The information contained in this section is summarized from the results
of a technical report prepared by Frank Hovore & Associates (FHA) December,
1997, and an updated wetlands delineation assessment by FHA and Tom Dodson
(L. Kegarice, Dec. 1997). This delineation was performed at the request of
the California Coastal Commission. These documents in their entirety are
contained in Appendix G. This delineation focused on the 8.3 acres originally
delineated by the EPA (1989) as jurisdictional wetlands within the 44.5-acre
city parcel. This area was subsequently removed from wetland designation
by the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) (1992) and reclassified as "Prior Converted
Cropland" (May 20, 1992 correspondence from the Department of the Army).
Sensitive biological resources present (or potentially present) on site
were initially identified through a thorough literature review using materials
from the following sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1993, 1994, 1996,
1997), California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) (1988, 1990a, 1990b,
1994, 1996a, 1996b, and 1996c, 1997), California Natural Diversity Data Base
(CNDDB) (1992, 1995, reviewed 1997), and the California Native Plant Society
(Skinner and Pavlik 1994). Standard field guides were used for field identification
of resources, and a spectrum of appropriate literature resources pertinent
to the project area or issues under consideration were also consulted.
FHA biologists visited the Shea Homes property in Huntington Beach and adjoining property in the County (Tent. Tract Map. No. 15377 and 15419) on 23 November 1996, 17 December, 1996, 14 January 1997, 07 June 1997 and 20 November 1997. The initial visits were intended to assess the presence or absence of wetlands or wetlands-type habitat values on the parcel, per the findings of various prior delineations and observations.
The most recent visit was conducted with L. Kegarice (Tom Dodson &
Associates), for the purposes of reviewing and formally updating the prior
wetlands delineations relative to the presence/absence of the three (3) parameters
of wetlands delineation standards, and to assess overall land and habitat
conditions following a ± 5 months fallow time.
Plant species encountered during field surveys were identified and recorded,
or samples were taken and conveyed to local arboreta or universities for
determination. Scientific nomenclature and common names of plants used in
this report follow Hickman (1993), or where not available in Hickman, common
names are taken from Beauchamp (1986), Munz (1974), or Abrams (1923 and 1944)
and Abrams and Ferris (1951 and 1960).
Wildlife species detected during field surveys by sight, calls, tracks,
scat, or other sign were recorded. Expected wildlife usage of the site was
determined according to known habitat preferences of regional wildlife species
and knowledge of their relative distributions in the area. Scientific nomenclature
and common names for vertebrate species referred to in this report follow
Stebbins (1985) for reptiles and amphibians; American Ornithologists' Union
(with supplements to 1997) for birds; Jameson and Peters (1986) for mammals.
A series of color or black and white aerial photographs, showing the site
on 25 different dates from December, 1952 through March, 1995, was reviewed
microscopically to evaluate historic land use, conditions and habitats on
the Shea site. A distinction has been made between land within the City of
Huntington Beach and the ± 5 acres of Orange County land which comprises
the southwestern extension of the overall parcel. The City/County line passes
through the property just southwest of the primary agricultural lands, and
in none of the photographs is there any visible evidence of land cultivation
within the Orange County parcel. The following summarizes FHA's subjective
assessments of the land use patterns exhibited in these photographs.
Conditions encountered during the first three field surveys are similar
to those exhibited within the 1992 through 1995 photographs, with little
or no detectable change in the extent or degree of disturbance to landforms
or to the remnant pickleweed marshland patch. The term "marshland" used to
describe these vegetation fragments reflects the apparent origin of the remnant
habitat, as its condition at the time of the visit was severely degraded,
and the site no longer receives sufficient natural hydrology to be considered
a functional coastal marsh ecosystem. Discing in the Orange County portion
of the site prior to the June, 1997 visit completely removed all traces of
the surface vegetation except larger trees, and a ± 10 foot wide strip
of mostly ruderal herbaceous plants, with a few pickleweed intermixed, growing
beneath an elevated oil pipeline which passes through the bottomland area.
There are virtually no natural or naturalized habitats within the 44 acre
Huntington Beach portion of the site. A shallow depression formed by the
abandoned arena occasionally contained temporary accumulations of rainfall
or nuisance water, attracting some foraging waterfowl, but not forming natural
habitat.
