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DRAFT

BIOLOGICAL AND ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT

ASSESSMENT FOR THE SAN FRANCISQUITO CREEK FLOOD REDUCTION, ECOSYSTEM

RESTORATION, AND RECREATION PROJECT SAN FRANCISCO BAY TO HIGHWAY 101

P R E P A R E D F O R :

SanFrancisquitoCreekJointPowersAuthority615BMenloAvenueMenloPark,CA94025Contact:KevinMurray650.324.1972

P R E P A R E D B Y :

ICFInternational75EastSantaClaraSt.Suite300SanJose,CA95113Contact:MatthewJones408.216.2815

November2012

ICFInternational.2012.BiologicalandEssentialFishHabitatAssessmentfortheSanFrancisquitoCreekFloodReduction,EcosystemRestoration,andRecreationProjectSanFranciscoBaytoHighway101.Draft.November.(ICF00882.09.)SanJose,CA.PreparedforSanFrancisquitoCreekJointPowersAuthority,MenloPark,CA.

Draft Biological and Essential Fish Habitat Assessment for the San Francisquito Creek Flood Reduction, Ecosystem Restoration, and Recreation Project San Francisco Bay to Highway 101

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November 2012ICF 00882.09

Contents

List of Tables and Figures ...................................................................................................................... iii

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ...................................................................................................... iv

Page

Draft Biological and Essential Fish Habitat Assessment for the San Francisquito Creek Flood

Reduction, Ecosystem Restoration, and Recreation Project San Francisco

Bay to Highway 101 ..................................................................................................... 1

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1

Project Description .......................................................................................................................... 1

Action Area ...................................................................................................................................... 2

Species and Critical Habitat that Occur or May Occur in the Action Area ....................................... 2

Species Eliminated from the Consultation ....................................................................................... 3

Proposed Action ..................................................................................................................................... 3

Project Purpose and Need ............................................................................................................... 3

Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................................................ 3

Elements of the Proposed Project .......................................................................................................... 4

Levee, Floodwall, and Access Road Construction ............................................................................ 5

Marshplain Creation and Restoration ............................................................................................ 13

Additional Construction ................................................................................................................. 13

Construction Staging Areas, Project Site Access, and Haul Routes ............................................... 14

Fill Disposal and Fill Import ............................................................................................................ 14

Utility Relocation and Removal ...................................................................................................... 15

Construction Schedule ......................................................................................................................... 17

Operation and Maintenance ................................................................................................................ 17

Conservation Measures ........................................................................................................................ 18

General Construction Site Housekeeping ...................................................................................... 18

Water Quality Protection ............................................................................................................... 19

Safe Use of Herbicides and Pesticides ........................................................................................... 23

Construction Dust Control ............................................................................................................. 24

Biological Resources Protection ..................................................................................................... 24

Species Status and Critical Habitat ....................................................................................................... 29

Species Accounts ............................................................................................................................ 29

Status of Critical Habitat ................................................................................................................ 46

Effects of the Proposed Action ............................................................................................................. 48


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Assessment Approach .................................................................................................................... 48

Construction Effects ....................................................................................................................... 48

Effects on Critical Habitat .............................................................................................................. 56

Effects from Interrelated and Interdependent Actions ................................................................. 57

Cumulative Effects ......................................................................................................................... 57

Conservation Measures ........................................................................................................................ 57

Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................... 62

Essential Fish Habitat............................................................................................................................ 63

Pacific Groundfish ................................................................................................................................. 64

Project Effects ................................................................................................................................ 64

Coastal Pelagics .................................................................................................................................... 65

Project Effects ................................................................................................................................ 65

Pacific Coast Salmon ............................................................................................................................. 66

Project Effects ................................................................................................................................ 66

References ............................................................................................................................................ 67

Printed References ......................................................................................................................... 67

Personal Communications ............................................................................................................. 73


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Tables and Figures

Table Page

1 Summary of Project Elements ............................................................................................ 4

2 Summary of Construction Methodology, Timing, and Equipment ..................................... 5

Figure Follows Page

1 Project Site .......................................................................................................................... 2

2 Project Components ........................................................................................................... 2

3 Haul Routes ....................................................................................................................... 14

4 Existing and Proposed PG&E Utilities ............................................................................... 16


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Acronyms and Abbreviations

BA biologicalassessmentBAAQMD BayAreaAirQualityManagementDistrictBMPs BestManagementPractices Cal/OSHA CaliforniaDivisionofOccupationalSafetyandHealthCaltransfacility U.S.101/EastBayshoreRoadBridgeoverSanFrancisquitoCreekCCR CaliforniaCodeofRegulationsCFR CodeofFederalRegulationsCNDDB CaliforniaNaturalDiversityDatabaseCreek SanFrancisquitoCreek District SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictDPS distinctpopulationsegmentDWR CaliforniaDepartmentofWaterResources EFH EssentialFishHabitat F degreesFahrenheitFMP FisheryManagementPlansFR FederalRegister GolfCourse PaloAltoMunicipalGolfCourse LDS light‐dutysteel MHHW meanhigherhighwaterMMP MitigationandMonitoringPlanMS4s municipalseparatestormsewersystems NMFS NationalMarineFisheriesServiceNPDES NationalPollutantDischargeEliminationSystemNTU NephelometricTurbidityUnits PaloAltoAirport PaloAltoAirportofSantaClaraCountyPCEs primaryconstituentelementsPG&E PacificGas&ElectricPRBO PointReyesBirdObservatory


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Project theSanFrancisquitoCreekFloodReduction,EcosystemRestoration,andRecreationProjectSanFranciscoBaytoHighway101Project

ROW right‐of‐way SCVURPPP SantaClaraValleyUrbanRunoffPollutionPreventionProgramSFCJPA SanFrancisquitoCreekJointPowersAuthoritySLR SeaLevelRiseSMP StreamMaintenanceProgramSM‐STOPPP SanMateoCountywideStormwaterPollutionPreventionProgramSWPPP StormWaterPollutionPreventionPlan USC U.S.GovernmentCodeUSFWS U.S.FishandWildlifeService WESCO WesternEcologicalServicesCompanyO


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Draft Biological and Essential Fish Habitat Assessment for the San Francisquito Creek Flood Reduction, Ecosystem Restoration, and Recreation Project

San Francisco Bay to Highway 101

Introduction Thisbiologicalassessment(BA)andEssentialFishHabitat(EFH)AssessmenthasbeenpreparedtosupportconsultationwithU.S.FishandWildlifeService(USFWS)andNationalMarineFisheriesService(NMFS).ItdocumentstheeffectsthattheSanFrancisquitoCreekFloodReduction,EcosystemRestoration,andRecreationProjectSanFranciscoBaytoHighway101Project(Project)mayhaveonanythreatenedorendangeredspecies,criticalhabitat,andEFHthatmayoccurintheactionarea.

ThisBAhasbeenpreparedincompliancewithlegalrequirementssetforthunderSection7oftheESAof1973(U.S.GovernmentCode[USC]Title16,Section1536[16USC1536]).TheBAhasbeenpreparedwiththefollowingobjectives.

ToprovideinformationtoUSFWSandNMFSaboutresultsofbiologicalresourcefieldsurveysconductedalongtherouteoftheproposedaction.

TodeterminewhetherthewildlifespeciesaddressedintheBAarelikelytobeadverselyaffectedbytheproposedaction.

TodeterminewhetherdesignatedorproposedcriticalhabitatandEFHwouldbeadverselymodifiedbytheproposedaction.

TodescribeconservationmeasuresfortheproposedactionthatwouldavoidProjecteffectsonthesespeciesandtheirhabitats.

TodeterminewhetherformalconsultationwithUSFWSand/orNMFSisnecessary.

Project Description

Project Location

TheSanFrancisquitoCreek(Creek)watershedencompassesa45‐square‐milebasin,extendingfromSkylineBoulevardtoSanFranciscoBay.ThewatershedencompassespublicandprivatelandsintheCitiesofEastPaloAlto,MenloPark,PaloAlto,PortolaValley,andWoodside;theunincorporatedareasofSanMateoandSantaClaracounties;andStanfordUniversity.TheSanFrancisquitoCreekfloodplain,whichhasalmostnooverlapwiththewatershed,comprisesalmost5squaremiles.

SanFrancisquitoCreekrepresentstheboundarybetweenSanMateoandSantaClaracountiesinthelowerwatershed.ThelastrelativelyunalteredurbancreeksystemintheSouthBay,SanFrancisquitoCreekbeginsattheconfluenceofCorteMaderaCreekandBearCreek,justbelowSearsvilleLakeinStanfordUniversity’sJasperRidgeBiologicalPreserve.ThemouthoftheCreek

San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority


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openstotheSanFranciscoBayadjacenttoPaloAltoAirportofSantaClaraCounty(PaloAltoAirport)tothesouthandtheBaylandsNaturePreservetothenorth.Thesystemcontainsmorethan71milesofCreekbed;themainstemisapproximately14mileslong.TheProjectisfocusedonthemainstemoftheCreek.Figure1showstheProjectlocation.

Fordescriptionpurposes,theProjectisdividedintothreereaches.AreachisacontinuouspartoftheCreekbetweentwospecifiedpoints.TheProjectreachasawholeisfromSanFranciscoBaytoEastBayshoreRoad.ThelowerreachisfromSanFranciscoBaytoFriendshipBridge,themiddlereachfromFriendshipBridgetoDaphneWay,andtheupperreachfromDaphneWaytoEastBayshoreRoad. Additionally,therightbankreferstotheSanMateoCounty(EastPaloAlto)sideoftheCreekandtheleftbankreferstotheSantaClaraCounty(PaloAlto)sideoftheCreek.Figure2showstheProjectreachesandidentifiestheleftandrightbanks.

Action Area

Theactionareaincludes“allareastobeaffecteddirectlyorindirectlybythefederalactionandnotmerelytheimmediateareainvolvedintheaction”(50CodeofFederalRegulations[CFR]§402.02).ForthisProject,theactionareaincludesthechannelbanksandbottomfromapproximately200feetupstreamofEastBayshoreandHighway101Bridgetoapproximately500feetintoSanFranciscoBay.Itisassumedthatsuspendedsedimentsgeneratedduringtheconstructionandbreachingofleveeswouldsettleorbecomedilutedinthechannelatadistanceofapproximately500feetdownstreamoftheleveedegrade.

TheactionareaislocatedinsoutheasternSanMateoCountyandnorthwesternSantaClaraCounty,ontheeasternedgeofEastPaloAlto.The210.0‐acreactionareaissituatedinanalluvialplain,alluvialfan,andtidalmarsharea.ThePaloAltoMunicipalGolfCourse(GolfCourse)andPaloAltoAirportareadjacenttotheeasternandsouthernboundariesoftheactionarea.SanFranciscoBayistotheeast,andresidentialareasandtidalmarshesaretothenorth.ThewesternedgeisformedbyEastBayshoreRoad.SanFrancisquitoCreekenterstheactionareaimmediatelyeastofU.S.101.Consistentwithitssetting,muchoftheCreek’slengthwithintheactionareahasbeenstraightened,channelized,orotherwiseimprovedforfloodprotection,althoughitremainsunlinedwithinconstructedlevees.

Species and Critical Habitat that Occur or May Occur in the Action Area

ThefollowingninefederallylistedfishandwildlifespeciesmayoccurintheactionareaandmaybeaffectedbytheProject(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2011b).

CentralCaliforniacoaststeelhead(Oncorhynchusmykiss)—threatened.

Greensturgeon(Acipsensermedirostris)—threatened.

Californiared‐leggedfrog(Ranadraytonii)—threatened.

SanFranciscogartersnake(Thamnophissirtalistetrataenia)—endangered.

Westernsnowyplover(Charadriusalexandrinesnivosus)—threatened.

Californiaclapperrail(Ralluslongirostrisobsoletus)—endangered.

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Californialeasttern(Sternulaantillarumbrowni)—endangered.

Saltmarshharvestmouse(Reithrodontomysraviventris)—endangered.

Californiaseablite(Suaedacalifornica)—endangered.

Species Eliminated from the Consultation

Thefollowingeightfederallylistedspeciesidentifiedashavingpotentialtooccurintheregionareunlikelytooccurwithintheactionarea.Theircurrentrangeisoutsidetheactionarea,andtheyhavebeenextirpatedfromtheactionarea.

Baycheckerspotbutterfly(Euphydryasedithabayensis)—threatened.

Vernalpooltadpoleshrimp(Lepiduruspackardi)—endangered.

Californiatigersalamander(Ambystomacaliforniense)(centralpopulation)—threatened.

Marbledmurrelet(Brachyramphusmarmoratus)—threatened.

Californiabrownpelican(Pelecanusoccidentaliscalifornicus)—delisted.

Proposed Action

Project Purpose and Need

TheProjectwouldultimatelyimprovechannelcapacityforCreekflowscoupledwiththeinfluenceofthetidesofSanFranciscoBay,includingprojectedSeaLevelRise(SLR),fromthedownstreamfaceofEastBayshoreRoadtoSanFranciscoBay.Itwouldreducelocalfluvialfloodrisksintheactionareaduringstormevents,providethecapacityneededforfutureupstreamimprovements,increaseandimproveecologicalhabitat,andprovideforimprovedrecreationalopportunities.

Goals and Objectives

TheProject’sgoalsaretoimprovefloodprotection,habitat,andrecreationalopportunitieswithintheProjectreach,withthefollowingspecificobjectives:

ProtectpropertiesandinfrastructurebetweenEastBayshoreRoadandtheSanFranciscoBayfromCreekflowsresultingfrom100‐yearfluvialfloodflowsoccurringatthesametimeasa100‐yeartidethatincludesprojectedsealevelrisethrough2067.

AccommodatefuturefloodprotectionmeasuresthatmightbeconstructedupstreamoftheProject.

EnhancehabitatalongtheProjectreach,particularlyhabitatforthreatenedandendangeredspecies.

Enhancerecreationaluses.

Minimizeoperationalandmaintenancerequirements.



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Elements of the Proposed Project IncreasingtheCreek’scapacityfromSanFranciscoBaytoEastBayshoreRoadwouldbeachievedby:

DegradingaportionofanunmaintainedleveedownstreamofFriendshipBridgetoallowfloodflowsfromtheCreekchannelintothePaloAltoBaylandsPreservenorthoftheCreek.

Excavatingsedimentdepositswithinthechanneltomaximizeconveyance.

Rebuildingleveesandrelocatingaportionofthesouthernleveetowidenthechanneltoreduceinfluenceoftidesandincreasechannelcapacity.

ConstructingfloodwallsintheupperreachtoincreasecapacityandmaintainconsistencywithCaltrans’enlargementoftheU.S.101/EastBayshoreRoadBridgeoverSanFrancisquitoCreek(Caltransfacility).

MajorProjectelementsinclude:

AnoverflowterraceatmarshelevationadjacenttotheBaylandsPreserve.

LeveesetbackandimprovementstowidenthechannelandincreaseleveeheightandstabilitybetweenEastPaloAltoandthePaloAltoGolfCourse.

FloodwallsintheupperreachdownstreamofEastBayshoreRoad.

ExtensionofFriendshipBridgeviaaboardwalkacrossnewmarshlandwithinthewidenedchannel.

ThemajorityoftheProjectelementswouldoccuronpropertiesinPaloAltoandEastPaloAltoandownedbytheCityofPaloAlto;orwithinSantaClaraValleyWaterDistrict(District)orCityofEastPaloAltorights‐of‐way.

TheProjectelementsproposedtoimprovemanagementoffloodflowsalongtheCreekfromEastBayshoreRoadtoSanFranciscoBayincludeopeningtheCreekchanneltoflowintotheBaylandsPreserve,reconfiguringlevees,creatingamarshplainterracetoconveyhighflows,installingfloodwalls;wideningoftheCreekchannel;and;constructingaccessroadsformaintenancepurposes.ProjectelementsaresummarizedbelowinTable1.AdetailedoverviewofeachProjectcomponentisprovidedinthesectionsthatfollow.

Table 1. Summary of Project Elements

ProjectComponent Description

Leveeandfloodwallconstruction

Leveeloweringonrightbank

FromthemouthoftheCreekatSanFranciscoBayto200feetdownstreamoftheexistingFriendshipBridge.ThiswouldallowfloodwaterstoflowintotheBaylandsnorthofSanFrancisquitoCreek.

Leveeraisingonrightbank

FromtheO’ConnorPumpStationtie‐innearFriendshipBridgetothefloodwall.

Floodwallonrightbank

TherightfloodwallwouldextendfromjustdownstreamofDaphneWaytotheendoftheProjectreachwhereitwouldconnectwiththeCaltransU.S.101/EastBayshoreRoadfacility.



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ProjectComponent Description

Leveeraisingonleftbankandleveerelocation

Leveerelocationofthemiddlereachandasmallportionoftheupperandlowerreaches.Theleveewouldberelocatedinland(currentlyoccupiedbytheGolfCourse),creatingspaceontheleftbankforamarshplainterrace.ExceptforasectionaroundtheeasternfootingsofFriendshipBridge,theexistingleveealongthisstretchwouldberemoved.

Floodwallonleftbank

Theleftfloodwallwouldextendfromtheendoftheleftlevee,alongthestreambed,aroundthePaloAltoPumpStation,totheendoftheProjectreachwhereitwouldconnectwiththeCaltransfacility.

Downstreamaccessroadonrightbank

Therightbankdownstreamaccessroadwouldbeapproximately16feetwideandextendfromthecrownoftherightleveetostreetleveltojustdownstreamofDaphneWay.

Upstreamaccessroadonrightbank

Therightbankupstreamaccessroadwouldbeapproximately12feetwideandwouldextendfromjustdownstreamofVerbenaDrivetotheCaltransfacilityatEastBayshoreRoad.

Accessroadonleftbank

Theleftbankaccessroadwouldbegenerally12feetwideandwouldextendfromapointdownstreamoftheInternationalSchoolofthePeninsulatothePaloAltoPumpStation.TheaccessroadwouldalsobeusedasapublictrailwithintheCityofPaloAltoandwouldconnecttotheBaylandsAthleticCenter.

FriendshipBridge TheexistingFriendshipBridgewouldberetainedandextendedasaboardwalkfromtheretainedeasternfootingacrossthenewmarshplainterracetotherelocatedleftbanklevee.

Marshplainrestoration

DownstreamofFriendshipBridgeonrightbank

High‐marshandtransitionalvegetationwouldbeplantedfromtheedgeoftheCreekchanneltothetoeoftheleveefromjustupstreamofSanFranciscoBaytojustdownstreamofFriendshipBridge.

UpstreamofFriendshipBridgeonrightbank

High‐marshandtransitionalvegetationwouldbeplantedfromtheedgeoftheCreekchanneltothetoeoftheleveefromjustupstreamofFriendshipBridgetoEastBayshoreRoad.

Leftbank High‐marshandtransitionalvegetationwouldbeplantedfromtheedgeoftheCreekchanneltothebaseofthefloodwallorthetoeofthelevee.Inthisareathemarshwouldbeplantedadjacenttothetoeofthecut‐and‐fillarea.ThemarshwouldextendfromthepointatwhichthenewleveewoulddivergeinlandfromtheexistingleveetoEastBayshoreRoad.

Levee, Floodwall, and Access Road Construction

ConstructionofProjectelementswouldlikelyoccurintwophases.WhileallProjectelementscouldbeconstructedatonetimeifsufficientfundingwassecured,thetwo‐phaseconstructionmethodologyisconservativelyassumedtobethepreferredconstructionapproach.Asummaryoftheanticipatedconstructionmethodology,theproposedstartingdateanddurationofeachactivity,andtheequipmenttobeusedduringeachphaseislistedinTable2.

Table 2. Summary of Construction Methodology, Timing, and Equipment

ProjectComponent

ProposedStartingDate Activity

ProposedDuration Equipment



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ProjectComponent



UtilityRelocation

PG&EElectricityTransmission

12/2012 Siteandroadpreparation:Treesandbrushtrimmedinworkareas

2weeks 1dumptruck1grader1four‐doorpickup

12/2012 Woodpolerelocation 4weeks 1flat‐bedtruck3four‐doorpickups3buckettrucks3linetrucks1ropetruck1tensioner(onatrailer)

1/2013 Demolitionofwoodpolesandsecondarywireremoval

6days

1/2013 Constructionofshoo‐flytoweratT3

2weeks 1pickup1four‐doorpickup12‐tontooltruckwithaircompressor1dumptruck170‐toncrane1caterpillar(piledriver)1backhoe1concretetruck1pumptruck

2/2013 Towerraises(T1andT4)

2weeks(1weekpertower)

3/2013 NewtowerconstructionanddemolitionofT2

4weeks

3/2013 Demolitionofshoo‐fly

1day

PG&EGasTransmission

4/2013 Gaslinework 4weeks24‐doorpickups1backhoe2flatbedtruck

4/8/2013 directionaldrilling 2weeks1directionaldrillrig

4/18/2013 exportofmaterial 1week 2dumptrucks1flatbedtruck

4/25/2013 concrete 2days 1concretetruck

4/27/2013 Demobilization 1week24‐doorpickups1flatbedtruck

PhaseOne—LeveesandExcavation

SitePreparation 1/2013 MobilizationTreeRemovalClearingandGrubbingStrippingDemolition

6weeks 4four‐doorpickups1backhoe1loader1jackhammer1flat‐bedtruck



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ProjectComponent



Constructionofnewleftbanklevee

4/2013 SiteexcavationLeveeconstructionSeedingforerosioncontrol

5weeks 4four‐doorpickups3excavators1backhoe2loaders4–6dumptrucks(20cyeach)2watertrucks

Removalofoldleftbanklevee

6/2013 Siteexcavation 3weeks 4four‐doorpickups3excavators1backhoe2loaders4–6dumptrucks(20cyeach)2watertrucks

Removalofrightbanklevee

6/2013 SiteexcavationRelocationofEastPaloAltosewerlineandsiphon


Constructionofrightbanklevee

7/2013 LeveeconstructionSeedingforerosioncontrol


Constructionofdownstreamaccessroadonrightandleftbanks

8/2013 Sitepreparationandpaving

4weeks 4four‐doorpickups1dumptruck1grader1four‐doorpickup2concretetrucks1asphaltpaver1compactor

FriendshipBridge 9/2013 SiteexcavationBoardwalkconstruction

6weeks 4four‐doorpickups1backhoe1loader1flat‐bedtruck

Channelwideningandmarshplainterracing

6/2013 SiteexcavationTerracing




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ProjectComponent



Revegetation 9/2013 InstallationofirrigationsystemRevegetation

6weeks 2four‐doorpickups

PhaseTwo—Floodwalls

SitePreparation 5/2014 MobilizationClearingandgrubbing

3weeks 4four‐doorpickups1backhoe1loader1jackhammer1flat‐bedtruck

Installationofrightandleftbankfloodwalls

6/2014 SiteexcavationPreparationoffoundationConstructionoffloodwalls

5months 4four‐doorpickups1excavator1trencher1backhoe1loader1dumptruck1grader2concretetrucks1flat‐bedtruck

Constructionofupstreamaccessroadonrightandleftbanks

10/2014 Sitepreparationandpaving

4weeks 4four‐doorpickups1dumptruck1grader1four‐doorpickup2concretetrucks1asphaltpaver1compactor

SiteRestoration 11/2014 Demobilization 2weeks 2four‐doorpickups1loader1flat‐bedtruck

Phase One—Levees and Excavation

ThissectionincludesadescriptionofleveemodificationandrelocationandfloodwallconstructionalongtheProjectreachontherightandleftbanks.Leveemodificationandrelocationwouldprovideseveralfloodprotectionimprovements.Forexample,loweringtherightleveefromSanFranciscoBaytoFriendshipBridge(seediscussionbelow)wouldallowfloodwaterstospilloverontotheBaylandslocatednorthoftheCreekapproximatelyevery2‐3years.Additionally,relocationoftheleftleveeinthemiddlereach(seediscussionbelow)wouldallowforthecreationofamarshplainterraceontheleftbank.

Theleveeslopeswouldhaveaslopeof3H:1V(horizontal:vertical)onthewatersideandH2:1Vonthelandside.Theleveecrownswouldbefunctionallylevel1toaccommodateabicycle/pedestrianpathandwouldgenerallybe16feetwide.However,thepathswouldbe12feetwide2ontheleftandrightbanks,respectively,neartheInternationalSchoolofthePeninsulaandEastPaloAlto

1Leveecrownswouldhavea2percentslopetoaiddrainage,butwouldappearandfeelfunctionallyleveltorecreationalusers.210feetistheminimumbikepathwidth



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residences(Figure2)inordertomaximizethewidthofthestreambedwhereitnarrows.TheleveeelevationswouldincreasefromdownstreamtotheupstreamProjectextenttomatchthedesignwatersurfaceelevations.

Lower Reach

Therightbankleveealterationswouldbeginapproximately250feetinlandfromtheSanFranciscoBay.Theexistingleveewouldbeloweredtoanelevationof8feet.Thereductionintheleveeelevationwouldcontinueupstreamatthisconstantelevationtoapproximately200feetdownstreamofFriendshipBridge.Atthispoint,theleveecutwouldchangetoanupwardangleof3:1andwouldcontinueatthisslopeuntilitreachestheexistinglevee,whichwouldremainunchanged.AttheO’ConnorPumpStationtheleveewouldtransitionintoashortfloodwallthatwouldtieintotheexistingstructureoftheO’ConnorPumpStation.

Theleftbankleveealterationswouldbeginapproximately460feetdownstreamofFriendshipBridge,wheretheleveewouldbegintodivergelandwardfromtheexistingleveestartingatanelevationof16.2feetandincreasingastheimprovementsmoveupstream.

Friendship Bridge

TheabutmentssupportingFriendshipBridgewouldremainunchanged.AdjacenttotheexistingbridgeontheleftsideoftheCreek,theProjectwouldincludeamarshplainterracethatwouldbegradedtoanelevationequaltothemeanhigherhighwater3(MHHW)tideelevation.Thisterracewouldcreateacontinuoustidalmarshbeginninginthelowerreach,surroundingFriendshipBridge’ssoutheastapproach,andextendingupstreamalongtheCreek’sleftbank.Theterracewouldbeinundatedduringspringtidesandmoremoderatestreamflowevents.TheleftendofFriendshipBridgewouldstandinthemarshplainterraceaftertheProjectwasimplemented.

