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

3.5 Biological Resources
Central Valley RWQCB, and a Section 1602 Streambed Alteration Agreement would be obtained
from DFG, as appropriate. All conditions of these agreements would be implemented such that the
acreage of all affected wetlands and other waters of the U.S. would be replaced, restored, or
enhanced on a “no net loss” basis, in accordance with CWA Sections 404 and 401 requirements
and the California Fish and Game Code. Wetland habitat would be restored, enhanced, and/or
replaced at an acreage and location and by methods agreeable to USACE, the Central Valley
RWQCB, and/or DFG as appropriate and depending on agency jurisdiction.
Compliance with the guidelines in the General Plan would ensure that impacts resulting from
future development and improvements at Clay Pit SVRA, such as the construction of water
crossings, would be less than significant.
Mitigation Measures: No mitigation is required.
IMPACT
3.5-4
Potential Loss of Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp, Vernal Pool Tadpole Shrimp, or Their Habitat
Suitable habitat for two federally listed vernal pool branchiopod species is present in the vernal
pools at Clay Pit SVRA. These species are vernal pool fairy shrimp and vernal pool tadpole shrimp.
Only vernal pool fairy shrimp, a species federally listed as threatened, has been found within
vernal pools at the SVRA during surveys conducted in 2007, 2008, and 2010 (EcoAnalysts 2010).
Vernal pool fairy shrimp at the SVRA are abundant and were observed in all pools sampled in
2010 and in many pools sampled in 2007 (EcoAnalysts 2010). Based on this survey data, vernal
pool fairy shrimp are abundant despite disturbance from ongoing OHV activity. OHV activity at the
SVRA consists of open terrain riding, enabling riders to cross all terrain present, including
crossing vernal pools and other wetland features. Clay Pit SVRA closes during flood events or
extremely wet conditions, subject to OHMVR District Superintendent’s orders, but is generally
open to the public for most of the year. No empirical information was found describing the effects
of OHV use in vernal pool fairy shrimp habitat. However, OHV activity in occupied shrimp habitat
at the SVRA could presumably damage or destroy individual shrimp or cysts (eggs); conversely,
OHV activity may distribute individual shrimp or cysts, depositing them in pools across the SVRA,
thus helping to perpetuating the population. Because vernal pool fairy shrimp have persisted or
increased in abundance at the SVRA concurrent with on‐going OHV use (EcoAnalysts 2010),
continued or increased use of the site for open terrain riding by OHVs is not expected to result in a
new significant impact to vernal pool fairy shrimp. In addition, Wildlife Guideline 1.3 requires that
special‐status shrimp species be monitored annually as part of the HMS to assess the effects of
anticipated increases in OHV use. If long‐term monitoring (i.e., more than 2 years in a row)
documents a decline in shrimp populations relative to baseline information gathered before
implementation of the General Plan, adaptive management strategies will be developed in
coordination with USFWS to reverse the trend.
Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area
Draft EIR 3.5-11 February2012