Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Sequoia Ecological Consulting, Inc. <br />CalVTP Project-Specific Analysis and Addendum <br />Augustin Bernal Community Park Fuel Reduction <br />November 2025 <br />4-37 <br /> <br /> <br />treatment activities would occur within this buffer until the chicks have fledged or the nest is otherwise <br />no longer active, or as determined by a qualified RPF or biologist. <br />If it is infeasible to avoid vegetation treatment within nesting season, only manual treatment would be <br />permitted, and an RPF or biological monitor would be available during treatment activities. If work occurs <br />within the vicinity of an active nest, MM BIO-2b requires flagging areas for avoidance and establishing no- <br />work buffers. MM BIO-2b also states: “A qualified RPF, biologist, or biological technician will be required <br />to monitor the effectiveness of the no-disturbance buffer around the nest, den, burrow, or other <br />occurrence during treatment.” A biological monitor would be present on-site during work within the <br />vicinity of raptor, eagle, or special-status bird nests. No trees containing raptor nests would be removed. <br />Additionally, trees containing golden eagle nests would not be removed pursuant to the Bald and Golden <br />Eagle Protection Act. <br />With these additional focused MMs, impacts to special-status avian species would be reduced to less than <br />significant. This impact is consistent with the CalVTP PEIR. <br />Impacts to Nesting Birds Protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act <br />Project treatment activities could result in direct loss of active nests through crushing or destroying nests <br />or nest vegetation or by force-fledging nestlings before completion of the nestling period. Indirect impacts <br />could include loss of habitat for nesting and resources for foraging. Indirect impacts could also include <br />disturbance to active nests from auditory and visual stimuli (e.g., heavy equipment, chain saws, vehicles, <br />personnel), potentially resulting in abandonment and loss of eggs or chicks. Indirect impacts to nesting <br />birds could occur by drawing the attention of visual predators through the removal of vegetative cover <br />around a nest which had previously hidden the nest from predators and provided ample cover for parents <br />to sneak on and off active nests and the removal of food base (seeds, insects, fruit, rodents, etc.). <br />The Project does not impact chaparral or coastal sage scrub, is designed to avoid riparian habitat, and no <br />new roads would be created (SPR HYD-2). Crew members and contractors would be trained to identify and <br />avoid raptor nests if encountered (SPR BIO-2), and an RPF or biological monitor would be on-site to <br />monitor active raptor nests during project implementation. A Spill Prevention and Response Plan (SPR <br />HAZ-5) would be developed as part of project implementation, and the project proponent would comply <br />with herbicide application regulations (SPR HAZ-6) and restrict use of herbicide to avoid native plants. SPR <br />GEO-1 would suspend treatment activities during heavy precipitation until soils are no longer saturated, <br />reduce the potential for project activities to disturb ground-supporting burrows for prey species such as <br />insects and small mammals, and reduce the potential for indirect impacts to these species. During <br />prescribed herbivory activities, wildlife-friendly fencing that would allow perching by avian species and <br />prevent electrocution would be installed (SPR BIO-11).