04 - Laserfiche WebLink

DISCUSSION The EBRPD proposes to acquire the 1,368-acre Robertson property located adjacent to Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park (see the complete application in Attachment 2). The property is located about 1.5 miles northwest of the community of Sunol; it occupies the western slope of Sunol Ridge from Palomares Road up to Sunol Peak. The three major plant communities on the Robertson property are California annual grassland, shrublands and oak woodlands; also present in smaller areas are riparian and ephemeral canyon creeks, ponds, springs and seeps. These communities support the significant native biodiversity value of the property. These communities and the animal species they support are as follows: • California annual grassland provides nesting and foraging habitat for the California ground squirrel, California horned lark, and loggerhead shrike. Ground squirrels are an important prey species for the golden eagle and other raptors and large mammals. • Oak woodlands support nesting, roosting and foraging birds, such as the ash throated flycatcher, Bewick's wren, Hutton's vireo, black-headed grosbeak, band- tailed pigeon, orange-crowned warbler and Anna's hummingbird. Pallid bats use oaks for roosting sites. The woodlands also provide habitat for amphibians and reptiles, including several salamander species, lizards and skinks. • Shrublands (coastal scrub/chaparral) serve as a valuable habitat edge component for both woodland and grassland species. This provides productive habitat for such species as lizards and skinks, which are major prey species for the Alameda whipsnake, which is state- and federally-protected. • Riparian and wetland vegetation support native amphibian species such as the California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, California newt and the western pond turtle. The property also has significant visual and non-motorized recreational value. Sunol Ridge is a prominent regional landscape feature, and Sunol Peak at elevation 2,163 feet is the highest peak in the East Bay hills. The ridgeline provides a 360 degree long- distance panorama of San Francisco Bay and the Peninsula to the west; Mt. Diablo and Brushy Peak to the north and east; and the Sunol/Ohlone Wilderness, Mission Peak and the Vargas Plateau to the south. Funding. The total cost of the Robertson property is $6,235,425. Apart from the request made to the Advisory Committee, EBRPD funding for this property includes money from: the Moore Foundation ($1m), State Coastal Conservancy ($1m), private mitigation funding ($400,000); and EBRPD Measure WW ($2,835,425). Page 3 of 4