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84-6 DEER HERD COMMITTEE 9 OF 33
p ENV I ROMMEM'�AL IMPACT 'REPORT (continued) C) nv i rcnmenta l Impacts and P4it i q1' i on Meas; res (cont i nu+nrl ) 10) Police and Fire Protection. (continued) l.`"tlgation Measures (continued) b) As the poraIation increases, provide for additional fandinq 4rom tate appropriate general fund source to adequatoly staff and equip each law enforcement jurisdiction. c) Investigate State and Federal funding sources for police and 41re staffing and equipment. d) Require fire erotect ion fac i l i't l es to be constrw l•rd as a condition of approval of a large residential development (Ido+ units) when it is specifically identified fo Impact the ex i st i,„q services 'i n the area. e) The Lonq Range Land Use Plan incorporates policI65 and standards to require that filyd protection be avaliab1e in the Urban Areas. i'i) public Services and Utilities l lorado County Is served by a number of public uti I itie. These are; TTale� Location El :.�ralfo I rrigat'on ()ist. Public Western � Iope o; F1 Dorado County (excludln� Georgetown & Clty of Placerville) ;neorCnetjwn Divide Public ,tility r)istrict Pubii Ce rifto�kn Am-.z,ra, Cave Rock, Lu k i ns Private Lake Tahc-e Area ?r s, , Tahoe Ni qd I Se, Tahne ',A erra Wntor Cos, (h; a E i "some of these aro novo combined in the So. Tahoe Public Utility Dist.) �e.i,.th 'r3hoe Public Utility District Pub Lake Tahoe Area Etectricai power for the County is provided by S'torra Pacific Fcwer Company and Pacific Cas and Electric Company. Sl+arra wl 3 ENV lr R AL IMPACT REPORT ( continued ) C) EnvEnvi ental Impacts and Mit itionMeasures (continued) 1 Pub I i Sc ,hv i gyres ,3rlai (Cont i nuecl Pacific Power Com' anN $uppl i es the Lake Tahoe areae anti Pacific Gas an6 Electric Company serve.. the Western Slope of El Dorado County. Telephone service is provided by Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company° in El Dorado County. clower service is suppiied by the EI Dorado Irrigation District with treatment 4aciIities at El Do! -ado Hills, Cameron Park, El Dorado and Camino Heights. The City of Placerville serves all of the Placerville area and the South Tahoe Public Utility Disrict ser este the s uth end of the Tahoe Basin from Emerald Flay With increased levels of development, the provision Of these utili'tles isutilities These m OY bp+`wDequate plans for future service ci not considered, The purpose 04 Vie Long Ranee Land Use Flan is to provide these utilities in the areas of E1 Dorado County that are projected for Increased levels l..onn Range: Land tJse Plan incorporates of development. Tile standards and pr l i �-1 e;< for the orderi v provision of these each services where `ieoreopment oe discussion (caf{ tht or toutilities-) Area Plan ftp, a There wi1i probably be some sign1ficant long term Impacts to these ut i 1 l t i eq based upon the adopt l ��n Of the Loritl Ranee Lard Lase plan. Also) some short term I m pacts may 'Ile`t and temnorar i l y overburden exist ing ecarr wi h levelo,the fac.'1itiVis. T�~these short tem mp; era �+�:E:+�� w fo l I ow i nr me �wutxc are n o D�Iti��t�'n rleasur��;r :? These rt i k i t i e= ,ttcu I d cent i nuts to chartle su f f i s i ant 3meunt for r ew connections so th:'it adeQuate funding for- capita? ip° "ovements and f inancin�°r is assured. b) El D redo- COunty should "balance" 'the ut i 11ty Capa(i'ly with the approval Of v6ricus devoloOmentrs. C) The standar•,s ani poi ic�rr;eirvnrIo icesLmustUbn Plan roqult'0 that ,pc'Ii�c levels of available fOr ver l ous land use dens l -i i S- If these sery I cos ark- not ova 1 I ab i e, that land use should bo p.:roc l uded, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (continued) C) Environmental impacts and Mitigation Measures (contlnucd) 11) Public Services and Utilities (continued) Mitigation Measures (continued) J) Each ut I I ity shou I d continuous I y maintain a ut I I I ly i1twifOr plan and develop an ongoing capital improvement l"OWam, e) Utility companies should investigate and pursues flits formation of assessment districts that w I I I Pr( 1v I f In funding for new improvements. 12) Le_CrPatior, A potentially significant impact May occu to reCt"(101ion In 171 Dorado County as the densities, as displayed Irt Ilia Plan, are realized. Private recreation may experience slmllar problems. The County Recreation Element contains Policies at'd standards for developing adequate park sites. The primary obstacle at this time is the lack of funding. Some funding 15 obtained by the dedication of fees and/or land for recreational purposes. (Refer to the County Recreation Element and each Area Plan for a specific discussion.) Measures: a) Continue to require land and fee dedication$ for recreational uses as a part of the major sibdivislon approval process, b) Consider recreational dedication requirements t,,-., Include parcel maps, t cl Update and maintain the Recreation Elemv,1 tri the General Plan, includo .i -;hort and lonj. term capital Itapir OVOMOMt (1) Refer to each odopted Area Plan EIR for idditional miti,lation mea suros= 13)L(r,,t he t It �, Development in 51 Dorado County, to the extent all(.*ed *y the Long Ranqe Land Use Piano WI I I alter present aesthqtics,. The degree of impact will depend upon the Intensity of development. t.ow density residential development will, to a sIIqht dogreet alter oresent natural landscapes and add dwellings and 3ccossory structures, Higher intensity land uses, such as high o-os1tv residentlalo commercial or industrial developments, Will 11 INV I ROtIM�NTAL IMPACT REPORT ( c:cnt i Hued) Measures (conn Hund �� nvlronmental lm acts and Nliti ation 13) Aesthe Ics (continued) have a Significant impact upon aesthetics. consid dy ra-r- Ion of aesthetics is � s fh en53 va�,tq other i nn. The to some, may b What may be p I oar i n,, individuals,. h1i'ri anon C',easune� eview procedures (Jove l op des t w n rreasi sensitive f oret5ostri cnd visual,,, isuali,, i rrpr'rtant land use a quality as des i w�nated i n each Area 0l an b) Provide desl.1 cruidel inGs and rranuals to preserve sianiftcant hlstorical and cultural resources. the Scenic Hltihways Element and each Area c) l� e t ��Iicier and �ltigat dn: flan. for addltlonal specific P 1 4) Eq The ma con ener;,v Oses , i th i n the County iY i t l he f r e5 the ' E1ki¢k'tllre5 of daiI apse o, vehicles and in moderatingl be .°onsumod as y in and structures. �-asoline and/or diesel shopping a result of +r3wei to Places aces of imp I oyr�ent, •� recrea-t"icn EnOrgy c,�nservatlon measures cai� be used o uce overall enargy use and are becoiniAn more 64-ra tivl these to d consumers as +energy costs rise, t rs , y�;ner� l , methods involve, a) decreasintehicle sb)`�careCujled b�.� providing 8� l ternet lve transportation; an-:� ,• Mixed land t obtain Hat ,i heat' n r{e� . s 1 t i n C� sir 1��tures o gave 1, Ge o i 1, i tho �iyo he Plan a�A► e3nto` r educe outside tk�� 5r 1 Alternative transportaion i�; d rsrssed the Transµ. prartat i ri; i r,vu l at i on ! i?ct i on . "easures � as the `r n �) iatic a use of "aarlc 1n rl�ie �� ,� 1r of inq 5t +w; ai ed to th'� reduction and burs env Fwe �� i 1 reriuG0 vehicie ir,l lea r some. dearee� C�santitative ntatG,� o_ are di f �lculii' to Issess, cd � ..motions will tei"ato County, circulation '�ona i tra is management assist in minir IzInq energy use. Provls`1011� fOr bikeways w i l t reduce °ase of aut011 ob a will provide niternatiVe means and pe;lestr i an wa l kway� o f Iran t,crtat 1 on The use of renewable'ae1:> such as Wt Cid, X I l I �,f f let re's I dent 1 al enemy ENVI..RONNIENTAL IMPACT REPORT (continued) C) Environmental impactsand Mit! at!Qn Measures (continued) 14) Ener (continued) By providina and encouraging mixed land uses within -the County, travel out�Ije the area will be reduced. Also, by providing I oca I shopping, vehicle riles w111 be reduced to commerc- la I centers, Usually I., Sacramento. The adoption of the Plan will increase saner ay use, although this Increase is cans idered a minor Impact to the environment. El Dorado County is fortunate in having excellent climatic opportunities for solar energy utj I Izationj The "MbdIvislon Map Act requires major residential subdivisions to be re- viewed for solar opportunities. In the County thir, rovie is emphasized on mujtl-faml IY and smaller (1 acre rind under) a acreage lots. The feasibility Of providing total -Polar s' w 111 be determined by to0oq.raphy, economlc�', And access The reduction of energy u-,(,,, through ,,joverriment Incentives. �'� and the Use of solar energy, Title 24, Building Requii-etparl , use of wood to heat homes, could reduce this total amount by 50o4 to 80%, (Refer to each Area Plan for a more Specific energy evaluation,) a) Consideration W!l be given to solar crporturlfies In the deveIOPMEInt Of major subdIvisiOnsi A mjrilmum 60% ) of the PrV,.-osed jo rovided withts or units should be L southern 4cceSsI ,hera topography is suitable - Efficient traffic manaqOmOrit will be encouraged and shoo ld incl;ode alternate forms of clrcjlat- IOA. C) Car pooling, mass transit and similar programs will be encouraged, d') State res ident- l3l, building standards reoOrinj cons )rvat' On cm and cost effectivetiveonstruction will f.f,^t energy use In thp, lorn term, provisions fm land Uses Will teno tej provide neoded servicOs to the.. are5 and reduce vehicle r -Ales troveled, 15) Colt'lral P-0sou—r'--es The Cal 1fornin Archaeo Ocal Site Survey hat', been developed Ical 51tas within 51 Xrndo County, for several archaeOiOO Ijelstence. In additicn) many hist0rico1 sites Ot'e still it) ( 107 11 i I�r ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (continued) ,.) Environmental Impacts and Miticlation Measures (coal°nuad) 15) Cultural Resources (continued) El porado County in general, can be considerfid h1ghly sensitive. The adoption of the Long Range Lurid Use Plan could have potentially significant effert,, upon cultural resources cif the area. (Refer to ear,:h adopted Area Plan and the Recreation Clement for additional specific; information.) M t i c)_ef Ion :Measures' a) All rezon 1 ngs arw subdivisions should hwtyf o record search conducted to determine whether hiralfialr or prehistoric sites exist on the property In quer;tlon. b) Any development project with the potential to disturb Identified cu l t u ra I s i f es should be required to pro- tect the site through a designation eithr�-r of Open Space, Green Pelt, or a non -building setback, and any disturbance of the site will be precluded. c) Areas not previously surveyed should have an archae- ological field survey performed by a quail led professional archaeol oq i st in cooperation with the Regional iffice of the Archaeological Sita Survey. Identified <, hes should be protected by ries i gnat i Ori I �i ng ofeither d i setback, so that any disturbance of the site will be preclulcd. i 1) t cin i f i rain°# Env I ronmenta Ef f p_cts c)f thr,, pro i ert This section ropresents specific environmental concerns 'hat "lay be incurred 1f the proect is ,adopted. Duce to a variation In potont l a i I end +jses and 14enS i ti en, the pt o,J nr f ri environmental impacts are denf°i-'iod Gey r-eneral Flan desitlnntlr�X. Mitigation treasures are i nc: I tided In the previous section. `fl"9e development policies can 11so i �� ,cin i�lered ar, mitigation mea pur s. Also, refer to zPeci f IC mitlnnt ion tre f ,ur°cis i n each Arca Plan.. E) 1dentifle� l�otentlal 2 lni4icart 1tll acts_ 1) Industrial a) Archaeo l orgy t Potential to 4I i sturb prop i c for is sites. Refer to mitigation measuros, b) Vepetatlon cFrobn; le hh1h ciogroe. of h,abitrit modifica"..run or alteration. Refer to mitigation mea euros. M ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (continued) E) identified Potential Significant Impacts (continuod) / 1 I) Industrial (continued) c) tai ldl i fe I"rcbable high degree of habitat al-l'oration. Refer to mitigation measures. d) Air Quality; Potential to generate point sourco emis- sions, Refer to mitigation measures. e) Noise; Potential to increase ambient noise I cava k,.. Refer to mit nation measures. f) Public Services-, Potential impact upon water oviri sewer service. Refer to p;itination measures. g) Aesthetics Hi -1h fr babi I ity to disturb Ian&;r.apo. Refer -,o mitis :1�°on measures. h) 51-e pt ryvr e t, :-r . Nay rause potential impact upon district capab? it;es. Refer to mitigation mesa5ures. i) Traffic. Inc*reasc; in traffic may overburden Racal roads. Refer to mitigation measures. 