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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11_3_22 Canyon Loop Trail Daily Biomonitoring Report.docx.pdfEndemic Environmental Services DAILY BIO-MONITORING REPORT Date:11/3/22 Day:Thursday Project/Stage of Project:Diamond Bar Canyon Loop Trail Improvement, trail maintenance Name of Bio-monitor:Alex Eagleton Location:Diamond Bar Location Description:Coastal Sage Scrub and Coast Live Oak Woodland, behind residential area Map # (If applicable):N/A Bio-monitoring Activity Start Time:0700 End Time:1230 Bio-monitoring Notes: ●Drip pans had been purchased and were in use at the beginning of work activities (Figure 2). ●Approximately 5 sq ft,or 0.00002 acres of new vegetation was impacted during ground disturbance activities today.The city was informed that ground disturbance had occurred despite the contractor ’s declaration that ground disturbance activities had concluded. ●The skid steer and excavator were in operation at the same time today on two separate occasions.While the excavator was in use the skid steer was traveling along the trail to another location.I tried to inform Danny that it was not allowed,but I couldn’t catch up to him while he was driving the skid steer.When I searched for him later to have a conversation with him, he and his crew had vacated the site. ●The crew left the site at some time between 11:15 and 12:15.I searched for them until 12:30 and then left the site. ●Approximately 5 sq ft,or 0.00002 acres of tire damage to cactus was observed today.The impact is assumed to have occurred earlier in the week. ●No sensitive species were identified within the project area.All biological resources were monitored and no adverse impacts occurred. Endemic Environmental Services Weather Conditions Conditions:Sunny all day. Colder than previous days. Temperature:44 F Humidity:76%Wind:WSW 4 mph Cloud Cover %:0 Temperature:67 F Humidity:28%Wind:WSW 6 mph Cloud Cover %:0 Construction Activity Name of Contractors Performing Work:DD Systems Relevant Person(s) in charge of construction:Danny Start Time:0700 End Time:1130 Is project work activity compliant?Yes Construction Activity Notes/Equipment Used:Hand tools,Mini excavator, 249D Skid steer -The excavator with the breaker attachment was used to break rocks along the trail’s edge and remove a small amount of new ground and vegetation (Figure 3). -The excavator was also used to level and grade a portion of trail to reduce cross-trail slope. -The skid steer was not observed to do any work activities,but was operational simultaneously with the excavator on two occasions during the day (Figure 5). -Shovels were used to manually level the trail. Endemic Environmental Services Biological Resource Findings Were there any listed species observed on or near site?No If yes, then: Was listed species impacted due to work?NA Species Common/ Scientific Name: Time of Observed Listed Species: GPS Location of Listed Species (if applicable): Description of Listed Location: Bio-monitor Notes: Endemic Environmental Services Species Take Section Was there a take of any listed or regulated species?No If yes, then: What type of take occurred? Species Common Name/ Scientific Name: Age/Class: Gender: Did take occur due to project work activity? GPS Location of Take (if applicable): Description Location of Take: Bio-monitor Notes Endemic Environmental Services Nest Findings Were there any nests observed on or near project site?No If yes, then: Were nests active or non-active? Nest(s): Species (If identifiable): Time Observed:Nesting Status: GPS Point of Nest: Location Description of Nest: Biomonitor Notes: Other Nest Notes: Endemic Environmental Services Nest Removal Section Were there any Nests removed?No If yes, then: Was the MBTA Nest active or non-active? Time of Nest Removal? Why was the nest removed?: Species Scientific/ Common Name: GPS Location of Removed Nest (If applicable): Bio-monitor Notes: Endemic Environmental Services Wetlands and Jurisdictional Waters of the U.S. Are Wetlands or Jurisdictional Waters of the United States Present?No If yes, then: What Watershed? Were Wetlands or Jurisdictional Waters of the United States impacted by project work activity?No What type of impact occurred? Bio-monitor Notes: Endemic Environmental Services Vegetation Impact Section Was vegetation impacted by project work activity?Yes If yes, then: Habitat Type:Disturbed California sagebrush Type of Vegetation Impacted:California sagebrush (Artemisia californica),mustard sp.,fiddleneck sp., California Buckwheat. What type of impact occurred?Removal via breaker Square Footage of Impacted Area:Approximately 5 sq ft, or 0.00002 acres Bio-monitor Notes:Thin sections of native sage scrub were removed from the edge of the trail using an excavator with a breaker attachment (Figure 3).There was definitive breaking of new ground,and eroding away of the wall causing a small amount of vegetation loss.Because Danny sent a notice the previous day officially declaring the end of ground disturbance activities,I spoke with Danny and asked him if this would fit his definition of ground disturbance.He replied “no we are just breaking up rocks”but then ordered his operator to stop. I informed him that it is considered ground disturbance. Habitat Type:Prickly Pear scrub Type of Vegetation Impacted:Prickly pear (Opuntia littoralis) What type of impact occurred?Crushing via equipment tracks Square Footage of Impacted Area:Approximately 5 sq ft, or 0.00002 acres Bio-monitor Notes:Upon inspection of the trail,it was found that prickly pear had been driven over (Figure 4). This area of the trail is narrow,but equipment should still be able to pass through without crushing.Danny had discussed this narrow section with Barry Nerhus,and he recommended that it be pruned as to preserve the roots of the cactus while still allowing passage.No evidence of pruning was evident,and the base of the cactus plant is damaged.It is likely that this impact did not occur today as there was no equipment passing that part of the trail today. Endemic Environmental Services Non-Listed Species Section Were there any non-listed species observed?Yes If yes, then: Species Common/ Scientific Name: American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), California Quail (Callipepla californica), Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura),Common raven (Corvus corax),Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis),House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus),California Towhee (Melozone crissalis), Anna’s hummingbird (Calypte anna), California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica),Cassin’s kingbird (Tyrannus vociferans), Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus),Nuttall’s woodpecker (Dryobates nuttallii), California ground squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi), Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), Lesser goldfinch (s), California thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum), Wrentit (Chamaea fasciata), White-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos),Acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) Bio-monitor Notes:N/A Endemic Environmental Services Photos Section Figure 1.Overview of the staging area before work began. Figure 2.Drip pans were clearly purchased and in use. Endemic Environmental Services Figure 3.Excavator breaking up rocks and disturbing ner ground and vegetation at the trail’s edge. Figure 4.Crushed prickly pear at trail edges. Not pruned like previously discussed. Endemic Environmental Services Figure 5.Skid steer parked at the staging area, and crew and foreman nowhere nearby.