MONK & ASSOCIATES
Environmental Consultants
March 14, 2011
California Department of Fish and Game
Region 3, Bay and Delta Region
7329 Silverado Trail
Napa, California 94558
Attention: Ms. Suzanne DeLeón
RE:
Streambed Alteration Agreement Application
Menlo Country Club
Town of Woodside, San Mateo County, California
Dear Ms. DeLeón:
1. INTRODUCTION
On behalf of the Menlo Country Club (applicant), Monk & Associates, Inc. (M&A) is submitting
the enclosed Notification of Lake or Streambed Alteration for proposed impacts to the riparian
corridor of Redwood Creek, as part of the Menlo Country Club golf course renovation project
(referred to herein as the project). The project site is located at 2300 Woodside Road in in the
Town of Woodside, San Mateo County, California (Figures 1 and 2). You might recall that I met
you to discuss this project along with staff from the Town of Menlo Park and the golf course on
January 24, 2011. I believe I have captured your concerns in this Notification (See Section 4.2
below for full details on meeting attendees).
M&A respectfully requests that the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) issue a
Streambed Alteration Agreement (SBAA) to the applicant pursuant to Section 1602 of the Fish
and Game Code, for impacts that will occur to existing golf course turf grass and three nonnative trees; for repairs to an existing pump station, all of which are located within the riparian
corridor and away from the top of bank of Redwood Creek, on the project site, as fully discussed
in this application.
2. APPLICANT AND APPLICANT’S AGENT
2.1 Applicant
Menlo Country Club
2300 Woodside Road
Woodside CA 94062
Phone: 650-366-3120
Fax: 650-366-0133
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Mr. Scott T. Lewis, Certified Golf Course Superintendent
1136 Saranap Ave., Suite Q  Walnut Creek  California  94595
(925) 947-4867  FAX (925) 947-1165
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SBAA Application
Menlo Country Club
Town of Woodside, San Mateo County, California
Page 2
2.2 Applicant’s Agent
Please copy M&A with all correspondence.
Monk & Associates, Inc.
1135 Saranap Ave. Suite Q
Walnut Creek, California 94595
(925) 947-4867
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Ms. Isabelle de Geofroy (ext. 211)
3. PROPERTY LOCATION AND SETTING
The 141.03-acre project site is located in the eastern portion of the Town of Woodside, on the
north side of Woodside Road and west of Alameda de las Pulgas, in San Mateo County,
California (Figures 1 and 2). The project site consists of a private eighteen-hole golf course,
which includes a club house, cottages, a maintenance shop, tennis courts and a pool.
Figure 3 provides an aerial photograph of the project site showing the land use of the site and the
surrounding area. The project site is located within an established suburban residential area, and
is surrounded almost entirely by single-family homes, with the exception of Woodside High
School immediately to the south of the project site. Redwood Creek, a perennial stream, enters
the project site at the southwest corner and flows through the project site in a northeasterly
direction, exiting through a 9-foot arch culvert under Alameda de las Pulgas into a channelized,
concrete-sided flood control channel. Five unnamed intermittent drainages flow into the golf
course through underground pipes and drain into Redwood Creek. An underground aqueduct,
conveying water from the Hetch Hetchy reservoir to the San Francisco peninsula, traverses the
eastern section of the project site from south to north.
4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
4.1 Project Overview
Founded in the early 1900s, the Menlo Country Club is a California not-for-profit corporation
with a membership that currently numbers approximately 290. The first golf course on the
current property opened in 1914 or 1915. Since its opening, the golf course has been modified
several times with the most significant of those modifications occurring in the late 1920s and the
early 1960s. The critical course infrastructure systems (drainage, irrigation, cart paths) are more
than 25 years old and are all beyond their recommended/useful life.
Preliminary Improvement Plans for the proposed project are attached to this application, and
include:
a. Topographic Mapping. Sheet C-1.0 shows the existing topographic information
with the existing boundary information. This plan is a combination of a 1997
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Menlo Country Club
Town of Woodside, San Mateo County, California
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Aerial Topographic Mapping of the property, Boundary Resolution by B & H
Survey 2010, and GPS field verification. In addition to the topographic
information, the slope areas between 35% and 50 % and 50% or greater are
shown, dimensions to the nearest property line for all structures have been
labeled, creek setback limits per Town Ordinance, and Redwood Creek
Centerline.
b. Site Layout and Grading Plan. Sheet C-2.0 shows the visual locations of the
areas to be graded. It is the design concept to leave, as much as possible, of the
existing golf course terrain intact. Isolated areas will need to be graded to
construct new features and drainage. Grading quantities in these areas have
been identified.
c. Drainage Plan. Sheet C-3.0 shows the visual locations of the existing and
proposed drainage for the golf course facilities. There is an extensive existing
drainage system on site and it is the intent of the project to retain and maintain
as much of the existing infrastructure as possible. No impacts are proposed to
existing drainpipes with upstream connectivity to any tributary or stream. No
modifications to existing outfalls into Redwood Creek are proposed, with the
exception of the shortening of one existing outfall pipe per a recommendation
from you during your onsite meeting. Shortening the pipe and repointing flows
vertically will have no impacts on the bed, bank, or channel of Redwood Creek.
