HomeMy WebLinkAboutAppendix G - Paleontological AssessmentPALEONTOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
FOR THE CONIFER COURT STORAGE
PROJECT
CITY OF FONTANA,
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
APN 0237-411-28 and -29
Lead Agency:
City of Fontana
Community Development Department
8353 Sierra Avenue
Fontana, California 92335
Project Proponent:
Conifer Court, LLC
500 Newport Center Drive, Suite 570
Newport Beach, California 92660
Preparer:
BFSA Environmental Services,
a Perennial Company
14010 Poway Road, Suite A
Poway, California 92064
August 13, 2024
Paleontological Assessment for the Conifer Court Storage Project
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paleontological Database Information
Author: Todd A. Wirths, M.S., Senior Paleontologist,
California Professional Geologist No. 7588
Consulting Firm: BFSA Environmental Services,
a Perennial Company
14010 Poway Road, Suite A
Poway, California 92064
(858) 484-0915
Report Date: August 13, 2024
Report Title: Paleontological Assessment for the Conifer Court Storage
Project, Fontana, San Bernardino County, California
Prepared for: Conifer Court, LLC
500 Newport Center Drive, Suite 570
Newport Beach, California 92660
Submitted to: City of Fontana
Community Development Department
8353 Sierra Avenue
Fontana, California 92335
USGS Quadrangle: Section 35, Township 1 South, Range 6 West, Fontana,
California (7.5-minute) USGS Quadrangle
Assessor’s Parcel Number: 0237-411-28 and -29
Study Area: 13.16 acres
Key Words: Paleontological assessment; Holocene alluvial fan deposits;
tonalite; low to no paleontological resource sensitivity;
monitoring not recommended.
Paleontological Assessment for the Conifer Court Storage Project
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Table of Contents
Section Page
1.0 INTRODUCTION AND LOCATION .......................................................................1
2.0 REGULATORY SETTING ........................................................................................1
2.1 State of California ................................................................................................1
2.2 City of Fontana ....................................................................................................5
3.0 GEOLOGY .................................................................................................................6
4.0 PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES ......................................................................8
4.1 Definition .............................................................................................................8
4.2 Fossil Locality Record Search ............................................................................8
5.0 PALEONTOLOGICAL SENSITIVITY ....................................................................9
5.1 Overview ..............................................................................................................9
5.2 Professional Standards .........................................................................................9
5.3 City Assessment of Paleontological Sensitivity ................................................10
6.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .....................................................10
7.0 CERTIFICATION ....................................................................................................11
8.0 REFERENCES .........................................................................................................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 Project Development Map ...........................................................................4
Figure 4 Geologic Map...............................................................................................7
Paleontological Assessment for the Conifer Court Storage Project
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1.0 INTRODUCTION AND LOCATION
A paleontological resource assessment has been completed for the Conifer Court Storage
Project, located south of the intersection of Village Drive and the Declez Channel in the city of
Fontana in San Bernardino County, California (Figures 1 and 2). The 13.16-acre project consists
of one parcel (Assessor’s Parcel Number [APN] 0237-411-28 and -29). The project is situated
within Section 35, Township 1 South, Range 6 West, as shown on the U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS) Fontana, California topographic quadrangle map (see Figure 2). The project includes
the construction of a self-storage facility with new landscaping and associated infrastructure. A
10-foot-deep storm water detention basin is proposed at the northern corner of the project, where
Village Drive and the Declez Channel meet (Figure 3). Currently, the project parcel is vacant.
The project property was previously utilized as a part of the Declezville Quarry, near the
former community of Declezville. The project property has been disturbed by quarry activities,
which includes a large rectangular-shaped stockpile of soil and rock on the northern portion of
the site and a partially excavated ridge on the west edge. The southwest and southeast property
boundaries border natural ascending slopes. The eastern portion of the project appears to consist
of undisturbed alluvium deposited at the outlet of a natural drainage (Lump and Walker 2022).
As the lead agency, the City of Fontana 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 in the area, a review of the underlying geology, and recommendations to
mitigate impacts to potential paleontological resources, if necessary.
2.0 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 on the environment, consider
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. 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 provides
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).
3.0 GEOLOGY
The project is located at the foot of the northwestern corner of the Jurupa Mountains.
The Jurupa Mountains are a part of the Perris tectonic block and constitute the northern-most
portion of the Peninsular Ranges (MacKevett 1951; Morton 2003). The Jurupa Mountains
mainly consist of Cretaceous granitic and pre-Cretaceous metamorphic rocks, with the lower
slopes mantled by a sedimentary detritus of Pleistocene-aged alluvial fan deposits. The
promontory just south of the project is composed of tonalite, a type of granitic rock, and was the
setting of the former Declezville Quarry.
Most of the project is mapped as tonalite (pink areas labeled as “Kt” in Figure 4, after
Morton 2003). The northern portion of the project is mapped as artificial fill deposits (brown
areas labeled as “Qaf” in Figure 4), consisting of quarry tailings of waste rock and earthen
materials derived from activities at the adjacent Declezville Quarry (MacKevett 1951; Morton
2003; Lump and Walker 2022). The Declezville Quarry was the site of the extensive extraction
of tonalite for building purposes, mostly for projects in Los Angeles County, and included a rail
line to transport the tonalite. The rail line can be seen in Figures 2 and 4. The quarry ceased
production in 1950 (MacKevett 1951).
