Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619
Proposed Study Plan
RTE-S5
STUDY DESCRIPTION RTE-S5
SPECIAL-STATUS, ELDERBERRY SHRUB, AND
CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT PLANTS
Revised May 2014
STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVE
The Bucks Creek Project (Project) Pre-Application Document (PAD) (November 2013)
reviewed the existing, relevant, and reasonably available information associated with rare,
threatened, endangered, or special-status species and identified the following issues:

RTE-1 Effects of Project operations on special-status amphibian and aquatic reptile
species

RTE-2 Effects of Project operations on valley elderberry longhorn beetle

RTE-3 Effects of Project operations on bald eagle

RTE-4 Effects of Project operations on willow flycatcher

RTE-5 Effects of Project operations on special-status bat species

RTE-6 Effects of the Project on special-status plant species
The goal of this study is to develop the essential additional information necessary to supplement
the existing information to address issues RTE-2 and RTE-6, as well as BR-3, Effects of the
Project on culturally significant plant species for Native Americans. Information required to
address issues RTE-1, RTE-3, RTE-4, and RTE-5 will be collected in studies RTE-S1, RTE-S2,
RTE-S3, and RTE-S4, respectively.
A comprehensive floristic survey and mapping of special-status plant populations will update the
2002 survey and identify the presence of any new special-status plant, lichen, or fungi species or
populations in the Project Area. A presence-and-effects analysis will also be conducted. The
survey will include elderberry shrub surveys concurrent with special-status plant surveys below
3,000 feet in elevation, as well as culturally significant plant population surveys to identify the
locations of any culturally significant plant species.
EXISTING INFORMATION
RTE-2 — Effects of Project Operations on Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle
The valley elderberry longhorn beetle is federally threatened. The beetle’s obligatory host plant,
blue elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. caerulea), may be present in the Project Area at elevations
below 3,000 feet. Project operation and maintenance, vegetation management, and/or recreational
use may disturb these plants. No mapping or known occurrence information is available for blue
elderberry shrubs in the Project Affected Area (PAA). Additional information is needed to
determine if any are present. Potential impacts and incidental take of valley elderberry longhorn
beetle are already addressed under the Licensees’ formal consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife
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Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619
©2014, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara
Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619
Proposed Study Plan
RTE-S5
Service (USFWS) (2003). As a result, proposed studies related to valley elderberry longhorn beetle
are limited to documentation of host plant occurrences in the Project Area.
RTE-6 — Effects of the Project on Special-Status Plant Species
The Project may affect special-status plant species through ground disturbance, vegetation
management, and introduction of noxious weeds in the Project Area. In addition, human
activities during operation and maintenance activities and during recreational use (concentrated
chiefly at the Project reservoirs [Bucks Lake, Lower Bucks Lake, Three Lakes, and Grizzly
Forebay]) may affect special-status plant species. However, no current Project-specific
information exists on the location of habitat or specific special-status species in the areas where
disturbance may occur (comprehensive surveys for plant species have not been conducted since
2002). Additional information is needed to understand whether the Project is affecting specialstatus plant species.
BR-3 — Effects of the Project on Culturally Significant Plant Species for Native Americans
The Project may affect culturally significant plant species through ground disturbance,
vegetation management, introduction of noxious weeds, and the presence of structures and roads
in the Project Area. In addition, human activities during operation and maintenance activities and
during recreational use may affect culturally significant plant species. However, no current
Project-specific information exists on the location of culturally significant plant species in the
areas where disturbance may occur. Additional information is needed to understand whether the
Project is affecting culturally significant plant species.
NEXUS BETWEEN PROJECT AND RESOURCE TO BE STUDIED AND HOW THE
RESULTS WILL BE USED
Project operation and maintenance activities involve ground and vegetation disturbance (e.g.,
vegetation management around Project facilities, road maintenance and scheduled repair work,
and other Project-related activities). Such activities have the potential to affect special-status
plant, lichen, and fungi species, elderberry shrubs, and culturally significant plant species.
Project recreation activities that include ground disturbance could also affect special-status plant,
lichen, and fungi populations, elderberry shrubs, and culturally significant plant populations. The
results of this survey will determine the distribution of special-status plant, lichen, and fungi
species, elderberry shrubs, and culturally significant plant species and will be used by Licensees
and relicensing participants to assess potential Project effects on these species.
STUDY AREA AND SITES
The study area includes the land within the Project Boundary, focusing on those areas where
ground-disturbing activities are likely to occur. Surveys will be conducted within 200 feet of all
Project features including structures, roads, reservoirs, facilities and infrastructure, and Project
recreation sites. Specifically excluded from the study area are areas where access is unsafe (very
steep terrain or high water flows) or private property for which Licensees have not received
specific approval from the landowner to enter the property to perform the study. The Licensees
will make a good-faith effort to obtain access to private property to conduct the study.
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Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619
©2014, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara
Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619
Proposed Study Plan
RTE-S5
METHODS
The study will consist of the following two tasks:
Task 1: Office Review
A literature review will be conducted to determine which special-status plant, lichen, and fungi
species are known to occur or potentially occur in the Project Area. Special-status plant, lichen,
and fungi species will be defined as follows: those listed, proposed, or candidates for listing as
rare, threatened, or endangered by the federal government and/or the state of California; those
