HomeMy WebLinkAboutAppendix O - Paleontological AssessmentPALEONTOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
FOR THE BIRTCHER LOGISTICS
CENTER PROJECT
CITY OF FONTANA,
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
APNs 236-161-04, -10, -31 to -36, -44 to -46, and -77
Prepared for:
T&B Planning, Inc.
3200 El Camino Real, Suite 100
Irvine, California 92602
Submitted to:
City of Fontana
Community Development Department
8353 Sierra Avenue
Fontana, California 92335
Prepared by:
Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc.
14010 Poway Road, Suite A
Poway, California 92064
November 22, 2021
Paleontological Assessment for the Birtcher Logistics Center Project
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paleontological Database Information
Author: Todd A. Wirths, M.S., Senior Paleontologist, California
Professional Geologist No. 7588
Consulting Firm: Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc.
14010 Poway Road, Suite A
Poway, California 92064
(858) 679-8218
Report Date: November 22, 2021
Report Title: Paleontological Assessment for the Birtcher Logistics Center
Project, Fontana, San Bernardino County, California
(APNs 236-161-04, -10, -31 to -36, -44 to -46, and -77)
Prepared for: T&B Planning, Inc.
3200 El Camino Real, Suite 100
Irvine, California 92602
Submitted to: City of Fontana
Community Development Department
8353 Sierra Avenue
Fontana, California 92335
Prepared by: Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc.
14010 Poway Road, Suite A
Poway, California 92064
USGS Quadrangle: USGS Fontana, California (7.5-minute), Section 27, Township 1
South, Range 6 West, San Bernardino Baseline and Meridian.
Study Area: 13.38 acres
Key Words: Paleontological assessment; Pleistocene alluvial fan deposits;
High sensitivity; City of Fontana.
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Table of Contents
Section Page
I. INTRODUCTION AND LOCATION .......................................................................1
II. REGULATORY SETTING .......................................................................................1
State of California .....................................................................................................1
City of Fontana ..........................................................................................................4
III. GEOLOGY .................................................................................................................5
IV. PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES......................................................................7
Definition ....................................................................................................................7
Fossil Locality Search ................................................................................................7
V. PALEONTOLOGICAL SENSITIVITY ....................................................................7
Overview .....................................................................................................................7
Professional Standards ..............................................................................................8
City Assessment of Paleontological Sensitivity at the Project ..................................8
VI. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................9
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) .......................................9
VII. CERTIFICATION ....................................................................................................11
VIII. REFERENCES CITED ...........................................................................................11
Appendices
Appendix A – Qualifications of Key Personnel
Appendix B – Fossil Locality Search Report
List of Figures
Figure Page
Figure 1 General Location Map .................................................................................2
Figure 2 Project Location Map ...................................................................................3
Figure 3 Geologic Map ...............................................................................................6
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I. INTRODUCTION AND LOCATION
A paleontological resource assessment has been completed for the Birtcher Logistics
Center Project (“project”), located southwest of the intersection of Banana and Santa Ana
avenues in the southwestern portion of the city of Fontana, San Bernardino County, California
(Figures 1 and 2). The project occupies several parcels (Assessor’s Parcel Numbers [APNs]
236-161-04, -10, -31 to -36, -44 to -46, and -77) totaling 13.38 acres. On the U.S. Geological
Survey 7.5-minute, 1:24,000-scale Fontana, California topographic quadrangle map, the project
is located in Section 27, Township 1 South, Range 6 West, of the San Bernardino Baseline and
Meridian (Figure 2). The project parcels are currently occupied as industrial and residential
properties. The project proposes to develop the property for industrial purposes.
As the lead agency, the City of Fontana has required the preparation of a paleontological
assessment to evaluate the project’s potential to yield paleontological resources. The
paleontological assessment of the project included a review of paleontological literature and
fossil locality records for a previous project in the area; a review of the underlying geology; and
recommendations to mitigate impacts to potential paleontological resources. A paleontological
field survey was not conducted since the project is currently either paved over or graded flat.
