Yuba County Water Agency Yuba River Development Project

FERC Project No. 2246

November 2010 Pre-Application Document Wildlife Resources ©2010, Yuba County Water Agency Page 7.4-1

7.4 Wildlife Resources 7.4.1 Overview This section discusses wildlife resources in the vicinity1 of Yuba County Water Agency’s (YCWA or Licensee) Yuba River Development Project (Project) with a focus on special-status2 and commercially valuable species.3 In addition to this overview, Section 7.4 is divided into four subsections. Section 7.4.2 discusses general wildlife habitat in the Project Area.4 Section 7.4.3 discusses special-status wildlife species that may occur in the Project Area as well as the suitable habitat types for these special-status species, their potential temporal and spatial distributions within the Project Area, and any documented occurrences within the Project Area. Section 7.4.4 discusses species listed by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) as commercially valuable (i.e., harvestable) species. Section 7.4.5 describes relevant and reasonably available information regarding wildlife resources in areas upstream of the Project (i.e., on the Middle Yuba River upstream of Our House Diversion Dam, on Oregon Creek upstream of Log Cabin Diversion Dam, and on the North Yuba River upstream of New Bullards Bar Reservoir); within the Project Area; and downstream of the Project (i.e., on the Yuba River downstream of the United States Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Daguerre Point Dam. 7.4.2 Wildlife Habitat Based on the general vegetation patterns described in the Botanical Resources section of this Pre-Application Document (PAD) (Section 7.5), Licensee classified wildlife habitats in the Project Area using CDFG’s California Wildlife Habitat Relationships (CWHR) system (de Becker and Sweet 1988; CDFG 2009d). Table 7.4.2-1 presents the CWHR habitat types identified in the Project Area, and the corresponding United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (Forest Service) CalVeg vegetation classification system (USFS 2004; CDFG 2009d). Descriptions of the CalVeg types and the methods used by Licensee for vegetation mapping are also presented in Section 7.5.2 (Upland Vegetation) of the Botanical Resources section. The two most dominant habitat types present are Douglas-fir and Montane Hardwood, which cover 23.2 percent and 22.7 percent of the Project Area, respectively. The third most represented habitat is lacustrine, which covers 15.8 percent of the Project Area.

1 For the purposes of this document, Project Vicinity is defined as the area surrounding the Project on the order of a United

States Geological Survey (USGS) 1:24,000 topographic quadrangle. 2 Refer to Section 7.4.3 for a definition of special-status wildlife species as used in this PAD. 3 Refer to Section 7.4.4 for a definition of commercially valuable species as used in this PAD. 4 For the purposes of this document, the Project Area is defined as the area within the FERC Project Boundary and the land

immediately surrounding the FERC Project Boundary (i.e., within about 0.25 mile of the FERC Project Boundary) and includes Project-affected reaches between facilities and downstream to the next major water controlling feature or structure.

Yuba County Water Agency Yuba River Development Project FERC Project No. 2246

Wildlife Resources Pre-Application Document November 2010 Page 7.4-2 ©2010, Yuba County Water Agency

Table 7.4.2-1. Wildlife habitat types in the Project Area and their equivalent vegetation community types.

CWHR1 CalVeg Types2 Acres3 %

Annual Grassland (AGS) Annual Grasses/Forbs 781 2.3

Barren (BAR) Barren 1,524 4.5

Blue Oak—Foothill Pine (BOP) Gray Pine, Blue Oak 608 1.8

Blue Oak Woodland (BOW) Blue Oak 1,328 3.9

Cropland (CRP) Agriculture 69 0.2

Douglas-fir (DFR) Pacific Douglas-fir, Sitka Spruce, Douglas Fir, White Fir, Ponderosa Pine, Grand Fir

7,872 23.2

Fresh Emergent Wetland (FEW) Tule-Cattail 1 0.003

Lacustrine (LAC) Agriculture Ponds, Water Features, General Water (i.e., lakes, ponds, reservoirs, diversion impoundments)

5,359 15.8

Mixed Chaparral (MCH) Lower Montane Mixed Chaparral, Manzanita Chaparral 273 0.8

Montane Chaparral (MCP) Deerbrush, Greenleaf Manzanita, Huckleberry Oak, Pinemat Manzanita, Upper Montane, Mixed Chaparral

245 0.7

Montane Hardwood—Conifer (MHC) California Black Oak, Canyon Live Oak, Live Oak-Madrone, Interior Mixed Hardwood, Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir, Incense Cedar

2,219 6.5

Montane Hardwood (MHW) California Black Oak, Canyon Live Oak, Interior Live Oak, Interior Mixed Hardwood, Montane Mixed Hardwood

7,683 22.7

Montane Riparian (MRI)

Bigleaf Maple, Black Cottonwood, Cottonwood-Alder, Dogwood, Fremont Cottonwood, Mixed Riparian Hardwood, Mountain Alder, Red Alder, Riparian Mixed Shrub, White Alder, Willow, Willow-Alder, Willow-Aspen

17 0.1

Ponderosa Pine (PPN) Ponderosa Pine 2,200 6.5

Riverine (RIV) General water (i.e., rivers and streams) 649 1.9

Sierran Mixed Conifer (SMC) Mixed Conifer-Fir, Mixed Conifer-Pine, Ponderosa Pine-White Fir 2,483 7.3

Urban (URB) Urban 239 0.7

Valley Oak Woodland (VOW) Black Walnut, Valley Oak 32 0.1

Valley Foothill Riparian (VRI) California Sycamore, Giant Reed/Pampas Grass 310 0.9

Wet Meadow (WTM) Unknown Wet Grasses/Forbs, Wet Grasses/Forbs 6 0.02

Total 20 CWHR habitat types 33,897 100 1 de Becker and Sweet 1988, CDFG 2009a, 2009d 2 USFS 2004 3 Rounded to nearest acre

In addition to classifying wildlife habitat, the CWHR model predicts wildlife use based on habitat type, age class, size class, canopy closure or cover, and occurrence of specific habitat elements (e.g. natural or manmade features such as cliffs, springs, or transmission lines) that may influence thermal cover, forage, prey availability, nesting, escape cover, and breeding. This analysis indicates that the Project Area supports a diversity of wildlife habitats and associated wildlife species that reflect wide variations in elevation, topography, and soils. Using the identified habitat types and CDFG’s CWHR system, Licensee identified 43 terrestrial vertebrate wildlife species of special-status that potentially may occur within the Project Area (CDFG 2009d). These species include 1 reptile, 29 birds, and 13 mammals. Special-status amphibians and aquatic reptiles are discussed in the Aquatic Resources Section of this PAD (Section 7.3). The complete CWHR species list is presented at the end of this section as Attachment 7.4A. Although CWHR-generated lists are a useful tool for predicting general species occurrence, they should be interpreted cautiously because errors of omission (e.g., excluding a species that is

Yuba County Water Agency Yuba River Development Project

FERC Project No. 2246

November 2010 Pre-Application Document Wildlife Resources ©2010, Yuba County Water Agency Page 7.4-3

present) and commission (e.g., including a species that is absent) are likely when this broad-scale model is used for localized applications. 7.4.3 Special-Status Wildlife Species 7.4.3.1 Definition of Special-Status Wildlife Species For the purpose of this PAD, a special-status wildlife species is a species that has a reasonable possibility of occurring in the Project Area and meets one or more of the following criteria:

Found on National Forest System (NFS) land managed by the Forest Service, and identified

by the Forest Service as a Forest Service Sensitive (FSS) species.

Found on NFS land managed by the Forest Service, and identified by the Sierra Nevada Forest Management Indicator Species Amendment, or SNFMISA (USFS 2007) list (MIS).

Species designated by CDFG as a Species of Special Concern (SSC) (Bolster 1998, CDFG 2009a, Jennings and Hayes 1994).

Wildlife species listed as threatened (FT) or endangered (FE) under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), threatened (ST) or endangered (SE) under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA), and species that are considered CDFG Fully Protected (FP) are not discussed in this section, regardless of any other special-status designations assigned to them. These species are discussed separately in the Threatened, Endangered, and Fully Protected Species Section of this PAD (Section 7.7). 7.4.3.2 Special-Status Wildlife Species with the Potential to Occur in the Project

Area Table 7.4.3-1 presents a list of special-status wildlife species that occur, or have the potential to occur, in the Project Area. CDFG’s California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) and the Tahoe National Forest (TNF) species occurrence database were used as the primary sources to identify previously reported occurrences of special-status species and sensitive habitats in the Project Area (CDFG 2009e; USFS 2009).5 The complete CNDDB query is presented at the end of this section as Attachment 7.4B. CNDDB occurrence data are presented in Attachment 7.4C. The CNDDB is a statewide inventory maintained by CDFG which is continually updated with the locations and conditions of the State’s rare and declining species and habitats. Although the CNDDB is the most current and reliable tool for tracking occurrences of special-status species, it contains only those records that have been submitted to CDFG. Occurrence data obtained from the TNF are also included in Table 7.4.3-1 and Attachment 7.4C.

5 The Project Area overlaps areas of the Plumas National Forest (PNF) and TNF. At the time of this PAD’s filing, PNF had not

provided forest-specific information.

Yub

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Wild

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Res

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Tab

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.4.3

-1.

Sp

ecia

l-S

tatu

s w

ild

life

sp

ecie

s (i

.e.,

rep

tile

s, b

ird

s, a

nd

mam

mal

s) o

ccu

rrin

g or

pot

enti

ally

occ

urr

ing

in t

he

Pro

ject

Are

a.

Com

mon

Nam

e/

Sci

enti

fic

Nam

e S

tatu

s1 S

uit

able

Hab

itat

Typ

e T

emp

oral

an

d

Sp

atia

l Dis

trib

uti

on2

Occ

urr

ence

in

Pro

ject

Are

a

RE

PT

ILE

S

Coa

st h

orne

d li

zard

P

hryn

osom

a co

rona

tum

S

SC

, FS

S

Occ

urs

in a

var

iety

of

habi

tats

, inc

ludi

ng s

crub

land

, gra

ssla

nd, c

onif

erou

s w

oods

, and

bro

adle

af w

oodl

ands

; typ

ical

ly it

is f

ound

in a

reas

wit

h sa

ndy

soil

, sca

tter

ed s

hrub

s, a

nd a

nt c

olon

ies,

suc

h as

alo

ng th

e ed

ges

of a

rroy

o bo

ttom

s or

dir

t roa

ds.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, MH

C,

PP

N, V

OW

, VR

I P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

hab

itat

.

BIR

DS

A

mer

ican

whi

te p

elic

an

Pel

ecan

us e

ryth

rorh

ynch

os

SS

C

Riv

ers,

lake

s, r

eser

voir

s, e

stua

ries

, bay

s, m

arsh

es; s

omet

imes

insh

ore

mar

ine

habi

tats

. S

umm

er-B

AR

, Yea

rlon

g &

Win

ter-

LA

C

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Com

mon

loon

G

avia

imm

er

SS

C

Lak

es c

onta

inin

g bo

th s

hall

ow a

nd d

eep

wat

er.

Yea

rlon

g- L

AC

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

hab

itat

.

Red

head

A

ythy

a am

eric

ana

SS

C

Ope

n w

ater

on

lake

s, p

onds

, and

res

ervo

irs.

W

inte

r- L

AC

, Yea

rlon

g -

FE

W

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Bar

row

’s g

olde

neye

B

ucep

hala

isla

ndic

a S

SC

W

inte

rs o

n la

kes,

riv

ers,

est

uari

es, a

nd b

ays.