Two small, contiguous areas of probably remnant coastal saltmarsh-type vegetation were situated in a bottomland remnant of the original marshlands from which the site was created. Most of this area north of the East Garden Grove - Wintersburg Channel was removed, confined and altered by construction of the channel and berm. The remaining area is bisected by an elevated gas pipeline, and was used casually as a dumping site for trash (notably many large tires and sections of telephone poles). The two pickleweed fragments, which together were substantially less than one acre (50' by 150' or about .2 acres according to the biologist's initial field survey estimate) were completely isolated from any other such habitat by the knoll, the channel and development. Nothing remains of these patches following the most recent disking and clearing of the site. It should be noted that the delineated "pocket wetlands" shown on the EPA map (refer to Draft EIR Appendix G) within the Orange County parcel do not overlay the area of patchy pickleweed.
The nearest intact, ecologically-functional coastal marshland and surface
water ecosystems lie off-site to the south and west, beyond where the knoll
intersects the flood control channel, or south of the channel, within the
main Bolsa Chica wetlands. There now are no tidal inflows to the proposed
project site, and because the East Garden Grove - Wintersburg Channel bottom
lies lower than landforms on the site, there is little possibility of subsurface
accretion of water from the Bolsa Chica wetlands. Historic freshwater runoff
to the site, which historically created topographical relief and carried
in nutrients and organic debris, have been eliminated by surrounding development
and off-site conveyance of stormwater flows.
Level, disced portions of the site, including the 8.3 acres, have been under cultivation or maintenance continuously since at least 1952. As surface vegetation regrows following discing, the fields exhibit a relatively homogeneous ruderal vegetative cover, dominated over most of the surface by extensive areas of crabgrass (Cynodon dactylon) and an even cover of cheeseweed (Malva parviflora), with scattered patches of other non-native grasses and herbaceous subshrubs (pigweed, Chenopodium album; wild radish, Raphanus sativus; curly dock, Rumex crispus; common purslane, Portulaca oleracea; narrow-leaved iceplant, prob. Mesembryanthemum sp.; peppergrass, Lepidium latifolium; Australian saltbush, Atriplex semibaccata). A species of nutsedge also formed low mats where sandier soils were present; it was tentatively identified as either Cyperus rotundus, stated by Tucker (1993, in Hickman, The Jepson Manual, higher plants of California) as "Often considered the world's worst weed.," or C. esculentus, characterized by Tucker as a "worldwide weed." Although both are classified as facultative wetlands species (Reed, 1988, National list of plant species that occur in wetlands: California [Region 0]), they also are indicative of degraded conditions, being found most typically in "croplands, disturbed places." (Tucker, 1993, in Hickman, loc. cit.).
Native herbaceous species were infrequent in the agricultural field, comprised primarily of disturbance-tolerant taxa which have either persisted on-site or colonized areas where topsoils have been less-thoroughly overturned. Scattered individuals of alkali heath (Frankenia salind), salt bush (Atriplex triangularis), sand spurrey (Spergularia marina), alkali mallow (Malvella leprosa) and alkali weed (Cressa truxillensis) were found in less-disturbed portions of the field, but nowhere did they form natural stands or create native habitat. Most plant species observed are tolerant of, or have affinities for, alkaline and saline soils, which would be expected given the probable historic geography of the site. Numerous subsites of soils and vegetation were examined within the 8.3 acre delineated area and across the agricultural field. Nowhere did FHA and L. Kegarice observe even remnant wetland resources or other natural habitats.
No trees or shrubs of any kind, native or otherwise, are present within
the agricultural use areas, and the only subshrubs present during any of
the site visits were tumbleweeds (Amaranthus albus) and Russian thistle (Salsola
tragus) regardless of the length of time since disking.
Historic aerial photographs clearly show that the Orange County portion of the property was formed from the upper margin of the Bolsa Chica marshlands, severed geographically by the construction of the East Garden Grove - Wintersburg Channel, and degraded repeatedly by off-site roadway construction, oil drilling and associated surface activities. All that remained on the project site were two very small patches of pickleweed (Salicomia sp.), in a low area immediately adjacent to the channel berm and horse stable parking areas. Habitat values within the two small pickleweed patches were essentially diminutives of those typically found within degraded portions of the Bolsa Chica wetlands: low, spreading cover dominated by pickleweed and saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), with a few shrubby rush (Juncus sp., prob. balticus) interspersed.