AboardwalkwouldtraversethemarshplainfromtheleftbankandwouldtieintotheabutmentontheleftendofFriendshipBridge.TheboardwalkwouldbethesamewidthasFriendshipBridge,constructedofatimberdeckandconcretepiles,andwouldbedesignedwithconsiderationtoaestheticsthatwouldbeconsistentwiththePaloAltoBaylandsMasterPlan.Theelevationofthelowmarkoftheboardwalkwouldbesetabovethehighestanticipatedfloodelevation,withthelowestpointofthebridgeaminimumof5feetabovethemarshplainterracebeneathit.

Middle Reach

TherightleveewouldbeimprovedtomeetUSACEstandardsinthesamealignmentastheexistinglevee,minimizingtheintrusionoftheProjectonEastPaloAltoresidences.UpstreamofFriendshipBridge,therightleveewouldberaisedformuchoftheremainingProjectextent.4Therightleveewouldbeconstructedatelevationsrangingfrom16.5toapproximately19feetdependingonthedesignwatersurfaceelevation.Therightleveewouldextendforapproximately2,600feet(0.5mile),atwhichpointthefloodwallwouldbegin,justdownstreamofDaphneWay(Figure2).Atthispoint,

3Theaverageheightofthehighesttideinatidalcycle(referredtoashigherhighwater)overa19‐yearperiod.Forshorterperiodsofobservation,correctionsareappliedtoeliminateknownvariationsandreducetheresulttotheequivalentofamean19‐yearvalue.4Dependingontheresultsofgeotechnicalsurveys,insomelocations,portionsoftheexistingleveecouldbere‐usedinthereconstructedlevees.



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theleveecrownwouldtransitionintotheexistingleveebutwouldbedesignedtoaccommodatethefloodwallthatwouldbeconstructedduringPhaseTwo.SeethediscussionunderthesubheadingAccessRoadsforadescriptionoftheaccessroad.ThedescriptionofthefloodwallthatwouldbeconstructedinPhaseTwoisdiscussedunderPhaseTwo–Floodwalls.

Asdescribedabove,beginninginthelowerreach,slightlydownstreamofFriendshipBridge,theleftleveewouldberelocatedinlandfromitsexistinglocation.WheretheCreekturnssouth,theleftleveewouldberelocatedapproximately100feetormoreinlandfromitsexistinglocationandwouldcutthroughaportionoftheGolfCourse.WheretheCreekstraightensouts,theleftleveewouldbegintoconvergewiththeCreekandwouldbelocatedapproximately50feetfromtheexistingleveefortheremainderofthemiddlereach.FromFriendshipBridge,theleveewouldvaryinelevationdependingonthedesignwatersurfaceelevationforapproximately2,500feet(0.5mile).Atthispoint,approximately350feetnorthofwheretheCreekturnswest,theleveewouldtransitionintotheexistingleveebutwouldbedesignedtoaccommodatethefloodwallthatwouldbeconstructedduringPhaseTwo.

Upper Reach

Intheupperreach,theCreekchannelwouldbeexcavatedtotheinteriortoeoftheexistingrightandleftbankleveesuptothenewEastBayshoreRoadBridgebeingconstructedaspartoftheCaltransfacility.NootherworkwouldoccurinthisreachduringPhaseOne.

Levee Construction

Inthelowerreachontherightbank,theleveewouldbedegradeddowntoanelevationof8feettoapproximately200feetdownstreamofFriendshipBridge.Upstreamofthatpoint,theleveewouldbereconstructedtoUSACEstandardsinthesamealignmentastheexistinglevee.ConstructiononthisphaseoftheProjectislikelytooccurover5weeks.ItisexpectedthatvehicleswouldbeenteringandleavingtheProjectsiteattheO’ConnorStreetaccesspointfor25days(seethediscussionunderthesubheadingConstructionStagingAreas,ProjectSiteAccess,andHaulRoutes).

InthelowerreachontheleftbankandfromFriendshipBridgetothefloodwallsintheupperreach,theleveeswouldberaisedusingimportedfill.ThefillwouldbegeotechnicallyengineeredtoUSACEandDistrictspecificationsandstandards.ConstructiononthisphaseoftheProjectislikelytooccurover5weeks.Theleftlevee(PaloAltoSide)isasetbackleveeandisexpectedtoexperience1footofsettlement.Therightlevee(EastPaloAltoSide)isaraiseoftheexistingleveeandthereforewillexperiencelesssettlement,anticipatedtobe0.5feet.Aftersettlementbothleveeswillbethesameheight.

Leveeraisingwouldbeprecededbysoilconditioningandfoundationpreparationthatwouldinvolveuseofheavyequipmentover5days.Leveeraisingwouldlastapproximately4to5weeks:mass‐gradingoperationswouldlastapproximately20daysandmiscellaneousconstructionactivitiesandcontingencieswouldoccuroverapproximately5days.TheleveecrownwouldbepreparedtocomplywithDistrictmaintenanceroadcriteriawithaClass2aggregatebaseandpavedwithasphaltconcrete.

Afterleveeconstructioniscomplete,thesidesoftheleveesandthemarginofthepathswouldbeseededwithappropriatenativeplantsforerosioncontrol.



11


Forleveeraisingactivitiesontherightbank,itisexpectedthatvehicleswouldenterandleavetheProjectsiteattheO’ConnorStreetaccesspointfor25daysandtheDaphneWayaccesspointfor5days.Forleveeraisingactivitiesontheleftbank,itisexpectedthatvehicleswouldenterandleavetheProjectsiteattheGengRoadfor25days.

Access Roads

PhaseOneoftheProjectwouldincludetheconstructionofaccessandmaintenanceroadsonthedownstreamPhaseOneleveeimprovementsontherightandleftbank(Figure2).Theaccessroadswouldbeusedformaintenancepurposesandforlocaltrailusers.Therightbankispresumedtobeprimarilyusedformaintenanceaccessandwouldnotbepaved.

TherightbankdownstreamaccessroadwouldextendfromtheO’ConnorPumpStationtojustdownstreamofDaphneWay.ThedownstreamaccessroadontherightbankwouldbereachedfromtheO’ConnorStreetaccesspoint(seethediscussionunderthesubheadingConstructionStagingAreas,ProjectSiteAccess,andHaulRoutes).Theroadwouldbeapproximately16feetwide.Thisaccessroadwouldbesurfacedwithaggregatebase.

ThedownstreamaccessroadontheleftbankwouldbereachedfromtheterminusofGengRoad(seethediscussionunderthesubheadingConstructionStagingAreas,ProjectSiteAccess,andHaulRoutes).Theaccessroadwouldbeapproximately16feetwideandwouldbepavedwithasphaltconcretebetweenFriendshipBridgeandtheGengRoadaccesspointduringPhaseOne.

Constructionofthedownstreamaccessroadswouldlikelylast4weeks.Preparationoftheroadbedisexpectedtotake10days,andsurfacingtheroadisexpectedtotake10days.ConstructionwouldbestagedfromtheDaphneWayaccesspointontherightbankandGengRoadontheleftbank.

Phase Two—Floodwalls

FloodwallswouldbebuiltoneithersideofthePhaseOnewidenedchannelfromEastBayshoreRoadtoroughlyjustdownstreamfromtheBaylandsAthleticCentertoaccommodateflowswhileminimizingtheneedtoacquireproperty.

Thefloodwallontherightbankwouldrangeinelevationfrom18.6feetto21.3feetandwouldbeapproximately586feetlongextendingfromjustdownstreamofDaphneWayandcontinuingtotheendoftheProjectreachwhereitwouldconnectwiththeCaltransfacility.Onthelandwardsidethefloodwallwouldextendapproximately3.3feetabovethegradeoftheaccessroadtoprovideasafetybarrierinthefloodwallsectionoftheProject.

Thefloodwallontheleftbankwouldbeginwheretheleftleveecrowntransitionsintoanaccessroad,andwouldfollowthestreambedtothePaloAltoPumpStationwhereitwouldtakeasharpturnlandwardandtracetheoutlineofthePaloAltoPumpStationbeforeturningupstreamandconnectingtotheCaltransfacility.Thefloodwallontheleftbankwouldrangeinelevationfrom18.5feetto20.5feetandwouldbeapproximately800feetlong.

AttheCaltransfacility,watertightconnectionswouldtransitionbetweenthemetalsheetpilefloodwallsonbothbanksandtheconcretewingwallorabutmentstructureofEastBayshoreRoad.



12


TheplacementoffloodwallsintheupperreachoftheProjectwouldwidentheCreekchannelby30feetapproximatelyfromtheSanFrancisquitoCreekPumpStationinPaloAltotothebasketballcourtnexttotheInternationalSchoolofthePeninsula.

Floodwall Construction

Asdiscussedabove,floodwallswouldbeconstructedandinstalledonbothsidesoftheCreekchannelintheupperreachandaportionofthemiddlereach(i.e.,fromEastBayshoreRoadtoroughlyjustdownstreamoftheBaylandsAthleticCenter).Thefloodwallswouldbeconstructedofsheetpileandreinforcedconcrete.

Forfloodwallinstallation,allaccesstotherightbankwouldbefromtheVerbenaDriveaccesspoint;theleftbankwouldbeaccessedfromGengRoad(seethediscussionunderthesubheadingConstructionStagingAreas,ProjectSiteAccess,andHaulRoutes).Theexistingleveeswouldbeexcavatedtoprepareforinstallationofthereinforcedconcretewallpiecesandisexpectedtolastfor10days.Apeakofapproximately30vehiclesperdayisexpected.Installationofthefloodwallswouldbeprecededbypreparationandcompactiontopreparethefoundation;theseactivitieswouldoccurover10days.

PiecesofthefloodwallwouldbebroughttotheProjectsitebytractortrailer.Installationofthefloodwallwouldlastapproximately4months:72daysforinstallationofthefloodwallpanelsand10daysformiscellaneousconstructionactivitiesandcontingencies.ThefloodwallswouldbetiedinwiththeleveeandwiththeupstreamCaltransfacility.

Access Roads

TheProjectwouldincludetheconstructionoftwoaccessandmaintenanceroadsconsistentwithaccessroadsinthePhaseOnereach:oneupstreamaccessroadbehindthefloodwallontherightbankandoneaccessroadbehindthefloodwallontheleftbank(Figure2).Theaccessroadswouldbeusedformaintenancepurposesforthefloodwalls.Ontherightbank,theupstreamaccessroadwouldextendfromjustdownstreamofVerbenaDrivetoEastBayshoreRoad.TheaccessroadontheleftbankwouldextendfromapointdownstreamoftheInternationalSchoolofthePeninsulatothePaloAltoPumpStation.Bothaccessroadsaredescribedinfurtherdetailbelow.

Right Bank

TheupstreamaccessroadontherightbankwouldbereachedfromtheVerbenaDriveaccesspoint(seethediscussionunderthesubheadingConstructionStagingAreas,ProjectSiteAccess,andHaulRoutes).Theroadelevationwouldvaryfrom16.7to17.0feetandwouldextenduptomeetEastBayshoreRoadatgrade.Theroadwouldbeapproximately10–12feetwideandwouldbesurfacedwithaggregatebase.

Constructionoftheupstreamroadwouldlikelylast4weeks.Preparationoftheroadbedisexpectedtotake10days,andsurfacingtheroad10days.ConstructionwouldbestagedfromtheVerbenaDriveaccesspoint.

Left Bank

TheaccessroadontheleftbankwouldbereachedfromthePaloAltoPumpStationaccesspoint(seethediscussionunderthesubheadingConstructionStagingAreas,ProjectSiteAccess,andHaul



13


Routes).Attheupstreamendofthelevee,thepathontheleveecrownwouldtransitiontoanaccessroad,whichwoulddescendinelevationfrom19.3feetonthelandwardsideofthefloodwalltoleveloutatanelevationbetweenapproximately15and16feet.Theroadwouldascendslightlytoanapproximateelevationof16.4feetattheaccessroad’send(atthePaloAltoPumpStationaccesspoint).Theroadwouldbeapproximately12feetwideformostofitslengthandwouldbesurfacedwithaggregatebase.TheroadwouldbepavedwithasphaltconcretebetweentheGengRoadaccesspointandtheInternationalSchoolofthePeninsulainPhaseTwo.

Marshplain Creation and Restoration TheproposedProjectwouldcreateapproximately18acresoftidalmarshonbothsidesoftheCreek,effectivelyrestoringtidalinfluenceintheProjectreach(seeFigure2).MarshplaincreationwouldspantheentireProjectextentonbothbanksfromEastBayshoreRoadtoSanFranciscoBayontherightbankandfromEastBayshoreRoadtotheendoftheexistingleftleveeontheleftbank.BothsidesofthechannelwouldbeplantedfromthetoeoftheleveeorbaseofthefloodwalltotheedgeoftheCreekchannel.

AfterPhaseOneleveeconstructioniscomplete,thetidalmarshareawouldbeterracedandrevegetatedwithhigh‐marshplants.Thehigh‐marshplantingareawouldtotal7.05acresandthehigh‐marshtransitionplantingareawouldtotal10.77acres.Additionally,inareaswhererockslopeprotectionisrequired,10‐footvegetatedshrubbandswouldbeinstalledtoproviderefugiaandpromotelongtermvegetatedprotectionandstabilityacrosstherockslopeprotectionareas.

Nativemarshplantswouldbeusedtorevegetatetheterracedland.Plantsappropriatetothehighmarshwouldbeplantednearthestreamchannel.PlantsnativetomarshtransitionareaswouldbeplantedinareasmoredistantfromtheCreekchannel.TheSanFrancisquitoCreekJointPowersAuthority(SFCJPA),oritsdesignatedcontractor,willberesponsiblefortheacquisitionofplantmaterial.AllcontainerstockwillbepropagatedfromnativestockcollectedwithinthesouthSanFranciscoBayandtidallyinfluencedcreeksincoordinationwithSantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictstaff.

Additional Construction

AssociatedactivitiesrequiredtocompletetheProjectincludethefollowing.

Constructionoftie‐ins:

LeveefromwestfootingsofFriendshipBridgetotherightbanklevee(PhaseOne).

FloodwalltoO’ConnorPumpStation(PhaseOne).

InterimstructuretoconnectPhaseOneleveestoexistingleveesinPhaseTworeach.

FloodwalltoCaltransabutmentsonbothbanks(PhaseTwo).

Floodwalltoleveeconnectionsonbothbanks(PhaseTwo).

ConstructionofFriendshipBridgeboardwalk(PhaseTwo).

Installationofchannelrockslopeprotection(PhaseOneandPhaseTwo).

Right‐of‐way(ROW)acquisitionisexpectedtoberequiredduringPhaseTwoforpropertyadjacenttoYeaman’sAutoBody,InternationalSchoolofthePeninsula,theU.S.PostalService,andduring



14


PhaseOnefortheGolfCourseandtheBaylandsAthleticCenter.AllotherlandiswithineasementsheldbytheCityofEastPaloAltoandtheDistrict(currentlySFCJPAmemberagencies).

Construction Staging Areas, Project Site Access, and Haul Routes

AccesstotheProjectsitewouldbeatthelocationsdiscussedbelowand(showninFigure3)potentiallycouldbeutilizedduringbothconstructionphases.Aspreviouslymentioned,therightbankreferstotheSanMateoCounty(EastPaloAlto)sideoftheCreekandtheleftbankreferstotheSantaClaraCounty(PaloAlto)sideoftheCreek.

Right Bank

SiteaccessandaconstructionstagingareawouldbelocatedattheendofO’ConnorStreetneartheintersectionwithDaisyLaneinEastPaloAlto.ThehaulroutewouldbealongO’ConnorStreettoPulgasAvenue,EastBayshoreRoad,andEmbarcaderoRoadtoU.S.101.Thisisthedesignatedrouteforlargevehicles,includingdumptrucksandflatbedtrucks,intheCityofEastPaloAlto.

SiteaccessandaconstructionstagingareawouldbelocatedattheendofDaphneWayatJasmineWayinEastPaloAlto.ThehaulroutewouldbealongJasmineWaytoCameliaDrive,PulgasAvenue,EastBayshoreRoad,andEmbarcaderoRoadtoU.S.101.Largevehicles,includingbutnotlimitedtodumptrucksandflatbedtrucks,willbeprohibitedonDaphneWayandJasmineWay.FurthervehiclerestrictionsonDaphneWayandJasmineWaymayberequiredbytheCityofEastPaloAltoandwillbedeterminedduringdevelopmentoftheProjectTrafficPlan.

SiteaccessandaconstructionstagingareawouldbelocatedattheendofVerbenaDriveatAbeliaWay.ThehaulroutewouldbealongVerbenaDrivetoCameliaDrive,PulgasAvenue,EastBayshoreRoad,andEmbarcaderoRoadtoU.S.101.Largevehicles,includingbutnotlimitedtodumptrucksandflatbedtrucks,willbeprohibitedonVerbenaDriveandCameliaDrive.FurthervehiclerestrictionsonVerbenaDriveandCameliaDrivemayberequiredbytheCityofEastPaloAltoandwillbedeterminedduringdevelopmentoftheProjectTrafficPlan.

Left Bank

SiteaccesswouldbeatthePaloAltoPumpStation,accessedfromEastBayshoreRoad.ThehaulroutewouldbealongEastBayshoreRoadtoEmbarcaderoRoadandU.S.101.

SiteaccesswouldbeatGengRoadbetweentheBaylandsAthleticCenterandtheGolfCourse.ThehaulroutewouldbealongGengRoadtoEmbarcaderoRoadandU.S.101.

Fill Disposal and Fill Import

Approximately108,500cubicyardsoffillwouldbeexcavatedfromtheProjectsiteduringPhaseOneleveemodificationactivitiesandchannelwideningdescribedabove.Approximately20percent(21,800cubicyards)ofthisfillwouldbehauledoffthesite.Approximately190,800cubicyardsoffillwouldneedtobebroughttotheProjectsiteforleveeraising.ItisanticipatedthatremovedfillwouldbeplacedwithintheadjacentGolfCourseforuseinreconfigurationoftheGolfCourse,aseparateprojectbeingmanagedbytheCityofPaloAlto.AnyremovedfillthatcannotbeutilizedintheGolfCoursereconfigurationprojectwouldbehauledoffthesite.

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Utility Relocation and Removal

Projectactivitieswouldrequirerelocationorremovalofelectricitytransmissiontowersandpoles;abandonmentofexistingandconstructionofnewgastransmissionlines;andrealignmentorrelocationofsewerlinesandstormdrains(Figure4).Theseactivitiesaredescribedinmoredetailbelow.

Electric Utilities

PacificGas&Electric(PG&E)wouldrequiretherelocation,removal,orraisingofsomeelectrictransmissiontowersandwoodpolesonboththerightandleftbanksinordertoaccommodatetheProject.Figure4showsthelocationofeachoftheexistingandrelocatedtowersandwoodpolesandassignseachtowerandpoleacorrespondingletterandnumber(pole:P;tower:T).Thefollowingdiscussionsummarizestheproposedactions.

P1throughP6areexistingwoodtransmissionpoleslocatedintheCityofEastPaloAltosouthwestofFriendshipBridge.Thesecondarywires(i.e.,thelowestsetofwires,whichprovidecathodicprotectiontotheundergroundgaslines)wouldberemovedfromthesepoles.

P7isanexistingwoodtransmissionpolelocatedintheCityofEastPaloAlto.Thispolewouldberemovedandreplacedinthesamelocationwithalight‐dutysteel(LDS)poleofcomparableheight(approximately65feethigh).Thewireswouldrunnorthandsouth.

P8isanexistingwoodtransmissionpolelocatedintheCityofEastPaloAlto.Thispolewouldberemoved.

P9wouldbeanewLDStransmissionpoleintheCityofEastPaloAltoreplacingP8.P9wouldbeapproximately65feethigh(comparabletoP8).Thewireswouldrunnorthandsouth.

P10wouldbeanewLDStransmissionpole.Thispolewouldbeapproximately75feethighandthewireswouldbeangledinan“L”fromnorthtoeast,therebycrossingtheCreek.TheLDSpolewouldbeanchoredtothegroundwithadditionalwires.

P11isanexistingwoodtransmissionpolelocatedintheCityofPaloAltothatwouldberemoved.

P12isanexistingwoodtransmissionpoleintheCityofPaloAltothatwouldbereplacedwithanewLDStransmissionpole.Thispolewouldbeapproximately75feethighandthewireswouldbeangledinan“L”fromeasttosouth.

T1isanexistingtransmissiontowerintheCityofEastPaloAlto.Thistowerwouldberaisedby15feetandthetowerdesignwouldotherwisenotchange.

T2isanexistingtransmissiontowerintheCityofPaloAlto.Thistowerwouldberemoved.

T3wouldbelocatedapproximately25feetnorthofT2andwouldreplaceT2.T3wouldbe25feettallerthanT2,butwouldotherwisehavethesamedesign.FollowingcompletionoftheProject,T3wouldbelocatedwithintheCreek.Therefore,therewouldbeafortifiedconcretepiersupportingeachlegofthetower.Ashoo‐flystructurewouldbebuilttoallowfortheconstructionofthenewtower.Theshoo‐flystructurewouldhavetwowoodenpoles;onepolewouldbeapproximately25feetsouthoftheexistingtowerandthesecondpolewouldapproximately75feetnorthoftheexistingtower.Theshoo‐flypoleswouldbeplacedinthetoeoftheexistingleveeandwouldberemovedoncethenewtowerisfullyoperational.



16


T4isanexistingtransmissiontowerintheCityofPaloAlto.Thistowerwouldberaisedby15feetandthetowerdesignwouldotherwisenotchange.

Gas Utilities

PortionsofthePG&EgastransmissionlineimmediatelydownstreamoftheInternationalSchoolofthePeninsulaandupstreamofFriendshipBridgeonbothrightandleftsbanksarelocatedwithintherealignedchannelandwouldneedtoberelocatedduringPhaseOne.Approximately3,000feetoftheexisting20‐inchgaslinewouldbeabandoned,slurried,andclosedoff.Anew24‐inchgaspipelinewouldbeinstalledonthePaloAltosideoftheCreek.ThepipewouldcrosstotheEastPaloAltosidenearFriendshipBridge,whereitwouldtieintotheexistingpipeline(Figure4).

Thenewpipewouldtieintooldpipeattheelectricaltransmissiontowereastoftherecreationareaparkinglot,attheendofGengRoadinPaloAlto.ThenewpipelinewouldextendnorthwardontheleftbanktotheapproximatelocationofFriendshipBridgejustsouthofO’ConnorStreet.BetweenGengRoadandFriendshipBridge,thepipelinewouldliewithinthePaloAltoGolfCourseataminimumof15feeteastoftheproposednewlevee.AtFriendshipBridge,thepipelinewouldcrossundertheCreekchanneltotherightbank,wherethenewpipewouldtieintooldpipe.

ThetunnelforthenewpipelineundertheCreekchannelwouldbebored.Thetrenchforthepipeontheleftbankwouldbeconstructedbycutandfill.Thepipelinewouldbelocatedaminimumof4feetbelowgrade.

ConstructionaccessontheleftbankwouldbefromGengRoadacrossthePaloAltoGolfCourse.Gaspipeconstructionequipmentwouldusethesameconstructionaccessrouteusedforrelocationandinstallationofelectricaltransmissionlinesandtowersontheleftbank.Threespoilsstorageareas,eachapproximately100by100feet,wouldbespacedevenlyontheleftbank.Anapproximately100‐by150‐footstagingareafortheconstructionborewouldbelocatedneartheterminusofGengRoadattheBaylandsAthleticCenter.

ConstructionaccessontherightbankwouldbefromO’ConnorStreet.Gaspipeconstructionequipmentwouldusetemporaryroads.Theseroadswouldeitherbeusedbyconstructionequipmentforbothgaspipelineandelectricaltransmissionlineandtowerinstallationorbyconstructionequipmentforgaspipelineinstallationonly.Oneapproximately100‐by100‐footspoilsstorageareaanda100‐by100‐footterminationholdwouldbelocatedadjacenttotheboreholesite.

Useofspoilsstorageareaswouldbecontingentonthesuitabilitytoreusethespoilsforcoveringthenewpipelineattheendofconstruction.

Storm Drains and Sewer Lines

AnEastPaloAltoSanitaryDistrictsanitarysewertrunklineandassociatedmanholesimmediatelyupstreamofFriendshipBridgeanddownstreamofFriendshipBridgeadjacenttotheGolfCourseontheleftbankarelocatedwithinthemarshplainterraceandtherealignedchannel,respectively,andwouldberelocatedduringPhaseOne.

StormdrainsandoutfallsattheEastPaloAltoPumpStationwouldberelocatedoutsideofthenewleveefootprintduringPhaseOne.

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StormdrainsandoutfallsimmediatelydownstreamoftheEastBayshoreFrontageRoadonbothsidesoftheCreekarelocatedwithinthefloodwallfootprintandwouldberelocatedduringPhaseTwo.

Construction Schedule PhaseOneconstructionwouldbeginin2013andbecompletedby2015.Constructionwouldbeginwithbuildingthenewleveestructureoutsideoftheexistinglevee,duringoraftercompletionofPG&EandEPASDmodificationstoexistingutilitiesandmodificationstothePAGC,andwouldproceedatFriendshipBridgeandupstreamwiththeexcavationofthechanneluptoEastBayshoreRoadbeingthefinalProjectactivity.PhaseTwoconstructionofupstreamfloodwallsandassociatedmaintenanceroadswouldoccuroncefundingwassecured.

Constructionactivitieswouldtakeplacebetween8a.m.and6p.m.onweekdays,and9a.m.and5p.m.onSaturdays,inaccordancewithCityofPaloAltoandCityofEastPaloAltomunicipalcodes.FinalconstructionpermitsissuedfortheProjectmayplaceadditionalconstraintsonconstructiontiming.Table2showstheProjectelements,whenconstructiononeachisexpectedtobegin,constructionactivities,andconstructionduration.

Operation and Maintenance OncetheProjectelementsareconstructed,theywouldrequiremaintenancetocontinuetofunctioneffectively,similartoexistingfacilities.MaintenanceforthenewProjectelementswouldincludeactivitiessuchasremovingdebrisfromchannels,whichcouldoccurduringanyfloodseason,andinfrequentpost‐floodclean‐upofthemarshplain,whichwouldbeneededonlyaftermajorfloodevents.InplaceswheretheProjectislimitedtoreplacing,expanding,orimprovingexistingfacilities(forexample,thewidenedanddeepenedchannelsegment),post‐Projectmaintenancewouldbesimilartoexistingmaintenance.Additionally,monitoringandmaintenanceofreplacementtreesandnewmarshvegetationwouldoccur,ataminimum,forthreeyearsfollowingcompletionoftheProject.Thisactivitywouldbeminimal,consistingofinvasiveplantweedingandinspectionofnewlyplantedvegetation.

