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

3.5 Biological Resources
The annual grassland and vernal pool habitat in the excavated basin of the SVRA is unlikely to
support special‐status plant species because of the degraded nature of this area. The remnant
natural vernal pool grassland on the terrace along Larkin Road provides potential habitat for
special‐status vernal pool plants (i.e., Ahart’s dwarf rush, Ahart’s paronychia, Butte County golden
clover, Butte County meadowfoam, Greene’s tuctoria, and slender Orcutt grass). It is possible that
seeds of special‐status vernal pool plants from nearby source populations could drift onto the
project site naturally (by wind or wildlife deposition) during the life of the General Plan, and these
seeds could colonize vernal pools at Clay Pit SVRA. However, because of the continual disturbance
by OHVs, it is unlikely that these species would establish self‐sustaining populations. Suitable
habitat for Sanford’s arrowhead (CNPS List 1B.2) is present in the cattail vegetation community in
wetlands and drainages at the SVRA. However, this species has not been observed during special‐
status plant surveys conducted at Clay Pit SVRA, and the closest known occurrence of Sanford’s
arrowhead is approximately 2 miles southwest of the SVRA (CNDDB 2011).
Implementation of Plants Goal 1 and associated guidelines in the General Plan would ensure that
future development and improvements within Clay Pit SVRA would not result in significant
adverse impacts on special‐status plants. In particular, these measures stipulate that special‐
status plant surveys would be conducted in areas proposed for facility development prior to
construction. If any special‐status plant species were found, they would be mapped and avoided to
the extent feasible. If avoidance were not possible, mitigation measures would be developed in
coordination with DFG and/or USFWS, as appropriate, for any direct or indirect impacts that could
occur as a result of actions envisioned in the General Plan. Mitigation measures could include
preserving or enhancing populations on‐site, transplanting plants, and/or restoring or creating
suitable habitat off‐site in sufficient quantities to achieve no net loss of occupied habitat or
individuals.
The potential for loss or disturbance of special‐status plants would be less than significant
because (1) no known special‐status plants are on the project site; (2) it is unlikely that special‐
status plants would establish self‐sustaining populations on the project site; and, (3) the General
Plan includes guidelines that would protect special‐status plant species if they were found in areas
that would be disturbed during site development envisioned in the General Plan.
Mitigation Measures: No mitigation is required.
IMPACT
3.5-2
Potential Loss of or Substantial Disturbance to a Sensitive Vegetation Community
The vernal pools on the project site, both along the terrace and in the basin, are classified as vernal
pools, which are designated by DFG as a “sensitive vegetation community,” as described in Section
2.3.2, “Biotic Resources,” of the General Plan. Other undisturbed, nearly pristine northern hardpan
vernal pool habitat exists near Clay Pit SVRA and in the region. Although this type of vernal pool
Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area
Draft EIR 3.5-9 February2012