Att 4-Midpen Resource Flagging Protocol.pdf

Sensitive Resource Flagging Protocol

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District 2022-23

Last Updated: 9/29/2022

Authored by: MROSD Natural Resources Department

Introduction

While conducting work in the field, it is critical to protect sensitive resources. Visual indicators like flagging are critical for demarcating these sensitive resources. Flagging should be easily visible and identifiable to all regardless of colorblindness status, while minimizing visual disturbance to the public and not overlapping with existing fire color codes (listed below). To ensure clear communication in the field, these guidelines will be used for flagging sensitive resources.

Basic Requirements

Sensitive resources will be marked with high-visibility roll flagging. Strands must be approximately 2-3 feet in length, and 1 - 4 inches in width for easy visibility. They must be securely tied at eye-level to features available. When possible, flags should be secured to features that will be retained, such as a large healthy tree.

Material will depend on the duration of flagging. For short-term projects lasting less than one month, biodegradable flagging tape will be used to minimize environmental impacts. For projects lasting one month or longer, plastic flagging will be used. This is to prevent flagging degradation with time.

In the absence of hanging or adjacent vegetation available, consultants may utilize pin flags or whisker flags. These options are ideal for road shoulders, cleared areas, and short-term projects where they will not be covered by rapidly growing grass. Pin flags are preferred in grasslands where grass could obscure a whisker flag in a matter of weeks. For longer term projects in tall grass with no trees/shrubs, consider tying flagging strips to growing grass.

Removal of flagging will occur by the work crews as part of the demobilization process. Flagging should be removed within two weeks after the final conclusion of a project. Work crews should confirm that the project is concluded before removing flagging. Exceptions may be allowed with the approval of both the project manager and a project biologist.

Color Codes

- Wildlife: Pink flagging tape, preferably with “WILDLIFE” printing o Nesting birds (raptors, songbirds, etc.), SF Dusky-footed Woodrat Nests, Dens (rattlesnake, coyote, badger, etc.), Bat resources (maternity roosts, etc.) will be flagged pink for protection and retention.

o Flagging tape with “WILDLIFE” printing can be purchased from Presco.

- Protected Plants: Pink flagging tape, preferably with “NATIVE PLANT – PROTECT" or “DO NOT

CUT” printing o Locally rare species, CNPS ranks 3 & 4 , CNPS ranks 1 & 2, CNPS ESA, Critical Root Zones for

Trees will be flagged pink for protection and retention.

syao Text Box Attachment 4 o Flagging tape with “NATIVE PLANT – PROTECT" or “DO NOT CUT” printing can be purchased from Presco or other online distributors.

- Invasive Plants: Lime flagging tape o Invasive plants will be flagged in lime, to distinguish them from protected plants.

- Abiotic Resources: Blue flagging tape o Hydrological resources, Cultural resources, Property boundaries, and Work Area Delineation adjacent to stream, riparian, or wetland habitat (as per CDFW requirements listed below) will be flagged blue

- Hazards: Yellow and black striped o Safety hazards will be marked with yellow and black striped flagging tape.

Required Materials for Resource Flagging

Consultants and resource personnel are required to have the following materials on hand in the field.

- Sharpie

- Flagging tape in correct color, width, and amount for the sensitive resource to be flagged

- Safety equipment as needed

Accommodating Accessibility, Low Visibility, and Large Resource Features:

There will be times where sensitive resources are inaccessible, for example a woodrat nest that is surrounded by poison oak, sharp brambles, or dense shrubbery. Resources may be hidden or hard to spot. In addition, sometimes resources may be congregated so close together that considering them a conglomerate is more feasible than as individual points. For example, woodrat colonies or extensive patches of protected vegetation.

To avoid accidental destruction or confusion, the numbers of strands of flagging will be used to indicate resource frequency and accessibility.

- Single strand: Flagger is physically able to be within 10 feet of resource, and it is easily visible o Use black sharpie to label resource type (eg. Woodrat colony)

- Double strand: Flagger cannot physically flag the resource due to accessibility issues, OR it is not visible o In this case, please use black sharpie to label one strand of flagging with the resource name, approximate distance and direction (eg. Woodrat - 15 ft SW)

- Triple strand: Indicates a larger resource o This can be used to clearly label the start/end points of larger features such as a colony of woodrat nests, linear strip of sensitive vegetation, etc. The direction and length of the linear resource should be included on flagging (eg. 50’ south) o Label flagging with sharpie indicating the resource type (eg. Woodrat Colony)

Points vs. Polygons

Individual features are most accurately indicated as points. These points (marked with single or double flags) will have an implied buffer zone will vary depending on the resource. For example, this may be a single nest or solitary patch of special-status plant.

However, occasionally the sensitive resource is part of a larger network of protected resources. A resource will be defined as a polygon if they are 3 or more of the same sensitive resource occurrence within 100 feet proximity of each other. In this case, it makes sense to protect them as a conglomerate.

