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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.1 RPCA La Porte Botanical Memo (6.1.23) FINAL Project 20232542.001A Page 1 of 19 June 2023  © 2023 Kleinfelder  www.kleinfelder.com  KLEINFELDER   2882 Prospect Park Dr., Suite 200, Rancho Cordova, CA  95670    p | 916.366‐1701    f | 916.366‐7013    MEMORANDUM TO: Brian Madigan, Senior Permitting Manager, Renewable Properties, LLC FROM: Susan Dewar, Project Manager DATE: June 1, 2023 SUBJECT: La Porte Road Solar Project Botanical Survey Kleinfelder is pleased to provide the following results of a special-status plant survey completed in support of the La Porte Road Solar Project, located in Butte County, California (Figure 1). The proposed La Porte Road Solar Project (Project) is a small-scale utility solar generating and energy storage project located on approximately 23 acres of an 82-acre parcel just northeast of the community of Bangor in unincorporated Butte County (Project Area).  The Project is located at 5864 La Porte Road (APN # 028-240-061) (Figure 2). Wildcat Renewables, LLC has entered into a long-term lease agreement with the property owner (Ross W. McGowan Trust) to facilitate the development of a small-scale, solar energy generating facility. The Project will generate a total of 3.0 megawatts (MW) alternating current (AC) (4.2 MW direct current (DC)) of clean, reliable solar energy when complete. The Project will interconnect to Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E’s) pre-existing electrical distribution system located on site. The power generated from this facility will be sold to PG&E through a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Additionally, the Project will be equipped with energy storage technology that will allow on-site renewable energy generation to be stored and dispatched onto the grid when needed. The Project will utilize approximately 7,776 solar modules and 24 string inverters to convert the sun’s energy into usable, AC power.  Single-axis tracking technology will be utilized to allow the modules to efficiently track the sun throughout the day and maximize the efficiency of solar collection. The modules will be mounted on a steel racking system, which will be anchored into the ground using driven steel piers.  The overall height of the array will be no more than 15-feet tall. Project Location The approximate 82-acre parcel is located on the east side of La Porte Road, approximately 0.35-mile northeast of the intersection of Los Verjeles Road and La Porte Road (Figure 2). The parcel is surrounded primarily by rural residential properties where grazing and small-scale agricultural land uses are common. The Project Area is situated at an elevation of approximately 800-900 feet above mean sea level in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The Project Area is situated within Township 18 North, Range 5 East, and Section 27 of the Bangor 7.5-minute U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) quadrangle. The corresponding latitude and longitude at the approximate center of the Project Area is 39°23'36.33" north latitude and 121°23'57.49" west longitude. Project 20232542.001A Page 2 of 19 June 2023  © 2023 Kleinfelder  www.kleinfelder.com  KLEINFELDER   2882 Prospect Park Dr., Suite 200, Rancho Cordova, CA  95670    p | 916.366‐1701    f | 916.366‐7013    Methods Special-status plant species present or potentially present within or adjacent to the Project Area were identified through a desktop literature review using the following sources: United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC) Trust Resource Report (USFWS 2022a); California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) (CDFW 2022); and the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Online Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants (2022). Additionally, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Web Soil Survey (WSS) was queried to determine soil types that exist