Birds
General Construction Monitoring:
The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and/or the regulatory
permits for the project require monitoring for five species of
birds that could potentially be adversely affected during construction:
- California least tern
- California brown pelican
- American peregrine falcon
- Double-crested cormorant
- Western gull
These species will be monitored during pile-driving, dredging,
and other construction activities that are in or adjacent to the
Bay or that may affect their nesting success. The frequency and
duration of each monitoring visit will vary depending on the bird
species, the time of year, and the construction activity taking
place (see the Bird
Monitoring and Management Plan (pdf - 476 KB) for more details).
Peregrine Falcon Nest Monitoring:
The peregrine falcon nest(s) on the existing East Span will be
monitored during the nesting season to assess the potential effects
on this species from construction activities. The nest monitoring
will be carried out from an observation point(s) that provides
a good view of the nest site(s). The frequency and duration of
the monitoring visits will vary depending on the time of year,
the construction activities taking place, and the likelihood of
disturbing the nesting activities of the peregrine falcons. The
bird monitors will assess whether construction activities are
disturbing the nesting activities to the point that the pair may
abandon the nest. If so, the eggs will be collected and/or any
chicks will be captured and released to an appropriate off-site
location by biologists who have the appropriate expertise and
authorizations.
Nest Surveys on Yerba Buena Island:
Bird monitors will conduct nest searches, prior to vegetation
removal on Yerba Buena Island (YBI), for all bird species protected
under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. These include five species
of concern that were identified in the FEIS as possibly nesting
on YBI:
- Black-crowned night heron
- White-tailed kite
- Allen's hummingbird
- Bank swallow
- Bewick's wren
Nest searches will be conducted prior to each construction activity
that will require vegetation removal on YBI during the breeding
season of any of the target species. The breeding seasons vary,
but one or more of these species may be nesting between January
and July. The surveys will take place no earlier than two weeks
before the start of vegetation removal. This will help to ensure
that no nesting activity begins in the intervening period between
a survey and the actual work. To confirm the presence or absence
of breeding, the observer will survey the site once. To determine
nest locations if breeding may be present, up to two more surveys
may be conducted on different days.
Monitoring During Dismantling of the Existing Bridge:
Prior to beginning dismantling of the existing East Span, Caltrans
will explore the possibility of timing the dismantling activities
to minimize disturbance of nesting by peregrine falcons, double-crested
cormorants, and western gulls (e.g., by scheduling dismantling
activities in the vicinity of known nest-sites outside of the
breeding season).
During the dismantling work, cormorants and gulls will be prevented
from nesting on portions of the existing bridge by regularly washing
partially constructed nests off the bridge with water when the
nests are actively occupied. If the nests are completed and the
birds have laid eggs, the nests will not be disturbed.
Bird monitors will assess whether construction activities are
disturbing the nesting activities of peregrine falcons to the
point that the pair may abandon the nest. If so, the eggs will
be collected and/or any chicks will be captured and released to
an off-site location by biologists who have the appropriate expertise
and authorization.
Shorebird Roosting Mitigation
Caltrans will mitigate for potential impacts on shorebird roosting
habitat at the Oakland Touchdown by creating a permanent shorebird
roosting site north of the Oakland Touchdown. The roosting site
will be about 500 square feet. Following construction of the roosting
site, bird monitors will conduct surveys to determine the extent
to which shorebirds use the site. Surveys will be carried out
monthly from September through April for three years.
Reporting:
Bird monitoring memos will be posted weekly in the report section
of the website. Nest survey results will be posted after completion
of each one- to three-day survey. Shorebird roost monitoring memos
will be posted after completion of each survey (view
Bird reports).
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Fish
A fisheries monitoring program has been developed to assess impacts
on fisheries and to in evaluate the performance of a bubble curtain
(see schematic for details) in
minimizing the level of incidental take of special-status fish
species (see the Fisheries
and Hydroacoustic Monitoring Program Workplan (pdf - 4.34
MB) for more details). Fisheries monitoring will be conducted
during construction of the eastbound structure (Piers E6 through
E3). It is expected that the location of pile-driving for the
westbound structure will be essentially the same and impacts to
fish would be similar to those documented for the eastbound structure;
therefore, monitoring during construction of the westbound structure
is not currently planned.
The monitoring program will include:
- Hydroacoustic monitoring using hydrophones to document sound
pressure levels.
- Monitoring for predation by gulls to be used as a qualitative
index of mortality caused by pile-driving.
- Caged fish monitoring using shiner surfperch and steelhead
of various sizes to evaluate the mortality and injury rate for
differing sizes and species of fish that have swim bladders.
In addition, construction activities that occur during the peak
herring spawning season, generally January to March, will be monitored
by a qualified biologist to determine the presence of spawning
herring. If spawning is observed in the construction area, in-water
construction activities, such as pile-driving and dredging will
be suspended within 660 feet of the observed spawn. In-water construction
activities would not resume at that location for a period of up
to 14 days, allowing herring eggs to hatch and larvae to disperse.
