HomeMy WebLinkAboutAppendix D - Paleontological AssessmentCity of Fontana
Hemlock Warehouse Development Project
Initial Study
139
APPENDIX D: PALEONTOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
City of Fontana
Hemlock Warehouse Development Project
Initial Study
140
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PALEONTOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
FOR THE 22-114 HEMLOCK AVENUE
PROJECT
CITY OF FONTANA,
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
APNs 0237-131-25 to -27
Prepared for:
EPD Solutions
2355 Main Street, Suite 100
Irvine, California 92614
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
October 20, 2022
Paleontological Assessment for the 22-114 Hemlock Avenue 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: October 20, 2022
Report Title: Paleontological Assessment for the 22-114 Hemlock Avenue
Project, City of Fontana, San Bernardino County, California
Prepared for: EPD Solutions
2355 Main Street, Suite 100
Irvine, California 92614
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 26, Township 1
South, Range 6 West
Assessor’s Parcel Numbers: 0237-131-25 to -27
Study Area: 40.01 acres
Key Words: Paleontological assessment; Pleistocene alluvial fan deposits;
High sensitivity; City of Fontana.
Paleontological Assessment for the 22-114 Hemlock Avenue Project
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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
Project Survey ........................................................................................................... 7
V. PALEONTOLOGICAL SENSITIVITY ................................................................... 8
Overview .................................................................................................................... 8
Professional Standards ............................................................................................. 8
City of Fontana Assessment of Paleontological Sensitivity .................................... 9
VI. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................... 9
VII. CERTIFICATION ................................................................................................... 12
VIII. REFERENCES ....................................................................................................... 12
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
Paleontological Assessment for the 22-114 Hemlock Avenue Project
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I. INTRODUCTION AND LOCATION
This paleontological resource assessment has been completed for the paleontological
assessment for the 22-114 Hemlock Avenue Project located north of Jurupa Avenue and south of
Santa Ana Avenue between Beech and Hemlock avenues in the city of Fontana, San Bernardino
County, California (Figures 1 and 2). The project consists of three parcels (Assessor’s Parcel
Numbers [APNs] 0237-131-25 to -27) totaling 40.01 acres. On the U.S. Geological Survey 7.5-
minute, 1:24,000-scale Fontana, California topographic quadrangle map, the project is situated
within Section 26, Township 1 South, Range 6 West, of the San Bernardino Baseline and Meridian
(see Figure 2). The parcels, currently existing mostly as a paved and gravel storage lot, are being
considered for development as a commercial warehouse.
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.
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 (FEIR) of the City of Fontana General Plan
Update 2015-2035, two paleontological resource mitigation measures are specified, MM-CUL-4
and MM-CUL-5. The FEIR stipulates that 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 same measures were previously established in Fontana’s Southwest
Industrial Park (SWIP) Specific Plan (2011). 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 at 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 to
middle Pleistocene (approximately 11,700 to 780,000 years ago [Cohen and Gibbard 2011]) old
alluvial fan deposits (pale amber areas labeled “Qof3” on Figure 3, after Morton 2003) that occur
as slightly raised areas protruding through the surrounding young alluvial fan sediments. At the
western and eastern edges of the project, the old alluvial fan deposits are buried by Holocene and
late Pleistocene (present day to approximately 120,000 years ago [Cohen and Gibbard 2011])
young alluvial fan sediments (light yellow areas labeled “Qyfl” on Figure 3) of the Lytle Creek
fan.
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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 (see Section II of this report).
Fossil Locality Search
A prior paleontological collections and locality records search was conducted for the
nearby 14801 Slover Avenue Project by the Division of Geological Sciences at the San Bernardino
County Museum (SBCM) in Redlands (Cortez 2021 [see Appendix B]). The 14801 Slover Avenue
Project is located less than a mile northwest of the current project. The report identified seven
localities (SBCM localities [locs.] 5.1.14 to 5.1.17 and 5.1.19 to 5.1.21) situated within two miles
of the 22-114 Hemlock Avenue Project. The bones of large and small Pleistocene-age mammals
and 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, and other unidentified large mammal remains. Based on another
source, the saber-toothed cat (Smilodon) specimen (SBCM loc. 5.1.11) mentioned by Cortez
(2021) was reportedly discovered in the Declezville neighborhood, just across Jurupa Avenue
south of the subject project (Reynolds, in Aron et al. 2018)
Cortez (2021) indicates that the 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-toothed cats, large and small horses, large and small camels, and bison (Cortez 2021).