Usu

ally

nes

ts n

ear

lake

or

pond

sur

roun

ded

by d

ense

veg

etat

ion.

Y

earl

ong-

LA

C

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Har

lequ

in d

uck

His

trio

nicu

s hi

stri

onic

us

SS

C

His

tori

c br

eedi

ng g

roun

ds in

clud

e w

est s

lope

of

the

Sie

rra

Nev

ada

alon

g sh

ores

of

swif

t, sh

allo

w r

iver

s.

Yea

rlon

g- L

AC

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

hab

itat

.

Nor

ther

n ha

rrie

r C

ircu

s cy

aneu

s S

SC

M

arsh

es, m

eado

ws,

gra

ssla

nds,

and

cul

tiva

ted

fiel

ds.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BA

R, B

OP

, BO

W,

LA

C, F

EW

, VO

W, V

RI,

WT

M

Sum

mer

-DF

R, M

CP

, MH

C, M

HW

, P

PN

, SM

C, M

RI

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Nor

ther

n go

shaw

k A

ccip

iter

gen

tili

s S

SC

, FS

S

Dec

iduo

us, c

onif

erou

s, a

nd m

ixed

for

ests

. P

refe

rs la

rge

trac

ts o

f m

atur

e fo

rest

, esp

ecia

lly

thos

e do

min

ated

wit

h po

nder

osa

pine

, asp

en, f

ir, c

edar

, he

mlo

ck, o

r sp

ruce

. U

sual

ly n

ests

on

nort

h sl

opes

nea

r w

ater

.

Yea

rlon

g- D

FR

, MC

P, M

HC

, MH

W,

PP

N, S

MC

, MR

I. W

inte

r-B

OP

, B

OW

, VO

W, V

RI

Thr

ee o

ccur

renc

es w

ithi

n P

roje

ct a

rea

quad

s on

C

ND

DB

.

Soo

ty (

blue

) gr

ouse

Den

drag

apus

obs

curu

s or

D

endr

agap

us fu

ligi

nosu

s M

IS

Mix

ed f

ores

ts d

omin

ated

by

Bla

ck O

ak, L

odge

pole

Pin

e, R

ed F

ir,

Mou

ntai

n H

emlo

ck a

nd W

hite

Pin

e do

min

ated

for

est f

rom

120

0 ft

to 7

500

ft e

leva

tion

Yea

rlon

g-M

HC

, SM

C, P

PN

, WF

R,

SC

N, M

RI

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Mou

ntai

n qu

ail

Ore

orty

x pi

ctus

M

IS

Mix

ed f

ores

ts d

omin

ated

by

Bla

ck O

ak, L

odge

pole

Pin

e, R

ed F

ir,

Mou

ntai

n H

emlo

ck a

nd W

hite

Pin

e do

min

ated

for

est f

rom

120

0 ft

to 7

500

ft e

leva

tion

and

mou

ntai

n ch

apar

ral

Yea

rlon

g-R

FR

, MH

W, S

MC

, PP

N,

WF

R, S

CN

, MR

I, V

RI,

WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Bla

ck te

rn

Chl

idon

ias

nige

r S

SC

M

arsh

es, a

long

slo

ughs

, riv

ers,

lake

shor

es, a

nd im

poun

dmen

ts, o

r in

wet

m

eado

ws.

S

umm

er-

LA

C, F

EW

, WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Bur

row

ing

owl

Ath

ene

cuni

cula

ria

SS

C

Ope

n gr

assl

ands

, esp

ecia

lly

prai

rie,

pla

ins,

and

sav

anna

, som

etim

es in

ope

n ar

eas

such

as

vaca

nt lo

ts n

ear

hum

an h

abit

atio

n or

air

port

s.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BA

R, B

OP

, BO

W,

MC

P, P

PN

, VO

W, V

RI,

WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Lon

g-ea

red

owl

Asi

o ot

us

SS

C

Rip

aria

n bo

ttom

land

for

est w

ith

over

stor

y of

wil

low

s an

d co

tton

woo

ds;

Rip

aria

n fo

rest

alo

ng s

trea

m c

orri

dors

(of

ten

dom

inat

ed b

y li

ve o

ak tr

ees)

. W

oode

d ar

eas

wit

h de

nse

vege

tati

on n

eede

d fo

r ro

osti

ng a

nd n

esti

ng,

adja

cent

ope

n ar

eas

need

ed f

or h

untin

g.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, MC

P,

MH

C, M

HW

, PP

N, S

MC

, VO

W,

VR

I, W

TM

, Sum

mer

– M

RI

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at: o

ne

occu

rren

ce w

ithi

n P

roje

ct

Are

a qu

ads

on C

ND

DB

.

Sho

rt-e

ared

ow

l A

sio

flam

meu

s S

SC

B

road

exp

anse

s of

ope

n la

nd w

ith

low

veg

etat

ion

for

nest

ing

and

fora

ging

ar

e re

quir

ed.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, FE

W, V

RI,

WT

M

Win

ter-

BO

P, B

OW

, DF

R, M

HC

, P

PN

, SM

C, M

RI,

VO

W

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Yub

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Age

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Yub

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Dev

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246

Nov

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r 20

10

Pre-

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Doc

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ildlif

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esou

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10, Y

uba

Cou

nty

Wat

er A

genc

y P

age

7.4-

5

Tab

le 7

.4.3

-1.

(con

tin

ued

) C

omm

on N

ame/

S

cien

tifi

c N

ame

Sta

tus1

Su

itab

le H

abit

at T

ype

Tem

por

al a

nd

S

pat

ial D

istr

ibu

tion

2 O

ccu

rren

ce in

P

roje

ct A

rea

BIR

DS

(co

nti

nu

ed)

Cal

ifor

nia

spot

ted

owl

Stri

x oc

cide

ntal

is o

ccid

enta

lis

SS

C, F

SS

, M

IS

Mix

ed f

ores

ts d

omin

ated

by

Bla

ck O

ak, L

odge

pole

Pin

e, R

ed F

ir f

rom

12

00 f

t to

5500

ft e

leva

tion

Y

earl

ong-

BO

P, M

HW

, VR

I.

Sum

mer

-MR

I

16 o

bser

vati

ons

mad

e by

US

FS

w

ithi

n P

roje

ct A

rea.

US

FS

ob

serv

atio

ns a

re s

how

n in

A

ttac

hmen

t 7.4

C –

Wil

dlif

e O

bser

vati

ons

Map

.

Pur

ple

mar

tin

Pro

gne

subi

s S

SC

A

wid

e va

riet

y of

ope

n an

d pa

rtly

ope

n si

tuat

ions

, fre

quen

tly

near

wat

er o

r ar

ound

tow

ns.

Sum

mer

-AG

S, B

OP

, BO

W, D

FR

, M

HC

, MH

W, P

PN

, SM

C, L

AC

, F

EW

, MR

I, V

OW

, WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Log

gerh

ead

shri

ke

Lan

ius

ludo

vici

anus

S

SC

O

pen

coun

try

wit

h sc

atte

red

tree

s an

d sh

rubs

, sav

anna

, des

ert s

crub

, and

, oc

casi

onal

ly, o

pen

woo

dlan

d; o

ften

per

ches

on

pole

s, w

ires

or

fenc

e po

sts.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BA

R, B

OP

, BO

W,

MC

H, M

HC

, MH

W, P

PN

, VO

W,

VR

I, W

TM

. S

umm

er-M

RI

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Yel

low

-bre

aste

d ch

at

Icte

ria

vire

ns

SS

C

Sec

ond

grow

th, s

hrub

by o

ld p

astu

res,

thic

kets

, bus

hy a

reas

, scr

ub,

woo

dlan

d un

derg

row

th, a

nd f

ence

row

s, in

clud

ing

low

wet

pla

ces

near

st

ream

s, p

ond

edge

s, o

r sw

amps

; thi

cket

s w

ith

few

tall

tree

s

Yea

rlon

g- L

AC

, VR

I. S

umm

er-V

RI.

M

igra

nt-M

RI

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Yel

low

war

bler

D

endr

oica

pet

echi

a S

SC

, MIS

O

pen

scru

b, s

econ

d-gr

owth

woo

dlan

d, th

icke

ts, f

arm

land

s, a

nd g

arde

ns,

espe

cial

ly n

ear

wat

er; r

ipar

ian

woo

dlan

ds, e

spec

iall

y of

wil

low

s, in

the

Wes

t.

Sum

mer

-BO

P, B

OW

, MC

P, M

HC

, M

HW

, PP

N, S

MC

, MR

I, V

OW

, VR

I.

Mig

rant

-DF

R

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Com

mon

yel

low

thro

at

Geo

thly

pis

tric

has

SS

C

Mar

shes

(es

peci

ally

cat

tail

), th

icke

ts n

ear

wat

er, b

ogs,

bru

shy

past

ures

, and

ol

d fi

elds

. In

mig

rati

on a

nd w

inte

r in

bru

shy

and

shru

bby

area

s in

bot

h m

oist

and

ari

d re

gion

s.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, DF

R,

MC

P, M

HC

, MH

W, P

PN

, SM

C,

FE

W, V

RI,

WT

M.

Sum

mer

-MR

I

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Fox

spa

rrow

P

asse

rell

a il

iaca

M

IS

Den

se th

icke

ts in

con

ifer

ous

or m

ixed

woo

dlan

ds, c

hapa

rral

, alo

ng r

iver

s an

d cr

eeks

. R

equi

res

dens

e br

ushy

cov

er d

urin

g th

e ne

stin

g se

ason

. Y

earl

ong-

MH

C, M

CH

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

hab

itat

.

Ore

gon

vesp

er s

parr

ow

Poo

ecet

es g

ram

ineu

s af

fini

s S

SC

P

lain

s, p

rair

ie, d

ry s

hrub

land

s, s

avan

na, w

eedy

pas

ture

s, f

ield

s, s

ageb

rush

, ar

id s

crub

, and

woo

dlan

d cl

eari

ngs.

W

inte

r-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, VO

W.

Sum

mer

-MC

P

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Gra

ssho

pper

spa

rrow

A

mm

odra

mus

sav

anna

rum

S

SC

Pre

fer

gras

slan

ds o

f in

term

edia

te h

eigh

t and

are

oft

en a

ssoc

iate

d w

ith

clum

ped

vege

tati

on in

ters

pers

ed w

ith

patc

hes

of b

are

grou

nd.

Oth

er

habi

tat r

equi

rem

ents

incl

ude

mod

erat

ely

deep

litt

er a

nd s

pars

e co

vera

ge o

f w

oody

veg

etat

ion.

Sum

mer

-AG

S, W

TM

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

hab

itat

.

Oli

ve-s

ided

fly

catc

her

Con

topu

s co

oper

i S

SC

F

ores

t and

woo

dlan

d, in

bur

ned-

over

are

as w

ith

stan

ding

dea

d tr

ees,

in

taig

a, s

ubal

pine

con

ifer

ous

fore

st a

nd m

ixed

con

ifer

ous-

deci

duou

s fo

rest

. A

lso

swam

py e

dges

of

lake

s, m

arsh

y st

ream

s, b

ackw

ater

s of

riv

ers.

Sum

mer

-DF

R, M

HC

, MH

W, P

PN

, S

MC

, MR

I. M

igra

nt-B

OP

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

hab

itat

.

Yel

low

-hea

ded

blac

kbir

d X

anth

ocep

halu

s xa

ntho

ceph

alus

S

SC

F

resh

-wat

er m

arsh

es o

f ca

ttai

l, tu

le, o

r bu

lrus

hes.