Newfacilities,suchasthefloodwallsandmarshplainterrace,wouldcreatenewmaintenanceneeds.Routinepost‐ProjectmaintenancewithintheCreekchannelcorridorwithintheDistrict’sright‐of‐way(inSantaClaraCounty)wouldcontinuetobeincludedundertheDistrict’sStreamMaintenanceProgram(SMP).TheDistricthasnotconductedsedimentremovalinthisreachofSanFrancisquitoCreekinthepast,otherthanrightbelowtheHighway101culvert.Thisisnotexpectedtochangeinthefuture.UndertheSMP,themaintenanceofthenewlyconstructedfloodwallsandmarshplainterracewouldalsobecovered.TheProjectwouldalsoreplaceandupgradeexistingsectionsofconcretechannelforthechannel‐wideningProjectelement.MaintenanceofthereplacedconcretesectionswouldbecoveredundertheSMP.

Routinepost‐ProjectmaintenancewithintheCreekchannelcorridorwithintheEastPaloAlto’sright‐of‐way(inSanMateoCounty)wouldcontinuetobeconductedbythecityandwouldprimarilyconsistofyearlyinspectionsandregularcleaningofgraffitioffofthefloodwalls.



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Theextentandnatureofpost‐ProjectactivitiesundertheSMPwouldbesimilartowhatiscurrentlytakingplaceinbothjurisdictions.NoneworadditionalmaintenanceactivitiesbeyondthescopeoftheSMPwouldberequiredtomaintaintheSMP‐coveredProjectfeatures,androutinechannelandbankmaintenancewouldcontinuetoincorporatealloftheBestManagementPractices(BMPs)requiredundertheSMP.BecausetherewouldbenomaterialchangeinSMPactivitiesasaresultoftheProject,SMPmaintenanceisnotdiscussedfurther.

Conservation Measures InadditiontotheBMPscoveredundertheDistricts’SMP,theProjectwouldalsoincorporatethefollowingConservationMeasuresforallelementsoftheProject.

General Construction Site Housekeeping 1. Theworksite,areasadjacenttotheworksite,andaccessroadswillbemaintainedinanorderly

condition,freeandclearfromdebrisanddiscardedmaterials.Personnelwillnotsweep,grade,orflushsurplusmaterials,rubbish,debris,ordustintostormdrainsorwaterways.Uponcompletionofwork,allbuildingmaterials,debris,unusedmaterials,concreteforms,andotherconstruction‐relatedmaterialswillberemovedfromtheworksite.(SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictWaterQualityBMP18)

2. Topreventmosquitobreedingonconstructionsites,theSFCJPAwillrequiretheconstructioncontractortoensurethatsurfacewaterisgonewithinfourdays(96hours).Alloutdoorgroundswillbeexaminedandunnecessarywaterthatmaystandlongerthan96hourswillbedrained.Constructionpersonnelwillproperlydisposeofunwantedorunusedartificialcontainersandtires.Ifpossible,anycontainerorobjectthatholdsstandingwaterthatmustremainoutdoorswillbecovered,inverted,orhavedrainageholesdrilled.(CaliforniaDepartmentofPublicHealth2008)

3. Thefollowinggeneralconstructionsitehousekeepingmeasureswillbeimplementedasnecessarywithinstagingareas.

Stagingareasthatarenotalreadypavedorcoveredwithcompactedaggregatebase,andthatareusedforparkingvehicles,trailers,workshops,maintenanceareas,orequipment,piping,formwork,rebar,storingmasonryonpallets,andmetalproductstorage,willbegradedasrequired,andsurfacedwithaminimumof3inchesofcompactedaggregatebaserockoverahighmodulus,woven,andsoilseparationgeo‐textile.Areasstoringaggregatebaseorotherrockproductswillalsobeplacedonthissamegeo‐textile.Theobjectiveistomaintainseparationbetweennativeandconstructionmaterials.Areasstoringsoilsandsandarenotrequiredtobesurfacedwithaggregatebasecourse.

AggregatebasewillberemovedfromallstagingareaspriortoProjectcompletionandthesurfaceswillberegradedtotheiroriginalgradesormatchingsurroundingconditionsasdirectedbytheEngineer.

AnysoilscontaminatedwithpetroleumproductorotherhazardousmaterialsbytheContractorwillberemovedbytheContractoranddisposedofinaccordancewithlocal,state,andfederallaws.



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Contractorisresponsibleforweedcontrolinstagingareasandmaterialstorageareas.

4. Thespreadofinvasivenonnativeplantspeciesandplantpathogenswillbeavoidedorminimizedbyimplementingthefollowingmeasures:

ConstructionequipmentwillarriveattheProjectcleanandfreeofsoil,seed,andplantpartstoreducethelikelihoodofintroducingnewweedspecies.

Anyimportedfillmaterial,soilamendments,gravel,etc.,requiredforconstructionand/orrestorationactivitiesthatwillbeplacedwithintheupper12inchesofthegroundsurfacewillbefreeofvegetationandplantmaterial.

Certifiedweed‐freeimportederosioncontrolmaterials(orricestrawinuplandareas)willbeusedexclusively.

Toreducethemovementofinvasiveweedsintouninfestedareas,thecontractorwillstockpiletopsoilremovedduringexcavationandwillsubsequentlyreusethestockpiledsoilforre‐establishmentofdisturbedprojectareas.

Water Quality Protection 1. Thefollowingmeasureswillbeimplementedasnecessarytoreduceandminimizestormwater

pollutionduringgrounddisturbingmaintenanceactivities:

Soilsexposedduetomaintenanceactivitieswillbeseededandstabilizedusinghydroseeding,strawplacement,mulching,and/orerosioncontrolfabric.Thesemeasureswillbeimplementedsuchthatthesiteisstabilizedandwaterqualityprotectedpriortosignificantrainfall.

Thepreferenceforerosioncontrolfabricswillbetoconsistofnaturalfibers.

Appropriatemeasuresinclude,butarenotlimitedto,thefollowing:

SiltFences.

StrawBaleBarriers.

BrushorRockFilters.

StormDrainInletProtection.

SedimentTraps.

SedimentBasins.

ErosionControlBlanketsandMats.

SoilStabilization(i.e.tackifiedstrawwithseed,juteorgeotextileblankets,etc.).

Woodchips.

Strawmulch.

Alltemporaryconstruction‐relatederosioncontrolmethodswillberemovedatthecompletionoftheProject(e.g.,siltfences).(SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictWaterQualityBMP41)



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2. Sedimentswillbestoredandtransportedinamannerthatminimizeswaterqualityeffects.

Wetsedimentsmaybestockpiledoutsideofalivestreamormaybestockpiledwithinadewateredstreamsowatercandrainorevaporatebeforeremoval.

Thismeasureappliestosaturated,notdamp,sedimentsanddependsontheavailabilityofastockpilesite.

Forthosestockpileslocatedoutsidethechannel,waterdrainingfromthemwillnotbeallowedtoflowbackintotheCreekorintolocalstormdrainsthatentertheCreek,unlesswaterqualityprotectionmeasuresrecommendedbyRWQCBareimplemented.

Trucksmaybelinedwithanimperviousmaterial(e.g.,plastic),orthetailgateblockedwithdrydirtorhaybales,forexample,ortrucksmaydrainexcesswaterbyslightlytiltingtheirloadsandallowingthewatertodrainout.

Waterwillnotdraindirectlyintochannels(outsideoftheworkarea)orontopublicstreetswithoutprovidingwaterqualitycontrolmeasures

Streetsandaffectedpublicparkinglotswillbeclearedofmudand/ordirtbystreetsweeping(withavacuum‐poweredstreetsweeper),asnecessary,andnotbyhosingdownthestreet.(SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictWaterQualityBMP4)

3. Oily,greasy,orsediment‐ladensubstancesorothermaterialthatoriginatefromtheProjectoperationsandmaydegradethequalityofsurfacewateroradverselyaffectaquaticlife,fish,orwildlifewillnotbeallowedtoenter,orbeplacedwheretheymaylaterenter,anywaterway.

4. TheProjectwillnotincreasetheturbidityofanywatercourseflowingpasttheconstructionsitebytakingallnecessaryprecautionstolimittheincreaseinturbidityasfollows.

Wherenaturalturbidityisbetween0and50NephelometricTurbidityUnits(NTU),increaseswillnotexceed5percent.

Wherenaturalturbidityisgreaterthan50NTU,increaseswillnotexceed10percent.

Wherethereceivingwaterbodyisadrycreekbedorstormdrain,watersinexcessof50NTUwillnotbedischargedfromtheProject.

Waterturbiditychangeswillbemonitored.Thedischargewatermeasurementswillbemadeatthepointwherethedischargewaterexitsthewatercontrolsystemfortidalsitesand100feetdownstreamofthedischargepointfornon‐tidalsites.Naturalwatercourseturbiditymeasurementswillbemadeinthereceivingwater100feetupstreamofthedischargesite.NaturalwatercourseturbiditymeasurementswillbemadepriortoinitiationofProjectdischarges,preferablyatleast2dayspriortocommencementofoperations.(SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictWaterQualityBMP40)

5. Nowashingofvehicleswilloccuratjobsites.(SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictHazards&HazardousMaterialsBMP9)

6. Nofuelingwillbedoneinawaterwayorimmediatefloodplain,unlessequipmentstationedintheselocationsisnotreadilyrelocated(i.e.,pumps,generators).

Forstationaryequipmentthatmustbefueledonthesite,containmentwillbeprovidedinsuchamannerthatanyaccidentalspilloffuelwillnotbeabletoenterthewaterorcontaminatesedimentsthatmaycomeincontactwithwater.



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Anyequipmentthatisreadilymovedoutofthewaterwaywillnotbefueledinthewaterwayorimmediatefloodplain.

Allfuelingdoneatthejobsitewillprovidecontainmenttothedegreethatanyspillwillbeunabletoenteranywaterwayordamageriparianvegetation.(SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictHazards&HazardousMaterialsBMP10)

7. Noequipmentservicingwillbedoneinastreamchannelorimmediatefloodplain,unlessequipmentstationedintheselocationscannotbereadilyrelocated(i.e.,pumps,generators).

Anyequipmentthatcanbereadilymovedoutofthechannelwillnotbeservicedinthechannelorimmediatefloodplain.

Allservicingofequipmentdoneatthejobsitewillprovidecontainmenttothedegreethatanyspillwillbeunabletoenteranychannelordamagestreamvegetation.

Ifemergencyrepairsarerequiredinthefield,onlythoserepairsnecessarytomoveequipmenttoamoresecurelocationwillbedoneinachannelorfloodplain.

Ifemergencyrepairsarerequired,containmentwillbeprovidedequivalenttothatdoneforfuelingorservicing.(SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictHazards&HazardousMaterialsBMP11)

8. Measureswillbeimplementedtoensurethathazardousmaterialsareproperlyhandledandthequalityofwaterresourcesisprotectedbyallreasonablemeans.

Priortoenteringtheworksite,allfieldpersonnelwillknowhowtorespondwhentoxicmaterialsarediscovered.

ThedischargeofanyhazardousornonhazardouswasteasdefinedinDivision2,Subdivision1,Chapter2oftheCaliforniaCodeofRegulations(CCR)willbeconductedinaccordancewithapplicablestateandfederalregulations.

Intheeventofanyhazardousmaterialemergenciesorspills,personnelwillcalltheChemicalEmergencies/SpillsHotlineat18005105151.(SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictHazards&HazardousMaterialsBMP12)

9. Preventtheaccidentalreleaseofchemicals,fuels,lubricants,andnon‐stormdrainagewater.

Fieldpersonnelwillbeappropriatelytrainedinspillprevention,hazardousmaterialcontrol,andcleanupofaccidentalspills.

Nofueling,repair,cleaning,maintenance,orvehiclewashingwillbeperformedinacreekchannelorinareasatthetopofachannelbankthatmayflowintoacreekchannel.(SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictHazards&HazardousMaterialsBMP13)

10. Spillpreventionkitsappropriatetothehazardwillalwaysbeincloseproximitywhenusinghazardousmaterials(e.g.,crewtrucksandotherlogicallocations).

Priortoenteringtheworksite,allfieldpersonnelwillknowthelocationofspillkitsoncrewtrucksandatotherlocationswithinDistrictfacilities.

Allfieldpersonnelwillbeadvisedoftheselocationsandtrainedintheirappropriateuse.(SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictHazards&HazardousMaterialsBMP14)



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11. Runofffromsoilstockpileswillbeavoided.Ifsoilistobestockpiled,norunoffwillbeallowedtoflowtoacreek.

12. Cofferdamswillbeusedfortidalworkareas.Fortidalareas,adownstreamcofferdamwillbeconstructedtopreventtheworkareafrombeinginundatedbytidalflows.Byisolatingtheworkareafromtidalflows,waterqualityeffectsareminimized.Downstreamflowscontinuethroughtheworkareaandthroughpipeswithinthecofferdam.

Installationofcofferdamswillbeginatlowtide.

Watersdischargedthroughtidalcofferdambypasspipeswillnotexceed50NTUoverthebackgroundlevelsofthetidalwatersintowhichtheyaredischarged.

Cofferdamsshallnotbeconstructedofearthenfillduetopotentialadversewaterqualityimpactsintheeventofafailure.

Cofferdamsconstructedofgravelshallbecoveredbyaprotectivecovering(e.g.,plasticorfabric)topreventseepage.

13. Groundwaterwillbemanagedatworksites.Ifhighlevelsofgroundwaterinaworkareaareencountered,thewaterwillbepumpedoutoftheworksite.Ifnecessarytoprotectwaterquality,thewaterwillbedirectedintospecificallyconstructedinfiltrationbasins,intoholdingponds,orontoareaswithvegetationtoremovesedimentpriortothewaterre‐enteringareceivingwaterbody.Waterpumpedintovegetatedareaswillbepumpedinamannerthatwillnotcreateerosionaroundvegetation.

14. Sanitary/septicwastewillbemanaged.TemporarysanitaryfacilitieswillbelocatedonjobsthatlastmultipledaysincompliancewithCaliforniaDivisionofOccupationalSafetyandHealth(Cal/OSHA)regulation8CCR1526.AlltemporarysanitaryfacilitieswillbeplacedoutsideoftheCreekchannelandfloodplainandremovedwhennolongernecessary.

Inaddition,aspartoftheSantaClaraValleyUrbanRunoffPollutionPreventionProgram(SCVURPPP)andtheSanMateoCountywideStormwaterPollutionPreventionProgram(SM‐STOPPP),requiredunderWasteDischargeRequirementsandNationalPollutantDischargeEliminationSystem(NPDES)Permitforthedischargeofstormwaterrunofffromthemunicipalseparatestormsewersystems(MS4s)overseenbytheSanFranciscoBayWaterBoard,allconstructionsitesarerequiredtohavesite‐specificandseasonallyandphase‐appropriateeffectiveBMPs(SanFranciscoBayRegionalWaterQualityControlBoard2009).SFCJPAwillberesponsibleforensuringcompliancewithalllocalandStateregulations,includingtheRWQCBNPDESpermitsandlocalBMPsforjurisdictionsadjoiningtheProjectsite.TheProjectspecificationsrequirethattheProjectconstructioncontractorprepareaSWPPPanderosioncontrolandsedimentationplanshowingplacementofBMPsatvariousstagesofconstructioninconformancewithrequirements,andallSWPPPdocumentsandplanswillbestampedbyaState‐certifiedQualifiedSWPPPDeveloper(QSD).TheProjectwillimplementmeasurestoaccomplishobjectivesspecifiedinSFCJPA’sSanFrancisquitoCreekWatershedAnalysisandSedimentReductionPlan,whichfulfillsNPDESpermitprovisionsthatrequiretheco‐permitteesoftheSCVURPPPandSM‐STOPPPwithintheCreekwatershedtoassessandimplementsedimentmanagementmeasuresinthewatershed(SanFrancisquitoCreekJointPowersAuthority2004).WaterqualityprotectionstandardsduringconstructionwillcomplywiththemostprotectiveBMPsofthelocaljurisdictionsandtheStateofCalifornia.



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Safe Use of Herbicides and Pesticides 1. Pesticidesproductsaretobeusedonlyafteranassessmenthasbeenmaderegarding

environmental,economical,andpublichealthaspectsofeachofthealternatives.ThefollowingpesticidesareusedbytheDistrict.

Herbicides.

Tocontrolalgae,weedsandundesirablevegetation.

Tominimizefirehazards.

Tomaintainfloodconveyanceofwaterways.

Tomaintaincompliancewithstateandfederalrequirements.

Insecticides.

UsedonlyinandaroundDistrictbuildings,orinthecaseofaseriouspestoutbreak,onlandscapeandre‐vegetationfacilities.

Usedonlyafterallothermethods,suchaspreventionornaturalnontoxiccontrolmethods,haveprovenineffective.

Whererequired,thelowesttoxicitywillbeusedinaccordancewiththelabelandthedetailsofthispolicy.

Rodenticides.

Tocontrolburrowingrodents,includinggroundsquirrels,molesandgophers,inDistrictfloodcontrollevees,excludingknownandpotentialhabitatforsaltmarshharvestmouseandsaltmarshwanderingshrew.NorodenticidesorfumigantswillbeusedwithintherangeofthesaltmarshharvestmouseorCaliforniaclapperrailasidentifiedonDistrictrangemaps.MethodsofrodentcontrolwithinsaltmarshharvestmouseorCaliforniaclapperrailhabitatwillbelimitedtolivetrapping.Alllivetrapsshallhaveopeningsmeasuringnosmallerthan2inchesby1inchtoallowanysaltmarshharvestmousethatinadvertentlyenterthetraptoeasilyescape.Alltrapswillbeplacedoutsideofpickleweedareasandabovethehightideline.

Inareaswhererodenticidesareused,carcassretrievalsurveyswillbeconducteddailyforacutetoxinsandweeklyforanticoagulantstominimizesecondarypoisoningimpactsduringtheuseperiod.Anyspilledbaitwillbecleanedupimmediately.

Alternativessuchastrappingandsmokebombsareusedwhereverpracticalpriortorodenticideuse.(SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictHazards&HazardousMaterialsBMP2)

2. Allherbicideusewillbeconsistentwithapprovedproductspecifications.Applicationswillbemadeby,orunderthedirectsupervisionof,state‐certifiedapplicatorsunderthedirectionofalicensedPestControlAdvisor.(SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictHazards&HazardousMaterialsBMP1)

3. Onlyherbicidesandsurfactantsregisteredforaquaticusewillbeappliedwithinthebanksofchannelswithin20feetofanywaterpresent.AquaticherbicideusewillbelimitedtoJuly1st



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throughOctober15th.Ifrainisforecastthenapplicationofaquaticherbicidewillberescheduled.(SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictHazards&HazardousMaterialsBMP8)

Construction Dust Control 1. Dustcontrolmeasuresforallconstructionsites:

BayAreaAirQualityManagementDistrict(BAAQMD)BasicControlMeasuresforconstructionemissionsofPM10willbeimplementedatallconstructionsites.CurrentmeasuresstipulatedbytheBAAQMDCEQAGuidelinesincludethefollowing(BayAreaAirQualityManagementDistrict2010):

Allexposedsurfaces(e.g.,parkingareas,stagingareas,soilpiles,gradedareas,andunpavedaccessroads)willbewateredtwotimesperdayundernormalconditions.WateringperiodicitycanbeincreasedordecreasedasnecessitatedbysitespecificconditionsasdeterminedbytheSFCJPA’sdesignatedconstructionmanagerandwiththeSFCJPA’sapproval.

Allhaultruckstransportingsoil,sand,orotherloosematerialoffthesitewillbecovered.

Allvisiblemudordirttrack‐outontoadjacentpublicroadswillberemovedusingwetpowervacuumstreetsweepersatleastonceperday.Theuseofdrypowersweepingisprohibited.

Allvehiclespeedsonunpavedroadswillbelimitedto15mph.

Allroadways,driveways,andsidewalkstobepavedwillbecompletedassoonaspossible.Buildingpadswillbelaidassoonaspossibleaftergradingunlessseedingorsoilbindersareused.

Idlingtimeswillbeminimizedeitherbyshuttingequipmentoffwhennotinuseorreducingthemaximumidlingtimeto5minutes(asrequiredbytheCaliforniaairbornetoxicscontrolmeasureTitle13,Section2485ofCCR).Clearsignagewillbeprovidedforconstructionworkersatallaccesspoints.

Allconstructionequipmentwillbemaintainedandproperlytunedinaccordancewithmanufacturer'sspecifications.Allequipmentwillbecheckedbyacertifiedmechanicanddeterminedtoberunninginproperconditionpriortooperation.

Apubliclyvisiblesignwillbeposted,withthetelephonenumberandpersontocontactattheLeadAgencyregardingdustcomplaints.Thispersonwillrespondandtakecorrectiveactionassoonasisfeasibleandnolaterthan24hoursafterthecomplaintismade..TheAirDistrict'sphonenumber,aswellasthecontactnumbersfortheSFCJPAProjectManager,DesignatedConstructionManager,andadesignatedcontactwiththeCityofEastPaloAltowillalsobevisibletoensurecompliancewithapplicableregulations.

Biological Resources Protection 1. Priortoconstruction,WorkerAwarenessTrainingmustbeconductedtoinformconstruction

Projectworkersoftheirresponsibilitiesregardingsensitiveenvironmentalresources.Thetrainingwillincludeenvironmentaleducationaboutthewesternpondturtles,nestingraptors



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andmigratorybirds,westernburrowingowl,Californiaclapperrail,Californiablackrail,saltmarshharvestmouse,saltmarshwanderingshrew,Californialeasttern,westernsnowyplover,Californiared‐leggedfrog,SanFranciscogartersnake,andsteelhead,aswellassensitivehabitat(e.g.,in‐streamhabitat,riparianhabitat,wetlands).Thetrainingwillincludevisualaidstoassistinidentificationofregulatedbiologicalresources,actionstotakeshouldprotectedwildlifebeobservedwithintheactionarea,andpossiblelegalrepercussionsofaffectingsuchregulatedresources.

2. Existingaccessrampsandroadstowaterwayswillbeusedwherepossible.Iftemporaryaccesspointsarenecessary,theywillbeconstructedinamannerthatminimizeseffectsonwaterways:

TemporaryProjectaccesspointswillbecreatedasclosetotheworkareaaspossibletominimizerunningequipmentinwaterwaysandwillbeconstructedsoastominimizeadverseeffects.

AnytemporaryfillusedforaccesswillberemoveduponcompletionoftheProject.Sitetopographyandgeometrywillberestoredtopre‐Projectconditionstotheextentpossible.(SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictBiologicalResourcesBMP4)

3. MigratorybirdnestingsurveyswillbeperformedpriortoanyProject‐relatedactivitythatcouldposethepotentialtoaffectmigratorybirdsduringthenestingseason.Inactivebirdnestsmayberemoved,withtheexceptionofraptornests.Nobirds,nestswitheggs,ornestswithhatchlingswillbedisturbed.(SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictBiologicalResourcesBMP8)

4. Nestingexclusiondevicesmaybeinstalledtopreventpotentialestablishmentoroccurrenceofnestsinareaswhereconstructionactivitieswouldoccur.Allnestingexclusiondeviceswillbemaintainedthroughoutthenestingseasonoruntilcompletionofworkinanareamakesthedevicesunnecessary.Allexclusiondeviceswillberemovedanddisposedofwhenworkintheareaiscomplete.(SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictBiologicalResourcesBMP10)

5. Effectsonnativeaquaticvertebrateswillbeavoidedorminimized.Nativeaquaticvertebrates(fish,amphibiansandreptiles)areimportantelementsofstreamecosystems.Nativeaquaticvertebratesmayormaynotbeabletorapidlyrecolonizeastreamreachifthepopulationiseliminatedfromthatstreamreach.Ifnativeaquaticvertebratesarepresentwhencofferdams,waterbypassstructures,andsiltbarriersaretobeinstalled,anevaluationoftheprojectsiteandthenativeaquaticvertebrateswillbeconductedbyaqualifiedbiologist.Thequalifiedbiologistwillconsider:

a. Nativeaquaticspeciespresentatthesite.

b. Theabilityofthespeciestonaturallyrecolonizethestreamreach.

c. Thelifestagesofthenativeaquaticvertebratespresent.

d. Theflow,depth,topography,substrate,chemistryandtemperatureofthestreamreach.

e. Thefeasibilityofrelocatingtheaquaticspeciespresent.

f. Thelikelihoodthestreamreachwillnaturallydryupduringtheworkseason.

Basedonconsiderationofthesefactors,thequalifiedbiologistmaymakeadecisiontorelocatenativeaquaticvertebrates.Thequalifiedbiologistwilldocumentinwritingthereasonstorelocatenativeaquaticspecies,ornottorelocatenativeaquaticspecies,priortoinstallationofcofferdams,waterbypassstructuresorsiltbarriers.



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Ifthedecisionismadetorelocatethenativeaquaticspecies,thentheoperationwillbebasedontheDistrict’sFishRelocationGuidelines.Ifsteelheadorotherfishspeciesarepresent,themeasuresinnumber8(below)willbefollowed.

6. Localecotypesofnativeplantswillbeplantedandappropriateerosion‐controlseedmixeswillbechosen.WhenevernativespeciesareprescribedforinstallationonDistrictfeepropertiesoreasements,thefollowingstepswillbetakenbyaqualifiedbiologistorvegetationspecialist:

EvaluatewhethertheplantspeciescurrentlygrowswildinSantaClaraCounty.

IftheplantspeciescurrentlygrowswildinSantaClaraCounty,thequalifiedbiologistorvegetationspecialistwilldeterminewhethertheplantinstallationmustincludelocalnatives,i.e.grownfrompropagulescollectedinthesameoradjacentwatershed,andasclosetotheProjectsiteasfeasible.

Aqualifiedbiologistorvegetationspecialistwillbeconsultedtodeterminewhichseedingoptionisecologicallyappropriateandeffective.Thefollowingguidelineswillinformthebiologistorvegetationspecialist’sdetermination.

Forareasthataredisturbed,anerosioncontrolseedmixmaybeusedconsistentwiththeDistrictGuidelinesandStandardsforLandUseNearStreams,DesignGuide5,‘TemporaryErosionControlOptions.’

Inareaswithremnantnativeplants,thequalifiedbiologistorvegetationspecialistmaychooseanabioticapplicationinstead,suchasanerosioncontrolblanketorseedlesshydro‐mulchandtackifiertofacilitatepassiverevegetationofnativespecies.

