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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAppendix E - Paleontological Resources AssessmentPALEONTOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE RC HOMES – CITRUS AVENUE PROJECT CITY OF FONTANA, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA APN 1110-361-10 Lead Agency: City of Fontana Community Development Department 8353 Sierra Avenue Fontana, California 92335 Project Proponent: EPD Solutions, Inc. 3333 Michelson Drive, Suite 500 Irvine, California 92612 Preparer: BFSA Environmental Services, a Perennial Company 14010 Poway Road, Suite A Poway, California 92064 May 14, 2025 Paleontological Assessment for the RC Homes – Citrus Avenue Project _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Paleontological Database Information Author: Todd A. Wirths, M.S., P.G., Principal 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: May 14, 2025 Report Title: Paleontological Assessment for the RC Homes – Citrus Avenue Project, City of Fontana, San Bernardino County, California Prepared for: EPD Solutions, Inc. 3333 Michelson Drive, Suite 500 Irvine, California 92612 Submitted to: City of Fontana Community Development Department 8353 Sierra Avenue Fontana, California 92335 USGS Quadrangle: Section 1, Township 1 South, Range 6 West, Fontana, California (7.5-minute) USGS Quadrangle Assessor’s Parcel Number: 1110-361-10 Study Area: 5.3 acres Key Words: Paleontological assessment; Holocene alluvial fan deposits; low paleontological resource sensitivity; monitoring not recommended. Paleontological Assessment for the RC Homes – Citrus Avenue Project _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents Section Page 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND LOCATION .......................................................................1 2.0 REGULATORY SETTING ........................................................................................1 State of California .......................................................................................................1 City of Fontana ...........................................................................................................5 3.0 GEOLOGY .................................................................................................................6 4.0 PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES ......................................................................6 Definition ....................................................................................................................6 Paleontological Locality Record Search ....................................................................8 Project Survey .............................................................................................................8 5.0 PALEONTOLOGICAL SENSITIVITY ....................................................................9 Overview .....................................................................................................................9 Professional Standards ...............................................................................................9 City Assessment of Paleontological Sensitivity...........................................................9 6.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .....................................................10 7.0 CERTIFICATION ....................................................................................................11 8.0 REFERENCES .........................................................................................................11 Appendices Appendix A – Qualifications of Key Personnel 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 RC Homes – Citrus Avenue Project _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND LOCATION A paleontological resource assessment has been completed for the RC Homes – Citrus Avenue Project, located southwest of the intersection of Malaga and Citrus avenues, in the city of Fontana, San Bernardino County, California (Figures 1 and 2). The 5.3-acre project consists of one parcel (Assessor’s Parcel Number [APN] 1110-361-10). The project is situated within Section 1, Township 1 South, Range 6 West, as shown on the United States Geological Survey Fontana, California topographic quadrangle map (see Figure 2). Plans for the project include the construction of a residential development of 37 single- family lots (Figure 3). Currently, the parcel is vacant. According to the grading plans, the surface of the project will be graded to a depth of five feet before being filled with recompacted soil. Ruberti and Miller (2024) recommended grading to at least five deep. A total of 42,157 cubic yards of earth is anticipated for excavation. 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. Paleontological Assessment for the RC Homes – Citrus Avenue Project _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5 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- disturbing activities shall be diverted elsewhere until the monitor has Paleontological Assessment for the RC Homes – Citrus Avenue Project _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6 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 approximately in the middle of the broad Lytle Creek alluvial fan that emanates from the San Gabriel Mountains approximately four miles to the north of the project 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, located near where the northwest - to 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 south. Geologically, the project is mapped as Holocene young alluvial fan sediments, consisting of mostly sand (yellow areas with red dots labeled “Qyf5” on Figure 4, after Morton and Miller 2006). A geotechnical investigation was conducted for the project by Ruberti and Miller (2024). Based upon test borings drilled to as much as 50 feet deep, Ruberti and Miller (2024) said: Alluvium underlies the site and consists of brown to yellowish brown, silty gravelly sand and sandy gravel that is dry and dense. A high percentage of cobbles are present in the alluvium as noted on the test pit logs. Cobbles range from approximately 3 to 8 inches in diameter with some over 8 inches. 