Nes

ts in

wet

gra

sses

, re

eds,

cat

tail

s. A

lso

in o

pen

cult

ivat

ed la

nds,

pas

ture

s an

d fi

elds

. Y

earl

ong-

LA

C, F

EW

. S

umm

er-

AG

S, W

TM

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

hab

itat

.

Tri

colo

red

blac

kbir

d A

gela

ius

tric

olor

S

SC

Fre

sh-w

ater

mar

shes

of

catt

ails

, tul

e, b

ulru

shes

, and

sed

ges.

Nes

ts in

ve

geta

tion

of

mar

shes

or

thic

kets

, som

etim

es n

ests

on

the

grou

nd.

His

tori

call

y st

rong

ly ti

ed to

em

erge

nt m

arsh

es; i

n re

cent

dec

ades

muc

h ne

stin

g ha

s sh

ifte

d to

non

-nat

ive

vege

tati

on.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, FE

W, V

RI,

WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Bla

ck s

wif

t C

ypse

loid

es n

iger

S

SC

N

ests

in m

oist

cre

vice

s or

cav

es, o

r on

cli

ffs

near

wat

erfa

lls

in d

eep

cany

ons.

For

ages

wid

ely

over

man

y ha

bita

ts.

Sum

mer

-AG

S, B

AR

, BO

P, B

OW

, D

FR

, MC

P, M

HC

, MH

W, P

PN

, S

MC

, LA

C, M

RI,

VO

W, V

RI,

WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Yub

a C

ount

y W

ater

Age

ncy

Yub

a R

iver

Dev

elop

men

t Pro

ject

F

ER

C P

roje

ct N

o. 2

246

Wild

life

Res

ourc

es

Pre-

App

licat

ion

Doc

umen

t N

ovem

ber

2010

P

age

7.4-

6 ©

2010

, Yub

a C

ount

y W

ater

Age

ncy

Tab

le 7

.4.3

-1.

(con

tin

ued

) C

omm

on N

ame/

S

cien

tifi

c N

ame

Sta

tus1

Su

itab

le H

abit

at T

ype

Tem

por

al a

nd

S

pat

ial D

istr

ibu

tion

2 O

ccu

rren

ce in

P

roje

ct A

rea

BIR

DS

(co

nti

nu

ed)

Vau

x’s

swif

t C

haet

ura

vaux

i S

SC

F

ound

in m

atur

e fo

rest

s bu

t als

o fo

rage

s an

d m

igra

tes

over

ope

n co

untr

y.

Sum

mer

-BO

P, D

FR

, MC

P, M

HC

, M

HW

, PP

N, S

MC

, LA

C, F

EW

, MR

I,

VR

I, W

TM

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Bla

ck-b

acke

d w

oodp

ecke

r P

icoi

des

arct

icus

M

IS

Ass

ocia

ted

wit

h bo

real

and

mon

tane

con

ifer

ous

fore

sts,

esp

ecia

lly

in a

reas

w

ith

stan

ding

dea

d tr

ees

such

as

burn

s, b

ogs,

and

win

dfal

ls; l

ess

freq

uent

ly

in m

ixed

for

est

Yea

rlon

g-S

MC

, MH

C

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Hai

ry w

oodp

ecke

r P

icoi

des

vill

osus

M

IS

Fou

nd in

mix

ed c

onif

er a

nd r

ipar

ian

deci

duou

s ha

bita

t fro

m s

ea le

vel t

o 90

00ft

. Y

earl

ong-

MH

C, M

HW

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

hab

itat

.

MA

MM

AL

S

Wes

tern

red

bat

L

asiu

rus

blos

sevi

llii

S

SC

, FS

S

Roo

sts

in f

olia

ge, f

orag

es in

ope

n ar

eas

(sea

leve

l up

thro

ugh

mix

ed

coni

fer

fore

sts)

.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, MC

P,

MH

C, M

RI,

VO

W, V

RI,

WT

M.

Sum

mer

-DF

R, M

HW

, PP

N, S

MC

, L

AC

, FE

W

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at: t

wo

occu

rren

ces

wit

hin

Pro

ject

A

rea

quad

s on

CN

DD

B.

Spo

tted

bat

E

uder

ma

mac

ulat

um

SS

C

Pos

sibl

y oc

cupi

es c

onif

erou

s st

ands

in s

umm

er a

nd m

igra

tes

to lo

wer

el

evat

ions

in la

te s

umm

er/e

arly

fal

l.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, MC

P,

MH

C, P

PN

, SM

C, L

AC

, MR

I, V

OW

, V

RI,

WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Tow

nsen

d’s

big-

eare

d ba

t C

oryn

orhi

nus

tow

nsen

dii

SS

C, F

SS

M

ater

nity

and

hib

erna

tion

col

onie

s ty

pica

lly

are

in c

aves

and

min

e tu

nnel

s.

Pre

fers

rel

ativ

ely

cold

pla

ces

for

hibe

rnat

ion,

oft

en n

ear

entr

ance

s an

d in

w

ell-

vent

ilat

ed a

reas

.

Yea

rlon

g-B

AR

, BO

P, B

OW

, DF

R,

MC

P, M

HC

, MH

W, P

PN

, SM

C, M

RI,

V

OW

, VR

I. S

umm

er-A

GS

, LA

C,

WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Pal

lid

bat

Ant

rozo

us p

alli

dus

SS

C, F

SS

A

rid

dese

rts

and

gras

slan

ds, o

ften

nea

r ro

cky

outc

rops

and

wat

er.

Les

s ab

unda

nt in

eve

rgre

en a

nd m

ixed

con

ifer

woo

dlan

d. U

sual

ly r

oost

s in

roc

k cr

evic

e or

bui

ldin

g, le

ss o

ften

in c

ave,

tree

hol

low

, min

e, e

tc.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BA

R, B

OP

, BO

W,

DF

R, M

CP

, MH

C, M

HW

, PP

N,

SM

C, M

RI,

VO

W, V

RI,

WT

M.

Sum

mer

- L

AC

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at: o

ne o

ccur

renc

e w

ithi

n P

roje

ct A

rea

quad

s on

C

ND

DB

.

Wes

tern

mas

tiff

bat

E

umop

s pe

roti

s S

SC

Roo

sts

in c

revi

ces

and

shal

low

cav

es o

n th

e si

des

of c

liff

s an

d ro

ck w

alls

, an

d oc

casi

onal

ly b

uild

ings

. R

oost

s us

uall

y hi

gh a

bove

gro

und

wit

h un

obst

ruct

ed a

ppro

ach.

Mos

t roo

sts

are

not u

sed

thro

ugho

ut th

e ye

ar.

May

alt

erna

te b

etw

een

diff

eren

t day

roo

sts.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BA

R, B

OP

, BO

W,

MC

P, M

HC

, MH

W, P

PN

, FE

W, M

RI,

V

OW

, VR

I, W

TM

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Sie

rra

Nev

ada

snow

shoe

har

e L

epus

am

eric

anus

ta

hoen

sis

SS

C

Mon

tane

rip

aria

n ha

bita

ts

(5,0

00–8

,000

ft)

Y

earl

ong-

DF

R, S

MC

, MR

I P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

hab

itat

.

Nor

ther

n fl

ying

squ

irre

l G

lauc

omys

sab

rinu

s F

SS

, MIS

C

onif

erou

s an

d m

ixed

for

est,

but w

ill u

tili

ze d

ecid

uous

woo

ds a

nd r

ipar

ian

woo

ds.

Yea

rlon

g-B

OP

, BO

W, D

FR

, MH

C,

MH

W, P

PN

, SM

C, M

RI,

VO

W, V

RI

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Am

eric

an m

arte

n M

arte

s am

eric

ana

sier

ra

FS

S, M

IS

Mix

ed e

verg

reen

for

est w

ith

> 4

0% c

row

n cl

osur

e.

Yea

rlon

g-B

AR

, DF

R, M

HC

, PP

N,

SM

C, M

RI,

WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at: o

ne o

ccur

renc

e w

ithi

n P

roje

ct A

rea

quad

s on

C

ND

DB

.

Pac

ific

fis

her

Mar

tes

penn

anti

i pac

ific

a F

SS

, SS

C

Den

se r

ipar

ian-

deci

duou

s an

d op

en, b

rush

y st

ages

of

mos

t for

est t

ypes

. Y

earl

ong

– D

FR

, MH

C, P

PN

, SM

C,

MR

I,

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Yub

a C

ount

y W

ater

Age

ncy

Yub

a R

iver

Dev

elop

men

t Pro

ject

F

ER

C P

roje

ct N

o. 2

246

Nov

embe

r 20

10

Pre-

App

licat

ion

Doc

umen

t W

ildlif

e R

esou

rces

©20

10, Y

uba

Cou

nty

Wat

er A

genc

y P

age

7.4-

7

Tab

le 7

.4.3

-1.

(con

tin

ued

) C

omm

on N

ame/

S

cien

tifi

c N

ame

Sta

tus1

Su

itab

le H

abit

at T

ype

Tem

por

al a

nd

S

pat

ial D

istr

ibu

tion

2 O

ccu

rren

ce in

P

roje

ct A

rea

Mul

e de

er

Odo

coil

eus

hem

ionu

s M

IS

Ear

ly to

inte

rmed

iate

suc

cess

iona

l sta

ges

of m

ost f

ores

t, w

oodl

and,

and

br

ush

habi

tats

inte

rspe

rsed

wit

h he

rbac

eous

ope

ning

s, d

ense

bru

sh o

r tr

ee

thic

kets

, rip

aria

n ar

eas,

and

abu

ndan

t edg

e.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, DF

R,

MC

P, M

HC

, MH

W, F

EW

, MR

I,

VO

W, V

RI,

WT

M.

Sum

mer

-PP

N,

SM

C

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

MA

MM

AL

S (

con

tin

ued

)

Am

eric

an b

adge

r T

axid

ea ta

xus

SS

C

Pre

fers

ope

n ar

eas

and

may

als

o fr

eque

nt b

rush

land

s w

ith

litt

le

grou

ndco

ver.

Whe

n in

acti

ve, o

ccup

ies

unde

rgro

und

burr

ow.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BA

R, B

OP

, BO

W,

DF

R, M

CP

, MH

C, M

HW

, PP

N,

SM

C, M

RI,

VO

W, W

TM

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le h

abit

at.

