Worker Environmental Awareness Program for Fence InstallationWorker Environmental Awareness Program
Peninsular Big Horn Sheep Temporary Fence Installation
Project at the SilverRock Resort
The Peninsular bighorn Sheep Fence Temporary Installation Project (Project) at the SilverRock Resort is within
the geographic range of and contains suitable habitat for a variety of special -status biological resources,
including but not limited to: Peninsular bighorn sheep, desert tortoise, red -diamond rattlesnake, rare plant
species and nesting birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and California Fish and Game
code. SilverRock Resort located in the City of La Quinta, Riverside County California is located immediately
adjacent to the Santa Rosa/San Jacinto Mountains Conservation Area of the Coachella Valley Multiple Species
Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation Plan (CVMSHCP/NCCP). The Project is
therefore required to comply with the requirements and provisions of the CVMSHCP/NCCP, State and federal
Endangered Species Acts, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the City of La Quinta Mitigation
Monitoring Program for the SilverRock Resort and the Revised Recommendations for Temporary Fence
Installation for the SilverRock Project (USFWS 2017).
This Worker Environmental Awareness Program (WEAP) was developed to summarize the procedures and
policies proposed for the avoidance and minimization of potential Project -related impacts to the occurring, or
potentially -occurring special -status biological resources. Attendance of the WEAP and signing the
acknowledgement form stating that you agree to implement and comply with the Project impact avoidance and
minimization measures presented herein along with all other Project permit conditions and/or Best Management
Practices (BMP's) is a requirement for Project compliance.
General Environmental Compliance
All Project personnel will comply with the following requirements:
A Worker Environmental Awareness Program (WEAP) will be implemented to inform Project personnel of
the potential presence of bighorn sheep along the alignment, on the golf course and/or on the adjacent
hillsides. The WEAP will include photographs, descriptions, conservation status, impact avoidance and
minimization measures as outlined in this letter, and penalties associated with unauthorized impacts to
bighorn sheep. Project personnel will be required to attend the WEAP and sign an acknowledgment of
attendance and agreement to comply with the measures outlined in the WEAP. Personnel will be instructed
to notify the biological monitor immediately of all sheep sightings, and what to do if they observe a sick or
moribund sheep, or a Iamb that appears to be abandoned by its mother. In those cases, Project personnel
will NOT approach or touch the animal, and will notify the biological monitor immediately. The biological
monitor will contact CDFW biologist Kevin Brennan (760) 749-3270 — office, (760) 861-3627 — mobile,
kovin.brennan@wildlife.ca.Aov immediately. La Quinta Animal Control Services should NOT be
contacted.
■ Limit all approved Project -associated activities including fence installation, site access, parking and staging
to the Project alignment, designated access routes and staging areas.
• Consult the biological monitor prior to entry into any new area of the Project site including the fence
alignment, access routes, staging areas and/or parking areas to confirm that daily pre -construction
clearance surveys have been conducted. Do not proceed with work unless you have confirmed that daily
pre -construction surveys have been completed.
0 Observation of a 15 -mile per hour (mph) speed limit on all unpaved approved project access routes.
Worker Environmental Awareness Procedure
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
• Avoidance of smoking, pets or possession of firearms on-site.
• Excavations, pits and/or trenches shall NOT be left open overnight.
• Cover, contain, and dispose of trash daily. Construction -related debris should be regularly. Do not leave
ANY trash, including ALL food scraps and wrappers, on-site. Some birds and mammals can smell and are
attracted to food waste left on-site. If you bring it in, pack it out and throw it away.
Biological Resources
Nesting Birds
The Project site and adjacent areas, or portions thereof, contain potentially suitable habitat for special -
status species such as: burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus),
loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), black -tailed gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura), vermillion
flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus), crissal thrasher (Toxostoma crissale) and Le Conte's thrasher
(Toxostoma lecontei). Burrowing owl, loggerhead shrike, vermillion flycatcher and Crissal thrasher are
managed as California Species of Special Concern (SSC's) while the prairie falcon and black -tailed
gnatcatcher are watch list species. Le Conte's thrasher is a covered species under the CVMSHCP/NCCP.
The potential for these species to nest on or in proximity to the alignment ranges from very low to high.
Photos of burrowing owl, loggerhead shrike and vermillion flycatcher are provided below.
