6.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES

6.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES

6.4.1 OVERVIEW AND SUMMARY

The primary plant community occupying the project site is orchard. Eucalyptus tree windrows, ornamental landscaping, and disturbed/ruderal areas comprise the remaining areas. No federally or state-listed, or other specialstatus plant or wildlife species were observed on the project site during several site the surveys. Based on the suitability of the habitat on the site, the site's proximity to suitable habitat, and historic occurrences in the region, six special-status wildlife species have the potential to occur on the site. However, due to the disturbed nature of the site, the majority of these species would be expected to occur only as transients.

It is possible that native bird species may utilize the trees, landscaping, or other areas on the site to nest during the breeding season, which generally occurs March through August. If construction were to take place during breeding season, impacts to these nesting birds, their eggs, or young could be considered significant. Nighttime light can disturb breeding and foraging behavior of nocturnal birds, mammals, and invertebrates, which may be considered a significant impact.

A total of four coast live oak trees, considered a sensitive resource by the City of Camarillo, occur within the project site. If these trees were removed during the course of construction on the project site, it may be considered a significant impact.

6.4.2 LITERATURE AND DATA REVIEW

Project-Related Studies

The following project-related studies were utilized in the preparation of this section:

? Glenn Lukos Associates, Jurisdictional Impact Analysis of the Camarillo Hills Project located in the City of Camarillo, Ventura County, California. February 23, 2017.

? Glenn Lukos Associates, Jurisdictional Delineation of the Camarillo Hills Project located in the City of Camarillo, Ventura County, California. September 27, 2016.

? Impact Sciences, Inc. 2016 Focused Special Status Plant Survey Report St. John's Seminary Specific Plan City of Camarillo, California. July 2016.

? E. Read and Associates. Addendum to Jurisdictional Delineation for the Camarillo Seminary Property. January 27, 2016.

? Impact Sciences, Inc. Summary of Evaluation of Habitat Associated with Notified Protocol California Gnatcatcher Surveys; St. John's Seminary, California. August 7, 2015.

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? E. Read and Associates. Assessment of Federal and State Jurisdictional Waters and Wetlands. Camarillo Seminary Property, Camarillo, Ventura County, California. December 30, 2015.

? L. Newman Design Group, Shea Homes St. John's Parcel Tree Inventory, September 2007.

Other Data Sources

The following data sources were consulted:

? California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB).1

? California Native Plant Society (CNPS), Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California.2

6.4.3 METHODOLOGY

Impact Sciences' biologists conducted reconnaissance-level surveys of the 88.45-acre project site in 2008, 2013, 2014, and 2016. The intent of these surveys was to document general site characteristics, such as quality and extent of natural and manufactured habitats, and to assess the need for further study of biological resources, including focused species surveys and jurisdictional waters determinations. The entire site was driven via paved and unpaved roads, while areas dominated by native plants or otherwise potentially suitable to special-status species were walked via meandering transects as allowed by vegetation density and terrain.

Focused surveys were conducted for California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica) in August 20153 and special status plants in 2016.4 Jurisdictional delineations and impact assessments were completed in 2015, 2016, and 2017.5 The determination of the potential for special-status species to occur on the project site is

1 California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2016. Natural Diversity Database.

2 California Native Plant Society. 2016. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants Sacramento, CA. inventory.

3 Impact Sciences, Inc. August 17, 2015. Letter to Chris Dellith at USFWS: Summary of Evaluation of Habitat Associated with Notified Protocol California Gnatcatcher Surveys, St. John's Seminary, Camarillo, CA. Prepared by Dave Crawford.

4 Impact Sciences, Inc. 2016 Focused Special Status Plant Survey Report St. John's Seminary Specific Plan City of Camarillo, California. July 2016.

5 Read, Edith, Ph.D., December 30, 2015. Assessment of Federal and State Jurisdictional Waters and Wetlands, Camarillo Seminary Property, Camarillo, Ventura County, California. Prepared for Impact Sciences, Inc. Addendum to Jurisdictional for the Camarillo Seminary Property; January 27, 2016. Addendum to Jurisdictional Delineation for the Camarillo Seminary Property; Glenn Lukos Associates, Jurisdictional Impact Analysis of the Camarillo Hills Project located in the City of Camarillo, Ventura County, California. February 23, 2017; Glenn Lukos Associates, Jurisdictional Delineation of the Camarillo Hills Project located in the City of Camarillo, Ventura County, California. September 27, 2016.

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based on the proximity of the project site to previously recorded occurrences in the CNDDB and CNPS databases, on-site vegetation and habitat quality, topography, elevation, soils, surrounding land uses, habitat preferences, and geographic ranges of special-status plant and wildlife species recorded to occur in the region.

A detailed discussion of the potential for the presence of special-status species is provided in the SpecialStatus Resources subsection, below.

