ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL STEWARDSHIP

Where We Want to Be

In the future

Existing ecological assets, including wetlands, urban forests, and open space corridors are protected and enhanced. San Francisco Bay and Colma Creek wetlands and marshes provide coastal protection and support regional ecology.
Existing City parks and open spaces are managed to support wildlife.
South San Francisco has a continuous and equitably distributed tree canopy to improve air quality, provide relief from rising temperatures, and increase connectivity between open spaces and meets the goals established in 2020 Urban Forest Master Plan.
Impervious surfaces are reduced to decrease stormwater runoff, mitigate against urban heat islands, and support urban ecology.
South San Francisco protects cultural resources for the contributions they make to the city’s history, culture, identity, and quality of life.

Performance

Metrics

01PERFORMANCE METRIC:

Habitat area

Target:

An increase in the acreage of habitat area for local flora and fauna

Data:

as of 2021: 426 acres

02PERFORMANCE METRIC:

Tree canopy

TARGET:

A citywide tree canopy coverage of 22.6% by 2040
All neighborhoods meet the canopy coverage target, prioritizing disadvantaged neighborhoods first

Data:

03PERFORMANCE METRIC:

Environmental stewardship programs

Target:

An increase in environmental stewardship education and interpretation programs and volunteerism

Data:

City to begin tracking data and provide in the future.

04PERFORMANCE METRIC:

Historic resource protection

TARGET:

An increase in the number of historic resources and historic architectural resources eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and California Register of Historic Places

Data:

City to begin tracking data and provide in the future.

How Our Plan

Gets Us There

People standing on hillside overlooking South San Francisco

Ecological and cultural resources provide critical benefits to the residents of South San Francisco. They support healthy ecosystems, improve air and water quality, enhance public health, contribute to the identity and quality of life in the city, and help residents adapt to a changing climate. As South San Francisco grows, the City will foster urban ecology through open space planning and connectivity, habitat diversity, urban forestry, planting and vegetation, and land and vegetation management. The City will steward the San Francisco Bay, Colma Creek, Sign Hill, and San Bruno Mountain and will create an abundant, robust urban forest that supports vegetation and wildlife. The City will protect important cultural resources, including historic architectural, tribal cultural, and archeological resources through identification, preservation, and education initiatives.

The City affirms its commitment to combat climate change by establishing a carbon neutrality goal by 2045. Carbon neutrality is the state of balancing emissions of carbon dioxide with removal or by eliminating emissions from society altogether. The City will accelerate regional and local solutions to reduce GHG emissions through clean and active transportation systems, fossil-fuel free energy systems, green buildings, and zero waste solutions. The City has updated its Climate Action Plan (CAP) to reflect and enhance the General Plan.

Key Issues and Opportunities

Environmental Resources Harbors and Fisheries Cultural Resources Related Figures

Environmental Resources

South San Francisco and its surrounding area include many important natural features, such as the San Francisco Bay, San Bruno Mountain, and Colma Creek. These natural features act as landmarks establishing a strong sense of place and location within the community and provide significant opportunities to support urban ecology and biological resources.

Habitat Types

South San Francisco lies at the southern edge of the San Bruno Mountain and adjacent to the San Francisco Bay. Protected areas on San Bruno Mountain preserve expanses of native coastal grasslands, coastal scrub, riparian scrub, and oak woodlands. These habitats support a wide range of flora and fauna, including three federally listed endangered butterflies and a variety of rare plants. To the east of South San Francisco, expanses of tidal marsh, mudflats, ponds, and open water in South San Francisco Bay provide habitat for diverse wetland and aquatic wildlife. The San Francisco Bay also provides essential natural resources for migratory birds on the Pacific Flyway.

While there are habitat areas adjacent to South San Francisco, the city consists almost entirely of developed areas. Pockets of parks and open space provide space for wildlife and humans alike. Colma Creek, San Bruno Creek, and Navigable Slough of San Bruno Creek provide connections between these open areas, and the city’s tree canopy supports wildlife and provides shade. Large infrastructure, like Highway 101, and urban development act as barriers separating the San Francisco Bay from the upper Colma Creek watershed and habitat areas on San Bruno Mountain.