Sie

rra

Nev

ada

mou

ntai

n be

aver

A

plod

onti

a ru

fa c

alif

orni

ca

SS

C

Den

se r

ipar

ian-

deci

duou

s an

d op

en, b

rush

y st

ages

of

mos

t for

est t

ypes

Y

earl

ong-

MC

H, M

HC

, SM

C, M

RI,

W

TM

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

hab

itat

. S

ourc

es:

CD

FG

200

9 d,

e; H

umpl

e an

d G

eupe

l 200

4; N

atur

eSer

ve 2

009;

US

FS

200

8; U

SF

WS

200

9a

1

Sta

tus:

F

SS

= F

ores

t Ser

vice

Sen

siti

ve S

peci

es (

CD

FG

200

9d,e

);

MIS

= F

ores

t Ser

vice

Man

agem

ent I

ndic

ator

Spe

cies

(U

SF

S 2

008)

S

SC

= C

alif

orni

a S

peci

es o

f S

peci

al C

once

rn (

CD

FG

200

9d,e

) 2

CW

HR

Hab

itat

Typ

es:

AG

S =

Ann

ual G

rass

B

AR

= B

arre

n

B

OP

= B

lue

Oak

Foo

thil

l Pin

e

B

OW

= B

lue

Oak

Woo

dlan

d

C

RP

= C

ropl

and

DF

R =

Dou

glas

Fir

F

EW

= F

resh

Em

erge

nt W

etla

nd

LA

C =

Agr

icul

ture

Pon

ds, W

ater

Fea

ture

s, G

ener

al W

ater

(i.e

., la

kes,

pon

ds, r

eser

voir

s, d

iver

sion

impo

undm

ents

)

M

CH

= M

ixed

Cha

parr

al

MC

P =

Mon

tane

Cha

parr

al

MH

C =

Mon

tane

Har

dwoo

d C

onif

er

MH

W =

Mon

tane

Har

dwoo

d

M

RI

= M

onta

ne R

ipar

ian

PP

N =

Pon

dero

sa P

ine

RF

R =

Red

Fir

R

IV =

Riv

erin

e

S

CN

= S

ubal

pine

Con

ifer

S

MC

= S

ierr

an M

ixed

Con

ifer

U

RB

= U

rban

V

OW

= V

alle

y O

ak W

oodl

and

VR

I =

Val

ley

Foo

thil

l Rip

aria

n

W

FR

= W

hite

Fir

W

TM

= W

et M

eado

w

Yuba County Water Agency Yuba River Development Project FERC Project No. 2246

Wildlife Resources Pre-Application Document November 2010 Page 7.4-8 ©2010, Yuba County Water Agency

Potential occurrences of special-status wildlife species and their corresponding temporal and spatial information were derived from a query of the CWHR database (CDFG 2009d). Habitat types known or likely to occur within the Project Area (listed in Table 7.4.2-1) were used as the search criteria within CWHR (CDFG 2009d). Descriptions of suitable habitat types used by each species were synthesized from species accounts found online at NatureServe® and the CDFG CWHR life history database (NatureServe 2009; CDFG 2009f). Temporal data provided in this table correspond to the seasonal occurrence of the species within the Project Area. Spatial data provided in the table correspond to the habitat types typically supporting each species. Additional sources of information were queried for potentially occurring special-status species. These additional sources included the United States Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Sacramento Field Office database of listed species (USFWS 2009b), TNF species occurrence database (USFS 2009), and other published sources located during Licensee’s gathering of relevant and reasonably available information. Table 7.4.3-1 includes 43 wildlife species: 1 reptile, 29 birds, and 13 mammals. This list includes: Twenty-six species listed only as SSC. These include: common loon (Gavia immer),

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), northern harrier (Circus cyaneus), black tern (Chlidonias niger), long-eared owl (Asio otus), short-eared owl (Asio flammeus), burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), purple martin (Progne subis), loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens), common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas), Oregon vesper sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus affinis), grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), olive-sided flycatcher (Contopus cooperi), yellow-headed blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus), tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor), black swift (Cypseloides niger), Vaux’s swift (Chaetura vauxi), redhead (Aythya americana), Barrow’s goldeneye (Bucephala islandica), harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus), spotted bat (Euderma maculatum), western mastiff bat (Eumops perotis), American badger (Taxidea taxus), Sierra Nevada snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus tahoensis), and Sierra Nevada mountain beaver (Aplodontia rufa californica).

Six species listed only as MIS. These include: mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus), fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca), hairy woodpecker (Picoides villosus), black-backed woodpecker (Picoides arcticus), sooty (blue) grouse (Dendragapus obscurus or Dendragapus fuliginosus), and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus).

Ten species listed as special-status species by two or more agencies. These include: coast horned lizard (Phrynosoma coronatum), northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), California spotted owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis), yellow warbler (Dendroica petechia), western red bat (Lasiurus blossevillii), Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii), pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus), northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus), American marten (Martes americana) and Pacific fisher (Martes pennanti pacifica).

7.4.4 Commercially Valuable Wildlife Species Thirty-eight bird and 19 mammal species that have been designated as commercially valuable by CDFG have the potential to occur within the Project Area. Table 7.4.4-1 lists these species

Yuba County Water Agency Yuba River Development Project

FERC Project No. 2246

November 2010 Pre-Application Document Wildlife Resources ©2010, Yuba County Water Agency Page 7.4-9

(CDFG 2009d,e). Table 7.4.4-1 also includes temporal and spatial information and descriptions of suitable habitat used by each of the species. CWHR system habitat types listed in Table 7.4.2-1 were used to query the CWHR computer program in order to obtain temporal and spatial information for each species (CDFG 2008e). Temporal data correspond to the seasonal occurrence of the species within the Project Area. Spatial data provided in the table correspond to the habitat types typically supporting each species; these spatial data can be used in conjunction with vegetation descriptions and mapping presented in the Botanical Resources section of this PAD (Section 7.5). Descriptions of suitable habitat types were synthesized from species accounts found online at NatureServe® and the CDFG CWHR life history database (NatureServe 2009; CDFG 2009f). Of the commercially valuable (i.e., harvestable) species, seven species are also special-status wildlife species that are known to occur or have the potential to occur in the Project Area (Table 7.4.3-1). Four are designated as SSC and they include American badger, Barrow’s goldeneye, harlequin duck, and redhead (CDFG 2009a; USFWS 2009b). The remaining three harvest species are designated as MIS, and they include sooty (blue) grouse, mountain quail, and mule deer (CDFG 2009a; USFWS 2009b).

Yub

a C

ount

y W

ater

Age

ncy

Yub

a R

iver

Dev

elop

men

t Pro

ject

F

ER

C P

roje

ct N

o. 2

246

Wild

life

Res

ourc

es

Pre-

App

licat

ion

Doc

umen

t N

ovem

ber

2010

P

age

7.4-

10

©20

10, Y

uba

Cou

nty

Wat

er A

genc

y

Tab

le 7

.4.4

-1.

Com

mer

cial

ly v

alu

able

wil

dli

fe s

pec

ies

occu

rrin

g or

pot

enti

ally

occ

urr

ing

in t

he

Pro

ject

Are

a.

Com

mon

Nam

e/

Sci

enti

fic

Nam

e S

uit

able

Hab

itat

Typ

e T

emp

oral

an

d

Sp

atia

l Dis

trib

uti

on2

Occ

urr

ence

in

Pro

ject

Are

a

BIR

DS

S

now

goo

se

Che

n ca

erul

esce

ns

Fre

shw

ater

wet

land

s, w

et p

rair

ies

and

exte

nsiv

e sa

ndba

rs, f

orag

ing

in p

astu

res,

cu

ltiv

ated

land

s an

d fl

oode

d fi

elds

W

inte

r-A

GS

, LA

C, F

EW

, WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Ros

s’s

goos

e C

hen

ross

ii

Mar

shy

lake

s, w

et p

rair

ies,

for

agin

g in

gra

ssy

area

s, p

astu

res

and

cult

ivat

ed

fiel

ds

Win

ter-

AG

S, L

AC

, FE

W, W

TM

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

ha

bita

t. C

anad

a go

ose

Bra

nta

cana

dens

is

Ove

rhea

d w

hile

mig

rati

ng, m

arsh

es w

ith

tall

gra

ss a

nd s

edge

s ne

ar w

ater

Y

earl

ong-

AG

S, U

RB

, LA

C, F

EW

, WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Woo

d du

ck

Aix

spo

nsa

Inla

nd w

ater

s ne

ar w

oodl

ands

suc

h as

sw

amps

and

mar

shes

Y

earl

ong-

BO

P, B

OW

, DF

R, M

HW

, SM

C,

PP

N, M

HC

, LA

C, F

EW

, MR

I, V

OW

, VR

IP

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

ha

bita

t.

Soo

ty (

blue

) gr

ouse

1 D

endr

agap

us o

bscu

rus

or

Den

drag

apus

fuli

gino

sus

Mix

ed f

ores

ts d

omin

ated

by

Bla

ck O

ak, L

odge

pole

Pin

e, R

ed F

ir, M

ount

ain

Hem

lock

and

Whi

te P

ine

dom

inat

ed f

ores

t fro

m 1

200

ft to

750

0 ft

ele

vati

on

Yea

rlon

g-M

HC

, SM

C, P

PN

, WF

R, S

CN

, M

RI

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Chu

kar

Ale

ctor

is c

huka

r R

ocky

hil

lsid

es, m

ount

ain

slop

es w

ith g

rass

y ve

geta

tion

, ope

n an

d fl

at d

eser

t w

ith

spar

se g

rass

es, a

nd b

arre

n pl

atea

us.

Y

earl

ong-

AG

S, M

RI,

VR

I P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

ha

bita

t.

Cal

ifor

nia

quai

l C

alli

pepl

a ca

lifo

rnic

a L

ower

ele

vati

ons

and

tran

siti

on z

one

of m

ixed

con

ifer

for

est b

etw

een

1200

and

70

00 f

t ele

vati

on

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, DF

R, M

CH

, M

CP

, MH

C, M

HW

, PP

N, S

MC

, MR

I,

VO

W, V

RI,

WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Gre

ater

whi

te-f

ront

ed g

oose

Ans

er a

lbif

rons

W

etla

nds,

gra

in f

ield

s, g

rass

y fi

elds

, mar

shes

, lak

es a

nd p

onds

. B

reed

s on

ar

ctic

tund

ra o

n ed

ge o

f m

arsh

es, l

akes

, slo

ughs

, riv

ers

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, LA

C.

Win

ter-

FE

W,

WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Nor

ther

n pi

ntai

l A

nas

acut

a

Lak

es, r

iver

s, m

arsh

es a

nd p

onds

in g

rass

land

s, b

arre

ns, d

ry tu

ndra

, ope

n bo

real

for

est,

or c

ulti

vate

d fi

elds

. M

ost b

reed

ing

asso

ciat

ed w

ith

seas

onal

and

se

mi-

perm

anen

t wet

land

s.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, LA

C, F

EW

, WT

M.

Win

ter-

LA

C

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Gad

wal

l A

nas

stre

pera

O

pen

wat

er o

n la

kes,

pon

ds, r

eser

voir

s an

d ba

ckw

ater

s Y

earl

ong-

AG

S, L

AC

, FE

W, W

TM

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

ha

bita

t.

Red

head

1

Ayt

hya

amer

ican

a O

pen

wat

er o

n la

kes,

pon

ds a

nd r

eser

voir

s W

inte

r- L

AC

. Y

earl

ong

- F

EW

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

ha

bita

t.

Am

eric

an w

igeo

n A

nas

amer

ican

a O

pen

wat

er o

n la

kes,

pon

ds, r

eser

voir

s an

d ba

ckw

ater

s Y

earl

ong-

AG

S, L

AC

, FE

W, W

TM

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

ha

bita

t.

Eur

asia

n w

igeo

n A

nas

pene

lope

Win

ters

pri

mar

ily

in f

resh

wat

er (

mar

shes

, lak

es)

and

brac

kish

sit

uati

ons

in

coas

tal a

reas

but

mig

rate

s ex

tens

ivel

y th

roug

h in

land

reg

ions

; occ

urs

in

shal

low

wat

er a

nd f

ield

s an

d m

eado

ws.

W

inte

r-A

GS

, LA

C, F

EW

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

ha

bita

t.

Mal

lard

A

nas

plat

yrhy

ncho

s P

rim

aril

y sh

allo

w w

ater

s su

ch a

s po

nds,

lake

s, m

arsh

es, a

nd f

lood

ed f

ield

s.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, LA

C, F

EW

, MR

I, V

RI,

W

TM

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

ha

bita

t.

Buf

fleh

ead

Buc

epha

la a

lbeo

la

Lak

es, p

onds

, riv

ers

and

seac

oast

s. B

reed

s in

tree

cav

itie

s in

mix

ed

coni

fero

us-d

ecid

uous

woo

dlan

d ne

ar la

kes

and

pond

s.