The following is an overview of the relevant aspects of the proposed golf course renovation
project.
a.
Grading. The major components of the grading portion of the project are as
follows:
(i) Site Preparation. Remove and turn existing fairway grasses.
(ii) Rough Grading. Cut and fill (3’-10’ max); shape new greens, bunkers, tee
boxes and fairways, approximately 85 acres and 88,150 CUT and 88,150
cubic yards Fill for a balanced site, per Woodside Standards (i.e.no off-haul or
import).
(iii)Drainage. Trench and install new drain lines, connect to existing main drain
lines. No new outfalls will be constructed that will drain into any tributary.
Rather existing outfalls will continue to be operated as they have been since
the early 1900s through the 1960s, when most were originally installed.
(iv) Irrigation. Trench and install new irrigation system.
(v) Finish Grading. Fine shape all fairways, greens, tee boxes and bunkers,
approximately 85 acres.
(vi) Sand Cap. Create sand cap; import approximately 62,920 cubic yards of sand,
distribute 8" over 60 acres, compact to 6".
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Menlo Country Club
Town of Woodside, San Mateo County, California
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b.
Tree removal. The project site has approximately 5,000 trees, with
approximately 3,000 trees located within the golf course area. The great majority of the
trees on the site were planted as ornamental trees over the life of the golf course. A golf
course renovation project of this scale (which includes the re-routing of several existing
holes and the addition of one hole in the unused property) necessarily involves the
removal, relocation, trimming/topping and transplanting/replacement of trees.
Approximately 476 trees will be removed or transplanted for the golf course renovation.
This is approximately three trees per acre, or less than 10% of the tree population on the
project site. Only three trees within the riparian corridor of Redwood Creek would be
impacted and these are non-native landscape trees that were planted in the past by the
golf course. We provide further details on these three trees below.
A tree replacement and transplant program will be implemented as part of the proposed
project, in accordance with the Town of Woodside’s tree ordinance. The applicant also
proposes to create and/or enhance as necessary the layered vegetation buffers that
currently border Woodside Road and Alameda de las Pulgas. The buffers and any
replacement trees will be native species of the same type and theme as the trees currently
found on the course (redwoods and native oaks) and will be in proportion to the trees
removed (see section 7 for details).
c.
Existing Creek and Feature Pond. Redwood Creek is traversed by 10 existing
bridges that accommodate foot and/or golf cart traffic and several utility crossings. The
creek runs through culverts in two relatively short locations within the property, as
necessary to accommodate the main entry road and a portion of the golf course playing
area. These culverts were installed when the golf course was originally constructed in the
early 1900s and were last replaced in the early 1960s. The culverts remain as serviceable
components of the golf course today and will not be modified as part of the proposed
project.
As currently conceived, the proposed course plan does not require any new creek
openings, bridges, or drainage installations. The existing property has an existing course
feature pond, as designed into the existing hole number 8. This pond is supplied with
water from the golf course irrigation system that receives water from the San Francisco
Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct. It is hydrologically isolated from Redwood Creek, and would
dry without artificial irrigation. The proposed improvement requires the filling in of this
golf course feature. The pond was excavated in dry land as an ornamental feature for the
golf course. The preamble to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) 1986
regulations (51 FR 41217) states that the Corps generally will not consider “waters of the
United States” to include “[a]rtificial lakes or ponds created by excavating…dry land to
collect and retain water and which are used exclusively for such purposes.” Thus, it
would not fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or the Regional
Water Quality Control Board pursuant to Section 404 and 401 of the Clean Water Act,
respectively. Nor does it fall within CDFG’s jurisdiction pursuant to Section 1602 of the
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Town of Woodside, San Mateo County, California
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Fish and Game Code which provides CDFG with regulatory authority over
drainages/tributaries and their associated riparian habitats.
d.