This type of habitat persists in a highly-degraded formation immediately
west of the Orange County parcel, within oil fields. The pickleweed patches
were very limited in overall extent and were highly-disturbed, but centrally
each had a few square meters of fairly homogenous plant cover, with relatively
few invasive non-natives. Neither fragment measured more than a few meters
across, together encompassing about 50' x 150' or about .2 acres according
to the biologist's initial field survey estimate), with their configuration
having been determined and restricted over the years since the channel was
constructed by patterns of land use and the spread of exotic tree cover.
Activity along the eastern margin between 1970 and the early 1990s pushed
the formation back from its greatest post-development extent in the 1950s,
and it had not changed significantly over the past 20+ years (as determined
from aerial photographs).
The remainder of the Orange County portion of the site supported only ruderal
subshrubs, not considered to be remnant marshland habitat, densely overgrown
with invasive gum trees.
Wildlife use of the agricultural fields is severely limited by the lack of native vegetation, lack of cover, and consistently high levels of human disturbance. Rodent activity was detected in several areas, and consisted primarily of pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae ssp.) and California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi) burrows. Both species are moderately common over the entire agricultural portion of the site, the ground squirrels in particular forming a loose colony within the western margin of the fields. We observed a single great blue heron (Ardea herodias) stalking prey (probably gophers) in the fields in the eastern portion of the site, and several red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) are resident locally. Dogs and their tracks are common on the site, but it is probable that a few carnivores and omnivores (such as coyote, Cams latrans, raccoon, Procyon lotor, long-tailed weasel, Mustela frenatd) persist locally. Non-native mammals expected to occur here would include opossum (Didelphis virginiana, tracks observed 1997), black rat (Rattus rattus), house mouse {Mus musculus) and domestic cats.
One shrub and one tree species, castor bean (Ricinis communis) and Tasmanian blue gum (prob. Eucalyptus globulus), respectively, comprise most of the marginal vegetation; both are non-native, noxious invasives (and in the case of castor bean, highly toxic) that contribute minimally to and/or more often detract negatively from natural habitat values. Following disturbance, the fields and contiguous portions of the knoll revegetate with non-native annual grasses, Australian saltbush and small thickets of castor bean, overstoried by the row of decadent gum trees. Numerous trees in the grove are either dying or dead. About one-third of the gum trees present exhibit limb drop and crown death typical of drought-stressed eucalyptus, and most of them are heavily-infested by two species of Eucalyptus borers (Phoracantha semipunctata, P. recurvd), imported Australian beetles which kill trunks and branches of gum trees with low internal water balances.
Although some birds of prey and a few songbirds may utilize Eucalyptus for perching, roosting and nesting, such use is low and non-essential relative to native tree species, and as a rule the presence of these trees degrades natural habitat values. Native songbirds may die from nasal suffocation if they attempt to feed from the sticky blossoms of gum trees (R. Stallcup, 1996, "Deadly Eucalyptus", Pt. Reyes Bird Observation Laboratory newsletter), and eucalyptus shade and leaf debris can degrade soils, suppress native plant growth and promote invasive alien weeds.
More importantly, it must be noted that tall trees of any kind are not natural features of southern California coastal salt marsh ecosystems. No such trees grew alongside the marshes prior to human habitation of the areas, and their presence adjacent to marshlands provides birds of prey and crows with hunting perches and nest sites, contributing to unnaturally-intense levels of predation and harassment of sensitive wetlands wildlife. Several active crow nests and one nest possibly of a red-tailed hawk, are present in the grove of gum trees, and during the June, 1997 visit, crows were observed taking and eating northern mockingbird fledglings from nests in yards in adjacent residential developments.
Eucalyptus trees are often subjectively and/or emotionally viewed as aesthetic
amenities, so it is important to note that they are not native in any part
of North America. Additionally, their presence and invasive spread directly
alters and degrades the biotic integrity of the natural habitats.
Although no invertebrates were observed in standing rainwater on the site, several species of shorebirds and songbirds (common snipe, Gallinago gallinago; spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia; black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus; western kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis) were foraging in and around the arena depression during early visits. The only native mammals seen were Audubon cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) and California ground squirrel, both of which feed in the agricultural fields; eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger), an imported pest species locally, was seen in urban areas on top the knoll. Tracks, fur and scat of non-native red fox {Vulpes vulpes) were observed near the arena site and within the pickleweed patches.
Prior to their removal, the physical habitat structure of the two pickleweed patches (.2 acres) was relatively intact, at least in terms of residence sufficiency for low numbers of smaller organisms, but nothing larger than invertebrates, rodents or songbirds.