2) Commercial a) Archaeology: Potential to disturb prehistoric sites_. Pefar to ra i t i ration measu res b) Vegetation-, Probable potent i a i to disturb habitat, Refer to rritication measures. c) Public Services; Potential impact upon water and sewer system,. Refer to mitigation measures. d) Aestheticc-,, Hi,,,,h rrrobabl I ity to disrupt landscape. Refer try mitiara'tton treasures. e) Traffic: incroajP, in traffic may overburden lural roads. Refer t`� men- sures. Multi-�amlly Residential (to 20 d.u.lacre) a) Archaeo I u w t rr-,te:nt a l to disturb prehistoric, lfl tos, Refer to measures. b) Vegel at i en Probab l o high degree of habitat mod i f i c:at i on /j Refer to r;itilation measures. M 3 �' ENV IR MENT REPORT (continued) s (continued) j,fl.d potential Slcnlfisgni� E —1d—e n—rif �'—" —"' ': �'- — 3) Multi -family Re'dentlal (continued) ......... c) Wildlife' probable disruption � habitat, �jf�f(�r to ref rail on ptent lal. Refer to d) School$: �,tudent g,)oor ,,tl,,ti,n �4 n water ano sewer P,�,)tentlal !mPa-' u0c e) Public ServiCest 0 Tmitigat, on measur-es. systems� Refer t have a potential I r-p3ct UP()n tmJ111 10 f) Recreation t Refer to mitIqatIon mowuross recreation facil , of natural k.1ndscaPes' y) Ao5thetics: Pater ial di, l� Refer tO mlt'98tIcn m h) Fire ProtectiOnt potenfla I r;jn disfrICt capabilitY- I Refer to mitlllatl'or measur(?S. Tra f f I (; t Potent a, Impact ;upon local roads. defer to mitigation reasjres. 4 e n % I t idertial. (tQ �tv' Res�- 'Ztential Alsturb prehistoric sites. I ArchaeO I 09Y1 V 4- ion Me Ref er to n) 1 4-s rt �tE)t modification n4.- ja degree 0 b) Vegetation. F":5 ndancipred Plants- .4.disturb rare a116 e potential "a nd !1.40 Ion Refer to r,"I" rup+10n- vr��tabje hielh ioproe of habitat f1l'i RReferto tr�t'I7'a "�r)f;`r to + Jw it O'ntl�fl uden d) j-por watJ_'t' and e) sewer 'erqjz: 0 . t etm5 r to "I I t 1 "1'- 10", j,(jcreatlOn3I ktily Cau':'Ll ""'NtMt1a, f) Rocreat fay f e r t0 0 Aeasthet I Cr �.',.,)tent U) I dt Sr""!'t ' 'n 'f natural landst Refer to on mna�'ures -,On service J'�n tluk� fo Ir""pact -J�' h) F 1 re F -re, �Ct L ,Ithin extrerrOl' fire hazard 03pabl I ItIOS and dOvGl0TNttOO,' areaS. rO�Or to mitin3t I -in r,,enzures. an (continued} \� I/ ENV I R(}Ny1t;NTAI. t -�- R-- RY tib I m ac ►-s (continued) 1 �----------" I s i n i l ca s} identified Potential (continued) `( Hi*�h�nsit Resident tai Refer ho t) i} i`raff ic: potential Impact upon Iocal roads• miti,atlon measures. Res i tient i a_ i ..(tc� I d . u . /one acre) Hiedium De _ to disturb prehistoric r,ij°iij. potentia) a) Archaeology' Sures. Refer to mitiga't'ion 'mea_ tic s/=,I�'trr d Geology] Potentiatieation measffect Of ures. b} Is an Refer to ml 9 Solis disposal t trlff and was tic sya Rcitent i a1 effect o f aeon measr�i C) Water (}ual ity Reter to mitis) erosion Potentials,tuder,ts_. ixrtiF4r tea i�Qten't i u 1 0enerat on Of d) Schools. mltlgaticn rr.easc:res, cin rant liu viater Potential Impacts up K�easfr�'F,4. e) Public set-vies' Refer to mitigation enol sewer sys_�.mS' ublic t•+a� rause potential impact ,t lonpon a ,. Measure+. f} Refer to mi, ig Recr .•at ion • ab i I i t i es recreatic�nal facllitles. to i ritpact upon serV l ce cap tue t i n areas cif extreme f Ire hazard. g) fire Protecfi f men and impac-t• of develop Refer` to snit ignt i 4 11 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (continued) F) I Effects That Cannot Be Avoldod Many of the potent I a I I Y s I gn 1 f I cant ; mpacts 1 den t If 1 ori by the previous sections can bp reduced to an insignificant love], but not eliminated. The areas where this holds true are associated with grading of land, air quality, vegetation, wildlife and aesthetics. Siqnificant impacts upon services can bre mitItlated through funding while the five areas mentioned above are actual changes in that environment. The County Is exceedim air quality standard,,, for oxidant. In nddition, other vehicular emlsslon��, wi I I be added to the atmosphere which, although still within 9xistiol standards, will add -to air quality degradation, Develo,ment of lands for medium to high dens lt� ' ) rpeJdentlal, I iq and chant es industrial and commercial uoeli will cause qrad n in wildlife habitat sand veoetat i on , in add I t I on :fci mod I fy I nq the landscape. The Increase In human populatjk-.�n e -.arts pressure (in the ratural env I ronmont. The Long Range Land U5 Plan has attempted to reduce impacts to an accept,,able level throut1h careful considera- tion of land use, development Policies and mitigation measures. Alternatives to the Pr ed. Plar� Alternatives should be di3cussed and evaluated In order tl-., justify the proposed pr:.)joat6 Thiection disculirOS four alternatives: (1) con .,zorvation alternative; (2) no project without changes; (3) Iwjw intensity land use alternative; and (4) higher Intensity land jpwo altern�tive. I Conseryation Alt orn mativO: TIVII This alternative would i--1t,W.1 reduction in the Growth potential within Ll Carado County. Lands previously subdivided would be alhJwe4'0 ,cnstruct structure;, at, well property onod fol rural residential proporty �,�31)lij the least imPact iA the onvirt-)nment. flrecl',dln%l rN)SOnable growth within the County has boon found to be an un=CePtatlo alternative. 'rho availability of putOlc ;,orvicos, circulation and a ",Ixture of land uses, WakO$ this Choice unacceptable, ,2) No project WithL)u± This altormol Ive would mean that no jiiiiatinq of the 069 �',enerafl F11,1n would be Tills altorn,--itive has boon -found to be unacceptable for s4?,,,oral rtx)7iono that are In �,,ummaryo the reasont, I I sted on the ect urr,0'�!Bry. - H2 'PACT INVIRO.,,:,ACT REI:opT (continued) NMIEN -M M : Alternatives to th. (continued' No Prcl,ject Wthout Ch.,na es (continued) i_q__ 2) are: rapid growth, services b*,:,in�lt utilized to CQac1tY) desire by the residents to update the County �-*enPeral Plan and a need to reassessg the area In relation to lonterm r.This alternative maY have a igcant r.owth Pat'Orns- t doe to the lack ofsa Long Range impact upon the environmen that will development and os--ist In ��-eneral Plar, c ul gde - -erm area plans. review of the short I - This alternative wOull provije for a lower overall density This lesseninq of the ultlnite and lower altimate POPulationi It I population may a;so have loss ilrplat upon the environmen cjrculatjon system and land has be1heren The available services) stj."ied, ar,41 been shown to be capable of supporting a hiq overall densi+v- This alternative is, therefore, less than opt when eons the nrCV0sed Plan, The proposed t vnilas services, land plan has considered the �4 ��jjjtv of capabilities and overall arowrh within the County in the n 0, the proposed alternatives. A low IntensitY 4orn,ulatio 4JIIV -ind ci-onosed alterna+;ve would riot . _Jtilize the existing The ijer-,.Ifled water and sewer systems- servicesi S,jch as roads; , i . d L]se Plan have beef- si, *fjc3n+ ;rrpacts cif the 9 R3nj,',e Lan ovej throulh mltiOatlOrl measurn and _,Uced +0 an acceptable Itt devcdoprent Z --A icies. Use Alterlativas -311 densities e in ovf�r, This 31ternat =��n on the propmed Lonn Range 1. 3 hither ;e -e 0 1 than is now IS " 3 jreater iir;)act LarZ4►::Ilan, This -altel-N-1 tve wr4L); '1 t' " I itive UVI.I�n tioje envI i ronment and pob 11 C SOry 1 CO-` 4 in addition, sens areas ;�4C!i as spec hlized hAblta-5 and prehistoric Cul',' -al a be J I 'rho h 1 �Jher intensity rvices anti rouse unaccePt- wcjjd `end +,.3 overburden Putlic 5e w-ehta I impicts, Tho [Ono, pa 1,P J;jnd Use Plan has ab I e en,�� 1 rcn ,nq apart 011ch has asp er-, Iniml throui.1h, a a �-, 3 r r,. C,3 ould talanced land use concopt, Althoulh a hor detY e - be It would be to the 4jsadvant,j?j(j of the envir-onmOnt- Alsoi t,� reZU111► 1111 Of rr,�-O.,-+Y donsItIO open space and Wildli. jbItats ccuj�A. be-, ho growth levOl at lowed by the prop-,�sed t) r e Impar 11 -ed T ,Jomor� services to be orovicoed for n w ;10,Y Tani USOs. 113 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT ( cont lnueO G Alternatives to the Prr,Dosed Plan (cont'nued) 4) l l i gher Intensity Land Use Alternative ( cont i nut"(1) A higher intensity alternative has not been con,Jdered feasible, as the measures necessary to safeguard anviron- menta l and service cons ider-ations are unreasonablo. Con- siderable road improvement, Water system, sewer 'WstOm and drainage system' Improvements would be requirod, making the high intensity alternative more feasible. H) hl Be-tween-Local Short Term Uses of P,In" Vnvironment + and the �A;�4intPnlalnce and Enhancement of Long -term fir Development projects w i I I tend to cause some curtio I a t I VO effects to public bervices- and a decreaseinagricultural !;otenflal of some lands. The desiqnation of some areas in the PInn as a future Urban Area will relieve growth pressures In other agri- cultural production, The Lonq Range Land Use Plan preserves areas of 1"051�ur-ce production potential. Also, due to the availability of public sewer, the Urban Areas can carefully be phased so as to not adversely affect the quality of water. The availability & roads and subsequent lm0r0veM0,'1ts to cir- culation will also increano public safety. The cumulative and lono- rOt,ge cffOOts of grcwth witt(In the County should be re -used to accop-table levels upon the adoption -�-,entatic,)n iLona � the proposed ont and imple pancio Land Use Plan, The careful CO"sideration of Iz)nd use, Ittitillation moasure5 and ,,Ieve lopment Pz,-1 I*Cles have been lnl,eqra+Gd 'to mIMImIZr-1 degradation of the env1r,nmer,,t. The plan itself can be viewed as mitigation 11-h IrrPacts. lonq berm growl rhe env' lr:�rjrrert withlP the County will be altenor, due to the 1,,,,oIem0nt0tl[0n Of thr" 'Ptin, The Impacts adoption and sutseluont however) "05 h3vo� been reduced to acceotabie l6velso these resources) they are uch chOn9cin drc�. 11) the Intense and ox-tenslon of uervice fa�'Jllties, fuels and r,)ther non-renewable resources will be consumed and Wolln(l Of structu-09 Will at I n( within the The he p result in a term use Of fossil fuels' Tb(> r rant hued Os w I t in 3 1'�MO term o f I t)e ,3s fool for u --; o - )f ;,r - S! I I feel a I I Intense 10velopwent on presently urld.0vol(lPed proport es WI require extension of service fact li'lleST1_ Tho extOnsiOn ray 114 I `� � ENVIRONMENTA IMPACT REPgI�f tcont Hued) .4 I) Nnytclnificant Environmental Chan es (continued) r rvo I�1 ve major and minor street improvements and major, �iricl rriinor 1 water and sewer line extension, The improvements, deponding on scope. may be significant to serve additional levels of develop= gent, ,i) growth-inducinq_Impact of the Proposed Action The Long mange Land Use Plan, when adopted, would have '1'110 effect` of ouidtng growth '-o areas where services can adequately hardIe ince eased density to the potential allowed by the land u!,o map, rowth i , therefore, d'Irected to areas that wiII have thrlIIPast ingest on the environment. Within the County, sewer, p e;fer and toed systems exist to serve the expected Incronso in oquire `;rban population The development POI icte of 'rovalnofrpeciflc rrvicr capabilities to be assessed prior o app pr—�jectq. The Plan has sensitive aof f 'owalnd � areas vwithout ed r �r�r°�r I ce,, disrc�uraged growth i n K) Ef#arts Found to Be Si n i f i canal' in the Previous pisrwusstor 2 "dans effects were determined to be insitheficant4gsDiscmak 1. ussions yhroughout the report dive reasons determination. Refer to the previous sections to rev evr land use cate3ory 115 APPENDIX 7 NOTICE OF PREPARATION DISTRIBUTION LIST APPENDIX 7 NOTICE OF PREPARATION DISTRIBUTION LIST 0 El Dorado County Agencies California lahoo Regiorji lanninq Agency Environmental Health Public Works Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Sheriff's Office Air Pollution Control City of Placerville Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) City of South Lake Tahoe Recreation Planning Board of Supervisors Pacific Gas & Electric Agricultural Commission Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Et Dorado County Resource Conservation District Georgetown Divide Public Utility District El Dorado Irrigation District South Tahoe Public Utillt.,t Dist. El Dorado County Agricultural Council, Chamber of Commerce El Dorado H i l ! bmmutil-ty Sory Ice El Dorado County Superintendent District of Schools Cameron Park Community Ser,lce Amador County Planninq Dept. District Alpine County Planning Dept, Placer County Planning Dept, Ta WntO County planning Dept, State, Helen cies DtizjrtMeht of Fish & Game G(;, rnor is Off Ice five of Planning & Research Rentional Water Quality Lmtrb I Board U.", Forest Service S I ': -ra P I ann I nq Orq61 zat I on 11-7 0 �� �•Q' '0 a U REnOLUTION NO. 24-81; Adopted by the Board of SupervIsors of the County of El Dorado January 27, 1981, incorporated heroin as Appendix 8, reads as follows! "A MEMORANDUM Or UNDERSTANDING AND COMMITMENT BY AND 6171WLE11 THE COUNTY OF EL DORADO AND THE SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITIES DISTRICT TO ASSIST IN THE OBTAINING OF CERTAIN FEDERAL GRANT MONIES. SECTION 1. Recitals Whereas, South Tahoe Public Utilities District (heroInaffer STPUD) must obtain certain federal grant monies in order to i nloirfi the long- term reliability of its facilities and to allow orderly and environmentally sound use of resources