Overflow Bypass. As part of the drainage plan, Detail 8 on Sheet C-5.1 indicates
the location of an overflow bypass 24-inch drainpipe that will be installed near the top-ofbank of a drainage swale. This pipe will convey excess flows that overtop the swale
during exceptionally large storm events that exceed the capacity of an existing 10-inch
pipe routed underground through the golf course to Redwood Creek. The existing 10-inch
pipe and its associated headwall were originally installed in the early 20th century at the
time the golf course was first constructed. The existing 10-inch pipe doesn’t have the
capacity to handle storm events that exceed 50 year storm event flows. When flows
exceed the capacity of the existing 10-inch culvert, they have been known to overtop the
swale and sheet flow across the manicured golf course causing damage to turf areas and
golfing greens. Thus, this golf course renovation project will fix this pipe capacity issue
by adding an additional 24-inch pipe at the current headwall location just above and
outside the swale. In this fashion, there will be no impacts below the ordinary high water
marks of this swale; rather all impacts will be outside of the existing flow line of the
swale. As detailed on Sheet C-5.1, the overflow bypass consists of a headwall and 24inch drainpipe. The drainpipe will be installed adjacent and parallel to the existing swale,
and will be excavated in dry land near the top of bank of the swale. The new pipe will
terminate in other existing drain pipes within the golf course.
4.2 Proposed Impacts to CDFG Jurisdictional Features
On January 24, 2011, M&A biologist Mr. Geoff Monk met with Ms. Suzanne DeLeón to
determine the extent of impacts to areas that fall within CDFG’s jurisdiction on the project site
and to discuss the permitting requirements for the proposed project. Also present at the meeting
were project applicant Mr. Scott Lewis, project manager Mr. Ralph Osterling, project engineer,
Mr. Clifford Bechtel; and Town of Woodside staff Ms. Jackie Young, Mr. Dong Nguyen, and
Ms. Sage Schaan. At the meeting, it was determined that the proposed project will not impact the
bed, bank and channel of Redwood Creek. However, impacts will occur under the dripline of the
riparian canopy, as follows.
The proposed project includes (1) the replacement of existing golf course turf grass that occurs
under the riparian canopy of Redwood Creek; (2) the removal of three non-native trees within
the riparian corridor; (3) the replacement of pipelines that are a part of an existing pump station
that is partially located under the Redwood Creek riparian canopy; and (4) the installation of an
overflow bypass pipe at the location of an existing 10-inch pipe and headwall at the terminal end
of a grassy swale. The riparian canopy of Redwood Creek is subject to CDFG jurisdiction
pursuant to Section 1602 of the Fish and Game Code. Sheet EXH-1 and Sheet C-5-1 (8),
attached, provide an overview of project site impacts to these features.
4.2.1 PROPOSED TURF GRASS REPLACEMENT
As part of the golf course improvements, impacts will occur to existing golf course play areas
located between the top-of-bank of Redwood Creek and the edge of the riparian canopy. Existing
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Town of Woodside, San Mateo County, California
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fairway grasses will be removed and replaced over the entire golf course to remove weeds/exotic
invasives and to improve the quality of the turf. Soils will be disked, and recompacted, then
reseeded with a hydroseed mix. Sheet EXH-1 indicates the areas where grass replacement will
occur within the Redwood Creek riparian corridor.
4.2.2 NON-NATIVE TREE REMOVAL
The applicant proposes to remove three non-native trees that are located in the riparian corridor
of Redwood Creek. These trees, a red oak (Quercus ruber), cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera) and
wild plum (Prunus sp.), were originally planted as part of the ornamental landscaping of the golf
course. The locations of the trees are mapped on Sheet EXH-1.
4.2.3 PROPOSED PUMP STATION WORK
An existing pump station associated with the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct that provides irrigation
water to the golf course will undergo pump replacement and re-piping as part of the proposed
project. Sheet EXH-1 shows the location of the pump station, a portion of which falls is above
the top of bank and under the riparian canopy of Redwood Creek.
4.2.4 PROPOSED OVERFLOW BYPASS
As detailed on Detail 8, Sheet C-5.1, an overflow bypass consisting of a headwall and 24-inch
drainpipe will be installed adjacent to an existing 10-inch drainpipe that doesn’t have ample
capacity during very large storm events such as those events larger than 50-year events. Impacts
to the bank of the swale are 16 square feet (4 linear feet, 1 cubic yard). No impacts would occur
below the ordinary high water marks of the swale.
4.2.5 TOTAL IMPACTS
Total impacts to the riparian understory are 76,400 square feet (1.75 acre; 2,950 linear feet, 1,415
cubic yards). These impacts will occur exclusively in areas of existing play for the currently
operating golf course. Total impacts to the grassy swale are 16 square feet (4 linear feet, 1 cubic
yard). Total project impacts are 76,416 square feet (1.75 acre; 2954 linear feet, 1,416 cubic
yards).
Construction fencing backed by silt fencing will be installed to clearly define the work area and
to prevent equipment and any side-cast material from entering Redwood Creek. No work of any
kind would be at or below the top-of-bank of Redwood Creek.
