Final Mitigated Negative Declaration and Response to Comments

Water Plant Community are
not expected to be impacted
by project activities.
1 Regulatory Status Codes:
CE = California endangered
FSS = United States Forest Service Sensitive
FC = Federal Candidate for listing
TRPA = Tahoe Regional Planning Agency threshold species or plant community of concern
CNPS = California Native Plant Society Lists: List 1A = presumed extinct in California; List 1B = rare or
endangered in California and elsewhere; List 2 = rare or endangered in California, more common elsewhere; List
3 = need more information; List 4 = plants of limited distribution. New threat code extensions are: .1 = seriously
endangered in California; .2 = fairly endangered in California; and .3 not very endangered in California.
Plant Species with a Potential to Occur near the Project Area
Five plants evaluated as potentially present near the project area occur near lake margins, or
other wet systems (Table 4.1). Project activities will be conducted from a boat or barge and
work will occur underwater. None of these plants have the potential to occur in the project
area. No operations from shore will be authorized in areas with potential habitat for any of
these five plant species. Plant species also represented in the Deep Water Plant Community,
of local concern, may have the potential to occur near the project area.
Wildlife Species
It is estimated that the Lake Tahoe Basin has 312 resident and migrant vertebrate species
(Murphy and Knopp 2000). The following information is based on observations made by park
staff and information obtained from the California Natural Diversity Database, the USFS
LTBMU and other database queries.
Mammals and birds use forested areas within the Lake Tahoe Basin for concealment, cover,
nesting, denning, and foraging. Large mammals using this habitat include black bear (Ursus
americanus), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and mountain lion (Felis concolor). These
large mammals have extensive home ranges and the same individual could conceivably
frequent more than one park unit. Medium and small mammals observed in the park unit
include coyote (Canis latrans), bobcat (Lynx rufus), raccoon (Procyon lotor), porcupine
(Erethizon dorsatum), long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata), pine marten (Martes americana),
golden-mantled ground squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis), lodgepole chipmunk (Tamias
speciosus), Trowbridge’s shrew (Sorex trowbridgii), and deer mouse (Peromyscus
maniculatus). Common bird species include dark-eyed junco (Junco hymenalis), western
tanager (Piranga ludoviciana), mountain chickadee (Poecile gambeli), and red-breasted
nuthatch (Sitta canadensis).
Reptiles, amphibians, and fish comprise a relatively small percentage of the wildlife found in
the Lake Tahoe Basin. In coniferous forest areas, lizard and snake species that may be found
include western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) and western terrestrial garter snake
(Thamnophis elegans). Most amphibians are dependent on streams, ponds, and other water
bodies for reproduction and other aspects of their life. Amphibian species include Pacific tree
frog (Hyla regilla). Fish species that occur include rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), brook
trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), Piute sculpin (Cottus beldingi), Lahonton redside shiner
Asian Clam Control Project IS/MND
Emerald Bay State Park
California Department of Parks and Recreation
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