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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2e_Request for Prelim Juris DetKMA Kevin  Merk  Associates,  LLC        P.O.  Box  318,  San  Luis  Obispo,  California  93406      805.748.5837(o)/439.1616(f)   Environmental Consulting Services   August  4,  2015       Dr.  Aaron  Allen   North  Coast  Branch  Chief   U.S.  Army  Corps  of  Engineers,  Los  Angeles  District   Regulatory  Branch  –  Ventura  Field  Office   2151  Alessandro  Drive,  Suite  110   Ventura,  California  93001       Subject:  Request  for  Preliminary  Jurisdictional  Determination  for  the  Froom  Ranch   Project,  San  Luis  Obispo,  California     Dear  Dr.  Allen:     On  behalf  of  John  Madonna  Construction,  Inc.,  Kevin  Merk  Associates  is  submitting  this  request  to   confirm  the  extent  of  U.S.  Army  Corps  of  Engineers  (Corps)  Section  404  (Clean  Water  Act)   jurisdiction  on  the  Froom  Ranch  project  site  located  in  San  Luis  Obispo,  California.    Enclosed  please   find  one  hard  copy  and  one  electronic  copy  of  the  report  titled,  Froom  Ranch  (APNs  067-­‐241-­‐030,   067-­‐241-­‐031)  San  Luis  Obispo,  California  Delineation  of  Waters  of  the  United  States  and  State  of   California.         In  summary,  the  majority  of  potential  Corps  jurisdictional  areas  onsite  are  ephemeral  drainage   features  located  throughout  the  site.    In  addition,  impoundment  of  surface  and  subsurface  flow  has   created  wetland  features  along  both  Los  Osos  Valley  Road  and  Calle  Joaquin.    We  are  currently   working  with  John  Madonna  Construction,  their  design  team  and  the  City  of  San  Luis  Obispo  in   planning  future  development  of  the  site.    We  met  with  Ms.  Erin  Hanlon  of  your  staff  recently  to   introduce  her  to  the  proposed  project.    It  is  our  hope  to  get  your  concurrence  with  the  findings   included  in  the  delineation  report  so  we  may  work  with  you  to  assess  final  impacts  to  Corps   jurisdictional  features  resulting  from  future  development,  and  apply  for  the  appropriate  Section   404  permit.     Thank  you  in  advance  for  your  assistance  with  this  project.    Please  don’t  hesitate  to  contact  me  if   you  have  any  questions  during  your  review.    I  will  follow  up  within  the  next  few  days  to  schedule  a   field  visit  so  you  or  your  designated  staff  member  may  review  this  information  first  hand.         Sincerely,   Kevin  Merk  Associates,  LLC    Kevin  Merk   Principal  Biologist     Enclosed:  Delineation  of  Waters  of  the  United  States  and  State  of  California  for  the  Froom  Ranch  Project,   San  Luis  Obispo,  California  (one  hard  copy  and  one  electronic  copy  on  CD)         FROOM  RANCH   (APNs  067-­‐241-­‐030,  067-­‐241-­‐031)   SAN  LUIS  OBISPO,  CALIFORNIA     DELINEATION  OF  WATERS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES   AND   STATE  OF  CALIFORNIA         Prepared  for:     Mr.  John  Madonna   John  Madonna  Construction,  Inc.   P.O.  Box  5310   San  Luis  Obispo,  California  93405       Prepared  by:     KMA Kevin  Merk  Associates,  LLC   P.O.  Box  318   San  Luis  Obispo,  California  93406     August  2015   KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. i TABLE  OF  CONTENTS   Page     1.0      INTRODUCTION  .............................................................................................................................................................  1       2.0      REGULATORY  OVERVIEW  AND  DEFINITIONS  .................................................................................................  4    2.1  Federal  Regulatory  Authority  .......................................................................................................................  4    2.2  State  Regulatory  Authority  ............................................................................................................................  5    2.3  Criteria  for  Wetlands  and  Other  Waters  ..................................................................................................  5       3.0      METHODS  ..........................................................................................................................................................................  6     4.0  RESULTS  ............................................................................................................................................................................  8    4.1  Site  Overview  .......................................................................................................................................................  8    4.2  Vegetation  ..........................................................................................................................................................  10    4.3  Soils  .......................................................................................................................................................................  12    4.4  Hydrology  ...........................................................................................................................................................  15    4.5  Jurisdictional  Determination  Summary  ................................................................................................  16       5.0      CONCLUSION  ................................................................................................................................................................  21    5.1  Federal  Waters  .................................................................................................................................................  21    5.2  CDFW  Jurisdictional  Areas  ..........................................................................................................................  22     6.0      REFERENCES  ................................................................................................................................................................  23       LIST  OF  FIGURES     Figure  1  –    Site  Location  Map  ................................................................................................................................................  2   Figure  2  –    Aerial  Overview  Map  .........................................................................................................................................  3   Figure  3  –    Soils  Map  ..............................................................................................................................................................  14   Figure  4  –    Wetland  Delineation  Overview  Map  ........................................................................................................  18   Figure  4a  –  Wetland  Delineation  Map  ...........................................................................................................................  19   Figure  4b  –  Wetland  Delineation  Map  ...........................................................................................................................  20       LIST  OF  TABLES     Table  1  –  Sample  Point  Results  Summary  ....................................................................................................................  17   Table  2  –  Summary  of  Jurisdictional  Waters  of  the  U.S.  .........................................................................................  22   Table  3  –  Summary  of  CDFW  Jurisdictional  Areas  ...................................................................................................  22       APPENDICES     Appendix  A  –  Wetland  Determination  Data  Forms   Appendix  B  –  Photo  Plate     KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. 1   1.0  INTRODUCTION     Kevin  Merk  Associates,  LLC  (KMA)  conducted  a  delineation  of  potential  waters  of  the  United  States   for  the  Froom  Ranch  in  San  Luis  Obispo  County,  California.    Located  at  the  edge  of  the  City  of  San   Luis  Obispo  at  the  southwest  side  of  Los  Osos  Valley  Road  (LOVR)  near  the  intersection  with   Highway  101,  the  study  area  covers  approximately  111  acres  and  is  comprised  of  two  parcels  (APN   067-­‐241-­‐030,  067-­‐241-­‐031).    It  is  composed  primarily  of  undeveloped  open  space  used  primarily   as  grazing  lands,  and  also  contains  existing  buildings  and  an  active  mine  in  the  northwestern  part  of   the  site.    Existing  development  in  the  Irish  Hills  Plaza  forms  the  northern  site  boundary.    LOVR   forms  the  eastern  study  area  boundary  and  Calle  Joaquin  forms  the  southern  boundary  along  with   existing  development  including  Mountainbrook  Church  and  several  hotels.    Steep  terrain  that  is   part  of  the  Irish  Hills  Natural  Reserve  forms  the  western  boundary.  Please  refer  to  Figure  1,  the  Site   Location  Map,  and  Figure  2,  the  Aerial  Overview  Map  for  additional  information.       The  delineation  was  conducted  to  determine  the  location  and  extent  of  features  that  meet  the   jurisdictional  criteria  for  the  following  federal  and  state  agencies:     • U.S.  Army  Corps  of  Engineers  (Corps)  criteria  as  waters  of  the  United  States,  including   wetlands,  pursuant  to  Section  404  of  the  Clean  Water  Act  (1972).       • Regional  Water  Quality  Control  Board  (RWQCB)  jurisdiction  under  Section  401  of  the  Clean   Water  Act,  and  under  the  Porter-­‐Cologne  Water  Quality  Act.       • California  Department  of  Fish  and  Wildlife  (CDFW)  jurisdiction,  under  the  California  Fish   and  Game  Code  Section  1600  et  seq.         The  preliminary  jurisdictional  determination  used  standard  Corps  methodology  as  detailed  in   Section  3.0.    KMA  also  reviewed  relevant  background  documents,  recent  and  historic  aerial   photographs  of  the  site,  regional  and  site-­‐specific  topographic  maps,  Federal  Emergency   Management  Agency  Flood  Maps,  and  U.S.  Department  of  Agriculture  soils  data  to  better   characterize  the  nature  and  extent  of  potential  regulatory  agency  jurisdiction.    This  report  is  subject   to  review  by  the  affected  agencies  and  should  be  submitted  to  the  Corps,  CDFW,  and  RWQCB  for   verification  during  the  permitting  phase  of  the  project.         Portions  of  the  site  have  been  the  subject  of  several  environmental  studies  over  the  years,  including   wetland  delineation  efforts.    Previous  documents  referenced  during  preparation  of  this  report   include:     • Madonna  Eagle  Hardware  Environmental  Impact  Report  (1998);     • Wetland  Restoration  and  Mitigation  Plans  Relating  to  the  Froom  Ranch/Home  Depot   Project  (Olberding  Environmental,  2002);   • Calle  Joaquin  Realignment  Wetland  Delineation  (Morro  Group,  2004);   • Irish  Hills  Plaza  II  Wetland  Delineation  Map  (Morro  Group,  2004);   • Froom  Ranch  Wetland  Assessment  (Morro  Group,  2005);   • Hydrologic  Monitoring  Plan  for  Sustaining  a  Separated  Wetland  Near  Calle  Joaquin  (Balance   Hydrologics,  2005);   • Irish  Hills  Plaza  Detention  Basin  Report  (Wallace  Group,  2006);  and   • Year  5  Wetland  Monitoring  Report  for  the  Froom  Ranch/Home  Depot  Site  (Olberding   Environmental,  2007).   Site Location Froom Ranch Figure 1 0 2.5 5 7.5 101.25 Kilometers Sources: Sources: National Geographic, Esri, DeLorme, HERE, UNEP-WCMC, USGS, NASA, ESA, METI, NRCAN, GEBCO, NOAA, increment P Corp.© 2013 National Geographic Society, i-cubed 1 inch = 10,000 feet Site Location 0 100 20050 Kilometers John Madonna Construction, Inc.Site Location Froom Ranch John Madonna Construction, Inc. Figure 2 Aerial Overview Sources: (c) ESRI and its data providers; City of San Luis Obispo Study Boundary 012525037562.5 Meters 1 inch = 1,500 feet KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. 4 2.0  REGULATORY  OVERVIEW  AND  DEFINITIONS     2.1    Federal  Regulatory  Authority     The  U.S.  Army  Corps  of  Engineers  (Corps),  under  provisions  of  Section  10  of  the  Rivers  and  Harbors   Act  and  Section  404  of  the  Clean  Water  Act,  has  jurisdiction  over  “waters  of  the  United  States”  and   authorization  to  issue  permits  for  the  discharge  of  dredged  or  fill  material  into  “waters  of  the  U.S.”     “Waters  of  the  U.S.”  are  defined  to  include:    all  waters  used  in  interstate  or  foreign  commerce,   including  all  waters  subject  to  the  ebb  and  flow  of  the  tide;  all  interstate  waters  and  wetlands;  all   other  waters  such  as  intrastate  lakes,  rivers,  streams,  mudflats,  sandflats,  wetlands,  sloughs,  wet   meadows,  playa  lakes,  or  natural  ponds,  that  could  affect  interstate  or  foreign  commerce;  all   impoundments  of  waters  otherwise  defined  as  “waters  of  the  U.S.”;  tributaries  of  waters  otherwise   defined  as  “waters  of  the  U.S.”;  territorial  seas;  and  wetlands  adjacent  to  “waters  of  the  U.S.”     Waters  generally  not  considered  to  be  Corps-­‐jurisdictional  include  non-­‐tidal  drainage  and  irrigation   ditches  excavated  on  dry  land,  artificially-­‐irrigated  areas,  artificial  lakes  or  ponds  excavated  on  dry   land  used  for  irrigation  or  stock  watering,  small  artificial  water  bodies  such  as  swimming  pools,  and   water  filled  depressions  (51  Fed.  Reg.  41,  217  1986).     In  2001,  the  Supreme  Court  (Solid  Waste  Agency  of  Northern  Cook  County  v.  U.S.  Army  Corps  of   Engineers)  ruled  that  the  Corps  exceeded  its  statutory  authority  by  asserting  Clean  Water  Act   jurisdiction  over  “an  abandoned  sand  and  gravel  pit  in  northern  Illinois,  which  provides  habitat  for   migratory  birds.”    The  Supreme  Court  determined  that  “non-­‐navigable,  isolated,  intrastate”  waters   were  not  subject  to  federal  jurisdiction  based  solely  on  the  use  of  such  waters  by  migratory  birds   (i.e.,  solely  invoking  the  “Migratory  Bird  Rule”  was  insufficient  justification)  (Guzy/Anderson  2001).         The  Supreme  Court  further  addressed  the  extent  of  the  Corps’  jurisdiction  in  the  consolidated  cases   Rapanos  v.  United  States  and  Carabell  v.  United  States  (June  19,  2006),  referred  to  as  “Rapanos.”    In   Rapanos,  a  sharply-­‐divided  Court  issued  multiple  opinions,  none  of  which  garnered  the  support  of  a   majority  of  Justices.    This  created  substantial  uncertainty  as  to  which  jurisdictional  test  should  be   used  in  routine  jurisdictional  determinations.    The  Ninth  Circuit  Court  of  Appeal,  which   encompasses  California,  answered  this  in  Northern  California  River  Watch  v.  City  of  Healdsburg   (August  11,  2006).    In  this  case,  the  Court  held  that  Justice  Kennedy’s  opinion  in  Rapanos  provided   the  controlling  rule  of  law.    Under  that  rule,  wetlands  or  other  waters  that  are  not  in  fact  navigable   are  subject  to  Corps  jurisdiction  if  they  have  “a  (significant  nexus)  to  waters  that  are  navigable  in   fact.”    Presence  of  a  “significant  nexus”  must  be  decided  on  a  case-­‐by-­‐case  basis,  depending  on  site-­‐ specific  circumstances.         The  U.S.  Environmental  Protection  Agency  (EPA)  and  Corps  subsequently  developed  an   instructional  guidebook  on  how  to  apply  these  rulings  for  all  future  jurisdictional  determinations   (U.S.  Army  Corps  of  Engineers  and  U.S.  EPA  2007),  and  a  memorandum  providing  guidance  to   implement  the  Supreme  Court’s  decision  in  Rapanos  (Grumbles  and  Woodley  2007).     Waters  of  the  U.S.  determined  by  KMA  to  be  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  EPA  and  Corps  under  the   Clean  Water  Act  have  thus  conformed  to  the  instructional  guidebook  and  memorandum  providing   guidance  to  implement  the  U.S.  Supreme  Court’s  decision  in  Rapanos.    Delineated  wetland  features   that  are  not  adjacent  to  (i.e.,  bordering,  contiguous,  or  neighboring)  a  traditional  navigable  water   (TNW)  or  abutting  a  relatively  permanent  water  (RPW)  that  is  tributary  to  a  TNW  are  not  likely  to   be  subject  to  federal  jurisdiction  and  are  thus  determined  to  not  be  subject  to  federal  jurisdiction.    It   KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. 5 is  advised  to  note  that  the  U.S.  Supreme  Court  determined  that  jurisdictional  waters  of  the  U.S.  shall   be  determined  on  a  case-­‐by-­‐case  basis,  by  the  Corps  (and  EPA),  based  on  a  determination  of   whether  a  particular  wetland  or  “other  water”  has  a  “significant  nexus”  to  a  TNW.     To  summarize,  the  jurisdictional  status  determination  for  each  potential  water  of  the  U.S.  feature   was  evaluated  individually  in  accordance  with  the  Rapanos  guidance  as  follows.    If  the  feature  did   not  have  a  hydrologic  surface  connection  to  a  TNW  (e.g.,  a  seasonally  inundated  wetland  abuts  an   RPW  and  subject  RPW  conveys  surface  water  to  a  TNW)  or  did  not  demonstrate  a  “significant   nexus”  to  a  TNW,  it  was  not  considered  subject  to  federal  jurisdiction.     This  report  describes  the  features  on  the  property  that  exhibit  the  physical  characteristics  of   wetlands  or  other  waters  and  documents  the  maximum  areal  extent  of  such  features  that  may   qualify  as  “waters  of  the  United  States”  and  be  subject  to  Corps  jurisdiction.    The  aforementioned   federal  rulings  do  not  alter  the  extent  of  State  jurisdiction  over  “waters  of  the  State”  (which  are   subject  to  Regional  Water  Quality  Control  Board  [RWQCB]  jurisdiction),  or  “rivers,  lakes  or   streams”  subject  to  California  Department  of  Fish  and  Wildlife  (CDFW)  jurisdiction.    State   regulatory  authority  over  wetlands  and  other  waters  are  discussed  in  the  following  section.     2.2    State  Regulatory  Authority     The  State  Water  Resources  Control  Board  and  nine  Regional  Water  Quality  Control  Boards   (RWQCB)  regulate  discharges  of  fill  and  dredged  material  in  California,  under  Section  401  of  the   Clean  Water  Act,  and  under  the  State  Porter-­‐Cologne  Water  Quality  Control  Act,  through  the  State   Water  Quality  Certification  Program.  State  Water  Quality  Certification  is  necessary  for  all  projects   that  require  a  Corps  permit,  or  fall  under  other  federal  jurisdiction,  and  have  the  potential  to  impact   waters  of  the  State.    Waters  of  the  State  are  defined  by  the  Porter-­‐Cologne  Act  as:       “.  .  .  any  surface  water  or  groundwater,  including  saline  waters,  within  the  boundaries   of  the  state.”       In  order  for  a  Section  404  (Corps)  permit  to  be  valid,  Section  401  of  the  Clean  Water  Act  requires  a   Water  Quality  Certification  or  waiver  to  be  obtained.  The  Water  Quality  Certification  (or  waiver)   determines  that  the  permitted  activities  will  not  violate  water  quality  standards  individually  or   cumulatively  over  the  term  of  the  action.  