2.
Response
to
Comments
2.9
Individual
Responses
to
Comments
from
Organizations
status
fish
within
the
Baylands
Project
Site.
Based
on
the
updated
information,
the
likelihood
that
special
status
fish
are
present
is
very
low,
and
since
proposed
Baylands
development-related
physical
changes
to
the
Brisbane
Lagoon
are
limited
to
adjacent
passive
uses,
species-specific
surveys
for
special
status
fish
are
not
warranted.
Several
mitigation
measures
in
the
Draft
EIR
protect
terrestrial
wildlife
species
from
disturbance
from
construction
noise
and
associated
vibration.
Mitigation
measures
4.C-1c,
4.C-1d,
and
4.C-1f
all
require
preconstruction
surveys
for
sensitive
species
prior
to
initiation
of
any
ground
disturbing
activities
to
avoid
or
minimize
impacts.
If
sensitive
species
are
detected,
the
species
would
be
protected
from
disturbance
with
buffers
and
construction
work
windows.
The
establishment
of
no-disturbance
buffers
as
required
in
these
mitigation
measures
would
function
to
protect
species
from
noise
and
vibration
impacts.
While
proposed
Baylands
development
will
not
impact
habitat
connectivity
that
does
not
now
exist,
the
bridging
of
on-
and
off-
site
habitats
could
have
biological
resource
benefits.
Opportunities
for
habitat
enhancement
and
increasing
connectivity
of
existing
habitats,
such
as
those
suggested
in
Comment
can
be
addressed
as
part
of
the
planning
review
undertaken
for
proposed
Baylands
development,
but
are
not
required
as
mitigation.
The
south
end
of
the
Brisbane
Lagoon
supports
wetland
habitat,
which
is
shown
in
Figure
4.C-1,
and
is
not
suitable
habitat
for
burrowing
owl
residence.
Suitable
habitat
for
burrowing
owl
is
described
in
the
Draft
EIR
at
pages
4.C-17
–
4.C-18.
The
south
end
of
the
lagoon
lacks
burrow
sites
as
it
is
primarily
tidal
marsh
and
is
subject
to
inundation,
making
nesting
impossible,
especially
with
high
groundwater
associated
with
the
lagoon’s
tidal
inundation.
Thus,
no
further
studies
were
or
are
warranted
based
on
the
lack
of
suitable
habitat
for
burrowing
owl
in
the
south
end
of
the
lagoon.
The
overall
assessment
of
habitat
suitability
for
San
Francisco
garter
snake
was
done
using
appropriate
analysis
parameters
and
the
discussion
on
pages
4.C-19
and
4.C-20
accurately
and
adequately
describes
existing
conditions
related
to
this
species.
The
Baylands
Project
site
was
not
found
to
support
suitable
habitat
for
the
San
Francisco
garter
snake
based
on
those
parameters
as
described
in
the
second
paragraph
of
page
4.C-20,
which
provides
more
detail
in
addition
to
the
lack
of
sufficient
permanent
water.
Additionally,
as
stated
by
the
San
Bruno
Mountain
Habitat
Conservation
Plan,
Year
2013
Activities
Report
for
Covered
Species,
“There
have
been
no
confirmed
observations
of
San
Francisco
garter
snake
on
San
Bruno
Mountain
in
Brisbane
Baylands
Final
EIR
2.9.2-35
May
2015