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5.7 Biological Resources

PDF 7-3 The primary features retained in the mitigation preserve are the western
portion of Oso Canyon and the mountainous areas along the western and
southern edges of the site. The western portion of Oso Creek and several large
tributaries, which are considered high wildlife use areas, would be preserved
as open space. At least three ephemeral ponds would also be preserved in the
open space area; which may provide habitat for amphibians, invertebrates,
and migratory birds. In addition, existing drainages have been incorporated
into the Project’s design as greenways and open space areas to buffer the
riparian corridors from indirect impacts.

PDF 7-4 The removal of oaks on the site has been minimized: of the estimated
181,070 oaks of all sizes on the site, and of the estimated 33,861 oaks under
the jurisdiction of the County of Los Angeles Tree Ordinance (CLAOTO) on the
site, only 91 regulated oaks [blue oak (Quercus douglasii) and hybrid oak
species5] occur within the disturbance area. Of those, 49 (blue oak) are within
the grading footprint and would presumably be directly impacted by the
Project, while 42 occur within the temporary disturbance area and would
potentially be unimpacted/preserved, or 99.99 percent of regulated oaks
would be preserved. The majority of the mixed oak woodland located in the
western portion of the site and nearly the entire mixed oak woodland area
located in the southern portion of the site would be preserved as natural open
space.

PDF 7-5 Regulated oaks within the Project’s temporary disturbance area shall be
avoided to the maximum extent feasible. Construction activities will employ
methods, such as temporary orange mesh fencing, to surround the regulated
oak trees at the dripline in order to avoid impacts to regulated oak trees in
these areas, when feasible.

PDF 7-6 If a golf course is developed on the site, it will be built and managed in
accordance with the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf
Courses (or equivalent), which is a cooperative effort between the United
States Golf Association and Audubon International that is designed to promote
ecologically sound land management and to conserve natural resources.

PDF 7-7 As an additional Project feature, the Project Applicant will explore locating a
wildlife-friendly crossing across the Aqueduct with the California Department
of Water Resources. The ideal location for such a crossing would be adjacent
to Quail Lake or adjacent to the new bridge proposed across the Aqueduct.
Final design of any such crossing shall be reviewed and approved by Los
Angeles County.

5 Hybrid oak species are probably (Quercus x alvordiana) and (Quercus x macdonaldi) but hybridization within hybrids
can even result in triple hybrids making positive identification of these species very difficult (Tree of Life 2008).

R:\Projects\PAS\CEN\000306\Draft EIR\5.7 Bio_051117.docx 5.7-139 Centennial Project
Draft EIR