Temporaryearthenaccessroadsmaybeseededwhensiteandhorticulturalconditionsaresuitable.

IfagravelorwoodmulchhasbeenusedtopreventsoilcompactionperBI‐11,thismaterialmaybeleftinplace[ifecologicallyappropriate]insteadofseeding.

Seedselectionwillbeecologicallyappropriateasdeterminedbyaqualifiedbiologist,perGuidelinesandStandardsforLandUseNearStreams,DesignGuide2:UseofLocalNativeSpecies;and,SupplementalLandscaping\RevegetationGuidelines(ISOdocumentWQ71001).

7. Animalentryandentrapmentwillbeavoided.

Allpipes,hoses,orsimilarstructureslessthan12inchesdiameterwillbeclosedorcoveredtopreventanimalentry.Allconstructionpipes,culverts,orsimilarstructures,greaterthan2‐inchesdiameter,storedataconstructionsiteovernight,willbeinspectedthoroughlyforwildlifebyaqualifiedbiologistorproperlytrainedconstructionpersonnelbeforethepipeisburied,capped,used,ormoved.

Ifinspectionindicatespresenceofsensitiveorstate‐orfederally‐listedspeciesinsidestoredmaterialsorequipment,workonthosematerialswillceaseuntilaqualifiedbiologistdeterminestheappropriatecourseofaction.

Toprevententrapmentofanimals,allexcavations,steep‐walledholesortrenchesmorethan6‐inchesdeepwillbesecuredagainstanimalentryatthecloseofeachday.Anyofthefollowingmeasuresmaybeemployed,dependingonthesizeoftheholeandmethodfeasibility.



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Holeswillbesecurelycovered(nogaps)withplywoodorsimilarmaterialsatthecloseofeachworkingday,oranytimetheopeningwillbeleftunattendedformorethanonehour.

Intheabsenceofcovers,theexcavationwillbeprovidedwithescaperampsconstructedofearthoruntreatedwood,slopednosteeperthan2:1,andlocatednofartherthan15feetapart.

Insituationswhereescaperampsareinfeasible,theholeortrenchwillbesurroundedbyfilterfabricfencingorasimilarbarrierwiththebottomedgeburiedtoprevententry.

8. Implementavoidancemeasuresforsteelheadtroutpriortoconstructionactivities.Noin‐channelconstructionactivitieswilloccurduringthesteelheadmigrationperiod(October1–May30),toreducethelikelihoodthatsteelheadarepresentduringconstructionactivities.

Aqualifiedfisheriesbiologist,approvedbyNMFS,willsurveytheconstructionarea1to2daysbeforeworkontheProjectbegins.Ifwaterispresentintheimmediateconstructionarea,thefollowingprocedureswillbeimplemented.

Beforeaworkareaisdewatered,fishwillbecapturedandrelocatedtoavoidinjuryandmortalityandminimizedisturbance.

Beforefishrelocationbegins,aqualifiedfisheriesbiologistwillidentifythemostappropriatereleaselocation(s).Releaselocationsshouldhavewatertemperaturessimilartothecapturelocationandoffersuitablehabitat(migratoryandrearing)forreleasedfish,andshouldbeselectedtominimizethelikelihoodthatfishwillreentertheworkareaorbecomeimpingedontheexclusionnetorscreen.AtthistimetheopenreachbelowtheProjectsiteisanticipatedtohavesuitableconditionsforrelocation.

Seiningordipnettingwillbeutilizedtokeepstressandinjurytofishataminimum.GiventhesalinityoftheProjectreach,electrofishingwouldbeineffectiveandnotutilized.

Totheextentfeasible,relocationwillbeperformedduringmorningperiods.Watertemperatureswillbemeasuredperiodically(everyhourorso),andrelocationactivitieswillbesuspendedifwatertemperatureexceeds20⁰C(NationalMarineFisheriesService2000).

Handlingofsalmonidswillbeminimized.Whennecessarytotouchthefish,personnelwillwethandsornetsbeforetouchingafish.

Fishwillbeheldtemporarilyincool,shadedCreekwaterinacontainerwithalid.Overcrowdingincontainerswillbeavoided.Fishwillberelocatedpromptly.IfwatertemperaturereachesorexceedsNMFSlimits,fishwillbereleasedandrelocationoperationswillcease.

Iffishareabundant,capturewillceaseperiodicallytoallowreleaseandminimizethetimefishspendinholdingcontainers.

Fishwillnotbeanesthetizedormeasured.However,theywillbevisuallyidentifiedtospecieslevel,andyearclasseswillbeestimatedandrecorded.

ReportsonfishrelocationactivitieswillbesubmittedtotheCaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGame(DFG)andNMFSwithin30daysofcompletion.



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Ifmortalityduringrelocationexceeds5percentormortalityofanystateorfederallylistedspeciesoccurs,relocationwillcease,andDFGandNMFSwillbecontactedimmediatelyorassoonasfeasible.

Fishrelocationeffortswillbeperformedconcurrentwiththeinstallationofthediversionandwillbecompletedbeforethechannelisfullydewatered.Thefisheriesbiologistwillperformasecondsurvey1to2daysfollowingtheinstallationofthediversiontoensurethatfishhavebeenexcludedfromtheworkareaandspotcheckswillbeperformedatleastbiweeklywhilethediversionisinplace.

9. Identifyandprotectriparianhabitats.Toavoidunnecessarydamagetoorremovalofriparianhabitat,theSFCJPAwillretainaqualifiedbiologistorecologisttosurveyanddemarcateriparianhabitatonoradjacenttotheproposedareasofconstructionintheupperreachofSanFrancisquitoCreek.RiparianareasnotslatedfortrimmingorremovaltoaccommodateProjectconstructionwillbeprotectedfromencroachmentanddamageduringconstructionbyinstallingtemporaryconstructionfencingtocreateano‐activityexclusionzone.Fencingwillbebrightlycoloredandhighlyvisible,andinstalledunderthesupervisionofaqualifiedbiologisttopreventdamagetoriparianhabitatduringinstallation.ThefencingwillprotectallpotentiallyaffectedriparianhabitatconsistentwithInternationalSocietyofArboriculturetreeprotectionzonerecommendationsandanyadditionalrequirementsoftheresourceagencieswithjurisdiction.Fencingwillbeinstalledbeforeanysitepreparationorconstructionworkbeginsandwillremaininplaceforthedurationofconstruction.RiparianvegetationthatmustbetrimmedwillbetrimmedbyanInternationalSocietyofArboriculturecertifiedarboristwhowillminimizestressandpotentialdamagetotreesandshrubs.ConstructionpersonnelwillbeprohibitedfromenteringtheexclusionzoneforthedurationofProjectconstruction.Accessandsurface‐disturbingactivitieswillbeprohibitedwithintheexclusionzone.

10. Restoreriparianhabitat.TheSFCJPAwillberesponsibleforrestoringpermanentlyaffectedriparianhabitatatamitigation‐to‐effectratioof2:1,andrestoringtemporarilyaffectedhabitatataminimumeffect‐to‐mitigationratioof1:1toensurenonetlossofriparianhabitatintheaffectedstreamreach.TheSFCJPAwilldevelopaMitigationandMonitoringPlan(MMP)toensurethatallremovedhabitatisreplaced“inkind”withtheappropriatenativeoverstoryandunderstoryspeciestomaintainstructuralcomplexityandhabitatvalue.TheMMPwillbedevelopedinthecontextofthefederalandstatepermittingprocessesundertheCWAandCaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGameCode,andwillincludesuccesscriteriaasspecifiedbythepermittingagencies.TheMMPwillalsoincludeadaptivemanagementguidelinesforactionstobetakenifthesuccesscriteriaarenotmet.Thesuccesscriteriawillbemetif80percentoftheriparianplantingsbecomeestablishedaftertenyears.Monitoringwilloccur,ataminimum,duringyears1,2,3,5,7,and10,withtheplantingstakingplaceinyear0.Theinitialannualmonitoringwillassessprogressoftheplantingsaccordingtopredeterminedsuccesscriteria.Ifprogressisnotsatisfactory,adaptivemanagementactions(includingreplanting,nonnativespeciesremoval,etc.)couldbeimplemented.TheMMPwillremaininforceuntilthesuccesscriteriaaremet.



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Species Status and Critical Habitat TheactionareaiswithinthedesignatedcriticalhabitatforCentralCaliforniacoaststeelheadandNorthAmericangreensturgeon.Criticalhabitatisdefinedasspecificareasthatcontainthephysicalandbiologicalfeatures(termedprimaryconstituentelementsorPCEs)essentialtotheconservationofthespeciesandwhichmayrequirespecialmanagementconsiderationsorprotections.

ThePCEsofcriticalhabitatconsideredessentialfortheconservationofCentralCaliforniacoaststeelheadarethefollowing.

Freshwaterspawningsiteswithwaterquantity,waterquality,andsubstratesupportingspawning,incubation,andlarvaldevelopment.

Freshwaterrearingsiteswithwaterquantity,waterquality,floodplainconnectivity,forage,andnaturalcoversupportingjuvenilegrowth,mobility,anddevelopment.

Freshwatermigrationcorridorsfreeofobstructionsandwithwaterquantityandqualitysupportingmigratorymovements.

Estuarineareasfreeofmigratoryobstructionsandwithwaterquantity,waterquality,andsalinitysupportingjuvenileandadulttransitionsbetweenfreshandsaltwater.

TheprimaryconstituentelementsofcriticalhabitatforthesouthernDPSofgreensturgeoninfreshwaterriverineandestuarineareasencompassabundantpreyforlarval,juvenile,subadult,andadultlifestages;substratessuitableforeggdepositionanddevelopment;waterquantityandqualitynecessaryfornormalbehavior,growth,andviabilityofalllifestages;migratorypathwaysnecessaryforsafeandtimelypassagebetweenessentialhabitats;waterdepthsnecessaryforshelter,foraging,migration,andholdingofjuvenile,subadult,andadultlifestages;andsedimentquality(i.e.,chemicalcharacteristics)necessaryfornormalbehavior,growth,andviabilityofalllifestages.

TheactionareaisnotwithincriticalhabitatdesignatedforCaliforniared‐leggedfrogorwesternsnowyplover.CriticalhabitathasnotbeendesignatedforSanFranciscogartersnake,Californiaclapperrail,Californialeasttern,saltmarshharvestmouse,orCaliforniaseablite.

Species Accounts

Central California Coast Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Listing Status

CentralCaliforniacoaststeelheadiscurrentlylistedasfederallythreatened(71FederalRegister[FR]834;January5,2006).CriticalhabitatwasdesignatedonSeptember2,2005(70FR52488)andencompassestheRussianRiver(inclusive)toAptosCreek(inclusive);andthedrainagesofSanFrancisco,SanPablo,andSuisunBayseastwardtoChippsIslandattheconfluenceoftheSacramentoandSanJoaquinRivers.

Distribution

Historically,runsofsteelheadtroutwereprominentinanumberofSantaClaraBasinstreams:GuadalupeRiver,CoyoteCreek,SanFrancisquitoCreek,StevensCreek,andSaratogaCreek.Passage



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barriers,waterdiversions,andoverallhabitatdegradationhavediminishedsteelheadpopulationsnotonlyinSantaClaraBasinstreams,butalsothroughoutCaliforniaandtheWest.ReproducingpopulationsofsteelheadareknowntoexistinCoyoteCreek,GuadalupeRiver,StevensCreek,andSanFrancisquitoCreek(SantaClaraBasinWatershedManagementInitiative2000).AgeneticstudyofsteelheadsampledinallcreeksinSantaClaraCountyfoundlittlegeneflowbetweenSantaClaraandCentralValleypopulations(GarzaandPearse2008).

Habitat Requirements and Life Ecology

OnlywintersteelheadoccurinthecentralCaliforniacoaststeelheadDPS(61FR41541–41561).Generally,adultsstarttoenterriversfromOctober(inlargerbasins)throughlateNovember(insmallerbasins)andmaybepresentintheriverthroughJune.AdultspawningbeginsinNovemberinlargerbasinsandDecemberinsmallerbasinsandcancontinuethroughApril,withapeakinFebruaryandMarch(61FR41541–41561).Becauselittlemorerecentadditionallife‐historyinformationexistsforthissteelheadDPS,thefollowinglife‐historyinformationissummarizedfromShapovalovandTaft(1954),whoconductedoneofthemostcomprehensiveinvestigationsofsteelheadlifehistoryintheareaaspartofstudiesconductedonWaddellCreekinSantaCruzCounty.

AdultsteelheadleavetheoceantomigrateupcoastalstreamsandinlandriverswithhighflowsfromearlyNovemberthroughearlyMay,althoughthemajorityprobablyenterfreshwaterfromlateDecemberthroughlateApril.Thetimingandrateofmigrationdependonseveralfactors,includingstreamdischargeandwatertemperatures.Spawningcanoccureithershortlyaftermigrationorsometimelater,dependingonthesexualmaturityofthefish,butprobablypeaksfromJanuarythroughMarch.Adultsteelheadspawninshallowredds(nests)constructedinrelativelyclean,loosegravel,typicallyattheendsofpoolsandattheheadsofrifflesthathaveappropriatewaterdepthsandvelocities.UnlikeallPacificsalmon,whichdieafterspawning,adultsteelheadarecapableofreturningtotheoceanafterspawning,typicallybyJuneofthatsameyear(ShapovalovandTaft1954).

Steelheadeggsincubateinthegravelandhatchinabout19daysat60degreesFahrenheit(F)watertemperatureandinabout80daysat40F.Theaverageincubationperiodisapproximately4to6weeks.Afterhatching,theyoungfish(aelvins)remaininthegravelforanadditional2to6weeksbeforeemergingandtakingupresidenceintheshallowmarginsofthestream.Thejuvenilefishfeedprimarilyonaquaticandterrestrialinsectsforperiodsrangingfromlessthan1yearto4years.Mostjuvenilesteelheadspend1to3yearsinfreshwaterbeforeemigratingtotheoceanassmolts(ShapovalovandTaft1954).

Steelheadsmolt(juvenilesdevelopedsufficientlytoliveinsaltwater)typicallymigratetotheoceanasflowdeclinesandwatertemperatureincreasesinApril,May,andJune.Beforetheirdownstreammigration,juvenilesundergophysiologicalchanges(smoltification)topreparethemforlifeinthesaltwateroftheocean.Steelheadliveintheoceanfor1to3yearsbeforematuringandreturningtofreshwatertospawn.

Becausejuvenilesteelheadrearyear‐roundinfreshwater,adequateflowsandwatertemperaturesandanabundantfoodsourcearenecessarythroughouttheyeartosustainsteelheadpopulations.Conditionsadequatetosustainsteelheadpopulationsareespeciallyimportantduringsummer,whendecliningflowscouldreducehabitatavailability,watertemperaturesmightexceedthe



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species’tolerancelevels,andrearingjuvenilesexperienceincreasedcompetitionforlivingspaceandfood.

Current Status and Distribution

ThecentralCaliforniacoaststeelheadinhabitsriverbasinsfromtheRussianRivertoAptosCreekandthedrainagesofSanFranciscoandSanPabloBays(62FR159).TheabundanceofsteelheadpopulationsintheRussianandSanLorenzoRiversislessthan15percentofthatinthe1960s.ComparabledataarenotavailableforotherstreamsinwhichthisDPSoccurs,butrecentpopulationestimatesforLagunitas,Waddell,Scott,SanVicente,Soquel,andAptosCreekssuggestthatrunsizesare500fishorfewerinthesestreams(62FR43937).SteelheadpopulationsinmosttributariestoSanFranciscoandSanPabloBayshavebeenextirpated(McEwanandJackson1996).

Steelhead(Oncorhynchusmykiss)istheonlyspecial‐statusfishspeciesknowntohavebeenhistoricallypresentinPeninsulawatersheds,includingSanFrancisquitoCreek.Whilethepresent‐dayhydrologyoftheSanFrancisquitoCreekwatershedhasbeenhighlyaltered,theCreekstillsupportsananadromousrunofsteelheaduptoSearsvilleDam.SearsvilleDamistheonlycompletemigrationbarrierinthewatershed(Leidyetal.2005).

Cumulative Effects of State and Private Actions in the Action Area

HabitatforCentralCaliforniacoaststeelheadinSanFrancisquitoCreekhasbeenmodifiedbyhumanactivities.ExistingpopulationsofcentralCaliforniacoaststeelheadarethreatenedbydeteriorationorlossofhabitatresultingfromurbanizationanddevelopmentofthewatershed,floodcontrolactivities,migrationbarriers,andwaterpollution.Simplificationofthechannelhasresultedintheremovaloffloodplainareasandoff‐channelhabitat.Effectsonhydrologyasaresultofchannelsimplificationhaveresultedinthemobilizationandlossoflargersubstratesthatproviderefugeforjuvenilerearing.Lossofrearinghabitatforjuvenilesteelheadresultsfromtheremovalofupstreamsourcesofrefugehabitat,suchaslargerbedmaterialandlargewoodydebris.UrbanizationwillcontinuetoexpandinthewatershedandislikelytocontinuetohaveaneffectonsteelheadhabitatthroughouttheCreek.

Green Sturgeon—Southern DPS (Acipsenser medirostris)

Listing Status

ThesouthernDPSofNorthAmericangreensturgeonwaslistedasthreatenedonApril7,2006(71FR17757).CriticalhabitatwasdesignatedonOctober9,2009(73FR52300).CriticalhabitatencompassestheSacramentoRiver,lowerFeatherRiver,lowerYubaRiver,YoloandSutterBypasses,Sacramento‐SanJoaquinDelta,SuisunBay,SanPabloBay,andSanFranciscoBay.

Distribution

GreensturgeonhavebeenfoundinsaltwaterfromEnsenada,Mexico,totheBeringSeaandJapan(MillerandLea1972).Nohistoricalabundancedataisavailable.



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Adultsofthisspeciestendtospendmoretimeinsaltwaterthanthemorecommonwhitesturgeon,althoughspawningpopulationshavebeenidentifiedintheSacramentoandKlamathRivers(BeakConsultants1993).VirtuallyallgreensturgeonspawningoccursupstreamofHamiltonCityandasfarupstreamasKeswickDam(Adamsetal.2002).GreensturgeonarebelievedtospawnupstreamoftheRedBluffDiversionDam.MigrationofgreensturgeonoccursbetweenlateFebruaryandlateJulyintheKlamathRiver.Peakspawningperiodsoccurfrommid‐Apriltomid‐June.Thepreferredspawningsubstrateisthoughttobelargecobble,althoughthesubstratetypemayrangefromcleansandtobedrock.Eggsarebroadcastandfertilizedinrelativelyfast‐flowingwaterwheredepthstypicallyexceed3meters(9.9feet)(Moyle2002).IntheSacramentoRiver,greensturgeonspawnattemperaturesrangingfrom46to57°F(BeakConsultants1993).

Current Status and Distribution

GreensturgeonareknowntooccurinthelowerreachesoflargeriversfromtheSanFranciscoBayDeltanorthwards,includingtheKlamath,Eel,andSmithRivers(Moyle2002).CurrentdistributionofthesouthernDPSofgreensturgeonisintheSacramentoRiverandpossiblytheFeatherRiver(Beamesderferetal.2004).DFG(2002)estimatedgreensturgeonpopulationsbasedoncatchesofwhitesturgeonduringtheDFGsturgeon‐markingprogram.Anaverageabundancefromyears1954to2001estimate1,509fishperyear.MonitoringattheRedBluffDiversionDamandtheGlenColusaIrrigationDistricthavecaughtbetween0and2,068juvenilesturgeonperyear(Adamsetal.2002).Atotalof99greensturgeonweresalvagedfromtheSkinnerFishFacilityandtheCentralValleyProjectfacilityfromJanuary1993toFebruary2003.Nogreensturgeonweresalvagedin2004or2005.Thetotalnumberofgreensturgeoncaughtfrom1969to2006fromvariousprojectsthroughouttheSanFranciscoBayandtheSacramentoRiverwas370fish(DFGnodate).

Recentspawningpopulationestimatesusedsiblingbasedgenetics(NMFS2011).Thestudyindicatesaspawningpopulationof32,64,44,92,and124respectivelyfromyears2002to2006.AlltheseestimatesweretakenfromfishaboveRedBluffDiversionDam,anditappearsthemajorityofsoutherngreensturgeonwerespawningabovethedam(NationalMarineFisheriesService2011).

GreensturgeonhavenotbeendocumentedinSanFrancisquitoCreek,butdooccurintheSanFranciscoBay.ItispossiblesturgeoncoulduseSanFrancisquitoCreekforfeeding.


AsdiscussedforcentralCaliforniacoaststeelhead,urbanizationintheSanFrancisquitowatershedhascausedexcesssedimentation,degradationofwaterquality,andmodificationofhabitat.SanFranciscoBay,wheregreensturgeonmayoccur,hasalsobeenaffectedbyhumanactivities.ProjectsinandaroundtheBaycouldaffectgreensturgeonhabitatiftheyarerearedinnearshorehabitat.

California Red‐Legged Frog (Rana draytonii)

Listing Status

Californiared‐leggedfrogiscurrentlylistedasfederallythreatened(58FR38553;July19,1993).RevisedcriticalhabitatwasdesignatedonMarch17,2010(75FR1281612959)andencompassesportionsofLosAngeles,Ventura,SantaBarbara,SanLuisObispo,Monterey,SanBenito,SantaCruz,



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SantaClara,Merced,Stanislaus,Alameda,ContraCosta,SanMateo,Marin,Sonoma,Mendocino,Solano,Napa,Calaveras,ElDorado,Placer,Yuba,Nevada,andButteCounties.TheCaliforniared‐leggedfrogisaCaliforniaspeciesofspecialconcern.

Distribution

ThetaxonisrelativelycommonintheSanFranciscoBayareaandalongthecentralcoast.ItisknownfromisolatedlocationsintheSierraNevada,NorthCoast,andnorthernTransverseRanges.TheCaliforniared‐leggedfrogisbelievedtobeextirpatedfromtheflooroftheCentralValley(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2002).ThemajorityofCaliforniared‐leggedfrogobservationsmadewithinSanMateoCountyarefromtheSanMateoPeninsularhillsandfurtherwest(CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGame2012).Similarly,themajorityofCaliforniared‐leggedfrogobservationsmadewithinSantaClaraCountyarefromthePeninsularRange‐SantaCruzMountains,theDiabloRange,andareasoftheCountysouthofSanJoseawayfromtheSouthBay(CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGame2012).


Californiared‐leggedfrogsuseavarietyofhabitattypes;theseincludevariousaquaticsystemsaswellasripariananduplandhabitats(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2002).However,theymaycompletetheirentirelifecycleinapondorotheraquaticsitethatissuitableforalllifestages(66FR14626).Californiared‐leggedfrogsinhabitmarshes;streams;lakes;ponds;andother,usuallypermanent,sourcesofwaterthathavedenseriparianvegetation(Stebbins2003).Thehighestdensitiesoffrogsarefoundinhabitatswithdeepwaterpools(atleast2.5feetdeep)withdensestandsofoverhangingwillows(Salixsp.)andafringeoftules(Schoenoplectussp.)orcattails(Typhasp.)(Jennings1988;JenningsandHayes1994).Juvenilefrogsseemtofavoropen,shallowaquatichabitatswithdensesubmergentvegetation.AlthoughCaliforniared‐leggedfrogscaninhabiteitherephemeralorpermanentstreamsorponds,populationsprobablycannotbemaintainedinephemeralstreamsinwhichallsurfacewaterdisappears(JenningsandHayes1994).

Asadults,Californiared‐leggedfrogsarehighlyaquaticwhenactivebutdependlessonpermanentwaterbodiesthandootherfrogspecies(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2002).Adultsmaytakerefugeduringdryperiodsinrodentholesorleaflitterinriparianhabitats(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2002).AdultCaliforniared‐leggedfrogshavebeenobservedusinglargecracksinthebottomofdriedpondsasrefugia(Alvarez2004).AlthoughCaliforniared‐leggedfrogstypicallyremainnearstreamsorponds,markedandradio‐taggedfrogshavebeenobservedtomovemorethan2milesthroughuplandhabitat.Thesemovementsaretypicallymadeduringwetweatherandatnight(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2002).

Californiared‐leggedfrogstypicallylaytheireggsinclustersaroundaquaticvegetationfromDecembertoearlyApril(Jennings1988).Larvaegenerallyundergometamorphosis3.5–7monthsafterhatching(JenningsandHayes1990).However,larvaehavebeenobservedtotakemorethanayeartocompletemetamorphosisinfourcountiesinthecentralcoastofCalifornia(Fellersetal.2001).

Current Status

ThedeclineoftheCaliforniared‐leggedfrogisattributabletoavarietyoffactors.Large‐scalecommercialharvestingofCaliforniared‐leggedfrogsledtoseveredepletionsofpopulationsatthe



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turnofthecentury(JenningsandHayes1985).Subsequently,exoticaquaticpredatorssuchasbullfrogs,crayfish,andvariousspeciesofpredatoryfishbecameestablishedandcontributedtothecontinueddeclineofthespecies(HayesandJennings1986).Habitatalterationssuchasconversionoflandtoagriculturalandcommercialuses,reservoirconstructionwhicheffectsdownstreamriparianenvironments,andinsomeplacesunauthorizedoff‐highwayvehicleusethreatenremainingpopulations(Zeineretal.1988;JenningsandHayes1994).


AsdiscussedforCaliforniared‐leggedfrog,developmentintheSanFrancisquitowatershedhascausedhabitatlossanddegradation,excesssedimentation,alteredhydroperiod,anddegradationofwaterquality.ProjectsaroundtheSanFranciscoBaythatwouldaffectCaliforniared‐leggedfroghabitatcoulddirectlyand/orindirectlyaffectCaliforniared‐leggedfrogifthespeciesispresent.

San Francisco garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia)

Listing Status

SanFranciscogartersnake(Thamnophissirtalistetrataenia)waslistedasfederallyendangeredonMarch11,1967(32FR4001).Thespeciesisalsoastateendangeredandfullyprotectedspecies.Nocriticalhabitathasbeendesignatedforthisspecies.