Water  quality  certification  must  be  consistent  with  the   requirements  of  the  Federal  Clean  Water  Act,  California  Environmental  Quality  Act  (CEQA),   California  Endangered  Species  Act,  and  Porter-­‐Cologne  Act.     The  CDFW  has  regulatory  authority  over  any  work  within  rivers,  lakes  and  streams  in  the  State  of   California  (California  Fish  and  Game  Code  Sections  1601-­‐1603)  on  public,  private  and  agricultural   lands.    Features  that  are  regulated  by  the  CDFW  include  all  rivers,  streams,  or  lakes  including  man-­‐ made  watercourses  with  or  without  wetlands,  if  they  contain  a  definable  bed  and  bank  and  support   fish  or  wildlife  resources  or  contribute  to  that  support.    The  riparian  vegetation  associated  with   rivers,  streams,  and  lakes  is  also  typically  included  within  the  CDFW  jurisdiction.     2.3    Criteria  for  Wetlands  and  Other  Waters     Hydrophytic  vegetation  occurs  in  areas  where  frequency  and  duration  of  inundation  and/or  soil   saturation  exerts  a  primary  controlling  influence  on  plant  species  composition.    Plant  species  are   assigned  a  wetland  indicator  status  according  to  the  probability  of  occurrence  in  wetlands.    More   KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. 6 than  fifty  percent  of  the  dominant  plant  species  must  have  a  wetland  indicator  status  of  Facultative,   Facultative  Wetland,  or  Obligate  Wetland  to  meet  the  hydrophytic  vegetation  criterion.    The   National  Wetland  Plant  List:  2014  Update  of  Wetland  Ratings  (NWPL),  separates  vascular  plants   into  the  following  four  basic  categories  based  on  plant  species  frequency  of  occurrence  in  wetlands:     • Obligate  wetland  (OBL).    Occur  almost  always  (estimated  probability  >99%)  under  natural   conditions  in  wetlands.   • Facultative  Wetland  (FACW).    Usually  occur  in  wetlands  (estimated  probability  67%-­‐99%),   but  occasionally  found  in  non-­‐wetlands.   • Facultative  (FAC).    Equally  likely  to  occur  in  wetlands  or  non-­‐wetlands  (estimated   probability  34%-­‐66%).   • Facultative  Upland  (FACU).    Usually  occur  in  non-­‐wetlands  (estimated  probability  67%-­‐ 99%),  but  occasionally  found  in  wetlands  (estimated  probability  1%-­‐33%).   • Obligate  Upland  (UPL).    May  occur  in  wetlands  in  another  region,  but  occur  almost  always   (estimated  probability  >99%)  under  natural  conditions  in  non-­‐wetlands  in  the  region   specified.     An  area  is  considered  to  have  hydrophytic  vegetation  when  greater  than  50  percent  of  the   dominant  species  in  each  vegetative  stratum  (tree,  shrub,  and  herb)  are  assigned  with  the  FAC,   FACW,  and/or  OBL  status  categories.    Any  species  not  appearing  on  the  NWPL  is  assumed  to  be  an   upland  species.     Hydric  soils  occur  in  areas  that  are  saturated  and/or  inundated  for  a  sufficient  duration  during  the   growing  season  to  develop  anaerobic  or  reducing  conditions.    Sufficient  duration  cannot  be  defined   due  to  the  vast  differences  in  chemistry  and  mineral  composition  in  soils  from  site  to  site  and   region  to  region,  but  can  be  as  short  as  two  weeks  during  the  growing  season.    Field  indicators  of   hydric  soils  include,  but  are  not  limited  to  observation  of  redoximorphic  features  (e.g.,   concentrations  of  oxidized  minerals  such  as  iron)  and  detection  of  hydrogen  sulphide  gas.     Documentation  of  a  soil  as  hydric  must  be  verified  in  the  field.     Wetland  hydrology  typically  occurs  in  areas  subject  to  inundation  and/or  soil  saturation  with  a   frequency  and  duration  long  enough  to  cause  the  development  of  hydric  soils  and  plant   communities  dominated  by  hydrophytic  vegetation.    If  direct  observation  of  wetland  hydrology  is   not  possible  (as  in  seasonal  wetlands)  or  records  of  wetland  hydrology  are  not  available  (such  as   stream  gauges),  assessment  of  wetland  hydrology  is  frequently  supported  by  primary  and   secondary  indicators  such  as  surface  soil  cracks  and  drainage  patterns.     Ordinary  High  Water  Mark  (OHWM)  is  the  line  on  the  shore  or  bank  of  an  other  waters  feature   that  is  established  by  fluctuations  and/or  flow  of  water.    The  OHWM  is  located  through  examination   of  physical  characteristics  such  as  a  clear  natural  line  impressed  on  the  bank,  shelving,  changes  in   the  character  of  soil,  destruction  of  terrestrial  vegetation,  the  presence  of  litter  and  debris,  and   other  appropriate  physical  characteristics  that  consider  the  nature  of  the  surrounding  area.     3.0    METHODS     KMA  principal  biologist  Kevin  Merk  and  senior  biologist  Bob  Sloan  conducted  the  delineation  of   potential  Corps  “waters  of  the  United  States,”  RWQCB  “waters  of  the  State,”  and  CDFW  jurisdictional   areas  on  the  study  area  during  February  and  March,  2015.    The  delineation  used  the  routine   methodology  as  detailed  in  the  Corps  of  Engineers  Wetlands  Delineation  Manual  (Environmental   KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. 7 Laboratory  1987)  and  refined  in  the  Regional  Supplement  to  the  Corps  of  Engineers  Wetland   Delineation  Manual:    Arid  West  Region  (Version  2.0;  U.S.  Army  Corps  of  Engineers  2008).               The  Classification  of  Wetlands  and  Deepwater  Habitats  of  the  United  States  (Cowardin  1979)  and   Wetlands  of  the  Central  and  Southern  California  Coast  and  Coastal  Watershed:  A  Methodology  for   Their  Classification  (Ferren  et  al.  1995)  were  also  utilized  to  assist  in  characterizing  on-­‐site   wetlands,  other  waters,  and  other  potential  jurisdictional  areas.    KMA  biologists  also  reviewed   recent  and  historical  aerial  photographs  depicting  the  study  area  (ESRI  and  Google  Earth  2015),  the   U.S.  Geological  Survey  (USGS)  San  Luis  Obispo,  California  7.5-­‐minute  topographic  quadrangle  (U.S.   Geological  Survey  1993),  the  Soil  Survey  for  San  Luis  Obispo  County,  California  (National  Resources   Conservation  Service),  and  the  Hydric  Soils  List  for  San  Luis  Obispo  County,  California  to  better   determine  the  nature  and  extent  of  Corps,  RWQCB,  and  CDFW  jurisdictional  areas  on  the  site.       All  potential  waters  of  the  U.S.  on  the  study  area  were  mapped  based  on  the  presence  of  positive   indicators  for  hydrophytic  vegetation,  hydric  soils  and  wetland  hydrology  for  wetlands,  and   presence  of  an  OHWM  pursuant  to  Corps  regulations  (33  CFR  328.3  and  33  CFR  328.4)  for  other   waters.    The  final  determination  of  potential  waters  of  the  U.S.  within  the  site  was  based  on  the   presence  of  connectivity  to  a  TNW.    CDFW  jurisdiction  was  determined  based  on  the  extent  of  the   bed  and  bank  or  riparian  canopy  associated  with  Froom  Creek,  it’s  tributary  channels,  and  the   LOVR  roadside  channel.       Data  observation  points  were  placed  in  representative  potential  wetland  features  and  adjacent   upland  areas  to  characterize  the  extent  of  federal  and  State  jurisdiction  (i.e.,  identify  the  wetland   edge).    Information  recorded  at  each  data  point  location  included  plant  species  composition  (to   determine  the  presence/absence  of  hydrophytic  vegetation),  presence/absence  of  indicators  of   wetland  hydrology,  and  in  areas  containing  potential  wetland  habitat,  indicators  of  hydric  soils  in   accordance  with  Field  Indicators  of  Hydric  Soils  in  the  United  States  (U.S.  Department  of  Agriculture,   Natural  Resources  Conservation  Service  2006).    A  soil  pit  was  excavated  at  each  data  observation   point,  to  examine  the  soil  for  positive  indicators  of  hydric  soils  and  wetland  hydrology.    Soil  pits   were  excavated  to  a  depth  of  14-­‐18  inches  during  the  delineation.    Hydric  soils  were  presumed   absent  in  areas  devoid  of  hydrophytic  vegetation  and  lack  of  direct  observation  of  any  hydrologic   indicators.    Positive  evidence  of  wetland  hydrology  was  evaluated  in  the  field,  and  included   observable  indicators,  such  as  drainage  patterns,  saturated  soils  in  the  upper  18  inches  and  the   presence  of  oxidized  rhizospheres.    Colors  of  moist  soils  and  redoximorphic  features  were   compared  with  the  Munsell®  soil  color  chart  and  recorded  on  wetland  determination  data  forms.     Transect  locations  across  the  Los  Osos  Valley  Road  and  Calle  Joaquin  wetland  and  meadow  areas   were  based  on  data  point  locations  documented  in  the  Calle  Joaquin  Realignment  Wetland   Delineation  (Morro  Group,  2004);  and  Froom  Ranch  Wetland  Assessment  (Morro  Group,  2005).    A   data  point  was  considered  to  be  within  a  Corps-­‐defined  wetland  (an  “in”  point)  if  the  area  contained   all  three  wetland  parameters  or  criteria,  which  included  a  dominance  of  wetland  plant  species,   positive  wetland  hydrology  indicators,  and  presence  of  hydric  soil  indicators.    If  one  or  more  of   these  parameters  was  not  met,  the  point  was  considered  to  not  be  within  a  Corps-­‐defined  wetland   (an  “out”  point)  and  a  line  was  drawn  between  the  two  data  points.         