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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPresentation - Item 2BProtecting Endangered Species Where We Can 01Protecting Critical Habitat ........ ...... ------. ' Canyon View Proposed Development Part 1:Understanding Destruction of Habitat Species Affected Conmunity Water Flow Reqs Part 2:Solutions On-site Mitigation Water Flow Alternatives Community Collaboration 02 How it will impact critical habitat and what are the solutions. ....... 11 ........................... 11 ....... , ............................ 11 ................ . ..................... 11 .... ill ..... 11., ...................... 11+••·· ............................ . Destruction of Habitat Species Affected Community Part 1:Understanding Part 1: Understanding, habitat destruction Where are the areas of concern? The channel that runs along E Palm Canyon Drive is planned to be excavated despite Line 41 handling 97% of water flow. The perimeter along Matthew Dr until the bend which is already slated as open space will be graded and all native vegetation removed. ----1 --- 1 I • AREA 1CMCU:1AlilOI/IIS : c ,_ rnyon VI _w Con ,_:_ptu _ I Sil _, Plan P·_ Im Sprl n gs, C Jlfornla -xhllblt 4 Casey's June Beetle is a Federal critically endangered species.CJB is only found in Palm Springs,CA.Matthew Drive parcel has been site surveyed by USFWS to have existing CJB and is critical habitat.We are looking at full extirpation of this species if we don't implement protection. 0 4 Part 1: Understanding, species affected U SFWS's CJB Recovery Outline (March,2013) "Historical Casey’s June beetle habitat has been drastically degraded and fragmented, resulting in the species’reduced geographic range and vulnerability to stochastic events." "Casey’s June beetle is dependent on habitat that has been, and continues to be, under development pressures. Its habitat requires protection and active management to improve and restore suitable habitat in order to prevent further decline and to enable recovery of the species." "Casey’s June beetle is dependent on habitat that has been, and continues to be, under developmental pressures. Its habitat requires active management to improve and restore suitable habitat in order to prevent further decline of the species." Part 1: Understanding, species affected Part 1: Understanding, species affected Coachella Valley Round-tailed Ground Squirrel: A Species of Special Concern Was considered for listing under CA Endangered Species Act Live in underground burrows Will run into burrows when earth moving equipment starts grading and bulldozing and will be crushed. Only found in Coachella Valley Populations within Coachella Valley are in freefall because of development threats. Part 1: Understanding, species affected Other Species at the site: Cottontail rabbits Roadrunners Birds of Prey Possible Burrowing Owls Desert Willow Part 1: Understanding, co mmunity Out of town/state developers (Boca Raton, Fl) impacting a species that is endemic only to the town of Palm Springs. Extirpation of a species should be closely guarded against especially if that species is only in a local dity. The developer has saved millions by choosing the option in the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) to wait until Line 41 was fully funded instead of paying part of the taxpayer burden for Line 41 at the initial planning phase (see MND, item IX, Mitigation Measures MM VIII-2) H ow does this develop ment affect our community? On-site Protection Water Flow Alternatives Community Collaboration Part 2:Solutions Recommended Areas to Protect and Not Excavate 1.The Earthen Channel along E Palm Canyon Drive. This is critical habitat for the Casey's June Beetle, has mature vegetation and is being utilized by other species. 2.The Open Space/Art Park along Matthew Drive from E Palm Canyon till the Bend. Also critical habitat with mature vegetation. 3.50 year old Desert Willow in SW corner (red arrow). --·--.;.._ So urc : Su mm ilt~17 AREA 1CAll CU LAll OH S: C_nyoni Vi _w Conceptual Site Pllan IP Im Springs CaHfornl _ Exhilb lt 4 Part 2 :Solutions Prop osed Solutions Line 41: With the funded County Project Line 41, the Canyon View Development's water flow requirements are reduced to 3% of the site retention needs (see Sustra, Inc Findings dated July 20, 2021) which rendered the original retention basins unnecessary. SOLUTION: retain the current wash along E Palm Canyon Drive without excavating, thus protecting existing populations of CJB and CV round-tailed ground squirrels. Beautify with additional plantings and light irrigation.Utilize water flow alternatives provided. Sidewalk to Nowhere: The sidewalks that are to be installed along E Palm Canyon and Matthew Drive are the 'sidewalks to nowhere' as there is no sidewalk along E Palm Canyon on the West side of Linden Way or the East side of Matthew Drive.Further there is no crosswalk at any point along E Palm Canyon between Linden Way and Matthew Drive. This is hazardous to pedestrians who would then have to cross E Palm Canyon to get to a safe sidewalk. SOLUTION: remove requirements for sidewalks along any perimeter of this parcel. Part 2 :Solutions Prop osed Solutions(cont'd) Matthew Drive Open Space: The proposed open space olong Matthew Drive contains a small open space area and art park. True open space should be native vegetation, not homogenized landscape that razes existing vegetation only to be replaced. SOLUTION: Leave existing vegetation without grading. Beautify by adding light irrigation and additional plantings and incorporate signage to show that CJB habitat was preserved. Keep soil disturbance to a minimum. Small scale local subsurface collection and retention systems that fit within the street-scape and route overflows through a curb gutter, swale, and storm drain network to the northeast outlet.Route a portion of flows to the washes. Install a series of dry wells that collect surface drainage and infiltrate it to the subsurface. Route overflows north and east through a curb and gutter, swale, and storm drain network to the northeast outlet.Route a portion of flows to the washes.Confine erosion control to the outlets entering the washes. *more detailed information in Findings from Sustra, Inc. Richard Haimann document Part 2 :Solutions Water Flow Alternatives Work with UCR Naturalists and Oswit Land Trust to create points of interest in relation to native species. Build community around the very unique circumstance of having an endangered species in your neighborhood. Be a Leader in Development Implementation to incorporate environmental practices that protect species and habitat. Community Collaboration with Developer Part 2 :Solutions Other Developments that have incorporated native vegetation in their borders. The Westin hotel and Escena Country Club.