Draft Environmental Impact Report - California Off Highway Vehicle ...

3.5 Biological Resources
have a substantial adverse effect on federally protected wetlands as defined by Section 404
of the CWA (including but not limited to marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct
removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other means;
interfere substantially with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or
wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or
impede the use of nursery sites by native wildlife;
conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, such as a tree
preservation policy or ordinance; or
conflict with the provisions of an adopted habitat conservation plan (HCP), natural
community conservation plan (NCCP), or other approved local, regional, or state HCP.
No nursery sites are located on the project site. This issue is not discussed further in this
DEIR.
Because Clay Pit SVRA is owned and operated by the State of California, it is not subject to local
policies or ordinances. Nonetheless, it is the intent of the OHMVR Division to develop Clay Pit
SVRA in a manner compatible with the values expressed by the surrounding community;
therefore, these policies and ordinances were considered as part of this environmental evaluation.
Because the General Plan was developed to preserve biological resources on site, no conflict with
local ordinances would result. This issue it not discussed further in this EIR.
A Butte County HCP/NCCP is under development, but has not yet been adopted, and the project
site is outside the planning area of the planned Butte Regional HCP/NCCP; therefore, no conflicts
would occur between the Clay Pit SVRA General Plan and any adopted HCP or NCCP. This issue is
not discussed further in this DEIR.
3.5.4 Environmental Evaluation
Evaluation Methodology
This analysis of potential impacts on biological resources resulting from implementation of the
General Plan is based on a review of documents containing information on existing biological
resources on or near the project site, a reconnaissance‐level wildlife survey, a reconnaissance‐
level survey for vernal pool brachiopod species, field work required to complete a wetland
delineation report of the project site, a review of the California Natural Diversity Database
(CNDDB) (CNDDB 2010), a review of the DFG Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program
(DFG 2003), and a review of the California Native Plant Society’s (CNPS’s) (CNPS 2010) Inventory
of Rare and Endangered Plants.
Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area
February 2012 3.5-2 Draft EIR