Final Mitigated Negative Declaration and Response to Comments
Final Mitigated Negative Declaration and Response to Comments Final Mitigated Negative Declaration and Response to Comments
Sierra Nevada red fox (Vulpes vulpes necator) Sierra Nevada snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus tahoensis) Sierra Nevada yellowlegged frog (Rana sierrae) Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) Western white-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii townsendii) Willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) Yellow warbler (Dendroica petechia) Yellow-headed blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) Yosemite toad (Bufo canorus) ST SSC FC ST SSC FSS SSC SE FSS SSC SSC FC Subalpine forests, mixed conifer, lodgepole pine, and meadows. Montane riparian with alder and willow thickets and young conifer thickets with chaparral Streams, lakes, and ponds in montane riparian, lodgepole pine, and wet meadow Roosts include caves, mines, and buildings while forages in mesic habitats Sagebrush, perennial grassland, wet meadow, early successional stage conifer Wet meadow and montane riparian with willow thickets Riparian woodland, montane chaparral, and open conifer forest with substantial shrub Emergent wetland with dense vegetation and deep water Montane wet meadows and seasonal ponds in lodgepole pine forests. Not likely to occur. Suitable habitat is not present in the project area. Not likely to occur. Suitable habitat is not present in the project area. Not likely to occur. Suitable habitat is not present in the project area. Not likely to occur. Suitable habitat is not present in the project area. Not likely to occur. Suitable habitat is not present in the project area. Not likely to occur. Suitable habitat is not present in the project area. Not likely to occur. Suitable habitat is not present in the project area. Not likely to occur. Suitable habitat is not present in the project area. Not likely to occur. Suitable habitat is not present in the project area. 1 Regulatory Status Codes SSC: California Department of Fish and Game Species of Special Concern SE: California Department of Fish and Game Endangered ST: California Department of Fish and Game Threatened WL: California Department of Fish and Game Watch List FP: California Department of Fish and Game Fully Protected D – FE: Delisted United States Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered TRPA: Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Threshold Species FSS: United States Forest Service Sensitive FC: Candidate species for listing by United States Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife Species Known or Likely to Occur in Emerald Bay State Park with Potential for Presence at or near the Project Site Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) (nesting and wintering). This California Endangered species was recently delisted under the Federal Endangered Species Act. The bald eagle is also protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA) and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Bald Eagles in California can be either year-round residents or winter migrants. Nest trees are often in very large trees in proximity to water and the breeding season generally ranges between February and July (DFG 2008). Suitable nesting and wintering habitat occur near the proposed project site. There is a known nest site near the Asian Clam Control Project IS/MND Emerald Bay State Park California Department of Parks and Recreation 28
mouth of Emerald Bay. Creating noise or visual disturbance during sensitive periods of the breeding season could result in impacts to this species. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus). The osprey is a TRPA threshold species. They are a migratory species and are present during the breeding season, April 1 through August 15. They build large stick nests in treetops or snags in open forests within fifteen miles of water used for foraging (DFG 2008). Ospreys are known to nest in Emerald Bay SP, including near the proposed project area. No habitat suitable for this species would be altered by project activities; however, project activities during the breeding season could impact this species. Ospreys have high nest site fidelity and selectively choose nesting locations with a clear view of the surrounding area. Creating noise or visual disturbance during sensitive periods of the breeding season could result in impacts to this species. Great Basin rams-horn (Helisoma newberryi). This species is known to occur in Lake Tahoe. These snails burrow into soft mud of larger lakes and slow rivers. The project area consists of rock or cobble and there are no soft, muddy habitat types with slow moving water in proximity to project activities. Because typically suitable habitat for this species does not occur in the project area, impacts to this species are expected to be less than significant. Lake Tahoe benthic stonefly (Capnia lacustra). This species is known to occur in Lake Tahoe at depths of 95-400 feet. Project activities will not occur in deep water areas and will not impact suitable habitat for this species. Benthic invertebrates- Although these animals are not listed as sensitive species, the benthic animal community in Lake Tahoe is an important component of the ecosystem. Whittmann et al. (2011) found that benthic barriers resulted in 100% mortality to Asian clams (AC) after 28 days, and resulted in 70-95% of total macroinvertebrate diversity reduced. Most notable was the less severe impacts to native species including the pea clam (Pisidium spp.), with no significant impacts seen in one test plot. Lesser impacts to native macroinvertebrates would potentially allow a pool for recolonization. While the barriers reduce diversity of native macroinvertebrates in the short term, the alternative of allowing the AC populations to expand would potentially exclude native macroinvertebrates from the larger system into the future. The infestation in Emerald Bay has already expanded over 40% in size since the initial survey in 2009. Treatment of approximately 5.5 acres out of the 870 (.6%) acres included in the underwater park would result in less than significant short term impact to this community, with potential substantial long term benefits. Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkia henshawi). Researchers are in the process of reintroducing the Federally Threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout into Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay and monitoring survival and life history as well as providing a recreational fishery. These fish are obligate stream spawners so deployment of benthic barriers is not expected to impact potential spawning habitat. A combination of factors is presumed to have led to the extinction of Lahontan cutthroat trout from Lake Tahoe, with the introduction of non-native species perhaps being the primary factor. Asian clams are a non-native species that negatively impact native species and removal of these clams from a target reintroduction area is not anticipated to negatively impact reintroduced Lahontan cutthroat trout. Asian Clam Control Project IS/MND Emerald Bay State Park California Department of Parks and Recreation 29
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Sierra Nevada red fox<br />
(Vulpes vulpes<br />
neca<strong>to</strong>r)<br />
Sierra Nevada<br />
snowshoe hare (Lepus<br />
americanus tahoensis)<br />
Sierra Nevada yellowlegged<br />
frog (Rana<br />
sierrae)<br />
Townsend’s big-eared<br />
bat (Corynorhinus<br />
<strong>to</strong>wnsendii)<br />
Western white-tailed<br />
jackrabbit (Lepus<br />
<strong>to</strong>wnsendii <strong>to</strong>wnsendii)<br />
Willow flycatcher<br />
(Empidonax traillii)<br />
Yellow warbler<br />
(Dendroica petechia)<br />
Yellow-headed<br />
blackbird<br />
(Xanthocephalus<br />
xanthocephalus)<br />
Yosemite <strong>to</strong>ad (Bufo<br />
canorus)<br />
ST<br />
SSC<br />
FC<br />
ST<br />
SSC<br />
FSS<br />
SSC<br />
SE<br />
FSS<br />
SSC<br />
SSC<br />
FC<br />
Subalpine forests, mixed conifer,<br />
lodgepole pine, <strong>and</strong> meadows.<br />
Montane riparian with alder <strong>and</strong><br />
willow thickets <strong>and</strong> young conifer<br />
thickets with chaparral<br />
Streams, lakes, <strong>and</strong> ponds in<br />
montane riparian, lodgepole pine,<br />
<strong>and</strong> wet meadow<br />
Roosts include caves, mines, <strong>and</strong><br />
buildings while forages in mesic<br />
habitats<br />
Sagebrush, perennial grassl<strong>and</strong>,<br />
wet meadow, early successional<br />
stage conifer<br />
Wet meadow <strong>and</strong> montane<br />
riparian with willow thickets<br />
Riparian woodl<strong>and</strong>, montane<br />
chaparral, <strong>and</strong> open conifer forest<br />
with substantial shrub<br />
Emergent wetl<strong>and</strong> with dense<br />
vegetation <strong>and</strong> deep water<br />
Montane wet meadows <strong>and</strong><br />
seasonal ponds in lodgepole pine<br />
forests.<br />
Not likely <strong>to</strong> occur.<br />
Suitable habitat is not<br />
present in the project area.<br />
Not likely <strong>to</strong> occur.<br />
Suitable habitat is not<br />
present in the project area.<br />
Not likely <strong>to</strong> occur.<br />
Suitable habitat is not<br />
present in the project area.<br />
Not likely <strong>to</strong> occur.<br />
Suitable habitat is not<br />
present in the project area.<br />
Not likely <strong>to</strong> occur.<br />
Suitable habitat is not<br />
present in the project area.<br />
Not likely <strong>to</strong> occur.<br />
Suitable habitat is not<br />
present in the project area.<br />
Not likely <strong>to</strong> occur.<br />
Suitable habitat is not<br />
present in the project area.<br />
Not likely <strong>to</strong> occur.<br />
Suitable habitat is not<br />
present in the project area.<br />
Not likely <strong>to</strong> occur.<br />
Suitable habitat is not<br />
present in the project area.<br />
1 Regula<strong>to</strong>ry Status Codes<br />
SSC: California Department of Fish <strong>and</strong> Game Species of Special Concern<br />
SE: California Department of Fish <strong>and</strong> Game Endangered<br />
ST: California Department of Fish <strong>and</strong> Game Threatened<br />
WL: California Department of Fish <strong>and</strong> Game Watch List<br />
FP: California Department of Fish <strong>and</strong> Game Fully Protected<br />
D – FE: Delisted United States Fish <strong>and</strong> Wildlife Service Endangered<br />
TRPA: Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Threshold Species<br />
FSS: United States Forest Service Sensitive<br />
FC: C<strong>and</strong>idate species for listing by United States Fish <strong>and</strong> Wildlife Service<br />
Wildlife Species Known or Likely <strong>to</strong> Occur in Emerald Bay State Park with Potential for<br />
Presence at or near the Project Site<br />
Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) (nesting <strong>and</strong> wintering). This California Endangered<br />
species was recently delisted under the Federal Endangered Species Act. The bald eagle is<br />
also protected under the Bald <strong>and</strong> Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA) <strong>and</strong> the Migra<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Bald Eagles in California can be either year-round residents or winter<br />
migrants. Nest trees are often in very large trees in proximity <strong>to</strong> water <strong>and</strong> the breeding<br />
season generally ranges between February <strong>and</strong> July (DFG 2008). Suitable nesting <strong>and</strong><br />
wintering habitat occur near the proposed project site. There is a known nest site near the<br />
Asian Clam Control Project IS/MND<br />
Emerald Bay State Park<br />
California Department of Parks <strong>and</strong> Recreation<br />
28
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