State Route 58 Widening Project - Bakersfield Freeways

Chapter 5.
Conclusions and
Determination
5.1. Conclusions
The construction of the proposed project will result in the permanent loss of
1.21 acres and the temporary loss of 6.61 acres of potential San Joaquin kit fox
habitat. One potential kit fox den may be directly affected by project development.
Direct mortality resulting from contact with construction equipment or other vehicles
or entrapment within dens, pipes, or trenches may occur. Noise and light pollution
may directly affect the kit fox.
Indirect effects include the potential for unintentional increased vehicle strikes,
habitat fragmentation, disruption in movement patterns, displacement of kit foxes and
altered space use patterns that could result in disrupted social ecology, reduced
fertility, pregnancy rates, prenatal survival, mortality, and reduced carrying capacity
in the vicinity of the BSA.
5.2. Determination
Together the standard construction-related Avoidance and Minimization Measures
and additional conservation measures are expected to substantially reduce the
potential for take and compensate for residual effects. However, although Avoidance
and Minimization Measures would reduce the potential for direct mortality of kit fox
related to construction, the proposed project would result in a small loss of occupied
suitable habitat. Therefore, the proposed project ‘may affect, likely to adversely affect’
the San Joaquin kit fox.
State Route 58 Widening Project Biological Assessment 45