West Mojave Plan FEIR/S - Desert Managers Group

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to offset the costs associated with acquiring sites within the Prime Desert Woodland.3.1.3.11 City of PalmdaleThe City of Palmdale is located in the Antelope Valley region of Los Angeles County,south of the City of Lancaster. The developed portions of the City “…occupy an area generallybounded by the Littlerock Wash on the east, the California Aqueduct on the south, and 70 thStreet West on the west.” Littlerock Wash forms a natural boundary between urban residentialdensities in the City and more rural development in the unincorporated community of Littlerock.“The northern extent of urban development in Palmdale follows an irregular path from AvenueM in the northwest portion of the City, around existing rural residential areas in the north centralportion of the Planning Area, and south of the airport land along Avenue P.” (City of PalmdaleGeneral Plan at page L-40.) The large expanse of airport land (over 22,000 acres) in the northand northeastern portions of the city have helped to shape growth patterns. The airport land islargely vacant except for Air Force Plant 42, minor agricultural uses and sewage treatmentfacilities, but if future airport uses occur, the land would provide economic developmentopportunities for the City and is designated for manufacturing land uses by the general plan. (Id.at page 42.)The City General Plan identifies the following development trends for the city:• “New housing for first time buyers will be constructed on the east side of Palmdale (eastof 47 th Street).”• “Residential Development will continue to expand south into the Barrel Springs andVincent Hills Areas.”• “…The southwest portion of the City between Verde Ridge and the southern sphere line,west of Hwy 14 to City Ranch will be a target for urban development if infrastructure isprovided.”• “City Ranch and Ritter Ranch will begin construction on initial phases adjacent toElizabeth Lake Road.”• “The City will complete annexation of many of the County island areas within the coreareas.”• The City will encourage infill of vacant land and reuse of existing buildings in urbanizedareas…” (City of Palmdale General Plan at pages L-48 and L-49.)Biological resources are addressed in the City’s General Plan Goal ER2, which calls forprotecting “…significant ecological resources and ecosystems, including, but not limited to,sensitive flora and fauna habitat areas.” Significant Ecological Areas are identified at Big RockWash, Little Rock Wash, Ritter Ridge, Portal Ridge and Alpine Butte. Biological surveys arerequired for any new development in these areas, and significant environmental resources arerequired to be considered and preserved to the extent feasible. The plan also calls for thepreservation of natural drainage courses and riparian areas containing significant concentrationsof ecological resources, as well as significant Joshua tree woodlands.Chapter 3 3-26
3.1.3.12 City of RidgecrestThe City of Ridgecrest is located in northeastern Kern County in the southern portion ofthe Indian Wells Valley. Scattered residential land uses predominate in the city with linearcommercial land uses occurring along Inyokern Road, China Lake Boulevard, Norma Street, andRidgecrest Boulevard. (City of Ridgecrest General Plan at page I-3.) The General Plan limitsthe residential categories of medium density (up to 25 units per gross acre), low density (6,000square feet to 5 acres per parcel), and recreational uses to the urban areas of the community. Theless intensive uses such as open space and rural residential (minimum parcel size of 5 acresgross) make up the fringe areas west, south and east of the community. (Id. at page 1-5.)The Conservation Element of the City’s General Plan includes policies relative to habitatand wildlife that call for promoting the survival of native wildlife species and the preservation oftheir natural habitat; prohibiting off-highway vehicle use in designated habitat preservationareas; and supporting the concept of the Cerro Coso Community College’s (CCCC) Natural Areaas designated by BLM and CCCC. (City of Ridgecrest General Plan at page 5-5.) The plan alsoencourages the retention of natural desert flora to control soil erosion; supports education as ameans to reduce impacts to natural resources; and encourages participation in BLM planning forpublic lands near the city (Id. at pages 5 through 12).3.1.3.13 City of Twentynine PalmsThe City is located in central San Bernardino County, in the Morongo Basin portion ofthe Mojave Desert. Twentynine Palms Highway bisects the community (east-west), and most ofthe commercial areas are along this highway and Adobe Road, which runs in a north-southdirection. Multi-family (up to 8 dwelling units per acre) and higher density single-familydevelopment (at 4 dwelling units per acre) generally surrounds the downtown commercial area,with