In a geotechnical investigation conducted for the project, Lump and Walker (2022)
indicated a thickness of as much as 21.5 feet for the artificial fill deposits, containing boulders up
to five feet long, mostly underlain by tonalite. Most of the project was topped with fill and
rubble from quarry operations. Along the west side of the project, a few feet of topsoil were
present overlying tonalite. The proposed storm water detention basin is situated over what is
currently seven feet of fill overlying tonalite.
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The eastern portion of the project is mapped as Holocene and late Pleistocene (present
day to approximately 120,000 years ago [Cohen and Gibbard 2011]) young alluvial fan deposits
of the Lytle Creek fan (light yellow areas labeled “Qyfl” in Figure 4). Lump and Walker (2022)
indicated the alluvial deposits extend to a depth of approximately 55 feet, underlying about seven
feet of artificial fill. Alluvium consisted of poorly graded sands, silty sands, and clayey sands.
Lump and Walker (2022) did not speculate on the age of the alluvium. This area of the parcel is
not slated as part of the proposed development (Figure 3).
Based on the project dimensions shown in Figure 3 and the results provided by Lump and
Walker (2022), the only area proposed for construction that does not overlie tonalite at the
surface or at a relatively shallow depth is occupied by proposed Storage Buildings 1 and 2. In
this area, Lump and Walker (2022) encountered five feet of fill overlying five feet of medium
dense alluvium that, in turn, overlies very dense, gravelly sands and silts. Lump and Walker
(2022) recommended the complete removal of the quarry tailings (artificial fill) and over -
excavation of the “upper portion” of alluvial soils, as these materials were deemed unsuitable for
building purposes.
4.0 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 2.0 of this
report).
Paleontological Locality Record Search
A paleontological record search for the project was solicited from the San Bernardino
County Museum (SBCM) (Kottkamp 2024; Appendix B). While no fossils are known from the
project parcel, Pleistocene bones from a saber-tooth cat (Smilodon) were found less than a mile
to the northeast of the project (SBCM locality 5.1.11). This fossil was found just five feet below
the surface, covered by three to five feet of Holocene alluvial deposits.
From a prior record search for another nearby project, seven localities (SBCM localities
5.1.14 to 5.1.17 and 5.1.19 to 5.1.21) lie about one-and-a-half miles northwest 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
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localities include three species of rodents, cottontail rabbit, bison, camel, horse, mastodon, and
other unidentified large mammal remains (Cortez 2021).
5.0 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 may
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 therefore is typically
assigned a low paleontological sensitivity. Pleistocene (over 11,700 years old) alluvial and
alluvial fan deposits in the Inland Empire, however, often yield important terrestrial vertebrate
fossils, such as extinct mammoths, mastodons, and giant ground sloths, as well as extinct species
of horse, bison, camel, saber-toothed cats, and others (Jefferson 1991; Cortez 2021; Kottkamp
2024). These Pleistocene sediments are therefore 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 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, the extensive artificial fill deposits at the project have no
paleontological potential; similarly, the Cretaceous tonalite has no potential. The shallow
alluvium is likely Holocene in age and has a low paleontological potential, since fossils are
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generally not found in Holocene deposits. Based on the presence of nearby Pleistocene-aged
fossils, Pleistocene alluvium has a high potential for paleontological resources.
City Assessment of Paleontological Sensitivity
Section 5.4.1.5 of the City of Fontana’s Draft Environmental Impact Report 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 localities 5.1.11, 5.1.14 to 5.1.17, and 5.1.19 to 5.1.21), subsurface
“older fan” Pleistocene deposits are considered 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.
6.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Geologically, the surface of the project is mapped as artificial fill, bedrock of Cretaceous
tonalite, and young alluvial fan deposits. The paleontological sensitivity of these units is low to
none. Paleontological monitoring is not recommended for excavation activities that take place
within deposits of artificial fill, previously disturbed earthen materials, or tonalite, either
weathered or fresh. While the depth of transition of Holocene to Pleistocene age within the
alluvial deposits is not known, based on the project plans and geologic observations by Lump
and Walker (2022), excavation into undisturbed alluvium appears to be limited to a few feet and
confined to deposits of Holocene age. Monitoring for paleontological resources is not
recommended for excavation into Holocene alluvial deposits, since these deposits are generally
too young to yield fossils.
In conclusion, paleontological monitoring is not recommended for the project, based on
the summary above. However, if paleontological resources are discovered during excavation
activities, a qualified paleontologist should be consulted to determine the significance of the
discovery. If the discovery is determined to be significant by the qualified paleontologist,
paleontological monitoring would be required, in general accordance with the City of Fontana
(2018a).
A qualified paleontologist is defined as an individual with an M.S. or Ph.D. in
paleontology or geology who has proven experience in paleontology and who is knowledgeable
in professional paleontological procedures and techniques. Fieldwork may be conducted by a
qualified paleontological monitor, defined as an individual who has experience in the collection
and salvage of fossil materials. The paleontological monitor shall always work under the
direction of a qualified paleontologist.
