Att C - OSMRP.pdf

APPENDIX A.

Program Best Management Practices

Table 1. Program Best Management Practices

BMP

Number BMP Title BMP Description

General Avoidance and Minimization Measures

GEN-1 Staging and Access

Staging, access, and parking areas will be located outside of sensitive habitats to the extent feasible. Where feasible, staging areas will be located 30 feet from the top of bank or on the outboard side of pond levees.

Vegetation removal shall be limited to the minimum amount necessary to provide access.

All staging shall occur on adjacent access roads or previously disturbed areas. Soil and riprap shall be staged in areas that have been previously disturbed (i.e., service road, turn-outs, etc.).

GEN-2

Minimize Area of Disturbance and Site Maintenance

Areas of disturbance will be limited to the smallest footprint necessary and a single access pathway, where feasible.

For maintenance activities near waterways or other sensitive habitat, the designated work area shall be clearly identified in the field using highly visible material, and work will not be conducted outside this area.

Keep excavated soil and materials on the site where they will not collect into the street or get transported to storm drains or nearby water bodies by rainfall or runoff in order to avoid deleterious effects to fish, wildlife, and beneficial uses.

Transfer excavated materials to dump trucks on the site.

GEN-3

Construction Entrances and Perimeter

Establish and maintain effective perimeter controls and stabilize all construction entrances and exits to sufficiently control erosion and sediment discharges from site and tracking off site.

Sweep or vacuum any street tracking immediately and secure sediment source to prevent further tracking. Never hose down streets to clean up tracking.

When in-channel work is required, where available use existing ingress or egress points or perform work from the top of the stream banks.

GEN-4

Salvage/Reuse of Plant and Woody Material

Large wood or weed-free topsoil displaced by Program activities may be stockpiled for use during site restoration.

Native vegetation displaced by Program activities will be stockpiled if it would be useful during site restoration.

Stockpiled material shall not be placed over riparian or wetland vegetation. Stockpiled material shall not be placed in areas where it could enter the stream, riparian or wetland areas.

To the extent feasible, all other woody material that is not re-usable should be disposed at a composting facility or left at a suitable location to decompose naturally.

Number BMP Title BMP Description

GEN-5

Hazardous Materials Storage/ Disposal

Any hazardous or toxic materials that could be deleterious to aquatic life that could be washed into State waters or its tributaries will be contained in watertight containers or removed from the project site.

Use biodegradable chainsaw bar oil.

Label all hazardous materials and hazardous wastes (such as pesticides, paints, thinners, solvents, fuel, oil, and antifreeze) in accordance with city, county, state, and federal regulations.

Store hazardous materials and wastes in watertight containers, store in appropriate secondary containment, and cover them at the end of every workday or during wet weather or when rain is forecast.

Follow manufacturer’s application instructions for hazardous materials and be careful not to use more than necessary. Do not apply chemicals outdoors when rain is forecast within 24 hours.

Arrange for appropriate disposal of all hazardous wastes.

Cleanup of all pesticide and adjuvant containers will be triple rinsed with clean water at an approved site, and the rinse water will be disposed of by placing it in the batch tank for application. Used containers will be punctured on the top and bottom to render them unusable, unless said containers are part of a manufacturer’s container recycling program, in which case the manufacturer’s instructions will be followed, and disposed of at an appropriate facility. Disposal of all pesticides will follow label requirements and local waste disposal regulations.

GEN-6

Spill Prevention and Control

Keep spill cleanup materials (rags, absorbents, etc.) available at the construction site at all times.

Inspect vehicles and equipment frequently for and repair leaks. Vehicle and equipment operators should inspect beneath all vehicles that have been parked more than 15 minutes before they leave the work area. Use drip pans to catch leaks until repairs are made.

Clean up spills or leaks and any contaminated soil immediately, and dispose of cleanup materials properly.

Do not hose down surfaces where fluids have spilled. Use dry cleanup methods (absorbent materials, cat litter, and/or rags).

Sweep up spilled dry materials immediately. Do not try to wash them away with water or bury them. If water must be used, Midpen or its contractor shall collect the water and spilled fluids and dispose of it as hazardous waste.

Clean up spills on dirt areas by digging up and properly disposing of contaminated soil.

If a pesticide is spilled, immediately contact one of Midpen’s qualified first responders with Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training.

Small spills (less than 18 inches in diameter) including small quantities of oil, gasoline, paint or other materials should be controlled by a qualified first responder (Midpen staff has several) and do not necessarily require an emergency response team. Medium spills (greater than 18 inches but less than 6 feet in diameter) are typically controlled by the first responder (Midpen staff) but police or fire department Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) teams may be called based on conditions. Report significant spills (larger than 6 feet in diameter and any “running” spill) immediately. You are required by law to report all significant releases of hazardous materials, including oil. To report a spill, contact the San Mateo County Environmental Health Services Division, or other emergency office (e.g., local fire or police department) as warranted, immediately and document the spill using the spill documentation form. Alternatively, 1) dial 911, the local emergency response number, 2) the National Response Center at (800) 424-8802; or 2) call the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Warning Center, (800) 852-7550 (24 hours). As appropriate, contact other agencies including California Occupational Safety and Health Administration or the Regional Water Quality Control Board. All chemical spills shall be reported as soon as possible to the emergency site contact.