less dense development in the outlying portions of the City. (City of Twentynine PalmsGeneral Land Use Plan at Section IV.) The stated purpose of the City’s Land Use Plan “…is toprovide efficiency in land use, ensure development of quality neighborhoods with housingopportunities for all citizens, enhance the business district, provide a “tourist friendly” settng,and afford an opportunity for industrial development, while protecting natural resources andpreserving the quality desert lifestyle.” (Id. at Section II.) General Plan policies support infilldevelopment with limited densities in the outlying areas of the city. (City of Twentynine PalmsGeneral Plan – Conservation Plan, Program 1.2.1.)The City’s Conservation Plan identifies the primary purpose of the Conservation Plan tocommit “…the City to a responsible plan of action in carrying out its role in environmentalprotection.” (Id. Section XII B.) Program 1.1.3 in the Conservation Plan requires protection ofthe unique habitat in the Oasis of Mara. Goal 6 of the Conservation Plan calls for thepreservation of the biological resources of the Mesquite Dunes, including the Mesquite DunesBosque and Playa Lakebed. The plan provides programs requiring specific review of projectsoccurring in the Mesquite Dunes, including limitations on grading, restrictions on sand extractionand removal of Honey Mesquite trees, and a requirement for a detailed clearance survey fordesert tortoise.Chapter 3 3-27
Page 1 and 2: CHAPTER THREEAFFECTED ENVIRONMENT3.
Page 3 and 4: The CDCA Plan assigns a “multiple
Page 5 and 6: Desert Tortoise Research Natural Ar
Page 7 and 8: closure to target shooting. Hunting
Page 9 and 10: percentage of public land ownership
Page 11 and 12: As of March 2004, BLM had acquired
Page 13 and 14: Ripley Joshua Tree Woodland: The st
Page 15 and 16: through “resource use” designat
Page 17 and 18: Significant Ecological Areas: There
Page 19 and 20: Wildlife and Wildflower Sanctuaries
Page 21 and 22: Mojave River Forks Regional Park: A
Page 23 and 24: oriented commercial uses are expect
Page 25: HCP would include mitigation measur
Page 29 and 30: It is a goal of the town’s genera
Page 31 and 32: • Inyo California Towhee (April 1
Page 33 and 34: (i) The taking will be incidental;(
Page 35 and 36: handled, and number accidentally ki
Page 37 and 38: 3.1.5 California Endangered Species
Page 39 and 40: Obtaining an Incidental Take Permit
Page 41 and 42: Monitoring: Monitoring is often the
Page 43 and 44: is so restrictive that project dela
Page 45 and 46: excess moisture. A minus 4 is consi
Page 47 and 48: Air BasinsN190I n y o C o395Ridgecr
Page 49 and 50: Federal PM10 Planning AreasN190Owen
Page 51 and 52: POLLUTANTOzone (O 3 )RespirablePart
Page 53 and 54: AIRBASINAIR QUALITYDISTRICTPOLLUTAN
Page 55 and 56: subtraction of transported ozone in
Page 57 and 58: The general soil information and ma
Page 59 and 60: The Marine Corps Ground Combat Cent
Page 61 and 62: The most permeable basin-fill depos
Page 63 and 64: Surface water was and is the major
Page 65 and 66: A relatively small number of introd
Page 67 and 68: freshwater or alkali wetlands, or o
Page 69 and 70: 3.3.2 Desert Tortoise3.3.2.1 Regula
Page 71 and 72: progress toward meeting the overall
Page 73 and 74: “higher density” and “lower d
Page 75 and 76: several seasons (Esque 1994 in Aver
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Assistant District Manager Molly Br
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• Since 1975, federal land manage
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“52 mi 2 of higher density tortoi
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1984 Tortoise Range and Density Map
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Higher Density Tortoise Sign Count
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When data for the three lowest sign
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Occurrence of Tortoises Relative to
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Regional Declines in the Four DWMAs
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Tortoise Distribution within the Re
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Boarman (pers. comm., Nov 2002) has
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tortoises are either extirpated (La
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sites surveyed by LaRue between 199
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aseline data are lacking. Grasses p
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Canine Predators: This includes coy
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The spatial distribution of 12 of 1
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Predation Versus Scavenging of Juve
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Table 3-20Prevalence of Tortoises i
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(Jacobson et al. 1991, Brown et al.