5. PLANT COMMUNITIES AND ASSOCIATED WILDLIFE HABITAT
5.1 Golf Course Landscaping
The Menlo Country Club golf course and surrounding grounds occupy the majority of the project
site and are planted with ornamental trees and turf grass. The golf course supports a diversity of
mature planted trees, including redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), coast live oak (Quercus
agrifolia), valley oak (Quercus lobata), pin oak (Quercus palustris), cork oak (Quercus suber),
mayten tree (Maytenus boaria), liquidambar (Liquidambar styraciflua), evergreen ash (Fraxinus
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Town of Woodside, San Mateo County, California
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uhdei), Italian cypress (Callitropsis sempervirens), plum (Prunus sp.), and juniper (Juniperus
sp.). The fairways and rough have been planted with turf grass, including annual bluegrass (Poa
annua) and creeping bent grass (Agrostis stolonifera). Common weeds also found growing in
these lawn areas include English daisy (Bellis perennis), Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon),
Stebbins’ grass (Ehrharta erecta), and Dallis grass (Paspalum dilatatum).
Ornamental landscapes, and particularly large trees such as those found on the project site, provide
urban adapted species with a food source and nesting opportunities. Wildlife observed in the
landscaped portions of the project site include fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) and birds such as
mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus), northern
flicker (Colaptes auratus), western scrub jay (Aphelocoma californica), California towhee (Pipilo
crissalis), red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis), and Anna’s hummingbird (Calypte anna).
Lawn areas also provide habitat for American robin (Turdus migratorius), golden-crowned
sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla), white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), and the black
phoebe (Sayornis nigricans), who will “sally” over the lawn in search of insects.
5.2 Riparian Vegetation
On the project site, riparian woodland occurs along the banks of Redwood Creek. The mature,
dense canopy is dominated by coast live oak, with valley oak, and California bay (Umbellularia
californica). Also noted were California buckeye (Aesculus californicus) and red willow (Salix
laevigata). The riparian understory consists primarily of non-native species that are well adapted
to the high levels of disturbance typically occurring in a golf course, and include privet
(Ligustrum lucidum), French broom (Genista monspessulana), Japanese pittosporum
(Pittosporum tobira), Himalayan blackberry (Rubus discolor), English ivy (Hedera helix),
German ivy (Delairea odorata), and periwinkle (Vinca major). Some native species also occur
on the creek banks, and include toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), snowberry (Symphoricarpos
sp.), poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) and California figwort (Scrophularia
californica).
The riparian woodland mixture of oaks and bays, along with the cover of shrubby understory
vegetation provide wildlife with many different food sources, nesting opportunities and cover
from predators. Wildlife observed in the adjacent golf course can also be expected to occur in the
riparian woodland community due to its diverse plant composition, nesting, and foraging
opportunities. Wildlife observed in the riparian woodlands onsite include Columbian black-tailed
deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), raccoon (Procyon lotor), Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter
cooperii), belted kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon), Nuttall’s woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii), oak
titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus), chestnut-backed chickadee (Poecile rufescens), Bewick’s wren
(Thryomanes bewickii), bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus), cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum),
and yellow-rumped warbler (Dendroica coronata).
5.3 Oak Woodland
The hilly northwestern corner of the project site is undeveloped and supports a disturbed oak
woodland habitat. This plant community is likely a remnant of the original hillslope vegetation
prior to its development in the early part of the 20th century; however, it is now surrounded by
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Town of Woodside, San Mateo County, California
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residential development and the golf course. The oak woodland on site supports a patchy
overstory of coast live oak with an understory of scrub and grassland. A portion of this oak
woodland habitat is routinely cleared as a part of maintenance of the golf course property. Scrub
areas are dominated by the non-native invasive French broom, along with native shrubs coyote
brush (Baccharis pilularis) and toyon. The grassland understory supports native species
including poison oak, miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), gamble weed (Sanicula
crassicaulis), and California honeysuckle (Lonicera hispidula var. vacillans); and non-native
species such as milk thistle (Silybum marianum), Italian thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus), castor
bean (Ricinus communis), wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis), yellow star thistle (Centaurea
solstitialis), and Bermuda buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae).
Oak woodland provides foraging and nesting habitat for a variety of species. Common birds
identified in the oak woodlands include northern flicker, spotted towhee (Pipilo maculatus),
Steller’s jay (Cyanocitta stelleri), oak titmouse, dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis), and house
finch (Carpodacus mexicanus).
5.4 Man-Made Pond
A small (approximately 1/4 acre) perennial man-made pond, located on the southwest side of the
project site, was created in uplands as an ornamental golf course hazard at an existing green site.
The pond is 100 percent surrounded by golf course turf and playing area. As detailed in section
4.1, this pond does not fall within CDFG’s jurisdiction pursuant to Section 1602 of the Fish and
Game Code. Ornamental trees surrounding the pond include weeping willow (Salix babylonica)
and mayten tree. A hard edge on the turf constitutes the pond shoreline. While most of the pond
supports “open water habitat,” and has this hard turf edge, a small area (about 20 by 70 feet) of
emergent marsh occurs on the east side of the pond. This relatively small area of marsh is
dominated by narrow-leaf cattail (Typha angustifolia), with soft rush (Juncus effusus var.
brunneus), tall flatsedge (Cyperus eragrostis), and hairy willow-herb (Epilobium ciliatum).
