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LSA ASSOCIATES. INC. CEQA INITIAL STUDY /MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION MARCH 1011 PREDA STREET PIPE ERIDOE! UPORADE SAN LEANDRO. CALIFORNIA potentially occurring in the site vicinity. No special- status plant species are expected to occur on or adjacent to the site due to its highly disturbed condition and lack of suitable native habitats such as grasslands, coastal salt marsh, vernal pools, and serpentine rock outcrops. Thirteen of the 15 special - status animal species potentially occurring in the site vicinity are not expected to occur on or adjacent to the site due to its highly disturbed condition and consequent lack of suitable habitat. The two remaining species include steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss; federally threatened and California Species of Special Concern). which has been documented in San Leandro Creek (Leidy et al. 2005), and western pond turtle (California Species of Special Concern), which was observed by LSA approximately 120 feet upstream of the site on August 6. 2009. These two species are discussed below. Steelhead. Like other salmonids, steelhead (central California coast evolutionarily significant unit [ESU]) are anadromous. migrating from the ocean to freshwater streams to spawn. San Leandro Creek below Lake Chabot is known to support a small steelhead run of unknown size (Leidy et al. 2005). Although suitable spawning and rearing habitat for anadromous steelhead (i.e., cool, well- oxygenated water with shallow riffles for spawning and deep pools with abundant cover for rearing) is present in the upper portions of the creek (i.e., "from approximately 0.5 mi downstream of Interstate 580 to Chabot Dam" [Leidy et al. 2005]), such conditions are not present at the project site. The stagnant water, lack of diverse stream microhabitats (e.g., riffles, runs), and lack of suitable gravel or cobble substrates at the site all contribute to poor habitat quality for steelhead spawning and/or rearing. Nevertheless, upstream migrating adults and downstream migrating smolts may move through the site during the winter spawning season (December through April) if flows are adequate. Western Pond Turtle. Western pond turtles occur in a wide variety of aquatic habitats, including ponds, lakes, marshes, rivers. streams, and irrigation ditches that typically have a • rocky or muddy bottom and contain stands of aquatic vegetation (Stebbins 2003). On August 6, 2009. LSA observed a single pond turtle in San Leandro Creek adjacent to the railroad bridge, approximately 120 feet upstream of the project site. Although pond turtles are more often encountered in less disturbed habitats, the still water and warm temperatures near the project site provide suitable foraging conditions for this species, and a discarded shopping cart serves as a basking site. Pond turtles are not expected to nest near the site, however, given the absence of sandy soils in which females can dig nests and lay eggs. Such conditions may be present further upstream. Discussion a) Have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special - status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? Less Than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated. Both steelhead and western pond turtle are known to occur in San Leandro Creek. The project is not expected to result in direct impacts to habitat of these species since there will be no work or disturbance in the bed or lower banks of San Leandro Creek. Potential indirect impacts to aquatic habitat from construction - related runoff P: \EGI0801 \CEQATreda FINAL IS- MND.doc (03/28/II) 20