• Common native bird species (with few exceptions) are protected by the federal MBTA and California
Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) code while nesting and impacts are not covered under the
CVMSHCP. Active verdin (Auriparus flaviceps) and mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) nests were
observed along the alignment during the pre -construction survey conducted on 23 February 17 and the
potential for new verdin and mourning dove nests, as well as nests of other common species along the
alignment is high.
• A person, association, partnership or corporation which violates the MBTA or its regulations is guilty of a
misdemeanor and subject to a fine of up to $500, jail up to six months, or both. Anyone who knowingly
takes a migratory bird and intends to, offers to, or actually sells or barters the bird is guilty of a felony, with
fines up to $2,000, jail up to two years, or both. Permissible fines have increased significantly under the
Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, as amended in 1987.
The biological monitor will conduct pre -construction nesting bird surveys in active Project areas including,
but not limited to: the alignment, access routes, parking and staging areas during the nesting season
(generally February 1 through August 31) prior to commencement of Project -related activities in any given
area.
Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA's) will be established Active bird nests along the alignment or within
adjacent areas. Generally, ESA's for nesting birds are defined by CDFW as 300 -feet for passerines or
500 -feet for raptors and/or listed species. In some cases, however, ESA's can be reduced for a variety of
reasons including: topography, vegetation, species tolerance, presence of natural or artificial barriers, etc.,
at the discretion of the biological monitor. The biological monitor will establish and mark (with stakes)
ESA's along the alignment to temporarily avoid or minimize Project -related disturbance to nesting birds,
where appropriate.
The biological monitor will monitor bird nests to determine if they appear to be active. If active nests and
Project activities are located in close proximity to one another, the biological monitor will observe the birds
for potential signs of stress (i.e., excessive scolding, increased activity at the nest site). If stress behavior
is observed, additional measures including, but not limited to: use of hand tools, adjustment of the
alignment (where possible), ESA adjustment (where appropriate), installation of temporary sound and/or
visual barriers.
• If a bird nest, or suspected bird nest is observed, immediately halt work in the immediate vicinity and
consult the biological monitor immediately. Do not approach the nest.
• Although surveys for burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) for the Project ended with negative results, in the
event that burrowing owl(s) are observed or detected on or adjacent to the Project site, ESA's will be
established, staked for avoidance and/or additional measures consistent with those described above will be
implemented.
Reptiles
• The Project site provides habitat and is within the geographic range of red -diamond rattlesnake (Crotalus
ruber), which is a California Species of Special Concern (SSC). There is a moderate to high potential for
this species, along with a variety of other common reptile species to occur on-site.
• The biological monitor will conduct daily pre -construction clearance surveys for red -diamond rattlesnake
and common reptile species prior to commencement of Project -related activities in any given area.
• Harming, killing, handling or disturbing red -diamond rattlesnake (and other common reptile species) will be
avoided by all Project personnel.
• Check beneath, in front of and behind vehicles, equipment, Project materials, rocks and/or vegetation prior
to starting engines, moving or handling to avoid accidental injury (or worse) to yourself and/or the animal.
Visually inspect where you place your hands and plant your feet prior to doing so. Also inspect any and all
holes, rock cracks, crevices, trenches, debris, spoils, etc. prior to placing yourself and/or the animal at risk
of injury.
• Immediately notify the biological monitor if you observe a rattlesnake on-site. Most will voluntarily disperse
on their own accord away from people and Project activities. If not, however, the biological monitor will
have the experience, authorizations and equipment to safely relocate any and all snakes and other
common reptile species to suitable habitat away from harm and the Project site.
• The federally and state -listed as threatened desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) is known to occur in the
vicinity and the on-site rocky foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains provide suitable habitat for this species.
The likelihood of desert tortoise occurring along the alignment, however, is extremely low. In addition, it is
legal and common for residents of California to keep lawfully -acquired desert tortoises as pets. Pet
tortoises frequently escape or are released back into the wild. Pet tortoises, however, have the exact same
legal status, are protected and are legally treated the same as wild tortoises. In the unlikely event that a
desert tortoise is observed on or adjacent to the Project site, IMMEDIATELY halt ALL work in the area and
notify the biological monitor. The biological monitor will notify CVAG, CDFW, BLM (where applicable) and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to determine the best course of action. The best approach is
allow the tortoise to voluntarily vacate the area. If it does not vacate the area, however, handling and/or
moving the tortoise is NOT an option without issuance of an incidental take permit. An incidental "take"
permit for desert tortoise has NOT been issued for this Project and therefore any/all disturbance to desert
tortoise MUST be avoided. Penalties for unpermitted take of desert tortoise in California include fines of up
to $50,000.00, up to one (1) year in jail, or both per incident and per individual/entity.