GEN-7

Waste Management

Cover waste disposal containers securely at the end of every workday and during wet weather.

Check waste disposal containers frequently for leaks and to make sure they are not overfilled. Never hose down a dumpster on a project site.

Ensure that portable toilets have a secondary containment plan (e.g., a containment pan).

Clean or replace portable toilets and inspect them frequently for leaks and spills.

Dispose of all wastes and debris properly. Inorganic waste removed and dewatered waste material will be compiled at a material staging yard and taken to a permitted landfill, approved upland sediment disposal site, or at an approved reuse site in accordance with applicable State and federal regulations. Organic debris removed will be distributed in upland areas similar to the surroundings of where the material was removed from. Recycle materials and wastes that can be recycled (such as asphalt, concrete, aggregate base materials, wood, pipe, etc.).

All raw construction materials and wastes will be removed from project sites following the completion of maintenance activities. Food-contaminated wastes generated during work shall be removed on a daily basis to avoid attracting predators to project sites. All temporary fences, barriers, and/or flagging shall be completely removed from project sites and properly disposed of upon completion of maintenance activities.

Midpen or its contractor will not dump any litter or construction debris within the project area. All such debris and waste shall be picked up daily and properly disposed of at an appropriate site.

Dispose of liquid residues from paints, thinners, solvents, glues, and cleaning fluids as hazardous waste.

GEN-8

Vehicle Maintenance and Parking

All vehicles must stay on designated roads paved and unpaved, and if it is necessary for a vehicle to travel off the designated road (paved or 2-track unpaved), a monitor will precede the vehicle to clear wildlife from the pathway of the vehicle.

Designate an area, fitted with appropriate BMPs, for vehicle and equipment parking and storage.

Perform major maintenance, repair jobs, and vehicle and equipment washing off site.

Conduct vehicle and equipment cleaning at appropriate maintenance yards and ensure that rinse water does not run into gutters, streets, storm drains, or surface waters.

Keep an ample supply of spill clean-up materials near fueling sites and vehicle maintenance and hazardous materials/hazardous waste storage areas. Inventory clean-up materials monthly and restock as needed.

Post proper fueling and spill clean-up instructions at fueling areas. Never leave the area while equipment is being filled.

Recycle or dispose of fluids as hazardous waste.

Do not clean vehicle or equipment on-site using soaps, solvents, degreasers, steam cleaning equipment, etc.

Perform vehicle and mobile equipment steam cleaning, pressure washing or degreasing only over a containment designed to collect any generated wash water. Collect wash water and properly dispose of wastewater.

GEN-9

Equipment Maintenance & Fueling

Staging and storage areas for equipment, materials, fuels, lubricants and solvents shall be located away from the wetted areas. Stationary equipment such as motors, pumps, generators, compressors and welders, located within or adjacent to the creek shall be positioned over drip-pans.

Any equipment or vehicles driven and/or operated adjacent to a Water of the State and/or U.S. will be checked and maintained daily to prevent leaks of materials that if introduced to water could be deleterious to aquatic life, wildlife or riparian habitat. Vehicles must be moved away from the watercourse prior to refueling and lubrication.

Refueling of equipment will be conducted at least 150 feet away from streams and other waterbodies using heavy-gauge tarps made of chemically resistant polypropylene or other impervious material with vertical sides for spill containment. These containment tarps will be set up under the equipment prior to servicing or refueling. Once the work is completed, the tarp and its contents must be immediately removed from the property and all contaminants properly disposed of off-site. Standard operating procedures will be implemented immediately in case of fuel spillage.

All vehicles entering the site will carry a functional fire extinguisher.

Equipment should not be stored in areas that will potentially drain to watercourses or drainage facilities. If equipment must be stored in areas with the potential to generate runoff, drip pans, berms, gravel bags, or absorbent booms should be employed to contain any leaks or spills.

In the event of a spill, follow procedures outlined in BMP GEN-6.

GEN-10

Paving and Asphalt Work

Avoid paving and seal coating in wet weather or when rain is in the forecast, to prevent materials that have not cured from contacting stormwater runoff.

Cover adjacent storm drain inlets and manholes when applying seal coat, tack coat, slurry seal or fog seal; and when saw cutting asphalt or concrete.

Collect and recycle or appropriate dispose of excess abrasive gravel or sand. Do not sweep this material into gutters.

Do not use water to wash down fresh asphalt concrete pavement.

Use filter fabric, catch basin inlet filters, or gravel bags to keep slurry out of the storm drain system.

Shovel, absorb or vacuum saw-cut slurry and dispose of all waste as soon as work is complete in one location or at the end of the workday.

If sawcut slurry enters a catch basin, clean it up immediately.