Federal  and  State  jurisdictional  areas  were  delineated  in  the  field  using  a  Trimble  GEOXH  6000   capable  of  decimeter  accuracy.    Data  collected  in  the  field  was  plotted  on  a  site  specific  topographic   map  provided  by  RRM  Design  Group.    Area  calculations  of  waters  of  the  U.S.  and  state  of  California,   as  well  as  CDFW  jurisdictional  areas,  were  made  using  ARC  GIS  10  (ESRI).       KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. 8   4.0    RESULTS     A  total  of  24  data  observation  points  were  established  to  document  potential  waters  of  the  U.S.  and   State  of  California  on  the  site.    Approximately  7.25  acres  of  wetlands  (Palustrine  Emergent   Wetland)  and  2.66  acres  of  other  waters  (Riverine  Intermittent  Streambed)  were  determined  to  fall   under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Corps  and  RWQCB  pursuant  to  the  Clean  Water  Act.    A  total  of  5.41   acres  of  the  site  were  determined  to  fall  under  CDFW  jurisdiction.  Figure  3  is  a  soils  map  illustrating   the  soil  map  units  present  onsite  and  the  immediate  surrounding  area.    Figures  4,  4a  and  4b  are  the   wetland  delineation  map  that  show  data  point  locations  and  illustrates  the  extent  of  Corps,  RWQCB,   and  CDFW  jurisdictional  areas  onsite.    Appendix  A  contains  the  Wetland  Determination  Data  Forms   and  Appendix  B  is  a  photo  plate  with  representative  photographs  of  the  study  area.       4.1    Site  Overview     The  study  area  consists  primarily  of  grassland  habitat  on  heavy  clay  soils  in  the  flatter  portions  of   the  site  between  Froom  Creek  and  LOVR  and  Calle  Joaquin.    Serpentine-­‐based  soils  and  rock   outcrops  are  present  in  the  higher  elevation  areas.    Seasonal  drainage  features  including  Froom   Creek  and  several  small  tributary  drainages,  the  LOVR  roadside  channel,  seasonal  and  perennial   wetlands,  coast  live  oak  woodland  with  California  bay  trees,  areas  of  coastal  scrub/serpentine   chaparral,  and  non-­‐native  eucalyptus  trees  are  also  present.    The  study  area  contains  two  man-­‐ made  stormwater  detention/retention  basins  present  between  the  Froom  Creek  channel  and  the   mapped  seasonal  wetland  areas  along  LOVR.    The  larger  basin  was  constructed  to  receive  surface   runoff  from  the  Irish  Hills  Plaza  development  to  the  northwest,  and  the  smaller  retention  basin  was   constructed  as  a  temporary  feature  during  construction  of  Home  Depot.       Froom  Creek     Froom  Creek  is  an  intermittent  stream  with  a  relatively  small  watershed  that  originates  in  the  Irish   Hills  to  the  southwest  of  the  study  area.    The  creek  channel  bisects  the  study  area  in  a  generally   north  to  south  direction,  and  ultimately  passes  beneath  Calle  Joaquin  and  U.S.  Highway  101  via  two   concrete  box  culverts,  heading  to  its  confluence  with  San  Luis  Obispo  Creek.    San  Luis  Obispo  Creek   flows  in  a  westerly  direction  ultimately  connecting  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  at  Avila  Beach.    Due  to  the   lack  of  dominant  wetland  vegetation  within  or  adjacent  to  the  channel,  Froom  Creek  was  classified   as  Riverine  Intermittent  Streambed  per  Cowardin,  and  as  non-­‐wetland  waters  of  the  U.S.  and  state   of  California  subject  to  Corps,  RWQCB  and  CDFW  jurisdiction.     Froom  Creek  Tributaries     Three  small  ephemeral  drainage  features  (identified  as  Drainages  1,  2,  and  3)  are  present  in  the   southwestern  portion  of  the  study  area  that  are  tributaries  to  Froom  Creek.    Due  to  the  presence  of   a  defined  bed  and  bank,  OHWM,  and  hydrologic  connectivity  to  Froom  Creek,  these  small  features   were  classified  as  Riverine  Intermittent  Streambed  per  Cowardin,  and  constitute  jurisdictional  non-­‐ wetland  waters  of  the  U.S.  and  state  of  California.    While  these  drainages  were  mostly  comprised  of   upland  vegetation,  areas  of  wetland  and  riparian  habitat  were  observed  and  mapped  in  specific   locations.    In  addition,  several  seeps  or  springs  were  observed  originating  on  adjacent  hillsides  and   were  hydrologically  connected  to  the  drainage  feature.    In-­‐channel  areas  and  abutting  areas   dominated  by  wetland  vegetation  are  classified  as  Palustrine  Emergent  Wetland  per  Cowardin,  and   are  expected  to  constitute  wetlands  under  Corps,  RWQCB  and  CDFW  jurisdiction.    The  federally   KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. 9 protected  Chorro  Creek  bog  thistle  (Cirsium  fontale  var.  obispoense)  was  also  identified  in  two  of  the   tributary  drainages.         LOVR  Roadside  Channel     The  LOVR  Roadside  Channel  is  located  along  the  northern  property  boundary,  and  contains  a  dense   willow  canopy  and  wetland  understory,  along  a  narrow  and  shallow  constructed  channel  area.    The   willow  canopy  has  developed  over  the  last  10  years  since  the  2005  Wetland  Delineation  was   completed  by  Morro  Group,  and  the  channel  appears  to  have  lost  capacity  due  to  vegetative  growth   and  sediment  accumulation.    Current  channel  dimensions  in  this  area  ranged  from  six  inches  to  two   feet  deep,  and  one  to  four  feet  wide.    Willow  canopy  and  wetland  vegetation  extended  beyond  the   channel  banks  into  the  meadow  area,  apparently  the  result  of  the  constructed  roadways   impounding  seasonal  surface  and  subsurface  water.    Because  the  majority  of  in-­‐channel  and   abutting  areas  are  dominated  by  wetland  vegetation,  the  LOVR  channel  is  classified  as  Palustrine   Emergent  Wetland  per  Cowardin,  and  is  expected  to  constitute  wetlands  under  Corps,  RWQCB  and   CDFW  jurisdiction.    Jurisdictional  boundaries  in  this  area  extend  into  the  LOVR  right-­‐of  way  to  the   road  shoulder,  which  was  outside  the  Froom  Ranch  property  line.         Wet  Meadow  Areas     The  low-­‐lying  portion  of  the  site  between  Froom  Creek  and  the  LOVR  Roadside  Channel/Calle   Joaquin  is  relatively  flat,  composed  of  heavy  clay  soils,  and  contains  areas  of  annual  grassland  and   perennial  grassland  dominated  by  non-­‐native  species  such  as  Italian  ryegrass  and  reed  fescue.     Patches  of  wetland  plants  were  present  indicating  seasonal  impoundment  of  surface  and   groundwater  by  the  constructed  roadways.    Based  on  aerial  photograph  interpretation  and  review   of  soils,  Froom  Creek  likely  traversed  through  this  part  of  the  site  prior  to  connecting  with  Prefumo   Creek  and  then  joining  San  Luis  Obispo  Creek  in  the  vicinity  of  the  LOVR  Interchange.    While  areas   near  LOVR  consisted  primarily  of  seasonally  moist  areas  dominated  by  annual  grassland  species,   areas  mapped  as  wetland  along  the  realigned  portion  of  Calle  Joaquin  exhibited  a  more  dense  cover   of  perennial  wetland  plants  trending  more  toward  coastal  and  valley  freshwater  marsh  habitat,   which  indicates  prolonged  saturated  soil  conditions  compared  to  areas  along  LOVR.    Non-­‐riparian   wet  meadow  areas  dominated  by  wetland  vegetation,  are  classified  as  Palustrine  Emergent  Wetland   per  Cowardin,  and  are  expected  to  constitute  wetlands  under  Corps  jurisdiction.         Detention  Basins     The  northern  basin  is  an  approximately  one-­‐acre  temporary  basin  constructed  in  upland  grassland   areas  to  receive  runoff  during  the  construction  of  Home  Depot.    During  construction  of  the  Irish   Hills  Plaza,  a  swale  and  culverts  were  installed  behind  the  current  Whole  Foods  and  TJ  Max   buildings  to  direct  surface  runoff  into  this  basin  and  then  let  it  spread  overland  to  support  the   historic  wetland  feature  in  the  area.    Seasonally  ponded  water  was  evident  in  the  basin  during   aerial  photograph  review,  and  patchy  occurrences  of  seasonal  wetland  vegetation  were  noted   during  recent  field  work  confirming  some  wetland  habitat  attributes  are  still  present.    However,  it   is  our  understanding  that  once  the  Home  Depot  and  surrounding  areas  were  constructed,  surface   runoff  from  this  development  was  directed  into  the  larger  basins  constructed  further  south.      As  a   result,  this  temporary  basin  was  not  identified  as  a  potential  jurisdictional  feature  since  it  was   constructed  in  an  upland  as  a  temporary  basin  to  support  construction  of  the  neighboring  project.         KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. 10 The  approximately  3.2-­‐acre  southern  basin  is  a  permanent  feature  constructed  in  upland  grassland   habitat  to  receive  runoff  from  the  Plaza  Hills  I  development  fronting  LOVR.    Following  development   of  the  Home  Depot  project,  surface  runoff  was  then  directed  into  this  basin.    It  consists  of  two   basins  and  a  spillway,  and  was  sized  to  contain  runoff  from  any  future  Phase  II  development  within   the  study  area  (Wallace  Group,  2006).    This  basin  releases  water  to  the  LOVR  Roadside  Channel  by   a  storm  drain  and  swale.    During  large  storm  events,  it  was  designed  to  discharge  water  into  the   wet  meadow  area  along  Calle  Joaquin  via  a  concrete  spillway.    