Environmental Impact Statement - Sonoma Land Trust

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California Department of Fish and Game U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Section 3.5. Biological Resources San Pablo Bay (Beamesderfer et. al. 2004). Furthermore, no green sturgeon were captured in Tolay Creek (Takekawa et. al. 2002). Due to the small number of green sturgeon captured in San Pablo Bay and none in Tolay Creek where most dredging is occurring, it is less likely that green sturgeon would become entrained. If sturgeon were attracted to the dredging sites, some could become entrained in the dredger; however, based on the results of the CDFG survey, the number of potentially affected sturgeon is anticipated to be low. Mitigation Measure BIO-MM-12 restricts construction to months when juvenile salmonids and juvenile long fin smelt will not be present in the Action area. However, green sturgeon and adult longfin smelt are expected to occur during any month of the year in San Pablo Bay. Mitigation Measure BIO-MM-12 may also requires use of silt curtains for any dredging in Tolay Creek (i.e., if breaches to Tolay Creek are constructed using dredging equipment) to minimize potential entrainment of Green sturgeon. Implementation of Mitigation Measure BIO- MM-12 would reduce potential impacts to special status fish species, including green sturgeon, juvenile salmonids, and longfin smelt, to a less than significant level.; however, complete avoidance of take may not occur and thus impacts related to Green Sturgeon may be significant and unavoidable. Mitigation Measure BIO-MM-12: Avoid Construction in Tidal Aquatic Habitats when Rearing Salmonids and Longfin Smelt could be Present; Utilize Silt Curtains for dredging to Minimize Entrainment SLT shall, to the extent feasible, avoid construction activities that could affect tidal aquatic habitats (e.g., construction associated with lowering the perimeter levee and excavating tidal channels through the outboard salt marsh) during periods when rearing juvenile salmonids, and juvenile longfin smelt could be present (typically November thru June May thru September). If construction activities must occur during periods when these species could be present, SLT shall consult with NMFS and CDFG to determine what, if any, additional conservation measures may be required to allow construction to proceed. Any Ddredging in associated with the breaches to Tolay Creek shall may be done within silt curtains to minimize the potential entrainment of green sturgeon. If hydraulic dredging is utilized to excavate the Connector Channel and Breach 1, then the associated pump size would be limited to no more than 10 inches in order to restrict the approach velocity to a level unlikely to entrain green sturgeon in the area. To minimize the potential of taking longfin smelt, the following minimization measures shall be implemented: dredging may proceed anywhere when water temperature exceeds 22 degrees Celsius, and if water temperature is less than 22 degrees Celsius, no dredging shall occur in water less than 2 parts per thousand between December 1 and June 30; downstream of the 2 parts per thousand salinity contour the dredge shall be primed and cleared within 3 feet of the bottom between December 1 and June 30 and within three feet of the surface between July 1 and November 30, and dredge operation in the water column above the substrate shall be minimized. Sears Point Wetland and Watershed Restoration Project Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement 3.5-54 April 2012
California Department of Fish and Game U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Section 3.5. Biological Resources Conclusion: Less than Significant with Mitigation (salmonids and longfin smelt); Significant, Unavoidable (Green sturgeon). Full-Tidal Alternative Impacts to special-status fish species under the Full-Tidal Alternative are the same as those described for the Project. Therefore, impacts of the Full-Tidal Alternative are considered potentially significant. Implementation of Mitigation Measure BIO-MM-12 would reduce potential impacts to a less-than-significant level for salmonids, and longfin smelt, andbut may not for green sturgeon. Conclusion: Less than Significant with Mitigation (salmonids and longfin smelt); Significant, Unavoidable (Green sturgeon). Impact BIO-18: Construction-Related Reduction in Food Availability for Special-Status Fish Species Proposed Project Food production and availability for special-status fish species may be affected during construction and dredging activities due to the removal of benthic invertebrates and their substrates. Breaching and dredging of Today CreekAll breaches would have the potential to permanently modify shallow vegetated areas and remove bottom substrates that may produce food for special-status fish species. The area of prey habitat affected by the dredging may total several acreswould be minimal due to the small size of the habitat disturbance. Green sturgeon are benthic feeders, so they may be the most affected by a reduction in prey. Tidal marsh habitat provides benthic prey organisms for special-status fish species. Approximately 0.574.6 acres of tidal marsh willwould be removed as a result of breaching Optionsif all four breaches and the Connector Channel were to be constructed. Initially Breaches 1 and 2 and 5.17the Connector Channel would be constructed, and would disturb only 4.2 acres of tidal marsh will be removed as a resulthabitat. Subsequently, several years of breaching and dredging operations under Option 3.monitoring would occur during which time the habitat and bottom substrates would be able to revegetate and recolonize. If it is determined that an additional breach(es) is required, construction and related habitat disturbance would occur several years afterward and in significantly different areas of the project site, and would be limited to 0.4 acres. Removal of organisms via dredging and burying of deposit feeders, suspension/deposit feeders, and suspension feeders would occur in portions of the dredging area. Removal and burial effects are expected to be relatively shortlived, with dredge areas being recolonized by deposit feeders. Amphipods (such as Traskorchestia traskiana) were found in Tolay Creek and could be used by fish species during marsh plain inundation (Takekawa et al. 2002, 16).Shrimp (Crangon and Palaemon species) were also captured during fish surveys Sears Point Wetland and Watershed Restoration Project Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement 3.5-55 April 2012
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Sears Point Wetland and Watershed R
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Sears Point Wetland and Watershed R
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Contents List of Tables ...........
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California Department of Fish and G
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Executive Summary This summary prov
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Table ES-1. Summary of Impacts and
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Table ES-1. Continued Page 3 of 141
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Table 1-1. List of Local, State, an
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Table 1-1. Continued Page 3 of 3 Ag
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Table 2-2. Action Alternatives Cons
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Chapter 3 Affected Environment and
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Section 3.1 Geology, Soils, and Pal
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Section 3.2 Surface-Water Hydrology
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Section 3.11 Air Quality Introducti
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Section 3.12 Noise Introduction Thi
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Section 3.15 Environmental Justice
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Chapter 4 Consultation and Other Re
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Sonoma Land Trust Chapter 4. Consul
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Chapter 5 Public Involvement and Sc
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Sonoma Land Trust Chapter 7. Refere
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Environmental Impact Statement - Sonoma Land Trust

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