The patches were fragments of a formerly much-larger system which had been severely constricted and degraded by construction of the East Garden Grove - Wintersburg Channel, and it is possible that species such as broad-handed mole (Scapanus latimanus), pocket gopher, house mouse, black rat, Stephen's vole (Microtus californicus Stephens!), harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis longicaudd), Audubon cottontail, song sparrow (Melospiza melodid) and Belding's savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis beldingf) at one time might have occurred within them, either in low resident densities (mole and rodents), or as transients from other, more suitable, habitat systems nearby (birds).
None of the species noted above were observed during the FHA's surveys, but several species of wintering songbirds, including white-crowned and golden-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys, Z. atricapilld) were observed foraging in the pickleweed patches.
The presence of even a few red foxes within such a small area of natural habitat would seriously compromise its ability to support small mammals and low-nesting birds populationally. Red foxes in other systems (Seal Beach, Ballona wetlands) have proven to be thorough and relentless predators upon virtually all smaller organisms; when numerous they may hunt in packs, killing larger species such as raccoon, egrets and great blue heron. They would particularly depress or extirpate populations of surface-dwelling rodents such as voles and harvest mice, and in a small, confined area, foxes would quickly eliminate song or savannah sparrows as breeding birds. A fox den was not found during field surveys; however, FHA concluded their tracks were evident in several areas, and the partially-eaten remains of an undetermined shorebird were found near the pond. Although FHA did not search for foxes in June, 1997, tracks possibly of foxes were observed, and their pungent musk odor was detected, leading FHA to conclude that the foxes survived the recent disking of the patches. Because of their presence, FHA concluded that the pickleweed fragments did not likely support resident populations of any native rodents or songbirds.
Sensitive species are classified in a variety of ways, both formally (e.g.
State or Federal Threatened and Endangered Species) and informally (California
Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) "Special" species. Species may be formally
listed and protected as Threatened or Endangered by CDFG or U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS, "the service") (Federal: FT, FE; State: ST, SE),
or as California Fully Protected (CFP). Informal listings by agencies include
California Species of Special Concern (CSC) (a broad data-base category applied
to species, roost sites, or nest sites); or as USFWS Candidate taxa. CDFG
and local governmental agencies may also recognize special listings developed
by focal groups, if properly reviewed and published (i.e. Audubon Society
"Blue List", California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Rare and Endangered Plants").
The absence of natural wetlands values, combined with frequent topsoil discing, have removed whatever native vegetation associations might once have existed on the Huntington Beach portion of the property.
There are no surface wetlands features on the Orange County portion of
the project site. The small patch of pickleweed (.2 acres) discussed earlier
were remnants of former marshland habitat, isolated by the construction of
the East Garden Grove - Wintersburg Channel and degraded by agricultural
and other land uses over the past 45+ years.
There are no sensitive invertebrates on the project site.
The wide-ranging monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is not protected
as a species, but is of concern to the CDFG where it forms wintering aggregations
in tall trees along the coast. The site was visited on several occasions
during Winter, and while numerous monarchs were observed nectaring on the
blossoms of the gum trees, and no aggregations were seen. Saltmarsh skipper
butterfly (Panoquina errans) larvae feed on saltgrass in local coastal areas,
and it may occur wherever the plant is found; however, it was not observed
during the surveys, and there is very little of the host plant on the site.
Coastal populations of sensitive tiger beetle species (Cicindela spp.) are
generally found on saltflats, mudflats, dune strands, open dune sands, or
around the margins of estuaries; no tiger beetles were observed on the site,
and there are no habitats suitable for population formation by any sensitive
cicindelid species.
There are no sensitive fish, amphibians or reptiles on the project site, and none would be expected to occur within the surrounding upland areas.