Distribution

Historically,SanFranciscogartersnakesoccurredinscatteredwetlandareasontheSanFranciscoPeninsulafromapproximatelytheSanFranciscoCountylinesouthalongtheeasternandwesternbasesoftheSantaCruzMountainsatleasttotheUpperCrystalSpringsReservoir,andalongthecoastsouthtoAñoNuevoPointinSanMateoCounty,andWaddellCreekinSantaCruzCounty.Thereare37CaliforniaNaturalDiversityDatabase(CNDDB)recordsofthespecies,allofwhicharewithinSanMateoCounty(CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGame2012).Currently,althoughthegeographicaldistributionmayremainthesame,reliableinformationregardingspecificlocationsandpopulationsstatusisnotavailable.Muchoftheremainingsuitablehabitatislocatedonprivateproperty,andnosurveysforthepresenceofthesnakehavebeendone.USFWSisawarethatmanylocationsthatpreviouslyhadhealthypopulationsofgartersnakesnowhavepopulationsindecline.(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2007.).


Thesnakes’preferredhabitatisadenselyvegetatedpondnearanopenhillsidewheretheycansunthemselves,feed,andfindcoverinrodentburrows.However,individualssuccessfullyoccupyconsiderablylessidealhabitats;temporarypondsandotherseasonalfreshwaterbodiesarealsoused.Thesnakesavoidbrackishmarshareasbecausetheirpreferredprey(Californiared‐leggedfrogs)cannotsurviveinsalinewater.Emergentandbanksidevegetationsuchascattails(Typhaspp.),bulrushes(Scirpusspp.)andspikerushes(Juncusspp.andEleocharisspp.)apparentlyarepreferredandusedforcover.Theareabetweenstreamandpondhabitatsandgrasslandsorbanksidesisusedforbasking,whilenearbydensevegetationorwateroftenprovideescapecover.Snakesalsousefloatingalgalorrushmats,ifavailable,forescapedcoverandbaskinghabitat(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2007.)



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FemalesgivelivebirthfromJunethroughSeptember,withlittersaveraging16newborn.Adultsnakessometimesaestivate(enteradormantstateinsummer)inrodentburrowsduringsummermonthswhenpondsdry.Onthecoast,snakeshibernateduringthewinter,butfurtherinland,iftheweatherissuitable,snakesmaybeactiveyear‐round.Althoughprimarilyactiveduringtheday,captivesnakeshousedinanoutsideenclosurewereobservedforagingafterdarkonwarmevenings(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2007).

SanFranciscogartersnakesforageextensivelyinaquatichabitats,feedingprimarilyonCaliforniared‐leggedfrogs.Theymayalsofeedonjuvenilebullfrogs(Ranacatesbeiana),buttheyareunabletofeedonthelargeradultsthatmayactuallypreyonsmallerSanFranciscogartersnakesandbeacontributingfactorintheirdecline.NewbornandjuvenileSanFranciscogartersnakesdependheavilyonPacifictreefrogs(Hylaregilla)asprey.IfnewlymetamorphosedPacifictreefrogsarenotavailable,theyoungmaynotsurvive.SanFranciscogartersnakesarealsooneofthefewanimalsabletoeatthetoxicCalifornianewt(Tarichatorosa)withoutsufferingserioussideeffects.(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2007).

RecentstudieshavedocumentedSanFranciscogartersnakemovementoverseveralhundredyardsawayfromwetlandstohibernateinuplandsmallmammalburrows(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2007).Thisspecieshasbeendocumenteddispersingupto590feet(CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGame1990)andmigratingupto2,201feet(Larsen1994).However,littlerecentinformationisavailableaboutthisspecies’movements,likelyduetothefactthatmuchoftheremainingsuitablehabitatislocatedonprivatepropertypreventingextensivestudiesofthesepopulations.

Current Status

ManyofthethreatsthatledtothelistingoftheSanFranciscogartersnakein1967continuetohaveaneffectonthespecies.Theseincludedlossofhabitatfromagricultural,commercial,andurbandevelopmentandcollectionbyreptilefanciersandbreeders.Thesehistoricalthreatstothespeciesremain,buttherearenowadditionalthreatstothespecies,suchasthedocumenteddeclineoftheCaliforniared‐leggedfrog(anessentialpreyspecies)andtheintroductionofbullfrogsintoSanFranciscogartersnakehabitat.BullfrogsarecapableofpreyingonbothSanFranciscogartersnakesandCaliforniared‐leggedfrogs.ExtirpationofCaliforniared‐leggedfrogsinSanFranciscogartersnakehabitatislikelytocauselocalizedextinctionofthesnake(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2007).


Asdiscussedabove,developmentinandalongtheSanFrancisquitowatershedhasresultedinhabitatlossanddegradation,excesssedimentation,andalteredhydroperiodofSanFranciscogartersnakehabitat.ProjectsaroundtheSanFranciscoBaythatwouldaffectSanFranciscogartersnakehabitatcouldaffectthespeciesifitispresent,andcouldaffectfutureopportunitiestooccupysuitablehabitat.

Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrines nivosus)

Listing Status

Westernsnowyplover(Charadriusalexandrinesnivosus)isfederallythreatened(53FR45788)andastatespeciesofspecialconcern.Criticalhabitatwasdesignatedforthisspeciesin2005(76FR16055–16056).Thedesignationequatedto24criticalhabitatunitsinCalifornia,totaling7,477



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acres.RevisedcriticalhabitatwasfinalizedforthisspeciesonJune19,2012(77FR36728–36869).Underthe2012revisedcriticalhabitatdesignation,thereisatotalof16,337acresdesignatedinCalifornia.Nocriticalhabitatislocatedwithintheactionarea,butthenearestunitofthespecies’criticalhabitattotheactionarea(Unit14)islocatedfairlynearby,immediatelysouthoftheDumbartonBridge.

Distribution

ThePacificcoastpopulationofthesnowyploverincludesbirdsthatnestadjacenttotidalwatersofthePacificOceanaswellasallnestingbirdsonthemainlandcoast,peninsulas,offshoreislands,adjacentbays,estuaries,andcoastalrivers.ThecurrentknownbreedingrangeofthispopulationextendsfromDamonPoint,Washington,toBahiaMagdelena,BajaCalifornia,Mexico.SnowyploversthatareinlandnestersarenotincludedaspartofthePacificcoastpopulation,althoughtheymaymigratetocoastalareasduringwintermonths(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2011).


ThePacificcoastpopulationofthewesternsnowyploverbreedsprimarilyoncoastalbeachesfromsouthernWashingtontosouthernBajaCalifornia,Mexico(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2011).Ploversnestonthegroundtypicallyintheopenonsandybeaches(Pageetal.2009).Thepopulationbreedsabovethehightidelineoncoastalbeaches,sandspits,dune‐backedbeaches,sparselyvegetateddunes,beachesatcreekandrivermouths,andsaltpannesatlagoonsandestuaries.Lesscommonnestinghabitatincludesbluff‐backedbeaches,dredgedmaterialdisposalsites,saltpondlevees,drysaltponds,andriverbars.Suitablenestinghabitatisdistributedthroughoutthelistedrange,butmaybewidelyseparatedbyareasofrockyshoreline(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2011).

Thisspeciesfeedsinbeaches,tideflats,rivermouths,lagoonmargins,saltflats,andsaltponds.Atbeaches,itgathersfoodfromaboveandbelowthemeanhightide,fromwetanddrysandaswellasinveryshallowwater(Pageetal.2009).

ThePacificcoastpopulationofthewesternsnowyploverconsistsofbothmigrantsandyear‐roundresidents(Pageetal.2009).Migrantbirdsleavenestingareasinlatesummerorfallandgenerallyreturninearlyspring.ThesebirdstravelnorthorsouthtowinteringareasextendingfromBandon,Oregon,toSanCarlos,BajaSur,Mexico(Pageetal.2009).

PairformationgenerallyoccursinFebruarybutvariesdependingonwhetherabirdisamigrantorresident.Multiplescrapesaretypicallyconstructedforcourtshipbeforeoneischosenbythefemaleforegg‐laying.Egg‐layingbeginsthefirstorsecondweekofMarchforthePacificcoastpopulation.Typicalclutchsizeisthreeeggs,althoughfiveorsixeggsareusuallyseeninnestsbelongingtotwofemales.Multipleclutchesaretypical,andnestsseldomarereusedbecausethewindoftendestroysthemwithindaysofeggshatching.(Pageetal.2009.)

Current Status

From2001to2005,thesizeofthebreedingpopulationofploversinRecoveryUnit2hasrangedfrom60to74adults,withthenon‐breedingpopulationlikelyexceeding100birds.ReproductivesuccessinRecoveryUnit2duringthistimeperiodhasrangedfrom0.8to1.7fledglingsperadultmale.Inrecentyears,nestinghasoccurredatthefollowinglocationsinnorthernCalifornia:GoldBluffsBeach,BigLagoon,ClamBeach,SouthSpit,EelRiverWildlifeArea,CentervilleBeach,Eel



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Rivergravelbars,BrushCreek,TenMileRiver,andVirginCreek(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2011).

Declinesinthisspeciesaregenerallyduetopoorreproductivesuccess,resultingfromhumandisturbance,predation,andinclementweather,combinedwithpermanentorlong‐termlossofnestinghabitatduetoencroachmentofnon‐nativeEuropeanbeachgrass(Ammophilaarenaria)andurbandevelopment.Specifically,humandisturbance(walking,jogging,runningpets,horsebackriding,andvehicleuse)atbreedingsites(i.e.,beaches)aremajorfactorsintheongoingdeclineinbreedingsitesandpopulations(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2011).


Asdiscussedabove,developmentalongtheSanFrancisquitowatershedandSanFranciscoBayhasresultedinhabitatlossanddegradation,excesssedimentation,alteredhydroperiod,anderosionofwesternsnowyplovernestinghabitat.ProjectsaroundtheSanFranciscoBaythatwouldaffectwesternsnowyplovernestinghabitatcouldaffectthespeciesifitispresent,andcouldaffectfutureopportunitiestooccupysuitablehabitat.

California Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris obsoletus)

Listing Status

TheCaliforniaclapperrail(Ralluslongirostrisobsoletus)isstateandfederallylistedasendangered(35FR1604716048)andlistedasfullyprotectedbythestate.ThespecieswaslistedbytheCaliforniaFishandGameCommissionpursuanttotheCaliforniaEndangeredSpeciesAct(FishandGameCode,Sections2050etseq.)onJune27,1971,andbytheU.S.FishandWildlifeServicepursuanttothefederalEndangeredSpeciesActonOctober13,1970(35FR8491).Criticalhabitathasnotbeendesignatedforthisspecies.

Distribution

Historically,CaliforniaclapperrailwereabundantinalltidalsaltandbrackishmarshesintheSanFranciscoBayvicinity,withtheirrangeextendingnorthwardtocoastaltidalmarshesinHumboldtBayandsouthwardtoMorroBay.ThelargestpopulationsofCaliforniaclapperrailcouldbefoundinthesaltmarshesofsouthSanFranciscoBay,includingportionsofSanMateo,SantaClara,andAlamedaCounties(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2010).ThecurrentdistributionofthisspeciesisrestrictedalmostentirelytothetidalmarshesofSanFranciscoestuary,includingSanFranciscoBay,SanPabloBay,SuisunBay,andassociatedtidalmarshes;theonlyknownbreedingpopulationsoccurintheseareas(CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGame2000).


Californiaclapperrailoccurinsaltandbrackishmarshesthroughouttheirrangeandhasonlyrarelybeenrecordedinnontidalmarshareas(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2010).Thevegetationdominatingthemarshesthisspeciesusesincludespickleweed(Sarcocorniaspp.),Pacificswampfire(Sarcocorniapacifica),Pacificcordgrass(Spartinafoliosa),gumplant(Grindeliaspp.),saltgrass(Distichlisspicata),alkaliheath(Frankeniagrandifolia),andjaumea(Jaumeacarnosa).Californiaclapperrailprefersareasthatreceivedirecttidalcirculation;itspreferredforaginghabitatincludesareasofshallowwaterandmudflatswithabundantinvertebratepopulations(Foersteretal.1990).



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Smalltidalchannelswithbankscoveredbydensevegetationareimportanthabitatfeaturesforthisspecies,providingforaginghabitataswellascoveredtravelroutes(Keldsen1997;Garcia1995).Foragingmainlyoccursinthelowerandmiddlemarshzonesatlowtide,whilehighermarshandtransitionalzoneswithdensevegetationareusedfornestingandhigh‐tiderefugia(Harvey1988;Foersteretal.1990;EvensandCollins1992;Collinsetal.1994).

Additionalfactorsthatinfluencethequalityofmarshhabitatforthisspeciesincludemarshsize,locationrelativetoothermarshes,presenceofbuffersortransitionalzonesbetweenmarshesanduplandareas,marshelevation,andhydrology(Collinsetal.1994;Albertson1995).Populationdensityishighestonhabitatpatchesgreaterthan100hectares(247acres)(Collinsetal.1994).

Californiaclapperrailsarenotmigratoryandexhibitstrongsitefidelity;78percentofresightingswerewithin1,640feet(500meters)oftheoriginalcapturesiteinaU.S.FishandWildlifeServicebandingstudyconductedinthemid‐1980s(citedinU.S.FishandWildlifeService2010).Theaveragehomerangeofthisspecieswasfoundtobe11.6acres(4.7hectares)ina1991–1992radiotelemetrystudyconductedinsouthSanFranciscoBay(Albertson1995).Additionally,theaveragecoreuseareawas2.2acres(0.9hectare)inthisstudy(Albertson1995).Ingeneral,averagehomerangesexpandedduringthebreedingseason.

Inthisspecies,pairbondingandnestbuildingaregenerallyinitiatedinmid‐February,withnestingbeginninginlateFebruaryorearlyMarchandextendingthroughJulyorAugust(EvensandPage1983;U.S.FishandWildlifeService2010).Nestsiteselectionisimportant;nestsmustbebuiltatanelevationthatprotectsthenestbowlfrominundationduringhightides,topreventthenestfrombeingdamagedandsubsequentabandonment(EvensandCollins1992;Collinsetal.1994).Nestinggenerallyoccursintheupper‐middletohightidalmarshzones,withvegetation20incheshighorgreaternearmeanhighwatertoallowfornestconcealmentandpreventinundation(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2010).Estimatesofclutchsizerangefromfiveto14eggs(DeGroot1927;Gill1972),withbothsexestakingpartinincubation,whichlasts18–29days(Taylor1996).ThereproductivesuccessofCaliforniaclapperrailisbelowthenaturalpotential,andthisspeciesexperiencesalowhatchingsuccessrate,whencomparedtootherspeciesofclapperrails(Schwarzbachetal.2006;U.S.FishandWildlifeService2010).

Current Status

Gill(1979)estimatedtheCaliforniaclapperrailpopulationat4,200–6,000birdsintheyears1971–1975.Harvey(1988)thenestimatedthepopulationat1,500birdsbetween1981and1987;thedisparitybetweentheseresultshasbeenattributedtodifferencesinsurveyintensity(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2010).Anall‐timelowestimateof500birdswasreachedin1991(Hardingetal.1998).Surveysinthelate1990sindicatedthattheNorthandSouthBaypopulationscontainedapproximately500–600birdseach(CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGame2000).SubsequentsurveysbyPointReyesBirdObservatory(PRBO)ConservationSciencehaveindicatedaslightincreaseinpopulationnumbers,with938individualsdetectedin2007,543in2008,500in2009,and601detectedin2010(PRBOConservationScience2009,2010,2011).

Anumberoffactorsthreatenthisspecies’survival.California,andtheSanFranciscoBayareaspecifically,haslostalargeportionofcoastalwetlandhabitattourbanandindustrialdevelopment.Remaininghabitatcontinuestobedisturbedanddegraded.Muchoftheremainingmarshhabitathasbeenfragmentedbyleveesystemsthatreduceandisolatepatchesofhabitatandreducehighmarshandrefugialhabitat,whileincreasinghumanandpredatoraccessibilitytopatchesof



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remaininghabitat.Manyareasofmarshhabitathavebeenexposedtocontaminants,landsubsidence,andthespreadofnonnativesaltmarshvegetation,allofwhichdegradehabitatforthisspecies.Additionally,someareasofsaltmarshhavebeenconvertedtolesssuitablebrackish/freshmarshbyurbanfreshwastewaterdischarges.Otherthreatsincludeincreasedpredationbyavianandmammalianpredatorsduetotheavailabilityofhuman‐madestructuresforroostingandaccessroutesanddisturbancefromrecreationalaccess,includinghumansanddogs(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2010).

Californiaclapperrailmanagementandconservationgenerallyincludesprotectionofexistinghabitat,controlofinvasivemarshplantsandhybrids,andreductionofrecreation‐basedhumandisturbance.AccordingtotheDraftRecoveryPlanforTidalMarshEcosystemsofNorthernandCentralCalifornia(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2010),thestrategyforrecoveryoftheCaliforniaclapperrailinvolvesthefollowing.

TheprotectionandmanagementofmarshcomplexeswherecorepopulationsexistintheCentral/SouthernSanFranciscoBayRecoveryUnit,whereeachpopulationmusthaveaminimumareaof1,250acresofcontiguoushigh‐qualitymarshhabitatforthisspecies.

TheprotectionandmanagementofmarshcomplexeswherecorepopulationsexistintheSanPabloBayRecoveryUnit,whereeachpopulationmusthaveaminimumareaof2,500acresofcontiguoushigh‐qualitymarshhabitatforthisspecies.

TheprotectionandmanagementofmarshcomplexeswherecorepopulationsexistintheSuisunBayAreaRecoveryUnit,wherethepopulationmusthaveaminimumareaof5,000acresofcontiguoushigh‐qualitymarshhabitatforthisspecies.

Theprotectionandmanagementof800acresofcontiguoushigh‐qualitymarshhabitatforthisspeciesatTomalesBay,intheeventofacatastrophiceventwithinSanFranciscoBay.

ControlofinvasiveSpartinaalternifloraanditshybrids.

Implementationofmanagementplanstoreducerecreation‐basedhumandisturbancetorails.

Developmentandimplementationofapredatormanagementplanforallareaswithsignificantpredationissues.


Asdiscussedabove,developmentinandalongtheSanFranciscoBayhasresultedinhabitatlossanddegradation,excesssedimentation,increasederosion,andalteredhydroperiodofCaliforniaclapperrailhabitat.ProjectsaroundtheSanFranciscoBaythatwouldaffectCaliforniaclapperrailhabitatcouldaffectthespeciesifitispresent,andcouldaffectfutureopportunitiestooccupysuitablehabitat.

California least tern (Sternula antillarum browni)

Listing Status

TheCalifornialeasttern(Sternulaantillarumbrowni)isstateandfederallylistedasendangered.ThespecieswaslistedbytheCaliforniaFishandGameCommissionpursuanttotheCaliforniaEndangeredSpeciesAct(FishandGameCode,Sections2050etseq.)onJune27,1971,andbythe



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U.S.FishandWildlifeServicepursuanttothefederalEndangeredSpeciesActonOctober13,1970(35FR8491).Criticalhabitathasnotbeendesignatedforthisspecies.

Distribution

TheCalifornialeasttern,thesmallestofthefiverecognizedNorthAmericansubspeciesofS.antillarum,istheonlysubspeciesthatoccursinCalifornia(Thompsonetal.1997).ThehistoricalbreedingrangeoftheCalifornialeastternwasdescribedasextendingalongthePacificCoastfromapproximatelyMossLandingtothesoutherntipofBajaCalifornia(GrinnellandMiller1944).However,sinceabout1970,colonieshavebeenreportednorthtoSanFranciscoBay(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2006).ThenestingrangeinCaliforniaissomewhatdiscontinuousduetotheavailabilityofsuitableestuarineshorelines,whereCalifornialeastternsoftenestablishbreedingcolonies.Marschalek(2006)identifiessixgeographicpopulationclustersalongthePacificCoastinCaliforniaincludingSanDiego,CampPendleton,LosAngeles/OrangeCounty,VenturaCounty,SanLuisObispo/MontereyCounty,andSanFranciscoBay.ThemajorityoftheCaliforniapopulationisconcentratedinthreecounties:SanDiego,Orange,andLosAngeles.Littlereliablehistoricalinformationonbreedingpopulationsexists.Thefirststatewidesurveyswereconductedin1969–70(Craig1971).Annualbreedingsurveysbeganin1973(Bender1974)andcontinuetothepresent(Marschalek2009).Recentstatewidesurveysestimatedbetween6,744and6,989breedingpairsinCalifornia,withapproximately85percentofthebreedingcoloniesoccurringinSouthernCaliforniaandonlyasmallpercentage(6.3percent)occurringintheSanFranciscoBayarea(Marschalek2009).Statewide,thetrendinthebreedingpopulationhasbeendramaticsincestateandfederallistingoftheCalifornialeasttern,fromonlyseveralpairsinthelate1960stoacurrentestimateof6,998and7,698pairs(Marschalek2009).Marschalek(2009)monitoredsixactivebreedingcoloniesintheSanFranciscoBayareain2008withatotalnumberofbreedingpairsestimatedatapproximately443.ColonysitesincludedAlamedaPoint,HaywardRegionalLanding,andEdenLandingonthewesternedgeofAlamedaCounty;GreenIslandatthesoutherntipofNapaCounty;thePittsburgPowerPlantinnorthernContraCostaCounty;andtheMontezumaWetlandsatthesouthernedgeofSolanoCounty.Approximately73percent(323)ofthebreedingpairsweredocumentedattheAlamedaPointsite.Theremainingsitesincludedbetweentwoand57breedingpairs(Marschalek2009).


Californialeastternsaremigratoryandarepresentatnestingareasfrommid‐ApriltolateSeptember(Massey1974;Cogswell1977;AndersonandRigney1980;Patton2002).Winteringareasarelargelyunknown,butaresuspectedtobealongthePacificCoastofCentralandSouthAmerica(Massey1977).Nestingcolonysitesareselectedthatarefreeofhumanorpredatorydisturbance.Theavailabilityofsuchsitesisalimitingfactorforthespecies.Nestsitesareshallowdepressionswithoutnestingmaterial,typicallyinbarrensandyorgravellysubstratenearwater.

CalifornialeastternsnestinloosecoloniesonbarrenorsparselyvegetatedsandyorgravellysubstratesabovethehightidelinealongthecoastlineandinlagoonsandbaysoftheCaliforniacoast.Coastalcoloniesaretypicallylocatedonsandyshorelinesthatarekeptfreeofvegetationfromtidalaction.Coloniesarealwaysnearwaterthatprovidesforagingopportunities.Foragingtypicallyoccursinshallowestuariesorlagoons(Thompsonetal.1997;U.S.FishandWildlifeService2006).IntheSanFranciscoBayarea,nestingcoloniesaretypicallylocatedinabandonedsaltpondsandalongestuarineshores,oftenusingartificiallyorincidentallycreatedhabitat(RigneyandGranholm



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2005;Marschalek2008).Foragingoccursinthebayorlargeriverestuaries.Californialeastternsroostontheground.Priortoegg‐laying,adultsgenerallyroostawayfromnestsites,from0.25milesatcoastalsitestoseveralmilesatestuarinesites.Thisbehavioristhoughttobeinresponsetopredatoravoidance(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2006).Californialeastternsareverygregariousandnest,feed,roost,andmigrateincolonies.Californialeastternsarehighlysensitivetonestdisturbanceandwillreadilyabandonnestsitesifdisturbed(Davis1974).

CourtshipgenerallyoccursduringAprilandMayandusuallytakesplaceawayfromthenestingareaonexposedtidalflatsorbeaches.Nestingbeginsbymid‐May(Massey1974).Clutchsizerangesfromonetofoureggsandisusuallytwoorthree,withasinglebroodraisedeachyear.Incubationisusually20–25days,andyoungarefledgedby28days,butcontinuetodependonadultsforanadditionaltwoweeks(RigneyandGranholm2005).Noinformationisavailableonhomerangesize.Nestsaretypicallyspaced1to5meters(3to16feet)apart,andanapproximately1‐meterradiusareaaroundthenestisdefendedbytheadults(Thompsonetal.1997).TheCalifornialeastternfeedsinshallowestuariesandlagoonsforsmallfishincludinganchovies(Engraulis spp.),silversides(Atherinops spp.),andshinersurfperch(Cymatogaster aggregata)(RigneyandGranholm2005).Ithoversabovethewater,thenplunges,butdoesnotcompletelysubmerge.Itwillalsoforageintheshallowtidalzoneoftheopenoceanandinbays(Cogswell1977;RigneyandGranholm2005).

Current Status

ThedegradationanddisturbanceofsuitableestuarineshorelinehabitatistheprimaryreasonforthehistoricalreductionofCalifornialeastternpopulations.Mostextantcoloniesoccuronsmallpatchesofdegradednestinghabitatsurroundedonallsidesbyhumanactivities.Themajorityofcolonysitesareinareasthatwereincidentallycreatedduringdevelopmentprojects.Thereisnootheravailablenaturalhabitatforexpansionordispersalotherthanartificialorincidentallycreatednestinghabitat.FurtherexpansionandrecoveryoftheCalifornialeastternpopulationmayrequirethecreationorrestorationofhabitat(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2006).

Humandisturbancewasnotedasearlyasthemid‐1920sasafactorincausingcolonyabandonmentandpopulationdeclines(Schneider1926in:RigneyandGranholm2005),andisstillconsideredamajorthreattoremainingcolonies(GarrettandDunn1981;Marschalek2009).ThereisnosuitablenaturalhabitatinCaliforniathatisfreeofdevelopment,military,orrecreation‐relatedhumandisturbances;thus,opportunitiesforthespeciestodevelopnewbreedingterritoriesaremostlyrestrictedtoartificiallyorincidentallycreatedhabitat.Fencinghasbeenusedtoprohibitentryintocolonysites,butthisalsorestrictsthemovementofbirdsandhasledtonestingfailures(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2006).

Predationisregardedasthemostsignificantthreattoexistingcolonies.Marschalek(2009)reports45avianandmammalianpredatorsorsuspectedpredatorsofCalifornialeastterncoloniesin2008.MostdepredatedternsweretakenbyAmericancrow(Corvusbrachyrhynchos),gull‐billedtern(Sternanilotica),commonraven(Corvuscorax),andcoyote(Canislatrans).Peregrinefalcon(Falcoperegrinus),Americankestrel(Falcosparverius),burrowingowl(Athenecunicularia),northernharrier(Circuscyaneus),andblackskimmer(Rynchopsniger)werealsoresponsibleforasignificantproportionofpredationevents.Marschalek(2009)calculatedthat1686–1693eggs,304–443chicks,73–100fledglings,and28adultswerelosttopredationeventsin2008.

Severalconservationeffortstobenefitthespecies’numbershavebeenimplemented.Inadditiontotheguidanceprovidedbythefederalrecoveryplant(U.S.FishandWildlifeService1985),which



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establishes23coastalmanagementareas,andstateandfederallawsandregulations,conservationeffortsincludethefollowing.

