2.
Response
to
Comments
2.9
Individual
Responses
to
Comments
from
Organizations
This
comment
reflects
an
understanding
of
the
connected
nature
of
watersheds
and
habitats
since
such
features
often
occur
across
multiple
political
boundaries.
As
the
comment
acknowledges,
habitats
referenced
in
the
comment
have
been
altered
as
a
result
of
past
actions
at
the
Baylands.
However,
these
past
actions
did
not
occur
as
part
of
the
actions
currently
proposed.
The
Draft
EIR
analyzes
the
effects
of
the
proposed
Project
Site
development
scenarios.
It
is
entirely
likely
that
as
part
of
implementation
of
Mitigation
Measures
4.C-4a
and
4.C-4b,
which
require
site-
wide
wildlife
migration
corridors
and
marsh
habitat
protection,
cooperation
and
collaboration
between
the
City
and
other
entities
will
occur.
Furthermore,
the
proximity
of
the
Baylands
to
the
State
Park
at
San
Bruno
Mountain
and
the
regional
understanding
of
the
value
of
remaining
habitat
areas
in
close
proximity
to
dense
urban
development
make
the
Baylands
an
ideal
location
for
multi-
agency
collaboration
pertaining
to
habitat.
However,
actions
of
this
nature
go
beyond
the
physical
environmental
changes
that
would
result
from
proposed
development
of
the
Baylands
under
the
Project
development
scenarios
evaluated
in
this
EIR.
See
for
a
discussion
of
the
unarmored
three-spine
stickleback
and
its
known
distribution
in
California
and
at
the
Baylands.
See
for
a
discussion
of
special
status
fish
movement
and
connectivity.
The
comment
includes
no
factual
basis
to
support
the
assertion
that
the
Draft
EIR
conclusions
are
incorrect.
The
overall
assessment
of
habitat
suitability
for
San
Francisco
garter
snake
was
completed
using
appropriate
analysis
parameters
provided
by
WRA,
with
details
found
on
page
4.C-19
and
4.C-20
of
the
Draft
EIR.
The
Baylands
Project
Site
was
found
to
have
a
low
potential
for
suitable
habitat
based
on
those
parameters.
If
no
suitable
habitat
including
sufficient
permanent
water
source
is
present,
the
species
will
not
be
drawn
to
the
site
to
forage
and
would
not
use
the
site
for
breeding
or
other
life
stages
and
additional
study
is
not
warranted.
See
page
4.C-20,
paragraph
2,
which
provides
more
detail
about
the
lack
of
habitat
quality,
in
addition
to
the
lack
of
sufficient
permanent
water
sources.
Red-legged
frogs
were
not
observed
during
site
surveys.
Additionally,
annual
reports
for
the
San
Bruno
Mountain
Conservation
Plan
area,
which
contains
more
suitable
habitat
to
support
these
animals,
has
not
recorded
this
species’
presence
in
30
years.
Two
box
culverts
currently
allow
twice
daily
tidal
exchange
between
the
Lagoon
and
the
San
Francisco
Bay.
The
influx
of
Bay
waters
at
high
tide
creates
open
water
foraging
habitat
for
species
such
as
the
Brown
pelican.
Brown
pelican
could
potentially
be
present
on
the
site
Brisbane
Baylands
Final
EIR
2.9.2-64
May
2015