within the boundary of the Project Area (USDA 2022) and the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) was reviewed to assess potential wetland habitats in the study area (USFWS 2022b). The CNDDB and CNPS database searches included the 7.5-minute USGS Bangor quadrangle and the eight surrounding quadrangles (9-quad search). The IPaC search included the Project Area and a two-mile buffer. Following a review of these resources, Kleinfelder also reviewed relevant life history information on those species documented as occurring in the region, including habitat type, soils, and elevation preferences. Special-status species included in this analysis are those that are considered threatened, endangered, candidate for listing, species of special concern or fully protected by CDFW, or USFWS, or ranked by CNPS. California Rare Plant Rank (CRPR) 1 and 2 plant species were included in the CNPS search. One CRPR list 4 species (Brandagee’s clarkia [Clarkia biloba ssp. brandegeeae]) was assessed and targeted in the pedestrian survey based on County comments from the Project’s pre-development meeting August 17, 2022. Attachment B documents all plant species assessed in the desktop analysis. On May 23, 2023, Kleinfelder botanist Shane Hanofee conducted a pedestrian and visual botanical survey of the ”study area” that includes the Project Area and all other areas within the subject parcel south of Wilson Creek and west of a wetland seep on the east side of the parcel (Figure 2). The survey followed procedural requirements for protocol rare plant surveys, with all vascular plants identified to a taxonomic rank sufficient for determining status (CDFW 2018, CNPS 2001). The study area was traversed on foot via meandering transects. All vascular plant species encountered were identified to the level necessary to determine status (Appendix A). Keys used for identification include those found in The Jepson Manual Second Edition (Baldwin et al. 2012). The timing of the survey was within the typical bloom period for targeted special-status species. Several constructed ponds located within the Project Area are not proposed for disturbance by the Project and were excluded from the botanical survey study area. Results and Discussion The Project Area consists of open grasslands gently sloping to the north. Small stands of blue oak (Quercus douglasii) and interior live oak (Quercus wizlisenii) are present where soil moisture is greater (Figure 3). The grasslands are dominated by non-native grass species including greater rattlesnake grass (Briza maxima), Italian wild rye (Festuca perennis), and medusahead grass (Elymus caput-medusae). A list of all plant species observed in the survey area is presented in Appendix A. Project 20232542.001A Page 3 of 19 June 2023  © 2023 Kleinfelder  www.kleinfelder.com  KLEINFELDER   2882 Prospect Park Dr., Suite 200, Rancho Cordova, CA  95670    p | 916.366‐1701    f | 916.366‐7013    Seventeen special-status species were identified from background research and evaluated for potential to occur within the Project Area (Appendix C). None of the species assessed were found to have a moderate or greater potential to occur. No special status plants were located within the Project Area during the floristic survey. Project 20232542.001A Page 4 of 19 June 2023  © 2023 Kleinfelder  www.kleinfelder.com  KLEINFELDER   2882 Prospect Park Dr., Suite 200, Rancho Cordova, CA  95670    p | 916.366‐1701    f | 916.366‐7013    References Baldwin, B.G., D.H. Goldman, D.J. Keil, R. Patterson, T.J. Rosatti, and D.H. Wilkin, editors. 2012. The Jepson Manual: Vascular Plants of California, second edition. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). 2018. Protocols for Surveying and Evaluating Impacts to Special Status Native Plant Populations and Sensitive Natural Communities. March 20, 2018. CDFW (California Department of Fish and Wildlife). 2022. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). Rarefind, Version 5 (Commercial Subscription). 