A number of sensitive bird species might forage casually in or over the agricultural field, or within the East Garden Grove - Wintersburg Channel, but none of these would be directly dependent upon the resource base of the site for population maintenance or their continued local existence. Refer to Appendix G for a listing of sensitive shorebird and marshland species expected to occur casually from the Bolsa Chica wetlands, or as vagrants, on or near the project site. Sensitive raptors observed locally or expected to pass through the general site vicinity during seasonal migration would include:
| Swainson's hawk |
Buteo swainsoni
|
| ferruginous hawk |
Buteo regalis
|
| Cooper's hawk |
Accipiter cooperii
|
| sharp-shinned hawk |
Accipiter striatus
|
| northern goshawk |
Accipiter gentilis
|
| osprey |
Pandion haliaetus
|
| white-tailed kite |
Elanus leucurus
|
| northern harrier |
Circus cyaneus
|
| American peregrine falcon |
Falco peregrinus anatum
|
| merlin |
Falco columbarius
|
| western burrowing owl |
Athene cunicularia hypugea
|
| short-eared owl |
Asio flammeus
|
| long-eared owl |
Asio otus
|
The open agricultural field, with its abundant gopher and ground squirrel
populations, may attract resident and seasonal hunting use by birds of prey,
including a number of hawks and owls. The trees adjacent to the field provide
nest and roost sites for some generalist species (red-tailed hawk, Buteo
jamaicensis; red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus; great homed owl. Bubo virginiensis;
barn owl, Tyto alba), but sensitive taxa generally would not be expected
to breed within this type of disturbed and non-native habitat.
A pair (presumably) of white-tailed kites was observed in June, 1997, foraging and roosting in eucalyptus trees along the northern margin of the Orange County area. Cursory searching at that time did not reveal a nest, but the bird's behavior and presence at that time of year could indicate a local territory. Single individuals of northern harrier and ferruginous hawk were also observed over the site, in November, 1997. A single loggerhead shrike, possibly a wintering migrant and not a local resident was seen in January, 1997, flying upslope on the knoll between the stables and gum tree grove. FHA did not see this species in June, 1997, but a single bird was observed near the terminus of Bolsa Chica Boulevard, at the north end of the knoll top, in November, 1997. It is not possible to determine the resident status of this species on the site based upon these isolated observations. The frequency of discing and clearing, combined with the continuous presence of humans, dogs and red foxes along the channel berm and in the agricultural fields probably renders the site unsuitable for burrowing owl nesting, although the species does breed sporadically in upland habitats along the southern California coast.
Habitat values are completely lacking on-site for sensitive songbird species, except for extremely marginal use of the trees and surrounding residential areas as sheltering sites during seasonal migration. No listed species would find resident habitat resources on the site, and it is unlikely that local saltmarsh endemics (such as Belding's savannah sparrow) would leave the higher quality habitats south of the channel to forage in the open, ruderal field or gum tree grove.
Sensitive mammal use of the site would directly depend upon the presence of suitable food resources, home range or territory availability and quality, and tolerance for human activity. The only native mammals currently resident on the property (as determined by tracks, scat, fur, burrows and other sign) are ecological generalist species which have "urbanized" broadly in southern California, and are either sufficiently small and/or mobile to maintain viable populations in a highly fragmented landscape. Bats, which are highly-mobile and somewhat migratory, could occur anywhere in southern California where flying insect populations are sufficient to sustain their aerial feeding requirements. Sensitive species which might be expected to occur within or over the Bolsa Chica wetlands and adjacent upland habitats would include:
| so. Calif, saltmarsh shrew |
Sorex ornatus salicornicus |
| California leaf-nosed bat |
Macrotus californicus |
| pallid bat |
Antrozous pallidus |
| big-eared bat |
Plecotus townsendi sspp. |
| small-footed bat |
Myotis ciliolabrum |
| long-eared myotis bat |
Myotis evotis |
| fringed bat |
Myotis thysanodes |
| long-legged bat |
Myotis volans |
| Yuma myotis |
Myotis yumanensis |
| California mastiff bat |
Eumops perotis californicus |
| San Diego black-tailed jackrabbit |
Lepus californicus bennettii |
| Pacific pocket mouse |
Perognathus longimembris pacificus |
| San Diego desert woodrat |
Neotoma lepida intermedia |
| Stephen's vole |
Microtus californicus Stephensi |
The shrew and vole generally occupy open, grassy habitats around the margins
of marshes, while the jackrabbit, pocket mouse and woodrat typically reside
in open, sandy coastal sage scrub habitats, and only the woodrat is tolerant
of frequent human disturbance. No evidence of these or other sensitive mammals
was observed on the site, and the regular discing of the field and knoll
areas effectively precludes long-term utilization of that portion of the
site by most burrow-inhabiting organisms (although the gophers and ground
squirrels recolonize the area rapidly). Marshland species historically may
have occurred locally north of the East Garden Grove - Wintersburg Channel,
but channel construction impacts, recent fox predation, generally low habitat
quality, and the frequency of human disturbance on the site would preclude
even moderate species diversity or densities.