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. Fossils are considered a nonrenewable resource under state and local guidelines (see Section 2.0). Paleontological Assessment for the RC Homes – Citrus Avenue Project _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8 Paleontological Locality Record Search A prior paleontological record search from the San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) for a nearby project was used to assess the proximity of established fossil localities (Cortez 2021). The record search radius of the prior project, located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Arrow Boulevard and Almeria Avenue, less than a mile to the southwest, encompassed the current project. According to Cortez (2021), the closest fossil locality to the current project is situated about four and a half miles to the south, consisting of Pleistocene bones from a saber-tooth cat (Smilodon) (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. Seven localities (SBCM localities 5.1.14 to 5.1.17 and 5.1.19 to 5.1.21) lie about five miles southwest 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 rodents, cottontail rabbit, bison, camel, horse, mastodon, and other unidentified large mammal remains (Cortez 2021). Cortez (2021) indicates: that the proposed development is located on Quaternary younger alluvial deposits from Lytle Creek deposits of Holocene and late Pleistocene age (Morton, 2003). These sediments have low potential to contain significant paleontological resources. However, these sediments may overlay older Pleistocene fan deposits. These potentially-fossiliferous sediments were deposited between ~1.8 million years ago to ~11,000 years ago. Older Pleistocene deposits in the area have been found to be highly fossiliferous yielding the remains of ground sloths, bison and horse. Project Survey On March 24, 2025, 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 10 meters apart while visually inspecting the ground surface, when possible. All potentially sensitive areas where paleontological resources might be located were closely inspected. Overall, the parcel was flat and overgrown with fresh grass. Visibility of the natural ground surface was characterized as moderate. Knee-high wild grasses covered most of the site limited total ground visibility to approximately 60 percent. No bedrock outcrops were exposed that might indicate the presence of fossils. No paleontological resources, or evidence of paleontological resources, were observed during the survey. Paleontological Assessment for the RC Homes – Citrus Avenue Project _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9 5.0 PALEONTOLOGICAL SENSITIVITY Overview The degree of paleontological sensitivity of any particular area is based upon 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). 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, based upon the Holocene-aged young alluvium mapped at the project, the distance to the nearest known fossil localities, and the coarse nature of the alluvium encountered during the geotechnical investigation, the young alluvial fan sediments at the project may be considered to have a low paleontological potential. 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 Paleontological Assessment for the RC Homes – Citrus Avenue Project _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10 city. Based upon 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 The project is situated in Holocene aged alluvial deposits that likely overlie older, paleontologically sensitive Pleistocene alluvial deposits. The depth of the age transition from Holocene to Pleistocene within the alluvial deposits is not known at the project, however, based upon the investigation by Ruberti and Miller (2024), Holocene alluvial deposits are deeper than anticipated grading depths. Based on shallow grading depths for the development and young, coarse alluvial deposits composing the near-surface stratigraphy, the project will likely not encounter potentially paleontologically sensitive Pleistocene alluvium. Therefore, paleontological monitoring is not recommended for the project. A Paleontological Resource Impact Mitigation Program is not warranted. 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 could be required. 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. Paleontological Assessment for the RC Homes – Citrus Avenue Project _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 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. May 14, 2025 Todd A. Wirths, M.S., P.G. Date Principal 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. Cortez, C. 2021. Untitled paleontological record search letter report for the Almeria Project, San Bernardino County, for Brian F. Smith and Associates, Inc., Poway, California, by the San Bernardino County Museum, Redlands, California. (Appendix B) 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. 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. Ruberti, R.F., and Miller, K.L. 2024. Geologic and Geotechnical Engineering Due Diligence Investigation, Proposed 36 Lot Planned Development, 7844 Citrus Avenue, Fontana, California. Prepared for Ridge Crest Real Estate, LLC, Los Angeles, California, by Paleontological Assessment for the RC Homes – Citrus Avenue Project _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 12 GeoSoils Consultants, Inc., Van Nuys, 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: https://vertpaleo.org/wp- content/uploads/2021/01/SVP_Impact_Mitigation_Guidelines-1.pdf. Paleontological Assessment for the RC Homes – Citrus Avenue Project _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ APPENDIX A Qualifications of Key Personnel Todd A. Wirths, MS, PG No. 7588 Principal Paleontologist BFSA Environmental Services, a Perennial Company 14010 Poway Road  Suite A  Phone: (858) 679-8218  Fax: (858) 679-9896  Email: 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.