Aquatic plants in the pond include water lily (Nuphar sp.), water plantain (Alisma plantagoaquatica), sago pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus), joint paspalum (Paspalum distichum), and
mosquito fern (Azolla sp.).
The man-made pond provides a water source for wildlife. This aquatic habitat provides
mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and passerine birds with a drinking source, and waterfowl and
wading birds with foraging habitat. Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) and Sierran tree frog
(Pseudacris regilla) are abundant in the in the pond. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and ringnecked duck (Aythya collaris) were observed foraging the pond during M&A’s December 2010
and January 2011 site visits. The pond has also been stocked with mosquito fish (Gambusia
affinis).
6. SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES
M&A prepared a Biological Resources Analysis as part of the CEQA review for the Town of
Woodside, the lead agency for the proposed project. The Biological Resources Analysis is
attached to this report.
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Menlo Country Club
Town of Woodside, San Mateo County, California
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As part of the CEQA analysis, M&A researched the CDFG Natural Diversity Database,
RareFind 3.1 application (CNDDB) 1 for historic and recent records of special-status plant and
animal species (that is, threatened, endangered, rare) known to occur in the region of the project
site. M&A also searched the electronic version of the California Native Plant Society’s (CNPS)
Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California2 for records of special-status plants
known in the region of the project site.
6.1 Special-Status Plants
The majority of the project site is an extensively managed golf course and as such does not
provide suitable habitat for special-status plants. Within the proposed project footprint, the oak
woodland area is routinely cleared as a part of maintenance of the golf course property. The level
of disturbance doesn’t preclude the potential presence of special-status species known from the
area of the project site; however, special-status plant species are more likely to occur in areas of
oak woodland that fall outside of the project footprint where the understory is relatively
undisturbed.
The portion of the project site that is vegetated by oak woodland provides potentially suitable
habitat conditions for three state-listed plant species and one California “rare” species. These
species include the state-listed endangered San Mateo woolly sunflower (Eriophyllum
latilobum), the state-listed endangered white-rayed pentachaeta (Pentachaeta bellidiflora), and
the California “rare” Dudley’s lousewort (Pedicularis dudleyi). San Mateo woolly sunflower in
particular is known to occur in disturbed habitats while white-rayed pentachaeta and Dudley’s
lousewort are less likely to be found in disturbed habitats.
In addition, the oak woodlands provide potentially suitable habitat for CNPS List 1 or List 2
species that include marsh silverpuffs (Microseris paludosa), small-flowered monolopia
(Monolopia gracilens), bent-flowered fiddleneck (Amsinckia lunaris), robust monardella
(Monardella villosa ssp. globosa), Franciscan onion (Allium peninsulare var. franciscanum),
Hillsborough chocolate lily (Fritillaria biflora var. ineziana), arcuate bush mallow
(Malacothamnus arcuatus), Davidson’s bush mallow (Malacothamnus davidsonii), San
Francisco collinsia (Collinsia multicolor), and western leatherwood (Dirca occidentalis). Finally,
the man-made pond provides potentially suitable habitat for CNPS List 2.2 species slenderleaved pondweed (Stuckenia filiformis).
Suitability does not infer presence, only that formal surveys would be required in the portion of
the oak woodland that falls within the project footprint, and in the man-made pond, to dismiss
the presence of these species. Accordingly, in these areas of the project site, special-status plant
surveys shall be conducted prior to any tree removal, grading, or construction, during the
1
CNDDB (California Natural Diversity Data Base). 2011. RareFind 3.2. Computer printout for special-status species
within a 5-mile radius of the project site. California Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and
Game, Sacramento, CA.
2
CNPS, 2001. Inventory of rare and endangered plants of California (sixth edition). California Native Plant Society.
Sacramento, CA 338 pps.
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appropriate period in which the species are most identifiable, in compliance with all USFWS3,
CDFG4, and CNPS5 published survey guidelines. Given the flowering periods of the above-listed
special-status plant species, rare plant surveys shall be conducted in the oak woodland within the
project footprint in March, May, and July. Rare plant surveys shall be conducted in the manmade pond in May and June. Construction timing shall be coordinated to account for the required
surveys for rare plants. If a state-listed plant is found on the project site, prior authorization from
CDFG pursuant to the California Endangered Species Act shall be necessary for any proposed
impacts to state-listed plants found within the project site. Project construction shall not be
initiated in the oak woodlands or in the pond on the project site until all rare plant surveys are
completed and subsequent mitigation, if necessary, is implemented.
The proposed project does not include impacts to the bed, bank, or channel of any tributary.