Natural movement corridors and habitat linkages have been the focus of numerous studies intended to better understand relationships between large animal populations, open space reserves, and natural movement patterns (see Referenced Materials in Appendix G). Fragmentation of large habitats into smaller or isolated segments has been demonstrated to reduce natural biological diversity, eliminate disturbance-sensitive species, restrict genetic flow between meta-populations, and can lead to localized extinctions of entire floral or faunal assemblages. Most land use planning guidelines now recognize the importance of protecting wildlife movement corridors, and seek to retain major linkages intact wherever possible. Defining corridor alignments and specific spatial and resource requirements may be somewhat conjectural, but simply-stated, the accepted basic rule in planning corridors or reserves is that "bigger is better".
The project site is "land-locked" on the north and east margins by existing residential development and infrastructure, and has been effectively isolated terrestrially from the Bolsa Chica marshlands to the south by the interposing East Garden Grove - Wintersburg Channel. Open space to the west lies up and over the knoll, but there are yet open marshland and degraded upland habitats in that direction. Larger, more mobile species (coyote, fox, bobcat, raccoon) can easily traverse the knoll and reach the site from the west, but there are insufficient resources within the property to induce any of these taxa to remain. They can use existing service road crossings to move over the channel and into habitats to the south, so for these species there may yet be a tenuous linkage with larger open space.
Smaller, less-mobile species (rodents, lizards, snakes, amphibians) already have severely reduced population densities within the remnant areas on the north side of the channel, and their relative inability to cross the channel precludes all but extremely infrequent movement to or from the south. For such species, the site and surrounding uplands provide limited habitat values or sustaining resources, and there are no effective corridor or linkage systems to larger, more viable habitat areas nearby.
Flying insects, birds and bats have the ability to move easily from the
site to surrounding open space areas, and their use of the site would be
directly related to its foraging or other resource values, not as part of
a migratory corridor or seasonal use area. The ruderal and exotic vegetation
formations present do not offer unique or essential resources to migratory
species, and actually may be a decrement of those found within other urban
open space (such as parks and golf courses), because of the degraded nature
of the site and the lack of standing water.
Potentially significant impacts on biological resources posed by the proposed
project were delineated from criteria contained in the CEQA Guidelines. Appendix
G of these guidelines states that a project will normally have a significant
impact on biological resources if it will:
Section 15065(a) of the CEQA Guidelines also states that a project may
have a significant effect on the environment when "the project has the potential
to substantially degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce
the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population
to drop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal
community, or reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered
plant or animal. In addition, because of the sensitive nature and decline
of wetland habitats throughout California, the removal, filling, dredging,
or alteration (directly or indirectly) of wetland or riparian areas will
be considered a significant impact.
Implementation of the proposed project would not remove or alter any natural or native vegetation formations on the property. The site contains no natural wetland habitat, coastal sage scrub or other sensitive natural assemblages. No natural plant communities or natural populations of native species would be affected, directly or indirectly, by the proposed development. Conversion of 44 acres of agricultural field and 5 acres of ruderal and degraded gum tree stands would not result in important or significant losses of habitat or biological support resources of native wildlife populations.
Alteration of the project areas from their existing conditions, and removal
of non-native shrubs and trees would not contribute incrementally at any
level of biological significance to general losses of natural habitat within
the local area. The project would generate no direct significant adverse
impacts to natural wildlife habitats on a local or regional scale.
At least one native raptorial bird species, the red-tailed hawk, appears to nest within the exotic tree grove on the margin of the project site. These trees are in a declining state of health, with many of them dying or dead, and may pose a limb-drop hazard to activities beneath them. The loss of potential or actual nest sites for native birds of prey within the mature gum tree grove an the northwest corner of the Huntington Beach parcel would be an important local impact of the project.
The loss of active nesting sites for native birds of prey, or disturbance
of occupied nests during the breeding season would be a significant impact.
Mitigation Measure 1 has been proposed to reduce this impact to a less than
significant level.
No sensitive plant, invertebrate, fish, amphibian, reptile, bird or mammal species are known or expected to reside within, or occur in a resource-dependent relationship with, any portion of the overall 49 acre site. No adverse impacts are projected for any agency-listed species known to occur within the greater Bolsa Chica ecosystem as a result of the conversion of the project site from its present conditions (agricultural land and ruderal bottomland with exotic trees) to urban recreational and residential uses. The loss of minor acreages of marginally-suitable foraging, loafing, sheltering and hunting areas for resident and migratory wildlife will not result in a measurable decline or harm to any of the affected species. Most transient resource uses by migratory wildlife would continue within urban landscapes, except foraging and hunting by larger predators.