2022. Accessed June 2022. Sacramento, California. https://map.dfg.ca.gov/rarefind/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2frarefind%2fview%2fRareFind.aspx. California Native Plant Society (CNPS). 2001. CNPS Botanical Survey Guidelines. Sacramento: California Native Plant Society. June 2, 2001 California Native Plant Society (CNPS), Rare Plant Program. 2022. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (online edition, v9-01 0.0). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [Accessed January 2022]. USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). 2022. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Web Soil Survey. Accessed June 2022. http://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/ App/HomePage.htm. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2000. Guidelines for Conducting and Reporting Botanical Inventories for Federally Listed, Proposed and Candidate Plants. January 2000. USFWS. 2022a. Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC). Accessed June 2022. https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/. USFWS. 2022b. May 2022. National Wetlands Inventory website. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C. ProjectLocation ^_±0 2.5 5Kilometers Figure 1. Regional VicinityLa Porte Road Solar ProjectButte County, California01.5 3MilesCreated By: CBarkerSwitzer Document Path: \\azrgisstorp03\GIS_Projects\Client\GANDA\Renewable_Properties\20232542_RPCA_LaPorte_Solar\Figure1_LaPorte_Solar_RegionalVicinity.mxdScale 1:190,080 Source: Bing Maps 1 in = 3 miles ^_ Project Location Æÿ45 Æÿ70 Æÿ20 Æÿ49 Æÿ162 Æÿ149 Æÿ99 §¨¦80 BUTTECOUNTY SIERRACOUNTY YUBACOUNTY NEVADACOUNTY SUTTERCOUNTY Parcel Boundary Service Layer Credits: © 2023 MicrosoftCorporation © 2023 Maxar ©CNES (2023) ProjectLocation ^_±0 50 100Meters Figure 2. Project AreaLa Porte Road Solar ProjectButte County, California USGS 7.5' Quad: BANGOR (1994)Legal Description: T18N, R05E, SEC 27 Project Area Access Road 0 200 400Feet 1 Inch = 400 FeetScale1:4,800Created By: CBarkerSwitzer Document Path: \\azrgisstorp03\GIS_Projects\Client\GANDA\Renewable_Properties\20232542_RPCA_LaPorte_Solar\Figure2_LaPorte_Solar_ProjectArea.mxdParcel Boundary Service Layer Credits: © 2023 MicrosoftCorporation © 2023 Maxar ©CNES (2023) ProjectLocation ^_± 0 75 150Meters Figure 3. Vegetation Communitiesand Aquatic FeaturesRPCA La Porte Road Solar ProjectButte County, California Source: Bing Maps Parcel Boundary Study Area (47.73 acres) Project Area (23.87 acres) Access Road Aquatic Features Drainage Wilson Creek Land Cover and Vegetation Type Annual Grassland (38.96 acres) Blue Oak Woodland (8.14 acres) Seasonal Wetlands (0.63 acres) 0 225 450Feet 1 Inch = 450 FeetScale1:5,400Created By: C BARKERSWITZER Document Path: \\azrgisstorp03\GIS_Projects\Client\GANDA\Renewable_Properties\20232542_RPCA_LaPorte_Solar\BOT_Figure3_LaPorte_Solar_Veg_Aquatic.mxd Project 20232542.001A Page 8 of 19 June 2023  © 2023 Kleinfelder  www.kleinfelder.com  KLEINFELDER   2882 Prospect Park Dr., Suite 200, Rancho Cordova, CA  95670    p | 916.366‐1701    f | 916.366‐7013    Appendix A Comprehensive Plant List Project 20232542.001A Page 9 of 19 June 2023  © 2023 Kleinfelder  www.kleinfelder.com  KLEINFELDER   2882 Prospect Park Dr., Suite 200, Rancho Cordova, CA  95670    p | 916.366‐1701    f | 916.366‐7013    Scientific Name Common Name Aegilops triuncialis* Barbed goatgrass Aira caryophyllea* Silver hairgrass Amsinckia sp. Fiddleneck Avena barbata* Wild oat Briza maxima* Greater rattlesnakegrass Briza minor* Lesser rattlesnakegrass Brodiaea coronaria Crown brodiaea Brodiaea elegans Harvest brodiaea Bromus diandrus* Bromegrass Bromus hordeaceus* Soft brome Bromus rubens* Red brome Carduus pycnocephalus ssp. pycnocephalus* Italian thistle Castilleja attenuata Valley tassels Ceanothus cuneatus Buckbrush Centaurea solstitialis* Yellow star thistle Chlorogalum pomeridianum Wavy-leaved soaproot Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera Purple clarkia Convolvulus