Draft EIS/EIR for the San Luis Reservoir SRA Resource ...

5. Environmental Analysis
Full implementation of the Pavley standards are expected to result in a 22 percent
(for 2009–2012) to 30 percent (for 2013–2016) reduction in GHG emissions.
When California and federal regulations to reduce GHG emissions are in effect, a
combined 30 percent reduction in GHG emissions is expected to result from
visitor vehicles in the Plan Area. This would be in accordance with the 29 percent
reduction recommended by the SJVAPCD for a project to not result in a
cumulatively significant impact.
5.9.3 Biological Resources
Biological resources in the Plan Area and adjacent vicinity will be affected by
ongoing and future agricultural, residential, and other development. In general,
cumulative impacts to vegetation would include continued decreases in native
plant species and increases in invasive weeds. Cumulative impacts to wildlife and
special-status species would generally result from continued removal of habitat
and increased habitat fragmentation. Cumulative impacts could also result from
the increased availability of human food as a result of improper storage or
disposal. The availability of human food can alter the behavior of wildlife such as
San Joaquin kit fox and expose them to disease or competition from other
foraging animals.
The following projects within or adjacent to the Plan Area have the potential to
contribute cumulative biological impacts to those of the San Luis Reservoir
RMP/GP.
Villages of Laguna San Luis Community Plan The Villages of Laguna San
Luis Community Plan (Section 3.3.4) would be implemented by a series of Master
Plans and allow for development of a mixture of urban land uses including:
• 3,011 acres of residential land uses (estimated to accommodate 15,895
housing units);
• 176 acres of commercial land uses;
• 204.5 acres of employment-generating land uses;
• 180 acres of schools;
• 41 acres for water and wastewater treatment facility; and
• 109.6 acres for public facilities (e.g., fire station, sheriff substation, and
landfill).
The balance of the site (87 percent) would remain in open space reserved for San
Joaquin kit fox habitat (Section 3.3.4).
As described in the Final EIR, approximately 158,570 acres of grasslands and
dry-farmed land provide habitat for the Santa Nella satellite San Joaquin kit fox
population (Merced County Planning and Community Development Department
2008c). The Final EIR identifies direct project-related impacts to approximately
2.25 percent, or 886 acres, of land that has potential to provide denning, resting,
and foraging habitat for the kit fox. This represents 0.56 percent of the existing kit
fox habitat available to the satellite population. The Final EIR provides on-site
and off-site habitat preservation and management measures for the loss of
San Luis Reservoir SRA 5-77
Draft RMP/GP and Draft EIS/EIR