The subject site is located within the Pinelands landscape region, as identified by the NJDEP NJ Wildlife Action Plan (NJDEP 2018). The Northern Pinelands Fringe CFA is composed of wetland and upland forest and wetland corridors associated with the Manasquan River and Metedeconk River drainages. While the forest structure tends to be more deciduous in nature than the core Pinelands, the area does share many similarities with the true Pine Barrens to the south. Significant portions of the Conservation Focal Areas (CFA) are preserved in Allaire State Park, Turkey Swamp Park, and other county and municipal holdings. However, some properties in the southern section of this CFA are privately held and may face imminent development. The CFA continues to support the northernmost occurrences of some important Pinelands or coastal plain species such as northern pine snake, pine barrens treefrog, and swamp pink.

NJDEP Office of Natural Lands Management, Natural Heritage Program (NHP) Database records for potential threatened/endangered species occurrences, as well as NJDEP Landscape Project Mappings which depict habitat polygons used to value areas for potential critical wildlife habitat were reviewed to obtain a list of species with potential to occur within the local area. According to the NJDEP Landscape Maps of Endangered, Threatened and Other Priority Wildlife (version 3.4) the site is mapped as Rank 4 habitat for timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) occupied habitat, and Rank 3 habitat for northern pine snake (Pituophis m. melanoleucus) occupied habitat and barred owl (Strix varia) breeding sighting (refer to Figure 13: Landscape Project v3.4 Map).

Vernal habitats contain pools that are confined depressions, either natural or man-made, that maintain ponded water for part of the year and are devoid of breeding fish populations. These temporary pools provide habitat to many species of amphibians, several of which breed exclusively in vernal pools, as well as a multitude of insects, reptiles, plants, and other wildlife. NJDEP Landscape Project mappings do not map the site or surrounding areas as within a confirmed or potential vernal habitat area.

The project site consists primarily of upland woodland and previously disturbed areas located within an established residential setting surrounded by existing subdivisions and developed neighborhoods. The surrounding land use context limits the extent of contiguous habitat and reduces the likelihood that the site supports large or sensitive wildlife populations or regionally significant habitat corridors. Wildlife observed or expected to occur on site is anticipated to consist primarily of common and adaptable species typical of suburban and edge habitat environments, including small mammals, passerine birds, and herpetofauna associated with upland forest and transitional habitats.

No regulated freshwater wetlands, open water bodies, or perennial streams are proposed to be directly disturbed by the project, and no critical wildlife habitat areas have been identified within the proposed limits of disturbance based on available desktop screening and site reconnaissance. The site does not function as a primary movement corridor for large wildlife species due to surrounding roadway infrastructure and existing residential development.

Potential wildlife impacts are limited primarily to temporary displacement of common species during construction and localized loss of upland woodland habitat within the development footprint. These impacts are minimized through preservation of perimeter wooded areas, maintenance of existing drainage patterns in undisturbed areas, and implementation of a Landscape and Tree Save Plan that protects retained vegetation and maintains habitat structure. Disturbance limits and construction controls further reduce habitat fragmentation and edge effects.