Reporting:
During periods of monitoring, fish monitoring memos will be posted
weekly in the report section of the website. After the fisheries
monitoring is completed (estimated Summer 2004), a report summarizing
the results will be posted (view
Fish reports).
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Eelgrass
Eelgrass beds occur in some of the shallow intertidal areas at
the Oakland Touchdown and at Clipper Cove at Yerba Buena Island.
Eelgrass provides important nursery habitat and protection for
many fish. In addition, avian species are often observed foraging
in the beds.
Construction of the East Span Project will impact eelgrass
beds with the dredging of a barge access channel in a portion
of the shallow Emeryville Flats. The work will result in the
permanent and temporary loss of approximately 3.60 acres of
eelgrass (3.24 acres of permanent impacts and 0.36 acres of
temporary impacts)
While not all of the impacts to eelgrass can be mitigated on-site
(see Off-site Mitigation), the restoration
of portions of the barge access channel to its pre-construction
bathymetry could result in approximately 1.73 acres of eelgrass
within the project footprint. Caltrans is currently evaluating
a variety of issues related to restoration before developing
and implementing a restoration program.
Some of the efforts include:
- Caltrans is conducting annual eelgrass surveys to assess
the status of eelgrass within the project area to evaluate and
minimize project impacts and develop appropriate restoration
methodologies.
- Caltrans has harvested and transplanted approximately 0.55
acres of the eelgrass found in the footprint of the barge access
channel into an area of the Emeryville Flats and Brickyard Cove.
The purpose of this transplant effort is to conduct a rigorous
investigation of factors supporting transplanted eelgrass growth
and survival in San Francisco Bay.
- Caltrans will provide $1 million to research eelgrass beds
in San Francisco Bay. In partnership with the National Marine
Fisheries Service, Caltrans will survey eelgrass within San
Francisco Bay to better understand its distribution and density,
prepare a limiting factors analysis and identify appropriate
restoration methodologies. The information will assist Caltrans
and resource and regulatory agencies in protecting and managing
eelgrass in San Francisco Bay.
Reporting:
There will be a variety of eelgrass related reports produced.
Annual eelgrass surveys will be posted annually (in December)
in the report section of the website. Other documents will be
posted as they become available (view
Eelgrass reports).
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Marine Mammal
Marine mammals (California sea lions, Pacific harbor seals, and
gray whales) will be monitored while pile-driving occurs without
cofferdams. This type of pile-driving has the potential to harass
these species swimming, foraging, or resting in the project vicinity.
Prior to commencement of driving of any in-water, permanent pile
without a cofferdam, a preliminary 1,640-foot radius safety zone
for harbor seals and California sea lions will be established
around the pile-driving site. Observers will begin monitoring
at least 30 minutes prior to startup of the pile-driving. Observers
will likely conduct the monitoring from small boats, existing
bridge piers or construction barges. Pile-driving will be delayed
if any marine mammals are observed in the safety zone prior to
the start of pile-driving. Once driving a pile segment begins,
operations will continue uninterrupted until the segment has reached
its predetermined depth. Monitoring will continue through the
pile-driving period and will end approximately 30 minutes after
pile-driving has been completed.
Data collection will consist of a count of all marine mammals
by species, behavior, sex and age class if possible, location,
direction of movement, type of construction occurring, time that
pile driving begins and ends, any acoustic or visual disturbance
and time of the observation. (see the Marine
Mammal Monitoring Plan (pdf -1.71MB) for more details)
Reporting:
During periods of monitoring, marine mammal monitoring memos will
be posted weekly in the report section of the website. At the
end of each major phase of construction in which pile-driving
occurs, a summary report will also be posted (view
Marine Mammal reports).
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Water Quality
Under the Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) for the East Span
Project, Caltrans is required to conduct turbidity monitoring
and reporting activities according to a Self-Monitoring Program
(SMP) during dredging and fill activities (see California
Regional Water Quality Control Board Order R2-2002-0011 (pdf
-806KB) for more details). Caltrans is required to prevent increases
of turbidity and chemicals of concern in amounts greater than
those specified in the WDRs to protect eelgrass beds located adjacent
to the project area that have been designated as an Environmentally
Sensitive Area (ESA).
Sampling is conducted every two hours during active construction.
If an exceedance is observed, another sample is taken 15 minutes
later to confirm the exceedance. If the exceedance is still present,
hourly monitoring will continue for 4 hours. If the exceedance
still exists after 4 hours, the following procedures will be followed.
If turbidity standards are exceeded and it is determined that
the exceedance posed a potential threat to the ESA for any of
the following:
- A continuous period of four hours or more
- Eight hours or more in any one-week period from Oct. 1 - Mar.
