SFPUC 2001 Alameda Watershed Management Plan

III. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND IMPACTSE. NATURAL RESOURCESthe dominant species in the Watershed’s streams and reservoirs. Some of these species, such asthe bass and sunfish, are exotic species and probably prey on the native fishes, as they do in otherCalifornia stream systems, and thus have contributed to the decline in the native fish species.1.1 SPECIAL-STATUS SPECIESSeveral species known to occur on or in the vicinity of the Watershed are accorded “specialstatus” because of their recognized rarity or vulnerability to various causes of habitat loss orpopulation decline. Some of these species are listed and receive specific protection throughfederal or state endangered species legislation. Other species have not been formally listed asthreatened or endangered, but have designations as “rare” or “sensitive” on the basis of adoptedpolicies and of state resource agencies or organizations with acknowledged expertise, or policiesadopted by local governmental agencies such as counties, cities, and special districts to meetlocal conservation objectives. These species are referred to collectively as “special-statusspecies” in this EIR, following a convention that has developed in practice but has no officialsanction. For the purposes of this EIR, special-status species are defined by the followingsources:! The California Native Plant Protection Act (Cal. Fish and Game Code § 1900 et seq.)protects endangered and “rare” species, subspecies, and varieties of plants;! The California Endangered Species Act lists plants and wildlife as threatened orendangered (Cal. Fish and Game Code § 2070);! The Federal Endangered Species Act, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of theInterior list plants and wildlife as threatened or endangered (16 USC § 1533[a]; 16 USC §1533 [a] [2]; 16 USC § 1533 [c] [1]);! The CEQA Guidelines Section 15380 includes plants and wildlife that may be consideredrare or endangered if the species meets certain specified criteria;! The California Native Plant Society lists plants as rare, threatened, or endangered (alsoknown as List 1 and List 2);! The California Department of Fish and Game designates plants and wildlife as “species ofspecial concern”;! The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 USC, Sec. 703, Supp. I, 1989) prohibits killing,possessing, or trading in migratory birds;! The State Fish and Game Code in California (Section 35115 [birds], 5050 [reptiles andamphibians], and 4700 [mammals]) designates wildlife as fully protected in California;! The federal Bald Eagle Protection Act (16 USC § 668 et seq.) prohibits persons within theUnited States (or places subject to U.S. jurisdiction) from “possessing, selling, purchasing,offering to sell, transporting, exporting, or importing any bald eagle or golden eagle, aliveor dead, or any part, nest, or egg thereof;NOP 96.223E: Alameda Watershed Management Plan III.E-2 ESA / 930385January 2001