included on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Special Vascular Plants,
Bryophytes, and Lichens List with a California Rare Plant Rank of 1, 2, 3, or 4; and those listed
by USFS as sensitive or special-interest within Plumas National Forest (PNF). The most recent
species lists, including those published by the USFWS, the California Department of Fish and
Wildlife’s California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), the California Native Plant
Society’s (CNPS) online Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, and
PNF, will be reviewed to identify target species for the study area. As lower Grizzly Creek has
one documented occurrence of Cantelow’s lewisia (Lewisia cantelovii) and contains suitable
habitat for cutleaf monkeyflower (Mimulus laciniatus), these two plants will also be included
within the target species list for the Study Area. In addition, the CalFlora database
(http://www.calflora.org/) will be queried to identify occurrences of target special-status plants
near the Study Area.
A confidential list of culturally significant plants and a threshold abundance, above which the
surveyors are responsible for recording locations of these species, will be developed in
consultation with the interested Tribes. This target list of species will be surveyed concurrent
with special-status plant surveys.
Color aerial photography (Study Description BR-S1) will be reviewed to determine vegetation
cover types that have the potential to support special-status plant, lichen, and fungi species.
Herbaria investigations will be conducted to gather information on each special-status plant,
lichen, and fungi species that may occur in the study area. To obtain additional taxonomic and
habitat information, field visits (where possible) will be made to known locations of specialstatus plant, lichen, and fungi species in the Project Vicinity.
Task 2: Field Surveys
Field surveys will be conducted by individuals with (1) experience conducting floristic field
surveys; (2) knowledge of plant taxonomy and plant community ecology and classification;
(3) familiarity with the plant, lichen, and fungi species of the area; (4) familiarity with appropriate
state and federal statutes related to plants and plant, lichen, and fungi collecting; and (5) experience
with analyzing effects of a project on native plant, lichen, and fungi species and communities.
Field surveys will be floristic and will be conducted during the appropriate blooming periods.
Multiple surveys will be conducted to locate all potential special-status plant, lichen, and fungi
species. The survey protocol will follow the Guidelines for Conducting and Reporting Botanical
Inventories for Federally Listed, Proposed and Candidate Plants (USFWS 1996) and Protocols
for Surveying and Evaluating Impacts to Special-Status Native Plant Populations and Natural
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Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619
©2014, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara
RTE-S5
Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619
Proposed Study Plan
Communities (CDFG 2009). Specifically, surveys will be comprehensive for vascular and
nonvascular plant and lichen species such that “every plant taxon that occurs on site is identified
to the taxonomic level necessary to determine rarity and listing status” (CDFG 2009). Surveys
for fungi species will not be comprehensive; surveys for fungi species will be incidental and
species observed will be identified only to the extent necessary to determine if they are specialstatus fungi species.
Review of aerial photography and ground-truthing of vegetation communities associated with the
vegetation mapping study (Study BR-S1) will help identify suitable habitat for special-status
plant, lichen, and fungi species. Special-status plant, lichen, and fungi species’ populations
identified within the study area that continue onto public and/or private lands will be documented
so as to inform resource agencies of the presence and general extent of resources of interest that
lie beyond the area of reasonable direct impact by the Project. The information gathered about
special-status plant, lichen, and fungi species’ populations outside of the study area may be
limited by the extent of the occurrence, logistical, or safety issues, and the opportunity for lawful
access. At a minimum, data gathered will include a general description and estimate of the
number of special-status plants in a population and the boundaries of special-status lichen and
fungi populations.
For special-status plant, lichen, and fungi species and for elderberry shrubs, the locations
observed within the study area will be mapped with a global positioning system (GPS) receiver
capable of not less than five-meter accuracy. For elderberry plants, only shrubs with stems
measuring one inch or greater in diameter at ground level will be documented (PG&E and
USFWS 2003, USFWS 2003). Site coordinates and attribute data (e.g., numbers of plant, lichen,
and fungi species observed, relative condition of the population, recognizable risk factors) will
be captured in the Project GIS platform. Photographs showing diagnostic floral characteristics,
growth forms, and habitat characteristics will be taken of all special-status plant, lichen, and
fungi species observed. Voucher specimens for verification will be collected in accordance with
government collecting regulations. California native species field survey forms will be filled out
and filed with the CNDDB. Proposed survey locations located on property under private
ownership will only be surveyed with the approval of the respective land owner.
For culturally significant plants, incidental observations of species above the threshold
abundance level will be mapped during the survey. These mapped locations, as well as an overall
list of culturally significant species occurring in the study area, will be reported directly to the
Tribes of interest; the information will remain confidential and not available to the public.
Incidental observations of other species will be documented on field data sheets or specific
incidental species observation forms, and compiled into a single database of incidental
observations that can be used as a reference for other analyses.
ANALYSIS
All special-status plant, lichen, and fungi species, elderberry shrubs, and culturally significant
plant populations (that are above the threshold population size) will be mapped and an
assessment will be conducted as to whether Project recreation or operation and maintenance
activities have affected or have the potential to affect these species.
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Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619
©2014, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara
Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619
Proposed Study Plan
RTE-S5
STUDY-SPECIFIC CONSULTATION
Study-specific consultation for this study includes the following:

