Final Mitigated Negative Declaration and Response to Comments

) Project activities would not result in impacts to riparian habitat. Deep water plant
communities are of local concern because they are important to the ecology of Lake Tahoe
and because they have experienced substantial documented declines in the lake. The
proposed project is not expected to impact deep water plant communities because the
project area is in shallow water, and the work would result in a long term benefit for native
species in Emerald Bay.
c) Work would occur on the lake substrate near the mouth of Emerald Bay. Benthic barriers
would be secured to the lake bottom temporarily covering the substrate and any substrate
affected by suction removal of clams would be left in place or returned clean. This project
would comply with all State and Federal regulatory requirements concerning work in
protected waters. The short term duration of the project, long term ecological benefits of
the proposed work, and lack of permanent impacts or alteration of the substrate would
result in less than significant impacts from the proposed activities.
d) The proposed project would not impede fish or wildlife movement and would not impact
wildlife corridors. There are no known wildlife nursery sites in the project area. Work would
occur in a fish bearing lake, but the high boat traffic and wave action in the treatment area,
short term duration of barrier deployment and removal activities, and positive impact of
removing an invasive competitor would result in less than significant impacts to fish.
e, f) The proposed project would be designed to ensure there are no conflicts with any local
ordinances, adopted conservation plans, or policies. This includes complying with the
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s Goals and Policies regarding Biological Resources and
Threshold Attainment. No impact.
Mitigation Measure Bio-1: Nesting Osprey and Bald Eagle
To the extent possible, project activities would occur outside of the osprey (April 1 –
August 15) and bald eagle (February 15 – August 15) breeding seasons.
If work is required during the breeding season, a DPR-approved biologist would
conduct surveys to document reproductive activity of the established osprey and
eagle nests within 0.25 and 0.5 miles, respectively, of the project area.
o If the nests are not occupied or the young have fledged then project activities
would be allowed to commence.
o If osprey or eagles are actively incubating eggs or have young in the fledgling
state within 0.25 or 0.5 miles, respectively, of the project area, no work would
be conducted.
o If there are chicks on the nest, work could be authorized by a DPR-approved
biologist if:
i. A DPR-approved biologist is onsite during all operations to
monitor the nests to ensure the young or adults are not visibly
disturbed by project activities,
ii. Any visible disturbance attributable to project activities would
result in the project being postponed until after the young fledge.
iii. No more than 4 hours of activities creating noise above ambient
levels would occur in any 24-hour period.
Asian Clam Control Project IS/MND
Emerald Bay State Park
California Department of Parks and Recreation
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