SR 119 Cherry Avenue Truck Climbing Lanes (California Endangered species Act (CESA) Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2014-082-04 (ITP), Amendment No. 2)

SR 119 Cherry Avenue Truck Climbing Lanes (California Endangered species Act (CESA) Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2014-082-04 (ITP), Amendment No. 2)

The Project, as approved by the CDFW on March 2, 2015, and as first amended on April 8, 2016, involves widening SR 119 to allow for the extension of the existing passing lanes in the eastbound direction from PM 10.04 to PM 11.6 and in the westbound direction from PM 12.8 to PM 13.3, as well as shoulder widening to the current safety standard of 8 feet. The Project as authorized in the ITP, as amended, will result in temporary and permanent impacts to San Joaquin antelope squirrel (SJAS) (Vulpes macrotis mutica) habitat. The Project is expected to result in incidental take of GKR, which is designated as an endangered species under the CESA, as well as SJAS and SJKF both of which are designated as threatened species under CESA. Amendment No. 2 referenced above as issued by CDFW authorizes seven changes to the ITP: 1) updating the project description to include drainage facility upgrades and installation of flashing safety lights on the south side of SR 119; 2) revising habitats impacts by decreasing permanent impacts and increasing temporary impacts; 3) increasing the estimated cost of on-site habitat restoration based on the increase in temporary impact acres; 4) changing the vegetation restoration plan submission date, augmenting the habitat restoration requirements; and 5) increasing the performance security amount commensurate with the increase in the number of acres of temporary impacts.

Kern