RES 2026023 - Laserfiche WebLink

Sequoia Ecological Consulting, Inc. CalVTP Project-Specific Analysis and Addendum Augustin Bernal Community Park Fuel Reduction November 2025 4-31 proponent may choose to assume presence and rely on habitat as an indicator of presence. Crew members and contractors would be trained to identify and avoid this species if encountered (SPR BIO-2), and a biologist would be available as needed to provide guidance when crews are working within suitable bumble bee habitat. If work occurs within occupied bumble bee habitat, MM BIO-2b requires flagging areas for avoidance and establishing no-work buffers. MM BIO-2b also states: “A qualified RPF, biologist, or biological technician will be required to monitor the effectiveness of the no-disturbance buffer around the nest, den, burrow, or other occurrence during treatment.” If identified, these burrows would be protected with an avoidance buffer (SPR AD-2). A Spill Prevention and Response Plan (SPR HAZ-5) will be developed as part of project implementation, and the project proponent will comply with herbicide application regulations (SPR HAZ-6) and restrict use of herbicide to avoid native plants. The objectives of the CalVTP treatment activities are to reduce the occurrence of high-intensity wildfire and to modify past practices of fire suppression. Project implementation could thus be beneficial to bumble bees by reducing high-intensity wildfire and improving habitat for bumble bee species; however, in the process of achieving this objective, there are potentially significant direct impacts to bumble bees. The CalVTP PEIR acknowledges the difficulty in detecting overwintering and nesting bumble bees and in determining the occurrence and severity of impacts; it concludes that implementation of the CalVTP could cause impacts to special-status bumble bees which are potentially significant and unavoidable. The proposed project impacts are consistent with those described in the CalVTP PEIR, and the proposed treatment activities may result in impacts to Crotch’s bumble bee that are potentially significant and unavoidable. Impacts to Monarch Butterfly Direct and indirect impacts could occur to monarch butterfly through removal of flowering plants providing nectar, removal of native milkweed (Asclepias) stands for larval development, removal of overwintering habitat, and collisions with project vehicles. Pre-treatment surveys would be combined with a focused survey (SPR BIO-1, SPR BIO-3, SPR BIO-10) within suitable monarch butterfly larval and overwintering habitat. Crew members and contractors would be trained to identify and avoid milkweed and monarch butterfly if encountered (SPR BIO-2), and a qualified RPF or biologist would be available to provide guidance as needed. If identified, larval or overwintering monarchs would be protected with an appropriate avoidance buffer (SPR AD-2). A Spill Prevention and Response Plan (SPR HAZ-5) would be developed as part of project implementation, and the project proponent would comply with herbicide application regulations (SPR HAZ-6) and restrict use of herbicide to avoid native plants. Even following the above SPRs, project impacts could still be considered potentially significant. Therefore, the implementation of MMs BIO-2a, BIO-2b, BIO-2e, and BIO-3a would be implemented, including