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

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