Impacts to areas regulated by 1602 of the Fish and Game Code are limited to existing turfed play
areas that occur under the dripline of riparian canopy. Accordingly, potential impacts and
mitigation measures for rare plants, in the event they are found, are fully addressed in the CEQA
review document that is attached to this application.
6.2 Special Status Wildlife Species
6.2.1 HOARY BAT
The hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) is designated as a state species of special concern. A 1991
record for hoary bat is located approximately 0.2 mile southwest of the project site (Occurrence
No. 121). The project site’s large trees, including pines, redwoods, coast live oaks and valley
oaks, provide suitable nesting habitat for the hoary bat.
In order to avoid impacts to roosting hoary bats, a bat survey shall be conducted 15 days prior to
commencing with construction work (including tree removal). The survey shall include
examination of all trees within 100 feet of the entire project site, not just trees slated for removal.
Both tree canopies and understories shall be examined for evidence of bat roosting. If no hoary
bats are found, then there would be no further regard for this bat species. If they are found, a
determination shall be made whether there are young. If young are found roosting in any tree,
impacts to this tree shall be avoided until the young have reach independence of the tree. If
adults are found roosting but no maternal sites are found, then the adult bats can be flushed prior
to the time the tree in question would be removed or disturbed. No other mitigation
compensation would be required.
6.2.2 SAN FRANCISCO DUSKY-FOOTED WOODRAT
San Francisco dusky-footed woodrat nests have been identified in the oak woodland understory
on the project site. In the area where the oak woodland understory is routinely cleared as a part
3
USFWS 1996. Sacramento Fish & Wildlife Office Guidelines for Conducting and Reporting Botanical Inventories
for Federally Listed, Proposed and Candidate Plants. September 23.
4
CDFG 2000. Guidelines for assessing the effects of proposed developments on rare and endangered plants and
plant communities. December 9, 1983, revised May 8, 2000.
5
CNPS 2001. op. cit.
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Town of Woodside, San Mateo County, California
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of maintenance of the golf course property, approximately 18 woodrat nests occur and have not
been removed or otherwise damaged. Woodrat nests are also abundant in the remaining
undisturbed oak woodland understory outside the footprint of the proposed project.
Prior to construction, it shall be necessary for a qualified biologist to survey the entire oak
woodland habitat onsite for evidence of nesting San Francisco dusky-footed woodrats (i.e., large
stick nests). Since woodrats use their nests year round, surveys for woodrat nests may be
conducted at any time of the year. All woodrat nests will be flagged in the field and delineated
on project site maps. For any woodrat nest identified on a project site, the mitigation listed
below shall be implemented.
Per CDFG’s recommendation, for all woodrat nests that have been preserved in the cleared oak
woodland understory, CDFG has recommended that a qualified biologist live trap to determine
which nests may be in use. If the nests are found to be unoccupied, they can be removed without
further consideration for this woodrat species. If woodrat nests are found to be occupied and
cannot be avoided by the project, it would be necessary to relocate woodrats and their nests from
the proposed area of impact. As necessary, trapped woodrats shall be kept in captivity until nests
are moved to suitable oak woodland or riparian habitats outside of the development footprint.
All trapped woodrats shall be ear-tagged for later mark and recapture studies. A CNDDB form
shall be filled out and submitted to CDFG for any San Francisco dusky-footed woodrats that are
trapped.
Once nest sites are moved, any trapped woodrats shall be released into reconstructed nests in the
daylight hours so that they seek refuge in the reconstructed nests. Food shall be provided within
relocated nests for a period not less than 60 days. This will give the relocated woodrats the
opportunity to rebuild their nests and to otherwise acclimate to their new sites. Any relocated
woodrats shall be monitored on a monthly basis using capture/recapture trapping methods for a
period of one year. A monitoring report shall be submitted to CDFG and the Town of Woodside
by December 1 of the following year.
6.3 Nesting Raptors
The project site’s large trees, including pines, redwoods, coast live oaks and valley oaks, provide
suitable nesting habitat for raptors. A Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii) was observed on the
project site, and may nest on or immediately adjacent to the project site. In addition, great horned
owls (Bubo virginianus), sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus), red shouldered hawks (Buteo
lineatus), and American kestrels (Falco sparverius) all are known from the area, and could
conceivably nest on the project site. All of these raptors (that is, birds of prey) are protected
under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13) and their eggs and young are protected
under California Fish and Game Code Sections 3503, 3503.5, 3800, and 3513. Potential impacts
to these species from the proposed project include disturbance to nesting birds, and possibly
death of adults and/or young.