In expansion Of Its facilities; And whereas, in order to obtain such grant funds 1t 1,., necessary and desirable for the County of Ei Dorado (hereinafter County) to make certain commitments in cooperation with STPUD to Insure the lonq and short term protect ion ind enhancement of Lake Tahoe and Its env irontront; And whereas, without such commitments there is a substantial question as to the short-term reliability of the plant and its ability to perform its legal obligations without damage to the environment; And whereas, the commitments' contained heroin are believed by the ;!artles to contain adequate env contained, safeguards to allow not only short-term upgrading of the plant, but its ultimate expansion to allow service to properties which are developable under the upc6ming environ- mental threshold determinations of the Lake Tahoe Basin; The parties do therefore enter into this memorandum of understanding ,ind commitMOnt. L1jtIjr±Ipn Measures The County hereby agrees to undertake or cont I nun the f o I I Ow I h9 rij igation rrnasures In the areas specl f led, subject 'to the conditions and exceptions set forth in Section 5 hereof and ,mbinct to the Board of Supervisors of El Dorado County refaininq the rig' -t to unilaterally set prlorltleL +or tho corrimitolent of staff time and monies as it sees +it. For clorificatIono the reference numbers for each mitigation measure in the Mitigation Program are shown in parenthesis, 1, 208, Plan A, Erosion and Drainag , 1, The County commits to continue to require thP, approval of the California Regional Water duality Control Board) Lahontan Region (hereinafter Lahontan) on all building permits within the basin. (1) 60 7, 8) Ill 12), APpFN_ X 8 (,QnDly , 4,Inu68(continued) SEcTIONII� " ZZ - -11 it 15 La Measures - I 20 f3 plan (continued) ae (continued) A. Erosion and Dra 1 n -,j Protcl--t ts to continue to work with the 1101,M-10, The County commie is projects W. Conservation District on all publ adsida (00110s )ntinue to improve ro The COUn+Y commits to ccbasis. (2,4) and drains on a routine tudy the feasibility Of prVI-OCtive 4., 71 -he C.:-,;Jnty commits tD 5' the l0st`8"Btlon of storm drains -Over on dirt road$ and re available. (4i if.qatlon if funds a and provIdelm unti Commits to c -eek additional sourcethes Of -fundinto The COY m, assist Lahontan in the JmDlementatlon of 206 f1roIrag La Controls continue to require the apPrOval a80 80 i.commits to continue (6p 7he County C all buildi nn , permits in the Basin. LBhontan on Of South Lake Tahoe work with the Cit The County commits to of their General Plan (9) (hereinafter City) )n the update RGstrictlor12 C. :'E._eJCcper it to contlelue to recognize the TBPA and T, e C,"Linty CCTM , C'RPA' prohibitions On subdIv1sI,,)nz& ([Cl) ck" and rVegetat'ng of 'C0111mit5 to study the a0051hq 8 if found to be *r` "e 0'_'Jntti i to, provide *und*,nq for this ,-,,-t roads 011k a I I ab I e. (13) easSarV and if funds are av -road vehicles '�'frlctjons On off adtipcommit:1 an OP to stut,,Ay re. if found to be necessary' re C Unt propHrdinance ate Ordinance to use best management Practices on all 5, The County Comm't5 obi is projects, use oertrlts to continue to require SPec,131 4. The COu0ty comml+s ski areae and their OxPOWOMI for CaMPqr0unds and Sol 0 "ly and 'h nforce building codes WH to continue to e Of a new County-wIde `rho county commits consider the adOWOO the Basin and to 0- orading ordlMance , 120 9 APPENDI—XB (continued) -CTION 2. Mitt atloO Measures (continued) slzz'� 208 plan (continued) E. Geology its (continued) 2. The County commits to continue to Implament the Sets Safety Element of the General Plan on all discretion projOsts4 (19) Io „ The Count, Y comrilts to continue to protect enangre( is and their habitat on all discretdionaery I and anima (21) 4 111 4 41 G. Noise oe to implement the Noise Ele'nOn't The Couil'N cor .mjt$ to contin (24) of the General plan on all discretionary projectsi to continue to use the special use permit 2. The County cOmmits County 'Zoning Ordinance and CEOA to, prevent provisions of the C (25P 26) incompatible uses. to continua to regulate noise at the 3. The County ccmmits Tahoe Airport and to complete and implement the Master Plan and ANCLUC 1�4'udY (24) 2,e, qu I remest-its at Non-Attalnment Plan P2 _and A,ir U —* A. IrE2Ln ion Measure The County reaffirms its support of state inspection Of _Is and to continue its program vehicles on a state-wide bas of periodic Inspection and maintenance on County vehicles. 2. County commits staff time and file Imformation to study The CoWt conditions) traffic flow improvements, reductions in cold star transit, priority treatment for traffic movement Control) rail and tap arking surcharge. car Po()Is, porkinq supply mana,iemcntf a (280 - ts to work with Ot:'Or Basin agencies On The County C00"m" and Caltrans on the improvenlOntS Of the traffic advisories (31, 34) ,now removal orocedure. feasible, allow staqqerod work hours 4, -rho Count4� W1 I I, where feas to re4uce pee.., hour loading on the roads' Its comnlltment to wor,K with the 'Tahoe 51 Tho County reaffirms to explore BaSIn Transit AothorltY (hereinafter TSTA) and mate funding sources for It. (40, 42, 49� 500 52) alter APPENDIX 8 (continued) SECTION 2. Mitigation Measures (continued) 11. Meteorology and Air Quality (continued) A. Transportation Measures (continued) 6. The County commits to continue to recognize CTRPA's prohibition on drive up windows. (36) 7* The County commits to continue to enforce Its 7.oning ordinances pertaining to on—ite parking and loading spasm (32, 37) 84 The County commits to continue to provide controlled parking ,at the airport. (59) 9. The Ccunty commits to continue to Implement tho Hikeways Elemeni of the General Plan. (44) io, The County commits to explore ways to provide and fund additional pedestrian facilities. (45) 11. The County commits to continue to schedule road work as to not conflict with peak hours and seasons. (46) 12. Tice County reaffirms its support of the U,S. Postal Service in improving mail delivery. (47) Stationary Source Measures 1. The County commits to study gaseous fuel space heating when the necessary equipment i-: available. (62) 2, The County commits to continue to use the Subdivision Map Act and MA to obtain proper siting for solar access. %'63) The County commits to contlriu� its solar seminar program l'-hrough the Planning D;..-,irtment,, (63) 'Ithr-.'r R I rements A. inual rv�sourcp�j 1, The County commits to ntudy the Imp I emontat Ion of Its Design Confrol District Ordinance In the Tahoe Basin, (65) B, Land Use ',and, I-Ious.,logg 1. The County commits to continue to use its Redevelopment Agency to encourage h0l.151`ng rehabilitation, neighborhood facilities and an Increase in moderate price housing. (66) 67, 68) All 2. The County commits to ContIMUe its active zoning enforcement program, (66) 13 a APPENDIX 8. (continued) SECTION 2. Mitigation Measures (continued) III, OtherRequirements(continued) Bi Land Use and Housing (continued) 3. The County commits to continue the implementation of the Housing Element of the General Plan. (68) 4. The County commits to continue to participate in all Basin Agencies in order, to coordinate planning) policies and efforts. (70,, 78) C. Transportation 1. The County commits to continue its support of the T13TA, (71, 72) 92) 2. The County commits to continue to upgrade its trarv,lt system if funds are available, (71) 3. The County commits to encourage car and van pool inq where feasible. (73) D. Public Services/1:1scal Concerns 1, The County commits to ensure that now development locates to take "�xlmum advantage of existin,q service capacities. (77) 2. The County commits to work with impacted Basin Districts to find fundlr�l sources where feasible. (79) 3, The County commits to Investigate the consolidation of service districIts through LAFCO,, (80) 4, The County commits tc work with South Tahoe Refuse Company and other mencies, to reduce, solid Waste. (84) 5. The County commits to work with the Goldon Empire Healfh Caro Planning Agency to assrss the need for health care facilities and protprams. Al the time I�he need Is shown, the County Will provide funding if funds are available, (75, '76) E, Ut I It iss 1. The County commits to continue building code requirements of low water use fixtures In all new construction, (87) 2. The County commits to continue the weatherizatican program throvgh community services If funds are avallgab loi (89) 3, The County commits to continuo to enforce +ho building code, portaininq to Insulation requirements. (90) 123 APPENLD_IX8 (continued) SECTION 2. atjon measures (continued) III,gfher Requirements (continued) , F. Cultural Archaeoloaical and Historical Resources I. The County commits to continue to -equire site analysis on discretionary projects through CEQA- (93) 2, The County commits to continue to support the Historical Society's efforts to nominate cultural resources for inclusion in the National Register. (94) 3, The County commits to continue to restrict the use on lands in the area of a known signlf icart archaeolOgical Site, (05) SECTION 3 Tile agreement of County to continue existing programS and/or to under - ll proqrams is expressly conditioned upon the avail, itY Of tur0-. _!9rtake or continue such activities. While isle County .0 use every good faith effort to fulfill its commitments pledge,!; ` under this agrepwAnti this Soard cannot unequivocally bind future Boaras., nol• can if fo! esee at what point, if any, o -:-her prlorities may requ I re the 01 - r inty tL, ",;'- c�w ise a I I Ocala Its resoireps . In the event of such a cont I i,,*Pncy) I to- � nt*/ Spec 1 f ica I I y reserves the right to modify, in whole or In Pat-,-, . I - obi igatiOns under this agreement, after first consulting with 91711b .id other affected agencies to evaluate the circumstances and aitornt0, co,,rses of action open to the parties, if any. a 11 tj 2. These COMmitmenfs, are expressly conditioned upcn +he commitment KY the Environmontal Protection Agency of grant funds in the amount 01 $1,030,000.00 (one million dollars), which grant ;ands shall be utilized to design the improvements necessary to insure, the future rel lability Of STPUDts fucilities and the protecflon of Unke Tahoe. it is unjerstood and a(ireed by al I interested cart leis that 50 l0fzl &I reasonable good faith progress toward fulfllllhq r3f Countyls ,:0rrmltMent5 under thin agreement has been achievebd within the time perlods &,peclfled herelti, I such proqress will cans+jfute substantial performance by County Of its commitments) although County w! I I use i ts best efforts -to fulfIll the commitments outlined herein within the � , times specified, 4" It is further understood ind agreed by ahJ between the partlego that - U .0, ress. icy County I n f U I f 1 11 1 hq its ,1ssumln,,1 completion and/or qou' faith ab igations under i'I)i-- aoreement, a conStrflctkn grant I n the � 'Imou nt t�)f $1 D 0 000 ; 000 , 00 (fifteen tti 1 I Ion do 11,1 rr,) '01111 be forthcoming f rom the Env I ronmentO I Prof ect Ion Agency tO a I I Ow nr,,; I of I on of the TPiiQ plan rehab 11 tat I on, 12) 4 r __� a .; , � • . t. t m CUMULATIVE IMPAC'T'S PATTERNS 53 GROWTH INDUCING IMPACTS 53 COST BENEFITS OF :RES IbENTIAI, DEVELOPMENT 53 'WILDLIFE PROTBCTION Al" D ALTERNATIVES 54 56 r _ TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY PAGE INTRODUCTION PROJECT I DESCRIPTION 4 SURVEY METHODS .f 1✓NVIRONMENTAL BASELINE 12 Geology Soils Hydrology: 15 Climate 16 Habitat 10 Wildlife 20 Black-tailc-1 Deer 21 Rosident cad Migratory Deer lIi�;ratory Movements 23 25 Minimum Paresl Sizes Necessary to Sustain M. Land Use, Cetleral Plan; g y Deer 26 26 26 and Zoning 28 ENVIRONMENTAL Ik:?PACTS 31 Impacts of Development On Wildlife Impacts of Proposed Projects ' MITIGATIONS 34 37 Mitigation ;'Measures Mitigation Measures for Proposed Projects 42 SIGNIFICANT ENVIP'DNMENTAL E IF THE PROPOSALS ARE ° ERECTS WHICH CANNOT BE 50 t fMPLEIvIENTED AVOIDED SIGNIFICANT IRREVERSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL OCCUR WITH CONTINUATION ES WHICH 53 OF CURRENT DE WOULD tViENT CUMULATIVE IMPAC'T'S PATTERNS 53 GROWTH INDUCING IMPACTS 53 COST BENEFITS OF :RES IbENTIAI, DEVELOPMENT 53 'WILDLIFE PROTBCTION Al" D ALTERNATIVES 54 56 i APPENDICES I. Persons and, Organizations Contacted 58 59 ' 2. Bibliography t 3. Unincorporated Communities in Yuba County e1. G2 4. Field Survey Form 5, Model Dog Control Ordinance for Foothill Areas 63 LIST OF FIGURES 8 1. Project Locaton J 2. Subject Parcel Locations 3. Migratory Deer Range 33 r 4. Zoning Designations LIST OF TABLES 1, Characteristics of Subject Parcels 11 47 2; Schedule of Recoinniended Impact Fees r t r e_ r SUMMARY ed project includes `consideration of all areas f (1110'910118i ounty, with f land for The propos residential development in the foothill and mountain from the California ba�yartnient of Fish and immediate focus on 29 projects