Triple strands will be used to indicate there is a larger polygon.

General guidance for flagging polygons is as follows:

- Linear strips:

o If the sensitive resource is grouped in a long, linear fashion: flag the start and end points with triple strands of flagging o Triple strands will indicate they are start/end points of a large feature.

o For longer stretches, include points in between that are visible from previous point, at least every 50 ft (use white single-strand flagging to indicate this is in between start/end points).

o *Note that white pin flags in the ground indicate an Underground Service survey.

Above: A linear strip of woodrat nests marked with start and end points

- Non-linear polygons:

o If the sensitive resource is in a non-linear cluster, use triple stranded flagging every 10-

20 feet along the polygon boundary. At least 4 flags should be used to ensure the polygon is visible for avoidance.

Above: A cluster of multiple woodrat nests that are close together.

- Additional Notes:

o Optional Perimeters: consider creating a perimeter of horizontal flagging. This will depend on the significance and sensitivity of the given resource. Highly rare or protected resources would benefit from a perimeter. For example, if there is an extremely rare plant that can be difficult to identify, creating a perimeter of fluorescent flagging will help ensure field crews can steer clear.

o Horizontal strands: for long linear strips or a large number of contiguous resources (like woodrat nests), consider adding horizontal strands of flagging alongside to aid with visual ID. This will depend on the distance between resources, as well as the amount of flagging availability on-hand.

o Visual disruption: Note that large amounts of flagging can be visually disruptive to the public, therefore both perimeters and horizontal strands should be utilized with discretion.

o GIS Mapping: Note that flagging polygons in the field can be difficult to visualize. When possible, flagging should be accompanied by a digital or physical map for field workers to understand what they are avoiding. More details on GIS mapping can be found below.

Health and Safety:

Flagging strands should be placed as close to the sensitive resource as possible. Contractors should be aware of environmental hazards such as poison oak, dense vegetation, and inclement conditions.

Project goals like flagging visibility should be taken into consideration, without compromising health and safety. If there are human health and safety hazards that need flagging (such as hazards trees, bees nests etc.) use yellow and black striped flagging. Use caution in placing and label the flagging with the hazard type and location.

Other Forms of Field Communication

Photo points:

Temporary photo points should be designated by wooden stakes that are labelled “Photo Point” in sharpie. When possible, secure a strip of plastic flagging that follows the sensitive resource color codes.

For example, if taking hydrology related photo points, use blue flagging and in sharpie clearly label the stake or flagging as a “Photo point.” Consider adding the photo point number and indicate the direction of the photo being taken.

For long-term photo points, use metal T-posts. These are recommended to be GPS mapped.

Work Area Delineations (CDFW):

As per the MROSD permit under the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, all construction corridors, staging areas, and paths must be adequately flagged when adjacent to stream, riparian, or wetland habitat. Flagging shall be removed and appropriately disposed of within 5 calendar days of the completion of construction work.

Fire Codes:

Note that the National Wildfire Coordinating Group has a color-coded system for flagging that do not overlap with the MROSD. Yellow-black striped flagging indicates a safety hazard (snags, drop offs, etc).

Fluorescent pink flagging with the words "ESCAPE ROUTE" in black with black dots indicate a safety zone or escape route. “KILLER TREE” flagging indicate trees that pose a risk to firefighters and others.

PG&E Standards for Tree Removal:

Note that PG&E tree crews utilize spray paint to mark trees for removal. The PG&E standard is typically an “X” to remove the tree, a dot for minor trimming, and two dots for major trimming.

Underground Service:

White flags are used to indicate an area is being surveyed or disturbed by underground service.

Digital Mapping:

Flagging in the field (especially for polygons) can be difficult to visualize. When possible, there is a strong preference towards mapping sensitive resources in GIS in addition to physical flagging. When mapping resources in GIS, consultants will abide by the following guidelines to ensure GIS compatibility.

Map formatting must follow all measures indicated in the “Contract Language for GIS Compatibility” document. The District requires that when providing GIS data deliverables, consultants must include a specific data schema from the district. Data must be provided in an ArcGIS file geodatabase format.

Consultants must provide the data in the “NAD 1983 StatePlane California III FIPS 0403 (US Feet)” spatial reference, a projected coordinate system also referred to as EPSG: 2227. Consultants must include a description, summary, and tags in the metadata for each GIS dataset. District staff must review all

Consultant GIS data deliverables prior to final acceptance.

For surveys, the District requires all CAD drawings and/or DWG files to be delivered in georeferenced format. The horizontal projection must be State Plane Coordinate System (CCS83, Zone 3) and vertical datum must be NAVD88 datum. All survey points are to be within ½ inch horizontal accuracy and 1 ¼ inch vertical accuracy. If site conditions preclude this level of accuracy, please contact the District prior to commencement of work. The consultant must also provide PDFs of all CAD drawings and/or DWG files.

For more direction on digital mapping requirements, consult with the MROSD GIS department.

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