II. REGULATORY SETTING
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which is patterned after the National
Environmental Policy Act, is the overriding environmental regulation that sets the requirement
for protecting California’s paleontological resources. CEQA mandates that governing permitting
agencies (lead agencies) set their own guidelines for the protection of nonrenewable
paleontological resources under their jurisdiction.
State of California
Under “Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act,” as
amended in December 2018 (California Code of Regulations [CCR] Title 14, Division 6,
Chapter 3, Sections 15000 et seq.), procedures define the types of activities, persons, and public
agencies required to comply with CEQA. Section 15063 of the CCR provides a process by
which a lead agency may review a project’s potential impact to the environment, whether the
impacts are significant, and provide recommendations, if necessary.
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In CEQA’s Environmental Checklist Form, one of the questions to answer is, “Would the
project directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic
feature?” (Appendix G, Section VII, Part f). This is to ensure compliance with California Public
Resources Code Section 5097.5, the law that protects nonrenewable resources including fossils,
which is paraphrased below:
a) A person shall not knowingly and willfully excavate upon, or remove, destroy,
injure or deface any historic or prehistoric ruins, burial grounds,
archaeological or vertebrate paleontological site, including fossilized
footprints, inscriptions made by human agency, rock art, or any other
archaeological, paleontological or historical feature, situated on public lands,
except with the express permission of the public agency having jurisdiction
over such lands.
b) As used in this section, “public lands” means lands owned by, or under the
jurisdiction of, the state, or any city, county, district, authority, or public
corporation, or any agency thereof.
c) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor.
City of Fontana
In the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) of the City of Fontana General Plan
Update 2015–2035, two paleontological resource mitigation measures are specified, MM-CUL-4
and MM-CUL-5. MM-CUL-4 must be implemented before construction starts, while MM-CUL-
5 must be implemented before, during, and after construction (City of Fontana 2018a). The
measures are as follows:
MM-CUL-4 A qualified paleontologist shall conduct a pre-construction field
survey of any project site within the Specific Plan Update area that is underlain by
older alluvium. The paleontologist shall submit a report of findings that provide
specific recommendations regarding further mitigation measures (i.e.,
paleontological monitoring) that may be appropriate.
MM-CUL-5 Should mitigation monitoring of paleontological resources be
recommended for a specific project within the project site, the program shall
include, but not be limited to, the following measures:
• Assign a paleontological monitor, trained and equipped to allow the rapid
removal of fossils with minimal construction delay, to the site full-time
during the interval of earth-disturbing activities.
• Should fossils be found within an area being cleared or graded, earth-
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disturbing activities shall be diverted elsewhere until the monitor has
completed salvage. If construction personnel make the discovery, the
grading contractor shall immediately divert construction and notify the
monitor of the find.
• All recovered fossils shall be prepared, identified, and curated for
documentation in the summary report and transferred to an appropriate
depository (i.e., San Bernardino County Museum).
A summary report shall be submitted to City of Fontana. Collected specimens
shall be transferred with [a] copy of [the] report to [the] San Bernardino County
Museum (City of Fontana 2018a).
III. GEOLOGY
The project is located near the western margin and distal southern end of the broad Lytle
Creek alluvial fan that emanates from the San Gabriel Mountains approximately nine to 10 miles
to the north as a result of uplift and dissection of the eastern San Gabriel Mountains. The main
source of these sediments is from the Lytle Creek drainage, near where the northwest-southeast-
trending San Andreas fault zone cuts across and separates the San Gabriel and San Bernardino
mountain ranges (Morton and Miller 2006). Geomorphically, the project is relatively flat-lying,
with a gentle slope to the southwest (see Figures 2 and 3). The project is underlain by late
Holocene-aged (approximately within the last few thousand years) young alluvial fan deposits
(light yellow areas with red dots labeled “Qyf5”) (Figure 3, after Morton and Miller 2006).
