State Route 58 Widening Project - Bakersfield Freeways

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Summary of Findings, Conclusions and Determinations Vegetation mapping was conducted on March 21, 2007 by walking the BSA. Vegetation in the BSA consists of non-native grassland, developed/ornamental, ruderal/disturbed and open water/waterway. A survey for wildlife species was conducted on March 21, 2007 to document wildlife habitat and evaluate the BSA’s potential to support special-status wildlife species that are known or expected to occur in the BSA. Surveys for the kit fox, its dens and sign were conducted in May, June and July of 2008. One individual kit fox, four potential kit fox dens and four kit fox signs (scat) were observed in the BSA. The proposed project would result in direct and indirect effects to the federally listed endangered San Joaquin kit fox: • Direct effects include the permanent loss of 1.21 acres of habitat for the San Joaquin kit fox (0.18 acre non-native grassland, 1.00 acre ruderal/disturbed, and 0.03 acre open water/waterway) in the BSA that are considered suitable foraging and denning habitat for the kit fox. Permanent effects to habitat include the removal of habitat to accommodate the new roadbed, intersection improvements, and proposed new right-of-way (ROW) limits. • Temporary effects to habitat include temporary disturbance such as equipment and materials staging. The proposed project would temporarily affect 6.61 acres of habitat areas (3.25 acres of non-native grassland, 3.30 acres of ruderal/disturbed areas, and 0.06 acre of open water/waterway). • Direct effects would also include the permanent or temporary loss of one potential kit fox den within the alignment. • Indirect effects of project implementation may include the potential for an unintentional increase in vehicular strikes of kit foxes crossing the road. Other indirect effects could include habitat fragmentation, change in movement corridors, geographic isolation, and/or altered space use, all of which could result in disrupted social ecology, reduced fertility, pregnancy rates, prenatal survival, mortality, and reduced carrying capacity in the vicinity of the BSA. There is no critical habitat for San Joaquin kit fox within the BSA; therefore no critical habitat would be affected by the proposed project. S-2 State Route 58 Widening Project Biological Assessment
Summary of Findings, Conclusions and Determinations The following Avoidance and Minimization, and Mitigation Measures shall be implemented prior to project construction to reduce impacts to biological resources: • Construction activities will adhere to the standard construction and operational requirements as described in the USFWS Standardized Recommendations for Protection of the Endangered San Joaquin Kit Fox Prior to or During Ground Disturbance (USFWS 2011). • Pre-construction surveys for kit fox will be conducted prior to construction within the project footprint and temporary construction zone and a 200-foot buffer around these areas in accordance with USFWS guidelines (2011). • An employee education program shall be established and implemented prior to construction. The program shall include, at a minimum, kit fox identification, a description of suitable habitat for kit fox, and measures to implement in the event that kit fox is found during construction. The program shall be presented to all members of the construction crew prior to the start of project construction activities. All construction personnel are required to sign a form stating they took the class and understood the materials presented in the class. • Biological monitors shall regularly inspect the construction site to ensure the minimization measures are implemented throughout construction. • Road design modifications that would facilitate safe passage of kit fox and reduce vehicular-mortalities are proposed and will be evaluated for feasibility during final project design. • Compensatory mitigation for effects to non-native grassland, ruderal/disturbed, and open water/waterway will consist of the purchase of credits through the Metropolitan Bakersfield Habitat Conservation Plan (MBHCP). • Implementation of the Sump Habitat Program (currently under development), which includes installation of artificial dens in selected sumps, controlling vegetation in and around dens, increasing accessibility to sumps through fence/gate gaps, maintenance procedures to reduce the potential for effects to kit foxes, and post-construction monitoring of kit fox use of the sumps. The Wildlife Heritage Foundation, a non-profit land trust, will hold the endowments necessary to fully fund the Sump Habitat Program and will oversee the conservation easements. The project ‘may affect, likely to adversely affect’ the San Joaquin kit fox due to the direct and indirect impacts on this species resulting from project implementation. However, with the measures described above from the San Joaquin Kit Fox Effects Analysis, Mitigation Strategy, and Implementation Plan (Implementation Plan) State Route 58 Widening Project Biological Assessment S-3
Page 1 and 2: State Route 58 Widening Project (Ro
Page 5: Summary of Findings, Conclusions an
Page 9 and 10: Table of Contents Table of Contents
Page 11 and 12: List of Tables List of Tables 1 Lis
Page 13 and 14: List of Abbreviated Terms SSC ST TR
Page 15 and 16: Chapter 1. Introduction The purpose
Page 17 and 18: Chapter 1 Introduction • Minor ch
Page 19 and 20: 46 Lost Hills 33 Delano McFarland 4
Page 21 and 22: Map Extent A B C VERDUGO LN CALLOWA
Page 23 and 24: Chapter 1 Introduction 1.2.1. Proje
Page 25 and 26: Chapter 1 Introduction In 2008, USF
Page 27 and 28: Chapter 2. Study Methods 2.1. Liste
Page 29 and 30: Chapter 2 Study Methods 2.2. Studie
Page 31 and 32: Chapter 2 Study Methods During surv
Page 33 and 34: Chapter 2 Study Methods describes p
Page 35 and 36: Chapter 2 Study Methods 2.5. Limita
Page 37 and 38: Chapter 3. Results: Environmental S
Page 39 and 40: ALLEN RD OLD FARM RD JEWETTA AV VER
Page 41 and 42: Emery Ditch Calloway Canal Emery Di
Page 43 and 44: Chapter 3 Results: Environmental Se
Page 45 and 46: Chapter 3 Results: Environmental Se
Page 47 and 48: Chapter 4. Results: Biological Reso
Page 49 and 50: Chapter 4 Results: Biological Resou
Page 57 and 58:
Chapter 4 Results: Biological Resou
Page 59 and 60:
Page 61 and 62:
Page 63 and 64:
Chapter 5. Conclusions and Determin
Page 65 and 66:
Chapter 6. References Bakersfield,
Page 67 and 68:
Chapter 6 References Kern Water Ban
Page 69:
Appendix A Wildlife Species Observe
Page 72 and 73:
Appendix A Wildlife Species Observe
show all

State Route 58 Widening Project - Bakersfield Freeways

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?