GEN-11

Concrete, Grout and Mortar Application

Store concrete, grout, and mortar away from storm drains or waterways, and on pallets under cover to protect them from rain, runoff and wind.

Wash out concrete equipment/trucks offsite or in a designated washout area, where the water will flow into a temporary waste pit, and in a manner that will prevent leaching into the underlying soil or onto surrounding areas.

Let concrete harden and dispose of as garbage.

When washing exposed aggregate, prevent wash water from entering storm drains. Block any inlets and vacuum gutters, hose wash water onto dirt areas, or drain onto a bermed surface to be pumped and disposed of properly.

GEN-12

Exclude Concrete from Channel

For Program activities that involve concrete pouring, Midpen shall ensure that poured concrete be excluded from the wetted channel for a period of 30 days after it is poured. During that time, the poured concrete shall be kept moist, and runoff from the concrete shall not be allowed to enter a stream. Containment structures should be installed to control the placement of wet concrete and to prevent it from entering the channel outside of those structures.

Commercial sealants may be applied to the poured concrete surface where difficulty in excluding water flow for a long period may occur. If sealant is used, water shall be excluded from the site until the sealant is dry.

No dry concrete shall be placed on the banks or in a location where it could be carried into the channel by wind or runoff.

GEN-13

Concrete Washout Facilities

Concrete washout facilities should be established for Program activities that require on-site preparation and use of Portland cement concrete, asphalt concrete or cement mortar, establish concrete washout facilities. These facilities capture wash water, concrete and aggregate flushed from concrete mixers, chutes, etc. Concrete washouts may be contained settling basins dug into the ground, raised and contained structures, trailers, etc. They are also applicable for projects that require equipment washouts.

An appropriate area for the washout must be identified at least 50 feet away from watercourses and storm drains in case of accidental breaching. The storage capacity of the basin must be sized correctly for the job.

Construction Guidelines:

The location of the concrete washout should be clearly labeled and all employees should be educated about proper concrete disposal.

Avoid mixing excess amounts of fresh concrete or cement mortar on-site.

Wash out concrete mixers only in designated washout areas where the water will flow into temporary sealed basins or onto stockpiles of aggregate base or sand. Use as little water as possible to reduce hardening and evaporation time of waste products.

Construct a basin large enough to contain all liquid and waste concrete materials generated during washout procedures. A minimum basin size is 9 feet x 9 feet and 2 feet deep. Plastic liner materials shall be a minimum of 60-mil polyethylene sheeting free of holes and defects.

Recycle washout by pumping back into mixers for reuse when possible.

BMP Maintenance:

The concrete washout should be checked frequently to ensure proper use and effectiveness.

At 75% capacity, the washout must be cleaned or new facilities must be constructed and ready for use.

BMP Removal:

The hardened concrete and materials related to the washout must be broken up, removed, and disposed of in accordance with local regulations.

Area disturbed by the concrete washout must be repaired.

GEN-14

Painting and Paint Removal

Never clean brushes or rinse paint containers into a street, gutter, storm drain, or stream.

For water-based paints, paint out brushes to the extent possible, and rinse into a drain that goes to the sanitary sewer. Never pour paint down a storm drain.

For oil-based paints, paint out brushes to the extent possible and clean with thinner or solvent in a proper container. Filter and reuse thinners and solvents. Dispose of excess liquids as hazardous waste.

Paint chips and dust from non-hazardous dry stripping and sand blasting may be swept up or collected in plastic drop cloths and disposed of as trash.

Chemical paint stripping residue and chips and dust from marine type paints or paints containing lead, mercury, or tributyltin must be disposed of as hazardous waste. Lead based paint removal requires a state-certified contractor.

GEN-15

Dust Management Controls

Midpen will implement the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Basic Dust Control Measures. Current measures stipulated by the BAAQMD Guidelines include the following:

All exposed surfaces (e.g., parking areas, staging areas, soil piles, graded areas, and unpaved access roads) shall be watered two times per day.

All haul trucks transporting soil, sand, or other loose material off-site shall be covered.

All visible mud or dirt track-out onto adjacent public roads shall be removed using wet power vacuum street sweepers at least once per day. The use of dry power sweeping is prohibited.

All vehicle speeds on unpaved roads shall be limited to 15 miles per hour (mph).

All roadways, driveways, and sidewalks to be paved shall be completed as soon as possible. Building pads shall be laid as soon as possible after grading unless seeding or soil binders are used.

Idling times shall be minimized either by shutting equipment off when not in use or reducing the maximum idling time to 5 minutes (as required by the California airborne toxics control measure Title 13, Section 2485 of California Code of Regulations [CCR]). Clear signage shall be provided for construction workers at all access points.

All construction equipment shall be maintained and properly tuned in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications. All equipment shall be checked by a certified visible emissions evaluator.

GEN-16 Site Stabilization Earthwork will be completed as quickly as possible, and where practical, site restoration will occur immediately following Program activities. If site restoration involves planting, such activities may commence in late fall or early winter during the onset of rainy season.