The General Plan provides the opportunity to better connect habitat areas and support biodiversity in the city. By continuing to develop a system of well-connected parks and open spaces; updating guidelines for landscape design and planting; discouraging the use of invasive non-native plantings; and better managing vegetation at parks and open spaces, the City can support biodiversity, improve air and water quality, improve public health, and adapt to a changing climate. There is an opportunity to implement multi-benefit nature-based projects along the San Francisco Bay shoreline and Colma Creek that improve resilience and restore ecosystems. These projects can include marsh and wetlands development, a new beach area, and riparian habitat open space along the San Francisco Bay.

Colma Creek Watershed

A critical feature in South San Francisco, Colma Creek is located between San Bruno Mountain and the San Andreas Fault; it drains an area of 16.6 square miles as a single waterway at the center of the valley. Colma Creek is a perennial stream within the watershed that trends in a southeasterly direction through the center of the city and is the community’s main natural drainage system. The headwaters of Colma Creek originate from San Bruno Mountain located to the north of the city. There are two main tributaries to Colma Creek within the city: Twelve Mile Creek and Spruce Creek.

Since the establishment of the Colma Creek Flood Control Zone in 1964, the urbanization of the Colma Creek watershed saw peak storm water flow steadily increase. The establishment of the Flood Control Zone in response to regular flooding in the sections of the creek downstream from Orange Memorial Park led to Colma Creek being culverted over up until 2006. The San Mateo County Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District (formerly the San Mateo County Flood Control District) contributes to the management of flood risk along Colma Creek.

Flora and Fauna

The city’s natural and urbanized habitats provide areas to support a wide variety of wildlife and plant species. Recent surveys found over 40 sensitive plant species in the city, including eight federally listed species such as the Franciscan manzanita, Presidio manzanita, and robust spineflower. There are six plant species that are State listed species. Recent surveys found 31 sensitive wildlife species recorded throughout the city. This list includes eight federally listed species, including the San Bruno elfin butterfly, mission blue butterfly, and California Ridgway’s rail. Another five species are State listed species. The listed and special-status wildlife and plant species are most likely to be found in the riparian and estuary areas around San Francisco Bay, in the open spaces and hills on San Bruno Mountain and on Sign Hill, and possibly within the city’s existing parks.

Surface Water

Stormwater runoff in the city is collected in storm drains and discharged into Colma Creek or the San Francisco Bay. Some stormwater runoff infiltrates into the ground; however, due to the large amount of impervious surfaces within the city, much of the stormwater flows over land and into existing storm drains. In 2019, the City adopted a Green Infrastructure Plan that establishes guidelines for integrating green infrastructure measures into the city in combination with conventional storm drain system (gray) improvements to manage runoff from storm events.

Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires States to identify waters that do not meet the water quality standards or objectives and thus, are considered “impaired.” Colma Creek and the San Francisco Bay are listed on the Section 303(d) list of the Clean Water Act.

Ground Water

South San Francisco is located within the boundaries of the Westside and Visitacion Valley Groundwater Basins. The Bayshore Water District of the California Water Service extracts groundwater from the Westside Basin from five wells located within the service area. Groundwater has historically supplied 20% of the Bayshore Water District’s water demand.

Climate change may impact local hydrology and affect natural recharge to the local groundwater aquifers and the quantity of groundwater that could be pumped sustainably over the long-term. Lower rainfall and/or more intense runoff, increased evaporative losses and warmer and shorter winter seasons can alter natural recharge of groundwater. Salinity intrusion into coastal groundwater aquifers due to sea level rise could interfere with local groundwater uses.

Harbors and Fisheries

In 1977, the San Mateo County Harbor District assumed operational control over the Oyster Point Marina and Park. The Harbor District Master Plan provides a comprehensive guide that will define the best possible use of its land and water resources and in identifying and achieving capital improvement projects. The Harbor District Master Plan balances resource protection, coastal access, sustainable infrastructure, coastal-dependent businesses, and active and passive public recreation.

Cultural Resources

Cultural resources are buildings, objects, features, structures, sites, or landscapes with historic or pre-historic value. Cultural resources typically include properties that have been determined to be associated with important events, important persons, excellence in architecture or master architects, or archaeological sites and objects such as Native American artifacts discovered in the city.