These deposits are likely underlain by an older deposit of young alluvial fan sediments (yellow
areas labeled “Qyf1” on Figure 3) that are early Holocene and late Pleistocene in age
(approximately 6,000 to 120,000 years ago [Cohen and Gibbard 2011]). The “Qyf1” young
alluvial fan deposits occur as slightly raised areas protruding through the surrounding younger
“Qyf5” young alluvial fan sediments. On the geologic map of the 7.5’ Fontana quadrangle, the
“Qyf1” young alluvial fan deposits are accorded an age of late to middle Pleistocene (Morton
2003), a time span of approximately 11,700 to 780,000 years ago (Cohen and Gibbard 2011).
Dutcher and Garrett (1963) indicate that (undifferentiated) young alluvial fan deposits
may exceed 100 feet thick in some areas but show that young alluvial fan deposits are
approximately 15 feet thick (Pl. 7, cross-section G-G') for a broad area in the Fontana Plain
about four miles east-northeast of the project. The proximity of old alluvial deposit outcrops to
the young alluvial deposits underlying the site supports Dutcher and Garrett’s (1963) later
assessment, and general geologic structural relationships as well, for a relatively thin thickness of
the young alluvial deposits.
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IV. PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Definition
Paleontological resources are the remains of prehistoric life that have been preserved in
geologic strata. These remains are called fossils and include bones, shells, teeth, and plant
remains (including their impressions, casts, and molds) in the sedimentary matrix, as well as
trace fossils such as footprints and burrows. Fossils are considered older than 5,000 years of age
(Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 2010) but may include younger remains (subfossils) when
viewed in the context of local extinction of the organism or habitat, for example. Fossils are
considered a nonrenewable resource under state and local guidelines (Section II of this report).
Fossil Locality Search
A prior paleontological collections and locality records search was conducted for a
nearby project, the 14801 Slover Avenue Project, by the Division of Geological Sciences at the
San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) in Redlands (Cortez 2021, Appendix B). The 14801
Slover Avenue Project is located approximately one mile northeast of the current project. The
resulting report identified eight localities (SBCM localities [locs.] 5.1.11, 5.1.14 - 5.1.17, and
5.1.19 - 5.1.21) that were situated about one-and-a-half miles southwest of the 14801 Slover
Avenue Project, and therefore about a half mile, or less, west of the current project. The bones
of large and small Pleistocene-age mammals as well as terrestrial snails and freshwater clams
were recovered from these localities, mostly from clayey, silty sands from depths ranging from
five to 21 feet below the surface, when recorded. Mammals from these localities include three
species of rodent, cottontail rabbit, bison, western camel, horse, Pacific mastodon, saber-tooth
cat, and other unidentified large mammal remains. Based on another source, the Smilodon
specimen mentioned by Cortez (2021) was reportedly discovered in the Declezville
neighborhood, about a mile southeast of the project (Reynolds, in Aron et al. 2018)
Cortez (2021) indicates that the young alluvial fan deposits mapped at the surface by
Morton (2003) in the area of the project have a low potential to yield significant paleontological
resources. Conversely, the underlying late Pleistocene alluvial fan deposits are considered to
have a high paleontological sensitivity, based on numerous fossil localities in the region. Fossils
include the bones from extinct species such as mammoths, mastodons, giant ground sloths, dire
wolves, saber-tooth cats, large and small horses, large and small camels, and bison (Cortez
2021).