Mammals
• A variety of mammals, including but not limited to: mice, gophers, bats, rabbits, squirrels, skunks, possums,
raccoons, badgers, coyotes, foxes and bobcats, have the potential of occurring on-site and/or the
immediate vicinity.
The Project alignment, or portions thereof, contains habitat for and is within the geographic range of a
variety of special -status mammal species including: western (southern) yellow bat (Lasiurus ega),
pocketed free -tailed bat (Nyctinomops femorosaccus), Palm Springs pocket mouse (Perognathus
longimembris bangsl), and Coachella Valley (Palm Springs) round -tailed ground squirrel
(Spermophilus tereticaudus chlorus).
• Pre -construction clearance surveys will be conducted daily by the biological monitor. If special -status
mammals are detected on-site or in the immediate vicinity, efforts to avoid or minimize Project -related
Worker Environmental Awareness Procedure
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
impacts to those species will be implemented to the greatest extent feasible. This may require temporarily
halting work in a given area to allow the species to voluntarily vacate the work area.
Mammals are often found in burrows, dens, under surface objects and within man-made structures such as
drainpipes or culverts but can also be found in the shade beneath vehicles and/or equipment. Check
beneath vehicles, equipment and materials to avoid harming (or worse) mammals prior to starting engines
or moving.
• Many mammals are attracted to and will scavenge trash, particularly food -related items, which can be
harmful or even fatal for some species. Immediately contain and dispose of trash at the end of each day.
Contain and dispose of construction debris (i.e., wood, plastic, metal, cement, concrete, etc.) regularly.
The rocky areas such as the cliffs, outcrops, crevices, cracks and cavities, as well as some of the trees
(palm trees with intact aprons in particular) provide day roosting and/or hibernation habitat for a variety of
bat species including the western (southern) yellow bat and pocketed free -tailed bat. For these reasons,
the Project should avoid and/or minimize disturbance to these microhabitats habitats (where possible).
• If/when Project -related disturbance to the above -referenced habitats is necessary, immediately notify the
biological monitor to conduct a clearance survey prior to disturbance. If bats are found within an area that
requires disturbance, the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), CDFW and/or BLM may
need to be consulted for further direction.
• Because the majority of bat species in our area are insectivorous and lights attract insects, night work
should be avoided to prevent accidental or inadvertent harm (or worse) to foraging bat species.
Peninsular Bighorn Sheep
• Peninsular bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsonii DPS 2) range in color from light brown to grayish or
dark brown and have a white rump and lining on the backs of all four legs. Both sexes have horns, large
and curved on adult males, or rams and shorter and less curved on juveniles and adult females (ewes).
• Peninsular bighorn sheep are residents of the steep, rocky terrain within the Santa Rosa Mountains,
including the Project site and routinely visit the grounds of the golf course at SilverRock Resort, hence the
intent and purpose of this Project.
• The Peninsular bighorn sheep is federally -listed as endangered, state -listed as threatened and is a fully -
protected species in California. Peninsular bighorn sheep is also a CVMSHCP covered species and the
adjacent rocky hillsides are within a CVMSCHP Conservation Area (Santa Rosa/San Jacinto Mountains)
and designated critical habitat for Peninsular bighorn sheep is present on nearby public lands administered
by the Burea of Land Management.
• Penalties for unpermitted take of Peninsular bighorn sheep include fines exceeding $100,000 and up to
one (1) year in jail, or both per incident and individual/entity.
• The Peninsular bighorn sheep population declined from 1,171 to 276 by 1996. By 1998, after their listing,
the population increased to around 950.
® The City of La Quinta and contractors will work with the involved wildlife agencies (USFWS, CDFW and
CVAG) to identify fencing locations, identify timing and phasing of installing fence panels, monitor bighorn
sheep use during the construction, and provide adequate biological monitoring staff to redirect sheep out of
the construction area as necessary.
• Prior to commencement of fence installation, representatives of the involved wildlife agencies will walk and
finalize the fence alignment, which will be staked at that time to ensure the alignment is fixed in the field.
Gate locations, known sheep access points where fence panels would be installed last, and tie-in
alignments to the Tradition wall at the north end and to the Coachella Valley Water District fence at the
south end, will also be identified and marked in the field.