Preservation and Conservation

Historic preservation generally means to pause or understand a resource only from a certain point in time, effectively protecting it from change or evolution. Conservation is about managing change. It is planning based on the inherited culture and cultural artifacts of a place, structure or object. It means assessment, interpretation, conservation, documentation and, most certainly, strategic management.

Union Hotel 1906. Source.

Historic Architectural Resources and Burial Sites

Historic, built-environment resources are associated with the recent past. In California, historic resources are typically associated with the American periods in the State’s history. Two National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)-listed properties are located within the city: the Martin Building located at 265 Grand Avenue (also known as the Metropolitan Hotel) and the South San Francisco Hillside Sign. These two properties are also the only resources listed on the California Register of Historic Places (CRHP). South San Francisco also recognizes 40 designated Historic Landmarks that are considered cultural resources.

Addressing cross-cultural acknowledgement of the importance of historic resources in retaining the city’s “sense of place” is an important consideration in the General Plan. South San Francisco is multicultural, and the city celebrates its diverse cultural, ethnic, and religious communities. However, the City faces the challenge of retaining and preserving historic resources, and property owners face financial challenges to maintain historic resources. The costs of maintaining older buildings, particularly historic buildings, are greater than newer structures.

Archaeological and Tribal Cultural Resources

Archaeological resources span both historic and prehistoric periods and differ from built environment cultural resources in that they are largely sub-surface, and are most often encountered by pedestrian survey, archaeological testing, or during project-related ground disturbance. Tribal Cultural Resources are sites, features, places, cultural landscapes, sacred places, and objects with cultural value to a California Native American tribe. The locations of known archaeological resources within the city must be kept confidential and cannot be disclosed to the public.

Related Figures

The Bay Trail interpretive sign in front of a body of water

policy

framework

Goal ES-1 Goal ES-2 Goal ES-3 Goal ES-4 Goal ES-5 Goal ES-6 Goal ES-9 Goal ES-7 Goal ES-8 Goal ES-10 Goal ES-11

Goal ES-1

Goal ES-1:

The City supports nature in South San Francisco to encourage healthy ecosystems, improve air and water quality, improve public health, and adapt to a changing climate.

Intent:

To foster urban ecology in South San Francisco including open space and connectivity, habitat diversity, urban forestry, planting and vegetation, and land and vegetation management.

Policy ES-1.1: Develop a connected open space network.

Continue to develop a system of well-connected parks and open spaces to support biodiversity, enable the movement of wildlife, and increase climate resilience.

Policy ES-1.2: Strive for habitat diversity across the city.

Strive for habitat diversity ranging from coastal wetlands and marshes to upland habitats.

Policy ES-1.3: Create a connected network of wildlife corridors.

Transform Colma Creek, implement the City’s Urban Forest Master Plan, and manage the Bay Trail and Centennial Way to create a connected network of wildlife corridors.

Policy ES-1.4: Plant for biodiversity.

Discourage the use of invasive non-native plantings in landscape areas across the city, working with regional agencies and local nurseries to educate residents and employers in removing non-native plant species and instead using native species.

Action ES-1.4.1: Manage vegetation at parks and open space for biodiversity.
Manage vegetation at parks and open spaces in South San Francisco to support biodiversity by reducing pesticide use, reducing light pollution, reducing non-native species, and planting native species that provide valuable resources for native wildlife and to increase resilience.

Policy ES-1.5: Conduct equity assessments for conservation efforts.

Assess conservation efforts for distributions of benefits and burdens to diverse and marginalized communities (both geographically bounded and identity-based), including implications for environmental and public health. Engage communities in decision-making about programs and priorities.

For related policies and implementation actions related to urban forestry, landscape design, and recreational programming about ecology and environmental stewardship, see Goals ES-4, ES-5, and PR-9.

Goal ES-2

Goal ES-2:

South San Francisco is a steward of the San Francisco Bay and its habitat.

Intent:

To protect the San Francisco Bay and expand habitat through development standards and bird safe design.

Policy ES-2.1: Protect marsh and wetland habitat.

Protect and expand existing marsh and wetland habitat to improve water quality, adapt to climate change, and provide habitat for wildlife.

Policy ES-2.2: Maintain development standards adjacent to the San Francisco Bay to support habitat.