Bare soil surfaces resulting from maintenance and/or construction activities shall be covered with suitable erosion controls (seed or plant vegetation, fabrics, hydroseeding, mulch, etc.):

− Within 12 hours of any break in work unless Program activities will resume within 7 days.

− No later than 3 days following the disturbance during the rainy season (approximately October through April).

− No later than 7 days following the disturbance during the dry season (approximately May through September).

− Every effort shall be made to immediately cover bare soil surfaces resulting from maintenance and/or construction activities prior to storms.

GEN-17 Fire Prevention

All earthmoving and portable equipment with internal combustion engines will be equipped with spark arrestors.

During the high fire danger period (May 1–November 30), work crews will:

Have appropriate fire suppression equipment available at the work site.

Keep flammable materials, including flammable vegetation slash, at least 10 feet away from any equipment that could produce a spark, fire, or flame.

Not use portable tools powered by gasoline-fueled internal combustion engines within 25 feet of any flammable materials unless a round-point shovel or fire extinguisher is within immediate reach of the work crew (no more 25 feet away from the work area).

In high risk fire areas, operations involving mechanical equipment including flailing, masticating, disking, grading in heavy brush, operating a mower or brush cutter equipped with metal blades, welding, grinding, etc. or any other operation that could start a fire within or adjacent to any wildland areas will be conducted using the following protocols:

Whenever possible, high risk activities in wildland areas will be conducted outside of the high fire danger period (May 1 through November 30). The high fire risk areas will be mowed early in the day when the fire risk is lower.

No high-risk activities will occur within a red flag area during a red flag event or within 24 hours of a predicted red flag event as determined by the National Weather Service (National Weather Service Monterey Office Website:

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mtr/)

Before beginning high-risk activities, weather conditions will be monitored. Weather samples will be taken every 2 hours if the ambient temperature is below 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Weather samples will be taken hourly if ambient temperature is at or over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If one of the following conditions occurs and the ambient temperature is at or over 80 degrees Fahrenheit, operations will be delayed or if one of these conditions occur while running equipment, all operations will cease immediately.

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mtr/

− RH (relative humidity) is at 30 percent or lower.

− Sustained wind speeds reach 10 mph or higher.

If ambient temperature is at or over 95 degrees Fahrenheit, all high-risk activities will cease.

Maintenance staff will also assess the surrounding wildland fire risk conditions and make a judgment regarding what would be threatened if a fire was started. Maintenance staff may choose to stop activity at a lower threshold than described above if it is determined to be a risk to life or property.

If a fire district within Midpen boundaries recommends a moratorium on mowing due to conditions, Midpen will not mow within their jurisdiction unless Midpen has coordinated with the fire district and staff are operating within Midpen guidelines.

C. Operation

Be aware of risks related to driving and parking in tall, dry grass—particularly with catalytic converters.

Have an “Action Plan” in mind if a fire starts and have an “Escape Plan” if it gets beyond your ability to control with suppression equipment on-hand. Plan how to communicate with nearby coworkers or others threatened by fire.

If possible, plan mowing operations so that prevailing wind will blow over areas that have already been mowed. If a fire starts, it will initially burn in mowed grass with a better chance of stopping the fire early.

Before starting high-risk operations using tractor mowers on District roads, a non-divertible pumper-equipped pickup will be assigned to the operation. An observer that is familiar with pumper operations; vehicle radio; must staff the truck. The employee acting as spotter will be in close proximity to high-risk operation.

Any deviation from having a pumper truck and spotter on site must be approved by Area Manager.

When operating a hand mower or small riding mower, staff must have one round point shovel with an overall length of at least forty-six (46) inches backpack pump water-type fire extinguisher available in the immediate area.

When on or near a wildland and operating stationary power equipment such as a generator, motor, welder, cutting torch, grinder or similar device from which a spark, fire, or flame may originate, all of the following are required (re:

Public Resource Code (PRC) 4427):

a. Clear away all flammable material around the area for a distance of 10 feet.

b. Have one round point shovel with an overall length of at least forty-six (46) inches backpack pump water-type fire extinguisher available in the immediate area.

When operating chainsaws and other portable gas-powered tools in a wildland, one of the following is required for use within 25 feet of the area (re: PRC 4431):

a. One round point shovel with an overall length of at least forty-six (46) inches or a fire extinguisher appropriate to provide fire control for the area and conditions.

D. Fueling

When fueling equipment, allow it to cool where there is no flammable vegetation that can be ignited by the hot exhaust, preferably in a dirt area.

See Safety Manual Chapter 1.7.00 regarding fire prevention requirements and Sections 1.6.5.4 to 1.6.5.7 regarding safe fueling of equipment.

GEN-18

Project Completion by End of Work Period

No project shall be initiated unless there is high confidence it can be completed, including installation of any erosion and drainage control features, before the appropriate end of the work windows designated in BMP BIO-21, Salmonid Protection Measures. After September 15 of each year, projects that have not been started, or are still underway, or meet the conditions in BMP BIO-21 shall be evaluated to ensure they can be completed before the end of the applicable seasonal work window. Program activities in streams that support anadromy will occur beginning June 15. Program activities will be at least 50% complete by October 15 of any year, and will be completed by October 31 or before the first significant rainfall occurs. Those projects unlikely to be completed before the end of the seasonal work windows will not be started or will be winterized to be completed in the following year.

