AgdaPkt 2004-09-13 - Laserfiche WebLink

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developments and an area of pickleweed critical habitat (designated in yellow). We are not aware of any FWS harvest mouse studies or counts in this area but with the amount of pickleweed habitat available it is likely salt marsh harvest mouse critical habitat. The City believes that using the Whipple street trailhead entrance will encourage public access, including unleashed dogs, in conflict with existing residential structures and will encourage transit along an unprotected stretch of occupied habitat outside of the refuge boundaries. During operating hours of the refuge, the Whipple Street refuge entrance will remain open. The City is concerned that maintaining the Whipple Street entrance will discourage a permanent parking solution for Bair Island Refuge visitors. The current unregulated parking situation at the Refuge will be encouraged under the refuge plan. This will result from the lack of sufficient parking in the NWRS lot or by persons who have grown used to Whipple Street parking for access. The Whipple Street entrance is an open invitation to common predators who would seek easy prey on the Bair Island refuge. This issue will be explored in further detail in describing the City plan for the Bai� Island refuge. � -» �: r . . ' : - � —,,�, � . �� : ;* Under the NWRS plan �'�.�P;,� . �,�.� r, � � , t �''� �, � � once a visitor has entered '�;��:.'p ;. ` y •� at Whipple Street entrance ' �; •;•�'..� ' � � ^ "� ' the can walk on either of ��a ' "` s� �� y . . .� � . ►. . ;: , �.. two trails that terminate ;•��';''•'•° .'� � .. ��r:�;� �, • � with an observation �,:::;� :.�� "'4�`�J -- `- � �'' � � .. . �� platform at either of the ;�' � � � ' _ � *`• :'� �� . two levee breach locations ' �E � E N❑ s�ai�, i• _±�33 � at Smith Slough. If one '. � � ,,, � weYe to meaSUYe tlle Long Refuge Access Trail Greets Visitors in the NWRS plan. distance from the parking lot to the nearest observation platform that would constitute a total travel distance of over 1.5 miles. Travel distances to the overlook on the airport side of Bair Island would exceed 2 miles. The City believes that this distance is too long. The City of Redwood City believes that it can assist the NWRS in addressing the interface between a National Wildlife Refuge and an urban American city. Any urban city must consider delivery of services to a wide variety of constituents. The City must consider the needs of physically challenged citizens, sensitive subpopulations, school age children and seniors. Furthermore, modern facility planning must find a way to integrate the needs of these special communities into services provided to all citizens in conformity with the goals of that City. Under the NWRS plan, the refuge trail extends to the trail terminus near the area where the interior Inner Bair Island slough meets Smith Slough. With tidal flow 21