Notification of dates for field sampling

Review of Year 1 study results

To develop a confidential list of culturally significant plants and threshold abundance,
interested Tribes will be consulted.
CONSISTENCY WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED SCIENTIFIC PRACTICE
The methods described above are consistent with generally accepted methods for conducting
floristic surveys in California (USFWS 1996, CDFG 2009) and follow the generally accepted
special-status plant, lichen, and fungi survey techniques used by federal and state agencies that
manage public lands within the Project Vicinity.
PRODUCTS
A summary of the information and findings will be included in the Application for New License,
Exhibit E. Data gathered as part of the study will be included as an appendix to the License
Application. Study products may include a presentation to resource agency personnel and other
relicensing participants. Licensees will provide relevant data as appendices to technical reports.
Inventory forms (e.g., CNDDB) will be provided to the appropriate resource agency. Standard
GIS shapefiles will be provided upon request; any custom formats or ancillary GIS data
manipulation will be the responsibility of the party receiving the data.
RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER STUDIES
Aerial photography that will be developed as part of Study BR-S1, Vegetation Community
Mapping, will be used to conduct a preliminary assessment of vegetation cover types with
potential to support special-status plant, lichen, and fungi species. Study TI-S1, Determine and
Assess Traditional Cultural Properties Study, will address areas currently used to gather
culturally important plants within the Project Area; the information gathered about present
locations of populations of culturally significant plants will be provided to the ethnobotanist
working on TI-S1.
SCHEDULE
Office tasks will begin in early 2015 and field surveys will be conducted in spring and summer
2015. Results will be available in winter 2015-2016.
LEVEL OF EFFORT AND COST
The preliminary estimated cost (2014 dollars) for the study subtotaled by major tasks is as
follows:
Office Work ......................................................$ 21,000
Field Work ........................................................$ 112,000
Analysis.............................................................$ 21,000
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Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619
©2014, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara
RTE-S5
Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619
Proposed Study Plan
Products.............................................................$ 26,000
Total (2014 dollars) .........................................$ 180,000
REFERENCES
CDFG (California Department of Fish and Game). 2009. Protocols for surveying and evaluating
impacts to special-status native plant populations and natural communities.
California Natural Resources Agency, Sacramento, California.
PG&E and USFWS (Pacific Gas and Electric Company and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).
2003. Valley elderberry longhorn beetle conservation program. March 2003.
USFWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 1996. Guidelines for conducting and reporting
botanical inventories for federally listed, proposed and candidate plants.
USFWS. 2003. Formal endangered species consultation on the Pacific Gas and Electric
Company Transmission Separation Project, located in the Plumas, Sequoia, and
Sierra National Forests within Butte, Plumas, Madera, and Fresno counties; in the
Redding, Folsom, and Bakersfield Districts within Madera, Fresno, Amador,
Calaveras, Tuolumne, Nevada, Placer, Butte, Yuba, Shasta and Tehama counties;
and various other jurisdictions, California. June 27.
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Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619
©2014, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara