RES 231363 - Laserfiche WebLink

AUGUSTIN BERNAL MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL PROJECT DRAFT INITIAL STUDY 12956 DUDEK 29 April 2022 Field Reconnaissance Dudek wildlife biologist Matt Ricketts conducted a reconnaissance-level field assessment of the biological study area on April 12, 2021, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Weather during the field reconnaissance was sunny, with an ambient temperature of approximately 65–70°F. The reconnaissance consisted of documenting vegetation communities and land cover types present on the project site, searching for potentially jurisdictional aquatic resources, and assessing habitat for special-status plant and wildlife species within the biological study area. The reconnaissance was conducted by walking the entire trail alignment on foot and inspecting adjacent areas within 300 feet where access allowed. Inaccessible areas (e.g., steep slopes above or below existing informal trails) were scanned using binoculars (Pentax DCP-SF 8 x 43). Observations of dominant vegetation, wildlife species, habitat features, and drainage characteristics were recorded using digital data collection and field observation tools (e.g., Theodolite and Gaia GPS iOS apps), and a field notebook. Nomenclature for all plant species observed in the biological study area followed the Jepson Manual, Vascular Plants of California, Second Edition (Jepson Flora Project 2020). The reconnaissance did not include formal mapping of CDFW vegetation communities; delineation of potential federal Clean Water Act Section 404 aquatic resources subject to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jurisdiction; or focused surveys for special-status plant or animal species, including species listed under FESA and/or CESA. The reconnaissance was sufficient to generally describe features of the project site that could be subject to regulatory jurisdiction, including habitat for listed species. Vegetation Communities Coast live oak woodland is the dominant vegetation community in the biological study area. This vegetation community most closely resembles coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) woodland alliance as defined by A Manual of California Vegetation, Online Edition (CNPS 2021b). The coast live oak woodland vegetation community within the project site is dominated by coast live oak, with valley oak (Q. lobata) as a secondary canopy species and an understory of various native and non-native herbaceous and annual grassland species. Disturbed areas subject to high levels of mountain bike use are dominated by non-native forbs such as purple vetch (Vicia benghalensis), Italian plumeless thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus), and longbeak stork’s bill (Erodium botrys), and non-native annual grasses such as ripgut brome (Bromus diandrus), soft brome (B. hordeaceus), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), and Harding grass (Phalaris aquatica). Purple needle grass (Nasella pulchra), a native bunchgrass, occurs throughout the project site and ranges from sparse cover among non-native annual grasses and forbs to dense stands where it occurs with small patches of native scrub supporting coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), and bush monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus). Identifiable native wildflower and herbaceous species observed during the field reconnaissance include miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), Douglas iris (Iris douglasiana), common cow parsnip (Heracleum maximum), western blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), foothill deervetch (Acmispon brachycarpus), California buttercup (Ranunculus californicus), and Johnny-jump-up (Viola pedunculata). Small numbers of California buckeye (Aesculus californica), toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), and California bay (Umbellularia californica) were also observed throughout the woodland.