Yea

rlon

g- L

AC

, FE

W.

Sum

mer

-MR

I.

Win

ter-

VR

I P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

ha

bita

t.

Cin

nam

on te

al

Ana

s cy

anop

tera

S

hall

ow o

pen

wat

er o

n la

kes,

pon

ds, r

eser

voir

s an

d in

mar

shes

S

umm

er-A

GS

, WT

M.

Yea

rlon

g- L

AC

, F

EW

, VR

I P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

ha

bita

t.

Nor

ther

n sh

ovel

er

Ana

s cl

ypea

ta

Ope

n w

ater

on

lake

s, p

onds

and

res

ervo

irs

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, LA

C, F

EW

, WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Yub

a C

ount

y W

ater

Age

ncy

Yub

a R

iver

Dev

elop

men

t Pro

ject

F

ER

C P

roje

ct N

o. 2

246

Nov

embe

r 20

10

Pre-

App

licat

ion

Doc

umen

t W

ildlif

e R

esou

rces

©20

10, Y

uba

Cou

nty

Wat

er A

genc

y P

age

7.4-

11

Tab

le 7

.4.4

-1.

(con

tin

ued

) C

omm

on N

ame/

S

cien

tifi

c N

ame

Su

itab

le H

abit

at T

ype

Tem

por

al a

nd

S

pat

ial D

istr

ibu

tion

2 O

ccu

rren

ce in

P

roje

ct A

rea

BIR

DS

(co

nti

nu

ed)

Gre

en-w

inge

d te

al

Ana

s cr

ecca

O

pen

wat

er o

n la

kes,

pon

ds, r

eser

voir

s an

d in

mar

shes

. Y

earl

ong-

AG

S, L

AC

, FE

W, M

RI,

WT

M.

Win

ter-

LA

C

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Blu

e-w

inge

d te

al

Ana

s di

scor

s O

pen

wat

er o

n la

kes,

pon

ds, r

eser

voir

s an

d in

Mar

shes

. Y

earl

ong-

LA

C.

Sum

mer

-AG

S, F

EW

, W

TM

. W

inte

r -

FE

W

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Can

vasb

ack

Ayt

hya

vali

sine

ria

Ope

n w

ater

on

lake

s, p

onds

, res

ervo

irs,

and

Mar

shes

. W

inte

r- L

AC

. Y

earl

ong-

FE

W

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Rin

g-ne

cked

duc

k A

ythy

a co

llar

is

Ope

n w

ater

on

lake

s, p

onds

, and

res

ervo

irs.

W

inte

r- L

AC

. S

umm

er-F

EW

, WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Les

ser

scau

p A

ythy

a af

fini

s O

pen

wat

er o

n la

kes,

pon

ds a

nd r

eser

voir

s.

Win

ter-

LA

C.

Yea

rlon

g-F

EW

. S

umm

er-

WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Gre

ater

sca

up

Ayt

hya

mar

ila

Ope

n w

ater

and

on

emer

gent

wet

land

s. B

reed

s pr

imar

ily

in tu

ndra

and

no

rthe

rn b

orde

rs o

f th

e ta

iga.

S

umm

er-A

GS

. Y

earl

ong-

LA

C

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Com

mon

gol

dene

ye

Buc

epha

la c

lang

ula

Ope

n w

ater

on

lake

s, p

onds

and

res

ervo

irs.

W

inte

r- L

AC

, VR

I P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

ha

bita

t.

Bar

row

’s g

olde

neye

1 B

ucep

hala

isla

ndic

a O

pen

wat

er o

n la

kes,

pon

ds a

nd r

eser

voir

s Y

earl

ong-

LA

C

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Har

lequ

in d

uck1

His

trio

nicu

s hi

stri

onic

us

Nes

ts a

long

fas

t-m

ovin

g ri

vers

and

mou

ntai

n st

ream

s on

roc

ky is

land

s or

roc

ky

bank

s.

Yea

rlon

g- L

AC

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

ha

bita

t.

Hoo

ded

mer

gans

er

Mer

gus

cucu

llat

us

Ope

n w

ater

on

lake

s, p

onds

and

res

ervo

irs.

W

inte

r- L

AC

, FE

W, V

RI

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Com

mon

mer

gans

er

Mer

gus

mer

gans

er

Ope

n w

ater

on

lake

s, p

onds

and

res

ervo

irs.

Y

earl

ong-

LA

C, F

EW

, MR

I, V

RI.

S

umm

er -

WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Red

-bre

aste

d m

erga

nser

M

ergu

s se

rrat

or

Ope

n w

ater

on

lake

s, p

onds

and

res

ervo

irs.

W

inte

r- L

AC

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

ha

bita

t.

Rud

dy d

uck

Oxy

ura

jam

aice

nsis

O

pen

wat

er o

n la

kes,

pon

ds, r

eser

voir

s an

d M

arsh

es.

Yea

rlon

g- L

AC

, FE

W, V

RI

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Rin

g-ne

cked

phe

asan

t P

hasi

anus

col

chic

us

Ope

n co

untr

y (e

spec

iall

y cu

ltiv

ated

are

as, s

crub

by w

aste

s, o

pen

woo

dlan

d an

d ed

ges

of w

oods

), g

rass

y st

eppe

, des

ert o

ases

, riv

ersi

de th

icke

ts, s

wam

ps a

nd

open

mou

ntai

n fo

rest

. Y

earl

ong-

AG

S, B

OP

, FE

W, V

RI,

WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Wil

d tu

rkey

M

elea

gris

gal

lopa

vo

Pin

yon-

Juni

per

woo

dlan

ds.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, MC

H, M

CP

, M

HC

, MH

W, P

PN

, MR

I, V

OW

, VR

I,

WT

M.

Sum

mer

-SM

C

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Ban

d-ta

iled

pig

eon

Col

umba

fasc

iata

L

ower

ele

vati

ons

and

tran

siti

on z

one

of m

ixed

con

ifer

for

est b

etw

een

1200

and

55

00 f

t ele

vati

on.

Yea

rlon

g-M

HC

, MH

W, P

PN

, VR

I.

Win

ter-

BO

P, B

OW

, VO

W.

Sum

mer

-M

CP

, SM

C, M

RI

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Mou

ntai

n qu

ail1

Ore

orty

x pi

ctus

Mix

ed f

ores

ts d

omin

ated

by

Bla

ck O

ak, L

odge

pole

Pin

e, R

ed F

ir, M

ount

ain

Hem

lock

and

Whi

te P

ine

dom

inat

ed f

ores

t fro

m 1

200

ft to

750

0 ft

ele

vati

on

and

mou

ntai

n C

hapa

rral

.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, DF

R, M

CP

, MH

C, M

HW

, P

PN

, SM

C, M

RI,

VR

I, W

TM

. W

inte

r-B

OP

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Com

mon

moo

rhen

G

alli

nula

chl

orop

us

Fre

shw

ater

mar

shes

, can

als,

qui

et r

iver

s, la

kes,

pon

ds, m

angr

oves

, pri

mar

ily

in

area

s of

em

erge

nt v

eget

atio

n an

d gr

assy

bor

ders

. Y

earl

ong-

LA

C, F

EW

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

ha

bita

t.

Yub

a C

ount

y W

ater

Age

ncy

Yub

a R

iver

Dev

elop

men

t Pro

ject

F

ER

C P

roje

ct N

o. 2

246

Wild

life

Res

ourc

es

Pre-

App

licat

ion

Doc

umen

t N

ovem

ber

2010

P

age

7.4-

12

©20

10, Y

uba

Cou

nty

Wat

er A

genc

y

Tab

le 7

.4.4

-1.

(con

tin

ued

) C

omm

on N

ame/

S

cien

tifi

c N

ame

Su

itab

le H

abit

at T

ype

Tem

por

al a

nd

S

pat

ial D

istr

ibu

tion

2 O

ccu

rren

ce in

P

roje

ct A

rea

BIR

DS

(co

nti

nu

ed)

Am

eric

an c

oot

Ful

ica

amer

ican

a O

pen

wat

er a

reas

, alo

ng la

ke s

hore

s an

d st

ream

edg

es, a

nd in

mar

shes

. W

inte

r-A

GS

. Y

earl

ong-

LA

C, F

EW

. S

umm

er-W

TM

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

ha

bita

t.

Mou

rnin

g do

ve

Zen

aida

mac

rour

a L

ower

ele

vati

ons

and

tran

siti

on z

one

of m

ixed

con

ifer

for

est b

etw

een

1200

and

55

00 f

t ele

vati

on.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, DF

R, M

HC

, S

MC

, VO

W, V

RI,

WT

M.

Sum

mer

-MC

P,

MH

W, P

PN

, MR

I

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat

Am

eric

an c

row

C

orvu

s br

achy

rhyn

chos

O

pen

and

part

ly o

pen

coun

try:

agr

icul

tura

l lan

ds, s

ubur

ban

area

s, o

rcha

rds,

and

ti

dal f

lats

.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, DF

R, M

HW

, L

AC

, VO

W, V

RI.

Mig

rant

-MH

C, P

PN

, S

MC

, MR

I

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

MA

MM

AL

S

Vir

gini

a op

ossu

m

Did

elph

is v

irgi

nian

a

Ver

y ad

apta

ble;

may

be

foun

d in

mos

t hab

itat

s. P

refe

rs w

oode

d ri

pari

an

habi

tats

. A

lso

in s

ubur

ban

area

s. A

band

oned

bur

row

s, b

uild

ings

, hol

low

logs

, an

d tr

ee c

avit

ies

are

gene

rall

y us

ed f

or d

en s

ites

.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, DF

R, M

CP

, M

HC

, MH

W, P

PN

, SM

C, F

EW

, MR

I,

VO

W, V

RI,

WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Des

ert c

otto

ntai

l Sy

lvil

agus

aud

ubon

ii

Var

ious

hab

itat

s; d

ry u

plan

ds a

s w

ell a

s lo

w v

alle

ys a

nd c

anyo

ns.

May

inha

bit

open

gra

ssla

nds,

bru

shla

nds,

edg

es o

f fo

othi

ll w

oodl

ands

, wil

low

thic

kets

, so

met

imes

in c

ulti

vate

d fi

elds

or

unde

r bu

ildi

ngs.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

. S

umm

er-

MC

P, V

OW

, VR

I, W

TM

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

ha

bita

t.