Otherwise,  water  leaves  the  basin   through  evaporation  and  percolation  into  the  ground.    This  feature  was  also  not  identified  as  a   potential  jurisdictional  feature  since  it  was  constructed  in  an  upland  area  and  is  part  of  the   neighboring  project’s  storm  drainage  system.         Both  basins  are  man-­‐made  structures  constructed  in  uplands,  fed  primarily  by  concentrated   hardscape  runoff  from  neighboring  development.    Removing  the  water  source  to  either  basin  would   likely  result  in  the  loss  of  wetland  hydrology,  indicating  that  both  basins  function  as  "spigot   wetlands",  not  as  natural  features.    As  such,  these  basins  and  associated  swales  are  not  expected  to   be  subject  to  Clean  Water  Act  or  California  Fish  and  Game  Code  requirements,  and  were  not   delineated  in  this  report.     Previously  Restored  Wetland  Areas     As  mapped  by  Morro  Group  in  2005  and  as  discussed  in  the  Olberding  Environmental  2007  Final   Mitigation  report,  a  total  of  0.62-­‐acre  of  seasonal  wetland  habitat  was  restored  to  pre-­‐impact   conditions  within  the  northern  portion  of  the  study  area,  following  unauthorized  grading  and   stockpiling  of  soils  during  construction  activities  associated  with  Home  Depot.    The  restoration   areas  consist  of  a  0.36-­‐acre  swale  located  along  the  Ranch  House  road  between  the  temporary  basin   and  the  LOVR  Roadside  Channel,  and  a  0.26-­‐acre  area  between  the  Ranch  House  road  and  the  Irish   Hills  Plaza  parking  lot.  Please  refer  to  Data  Points  16  and  17,  respectively.    These  areas  were   restored  to  original  contours  following  removal  of  unauthorized  fill  materials,  and  were  then   allowed  to  return  to  natural  conditions.    Based  on  our  understanding,  no  seeding,  revegetation,  or   other  enhancement  actions  were  performed,  and  no  conservation  easement  or  other  restrictions   were  placed  on  the  sites.    The  two  sites  were  included  in  the  mitigation  monitoring  program   required  by  the  Wetland  Restoration  and  Mitigation  Plans  Relating  to  the  Froom  Ranch/Home  Depot   Project  (Olberding  Environmental,  2002),  and  following  a  verification  visit  conducted  on  February   12,  2015,  the  Corps  determined  that  both  sites  had  met  all  required  performance  standards.         Currently,  both  restoration  sites  are  dominated  by  grassland  habitat,  and  do  not  exhibit  wetland   vegetation,  soils,  or  hydrology.    However,  as  stated  in  the  Corps  Determination  of  Compliance  letter   dated  February  19,  2015,  the  sites  are  still  subject  to  long-­‐term  management  requirements  per  the   2002  Mitigation  Plan.       4.2    Vegetation     Froom  Creek  and  Tributaries     The  Froom  Creek  channel  was  mostly  unvegetated,  and  where  present,  vegetation  consisted   primarily  of  annual  grasses,  forbs  and  shrubs  common  to  grassland,  coastal  scrub  and  serpentine   influenced  areas.    The  smaller  tributary  channels  to  Froom  Creek  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the   site  were  dominated  primarily  by  grassland  species  such  as  Italian  rye  grass  with  patches  of   wetland  vegetation.    Drainages  1  and  2  also  contained  areas  of  coast  live  oak  (Quercus  agrifolia)  and   KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. 11 California  bay  (Umbellularia  californica)  trees.    Wetland  indicator  species  present  in  this  area   included  brown-­‐headed  rush  (Juncus  phaeocephalus  -­‐  FACW),  clustered  field  sedge  (Carex   praegracilis  -­‐  FACW),  and  common  rush  (Juncus  effusus  -­‐  FACW).         A  small  seep  in  Drainage  3,  and  a  larger  spring  fed  wetland  area  at  the  confluence  of  Drainages  1   and  2,  contained  dominant  cover  of  water  parsley  (Oenanthe  sarmentosa  -­‐  OBL),  spike  rush   (Eleocharis  macrostachya  –  OBL),  and  brown-­‐headed  rush,  along  with  seep  spring  monkeyflower   (Mimulus  guttatus  -­‐  OBL),  and  western  vervain  (Verbena  lasiostachys  -­‐  FAC).    Upper  reaches  of   Drainages  1  and  2  also  contained  occurrences  of  the  federally  protected  Chorro  Creek  bog  thistle   (Cirsium  fontinale  var.  obispoense),  which  is  an  obligate  wetland  species.    A  large  seep  area  extends   north  from  Drainage  2  along  a  hillside,  and  is  dominated  by  clustered  field  sedge  and  spike  rush.     Portions  of  this  area  demonstrated  tussock  formation  resulting  from  grazing  impacts.       The  upland  areas  associated  with  the  Froom  tributaries  were  dominated  by  annual  and  perennial   grasses  and  forbs,  and  included  areas  of  native  serpentine  bunchgrass  composed  of  purple   needlegrass  (Stipa  pulchra).    Other  native  species  observed  in  upland  grassland  areas  included  red   maids  (Calandrinia  ciliata),  star  lily  (Zigadenus  fremontii),  hayfield  tarweed  (Hemizonia  congesta   ssp.  luzulifolia),  and  blue  dicks  (Dichelostemma  capitatum).         Wet  Meadow  Areas     Wet  meadow  areas  adjacent  to  the  LOVR  channel  were  dominated  by  clustered  field  sedge,  Italian   ryegrass  (Lolium  perenne  ssp.  multiflorum  -­‐  FAC),  saltgrass  (Distichlis  spicata  -­‐  FAC),  meadow  barley   (Hordeum  brachyantherum  -­‐  FACW),  brown  headed  rush,  spikerush,  birdsfoot  trefoil  (Lotus   corniculatus  -­‐  FAC),  curly  dock  (Rumex  crispus  -­‐  FAC),  bristly  ox  tongue  (Helminthotheca  echioides  -­‐   FACU),  and  Bermuda  grass  (Cynodon  dactylon  -­‐  FACU).    Meadow  areas  upslope  from  the  LOVR   channel  were  dominated  by  Italian  rye  grass,  foxtail  (Hordeum  marinum  -­‐  FACU),  ripgut  brome   (Bromus  diandrus  -­‐  UPL),  mayweed  (Anthemis  cotula  -­‐  FACU),  slender  wild  oat  (Avena  barbata  -­‐   UPL),  storksbill  (Erodium  botrys  -­‐  FACU),  perennial  mustard  (Hirschfeldia  incana-­‐  UPL),  and  red   brome  (Bromus  madritensis  ssp.  rubens  -­‐  FACU).     Areas  adjacent  to  Calle  Joaquin  were  dominated  by  clustered  field  sedge,  and  included  distinct   areas  of  silverweed  (Potentilla  anserina  -­‐  OBL),  brown-­‐headed  rush,  round-­‐leaf  leather  root  (Hoita   orbicularis  -­‐  OBL),  and  rough  sedge  (Carex  senta  -­‐  OBL).    Ponded  areas  containing  California  bulrush   (Schoenoplectus  californicus  -­‐  OBL),  were  present  along  portions  of  the  property  edge  along  Calle   Joaquin.    Meadow  areas  upslope  from  Calle  Joaquin  were  dominated  by  clustered  field  sedge,  tall   fescue  (Festuca  or  Schedonorus  arundinaceae  -­‐  FACU),  Italian  ryegrass,  meadow  barley,  prickly   lettuce  (Lactuca  serriola  -­‐  FACU),    and  red  maids  (Calandrinia  ciliata  -­‐  FACU).     Many  areas  of  the  site  contained  the  introduced  annual  Italian  ryegrass,  which  is  classified  as  a   facultative  plant  (equally  likely  to  occur  within  wetland  or  upland).    The  California  Invasive  Plant   Council  (Cal-­‐IPC)  Inventory  Rating  for  Italian  ryegrass  is  Moderate  (having  substantial  and   apparent—but  generally  not  severe—ecological  impacts  on  physical  processes,  plant  and  animal   communities,  and  vegetation  structure).         Italian  ryegrass  is  widespread  in  California  due  to  use  as  a  planted  forage  species  and  for  erosion   control,  and  is  found  in  coastal  valley  and  foothill  grasslands  throughout  the  state.    It  germinates   and  grows  in  seasonally  moist  soil  conditions,  but  also  grows  strongly  in  dry  conditions  on  clay   soils.    It  is  never  found  in  long-­‐term  saturated  soil  conditions  with  strong  hydrophytic  indicator   KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. 12 species,  but  is  sometimes  found  in  or  near  the  upper  edge  of  seasonally  wet  areas.    Because  of  these   characteristics,  reliance  on  the  dominance  of  Italian  ryegrass  to  determine  wetland  presence  could   result  in  an  erroneous  interpretation  of  wetland  status.    Several  Sample  Points  located  in  the  upper   meadow  areas  documented  Italian  ryegrass  as  a  co-­‐dominant  species  with  clustered  field  sedge,   resulting  in  100  percent  hydrophytic  vegetation  cover  in  locations  with  no  wetland  hydrology   features.  In  several  cases  the  Data  Form  Prevalence  Index  worksheet  results  confirmed  that  these   Italian  ryegrass-­‐dominated  areas  were  functioning  as  upland  habitat,  despite  having  passed  the   Dominance  Test.     LOVR  Roadside  Channel      The  LOVR  roadside  channel  contained  a  dense  band  of  riparian  habitat  consistent  with  the  Central   Coast  Arroyo  Willow  Riparian  Scrub  plant  described  by  Holland  (1986),  and  the  arroyo  willow   thickets  described  by  Sawyer  et  al.  (2009).      The  riparian  woodland  habitat  is  dominated  by  arroyo   willow  (Salix  lasiolepis  -­‐  FACW).    Understory  plants  present  within  the  riparian  area  included   California  blackberry  (Rubus  ursinus  -­‐  FAC),  tall  flatsedge  (Cyperus  eragrostis  -­‐  FACW),  water   speedwell  (Veronica  anagallis-­‐aquatica  -­‐  OBL),  Italian  thistle  (Carduus  pycnocephalus  -­‐  UPL),   Fuller’s  teasel  (Dipsacus  fullonum  -­‐  FAC),  and  poison  hemlock  (Conium  maculatum  -­‐  FACW).    The   roadside  ditch  had  a  relatively  consistent  understory  cover  that  continued  into  the  wet  meadow   areas.     