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3.3.2.5.3 Older and Newer Die-off R
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Table 3-21Characteristics of Older
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Table 3-22Characteristics of Older
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of the Johnson Valley Open Area, an
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Distribution of Recreational and Re
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Tortoises and Burrows Crushed: Vehi
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TypeYearsSignCount98-99-01Distance2
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OHV Impacts to Soils: OHV use has r
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Rodman DWMA. There were no higher d
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of Dove Springs that has experience
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Both inside and adjacent to open ar
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3.3.2.6.6 Organized Competitive OHV
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3.3.2.7 Current Effectiveness of Ex
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Overall, one sees that 68% of the 3
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off regions discussed herein. Black
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ManixACECMojave fishhookcactusRainb
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Range of Mohave Ground SquirrelN190
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3.3.3.2.2 Seasonal ActivityThe MGS
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1996). As herbaceous annuals appear
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1998 Mohave Ground Squirrel Transec
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Finally, the 84% success rate was a
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LaRue characterized substrates at t
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There were no MGS occurrences in 28
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certain shrubs (e.g. winterfat) tha
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NAWS China Lake 1993). As discussed
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Cumulatively, one finds there to be
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Citing Bury and Luckenbach (1977),
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the MGS is restricted to about 7,00
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Habitat Management Plans (HMPs) wer
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Basic to the biology of bighorn she
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3.3.6 Birds3.3.6.1 Bendire’s Thra
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3.3.6.5 Golden EagleLife History: T
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The towhee recovery plan establishe
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Regulatory Status: Federal Endanger
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3.3.6.15 Western Yellow-billed Cuck
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Other major threats are flood contr
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Population Status in the Planning A
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on the inaccessible mountain slopes
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3.3.8.8 Kern BuckwheatLife History:
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Threats Affecting the Mojave Monkey
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3.3.8.16 Red Rock PoppyLife History
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populations show intergradation wit
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3.4.1.1 Regional EnvironmentIn tota
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Table 3-37Average Annual Units Cons
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2002 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAEMPLOYMENT
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TABLE 3-382000 CENSUS DEMOGRAPHIC C
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to undergo a dramatic reversal to t
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3.4.1.5 Study Area Property Valuati
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The supply of private property in t
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ALLOTMENT NAME TYPE OF LIVESTOCK FO
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Grazing AllotmentsNOlanchaDarwinTun
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ALLOTMENT NAMEALLOTMENTACRESP. L. 1
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3.4.3 Mineral Potential and Develop
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Mineral Potential, Active and Inact
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Mineral Potential, Active and Inact
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development based on the results of
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MANAGEMENT AREATable 3-46Potential
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A third item, yttrium (on the USBM
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the California Department of Conser
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Table 3-49 shows the number of mini
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produces about 75,000 tons per year
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Table 3-50Most Important Deposits B
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3.4.3.5 Coolgardie MesaThe Coolgard
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Areas designated as regionally sign
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Recreationists engage in activities
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OPENAREADoveSpringsElMirageJawboneC
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cycle engine motorcycles in OHV rid
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One popular activity is dual sport
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Compliance With Regulations: Compli
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REGIONORCITYRidgecrestSanBernardino
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REGIONORCITYVictorville /AppleValle
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Rail: The West Mojave planning area
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Arterials: Arterials are routes wit
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Ridgecrest-Inyokern Sanitary Landfi
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approximately 3 miles south of the
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Trona-Agrus Transfer Station (SWIS
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The BLM is an agency of the U.S. De
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Route designations apply only to ro
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Utility Maintenance: Many powerline
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ACECNAME ANDNUMBERHarper Dry Lake(3
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SUBREGIONAmboyBighornCoyoteEastSier
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• All pipelines with diameters gr
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3.6.2 Energy Generation PlantsEnerg
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3.7 CULTURAL RESOURCES3.7.1 Archaeo
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seasonal movement from place to pla
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RIDGECREST FIELD OFFICEPROPERTY NAM
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ACECRose SpringFossil FallsLast Cha
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have been dated by radiocarbon and
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MYACENOZOICEPOCHTable 3-65Paleontol
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In the southern area, fossils of la
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At Twenty-Nine Palms, there is an u
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West Mojave Plan FEIR/S - Desert Managers Group

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