• The City should be aware that sheep may be able to access the SilverRock property from the north and
south after the temporary fence along the toe -of -slope is built, so additional temporary fencing to exclude
sheep may be necessary.
M The final design and alignment selection will identify locations for entry gates that provide access
necessary so that the biological monitor can redirect bighorn sheep away from the golf -course side of the
fence. In addition, as the fencing is installed it may be necessary to provide openings sufficient to allow the
sheep access to escape terrain from the golf course.
• Biological monitoring by a qualified biological monitor knowledgeable about bighorn sheep biology will be
conducted for all construction -related activities that have the potential to affect bighorn sheep. The
biological monitor will be on-site at all times during construction to observe sheep presence in or near the
construction area, document any signs of distrees or illness and take appropriate action if needed. Pre -
construction clearance surveys will be conducted daily and monitored by the biological monitor.
• The biological monitor will have the authority to temporarily halt any and all construction -related activities
that threaten bighorn sheep and to contact the involved wildlife agencies (CDFW biologist Kevin Brennan
[760] 749-3270 — office, [760] 861-3627 — mobile; kevin.brennan@wildlife.ca.gov and/or USFWS
biologist Jenness McBride [760] 322-2070 ext. 403; jenness_mcbride@fws.gov) if sheep are
encountered during fence installation.
Impact avoidance and/or minimization measures that will be implemented by the biological monitor include:
daily monitoring of the fence alignment, construction areas, and the SilverRock golf course adjacent to the
alignment. The biological monitor will remain on-site every day during all construction activities, and
provide daily reports to designated wildlife agencies staff.
• Physical capture, temporary handling, and immediate relocation of bighorn sheep (if necessary) will be
conducted only by CDFW biologist, Kevin Brennan (760) 749-3270 — office, (760) 861-3627 — mobile.
• To protect Peninsular bighorn sheep, the provisions required by the Mountain Toe -of -Slope
Buffer/Mitigation Concept Plan for the SiverRock Resort or more current overseeing agency (CVAG,
USFWS, CDFW, BLM) requirements (i.e., USFWS Revised Recommendations for Temporary Fence
Installation for SilverRock Project letter dated January 18, 2017).
Development and design (including but not limited to: location, height, spacing width, materials) of the
fence shall be in accordance with the City of La Quinta Mitigation Monitoring Program for the SilverRock
Resort or current overseeing agency (CVAG, USFWS and/or CDFW) requirements.
Plants
The Project site, or portions thereof, provides potentially suitable habitat for a variety of special -status plant
species including: chaparral sand -verbena (Abronia villosa var. Aurita), Borrego milkvetch (Astragalus
lentiginosus var. borreganus), Coachella Valley milkvetch (Astragalus lentiginosus var. coachellae),
triple -ribbed milkvetch (Astragalus tricarinatus), white-bracted spineflower (Chorizanthe xanti var.
leucotheca), ribbed cryptantha (Cryptantha costata), winged cryptantha (Cryptantha holoptera),
glandular ditaxis (Ditaxis clariana), California ditaxis (Ditaxis serrata var. californica), Deep Canyon
snapdragon (Pseudorontium cyathiferum) and Orocopia sage (Salvia greatae). The potential for these
species to occur along the alignment is considered to be very low to low.
• Several of these are CVMSHCP-covered species. These include the federally -listed as endangered
Coachella valley milkvetch federally -listed as endangered triple -ribbed milkvetch and Orocopia sage.
• Pre -construction clearance surveys will be conducted daily by the biological monitor. If special -status plant
species are detected, efforts to avoid or minimize Project -related impacts to those species will be
implemented to the greatest extent feasible. This may include slight deviations from the proposed
alignment to physically avoid the species.
• The biological monitor will establish ESAs for special -status plant species where observed. ESAs will
implemented to avoid and/or minimize disturbance to special -status plant species to the greatest extent
practicable.
Worker Environmental Awareness Procedure
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Reporting
• The biological monitor will record any bighorn sheep encounters that occurred and how they were resolved
on a daily basis. For the first week of construction, the biological monitor will report daily by 6:00 PM to the
Wildlife Agencies by email or telephone, and weekly (each Friday) thereafter.