that were f subject to site-specific studies. the bases for these studies is a series of letters black•tailed deer of the Game (DFG) stating that the current pattern of land division within the coup Y producing significant adverse impacts upon migratorrye significance lnilividuallyi as Mooretown and Downieville herds. These projects may well as contributing to a cumulative adverse Impact, of site inspections of the Field surveys for the proposed projects at0 yid er had alroady left the county parcels as well as surrounding lands. Since mig1901+ use of fee evidence on buck r by the time this study was authorized 1 s May occupied houses, domestic pets and and deer brush was used to establish use by of s' cc P and migratory deer. Additional information on existing land use, presence livestock, availability of food plants, shelter and water, and the habitat suitability or deer and other wildlife; was recorded. Environmental Setting uba County. The study area encompasses he fond illWe tz n boundariesuntain raas of County lines formed were hethe Yuba River forming the southern and and face feet, Plant associationsn this the boundaries on the east and. nor�w�e lthdo0u0gh adjacent areas ir► Butte Countypin and also inspected. Elevations range be area include open grasslnr,, foothill woodland, riparian, chaparral, yellow p if mixed conifer, Soils are variable; most have Capability a a binity fortimber bngs Of on, V"' or VIII. Mountain area soils have moderate to high Major water sources in he study area include the ainclude Sullardsver, South b Bar nctit Mai.. Greek. Surface ,voter impoundments Creek, and French Dry and a number of other, smaller Reservoir, Virginia Ranch Reservoir (Collins hak'el, ade lakes. Grou lwater occurs in variable quantities in the foothill and mountain mawmade _ areas, The county has a Mediterranean i5tween!25iinches inth hot, r he foothills summers sto over 80 cold, Wet winters, precipitation ranges betW inches et the eastern edge of the county. Snow fall is frequent at higher elevations. 1 in filar to other counties In the foothills andplant . lower mountains of Wildlife tSiderras.it) In mane areas of the county, the resident deer law has been declining or has dmmer i en eriredYuba1gCo inty do rtheslateve hfall.eir suThey population ranges In Plumas and Sierra counties, $y late Winter As they move intoe their' Winter ran ge return to their summer ratifies in late n spring, available, or continued feeding on within the taunt), they begin feeding on shrubs atad sprouting grass" Want does, their diet consists of Young graprovidedanoadequate diet, especially for preg tips of 'shrubs. Shrubs do not p domestic ags, developed across m range. and. they must seek f orbs and e nutnral pr�dator� additional lafo he existing t ting deerrange. and automobiles have replaced In illegal kills, auto accidents, rtaltyrthal� natural �`auses� and legat hunting, corridors account or greater 1- Although many landowners assume and claim that they have the right to subdivide their land relatively free of restrictions by any agency, that right is not established in law. The Subdivision Map Act allows approval of only those subdivisions of land which do not result in significant adverse impacts, The arguments that new development generates additional revenues often overlook the hood for increasod levels of service that result, The amount of land necessary to adequate support pp ort d otlr vanes with the type of habitat. Although the DFG recommended minimum parcel sizes are probably adequate in dense forest areas, 3 greater parcel size is needed in open woodland and grassland areas. Deer need a com�ination of shelter, food, and water to survive, and -relatively few parcels under 160 acres have adequate amounts to support migratory deer, even though they support resident deer populations. Some large (160+ acres) parcels must be kept as permanent open space to insure survival of migratory deer within the county. That Open Space and Conservation Element of the General Plan requires protection of the county's natural resources, including wildlife. The Land Use Elomont, however, gives 'preference to property "rights" ever protection of natural resources. This element recommends that protection be provided to riparian and other wildlife habitats and requires assessment of potential impacts of development upon f Isli and wildlife habitats. Concern is expressed about impacts upon migratory deer from construction of .reservoirs, residential developments, and roads. Environmental Impacts Impacts on migratory deer and other wildlife result from an elimination of feeding and shelter areas, creation of barriers to movement between food, water, and she'ter areas, and by disturbance or by predation man and domestic dogs. While very few individual projects have a significant impact, the current pattern of subdivision and further division of parcels in the rural areas of the county has resulted in a cumulative loss of feeding and shelter areas that is significant. Impacts predicted for the 2:9 projects examined during this study are presented in the man text of the EIR. Mitigations Mitigations for proposed subdivisions must Include some mechanism for replacing essential habitats lost to development, Owners of large parcels maybe able- to offset habitat losses through improvement of habitat on undivided portions of other Property that they own, Small landowners also have this option, but should be required to improve habitat for migratory deer elsewhere in the winter range areas of Yuba County. A mitigation fee vstem is recommended for these landowners. The alternative is to deny any land division below the DFG minimums of 20 acres in winter range and 40 acres in critical winter range. Some landowners may have to modify their subdivision maps to mitigate impacts. Significant enviro;;mental effects that must be mitigated are those responsible for the decline of the Mooretown and Downieville deer herds; These effects have resulted in long term cumulative impacts upon migratory deer and other wildlife in the region. Although many landowners assume and claim that they have the right to subdivide their land relatively free of restrictions by any agency, that right is not established in law. The Subdivision Map Act allows approval of only those subdivisions of land which do not result in significant adverse impacts, The arguments that new development generates additional revenues often overlook the hood for increasod levels of service that result, 1 Alternatives Alternatives considered are: • No project, which would result in denial of all contributing significantly to adverse ima cts u on projects creating or p p mlV4VQtory deer, and b Adoption of interim measures to allow conditional n Land divisions, approval o£ proposed This would also invo Plan and zoning ordincence. lve subsequent changes in the General r rINTRODUCTION In 1977, Assembly Bill 1521 added Chapter 5 to the Dish and tame Code providing for management of deer in California. It incorporn.0d the objectives and elements. of "A Plan for California Deer, 1976" prepared for tho Department of Fish and Game (DFG), The DFG was to designate deer mann enit apt ,, units encompassing sin. -le, or groups of, deer herds with similar management and 115bitat requirements (Sec, 452), The DFG was to develop plans for each deer herd management unit to restore and maintain healthy deer herds in the wild state anti to provide for high duality and diversified u., of deer in California (Sec. 453). They were to document existing information on deer herd management units and produce the Information necessary to develop prat;rams to maintain and increase The quality of deer habitat statewide, emphasizing cooperative action between the DFG and approkriy tr. _ land management entities, both public and private (Sec. 454), Local records available in Butte and Yuba counties indicate that the DFG began responding specifically to impacts of residential development on deer, in January 1981 A letter was sent to Steve Streeter of the Butte County Planning; Department explaining the DFG policy on deer and other wildlife, It claimed that DFG's 40 acre minimum parcel size was basrad on biological fact and scientific rosea;eb, and citod the sources of these facts and research, Included in these sources were the "East Tehama, Bucks Mountain and Mooretown management plans, under preparation by Fish and Game,." Preliminary maps were made available to planning staff in Butte County (less accurate information already existed in the Areas of Special Biological Interest maps prepared for the DFG), The East Tehama Study was in manuscript Form, but information on the Mooretown Deer Herd, which uses both Yuba and Butte counties as winter range, had not been converted to text, In Yuba County, the problem of rural residential development and its impact upon migratory deer was brought to the attention of County staff and decision makers in early ]033. The trigger for reaction from the DFG was a proposal to subdivide 540+ acres of grassland, fooGall 'Woodland, and riparian habitat adjacent to South Roncut Creek on the Yuba -Butte County line, The Community Development Department had been processing this subdivision proposal with a iC iditional Negative Declaration, Conditions to protect wildlife and wildlife habitat had been recommended by the DFG and the Department of Forestry, Opponents of this project convinced the Yuba County Planning Commission to continue their hearing of 24 August 1983, to allow collection of Information on po ential impacts upon wildlife, including migratory deer. Yuba County staff had not been aware of the DFG herd management program and lacked any information on the Mooretown Doer herd. No program had been set up to inform local entities of DFG's management plans, and information Was so soanty on the Mooretown Deer Herd that it would be of limited use in planning decisions, In September 1983, the 'DFG sent a new letter to Yuba County rovising their earlier st 1d on the South lionout Creek project, The letter stated that reevaluation of the prc, 'sct indicated that significant effects upon fish and wildlife could occur and that ait i;IR should be prepared, The Yuba County Planning Commission, at their meeting of 28 September 1983, continued their hearings on the subdivision proposal until' 11 January 1084 to allow the DFG to prepare a survey of the property when migratory deer of the Mooretown Herd wero present. 0 i n_1 0 0 I I Department of Fish and Game personnel, County staff, and tile, project enginerit, inspected the site, and the DFG prepared a new recommendad map for the proltilj which excluded development from the majority of the property, 1.11 tiddition, parcel ►tta(l. subdivision maps submitted for review by DUG biologists tante back will, recommendations for project denial, or for more studies illligl, because of tltp, Potential impacts tomigratorydeer and other wildlife. The Marysville Joint Unified School District also has I)OWn sending letter;t to the County objecting to approval of subdivisions which would err:stte overcrowdintl In the Lonta Rica Elementary and Foothill Intermediate Schools, 01,ho tt� lettr.rs began in February 1983' and were issued for the same subdivisons of cgncern to g beUG. The Primary impacts from most of the- projects would have been on the Foothill Intermediate School, Yuba County decided that a single EIR, covering both doer and school impacts of the 21 land division applications being held up at that time, would be more appropriate than a series of individual documents which might not f),rovide an over,-iew of the cummulative impacts. In December 1983, the County $011t out requests for Proposals for preparation of an EIR for all of the projectK, Sj,v(�r were received and five companies were selected for oral interviews on 27 0Januar��1984. At that time, County staff had been advised that the school district -would not Participate, but would find other means to solve their problems. Clnly issues .related ka the the migratory doer herd were to be addressed, County staff recommended Eco -Analysts to the Board of Supervisors as consultants for this project on January 30, This was approved by the Board at their meeting of 14 February 1984, subject to the accumulation of sufficient funds to pay, for the work, On 24 Llay 1984, enough monies had been collected for the consultants to proceed, Subsequent contributions from project proponents came in through late August 1984, ThE. IMIt projects were surveyed and final analysis began in September 1984, This report presents the results and findings of these analyses. The Yuba County Board of Supervisors must determine the County's stand relative to the deer Issue based upon all of the information available. Eco=Analysts, While not in agreement with many statements made by the Department of Fish and Game, has been convinced of the adverse impacts of rural residential development Upon wildlife, including