-1 6.1 Printed References 6-1 6.2 Personal Communications 6-21 • Appendix A Wildlife Species List Appendix B Plant Species List Appendix C Glossary • Appendix D Species Accounts Appendix E Mitigation Score Sheets Appendix F Conservation Easement Toolkit Appendix G Water Quality Objectives for Use in Designing and Implementing Projects with Impacts to Creeks or Wetlands • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy v October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Tables Appear at the end of chapters in which they are named. 1-1 Species Proposed for Inclusion as Focal Species for the East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-1 Simplified Land Use Planning Designations from Local General Plans 2-2 Summary of Open Space in the Conservation Strategy as of October 2010 2-3 Comparison of East Alameda County Conservation Strategy Land Cover Classification to Other State and Local Classification Systems 2-4 Land Cover Types and their Extent in the Study Area 3-1 Conservation Goals for Land Cover within the East Alameda County Conservation Strategy Study Area 3-2 General Avoidance and Minimization Measures to Reduce Effects on Focal Species 3-3 Species-Specific AMMs 3-4 Standardized Mitigation Ratios for Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp in the EACCS Study Area • 3-5 Standardized Mitigation Ratios for Longhorn Fairy Shrimp in the EACCS Study Area 3-6 Standardized Mitigation Ratios for Callippe Silverspot Butterfly in the EACCS Study Area 3-7 Standardized Mitigation Ratios for California Red-Legged Frog in the EACCS Study Area 3-8 Standardized Mitigation Ratios for California Tiger Salamander in the EACCS Study Area 3-9 Standardized Mitigation Ratios for Alameda Whipsnake in the EACCS Study Area 3-10 Standardized Mitigation Ratios for Non-Listed Species in the EACCS Study Area 3-11 Standardized Mitigation Ratios for San Joaquin Kit Fox in the EACCS Study Area 3-12 Standardized Mitigation Ratios for Focal Plant Species in the EACCS Study Area 4-1 Natural Land Cover Protection Goals for Conservation Zone 1 4-2 Natural Land Cover Protection Goals for Conservation Zone 2 4-3 Natural Land Cover Protection Goals for Conservation Zone 3 4-4 Natural Land Cover Protection Goals for Conservation Zone 4 4-5 Natural Land Cover Protection Goals for Conservation Zone 5 4-6 Natural Land Cover Protection Goals for Conservation Zone 6 • 4-7 Natural Land Cover Protection Goals for Conservation Zone 7 East Alameda County Conservation Strategy Vi October 2010 ICF 00906.08 4-8 Natural Land Cover Protection Goals for Conservation Zone 8 4-9 Natural Land Cover Protection Goals for Conservation Zone 9 4-10 Natural Land Cover Protection Goals for Conservation Zone 10 4-11 Natural Land Cover Protection Goals for Conservation Zone 11 • 4-12 Natural Land Cover Protection Goals for Conservation Zone 12 4-13 Natural Land Cover Protection Goals for Conservation Zone 13 4-14 Natural Land Cover Protection Goals for Conservation Zone 14 4-15 Natural Land Cover Protection Goals for Conservation Zone 15 4-16 Natural Land Cover Protection Goals for Conservation Zone 16 4-17 Natural Land Cover Protection Goals for Conservation Zone 17 4-18 Natural Land Cover Protection Goals for Conservation Zone 18 4-19a Modeled Suitable Habitat(acres) for Focal Invertebrate Species 4-19b Modeled Suitable Habitat(acres) for Reptile and Amphibian Species 4-19c Modeled Suitable Habitat(acres) for Focal Bird Species 4-19d Modeled Suitable Habitat (acres) for Focal Mammal Species 4-19e Modeled Suitable Habitat (acres) for Focal Plant Species 4-20 Critical Habitat(acres) for Federally Listed Focal Species East Alameda County Conservation Strategy vii October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Figures Appear at the end of chapters in which they are named. • 1-1 Study Area 1-2 How the East Alameda County Conservation Strategy Will Work 2-1 East Alameda County Simplified Land Use Planning Designations from Local General Plans 2-2 Criteria for Open Space Types 2-3 East Alameda County Open Space (Public Lands and Private Easements) 2-4 East Alameda County Topography 2-5 East Alameda County Soils 2-6 East Alameda County Unique Soil Resources 2-7 Watersheds 2-8 East Alameda County Land Cover 2-9 Pond Density • 3-1 Conservation Zones 3-2 Grassland Land Cover 3-3 Chaparral and Coastal Scrub Land Cover 3-4 Conifer Woodland and Oak Woodland 3-5 Aquatic Land Cover 3-6 Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp Standardized Mitigation Reference Map 3-7 Longhorn Fairy Shrimp Standardized Mitigation Reference Map 3-8 Callippe Silverspot Butterfly Standardized Mitigation Reference Map 3-9 California Red-Legged Frog Standardized Mitigation Reference Map 3-10 California Tiger Salamander Standardized Mitigation Reference Map 3-11 Plants and Non-Listed Wildlife Species Standardized Mitigation Reference Map 3-12 Alameda Whipsnake Standardized Mitigation Reference Map 3-13 San Joaquin Kit Fox Standardized Mitigation Reference Map • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy viii October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 1 Introduction Table of Contents 1.1 Introduction 1-1 1.1.1 Overview 1-1 1.1.2 Background 1-2 1.1.3 Purpose 1-3 1.2 Overview of the Planning Process 1-4 1.2.1 Steering Committee 1-4 1.2.2 Users Advisory Group 1-5 1.2.3 Public Outreach and Involvement 1-6 1.3 Scope of Conservation Strategy 1-7 1.3.1 Study Area 1-7 1.3.2 Regulatory Scope 1-8 1.3.3 Focal Species 1-8 1.4 Regulatory Setting 1-11 1.4.1 Federal and State Endangered Species Laws 1-11 1.4.2 Other Federal and State Species Laws 1-17 1.4.3 National Environmental Policy Act 1-19 1.4.4 California Environmental Quality Act 1-20 1.4.5 Federal and State Wetland Laws and Regulations 1-20 1.5 Document Organization 1-22 1.1 Introduction 1.1.1 Overview The East Alameda County Conservation Strategy(hereafter,Conservation Strategy) is intended to provide an effective framework to protect, enhance, and restore natural resources in eastern Alameda County,while improving and streamlining the environmental permitting process for impacts resulting from infrastructure and development projects. The Conservation Strategy will focus on impacts on biological resources such as endangered and other special-status East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-1 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 1 Introduction • species as well as sensitive habitat types (e.g., wetlands, riparian corridors, rare upland communities). The federal, state, and local entities listed below have prepared this Conservation Strategy in partnership: • Alameda County (County); • Alameda County Congestion Management Agency (ACCMA); • Alameda County Waste Management Authority; • Alameda County Resource Conservation District (ACRCD); • California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG); • City of Dublin; • City of Livermore; • City of Pleasanton; • East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD); • Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS); • San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (SFRWQCB); • Zone 7 Water Agency (Zone 7); and • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). • The Conservation Strategy will enable local projects to comply with state and federal regulatory requirements within a framework of comprehensive conservation goals and objectives, and be implemented using consistent and standardized mitigation requirements. Section 1.3.1 provides a detailed description of the Conservation Strategy study area. 1.1.2 Background Local agencies in eastern Alameda County have until now primarily conducted threatened and endangered species permitting for urban growth, infrastructure development, and operations and maintenance activities with the Resource Agencies (USFWS, CDFG, SFRWQCB) on a project-by-project basis. This has often resulted in project delays, inconsistencies during the review process,and piecemeal mitigation for special-status species and natural communities. The City of Livermore and Zone 7 held early discussions with USFWS and CDFG to determine the best course of action for the region. USFWS and CDFG . identified a need for a comprehensive regional conservation strategy. Initial discussions ruled out a habitat conservation plan (HCP) as a tool to provide this strategy because of the growth controls in place in the county and the three cities. Because of these growth controls, local agencies expect relatively low • levels of future residential and commercial development on natural lands that East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-2 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 1 Introduction would typically fund a large part of HCP implementation. Instead, a regional • conservation strategy that would not result in incidental take permits for threatened or endangered species, as is the case in an HCP, was recommended as the best tool to reach the common goals. Other local land use and resource agencies joined the process in order to address impacts from infrastructure and development projects in a comprehensive manner. Since it was anticipated that the majority of mitigation that resulted from the Conservation Strategy would occur on private lands,the NRCS and ACRCD joined the planning process as well. This was enabled in part through a CALFED Bay-Delta Program grant that the ACRCD received in 2007 to support the planning process and components of Conservation Strategy implementation. A Steering Committee was then formed to guide the planning process. 1.1.3 Purpose The primary purpose of this Conservation Strategy is to provide a baseline inventory of biological resources and conservation priorities that will be utilized by local agencies and resource agencies during project-level planning and environmental permitting. To this end, the Conservation Strategy describes how to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts on selected focal special-status species and sensitive habitats. By implementing the Conservation Strategy, local agencies can more easily address the legal requirements relevant to these • species. Projects and activities that will benefit from this Conservation Strategy include urban and suburban growth and a variety of road, water, and other needed infrastructure construction and maintenance activities. Because this Conservation Strategy will not result in permits, but rather serve as guidance for project-level permits, individual projects may need to implement different or more avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures than what is outlined here. To avoid this from happening, the Resource Agencies have participated in the development of this Conservation Strategy with the intent that it becomes the blueprint for all mitigation and conservation in the study area. This Conservation Strategy is designed to serve as a coordinated approach to conservation in the eastern portion of Alameda County. This Conservation Strategy not only addresses project-level mitigation for potential impacts to species and habitats throughout the eastern part of the county, but also provides a broader, coordinated approach for local conservation efforts beyond those required by mitigation. In turn the strategy will capitalize on existing stewardship practices that are a long tradition in the county and encourage new means for those practices to persist. This includes identification of important . conservation priorities in the county that are supported by local stakeholders and resource agencies and the importance on not just protection of those resources, but management as well. This Conservation Strategy will achieve the specific goals listed below. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-3 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 1 Introduction • • Set priorities for mitigation and conservation to contribute to the protection of special-status species and sensitive habitats in eastern Alameda County. • Improve corridors and linkages between other conservation planning efforts (HCPs/NCCPs) inside and adjacent to the EACCS Study Area. • Set goals to document, protect, and enhance native biological and ecological diversity in the study area. • Establish a set of standards to preserve, enhance, restore, manage, and monitor native species and the habitats and ecosystems upon which they depend. • • Streamline and simplify the issuance of permits for future project proponents in the study area by indicating clear standards for lawful incidental take'of species listed as threatened or endangered pursuant to the federal Endangered Species Act(ESA) and California Endangered Species Act(CESA) and by setting clear mitigation ratios for focal species and sensitive habitats. • Standardize avoidance, minimization, mitigation, and compensation requirements of the ESA, CESA, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other applicable laws and regulations relating to biological and natural resources within the study area, so that public and private actions will be governed equally and • consistently, thus reducing delays, expenses, and regulatory duplication. • Provide a less costly, more efficient project review process that will result in • more productive conservation than the current project-by-project,species- by-species compliance process for special-status species and sensitive habitat. • Restore natural communities that have been degraded or lost over time where possible. • Introduce creative solutions to making land management activities which benefit focal species more feasible through incentives for and the education of the private lands community. • 1.2 Overview of the Planning Process 1.2.1 Steering Committee The Steering Committee comprises the Resource Agencies and a representative from each local agency (funding partner)that is likely to have a need to mitigate Take as defined by the ESA means"to harass,harm,pursue, hunt,shoot,wound, kill,trap,capture,or collect,or to attempt to engage in any such conduct." Incidental take is take that is incidental to,and not intended as part of,an • otherwise lawful activity. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-4 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 1 Introduction • public projects within the study area in the foreseeable future or support • implementation of the Conservation Strategy through on the ground conservation. A list of local agencies and Resource Agencies that were represented on the Steering Committee is shown in the opening paragraph of this document. During the planning process, the Steering Committee made decisions regarding the budget, management, and administration of the consultant contract. The Steering Committee directed the Conservation Strategy project and made decisions regarding public outreach, including convening the Users Advisory Group (UAG) (see Section 1.2.2, below). Decision- making by the Steering Committee was by consensus. The Steering Committee met once a month with additional meetings as needed at their discretion. 1.2.2 Users Advisory Group The UAG was convened to review and provide real-time feedback to the Steering Committee and consultants on work products. The UAG was comprised of technical and nontechnical representatives from those entities that intend to use the strategy, such as local public agencies, USFWS, CDFG, Corps, SFRWQCB, developers, landowners, and environmental and conservation groups. The Steering Committee solicited participation in the UAG through mailings to individuals and groups that live or operate in eastern Alameda • County. One information meeting was held to discuss the scope of the • Conservation Strategy and the purpose of the UAG. Those interested in joining the UAG then completed an application. Those applications were reviewed by the Steering Committee and all that applied were asked to join the UAG. The Steering Committee conducted additional outreach to groups that were underrepresented on the UAG to create a group that was balanced and representative of interests in eastern Alameda County. UAG members served as the point of contact for the group they were representing. The duties of the UAG included, but were not limited to, the following: reviewing, discussing, and providing comments on work products from the consultant; providing suggestions and advice of work products to the Steering Committee; and serving as a conduit between the Conservation Strategy planning process and their respective constituencies. The UAG met approximately every 6 weeks during the planning process. The UAG consists of 27 individuals (plus several alternates) representing various interests. Groups represented on the UAG include: • Alameda Creek Alliance; • Alameda Local Agency Formation Commission; • Audubon Society—Ohlone Chapter; Et California Coastal Conservancy; • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-5 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 1 Introduction • a California Native Plant Society-East Bay Chapter(EBCNPS); • Fletcher Conservation Properties; • • Friends of Livermore; . • Friends of Springtown Preserve; • Friends of the Vineyards; • Greenbelt Alliance; • Hacienda Business Park; • Home Builders Association of Northern California; • Individual Rural Landowners; • Lawrence Livermore Laboratories; • Livermore Area Recreation and Park District (LARPD); • Robert Harris &Associates; • Save Mount Diablo; • San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC); • Sierra Club; • • The Nature Conservancy; and • Tri-Valley Conservancy. 1.2.3 Public Outreach and Involvement To address general public inquiries about the Conservation Strategy,the Steering Committee convened a public outreach subcommittee to coordinate outreach efforts and direct the work of the consultant. The most direct form of public outreach that occurred during the planning process was through the UAG. The Steering Committee hosted three public meetings at key points during the planning process to better inform the public about the process and to identify opportunities for the public to become involved. In addition,two outreach events were sponsored by the ACRCD to provide a forum for rural landowners to ask questions about and provide feedback on the planning process. Public outreach and review was facilitated through a variety of channels, including: • Conservation Strategy factsheet; • list of frequently asked questions; • landowner workshops hosted by ACRCD; • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-5 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 1 Introduction • Conservation Strategy website with project updates, materials posted for • review, and Steering Committee contacts; • noticed updates to boards and councils delivered by Steering Committee representatives from each local agency; and • public meetings at key project milestones occurred in: o May 2009 to review data and conservation goals, a September 2009 to review conservation priorities and draft strategy, and • September 2010 to review Public Release Draft of strategy, including Standardized Mitigation Ratios and Focal Species Habitat Evaluation Tools. • 1.3 Scope of Conservation Strategy This section introduces key elements of the Conservation Strategy: geographic scope (study area), regulatory scope, and focal species. 1.3.1 Study Area • The study area lies within Alameda County (Figure 1-1). Alameda County has a land area of 525,540 acres; the study area encompasses 271,485 acres, or approximately 52%of the county. The study area completely includes the cities of Dublin, Livermore, and Pleasanton. The boundary of the study area was based on political, ecological, and hydrologic factors (Figure 1-1). The western boundary of the study area runs along the Alameda Creek watershed boundary. This watershed boundary encompasses small portions of the cities of Fremont, Union City, and Hayward,though those jurisdictions were not formally part of the planning process. The northern,southern, and eastern boundaries of the study area follow the Alameda County line with Contra Costa County, Santa Clara County, and San Joaquin County, respectively. The study area includes a portion of the Central Valley and Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (Delta) watersheds in the northeastern corner of the study area. Outside of the urban areas the study area is largely a mix of grassland and woodland, with some intermittent scrub. Most of the study area is subject to some level of grazing as ranching is the bellwether if this part of the county. The study area includes two other areas where large scale conservation plans are being developed during the Conservation Strategy planning process. The SFPUC is preparing a habitat conservation plan (Alameda Watershed HCP) for its watershed lands in the Alameda Creek watershed. The Alameda Watershed HCP study area includes nearly 48,000 acres in southern Alameda and northern Santa Clara Counties. The portion of that study area in Alameda County is • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-7 - October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 1 Introduction • entirely within the Conservation Strategy study area. In addition, the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area Conservation Plan (an HCP and a natural community conservation plan [NCCP]) is under development in eastern Alameda County and southeastern Contra Costa County. The portion of that planning area that is in Alameda County is entirely within the Conservation Strategy study area. • 1.3.2 Regulatory Scope The Conservation Strategy does not directly result in permits for any participating local agency. Instead, the Conservation Strategy is a tool to inform decisions during standard environmental permitting processes for projects that occur in the study area (Figure 1-2). However,the USFWS anticipates the development of a programmatic biological opinion for their listed species. In the future the Conservation Strategy could be used for the basis of a HCP, should the need arise. The regional inventory of biological resources presented in the Conservation Strategy allows projects to be reviewed by local agencies and resource agencies with a standardized regional context and with . consistency across multiple projects. The standardized avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures for species and natural communities will give local agencies, project proponents, and regulators more certainty of regulatory expectations and costs. This approach is expected to streamline permitting, • reducing the overall cost of the permitting process and allowing the focus to be on conservation within the study area rather than a prolonged negotiation process. Furthermore,the Conservation Strategy will allow mitigation to be consolidated, facilitating better conservation and improved management reducing overall costs. In addition, the conservation priorities outlined in the Conservation Strategy will allow conservation groups to focus their efforts in the study area and encourage collaboration on conservation initiatives. 1.3.3 Focal Species The Conservation Strategy creates a framework to protect native biological diversity, habitat for native species, natural communities, and local ecosystems in eastern Alameda County. The Conservation Strategy will conserve a wide range of natural resources, including native species that are common and rare, while focusing conservation efforts on species that are the focus of standard regulatory processes. The Conservation Strategy addresses 19 listed and nonlisted species, called focal species (Table 1-1). These focal species comprise 13 wildlife species and 6 plant species. The Conservation Strategy provides a framework for long-term. conservation and management of these species and the habitats that support them. The 19 focal species were identified using an initial assessment of the • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-8 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 1 Introduction occurrence, threat, and conservation opportunities of 132 special-status species • (see "Species Evaluation," below). The Conservation Strategy includes measures to protect all 19 focal species-as if they are currently listed as endangered or threatened under ESA and/or CESA (see "Definition of Special-Status Species," below). Therefore, if any nonlisted focal species becomes listed in the future, it is anticipated that additional conservation within the study area should not be required. 1.3.3.1 Species Evaluation To determine which species would be focal species under the Conservation Strategy, a comprehensive list of 132 special-status species that occur or may occur in the study area was compiled (Appendices A and B). This list was developed by reviewing the following sources: • California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) (2009); • CNPS (2008) Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California; ® CDFG lists of special animals and special plants (California Department of Fish and Game 2009a and 2009b); • an animal species list obtained from the USFWS website for Alameda County (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2008); and • personal communication with local experts, including wildlife agency staff and representatives of local environmental groups including CNPS, Ohlone Chapter of the Audubon Society, EBRPD, and Alameda Creek Alliance. 1.3.3.2 Definition of Special-Status Species Special-status species are defined as plants and animals that are legally protected under ESA, CESA, or other regulations, and species that are considered sufficiently rare by the scientific community to qualify for such listing. Special-status plants are species with one or more of the following characteristics: • listed or proposed for listing as threatened or endangered under ESA (50 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 17.12 [listed plants] and various notices in the Federal Register [FR] [proposed species]); • candidate for possible future listing as threatened or endangered under the ESA(73 FR 7515-75244, December 10, 2008); • listed or candidate for listing by the State of California as threatened or • endangered under CESA (14 California Code of Regulations [CCR] 670.5); • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-9 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 1 Introduction • • ® listed as rare under the California Native Plant Protection Act (California Fish and Game Code Section 1900 et seq.); • determined to meet the definitions of rare or endangered under CEQA (State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15380); • considered by CNPS to be "rare, threatened or endangered in California" (Lists 1B and 2 in California Native Plant Society 2010) or vascular plants, bryophytes, and lichens listed as having special status by CDFG (California Department of Fish and Game 2OO9b); and/or • listed by CNPS as plants about which more information is needed to determine their status and plants of limited distribution (Lists 3 and 4 in California Native Plant Society 2008) that may be included on the basis of local significance or recent biological information. Special-status animals are species with one or more of the following characteristics: • listed or proposed for listing as threatened or endangered under the ESA (50 CFR 17.11 [listed animals] and various notices in the Federal Register [proposed species]); s candidate for possible future listing as threatened or endangered under the ESA (73 FR 7515-75244, December 10, 2008); • • • determined to meet the definitions of rare or endangered under CEQA (State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15380); • listed or candidate for listing by the State of California as threatened or endangered under CESA (14 CCR 670.5); • wildlife species of special concern to CDFG (California Department of Fish and Game 2008); • fully protected species under the California Fish and Game Code Section 3511 (birds), Section 4700 (mammals), Section 5515 (fish), and Section 5050 (reptiles and amphibians);and/or • species with no formal special status but thought by experts to be rare or in serious decline and to warrant special status based on recent information. 1.3.3.3 Focal Species Criteria For each special-status species with potential to occur in the study area (Appendices A and B), information was gathered on its status, population trends, distribution,threats, conservation potential, and management efforts. The following criteria were then applied to each species to determine whether it would be a focal species. To be a focal species, a species typically had to meet all four of the following criteria. • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-10 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 1 Introduction Range: The species is known to occur or is likely to occur within the • Conservation Strategy study area, based on credible evidence, or the species is not currently known in the study area but is expected to occur in the study area in the foreseeable future (e.g., through range expansion or reintroduction to historic range). Status: The species meets at least one of the following statutory criteria: • listed under the ESA as threatened or endangered, or proposed for listing; ® listed under CESA as threatened or endangered or a candidate for such listing; • listed under the Native Plant Protection Act as rare; or • expected to be listed under ESA or CESA in the foreseeable future. Potential for listing is based on current listing status, consultation with experts and wildlife agency staff, evaluation of species population trends and threats, and best professional judgment of the biologists working on the Conservation Strategy. Impact: The species or its habitat would be adversely affected by activities or projects that may result in take of the species. Data: Sufficient data on the species' life history, habitat requirements, and occurrence in the study area are available to adequately evaluate and develop • conservation measures to mitigate impacts that result from future projects to levels specified by regulatory standards. 1.4 Regulatory Setting 1.4.1 Federal and State Endangered Species Laws 1.4.1.1 Federal Endangered Species Act USFWS and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) administer the ESA. ESA requires USFWS and NMFS to maintain lists of threatened and endangered species and affords substantial protection to listed species. NMFS's jurisdiction under ESA is limited to the protection of marine plants and animals, and anadromous fishes;'all other species are subject to USFWS jurisdiction. Anadromous fishes are fish that spend part of their life cycle in the ocean and part in fresh water. NMFS has jurisdiction over anadromous fish that spend the majority of their life cycle in the ocean. Pacific Lamprey.although anadromous,would be under USFWS jurisdiction if it were listed in the future because,although anadromous, it spends the majority of its life cycle in freshwater. . • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-11 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 1 Introduction • USFWS and NMFS can list species as either endangered or threatened. An endangered species is at risk of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range (ESA Section 3[6]). A threatened species is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future (ESA Section 3[19]). Section 9 of the ESA prohibits the take of any fish or wildlife species listed under ESA. Take, as defined by ESA, means "to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill,trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct." Harm is defined as "any act that kills or injures the species, including significant habitat modification or degradation where it actually kills or injures wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding,feeding, or sheltering" (50 CFR 17.3). Section 9 prohibits removing or reducing to possession, or maliciously damaging or destroying listed plant species from areas under federal jurisdiction and includes prohibiting removal, cutting, digging up, damage, or destruction where the action takes place in violation of any state law or regulation. ESA and its implementing regulations do not provide for exemption from these prohibitions; however, listed plants are subject to the regulatory obligations of section 7 of the ESA. Some plants are included in the Conservation Strategy in order to meet regulatory obligations under ESA Section 7 and to comply with CESA. The ESA includes mechanisms that provide exceptions to the Section 9 take prohibitions. These are addressed in Section 7 for federal actions and Section • 10 for nonfederal actions. Section 7 Section 7 of the ESA requires all federal agencies to ensure that any action they authorize,fund, or carry out is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of habitat critical to such species' survival. To ensure that its actions do not result in jeopardy to listed species or in the adverse modification of critical habitat3, each federal agency must consult with USFWS or NMFS, or both, regarding federal agency actions that may affect listed species. Consultation begins when the federal agency submits a written request for initiation to USFWS or NMFS, along with the agency's biological assessment of its proposed action,and their determination that the proposed action "may affect but is not likely to adversely affect" or"may affect and is likely to adversely affect" listed species. If the initiation package is complete, USFWS or NMFS concurs or does not concur with the federal action agency's determination. If USFWS or NMFS concurs that the action will not likely adversely affect the listed species,the action may be conducted without further review under ESA. Otherwise, USFWS or NMFS must prepare a written biological opinion describing how the agency's 3 Critical habitat is defined as specific geographic areas,whether occupied by listed species or not,that are • determined to be essential for the conservation and management of listed species, and that have been formally described in the Federal Register. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-12 _ October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 1 Introduction action may or may not jeopardize the continued existence of a species or result • in the adverse modification of critical habitat. If the biological opinion concludes that the proposed action would jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species or adversely modify its critical habitat,the opinion will suggest "reasonable and prudent alternatives" that would avoid that result. If the biological opinion concludes that the proposed action would take a listed species but would not jeopardize its continued existence, the biological opinion will include an incidental take statement. Incidental take is take that is "incidental to, and not intended as part of, an otherwise lawful activity" (64 CFR 60728). The incidental take statement specifies an amount of take that is allowed to occur as a result of the action and may require reasonable and prudent measures to minimize the effect of the take. Any project with a federal lead agency or federal involvement (e.g., a federal permit, federal funding, or a project on federal land) must obtain its take authorization through Section 7 rather than Section 10 and an HCP. Section 10 Until 1982, state, local, and private entities had no means to acquire incidental • take authorization as could federal agencies under Section 7. Private landowners and local and state agencies risked direct violation of the ESA no matter how carefully their projects were implemented. This statutory dilemma led Congress to amend Section 10 of the ESA in 1982 to authorize the issuance of an incidental take permit to nonfederal project proponents upon completion of an approved conservation plan. The term conservation plan has evolved into HCP. In cases where federal land, funding, or authorization is not required for an action by a nonfederal entity,the take of listed fish and wildlife species can be permitted by USA/VS and/or NMFS through the Section 10 process. Private landowners, corporations, state agencies, local agencies, and other nonfederal entities must obtain a Section 10(a)(1)(B)incidental take permit for take of federally listed fish and wildlife species "that is incidental to, but not the purpose of, otherwise lawful activities." The take prohibition for listed plants is more limited than for listed fish and wildlife. Under Section 9(a)(2)(B) of the ESA, endangered plants are protected from "removal, reduction to possession, and malicious damage or destruction" in areas that are under federal jurisdiction. Section 9(a)(2)(B) of the ESA also provides protection to plants from removal, cutting,digging up, damage, or destruction where the action takes place in violation of any state law or regulation or in violation of a state criminal trespass law. Thus,the ESA does • not prohibit the incidental take of federally listed plants on private or other • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-13 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 1 Introduction • nonfederal lands unless the action requires federal authorization or is in violation of state law. Thus, Section 10 incidental take permits are only required for wildlife and fish species. However, the Section 7(a)(2) prohibition against jeopardy applies to plants, and issuance of a Section 1O(a)(1)(B) incidental take permit cannot result in jeopardy to a listed plant species. The HCP must specify the following mandatory elements (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service 1996): • • impacts that will likely result from the taking of covered species; • steps the applicant will take to monitor, minimize, and mitigate such impacts to the maximum extent practicable; • funding that will be available to implement such steps; • procedures to be used to deal with unforeseen circumstances;4 ® alternative actions to such taking the applicant considered and the reasons why such alternatives are not proposed to be utilized; and • such other measures that the Director [of the Department of Interior or Commerce] may require as being necessary or appropriate for purposes of the Conservation Strategy (50 CFR 17.22(b)). The following criteria must be met in order for USFWS and/or NMFS to issue a • section 1O(a)(1)(8) incidental take permit: • taking will be incidental; • impacts of the taking will be minimized and mitigated to the maximum extent practicable; • adequate funding will be ensured; • taking will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery of the species in the wild; or • other such measures that USFWS and/or NMFS may require as being necessary or appropriate for purposes of the HCP (50 CFR 17.22). An HCP is intended to satisfy these requirements. Prior to the approval of an HCP, USFWS and/or NMFS are required to undertake an internal Section 7 consultation, because issuance of an incidental take permit is a federal action (see discussion of ESA in "Section 7," above.) Elements specific to the Section 7 process that are not required under the Section 10 process (e.g., analysis of effects on designated critical habitat, analysis of effects ' Unforeseen circumstances are changes in circumstances affecting a covered species or geographic area covered by • the NCI'that could not reasonably have been anticipated by the plan developers, and that result in a substantial and adverse change in the status of a covered species. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-14 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 1 Introduction on listed plant species, and analysis of indirect and cumulative effects on listed • species) are included in an HCP to meet the requirements of Section 7. While the Conservation Strategy is not an HCP,the discussion of these regulatory documents are relevant since there are three HCP's currently being developed within the Conservation Strategy study area. The Conservation Strategy does provide a regional approach to conservation which is a similar approach for an HCP. The Conservation Strategy does not provide an estimate of impacts to species or their habitats during a designated period of time as an HCP would, nor does it provide a specific mitigation program to offset those estimated impacts. Those are required elements of an HCP that are not part of the Conservation Strategy. 1.4.1.2 California Endangered Species Act • CESA prohibits take of wildlife and plants listed as threatened or endangered by the California Fish and Game Commission. Take is defined under the California Fish and Game Code (more narrowly than under ESA) as any action or attempt to "hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill." Therefore, take under CESA does not • include "the taking of habitat alone or the impacts of the taking.i' Rather, the courts have affirmed that under CESA, "taking involves mortality." Like ESA, CESA allows exceptions to the prohibition for take that occurs during • otherwise lawful activities. The requirements of an application for incidental take under CESA are described in Section 2081 of the California Fish and Game Code. Incidental take of state-listed species may be authorized if an applicant submits an approved plan that minimizes and "fully mitigates"the impacts of this take. This Conservation Strategy provides information on state-listed species that would be used by project proponents and local jurisdictions to determine whether a proposed project could result in take of a state listed species. In addition, avoidance and minimization measures and mitigation practices outlined in the Conservation Strategy would be referenced by the project proponent when creating a plan that minimizes and fully mitigates the impacts of the project. By utilizing preapproved mitigation practices and focusing mitigation in conservation priority areas described in the Conservation Strategy, CESA permit compliance would be streamlined. 1.4.1.3 Natural Community Conservation Planning Act California's Natural Community Conservation Planning Act (NCCPA) (California Fish and Game Code, Section 2800 et seq.) was enacted to implement broad- . • 5 Environmental Council of Sacramento v. City of Sacramento, 142 Cal. App.4th 1018(2006). • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-15 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 1 Introduction • based planning that balances appropriate development and growth with conservation of wildlife and habitat. Pursuant to the NCCPA, local,state, and federal agencies are encouraged to prepare NCCPs to provide comprehensive management and conservation of multiple species and their habitats under a single plan, rather than through preparation of numerous individual plans on a project-by-project basis. The NCCPA is broader in its orientation and objectives than ESA and CESA, and preparation of an NCCP is voluntary. The primary' objective of the NCCP program is to conserve natural communities at the ecosystem scale while accommodating compatible land use. To be approved by CDFG, an NCCP must provide for the conservation of species and protection and • management of natural communities in perpetuity within the area covered by permits. Conservation is defined by the NCCPA and the California Fish and Game Code as actions that result in the delisting of state-listed species. Thus, NCCPs must contribute to the recovery of listed species or prevent the listing of nonlisted species rather than just mitigate the effects of covered activities. This recovery standard is one of the major differences between an NCCP and an HCP prepared to satisfy ESA or CESA. To approve an NCCP under the NCCPA, CDFG must make the following series of findings. • The NCCP must be consistent with the NCCPA. • The NCCP must provide for the conservation and management of the • covered species (conservation here is defined to mean that the NCCP must contribute to species recovery). • The NCCP must protect habitat, natural communities, and species diversity on the landscape level (definitions of these and other NCCP terms are provided in Appendix C, "Glossary"). • The NCCP must conserve the ecological integrity of large habitat blocks, ecosystem function, and biodiversity. • a The NCCP must support sustainable populations of covered species. a The NCCP must provide a range of environmental gradients and habitat diversity to support shifting species distributions. • The NCCP must sustain movement of species among reserves. • Mitigation and conservation must be roughly proportional to impacts in timing and extent. • Funding for conservation, monitoring, and adaptive management must be adequately assured. Although the Conservation Strategy is not an NCCP,the discussion of these regulatory documents are relevant since the proposed Altamont Wind Resources Conservation Plan,which is an NCCP, is currently in process in the Conservation Strategy study area. The Conservation Strategy does not provide • an estimate of impacts to species or their habitats during a designated period of East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-16 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 1 Introduction time as an NCCP would, nor does it provide a specific mitigation program to • offset those estimated impacts and contribute to the recovery of species. Further, the Conservation Strategy does riot have a formal scientific advisory process, as is required for an NCCP. The Conservation Strategy does have a stakeholder process,through the UAG,which is something that is required to prepare an NCCP. The Conservation Strategy does provide a regional approach to conservation, as an NCCP would, and approaches conservation through focal species and their habitats at both a local and regional scale. This is similar to the approach required in NCCPs. 1.4.2 Other Federal and State Species Laws 1.4.2.1 Migratory Bird Treaty Act The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 as amended (MBTA), implements various treaties and conventions between the U.S., Canada,Japan, Mexico, and the former Soviet Union for the protection of migratory birds. Under the MBTA, it is illegal for anyone to take, possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale, purchase, or barter, any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, or eggs of such a bird except under the terms of a valid permit issued pursuant to federal regulations (16 United States Code [USC] 703). The • regulatory definition of take, as defined by 50 CFR 10.12, means to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or attempt hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect. As such, take under the MBTA does not include the concepts of harm and harassment as defined under ESA. The MBTA defines migratory birds broadly; all covered birds in this Conservation Strategy are considered migratory birds under the MBTA. USFWS provides guidance regarding take of federally listed migratory birds (Appendix 5 in the HCP Handbook [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service 1996]). According to these guidelines, an incidental take permit can function as a Special Purpose Permit under the MBTA (50 CFR 21.27)for the take of all ESA-listed covered species in the amount and/or number and subject to the terms and conditions specified in an HCP. Any such take will not be in violation of the MBTA (16 USC 703-12). The following focal species in the Conservation Strategy are protected by the MBTA: a golden eagle, a western burrowing owl, and a tricolored blackbird. None of these species are currently listed under ESA or CESA therefore,take cannot be authorized or permitted. Focal bird species, as well as other migratory birds not listed as focal species by the Conservation Strategy, will benefit from seasonal restrictions on construction, restrictions on removal of East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-17 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 1 Introduction • nesting habitat during the nesting period, and other conservation measures described in this Conservation Strategy. Individual project applicants will be responsible for compliance with the MBTA for migratory birds. 1.4.2.2 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act) prohibits the taking or possession of and commerce in bald and golden eagles with limited exceptions. Under the Eagle Act, it is a violation to "take, possess,sell, purchase, barter, offer to sell,transport, export or import, at any time or in any manner, any bald eagle commonly known as the American eagle, or golden eagle, alive or dead, or any part, nest, or egg, thereof." Take is defined to include pursue, shoot, shoot at, poison, wound, kill, capture, trap, collect, destroy, molest, and disturb. Disturb is further defined in 50 CFR Part 22.3 as "to agitate or bother a bald or golden eagle to a degree that causes, or is likely to cause, based on the best scientific information available (1) injury to an eagle, (2) a decrease in its productivity, by substantially interfering with normal breeding,feeding, or sheltering behavior, or(3) nest abandonment, by substantially interfering with normal breeding,feeding, or sheltering behavior." Recent revisions to the Eagle Act authorizes take of bald eagles and golden • eagles under the following conditions: (1)where the take is compatible with the preservation of the bald eagle and golden eagle; (2) take is necessary to protect an interest in a particular locality; (3)take is associated with but not the purpose of an otherwise lawful activity; and (4)for individual instances of take,the take cannot be avoided; or(5) for programmatic take,the take is unavoidable even though advanced conservation practices are being implemented (50 CFR 22.26). Permits issued under this regulation usually authorize disturbance only; however, in limited cases a permit may authorize lethal take-that results from but is not the purpose of an otherwise lawful activity. 1.4.2.3 California Fully Protected Species In the 1960s, before CESA was enacted, the California legislature identified specific species for protection under the California Fish and Game Code. These fully protected species may not be taken or possessed at any time,and no • licenses or permits may be issued for their take except for collecting these species for necessary scientific research and relocation of bird species for the protection of livestock. Fully protected species are described in Sections 3511 (birds), 4700(mammals), 5050(reptiles and amphibians), and 5515 (fish) of the California Fish and Game Code. These protections state that "no provision of this code or any other law shall be construed to authorize the issuance of permits or licenses to take any fully protected [bird], [mammal], [reptile or amphibian], [fish]." This Conservation Strategy includes conservation measures • to avoid taking fully protected species as defined by the California Fish and East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-18 October 2010 ICF 0090688 Chapter 1 Introduction Game Code. The only fully protected species listed as focal species by the • Conservation Strategy is golden eagle. Other fully protected species expected to occur in the study area include, but are not restricted to: • American peregrine falcon, ® bald eagle, n white-tailed kite, and • ring-tailed cat (ringtail). 1.4.2.4 California Fish and Game Code 3503 (Bird Nests) Section 3503 of the California Fish and Game Code makes it "unlawful to take, possess, or needlessly destroy the nests or eggs of any bird, except as otherwise provided by this code or any regulation made pursuant thereto." The Conservation Strategy contains conservation measures to avoid and minimize such take to the maximum extent practicable in order to comply with Section 3503. Individual project applicants will be responsible for compliance with Section 3503 of the California Fish and Game Code for bird nests. 1.4.2.5 California Fish and Game Code 3503.5 • (Birds of Prey) Section 3503.5 of the California Fish and Game Code prohibits the take, possession, or destruction of any birds of prey or their nests or eggs "except as otherwise provided by this code or any regulation adopted pursuant thereto." The only birds of prey covered by the Conservation Strategy are golden eagle and western burrowing owl (Table 1-1). Golden eagle is fully protected; therefore, no take of individuals is allowed. The Conservation Strategy contains conservation measures to avoid take of golden eagle and avoid and minimize take of western burrowing owl in order to comply with Section 3503.5. Individual project applicants will be responsible for compliance with Section 3503.5 of the California Fish and Game Code for birds of prey. 1.4.3 National Environmental Policy Act NEPA requires federal agencies to include in its decision-making process appropriate and careful consideration of all environmental effects of a proposed action and of possible alternatives. Documentation of the environmental impact analysis and efforts to avoid or minimize the adverse effects of proposed actions must be made available for public notice and review. This analysis is documented in either an environmental assessment or an environmental impact • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-19 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 1 Introduction • statement. Project proponents must disclose in these documents whether their proposed action will adversely affect the human or natural environment. NEPA's requirements are primarily procedural rather than substantive in that NEPA requires disclosure of environmental effects and mitigation possibilities but includes no requirement to mitigate. • 1.4.4 California Environmental Quality Act CEQA is similar to but more extensive than NEPA in that it requires that significant environmental impacts of proposed projects be reduced to a less- than-significant level through adoption of feasible avoidance, minimization, or mitigation measures unless overriding considerations are identified and documented that make the mitigation measures or alternatives infeasible. CEQA applies to certain activities in California undertaken by either a public agency or a private entity that must receive some discretionary approval from a California government agency. Future projects that occur in the Conservation Strategy study area must also comply with CEQA at the project level through local jurisdictions. It is expected that the avoidance and minimization measures, mitigation standards,and conservation actions outlined in this Conservation Strategy will be sufficient to • inform biological resource issues that arise during the project-level CEQA process in the future. Avoidance and minimization measures as well as standardized mitigation practices for focal species and sensitive habitats would be used to develop mitigation. Many of the conservation measures will also benefit other special-status species (i.e., species that are not focal species under the Conservation Strategy); such measures may be sufficient to meet CEQA standards for these other species as well. 1.4.5 Federal and State Wetland Laws and Regulations 1.4.5.1 Clean Water Act Section 404 The Clean Water Act (CWA) is the primary federal law that protects the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters, including lakes, rivers, wetlands, and coastal waters. Programs conducted under the CWA are directed at both point source pollution (e.g., waste discharged from outfalls and filling of waters) and nonpoint source pollution (e.g., runoff from parking lots). Under Section 402 of the CWA,the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) and state agencies set effluent limitations and issue permits governing point-source discharges of wastes to waters. The Corps, applying its regulations under • guidelines issued by EPA, issues permits under CWA Section 404 governing . East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-20 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 1 Introduction under what circumstances dredged or fill material may be discharged to waters. • Section 402 and 404 permits are the primary regulatory tools of the CWA. EPA has oversight over all CWA permits issued by the Corps. • The Corps issues two types of permits under Section 404: general permits (either nationwide permits or regional permits) and standard permits (either letters of permission or individual permits). General permits are issued by the . Corps to streamline the Section 404 process for nationwide, statewide, or regional activities that have minimal direct or cumulative environmental impacts on the aquatic environment. Standard permits are issued for activities that do not qualify for a general permit (i.e.,that may have more than a minimal adverse environmental impact). Although the Conservation Strategy will not provide permits under Section 404 of the CWA for impacts on wetlands or other waters,Section 404 permitting is expected to be streamlined substantially as a result. Issuance of a Section 404 permit often requires the Corps to consult with USFWS and/or NMFS to comply with Section 7 of the ESA. This consultation would address the federally listed species that could be impacted as the result of changes to or loss of wetland habitat. The USFWS will write a Programmatic Biological Opinion for activities that need Section 404 permit issuance and are within the Conservation Strategy study area. 1.4.5.2 Clean Water Act Section 401 and the Porter- • Cologne Water Quality Control Act Under CWA Section 401,states have the authority to certify federal permits for discharges to waters under state jurisdiction. States may review proposed federal permits (e.g., Section 404 permits)for compliance with state water quality standards. The permit cannot be issued if the state denies certification. In California, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) and the Regional Water Quality Control Boards (Regional Boards) are responsible for the issuance of Section 401 certifications. The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act is the primary state law concerning water quality. It authorizes the State Board and Regional Boards to prepare management plans such as regional water quality plans to address the quality of groundwater and surface water. The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act also authorizes the Regional Boards to issue waste discharge requirements defining limitations on allowable discharge to waters of the state. In addition to issuing Section 401 certifications on Section 404 applications to fill waters, the Regional Boards may also issue waste discharge requirements for such activities. Because the authority for waste discharge requirements is derived from the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and not the CWA, waste discharge requirements may apply to a somewhat different range of aquatic resources than do Section 404 permits and Section 401 water quality • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-21 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 1 Introduction • certifications. Applicants that obtain a permit from the Corps under Section 404 must also obtain certification of that permit by the Regional Board. The Conservation Strategy does not include certifications under Section 401 or waste discharge permits under the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act. These authorizations, if required, must be obtained separately. 1.4.5.3 Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement CDFG has jurisdictional authority over streams, lakes, and wetland resources associated with these aquatic systems under California Fish and Game Code Section 1600 et seq. CDFG has the authority to regulate work that will "substantially divert or obstruct the natural flow of, or substantially change or use any material from the bed, channel, or bank of, any river, stream,or lake, or deposit or dispose of debris, waste, or other material containing crumbled, flaked, or ground pavement where it may pass into any river, stream, or lake." Activities of any person, state, or local governmental agency, or public utility are regulated by CDFG under Section 1602 of the code. CDFG enters into a streambed or lakebed alteration agreement with the project proponent and can impose conditions on the agreement to ensure no net loss of values or acreage of the stream, lake, associated wetlands, and associated riparian habitat. • The lake or streambed alteration agreement is not a permit, but rather a mutual agreement between CDFG and the project proponent. Because CDFG includes under its jurisdiction streamside habitats that may not qualify as wetlands under the CWA definition, CDFG jurisdiction may be broader than Corps jurisdiction. A project proponent must submit a notification of streambed alteration to CDFG before construction. The notification requires an application fee for streambed alteration agreements, with a specific fee schedule to be determined by CDFG. Many of the concerns raised by CDFG during streambed alteration agreement negotiations are related to special-status species. Activities covered by this Conservation Strategy that need a streambed alteration agreement are expected to partially or fully meet the standards of the streambed alteration agreement through compliance with this Conservation Strategy. 1.5 Document Organization This document is organized into the following six chapters: • Chapter 1, "Introduction," • Chapter 2, "Environmental Setting," • Chapter 3, "Conservation Strategy," ✓ Chapter 4, "Conservation Zones," • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-22 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 1 Introduction • Chapter 5, "Conservation Strategy Implementation," and • • Chapter 6, "Literature Cited." Chapter 2 provides information on existing natural resources within eastern • Alameda County. Chapter 3 presents the conservation principles and approaches central to this Conservation Strategy and describes expected outcomes for focal species when the Conservation Strategy is implemented. Chapter 4 discusses the 18 conservations zones developed for this Conservation Strategy. Chapter 5 describes mitigation and land protection efforts integral to the success of the Conservation Strategy, as well as for the implementation oversight process. Chapter 6 provides a listing of the sources cited in the document or consulted in its preparation. The report also contains the following appendices: e Appendix A, "Wildlife Species Considered for Inclusion as Focal Species in the East Alameda Conservation Strategy," • Appendix B, "Plant Species Considered for Inclusion as Focal Species in the East Alameda Conservation Strategy," • Appendix C, "Glossary," • Appendix D, "Species Accounts," • Appendix E, "Focal Species Impact/Mitigation Scoring Sheets," • B Appendix F, "Conservation Easement Toolkit," ❑ Conservation Easement Template ❑ Management Plan Guide and Annotated Outline O Review Criteria for Section 7 Off-site Compensation • Appendix G, "Water Quality Objectives for Use in Designing and Implementing Projects with Impacts to Creeks or Wetlands."_ • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 1-23 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 en y 4- Y u >+ t of >+ A C y -. t Oa- Oa- a c 7 w a u v yy, u Te C E O cu b °pc C >z o o '� v o .E c v > c - o .c 6'n m bbe AO m LO al p B to 00 o y .Y▪ 0 Ul .: J� E E y c a+ a 4-• E E h � E y E y o u = 3 c v v c E' v ami v o 0 Z b O c y .a .p n 0 o v u <`o 0b. a co 3 w o v v m Pod v • E :"P ami .a u ,o m a. .• u o a h e '- i vdi —c o 0 G00_a iQ F c - C9 W X cq La C rcl a. 0 0 co L a y cF0 y N tm.. a o y co C y Q O • N_ al a) p a o m • ro 0.L' c m > vi y0.. y U a U- d o 0 o a ej9 y y =° 7. *1 o a o E �° � av co 0 O ao A ma C O Fryry y v yty �.. v w '.. 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This section provides history and context for land use in the study area; reviews existing land use conditions and relevant land use plans; presents the criteria used to determine land use categories; and discusses significant existing open spaces in the study area and an open space type classification system. 2.2.1 Existing Conditions East Alameda County encompasses 271,485 acres (approximately 424 square miles) and represents 52%of Alameda County, which has a land area of 525,540 acres(approximately 821 square miles). Alameda County is located north of Santa Clara County, west of San Joaquin County, and south of Contra Costa County(see Figure 1-1 for the regional location of the study area). East Alameda County is situated east of the San Leandro Hills and Walpert Ridge (Corbett 2005). The cities of Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, a portion of the city of Hayward, and surrounding unincorporated areas are the major developed areas of east Alameda County(Alameda County Community Development • Agency 2002). The cities of Dublin, Livermore, and Pleasanton are completely included in the study area. According to the most recent Census data,the population of east Alameda County is approximately 171,652, about 12%of the population of the entire county,which is 1,443,741 (U.S. Census Bureau 2000). In east Alameda County, Livermore has the most residents,with a population of 80,723(City of Livermore 2009); followed by Pleasanton, with a population of 68,755 (City of Pleasanton 2009a); and'Dublin, with a population of 46,934 (City of Dublin 2009a). Located between the urban areas surrounding the San Francisco Bay and the Central Valley,east Alameda County has had considerable growth pressure in the recent past. In 1990,the population was approximately 133,000 and will most likely exceed 250,000 by 2010, representing an 88%growth (Alameda County Community Development Agency 2002). The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) has projected that the populations of Livermore, Pleasanton, and Dublin will grow to 89,600; 75,300; and 56,800 by the year 2015, and 95,500; 79,100; and 62,700 by the year 2020, respectively (Association of Bay Area Governments 2006). Dublin was incorporated in 1982(City of Dublin 2O09b), Livermore was incorporated in 1876 (City of Livermore 2009), and Pleasanton was incorporated in 1894(City of Pleasanton 2009a). Dublin was incorporated to accommodate the increasing demand for commercial and residential development in the area, • and has experienced a more recent increase in growth compared to Livermore East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-2 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting and Pleasanton, which have grown steadily since incorporation (City of Dublin 20O9b). Recent growth in the region and the subsequent impacts on residents' • quality of life are major concerns for the region (Alameda County Community Development Agency 2002). The County and Cities of Livermore, Pleasanton, and Dublin maintain a strong commitment to protecting the natural and agricultural resources within and surrounding their respective jurisdictions. Reflecting this vision,the County and Cities of Livermore and Pleasanton have each adopted an Urban Growth Boundary (UGB), while Dublin has adopted Planning Area Boundaries as an ultimate build-out line. More detail on the open space policies and UGBs is provided in Sections 2.2.4 and 2.2.3.1 below for each participating jurisdiction. 2.2.2 Land Use Categories Understanding the current land use patterns and potential future land uses in the study area were an important step in developing the strategy discussed in Chapter 3. This understanding, in conjunction with an assessment of the biological resources in the study area allowed for the development of a ' conservation strategy that is informed by the current land use patterns in the county. Furthermore, land use designations aid the process by informing agencies as to the areas that are currently protected, areas that are likely to be • affected, and areas where conservation will need to occur. The general plans for the cities of Dublin, Livermore, and Pleasanton and Alameda County were used to identify the future extent and location of urban and rural development in the study area. Land use designations vary across jurisdictions and are in many more categories than necessary for conservation planning purposes, so the designations were simplified and standardized. The process by which a land use map was developed and how land use categories for the Conservation Strategy were assigned is described below. 2.2.2.1 Land Use Methodology Land use planning designations for Alameda County and the cities of Dublin, Livermore, and Pleasanton were used to develop a single land use map for the Conservation Strategy. Future land uses were assumed to be consistent with the County's general and specific plans (East County Area Plan [2002]; South • Livermore Valley Area Plan [adopted by Alameda County Board of Supervisors on February 3, 1993]); and the general plans for the City of Dublin [2008], City of Livermore [2004], and the City of Pleasanton [2OO9b]). The County's general and specific plans project future land use to 2010, and the Dublin, Livermore, and Pleasanton general plans project future land use to 2025. Using these • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-3 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • projections for this strategy is appropriate given the strength of each jurisdiction's commitment to constraining future growth within established UGBs (see Section 2.2.3 below for a discussion of local land use controls). One hundred five land use planning designations from the four land use authorities were aggregated into the following three simplified land use planning categories: m Urban/Developed; m Private agriculture,and/or Rangelands; and m Public Lands. Development of these categories was guided by the nature of the potential activities that will require a discretionary permit within each land use category and their relative impact on biological resources. For example,the many urban land use categories (e.g., commercial, industrial, mixed use)were combined into a single land use category, "Urban/Developed," because all of the land uses result in similar effects on biological resources. Table 2-1 shows general plan land uses and the land use categories to which they were converted for this strategy. Some land use designations were split into two or more of the land use categories for this strategy. • 2.2.2.2 Generalized Land Use Categories Historically, agriculture has played a major role in the economy of Alameda County (Alameda County Community Development Department 2008). Agriculture continues to be an important part of modern east Alameda County, as the majority of land is used for agriculture, primarily ranching (Alameda County Community Development Agency 2007). Other land uses include residential, industrial, commercial, open space, parklands, public watersheds, and mixed use. Many of these land uses also incorporate grazing, which results • in some overlap in land use designations. Generalized land use and planning designations are shown on Figure 2-1.This map depicts land use designations that include both developed and undeveloped areas (for actual land cover,see Section 2.4.1.1). The Urban/Developed land use planning category includes all industrial, commercial, mixed use, institutional, public facilities, public/quasi-public, circulation, and major educational facilities land use designations. The study area is 271,485 acres, of which 42,088 acres (approximately 15.5%) are categorized as Urban Development. The Agriculture and Rangelands land use planning category includes lands that are actively used for or have been used in the recent past(fallow)for • agricultural production. In the study area, most of this land is either in • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-4 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting vineyards, used for livestock production, or is in dry land farming. The • Agriculture and Rangelands land use planning category comprises 167,449 acres (approximately 61.7%) of the study area. The Public Lands land use planning category includes lands that are used for park or recreation purposes. This category includes lands that are considered publicly owned open space or regional parks that may contain some trails but do not have extensive park facilities or amenities. This category comprises 61,949 acres (approximately 23%) of the study area. It should be noted that many of these public lands are rangeland and are grazed by livestock. The Public Lands land use category does not encompass all open space lands in the study area. For example, many private conservation easements or small public open space areas are designated as different land use categories in planning documents. Others are currently used as rangelands, and thus appear under the Agriculture and Rangeland designation on Figure 2-1. Section 2.2.4 discusses existing open space in the study area. Special Land Use Designations There are other areas within the study area that have special designations by state (Williamson Act; see discussion below), or under county or city general plans. These are overlay designations that are additive to the underlying • jurisdictional general plan designations.The areas are shown in Figure 2-1 and include County Resource Management, Livermore Resource Management, Pleasanton Wildlands, and Wind Resource Area. Williamson Act lands are described but not shown on Figure 2-1. County Resource Management This includes areas outside the County UGB, east of the city of Dublin and the area surrounding SFPUC watershed lands in the southwestern part of the study area (Figure 2-1). This designation is intended mainly for land designated for long-term preservation as open space but may include low intensity agriculture, grazing, and very low-density residential use. Allowable uses include agriculture, grazing, recreational, and open spaces (Alameda County Community Development Agency 2002). Livermore Resource Management This area is located north of Livermore and east of the city of Dublin (Figure 2- 1). It overlaps with lands designated as County Resource Management(Alameda County Community Development Agency 2002). It is intended mainly for land designated for long-term preservation as open space, but may include low- intensity agricultural or residential uses.The Resource Management designation provides for agricultural uses, recreational uses, habitat protection, watershed management, public and quasi-public uses, secondary residential units, active • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-5 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • sand and gravel and other quarries, reclaimed quarry lakes, and similar and compatible uses. This designation is also applied to areas unsuitable for development because of public health and safety hazards or environmentally sensitive features. One single-family home per parcel is allowed provided that all relevant development standards are met (City of Livermore 2004). Pleasanton Wildlands This area is located south of the city of Pleasanton, bordered by Interstate (I-) 680 on the west and extending south to San Antonio Reservoir(Figure 2-1). This area is outside of the city of Pleasanton; it is within Alameda County and is under County jurisdiction. The area includes lands identified as wildlife corridors and valuable plant and wildlife habitats such as arroyos,the San Antonio Reservoir area, highly vegetated areas, and other natural areas necessary to maintain significant populations of plant and animal species. Wind Resource Area Alameda County, along with the Golden Gate Audubon Society and several private wind energy companies, are currently developing a regional conservation plan for the wind resource area. This area is located in the northeastern part of Alameda County, extending to the Contra Costa and San Joaquin County lines on the north and east, and through the Altamont Hills to • the west (Figure 2-1).This area has special designation due to existing wind energy facilities and the intention to continue to develop and utilize wind resources in the future.This designation is primarily to facilitate real estate disclosures about existing wind energy facilities and the potential for future• wind facility uses. The designation also restricts changes in land use that are incompatible with future wind energy generation (Alameda County Community Development Agency 2002). California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (Williamson Act) The purpose of the California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (California Government Code 51200-51295),commonly known as the Williamson Act, is to provide incentives,through reduced property taxes,to deter the early conversion of agricultural and open space lands. In return for the preferential tax rate, the landowner is required to sign a contract with the county or city agreeing not to develop the land for a minimum 10-year period. Contracts are automatically renewed annually unless a party to the contract files a notice of nonrenewal or petitions for cancellation. All lands defined by the state as "prime farmland, other than prime farmland, and open space land" are eligible • for coverage by a Williamson Act contract. Land classified as other than Prime Farmland or open space land can be placed under contract if it is-located in an • area designated by a county or city as an agricultural preserve. Approximately 24%of Alameda County is under Williamson Act contract. Nearly all of that is in • the study area and comprises nonprime agricultural land.There are several East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-6 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 2 Environmental Setting parcels of prime farmland south of Livermore. Nearly all of this is under • permanent agricultural conservation easements held by the Tri-Valley Conservancy. However, on July 28, 2009, the Governor of California signed the austere 2009- 2010 Budget Act (Assembly Bill 1, Fourth.Extraordinary Session and various associated bills), which drastically affected the Williamson Act. During this budget term, counties and cities will not be reimbursed by the state for property taxes not received as a result of land that is not developed.This enactment is a strong disincentive for counties and cities to continue their Williamson Act programs, and to enter into any additional contracts. The repercussions of the 2009-2010 Budget Act may impact Williamson Act lands in Alameda County. 2.2.3 Land Use Controls The existing boundaries of urban growth are discussed below for the county and each participating city. 2.2.3.1 Boundaries to Urban Growth The establishment of an UGB is an important mechanism utilized by cities and • counties to encourage growth within a specified area to avoid urban sprawl. Development within an UGB reduces impacts on farmland,wildlife habitat, energy consumption, and pollution. The UGB also creates buffers between communities. Areas outside of the UGB may not be suitable for development due to significant natural resources, agricultural uses, or issues related to public health and safety. Conversely, some areas within the UGB may not be suitable for development for the same reasons. The following sections describe UGBs established in Alameda County and the cities of Dublin, Livermore, and Pleasanton. Alameda County Measure D was passed in November 2000 by the Alameda County electorate. The measure, called the Save Agriculture and Open Space Lands Initiative, amended segments of Alameda County's general plan,which includes the East County Area Plan (ECAP) (Alameda County Community Development Agency 2002). The Initiative had several purposes:to preserve and enhance agriculture and agricultural lands;to protect natural resources, wildlife habitats, watersheds, and open space lands of Alameda County; and to limit suburban sprawl. r East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-7 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • To accomplish these goals, Measure D amended the general plan to establish the County's UGB. The County's UGB focuses urban-type development in and near existing cities (Alameda County Community Development Agency 2002). Urban development within the UGB allows for efficient delivery of public services and utilities, avoiding increased costs to taxpayers and impacts to the environment (Alameda County Community Development Agency 2002). Measure D applies to all areas of Alameda County, providing the UGB was established after the adoption of this measure. General and specific plans for cities within Alameda County have been amended, or will be amended,to comply with Measure D. Since Pleasanton's UGB was adopted in 1996, prior to the passage of Measure D, it is exempt from this requirement. The County UGB in the Conservation Strategy study area encompasses the cities of Dublin, Livermore, and Pleasanton (Figure 2-1). • Dublin The general plan for the city of Dublin designates Planning Area Boundaries to limit the development that occurs outside of the city limits (City of Dublin 2008). The planning area limits are defined by the Primary Planning Area Boundary,the Eastern Extended Planning Area Boundary, and the Western Extended Planning Area Boundary(City of Dublin 2008). • The Primary Planning Area is entirely within the city limits of Dublin. The Eastern Extended Planning Area (approximately 4,200 acres) utilizes a Development Elevation Cap Policy, which does not allow development above 770 feet without a new specific plan or an amendment to the current general plan (City of Dublin 2008). The Eastern Extended Planning Area is the largest remaining area in Dublin available for development. An Urban Limit Line for the Western Extended Planning Area (approximately 500 acres) was adopted in November 2007 and follows the existing city limit line. The Urban Limit Line was defined to protect natural resources in the hills west of Dublin. Development outside the Urban Limit Line is not permitted without an amendment to the land use designation in the city's general plan (City of Dublin 2008). Livermore The city of Livermore is entirely within an UGB (City of Livermore 2004). The UGB was established in order to protect agricultural and natural resources and to prevent future urban development outside Livermore (City of Livermore 2004). The UGB was finalized after two initiatives were passed. The first, passed by local voters in March of 2000, is the South Livermore Urban Growth Boundary Initiative, which defines the UGB around the southern portion of the city(City of Livermore 2004). The second, passed by the Livermore City Council in • December of 2002, is the North Livermore Urban Growth Boundary Initiative, East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-8 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting - and defines the UGB around the northern portion of Livermore (City of • Livermore 2004). Pleasanton The city of Pleasanton defines an UGB in the general plan, passed by voters in 1996(City of Pleasanton 2009b). Areas outside of the Pleasanton UGB are designated unsuitable for development due to important natural resources, agricultural resources, parks and recreation, regional significant wildlands, or scenic ridgelines (City of Pleasanton 2009b). The UGB is also used to protect public health and safety and to create a buffer between communities. Although the UGB is intended to permanently designate areas where development will not occur,there are provisions under the initiative that allow for adjustments (City of Pleasanton 2009b). If a proposed amendment is otherwise consistent with the general plan; would not have a significant adverse affect on agriculture, wildlands, or scenic ridgeline views; is contiguous with existing urban development; would not induce further adjustments to the UGB; and would provide for urban public facilities and services in an efficient and timely manner, the adjustment to the UGB may be granted (City of Pleasanton 2009b). 2.2.4 Open Space (Public Lands and Private Easements) Alameda County and the cities of Livermore, Pleasanton, and Dublin are closely connected to the surrounding natural landscapes. As described above,the Public Lands land use planning category provides an incomplete picture of open space areas within the study area. Missing are private conservation easements and small public lands that may be important conservation areas. It is critical to understand the location and biological values of all open space in the study area so that the Conservation Strategy can identify gaps in local protection and help to fill those gaps. The following section provides an overview of existing open space within the study area. 2.2.4.1 Existing Conditions For the purposes of this study, open space land in East Alameda County consists of public lands or private lands within existing protections through conservation easements or deed restrictions (see "Open Space Classification" section below for further explanation and examples). Public and private open space lands in the study area are subject to a variety of resource-management regimes. As a result,the level of habitat protection varies amongst the existing open space, providing different habitat for the focal species and natural communities. • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-9 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • Management for natural resources on these lands helps support focal species and other native species and maintains the functions of natural communities. Because some of these existing open space lands will be relied upon to support the Conservation Strategy, existing open space need to be distinguished by their value to the strategy. To do this, open space areas have been categorized as described below. The value of protected open space areas for focal species and natural communities is greatest when land use protections and stewardship are in place in perpetuity. Type 1 open space lands (see "Open Space Classification" below for definition of land types)are considered lands protected in perpetuity.The value of open space for the strategy is similarly improved when a natural resource management plan is in place and adequate funding exists to maintain or enhance populations or natural communities. Open space areas that do not have land use protections in perpetuity but do have ecological protection as their primary management goal may still support the Conservation Strategy. However, because of the lack of permanent and irrevocable protections and adequate stewardship funding,there is a risk of changes in land use or resource management emphasis in the future. The categories that fall under this are Type 2 Open Space lands. The following classification of open space was developed to account for differences in land use protections and resource management emphasis and to • assist in the development of the Conservation Strategy. 2.2.4.2 Open Space Classification The protection and resource management status of open space lands has been evaluated and classified based on the level of land use protection and the general level of ecological management. Each open space unit within the study area was assigned to one of four resource management types (Type 1, 2, 3, or 4) using the decision-making process shown in Figure 2-2. The location of all open space categories is shown on Figure 2-3. The amount of land protected as open space is summarized in Table 2-2. Type 1 Open Space is permanently protected public or private land subject to conservation easement or deed restriction, where the primary purpose and management goal of the land is for ecological protection. This is considered the most protection. Examples of Type 1 Open Space include the areas under conservation easement at Brushy Peak Regional Preserve,the Ohlone Conservation Bank, or other private lands subject to a conservation easement. Many of these areas are managed using livestock grazing. Type 2 Open Space includes public lands where the primary intent of land management is for ecological protection but the land is not subject to • irrevocable protection such as a conservation easement or deed restriction. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-10 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting Type 2 Open Space lands could become changed to Type 1 lands, or reduced in • protection to become Type 3 or 4 lands. Examples of Type 2 Open Space include Ohlone and Sunol Wilderness, the portion of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve not under conservation easement, Sycamore Grove Park, and Springtown Alkali Sink. Many of these areas are managed using livestock grazing. Type 3 Open Space involves public lands that may contain some land uses other than ecological protection. These lands would include parklands classified as parks, open space, or special protection units where something other than ecological protection is designated as the primary use (e.g., recreation, watershed protection). Type 3 could also include private lands under agricultural easement to preserve livestock grazing or dry land farming. Also included would be the undeveloped portions of watersheds under ownership or management by a public agency, including SFPUC, California Department of Water Resources (DWR), Zone 7, and Alameda County Water District (ACWD). Other large examples of Type 3 Open Space includes Site 300 (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area, and Del Valle Regional Park. This area is considered least protected out of the other types. Public access is varied. It could potentially be more protected to become Type 2 lands or these lands could be sold for development. Recreation activities in these parks are often not conducive to management of natural resources. Type 4 Open Space consists of developed portions of public lands, such as Camp Parks Military Reservation, that retain some ecological value. It includes public • golf courses, some landscaped areas, and developed neighborhood parks. Type 4 would also include private lands under agricultural easements to preserve vineyards, orchards, or other cultivated agriculture. Of the 271,485-acre study area, 67,976 acres (25%) are currently protected as open space (Types 1 through 4) (Table 2-2). These areas range from urban parks to county and state parks of varying size. Protected open space also includes private or public lands protected by conservation easements or deed restrictions. It should be noted that while the open space designations were assigned based on the level of protection on each parcel, these designations are not representative of the type and quality of management that occurs there. In other words, a parcel that is designated as Type 4 Open Space could well be managed better and more consistently than a parcel that is designated as Type 1 Open Space. 2.2.4.3 Protection and Resource Management Status of Open Space Lands • • Open space lands in the study area are managed by several different agencies for a variety of purposes. The following section provides an overview of local land management agencies with holdings in the study area and the major open space units that they manage and operate. • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-11 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • California Department of Parks and Recreation Chapter 2 Environmental Setting In east Alameda County, California Department of Parks and Recreation owns Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area (802 acres), Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area (3,850 acres), and Lake Del Valle State Recreation Area (5,005 acres) (State of California 2008; Figure 2-3). Bethany Reservoir is the northern terminus of the California Aqueduct. The associated Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area provides opportunities for water recreation, including fishing and windsurfing as well as biking along the California Aqueduct Bikeway. Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area is located on the eastern edge of the study area. The park straddles the Alameda/San Joaquin County line.The park provides active riding area on a diversity of terrain ranging from rolling hills to steep canyons. Lake Del Valle State Recreation Area surrounds Lake Del Valle and provides hiking, horseback riding, and water recreation. It is also the eastern gateway to the 28-mile Ohlone Trail. This park is operated by EBRPD. East Bay Regional Park District The EBRPD offers and maintains 1,700 square miles (over 100,000 acres) of regional parks in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. EBRPD maintains 14 regional parks, 19 regional preserves, nine regional recreation areas, 13 regional • shorelines, and 15 regional trails (East Bay Regional Park District 1997). EBRPD is currently in the process of preparing an HCP for several of their park lands in Contra Costa County. EBRPD manages approximately 85,000 acres of regional parks, which are typically large parklands with high biological value that also have recreational opportunities. To be considered under this classification under EBRPD standards, a regional park must be at least 500 acres, including land and water, and must include scenic or natural resources in at least 70%of the park area (East Bay Regional Park District 1997). Regional parks also have the capacity to accommodate a range of recreational activities, as long as recreational areas are less than 30%of the overall park area (East Bay Regional Park District 1997). Regional parks in the study area are Del Valle Regional Park(5,005 acres), Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park (3,387 acres), and Vargas Plateau Regional Park (1,043 acres) (Figure 2-3). Regional preserves, including wilderness areas, are ecologically valuable areas with significant natural or cultural features (East Bay Regional Park District 1997). A regional preserve may include such essential features as open space, wilderness, scenic beauty, flora, or fauna; or archeological, historic, or geological resources (East Bay Regional Park District 1997). Regional preserves have irrevocable protection within the EBRPD (some regional preserves also have irrevocable conservation easements associated with them). Regional preserves in the study area provide important protections for focal species and • natural communities targeted by this Conservation Strategy. Regional preserves East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-12 October 2010 ICE 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting in the study area are Sunol Regional Wilderness (6,881 acres), Ohlone Regional • Wilderness (8,714 acres), Brushy Peak Regional Preserve(406-acres), and Mission Peak Regional Preserve (470 acres) (Figure 2-3). Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Site 300 • Site 300, located in eastern Alameda and western San Joaquin Counties north of Corral Hollow Road (Figure 2-3), is owned and operated by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for the purpose of conducting unique scientific experiments. Research includes explosives tests and fabrication, reactions of materials under high pressure and temperature (shock physics), and hydrodynamic tests, among others (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 2008a). The site is approximately 7,000 acres in size, 803 acres of which is in the Conservation Strategy study area. Site 300 is inhabited by a diverse assemblage of flora and fauna. From its southern boundary within the Corral Hollow Creek floodplain, the property rises in a series of southeast-northwest trending ridges to nearly the northern perimeter. Several ephemeral streams flow through Site 300 during the wet winter months and discharge into Corral Hollow Creek at the southern boundary of the site. Most flow is direct runoff with a very small contribution from both intermittent and perennial springs (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory • 2008b). Less than 5%of the property-area is developed. Developed areas with buildings are generally separated from wildland settings with high-security fences, and very few of these developed areas provide habitat for native flora and fauna. The most common vegetation types found at Site 300 are California annual grassland, native grassland, coastal sage scrub, and oak woodlands. California annual grassland covers about 5,647 acres of the property. The native perennial grassland community is dominated by pine (one-sided) bluegrass and purple needlegrass and covers about 723 acres of the property. Stands of native grasslands are confined mainly to the northern half of the facility. Occurrence of native grass-dominated vegetation appears to be associated with annual controlled burning. Another major vegetation community, coastal sage scrub, occurs in the southwestern part of the site and covers approximately 108 acres (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 2008b). Livermore Area Parks and Recreation District Livermore Area Recreation and Park District (LARPD) defines open space parks and preserves as"larger land areas with outstanding natural or cultural features • warranting conservation for their natural value, educational benefit and enjoyment by the public" (Livermore Area Recreation and Park District 2008). Within the study area, LARPD currently owns and operates two open space • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-13 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • parks: Sycamore Grove Park/Veterans Park(774 acres) and Holdener Park (55 acres); and one open space preserve, Garaventa Wetlands Preserve (24 acres). LARPD owns 507 acres of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve (the remainder is owned by EBRPD), but the entire Preserve is managed by East Bay Regional Park District (Livermore Area Recreation and Park District 2008). Overall, LARPD parks and preserves represent 1,360 acres of natural open space (Livermore Area Recreation and Park District 2008). LARPD also owns and manages several trail facilities. San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Watershed Lands The SFPUC owns, leases, and manages 63,000 acres of watershed lands across three counties in California (San Francisco Public Utilities Commission 2008). The Alameda Watershed,which is split between Santa Clara and Alameda Counties, includes 36,000 acres of SFPUC watershed lands, of which 23,000 acres are located in Alameda County(Figure 2-3; San Francisco Public Utilities Commission 2008). The Alameda Watershed is used primarily for water storage and supply from two major reservoirs:San Antonio and Calaveras. Water supplies for Calaveras Reservoir originate from local runoff. San Antonio Reservoir is supplied by local sources as well as water from the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct that transfers water from the Sierra Nevada. While the primary • purpose of SFPUC watershed lands is for watershed protection,the agency also uses the watershed lands for several other purposes, including quarry operations, plant nurseries, utilities routing, and water conveyance. The entire ' areas is managed under a grazing management plan to enhance native flora and fauna. This watershed is valuable for wildlife and plant life, supporting more • than 17 types of natural communities (San Francisco Public Utilities Commission 2008). SFPUC is currently preparing an HCP for operations and maintenance within its Alameda Watershed lands. Tri-Valley Conservancy The Tri-Valley Conservancy oversees conservation easements and manages lands in eastern Alameda County, including north and south Livermore, south Pleasanton,west Altamont Hills area,and the future Chain of Lakes Recreation Area. The purpose of the Tri-Valley Conservancy is "to permanently protect the fertile soils, rangelands, open space, and biological resources and to support a viable agricultural economy in the Tri Valley Area" (Tri-Valley Conservancy 2005). The Tri-Valley Conservancy protects lands through acgijisitions, conservation easements, deed restrictions, conditional transfers, reverter clauses, management agreements, leases, mutual covenants, and donations. The Tri-Valley Conservancy also has ongoing stewardship programs for acquired lands. The Tri-Valley Conservancy got its start in 1994 in southern Livermore with the approval of the South Livermore Valley Area Plan (City of Livermore • 1993) and the dedication of numerous agricultural easements on vineyards to East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-14 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting ensure this land use persisted in that area. The original purpose of the Tri- • Valley Conservancy has expanded to other areas of the Tri-Valley region, including the north Livermore Valley(Tri-Valley Conservancy 2008). The Tri- Valley Conservancy now operates throughout most of the study area in Livermore, Dublin, Pleasanton, San Ramon, and Sunol. 2.3 Physical Resources This section describes the physical setting of the study area, including location, topography, geology and soils, and hydrology. Sources used to map and describe the physical setting of the study area are listed below: ® U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data on topography and hydrology (U.S. Geological Survey 1999), ® geologic maps of the area (California Department of Conservation 1990), ® soil survey information (Welch 1981; Welch et al. 1966), ® serpentine and alkaline soils derived from soil survey information (Welch 1981; Welch et al. 1966), o aspect and slope derived from USGS data on topography and hydrology (U.S. Geological Survey 1999), and • o watershed data from California Interagency Watershed Map (CalWater version 2.2.1) (California Interagency Watershed Mapping Committee 1999). Topography, hydrology, and soil data,were downloaded from agency websites and imported into ArcMap,where files were clipped and converted into the projection for the study area. • 2.3.1 Location The study area covers approximately 271,485 acres in the eastern portion of Alameda County. The study area is bounded by the Contra Costa County line to the north,the San Joaquin County line to the east, the Santa Clara County line to the south, and the ridgeline of the East Bay Hills to the west. The western boundary of the study area is the western boundary of the Alameda Creek watershed. 2.3.2 Topography The topography of the study area is extremely variable, ranging from steep ridges of the northern Diablo Range in the east to rolling hills of the East Bay • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-15 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • Hills in the west to expansive valleys in the north-central and northeast portions of the study area. Elevations in the study area range from 3,840 feet along Valpe Ridge in the Diablo Range to 10 feet in the extreme northeast corner of the study area, near the Delta-Mendota Canal. Other important low points in the study area include the Sunol Valley at approximately 125 feet above mean sea level and the extensive Livermore Valley, ranging from 400 to 500 feet and containing the cities of Livermore, Pleasanton, and Dublin. Notable peaks and other high points in the study area include Cedar Mountain at 3,675 feet,Man Ridge at 3,500 feet, and Wauhab Ridge at 3,200 feet, all of which are located within the northern Diablo Range in the southeast portion of the study area (Figure 2-4). 2.3.3 Geology and Soils 2.3.3.1 Regional Geologic Context The Conservation Strategy area is located within the central portion of the Coast Ranges Geomorphic Province. In the San Francisco Bay Area (Bay Area),the Coast Ranges Province is characterized by a series of northwest-trending en- echelon ridges and valleys bounded by active faults of the San Andreas system, which forms the boundary between the Pacific and North American tectonic • plates (Norris and Webb 1990). From west to east,these faults include the San Gregorio,the San Andreas, the Hayward-Rodgers Creek, Calaveras,Concord- Green Valley, Greenville, and Ortigalita,together with a number of smaller structures. 2.3.3.2 Geology of the Study Area • The study area can be divided into four distinctive geologic domains: the East Bay Hills, northern Diablo Range, Livermore Valley, and Mount Diablo uplift. The northwest-trending East Bay Hills are located on the western edge of the study area and are bounded on the west by the Hayward fault and on the east • by the Calaveras fault. The Hayward fault zone is a complex deformational front that shows an overall right-lateral sense of separation but includes fault strands characterized as west-vergent thrusts, steeply dipping east-vergent thrusts, and vertical or near-vertical faults (Crane 1995). At the latitude of the study area, the central portion of the East Bay Hills uplift exposes deep marine sedimentary rocks of Cretaceous age,variously mapped as the Panoche Formation (Wagner et al. 1991)and as yet unnamed sandstone and shale (Graymer et al. 1996). Along the east flank of the uplift,the primarily right-slip Calaveras fault juxtaposes markedly different geologic formations. On both sides of this fault zone,the substrate is a complexly faulted and folded terrain. To the immediate west of the Calaveras fault zone along the plan area boundary;the substrate is • largely composed of shallow marine sandstone, conglomerate, and shell breccia East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-16 October 2010 ICF 0090608 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting of the Miocene Briones Formation. East of the Calaveras fault, surface • exposures consist of surficial alluvial and landslide deposits of Holocene age (Graymer et al. 1996). The southern and eastern portion of the plan area encompasses the northern Diablo Range, which is the easternmost principal uplift of the central Coast Ranges province. The structure of the Diablo Range is broadly antiformal,with a core of Franciscan rocks such as Eylar Mountain terrain (sandstone, siltstone, conglomerate and chert), Melange terrane, and Undivided Franciscan greenstone (Graymer at al. 1996),flanked by younger sedimentary strata (Norris and Webb 1990). The Altamont Hills, in the northeastern-most corner of the plan area, are characterized by the sands, pebbles, and white sandstone of the Miocene-Age Neroly Formation and Cierbo Formation, as well as interbedded deep marine sandstone and shale of Late Cretaceous age. South and west of the Altamont Hills, the structure of the Diablo Range is largely influenced by the presence of the northwest-striking Ortigalita fault,just east of the range's crest. The area directly on the fault juxtaposes conglomerate and sandstone of the Panoche Formation (Great Valley Group) against Franciscan bedrock (Wagner et al. 1991; Graymer et al. 1996). The Panoche Formation is overlain by an east- dipping sequence of clastic sedimentary strata ranging in age from Eocene through Quaternary of marine and shell marine origin (Sullivan and Waters 1980). The Livermore Valley, containing the cities of Livermore and Pleasanton, lies • south and west of the Diablo Range and east of the East Bay Hills. This valley, an east-west trending valley, unique to this area, is a deep alluviated depression (011enburger 1986) containing sediments deposited as part of the Livermore Gravels Formation. The Greenville fault forms the eastern border of this valley, separating it from the western foothills of the Diablo Range. It is postulated that the Greenville Fault is connected to the Concord Fault at depth by a buried "blind"thrust fault system (Wetlands Research Associates 2004). It is this interaction of the Greenville and Concord Faults that has created the Mount Diablo uplift, a presently active (Crane 1995), Late Quaternary tectonic feature located in the north-central portion of the study area. The bedrock structure of the Mount Diablo uplift is composed of rocks of the Miocene Green Valley/ Tassajara Formation and is postulated to contain deposits of the Livermore Gravels Formation (Graymer et al. 1996). The core of the Mount Diablo uplift, located just north of the plan area, contains older Franciscan rocks, flanked by east- and westward-younging sedimentary strata of Eocene through Pliocene age. 2.3.3.3 Soils Because of the geologic, microclimatic, and topographic diversity of the study area, the soils are also very diverse, and a large number of individual soil units have been mapped. These have been organized into four soil associations East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-17 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • consisting of soil units of similar texture and composition and related derivation. Following is a general overview of soil characteristics in the study area, by geographic position (Soil Conservation Service 1966) (Figure 2-5). e East Bay Hills. Soils in the moderately sloping to very steep areas of the East Bay Hills are mainly silt loam soils assigned to the Millsholm—Los Gatos— Los Osos association. Soils in the more gently sloping easternmost portion of these hills are clay loams and gravelly loams of the Positas-Perkins association. e Northern Diablo Range. The portion of the Diablo Range that falls within the study area is characterized by clay soils of the Altamont-Diablo association to the north and various rocky loarns of the Vallecitos-Parrish association to the south. e Livermore Valley. The Livermore Valley floodplain supports very gravelly soils assigned to the Yolo-Pleasanton association, interspersed with barns and clays of the Rincon-San Ysidro association. e Mount Diablo Uplift. The soils of the Mount Diablo uplift are largely clays of the Altamont-Diablo association cut by creek beds containing clay and loam of the Clear Lake—Sunnyvale association. Of particular importance from a conservation perspective are the study area's serpentine and alkali soils. Serpentine soils are typically very shallow, nutrient- • poor(i.e., containing low levels of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, and molybdenum essential for normal plant growth), and high in magnesium, and may contain elevated levels of the heavy metals chromium and nickel that are toxic to many plant species (Kruckeberg 1954, 1984). Water availability in serpentine soils may also be limited (Davis et al. 1997). As a result, serpentine soils support limited and highly specialized floras and vegetation associations that often include a high number of endemic(i.e., largely or entirely restricted to serpentine soils) and special-status species (Kruckeberg 1984, Safford et al. 2005). The only serpentine soil found in the study area is eroded Henneke rocky loam soil type. These soils are found only in the southern portion of the study area, with large deposits in the northern Diablo Range, in areas such as Cedar Mountain, and in smaller areas found in the East Bay Hills (Figure 2-6). Another soil type that can support rare and sometimes endemic flora is alkali soils. Alkali soils are created through the process of alkalization—the accumulation of exchangeable sodium in soils. This accumulation generally occurs when water evaporation or absorption pushes the soil solution to a point where calcium and magnesium are no longer soluble and the relative proportion of sodium increases as a result(Richards 1954). As a result of this relatively high • level of sodium, alkali soils support a number of endemic and special-status species. Alkali grasslands and alkali wetlands occur only on alkali soils and contain a variety of halophytic plant species (species adapted to high salinity levels). Alkali soils of the plan area include the Pescadero clay and Solano fine • sandy loam,which are found only in the northeastern portion of the study area East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-18 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting (Figure 2-6). There are approximately 4,234 acres of alkali soils within the study • area, most of which exist in small exposures scattered throughout the northeastern portion of the study zone, particularly in drainages or depressions. However, there are two large expanses of alkali soils that support unique wetland and grassland habitats in the study area: Springtown Alkali Sink, located just north and east of the city of Livermore, and the Mountain House Grasslands and Wetlands complex in the northeast corner of the study area. The characteristics of both of these unique areas are discussed later in this chapter in Section 2.4.3.6, "Wetlands." 2.3.4 Climate Climatically,.the study area is intermediate between the moderate, marine Mediterranean conditions of the Bay Area and the more marked seasonality of the interior Central Valley. The study area is characterized as a standard Mediterranean climate in that it has extended periods of precipitation during the winter months and virtually no precipitation from spring through autumn. For the period January 1903—December 2008, average annual maximum temperature in Livermore was 73.2° F; average minimum was 45.5° F. During that same period,the warmest month is July and the coolest is January (Western Regional Climate Center 2009). The wet season generally extends from November through April, while rainfall • from May through October tends to be minimal. Annual average rainfall varies significantly due to topography and related orographic and rain shadow effects. The average annual rainfall varies in the study area and fluctuates depending on elevation and aspect. For example, at Calaveras Reservoir, in the southwest corner of the study area, average annual precipitation was 20.10 inches for the period August 1959—June 1977; in Livermore for the period of January 1903— December 31, 2008 average annual precipitation was 14.22 inches (Western Regional Climate Center 2009).Just outside of the study area to the east, average annual rainfall in Lone Creek Canyon was 7.65 inches for the period October 1943—June 1969 (Western Regional Climate Center 2009). However, average rainfall figures can be somewhat misleading because, in addition to seasonal variation, droughts in California are not uncommon. Snow may occur in the mountains in the southern half of the study area, where the headwaters for the watersheds are located, but it melts quickly and does not provide significant flow in the late spring to early summer. 2.3.4.1 Global Climate Change Global climate change is the observed increase in mean global temperature due to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, primarily carbon dioxide, as a result of human industrialization (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2007). • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-19 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • Global climate change is also predicted to include secondary global effects such as sea-level rise and changing weather patterns. Current global and regional trends suggest that climate change is likely to have an effect on the study area. However,current or near-term forecasting technology for modeling changes in climate at the regional or county scale is not effective. Most global climate models predict temperature increases. The change in temperature over the past century is a global average of 0.6°C (33°F). • To make predictions of future climate change,the baseline is set using the historical average from 1961 to 1990. A temperature increase as high as 6°C (42.8°F) is predicted under climate change scenarios (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2007), According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007),temperatures during the twenty-first century are predicted to increase from 2 to 3°C(35.6-37.4°F) along the western,southern, and eastern continental edges to more than 5°C(41°F) in the northern region. California- based models project average annual temperatures to rise by 3°C (37.4°F) during the next 50 years (Hayhoe et al. 2004, Cayan et al. 2008). There is considerable uncertainty on whether precipitation will increase or decrease over the next half century as a result of climate change. Model predictions for California range from a 6 millimeter(0.24 inch) decrease in precipitation to a 70 millimeter(2.8 inch) increase (Hayhoe et al. 2004). Consequently, it is likely that the climate in the study area would shift to be either warmer and wetter or • warmer and dryer. Second, range and distribution of species and natural communities may shift (Parmesan 1999; Pimm 2001; Walther et al. 2002; Easterling et al. 2000). (Range is the area over which a species occurs or potentially occurs, whereas distribution refers to where a species is located within its range.) This is of particular concern for narrowly distributed species that already have restricted ranges due to urban growth or altitudinal gradients. . Also, increases in disturbance events, such as fire or flooding, could increase the distribution of disturbance-dependent land cover types,such as annual grassland within the study area (Brown and Hebda 1998; Lenihan et al. 2003; Fried et al. 2004; California Climate Change Center 2006; Rogers and Westfall 2007). An increase in the frequency and intensity of disturbance could increase the likelihood that these events will harm or kill individual covered species, many of which are already quite rare. Events that occur with unpredictable or - random frequency (called stochastic events) such as those described above can have an inordinately negative effect on rare species. Third,the number or density of individuals found in a particular location may change. This may be triggered in large part by changes in resource availability associated with an increase or decrease in precipitation (Martin 1998; Dukes and Mooney 1999;Walther et al. 2002; Lenihan et al. 2003; Millar et al. 2006; Pounds et al. 2006). Changes such as these may benefit one species at the • expense of another. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-20 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 2 Environmental Setting Fourth, over a longer time period, species may change in outward appearance • and behavior. Changes in climate may favor different adaptive strategies or appearances that may lead to genetic shifts(Davis and Shaw 2001). 2.3.5 Hydrology The Alameda Creek watershed is by far the largest watershed in the county, covering more than 635 square miles (including 77% of the county), and stretching from Mount Diablo (Contra Costa County) in the north, to Mount Hamilton in the south (Santa Clara County), to Altamont Pass in the east. The general drainage pattern is east to west through three major arroyos: Arroyo las Positas,Arroyo Mocho, and Arroyo del Valle. These arroyos join Arroyo de la Laguna in Pleasanton, which drains the Livermore Valley in a southerly direction approximately 18 miles to San Francisco Bay via Niles Canyon and Alameda Creek outside of the study area(Zone 7 Water Agency 2006) (Figure 2-7). Runoff from the northern region flows to tributaries of Alameda Creek. Runoff from much of the southern part of the watershed is either collected and stored in Calaveras and San Antonio Reservoirs,which are part of San Francisco's water system (SFPUC owns 36,000 acres of the watershed), or is collected in Lake Del Valle. Most of the watershed is undeveloped, and is either in private rangelands • or public lands. Only about 7% of the total acreage of the watershed is developed. For about 39 miles,Alameda Creek flows from its headwaters on the northwestern slopes of the Diablo Range in Santa Clara County to south San Francisco Bay. Headwater elevations are close to 4,000-feet, with stream gradients downstream through the upper reaches varying from between 1 and 5%. Alameda Creek is an intermittently perennial stream in the upper watershed, but in the Sunol Valley, where principal stream channels are broad and the substrate is characterized by deep, coarse alluvium, a high rate of infiltration results in dry reaches during the summer months. Many of the tributaries that supply flows to Alameda Creek are historically intermittent and can be isolated from the mainstem beginning in early to midsummer(Welch et al. 1961). This is especially true of streams, both natural and channelized, that drain the Livermore Valley. For example, the natural hydrology of the Alameda Creek watershed has been altered by water supply activities as well as by development and flood control. Discharges from quarries in the Pleasanton area contribute intermittent flow in Arroyo de la Laguna, which joins Alameda Creek just upstream of Niles Canyon (Gunther et al. 2000). Most of the flow for Arroyo de la Laguna comes from releases from Lake del Valle, as well as flow from Arroyo los Positas, San Ramon creek, and Alamo Creek. Arroyo de la Laguna is the main tributary that feeds into Alameda Creek from the northwest (Figure 2-7). Arroyo de la Laguna's • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-21 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • channel drains approximately 400 square miles of Alameda Creek watershed in the Tri-Valley region (Alameda County Resource Conservation District 2006). Arroyo Mocho is a tributary of Arroyo de la Laguna, and its headwaters are located southeast of Livermore (Alameda Creek Alliance 2009). Arroyo Mocho has intermittent perennial flow due to fault zone seepage (Smith 1998) and the Zone 7 Artificial Recharge program that releases water from the South Bay Aqueduct into Arroyo Mocho and recharges groundwater resources (RMC 2006). This in turn has disrupted the natural hydrologic regime in Arroyo Mocho and permanently altered the ecology of the stream downstream of Livermore. The Upper watershed is unaffected by Zone 7's artificial releases; and the "hydrologic regime" remains mostly "natural". Arroyo Valle joins Arroyo de la Laguna from the north. Flows in Arroyo Valle below Lake Del Valle are regulated by DWR's dam operations (i.e., "flood releases"and Zone 7's and ACWD's "water rights" releases;whereas above the Lake the flow regime is "natural". Sinbad Creek drains the valley created by Sunol Ridge and Pleasanton Ridge(Leidy et al. 2003). It is 7.5 miles long and drains a 6.44-mile area,joining Arroyo de la Laguna 0.5 mile upstream of Alameda Creek (Herron et al. 2004). Arroyo Las Positas is the major drainage feature through the Livermore Valley, draining approximately 7,000 acres. The creek originates in the Altamont Hills • and continues in a westerly direction, following 1-580 to the confluence with Arroyo Mocho, also a tributary to Alameda Creek. Arroyo Seco drains into Arroyo Las Positas from the north (Oakland Museum of California 2009). Arroyo Los Positas is a gaining stream in its upper reaches providing for perennial flows along its entire length. Stonybrook Creek is a tributary to Alameda Creek. The Stonybrook Creek watershed lies within Alameda County, about 7 miles east of Hayward.The watershed runs north to south and has a drainage area of 6.9 square miles. Elevations within the basin range from 160 feet at its mouth to 2,191 feet. Its mouth joins Alameda Creek in Niles Canyon, approximately 13 river miles upstream from San Francisco Bay(Love 2001). Upper Alameda, La Costa and Indian Creeks and Arroyo Hondo occur south of San Antonio Reservoir. Indian and La Costa Creeks both flow northward and terminate at the San Antonio Reservoir(Leidy et al. 2003) (Figure 2-7). Calaveras Reservoir sits in the southwestern portion of the watershed, in both Alameda and Santa Clara Counties, while San Antonio Reservoir is to the north in Alameda County(SFPUC 2007). Three major reservoirs have a significant impact on present hydrologic conditions in Alameda Creek. Del Valle Reservoir was completed in 1968 and is operated as a component of DWR's State Water Project (SWP). Del Valle • Reservoir is managed as regulatory storage for the South Bay Aqueduct and for East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-22 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting flood control and recreation. Del Valle Reservoir captures the entire flow of the Arroyo Valle watershed. ACWD and Zone 7 each have storage rights in Del Valle Reservoir of 7,500 acre-feet(af). The Del Valle watershed connects to Arroyo de la Laguna in the Livermore Plain. Part of the ACWD storage may be released to Arroyo Del Valle Creek,where it flows to Arroyo de la Laguna and Alameda Creek for recharge in the Niles Cone area. SFPUC completed San Antonio Reservoir in 1965 on San Antonio Creek, 1.5 miles upstream of its confluence with Alameda Creek. San Antonio Reservoir stores water from the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct and the SWP. It also captures all flows from the headwater streams of San Antonio Creek. SFPUC completed Calaveras Reservoir in 1925, but hydrologic conditions may have been altered as early as 1913 when construction of the dam began. Calaveras Dam is located about 0.8 mile upstream of the Alameda Creek confluence. Calaveras Reservoir captures the flow from Calaveras Creek and the large Arroyo Hondo tributary watershed. In addition, flows from upper Alameda Creek are diverted about 3 miles upstream of the Calaveras Creek confluence through the Alameda Creek Diversion Dam tunnel into Calaveras Reservoir. Calaveras Reservoir spills relatively infrequently, about once in 5 years on average, and spills are relatively small, averaging 275 cubic feet per second (Hagar et al. 1993). 