V. PALEONTOLOGICAL SENSITIVITY
Overview
The degree of paleontological sensitivity of any particular area is based on a number of
factors, including the documented presence of fossiliferous resources on a site or in nearby areas,
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the presence of documented fossils within a particular geologic formation or lithostratigraphic
unit, and whether or not the original depositional environment of the sediments is one that might
have been conducive to the accumulation of organic remains that might have become fossilized
over time. Holocene alluvium is generally considered to be geologically too young to contain
significant nonrenewable paleontological resources (i.e., fossils) and is thus typically assigned a
low paleontological sensitivity. Pleistocene (over 11,700 years old) alluvial and alluvial fan
deposits in the Inland Empire, such as those that underlie the project (“Qyf1” on Figure 3),
however, often yield important terrestrial vertebrate fossils, such as extinct mammoths,
mastodons, giant ground sloths, extinct species of horse, bison, camel, saber-toothed cats, and
others (Cortez 2021, attached). These Pleistocene sediments are thus accorded a High
paleontological resource sensitivity.
Professional Standards
The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology has drafted guidelines that include four
categories of paleontological sensitivity for geologic units (formations) that might be impacted
by a proposed project, as listed below:
• High Potential: Rock units from which vertebrate or significant invertebrate, plant, or
trace fossils have been recovered.
• Undetermined Potential: Rock units for which little information is available concerning
their paleontological content, geologic age, and depositional environment, and that
further study is needed to determine the potential of the rock unit.
• Low Potential: Rock units that are poorly represented by fossil specimens in institutional
collections or based on a general scientific consensus that only preserve fossils in rare
circumstances.
• No Potential: Rock units that have no potential to contain significant paleontological
resources, such as high-grade metamorphic rocks and plutonic igneous rocks.
Using these criteria, based on the presence of nearby significant fossil localities (SBCM
locs. 5.1.11, 5.1.14 - 5.1.17, and 5.1.19 - 5.1.21) and the strong likelihood that the nearby fossil
localities originated from the same geologic formation as that which underlies the project at
depth, the Pleistocene old alluvial fan deposits can be considered to have a high potential to yield
significant paleontological resources.
City Assessment of Paleontological Sensitivity at the Project
Section 5.4.1.5 of the City of Fontana’s draft EIR for the general plan (City of Fontana
2018b) describes the paleontological sensitivity of the strata underlying the city. Based on
Pleistocene vertebrate fossils recovered from the city’s southwestern area (SBCM locs. 5.1.11,
5.1.14 - 5.1.17, and 5.1.19 - 5.1.21), subsurface “older fan” Pleistocene deposits are considered
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by the city to have a high potential for yielding fossils. The overlying “younger fan” deposits at
the surface are considered by the city as having no potential to yield significant paleontological
resources.
VI. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Research has confirmed the existence of potentially fossiliferous late Pleistocene alluvial
fan deposits (“Qyf1” on Figure 3) that likely underlie the Holocene young alluvial fan sediments
mapped at the surface (“Qyf5” on Figure 3) of the project. The occurrence of terrestrial
vertebrate fossils at shallow depths from Pleistocene alluvial fan sediments across the Inland
Empire is well documented. The “High” paleontological sensitivity rating typically assigned to
Pleistocene alluvial fan sediments for yielding paleontological resources supports the
recommendation that paleontological monitoring be implemented during mass grading and
excavation activities in undisturbed Pleistocene alluvial fan sediments to mitigate any adverse
impacts (loss or destruction) to potential nonrenewable paleontological resources. Full-time
monitoring of undisturbed alluvial fan deposits at the project is warranted starting at a depth of
five feet below the surface.
If a fossil(s) is found at shallower depths, earth disturbance activities should be halted
within a radius of 50 feet from the location of the fossil, and a qualified, project-level
paleontologist shall be consulted to determine the significance of the fossilized remains. If the
fossil is deemed significant by the paleontologist, full-time monitoring should be initiated at the
project.
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP)
The following MMRP guidelines, outlined below, are based on the findings stated above.
Paleontological monitoring may be reduced on the observations and recommendations of the
professional-level project paleontologist. The following MMRP, when implemented, would
reduce potential impacts of paleontological resources to a level below significant:
1. Monitoring of mass grading and excavation activities in areas identified as likely to
contain paleontological resources shall be performed by a qualified paleontologist or
paleontological monitor. Starting at a depth of five feet, monitoring will be
conducted full-time in areas of grading or excavation in undisturbed sediments of
alluvial fan deposits.