Bla

ck-t

aile

d ja

ckra

bbit

Lep

us c

alif

orni

cus

Ope

n pl

ains

, fie

lds,

and

des

erts

; ope

n co

untr

y w

ith

scat

tere

d th

icke

ts o

r pa

tche

s of

shr

ubs.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, MC

H,

MH

W, C

RC

, UR

B, V

OW

, VR

I, W

TM

. S

umm

er-M

RI

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Am

eric

an b

eave

r C

asto

r ca

nade

nsis

R

eadi

ly o

ccup

y ar

tifi

cial

pon

ds, r

eser

voir

s, a

nd c

anal

s if

foo

d is

ava

ilab

le.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

W, M

CP

, MH

C, S

MC

, L

AC

, FE

W, M

RI,

VO

W, V

RI,

WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Com

mon

mus

krat

O

ndat

ra z

ibet

hicu

s

Fre

sh o

r br

acki

sh m

arsh

es, l

akes

, pon

ds, s

wam

ps, a

nd o

ther

bod

ies

of s

low

-m

ovin

g w

ater

. R

are

or a

bsen

t in

arti

fici

al im

poun

dmen

ts w

ith

fluc

tuat

ing

wat

er le

vels

. Y

earl

ong-

LA

C, F

EW

, MR

I, V

RI,

WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Coy

ote

Can

is la

tran

s W

ide

rang

e of

hab

itat

s in

its

exte

nsiv

e ra

nge,

fro

m o

pen

prai

ries

of

the

wes

t to

the

heav

ily

fore

sted

are

as o

f th

e N

orth

east

; som

etim

es f

ound

in c

itie

s.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BA

R, B

OP

, BO

W, D

FR

, M

CP

, MH

C, M

HW

, PP

N, S

MC

, FE

W,

MR

I, V

OW

, VR

I, W

TM

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Gra

y fo

x U

rocy

on c

iner

eoar

gent

eus

Oft

en f

ound

in w

oodl

and

and

shru

blan

d in

rou

gh, b

roke

n co

untr

y.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, DF

R, M

CP

, M

HC

, MH

W, P

PN

, SM

C, F

EW

, MR

I,

VO

W, V

RI,

WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Rac

coon

P

rocy

on lo

tor

Var

ious

hab

itat

s; u

sual

ly in

moi

st s

itua

tion

s, o

ften

alo

ng s

trea

ms

and

shor

elin

es.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, DF

R, M

CP

, M

HC

, MH

W, P

PN

, SM

C, L

AC

, FE

W,

MR

I, V

OW

, VR

I, W

TM

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Erm

ine

Mus

tela

erm

inea

P

refe

rs w

oode

d ar

eas

wit

h th

ick

unde

rsto

ry n

ear

wat

erco

urse

s. R

arel

y oc

curs

in

hea

vily

for

este

d re

gion

s.

Yea

rlon

g-D

FR

, MC

P, M

HC

, MH

W, P

PN

, S

MC

, MR

I, W

TM

P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

ha

bita

t.

Lon

g-ta

iled

wea

sel

Mus

tela

fren

ata

Wid

e va

riet

y of

hab

itat

s, u

sual

ly n

ear

wat

er.

Fav

ored

hab

itat

s in

clud

e br

ushl

and

and

open

woo

dlan

ds, f

ield

edg

es, r

ipar

ian

gras

slan

ds, s

wam

ps, a

nd

mar

shes

.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, DF

R, M

CP

, M

HC

, MH

W, P

PN

, SM

C, M

RI,

VO

W,

VR

I, W

TM

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Am

eric

an m

ink

Mus

tela

vis

on

Fav

ors

fore

sted

per

man

ent o

r se

mi p

erm

anen

t wet

land

s w

ith

abun

dant

cov

er,

mar

shes

, and

rip

aria

n zo

nes.

Y

earl

ong-

LA

C, F

EW

, MR

I, V

RI

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Yub

a C

ount

y W

ater

Age

ncy

Yub

a R

iver

Dev

elop

men

t Pro

ject

F

ER

C P

roje

ct N

o. 2

246

Nov

embe

r 20

10

Pre-

App

licat

ion

Doc

umen

t W

ildlif

e R

esou

rces

©20

10, Y

uba

Cou

nty

Wat

er A

genc

y P

age

7.4-

13

Tab

le 7

.4.4

-1.

(con

tin

ued

) C

omm

on N

ame/

S

cien

tifi

c N

ame

Su

itab

le H

abit

at T

ype

Tem

por

al a

nd

S

pat

ial D

istr

ibu

tion

2 O

ccu

rren

ce in

P

roje

ct A

rea

MA

MM

AL

S (

con

tin

ued

)

Str

iped

sku

nk

Mep

hiti

s m

ephi

tis

Sem

i-op

en c

ount

ry w

ith

woo

dlan

d an

d m

eado

ws

inte

rspe

rsed

, bru

shy

area

s,

bott

omla

nd w

oods

. F

requ

entl

y fo

und

in s

ubur

ban

area

s.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, DF

R, M

CP

, M

HC

, MH

W, P

PN

, SM

C, F

EW

, MR

I,

VO

W, V

RI,

WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Dou

glas

’ sq

uirr

el

Tam

iasc

iuru

s do

ugla

sii

Con

ifer

ous

fore

sts,

in u

pper

pin

e be

lt a

nd in

fir

, spr

uce,

and

hem

lock

for

ests

. Y

earl

ong-

DF

R, M

HC

, MH

W, P

PN

, SM

C,

MR

I P

oten

tial

ly o

ccur

wit

hin

suit

able

ha

bita

t.

Wes

tern

gra

y sq

uirr

el

Sciu

rus

gris

eus

Dep

ende

nt u

pon

mat

ure

stan

ds o

f m

ixed

con

ifer

and

oak

hab

itat

s, c

lose

ly

asso

ciat

ed w

ith

oaks

. Y

earl

ong-

BO

P, B

OW

, DF

R, M

CP

, MH

C,

MH

W, P

PN

, SM

C, M

RI,

VO

W, V

RI

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Bla

ck b

ear

Urs

us a

mer

ican

us

Occ

ur in

fai

rly

dens

e, m

atur

e st

ands

of

man

y fo

rest

hab

itat

s m

ostl

y ab

ove

3000

fe

et e

leva

tion

, and

fee

d in

a v

arie

ty o

f ha

bita

ts in

clud

ing

brus

hy s

tand

s of

fo

rest

, val

ley

foot

hill

rip

aria

n an

d w

et m

eado

ws.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, D

FR

, MC

P, M

HC

, M

HW

, PP

N, S

MC

, MR

I, V

RI,

WT

M.

Sum

mer

- L

AC

. M

igra

nt-

LA

C

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Am

eric

an b

adge

r1 T

axid

ea ta

xus

Pre

fers

ope

n ar

eas

and

may

als

o fr

eque

nt b

rush

land

s w

ith

litt

le g

roun

dcov

er.

Whe

n in

acti

ve, o

ccup

ies

unde

rgro

und

burr

ow.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BA

R, B

OP

, BO

W, D

FR

, M

CP

, MH

C, M

HW

, PP

N, S

MC

, MR

I,

VO

W, V

RI,

WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Mul

e de

er1

Odo

coil

eus

hem

ionu

s

Ear

ly to

inte

rmed

iate

suc

cess

iona

l sta

ges

of m

ost f

ores

t, w

oodl

and,

and

bru

sh

habi

tats

inte

rspe

rsed

wit

h he

rbac

eous

ope

ning

s, d

ense

bru

sh o

r tr

ee th

icke

ts,

ripa

rian

are

as, a

nd a

bund

ant e

dge.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, DF

R, M

CP

, M

HC

, MH

W, F

EW

, MR

I, V

OW

, VR

I,

WT

M.

Sum

mer

-PP

N, S

MC

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Bob

cat

Fel

is r

ufus

Var

ious

hab

itat

s in

clud

ing

deci

duou

s-co

nife

rous

woo

dlan

ds a

nd f

ores

t edg

e,

hard

woo

d fo

rest

s, s

wam

ps, f

ores

ted

rive

r bo

ttom

land

s, b

rush

land

s, d

eser

ts,

mou

ntai

ns, a

nd o

ther

are

as w

ith

thic

k un

derg

row

th.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, DF

R, M

CP

, M

HC

, MH

W, P

PN

, SM

C, F

EW

, MR

I,

VO

W, V

RI,

WT

M

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Wil

d pi

g Su

s sc

rofa

Den

sely

for

este

d m

ount

aino

us te

rrai

n, b

rush

land

s, d

ry r

idge

s, s

wam

ps;

som

etim

es in

fie

lds,

mar

shes

. O

ften

in m

ixed

har

dwoo

d fo

rest

wit

h pe

rman

ent

wat

er s

ourc

e. S

easo

nal c

hang

es in

hab

itat

use

are

link

ed to

foo

d av

aila

bili

ty.

Yea

rlon

g-A

GS

, BO

P, B

OW

, DF

R, M

CP

, M

HC

, MH

W, P

PN

, SM

C, M

RI,

VO

W,

VR

I, W

TM

Pot

enti

ally

occ

ur w

ithi

n su

itab

le

habi

tat.

Sou

rces

: C

DF

G 2

009d

,e; N

atur

eSer

ve 2

009

1 S

peci

al-S

tatu

s S

peci

es (

see

tabl

e 7.

4.3-

1)

2 C

WH

R H

abit

at T

ypes

:

A

GS

= A

nnua

l Gra

ss

BA

R =

Bar

ren

BO

P =

Blu

e O

ak F

ooth

ill P

ine

BO

W =

Blu

e O

ak W

oodl

and

CR

C =

Cha

mis

e-R

edsh

ank

Cha

parr

al

CR

P =

Cro

plan

d

D

FR

= D

ougl

as F

ir

FE

W =

Fre

sh E

mer

gent

Wet

land

L

AC

= A

gric

ultu

re P

onds

, Wat

er F

eatu

res,

Gen

eral

Wat

er (

i.e.,

lake

s, p

onds

, res

ervo

irs,

di

vers

ion

impo

undm

ents

)

M

CH

= M

ixed

Cha

parr

al

MC

P =

Mon

tane

Cha

parr

al

MH

C =

Mon

tane

Har

dwoo

d C

onif

er

MH

W =

Mon

tane

Har

dwoo

d

M

RI

= M

onta

ne R

ipar

ian

PP

N =

Pon

dero

sa P

ine

RIV

= R

iver

ine

SC

N =

Sub

alpi

ne C

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Yuba County Water Agency Yuba River Development Project FERC Project No. 2246

Wildlife Resources Pre-Application Document November 2010 Page 7.4-14 ©2010, Yuba County Water Agency

7.4.5 Wildlife Resources of the Yuba River 7.4.5.1 Upstream of Project Area In addition to the information provided above, Licensee found the information described below regarding special-status wildlife upstream of the Project Area. The source documents6 for special-status wildlife upstream of the Project Area include Nevada Irrigation District’s (NID) PAD, the SNFMISA, the Downieville/Nevada City Deer Herd Management Plan, the Bucks Mountain/Mooretown Deer Herd Management Plan, CDFG’s An Assessment of Mule and Black-tailed Deer Habitats and Populations in California, CWHR query, CNDDB query, and a special-status bat study performed by NID. 7.4.5.1.1 Nevada Irrigation District Pre-Application Document NID prepared a PAD for the Yuba-Bear Hydroelectric Project relicensing and identified 44 special-status wildlife species that could potentially occur in the Yuba-Bear Hydroelectric Project Area (NID 2008). The Yuba-Bear Hydroelectric Project is located both upstream and to the southeast of the Project on the Middle and South Yuba rivers, approximately 35 miles east and southeast of the Project Area. The 44 species are special-status species and include 1 reptile, 27 birds, and 16 mammals. The 44 special-status species are as follows: coast horned lizard, yellow warbler, northern goshawk, California spotted owl, sooty (blue) grouse, fox sparrow, mountain quail, hairy woodpecker, black-backed woodpecker, common loon, merlin (Falco columbarius), double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), osprey (Pandion haliaetus), long-eared owl, short-eared owl, purple martin, gray vireo (Vireo vicinior) yellow-breasted chat, Barrow’s goldeneye, harlequin duck, sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus), Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii), California gull (Larus californicus), black swift, ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis), long-billed curlew (Numenius americanus), black tern, California horned lark (Eremophila alpestris actia), western red bat, American marten, western small-footed myotis (Myotis ciliolabrum), Yuma myotis (Myotis yumanensis), long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis), fringed myotis (Myotis thysanodes), spotted bat, western mastiff bat, northern flying squirrel, Townsend’s big-eared bat, pallid bat, Sierra Nevada snowshoe hare, mule deer, Sierra Nevada mountain beaver, and white tailed hare (Lepus townsendii). A query of the CNDDB for the Yuba-Bear Hydroelectric Project PAD indicated that three of these species have been reported within 0.25 mile of the Yuba-Bear Hydroelectric Project FERC Project Boundary. The species were northern goshawk, osprey, and California spotted owl (NID 2008). In addition, important deer habitat areas occur throughout the Yuba-Bear Hydroelectric Project Area, particularly surrounding Project water bodies (NID 2008).