Removal of exotic trees from the site would alleviate existing levels
of hunting pressure by predatory birds within the adjacent Bolsa Chica wetlands,
which might be a beneficial impact to sensitive species residing therein.
Project implementation would generate no direct significant adverse impacts
to native wildlife populations or sensitive species locally or regionally.
It should be noted that the delineated "pocket wetlands" shown on the
EPA map (refer to Appendix G) within the Orange County parcel do not overlay
the area of pickleweed. It appears that it was not determined to have been
wetlands in the 1989 EPA delineation. The EPA map overlay follows the contours
of the base of the knoll, possibly the historic alignment of a runoff channel
from the north; however, this area now has been elevated several meters above
natural wetlands grade (as measured against existing habitats west of the
site) by slope subsidence and roadway grading, and is overgrown with Eucalyptus
trees. Nevertheless, removal of the pickleweed patch will require pocket
wetland mitigation consistent with Policy 2.2.25 of the Bolsa Chica LCP.
Mitigation Measure 2 will reduce the impacts associated with the removal
.4 acres of pocket wetlands to a less than significant level.
The Huntington Beach parcel contains an area variously delineated at between 7.6 and 8.3 acres of wetlands, as determined by the single parameter method, wherein the presence of hydric soils suffices to define a wetland. The most recent determinations of the site (D. Sanders, 1991; T. Dodson & Assoc., 1997) concluded that the putative hydric soils were delineated during a period of high groundwater, and that the site in fact no longer meets any of the EPA, ACOE, CDFG, USFWS or Coastal Commission criteria for wetlands. There are no identifiable natural wetland or marshland vegetation formations on the site, seasonally or as regrowth following alterations (although some ruderal and disturbance-tolerant plant taxa present are facultative wetland or upland species), and there are no natural surface water features.
There are no riparian plants, formations or habitat values on the overall property. The nearest riparian indicator species to the project site are a few mulefat (Baccharis salicifolid) shrubs growing in a low swale on the roadway margin at the south end of the knoll, above the dirt access road. These do not constitute a riparian habitat formation.
Based on the results of the December, 1998 Updated Wetlands Delineation
(Appendix G) and the March, 1998 Correspondence from the State Department
of Fish and Game, the proposed project would generate no adverse impacts
to identifiable surface wetlands, marshland or riparian features or associated
wildlife resources or populations, nor would it alter any natural watercourse
or other surface hydrological feature.
The project site does not provide essential resources for any migratory wildlife species, nor is it within an identified major movement corridor for terrestrial wildlife. The open, ruderal agricultural field is not an important local stopover resource for migratory waterfowl or other seasonally-occurring species. Small animal movement into and out of the site is residual to natural population movement within larger open space reserves and undeveloped land nearby. The service road passage exiting the site and crossing over the channel connects on the south side at a residential area, and of the two crossings adjacent to open space locally, the westernmost roadway (at the margin of the Orange County, parcel) offers the most direct and undisturbed passage between habitat areas.
Implementation of the proposed project would result in no identifiable
significant adverse impacts to wildlife movement on a local, regional or
statewide scale.
The project, in conjunction with other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable
future projects, will incrementally contribute to the cumulative loss of
biological resources. The project's incremental contribution to this impact
will be mitigated to a less than significant level.
The intent of this section is to state standard City conditions and requirements
which reduce impacts identified previously in this section. No standard City
conditions or requirements are applicable to identified project impacts.
Where significant impacts to site resources have been identified above,
appropriate mitigation measures are suggested, intended to reduce the level
of the impact to less than significant levels biologically.
Mitigation Measure 1, which requires the protection of raptor nest sites during construction, and removal of nest trees during the non-breeding season will suffice to reduce impacts to the affected species locally and regionally to levels of biological insignificance. Implementation of Mitigation Measure 1 will ensure no construction impacts result to the potential loss of active nesting sites for native birds of prey.
Implementation of Mitigation Measure 2 will reduce potential impacts to
pocket wetland habitats on the County parcel to a less than significant level.
The project, in conjunction with other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable
future projects, will incrementally contribute to the cumulative loss of
biological resources. The project's incremental contribution to this impact
will be mitigated to a less than significant level.