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5.0 Environmental Analysis 5.2 Biological Resources <br />Avion Project SEIR <br />Page 5.2-2 <br />5.2.2.1 Botany <br />Four vegetation communities and one land cover type occur on the project site (Table 5.2-2). <br />Southern mixed chaparral comprises the majority of the site with lesser acreages of coastal sage <br />scrub, non-native grassland, and freshwater marsh patches (Figure 5.2-1). A total of 62 plant species <br />(36 native and 26 non-native species) were observed during the survey (Appendix B - Attachment 1). <br />A description of each of these vegetation communities and land cover types is provided below. <br />Table 5.2-2 <br />Existing Vegetation Communities and Land Cover Types <br />(acres) <br />Vegetation Communities/ <br />Land Cover Types <br />Existing Acres <br />Inside MHPA <br />Existing Acres <br />Outside MHPA Total <br />Coastal Sage Scrub 3.58 0.74 4.32 <br />Southern Mixed Chaparral 15.03 19.36 34.39 <br />Non-native Grassland 0.23 2.06 2.29 <br />Freshwater Marsh 0.13 -- 0.13 <br />Disturbed Land -- 0.35 0.35 <br />TOTAL 18.97 22.51 41.48 <br />MHPA = Multi-Habitat Planning Area <br /> <br />a. Coastal Sage Scrub <br />Patches of coastal sage scrub vegetation occur in the northeast corner and northwest portion of the <br />site. Black sage (Salvia mellifera), California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), laurel sumac, and <br />California sagebrush (Artemisia californica) make up this shrub community. Coastal sage scrub is <br />ranked as a Tier II habitat. <br />b. Southern Mixed Chaparral <br />The southern mixed chaparral on the site is dominated by a mixture of chaparral shrub species that <br />includes chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), laurel sumac (Malosma laurina), mission manzanita <br />(Xylococcus bicolor), toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), and lilac (Ceanothus tomentosus). Dense chaparral <br />covers the slopes to the east and west while a more open chaparral occurs along the ridge and <br />eastern flank. Southern mixed chaparral is ranked as a Tier IIIA habitat. <br />c. Non-native Grassland <br />Non-native grassland occurs in the northeast portion of the site in the flatter land where past land <br />use was most intense. The grassland area supports a mixture of non-native annual grasses such as <br />purple falsebrome (Brachypodium distachyon), smooth brome (Bromus hordaceous), red brome <br />(Bromus madritensis), ripgut grass (Bromus diandrus), and slender wild oat (Avena barbata). Scattered <br />non-native trees were planted in this area and include species of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.), Italian <br />cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis), and Peruvian peppertree <br />(Schinus molles). Non-native grassland as a Tier IIIB habitat.