6 A source document is a document reporting original surveys or data.

Yuba County Water Agency Yuba River Development Project

FERC Project No. 2246

November 2010 Pre-Application Document Wildlife Resources ©2010, Yuba County Water Agency Page 7.4-15

7.4.5.1.2 Sierra Nevada Forest Management Indicator Species Amendment In 2007, the SNFMISA Record of Decision, revised the MIS listings and associated monitoring strategies for ten National Forests in the Sierra Nevada, including Plumas National Forest (PNF) and TNF (USFS 2007). The revision created a single MIS list for all ten national forests rather than each individual national forest maintaining its own list. The revised MIS list includes 12 species: fox sparrow, greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), mule deer, yellow warbler, Pacific treefrog (Pseudacris sierra formerly known as P. regilla), mountain quail, sooty (blue) grouse, California spotted owl, American marten, northern flying squirrel, hairy woodpecker, and black-backed woodpecker. The MIS identified for ten national forests in the Sierra Nevada replace the former MIS identified under each of the ten National Forests’ individual Land and Resource Management Plans (LRMP). Of the 12 MIS species, the TNF identified 10 species as having the potential to occur on TNF lands: fox sparrow, mule deer, yellow warbler, mountain quail, sooty (blue) grouse, California spotted owl, northern flying squirrel, American marten, hairy woodpecker, and black-backed woodpecker (USFS 2007). These same species, excluding American marten, were also identified for PNF (USFS 2007). 7.4.5.1.3 Downieville/Nevada City Deer Herd Management Plan CDFG identifies four deer herds in the Project Vicinity: the Downieville, Nevada City, Bucks Mountain, and Mooretown deer herds. The four herds are managed under two separate management plans: the Downieville/Nevada City Deer Herd Management Plan and the Bucks Mountain/Mooretown Deer Herd Management Plan. The Nevada City deer herd occupies lands on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada, upstream of the Project. The boundary to the north includes the Middle Yuba River and Jackson Meadows Reservoir. The eastern boundary includes the area near White Rock Lake. The southern boundary parallels Interstate 80 and continues down the Bear River to the Chicago Park area. The western boundary runs from the Chicago Park area north to the Middle Yuba River. In 1983, the estimated population was around 3,600 individuals (Wagner and Finn 1985). The Downieville deer herd is discussed in Section 7.4.5.2, Wildlife Resources in the Project Area. 7.4.5.1.4 Bucks Mountain/Mooretown Deer Herd Management Plan The Bucks Mountain deer herd is located in western Plumas and eastern Butte counties, and includes portions of Lassen and Plumas national forests. The southern boundary includes a section of the Middle Fork Feather River. The total range area is approximately 728 square miles (Snowden and Perkins 1983). The Mooretown deer herd borders the southern boundary of the Bucks Mountain herd, and extends into northwestern Sierra and northeastern Yuba counties. The total range area is approximately 703 square miles (Snowden and Perkins 1983). The Mooretown deer herd is discussed further in Section 7.4.5.2, Wildlife Resources in the Project Area.

Yuba County Water Agency Yuba River Development Project FERC Project No. 2246

Wildlife Resources Pre-Application Document November 2010 Page 7.4-16 ©2010, Yuba County Water Agency

7.4.5.1.5 An Assessment of Mule and Black-tailed Deer Habitats and Populations in California

Currently little information exists as to the effectiveness of the solutions and prescriptions identified by the management plans with respect to betterment of herd populations and no information was found specific to the four herds in the Project Vicinity. In 1998 the CDFG, in cooperation with the Forest Service and BLM, published An Assessment of Mule and Black-tailed Deer Habitats and Populations in California, which was a product of a workshop that discussed deer population trends, habitat status, habitat issues, and opportunities for changes in habitat condition among CDFG’s 11 Deer Assessment Units in California (Loft 1998). According to this report, Deer Assessment Unit 5, which encompasses the Central Sierra Nevada and includes the Nevada City and Bucks Mountain herds, has seen a recent downward trend in population from 120,000-130,000 to 50,000-90,000. 7.4.5.1.6 California Wildlife Habitat Relationships A query of the CWHR database for Sierra County showed that 32 special-status species have the potential to occur upstream of the Project Area (CDFG 2009d): Eighteen species are listed only as SSC. These are: common loon, American white pelican,

northern harrier, black tern, long-eared owl, short-eared owl, purple martin, yellow warbler, yellow-breasted chat, vesper sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus), olive-sided flycatcher, yellow-headed blackbird, black swift, Vaux’s swift, burrowing owl, spotted bat, western mastiff bat, and Sierra Nevada snowshoe hare.

Six species are listed as SSC and are harvestable species. These are: sooty (blue) grouse, redhead, harlequin duck, black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), American badger, and greater sage-grouse.

Eight species are listed as special-status species by two or more agencies. These are: northern goshawk, California spotted owl, western red bat, Townsend’s big-eared bat, pallid bat, northern flying squirrel, and American marten.

7.4.5.1.7 California Natural Diversity Database A query of the CNDDB for special-status species for quadrangles located immediately upstream of the Project identified nine special-status species (CDFG 2009e). Queries were conducted for Clio, Calpine, Antelope Valley, Loyalton, Beckwourth Pass, Constantina, Evans Canyon, Frenchman Lake, and McKesick Peak United States Geological Survey (USGS) topographic quadrangles. Documented special-status species included two birds and seven mammals: northern goshawk, long-eared owl, spotted bat, pallid bat, Sierra Nevada snowshoe hare, western white-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii townsendii), American marten, and American badger. 7.4.5.1.6 Nevada Irrigation District Special-Status Bat Survey In 2007, NID conducted interior and exterior visual surveys of powerhouses and auxiliary buildings in order to verify the presence of bats. Inspections focused on the presence of

Yuba County Water Agency Yuba River Development Project

FERC Project No. 2246

November 2010 Pre-Application Document Wildlife Resources ©2010, Yuba County Water Agency Page 7.4-17

individuals, guano, and/or staining of walls to determine occupancy or use. The inspections occurred at Bowman Powerhouse, Dutch Flat No. 3 Powerhouse, Chicago Park Powerhouse, and Rollins Powerhouse. No signs of bat activity or access points were found at any of the survey locations, but bats of unknown species were observed nearby at the Pacific Gas and Electric Company Drum-Spaulding Project site (NID 2008). In 2009, acoustic surveys and mist-netting surveys for bats were conducted in support of the Yuba-Bear Hydroelectric Project. Survey locations nearest the project area and within the Yuba River drainage were located in the upper reaches of the Middle Fork Yuba River at Milton Diversion Impoundment; and at Sawmill Dam and Bowman Powerhouse on Canyon Creek, a tributary to the South Yuba River. The following special-status bat species were either recorded acoustically or trapped during Yuba-Bear Hydroelectric Project bat studies: western red bat, spotted bat, Townsend’s big-eared bat, pallid bat, and western mastiff bat. 7.4.5.2 Wildlife Resources in Project Area Licensee found nine source documents regarding wildlife resources in the Project Area. These documents were the 2007 Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (FEIR/EIS) for the Lower Yuba River Accord (Accord), the Downieville/Nevada City Deer Herd Management Plan, the Bucks Mountain/Mooretown Deer Herd Management Plan, CDFG’s Am Assessment of Mule and Black-tailed Deer Habitats and Populations in California, the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center’s (SFREC) Birds of SFREC, the Final Environmental Impact Report on the Cumulative Impact of Rural Residential Development on Migratory Deer in Yuba County, the Downieville Deer Herd Trapping Program – 1977, the D3 Deer Telemetry study – Preliminary Report, and the 2008 California Deer Kill Report. The Licensee was also provided with three letters from the CDFG to Yuba County dated July 2, 1991, April 7, 1992, and April 25, 1996, as well as a document titled Defining Annual Deer Habitat Needs as Related to Disturbances. The three letters were reviewed but are not summarized below because they provided direction for county zoning and planning with respect to urban development and not study specific data related to mule deer within the Project Area. The document titled Defining Annual Deer Habitat needs as Related to Disturbances was also reviewed but is not summarized below because it only contains general habitat descriptions related to mule deer, and not study specific data related to mule deer within the Project Area. 7.4.5.2.1 Lower Yuba River Accord Final EIR/EIS A FEIR/EIS was prepared in 2007 for the Yuba Accord (YCWA et al. 2007). The FEIR/EIS contains a discussion of the wildlife resources within the Yuba Accord study area that may be affected by its implementation. The Yuba Accord study area extends from USACE’s Englebright Dam downstream to the confluence of the Yuba River with the Feather River. Because the Yuba Accord study area overlaps with the lower extent of the Project Area (i.e., the portion of the Yuba River between USACE’s Englebright Dam and Daguerre Point Dam), all information pertaining to wildlife resources obtained from the FEIR/EIS explicitly identified as occurring within USGS quadrangles common to both the Project and the Accord are included

Yuba County Water Agency Yuba River Development Project FERC Project No. 2246

Wildlife Resources Pre-Application Document November 2010 Page 7.4-18 ©2010, Yuba County Water Agency

here. All other terrestrial wildlife information gathered from the FEIR/EIS not explicitly identified as occurring within USGS quadrangles common to both the Project and the Yuba Accord are included in Section 7.4.5.3 below. As part of the FEIR/EIS, a special-status species list was generated from three sources: a query of the CNDDB; and requests for information from the USFWS regarding a list of special-status species that are known to occur or have the potential to occur in the area; and a review of the range, distribution, and habitat associations for all species listed under the CESA. The FEIR/EIS special-status species list included ESA and CESA listed, proposed, and candidate species, as well as fully protected species, and SSC. The special-status species list created for the FEIR/EIS is included in Table 7.4.5-1. The FEIR/EIS identified eight special-status species with the potential to occur within the FEIR/EIS Project Study Area. The FEIR/EIS did not identify any occurrences of the eight special-status species within the Project Area.