4.3    Soils       The  NRCS  identified  eight  soil  map  units  as  occurring  on  the  study  area  (refer  to  Figure  3).    Of  these   map  units,  Riverwash,  and  Xererts-­‐Xerolls  are  listed  as  hydric  soils  by  the  NRCS  California  Hydric   Soils  List  for  San  Luis  Obispo  County.    An  unnamed  component  of  Cropley  clay,  0-­‐2  %  slopes,  is  also   considered  hydric,  when  present  in  drainageways.           Cropley  clay  0-­‐2  %  slopes.    Cropley  clay  consists  of  a  dark  gray  or  black  (10YR  4/1,  3/1,  2/1  moist)   clay  horizon  about  36  inches  thick,  underlain  by  a  light  brown  calcareous  clay  loam  to  60  inches  or   more.    Permeability  of  this  soil  is  slow  and  the  available  water  capacity  is  high.    Cropley  soils   formed  in  alluvium  developed  from  sedimentary  rocks.    An  unnamed  component  of  Cropley  clay  is   listed  as  a  hydric  soil  when  present    in  drainageways.    This  inclusion  is  typically  very  dark  gray   throughout,  with  mottles  present  in  the  lower  horizons.    This  dark  gray  soil  was  not  observed  on-­‐   site.    Mapped  inclusions  within  this  series  include  Diablo  clay,  Los  Osos  loam,  and  Salinas  silty  clay   loam.       Diablo  and  Cibo  clays  9-­‐15  and  15  -­‐  30  %  slopes.    Diablo  clay  consists  of  a  0  to  23  inch,  black  (10YR   2/1)  clay  formed  in  residual  material  weathered  from  sandstone,  shale,  or  mudstone,  commonly   displaying  fine  roots  to  four  inches.    The  structure  is  granular  to  4  inches,  and  coarse,  angular,  and   blocky  to  23  inches.    This  moderately  to  steeply  sloping  soil  is  very  poorly  drained.    The  soil  has   moderate  erodibility  and  high  shrink-­‐swell  characteristics,  and  has  potential  septic  system   constraints  due  to  steep  slopes  and  slow  percolation.         Cibo  clay  consists  of  a  0  to  31  inch,  dark  brown  (7.5YR  3/2)  clay  formed  in  residual  material   weathered  from  hard  metasedimentary  rocks,  and  commonly  displaying  fine  roots.    The  structure  is   coarse  and  angular  blocky.    This  moderately  to  steeply  sloping  soil  is  considered  very  poorly   drained.    The  soil  has  moderate  erodibility  and  high  shrink-­‐swell  characteristics,  and  potential   septic  system  constraints  due  to  steep  slopes,  shallow  depth  to  bedrock,  and  slow  percolation.           KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. 13   Los  Osos-­‐Diablo  Complex  5-­‐9  and  15-­‐30  percent  slopes.    Los  Osos-­‐Diablo  Complex  consists  of  about   40  percent  Los  Osos  soil,  and  35  percent  Diablo  soil,  found  on  foothills  and  mountain  ridge  tops.   These  soils  are  moderately  deep,  well  drained,  and  have  low  permeability.  Typical  Los  Osos-­‐Diablo   Complex  soil  (moist)  consists  of  a  very  dark  grayish  brown  (10YR  3/2)  loam  or  black  (10YR  2/2)   clay,  40-­‐60  inches  thick.  Permeability  of  Los  Osos-­‐Diablo  Complex  soil  is  rapid,  and  the  available   water  capacity  is  low.  The  available  water  capacity  of  Los  Osos-­‐Diablo  Complex  soil  is  low  to  very   high,  while  surface  runoff  is  rapid.       Obispo-­‐Rock  outcrop  15-­‐75%  slopes.    Obispo-­‐Rock  outcrop  consists  of  about  50  percent  Obispo  soil   and  30  percent  Rock  outcrop.  Obispo  soils  are  shallow,  well  drained,  slowly  permeable  soils  formed   in  residual  materials  weathered  from  serpentine  rock.  Typical  Obispo  soil  (moist)  consists  of  a   black  (10YR  2/1)  clay  to  a  depth  of  about  18  inches,  underlain  by  serpentine  rock.  The  available   water  capacity  of  Obispo-­‐Rock  outcrop  soil  is  low,  while  surface  runoff  is  rapid  or  very  rapid.       Riverwash  includes  soils  found  in  active  stream  and  river  channels,  and  consists  of  excessively   drained,  water  deposited  sand,  loamy  sand,  and  sandy  loam  with  varying  amounts  of  gravel  and   cobbles  present.    Riverwash  soils  located  in  and  along  stream  channels  are  generally  subject  to   flooding  during  and  immediately  after  every  storm.    Riverwash  soils  are  typically  excessively   drained,  but  can  be  somewhat  poorly  drained  in  low  lying  areas.    Permeability  is  very  rapid,  surface   runoff  is  very  slow,  and  the  erosion  hazard  is  variable.    Typical  inclusions  include  Psamments  and   Fluvents,  and  Corralitos  soils.    Riverwash  and  Psamments  and  Fluvents  located  in  drainageways  are   listed  as  hydric  soils.    These  soils  have  a  Hydric  Criteria  Code  of  4:  soils  that  are  frequently  flooded   for  long  or  very  long  duration  during  the  growing  season.     Xererts-­‐Xerolls-­‐Urban  land  complex  0-­‐15%  slopes.    The  Xererts-­‐Xerolls-­‐Urban  land  complex   consists  of  nearly  level  to  strongly  sloping  soils  and  miscellaneous  areas  that  are  covered  by  urban   structures.    Most  areas  of  these  soils  are  used  for  urban  development.    The  soil  materials  have  been   modified  by  earthmoving  equipment  or  covered  by  urban  structures  so  that  much  of  their  original   shape  and  physical  characteristics  have  been  altered.    The  Xererts  of  this  complex  are  Cropley  or   Los  Osos-­‐Diablo  soils.    The  percentage  of  the  various  soils  in  this  complex  and  the  degree  of   urbanization  vary  from  place  to  place  (SCS  1984).    An  unnamed  inclusion  of  the  Xererts-­‐Xerolls-­‐ Urban  land  complex  associated  with  depressions  has  a  Hydric  Criteria  Code  of    2A:  soils  in  Aquic   suborder  that  are  somewhat  poorly  drained  and  have  a  frequently  occurring  water  table  less  than  0.5   feet  from  the  surface  for  a  significant  period  (usually  14  consecutive  days  or  more)  during  the  growing   season.     Observed  Soil  Conditions     The  upper  14-­‐18  inches  of  the  soil  profile  were  examined  at  24  sample  points  to  determine   presence  or  absence  of  positive  indicators  for  hydric  soils,  and  to  determine  if  the  soil  map  units   mapped  and  described  by  the  NRCS  were  consistent  with  observed  soil  characteristics.    In  addition   to  the  24  soil  pits  dug  at  sample  points,  three  backhoe  pits  were  dug  above,  below,  and  adjacent  to   the  hillside  seep  area  between  Drainage  2  and  Drainage  3,  to  examine  subsoil  conditions  and  assess   hydrology  and  connectivity  with  the  abutting  drainage  feature.         Study Area Boundary Soil Type Cropley clay, 0 to 2 percent slopes Diablo and Cibo clays, 15 to 30 percent slopes Diablo and Cibo clays, 9 to 15 percent slopes Los Osos-Diablo complex, 15 to 30 percent slopes Los Osos-Diablo complex, 5 to 9 percent slopes Obispo-Rock outcrop complex, 15 to 75 percent slopes Riverwash Salinas silty clay loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes Xererts-Xerolls-Urban land complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes 0 230 460 690 920115Feet Soils Map Figure 3Froom Ranch Source(s): (c) Microsoft Corporation and its data suppliers (2010): NRCS, SLO County Soils Data (2008) John Madonna Construction, Inc. 1 in = 400 ft KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. 15   Soils  observed  on  the  site  were  generally  clayey  and  often  gravelly,  with  moist  and  saturated  clays   present  within  portions  of  Drainages  1,  2,  and  3,  and  near  the  LOVR  roadside  channel  and  Calle   Joaquin.    Areas  identified  as  wetlands  occurred  in  Los  Osos-­‐Diablo,  Cropley,  and  Diablo  and  Cibo   soils.    Non-­‐wetland  waters  were  found  associated  with  all  soil  types  present  in  the  study  area.       Hydric  soil  criteria  per  the  2008  Arid  West  Manual  were  observed  in  most  of  the  soil  pit  locations   with  dominant  wetland  vegetation.    Several  additional  pits  exhibited  redoximorphic  features  that   were  either  too  faint,  or  too  deep  to  meet  one  of  the  Arid  West  criteria.    Previous  delineations   conducted  in  2004  and  2005  classified  soils  as  hydric  if  redoximorphic  features  were  observed   anywhere  within  the  profile.    This  lower  standard  for  hydric  soil  criteria,  combined  with  wetter   conditions  and  more  vegetative  diversity,  may  have  influenced  the  larger  wetland  boundary  lines   mapped  in  the  meadow  areas  along  LOVR  in  2004  and  2005.         4.4    Hydrology     Froom  Creek  flows  east  and  then  south  through  the  site,  before  entering  San  Luis  Creek  on  the   south  side  of  Highway  101.    Three  small  ephemeral  tributaries  drain  the  southwestern  portion  of   the  site,  and  join  Froom  Creek  near  the  southern  property  boundary.    The  LOVR  roadside  channel   parallels  LOVR  along  the  eastern  property  boundary,  and  also  drains  to  San  Luis  Creek.    Most  of  the   eastern  portion  of  the  property  between  Froom  Creek  and  LOVR/Calle  Joaquin  is  within  the  FEMA   1%  flood  zone  (100-­‐year  base  flood  area).         The  section  of  Froom  Creek  within  the  property  consists  of  an  incised  channel,  confined  by  a  man-­‐ made  earthen  berm  along  the  eastern  bank.    The  examination  identified  bed  and  bank  structure   with  a  defined  OHWM  four  to  15  feet  wide,  consisting  of  Riverwash  and  cobble/gravel  deposits.     The  channel  was  dry  during  the  investigation  with  no  signs  of  flow  over  the  last  two  years.    