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7.0 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.
August 13, 2024
Todd A. Wirths Date
Senior Paleontologist
California Professional Geologist No. 7588
8.0 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-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.
Jefferson, G.T. 1991. A catalogue of late Quaternary vertebrates from California: Part two,
mammals. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Technical Reports, 7: i–v +
1–129.
Paleontological Assessment for the Conifer Court Storage Project
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Kottkamp, S. 2024. Paleontology Records Review for proposed site of Conifer Court Storage
(Project No. 24-195), Fontana, San Bernardino County, California. Unpublished letter
for BFSA Environmental Services, Inc., Poway, California, by the San Bernardino
County Museum, Redlands, California. (Appendix B)
Lump, E., and Walker, G.R. 2022. Feasibility/Due Diligence-Level Geotechnical Assessment:
Conifer Ridge Property, 14.5 Acres of Vacant Land South of Conifer Court and Village
Drive, APN 0237-411-27-0000, City of Fontana, San Bernardino County, California
92337. Consulting report prepared for Conifer Court LLC, Newport Beach, California,
by Petra Geosciences, Inc., Temecula, California.
MacKevett, E.M. 1951. Geology of the Jurupa Mountains, San Bernardino and Riverside
Counties, California. Division of Mines Special Report No. 5, State of California Dept.
of Natural Resources, San Francisco.
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.
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: https://vertpaleo.org/wp-
content/uploads/2021/01/SVP_Impact_Mitigation_Guidelines-1.pdf.
Paleontological Assessment for the Conifer Court Storage Project
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APPENDIX A
Qualifications of Key Personnel
Todd A. Wirths, MS, PG No. 7588
Senior Paleontologist
BFSA Environmental Services, A Perennial Company
14010 Poway Road Suite A
Phone: (858) 679-8218 Fax: (858) 679-9896 E-Mail: twirths@bfsa.perennialenv.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.
BFSA Environmental Services, A Perennial Company, 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 Conifer Court Storage Project
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APPENDIX B
Fossil Locality Search Report
11 July 2024
BFSA Environmental Services
Attn: Todd Wirths
14010 Poway Rd.
Poway, CA 92064
PALEONTOLOGY RECORDS REVIEW for proposed site of Conifer Court Storage
(Project No. 24-195), Fontana, San Bernardino County, California
Dear Mr. Wirths,
The Division of Earth Science of the San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) has
completed a record search for the above-named project in San Bernardino County, California.
The proposed project site (Conifer Court Storage) is in the city of Fontana, California, as shown
on the United States Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5-minute Fontana, California, quadrangle.
Geologic mapping of that region done by Dibblee and Minch (2004) indicates that the
entire project area is located atop recent Quaternary alluvium covered by soil (Qa). Qa’s exact
composition varies: clast size ranges from clay to gravel, subunits are often massive though some
may exhibit bedding of variable distinction, and sorting is inconsistent leaning towards poor. Qa
is of Holocene age and unlikely be fossiliferous, though it may overlie older Pleistocene age
alluvium (Qoa) that is commonly fossiliferous throughout the Santa Ana River valley. Reynolds
and Reynolds (1991) found that Pleistocene sediments in northwestern Riverside County
generally lie about 5 – 15 feet below recent Holocene surface sediments. The only other
geological units exposed at or near the surface within a mile of the project area are igneous and
highly altered metasedimentary rocks comprising the Jurupa Hills (e.g., quartz diorite,
granodiorite, schist-gneiss, etc.) which are not fossiliferous.
Museum
Division of Earth Science
David Myers
Director
Scott Kottkamp
Curator of Earth Science
2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands, California 92374 | Phone: 909.798.8608
Conifer Court Storage, Fontana, CA
July 11th, 2024
PAGE 2 of 2
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, but one SBCM does occur within a 1 mile radius
of the site’s perimeter. That locality, SBCM 5.1.11, is situated approximately 0.62 miles east-
northeast of the proposed project site. Permineralized bones of the saber-toothed cat †Smilodon
sp. were unearthed there, from 5 feet below the surface at an elevation of 1000 feet, during the
excavation of a pipeline trench. SBCM 5.1.11 is covered with Qa at the surface, overlaying Qoa
(where the †Smilodon was found) by only 3 – 5 feet.
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 question s that you may have.
Sincerely,
Scott Kottkamp, Curator of Earth Science
Division of Earth Science
San Bernardino County Museum
Literature Cited
Dibblee, T.W., and Minch, J.A. 2004. Geologic map of the Riverside West/south 1/2 of Fontana
quadrangles, San Bernardino and Riverside County, California. Dibblee Geological Foundation.
Dibblee Foundation Map DF-128. Scale 1:24,000. Available at:
https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_71756.htm (accessed 11 July 2024).
Reynolds, R. E., and Reynolds, R. L. 1991. The Pleistocene Beneath our Feet: Near-surface Pleistocene
Fossils from Inland Southern California Basins. San Bernardino County Museum Association
Quarterly 38(3 & 4): 41-43