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Castleridge Trailhead Addendum
<br /> best management practices that would be required of the construction contractor. The new trailhead
<br /> would also attract increased visitation to the site, and has the potential to generate new vehicle trips
<br /> and associated vehicle emissions. However, the proposed trailhead is located within City limits,
<br /> adjacent to many Pleasanton neighborhoods, and would provide a more convenient location for
<br /> Pleasanton residents to access regional trails, as the nearest staging area (Foothill Staging Area) is
<br /> located approximately 4 miles to the south. The proposed trailhead is also in very close proximity
<br /> to walking trails along Foothill Road and within the Laguna Oaks development located on the east
<br /> side of Foothill Road, as well as existing and planned Class II bike lanes along Foothill Road, W.
<br /> Las Positas Boulevard, and Bernal Avenue. Because the new trailhead would be located in close
<br /> proximity to the City's downtown and west side neighborhoods, and would offer the most
<br /> convenient bike and pedestrian access of all the Pleasanton Ridge trail access areas, the project has
<br /> the potential to reduce vehicle miles traveled and associated emissions compared to existing
<br /> conditions. While operational activities such as vehicle trips by park users and staff, water
<br /> consumption, and disposal of solid waste at landfills would result in long-term emissions, the
<br /> trailhead is not expected to exceed Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD)
<br /> thresholds for operational-related criteria air pollutants and/or precursors that exceed thresholds of
<br /> significance.
<br /> 5.4. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
<br /> The subject property is characterized by moderate to steep terrain with a mix of grassland and
<br /> native vegetation including coast live oak, valley oak, acacia, and blue gum eucalyptus trees. There
<br /> are six swales on the Austin property comprising approximately 0.7 acre of wetlands, but these
<br /> features are located approximately 350 feet to the south of the proposed trailhead. Based on a
<br /> biological assessment completed for the Meadowlark Development6, there are no known
<br /> endangered,threatened, or rare species of flora or fauna known to inhabit the project site, nor is the
<br /> site considered to be habitat area for said species. Native forbs on the site include California blue-
<br /> eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), turkey mullein (Eremocarpus setigerus), Spanish clover (Lotus
<br /> purshianus), and vinegar weed (Trichostema lanceolatum). Non-native grassland, including soft
<br /> chess (Bromus hordeaceous), ripgut brome (Bromus diandrus), Mediterranean barley (Hordeum
<br /> marinum ssp. gussoneanum), Medusa-head (Taeniatherum caput-medusae), Bermuda grass
<br /> (Cynodon dactylon), and wild oats (Avena fatua), and non-native forbs such as field bindweed
<br /> (Convolvulus arvensis), bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare), fiddle dock (Rumex pulcher), Italian thistle
<br /> (Carduus pycnocephala), and yellow star thisle (Centaurea solstitalis)can be found on the property.
<br /> Both the native and non-native grasslands attract a variety of reptiles (e.g., southern alligator lizard
<br /> — Gerrhonotus multicarinatus, western fence lizard — Sceloporus occidentalis), amphibians (e.g.,
<br /> Pacific slender salamander — Batrachoseps attenuates), birds (e.g., California quail — Callipepla
<br /> californica, mourning dove — Zenaida macroura, and western meadowlark — Sturnella neglecta),
<br /> mammals (e.g. California vole — Microtus californicus, deer mouse — Peromyscus maniculatus,
<br /> black-tailed jackrabbit — Lepus californicus, and black-tailed deer — Odoicoileus hemionus
<br /> californicus), and various invertebrates.
<br /> 6 Sycamore Associates. 2004. Biological Assessment and Jurisdictional Determination for the 30-acre Austin Property,
<br /> Pleasanton,Alameda County,California. December 3.
<br /> June 9,2016 10
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