The   tributary  channels  exhibited  defined  bed  and  bank  structure,  and  were  mostly  dry,  except  for  a   small  seep  in  Drainage  3  (Sample  Point  #20),  and  a  larger  spring  fed  wetland  area  at  the  confluence   of  Drainages  1  and  2  (Sample  Point  #19).    A  large  seep  area  extends  north  from  Drainage  2  along   the  adjacent  hillside  (Sample  Point  #22).     The  LOVR  roadside  channel  contained  saturated  soils,  drift  lines  and  debris  racks,  and  was   dominated  by  arroyo  willow,  brown-­‐headed  rush,  and  other  hydric  vegetation.    Low  elevation   meadow  areas  adjacent  to  the  LOVR  channel  and  along  Calle  Joaquin  exhibited  hydric  soil   indicators  and  dominant  wetland  vegetation,  but  no  obvious  hydrology  indicators.    These  areas  are   within  the  100-­‐year  flood  zone,  and  are  flooded  periodically  during  high  rainfall  events.    In   addition,  these  areas  have  exhibited  high  ground  water  levels  during  high  rainfall  years,  and  are   hydrologically  connected  to  the  LOVR  Roadside  channel  by  groundwater  flows.    Upper  meadow   areas  are  flooded  less  often,  and  groundwater  flows  may  have  been  reduced  by  construction  of  the   Irish  Hills  Plaza  to  the  west.    Stormwater  collected  from  the  Plaza  hardscape  now  is  directed  into   the  LOVR  channel  or  into  the  detention  basins,  which  has  changed  groundwater  flow  patterns  and   hydrologic  connectivity  in  the  area.         Large  portions  of  the  site  along  LOVR  and  Calle  Joaquin  are  within  the  100-­‐year  flood  zone,  and  as   such  could  be  inundated  by  flood  waters  during  large  rainfall  events.    Due  to  ongoing  drought   conditions  in  the  region,  the  meadow  areas  examined  in  this  report  have  not  flooded  in  several   years,  and  groundwater  levels  are  lower  than  years  with  normal  or  above  normal  precipitation.         KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. 16 In  2014,  a  total  of  eight  shallow  monitoring  wells  were  installed  on  the  LOVR/Calle  Joaquin   meadow  areas  to  document  groundwater  levels  within  the  top  18  inches  of  the  soil  (refer  to  Figure   4b  for  well  locations).    Data  was  recorded  by  HOBO  U20L  water  level  loggers  through  the  2014-­‐ 2015  rainy  season.    The  shallow  wells  found  no  groundwater  present  within  18  inches  of  the   surface  during  the  2013/2014  rainfall  year,  which  produced  10.6  inches  of  rainfall  for  the  San  Luis   Obispo  area  (Cal  Poly  ITRC  Weather  Station).       4.5    Jurisdictional  Determination  Summary     The  boundary  lines  between  potential  wetlands  and  other  waters  of  the  U.S.  identified  in  this  report   are  based  on  the  methodology  presented  in  the  Arid  West  Manual,  and  reflect  the  conditions   currently  present  on  the  site.    The  natural  drainage  features  including  Froom  Creek  and  its   tributary  drainages  (Drainages  1,  2,  and  3)  were  delineated  based  on  the  extent  of  an  OHWM  or   areas  containing  all  three  wetland  criteria.    The  wet  meadow  areas  are  apparently  the  result  of   LOVR  and  Calle  Joaquin  (and  surrounding  development)  impounding  surface  flow  and   groundwater.    While  large  areas  of  Italian  ryegrass  are  present  in  the  grassland  in  this  portion  of   the  site,  detailed  analysis  of  the  soil  profile  was  used  to  determine  if  the  specific  area  was  in  fact  a   wetland.    The  two  restored  areas  in  the  northern  part  of  the  site  referenced  in  previous  studies  did   not  meet  Arid  West  wetland  criteria,  and  are  functioning  as  upland  grassland.    The  reduced  wetland   areas  reflect  the  new  normal  conditions,  including  changes  in  surface  and  subsurface  hydrology   from  adjacent  development,  changes  in  plant  composition,  and  current  drought  conditions,  as   documented  through  application  of  the  Arid  West  guidelines.         Due  to  the  large  number  of  sample  points  examined  in  this  study,  the  collected  information  was   summarized  in  the  following  tables  to  assist  during  review.    Please  refer  to  Figures  4,  4a  and  4b  for   the  location  of  the  sample  points,  and  the  associated  jurisdictional  boundary  lines.   KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. 17   Table  1.      Sample  Point  Results  Summary   Sample   Point  #   Hydrophytic   Vegetation   Hydric   Soil   Wetland   Hydrology   Jurisdictional   Determination   1  NO  NO  NO  Upland   2  YES  YES  YES  Wetland   3  YES  YES  YES  Wetland   4  NO  NO  NO  Upland   5  YES  YES  YES  Wetland   6  YES  NO  NO  Upland   7  YES  YES  YES  Wetland   8  YES  YES  YES  Wetland   9  NO  NO  NO  Upland   10  YES  YES  YES  Wetland   11  YES  NO  NO  Upland   12  YES  YES  YES  Wetland   13  YES  YES  NO  Upland   14  YES  YES  YES  Wetland   15  YES  NO  NO  Upland   16  NO  NO  NO  Upland   17  NO  NO  NO  Upland   18  YES  NO  NO  Upland   19  YES  YES  YES  Wetland   20  YES  YES  YES  Wetland   21  NO  NO  NO  Upland   22  YES  YES  YES  Wetland   23  YES  NO  NO  Other  Waters   24  NO  NO  NO  Upland     Los Os o s V a l l e y R o a d Calle J o a q u i n Irish Hills PlazaDrainage 1 Drainage 2 Drainage 3 Froom Creek Figure 4a Figure 4b MountainbrookChurch Irish Hills Natural Reserve Study Area Boundary CDFW Jurisdiction (5.41 acres) USACE Wetlands (7.25 acres) USACE Other Waters (2.66 acres) John Madonna Construction, Inc.0 200 400 600 800100Feet Wetland Delineation Overview Source(s): RRM Design Froom Ranch Figure 41 in = 350 ft Drainage 1 Drainage 2 Drainage 3 Froom Creek Fr o o m C r e e k 23 24 22 21 19 18 20 Match Line Wetland Seep Wetland Seep Wetland Sample Points Study Area Boundary CDFW Jurisdiction (5.41 acres) USACE Wetlands (7.25 acres) USACE Other Waters (2.66 acres) John Madonna Construction, Inc.0 110 220 330 44055Feet Wetland Delineation Map Source(s) : RRM Design (Froom Ranch Topographic Basemap) Froom Ranch Figure 4a1 in = 200 ft 24 MountainbrookChurch Irish Hills Natural Reserve Froom Creek 15 14 13 12 11 7 6 5 4 1 2 10 8 9 3 16 17 48" Stor m D r a i n Los Os o s V a l l e y R o a d Calle Jo a q u i n Irish Hills PlazaStorm Water Basin Temporary Retention Basin Drainage 1 Drainage 2 Drainage 3 18 19 20 Irish Hills Plaza HWY 101 Irish Hills Natural Reserve Wetland Wetland Seep Sample Points Culvert Inlet/Outlet Monitoring Well Location Study Area Boundary CDFW Jurisdiction (5.41 acres) USACE Wetlands (7.25 acres) USACE Other Waters (2.66 acres) John Madonna Construction, Inc.0 110 220 330 44055Feet Wetland Delineation Map Froom Ranch Figure 4b1 in = 200 ft 24 Match Line Source(s) : RRM Design (Froom Ranch Topographic Basemap) KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. 21   Of  interest,  observed  changes  to  area  hydrology  over  the  last  10  years  include:     • construction  of  the  adjacent  Costco,  Home  Depot,  and  Irish  Hills  Plaza  developments;   • transport  of  the  resulting  hardscape  runoff  to  the  LOVR  channel  or  the  detention  basins;   and   • Calle  Joaquin  construction  and  associated  drainage  alterations,  resulting  in  the  separated   wetland  area  between  the  site  and  Highway  101.     Observed  changes  to  on-­‐site  vegetation  over  the  last  10  years  include  :     • increased  presence  of  clustered  field  sedge  (FACW)  in  wet  meadow  areas;   • disappearance  of  creek  clover  (Trifolium  wormskjoldii  -­‐  FACW),  and  rabbitsfoot  grass   (Polypogon  monspeliensis  -­‐  FACW)  from  Calle  Joaquin  wet  meadow;   • appearance  of  reed  fescue  (FACU)  as  a  dominant  in  the  Calle  Joaquin  wet  meadow;   • growth  of  arroyo  willow  shrubs  (FACW)  along  the  LOVR  roadside  channel;  and   • appearance  of  round  leaved  leather  root  (OBL)  along  Calle  Joaquin.     Rainfall  patterns  and  amounts  (rainfall  data  from  the  Cal  Poly  ITRC  Weather  Station,  compiled  by   rainfall  year)  were  similar  despite  current  drought  conditions,  as  documented  below:         • 2001-­‐2005  had  2  years  of  at  or  above  normal  rainfall  (22.9,  and  29.8  inches),  and  3  years   below  average  (14.79,  15.3,  and  16.02  inches).     • 2009-­‐2013  had  2  years  well  above  normal  rainfall  (31.7,  31.5),  and  3  years  below  average   (14.6,  14.3,  and  10.6  inches).     5.0    CONCLUSION     This  report  identifies  potential  federal  and  state  jurisdictional  boundaries  within  the  property,  as   determined  by  KMA  following  a  field  investigation  conducted  in  winter  and  spring  of  2015.    Waters   of  the  U.S.  and  State  of  California  identified  within  this  report  are  subject  to  verification  by  the   Corps  and  other  agencies.    As  shown  on  Figures  4a  and  4b,  Froom  Creek,  its  tributary  channels,  the   LOVR  Roadside  channel  and  the  abutting  wet  meadow  areas  along  LOVR  and  Calle  Joaquin  are   considered  to  be  potentially  jurisdictional  Waters  of  the  U.S.  under  the  Clean  Water  Act.    Portions  of   these  areas  also  fall  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  RWQCB  and  CDFW  as  waters  of  the  state.         5.1    Federal  Waters   The  areas  that  are  considered  potentially  jurisdictional  by  the  Corps  consist  of  wetlands  and  other   waters  as  mapped  on  Figures  4a  and  4b.    The  majority  of  Froom  Creek  and  the  associated  tributary   channels  experience  a  seasonal  flow  regime  and  lack  dominant  wetland  vegetation  within  the   OHWM,  and  such  areas  are  mapped  as  non-­‐wetland  other  waters  habitat  (Riverine  Intermittent   Streambed).    