arvensis* Bindweed Cynodon dactylon* Bermuda grass Cynosurus echinatus* Annual dogtail Dichelostemma multiflorum Round-tooth ookow Eleocharis sp. Spikerush Elymus caput-medusae* Medusahead grass Erodium botrys* Filaree Festuca myuros* Rat tail fescue Festuca perennis* Italian ryegrass Frangula californica Coffeeberry Galium parisiense* Bedstraw Gastridium phleoides* Nit grass Geranium dissectum* Cut-leaf geranium Hordeum murinum* Foxtail barley Hypericum perforatum* Klamathweed Hypochaeris radicata* Rough cat’s ear Juncus bufonius Toad rush Juncus sp. Rush Lagophylla sp. Hareleaf Leontodon saxitilis* Hairy hawkbit Logfia gallica* Narrowleaf cottonrose Project 20232542.001A Page 10 of 19 June 2023  © 2023 Kleinfelder  www.kleinfelder.com  KLEINFELDER   2882 Prospect Park Dr., Suite 200, Rancho Cordova, CA  95670    p | 916.366‐1701    f | 916.366‐7013    Scientific Name Common Name Lupinus nanus Sky lupine Lythrum hyssopifolia* Grass-poly Micropus calfornicus var. californicus Q-tips Navarretia pubescens Downy pincushion plant Navarretia tagetina Marigold pincushion plant Odontostomum hartwegii Hartweg’s doll lily Olea europea* Olive Parentucellia viscosa* Yellow glandweed Petrorhagia dubia* Windmill pink Pinus sabiniana Grey pine Plagiobothrys sp. Popcornflower Plantago lanceolata* English plantain Quercus douglasii Blue oak Quercus wizlisenii Interior live oak Ranunculus muricatus* Prickleseed buttercup Rubus armeniacus* Himalayan blackberry Rumex crispus* Curly dock Rumex pulcher* Fiddle dock Silene gallica* Common catchfly Silybum marinum* Milk thistle Sisymbrium officinale* Hedge mustard Torilis arvensis* Field hedge parsley Toxicodendron diversilobum Poison oak Trifolium dubium* Little hop clover Trifolium hirtum* Rose clover Trifolium subterraneum* Subterranean clover Triteleia hyacinthina White brodiaea Verbascum blattaria* Moth mullein Verbascum thapsus* Woolly mullein Notes: Scientific nomenclature follows Jepson Flora Project (eds.) 2023. Jepson eFlora, https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/ [accessed on May 23, 2023]. An "*" indicates non-native species which have become naturalized or persist without cultivation. Project 20232542.001A Page 11 of 19 June 2023  © 2023 Kleinfelder  www.kleinfelder.com  KLEINFELDER   2882 Prospect Park Dr., Suite 200, Rancho Cordova, CA  95670    p | 916.366‐1701    f | 916.366‐7013    Appendix B Site Photographs Project 20232542.001A Page 12 of 19 June 2023  © 2023 Kleinfelder  www.kleinfelder.com  KLEINFELDER   2882 Prospect Park Dr., Suite 200, Rancho Cordova, CA  95670    p | 916.366‐1701    f | 916.366‐7013    Photo 1: Overview of southwest corner of project area. Facing southwest, 23 May 2023. Photo 2: Overview of southwest corner of project area. Facing west, 23 May 2023. Project 20232542.001A Page 13 of 19 June 2023  © 2023 Kleinfelder  www.kleinfelder.com  KLEINFELDER   2882 Prospect Park Dr., Suite 200, Rancho Cordova, CA  95670    p | 916.366‐1701    f | 916.366‐7013    Photo 3: Overview of western end of project area. Facing east, 23 May 2023. Photo 4: Overview of central portion of project area. Facing east, 23 May 2023. Project 20232542.001A Page 14 of 19 June 2023  © 2023 Kleinfelder  www.kleinfelder.com  KLEINFELDER   2882 Prospect Park Dr., Suite 200, Rancho Cordova, CA  95670    p | 916.366‐1701    f | 916.366‐7013    Photo 5: Overview of central portion of project area. Facing west, 23 May 2023. Photo 6: Overview north central portion of project area. Facing north, 23 May 2023. Project 20232542.001A Page 15 of 19 June 2023  © 2023 Kleinfelder  www.kleinfelder.com  KLEINFELDER   2882 Prospect Park Dr., Suite 200, Rancho Cordova, CA  95670    p | 916.366‐1701    f | 916.366‐7013    Photo 7: Overview of eastern end of project area. Facing northeast, 23 May 2023. Photo 8: Wet area below pond at eastern end of project area. Facing north, 23 May 2023. Project 20232542.001A Page 16 of 19 June 2023  © 2023 Kleinfelder  www.kleinfelder.com  KLEINFELDER   2882 Prospect Park Dr., Suite 