Project Survey
On October 17, 2022, BFSA staff, under the supervision of Principal Investigator Todd A.
Wirths, conducted an intuitive review of the property to determine if any paleontological resources
were visible. The field methodology employed for the project included walking evenly spaced
survey transects set approximately 15 to 20 meters apart while visually inspecting the ground
surface, when possible. Buildings, hardscape, gravel, and commercial landscaping cover the
entirety of the project. Due the existing development, the natural ground surface was not visible.
All accessible potentially sensitive areas where paleontological resources might be located were
closely inspected. No bedrock outcrops were exposed that might indicate the presence of fossils.
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No paleontological resources, or evidence of paleontological resources, were observed during the
survey.
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,
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 at the project, 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 [see Appendix B]). These
Pleistocene sediments are thus accorded a High paleontological resource sensitivity.
Professional Standards
The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (2010) 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 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 upon the presence of nearby significant fossil localities (SBCM
locs. 5.1.11, 5.1.14 to 5.1.17, and 5.1.19 to 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
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significant paleontological resources.
City of Fontana Assessment of Paleontological Sensitivity
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 to 5.1.17, and 5.1.19 to 5.1.21), the City of Fontana considers subsurface “older fan”
Pleistocene deposits to have a high potential for yielding fossils. The City of Fontana considers
the overlying “younger fan” deposits at the surface as having no potential to yield significant
paleontological resources.
VI. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Research has confirmed the existence of potentially fossiliferous late to middle Pleistocene
alluvial fan deposits (“Qof3” on Figure 3) at the surface 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 presence of the saber-toothed cat (Smilodon) fossil just south of
the project is particularly noteworthy. 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 the surface.
Based on the conclusions and recommendations outlined above, a Paleontological
Resources Impact Mitigation Program (PRIMP) is recommended prior to approval of the grading
permit. A suggested PRIMP is outlined below. When implemented with the provisions of CEQA,
the City of Fontana (2018a), and the guidelines of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (2010),
this PRIMP would mitigate any adverse impacts (loss or destruction) to potential nonrenewable
paleontological resources (fossils), if present, 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 the surface, monitoring should be conducted full-
time in areas of grading or excavation in undisturbed sediments of alluvial fan deposits.
2. 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
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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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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
test the feasibility of the deposit to yield fossil bones and teeth.
6. 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).
7. 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.
8. Identification and curation of specimens into a professional, accredited public museum
repository with a commitment to archival conservation and permanent retrievable
storage (e.g., SBCM) 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
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repository/museum to receive the fossil material.
9. 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.
October 20, 2022
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. Electronic
document, https://www.fontana.org/DocumentCenter/View/29525/Final-Environmental-
Impact-Report-for-the-General-Plan-Update, accessed June 6, 2022.
City of Fontana. 2018b. Draft Environmental Impact Report, Chapter 5.4. Cultural Resources,
Fontana Forward General Plan Update 2015-2035. Electronic document,
https://www.fontana.org/Document Center/View/26716/54-Cultural-Resources, accessed
June 6, 2022.
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.
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.
Paleontological Assessment for the 22-114 Hemlock Avenue Project
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DeLorme World Basemap. 2020. A seamless global data set with horizontal accuracy of +/- 50
meters. Electronic document, https://server.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/
Specialty/DeLorme_World _Base_Map/MapServer.
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.
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. Electronic document, https://vertpaleo.org/wp-
content/uploads/2021/01/SVP_Impact_Mitigation_Guidelines-1.pdf.
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.
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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