31
- Sixteen hours or more in any one-week period from Apr. 1 -
Sept. 30
Caltrans will then suspend all dredging, excavation or fill work
causing or contributing to the exceedance, until turbidity levels
have fallen below exceedance levels and remained there for a minimum
of four consecutive hours. Additionally, Caltrans will implement
control measures necessary to prevent a recurrence of the exceedance
when work is resumed and will immediately notify the Regional
Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) of the exceedance and how
it will be corrected.
If turbidity standards are exceeded and it is determined that
the exceedance posed a potential threat to the ESA for either
of the following:
- Twelve hours or more in any one-week period from Oct. 1 - Mar.
31
- Twenty-four hours or more in any one-week period from Apr.
1 - Sept. 30
Caltrans will then halt the dredging, excavation, or fill causing
the exceedance, until the cause of the violation is found and
sampling has demonstrated that the exceedance has been corrected
or when Caltrans had provided the RWQCB with a corrective action
plan that provides alternative methods of compliance. Caltrans
will immediately notify the RWQCB of the exceedance and how it
will be corrected.
Reporting:
Water quality reports will be posted monthly in the report section
of the website (view Water
Quality reports).
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 Off-Site
Mitigation
Impacts to special aquatic sites resulting from construction of
the new East Span will be mitigated by creating and enhancing
habitat off-site. An interagency effort is underway to evaluate
several mitigation programs including the North Bay Mitigation
Program at Naval Security Group Activity (NSGA) - Skaggs Island,
the Central Bay Mitigation Program at the Eastshore State Park,
the San Francisco Bay Eelgrass Research Project (see Eelgrass
for more details), and the San Francisco Bay Salmonid Habitat
Restoration Program.
Caltrans will provide up to $8 million to remove hazardous materials
and infrastructure at NSGA-Skaggs Island in the North Bay. In
partnership with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Caltrans will
remove and remediate hazardous materials, such as lead-based paint
and asbestos containing materials, and demolish and dispose of
the intrastructure. This will facilitate the transfer of approximately
3,300 acres of diked historic baylands at NSGA-Skaggs Island from
the Navy to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service will then prepare a restoration plan for
the site. Once restored, Skaggs Island could provide potential
habitat for endangered species including clapper rails, least
terns, and salt marsh harvest mice.
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Caltrans will provide $2.5 million towards the creation and restoration
of eelgrass, sand flats, and wetlands at the Eastshore State Park
in the Central Bay. The Central Bay provides potential near-project
mitigation opportunities at Radio Beach, Brickyard Cove, North
Basin, and Hoffman Marsh. Caltrans, in partnership with the East
Bay Regional Park District, will evaluate, select, and implement
habitat improvements at up to four of the Central Bay sites listed.
Once implemented, the selected sites will be monitored for success.
Caltrans will also provide $3.5 million to the National Marine
Fisheries Service for the restoration of federal- and state-listed
salmon habitat tributary to the Central and South Bay. These funds
will be used to develop a grants program that supports fishery
projects that improve the ability of steelhead and salmon to migrate
upstream to spawn.
Caltrans has transferred the funds to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, who will administer the program, but spending of the funds will be at the discretion of NOAA and CDFG, in consultation with Caltrans and FHWA. Grant monies were awarded in excess of $2,178,000 to eleven projects as part of the 2005 Request for Proposals. (View the 2005 Annual Statement)
Reporting:
Reports and workplans will be posted in the report section of
the website as they become available (view
Off-Site Mitigation reports).
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Dredged Material Disposal and Reuse
Dredging in-Bay is required to provide barge access during construction
of the new bridge and dismantling of the existing bridge as well
as for pier construction. Dredged material will be transported
from the construction site for disposal or beneficial reuse.
It is Caltrans' goal to beneficially reuse dredged materials
at upland wetland restoration sites or other beneficial reuses
such as levee protection, if such sites are available and are
cost-effective. However, some dredged materials will be disposed
of at approved in-Bay or deep ocean disposal sites. Caltrans may
also opt to beneficially reuse dredged materials at landfill sites
as daily cover.
Dredging for the barge access channel occurred July to October
2002. The majority of this dredged material was disposed of at
the Deep Ocean Disposal Site (DODS), west of the Farallon Islands.
A small amount (approximately one percent) of the dredged material
was determined to be unsuitable for aquatic disposal and was beneficially
used for levee protection as part of the Winter Island Levee Restoration
Project.
Small amounts of material are currently being generated during
pier construction. This material is being disposed of at the Alcatraz
in-Bay site due to the logistics of transporting and disposing
of small monthly loads.
Disposal of material at the DODS requires monitoring of shorebirds
and marine mammals. Observers are to be present on at least one
disposal trip during each calendar month that disposal occurs,
and on average at least once every 25 vessel trips to the DODS.
Reporting:
DODS Seabird and Marine Mammal Monitoring Reports will be posted
in the report section of the website following each month in which
disposal at DODS has occurred (view
Dredged Material reports).
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