2. If a fossil(s) is found at a shallower depth, earth disturbance activities should be
halted within a radius of 50 feet from the location of the fossil, and a project-level
paleontologist shall be consulted to determine the significance of the fossilized
remains. If the fossil is deemed significant by the project-level paleontologist, full-
time monitoring should be initiated at the project.
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3. Paleontological monitors will be equipped to salvage fossils as they are unearthed to
avoid construction delays. The monitor must be empowered to temporarily halt or
divert equipment to allow removal of abundant or large specimens in a timely
manner. Monitoring may be reduced if the potentially fossiliferous units are not
present in the subsurface, or, if present, are determined on exposure and examination
by qualified paleontological personnel to have low potential to contain fossil
resources. The monitor shall notify the project paleontologist, who will then notify
the concerned parties of the discovery.
4. Paleontological salvage during trenching and boring activities is typically from the
generated spoils and does not delay the trenching or drilling activities. Fossils are
collected and placed in cardboard flats or plastic buckets and identified by field
number, collector, and date collected. Notes are taken on the map location and
stratigraphy of the site, which is photographed before it is vacated, and the fossils are
removed to a safe place. On mass grading projects, discovered fossil sites are
protected by flagging to prevent them from being overrun by earthmovers (scrapers)
before salvage begins. Fossils are collected in a similar manner, with notes and
photographs being taken before removing the fossils. Precise location of the site is
determined with the use of handheld GPS units. If the site involves remains from a
large terrestrial vertebrate, such as large bone(s) or a mammoth tusk, that is/are too
large to be easily removed by a single monitor, a fossil recovery crew shall excavate
around the find, encase the find within a plaster and burlap jacket, and remove it after
the plaster is set. For large fossils, use of the contractor’s construction equipment
may be solicited to help remove the jacket to a safe location.
5. Isolated fossils are collected by hand, wrapped in paper, and placed in temporary
collecting flats or five-gallon buckets. Notes are taken on the map location and
stratigraphy of the site, which is photographed before it is vacated, and the fossils are
removed to a safe place.
6. Particularly small invertebrate fossils typically represent multiple specimens of a
limited number of organisms, and a scientifically suitable sample can be obtained
from one to several five-gallon buckets of fossiliferous sediment. If it is possible to
dry screen the sediment in the field, a concentrated sample may consist of one or two
buckets of material. For vertebrate fossils, the test is usually the observed presence of
small pieces of bones within the sediments. If present, as many as 20 to 40 five-
gallon buckets of sediment can be collected and returned to a separate facility to wet-
screen the sediment.
7. In accordance with the “Microfossil Salvage” section of the Society of Vertebrate
Paleontology guidelines (2010:7), bulk sampling and screening of fine-grained
sedimentary deposits (including carbonate-rich paleosols) must be performed if the
deposits are identified to possess indications of producing fossil “microvertebrates” to
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test the feasibility of the deposit to yield fossil bones and teeth.
8. In the laboratory, individual fossils are cleaned of extraneous matrix, any breaks are
repaired, and the specimen, if needed, is stabilized by soaking in an archivally
approved acrylic hardener (e.g., a solution of acetone and Paraloid B-72).
9. Recovered specimens are prepared to a point of identification and permanent
preservation (not display), including screen-washing sediments to recover small
invertebrates and vertebrates. Preparation of individual vertebrate fossils is often
more time-consuming than for accumulations of invertebrate fossils.
10. Identification and curation of specimens into a professional, accredited public
museum repository with a commitment to archival conservation and permanent
retrievable storage (e.g., the San Bernardino County Museum) shall be conducted.
The paleontological program should include a written repository agreement prior to
the initiation of mitigation activities. Prior to curation, the lead agency (e.g., the City
of Fontana) will be consulted on the repository/museum to receive the fossil material.
