SR-84 Expressway Widening and SR84/I-680 Interchange Improvements Project [California Endangered Species Act (CESA) Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2019-059-03

SR-84 Expressway Widening and SR84/I-680 Interchange Improvements Project [California Endangered Species Act (CESA) Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2019-059-03

The Alameda County Transportation Commission in association with the California Department of Transportation (Permittee) proposes the widening of SR-84 from two lanes to four lanes and modifications to expressway standards from south of Ruby Hill Drive and the I-680 interchange. The Project will also improve SR-84/I-680 interchange ramps and extend the existing high-occupancy vehicle (HOV)/express lane on southbound I-680 northward approximately 0.8 miles north of Koopman Road, north of the SR-84/I-680 interchange. The Project includes roadway widening; bridge widening; utility and drainage improvements, new bike lanes, frontage roads, flyover ramp, retaining walls, concrete barriers, HOV/express lane signs and gantries, stormwater treatment facilities, and wildlife movement crossing structures. The Biological Study Area (BSA) is approximately 605.31 acres and includes the section of SR-84 between PM 17.9 to 22.9 and the section of I-680 between PM 10.3 to 15.3. The Project is expected to impact 98.22 acres of suitable habitat for Covered Species (Alameda whipsnake and California tiger salamander) within the SR-84/I-680 corridor, impacts to California tiger salamander (CTS) suitable habitat include the permanent loss of 40.33 acres, the temporary loss of 38.46 acres, and 15.095 acres of indirect impact resulting from additional light source installations. Within Collier Canyon Preserve, impacts to CTS suitable habitat resulting from aquatic breeding habitat creation include the permanent loss of 1.32 acres and the temporary loss of 3.06 acres. Impacts to Alameda whipsnake (AWS) suitable habitat include the permanent loss of 16.38 acres and the temporary loss 20.32 acres within the SR-84/I-680 corridor. All impacts to AWS suitable habitat overlap with CTS suitable habitat, with the exception of 0.04 acres of additional impacts covered by Major Amendment No. 1. The additional 0.04 acres of Covered Species impacts applies to CTS only. The project is expected to result in incidental take of the Covered Species, as defined by Fish and Game Code in the form of pursue destruction of burrows and dens that the Covered Species inhabit; being crushed under moving vehicles and equipment; disturbance in the vicinity of dens or burrows; desiccation or predation along fence lines and other barriers to movement; and habitat alteration and decreased survivorship resulting from the installation of additional light sources, resulting in increased light pollution to Covered Species habitat. Take may also occur in the form of pursue, catch, capture, or attempt to do so from capture and relocation attempts. Relocation could result in mortality, injury, and/or disease transmission to Covered Species, both designated as a threatened species under CESA. The ITP referenced above as issued by CDFW authorizes incidental take of species listed under CESA that may occur as a result of Project implementation.

Alameda

Northern California, San Francisco Bay Area

Alameda