migratory and resident deer. Long term residents of foothill areas in the County provided convincing information which supports the DFG; position. The Board must determine if they accept these conclusions, and feel that further subdivisions of land will, or Will not, increase adverse impacts Upon migratory „deer and other wildlife, If they agree that these conditions e:tac Upon measures to mitigate or eliminate the potential adverse impacts. If they do not, they must decieaccept that cummulative impacts have been significant, then they may elect to choose other mitigations or require no new conditions for approval of parcel and subdivision maps. In this letter case, the County trust accept the probability of formal legal action by the California Department of Fish and Game or the State Fish and Game Commission, One of the purposes of this EIR is to determine the potential e residential development on migratory deer herds and the question ofa�tilelitvalueof Preserving wildlife versus allowing unrestricted development of homes in the. foothills Will undoubtedly be raised in public hearings, Landowners and subdividers will oppose . any restrictions to, or additional requirements for, land divisions and strongly rctslst the imposition of an impact fee to offset wildlife impacts, Their claims %vill Include statements that their rights "to subdivide ;laird are being Infringed upon, that additional 5- fees are contras increases in Y to Proposition 13 and that their activii (t,s at' property values and therefore budget: It is oftenasserted add much needed ►`t�votit socttoc the ignIrJ tf III1 should a o that if wildlife are so important Pay for this protection, not individual developers, klti�n the publict•lxtrtt; Contrary to these claims, subdivision of lapel is not n allowed bar local ordinance hpeals Court (c, f, rd and state laws t`Ight 't is a priviloge CR G85 Trent IIeridith, Inc and has been vi() as such G Nothing in the U -S, v. City of Oxnat,J (198;1 i.he local chatter or ordinance Conskituticn, Constitution of he ) 114 CAL 3d 31`I, '170 subject to a provides fora right" t 5lat� variety of state and local regulations requiringibde' of Cif land e met as a condition of tt�ubdtvis(uns of land rite approval, that certain conditions be The Subdivision Map Act is the California. The pertinent section, principal guiding force 1'�►r division of land in > if the Cctinty"s findings conclude )'That the of the proposed improvements rt tetitative map or substantially and avuldablY are libel t design til` the subdivision of Y to cause substantial e evidence to injure fish or wildlife or their habitat,"' the contrary, a itvlttittrrtutital damage or critical winter range approval of furthQ it) the absence of changes ka g oaf the c�'foox�etown -r subdivisions, Within minimize impacts and Downieville F1e1ds the winter and elsewhere in the pacts and/or measures to replace will require design affected areas. or upC►ttrlt5 wildlife habitat The section also appears to take considerations" (Sec. 15093, C$ precedence over the cluctriite of Francisco 1cologY Center v, QA Gutdeltnes) established in overriding 3d` 584. '.t'his doctrine the City and County of San Francisco case of the San significant benefits to society, d on allowing development of na tst o (1935� 48 Cal. A des I It does not a allows a project which Pp. concept should meet t e apply to subdivisions approval of protects with significant ative Se h tests suggested b the findings to support use of this Y the court decision, t PROJECT :DESCRIPTION This project includes subdivision site specificmigratory analysis of Y deer herds. The twentent al impacts on the entynine tentative mountain regions of Yuba IViooretow Parcel and. specified Y-nine subject parcels are n aria Dow that the subject County' California. aocated ttteville for specific recd, Parcels (see Figures 1 a in the foothill and Ultimate -nmendations Proposed for division into s and .2 The County concern t};ough, is to minimize mailer lots, has Critical winter range the impact of Impacts on the migratory dear be eXa�nined g of the Moo Imp and Do future land crds, wnievtlle DeediHerd s in the winter and . Prior to this Herds, Class, but thefr Protect, Parcel sizes course of this st stribution d Yuba Count The maps Y, all recorded not recorded on a Y had boat analyzed b Of the graphically demonstrate Assessor's parcels fomap of the County. S size foothills have n Y' During the been divided into magnitude of exist the Project area Parcels g Probie is were mailed Table 1 contains a ► °f less than 40 n significant importance acres, areas to use 'list of the r, (See Figure 3.) Parcel numbs by deer and atcels surveyed and srirve r' as well other wildlife, those Characteristics of Yed were within teas the County's Parcels are identtfiad b P, 3 n miles of Process number: Y Assessor's Habitat characteristics Collins Lake, Approximate locattoust Project, Individual parcel are based Y of the Parcels Community Develo and subdivision on the field are indicated in Pment Department, maps are surveys conducted for this Mitigations, addition to analyzingon file with the Yuba County future ns' this ETR includes dgthe ubject land divisions, Parcels and racommendtn and fences Mitigations include mitigation measures g specific F habitat improVement r design criteria for s teich can be Provide revenges for applied to habitat mproveme tm n arenas, and a n�tti plans Batton fee access roads which Will remain Undeveloped, ule to w A � , � 6 ` � 1s ' � NOTICE tt OVE-RSIZE DRAWINI U HAS BEEN REMOVED N 3 AND FILMED 0M..2 TABLE 1 CHARACTERISTICS OF SUBJECT PARCELS (on following page) KEY TO TABLE HEADINGS AP# Yuba County Assessor's Parcel number TSM/TPM NUMBER County Development Department processing number PARCEL SIZE Current size of Parcel in acres I NEW LOTS Size of proposed lots in acres NEAREST RESIDENCE Distance to nearest occupied house, in 'miles or fraction of miles DOMESTIC ANIMAL Presence of domestic animals, including cattle, sheep, horses, dogs, and cats DEER USE RES Use of Property by resident deer MIG Use of property by migratory deer + Intensity of use: + occassional ++ regular use by small numbers of deer ++++ regular use by large numbers of deer WATER Presence of water on or adlacettt to site, distance in miles or fraction of miles for off sRe sources SHELTER Presence of obvious deer shelter areas; + small amounts of shelter ++ shelter adequate to protect deer throughout the summer and winter y •* _large shelter areas adequate for year-round Protection >1Odb Pres" tit y, lkltod groups', 04 trees and acorns shrub species used as deer food "orbs 1 TIC DEER USE WATFA SHELTER FOOD # TSM/TPM PARCEL .SIZE NEW ET R£SEZD AiGE ST pAhNTMAL RES. UMIG. AP NUMBER (ACRES) ilUite# ++ GR#0# } 0:5 dogs, ++ S,H.FB 05-12-83 53-366 30 6 cattle ps)jacent �#++ GR15x. 6.25 cattle, ++' ++++ 5b.5 :B 03-334 540 5_A0 horses 40-01-q1. - _-- 02 �1 ++ G ? at(jscent GR,FB, 81-01 23 2.53.. 44-11-06 ++ GRrSH, 113 5+ 1+ _ +++ +}+ 0,5 FB 84-06 44-11-14# F9rGR 24 dogs# + ? 1+ 38 7-3.11 onsite, 44-11-19 83--47 adjacent horsey ' 5 adjacent, cats ,�.�. ++ �t0,5 ++y cRFBH* 83-367 55 bldg onsite 44-12-13 +.+ GRrSHF 7 1+ Cattle ++ +++ F5 84-03 33+ 6'1= 44-1304 +++ GR, SP, e0.5 cattle +++ +++ rldr-r F500 5+ yr�ar-s:nd 44-14 02 83-365 318 ,y SK,GR. Ca.t'tar +++ ': „trP'S.4e _. x5 10 5 0.5 } seso 44-X18=4» 83-02 tidooggss Sx,GRr 4D.6 5 0.25 }+ 7 FB#`I 44-24-36, 82-330 7 ? ansta +++ SH�� , 37 20 5 adjacent cattle 44-24-45 82-332 _» SH,�GR+ ,+ ++ FB -0 44-24-53 82-129 25 5-10 + limited MGR 23 6+-13 ++, 0#='5# 44.24:58 83-27 +� +�+ GR,SH 82-'331 27 10.17 44-24-59 ++++ SH,OR + 7 intermits _.. 20 5 onsite 44-24.62, 82-333! GR' FS 63 a,++ 7 e0.5 0 21 5-16 adjacent year-rnd 44-34-24 83»52 83-42 30+ 5.10 adjacent -. +++ ? O'GR 14-34-10 t++ sP6'm +++ ? onsite, p,GR ' ld+ adjacent 'dogs year-rna 44-34-31 81- 20+ r48 +++- ++ +++ SR✓GF 84+ 1-5 ontite# 48-09-11 83-352 ,adjacent Sx,FAe + + } E+ GR 5+ onsite, dog 4$-13-21 $4-373 10t adjacent t++ ++ adjacent 37 5.5-1i,7 adjacent " year-rnd 48.20-16 82-345 F3#GR, 18 1-7 oneiter dog# goat, +++ 3 0,511 50-26-15 8.3-46 adjacent horse l}y. x ,.+ iVf 94-1$b 5 44 10-11-09, rS,GP, onsite dogs, +++ +++ onsite, C3r5H 148 5-52 goats Year-end 5b•25=27, $4-374 ads SPOB, 56-31-14 onsite, dogs +++ +++ adjacent 0R 1,040 56-07-01r $4«182 173 adjacent adjacent 03r08'23 +js F85�R, 55 5_10 adjacent 60-14-15r 84-J75 16,17 ++ ? onsite# 51 5-6 adjacent - intermit 0 60-26-24r $3.144 1 0' rd, 60.28=t)5 dogs ++ ' SH 11 5.5 adjacent 60-80"'32' 95-411 +:i $H#t + - onsitei 64-11-01 8J-54 40 10 ,� intgrmt� r e t ----•--mow SURVEY METRODS Eco -Analysts had originally proposed to establish an overview of deer routes, and fending and fawning areas in Yuba County, This was to be accomplisliad migratory by interviewing staff of the Depart, of Fish and Game and U.S, Forest Service, and local, long time residents of the foothill areas, inspection of aerial Phota,.iaphs for vegetation distribution and evidence of deer 0,1708811M08811g areas, and ground -surveys for . actual and potential deer use, After Eco -Analysts was chosen to conduct this study and writo the Environmental Impact Report, County staff established the requitement of focussing on specific parcels proposed for development. The scope of work changed to specific recommendations on these parcels as inuhide cover later land division proposals. This need to examine individual general recommendations to Parcels resulted in an increase to field work in specified areas and an Increase in travel time. Eco -Analysts modified their study to the meat the County's needs, Also, since funds for this study were coming from owners of the subject fees resulted in a delay in the start of this study oar Well after the payment of migrated back to their summer feeding areas, deer ltgrd The most efficient way to study distribution and intensity of use by migratory deer in their winter and critical Wii.iter range is to begin the study as thr, deer begin. moving into winter are,is, analyze use then follow them throui h the spring return ttonhigher nel vatiohstheir Ve�Becausenof pdifficulties in collectin.g funds from developers, start of the project Was delayed h months and this methodology could not be used, Instead, Eco- delayed t;i y several individual parcels to determine actiial use or suitability as deer. habitat, used surveyed indicators of deer activity, and interviewed local residents and personnel Department of Fish and Game land U.S, Forest Service, plants as. of ,ane. For many. Years now, biologisis have been using plant associations to redia the s p . t combined with n hen rence of animals evidence such as � tracks, scat, This is a very reliable method, when, this method is based on inform ation obtained sbyt�the dauthor on field trips to the University of Californias Hopland Field Station in the the earlyst 19 records; ilea of field research on deer populations b pr, rly �96Q's, Reviews of Plants ton horst and his assistants, esablished the usefulnesam s ofae�atn nitj nggm hops with hun plants as a method of locating deer and determining. their activity patterns, 1 r food areas Where` deer have concentrated sprouts or terminal stcros of plants, Deer browse on the tender, nutritious begin sprouting again in the late ' springants r any ble eiges trimmed oe he feed. Thos p In resident !oval deer, The presence s young oak trees � plants very goad Indicator of the absence of deer,the feel' are due to ,under two fent in hkriglit, is a buck brush (Ceanothus cin___ oatusl and deer brush 1CeanothusF integerrimus Condition °ic browsed excellent record of current decor feeding as reg; ► -------..1 pct +ided an season, Young tender sprouts of other shrubs such as manzani a arehe arse 0 species for deer, but only provide iiiformatian tvlien they are not browsed, past winter good food -12 knowledgeable, information was obtained ' � twined from state and fed...,> edgeable, long term residents of the Count in Department of Fish and Game files on the lvdooretown � WI f11formati , well le County, The amount o£ lnfarmatior, available scanty and preliminary. the on deer movement d hownlevi'!e Herds is. individuals with radia-collars and tars, was provided by BFG Biolo USFS Biologist Art Rohrbacher, bases u,n tracking a few rslnt Dirt, Snowdon and Additional information needed to : eterlr. ne t by deer is the he suitability of an area for Presence of water sourr,es ar,d thermal .sheltertors, pro�lmity o£ occupiuse ed houses, and the presence of dogs and naturtal barriers. This was added to the evidence of recentaand' ae well a9 access routes or trails to establish the intensity and past doer, Parcels examined. Information a presence or absence, of deer uadr on$the end vidual added because these species can grazing atterns si.00foOat n fee , htlott tt and goats was The setae! �' .erns of doer, completed field survey portion of this study , with the late addition nf' was begun orr 5 dune 1984, and first field survey was designed some maps by the Count study. Because of the very great to locate the y` On August 1984,, The Parcels of landaWOOft paying for this location on parcel and subdivis ❑ eps�aW$itused Assessor reran many of the project Sites. clarity iic°utticY of Vicinity in addition; This first survey also provided an tivorvlel n1y 'Pages habitatsto Iodate provided more sightingrn of deer and coyotes than were recorded and, subsegclent early morning surveys,: in Project locations were platted on 7 1/2 minute U marked on assessor parcel sheen,, This was done to ervie Projects included in the curve SCS quadrangle sheets and ar,d their physical loc tionlrelativee an v to each other f Th s also aided in establishing how rrany projects could be successfully surveyed Depending upon .the size of individual Parcels, one to six parcels, access, topography ,,nd tancei botwen a en were begun at or before c7,00 oartn, bwhile birdlife n�yass till a rve were still fresh and were ingle ay, Actual site surveys generally ended by noon, active and animal tracks The largest single r took more than a single day parcel, that of the South lioncut Creel ■■ to develop a clearer pictu a o survey deer mond incluentsded review of some adjoinini ' 8 Parc3.33 els review of other parcels could be accomplished in as little ab bile-he parcels property, Field Here Parcel: to over folly hours for ltirger, more complex Half hour for a ten Possible, p Parcels In addition to the onsite surveys, in Which a er examine adjoining, area when � proposed lot was curve area necessary to support migratory deer, establish the extentnottyyild�ewuse ade e and the Special field sheets were designed for this study, information recorded on them included a locality description, Csae Appendix 41• Survey especially those that `serve as food for deer, occupied dwelling units, and the presence of dogs; cattle °. dominant plant species, presence of other wildlife, proximity of r other domestic animals Several sources of map information were reviewed for this study, provided by the California Department of Fish and Gauze are thr thate only is o Official standing and were used as basemaps ' Those Information was provided by br, Lee Fitzhugh of theoUnlverstreason, nes With any Extension SeM�` y of Californias at Davis Service, DFG Game Warden lion Perrault, and b l map Biologist, plumes National Forest, U,S, polast invaluable information an specific areas of the County, vice, Local citizens healso We zone Provided Roc Lainderman, a former Tuba brnitted them to the maps and au • to the MFG movements from ot%wr sources.,n ,nnty super ors loads co filled ns a migrators+ information filled: in a $ p � Yuba. County on several occe►aions since int His mnde bet.... Depa is had conduct atiosrsv°ys ' their migration into ?in It eco-AnalYa was a series of observations r The meat pertinent inform observed during 195?, d JAarch 298q, when deer were November 2983 Coun>�'� siso provided infox�notion on rand out of Yuba residents local deer and migratory 1� GAB Warden Perrault and Several local us, by winter feeding areas changes in �i�ratorY routes,; echin�. deer, and local etfacts of Fp osite map utilizing the information. a comp vided coufiruaation of Figure g, Migratory Deer Range fiaid surveys pro t Our o of parcels and genera areas, The obtained from the Sources cite , or lack of use, resident .deer uses anon. routes `the $irarrasi and supplement �,igrsto n n'es to analyze possible he hearing prooeas or ehorwly thereafter.. DFG cants information may be provided late in boundaries of the extent of winter the onset that map for survive It was recogai"d froth ations. The aotusl areat cel uratic conditions es are 01 will vary and critical winter rang the winter months DFG maps do not Include ee migratory 'deer during Although there are re9orts and used by mi� movement patterns; winter rangeswithin and even in Gold Th are Sia areas , the Yuba Gold Fields within atm cf doer use. east side of this area during the winter months, appearing and critical �nnter ramie that did not show any designated winter 1 1 D ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE GEOLOGY Yuba County lies on the eastern edge of the Sacramento Valley and extends into the Sierra Nevada. The _eastern mountain area and the central foothills occupy about 60% of the county. The western valley area is mainly n series of terraces, alluvial fans, and floodplains,. The Eastern mountain area ranges in elevation from about 1,600 feet to more than 4,800 feet. The region consists of gently rounded ridges, moderately steep hillsides, and rugged, steep canyon slopes.The area is deeply entretichod by the Yuba )'liver and its tributaries. Regional geology consists of metavolcanic rocks with extensive areas of igneous intrusive rocks. In some places, there tiro bands of slates and schists that are strongly folded and steeply tilted. The Sierra foothills rise gradually to the east. This reglo►A consists of rolling to steep hills with conspicuous ridges and peaks; The foothills range in elevation from about 200 feet along the edge of the valley to over 2,700 feet on some of the higher peaks, The rocks in the lower and middle foothills con,tist mainly of metavolcanic rock. In the higher foothills, the rocks vary from acid and basic intrusive rocks to metavolcanic rocks. The terraces of the Sacramento Valley border the western edge of the foothills, consisting of nearly level to rolling, partially dissected remnants of old gravelly terraces. Elevation ranges from about 70 to 250 feet. Alluvial fans lie below the terraces and to the east of the Feather River floodplain. They are nearly level to very gently sloping and are drained by sloughs or by intermittent creeks draining the 'foothills. The floodplains consist of recently deposited lands along the Feather, Yuba, and Bear Rivers. Relief is nearly level. to gently undulating, but in places, there are old meander scars and a few oxbow lakes. The Yuba Gold Fields, consisting of gold mining tailings, create a rough surface along the Yuba River upstream from Marysville. A portion of Yuba County is located in the Foothills Fault System, Some segments of this complex system have been the site of modern earthquakes (including the 1975 Oroville earthquake) as well as of older displacements in rock, Features of this system include faults, fractures, lineaments, and shear zones. Based on numerous studies of seismic activity in the region, active or potentially active :faults of the system are generally considered capable of producing a maximum credible earthquake with a hlchter mr.unitude of '6.5. -15- D D SOILS The eighteen soil associations in Yuba County can be grouped into three mnjt physiographic units: 1) the valley, 2) the foothill?, and 3) t!c mountains. In the vailoy there are nine t-,ssociations, in the foothills three associations, and in the mountahju six associations, The U.S.U.A, Soil Conservation Service has produced a 1:100,000 scale map indicating soil series distributions. The valley lands of Yuba County are part of the Sacramentrt Valley. This area includer� recent floodplains, young and moderately Old alluvial fans, and partially dissected old fans or terraces. Recent floodplains are found r:.alr,ly along the Feathor, Yuba, and Bear Rivers: young and moderately old alluvial fans lin ;Tightly higher than the floodplains. The terraces are remnants of old alluvial fans that, have been partially dissected by erosion. Most of the county's agriculture is oil valley lands. Soil associations of the valley are described below, Columbia�TuJunga ,Association: These soils are on recent floodplains of the Feather River and are deep and slightly stratified, wi:a a cc Rase to medium text,ur- The Columbia soils are some of the most productive soils in the county and are 1Ysed for a variety of field, truck, and orchard crops. Tujunga soils havo : ,V water 'holding capacity and low fertility, Most of the Tujunga soils are undeveloped and are used for pasture and range. Columbia suils are used for field and orchard crops, Tu unga soils are used for pasture and range. (Capability Unit I, III), Ramada -Valdez Association; This association ont sist? of deep, highly stratified, sandy to silty textu. ed Soils, These soils occupy ne4t use level to very gently sloping, recent floodplai!is of the Yuba and Bear Rivers, and a portion of the floodplain of the Feather River, east of the levee, emending south of Marysville to the junction of the )Sear river, These soils are used mainly for orchards. (Capability Unit II). Honcut Association; This association consists of deep, medium textrsed, well drained soils occupying narrow stream ridges in the Linda and Olivehurst districts, They are used for a wide variety of field crops and orchards. (No Q,pability Unit is assigned), Wyman-Itz-er ,Associationt These soils are deep to moderately deep, medium to moderately fine textured soils occUPYing nearly level, young alluvial fano east of the Feather River floodplain, They are used for a wide variety of field and "truck crops. Undeveloped areas are used for annual range and pasture or dry farmed to barley, (Capability Unit, I, II). Yokohl,Kimball Association; 'T'hi's is the Mont ektensive soil association in the. Western Pacific Railroad and the gravelly to ra old alluvial. tsps 'mainly between the valley portion of the county, It occurs on broad, molly atel cos to the east, These soils ate shallow to moderately deep, medium texturod, with hardpan and claypan, They are used for rice, irrigated pasture, and shallow rooted field crops, (Capability* Unit I1t, IV), I,andlow-Yokohl Associatiom Soils of this association are medium to fine t extured, shallow to deep, with slow permeability and hardpan. These soils :occupy nearly level, very Slowly drained basin -like areas lying between the and moderately old alluvial fan soils, This association is mainly used for Irrigated pasture and rico. 4.16., 1 San Joaq-din-Ramona Association; old alluvial fans in the Hallwood district, These soils occu y soil and a dense clay subsoil over San J'oa ui : p tnsht ly level, moderately 4 soils consist of a loam surface crops, rice, and irrigated lying a hardpan and are used fol, are suitable for a variety ofsfield and orchardna ilcrops, dee Rita t a rooted field p .soils without a hardpan and Redding -Corning Association se soils foothills, extending slightly westward; iritohthe valley border the and shallow with "gi tl n and Western edge of the (Capability Glut IV), hardpan and are used places` Soils are gravelly mostly as dryland rtinge, Tailings -Placer Diggings Association; cobbly mining debris occuring in an extensive a area association alongtithe clow rt's of Hammonton and a smaller area gravelly and. (Capability Unit VIII), near Smartville, Theytib. River near havEs no ag;•icuitural use, The foothills occupy the lower western slopes of the Sierra Ne the valley lands and the mountainous uplands of the county, inc rolling to steep hills with Conspicuous ridges and Lada between Primarily for range. Some irr(gatd including an area of Peaks, Soils in the foothiils, are used developed where irrigation water is available, Increasing numbers Pasture and a few oliVe orchards have been subdivided into small acreages for homes(tes or developed for bee of areas are being Auburn•Sabri�nte. recreational use, Association; These soils Foothill area and are COMPOS asas' othhs of Yuba County, make. up the most. extensive sail association to d htna mainly � They Occupy rocks. This association consists of well drained, brown to r meta copy the lower ic Y of sails developed from metamorphosed volcanic medium acid, loamy surface soils, used mainly for range and limited (Capability Unit VI), h brown, slight e, mated irrigated pasture, Sierra-Auberry Association; These soils occur mostly the county' betw6,n about 1;000 and '> e s y in the Upper of der°elnped from _f•,et. The soils in thisassoclationlSahe granitic rocks and are sha.low to deep and well drained, They aCe primarily used far Winter and spring range, (Capability Unit VI). Englebright-Rescue Association; These soils occur in the upper foothills county between about 1,000 ono 2,700 feet, the woodland•grass so(Is of the lower foothills and the ills of the They occur at the transition zone between association consists of moderately dee soils developed from bhsic igneous` rocks. They areused higher -forested soils, This p to deep, medium textured, cobblY and rocky+ habitat, and watehshed, Some area's support thin standsofor annual range, wildlife sites are generally locti•, (Capability` Unit tai, Timber Site Yellow pipe, but timber Rating is Nonr:0mmercial), -17- 1 11 1 canyon erra ountains of Yuba County are P1rr dg s, rollingt hills,ern loand ofpe the a fused The m gently rounded Nevada, This is a region of deeply entrenched by the Yuba r.RvAerfew plaCeSlbhaveebeen soils cleared for apple slopes, the prod►zction of timber.. primarily for cwni