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should be for acquisition of property having significant value for visual character and/or non-motorized recreation. DISCUSSION The EBRPD proposes to acquire the approximately 231 acre Castleridge property located adjacent to Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park (see the complete application in Attachment 2). The property is located about one mile northwest of the Bernal Avenue I- 680 exit and one mile south of the Dublin 1-580/680 interchange. Approximately 90% of the Castleridge Property is steep hills dominated by oak woodland. Many of the trees on the ridges have a circumference greater than 55- inches and, therefore, are designated as heritage trees. Areas of Diablan sage and open grassland habitats can be found throughout the property. Riparian and spring communities are also present, as follows: • Annual grass/forbs plant communities comprise approximately 10% of the property and are primarily found in the northeast corner of the property and the southern exposure slopes. The grass community features native grasses such as California melicgrass and blue wildrye, and exotic species, such as wild oats and Italian thistle. These communities provide habitat for ground dwelling animal species, such as the California ground squirrel, and foraging habitat for the golden eagle. • Coast live oak plant comprise more than 88% of the property and is found along drainage areas and uplands of the property. Although the site is dominated by coast live oak, the site also includes other native oaks, such as California buckeye and California bay, in addition to understory species such as the California hazelnut and coffeeberry. The oaks provide habitat for Northern Harrier, Bewick's wren, Hutton's vireo, bats, and the Alameda whipsnake. • Coastal mixed hardwood plant comprise approximately 2% of the property and is found along seasonal tributaries. The mixture of hardwood species include the coast live oak, California bay and bigleaf maple, which provide habitat for orange-crowned warbler, oak titmouse, Dark-eye junco, black-tailed deer, bats, reptiles and amphibians. • Diablan sage and coyote brush scrub is found in patches on the dry, southern exposure slopes and features California sagebrush, coyote brush, sticky monkeyflower and lupine, which provides habitat for the Alameda whipsnake. • Riparian and wetland habitat comprise almost one mile of habitat. It can be found in the northern and southern portions of the property and is populated with western sycamore, California bay, bigleaf maple, ferns, bunch grasses and shrubs. The area provides habitat for the California red-legged frog, Alameda whipsnake and may provide habitat for the California tiger salamander and foothill yellow-legged frog. Page 3 of 5