environmental assessment for the hog lake road improvement project

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Ramona Hog Lake Road Improvement Project August 2011 Parish’s rupertia (Rupertia rigida) Southern jewel-flower (Streptanthus campestris) Leafy buckwheat (Eriogonum foliosum) Lemmon’s syntrichopappus (Syntrichopappus lemmonii) Twenty Sensitive and Forest Watch-List wildlife species have potential to occur in the Project vicinity: California legless lizard (Aniella pulchra) Coastal rosy boa (Lichanura trivirgata rosafusca) San Bernardino mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata parvirubra) Coast patch-nosed snake (Salvadora hexalepis virgultea), San Diego horned lizard (Phrynosoma coronatum blainvillii) Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) Lewis' woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) Loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) Gray vireo (Vireo vicinior) Southern California rufous-crowned sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps canescens) Black-chinned sparrow (Spizella atrogularis) Bell's sage sparrow (Amphispiza belli belli) Lawrence's goldfinch (Carduelis lawrencei) Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii) Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) San Diego pocket mouse (Chaetodipus fallax fallax) San Diego black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus bennettii) Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) California leaf-nosed bat (Macrotus californicus) and Pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus), Direct and Indirect Effects No Action: For the No Action alternative, there would be no anticipated direct or indirect impacts beyond the current condition that would affect Sensitive or Watch-list species in the area. Any existing negative impacts from dust due to road use would continue. Proposed Action: For the Proposed Action alternative, the following direct and indirect effects would be expected: Botanical Species Fourteen Sensitive and/or Watch-list botanical species have suitable habitat on the Frank Springer & Associates, Inc. Page 45 of 79 Environmental Assessment
Ramona Hog Lake Road Improvement Project August 2011 Project site. While no recent occurrences of these plants were documented within the Project area during plant surveys conducted in 2005 or 2008, there is a chance that unobserved or new growth could be present at the time of construction. Mitigation measures/design criteria will be implemented to reduce the chances of any direct impacts to these plants (see Table 1: Mitigation Measures/Design Criteria; Biological Resources). Indirect impacts to sensitive botanical species could occur as a result of chemical emissions, fugitive dust, human presence, and invasive species. Increases of chemical emissions and fugitive dust during construction would be temporary and due to the linear nature of the Project would be continually progressing along the Project area, which would limit the time any one area would be exposed. Release of chemical emissions from vehicles would increase during construction, however due to the remote location, open area and overall minimal traffic, emissions should disperse. Impacts of chemical emissions after construction are not expected to increase substantially over current levels. The road is not a through road and would still only be utilized by the small number of residents and guests of the Reservation. Fugitive dust rates could increase during construction, but would be significantly reduced from the existing levels over the long-term by the paving of this access road. Mitigation measures/design criteria will be incorporated to minimize indirect impacts to the extent possible during construction (see Table 1: Mitigation Measures/Design Criteria; Biological Resources). The reduction in dust disturbance resulting from the paving of the current dirt road is considered a positive effect for species in the area. A potential increase in non-native plant species would likely only occur along the perimeter 0.15 acre impact area, but could also occur along the road edges. The limited impact area and hardscape within the impact area would limit the potential areas for invasive species to take hold. Invasive and noxious weed species seed could be spread or introduced into the area by construction equipment or normal traffic. Mitigation measures/design criteria will be employed to reduce the spread of noxious and non-native species (see Table 1: Mitigation Measures/Design Criteria; Biological Resources). Wildlife Species California Spotted Owl No direct effects are expected. The proposed impact area and immediately adjacent lands do not support any suitable forest habitat typical to this species for nesting or roosting. The Project area is within the range of an historic, currently unoccupied California spotted owl territory. If occupied, the Project area could be utilized for foraging. Indirect effects could include avoidance of foraging in the area due to construction noise and disturbance and/or reduction in prey due to direct or indirect impacts to general small mammal species. With the wide territories of the California Frank Springer & Associates, Inc. Page 46 of 79 Environmental Assessment
Page 1 and 2: FINAL FRANK SPRINGER & ASSOCIATES,
Page 3 and 4: LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Mitigation
Page 5 and 6: Ramona Hog Lake Road Improvement Pr
Page 47: Ramona Hog Lake Road Improvement Pr

environmental assessment for the hog lake road improvement project

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?