sites, or other 'uses. There are six soil associations in this orchards, lumber mills, to region, l,cated in the The soils in this atsoojation are Dobbins Association: and are deep to very deep and well drained, These northeastern part of e county wildlii e en grassland to provide limited extensive timt}er producing soils and nougalso ts pmana$ed for watershed, sails are ext Some areas have a is Low to Mediumli habitat, and recreation, (Timber Site Rating spring and summer livestock range, Association-, These soils occur atointermediate,levels h) Rackerby-Dobbin A generally between 1,500 t northeastern part of the county, watershod,. formed from basic igneous intrusive £er kwildliEeahfal�itaderat°ly wolf and rocky soils are f low or The sparse stands of timber are of very low limit-)d drained. The soils of this. association are used main ,cleared. areas P ►,d recreational purposes" Very noncommercial quality, Some woodland-grassmm or open, spring and summer livestock ranbe. (Timber Site. Rating is Noncommercial to n in Low). i- Tang; Association: This is the This association most extensive oconsists► ofibdeep il Challenge -Tisk and noncobbly soils. These soils are well suited to the northeastern ►mountainous section of the county- blY s , or are presently being logged+ Only to very deep, well drained cobbly growing timber and many areas have been es over ber Site Rating is Medium to High), a small acreage has been clearod for homesiteT►onr cultivation. Ra These soils are also managed for wildlife habitat and water Supply. soils occur in the northeastern part of Holland•Chawankee Association. These raretit rocks and are the North Yuba River and Little Oregon Creek above Bollards the county, mainly along drained. These soils Bar Reservoir+ The soils of Land associationyell tos mewhatr excessive)}g moderately deep to very deep ability Unit VII, VIII. ate used mainly for watershed and the production of timber, Cap Timbot° Site Rating is Medium to High)" roughly These soils pCCace +moderately' deep to Josepl►ine•Stes•MariPosa Association: n th►S association are used mainly northysoutli bands in the noravellyt soils.ern The soils county. Theytershed, and recreation. very aeep, well draltied, gr £or growing timber but are also managed far wildlife, watershed, (Capability Jtinit VI, , Timber Site Rating is Medium U) 'High 9 , a Association; These soils occur relative consistllOf shallow to Sltes•Dubakell around Wo°dle the nolrtl�Ea'st part of the c°unty, mainly This strl association is used mainly very deep well di, stony and nonstony soils, for growlug timber, (Capability unit VI, Timber Site RatinC is LdH' to Hight. i. 18- q HYDRO_ 1 Y Surface. Water Resources • County lies be the headwaters Be r River drains ate intoge sthocCamp Far i'uba Co Y North and Middle Forks of the 'Yuba River, The Reservoir on the boundary with Nevada County and emerges as this boon ar, West Reser 'tion between. Yuba and Placer County- Yuba River flows into the , Bullards Reservoir, The North Rork of the Additional bout channelling runoff iro the Oregon Creek, mill Creek, square miles �B dgethisr tan oat ek ndera Willow u Plyeo drainage comes from Li Providing a total watershed area of 481 'square miles an an x,066,000 acre-feet of water. iditl� Fork of the Yuba River drain s th Urk02ysquare quad(jla miles Nevada The M� The Middle and Nor County into Yuba County. Yuba River loins the flow of the other da Reservoir. An average cf 3G7,00C acre -f nb of flo�.v is added to they Yuba River Neve from draining approximately 197 miles of this source: The South Fork. of the branches southwest of 'French Corral, County. Tile total flow into the Yuba River from its branches is 2,;L31,000 acre-feet .at Englebright Dam. .drains portions of. butte Yuba CoulT�e Honcut Creek forms a portion of the north boundary of vt Outte County. ds In YubCounty 'but801 annual acre-feet, as recorded Honcut atees ed obably contributes most also Yuba County and drahis a watershed of Butte water near Honcut. French Dry Creek originates is Y tench Dry eek+ about is an are miles, producing an annual average 62,400 acre-feet, Collins bake (Virginia Ranch Reservoir) is a large Impoundmentn Groundwater Resources at Yuba county is part of the Sacramento Rite Sierra Nevada oBasin, lthe east basin on thew petween the foothills o and Sutter rCounty area lies WeSt, groundwater incl de ed a ,6 lidatedvolcanic Quaternary ash aand The principal sources Teri u PXrri d toward the Foothills, is an important alluvium underlain by - water -laid volcanics: Pleistocene alluvi m, derive water local source of groundwater, The larger and deepen wells of the area the alluvium and volcanic$. Saline waters occur beneath the fresh waters. from both unto is a iCs, vely developed, The average yield of wells is Groundvtater in. Yuba Co - above 850 gallons per minute, with a few wells producing 'up to 2,000 gallons per ,minute, CLIMA'T'E Yuba County lies ies within both thr., Sacramento Valley and Sierra '09--4PhIc Provinces. The county has a Mediterranean N,,vada summers and coo) wet Winters. ean �m""O with warm dr C" y Mean annual temperatures vary somewhat throughout the county, ranging from 62 degrees Fahrenheit (Marysville) to 52 degrees Fahrenheit (Strawberry Valley). It Hot summers and cool winters Prevail in the valley and lower foothills, The mean ju,jy tem—rature is about 7-9 degrees Fahrenheit and the mean January tempevature is about C-- degrees Fahrrmheit. Ths ae ; maximum temperatures can averagee betweenwarmest 90 andMonth100rde greesJuly and August, when dall) Fahrenheit In the upper foothills, temperatures tend to be lower with warm, summers and cold winters, Mean, J,�,]y temperatures are in the 60's temperatures in the the 30's to 40 to 70's and mean January 112 degrees Fahrenheit 'S. At 6amPtonville (elev. ,-dnd a minimum of 8 2755 ft.), a maxe Mean degrees has been recorded.. maximum of averages annual w-eciPitation increases rapidly in 18 to 15 inches in the v with elevation. Precipitation alley, 235 inches in the foothills and over 80 inches the Mountains. At higher elevations, and. may 'remain On north facing snow accounts for most of the precipitation , slopes until mild -May. Precipitation occurs from October through April, More %han qO% of the The Pre'Vailing southwesterly winds in the valley are due orientation and heating of the Sacramento to the north -south conform move closely with l cramento Valley. At higher elevations the winds eight miles Per hour the free I but occasionally westerly winds. Whids average a time, In late Winter, blow strong),y from from six to the north for a few days at dry weather causing serious Winds brifig cold dry weatho,,% In spring they bring us fire hazard and drying of crops, g hot, -20" a r HABITAT The natural vegetation of Yuba County hac been altered conoderably since the first settlers began populating the area in the gni .8001x. In the Walley Grassland and Foothill Woodland communities, native bunch grasses (F�a spp, and Stir spp have. been largely replaced by exotic annuals. Extensive marshes, overflow areas, and riparian habitat have been drained and converted to agriculture. The natural vegetation of Yuba County can be divided into five plant communities. At the lower elevations of western Yuba County is Grassland, and tho majority of urban and agricultural development. Pine -Fir Fotest covers, the slopes Or the Sierra Nevada in eastern Yuba County. Foothill Woodland forms a ransition z0be between the Grassland and Pine.Fir Forest, Chaparral intermixes with Foothill V`ioodinncl and Pine -Fir Forest, Riparian habitat occurs along rivers and streams, Chare c teristi c plants of the Grassland are brotae (tiromus spp.), wild oats (Avena syp,), barley (Hordeum spp.), fescues (Festug spp.), filaree (Erodium spp,), and bur clover (Mgdicago hisptda). Important trees in the Pine -Fir Forest are ponderosa pint, (Pinus ponderosa), incense cedar (Calacedrrrs dec_urrens), madrone (Arbutus menttesii), western white fir (Ab concolor), Douglas fir {Pseudotsu�a menziesii), black oak ( uercus ke110 "ii), and sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana), Chaparral species composition varies considerably from one area to another. Where it occurs in the Foothill Woodland, common plants are scrub oak (_ uercus dumosa), the scrub farm of interior live oak ( uercus will zen%i), buck brush (Ceanothus cuneatus), manzanitas (Arctostaphylos spp,), coffee berry (Ramnus -calif Ica), mountain mahogany /CercocarP betuloides), western red -bud (Cercis occidentalis), California yorba santa (8rIodictyon californicum), and California bay laurel (Umhellu_laria . cal fornicc), In moister canyons and draws at lower elevations, California buckeye (Aesculus cal(fornica), elde►berrtes (Sambucus spp,), wild cherries (Prunus SPP), p°l ire oak (Rhus niyersiloba), squaw bush (Rhus trilobato.), and willows (5alik spp.l, Important. At Higher Qlevations, der brush ceanothus (Ceenoth_us inteeerrimus), common snovrbc,rry (Svnt' 'horicarnoc� albus), thimble berry (Rubus parviflorus), and wild roses {Rosa spp:), are common in draws and protected areas, Chaparral occurs with. Pine -Fir Forest where soil{ are shallow or after fires or logging operations. Characteristic speoles are deerbrush Ceanothus, mountain white thorn (Ceanothus cordlulatus), stibw brush ceanothus (Ceanothus vellitinus), western service berry (Amelanchiet. alnifolia), manzanita, and wild cherry. The Foothill Woodland community is chaeacterized by scattered trees and shrubs with art understory of grasses and fortis, Three of the important tree speyieS are endemic to California, digger pine (minus sabiiciar,a), blue oak ( uercus dotiglasii), and California buckeye. Also important are ihterior live oak and verba Santa, Comma" grasses and forbs of the Foothill 'Woodland and Grasslands are brome, wild oats barley, fescues, filaree, and bur clover ypiciil riparian species are sycamore {Platar,us r7cemosa), box elder (Acer nom), Fromont'-! cottonwood (Po -obis fremoritii), valley oak, blackberry (Ratios yitifoliits;, Calaftrrit3a grape (Mitis californica), mule fat (Baccharisyimihea), and poison oak, The California Native Plant Society 0980) lists several plants in Yuba County Bogg's Lake dodder (Cuscuta howelliana), r as "rare but not endangered", They are oncalifornicaa), sticky haplopappus (Haa!UAR 'us (Dnrlin tia California pitcher plant lucidus), and Tehama navarretia iNaVarretia heterandra). These plants are marginally low at present rare and their vulnerability or, susceptibility to threat appears CNTPS has recommended that their tutus 'Lce monitored However, since they are rare, Bogg's Lake dodder, whose habitat is rapidly being destroyed, A regularly, particularly few of what appeared to be a rare fritillaria (Frtiliaria east' woodiae) were examples in a survey alone Trench Dry Creek, north of Collins Lake. recorded Habitat is the term used to dQscribe the environmental factors that determine both physical and 'biolo cal features such as where an animal may occur. it includes water sources, food plants and shelter areas, Access to water is critical for most animals, including deer. Summer water and impoundment areas, sources are limited in Yuba County to few major streams a greater number of water sources in normal gain years, since Migratory deer have there- are a large number of small streambeds that carry water through the rainy etoand season. More small pools and puddlesexist aswtosirnsome it is essential dg shelter areas in the winter and early development•free corridors so that deer may reach water sources apt all times of the year. Deer tend to be selective feeders whenever possible, Their preferred foods food plants do not tend to be plants with a high protein content. If the available to death in an area that might support contain enough nutrients, deer may starve eoakosoeedlin tends to be shrubs the fall and early winter cattle or sheep. in gs, acorns, and as buck brush, deer brush, moi),nta' s mahogany, yaang (orbs become the such any new grass sprouts, In late winter, grass shoots and succulent and forbs ave not proferred food, with 'browsing on spring and early sumnher,etho Yss In late fo d or, forbshand new emerged or are scarce. p a shrubs. As the fortis dry lip, they are forced to depend upon growth on their preferrod shrubs and acorns. Man's activities have both increased and decreased suitable food plants. from late winter Clearing of heavy brush and. thinning treesprovides epracticemore f ofdplants the stammer months, previous aggresslve, early control through most of o ill wildfires has, however, eliminated critical plant foods from mans areas. Deer require shelter from extreme cold in the winter and prefer shady areas They also require shelter as during the hotter portions of the day in the summertime. natural predators, such as mountain lions and bobcats, and. protection against their and his predatory pets, particularly dogs. man They also need