2.4 Biological Resources • 2.4.1 Methods 2.4.1.1 Land Cover Mapping One of the primary data sources for the Conservation Strategy is a detailed map of land cover types within the study area based on the geographic information system (GIS). A land cover type is defined as the dominant character of the land surface discernible from aerial photographs, as determined by vegetation, water, or human uses. Land cover types are the most widely used units in analyzing ecosystem function, habitat diversity, natural communities, wetlands and streams, and covered species habitat. Data sources, mapping standards, and the classification and interpretation of land cover types are discussed below. Data Sources The following are the primary sources of information for the land cover mapping in the study area: •• East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-23 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • • true-color aerial photographs (1.5 foot-resolution)flown in November 2005 (acquired from AirPhoto USA); e digital ortho photography (1-meter[3.3-foot] resolution)flown in January 2005 (acquired from National Agriculture Imagery Program); and • digital ortho photography(4-inch resolution)flown in 2007 (acquired from Zone 7). The ancillary data sources listed below were used to obtain information not available in the primary sources and to check the mapped information for accuracy: e wetlands in north Livermore and Alameda County from the Vasco-Laughlin Resource Conservation Plan (Jones &Stokes 2001); ® Alameda Rare Plants data provided by California Native Plant Society; • Review of the land cover data layer in the north Livermore area by CNPS, especially with regard to polygons characterized as alkali meadow and scald, alkali wetland, valley sink scrub, seasonal wetland, and California annual grassland; • • rare species occurrence point data from CNDDB (2009) [some land covers could be verified by the presence of associated rare plants]; • 0 local roads provided by the Environmental Science Research Institute (2008); ® serpentine and alkaline soils derived from soil survey information (Welch 1981;Welch et al. 1966); and a land cover data from the SFPUC Alameda Creek watershed HCP, digitized in 2003 and based on 2001 aerial photos. In addition to using existing data sets, ICF International staff conducted field visits in accessible portions of the study area to develop and verify land cover mapping. An initial field visit was conducted on January 25, 2008,to develop the land cover classification and to perform preliminary verification of aerial photograph signatures. Other field visits were conducted in August and September 2008 to verify land cover types and consistency of mapping and to collect additional data for land cover type descriptions. Initial mapping was verified by visual inspection from locations accessible by public roads and roads on state-owned and private lands. Areas were selected for field verification on the basis of the land cover types that were difficult to distinguish in aerial photos and accessibility. Once field visits were conducted, land cover mapping was revised on the basis of field findings. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-24 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 2 Environmental Setting Land Cover Type Classification • A classification system for land cover types was developed for the study area based primarily on CDFG's widely used classification system (California Department of Fish and Game 2003a, 2007), which in turn is based on the vegetation classification system developed for the Manual of California Vegetation (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995). Additional input was obtained from field visits by ICF International staff and based on experience in mapping similar habitats in adjacent counties. The land cover classification system (Table 2-3) was developed with input from vegetation and wildlife specialists familiar with the study area. The land cover classification was developed with the criteria listed below. n Each land cover type must be distinguishable on the digital aerial photography based on a unique and consistent signature, or with the use of ancillary data such as soil types or geologic substrate. a Each land cover type should be useful to the Conservation Strategy in terms of defining the location and extent of an important vegetation type, habitat for covered species, or unique natural community. a The land cover type classification should be compatible with existing local, regional, and national land cover classification schemes when possible while reflecting the unique nature of many vegetative communities in Alameda • County. A list of land cover types is given in Table 2-3. A comparison of land cover types and common statewide and regional vegetation classification systems is presented in the same table (Table 2-3). An effort was also made to ensure that the land-cover classification of this Conservation Strategy was as consistent as possible with that of the other large conservation plans, including the East Contra Costa County HCP/NCCP and the Alameda Watershed HCP. Mapping Procedures ArcGIS 9.0 software was used to create a GIS dataset of land cover types. The land cover classification also defined the minimum mapping unit that was used for each land cover type. Minimum mapping units are the smallest area mapped for each type. Minimum mapping units range from 0.25 acre for wetland and riparian land cover types to 10 acres for most other land cover types. This range of minimum mapping units is sufficient for regional conservation planning and balances the need for high resolution (smaller minimum mapping unit)with schedule and budget limitations (larger minimum mapping unit). Minimum mapping units are also limited by the resolution of the imagery and the distinctiveness of the land cover signature relative to adjacent land cover. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-25 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • A 10-acre minimum mapping unit was used for all land cover types, except for the land cover types noted below: • all wetland and aquatic types, which were mapped at a 0.25-acre minimum mapping unit; • rock outcrops, which had no minimum mapping unit (but due to aerial photo resolution had a likely minimum mapping unit of 0.1-0.25 acre); and • riparian woodlands, which were mapped at a 0.25-acre minimum mapping unit. The mapping process involved digitizing polygons on screen (a process known as heads-up digitizing)from the primary aerial photographs described above, followed by limited field verification. Polygons were digitized for areas with distinct image signatures that met minimum mapping unit requirements. Digitizing was completed on screen by ICF staff. Digitizing was conducted while viewing the aerial imagery at mapping scales of 1:4,800 or 1:6,000. Staff was provided with grids of 0.25 acre and 10 acres to assist in maintaining the minimum mapping units during digitization. Once digitized, polygons were assigned to land cover types on the basis of the criteria in the land cover type definitions (described below under each land cover type). • During the mapping process, polygons with uncertain land cover types were flagged for verification. First, polygons were reviewed in-house by a senior botanist. However, in some cases, heavy shadows on the aerials photograph made desktop verification difficult. In these cases, upon completion of mapping, staff verified these ambiguous polygons in the field where access was available. Serpentine bunchgrass grassland and serpentine chaparral were mapped based on the intersection of annual grassland and chaparral, respectively, with the serpentine soils and geology layers that support those natural communities. Ancillary information was used to supplement the land cover information acquired by aerial photograph interpretation. Wetland data from the Vasco- Laughlin Resource Conservation Plan was used to verify and augment the wetlands mapping, especially for the alkali wetlands in the northern part of the study area. Data from Zone 7 was used as the stream layer for the study area. In addition, draft maps were presented to the Steering Committee and UAG. Within those groups, experts familiar with the vegetation in the study area provided feedback to increase the level of detail for certain land cover types in the study area,such as blue oak and valley oak woodlands, alkali grasslands, • alkali wetlands,valley sink scrub, and sycamore alluvial woodlands. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-26 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Selling Accuracy Assessment • • A field accuracy assessment was performed to quantify the reliability of the oak woodlands (i.e., valley oak versus blue oak); coastal scrub, and chaparral land cover types. (A formal accuracy assessment could not be conducted for all land cover types due to the inaccessibility of large areas of the study area and limitations of project budget.) Field verification was conducted by two staff members, including one botanist. Field verification was performed by visual • observation of land cover units from publicly accessible roads, sometimes using binoculars and views from vantage points where possible. A polygon was classified in one of three ways. The first classification was "no change," meaning the polygon was mapped correctly. The second classification was "error," indicating a misinterpretation from the aerial imagery. The third classification was "change," indicating a land use change that occurred after the aerial photographs were taken. As a result of the accuracy assessment, it was determined that the vast majority of oak woodlands in the area are dominated by blue oak. Valley oak woodlands in this area are difficult to discern during desktop mapping, and at the minimum mapping unit. Therefore, all oak woodlands in the Conservation Strategy study area were mapped as blue oak woodland land cover category. However, during plan implementation, valley oak woodlands may be located and mapped on • specific parcels;therefore,this land cover category was retained, and is described below. 2.4.1.2 Focal Species Ecology and Distribution • Species accounts of each of the 19 focal species (Table 1-1) are provided in Appendix D. These accounts summarize listing status, distribution in the study area, ecological information, and threats in the study area and the region. The accounts represent the best available scientific data for each species on which to base this Conservation Strategy. The species accounts are not intended to summarize all biological information known about a species. Rather, each account summarizes scientific information that is relevant to the species in the study area. The biological data in these accounts form the basis for the conservation strategy presented in Chapter 3. Land cover types'are the basic unit of evaluation for habitat modeling, analyzing potential impacts, and developing conservation strategies for focal species. Most focal species are associated with one or more distinctive land cover types. These land cover type associations, plus other habitat features, were used to develop habitat distribution models for 13 of the 19 focal species. These habitat • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-27 October 2010 ICF 00906.0E Chapter 2 Environmental Setting associations provide additional information on the potential for species distribution and conservation needs in the study area. 2.4.1.3 Distribution of Potential Habitat • Habitat distribution models were developed for select focal species to predict where in the study area species are more likely to occur based on known habitat requirements. These models have been used to assist in filling the gaps in survey information for focal species and to assist in developing the Conservation Strategy for each species by highlighting the areas that have habitat attributes that support the species needs.' Habitat distribution models for 13 of the focal species are described in detail in the respective species account (and shown in Appendix ID). Methods used for all models are described below. Because of model limitations (see "Model Limitations" below), predictive models could not be developed for 6 of the 19 covered species. For longhorn fairy shrimp and vernal pool fairy shrimp, available location data and the resolution of the land cover mapping were insufficient to precisely identify potential habitat. For the callippe silverspot butterfly,the number of known occurrences within the study area was so low and the habitat requirements so general that habitat potential could not be modeled with confidence. For these • species, range maps were produced based on expert knowledge of potential habitat rather than developing predictive habitat models using habitat associations. Livermore Valley tarplant and recurved larkspur did not require modeling due to the fact that suitable habitat within the study area is well known and highly restricted. Central California coastal steelhead does not currently occur in the study area due to barriers downstream of the study area in Alameda Creek. A potential habitat map was created to show habitat potential for this species should barriers be removed (rather than a suitable habitat map). Model Structure and Development Methodology The 13 habitat models described in the species accounts were designed to estimate the extent and location of key habitat characteristics of each species and to be repeatable and scientifically defensible, while remaining as simple as possible. The models are spatially explicit, GIS-based, "expert opinion models" based on identification of land cover types that provide important habitat for these species. Land cover types were identified as suitable habitat based on the known or presumed habitat requirements and use patterns of each species. ' Habitat distribution models have been developed on a regional scale using regional data. The models are • intended for use in regional planning and do not provide accurate site-specific species information. For project planning, model results must always be field-verified. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-28 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting When supported by appropriate data,the models also incorporate physical • parameters, including: n elevation limits, using an absolute limit when data supported a clear limit; ® soil type; ® slope; and ® distance to highways and other urban development. Further, in some cases, perimeter zones that were used to designate habitat are defined by a certain distance from a land cover type. For example, the California tiger salamander model identifies upland habitat for underground habitat and dispersal. Upland habitat was designated based on its distance from potential breeding sites (e.g., ponds, wetlands). Determinations of suitable land cover types and additional physical parameters were based on available data from peer-reviewed scientific literature; survey reports; environmental documents; and local knowledge of the species, if available. When data were inconclusive or contradictory, general values were assumed in estimating suitable habitat. See below for a discussion of the model limitations. Focal Species Locations Documented occurrences of focal species within the study area were used to validate and refine the models. Sources of occurrence data are listed below: O CNDDB (2009); Tricolored Blackbird Portal (Information Center for the Environment, University of California, Davis 20O9).The majority of species occurrence records come from the CNDDB (CNDDB 2009). CNDDB records represent the best available statewide occurrence data but are limited in their use for conservation planning, as discussed below. California Natural Diversity Database Limitations CNDDB records rely on field biologists to voluntarily submit information on the results of surveys and monitoring. As a result, the database is biased geographically toward areas where surveys have been conducted or survey efforts are greater(many areas have not been surveyed at all and this is not reflected in the database). The database may also be biased toward species that receive more survey effort. For example,there have been more surveys for California red-legged frog than other special-status wildlife because it is a listed species. Conspicuous diurnal species such as raptors likely receive greater survey effort than nocturnal species such as American badger. Plants typically East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-29 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • receive less survey effort than wildlife. Additionally, negative survey results are not reflected in the database. Data that are reported to the CNDDB are done so with varied precision. Some occurrences are very well documented with explicit locations (e.g., global positioning system [GPS] coordinates), while others are reported with more general location information. CNDDB staff qualitatively categorized each - occurrence record into one of two categories:specific and nonspecific (California Natural Diversity Database 2009). - A specific occurrence has sufficient information to be located on a standard USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle map. This information may be based on political or natural features but has been very well described by the observer. These occurrences are mapped by CNDDB as points with an 80-meter(262.5-foot) radius or as specific polygons when information allows. A nonspecific occurrence is a species occurrence that has been documented by the observer in very general terms. Sometimes the precise location is unclear or lacks critical information that does not allow it to be mapped accurately. These occurrences are mapped by CNDDB as circular features with a radius of 0.1,0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, or 1.0 mile. These occurrences can also be mapped with non- specific polygons, such as the boundary of a park where an occurrence is known • to occur. Model Limitations The precision of the habitat distribution models is limited by several factors, including the 10-acre/0.25-acre minimum mapping units used to map each land cover type. Areas of suitable habitat smaller than the mapping thresholds were not mapped and could therefore not be incorporated into the models. This constraint limited the degree of resolution of some habitat features potentially important to some species. For example, models developed for species which use wetland habitat likely underestimate the amount of habitat available on the landscape since small and seasonal wetland can often be overlooked during aerial photo interpretation. Plus, with a minimum mapping unit of 0.25 acre, many of those small patches of aquatic habitat would then be categorized as the surrounding habitat category(typically annual grassland or oak woodland), thus not adequately showing the maximum extent of aquatic habitat for that species. The habitat distribution models were limited to distinguishing habitat uses based on key life history requirements such as breeding,foraging, or dispersal. that are tied to land cover types. The data do not allow for further distinctions of habitat quality on a regional scale. To account for these limitations, conservative estimates of habitat parameters were used. This approach tends • to overestimate the actual extent of suitable or required habitat for this species, East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-30 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting but is consistent with current conservation planning practices when data are limited (Noss et al. 1997). In general the habitat models simply show where a species is more likely to occur than not, based on the basic life history requirements that have been reported in the scientific literature. 2.4.2 Biological Diversity in the Study Area 2.4.2.1 General Overview Species richness, a measure of the number of species in a defined region, is the • most readily available measure of diversity and is generally accepted as an index of biological wealth of a region. The number of species that are endemic or unique to a geographic region can provide a measure of biological distinctiveness that is recognized as another measure of biological wealth. When NatureServe, a nonprofit organization that provides scientific data for conservation efforts, examined the diversity and endemism of species for all 50 states in the United States, California ranked first in both categories (Stein 2002). The Bay Area Open Space Council is currently in the process of carrying out the Uplands Goals Project, a science-based effort to identify upland habitats, linkages, compatible uses and ecological processes required to preserve natural resources in the Bay Area (Bay Area Open Space Council 2004). A unique combination of climate,geography, and topography make California • one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. California is home to several of the nation's biological "hotspots" and has been identified as one of 25 "hotspots" of biodiversity worldwide (Stein et al. 2000). With a geography that is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, includes San Francisco Bay, and expands eastward into the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys,the Bay Area is one of only six global hotspots of species rarity in the United States (California Department of Fish and Game 2003b). Nine counties comprise the Bay Area and account for just over 18,000 km2, (6,950 miles2) or nearly 5%, of the state. Within that 5%, 64 of the 194 natural communities occur(Wild 2002). This accounts for 33%of the natural communities in California. These natural communities were mapped by the California Gap Analysis project, a coordinated effort between the University of California, Santa Barbara and the USGS Biological Resources Division to assess the status of biodiversity in California. More than a dozen major rivers flow into the Central Valley (which comprises the Sacramento and San-Joaquin Valleys)from the Sierra Nevada, southern Cascade, and Coast Ranges, and these rivers flow into the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. The Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers converge in the Delta, a vast network of wetlands that ultimately empties into the Pacific Ocean via the San Francisco Bay (California Department of Fish and Game 2003b). From the south, several more rivers and creeks flow directly into San Francisco Bay and the bay itself is lined with tidal wetlands and marshes. These aquatic resources • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-31 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • alone support over 200 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians (California Department of Fish and Game 2003b). This interface with the San Francisco Bay, coupled with an assortment of upland habitat types with exceptional soil diversity and topography, makes the Bay Area a critical element in the biodiversity of California and of the world. East Alameda County has important statewide examples of oak woodlands (California Department of Fish and Game 2O03a) and vernal pool complexes (California Department of Fish and Game 1998). Although species counts and analyses specific to the study area have not been performed, these national and statewide studies strongly suggest that the biological diversity within the study area is high in most plant and animal groups relative to other parts of California and the United States. The highest density of nesting golden eagles in the world has been reported in the Diablo Range (Hunt and Hunt 2006). Grasslands are also dominant in east Alameda County, and they connect other ecological communities, such as oak woodlands and vernal pools. Serpentine habitats in the area support serpentine endemic plants (e.g. Cedar Mountain). The following sections further discuss biodiversity and describe the various natural communities and land cover types of the Conservation Strategy. • 2.4.3 Natural Communities and Land Cover Types Natural communities are defined by the vegetative communities within them. Accordingly,the vegetative communities, or land cover types, within each natural community are described below and shown in Figure 2-8. This Conservation Strategy includes seven natural communities, as defined by the groups of land cover types in Table 2-3: • grassland; • chaparral and coastal scrub; • oak woodland; • conifer woodland; • riparian forest and scrub; • wetlands; and • open water. In addition,two broad categories of nonnatural land cover types are defined and described below: • cultivated agriculture; and • developed. • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-32 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • The description of each natural community provides information on historical • land cover, associated wildlife, ecosystem function, and threats. Each of the 37 land cover types used in this Conservation Strategy is discussed in one of the natural communities, as shown in Tables 2-3 and 2-4. When data are available, vegetation associations are also described for each land cover type. Vegetation associations are distinct units of plant communities defined by the dominant species of plants that are consistently found on the landscape. The results of the land cover mapping are summarized in Table 2-4 and described below for each land cover type. See Figure 2-8 for the land cover map using all land cover types. 2.4.3.1 Grassland Grassland consists of herbaceous vegetation dominated by grasses and forbs. Grassland in the study area is classified into the six land cover types below: e California annual grassland; ® nonserpentine native bunchgrass grassland; is serpentine bunchgrass grassland; • alkali meadow (including alkali scalds); ® valley sink scrub; and • rock outcrop. CDFG considers serpentine bunchgrass grassland, alkali meadow, and valley sink scrub as sensitive biotic communities (CNDDB 2009). Rock outcrops are most prominent in grassland communities in the northern portion of the study area, and serpentine seep is typically associated with grasslands;therefore,they are both discussed in this natural community. Grassland Land Cover Types Within the study area, California annual grassland was identified by its smooth, pale signature on aerial photograph, lacking the dark green signatures of woody plants taken during the summer months. Native grasslands could not be distinguished reliably from annual grasslands on the available imagery. Alkali meadows and scalds were mapped using a two-step process. First, heads up digitizing was used to determine where stands of annual grassland occur within the study area. Then, alkaline soils were overlayed with the stands of annual grassland in GIS to predict the presence of alkali meadows. Alkali meadows occur on alkaline soils of the Pescadero, Solano, Marvin, and Reyes soil series (Soil Conservation Service 1966). Finally, botanists from East Bay CNPS review several land cover polygons in the north Livermore area for accuracy. The land • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-33 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Selling • cover type of several of these polygons were modified based on the field experience of those individuals. California Annual Grassland California annual grassland occupies an estimated 116,828 acres (43%) of the study area (Table 2-4). This land cover type is found throughout the study area but is concentrated in the areas south of Pleasanton, northeast of Livermore, and in the eastern third of the study area between Livermore and the Alameda/San Joaquin County line (Figure 2-8). California annual grassland is an herbaceous plant community dominated by nonnative annual grasses (Holland 1986, Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995). In the study area, annual grassland was mapped where grasses and forbs dominate the land cover and where trees and shrubs comprise less than 10% canopy cover. The dominant species are mostly nonnative grasses from the Mediterranean basin, such as soft chess, red brome,wild oats, ripgut brome, and rat-tail fescue). In the spring, many of the annual grasslands are interspersed with a variety of native wildflowers typical of the inner Coast Ranges. Commonly found species of wildflowers in these grasslands include lupine,fiddleneck, popcornflower, California poppy, owl's clover, and clarkia (Jones &Stokes 2003). In some areas, nonnative weedy vegetation,such as thistles, mustards, and a variety of other weedy forbs, are also common. • Focal plant species that may be found in this land cover type include big tarplant and Congdon's tarplant. Focal wildlife species that could occur in California annual grasslands include San Joaquin kit fox, western burrowing owl, California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, golden eagle,tricolored blackbird, and American badger.Alameda whipsnake may use grasslands adjacent to chaparral or scrub for movement. California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander breed in aquatic habitats(e.g., ponds)within grasslands, and use grasslands as movement and underground refugia habitat. Grassland provides potential habitat in the study area for all life stages of the federally endangered callippe silverspot butterfly(see the species account in Appendix D for more information). Several species of birds also use annual grasslands_as important • foraging habitat. Nonserpentine Native Bunchgrass Grassland Nonserpentine native bunchgrass grasslands are patchily distributed in the study area and generally occur as small patches within the larger annual grassland complex. Accordingly, nonserpentine native bunchgrass grasslands contain an abundance of nonnative annual grasses mixed with perennial grasses and forbs. Native grassland could not be distinguished from annual grassland on aerial photographs of the study area. Consequently,this land cover type was mapped as annual grassland. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-34 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting Nonserpentine native bunchgrass grasslands are considered a sensitive biotic • community and are dominated by native perennial bunchgrasses, such as purple needlegrass and Sandberg bluegrass. This community type likely occurred throughout most of the county in areas now characterized by annual grassland, urban development, and cultivated agriculture. The extent of nonserpentine native bunchgrass grassland in the study area is unknown, though occurrences of this community have been reported near Bethany Reservoir and at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Site 300 (on the border with San Joaquin County) (Jones & Stokes 2003). Additional stands have been reported near Brushy Peak Regional Preserve, in Sunol-Ohlone Regional Wilderness, and on private ranchlands south of Pleasanton (East Bay California Native Plant Society file information). Serpentine Bunchgrass Grassland Serpentine bunchgrass grassland occupies approximately 241 acres (0.09%) of the study area (Table 2-4). This land cover type is found strictly on serpentine soils or bedrock. In the study area,there are two primary stands of serpentine bunchgrass grassland: one just north of Calaveras Reservoir west of Alameda Creek, and another northeast of there on Apperson Ridge (Figure 2-8). Serpentine grassland is considered a sensitive biotic community by CDFG. This • unique type of open grassland occurs on soils derived from serpentine parent materials. The ultramafic rocks from which serpentine soils are derived are rich in magnesium, nickel, and heavy metals that may be toxic to plants and poor in calcium, nitrogen, and other nutrients required for normal plant growth (Kruckeberg 1984). Serpentine grassland is found at scattered locations in the North and South Coast Ranges and in the Sierra Nevada (Holland 1986), although most of the documented occurrences of serpentine grassland are in the Bay Area (CNDDB 2009). The floristic composition of serpentine grassland is quite heterogeneous, both within and between sites, and dependent on both soil chemistry and the interaction of environmental factors such as slope exposure (McNaughton 1968), disturbance (Hobbs 1985; Hobbs and Mooney 1985, 1991), and annual variation in rainfall (Dobkin et al. 1987; Hobbs & Mooney 1991). Serpentine grassland is generally a mosaic of perennial bunchgrass stands and mixed assemblages of perennial and annual grasses and herbaceous wildflower species (McCarten 1987). Characteristic grass species in serpentine grassland include purple needlegrass, one-sided bluegrass,California melic, squirreltail, big squirreltail, prairie junegrass, California oatgrass, and annual fescue (Hobbs and Mooney 1985; Holland 1986; McCarten 1987; Hooper and Vitousek 1998; California Natural Diversity Database 2009). Wildflowers, most commonly California goldfields,tidy-tips, owl's-clover, California poppy, hayfield tarweed, and rosinweed, often form conspicuous patches of color within the grassland matrix. The flora is composed primarily of native species (although nonnative • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-35 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • species such as soft chess can also be common) and is generally more diverse than the flora of grasslands on nonserpentine substrates (McNaughton 1968). Serpentine grassland provides habitat for many plants that are endemic or near- endemic to serpentine soils, such as Sharsmith's onion. Alkali Meadow and Scalds Alkali meadow and scald is relatively rare in the study area. It is found on 977 acres (0.4%) in the northeast corner of the study area in scattered patches north of Livermore and in the Altamont Pass region (Table 2-4). The most notable areas where this land cover occurs include the Springtown Alkali Sink and the northeast corner of the study area between Bethany Reservoir and the Alameda/Contra Costa County line (Figure 2-8). Dominant species in alkali meadows include saltgrass, wild barley, and alkali - ryegrass. The associated herb cover consists of halophytes, including saltbush, alkali heath, alkali weed, alkali mallow, and common spikeweed. Alkali meadow • (alkali grassland) community type is considered a significant natural community by CNDDB because of its rarity and the pressing threats to the remnant communities from land use conversion, invasive species, and changes in hydrologic regime within the watershed. Focal plant species that may be found in this land cover type include San Joaquin spearscale, recurved larkspur, • Congdon's tarplant, palmate-bracted bird's-beak, and Livermore Valley tarplant. Valley Sink Scrub Valley sink scrub, also known as alkali sink scrub,was mapped on 410 acres (0.15%) of the study area. It generally occurs in the northern half of the study area, most notably in the Springtown Alkali Sink and ad}acent to Frick Lake just northeast of Livermore, and in the northeast corner of the study area between Bethany Reservoir and the Alameda/Contra Costa County line in the Mountain House Alkali Grasslands and Wetlands complex. Valley sink scrub could also occur in any of the locations mapped as alkali meadow and scald, and the land cover should be mapped at the parcel scale during project review. This community develops where clay-rich alkaline soils are seasonally saturated because of a shallow water table, low surface runoff, and slow infiltration (Bittman 1985). Valley sink scrub is rare compared with its historical extent, and most of the remaining occurrences are highly degraded (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). This habitat is considered sensitive by CDFG (CNDDB 2009). Valley sink scrub is dominated by a discontinuous shrub layer of iodine bush and alkali seepweed. The herbaceous layer consists of a patchwork of barren, salt- encrusted scalds and alkali grassland vegetation. Focal plant species that may • occur in valley sink scrub include San Joaquin spearscale, palmate-bracted bird's • beak, and Livermore Valley tarplant. Focal wildlife species that may occur or are East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-36 October 2010 IGF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting known to occur in valley sink scrub include San Joaquin kit fox and western • burrowing owl. California red-legged frogs and California tiger salamanders may use valley sink scrub for upland habitat or as habitat or for movement corridors. Rock Outcrop Rock outcrops are a rare land cover type, totaling 99 acres (0.04%) of the study area) (Table 2-4). They are primarily found in annual grasslands although they also can be present in chaparral and oak woodlands. This land cover type is likely underrepresented in the land cover map because these features are difficult to see on aerial photographs, particularly if they occur underneath a chaparral or woodland canopy. Accordingly, many small areas of rock outcrops are likely included in the chaparral/scrub, grassland, and oak woodland land cover types. Rock outcrops are frequently encountered in grasslands. These outcrops are exposures of bedrock that typically lack soil and have sparse vegetation. Within the study area, several types of rock outcrops are present and are derived from sedimentary,volcanic, and metamorphic sources. Rock outcrops identifiable on aerial photographs were mapped based on their unique aerial photograph signatures. Rock outcrop signatures appear as textured areas with mottled coloring that contrasted in color and texture with the surrounding cover types on aerial photographs. There was no minimum mapping unit. The greatest • concentrations of rock outcrops occurs in the north central part of the study area,just east of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve, in the Sunol-Ohlone Regional Preserve, and on private lands on Cedar Mountain. Rock outcrops host common wildlife species such as western fence lizard and western rattlesnake. These species may use outcrops for basking and as foraging areas. Common birds include rock wren, and several species of raptors (e.g., prairie falcon) use rock outcrops for nesting or perching. In addition, the rock outcrops in the study area support unique seasonal pools, one of the few places in California where the rare longhorn fairy shrimp occurs. The rock outcrops that are known to support this species are shown in Figure D-5 in Appendix D. Ecosystem Functions The grassland types within the study area function as a dominant natural community, linking small and large patches of all other natural communities in the landscape such as oak woodland, riparian and aquatic communities, northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral, and northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub. Rock outcrops, vernal pools, and seeps are contained within the larger matrix of grasslands, and in some cases, the functions and • threats to the integrity of these land cover types differs from the larger grassland matrix. This section primarily addresses the grassland types. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-37 October 2010 ICE 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • Differences, where relevant, are noted for the land cover types contained within grasslands. Grasslands provide critical upland habitat for a variety of amphibians dependent on adjacent aquatic habitats such as ponds and seasonal wetlands. These amphibians move through grasslands during the rainy season to disperse to other aquatic sites, and may find refugia within grasslands during the dry season. Grasslands are important for burrowing rodents such as ground squirrels and gophers. Rodent burrows, in turn, provide habitat for a variety of other species, including burrowing owls and amphibians seeking refugia. The diverse and abundant rodent community supports an assemblage of raptors that feed on them, including golden eagle, northern harrier, and white-tailed kite. Grasslands also help maintain water quality through soil retention and by filtering out sediment and nutrients from runoff. They provide surface runoff areas, wildlife habitat,and forage for grazing livestock. The key characteristics of grassland habitat that contribute to these functions are a high cover of herbaceous vegetation and a low to absent cover of woody vegetation. The replacement of native grasses and herbs by fast-growing nonnative annual grasses and herbs has affected ecosystem function in grasslands. Unlike perennial grasses, annual grasses generally do not develop extensive, long-lived • root networks. These long-lived root networks are important to the function of the grassland ecosystem for a number of reasons, including protection of the topsoil from erosion and provision of habitat for a wide variety of soil microorganisms that create the base of the grassland food web. The production of plant biomass within grasslands has also shifted seasonally. In the past, native perennial grasses continued to grow actively into early summer and emerge from a period of dormancy early in fall. In contrast, nonnative annual grasses tend to dry out in late spring or early summer and germinate anew in fall. This shift has dramatic effects on the seasonal availability of forage for native herbivores such as insects and rabbits (and to a lesser extent, mule deer), as well as the type of seeds and cover available for smaller mammals. The key natural disturbances that have shaped and continue to influence grassland composition and extent are fire and grazing. It is important to note that these two management tools should be utilized together to be most effective. Without some grazing pressure grassland can build up heavy biomass loads which in turn create very hot fires. Those hot fires can be detrimental to the seed bank as well as above ground vegetation. Periodic fire is an important influence on the grassland community. Historically,fires from both lightning strikes and human ignition, as well as soil conditions, kept woody vegetation from invading grassland and converting it into chaparral or oak woodland in higher elevation sites. At lower elevations,grassland was likely always the dominant vegetation community, kept open by?native grazers such as tule elk • and pronghorn, as well as by drought and fire. Prescribed burning has become East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-38 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting an important management tool in grasslands and other natural communities. • However,this technique is becoming increasingly difficult to implement due to cost, safety concerns from expanding urban and rural development, and difficulty obtaining permits because of air quality requirements. Grassland is considered a fire-tolerant community. The direct effect of fire on grassland is to remove essentially all of the aboveground biomass. Fires in grasslands are therefore described as stand-replacing fires. The immediate effect of this biomass removal on annual grasses is negligible, as they have typically completed their growth cycle before fires occur(Howard 1998). Perennial bunchgrasses suffer a temporary loss of foliage, but regenerate immediately through tillering and regrowth of green foliage that typically remains in the center of grass tussocks (Steinberg 2002). The immediate effect of a fire in grasslands is typically an increase in annual forb germination and flowering and an increase in overall productivity in response to the light and nutrients made available by the removal of the thatch layer (Harrison et al. 2003). In the 2 to 3 years following a fire,the elimination of the thatch layer may shift the species composition of grasslands towards annual forbs and small-seeded species such as purple needlegrass and little quaking • grass (Howard 1998, Steinberg 2002). In the absence of grazing, however, a thatch layer will reestablish in approximately 3 years, and this effect will disappear. Burning appears to have little long-term effect on annual grassland (Heady 1988, Paysen et al. 2000, Kyser and Di Tomaso 2002). In grasslands that • are already dominated by nonnative annual grasses, nonnatives may increase their dominance following fire by outcompeting natives for the newly available space and light. In many parts of the study area fire suppression continues. Current methods to mimic the natural disturbance that would be caused by fire include grazing, mowing, and prescribed burns. Those management techniques are discussed briefly in Chapter 3. 2.4.3.2 Chaparral and Coastal Scrub Chaparral shrub communities are found throughout California on rocky, porous, nutrient-deficient soils and on steep slopes up to 2,000 meters (6,561.7 feet) in elevation (Keeley 2000). These communities are dominated by densely packed and nearly impenetrable drought-adapted evergreen woody shrubs, 1.5-4 meters (5-13 feet) tall, that possess small,thick, leathery sclerophyllous leaves (Hanes 1988, Keeley 2000). Herbaceous and arboreal growth forms are often lacking or play minor roles in this community (Keeley 2000). Chaparral species have both deep and shallow roots that allow them to tap water in several soil layers (Schoenherr 1992). The deep roots also allow chaparral to tolerate summer drought conditions and stay active during this period of water stress. Chaparral is divided into two land cover types in the study area: ■ northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral; and • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-39 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • • mixed serpentine chaparral. Collectively chaparral and coastal scrub communities consist of approximately 3.4%of the study area (Table 2-4). CDFG considers the latter a sensitive biotic community (CNDDB 2009). Northern coastal scrub, in comparison, to chaparral scrub is generally characterized by low shrubs, usually 0.5-2 meters (1.6-6.6 feet)tall with soft non-sclerophyllous leaves, and interspersed with grassy openings (Holland 1986). Although coastal scrub is found in both northern and southern California,the form and variety of species varies greatly between the two regions. Coastal sage scrub in southern California is characterized by drought- deciduous shrubs that lose their leaves with the onset of arid summer conditions. In southern California, this community lacks a significant herb layer. Northern coastal scrub is characterized by the absence of drought-deciduous shrubs and the presence of an herb-rich community, which is likely a result of plentiful annual rainfall and regular summer fog(Heady et al. 1988, California Partners in Flight 2004). Northern coastal scrub is also less diverse floristically than coastal sage scrub and shrubs are generally taller and more densely spaced (California Partners in Flight 2004). The range of this northern coastal scrub can be defined as a narrow coastal strip from southern Oregon to Point Sur in Monterey County (Holland 1986; Heady et al. 1988). Because the range of • northern coastal scrub is limited by climate,the Conservation Strategy study area supports some of the easternmost stands in the state. Chaparral and northern coastal scrub land cover types provide core habitat for Alameda whipsnake. Alameda whipsnakes use these land cover types for breeding,foraging, and thermoregulation. Contiguous stands are necessary to support viable populations of Alameda whipsnakes throughout its range. Chaparral and northern coastal scrub land cover types provide upland habitat for California red-legged frogs, and foraging habitat for golden eagles. San Joaquin kit fox and American badger will move through and forage in scrub land cover types with low densities of shrub canopy cover. Areas with higher densities of shrubs are less suitable for both of those species. Chaparral and Northern Coastal Scrub Land Cover Types Northern Mixed Chaparral/Chamise Chaparral Northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral occupies an estimated 2,684 acres, or approximately 1%, of the total study area (Table 2-4). This land cover type is found in the southeastern part of the study area. The largest stands are along Cedar Mountain Ridge southeast of Lake Del Valle and then further southeast between Mines Road and the Alameda/San Joaquin County line (Figure 2-8). • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-40 October 2010 ICF 0090608 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting Northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral is classified by Holland (1986) as • "broad-leaved sclerophyll shrubs, 2-4m tall, forming dense, often nearly impenetrable vegetation... [with] usually little or no understory vegetation [and] often considerable accumulation of leaf litter." Northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral appeared darker green in color on aerial photos than other chaparral types in all seasons, and frequently occupied larger areas. Ideally, chamise chaparral could be split into a separate land cover type but it could not be distinguished on the aerial photograph from northern mixed chaparral. Dominant shrubs in this community in the study area are chamise, manzanita, scrub oak, and ceanothus. Other important species are toyon, coffeeberry, madrone, California bay, birchleaf mountain-mahogany, poison-oak, bush monkey flower, and California yerba santa. Some chaparral stands may be almost entirely composed of dense stands of chamise (Holland 1986). Northern mixed chaparral may intermingle with northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub,foothill pine and oak woodlands, and mixed oak woodland and forest. There seems to be a close association between northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral and foothill pine and oak woodland in the study area. Mixed Serpentine Chaparral • Mixed serpentine chaparral occupies an estimated 3,788 acres (1.4%) of the study area in at least 54 distinct patches (Table 2-4). Nearly all of the mixed serpentine chaparral is found along Cedar Ridge, between Cedar Mountain and the Alameda/Santa Clara County line. These stands are large and seem relatively contiguous on aerial photos. The site specific condition of the habitat • or continuity of the land cover has not been confirmed. A small patch of mixed serpentine chaparral is located just north of Calaveras Reservoir on the west side of Alameda Creek. This patch is small and isolated, though there are patches of northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub in the area (Figure 2-8). Mixed serpentine chaparral consists of fire-adapted shrubs found on serpentine soils (California Partners in Flight 2004). Serpentine chaparral is generally more open than other chaparral types, and shrubs tend to be shorter and have leaves that are reduced, curled, or thickened (Hanes 1988, California Partners in Flight 2004). Dominant shrubs in this community in the study area are very similar to those discussed for northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral, above. A common indicator shrub on serpentine soils is leather oak. Northern Coastal Scrub/Diablan Sage Scrub Northern coastal scrub/Diablan coastal scrub occupies an estimated 2,700 acres (1%) of the study area (Table 2-4). Though this land cover type is spread throughout the southern part of the county, most of it is concentrated in the • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-41 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • south central part. The larger stands are located on or near SFPUC Alameda watershed lands. There are a few patches spread through the Pleasanton Hills - between Pleasanton and Union City(Figure 2-8). Northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub is composed primarily of evergreen shrubs with an herbaceous understory in openings. This land cover type is usually found at elevations below 300 feet (California Partners in Flight 2004). On aerial photographs, northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub appeared a distinctive shade of pale turquoise-green in summer images and pale tan in fall and winter images;this land cover type typically occurs on south facing slopes, often in relatively small stands interspersed with annual grassland and oak woodland. Northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub communities are dominated by California sagebrush and black sage, with associated species including coyote brush,California buckwheat, poison-oak, and bush monkey flower(Holland 1986). Northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub occurs on both serpentine and nonserpentine substrate; however, northern coastal scrub that occurred on mapped serpentine soils was mapped as mixed serpentine chaparral. The dominant woody plants in this land cover type are nearly the same among different soil types. • Ecosystem Functions Northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub may intermingle with northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral, coastal prairie (grassland), and mixed evergreen forest (Heady et al. 1988) and serve as an important corridor for wildlife. In addition, small mammals tend to forage on grassland species that are close to shrub canopies because they afford greater protection (Keeley 2000). Because sage scrub species are less woody than chaparral species and tend to direct their energy to leaf growth,the structure of coastal scrub communities tends to be open with an herbaceous ground layer(California Partners in Flight 2004). This open structure is important to the white-crowned sparrow and the sage sparrow. Allen's hummingbird and the orange-crowned warbler are also associated with this land cover type. The leaves of sage scrub contain important nutrients for herbivorous insects, more so than northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral. Peak leaf nutrient levels in scrub appear to coincide with the height of bird breeding season and may be an important food source (California Partners in Flight 2004). California sage and black sage, members of both northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub and northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral communities, are important food resources for small mammals, reptiles, and bird species. In addition, both communities have a relatively low proportion of nonnative species due to dense shrub canopies, soil types, and dry conditions, and thus are important resources to wildlife. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-42 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting The fire-following forbs associated with northern mixed chaparral/chamise • chaparral are abundant for 1 or more years after a fire and provide high-quality habitats for a diversity of insects and other wildlife. The unique flora of postfire chaparral contributes to its trait of supporting the highest concentration of special-status plants of any community in California (California Native Plant Society 2001). Many species that inhabit chaparral also inhabit adjacent grassland and oak woodlands; however, some birds and mammals are found largely in the dense cover and shade of mature chaparral stands. Many of the plants in the chaparral and northern coastal scrub communities have evolved to be dependent on periodic fire for regeneration (Holland 1986, Hanes 1988, Schoenherr 1992). In fact, communities dominated entirely by chamise cannot sustain themselves in the absence of fire (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2002). Some species of chaparral have peeling bark or volatile oils that promote fire (Schoenherr 1992). Many of the dominant shrubs, such as manzanita and ceanothus, have adapted to fire by resprouting from basal burls or woody root crowns following a fire event. Other species have seeds that require fire to initiate growth (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2002, Rundel and Gustayson 2005). Regrowth is triggered by removal of the overstory,typically by fire. Chemicals in smoke and charred wood also stimulate germination in a wide variety of native forbs that lie dormant as seeds in the soil for decades before a fire. Fire occurrence that is too frequent, however, can lead to the elimination of these communities altogether and promote annual grassland • succession. 2.4.3.3 Oak Woodland • One of the most common natural communities in the study area (22.1%), oak woodland is dominated by upland hardwood trees, usually various species of oaks. The oak-dominated land cover types that occur in the study area are listed below: m blue oak woodland, El valley oak woodland, m coast live oak forest and woodland,and El mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland. These land cover types were defined as part of the oak woodland natural community, an upland tree-dominated community with at least 10% cover of hardwood tree species. Oak savannah land cover was not mapped as a separate category. Oak savannah is a transition land cover between grassland and oak woodland where oak trees are widely spaced and canopy cover is less than 10%. This community is common in the study area but due to the subjective nature of describing this land cover type when interpreting aerial photos, land covers were either categorized into grassland or oak woodland. Due to the density of • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-43 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • trees being less than 10%oak savannahs were categorized as grassland. CDFG considers blue oak woodland and valley oak woodland sensitive biotic communities (CNDDB 2009). Oak Woodland Land Cover Types With the exception of blue oak woodland and valley oak woodland,the different oak woodland land cover types showed quite different signatures on aerial photographs, in terms of color and texture, and each typically occupied different landscape positions. Blue oak woodland and valley oak woodland were initially mapped as separate land cover types; however, during field verification of mapping efforts it was determined that there were inconsistencies in how valley oak woodland was mapped. It should be noted that in most areas species of oak are mixed though one species can be dominant. Since stands of valley oak woodland and black oak woodland were not able to be mapped using aerial photos, it will be necessary to ground truth oak stands that will either be affected by activities in the future or will serve as mitigation offsets. Oak woodland-associated wildlife species addressed by the Conservation Strategy include California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog, Alameda • whipsnake,golden eagle, and western burrowing owl. Alameda whipsnake may use oak woodland for movement between chaparral or coastal scrub habitats. California tiger salamanders use the grassy understory of open woodlands for dispersal or refuge and aquatic sites for breeding. The California red-legged frog uses this habitat type for breeding,foraging, and refugia. Golden eagles use woodlands and forest edges, when associated with dependable food supply,for roosting, nesting, and foraging. San Joaquin kit foxes may use this community for movement through the study area, though areas of high oak density would be less suitable. The ecotone between oak woodlands and annual grassland does provide movement habitat for San Joaquin kit fox and American badger. The western burrowing owl uses open woodlands with low-stature vegetation for foraging and burrowing. Some of these grasslands sites could be adjacent to oak woodlands. Blue Oak Woodland Blue oak woodland and forest occupies approximately 26,321 acres, or 9.7%, of the study area (Table 2-4). It is present in scattered locations in the southern half of the study area. This land cover typically occurs in the low to mid- elevation hills in slightly drier microclimates. Large stands of blue oak woodland occur on both west and east sides of Lake Del Valle, in the hills south of Pleasanton, and along the ridges in the south-central and southeastern portions of the county (Figure 2-8). There is potential for valley oak woodlands to be intermixed with blue oak woodland in all of these places, depending on the local • site conditions. Though it is not mapped as a separate land cover, valley oak East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-44 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting woodland is discussed below to highlight its unique attributes and differences • from blue oak woodland. Blue oak woodland was identified by the color of the canopy: pale to midgreen in summer imagery, in contrast to coast live oak, and leafless in winter. The canopy of blue oak woodland could be closed or relatively open. Aspect was important in distinguishing blue oaks from other deciduous oak species: blue oak woodland in the study area typically occurred on south-facing aspects; however, ridgetop stands of large, well-spaced blue oaks also occurred and could be difficult to distinguish from valley oaks. Blue oak woodland is dominated by blue oak, a highly drought-tolerant species adapted to growth on thin soils in the dry foothills. Blue oaks grow slowly in these soils and may take decades to reach maturity. They generally occur on sites that are drier and have lower levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter than those where valley oak or coast live oak are found (Griffin 1973, Baker et al. 1981). Although blue oaks can become established on south-facing slopes during wetter years or where mesic conditions are present, they are generally found on north-facing slopes (Griffin 1971). However, in the central California Coast Ranges, blue oak woodland is more common on south-facing slopes (Miles and Goudey 1997). California buckeye and foothill pine are associate tree species in this community. The understory varies from shrubby to open,with a composition similar to that • of the adjacent nonnative grassland. Understory species typically include annual grasses, hollyleaf cherry, poison-oak, and coffeeberry. Blue oak woodland is considered a sensitive community by CDFG when the following species are present: blue oak, valley oak, and coast live oak/grass (CNDDB 2009). Valley Oak Woodland Valley oak woodland is mapped as blue oak woodland on Figure 2-8. Due to difficulty differentiating between blue oak woodland and valley oak woodland and other mixed oak woodland alliance, these land cover types were all classified as blue oak woodland. During field verification,there were no standard rules that could be applied to the data set or the heads up digitizing that would allow this valley oak woodland to be mapped accurately. It should be noted that valley oak woodland could occur anywhere that blue oak woodland is mapped. Field verification would be necessary to confirm which type of oak woodland was present and what percentage consisted of valley oaks. For potential locations of valley oak woodland in the study area, see "Blue Oak Woodland," above. Although valley oak is typically found in alluvial soils in California, it also occurs in nonalluvial sites on broad ridgetops and midslope benches. Valley oak woodland is characterized by a fairly open canopy of mature valley oaks with a • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-45 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting 40. grassy understory, generally on valley bottoms and north-facing slopes (Griffin 1971, Holland 1986, Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995). Valley oak woodlands often form a mosaic with annual grasslands, and are also found adjacent to other land cover types, including mixed oak woodland, blue oak woodland, and riparian woodland types. Valley oak woodland is generally denser on valley bottoms where the tree roots can penetrate to the groundwater, and less dense on ridges where trees need wider spacing to develop larger root systems (Griffin 1973). Trees in the valley oak community are typically mature and well spaced. They are usually the only trees present in this open-canopy woodland and have no shrub layer, and the understory is dominated by nonnative annual grasses. As with most oak communities, regeneration typically is episodic, occurring periodically in "mast years" when acorn production is high and some acorns germinate by avoiding acorn predators such as acorn woodpeckers and California ground squirrels. Creeping wild rye, poison-oak, mugwort, and California rose are common native species in riparian portions of valley oak woodland. Coast Live Oak Woodland and Forest Coast live oak woodland and forest occupies approximately 1,221 acres, or 0.5%, of the study area (Table 2-4). The largest stands occur on the western • side of the study area in the Pleasanton Hills just north of State Route 84 and south of Livermore between Arroyo Mocho and Lake Del Valle. There are also scattered patches on the ridges in the southwestern portion of the study area (Figure 2-8). The coast live oak woodland and forest land cover type mostly includes stands of coast live oak, although California bay is often a major component, and other live oaks and scattered deciduous trees are often present. Coast live oak woodland and forest was identified by its closed canopy and even dark green color that was the same in all seasons, and by its landscape position, occurring generally on north-facing valley slopes and valley bottoms. There was often an abrupt transition between annual grassland and coast live oak woodland,with coast live oak woodland occupying valley slopes and annual grassland occurring on the surrounding ridges. Coast live oak woodland also often occurred adjacent to other oak woodland types. Grasses and herbs are common in this land cover type. Other species found in this land cover type include coffeeberry, bush monkey flower, redberry buckthorn, and California sagebrush (Allen et al. 1989). In addition, California blackberry, bugle hedge nettle,wood fern, and poison-oak can be present. Across the Central Coast Ranges,stands occur at lower elevations (200-3,250 • feet, mean 1,205 feet) on north and northeast aspects. Slopes are generally East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-46 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting steep (36% on average), and parent material is primarily sedimentary sandstone and shale, with loam soils (Allen et al. 1989). Mixed Evergreen Forest/Oak Woodland Mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland is one of the most common woodland communities in the study area, occupying 32,497 acres, or 12%, of the study area (Table 2-4). It is present throughout the southern half of the study area. The largest contiguous stands are in the Pleasanton Hills, between Pleasanton and Union City, and along north facing slopes on the ridges of the south-central part of the study area (Figure 2-8). Mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland is characterized by a diverse overstory often dominated by coast live oak. This land cover type contains a mix of co- dominant oaks such as coast live oak, blue oak, and valley oak. The canopy of this land cover type is generally more open and includes some deciduous species. In addition to the array of dominant oaks in this land cover type, a number of both broad-leafed evergreen and deciduous trees are present, including California bay, madrone, California buckeye, and black oak(Holland 1986; Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995). Where shrubby,the understory consists of patches of toyon, poison-oak, and scrub oak. Where more open,the understory typically consists of annual grasses and shade-tolerant perennials, such as yerba santa and common snowberry. Ecosystem Functions Oak woodlands perform a variety of ecological functions, including nutrient cycling,water storage and transport, and wildlife habitat(Giusti et al. 2004). Oak woodlands share many of the same functions as the adjacent grassland and chaparral communities. However,the structure and food provided by the dominance of oak trees in this community distinguish it from the other natural community types. Oak woodland is one of the most biologically diverse communities in California, providing essential habitat for approximately 2,000 plant; 5,000 insect; 80 amphibian and reptile; 160 bird; and 80 mammal species (Merelender and Crawford 1998). Large acorn crops and a diverse insect fauna provide high-quality food for a wide variety of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Dense oak woodlands provide cool,shady refugia for wildlife during the hot, dry summer, and more sparse oak woodlands offer raptors ideal hunting perches. Open-canopy oak woodlands provide upland habitat for California tiger salamander, which live in burrows in the grassland understory or beneath isolated oaks. These oak woodlands also provide nesting and foraging habitat for a variety of bird species. The grassland understory provides habitat for fossorial rodents such as ground squirrels and gophers, which are prey for red- 1111 East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-47 October 2010 ICE 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Selling • tailed hawks, coyotes, and great horned owls. Rodent burrows, in turn, provide habitat for a variety of other species, including burrowing owls and amphibians. Oak woodland is a fire-adapted ecosystem, and fire has likely played a large role in maintaining this community type in the study area. Fire creates the vegetation structure and composition typical of oak woodlands, and this natural community has experienced frequent, low-severity fires that maintain woodland or savannah conditions. In the absence of fire, the low or open understory that characterizes the land cover type is lost. Ultimately, closed-canopy oak forests are replaced by shade-tolerant species because oaks cannot regenerate and compete in a shaded understory. Soil drought may also play a role in maintaining open-tree canopy in dry woodland habitat Recruitment of young oak trees into the population is an ongoing issue in much of California. Recruitment is often suppressed by livestock grazing and can also be influence by populations of non-native pigs. Acorns are an important food source for non-native pigs and grubbing in oak woodlands can uprooted seedlings and saplings. A recent influence on oak woodlands is sudden oak death. The disease,first identified in 1995, has since spread to 12 counties and killed tens of thousands of oaks. Research indicates that coast live oaks and black oaks appear to be the • most susceptible to this disease (Rizzo et al. 2003). Sudden oak death, caused by the pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, is a serious threat to oak woodlands and mixed evergreen forests in northern California. The pathogen can kill adult oaks and madrone; California bay, buckeye, and maple host the pathogen without being killed by it. Blue oak and valley oak have not shown symptoms of the pathogen. Sudden oak death has been confirmed in San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara Counties. As of April 2009 there are no confirmed locations of sudden oak death in the study area. However, there are confirmed locations just outside the study area near Castro Valley and surrounding Upper San Leandro Reservoir. It is unknown whether climatic or other factors will limit the spread of sudden oak death in the study area. 2.4.3.4 Conifer Woodland In addition to hardwood-dominated upland land cover types, conifer-dominated land cover types also occur in the study area. The three conifer-dominated communities listed below occur in the study area: E foothill pine—oak woodland, ■ Coulter pine woodland, and a Sargent cypress woodland. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-48 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting Conifer Woodland Land Cover Types • Foothill Pine—Oak Woodland Foothill pine—oak woodland occupies approximately 22,695 acres, or 8.4%, of the study area (Table 2-4). This land cover type dominates the southeastern corner of the study area, from Crane Ridge, north of Cedar Mountain, east to the Alameda/San Joaquin County line and south to the Alameda/Santa Clara County line (Figure 2-8). In addition, there are patches of this land cover type throughout the southwestern part of the study area, including some sparse patches in the Pleasanton Hills and throughout the ridges on SFPUC Alameda watershed lands. Foothill pine—oak woodland was identified by the obvious signatures on aerial photographs of well-spaced emergent foothill pine crowns, which appear pale gray-green with clear shadows over the lower canopy of contrasting darker green evergreen oaks. Foothill pine—oak woodland often occurred along valley floors within chaparral communities in the eastern foothills, and also occurred adjacent to other oak woodland land cover types and on serpentine soils. Found at elevations ranging from 200-2,100 feet, foothill pine integrates with blue oak and mixed oak woodlands at higher elevations,forming the foothill pine—oak woodland land cover type. Here, the canopy is dominated by emergent foothill pine with a typically dense understory of scattered shrubs, • often those found in adjacent chaparral and scrub communities, and nonnative annual grasses and forbs. Oaks become more prevalent at lower elevations, often forming a closed canopy layer below the emergent pines, and the understory lacks an appreciable shrub layer. In the foothills to the east, associated canopy species include blue oak, interior live oak, coast live oak, and California buckeye (Griffin 1977). Closer to the coast, coast live oak,valley oak, blue oak, and California buckeye are typically found. Associated shrub species include ceanothus species, bigberry manzanita, California coffeeberry, poison-oak, silver lupine, blue elderberry, California yerba santa, rock gooseberry, and California redbud. Coulter Pine Woodland Coulter pine woodland occupies approximately 74 acres, or 0.03%, of the study area (Table 2-4). Within the study area, Coulter pine woodlands occur on slopes at elevations ranging from 900-3,400 feet. These woodlands are bordered by mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland, blue oak woodland, and California annual grassland. Three small stands of Coulter pine woodland occur in the southern portion of the study area. One stand is located in the Sunol Regional Wilderness, south of Maguire Peaks between Gear Road and Welch Creek; another occurs along • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-49 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • Indian Creek south of Wauhab Ridge. The third stand is on Rocky Ridge near the southern portion of Lake Del Valle (Figure 2-8). Coulter pine is common in the mountains of southern California and Baja California, Mexico. The study area represents the northern extent of the species' range. Small stands of this species are also found in Contra Costa, Marin, and Sonoma Counties. Coulter pine is typically dominant in these closed canopy stands. Other tree species that are commonly associated with Coulter pine woodlands include bigcone Douglas-fir, black oak, canyon live oak, coast live oak, interior live oak, foothill pine, or ponderosa pine. The shrub layer can range from sparse to dense and the ground layer is typically sparse. Topographically, Coulter pine woodlands occur in uplands on all aspects. The soils tend to be shallow and well drained (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995). • Sargent Cypress Woodland Sargent cypress woodland has been mapped from one location in the study area and occupies approximately 653 acres, or 0.2%, of the study area (Table 2-4). This large stand is located on the north side of Cedar Mountain and ranges from approximately 2,000-3,400 feet in elevation (Figure 2-8). This stand is bordered by mixed serpentine chaparral,foothill pine—oak woodland, blue oak woodland, and mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland. Sargent cypress woodland is likely • overestimated on Cedar Mountain. In order to ensure that all of the land cover was captured,the area was mapped as one single polygon. Ground truthing was not possible, with except for viewing areas through binoculars from a distance. A more detailed map of the distribution of Sargent cypress woodland on Cedar Mountain would be beneficial to inform protection and management of this species and land cover type. Sargent cypress is found in disjunct stands throughout many of the coastal counties of California. The stand in the study area may be highly disjunct from other stands. The nearest similar large stands occur in Marin County on Mount Tamalpais and in the Santa Lucia Mountains of Monterey County. Sargent cypress is a common or dominant species in this stand. Other species that may be associated with Sargent cypress woodland include bigberry manzanita,valley oak, leather oak, silk tassel, California bay,foothill pine, interior live oak, and knobcone pine. Because of the inaccessibility of the Sargent cypress stand in the study area, exact species associates are uncertain. Sargent cypress woodland stands typically occur on ultramafic soil, and trees are generally less than 15 meters (49.2 feet)tall. The tree canopy of these stands is typically open and the shrub layer ranges from sparse to dense. The most common shrub in Sargent cypress woodlands is leather oak. The ground layer is typically sparse (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995, Barbour et al. 2007). • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-50 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting Ecosystem Functions • • Similar to oak woodland, these forests and woodlands provide food, nesting, and cover to a variety of wildlife. However,the structure and food resources that conifer-dominated forests provide make them a valuable resource. Evergreen oaks such as coast live oak, as well as California bay, madrone, and foothill pine, provide year round shelter unlike the largely deciduous vegetation of riparian forest and scrub. A largely continuous, dense leaf canopy and • abundant tree cavities act to shade wildlife, provide habitat for nesting and offer protection from predators. In addition, thick layers of leaf litter, ephemeral ponds, and wetlands can provide secondary habitat for soil invertebrates and amphibians by offering protection from desiccation and foraging habitat. Mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland lacks drought adaptations and generally grows in more mesic habitats, typically on north-facing slopes (Griffin 1971, 1973). Survival of coast live oak appears to be higher for seedlings growing under a shrub canopy, apparently as a result of more mesic soil conditions under the shade of shrubs (Callaway and D'Antonio 1991; Muick 1991; Plumb and Hannah 1991; Parikh and Gale 1998). Coast live oak,the dominant species in this land cover type, has acorns that germinate relatively slowly and have a low rate of root elongation, which limits the ability of seedlings to survive under more xeric conditions (Matsuda and McBride 1986). The root system of coast • live oaks consists mostly of lateral roots, a configuration that does not favor survival under xeric conditions (Callaway 1990). A major factor influencing the distribution of conifer woodland land cover types is fire intensity and frequency. Throughout California the combination of logging and burning at the end of the nineteenth century resulted in the conversion of conifer-dominated forests to chaparral and oak-dominated woodlands. Periodic stand replacing fire is necessary to boost seed generation in many conifer species. • 2.4.3.5 Riparian Forest and Scrub • Riparian vegetation in the study area was classified into four land cover types: • mixed willow riparian scrub, • sycamore alluvial woodland, • mixed riparian forest and woodland, and a desert olive scrub. At the state level, riparian plant communities are considered sensitive because of habitat loss and their value to a diverse community of plant and wildlife • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-51 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • species. Additionally, CDFG has identified them as a sensitive natural community(California Department of Fish and Game 2003a). Riparian forest and scrub provide habitat for several focal wildlife species, including the California red-legged frog,foothill yellow-legged frog, and Alameda whipsnake. California red-legged frog uses riparian habitat type for breeding,foraging, and refugia. Foothill yellow-legged frog utilize aquatic habitat for thermoregulation,foraging, and avoidance of predators. Alameda whipsnake use riparian forest and scrub habitats for movement during dispersal. No focal plants are strictly associated with riparian forest and scrub land cover types. Riparian Forest and Scrub Land Cover Types Within the study area, riparian forest and scrub land cover types were identified primarily by their landscape position along creeks and around open water bodies. Several common riparian trees species—willows, cottonwood, and sycamore—appeared to hold their leaves after they turn color in fall,and early winter imagery clearly,showed these distinctive yellow crowns, either in pure stands or mixed with the dark green canopies of coast live oak and bay in more mixed riparian woodland. The plant assemblage and width of riparian corridors • found along the banks and floodplains of rivers and streams vary. Dominant influencing factors include the steepness of the channel,the frequency of disturbance, and the hydrologic regime present. Sycamore Alluvial Woodland Sycamore alluvial woodland occupies 597 acres comprising 17 distinct polygons in the land cover data set, which is about 0.2%of the total study area (Table 2- 4). Each polygon represents a separate stand of sycamore alluvial woodland. The primary stands are along Alameda Creek,just southeast of San Antonio Reservoir, and south of Livermore along Arroyo Valle in Sycamore Grove Park (Figure 2-8). Sycamore alluvial woodland was readily identified by the large,well-spaced sycamore crowns. In early winter aerial imagery, the large pale branches and halo of fallen golden-yellow leaves were visible. The landscape position, on broad alluvial valley floors, was also indicative of this land cover type. The sycamore alluvial woodland land cover type is generally present on broad floodplains and terraces along low gradient streams with deep alluvium. Areas mapped as sycamore alluvial woodland are generally open canopy woodlands dominated by California sycamore, often with white alder and willows (Salix spp.). Other associated species include bigleaf maple,valley oak, coast live oak, and California bay. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-52 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting The understory is disturbed by winter flows, and herbaceous vegetation is • typically sparse or patchy. Typically, plants such as willows, coyote brush, mule fat, California buckeye, blackberry, Italian thistle, poison-oak, common chickweed and bedstraw populate the streambanks. Although it occurs along streams,sycamore alluvial woodland undergoes extreme variation in water availability. During the rainy season,the stream channel and adjacent terraces are subject to flooding. During the summer drought,the streams are generally dry, and little moisture is available in the stony substrate. The alluvial substrate contains little soil and is nutrient poor. Flooding also subjects sycamore alluvial forest to frequent disturbance. However, this disturbance appears to benefit regeneration of western sycamores. Regeneration from seed appears to occur in pulses correlated with large flood events (Shanfield 1984). Trees that are damaged by flooding can also resprout from the roots and trunk (Shanfield 1984): Anthracnose, a fungal disease, can defoliate the trees in springtime (Holstein 1984). Heavy cattle grazing may inhibit recruitment of sycamore seedlings, although recruitment may occur under light grazing in favorable (wet) years (Smith 1989). Mixed Riparian Forest and Woodland Mixed riparian forest and woodland occupies approximately 2,323 acres, which is about 0.9% of the total study area (Table 2-4). Mixed riparian forest and • woodland is found in association with streams throughout the study area. Stands of this land cover include sections of Arroyo de la Laguna as it passes Pleasanton, Arroyo Los Positas and Arroyo Mocho as they pass through Livermore,the upper reaches of Tassajara Creek, and several other stream courses in the study area (Figure 2-8). Mixed riparian forest and woodland land cover types are similar to willow riparian forests and woodlands in species occurrences. They are found in and along the margins of the active channel on intermittent and perennial streams. Generally, no single species dominates the canopy, and composition varies with elevation, aspect, hydrology, and channel type. This land cover type captures much of the riparian woodland and forest in the study area and includes several associations that could not be distinguished on the aerial photographs. The major canopy species throughout the study area are California sycamore,valley oak, coast live oak, red willow, and California bay. Associated trees and shrubs include California black walnut, other species of willow, California buckeye, Fremont cottonwood, and bigleaf maple. Focal species associated with this land cover type are the same as sycamore alluvial woodland and mixed willow riparian scrub. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy. 2-53 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting Mixed Willow Riparian Scrub Mixed willow riparian scrub occupies an estimated 664 acres in 39 unique stands, which is about 0.24%of the total study area (Table 2-4). Mixed willow riparian scrub occurs in and along the margins of the active channel on intermittent and perennial streams. In the study area,the most contiguous reach of willow riparian forest and scrub occurs along Arroyo Mocho,just southeast of Livermore, and along Arroyo Valle as it passes through Livermore (Figure 2-8). In the east Bay Area, streamside habitat dominated by shrubby willows is classified as Central Coast Riparian Scrub (Holland 1986). Although red willow and arroyo willow remain the most common dominant canopy species in this habitat, the name of the land cover has been changed to mixed riparian forest and scrub to better reflect the conditions within the study area. Understory development in willow scrub or forest land cover types is dictated by canopy density. Where the canopy is more open and dominated by trees or scattered willow scrub, an understory of shrubs and herbs is present. A range of conditions exists among the mixed willow riparian scrub community. Yellow willow, red willow, arroyo willow, and narrowleaf willow are the dominant canopy species in this habitat. Scrub communities typically consist of scattered willows and mule fat occurring in and along the margins of open • sandy washes. Understory development in this land cover type is controlled by canopy density. California red-legged frog and foothill-yellow legged frog utilize this land cover year-round for breeding and movement,though some of the stream course that pass through urban areas are less suitable. Alameda whipsnake uses riparian forest and scrub habitats for movement during dispersal. No covered plants are strictly associated with riparian forest and scrub land cover types. Riparian - corridors in general are important as movement habitat for nearly all terrestrial species. These communities serve to connect the landscape as they move through other land cover types. Ecosystem Function While riparian land cover types occupy a very small percentage of the total land cover in the study area, they are particularly important because they are among- the most structurally complex and richly diverse habitat types in terms of plant and animal associations. Riparian communities support both terrestrial and aquatic species by providing movement corridors across the landscape and both nesting and foraging habitat. For example, California red-legged frog may be found in sycamore • alluvial woodland year-round, while California tiger salamander and foothill East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-54 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 2 Environmental Setting yellow-legged frog may move through this land cover type. Riparian • communities can also support high levels of invertebrate production; provide moist, cool refugia during the hot, dry summer; have moderate stream temperatures; help armor streambanks; and support the aquatic food chain by means of input of vegetative and other detritus. Denser canopies reduce direct solar radiation to streams and creeks, thereby lowering water temperatures and may increase habitat value for aquatic wildlife. However, algal growth, which increases aquatic insects, requires a partially open canopy for light. Increased light also improves feeding efficiency of steelhead in fast water. Differences in vegetative structure between riparian communities lead to varying effectiveness in providing these ecosystem functions. For example, mixed willow riparian scrub,with its lower vegetation structure, is often less effective in reducing stream temperatures than riparian woodland. On the other hand, it may provide better nesting and foraging habitat for migratory passerine birds that prefer the dense thicket habitat provided by scrub. Riparian communities are shaped by their proximity to water and by periodic flooding that maintains the structure and composition of this land cover type. Wet-season flooding replenishes alluvial soils that are deficient in minerals and . organic matter. Flooding also subjects riparian forest to frequent disturbance that benefits regeneration of certain species, including California sycamore, white alder, and black willow. Regeneration from seed appears to occur in pulses correlated with large flood events (Shanfield 1984). Additionally,trees • that are damaged by flooding can resprout from the roots and trunk(Shanfield 1984). Flood and drought cycles of natural streams tend to result in a mosaic of structure and composition in riparian plant communities. This mosaic may be lost in altered flow regimes downstream of reservoirs. 2.4.3.6 Wetlands Wetland habitat includes areas subject to seasonal or perennial flooding or ponding, or that possess saturated soil conditions and that support predominantly hydrophytic or"water-loving" herbaceous plant species. Because wetlands are periodically waterlogged,the plants growing in them must be able to tolerate low levels of soil oxygen associated with waterlogged or hydric soils. The presence of flood-tolerant species is often a good indication that a site is a wetland even if the ground appears to be dry for most of the year (Barbour et al. 1993), or if hydrologic influences are less obvious. Wetland habitat in the study area is classified into three land cover types; vernal pools are described under seasonal wetlands: to perennial freshwater marsh, ■ seasonal wetland, and EI alkali wetland. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-55 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • In general, wetlands represent a sensitive biotic community due to their limited distribution and importance to special-status plant and wildlife species statewide. Wetland Land Cover Types Within the study area, wetlands were identified and mapped on the basis of their aerial photograph signatures and landscape positions that would support wetland hydrology. In late season (May—July) aerial imagery, wetlands appear greener than surrounding annual grassland. The minimum mapping unit for all wetland land cover types was 0.25 acre. Wetland subtypes were distinguished based on the color and texture of the signature on aerial photos. On early spring (February—May) aerial imagery, perennial freshwater marsh appeared pale brown and rough in texture because the emergent plants (cattails and bulrushes) have died back and not yet staited to grow. In contrast, seasonal wetlands appeared dark green, but they are difficult to distinguish from the surrounding annual grassland, which also appears dark green at this time of year. In early winter imagery, both types of wetlands appear dark green, the color of the seasonal wetlands contrasting with the adjacent annual grasslands, which at that time of year appeared brown. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wetlands Inventory data layer was • examined and compared with the aerial photographs to assist in the recognition of additional wetland areas, as was ICF International file data on wetlands that have been delineated north of Livermore. Perennial Freshwater Marsh Within the study area, perennial freshwater marsh occupies an estimated 62 acres at only 12 sites, which is 0.02% of the total study area (Table 2-4). The perennial freshwater marsh occurs primarily in small patches along stream courses or drainages as they pass through the valley floor(Figure 2-8). Perennial freshwater marsh is likely to have been underestimated in the land cover mapping due.to the small size of these features and the difficulty of distinguishing marsh from the surrounding grassland on the spring aerial photos. Some perennial freshwater marsh is also difficult to distinguish from seasonal wetland during winter. Perennial freshwater marsh is dominated by emergent herbaceous plants (reeds,sedges,grasses)with either intermittent flooded or perennially saturated soils. Freshwater marshes are found throughout the coastal drainages of California wherever water slows down and accumulates, even on a temporary or seasonal basis. A freshwater marsh usually features shallow water that is often clogged with dense masses of vegetation, resulting in deep peaty soils. Plant species common to coastal and valley freshwater marsh • predominantly consist of cattails, bulrushes,sedges, and rushes. Dominant East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-56 October 2010 (CF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting species in perennial freshwater wetland in the study area include rabbitsfoot • grass, nutsedge, willow weed, and watercress. Dominant species in nontidal freshwater marsh are narrow-leaved cattail, rice cutgrass, bur-reed, alkali bulrush, and perennial peppergrass. Focal.species that may be found breeding in the perennial freshwater marsh land cover type include tricolored blackbird and California red-legged frog . Seasonal Wetlands Within the study area,seasonal wetlands occupy an estimated 547 acres in an estimated 80 distinct sites, which is 0.2% of the total study area (Table 2-4). These seasonal wetlands occur primarily in the northern half of the study area, particularly north of Livermore. Seasonal wetlands also occur in association with riparian land cover along Arroyo Las Positas and Altamont Creek. This land cover type often occurs adjacent to alkali wetland. These two land cover types were differentiated based on the underlying soils in the land cover mapping (Figure 2-8). Seasonal wetlands are likely underrepresented in the land cover map because of their typically small size and isolated locations, and difficulty in interpreting the photographic signature of individual features. However, large seasonal wetland complexes (i.e., groups of many small pools or wetlands) were easily visible on aerial photos. Seasonal wetlands are freshwater wetlands that support ponded or saturated • soil conditions during winter and spring and are dry through the summer and fall until the first substantial rainfall. The vegetation is composed of wetland generalists,such as hyssop loosestrife, cocklebur, and Italian ryegrass that typically occur in frequently disturbed sites, such as along streams. Common species in seasonal wetlands within the study area include watercress, water • speedwell , and smartweeds (Jones &Stokes 2001). See the sections below on the Springtown Alkali Sink and Mountain House Alkali Grasslands and Wetlands for more details on the largest seasonal and alkali wetland complexes in the study area: Vernal Pools Vernal pools are seasonal wetlands that pond water on the surface for extended durations during winter and spring and dry completely during late spring and summer due to an underlying hardpan. This hardpan restricts the percolation of water and creates a "perched"seasonal water source. These ephemeral wetlands support rare and unique flora and fauna that are adapted to the • drastic changes in hydrologic regime. They support specialized flora largely composed of native wetland plant species and fauna with life histories enabling them to tolerate the wide range of conditions in vernal pool communities. Vernal pools in eastern Alameda and Contra Costa Counties occur in distinctive topography with low depressions mixed with hummocks or mounds. These • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-57 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • depressions fill with rainwater and runoff from adjacent areas during the winter and may remain inundated during the spring to early summer(Tri-Valley . Conservancy 2008). Vernal pools are most prevalent in California annual grasslands east and north of Livermore and in the northeast corner of the study area, northeast of Bethany Reservoir. Vernal pools are located in the grassland immediately west and north of the Springtown alkali sink, and adjacent to Cayetano Creek near its confluence with Arroyo Las Pashas (Tri-Valley Conservancy 2008). Alkali Wetlands Within the study area, alkali wetlands occupy an estimated 717 acres, which is 0.4% of the total study area (Table 2-4). These wetlands occur primarily in the northern half of the study area, particularly along stream channels where alkali soils occur. Larger alkali wetland complexes occur in the Springtown Alkali Sink, north of Livermore,and just south of Bethany Reservoir near Mountain House (Figure 2-8). Alkali wetlands support ponded or saturated soil conditions and occur as perennial or seasonally wet features on alkali soils. Alkali wetlands were mapped where wetlands occurred in association with alkali soils (Figure 2-6). The vegetation of alkali wetlands is composed of halophytic plant species adapted to both wetland conditions and high salinity levels. Typical species • include those common to both seasonal and alkali wetlands, such as salt grass, alkali heath, and common spikeweed. • Alkali wetlands provide function and value for wildlife similar to those provided by seasonal wetlands. The array of wildlife species found in seasonal wetlands is also found in alkali wetlands. See the sections below on the Springtown Alkali Sink and Mountain House Alkali Grasslands and Wetlands for more details on the largest alkali wetland complexes in the study area. Springtown Alkali Sink The Springtown Alkali Sink is a biologically unique area that supports several state-and federally listed plant and wildlife species (Kohlmann et al. 2008). It encompasses approximately 1,150 acres at the northern edge of the city of Livermore and adjacent Alameda County. The sink is a topographic depression in which salts have_concentrated;these salts, and the unique and complex surface and groundwater hydrology of the region, support an unusually high diversity and density of sensitive biotic communities and special-status species. Boundary of the Sink Historically,Springtown Alkali Sink occupied an irregularly shaped area of more than 3,000 acres. The historical boundaries of the sink can be determined • through historical aerial photos and the extent of the saline-alkaline soils (Soil East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-58 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting Conservation Service 1966; Coats et al. 1988). The sink formerly extended west • to the intersection of Hartford Avenue and North Livermore Avenue, east to Frick Lake,south almost to 1-580, and north almost to the "May School Road" line (a line formed by extending May School Road to the east). The extent of the sink has been greatly reduced by residential development in the south and agricultural operations in the north. High-quality habitats are currently found in two disjunct areas on either side of Vasco Road. This boundary is based largely on the extent of saline-alkaline soils of the Pescadero and Solano soil series,which indicates the historical extent of the sink. The larger of the two areas of the sink stretches from Ames Road in the east to North Livermore Avenue in the west. This area also includes a small watershed upstream of the intersection of Raymond Road and Ames Street that contains saline-alkaline soils and special-status species, and supports the hydrology of the sink. East of Vasco Road,the sink includes a high density of wetlands and special-status species, and the saline-alkaline soils along Brushy Peal Tributary. The most prominent feature in this area is Frick Lake,the only large saline vernal pool known to exist in the county. Hydrology of the Sink The sink is influenced by both surface and groundwater flows into the basin from fresh and saline sources. Surface flows to the sink come from seven south- • and southwest-draining subbasins (Jones &Stokes 2003). The largest subbasins are those containing Brushy Peak Tributary and Altamont Creek;these contribute saline-alkaline flows from the east and northeast. The remaining six subbasins are considerably smaller than the Brushy Peak—Altamont Creek subbasin. In the past, the Brushy Peak—Altamont Creek subbasin contributed by far the largest proportion of surface water and groundwater entering the sink's wetland and saline-alkaline habitats (Coats et at 1988; Phillip Williams & Associates 1988; Questa Engineering Corporation 1998). Because of significant modifications to Altamont Creek and grading related to residential development, a greater proportion of the surface water and groundwater entering the sink's lowland habitats now comes from subbasins to the north and northwest, particularly the subbasin that contains North Livermore Avenue (Questa Engineering Corporation 1998). At present, the most prominent hydrologic feature in the sink is Frick Lake, located in the area's northeastern corner. Frick Lake is a seasonally ponded basin that covers about 24 acres at high water. The lake is primarily fed by incidental precipitation and by runoff from rangelands to the east: Minor amounts of runoff also enter the lake from the north and south. Vegetation surrounding the lake suggests that its water is saline. Neither the chemistry nor the origin of the lake has been studied to date. Frick Lake may have formed as uplift along the Greenville Fault blocked westward-flowing drainages at the rangefront, pooling water behind a local topographic high; although Laughlin • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-59 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • Road follows the west margin of the lake, it was likely built on an existing elevated surface and does not appear to confine the lake. The sink also contains a high density of seasonal wetlands and vernal pools. These pools fill with water in the winter and slowly dry during spring. The pools are formed in depressions within a mosaic of"hogwallow" or"mima mound" topography. The pools are fed by surface runoff in the complex microtopography and small channels that wind through the sink. These pools • support a high diversity of aquatic and semiaquatic organisms, as described below. The sink also receives significant influx of salts and flows just below the surface in a shallow groundwater layer. This shallow layer occurs from the surface to between 6 and 10 feet deep, above a semiconfining claypan/hardpan (Phillip Williams &Associates 1988; Questa Engineering Corporation 1998). Near the surface,groundwater flows into the sink through buried channels that may have been historical stream channels. These subsurface channels enter the sink from the northwest, north, and northeast. Although not well studied, they appear to extend as far west as North Livermore Avenue, as far north as Manning Road, and as far east as Laughlin Road (Questa Engineering Corporation 1998). These subsurface channels appear to play a major role in water budget and salt balance of the sink(Lamphier&Associates and SWA Group 2000), and point to the importance of preserving the groundwater hydrology within the larger • watersheds of the sink. Biotic Communities of the Sink Biotic communities within the sink consist of valley sink scrub, alkali grassland, and California annual grassland. All three of those land cover types are described above under "Grassland," in Section 2.4.3.1. Special-Status Species of the Sink The sink is unique, in part, because of its concentration of special-status species. Probably the most unique of these species is palmate-bracted bird's beak, listed as endangered under the ESA and CESA. Other special-status plant species that occur in the sink include brittlescale, San Joaquin spearscale, hispid bird's-beak, and Livermore Valley tarplant. Special-status wildlife species known to occur in the sink include California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander,vernal pool fairy shrimp, and western burrowing owl. San Joaquin kit fox may ' occasionally use the eastern portion of the sink. Recent Changes and Continuing Threats Recent land use changes have significantly reduced the extent of the sink and reduced its quality and functioning. Some of these changes continue to pose • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-60 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 2 Environmental Setting threats to the continued existence of the habitats and special-status species in • the sink. Land Use Changes to the Sink • Land use changes to the sink probably began with agricultural operations in the area, mostly livestock grazing, around the time of the California Gold Rush (i.e., circa 1850). By 1940, aerial photos show rural roads, including Raymond Road, Hartford Avenue,Vasco Road, and Laughlin Road, surrounding the sink (Jones & Stokes 2003). Vasco Road bisected the sink in 1940 as it does today, but all stream channels, including Altamont Creek and Brushy Peak Tributary, appear intact. Agricultural operations, including dryland farms, also surrounded the sink by 1940. No development occurred in the center of the sink until 1968, when the first of many residential subdivisions were built in and around the sink (Coats et al. 1988). With the increase in residents,the sink also experienced significant degradation from a variety of anthropogenic effects, including off- highway vehicles(OHVs); brush clearing for fire breaks; noise and light pollution from adjacent neighborhoods; and predation from pets, particularly house cats. Activities such as OHV use and brush clearing have been discontinued, but others, such as mountain bicycles, pets, and light and noise pollution, continue to degrade the functions of the sink. In the recent past a proposal was put forward to locate several acres of irrigated agriculture upstream of the sink. A change in land use of this magnitude would likely alter the hydrology of the sink • even further. Hydrologic Changes to the Sink Altamont Creek was historically a shallow, braided channel that likely flooded parts of the sink's lowlands on an annual or biannual basis. This flooding provided important surface water and salt inputs to the sink. Altamont Creek was historically fed both by surface runoff and by outflow of shallow groundwater in the upland portions of the subbasin. In 1968 and again in 1985, Altamont Creek was widened, deepened, and channelized to increase its flood conveyance capacity(Coats et al. 1988). As a result, Altamont Creek no longer floods on an annual or biannual basis. Its current estimated flood cycle is 20 years (Questa Engineering Corporation 1998). Consequently, it now delivers significantly less surface water and soluble salts to wetlands and saline-alkali habitats in the lowland portions of the sink than it did in the past. Beginning in 1968 and continuing through the 1980s, development has had significant impacts on drainage in the sink. For example, in the 1960s and 1970s, a number of small surface drainages were diverted. This caused gullies to form locally, lowered local groundwater levels, and reduced surface water flow into the lowland sink. Historical patterns of groundwater flowing into the sink may have been altered by recent development. Grading associated with • residential development between Broadmore Street and Vasco Road may have reduced or diverted shallow subsurface flow into the sink from the watershed to • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-61 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • the east, although subsurface flow from the north remains largely intact. Development has also likely reduced groundwater recharge by increasing the paved area in the basin and decreasing infiltration. Moreover, when Altamont Creek was channelized for flood control purposes, it was also substantially deepened. As a result,Altamont Creek may now intercept the shallow unconfined aquifer and drain groundwater that would otherwise enter the southern portion of the sink. Mountain House Alkali Grasslands and Wetlands The only site in Alameda County (besides the Springtown Alkali Sink) that supports alkali soils and intact stands of valley sink scrub and alkali grassland is an area of approximately 267 acres in the northeastern corner of the county referred to as the Mountain House Alkali Grassland and Wetlands complex. The site occurs near the intersection of Kelso and Bruns Roads between the Delta- Mendota Canal and the California Aqueduct. A small portion of the site extends into adjacent Contra Costa County. In alkali grassland, dominant grasses include saltgrass and wild barley. The associated herb cover consists of halophytes, including saltbush, alkali heath, seepweed, alkali weed,saltmarsh sand spurry, and common spikeweed. Stands of iodine bush are also present, indicating valley sink scrub. Perennial wetlands at the site are abundant, dominated by stands of cattail, American bulrush, and • rabbitsfoot grass. No formal biological surveys of this site have been conducted, so it is unknown whether special-status plants or wildlife are present. Special- status species that could occur on the site include San Joaquin spearscale, heartscale, California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog, and vernal pool tadpole shrimp. Cattle grazing occurs on the site but appears to be having only moderate impacts. Light to moderate livestock grazing may be beneficial to alkali grassland species because cattle reduce the cover of nonnative plants. Further study of this site is warranted to determine whether special-status species occur. Ecosystem Functions Wetland functional values are provided through several physical and biological processes (National Research Council 2001). Perennial and seasonal wetlands function as essential habitat for amphibians that depend on aquatic environments for reproduction and juvenile development. These wetlands also • provide high levels of insect production, which in turn creates a major food source for amphibians, birds, and other insectivorous species. The cyclical nature of inundation and drought in seasonal wetlands allows these systems to support a unique suite of highly adapted biota. Perennial wetlands are permanent water sources during the dry season in an otherwise arid landscape and thus function as essential habitat for a wide variety of water-dependent • wildlife. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-62 October 2010 • ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting Wetlands also perform important functions with regard to physical processes. • For example, wetlands play an important role in regulating biogeochemical cycles such as the nitrogen cycle. Wetlands also mediate flows in local streams and springs by providing temporary surface water storage and gradual recharge to local aquifers. On a small scale,wetlands in the study area also reduce erosion and sedimentation by reducing surface runoff. Marshes recharge groundwater supplies and moderate streamflow by providing water to streams. This is an especially important function during periods of drought. The presence of marshes in a watershed helps to reduce damage caused by floods by slowing and storing floodwater. As water moves slowly through a marsh, sediment and other pollutants settle down to the bottom of the marsh. Marsh vegetation and microorganisms also use excess nutrients for growth that can otherwise pollute surface water such as nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizer. 2.4.3.7 Open Water Open water land cover types consist of open water or aquatic habitats such as lakes, reservoirs, rivers, canals, and ponds (including quarry and stock ponds) that do not support emergent vegetation. Open water habitat in the study area is classified into five land cover types: • ® pond, ® quarry pond, ® reservoir, st stream, and • ® canal/aqueduct. Open water land cover types were historically less prevalent than they are • currently. With the exception of stream land cover, lakes, reservoirs, and ponds did not exist in the study area until they were built to support livestock and provide a water supply for the human population. • Open Water Land Cover Types Pond There are estimated to be 686 ponds that occupy approximately 413 acres (0.15%) of the study area (Table 2-4). Ponds are scattered evenly through the study area, particularly in areas surrounded by California annual grassland, where grazing is likely to occur(Figure 2-8). Ponds are important habitat networks that facilitate species movement and increase breeding diversity. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-63 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • Ponds are small (less than 20 acres) perennial or seasonal water bodies with little or no vegetation. If vegetation is present, it is typically submerged or floating. Ponds may occur naturally or may be created or expanded for livestock use (stock ponds). All ponds discernible on aerial photographs were mapped. Ponds were easily discernible on the basis of two distinctive aerial photograph signatures. One signature— smooth, uniform, and dark black—indicates deeper and less turbid ponds. The other signature—light gray-brown—generally indicates a shallower or more turbid pond. The latter signature was more • difficult to discern on the aerial photographs. Where discernible,this land cover type was mapped to the high water line. Some wetland land cover types were likely included as ponds if vegetation was sparse or not visible on photos. The minimum mapping unit was 0.25 acre. Additional ponds not discernible through the aerial photograph analysis are likely located through the study area. The majority of the ponds in the study area are most often stock ponds that provide water to grazing livestock. Lands historically used for grazing, but currently protected as open space, also contain historical stock ponds in disrepair that may be a result of not using grazing as a management tool. Plants often associated with ponds include floating plants such as duckweed (Lemna spp.) or rooted plants such as cattails, bulrushes,sedges, rushes, watercress, and water primrose. Stock ponds are often surrounded by pasture with grazing livestock. Immediately adjacent to the stock pond,soil may be exposed due to • the continued presence of livestock. Stock ponds without grazing may be overgrown and surrounded by wetland vegetation including willows,cattails, reeds, bulrushes, sedges, and tules,thus reducing habitat value for wildlife. Focal species that use ponds during all or part of the year include California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog, and tricolored blackbird. These species rely on ponds and browsing animals for breeding sites. No focal plants are associated with ponds. Quarry Pond Quarry ponds occupy approximately 1,246 acres (0.46%)of the study area (Table 2-4) in 53 sites. Quarry ponds were differentiated from nonquarry ponds in aerial photos due to their location within quarries and their lack of vegetation. Quarry ponds are concentrated in eastern Pleasanton and western Livermore and along Alameda Creek, in the Sunol Valley(Figure 2-8). The majority of quarry ponds lack vegetation because of a number of factors, including frequent fluctuations in water level, high levels of turbidity, and steep slopes. Quarry ponds that maintain constant water levels or that have been removed from active use (i.e., are fallow) have vegetation associations similar to those of other ponds. They may have a dense cover of tules, cattails, or willows along the pond margins, with limited emergent vegetation in the deeper interior • sections. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-64 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting The age and size of a quarry pond influences its biological productivity and • potential to support wildlife and plant species. Like other aquatic resources, reclaimed or late-stage quarry ponds may provide foraging and resting habitat for a variety of wildlife species. These late-stage quarry ponds can support fish, waterfowl, and invertebrates. However, because most of the quarry ponds in the study area are in use and subject to high levels of turbidity and extreme fluctuations in water level, they do not support habitat for wildlife or plants. However, quarries in general can support breeding amphibians. Quarrying operations for sand, aggregate, and gravel in the study area are located on wide alluvial floodplain terraces. Accordingly, development of quarry ponds can have a profound effect on the local hydrologic cycle and associated stream habitat and biota. The quarry ponds in the Sunol Valley tend to be deep and appear to be dug well below the depth of the local water table. Thus,these ponds may lower the local water table, reducing groundwater inputs into the stream and reducing available soil moisture for riparian plants. The effects of this hydrologic alteration may be compounded by groundwater intercepting and collecting in the quarry pond before it reaches the stream channel. Lowered local groundwater levels would also affect the stream by increasing surface water losses to groundwater during the dry season. No focal species use quarry ponds in the study area as habitat, though western burrowing owls could use berms and levees around the edge of quarry ponds if California ground squirrels were present. The ability of this land cover type to support focal species is subject to its primary purpose and management directives. Reservoir Reservoirs cover 1,886 acres (0.69%) of the study area (Table 2-4). Reservoirs are open water bodies, larger than 20 acres,that are managed for water storage, water supply,flood protection, and/or recreational uses. These features were easily targeted on aerial photographs based on the smooth, uniform, dark signatures of open water. Where discernible, reservoirs were mapped to the high water line. The high water line was observed on the aerial photographs as either obvious rings of sparse vegetation or an open water signature. The major reservoirs in the study area are San Antonio, Calaveras (partially in the study area), Lake del Valle, Chain of Lakes, and Bethany. San Antonio Reservoir, impounded by the James H.Turner Dam,was constructed in 1964 and is located 1.5 miles upstream of San Antonio Creek's confluence with Alameda Creek. San Antonio Reservoir can store approximately 50,500 of of water from a number of sources, including Alameda Creek,the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct, and the SWP. Calaveras Reservoir was completed in 1925 and is located on Calaveras Creek, 0.8 mile upstream of its confluence with Alameda Creek. This reservoir is currently maintained at 30%of capacity because of • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-65 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • seismic concerns. At full capacity, this reservoir can store approximately 96,900 af of water. Lake del Valle is located approximately 5 miles south of Livermore. The lake is created by Del Valle Dam,which was placed on Arroyo del Valle. This lake receives water from the local watershed and the SWP and provides water for the South Bay Aqueduct. At full capacity,this reservoir can store approximately 77,100 af of water(DWR 2001). Bethany Reservoir is located about 10 miles northwest of Tracy in Alameda County. The reservoir serves as a forebay for the South Bay Pumping Plant and a conveyance facility in this reach of the California Aqueduct. At full capacity, this reservoir can store approximately 4,804 af of water(DWR 2001). Plants often associated with reservoirs include those plants common to deep water systems. Algae are the predominant plant life found in the open waters of reservoirs. Depending on reservoir temperature,water level, and other environmental conditions, algal blooms may occur, resulting in thick algal mats on the surface of the reservoir. If the reservoir edges are shallow, plant species similar to those found in ponds may be present. If the reservoir has steeper edges,water depth and fluctuations in reservoir height may prevent the establishment of vegetation. Upland and riparian trees that were not removed • during the construction of the reservoir, or that were planted afterwards, may be present around the perimeter of the reservoir. Focal species that could use the margins of reservoirs, or the inlets where streams flow into reservoirs, include California red-legged frog and tricolored blackbird. Stream The stream land cover type covers 244 miles within the study area (Table 2-4). Major streams in the study area include Alameda Creek,San Antonio Creek, Arroyo Valle, Arroyo Mocho,Arroyo Las Positas,Altamont Creek, and Tassajara Creek(Figure 2-7).Streams can be unvegetated along their banks or support various types of riparian vegetation. Streams that support riparian vegetation were categorized into one of the three riparian land cover types. For a complete picture of the extent of streams in the study area the stream and riparian land covers should be considered together. The stream land cover type includes perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral watercourses characterized by a defined bed and bank. Perennial streams support flowing water year-round in normal rainfall years. These streams are often marked on USGS quadrangle maps with a blue line;and are known as blue-line streams. In the semiarid Mediterranean climate of the study area with its wet and dry seasons, perennial streamflows are enhanced in the dry season • through groundwater aquifer contributions,flows from shallower springs/seeps, East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-66 October 2010 . ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 2 Environmental Setting and reservoir releases. Intermittent (seasonal) streams carry water though most of the wet season (November—April) and are dry through most or all of the dry season (May—October) in a normal rainfall year. More specifically, in the wet season, intermittent streamflow occurs when the water table is raised, or rejuvenated, following early season rains that fill shallow subsurface aquifers. Intermittent flows can also be considered as the baseflows between storm events that continue on through much of the winter season. Ephemeral streams carry water only during or immediately following a rainfall event. The stream land cover type is most closely associated with riparian plants (see the "Riparian Forest and Scrub" section above for discussion of riparian land cover types). The riparian plant composition and width of the riparian corridor vary depending on channel slope, magnitude and frequency of channel and overbank flows, and the frequency/duration of flooding flows that inundate the broader floodplain. Willows may become established in-channel in areas of sediment deposition, unless suppressed by intensive grazing. Woody debris, such as fallen trees that are submerged in streams, provides good habitat and shelter for fish and aquatic invertebrates. Stream systems provide habitat for aquatic macroinvertebrates, which are an important food source for local and downstream populations of fish, birds, and other animals. Alameda Creek in the study area is used by rainbow trout. Further downstream, below the flood control drop structure (Bay Area Rapid • Transit weir) adjacent to the Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area and outside of the study area, central California coast steelhead and Central Valley fall-run Chinook salmon have been observed. Central California coast steelhead use streams with suitable depths,velocities, and temperatures for juvenile rearing and feeding. Juvenile Central Valley fall-run Chinook salmon use the margins of rivers and streams after emerging from gravels to feed. They also use overhanging vegetation and substrate for cover. Focal species that rely on stream land cover include California red-legged frog,foothill yellow-legged frog, and tricolored blackbird. Alameda whipsnake and San Joaquin kit fox could use the riparian corridors adjacent to stream habitats for movement corridors. Canal/Aqueduct Canal/aqueduct land cover type covers 198 acres (0.07%) of the study area (Table 2-4). Both the California Aqueduct and the South Bay Aqueduct run through the northeast corner of the study area (Figure 2-8). Due to the nature of these human-made structures, canals and aqueducts are often managed for minimal vegetation to enhance the flow of water through the channels. They also convey a large amount of water and contain deep water with swift flow year-round. While these canals and aqueducts can serve as loafing habitat for some waterfowl species,they generally do not have much habitat value. In addition, because these waterways are so wide and deep, they create barriers to movement on the landscape for terrestrial species. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-67 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • No focal species use the canal/aqueduct land cover type as habitat. Ecosystem Functions Open water land cover types perform a variety of functions in both biological and physical terms. Biologically, water is the most critical component required to support the life cycle of all aquatic and terrestrial species. Open water land cover types support the species at the lowest level of the food chain—algae. Aquatic invertebrates feed on algae and other plant debris in streams, ponds, and reservoirs. In turn,these invertebrates become food for fish, birds, bats, and other insect-feeding species. The cycle continues up the food chain, supporting species of the highest trophic levels, including large carnivores and humans. Physically, stream systems, most notably natural stream systems, provide the essential conduits to convey flows, sediments, and nutrients across the watershed. Streams transport weathered minerals and eroded sediments from upper watershed source areas through intermediate watershed positions ultimately to lower watershed depositional areas or discharges beyond the watershed. While the general, and classical, characterization of watersheds into upper erosional, middle transitional, and lower depositional areas may often • hold true, in greater detail, all areas of the watershed can witness erosion, transport, or storage functions. Nutrients from exposed soil and decomposed organic matter are also carried downstream with the sediment, across the valley floor, and finally into the estuary. Alluvial soils, high in organic content and nutrients, are excellent for agriculture. Sediment influx to estuaries helps maintain a marshland buffer along the shoreline that supports a myriad of • wildlife. Streams provide ecosystem functions and values much greater than the proportion of the landscape they occupy. Streams provide habitat for a wide array of aquatic insects that, in turn,function as food for amphibians, birds, and other insectivorous species. Perennial streams function as permanent water sources in an otherwise dry landscape. Streams also provide movement corridors between different terrestrial communities. In this way, networks of ephemeral,seasonal, and perennial streams link chaparral/scrub, oak woodland, riparian woodland, and grassland habitats. These links are not only important for the movement of wildlife, but also represent the fastest means of transporting energy and nutrients through a watershed. Thus, it is through stream networks that organic matter and minerals are transported from the highlands and deposited in the lowlands. Stock ponds enhance all other habitats in terms of value for wildlife. Ephemeral ponds in particular,typically provide adequate breeding conditions for California tiger salamander and California red-legged frogs. Since these ponds dry in the • summer, they are not suitable for non-native amphibians such as bullfrogs or East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-68 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • fish. However, if ponds dry too early (June)they will not be wet long enough for • CTS or CRLF to complete their breeding cycle. Many upland species rely on streams and ponds as water sources, especially during the dry summer months. Quarry ponds have little ecological value and contribute few ecological services. Quarrying operations can be sources of sediment in a watershed, as well as raising water temperature in streams downstream of water release points.This in turn can have a negative effect on native stream species, including migratory fishes. Reservoirs are typically sediment sinks, obstructing the natural sediment transport of streams. Through natural processes, streams erode sediment from streambanks and move it downstream. In an unimpeded setting, sediment carried from the upper watershed is deposited along the length of the stream, thus creating an equilibrium of eroded and deposited sediment. When a dam is built across a stream, all but some of the finest sediment transported from the upper watershed drops out of suspension in the-reservoir, where velocities are too low to maintain the sediment load. The resulting effect is that downstream reaches are sediment-starved, and no new sediment is available to replace eroded sediment downstream of the dam. This results in the stream downcutting and deepening and also results in a reduction in gravels suitable for steelhead and salmon spawning downstream of reservoirs. In addition, large reservoirs fill with and store large amounts of turbid storm runoff. Settling of the finer clay and silt particles may take months, resulting in persistent releases of turbid water in winter and early spring. The slowly settling materials may also result in much higher turbidities near the bottom outlet valve than in the surface waters. While the natural streams upstream of reservoirs rapidly clear between storms, the streams downstream of reservoirs may be persistently turbid and interfere with steelhead and salmon feeding in winter and spring, reducing their growth and potential ocean survival. In addition,the slowly released fine sediments may result in silty substrate below the reservoirs, reducing survival of eggs in spawning gravels and abundance of insects. In addition, because the reservoirs are deep and store cool winter runoff, the water released out of the bottom of the reservoir can be much cooler than the surface water and also cooler than the stream upstream of the reservoir in late spring and summer. The primary function of canals and aqueducts is to transport water for agricultural irrigation and for urban and suburban uses. The modification of channels results in a more linear alignment and does not allow a channel to meander as it would in its natural state. This results in higher flows and potential scour of the stream channel (e.g. Arroyo Mocho). Engineered channels are often constructed with high levees or channel walls. High walls keep flows within the channel and protect property that has been built adjacent to the stream. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-69 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • 2.4.3.8 Cultivated Agriculture Cultivated agriculture encompasses all areas where the native vegetation has been cleared for irrigated agricultural use or dryland farming. This natural community does not include rangeland, which is characterized as an agricultural land use (most rangeland in the study area is classified as annual grassland and considered above in Section 2.4.3.1, "Grassland"). The irrigated agriculture community is classified into four land cover types: • orchard, e vineyard, • developed agriculture, and • cropland. In all of these cases,the land may have been in production in the past but showed little or no sign of crop production currently (e.g.,fallow fields). In some instances, these land cover types were indistinguishable on aerial photographs (e.g., newly planted orchards strongly resemble row crops). In such cases, the area in question was mapped as cropland. • Cultivated Agriculture Land Cover Types Orchard Orchards are those areas planted in fruit-bearing trees. Orchards were distinguished on the basis of tree cover, canopy characteristics, and distinctive production rows. Most orchards in Alameda County are olive orchards. Orchards comprise an estimated 203 acres of the study area (0.1%)at 11 distinct sites (Table 2-4). There are two fallow orchards in western Pleasanton (Figure 2-8). The remaining orchards in the study area are located south of Livermore, intermixed with vineyards. Some focal species may be found in orchards. For example,where natural open spaces abut, some individual San Joaquin kit foxes or American badgers may move through orchards. Orchards are less suitable as denning habitat for these species. Several species of birds, including western burrowing owl, tricolored blackbird, and golden eagle may forage around the edges of orchards. California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander may disperse through orchards between areas of more suitable habitat. Vineyard Vineyards are identified on the basis of a row production pattern and canopy • • characteristics. Vineyards appeared similar to orchards on the aerial East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-70 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting photographs but were characterized by more closely spaced rows with a • smaller, less dense vegetation canopy. Vineyards occupy 2,684 acres of the study area (1.0%) (Table 2-4). Vineyards , are mostly located south of Livermore,though some vineyard development is also starting north of Livermore (Figure 2-8). Vineyard development in natural habitats substantially degrades wildlife habitat. Some focal species are sometimes observed in vineyards (e.g., foraging and movement). In some areas, nonnative weedy vegetation, such as thistles, mustards, and a variety of other weedy forbs, may be found. Developed Agriculture Developed agriculture was identified by the presence of large agricultural buildings, such as greenhouses and shadehouses (associated with nurseries), corrals,wineries, barns/sheds, or housing. Aerial photographic signatures were generally distinctive because of their large agricultural structures or high densities of livestock. This land cover type occupies 526 acres (0.2%) of the study area in small patches scattered throughout the study area (Table 2-4). Focal species that may be found in this land cover type include western burrowing owl (e.g., in some of the larger corrals that may be less intensively used), golden eagle, tricolored blackbird (foraging), San Joaquin kit fox, and American badger. This land cover • can similarly be used by California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander as upland or movement habitat. Cropland • • • Tilled land not appearing in the aerial photographs to support orchard or vineyard was mapped as cropland. Cropland is the most common of the farmland land cover types in the low-lying areas of the study area, occupying 7,923 acres (2.9%) (Table 2-4). Croplands are abundant throughout the Livermore Valley north and south of the city of Livermore (Figure 2-8). Row-crops are those areas tilled and cultivated for agricultural crops such as corn, grain,strawberries, peppers, and pumpkins. These row-crops can also be converted to other agricultural uses. Follow fields include fields that were not in production at the time of aerial photos, but may be utilized for grain, row-crops, and hay and pasture in subsequent years. Hay and pasture include both dryland settings and irrigated areas. The key difference between hay production and pasture is that crops are harvested onsite and consumed offsite (hay is also cut, bailed, and trucked offsite), whereas pasture is consumed by livestock onsite. Common vegetation includes fast-growing forage grasses, such as wild oats and Italian ryegrass, as well as irrigated legumes such as alfalfa, sweet clover, and true clover. In some areas, • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-71 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • nonnative weedy vegetation, such as thistles, mustards, and a variety of other weedy forbs, are also common. Focal species expected to be found in this land cover type are tricolored blackbird, western burrowing owl, callippe silverspot butterfly, and golden eagle, all of which forage in grain crops and pastures. Western burrowing owls may also breed in agricultural settings if ground squirrel burrows are present. San Joaquin kit fox may move through this land cover type if it occurs near suitable grassland areas. California tiger salamander and California red-legged frog disperse through croplands to reach suitable breeding and upland habitat. Ecosystem Functions This land cover type has relatively low value for native plants and wildlife in terms of habitat that supports full life cycle needs of focal species. Nonetheless, cultivated agriculture does provide some benefit, although species composition and habitat value depends heavily on the planting cycle. For example, cropland has a higher value for terrestrial mammals (e.g., black-tailed jackrabbit) and herbivorous birds (e.g., red-winged blackbird) near harvest time, when the standing crop is mature and produces a quantity of food (e.g.,fruit,seeds),than it does after the harvest when the cropland is fallow. Agricultural production methods can also have an impact on wildlife use. For example, production • practices such as clean farming,where farm edges are maintained as vegetation-free areas, reduce cover and movement opportunities for wildlife; on the other hand, wildlife friendly farming, where native cover crops and hedgerows are used between crops and on farm edges, can increase opportunities for wildlife use in croplands. In addition, cultivated agricultural lands often play a key role in providing connectivity between larger open space areas, especially in urbanized areas such as the Livermore Valley. Maintaining connectivity between patches of natural land cover that provide habitat supports a diversified genetic pool due to the ability of populations to disperse, comingle, and interbreed. Cultivated . agriculture also often is associated with streams used for irrigation that may support riparian vegetation,trees (planted as windbreaks), and shrubs. These areas may provide habitat to songbirds, raptors, amphibians, and reptiles, as well as provide a movement corridor for other species. 2.4.3.9 Developed Developed land cover types were mapped and described for the study area in order to describe the extent and distribution of modified lands. Developed areas were classified into the land cover types listed below: • IN urban-suburban, East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-72 October2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting ® rural-residential, • m landfill/solid waste, m golf courses/urban parks, ® ornamental woodland; and a ruderal. Developed land cover types were mapped on the basis of their distinct signatures on aerial photographs and are readily distinguishable from naturally occurring signatures in any terrain. The minimum mapping unit for all developed land cover types was 10 acres. Developed Land Cover Types Developed land cover types cover 35,469 acres (13.1%) of the study area (Table 2-4). Developed areas comprise all types of development for residential, commercial, industrial,transportation, landfill, landscaping, and recreational uses (e.g.,sites with structures, paved surfaces, horticultural plantings,golf courses, and irrigated lawns). Developed sites were mapped on the basis of their distinct signatures on aerial photographs. Developed areas are often characterized by geometric or regular shapes and are readily distinguished from • naturally occurring signatures in any terrain. Urban-Suburban Urban-suburban areas comprise 28,973 acres (10.7%) of the study area (Table 2-4). The major urban-suburban area in the study area includes the cities of Livermore, Pleasanton, and Dublin. The urban-suburban land cover comprises areas where the native vegetation has been cleared for residential, commercial, industrial, transportation, or recreational structures, and is defined as one or more structures per 2.5 acres. These include areas that have structures, paved and impermeable surfaces, horticultural plantings, and lawns smaller than 10 acres (irrigated lawns larger than 10 acres were mapped as urban parks). Many small, rural residential areas were observed in the study area. Such areas were mapped as urban if they exhibited at least 10 acres of buildings, turf, and pavement. Rural residential areas of less than 10 acres that were adjacent to or surrounded by agriculture and/or natural land cover types were mapped as the adjacent land cover type. Vegetation found in the urban-suburban land cover type is usually in the form of landscaped residences, planted street trees (i.e., elm, ash, liquidambar, pine, palm), and parklands. Most of the vegetation is composed of nonnative or cultivated plant species. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-73 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • It is less likely that focal species would be found in urban-suburban areas. The exception would be western burrowing owl, which sometimes thrives in suburban areas that have been cleared for development (prior to development occurring). In addition, the alkali wetlands that occur in north Livermore (adjacent to urban development) support may alkali wetland species, including the palmate-bracted bird's beak. Rural Residential Rural residential areas comprise 3,198 acres (1.2%) of the study area (Table 2-4). Rural residential areas are mainly located in the foothills that surround the cities of Livermore, Pleasanton, and Dublin (Figure 2-8). • The rural residential land cover type is similar to the urban-suburban type except that it is typically much less dense (defined as less than one structure per 2.5 acres) and usually contains extensive landscaping and/or irrigated lands (including small areas of pasture). Several covered species may be found in urban-suburban areas. Mobile species such as golden eagle, western burrowing owl, tricolored blackbird, San Joaquin kit fox, or American badger may move through rural residential land cover if it occurs adjacent to or near natural habitat. Similarly, California tiger salamander may utilize areas that have open grasslands and are near suitable breeding sites. • Callippe silverspot butterfly will move through rural residential areas to disperse between patches of grassland. Landfill The landfill land cover type comprises 536 acres (0.2%)of the study area (Table 2-4). There are 14 landfills within the study area, only five of which are currently active (Figure 2-1). The two largest active landfills are the Altamont Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility and the Vasco Road Sanitary Landfill. The Altamont Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility has a 2,130-acre permitted facility boundary and a 472-acre permitted disposal area. The Vasco Road Sanitary Landfill has a 326-acre facility boundary and a 222-acre permitted disposal area (California Integrated Waste Management Board 2009). Landfills are those areas where vegetation has been cleared and large amounts of soil have been moved for solid waste disposal. Typically,these areas are excavated pits into which refuse is placed and compacted. After a landfill is closed and capped, it may be returned to natural habitats through planting and management. Only active landfills were mapped in this category. Although inactive landfills were mapped as either ruderal or the natural land cover type in the surrounding area, dften annual grassland, much of their area may be capped and not support ground-burrowing mammals. • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-74 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting Landfills are highly disturbed areas while in use. They often attract some • wildlife,such as gulls, crows, pigeons, and rats. Golf Courses/Urban Parks Urban parks and golf courses comprise 2,759 acres (1.0%) of the study area Table 2-4). Urban parks are located within cities in the study area and tend to be smaller in scale than a county or regional park. Many serve as neighborhood or community parks. Urban parks and golf courses are located throughout the urbanized areas of the study area (Figure 2-8). Golf courses and urban parks are composed predominantly of nonnative vegetation and provide limited habitat for native wildlife. Urban parks are unlikely to support any focal species. Golf courses on the fringe of urban areas are known to support California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog, western burrowing owl, or tricolored blackbird, particularly if ponds are present on or near the golf course. Habitat quality in and around golf courses is typically of lower quality because golf course apply fertilizers and other chemical treatments that may run off into waterways and onto adjacent lands during rain events. Ornamental Woodland • The ornamental woodlands land cover type comprises only 40 acres (0.01%) of • the study area (Table 2-4). Ornamental woodland was mapped primarily in areas surrounded by development, where the signatures on aerial photographs and locations did not meet the characteristics of oak or riparian woodlands. • Ornamental woodland was included as a separate land cover type because some stands could provide habitat for raptors or other migratory birds. Ornamental woodlands are those areas where ornamental and other introduced species of trees, including eucalyptus, have been planted or naturalized and dominate,forming an open to dense canopy. While ornamental woodland land cover does not provide appropriate habitat for most focal species,this land cover type may support breeding raptors, including the golden eagle. Ruderal • This land cover type is relatively common in the study area (4,798 acres; 1.8%) and generallytccurs on the edges of or within developed areas (Table 2-4). Areas mapped as ruderal are disturbed areas characterized by sparse nonnative, typically weedy vegetation. Most ruderal areas are vacant parcels surrounded by developed areas (Figure 2-8). Additional areas mapped as ruderal include most of the lands around gravel quarry ponds between Pleasanton and Livermore. Some areas mapped as ruderal may actually be cropland that has been left fallow for a year or more. Ruderal areas that have not experienced • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-75 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • substantial disturbance (e.g., disking)for a number of years may develop into annual grasslands. The minimum mapping unit for the ruderal land cover type was 10 acres. Where vegetation is present, ruderal land cover is dominated by a mixture of nonnative annual grasses and weedy species,such as black mustard,thistles, and wild radish,that tend to colonize quickly after disturbance. Wildlife common to ruderal habitats can include species closely associated with urban development, such as house sparrow, European starling, rock dove, western scrub-jay, black-tailed jackrabbit, raccoon, opossum, striped skunk, and house mouse. Focal species such as the western burrowing owl often use ruderal habitats in the Bay Area for both nesting and overwintering habitat. However, ruderal habitats frequently become overgrown with vegetation, which becomes fire-prone, dense, matted, and uninhabitable for wildlife species. 2.4.4 Habitat Connectivity and Wildlife Linkages This section explains the importance of habitat connectivity and wildlife linkages (also known as wildlife corridors), summarizes potential wildlife linkages that may exist in the study area, and discusses focal and other species that might use and be affected by the fragmentation of these corridors. • Urban sprawl, roads, conversion of wildlands, and other anthropogenic influences are fragmenting habitat throughout California. Habitat fragmentation is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity because it impedes or prevents the exchange of individuals and genetic material among populations of wildlife and plants, thereby reducing genetic diversity. Genetic diversity is important in a population because it increases the chances that individuals can • survive catastrophic events such as fire, disease, drought, or invasion by nonnative species. Moreover, entire populations may disappear by chance or from a catastrophic event. Habitat fragmentation may prevent suitable habitat from being recolonized from healthy populations after such an event. For larger species of mammals, long-distance movement and dispersal is an important aspect of their basic biology and is critical for their long-term survival. Habitat • connectivity and wildlife linkages are particularly important in the current setting of climate change; species need to disperse to find suitable habitat they can tolerate, which is fluctuating due to shifting climate patterns. Maintaining and preserving wildlife corridors is critical to the persistence and survival of many species (California Wilderness Coalition 2001). For the purposes of this strategy, wildlife linkages are defined as habitat areas that may allow for the long-distance movement of wildlife from one area to another. Linkages can be anything from a narrow strip of habitat that functions • as a tunnel or conduit (i.e., only permit movement but not breeding or foraging) to a large area of intact habitat that is used for movement or dispersal and • other life functions. There are two main reasons a species may need to use East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-76 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting wildlife linkages. Some species require linkages for periodic migrations among different habitat types used for breeding, birthing,feeding, or roosting. Wildlife movement from one important habitat area to another may vary from daily to seasonal migration depending on the species. The second need for a linkage is the permanent immigration or emigration of individuals among habitat patches, allowing for gene flow and recolonization after local extinction (Beier and Noss 2000; Hilty et al. 2006;Groom et al. 2006). Linkage requirements differ greatly from species to species. Specific characteristics of linkages, such as dimensions, location, and quality of habitat, can influence wildlife use. Wider linkages are more effective than narrower linkages (Merenlender and Crawford 1998, Hilty and Merelender 2004; Hilty et al. 2006;Groom et al. 2006). In addition, linkages that do not include adequate buffers from the urban interface or disturbed areas are not used as often. A linkage that does not function properly can become a "death trap" either by isolating individuals from a core population or by not delivering them to habitat that meets basic requirements for survival and reproduction (Groom et al. 2006). All of the focal species,to some degree, rely on habitat linkages to maintain populations and their genetic integrity. However, some of the more mobile focal species rely on habitat linkages extensively for movement. For example, San Joaquin kit fox moves through the Altamont Hills between populations in the southern portion of its range and Contra Costa County. Golden eagle also moves extensively through the study area during migration and for local foraging while resident in the area. The Pacific Flyway, which diverges into east Alameda County, is an important migration movement corridor for raptors and other bird species. Bobcat and cougar also commonly traverse this area in search of food. These species are examples of relatively long-distance movement that requires consideration of habitat linkages at a larger scale. In contrast, California tiger salamander and California red-legged frog move over smaller distances, often from pond to pond or wetland to stream. Their movement needs must therefore be considered at a more local scale, within the study area. Based on an assessment of the movement needs of the focal species and in order to assess and ultimately conserve connections at the scales discussed above,three categories of linkages are discussed below: m grassland corridors in east Alameda County, m aquatic-upland connectivity throughout the study area, and m riparian/stream connectivity throughout study area. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-77 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • • • 2.4.4.1 Grassland Corridors Historically, the grasslands in eastern Alameda County were all connected through the lowland valleys and stream systems through the Livermore Valley. The majority of this area has been converted to urban and agricultural uses, fragmenting and separating grassland habitat.The undeveloped northeastern . portion of the study area is also bisected by 1-580. This regional freeway creates a fairly impenetrable barrier between the northern and southern parts of the study area,with only a few linkages (undercrossings) under the freeway between Livermore and the Alameda/San Joaquin County line. Maintaining • contiguity of this eastern part of the study area is important to the integrity of the grassland habitat complex and the wildlife populations that depend on it. San Joaquin kit fox provides the best opportunity to discuss and perhaps study the connectivity of the grassland complex in the eastern part of the study area. The grassland complex in northeastern Alameda County contains a portion of the northernmost extent of the range for San Joaquin kit fox. Northern Contra Costa County is the northern extent of the taxon's range (USFWS 1998). The Altamont Hills in Alameda County are believed to provide an essential link to suitable kit fox habitat in the northern extreme of the species' range (H. T. Harvey &Associates 1997), allowing for genetic exchange between kit fox in • Contra Costa and Alameda Counties and those further south in San Joaquin, • Stanislaus, and Merced Counties. The primary kit fox range in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties is in the Diablo Range along the eastern portion of the two counties. This area is characterized by annual grasslands with pockets of oak woodland and chaparral habitats. There appear to be three primary kit fox linkages that cross 1-580 between the east edge of Livermore and the Alameda/San Joaquin County line. The main "corridor" is the wide grasslands flanking 1-580 between Vasco Road and Grant Line Road. This area could also be breeding and foraging habitat for the kit fox (i.e., not just used for movement). In order for this corridor to remain functional over time, some area would need to be protected on either side of 1-580 to ensure that the linkage remains open enough to facilitate kit fox movement. For the most part kit foxes moving through the Altamont Hills between northern and southern Alameda County are impeded by 1-580.There are two sizeable underpasses along the stretch of freeway between Livermore and the county line: near Greenville Road in Livermore, and near the San Joaquin County line at the Grant Line Road exit and North Midway Road (Jones &Stokes 2003).There are likely additional crossing opportunities under 1-580,through culverts (both water conveyance culverts and farm implement undercrossings) and along the edges of water transport canals (service roads). The importance of these small corridors to the connectivity of kit fox populations in Alameda County is • unknown, but because they are so few in number and provide the only connections along a very large and generally impassable freeway,they merit further study and may warrant protection. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-78 October 2010 • ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting In addition to San Joaquin kit fox, these linkages likely provide passage for • American badger; mule deer; California ground squirrel; and perhaps, in some instances, California red-legged frog; along with several other generalist wildlife species. In addition, Alameda County supports a relatively large population of nesting golden eagles (Hunt et at 1998). Golden eagles use annual grasslands as their primary foraging habitat. They are sensitive to fragmentation of this habitat, and smaller patch sizes may lead to declines in prey populations. 2.4.4.2 Aquatic-Upland Corridors Several special-status reptiles and amphibians rely on both aquatic and upland • habitats to complete their life cycle. These species use ponds, streams, and other aquatic habitats that are interspersed within the annual grassland/oak woodland/chaparral complex in eastern Alameda County. Details about how this applies to particular focal species are discussed in the "Species Accounts" (Appendix D). Generally, aquatic habitats such as streams and ponds provide important breeding habitat, while the matrix of upland habitats between those aquatic habitats and riparian corridors that are often found along streams provide movement habitat. This movement habitat, or corridor, allows individuals from the same species but different populations to interact and ultimately breed. This allows genetic flow between and within populations and protects the species from genetic homogeneity, which over time could result in • reduced numbers of individuals. To better understand the relationship between • aquatic breeding resources within the study area,the spatial relationship between ponds and streams was examined through GIS analysis. Using the pond data layer that was digitized during the land cover mapping process, a moving window analysis was used to highlight the relationship • between ponds in the study area. The moving window had a radius of 1-mile (3.14 square miles). This distance was chosen as a conservative compromise between typical movement distances of California tiger salamander and California red-legged frog. Each time the moving window was moved to a new location the density of ponds in the 3.14 mile2 areas was calculated. By repeating that process multiple times throughout the study area, a picture of the density of ponds and their relative distance to other ponds begins to emerge. Figure 2-9 shows aquatic features in the study area in relationship to one another to estimate the degree of connectedness for species such as California tiger salamander and California red-legged frog that can move between aquatic features inter-or intraseasonally. Parts of the study area,with a higher density of aquatic features,that are "connected" have a higher probability that individual red-legged frogs or tiger salamanders could interact with other members of the local populations. The exception to that rule occurs along the I- 580 corridor where the distance between aquatic resources is enough to provide reasonable connectivity to species, but the barrier that 1-580 creates • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 2-79 October 2010 ICE 00906.08 Chapter 2 Environmental Setting • precludes that connectivity in most cases. Arroyo Las Positas provides a movement corridor under I-580 in several places (Jones & Stokes 2003). Figure 2-9 also shows where there are longer distances between aquatic features. Some of these "gaps" in connectivity are the result of steeper topography,and thus a lack of stock ponds, but others are related to unnatural features on the landscape such as highways or reservoirs. Some of the areas where gaps in aquatic features emerge include: • area between Livermore and Dublin across Cayetano Creek —low pond density in this area seems to leave populations between Cottonwood Creek and Cayetano Creek isolated from those in the eastern part of the study area; • east of Livermore and south of I-580—this area has a low pond density relative to the rest of the study area; • north of Dublin, between Alamo Creek and Cottonwood Creek—this is a connection which would allow species to move from Alameda County northwest into Contra Coast County; • East Bay Hills north of Alameda Creek—there is relatively low pond density in the part of the study area. Sinbad Creek provides an aquatic connection through this part of the study area. • In Chapter 3, conservation opportunities are discussed with respect to how to create or restore habitats in these gaps that will increase regional connectivity for species dependent on aquatic features for at least part of their life cycle. 2.4.4.3 Stream-Riparian Corridors The importance of streams and associated riparian areas for the connectivity of the study area is discussed in both the stream and riparian woodland land cover . sections, above. At a landscape level, stream and riparian habitats connect the study area and serve and the primary source of nutrient movement through natural systems. At the species level, the primary functions of stream and riparian habitats are for movement and cover. Within the study area, these habitats provide movement and foraging habitat for several focal species, including Alameda whipsnake,San Joaquin kit fox, and California tiger salamander. 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O 0 u L- O m P O C m P P o L' _ O �' _ O m O F r O v O Q Q v N ¢O N C C.O N E • C N = U m O v m. 0 C u L = y 0 M m v u V L co Cl R'' L _N a m O .: IF, m C➢ L C .0 M C N EEN 'd 0 N V1 N C Y _ • IA m N y C PC C m e'. O (`" r L. m v O m gb N N U G v v 2, G N m 0 = L .0 un v u a' C 1- .� on Q - O C. C o . . a ... 0 en C cu f L •N 0.0(13 0. C C 0 N O. 'y r 6 F. >., c 17.. ti r4 o G• u L F a U ro y I • v ci V ca, U ` ,-, C '0 L 0 L L7 _� Cr 0 C U C n 0 C 0 v' \_ U 'O o C C O d U r;1 cc G , m 0 N „ • a > 0 N c N U c O. •• ...,—.E —' N C- � t> 0 o C p U U it \ N V.h N C r, „>' C C C O. C 0 U.E - v — C 0 1 0 ✓ U 0 O = r 0 U G U C C• L G U C U C h G co 'L _ "i ti U .^U.0 • E U > - . Vim] C U :^ ._ N ... G r C O 1 i+ �' 0, . ' *CJ J U ^ C ^ O G U v- l . U W CO U C ` U U J•-• N U C 0•^ O U U y n C U G 0 c - :3 r N 6c f .V ^ C = N FJ - O C O \C M . v u C U U U C . U G O _ G N C m : _ _ , L N V L^ l7 CJ _ > G - O Yk _- , 3 - 0. ,- - G- L G O # o N C v ; u ti vi ma G C C ' 0 -,p ti k. V J y n 17. N C U C N C G u C _ ^ u O v y0- � > J, u `i N = `N V, n C U ` U .0 U 0 U ' X 0_ 0 TO c N C G — C N N \ N U E G U n o u aoi z 0. o C n0 C „ o u ^ v � .. U l7 G N a Cu. O s - ".N ._ c J L' U c ti u ai c •E 2 o a - C. a > C N U .. ...I - m t J °' - C” C m G u 0 a - O C - E ^' u - C - 'a- s.- C.74•w U O y u . .0 E u o y ry C 2 O — U N 0 - > v c0 v y O L N {r C C m p "`� `� 'v = > - .y o C U C C - YU 6 o E .C., C E ✓ 0 - 6 ', E — CJ _, 0 - c to .'3 r CO ^0 o -0 'yU 'JI - N `1' CJ C N `� U O U = Ln] Q V C w Co . :` L L U Cl ^ r Ll] • O 0. - O .. •�- o C 'O = C _f 0 0 G C O .., m ¢ ¢ vN 3 ^c22 E_ - .O uu = c-0. G ti G G C c C C n N ,0 v 0 u G 2 i >. O ,*• C "O -0 C C O or .0 C - p- \r• L . . U GN v L � . G O C E J j O i > J T ti) 0 G 0 C J _ ] C tn CO= C C C E U d C U C _ C S L N ._ L C L X n U w. !Jl U .i ., Vi O E N r G t 76 OD •E Y ti E ¢ , a N L L In CD i C b L .- 41 •::: 0 i' E i C N 0 N " - > ' C ' O G G > > U c E L r v a 3 G' a v. u 0 PC N N' ".] Cfni U evi. eJ t^ C `-.` G C 'D L N _ cJ U U J G y U u .� .L O to .. II II II Ts r m ^ �'' ❑ CV .n 'G6 •, j \�_ : - E .D T O C N .-. r C' F- c- U U O C = — Y J = e- J C G N. i C. f- .C] C 0. - ~- u 0 N An �'_ E y be Z o G a _ _ 5 ._ > > le VI tui IV \w \ \e L. UtU a. o\\ � \ = U \ (7 / ( • § \ \ \ \ m ) \ ( \ \ § j \ / ( C � \ \ \ as 4e, !_ ) „ • \ \ \ S SI Table 2-2. Summary of Open Space in the Conservation Strategy as of October 2010 Open Space Acres in the Percentage of Open Percentage of • Classification Study Area Space in Study Area Total Study Area Type 1 4,238 6.2 1.6 Type 2 24,106 36.5 8.9 Type 3 31,322 46.1 11.5 Type 4 8,310 12.2 3.1 Total 67,976 100 25.0 t • e = oi a to .o o v >, N = T O 9 N L 7 O y bis d o o .E G 'CI A o > .O r CL.O E E � oa V C 'o 7 �C IL Vu Z o E 3 a T H C O a E 2 al ;.. V v 'o u y V a O C 'O y y o N U Z F y y C a C C C G N m 0+ M m C N v 0 m G m CO m V x ° 00 00 • O L L 0 m O 0 U b0� m x v O 0 V 3a 3 a a a ft,. o '° y C C C D .. Y U m . m x 2 m 0 0 C m 0 X 0 0 S 0 S m LC V .0 Z Z Q Z 04 V Z V O N et O O C 'O 'O 'O 'O 1 Y N R j C o A C A C O p W VI an d y w y u y 2 m > '-� C m m m o i0 h u ra L.01 °' S 11.0 110 110 b.0 „ o W L d o h v Lm at+ @ .0 v v v v v C L v d m bfl m 6' a 5 ¢ z .L .Y C .V y a ° A C y 3 0 "° .` C p y C Y ce) CO CO 0.14 c..)V L C G y C L O m CD Y 'O 2 f°C f7 L O co C 2 +' > C C a G P. v O -0 m C m d O C. m p O o p O O• o O v' Co m C y a > Y ti 3 0 Z Z ti Z Z 0' Z V1 a 3 D CO V C 10 U p N F N N 't 4 m >.C a X - 0 C y m a v C a 'O E C `2 y ° ,° J 7 > C C C .O C V O . u W O co O 'tC C u co co a m CO C L E \ a Cu p m U V co aF C co .io C L. 0 'R C C y C L L co y w 4. p a O L m N m C m m L p as L L L O \ m L O CO .E `� v y N y a N " a ,x 'Ctt.' a s u a •E .n= .0 ° y J C el o i0 w o sm. Lv `L. R L. 0 0 ° .mC .= k .0 ° u u ° o C h Z V V b0 Z b0 en 00 V b0 Z O: Z u u U Z y y m V m Y L Ln a+ a .O .O C N - N "o m '6 co 'O L \G N 0 C C C in C in C C C !0 m i0 ° O 'o O 17,co N m N m O L L .0 'Q O CO 3 =" ° E b s. Lm COO Y m�°L a 2 0 ft v T y cG F m To ILO m b0 E E ,a u r y o N C o .Ym. .Ym. c c d >. v = 'O E 0 14 U L o C C C C k Ep X y0 u 0 01 c`., 22 C a Co C "vma 3 > Z u c°� 00 0 C • C 0 U v o ri m v a ri • ° Ca V M CO c a m C CO O O O 0 O ti O 0 0 M 'C et 10 O O O O O O O O O O y L y' 0 O O O O 0 O O 0 O O 10 O y 0 co CO 0 0 so 0 0 N 00 W ft O Lc PO 0 ri N N CO C 2 O cc cc ( v.. co N .4 .4 N .0 O U N)N. f Ni Ni N O V O > a' d' d' �' M Z V1 M M M 1� 1\ C° 6O T ^y y N > 'o L U D ^ L y CO 03 N C CD CO vO. o as 0 C u CCI A V u N C s, t a 2 7 '.2 U .D CF C " b0 L O y a _XL C m m O YC CO v 'L CLi 'O m N y ar R !_x OL E \ G. Ou L 9 O o m ^' '7'2 L' v = � � vfr m c C E " o A v � I y w v °et o C °o d � C C Ca y F C �' h -Y Ta v y a ' G. ma v G L .O � 'a 3 ea e CO CP v -4 C7 V cO Z a cn eO Q y > C V Z u u E u Z y y O m c° m rat - 0 0 N O Cl N CO N CO N 0. o CC E 0 v o f0 0 V C P .0 In C t V 0 C C C o O Z >• a. .0 '7 O O u 0 C V �F C ❑ C o u v m m G .14. 3 3 .0 3 �, C C 'S o 0 o 0 y C C C C C - 0 U• >,V O O 0 a0. C C C C 0 C 1c .0 3 3 a a - o 'G C 'ttv o ... "Cl 4-1 eeC O CC 0 C O 0 a 1.. a aa.. app E al c wv .1 o 0 Z Z ix y z N a 3 a ¢ ap C C e 0 LA ra. m. L V b 6. 0 0 'S 0.'G ca C E• = eo 3 -o Po -o - 3 s y y Y .� C¢ .0 > c° F. v ° is a a 0 a. C is 3 y C o 0 ovm 1.) ED E 6 E � o aY' hH ,YLO s a a 0 LaL C 0 X p" O O O 0• 0 cC L L c _ 0 Y +'' C v) s0 X2. Z Z Z up 3 3 ,o_ ,° c-, 3 c. Z Z a Y N • b L• 0 ✓+ 0 O 0 C -z C C W 0 y t U To .▪ f0a d o 'E 'S C C L C m To ea 0 0 • C bL0 0 Y ? A C L > E +0 N _ L 0 L cu Y cL0 a O. 0 a'o 0 o C 0 .2 a-c Cl..c CO 3 0 N (J F" 0 C L L f0 O C L C L 7 t0 f0 ea _C -0 > X v O 0 Q. Ya C A 0 0 '3c b cm .y C Ya C al E ,°_ v°. 3 Z Z vy3 A $ C CJ .0 N Z a0 to 0 C C Y al 0 O a O C C 0 ti 0 — O C a Q P ■ C C L. a+ p v O >� C 4- s p o 0 v aai 0 a. 0 F. f4 " 4.1 L <C G L ,d y fi w a i F a' C 3 C la'+etr p a� a ry C a� W v v >. >+'G >+ t C t C C C fn "'▪ .a O G 7 C C NO a+ v 0. a� Lo y cy y' ,may ,cn t ✓ xf0' S °u m °u � �' > > C > LI. 0 L. c` 3 .too C co 0 O 0 0 O Et a E 0 0'. 0 CO V M C C 0 O N co C co 0 co '-i C 0 0 a', C 'D O O O O O O O O O O O L a O O O O - O O O O d O W N 0 O en 0, O vi O O O O N 0 .. Lt pp H '1 O an p M 0` N .ti O VS .ti C O 0 > CO CO CO Co L •0 1/40 1/40 In d' eh M Z N .0 >>, -0 N C C O C 9 C C Y 0 C '« CO b 0 c L k 00 h 'C oa w d `g 0-C o y >. d O b O y 0 > C .L 0 c�i v o y LLM ■ o G c a ii 7-e: ✓ A o a A v PQ eei N Cd C � C 3 —a0 a C c o � � $ 3 "0 C 3 ea a acc v v F o 0 7 m0 mo 03 v u ° <a y o co ca) cp.) ,a x ° u [rp.. 3 cps voi 3 CL en 3 ro �' 2 p a, C v Y a 0 3 a E v ¢ o a I a IA c � L M y CU L N c O c 7 >, O L C• bO 7 tu .0 c o m 0 A w E a m v v A to e " ' � `o o m CO o OS o ❑ E ° t ❑ .,0 a E- IX 9 C P. m to V a O O Z >, 0 V Fv m▪ 0 y o 0 0 7 p S V a F ' t " N u U C !0 y E m m v E v C c"v a s CU m o m oaa 0 C s s C c 'c o ' o a 0 C v U V Z C C C 7 V O > ❑ O F , Z 'd 0 a a 'D 8 5 L m s2 m a 0 U U y E S 0 c '° A A to � m "O 0 a 'v b 9 9 'v C 9 C .G �, a '° y w a i aa+ aa+ a a 'o^ a a. re cD v a y E v v . 7, o'A 0 n v v v 0 v o n. o o o b ty o o > ❑ 0 o v, > o a CO 01 v, Z 0 O O ❑ ❑ E Z ❑ Z a v m co C m Cis E m ^ m c>,o w C A o -0 o m C 3 ti> '0 a) .o `. v v t m uti � o LL V s ffi ' .1 al'L 0 3 ) ''°' >' F O o a a a V, 110 'O V 0 o V s L o an a 5 C m• A > > m C 0 G O 0 y m > 0 L, x ti C O co co ro >, v, Z u 7 x E C C Z V m 'O W. O O t °: O O a a O CO m H y C a .d O CO m J ro n. a oC ❑ m a, >, o 0 H L co Le A. b O a . t E C C A E 3° '' 0 u 'u m 0- > o CZ a u c co cc ee L m o S T - .] C C z u O O t V 5 0 a L N. N O a N O y a A -0- ca v v v CI 2 C C G m 'G m 0 E sY N z y°_, i a a, a, 0 a, a, 0 a, v C y 0 a! 0 a, a Cu CIO 0 C C C C C C C C C C C C C V. ,.. 0p „_ a 0 O O O O O O O O O O O 0 0 CJ O > Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z O >>, L C 7 v 2 V C aa, m •i 3 m m o v °a C t L + m O C V v, C' 0 C U a CO O L a. o Ca Jr° v o U D ° a b d m V O a, O " O E L, v a 7 - co ...-0 cla° H v a N o — 5 A a a a E o et el a+ w zy L o c o m D Y a a O rt. fl :0 o s . o m a w R " O m m > A o 0 Y LC L v SI V CO 7 C,. E 0 0 L 0. 7 C O m CO 1- m O ..J a CC V c. CI V o > 0 0 a o © a _z o a Z 0 a • m m L CO CO Lo n u • u 0 9 u Q c II Q ttj U a r O • u C (E N O u C u ti t' Gt. r C • In r L Z Z QJ s u C L ti C C • C Q O LJ C ? • C U O m Z ti w > C a L a U v V ';.12 ti - o F � O ' ▪ U > O L L N it ea U i' R G E n O N ((to' O Q N cu 0 y O O j O C N N N N N V V v C 0 0 Y • v 2 L o 0 V) it M I N N LI 0 0 0 G C C 0 0 0 CO I- n v in Table 2-4. Land Cover Types and their Extent in the Study Area Page 1 of 2 Percent of • Study Area Vegetation Type #of Polygons Acres' (%) Grasslands California annual grassland 452 116,828 43 Non-serpentine native bunchgrass grassland (not mapped) NA NA NA Serpentine bunchgrass grassland 9 241 0.09 Alkali meadow and scalds 41 977 0.4 Rock outcrop 22 99 0.04 Valley sink scrub 133 410 0.15 Chaparral and Coastal Scrub Northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral 92 2,684 1 Mixed serpentine chaparral 54 3,788 1 Northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub 245 2,700 1 Oak Woodland Blue oak woodland 553 26,321 10 Valley oak woodland NA NA NA Coast live oak woodland and forest 72 1,221 0.5 Mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland 394 32,497 12 • Conifer Woodland Foothill pine—oak woodland 142 22,695 8 Coulter pine woodland 6 74 0.03 Sargent cypress woodland 1 653 0.2 Riparian Forest and Scrub Sycamore alluvial woodland 22 597 0.2 Mixed riparian forest and woodland 150 2,323 1 Mixed willow riparian scrub 39 664 0.2 Wetlands Perennial freshwater marsh 12 62 0.02 Seasonal wetland3 80 5473 0.2 Alkali wetland 427 717 0.3 Vernal Pool See seasonal wetland Open Water(Aquatic)2 Pond 686 413 0.2 Quarry pond 53 1,246 0.5 Streams 43 2444 0.2 Reservoir 13 1,886 1 • • Table 2-4. Continued Page 2 of 2 • Percent of Study Area Vegetation Type #of Polygons Acres' (%) Canal/aqueduct 9 198 0.1 Cultivated Agriculture Developed agriculture 29 526 0.2 Cropland 47 7,923 3 • Orchard 12 203 0.1 Vineyard 31 2,684 1 Ruderal 49 4,798 2 • Developed Urban-suburban 109 28,973 11 Rural—residential(<1 unit per 2.5 acres) 123 3,198 1 Golf courses/urban parks 98 2,759 1 Landfill/solid waste 3 536 0.2 Ornamental woodland 3 40 0.01 Total 5,109 271,485 100 Discrepancies between the total acreage of the study area (271,485) and the total of all land cover types • shown in this table are the result of rounding land cover acreages to the nearest whole number. 2 The number of polygons identified for each wetland or open water land cover type is equal to the total number of water bodies(e.g.,686 polygons for the pond land cover type indicates there are 686 mapped ponds in the study area). Numbers for wetlands indicate single wetlands or wetland complexes(e.g., seasonal wetlands). a Seasonal wetlands include vernal pool complexes.While there are data available on many of the vernal pools that exist in the study area,the dataset is incomplete.In order to ensure that all seasonal wetlands are investigated to determine if they have vernal pool characteristics this land cover category has been kept general. 4 The number represented in streams miles. • • • d J of N C M O t0 v ra .on.. VI i c N QJ vii of=' L O — R F. c u ¢ ,n o �$a = u C C p O N y (a o ,0 m 01 cCi RI _ '� d 0 , C of c O NC n= c 5. 7 rp � !�r'S S o .o c c cuC d C L 2O J C c 3 .� C v E O 2 f0 O ,�,m o O 2 N LE o a ci o G 0 d l.7 rO aT. N E c N J O C LL N ¢ 0HCm'm mEc '6vme �� R 01- 2 rco c c _c rro a, E o ,-' v t c c c- N > v = 'E �a�W�0a - SELL _ 7 7 N - i , v 2V,1,-0' v-• a" m ii,Q. C••E y V O O + ry " 2i 2 . Ol N O to > 2 ._ c 3 ¢ V u_ o_ O Esi §E uE =E a a+ E •C O 0 � m v 2 v� J � = d ¢ � D V 2 � 2 a § In .- O rn .a - .c C _ 'N g O 0 0 1 imui1iH 4- 2 J '• I i 1 f 1 /(;uno3 uinbeor ues . ° 0' / ..-' \,z • z O. III ` ca; eo IL ' ..,...11," , co L ir CO oti o \ , N Alt'4:4 c ,, (,^r AWE IIL, A 2.) ° +:ate ., , SIN,I IN %t,t';'kkiz ►► � .• 111 141�►1�1 / r _ •• _ k 6 it , , =Immo%‘a..■-■ a 0 • rt `• o 0 0 wAt ar �� N. \„ , so , i ..._ . eh, . _ , iiiird, c . 0 ,.. . ±..... , E 0 * as D 7141;5—ri":..0 • Is the land subject to irrevocable protection '`"" " Type 1 Open Space against a change in primary land use through local,state or federal _At, Type 2 Open Space Is the primary authority? management goal related to ecological protection? Is the land managed as ---- ' Type 3 Open Space open space and does it „0 provide some ecological value? Q Type4OpenSpace Open Space (Public Lands&Private Easements') Criteria Type 1: Permanently protected public or private lands subject to conservation easement or deed restriction,where the primary purpose and management goal of the land is for ecological protection For example,Type 1 Open Space includes conservation easements at Brushy Peak Preserve and Byron Airport. • Type 2: Public lands where the primary purpose of the land is for ecological protection but the land is not subject to irrevocable protection such as a conservation easement or deed restriction. Examples include Brushy Peak Preserve not under conservation easement and Morgan Territory Regional Preserve. Type 3: Public lands that may contain some land uses other than ecological protection. These lands would include parklands classified as parks,open space or special protection units where something other than ecological protection is designated as the primary use(e.g.,recreation,watershed protection). Type 3 could also include private lands under agricultural easement to preserve livestock grazing or dry land farming. Also included would be the undeveloped portions of drinking watersheds under ownership or management by a public agency. Examples include Los Vaqueros Watershed and Carnegie State Recreational Vehicle Area. Type 4:This would consist of developed portions of public lands that retain some ecological • value. It would also include public golf courses,some landscaped areas,and developed neighborhood parks. Type 4 would also include private lands under agricultural easements to preserve vineyards,orchards,or other cultivated agriculture. Examples include the South Bay Aqueduct and small lands around Clifton Court Forebay. Note: 'Private Easements include private lands that are protect through permanent easement or deed restriction for conservation or agricultural purposes. • o� Figure 2-2 Criteria for Open Space Types INTERNATIONAL IN d = a ° y o °— II N v b. d c 8 ai y E co o vl Q1 R y !0 cal► O d RH d n, c6 a> J 3 <n V • >, — N a) d• o C y a co a)U()r o N z RI .Q 4+ O L ct a) ca N O a) a) a) a) a 7 Y n cu fx•c w o g a a •L o 8 F = cn - 'n i� cp i I—> I— H n_ a m IIP1! --ir-I ✓" N � U uJ w c 0 r\-- --- .'' I I) I , si , �. i o ue r`-i l { • ( m v \ t .s 1 �'' r+ \ � <m- : ! ' x z r -o. o --) I, l0 \ y as L - - C 0 t 6 L R ,( j C • ° O (n al 5 . tit .,. ilk -l sd■ ,,...„.z....,.....i I Yi! ri I. 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O oe O O •t.f• • ,- `' • ~ in o 00 %O - • . • •O • • ,23 ' • r — . 1 P T • sa_-t- /b UJ� 91 OW. 0 •T 0 " OS: v •�,; .-, 7 000 • f • O a� • • J, A ` .r ,. • a m • • •E. o gN V • '.,` m it • •• 77- fit°s b .1,0 00 C �' • • 1_ ;G m fa o . -. : 1 p ,y V1 - ' o . • o a.a J Q-,,' 0' e ■ ° �t. Q -J ,r • �• .'yo- • �o� � ' 0 ®a _ ; C i o ; f V -- .' ..4... .�0 �_G i ,-Jap , , , -� . `% Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy Table of Contents 3.1 Overview 3-1 3.2 Project-Level Use of the Strategy 3-3 3.2.1 Standardized Mitigation 3-4 3.2.2 Impact/Mitigation Scoring of Focal Species Habitat 3-5 3.3 Independent Conservation Actions 3-6 3.4 Methods and Sources 3-6 3.4.1 Conservation Gap Analysis 3-7 3.4.2 Geographic Units of Conservation 3-8 3.5 Conservation Goals and Objectives 3-9 3.5.1 Landscape-Level Goals and Objectives 3-10 3.5.2 Natural Community—Level Goals and Objectives 3-12 3.5.3 Focal Species Goals and Objectives 3-40 3.1 Overview This Conservation Strategy has two purposes. First, it is designed to convey the project-level permitting and environmental compliance requirements of ESA, CESA,CEQA, NEPA, and other applicable laws(see discussion in Chapter 1)for all projects within the study area with impacts on biological resources.Second, it is intended to create a vision for how biological resources in the study area should be conserved through the project permitting process and through non- regulatory conservation actions. To support the project permitting process,the Conservation Strategy identifies a set of mitigation standards. These standards include avoidance and minimization measures and a compensation program to offset impacts expected from projects in the study area.They also include a set of specific management prescriptions to benefit natural communities and focal species. To address the needs of conservation actions that occur independently of project mitigation (e.g., by nonprofit organizations, land trusts, local agencies,or voluntary actions by private landowners),the Conservation Strategy sets long-range conservation East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-1 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • goals for preservation of all natural communities in the study area. The Conservation Strategy is designed to contribute to species recovery to help to delist the listed focal species and prevent the listing of non-listed focal species through the protection, restoration, and enhancement of natural communities. and species habitat. By focusing on conservation at the natural community level as well as at the focal species level,the Conservation Strategy will also ensure that common habitats and common species continue to be common in the study area. The Conservation Strategy is based on the best scientific data available at the time of its preparation and takes into account the limitations of the baseline data available for the study area (see Chapter 2). The strategy was developed to be flexible,with the assumption that it would be consistently updated as lessons are learned through implementation. The Conservation Strategy is,based on the conservation goals and objectives described below. To achieve these goals and objectives, a series of conservation actions have been developed that often meet multiple objectives or goals. The chapter is focused on conservation actions that will accomplish the conservation goals and objectives through the following general concepts. ▪ Coordinate the protection of remaining natural communities where they occur to allow them and the species that depend on them to persist in the • study area (Table 3-1). ® Avoid and minimize project-level impacts on species and their habitats through avoidance and minimization measures that are consistently applied throughout the study area (Tables 3-2 and 3-3). IN Preserve major local and regional connections between key habitat areas and among existing protected areas. m Restore natural communities that have been degraded or lost over time where possible. The Conservation Strategy was designed using a multi-scale approach in accordance with principles of conservation biology. At the largest scale, conservation goals and objectives were developed to encompass ecological processes, environmental gradients, biological diversity,and regional wildlife linkages. Conservation actions were developed to implement these goals and • objectives. These conservation actions occur at the landscape scale or landscape level—generally at the scale of miles or tens of miles. At the middle scale, conservation actions were developed to address natural communities primarily through the enhancement, restoration, and management of vegetation types (i.e., land cover types). This medium scale is called the natural community level. The final scale addresses the specific needs of focal species for protection and enhancement of individuals, populations, and groups of populations. Species-level conservation actions were developed to supplement • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-2 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy and focus actions developed at the broader scales and to ensure that all the • needs of particular species are addressed. The conservation actions are described below at the landscape, natural community, and species levels. All conservation actions are designed to have enough detail and specificity to allow implementation. Because of the regional scale of this Conservation Strategy, actions are also designed to be flexible. For example, natural community—level actions provide broad management guidelines and principles such that future land managers can implement specific techniques on the ground that are best suited to site conditions. Implementation of many actions will require the preparation of site-specific implementation documents (e.g., reserve management plans, restoration plans), particularly if a site is intended to serve as mitigation for impacts from a project. These documents will be prepared during planning at the project level after land is acquired and specific restoration and management needs are determined. Management plans are intended to guide activities on conservation or mitigation parcels. In some cases, management documents will rely on existing agreements or regional initiatives provided by existing land management organizations (e.g., EBRPD,Tri-Valley Conservancy). Management plans for individual parcels or groups of parcels intended to provide mitigation for individual projects will be completed prior to project implementation and within 1 year of the first acquisition of the land, unless otherwise specified by • federal and state resource agencies. • 3.2 Project-Level Use of the Strategy At the project level, information contained in this Conservation Strategy is meant to provide context and guidance to project applicants, local jurisdictions with permit authority, and resource agencies in determining the potential impacts of a project and the level and type of mitigation necessary to offset those impacts.The conservation gap analysis, described in detail in Section 3.4.1, provides information on where natural communities occur in the study area, how many acres are currently protected, and how many should be protected for the natural community to persist.This information is presented in a spatially explicit (i.e., conservation zones, Section 3.4.2) manner to inform project-level decisions at a manageable, regional scale. The conservation goals and objectives provide a long-term vision of how • conservation of resources should be implemented in the study area. Focal species habitat assessment scoresheets provide project applicants, local jurisdictions, and resource agencies with a consistent method to evaluate • potential impacts and sources of mitigation. The quality of the habitat on a project site should be assessed, excluding the influence of current land management practices or other anthropogenic sources of disturbance (discussed in greater detail in Section 3.2.2). Once the quality of habitat is • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-3 • October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • • determined for the focal species, standardized mitigation ratios can be applied, and in some cases adjusted,to determine the level of mitigation necessary for the project. Once in place, all these components of the Conservation Strategy will streamline and increase the predictability of the permit process for both the project applicant and the local and resource agencies. Because the Conservation Strategy focuses on project-level conservation of natural communities and species,there may be areas within the Conservation Strategy project area that, due to the regional significance and presence of rare and unique natural communities and species,will require additional considerations that are beyond the scope of this Conservation Strategy. This Conservation Strategy should be used during the entire project-level analysis, starting at project inception and ending at regulatory permits. In short, when project applicants and resource agencies are reviewing project impacts and making decisions about mitigation,they should apply the mitigation standards of the Conservation Strategy and determine if the mitigation supports its conservation goals and objectives. Further,they should determine whether the mitigation contributes to closing one or more conservation gaps for the focal species or natural communities in question within a given conservation zone, and ultimately within the study area. Additionally,the mitigation standards and analysis should not apply to projects that do not incorporate the • conservation goals, objectives, and priorities of the strategy. Those projects will require additional analysis and most likely increased mitigation. 3.2.1 Standardized Mitigation Mitigation requirements are typically outlined at the species level when it is determined that focal species utilize affected land cover types for all or part of their life cycle. In cases where no focal or other native species are present but natural communities would be affected by a project; mitigation should be outlined for each land cover type in the CEQA document. As a general guideline, mitigation should include a provision for the protection of the same land cover • type at a 3:1 ratio.The mitigation ratio may vary depending on the quality of habitat being lost.This ratio could vary further depending on the total acreage and quality of the natural community in that particular Conservation Zone. In other words, if the project will affect a rare natural community in the Conservation Zone,the ratio could be higher. If the community is fairly • common,the ratio could be lower. Changes in the ratio would need to be justified through the CEQA process and in coordination with the Resource Agencies. As mentioned above, most mitigation is assigned at the species level for impacts on species' habitat. Under this Conservation Strategy, standardized mitigation • ratios have been determined for each focal species. Standardized mitigation East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-4 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy ratios were developed for each federally listed wildlife species; more general • ratios were developed for plant species and non-listed wildlife species. The variations in how mitigation ratios are applied under this strategy depend on the amount of information available for the species in the study area and the degree to which that information can be systematically applied. The standardized mitigation ratios are shown in Tables 3-4 through 3-12. Figures 3-6 through 3-14 show spatially explicit information about how the ratios are applied. It is imperative that when determining the mitigation ratio for a focal species both the species'standardized mitigation ratio table and figure are consulted. Like mitigation ratios for natural communities, these species ratios provide guidance for project applicants and agency personnel. If the project area is more sensitive or if proposed mitigation sites have a higher habitat value, then ratios should be adjusted accordingly. In order to meet CDFG's standard of full mitigation for state listed species under CESA, project applicants will have to demonstrate habitat enhancement, not just permanent protection, on properties used for mitigation. Mitigation is assigned through the permitting process and either written into a permit as a permit condition or included in a CEQA document as a mitigation measure. The standardized mitigation ratios presented in the Conservation • Strategy are only valid if a project application is in compliance with all other parts of the Conservation Strategy (i.e., avoidance and minimization measures). 3.2.2 Impact/Mitigation Scoring of Focal Species Habitat • In addition to mitigating the loss of focal species habitat on the basis of acreage, it is the intent of the Conservation Strategy to ensure that species' habitat quality is preserved. The Conservation Strategy includes some general guidelines on how to quantify the quality of species habitat both on project sites where impacts might occur and on proposed mitigation sites, where those impacts are supposed to be offset. A scoresheet has been developed for each focal species using the key life history characteristics that make habitat suitable for that species (Appendix E). The intent of the scoresheets is to allow for a project site to be assessed by a qualified biologist/botanist, determining if it is habitat for a focal species, and then to use the same criteria to assess any proposed mitigation sites. It is important that project sites and mitigation locations are assessed on the basis of their basic habitat values, disregarding current land uses and management activities. For example, if a parcel supports upland habitat for California tiger salamander because it is within the typical dispersal distance from a known breeding site, it would be scored as such even if it was currently disked by the landowner. In other words, the maximum potential habitat quality of a site will be used when judging habitat quality. By using this approach, project applicants, local jurisdictions, and resource agencies can make consistent determinations about habitat quality for species and can more easily achieve consensus on whether a mitigation site • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-5 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy appropriately compensates for the impacts that will occur on the project site. Using the outcomes of the scoring effort, project applicants and resource agencies can determine if the standardized mitigation ratios presented for focal species in Tables 3-4 through 3-12 are appropriate or if adjustments need to be made. 3.3 Independent Conservation Actions While much of this Conservation Strategy is focused on how mitigation should be implemented for development or infrastructure projects, an additional benefit of a long-range Conservation Strategy is to bring focus and purpose to independent conservation actions inside the study area. By outlining conservation goals and objectives for the study area and completing a conservation gap analysis,this Conservation Strategy creates a framework for future conservation efforts in the study area. For example, as new land acquisitions occur,the level of protection of various natural communities can be tracked against the current gaps in protection. This Conservation Strategy provides a "roadmap"for land acquisition organizations and informs future land acquisition decisions.This strategy also allows private landowners to better understand the conservation value of their lands in a regional context.The strategy could be used to justify financial assistance to landowners for voluntary • conservation projects on land with high conservation values. 3.4 Methods and Sources The primary data sources for the Conservation Strategy were scientific literature, recovery plans, species accounts from adjacent conservation plans, and occurrences documented in the California Natural Diversity Database.That information is summarized in the ecological accounts of focal species (Appendix' D),the species distribution models(Appendix D), and the inventory of existing conditions summarized in Chapter 2. Other sources consulted to develop the Conservation Strategy are cited throughout the chapters. Additional general sources are listed below. is Various accounts of focal species biology and natural community function in the scientific literature (cited as referenced). is Species recovery plans, if available: ❑ California Red-Legged Frog(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2002a). ❑ Upland Species of the San Joaquin Valley (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998a). ❑ Draft Recovery Plan for Chaparral and Scrub Communities Species East • of San Francisco Bay, California (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2002b). East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-6 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy ❑ Vernal Pool Ecosystems of California and Southern Oregon (U.S. Fish • and Wildlife Service 2005). a Species and natural community experts, including USFWS and CDFG agency personnel. a Approved or in-process conservation plans for adjacent or nearby areas with ' similar natural communities and focal species: ❑ San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Alameda Watershed HCP (in process). ❑ Altamont Pass Wind Resources Area NCCP/HCP (in process). • ❑ Pacific Gas & Electric Company Bay Area Operations and Maintenance HCP (in process). ❑ East Contra Costa County HCP/NCCP (approved). ❑ Santa Clara Valley HCP/NCCP (in process). ❑ San Joaquin County HCP (approved). ❑ East Bay Regional Park District HCP (in process) 3.4.1 Conservation Gap Analysis A key step in the development of a regional Conservation Strategy is to determine the existing level of protection for natural communities and focal species. Species or natural communities with low levels of existing protection may require greater emphasis in the strategy to ensure that'their conservation in the study area is assured. In contrast, species or natural communities that are well protected may need little or no additional focus from the strategy. For these species, the conservation goals and objectives may instead focus on habitat restoration or improved habitat management in existing protected • areas. The analysis conducted to determine the levels of existing protection of species and natural communities is called a conservation gap analysis. The methods used were based on similar approaches applied at the national, state, and local levels (Scott et al. 1993, 2001; Wild 2002). Conservation biology theory holds that by protecting a wide variety of ecosystems and natural communities or land cover types at a broad scale,the majority of the biological diversity contained within these natural communities will also be protected (Noss 1987; Hunter 2005). This approach is complemented by then focusing on finer scale resources such as species occurrences, species habitat, or unique physical features to conserve biological diversity not protected by the broader scale approaches. That additional focus is incorporated through species-level conservation goals and objectives. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-7 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • • 3.4.1.1 Conservation Gaps in the Study Area To determine the gaps in protection in the study area,the following GIS data layers were overlaid with the open space Types 1, 2, and 3 layer(Figure 2-3). ® Land cover(see Chapter 2 and Figure 2-8). m Species habitat distribution models (see Chapter 2 for a general description of these models and Appendix D for the model parameters for each species). The results of the conservation gap analyses are presented in Table 3-1 for land cover types. Data are presented by open space Types 1 and 2 (see Chapter 2 for a definition of open space types). Together,these results lay the groundwork for land preservation goals in the study area. Understanding the quantity and • location of resources in the study area will inform regulatory decisions and mitigation concepts at the project level under the guidance of the Conservation Strategy. Many natural land cover types have greater than 25%of their extent in open space Types 1 or 2 (Table 3-1). Types 1 and 2 have sufficient protections and management strategies in place for this strategy to consider them "protected." These protected areas can be leveraged when protecting new areas to gain a • larger conservation benefit for natural communities and species. Natural land cover types that have a high percentage protected relative to the total acres of • the land cover that occur in the study area (>40%) are coulter pine woodland • (81%), serpentine bunchgrass grassland (65%), sycamore alluvial woodland (50%), and rock outcrop(46%). While these natural communities are considered protected under this strategy, they are considered rare and will be conserved to the maximum extent possible. Natural land cover types with the lowest proportion in open space overall and where the conservation gaps are greatest are northern mixed chaparral—chamise chaparral (0%), Sargent cypress woodland (0%), perennial freshwater marsh (0%), and mixed willow riparian forest and woodland (<0.1%). Cropland land cover types are also poorly represented in open space in the study area overall. 3.4.2 Geographic Units of Conservation The study area was subdivided into 18 discrete units called conservation zones (CZs) (Figure 3-1) to identify locations for conservation actions in areas with the same relative ecological function as those areas where impacts occur. The primary purpose of these CZs is to describe the specific areas in which conservation actions such as land acquisition will occur, without identifying individual parcels. This focuses the conservation actions in a spatially explicit manner while maintaining the flexibility to conduct these actions on different • parcels and using different mechanisms (e.g., acquisition vs. incentives)to meet East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-8 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • the conservation objectives. The arrangement of the zones also provides a • mechanism to apply conservation actions at several spatial scales using consistent units (e.g., within a watershed, within a combination of zones, or within a single zone). The conservation zones were developed using subwatershed boundaries from the California Department of Water Resources (Figure 2-7). Other adjustments • were made to the zone boundaries to facilitate the Conservation Strategy; for example, the large Livermore subwatershed that crosses I-580 was split into two subwatersheds for planning purposes', and subwatersheds that were partially outside the study area were combined with others that were completely inside. To ensure that habitat protection occurs in locations that will maximize the benefits to natural communities and focal species, protection recommendations are defined by conservation zone. A discussion of the conservation value and conservation acreage goals for each CZ is outlined in Chapter 4. Recommendations by CZ were calculated by applying the percentage of a land cover type that needs to be protected throughout the study area to the fraction of each land cover type in each zone.This approach will allow for a more relevant assessment of the importance of resources in each zone during project review and determine where the conservation focus should be for each part of the study area. Land cover types are grouped by natural community and shown in Figures 3-2 • through 3-5.The conservation priorities in each CZ were determined by (1)the rarity of the resource in the zone and in the study area, (2)the current and future threats on the persistence of the resource in the zone and in the study area, and (3) the acreage of the land cover type under protection in each one relative to its distribution in the study area. 3.5 Conservation Goals and Objectives Most of the conservation goals and objectives are designed at least to maintain current populations of focal and other native species in the study area. In some cases, populations of focal species are expected to increase as a result of land preservation, management, habitat enhancement, habitat restoration, and habitat creation. Each conservation goal is supported by several conservation objectives, presented below. All conservation goals and objectives will be achieved through the implementation of conservation actions at the project level. i In addition, major roadways such as 1-580 create barriers for many of the focal species(e.g., California red-legged • frog) making it more realistic to split such subwatersheds into separate conservation zones. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-9 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • 3.5.1 Landscape-Level Goals and Objectives 3.5.1.1 Landscape Goals and Objectives Goal 1 Protect and enhance natural and semi-natural landscapes that are large enough to accommodate natural processes beneficial to populations of native species. Objective 1.1. Protect a range of environmental gradients (such as slope, elevation, aspect) across a diversity of natural communities within the conservation zones. • Objective 1.2. Protect riverine systems and hydrologic function within the study area through protection and management of terrestrial land covers, streams, ponds, and wetlands across all watersheds of the study area. Objective 1.3. Allow natural disturbance regimes required for natural community regeneration and structural diversity and native species germination and recruitment to occur on protected lands within the study area or implement management actions that mimic those natural disturbances. • Objective 1.4. Eradicate or reduce the cover, biomass, and distribution of targeted nonnative invasive plants and reduce the number and distribution of nonnative invasive animals using IPM principles to enhance natural communities and native species habitat on protected lands within the study • area. Objective 1.5. Reduce edge effects of development on natural and semi-natural landscapes. Goal 2 .Maintain and enhance the effective movement and genetic exchange of native organisms within and between natural communities inside and outside the • study area. Objective 2.1. Maintain connectivity for wildlife populations inside the study area through protection and enhancement of functional linkages across 1-580 and 1-680 to allow for movement of focal and other native species. o Conservation Action LAN-1. Identify important linkages and pinch-points for • wildlife connectivity along major roadways and prioritize them for • protection and/or enhancement. ® Conservation Action LAN-2. Protect and enhance important linkages and pinch-points to encourage wildlife passage through the use of strategically • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-10 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy placed fencing and vegetation, especially along riparian corridors and at • roadway underpasses. e Conservation Action LAN-3. Where biologically appropriate, resize or redesign culverts to better accommodate wildlife passage under major roadway barriers. la Conservation Action LAN-4. Fund and implement a monitoring program both to identify important linkages along major barriers and to determine the effectiveness of enhancement actions at protected undercrossing points Objective 2.2. Protect and enhance habitat linkages between the study area and lands outside of the study area to enhance regional connectivity. co Conservation Action LAN-5. Coordinate acquisitions related to mitigation or other conservation in eastern Alameda County with conservation programs in adjacent counties. Objective 2.3. Retain, and if possible, increase the functionality of movement corridors across Vasco Road,the South Bay Aqueduct, SR 84, 1-580, and 1-680 for a range of species to move safely within and through the study area. 12 Conservation Action LAN-6. Identify known crossings and potential crossings for San Joaquin kit fox, American badger, and other highly mobile mammalian species. • ea Conservation Action LAN-7. Identify existing crossings with suitable habitat for focal species on both sides of the roadway(e.g., crossings with California tiger salamander breeding habitat on both sides of the underpass). Goal 3 Maintain a coordinated "Protected Lands" database that tracks the total acreage of each natural community as well as documented occurrences of focal species on current and newly acquired parcels in the study area. Objective 3.1. Develop, maintain, and administer a protected lands database. 3.5.1.2 Regional Connectivity and Habitat Linkages Landscape-level goals are intended to maintain and enhance the effective movement and genetic exchange of native organisms within and between • natural communities inside and outside the study area (Goal 2). In order to • maintain connectivity for wildlife populations within the study area, project- driven mitigation and independent conservation actions would need to protect and enhance functional linkages across major highways (e.g., 1-580 and 1-680)to • allow for movement of species (Objective 2.1). Initially, the Implementation Committee could identify important linkages and "pinch-points" (migration areas with restricted or disturbed corridors)to prioritize for protection or • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-11 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • enhancement (LAN-1). The functionality of movement corridors across Vasco Road, SR 84, 1-580, and 1-680 have already been identified as important movement corridors within the study area that should be enhanced (Objective 2.3). Wildlife passage through important corridors could be encouraged by using strategically placed fencing and vegetation, especially along riparian corridors and at roadway underpasses (LAN-2), and by resizing or redesigning culverts (LAN-3). A monitoring program could help identify linkages and determine the effectiveness of enhancement actions (LAN-4). This could be a grant-funded initiative that is conducted across the study area. Known and potential crossings should be identified for San Joaquin kit fox, American badger, and other highly mobile mammalian species (LAN-6). Crossings on either side of roadways should also be identified for focal species, such as California tiger salamander, which may have breeding habitat on both sides of an underpass (LAN-7). To enhance regional connectivity,the coordinated mitigation and independent conservation actions would also need to protect and enhance habitat linkages between the study area and lands outside the study area (Objective 2.2). Land acquisitions related to mitigation or other conservation in eastern Alameda County could be coordinated with conservation programs in neighboring counties (LAN-5). A "Protected Lands" database should be developed to track the total acreage of each natural community and to document occurrences of focal species on current parcels in the study area as well as on newly acquired • parcels (Goal 3). The Implementation Committee would identify the entity that would develop, maintain, and administer this database(LAN-8). 3.5.2 Natural Community—Level Goals and Objectives Conservation goals developed at the community level aim to protect and enhance the functionality and ecological value of each natural community. Goals and objectives were developed for four terrestrial communities in the study area:grassland, chaparral and scrub, oak woodland, and conifer woodland. For aquatic communities, the conservation goals mainly strive to improve the overall quality of aquatic and riparian communities as well as the hydrologic and geomorphic processes that support them to maintain functional aquatic communities. Conservation goals and objectives were develdped for three aquatic communities: riparian forest and scrub, wetland and pond, and streams. By focusing protection goals and management objectives at the natural community level, the strategy would benefit focal species and native biodiversity would not decrease. Goals and objectives for each natural community are described below. To determine the best use of a conservation site, Conservation Strategy users will have to determine the most immediate conservation need on that site and manage it accordingly. Where conflicts arise between common communities, • such as oak woodland and annual grassland,this management decision could East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-12 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy favor either type;for instance, restoration of oak woodland would necessarily • supplant annual grassland. However,for rare natural communities, where protection opportunities are more limited, achieving the goals and objectives for those communities would likely supersede goals and objectives for common natural communities. To ensure the effective management of natural communities and the management rights of parcels that support them, parcels need to be acquired, either through fee title purchase or by placement of conservation easements. In most cases, protection of additional land will result from mitigation requirements related to project-level impacts. In some cases, land acquisition could be achieved through conservation efforts by local conservation groups or local agencies, or through expansion of the ownership of East Bay Regional Park District or other land managing organizations. In cases where the parcel is not sought for mitigation credit, management could be guaranteed through other written assurances (e.g., management plans with long-term endowments, deed restrictions)with private landowners. 3.5.2.1 Grassland • Conservation Goals and Objectives Goal 4 • • Protect and enhance functional grassland communities (alkali meadow and scald, California annual grassland, non-serpentine native bunchgrass grassland, serpentine bunchgrass grassland, rock outcrop,valley sink scrub)that benefit focal species and promote native biodiversity. Objective 4.1. Field verify the Conservation Strategy land cover map of native grasslands and create a refined map that better accounts for mapped stands. m Conservation Action GRA-1. During project-level analysis of parcels with proposed impacts, applicants will provide information on grassland stand size and species composition to the authorizing land use jurisdiction as part of the permit process for inclusion into the Conservation Strategy database. El Conservation Action GRA-2. During assessment of lands for mitigation, the entity fulfilling mitigation requirements will provide information on grassland stand size and species composition to the authorizing land use jurisdiction for inclusion into the Conservation Strategy database. All stands of grassland composed of>10% native species will be spatially mapped to the extent possible. Objective 4.2. Avoid or minimize direct impacts on grassland communities during project construction and indirect impacts that result from postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Tables 3-2 and 3-3. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-13 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy Objective 4.3. To ensure that the full range of grassland community associations persist in the study area at a level that will sustain the natural processes and native species diversity typically found in this natural community, guarantee the management (through permanent protection or written assurances) on 75% ("75,542 acres) of California annual grassland,90% ("60 acres) of serpentine bunchgrass grasslands, 90% ("43 acres) of rock outcrops, 90% (773 acres) of alkali meadow and scald, and 90% (114 acres) of valley sink scrub for ecosystem function expected within the study area. is Conservation Action GRA-3. Mitigate the loss of grassland natural communities. For impacts on grassland communities that do not provide habitat for focal species, impacts will be mitigated at a ratio of 3:1 through . the appropriate CEQA process. Mitigation for the loss of annual grasslands that provide focal species habitat will be consistent with focal species standardized mitigation tables. a Conservation Action GRA-4. Acquire and manage, through fee title purchase or conservation easement, parcels with grassland communities that benefit focal species or otherwise meet the conservation goals and objectives of this strategy. ® Conservation Action GRA-5. Establish an incentive program for private landowners for the management of grassland communities on private lands that will support native vegetation by-promoting regeneration and • recruitment of native species while supporting the natural processes that are typically found in grassland communities. Objective 4.4. Enhance appropriate grasslands in the study area (i.e., grasslands that retain native seed stock) by promoting regeneration and recruitment of native species and, when necessary, mimicking natural processes that typically characterize these natural communities in eastern Alameda County. e Conservation Action GRA-6. Continue or introduce livestock grazing in a variety of grazing regimes by enhancing the ability of rancher stewardship and managed livestock grazing to occur consistent with Objectives 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4. ® Conservation Action GRA-7. Conduct prescribed burns. Use targeted studies to inform location and frequency. in Conservation Action GRA-8. Conduct mowing in small-scale, select areas to reduce plant height and biomass cover where use of livestock is impractical. ▪ Conservation Action GRA-9. Identify areas in the study area where shrub- or tree-dominated plant communities are encroaching on native grasslands due to lack of natural disturbance regimes (e.g., fire) and, if appropriate, work to reduce the encroachment in order to restore the function of native grasslands. Conservation Action GRA-10. When rodent management is needed to protect • 'the integrity of structures such as levees or stock pond dams or to prevent East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-14 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy nuisance populations on adjacent private lands, encourage land managers to • use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles. Cease using rodenticides in protected areas; if they are necessary, use rodenticides consistent with IPM principles. Objective 4.5. Work with private landowners to develop an incentive program that would enable conservation to occur on private lands that would meet the conservation goals and objectives of this strategy. Avoidance, Minimization, and Mitigation Direct impacts on grasslands resulting from project construction and indirect impacts resulting from postproject activities should be avoided or minimized (Objective 4.2). Avoidance measures outlined in Table 3-2 and 3-3 should be implemented to avoid these direct and indirect impacts. Any impacts that cannot be avoided will be mitigated. Most mitigation in grassland communities will be determined at the focal species level. Impacts on grassland communities that do not provide habitat for focal species will be mitigated at a ratio of 3:1 through the appropriate CEQA process. When focal species or their habitat are present, measures would be outlined in the Section 7 consultation (federal projects), consistent with USFWS's programmatic biological opinion or an individual section 7 biological opinion. If state-listed species are present,then a • permit under CESA is required if there will be take. Provisions in that permit would call for the avoidance, minimization, and mitigation of grassland communities. Management Management could enhance grassland communities in several ways. Effective grassland management should support native vegetation by promoting regeneration and recruitment of native species and fostering the natural processes of grassland communities (GRA-5). When necessary, this could include mimicking natural processes that typically occur in these communities in eastern Alameda County (Objective 4.4). Most grasslands in the study area occur on private lands, many of which are actively grazed rangelands. In order to manage this natural community at a regional scale, an incentive program for private landowners should be established to guide and support private stewardship of these lands (GRA-5). Other management tools that could be continued or established include livestock grazing, using a variety of grazing regimes (GRA-6), mowing techniques to reduce plant height and biomass cover where use of livestock is impractical (GRA-8), and prescribed burns in targeted areas (GRA-7). This would require a grazing management plan and should be standardized on the basis of scientific evidence and onsite conditions. Incentives could include enhanced water stations for cattle to evenly distribute animals, compensation for loss of grazing time when seasonal grazing is • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-15 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • required, and funding for infrastructure (cross fences) to better manage animal movement and distribution. Species experts, vegetation ecologists, and rangeland managers would need to provide advice on the location and frequency of these management techniques because site-specific conditions typically determine the best regime. Many other grassland-specific conservation actions are discussed below for individual focal species. • Protection In addition to enhancing grasslands, it is important that a full range of grassland associations persist in the study area to sustain natural processes and native species diversity. The best way to ensure the continued persistence of grassland communities in the study area is to increase the extent of protected grassland communities. To accomplish this, parcels with grassland land cover types that would benefit focal species or otherwise meet the conservation goals and objectives for this strategy should be acquired through fee title purchase or conservation easement (GRA-4). Permanent protection or written assurances with private landowners should be placed on at least 75% (approximately 75,542 acres) of California annual grassland, 90% (approximately 60 acres) of serpentine bunchgrass grasslands, 90% (approximately 43 acres) of rock outcrops, 90% (approximately 773 acres) of alkali meadow and scald, and 90% • (114 acres) of valley sink scrub within the study area (Objective 4.3). Specific Conservation Opportunities In all Conservation Zones, protection of annual grassland should be prioritized to favor areas surrounding ponds that support breeding California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander,or tricolored blackbird, particularly those areas within 1 mile of known breeding sites for these species; or areas that provide denning, foraging, and dispersal habitat for San Joaquin kit fox. a CZ-4.This CZ contains 742 acres of alkali meadow and scald. Protection and management of at least 388 acres of this land cover is a high priority, particularly in areas of designated critical habitat for vernal pool fairy shrimp (Table 4-4 and Table 4-19a). a CZ-6. This CZ contains 71 acres of rock outcrop (72% of the study area's total unprotected acreage). Protection of at least 24 acres of this land cover is a high priority; particularly in areas of designated critical habitat for longhorn fairy shrimp (see Chapter 4 and Table 4-4 for more details). • • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-16 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • • • Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy 3.5.2.2 Chaparral and Coastal Scrub Conservation Goals and Objectives Goal s Protect and enhance functional chaparral and coastal scrub communities - (northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral, mixed serpentine chaparral, northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub)that benefit focal species and promote native biodiversity. Objective 5.1. Avoid or minimize direct impacts on chaparral and scrub communities during project construction and indirect impacts that result from postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Tables 3-2 and 3-3. • Objective 5.2. To ensure that the full range of chaparral and coastal scrub community associations persist in the study area at a level that will sustain the natural processes and native species diversity typically found in this natural community, guarantee the management(through permanent protection) on 75% ('"2,013 acres) of northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral stands, 75% (`1,251 acres) of northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub stands, 90% ("'3,361 acres)of mixed serpentine chaparral stands for ecosystem function expected • within the study area. ® Conservation Action CCS-1. Mitigate the loss of chaparral and coastal scrub natural communities by protecting existing stands through fee title purchase or conservation easement. Impacts on chaparral and coastal scrub communities that do not provide habitat for focal species will be mitigated at a ratio of 3:1 through the appropriate CEQA process.The loss of chaparral and coastal scrub that provide focal species habitat will be mitigated consistent with focal species standardized mitigation tables. is Conservation Action CCS-2. Acquire parcels, with stands of chaparral and - coastal scrub, through fee title purchase or conservation easement ® Conservation Action CCS-3. Establish an incentive program for private landowners to guarantee the management of chaparral and coastal scrub land cover types on private lands which will promote regeneration and recruitment of native species and support the natural processes which are typically found in this natural community. • Objective 5.3. Enhance all stands of chaparral and coastal scrub in the study area that are being managed for ecosystem function by promoting regeneration and recruitment of native species and, when necessary, mimicking natural processes (e.g.,fire)that are typically found in these natural communities in eastern Alameda County but are currently being suppressed. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-17 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • • Conservation Action CCS-4. Conduct prescribed burns in chaparral and coastal scrub communities to maintain canopy gaps and promote regeneration. This would require active participation and permitting from Cal Fire and the Air Quality Control District. Use targeted studies to choose locations and frequency [Targeted studies would require grant funding]. o Conservation Action CCS-S. Mechanically thin chaparral and coastal.scrub to promote structural diversity. Use targeted studies to inform location and frequency and compare results between mechanically thinned only stands, burned only stands, and mechanically thinned and burned stands to. Over the long-term utilize management practice that demonstrates best results. © Conservation Action CCS-6. Identify areas in the study area where tree- dominated plant communities (e.g. foothill pine-oak woodland)are encroaching on chaparral and scrub communities due to the suppression of natural disturbance (e.g.,fire). In areas where this encroachment is affecting rare plant communities,work to reduce the encroachment through mechanical means if natural disturbance is being suppressed. Avoidance, Minimization, and Mitigation The location of these land cover types and opportunities for conservation are discussed in Chapter 4 for each Conservation Zone and below under Specific • Conservation Opportunities in this section. Since this land cover type is slow growing and difficult to restore, chaparral and coast scrub communities would benefit most from avoidance at the project level. This approach would be most successful if measures were incorporated into project design to address effects that could occur both during and after construction. In addition,the amount of chaparral and coastal scrub that is protected and managed for ecosystem function should be increased. To ensure that conservation goals are met for the entire study area and not just on protected lands, an incentive program could be established for private landowners to facilitate and guide the management of chaparral and coastal scrub communities on their lands (CCS-3). See Chapter 5, Section 5.7, Conservation Actions Unrelated to Mitigation—Voluntary Conservation Actions, for suggested incentive programs. Chaparral and coastal scrub communities should be avoided during project construction and during postproject activities, if possible (Objective 5.1). If impacts do occur,the project proponent would mitigate any loss of chaparral and coastal scrub natural communities (CCS-1). If no state or federally listed species occur on the project site then the avoidance, minimization, and mitigation requirements would need to be outlined in the CEQA document. Most mitigation in chaparral and scrub communities will be determined at the focal species level. Impacts on chaparral and scrub communities that do not • • provide habitat for focal species will be mitigated at a ratio of 3:1. When focal East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-18 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • species or their habitat are present, measures would be outlined in the Section • 7 consultation, consistent with USFWS's programmatic biological opinion or an individual section 7 biological opinion. If state-listed species are present, a permit under CESA should be obtained if there will be take. Provisions in that permit would call for the avoidance, minimization, and mitigation of impacts on chaparral and scrub communities. Management • • All chaparral and coastal scrub stands in the study area that are currently being managed for ecosystem function should be enhanced where needed and where possible (Objective 5.3). Current management practices are restricted to grazing pressure. While grazing helps new chaparral and coastal scrub communities form establishing it does little to promote structural diversity and habitat enhancement for the ecosystem. Most enhancements could be accomplished through promoting regeneration or recruitment of chaparral and scrub stands and,when necessary, by mimicking natural processes (e.g.,fire)typically found in these natural communities but that are currently being suppressed. To meet these conservation goals, local agencies or project proponents could coordinate or conduct prescribed burns in chaparral and coastal scrub communities to maintain canopy gaps and promote regeneration, using targeted studies to inform locations and frequency (CCS-4). Any implementation of prescribed • burning would be carried out through coordination with Cal Fire and other local jurisdictions, and would adhere to regional air quality constraints. Where fire is not feasible, chaparral and coastal scrub communities could also be mechanically thinned to promote structural diversity(CCS-5). In areas where tree-dominated plant communities (e.g.,foothill pine-oak woodland) are encroaching on chaparral and scrub land cover due to suppression of natural disturbance (e.g.,fire), the land managers should work to reduce the encroachment if it is determined that this encroachment is affecting rare plant communities, degrading habitat quality for wildlife, or otherwise compromising the functions of the natural community. If natural disturbance is being suppressed and it is not feasible to reintroduce that disturbance onto the landscape, mechanical means may be necessary to reduce the encroachment (CCS-6). Protection • In addition to enhancing chaparral and scrub habitats that are currently protected, it is also important that a full range of chaparral and scrub habitat associations persist in the study area to sustain natural processes and native species diversity. The best way to ensure the continued persistence of chaparral and scrub communities in the study area is to increase the amount that is protected.To accomplish this, parcels with chaparral and scrub • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-19 October 2010 • ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • communities that would benefit focal species or otherwise meet the conservation goals and objectives of this strategy should be acquired through • fee title purchase or conservation easement (CCS-2). Permanent protection with private landowners should be placed on at least 75% ("2,013 acres) of northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral stands, 75% ('1,251 acres) of northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub stands, 90% (`3,361 acres) of mixed serpentine chaparral stands within the study area. Specific Conservation Opportunities ■ In all Conservation Zones, protection and management of chaparral and scrub stands should be prioritized in favor of stands that support known occurrences of, suitable habitat for, or critical habitat for Alameda whipsnake. ■ In many Conservation Zones there are stands of chaparral/scrub that are only partially protected. Protecting the full extent of those stands should be the priority in all cases. is CZ-17. There is currently only 1 acre of mixed serpentine chaparral habitat in this CZ. Verification of that stand and its protection should be a priority. or CZ-18.This CZ supports the largest stand of mixed serpentine chaparral • habitat in the study area. Protection and management of at least 559 acres of northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral and 2,588 acres of mixed serpentine chaparral should be a priority. Though there is little threat to loss of these stands,the most diverse stand(s) could be located in this CZ. 3.5.2.3 Oak Woodland Conservation Goals and Objectives Goal 6 Protect and enhance functional oak woodland communities (blue oak woodland, valley oak woodland, coast live oak forest and woodland, mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland)to benefit focal species and promote the level of native biodiversity expected to occur within this natural community in the study area. Objective 6.1. Field verify the Conservation Strategy land cover map of oak woodland stands and create a refined map that reflects oak species composition. ■ Conservation Action OAK-1. During project-level analysis of parcels with proposed impacts, applicants will provide information on oak woodland • stand size and species composition to the authorizing land use jurisdiction East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-20 October 2010 • ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy as part of the permit process for inclusion in the Conservation Strategy • database. e Conservation Action OAK-2. During assessment of lands for mitigation the entity fulfilling mitigation requirements will provide information on oak woodland stand size and species composition to the authorizing land use jurisdiction for inclusion in the Conservation Strategy database. Objective 6.2. Avoid or minimize direct impacts on oak woodland communities during project construction and indirect impacts that result from postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Tables 3-2 and 3-3, Objective 6.3. To ensure that the full range of oak woodland associations persist in the study area at levels that will sustain the natural processes and native species diversity typically found in this natural community, guarantee the management (through permanent protection or written assurances) on 75% (15,614 acres) of blue oak woodland stands, 75% (-694 acres) of coast live oak forest and woodland stands, 75% (16,633 acres) of mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland stands, 90% (total acreage unknown)of valley oak woodland, and 90% (total acreage unknown) of black oak woodland stands for ecosystem function expected within the study area. e Conservation Action OAK-3. Mitigate loss of oak woodland habitats. Impacts on oak woodland communities that do not provide habitat for focal species • will be mitigated at a ratio of 3:1 through the appropriate CEQA process. The loss of oak woodlands that provide focal species habitat will be mitigated consistent with focal species standardized mitigation tables. ® Conservation Action OAK-4. Acquire parcels with stands of oak woodland that meet the conservation goals and objectives of this strategy through fee title purchase or conservation easement. ® Conservation Action OAK-5. Establish an incentive program for private landowners to guarantee the management of oak woodland communities on private lands that will promote regeneration and recruitment of native species and support the natural processes typically found in this natural community. Objective 6.4. Enhance all stands of oak woodland in the study area that are being managed for ecosystem function by promoting regeneration and recruitment of oak trees and,when necessary, by mimicking natural processes typically found in oak woodlands in eastern Alameda County. - ® Conservation Action OAK-6. Increase natural community function in oak woodland communities, including the likelihood that they will support focal species, by reducing percent cover and total biomass of nonnative invasive plants listed by Cal-IPC in protected oak woodland stands in the study area. e Conservation Action OAK-7. Identify areas of oak woodlands where recruitment has been suppressed or is not occurring. Assess why • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-21 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • recruitment of oaks is not occurring and where supplemental plantings • could be used to increase the recruitment of oak species. ® Conservation Action OAK-8. Reduce the feral pig population in protected areas to reduce impacts on oak woodland communities through targeted hunting programs or incentivized hunting on private lands in coordination with CDFG. Avoidance, Minimization, and Mitigation Initially,the oak woodland communities in the study area should be field verified by comparing field analysis to the Conservation Strategy land cover map of oak woodland stands. Any updates to the existing data should result in the creation of a refined map that reflects oak species composition (Objective 6.1). • This would occur during project-level analysis of parcels with proposed impacts or during assessment of lands proposed for mitigation.The entity fulfilling mitigation requirements (or the landowner attempting to gain mitigation credit) should provide additional information on the size and species composition of oak woodland stands on the subject parcel for inclusion into the Conservation Strategy database (OAK-1, OAK-2). This information would be provided to the authorizing land use jurisdiction(s) as part of the permit process. • Since restoring oak woodland habitats is difficult, avoiding impacts on existing stands is the best form of mitigation in all cases. Direct and indirect impacts on oak woodland communities should be avoided or minimized during project construction and postproject activities to ensure the continued protection of oak woodland communities in the study area through the implementation of avoidance and minimization measures outlined in Table 3-2 and 3-3. Additional site-specific measures should be considered for all projects with potential impacts on oak woodlands. Impacts on oak woodland communities that cannot be avoided would be mitigated by project applicants. In some cases,the level of mitigation would be related to impacts on focal species; all mitigation would defer to focal species habitat requirements if focal species habitat were documented on the site. If no state- or federally listed species occur on the project site,then the avoidance, minimization, and mitigation requirements would need to be outlined in the CEQA document. Most mitigation in oak woodland communities will be determined at the focal species level. Impacts on oak woodland communities that do not provide habitat for focal species will be mitigated at a ratio of 3:1.When federally listed species or their habitat are present, measures would be outlined in a Section 7 consultation (federal projects), consistent with USFWS's programmatic biological opinion or an individual section 7 biological opinion. If state-listed species are present, a permit under CESA should be obtained if there will be take. Provisions in that permit would call for the avoidance, minimization, and mitigation of impacts on oak woodland • communities. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-22 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy Management • Oak woodland stands could be enhanced by promoting oak recruitment (mimicking natural processes if necessary), reducing percent cover and biomass of nonnative plants, and promoting natural community function (OAK-6). If recruitment is not occurring or is suppressed, the cause should be determined. f appropriate, supplemental plantings should be used to increase the recruitment of oak species in oak woodland stands (OAK-7). These plantings would need to be protected against herbivory. If there is a larger-scale issue suppressing regeneration then plantings will likely not be a successful approach to correcting the problem. An incentive program for private landowners could be established to guarantee the management of oak woodland communities on private lands. Finally,the feral pig population in protected areas should be reduced to lessen impacts on oak woodland communities. Targeted hunting . programs or incentivized hunting on private lands are possible methods that could be used to effectively manage the feral pig population in these areas (OAK-8). Protection In addition to enhancing oak woodland communities, it is important that a full range of oak woodland associations persist in the study area to sustain natural • processes and native species diversity (Objective 6.3). The best way to ensure the continued persistence of oak woodland communities in the study area is to increase the amount of protected oak woodland communities.To accomplish this, parcels with stands of oak woodland would need to be acquired through fee title purchase or conservation easement (OAK-4). Some of this would occur as the result of mitigation for impacts on oak woodland stands or through purchase for open space or other conservation purpose. Similar management . assurances could occur through guaranteed management plans. For example, private landowners could enter into contracts with the Implementation Committee with a commitment to manage their oak woodlands according to an approved management plan. Through permanent protection, the Implementation Committee could strive for the guarantee of effectively managing ecosystem function on 75% (approximately 15,614 acres) of blue oak woodland stands, 75% (approximately 694 acres) of coast live oak forest and woodland stands, 75% (approximately 16,633 acres) of mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland stands, 90% (total acreage unknown) of valley oak woodland stands, and 90% (total acreage unknown) of black oak woodland stands (Objective 6.3). r East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-23 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • • • Specific Conservation Opportunities o The protection goals for oak woodland communities in each conservation zone are shown in Chapter 4. Below is a list of specific opportunities for this natural community. • CZ-2, CZ-3, CZ-5, and CZ-6. There is minimal oak woodland acreage in these Conservation Zones.Avoiding impacts on all stands of oak woodland is preferred. • The greatest opportunities to protect large extents of oak woodland are in CZ-8, CZ-13, CZ-16, and CZ-18. However, with the exception of CZ-8, most of these areas are under little threat. Smaller stands of oak woodland in CZ-9, CZ-11, CZ-12, CZ-13, CZ-14, and CZ-15 are a higher conservation priority because they are more likely threatened by land use changes and because they represent the edges, or ecotones, of this community in the study area. • 3.5.2.4 Conifer Woodland Conservation Goals and Objectives Goal 7 • Protect and enhance functional conifer woodland communities (foothill pine- oak woodland, Sargent cypress woodland)that benefit focal species and promote native biodiversity. Objective 7.1. Avoid or minimize direct impacts on conifer woodland communities during project construction and indirect impacts that result from postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Tables 3-2 and 3-3. Objective 7.2. To ensure the full range of conifer woodland associations persist in the study area at levels that will sustain the natural processes and native species diversity typically found in this natural community,guarantee the management (through permanent protection or written assurances) of 75% (`15,077 acres)of foothill pine-oak woodland stands and 90% ('588 acres) of Sargent cypress woodland stands for ecosystem function expected within the study area. o Conservation Action CON-1. Mitigate loss of conifer woodland habitats. Impacts on conifer woodland communities that do not provide habitat for focal species will be mitigated at a ratio of 3:1. The loss of conifer woodlands that provide focal species habitat will be mitigated consistent with focal species standardized mitigation tables. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-24 October 2010 • ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy m Conservation Action CON-2. Acquire parcels with stands of conifer woodland • that meet the conservation goals and objectives of this strategy through fee title purchase or conservation easement. • Conservation Action CON-3. Establish an incentive program for private landowners to guarantee the management of conifer woodland land cover types on their properties that will promote regeneration and recruitment of native species and support the natural processes typically found in this natural community. Objective 7.3. Enhance stands of conifer woodland in the study area that are being managed for ecosystem function to maintain a mosaic of stands in numerous successional stages that ensure sustainability and maximize native species diversity a by allowing for succession and regeneration of native species and, when necessary, by mimicking natural processes typically found in conifer woodlands in eastern Alameda County. m Conservation Action CON-4. To increase natural community function in conifer woodland communities, including the likelihood that they will support focal species, reduce the percent cover and total biomass of nonnative invasive plants in protected conifer woodland stands in the study area. m Conservation Action CON-5. Diagnose loss of recruitment and if appropriate use supplemental plantings to increase the recruitment of conifer species in • stands of conifer woodland where recruitment has been suppressed or is not occurring. ® Conservation Action CON-6. Experimentally introduce management practices (e.g., selective thinning, prescribed burning) to help identify significant factors in conifer woodland functionality [this would likely be a grant-funded initiative and not mitigation related]. Conservation Action CON-7. In coordination with Cal Fire and Alameda County, establish "let-burn" zones in portions of Alameda County where fires would be allowed to burn to encourage the role that fire plays in management of this natural community. Avoidance, Minimization, Mitigation Direct and indirect impact on conifer woodland communities should be avoided or minimized during project construction and postproject activities (Objective 7.1). Avoidance measures outlined in Tables 3-2 and 3-3 should be implemented to decrease the likelihood that impacts will occur. Impacts on conifer woodland communities that cannot be avoided would be mitigated by project applicants. In some cases the level of mitigation would be related to focal species impacts; all mitigation would defer to focal species habitat requirements if focal species habitat were documented on the site. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-25 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • • Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • If no state-or federally listed species occur within the project site,the avoidance, minimization, and mitigation requirements would need to be outlined in the CEQA document. Most mitigation in conifer woodland communities will be determined at the focal species level. When federally listed species or their habitat are present, measures would be outlined in a Section 7 consultation (federal projects), consistent with USFWS's programmatic biological opinion or an individual section 7 biological opinion. In either case, if state-listed species are present, a permit under CESA should be obtained if there will be take. Provisions in that permit would call for the avoidance, minimization, and mitigation of impacts on conifer woodland communities. Management Conifer woodlands and conifer woodland associations should be enhanced in the study area through management that promotes ecosystem function, natural processes, and native species diversity typically found in this community (Objective 7.2,Objective 7.3). Stands could be enhanced by promoting ecologically appropriate structure,function, and species composition, facilitating succession and regeneration of native species. If necessary,stands could be improved by mimicking natural processes that are typically found in conifer woodlands in eastern Alameda County(Objective 7.3). Several management procedures could be used to increase natural community function • in conifer woodland communities.Supplemental plantings could increase the recruitment of conifer species in areas where recruitment is suppressed or is not occurring(CON-5), and introducing experimental management practices, such as selective thinning, prescribed burning,or"let-burn" zones, could help identify significant factors in conifer woodland functionality (CON-6, CON-7). The Implementation Committee would coordinate with Cal Fire and Alameda County to establish "let-burn"zones in portions of Alameda County where fires would be allowed to burn if minimal structural damage would be incurred, damage could be offset through compensation, and no homes or life would be endangered (CON-7). The "let-burn" zones would encourage the role that fire plays in management of this natural community (CON-7). In turn,these management practices would support focal species while reducing the percent cover and biomass of nonnative invasive plants in protected conifer woodland stands in the study area (CON-4). Protection In order to increase the number of protected conifer woodland communities in the study area,the Implementation Committee should acquire parcels with stands of conifer woodland that meet the conservation goals and objectives of this strategy through fee title purchase or conservation easement (CON-2). The Implementation Committee could also promote the establishment of an • incentive program for private landowners that guarantees the management of East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-26 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy conifer woodland communities on their properties. The management program • would promote regeneration and recruitment of native species and support the natural processes typically found in this natural community (CON-3). Through permanent protection or written assurances,the Implementation Committee should guarantee the management of 75%(approximately 15,077 acres) of foothill pine-oak woodland stands and 90% (approximately 588 acres) of Sargent cypress woodland stands for ecosystem function (Objective 7.2). Specific Conservation Opportunities ci CZ-13. This CZ contains the largest expanse of Sargent cypress woodland in the study area, estimated at 636 acres. Protection of at least 573 acres of this community should be a priority. a CZ-12.This CZ contains 90% (13 acres) of the study area's unprotected Coulter pine woodland. Avoidance and protection of all of this land cover type is recommended. la The greatest opportunities to protect large extents of conifer woodland are in CZ-8, CZ-12, CZ-14, CZ-15, CZ-16, and CZ-17. However, with the exception of CZ-8 and CZ-12, most of these areas are under little threat. Smaller stands of conifer woodland in CZ-9, CZ-10, and CZ-11 are a higher conservation priority because they are more likely threatened by land use changes in the study area. • 3.5.2.5 Riparian Forest and Scrub Conservation Goals and Objectives Goal 8 Improve the overall quality of riparian communities and the hydrologic and geomorphic processes that support them to increase the amount of riparian habitat for focal species and promote native biodiversity. Objective 8.1. Field verify the Conservation Strategy land cover map of riparian forest and scrub stands and create a refined map that reflects species composition, key riparian community attributes, and conservation opportunities at the stream reach level. • ® Conservation Action RIP-1. During project-level analysis of parcels with riparian vegetation, applicants will provide information on riparian forest • and scrub stand size and species composition to the local authorizing land use jurisdiction as part of the permit process for inclusion in the Conservation Strategy database. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-27 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • • Conservation Action RIP-2. During assessment of lands for mitigation the entity fulfilling mitigation requirements or the landowner seeking mitigation credit will provide information on riparian forest and scrub stand size and species composition to the authorising land use jurisdiction for inclusion in the Conservation Strategy database. Objective 8.2. Avoid or minimize direct impacts on riparian forest and scrub communities during project construction and indirect impacts that result from postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Table 3-2 and 3-3. Objective 8.3. To ensure that the full range of riparian forest and scrub • associations persist in the study area at levels that will sustain the natural processes and native species diversity typically found in this natural community, guarantee the management (through permanent protection)of 90%(`238 acres) of sycamore alluvial woodland stands, 75% ('1,529 acres) of mixed riparian forest and woodland stands, and 75% ("'498 acres) of mixed willow riparian scrub stands that benefit focal species and promote native biodiversity. • Conservation Action RIP-3. Mitigate the loss of riparian forest and scrub communities. For impacts on riparian communities that do not provide habitat for focal species, mitigation will be determined based on the functions and values of the watercourse on that particular project site as • well as the project's impacts on channel form and geomorphic stability within and downstream of the project footprint. Mitigation for the loss of riparian forest and scrub that provides focal species habitat will be mitigated consistent with focal species standardized mitigation tables. O Conservation Action RIP-4. Acquire parcels with stands of riparian forest and scrub communities that meet the conservation goals and objectives of this strategy through fee title purchase or conservation easement. in Conservation Action RIP-5. Establish an incentive program (e.g., a riparian corridor easement program) for private landowners to guarantee the management and restoration of riparian forest and scrub communities on their lands to promote regeneration and recruitment of native species and support the natural processes typically found in this natural community and that ultimately contribute to the conservation objectives for this community. Objective 8.4. Increase riparian forest and scrub communities in the study area through restoration projects that will promote natural function, including the regeneration and recruitment of native species;and, when necessary and approved,that mimic natural processes typically found in riparian communities in the study area. n Conservation Action RIP-6. Create an incentive program (e.g., ecosystem services marketplace)that would encourage private and public landowners • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-28 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy to implement appropriate riparian forest and scrub restoration projects on • their property. Objective 8.5. Enhance riparian forest and scrub stands that are protected and are being managed for ecosystem function by promoting natural function, including the regeneration and recruitment of native species, and when necessary, by mimicking natural processes (e.g., vegetation succession)typically found in riparian communities in the study area. 13 Conservation Action RIP-7. Where geomorphically feasible without causing damage to channel stability and habitat values, increase natural community function in riparian forest and scrub communities, including the likelihood that they will support focal species, by reducing the total percent cover and total biomass of nonnative riparian plants in protected riparian areas in the study area. Conservation Action RIP-8. Where appropriate to the naturally occurring riparian vegetation community that would be present without anthropogenic stressors, and under the natural flow regime of the creek, plant and/or seed native understory and overstory riparian vegetation within an appropriate buffer(30-100 feet) of the edge of the low-flow channel to create structural diversity, provide overhead cover, and moderate water temperature. ® Conservation Action RIP-9. Where appropriate to the naturally occurring • riparian vegetation community that would be present without anthropogenic stressors, and under the natural flow regime of the creek, plant and/or seed native riparian vegetation in gaps in existing riparian corridors to promote continuity and enhance connectivity. o Conservation Action RIP-10. Mimic natural disturbance in riparian habitats in the absence of scouring flood flows using techniques such as altering the channel, when alterations are geomorphically appropriate to prevent or correct channel degradation, or removing vegetation to ensure a variety of successional stages of riparian forest and scrub communities,when vegetation management is coordinated with and permitted by the resource agencies. • Avoidance, Minimization, and Mitigation • • Direct and indirect impacts on riparian forest and scrub communities should be avoided during construction and during postproject activities, respectively (Objective 8.2). Project applicants should implement avoidance measures • outlined in Table 3-2 and 3-3 to help avoid any impacts on these communities (Objective 8.2). Development in these areas could reduce stream function and sometimes create perennial watercourses downstream where seasonal water courses previously occurred.This type of development can also limit opportunities for future stream restoration activities. If impacts do occur,the • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-29 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • project applicant will mitigate the loss of riparian forest and scrub communities. Typically,the mitigation in these'communities will be determined based on standards set for focal species (Tables 3-4 through 3-12). In situations where no focal species or their habitat are present, mitigation will be determined on the basis of the functions and values of the watercourse on the project site. In these cases, mitigation ratios will be determined by CDFG through the Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement. Management Restoration projects could be developed to encourage natural function and increase riparian forest and scrub communities in the study area. Restoration projects should promote the establishment and recruitment of native species and, if necessary, mimic natural processes to accomplish native species regeneration (Objective 8.4). Several types of restoration projects could be implemented in these communities. Native riparian plantings would create structural diversity, provide overhead cover, and moderate water temperature. Additionally, an incentive program could be created that could include streamlined permitting, funding, and a corridor easement program to encourage private and public landowners to conduct riparian forest and scrub restoration projects on their property(RIP-6). • Effective management that promotes natural ecosystem function of protected riparian forest and scrub stands could also enhance these communities (Objective 8.5). Cover and biomass of nonnative riparian plants in protected riparian areas in the study area should be decreased. Reduction of nonnative species would increase natural community function and support focal species in these communities(RIP-7). Native riparian vegetation could also be planted or seeded in gaps in existing riparian corridors to promote continuity and enhance connectivity where appropriate (RIP-9). In the absence of scouring flood flows, techniques such as altering stream geometry or removing vegetation could be used to manage physical process and vegetation, but would require appropriate studies before implementation. These types of active management could ensure that a,variety of successional stages of riparian forest and scrub communities would be present in the study area (RIP-10). The design and success criteria of each restoration project would be determined in consideration of site-specific conditions in coordination with the Resource Agencies. Protection The number of protected communities of riparian forest and scrub stands could be increased through acquiring parcels through fee title purchase or conservation easement. Project applicants could acquire parcels through fee • title purchase or conservation easements to mitigate project impacts (RIP-3). To East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-30 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy accomplish conservation goals for this natural community several things will • have to occur in addition to the mitigation of project impacts. The Implementation Committee could establish an incentive program for private landowners (RIP-5)to guarantee the management of riparian forest and scrub communities on private lands. Management plans for private lands would be developed to promote regeneration and recruitment of native species, support natural processes, and ultimately contribute to the conservation objectives for this natural community (RIP-5). The full range of riparian forest and scrub associations should persist in the study area at levels that will sustain the natural processes and native species diversity typically found in this natural community(Objective 8.3). To this end, the Implementation Committee should guarantee the management (through permanent protection or written assurances) of functional riparian forest and scrub communities in 90% (-238 acres) of sycamore alluvial woodland stands, 75% ('1,529 acres) of mixed riparian forest and woodland stands, and 75% (`498 acres) of mixed willow riparian scrub stands (Objective 8.3). Effective management would improve sycamore alluvial woodland, mixed riparian forest and woodland, and mixed willow riparian scrub communities, benefitting focal species and promoting native biodiversity. Specific Conservation Opportunities • a The extent of riparian forest and scrub communities is limited within the study area, and their conservation should be a priority for all conservation zones. a Identify and rank restoration opportunities for each conservation zone. a CZ-2, CZ-12, CZ-14, and CZ-15. Protect the remaining acreage of sycamore alluvial woodland. a Protect all remaining mixed riparian forest/woodland and mixed willow riparian scrub habitat in the study area. a CZ-8, CZ-11, CZ-14, CZ-15. Priority should be given to riparian forest and scrub in areas of dispersal habitat and designated critical habitat for Alameda whipsnake and California red-legged frog. ® When restoration or management decision are made for focal fish or amphibian species, consideration of the long-term viability of those management actions should be considered relative to upstream water releases from dams. a CZ-10, CZ-13, CZ-17. Priority should be given to riparian forest and scrub communities in areas of potential foothill yellow-legged frog and California red-legged frog habitat and areas where the CNDDB lists occurrences. a CZ-13, CZ-15, CZ-17. Priority should be given to riparian forest and scrub communities in areas of future spawning and rearing habitat for central • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-31 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • coast steelhead, provided downstream barriers to movement are removed or passage opportunities are enhanced. • 3.5.2.6 Wetlands and Ponds Conservation Goals and Objectives Goal 9 Improve the overall quality of wetlands (perennial freshwater marsh, seasonal wetland, alkali wetland); ponds; and their upland watersheds to maintain functional aquatic communities that benefit focal species and promote native biodiversity. Objective 9.1. Field verify the Conservation Strategy land cover map of seasonal and perennial wetlands and create a refined map that reflects habitat quality and restoration opportunities. a Conservation Action WP-1. During project-level analysis of parcels with wetlands or ponds, project applicants will provide information on the size of the aquatic feature and a characterization of habitat quality to the local authorizing land use jurisdiction as part of the permit process, regardless of • whether that feature will be affected by the project,for inclusion in the Conservation Strategy database. ® Conservation Action WP-2. During assessment of lands for mitigation the project applicant fulfilling mitigation requirements or the landowner seeking mitigation credit will provide information on wetland or pond size and a characterization of habitat quality to the authorizing land use jurisdiction for inclusion in the Conservation Strategy database. Objective 9.2. Avoid or minimize direct impacts on wetland or pond communities during project construction and indirect impacts that result from postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Table 3-2 and 3-3. Objective 9.3. To ensure the full range of wetland and pond communities persist in the study area at levels that will sustain the natural processes and native species diversity supported by these natural communities,guarantee the management (through permanent protection,term protection or other types of written assurances) of 90%(477 acres) of seasonal wetland, 90% (-56 acres) of perennial freshwater marsh, 90% (-549 acres) of alkali wetland, and 75% (-256 acres) of ponds. ® Conservation Action WP-3. Mitigate the loss of wetland and pond . communities. Impacts on wetland and pond communities that do not • provide habitat for focal species will be mitigated at a ratio of 3:1 through East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-32 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy the appropriate CEQA process.The loss of wetlands and ponds that provide • focal species habitat will be mitigated consistent with focal species standardized mitigation tables. a Conservation Action WP-4. Acquire parcels with wetland and pond communities or wetland restoration potential that meet the conservation goals and objectives of this strategy through fee title purchase or conservation easement. • Conservation Action WP-5. Support new incentive programs for private landowners to guarantee the management of wetland and pond communities on their lands. This could be completed through the implementation of management plans that will promote regeneration and recruitment of native species and that support the natural processes typically found in these natural communities and ultimately contribute to the conservation objectives. a Conservation Action WP-6. Facilitate a program to streamline permitting and registration of ponds in the study area to enable management activities that are necessary to maintaining ponds. Key maintenance activities could include periodic dredging; seasonal draining;and repair of dams, inlets, and spillways. Objective 9.4. Increase wetland and pond communities in the study area where possible through wetland restoration or pond creation projects. • • Conservation Action WP-7. Restore wetlands in areas with proper hydrology, soils, and topography to support naturally occurring features without long- term human intervention. ® Conservation Action WP-8. Plant and/or seed native wetland vegetation to create structural diversity, provide overhead cover, and moderate water temperature. o Conservation Action WP-9. Create new ponds in areas where there are gaps • in connectivity between breeding sites for aquatic amphibians without adversely affecting downstream drainage patterns. Objective 9.5. Enhance wetlands and ponds that are protected and that are managed for ecosystem function by promoting natural function. Pond enhancements should be designed so that enhanced ponds dry in August or September during dry years to reduce bullfrog, fish, and hybrid California tiger salamanders. • o Conservation Action WP-10. Control livestock grazing pressure in wetlands by maximizing animal distribution over the landscape through creation of alternative water sources and various types of fencing and seasonal grazing. s Conservation Action WP-11. To increase natural community function in wetland and pond communities, including the likelihood that they will support focal species, reduce the total percent cover and total biomass of • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-33 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • • • nonnative or invasive plants listed by California Invasive Plant Council in protected wetlands and ponds in the study area. ■ Conservation Action WP-12. Implement a systematic bullfrog and nonnative predatory fish removal project in all ponds and wetlands on protected lands inside the study area. . ■ Conservation Action WP-13. Ensure that all wetland and pond mitigation lands include provisions in their management and monitoring programs to fund bullfrog and nonnative predatory fish removal and control. ■ Conservation Action WP-14. Create an incentive program that would encourage private landowners to maintain their properties free of bullfrogs and nonnative predatory fish. ■ Conservation Action WP-15. Remove California tiger salamander hybrid paedomorphs when found by a qualified biologist. Avoidance, Minimization, Mitigation The full range of wetland and pond communities should persist in the study area at levels that will sustain the natural processes and native species diversity supported by them (Objective 9.3). In order to ensure the persistence of these communities, impacts should be avoided or minimized during construction • (direct) and postconstruction activities (indirect). Project applicants should implement avoidance measures outlined in Table 3-2 and 3-3 to reduce the likelihood that impacts may occur(Objective 9.2). If impacts do occur, the project applicants will mitigate the loss of wetland and pond communities (WP- 3). In almost every case,the mitigation in these communities will be determined in accordance with standards set for focal species aquatic habitat. Mitigation for the loss of ponds should be developed in a manner that best represents the lost habitat and should not be based solely on net acres. For example, if two ponds of 0.5 acre each are destroyed at a construction site, then two or more ponds should be developed or protected at an offsite location, rather than a single large (1-acre) pond. If no focal species or their habitat are present, mitigation will be determined based on the functions and values of the specific wetland or pond on the project site. In such cases, mitigation ratios will be determined by the Corps,the RWQCB, or CDFG, depending upon jurisdiction. Management Wetland restoration or pond creation projects would increase wetland and pond communities in the study area (Objective 9.4). Projects could include • restoring wetlands with proper hydrology, soils, and topography to support • naturally occurring features without long-term human intervention (WP-7). East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-34 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • • Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy Native wetland vegetation could be planted or seeded to create structural diversity, provide overhead cover, and moderate water temperature (WP-8). New ponds could be created without affecting downstream drainage patterns in areas where there are gaps in connectivity between breeding sites for aquatic amphibians (WP-9). Any new pond construction that is intended as mitigation would need to be registered with the State Water Resources Control Board Division of Water Rights. An incentive program, including streamlined permitting, could be created that would encourage private and public landowners to implement wetland restoration projects on their property (WP- 10). Protected wetlands and ponds could be effectively managed by promoting ecosystem function (Objective 9.4). Livestock grazing pressure should be controlled in wetlands where necessary to benefit focal species. If such control entails reducing grazing pressure around wetlands or ponds, alternative water sources should be provided in a manner that ensures habitat function of surrounding ponds and wetlands (WP-10). The percent cover and biomass of nonnative plants in protected wetlands and ponds in the study area should be reduced to help increase natural community function and support focal species in wetland communities (WP-11). In addition, a systematic bullfrog removal project in all ponds and wetlands on protected lands in the study area should be implemented (WP-12). This could include the partial filling of ponds (using a dozer)to capture bullfrogs in the pond after draining, and thereby reducing • capacity (at least temporarily) or creating a more seasonal pond to benefit native amphibians. This approach would reduce the likelihood of bullfrogs dispersing to other nearby aquatic habitats.This could be partially funded using mitigation funds generated by projects that have impacts on pond or wetland habitats. Similar provisions in management and monitoring programs on mitigation lands should be included to fund bullfrog removal and control (WP- 13, WP-14). finally, an incentive program, including streamlined permitting, could be created to encourage private landowners to maintain a bullfrog-free property (WP-15). Protection The amount of protected land in the study area with these communities could be increased. Parcels with wetland and pond communities or wetland restoration potential could be acquired through fee title purchase or conservation easement (WP-4). In addition, the Implementation Committee could establish an incentive program for private landowners to guarantee the management of wetland and pond communities on their lands. Management plans that promote regeneration and recruitment of native species and support natural processes could be implemented throughout private lands in the study area. Guaranteed management of these natural communities on private lands would ultimately contribute to the conservation objectives (WP-5). • • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-35 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • Through permanent protection or written assurances,the Implementation Committee should have as a goal the management of 90% (approximately 477 acres) of seasonal wetland, 90%(approximately 56 acres) of perennial freshwater marsh, 90% (approximately 549 acres) of alkali wetland, and 75% (approximately 256 acres) of ponds (Objective 9.3). [Note: Due to the scale of air photo interpretation that was used to create the land cover map for this Conservation Strategy, many small wetlands and ponds may not be represented in land cover calculations. Field verifying this aquatic dataset at the parcel level would allow the Implementation Committee to greatly refine the long-term protection goals for this natural community.] Specific Conservation Opportunities • Prioritize the protection of ponds or wetlands that either support breeding California red-legged frog,California tiger salamander, or tricolored blackbird or have the potential to be enhanced to support species in all CZs. Ponds within 1.3 miles of other known red-legged frog or tiger salamander breeding sites are the highest priority to retain key linkages for these species. ® CZ-S, CZ-6, CZ-9, CZ-10. These areas support alkali wetland, a relatively rare • community in the study area,which supports a high diversity of habitat- dependent species. Protection of this community should be a priority. a CZ-4.This conservation zone contains a high percentage of the study area's seasonal wetlands. Protection of at least 44 acres of seasonal wetland should be a priority in this conservation zone. 3.5.2.7 Streams Conservation Goals and Objectives • Goal 10 Improve the overall quality of streams and the hydrologic and geomorphic processes that support them to maintain functional aquatic communities, benefitting focal species and promoting native biodiversity. Objective 10.1. Field verify the Conservation Strategy land cover map of streams and create a refined map that reflects hydroperiod, riparian species composition, and restoration or enhancement opportunities at the stream reach level. n Conservation Action STM-1. During project-level analysis of parcels with streams, applicants will provide information on the size of the aquatic • feature and a characterization of habitat quality to the local authorizing land East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-36 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy use jurisdiction as part of the permit process, regardless of whether that • feature will be affected by the project,for inclusion in the Conservation Strategy database. The assessment will include an assessment of channel form (e.g., bank-full depth and width, channel slope, channel sinuosity); watershed size;watershed land uses (focusing on subwatersheds that may impact channel stability at the project site, including the hydroperiod at the project site, and the watershed immediately downstream of the project site);sediment balance(for larger projects with impacts to the stream corridor);stream condition (e.g., stability of banks, presence of bank armoring, presence of structures within the stream channel, extent and health of vegetation in the stream channel); and surrounding land uses. Objective 10.2. Avoid or minimize direct impacts on streams during project construction and indirect impacts that result from postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Table 3-2 and 3-3. is Conservation Action STM-2. To avoid additional impacts from development, the Steering Committee should encourage jurisdictions with planning authority to restrict changes in land use designation within the 100-year floodplain that would enable urban development within the floodplain and reduce stream function, limit natural migration of the stream over time, or limit opportunities for future stream restoration activities. In addition, development in the FEMA 100-year floodplain increases the risk of flooding downstream communities. Municipalities should also continue to enforce creek set-backs as defined by their respective ordinances. The set-back • distance should be established by the natural channel's sinuosity plus an agreed distance to allow for channel migration. Objective 10.3. To ensure that the full range of stream habitats persist in the study area at an extent that will sustain the natural processes and native species diversity typically found in this natural community,guarantee the management (through permanent protection or written assurances) of 90% ('191 miles) of stream habitat to benefit focal species and promote native biodiversity . n Conservation Action STM-3. Acquire parcels with stream restoration potential that meet the conservation goals and objectives of this strategy through fee title purchase or conservation easement. ® Conservation Action STM-4. Establish new incentive programs for public and private landowners to guarantee the management of streams on their lands.This could be achieved through implementation of management plans that will promote regeneration and recruitment of native species and support the natural processes typically found in these natural communities. Objective 10.4. Increase natural stream habitat in the study area where possible through restoration projects. O Conservation Action STM-5. Restore streams in areas with proper hydrology, soils, and topography to support naturally occurring features that reduce • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-37 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • the need for long-term human intervention to maintain stream channel stability. s Conservation Action STM-6. Reconfigure or enhance stream channels to mimic natural stream channel systems by supporting the balanced transport of sediment and water(e.g. reconnecting the floodplain to the stream channel, establishing a low flow channel to efficiently transport sediment, and, where geomorphically appropriate, increasing channel complexity while increasing floodwater retention and detention capabilities. See Appendix G (Proposed new appendix with hydrology/habitat goals)for additional information on maintaining stable creek systems. ® Conservation Action STM-7. Plant and/or seed native understory and overstory riparian vegetation within an appropriate buffer along the edge of the low-flow channel to create structural diversity, provide overhead cover, and moderate water temperature, creating a plant density that is appropriate to the naturally occurring vegetation community and stream type. Appropriate buffers should be based on the natural channel's sinuosity plus an appropriate distance to allow for channel migration and to support viable, site-appropriate riparian plant communities. m Conservation Action STM-8. Identify highly erosive stream bank conditions and evaluate underlying causes of instability(e.g., roads, culverts, increased amounts of impervious surfaces in the watershed, decreased sediment • load). Attempts should be made to restore an appropriate level of stability using biotechnical bank stabilization techniques. m Conservation Action STM-9. Where stream bank instability threatens the integrity of structures or infrastructure, restore an appropriate level of bank stability using biotechnical bank stabilization techniques to the maximum extent practicable. The use of hardscape to stabilize creek banks is not preferred in this Conservation Action, because hardscape does not provide habitat value to the channel and hardscape is not capable of adapting to • minor changes in channel configuration. m Conservation Action STM-10. In areas where it has been determined that livestock grazing has decreased stream habitat quality, seasonally control livestock grazing pressure on near-stream and in-stream resources using exclusion fencing and addition of off-channel water sources. Sufficient access points and width of fenced areas should be maintained to allow for spot grazing when necessary. Avoidance, Minimization, Mitigation Direct and indirect impacts on streams should be avoided during construction and postproject activities, respectively (Objective 10.2). Project applicants should implement avoidance measures outlined in Table 3-2 and 3-3 to help. , avoid any impacts on these communities (Objective 10.2). To avoid additional • impacts of development,the Implementation Committee could also restrict East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-38 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy changes in the land use designation that would allow urban development within • the FEMA 100-year floodplain (STM-2). Development in these areas could reduce stream function or limit opportunities for future stream restoration activities. If impacts do occur,the project applicant will mitigate the loss of stream habitat.Typically,the mitigation in these communities will be based on standards set for focal species. In situations where no focal species or their habitat are present, mitigation will be determined on the basis of the functions and values of the watercourse on the individual project site. In such cases, mitigation ratios will be determined by the Corps (if impacts are below the ordinary high water mark),the RWQCB, CDFG,or all three. • Management Stream restoration would increase aquatic habitat in the study area (Objective 10.4). Projects could include restoring streams by fixing hardscaped and incised channels and removing riprap and barriers to fish and other aquatic species. These activities could result in proper hydrology, soils, and topography to support naturally occurring features that reduce the need for long-term human intervention (STM-5). Stream channels that have not experienced significant incision could be reconfigured to mimic natural channel systems by transporting both water and sediment in a proper balance, while supporting natural habitats (STM-6). For example, reconnecting streams to floodplains could increase • channel complexity and return the system to a more natural state, while retaining flood retention capabilities. See Appendix G (New Appendix proposed by Water Board for hydrology goals)for additional guidance on maintaining stable and healthy creek systems. Native understory and overstory riparian vegetation could be planted and/or seeded (STM-7). Highly erosive stream banks could be identified and restored, ideally using biotechnical approaches (STM-8 and STM-9). livestock grazing pressure near or in streams or stream resources could be lessened by using exclusion fencing or seasonal grazing. Off- channel water sources could be used to reduce grazing pressure on aquatic resources if needed (STM-10). If this method of grazing management is used, sufficient access points and width of fenced areas should be maintained to allow for spot grazing when necessary. Protection The amount of protected stream habitat in the study area could be increased. Parcels with stream restoration potential could be acquired through fee title purchase or conservation easement(STM-3). In addition, the Implementation Committee could establish an incentive program for private landowners to guarantee the management of stream habitat on their lands. Management plans that promote regeneration and recruitment of native species and support natural processes could be implemented throughout private lands in the study • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-39 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • • area. Guaranteed management of streams on private lands would ultimately contribute to the conservation objectives (STM-4). • Specific Conservation Opportunities ■ Prioritize the protection of streams that support focal species or have the potential to be enhanced to support focal species in all CZs. ■ Identify and rank stream restoration opportunities for each conservation zone. ■ CZ-10, CZ-13, CZ-17. Priority should be given to streams in areas of potential foothill yellow-legged frog habitat and CNDDB occurrences. ■ CZ-13, CZ-15, CZ-17. Priority should be given to streams in areas of future spawning and rearing habitat for central coast steelhead, provided' downstream barriers to movement are removed or enhanced. 3.5.3 Focal Species Goals and Objectives Conservation goals developed at the focal species level aim to protect and enhance the habitats of focal species that are protected under federal and state • laws.The focal species evaluated for goals and objectives are listed below. ■ Vernal pool and longhorn fairy shrimp ■ Callippe silverspot butterfly ■ California red-legged frog ■ California tiger salamander ■ Foothill yellow-legged frog ■ Alameda whipsnake ■ Golden eagle a Tricolored blackbird ■ Western burrowing owl • American badger ■ San Joaquin kit fox ■ Central California coast steelhead For focal plant species, the conservation goals mainly strive to protect existing populations and maintain habitat. The focal plant species are listed below. • San Joaquin spearscale • ■ Big tarplant East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-40 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy IN Congdon's tarplant • ® Palmate-bracted bird's-beak ® Livermore Valley tarplant ® Recurved larkspur Focal species would benefit and native biodiversity would increase as a result of conservation actions supporting these conservation goals. Goals and objectives for each focal species are described below. 3.5.3.1 Standardized Mitigation Ratios The core of the Conservation Strategy for the focal species is the application of standardized mitigation ratios for each species (Tables 3-4 through 3-12). These ratios would be utilized by local jurisdictions and the Resource Agencies to determine the level of mitigation necessary to offset project impacts. The ratios were developed in collaboration with the Resource Agencies and based on consideration of sites with habitat quality and species occurrence typical of the study area. Mitigation ratios are applied to the project site based on actual site conditions and habitat quality. Project applicants evaluate habitat quality based on a • scoring system that qualitatively assigns habitat units for each focal species that occurs or may occur on the project site. A scoring system was created for all focal species except steelhead based on each species' life history (see Appendix E for the scoresheets). Each applicable scoresheet will be completed to reflect project site conditions that are directly related to the habitat quality for each focal species. As discussed above,the assessment of habitat potential on a site will disregard the current land use and management activities that might be compromising the maximum potential habitat quality of the site. Sites with higher quality habitat will score higher for that particular focal species. The habitat unit scores for project impacts reflect the habitat quality on the site . where impacts will occur. While final determinations are subject to site-specific conditions, it is recommended that mitigation generally not be allowed at sites supporting lower quality habitat than the site being affected. However, exceptions can be made where potential mitigation sites with lower quality habitat have the potential to be enhanced or restored to a level of equal or higher habitat value. If such a decision is made, it is further recommended that the enhancements or restoration actions be completed prior to initiation of . project impacts to ensure that the mitigation adequately offsets the impacts. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-41 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • 3.5.3.2 Calculating Mitigation Ratios • The mitigation need for each species is determined by multiplying the total acres of focal species habitat that are affected by the mitigation ratios, according to the location of the mitigation site and the mix of mitigation provided. Mitigation ratios are determined by using the mitigation reference map for the appropriate species and applying the mitigation ratio from the mitigation ratio table depending on the location of project impact and the location of proposed mitigation. Less mitigation may also be required if mitigation habitat is of higher quality than affected habitat. For a.given species the species score sheets provided in Appendix E allow a project applicant and the USFWS and CDFG to calculate a habitat score for the area that will be impacted by the proposed project. Similarly the species score sheets in Appendix E would be used to calculate a habitat score for that species on the proposed mitigation site. For the species in question the mitigation site must score equally or higher than the impact site in order for it to be considered for mitigation purposes. If the score of the mitigation site is higher than the score of the impact site the total mitigation required ( as calculated using the Standardized Mitigation Table for that species and Mitigation Reference Map)would be reduced using a Mitigation Correction Factor.The Mitigation Correction Factor for the species in question is the •• species habitat score for the mitigation site divided by the species habitat score for the impact site. The Mitigation Correction Factor is then multiplied times the total mitigation acreage required when the Standardized Mitigation Ratios for that species are applied. This approach provides incentives for applicants to mitigate close to the impact sites. For some species, habitat restoration can be used in lieu of some habitat , preservation. If habitat restoration can be provided, less habitat preservation may be required. In all cases, more species habitat will be preserved or restored at a mitigation site than will be lost at the impact site. 3.5.3.3 Vernal Pool and Longhorn Fairy Shrimp Species Goals and Objectives Goal 11 Protect and maintain habitat for longhorn fairy shrimp and vernal pool fairy shrimp. Objective 11.1. Avoid all direct impacts on sandstone rock outcrop vernal pools. • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-42 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy Objective 11.2. Avoid and minimize direct impacts on longhorn fairy shrimp and • vernal pool fairy shrimp (mortality of individuals and loss of occupied habitat) during project construction and indirect impacts that result from postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Table 3-2 and 3-3. Objective 11.3. Protect 90% of all existing longhorn fairy shrimp and vernal pool fairy shrimp populations and suitable habitat that has the potential to be occupied in the future. s Conservation Action FS-1. Mitigate the loss of suitable longhorn fairy shrimp and vernal pool fairy shrimp habitat, including upland habitat within 250- feet of known vernal pools, by protecting occupied habitat, or restoring suitable habitat, in accordance with the mitigation guidelines outlined in Table 3-4, Mitigation Guidelines for Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp in Eastern Alameda County and Table 3-5, Mitigation Guidelines for Longhorn Fairy Shrimp in Eastern Alameda County. The scoring sheets are shown in Appendix E. s Conservation Action FS-2. Acquire parcels in the Altamont Hills Core Areas (Livermore) identified in the Vernal Pool Recovery Plan that support documented longhorn fairy shrimp or vernal pool fairy shrimp habitat and meet the conservation goals and objectives through fee title purchase or conservation easement. s Conservation Action FS-3. Offer financial or regulatory incentives to public • and private landowners to guarantee the management and potential expansion of vernal pool habitats and vernal pool crustaceans on private lands. Objective 11.4. Enhance existing habitat and restore additional habitat for longhorn fairy shrimp and vernal pool fairy shrimp that has the potential to be occupied in the future. s Conservation Action FS-4. Identify sites that have either supported vernal pool crustaceans in the past or have the potential, based on habitat conditions,to support these species in the future; determine the underlying reasons that the habitat is not functional and complete a management plan to address those issues. s Conservation Action FS-5. Following restoration of a site and a determination that the site has all the features necessary to support vernal pool crustaceans set a time frame for when species occupancy could be expected (e.g.,3 years). s Conservation Action FS-6. If suitable habitat is not occupied by vernal pool crustaceans within the time frame proposed in the management plan, initiate a study in coordination with USFWS to determine the feasibility of translocating individuals from nearby stable populations into the newly restored suitable habitat to increase the population in the study area. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-43 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • Mitigation Guidance Direct and indirect(temporary and permanent) impacts on sandstone rock outcrop vernal pools should be avoided during construction and postproject activities (Objective 11.1 and 11.2). Avoidance of both direct and indirect (temporary and permanent) impacts on vernal pool habitats is the most important form of conservation that can occur for this species. Project applicants should implement avoidance measures outlined in Tables 3-2 and 3-3 (Objective 11.2). Additional measures could be prescribed if site-specific conditions warrant. When avoidance and minimization are not possible and loss of habitat occurs, the project proponent will mitigate the loss of suitable vernal pool fairy shrimp and longhorn fairy shrimp habitat in accordance with the mitigation guidelines outlined in Table 3-4 or Table 3-5 depending on the species present (FS-1). Mitigation will occur at the level specified in the tables, but a determination of the quality of habitat that is being affected would be made using the appropriate scoresheet (Appendix E). Mitigation could entail a combination of on-and offsite protection and enhancement of occupied habitats depending on project impacts. The most effective conservation tool for these species is the protection of • existing vernal pool and longhorn fairy shrimp populations and protection of additional suitable habitat near known populations. Development in vernal pools areas would destroy populations and habitat. Protection and management of habitat should be achieved through fee title purchase or conservation easement in the portion of the study area that is located in the Altamont Hills Core Area (Livermore) (FS-2). Some protection will occur through mitigation for project-level impacts. The project applicant could acquire parcels, through fee title purchase or conservation easements,where populations have been documented. Such acquisition would necessitate a survey to document longhorn fairy shrimp and vernal pool fairy shrimp occurrences. Restoration projects in conjunction with preservation could be developed as mitigation to restore additional habitat for vernal pool fairy shrimp and longhorn fairy shrimp to ensure sustainability of future populations. Potential restoration sites would include sites previously inhabited and sites with appropriate habitat conditions (FS-4). To ensure that these sites are being occupied by fairy shrimp, monitoring would occur after restoration at the expense of the project applicant as part of the long-term management plan (FS-5). If suitable habitat is not occupied within a pre- determined time period (e.g., 3 years), the project applicant should coordinate with USFWS and CDFG to determine the feasibility of translocating individuals from nearby stable populations into the newly restored suitable habitat to increase the distribution of the species in the study area (FS-6). If translocation is not feasible or if vernal pool crustaceans cannot be established on the site, a • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-44 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy new mitigation alternative developed in the management plan will need to be • implemented. Aside from protection of new lands and management of public lands,financial or regulatory incentives should be extended to landowners to facilitate management of vernal pool habitats and vernal pool crustaceans on private lands that are not being used as project mitigation (FS-3). Management plans could be written for private parcels that contain vernal pool habitats. These plans would include provisions for managing nonnative invasive vegetation. When grazing is used as a management tool,the management plans would outline a monitoring program to determine how vernal pool vegetation responds to the grazing regime, and how to adjust the grazing regime if necessary. Also, accounting for the water economy on the parcel and both upstream and downstream of the parcel is very important. Conservation Priorities o Nearly all existing vernal pool habitat is restricted to CZ-4 through CZ-7. Designing projects to avoid impacts on vernal pool habitat and protecting a high percentage of remaining habitats is one of the greatest conservation priorities for these Zones. to Most vernal pool data are not shown on the Conservation Strategy land • cover map because the habitat occurs at a finer scale than the mapping allowed. Identifying these areas and including them in the Conservation Strategy land cover dataset would be an invaluable step toward ensuring their preservation. o Critical habitat for longhorn fairy shrimp occurs in CZ-5 (133 acres) and CZ-6 (354 acres). None of the critical habitat in CZ-5 is currently protected, and only 219 acres of critical habitat in CZ-6 is protected. Protecting the rest of the critical habitat in both CZs is a high priority. is Critical habitat for vernal pool fairy shrimp occurs in CZ-4 (1,378 acres) and • CZ-5 (77 acres). In CZ-4,486 acres are currently protected and in CZ-5, 17 acres are currently protected.This leaves 892 acres and 60 acres of vernal • pool fairy shrimp critical habitat unprotected in these CZs, respectively. Protecting the rest of the critical habitat in both CZs is a high priority. • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-45 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • • 3.5.3.4 Callippe Silverspot Butterfly Species Goals and Objectives • Goal 12 Protect any remaining populations of callippe silverspot butterfly in the study area and increase the understanding of the distribution and ecology of the species. Objective 12.1. Avoid and minimize direct impacts on callippe silverspot butterfly (mortality of individuals and loss of habitat) during project construction and indirect impacts that result from postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Table 3-2 and 3-3. Objective 12.2. Protect existing callippe silverspot butterfly populations and additional suitable habitat that has the potential to be occupied in the future. • e Conservation Action CSB-1. Mitigate the loss of suitable callippe silverspot butterfly habitat in CZ-8, CZ-11,CZ-12, CZ-14, CZ-15, and CZ-16 by protecting habitat in accordance with the mitigation guidelines outlined in Table 3-6 and the mitigation scoring parameters shown in Appendix E. • e Conservation Action CSB-2. Acquire,through fee title purchase or conservation easement, parcels with documented callippe silverspot • butterfly populations or suitable habitat in CZ-8, CZ-11, CZ-12, CZ-14, CZ-15, and CZ-16 that also meet the conservation goals and objectives of this strategy. a Conservation Action CSB-3. Offer financial or regulatory incentives to public. and private landowners to guarantee the management of grasslands, especially native grasslands, to support callippe silverspot butterfly. Objective 12.3. Determine the distribution of the callippe silverspot butterfly and intergrades in the study area and identify core areas that could contribute to the species' recovery. e Conservation Action CSB-4. Fund systematic, multi-year surveys for callippe silverspot butterfly occupancy on suitable habitat on public and private lands in CZ-8, CZ-11, CZ-12, CZ-14, CZ-15, and CZ-16 Mitigation Guidance The primary goal for this species is to protect any remaining populations of callippe silverspot butterfly in the study area and increase knowledge of its distribution and ecology(Goal 12).To better account for the distribution of this species and its habitat, an important conservation action under this strategy is to coordinate multi-year surveys to identify occupancy of callippe silverspot East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-46 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • • butterfly and intergrades on public and private lands (CSB-4). A better • understanding of the distribution of this species in the study area will allow for more effective avoidance, minimization, and mitigation for this species. Project applicants must determine if host plants occur within their project area. This can be determined by a qualified biologist. If the plants are not present, no mitigation would be necessary for this species. If the plants are present,the project applicant has two options: (1)assume presence and mitigate in accordance with Table 3-6 (the selection of a mitigation site would be informed by the mitigation scoresheet shown in Appendix E), or (2) have a qualified biologist conduct a species survey, using methodology approved by the USFWS, to determine if the species habitat and/or species is present. If it is, the project applicant would proceed with avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures. Direct and indirect impacts on grasslands that support johnny jump-ups should be avoided during construction and postproject activities within the species' range (CZ-8, CZ-11, CZ-12, CZ-14, CZ-15, and CZ-16) (Objectives 12.1 and 12.2). Project applicants should implement avoidance measures outlined in Tables 3-2 and 3-3 to avoid any impacts on occupied habitat (Objective 12.1). Protection of existing callippe silverspot butterfly populations and suitable habitat will be necessary to contribute to the recovery of this species. The loss of suitable callippe silverspot butterfly habitat in CZ-8, CZ-11, CZ-12, CZ-14, CZ-15, and CZ- 16 should be mitigated as outlined in Table 3-6, (CSB-1). • Lands should be acquired through fee title purchase or conservation easement within the CZs shown above and managed for this species (CSB-2). Preservation of habitat in the CZs would allow for the management of callippe silverspot butterfly habitat and potentially allow for colonization. Some of this land protection will occur as mitigation for projects that affect callippe silverspot • butterfly habitat. Other suitable habitat might be protected as conservation initiatives by local land management entities. To facilitate management of callippe silverspot butterfly habitat on private lands, financial or regulatory incentives could be offered to landowners to manage their grasslands in a way that is beneficial to the host plant (CSB-3). Conservation Priorities o Continue survey efforts in CZ-8, CZ-11, CZ-12, CZ-14, CZ-15, and CZ-16 to document observations of callippe silverspot butterflies and map suitable habitat. is Track both positive and negative survey data in a spatial database that can be accessed during the project approval process. Since protocol surveys have not been established, all surveys will need to be verified and approved . by USFWS. [Note:negative survey data would only be useful if the survey • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-47 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • were conducted during the same growing year due to temporal variability in habitat occupancy.] 3.5.3.5 California Red-Legged Frog Species Goals and Objectives Goal 13 Increase the California red-legged frog population in the study area to a level that allows for long-term viability without human intervention and is consistent with the USFWS Recovery Plan. The USFWS Recovery Plan for California red- . legged frog is available for review at htt p://ecos.fws.gov/d ocs/recovery_p la n/020528.pdf. Objective 13.1. Avoid and minimize direct impacts on California red-legged frog (mortality of individuals and loss of occupied aquatic habitat) during construction activities associated with projects implemented under the Conservation Strategy through implementation of avoidance measures outlined in Tables 3-2 and 3-3. • Objective 13.2. Protect existing California red-legged frog populations and allow for expansion of metapopulations. m Conservation Action CRLF-1. Mitigate the loss of suitable California red- legged frog habitat by protecting occupied habitat, by restoring degraded aquatic and upland habitat to increase breeding success and survivorship and, where appropriate, by creating suitable aquatic habitat, in accordance with the mitigation guidelines outlined in Table 3-7 and the mitigation scoring parameters shown in Appendix E. m Conservation Action CRLF-2. Acquire parcels that support documented California red-legged frog aquatic and/or upland habitat inside the East San Francisco Bay core recovery area (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2002) and that meet the conservation goals and objectives of this strategy through fee title purchase or conservation easement m Conservation Action CRLF-3. Acquire,through fee title purchase or conservation easement, parcels with California red-legged frog upland habitat within 2 miles of a documented California red-legged frog breeding location (within the previous 3 years). m Conservation Action CRLF-4. Establish an incentive program for public and private landowners to facilitate restoration of key breeding ponds on private lands and guide management of these resources for California red- legged frog. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-48 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy Objective 13.3. Enhance suitable California red-legged frog habitat on public • and private lands in the study area through implementation of management plans. el Conservation Action CRLF-5. Include the removal of exotic species such as bullfrogs, mosquitofish, nonnative predatory fish, and nonnative turtles by • periodically draining ponds as a measure in all management plans that are prepared for mitigation or conservation lands in the study area. m Conservation Action CRLF-6. Implement grazing management plans to increase the suitability for California red-legged frog of both aquatic habitat and the upland habitat surrounding it. m Conservation Action CRLF-7. Create an incentive program that will encourage private landowners to manage ground squirrels on their property using IPM principles and work toward a balance between species needs and the requirements of a working landscape. m Conservation Action CRLF-8. Create an incentive program, including streamlined permitting, to encourage public and private landowners to maintain their properties free of bullfrogs and nonnative predatory fish. e Conservation Action CRLF-9. Offer financial or regulatory incentives to private landowners to enhance wetland and stream habitat to suit California red-legged frog, and to ensure that activities in upland habitat (e.g., dryland farming and ranching activities) support California red-legged frog • movement and refuge needs. m Conservation Action CRLF-10. Provide off-stream water sources for livestock to control grazing pressure in and around streams. o Conservation Action CRLF-11. Increase the amount of California red-legged frog breeding habitat in existing creeks through the creation of more plunge pools and slow water habitats through geomorphically appropriate creek restoration projects. Mitigation Guidance The primary goal for California red-legged frog in the study area is to increase the population and enhance suitable habitat on public and private lands (Goal 13 and Objective 13.3). First and foremost, project applicants must protect suitable habitat that currently exists. Avoiding direct and indirect impacts on California red-legged frogs and loss of occupied aquatic habitat during construction and postproject activities can be accomplished at the project level (Objective 13.1 and 13.2). The assessment of impacts on California red-legged frogs should include the direct mortality of individuals by construction vehicles when the project is in or near occupied breeding habitat. Tables 3-2,and 3-3 offer initial guidance on avoiding impacts at the project level,though site- specific measures should be considered (Objective 13.1). • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-49 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • Project applicants must first determine if California red-legged frog or its habitat occurs within their project area. This can be determined by a qualified biologist. Project applicants are encouraged to use the mitigation scoresheets (Appendix E)to determine the quality of habitat for California red-legged frog. If the USFWS determines that no habitat is present,then mitigation would not be necessary for the project. If habitat is present, the project applicant has two options: (1) assume presence and mitigate in accordance with Table 3-7, or(2) have a USFWS-approved biologist conduct protocol-level surveys to determine if California red-legged frogs are present. If they are present,the project applicant would proceed with avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures. If there are no California red-legged frogs present then no mitigation would be necessary. However, if there is suitable habitat on the project site and there is occupied habitat in adjacent areas (within the typical dispersal distance of California red-legged frogs)then the project applicant would need to obtain federal and state incidental take permits, implement avoidance and minimization measures (Table 3-3), and mitigate accordingly. Protection of existing populations of California red-legged frogs would be the most affective form of mitigation. Project applicants should mitigate the loss of suitable California red-legged frog habitat by protecting and enhancing occupied habitat in accordance with the mitigation guidelines outlined in Table 3-7 (CRLF- 1). A mitigation site must have documented species presence and contain both an aquatic (breeding) and upland component. If impacts would only affect • upland habitat (i.e., suitable upland habitat within the typical dispersal distance of a known breeding location), the mitigation site must still either contain occupied breeding habitat or be within the typical dispersal distance of protected occupied breeding habitat. Consideration should be given to the potential for the mitigation site to become isolated in the future and the potential for the upland mitigation site to become isolated from the breeding habitat. Mitigation sites on contiguous protected lands are more likely to remain viable over the long term. In order to contribute to the recovery goals for California red-legged frog, additional conservation including land acquisition (beyond that required for project impact mitigation) will have to occur in the study area. The Implementation Committee could establish an incentive program for public and private landowners (CRLF-4, CRLF-9). The incentive program would guarantee the management of California red-legged frog habitat and populations on those lands through the implementation of key restoration actions and management plans. Guidance could.be written for private landowners to inform the management of stock ponds to benefit native amphibians. This guidance would be included in grazing management plans. This guidance could include provisions to enhance suitable California red-legged frog habitat on public and private lands, and would include removal and management to prevent recurrence of nonnative species such as bullfrogs (CRLF-8), mosquitofish, and. nonnative turtles (CRLF-5); implement grazing management plans to decrease • impacts on California red-legged frog habitat (CRLF-6 and CRLF-10); and create East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-50 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 2 Conservation Strategy incentive programs to enhance wetland and stream habitat (CRLF-9) and create • additional breeding habitat (CRLF-11). Removal of nonnative fish and amphibians from pond habitats could include the partial filling of ponds (using a dozer)to capture bullfrogs in the pond after draining, and thereby reducing capacity (at least temporarily) or creating more of a seasonal pond to benefit native amphibians .This will reduce-the likelihood that bullfrogs can disperse to other nearby aquatic habitats. If management initiatives require manipulating habitat that is already occupied by California red-legged frog or any other state- or federally listed species, permits would be needed to complete the work. Conservation Priorities ® Protecting aquatic and adjacent upland habitat with documented populations of California red-legged frog is imperative. ® Conservation initiatives for this species should focus on enhancement of breeding habitat that is currently protected. Mitigation actions (e.g., enhancement of existing habitat, restoration of habitat)should be implemented on lands that are already protected. ® Financial incentive programs should be created to facilitate the removal of bullfrogs and nonnative fish from ponds on public and private lands.This funding could be collected from project applicants as part of their mitigation package and used to enhance ponds with documented California red-legged • frog and bullfrog populations. 3.5.3.6 California Tiger Salamander Species Goals and Objectives Goal 14 Increase the California tiger salamander population in the study area to a level that allows for long-term viability of the population without human intervention. Objective 14.1. Avoid and minimize direct impacts on California tiger salamander(mortality of individuals and loss of occupied aquatic or upland habitat) during project construction and indirect impacts that result from postproject activities by implementing avoidance and minimization measures outlined in Table 3-2 and 3-3. Objective 14.2. Protect existing California tiger salamander populations and allow for expansion of metapopulations. e Conservation Action CTS-1. Mitigate the loss of suitable California tiger salamander habitat by protecting occupied aquatic or upland habitat, • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-51 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • restoring breeding and upland habitat, and/or creating new suitable aquatic habitat, in accordance with the mitigation guidelines outlined in Table 3-8 and the mitigation scoring parameters shown in Appendix E. • Conservation Action CTS-2. Acquire parcels with documented California tiger salamander habitat inside the study area that meet the conservation goals and objectives of this strategy through fee title purchase or conservation easement. is Conservation Action CTS-3.Acquire parcels supporting California tiger salamander upland habitat within 1.3 miles of a documented California tiger salamander breeding location (within the previous 3 years)through fee title purchase or conservation easement. Habitat should be contiguous (no obstructions such as roads or gradient) and accessible from occupied breeding habitat. s Conservation Action CTS-4. Establish an incentive program for private landowners to guarantee management for California tiger salamanders on private lands, including incentivizing pond/wetland enhancement and allowing burrowing mammals to persist in uplands habitats. Objective 14.3. Enhance suitable California tiger salamander habitat on public and private lands in the study area through implementation of management plans. • s Conservation Action CTS-5. Remove exotic species such as bullfrogs, nonnative crayfish, mosquitofish, nonnative predatory fish, and non-native turtles by including periodic draining of ponds or enhancing ponds to become seasonal as a measure in all management plans prepared for mitigation or conservation lands in the study area. s Conservation Action CTS-6. Implement grazing management plans to increase the suitability of upland habitat surrounding aquatic California tiger salamander habitat. s Conservation Action CTS-7. Manage ground squirrels using IPM principles and work toward a balance between species needs and the requirements of a working landscape. s Conservation Action CTS-8. Maintain public and private properties free of bullfrogs and nonnative predatory fish. s Conservation Action CTS-9. Offer financial or regulatory incentives'(e.g., pond registration)to private landowners to enhance pond and wetland habitat to suit California tiger salamander, and to ensure that activities in upland habitat (e.g., dryland farming, ranching activities) support California tiger salamander movement and refuge needs. • Conservation Action CTS-10. In areas where grazing pressure has reduced the quality of pond habitat for tiger salamanders due to reduced water quality in breeding habitat, provide alternate water sources that do not • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-52 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy impact the hydrology or habitat function of the water source to manage • grazing pressure and increase habitat quality. o Conservation Action CTS-11. Remove California tiger salamander hybrid paedomorphs from ponds when found by a qualified biologist. Mitigation Guidance The primary goal for this species is to increase the population of California tiger salamander in the study area and maintain the population without human intervention (Goal 14). Project applicants must determine if California tiger salamander or its habitat occurs within the project area. This can be determined by a qualified biologist, USFWS, and CDFG. Project applicants are encouraged to use the mitigation scoresheets (Appendix E)to determine the quality of habitat for California tiger salamander in their project area. If USFWS and CDFG determine habitat is not present, mitigation would not be necessary. If habitat is present,the project applicant has two options: (1) assume presence and mitigate in accordance with Table 3-8, or(2) have a USFWS and CDFG-approved biologist conduct species surveys using the 2003 Interim Guidance (until an update guidance is provided)to determine if California tiger salamanders are present. If tiger salamanders are present,the project applicant would proceed with avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures. If no California tiger salamanders are present, then no mitigation is necessary; however, if there is • suitable habitat on the project site and there is occupied habitat in adjacent areas (within the typical dispersal distance of California tiger salamander)then the project applicant would need to implement avoidance and minimization measures (Table 3-2 and 3-3) and mitigate accordingly. Direct and indirect impacts on California tiger salamander and loss of occupied aquatic and upland habitat should be avoided during construction and postproject activities (Objective 14.1). Project applicants should implement avoidance measures outlined in Table 3-2 and 3-3 (Objective 14.1). The most effective form of mitigation is the protection and enhancement of existing populations of California tiger salamander. The project applicant would mitigate the loss of suitable California tiger salamander habitat by protecting occupied aquatic and upland habitat or by restoring occupied aquatic habitat in accordance with the mitigation guidelines outlined in Table 3-8.The selection of mitigation sites will be informed by the mitigation scoresheets in Appendix E (CTS-1). To complete mitigation requirements, the project applicant could acquire parcels,through fee title purchase or conservation easements,to increase the amount of California tiger salamander habitat that is protected in the study area (CTS-2 and CTS-3). Consideration should be given to the potential for the mitigation site to become isolated in the future. Mitigation sites on contiguous protected lands are more likely to remain viable over the long term. Not all conservation for this species can be accomplished through mitigation efforts; land acquisition will also be necessary to conserve habitat for California • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-53 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • tiger salamander. The Implementation Committee could also establish an incentive program for public and private landowners (CTS-4)that preserves aquatic and upland habitat for California tiger salamander. The incentive program would guarantee the management of California tiger salamander habitat and populations on private lands. Restoration and management plans for public and private lands would be developed to enhance suitable California tiger salamander habitat (Objective 14.3). Management plans would include removal of nonnative species such as bullfrogs, mosquitofish, crayfish, and nonnative turtles (CTS-5); implementation of grazing management plans to manage impacts on California tiger salamander habitat (CTS-6 and CTS-10); and creation of incentive programs to enhance upland (CTS-7), pond, wetland, and stream habitats (CTS-9). Removal of nonnative fish and amphibians from pond habitats could include the partial filling of ponds (using a dozer)to capture bullfrogs in the pond after draining, and thereby reducing capacity(at least temporarily) or creating more of a seasonal pond to benefit native amphibians and reduce habitat suitability for hybrid tiger salamanders. This will reduce the likelihood that bullfrogs can disperse to other nearby aquatic habitats. In all cases, the response of the California tiger salamander population would need to be monitored to determine best management practices for the species in various habitat types. • Conservation Priorities is A total of 1,177 acres of designated critical habitat for California tiger salamander critical habitat are in CZ-3, none of which are currently protected. Protection of critical habitat is a high priority for this species. n California tiger salamander modeled habitat(aquatic and upland) occurs in every conservation zone in the study area.The most acreage is in CZ-2, CZ-4, and CZ-6. Most of this habitat is on private land with no existing protections. The exception is zone CZ-4, where more than half the modeled habitat is currently protected. Expanding protected lands in this zone would greatly benefit this species. el The focus in the study area should remain on protecting and managing breeding habitat and adjacent uplands. ® Continued monitoring of hybridization with barred tiger salamander should be a priority.The prevalence of hybrid tiger salamanders has become more apparent in recent years, and research has shown that these hybrids may outcompete native California tiger salamanders Over time. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-54 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy 3.5.3.7 Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog • Species Goals and Objectives Goal 15 Increase the foothill yellow-legged frog population in each watershed where it currently occurs to a level that allows for long-term viability in the watershed without human intervention. Objective 15.1. Avoid and minimize direct impacts on foothill yellow-legged frog (mortality of individuals and loss of habitat) during project construction and indirect impacts that result from postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Table 3-2 and 3-3. Objective 15.2. Protect existing foothill yellow-legged frog populations and allow for expansion of metapopulations by protecting lands in the surrounding watershed, especially riverine habitat upstream and downstream of documented occurrences. m Conservation Action FYF-1. Mitigate the loss of suitable foothill yellow- legged frog habitat by protecting occupied habitat in accordance with the mitigation guidelines outlined in Table 3-9 and the mitigation scoring parameters in Appendix E. • m Conservation Action FYF-2. Acquire parcels in the study area with documented foothill yellow-legged frog breeding habitat through fee title purchase or conservation easement m Conservation Action FYF-3. Time releases from reservoirs to occur before or after the peak foothill yellow-legged frog egg-laying period to avoid dislodging egg masses downstream. Objective 15.3. Enhance suitable foothill yellow-legged frog habitat on public and private lands in the study area through implementation of management plans. is Conservation Action FYF-4. Reduce the number of exotic species such as bullfrogs, nonnative crayfish, nonnative predatory fish, and nonnative turtles to a level that would increase the overall survivorship of foothill yellow-legged frogs in stream habitat south of 1-580. m Conservation Action FYF-5. Consistent with Conservation Action STM-9, provide off-stream water sources to control grazing pressure in streams and associated riparian habitats. m Conservation Action FYF-6.To increase the distribution of foothill yellow- legged frog in the study area, initiate a study in coordination with CDFG to determine the feasibility of translocating individuals from nearby stable populations into unoccupied suitable habitat in the study area. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-55 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • Mitigation Guidance The primary goal for this species is to increase the population of foothill yellow- legged frogs within the study area and maintain the population without human intervention (Goal 15). The most effective way to accomplish this is to protect extant populations of the species. Of the six CNDDB occurrences in the study area,four were in Alameda Creek, one was in the headwaters of Corral Hollow Creek, and one was at Arroyo Mocho (California Natural Diversity Database 2009). Foothill yellow-legged frogs are also found in Sunol Regional Wilderness and Ohlone Regional Wilderness (Bobzien and DiDonato 2007). Protecting all documented populations of this species should be a priority in the study area. Most extant populations occur in remote areas where typical project impacts (e.g., development)will not occur. In-stream maintenance activities and water conveyance (for water supply)through natural stream channels have the highest potential to affect this species. While changes in the timing of releases from reservoirs are dependent on many factors,the habitat needs of this species and the timing of releases relative to the egg-laying period should be considered. Direct and indirect impacts on foothill yellow-legged frogs and loss of individuals must be avoided at the project level (Objective 15.1). This is the primary conservation action for this species. When in-stream projects are planned in watersheds where this species has been • documented, species surveys to determine presence should be conducted prior to initiation of any activities. Gaining a better understanding of the population levels and total distribution of this species in the study area will allow for better protection of habitat and avoidance of direct and indirect impacts. When projects are conducted where habitat for this species occurs avoidance measures outlined in Tables 3-2 and 3-3 should be implemented (Objective 15.1). When avoidance is not possible, project applicants will have to mitigate the loss of habitat. Such mitigation is typically quantified in linear feet of stream affected. Existing populations of foothill yellow-legged frogs and riverine habitat upstream and downstream of those occurrences could be protected as mitigation (Objective 15.2). All mitigation will be implemented in accordance with the mitigation guidelines outlined in Table 3-9. The selection of a mitigation site should be informed by assessing the impact site and mitigation site using the scoresheet in Appendix E (FYF-1). Management plans for public and private lands could be developed to enhance suitable foothill yellow-legged frog habitat and contribute to the overall understanding of this species in the study area (Objective 15.3). Management • plans would include removal of nonnative species such as bullfrogs, mosquitofish, crayfish, and nonnative turtles (FYF-4) and grazing management plans to decrease impacts on yellow-legged frog habitat(FYF-5). If it is • determined over time that the foothill yellow-legged frog populations are not East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-56 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy expanding and face possible extirpation,the Implementation Committee should coordinate with CDFG to study the feasibility of translocating individuals from stable populations to suitable unoccupied habitat (FYF-6). Specific Conservation Opportunities a Protect stream and upland habitats in areas where foothill yellow-legged frog are known to currently persist (Alameda Creek, the headwaters of Corral Hollow Creek, and Arroyo Mocho). U Fund research of the species to better determine habitat use and limiting factors for each extant population in the study area. 3.5.3.8 Alameda Whipsnake • Species Goals and Objectives Goal 16 Increase the Alameda whipsnake population in the designated recovery units in the study area to a level that allows for long-term viability without human intervention. Objective 16.1. Avoid and minimize direct impacts on Alameda whipsnake (mortality of individuals and loss of habitat) during project construction and indirect impacts that result from postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Table 3-2 and 3-3. Objective 16.2. Protect existing Alameda whipsnake populations and allow for expansion of metapopulations. U Conservation Action AWS-1. Mitigate the loss of suitable Alameda whipsnake habitat by protecting occupied habitat in accordance with the mitigation guidelines outlined in Table 3-9. a Conservation Action AWS-2. Acquire parcels with documented Alameda whipsnake populations that meet the conservation goals and objectives of this strategy through fee title purchase or conservation easement. U Conservation Action AWS-3. Conduct targeted presence/absence surveys on • the approval of CDFG and USFWS on private and public lands on both sides of 1-580, 1-680, and SR 84 to identify linkages between Recovery Unit 3 (identified in the USFWS Draft Recovery Plan for Chaparral and Scrub Species East of San Francisco Bay, California [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2002]) and units to the north and south.. • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-57 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • a Conservation Action AWS-4. Acquire,through fee title purchase or conservation easement, parcels that provide linkages between Recovery Units 3, 2, 5 and 7. • Objective 16.3. Enhance suitable Alameda whipsnake habitat on public and private lands that are within Alameda Whipsnake recovery units (identified in the USFWS Draft Recovery Plan for Chaparral and Scrub Species East of San Francisco Bay, California [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2002]). ® Conservation Action AWS-5. Conduct research in known Alameda whipsnake population centers that investigates population response to various grazing regimes. is Conservation Action AWS-6. Implement grazing management plans on all protected lands in Alameda whipsnake Recovery Units that are based on the most up-to-date research findings on grazing levels and whipsnake population response. ■ Conservation Action AWS-7. Using information gathered through targeted studies on fire intensity, location, and frequency conduct prescribed burns consistent with Conservation Action CCS-4 in documented population centers in Recovery Units 3 and 5 to prevent the overgrowth of shrubs and woodland to a closed canopy condition. ® Conservation Action AWS-8. Mechanically thin chaparral and coastal scrub • consistent with Conservation Action CCS-4 to prevent the overgrowth of shrubs and woodland to a closed canopy condition. See Section 3.5.2.2m above for guidance on studies that will inform this process. Mitigation Guidance The primary goal for this species is to protect a large proportion of remaining habitat and increase the overall number of individuals within the study area to maintain the population without human intervention (Goal 16)—moving toward recovery of this species in the study area.The amount of protected habitat could be increased through the acquisition parcels for mitigation purposes,or through expansion of conservation lands managed in the public interest. Alameda whipsnake populations would benefit from avoiding impacts on individuals and habitat during and after construction. Use of the mitigation scoresheet in Appendix E will inform project proponents of the quality of habitat in project areas and the quality of mitigation land needed to offset impacts on those sites. Known populations of Alameda whipsnake and areas of suitable habitat should be considered during the project design process if the project is occurring inside a conservation zone known to support the species (CZ-8 through CZ-18). If impacts cannot be avoided they will be fully mitigated.The project proponent will mitigate the loss of suitable whipsnake habitat in • accordance with the mitigation guidelines outlined in Table 3-9 (AWS-1). East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-58 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy Mitigation will occur at the level specified in Table 3-9, but a determination of the quality of habitat that is affected and thus requires mitigation would be determined using the scoresheet in Appendix E.The project proponent could acquire parcels,through fee title purchase and/or conservation easements, where known populations occur(AWS-2). This would require a survey approved by CDFG and USFWS of the property to document species presence. Similarly, protection of parcels that include parts of important linkages as described in the Draft Recovery Plan for Chaparral and Scrub Community Species East of San Francisco Bay, California, may qualify as mitigation locations for this species (AWS-3 and AWS-4). Recovery goals for this species cannot be achieved through mitigation alone. Land acquisition and protection will be needed to conserve Alameda whipsnake habitat. Management plans for public and private lands within Alameda whipsnake Recovery Units could be developed to enhance existing habitat to contribute to an increase in the total population (Objective 16.3). Management plans could include research components to determine current habitat used by Alameda whipsnake, particularly in grazed areas (AWS-5). Grazing plans could then be tailored toward practices deemed most beneficial to the species in protected lands that fall inside Alameda whipsnake Recovery Units (AWS-6). Management plans should include provisions that prevent the overgrowth of chaparral and scrub habitats to a closed canopy condition—a condition that reduces overall habitat quality for Alameda whipsnake. Thinning of chaparral and scrub communities to benefit the species would be overseen by species and vegetation experts.Thinning would likely be accomplished by conducting prescribed burns where feasible (AWS-7) or by mechanically thinning chaparral and coastal scrub to mimic those natural processes that are no longer occurring (e.g., fire) (AWS-8). If any of these activities are conducted in suitable Alameda whipsnake habitat, consultation and an incidental take permit would have to be obtained from USFWS and CDFG if effects or take of Alameda Whipsnake is possible. Specific Conservation Opportunities ■ Protect all areas where Alameda whipsnake has been documented and suitable habitat persists. a Conduct Alameda whipsnake surveys on private and public lands on both sides of 1-580, 1-680, and SR 84 to identify linkages between Recovery Unit 3 and units to the north and south. Linkages are important for breeding and genetic diversity among whipsnake populations. a Protect suitable habitat, which includes a matrix of chaparral and scrub communities, rock outcrops, annual grasslands, and riparian corridors inside Recovery Units for Alameda whipsnake. If possible, priority for protection should be given to areas that are also designated critical habitat. This will help reach the USFWS draft recovery goals for this species. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-59 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy ■ CZ-8, CZ-10, CZ-12, CZ-13, CZ-15, CZ-16, and CZ-17 present the greatest opportunities for increased habitat protection. Additional opportunities exist in nearly all the CZs south of 1-580. 3.5.3.9 Golden Eagle Species Goals and Objectives Goal 17 Maintain the nesting golden eagle population in the study area at a level that allows for long-term viability without human intervention. Objective 17.1. Avoid direct impacts on golden eagle (mortality of individuals and loss of nests) during project construction or postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Table 3-2 and 3-3. Objective 17.2. Avoid and minimize direct impacts on golden eagle (loss of foraging habitat) during project construction and indirect impacts that result from postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Table 3-2 and 3-3. • Objective 17.3. Protect and monitor all golden eagle nest sites and surrounding foraging habitat in the study area. • Conservation Action GOEA-1.Acquire, through fee title purchase or conservation easement, parcels with documented golden eagle nest sites in the study area. m Conservation Action GOEA-2. Mitigate the loss of golden eagle foraging habitat by protecting and managing habitat in accordance with the mitigation guidelines outlined in Table 3-10. a Conservation Action GOEA-3. Implement an annual monitoring program for all golden eagle nests on protected lands documenting the presence/absence of nesting pairs and nest productivity in number of young fledged; submit data to the CNDDB and Conservation Strategy database based on earlier work done by W. Grainger Hunt. Objective 17.4. Enhance suitable golden eagle habitat on public and private lands in the'study area through implementation of species-specific measures in management plans. Id Conservation Action GOEA-4. Consistent with Conservation Action GRA-10, cease using rodenticides in protected areas and, when possible, outside protected areas. When rodent management is needed to protect the integrity of structures such as levees or stock pond dams or to prevent • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-60 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy nuisance populations on adjacent private lands, encourage land managers to use IPM principles. Mitigation Guidance Golden eagles use nearly all terrestrial habitats of the western states except densely forested areas. The primary goal for this species is to increase the population of golden eagles in the study area and maintain the population without human intervention (Goal 17). Most mitigation for this species is • centered on avoiding impacts at the nest site. Loss of foraging habitat is important, but determining the foraging range of specific pairs of golden eagles and relating that range to project impacts is problematic. If a golden eagle nest site occurs on or near(within 0.5 mile) of a project site, project applicants will need to determine if the nest is active. Direct impacts on golden eagles,their nests, and foraging habitat must be avoided during construction and postproject activities (Objective 17.1 and 17.2). Removal of golden eagle nests would require the project applicant to contact CDFG and USFWS's Migratory Bird Program. To ensure that project activities do not disrupt nesting behavior, project applicants should implement avoidance measures outlined in Tables 3-2 and 3-3 (Objective 17.1 and 17.2). Project applicants would be expected to mitigate the loss of golden eagle foraging habitat by protecting foraging habitat in accordance with the mitigation guidelines outlined in Table 3-10 (GOEA-2). • The quality of foraging habitat on the project site and the selection of an adequate mitigation site would be informed by the mitigation scoresheet in Appendix E. The project applicant could fulfill mitigation obligations by acquiring parcels through fee title purchase or conservation easements (GOEA-2). Mitigation should focus on protecting land adjacent to other protected lands to protect large landscapes that can in turn support nesting and foraging eagles. Mitigation should be focused outside the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area and would be most effective in CZ-12, CZ-13, CZ-15, CZ-16, CZ-17, and CZ-18). Management plans for public and private lands within golden eagle foraging habitat could be developed to enhance suitable habitat and contribute to the persistence of this species in the study area (Objective 17.3).The Implementation Committee could create an incentive program to encourage private landowners to retain ground squirrels on their properties and work toward a balance between species needs and the requirements of a working landscape.This program would preclude using rodenticides in protected areas and, when possible, outside protected areas. When rodent management is needed to protect the integrity of structures such as levees or stock pond dams • or to prevent nuisance populations on adjacent private lands, encourage land managers to use IPM principles. • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-61 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • Conservation Priorities • Implement annual surveys that document presence/absence of nesting pairs and nest productivity in number of young fledged and submit findings to the CNDDB and Conservation Strategy database. • Fund outreach programs for public and private landowners about IPM programs. • Coordinate conservation efforts with the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area NCCP/HCP. 3.5.3.10 Tricolored Blackbird Species Goals and Objectives Goal 18 Increase the number of tricolored blackbird nest colonies in the study area. Objective 18.1. Avoid direct impacts on tricolored blackbirds (mortality of individuals and loss of nests) during project construction or postproject • activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Tables 3-2 and 3-3. Objective 18.2. Avoid and minimize direct loss of tricolored blackbird foraging habitat during project construction and indirect impacts that result from postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Tables 3- 2 and 3-3. Objective 18.3. Protect and monitor all tricolored blackbird nest colonies and surrounding foraging habitat in the study area. • Conservation Action TRBL-1. Acquire,through fee title purchase or conservation easement, parcels with documented nest colonies in the study area. Et Conservation Action TRBL-2. Mitigate the loss of tricolored blackbird foraging habitat within 2 miles of known nest colonies by protecting habitat in accordance with the mitigation guidelines outlined in Table 3-10. • Conservation Action TRBL-3. Implement an annual monitoring program in coordination with local conservation groups, andCalifornia Audubon to implement an annual monitoring program on all tricolored blackbird nest colonies on protected lands using monitoring protocols established by California Audubon; submit results to the Tricolored Blackbird Portal (U.C. Davis), CNDDB, and the Conservation Strategy database. • Conservation Action TRBL-4. To supplement surveys of known nest colony • locations, implement a systematic survey effort on a 3-year rotation, East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-62 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy coordinated with California Audubon, to survey potential nest colony • locations on public and private lands in the study area. Objective 18.4. Enhance suitable tricolored blackbird habitat on public and private lands in the study area through implementation of species-specific measures in management plans. in Conservation Action TRBL-5. Purchase agricultural easements on land surrounding tricolored blackbird nest colonies or potential nest sites to ensure that the parcel will remain in types of irrigated pasture or dryland agriculture that provide foraging habitat for nesting tricolored blackbirds. Conservation Action TRBL-6. Provide alternate water sources to control grazing pressure in streams,wetlands, and ponds and during key times of the year(e.g., breeding season). is Conservation Action TRBL-7. Offer financial or regulatory incentivesto private landowners to enhance pond and marsh habitat to suit breeding tricolored blackbirds and to ensure that dryland farming and ranching activities support breeding tricolored blackbirds. Protection Tricolored blackbirds have three basic requirements for selecting their breeding • colony sites: open, accessible water; a protected nesting substrate, including • either flooded, thorny, or spiny vegetation; or a suitable foraging space providing adequate insect prey within a few miles of the nesting colony (Hamilton et al. 1995; Beedy and Hamilton 1997, 1999). The primary goal for this species is to increase the number of tricolored blackbird nest colonies in the study area (Goal 18). Accomplishing this goal is uncertain due to the.ephemeral behavior of this species and its selection of nest sites. Avoiding direct or indirect impacts on nest colonies, if they occur in the study area, is imperative (Objective 18.1 and 18.2). Due to the low number of nest colonies present each year and the low number of individual birds at each colony, conservation of this species cannot occur in the study area if impacts occur on recently occupied nest habitat. An annual accounting of where nest colonies occur is the best way to ensure avoidance of impacts. To determine if a project area has habitat for tricolored blackbirds, project applicants should use the mitigation scoresheet (Appendix E). If habitat is present, the project applicant should implement avoidance measures as outlined in Table 3-2 and Table 3-3 (Objective 18.1 and 18.2). Most impacts will affect foraging habitat. Studies have shown that tricolored blackbirds typically forage within 2 miles of nest colonies. Mitigation would be required for projects that remove foraging habitat (suitable land cover within 2 miles of a recently active nest site). Mitigation could be accomplished through acquisition of habitat through fee title purchase or conservation easement (TRBL-1). The selection of a mitigation East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-63 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • site that will adequately offset project impacts should be informed by the mitigation scoresheet for this species (Appendix E). Additionally, project applicants could work with the Implementation Committee to fund an entity to perform annual surveys to document tricolored blackbird nest colonies on protected lands using monitoring protocols established by California Audubon. Results should be submitted to the Tricolored Blackbird Portal (U.C. Davis), CNDDB, and the Conservation Strategy database (TRBL-3). Additional nest colony surveys of known locations, coordinated with California Audubon on a 3-year rotation, would inform the Implementation Committee of additional colonies in the study area (TRBL-4). In addition to protecting new lands, many improvements can be made on public and private lands that would benefit this species. Specific measures for tricolored blackbird in management plans would include purchasing agricultural easements on land surrounding tricolored blackbird nest colonies or potential nest sites as foraging habitat (TRBL-5). Another beneficial measure would be to provide alternate water sources to control grazing pressure in streams, wetlands, and ponds during key times of the year(e.g., breeding season) (TRBL- 6). Private landowners could be offered financial or regulatory incentives to enhance pond and marsh habitat to suit breeding tricolored blackbirds (including planting vegetation that could support nest colonies), and to ensure that dryland farming and ranching activities support foraging tricolored • blackbirds (TRBL-7). Conservation Priorities m Protect all consistently occupied nest colonies and surrounding foraging habitat in the study area. o Fund surveys of all historically documented tricolored blackbird colonies to gain an understanding of the annual presence of this species in the study area. [Note:A 2008 census documented only one active colony in Alameda County, at Ames and Doolan roads near Livermore (April 27, 2008, 27 nesting pairs) (Kelsey 2008). In 2009, a colony was observed off Andrade Road in the Sunol Area in quarry ponds near Alameda Creek (T. Rahmig and H. Peeters pers. obs.). In early 2010 a colony was observed north of Bethany Reservoir in C-Z7 (DiDonato pers. obs.). Other historic colony sites have been documented at Altamont Creek, Broadmoor Pond, Dagnino Road, Dyer Road, Laughlin Road, North Flynn Road, and Vallecitos Lane (Kelsey 2008).] • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-64 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy 3.5.3.11 Burrowing Owl Species Goals and Objectives Goal 19 Increase the burrowing owl nesting population (number of nesting pairs) and number of nesting locations in the study area. Objective 19.1. Avoid direct impacts on burrowing owls (mortality of individuals and loss of nests) during project construction or postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Table 3-2 and 3-3. Objective 19.2. Avoid and minimize direct loss of burrowing owl habitat (loss of breeding and non-breeding habitat) during project construction and indirect impacts that result from postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Table 3-2 and 3-3. Objective 19.3. Protect and monitor all burrowing owl nest sites, including surrounding foraging habitat, in the study area. o Conservation Action BUOW-1. Acquire, through fee title purchase or conservation easement, parcels with documented burrowing owl nests in the study area. • O Conservation Action BUOW-2. Acquire, through fee title purchase or conservation easement, parcels inside the study area with a history of burrowing owl occupation and/or nesting activity during the previous three breeding seasons. o Conservation Action BUOW-3. Mitigate the loss of burrowing owl nesting habitat (suitable habitat within 0.5 mile of documented nest occurrence during previous 3 years), by protecting habitat in accordance with the mitigation guidelines outlined in Table 3-10. a Conservation Action BUOW-4. Implement an annual monitoring program in coordination with local conservation groups, Institute for Bird Populations, and California Audubon of all burrowing owl nest colonies on protected lands using monitoring protocols established by the California Burrowing Owl Consortium; submit results to the CNDDB and the Conservation ' Strategy database. it Conservation Action BUOW-5. To supplement surveys of.known nest colonies, implement a systematic survey effort consistent with methodologies used by the Institute for Bird Populations to survey potential nest colony locations on public and private lands in the study area. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-65 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • Objective 19.4. Enhance suitable burrowing owl habitat on public and private lands in the study area through implementation of species-specific measures in management plans. • Conservation Action BUOW-6. Purchase easements on land surrounding burrowing owl nest colonies or potential nest sites to ensure that the parcel will remain in types of grazing land, irrigated pasture, or dryland agriculture that provide foraging habitat for nesting burrowing owls. ® Conservation Action BUOW-7. Create an incentive program that will encourage private landowners to manage ground squirrels on their property using IPM principles and work toward a balance between species needs and the requirements of a working landscape. m Conservation Action BUOW-8. Consistent with GRA-10, cease using rodenticides in protected areas and, when possible, outside protected areas. When rodent management is needed to protect the integrity of structures such as levees and stock pond dams or to prevent nuisance populations on adjacent private lands, encourage land managers to use IPM principles. Mitigation Guidance • Throughout their range, burrowing owls require habitats with three basic attributes: open, well-drained terrain;short, sparse vegetation; and underground burrows or burrow facsimiles (Klute et al. 2003). There are 52 known occurrences of burrowing owls in the study area (California Natural Diversity Database 2009). Of those, 36 are occurrence records from the breeding season (February 1—August 30). All occurrences are in the northern portion of the study area in open fields, annual grassland, alkali sinks, and near • business developments (California Natural Diversity Database 2009). The primary goal for this species is to increase the number of nesting pairs of burrowing owls and the number of nest locations in the study area(Goal 19). Two factors that affect burrowing owls are direct effects on nesting habitat and loss of foraging habitat around nest sites. Project applicants should use the mitigation scoresheet(Appendix E)to determine if the project site supports habitat for burrowing owl. In general, if the project site is supports grassland or ruderal vegetation and has ground squirrel burrows it has the potential to support burrowing owls. If habitat is present, the project applicant should have a qualified burrowing owl biologist conduct protocol-level surveys (California Burrowing Owl Consortium 1993). If the species is present, direct impacts on burrowing owls,their nests, and foraging habitat should be avoided during construction and postproject activities (Objectives 19.1 and 19.2). The project • applicant should implement avoidance measures as outlined in Table 3-2 and 3- 3 (Objective 19.1 and 19.2). Existing burrowing owl nest sites and foraging habitat should be protected and monitored (Objective 19.3). • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-66 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy ' If avoidance of burrowing owl habitat is not possible,the project applicant • should mitigate the loss of habitat by protecting habitat in accordance with the mitigation guidelines outlined in Table 3-10(BUOW-3).The project applicant could acquire parcels,through fee title purchase or conservation easement, where known nesting sites occur or where nesting sites.have occurred in the previous three nesting seasons (BUOW-1 and BUOW-2). Additionally,the project applicant could work with the Implementation Committee to fund the. implementation of an annual monitoring program in coordination with local conservation groups on all burrowing owl nest colonies on protected lands using monitoring protocols established by the California Burrowing Owl Consortium (1993). The results of these surveys would be submitted to the CNDDB and the Conservation Strategy database (BUOW-4 and BUOW-5). This would allow for informed avoidance of impacts in the future. To adequately conserve this species, management of burrowing owl habitat on public and private land also needs to occur (Objective 19.4). Specific measures for burrowing owls in management plans would include purchasing agricultural easements on land surrounding burrowing owl nest colonies or potential nest sites (BUOW-6). The Implementation Committee could create an incentive program to encourage private landowners to manage ground squirrels on their property using IPM principles and work toward a balance between species needs and the requirements of a working landscape. This would preclude using rodenticides in protected areas and, when possible, outside protected areas. • When rodent management is needed to protect the integrity of structures such as levees and stock pond dams or to prevent nuisance populations on adjacent private lands, encourage land managers to use IPM principles. Conservation Priorities o Protect all known nest locations with priority given to those that are at risk of being lost to development. m Fund an annual monitoring program to track occupied burrowing owl nest sites and to estimate the number of nesting pairs. Coordinate conservation actions with the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area NCCP/HCP. m Fund outreach programs for public and private landowners about IPM programs. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-67 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • • 3.5.3.12 American Badger Species Goals and Objectives Goal 20 Maintain the American badger population while protecting and enhancing important regional linkages for the species in the study area. Objective 20.1. Avoid and minimize direct impacts on American badger (mortality of individuals and loss of den sites) during project construction and indirect impacts that result from postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Tables 3-2 and 3-3. - Objective 20.2. Maintain the American badger population in the study area at a level that allows for long-term viability of the population. s Conservation Action AMB-1. Mitigate the loss of suitable American badger habitat by protecting habitat in accordance with the mitigation guidelines outlined in Table 3-10. • s Conservation Action AMB-2. Acquire parcels in the study area with documented American badger populations through fee title purchase or • conservation easement. E Conservation Action AMB-3. Conduct targeted presence/absence surveys on private and public lands on both sides of 1-580 and 1-680 to identify linkages across these barriers. E Conservation Action AMB-4. Acquire parcels that protect linkages across I- 580 and 1-680 through fee title purchase, conservation easement, or agricultural easement. Objective20.3. Enhance suitable American badger habitat on public and private lands in the study area through implementation of species-specific measures in management plans. s Conservation Action AMB-5. Create an incentive program that will encourage private landowners to manage ground squirrels on their property using IPM principles and work toward a balance between species needs and the requirements of a working landscape. ■ Conservation Action AMB-6. Allow the expansion of California ground squirrel colonies on all protected lands except when needed to protect the integrity of structures such as levees or stock pond dams or to prevent nuisance populations on adjacent private lands s Conservation Action AMB-7. Consistent with GRA-10 and BUOW-8, cease using rodenticides in protected areas and, when possible, outside protected • areas. When rodent management is needed to protect the integrity of East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-68 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • structures such as levees or stock pond dams or to prevent nuisance • populations on adjacent private lands, encourage land managers to use IPM principles. Mitigation Guidance The primary goal for this species is to maintain the population level and protect and enhance linkages in the study area (Goal 20). Mitigation is not generally required for this species. Under this Conservation Strategy,the species was used as an umbrella species to better understand habitat linkages, particularly in grassland habitats in the eastern part of the study area. To determine if mitigation would be required for this species, project applicants should assess their project area using the mitigation scoresheet (Appendix E). • Mitigation would only be required if an American badger den were documented on the project site. If a den is documented on a project site, direct and indirect impacts on the den should be avoided during construction and postproject activities (Objective 20.1). Project applicants would implement avoidance • measures outlined in Table 3-2 and 3-3 to help avoid any impacts on potential den sites (Objective 20.1 and AMB-1). Removal of the den would only occur following coordination with CDFG. If the den site cannot be avoided,the project applicant will be required to mitigate the habitat loss. Habitat mitigation would be consistent with mitigation ratios in Table 3-10.The selection of an adequate mitigation site would be informed by the mitigation scoresheet (Appendix E). Existing habitat in the study area could be protected by acquiring parcels that support it. The project applicant could acquire parcels,through fee title purchase or conservation easements,where known badger dens occur or where habitat linkages have been identified across 1-580 and 1-680 (AMB-2 and AMB-4). Alternatively,the project applicant could work with the Implementation Committee to fund • presence/absence surveys in the study area to identify existing linkages on both sides of 1-580 and 1-680 and between other protected areas (AMB-3). Most conservation for this species will not result from mitigation. The most effective conservation will occur on public or private lands. Management plans on public and private lands in American badger habitat could be developed to enhance suitable habitat and ultimately prevent decline of the population (Objective 20.3). Specific measures for American badger in management plans Would create incentive plans for private landowners that include allowing expansion of ground squirrel populations and managing populations of California ground squirrels using IPM practices rather than rodenticides, which are harmful to badgers (AMB-5,AMB-6 and AMB-7). Ground squirrels provide prey for American badgers and are important for their survival. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-69 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • Conservation Priorities e Fund surveys in public lands to document occupied badger burrows. III Fund surveys that will document American badger movement through the study area to help identify important habitat linkages and potential passages across key barriers (e.g.,freeways, aqueducts). • Fund outreach programs for public and private landowners about IPM programs. 