Maintain standards and guidelines for new construction within 150 feet of San Francisco Bay that support the health of the Bay. This policy includes:

Requiring no net new impervious areas.
Maintaining (or increasing) building setbacks to support habitat areas and adaptation.
Requiring new construction to construct bioswales or similar features to treat runoff before it enters the Bay.
Requiring low intensity lighting to reduce the amount of light reaching sensitive habitat.
Using a planting palette consisting of native species and species that provide valuable resources for native wildlife; and
Requiring an assessment as part of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process to consider wildlife impacts before project approval to continue to protect special status of species.
Action ES-2.2.1: Require bird safe design East of 101.

Develop a bird safe design ordinance to minimize the adverse effects on native and migratory birds and require new development East of 101 to incorporate design measures.

Goal ES-3

Goal ES-3:

Colma Creek is an ecological corridor that supports community resilience and livability.

Intent:

To meet a series of overlapping objectives that reduce flooding, protect against sea level rise, increase shoreline access and active mobility, improve water quality, and restore biodiversity in the city.

Policy ES-3.1: Enhance Colma Creek as an ecological corridor.

Enhance Colma Creek as an ecological corridor, restoring creek ecologies and creating transitional habitat zones to build resilience and ecosystem services.

Action ES-3.1.1: Implement Colma Creek interpretive signage.

In coordination with the Flood and Resiliency District and other partners, incorporate interpretive signage that educate community members and visitors about the history and the unique biological resources around Colma Creek.

Policy ES-3.2: Co-locate park and open space patches along Colma Creek.

Co-locate park and open space features along Colma Creek to create opportunities for green infrastructure and patches for natural habitat.

Policy ES-3.3: Maintain development standards along Colma Creek to support habitat.

Maintain development standards and guidelines for new construction within 80 feet that support urban ecology and ecosystem resilience. Provide project applicants with a process for exemptions and/or offsets under limited circumstances. Standards include:

Requiring no net new impervious areas.
Maintaining (or increasing) building setbacks to support habitat areas.
Encouraging new construction to construct bioswales or similar features to treat runoff before it enters the creek:
Using a planting palette consisting of native species and species that provide valuable resources for native wildlife.

Policy ES-3.4: Implement stormwater management throughout the Colma Creek watershed.

Continue to implement stormwater management practices across the Colma Creek watershed, such as the Orange Memorial Park Stormwater Capture Project to improve water quality and increase trash capture.

Policy ES-3.5: Maintain stormwater management partnerships.

Continue to develop public and private partnerships with agencies, developers, and non-profits to fund Colma Creek transformation.

For related policies and implementation actions related to Colma Creek ecology and resilience, see Goal CR-3.

Goal ES-4

Goal ES-4:

An abundant, robust urban forest that contributes to South San Francisco’s quality of life as it combats the effects of climate change.

Intent:

To enhance South San Francisco’s environmental quality and the mental and physical health of its residents, while bringing significant economic benefits through increased property values. To make the city more resilient to the impacts of climate change and provide habitat for wildlife.

Policy ES-4.1: Expand tree canopy cover.

Expand canopy coverage to increase environmental benefits, prioritizing disadvantaged communities and connected wildlife corridors.

Action ES-4.1.1: Implement Urban Forest Plan:

Implement the City’s Urban Forest Plan.

Policy ES-4.2: Avoid tree removal.

Avoid removing trees whenever possible. When removals are warranted, replace each removed tree with three new trees.

Policy ES-4.3: Support the staged succession of tree planting.

Plan in advance to remove and replant trees to guide tree planting priorities and help shape the character of the city.

Policy ES-4.4: Plan for tree planting to promote tree health.

Plan for trees before planting to promote the health and longevity of individual trees, reduce mortality/tree removals, and improve habitat for wildlife. Establish a design standard for minimum soil depth to facilitate robust tree growth.

Policy ES-4.5: Promote good tree maintenance.

Promote good maintenance practices for trees on private property by educating the public about tree care and certified professional tree workers.

Policy ES-4.6: Support education and engagement about the urban forest.

Increase support for the enhancement of the urban forest through forestry programing, information distribution, and advocacy groups.

Policy ES-4.7: Enforce the Tree Preservation Ordinance.

