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<br /> <br /> <br />47 <br />Mitigation Measures 15-1(b) and 15-2 from the DTPP Final EIR, respectively with clarifying amendments) as <br />sufficient to reduce impacts to a less-than significant level. <br />The DTPP Plan-Wide Amendments program SEIR indicated that 901 El Camino Real (Commercial Component) <br />would alter approximately 170 feet of existing culvert and approximately 170 feet of Arroyo Ojo and would result in <br />temporary effects to riparian habitat during construction, possibly resulting in permanent impacts, depending on the <br />intensity and nature of the work proposed. <br />Mitigation Measures BIO-2a and 2b would sufficiently reduce impacts to the special-status northern coastal salt marsh <br />community and riparian habitat in Arroyo Ojo to a less-than significant level. <br />According to the On-Site Habitat Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (MMP) prepared by H. T. Harvey & Associates for <br />the Commercial Component (“901 El Camino Real Project, On-Site Habitat Mitigation and Monitoring Plan,” May <br />14, 2024), Little River Creek Park contains a 170-foot-long earthen channel with jurisdictional aquatic, wetland, and <br />riparian habitats. The existing channel is culverted both upstream and downstream of the site. As part of the <br />Commercial Component, the existing 170-foot-long earthen creek channel in Little River Park would be converted to <br />developed land uses with a new storm drain underneath, and the earthen creek channel would be relocated and <br />restored. The relocated/restored creek channel would have an approximately equivalent length (170 feet to 166 feet, <br />but may be up to 185 feet depending on regulatory approvals and permits.) <br />Per the project component MMP (Figure 3. Jurisdictional Habitat Impacts), the earthen channel contains freshwater <br />marsh (wetland), open water, and riparian grassland habitat types. The Commercial Component would result in <br />permanent impacts to wetland and aquatic habitat under jurisdiction of the U.S. Amry Corps of Engineers (USACE), <br />Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and <br />would cause permanent impacts to riparian grassland habitat under RWQCB and CDFW jurisdiction. Within the <br />riparian grassland habitat, the Commercial Component would remove 10 riparian trees. In-depth detail about the <br />proposed restored creek channel is provided in the MMP prepared by H. T. Harvey & Associates. <br />The MMP was prepared in accordance with Mitigation Measure BIO-2b (formerly Mitigation Measure 15-2 from the <br />DTPP Final EIR with clarifying amendments) which requires the project applicant to obtain all required permits and <br />approvals from USACE, CDFW, and RWQCB. The MMP supports the following permit applications required for the <br />Commercial Component: USACE Clean Water Act Section 404 Nationwide Permit; RWQCB Clean Water Act <br />Section 401 Certification; and CDFW 1600 Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement. <br />The Commercial Component MMP developed a combination of on-site and off-site mitigation to fully compensate <br />for the impacts to aquatic, freshwater marsh, and riparian grassland jurisdictional habitats. For on-site mitigation (H. <br />T. Harvey & Associates, p. 2), the impacted habitats would be restored along the new earthen channel at a minimum <br />1:1 ratio. <br />Permanent impacts to 0.023 acre of aquatic habitat will be mitigated in kind at a minimum ratio of 1:1 (mitigation <br />surface area: impact surface area) by restoring at least 0.023 acre of aquatic habitat in the relocated channel; the current <br />design will restore approximately 0.031 acre of aquatic habitat. The restored channel will have an approximately <br />equivalent length (i.e., 170 feet to 166 feet). The restored channel is expected to function geomorphically in a similar <br />or better way to the existing condition. The restored channel in the aquatic habitat mitigation area will be an <br />improvement over the existing aquatic habitat as flows are expected to be slower in the widened, slightly sinuous <br />creek cross-section, which will reduce the erosive force of creek flows. <br />Permanent impacts to 0.033 acre of freshwater marsh habitat will be mitigated in kind at a ratio of 1:1 (mitigation <br />surface area: impact surface area) by restoring at least 0.033 acre of freshwater marsh habitat in the relocated channel. <br />The restored freshwater marsh will represent an uplift from the existing condition due to the greater diversity of native <br />species, which will provide greater structural diversity as well as relative to the existing condition. Freshwater marsh <br />habitat will provide a variety of ecosystem functions, including improved water quality and support of native wildlife. <br />Permanent impacts to 0.122 acre of riparian grassland will be mitigated on-site at a minimum ratio of 1:1 (mitigation <br />surface area: impact surface area) by restoring at least 0.122 acre of riparian woodland habitat in the relocated channel. <br />The target habitat will be restored by active revegetation including installation and short-term plant maintenance of <br />tree and shrub species that compose the target habitat. The mitigation trees will create valuable riparian habitat because <br />many of the mitigation tree and shrub species have high native wildlife value as forage and nesting habitat. <br />Additionally, the Commercial Component MMP includes a work plan to serve as the construction documentation to <br />support construction of the mitigation by a qualified restoration contractor. The work plan includes a dewatering and <br />ATTY/RESO.0028/CC RESO CEQA GUIDLINES (920 SHASTA) - EXHIBIT A <br />REV: 04-22-25 VR <br /> <br />Page 47 of 148