SFPUC 2001 Alameda Watershed Management Plan

XII. SUMMARY OF COMMMENTS AND RESPONSESB. SUMMARY OF COMMENTS AND RESPONSESSeveral commentors expressed fears that overgrazing would affect habitat of some wildlifespecies (particularly butterflies). The Grazing Resources Management Element was developedand implemented to ensure that this type of overgrazing does not occur. Please see Section II.Kof this document for additional details of the grazing program.As was discussed in the DEIR (page III.E-37), particular attention was given to verifyingbiological conclusions reached in the EIR for SMP-32, particularly regarding those species whosestatus has been changed since that analysis was completed. These species included burrowingowl, Alameda whipsnake, California red-legged frog, and California tiger salamander. Asdescribed on pages IV-3 and IV-4, additional mitigation measures were included in the DEIR toensure protection of these species. Since publication of the DEIR, the corridor betweenPleasanton Ridge and Sunol/Cedar Ridge has been proposed as critical habitat for the Alamedawhipsnake. This proposed designation terms the area not as habitat per se, but as a possibledispersal corridor. In response to this potential designation, paragraph 4 of DEIR page III.E-37has been revised:No special status plants are expected to occur within the proposed mining area due tothe disturbed nature of the site and the absence of appropriate soil, such as serpentinesoils, and native plant communities such as scrub chaparral or woodlands. The areamay provide breeding habitat for burrowing owl, a federal and state species of specialconcern, since this species can survive in a disturbed environment and can utilizeground squirrel burrows. This species could be present during mining activities andimplementation of Mitigation Measures D-3(b) and D-3(c) for SMP-32 would requirepreconstruction surveys for burrowing owls and passive relocation if burrowing owlsare found. These mitigation measures would reduce impacts from Management Planexpansion south of I-680 as well. The current conditions at the proposed mining areado not provide suitable habitat for Alameda whipsnake, California red-legged frog, orCalifornia tiger salamander. However, the corridor between Pleasanton Ridgeand Sunol/Cedar Ridge has been proposed as critical habitat for the Alamedawhipsnake. This proposed designation terms the area not as habitat per se, butas a possible dispersal corridor. The loss of, or disturbance to this speciesduring mining operations would be considered a significant impact. SectionIV.E presents a mitigation measure that would reduce this impact to a less thansignificant level.Alameda Creek is not accessible to the federally threatened Central California coaststeelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) due to downstream impoundment. Lower AlamedaCreek contains a small population of steelhead, which is currently known to extendas far upstream as a barrier associated with the Bay Area Rapid Transport (BART)tracks in Fremont. In addition, as described in the SMP-32 and conditions ofapproval, mining activities, including discharges, will not occur in or impactAlameda Creek and will be buffered from riparian areas.NOP 96.223E: Alameda Watershed Management Plan C&R.65 ESA / 930385