Increase communication with code enforcement to increase enforcement of tree preservation ordinance. Consider adjustments to the code and fine structure to improve Ordinance implementation.

Policy ES-4.8: Maintain and update the tree inventory.

Maintain and regularly update the City’s tree inventory every five years.

Policy ES-4.9: Choose native, climate-adaptive trees.

Continue to choose species that are better suited to the local, changing climate.

Policy ES-4.10: Use regenerative design practices.

Restore the environment and encourage long-term sustainability, increased biodiversity, and enhanced resilience.

Goal ES-5

Goal ES-5:

Landscape design standards for new development enhance habitat quality, reduce water use, and support a diverse ecosystem.

Intent:

To discourage the use of invasive, non-native plantings in landscape areas across the city, encourage waterwise planting, and encourage innovation and ecosystem resilience in landscape design.

Policy ES-5.1: Remove invasive species.

Prohibit invasive species identified on the California Invasive Plant Council list in new construction and landscape renovations.

Policy ES-5.2: Control and manage invasive plants found on site.

Use best management practices during construction and subsequent site maintenance to manage and control invasive species found on site, including clearing infested areas prior to construction, planting native seed from a local source, and avoiding seed dispersal through construction equipment use.

Policy ES-5.3: Use a waterwise planting palette during new construction

During new construction and landscape renovations, prioritize xeriscaping, low-water-use plants, and native plants, minimizing the total area of high-water-use plants (e.g., turf and water features).

Action ES-5.3.1: Update the planting guidelines.

Evaluate and update existing guidelines for landscape design and planting to support native species and non-native species that provide valuable resources for native wildlife and reduce water use.

Policy ES-5.4: Preserve native plants during construction.

During new construction or landscape renovations, preserve portions of a lot largely occupied by native species. Replace non-native vegetation with natives except when the non-native vegetation support habitat particularly useful to native wildlife.

Policy ES-5.5: Plant using a multi-layered cluster to support wildlife.

Design plantings in multi-layered clusters, placing groundcover, shrub, and tree canopy layers in the same area to support wildlife.

Policy ES-5.6: Create pollinator habitats in medians and landscapes.

Continue to create pollinator habitats in medians and landscapes to act as pollinator islands to give respite to wildlife going from the coastal range to San Bruno Mountain.

Policy ES-5.7: Discourage herbicide and pesticide use.

Discourage the use of herbicides and pesticides.

Policy ES-5.8: Design irrigation systems for water conservation.

Install weather- or soil moisture-based irrigation controllers in all new development. Cluster plants together with similar water requirements to conserve water. Use the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS) ratings to establish watering needs.

Policy ES-5.9: Encourage alternative irrigation water sources.

Encourage on-site rainwater harvesting and graywater systems for irrigation. Periodically study feasibility for delivering non-potable, recycled water from the South San Francisco – San Bruno Water Quality Control Plant, Orange Memorial Park Stormwater Capture Project, or similar.

Goal ES-6

Goal ES-6:

Threatened and endangered wildlife and plant species thrive in South San Francisco.

Intent:

To maintain inventories of, assess the impacts of new development on, and build community collaborations that support endangered wildlife and plant species, as well as ecologically sensitive habitats.

Policy ES-6.1: Catalog wildlife and plant inventories.

Continue to catalog and update information on threatened and endangered species in the review of project proposals.

Policy ES-6.2: Conduct wildlife and plant assessments for new development.

Require assessments for new developments in areas that could impact threatened or endangered species.

Policy ES-6.3: Conduct site-specific assessments for new development in ecologically sensitive habitat areas.

On a parcel-by-parcel basis, require that permit applications for projects located within ecologically sensitive habitat areas, prepare site-specific biological assessments for review and approval by City Planning staff, and incorporation of the recommended measures during construction to protect ecologically sensitive habitat areas.

Policy ES-6.4: Manage and conserve natural areas at risk.

Actively manage natural areas and landscapes threatened by human intervention and invasive species.

Goal ES-9

Goal ES-9:

Protect important historic architectural resources for the aesthetic, educational, economic, and scientific contribution they make to South San Francisco’s identity and quality of life.