200, Rancho Cordova, CA  95670    p | 916.366‐1701    f | 916.366‐7013    Appendix C Special-Status Plant Species with Known or Potential Occurrence APPENDIX C Special-Status Plant Species with Known or Potential Occurrence in the Vicinity of the RPCA La Porte Road Solar Project in Butte County, California 20232542.001A C-1 June 2023 Scientific Name Common Name Status (Federal/State, CRPR)1 Life Form/Primary Habitat Associations/ Elevation Range (feet)/Blooming Period Potential to Occur2 Carex xerophila chaparral sedge None/None, CRPR 1B.2 Perennial herb found in chaparral, cismontane woodland, lower montane coniferous forest (serpentine, gabbroic soils). Elevation 1,320-2,310 feet. Blooms Mar-Jun. Not expected to occur. Suitable habitat for this species is not present within the project area. Castilleja rubicundula var. rubicundula pink creamsacs None/None, CRPR 1B.2 Annual herb found in meadows and seeps, valley and foothill grasslands. Elevation 65-2,985 feet. Blooms Apr – Jun. Not expected to occur. Suitable habitat for this species is not present within the project area. Clarkia biloba ssp. brandegeeae Brandegee’s clarkia None/None, CRPR 4.2 *included by request of County Annual herb found in chaparral, cismontane woodland, and lower montane coniferous forest. Elevation 245 – 3,000 feet. Blooms (Mar)May-Jul. Low potential to occur. Although potentially suitable habitat for this species may be present within the woodland patches in the Project area, focused surveys for this species were negative. Clarkia gracilis ssp. albicaulis white-stemmed clarkia None/None, CRPR 1B.2 Annual herb found in chaparral and cismontane woodland. Elevation 805-3,560 feet. Blooms May-Jul. Low potential to occur. Although potentially suitable habitat for this species may be present within the woodland patches in the Project area, the Project area is on the edge of the species range. Clarkia mosquinii Mosquin’s clarkia None/None, CRPR 1B.1 Annual herb with a preference for cismontane woodland and lower montane coniferous forest. Elevation 605-4,890 feet. Blooms May-Jul (Sep). Low potential to occur. Suitable habitat for this species is patchy and scarce within the project area. Fissidens pauperculus minute pocket moss Endangered/Rare, CRPR 1B.2 Moss found in north coast coniferous forest (damp coastal soil). Elevation 30-3,360 feet. Not expected to occur. Suitable habitat for this species is not present within the project area. Fremontodendron decumbens Pine Hill flannelbush Endangered/Rare, CRPR 1B.2 Perennial evergreen shrub found in chaparral, cismontane woodland (serpentine or gabbroic soils). Elevation 2,260-2,520 feet. Blooms Apr-Jun. Not expected to occur. Suitable habitat and soils for this species are not present within the project area. Not observed during field survey. Hibiscus lasiocarpos var. occidentalis woolly rose-mallow None/None, CRPR 1B.2 Perennial rhizomatous herb (emergent) found in marshes and swamps (freshwater); Not expected to occur. Suitable habitat for this species is not present within the project area. APPENDIX B (Continued) 20232542.001A C-2 June 2023 Scientific Name Common Name Status (Federal/State, CRPR)1 Life Form/Primary Habitat Associations/ Elevation Range (feet)/Blooming Period Potential to Occur2 often in rip rap on sides of levees. Elevation 0-375 feet. Blooms Jun-Sep. Juncus leiospermus var. ahartii Ahart’s dwarf rush None/None, CRPR 1B.2 Annual herb found in valley and foothill grasslands. Elevation 100-750 feet. Blooms Mar-May. Low potential to occur. Although there is potentially suitable habitat in the wetlands within and adjacent to the site, there are no documented occurrences of this species within seven miles of the site. Juncus leoispermus var. leoispermus Red Bluff dwarf rush None/None CRPR 1B.1 Annual herb with a preference for meadows and seeps, valley and foothill grasslands and vernal pools. Elevation 115-4,100 feet. Blooms Mar-Jun. Low potential to occur. Although there is potentially suitable habitat in the wetlands within and