GEN-19

Avoid Inclement Weather

The Midpen Project Manager will monitor the seventy-two-hour forecast from the National Weather Service (http://www.nws.noaa.gov and https://www.accuweather.com). When there is a forecast of more than 40% chance of rain, or at the onset of unanticipated precipitation, the Project Manager shall remove all equipment from the creek zone, shall implement erosion and sediment control measures, and all Program activities shall cease.

No earth work shall occur during a dry out period of 24 hours after there has been ¼ inch or more of precipitation.

If, in the opinion of Midpen, conditions arise or change, in such a manner as to be considered deleterious to the stream or wildlife, project activities shall cease until corrective measures are taken.

GEN-20

Aquatic Resource Protection Measures

No equipment shall be operated within the active creek (i.e., wetted channel) except in perennial streams or during wet weather years in which the channel does not dry. In these instances, work will be scheduled during periods of low flow and must adhere to the dewatering BMPs (DW-1, DW-2, and DW-3).

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/ https://www.accuweather.com/

Surveys for special-status species and monitors will normally not be required for small scale pond maintenance activities using hand tools and fewer than five persons per one half acre. Activities including mechanical dredging, excavating, and bulldozing for shoring up earthen berms or leveling spillways will require pre-activity visual surveys as well as monitoring during the activities. All pond repair and maintenance activity proposals involving mechanized equipment and associated monitoring proposals must be approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) prior to implementation. Surveys and monitors during the pond repair and maintenance activities will only be conducted by federal and state permitted biologists in accordance with their permits, or by monitors approved to work under the direction of permitted biologists.

GEN-21

Staged Materials Management and Excavation Ramps

Midpen or their contractor will visually check all construction materials (bridges, pipes, culverts) for the presence of wildlife sheltering within them prior to the materials being moved and placed in their proper locations.

Building materials or equipment will not be stored where they could be washed into the water or where they will cover aquatic or riparian vegetation.

Open trenches or pits, at the end of each workday, will incorporate an escape ramp at each end of the open trench to allow any animals that may have become entrapped in the trench to climb out overnight. The ramp may be constructed of either dirt fill or wood planking or other suitable material that is placed at an angle no greater than 30 degrees.

Building materials and/or construction equipment shall not be stockpiled or stored where they could be washed into the water or where they will cover aquatic or riparian vegetation.

GEN-22

Spoils Management

Spoils will not be placed where it could enter the stream, riparian or wetland areas. Spoil shall not be placed over riparian or wetland vegetation, unless approved by the Midpen Natural Resources Department.

GEN-23

Vegetation and Tree Removal and Retention

Native soils, rock, gravel, vegetation, and vegetation will be retained to the extent feasible. Avoid removing/thinning the canopy layer in mature, established forests and woodlands to maximize shading (thereby promoting shade and related increased moisture under the canopy level) and increase resistance to non-native plant invasion.

Vegetation will not be removed or intentionally damaged beyond the construction corridor or intended vegetation management area.

Hand tools (e.g., trimmer, chain saw, etc.) will be used to trim vegetation to the extent necessary to gain access to the work sites. No bulldozers, backhoes, or other heavy equipment will be used to remove vegetation along streambanks or within the stream unless submitted to California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) during annual project notifications.

The disturbance or removal of vegetation will be restricted to the minimum necessary to complete maintenance activities. Precautions shall be taken to avoid other damage to vegetation by people or equipment. Branches and/or limbs overhanging the trails and channel and impacting trail access and water flows shall be properly pruned. Trees may be removed from natural channels if and only if they are below ordinary high water mark (OHWM) and they are restricting the capacity of the channel and they are causing erosion or flooding. Any trees which will be cut are to be cut at ground level and the root mass left in place to maintain bank stability.

Woody and herbaceous plants, fallen trees, or trunks or limbs lodged in the bed or bank of stream channels causing flow restriction will be cut off at the bed or bank invert with small tools and removed with winch and cable or other equipment operated from top of bank. Root structures will not to be disturbed.

Embedded pieces of large woody material or stumps that potentially serve as basking sites or that encourage pool formation shall be left in place if it does not obstruct the flow of water and there is adequate flood flow capacity.

Objects embedded/anchored in the bank, such as tree stumps, shall not be removed during periods of heavy flow if removal would result in release of sediment into the channel. However, protruding objects that could capture additional debris and result in obstruction of the channel (e.g., the branches and trunk of a downed tree) may be trimmed. If an embedded object must be removed to prevent a debris jam, BMPs EC-1 and SWQ-3 will be used to prevent the release of sediment into the channel, and the bank shall be reseeded, revegetated, mulched and/or covered with erosion-control fabric following removal.