Intent:

To help preserve, enhance, and educate the community about South San Francisco’s historic architectural resources through regular inventories, resource identification, adaptive reuse, and development site surveys.

Policy ES-9.1: Maintain a Historic Resources Inventory.

Maintain and update a Historic Resources Inventory at regular intervals to promote awareness of these community resources and as a tool to further their preservation. Give priority to identifying and establishing Historic Districts.

Action ES-9.1.1: Explore the feasibility of a Downtown Historic Commercial District development.

Explore the feasibility of establishing a Downtown South San Francisco Historical Commercial District to promote the revitalization and redevelopment of the area while supporting existing small business owners in the district from being displaced.
Action ES-9.1.2: Prepare Downtown urban design guidelines.

Institute Downtown urban design guidelines and require design review of developments in the proposed Downtown South San Francisco Historical Commercial District to ensure that the height, massing, and design of buildings furthers Downtown’s character.
Action ES-9.1.3: Expand historic markers and maps to promote and celebrate history.

Expand resources such as historic maps, historic markers, or self-guided walking tours to promote and celebrate historic preservation in South San Francisco.
Action ES-9.1.3: Expand historic resources education through partnerships.

Work with neighborhood groups and historic preservation advocacy groups on events, materials, and efforts to educate the public on the positive benefits of historic preservation generally and in specific neighborhoods.
Action ES-9.1.4: Preservation resources.

Prepare a vision for the preservation of historic resources using the Mills Act, State Tax Credit Program, or other available tools.

Policy ES-9.2: Identify historic resources.

Encourage the voluntary identification, conservation, and re-use of historical structures, properties, and sites with special and recognized historic, architectural, or aesthetic value.

Policy ES-9.3: Encourage adaptive reuse of historic resources.

Encourage historic resources to remain in their original use whenever possible. The adaptive use of historic resources is preferred, particularly as inns, vacation rentals, light commercial use, museums, educational facilities, or visitor-serving uses, when the original use can no longer be sustained.

Policy ES-9.4: Protect hardscape and cultural landscape elements.

Protect and preserve historic sidewalk stamps, street signs, lampposts, street trees, and other hardscape and cultural landscape elements, in addition to designated historical buildings, structures, and sites that contribute to the historic character of a neighborhood, and the city.

Policy ES-9.5: Require historic surveys as part of development project requirements.

Require the submittal of historic reports and surveys prepared as part of the environmental review process.

Action ES-9.5.1: Historic evaluation.

Update project planning application requirements to require the historic evaluation of existing structures that are at least 50 years old

Goal ES-7

Goal ES-7:

The City increases stormwater infiltration and reduces the amount of pollutants entering the stormwater system.

Intent:

To promote the equitable distribution of green infrastructure in South San Francisco to improve human and watershed health, San Francisco Bay fisheries, and wildlife habitat, and to reduce the negative impacts of climate change. To couple with policies and implementation actions related to the urban forest, which filters pollutants, stores water in canopy, and helps keep stormwater flow rates manageable.

Policy ES-7.1: Develop and implement comprehensive watershed management strategy.

Partner with regional and local agencies to develop a comprehensive watershed management strategy that identifies programs, partnerships, actions, and incentives that the City and partners can take to protect the city’s water resources and aquatic areas. Collaborate with regional agencies and neighboring jurisdictions to manage stormwater, reduce impervious surfaces, and improve water quality in the Colma Creek watershed.

Policy ES-7.2: Integrate green infrastructure in City projects.

Integrate green infrastructure strategies into city‐owned landscapes to improve water quality and reduce the need to irrigate landscapes.

Action ES-7.2.1: Implement the Green Infrastructure Plan.

Implement the City’s Green Infrastructure Plan.
Action ES-7.2.2: Identify opportunities to implement green Infrastructure in parks and open space.

Identify opportunities for nearby parks and open spaces to support water management with stormwater infrastructure

Policy ES-7.3: Require stormwater management practices for new and redevelopment projects.

Continue to require new development and redevelopment projects to meet federal, state, regional, and local stormwater requirements, including site design, stormwater treatment, stormwater infiltration, peak flow reduction, and trash capture.

Policy ES-7.4: Encourage pervious surfaces.

Encourage pervious surfaces in new developments.

For related policies and implementation actions related to urban forestry, see Goal ES-4.

