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AUGUSTIN BERNAL MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL PROJECT DRAFT INITIAL STUDY decommissioned. Therefore, the project is not expected to substantially change Alameda whipsnake exposure to human recreational stressors (e.g., mountain bike traffic) from existing conditions,and indirect impacts from future use of the trail would be less than significant. In summary,the project has been designed to minimize ground disturbance of oak woodland and would implement the Alameda Whipsnake AMM to avoid injury and mortality of individual Alameda whipsnakes.Decommissioning and restoration of existing unofficial user-created trails would offset direct impacts to existing oak woodland movement habitat and also reduce future mortality risk for any whipsnakes currently movingthrough the site by confining mountain bike traffic to a single trail system. The project would not impact any core scrub/shrub habitat for Alameda whipsnake. Therefore, impacts would be less than significant. Special-Status Birds The project would be constructed in coast live oak woodland and scrub that provides nesting habitatfor many bird species, includingoak titmouse,Cooper's hawk(Accipitercooperi),and white- tailed kite. If conducted during the nesting season (March 1 through August 31),trimming of tree branches and moving downed tree branches or trunks could directly impact active oak titmouse nests,which nest in natural tree cavities.Direct impacts on Cooper's hawk or white-tailed kite nests are not expected because no trees would be removed, but construction-generated noise could cause indirect impacts if adults nesting within auditory range of construction perceive such disturbance as a threat and abandon eggs or recently hatched nestlings. The project would implement the Nesting Bird AMM to avoid such impacts, however,and there would therefore be no impact on native bird nests. b) Would the project have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? No riparian habitat or other natural communities considered sensitive by CDFW(2020)are present on the project site.Therefore,the project would have no impact on sensitive natural communities. C) Would the project have a substantial adverse effect on state or federally protected wetlands (including, but not limited to, marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption,or other means? No state or federally protected wetlands are present on the project site. Therefore, the project would have no impact on such resources. d) Would the project interfere substantially with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors,or impede the use of native wildlife nursery sites? The project would occur in a critical habitat linkage identified as regionally important for wildlife movement and habitat connectivity(Penrod et al. 2013) but would not interfere substantially with wildlife movement through this linkage.The project would not create any new barriers(e.g., roads, structures)that would permanently alter existing wildlife movement patterns or introduce mountain 12956 DUDEK 44 April 2022