The following measures would be implemented for tree removal in riparian areas:

̶ Prior to removal, Midpen will conduct all necessary biological surveys in compliance with regulatory permits.

̶ No living trees, shrubs, vegetation, or woody material greater than 6 inches dbh will be removed from within a stream.

̶ All trees that provide canopy cover along the stream will be replanted with native species, unless they are removed for fuels treatment within an overstocked forest, as determined by a qualified ecologist, identified by CALFIRE, or identified as an Ecosystem Resiliency treatment area in the Wildland Fire Resiliency Program. Any trees not providing canopy cover of the stream do not need to be replanted. Native trees less than 6 inches dbh will not be replaced unless native regeneration is not occurring.

̶ 75% of the existing canopy will be maintained over a stream at all times.

̶ Non-native tree removal will not require replanting if the site is regenerating native vegetation.

GEN-24

Vegetation Management with Prescribed Burns

All burnings will be conducted according to prescriptions in the vegetation management plan, and burn developed specifically for the project by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), or as otherwise described in the forthcoming Wildland Fire Resiliency Program. The fire will be ignited only if the conditions are within the parameters specified in the burn plan. Smoke dispersal, emergency response, safety, and contingency planning are addressed in the burn plan. Other habitat management activities (i.e., invasive plant removal and cattle grazing) may occur year-round if prescriptions are not likely to adversely affect San Francisco garter snake (SFGS) or California red-legged frog (CRLF).

All participants in the burn will be briefed on the endangered species potentially present, where they would likely be found, and who to contact if one is sighted. This briefing will be performed by the Resource Advisor, who is a biologist or cultural resource specialist with fire training. Resource Advisor will work with the ignition teams, and be a part of any ignition sequence planning. Resource Advisors will be in radio contact with either the Ignition Specialist or the Incident Commander directly to ensure quick communication and decision-making regarding the safety of sensitive wildlife.

No more than 350 acres (141.6 hectares) of habitat will be manipulated by prescribed fire per treatment period. An average 20-foot (6.1-meter) buffer will be established around all ponds prior to conducting prescribed burns, depending on the vegetative cover. Those shorelines with vegetation that provide cover for the snake will provide the greatest buffer, while those shore-lines without adequate vegetative cover will be given less buffer. These buffer areas may be managed using other habitat management techniques following each burn (e.g., cattle grazing), but are to remain completely undisturbed during prescribed fire events. Every reasonable attempt will be made to maintain 1/4 to 1/2 acre (0.1 to 0.2 hectare) of unburned area for every 10 acres (4 hectares) of burned habitat (i.e., 4 to 8 acres of refugia habitat are needed for a 160-acre burn, and 9 to 18 acres are needed for a 350-acre burn). When feasible, refugia areas will be conserved randomly throughout the treatment area, especially in areas with known populations of SFGS and CRLF. These refugia areas may be naturally occurring areas such as rock formations, ponds and other wetland/riparian areas, areas with a high density of burrows, and other areas not prone to burn, or these areas may be created and maintained using hand tools or water to create fire-breaks or wet-lines.

No more than 24 hours prior to conducting prescribed fires, visual surveys will be conducted by walking transects throughout the proposed burn area in an attempt to locate individual SFGS and CRLF. A trained biologist or biological monitor will capture, transfer, and release in a safe area any SFGS and CRLF deemed to be in danger of being harmed by the prescribed fire activities. If SFGS or CRLF are located during the pre-treatment surveys but escape capture, an area approximately 50 feet (15 meters) in diameter around the individual will be protected from the burn. If necessary, individual SFGS may be held in captivity in a pillowcase for less than 24 hours and may later be released near the point of capture after the burn has been completed. The number of SFGS and CRLF encountered and transferred to safe areas or held in captivity during treatment will be reported to USFWS, and each individual SFGS will be photographed for use in identification.

All vehicles involved with the site-specific burn will be retained in a prearranged, marked parking area in a clearing as close to the main road as possible. At least one monitor will ensure wildlife is clear from the parking area while vehicles are arriving and leaving. All vehicles must stay on designated roads, and if it is necessary for a vehicle to travel off the designated main road, a monitor will precede the vehicle to clear wildlife from the pathway of the vehicle. Only biological monitors specifically authorized by the USFWS and CDFW to handle SFGS or CRLF (normally these will be individuals holding a federal recovery permit for the species) will be allowed to handle, transport, and relocate individuals of these species.

Below ground temperature monitoring will be conducted during the burn to monitor air temperatures in San Francisco garter snake refugia. One or more biologists or biological monitors will place "hobo thermocouples" (ground temperature monitoring devices) in rodent burrows throughout the burn area to monitor changes in temperature in the burrows as fire moves across the landscape. The knowledge gained will be useful in determining how to conduct future prescribed fires in San Francisco garter snake habitat in a manner that will minimize potential effects to the species.

Immediately following each prescribed fire, the permittee will search the affected post-treatment area to identify dead or injured individuals of all vertebrate taxa. Dead SFGS and CRLF will be salvaged and deposited at an approved repository. Injured individuals will be handled only by a permittee authorized to capture and handle SFGS and CRLF. Medical assistance will be provided to injured animals by a certified wildlife veterinarian familiar with amphibian and reptile care.

