RES 2026023 - Laserfiche WebLink

Sequoia Ecological Consulting, Inc. CalVTP Project-Specific Analysis and Addendum Augustin Bernal Community Park Fuel Reduction November 2025 4-45 4.5.1.5. Impact BIO-5 The treatment areas have the potential to provide essential connectivity areas for wildlife. However, no known wildlife nursery sites or indications of nursery sites, such as deer-fawning habitat or potential rookery trees with whitewash, were identified within the project area during the reconnaissance survey. Habitat within the treatment area may be used for movement (e.g., mule deer migration) and protective cover for common wildlife species. Noise during work may impede some movement, but work is generally within close proximity to urban landscapes, and wildlife inhabiting the area are likely habituated to regular noise disturbance. Tree limb removal, hazardous tree removal, and ground- disturbing activities have the potential to impact nursery sites for native wildlife. Use of noise-generating equipment could disturb roosting birds and bats, impeding use of nursery sites. Manual, mechanical, prescribed burning, and prescribed herbivory treatments could result in some limited direct or indirect adverse effects on wildlife corridors and nurseries. The potential for treatment activities to result in impacts to special wildlife corridors and nurseries was examined in the PEIR and was found to be less than significant with mitigation. Due to the history of fire suppression and dense understory vegetative growth throughout much of the project footprint, it is expected that wildlife corridors for some species would be improved by the treatment activities. By minimizing the potential for catastrophic wildfire and thereby protecting the forest ecosystem, the wildlife corridors, while slightly degraded in the short-term, would be protected from high- intensity wildfire in the future. Implementation of the SPRs and MMs listed below would minimize changes in habitat function within treatment areas that serve as wildlife-movement corridors: • SPR AD-2: Delineate Protected Resources for Avoidance • SPR AD-3: Consistency with Local Plans, Policies, and Ordinances • SPR AD-5: Maintain Site Cleanliness • SPR BIO-1: Review and Survey Project-Specific Biological Resources and Determine whether Avoidance Is Possible • SPR BIO-2: Require Biological Resource Training for Workers • SPR BIO-3: Survey Sensitive Natural Communities and Other Sensitive Habitats and Map Locations • SPR BIO-10: Survey for Special-Status Wildlife and Nursery Sites • SPR BIO-11: Install Wildlife-Friendly Fencing During Prescribed Herbivory • SPR HYD-4: Identify and Protect Watercourse and Lake Protection Zones • SPR HYD-5: Protect Non-target Vegetation and Special-Status Species from Herbicides Existing habitat would remain to permit movement of wildlife species. Vegetation management activities would not block or obstruct streams or creeks. SPR BIO-10 would generally apply to many areas where special-status species could occur. During prescribed herbivory activities, wildlife-friendly fencing would be installed that would allow safe passage for common wildlife across the landscape (SPR BIO-11). With