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APPENDICES <br />City of Redwood City, Public Works Division Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration <br /> <br /> 3 Blankinship & Associates, Inc. <br /> <br />terrestrial animals, short-eared owls are not likely to be exposed to copper-containing algaecides and/or aquatic <br />herbicides applied to the Lagoon. <br /> <br />Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) <br />Northern harriers inhabit bogs, fens, herbaceous wetland, alpine, cropland, grassland, and tundra (NatureServe <br />2014). They frequently nest in dense vegetation with larger and deeper nests often being built in wet or flood- <br />prone areas. Their diet primarily consists of terrestrial prey such as small mammals (especially voles and cotton <br />rats), small to medium-sized birds (especially passerines), reptiles, amphibians, large insects, and carrion. <br />Because they prey mostly on terrestrial animals, northern harriers are not likely to be exposed to copper- <br />containing algaecides and/or aquatic herbicides applied to the Lagoon. <br /> <br />Saltmarsh common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas sinuosa) <br />Saltmarsh common yellowthroat inhabit salt marshes and herbaceous wetlands (NatureServe 2014). They nest <br />just above ground or over water, in thick herbaceous vegetation. Their diet primarily consists of small terrestrial <br />insects obtained among low plants. Because they prey mostly on terrestrial insects, saltmarsh common <br />yellowthroat are not likely to be exposed to copper-containing algaecides and/or aquatic herbicides applied to <br />the Lagoon. <br /> <br />California Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus) <br />Black rails nest in high portions of salt marshes, shallow freshwater marshes, wet meadows, and flooded grassy <br />vegetation (Eddleman et al. 1988 in Eddleman et al 1994). Most breeding areas are vegetated by fine-stemmed <br />emergent plants, rushes, grasses, and sedges (Todd 1977 in Eddleman et al 1994). They select sites with <br />shallow, stable water level, gently sloping shorelines, and vegetation dominated by fine-stemmed bulrush <br />(Scirpus spp.) or grasses (Repking and Ohmart 1977 in Eddleman et al 1994). They feed on aquatic and <br />terrestrial invertebrates and seeds, presumably along edges of emergent vegetation (Eddleman et al 1994). The <br />California black rail may forage in the shallow water at the margins of the Lagoon. However, given the large <br />amount of potential foraging area, the food items from treated areas would likely only contribute an <br />insignificant percentage of the total diet. Therefore, the risk posed by copper-containing algaecides and/or <br />aquatic herbicides applied to the Lagoon is insignificant. <br /> <br />Alameda song sparrow (Melospiza melodia pusillula) <br />Alameda song sparrow is endemic to California where it is restricted to tidal salt marshes (Shuford and Gardali <br />2008). Vegetation is required for nesting sites with upper marsh vegetation being required so that nests remain <br />dry during all but the highest tides. The majority of their diet consists of terrestrial vegetable matter and insects. <br />Because they prey mostly on terrestrial vegetable matter and insects, Alameda song sparrows are not likely to <br />be exposed to copper-containing algaecides and/or aquatic herbicides applied to the Lagoon. <br /> <br />California clapper rail (Rallus longirostris obsoletus) <br />California clapper rail inhabit herbaceous wetlands (NatureServe 2014). They nest in cordgrass, pickleweed, <br />gum-plant, or salt grass within marshlands near tidal ponds, arranging plant or drift material over their nest as a <br />canopy. Their diet consists mostly of mussels, clams, small crabs, and spiders. The California clapper rail may <br />forage in the shallow water at the margins of the Lagoon. However, given the large amount of potential foraging <br />area, the food items from treated areas would likely only contribute an insignificant percentage of the total diet. <br />Therefore, the risk posed by copper-containing algaecides and/or aquatic herbicides applied to the Lagoon is <br />insignificant. <br /> <br />Black skimmer (Rynchops niger) <br />Black skimmer inhabit primarily coastal waters, including bays and estuaries, and may also be found in rivers, <br />lakes, and herbaceous wetlands (NatureServe 2014). They nest primarily near coasts on sandy beaches, shell <br />banks, coastal and estuary islands, on wrack and drift of salt marshes, along tropic rivers, and along salt pond <br />levees. The species eats mainly small fish and crustaceans and skim the surface of water for food while flying. <br />Given the large amount of potential foraging area, the food items from treated areas would likely only <br />contribute an insignificant percentage of the total diet. Therefore, the risk posed by copper-containing <br />algaecides and/or aquatic herbicides applied to the Lagoon is insignificant. <br />6.3.A. - Page 72