6.4.4 APPLICABLE REGULATIONS

Federal Regulations

Federal Endangered Species Act

The Federal Endangered Species Act (FESA), Section 9(a)(1)(B),6 prohibits the "take" of federally listed Threatened and Endangered Species. FESA (Section 3(19)) defines "take" as any action that would harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect any Threatened or Endangered species. If a proposed project may result in take of a listed species, and there is no nexus with any other federal agency, an Incidental Take Permit under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of FESA is required. If there is a nexus with a federal agency action, incidental take may be authorized pursuant to Section 7 consultation conducted under FESA.

Federal Clean Water Act

Wetlands and permanent and intermittent drainages, creeks, and streams are generally subject to the jurisdiction of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) under Section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act.7 By USACE definition, all aquatic or riverine habitats between the "ordinary high water mark" of rivers, creeks, and streams are potentially considered "waters of the United States (US)" and may fall under USACE jurisdiction. Any deposit of fill into waters of the US, including wetlands, requires the acquisition of a permit from the USACE pursuant to Section 404 of the Federal Clean Water Act.

6 US Code, Title 16, Endangered Species Act, (1973 as amended), Section 9.

7 US Code, Title, 33, Section 404, Clean Water Act, Navigation and Navigable Waters, Chapter 26 Water Pollution Prevention and Controls, Subchapter IV Permits and Licenses, Section 1344 Permits for dredged or fill material (1977, as amended 1994).

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Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act of 1918

The Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act (MBTRA) protects all migratory birds native to the United States and their nests. The act makes it unlawful to take any migratory bird and their active nests.

State Regulations

California Endangered Species Act

Section 2080 of the California Endangered Species Act (CESA)8 prohibits the take of state-listed Threatened and Endangered species. CESA is found within Division 3, Chapter 1.5, Article 3 of California Fish and Game Code. California Fish and Game Code defines "take" in Section 86 (found within Division 0.5, Chapter 1, General Definitions) as any action that would hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill any Threatened or Endangered species. If a proposed project may result in take of a listed species, a permit pursuant to Section 2081 of CESA is required from the CDFW.

California Fish and Game Code

Streambeds are potentially subject to regulation by the CDFW under Sections 1600 through 1603 of the California Fish and Game Code.9 Streambeds are defined in the California Code of Regulations10 as a body of water that flows at least periodically or intermittently through a bed or channel having banks and that supports fish or other aquatic life. This definition includes watercourses having surface or subsurface flow that supports or has supported riparian vegetation. CDFW generally asserts jurisdiction to the edge of the riparian vegetation canopy associated with any stream. Any work within a bed, bank or channel or the removal of associated riparian vegetation requires the acquisition of a Streambed Alteration Agreement from the CDFW.

The proposed project would also be subject to the requirements of Sections 3503 and 3513 of the California Fish and Game Code.11 These regulations protect all native birds and their nests by making it unlawful to take any migratory bird and their active nests.

8 California Fish and Game Code, Endangered Species Act, Section 2080 (1984). 9 California Fish and Game Code, Endangered Species Act, Section 1600-1603. 10 California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 1, Section 1.72. 11 California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 1, Sections 3503 and 3513.

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California Regional Water Quality Control Board

Wetlands and permanent and intermittent drainages, creeks, and streams that fall under the jurisdiction of the USACE are also regulated by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), as defined by Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, which authorizes the State of California to certify that federal permits and licenses do not violate the state's water quality standards. The state's implementing regulations to conduct certifications are codified under the California Code of Regulations, Title 23 Waters, Sections 3830 through 3869. In addition, waters into which discharge may occur are regulated by the RWQCB, pursuant to the California Porter-Cologne Water Quality Act. This includes surface waters (such as wetlands), groundwater, and point and non-point sources of pollution.

Local Regulations

City of Camarillo

General Plan Open Space and Conservation Element

Section 9 of the City of Camarillo General Plan Open Space and Conservation Element12 requires an appraisal of the community's natural resources and the development of policy for their preservation or wise utilization. These policies are outlined in Subsection 6.4.9, Consistency with General Plans, with an analysis of the proposed project's consistency with them.

6.4.5 EXISTING CONDITIONS

Regional Setting

The City of Camarillo is located in the eastern portion of the Oxnard Plain with the Santa Susana Mountains to the north, the Camarillo Hills to the northwest, the Conejo Valley to the east, and the western reaches of the Santa Monica Mountains to the south.

Local Setting

The 88.45-acre project site is located in the northern portion of the City of Camarillo at the northeast corner of Lewis/Somis Road and Upland/Las Posas Road. The site is currently part of the 134-acre property historically known as St. John's Seminary and is actually comprised of two distinct areas, the still-operating St. John's Graduate Seminary, also known as St. John's Major Seminary, and the now

12 City of Camarillo, General Plan, Open Space and Conservation Element. Adopted August 8, 1984 (amended 2006). Accessed online:

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