Ignition will be completed in less than three hours. The fine fuels should be consumed quickly and most coyote brush and grass thatch are expected to bum down within one hour after ignition. Some minor smokes may be evident for one day following the burn. Spot checks of the plot will be conducted until all smokes are out.

A pond located to the northeast of the former Wool Ranch has been designated for fire use. Emergency response plans that identify designated water sources for fire use are being developed for all Midpen Preserves. Existing hydrants or fire storage tanks will be targeted first, and ponds that are known to support California red-legged frogs and other protected species will be utilized as a last resort in emergency situations. Midpen currently provides a patrol map book to fire agencies that has all water sources including water storage tanks mapped. In addition, Midpen Natural Resources staff maintains fire training in order to function as resource advisors to the Incident Commander in the event of a large wildland fire. If an emergency situation necessitates the use of water from a CRLF-occupied pond, a striker pump and intake hose may be used to draw water from one of the small wetland ponds in the burn area to fill engines or back pumps. The intake hose will be screened with 1/4-inch mesh to prevent intake of California red-legged frogs. The burn plan details the use of lake and ocean water to fill helicopter buckets to aid suppression efforts. If a helicopter bucket is used, it will draft from the center of the pond, to prevent uptake of California red-legged frogs that may potentially be present.

Within San Francisco garter snake habitat, post-burn monitoring will be conducted as part of the project and will include (1) vegetative response to the burn, (2) wildlife response to the burn, and (3) fire behavior and burn conditions. Because the burn is intended to enhance San Francisco garter snake habitat, the monitoring emphasis for vegetation and wildlife will be on the wildlife and habitat features that are considered to be necessary to support San Francisco garter snakes. The variables measured for San Francisco garter snake response to habitat are pre- and post-burn data on the (1) pre- and post-burn vegetation community in the burn area in order to determine vegetative response to the burn and (2) the frequency of valley pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae) burrows and other burrows. As part of its standard post-fire evaluation CALFIRE will provide an analysis of the burn, including how the fire responded to weather and other burn conditions, and percent coverage of the burn within the boundaries of the burn area.

Beginning immediately after the burn the frequency (number) of rodent burrows will be measured during the vegetation transect monitoring. Vegetation monitoring will include the establishment of four transects within and three transects outside of the burn area for comparative analysis. Transects will be randomly established in burned and unburned areas and each transect will measure 50 meters in length. A meter-square plot will be established at five-meter intervals along the transects. Vegetative composition and percent cover for all plant species will be recorded for each plot. Transects sampling will take place prior to the burn and at least once per year after the burn for three years. Response of native and non-native grasses and coyote brush to the burn will be of particular interest. Data collected before, during, and after the burn, and the observations made during the evaluation of the burn will be compiled into a report within one year following the burn. Upon completion, the report will be submitted to USFWS.

GEN-25

Vegetation Management with Livestock

Livestock will be used for vegetation management to avoid the use of chemical herbicides, to control invasive vegetation, and promote the growth of native vegetation. Where livestock is used in association with a specific routine maintenance project, vegetation removal will not exceed 2,000 square feet (0.05 acres) in size, 150 adjacent linear feet, or the minimum necessary to complete the operation, whichever is less, and livestock will be managed and prohibited from creating or worsening existing erosion and sedimentation to flowing stream channels.

Monitor and protect ponds that provide habitat for special-status species, depending on the vegetative cover.

Those shorelines with vegetation that provide cover for special-status species will provide the greatest buffer, while those shore-lines without adequate vegetative cover will be given less buffer.

Monitor forage utilization and distribution by grazing animals to assure appropriate amounts of residual dry matter (RDM) remain on the ground to achieve desired resource management objectives. In the course of RDM monitoring, evaluate and report on wildland fire fuel levels that may result in an increased risk of wildland fire.

Manage access to existing water features and where needed supply supplemental drinking water through stock ponds and water troughs to preserve clean water for livestock, protect water quality, and enhance habitat for wildlife.

GEN-26

Non-native Plant Removal and Herbicide Management

Focus vegetation biomass reduction on non-native vegetation and avoid damaging native grasses, and mature shrublands and forests wherever possible. Where active treatment is needed, seek to break the vertical fuel ladder connection between the ground and the canopy layer, and create some horizontal physical separation between plants where possible. Prioritize projects where invasive plant removal alone can result in fire-safe landscapes.

Implement fuel management projects with low impact tools and methods such as hand cutting and pruning rather than vegetation removal or soil disturbance with hand methods or machines.

Prioritize leaving forest duff and organic soil layers undisturbed in all fuel management actions.

For invasive pest management and hazardous fuel reduction activities:

1. Prior to conducting non-native (e.g., pampas grass) and native (e.g., cattail, cocklebur) plant removal or treatments (e.g., spraying with herbicide or fungicide, cutting, pulling, digging out), the permittee will make every reasonable attempt to ensure that SFGS and CRLF are not hidden within the plant or the residual plant matter to be treated.