Goal ES-8

Goal ES-8:

Clean and sustainable groundwater.

Intent:

To promote sustainable city practices that alleviate water shortages and ensure access to a clean and sustainable groundwater supply.

Policy ES-8.1: Optimize groundwater recharge in new development.

Continue to optimize groundwater recharge from new and redevelopment projects by infiltrating stormwater in accordance with State, regional, and local requirements.

Policy ES-8.2: Implement potable water demand reduction measures.

Continue to update and implement the South San Francisco Urban Water Management Plan demand reduction measures to reduce groundwater pumping in the Westside Basin and to increase resilience to climate change.

For related policies and implementation actions related to urban forestry, see Goal ES-4.

Goal ES-10

Goal ES-10:

South San Francisco’s archaeological resources provide a link to the city’s prehistoric and historic past and strengthen the city’s sense of place.

Intent:

To help protect and educate the community about South San Francisco’s archeological resources for the contributions they make to the city’s identity.

Policy ES-10.1: Maintain archaeological procedures for new development.

Maintain formal procedures for minimizing and mitigating impacts to archaeological resources.

Policy ES-10.2: Support archaeological education.

Support educational efforts that increase community awareness, appreciation, and support for South San Francisco’s archaeological resources.

Policy ES-10.3: Require that development proposals be referred to appropriate archaeological resources.

Require that development proposals be referred to the Northwest Information Center of the California Archaeological Inventory, Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), and local Native American Tribes for review and recommendations regarding supplemental field investigation.

Policy ES-10.4: Ensure the protection of known archaeological resources through records review.

Ensure the protection of known archaeological resources in the city by requiring a records review for any development proposed in areas of known resources.

Policy ES-10.5: Discovery of significant historic or prehistoric archaeological artifacts.

If construction or grading activities result in the discovery of significant historic or prehistoric archaeological artifacts, then all work within 100 feet of the discovery shall cease, the Economic and Community Development Department shall be notified, the resources shall be examined by a qualified archaeologist for appropriate protection and preservation measures; and work may only resume when appropriate protections are in place and have been approved by the Economic and Community Development Department.

Goal ES-11

Goal ES-11:

South San Francisco protects sites, features, places, or objects that are of cultural value to one or more California Native American Tribes.

Intent:

To help protect and educate the community about South San Francisco’s cultural resources for the contributions they make to the city’s history, culture, and identity.

Policy ES-11.1: Identification of tribal cultural resources.

Encourage the identification, preservation, and protection of Tribal Cultural Resources, traditional cultural landscapes, sacred sites, places, features, and objects, including historic or prehistoric ruins, burial grounds, cemeteries, and ceremonial sites in consultation or coordination with the appropriate Native America tribe(s), and ensure appropriate treatment of Native American and other human remains discovered during project construction.

Policy ES-11.2: Include history of Native American peoples in Colma Creek transformation.

Include the history of Native American peoples and cultural resources as part of the transformation of Colma Creek.

Policy ES-11.3: Conduct tribal consultation during development review.

Consult with local Native American tribes to identify, evaluate, and appropriately address tribal cultural resources and tribal sacred sites through the development review process.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL STEWARDSHIP

Where We Want to Be

In the future

Performance

Metrics

01PERFORMANCE METRIC:

Target:

Data:

02PERFORMANCE METRIC:

TARGET:

Data:

03PERFORMANCE METRIC:

Target:

Data:

04PERFORMANCE METRIC:

TARGET:

Data:

How Our Plan

Gets Us There

Key Issues and Opportunities

Environmental Resources

Habitat Types

Colma Creek Watershed

Flora and Fauna

Surface Water

Ground Water

policy

framework

Goal ES-1:

The City supports nature in South San Francisco to encourage healthy ecosystems, improve air and water quality, improve public health, and adapt to a changing climate.

Intent:

Policy ES-1.1: Develop a connected open space network.

Policy ES-1.2: Strive for habitat diversity across the city.

Policy ES-1.3: Create a connected network of wildlife corridors.

Policy ES-1.4: Plant for biodiversity.

Action ES-1.4.1: Manage vegetation at parks and open space for biodiversity.

Policy ES-1.5: Conduct equity assessments for conservation efforts.

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