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Yuba County Water Agency Yuba River Development Project FERC Project No. 2246

Wildlife Resources Pre-Application Document November 2010 Page 7.4-20 ©2010, Yuba County Water Agency

7.4.5.2.2 Downieville/Nevada City Deer Herd Management Plan CDFG identifies two main deer herds in the Project Vicinity: Downieville and Nevada City (Wagner and Finn 1985). The Nevada City deer herd was discussed previously in Section 7.4.5.1 and its range does not overlap with the Project Area. The Downieville deer herd winter range occupies land on the northeastern and southeastern sides of New Bullards Bar Reservoir. The winter range is defined as lower elevation habitat that provides forage and cover during the winter months (Wagner and Finn 1985). 7.4.5.2.3 Bucks Mountain/Mooretown Deer Herd Management Plan CDFG identified two other herds in the Project Vicinity: Bucks Mountain and Mooretown (Snowden and Perkins 1983). The Bucks Mountain deer herd was discussed previously in Section 7.4.5.1 and does not overlap with the Project Area. The Mooretown deer herd borders the Bucks Mountain herd to the north and includes a portion of the South Fork Feather River. The Mooretown deer herd’s winter range also extends through the western portion of New Bullards Bar Reservoir, which overlaps with the Project Area (Snowden and Perkins 1983). The Mooretown deer herd’s winter range occupies 232,000 acres, ranging in elevation from 500 to 3,800 feet. Only 10% of the Mooretown Deer herd winter range occurs on publicly owned lands (Forest Service, BLM, or State of California administered lands), with an additional 10% occurring on lands owned by timber companies. The remaining 80% is under private ownership and is dominated by residential and grazing uses (Snowden and Perkins 1983). According to CDFG’s Bucks Mountain/Mooretown Deer Herd Management Plan (Snowden and Perkins 1983) non-hunting related cause for deer mortality includes illegal kill and crippling loss during hunting season, poaching, road kill, weather, drowning in canals and reservoirs, depredation hunting, natural predation, and disease. No data specific to the Project was available with regards to drowning in canals and reservoirs. The management plan also identifies 11 factors that limit herd populations, which include rural sprawl, reforestation and brush management, loss of oaks, roads, fire suppression, water impoundments, grazing, poaching, predation, hunting and weather. Rural sprawl is considered to be the greatest limiting factor on herd populations especially within the winter range. According to the management plan, the state of California has set forth goals to… “Restore and maintain healthy populations and to provide for high quality, diversified use of the herds.” The statewide goals originally specified that deer populations observed in 1965 were the benchmark for restoration, and specify a population goal of 9,463 deer for the Mooretown Herd (Snowden and Perkins 1983). However loss of winter range habitat has made that goal impractical for the Mooretown herd, and the current population goal set forth by CDFG for the Mooretown herd is 7,600 deer (Snowden and Perkins 1983). Other population goals include a fall buck to doe ratio of 20 to100 and a spring fawn ratio of 45 to 55 fawns per 100 does. With respect to habitat, the management plan specifies preservation of winter range habitat, increase in forage quality and quantity, mitigation to compensate for impacts causing habitat loss or degradation, avoiding elimination of habitat components from herd ranges, and relocating or altering structural impedances that adversely impact habitat or behavior (Snowden and Perkins 1983).

Yuba County Water Agency Yuba River Development Project

FERC Project No. 2246

November 2010 Pre-Application Document Wildlife Resources ©2010, Yuba County Water Agency Page 7.4-21

In order to achieve the goals set forth by the plan, CDFG has identified seven solutions and prescriptions (Snowden and Perkins 1983). These include: 1) inventory and investigation, which includes population monitoring of the Mooretown herd; 2) mortality control, which includes mitigation against losses due to road and water projects via appropriate legal and licensing requirements, disease, take from hunting, and human encroachment, as well as land use descriptions and habitat improvements; 3) habitat, which includes reduction of impacts resulting from human encroachment on winter range, such as road construction, fuelwood cutting, reforestation, and reservoir and hydroelectric projects, as well as promoting habitat improvements through use of fire, large open space and resource conservation land use elements within local government planning documents, increased public support for programs that provide for the betterment of habitat, habitat retention, reduction of overgrazing on winter range, and urging of public agencies to remove recreation facilities and buildings from meadows; 4) utilization, which includes hunting; 5) communication, which includes public education; 6) law enforcement, which consists of increased warden patrol and additional deterrents to poachers; and 7) regular review and update of the management plan (Snowden and Perkins 1983). Included in the management plan were the results of the Mooretown Deer Herd telemetry study progress report. According to the report 114 deer were caught between 1980 and 1982, of which five migratory does were radio tagged. The study suggested that spring migration movement began in late April and early May with fall migration beginning late September to mid-October. Movement during migration was consistent with other reports that suggested that migration routes followed major ridge systems. 7.4.5.2.4 An Assessment of Mule and Black-tailed Deer Habitats and Populations in

California Currently little information exists as to the effectiveness of the solutions and prescriptions identified by the management plans with respect to betterment of herd populations and no information was found specific to the four herds in the Project Vicinity. In 1998 the CDFG, in cooperation with the Forest Service and BLM, published An Assessment of Mule and Black-tailed Deer Habitats and Populations in California, which was a product of a workshop that discussed deer population trends, habitat status, habitat issues, and opportunities for changes in habitat condition among CDFG’s 11 Deer Assessment Units in California (Loft 1998). According to this report, Deer Assessment Unit 5, which encompasses the Central Sierra Nevada and includes the Downieville and Mooretown herds, has seen a recent downward trend in population from 120,000-130,000 to 50,000-90,000. 7.4.5.2.5 University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, SFREC SFREC borders the northwest shores of USACE’s Englebright Reservoir and northern banks of the Yuba River below USACE’s Englebright Dam. SFREC encompasses 5,721 acres of mixed hardwood and open annual grassland habitats between 220 and 2,020 feet above mean sea level. SFREC has identified 113 species of seasonal migrant or year-long resident birds, 92 of whom use the habitats of the field station for breeding, cover, or food (Block and Morrison 1990). 7.4.5.2.6 Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) on the Cumulative Impacts of Rural

Yuba County Water Agency Yuba River Development Project FERC Project No. 2246

Wildlife Resources Pre-Application Document November 2010 Page 7.4-22 ©2010, Yuba County Water Agency

Residential Development on Migratory Deer in Yuba County The FEIR considers all future division of land for residential development in the foothill and mountain areas of Yuba County with an immediate focus on proposed 29 construction projects and their impacts to mule deer movement and habitat (Yuba County 1985). According to the FEIR a study was developed to identify deer migratory routes as well as feeding and fawning areas in Yuba County. Twenty-nine parcels were reviewed and the effects of land development were summarized. The study began on June 5, 1984, and was completed on August 6, 1984. The summary indicated that a majority of the developments would occur within areas used by deer during migration, and would have a significant impact on mule deer by creation of barriers (fences, dogs, roads). As a result of the study, mitigations measures were recommended and included both direct measures to be applied to individual projects and amendments to the County’s General Plan and Zoning Ordnance. In general these measures included restriction of development across migratory corridors, retention of habitat buffers that allow for unrestricted deer movement around developments, clustering of home sites on the least environmentally sensitive portion of the site, improving habitat in areas outside of the proposed development, and implementation of mitigation fees. 7.4.5.2.7 Downieville Deer Herd Trapping Program – 1977 In 1977 a trapping program was implemented as part of the Sierra County Wildlife Conservation Element Study (Sierra County 1977). The goal was to obtain information regarding the location of deer winter and summer ranges and their migration corridors. Trapping occurred at two sites (Oregon Peak and Our House). Eight deer were trapped and four adult does were outfitted with a radio transmitter and monitored via aerial telemetry flights between March 11 1977 and November 9, 1977. Winter range was identified along Hwy 49 between Downieville and Pittsburg Hill, and north of the Middle Yuba River between Plumbago Road and the confluence of Clear Creek and Middle Yuba River. The spring migration route for deer captured at Our House was north of the Middle Yuba River along Lafayette/Henness Pass Road. During the summer months, the Our House trap site deer moved south of the Middle Yuba River to the vicinity of Haystack Peak. The fall migration route (from summer range back to the trapping site) was from Haystack Peak west towards the trap site, crossing the Middle Yuba River in the vicinity of North Columbia. The spring migration route for the deer trapped at Oregon Peak was north and east around New Bullards Bar Reservoir and continued upslope between Canyon Creek and the North Yuba River. The fall migration route followed the Port Wine Ridge north of Canyon Creek. 7.4.5.2.8 D3 Deer Telemetry Study Preliminary Report The Project Area is located within CDFG’s Deer Hunt Zone D3 (CDFG 1986). In 1985 the CDFG initiated a deer telemetry study within portions of the D3 deer hunting zone. Three sites were chosen for trapping, of which the Richards Ranch site was closest to the Project Area (located just west of New Colgate Powerhouse). Of the thirteen deer captured, six adult does were radio collared and one adult doe was tagged. All but one of the deer captured at Richards Ranch began their spring migration during the first part of May. During migration telemetry data

Yuba County Water Agency Yuba River Development Project

FERC Project No. 2246

November 2010 Pre-Application Document Wildlife Resources ©2010, Yuba County Water Agency Page 7.4-23

indicated that the Richards Ranch deer migrated in a northeasterly direction around the north shore and south shores of New Bullards Bar Reservoir. 7.4.5.2.9 2008 California Deer Kill Report According to CDFG’s 2008 report, 763 mule deer bucks were harvested in zone D3, which is above the five year average (2004 – 2008) of 714 (CDFG 2008f). However, the CDFG estimates harvest numbers to be higher than reported (around 1,080) because of unreported hunter take. 7.4.5.3 Downstream of the Project Area Licensee found one source document regarding wildlife resources downstream of the Project and queried additional special-status species information from the CNDDB. Both the source document and the CNDDB query have been summarized below. 7.4.5.3.1 Lower Yuba River Accord FEIR/EIS A FEIR/EIS was prepared in 2007 for the Yuba Accord (discussed in Section 7.4.5.2 above; YCWA et al. 2007). Information pertaining to wildlife resources from the FEIR/EIS that are explicitly identified as occurring within USGS quadrangles common to both the Project and Accord were included in Section 7.4.5.2 (above). Wildlife resources obtained from the FEIR/EIS that were not explicitly identified as occurring within USGS quadrangles common to both the Project and Accord are described below. A list of vegetation communities and habitats within the Accord study area that may be affected by the Proposed Project/Action and alternatives was derived from the USGS Gap Analysis of Mainland California (GAP) vegetation categorization and the CDFG’s Wetland and Riparian Classification System. The list was then compared to Holland’s 1986 classification system to determine synonymous category nomenclature. The resulting list of primary vegetation communities and habitats include freshwater emergent wetlands, valley foothill riparian forest, great valley cottonwood riparian forest, great valley oak riparian forest, and early successional riparian woodland (YCWA et al. 2007). The list of special-status species included in the FEIR/EIS was restricted to those associated with the vegetation communities and habitats that may be impacted by the Proposed Project/Action alternatives. The special-status species list was derived from three sources, which included: a query of the CNDDB; requests for information from the USFWS regarding a list of special-status species that are known to occur or have the potential to occur; and a review of the range, distribution and habitat associations for all species listed under the CESA. The Accord FEIR/EIS CNDDB query did not reveal any special-status species occurrences in the quadrangle downstream of the Project.

Yuba County Water Agency Yuba River Development Project FERC Project No. 2246

Wildlife Resources Pre-Application Document November 2010 Page 7.4-24 ©2010, Yuba County Water Agency

7.4.5.3.2 California Natural Diversity Database A query of the CNDDB for special-status species within quadrangles located immediately downstream of the Project (e.g., Browns Valley and Yuba City), confirmed documented occurrences of three special-status wildlife species (CDFG 2009e). Documented special-status species included two birds (tricolored blackbird and burrowing owl) and one aquatic reptile (CDFG 2009e). 7.4.6 List of Attachments This section includes three attachments: Attachment 7.4A - CWHR for habitats within the Yuba River Development Project

Attachment 7.4B - CNDDB results for species accounts within the Yuba River Development Project Area

Attachment 7.4C - CNDDB Wildlife Occurrences and USFS Wildlife Observation Maps

Section 7.4 Wildlife Resources Attachment

Attachment 7.4A: CWHR Species List

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Section 7.4 Wildlife Resources Attachment

Attachment 7.4B: CNDDB Query (361 KB, Adobe PDF Format)

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Section 7.4 Wildlife Resources Attachment

Attachment 7.4C: Wildlife Observations Map (3, 853 KB, Adobe PDF Format)

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