Wet  meadow  areas  and  spring  or  seep  fed  portions  of  the  tributary  channels  that   contain  dominant  perennial  wetland  vegetation  are  mapped  as  wetland  habitat  (Palustrine   Emergent  Wetland).    Acreage  of  the  identified  jurisdictional  areas  is  presented  below.     KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. 22 The  delineation  identified  a  total  of  approximately  9.90  acres  of  Corps-­‐jurisdictional  waters  of  the   U.S.  including  wetlands  within  the  site  (refer  to  Table  2).    This  area  calculation  is  approximate,  and   has  not  been  confirmed  by  the  Corps.    All  Corps-­‐jurisdictional  areas  listed  in  Table  2  also  fall  under   the  jurisdiction  of  the  RWQCB  as  waters  of  the  State  of  California.    No  isolated  waters  were   identified  within  the  study  area.     Table  2.    Summary  of  Jurisdictional  Waters  of  the  U.S.   Waters  of  the  U.S.  Total  Area     (square  feet  /  acre)  Total  Linear  Feet   Wetlands   Wetland  within  OHWM  62,420  /  1.43  1,764   Wet  Meadow  253,170  /  5.81  N/A   Other  Waters   Intermittent  Streambed  within  OHWM  115,736  /  2.66  8,176   Total  Waters  of  the  U.S.  431,326  /  9.90  9,940     5.2    CDFW  Jurisdictional  Areas     As  shown  on  Figures  4a  and  4b,  Froom  Creek  and  its  tributaries,  the  LOVR  channel,  and  the  Calle   Joaquin  ponding  zone  fall  under  CDFW  regulatory  authority  per  the  California  Fish  and  Game  Code.     The  wet  meadow  areas  are  not  directly  associated  with  bed  and  bank  features  or  riparian  habitat,   and  therefore  are  not  expected  to  be  regulated  by  CDFW.  The  delineation  identified  a  total  of   approximately  5.41  acres  of  CDFW  jurisdictional  area  (refer  to  Table  3).    CDFW  jurisdiction   includes  all  Waters  of  the  U.S.    within  the  OHWM  listed  in  Table  2,  and  additional  areas  extending  to   the  outer  edge  of  associated  riparian  vegetation  or  the  property  boundaries.         Table  3.    Summary  of  CDFW  Jurisdictional  Areas   CDFW  Jurisdictional  Areas*  Total  Area   (square  feet/acre)  Total  Linear  Feet   Froom  Creek  and  tributary  channels,   LOVR  roadside  channel,  Calle  Joaquin  235,528  /  5.41  9,841   Total  CDFW  Jurisdictional  Area  235,528  /  5.41  9,841          *  Channel  width  at  top  of  bank  or  outer  extent  of  associated  riparian  vegetation.     These  jurisdictional  areas  and  boundaries  are  subject  to  review  and  verification  by  the  Corps,   RWQCB,  and  CDFW,  and  this  report  should  be  submitted  to  these  agencies  as  part  of  any  permit   applications  associated  with  the  proposed  project.    During  the  permit  review  process,  the  Corps  and   other  agencies  may  conduct  a  site  visit  to  verify  the  jurisdictional  boundaries  identified  in  this   report,  and  may  approve  the  report  or  request  amendments  to  the  report  based  on  their  findings.     KMA  advises  all  interested  parties  to  treat  the  information  contained  herein  as  preliminary  pending   written  verification  of  jurisdictional  boundaries  by  the  Corps.     KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. 23 6.0    REFERENCES     Baldwin,  B.G.,  D.H.  Goldman,  D.J.  Keil,  R.  Patterson,  T.J.  Rosatti,  and  D.H.  Wilken,  editors.    2012.    The   Jepson  Manual:  vascular  plants  of  California,  second  edition.    University  of  California  Press,   Berkeley.     Cowardin,  Lewis  M.,  V.  Carter,  F.C.  Golet,  and  E.T.  LaRoe.  1979.  Classification  of  wetlands  and   deepwater  habitats  of  the  United  States.  Prepared  for  the  U.S.  Fish  and  Wildlife  Service.   FWS/OBS-­‐79/31.     Environmental  Laboratory.    1987.    Corps  of  Engineers  wetlands  delineation  manual.    U.S.  Army   Engineer  Waterways  Experiment  Station.    Vicksburg,  Mississippi.     Grumbles,  Benjamin  H.,  and  John  Paul  Woodley,  Jr.  2007.    Clean  water  act  jurisdiction  following  the   U.  S.  Supreme  Court's  decision  in  Rapanos  v.  United  States  &  Carabell  v.  United  States,  June  5,  2007.     U.S.  Environmental  Protection  Agency  and  Department  of  the  Army.       Guzy,  G.  S.,  and  R.  M.  Anderson.    2001.    Memorandum:  Supreme  Court  ruling  concerning  CWA   jurisdiction  of  isolated  waters.    U.S.  Environmental  Protection  Agency  and  Army  Corps  of   Engineers.     Hickman,  J.  Ed.  1993.  The  Jepson  Manual:  Higher  Plants  of  California.  University  of  California  Press:   Berkeley,  California.     Holland,  Robert.  1986.  Preliminary  Descriptions  of  the  Terrestrial  Natural  Communities  of  California.   Department  of  Fish  and  Game.     Lichvar,  R.W.,  M.  Butterwick,  N.C.  Melvin,  and  W.N.  Kirchner.  2014.  The  National  Wetland  Plant  List:   2014  Update  of  Wetland  Ratings.  Phytoneuron  2014-­‐41:  1-­‐42.     Munsell  Color.  2000.  Munsell  Soil  Color  Charts.  Year  2000  Revised.  GretagMacbeth,  New  York.     Sawyer,  John,  Todd  Keeler-­‐Wolf  and  Julie  Evens.    2009.    Manual  of  California  Vegetation,  Second   Edition.    California  Native  Plant  Society.    Sacramento,  California.     U.S.  Army  Corps  of  Engineers.    2008.    Regional  Supplement  to  the  Corps  of  Engineers  Wetland   Delineation  Manual:    Arid  West  Region  (Version  2.0),  ed.  J.S.  Wakely,  R.W.  Lichvar,  and  C.V.  Noble.   ERDC/EL  TR-­‐08-­‐28.    Vicksburg,  MS.    U.  S.  Army  Engineer  Research  and  Development  Center.     U.S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  Natural  Resources  Conservation  Service.    2006.    Field  indicators  of   hydric  soils  in  the  United  States,  version  6.0,  edited  by  G.  W.  Hurt  and  L.  M.  Vasilas.    USDA,  NRCS   in  cooperation  with  the  National  Technical  Committee  for  Hydric  Soils.    Fort  Worth,  TX.     U.S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  Natural  Resources  Conservation  Service.    2015.    Web  soil  survey.     U.S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  Natural  Resources  Conservation  Service.    Available  at:     http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov.     U.S.  Fish  and  Wildlife  Service  National  Wetlands  Inventory  available  at:     http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/                                         APPENDIX  A   Wetland  Determination  Data  Forms                     KMA                                       APPENDIX  B   Photo  Plate                     KMA KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. Photo  Plate   Appendix  B  -­‐  Photo  Plate      Photo  1.    View  of  the  upper  portion  of  Froom  Creek,  looking  southeasterly  (downstream).    Note  broad,  dry,   cobbled  channel  with  no  pool  or  riffle  structure.    Photo  2.    View  of  the  middle  portion  of  Froom  Creek,  grasslands,  the  permanent  detention  basin,  and  wet   meadow  areas  along  LOVR  and  Calle  Joaquin,  looking  east.       KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. Photo  Plate    Photo  3.    View  of  the  upper  portion  of  the  site  and  Drainage  2,  looking  east.          Photo  4.    View  of  the  LOVR  roadside  channel,  looking  east  along  LOVR  from  the  northeast  corner  of  the  Study   Area.    Note  lack  of  defined  channel  structure  in  foreground,  and  dense  willow  canopy  in  the  distance  along  lower   section  of  the  channel.   KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. Photo  Plate      Photo  5.    View  of  ponded  water  and  bulrush  occurrences  along  Calle  Joaquin,  looking  southeast.          Photo  6.    View  of  Sample  Points  1  (black  arrow)  and  2  (white  arrow),  looking  east  toward  LOVR.    Sample  Point  3   is  located  in  the  LOVR  channel  to  the  right  of  2.   KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. Photo  Plate      Photo  7.    View  of  Sample  Points  4  (shovel)  and  5  (white  arrow),  looking  east  toward  LOVR.      Photo  8.    View  of  Sample  Points  6  (shovel)  and  7  (white  arrow),  looking  east  toward  LOVR.     KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. Photo  Plate    Photo  9.    View  of  Sample  Points  9  (foreground)  and  8  (white  arrow),  looking  east  toward  the  LOVR  /  Calle   Joaquin  intersection.      Photo  10.    View  of  Sample  Points  10  (shovel)  and  11  (white  arrow),  looking  west  toward  the  permanent   detention  basin.    Note  dominant  cover  of  OBL  species  at  10,  and  upland  grasses  at  11.     KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. Photo  Plate    Photo  11.    View  of  Sample  Points  13  (foreground)  and  12  (white  arrow),  looking  east  toward  the  LOVR  /  Calle   Joaquin  intersection.      Photo  12.    View  of  Sample  Points  15  (shovel)  and  14  (white  arrow),  looking  east  toward  the  LOVR  /  Calle   Joaquin  intersection.   KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. Photo  Plate        Photo  13.    View  of  Sample  Point  19,  in  wetland  area  near  confluence  with  Drainage  1.      Photo  14.    View  of  Sample  Point  20  at  the  edge  of  the  small  seep  on  the  bank  of  Drainage  3.   KMA Froom Ranch Delineation of Waters of the U.S. and State of California John Madonna Construction, Inc. Photo  Plate    Photo  15.    View  of  Sample  Points  22  (arrow)  and  21  (shovel)  in  the  hillside  seep  area  near  Drainage  2,  looking   south.      Photo  16.    View  of  Sample  Points  23  (arrow)  and  24  (shovel)  in  and  adjacent  to  Drainage  1,  looking  west.