secluded shelter areas for birth and early growth of fawns. summerf0 Since migratory deer usutilly drop their er this wstttdy, orae r their evidence of in this is not a problem of importance rheas for resident deer during the course of this study. at least two fawn sholter r 1 1 t t .. Al--DLL[FE The animal life of Yuba County has been directly impacted by hunting Predator control, and indirectly by introduction of exotic species or displaced indigenous forms. A itod manipulations of the environment operations, nose car control and of ap species which have become dependent upon man's activities, Projects,and other eliminated or displaced to other areas with less intensive habitat alteration,aPaci ty for a beesavertil other forms have bee The Foothill W000dland areas vertebrates, Birds commonly found provide suitable habitscs for Cath nesting n wide ng in this area include t}sn turkey variety vulture artes aura), red-tailed hawk California (Buteo .iamaicensis quail Lo hort californicusl ` -�)' kestrel ( ]co s arverius), (T •a alba ---- mournin clove (Zenaidura t ), common screech owl --- u ours), barn owl formi�r�s) American crow Co s ( tus asio), acorn woodpaokar nutalli), scrub Jay (Anhelecoma lesc15 sem, hosb ybllow-billod �Mela Ae- Psaltri acus minimus) --------- Mens), titmouse (p cru mggple (Pica -------- , and ouse finch (1pinus inornatus), arnatus , bushtit Mammals common to the .Foothill Woodland _ (Fera neon mane„ `cu_ t`n)� small brown bats in the deer mouse 0—sums), big brown bat (Ratesicus fuscus tvoodrat 8 Neo,tomwestern �rr�y squirrel Scurus fox Uroc on cinerenarg©nr eu Lu 1 marcu ialis), bobcat (L nx r�ufu )sS ` raccoon (Prot of n sc' es), California gray. americanus) -y — lotor), oppossum (Did el�ahis mountain lirn (Felin concolor -- and black•tailed mule deer '(}docrslleus hem us columbianus), ), blank bear (Ursus Reptiles include the Western. rrttlesnake Crotalus (P�tito his melanoleuceus cat,_ ener)y gammon a viridus) California alligator lizard (Gerrhanotus ��— ' gopher snake snake (Lam ro eltis stolon), _._._w nulticarnatus n�ulticarinatus) The Chaparral co ,among others, mmunitj contains some different nesting birds. Cai$ttens nri8 d -tailed hawk, mountain At low L--�— ) starling (5;,lrnus vol ar snail (oreotvx ictus), Anna's e thalmu , P, fuscus) are commeq. -)' rufous•sided and brown towhehummingbird e mi pib to (A oils chr razatos) and phaitiopepla (Phainopearla n�ta girds of note are the golden eagle nesting species are mountainouse — ) At higher elevations, common warbler (Vermiv`�ra celata), black throated eh Tro` o - -- , MacGillary's warbler IQorornis .tsimici), fox s err f ------- 'Z31'd towhee Chlorura chlorura Rrl warbler aC)endroicaang�ti er--_A)� -_ ), p ow Passer alta iYtrca), and green tailed Mammals of the Chaparral community include the western halve (Reithrod�ys d1e� otis mouse. Di odomys h` $nt�i), foragln brush obats use ofethe segs bo -W), Heermann`s st maroo and Pitistai CeIifornia kangaroo (Me hitis me hitisl, coyote Canis latrans), (bobcat, Fish c cotus, Antrozous, M ground squirrel Cit_ e(lu beeche i1, "Possum, striped sltL cottontail rabbit (j, ngd._.�onl), end mule deer, h rabbit (" ]vile ns b©c--- hmgti, Reptiles commonly seen in 'Chaparral Are the we Th fence osloma ,c(o orl nus �ccid pial{s)+ California alligator lizard rattlesnake, westerm tum), gopher snake, and western wliiptail (CnelTlido*har scoast �ia ed lizard Birds nesting in Grassland communities in Yuba county Sturnella ne tecta red+tailed hawk, barn owl, mourning dove, common nighthawk (Cliordeiles minor - y are the meadowlark kestrel, killdeer (Chardyociferus), ------__ ), horned lark (Ereob ila al estris), ' barn swallow (Hirundo rustica), and red -winged blackbird Uncommon species of note are burrowing oHl S` et o carica - us 1 oe iceus (Geocoecvx californicus), amo g ( P.1—.drun _ r ng others..-----�-C.�!) and roadrunner Mammals common in Gfosslands include Pocket gopher Thomo vs bottaa) the western. harvest -mouse; Botta �(----- ote r, California ground squirrel, black tailed jackrabbit (Le rs californicus) :and coyote. Fdparian communities provide habitat for a variety of animals; This div the result of surrounding plant communities a weil as streamsde feeding and shelter ' areas. Ma ersiel is Many species of birds nest here including, turkey Melee is t Anna's t�Wnnungbird, mourning dove, California quail, kestrel, turkey all° avo , killdeor, screech owl, house wren, woad duck Aix s ansa , vulture, barn owl, American robin Turdus m�rato is great blue heron (Arden herodia ), stelldn't), )+ acorn woodpecker, Steller's dipper Cinclus n►e�cric ;pis), and 3wain;son's thrush Catharus ustu ata)C anoc` a Representative amphibians are the bullfrog (Rana �tesbiana), Pacific tree frog ( •1 ro 'llia), Yellow -legged frog Rana h2X!9: : California newt (Taricha torose), tIgar salamander '(Amb____.vs� tom- ti inum '`)� and; Thevalley garter snake 'Thamno his sirtalifs fitchi), mountain garter ele ons ele ons), northwestern pond turtle Clemm s marcor,-tg mountain ,oral ► snake (T, (Coluber constri or), are common in these areas, .t•> and racer The gray fox, brush. crouse o ossum, eottonth!l rabbit, raccoon, long-tailedweasel(Mus eleofren-mtoa}ering-tall Sea anus Iatimanus), astutus), muskrat (Ondatra z bethica), mink, striped skunk, a), ri g-ta l Q assai qi cine utoritan river otter (Lutea canadensis), bobcat, and black -tailed mule deer are inhabitants of riparian habitats in t- h� I ounty, ' Birds commonly found nesting in the Pine -Fir Forest include red-tailed hawk- kestrel, mourning dove, red -shafted flicker (Culaates; cafer), western wood (Contonus sordid_ alas), gteller's kny, mountain chickadee (porus aS fibelt) brown,he ' cowbird (Ivtolothrus ater peewee ____)� and dark -eyed Junco (Junco 1 emalis), aded (Haliaeetus leuco hFylus), an uncommon species; has been seen nesting bald eagle P g in ponderosa Some of the common mammals of the Pine -Fit Forest include th sierra chickaree (Tame us dou lasi), silver -haired bat (hasionvcteris noctiya a e gray squirrel, striped ne (Fret rsn darsatum) ground squirrel (Citellus aterlais), striped skunk, raccoon, - , golden de anile gray fox, mu deer, bobcat, mountain lion, black bear, and bushY•tailed wood rat Neo�e cinerea), No specific locations for rare, endangered, or threatened species w identified, The n e eagle does occur in pine forests near the can ons the Yuba Rider in eastern Yuba County: were Y nerved. out by I u24} Black -Wed Deer The black -tailed deer, Odo, cai�Ue hemmionus colum�us� is tl�o bas most easily identified subspecies of mule deer, This race c►f mule dee o coastal mountains in central ' California through Oregon and Washington t tinown and r ranges ,rem the the summits of the Cascade Mountains and extends south through the waste of the Sierras into Tuolumne and Mariposa counties, Black tailed d. 1' usually west of ' black (or dark brown) tail western slope., less than 90 , with no white hairs on the tail, Adult bucks ansettrom .:pounds to over 200 pounds. Black -tailed deer are not herd animals, altl,eugh groups together in open g ups of them m P grasslands. Small numbers of bucks will occasions �' feed Yearlings f the breeding season, and may also be seen with does and d fawns or outside of the nS 4r other times of the year. Does may establish territories shortly .before and after their fawns erre born, and other does will be ex^luded from these areas The normal mating (rut) season usually may begin up to a month earlier s �' occurs in November and December, but about 200 days and fawns are droppedyears with good food sunlie8, Pregnancy lasts of fawns are male (52-53ib), s t June and July- A slightly higher Twins are common when food supplies are padequate, triplets also occur. If food is in short supply to be barren, fewer twins occur, and a higher err er low, period. Winter is the most criticaiCeerigoalof fawns does are 1��•Fve through the winter n' y, more Immature deer and do ►got survive. Pregnant does must meet their `minimum requirements or theyand adult will not survive, Many deer in the western slopes of the Sierras migrate to lower during the winter months to find adequate supplies of food, the fall trigger the main migration and the deer may move elevations The first heavy storms of ` overwintering areas, ur if the storms are intermittent, move sloe, directly to their Of available food supplies, Reverse mi 1v, taking advantage depending upon weather conditions, In maostncoccuVs n late a ears intermediate areas between rammer ands. winter or early. spring, areas on the Yuba -Nevada County line eforl the uDownieba ville there appeatobe holding r, for the Mooretown, Herd, Herd and in Butte County Black -tails require over two pounds of feed daily weight. They also require water on a daily bests Per hundred ands of body other still water sources rather than from flowing streams, Nutrition p referring to drink from important for does and fawns because of the extra 'energy demands of r pools and growth, Bucks seem to be able to outr;om et r tion a especially d healthly and well fad long after fawns and does haul► shown A loss of ca Pregnancy att P e does and fawns, often appearing inadequate food supPlies; edition due to Man has become the replacing their natural greatest cause of deer mortality in many regions, automobiles, Destructionandomismanagetn�:nt of f� s su h as mountain lions and bobcats with rii'les and have reduced normae foal sources, ,r rests, brush fields and fencingr reservoirs, and major highways 2 r�� form of deer grasslands dogs, which operate in pra'f °r deer resistant g as sore effec significant deaths in user. Domestic lions, Packs, are a more effective Predator of deer than mountain • �•25� t Resident and Migratory Deer There is some confusion on the 'part of many people as to the need for protecting migratory deer when there are so many deer feeding in their gardens each summer. ;_asident deer, those that remain in a restricted area on a year-round basis, are very different in their behavior from migratory deer. Resident deer become very accustomed to the presence of `rirman beings and domestic dogs and develop a sense of which properties represent no threat to them. They may choose shElter areas within one hundred feet of occupied dwellings if there are no dogs or the dogs are not aggressive hunters. These deer also yarn that humans 'plant and maintain many taster and tender plants which can supplement their normal diet. Resident deer also tend to occupy the best available habitats in the areas in which they live. T'.,,.; is essential to ensure their survival, since they must depend. upon a restricted area to provide a constant supply of high quality food and ample water and sheltet-, They also tend to use different areas for delivery and early 'growth of their fawns. Migratory deer use different areas for summer and winter ti*^t nr f i t,: the,'x name implies, migrate betwsr)ii these areae to meet their yea,•i•uuird reads, `"they tiro :e o tolerant of h%rmans and their pets, requiring ,a greater distance separation from areas of human habitation and use. They migrate mainly to take advantage of the p,Tester availability of food plants and can develop greater numbers in their herd, than would exist if they were resident in any one area, Migratory deer occupy areas that. will not support deer on a year-round basis. They form the basis for most hunter kills in the western slopes of the Sierras. In sorr- areas, where intense hunting pressure (both legal and poaching) has eliminated resident deer# migratory deer are the only deer available during the hunting season. Migratory Movements The migratory deer herds in Yuba County have their summer ranges in Plumas and Sierra counties, With the first storms of fall, they begin moving down to lower elevation feeding and shelter areas. Migration may occur in short movements, if the weather is mild enough or storms are of short duration. With severe storm events, they may move directly to their winter range in two or three days of continuous movement. In late winter or early spring, the reverse happens as they move back to their summer ranges, As they move, they may pause to feed and rest in intermediate areas designated as "holding areas" by DFGpersonnel, In the very mild late winter of 1984, Yuba County deer were seen moving up into Nevada County through elevations of 3500,4000 feet by Eco -Analysts personnel, This elevation range is in a "holding area" for migratory deer from Yuba County. Development of reservoirs and residential areas We had .a serious ne ztive effect upon migrating' deer throughout California, includ,• ., Yuba. County, Ruth thg Department of Fish and Game and long term local residents have remarkf,d on the changes that have occurred in recent decades, particularly with the development of the new Bollards Bar Reservoir in the southeastern portion of the county, and residential developments in the central portions, 26_