No nesting raptors have been identified on the proposed project site; however, no specific surveys
for nesting raptors have been conducted. In order to avoid impacts to nesting raptors, a nesting
Monk & associates
SBAA Application
Menlo Country Club
Town of Woodside, San Mateo County, California
Page 12
survey shall be conducted prior to any tree removal, grading, or construction work if this work
would commence between February 1st and August 31st .The raptor nesting survey shall include
examination of all trees within 500 feet of the entire project site, not just trees slated for removal.
If nesting raptors are identified during the surveys, the dripline of the nest tree must be fenced
with orange construction fencing (provided the tree is on the project site), and a 200-foot radius
around the nest tree must be staked with bright orange lath or other suitable staking. If the tree is
located off the project site, then the buffer shall be demarcated per above where the buffer occurs
on the project site. It is assumed that any raptor that nests on the now actively used golf course
will be acclimated to human activity. Accordingly, the size of the buffer may be altered if a
qualified raptor biologist conducts behavioral observations and determines the nesting raptors
are well acclimated to disturbance. If this occurs, the raptor biologist shall prescribe a modified
buffer that allows sufficient room to prevent undue disturbance/harassment to the nesting raptors
during construction. No tree removal, earth-moving activity, or construction shall occur within
the established buffer until it is determined by a qualified raptor biologist that the young have
fledged (that is, left the nest) and have attained sufficient flight skills to avoid project
construction zones. This typically occurs by July 15th. This date may be earlier or later, and
would have to be determined by a qualified raptor biologist. If a qualified biologist is not hired to
watch the nesting raptors then the buffers shall be maintained in place through the month of
August and work within the buffer can commence September 1st.
Two surveys may be required to address both early and later nesting raptor species. Great horned
owls and American kestrels begin nesting in February; red-tailed hawks and red-shouldered
hawks begin nesting in March and April; and the Cooper’s hawk and sharp-shinned hawk begin
nesting in May. Thus, an early survey shall be conducted in February or March if construction is
proposed to commence between February 1st and June 1st. If construction has not commenced by
the end of March, a second nesting survey shall be conducted in April/May, whichever month is
within 30 days of the commencement of construction. If construction would commence after
May but before September 1st, then the second survey shall be conducted within the 30 day
period prior to site disturbance.
If the early nesting survey identifies a large stick or other type of raptor nest that is inactive at the
time of the survey, but that was evidently used in the previous year (as evidenced by condition of
the nest and possibly presence of whitewash and/or feathers/down on the nest), a protection
buffer (as described above) shall be established around the potential nesting tree. This buffer
shall remain until a second follow-up nesting survey can be conducted to determine the status of
the nest and eliminate the possibility that the nest is utilized by a late-spring nesting raptor (for
example, Cooper’s hawk). This second survey shall commence even if construction has
commenced. If during the follow-up late season nesting survey a nesting raptor is identified
utilizing the nest, the protection buffer shall remain until it is determined by a qualified raptor
biologist that the young have fledged and have attained sufficient flight skills to avoid project
construction zones. If the nest remains inactive, the protection buffer can be removed and
construction and earth moving activities can proceed unrestrained.
Monk & associates
SBAA Application
Menlo Country Club
Town of Woodside, San Mateo County, California
Page 13
6.4 Nesting Passerine Birds
Nesting passerine (perching) birds could be impacted by the proposed project. Passerine birds
and their nests are protected under California Fish and Game Code (Sections 3503, 3503.5), and
the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
A nesting survey shall be conducted on the project site and within a zone of influence around the
project site. The zone of influence includes those areas off the project site where birds could be
disturbed by earth-moving vibrations or noise. Accordingly, the nesting survey(s) must cover the
project site and an area around the project site boundary. If project site disturbance associated
with the project would commence between March 1 and September 1st, the nesting surveys shall
be completed 15 days prior to commencing with the work. If common (that is, not special-status)
birds for example, California towhee (Pipilo crissalis), western scrub jay (Aphelocoma
californica), or acorn woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus) are identified nesting on or
adjacent to the project site, a non-disturbance buffer of 75 feet shall be established or as
otherwise prescribed by a qualified ornithologist. The buffer shall be demarcated with painted
orange lath. Disturbance around an active nest shall be postponed until it is determined by a
qualified ornithologist that the young have fledged and have attained sufficient flight skills to
leave the area.
Typically, most passerine birds in the region of the project site are expected to complete nesting
by August 1st. However, many species can complete nesting by the end of June or in early to
mid-July. Regardless, nesting buffers shall be maintained until August 1st unless a qualified
ornithologist determines that young have fledged and are independent of their nests at an earlier
date. If buffers are removed prior to August 1st, the qualified biologist conducting the nesting
surveys shall prepare a report that provides details about the nesting outcome and the removal of
buffers. This report shall be submitted to the Town of Woodside prior to the time that buffers are
removed if the date is before August 1st.