11. A final report of findings and significance will be prepared, including lists of all
fossils recovered and necessary maps and graphics to accurately record their original
location(s). The report, when submitted to, and accepted by, the appropriate lead
agency, will signify satisfactory completion of the project program to mitigate
impacts to any potential nonrenewable paleontological resources (i.e., fossils) that
might have been lost or otherwise adversely affected without such a program in place.
VII. CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the statements furnished above and in the attached exhibits present
the data and information required for this paleontological report, and that the facts, statements,
and information presented are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, and have
been compiled in accordance with CEQA criteria.
November 22, 2021
Todd A. Wirths Date
Senior Paleontologist
California Professional Geologist No. 7588
VIII. REFERENCES
City of Fontana. 2018a. Final Environmental Impact Report. Cultural Resources, Fontana
Forward General Plan Update 2015-2035. State Clearinghouse #2016021099.
https://www.fontana.org/DocumentCenter/View/29525/Final-Environmental-Impact-
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Report-for-the-General-Plan-Update.
City of Fontana. 2018b. Draft Environmental Impact Report, Chapter 5.4. Cultural Resources,
Fontana Forward General Plan Update 2015-2035. https://www.fontana.org/Document
Center/View/26716/54-Cultural-Resources.
Cohen, K.M., and Gibbard, P.L. 2011. Global chronostratigraphical correlation table for the last
2.7 million years. Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy (International
Commission on Stratigraphy), Cambridge, England. http://quaternary.stratigraphy.
org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/POSTERstratchart-v2011.jpg.pdf.
Cortez, C. 2021. Paleontology records review for proposed 14801 Slover Avenue Project in San
Bernardino County, California. Unpublished letter report prepared for Brian F. Smith
and Associates, Inc., Poway, California, by the Division of Earth Sciences at the San
Bernardino County Museum, Redlands, California.
DeLorme World Basemap. 2020. A seamless global data set with horizontal accuracy of +/- 50
meters. https://server.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/Specialty/DeLorme_World
_Base_Map/MapServer
Dutcher, L.C., and Garrett, A.A. 1963. Geologic and hydrologic features of the San Bernardino
area, California - with special reference to underflow across the San Jacinto fault. USGS
Water-Supply Paper 1419.
Morton, D.M. 2003. Preliminary geologic map of the Fontana 7.5' Quadrangle, San Bernardino
and Riverside Counties, California, Version 1.0: U. S. Geological Survey Open-File
Report 03-418, scale 1:24,000.
Morton, D.M. and Miller, F.K. 2006. Geologic map of the San Bernardino and Santa Ana 30' x
60' quadrangles, California: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 06-1217, scale
1:100,000.
Reynolds, R.E. 2018. West Valley Connector, Geology and Paleontological Resources, in Aron,
G., Richards, C., and Webster, B., Paleontological Identification Report and Evaluation
Report, West Valley Connector Project. Unpublished consulting report prepared for the
San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, by Paleo Solutions, Inc., Monrovia,
California.
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Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. 2010. Standard procedures for the assessment and
mitigation of adverse impacts to paleontological resources; by the SVP Impact Mitigation
Guidelines Revision Committee: http://vertpaleo.org/Membership/Member-
Ethics/SVP_Impact_ Mitigation_Guidelines.aspx.
United States Geological Survey. 1980. Fontana, California (USGS 7.5´ quadrangle series).
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APPENDIX A
Qualifications of Key Personnel
To dd A. W ir ths , MS, PG No. 7588
Senior Paleontologist
Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc.