Points of contact for the Wildlife Agencies are: Jenness McBride, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: 760-
322-2070, extension 403; jenness_mcbride@fws.gov; and Kevin Brennan, California Department of
Fish and Wildlife: (760) 749-3270 — office, (760) 861-3627 — mobile; Kevin.Brennan@wildlife.ca.gov
Post -construction monitoring will be conducted at least once daily after the fence is completed for the
presence of bighorn sheep on either side of the fence or anywhere on the SilverRock property, with weekly
reports provided to the wildlife agencies by email or telephone to the points of contact noted above. Post -
construction monitoring should continue for about 2 or 3 months. Based on the monitoring results, the
wildlife agencies in coordination with SilverRock management will evaluate the need for further monitoring.
This post -construction monitoring does not require special qualifications; any employee of SilverRock or
the City of La Quinta, for example golf course maintenance workers, would be able to act as observers
during their normal work hours, with minimal training on what to observe and record. The Wildlife Agencies
would be glad to work with the City of La Quinta and SilverRock to brief personnel on how to observe
sheep without disturbing them and to report on any sheep sightings.
• All daily and post -construction reports will be assembled and maintained as a part of the Project record,
and provided to the Wildlife Agencies.
Literature Cited
Colby, J., and R. Botta. 2014. Peninsular bighorn sheep annual report 2014. California Department of Fish and
Wildlife, South Coast Region.
United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), 2017. Revised Recommendations for Temporary Fence
Installation for SilverRock Project, City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California. Unpublished letter
submitted by the USFWS to La Quinta City Manager, Mr. Frank J. Spevacek on January 18, 2017.
Contacts
Amec Foster Wheeler
Biologist Monitors: Michael Wilcox, Office: (951) 369-8060
Mobile: (951) 634-9765
E-mail: michael.wilcox@amecfw.com
Nathan Moorhatch, Office: (951) 369-8060
Mobile: (714) 423-8559
E-mail: nathan.moorhatch amecfw.com
John Green, Office: (951) 369-8060
Mobile: (951) 751 0733
E-mail: 0ohn. reen amecfw.com
Stephen Myers, Office: (951) 369-8060
Mobile: (951) 616-7578
E-mail: steohen.myersCa)amecfw.com
Lisa Wadley, Office: (951) 369-8060
Mobile: (951) 634-9769
E-mail: lisa.wadleyamecfw.com
Phil Clevinger, Office: (951) 369-8060
Mobile: (760) 490-9617
E-mail: phatcattbone@,Yahoo.com
Rob Williams, Office: (951) 369-8060
Mobile: (951) 833-3823
E-mail: robe rtlouwiIlia (a)yahoo.com
Ryan Quilley, Office: (858) 278-3600
Mobile: (610) 804-8916
E-mail: ryan.quilleyQamecfw.com
Biological Resources Manager: Scott Crawford, Office: (951) 369-8060 ext. 223
Mobile: (714) 742-5316
E-mail: scott.crawfordnamecfw.com
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Biologist: Kevin Brennan, (760) 749-3270 — office; (760) 861-3627 - Mobile
E-mail: kevin.brennan@wildlife.ca.gyv
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Biologist: Jenness McBride, Office: (760) 322-2070 ext. 403
E-mail: ienness.mcbride@fws.cov
Peninsular Big Horn Sheep Temporary Fence Installation Project
SilverRock Resort, La Quinta, Riverside County, California
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Photo 1. Peninsular bighorn sheep (ram) photographed on rocky slopes of the Santa Rosa Mountains adjacent to
SilverRook Resort.
Photo 2. Collared and tagged Peninsular bighorn sheep (ewe) photographed while grazing on the SilverRock Resort.
Peninsular Big Horn Sheep Temporary Fence Installation Project
SilverRock Resort, La Quinta, Riverside County, California
Photo 3. Small herd of Peninsular bighorn sheep (rams) photographed grazing on the SliverRock Resort.
while nesting. This species has a moderate to high potential of nesting along the alignment.
Peninsular Big Horn Sheep Temporary Fence Installation Project
SilverRock Resort, La Quinta, Riverside County, California
while nesting. This species has a low to moderate potential of nesting along the alignment.
along the alignment. All native bird species (with few exceptions) are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act while
nesting.
Peninsular Big Horn Sheep Temporary Fence Installation Project
SilverRock Resort, La Quinta, Riverside County, California
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Pnoto 7. Loggerneaa snr!Ke nest wim eggs in a smau snrun.
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Photo 8. Burrowing owl. Burrowing owl surveys were conducted and ended with negative results. There is, however, a
low potential for this species to occur if small mammal burrows are present along the alignment.
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