7. MITIGATION
Per Mr. Monk’s meeting with Ms. Suzanne DeLeón on January 24, 2011 at the project site,
mitigation for work in the Redwood Creek riparian corridor shall consist of removing existing
non-native (and toxic to wildlife) oleander (Nerium oleander) shrubs located along the pump
station fenceline, and replacing them with native shrub species California coffeeberry (Rhamnus
californica) and toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia). Sheet EXH-1 indicates the location of the
pump station and the proposed mitigation plantings. Mitigation plantings would become
conditions of project approval with the Town of Woodside.
In addition, to offset the impacts of removing three non-native trees outside the top-of-banks of
Redwood Creek but within the riparian canopy, the applicant shall mitigate by planting three
California native tree species within the riparian corridor. This represents a ratio of 1:1 (impacts
to replacement) which is consistent with CDFG policies for impacts to non-native trees.
Replacement trees will be of at least a 36-inch box size. Final species and locations of
replacement trees will be determined by the golf course architect and the arborist.
Monk & associates
SBAA Application
Menlo Country Club
Town of Woodside, San Mateo County, California
Page 14
Please note that tree removal on the project site, including impacts outside the bed, bank, and
channel of Redwood Creek, will be mitigated pursuant to the Town of Woodside tree ordinance.
Thus, trees that are removed shall be replaced in accordance with the requirements of this
ordinance. The applicant shall conduct annual monitoring surveys for all planted mitigation trees
for a five year period, and shall prepare annual monitoring reports reporting the success or failure
of the planting effort. These reports should be submitted to CDFG and the Town of Woodside no
later than December 1st each monitoring year.
8. EROSION AND SILTATION CONTROLS
A full erosion control plan will be implemented along the banks of Redwood Creek and at
drainage swale where a 24-inch bypass (overflow) pipe will be installed near the top-of-bank to
provide further flow capacity to an existing 10-inch storm drain at that location. All erosion
control Best Management Practices (BMPs) will be installed prior to the commencement of the
golf course renovation project that will reduce potential impacts to drainages on the project site.
The plan, accompanied by a State-required Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP),
will reduce potential impacts to drainages and water quality on the project site. Erosion control
measures will include use of wire-backed silt fencing where necessary to fortify silt fencing,
fiber rolls, and other erosion/sediment control materials, and will keep de minimus sediment
from incidentally entering Redwood Creek or the drainage swale.
Exclusion fencing shall be installed to prevent common amphibian species from leaving
Redwood Creek and entering the project site. This fencing shall consist of orange-colored silt
fencing, or black silt fencing backed by orange construction fencing that is fully visible from the
project site side of the fencing, and would also prevent equipment and any side-cast material
from entering the creek. All reaches of Redwood Creek on the project site shall be fitted with silt
fencing along the top-of-banks anywhere the project would re-turf or otherwise occur within 50
feet of the top-of-bank of this creek. As necessary, biodegradable fiber rolls will be left in place
in the event that longer term vegetation establishment is required to maintain erosion control at
the completed construction site.
9. AGENCY APPROVALS
9.1 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
The proposed project is being reviewed pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) by the Town of Woodside. A Mitigated Negative Declaration will be circulated for the
project. The Notice of Determination (NOD) for the project (indicating the CEQA review is
complete) will be provided to CDFG upon receipt from the Town of Woodside.
Per Mr. Monk’s meeting with Ms. Suzanne DeLeón on January 24, 2011 at the project site, the
applicant may submit the Streambed Alteration Agreement in advance of the formal adoption of
the NOD by the Town of Woodside for review and processing; however, a Streambed Alteration
Agreement cannot be issued until such time the CDFG receives a copy of the NOD.
Monk & associates
SBAA Application
Menlo Country Club
Town of Woodside, San Mateo County, California
Page 15
9.2 Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB)
A stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) will be submitted to the California Regional
Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) prior to the start of construction, in compliance with the
Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES).
10. CONCLUSIONS
I have attached a CD containing electronic files of the application for your convenience. If after
reviewing the attached application form and other supporting documents, you still have questions
regarding the project, please do not hesitate to call me at (925) 947-4867, extension 201. We look
forward to receiving the draft Streambed Alteration Agreement at your earliest opportunity. We
can finalize this agreement after the Town of Woodside adopts the NOD for the Mitigated
Negative Declaration it will process pursuant to the CEQA. Many thanks for your time to
process this application.
Sincerely,
J. Geoff Monk
Principal Biologist
cc:
Mr. Scott T. Lewis, Menlo Country Club
Mr. Ralph Osterling, Ralph S. Osterling Consultants, Inc.
Mr. Clifford Bechtel, Clifford Bechtel & Associates
Attachments: Streambed Alteration Agreement application form
Figures 1-3
Preliminary Site Plan for the Menlo Country Club Golf Course Renovation dated
March 4, 2011.
A check in the amount of $ 1,233.25
CD containing electronic files of application
Biological Resources Analysis