3.5.3.13 San Joaquin Kit Fox Species Goals and Objectives Goal 21 Increase the San Joaquin kit fox population while protecting and enhancing suitable habitat and important regional linkages for the species in the study area. Objective 21.1. Avoid and minimize direct impacts on San Joaquin kit fox (mortality of individuals and loss of den sites) during project construction and • indirect impacts that result from postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Tables 3-2 and 3-3. Objective 21.2. Increase the San Joaquin kit fox breeding population in the study area. El Conservation Action SJKF-1. Mitigate the loss of suitable San Joaquin kit fox habitat by protecting habitat in accordance with the mitigation guidelines outlined in Table 3-11. e Conservation Action SJKF-2. Acquire parcels with documented San Joaquin kit fox den sites in the study area that meet the conservation goals and objectives of this strategy through fee title purchase and/or conservation easement and using funding that comes from non-mitigation sources (e.g., grant funding, local fundraising efforts). Objective 21.3. Increase connectivity of suitable habitat across major infrastructure barriers in the study area. •• Conservation Action SJKF-3. Conduct targeted presence/absence surveys, including scat scent surveys with dogs, on private and public lands on both sides of 1-580 and along the California Aqueduct to identify linkages between and across these barriers. e Conservation Action SJKF-4. Acquire parcels and manage vegetation in aras • that protect linkages across infrastructure barriers and that meet the East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-70 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy conservation goals and objectives of this strategy through fee title purchase • or conservation easement. ® Conservation Action SJKF-5. Create new passages (undercrossings or overcrossings) across 1-580 between Livermore and the Alameda/San Joaquin County Line and overcrossings at key locations along the California Aqueduct that are large enough to accommodate movement of terrestrial mammals, including San Joaquin kit fox. Objective21.3. Enhance suitable San Joaquin kit fox habitat on public and private lands in the study area through implementation of species-specific measures in management plans. s Conservation Action SJKF-5. Create an incentive program that will encourage private landowners to manage ground squirrels on their property using IPM principles and work toward a balance between species needs and the requirements of a working landscape. ® Conservation Action SFJK-6. Allow the expansion of California ground squirrel colonies on all protected lands except when needed to protect the integrity of structures such as levees or stock pond dams or to prevent nuisance populations on adjacent private lands. n Conservation Action SFJK-7. Consistent with GRA-10, cease using rodenticides in protected areas and, when possible, outside protected • areas. When rodent management is needed to protect the integrity of structures such as levees or stock pond dams or to prevent nuisance populations on adjacent private lands, encourage land managers to use IPM principles. Mitigation Guidance The primary goal for this species is to maintain the population and protect and enhance linkages in the study area (Goal 21). To determine if a project area supports San Joaquin kit fox habitat, project applicants should assess the area using the mitigation scoresheet (Appendix E). If foraging or dispersal habitat or a potential den site is located,the project applicant would have two options: (1) assume presence, avoid impacts on the den site through coordination with CDFG and USFWS, and mitigate the loss of any habitat that cannot be avoided; or(2) conduct approved protocol-level surveys for kit fox. Those surveys would have to be conducted by a USFWS-and CDFG-approved biologist. [Note: it is difficult to prove absence of San Joaquin kit fox on a parcel in this part of its range because population densities are so low]. If a potential den site is identified on the project site, direct and indirect impacts should be avoided during construction and postproject activities (Objective 21.1). The project applicant can accomplish this by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Tables 3-2 and 3-3 (Objective 21.1 and SJKF-1). If suitable • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-71 October 2010 • ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • habitat is present,then the project site should be scored using the mitigation scoresheet (Appendix E). Mitigation for the loss of habitat would be consistent with the mitigation ratios for this species in Table 3-11. The selection of an adequate mitigation site would be informed by using the mitigation scoresheet in Appendix E. In addition to standard project-level mitigation, additional study of kit fox in the study area would allow for more effective conservation. Project applicants in need of mitigation could work with the Implementation Committee to identify key linkages for kit fox in the study area (Objective 21.3). Surveys could be conducted in the study area to identify existing linkages on both sides of 1-580, I- 680, and the California Aqueduct (SJFK-3). Parcels in the linkage areas could be acquired through fee title purchase and/or conservation easement. Those acquisitions could be brokered with mitigation funds if the timing is appropriate, but they would more likely be acquired with kit fox recovery funds or funding from other conservation groups in Alameda County. If it is determined that linkages are compromised or if evidence suggests that new crossings would be beneficial to the species, additional overcrossings or undercrossings could be constructed to allow passage over 1-580 and the California Aqueduct. These crossings would allow for safe passage between habitats. In addition to new land acquisition, management of lands that are already protected would also benefit this species. Management plans for public and • private lands in San Joaquin kit fox habitat could be developed to enhance suitable habitat and contribute to the recovery of this species (Objective 21.3). Specific measures for kit fox in management plans would create incentive plans for private landowners that include allowing expansion of ground squirrel . populations and managing populations of California ground squirrels using IPM practices rather than rodenticides,which are harmful to San Joaquin kit fox,and to reduce their control of coyotes on their lands. Coyote control can easily lead to non-targeted take of San Joaquin kit fox (SJKF-5,SJKF -6 and SJKF -7). Ground squirrels provide prey and burrowing sites for San Joaquin kit foxes and are . important for their continued survival. • Conservation Priorities ra Preserve suitable habitat within the range of San Joaquin kit fox. Identify key linkages (corridors)for San Joaquin kit fox in the study area. is Protect land on both sides of infrastructure barriers (i.e., roadways, canals) where passage currently occurs. Enhance those passages to facilitate kit fox movement. a Fund outreach programs for public and private landowners about IPM programs. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-72 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy 3.5.3.14 Central California Coast Steelhead Species Goals and Objectives • Goal 22 Increase the central California coast(CCC)steelhead distinct population segment by enhancing and providing access to habitat in the study area. Objective 22.1. Avoid and minimize direct impacts on potential CCC steelhead habitat during project construction and indirect impacts that result from postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures in Tables 3-2 and 3-3. Objective 22.2. Increase the CCC steelhead population in the study area. Objective 22.3. Support existing efforts to remove/modify fish barriers in the • Alameda Creek watershed to enable access to a wide variety of streams and habitats in the study area. Objective 22.4. Ensure that all new road crossings and crossing upgrades in areas of potential CCC steelhead habitat are designed to facilitate passage of adult and juvenile steelhead. • Objective 22.5. Work with local flood control agencies to develop and implement fish-friendly flood control practices (e.g., Zone 7's Stream Maintenance Program). Objective 22.6. Increase complexity of stream resources (e.g., woody debris) within the Conservation Strategy study area. a Conservation Action CCCS-1. Provide education for local jurisdictions with stream maintenance initiatives and landowners regarding removal of large woody material from streams. a Conservation Action CCCS-2. Use biotechnical techniques and applications for bank stabilization. Conservation Action CCCS-3. Purchase floodplain properties that will allow stream channels to meander. a Conservation Action CCCS-4. Consistent with Conservation Actions RIP-1 to RIP-10 and STM-1 to STM-9, protect, restore, and enhance riparian vegetation in the study area. Objective 22.3. Increase access to CCC steelhead spawning and rearing habitat in the study area. • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-73 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • ■ Conservation Action CCCS-6. Where possible, remove or modify existing barriers in the Alameda Creek watershed to allow passage to spawning and rearing habitat in the upper watershed. • Conservation Action CCCS-7. Increase instream flows by releasing water from existing reservoirs in the Alameda Creek watershed to allow adult steelhead passage to spawning and rearing habitat in the upper watershed. • Conservation Action CCCS-8. Increase stream flows to provide better juvenile rearing conditions by decreasing water temperatures, providing ample food, providing more habitat, and facilitating downstream juvenile migration. Mitigation Guidance Currently, CCC steelhead is not present in the study area. Should the species return to the study area through the removal of barriers or by other means, mitigation guidance will be created for the species and included in this Conservation Strategy. In the interim, project applicants should rely on the mitigation guidance offered above for riparian forest and scrub habitat while considering the conservation goals and objectives outlined for this species. • 3.5.3.15 Focal Plant Species Species Goals and Objectives Goal 23 Protect existing populations and maintain habitat for focal plant species (San Joaquin spearscale, big tarplant, Congdon's tarplant, palmate-bracted bird's- beak, Livermore Valley tarplant, and recurved larkspur). Objective 23.1. Avoid and minimize direct impacts on focal plant populations during project construction and indirect impacts that result from postproject activities by implementing avoidance measures outlined in Tables 3-2 and 3-3. Objective 23.2. Protect existing focal plant populations. e Conservation Action PLA-1. Mitigate the loss of focal plant populations and suitable habitat for those species by protecting occupied habitat or by creating or restoring suitable habitat in accordance with the mitigation guidelines outlined in Table 3-12. • Conservation Action PLA-2. Acquire parcels with known occurrences of focal plant populations and suitable habitat in areas near known populations through fee title purchase or conservation easement. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-74 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy ■ Conservation Action PLA-3. Establish an incentive program for private • landowners to allow for botanical surveys on their property and to guarantee the management of habitats with focal plant populations to suppress nonnative invasive vegetation and promote regeneration and recruitment of native species while supporting the natural processes typically found in the communities that support the focal plant species. ■ Conservation Action PLA-4. Identify source populations for potential banking of seeds for use in future reintroduction of focal plant species into suitable habitat. Objective 23.3. Enhance suitable habitat for focal plant species on public and private lands in the study area through implementation of management plans that include beneficial management actions, seed banking, and reintroduction to suitable habitat. ■ Conservation Action PLA-5. Continue or introduce livestock grazing in a variety of grazing regimes with the appropriate timing and intensity for native plant species in grassland and scrub habitats. ■ Conservation Action PLA-6. Conduct prescribed burns. Use targeted studies to inform location and frequency. is Conservation Action PLA-7. Conduct mowing in selected areas to reduce plant height and biomass cover where use of livestock is impractical. • ■ Conservation Action PLA-8. Identify locations in the study area where shrub- or tree-dominated plant communities are encroaching on grassland communities (including alkali meadow and scald, California annual grassland, and non-serpentine bunchgrass grassland) and, if appropriate, work to reduce the encroachment through mechanical removal. Mitigation Standards The focal plant species in the study area are San Joaquin spearscale, big tarplant, Congdon's tarplant, palmate-bracted bird's-beak, Livermore Valley tarplant, and recurved larkspur(Goal 23). The primary goal for focal plant species is to protect existing populations and maintain their habitats. Though protecting extant populations should be a priority, there is also conservation value in conducting additional surveys for new occurrences in suitable habitat. The conservation zones,where those surveys would be most beneficial are discussed below in Specific Conservation Priorities. ■ San Joaquin spearscale typically occurs in alkali grassland and alkali meadow or on the margins of alkali scrub. ■ Big tarplant occurs in annual grassland on clay to clay-loam soils, usually on slopes and often in burned areas, below 1,500 feet (California Natural Diversity Database 2009). • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-75 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • • Congdon's tarplant occurs in annual grassland on lower slopes,flats, and swales below 800 feet. This species can be associated with alkaline or saline soils. A new population was discovered on private lands in CZ-6 in 2010 (Didonato pers. obs.). • Palmate-bracted bird's-beak is associated with alkaline sites in grassland and chenopod scrub at elevations of 10-500 feet. Seeds are dispersed by water, making the local hydrology very important to the extent of a population. • Livermore Valley tarplant occurs in seeps and meadows, often associated with alkali meadows at elevations of 500-600 feet. e Recurved larkspur occurs on sandy or clay alkaline soils, generally in annual grasslands or in association with saltbush scrub or valley sink scrub habitats, format elevations of 100-2,000 feet (California Natural Diversity Database 2009). Direct and indirect impacts on focal plant species should be avoided during • construction and postproject activities (Objective 23.1). Project applicants should implement avoidance measures outlined in Tables 3-2 and 3-3 to avoid any impacts and should mitigate any loss of habitat (Objective 23.1 and PLA-1). Mitigation will be required for impacts that cannot be avoided. An assessment of how the project and construction activities will affect the focal plant • population must be completed. The methodology for this will vary by species and site-specific conditions. Impact assessment methodologies will need to be approved by USFWS(federally listed species)and CDFG. In all cases, an adequate floristic survey of the site must have been completed within the preceding 3 years (under normal rainfall conditions), and spatially explicit data on the extent of the focal plant population must be available.To mitigate • impacts on a plant population, a parcel where the focal plant species occurs could be acquired through fee title purchase or conservation easement(PLA-2). An assessment of the plant population on both the impact site and the proposed mitigation site must be conducted by a qualified botanist. The mitigation population must be the same or better in terms of population size and vigor than the population affected at the project site. Enhancement plans for public and private lands that provide suitable habitat for • focal plant species could be developed to enhance suitable habitat and contribute to meeting the conservation objectives (Objective 23.3). Specific measures for focal plant species in management plans would promote livestock grazing in grassland and scrub habitat (PLA-5), conducting prescribed burns (PLA-6), conducting mowing (PLA-7), and identifying locations in the study area where shrub-or tree-dominated plant communities are encroaching on grasslands communities (alkali meadow and scald, California annual grassland, • and non-serpentine bunchgrass grassland) (PLA-8). • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-76 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy Specific Conservation Opportunities Big Tarplant ■ CZ-5, CZ-6. Survey for new occurrences in suitable habitat. a CZ-9. Protect extant populations (one CNDDB record) and survey for new occurrences. m CZ-10.This CZ contains five of six documented CNDDB occurrences in the study area. Protection of those occurrences and surveys for additional occurrences in suitable habitat are the conservation priority. Congdon's Tarplant m CZ-2. Protect existing populations (three CNDDB records) and survey for new occurrences. a CZ-3. Protect existing populations (three CNDDB records) and survey for new occurrences.This CZ contains nearly half of all modeled suitable habitat for this species in the study area. a CZ-4. Protect existing populations (one CNDDB record) and survey for new occurrences. m . CZ-6. Protect newly discovered population on private lands and survey for • new occurrences. • a CZ-5, CZ-11, and CZ-16. Conduct surveys for new occurrences in suitable habitat. Livermore Valley Tarplant • a CZ-7. Protect existing populations and survey for new occurrences. Palmate-Bracted Bird's Beak • a CZ-4. Protect only known extant population of this species and conduct annual surveys to better document contraction and expansion of the population. Recurved Larkspur a CZ-7. Protect the only known occurrences of this species in the study area and survey for new occurrences. San Joaquin Spearscale a CZ-2. Protect existing populations (two CNDDB records) and survey for new occurrences. a CZ-3. Protect existing populations (five CNDDB records) and survey for new occurrences. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 3-77 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 3 Conservation Strategy • • CZ-4. Protect existing populations (two CNDDB records) and survey for new occurrences. e CZ-5. Protect existing populations (two CNDDB records) and survey for new occurrences. ® CZ-6. Protect existing populations (one CNDDB record) and survey for new occurrences. a CZ-7. 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E,�t . 2 o-.2 o' E a 2 J h J U' ao220'0> U�ZZOEU200uG, t`220Ti3ah oOa0ttwot0005OwDR'0 z' or _ Table 3-2. General Avoidance and Minimization Measures to Reduce Effects on Focal Species • AMM Code Avoidance and Minimization Measure GEN-01 Employees and contractors performing construction activities will receive environmental sensitivity training.Training will include review of environmental laws and Avoidance and Minimization Measures(AMMs) that must be followed by all personnel to reduce or avoid effects on covered species during construction activities. GEN-02 Environmental tailboard trainings will take place on an as-needed basis in the field.The environmental tailboard trainings will include a brief review of the biology of the covered species and guidelines that must be followed by all personnel to reduce or avoid negative effects to these species during construction activities.Directors,Managers,Superintendents,and the crew foremen and forewomen will be responsible for ensuring that crewmembers comply with the guidelines. GEN-03 Contracts with contractors,construction management firms,and subcontractors will obligate all contractors.to comply with these requirements,AMMs. GEN-04 The following will not be allowed at or near work sites for covered activities:trash dumping, firearms,open fires(such as barbecues)not required by the activity, hunting,and pets(except for safety in remote locations). GEN-05 Vehicles and equipment will be parked on pavement,existing roads,and previously disturbed areas to the extent practicable. GEN-06 Off-road vehicle travel will be minimized. GEN-07 Vehicles will not exceed a speed limit of 15 mph on unpaved roads within natural land-cover types,or during off-road travel. GEN-08 Vehicles or equipment will not be refueled within 100 feet of a wetland,stream,or other • GEN-09 waterway unless a bermed and lined refueling area is constructed. Vehicles shall be washed only at approved areas.No washing of vehicles shall occur at job sites. GEN-10 To discourage the introduction and establishment of invasive plant species,seed mixtures/straw used within natural vegetation will be either rice straw or weed-free straw. GEN-11 Pipes,culverts and similar materials greater than four inches in diameter,will be stored so as to prevent covered wildlife species from using these as temporary refuges,and these materials will be inspected each morning for the presence of animals prior to being moved. GEN-12 Erosion control measures will be implemented to reduce sedimentation in wetland habitat occupied by covered animal and plant species when activities are the source of potential erosion problems. Plastic mono-filament netting(erosion control matting)or similar material containing netting shall not be used at the project.Acceptable substitutes include coconutcoir matting or tackified hydroseeding compounds. GEN-13 Stockpiling of material will occur such that direct effects to covered species are avoided. Stockpiling of material in riparian areas will occur outside of the top of bank,and preferably outside of the outer riparian dripline and will not exceed 30 days. GEN-14 Grading will he restricted to the minimum area necessary. GEN-15 Prior to ground disturbing activities in sensitive habitats,project construction boundaries and access areas will be flagged and temporarily fenced during construction to reduce the potential for vehicles and equipment to stray into adjacent habitats. GEN-16 Significant earth moving-activities will not be conducted in riparian areas within 24 hours of predicted storms or after major storms (defined as 1-inch of rain or more). GEN-17 Trenches will be backfilled as soon as possible.Open trenches will be searched each day prior to construction to ensure no covered species are trapped.Earthen escape ramps will be installed • at intervals prescribed by a qualified biologist. v M. c v > -O _ . c m u "C O = O C0 Ct m - L O 0 v 0 .� °o "y va 3 0 Q E c N c ti - = o N • a Y c N n c z m a ,°-■ o ° v 3 Q C7•CO ° x C `� .O al L. _ T o ,N, o 'J a a c v 'N E a v ti c .n • c CO u v y `o �j c C O. 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''',0' ■ m (U. j o��Av V o iii n , e A CD 1 Gee L y c Y o �! ■ r A.Q .4.I 1 9 J _ , e,o3 t� C a,i, GaYatan• �� �� .,r1 „, ,.. 6 C aJ0- d — Iiiiri_,1, • ... -, ..0,,, i . h varielM6_ i ( 1 , e 1 _ C W ' • V . o .g * , w o• a Gam' ,\ • 1. �e 4 ,, • ,.,2\ Chapter 4 Conservation Zones Table of Contents 4.1 Conservation Zone 1 4-3 4.1.1 Background 4-3 4.1.2 Conservation Priorities 4-4 4.1.3 Summary 4-4 4.2 Conservation Zone 2 4-4 4.2.1 Background 4-4 4.2.2 Conservation Priorities 4-5 4.2.3 Summary 4-6 4.3 Conservation Zone 3 4-6 4.3.1 Background 4-6 4.3.2 Conservation Priorities 4-6 4.3.3 Summary 4-7 4.4 Conservation Zone 4 4-8 4.4.1 Background 4-8 4.4.2 Conservation Priorities 4-8 4.4.3 Summary 4-9 4.5 Conservation Zone 5 4-10 4.5.1 Background 4-10 4.5.2 Conservation Priorities 4-11 4.5.3 Summary 4-12 4.6 Conservation Zone 6 4-13 4.6.1 Background 4-13 4.6.2 Conservation Priorities 4-13 4.6.3 Summary 4-15 4.7 Conservation Zone 7 4-15 4.7.1 Background 4-15 4.7.2 Conservation Priorities 4-16 4.7.3 Summary 4-17 4.8 Conservation Zone 8 4-17 4.8.1 Background 4-17 4.8.2 Conservation Priorities 4-17 4.8.3 Summary 4-18 East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-1 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • 4.9 Conservation Zone 9 4-19 4.9.1 Background 4-19 4.9.2 Conservation Priorities 4-19 4.9.3 Summary 4-21 4.10 Conservation Zone 10 4-21 4.10.1 Background 4-21 4.10.2 Conservation Priorities 4-22 4.10.3 Summary 4-24 4.11 Conservation Zone 11 4-25 4.11.1 Background 4-25 4.11.2 Conservation Priorities 4-25 '4.11.3 Summary 4-26 4.12 Conservation Zone 12 4-26 4.12.1 Background 4-26 4.12.2 Conservation Priorities 4-27 4.12.3 Summary 4-28 4.13 Conservation Zone 13 4-28 4.13.1 Background 4-28 4.13.2 Conservation Priorities 4-29 4.13.3 Summary 4-30 4.14 Conservation Zone 14 4-31 4.14.1 Background 4-31 • 4.14.2 Conservation Priorities 4-31 4.14.3 Summary 4-32 4.15 Conservation Zone 15 4-33 4.15.1 Background 4-33 4.15.2 Conservation Priorities 4-33 4.15.3 Summary 4-35 4.16 Conservation Zone 16 4-35 4.16.1 Background 4-35 4.16.2 Conservation Priorities 4-35 4.16.3 Summary 4-37 4.17 Conservation Zone 17 '4-38 4.17.1 Background 4-38 4.17.2 Conservation Priorities 4-38 4.17.3 Summary 4-39 4.18 Conservation Zone 18 4-40 4.18.1 Background 4-40 4.18.2 Conservation Priorities 4-40 4.18.3 Summary 4-41 • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-2 October 2010 ICF 00906.06 • Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • Eighteen discrete units, or conservation zones(CZs),were developed for this Conservation Strategy to identify locations for conservation actions in areas with the same relative ecological function as those areas where impacts occur. Designating CZs provides a description of specific areas where conservation actions, such as land acquisition, will occur without identifying individual parcels.Tables 4-1 through 4-18 illustrate the acreage of each land cover type present in each conservation zone. This chapter discusses the conservation value and conservation acreage goals for each CZ as described in Section 3.4.2, • Geographic Units of Conservation, in Chapter 3. In addition, conservation priorities were assessed for focal species on the basis of suitable habitat and designated critical habitat (when applicable) in each CZ. Tables 4-19a-e show the modeled suitable habitat for focal species in each CZ based on Conservation Strategy habitat models;Table 4-20 shows the critical habitat designated by USFWS in each zone for those federally listed focal species for which such habitat has been designated. The discussion of each CZ should be reviewed during project development to give regional context to the effects of anticipated project-level impacts or the benefits of proposed mitigation. Conservation priorities are highlighted for each CZ to ensure that the relative importance of each feature is not lost during project-level discussion. However,the list of conservation priorities is not exhaustive.The conservation value of resources that will be lost to project development or gained through mitigation should be considered on a case-by- case basis. The conservation zone discussions below merely provide context within which those more specific analyses can occur. 4.1 Conservation Zone 1 4.1.1 Background CZ-i is located in the northwestern corner of the Conservation Strategy study area along Pleasanton Ridge. This 1,672-acre CZ is largely comprised of the southern portion of Big Canyon-watershed and is bordered on the south by I- 580 and on the north by the Alameda—Contra Costa County line. 1-680 is to the east and nearly touches the northeast corner of CZ-1.Table 4-1 shows the acreage of land cover types in CZ-1, based on Figure 2-8, as well as the proportion of each type that is currently under some form of protection.The most prevalent natural land cover types found in this CZ are annual grassland (780 acres), mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland (204 acres), and mixed riparian forest and woodland (140 acres) (Table 4-1). • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-3 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • 4.1.2 Conservation Priorities • CZ-1 contains 5% (112 acres)of the study area's unprotected mixed riparian forest and woodland (Table 4-1). Mixed riparian forest and woodland occurs in three distinct areas in the CZ—along Dublin Creek and two smaller creeks to the north, all of which have their headwaters in the East Bay Hills and flow into the • city of Dublin.This is a relatively rare land cover in the region, with only 2,110 acres [this is not what Table 4-1 says] total in the study area. CZ-1 contains 543 acres of unprotected critical habitat for California red-legged frog, or 0.4% of the total unprotected critical habitat for this species in the study area (Table 4-20). The CNDDB lists six occurrences for this species in CZ-1 that should be investigated as potential breeding locations (California Natural Diversity Database 2009). CZ-1 also contains 885 unprotected acres and 278 protected acres of Alameda whipsnake Recovery Unit 2 (Table 4-19b). 4.1.3 Summary Conservation priorities are based on the rarity of the feature in the CZ or the Conservation Strategy study area, or the risk of losing conservation • opportunities in the future. Conservation priorities for CZ-1 are listed below. s Protection of and restoration opportunities within mixed riparian forest along Dublin Creek and other small creeks. a Protection of California red-legged frog critical habitat, especially occupied breeding locations. n Protection of habitat within Alameda whipsnake Recovery Unit 2. ® Surveys for Alameda whipsnake throughout CZ and protection of habitat, including stands of mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland and grassland between stands that could be used as movement habitat. a Protection of annual grassland in this CZ should be focused in areas that support focal plant populations and provide non-breeding habitat for focal amphibians (uplands around aquatic breeding sites). 4.2 Conservation Zone 2 4.2.1 .Background CZ-2 encompasses 37,066 acres of the largely urbanized Livermore Valley in the northern portion of the study area. This CZ includes the intersection of 1-680 and 1-580 and the intersection of SR 84 and 1-580. The southern and western • boundaries of this CZ follow the Livermore watershed boundary;the northeast East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-4 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones boundary is formed by 1-580. Table 4-2 shows the acreage of each land cover • present in CZ-2, based on Figure 2-8, as well as the proportion of each that is currently under some form of protection. Though this area is largely urbanized, the dominant natural land cover types in this conservation zone are annual grassland (3,409 acres) and mixed riparian forest and woodland (410 acres), as shown in Table 4-2. 4.2.2 Conservation Priorities CZ-2 contains 20%of the study area's unprotected stream mileage (Table 4-2), although most of those pass through urban areas. CZ-2 contains a portion of the study area's streams:Arroyo Seco, Arroyo Las Positas, Arroyo Mocho, Arroyo Valle, and Arroyo de la Laguna. Riverine habitat supports California red-legged frog and in the future could support central California coast steelhead.This CZ contains 11% (323 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled California red-legged frog breeding habitat (Table 4-19b). Much of this habitat is found in the CZ's ponds, most of which are in urban areas. Assuming downstream barriers are removed or modified,Arroyo Mocho could be a migratory stream for central California Coast steelhead, according to Gunther et al. (2000). CZ-2 contains 51% (341 acres) of the study area's unprotected mixed willow riparian scrub(Table 4-2). Mixed willow riparian scrub in this CZ occurs primarily • along the Arroyo Valle and Arroyo Mocho streams and provides habitat for California red-legged frog, tricolored blackbird, and in some cases foothill yellow-legged frog, depending on the stream condition. CZ-2 also contains 23% (83 acres) of the study area's unprotected pond acreage (Table 4-2); however, many of these ponds are industrial in nature (e.g.,golf course) and provide limited habitat value for focal species depending on the adjacent habitat. In addition, CZ-2 contains 11% (7,991 acres) of the study area's unprotected • potential habitat for burrowing owl (Table 4-19c). The bulk of the potential • habitat for this species is northeast of the intersection of 1-580 and 1-680 and north of 1-580 just west of SR 84 in ruderal and rural residential land covers in Dublin. There are additional habitat and known occurrences in eastern Livermore. Though most of this CZ is urbanized, small pockets of burrowing owl habitat occur throughout. CZ-2 also contains 15% (1,007 acres) of the unprotected CZ-2 contain 2% (4,215 acres) of modeled San Joaquin kit fox habitat. The highest quality habitat for kit fox is on the eastern edge of this CZ on the east side of Livermore, both north and south of 1-580. Congdon's tarplant habitat in the study area (Table 4-19e). This habitat is in the far eastern part of the CZ in annual grassland just outside the Livermore city limits, and contains four CNDDB occurrences for this species. In addition, CZ-2 contains 17% (638 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled San Joaquin spearscale modeled habitat (Table 4-19e) in the northwest corner of the CZ near the intersection of 1-680 and 1-580, and in the northeast corner of the CZ just south of 1-580. Small, • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-5 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • disjunct patches of potentially suitable habitat occur along 1-580, one of which contains two CNDDB records for this species. 4.2.3 Summary Conservation priorities are based on the rarity of the feature in the CZ or the Conservation Strategy study area, or the risk of losing conservation • opportunities in the future. Conservation priorities for CZ-2 are listed below. • Protection of burrowing owl nesting and foraging habitat. • Protection of and restoration opportunities in mixed willow riparian scrub along Arroyo Valle and Arroyo Mocho. • Protection of and restoration opportunities along Arroyo Seco and Arroyo Mocho to support California red-legged frog and future central California coast steelhead habitat. • Surveys for San Joaquin spearscale and protection of extant populations. • Surveys for Congdon's tarplant and protection of extant populations. • Protection of vernal pool habitat. 4.3 Conservation Zone 3 4.3.1 Background • CZ-3 is located in the northwestern part of the Conservation Strategy study area on the Livermore Uplift. This 9,768-acre CZ is bordered on the south by CZ-2 and on the east by CZ-4 and encompasses portions of the Daugherty Hills, Lower Tassajara Creek, Cottonwood Creek, and Cayetano Creek watersheds. The most prevalent natural land cover types are annual grassland (8,226 acres) and mixed riparian forest and woodland (91 acres) (Table 4-3). Other notable land cover types that persist in small quantities (less than 20 acres) in CZ-3 are mixed willow riparian scrub, pond, and seasonal wetland. Table 4-3 shows the acreage of each land cover present in CZ-3, based on Figure 2-8, as well as the proportion of each that is currently under some form of protection. 4.3.2 Conservation Priorities CZ-3 contains 8% (8,226 acres) of the study area's unprotected annual grassland, 2% (11 acres)of the study area's unprotected seasonal wetland, and 5% (19 acres) of the study area's unprotected pond acreage (Table 4-3). • Seasonal wetlands are found in the northwest corner of CZ-3 in Tassajara Creek East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-6 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones Regional Park(designated Type 3/Type 4 open space). There were 38 ponds • (totaling 19 acres) identified during land cover mapping for this Conservation Strategy, mainly east of Cottonwood Creek. Of the 38 ponds, all but two are currently unprotected. The relationship between these land cover types and the surrounding annual grasslands provide breeding and upland habitat for California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander.This is one of the most noteworthy features of this CZ. The protection of contiguous annual grasslands with known California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander breeding sites should be a priority for protection and management in this CZ. Protection of annual grasslands around breeding sites for California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander would have additional benefits for other focal wildlife species such as tricolored blackbird, burrowing owl, San Joaquin kit fox, and American badger. CZ-3 contains 45% (3,055 acres) of the study area's unprotected Congdon's tarplant habitat (Table 4-19e), as defined by Conservation Strategy habitat models, and three of the study area's seven CNDDB occurrences for this species (California Natural Diversity Database 2009). Protection of these three occurrences should be a priority, along with survey efforts in other like habitats. In addition, CZ-3 contains 9% (360 acres) of the study area's total unprotected suitable habitat for San Joaquin spearscale (Table 4-19e), as defined by Conservation Strategy habitat models. In fact,five of the twelve San Joaquin spearscale occurrences in the study area are in CZ-3. Protection of these • occurrences should be a priority. Finally, CZ-3 contains 7,426 acres of unprotected critical habitat for California red-legged frog and 1,178 acres of unprotected critical habitat for California tiger salamander—the entirety of critical habitat for the latter species in the study area (Table 4-20). Protection of California tiger salamander critical habitat should be a priority in CZ-3. 4.3.3 Summary • Conservation priorities are based on the rarity of the feature in the CZ or the Conservation Strategy study area, or the risk of losing conservation opportunities in the future. Conservation priorities for CZ-3 are listed below. ® Protection of California tiger salamander critical habitat. ® Protection of known occurrences of San Joaquin spearscale and surveys of other potential habitat. • Protection of known occurrences of Congdon's tarplant and surveys of other potential habitat. o Protection of known California tiger salamander and California red-legged frog breeding habitat, sufficient upland habitat surrounding those sites, and East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-7 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • connections between breeding and upland habitat Typically this is annual grassland. ® Protection of California red-legged frog critical habitat. ■ Protection and restoration of mixed riparian forest and scrub and mixed willow riparian scrub along Tassajara, Cottonwood, and Cayetano Creeks. 4.4 Conservation Zone 4 4.4.1 Background Encompassing 9,409 acres conservation zone, CZ-4 is located in the north central part of the Conservation Strategy study area in the Livermore Valley. CZ- 4 is defined largely by the northeastern portion of the Livermore watershed, with the southern boundary of the CZ defined by 1-580. Table 4-4 shows the acreage of each land cover present in CZ-4, based on Figure 2-8, as well as the proportion of each that is currently under some form of protection. As shown in • Table 4-4, dominant natural land cover types found in this conservation zone are annual grassland (4,253 acres), alkali meadow and scald (258 acres), valley sink scrub (410 acres), alkali wetland (106 acres), and seasonal wetland (347 • acres). 4.4.2 Conservation Priorities CZ-4 contains 22% (189 acres) of the study area's unprotected acres of alkali meadow and_scald, 64% (343 acres) of the study area's unprotected seasonal wetland, and 99% (410 acres) of the study area's valley sink scrub (Table 4-4). Alkali meadow and scald is found in the center of this CZ,just north of Livermore at the Springtown Alkali Sink. Some, but not all, of this alkali meadow and scald is protected in the Springtown Preserve. The Springtown Alkali Sink provides potential habitat for a number of Conservation Strategy focal species: Palmate-bracted bird's-beak, San Joaquin spearscale,Congdon's tarplant, • longhorn fairy shrimp, and vernal pool fairy shrimp. Protection of the sink as well as the watersheds that feed the sink should be a conservation priority in this CZ. Seasonal wetland is also found in the Springtown Alkali Sink, interspersed with . the alkali meadow and scalds, extending along the northern edge of Arroyo Las Positas to the CZ's eastern border. The protection of this area of wetland provides a unique conservation opportunity because it would provide a linkage between Springtown Preserve and its upper watershed, including Brushy Peak Regional Preserve in CZ-5.This region also contains 19%(12 acres) of the study area's unprotected perennial freshwater marsh (Table 4-4), extending east • along Altamont Creek from Spririgtown Golf Course.Throughout the eastern East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-8 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones half of this CZ, there are 31 ponds encompassing 11 acres.These ponds provide • breeding habitat for California tiger salamander and potentially for California red-legged frog. Nearly all these ponds are currently protected in a private mitigation bank. Thirty-eight percent (1,452 acres) of the study area's unprotected San Joaquin spearscale habitat is in this CZ (Table 4-19e),with the vast majority occurring in the vicinity of the Springtown Alkali Sink, including two of the 12 CNDDB occurrences in the study area (California Natural Diversity Database 2009). In addition, CZ-4 contains 15% (1,001 acres) of the study area's unprotected Congdon's tarplant habitat (Table 4-19e), some of which is in the Springtown Alkali Sink. One of the seven CNDDB occurrences is found in this area. Protection of that occurrence and surveys for additional occurrences within modeled habitat should be a priority in this CZ. Additional Congdon's tarplant modeled habitat occurs southwest of the Springtown Alkali Sink in annual grassland along North Livermore Avenue.The only known occurrence of palmate-bracted bird's-beak is located in the Springtown Alkali Sink.This population has been surveyed extensively and portions of it are under some level of protection. Complete protection of this population and enhancement in the Springtown Alkali Sink through management is a high priority in this CZ. CZ-4 contains 45% (900 acres) of the study area's unprotected longhorn fairy shrimp habitat and 37% (921 acres) of the study area's unprotected vernal pool • fairy shrimp habitat (Table 4-19a). More importantly,this CZ contains 94% (892 acres) of the study area's designated critical habitat for vernal pool fairy shrimp (Table 4-20). The most prominent feature for California tiger salamander in this CZ is Frick Lake, located on its eastern edge. This is a regionally important breeding site for California tiger salamander and is likely a source population for this part of Alameda County. Additionally, the portion of Arroyo Las Positas that flows through Springtown Alkali Sink provides potential non-breeding habitat for California red-legged frog. Finally, the northern region of the CZ contains a • small portion (605 acres) of Recovery Unit 4 for Alameda whipsnake (Table 4- 19b);the preservation of this habitat should be a conservation priority for the CZ. • 4.4.3 Summary Conservation priorities are based on the rarity of the feature in the CZ or the Conservation Strategy study area, or the risk of losing conservation opportunities in the future. Conservation priorities for CZ-4 are listed below. is Protection and management of alkali meadow and scald,valley sink scrub, seasonal wetland, and perennial freshwater marsh in the Springtown Alkali Sink and surrounding watershed. a Protection of the palmate-bracted bird's beak population. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-9 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • s Protection of Frick Lake and surrounding uplands for California tiger salamander. El Protection within vernal pool species recovery units. a Protection of vernal pool and longhorn fairy shrimp habitat. a Protection of designated critical habitat for vernal pool and longhorn fairy shrimp. a Surveys for vernal pool and longhorn fairy shrimp and protection of documented occurrences. a Protection of known occurrences of San Joaquin spearscale and surveys of other potential habitat. a Protection of known occurrences of Congdon's tarplant and surveys of other potential habitat. • a Protection of designated critical habitat for California red-legged frog. a Protection and restoration of Cayetano Creek, Arroyo Los Positas, and Altamont Creek. a Protection of suitable habitat for Alameda whipsnake. o Protection and enhancement of linkages across 1-580 and Vasco Road for San Joaquin kit fox and American badger, including protection of lands on • both sides of the roadways. 4.5 Conservation Zone 5 4.5.1 Background CZ-5 is located in the northeastern section of the Conservation Strategy study area in the Altamont Hills.This 8,702-acre CZ is made up of a majority of the Altamont Creek and Brushy Peak watersheds, with its southern boundary formed by 1-580. Table 4-5 shows the acreage of each land cover present in CZ- 5, based on Figure 2-8, as well as the proportion of each that is currently under some form of protection. As shown in Table 4-5, natural land cover types found in this conservation zone include annual grassland (7,528 acres), alkali meadow and scald (230 acres), coast live oak forest and woodland (146 acres), and alkali wetland (127 acres) (Table 4-5). An additional notable land cover in this CZ is blue oak woodland, at 42 acres (Table 4-5). This is the only stand of blue oak woodland mapped north of 1-580 in the study area. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-10 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • 4.5.2 Conservation Priorities • • CZ-5 contains 26% (230 acres) of the study area's unprotected alkali meadow and scalds (Table 4-5);these occur in the eastern portion of the CZ in valleys and swales and along creeks, such as Arroyo Las Positas. This CZ also has 15% (127 acres) of the study area's unprotected alkali wetland (Table 4-5), also along Arroyo Las Positas in the southern part of the CZ.These areas along Arroyo Las Positas also support seasonal wetland, which also occurs near the western border of the CZ just north of Springtown Alkali Sink. CZ-5 contains 2% (8 acres) of the study area's unprotected seasonal wetlands (Table 4-5). Protection of Arroyo Las Positas should be a priority for this CZ, as should identification of potential restoration opportunities that will enhance this stream. This CZ contains 25 ponds (9 acres),five of which are already protected. Of these 25 ponds, those that support breeding habitat for California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, or tricolored blackbird should be a high conservation priority, as should ponds with the potential to be enhanced to support species. Ponds within 1.3 miles of other known California red-legged frog or California tiger salamander breeding sites are the highest priority. Protection of annual grassland in this CZ should be focused in areas where it supports focal plant populations, provides non-breeding habitat for focal amphibians (uplands around aquatic breeding sites), and movement and foraging habitat for San Joaquin kit fox. CZ-5 also supports a small island of oak woodland (identified as blue oak • woodland during land cover mapping for this strategy) in the western part of the CZ north of Livermore (Figures 3-2 through 3-5). While these 42 acres are a small portion (0.2%) of the unprotected blue oak woodland in the study area (Table 4-5), the stand is significantly isolated from other blue oak woodland communities and may,therefore, support a high level of genetic uniqueness. This area should be protected and surveyed to more accurately identify the type of oak woodland that is there. This CZ contains 9% (357 acres) of the study area's unprotected San Joaquin spearscale modeled habitat (Table 4-19e), including two of the 12 CNDDB occurrences for this species in the study area (California Natural Diversity Database 2009). CZ-5 also contains 14% (3,363 acres) of the study area's unprotected big tarplant modeled habitat in annual grassland in the higher elevations of the CZ (Table 4-19e), and 8% (505 acres) of the study area's unprotected Congdon's tarplant modeled habitat (Table 4-19e) in annual grassland along the western border of the CZ. Surveys in these habitats for undiscovered focal plant occurrences should be a priority in this CZ, along with protection of any identified focal plant populations. In addition, CZ-5 supports 7% (180 acres) of the study area's unprotected vernal pool fairy shrimp habitat (Table 4-19a) in the northern part of the CZ, near Brushy Peak.This CZ also supports 133 acres of unprotected longhorn fairy shrimp critical habitat (Table 4-20). This constitutes 50%of all unprotected • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-11 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • critical habitat for this species found in the study area and includes the single CNDDB occurrence (California Natural Diversity Database 2009). Finally, much of CZ-5 provides suitable habitat for San Joaquin kit fox and golden eagle. This area likely supports connectivity through the Altamont Hills for San Joaquin kit fox. Connectivity across 1-580 has been compromised by construction of infrastructure. Further degradation of this westernmost linkage for kit fox should be disallowed, and opportunities to enhance that linkage (i.e., removal of movement barriers)should be explored as conservation/mitigation actions in this CZ.This area has also been identified as an important foraging area for golden eagles and nesting area for burrowing owls. Unfortunately, due to the presence of wind power facilities,there are limited mitigation opportunities for golden eagle in this CZ. 4.5.3 Summary - Conservation priorities are based on the rarity of the feature in the CZ or the Conservation Strategy study area, or the risk of losing conservation opportunities in the future. Conservation priorities for CZ-5 are listed below. • Protection of designated critical habitat for longhorn fairy shrimp,which will also provide protection to vernal pool fairy shrimp. • • Protection of the isolated blue oak woodland community. is Enhancement of linkages across 1-580 for San Joaquin kit fox and protection of lands on the north side of the roadway. El Protection of alkali meadow and scalds, which will also provide protection for San Joaquin spearscale habitat. a Protection of known occurrences of San Joaquin spearscale and surveys of other potential habitat. a Protection of known occurrences of Congdon's tarplant and surveys of other potential habitat. a Protection of seasonal wetlands along Arroyo Las Positas. • Protection of annual grassland in this CZ should be focused in areas where it supports focal plant populations, provides upland and refugia habitat for focal amphibians,and movement and foraging habitat for San Joaquin kit fox. • Protection of foraging habitat for golden eagle and nesting habitat for burrowing owl. • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-12 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • 4.6 Conservation Zone 6 • 4.6.1 Background CZ-6 is located near the northeast corner of the Conservation Strategy study area in the Altamont Hills. This 14,475-acre CZ contains Bethany Reservoir and is made up of portions of the Upper Kellogg Creek, Brushy Creek, Bethany • Reservoir, Mountain House, and Mountain House Creek watersheds. The southern boundary of CZ-6 is formed by 1-580. Table 4-6 shows the acreage of each land cover present in CZ-6, based on Figure 2-8, as well as the proportion of each that is currently under some form of protection. As shown in Table 4-6, the dominant natural land cover types in this CZ are annual grassland (12,888 acres), alkali wetland (380 acres), and reservoir(177 acres). 4.6.2 Conservation Priorities CZ-6 contains 61% (380 acres) of the study area's unprotected alkali wetland, scattered throughout the conservation zone (Table 4-6). Protection of this land cover should be pursued in the CZ. Protection of areas that support focal species should be given priority. CZ-6 also contains 50% (27 acres) of the study area's unprotected rock outcrop(Table 4-6), located in the northwest portion of the CZ near Brushy Peak.This area provides habitat for longhorn fairy shrimp. Protection of these rock outcrop features should be a priority for this CZ. • Additionally, CZ-6 contains 9% (57 acres) of the unprotected seasonal wetland in the study area (Table 4-6). Seasonal wetland is scattered throughout the western side of the CZ, interspersed with alkali wetland. While a small portion of it is protected in Type 2 open space (9 acres),the majority of the seasonal wetland in this CZ is unprotected (Table 4-6). Seasonal wetland provides breeding habitat for California tiger salamander and California red-legged frog and potentially for vernal pool fairy shrimp and longhorn fairy shrimp. Additional habitat for these species occurs in the CZ's 53 ponds, of which only two are currently protected. The existence of these seasonal wetlands and ponds in a matrix of annual grassland provides a valuable conservation opportunity for California tiger salamander and California red-legged frog, as this type of habitat composition provides upland habitat and breeding habitat in close proximity to one another. With proper management, some of these ponds can also provide habitat for tricolored blackbird. CZ-6 contains 12% (12,345 acres) of the unprotected annual grassland in the study area (Table 4-6). Annual grassland provides habitat for big tarplant, burrowing owl,American badger, and San Joaquin kit fox, as well as non- • breeding upland habitat for California red-legged frog and California tiger - salamander. Annual grassland in this CZ also supports 12% (8,642 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled burrowing owl habitat (Table 4-19c) as well • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-13 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • as 9% (12,517 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled American badger habitat (Table 4-19d).Additionally, much of the annual grassland in CZ-6 provides suitable habitat for San Joaquin kit fox;this area potentially supports connectivity across the Altamont Hills. Connectivity across 1-580 has been compromised by construction of infrastructure;further degradation of this linkage for kit fox should be disallowed, and opportunities to enhance that linkage (i.e., removal of movement barriers)should be explored as high priority conservation/mitigation actions in this CZ. Finally, CZ-6 supports a few scattered patches of mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland along Brushy Creek in the northwest corner of the CZ. While it is only a small portion (0.8 acre) of the unprotected mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland in the study area, it is isolated from other mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland communities and may,therefore, support a high level of genetic uniqueness. If it is determine that retaining the stand of mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland is important then protection of this 0.8 acre should be a priority in this CZ. Eleven percent (417 acres) of the study area's unprotected San Joaquin spearscale habitat (Table 4-19e), along with 1 CNDDB occurrence, is found in scattered pockets of alkali wetland across the CZ (California Natural Diversity Database 2009). Protection of that occurrence and surveys for undocumented occurrences in modeled habitat should be a priority for this CZ. Twenty-six • percent (6,078 acres) of the study area's unprotected big tarplant habitat is scattered across this CZ(Table 4-19e) in the higher elevations. Surveys for undocumented occurrences of big tarplant should also be a priority in modeled habitat in this CZ. The part of the CZ near Brushy Peak supports 50% (134 acres) of the study area's unprotected longhorn fairy shrimp critical habitat (Table 4-20), encompassing much of the aforementioned rock outcrop habitat. Protection of all critical habitat for longhorn fairy shrimp should be a priority in this CZ. CZ-6 also contains 9%(223 acres) of the study area's unprotected vernal pool fairy shrimp habitat (Table 4-19a). CZ-6 contains 15% (99 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled breeding habitat for California tiger salamander and 11% (330 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled breeding habitat for California red-legged frog (Table 4-19b). Much of the pond and seasonal wetland habitats as well as the surrounding annual grassland are designated as critical habitat for California red-legged frog. This CZ contains 10% (12,489 acres) of all critical habitat for California red-legged frog in the study area (Table 4-20). Protection of this critical habitat should be a priority in this CZ. The eastern edge of this CZ contains the "shoulder" of the Altamont Hills as they give way to the Central Valley.This area is an important movement corridor for San Joaquin kit fox, including a potentially important linkage to the northernmost portion of the species' range. Connectivity through the area is • compromised by roadways and water conveyance infrastructure (Bethany • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-14 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones Reservoir, canals, and aqueducts),though movement through the area is still • possible. Retaining as much connectivity through this part of the study area as possible should be a high priority for this CZ. Additional degradation of the linkage as it exists should be disallowed. Improving movement corridors across • existing infrastructure (e.g., passage under roadways, bridges over canals) should be pursued as mitigation/conservation actions in this-CZ. 4.6.3 Summary Conservation priorities are based on the rarity of the feature in the CZ or the Conservation Strategy study area, or the risk of losing conservation opportunities in the future. Conservation priorities for CZ-6 are listed below. m Protection of rock outcrops, including all critical habitat for longhorn fairy shrimp. m Protection of 0.8 acre of mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland. m Enhancement of linkages across 1-580 and existing water conveyance infrastructure for San Joaquin kit fox and protection of lands on the north side of 1-580. m Protection of alkali wetland, which will also provide protection for San Joaquin spearscale habitat. • m Protection of known occurrences of San Joaquin spearscale and surveys of other potential habitat. m Surveys for undocumented big tarplant occurrences in modeled habitat and protection of all new occurrences. m Protection and restoration of seasonal wetland and ponds to provide protected dispersal corridors between ponds and to increase habitat for California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander. m Protection of annual grassland in this CZ should be focused in areas where it supports focal plant populations, provides non-breeding habitat for focal amphibians (uplands around aquatic breeding sites), and movement and foraging habitat for San Joaquin kit fox. m Protection of nesting and foraging habitat for burrowing owl. 4.7 Conservation Zone 7 4.7.1 Background CZ-7 is located in the extreme northeast corner of the Conservation Strategy study area and extends slightly into the Central Valley. This 5,568-acre CZ is • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-15 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • made up of small portions of the San Joaquin Delta and Carbons watersheds, with I-580 forming its southern boundary. This is the only CZ in the study area that drains east toward the Central Valley.Table 4-7 shows the acreage of each land cover present in CZ-7, based on Figure 2-8, as well as the proportion of each that is currently under some form of protection.As shown in Table 4-7, dominant natural land cover types in this conservation zone are annual grassland (1,515 acres), alkali meadow and scald (182 acres), and pond (17 acres). Tables 4-19a-e show the modeled suitable habitat for focal species and Table 4-20 shows the critical habitat designated in each conservation zone. 4.7.2 Conservation Priorities CZ-7 contains 19% (165 acres) of the study area's unprotected alkali meadow and scalds (Table 4-7), all of which are in the northern part of this CZ near Byron Conservation Bank,a Type 1 open space.There may be the opportunity for expansion of Byron Conservation Bank to encompass this area of alkali meadow and scalds.These land covers provide habitat for San Joaquin spearscale, recurved larkspur, longhorn fairy shrimp, and vernal pool fairy shrimp. CZ-7 encompasses 8% (293 acres) of the study area's unprotected San Joaquin spearscale habitat (Table 4-19e),focused mainly in the northern portion of the • CZ and including one CNDDB occurrence (California Natural Diversity Database 2009). Protection of that occurrence should be a priority in this CZ. Additionally, CZ-7 contains 16% (312 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled longhorn fairy shrimp habitat and 13% (319 acres)of the unprotected modeled vernal pool fairy shrimp habitat(Table 4-19a), all of which are in the alkali meadow and scald land cover discussed above.This alkali meadow and scald supports the only CNDDB occurrence of recurved larkspur in the study area (California Natural Diversity Database 2009). Protection of this occurrence should be the highest priority in this CZ.The northwestern corner of CZ-7 contains 701 acres of unprotected critical habitat for California red-legged frog, or 1% of all unprotected critical habitat in the study area for this species (Table 4-20). Because this corner of the study area drains toward the Central Valley, there should be an emphasis on protecting this critical habitat. The western edge of this CZ contains the "shoulder" of the Altamont Hills as they give way to the Central Valley. This area is an important movement corridor for San Joaquin kit fox, including a potentially important linkage to the northernmost portion of the species' range. Connectivity through the area is compromised by roadways and water conveyance infrastructure (canals and aqueducts),though movement through the area is still possible. Retaining as much connectivity through this part of the study area should be a high priority for conservation in this CZ. Additional degradation of the linkage as it exists should be disallowed. Improving movement corridors across existing '- infrastructure (e.g., passage under roadways, bridges over canals) should be • pursued as mitigation/conservation actions in this CZ. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-16 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones 4.7.3 Summary • • Conservation priorities are based on the rarity of the feature in the CZ or the Conservation Strategy study area, or the risk of losing conservation opportunities in the future. Conservation priorities for CZ-7 are listed below. m Protection of known occurrences of recurved larkspur and surveys of other potential habitat. ▪ Enhancement of and creation of additional linkages across existing water conveyance infrastructure for San Joaquin kit fox. • Protection of alkali meadow and scalds, which will provide protection of habitat for San Joaquin spearscale, recurved larkspur, longhorn fairy shrimp, and vernal pool fairy shrimp. ® Protection of known occurrences of San Joaquin spearscale and surveys of other potential habitat. m Protection of critical habitat for California red-legged frog. 4.8 Conservation ZoneS 4.8.1 Background • CZ-8 is located in the western portion of the Conservation Strategy study area in the East Bay Hills. This 18,016-acre CZ contains all of Sinbad Creek watershed along with large portions of the Indian Creek,Stonybrook Canyon, and Vallecitos Creek watersheds. The southern boundary of CZ-8 is formed by SR 84, and a segment of its eastern border is formed by 1-680.Table 4-8 shows the acreage of each land cover present in CZ-8, based on Figure 2-8, as well as the proportion of each that is currently under some form of protection. As shown in Table 4-8, dominant natural land cover types in this CA are mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland (9,617 acres), annual grassland (4,778 acres), blue oak woodland (365 acres), and northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub (363 acres). 4.8.2 Conservation Priorities CZ-8 contains 35% (297 acres) of the unprotected coast live oak forest and woodland in the study area (Table 4-8), a relatively rare land cover in the study area, in the southern portion of CZ-8 north of Alameda Creek. CZ-8 also contains 26% (6,482 acres) of the study area's unprotected mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland (Table 4-8),which is scattered relatively evenly throughout the CZ. Northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub occurs in scattered patches throughout the southwest region of the CZ west of Sunol. CZ-8 contains 17% (324 acres)of the study area's unprotected acreage of this land cover(Table 4- • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-17 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • 8). CZ-8 also contains 11% (223 acres) of the study area's unprotected mixed riparian forest and woodland (Table 4-8), mainly along Alameda Creek, Sinbad • Creek, and Arroyo de la Laguna, as well as a number of smaller creeks and swales. CZ-8's creeks are a conservation priority because they provide potential habitat for foothill yellow-legged frog, among other species. Modeled breeding and movement habitat for foothill yellow-legged frog occurs along most of Sinbad Creek within this CZ, as well as along Gold Creek in the northern part of the CZ. In the future, assuming that downstream barriers are removed,these creeks will • also provide habitat for central California coast steelhead. Suitable spawning and rearing habitat for central California coast steelhead is present in CZ-8 along the southern reaches of Sinbad Creek and Arroyo de la Laguna and along the entire section of Stoneybrook Canyon Creek that flows through this CZ(Figure D-12). Annual grasslands in CZ-8 could provide habitat for Callippe silverspot butterfly, provided larval host and adult food plants are present. Surveying for stands of larval host/food plants is an important first step toward determining where potential habitat could exist. CZ-8 contains 10% (7,192 acres) of unprotected modeled golden eagle nesting habitat in the study area (Table 4-19c), located in mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland distributed across the CZ. • This CZ contains 26%(10,134 acres) of the study area's unprotected critical habitat for Alameda whipsnake (Table 4-20) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2006), and the area along Alameda Creek in the south of the CZ supports dispersal (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2003). CZ 8 also contains 9% (11,490 acres) of modeled suitable habitat in Recovery Unit 3 for Alameda whipsnake (Table 4-19b). Additionally,this CZ contains 0.7% (834 acres) of the study area's unprotected critical habitat for California red-legged frog(Table 4-20). Protection of documented Alameda whipsnake and California red-legged frog breeding sites and important dispersal corridors for Alameda whipsnake should be a high priority for protection in this CZ. 4.8.3 Summary Conservation priorities are based on the rarity of the feature in the CZ or the Conservation Strategy study area, or the risk of losing conservation opportunities in the future. Conservation priorities for CZ-8 are listed below. ■ Protection of known and potential Alameda whipsnake breeding habitat. ■ Protection and management of northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub, coast live oak forest and woodland, and annual grassland habitat matrix that could support all life history requirements of Alameda whipsnake. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-18 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones m Protection and restoration of Alameda Creek to improve Alameda • whipsnake dispersal habitat. a Protection of critical habitat for Alameda whipsnake and Recovery Unit 3. g Protection of critical habitat for California red-legged frog. ® Protection of and restoration opportunities in mixed riparian forest and woodland along Sinbad Creek, Stoneybrook Canyon,Arroyo de la Laguna, and Gold Creek. a Conduct surveys in annual grassland habitat for Callippe silverspot butterfly larval host/food plants and map occurrences of plant populations. 4.9 Conservation Zone 9 4.9.1 Background CZ-9 is located in the eastern region of the Conservation Strategy study area. This 16,135-acre CZ contains Arroyo Seco and Patterson Pass watersheds in their entirety and is bounded to the north by 1-580. Table 4-9 shows the acreage of each land cover present in CZ-9, based on Figure 2-8, as well as the proportion of each that is currently under some form of protection. As shown in Table 4-9, dominant natural land covers found in this conservation zone are annual grassland (11,704 acres), blue oak woodland (1,159 acres), and mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland (862 acres). 4.9.2 Conservation Priorities CZ-9 contains 7% (40 acres) of the study area's unprotected seasonal wetland (Table 4-9) along Mountain House Creek on the southern edge of 1-580. While the protection of seasonal wetland is a conservation priority for this Conservation Strategy, this wetland area's proximity to 1-580 renders it low- quality habitat for California tiger salamander and California red-legged frog because 1-580 prevents movement of those species north. This CZ also contains 11%(11,704 acres)of the study area's unprotected annual grassland (Table 4-9). Annual grassland covers most of this CZ, except for small urban patches along the,western edge of the CZ and areas of higher elevation in its southeast corner. This matrix of annual grassland includes a number of ponds. CZ-9 contains approximately 39 ponds (two of which are currently protected)totaling 28 acres, and making up 8% (28 acres) of the unprotected pond land cover in the entire study area (Table 4-9). Of these 39 ponds,those that support breeding California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, or tricolored blackbird should be a high conservation priority, as should ponds with the potential to be enhanced to support focal species. Ponds within 1.3 miles of other known red- legged frog or tiger salamander breeding sites are the highest priority.' • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-19 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • Protection of annual grassland in this CZ should be focused in areas where it supports focal plant populations, provides non-breeding habitat for focal amphibians (uplands around aquatic breeding sites), and movement and foraging habitat for San Joaquin kit fox. Additionally,CZ-9 contains 3% (6 linear miles) of the study area's unprotected stream habitat (Table 4-9) in the southern reaches of Arroyo Seco,whose headwaters are in the CZ's southeast corner. Preservation and restoration of the upper reaches of Arroyo Seco should be a conservation priority, as this creek has the potential to support breeding and movement of foothill yellow-legged frog, according to species modeling. The annual grassland in CZ-9 supports a number of this strategy's focal species, including big tarplant, burrowing owl, American badger, and San Joaquin kit fox. CZ-9 contains 19% (4,435 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled big tarplant habitat(as well as one CNDDB occurrence for this species), 11% (7,588 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled burrowing owl habitat, 9% (12,365 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled American badger habitat, and 9% (14,050 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled San Joaquin kit fox habitat(Tables 4-19c,4-19d, 4-19e). Potential big tarplant habitat, a high conservation priority for this CZ, is found in the eastern part of the CZ, at elevations above 1,827 feet. This area likely supports connectivity through the Altamont Hills for San Joaquin kit fox and American badger. Connectivity across 1-580 has been compromised by infrastructure • development. Further degradation of this westernmost linkage for kit fox should be disallowed, and opportunities to enhance this linkage (i.e., removal of movement barriers)should be explored as conservation/mitigation actions in this CZ. This area has also been identified as an important foraging and nesting area for burrowing owls. Ponds in CZ-9 provide potential breeding habitat for focal species such as California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog, and tricolored blackbird. CZ-9 contains 10% (68 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled California tiger salamander habitat (Table 4-19b), 9% (268 acres) of the study area's ' unprotected modeled California red-legged frog breeding habitat (Table 4-19b), and 8% (28 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled tricolored blackbird breeding habitat (Table 4-19c). Additionally,CZ-9 contains 11,966 acres of critical habitat for California red-legged frog, or 9% of the study area's unprotected critical habitat for this species (Table 4-20). The protection of breeding habitat for California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog, and tricolored blackbird is a conservation priority in this CZ. Much of the breeding habitat for these species is in clustered ponds in the southwestern corner of the CZ. Additional modeled potential breeding habitat occurs in seasonal wetlands along the 1-580 corridor; however, due to the seasonal wetlands' proximity to a major interstate,the quality of this habitat is considered low. Consequently, conservation actions addressing breeding habitat for these species should be focused on pond habitat.The existence of these ponds in a matrix of annual grassland provides a notable conservation opportunity for California tiger • salamander, California red-legged frog, and tricolored blackbird, as this type of East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-20 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones habitat composition provides upland habitat and breeding habitat in close • association. 4.9.3 Summary Conservation priorities are based on the rarity of the feature in the CZ or the Conservation Strategy study area, or the risk of losing conservation opportunities in the future. Conservation priorities for CZ-9 are listed below. o Protection of known occurrences of big tarplant and surveys of other potential habitat. ® Protection of critical habitat for California red-legged frog, especially occupied breeding locations. o Protection of annual grassland in this CZ should be focused in areas where it contains focal plant populations and provides non-breeding habitat for focal amphibians (uplands around aquatic breeding sites). ® Protection and restoration of Arroyo Seco to improve dispersal habitat for foothill yellow-legged frog. o Protection of ponds and other known California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog, and tricolored blackbird breeding habitat and sufficient upland habitat surrounding those sites. • e Protection and enhancement of linkages across 1-580 for San Joaquin kit fox and protection of lands on the south side of 1-580. 4.10 Conservation Zone 10 4.10.1 Background CZ-10 is located along the eastern boundary of the Conservation Strategy study area. This 26,144-acre CZ is made up of portions of the Mountain House, • Mountain House Creek, Patterson Run, Carnegie, Mitchell Ravine, Upper Corral Hollow Creek, and Carbona watersheds. The northern boundary of CZ-10 is formed by 1-580. Table 4-10 shows the acreage of each land cover present in CZ- . 10, based on Figure 2-8, as well as the proportion of each that is currently under some form of protection. As shown in Table 4-10, dominant natural land covers found in CZ-10 include annual grassland (18,571 acres), blue oak woodland (2,685 acres), foothill pine/oak woodland (2,024 acres), and mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland (1,575 acres). • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-21 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • 4.10.2 Conservation Priorities CZ-10 is a very diverse CZ that provides a distinct opportunity to conserve a large number of land cover types in close proximity to one another, as well as the potentially valuable transition zones between them. Overall, the northern portion of the CZ is characterized by grassland,whereas the southern portion of the CZ is characterized by a variety of woodland and scrub types. Corral Hollow, which bisects the CZ just south of its midway point, seems to delineate the general boundary between these diverse land cover types. Corral Hollow supports 21% (11 acres) of the study area's unprotected rock outcrop(Table 4-10) near the CZ's western boundary in the Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area, a Type 3 open space area. Changing protections on this open space—converting it to Type 1 or Type 2 protection—would ensure that management goals were in line with the conservation goals of this strategy. Covering most of CZ-10 north of Corral Hollow is 17% (18,207 acres) of the study area's unprotected annual grassland (Table 4-10).This northern region of the CZ also contains 18% (156 acres) of the study area's unprotected alkali meadow and scalds (Table 4-10) in two main areas north of Patterson Run. A small portion of alkali meadow and scald is protected in a private Type 1 open space area.The addition to this open space area would provide an opportunity to conserve additional acreage of alkali meadow and scald, a relatively rare land cover in the study area and a conservation priority for this Conservation Strategy. Additionally,the northern area of the CZ supports 12% (72 acres) of the study area's unprotected alkali wetland (Table 4-10)just south of 1-580 along Mountain House Creek.The protection of alkali wetland is a conservation priority for this strategy, and protections along this creek would contribute to the conservation goals.Two isolated areas of mixed willow riparian scrub occur in the northern portion of the CZ near Patterson Run.The isolated character of these woodland patches increases the likelihood that they support genetic uniqueness;therefore,they should be a conservation priority. South of Corral Hollow,this CZ supports 14% (377 acres) of the study area's unprotected northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral, interspersed with 10% (187 acres) of the study area's unprotected northern coastal scrub/Mahlon sage scrub(Table 4-10). The majority of these land cover areas are near the CZ's eastern border in the Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area. Since protection varies with open space type, ensuring long-term protection and management of those resources is a conservation priority given their relative scarcity in the study area.The majority of the land cover south of Corral Hollow is a mix of oak and evergreen woodland areas, containing 12% (2,685 acres) of the study area's unprotected blue oak woodland and 10% (2,024 acres) of the study area's foothill pine/oak woodland (Table 4-10). Additionally,the far southern corner of the CZ supports an isolated patch of mixed serpentine chaparral,which, due to its isolation, may support genetic uniqueness and should be considered a conservation priority. This site presents the only opportunity to protect that • land cover type in this CZ. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-22 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones CZ-10 contains 40% (9,375 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled • habitat for big tarplant (Table 4-19e), as well as five of six total CNDDB occurrences in the study area (California Natural Diversity Database 2009). Survey work to detect unknown populations would be beneficial for this species, as would permanently protecting currently known occurrences. CZ-10 also contains 20% (24,659 acres) of the study area's unprotected critical habitat for California red-legged frog (Table 4-20) and 7% (213 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled breeding habitat for this species (Table 4-19b). Approximately 58 ponds that are potential breeding habitat for this species are scattered across this CZ,with only one currently protected. Of these 58 ponds, determining which of those support breeding California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, or tricolored blackbird is a high priority for the strategy, and protecting a substantial portion of those breeding ponds would be imperative to the long-term persistence of these species in the eastern part of the study area. Additionally, enhancing and protecting ponds that do not currently support these species would increase the likelihood of long-term persistence of these species. Ponds within 1.3 miles of other known red-legged frog or tiger salamander breeding sites are the highest priority.The situation of the northern ponds in a matrix of annual grassland provides an important conservation opportunity for California red-legged frog and tricolored blackbird, as this type of habitat composition provides upland habitat and breeding habitat in close association. The annual grassland in the northern half of the CZ supports a number of additional focal species' modeled habitats, including 15% (24,121 • acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled habitat for San Joaquin kit fox and 15% (20,405 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled habitat for American badger(Table 4-19d). This CZ also accounts for 14% (9,654 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled habitat for burrowing owl (Table 4-19c), along with'six breeding CNDDB occurrences for burrowing owl. This area likely supports connectivity through the Altamont Hills for San Joaquin kit fox. Connectivity across 1-580 has been compromised by infrastructure development. Further degradation of this westernmost linkage for kit fox should be disallowed, and opportunities to enhance that linkage (i.e., removal of movement barriers) should be explored as conservation/mitigation actions in this CZ.This area has also been identified as an important foraging area for golden eagles and nesting area for burrowing owls. Unfortunately, due to the presence of wind power facilities,there are limited mitigation opportunities for these species in this a. CZ-10 supports 28% (11,046 acres) of the study area's unprotected critical habitat for Alameda whipsnake (Table 4-20) and 9% (10,971 acres) of the southern portion of the CZ is in Recovery Unit 5 for this species (Table 4-20). This species is a significant conservation priority for CZ-10, since this area represents the easternmost extent of this species' occurrence in the study area. Additionally, CZ-10 contains 9% (405 acres) of the modeled unprotected breeding and dispersal habitat for foothill yellow-legged frog(Table 4-19b); in Patterson Run in the northern part of the CZ and along Corral Hollow Creek in East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-23 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • the southern part of the CZ. Corral Hollow Creek also contains a CNDDB occurrence for this species (California Natural Diversity Database 2009). A determination of the viability of habitat in that area for foothill yellow-legged frog should be completed and protection of known breeding locations considered. • The alkali meadow and scalds and alkali wetland land cover types in the northern part of this CZ provide 7% (249 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled habitat for San Joaquin spearscale (Table 4-19e). No CNDDB occurrences for this species occur here; however,surveys should be conducted to determine presence or absence of this plant in these areas. All newly discovered occurrences should be protected. 4.10.3 Summary Conservation priorities are based on the rarity of the feature in the CZ or the Conservation Strategy study area, or the risk of losing conservation opportunities in the future. Conservation priorities for CZ-10 are listed below. III Protection of all big tarplant occurrences and surveys for new occurrences. ▪ Protection of critical habitat for Alameda whipsnake. • a Protection of critical habitat for California red-legged frog and all areas that support this species in various life stages, including ponds and annual grassland near ponds.This will also provide habitat protection for California tiger salamander and tricolored blackbird habitat. a Protection and restoration of Patterson Run and Corral Hollow Creek to protect and manage foothill yellow-legged frog habitat. a Protection of alkali meadow and scalds, which will also provide protection of San Joaquin spearscale habitat, along with surveys for occurrences of this species. a Protection of isolated mixed willow riparian scrub and mixed serpentine chaparral communities. ® Protection of rock outcrop, mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral, and . northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub communities and any unique transition zones between these and other natural communities. ■ Upgrade Open Space status on Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area form Type 3 to Type 1 or 2. • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-24 October 2010 • ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 4 Conservation Zones 4.11 Conservation Zone 11 • 4.11.1 Background CZ-11 is located in the west-central portion of the Conservation Strategy study area.This 7,976-acre CZ contains portions of the Vallecitos Creek and Vern watersheds and is bounded on the west by 1-680 and on the southeast by SR 84. Table 4-11 shows the acreage of each land cover present in CZ-11, based on Figure 2-8, as well as the proportion of each that is currently under some form of protection. As shown in Table 4-11, dominant natural land covers in this CZ are annual grassland (4,680 acres), blue oak woodland (1,392 acres), mixed riparian forest and woodland (295 acres), and mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland (255 acres). 4.11.2 Conservation Priorities CZ-11 contains 14% (295'acres) of the study area's unprotected mixed riparian forest and woodland (Table 4-11) scattered throughout the CZ,with larger patches in the eastern part of the CZ just outside the city of Pleasanton near the CZ's northeast border.The protection of this land cover type should be a conservation priority in this CZ.This region of the CZ also supports a patch of • mixed willow riparian scrub that constitutes 7% (47 acres) of the unprotected acreage of that land cover in the study area (Table 4-11). CZ-11 also contains 6% (1,371 acres) of the study area's unprotected blue oak woodland (Table 4-11) scattered throughout the CZ, but concentrated mostly in the northern portion of the CZ near the city of Pleasanton. Additionally, C7-11 supports 4% (13 acres) of the study area's unprotected pond acreage (Table 4-11), comprising 29 ponds, two of which are currently protected in open space. CZ-11 contains 5% (305 acres) of the unprotected modeled habitat for Congdon's tarplant (Table 4-19e), mainly in the eastern part of the CZ. No CNDDB occurrences for this species occur here; however, surveys should be conducted to determine presence or absence of this plant in these areas. Additionally, CZ-11 contains a portion (7,371 acres) of Recovery Unit 5 for • Alameda Whipsnake (Table 4-19b), along with a small area of dispersal habitat for this species along Vallecitos Creek near SR 84 at the CZ's southern boundary. According to Conservation Strategy habitat modeling,the large majority of the annual grassland in CZ-11 is potentially suitable for Callippe silverspot butterfly. It is unknown whether necessary larval host and adult food plants are present in this area. Surveying for stands of larval host/food plants is an important first step toward determining where potential habitat could exist. This CZ's ponds support breeding habitat for California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, and tricolored blackbird. CZ-11 provides 114 acres East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-25 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • of breeding habitat for California red-legged frog (4%of the unprotected modeled habitat within the study area), 20 acres of California tiger salamander habitat (3%of the unprotected modeled habitat within the study area), and 12 acres of tricolored blackbird habitat (3%of the unprotected modeled habitat within the study area) (Tables 4-19a,4-19c). Of the CZ's ponds;those that support breeding California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, or tricolored blackbird should be a high conservation priority, as should ponds with the potential to be enhanced to support these species. Ponds within 1.3 miles of other known red-legged frog or tiger salamander breeding sites are the highest priority.The existence of many of these ponds in a matrix of annual grassland provides an important conservation opportunity for California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, and tricolored blackbird, as this type of habitat composition provides upland habitat and breeding habitat in close association. 4.11.3 Summary Conservation priorities are based on the rarity of the feature in the CZ or the Conservation Strategy study area, or the risk of losing conservation opportunities in the future. Conservation priorities for CZ-11 are listed below. ® Protection of mixed riparian forest and woodland land cover type. • m Protection of ponds and sufficient upland habitat to support native amphibians. m Complete surveys in Congdon's tarplant habitat and protect any occurrences found. m Complete surveys in annual grassland habitat for Callippe silverspot butterfly larval host/food plants and map occurrences of plant populations. m Protection of annual grassland in this CZ should be focused in areas where it supports focal plant populations and provides non-breeding habitat for focal amphibians (uplands around aquatic breeding sites). m Protection and restoration along small segment of Vallecitos Creek within this CZ that provides potential dispersal habitat for Alameda whipsnake. 4.12 Conservation Zone 12 4.12.1 Background CZ-12, located in the central portion of the Conservation Strategy study area, contains Lake Del Valle.This 16,438-acre CZ includes the Dry Creek and Lake Del • Valle watersheds in their entirety, as well as the southeastern section of the Vern watershed.The northwest boundary of CZ-12 is formed by SR 84. Table 4- • 12 shows the acreage of each land cover present in CZ-12, based on Figure 2-8, East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-26 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones as well as the proportion of each that is currently under some form of • protection. As shown in Figure 4-12, dominant natural land cover types in this CZ are annual grassland (6,728 acres), blue oak woodland (3,176 acres), mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland (2,530 acres), and foothill pine/oak woodland (995 acres). 4.12.2 Conservation Priorities CZ-12 contains 90% (13 acres) of the study area's unprotected acreage of Coulter pine woodland (Table 4-12), located west of Lake Del Valle in Del Valle Regional Park, a Type 3 open space. This small area of Coulter pine woodland constitutes the vast majority of this land cover's acreage in the study area. For this reason, this area is a high conservation priority for CZ-12. CZ-12 also contains 36% (22 acres) of the study area's unprotected perennial freshwater marsh (Table 4-12) near the southern tip of Lake Del Valle and in Del Valle Regional Park. As a relatively rare land cover in the study area,this patch of perennial freshwater marsh is another conservation priority for this CZ. CZ-12 contains 19% (160 acres) of the study area's unprotected acreage of coast live oak forest and woodland (Table 4-12) along Dry Creek in the northern part of the CZ. Given its relative rarity, this land cover is a conservation priority for CZ- 12. The area near Dry Creek also supports a portion (3,152 acres) of the CZ's blue oak woodland (Table 4-12), most of which is found in the southern part of • the CZ. Along with 14%of the study area's unprotected blue oak woodland, CZ- 12 supports 14%(295 acres) of the study area's unprotected mixed riparian forest and woodland (Table 4-12), primarily along Arroyo Valle north and south of Lake Del Valle but also in the western portion of the CZ near the border with CZ-16. CZ-12 contains 11% (215 acres) of the study area's unprotected acreage of northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub (Table 4-12), primarily in the southern region of the CZ. . CZ-12 supports 15% (54 acres) of the modeled unprotected breeding habitat for tricolored blackbird (Table 4-19c) in 57 ponds scattered throughout the CZ, of which two are protected in open space. The southeastern portion of the CZ is particularly well suited for potential tricolored blackbird breeding habitat as it contains a number of ponds clustered near one another. These ponds also provide suitable potential habitat for California tiger salamander (56 acres) and California red-legged frog(253 acres). This CZ contains 9%of the study area's unprotected modeled habitat for both of these species (Table 4-19b) as well as 7% (8,427 acres) of the study area's unprotected critical habitat for California red-legged frog(Table 4-20). Of the 57 ponds, those that support breeding habitat for California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, or tricolored blackbird should be a high conservation priority, as should ponds with the potential to be enhanced to support these species. Ponds within 1.3 miles of other known red-legged frog or tiger salamander breeding sites are the highest priority. CZ-12 also supports 10% (7,071 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled nesting habitat for golden eagle (Table 4-19c), located mostly • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-27 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • southwest of Lake Del Valle. This area is in close proximity to modeled suitable foraging habitat, which may increase the value of this habitat to this species. The areas to the northeast and southwest of Lake Del Valle support potential Callippe Silverspot butterfly habitat. It is unknown whether necessary larval host/food plants are present in this area. Surveying for stands of larval host/food plants is an important first step toward determining where potential habitat could exist.The area around Lake Del Valle also supports large continuous areas of modeled suitable habitat for San Joaquin kit fox. CZ-12 contains 8% (13,202 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled suitable acreage for this species (Table 4-19d). Finally, CZ-12 contains 5% (2,191 acres)of the study area's unprotected critical habitat for Alameda whipsnake (Table 4- 20),just east of the southern half of Lake Del Valle. Protection of critical habitat for this species is a conservation priority for this conservation zone. 4.12.3 Summary Conservation priorities are based on the rarity of the feature in the CZ or the Conservation Strategy study area, or the risk of losing conservation opportunities in the future. Conservation priorities for CZ-12 are listed below. ® Protection of Coulter pine woodland land cover type. • m Protection of perennial freshwater marsh and coast live oak forest and woodland land cover types. ® Protection and enhancement of ponds to protect breeding habitat for tricolored blackbird, California tiger salamander, and California red-legged frog,with primary focus on currently occupied habitat and secondary focus on habitat that can be enhanced to encourage occupation. ® Protection of critical habitat for Alameda whipsnake. ® Complete surveys in annual grassland habitat for Callippe silverspot butterfly larval host/food plants and map occurrences of plant populations. 4.13 Conservation Zone 13 • 4.13.1 Background CZ-13 extends from near the center of the Conservation Strategy study area to its extreme southeast corner in the northern Diablo Range. This 21,159-acre CZ is comprised of the Lower Arroyo Mocho and Tunnel Creek watersheds, as well as the northern half of the Upper Arroyo Mocho watershed. Table 4-13 shows the acreage of each land cover present in CZ-13, based on Figure 2-8, as well as • the proportion of each that is currently under some form of protection. As East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-28 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter4 Conservation Zones shown in Table 4-13, dominant natural land cover types in this conservation • zone are foothill pine/oak woodland (6,339 acres), blue oak woodland (4,982 acres), annual grassland (4,358 acres), mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland (2,139 acres), and northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral (1,380 acres). 4.13.2 Conservation Priorities CZ-13 contains 97%of the study area's unprotected Sargent cypress woodland in a 636-acre contiguous patch on Cedar Mountain in the middle section of the CZ(Table 4-13). Since this land cover is rare in the study area and is almost completely contained within this CZ, protection of this land cover area is the highest conservation priority for CZ-13. CZ-13 contains 51% (1,380 acres) of the study area's unprotected northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral (Table 4- 13) in a rugged area of the Northern Diablo Range, in the extreme southeast corner of the study area. Due to this land cover's relative rarity in the study area, it is also a conservation priority for this CZ. CZ-13 contains 31% (6,339 acres) of the study area's unprotected foothill pine/oak woodland land cover and 22% (4,982 acres) of the study area's unprotected blue oak woodland land cover(Table 4-13).These two land covers are interspersed throughout the CZ, with foothill pine/oak woodland dominant in the south and blue oak woodland dominant in the north. Each of these land covers is a conservation priority for CZ-13, with foothill pine/oak woodland a higher priority due to its more limited • distribution in other CZs. Additionally, CZ-13 contains 21% of the study area's unprotected mixed serpentine chaparral (Table 4-13), located in the southern portion of the CZ, west of Arroyo Mocho. These 793 acres of mixed serpentine chaparral are part of a larger complex of this land cover that extends into CZ-18. The mixed serpentine chaparral community located in these two Cs makes up 98% of the study area's total for this land cover type. Accordingly, the protection of this land cover is a conservation priority for CZ-13,to ensure protection of this rare land cover type in the study area. Finally, CZ-13 contains 19% (127 acres) of the study area's unprotected mixed willow riparian scrub (Table 4-13), located exclusively in the northern region of the CZ along Arroyo Mocho.The protection of this land cover type is a priority due to this stream's potential habitat value for foothill yellow-legged frog and California coast steelhead. CZ-13 contains 23% (8,913 acres)of the study area's unprotected critical habitat for Alameda whipsnake (Table 4-20) in the middle third of the CZ along Arroyo Mocho, and includes one CNDDB occurrence (of a total of three occurrences in the study area)for this species. Due to the high percentage of critical habitat found in this CZ, its protection is a high conservation priority. CZ-13 contains 20% (14,104 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled nesting habitat for golden eagle (Table 4-19c). The largest contiguous patches of nesting habitat for this species are found in the southern part of the CZ near Arroyo Mocho. According to species modeling,the areas near potential nesting habitat also contain suitable foraging habitat, indicating that this might be high-value habitat • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-29 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • for this species;therefore, protection of golden eagle habitat is a conservation . priority for this CZ. Additionally, CZ-13 contains 16% (726 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled habitat for foothill yellow-legged frog(Table 4-19b) and one of the study area's five CNDDB occurrences for this species. Potential breeding and movement habitat for this species is found along the entire stretch of Arroyo Mocho that occurs within this CZ and should be a conservation priority. Protection of Arroyo Mocho would also provide potential habitat • conservation for central California coast steelhead.The northern reach of Arroyo Mocho in CZ-13 has been identified as potential migratory habitat for this species, while the southern reach provides potentially suitable spawning and rearing habitat if downstream barriers are removed or modified (Gunther et al. 2000). CZ-13 also supports 12% (351 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled breeding habitat for California red-legged frog(Table 4-19b) and 9% (11,670 acres) of the study area's unprotected critical habitat for this species (Table 4- 20). Breeding habitat is found mainly in ponds and some scattered seasonal wetlands along the southern reach of Arroyo Mocho. The CZ contains 39 acres in 64 ponds, or 11%of the study area's unprotected pond habitat(Table 4-13). Of these 64 ponds,those that support breeding California red-legged frog should be a high conservation priority, as should ponds with the potential to be enhanced to support this species. Ponds within 1.3 miles of other known red- legged frog breeding sites are the highest priority. Finally,CZ-13 supports 11% • (17,709 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled San Joaquin kit fox habitat (Table 4-19d). This species' potentially suitable habitat occurs across most of this CZ, with the exception of chaparral and cypress communities in the south. Additionally, the Arroyo Mocho corridor could provide suitable movement habitat for this species. 4.13.3 Summary Conservation priorities are based on the rarity of the feature in the CZ or the Conservation Strategy study area, or the risk of losing conservation opportunities in the future. Conservation priorities for CZ-13 are listed below. • Protection of Sargent cypress woodland land cover type. • Protection of critical habitat for Alameda whipsnake. • Protection of northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral and mixed serpentine chaparral land cover types. • Protection of and restoration opportunities along Arroyo Mocho, including mixed willow riparian scrub, to protect potential foothill yellow-legged frog and central California coast steelhead habitat. • Protection of critical habitat for California red-legged frog. • a Protection of golden eagle nesting habitat. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-30 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones m Protection of foothill pine/oak woodland and blue oak woodland land cover • types. 4.14 Conservation Zone 14 4.14.1 Background CZ-14 is a small CZ located midway down the western boundary of the Conservation Strategy study area in the East Bay Hills. This 4,326-acre CZ contains portions of the Sheridan Creek, Sinbad Creek, and Stonybrook Canyon watersheds. The CZ's northern border is formed by SR 84 and its southeastern border is formed by 1-680. Table 4-14 shows the acreage of each land cover present in CZ-14, based on Figure 2-8, as well as the proportion of each that is currently under some form of protection. As shown in Table 4-14, dominant natural land cover types in this conservation zone are annual grassland (1,931 acres), mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland (1,198 acres), and mixed riparian forest and woodland (164 acres). 4.14.2 Conservation Priorities CZ-14 contains 14% of the study area's unprotected acreage of perennial • freshwater marsh (Table 4-14) near Alameda Creek in the southeast part of the CZ. This land cover type provides habitat for a number of focal species; however, this 9-acre patch of marsh is very near 1-680 and Sunol Valley Golf Course, exposing it to a number of human disturbance mechanisms and likely reducing the quality of the habitat it provides. The segment of Alameda Creek that forms the northern boundary of this CZ supports a mix of sycamore alluvial woodland and mixed riparian forest and woodland. Fourteen percent (42 acres) of the study area's unprotected sycamore alluvial and 8% (164 acres) of the study area's unprotected mixed riparian forest and woodland occur in the southern part of the CZ (Table 4-14) along two small spring-fed creeks.The area along Alameda Creek in this CZ also supports 43 acres (5% of the study area's unprotected acreage) of coast live oak forest and woodland (Table 4-14).The fact that this stretch of Alameda Creek supports such a diverse mix of woodland suggests that its preservation and restoration should be a conservation priority for this CZ. Preservation and restoration along Alameda Creek would also result in protection of potentially suitable habitat for central coast steelhead and Alameda whipsnake. In the future, assuming that downstream barriers are removed, Alameda Creek will provide migratory habitat for central California coast steelhead along its entire reach in this CZ, as well as a section of suitable spawning and rearing habitat at the confluence of Alameda Creek and Arroyo de la Laguna.Suitable dispersal habitat for Alameda whipsnake is found along the • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-31 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • entire reach of Alameda Creek in this CZ; in addition,this CZ contains 2,527 acres of Recovery Unit 7 for this species (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2002). This is one of the only places where Alameda whipsnake Recovery Unit 7 is connected (free of development) to the central and northern portion of the species range CZ-14 contains 4% (15 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled breeding habitat for tricolored blackbird (Table 4-19c) and 3% of the study area's unprotected modeled breeding habitat for both California red- legged frog(96 acres) and California tiger salamander(17 acres) (Table 4-19b). Potential breeding habitat for all three species occurs in the CZ's 29 ponds and in the 9-acre patch of perennial freshwater marsh near 1-680; however, because the marsh's proximity to human development compromises its habitat value to these species, habitat conservation should be focused on the CZ's ponds, scattered throughout the CZ but concentrated in the eastern part. Of these 29 ponds,those that support breeding California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, or tricolored blackbird should be a high conservation priority, as should ponds with the potential to be enhanced to support these species. Ponds within 1.3 miles of other known red-legged frog or tiger salamander breeding sites are the highest priority. In addition, modeling shows that areas in the western portion of the CZ support potential Callippe silverspot butterfly habitat. It is unknown whether necessary larval host/food plants are present in this area to support Callippe silverspot butterfly. Surveying for stands of larval host/food plants is an important first • step toward determining where potential habitat could exist. 4.14.3 Summary Conservation priorities are based on the rarity of the feature in the CZ or the Conservation Strategy study area, or the risk of losing conservation opportunities in the future. Conservation priorities for CZ-14 are listed below. • Protection and restoration along Alameda Creek to conserve sycamore alluvial woodland, mixed riparian forest and woodland, and coast live oak forest and woodland and to improve habitat value for central coast steelhead and Alameda whipsnake. • Protect suitable dispersal habitat for Alameda whipsnake along the entire reach of Alameda Creek in this CZ.This is one of the only places where Alameda whipsnake Recovery Unit 7 is connected (free of development)to the central and northern portion of the species range s Protection and enhancement opportunities for ponds to increase potential breeding habitat for California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, and tricolored blackbird. • Complete surveys in annual grassland habitat for Callippe silverspot butterfly larval host/food plants and map occurrences of plant populations. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-32 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones 4.15 Conservation Zone 15 4.15.1 Background CZ-15 is in the East Bay Hills in the southwestern corner of the Conservation Strategy study area.This 14,594-acre CZ is made up of the Leyden Creek watershed along with portions of the Sheridan Creek and Vallecitos Creek watersheds. I-680 and SR 84 form the northwestern boundary of this CZ. Table 4-15 shows the acreage of each land cover present in CZ-15, based on Figure 2- 8, as well as the proportion of each that is currently under some form of protection. As shown in Table 4-15, dominant natural land cover types in this conservation zone are annual grassland (8,527 acres), mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland (2,750 acres), and blue oak woodland (1,078 acres). • 4.15.2 Conservation Priorities CZ-15 contains 47% (141 acres) of the study area's unprotected sycamore alluvial woodland (Table 4-15) along the stretch of Alameda Creek in this CZ, and a large patch just south of the confluence of Alameda Creek with Pirate Creek. Because such a large percentage of the study area's unprotected acreage of this land cover type occurs in CZ-15, its protection is a conservation priority for this • CZ. CZ-15 contains 26% (22 acres) of the study area's unprotected serpentine bunchgrass grassland (Table 4-15) in the far southern part of the CZ near Sunol Regional Wilderness, a Type 2 open space preserve that occupies much of the . southern portion of CZ-15. The CZ contains a total of 40 acres of serpentine bunchgrass grassland, half of which is protected within the Sunol Regional Wilderness,with the rest located just south of this preserve's southern • boundary. Given this land cover's relative rarity within the study area, its conservation within this CZ is a priority. C7-15 contains 9%(5 acres) of the study area's unprotected rock outcrop (Table 4-15) in small patches just west and southwest of San Antonio Reservoir. In addition, CZ-15 contains 6% (120 acres) of the study area's unprotected acreage of northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub(Table 4-15)just west of Alameda Creek on San Francisco Public Utilities • Commission lands. While the majority of this CZ's northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub land cover is protected in the Sunol Regional Wilderness, the protection of the remainder of this land cover remains a conservation priority due to its relative rarity within the study area. Additionally, CZ-15 contains 6% (5,790 acres) of the study area's unprotected acreage of California annual grassland (Table 4-15). While the majority of the study area's unprotected acreage of this land cover is in other CZs, its protection in this CZ remains a priority because it is one of the few sources of potential habitat in this region of the study area for Callippe silverspot butterfly, burrowing owl, and American badger. The area of grassland north of San Antonio Reservoir is • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-33 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • particularly important because it represents a relatively contiguous patch of potential habitat for these species. CZ-15 contains 6% (4,090 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled habitat for burrowing owl (Table 4-19c). Much of this species' modeled habitat in this CZ occurs in small patches surrounded by unsuitable habitat.The area north of San Antonio Reservoir and south of SR 84 provides a patch of contiguous potential habitat for this species, as well as for American badger and Callippe silverspot butterfly. CZ-15 contains 4% (5,728 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled habitat for American badger(Table 4-19d). It is unknown whether necessary larval host/food plants are present in this area to support Callippe silverspot butterfly. Surveying for stands of larval host/food plants is an important first step toward determining where potential habitat could exist. CZ-15 contains 5% (213 acres) of the unprotected modeled breeding and movement habitat for foothill yellow-legged frog (Table 4-19b) along four tributaries of Alameda Creek in the southern part of the CZ—Leyden Creek, Pirate Creek,Sheridan Creek, and Indian Joe Creek. One CNDDB record for this species is located in the southern region of the CZ along Alameda Creek, north of Calaveras Reservoir. CZ-15 also contains 4% (1,388 acres) of the study area's unprotected critical habitat for Alameda whipsnake (Table 4-20).This CZ contains 6,457 total acres of critical habitat for this species, but most (78%) is • protected in Sunol Regional Wilderness and Mission Peak Regional Preserve. CZ- 15 also contains 7% of the unprotected habitat (8,806 acres) in portions of Recovery Units 3, 5, and 7 for Alameda whipsnake (Table 4-19b). Protection of this species' critical habitat and recovery unit habitat is a conservation priority for this CZ, as is protection of dispersal habitat along Alameda Creek. Protection of habitat along Alameda Creek will also provide enhancement of potential migratory habitat for central California coast steelhead along most of the reach of Alameda Creek in the CZ, as well as potential spawning and rearing habitat along Alameda Creek in the southern part of CZ-15 (Gunther et al. 2000). Downstream barriers would need to be removed or modified before Alameda • Creek could provide these types of habitat for steelhead. Finally, CZ-15 provides 4% (111 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled breeding habitat for California red-legged frog (Table 4-19b) and 1% (1,535 acres) of its unprotected critical habitat (Table 4-20).This potential breeding habitat is scattered throughout the CZ in ponds and localized areas of freshwater marsh and seasonal wetland in the northern portion of the CZ. Much • of the California red-legged frog habitat in CZ-15 is currently protected in Sunol Regional Wilderness and other open space areas. Therefore, protection for this species should be focused on the 10 acres of CZ's ponds, 37 of which are within the CZ and seven (2 acres) of which are currently protected (Table 4-15). Of these ponds,those that support breeding California red-legged frog should be a high conservation priority, as should ponds with the potential to be enhanced to support this species. Ponds within 1.3 miles of other known red-legged frog • breeding sites are the highest priority. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-34 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • 4.15.3 Summary Conservation priorities are based on the rarity of the feature in the CZ or the Conservation Strategy study area, or the risk of losing conservation opportunities in the future. Conservation priorities for CZ-15 are listed below. ® Protection and restoration along Alameda Creek to conserve sycamore alluvial woodland and improve habitat value for central California coast steelhead and Alameda whipsnake. is Protection of critical habitat and recovery unit habitat for Alameda whipsnake. ® Protection of potential breeding and movement habitat for foothill yellow- legged frog. m Protection of serpentine bunchgrass grassland and northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub land cover. ® Protection and enhancement opportunities for ponds to increase potential breeding habitat for California red-legged frog. in Complete surveys in annual grassland habitat for callippe silverspot butterfly larval host/food plants and map occurrences of plant populations. ® Protection of annual grassland in area between SR 84 and San Antonio • Reservoir to support potential habitat for callippe silverspot butterfly, western burrowing owl, and American badger. 4.16 Conservation Zone 16 4.16.1 Background • CZ-16, in the southeast section of the Conservation Strategy study area, contains San Antonio Reservoir and Wauhab Ridge. This 24,468-acre CZ is composed of the La Costa Creek, Indian Creek, and San Antonio Reservoir watersheds in their entirety.Table 4-16 shows the acreage of each land cover type present in CZ-16, based on Figure 2-8, as well as the proportion of each that is currently under some form of protection. As shown in Table 4-16, dominant natural land covers in this conservation zone are annual grassland (10,725 acres), mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland (4,849 acres), blue oak woodland (4,695 acres), and foothill pine/oak woodland (1,631 acres). 4.16.2 Conservation Priorities CZ-16 contains 38% (1,926 acres)of the study area's unprotected acreage of northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub (Table 4-16), largely along San • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-35 October 2010 ICE 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • Antonio Creek in the eastern part of the CZ.This CZ contains a higher proportion of northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub than any other CZ. Even though a large portion of this land cover is preserved within the Ohlone Preserve Conservation Bank, the conservation of the remainder will support habitat connectivity within this CZ and should be a conservation priority. CZ-16 contains 28% (235 acres) of the study area's unprotected acreage of coast live oak and woodland (Table 4-16), mainly near San Antonio Reservoir and along Williams Gulch, with some preserved in Ohlone Regional Wilderness and Sunol Regional Wilderness. Because this land cover is relatively rare in the study area and CZ-16 contains almost 30% of the study area total, its preservation is a conservation priority for this CZ. CZ-16 contains 17% (11 acres)of the study area's unprotected perennial freshwater marsh (Table 4-16) near the northeastern shore of San Antonio Reservoir. Marsh land cover such as this provides potential habitat for California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog, and tricolored blackbird and should be a conservation priority for this CZ. CZ-16 contains 14% (41 acres) of the study area's unprotected sycamore alluvial woodland and 12% (3,028 acres) of the study area's unprotected mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland (Table 4-16), both of which occur along the CZ's creeks, including Indian Creek and La Costa Creek, with mixed evergreen forest extending outside the riparian zone. These land covers are a conservation priority because they provide a mix of habitats that support the CZ's focal species and, along with mixed riparian forest and woodland, support a diverse and healthy riparian zone along the CZ's creeks. • Preservation of habitat along the CZ's creeks will support conservation of a • number of the strategy's focal species, including foothill yellow-legged frog. CZ- 16 contains 15% (687 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled foothill yellow-legged frog breeding and movement habitat (Table 4-19b) along all the streams in CZ-16. Potential habitat for central California coast steelhead can also be found in this CZ. If barriers to movement are removed or enhanced, the lower reaches of Indian Creek, La Costa Creek, and San Antonio Creek are expected to provide suitable spawning and rearing habitat (Gunther et al. 2000). In addition, the CZ's streams provide potential habitat for nesting golden eagles, according to species modeling. CZ-16 also contains 9% (6,303 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled golden eagle nesting habitat (Table 4-19c), and the CNDDB lists two nesting records north and east of San Antonio Reservoir (California Natural Diversity Database 2009). According to occurrence records, one nest was active from 1991 to 1993,with two offspring fledged each of those years;the other nest was active from 1992 to 1993, with one offspring fledged in 1992 and two in 1993. CZ-16 contains 10% (298 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled breeding habitat for California red-legged frog (Table 4-19b) and 12% (14,958 acres) of this species' unprotected critical habitat (Table 4-20). Critical habitat occurs throughout most of the CZ, while modeled breeding habitat occurs in the CZ's 112 ponds, 12 (5 acres) of which are protected in open space(Table 4-16). • The CZ's ponds, along with seasonal wetlands near San Antonio Reservoir, also East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-36 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones provide 30 acres of suitable modeled habitat for California tiger salamander(5% of the study area's unprotected habitat) (Table 4-19b)and 31 acres of suitable modeled habitat for tricolored blackbird (8%of the study area's unprotected habitat) (Table 4-19c). Of these ponds,those that support breeding California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, or tricolored blackbird should be a high conservation priority, as should ponds with the potential to be enhanced to support these species. Ponds within 1.3 miles of other known red-legged frog or tiger salamander breeding sites are the highest priority. CZ-16 contains 6%(394 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled Congdon's tarplant habitat (Table 4-19e) in the northern area of the CZ near San Antonio Reservoir and in the northeastern corner of the CZ.These rather isolated islands of potential Congdon's tarplant habitat should be surveyed for occurrences of this species. Any occurrences found could possess a high degree of genetic uniqueness due to the area's isolation from other Congdon's tarplant habitat and,for this reason, should be a high conservation priority for this CZ. Alameda whipsnake dispersal habitat occurs along the shores of San Antonio Reservoir, according to this species' draft recovery plan (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2002), and the CNDDB lists occurrence just south of San Antonio Reservoir(California Natural Diversity Database 2009). Additionally, 13% (16,132 acres) of the unprotected acreage in Recovery Unit 5 for this species is in CZ-16 (Table 4-19b). Potential callippe silverspot butterfly habitat occurs in patches scattered throughout this CZ, with the most contiguous patches just south of San Antonio Reservoir and along La Costa Creek. It is unknown whether • necessary larval host/food plants are present in this area to support Callippe silverspot butterfly. Surveying for stands of larval host/food plants is an important first step toward determining where potential habitat could exist. 4.16.3 Summary Conservation priorities are based on the rarity of the feature in the CZ or the Conservation Strategy study area, or the risk of losing conservation opportunities in the future. Conservation priorities for CZ-16 are listed below. a Protection of northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub and coast live oak and woodland land covers. a Protection of sycamore alluvial woodland, mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland, and mixed riparian forest and woodland land covers along the CZ's streams to support riparian and riverine species, including foothill yellow-legged frog and coast steelhead. a Protection of critical habitat for California red-legged frog. • a Protection of perennial freshwater marsh and seasonal wetland, as well as protection and enhancement opportunities for ponds to increase potential breeding habitat for California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, and tricolored blackbird. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-37 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • • s Protection of dispersal habitat for Alameda whipsnake. • Complete surveys for Congdon's tarplant and map occurrences of plant populations. • Complete surveys in annual grassland habitat for Callippe silverspot butterfly larval host/food plants and map occurrences of plant populations. 