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H.T. HARVEY & ASSOCIATES ECOLOGICAL CONSULTANTS EXHIBIT "A" PROPOSED SCOPE OF SERVICES ROUTE 101/RALSTON AVENUE INTERCHANGE MITIGATION AND PERMITTING COORDINATION SERVICES Project # 1947-04 September 15, 2003 H. T. Harvey & Associates proposes to provide ecological consulting services to the City of Redwood City by coordinating permitting and securing mitigation approvals for the proposed Route 101/Ralston Avenue Interchange. This scope assumes that the regulatory agencies will be open and receptive to mitigating for project impacts at Bait Island under the existing restoration plan of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Attached is a cost estimate; all charges will be billed on a time and charges, not-to-exceed basis. The scope and cost estimate are valid for a period of 60 days from the time of submittal. The tasks associated with this scope of services are as follows: Task 1. Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse Investigations and Mitigation Feasibility H. T. Harvey & Associates (HTH) investigated the potential impacts to the salt marsh harvest mouse (SMHM) from the proposed mitigation at Belmont Slough and to determine the need for agency consultation. We conducted site visits to the Belmont Slough mitigation area; participants included H.T. Harvey & Associates mammalogist Howard Shellhammer, plant ecologist Patrick Boursier, restoration ecologist Dan Stephens, and botanist Brian Cleary. The purpose of the visits was to assess the potential for the SMHM to occur within the mitigation area. As a result of this assessment, Dr. Shellhammer concluded that the potential for the SMHM to occur within the mitigation area does exist. The connectivity of pickleweed habitat including upland refugia is of primary importance in making a determination regarding presence/absence for the mouse in the mitigation area. Dr. Shellhammer stated that because pickleweed habitat continues unbroken throughout the mid to lower opposing banks of the Belmont Channel all the way to Belmont Slough, it is necessary to presume that the mouse may be present on site and therefore, potential "take" during construction activities within the mitigation area cannot be ruled out. Subsequently, numerous conversations were held with agency personnel to determine if formal Section 7 Consultation with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) would be necessary. After conversations with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, it was 3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 145 · San Jose, CA 95118 ° (408) 448-9450 ° Fax: (408) 448-9454