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Section 4.0 – Environmental Setting and Discussion of Impacts <br /> <br /> <br />City of Redwood City 31 Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration <br />Sandpiper Elementary School Facilities Expansion November 2016 <br />BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES <br /> Potentially <br />Significant <br />Impact <br />Less Than <br />Significant <br />With <br />Mitigation <br />Incorporated <br />Less Than <br />Significant <br />Impact <br />No Impact Beneficial <br />Impact <br />Information <br />Source(s) <br />Would the project: <br />5) Conflict with any local policies or <br />ordinances protecting biological <br />resources, such as a tree preservation <br />policy or ordinance? <br /> 1 <br />6) Conflict with the provisions of an <br />adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, <br />Natural Community Conservation <br />Plan, or other approved local, <br />regional, or state habitat <br />conservation plan? <br /> 1 <br /> <br /> <br />4.4.3 Biological Resource Impacts <br /> <br />4.4.3.1 Impacts to Special Status Species (Checklist Questions 1 and 4) <br /> <br />The project site is located generally between Redwood Shores Lagoon and Steinberger Slough, which <br />each support tidal marsh habitat. According to the Redwood City General Plan EIR, species that utilize <br />tidal marsh for breeding and/or foraging include a large number of invertebrates and fish such as <br />chinook salmon, three-spine stickleback, longjaw mudsucker (Gillichthys mirabilis), rock crab, <br />opossum shrimp, and California bay shrimp (Crangon franciscorum). Two federally listed <br />mammals, salt marsh wandering shrew (Sorex vagrans haliocoetes) and salt marsh harvest mouse <br />(Reithrodontomys raviventris), only occur within this habitat type. There are also a wide variety of <br />shorebirds and waterfowl such as ruddy duck, northern pintail (Anas acuta), red knot (Calidris <br />canutus), western sandpiper, American avocet, black-necked stilt, long-billed dowitcher, and marbled <br />godwit, as well as the State and federally listed California clapper rail (Rallus longirostris obsoletus) <br />and California black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus). Songbirds that forage and nest in the <br />tidal marshes include song sparrow (Melospiza melodia), red-winged blackbird (Agelaius <br />phaeniceus), and salt marsh common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas sinuosa), among others. <br />Raptors that forage and breed include Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and northern harrier <br />(Circus cyaneus). <br /> <br />The project site includes a fully developed elementary school campus, park, and community center and is <br />largely paved. Planned additions and improvements to the project site are set back over 400 feet from <br />Redwood Shores Lagoon and are separated from the Lagoon by the artificial turf field of Sandpiper Park. <br />North and south of the site are developed residential neighborhoods. The project site is approximately <br />600 feet from Steinberger Slough and is separated from the Slough and adjacent tidal marsh habitat by <br />Redwood Shores Parkway and residential development. For these reasons, it is unlikely that special <br />status shorebirds, waterfowl, and wildlife species that may use the Lagoon and Slough are present on the <br />site. <br />7.A. - Page 62