4.17 Conservation Zone 17 4.17.1 Background CZ-17 is in the southwestern corner of the Conservation Strategy study area; Valpe Ridge forms its northeastern boundary. This 12,118-acre CZ is made up of portions of the Calaveras Reservoir,Whitlock Creek, and Baby Peak watersheds. Table 4-17 shows the acreage of each land cover present in CZ-17, based on Figure 2-8, as well as the proportion of each that is currently under some form of protection. As shown in Table 4-17, dominant natural land covers in this CZ are annual grassland (4,428 acres), mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland (4,161 acres), and blue oak woodland (1,380 acres). • 4.17.2 Conservation Priorities CZ-17 contains 40% (33 acres) of the study area's unprotected serpentine bunchgrass grassland (Table 4-17)very near Calaveras Reservoir on the southern boundary of the CZ. Given this land cover's relative rarity in the study area and the large proportion found in CZ-17, its preservation is a high conservation priority for this CZ. CZ-17 contains 13% (3,318 acres) of the study area's unprotected mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland (Table 4-17) scattered across the southern region of the CZ, with large contiguous patches that should be conservation priorities. CZ-17 contains 11% (208 acres) of the study area's unprotected northern coastal scrub/Diablan sage scrub along Alameda Creek in the south of the CZ and near Calaveras Reservoir in the west. CZ-17 contains 8% (68 acres) of the study area's unprotected coast live oak forest and woodland land cover near Alameda Creek and Calaveras Reservoir in the southern area of the CZ and 6% (18 acres) of the study area's unprotected sycamore alluvial woodland, mostly along Alameda Creek (Table 4-17). While much of the CZ's sycamore alluvial woodland is currently protected in Sunol Regional Wilderness, protection of the adjoining unprotected areas would enhance continuity of this land cover and should be a conservation priority. CZ-17 contains 7% (5,232 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled nesting habitat for golden eagle (Table 4-19c), most of which occurs on either side of Alameda Creek in the southern region of the CZ. The CNDDB lists a nest • occurrence north of Alameda Creek in Ohlone Regional Wilderness.An active East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-38 October 2010 • ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones nest was identified here in 1993, with two adults and one juvenile (California • Natural Diversity Database 2009). The existence of potential nesting habitat and a historic nest suggests that this should be a conservation priority for CZ-17. CZ- 17 contains 6% (295 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled foothill yellow-legged frog breeding and movement habitat (Table 4-19b) along the CZ's reach of Alameda Creek and Whitlock Creek,with two CNDDB occurrences along Alameda Creek (California Natural Diversity Database 2009). Conservation of riparian habitat along Alameda Creek should be a priority not only because it will provide protection for potential foothill yellow-legged frog habitat but also because it will provide protection for potential habitat central California coast steelhead and Alameda whipsnake dispersal habitat. If barriers to movement are removed or enhanced, the reach of Alameda Creek in CZ-17 could provide suitable spawning and rearing habitat (Gunther et al. 2000).Thirteen percent (5,286 acres) of the study area's unprotected critical habitat for Alameda whipsnake occurs in CZ-17 (Table 4-20), along with 6% (8,055 acres) of Recovery Unit 5 for this species (Table 4-19b). Protection of critical habitat should be a conservation priority. Additionally, potential Callippe silverspot butterfly habitat occurs in this CZ,with the largest contiguous patches found just north and east of Calaveras Reservoir. It is unknown whether necessary larval host/food plants are present in this area to support Callippe silverspot butterfly. Surveying for stands of larval host/food plants is an important first step toward determining where potential habitat could exist. Finally, CZ-17 contains 4% (4,878 acres) of the study area's unprotected critical habitat for California red-legged frog (Table • 4-20). Critical habitat for this species can be found across most of the CZ with a large portion protected in Ohlone and Sunol Regional Wildernesses. The protection of the remaining critical habitat should be a conservation priority for CZ-17. 4.17.3 Summary Conservation priorities are based on the rarity of the feature in the CZ or the Conservation Strategy study area, or the risk of losing conservation opportunities in the future. Conservation priorities for CZ-17 are listed below. ® Protection of serpentine bunchgrass grassland land cover. • Protection of critical habitat and recovery unit habitat for Alameda whipsnake. ® Protection of riparian habitat along Alameda Creek to support foothill yellow-legged frog,Alameda whipsnake, and central California coast steelhead. • • Protection of golden eagle nesting habitat, with surveys to determine if previously identified nests are still active. • Protection of critical habitat for California red-legged frog. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-39 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 4 Conservation Zones • ® Protection of contiguous patches of mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland and sycamore alluvial woodland land covers. m Complete surveys in annual grassland habitat for Callippe silverspot butterfly larval host/food plants and map occurrences of plant populations. 4.18 Conservation Zone 18 4.18.1 Background CZ-18 is in the Northern Diablo Range near the southeast corner of the Conservation Strategy study area. This 23,369-acre CZ is in rugged terrain and contains Cedar Mountain and Man Ridge, with Cedar Ridge forming the CZ's eastern boundary. Portions of Valpe Creek, Trout Creek, Lang Canyon, and Coffee Mill Creek watersheds make up this CZ.Table 4-18 shows the acreage of each land cover present in CZ-18, based on Figure 2-8, as well as the proportion of each that is currently under some form of protection. As shown in Table 4-18, dominant natural land covers in this CZ are foothill pine/oak woodland (10,400 acres), blue oak woodland (5,318 acres), mixed serpentine chaparral (2,875 acres), and mixed evergreen forest/oak woodland (2,338 acres). • 4.18.2 Conservation Priorities CZ-18 contains 77% (2,875 acres) of the study area's unprotected acreage of mixed serpentine chaparral (Table 4-18) in a relatively large, connected patch in the center of the CZ east of Arroyo Valle. Due to this land cover's relative rarity within the study area and the large percentage present in this CZ, it is the highest conservation priority for CZ-18. CZ-18 contains 49% (10,245 acres)of the study area's unprotected foothill pine/oak woodland (Table 4-18)throughout the CZ, and largely interspersed with blue oak woodland in the southwest part of the CZ. Because this CZ contains almost half of the study area's unprotected acreage of this land cover type, it is a high conservation priority, as is the protection of serpentine bunchgrass grassland. CZ-18 contains 35% (29 acres) of the study area's unprotected serpentine bunchgrass grassland (Table 4-18) in the area of Sugarloaf Butte near the eastern boundary of the CZ. CZ-18 contains • 28% (745 acres) of the study area's unprotected northern mixed chaparral /chamise chaparral (Table 4-18) in widely scattered patches throughout the CZ, with the largest patches located along Arroyo Valle in the north of the CZ. CZ-18 contains 23% (5,109 acres) of the study area's blue oak woodland (Table 4-18), found in large patches across the northern and southern regions of the CZ. CZ-18 contains 25% (17,860 acres)of the study area's unprotected modeled golden eagle nesting habitat (Table 4-19c).There is a large continuous area of • potentially suitable nesting habitat with relatively few edges in the western East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-40 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 4 Conservation Zones portion of the CZ; conservation activities for this species should be focused in • this area of potential habitat. Sixteen percent (708 acres) of the study area's unprotected modeled foothill yellow-legged frog is in CZ-18 (Table 4-19b) along the CZ's major streams—Arroyo Valle, Valpe Creek, and Trout Creek. In addition, CZ-18 contains a portion of the study area's unprotected modeled habitat for San Joaquin kit fox and American badger. CZ-18 contains 12% (18,929 acres) of the study area's unprotected potential San Joaquin kit fox habitat (Table 4-19d) across most of the CZ except its center,with the largest patches located west of Arroyo Valle.The western portion of the CZ contains what are likely the CZ's most suitable patches of potential American badger habitat. Aside from these large patches, modeled American badger habitat occurs in many small patches scattered across the landscape, comprising 8% (11,698 acres) of the study area's unprotected potential badger habitat (Table 4-19d). Finally, CZ-18 contains 15% (18,363 acres) of the study area's unprotected critical habitat for California red- legged frog (Table 4-20), a conservation priority for this CZ, and 17% (22,378 acres) of unprotected Alameda whipsnake habitat within Recovery Unit 5 (Table • 4-19b). 4.18.3 Summary Conservation priorities are based on the rarity of the feature in the CZ or the Conservation Strategy study area, or the risk of losing conservation • opportunities in the future. Conservation priorities for CZ-18 are listed below. o Protection of mixed serpentine chaparral and foothill pine/oak woodland land covers. o Protection of serpentine bunchgrass grassland, northern mixed chaparral/chamise chaparral, and blue oak woodland land covers. o Protection of contiguous patches of golden eagle nesting habitat. o Protection and restoration of Arroyo Valle,Valpe Creek, and Trout Creek to support foothill yellow-legged frog. o Protection of contiguous patches of San Joaquin kit fox and American badger modeled habitat. m Protection of critical habitat for California red-legged frog. o Protection of recovery unit habitat for Alameda whipsnake. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 4-41 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 x d O d O r — c 8 O 0 n e lb O C O e m m to p C t N o c u O N O U II y d m N U Q !, a o o N d r i d v Q 6U c C7) > c d rn m d `v a � n o e m 0 N N d Q 0 v n . a 11 U N n N • C o e — to o Cc d• -. m� 0 u▪ N AD co 0 o8 r- St 4 T 0 �- CI. e as en y d o e o o• Q m e N C• I- U q n o c CD rj C e a o o n In w nn r 3.3 Ln N 2 O m a` c o -o c u m d D O m O o d Y O a 0 a3 d• d m c 6 m F W d 9 y y (7 m o j ai >o j -0 d N c U Sts cr J C m O d c d i Q � - OW N . 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TO f U N U CI U U U Li V U U L) V NI U U U U U� Li V F Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation Table of Contents 5.1 Overview 5-2 5.2 Implementation Structure 5-3 5.2.1 Implementation Committee 5-3 5.2.2 Public Advisory Committee 5-5 5.2.3 Annual Meeting 5-5 5.2.4 Data Tracking and Reporting 5-6 5.3 Funding 5-9 5.4 Participating Entities 5-9 5.4.1 Local Governments 5-9 5.4.2 State and Federal Resource Agencies 5-10 5.4.3 Special Districts and Agencies 5-10 5.5 Project-by-Project Regulatory Compliance 5-11 5.5.1 National Environmental Policy Act 5-11 5.5.2 California Environmental Quality Act 5-11 5.5.3 Federal Endangered Species Permitting 5-12 5.5.4 State Endangered Species Permitting 5-14 5.5.5 Federal Clean Water Act Permitting 5-14 5.5.6 Clean Water Act Section 401 and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act 5-14 5.5.7 State Streambed and Lake Alteration Agreement 5-15 5.6 Conservation through Mitigation 5-15 5.6.1 Roles and Responsibilities of Project Applicants 5-16 5.6.2 Land Acquisition for Mitigation 5-18 5.6.3 Conservation Easements for Mitigation 5-20 5.6.4 Conservation or Mitigation Banks 5-24 5.6.5 New Concepts for Mitigation Planning 5-25 5.7 Conservation Actions Unrelated to Mitigation— Voluntary Conservation Actions 5-26 5.7.1 Existing Stewardship Programs 5-27 5.7.2 New Stewardship Programs and Tools 5-29 East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-1 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation • 5.1 Overview Implementation will be a challenging part of the Conservation Strategy, and the most critical. Effective implementation will require creativity, commitment, and flexibility.A variety of implementation methods will be needed to make this Conservation Strategy more than just a "shelf document."This chapter describes the methods for implementing the Conservation Strategy.The Conservation Strategy distinguishes between stewardship-driven conservation • (described in Chapter 3 as "Independent Conservation Actions") and mitigation- driven conservation (described in Chapter 3 as "Using this Strategy for Projects").The Conservation Strategy creates a structure where both types of conservation can collectively contribute to the regional goals set by the strategy. From a regulatory perspective,this Conservation Strategy may streamline and simplify the issuance of permits for future project proponents, establish priorities for mitigation and conservation, and help maintain native biological and ecological diversity in eastern Alameda County. This Conservation Strategy also aims to standardize avoidance, minimization, mitigation, and compensation requirements to comply with federal, state, and local laws and regulations relating to biological and natural resources of the study area. Although acquiring adequate mitigation would still be the responsibility of the project applicant,the process would be streamlined and therefore more efficient, • ultimately resulting in more effective conservation. The Conservation Strategy also provides a framework for future conservation efforts unrelated to mitigation. The Conservation Strategy establishes a baseline condition for acres of protected land in the study area and establishes which land cover types and focal species should be the focus of project planning and conservation efforts.The Conservation Strategy will be used to guide conservation projects, assist in obtaining grants for conservation efforts, contribute to the implementation of the San Francisco Bay Area Upland Goals projects, and promote the protection of wildlife corridors. It is intended to be utilized by various entities including but not limited to landowners, land trusts, non-profit organizations, and municipalities developing their regional planning documents. However, the Conservation Strategy is not creating any new regulations in Alameda County, nor is it changing the process by which a project applicant would obtain permits for impacts to biological resources.This Conservation Strategy simply provides information that can be utilized by project applicants, local jurisdictions,and state and federal regulators to increase certainty about project impacts and appropriate mitigation. • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-2 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation 5.2 Implementation Structure • The Conservation Strategy can be used immediately. Guidance in the strategy can be utilized for the various permitting vehicles described in Chapter 1.The Conservation Strategy is meant to be a "living document"that will be updated as new information becomes available to the Implementation Committee and • Public Advisory Committee. As described in Chapter 1, several federal, state, and local entities have prepared this Conservation Strategy through a Steering Committee that directed its preparation. Many members of that Steering Committee will remain involved during implementation of the Conservation Strategy. Any jurisdiction that opts to utilize the guidance in the Conservation Strategy for projects or for projects under their permit authority has a role in implementing the strategy. Additionally, implementation will rely on the technical expertise and working landscape knowledge of landowners (both public and private), development community, non-profit organizations, land trusts, etc. A committee of these agencies and organization is proposed to provide technical expertise and knowledge of the East County's working landscape necessary for effective implementation. This section describes the roles of the agencies and organizations that are anticipated to help implement the strategy. 5.2.1 Implementation Committee • In order to track how the strategy is working and update the strategy over time, an Implementation Committee will be formed. This committee will consist of one representative from each local agency that was a member of the Steering Committee during the planning process. Input from other local stakeholders will come from the public advisory committee described in the next section. It is important to note that the Implementation Committee will not arbitrate or negotiate mitigation on behalf of project proponents. It is not the role of the Implementation Committee to become involved in decisions regarding project mitigation. Such responsibility will remain with the project applicant and resource agencies. However, it is the role of the committee to assess how well the strategy worked to provide guidance to project proponents and the resource agencies regarding mitigation needs. The Implementation Committee will operate under the following mission statement: "The Implementation Committee will ensure that the East Alameda County Conservation Strategy is readily accessible as well as current, relevant, and practical for facilitating regional conservation and providing greater permitting certainty to local jurisdictions, project applicants, and the resource agencies." • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-3 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation • The Committee will rely on input from the general public and the public advisory committee. All Implementation Committee meetings will be open to the public. The following are the roles of the Implementation Committee. • Publicize the strategy within participating agencies and to other entities that may use the strategy through a project web site and outreach (e.g., presentations,training sessions, and other communications). • Answer questions from users of the strategy. • Develop guidance as needed to clarify and refine components of the strategy. is Track loss of natural lands and protection of natural lands in Alameda County (see Section 5.6 for details). m Prepare annual reports for CDFG and USFWS documenting the implementation of the strategy (see Section 5.6.3 for details). m Undertake periodic updates of the strategy based on significant new information on the focal species and their conservation. • Maintain the Conservation Strategy web site with the most up to date biological resource information (updated annually). • Ensure that the database is updated with new information on focal species. • • Seek federal and state grants to assist in funding implementation. El Facilitate or participate in EACCS focused discussions and planning with the Public Advisory Committee and stakeholders to explore new concepts for mitigation and voluntary conservation. Initially the Implementation Committee will meet monthly but eventually the committee will meet less frequently. The committee will check in with the resource agencies on the effectiveness of the strategy for their respective permitting processes and receive continual feedback from local agencies and permitting participants on implementation. A chair of the Implementation Committee will be designated. The responsibilities of the chair will include the following. m Organizing and preparing meeting agendas. • m Preparing meeting minutes and posting them to the Conservation Strategy web site. • Maintaining a record of conservation or mitigation acquisitions including conservation easements that are recorded in the study area during their tenure as chair. m Other duties determined by the Implementation Committee during implementation. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-4 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation • 5.2.4 Data Tracking and Reporting To track the relative level of impacts within each natural community and focal species modeled habitat in the study area, a database will be established.The Implementation Committee will update the land cover map(Figure 2-8) annually to account for the loss of land covers from project activities. Similarly they will update the Protected Open Space data (Figure 2-3)to determine how many additional acres of each land cover type have been protected in the previous year. Outputs from those two data sets will be tracked in a database which will allow for easy.reporting on the loss of habitat and the gain in habitat protection in a given year. 5.2.4.1 Database Development and Maintenance The Implementation Committee will develop and maintain a comprehensive data repository to track implementation of all aspects of the Conservation Strategy. The data repository and any associated databases should be structured such that a trained staff person (as opposed to a technician or programmer) can enter data (e.g., data base used by the East Contra Costa Conservancy to track impacts and mitigation). Additionally,the data base will allow for future expansion and integration with external databases (e.g., linkage to agency or other GIS map libraries). Finally,the database will allow for easy tabulation and reporting for the annual report.This information will be critical to assessing the efficacy of Conservation Strategy and will help identify conservation gaps in the future. The data repository should be structured to facilitate the following requirements. o Data documentation such that future users can determine why, how, and where data were collected (documentation standards [i.e., data about the data] should be consistent for all types of monitoring and over time; adequate documentation will facilitate the future use of monitoring data). to Quality assurance and quality control of the data. Is Access and use of the most current information in assessment and decision making (the database should allow repeated access to current and past information over time). ® Storage of spatial information in a GIS-linked database (a geodatabase). The primary types of information for which the data repository will be developed and maintained are listed below. m Monitoring and survey results. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-6 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation o General tracking of activities for each of the local jurisdiction, including • tracking of impacts based on an overlay of project footprints and Conservation Strategy land cover data. • o Annually update status of Conservation Strategy land cover preservation/creation/restoration acreage. o Adopted changes to the Conservation Strategy focal species occurrence • data and changes to Conservation Strategy land cover data. o Tracking of parcels with documented conservation activities or recorded conservation easements. is Track voluntary conservation efforts, both specific on-the-ground projects as well as non-mitigation based conservation easements in the study area. This would be best done on a regional level either for the entire study area or for each conservation zone (this many acres of grassland were managed for burrowing owl or this many ponds were restored and managed for focal species this year, etc.). 5.2.4.2 Conservation Tracking The primary purpose of maintaining a database is to track the progress that the Implementation Committee is making towards conservation goals and objectives set in the Conservation Strategy.The Implementation Committee will be responsible to track the following items. is The location, extent, and timing of recorded conservation easements and land acquisitions within each Conservation Zone and through the entire study area. O Descriptions of conservation agreements; lands acquired in fee title; interagency memorandums of agreement; management plans for private lands (developed in cooperation with the landowner); or any other agreements entered into for the purposes of protecting, enhancing, or restoring focal species habitat. ® An estimate of the location, extent, and timing of impacts on land cover types (based on reports submitted by project applicants). ® The location, extent, and timing of protection, enhancement, restoration, or creation of land cover types. The purpose of monitoring this basic information will be to track the Implementation Committee's progress toward achieving the conservation goals and objectives for focal species and natural communities. This tracking will help ensure that habitats for focal species and natural communities are conserved within the study area and allow for more accurate assessment of impacts on those resources at the project level as time goes on.Tracking this information in • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-7 October 2010 ICF 00906,08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation • a database will also allow for easier and consistent generation of graphics and tables for production in the annual report. 5.2.4.3 Annual Reporting The Implementation Committee will prepare an annual report at the end of each calendar year. Each annual report will summarize the previous calendar year's implementation-related activities. Annual reports will require synthesis of data and reporting on important trends such as general functionality of the Conservation Strategy, large projects that were permitted, land acquisition, and habitat restoration projects. Annual reports will be submitted to the designated representatives of the resource agencies and discussed at the Implementation Committee meeting(s). The reports will be posted on the Conservation Strategy public web site. The goals of the annual report are listed below. ® Providing the information and data necessary for the Implementation Committee to demonstrate to the resource agencies and the public that the Conservation Strategy is being implemented properly and functioning as anticipated. • Disclosing any problems with Conservation Strategy implementation so they can be corrected. la Documenting issues with Conservation Strategy implementation that may require additional coordination between the Implementation Committee and the USFWS and CDFG and/or effect changes in the Programmatic Biological Opinion and Consistency Determination. a Document issues with the templates, management plans, etc. and their implementation that may require coordination with technical specialists and with the project partners for correction or adaptation. Document changes in technical information that should inform this topic and implementation. Document new tools that could be utilized. C Identifying administrative or minor changes to the Conservation Strategy components required to increase the success of the strategy. At a minimum, annual reports will include the following information. o A year-to-date and cumulative summary(i.e.,from the start of Conservation Strategy implementation) of impacts on land cover types associated with implementation of project activities that have utilized the Conservation Strategy. • A year-to-date and cumulative summary of the extent of land cover types protected, enhanced, restored, or created. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-8 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation ® A map containing this information will also be generated. This will include an assessment of the progress toward all land cover acquisition goals reported by conservation zone and for the entire study area. 5.3 Funding It is assumed that the administrative costs associated with the Implementation Committee will be shared between all members of the Implementation Committee.This will mostly be contributions in staff time from each entity. External funding will likely be needed for the implementation database, web site maintenance, and annual report preparation. The Implementation Committee will also seek grants to assist in implementation cost sharing. A small fee could be imposed by local land use agencies on project utilizing the strategy to help pay for the administrative costs of implementing the strategy. The need for the fee and the amount of the fee will be determined by a separate cost analysis conducted by the Committee. 5.4 Participating Entities 5.4.1 Local Governments The local governments participating in the Conservation Strategy(Cities of Dublin, Livermore, and Pleasanton; Alameda County) have an important responsibility to assist with implementation of the strategy because of their authorities over land use in the study area. Each jurisdiction and/or organization will present the Conservation Strategy to their respective Boards and Councils for acceptance within six months of completion. Upon acceptance, members of the Implementation Committee and participating agencies and organizations will direct project applicants operating within their jurisdiction to the Conservation Strategy for guidance on how projects should avoid, minimize, and mitigate for impacts on biological resources in the study area. The participating local governments also have an important role in promoting the use of the strategy to their own staff for public infrastructure projects. Local governments may individually or collectively hold training sessions periodically on the background and mechanics of the Conservation Strategy so that their staff understands when and how to use it for planning and permitting purposes. Further, each agency has an obligation to implement long range plans and/or general plans that include Open Space Elements. Open Space Elements establish goals, objectives, and policies for the preservation and conservation of open space lands, including open space for the preservation of natural resources,the East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-9 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation • managed production of resources (including agricultural lands), outdoor recreation, and public health and safety. 5.4.2 State and Federal Resource Agencies • Representatives from the state and federal resource agencies may serve on the Implementation Committee. Resource agencies may, in part, be responsible for providing guidance to the Implementation Committee on how to fulfill the requirements of programmatic permits. USFWS and CDFG are the resource agencies that issue the federal and state authorizations and permits for incidental take of the focal species listed under the federal and/or state Endangered Species Acts. Thus,they may continue providing feedback on updates to the Conservation Strategy as it relates to the permitting process,critical habitat, and recovery of listed species. USFWS and CDFG will also receive and may assess the annual reports from the Implementation Committee. Other resource agencies may rely on information in the Conservation Strategy when issuing permits for impacts on resources within their jurisdiction. These other agencies may include the SFRWQCB,the Corps, Environmental Protection • Agency, etc. These agencies will also participate on the Implementation Committee. 5.4.3 Special Districts and Agencies Special districts and agencies participating in the Conservation Strategy (Alameda County Congestion Management Authority,Alameda County Waste Management Authority, Alameda County Resource Conservation District, East Bay Regional Park District, Livermore Area Recreation and Park District, Natural Resources Conservation Service, East Bay Municipal Utility District, Zone 7 Water Agency, the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, and Caltrans) have an important responsibility to assist with the implementation of the strategy • because of their authorities, resources, and programs. These special districts additionally have an important role in promoting the use of the strategy for their own projects, land management, and outreach to public and private landowners. Conservation Strategy mitigation lands and conservation areas will often border lands owned and operated by regional public agencies such as EBRPD, DWR, and SFPUC. These agencies will be invited to help guide implementation of the strategy by participating as a member of the Implementation Committee. In addition, representatives with species or land management expertise may also • participate on the Public Advisory Committee. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-10 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation 5.5 Project-by-Project Regulatory Compliance • Approval of the Conservation Strategy will not change any existing regulations that govern development or infrastructure projects in the study area. Instead, the strategy will provide a regional framework for more effective and efficient permitting decisions. The following section provides a guide to how project applicants should utilize information in the Conservation Strategy when meeting existing regulatory requirements. Additional details on federal, state, and local • laws and regulation are found in Section 1.4, "Regulatory Setting," in Chapter 1. The intent of the Conservation Strategy is to ensure that all the jurisdictions and agencies coordinate their permitting responsibilities to implement the Conservation Strategy. Participating agencies may modify specific action and agreements to reflect their regulatory authority. Lands that are protected to meet the conservation objectives of the Conservation Strategy would be tracked, provided the information is made available to the Implementation Committee. 5.5.1 National Environmental Policy Act When federal agencies are completing the NEPA review process for projects inside of the study area they should rely on the Conservation Strategy for the natural environment section of their document. The Conservation Strategy provides extensive information for federal agencies to consider in their analysis of the effects of their proposed action and alternatives on biological resources of the study area at the species, natural community, and regional (landscape) levels. 5.5.2 California Environmental Quality Act The information provided in the Conservation Strategy may contribute to baseline information for the analysis of biological resources under CEQA. Once project impacts are assessed, the Conservation Strategy's avoidance and minimization measures, mitigation standards, and conservation actions may be used to develop mitigation measures. Many of the conservation measures will also benefit other special-status species (i.e., species that are not focal species under the Conservation Strategy) and may be sufficient to meet CEQA standards for these species as well. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-11 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation • 5.5.3 Federal Endangered Species Permitting This section includes a description of how permitting under Section 7 and 10 of the federal ESA would interface with the Conservation Strategy. Any project with a federal lead agency or federal involvement(e.g., a federal permit,federal funding, or a project on federal land) must obtain its take authorization through Section 7. All nonfederal projects obtain take authorization through Section 10 and an HCP, as described in Chapter 1. The Conservation Strategy will also enable endangered species permitting to be coordinated with other regional permitting efforts in and adjacent to Alameda County.Those efforts include: • East Contra Costa County HCP/NCCP • Santa Clara County HCP/NCCP • San Joaquin County MSHOSP • Altamont Pass Wind Resources Area HCP/NCCP • East Bay Regional Park District HCP/NCCP • San Francisco Public Utilities Commission HCP • The baseline information available in each of these planning areas is similar as is level of detail expected in the permitting process. For project applicants operating in more than one of these regional planning jurisdictions consistency permit requirements will streamline the permit process. The conservation goals in this Conservation Strategy are consistent with these other plans. If conflicts between plans arise,then the USFWS and CDFG will be involved in reconciling those differences. 5.5.3.1 Endangered Species Act Section 7 The information provided in the Conservation Strategy for federally listed focal species would provide baseline information for an analysis of how the proposed project could affect the species in question.This information would be utilized by the project applicant during preparation of the biological assessment that would support their consultation application. It would also be utilized by the USFWS or NMFS when making their finding on how the project would affect the species. The strategy also provides guidance on avoidance, minimization, and mitigation/compensation measures that can be used to meet regulatory standards. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-12 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation Programmatic Biological Opinion • At the conclusion of the planning process for the Conservation Strategy,the USFWS will prepare a Programmatic Biological Opinion for federally listed species within the study area. The Programmatic Biological Opinion will be completed by the USFWS through a consultation with the Corps. That opinion will assess the effect that various activities orprojects could have on federally listed focal species, the effectiveness of avoidance and minimization outlined in the Conservation Strategy for each species, and conservation actions that should be incorporated into project design in order for a project to "qualify"for permit inclusion under the Programmatic Biological Opinion. Future projects with the need for permits from the Corps would then "tier" off of that initial analysis with future project specific biological opinions appended to the Programmatic Biological Opinion. This would greatly streamline the ESA Section 7 process for a large subset of future projects in the study area and facilitate implementation of the strategy. An additional programmatic opinion may be developed with the Federal Highway Administration for transportation projects. Individual Biological Opinion Individual biological opinions will prepared for projects that initiate consultation prior to the completion of the programmatic opinion(s)or have a different • action agency than the Corps or Federal Highway Administration. These projects will incorporate the Conservation Strategy and will require the same individual review but instead of"tiering"off of a programmatic opinion, a full project specific biological opinion will be prepared. Because the project will • have incorporated the goals, objectives, avoidance, minimization, and mitigation/compensation measures of the Conservation Strategy the consultation and preparation of the biological opinion will be streamlined. Projects that do not incorporate the Conservation Strategy or only parts of the Conservation Strategy will not benefit from a streamlined process. 5.5.3.2 Endangered Species Act Section 10 As is described above for Section 7, the information provided in the Conservation Strategy for federally listed focal species would provide baseline information for an analysis of how the proposed covered activities could affect the species in question.This information would be utilized by the project applicant during preparation of the HCP that would support their Section 10 permit application. It would also be utilized by the USFWS or NMFS when making their finding on the adequacy of the HCP at addressing and offsetting project-level impacts in the HCP. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-13 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation • 5.5.4 State Endangered Species Permitting The Conservation Strategy provides information on state-listed species that would be used by project proponents and local jurisdictions to determine whether a proposed project could result in take of a state-listed species. In addition, avoidance and minimization measures and mitigation practices outlined in the Conservation Strategy would be referenced by the project applicant when creating a plan that minimizes and fully mitigates the impacts of the project. By utilizing mitigation practices in this Conservation Strategy and linking mitigation to the conservation'goals and objectives of the Conservation Strategy, CESA take authorization could be streamlined through a programmatic consistency determination coordinate with the USFWS programmatic biological opinion. 5.5.5 Federal Clean Water Act Permitting 5.5.5.1 Clean Water Act Section 404 Although the Conservation Strategy will not provide permits under Section 404 of the CWA for impacts on wetlands or other waters, Section 404 permitting is • expected to be streamlined substantially as a result due to the amount of background material included in the Strategy and conservation action aimed at aquatic resources. Issuance of a Section 404 permit often requires the Corps to consult with USFWS and/or NMFS to comply with Section 7 of the ESA. This consultation would address the federally listed species that could be affected as the result of changes to or loss of wetland habitat. As discussed above, the USFWS plans to write a Programmatic Biological Opinion for activities that need Section 404 permit issuance and are within the study area. 5.5.6 Clean Water Act Section 401 and the Porter- Cologne Water Quality Control Act The Conservation Strategy does not include certifications under Clean Water Act Section 401 or waste discharge requirements under the Porter-Cologne Water . Quality Control Act. These authorizations, if required, must be obtained separately from the Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board). The Water Board is charged with maintaining the beneficial uses of waters of the state in the San Francisco Bay Region, as presented in the San Francisco Bay Basin Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan), which is the Board's master water quality control planning document (http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/sa nfra nciscobay/basi n_plann ing.shtml#2004b asinplan). Project proponents implementing activities that comply with the • • terms of the Conservation Strategy should find their permit process streamlined East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-14 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation with the Water Board for projects that may impact waters of the State with the • assigned Beneficial Use of preservation of rare and endangered species, because this Conservation Strategy provides a comprehensive means to address the needs of threatened and endangered species in the study area. Project proponents should also consult Appendix G (Water Quality Objectives for Use in Designing and Implementing Projects with Impacts to Creeks or Wetlands)for guidance in designing projects in a manner that minimizes impacts to waters of the State. Project proponents are encouraged to contact the SFRWQCB early in the development of mitigation proposals. Guidance on developing mitigation for impacts on waters of the State is provided on the SFRWQCB's web site, at http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/sanfranciscobay/water_issues/programs/401_ certs/fact_sheet_wetland projects_12-1-06.doc. In general, mitigation for impacts on waters of the state will focus on creating, restoring, enhancing, and/or preserving waters of the state, with less emphasis on the upland components of habitat that are addressed in mitigation measures developed for compliance with CDFG and USFWS oversight of impacts on special-status species. It is often possible to provide mitigation for impacts on waters of the state within mitigation lands that also satisfy the habitat requirements of the CDFG and USFWS. Early consultation with the SFRWQCB may assist project proponents in identifying parcels that satisfy SFRWQCB mitigation • requirements, in addition to the mitigation requirements of CDFG and USFWS. 5.5.7 State Streambed and Lake Alteration Agreement A project proponent must submit a notification of streambed or lake alteration to CDFG before construction of projects with impacts to biological resources associated with rivers, streams and lakes. The notification requires an application and fee for a streambed alteration agreement. Many of the concerns raised by CDFG during streambed alteration agreement negotiations are related to special-status species. Activities that need a streambed alteration agreement are expected to partially or fully meet the standards of the streambed alteration agreement through the inclusion of avoidance and minimization measures and mitigation standards outlined in the Conservation Strategy. 5.6 Conservation through Mitigation • The Conservation Strategy provides information necessary to inform permitting decisions at a regional scale. In addition, the Conservation Strategy provides information at many spatial scales that will enable project applicants and regulatory personnel to make consistent determinations about how a project • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-15 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation • might affect focal species or their habitats. Project applicants and permitting agencies will have to engage at a smaller scale and more detailed analyses in order to directly link project impacts and the terms and location of the mitigation.This section describes the expected process to use the Conservation Strategy. • 5.6.1 Roles and Responsibilities of Project Applicants The ability of the Conservation Strategy to streamline project permitting depends upon the applicant's use of the document. The Conservation Strategy provides the background information, avoidance and minimization measures, and mitigation guidelines necessary for applicants to assess the sensitivity of their project location with respect to biological resources. Based on that information, applicants should use the Conservation Strategy by incorporating avoidance, minimization, and mitigation into their project design, before they approach local jurisdiction dr resource agencies with a plan proposal. 5.6.1.1 Use of the Conservation Strategy for Project Planning and Mitigation • Typical steps in the development review process are outlined below as they relate to Conservation Strategy. Note that variations are likely between local jurisdiction and state and federal resource agencies. Management plans for individual parcels or groups of parcels intended to provide mitigation for individual projects should be completed prior to project implementation and concurrent with the acquisition of the land, unless otherwise specified by federal and state resource agencies. Additionally,the mitigation standards and analysis presented in the Conservation Strategy should not apply to projects that do not incorporate the conservation goals, objectives, and priorities of the strategy.Those projects will require additional analysis and most likely increased mitigation. Suggested steps are: 1. Determine location of project site within study area. Submit a request to local jurisdiction with permit authority(city or county) for land cover and focal species information for that parcel from the GIS information generated for the Conservation Strategy. 2. Quantify the total acres of habitat on the parcel that will be lost as the result of the project. This should be quantified by Conservation Strategy land cover type (Table 2-1). If desired, verify regional data with site-specific survey data on land cover type. 3. Conduct site assessment by a qualified biologist of focal species occurrence • using accepted survey protocols for listed and special-status species, if East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-16 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation •available. An applicant may also assume presence of focal species with • suitable habitat that are difficult to detect. 4. Using the Focal Species Impact/Mitigation Score Sheets (Appendix E), a qualified biologist will determine the habitat quality score of the parcel for • each applicable focal species. • 5. Discuss site assessment and Focal Species Impact/Mitigation Score Sheets with local jurisdiction and USFWS and CDFG to verify approach (optional). 6. Based on the land cover impact acres quantified in Step 2, seek mitigation for all of the focal species that could occur on the parcel based on Conservation Strategy data and Species Score Sheets. Assess mitigation parcel(s) using the Focal Species Impact/Mitigation Score Sheets to ensure that the score for each species in question is equal to or higher than the score that was calculated for the project site. 7. Ensure that acreage of potential mitigation parcel(s) is enough to satisfy the Standardize Mitigation Ratio for each focal species found or assumed to be • present on the project site. Derive ratios using Tables 3-4 through 3-12 and Figures 3-6 through 3-14. 8. Procure initial agreements with owner of potential mitigation parcel (this step could occur earlier if the project proponent wishes to secure a mitigation option). 9. Include all appropriate avoidance and minimization measures in the design • and description of the project that will be presented to the local permitting jurisdiction and resource agencies (see Tables 3-2 and 3-3). 10. Present a completed project application package that includes the project description (including avoidance and minimization measures) and proposed mitigation with appropriate land protection (conservation easement, endowment and management plan)to the local permitting agency and to the state and federal resource agencies that have jurisdiction of the resources that could be affected. 11. Continue through standard permitting channels (i.e., CEQA, ESA, CESA) depending on the resources in question including specific information about avoidance and mitigation. If the avoidance and mitigation package•is rejected by the resource agencies, then work with the agencies to identify the deficiencies in that proposal and if needed procure agreements on another property that meets their needs starting with Step 5 in this list. 12. Upon completion of permitting process and final approvals, implement mitigation prior to or concurrent with project construction or commencement. 13. Once final project design is approved and mitigation agreements are made, report the final acres lost on the parcel and the final acres protected through mitigation, by location and land cover type,to the local permitting • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-17 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation • jurisdiction, which will in turn be responsible for reporting it to the Implementation Committee. 14. The local jurisdiction will report the project information to the Implementation Committee. This information will be entered and stored in the Conservation Strategy Tracking Database. 5.6.2 Land Acquisition for Mitigation A central component of mitigation is the requirement that resources be protected in perpetuity. Protection in perpetuity generally requires the property have a conservation easement conveyed to a third party that is approved by the resource agencies to hold conservation easements. CDFG and USFWS are typically third-party beneficiaries depending upon their jurisdiction over the focal species requiring mitigation. Public agencies, such as cities or park districts, may acquire lands suitable for mitigation upon approvals from federal and state resource agencies. In addition public agencies may act in favor for the project applicant(e.g, agreement between applicant and special district where special district acquires land and applicant conveys a conservation easement on land for mitigation purposes). Mitigation for listed species or natural resources under CDFG or USFWS jurisdiction often includes • compensation lands with a conservation easement, management plan, and funded endowment to ensure management in perpetuity. In addition to having a permanent conservation easement placed on the mitigation lands, a resource management plan and long-term maintenance and monitoring endowment must also be established and all documents approved by the resource agency(ies) requiring the mitigation. East Alameda County is largely undeveloped, with the exception of the Cities of Dublin, Pleasanton, and Livermore. Because the majority of species' habitat occurs on lands under private or public ownership outside of the three cities, the bulk of conservation opportunities that will support the goals and objectives of the Conservation Strategy will need to occur on those lands.The land acquisition process should generally follow the steps listed below for land acquired in fee title or through conservation easements. The steps to procuring a conservation easement on a property are discussed later in this document. A project applicant(i.e.,the entity in need of mitigation) could perform these steps on their own or in conjunction with a variety of partners including, but not limited to the resource agencies, local jurisdiction(s),the RCD,the Alameda County PLCS, special districts (LARPD, EPRPD, etc.), and land trusts. ■ Identify sites that have the potential to meet conservation goals within a given Conservation Zone. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-18 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation a Approach property owners and or local entities such as the RCD or PLCS who have active lists of landowners interested in mitigation with a proposal to acquire land through conservation easement or fee title. o If the property owner is willing, enter into an agreement with them to conduct pre-acquisition surveys of property for land cover types (including . jurisdictional wetlands and waters) addressed in the Conservation Strategy and habitat for focal species. These surveys are typically conducted at the project applicant's (i.e., entity in need of mitigation) expense. If landowner has been working with RCD or PLCS, much of this information may already exist. a For conservation acquisitions in fee or as conservation easements, develop Baseline Conditions Report to document existing conditions on the site prior to conveyance of the conservation easement. o Determine if site meets Conservation Strategy conservation goals and objectives and ensure that property encumbrances (e.g., existing conservation easements, property title, resource extraction rights, presence of hazardous materials [Phase I environmental assessment]) do not conflict with Conservation Strategy goals and objectives. For conservation easements, use the agency template to determine conservation easement terms and management prior to purchase. ® Acquisition may require an appraisal of property rights (conservation easement or fee) subject to negotiation between the property owner and • project applicant. M If the project applicant evaluates multiple mitigation sites,then rank available sites on the basis of cost versus ability to meet Conservation Strategy conservation goals and objectives. e Make offer to property owner and develop acquisition terms, purchase and conservation easement conditions, if appropriate. If the site will be proposed as mitigation for listed species impacts, recommend consultation with USFWS and CDFG prior to commitment of financial resources and document language to the property owner. IS Prepare a draft a conservation easement if the project affects federally or state listed species and prepare a management plan for the site based on site conditions. Management plans will be consistent with the Conservation Strategy and will need to be approved by the resource agencies. Conservation easements will be consistent with the resource agencies' templates and are subject to review and approval by resource agencies. O Examine all leases that apply to the property for consistency with . Conservation Strategy conservation goals and objectives. Inconsistent leases will be terminated, subordinated, or modified to conform. ® Execute sale of fee-title or conservation easement and complete all related documents and processes, including funding the endowment for the long- term management plan. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-19 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation • c Initiate management plan and monitoring, and conduct habitat restoration (if applicable). • 5.6.2.1 Willing Sellers A key principle of the Conservation Strategy is that mitigation land will only be acquired by the project applicants from willing sellers. However,the implementation of the Conservation Strategy does not change the terms under which private lands can be condemned for the public good. The acquisition of sensitive resources and habitat, regardless of the method, may contribute to regional conservation and the implementation of the Conservation Strategy. However, utilizing eminent domain to acquire lands for mitigation is contrary to the intent of the Conservation Strategy to facilitate mitigation only through willing sellers. 5.6.3 Conservation Easements for Mitigation A conservation easement is a legal agreement a property owner makes with another entity, in this case an entity needing mitigation (mitigator),to voluntarily sell certain property rights and protect the specific resources in • question to meet the mitigation need. To understand the conservation easement concept,think of owning land as holding a bundle of rights (i.e., development rights, water rights,timber harvest rights, mineral rights, etc). Through a conservation easement, a landowner may sell the whole bundle of rights, or just the particular rights necessary to protect the resources in question in perpetuity. These rights may include, for example, land management techniques, the right to construct buildings, to subdivide the land, or to restrict access. In the study area, conservation easement restrictions typically permit landowners to continue traditional uses of their land such as livestock grazing, subject to management plan vegetation performance standards. • For a mitigation transaction,the Deed of Conservation Easement,which clearly spells out the goals, restrictions, obligations, rights maintained, monitoring requirements, and enforcement procedures, will be based on existing legal templates developed by the resource agencies. These templates (attached in the Conservation Easement Toolkit, Appendix F) provide both the resource agencies, mitigators, landowners, and conservation easement holders with a clear understanding of the basic expectations involved in a conservation easement. The templates can be tailored,to a limited extent, to the particular property and/or the particular needs of the conservation easement purchaser/mitigator as well as the habitat goals for and other conservation values on that property. Conservation easements not following the agency templates, or that have been modified, will require significant review by agency • attorneys and may not be appropriate for certain mitigation purposes. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-20 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation For USFWS, conservation easement holders must have third party oversight by a • qualified non-profit or government agency. Qualifications include: o Organized under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3); o Qualified under California Civil Code 4 815; ® Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation, and biographies of Board of Directors on file at, and approved by USFWS. Must meet requirements of USFWS, including 51%disinterested parties on the Board of Directors; or o Additionally conservation easement holders must have satisfactorily completed CDFG due diligence process for conservation easement holders and/or be accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. a The conservation easement holder cannot be the same as the fee title holder The specific terms of the conservation easement will be developed and negotiated using the templates provided by each resource agency. Each conservation easement will be drafted to protect the existing conservation values of the property forever, and to confine the allowable uses of the property to those activities that ensure or promote the preservation or enhancement of those conservation values consistent with the Management Plan. The terms of the conservation easement also prevent any use of the property that would impair or interfere with the conservation values of the • property. The conservation values will be specifically described in terms of both the native species and their habitat, and other natural communities on the property. Conservation easements are typically recorded prior to project commencement. Except as necessary to maintain or enhance conservation values, each conservation easement will be consistent with the template shown in Appendix F. Any owner of property with conservation values may sell a conservation easement. If the property belongs to more than one person, all owners must consent to selling a conservation easement. If the property is mortgaged,the owner must obtain an agreement from the lender to subordinate its interests to those of the conservation easement holder so that the conservation easement cannot be extinguished in the event of foreclosure. Once executed,the landowner conveys the right to enforce the negotiated stewardship plan, including land use restrictions to a qualified conservation recipient, such as a public agency, a land trust, RCD, or approved conservation organization. Finally, a conservation easement remains tied to the land—that is, the original owner and all subsequent owners are bound by the restrictions of the conservation easement. The conservation easement is recorded at the county or city records office so that all future owners and lenders will learn about the restrictions when they obtain title reports. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-21 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation 5.6.3.1 Conservation Endowment • Another key component of the conservation easement process is development of the conservation endowment.This nonwasting endowment is designed to provide funding in perpetuity to implement management recommendations, adaptively manage the conservation easement area to meet management plan goals,to cover monitoring expenses. When determining the appropriate amount of funds necessary to manage the conservation easement land in perpetuity, the land manager must analyze the characteristics and needs of the specific property from which management requirements are derived. The endowment should include management tasks and their costs as well as the necessary administrative costs to provide the full cost of managing the property. Funding for the management is derived from the interest of the endowment only. Therefore,the principal needs to be sufficient to generate adequate interest for the management and monitoring activities and to account for inflation. The endowment will be fully funded prior to project commencement. CDFG has a specific process for approving endowment holders. That process is currently undergoing revision. This section will be updated once a final process is agreed upon. For now, project proponents and landowners should contact their local CDFG representative if they have questions. • 5.6.3.2 Long-Term Management Plans Any property that is purchased and/or placed under conservation easement for the purpose of providing mitigation will need to have a long-term management plan. The purpose of this long-term management plan is to ensure the mitigation parcel(s) or bank is managed, monitored, and maintained in perpetuity as required by the conservation documents. This management plan establishes objectives, priorities, and tasks to monitor, manage, maintain, and report on the waters of California and the United States,focal species, and natural communities or other resources that are being provided as mitigation on the site. One of the intended outcomes of this Strategy is to have consistent management across the study area for similar land cover types and species to the degree possible. Ultimately this responsibility falls to the resource agencies. The management plan is a binding and enforceable instrument, implemented by the conservation easement covering the property. It is to ensure management of the site in perpetuity and becomes a binding "contract" between the land owner and the resource agencies that give the agencies the assurances that they need to allow a parcel to be used as mitigation. A template of a typical management plan is included in Appendix F. The landowner is responsible for implementing the management plan in perpetuity, and may contract this work if desired. If changes to the program are needed based on monitoring data the long-term management plan can be updated through an adaptive management process. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-22 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation 5.6.3.3 Monitoring • The third-party organization or agency that holds the conservation easement is responsible for enforcing the restrictions contained in the conservation easement document. To do this,the conservation easement holder monitors the property on a regular basis, and typically prepares a report once a year. Representatives of the holder visit the property, usually accompanied by the owner,to determine whether the property remains in the condition prescribed or enhanced by the conservation easement and documented at the time of the conservation easement is recorded. The holder maintains written records of the monitoring visits. The visits also serve to keep the holder and the property owner in regular communication. If a monitoring visit reveals that the • conservation easement has been violated,the conservation easement holder has the legal right to require the owner to correct the violation and restore the property to its condition prior to the violation as prescribed in the negotiated easement and/or management plan. 5.6.3.4 Partnership for Land Conservation and Stewardship: Conservation Easement Facilitation The PLCS was developed under Alameda County's Measure D that required the • County to develop a "Land Trust" to support conservation of open spaces in eastern Alameda County.The Alameda County Board of Supervisors, acting upon recommendations from the County Agricultural Advisory Committee, created PLCS as a program intended to facilitate bringing together landowners interested in selling conservation easements and offering resource enhancement projects on their property with funding sources interested in buying those conservation easements or in constructing the enhancements. Rather than develop a new land trust,the Board of Supervisors elected to develop a facilitating entity that would work cooperatively with landowners, conservation organizations, and others to coordinate protection of the county's natural resources.The Alameda County RCD is the fiscal agent for PLCS and also provides technical and educational support for PLCS related to natural resource conservation and agriculture enhancement. PLCS will develop a table to provide a list of the key steps and documents to complete a conservation easement transaction. When complete,this table will be included in the Conservation Toolkit (Appendix F).This table also provides guidance of responsible parties for each step and puts these steps in sequential order for ease of use. PLCS educates landowners about conservation easements, while connecting the landowners, mitigating entities, and conservation easement holding entities to complete a mitigation transaction on private lands. The agreements between the parties involved are reached voluntarily. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-23 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation • 5.6.4 Conservation or Mitigation Banks A conservation or mitigation bank is privately or publicly owned land managed for its natural resource values. In exchange for permanently protecting and managing the land,the bank operator is allowed to sell habitat credits to project proponents who need to satisfy legal requirements for compensating environmental impacts of development projects.' A conservation or mitigation bank is a free-market enterprise that performs the following functions. • Offers landowners economic incentives to protect natural resources. • Provides permanent protection of resources prior to impacts (i.e., a conservation easement is executed for the bank prior to any credits being sold on the market). • Saves project applicant's time and money by providing them with the certainty of preapproved compensation lands that have existing management plans and funding. • Provides protection and management of habitat in perpetuity. The goals of private mitigation banks are generally compatible and supportive of regional conservation plans such as the Conservation Strategy. Mitigation banks • provide entities in need of mitigation with a simple solution to meeting some or all of their mitigation needs, which in turn helps the Implementation Committee achieve the goals and objectives in the strategy. Each bank holds "credits," typically by species,that are based on the resources protected within the bank and that the resource agencies that have granted to the bank. Because of the limitations on available credits, it is not always possible for a mitigator to have all of their projects mitigation needs met through one bank or even multiple banks. For example, a given bank may have California tiger salamander credits but not burrowing owl credits, or it may have California red-legged frog credits but not riparian habitat credits.There are a few approved banks operating in the study area. Because land and resources are protected up-front for mitigation banks,these areas within the study area will be counted toward the conservation goals and objectives in Conservation Strategy as they are approved. Banks that have already been approved have already been accounted for in Table 3-1 and are considered Type 1 Open Space. Credits sold by banks outside the study area cannot count towards meeting the Conservation Strategy's goals even if the bank's service area is within the Conservation Strategy planning area. Private parties wishing to develop and establish a new mitigation bank in the •. study area should consult guidance and instructions provided by CDFG ' For additional information on banking see the following web sites: • <www.dfg.ca.gov/hcpb/conplan/mitbank/mitbank.shtmt>and<www.fws.govJsacramentoJes/cons— bank.htm>. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-24 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/habcon/conplan/mitbank/) and USFWS • (http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es/cons_bank.htm). • 5.6.5 New Concepts for Mitigation Planning Listed below are additional mechanisms or agreements that could be entered into with federal,state, or local jurisdictions that would guarantee conservation on lands within the study area. While mitigation typically occurs between one project applicant and one landowner there are additional ways to accomplish the same goal. For example, the development of a mitigation bank can be done on a different scale and with potentially better results than the project-by- project mitigation alternative. Below is a list of additional ideas that the Implementation Committee will continue to explore.This is intended to be a running list of ways to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of mitigation in the study area and to continue to engage private landowners in the act of conserving natural resources on their lands. 1. Early Coordination. Work with resource agencies and local and state infrastructural/utility agencies (i.e., Zone 7, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans),SFPUC, etc.) to develop early-mitigation planning efforts that would facilitate implementation of mitigation prior to anticipated impacts. This type of effort would facilitate pre-mitigation and • allow utilities or other infrastructure agencies with large capital improvement plan portfolios to address permitting requirements well in advance of project implementation. By enabling this type of conservation, mitigation monies can be figured into annual budgets, monies can be pooled, and larger tracts of land can be protected. Advanced mitigation also ensures that mitigation will offset the temporal loss of habitat that occurs between the time that the impacts occur and the time when mitigation reaches full maturity. 2. Facilitate Mitigation Banks. Establish framework that enables the establishment of one or more co-operatives between two or more private landowners to establish a mitigation bank on multiple parcels of land at one time. In theory this would allow private landowners to lower the start up cost of a mitigation banking effort by pooling their resources and consolidating interactions with the resource agencies. 3. Revolving Funds. Utilize local open space funds (Altamont Landfill Open Space Fund,Vasco Road Landfill Open Space fund etc.) as revolving fund to acquire high-priority land from willing sellers with an immediate deadline. Local agency could hold the land with an option to reimburse the originating open space fund with future mitigation funds. (Once a permanent conservation easement is established to mitigate a specific project,the originating open space fund is no longer eligible for reimbursement unless surplus mitigation is available on the site.) East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-25 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation • 4. Fund Coordination. To increase efficiency of funds and to contain project and acquisition costs, Strategy encourages cooperative projects from multiple funders. 5. Reduce Mitigation Cost. Work with stakeholders to develop new tools and processes that will reduce the cost of mitigation (e.g., pre-certifying mitigation lands to reduce costs of surveys). Any investigations necessary to pre-certify lands for mitigation will remain the responsibility of a the land owner and will not be subsidized by the EACCS Implementation Committee. 5.7 Conservation Actions Unrelated to Mitigation— Voluntary Conservation Actions East Alameda County is largely undeveloped, with the exception of the Cities of Dublin, Pleasanton, and Livermore. With growth controls in place in this part of the county (city UGBs and Measure D), it is expected that the portion of conservation that would occur as the result of mitigation for project impacts is less than other conservation opportunities. Because the majority of species' habitat occurs on lands under private or public ownership outside of the three cities,the bulk of conservation opportunities that will support the goals and objectives of the Conservation Strategy will need to occur on those lands. Some • of these conservation efforts will be funded by mitigation money, but most will not. To maximize the use of public and private lands for focal species habitat, this strategy includes a focus on use of existing, incentive-based stewardship programs, and suggests developing new stewardship programs to increase the number of ways that conservation actions can occur on private or public lands. The Implementation Committee is committed to supporting voluntary actions that further conservation in the study area. The Implementation Committee, when and where appropriate, will look for innovative ways to support others taking the lead in implementing voluntary conservation actions provided that it • is consistent with the goals/objectives outlined in the strategy. This section specifically addresses conservation actions that are not funded or driven specifically by mitigation, but instead are conducted by landowners (public or private), land trusts, non-profits conservation groups, etc. These efforts are voluntary and are conducted in an effort to increase the resource values in the study area. It should be noted that although the bulk of this section is focused on supporting private landowners, many of the programs and concepts for non-mitigation based conservation are applicable to any individual or organization interested in conducting or funding conservation actions in the • study area. Whether or not private landowners are interested in participation in conservation through mitigation opportunities,the Strategy provides useful • • information that the private ranchers can use to better understand the land East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-26 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation type, habitat, species and management needs of their own lands that will • enhance their stewardship decisions. The Strategy will provide such reference material and access to knowledgeable stakeholders. The landowners' • easements when completed will be recorded and their stewardship efforts, if made public, would be recognized by the Strategy's databank and outreach activities. As new conservation tools and educational activities are developed, landowners will have the opportunity to participate. There are several local land trusts and state-wide land trusts. Land trusts have a special opportunity to utilize and obligation to implement the Strategy as it pertains to their respective missions. They will participate in easement negotiations (both voluntary conservation and mitigation) as easement holders, report voluntary conservation transactions to the databank, and hold and monitor both types of easements in perpetuity. The land trusts, much like the landowners may utilize the reference material and other stakeholders in planning their own conservation goals and in performing their stewardship responsibilities.They will participate in landowner and community education and outreach. The existence of the Strategy may help facilitate the award of grants for voluntary conservation efforts. 5.7.1 Existing Stewardship Programs There are a wide variety of existing conservation programs in the study area S that are currently being utilized to further stewardship and conservation on private and public lands. Not all of these efforts specifically target the conservation of focal species; however, most are concerned with retaining natural landscapes and intact habitats. Most of these efforts fall into one of the following three categories: conservation planning for ranches and/or farms; technical assistance and/or cost-share for implementing conservation actions; or education. These programs range from the suite of Federal Farm Bill—related programs overseen by the NRCS and local conservation programs implemented through the RCD to USFWS Partners Program projects to large-scale conservation easement efforts funded by private conservation organizations like The Nature Conservancy,the California Rangeland Trust, and local land trusts such as the Tri-Valley Conservancy as well as agencies like the Department of Conservation and Wildlife Conservation Board. A full listing of currently available stewardship programs can be obtained in Appendix F. These existing programs can provide anything from technical assistance and cost-share support for implementing conservation projects to restoration of wildlife friendly stock ponds. Of particular note is pest and weed management programs provided by the Alameda County Agriculture Department and forestry expertise provided by the County Forester. Although many of these programs are not specifically designed to conserve a piece of land in perpetuity (i.e.,through fee-title purchase or purchase of a conservation easement),they nonetheless provide • both incremental and cumulative benefits for conservation of various land cover types, habitats, and native species throughout the study area. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-27 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation • 5.7.1.1 Endangered Species Act Safe Harbor Agreement Landowners participating in the Conservation Strategy also have the opportunity to voluntarily enter into a Safe Harbor Agreement(SHA)with USFWS. The USFWS must ensure the SHA results in a "net conservation benefit" for the listed species on the enrolled property.The baseline conditions must be determined, as well as the beneficial activities, routine and on-going activities proposed for incidental take coverage, and potential impacts from returning the property to baseline after the end of the agreement. When the landowner meets all the terms of the SHA,they will receive written, formal assurances from USFWS that additional or different management activities would not be required without the participant's consent during the period of time for which the SHA is valid. Under Section 10 of the ESA, the landowner would receive an Enhancement of Survival Permit authorizing incidental take of species that may result from actions undertaken by the landowner under the SHA. In exchange, the landowner would participate in actions that would contribute to the recovery of federally listed species. At the end of the SHA period,the participant also has the option of returning the enrolled property to the baseline conditions that existed before entering into the SHA. For more information on Safe Harbor Agreements visit the USFWS website, http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/Partnerships/safe_harbor.htm. • Currently there is a safe harbor program that is administered by the ACRCD for rehabilitation of stock ponds.This allows for the rehabilitation of stock ponds provided that they enhance habitat for California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander. Establishing the baseline under the safe harbor agreement give private land owners some assurance that they can conduct the work on their ponds without permitting delays or costs and that they can operate their pond within certain parameters provided that the quality of habitat does not become less than what it was when the program was initiated. Details on this program can be found at: htt p://www.fws.gov/ecos/ajax/d ocs/plan_documents/ts ha/ts h a_572.pdf 5.7.1.2 California Department of Fish and Game Voluntary Local Program Agricultural landowners (farmers and ranchers)who want to enhance habitat on their property can be protected from endangered species regulations.The California Endangered Species Act offers such protection (Fish and Game Code Section 2086). Landowners can sign up for a Voluntary Local Program to restore or enhance habitat and receive permission to incidentally take (injure or kill) threatened or endangered species in the course of their routine and ongoing farming or ranching activities. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-28 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation The Voluntary Local Program is DFG's compliment to the federal Safe Harbor • Agreement Program sponsored under the federal Endangered Species Act.The two programs have the same goals of trying to encourage landowners to enhance habitat for threatened and endangered wildlife, while maintaining viable agricultural operations. 5.7.2 New Stewardship Programs and Tools As the Conservation Strategy was developed, various landowners, representatives from conservation organizations and local agency staff, and state and federal resource agency personnel have discussed concepts to help foster conservation on private lands in east Alameda County. New ideas are constantly being developed, and the Implementation Committee will continue to solicit information on new ideas for furthering the goals of the Conservation Strategy through voluntary stewardship and hold discussions on how to best implement them. In many cases there are examples of existing programs that fit into these categories.They are listed when appropriate. Below is a list of ideas generated by the Implementation Committee, the UAG, and various other stakeholders. This list is in no particular order and does not suggest available staffing or funding or represent a hierarchy or prioritization of the listed ideas, issues, and concepts. 1. ECOSYSTEMS SERVICE CONTRACTS AND TAX INCENTIVES. Consider • development of a habitat based program similar to the Williamson Act that would provide tax breaks for landowners willing to develop and implement long-term, but not perpetual, conservation plans and actions.This would require the development, implementation, and monitoring of a management plan and would be a commitment for a predetermined period of time. 2. STOCK POND AMNESTY PROGRAM. Work with the State Board, Regional Water Quality Control Board, CDFG,and the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition to develop a new pond registration amnesty program or something with similar intent to simplify and incentivize landowners to register their stock ponds with the State Board. In the current regulatory climate, it is very difficult to obtain permits from both the Regional Water Quality Control Board (401 Certification) and the CDFG (1600 Agreement)for conservation projects on unregistered ponds, even if those projects would benefit listed species. Registering ponds can be costly, time-consuming, and confusing,thus creating a disincentive to landowners to register them.This may create significant issues with using existing ponds as mitigation for impacts on resources under state jurisdiction. 3. FACILTATE BASELINE DATA ASSESSMENTS ON PRIVATE LANDS. Develop and expand landowner training/education opportunities to provide landowners with the tools and procedures to collect baseline data on species occurrences and conservation opportunities on their properties. Baseline • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-29 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 5 Conservation Strategy Implementation data collection would also support voluntary long-term management and monitoring. This could provide the biological resources information necessary for mitigation. 4. EXPAND LANDOWNER EDUCATION ABOUT CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. Work with PLCS and land trusts to develop and expand landowner training/education on the implications and nuances of executing a conservation easement on private property. In conjunction with this effort, landowners have suggested developing online resources,to serve as a clearinghouse for information on conservation easements, lessons learned, and a library of on-line resources and provide referrals for local professionals that specialize in conservation transactions (appraisers, tax professionals, real-estate brokers, biologists, etc). 5. CONTINUE LANDOWNER AND OPERATOR EDUCATION ABOUT HABITAT AND SPECIES STEWARDHSIP. Renew the RCD's Partners in Restoration Permit Coordination Program to coordinate permitting for a suite of voluntary NRCS/RCD sponsored conservation actions on private lands. The future efficacy of this program is tied to Step 3 above. Changes that are instituted upon program renewal would be consistent with the conservation goals and objectives of the Conservation Strategy. This effort would be coordinated with the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition. 6. UTILIZATION FEE. Work with local jurisdictions to consider creating a • Conservation Strategy Utilization Fee that would be tied to development applications and could be used as cost-share grants for implementing various types of conservation projects in the study area (e.g., . cost-share grants for conservation actions funding for programs that perform outreach and education to landowner education). 7. In coordination with a Conservation Strategy Utilization Fee (#6), or another existing local conservation funding mechanism, develop a program modeled after other local programs for fund dispersal, such as the County Fish and Game Commission. 8. TRACKING VOLUNTARY EFFORTS. In concert with the mitigation tracking database to be developed for Conservation Strategy,find a way to track voluntary conservation efforts, both specific on-the-ground projects as well as non-mitigation based conservation easements in the study area. This would be best done on a regional level either for the entire study area or for each conservation zone (i.e.,this many acres of grassland were managed for burrowing owl and this many ponds were restored this year). This information will be critical to assessing the efficacy of Conservation Strategy and will help identify conservation gaps in the future. 9. DEVELOP ECOSYSTEM SERVICES VALUATION PROCESS. Work with California Rangeland Conservation Coalition, NRCS, and ACRCD to develop a local mitigation marketing system that recognizes the monetary benefits of land stewardship provided voluntarily by private and public landowners. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 5-30 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Chapter 6 Literature Cited Table of Contents 6.1 Printed References 6-1 6.2 Personal Communications 6-21 6.1 Printed References Alameda County Community Development Agency. 2002. East County Area Plan (Revised by Initiative Nov. 2000). Planning Department. Hayward,CA. Available: http://www.acgov.org/cda/planni ng/plans/EastCountyArea Pla ncombi ned.p df.Accessed:February 19,2009. Alameda County Community Development Department. 2008.Alameda County General Plan—Agriculture Element. Draft Version. Hayward,CA. Prepared for:Alameda County Community Development Department. Alameda County Community Development Agency. 2007.East County Area Plan Land Use Diagram. Draft Version. Hayward,CA. Prepared for:Alameda County. Alameda County Resource Conservation District. 2006.Arroyo de la Laguna streambank restoration project. Project fact sheet.Available: http://www.acrcd.org/Portals/0/Arroyo/ArroyoFactSheet.pdf.Accessed: April 27, 2009. Alameda Creek Alliance. 2009. Recent fish documentation.Available: http://www.a la medacreek.org/Historical%2Ophotos/recent%20fish%2Odoc umentation/Recent%20fish%20documentation.htm.Accessed: February 23, 2009. Updated March 12,2008. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 6-1 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Alameda Creek Alliance. 2009. Arroyo Mocho. Available: http://www.ala medacreek.org/Fish_Passage/Arroyo%20Mocho/Arroyo%20 Mocho.htm. Accessed: April 27, 2009. Updated April 24, 2009. Alvarez,J. A. 2004. Rana aurora draytonii (California Red-legged frog) Microhabitat. Herpetological Review 35:162-163. Arnold, R.A. 1981. Distribution, life history, and status of three California lepidoptera proposed as endangered or threatened species. California Department of Fish &Game, Inland Fisheries Branch. Final report for contract#5-1620. 39 pp. Arnold, R. A. 2008. Draft Survey Report for Four Endangered Butterflies at the San Francisco Peninsula Watershed for the Crystal Springs/San Andreas Transmission System Upgrade Project. Prepared for SFPUC. 21 pp. Association of Bay Area Governments. 2006. Projections 2007: Forecasts for the San Francisco Bay Area to the Year 2035. ABAG Catalog Number P07001PRO. Oakland, CA. Baker, G.A., P. W. Rundel, and D.J. Parsons. 1981. Ecological relationships of Quercus douglasii(Fagaceae) in the foothill zone of Sequoia National Park, California. Madronio 28:1-12. • Barbour, M.,J. Burk, and W. Pitts. 1993. California's Changing Landscapes: Diversity and Conservation of California Vegetation. Sacramento,CA: California Native Plant Society. Barbour, Michael G.; Keeler-Wolf,Todd; and Schoenherr, Allen A. 2007. Terrestrial vegetation of California. Third Edition. Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA.: University of California Press. Barry, S.J. and H. B. Shaffer. 1994.The Status of the California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense) at Lagunita:A 50-Year Update. Journal of Herpetology 28:159-164. Bartolome,J. W., and B. Gemmill. 1981. The ecological status of Stipa pulchra (Poaceae) in California. Madronio 28:172-184. Bay Area Open Space Council. 2004. San Francisco Bay Area Uplands Goals Project. Phase One: Reconnaissance, Final Report. September.Available: http://www.openspacecou ncil.org/upload/files/20090513155457_baosc_u pland_2004.09.28_phase_one_final_report.pdf. Accessed August 2009. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 6-2 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Beedy, E. C. and W.J. Hamilton III. 1997. Tricolored Blackbird Status Update and • Management Guidelines.Jones &Stokes Associates, Inc. (JSA 97-099.) Sacramento, CA. Prepared for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR; and California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA. ---. 1999. Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor). In A. Poole and F. Gill (eds.),The Birds of North America, No. 423. Philadelphia, PA: The Birds of North America, Inc. Beir, P., and R. F. Noss. 2000. Documenting the conservation value of corridors. In Missing linkages: restoring connectivity to the California landscape. Conference Proceedings and report prepared by the California Wilderness Coalition,The Nature Conservancy, the Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, the Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species, and California State Parks. Available: http://www.calwild.org/resources/publications. Bell, H. 1994. Analysis of Habitat Characteristics of San Joaquin Kit Fox in Its Northern Range. Master's Thesis, California State University, Hayward. Bobzien, S. and DiDonato,J. E. 2007. 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Zone 7 Water Agency. 2006. Zone 7 Stream Management Master Plan. Prepared by RMC Water and Environment. August. 6.2 Personal Communications Diamond,Tanya. Professor, De Anza College. Cupertino, CA. Various communications (email, phone, and in person interviews)with Troy Rahmig, ICF Jones &Stokes about the movement of American badgers in the south Santa Clara Valley. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 6-21 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix A • Wildlife Species Considered for Inclusion as Focal Species in the East Alameda Conservation Strategy • • c.) E.). C) ce. C) CC ..a. )...-0 a -.„- - , a 2. -2 2 .... ., o E 5 -,. 2 c = 12 2 .2 n .„- . . . _ r --L2 c c r • c c E E 2 c g If--: t. -•= ...-0 r:-... 'F... E 7.-- E5 - li: --- - 'z . -7 -. -7. :,- zi6 r- ac ., - t v - v 7 ^5 12. =. - ,2. a'n 17 ' 0 Lt. z - ---; - p - ...4 : , 2 -0 2 .-2- = - o = 5 =, _ ': ,1 'ic -' P -c- -1: t 4: ° - r' it 33 21' 5. to P r: 0• 0 0 ;-. 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Er ..,:) .5.- 12 ,c1.1 ' , ,LP ;,2] .t ,% rj :.?„ 2, 722 -,z 7.. .t. 6 6 I-c.. to > , 0 -0. . . cn .-.... E c 7 7 >-- >- % >- 7 7 7 7 Z 7 Z 7 o 0 E T- -0 > 2 a) -_, 0 ^4 a- E co _ 4 , z >- :,._ >- :;•- X, 7 Z z -." i >- > :". 2 in n co W O a -c '5 Z Z 5., '...-. Z c.. 7 7 Z >- 7 Z 7 7 • > •-• _ O 5 a) E 7) r•-) .cc; z --- >- >- :- >- z z z z z 7 >- :-..-. a.) c.. a = Cu U O 0 IL .74 z -,Z ›- 0- Z (7- z z TZ 0- >- z = tn Cu 2 C 0 rn - a r: ._ I H .;.tJ h ..L2 rr. :_. =. 1 i 0 C -.. 1) 8 ,7, ‘4•• '...) ,, TS I I I I I I I I I I I I ,._. 'al c O t - o 7-' O u., a 0 co 1:2 .:_g •=.- 2 ..,- 20, cq, 0 - c,. u _a' z :77. is 7-z 1. --,' .A.. ,,' ...., 7•=.. 3: -'-' 2C-, - ' :=. -a.' .r.') 1 1 - - .-:: .-7, - i.:. , - v., - - cd, r• = z.- -- - 4 •Ci '-' -- 9c 9. - - "t.' 4 v• 74 - - . c-, --• li i) -..., z..• ,-• Z.CC ...21 Q tr -,' ':': a ,"3 0 P.. C i -C •'' a E'.- Fll .. '.'_ Z X › .-- 7 -::. & ''' u -E2 = 2 0 ' >,-i cm , - -;,- - - 0 - p , - ..,,, o 2 :C. .2 = - 2, ..2 -- • 1:3 5 ?, r --c; .„ c .E( ^ 2 .tr I^ E 2 C ,;-. 2 - o - 2." ,-... ,,...) r 7 r - 2--, -.. -. > - 2 rt - :2? .= - = -2 er , r -2 2 2 2 _ = r", "--. 2 r 7.'. -2 2 "2 2 > 50 2 •- sp = ,r Q 51. 'i-. r. > 0- , -2 .;', 0 'C.. .,. 7-- a a ..- •- ri r- (--7.. 2.-. g :-• 0 :- 0 ..-73, -, -7 '&... .-:,- o ::-.; •7: e r - Z -A. -, :: .(1 CC :4 E, 2ER.- = L=3 ._1 - '.-----02' >- --: uc:0.- c•- -a-. ., --_, cz..- d -L.) u •=:: c---) ,4_, c -N. :Jo r rV. o c -o = c C > — -- .E = — • u - > E — ° :.� N OI - a y ._ c Y = c 0 L p 3 c c = c c c - J :. n 1 - ` :. y j� V'J co - C o0 E _ !9 J .J _ C _ VI. rr .- _ - �. E L c _ m "� 2 c0 E s o � 9 c N n E F v 0 = � o f — c — 2. d▪ c m � c _ Gt_ n G` C y N v II? C- c -v vcu p y � ` rn J _ Y c U y Y :.a.. e, 1:-r C cc E N _ i 3 c c cc c - Y C. C O p ar v �C O . 2 Q - C L m O - O y Jr cc; C J 9 C N Y C a - v c t 23 . J EJ _ ti g O - P- If") � OO G C -O p -.0 F _ a PO O O — G O J L_ > > . - _ o 7 . m o T C - Z ✓ s Z C O E O v 0 = v •c s O _ s 5 Z 0 2. Z 0.. y yr 0 . L v > z z z z z > z > >. Z > Z F 6 O N ✓ U O > 'r > > > > > 7 > Y > > > a • z Z z z z Z > z >- >- > > > L t. U - > > > Z Y' > >} } > z Z > Z In y Z 7 Z > z z > > > > > r > I I- 7 Y f cr. " U U U U U U r U 7) c 71 0 1 tI C -J a cc s X 3 v C v m ,� V C v E V C v Ii"> C c00 r0 i. 6"Q • C - U c c — C. c 3U _ y C. Z3 — -o c _ G�C U E >. c Q Y 5 d po - c v h 0 w g o y—, O n c c` O C % s - - x 4 Q 4 — 0. c y p o. -� c C . a Y c o a Y C c c, J 33 m 3c „ C & 1. _y c , c a u � 0 3 � o c � o F ; .' - 3 , u sm m 3 � ¢ a - ti c N- 2) 5. 4- 77 F. ,_ 7 0 = 2 o 2 , .6 o 702 ._.; tt 1r...• -- 0 er. = a ea L--. :a 7.... = ca ,..■ a- 2 72 ‹. > -.6 • , - = EH-LI = Q. ..t. -.3 .} E 2. c Q.. 0 5 E c5 "2 2 .2 2 .Y. ° 11 0 22 ° 0 .0 ''.- 2 7 V 0 0 . 0 0 s 9. = a r 9 9_o 9 o e.., = r - o = z ,- - - . r- r- '- "- ' ou r rti, - ‘. 7 -- 6 - - r z 9, CC 9 2 9 .1 " CC .., = :4 ii" 4 a 7, E -0 - E. • % o .99 P ° ° - 7 r- 7 V- .'=■ .2 F2- :2 - 22 ° 20. 2 - :-. -a 2-. :`;:' 72 7 yi .= = 7= ,-- o - t 9 Ed -9 9 .5 97 5 E ,--■ , ,5 o 3 33 0 2, 2 ,_ = .,; .2 E • a .2 ,..- , -).- -5 3. 2L > v c v 3 E .._, °r ° - 5 .33 S Tr; 3 5 v 5 :07' 6 _ 2.0 - . 3 3 3 3 3 - 2 o 3 % z L-. 2 , 0 _2 3 3 5 00 0 ,5 5 o 0 = o 2 .- - . 5 - 2) 0 o % - o 8 u -, o u u -,E C V 2 .2 < 2 F... '5 S. E 4 'CI -2- v -.-c 5: a " .2 2E' o 2 < '2. 2 - -,o ..z, 90 6 3 -7. 5= 3 2- '''. 0 , 2 2 t; .2 3 x -a; >.c- , 4 4r 01 r: ...e' 2 , - oi o - "3 7, T, 0 -F, t g 2,3 7..- .7). '5 s ' 2 E c n &.. ;- -o , 73 0 .2 -6 % o = 2 o - .7,2 o o 5 j .- 5 2.'2; .3 , E. L'. 2 :-.7 3 o v - % '3 o t T-, 5 - 7> 'X 4.' a 5 5', 0 o o v o o < o C. C- 4 .,-;; - - , = zoo - 5. c- _0 a, - , P- :15 =7 c. Tr. o >, o , 4 a . - o o z "° 9 .2. 4- ° z. 4, , ,.., o ..... 1) -• 9 ,f, > ° 7 0 r.. 0 C2 C.• a 0 .., g a A Q 751. 5 % E. 5 5. -12' 3, r -5 2 ? % v -5 3 a' U, .3" 5 % S :5) 5 o .3 2 -, 7' 2 02 Z 7 ■.-) V= L' , Z 74 z 'A i E r z a z .z- a (.7: -..: a :-:- .5.., z z z r_0' 2 z hi 0 O• 0 Z z z z 7 z z 7 z 7 7 >: 7 2 C. • ;a 3 c 3 0 Z >-. :5 7 .5 >5 :5 .5 :5 >- Z :..- >- = _ = 7.4. gi -4, )-• >- >:' ›- ›- >- Z >- >- i- >- >- >- < < < < r 2 Ta- 3"5 33 :t ? a - - u cil U • 4, o c •L P 0 .9 ° z - u - c ; c.; 2. 2 -.:7,) Z.: To -6 ._ 9 .... :-; = . 9 st, , 90 ,..., ,c2.. = -2 ,220 9, all r c 0. 0, 0 a :,.. 7. :Q. L'e g ----g 1.1.- L' P ,0 9 = a 0 :=, :, ..; t■ - -v- .-s. . . i -.. ) t '6 :1 E = , co -0 ,.., - - :- :-■ ,L. ----- 7: "s. , zr., _c . 0 , o - 0 "G. 0 a. 0. a ,-.F .4 :1) r-.) ,-,.. = 0 '`, r-C ---, =, a-. =-- < Z, u d =z w 4 u --... ---.:: 0 --... z a r — ` -o U o = u o -0 - C C v C v O o a- ' U o V ' j 9 c v 8 • d c s u o = 'q L J _ r r S v c C n L t o t a „o _ o o 2 — < . c o d G - ° c �o y c < c t N• C J C -n 7 'O o y O y .17) o C L 1 ¢ C C C U C .. 2 .- o coo U U U U .1'4.6 o - mC r ti - ,_ T C C i c - _ C C U U ` U .9 ` • o t U . �U Z rC O s - C U O - Y O O C c v C C m C O y u . - ° = J ` F : C 'O C [L-. CI L .4,z. G = L n J F n � 9 U C ; v T 6 2 U N J = ` C U Q C .L U O N J r C O U .7- U C V o C n u 2 - = C oo c t G O O •c c o O 0 u v 0 U - i. c U ti U o c _ 0 . E m U O 0 ' M1> o ... o m m L - v - O O ` E C U _ ` _ W ` _ _ o . 2 C C C u _r _ 0 ? U _ [ C C0 , C n r J C ^ C _ G N vi - 1 ` - W y o N . - o o G L U _ _ 4 N J 'J J 'J 2 C J U 0 ? J 'll U U 0 J J O G 0 .= ,= C O Y n C G C Q d V U n C ^ _ U aO Z 7 vi - r � `i v: Z s r J- Z Z ! t r= Z - -o r o Z - — a,. -a .y 4 v Z 7 Z 7 7 Z 7 7 Z Z r Z Z 7 C C F n 813 o O '- - r r r r r r r r r r r 7 7 7 F. • • z z z z z z z r r 7 z z III . 0 = Z r r Z r r Z Z Z 7 r Z Z Z a gi coo r Z Z Z Z Z Z r r r r r r r < < m = 2 c s = - = = ''M m x •L - s U U v - — U u U U U f :J U 7 s cA U U U — U Jr to c - it c l, m FS Di z b 3 a s o ° c o , v o _ c It . a c� t•C ;� a ° = 1 o v o ? c c 'c c m v c '' 1 .S i o .h c•Q o c 2. 0 .. r i c 0. = 'a 3 ,r 0. s v ro 'a 3 c ea ° o o ,P. _ 0 o '_. x c o c o ° 0 o c C Z .9 y C C CO N - L +Ji 4 ° , ? c 9 V o L Z, _ Q u , % i n x 2 i C , ,, u C n 0 2.z', .°. y y ti c c �- 6 ` s .c - c - '� w C 'q u o o fi Q u s .- `o-, .-''' '6 - u C cc u. cc U v .2A V q z' U cc ° U Y fa " U L'V ,- v -- i = N '.cc r y` 4- c o i -„.. z Lo .,.. 7,2, - .7. 0 .- -7. — 7 7, •=, c m ..co 0 E. 3 . 3 30 2 /IA..4 E = a s 0_ c.. ..‘,. -5 ci ,.=. ,.7r. .. , 7 = c. .2 --• z 2 = . .• d Is c 5 2 5 vz - a ,..- 0 - , _. •-- 'CI - :7 a .-= •-= 5 # -- „ ,= a 6- 5 -4 7, 2 0' - ,.. , •=. .c c ,_ '5 = E d 5 5, c .- = # -, 2 d # •-- 0 _ 3 0 _c .E = c = so • c = '2.,:' ...7 , 2 2 _ , •=. = 4:.• P. •E 5 E - = •= 6 ,"• 3 I, , ',4 '1; 17,- u -,- 0 = 0 J = ,r., - 1: , V ,„ = 2 ..„ . 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U ICJ U C U U 0 C U C U U U U d =•• c © n 'a :A > L7 d 2: c25 - 0 ... M c" •.-- = 0 Tgi E c a., ,• '1' •z,- t--2 :5 .t-- • z t 5 z or,- ',,-: I-3 8 ti >2 1 .--, , t .:: :.. -0 , PI0. ,.. F: 07- 0 z O z: c - :-, of ..E,' 7, z.---- -:.- i, -E .-4 i . E -0 ..= :- z. ..3° ''') c c E = Lc Ec 52 rf, 4 d ='' 75 IS = L. 5 -5-C CI - )„., z S'-• d 0- oe C -3. -5 _0' v -7°- Ct 3 E. 6 2 r.,C; 2 .- - x s ''', L-2, 4-) b" :, . .--E _ :?..,-. . 7 _6 '';'.. ,5: •„7“ CO° -c al ° _ - - 0 v z v.-- E -: -- -c- ' • C' •- -0 -= c - 3 3C '-,' cv = ° = c , ,-. 3 2. --: a '5 .24 2,- = n c -2..- E3 Fs - '4 0 S '- o ?z. co c c E E. '•_4.' 2 2 ▪ vl ,-,- ..?-• LE -3 -5-.: Eo r.-Art- cD C= .-.... >- c mcl-: cn ----:. < -,.,. 2 ---: ,,, ,/, ‘", a: c..) r -4-.. co CD v. III E \ , : E. ! \ , \ \ ! \ \ > - \ , : ( ( - - _ _ - _ - {} ) § 7 ?} / Z / / 7 / ) ) j / > z } }) ) % / § f\ ; ; > - z » a z z + z , a p > > z z z z z z z p z z > (L5, ..5 z z z ; z z z 'X z a w > o. \ : E ; \ / / / / / : \ » / c 4c,' } _ / c- _ : § ) - % _ : J ~ ^ \/ 2 } / f 2 $ J\) 7 / j / 3 / $ } 3 ) // / / ) \ j / I-- C) i2 -2 >, .4- ..o, - o -0 .0 cij P.- .0 t = a < . = ; t r. .- • o 0- ., ,- = 2 o Et; 2. '- •c ii 2 = .:0, z -- - ' u a o a . 7-• 0 - „, • .,.. ••..2 .7., 1E. 5. '... E, 7, . - ,../2 '..L.' , ....i- = = -- = r> 5o _=. < = 0 r....) .- 3 0 _ __ r a ..,:.■ o•.e :- 0000 '5 -.3 a' . z 9 P S -; ''.-- 2 17/ g c E a_ --= 5 C.) a t .- • °- a a := o a o t- 5 0 >, - -..,- 0 .-5" •- • = "0 -; g .51 E.-- t -2 'F.; ti. ..?!, = - -b •5 _ 3 2 5' •Ei •7. S' (..) 0 ,.- . -2 '''' i 0-•C4 >. .151 Cr F c E.; - •- 4 = 3 000 2 - - = :-: E 6' -= :-.• = 9, < 7. a z r. --z- = '-. < uu t 7 -•,, = 2 -E! c" 7 p.. 7.■47-, .2 = "d C.).12 .7/1. 5^ 0 t :a -0 5 z - •=, .0 i" 5 5 ,-. 7: .0 -0,' •: ',0 .1$ , S 0 0 's -z' •- , 'F.; ° T■ L- - 0 0 < , E , . ',E .1; -2 , =..1 7- 3 0 3 57 .-4 0 oo. = - .-. -,-: 5 2.- ..1 --Y 6i_42 C) C) -- a ..=. -000 = a a v - Ei z a cr. ...) 5 a: =z 25•' : .0 a - 2 a -a - o a a u v a t z 3 a56 0 ') 7- 0 ° 0 0 0 .- 0 C' C0 - J.-40 .0,, ,, , x ,- = x'. ..t',5 li E.- - 3 EP 7 -0 -0 :- - 2.- -E. ./. = •- 2 ; - = rf E EL E 2 =" -0 = 5 1,2 '-=. ..: 2 2 v5 '5 .; ";" 2 1: '-', H •- 3 .--= 7-, 7- CP. -..7. lr , -o o 0 .- , `- •• - (i) 2 a -- .--) ;-.1 g Z-; !-.. - c a - •• c, 7.7. 0 X 2 C `-' S ..-. -4-, 'M . s .-. 0 3 = = - - '-' - "4 ro' 7. - '-oo, a .6 -•: - e - ai 5 = ri F-• :a 74 a• .:: -0 •- „ = = = ---' • .1) .5- .,• •?, 7: .r.11 ar.-- al ...-4 • .!-3) .i.) 77, .8 , 'r .15 = 2- z (E. 7 , E _ :; ...-2: = .= t--,9 .,.. a 2 '2 .-z I. a_ .22 v a .- WI 0 t .E 3 a. tv .,_, Ca" a •41 5 _ o a ,,,; "0 J /1 _ Lt. '--- tu ":' 5 ,.._ - C15 ', .'' r2 7 - -0 -0 E a 5 u 0 a v v -o 0 a) - 8 T .-.7. ao tr, 5, z z a a a a _., ... ' ...5 t It' '' 5, 9 ir: 5 C -o a - z = u-' -0 2 '0- a- a 5 ,; v a z z & 0. 5, a a „, a •L' 5, 5: .-- 'E. :.-"- To "- a ,0 .., -, ..._ C ° - - ° 0, i, >, 0 o &" E •E' 2-3 2 .2 e.n E. = - = 0 ,0' ' 2 = .91' 5 za t 5., 7 0 0 i 0 0 = C.' /4'4 42 'S -0 S S -0 "0 $.4 E .--' 7., Cu -0,' in' '-, 1) - 2' 9 ,9 KS € , 67; U E-. ;.: ."-- c_. U C X to 0 C-. 9- HOC o (.2, _ :.:2 E- c3 ,o_ ::-. a 0 a) 2 , .= v. '‘,_ (/) La, U -r a ,.> 0- ro-, o- 0. o. up a a '--, v ,, cp < on Z a Appendix B S Plant Species Considered for Inclusion as Focal Species for the East Alameda Conservation Strategy • S > 6 7 = = , . C) L5 = .=, r .2. - - ‘Et. .7' 0 ',.L; `..0 2 0 , 2 a' , o c , =- 1...) 3 .c. c - - 5 -7. •E ,.(>; 0 - . : 2 Er 25 2 :Cc-- 5 :3 g r0 - U 8 E P -0 - = -.L' C - 5 0 5 cr L.) c., -, 3 c 22. c..) • L-) u - 7 g .L3 7.'-' 4; T., -c- = .7, 0. -, c: 8 s_ 7, S r) -8' 8. c7..), -' '3 8 - c 8 c 0. 0 is .- - 2.' t- 4 r-. 4 - C-) •-! - r, &,-. f, - U SI = ■-- .2. --. rj r. 7 ° .C, .0 3 0 5.. 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J j co ' _ C _ n . n - _ _ -0. c . i° r - ' 'Y cf J E _ -• ._ Jsc✓ J FTZ C.; V • z. 1) - L S N f U 0 — u - T. a .. 0 r) J ✓, = 701. g U a ti to o u = Cl) .17') ' ',] il Si- U 0 C_ - C C r 1 2 z n d r .= U OC t J U 2 - 5 U U C p L " .= J c .E o v — cu -C-0 G E C _ — 'Cl c r v v C r 2 c ." C 2 - n 0 v o O ... v z L G >, i G D J ; t r o C L" E- = o C. _C ! N A. ry Q Y q &) U) Ct G. _ - - CI • 4 7 r ^ v Appendix C 0 Glossary • 0 • Appendix C • Glossary Definitions of Key Terms And Concepts Adaptive management. A method for examining alternative strategies for meeting measurable biological goals and objectives, and then if necessary, adjusting future conservation management actions according to what is learned (65 FR 106 35242-35257,June 1, 2000). Aerial Signature. Characteristic value, color, or texture on an aerial photograph that correlates to a particular land-cover type. Agriculture. Broad use term used to describe ranching and/or farming • activities. Anthropogenic. Caused or produced through human activity or influence. Baseline. The existing environmental state,which includes past and present impacts as well as the anticipated impacts of all permitted projects in the inventory area. Benchmark. A performance monitoring standard that allows a community to periodically measure the extent to which the goals and policies of its General Plan are met. Benchmarking: The process by which a community evaluates indicators, data and performance against established benchmarks to identify its progress toward its planning goals. Biodiversity. The variety of native organisms considered at all levels, from genetic variants of a single species through arrays of species to arrays of genera, families, and higher taxonomic levels; includes the variety of natural communities and ecosystems. Biological Assessment (BA): Under section 7 of the ESA. A document prepared to determine whether a proposed action is likely to affect listed species or designated critical habitat. BA's must be prepared for"major construction activities." The outcome of the BA determines whether formal consultation with the USFWS is necessary. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy C-1 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • • Appendix C Glossary • Biological opinion (BO). The document stating the opinion of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service as to whether or not a federal action is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat(50 CFR 402.02). A biological opinion is one of the decision documents of a consultation under Section 7 of the federal Endangered Species Act. Biological goals. Guiding principles for conservation within the study area based on the conservation needs of the focal species and natural communities. The goals describe the vision for the focal species and natural communities to be achieved through implementation of a successful conservation program. Biological goals are typically qualitative rather than quantitative (65 FR 106 35242-35257,June 1, 2000). Biological objectives: Measurable targets that will be sought to achieve the biological goal. Biological objectives are typically quantitative or at least measurable (65 FR 106 35242-35257,June 1, 2000). Broad goals(or program goals). Broad guiding principles for the entire Strategy. These goals represent a summary of the "project purpose and need" for the Strategy and may be incorporated as a mission statement for the process • and the plan. These are a different set of goals than the biological goals and objectives. • Buffer Zone.A strip of land created to separate and protect one type of land use from another;for example, as a screen of planting or fencing to insulate the surroundings from the noise,smoke, or visual aspects of an industrial zone or junkyard. California Endangered Species Act(CESA). Section 2080 of the Fish and Game Code prohibits "take" of any species that the commission determines to be an endangered species or a threatened species. CESA allows for take incidental to otherwise lawful development projects, CESA emphasizes early consultation to avoid potential impacts to rare, endangered, and threatened species and to develop appropriate mitigation planning to offset project-caused losses of listed species populations and their essential habitats. California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA). Created in 1970,shortly after the . Federal Government created the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), CEQA is the basis for environmental law and policy to protect environmental quality in the State of California. CEQA does not directly regulate land uses but describes how project information and impacts are analyzed. CEQA requires state and local agencies to make decisions with environmental consequences in mind by mandating that they: Disclose the potential environmental effects of a proposed project to decision makers and the public(in Environmental Impact • • Reports (EIR)for example, etc.); Identify methods to minimize those effects to East Alameda County Conservation Strategy C-2 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix C • Glossary • the environment; Identify feasible mitigation measures and/or alternatives to the project; and Solicit and respond to comments from the public and from other agencies concerned with the project. CEQA species. Plant and animal species that are considered endangered, threatened, or rare under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and thus must be considered in CEQA documents, but are not focal species in the Strategy (670.2 or 670.5, Title 14, CCR). See also endangered species and threatened species. City limits. Official jurisdictional boundary of a city. Compensation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Compensation measures are actions that minimize or offset potential adverse effects of a proposed activity on species covered by the §7 consultation. Condition of Approval. A condition placed on a development entitlement without which final approval may be withheld, often required to be satisfied prior to recording a Final Map, or receiving a grading or building permit. Similar to mitigation, although mitigations are often monitored over longer periods. For example, 'prior to receiving a building permit,the Dept. of Fish & Game must be consulted." Or, "prior to receiving a Building Permit,the applicant must dedicate 10 acres to East Bay Regional Park District." • Conservation. According to the federal Endangered Species Act, conserve, conserving, and conservation are the methods and procedures necessary to bring any endangered or threatened species to the point at which the measures provided under the Act are no longer necessary. Such methods and procedures include, but are not limited to, activities associated with resource management such as research, census, law enforcement, habitat acquisition and maintenance, propagation, live trapping, and transportation (16 USC 1532 [3]). According to the Natural Community Conservation Planning Act, conserve, conserving, and conservation are the use of methods and procedures within the Plan area that are necessary "to bring any covered species to the point at which the measures provided pursuant to [the California Endangered Species Act] ... are not necessary, and for covered species that are not listed pursuant to [the California Endangered Species Act] ...,to maintain or enhance the condition of a species so that listing pursuant to [the California Endangered Species Act] not become necessary." In other words, the Natural Community Conservation Planning Act defines conservation as the steps necessary to remove a species from the California threatened or endangered species list (Cal. Fish & Game Code 2O85[d]). Conservation actions—Specific activities that will be carried out to meet the conservation needs of the focal species and natural communities in order to achieve the biological goals and objectives. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy C-3 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix C Glossary • Conservation Bank. A parcel of land containing natural resource values that are conserved and managed in perpetuity for specified listed species and used to offset impacts occurring elsewhere to the same resource values on non-bank lands. • Conservation Easement. A tool for acquiring open space with less than full-fee purchase;the public agency or not-for-profit corporation buys only certain specific rights from the landowner in order to restrict the development, management or use of the land. A landowner(grantor)voluntarily sells and/or donates permanent legal restrictions on a property,to a qualified third party (grantee),to limit or prohibit development in order to protect conservation values such as cultural or historic structures, biodiversity,water quality, wildlife habitat, agricultural uses, etc.The restriction is recorded and 'runs with the land'through successive owners.The restriction reduces the "highest and best" economic use of the property so that the property's value reflects only the allowed uses; property taxes may be reduced as a result. If the landowner donates the easement as a gift,this reduction in value may become a charitable tax deduction. An easement also can be sold to non-profit or government agencies to provide revenue. Sometimes referred to as a 'negative' easement since a conservation easement doesn't allow the grantee to do anything other than monitor and enforce the restrictions. • Conservation Values. Wildlife habitat, open space, historic, or recreational resources. For example, land may have a high conservation value if it contains habitat for endangered species or if it has open space in a highly developed area. Conservation values are usually assessed and included in the purposes section of a conservation easement. Conservation strategy. The Strategy's overall and unified approach for • achieving the biological goals and objectives. The conservation strategy is the collection of all conservation actions that will be implemented. Construction monitoring. Monitoring by biologists of construction activities to ensure that conservation actions are implemented and impacts to biological resources are avoided or minimized in accordance with Strategy requirements. • Contribute to recovery. Actions that measurably increase the baseline conditions necessary to support focal species and that contribute to the eventual delisting of a listed species or prevention of listing of a nonlisted species. A contribution to recovery does not include actions necessary to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts of covered activities. • Cover(also canopy cover,areal cover). The area of ground covered by vegetation of particular species or vegetation type, generally expressed as a percentage. • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy C-4 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix C Glossary • Critical habitat. An area designated as critical habitat by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or by the National Marine Fisheries Service pursuant to the federal Endangered Species Act. Critical habitat areas are specific geographic areas that mayor may not be occupied by listed species, that are determined to be essential for the conservation and management of listed species, and that have been formally described and designated in the Federal Register (16 USC 1532 [5j). Cumulative Impacts. The incremental environmental impacts of an individual project reviewed in connection with the effects of past projects,the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects considered together in order to ascertain the overall effect on the environment of a particular project. Also two or more environmental effects which, when considered together, are considerable or which compound or increase other environmental impacts. An assessment of cumulative impacts is a requirement of CEQA. Deed Restrictions.Terms are placed in the deed to the property that restrict certain uses of the real estate by future owners. No income tax benefits; possible estate tax benefits. Discretionary Project. A project which requires the exercise of judgment or deliberation when the public agency or body decides to approve or disapprove a • particular activity, as distinguished from situations where the public agency or body merely has to determine whether there has been conformity with applicable statutes, ordinances, or regulations. Discretionary projects and approvals trigger CEQA review. Easement. A grant by a property owner of a positive right for a specific use of the property or a defined part to a second party. It may be temporary or permanent, is legally recorded and 'runs with the land'. It can be donated or purchased. Example: a landowner may grant an access easement, an easement to allow hunting,wood cutting, mining, etc. Some easements can be temporary. Easement Value. The difference between a property's value before an easement is placed on it and the value after the easement is placed on it. Ecological integrity. Ecosystems have ecological integrity when their native components are intact, including abiotic components, biodiversity, and ecosystem processes. Ecosystem. A community of organisms and their physical environment interacting as an ecological unit. Ecosystem function. The sum total of processes operating at the ecosystem level,such as the cycling of matter, energy, and nutrients. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy C-5 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix C Glossary • • Ecosystem restoration. The reestablishment of ecological functions within an area that historically supported those functions. Endangered species. A native species, subspecies,variety of organism, or distinct population segment (DPS) which is in serious danger of becoming extinct throughout all or a significant portion of its range due to one or more causes, including loss of habitat, change in habitat, overexploitation, predation, competition, or disease (16 USC 1532[6], Cal. Fish & Game Code Section 2062). Endangered Species Act(ESA). Created in 1973, the ESA provides a program for the conservation of federally threatened and endangered plants and animals and the habitats in which they are found. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior maintains a worldwide list which, as of February 20, 2008, included 1574 endangered species (599 are plants)and 351 threatened species (148 are plants). Species include grasses,flowers,trees, insects, crustaceans,fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Anyone can petition USFWS to include a species on this list (7 USC§136; 16 USC§460 et seq). Endemic. A species,subspecies, or variety found only in the region defined. Environmental gradient. A shift in physical and ecological parameters across a • landscape, such as changes in topography, climate, land cover types, or natural communities. Environmental Impact Report(EIR). In CEQA, a document used to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of a project, evaluate reasonable alternatives to the project, and identify mitigation measures necessary to minimize the impacts. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires that the agency with primary responsibility over the approval of a project(the lead agency) evaluate the project's potential impacts in an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). EIRs typically have a draft (DEIR) and a Final (FEIR)stage. EIS: Environmental Impact Statement—Environmental impact document prepared pursuant to NEPA, in place of the term EIR which is used in CEQA. Environmental Assessment: Under NEPA-A document that briefly discusses the environmental consequences of a proposed action and alternatives. Ephemeral stream. Stream that flows only in response to rain events and receives no groundwater input. Extinct species. A species no longer in existence. Extirpated species. A species no longer surviving in regions that were once part • of its range. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy C-6 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix C Glossary • Farming. Narrow use term used to describe cultivation activities, including orchards, vineyards, hay, or grain farming,truck farming, and activities on irrigated and/or drylands. Federal Action: Discretionary actions authorized,funded, or carried out by federal agency. Federal Nexus. Occurring at the discretion of a federal agency, whether it be through permitting, funding, or direct implementation of a project. Focal species. Those species addressed in the Strategy for which mitigation actions will be described. Gap Analysis. A comparison of the distribution of elements of biodiversity with that of areas managed for their long-term viability to identify elements with inadequate representation. Geographic Information System (GIS). Computer-based mapping technology that manipulates geographic data in digital layers and facilitates a wide array of environmental analyses. Genetic Diversity.Variety among individuals within a species —or, more • specifically,the variety in the DNA of a species. See also "alleles." Habitat. The environmental conditions that support occupancy of a given organism in a specified area (Hall et al. 1997). In scientific and lay publications, habitat is defined in many different ways and for many different purposes. For the purposes of the Conservation Strategy, habitat is defined as the specific places where the environmental conditions (i.e., physical and biological conditions) are present that are required to support occupancy by individuals or populations of a given species. Habitat may be occupied (i.e., individuals or a • population of the species are or have recently been present) or unoccupied. See also unoccupied habitat. Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP): Under section 10 of the ESA. A plan that outlines ways of maintaining, enhancing, and protecting a given habitat type needed to protect species; usually includes measures to minimize impacts, and may include provisions for permanently protecting land, restoring habitat, and relocating plants or animals to another area. Required before an incidental take permit may be issued. Habitat creation. The establishment of a natural community in an area that did not previously support it. For example, stock ponds can be created in areas that previously did not support them by grading and installing a check dam. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy C-7 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix C Glossary • Habitat enhancement. The improvement of an existing degraded natural community. Habitat enhancement involves improving one or more ecological factors, such as species richness,species diversity, overall vegetative cover,or wildlife value. Enhancement activities typically occur on substrates that are largely intact. Habitat quality. The ability of the environment to provide conditions that support the persistence of individuals and populations (Hall et at 1997). The precise meaning of habitat quality varies by species and depends on the subject species'specific needs in the context of a particular area. High-quality habitat for some species comprises only foraging and resting elements;for others it comprises foraging, resting, and nesting elements;for still others it may encompass all elements needed for the species to complete its lifecyclel Low- quality habitat would include only the minimal elements that support occurrence of the species. High-quality habitat tends to support larger numbers of species than low-quality habitat. Habitat restoration. See Restoration. Harass. An intentional or negligent act or omission that creates the likelihood of injury to wildlife by annoying it to such an extent as to significantly disrupt normal behavioral patterns which include, but are not limited to, breeding, • feeding, or sheltering (50 CFR 17.3). One component of the legal definition of "take" under the federal Endangered Species Act. Harm. An act that kills or injures wildlife. Such an act may include significant habitat modification or degradation which results in injury of or death to wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding, or sheltering (50 CFR 17.3). Harm is one component of the legal definition of"take" under the federal Endangered Species Act. Highest And Best Use. The most profitable likely and legal use to which a parcel of land is likely to be put (a determination made in calculating value). Hydrology. The movement of surface and subsurface water flows in a given area. The hydrology of an area is intimately connected with its precipitation, soils, and topography. In perpetuity.Always;forever. Incidental take. Any take otherwise prohibited, if such take is incidental to and not the purpose of the carrying out of an otherwise lawful activity(50 CFR 17.3). Incidental Take Permit:A permit issued under section 1O(a)(1)(B) of the ESA to a non-Federal party undertaking an otherwise lawful project that might result in take of an endangered or threatened species. Application for an incidental take • permit is subject to certain requirements, including preparation by the permit East Alameda County Conservation Strategy C-8 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix C Glossary • applicant of a conservation plan, generally known as a "Habitat Conservation Plan" or"HCP." Indicator species. A species,the presence or absence of which is indicative of a particular habitat, community, or set of environmental conditions (Lincoln et al. 1998). Infrastructure. A general term describing public and quasi-public utilities and facilities such as roads, bridges, sewers and sewer plants, water lines, parks and other public spaces, power lines, schools, police and fire protection, and health and welfare services, etc. necessary for the functioning of an urban area. Initial Study. In CEQA, a preliminary analysis prepared by the Lead Agency to determine whether an EIR or a Negative Declaration must be prepared or to identify the significant environmental effects to be analyzed in an EIR. In-kind/on-site mitigation. Establishing a vegetative community or habitat that would provide the same ecological values overtime as the habitat affected. This created habitat must be within, or in proximity to,the site where habitat will be lost. Proximity requirements vary by resource. For focal species,those requirements would depend on the natural history traits and home range of the species and specific requirements would be determined on a case-by-case basis. Since habitat created with this type of mitigation is essentially equal and near to the affected habitat, it would directly benefit those populations impacted by • development and is a preferred means of mitigation. • In-kind/off-site mitigation. Establishing a vegetative community or habitat that would provide the same ecological values over time as the habitat affected.This created habitat may be distant from the site experiencing habitat loss and does not fall under the proximity requirements of on-site creation for that resource. This form of mitigation would only be appropriate in cases where in-kind habitat would be inferior if created on-site. Since habitat created with this type of mitigation is off-site, it does not necessarily benefit those populations impacted by development. Intermittent stream. A stream that is supplied by both rainfall runoff and groundwater; intermittent streams tend to be seasonal, flowing during the rainy season and into the late spring or early summer. Invasive species. A species that is non-native to the ecosystem and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health (Atkinson et al. 2004; FO 13112). Jeopardy: Under the ESA,jeopardy occurs when an action is reasonably expected, directly or indirectly,to diminish a species' numbers, reproduction, dr distribution so that the likelihood of survival and recovery in the wild is appreciably reduced. - • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy C-9 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix C Glossary • Keystone predator. The dominant predator, often the top predator in a given food web; a predator having a major influence on community structure, often in excess of that expected from its relative abundance (Lincoln et al. 1998). Keystone species. A species whose impacts on its community or ecosystem are large, and much larger than would be expected from its abundance (Meffe and Carroll 2005). Land-cover type. The dominant feature of the land surface discernible from aerial photographs and defined by vegetation, water, or human uses. Land-use designation. The designation, by parcel, in an adopted city or county General Plan of the allowable uses. Less than Significant Impact. In CEQA, an impact that would not result in a substantial and adverse change in the environment and would not require mitigation. Linkage/Corridor. A linkage is an area of land that supports or contributes to the long-term movement of wildlife and genetic material. A corridor is a specific route that is used for movement and migration of species. A corridor may be different from a linkage because it represents a smaller or narrower avenue for • movement. Listed Species. These are plant and animal species that are federally listed as endangered or threatened. The Secretary of the Interior publishes these lists in the Federal Register. Management Agreement. A landowner and a governmental agency or land trust enter into a generally informal contract concerning how the property's natural resources are to be managed. More formal management agreements are often associated with mitigation properties. Mesic. Intermediate in moisture,without extremes; neither wet (hydric) nor dry(xeric). Metapopulation. A group of partially isolated populations belonging to the same species that are connected by pathways of immigration and emigration. Exchange of individuals occurs between such populations, enabling recolonization of sites from which the species has recently become extirpated (Lincoln et al. 1998). Mitigation. Actions or project design features that reduce environmental impacts by avoiding, minimizing, or compensating for adverse effects (Fulton 1999). • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy C-10 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix C Glossary • Mitigation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Mitigation measures are actions that • reduce or address potential adverse effects of a proposed activity on species covered by a HCP, under§10 ESA. Mitigation,U.S.Army Corps of Engineers: actions taken to offset the adverse effects of the loss of wetlands. Mitigation Bank. Large blocks of land preserved, restored, and enhanced for purposes of consolidating mitigation for and mitigating in advance for projects that take listed species or affect protected natural resources. Mitigated Negative Declaration. In CEQA, a Negative Declaration that incorporates mitigation measures into the design of the project or establishes measures as conditions of project approval to avoid significant effects. Mitigation Monitoring Program. In CEQA, when a lead agency adopts a mitigated negative declaration or an EIR, it must adopt a program of monitoring or reporting which will ensure that mitigation measures are implemented. Natural community. A collection of species that co-occur in the same habitat or area and interact through trophic and spatial relationships. Communities are typically characterized by reference to one or more dominant species. Negative Declaration. In CEQA, a written statement prepared by the Lead • Agency that briefly describes the reasons that a project, not exempt from CEQA, will not have a significant effect on the environment and therefore does not require the preparation of an EIR. Non-native species. A species that is not native to the ecosystem under consideration. Out-of-kind/on-site mitigation. Establishing a similar vegetative community that will, over time, develop some of the same ecological functions and values as the affected habitat. This created habitat must be within, or in proximity to, the site where habitat will be lost. Proximity requirements vary by resource. For focal species, those requirements would depend on the natural history traits and home range of the species and specific requirements would be determined on a case-by-case basis. Since the habitat created by this type of mitigation is unequal to the affected habitat, it should only be used in instances where there is a compelling biologically-based rationale. Out-of-kind/off-site mitigation. Establishing a similar vegetative community that will, over time, develop some of the same ecological functions and values as the affected habitat. This created habitat may be distant from the site experiencing habitat loss and does not fall under the proximity requirements of on-site creation for that resource. Since the habitat created by this type of • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy C-11 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Appendix C Glossary • • mitigation is unequal to, and distant from,the affected habitat, it is a less acceptable means of mitigation. Perennial stream. Year-round stream that is supplied by both rainfall runoff and groundwater, as well as by substantial dry-season inputs. Performance indicator. An environmental variable that is quantitatively measured over time to determine whether enhanced,created, or restored natural communities have successfully met the Strategy's biological goals and objectives. Performance objective. In monitoring,the optimal desired value for each performance indicator. Performance objectives establish a higher threshold for each indicator than that established for performance standards. Funding, design, and management objectives for enhanced, created, or restored natural communities are established at levels that are designed to ensure that the performance objectives are achieved. Failure to meet a performance objective would not constitute a changed circumstance or require remedial measures. Performance period. In monitoring,the time over which performance standards must be met. • Performance standard. In monitoring, a minimum requirement necessary to achieve biological goals and objectives. Failure to achieve a performance • standard could constitute a changed circumstance and require that remedial measures be implemented. Population. A group of individuals of the same species inhabiting a given geographic area, among which mature individuals reproduce or are likely to reproduce. Ecological interactions and genetic exchange are more likely among individuals within a population than among individuals of separate populations of the same species. Practicable. Referring to an action, available and capable of being done after taking into consideration cost,existing technology,and logistics in light of overall project purpose (45 FR 85344, December 24, 1980: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Part 40 CFR 230.3, Definitions). Preconstruction surveys. Surveys conducted for certain biological resources immediately prior to construction, as directed by the permitting process under the CEQA, ESA, or CESA,to ensure that species are adequately protected and that habitat avoidance and minimization measures can be effectively implemented during construction or implementation of project activities. Preservation. Preventing changes in land use from a natural state by,for example, acquiring land or a conservation easement. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy C-12 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Appendix C Glossary • Project description. In CEQA, describes the basic characteristics of the project including location, need for the project, project objectives,technical and environmental characteristics, project size and design, project phasing and required permits.The level of detail provided in the project description varies according to the type of environmental document prepared. Recovery goal. An established goal, usually quantitative, in a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or by the National Marine Fisheries Service recovery plan that identifies when a listed species is restored to a point at which the protections of the federal Endangered Species Act are no longer required. Range. The geographic area a species is known or believed to occupy. Recovery plan. A document published by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or by the National Marine Fisheries Service that lists the status of a listed species and the actions necessary to remove the species from the endangered species list. Recovery. The process by which the decline of an endangered or threatened species is arrested or reversed or threats to its survival neutralized so that its long-term survival in nature can be ensured. Recovery entails actions to achieve the conservation and survival of a species (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service 1998), including actions to prevent any further erosion of a population's viability and genetic integrity, as well as actions to • restore or establish environmental conditions that enable a species to persist (i.e.,the long-term occurrence of a species through the full range of environmental variation). Regulatory Agencies. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, California Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. Restoration. Establishment of a natural community or habitat in an area that historically supported it, but no longer supports it because of the loss of one or more required ecological factors. Restoration typically involves altering the substrate or physical features to improve a site's ability to support the historic natural community or habitat. Riparian habitat or vegetation. Vegetation associated with river, stream, or lake banks and floodplains. Also defined by USFWS (1998) as: Plant communities contiguous to and affected by surface and subsurface hydrologic features of perennial or intermittent lotic and lentic water bodies (i.e., rivers, streams, lakes, or drainage ways). Riparian areas have one or both of the following characteristics: 1) distinctively different vegetation than adjacent areas, 2)species similar to adjacent areas but exhibiting more vigorous or robust growth forms due to the greater availability of surface and subsurface • water. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy C-13 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix C Glossary • Ruderal. A species or plant community that occurs on a highly disturbed site. Setback.A minimum distance required by zoning to be maintained between two structures or between a structure and property lines. Significant effect on the environment. Under CEQA, a significant effect on the environment means a substantial, or potentially substantial,adverse change in any of the physical conditions within the area affected by the project including land, air, water, minerals, flora,fauna, ambient noise, and objects of historic or aesthetic significance. Mitigation measures are proposed, where feasible,to reduce the magnitude of significant impacts. • Significant and Unavoidable Impact. Under CEQA, an impact that would result in a substantial adverse effect on the environment which would not be mitigable to a less-than-significant level. A project with such an impact could still proceed, provided the Lead Agency prepares a Statement of Overriding Considerations, pursuant to Section 15093 of the CEQA Guidelines, explaining why the Agency would proceed with the project despite the occurrence of such an impact. Special-status species. Plants and animals that are legally protected under ESA, • CESA, or other regulations, and species that are considered sufficiently rare by - • the scientific community to qualify for such listing. Species. A taxonomic level; a group of organisms that resemble one another in appearance, general behavior, ecological niche, chemical makeup and processes, and genetic structure. Organisms that reproduce sexually are classified as members of the same species only if they can actually or potentially interbreed with one another and produce fertile offspring. Study area. Geographic area studied by the Strategy. Succession. The change in the composition and structure of a biological community overtime. Successional patterns often shift dramatically following a major disturbance (e.g.,fire,flood, anthropogenic clearing of land). Suitable habitat. Habitat that exhibits the characteristics necessary to support a given species. Take. According to the federal Endangered Species Act (16 USC 1532 [19]), take means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt,shoot,wound, kill,trap,capture,or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct. According to California Fish and Game Code (Cal. Fish & Game Code Section 86), take means to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or to attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture,or kill. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy C-14 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Appendix C Glossary • • Threatened species. A native species,subspecies, variety, or distinct population segment (DPS) of an organism that, although not presently threatened with extinction, is likely to become an endangered species in the foreseeable future throughout all of a significant portion of its range (16 USC 1532 [5], Cal. Fish & Game Code Section 2067). Unoccupied habitat. Habitat that exhibits all the constituent elements necessary for a species, but which surveys have determined is not currently occupied by that species. The lack of individuals or populations in the habitat is assumed to be the result of reduced numbers or distribution of the species such that some habitat areas are unused. It is expected that these areas would be used if species numbers or distribution were greater. See also suitable habitat. Urban growth boundary(UGB). An officially adopted and mapped line dividing land to be developed from land to be protected for natural or rural uses, including agriculture. UGBs are regulatory tools, often designated for 20 or more years to provide greater certainty for both development and conservation goals. Urban service area. The area within a city's sphere of influence where utilities such as gas,water, sewer, and electricity, and public services such as police,fire, schools, and parks and recreation are and will be provided. Vernal Pools. Vernal pools are land depressions that are covered by shallow • water for variable periods from winter to spring, but may be completely dry for most of the summer and fall. These wetlands range in size from small puddles to shallow lakes and are usually found in a gently sloping plain of grassland. Although generally isolated,they are sometimes connected to each other by small drainages known as vernal swales. Beneath vernal pools lies either bedrock or a hard clay layer in the soil that helps keep water in the pool. • Wetland. An area inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency sufficient to support vegetation types adapted to wet soil conditions. Note that within the study area, presence of wetland soils, vegetation, or wetted area is generally sufficient to characterize an area as a wetland. Wetlands in the study area include vernal pools, ponds, streams and marshes. Wildland-urban interface, The area where structures and other human development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland (University of Wisconsin n.d;). Wildlife Corridor. A natural corridor,such as an undeveloped ravine, a creek or a habitat area,that is frequently used by wildlife to travel from one area to another. Xeric. Dry or desert-like. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy C-15 October 2010 ICE 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts Appendix D Species Accounts Table of Contents San Joaquin Spearscale(Atriplex joaquiniana) 1 Recurved Larkspur(Delphinium recurvatum) 4 Big Tarplant(Blepharizonia plumosa) 6 Congdon's Tarplant(Centromadia parryi ssp. congdonii) 8 Palmate-bracted bird's-beak(Cordylanthus palmatus) 10 Livermore tarplant(Deinandra bacigalupii) 11 Longhorn Fairy Shrimp 12 Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp 15 Callippe Silverspot Butterfly 18 California Tiger Salamander 21 California Red-Legged Frog 25 Foothill yellow-legged frog 28 Alameda Whipsnake 31 Central California Coast Steelhead 34 Golden Eagle 37 Tricolored Blackbird 40 Burrowing Owl 44 American Badger 47 San Joaquin Kit Fox 50 San Joaquin Spearscale (Atriplex joaquiniana) Distribution San Joaquin spearscale occurs along the western side of the Great Valley from Glenn County to Merced County and in the small valleys of the inner Coast Ranges, including the Livermore Valley. It occurs in the broad flood basins of the valley floor and on alluvial fans associated with the major streams draining from the inner Coast Ranges foothills. It is generally found at low elevations, but has been collected up to 1,055 feet above sea level. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-1 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • Occurrences within the Study Area There are 12 documented occurrences of San Joaquin spearscale in the study • area. All are presumed extant and occur north of 1-580.These documented populations range in size from several hundred individual plants to several thousand. Concentrations occur in alkaline drainages off of Dolan Road north of Livermore and in Springtown Preserve.There are two populations near the junction of Dyer Road and Altamont Pass Road and one occurrence in the northeastern corner of the study area, east of Mountain House Road near the Delta Mendota Canal (CNDDB 2009). Ecology San Joaquin spearscale typically occurs in alkali grassland and alkali meadow,or on the margins of alkali scrub. It blooms from April through October and occurs on clay soils, often in areas of high alkalinity. Species Associated with San Joaquin spearscale Allenrolfea occidentalis iodine bush Atriplex coronata crownscale • Atriplex depressa brittlescale Centromadia pungens common spikeweed Cordylanthus palmatus palmate bird's-beak Distichlis spicata saltgrass Frankenia saline alkali heath Hordeum depressum low barley Hordeum morinum ssp.gussoneonum Mediterranean barley Lolium multiflorum Italian ryegrass Nitrophila occidentalis western niterwort Salicornio subterminalis Parish's pickleweed Spergularia macrotheca large-flowered sand-spurry Suaeda moquinii - bush seepweed Threats San Joaquin spearscale is a CNPS List 18.2 species, considered fairly endangered in California(GNPS 2009). The principal threat to San Joaquin spearscale has been the historic conversion of much of the alkali grassland to agriculture. • Present threats include habitat conversion to urban use, overgrazing, invasive East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-2 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Appendix D Species Accounts • annual species,and impacts associated with road and utility line construction and maintenance (CNDDB 2009). Modeled Habitat Distribution in Study Area Model Assumptions The San Joaquin spearscale habitat model includes the following land covers types: alkali meadow and scald and alkali wetland. The model also includes other areas with alkaline soils and is restricted to elevations below 1,055 feet. Model Results Figure D-1 in Appendix D shows the modeled potential habitat for San Joaquin spearscale within the study area.The number of known occurrences is sufficient to verify model results and the modeled habitat predicts 9 of the 12 known populations. The model's extent is restricted to the northern portion of the study area where alkaline soils are present. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-3 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • • Appendix D Species Accounts • • Recurved Larkspur (Delphinium recurvatum) Distribution Historically, recurved larkspur was widely distributed in California's Great Valley, ranging from Butte County to Kern County. Most of the remaining occurrences are in Kern,Tulare, and San Luis Obispo Counties. The species now appears to be very rare outside the southern San Joaquin Valley (CNDDB 2009). • Occurrences within the Study Area One occurrence of recurved larkspur has been documented in the north east corner of the study area. It is located on the west side of Burns Road about 0.6 • miles north of Kelso Road,just south of the Contra Costa/Alameda County line. Ecology Recurved larkspur occurs on sandy or clay alkaline soils, generally in annual grasslands or in association with saltbush scrub or valley sink scrub habitats, • ranging in elevation from 100 to 2,000 feet above sea level (CNDDB 2009). It blooms from March through May (CNPS 2009). Species Associated with Recurved Larkspur Atriplex polycarpa allscale Atriplex spinifer° spinescale Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens red brome Centromadia pungens common spikeweed Distichlis spicata saltgrass Erodium cicutarium red filaree Frankenia salina alkali heath Isocoma acradenia var. bracteosa alkali goldenbush Lasthenia californica California goldfields Sporobolus airoides alkali sacaton • Suaeda moquinii bush seepweed • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-4 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • • Threats Recurved larkspur is a CNPS List 1B.2 species, considered fairly endangered in California (CNPS 2009). The principal threat to this species has been the historic conversion of much of the alkali habitat of the Great Valley to agriculture. At present, the primary threat to recurved larkspur is overgrazing. Other threats include road and utility line construction, which in turn increase competition from invasive plants (CNDDB 2009). Modeled Habitat Distribution in Study Area Model Assumptions The recurved larkspur habitat model contains the following parameters: annual grassland land cover, elevation from 100-2,000 feet, sandy or clay alkaline soils. Additionally, potential habitat was restricted to areas east of the Diablo Range crest. Model Results Figure D-2 in Appendix D shows the modeled potential habitat for recurved larkspur as being very restricted within the study area. The model predicted • several very small areas of potential habitat in the northeast corner of the study area. The predicted habitat does not include the one occurrence of recurved larkspur just south of the Alameda/Contra Costa County line. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-5 October 2010 • ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • . Big Tarplant (Blepharizonia plumosa) Distribution .Big tarplant is endemic to California and is found primarily in eastern Contra Costa, eastern Alameda, and western San Joaquin Counties; with smaller populations in Stanislaus and Solano Counties (Hoover 1937, CNDDB 2009). Occurrences within the Study Area Six occurrence of big tarplant are known within the study area (CNDDB 2009). One occurrence is located along the eastern edge of the study area between Midway Road and a power substation. The other five occurrences are clustered along Tesla Rd between Livermore and Tracy in the Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area. Ecology Big tarplant occurs in annual grassland on clay to clay-loam soils, usually on • slopes and often in burned areas, below 1,500 feet (CNDDB 2009). Seedlings appear in early spring, but the plants do not begin to bloom until mid-summer. The blooming period, during which the plants produce many heads with white flowers, generally occurs between July-October. Two species of big tarplant are present in the study area: big tarplant and viscid big tarplant (Blepharizonia laxa). Viscid big tarplant is the more widely distributed species, ranging throughout most of the south Coast Ranges and reaching its northern limit in Contra Costa County,just north of the study area. The two species, which often occur in adjacent populations, can be differentiated by their branching patterns, the amount and color of the simple and glandular hairs on the stems and leaves, the chemical compounds produced by the glands, and by genetic markers (Hickman 1993, Baldwin et al. 2001, Preston pers. comm.). The two species can hybridize, but the hybrids are infertile (Baldwin et al. 2001). Species Associated with Big Tarplant • Avena species wild oats Bromus species brome grasses Epilobium brachycorpum panicled willow-herb Eriogonum ongulosum angle-stemmed wild buckwheat • Eriogonum gracile slender woolly wild buckwheat East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-6 October2010 ICF 00906.08 • Appendix D Species Accounts • Species Associated with Big Tarplant Grindelia camporum Great Valley gumplant Holocorpho obconico San Joaquin tarplant Holocarpha virgato virgate tarplant Logophyllo ramosissima common hareleaf Lolium multiflorum Italian ryegrass Nossella pulchro purple needlegrass Threats Big tarplant occurs in only a few highly restricted populations and is considered seriously endangered in California (CNPS List 1B.1) (CNPS 2009). The primary threat to big tarplant has been habitat loss from conversion to urban development and lack of disturbance in areas where natural processes are restricted. Ground disturbance and erosion caused by cattle grazing and competition from invasive exotics such as yellow star-thistle (Centaurea solstitialis) may also pose a threat to populations (CNDDB 2009). Modeled Habitat Distribution in Study Area Model Assumptions The big tarplant habitat model includes the following parameters: annual grassland land cover,soils consisting of clay and clay loam, elevations up to 1,827 feet, and on slopes of 10-31 degrees. The model restricts habitat to those areas within the Diablo Range that are underlain by Great Valley Sequence - geologic landforms. • Model Results • Figure D-3 in Appendix D shows the modeled potential habitat for big tarplant within the study area. Potential habitat is restricted to areas in the Diablo Range with parent material from the Great Valley Sequence (Bartosh pers. comm.). . Known occurrences are generally within the vicinity of predicted habitat. The exception is the population along Midway Road near the Alameda/San Joaquin County line, which does not fall within the modeled habitat. The small number of clustered occurrence in the study area is not sufficient to provide a high level of confidence in the model results. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-7 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • Congdon's Tarplant (Centromadia parryi ssp. congdonii) • Distribution Congdon's tarplant is known from East San Francisco Bay Area, Salinas Valley, and Los Osos Valley. Occurrences within the Study Area Seven occurrences have been documented in the northern portion of the study area (CNDDB 2009). These include populations that have been recorded at: Camp Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (10,000 indivuals reported in 2003) along Tassajara Road north of Livermore (4000+ plants and 9600 plants observed at two locations in 1998),east of Livermore along North Livermore Road (370,000 plants observed in 1998), and along the Contra Costa/Alameda County line along Collier Canyon Road (321,000 plants observed in 1998) (CNDDB 2009). r • Ecology Congdon's tarplant blooms from May through October and occurs in annual grassland on lower slopes,flats, and swales below 800 feet. This species can be associated with alkaline or saline soils. Hybridization with the subspecies Centromadia parryi ssp.rudis was reported on 1998 survey forms for the North Livermore Road population (CNDDB 2009). Threats Congdon's tarplant is a CNPS List 1B.2 species that is considered fairly endangered in California. The species is severely threatened by development in most areas, including road widening that accompany development (CNDDB 2009). In other more natural settings mowing or heavy grazing can impact this species,though it has been documented in areas where both mowing and grazing occur.The biggest threat is the loss of natural disturbance in areas where natural processes are restricted. The allows annual invasive species to outcompete this species. • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-8 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • Modeled Habitat Distribution in Study Area • Model Assumptions The Congdon's tarplant habitat model parameters include the annual grassland land cover and clay, clay loam, and silty clay loam soils. Additionally, model habitat was restricted to areas west of the Diablo Range crest to better fit the known extent of occurrence data from Alameda County. Model Results Figure D-4 in Appendix D shows the modeled potential habitat for Congdon's tarplant within the study area. Predicted habitat is scattered in the Livermore and Amador Valley areas. The number of known occurrences is sufficient to verify model results. Five of the seven occurrences fall within modeled habitat for this species. • • • • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-9 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Appendix D Species Accounts • Palmate-bracted bird's-beak (Cordylanthus palmatus) Distribution The Palmate-bracted bird's-beak is state and federally endangered. Palmate- bracted bird's-beak is known from scattered locations in the Central Valley from Colusa County to Fresno County.There is a lone population in the Springtown Preserve north of Livermore. Occurrences within the Study Area One occurrence of Palmate-bracted bird's-beak has been reported in the study area, located northeast of Livermore in the Springtown Preserve. This population has been surveyed repeatedly over the last 20 years.The population has varied in size from 9,000 plants in 1990 to nearly 53,000 in 1997 (CNDDB 2009). Ecology • Palmate-bracted bird's-beak is associated with alkaline sites in grassland and chenopod scrub from 10-500 feet elevation. This species blooms from.May through October. Seeds are dispersed by water, making the local hydrology very important to the extent of a population. Threats Palmate-bracted bird's-beak is listed as endangered both at the federal and state level. It is a CNPS List 1B.1 species and is seriously endangered in California. This species is threatened by agriculture, grazing, urbanization and development, unauthorized off-road vehicle use, and altered hydrology. Non- native annual grasses are becoming a threat to this species. Targeted grazing programs or other forms of non-native grass control may be beneficial at abating this threat. Modeled Habitat Distribution in Study Area This species not modeled due to low number of occurrences in the study area and the known occurrences being well documented in Springtown Alkali Preserve. • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-10 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • • Appendix D Species Accounts • Livermore tarplant (Deinandra bacigalupii) Distribution Livermore tarplant is endemic to California and know from three occurrences, all near Livermore, Alameda County. Occurrences within the Study Area All three occurrences of Livermore tarplant are known within the study area, located northeast of Livermore in the foothills of the Diablo Range. Two of those populations are located just south of 1-580 between the junction of Greenville Road and Las Positas Road and Hawthorne Road. These two populations are just east of Greenville Road. The third population is located near the intersection of Ames Street and Raymond Road north of Livermore. Ecology Livermore tarplant blooms from June through October and occurs in seeps-and meadows, often associated with alkali meadows at 500-600 feet in elevation. • Threats This species is a CNPS List 1B.2 species and is considered fairly endangered in California. This species is threatened by development including road widening that could occur as the result of development pressure. Modeled Habitat Distribution in Study Area This species not modeled due to low number of occurrences throughout the species range and the known extent of populations within the study area. • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-11 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • • Longhorn Fairy Shrimp Distribution The longhorn fairy shrimp is federally listed as endangered and is extremely rare. It is known to occur in alkali sink and scrub plant communities.The four known populations of longhorn fairy shrimp include areas within the Carrizo Plain National Monument, San Luis Obispo County; areas within San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex; areas within the Brushy Peak Regional Preserve,Alameda County, and areas within the Vasco Caves Preserve, near the town of Byron in Contra Costa County (USFWS 2007a). Three of the four populations are found within public lands that are protected and managed for vernal pool species (USFWS 2007a). The Livermore Vernal Pool Region is listed as a core recovery area (USFWS 2007a). Occurrences within the Study Area The species is known to occur at one location within the Conservation Strategy study area (Brushy Peak Regional Preserve) (USFWS 2007a). Critical habitat has been designated for the species within the study area (U.S. Fish and Wildlife • Service 2006). Brushy Peak Regional Preserve is owned by the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District and managed by EBRPD. All of the known localities of this species in the study area are within this preserve, which is currently protected (USFWS 2007a). Ecology Longhorn fairy shrimp occurrences are rare and highly disjunct with specific pool characteristics largely unknown (USFWS 2003).Typical habitat for listed fairy shrimp in California include vernal pools,seasonally ponded areas within vernal swales, ephemeral freshwater habitats and artificial habitats (railroad toe- drains, roadside ditches, abandoned agricultural drains, ruts left by heavy construction vehicles, and depressions in firebreaks) (Eng et al. 1990, USFWS 2003). Habitat for longhorn fairy shrimp in Alameda County is primarily in water pooled in sandstone depressions. Vernal pools in other parts of California that support these fairy shrimp are either loam and sandy loam or shallow, alkaline pools (USFWS 1994). The seasonal pool habitat is subject to seasonal variations, and it is thought that longhorn fairy shrimp are dependent on the ecological. characteristics of those variations. These characteristics include duration of inundation and presence or absence of water at specific times of the year(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1994). The longhorn fairy shrimp is capable of living in • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 0-12 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • vernal pools of relatively short duration (pond 6 to 7 weeks in winter and 3 weeks in spring) (Eriksen and Belk 1999). Longhorn fairy shrimp are omnivorous filter-feeders (Eriksen and Belk 1999). They are a component of the planktonic crustacea within seasonal temporary pools and can occur in densities as high as 200 per liter of water(Eriksen and Belk 1990). Predator consumption of fairy shrimp cysts (resting eggs) aids in distributing populations. Predators expel viable cysts in their excrement, often at locations other than where they were consumed (Wissinger et al. 1999). If conditions are suitable,these transported cysts may hatch at the new location and potentially establish a new population. Cysts can also be transported in mud carried on the feet of animals, including livestock that may wade through their habitat (Eriksen and Belk 1999). Beyond inundation of the habitat,the specific cues for hatching are largely unknown (Eriksen and Belk 1999), although temperature is believed to play a role. Longhorn fairy shrimp have been reported to co-occur with the vernal pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi),throughout its range. Threats Longhorn fairy shrimp are threatened by the same activities as other vernal pool • invertebrates. These threats include the conversion of vernal pool habitat to agricultural lands and urban development, and extinction due to the small and isolated nature of remaining populations (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1994). The limited and disjunct distribution of vernal pools, coupled with the even more limited distribution of the longhorn fairy shrimp, means that any reduction in vernal pool habitat could adversely affect this species. Recolonization opportunities are diminished when physical barriers, such as development or lack of vernal pool habitat, isolate populations from one another or inhibit transport of cysts. Isolated populations could be more susceptible to inbreeding depression, which can result in local extinction or reduced fitness (Gilpin and Soule 1986, Goodman 1987). However, this has never been demonstrated for branchiopod crustaceans. Activities that alter the suitability of vernal pool habitat could impact the special-status crustaceans that depend on them. These activities include damaging the impermeable clay and/or hardpan layers of the habitat bottom, filling in the habitat, altering(e.g. through contaminants) or destroying the watershed that conveys overland flow into the habitat. Additionally, introduction of non-native plants, destruction or degradation of the surrounding upland habitat, introduction of fish (such as Gambusia spp.) into special-status shrimp habitats, and activities that would discourage or prevent waterfowl and waders from feeding at occupied habitats and thereby restrict gene-flow • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-13 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Appendix D Species Accounts • between populations would also significantly affect longhorn fairy shrimp populations. Modeled Habitat Distribution in Study Area Model Assumptions The longhorn fairy shrimp habitat model includes all seasonal wetlands and rock outcrops that were identified within the study area. Data from vernal pool surveys (Holland 1996), and critical habitat were also include in the map to capture the likely extent of the species distribution in east Alameda County. Model Results Figure D-5 in Appendix D shows.the modeled potential habitat for the longhorn fairy shrimp within the study area. In addition to its presence at Brushy Peak • Regional Preserve,there is one CNDDB occurrence for the species.The number of known occurrences is not sufficient to verify model results.The model's extent is restricted to the northern, central portion of the study area where rock outcrop formations are prevalent. Due to the ephemeral nature of vernal pool habitats it is likely that the model underestimates potential habitat in the study • area. During wet years habitat for vernal pool species would be more extensive than in dry years. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-14 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp Distribution • The vernal pool fairy shrimp is federally listed as threatened.The vernal pool fairy shrimp is found from southern Oregon to southern California, throughout the Central Valley, and west to the central Coast Ranges. Disjunct populations occur in San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, and Riverside County. This species has been observed in the eastern portions of Alameda County (Eriksen and Belk 1999). In 1996,the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported that there were 32 known populations of the vernal pool fairy shrimp. The Livermore Vernal Pool Region straddles Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara Counties, extending into southwestern San Joaquin County (USFWS 2007b). There are 12 occurrences of vernal pool fairy shrimp in the Livermore Vernal Pool Region: eight in the Altamont Hills core area, four of which are in areas planned for development (USFWS 2007b).The core recovery area includes portions of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve,which is inside of the EACCS study area (USFWS 2007b). • Occurrences within the Study Area • There are three CNDDB occurrence records for this species in the study area: at the Springtown Natural Communities Reserve near Livermore, in an alkali sink containing vernal pools; in a seasonal wetland with an annual grassland upland, north of interstate 580 near Livermore; and south of Frick Lake, in a heavily grazed pasture (CNDDB 2009). Vernal pool fairy shrimp may also be found elsewhere throughout the study area in vernal pool habitats. The lack of data points could be due to a lack of survey effort. Ecology This species is usually associated with vernal pools, but can also be found in • association with other ephemeral habitats including alkali pools, seasonal drainages, stock ponds, vernal swales, rock outcrops and artificially created ephemeral habitats (railroad toe-drains, roadside ditches, abandoned agricultural drains, ruts left by heavy construction vehicles, and depressions in firebreaks) (Eng et al. 1990,Vollmar 2002). Vernal pools are subject to seasonal variations, and vernal pool fairy shrimp are dependent on the ecological characteristics of those variations. These characteristics include duration of inundation and presence or absence of water at specific times of the year(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1994). The vernal pool fairy shrimp is capable of living in Central Valley vernal pools of relatively • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-15 October 2010 tCF 00906.08 Appendix D • Species Accounts • short duration (pond 6 to 7 weeks in winter and 3 weeks in spring) (Eriksen and Belk 1999). Other factors contributing to the suitability of pools for vernal pool fairy shrimp include alkalinity 22 to 274 ppm (parts per million),total dissolved solids (TDS) (48 to 481 ppm), and pH (6.3 to 8.5) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1994; Eriksen and Belk 1999). Water in pools occupied by vernal pool fairy shrimp typically has low conductivity and chloride (USFWS 1994). Vernal pool fairy shrimp have been found in pools ranging from 0.05 acre to 0.1 acre but occur more frequently in small, deep pools (Eriksen and Belk 1999). Vernal pool fairy shrimp are omnivorous filter-feeders. Fairy shrimp indiscriminately filter particles from the surrounding water,including bacteria,unicellular algae, and micrometazoa (Eriksen and Belk 1999). Like the longhorn fairy shrimp, vernal pool fairy shrimp are a component of the planktonic crustacea within seasonal temporary pools and can occur in densities as high as 200 per liter of water. Predator consumption of fairy shrimp cysts (resting eggs) aids in distributing populations of fairy shrimp. Predators expel viable cysts in their excrement, often at locations other than where they were consumed (e.g. Wissinger et al. 1999). If conditions are suitable,these transported cysts may hatch at the new location and potentially establish a new population. Cysts can also be transported in mud carried on the feet of animals, including livestock,that may wade through the habitat(USFWS 2007b). • Beyond inundation of the habitat, the specific cues for hatching are unknown (Eriksen and Belk 1999), although temperature is believed to play a large role. Typically, midvalley fairy shrimp mature in about 16 days when water temperatures reach at least 20 degrees Celsius (Eriksen and Belk 1999). Vernal pool fairy shrimp commonly co-occur with the California Inderiella (Linderiella occidentalis) and has also been reported co-occurring with the midvalley pool fairy shrimp(Branchinecta mesovallensis) (Eriksen and Belk 1999). In most cases, the vernal pool fairy shrimp does not co-occur with other fairy shrimp species and is not numerically dominant when other fairy shrimp species are present (Eng et al. 1990). • Threats • Vernal pool fairy shrimp are threatened by the same activities as other vernal pool invertebrates. These threats include the conversion of vernal pool habitat to agricultural lands and urban development, and stochastic extinction because of the small and isolated nature of remaining populations (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1994). The limited and disjunct distribution of vernal pools, coupled with the even more limited distribution of the vernal pool fairy shrimp, means that any reduction in vernal pool habitat quantity could adversely affect this . species. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy 0-16 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • Recolonization opportunities are diminished when physical barriers, such as development or lack of vernal pool habitat, isolate populations from one another or inhibit transport of cysts. Isolated populations could be more susceptible to inbreeding depression, which can result in local extinction or reduced fitness (Gilpin and Soule 1986, Goodman 1987). However, this has never been demonstrated for branchiopod crustaceans. Activities that alter the suitability of vernal pool habitat may impact the special- status crustaceans dependent on those habitats. These activities include damaging the impermeable clay and for hardpan layers of the habitat bottom, filling in the habitat, and altering (e.g. through contaminants) or destroying the watershed that conveys overland flow into the habitat. Additionally, introduction of non-native plants, destruction or degradation of the surrounding upland habitat, introduction of fish (such as Gambusia spp.) into special-status shrimp habitats, and activities that would discourage or prevent waterfowl and waders from feeding at occupied habitats and thereby restrict gene flow between populations would also significantly affect mid-valley fairy shrimp populations. Modeled Habitat Distribution in Study Area Model Assumptions The vernal pool fairy shrimp habitat model includes all seasonal wetlands that were identified within the study area. Vernal pools and other suitable microhabitats occur at too small a scale to be mapped in the area (e.g., vernal pools are subsumed within "seasonal wetlands"). However, data from vernal pool surveys (Holland 1996), critical habitat and core recovery areas listed in the USFWS recovery plan were added to the potential habitat figure (Figure D-6) for vernal pool fairy shrimp. Model Results Figure D-6 in Appendix D shows the modeled potential habitat for the vernal pool fairy shrimp within the study area.The modeled potential habitat for the vernal pool fairy shrimp can be found in Appendix D. The model fits the known occurrences from the CNDDB well, in Alameda County. Due to the ephemeral nature of vernal pool habitats it is likely that the model underestimates potential habitat in the study area. During wet years habitat for vernal pool species would be more extensive than in dry years. • • • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-17 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • Callippe Silverspot Butterfly • Distribution • The Callippe silverspot is federally listed as endangered. The Callippe silverspot (Speyeria callippe callippe) is endemic to the San Francisco Bay area and is best known from San Bruno Mountain in San Mateo County. Historically, populations occurred on the west side of San Francisco Bay from Twin Peaks in San Francisco to the vicinity of La Honda in San Mateo County (Arnold 2008). In the East Bay, populations were known from northwestern Contra Costa County southward to the Castro Valley area of Alameda County (Arnold 2008). Additional populations of the species S. callippe occur in the Sky Valley-Lake Herman area of southern Solano County and in the north central and northeastern portions of Alameda County (Arnold 1981; Murphy and Weiss 1990). Since 1988, callippe silverspot butterflies have been recorded at San Bruno Mountain and Sign Hill near South San Francisco (San Mateo County), in the hills near Pleasanton (Alameda County), at Sears Point(Sonoma County), and in the hills between Vallejo and Cordelia (USFWS online 02/09/09). Currently the only population known on the San Francisco Peninsula is at San Bruno Mountain, while populations in the East Bay are limited to southern • Solano County and the Pleasanton-Sunol areas (Arnold 1981). A closely related subspecies,S. callippe comstocki, is difficult to distinguish from S. callippe callippe and is known to occur in the San Francisco Bay area. Critical habitat for the Callippe silverspot,designated July, 1978.There is no designated critical habitat in the study area (78 CFR 28938-28945). There are no CNDDB occurrences in the study area (CNDDB 2009), but there have been records in the hills near Pleasanton (USFWS online 02/09/09) Ecology The callippe silverspot butterfly occurs in grasslands where its sole larval food plant,johnny jump-up (Viola pedunculoto), grows. It has been observed in both . grazed and ungrazed grasslands. The callippe silverspot butterfly occurs in hilly terrain with a mixture of topographic relief. Adults will visit the margins of oak woodlands and riparian areas in search of nectar, as well as disturbed areas if favored nectar plants grow there (Arnold 1981). The three primary habitat requirements of the callippe silverspot butterfly are: e grasslands supporting its larval food plants; • hilltops near suitable habitat for mate location; and • nectar plants,which can occur in grasslands or nearby oak woodlands, • riparian areas, or disturbed areas. East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-18 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • Because the butterfly has been observed flying distances of approximately 1 mile (Thomas Reid Associates 1981), these three habitat features do not necessarily have to be adjacent to each other. The adult flight season is about 6 to 8 weeks in length, starting in mid-May and terminating in mid-July. When available, the adult silverspot feed on nectar plants including mints, especially Monardella, and thistles,such as Silybum, Carduus, and Cirsium, and buckeyes (Aesculus) (Arnold 1981). Adults tend to congregate on hilltops, a behavior known as hilltopping,where they search for potential mates. • Because the leaves of Viola pedunculata are typically dry by the start of the adult flight season, females frequently lay their eggs in or near areas where Viola grows. For this reason, newly hatched larvae do not feed before they find a suitable diapause location. When Viola sprouts during the following winter, the larvae have to search for the food plant. Also, developing larvae usually feed at night, but crawl off of the food plant and hide nearby during the daytime. Thus, short distance dispersal, probably on the order of tens of feet, occurs routinely during the larval stage. Threats Loss and alteration of habitat, primarily through urbanization and habitat • degradation by non-native plants, are some of the factors contributing to the decline of the callippe silverspot butterfly in the study area. Overgrazing can be detrimental, but properly managed grazing can enhance grassland habitat by preventing other species from outcompeting host plants (USFWS 1997). Increased frequency of fire may also be detrimental, but this impact would require further study. Other threats include trampling by hikers, bikers and equestrians (Arnold 1981). Dust from quarrying operations has been reported as . a threat to the species, because abundant dust could clog the spiracles of larvae and adults; interfering with their respiration (USFWS 1997). Callippe silverspot butterflies are also very sensitive to pesticide use. Modeled Habitat Distribution in Study Area Model Assumptions The potential habitat model shown in Figure D-7 includes all native and annual grassland habitats within its historic range, which includes the Pleasanton- Sunol-Castro Valley areas of Alameda County (Arnold 2004).The range was extended to the edge of eastern Livermore to account for potential habitat that has been previously unsurveyed. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-19 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • Model Results Figure D-7 in Appendix D shows the modeled potential habitat for the Callippe silverspot butterfly based on suitable grassland habitat and previously published ranges. Since there are no occurrence data to corroborate this model, any potential habitat shown would need to be surveyed for the presence of host plants,first, and then for the presence of the butterfly to determine whether an area provides habitat for the species. • • • • • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-20 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • California Tiger Salamander Distribution The California tiger salamander is divided into three distinct population segments (DPS) and each has a separate designation under the federal ESA. The Sonoma DPS and Santa Barbara DPS are listed as federally endangered. The Central California DPS (which overlaps with the study area) is federally threatened.The California tiger salamander is also state listed as threatened (50 CFR 47212-47248,August 4, 2004) (California Department of Fish and Game, February 5, 2009). The California tiger salamander is endemic to California. Historically,the California tiger salamander probably occurred in grassland habitats throughout much of the state. Although this species still occurs within much of its historic range, it has been extirpated from many areas it once occupied (Fisher and Shaffer 1996, Stebbins 1995). The loss of California tiger salamander populations has been primarily due to habitat loss within their historic range (Fisher and Shaffer 1996). Based on genetic analysis,there are six populations of California tiger • salamanders, distributed as follows: (1)Santa Rosa area of Sonoma County, (2) Bay Area (central and southern Alameda, Santa Clara, western Stanislaus, western Merced, and the majority of San Benito counties), (3) Central Valley (Yolo, Sacramento,Solano, eastern Contra Costa, northeast Alameda, San Joaquin,Stanislaus, Merced, and northwestern Madera counties), (4) southern San Joaquin Valley (portions of Madera, central Fresno, and northern Tulare and Kings counties), (5) Central Coast range(southern Santa Cruz, Monterey, northern San Luis Obispo, and portions of western San Benito, Fresno, and Kern counties), and (6) Santa Barbara County (Shaffer and Trenham 2005). Most populations occur at elevations below 1,500 feet, but California tiger salamanders have been recorded at elevations up to 3,660 feet (Trenham pers. comm.). Although populations have declined, the species continues to breed at a large number of locations within its current range (59 FR 4 18353-18354,April 18, 1994). At most historic breeding sites below 200 feet elevation, ponds remain present but are typically occupied by non-native species and no longer support California tiger salamanders (Fisher and Shaffer 1996). Occurrence in Study Area There are 136 occurrences within the study area on both private and public lands(EBRPD, Carnegie SVRA, SFPUC watershed lands, Lawrence Livermore Laboratories) (CNDDB 2009). Occurrences on EBRPD land include Frick Lake, Del Valle Reservoir,Sunol Regional Wilderness, Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-21 October 2010 • ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • (Bobzien and DiDonato 2007). Critical habitat (CV-18) has been designated within the study area, north of Livermore (70 FR 49379-49458; August 23, 2005). Ecology California tiger salamanders require two major habitat components: aquatic breeding sites and terrestrial upland sites. California tiger salamanders inhabit valley and foothill grasslands and the grassy understory of open woodlands, usually within one mile of water(Jennings and Hayes 1994). Following metamorphosis California tiger salamanders are terrestrial animals that spend most of their time underground in subterranean refuge sites. Underground • retreats are usually California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beechyii) or pocket gopher(Thomomys bottae) burrows and, occasionally, human-made structures. Adults emerge from underground to breed, but only for brief periods during the year. California tiger salamanders breed and lay their eggs primarily in vernal • pools and other ephemeral ponds that fill in winter and often dry out by summer(Loredo et al. 1996);they sometimes use permanent human-made ponds (e.g., stock ponds), reservoirs, and small lakes that do not support predatory fish or bullfrogs (Stebbins 1995,Zeiner et al. 1988). Streams are rarely used for reproduction. • Adult salamanders migrate from upland habitats to aquatic breeding sites during the first major rainfall events of early winter and return to upland habitats after breeding. This species requires small-mammal burrows for cover • during the non-breeding season and during migration to and from aquatic breeding sites (Zeiner et al. 1988). California tiger salamanders also use logs, piles of lumber, and shrink-swell cracks in the ground for cover(Holland et al. 1990). California tiger salamanders have been documented up to 1.3 miles from their breeding sites (Jennings and Hayes 1994; USFWS 2004,Trenham and Shaffer 2005). The California tiger salamander is particularly sensitive to the duration of ponding in aquatic breeding sites. Because at least 10 weeks are required to complete metamorphosis, aquatic sites that are considered suitable for breeding should retain water for a minimum of 10 weeks;these tend to be larger pools. Large vernal pool complexes, rather than isolated pools, probably • offer the best quality habitat;these areas can support a mixture of aquatice breeding sites and nearby upland refuge sites (Shaffer et al. 1994,Jennings and • Hayes 1994). • Aquatic larvae feed on algae, small crustaceans, and small mosquito larvae for about six weeks after hatching(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2000a). Larger larvae feed on zooplankton, amphipods, mollusks, and smaller tadpoles of Pacific treefrogs (Pseudacris regilla), California red-legged frogs(Rana aurora • draytoni), western toads (Bufo boreal) and spadefoot toads (Spea spp.) (Zeiner East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-22 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • et al. 1988, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2000a). Adults eat earthworms, snails, insects, fish, and small mammals (Stebbins 1972). Dispersal of juveniles from natal ponds to underground refuge sites could occur throughout the year. While juveniles will move short distances from breeding ponds once they start to dry up in the late spring and summer, longer distances from breeding ponds are attained during rainy periods. California tiger salamander larvae and embryos are susceptible to predation by fish, herons and egrets, bullfrogs, and possibly garter snakes (Shaffer and Fisher 1991, Shaffer and Stanley 1992,Shaffer et al. 1993, Shaffer et al. 1994). Because of their secretive behavior and limited periods above ground, adult California tiger salamanders have few predators (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2000a). Threats California tiger salamander populations have declined as a result of two primary factors: widespread habitat loss and habitat fragmentation. Residential development and land use changes in the California tiger salamander's range have removed or fragmented vernal pool complexes, eliminated refuge sites adjacent to breeding areas, and reduced habitat suitability for the species over much of the Central Valley(Barry and Shaffer 1994,Jennings and Hayes 1994). • Grading activities have probably also eliminated large numbers of salamanders directly(Barry and Shaffer 1994). Non-native species (bullfrogs, Louisiana red swamp crayfish, and non-native fishes (mosquitofish, bass, and sunfish)) prey on tiger salamander larvae and may eliminate larval populations from breeding sites (Jennings and Hayes 1994; • USFWS 2000). Rodent control through destruction of burrows and release of toxic chemicals into burrows can cause direct mortality to individual salamanders and may result in a decrease of available habitat (USFWS 2000a). Vehicular-related mortality is an important threat to California tiger salamander populations (Barry and Shaffer 1994,Jennings and Hayes 1994). California tiger salamanders readily attempt to cross roads during migration, and roads that sustain heavy vehicle traffic or barriers that impede seasonal migrations may have impacted tiger salamander populations in some areas (Shaffer and Fisher 1991, Shaffer and Stanley 1992, Barry and Shaffer 1994). Hybridization between California tiger salamander and an introduced congener,A. tigrinum, has been documented and may be extensive (Riley et al. 2003). • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-23 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • Modeled Habitat Distribution in Study Area Model Assumptions California tiger salamanders require two major habitat components: aquatic breeding sites and upland or refuge sites. 1. Breeding and Foraging Potential breeding habitat within the study area is assumed to be all ponds, perennial freshwater marshes, alkali wetlands and seasonal wetlands within riparian,grassland, oak woodland, and conifer woodland land cover types, up to 3,660 feet in elevation. This species sometimes use permanent human-made ponds (e.g., stock ponds), reservoirs,and small lakes that do not support predatory fish or bullfrogs (Zeiner et al. 1988). Streams are rarely used for reproduction. 2. Upland Refuge Sites and Dispersal Habitat • Upland habitats that provide subterranean refuge sites for this species are assumed to be within 1.3 miles of primary habitat (USFWS 2004) in grassland, chaparral and coastal scrub, oak woodland, riparian forest/scrub, riparian forest/woodland wetlands, conifer woodlands, and agricultural areas, except for urban, rural, residential, landfill and canal/aqueduct cover types. Model Results Figure D-8 in Appendix D shows the modeled potential habitat for the California tiger salamander within the plan area. The model output designates breeding habitat and bases upland and dispersal habitat on known movement distances from that habitat. Suitable habitat for this species is spread evenly throughout the undeveloped portions of the study area, primarily due to the even distribution of stock ponds and other aquatic habitat. Upland and dispersal habitat covers most of the non-urbanized plan area. The known occurrences of this species fall within the modeled habitat. Due to the seasonal nature of most aquatic breeding habitat (e.g. vernal pools), breeding habitat may be under mapped. Site specific conditions should be surveyed to determine whether habitats on the site would support California tiger salamander. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-24 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • California Red-Legged Frog Distribution The California red-legged frog is federally listed as threatened and is a California species of special concern.The taxon is known from isolated locations in the Sierra Nevada, North Coast, and northern Transverse Ranges. It is relatively common in the San Francisco Bay area and along the central coast. The California red-legged frog is believed to be extirpated from the floor of the Central Valley (USFWS 2002). California red-legged frogs occupy many areas of suitable habitat throughout Alameda County (USFWS 2002; CNDDB 2009). Occurrence in Study Area There are 124 occurrences within the study area, many within small farm and stock ponds, as well as creeks and drainages (CNDDB 2009). California red- legged frogs occur at Brushy Peak Regional Preserve, Del Valle Reservoir, Ohlone Regional Wilderness, Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park and Sunol Regional Wilderness (Bobzien and DiDonato 2007).The study area is within the East San Francisco Bay core area (USFWS 2002). Over two thirds of the study area has been designated as critical habitat (75 FR 12815 to 12959; March 17, 2010). The • study area contains the following critical habitat units: CCS-2, ALA-2, and the eastern portions of ALA-1A and ALA-1B. Ecology California red-legged frogs use a variety of habitat types;these include various aquatic Systems as well as riparian and upland habitats (USFWS 2002). However, they may complete their entire life cycle in a pond or other aquatic site that is suitable for all life stages (66 Federal Register [FR] 14626). California red-legged frogs inhabit marshes; streams; lakes; ponds; and other, usually permanent, sources of water that have dense riparian vegetation (Stebbins 2003). The highest densities of frogs are found in habitats with deepwater pools (at least 2.5 feet deep) with dense stands of overhanging willows (Solix sp.) and a fringe of tules (Scirpus sp.) or cattails (Typha sp.) (Jennings 1988;Jennings and Hayes 1994). Juvenile frogs seem to favor open, shallow aquatic habitats with • dense submergent vegetation. Although red-legged frogs can inhabit either ephemeral or permanent streams or ponds, populations probably cannot be maintained in ephemeral streams in which all surface water disappears (Jennings and Hayes 1994). As adults, California red-legged frogs are highly aquatic when active but depend •less on permanent water bodies than do other frog species (USFWS 2002). Adults may take refuge during dry periods in rodent holes or leaf litter in • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-25 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • riparian habitats (USFWS 2002). Adult California red-legged frogs have been observed using large cracks in the bottom of dried ponds as refugia (Alvarez 2004). Although red-legged frogs typically remain near streams or ponds, marked and radio-tagged frogs have been observed to move more than two miles through upland habitat. These movements are typically made during wet weather and at night (USIWS 2002). California red-legged frogs typically lay their eggs in clusters around aquatic vegetation from December to early April (Jennings 1988). Larvae undergo metamorphosis 3.5-7 months after hatching (Jennings and Hayes 1990). However, larvae have been observed to take more than a year to complete metamorphosis in four counties in the central coast of California (Fellers et al. 2001). Threats The decline of the California red-legged frog is attributable to a variety of factors. Large-scale commercial harvesting of red-legged frogs led to severe depletions of populations at the turn of the century(Jennings and Hayes 1985). Subsequently, exotic aquatic predators such as bullfrogs, crayfish,and various species of predatory fish became established and contributed to the continued • decline of the species (Hayes and Jennings 1986). Habitat alterations such as conversion of land to agricultural and commercial uses, reservoir construction which effects downstream riparian environments, and in some places unauthorized off-highway vehicle use threaten remaining populations (Zeiner et al. 1988,Jennings and Hayes 1994). Modeled Species Distribution in Study Area Model Assumptions Breeding and Foraging Habitat All perennial freshwater marsh, seasonal wetland, ponds (natural and man- made), rivers and habitat within 150 feet of these, up to an elevation of 3500 feet, were considered potential breeding and foraging habitat for California red- legged frog. Within the study area, stock ponds may be used as breeding sites by this species. All existing ponds and streams within the area were,therefore, considered potential suitable breeding habitats for California red-legged frogs. Movement and Refuge Sites All grassland, chaparral and coastal scrub, oak woodland, riparian forest/scrub, • conifer woodland, and agriculture land cover types beyond 150 feet but within 2 East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-26 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • miles of breeding and foraging habitat are characterized as movement and refuge habitat.This is habitat that might be used by individuals during seasonal movements between breeding and summer habitat. During dry weather, California red-legged frogs likely remain in or near water. However, as ponds dry out, these frogs disperse from their breeding sites to other areas with water or to temporary shelter or aestivation sites.This latter habitat may include small mammal burrows, incised stream channels, shelter under boulders, rocks, logs, leaf litter, agricultural drains, watering troughs, abandoned sheds, or unused farm equipment (Jennings and Hayes 1994). Dispersal distances are believed to depend on the availability of suitable habitat and prevailing environmental conditions, and may be up to 1.7 miles (2.8 km) (Fellers and Kleeman 2007). Because the actual movement patterns of California red-legged frogs in these habitats is generally not known,for this model it was conservatively estimated that all non-urban land cover areas within a radius of two miles from all potential breeding sites were potential migration and/or aestivation habitats for California red-legged frogs. Model Results Figure D-9 in Appendix D shows the modeled potential habitat for the California red-legged frog within the study area. Due to the abundance of aquatic habitat in the moderate to high elevations of the study area the associated upland • refuge sites and dispersal habitat covers most of the study area. The known occurrences of this species fall within the modeled habitat. • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-27 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D • Species Accounts • Foothill yellow-legged frog Distribution Historically,foothill yellow-legged frogs occurred from west of the crest of the Cascade mountains in Oregon south to the Transverse ranges in Los Angeles County, and in the Sierra Nevada foothills south to Kern County (Stebbins 2003). The known elevation range of the species extends from near sea level to approximately 2,040 meters (6,700 feet).above sea level (Stebbins 2003). The current range excludes coastal areas south of northern San Luis Obispo County and foothill areas south of Fresno County,where the species is apparently extirpated (Jennings and Hayes 1994). The foothill yellow-legged frog is still common along the north coast of California (G. Fellers cited by Stebbins and Cohen 1995). Fellers (1994) reported healthy, reproducing populations throughout suitable habitat in the Diablo Range in Alameda,western Stanislaus, Santa Clara, San Benito, and western Fresno counties. Occurrences in Conservation Strategy Area • Of the six CNDDB occurrences within the Conservation Strategy Area, four were within Alameda Creek; one was located in the headwaters of Corral Hollow Creek; and one at Arroyo Mocho, upstream of the Hetch-Hetchy pumping station bridge (CNDDB 2009). Foothill yellow-legged frogs are also found in Sunol Regional Wilderness and Ohlone Regional Wilderness (Bobzien and DiDonato 2007). Ecology Foothill yellow-legged frogs are a highly aquatic amphibian, spending most or all of their life in or near streams,though frogs have been documented underground and beneath surface objects more than 50 meters (165 feet)from water (Nussbaum et al. 1983). Foothill yellow-legged frogs require shallow, flowing water in small to moderate-sized streams with at least some cobble- sized substrate (Hayes and Jennings 1988,Jennings 1988).This species has been found in streams without cobble (Fitch 1938), but it is not clear whether these habitats are regularly used (Hayes and Jennings 1988,Jennings and Hayes 1994). Foothill yellow-legged frogs are usually absent from habitats where introduced aquatic predators,such as various fishes and bullfrogs, are present (Hayes and Jennings 1986, Kupferberg 1994). The species deposits its egg masses on the downstream side of cobbles and boulders over which a relatively thin, gentle flow of water exists (Fitch 1936, Kupferberg 1996). • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-28 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • • Garter snakes are predators on foothill yellow-legged frog tadpoles (Jennings and Hayes 1994). Salamanders, including the rough-skinned newt (Taricho tarosa), are believed to prey on the species' eggs. • Threats Threats include stream scouring(which may negatively impact frogs in streambed hibernation sites), introduced incompatible aquatic animals, riverine and riparian impacts of nonselective logging practices, and stabilization of historically fluctuating stream flows. Poorly timed water releases from upstream reservoirs can scour egg masses of this species from their oviposition substrates (Jennings and Hayes 1994), and decreased flows can force adult frogs to move into permanent pools, where they may be more susceptible to predation (Hayes and Jennings 1988). Introduced predators include bullfrog larvae (Kupferberg 1997) and centrachid fishes (e.g., bass) (Morey 2005). Other threats include airborne agrochemicals (Davidson et al. 2002), habitat destruction, climate change, and UV-B radiation. Modeled Species Distribution in Study Area Model Description • Model Assumptions Breeding and Foraging Habitat • • All perennial rivers and streams in all land cover'types except as they pass through urban, rural residential and landfill land covers were determined to be potential habitat. Foothill yellow-legged frogs are stream-dwelling amphibians that require shallow,flowing water in small to moderate-sized perennial streams with at least some cobble-sized substrate, but occasionally found in perennial streams without cobble(Hayes and Jennings 1988,Jennings 1988, H.T. Harvey and Associates 1999). • Upland/Movement Habitat The species has been documented up to 165 feet from water(Zeiner et al. 1988). A buffer of 165-feet around all breeding and foraging habitat was considered upland habitat. • . East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-29 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D • Species Accounts • Model Results Figure D-10 in Appendix D shows the modeled potential habitat.for the foothill yellow-legged frog within the study area. Suitable habitat appears to be present in all areas that maintain some perennial stream flow at moderate elevations. This includes nearly all streams in the study area with the exception of the very small tributaries and some heavily modified stream channels on the valley floor. The known occurrences in the study area fall within the modeled habitat. Since it is unknown which streams are perennial during most years and which of those have cobblestone substrate,the model likely overestimates foothill yellow- legged frog habitat substantially. Site surveys would need to verify whether each stream was suitable for the species. • • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-30 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • • Alameda Whipsnake Distribution The Alameda whipsnake is a federally and state listed as threatened.The Alameda whipsnake's range is restricted to the inner Coast Range in western and central Contra Costa and Alameda Counties (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2000). The historical range of the Alameda whipsnake has been fragmented into five disjunct populations (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1997): Tilden- Briones, Oakland—Las Trampas, Hayward—Pleasanton Ridge, Sunol—Cedar Mountain, and the Mount Diablo—Black Hills (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1997). Occurrences within the Conservation Strategy Area Of the four CNDDB occurrences (CNDDB 2009), one is located in the northern portion of the study area, southwest of Dublin (CNDDB 2009).Three CNDDB occurrences are located in the southern portion of the study area (CNDDB 2009). In addition to the CNDDB occurrences, in the northern portion of the study area, two documented occurrences occur in the vicinity of the Alameda county—Contra Costa County border(Tri-Valley Conservancy 2009). The Brushy • Peak Regional Preserve contains several unconfirmed observations of Alameda whipsnake and the habitat in this area is considered suitable (Tri-Valley Conservancy 2008, Swaim pers. comm.). Areas adjacent to Brushy Peak (especially north and south of Frick Lake) have been identified as high priority areas (Tri-Valley Conservancy 2008). Four recovery units are located within the study area: Hayward-Pleasanton Ridge, Sunol-Cedar Mountain, Mount Diablo/Black Hills and Niles Canyon-Sunol Corridor(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1997). Designated critical habitat occurs in three parts of the study area, south of Highway 580: East of highway 680 on the north of 580 (AWS-3); south of 580 on the east side of the county (AWS-SA) and south of 580 on the west side of the county (AWS-5B) (USFWS 71 FR 58175 to 58231; October 2, 2006). Ecology The Alameda whipsnake occurs primarily in coastal scrub and chaparral communities, but also forages in a variety of other communities in the inner Coast Range, including grasslands and open woodlands (Swaim 1994). Rock outcrops with deep crevices or abundant rodent burrows are important habitat components for overnight dens, refuges from predators and excessive heat, foraging, egg laying and winter hibernacula (winter residence where snakes • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-31 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • hibernate) (Swaim 1994, USFWS 2000b). Suitable habitat for this species includes communities that support mixed chaparral, coastal scrub, and annual grassland and oak woodlands that are adjacent to scrub habitats (USFWS 2000b). Grassland areas that are linked to scrub by rock outcrops or river corridors are also considered primary constituent elements for the species (USFWS 2000b). Whipsnake habitat must consist of a mix of sunny and shady sites in order to provide a range of temperatures for the snake's activities (Swaim 1994, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2000b). A sparse shrub canopy is ideal because it also provides a visual barrier from avian predators (Swaim 1994). The Alameda whipsnake is non-migratory. Alameda whipsnakes spend November through March in a winter hibernaculum (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2000b). Mating occurs from late March through mid-June (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2000b). Whipsnakes lay a clutch of 6 to 11 eggs (Stebbins 1985), probably in loose soil or under logs or rocks (Zeiner et al. 1988). According to Swaim (1994), female Alameda whipsnakes will use grassland habitat for egg laying. Whipsnakes prey on a variety of vertebrate species, including frogs, lizards, nestling birds, and rodents (Zeiner et al. 1988). Studies indicate that the Alameda whipsnake prefers lizard prey and may be an example of a feeding • specialist. Rock outcrops are particularly important foraging habitat for the Alameda whipsnake because they support many of the species' prey(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2000b). Additionally,the Alameda whipsnake has been observed foraging in grassland habitats adjacent to native Diablan sage scrub habitats (Swaim 1994). Diurnal predators, especially raptors, prey on adult Alameda whipsnakes. Nocturnal mammals likely prey on Alameda whipsnake eggs (Zeiner et al. 1988). Basking in open terrain may expose snakes to predators such as red-tailed hawks (Fitch 1949 in Swaim 1994). Threats Alameda whipsnake populations have declined from loss of habitat resulting from urban expansion (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 200Db). Urban development, particularly road and highway construction, has also fragmented Alameda whipsnake populations and made them more vulnerable to extinction (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1997). Urban development adjacent to whipsnake habitat increases the likelihood of predation from feral cats and injury or death from public recreational use. Other significant threats to this species' recovery include inappropriate grazing practices which remove shrub cover and reduce grass cover, and alteration of habitat through fire suppression • (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1997). East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-32 October 2010 ICE 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • Fire suppression alters suitable Alameda whipsnake habitat by increasing the likelihood of large catastrophic fires occurring in areas where vegetation has become overgrown or by creating a closed scrub canopy which tends to reduce the diversity of microhabitats that whipsnakes require (Swaim 1994). Incompatible land uses include fire suppression, off-road vehicle use, some grazing practices, unauthorized collecting and mining. Species Distribution in Study Area • Due to the nuances of Alameda whipsnake habitat in the study area, specific model parameters were not able to be distinguished. Recovery units described above and shown in Figure D-11 were used to delineate potential Alameda whipsnake habitat within the study area. Mitigation guidance and conservation planning for the Alameda whipsnake will be determined based on these Recovery Units. The presence or absence of Alameda whipsnakes or suitable habitat for Alameda whipsnake will ultimately need to be determined through an on-the-ground habitat assessment. • • • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-33 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • Central California Coast Steelhead Distribution The historical range of central California coast steelhead includes coastal streams from the Russian River south to and including Soquel Creek in Santa Cruz County. This includes the stream tributaries of the San Francisco Bay and • San Pablo Bay basins. Central California coast steelhead is still present in most of the coastal streams in their historic range,though abundance may be • reduced and/or distribution within individual basins may be restricted. See Figure 2-10 for the range map of the central California coast steelhead distinct population segment (DPS). Occurrences within the Study Area Current distribution of central California coast steelhead is up to the Bay Area Rapid Transit(BART)weir, located in the Lower Alameda Creek flood control channel,which is the lowermost barrier in Alameda Creek. However, rainbow trout occur throughout the Alameda watershed including the upper watershed, which is in the study area. The occurrence of all life stages (juveniles and adults) • in the upper watershed suggests suitable rearing and spawning habitat is available in the study area. Trout were found in: Niles Canyon, Upper Alameda Creek and Little Yosemite Creek, Upper Alameda Creek above Alameda Diversion, Indian Joe Creek, La Costa Creek, San Antonio Creek, and Arroyo Hondo Creek (Gunther et al 2000). Ecology Smith (1999) describes two different habitat types used by central California coast steelhead and resident trout. The primary habitat consists of shaded pools of small, cool, low-flow upstream reaches typical of the original steelhead habitat in the region. In addition, they use warm water habitats below some dams or pipeline outfalls, where summer releases provide high summer flows and fast-water feeding habitat. Trout metabolic rate and thus food demand increases with temperature. Trout rely heavily on insect drift for food, and drift increases with flow velocity. Under conditions of low flow and high temperatures,trout have increasing difficulty obtaining sufficient food to meet metabolic costs. Steelhead select spawning sites with gravel substrate and sufficient flow velocity to maintain circulation through the gravel, providing a clean,well-oxygenated environment for incubating eggs. Preferred flow velocity is in the range of 1 to 3 feet per second (Raleigh et al 1986). Preferred gravel substrate is in the range • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-34 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • of 0.25 to 4 inches in diameter for steelhead, and 0.25 to 2.5 inches in diameter for resident rainbow trout (Bjornn and Reiser 1991). After emergence from the gravel,fry inhabit low velocity areas along the stream • margins. As they feed and grow,they gradually move to deeper and faster water. In central California streams, steelhead typically rear for one or two years. Cover is provided by boulders, undercut banks, logs, or other objects. Heads of pools generally provide classic conditions for older trout. Trout can inhabit very small streams, particularly in coastal areas. Steelhead along the central California coast enter freshwater to spawn from late October through the end of May, with peaks between mid-December and mid- April (Shapovalov and Taft 1954). In the Bay Area, trout are typically found in clear, cool, shaded portions of the middle or upper reaches of perennial streams in relatively undisturbed watersheds. In headwater streams,the gradient is relatively high, water is usually clear, and streams are well shaded, have relatively cold temperatures, (seldom exceeding 21° C), and are saturated with oxygen.The lower extent of trout distribution is regulated largely by temperature. In freshwater habitats, steelhead parr and rainbow trout feed primarily on small invertebrates. Juveniles, particularly fry, are vulnerable to predation by birds including kingfishers, mergansers,green herons,great blue herons, and night herons. • Garter snakes also prey on juveniles, as do raccoons, particularly in situations where fish are trapped in isolated pools during the dry season. Abundance estimates for the central California coast steelhead are poor. Juveniles in this DPS have been observed in 82 percent of streams in which it was historically found, but their abundance has decreased. Due to impassable dams in some basins, which have limited access to historical spawning areas, National Marine Fisheries Service predicts that this DPS will become "endangered within the foreseeable future" (71 FR 852 January 5, 2006). Threats Urbanization, particularly in lower watershed areas, has resulted in habitat • degradation and has created migration barriers where streams have been modified for flood control, placed in long underground culverts, bridged, culverted, and channelized. Urbanization has also altered patterns of stream flow due to decreased drainage efficiency, increases in impervious areas, and in some cases, increased summer irrigation. Water supply projects have also altered stream flow through water diversion, storage, and water delivery projects. Dams for water supply or recreational use have eliminated access to many headwater areas important to steelhead and rainbow trout. Watershed activities, especially urbanization, have increased delivery of fine sediments to East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-35 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Appendix D Species Accounts • streams and have lead to the deterioration of substrate conditions for spawning and food availability. Increased water diversions by landowners have reduced summer baseflows in some areas. Expanded human populations have resulted in increased frequency of contact and higher levels of exploitation through poaching and even legal fishing activities. Climate change and particularly variation in ocean conditions may result in periods of lower productivity and reduced survival in the ocean environment for steelhead, particularly in California where they are near the southern edge of their range. Global increase in temperature threatens to alter both stream temperature and rainfall patterns with uncertain consequences. Modeled Species Distribution in Study Area • Model Assumptions Steelhead distribution in the study area was based on existing information on the potential for the species within the streams of eastern Alameda County. Model Results • Figure D-12 shows the potential habitat for steelhead in the study area and areas of current use by rainbow trout.These areas will not be connected to ocean environments until downstream barriers are removed. • • . East Alameda County Conservation Strategy • D-36 October 2010 ICE 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts Golden Eagle The golden eagle is considered a special-status species in California. It is protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle protection Act. This species is also protected by California Fish and Game Code and is a Fully Protected Species by the State of California. It is considered a species of special concern by the California Department of Fish and Game. Distribution The golden eagle is predominately a western North American species ranging from northern Alaska through the western states and Great Plains to Mexico with some breeding and wintering locations in eastern North America (Kochert et al. 2002). Within California,the golden eagle is a year-round resident generally inhabiting mountainous and hilly terrain throughout the open areas of the state. Occurrences Within the Study Area Four golden eagle nest occurrences are reported in the CNDDB, at Del Valle Reservoir, San Antonio Reservoir and Mission Peak Park and Lover's Peak in Sunol Regional Park (CNDDB 2009).The four sites had nesting adults with fledglings (CNDDB 2009). In addition, a pair nests along a tributary to Tassajara Creek, on the northwest side of the Dublin Ranch Development. Ecology Golden eagles use nearly all terrestrial habitats of the western states except densely forested areas. In the interior central Coast Ranges of California, golden eagles favor open grasslands and oak savanna,with lesser numbers in oak. woodland and open shrublands (Hunt et al. 1998). Secluded cliffs with • overhanging ledges and large trees are used for nesting and cover. Preferred territory sites include those that have a favorable nest site, a dependable food supply(medium to large mammals and birds), and broad expanses of open country for foraging. Hilly or mountainous country where takeoff and soaring are supported by updrafts is generally preferred to flat habitats (Johnsgard • 1990). Deeply cut canyons rising to open mountain slopes and crags are ideal habitat (Kochert et al. 2002). Breeding densities are directly related to territorial spacing and foraging requirements for the species. Territory size has been estimated to average 124 square kilometers (sq km) in northern California (Smith and Murphy 1973) but can vary largely with habitat conditions. Mating occurs from late January through August, with peak activity in March through July. Eggs are laid from • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-37 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • early February to mid-May. Clutch size varies from one to four eggs, but two is the most common size (Johnsgard 1990, Hunt et al. 1995). Incubation lasts 43- 45 days (Kochert et al. 2002);and the fledging period is about 72-84 days (Johnsgard 1990). The young usually remain dependent on their parents for as long as eleven weeks afterward. Golden eagles are the top avian predator in the grassland/savanna ecosystem of the central Coast Range in California. They may directly compete with ferruginous hawks (Buteo regalis)and other smaller hawks for small mammals, and with California condors (Gymnogyps californianus)for carrion. The species is relatively common in some areas of its range. Local threats or declines do not pose a major conservation problem from a population perspective (NatureServe 2006), though local populations could be effected by high mortality rates. This species was once a common resident throughout the open areas of California; numbers are now reduced near human population centers, but in general, populations seem stable(Remsen 1978). Within West Central California, including Alameda County,the golden eagle population is apparently stable (Hunt and Hunt 2006). Threats • The primary existing threats to golden eagle survival throughout its range include loss or alteration of both foraging and nesting habitat. In California, this is due to reclamation of grasslands for agriculture, urbanization, and the elimination of annual grassland habitat. Human disturbance of nesting birds and fatalities caused by contact with infrastructure (e.g., power facilities, buildings,fences, wind turbines) also pose threats to this species. An analysis of the causes of fatalities in 61 golden eagles radio-tagged and recovered in the Diablo Range from January 1994 to December 1997 found that 37%were killed by wind turbine strikes, 16% by electrocution, and 5% by lead poisoning (Hunt et al. 1998).The remaining birds were lost due to shootings (2%), car strikes . (5%), botulism (2%),territorial fights with other eagles (5%), collision with fences (3%), fledging mishaps (10%), and other unknown factors(15%) (Hunt et al. 1998). A portion of the Altamont Pass Wind Resources Area is within the study area. As noted above wind turbines could be effected the local population of golden eagles due to high mortality rates. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-38 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • • Modeled Species Distribution in the Study Area Model Assumptions Nesting habitat Traditional nesting sites as identified by researchers include secluded cliffs with overhanging ledges and large trees adjacent to suitable foraging habitat. Therefore, nesting habitat includes cliffs and large trees in oak woodland, riparian forest, and conifer woodland. Foraging habitat All land cover types (grassland, chaparral and coastal scrub, agriculture, cropland, ruderal) excluding those that have been designated as nesting habitat and any urban areas, orchards and vineyards. Model Results The suitable nesting habitat that is mapped for this species likely overestimates the potential for eagles to nest within the study area. All land cover types that • could contain large trees have been included as nesting habitat but more site- specific information will be necessary to deduce whether a particular project • might impact nesting golden eagles. The same is true for secluded cliffs that could provide nest sites. Foraging habitat is widespread in the study area and is depicted on Figure D-13. In general, golden eagles favor open grasslands and oak savanna,with fewer numbers in oak woodland and open shrublands (Hunt et al. 1998). Figure D-13 in Appendix D shows the modeled potential habitat for the golden eagle within the study area. Potential nesting habitat is found throughout most of the southern and western portion of the study area. Most of the study area contains potential foraging habitat.The four golden eagle occurrences reported in the CNDDB were included in the modeled potential habitat. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-39 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • Tricolored Blackbird The tricolored blackbird is considered a special-status species in California. It is protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and by California Fish and • Game Code. It is considered a species of special concern by the California Department of Fish and Game. • Distribution Tricolored blackbirds are endemic to the west coast of North America and primarily to California.The species' historical breeding range in California included the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, lowlands of the Sierra Nevada south to Kern County,the coast region from Sonoma County to the Mexican border, and sporadically on the Modoc Plateau (Neff 1937;Grinnell and Miller 1944).Though individuals move and utilize different habitats within the region, depending on time of year, long distance migration has not been verified in this species. Tricolored blackbirds are largely endemic to California, and more than 99 percent of the global population occurs in the state (Beedy and Hamilton 1999). • In any given year, more than 75 percent of the breeding population can be found in the Central Valley (Hamilton 2000). Small breeding populations also exist at scattered sites in Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and the western coast of Baja California (Beedy and Hamilton 1999). Tricolored blackbirds are considered "itinerant breeders" (i.e., nomadic breeders) where individuals or colonies can breed in different regions within the same year(Hamilton 1998, Hamilton 2004). Breeding colonies of tricolored blackbirds often go unreported because of their similar appearance to the common red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). • Occurrences in the Study Area Six tri-colored blackbird occurrences are-listed in the CNDDB, at the following locations: Sunol Valley(approximately 1200 in 1971, 150 in 1994);along Altamont Pass Road, east of Dyer Road 45 adults observed nesting in 1992); east of Pleasanton (16 pair in 1980; Kaiser gravel pit);Arroyo del Valle, south west of Livermore(1974; possibly extirpated); Isabel gravel pits (1994); and a colony adjacent to California aqueduct, south end of Bethany Reservoir in 2003 (CNDDB 2009). In 2005 there were three nesting colonies within the study area: Broadmoor pond (200 birds); northwest of Altamont Pass and Dyer Road (30 birds); and southwest of Altamont Pass and Dyer roads (25 birds) (Hamilton and Meese • 2006). East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-40 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts Results of a 2008 census reported only one active colony in Alameda county, at Ames and Dolan roads near Livermore (April 27 2008, 27 nesting pairs) (Kelsey 2008).There were no nesting tricolored blackbirds at the following historic colony sites: Altamont Creek, Broadmoor Pond, Dagnino Road, Dyer Road, Laughlin Road, North Flynn Road,Vallecitos Lane (Kelsey 2008). Ecology Tricolored blackbirds have three basic requirements for selecting their breeding colony sites: open, accessible water; a protected nesting substrate, including either flooded,thorny, or spiny vegetation; and a suitable foraging space providing adequate insect prey within a few miles of the nesting colony (Hamilton et al. 1995; Beedy and Hamilton 1997, 1999). Almost 93 percent of the 252 breeding colonies reported by Neff(1937) were in freshwater marshes dominated by cattails and bulrushes (Schoenoplectus spp.). The remaining colonies in Neff's study were in willows (Solix spp.), blackberries (Rubus spp.), thistles (Cirsium and Centourea spp.), or nettles (Urtica spp.). An increasing percentage of tricolored blackbird colonies in the 1980s and 1990s were reported in Himalayan blackberries (Rubus discolor) (Cook 1996), and some of the largest recent colonies have been in silage and grain fields (Hamilton et al. 1995, Beedy and Hamilton 1997, Hamilton 2000). Other • substrates where tricolored blackbirds have been observed nesting include giant cane (Arundo donax),safflower(Corthamus tinctorius) (DeHaven et al. 1975), tamarisk trees (Tamarix spp.), elderberry/poison oak(Sambucus spp. and Toxicodendron diversilobum), and riparian scrublands and forests (e.g.,Salix, Populus, Fraxinus) (Beedy and Hamilton 1999). Ideal foraging conditions for tricolored blackbirds are created when shallow flood-irrigation, mowing, or grazing keeps the vegetation at an optimal height (<15 cm) (Tricolored Blackbird Working Group 2007). Preferred foraging habitats include agricultural crops such as rice, alfalfa, irrigated pastures, and ripening or cut grain fields (e.g., oats wheat, silage, and rice), as well as annual grasslands, cattle feedlots, and dairies. Tricolors also forage in remnant native habitats, including wet and dry vernal pools and other seasonal wetlands, riparian scrub habitats, and open marsh borders (Information Center for the Environment 2007). As many as 20,000 or 30,000 tricolored blackbird nests have been recorded in cattail marshes of 4 hectares (9 acres) or less (Neff 1937; DeHaven et al. 1975), and individual nests may be built less than 0.5 meter(1.5 feet) apart (Neff 1937). Tricolored blackbird's colonial breeding system may have adapted to exploit a rapidly changing environment where the locations of secure nesting habitat and rich insect food supplies were ephemeral and likely to change each year (Orians 1961a; Orians and Collier 1963; Collier 1968; Payne 1969). During the breeding season,tricolored blackbirds exhibit itinerant breeding, commonly moving to different breeding sites each season (Hamilton 1998). In the East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-41 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • northern Central Valley and northeastern California, individuals move after their • first nesting attempts, whether successful or unsuccessful (Beedy and Hamilton 1997). Banding studies indicate that significant movement into the Sacramento Valley occurs during the post-breeding period (DeHaven et al. 1975). • Wintering populations shift extensively within their breeding range in California (Beed •and Hamilton 1999). Concentrations of more than 15,000 wintering tricolored blackbirds may gather at one location and disperse up to 32 kilometers (20 miles)to forage (Neff 1937; Beedy and Hamilton 1999). Local, regional, and statewide tricolored blackbird populations have experienced major declines since 1994. Threats The greatest threats to this species are the direct loss and alteration of habitat; however, other human activities, as well as predation, also threaten tricolored blackbird populations in the Central Valley(Beedy and Hamilton 1999). Most native habitats that once supported nesting and foraging tricolored blackbirds have been altered by urbanization and unsuitable agricultural uses, including vineyards, orchards, and row crops (Hamilton et al. 1995; Beedy and Hamilton 1997). Many former agricultural areas within the historical range of tricolored • blackbirds are now being urbanized. Nests and nest contents in cereal crops and silage are often destroyed by agricultural operations (Hamilton et al. 1995; Beedy and Hamilton 1997). Harvesting of silage and plowing of weedy fields are currently the most common reasons that tricolored blackbird nesting colonies • are destroyed in agricultural areas. Typically tricolored blackbirds have not completed their nesting cycle when fields are plowed, creating a situations where birds are attracted to an area to breeding, because there is ample foraging opportunities, but then nests are destroyed as a result of the agricultural operations. California Audubon Society has worked with local land owners to delay plowing until tricolored blackbirds have completed their nesting cycle and moved out of the area. Financial incentives have been offered to land. owners to offset the cost of a delayed harvest. Other factors that may affect the nesting success of colonies in agricultural areas include herbicide and pesticide applications, and spraying ponds for mosquito abatement (Beedy and Hamilton 1999). A primary reason for limited nesting success in agricultural areas (particularly in rice fields) is predation of fledgling by black-crowned night herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) (Hamilton 2004). • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-42 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • Modeled Species Distribution in the Study Area Model Assumptions More recent colonies have been observed in a diversity of upland and agricultural areas (Collier 1968, Cook 1996, Hamilton 2004), riparian scrublands and woodlands (Orians 1961, Hamilton et al. 1995, Beedy and Hamilton 1999). Small breeding colonies have been documented at public and private lakes, reservoirs, and parks surrounded by shopping centers, subdivisions, and other urban development. Adults from these colonies generally forage in nearby undeveloped upland areas. Beedy and Hamilton (1999) predict that these small, urban wetlands and upland foraging habitats may continue to accommodate tricolored blackbirds in the future unless they are eliminated entirely by development. High-quality foraging areas include irrigated pastures, lightly grazed grasslands, dry seasonal pools, mowed alfalfa fields feedlots, and dairies (Beedy and Hamilton 1999)'. Lower quality foraging habitats include cultivated row crops, orchards, vineyards, and heavily grazed rangelands. Breeding habitat . Habitats suitable for breeding and foraging during the breeding season were modeled using freshwater marsh and ponds within grassland, oak woodland, riparian, agriculture, and golf course land cover types. In addition to CNDDB occurrences, historic colony locations were added to the figure (Online wesbsite: tricolor.ice.ucdavis.edu/node/2520, Accessed 03/25/09 (Appendix D)). Year-round foraging habitat Areas that provide suitable foraging and wintering habitats include seasonal wetlands, all grasslands, riparian, agricultural, golf courses, and rural-residential land cover types (Appendix D). • Model Results Figure D-14 in Appendix D shows the modeled potential habitat for the tricolored blackbird within the study area. Breeding habitat is limited within the study area and it should be noted that by including all riparian areas the available breeding habitat is likely overestimated. Site specific conditions need to be verified to determine if these riparian areas currently provide breeding habitat. Breeding habitat will actually be limited to small ponds/wetlands that occur in slow water portions of these riparian corridors. Foraging habitat is prevalent throughout the area. Many historic colony sites and CNDDB occurrences are included within the modeled habitat. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-43 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Appendix D Species Accounts • Burrowing Owl The burrowing owl is considered a special-status species in California. It is protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the California Fish and Game Code. It is considered a species of special concern by the California Department of Fish and Game. Distribution The burrowing owl is found throughout western North America, west of the Mississippi River and south into Mexico. In California, the range of burrowing owl extends through the lowlands south and west from north central California to Mexico, with small,scattered populations occurring in the Great Basin and the desert regions of the northeastern and southwestern part of the state, respectively (DeSante et al. 1997). They are absent from the coast north of Sonoma County and from high mountain areas such as the Sierra Nevada and the Transverse Ranges extending east from Santa Barbara County to San Bernardino County. Burrowing owls once occurred in suitable lowland habitats throughout the Bay Area (Grinnell and Miller 1944). This species utilized what was once vast open valley floors and low sloping foothills year round. Burrowing • owl populations have been greatly reduced or extirpated from most of the San Francisco Bay Area (Trulio 1997) and along the California coast to Los Angeles. Occurrences in the Study Area There are 52 known occurrences of burrowing owls in the study area (CNDDB 2009). Of those, 36 are occurrence records from within the breeding season (February 1 to August 30). All occurrences are in the northern portion of the Strategy area, in open fields, annual grassland,grazed grassland,alkali sinks and in the vicinity of business developments (CNDDB 2009) (Appendix D). Ecology Throughout their range, burrowing owls require habitats with three basic attributes: open,well-drained terrain;short, sparse vegetation; and underground burrows or burrow facsimiles (Klute et al. 2003). During the breeding season, they may also need enough permanent cover and taller vegetation within their foraging range to provide them with sufficient prey, which includes large insects and small mammals (Wellicome 1997). Burrowing owls occupy grasslands, deserts,sagebrush scrub,agricultural areas (including pastures and untilled margins of cropland), earthen levees and berms, coastal uplands, and urban vacant lots, as well as the margins of airports,golf courses, and roads. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-44 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • Burrowing owls typically select sites that support short vegetation, even bare soil, presumably because they can easily see over it. However, they will tolerate tall vegetation if it is sparse. Owls will perch on raised burrow mounds or other topographic relief such as rocks, tall plants, fence posts, and debris piles to attain good visibility(Haug et al. 1993). This opportunistic feeder will consume arthropods, small mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles (Haug et al. 1993). Insects are often taken during the day, while small mammals are taken at night. In California, crickets and meadow voles were found to be the most common food items (Thomsen 1971). Nocturnal foraging can occur up to several kilometers away from the burrow (Haug et al. 1993). In urban areas, burrowing owls are often attracted to streetlights, where insect prey congregates. Western burrowing owls most commonly live in burrows created by California ground squirrels (Spermophilis beecheyi). Burrowing owls may compete incidentally with other predators such as coyotes, other owls and hawks, skunks, weasels, and badgers for rodents and a variety of insects (Rosenberg et al. 1998). little information exists on the migration routes,timing of migration, and wintering areas, especially for the California population (DeSante et al. 1997). Threats • • The most immediate threats to the burrowing owl are the conversion of grassland habitat to urban and some agricultural uses (vineyards, orchards, and some row crops) and the loss of more suitable agricultural lands to development. Equally important is the loss of fossorial rodents, such as ground squirrels across much of the owl's historical habitat. Eradication programs have decimated populations of these rodents over time and have in turn disrupted the ecological relationships on which owls depend; because western burrowing owls typically need other animals to dig their burrows,the loss of fossorial • rodents limits the extent of year-round owl habitat throughout their range (Haug et al. 1993). Modeled Species Distribution in Study Area • Model Assumptions Breeding and Overwinteririg Habitat All annual grassland, serpentine bunchgrass grassland, and ruderal land cover types; and valley oak woodland, and blue oak woodland land cover types within 300 m of grassland were considered potential overwintering habitat, in areas • where the slope was 0 to 25%. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-45 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Appendix D Species Accounts • Model Results Figure D-15 in Appendix D shows the modeled potential habitat for the western burrowing owl within the study area. Suitable habitat is spread widely throughout the northern portion of the area. Some suitable habitat in developed areas may not show up in the output because it cannot be distinguished at this mapping resolution. These are typically small vacant lots or the margins of other land cover types. Most known occurrences fall within modeled habitat, but the range of the suitable habitat is large, and many areas that the model indicates as suitable have no owl occurrences. In all cases site specific conditions will dictate whether burrowing owls could be present. Protocol level nesting surveys are recommended to determine if burrowing owls are breeding on a site and how many owls the site supports. Other parameters that the model was not able to capture may be driving burrowing owl occurrence such as prey abundance. • _ • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-46 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • American Badger The American badger is considered a special-status species in California. It is • considered a species of special concern by the California Department of Fish and Game. Distribution In North America, American badgers occur as far north as Alberta, Canada and as far south as central Mexico. Their distribution through the United States is expanding and presently extends from the Pacific Coast eastward to Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio (Long 1972, Williams 1986). The American badger has a broad altitudinal range,from below sea level at Death Valley up to 12,000 feet (3,660 meters) at the Arctic-Alpine Life Zone (Long 1972). In California, American badgers occur throughout the state except in humid coastal forests of northwestern California in Del Norte and Humboldt Counties (Williams 1986). The American badger has been decreasing in numbers throughout California over the last century (Williams 1986). A distribution study for American badgers in California conducted through the 1970's and 1980's determined that there • was no change in the overall range of this species since early in the century (Larson 1987). However, changes in the abundance of badgers in California could not be accurately determined by this study (Larson 1987). Occurrences Within the Study Area The eleven American badger occurrences listed in the CNDDB, were in the northern half of the study area (CNDDB 2009). Badgers occurred on short grass and dry pasture and some scrub habitat near Del Valle Reservoir and on Lawrence Livermore Laboratories and Department of Defense property (CNDDB 2009). One adult near a burrow and a female with two juveniles were observed at the DOD site (CNDDB 2009). One vehicle mortality was located on Kelso Road (CNDDB 2009). Ecology American badgers occur in a wide variety of open, arid habitats but are most commonly associated with grasslands, savannas, mountain meadows, and open areas of desert scrub (Stephenson and Calcarone 1999). The principal habitat requirements for this species appear to be sufficient food (burrowing rodents), friable soils, and relatively open, uncultivated ground (Williams 1986). American badgers are primarily found in areas of low to moderate slope (Stephenson and Calcarone 1999). Burrows are used for denning, escape, and predation on • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-47 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 • Appendix D Species Accounts • • burrowing rodents (Long 1973). A recent study in the Bay Area documented the use suburban areas as movement corridors between larger patches of grassland (T. Diamond, pers. comm.). • • Young are born in burrows dug in relatively dry, often sandy, soil, usually in areas with sparse overstory. American badgers mate in summer and early autumn and young are born in March and early April (Long 1973). Juveniles may leave their natal grounds at 3—4 months of age, disperse up to 110 km, and use disturbed habitats and agricultural areas (Messick and Hornocker 1981). Badgers are solitary animals, but they are not known to defend an exclusive territory(Long 1999). Typical population density is about 5 animals per square kilometer (Shefferly 1999). Although home range size varies according to geographic area, distribution of food resources, and season,the general range of this species is 395 acres—2,100 acres (137—850 hectares) (Lindzay 1978, Messick and Hornocker 1981, Sargeant and Warner 1972). Males occupy larger home ranges than females (2.4 versus 1.6 square kilometers). American badgers are mostly nocturnal but also forage and disperse during the daytime (Lindzay 1978, Messick and Hornocker 1981). This species is active year round, except at high elevations and latitudes,where they become torpid during the winter. At lower elevations, the American badger in the winter . • exhibits reduced surface activity (Long 1973). American badgers are carnivorous and are relatively opportunistic predators, feeding on a number of rodent species such as mice, chipmunks,ground squirrels, gophers, rabbits, and kangaroo rats (Zeiner et al. 1990). They will also eat reptiles, insects, birds and their eggs, and carrion (Williams 1986, Zeiner et al. 1990).The American badger is a ferocious fighter(Long 1973) and has very few predators. Predators include coyotes, golden eagles, mountain lions, bears and gray wolves throughout its range (Long 1973; Shefferly 1999). Threats Common threats to the American badger include habitat conversion to urban and agricultural uses, shooting and trapping, poisoning, automobile fatalities, and reduction of prey base from rodent control activities (Williams 1986). In the west, infill of formerly open woodlands and encroachment of forests into grassland as a result of effective fire suppression has eliminated or degraded much badger habitat (Natureserve 2009). Some populations are estimated to be up to 80%yearlings or young of the year, suggesting high mortality rates (Long 1999). Badgers may be attracted to roads, both because ground squirrels often burrow alongside them, and because they are good travel routes (T. Diamond, pers. comm.). • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-48 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • Modeled Species Distribution in Study Area Model Assumptions • Denning and Movement All grassland, alkali meadows/scalds, valley oak woodland, developed agriculture, cropland, ruderal and rural residential land cover types were considered suitable denning and foraging habitat for this species. Habitat patches smaller than 85 acres were not considered suitable habitat. Model Results Figure D-16 in Appendix D shows the modeled potential habitat of the American badger within the Conservation Strategy area. Potential habitat encompasses a large portion of the area. All occurrences, except one at Del Valle Reservoir, are in the northern portion of the study area.The least fragmented modeled habitat is in the northern portion of the study area. Since there are so few documented occurrences of the kit fox from within the study area it is difficult to state what the accuracy of the model is relative to actual presence of the species. • • • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-49 October 2010 ICE 00906.08 • • • Appendix D Species Accounts • San Joaquin Kit Fox Distribution The San Joaquin kit fox is federally and state listed as endangered. San Joaquin foxes occur in some areas of suitable habitat on the floor of the San Joaquin Valley and in the surrounding foothills of the Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, and Tehachapi Mountains from Kern County north to Contra Costa,Alameda, and San Joaquin Counties (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). There are known occurrences in Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Monterey, San Benito,San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, and Tulare Counties (California Natural Diversity Database 2008). The largest extant populations of kit fox are in Kern County (Elk Hills and Buena Vista Valley)and San Luis Obispo County in the Carrizo Plain Natural Area (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). Although the precise historical range of San Joaquin kit fox is unknown, it is believed to have extended from Contra Costa and San Joaquin Counties in the north to Kern County in the south.Surveys conducted between 1969 and 1975 extended the known range of the kit fox back into portions of its historical range • in the northern San Joaquin Valley, including Contra Costa, Alameda, and San Joaquin Counties (Orloff et al. 1986). At this time, kit foxes were also found in three counties outside the originally defined historical range: Monterey, Santa Clara, and Santa Barbara counties (Orloff et al. 1986). Occurrence in the Conservation Strategy Area The 15 San Joaquin kit fox occurrences were in the northern half of the study area, in grazed grassland, pasture, annual grassland and alkali sink scrub (California Natural Diversity Database 2009). They were located at Bethany Reservoir, Livermore Area RPD, on private lands and SFPUC land (CNDDB 2009). Ecology San Joaquin kit foxes occur in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, scrublands,vernal pool areas, alkali meadows and playas, and an agricultural matrix of row crops, irrigated pastures, orchards, vineyards, and grazed annual grasslands (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). They prefer habitats with loose- textured soils(Egoscue 1962)that are suitable for digging,but they occur on virtually every soil type. Dens are generally located in open areas with grass or grass and scattered brush, and seldom occur in areas with thick brush. Preferred sites are relatively flat,well-drained terrain (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998, Roderick and Mathews 1999). They are seldom found in areas • with shallow soils due to high water tables or impenetrable bedrock or hardpan East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-50 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • layers (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). However, kit foxes may occupy soils with a high clay content where they can modify burrow dug by other animals, such as California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) (Orloff et al. 1986). In the northern part of its range (including San Joaquin, Alameda, and Contra Costa Counties)where most habitat on the valley floor has been eliminated, kit foxes now occur primarily in foothill grasslands (Swick 173, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998), valley oak savanna, and alkali grasslands (Bell 1994). Retaining a linkage between San Joaquin kit fox populations in western Merced County north into San Joaquin,Alameda, and Contra Costa Counties is an important recovery goal for this species(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). Less frequently,foxes will den within small parcels of native habitat that are surrounded by intensively maintained agricultural lands and adjacent to dryland farms (Orloff et al. 1986, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998), and forage in tilled and fallow fields and irrigated row crops (Bell 1994). Kit foxes may range up to 20 miles at night during the breeding season and somewhat less (6 miles) during the pup-rearing season (Girard 2001). The species can readily navigate a matrix of land use types. Home ranges vary from less than one square mile up to approximately 12 square miles (Spiegel and Bradbury 1992, White and Rails 1993). The home ranges of pairs or family groups of kit foxes generally do not overlap (White and Rails 1993). San Joaquin kit foxes prey upon a variety of small mammals, ground-nesting • birds, and insects. They are in turn subject to predation by such species as coyote, non-native red foxes, domestic dog, eagles, and large hawks (Rails and White 1995, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). Threats Continued fragmentation of habitat is a serious threat to this species. Increasing isolation of populations through habitat degradation and barriers to movement, such as aqueducts and busy highways, can limit dispersal to and occupancy of existing and former lands. The threat of being struck by vehicles is high, particularly for dispersing individuals, crossing roadways with median barriers. Livestock grazing is not thought to be necessarily detrimental to the kit fox(Morrell 1975, Orloff et al. 1986), but it may affect the number of prey species available, depending on the intensity of grazing (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). Moderate grazing is thought to benefit the species because it can potentially enhance the prey base and reduce vegetation to allow kit fox to more easily detect and avoid predators. The use of pesticides to control rodents and other pests also threatens kit fox in some areas, either directly through poisoning or indirectly through reduction of prey abundance. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy D-51 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 Appendix D Species Accounts • Modeled Species Distribution in Study Area Model Assumptions Core Habitat—Denning and Movement All grassland land cover types and all oak woodlands within 500 feet from grasslands were considered suitable denning and foraging habitat for this species. Urban and suburban land cover types, and the area within the • boundary created by Highways 580, 680 and 84 were excluded, as well as any areas within 200 m of highways (Gerrard et al. 2001). Small fragments of habitat that were disconnected from contiguous habitat blocks were removed from the results to better represent actual movement potential for the species in a connected landscape. Additional modeling was conducted to determine the most likely routes that could be used by San Joaquin kit fox in the northeastern corner of the study area.This analysis took into account the importance of land cover,topography, and barriers created by roadways and canals on the movement tendencies of the species.The intent was to determine how individuals could move through the study area between the northernmost extent of their range in Contra Costa County to areas in southern San Joaquin County, on the eastern side of the • study area. The methodology is discussed below under wildlife linkages and the results are shown if Figure D-17. Low Quality Movement Habitat • Areas that the San Joaquin kit fox may use occasionally for movement include developed agriculture, cropland, ruderal,and ruderal-residential land cover types within one mile of core habitat. These were intended to represent areas that individuals might pass through while moving between other more suitable habitat types. Model Results Figure D-17 in Appendix D shows the modeled potential habitat of the San Joaquin kit fox within the study area. Potential core habitat encompasses a large portion of the area, but all occurrences are in the northern portion. Very little habitat is within the low quality movement habitat. Since there are so few documented occurrences of the kit fox from within the study area it is difficult to state what the accuracy of the model is relative to actual presence of the species. • East Alameda County Conservation Strategy • D-52 October 2010 ICF 00906.08 0 k 4,-g' Cl) � y ^ti? o y 0 � o 0 -5 Co a) U - m a L • . 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C 0. e` '� T U -.l• L O 6 VJ �, _ O 01 j ,^ N F Z o v o W ^ ca a U < % ^ L L m K W L R j 'D 17 O v ,- C 0 E-' - o • cOc CCD — E .C.. 0 p O Lil O O v A F� ,_ E Toe- Q F .-1 U rvc 3 a` O E E+ Z w • Appendix F Conservation Easement Toolkit • • • Example Conservation Easement Template • • PLEASE NOTE: The following Conservation Easement Deed is provided by the multi-agency Project Delivery Team as a standardized template document for Mitigation and Conservation Banks in California. Any modifications to this template shall be identified using tracked changes or other electronic comparison and explained in a memorandum. (Template Version Date: July 2009) RECORDING REQUESTED BY AND -WHEN RECORDED MAIL TO: [Fill in Grantee Name/Address] Grantee Name Grantee Address City, State ZIP Attn: Space Above Line for Recorder's Use Only CONSERVATION EASEMENT DEED [Insert Bank Name] • THIS CONSERVATION EASEMENT DEED ("Conservation Easement") is made as of the day of , 20 , by [insert fill legal name(s) of Grantor: ] ("Grantor"), in favor of[insert Grantee's full legal name: ] [i[CDFG is Grantee insert: the State of California] ("Grantee"), with reference to the following facts: RECITALS A. Grantor is the sole owner in fee simple of certain real property containing approximately acres, located in the City of[insert City name], County of[insert County name], State of California, and designated Assessor's Parcel Number(s) [insert Assessor's Parcel Number(s)] (the "Bank Property"). The Bank Property is legally described and depicted in Exhibit A attached to this Conservation Easement and incorporated in it by this reference. B. The Bank Property possesses wildlife and habitat values of great importance to Grantee, the people of the State of California and the people of the United States. The Bank Property will provide high quality natural, restored and/or enhanced habitat for [specify listed and sensitive plant and/or animal species] and contain [list habitats; native and/or non-native], [include the following phrase only if there are jurisdictional wetlands: and restored, created, enhanced and/or preserved jurisdictional waters of the United States]. Individually and collectively, these wildlife and habitat values comprise the"Conservation Values" of the Bank Property. CA Ci;Template Version July 13,2009 C. The California Department of Fish and Game ("CDFG") has jurisdiction over the • conservation, protection, and management of fish, wildlife, native plants and the habitat • necessary for biologically sustainable populations of these species pursuant to California Fish and Game Code Section 1802. CDFG is authorized to hold easements for these purposes pursuant to California Civil Code Section 815.3, Fish and Game Code Section 1348, and other provisions of California law. D. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (the "USFWS"), an agency within the United States Department of the Interior, has jurisdiction over the conservation, protection, restoration and management of fish, wildlife, native plants, and the habitat necessary for biologically sustainable populations of these species within the United States pursuant to the federal Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. Section 1531, et seq., the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. Sections 661-666c, the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, 16 U.S.C. • Section 742(f), et seq., and other provisions of federal law. E. [Remove/modif, this recital as appropriate when USEPA or USAGE is not a signatory to the BEI or CBEI]. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("USEPA") and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ("USACE") have jurisdiction over waters of the United States pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. Section 1251, et seq. F. [Use this version of Recital F when qualified nonprofit organization is Grantee]. Grantee is authorized to hold this conservation easement pursuant to California Civil Code Section 815.3 and Government Code Section 65965. Specifically, Grantee is (i) a tax- exempt nonprofit organization qualified under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of • 1986, as amended, and qualified to do business in California; (ii) a "qualified organization" as defined in section 170th) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code; and (iii) an organization which has as its primary and principal purpose and activity the protection and preservation of natural lands or resources in its natural, scenic, agricultural, forested, or open space condition or use. [Use this version of Recital F when governmental entity is Grantee]. Grantee is authorized to hold this conservation easement pursuant to California Civil Code Section 815.3. • Specifically, Grantee is a governmental entity identified in Civil Code Section 815.3 (b) and otherwise authorized to acquire and hold title to real property. G. [Modify this recital as appropriate when CDFG, USFWS, USEPA or USACE is not a signatory to the BEI or CBEL] This Conservation Easement is granted pursuant to the [insert the appropriate term: Mitigation Bank Enabling Instrument(the "BEI") or Conservation Bank Enabling Instrument(the "CBEI")], by.and between [insert Bank Sponsor nanre(s)], [insert Bank Property Owner name(s)], and [insert Region name] CDFG, CDFG Tracking No. [insert number], the [insert Field Office name] of the USFWS, USFWS File No. [insert number], the [insert District name] District of USACE, USACE File No. [insert number], and Region IX of the USEPA, entered into concurrently with this Conservation Easement, and the Bank Development Plan (the "Development Plan"), and the Interim Management Plan and Long- Term Management Plan (as applicable, the"Management Plan") created under the [insert: BEI or CBEI]. [Remove reference to any agency that is not a party to the BEI or CBEI] CDFG, USFWS, USACE, and USEPA are together referred to in this Conservation Easement as the "Signatory Agencies". • 2 CA CE Template Version July 18,2009 • A final, approved copy of the [insert: BEI or CBEI], the Development Plan and the Management Plan, and any amendments thereto approved by the Signatory Agencies, shall be kept on file at the respective offices of the Signatory Agencies. If Grantor, or any successor or assign, requires an official copy of the [insert: BEI or CBEI], the Development Plan or the Management Plan, it should request a copy from one of the Signatory Agencies at its address for notices listed in Section 12 of this Conservation Easement. The [insert: BEI or CBEI], the Development Plan and the Management Plan are incorporated by this reference into this Conservation Easement as if fully set forth herein. H. All section numbers referred to in this Conservation Easement are references to sections within this Conservation Easement, unless otherwise indicated. COVENANTS, TERMS, CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and pursuant to the laws of the United States and the State of California, including California Civil Code Section 815, et seq., Grantor hereby voluntarily grants and conveys to Grantee a conservation easement in perpetuity over the Bank Property: I. Purposes. The purposes of this Conservation Easement are to ensure that the Bank Property will be retained forever in its natural, restored, or enhanced condition as contemplated by the • [insert: BEI or CBEI], the Development Plan, and the Management Plan, and to prevent any use of the Bank Property that will impair or interfere with the Conservation Values of the Bank Property. Grantor intends that this Conservation Easement will confine the use of the Bank Property to activities that are consistent with such purposes, including, without limitation, those involving the preservation, restoration and enhancement of native species and their habitats implemented in accordance with the [insert: BEI or CBEI], the Development Plan and the Management Plan. 2. Grantee's Rights. To accomplish the purposes of this Conservation Easement, Grantor hereby grants and conveys the following rights to Grantee: (a) To preserve and protect the Conservation Values of the Bank Property. (b) To enter the Bank Property at reasonable times, in order to monitor compliance with and otherwise enforce the terms of this Conservation Easement, the [insert: BEI or CBEI], the Development Plan and the Management Plan and to implement at Grantee's sole discretion Development Plan and Management Plan activities that have not been implemented, provided that Grantee shall not unreasonably interfere with Grantor's authorized use and quiet enjoyment of the Bank Property. (c) To prevent any activity on or use of the Bank Property that is inconsistent with the purposes of this Conservation Easement and to require the restoration of such areas or features of the Bank Property that may be damaged by any act, failure to act, or any use or • activity that is inconsistent with the purposes of this Conservation Easement. 3 CA CE Template Version July 18. 2009 • (d) To require that all mineral,air and water rights as Grantee deems necessary to preserve and protect the biological resources and Conservation Values of'the Bank Property shall remain a part of and be put to beneficial use upon the Bank Property, consistent with the purposes of this Conservation Easement. (e) All present and future development rights appurtenant to, allocated, implied, reserved or inherent in the Bank Property; such rights are hereby terminated and extinguished, and may not be used on or transferred to any portion of the Bank Property, nor any other property adjacent or otherwise. 3. Prohibited Uses. Any activity on or use of the Bank Property that is inconsistent with the purposes of this Conservation Easement is prohibited. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following uses and activities by Grantor, Grantor's agents, and third parties are expressly prohibited: (a) Unseasonable watering; use of fertilizers, pesticides, biocides, herbicides or other agricultural chemicals; weed abatement activities; incompatible fire protection activities; and any and all other activities and uses which may impair or interfere with the purposes of this Conservation Easement [include the following language only lithe Development Plan or Management Plan, including any adaptive management measures, specifies such an exception:], except for [insert specific exception(s)] as specifically provided in the [specify: Development Plan or Management Plan]. (b) Use of off-road vehicles and use of any other motorized vehicles except on • existing roadways [include the fallowing language only if the Development Plan or Management Plan, including any adaptive management measures, specifies such an exception:], except for [insert specific exception(s)] as specifically provided in the [specify: Development Plan or Management Plan]. (c) Agricultural activity of any kind [include the fidlowing language only if the Development Plan or Management Plan, including any adaptive management measures, specifies such an exception:] except grazing for vegetation management as specifically provided in the [specify: Development Plan or Management Plan]. (d) Recreational activities, including, but not limited to, horseback riding, biking, hunting or fishing except for personal, non-commercial, recreational activities of the Grantor, so long as such activities are consistent with the purposes of this Conservation Easement and specifically provided for in the Management Plan. (e) Commercial, industrial, residential, or institutional uses. (t) Any legal or de facto division, subdivision or partitioning of the Bank Property. (g) Construction, reconstruction, erecting or placement of any building, billboard or sign, or any other structure or improvement of any kind [include the following language only if the Development Plan or Management Plan specifies such an exception:], 4 CA CE Template Version July 18.2009 • • except for [insert specific exception(s)] as specifically provided in the [specify: Development Plan or Management Plan]. (h) Depositing or accumulation of soil, trash, ashes, refuse, waste, bio-solids or any other materials. (i) Planting, introduction or dispersal of non-native or exotic plant or animal species. (i) Filling, dumping, excavating, draining, dredging, mining, drilling, removing or exploring for or extracting minerals, loam, soil, sand, gravel, rock or other material on or below the surface of the Bank Property, or granting or authorizing surface entry for any of these purposes. (k) Altering the surface or general topography of the Bank Property, including but not limited to any alterations to habitat, building roads or trails, paving or otherwise covering the Bank Property with concrete, asphalt or any other impervious material except for those habitat management activities specified in the Development Plan or Management Plan. (I) Removing, destroying,or cutting of trees, shrubs or other vegetation, except as required by law for (i) fire breaks, (ii) maintenance of existing foot trails or roads, or (iii) prevention or treatment of disease [include the following language only if the Development Plan or Management Plan specifies such an exception:]; and except for [insert.specifc exception(s)] as specifically provided in the [specify: Development Plan or Management Plan]. On) Manipulating, impounding or altering any natural water course, body of water or water circulation on the Bank Property, and any activities or uses detrimental to water quality, including but not limited to degradation or pollution of any surface or sub-surface waters [include the following language only if the Development Plan or Management Plan specifies such an exception:], except for [insert specific exception(s)] as specifically provided in the [specify: Development Plan or Management Plan]. (n) Without the prior written consent of Grantee, which Grantee may withhold, transferring, encumbering, selling, leasing, or otherwise separating the mineral, air or water rights for the Bank Property; changing the place or purpose of use of the water rights; abandoning or allowing the abandonment of, by action or inaction, any water or water rights, ditch or ditch rights, spring rights, reservoir or storage rights, wells, ground water rights, or other rights in and to the use of water historically used on or otherwise appurtenant to the Bank Property, including but not limited to: (i) riparian water rights; (ii) appropriative water rights; (iii) rights to waters which are secured under contract with any irrigation or water district, to the extent such waters are customarily applied to the Bank Property; and (iv) any water from wells that are in existence or may be constructed in the future on the Bank Property. (o) Engaging in any use or activity that may violate, or may fail to comply with, relevant federal, state,or local laws, regulations, or policies applicable to Grantor, the Bank Property, or the use or activity in question. • 4. Grantee's Duties. 5 CA CE Template Version July I8,2009 (a) To ensure that the purposes of this Conservation Easement as described in Section I are being accomplished, Grantee and its successors and assigns shall: (I) Perform, at a minimum on an annual basis, compliance monitoring inspections of the Bank Property; and (2) Prepare reports on the results of the compliance monitoring inspections, and provide these reports to the Signatory Agencies on an annual basis. (b) In the event that the Grantee's interest in this easement is held by, reverts to, or is transferred to the State of California, Section 4(a) shall not apply. 5. Grantor's Duties. Grantor shall undertake all reasonable actions to prevent the unlawful entry and trespass by persons whose activities may degrade or harm the Conservation Values of the Bank Property or that are otherwise inconsistent with this Conservation Easement. In addition, Grantor shall undertake all necessary actions to perfect and defend Grantee's rights under Section 2 of this Conservation Easement, and to observe and carry out the obligations of Grantor.under the [insert: BEI or CBEI], the Development Plan and the Management Plan. 6. Reserved Rights. Grantor reserves to itself, and to its personal representatives, heirs, successors, and assigns, all rights accruing from Grantor's ownership of the Bank Property, including the right to engage in or permit or invite others to engage in all uses of the Bank Property that are not prohibited or limited by, and are consistent with the purposes of, this Conservation Easement. 7. Grantee's Remedies. If Grantee determines that a violation of this Conservation Easement has occurred or is threatened, Grantee shall give written notice to Grantor of such violation and demand in writing the cure of such violation ("Notice of Violation`). If Grantor fails to cure the violation within thirty (30) days after receipt of a Notice of Violation, or if the cure reasonably requires more than thirty (30) days to complete and Grantor fails to begin the cure within the thirty (30)- day period or fails to continue diligently to complete the cure. Grantee may bring an action at law or in equity in a court of competent jurisdiction for any or all of the following: to recover any damages to which Grantee may be entitled for violation of the terms of this Conservation Easement or for any injury to the Conservation Values of the Bank Property; to enjoin the violation, ex parte as necessary, by temporary or permanent injunction without the necessity of proving either actual damages or the inadequacy of otherwise available legal remedies; to pursue any other legal or equitable relief, including but not limited to, the restoration of the Bank Property to the condition in which it existed prior to any violation or injury; or to otherwise enforce this Conservation Easement. Without limiting the liability of Grantor, Grantee may apply any damages recovered to the cost of undertaking any corrective action on the Bank Property. If Grantee, in its sole discretion, determines that circumstances require immediate action to prevent or mitigate injury to the Conservation Values of the Bank Property, Grantee may pursue its remedies under this Conservation Easement without prior notice to Grantor or • 6 CA CE Template Version July 18.2009 • • without waiting for the period provided for cure to expire. Grantee's rights under this section apply equally to actual or threatened violations of this Conservation Easement. Grantor agrees that Grantee's remedies at law for any violation of this Conservation Easement are inadequate and that Grantee shall be entitled to the injunctive relief • described in this section, both prohibitive and mandatory, in addition to such other relief to which Grantee may be entitled, including specific performance of this Conservation Easement, without the necessity of proving either actual damages or the inadequacy of otherwise available legal remedies. Grantee's remedies described in this section shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to all remedies now or hereafter existing at law or in equity, including but not limited to • the remedies set forth in California Civil Code Section 815, et seq. The failure of Grantee to discover a violation or to take immediate legal action shall not bar Grantee from taking such action at a later time. (a) Costs of Enforcement. All costs incurred by Grantee, where Grantee is the prevailing party, in enforcing the terms of this Conservation Easement against Grantor, including, but not limited to, costs of suit and attorneys' and experts'fees, and any costs of restoration necessitated by negligence or breach of this Conservation Easement, shall be borne by Grantor. (b) Grantee's Discretion. Enforcement of the terms of this Conservation Easement by Grantee shall be at the discretion of Grantee, and any forbearance by Grantee to exercise its rights under this • Conservation Easement in the event of any breach of any term of this Conservation Easement shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of such term or of any subsequent breach of the same or any other term of this Conservation Easement or of any rights of Grantee under this Conservation Easement. No delay or omission by Grantee in the exercise of any right or remedy shall impair such right or remedy or be construed as a waiver. (c) Acts Beyond Grantor's Control. • Nothing contained in this Conservation Easement shall be construed to entitle Grantee to bring any action against Grantor for any injury to or change in the Bank Property resulting from (i) any natural cause beyond Grantor's control, including, without limitation, fire not caused by Grantor, flood, storm, and earth movement, or any prudent action taken by Grantor under emergency conditions to prevent, abate, or mitigate significant injury to the Bank Property resulting from such causes; or(ii) acts by Grantee or its employees. (d) Enforcement: Standing. All rights and remedies conveyed to Grantee under this Conservation Easement shall extend to and are enforceable by [insert if State of California is Grantee: CDFG and] the Third-Party Beneficiaries (as defined in Section 14(m)). These enforcement rights are in addition to, and do not limit, the rights of enforcement under the [insert: BEl or CBEI], the Development Plan or the Management Plan. If at any time in the future Grantor uses, allows the use, or threatens to use or allow use of, the Bank Property for any purpose that is inconsistent with or in violation of this Conservation Easement then, despite the provisions of California Civil Code Section 815.7, the California Attorney General and the Third-Party Beneficiaries • each has standing as an interested party in any proceeding affecting this Conservation Easement. 7 CA CE Template Version July 18,2009 (e) Notice of Conflict. • If Grantor receives a Notice of Violation from Grantee or a Third-Party Beneficiary with which it is impossible for Grantor to comply consistent with any prior uncured Notice(s) of Violation, Grantor shall give written notice of the conflict(hereinafter "Notice of Conflict") to the Grantee and Third-Party Beneficiaries. In order to be a valid, a Notice of Conflict shall be given within fifteen (15) days of the date Grantor receives a conflicting Notice of Violation, shall include copies of the conflicting Notices of Violation, and shall describe the conflict with specificity, including how the conflict makes compliance with the uncured Notice(s) of Violation impossible. Upon issuing a valid Notice of Conflict, Grantor shall not be required to comply with the conflicting Notices of Violation until such time as the entity or entities issuing said conflicting Notices of Violation issue(s) revised Notice(s) of Violation that resolve the conflict. Upon receipt of a revised Notice of Violation, Grantor shall comply with such notice within the time period(s) described in the first grammatical paragraph of this Section. The failure of Grantor to issue a valid Notice of Conflict within fifteen (15) days of receipt of a conflicting Notice of Violation shall constitute a waiver of Grantor's ability to claim a conflict. (t) [Add if nonprofit organization is Grantee] Reversion. If the Signatory Agencies determine that Grantee is not holding, monitoring or managing this Conservation Easement for conservation purposes in the manner specified in this Conservation Easement or in the [insert: BEI or CBEI], the Development Plan or the Management Plan then, pursuant to California Government Code Section 65965(c), this Conservation Easement shall revert to the State of California, or to another public agency or nonprofit organization qualified pursuant to Civil Code Section 815.3 and Government Code Section 65965 (and any successor or other provision(s) then applicable) and approved by the • Signatory Agencies. 8. Access. This Conservation Easement does not convey a general right of access to the public. 9. Costs and Liabilities. Grantor retains all responsibilities and shall bear all costs and liabilities of any kind related to the ownership, operation, upkeep, and maintenance of the Bank Property. Grantor agrees that neither Grantee nor Third-Party Beneficiaries shall have any duty or responsibility for the operation, upkeep or maintenance of the Bank Property, the monitoring of hazardous conditions on it, or the protection of Grantor, the public or any third parties from risks relating to conditions on the Bank Property. Grantor remains solely responsible for obtaining any applicable governmental permits and approvals required for any activity or use permitted by this Conservation Easement [insert ifCDFG or another government entity is Grantee: , including permits and approvals required from Grantee acting in its regulatory capacity], and any activity or use shall be undertaken in accordance with all applicable federal, state, local and administrative agency laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, orders and requirements. (a) Taxes:No Liens. Grantor shall pay before delinquency all taxes, assessments (general and special), fees, and charges of whatever description levied on or assessed against the Bank Property by competent authority (collectively "Taxes"), including any Taxes imposed upon, or • 8 CA CE Template Version July 18,2009 incurred as a result of, this Conservation Easement, and shall furnish Grantee with satisfactory evidence of payment upon request. Grantor shall keep the Bank Property free from any liens (other than a security interest that is expressly subordinated to this Conservation Easement, as provided in Section 14(k)), including those arising out of any obligations incurred by Grantor for any labor or materials furnished or alleged to have been furnished to or for Grantor at or for use on the Bank Property. (b) Hold Harmless. (I) Grantor shall hold harmless, protect and indemnify Grantee and its directors, officers, employees,agents, contractors, and representatives and the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of each of them (each a "Grantee Indemnified Party" and collectively, "Grantee's Indemnified Parties") from and against any and all liabilities, penalties, costs, losses, damages, expenses (including, without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees and • experts' fees), causes of action, claims, demands, orders, liens or judgments (each a "Claim" and, collectively, "Claims"), arising from or in any way connected with: (i) injury to or the death of any person, or physical damage to any property, resulting from any act, omission, condition, or other matter related to or occurring on or about the Bank Property, regardless of cause, except that this indemnification shall be inapplicable to any Claim due solely to the negligence of Grantee or any of its employees; (ii) the obligations specified in Sections 5, 9 and 9(a); and (iii) the existence or administration of this Conservation Easement. If any action or proceeding is brought against any of the Grantee's Indemnified Parties by reason of any such Claim, Grantor shall, at the election of and upon written notice from Grantee, defend such action or proceeding by counsel reasonably acceptable to the Grantee's Indemnified Party [insert if CDFG is grantee: or reimburse Grantee for all charges incurred for services of the California Attorney General in defending the action or proceeding]. (2) Grantor shall hold harmless, protect and indemnify Third-Party Beneficiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, and representatives and the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of each of them (each a "Third-Party Beneficiary Indemnified Party" and collectively, "Third-Party Beneficiary Indemnified Parties")from and against any and all Claims arising from or in any way connected with: (i) injury to or the death of any person,or physical damage to any property, resulting from any act, omission, condition, or other matter related to or occurring on or about the Bank Property, regardless of cause and (ii) the existence or administration of this Conservation • Easement. Provided, however, that the indemnification in this Section 9 (b) (2) shall be inapplicable to a Third-Party Beneficiary Indemnified Party with respect to any Claim due solely to the negligence of that Third-Party Beneficiary Indemnified Party or any of its employees. If any action or proceeding is brought against any of the Third-Party Beneficiary Indemnified Parties by reason of any Claim to which the indemnification in this Section 9 (b) (2) applies, then at the election of and upon written notice from the Third-Party Beneficiary Indemnified Party, Grantor shall defend such action.or proceeding by counsel reasonably acceptable to the applicable Third-Party Beneficiary Indemnified Party or reimburse the Third-Party Beneficiary Indemnified Party for all charges incurred for services of the California Attorney General or the U.S. Department of Justice in defending the action or proceeding. • (c) Extinguishment. If circumstances arise in the future that render the preservation of 9 CA CE_Template Version July 18,2009 • Conservation Values, [include this phrase only if there are jurisdictional wetlands: including • wetland functions and values;] or other purposes of this Conservation Easement impossible to accomplish, this Conservation Easement can only be terminated or extinguished, in whole or in part, by judicial proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction. (d) Condemnation. [Use the appropriate paragraph:] [If CDFG or other state agency is Grantee:] Condemnation. This Conservation Easement is a "wildlife conservation easement" acquired by a State agency, the condemnation of which is prohibited except as provided in California Fish and Game Code Section 1348.3. [All other Grantees:] Condemnation. The purposes of this Conservation Easement are presumed to be the best and most necessary public use as defined at California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1240.680 notwithstanding Code of Civil Procedure Sections 1240.690 and 1240.700. 10. Transfer of Conservation Easement or Bank Property. (a) Conservation Easement. This Conservation Easement may be assigned or transferred by Grantee upon written approval of the Signatory Agencies, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, but Grantee shall give Grantor and the Signatory Agencies at least sixty (60) days prior written notice of the proposed assignment or transfer. Grantee may assign or transfer its rights under this Conservation Easement only to an entity or organization: (i) authorized to acquire and hold conservation easements pursuant to California Civil Code Section 815.3 and Government Code Section 65965 (and any successor or other provision(s) then applicable),. or the laws of the United States; and (ii) otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Signatory Agencies. Grantee shall require the assignee to record the assignment in the county where the Bank Property is located. The failure of Grantee to perform any act provided in this section shall not impair the validity of this Conservation Easement or limit its enforcement in any way. Any transfer under this section is subject to the requirements of Section I I. (b) • Bank Property. Grantor agrees to incorporate the terms of this Conservation Easement by . reference in any deed or other legal instrument by which Grantor divests itself of any interest in all or any portion of the Bank Property, including, without limitation, a leasehold interest. Grantor agrees that the deed or other legal instrument shall also incorporate by reference the [insert: BEI or CBEI], the Development Plan, the Management Plan; and any amendment(s) to those documents. Grantor further agrees to give written notice to Grantee and the Signatory Agencies of the intent to transfer any interest at least sixty (60) days prior to the date of such transfer. Grantee or the Signatory Agencies shall have the right to prevent any transfers in which prospective subsequent claimants or transferees are not given notice of the terms, covenants, conditions and restrictions of this Conservation Easement(including the exhibits and documents incorporated by reference in it). The failure of Grantor to perform any act provided in this section shall not impair the validity of this Conservation Easement or limit its enforceability in any way. Any transfer under this section is subject to the requirements of Section I 1 . • 10 CA CE Template Version July 18.2009 • II. Merger. The doctrine of merger shall not operate to extinguish this Conservation Easement if the Conservation Easement and the Bank Property become vested in the same party. If, despite this intent; the doctrine of merger applies to extinguish the Conservation Easement then, unless Grantor. Grantee, and the Signatory Agencies otherwise agree in writing, a replacement conservation easement or restrictive covenant containing the same protections embodied in this Conservation Easement shall.be recorded against the Bank Property.. • 12. Notices. • Any notice, demand, request, consent, approval, or other communication that Grantor or Grantee desires or is required to give to the other shall be in writing, with a copy to each of the Signatory Agencies, and served personally or sent by recognized overnight courier that guarantees next-day delivery or by first class United States mail, postage fully prepaid, addressed as follows: To Grantor: [Grantee name] [Grantee address] Attn: To Grantee: [insert the appropriate Grantee information:] [Department of Fish and Game] • [Region name] Region [REGION ADDRESS] [Attn: Regional Manager] OR [Grantee name] [Grantee address] [Retnove/modify the following blocks as appropriate when CDFG or the USFLVS are not signatories to the BE!or CBEI or third-party beneficiaries to the CE.] To CDFG: [Department of Fish and Game] [Region name] Region [REGION ADDRESS] [Attn: Regional Manager] With a copy to: Department of Fish and Game Office of General Counsel 1416 Ninth Street: 12th Floor Sacramento, CA 95814-2090 Attn: General Counsel To USFWS: United States Fish and Wildlife Service [Field Office name] Field Office [FIELD OFFICE ADDRESS] 11 CA CE Template Version July 18,2009 • Attn: Field Supervisor • [Remove/modify these blocks as appropriate when USEPA or USACE are not signatories to the BEI or CBE!or third-party beneficiaries to the CE.] To USACE: U.S. Army Corps of'Engineers [District name] District [DISTRICT ADDRESS] Attn: Chief, Regulatory Branch To USEPA: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94105 Attn: Director, Water Division or to such other address a party or a Signatory Agency shall designate by written notice to Grantor, Grantee and the Signatory Agencies. Notice shall be deemed effective upon delivery in _ the case of personal delivery or delivery by overnight courier or, in the case of delivery by first class mail, three (3) days after deposit into the United States mail. • 13. Amendment. This Conservation Easement may be amended only by mutual written agreement of Grantor and Grantee and written approval of the Signatory Agencies, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Any such amendment shall be consistent with the purposes of this Conservation Easement and California law governing conservation easements, • and shall not affect its perpetual duration. Any such amendment shall be recorded in the official records of the county in which the Bank Property is located, and Grantee shall promptly provide a conformed copy of the recorded amendment to the Grantor and the Signatory Agencies. 14. Additional Provisions. (a) Controlling Law. The interpretation and performance of this Conservation Easement shall be governed by the laws of the United States and the State of California, disregarding the conflicts of law principles of such state. (b) Liberal Construction. Despite any general rule of construction to the contrary, this conservation Easement shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes of this Conservation Easement and the policy and purpose of California Civil Code Section 815; etseq. [add if Grantee is nonprofit organization: and Government Code Section 65965]. [rally provision in this instrument is found to be ambiguous, an interpretation consistent with the purposes of this Conservation Easement that would render the provision valid shall be favored over any interpretation that would render it - invalid. (c) Severability. If a court of competent jurisdiction voids or invalidates on its face any provision of this Conservation Easement, such action shall not affect the remainder of this 12 CA CE Template Version July 18.2009 • Conservation Easement. If a court of competent jurisdiction voids or invalidates the application of any provision of this Conservation Easement to a person or circumstance, such action shall not affect the application of the provision to any other persons or circumstances. (d) Entire Agreement. This document(including its exhibits and the [insert: BEI or CBEI], the Development Plan, and the Management Plan incorporated by reference in this document) sets forth the entire agreement of the parties and the Signatory Agencies with respect to the Conservation Easement and supersedes all prior discussions, negotiations, understandings, or agreements of the parties relating to the Conservation Easement. No alteration or variation of this Conservation Easement shall be valid or binding unless contained in an amendment in accordance with Section 13. (e) No Forfeiture. Nothing contained in this Conservation Easement will result in a forfeiture or reversion of Grantor's title in any respect. (f) Successors. The covenants, terms, conditions, and restrictions of this Conservation Easement shall be.binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties and their respective personal representatives, heirs, successors, and assigns, and shall constitute a servitude running in perpetuity with the Bank Property. (g) Termination of Rights and Obligations. A party's rights and obligations under this Conservation Easement terminate upon transfer of the party's interest in the Conservation Easement or Bank Property, except that liability for acts, omissions or breaches occurring prior to transfer shall survive transfer. (h) Captions. The captions in this instrument have been inserted solely for convenience of reference and are not a part of this instrument and shall have no effect upon its construction or interpretation. (i) No Hazardous Materials Liability. (I) Grantor represents and warrants that it has no knowledge or notice of any Hazardous Materials (defined below) or underground storage tanks existing, generated, treated, stored, used, released, disposed of, deposited or abandoned in, on, under, or from the Bank Property, or transported to or from or affecting the Bank Property. (2) Without limiting the obligations of Grantor under Section 9 (b), • Grantor hereby releases and agrees to indemnify, protect and hold harmless the Grantee's Indemnified Parties (defined in Section 9 (b) (1))from and against any and all Claims (defined in Section 9 (b)(I)) arising from or connected with any Hazardous Materials or underground - storage tanks present, alleged to be present, released in, from or about, or otherwise associated With the Bank Property at any time, except any Hazardous Materials placed, disposed or released by Grantee or any of its employees. This release and indemnification includes, without 13 CA CE Template Version July 18.2009 • • limitation, Claims for (A) injury to or death of any person or physical damage to any property; and (B)the violation or alleged violation of, or other failure to comply with, any Environmental Laws (defined below). If any action or proceeding is brought against any of the Grantee's Indemnified Parties by reason of any such Claim, Grantor shall, at the election of and upon written notice from the applicable Grantee Indemnified Party, defend such action or proceeding by counsel reasonably acceptable to the Grantee Indemnified Party [add if CDFG is Grantee: or reimburse Grantee for all charges incurred for services of the California Attorney General in defending the action or proceeding]. (3) Without limiting the obligations of Grantor under Section 9 (b), Grantor hereby releases and agrees to indemnify, protect and hold harmless the Third-Party Beneficiary Indemnified Parties (defined in Section 9.(b)(2)) from and against any and all Claims arising from or connected with any Hazardous Materials or underground storage tanks present, alleged to be present, released in, from or about, or otherwise associated with the Bank Property at any time, except that this release and indemnification shall be inapplicable to a Third-Party Beneficiary Indemnified Party with respect to any Hazardous Materials placed, disposed or released by that Third-Party Beneficiary Indemnified Party or any of its employees. This release and indemnification includes, without limitation, Claims for (A) injury to or death of any person or physical damage to any property; and (B) the violation of alleged violation of, or other failure to comply with, any Environmental Laws. If any action or proceeding is brought against any of the Third-Party Beneficiary Indemnified Parties by reason of any such Claim. Grantor shall, at the election or and upon written notice from the applicable Third-Party Beneficiary Indemnified Party, defend such action or proceeding by counsel reasonably acceptable to the Third-Party Beneficiary Indemnified Party for all charges incurred for services of the California Attorney General or the U.S. Department of Justice in defending the action or proceeding. (4) Despite any contrary provision of this Conservation Easement, the parties do not intend this Conservation Easement to be, and this Conservation Easement shall not be, construed such that it creates in or gives to Grantee or any Third-Party Beneficiaries any of the following: (A) The obligations or liability of an "owner" or "operator," as those terms are defined and used in Environmental Laws (defined below), including, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 9601,el seq.; hereinafter; "CERCLA"); or (B) The obligations or liabilities ofa person described in 42 U.S.C. § 9607(a)(3) or(4); or (C) The obligations of a responsible person under any applicable Environmental Laws; or (D) The right to investigate and remediate any Hazardous . Materials associated with the Bank Property; or • (E) Any control over Grantor's ability to investigate, remove, remediate or otherwise clean up any Hazardous Materials associated with the Bank Property. . 14 CA CE Template Version July 18.2009 • (5) The term "Hazardous Materials" includes, without limitation, (a) material that is flammable, explosive or radioactive; (b) petroleum products, including by- products and fractions thereof; and (c) hazardous materials, hazardous wastes, hazardous or toxic substances, or related materials defined in CERCLA, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. § 6901, el seq.; hereinafter, "RCRA"); the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act(49 U.S.C. §5101, et seq.; hereinafter, "HTA"); the Hazardous Waste Control Law (California Health & Safety Code § 25100, et seq.; hereinafter, "HCL"); the Carpenter- Presley-Tanner Hazardous Substance Account Act(California Health & Safety Code § 25300, et seq.; hereinafter "HSA"), and in the regulations adopted and publications promulgated pursuant to them, or any other applicable Environmental Laws now in effect or enacted after the date of this Conservation Easement. • (6) The term "Environmental Laws" includes, without limitation, CERCLA, RCRA, HTA, HCL, HSA, and any other federal, state, local or administrative agency statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, order or requirement relating to pollution, protection of human health or safety, the environment or Hazardous Materials. Grantor represents, warrants and covenants to Grantee and Third-Party Beneficiaries that activities upon and use of the Bank Property by Grantor, its agents, employees, invitees and contractors will comply with all Environmental Laws. • Q) Warranty. Grantor represents and warrants that Grantor is the sole owner of the Bank Property. Grantor also represents and warrants that, except as specifically disclosed to and • approved by the Signatory Agencies pursuant to the Bank Property Assessment and Warranty signed by Grantor and attached as an exhibit to the [insert: BEI or CBEI], [choose applicable statement: there are no outstanding mortgages, liens, encumbrances or other interests in the Bank Property (including, without limitation, mineral interests) which may conflict or are inconsistent with this Conservation Easement or the holder of any outstanding mortgage, lien, encumbrance or other interest in the Bank Property (including, without limitation, mineral interest) which conflicts or is inconsistent with this Conservation Easement has expressly subordinated such interest to this Conservation Easement by a recorded Subordination Agreement approved by Grantee and the Signatory Agencies]. (k) Additional Interests. Grantor shall not grant any additional easements, rights of way or other interests in the Bank Property (other than a security interest that is expressly subordinated to this Conservation Easement), nor shall Grantor grant, transfer, abandon or relinquish (each a "Transfer") any mineral, air, or water right or any water associated with the Bank Property, without first obtaining the written consent of Grantee and the Signatory Agencies. Such consent -- may be withheld if Grantee or the Signatory Agencies determine(s) that the proposed interest or Transfer is inconsistent with the purposes of this Conservation Easement or will impair or interfere with the Conservation Values of the Bank Property. This Section 14(k) shall not limit the provisions of Section 2(d) or 3(n), nor prohibit transfer of a fee or leasehold interest in the Bank Property that is subject to this Conservation Easement and complies with Section 10. Grantor shall provide a copy of any recorded or unrecorded grant or Transfer document to the Grantee and Signatory Agencies. • • 15 CA CE Template Version July 18. 2009 (I) Recording. Grantee shall record this Conservation Easement in the Official Records of the County in which the Bank Property is located, and may re-record it at any time as Grantee deems necessary to preserve its rights in this Conservation Easement. (m) Third-Party Beneficiary. Grantor and Grantee acknowledge that the [include the agencies that will be third-party beneficiaries: CDFG, USFWS, USAGE, and USEPA] (the "Third-Party Beneficiaries") are third party beneficiaries of this Conservation Easement with the right of access to the Bank Property and the right to enforce all of the obligations of Grantor including, but not limited to, Grantor's obligations under Section 14, and all other rights and remedies of the Grantee under this Conservation Easement. (n) Funding. Endowment funding for the perpetual management, maintenance and monitoring of the Bank Property is specified in and governed by the [insert: BEI or CBEI] and the Management Plan. - IN WITNESS WHEREOF Grantor has executed this Conservation Easement Deed the day and year first above written. GRANTOR: Approved as to form: [Remove or modify the approval black as appropriate, i.e., Grantee's legal counsel if CDFG is not Grantee.] BY: General Counsel State of California NAME: Department of Fish and Game TITLE: BY: Ann S. Malcolm General Counsel DATE: • 16 CA CE Template Version July 18,2009 S • [Delete this page if CDFG will not be Grantee. If the Grantee will he a government agency,• that agency must include its own Certificate ofAcceptance.] CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTANCE This is to certify that the interest in real property conveyed by the Conservation Easement Deed by , dated , 20 , to the State of California, Grantee, acting by and through its Department of Fish and Game, a governmental agency (under Government Code § 27281), is hereby accepted by the undersigned officer on behalf of the Grantee pursuant to the Fish and Game Code. GRANTEE: [Remove or modify the approval block as appropriate if CDFG is not Grantee.] STATE OF CALIFORNIA, by and through its DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME By: • Title: Authorized Representative Date: • • • • CA CE Template Version July 18. 2009 • • Management Plan Guide & Annotated Outline • • • • State of California • The Resources Agency DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME A GUIDE AND ANNOTATED OUTLINE FOR WRITING LAND MANAGEMENT PLANS, • December 2007 (Supercedes all previous documents) Lands Program Wildlife Branch Resources Management and Policy Division 1812 Ninth Street Sacramento, CA 95814 • USING THIS OUTLINE • • This outline has been prepared to help you write a management plan that is useful and easily read by those who want information about Department-administered lands. It provides instructions and examples for writing each chapter. It also serves as an example for the required format. Each chapter heading (identified by a Roman numeral) should be addressed within the plan. The amount of information provided within each chapter will be determined by the intensity of management necessary to maintain the property as viable wildlife habitat. In some cases, it may not be necessary to use certain subheadings; these are listed as optional in the outline. Periodically, this outline will be revised to reflect additional information, style improvements, and streamlining efforts. Any questions and comments regarding this outline or the writing of management plans may be directed to the Lands and Facilities Branch, Teresa Le Blanc, (916) 445-3499 or tleblanc @dfg.ca.gov. SOME TIPS AND NECESSARY FORMAT INFORMATION: A Table of Contents containing page numbers for chapters and sections must be provided. Page numbers should appear on every page of your plan, including all maps, tables, and figures. Chapter I, Introduction, is page one and is always unnumbered. All pages preceding page one should be numbered with lower case Roman numerals, starting with -i- on the Table of Contents page. • Tables and figures should be placed immediately following the page where they are first mentioned in the text (for example, if Figure 1 is mentioned on page 3 for the first time, it appears as page 4). All figures should be prepared on 8-1/2 x 11-inch paper so that reproduction remains a simple task. To prepare professional-looking figures, maintain a minimum 'A-inch border. Each figure and table should be numbered and titled. The title should reflect what the figure depicts, such as a location map or habitat types on the property. The numbers and titles of figures and tables may be listed under a separate List of Figures (or Tables); see Table of Contents for example. Compass direction and mileage scale should be included on all figures which illustrate geographical features. • TITLE AND SIGNATURE PAGES The following two pages are examples of the Title Page and Signature Page which are required for each plan. • • EXAMPLE (Title Page) State of California The Resources Agency DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME DRAFT LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN for • (NAME OF AREA) Month, Year EXAMPLE (Signature Page) • (NAME OF AREA) FINAL DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN Prepared by: Name Address Phone • Approved by: Regional Manager Date Deputy Director for Regional Operations Date • • TABLE OF CONTENTS The Table of Contents of each land management plan should follow the same format as shown on page i of this document. All pages, starting with Chapter I, Introduction, are numbered consecutively, including figures, tables, and maps. Appendices have their own separate page numbers such as A-1, A-2,., B-1 , B-2,.... • • • TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. TABLE OF CONTENTS x ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (Optional) x LIST OF FIGURES (Optional) x LIST OF TABLES (Optional) x I. INTRODUCTION x A: Purpose of Acquisition x B. Acquisition History x C. Purpose of This Management Plan x II. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION x A. Geographical Setting x B. Property.Boundaries and Adjacent Lands x C. Geology, Soils, Climate, Hydrology x D. Cultural Features x • 1. Archaeology x 2. Historic Land Use x 3. Existing Structures x III. HABITAT AND SPECIES DESCRIPTION x A. Vegetation Communities, Habitats and Plant Species x B. Animal Species x C. Threatened, Rare or Endangered Species x IV. MANAGEMENT GOALS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS x A. Definition of Terms Used in This Plan x B. Biological Elements: Goals & Environmental Impacts x 1. Operations and Maintenance Tasks (Optional) x C. Public Use Elements: Goals & Environmental Impacts x 1. Operations and Maintenance Tasks (Optional) x D. Facility Maintenance Elements: Goals & Environmental Impacts x • 1. Operations and Maintenance Tasks (Optional) x • • E. Biological Monitoring Element 1. Species and Habitat Monitoring 2. Consistency with any regional planning effort V. OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SUMMARY A. Operations and Maintenance Tasks to Implement Plan (if not provided under IV.B.1 , C.1 , or D.1 above) x • B. Existing Staff and Additional Personnel Needs Summary x C. Operations and Maintenance Summary (Optional) x VI. REFERENCES (For all citations within plan) x APPENDICES: As necessary to list: Legal description of property, Animal and plant species, Soil types/surveys, • • Climatic information Environmental Checklist and Discussion of potential impacts (CEQA) Additional Consultation Documents Public comments and our responses to them MOU/MA Site interpretive plan Fire plan • Monitoring plan Grazing plan -i i- • • • ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (Optional) The author(s) may wish to thank groups or individuals who helped prepare the plan or provided necessary information or guidance. LIST OF FIGURES (Optional) If appropriate, a list of figures (which includes all maps, drawings, or charts) may be provided here along with their page numbers. • LIST OF TABLES (Optional) If appropriate, a list of any tables provided in the management plan may be provided here along with their page numbers. -iii- • I. INTRODUCTION • A. Purpose of Acquisition Describe the primary purpose for which this property was acquired by the Department, using the Land Acquisition Evaluation (LAE) or Conceptual Area Protection Plan (CAPP) and Wildlife Conservation Board minutes for consistency. Additional purposes should also • . be stated. Be brief, but provide summary information about the management objectives presented later within the plan. Describe the resources protected by this acquisition in very general terms. B. Acquisition History (This section may be combined with Section A if the description is straightforward) Describe the circumstances leading to acquisition which might include local or regional development pressure, environmental concerns, inholding consolidation, or other issues, and list any local or regional groups which had influence in promoting this acquisition. If this acquisition is part of a CAPP or an addition to an existing DFG property, it should be mentioned here. If it is an addition, then this plan would be an "addendum to the existing plan." Give the acquisition transaction date(s) and the total number of acres acquired. This • information is available from the Regional Lands Coordinator who should have a file for each property in the region. The Regional Lands Coordinator also maintains an updated lands inventory containing this information. If special or dedicated funds were used to acquire this property and, therefore, may possibly influence management objectives, name the source of funding here. • C. Purpose of This Management Plan The following language is required to be stated in the plan to clearly delineate the department's purposes in preparing such plans: 1) The plan guides the adaptive management of habitats, species, and programs described herein to achieve the department's mission to protect and enhance wildlife values. 2) The plan serves as a guide for appropriate public uses of the property. 3) The plan serves as a descriptive inventory of fish, wildlife and native plant habitats which occur on or use this property. -2- • • 4) The plan provides an overview of the property's operation and maintenance, and • personnel requirements to implement management goals. It serves as a budget planning aid for annual regional budget preparation. 5) The plan provides a description of potential and actual environmental impacts and subsequent mitigation which may occur during management, and contains environmental documentation to comply with state and federal statutes and regulations. • • • • -3- • • II. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION • This chapter should provide the most current information available to describe the geographical, physical, and cultural site characteristics and features to promote good management of the area. Some of the following subsections may be combined if the subjects below are addressed and information is presented in a logical sequence. • • A. Geographical Setting Describe property location clearly, giving written instructions on how it can be reached by . land transportation, and provide a regional map (Map 1) which identifies county and major state or federal highway access to the property. Local towns and crossroads should be shown, as well as compass direction (north), and mileage scale. This is an overview map which gives the unfamiliar reader a regional perspective for locating the property. The map may be a computer-generated schematic or high quality hand-prepared technical illustration; it can also be prepared using a highway map, as long as the reproduction is clear and understandable. The map size should be 8-1/2 x 11 inches. B. Property Boundaries and Adjacent Land Use Provide a property map (Map 2) with boundaries distinctly outlined to place it in perspective with adjacent lands. Boundaries should be understandable so that map-users can identify DFG lands. The map should contain sufficient detail to provide information on entrances to and any open roads within the site. Compass direction and mileage scale should be given on the map. Size should be 8-1/2 x 11 inches. Give a brief description of adjacent land use and prior land use on the property, if known, and provide the names of the USGS topographic map quadrangles in which the property is located. Provide legal property descriptions (Township/Range/Section or metes and bounds) in an appendix (this information is contained in the quarterly lands inventory held by the Regional Lands Coordinator). [It is strongly suggested that each region maintain a photo file of any existing indicators of boundaries of properties owned by DEG within that region. Old fences, rock walls, • monuments, or other physical structures should be photographed as soon as escrow • closes. These photographs should be kept on file with the other land inventory documents in each regional office.] C. Geology, Soils, Climate and Hydrology • • • 4_ 110 • • Thes• e subjects may be combined into one subheading or separated for individual discussion, depending upon how much information is provided. You should give the reader an overall assessment of geological, edaphic, climatic and hydrologic factors which will influence management objectives. You only need to provide information which is pertinent to management of the area. Geological information which describes how the area evolved or how it relates to the surrounding geological formations can be useful in describing the overall area (eg., alluvial valleys, volcanic outcrops, floodplains). Soil survey information, obtained from National Resource Conservation Service for most counties, may influence species distributions, water regimes and agricultural activities. Soil types which have significant impacts on management should be discussed here. A soils map may be helpful in making management decisions if soil types are important or complex. A detailed description is not necessary unless it relates to management. A discussion of local climate should include useful information such as seasonal norms for high and low temperatures, seasonal average precipitation, growing season, and any other climatic factors which influence the area, or should be considered in managing the property. On some properties, hydrological and water right information will be extremely important. • Describe all known surface and subsurface water sources and their seasonal influences on management of the area. If there are wells on the area, the depth to groundwater and pumping rate should be provided, if known. Provide information regarding any surface water rights, (i.e. riparian, pre-1914, adjudicated, appropriative) and current points of diversion. For appropriative rights, include State Water Resources Control Board application permit and license numbers and identify whether use is for direct diversion, storage or both. Also, identify any contracts, MOU's or other agreements related to water use. Please contact the Water Coordinator at (916) 323-7215 if you have further questions about water appropriation, contracts or water rights issues for wildlife areas or ecological reserves. D. Cultural Features Describe any known archeological sites without providing their specific locations on the property, and include a summary of the results of any site surveys/inventories, including who conducted them. An assessment of the impacts of management should be given for such sites. Check within the CEQA Guidelines for appropriate action in dealing with suspected or existing archeological sites. All database searches and actual field survey data are confidential. Check with the Lands Program on appropriate archival storage. At the minimum, state that an archeological survey will be initiated where appropriate, prior to any management activity. • -5- • • Describe all existing structures including roads, levees, fencing, and buildings, and their intended future use on the area. If such structures are likely to be considered "historical resources" of the state pursuant to Executive Order W-26-92 and historic resources preservation laws, all state agencies must preserve and maintain these resources to the extent prudent and feasible within existing budget and personnel resources. Information may also be obtained from the State Historical Preservation Office and the California Native American Heritage Commission. [The region should maintain a photographic inventory of all structures present on the property at the time of close of escrow.] • • -6- • • III. HABITAT AND SPECIES DESCRIPTION This chapter provides a descriptive inventory of habitats and species which are located on or use the property. General ecological information necessary for proper management of habitats should be presented in this section. Ensure that the distinction between "potential" and "known to occur" (with reference) is documented for all species. This information will be included in a database developed by the Lands. Program to catalog the biological resources occurring on the Department's lands. This database is known as the Biological Resources Inventory (BRI). A. Vegetation Communities, Habitats and Plant Species Describe each major native plant community or habitat which occurs on the property. If helpful, a vegetation or habitat map can be included here. Be sure to name any special natural communities which are listed in the Natural Diversity Database (NDDB) which can be accessed through the "Rarefind 3" program, available from the Biogeographic Data Branch at (916) 324-3812 or at their website. General habitat descriptions should follow the "List of California Terrestrial Natural Communities" based on the classification described in A Manual • of California Vegetation (Sawyer-Keeler Wolf 1995). You may also use the classification system employed by the Department's Wildlife Area Habitat Committee for more intensively managed wetland units. Provide an inventory (list), if available, of native plant species which are known or likely to occur on the property. Include non-native vegetation as well. Generally, the list can be placed in an appendix, but major species affected by or targeted for management should be mentioned within the text. An overview of their habitat and management requirements should be presented here. Use proper nomenclature for preparing the list of species which generally includes scientific name (the common name should also be included). The regional plant ecologist can provide assistance in how to prepare these lists. If an inventory has not yet been completed for the property, the Department's Habitat Conservation Branch (HCB) . has requested that the plan adopt their recommended language for plant surveys. For example, make a statement to the effect that at the earliest feasible • opportunity, and before natural habitats are manipulated, inventories will be conducted to determine that no rare, threatened or endangered plant or special plant species or communities will be negatively impacted by management activities. This language can be acquired by contacting HCB at (916) 653-4875 or by visiting their website. • -7- S B. Animal Species Provide an inventory (list), if available, of animals (including fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals) which are known to inhabit or seasonally use this property. Lists can be placed in an appendix, but species affected by or designated for particular management objectives should be mentioned here. An overview of their habitat and management requirements should be presented here. If inventories have not yet been completed, provide a list of species which could potentially inhabit or use the area based on personal field experience and the Department's California Wildlife Habitat Relationships (CWHR) model. Further information may be found by contacting the CWHR Program at (916) 327-8822. Make a statement to the effect that at the earliest feasible opportunity, and before natural habitats are manipulated, inventories will be conducted to determine that no animal T&E species or special species will be negatively impacted by management activities. C. Endangered, Threatened and Rare Species List all T&E and rare plants and animals which use the property and briefly • describe their ecological requirements. This includes all federal or state listed species as well as those of special concern to the department. Mammals, birds, plants, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, and amphibians require separate headings if combined into one list. State that internal coordination has been accomplished with Department experts to address any management concerns for state-listed species. Document the internal coordination in writing and referenced in an addendum. The documentation may be entitled "Information on the Effects of the Implementation of the Management Plan on Special Status Species." If a species is federally-listed, but not state-listed, at a minimum there should be consultation with the USFWS (pursuant to our Section 6(c) Cooperative Agreement, dated 8/26/91). This consultation will result in a decision on whether a Federal Biological Opinion is necessary. Consultation should also occur with other federal agencies where appropriate. -8- • IV. MANAGEMENT GOALS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Chapter IV defines the terms used and provides management direction and CEQA documentation for management actions on this property. The goals and tasks stated here should guide all management decisions until such time as the plan is revised and updated. This chapter provides documentation required by federal and state laws pertinent to environmental impacts and endangered species protection. The following terms and definitions (in boldface) should be presented at the beginning of this chapter to familiarize the reader with terminology used in the plan. Include definitions for only those terms you use in the plan. A. Definitions of Terms Used in This Plan 1. Element: An element refers to any biological unit, public use activity, or facility maintenance program as defined below for which goals have been prepared and presented within this plan. • Since the "elements" are the basis of the plan, be sure to discuss what types of elements are necessary with other regional staff that is familiar with the area and/or resources. We don't want to have so many elements, that goals become redundant, but we do want to discuss all elements to be affected by management on the property. 2. Biological Element: These elements consist of species, habitats, or communities for which specific management goals have been developed within the plan. With the exception of state- or federally-listed species, biological elements should always be defined in terms of habitat management programs, since the Department's current management objectives are ecosystem or multi-species oriented. When appropriate, state- or federally-listed species management goals should also be contained within the context of a habitat management program. In some cases, this may not be possible and single species management programs should then be considered as separate biological elements. • -9- Within each defined biological element using the NDDB classification based on • Sawyer-Keeler Wolf habitats, biological and public use management goals should be specified and described. Criteria used to identify biological elements have been determined by the Department and include but are not limited to the following: a) Protection of the element is authorized or mandated by legislation or official policy (e.g., furthering the goals of the North American Waterfowl Plan, Wetlands Policy, or Proposition 70). An example: Coastal and Valley Freshwater Marsh (NDDB type). b) Any listed, candidate, or sensitive species, or species of special concern known or suspected to occur on or to use the property must be specified within another element or as a separate biological element. c) Essential habitat for one or more listed species must be specified as a biological element. An example is vernal pool habitat upon which numerous state-listed plant species depend. d) Manipulated habitats which are intensively managed for fish and wildlife values must be specified as biological elements. An example is Coastal and Valley_Freshwater Marsh which is created and/or enhanced on certain DFG lands for migratory waterfowl and other associated wetland species. e) Restoration efforts which may restore an extirpated species or habitat, or maintenance efforts which may avoid the threat of extirpation. An example is Great Valley Cottonwood Riparian (NDDB type). 3. . Public Use Elements: Public use elements are any recreational, scientific, or other use activity appropriate to and compatible with the purposes for which this property was acquired. When drafting appropriate public use activities, think about potential impacts to the area's resources. The proposed public use should be related to wildlife or wild lands. In addition, a reasonable and defensible correlation between the proposed public use and how it relates to the primary mission of the Department's land management policies should be articulated. If reasonable public use is justified, it may also be tempered with limits on actual number of public involved, lottery scenarios and other methods to avoid resource impacts. Be sure to coordinate with any existing CCR Title 14, Sections 550-552 or Section 630 regulations. • -10- • • Additionally, the USFWS may have future draft polices regarding other activities on federally-aided Department properties. Please contact the Federal Aid Coordinator, at (916) 445-3472 for further information. Criteria used to characterize such public use elements include but are not limited to: a) Use is authorized or mandated by legislation or official policy (e.g., uses such as hunting, fishing, and interpretive programs). b) Use is compatible with fish and wildlife requirements in the area if properly conducted (e.g., hunting or scientific research programs). c) Historical uses which may be restricted seasonally or year-round under this plan due to incompatibility with biological element needs (e.g., fishing or interpretive programs). 4. Facility Maintenance Element: This is a general purpose element describing the maintenance and administrative program which helps maintain orderly and beneficial management of the area. • This might also include canned language regarding the Fish and Game Commission's "Interim Joint Policy on Pre, During and Post Fire Activities and Wildlife Habitat" with the California State Board of Forestry which may be applied to Department lands. In brief, the policy calls for coordination with local regional CDF units on wildfire suppression, staging fire fighting equipment, access points, identifying safety hazard areas to fire fighting personnel, post fire activities (eg: restoration ) and preventive fuel or fire breaks, specifically in sensitive habitat areas. A statement may be needed to address local vegetation clearance ordinances and various appropriate clearing methods (eg. mowing, discing, blading, etc.). In some cases, a separate prescription burn plan may be appropriate, described briefly under a "Biological Element" and the plan attached as an addendum. An example of a facility maintenance element is provided later in this chapter. 5. Biological Goal: A biological goal is the statement of intended long- range results of management based upon the feasibility of maintaining, enhancing or restoring species populations and/or habitat. • -11- S Biological goals may be, for example, restoration of riparian habitat to its pre- disturbed state or maintaining a particular habitat for optimal deer herd size. 6. Public Use Goal: A public use goal is the statement of the desired type and level of public use compatible with the biological element goals previously specified within the plan. Public use goals could be to educate the public about rare species or special habitats on the property, or to promote hunting or fishing programs on the property. Examples of goals are: 1) to provide nesting habitat for a certain species over a given period of time; 2) to revegetate a former riparian community; 3) to build ponds and/or levees to provide wintering waterfowl areas; 4) to maintain roads for public access. 7. Tasks: Tasks are the individual projects or work elements which implement the goal and are useful in planning operation and • maintenance budgets. Examples of tasks are: 1) grading and graveling roads; 2) specific maintenance on existing levees; 3) description of types of revegetation efforts; 4) specific maintenance tasks on buildings. • Chapter IV, Part B is the most important section, so read thoroughly: B. Biological Elements: Goals & Environmental Impacts • Section B should have a subsection for every biological element described. Within each subsection, provide: 1) the name and general description of biological element; 2) general long-range goals; • -12- • 3) operations and maintenance tasks required to complete each goal (this . information is optional): A description should accompany each qoal which provides management information and direction on how to meet or exceed the goal. Tasks should be described sufficiently to provide information on how restoration, maintenance, or enhancement of this particular element will be accomplished. If O&M tasks are listed in a summary table, these should provide specific detail on how goals will be met by task performance. After the goals are characterized, briefly describe any internal or external management constraints which may affect meeting those goals. Some examples are: 1) environmental factors such as the influence of local water availability (either surface or subsurface waters); the introduction or spread of non-native species; presence of T&E species; flood; drought; erosion; air pollution; hazardous waste materials; 2) legal, political or social factors such as federal, legislative, or Fish and Game • Commission policies or regulations which influence or mandate certain types of management; special permitting requirements (eg., COE 404, T&E species, archeological sites); city and/or county ordinances (eg., nuisance abatement); MOUs or other special agreements with private or public entities; water, timber, or mineral rights for the area; 3) financial factors such as the source of funding to be used for operation and maintenance, personnel requirements, and overall management of the area (fund source may dictate management direction). Discuss potential environmental impacts from management decisions and mitigation measures which will be employed, if necessary, to avoid or significantly reduce such impacts. If the plan doesn't describe proposed management actions and consider their impacts in sufficient detail, CEQA requirements will not be adequately fulfilled by this plan. Any new activities will have to be addressed in future, stand alone CEQA documents on a project-by-project basis. The Department's land management planning process is subject to CEQA based on the interpretation that the planning of certain management tasks with the intent of implementing those tasks falls under the definition of a "project". CEQA defines projects as any activities which may cause a direct physical change or a • -13- reasonably foreseeable physical change in the environment. Depending on the • specificity of goals and /or tasks described in the plan, the Region determines whether or not the plan will be considered a "project" under CEQA definition. However, an environmental checklist shall be prepared to show that appropriate consideration was given to potential environmental impacts with the accompanying Negative Declaration. In rare cases, there may be circumstances when a proposed management activity(ies) may result in significant adverse impacts. That determination may trigger an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Regional personnel should consult with the Lands Program and Habitat Conservation Planning staff in the Region and at headquarters for further direction. When describing goals for T&E species elements, follow federal and state guidelines which include consultation with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) or NOAA Fisheries Service for federally-listed species which use the property. It is the intent of the Department and Fish and Game Commission policy not to undertake projects that adversely impact a rare, threatened or endangered species or their habitats (paraphrased from DFG's operations manual and Fish and Game Code, Section 2053). Internal discussion for state listed species shall be coordinated with the Department's own experts either in the Region or at Headquarters. Although formal "Biological Opinions" are not prepared, document the coordination in writing that addresses any potential management actions that • may impact state listed plants, animals or their habitats. The documentation may be an Addendum to the plan and may be entitled "Information on the Effects of Implementation of the Management Plan on Special Status Species". If a species is federally-listed, but not state-listed, at a minimum there should be consultation with the USFWS (pursuant to our Section 6(c) Cooperative Agreement, dated 8/26/91) or NOAA depending upon which agency has jurisdiction for the species. This consultation will result in a decision on whether a Federal Biological Opinion is necessary. Some examples of biological elements (using NDDB habitat types) are: 1) Rare, threatened or endangered plant or animal species 2) coastal brackish marsh 3) California annual grassland 4) coastal and valley freshwater marsh • 5) Great Valley cottonwood riparian 6) Non-native, pasture, ag types (DFG internal descriptions) The following is a biological element example with goals and tasks: -14- • • • • Biological Element: Coastal and Valley Freshwater Marsh Maintain optimum winter habitat for migratory waterfowl by on-going marsh management techniques to optimize winter food availability for migratory species. Goal: Continue with established flooding and drawdown timetable; maintain mode of dynamic experimental vernal/summer seasonal wetland management. Goal: Continue mechanical manipulation of wetland vegetation during summer dry period (when T&E species will not be impacted) to maintain adequate open water during flooded period. Task: Disc 100 acres of tules annually to maintain marsh in optimal successional stage. Task: Repair leaking levees to prevent premature drawdowns. Task: Build 4 additional nesting islands in specified units. Task: Clean specified water supply ditches. • You may have several goals for each biological element. Listing individual tasks is optional, but increasing the amount of specific information within the plan will greatly increase the value of CEQA documentation. Also, if tasks are not itemized here, there must be a workplan/task summary in the final chapter, Operations and • Maintenance Summary. If you wish to discuss the goals for each element in a narrative format, in order to provide more detail or to clarify certain management issues, be as succinct as possible while providing sufficient information to meet CEQA requirements. Don't forget to discuss management constraints, environmental impacts, and mitigation measures (if applicable). C. Public Use Elements: Goals & Environmental Impacts This Section is prepared in the same manner as Section B. It includes a narrative describing the program for each public use element, its goals and tasks (optional), management constraints, and environmental impacts and potential mitigation measures. In describing public use, you are asked to not use the terms, "consumptive"or "nonconsumptive,"because of the inaccurate perception they • • -15- promote. You may want to use terms like hunting, angling, birdwatching, nature • observation, etc. • If hunting programs will be managed on the property, describe each program and the goals and potential impacts associated with them. If an interpretive services program is to be conducted on the property (such as providing hiking trails, or bird tours, describe in sufficient detail the type of program(s) to be implemented along with any associated goals and potential impacts associated with them. • As in previous sections, environmental impacts must be discussed for each public use program, and, if appropriate, mitigation measures to offset such impacts should be described in detail. If T&E species may be impacted by any public use program, those impacts should be discussed briefly within the public use element and reference made to the DFG documentation or federal consultation prepared for that species. Ask regional interpretive and other staff for their input, depending upon what type of public use is being considered for the area. In 1989, the Department adopted guidelines for interpretive plans or prospectuses and if drafted could be referenced as an appendix item. Conservation Planning staff should be consulted on listed species and potential public use conflicts. • Some examples of public use elements are: 1) Pheasant hunting program 2) General public recreation (including bird watching, plant identification, other self-guided activities) 3) Watchable Wildlife program (on certain wildlife areas and ecological reserves) 4) Fishing program 5) Scientific research, surveys or monitoring (by outside groups) 6) Trails, blinds, boardwalks or viewing platforms 7) Interpretive centers, educational kiosks D. Facility Maintenance Element: Goals & Environmental Impacts This Section describes the physical facility and grounds maintenance program which includes the administration necessary to maintain orderly and beneficial management of the area. (Not all properties will require this section. If access and boundary identification features such as roads and fences are present, this section is required.) -16- • S The following examples of goals and tasks are paraphrased and excerpted from the Mendota plan; you may quote them if you like: Properly administer overall management of the property by: Goal: Maintain accurate business records on expenditures, staff, maintenance, and other administrative duties. Goal: Maintain regular office hours in order to respond to public requests for information in a timely manner and otherwise conduct the state's business in a normal manner. Goal: Maintain all equipment, vehicles, facilities, residences, office structures, shop and associated buildings, fuel tanks, and any related items in optimum working condition to maximize efficient use of operating expenses allocated to this area. Task: Regular inspection and servicing of all heavy equipment and vehicles. • Task: Regular inspection and repair of all buildings, residences and structures. This may include items such as plumbing, electrical, painting, fixtures, and any other features necessary to protect health and safety of staff and visitors to the property. Task: Regular inspection and maintenance of fuel tanks to comply with federal and state laws. As with the other elements, you may list tasks here or in the next chapter. Don't forget to outline potential environmental impacts and mitigation, if appropriate, associated with facility maintenance goals and objectives. Briefly describe T&E species concerns, if appropriate, and refer reader to the specific internal CESA coordination document or federal consultation for further information. F. Biological Monitoring Element .. This Section is prepared in the same manner as Section B. It includes a narrative describing the program for each monitoring element, its goals and tasks (optional), the optimal monitoring season for special or targeted species/habitats and any known constraints, limitations or methodologies. In this section, you should include any standard • 17- or required protocols and discuss the relevance and consistency of any regional planning efforts (NCCPs, HCPs, watershed plans) with this area management plan. Sections within the regional plans relating to monitoring should be reiterated here. Regional partnerships or any state obligations for monitoring of"preserve design" or plan compliance should also be discussed. V. OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SUMMARY This chapter contains information in a summary format which will guide budget preparation and work plans for the property. Section A, Operations and Maintenance Tasks, is not necessary if the information has already been presented in Chapter IV. Section C is also optional. A. Operations and Maintenance Tasks to Implement Plan If you have not already listed them in the previous section, use this section to itemize O&M tasks required to fulfill goals for previously described biological, public use, and facilities maintenance elements. You should give brief descriptions of specific operations and maintenance tasks which are necessary to implement the goals of this plan. This will help provide information necessary for annual budget preparation for management of the property. • B. Existing Staff and Additional Personnel Needs Summary Summarize the number of existing staff employed at or who spend a percentage of their work schedule performing tasks on the property, and any additional requirements for personnel, both full time and temporary. Briefly outline the justifications for personnel requested without going into specific task descriptions. Provide the position classifications required to fully implement the plan as written. This may be in narrative or table format. C. Operations and Maintenance Summary (Optional) This section is optional and is provided for those who desire to summarize all estimated operations and maintenance costs associated with management of the property. This summary would provide more specific information required for annual budget preparation. -18- • • The following table is provided as the preferred format for such a summary: TABLE. OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SUMMARY OPTIONS Option 1: Summary Table: Costs summarized by goal. Goals Prior- Labor Personnel On-Going One-Time ity* (in PYs) Class Cost $ Cost $ 1 . Preserve T&E species 1 0.17 WHS I $10,000 $5,000 A. Conduct Surveys B. Avoid Impacts Continue until all goals are summarized. TOTAL: Total No. $ Total $ Total *Define meaning of priorities. • Option 2: Summary Table: Costs summarized by goals and tasks: Goals and tasks Prior- Labor Personnel On-Going One-Time ity* (in PYs) Class Cost $ Cost $ 1. Preserve T&E species 1 0.17 WHS I A. Conduct Surveys $1,000 $ 5,000 B. Avoid Impacts 9,000 (Continue until all goals and tasks are summarized.) TOTAL: Total No. $ Total $ Total VI. REFERENCES Use standard scientific reference nomenclature to cite authors and their published research. Be sure to add references when using information from other sources; for example, you should reference the WHR or Sawyer-Keeler-Wolf habitat designations. • • -19- • Example: Department of Fish and Game. 1999. List of California Terrestrial Natural Communities Recognized by the California Natural Diversity Database. Sacramento. Meyers, K.E. and W.F. Laudenslayer, Jr., Eds. 1988. A Guide to Wildlife Habitats of California. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Sacramento. APPENDICES All appendices should be preceded by a title page which uniquely identifies it (e.g., Appendix A - Legal Description of Property). All pages within this appendix should be numbered consecutively: A-1, A-2, A-3, .... Use Appendices as necessary to list such items as: 1) Property descriptions 2) Animal and plant species inventories 3) Soil surveys 4) Climatic information ' 5) Other useful but secondary information. 6) Environmental checklist and discussion of potential impacts (CEQA) • 7) CESA internal coordination 8) Additional consultation documents 9) Public Comments 10) Our response to public comments 11) MOU/MA 12) Site interpretive plan 13) fire plan • -20- 111 • Section 7 Consultation Selected Review Criteria • • Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office Selected Review Criteria for Section 7 Off-Site Compensation Revised Oct. 2009 Property Assurances and Conservation Easement ❑ Title Report(preliminary at proposal, and Final Title Insurance at recordation), shall be no older than six months; U Property Assessment and Warranty; n Subordination Agreement [if there is any outstanding debt on the property); Li Legal Description and Parcel Map; n Conservation Easement (should use the current multi-agency standardized CE template document); or I Non-Template Conservation Easement; M Site Assessment and Development • - Phase I Environmental Site Assessment; n Restoration or Development Plan; n Construction Security[if applicable]; in Performance Security; Site Management - Interim Management Plan; ❑ Interim Management Security Analysis and Schedule; ❑ Long-Term Management Plan; ❑ Endowment Fund Analysis and Schedule; **Guidelines to assist in understanding what is required are detailed on pages 2-7. Guidelines Property Assurances and Conservation Easement(CE) Title Report 1. Who holds fee title to property? Should be the Project Applicant. If not, there may be liability and contracting issues. • 2. Are there any liens or encumbrances (existing debts or easements) on the property? a. Review necessary supporting instruments to evaluate liens and encumbrances. Property owner should submit a"Property Assessment and Warranty,"which discusses each and every exception listed on the Preliminary and Final Title Insurance Policies, evaluating any potential impacts to the conservation value that could result from the exceptions (see below). b. The Property Assessment and Warranty template is available at http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es/cons bank.htm, and should include a summary and full explanation of all exceptions remaining on the title, with a statement that the owner/Grantor accepts responsibility for all lands being placed under the CE as available for the primary purposes of the easement, as stated in the easement, and assures that these lands have a free and clear title and are available to be placed under the CE. 3. Could any of these liens or encumbrances potentially interfere with either biological habitat values or ownership? If existing easements can potentially interfere with the conservation values/habitat of the property, those portions of the land should be deducted from the total compensation acreage(or number of credits)available on the site. 4. A Subordination Agreement is necessary if there is any outstanding debt on the property. Review Subordination Agreement for adequacy—the lending bank or other lien holder must agree to fully subordinate each lien or encumbrance. Legal Description and Parcel Man 1. Ensure accuracy of map, and location and acreage protected under the CE. 2. Both the map and the legal description should explain the boundaries of the individual project compensation site. The site should not have `leftover' areas for later use. Conservation Easement from Template 1. The current CE template can be found at http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es/cons_bank.htm. 2. Who will hold the easement? a. Must have third-party oversight by a qualified non-profit or government agency. Qualifications include: i. Organized under IRC 501(c)(3); SFWO, Selected Review Criteria for Section 7 Off-site Compensation Rev.Oct.2009 2 ii. Qualified under CA Civil Code § 815; iii. Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation, and biographies of Board of Directors on file at, and approved, by USFWS. 1. Must meet requirements of USFWS, including 51% disinterested parties on the Board of Directors; b. Must have satisfactorily completed the CDFG due diligence process for easement/endowment holders and/or be accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/home. 3. If not using the multi-agency template, applicant should specify objections they have to the template as provided, and may substantially delay processing as they will require Solicitor review. Alternate CEs must be approved by the USFWS prior to recording. Non-Template Conservation Easements 1. You must either 1) add USFWS as a third-party beneficiary, or 2) add language throughout the document, in all appropriate places,that will assure USFWS the right to enforce, inspect, and approve any and all uses and/or changes under the CE prior to occurrence(including land use, biological management or ownership). 2. Include,at a minimum, language to: a. Reserve all mineral, air, and water rights under the CE as necessary to maintain and operate the site in perpetuity; b. Ensure all future development rights are forfeited; c. Ensure all prohibited uses contained in the multi-agency conservation agreement template are addressed; and d. Link the CE,Management Plan, and the Endowment Trust Fund within the document'(e.g.,note that each exists to support the others, and where each of the documents can be located if a copy is required). 3. Insert necessary language, particularly, but not exclusively, per: (can compare to multi-agency CE template) a. Rights of Grantee b. Grantee's Duties c. Reserved Rights d. Enforcement e. Remedies f. Access g. Costs and Liabilities h. Assignment and Transfer i. Merger j. Notices SFWO, Selected Review Criteria for Section 7 Off-site Compensation Rev.Oct.2009 3 Site Assessment and Development Phase I Environmental Site Assessment 1. The Assessment must show that the compensation site is not subject to any recognized environmental conditions as defined by the American Society for Testing and Materials(ASTM) Standard E1527-05 "Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process, available at http://www.astm.org/Standards/E1527.htm, (i.e., the presence or likely presence of any Hazardous Substances or petroleum products). 2. If the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment identifies any recognized environmental conditions,the Project Applicant must represent and warrant to the USFWS that all appropriate assessment, clean-up,remedial, or removal action has been completed. Development Plan (not required if doing preservation only] 1. The overall plan governing construction and habitat establishment activities required to be conducted on the Property, including, without limitation, creation, restoration, and enhancement of habitat. a. This plan should include the baseline conditions of the Property including biological resources, geographic location and features,topography, hydrology, vegetation, past, present, and adjacent land uses, verified Waters of the U.S. Jurisdictional Determination, if applicable, species and habitats occurring on the property, a description of the activities and methodologies for creating, restoring, or enhancing habitat types, a map of the approved modifications, overall habitat establishment goals, objectives and Performance Standards,monitoring methodologies required to evaluate and meet the Performance Standards, an approved schedule for reporting monitoring results, a discussion of possible remedial actions, and any other information deemed necessary by the USFWS. 2. Any permits and other authorizations needed to construct and maintain the site shall be included and in place prior to the start of construction of the habitat. 3. Full construction plans for any habitat construction must be USFWS-approved prior to the start of construction of the habitat. Construction Security a. The Project Applicant shall furnish a Construction Security in the amount of 100%of a reasonable third party estimate or contract to create,restore, or enhance habitats on the property in accordance with the Development Plan. b. The Construction Security shall be in the form of an irrevocable standby letter of credit, or a cashier's check. i. The letter of credit, if chosen, shall be issued for a period of at least one year, and shall provide that the expiration date will be SFWO, Selected Review Criteria for Section 7 Off-site Compensation Rev.Oct.2009 4 • automatically extended for at least one year on each successive expiration date unless, until extension is no longer necessary. Performance Security c. The Project Applicant shall furnish a Performance Security in the amount of 20% of the Construction Security. d. The Performance Security shall be in the form of an irrevocable standby letter of credit, or a cashier's check. i. The letter of credit, if chosen, shall he issued for a period of at least one year, and shall provide that the expiration date will be automatically extended for at least one year on each successive expiration date unless, until extension is no longer necessary. 4. The Construction and Performance Securities must: a. Be held by a qualified, Service-approved, non-profit organization or government agency [see requirements under CE above], and b. Be held according to minimum standards for assuring maximum success in earning potential, and will include assurances for no loss of principle, and c. Disbursements or releases from each of the funds must be for documented expenditures, as they occur. Site Management • Interim Management Plan I. The Interim Management Plan should identify the short-term management, monitoring, and reporting activities to be conducted from the time construction ends until the Endowment Fund has been fully funded for one year and all the Performance Standards in the Development Plan have been met. Interim Management Security Analysis and Schedule a. The Project Applicant shall furnish an Interim Management Security (in the form of a standby letter of credit) in the amount equal to the estimated cost to implement the Interim Management Plan during the first year of the Interim Management Period, as set for in the Interim Management Security Analysis and Schedule b. The Interim Management Security Analysis and Schedule shall consist of a table and/or spreadsheet that shows all of the tasks (management, monitoring, reporting), task descriptions, labor(hours), cost per unit, cost frequency, timing or scheduling of the tasks, the total annual funding necessary for each task, and any associated assumptions for each task required by the Interim Management Plan. The total annual expenses should include administration and contingency costs. c. The Interim Management Security must: • SFWO, Selected Review Criteria for Section 7 Off-site Compensation Rev.Oct.2009 5 i. Be held by a qualified, Service-approved, non-profit organization or government agency [see requirements under CE above], and ii. Be held according to minimum standards for assuring maximum success in earning potential, and will assurances for no loss of principle. iii. Disbursements or releases from the fund must be for documented expenditures, as they occur. Long-Term Management Plan(LTMPI 1. The LTMP template can be found at http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es/cons bank.htm and identifies the long- term management, monitoring and reporting activities to be conducted after the interim Management Period. 2. The LTMP should include at minimum: a. Purpose of the Project and purpose of the LTMP; b. A baseline description of the setting, location, history, and types of land use activities, geology, soils, climate, hydrology,habitats present(once project meets Performance Standards), and species descriptions; c. Overall management, maintenance and monitoring goals; specific tasks and timing of implementation; and discussion of any constraints, which may affect goals; d. The Endowment Fund Analysis and Schedule(see below), e. Discussion of Adaptive Management actions for reasonably foreseeable events and possible thresholds for evaluating and implementing Adaptive Management; f. Rights of access to the Property and prohibited uses of the Property as provided in the CE; and g. Procedures for Property transfer, land manager replacement, amendments, and notices. 3. A copy of the LTMP must be either recorded with the CE, or the CE must state in its body that the current management plan can be obtained upon request from the USFWS, if not using the CE template. Endowment Fund Analysis and Schedule a. Can use a PAR or PAR-like analysis that must be based upon the final, approved LTMP. b. The analysis and schedule shall consist of a table and/or spreadsheet that shows all of the tasks (management, monitoring, reporting), task descriptions, labor(hours), cost per unit, cost frequency,timing or scheduling of the tasks,the total annual funding necessary for each task, and any associated assumptions for each task required by the Interim Management Plan. The total annual expenses should include administration and contingency costs. c. The Endowment Fund must: SFWO, Selected Review Criteria for Section 7 Off-site Compensation Rev.Oct.2009 6 • i. Be held by a qualified, Service-approved, non-profit organization or government agency [see requirements under CE above], and ii. Be held according to minimum standards for assuring maximum success in earning potential, and will include assurances for no loss of principle. iii. Disbursements or releases from the fund must be for documented expenditures, as they occur. • • • SFWO, Selected Review Criteria for Section 7 Off-site Compensation Rev.Oct.2009 7 Appendix G • Water Quality Objectives for Use in Designing and Implementing Projects with Impacts to Creeks or Wetlands S • • • Water Quality Objectives for Use in Designing and Implementing Projects with Impacts to Creeks or Wetlands The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board) is charged with maintaining the beneficial uses of waters of the state in the San Francisco Bay Region, as presented in the San Francisco Bay Basin Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan), which is the Board's master water quality control planning document (http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/sanfranciscobay/basin planning.shtml#2004basinplan). If a project will impact waters of the State, project proponents are required to apply to the Water Board for Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs), before implementing the project. If the project will also impact waters of the U.S., project proponents are also required to apply to the Water Board for Clean Water Act Section 401 certification. The Water Board reviews applications for WDRs and/or certifications to ensure that potential impacts to waters of the state have been avoided and minimized to the maximum extent practicable. To assist project proponents in designing projects in a manner that avoids and/or minimizes impacts to waters of the State, the Water Board has developed a technical reference circular (Circular) that provides guidance for applicants on how to design projects that protect and restore stream and wetland system functions. Project proponents are encouraged to consult this Circular when developing projects with • potential impacts to creeks or wetlands. (http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/sanfranciscobay/water_issues/programs/strea m_wetl and/streamprotectioncircular.pdf). The Water Board intends to periodically revise and update this Circular to take advantage of emerging science and management practices. Projects that impact creeks or wetlands should strive to achieve three water quality objectives—Watershed Hydrology, Stream Dynamic Equilibrium, and Stream and Wetland System Habitat Integrity. Watershed Hydrology: The hydrologic connectivity between headwaters and estuary, surface water and ground water, and landscape, floodplain, and stream channel should be protected to produce the pattern and range of flows necessary to support beneficial • uses identified in the Basin Plan and a functional ecosystem. Stream Dynamic Equilibrium: Stream attributes, including hydrologic and sediment regimes, vegetation communities, channel forms, slopes, and floodplain areas, should be protected in a manner so as not to arrest natural hydrogeomorphic processes nor accelerate an imbalance resulting in excessive erosion or deposition of sediment, cause nuisance, or otherwise adversely affect beneficial uses. Watershed processes contribute to a dynamic balance over time between sediment loads and surface water flows which produce complex, fluctuating, and resilient systems. Stream and Wetland System Habitat Integrity: Stream and wetland system habitats should be maintained by protecting the type, amount, and complexity of wetland and • 1 riparian vegetation, the extent of riparian areas, and the substrate characteristics • necessary to support aquatic life. Achievement of these water quality objectives protects and restores the physical integrity and associated functionality of stream and wetland systems, which include perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral streams and wetlands and their associated riparian areas. The following four principles should be used in developing projects, in order to achieve the water quality objectives: 1) Water Quality Functions and Land Use: Functioning stream and wetland systems provide a wide range of water quality benefits that support the beneficial uses identified in the Basin Plan. Many land use activities have the potential to substantially degrade water quality functions of stream and wetland systems. Therefore, project proponents should recognize the intrinsic connections between land use activities and the structures, processes, and functions of stream and wetland systems. 2) No Net Loss: Stream and wetland system areas, functions, and beneficial uses in the Region have been substantially degraded from historic levels as a result of human activities. Therefore, the remaining resources are especially valuable. Projects and associated mitigation measures should be consistent with the California Wetlands Conservation Policy (No Net Loss Policy, Executive Order W-59-93) to ensure no net loss and achieve a long-term net gain in the quantity, quality, and permanence of • stream and wetland system areas, functions, and beneficial uses. 3) Climate Change Adaptation: Stream and wetland system protection and restoration are a critical element of a strategy for reducing adverse impacts of greenhouse gas emissions and adapting the region's water resource management to account for the adverse effects of climate change and sea level rise. Protecting and restoring stream and wetland system functions, including floodwater storage, groundwater recharge, carbon sequestration (e.g., in riparian vegetation and wetland soils that are rich in organic matter), and maintaining aquatic life and wildlife habitat connectivity are important to mitigate for the adverse effects of climate change. 4) Watershed Approach: Many water quality and ecosystem problems are best identified, prioritized, addressed, and solved using a watershed approach. A watershed approach helps to address cumulative impacts on water quality, and encourages the development of watershed plans and partnerships that coordinate the planning, use, and protection of stream and wetland system resources. Project proponents should consider their project's affects when multiple individual effects are added or interact with other effects in a watershed to create cumulative adverse impacts to water quality. Project proponents should include all appropriate and practicable measures to avoid and minimize potential direct, secondary, and cumulative temporary and permanent impacts to water quality and beneficial uses 2 • • • The following tables summarize goals for achieving the Water Quality Objectives. Watershed Hydrology Goals for Stream and Wetland System Functions Runoff flow and volume Maintain site runoff and transport characteristics (i.e., timing, magnitude, duration, time of concentration, and discharge pathways of runoff flow) such that post-project flow rates and durations mimic pre-project levels. Where practicable, incorporate measures to restore natural runoff patterns (e.g., enhance soil infiltration capacity and increase the storage of runoff) in watersheds that have been substantially altered from their pre- development conditions. Hydrologic connectivity Maintain lateral, vertical, and longitudinal flow pathways, including connectivity between: stream channels, riparian areas, floodplains, and wetlands; surface water and groundwater; and ocean or estuary-to-headwaters at adequate levels to protect stream and wetland system functions and beneficial uses including the maintenance of, and access to, a diverse range of habitats for aquatic life and wildlife. Natural flow regime Maintain the natural variation of flows and hydrograph characteristics (i.e., timing, magnitude, duration, and time of concentration) such that the range of flows including low, channel forming, and flood flows are of a magnitude and duration to: 1) sustain channel morphology and balance sediment transport; 2) support riparian vegetation • community maintenance; 3) provide adequate flows and velocities during low flow months to satisfy aquatic life and wildlife habitat requirements; and 4) maintain seasonal flows that permit the migration or free movement of migratory fish and access to floodplain and off-channel habitat (e.g., sloughs and permanently or seasonally flooded wetlands) for aquatic life. Stream Dynamic Equilibrium Goals for Stream and Wetland System Functions Channel Form and Processes Where channels are modified, design projects with proper channel form (e.g., channel shape, width/depth ratio, etc.), sinuosity, slope, and floodplain areas such that the balance between sediment loads and surface flows is attained for a range of low to high discharges. This goal promotes natural bank erosion as a desirable attribute of stream and wetland systems while requiring that projects avoid: causing excessive erosion or deposition of sediment in and around the project area; creating hydraulic constrictions (e.g., undersized culverts); or require ongoing channel maintenance (e.g., dredging to maintain channel capacity, ongoing bed and bank repair, etc.). Where practicable, restore channel dimensions and slopes, riparian vegetation communities, floodplain, meander belt, and geomorphic adjustment zone widths, and adequate side slopes from the top of the banks to the top of the floodplain terraces in areas where geomorphic dynamic equilibrium has been impacted. • .3 Drainage network Maintain the naturally occurring pattern and density of perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral streams, as well as associated aquatic habitats (e.g., wetlands) which transport water, materials, energy, and organisms through the watershed (i.e., the drainage network). Avoid changing the natural runoff pathways by filling, piping, ditching, or culverting. Gullies and headcuts Avoid formation or expansion of headcuts and gullies. Design projects with proper channel slope and avoid reducing the landscape infiltration capacity and increasing runoff which may lead to soil erosion and gully formation/expansion. Stream and Wetland System Habitat Integrity Goals for Stream and Wetland System Functions Floodplain and riparian areas Maintain floodplains and/or riparian areas of adequate width to provide water quality functions such as flood water and sediment storage, water quality enhancement, and maintenance of aquatic life and wildlife habitat. Establishment and protection of functioning riparian areas is one of the most straightforward and effective strategies to protect water quality and is a critical element in adapting to the effects of climate change including changes in rainfall and runoff patterns. Wetland hydrology • Maintain the natural hydrologic regimes of wetlands, including their hydroperiods and levels of hydrologic connectivity to other aquatic habitats, at levels sufficient to support hydrophytic vegetation (where naturally present), aquatic life and wildlife habitat, and other associated beneficial uses. Wetland and riparian vegetation Maintain wetland and riparian vegetation (both woody and herbaceous) such that the type, amount, and complexity are adequate to: maintain water temperatures appropriate to the needs of aquatic life; withstand site-specific erosive forces; and supply large woody debris of sufficient quantities to maintain aquatic habitat. Habitat connectivity Avoid creating unnatural barriers between or among stream and wetland system and upland habitats (e.g., in-stream structures that restrict fish migration or encroachment on floodplains that restricts wildlife movement along a riparian corridor) that impact migration corridors and dispersal systems which connect aquatic life and wildlife with resources and refuges. Protecting stream and wetland system corridors can increase the resiliency of biodiversity by providing migration corridors as aquatic life and wildlife adapt to the effects of climate change on habitat conditions and distribution. • • 4