3 - The Bowery_PUBLIC COMMENT_RAMSEY

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5.0 Environmental Analysis 5.1 Land Use Avion Project SEIR Page 5.1-11 Belding’s Orange-throated Whiptail The area-specific management directives (ASMDs) for Belding’s orange-throated whiptail must address edge effects. • To address edge effects, the entire development footprint shall be located outside of the MHPA. Manufactured slopes adjacent to the MHPA would be steep and relatively high to minimize potential edge effects and prevent encroachment into the MHPA. These slopes would be revegetated with native species. Cooper’s Hawk The ASMDs for Cooper’s hawk include a 300-foot impact avoidance area around active nests, and minimization of disturbance in oak woodlands and oak riparian forests. • Should an active Cooper’s hawk, or raptor nest, be detected within the MHPA during the pre- grading survey, discussed in Section 7.2.1, appropriate construction setback of 300 feet will be implemented until the fledglings are independent of the nest. Coastal California Gnatcatcher For coastal California gnatcatchers, the ASMDs must include additional measures to reduce edge effects and minimize disturbance during the nesting period, fire protection measures to reduce the potential for habitat degradation due to unplanned fire, and management measures to maintain or improve habitat quality including vegetation structure. No clearing of occupied habitat within the City of San Diego’s MHPAs may occur during this species’ breeding season between March 1 and August 15. • The entire development footprint is outside of the MHPA. The manufactured slopes adjacent to the MHPA would be steep, relatively high, and revegetated with native species; therefore, the proposed project should not increase edge effects in the MHPA. A buffer occurs between the development footprint and the MHPA which should help protect from accidental fires spreading into the MHPA from the proposed project. As stated in the MHPA Adjacency Guidelines under Brush Management, vegetation clearing will be done consistent with City of San Diego standards and will avoid/minimize impacts to species such as the coastal California gnatcatcher. Southern California Rufous-crowned Sparrow For this species, the management directive includes maintenance of dynamic processes, such a fire, to perpetuate some open phases of coastal sage scrub with herbaceous components. • The project would not alter the current dynamic processes, such as fire, as a buffer is provided between the development footprint and the MHPA which should help protect from accidental fires spreading into the MHPA from the proposed project.