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Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report Page IV.F-10 Forward Inc.Landfill 2018 Expansion Project Riparian Brush Rabbit Riparian brush rabbit(Sylvilagus bachmani riparius)is federally and state listed as Endangered. This species is associated with riparian forests and currently only two populations are known in San Joaquin County. One of two presently known populations is found on the lower Stanislaus River in Caswell State Park(Williams 1986). Pursuant to available studies(Williams 2000), a second population has been identified near Stewart Tract along the San Joaquin River and its tributaries.The habitat for this species apparently is the dense brush and nearby openings associated with the banks of the Stanislaus River and San Joaquin River. According to the SJMCP, due to the fragmentation of suitable remaining habitat,the rabbit has no means of dispersing from Caswell State Park to other areas. Riparian habitat does not occur within the project study area, and the offsite restored riparian habitat along the North Branch of the South Fork of Littlejohn's Creek is isolated and not accessible to known brush rabbit populations or areas containing suitable habitat. Therefore,this species is not further addressed in this section. Chinook Salmon Sacramento winter-run chinook salmon(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) is a federal and state-listed , Endangered species. Sacramento spring-run chinook salmon(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) is a federal and state Threatened Species, and Central Valley fall/late-fall chinook salmon ' (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)is a National Marine Fisheries Service(NMFS)Species of Concern and a California Species of Special Concern. Because both branches of the South Fork of Littlejohn's Creek are used for conveyance of irrigation water,the flows are highly variable and do not correspond to the natural hydroperiod for streams(i.e.wet winters/ dry summers)in the San Joaquin County area. The National Marine Fisheries Service(NMFS)has stated that Chinook salmon could be present in Littlejohn's Creek at a nearby project site in the fall and winter months,but acknowledges that their presence would be unlikely (Bein Frost and Associates 1999). Chinook salmon are not known to spawn in Littlejohn's Creek,however, individuals of the species attempted to migrate upstream into the North Branch of the South Fork of Littlejohn's Creek in 2003 (pers. comm. Sydney Temple, Questa Engineering Corporation). This occurred in the late fall, immediately after restoration work in the North Branch was completed and the new channel was opened. A flow gate was opened upstream by the Central San Joaquin Water Conservation District to convey water to downstream agricultural fields and this sent a sediment plume downstream. Approximately six to eight Chinook salmon were attracted from the San Joaquin River into the channel, and once flows were shut off, perished in the channel due to the lack of sufficient flows to sustain these animals. This occurrence was reported to CDFW,and reportedly occurred in several other irrigation channels in the County over the same brief period in fall 2003, and is considered to have been an isolated event(pers. comm. Sydney Temple,Questa Engineering Corporation). The South Branch of the South Fork of Littlejohn's Creek has less flow than the North Branch, and is dry during most of the year(pers. comm.Sydney Temple,Questa Engineering ' Corporation). Restoration of this branch of the creek will provide habitat for some semi-aquatic