Initial Study MND - Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and ...

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Taylor MountainINITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATIONand S71 (construction exclusionary fencing) and S67 (training of construction personnel) wouldserve to protect Western pond turtle and therefore no additional measures are required.Special-Status and Common Bird Species. Nesting birds protected by the Migratory Bird TreatyAct and other regulations may be impacted if construction occurs during the bird breedingseason from February through August. Measures to protect birds and avoid breeding seasonconstruction are included as part of the proposed project and would ensure that impacts areless than significant. These measures are in the Master Plan, summarized as follows:Construction Phase(s) S53 – Birds shall be protected through appropriate site development within native habitats. S56 – Consult with CDFG and USFWS during project development to identify and implementany additional protection measures specific to breeding birds. S68 – Construction or maintenance shall occur work shall occur outside of the criticalbreeding bird period (mid-March through mid-August) as much as possible. If these activitiescannot be done in the non-breeding season, a qualified biologist shall perform preconstructionbreeding bird surveys. If breeding birds are found, their nests must be avoideduntil the young fledge. Exclusion buffers shall be established a minimum of 50 feet aroundthe nest site for small birds and 250 feet for large birds.Operational Phase S55 – Prohibit dogs off leash and off trail. S68 – Complete on-going park management activities that have potential to impact breedingbirds or their nests outside of the breeding bird period (see above).The following guidelines in the Master Plan would provide additional protection: G23 – Monitor and manage for non-native birds and feral cats that pose a threat to nativebirds. G24 – Develop and implement a comprehensive monitoring program for birds. G25 – Implement a management plan to allow for adjustments in park uses, management,and/or enhancement of appropriate habitats if negative impacts on birds are detected.Bats. Three bat species have reported occurrences within close proximity to the TaylorMountain property (CDFG, 2011). These include pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus), a special-statusspecies, hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) and fringed bat (Myotis thysanodes), identified as havingmoderate to high priority for conservation by the Western Bat Working Group, a localconservation organization comprised of agencies, organizations, and individuals. Because batsare highly susceptible to disturbance, protecting existing populations and habitat is critical tothose bat species that depend on Taylor Mountain and the native habitats it supports. Habitatsthat support large, mature trees, snags and abandoned buildings have the potential to supportroosting habitat for common and special-status bats. Additionally, several unidentified batshave been observed within the property and specifically in the barn. Bat roosts are protectedby CDFG and removal of occupied roosts would be considered a significant impact. The fol-Final B-54 September 2012
Taylor MountainINITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATIONlowing measures to protect bats are included in the proposed Master Plan and would avoid orreduce impacts to levels that are less than significant. S50– Requires preconstruction bat surveys and construction personnel training. S51 – Requires avoidance of active roosts, through appropriate species and roost specificavoidance and minimization measures such as postponing removal of trees, snags orstructures until the end of the maternity roosting season, establishing buffers around roostsites, or construction of species appropriate replacement roosting habitat within, or adjacentto the proposed disturbance area. S52 – Consult with CDFG during project development to identify and implement anyadditional protection measures specific to special-status bats.Implementation of the above avoidance and minimization measures would ensure that impactson special-status species are less than significant.b. Would the project have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or othersensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, and regulationsor by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT. Implementation of the Master Plan would minimize disturbance ofriparian and other sensitive habitats through site design and adherence to the many resourceprotection guidelines and standards included in the Plan. Impacts would be less than significantin all cases as described below.Riparian Woodland and North Coast Riparian ScrubRiparian habitats, including both the vegetation along the stream corridor and the stream itself,are protected by existing regulations and policies, as described in the regulatory setting. Inaddition, specific riparian vegetation communities were observed onsite including Oregon ashgroves and arroyo willow thicket which are considered sensitive habitats and subject toregulation. Agency approval will be needed for development in these areas.Riparian habitats on the property have experienced varying degrees of alteration. Upstreamreaches of Colgan Creek and small stream channels on the property support extensive nativeplant communities and are largely free from development. However, along Colgan Creek in thevicinity of the Kawana Springs Resort, riparian habitat has been impacted by many years ofhuman use and cattle grazing. Generally, observed cattle impacts on riparian areas areminimal, due to the fact that most of the drainages are steep-sided and rocky, making cattleaccess difficult (Bush, 2012). Buildings, roads, a bridge, and other structures and domesticlandscaping have encroached on riparian corridors, replaced native plant communities, andmodified hydrology. Invasive species are abundant (PCI, 2011a).The Master Plan does not include development that has the potential to impact sensitiveriparian vegetation communities. However, the proposed Master Plan includes conceptual trailalignments that would potentially cross several riparian areas associated with creeks andstreams on the property. These riparian areas that fringe creeks are not mapped and tabulatedSeptember 2012 B-55 Final
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Initial Study MND - Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and ...

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