U.S.MarineCorps,CampPendletonIntegratedNaturalResourcesManagementPlan.Providesspecificdirectionregardingleastternprotectionandconservationonthemilitarybase.

SanDiegoUnifiedPortDistrict.ConductsmonitoringandmanagementofleastterncoloniesontheirpropertiesaroundSanDiegoBayaswellaspublicinformationprograms.

SanDiegoMultipleSpeciesConservationProgram.AddressesconservationofCalifornialeastternwithinitsplanningarea.

FeedingecologyandmonitoringstudiesattheAlamedaPointcolonybythePointReyesBirdObservatory.

Predatorcontrolprograms–cooperativeagreementsandeffortsbyNavy,MarineCorps,andtheUSFWSandAnimalDamageControl.

CaliforniaCoastalManagementProgram,administeredbytheCaliforniaCoastalCommissioninaccordancewiththeCoastalZoneManagementAct,requiresareview,permit,andappealprocess;implementationoflocalcoastalprograms;andafederalconsistencyreviewtoguidedevelopmentalongthecoast.

ProtectionundertheMigratoryBirdTreatyActof1918.

Auduboneffortstousedecoysandrecordedcallstolureternstoprotectedhabitatthatofferabetterchanceatbreedingsuccess.

LosAngelestrashremovalandinvasiveplantcontrolatnestingsitesbylocalcommunitygroupsandgovernmentagencies.


Asdiscussedabove,developmentinandalongtheSanFranciscoBayhasresultedinhabitatlossanddegradationasaresultofincreasederosionofCalifornialeastternnestinghabitat.ProjectsaroundtheSanFranciscoBaythatwouldaffectCalifornialeastternnestinghabitatcouldaffectthespeciesifitispresent,andcouldaffectfutureopportunitiestooccupysuitablehabitat.

Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris)

Listing Status

TheUSFWSlistedthesaltmarshharvestmouse(Reithrodontomysraviventris)asendangeredin1970(35FR16047).TheStateofCalifornialistedthemouseasendangeredin1971(FishandGameCode,Sections2050etseq.).Thesaltmarshharvestmouseisalsodesignatedasastatefullyprotectedspecies.Arecoveryplanforthespecieswaspreparedin1984andiscurrentlyunderrevision.Criticalhabitathasnotbeendesignatedforthisspecies.

Distribution

ThesaltmarshharvestmouseisasmallnativerodentendemictothesaltmarshesofSanFrancisco,SanPablo,andSuisunBays.ThehistoricalrangeofthespecieslikelyincludedmostofthemarshlandintheSanFranciscoBayarea.Closelyassociatedwithsalinehabitats,thespecies’eastern



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distributionisgenerallyconsideredtoextendasfarasapproximatelyCollinsville.Thewatersofwetlandsandmarsheseastofthispointarecurrentlyconsideredtoofreshtosupportthehabitatofthisspecies(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2001).

Thespecieshasbeendividedintotwosubspecies.Thesouthernsubspecies(R.r.raviventris)occursinthemarshesofCorteMadera,Richmond,andSouthSanFranciscoBay.Thenorthernsubspecies(R.r.halicoetes)isfoundinthemarshesofSanPabloandSuisunBays,fromSanRafaelBridgetoapproximatelyCollinsvilleonthenorthandfromMartineztoPittsburgonthesouth(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2001).

Today,thespeciespotentiallyoccupiesanarearepresentingapproximately15percentofthehistoricalsaltmarshhabitatthatformerlyoccurredintheSanFranciscoBayarea(Dedrick1989).Muchofthisremaininghabitat,isolatedbydikesandlandfill,issubjecttobackfilling,subsidence,andvegetationchanges,makingitunabletosupportharvestmice(Shellhammer1989).Thus,theremaining26populationsaresmallandseparatedbylargeareasofunsuitablehabitat.


Thesaltmarshharvestmouseisbufforbrownishincolorandhasalongbicoloredtail,largeears,andgroovesintheoutersurfaceofitsupperincisors.Theundersideisvariable,rangingfromwhitetoacinnamon‐orrufous‐coloredbelly.Adultsaltmarshharvestmiceare118–175millimetersinlengthandweighbetween0.28and0.42ounces(8and12grams).Themaximumlifeexpectancyforsaltmarshharvestmiceisgenerallyconsideredtobeapproximately1year;however,CaliforniaDepartmentofWaterResources(DWR)dataindicatethatthelifeexpectancycanbelonger(Pattersonpers.comm.).Agenerallysolitaryanimaloutsideofthebreedingseason,thisspeciestypicallyremainsbeneaththecanopyofdenselow‐lyingvegetationandwillsometimesusethegroundrunwaysofotherrodents.Activeyear‐roundandprimarilyatnight,thisspeciesrespondstotidalactionandcanescapetidalorseasonalfloodingbyswimmingorclimbing,andwillmoveintoadjoininggrasslandsduringthehighestwintertides.Grasslandsareotherwiseusedashabitatprimarilywhennewgrassgrowthaffordssuitablecoverinspringandsummermonths.Thesemovementsprobablyoccuronlyonadailybasisanddonotrepresentaseasonalshiftinhabitatuse.Youngareabletodisperseconsiderabledistances,butcanberestrictedwithfragmentationofsuitablemarshhabitats(Fisler1965;Shellhammeretal.1982;LSAAssociates2007).

Saltmarshharvestmicebreedfromspringthroughautumn,withfemalesreproductivelyactivefromMarchtoNovember.ThebreedingseasonforR. r. raviventris usuallybeginsinMarch,andthebreedingforR. r. halicoetes beginsapproximately2monthslater,inMay(Fisler1965).Adultstypicallyconstructanabovegroundnestofgrassesandsedgesabout150–175millimeters(6–7inches)indiameter.Theysometimesconstructthenestontopofbirdnestsandhavebeenreportedtousethenestsofsongsparrows.Femaleshavearelativelylowreproductivepotential,bearinganaverageoffouryoungperlitter,followingagestationperiodof21–24days.Also,whileR. r.raviventris oftenproducestwolittersperyear,R. r. halicoetes usuallyproducesonlyoneduetotheshorterbreedingseason(Fisler1965).Adultsmakeupthemajorityofthepopulation.ReproductioncanalsobesuppressedbyincreasingpopulationsofCaliforniameadowvoles(Microtus californicus),whichrespondtodecreasingsalinitiesandvegetationcover.InyearswhenMicrotus populationsarehigh,breedingforsaltmarshharvestmiceissuppressedfurtherintothespring.IfMicrotus populationsarehighenoughinagivenarea,populationsofharvestmicecanbereducedtothepointoflocalextirpation.However,whenwatersalinitiesandvegetationcoverincrease,harvestmice



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haveacompetitiveedgeduetotheirabilitytowithstandhighersalinitiesinthewaterandfood,andpopulationscanrecover(Geisseletal.1988).

Thedietofthesaltmarshharvestmouseconsistsofseeds,grasses,forbs,andinsects.Duringwinter,freshgreengrassesarepreferred.Duringtherestoftheyear,thestemsandleavesofpickleweedandsaltgrassaremainfoodsources(Fisler1965).Asnoted,saltmarshharvestmicecantoleratehighsalinitiesinbothfoodanddrinkintake,whichcangivethemacompetitiveadvantageoverMicrotuswhenthesalinityofthemarshincreases(Geisseletal.1988).

Saltmarshharvestmicedependondensecoverofnativehalophytes(salt‐tolerantplants).Pickleweed(Sarcocorniapacifica,formerlySalicorniavirginica)isthespecies’primaryhabitat(Shellhammer1977).Deep(60–75centimeters)anddensepickleweed,intermixedwithfathen(Atriplexpatula)andalkaliheath(Frankeniagrandifolia),ispreferred.Saltmarshharvestmicearerarelyfoundinalkalibulrush(Schoenoplectusmaritimus),purestandsofsaltgrass(Distichlisspicata),orcordgrass(Spartinaspp.)(Shellhammeretal.1982),whichcandisplacepickleweed.However,morerecentresearchhasdocumentedthespeciesindensestandsofthree‐squarebulrush(Schoenoplectusamericanus)indensitiessimilartothatfoundinpickleweed(Pattersonpers.comm.).Non‐submergedescapecoverisalsorequiredduringhightides(Shellhammeretal.1982).Fisler(1965)reportedthatpopulationscanbeconcentratedonhighmarshlevelsduringperiodsofhightides.Theyhavealsobeenfoundinthetopzoneoftidalmarshesandintransitionalzones,whichrarelyflood(Shellhammer1989).Theywillalsomoveintoadjacentgrasslandsduringhightides.Fisler(1965)andShellhammeretal.(1982)reportedthatthespecieswilloccupyadjoininggrasslandsduringthehighestwintertidesandwilloccasionallyusegrasslandsduringspringandsummer,whennewgrowthaffordssufficientcover.WesternEcologicalServicesCompany(WESCO)(1991)alsoreporteduseofnontidaluplandsupto150feetfromthewetlandedge.Further,Sustaitaetal.(2011)foundsaltmarshharvestmousepopulationsinSuisunMarshmanagedwetlandsinequalorhigherabundancethaninadjacenttidalbrackishmarsh.

Current Status

Lossanddegradationoftidalmarshhabitatscontinuetobethemostsignificantthreattothesaltmarshharvestmouseandothertidalmarshspecies.Tidalmarsheshavebeenreducedby84percentsincehistoricaltimes(Dedrick1989).Thelossandfragmentationofsuitablehabitatsfromcommercialandresidentialdevelopmenthaveisolatedpopulationsandreduceddispersalopportunities.Thelossoftidalmarshhabitatthroughfillinganddikinghaslargelybeencurtailed.However,othercurrentfactorsassociatedwithdecliningpopulationsincludetheconversionofsaltmarshestobrackishmarshesduetofreshwaterdischargesfromsewagetreatmentplants;introductionofnonnativecordgrass,saltgrass,andotherplantspecies;predationbynonnativeredfoxesandferalcats;andinvasionofrunoff,industrialdischarges,andsewageeffluent(Shellhammeretal.1982;CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGame2000;LSAAssociates2007).Probablythemostsignificantlong‐termissueisthepredictedsealevelriseashighas1.2meterswithinthiscentury.

Severaltidalmarshrestorationprojectsarealsoplannedorbeingimplementedwithintherangeofthesaltmarshharvestmouseandareexpectedtobenefitthespecies.Theseprojects,implementedthroughthedirectionorsupportoftheSanFranciscoBayNationalWildlifeRefuge,NationalBiologicalService,EastBayRegionalParkDistrict,RegionalWaterQualityControlBoard,CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGame,andtheCityofSanJoseincludethefollowing:

Restorationofthe1,500‐acreNapaMarshUnitintheNapaRiverintheNorthBay.



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RestorationoftheKnappProperty,a452‐acreformersaltpondintheAlvisoarea,ontheedgeofthebay,betweenAlvisoandGuadalupeSloughs.

Enhancementofthe325‐acreOroLomaMarsh,anareaofdikedsaltmarshandadjacentuplandslocatedalongtheshoreofHayward.Theareawillberestoredtotidalmarshandseasonalwetlandhabitat.

RestorationoftheBaumbergTract,an835‐acreinactivesaltevaporatorinHayward,totidalmarshandseasonalwetlands.

RestorationoftheMoseleyTract,locatedjustnorthofthewestapproachtotheDumbartonBridgefromthePortofOakland.

AproposaltocoversaltmarshharvestmouseundertheSolanoCountyMultispeciesHabitatConservationPlan.

Inaddition,severalfacilitieshavebeenconstructionintheSuisunMarshtoprotectandimprovewaterqualityandprotectandenhancewildlifehabitatincluding:

RoaringRiverDistributionSystem(1979–80).

MorrowIslandDistributionSystem(1979–80).

GoodyearSloughOutfall(1979–80).

SuisunMarshSalinityControlGates(1988).

CygnusandLowerJoyceFacilities(1991).


Asdiscussedabove,developmentinandalongtheSanFranciscoBayhasresultedinhabitatlossanddegradation,excesssedimentation,alteredhydroperiod,andincreasederosionofsaltmarshhabitat.ProjectsaroundtheSanFranciscoBaythatwouldaffectsaltmarshharvestmousehabitatcouldaffectthespeciesifitispresent,andcouldaffectfutureopportunitiestooccupysuitablehabitat.

California Seablite (Suaeda californica)

Listing Status

CaliforniaseablitewasfederallylistedasendangeredonDecember23,1991(56FR6640066408).Thespeciesisranked1B.1undertheCaliforniaRarePlantRanksystem,indicatingthatthisspeciesisrarethroughoutitsrangeandisendemictoCalifornia.Criticalhabitathasnotbeendesignatedforthisspecies.

Distribution

Californiaseablite’srangeisrestrictedtotheCentralCoastregion.ThisrangeincludesportionsofAlameda,SantaClara,andContraCostaCounties.Inthesecounties,sixoccurrenceshavebeendocumented,andofthese,fourarepresumedtobeextant(CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGame2012).DocumentedhistoricalCNDDBoccurrencesincludeBayFarmIsland(Alameda),Albany,andSanLeandro,AlamedaCounty;thesepopulationshavebeenextirpated.Currentknownlocations



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includeMorroBayandCayucosPointinSanLuisObispoCounty,severalreintroducedpopulationsontheSanFranciscoPeninsula(CrissyField,Pier94andPier98),andinEmeryvilleatEastshoreStatePark(Bloom2007).FuturereintroductionsareplannedforBerkeley,SanLeandro,andOaklandinAlamedaCounty(Baye2007).


Californiaseabliteisaperennialpartiallywoodyshrubinthegoosefootfamily(Amaranthaceae)withalow‐growinghabit,severalsprawlingbranchessupportingsucculentlinearleaves,andinconspicuousdullgreenaxillaryflowers.ThisspeciesbloomsfromJulytoOctober.Suitablehabitatissandyuppersaltmarshesandsandyorestuarinebeachesinthehightideline.

Current Status

ThehabitatofCaliforniaseablitemayhavebeennaturallyrare,buturban,port,andairportdevelopmentalongtheEastBayandtheeliminationoftheBayFarmIslandsignificantlycontributedtotheextirpationoftheSanFranciscoBaypopulation.TheMorroBaypopulationhasbeenrelativelystableinnumber,wherehabitatforCaliforniaseabliteisstillrelativelyabundant.Additionally,shorelineerosion,dunemigration,andhighvariancesinfluctuatingwaterlevelscausechangesanddisturbancestotheamountofavailablesuitablehabitatand,consequently,thenumberofindividualsineachpopulation(U.S.FishandWildlifeService2010).


AsdiscussedforCaliforniaseablite,developmentinandalongtheSanFranciscoBayhascausedhabitatlossanddegradationandincreasederosion.ProjectsaroundtheSanFranciscoBaythatwouldaffectCaliforniaseablitehabitatcouldaffectthespeciesifitoccupiesthehabitat,andcouldaffectfutureopportunitiestooccupysuitablehabitat.

Status of Critical Habitat

Withintheactionarea,criticalhabitatisdesignatedforcentralCaliforniacoaststeelheadandgreensturgeon.Theprimaryconstituentelementsintheactionareaincludefreshwaterrearinghabitatandfreshwatermigrationcorridorsthathaveadequatesubstrate,waterqualityandquantity,temperature,velocity,cover/shelter,food,riparianvegetation,spaceandsafepassageconditions.

Central California Coast Steelhead

DegradationofcriticalhabitatforcentralCaliforniacoaststeelheadistheresultofhuman‐inducedfactorssuchasurbanization,streamchannelization,wetlandloss,waterwithdrawals,andartificialpropagation.Effectsincludealterationofstreambankandchannelmorphology,alterationofwatertemperatures,lossofspawningandrearinghabitat,fragmentationofhabitat,degradationofwaterquality,removalofriparianvegetationresultinginincreasedstreambankerosion,increasesinsedimentationinstreamsfromuplandareas,lossofshade,andlossofnutrientinputs(Busbyetal1996,70FR52488).Depletionandstorageofstreamflowshavedisruptedthenaturalhydrologiccyclesinmanystreams.Alterationofflowsresultsinmigrationdelays,lossofsuitablehabitatduetodewateringandblockage,strandingoffishfromrapidflowfluctuations,entrainmentofjuvenilesintopoorlyscreenedorunscreeneddiversion,andincreasedwatertemperaturesharmfulto



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salmonids.Overall,currentconditionofcentralCaliforniacoaststeelheadcriticalhabitatisdegradedandmaynotprovidetheconservationvaluenecessaryfortherecoveryofthespecies(NationalMarineFisheriesService2011).

Status of Critical Habitat within the Action Area

Thestreamchannelintheactionareaistidallyinfluencedandisusedformigration.AdultsusethissectionoftheCreekduringwinterandspring,andsmoltsemigrateouttotheoceanduringthespring.Substrateissiltandmud,andwaterisbrackish,sonospawningcanoccur.Thechannelisheavilychannelized,andsomeareasarearmoredwithconcretetopreventerosion.Bankvegetationisdominatedbyruderalvegetation.AlthoughthestreamchannelintheactionareadoesnotprovidespawningandrearinghabitatforcentralCaliforniacoaststeelhead,theupperportionofSanFrancisquitoCreekdoessupportspawningandrearing.Overall,criticalhabitatinSanFrancisquitoCreekisdegradedduetobarriersupstream,channelization,limitedpooldevelopmentandoverwinteringhabitat,andpoorwaterqualityconditions(NationalMarineFisheriesService2011).Spawninghabitatisalsodegradedduetosedimentation(Jones&Stokes2006).

Green Sturgeon

AswithcentralCaliforniacoaststeelhead,alterationofflowshasledtodegradationofwaterqualityandquantity,resultingineffectsonmigrationofgreensturgeon.Additionally,thealterationstotheSacramento‐SanJoaquinRiverDeltamayhaveastrongeffectonsurvivalandrecruitmentofjuvenilegreensturgeonbecauseofthetimetheyspendrearingintheDeltaandestuary.Lossofjuvenileshasaneffectonallyearclassesfordecadestofollow(NationalMarineFisheriesService2011).


Forgreensturgeon,theactionareaprovidessuitablerearinghabitatinthetidalportionsofthechannel.However,theoverallconditionofthehabitatispoorduetolackofemergentmarsh,limiteddepthandcover,andreducedchannelcomplexity(NationalMarineFisheriesService2011).

California Red‐Legged Frog

Thelossandalterationofaquatichabitat,namelybreedinghabitat,havehadaneffectonCaliforniared‐leggedfrog,resultingfromdevelopment,thealterationofflows,excesssedimentation,anderosion.Theintroductionofnonnativepredators(e.g.,bullfrog[Ranacatesbeiana]andmosquitofish[Gambusiaaffinis])hasledtoreducedrecruitmentand,insomecases,eliminationofCaliforniared‐leggedfrogfromsuitablehabitat.


Theactionareadoesnotincludeareasofcriticalhabitat,norisitadjacenttocriticalhabitatforthisspecies.

Western Snowy Plover

Thelossandalterationofnestinghabitathasaffectedwesternsnowyplover,resultingfromshorelinedevelopment,leveeconstruction,andincreasederosion.Human‐deriveddisturbanceandtheintroductionofnonnativeplantspecies(e.g.,Europeanbeachgrass[Ammophilaarenaria])has



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alteredhabitatandstabilizedareasofopensand,resultingintheunsuitabilityofhabitatfornestingactivities.


Theactionareadoesnotincludeareasofcriticalhabitat,norisitadjacenttocriticalhabitatforthisspecies.

Effects of the Proposed Action

Assessment Approach

Theassessmentofeffectsonlistedspecieswasconductedusingthefollowinganalyticalsteps:

Identifythephysical,chemical,orbiologicalstressorsresultingfromtheaction.

Describetheobservedorpredictedresponsesoffishandwildlifetothesestressors.

Estimatethenumberorrelativeabundanceofindividualspotentiallyaffectedbytheaction(basedonthespatialandtemporaloverlapbetweenthestressorandlistedspecies/lifestage).

Estimatetheprobableresponseoftheindividualsorpopulationtotheaction.

TheProjecthasbothshort‐andlong‐termeffects.ForbothcentralCaliforniacoaststeelheadandgreensturgeon,short‐termeffects,whicharecausedprimarilybyconstructionactivities,includepotentialdisturbanceorharassmentoffishfromnoiseanddegradationofwaterqualityfromincreasedsuspendedsedimentandturbidity,potentialmortalityorphysiologicalstressfromspillsoftoxicsubstances,andmodificationtonearshoreandinstreamhabitat.Long‐termeffectsresultingfromoperationandmaintenanceincludenoiseanddisturbance.Alsolongtermhabitateffectsareexpectedfromtidalmarshrestorationactivities.

Construction Effects

Central California Coast Steelhead and Green Sturgeon

Disturbance

CentralCaliforniacoaststeelheadareknowntooccurwithinSanFrancisquitoCreekyear‐round,withadultsmigratingthroughtheactionareaandjuvenilespotentiallyrearingintheactionarea.ConstructionactivitiesforeachProjectelementwouldoccurnearsuitablehabitatforthesespeciesandcoulddisturbindividualspresentinSanFrancisquitoCreek.Suchaneffectwouldbeconsideredanadverseeffect.

CentralCaliforniacoaststeelheadwillbeprotectedduringconstructionbyProjectConservationMeasurestoprotectbiologicalresourcesasdiscussedabove.Theseincludeevaluatingthestreamandnativeaquaticvertebratesifthesearepresentandrelocatingindividualsasappropriate.Further,implementationofworkerawarenesstrainingrequiredforallconstructionpersonnelandMeasure16(implementavoidancemeasuresforsteelheadtroutpriortoconstructionactivities)wouldreducethiseffecttoalevelnotlikelytoadverselyaffectcentralCaliforniacoaststeelhead.



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GreensturgeonarenotknowntouseSanFrancisquitoCreek,butcouldbepresentintheBaywithintheactionarea.ConstructionactivitieswouldoccurupstreamoftheBaysogreensturgeonareunlikelytobeaffectedbynoiseanddisturbance.

Sediment and Turbidity

Construction‐relatedgrounddisturbancecouldresultinincreaseddeliveryofsedimentintoSanFrancisquitoCreek,dependingonthelocationofthework.ThisdisturbancehaspotentialtodegradehabitatimmediatelyadjacenttotheProjectworksite,whichreceivesdirectsedimentinput,andcouldalsodegradedownstreamhabitattotheextentthatfinesedimentiscarrieddownstream.Inbothcases,theareasofprincipalconcernarethosethatsupporthabitatforsteelheadandgreensturgeoninSanFrancisquitoCreekandtheBay.

Highconcentrationsofsuspendedsedimentcanhavebothdirectandindirecteffects.Theseverityoftheseeffectsdependsonthesedimentconcentration,durationofexposure,andsensitivityoftheaffectedlifestage.Short‐termincreasesinturbidityandsuspendedsedimentcoulddisruptfeedingactivitiesorresultinavoidanceordisplacementoffishfrompreferredhabitat.Chronicexposuretohighturbidityandsuspendedsedimentcouldalsoaffectgrowthandsurvivalbyimpairingrespiratoryfunction,reducingtolerancetodiseaseandcontaminants,andcausingphysiologicalstress(Waters1995).Sucheffectswouldbeadverse.

TheDistrictroutinelyimplementscomprehensiveBMPstoprotectwaterqualityduringconstruction.ProjectconstructionworkwouldalsorequireimplementationofaSWPPP,providingfurtheroversight.AsdiscussedaboveunderWaterQualityProtection,theseBMPshavebeenadoptedasConservationMeasures.WithadherencetotheseConservationMeasures,theeffectwouldbenotlikelytoadverselyaffectcentralCaliforniacoaststeelheadorgreensturgeon.

Contaminants

Duringconstruction,thepotentialexistsforspillsorleakageoftoxicsubstancestoenterSanFrancisquitoCreekandtheBay.Refuelingandoperationandstorageofconstructionequipmentandmaterialscouldresultinaccidentalspillsofpollutants(e.g.,fuels,lubricants,concrete,sealants,oil).Highconcentrationsofcontaminantscancausedirect(sublethaltolethal)andindirecteffectsonfish.Theseverityoftheseeffectsdependsonthecontaminant,concentration,durationofexposure,andsensitivityoftheaffectedlifestage.Sublethaleffectsincludeincreasedsusceptibilitytodiseasethatreducestheoverallhealthandsurvivaloftheexposedfish.Anindirecteffectofcontaminationisreducedpreyavailability.Invertebratepreyspeciessurvivalcanbereduced,therebymakingfoodlessavailableforfish.Also,fishconsuminginfectedpreycanabsorbtoxinsdirectly.

AsdiscussedaboveunderWaterQualityProtection,theDistrictroutinelyimplementscomprehensiveBMPstoprotectwaterqualityduringconstruction.ProjectconstructionworkwouldalsorequireimplementationofaSWPPP,providingfurtheroversight.CompliancewiththeSWPPPandBMPswillreducetheeffecttoalevelnotlikelytoadverselyaffectcentralCaliforniacoaststeelheadorgreensturgeon.



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Modification of Physical Habitat

Disturbance or Loss of Riparian and Nearshore Habitat

CentralCaliforniacoaststeelheaduseriparianandnearshorehabitatforrearing.Juvenilegreensturgeoncouldusenearshorehabitatforfeeding.However,itisunknownifjuvenilegreensturgeonwouldbepresentinSanFrancisquitoCreekandmorelikelyoccurinSanFranciscoBay.NearshorehabitatintheBaywillnotbemodifiedandthereforewillnotaffectgreensturgeon.

NearshorehabitatextendsalongSanFrancisquitoCreekandwouldbeaffectedbychannelwidening,leveeconstruction,rockslopeprotection,andmarshplaincreationandrestoration.RiparianhabitatisfoundinasmallareaalongSanFrancisquitoCreekinthesouthwesternportionoftheactionarea.TheonlyProjectelementthatwouldaffectriparianhabitatischannelwideningandmarshplaincreationandrestorationintheupperreachofSanFrancisquitoCreekintheactionarea.Extensivetrimming,pruning,orremovalofriparianhabitatcouldrepresentanadverseeffect.

Riparian Habitat

RiparianhabitatwillbeprotectedtothemaximumextentpracticableduringconstructionbyProjectenvironmentalcommitmentstoprotectbiologicalresources,asdiscussedaboveunderBiologicalResourcesProtection.Further,implementationofConservationMeasures17(identifyandprotectriparianhabitats)and18(restoreriparianhabitat)wouldreduceeffectstoalevelnotlikelytoadverselyaffectsteelheadbyreplacinganyriparianareaspermanentlyaffected.