2. All invasive plant and animal work will be done in accordance with the Midpen's other and Best Management Practices identified in the Midpen Integrated Pest Management Program.

3. No burrow fumigants will be used. Only pesticides that are part of the Midpen Integrated Pest Management Program will be used, and only if they are used in accordance with the guidelines on the label and if they comply with the restrictions listed in the critical habitat designation.

Midpen will choose site-specific strategies and times of treatment that provide the best combination of protecting preserve resources, human health, and non-target organisms and that are efficient and cost-effective in controlling the target invasive species. Direct the control method narrowly at the target organism to avoid broad impacts on the ecosystem. Modify control methods over time as site conditions and treatment techniques change. Use pesticides only where alternative methods are known to be ineffective. Apply pesticides in an environmentally safe manner. Take all reasonable precautions to protect the environment, the health and safety of employees, adjacent lands and preserve visitors.

Midpen will comply with BMPs and other mandatory measures to protect sensitive resources and employee and public health during pesticide application. All appropriate laws and regulations pertaining to the use of pesticides and safety standards for employees and the public, as governed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, and local jurisdictions will be followed. All applications will adhere to label directions for application rates and methods, storage, transportation, mixing, and container disposal. Midpen staff will coordinate with the County Agricultural Commissioners, and all required licenses and permits will be obtained prior to pesticide application.

All pesticides will be implemented consistent with Pest Control Recommendations prepared annually by a licensed Pest Control Advisor.

Midpen will maintain a minimum 30-foot buffer around special-status species habitats and a 15-foot buffer around all other aquatic and riparian habitats when applying pesticides, unless specially requested to work closer.

All vegetation management activities that could result in the runoff of pesticides that are not registered for aquatic use into waters of the State and/or U.S. will be avoided. Only pesticides and adjuvants registered for aquatic use will be applied to aquatic areas or within the banks of channels.

Only pesticides and adjuvants registered for aquatic use will be applied to aquatic areas or within the banks of channels. All conditions of the herbicide label will be followed.

Surfactants and other adjuvants will be used and applied consistent with the District’s Pest Control Recommendations.

Avoid pesticide drift by not applying pesticides under windy conditions in close proximity to special-status species or their habitat, and by using plastic shields around target weeds and pests, ground-based applicators, low tank pressures and spray nozzles adjusted for larger droplet sizes and to limit the spray area.

Pesticide application will cease when weather parameters exceed label specifications, when wind at site of application exceeds 7 miles per hour, or when precipitation (rain) occurs or is forecasted with greater than a 40 percent probability in the next 24-hour period to prevent sediment and pesticides from entering the water via surface runoff.

None of the following activities will be undertaken in aquatic or riparian areas: mixing, loading and storage of pesticides; rinsing of equipment and pesticide containers. All activities will take place at least 300 feet from aquatic or riparian areas.

Refilling of pesticides will be required to occur at least 300 feet way from any body of water in a contained area and include a secondary containment plan. Any transfer or mixing on the ground shall be within containment pans or over tarps.

A 30-foot buffer will also be maintained when applying pesticides unless previously approved by the regulatory agencies.

Midpen staff, contractors, and tenants will undergo annual pesticide safety training. Pesticide applicators will have or work under the direction of a person with a Qualified Applicator License (QAL) or Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC). Contractors and grazing and agricultural tenants may apply approved herbicides after review and approval by Midpen and under the direction of QAL/QAC field supervisors.

Appropriate non-toxic colorants or dyes will be added to the pesticide mixture to determine treated areas and prevent over-spraying.

The following general application parameters will be employed during pesticide application:

− Spray nozzles will be configured to produce a relatively large droplet size;

− Low nozzle pressures (30-70 pounds per square inch) will be observed;

− Spray nozzles will be kept within 24 inches of vegetation during spraying;

Signs will be posted notifying the public, employees, and contractors of the use of pesticides. The signs will consist of the following information: signal word, product name, and manufacturer; active ingredient; USEPA registration number; target pest; preserve name; treatment location in preserve; date and time of application; date which notification sign may be removed; and contact person with telephone number. Signs will generally be posted 24 hours before the start of treatment and notification will remain in place for 72 hours after treatment ceases, in compliance Midpen’s Integrated Pest Management Program.

GEN-27 Snags To the maximum amount practicable, individual dead or dying trees shall be retained, with modification if appropriate, as snags. This measure should not be considered to apply in areas where removal is warranted to control spread of a disease or for human safety purposes.

GEN-28

Culvert Replacement

The following alternatives and structure types should be considered in order of preference:

1. Streambed simulation strategies - bottomless arch, embedded culvert design, or ford

2. Non-embedded culvert - this is often referred to as a hydraulic design, associated with more traditional culvert design approaches limited to low slopes for fish passage

3. Baffled culvert, or structure designed with a fishway - for steeper slopes.

If a segment of stream channel where a crossing is proposed is in an active salmonid spawning area…