adjacent to the site, there are no documented occurrences of this species within 14 miles of the site. Limnanthes floccosa ssp. californica Butte County meadowfoam Endangered/ Endangered, CRPR 1B.1 Annual herb found in valley and foothill grassland (mesic), vernal pools. Elevation 160-3,050 feet. Blooms Mar-May. Not expected to occur. Suitable habitat for this species is not present within the project area. Orcuttia tenuis slender Orcutt grass Threatened/Endangered, CRPR 1B.1 Annual herb. Vernal pools (often gravelly). Elevation 100-5,280 feet. Blooms May-Sep. Not expected to occur. Suitable habitat for this species is not present within the project area. Packera layneae Layne’s ragwort Threatened/Rare, CRPR 1B.2 Perennial herb found in chaparral, cismontane woodland. Elevation 65-3,560 feet. Blooms Apr-Aug. Low potential to occur. Suitable habitat for this species is patchy and scarce within the project area. Paronychia ahartii Ahart’s paronychia None/None, CRPR 1B.1 Annual herb found in cismontane woodland, valley and foothill grasses, vernal pools. Elevation 100-1,675 feet. Blooms Feb-Jun. Not expected to occur. Suitable habitat for this species is not present within the project area. Poa sierrae Sierra blue grass None/None, CRPR 1B.3 Perennial rhizomatous herb found in lower montane coniferous forest openings. Elevation 1,095-4,500 feet. Blooms Apr-Jul. Not expected to occur. Suitable habitat for this species is not present within the project area and the site is outside of the known elevation range. Trifolium jokerstii Butte County golden clover None/None, CRPR 1B.2 Annual herb found in valley and foothill grasslands and vernal pools around Lake Oroville. Elevation 165-1,575 feet. Blooms Mar-May. Not expected to occur. Suitable habitat for this species is not present within the project area. APPENDIX B (Continued) 20232542.001A C-3 June 2023 Scientific Name Common Name Status (Federal/State, CRPR)1 Life Form/Primary Habitat Associations/ Elevation Range (feet)/Blooming Period Potential to Occur2 Wolffia brasiliensis Brazilian watermeal None/None, CRPR 2B.3 Perennial herb (aquatic) found in marshes and swamps. Elevation 65-330 feet. Blooms Apr-Dec. Not expected to occur. Suitable habitat for this species is not present within the project area. ¹ Status Legend: CRPR 1A: Plants Presumed Extirpated in California and Either Rare or Extinct Elsewhere CRPR 1B: Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California and Elsewhere CRPR 2A: Plants Presumed Extirpated in California, But More Common Elsewhere CRPR 2B: Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere 2 Definitions Regarding Potential for Occurrence  Not expected to occur – Habitat on and adjacent to the site is unsuitable for the species life history requirements (foraging, breeding, cover, substrate, elevation, hydrology, plant community, soils, site history, and disturbance regime).  Low – Few of the habitat components meeting the species life history requirements are present, and/or the majority of habitat on and adjacent to the site is unsuitable or of poor quality. The species is not likely to found on the site.  Moderate – Some of the habitat components meeting the species life history requirements are present, there may be documented occurrences of the species in the vicinity of the site, and/or only some of the habitat on or adjacent to the site is unsuitable. The species has a moderate probability of being found on the site.  High – All of the habitat components meeting the species life history requirements are present, there may be documented occurrences of the species on or adjacent to the site and/or most of the habitat on or adjacent to the site is highly suitable. The species has a high probability of being found on the site.  Present – Species was observed on the site. Sources: California Native Plant Society (CNPS). 2022. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (online edition, v8-02). California Native Plant Society. Sacramento, CA. Accessed September 2022.