14010 Poway Road Suite A
Phone: (858) 679-8218 Fax: (858) 679-9896 E-Mail: twirths@bfsa-ca.com
Education
Master of Science, Geological Sciences, San Diego State University, California 1995
Bachelor of Arts, Earth Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz 1992
Professional Certifications
California Professional Geologist #7588, 2003
Riverside County Approved Paleontologist
San Diego County Qualified Paleontologist
Orange County Certified Paleontologist
OSHA HAZWOPER 40-hour trained; current 8-hour annual refresher
Professional Memberships
Board member, San Diego Geological Society
San Diego Association of Geologists; past President (2012) and Vice President (2011)
South Coast Geological Society
Southern California Paleontological Society
Experience
Mr. Wirths has more than a dozen years of professional experience as a senior-level paleontologist
throughout southern California. He is also a certified California Professional Geologist. At BFSA, Mr.
Wirths conducts on-site paleontological monitoring, trains and supervises junior staff, and performs all
research and reporting duties for locations throughout Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside,
Orange, San Diego, and Imperial Counties. Mr. Wirths was formerly a senior project manager
conducting environmental investigations and remediation projects for petroleum hydrocarbon-
impacted sites across southern California.
Selected Recent Reports
2019 Paleontological Assessment for the 10575 Foothill Boulevard Project, City of Rancho Cucamonga,
San Bernardino County, California. Prepared for T&B Planning, Inc. Report on file at Brian F.
Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California.
2019 Paleontological Assessment for the MorningStar Marguerite Project, Mission Viejo, Orange
County, California. Prepared for T&B Planning. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates,
Inc., Poway, California.
Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc. 2
2019 Paleontological Monitoring Report for the Nimitz Crossing Project, City of San Diego. Prepared
for Voltaire 24, LP. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California.
2019 Paleontological Resource Impact Mitigation Program (PRIMP) for the Jack Rabbit Trail Logistics
Center Project, City of Beaumont, Riverside County, California. Prepared for JRT BP 1, LLC.
Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California.
2020 Paleontological Monitoring Report for the Oceanside Beachfront Resort Project, Oceanside, San
California. Prepared for S.D. Malkin Properties. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates,
Inc., Poway, California.
2020 Paleontological Resource Impact Mitigation Program for the Nakase Project, Lake Forest, Orange
County, San California. Prepared for Glenn Lukos Associates, Inc. Report on file at Brian F.
Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California.
2020 Paleontological Resource Impact Mitigation Program for the Sunset Crossroads Project, Banning,
Riverside County. Prepared for NP Banning Industrial, LLC. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and
Associates, Inc., Poway, California.
2020 Paleontological Assessment for the Ortega Plaza Project, Lake Elsinore, Riverside County.
Prepared for Empire Design Group. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc.,
Poway, California.
2020 Paleontological Resource Record Search Update for the Green River Ranch III Project, Green River
Ranch Specific Plan SP00-001, City of Corona, California. Prepared for Western Realco. Report
on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California.
2020 Paleontological Assessment for the Cypress/Slover Industrial Center Project, City of Fontana, San
Bernardino County, California. Prepared for T&B Planning, Inc. Report on file at Brian F. Smith
and Associates, Inc., Poway, California.
2020 Paleontological Monitoring Report for the Imperial Landfill Expansion Project (Phase VI,
Segment C-2), Imperial County, California. Prepared for Republic Services, Inc. Report on file at
Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California.
2021 Paleontological Assessment for the Manitou Court Logistics Center Project, City of Jurupa Valley,
Riverside County, California. Prepared for Link Industrial. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and
Associates, Inc., Poway, California.
2021 Paleontological Resource Impact Mitigation Program for the Del Oro (Tract 36852) Project,
Menifee, Riverside County. Prepared for D.R. Horton. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and
Associates, Inc., Poway, California.
2021 Paleontological Assessment for the Alessandro Corporate Center Project (Planning Case PR-2020-
000519), City of Riverside, Riverside County, California. Prepared for OZI Alessandro, LLC.
Report on file at Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California.
2021 Paleontological Monitoring Report for the Boardwalk Project, La Jolla, City of San Diego.
Prepared for Project Management Advisors, Inc. Report on file at Brian F. Smith and
Associates, Inc., Poway, California.