Nearshore Habitat

Nearshorehabitatwillbeaffectedduringconstructionandrestorationactivities.Breachingoflevees,dredgingofchannelsediments,placingrockslopeprotection,andcreatingtidalmarshhabitatwilldisturbnearshorehabitat.Also,anychannelexcavationwilldeepenthechannelandmayeliminatenearshoreshallowhabitat.Whilealltheseactivitieswilldisturbnearshorehabitat,thecreationof18acresoftidalmarshhabitatwillcompensateforanytemporarylossofrearingjuvenilesteelheadhabitat.Therefore,thiseffectisnotlikelytoadverselyaffectcentralCaliforniacoaststeelheadorgreensturgeon.

Operations and Maintenance Effects

Asdiscussedabove,ProjectDescription,allmaintenanceoffacilitiesimprovedbytheProjectlocatedinuplandareasneartheProjectelementsitesidentifiedabovewouldtakeplaceundertheDistrict’sandEastPaloAlto’srespectivemaintenanceprograms.TheProjectwouldcreateminimalin‐channelmaintenanceneeds,primarilylimitedtomonitoringandremovalofinvasiveweeds,andthuswouldnotresultinneweffectsonsteelheadorgreensturgeon.Further,ongoingmaintenancewillbeperformedthroughadherencetoProjectConservationMeasures,describedabove.EmergencymaintenancemayneedtobeperformedduringthelifeoftheProject,butisnotreasonablyforeseeableandwouldbesubjecttoseparateapproval.Therewouldbenoneweffect.

Habitat

TheexpandedchannelandnewfloodcontrolfacilitiescouldpotentiallyaffectconditionsforrearingsteelheadintheProjectreach,resultingindegradedhabitatandpotentialentrapment.InthePhaseOnereach,wideningofthechannel,plantingofvegetationstripsnearrip‐rap,thehigherelevation



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marshplainterrace,andoverflowintotheFaberTractareallanticipatedtocontributetovariedvelocitiesandcreatevelocityrefugeforrearingsteelheadduringfloodevents.Thesechangesinvelocitiesareanticipatedtobebeneficialtosteelhead.Conservatively,noeffect,beneficialorotherwise,isassumed.InthePhaseTworeach,channelexcavationandtheinstallationoffloodwallsareanticipatedtohavenoappreciableneteffectonin‐channelvelocitiesorin‐channelrefugeforsteelhead.Themarshplainbenchesandterracearedesignedtoslopebackintothelow‐flowchannelandwouldnotentrapsteelhead.DistributarychannelsintheFaberTractprovidepathwaysforrearingsteelheadmovementthatwouldprevententrapmentofjuvenilespassedintotheFaberTractduringhighflowevents.Overall,whileconditionsareanticipatedtoimprove,thebenefitsforsteelheadrearingcannotbefullyguaranteed,andthusnoeffectisconservativelyassumed.

Sedimentation

Maintenance‐relatedgrounddisturbancecouldresultinincreaseddeliveryofsedimentintoSanFrancisquitoCreekdependingonthelocationofthework.ThiscoulddegradehabitatinareasthatsupporthabitatforfishinSanFrancisquitoCreekandtheBay.

TheProjectwouldcreateminimalin‐channelmaintenanceneeds,primarilylimitedtomonitoringandremovalofinvasiveweedsandthuswouldnotresultinneweffectsoninstreamhabitat.Further,ongoingmaintenancewillbeperformedthroughadherencetoProjectConservationMeasuresdescribedabove.Therewouldbenoneweffect.

California Red‐Legged Frog and San Francisco Garter Snake

Disturbance

Californiared‐leggedfrogandSanFranciscogartersnakehavealowpotentialtooccurwithintheportionsofthefreshwaterpondsthatoccurwithintheactionarea.ApondlocatedoutsideofandimmediatelynorthwestoftheProjectsiteisunderstoodtocatchandconveystormwaterrunofffromtheresidentialneighborhoodandsupplyittotheO’ConnorPumpStationlocatedimmediatelysouthofthepond.ThepondwithintheProjectsiteisentirelysurroundedbyaparkinglotandtheGolfCourse,andislikelymanagedbytheGolfCourseforaestheticvalue.WhiletheProjectiswithinhistoricsaltmarsh,thesepondsrepresentlow‐qualityhabitatforthesespecies.

ProjectelementsthathavepotentialtodisturbCaliforniared‐leggedfrogandSanFranciscogartersnakeincludeleveeloweringontherightbank,leveeraisingontherightbank,andleveeraisingandleveerelocationontheleftbank.ConstructionactivitieswouldoccurnearsuitablehabitatforCaliforniared‐leggedfrogandSanFranciscogartersnakeandcoulddisturbindividualsthatmightbepresentintheuplandsandintheponds.Suchaneffectcouldhaveaseriouseffectonalocalpopulation.

However,thesespecieswillbeprotectedduringconstructionbyProjectenvironmentalcommitmentstoprotectbiologicalresources.Theseincludeminimizingnewtemporaryaccesspointsandpreventinganimalentryandentrapment.Further,implementationofConservationMeasuresBIO1(Californiared‐leggedfrogandSanFranciscogartersnakeawarenesswillbeincludedinthepreconstructionworkerawarenesstrainingrequiredforallconstructionpersonnel)andtheeffectaftertheimplementationofBIO2wouldbenegligible.



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AllmaintenanceoffacilitiesimprovedbytheProjectlocatedinuplandareasneartheProjectelementsiteswouldtakeplaceundertheSantaClaraValleyWaterDistrict’sandEastPaloAlto’srespectivemaintenanceprograms.MaintenanceofProjectfacilitiesidentifiedasbeinginornearsuitablehabitatwouldhavesomepotentialtodisturbCaliforniared‐leggedfrogandSanFranciscogartersnake.

TheProjectwouldcreateminimalin‐channelmaintenanceneeds,primarilylimitedtomonitoringandremovalofinvasiveweeds,andthuswouldnotresultinneweffectsonCaliforniared‐leggedfrogandSanFranciscogartersnake.Further,ongoingmaintenancewillbeperformedthroughadherencetoProjectenvironmentalcommitments.EmergencymaintenancemayneedtobeperformedduringthelifeoftheProject,butisnotreasonablyforeseeableandwouldbesubjecttoseparateapproval.Therefore,therewouldbenoneweffectfromoperationandmaintenanceactivities.

Western Snowy Plover and California Least Tern

Disturbance

Twoprotectedspeciesofcoastalnestingbirds,Californialeastternandwesternsnowyplover,useportionsofunvegetatedhabitatontheFaberTract.SaltpanneandotherunvegetatedhabitatswithintheFaberTractprovidesuitablenestingandrestinghabitatforthesespecies.Californialeastternsareconsideredmorelikelytonestwithinthestudyareaduetotheirabilitytonestatagreaterdistancefromwaterthanwesternsnowyplovers,andsuitablenestinghabitatinproximitytotheSouthSanFranciscoBay.TheSouthBayprovidessuitableforaginghabitatforCalifornialeasttern,andmarsh,unvegetated,andintertidalhabitatwithintheFaberTractprovidesuitableforaginghabitatforwesternsnowyplover,butneitherspecieshasbeenobservedinthevicinityoftheProjectsite.

LeveeloweringontherightbankhaspotentialtodisturbCalifornialeastternandwesternsnowyplover.ConstructionactivitiesservingthisProjectelementwouldoccurnearsuitablehabitatforthesespeciesandcoulddisturbnestingorforagingindividualsthatcouldbepresent.DisturbanceofnestingorforagingCalifornialeastternandwesternsnowyploverwouldbeasignificanteffect.TheProjectcouldaffecthabitatswithintheFaberTractthroughthehydrologicreconnectionofSanFrancisquitoCreektothisareaandpotentialsubsequentflooding.BecauseCalifornialeastternandwesternsnowyploverhavepotentialtooccurinhabitatintheFaberTract,floodingfromSanFrancisquitoCreekandsubsequenthabitatalterationcouldaffectthesespeciesaswell.Thishabitatalterationwouldbeconsideredasignificanteffect.

However,thesespecieswillbeprotectedduringconstructionbyProjectenvironmentalcommitmentstoprotectbiologicalresources.Thesecommitmentsincludeminimizingnewtemporaryaccesspoints,conductingsurveysfornestingraptorsandmigratorybirds,andinstallingnestingexclusiondevices.Further,implementationofConservationMeasuresBIO1(Californialeastternandwesternsnowyploverawarenesswillbeincludedinthepreconstructionworkerawarenesstrainingrequiredforallconstructionpersonnel)andBIO3wouldreducethepotentialofthiseffect.



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AllmaintenanceoffacilitiesimprovedbytheProjectandlocatedinuplandareasneartheProjectelementsiteswouldtakeplaceundertheDistrict’sandEastPaloAlto’srespectivemaintenanceprograms.TheProjectwouldcreateminimalin‐channelmaintenanceneeds,primarilylimitedtomonitoringandremovalofinvasiveweeds,andthuswouldnotresultinneweffectsonCalifornialeastternandwesternsnowyplover.Further,ongoingmaintenancewillbeperformedthroughadherencetoProjectenvironmentalcommitments.EmergencymaintenancemayneedtobeperformedduringthelifeoftheProject,butisnotreasonablyforeseeableandwouldbesubjecttoseparateapproval.

Asmentionedintheconstructioneffectdiscussion,theProjectcouldaffecthabitatswithintheFaberTractthroughthehydrologicreconnectionofSanFrancisquitoCreektothisareaandpotentialsubsequentflooding.BecauseCalifornialeastternandwesternsnowyploverhavepotentialtooccurinhabitatintheFaberTract,floodingfromSanFrancisquitoCreekandsubsequenthabitatalterationcouldaffectthesespeciesaswell.Thishabitatalterationwouldbesignificant.ImplementationofConservationMeasureBIO4wouldreducetheeffect.Therefore,therewouldbenoneweffectfromoperationandmaintenanceactivities.

California Clapper Rail

Disturbance

Californiaclapperrailisconsideredtohaveahighpotentialtobepresentinsuitablehabitatwithinandadjacenttotheactionarea.CaliforniaclapperrailisknowntousemarshesadjacenttoSanFrancisquitoCreek.Theactionareawouldonlyaffectthetopoftheexistingleveeontherighthandside;adjacentareasthatsupportwetlandvegetationandofferclapperrailforaginghabitatandrefugewouldnotbedirectlyaffected.Surveysconductedin2009and2010bythePointReyesBirdObservatoryreportthemeannumberofCaliforniaclapperrailindividualsontheFaberTractwere46.NoCaliforniaclapperrailswereobservedwithinSanFrancisquitoCreekduringsurveyeffortsin2009or2010(Liuetal.2010).

However,thisspecieswillbeprotectedduringconstructionbyProjectenvironmentalcommitmentstoprotectbiologicalresources.Thesecommitmentsincludeminimizingnewtemporaryaccesspoints,conductingsurveysfornestingraptorsandmigratorybirds,andinstallingnestingexclusiondevices.Further,ImplementationofConservationMeasuresBIO1(Californiaclapperrailawarenesswillbeincludedinthepreconstructionworkerawarenesstrainingrequiredforallconstructionpersonnel),BIO4,andBIO5wouldreducedisturbancetoCaliforniaclapperrail.


AllmaintenanceoffacilitiesimprovedbytheProjectandlocatedinuplandareasneartheProjectelementsiteswouldtakeplaceundertheDistrict’sandEastPaloAlto’srespectivemaintenanceprograms.MaintenanceofProjectfacilitiesidentifiedasbeinginornearsuitablehabitatwouldhavesomepotentialtodisturbCaliforniaclapperrail.Additionally,theProjectwouldresultinspillflowsintotheFaberTractevery2to3years.Thus,operationandmaintenanceeffectscouldbesignificant.

TheProjectwouldcreateminimalin‐channelmaintenanceneeds,primarilylimitedtomonitoringandremovalofinvasiveweeds,andthuswouldnotresultinneweffectsonCaliforniaclapperrail.



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Further,ongoingmaintenancewillbeperformedthroughadherencetoProjectenvironmentalcommitments,describedaboveunder.EmergencymaintenancemayneedtobeperformedduringthelifeoftheProject,butisnotreasonablyforeseeableandwouldbesubjecttoseparateapproval.Therewouldbenoneweffectduetomaintenance.

AspartoftheProject,Fluvialflowsabovethe5‐yearevent(20%chanceofhappeningonceinanygivenyear)currentlyaccesstheFaberTractunderaveragetidalconditions.Whentheprojectisbuilt,thisfrequencywouldincreasetoroughlythe2‐3yearevent,oraroughly40%chanceofhappeningonceinanygivenyear,whenthisProjectandwhenfutureprojectsupstreamarebuilt.Thisisbecauseconstrictionsupstream(suchthePope‐ChaucerBridge,Highway101andthechannelnearHighway101)donotallowenoughflowtoreachtheFaberTractareatosignificantlyincreasethefrequencyofovertopping,evenwithadegradedleveeonthenorthsideofthecreek.Additionally,the5to10‐yeartidewouldconnectthechanneltotheFaberTract.

BecauseaveryhighcreekflowwouldstillberequiredfortheleveeseparatingthecreekfromtheFaberTracttobeovertopped,fluvialinputsintotheFaberTractareunlikelytooccurduringtheCaliforniaclapperrailandCaliforniablackrailbreedingseason,whichextendsfromFebruarythroughAugust.WhenfutureprojectsupstreamofthisProjectarebuilt,atthedesigncriteriaconditionsofthe100‐yearriverineflowcoincidentwiththe100‐yeartideplus2.17feetofsealevelrise,themaximumincreaseinwatersurfaceelevationintheFaberTractisestimatedtobeanegligible0.2feet(approximately2inches)atthepointflowenterstheFaberTract.Thisincreasedissipatesquicklyaswatermovesawayfromtheentrypoint,resultinginnegligible,episodicimpactsonrailhabitatthatareconsistentwiththeexistingconditions.

BecausetheinundationoftheFaberTractwouldbenegligibleandcontinuetobeepisodic,withthepredominantinfluenceremainingtidal,itisnotanticipatedthattheoverallfloodregimeoftheProjectwouldresultineffectsonrailhabitat.WithconservationmeasureBIO4requiringpost‐ProjectmonitoringoftheFaberTract,potentialeffectsonCaliforniaclapperrailareconsideredsignificantlyreduced.

Theproposedactivitiesareexpectedtoaffect0.21‐acreofhigh‐qualityclapperrailhabitat,0.80‐acreofmoderate‐qualityhabitat,and2.30acresoflow‐qualityhabitat,totaling3.31acresofeffectonCaliforniaclapperrailhabitatwithintheexistingleveesofSanFrancisquitoCreek.However,theProjectwouldalsorestoreanet14acresofhighmarsh/transitionalhabitatforCaliforniaclapperrailwithinthewiderchannel.Therefore,abeneficialincreaseintheamountofsuitablehabitatforCaliforniaclapperrailwouldoccurasaresultoftheProject.

Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse

Disturbance

SuitablehabitatforsaltmarshharvestmouseoccurswithintheFaberTractportionoftheactionarea;CNDDBcontainsrecordsdocumentingoccurrencesofsaltmarshharvestmouseinthisarea.Further,suitablesaltmarshhabitatoccursalongthechannelofSanFrancisquitoCreek,andthisspecieshaspotentialtooccurhere.ConstructionactivitiesoccurringintheProjectelementsitescoulddisturbsaltmarshharvestmousehabitat.MarshplainrestorationontheleftbankcouldhaveaneffectonsaltmarshhabitatoccurringwithinoradjacenttotheProjectfootprint.Additionally,leveemodificationshavepotentialtoaffectthesaltmarshhabitatwithintheFaberTractthroughpotentialfloodingofSanFrancisquitoCreekintothishabitat.



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Becauseconstructionactivitieswouldoccurwithinsuitablesaltmarshhabitatandcouldaffectadjacentsaltmarshhabitat,significanteffectsonsaltmarshharvestmousecouldoccur.

However,thisspecieswillbeprotectedduringconstructionbyProjectenvironmentalcommitmentstoprotectbiologicalresources.Theseincludeminimizingnewtemporaryaccesspointsandpreventinganimalentryandentrapment.Further,implementationofConservationMeasureBIO1(Saltmarshharvestmouseandsaltmarshwanderingshrewawarenesswillbeincludedinthepreconstructionworkerawarenesstrainingrequiredforallconstructionpersonnel),BIO4,andBIO6wouldreducetheseeffectstoaless‐than‐significantlevel.


AllmaintenanceoffacilitiesimprovedbytheProjectlocatedinuplandareasneartheProjectelementsiteswouldtakeplaceundertheDistrict’sandEastPaloAlto’srespectivemaintenanceprograms.TheProjectwouldcreateminimalin‐channelmaintenanceneeds,primarilylimitedtomonitoringandremovalofinvasiveweeds,andthuswouldnotresultinneweffectsonsaltmarshharvestmouse.Further,ongoingmaintenancewillbeperformedthroughadherencetoProjectenvironmentalcommitments.EmergencymaintenancemayneedtobeperformedduringthelifeoftheProject,butisnotreasonablyforeseeableandwouldbesubjecttoseparateapproval.Therefore,therewouldbenoneweffectfromoperationsandmaintenanceactivities.

ThehydrologicreconnectionofSanFrancisquitoCreektotheFaberTractresultingfromfloodingfollowingadjacentleveeloweringactivitiescouldchangecurrentsaltmarshandsaltpannehabitatwithintheFaberTract.AspartoftheProject,fluvialflows,dependingontheconcurrenttide,areconservativelyestimatedtooverflowintotheFaberTractevery2to3yearsduringstormevents.Additionally,the5to10‐yeartidewouldconnectthechanneltotheFaberTract.Fluvialinputswouldoccurslowly,allowingasimilaramountoftimeasunderexistingconditionsforsaltmarshharvestmousetoreachuplandrefugia;thesefluvialinputsarenotanticipatedtoresultindirecteffectstothespecies.However,regularfluvialinputscouldpotentiallyresultinhabitatchangesdetrimentaltosaltmarshharvestmouse.BasedonmodelingoftheoverflowintotheFaberTract(HDR2010),atthedesigncriteriaconditionsofthe100‐yearriverineflowcoincidentwiththe100‐yeartideplus2.17feetofsealevelrise,themaximumincreaseinwatersurfaceelevationintheFaberTractisestimatedtobea0.2feet(approximately2inches),anamountwhichisconsiderednegligiblecomparedtotheestimated2.17feetofsealevelrise.Additionally,theFaberTractalreadyreceivesfluvialinputateventsapproachingthe5‐yearevent,sothiswouldnotbeaneweffect,butwouldrepresentanincreaseintheperiodicityofevents.BecausetheproposedincreaseinwatersurfaceelevationintheFaberTractwouldbenegligibleandcontinuetobeepisodic,withthepredominantinfluenceremainingtidal,itisnotanticipatedthattheoverallfloodregimeoftheProjectwouldresultineffectsonsaltmarshharvestmousehabitat.WithconservationmeasureBIO4requiringpost‐ProjectmonitoringoftheFaberTract,potentialeffectsonsaltmarshharvestmousewouldbereduced.

TheProjectactivitiesareexpectedtoaffect0.21‐acreofhigh‐qualityhabitat,0.79‐acreofmoderate‐qualityhabitat,and1.91acresoflow‐qualityhabitat,totaling2.90acresofeffectonsaltmarshharvestmouse.

TheProjectwouldalsorestore17.8acresofhigh‐qualityhabitatforsaltmarshharvestmouse.Therefore,anoverallincreaseintheamountofsuitablehabitatforsaltmarshharvestmousewouldresultfromimplementationoftheProject.



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California Seablite

Disturbance

Californiaseablitehasthepotentialtooccurintheactionarea.Ifpresent,individualsofthisspeciescouldbedamagedorremovedbyconstruction.Substantiallossofindividualsasaresultofconstructiondisturbance(earthwork,stagingactivities,foottraffic,vehicletraffic,etc.)ordestructionofsuitablehabitatadjacenttoanexistingpopulationcouldresultinasignificanteffectonthespecies.

However,thisspecieswillbeprotectedduringconstructionbyProjectenvironmentalcommitmentstoprotectbiologicalresources.Thesecommitmentsincludeminimizingnewtemporaryaccesspointsandremovingtemporaryfillusedforaccessafterconstructioniscomplete,plantinglocalecotypesofnativeplantsandusingappropriateerosion‐controlseedmixesasneeded,andencouragingpassiverevegetationasappropriate.Further,implementationofConservationMeasuresBIO7,BIO8,andBIO9willensurethateffectsareavoided,reducediftheycannotbeavoided,andcompensatedasappropriate.Withtheseconservationmeasuresinplace,effectswouldbelessened.


TheProjectwouldcreateminimalin‐channelmaintenanceneeds,primarilylimitedtomonitoringandremovalofinvasiveweeds,andwouldnotresultinneweffectsonspecial‐statusplantsinchannelorbankareas.EmergencymaintenancemayneedtobeperformedduringthelifeoftheProject,butisnotreasonablyforeseeableandwouldbesubjecttoseparateapproval.Therefore,therewouldbenoeffectonCaliforniaseablite.

Effects on Critical Habitat

Steelhead and Green Sturgeon

TheproposedProjectisexpectedtohaveshort‐andlong‐termeffectsonthedesignatedcriticalhabitatofcentralCaliforniacoaststeelheadandsouthernDPSNorthAmericangreensturgeon.PotentialProjecteffectsincludeshort‐tolong‐termwaterqualitydegradationfromlocalizedincreasesinturbidityandsuspendedsediment,andpotentialdischargesofcontaminantsinSanFrancisquitoCreekandSanFranciscoBayduringrestorationconstruction.PotentialwaterqualityeffectsfromincreasedsedimentandturbidityorcontaminantspillswillbeavoidedorminimizedthroughimplementationofapprovedBMPs,compliancewithwaterqualitystandards,andimplementationofanapprovedspillpreventionandresponseplan.Long‐termeffectsondesignatedcriticalhabitatincludetheremovalordisturbanceofvegetationandthemodificationofnearshorehabitat.Thesemodificationswillresultinlittlechangetorearingprimaryconstituentelementsbecauseofthelowqualityoftheexistingnearshoreandriparianhabitatintheactionarea.Nativeriparianandmarshplainvegetationwillbeplantedondisturbedorexposedsoilstocontrolerosionandoffsetlossesofexistingvegetation.Theactionareawillcontinuetofunctionasamigrationcorridorforadultsandjuvenilesalmonidsbyprovidingadequatepassageandasarearingareaforgreensturgeon.Aftermarshplainterracingandlevelbreachingoccurs,thereachwillprovideimprovedcriticalhabitatforsteelheadandgreensturgeon.



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California Red‐Legged Frog

BecausetheProjectisnotlocatedwithinorimmediatelyadjacenttoCaliforniared‐leggedfrogcriticalhabitat,Projectimplementationisnotexpectedtoaffectcriticalhabitatforthisspecies.

California Clapper Rail

BecausetheProjectisnotlocatedwithinorimmediatelyadjacenttoCaliforniaclapperrailcriticalhabitat,Projectimplementationisnotexpectedtoaffectcriticalhabitatforthisspecies.

Effects from Interrelated and Interdependent Actions

Interrelatedactionsarethosethatarepartofalargeractionanddependonthelargeractionfortheirjustification.Interdependentactionsareactionsthathavenoindependentutilityapartfromtheactionunderconsideration.TherearenointerrelatedorinterdependenteffectsoncentralCaliforniacoaststeelhead,greensturgeon,Californiared‐leggedfrog,SanFranciscogartersnake,westernsnowyplover,Californialeasttern,saltmarshharvestmouse,orCaliforniaseabliteresultingfromthisProject.

Cumulative Effects

ForpurposesoftheESA,cumulativeeffectsaredefinedastheeffectsoffuturestateorprivateactivities,notinvolvingfederalactivities,thatarereasonablycertaintooccurwithintheactionareaofthefederalactionsubjecttoconsultation(50CFR§402.02).FuturefederalactionsthatareunrelatedtotheproposedactionarenotconsideredinthissectionbecausetheyrequireseparateconsultationspursuanttoSection7oftheESA.

Non‐federalactionsthatmayaffecttheactionareaincludeincreasedurbanizationthatmayaffectriparian,wetland,saltmarsh,anduplandhabitatsinthewatershedandleadtoincreasederosion,sedimentation,anddischargeofpollutantsintowaterwayssupportinglistedaquaticspecies.Municipalstormwaterandirrigationdischargescontainnumerouspollutantsthatmayadverselyaffectthesurvivalandreproductivesuccessofsalmonidsandotherfishes.TheSouthBaySaltPondRestorationProjectisintheprocessofrestoringsaltpondsbackto15,100acresofnaturalbaylandhabitat,includingsaltmarsh,saltpanne,andsandspit.In2010,anannualreportindicatedthattheProjectisapproximately15percentcomplete(SouthBaySaltPondRestoration2010).Therestorationofthesehabitatsisexpectedtoultimatelybenefitspeciesthatdependonthesehabitattypes,includingwesternsnowyplover,Californiaclapperrail,Californialeasttern,saltmarshharvestmouse,andCaliforniaseablite.

Conservation Measures

ConservationMeasureBIO1—DevelopandImplementWorkerAwarenessTraining

Priortoconstruction,WorkerAwarenessTrainingmustbeconductedtoinformconstructionProjectworkersoftheirresponsibilitiesregardingsensitiveenvironmentalresources.Thetrainingwillincludeenvironmentaleducationaboutnestingraptorsandmigratorybirds,Californiaclapperrail,saltmarshharvestmouse,Californialeasttern,westernsnowyplover,



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Californiared‐leggedfrog,SanFranciscogartersnake,andsteelhead,aswellassensitivehabitat(e.g.,in‐streamhabitat,riparianhabitat,wetlands).Thetrainingwillincludevisualaidstoassistinidentificationofregulatedbiologicalresources,actionstotakeshouldprotectedwildlifebeobservedwithintheactionarea,andpossiblelegalrepercussionsofaffectingsuchregulatedresources.

ConservationMeasureBIO2—ImplementSurveyandAvoidanceMeasuresforCaliforniaRed‐LeggedFrogandSanFranciscoGarterSnakePriortoConstructionActivities

SFCJPAwillretainapermittedbiologisttoconductasurveyofthefreshwaterpondsandsurroundinguplandhabitatpriortoinitiationofconstructionactivities.Thesurveyswillbeconductedaccordingtoapplicableprotocolsandwillbeperformedduringoptimalobservationperiodsofthedaywhendetectionpotentialforthesespeciesismaximized.Thesurveywillbeconductedpriortoinitiationofconstruction,butsuchthatenoughtimeisallowedtocoordinatewithUSFWSandDFGtodevelopaspeciesavoidanceplanifneeded.IfCaliforniared‐leggedfrogorSanFranciscogartersnakeindividualsareobservedorheardduringthesurvey,proposedProjectactivitieswithin500feetoftheobservationwillbepostponed.AspeciesavoidanceplanwillbedevelopedincoordinationwithUSFWSandDFGandimplementedduringconstructionandmaintenance.Ifnoindividualsareobservedduringthesurveys,nofurtheractionwillbenecessary.

ConservationMeasureBIO3—ImplementSurveyandAvoidanceMeasuresforCaliforniaLeastTernandWesternSnowyPloverPriortoConstructionActivities

Constructionwork,includingsitepreparation,willbeavoidedtotheextentpossiblewithinandnear(500feet)suitablehabitatforthesespeciesduringtheirbreedingseasons(March1toAugust31).Westernsnowyplovermaybepresentwithinsuitablehabitatyear‐round.Priortotheinitiationofworkwithin500feetofsuitablehabitat(regardlessofthetimeofyear),apermittedbiologistwillberetainedtoconductsurveysofappropriatehabitatforCalifornialeastternandwesternsnowyploverandtheirnests.Thesurveyswillbeconductednomorethan48hourspriortocommencementofconstructionactivitiesandwillbeperformedduringoptimalobservationperiodswhenthesespeciesaremostactive.IfactivenestsforCalifornialeastternorwesternsnowyploverareobservedduringthesurvey,Projectactivitieswithin500feetoftheobservationwillbepostponeduntilyounghavefledged.Ifindividualsareobservedoutsideofthebreedingseasonwithin500feetoftheworkarea,abiologistwillestablishano‐disturbancebuffer.Noworkwilloccurwithinthebufferuntilthebiologistverifiesthatindividualshaveleftthearea.Ifindividualsareroutinelyobservedinorwithin500feetoftheworkareaordonotleavetheworkarea,speciesavoidanceplanwillbedevelopedincoordinationwithUSFWSandDFG.Ifnoindividualsareobservedinaccordancewiththesurveyprotocols,nobufferswillberequired.

ConservationMeasureBIO4—ProduceandImplementHabitatMonitoringPlanforHabitatwithintheFaberTractPriortoConstructionActivities

TheSFCJPAoritsapproveddesigneewillberesponsibleforthedevelopmentandimplementationofahabitatmonitoringplanforexisting(i.e.,pre‐Project)habitatwithintheFaberTractthatwilldocumentbaselineconditionspriortoProjectimplementation.TheplanwillincluderoutinemonitoringofthehabitatwithintheFaberTracttodocumentchanges



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resultingfromthehydrologicreconnectionofSanFrancisquitoCreekandpotentialsubsequentfloodingintotheFaberTract.ThehabitatmonitoringplanwillincludeadaptivemanagementmeasurestorectifypotentialconversionofhabitattypesandotherissuesthatmightariseintheFaberTractasaresultofProjectimplementation.Additionally,contingencymeasureswillbedevelopedandincludedintheplanintheeventofhabitatconversionorlossresultingfromtheProject.PlanapprovalbyUSFWSwillbenecessarybeforeimplementationofactivitiesrecommendedbytheplan.Routinemonitoringreportswillbesubmittedtotheappropriateagenciesfollowingtheircompletion.

ConservationMeasureBIO5—ImplementSurveyandAvoidanceMeasuresforCaliforniaClapperRailPriortoConstructionActivities

Workactivitieswithin50feetofCaliforniaclapperrailhabitatwillnotoccurwithin2hoursbeforeorafterextremehightides(6.5feetorabove)whenthemarshplainisinundated,whichcouldpreventindividualsfromreachingavailablecover.

Ifworkistobeconductedduringthespecies’breedingandrearingseasons(February1st–August31)within700feetofsuitablehabitat,apermittedbiologistwillberetainedtoconductprotocollevelsurveysattheProjectsiteincludingrailcallsurveysandrail‐tracksurveysinappropriatehabitatforCaliforniaclapperrail(CaliforniaCoastalConservancy2011).Thesurveyswillbeconductednomorethan48hourspriortocommencementofconstructionandmaintenanceactivitiesandwillbeperformedatdawnordusk,thevocalizationperiodsofhighestintensity.Projectactivitiesoccurringwithin700feetofactivenestswillbepostponeduntilafteryounghavefledged.

Outsideofbreedingseason,apermittedbiologistwillberetainedtoconductsurveysofappropriatehabitatforCaliforniaclapperrailwithintheworkarea,includingallstagingandaccessroutes,nomorethansevendayspriortoinitiationofworkwithinsuitablehabitat.Ifindividualsareobservedduringthissurvey,abiologistwillconductanadditionalsurveyimmediatelypriortoinitiationofconstructionactivities.Ifindividualsareobservedwithinorneartheworkarea,ano‐disturbancebuffer(minimum50feet)willbeimplemented.Ifthedailyworkareaisexpanded,thenaqualifiedbiologistwillsurveythesuitablehabitatpriortoinitiationofworkandmovementofequipmentthatday.NoworkwilloccurwithinthebufferuntilthebiologistverifiesthatCaliforniaclapperrailindividualshaveleftthearea.

Ifindividualsareroutinelyobservedintheworkarea,aspeciesavoidanceplanwillbedevelopedincoordinationwithUSFWSandDFG.Ifnoindividualsareobservedinaccordancewiththesurveyprotocols,nobufferswillberequired.Allvegetationremovalwithinsuitablehabitatofthesespecies,asdeterminedbyabiologist,willbedonebyhandtotheextentpossible.Ifmovementofheavyequipmentinnecessaryinsuitablehabitatorwithin50feetofhabitat,thenabiologicalmonitorwillobservetheareainfrontoftheequipmentfromasafevantagepoint.Ifthesespeciesaredetectedwithintheareainfrontoftheequipment,thentheequipmentwillstopandthebiologistwilldirecttheequipmentonanalternativepath.Ifthisisnotpossible,thenequipmentwillstopuntilaclearpathcanbeidentified.

Additionalconservationmeasuresduringtheconstructionperiodwillinclude:

Anannualsearchforandsubsequentdestructionofanycatfeedingstationsalongpublicwalkwaysshallbeconducted



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Beforetheonsetofwinterhightides,anannualcaptureandremovaleffortofferalcatsandratsinthesurroundingdisturbedareasshallbeconducted.

ConservationMeasureBIO6—ImplementSurveyandAvoidanceMeasuresforSaltMarshHarvestMousePriortoConstruction

Constructionandmaintenancework,includingsitepreparation,willbeavoidedtotheextentpossiblewithinsuitablehabitatforthisspeciesduringtheirbreedingseasons(February1toNovember30).Asworkduringthespeciesbreedingseasonswillbenecessary,aspeciesavoidanceplanwillbedevelopedinconsultationwithUSFWSandDFGandimplemented.Theavoidanceplan,ataminimum,willincludethefollowing.

Handvegetationremovalshallstartattheedgefarthestformthelargestcontiguoussaltmarshareaandworkitswaytowardsthesaltmarsh,providingcoverforsaltmarshharvestmiceandallowingthemtomovetowardsthesaltmarshasvegetationisbeingremoved.

InconsultationwithDFGandUSFWS,exclusionfencingshallbeplacedaroundadefinedworkareaimmediatelyfollowingvegetationremovalandbeforeProjectactivitiesbegin.ThefinaldesignandproposedlocationofthefencingshallbereviewedandapprovedbyDFGandUSFWSpriortoplacement.

Priortoinitiationofworkeachdaywithin300feetoftidalorpickelweedhabitats,aqualifiedbiologistshallthoroughlyinspecttheworkareaandadjacenthabitatareastodetermineifsaltmarshharvestmicearepresent.Thebiologistshallensuretheexclusionfencinghasnoholesorripsandthebaseremainsburied.Thefencedareawillbeinspecteddailytoensurethatnomicearetrapped.

Priortoinitiationofworkwithinsuitablehabitat,apermittedbiologistwillberetainedtomonitorthehandremovalofpickleweedtoavoideffectsonsaltmarshharvestmouse.Monitoringwilloccurforthedurationofallclearingworkwithinsuitablehabitat.Ifsaltmarshharvestmouseareobservedduringclearingactivities,clearingwillceaseandworkerswillmovetoanewarea.Clearingworkmaybeginintheareaoftheobservationonedayormoreaftertheobservationdate.

Duringthesurvey,ifsaltmarshharvestmouseindividualsareobserved,orifactivenestsofthesespeciesareobserved,proposedProjectactivitieswithin100feetoftheobservationwillbepostponedandano‐disturbancebufferwillbeestablished.Thebufferwillremaininplaceuntilthebiologistdeterminesthattheindividualshavelefttheareaandarenotpresentinornear(100feet)oftheworkarea.Ifnoindividualsareobservedinaccordancewiththesurveyprotocols,nobufferswillberequired.

Workactivitieswithin50feetofsaltmarshharvestmousehabitatwillnotoccurwithintwohoursbeforeorafterextremehightides(6.5feetorabove)whenthemarshplainisinundated,whichcouldpreventindividualsfromreachingavailablecover.

ConservationMeasureBIO7—ConductBotanicalSurveys

SFCJPAwillretainaqualifiedbotanisttosurveysuitablehabitatintheactionareaforCaliforniaseablite.SurveyswillbepreferentiallyconductedfromJulytoAugusttheyearbefore



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constructionwillbegin,asthebloomingperiodforthespeciesisJulytoOctober.Exacttimingofsurveysshouldaccountforannualvariationsinclimateandweather;surveysshouldbetimedtocoincidewithbloomingperiodsofknownlocalpopulationswheneverpossible

SurveyswillfollowtheCNPSBotanicalSurveyGuidelines(CaliforniaNativePlantSociety2001).Special‐statusplantsidentifiedduringthesurveyswillbemappedusingahandheldglobalpositioningsystemunitanddocumentedaspartofthepublicrecord.AreportofoccurrenceswillbesubmittedtoSFCJPAandtheCNDDB.Surveyswillbecompletedbeforeground‐disturbingactivitiesbegin;surveytimingwillallowforfollow‐upmitigation,ifneeded.Ifitisdeterminedthatidentifiedindividualscouldbeaffectedbyconstructiontrafficoractivities,ConservationMeasureBIO7and,ifnecessary,ConservationMeasureBIO8,willbeimplemented.

ConservationMeasureBIO8—ConfineConstructionDisturbanceandProtectCaliforniaSeabliteIndividualsduringConstruction

Constructiondisturbancewillbeconfinedtotheminimumareanecessarytocompletethework,andwillavoidencroachmentonadjacenthabitat.IfCaliforniaseabliteindividualsarefound,asetbackbufferwillbeestablishedaroundindividualsortheareaoccupiedbythepopulation,basedonjudgmentofaqualifiedbotanist.Theplantsandaspecies‐appropriatebufferareadeterminedinconsultationwithUSFWSstaffwillbeprotectedfromencroachmentanddamageduringconstructionbyinstallingtemporaryconstructionfencing.Fencingwillbebrightlycoloredandhighlyvisible.Fencingwillbeinstalledunderthesupervisionofaqualifiedbotanisttoensureproperlocationandpreventdamagetoplantsduringinstallation.Fencingwillbeinstalledbeforesitepreparationorconstructionworkbeginsandwillremaininplaceforthedurationofconstruction.Constructionpersonnelwillbeprohibitedfromenteringtheseareas(theexclusionzone)forthedurationofProjectconstruction.Fencinginstallationwillbecoordinatedwithfenceinstallationrequiredbyotherconservationmeasuresprotectingwetlands,riparianhabitat,andmaturetrees.

ConservationMeasureBIO9—CompensateforLossofCaliforniaSeablite

IfCaliforniaseabliteindividualsarepresentandcannotbeeffectivelyavoidedthroughimplementationofConservationMeasureBIO7,SFCJPAwilldevelopandimplementacompensationplan.Thecompensationplanwillpreserveanoffsiteareacontainingindividualsofthespecies.TheplanwillbeimplementedsothatthereisnonetlossofCaliforniaseablite.Ifanoffsitepopulationisnotlocatedorisnotavailableforpreservation,SFCJPAwillemployaqualifiednurserytocollectandpropagatetheaffectedspecies,collectedattheappropriatetimeofyear,priortopopulationdisturbanceattheaffectedareasoftheProject.Transplantationwillalsobeimplementedifpracticableforthespeciesaffected,includingmaturenativeplantstotheextentfeasible.

ThecompensationplanwillbedevelopedbyaqualifiedbotanistincoordinationwithandapprovalofUSFWS.Thecompensationareawillcontainapopulationand/oracreageequaltoorgreaterthanthatlostasaresultofProjectimplementationandwillincludeadjacentareasasneededtopreservethespecial‐statusplantpopulationinperpetuity.CompensationoftheaffectedpopulationwilloccurinanamountequaltoorgreaterthantheamountlostasaresultoftheProjecttoensurethatgeneticdiversityispreservedandnonetlossofthenumberofindividualsoccurs.Thequalityofthepopulationpreservedwillalsobeequaltoorgreaterthan



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thatoftheaffectedpopulation,asdeterminedbyaqualifiedbotanistretainedbytheSFCJPA.CompensationsitesandpopulationswillbesubjecttoUSFWSapproval.TheSFCJPAwillberesponsibleforensuringthatthecompensationareaisacquiredinfeeorinconservationeasement,maintainedforthebenefitofthespecial‐statusplantpopulationinperpetuity,andfundedthroughtheestablishmentofanendowment.

Amonitoringandadaptivemanagementplanwillbedevelopedforeachcompensationsite,subjecttoDFGandUSFWSapproval.Thisplanwillestablishsuccesscriteriaforthesiteandwillincludeprotocolsforannualmonitoringofthesite.ThegoalofmonitoringwillbetoassesswhethertheplanhassuccessfullymitigatedProjecteffects;monitoringwillbedesignedtoensurethattherequirednumberofplantsand/orplantacreageisbeingsustainedthroughsitemaintenance.Factorstobemonitoredcouldincludedensity,populationsize,naturalrecruitment,andplanthealthandvigor.Ifmonitoringindicatesthatspecial‐statusplantpopulationsarenotmaintainingthemselves,adaptivemanagementtechniqueswillbeimplemented.Suchtechniquescouldincludereseeding/replanting,nonnativespeciesremoval,andothermanagementtools.ThesitewillbeevaluatedattheendofthemonitoringperiodtodeterminewhetherthemitigationhasmetthegoalofthisconservationmeasuretopreserveapopulationthesamesizeasthataffectedandofequalorgreaterqualityasthatlostasaresultofProjectactivitiesatthesite.Criteriabywhichthisdeterminationwillbemadewillbeestablishedinthemonitoringplan.Themonitoringplanwillalsoaddressadaptivemanagementstrategiestobeadoptediftheevaluationdeterminesthatthesitedoesnotmeetthesuccesscriteria.Inthatcase,amonitoringplanwillstayinplaceuntilthesuccesscriteriaaremet.

Conclusions ThisBAwaspreparedforSFJPAtoassesstheeffectsoftheproposedProjectonthethreatenedcentralCaliforniacoaststeelheadDPS,threatenedgreensturgeon,Californiared‐leggedfrog,SanFranciscogartersnake,westernsnowyplover,Californiaclapperrail,Californialeasttern,saltmarshharvestmouse,andCaliforniaseabliteinaccordancewithSection7oftheESAof1973asamended.ABAmayconcludethataproposedaction/projectwouldhaveoneofthefollowingresults,withtheassociatedrequirements.

Noeffect—Theeffectsoftheactionwouldnotaffectanylistedspeciesoritscriticalhabitat.

Mayaffect,notlikelytoadverselyaffect—Theeffectsoftheactiononaspeciesoritscriticalhabitatarelikelytobeinsignificant,discountable,orwhollybeneficial;informalconsultationisrequired.

Mayaffect,likelytoadverselyaffect—Theactionislikelytodirectlyorindirectlyhaveanadverseeffectonalistedspeciesoritscriticalhabitat;formalconsultationisrequired.

ImplementationoftheproposedProjectcouldresultinshort‐tolong‐termeffectsonthefollowingspecies.

CentralCaliforniacoastalsteelhead.

Greensturgeon.

Californiared‐leggedfrog.



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SanFranciscogartersnake.

Westernsnowyplover,

Californiaclapperrail.

Californialeasttern.

Saltmarshharvestmouse.

Californiaseablite.

Theseeffectsincludepotentialharmorharassmentofindividualfish,wildlife,andplantsfromconstructionequipment,earthmovingactivities,surfaceandunderwaternoise,localizedincreasesinturbidityandsuspendedsediment,andpotentialdischargesoftoxicsubstancesduringin‐waterconstructionactivities.Allin‐waterconstructionactivitieswillberestrictedtoasingleconstructionseason(June1andNovember30)toavoidtheprimaryadultandjuvenilesalmonidsmigrationseasons.

TheProjectisnotexpectedtoresultinanylong‐termadverseeffectsontheSouthBay,fishhabitat,avianhabitat,saltmarshharvestmousehabitat,orCaliforniaseablitehabitat.Inaddition,variousenvironmentalcommitmentsandconservationmeasureshavebeenidentifiedtominimize,avoid,orcompensateforpotentialeffectsonaquaticspecies,avianspecies,saltmarshharvestmouse,Californiaseablite,andassociatedhabitat.Althoughitispossiblethatadultsalmonidsandgreensturgeoncouldbepresent,theprobabilitythatanyindividualswouldremainintheactionareaduringconstructionislow.Californiared‐leggedfrogandSanFranciscogartersnakehavethepotentialtooccurwithinthepondsinandadjacenttotheactionarea;however,withtheimplementationofConservationMeasures1and2,thepossibilityofdirectmortalityorharassmentishighlyunlikely.Californialeasttern,westernsnowyplover,andCaliforniaclapperrailhavethepotentialtooccurwithintheactionareaduringforagingandnestingactivities;however,withtheimplementationofConservationMeasures1,3,and5thepossibilityofdirectmortalityorharassmentishighlyunlikely.Saltmarshharvestmousehasthepotentialtooccurwithintheactionareaduringforagingandnestingactivities;however,withtheimplementationofConservationMeasures1and6thepossibilityofdirectmortalityorharassmentishighlyunlikely.Californiaseabliteishighlyunlikelytooccurwithintheactionarea;however,withtheimplementationofConservationMeasures1,7,8,and9wouldensurethepossibilityofdirectmortalityorharassmentdoesnotoccur.Additionally,ConservationMeasure4requiresthatamonitoringplanforthehabitatwithintheFaberTractadjacenttotheSanFrancisquitoCreekchannelbedevelopedandimplementedtoaddressunintentionalhabitatalteration.Therefore,theactionmayaffect,butisnotlikelytoadverselyaffect,centralCaliforniacoastalsteelhead,Chinooksalmon,greensturgeon,Californiared‐leggedfrog,SanFranciscogartersnake,westernsnowyplover,Californiaclapperrail,Californialeasttern,saltmarshharvestmouse,and/orCaliforniaseablite.

Essential Fish Habitat TheProjectactionareaiswithintheregiondesignatedasEFHforvariouslifestagesoffishspeciesmanagedunderthefollowingFisheryManagementPlans(FMP).

PacificGroundfishFMP.Variousspeciesofrockfishes,flatfishes,sharks,etc.



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CoastalPelagicsFMP.Northernanchovy,Pacificsardine,jackmackerel.

PacificCoastSalmonFMP.Chinooksalmon.

TheMagnuson‐StevensActrequiresthatEFHbeidentifiedanddescribedinfederalfisherymanagementplans.ThePacificCoastSalmonFisheryManagementPlanincludesdesignationofEFHandrequiresfederalactionagenciestoconsultwithNMFSonanyactivitythattheyfund,permit,orcarryoutthatmayadverselyaffectEFH.NMFSisrequiredtoprovideEFHconservationandenhancementrecommendationstothefederalactionagencies.EFHisdefinedastheaquatichabitatnecessaryforspawning,breeding,feeding,orgrowth.

ImportantelementsofEFHaresubstrate;waterquality;waterquantity,depth,andvelocity;channelgradientandstability;food;coverandhabitatcomplexity;space;accessandpassage;andhabitatconnectivity.

Pacific Groundfish FishinthePacificGroundfishFMPincludeflatfishes,rockfish,andsharks.Fishinthisgrouparetypicallybottomdwellers(flatfishandsharks)andusesubstrateforforagingandshallowareasasnurseryhabitat.Intheactionarea,theywouldoccurinSanFrancisquitoCreekintidallyinfluencedwaterandSanFranciscoBayattheoutletwithSanFrancisquitoCreek.

Project Effects

Theproposedactioncouldhaveshort‐andlong‐termeffectsonEFHforgroundfish.

WaterQuality.Potentialactioneffectsincludeshort‐tolong‐termwaterqualitydegradationfromlocalizedincreasesinturbidityandsuspendedsedimentandpotentialdischargesofcontaminantsintheactionareaduringconstructionactivities.PotentialwaterqualityeffectsfromincreasedsedimentandturbidityorcontaminantspillswillbeavoidedorminimizedthroughimplementationofapprovedBMPs,compliancewithwaterqualitystandards,andimplementationofanapprovedspillpreventionandresponseplan.

WaterQuantity.NochangeinwaterquantityisexpectedduetotheProjectactions.

DepthandVelocity.Excavationofthechannelandconstructionofmarshplainhabitatwouldaffectthedepthofthechannel.However,anychangesindepthswouldnotbesignificantandwouldnotkeepPacificgroundfishfromusingtheactionarea.NochangesinvelocityareexpectedfromexcavationorotherProjectactivities.

ChannelGradientandStability.Channelgradientandstabilityisexpectedtoremainthesame;therefore,noeffectsonchannelgradientorstabilitywouldoccur.

Food.Channelexcavationwoulddecreasepreyitemstemporarilyduringmarshplainrestoration.Consequently,effectsonpreyitemsassociatedwithconstructionandmaintenanceactivitieswouldbeminimalandtemporary.



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CoverandHabitatComplexity.Long‐termcoverandhabitatcomplexityeffectsonEFHincludetheadditionofmarshplainhabitat.Thiscouldhaveabeneficialeffectongroundfishinthatmorehabitatwouldbeavailableandanincreaseininvertebratesmayoccurduetoincreasedproductivity.

Space.Long‐termeffectsonEFHincludeanincreaseinhabitatfrommarshplainrestoration.Inthelong‐term,theactionwouldresultinanincreaseofavailablespaceforgroundfishspeciesintheactionarea,thusincreasingtheconservationvalueofEFH.

AccessandPassage.Theproposedactionmayreduceaccessorpassagethroughtheactionareaduringconstruction.Fishspeciesmayavoidtheactionareaduringconstructionduetonoiseorifcofferdamsareinstalled.Theactionareawouldbeaccessibletoallfishspeciesafterconstruction.Nochangeinmigratoryhabitatwouldoccur.

Connectivity.TheproposedactionwillnotaffecttheconnectivitytoSanFrancisquitoCreekortheBay.

Coastal Pelagics FishspeciesinthecoastalpelagicFMPincludenorthernanchovyandPacificsardine.Theactionareawouldbeutilizedbythesespeciesasanurseryarea.

Project Effects

WaterQuality.Potentialactioneffectsincludeshort‐tolong‐termwaterqualitydegradationfromlocalizedincreasesinturbidityandsuspendedsedimentandpotentialdischargesofcontaminantsintheactionareaduringconstructionandoperationactivities.PotentialwaterqualityeffectsfromincreasedsedimentandturbidityorcontaminantspillswillbeavoidedorminimizedthroughimplementationofapprovedBMPs,compliancewithwaterqualitystandards,andimplementationofanapprovedspillpreventionandresponseplan.


DepthandVelocity.Excavationofthechannelandconstructionofmarshplainhabitatwouldaffectthedepthofthechannel.However,anychangesindepthswouldnotbesignificantandwouldnotkeepcoastalpelagicspeciesfromusingtheactionarea.NochangesinvelocityareexpectedfromexcavationorotherProjectactivities.



CoverandHabitatComplexity.Long‐termcoverandhabitatcomplexityeffectsonEFHincludetheadditionofmarshplainhabitat.Thiscouldhaveabeneficialeffectoncoastalpelagicspeciesinthatmorehabitatwouldbeavailableandanincreaseininvertebratesmayoccurduetoincreasedproductivity.



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Space.Long‐termeffectsonEFHincludeanincreaseinhabitatfrommarshplainrestoration.Inthelongterm,theactionwouldnotincreasespaceforcoastalpelagicspeciesbecausetheyusemoreopenwaterhabitat.



Pacific Coast Salmon Fall‐runChinooksalmonarepresentintheactionarea.

Project Effects

WaterQuality.Potentialactioneffectsincludeshort‐tolong‐termwaterqualitydegradationfromlocalizedincreasesinturbidityandsuspendedsedimentandpotentialdischargesofcontaminantsintheactionareaduringconstructionandoperationactivities.PotentialwaterqualityeffectsfromincreasedsedimentandturbidityorcontaminantspillswillbeavoidedorminimizedthroughimplementationofapprovedBMPs,compliancewithwaterqualitystandards,andimplementationofanapprovedspillpreventionandresponseplan.


DepthandVelocity.Excavationofthechannelandconstructionofmarshplainhabitatwouldaffectthedepthofthechannel.However,anychangesindepthswouldnotbesignificantandwouldnotkeepPacificsalmonidsfromusingtheactionarea.NochangesinvelocityareexpectedfromexcavationorotherProjectactivities.



CoverandHabitatComplexity.Long‐termcoverandhabitatcomplexityeffectsonEFHincludetheadditionofmarshplainhabitat.ThiscouldhaveabeneficialeffectonPacificsalmoninthatmorerearinghabitatwouldbeavailableandanincreaseininvertebratesmayoccurduetoincreasedproductivity.

Space.Long‐termeffectsonEFHincludeanincreaseinhabitatfrommarshplainrestoration.Inthelong‐term,theactionwouldresultinanincreaseofavailablespaceforPacificsalmonintheactionarea,thusincreasingtheconservationvalueofEFH.



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Personal Communications

LauraPatterson,WildlifeBiologist,CaliforniaDepartmentofWaterResources.WrittencommentontheBay‐DeltaConservationPlandraft.