Paleontological Assessment for the Birtcher Logistics Center Project
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
APPENDIX B
Fossil Locality Search Report
29 June, 2021
Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc.
Attn: Todd Wirths
14010 Poway Rd.,
Poway CA 92064
PALEONTOLOGY RECORDS REVIEW for proposed 14801 Slover Avenue Project
in San Bernardino County, California
Dear Mr. Wirths,
The Division of Earth Sciences of the San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) has
completed a records search for the above-named project in San Bernardino County, California.
The proposed Slover Avenue project is located near in the City of Fontana, California as shown
on the United States Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5 minute Fontana, California quadrangles.
Previous geologic mapping (Morton, 2003) indicates that the study area is located
entirely upon alluvial fan deposits of late Holocene age (= Qyf). These recent sediments have
low potential to contain significant nonrenewable paleontologic resources. However, these
Holocene sediments form a thin veneer overlying subsurface Pleistocene alluvial fan deposits (=
Qof3). These older fan sediments have high potential to contain fossil resources. Pleistocene
alluvium elsewhere in San Bernardino County and the Inland Empire has been repeatedly
demonstrated to have high paleontologic sensitivity (Jefferson, 1991; Reynolds and Reynolds,
1991; Woodburne, 1991; Springer and Scott, 1994; Scott, 1997; Springer and others, 1998,
1999; Anderson and others, 2002). Fossils recovered from these Pleistocene sediments
represent extinct taxa including mammoths, mastodons, ground sloths, dire wolves,
sabretoothed cats, large and small horses, large and small camels, and bison (Jefferson, 1991;
Reynolds and Reynolds, 1991; Woodburne, 1991; Springer and Scott, 1994; Scott, 1997;
Springer and others, 1998, 1999).
San Bernardino
County Museum
Division of Earth
Sciences
Crystal Cortez
Curator of Earth Sciences
email: Crystal.cortez@sbcm.sbcounty.org
2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands, CA 92374 | Phone: 909.798.8616 Fax 909.307.0539
For this review, I conducted a search of the Regional Paleontological Locality Inventory
(RPLI) at the SBCM. The results of this search indicate that no paleontological resources have
been discovered within the proposed project site however, there are several sites within a 2
mile buffer. Located approximately 1.5 miles southwest of the proposed site are eight (8)
SBCM localities from Pleistocene aged deposits; SBCM 5.1.11, 5.1.14, 5.1.15, 5.1.16, 5.1.17,
5.1.19, 5.1.20, and 5.1.21. Locality SBCM 5.1.11 uncovered a partial Smilodon skull at around a
five (5) foot depth as estimated by trenching machine installing a pipeline. At SBCM 5.1.14
remains belonging to Gyraulus sp, Stagnicola sp, Gastropoda, Bivalvia, Sylvilagus sp, Thomomys
sp, Neotoma sp, Microtus californicus, Mammut pacificus were discovered in very fine silty
clayey sand with occasional pebbles. A single Bison sp. tooth was recovered from cemented
clayey silty moderately sorted sand with small caliche rootlets at SBCM 5.1.15. Clayey silty fine
sand with occasional larger subangular grains at locality SBCM 5.1.16 yielded bone fragments of
Camelops hesternus. In the same type of sediment SBCM 5.1.17 and SBCM 5.1.19 unearthed
remains of a large mammal along with fragmentary material of Mammut pacificus. SBCM
5.1.20 had a dry light olive gray subangular san that yielded fragments from Camelops
hesternus, Artiodactyla, and a large mammal. SBCM locality 5.1.21 found fragmentary material
from Equus sp. at an approximate 21 foot depth.
This records search covers only the paleontological records of the San Bernardino
County Museum. It is not intended to be a thorough paleontological survey of the proposed
project area covering other institutional records, a literature survey, or any potential on-site
survey.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any further questions that you may have.
Sincerely,
Crystal Cortez, Curator of Earth Sciences
Division of Earth Sciences
San Bernardino County Museum