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Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report Page IV.F-3 <br /> Forward Inc. Landfill 2018 Expansion Project <br /> development areas consist of developed landfill-related land uses(which are largely graded and <br /> devoid of vegetation). However, some non-native grassland and ruderal (i.e., weedy)vegetation <br /> is present on and around the proposed onsite development areas. Emergent freshwater marsh <br /> is present along the creek channel. Other than the freshwater marsh, which has colonized the <br /> altered and maintained creek channel,no native plant communities are present within the study <br /> area. Each of these habitats is discussed below. <br /> Nonnative Annual Grassland. Nonnative annual grassland is generally found in open areas in <br /> valleys and foothills throughout coastal and interior California (Holland 1986). It typically <br /> occurs on soils consisting of fine-textured loams or clays that are somewhat poorly drained. <br /> This vegetation type is dominated by nonnative annual grasses and weedy annual and <br /> perennial forbs,primarily of Mediterranean origin, that have replaced native perennial <br /> grasslands, scrub and woodland as a result of human disturbance. Scattered native wildflowers <br /> and grasses, representing remnants of the original vegetation may also be common. <br /> Nonnative annual grassland most closely conforms to the Wild Oats Grassland series as <br /> described in Sawyer,et al. (2009), and would be classified as upland, following Cowardin, et al. <br /> (1979).At the time of the 2018 site visit, only limited areas of non-native grassland were present <br /> within the proposed development areas. The proposed northeast landfill disposal area was <br /> disked and devoid of vegetation;it is expected that this area contains non-native grasses and <br /> weedy plant species between disking cycles. Large portions of the proposed relocated <br /> southeast landfill area (south of the creek)are actively used as a composing and material <br /> recovery facility, and are covered with piles and rows of compost material;these areas are <br /> generally devoid of vegetation and in their current condition are not non-native grasslands. <br /> However, non-native grasslands occur along the upper banks and bordering the South Branch <br /> of South Littlejohns Creek(within the proposed relocated southeast landfill disposal area)and <br /> within other isolated areas in the development area. Non-native grasslands also are present on <br /> portions of the landfill that are outside of the proposed development areas. <br /> Characteristic nonnative annual grasses commonly found on site include wild oats (Avena <br /> fatua), ripgut brome (Bromus diandrus), foxtail barley (Hordeum murinum),Italian rye grass <br /> (Festuca perennis), and Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon). Common nonnative forbs include <br /> yellow star thistle (Centaurea solstitialis), field bindweed (Convovulus arvensis),bur-clover <br /> (Medicago polymorpha),black mustard (Brassica nigra), long-beaked storksbill (Erodium botrys), <br /> broadleaf bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), English plantain(Plantago lanceolata), Italian <br /> thistle (Carduus p,c� nocephalus), and milk thistle (Silybum marianum) among others. Ornamental <br /> plants have also been planted on portions of the project site,including rows of oleander, <br /> patches of evening primrose,pricklypear, as well as a windrow of trees along the site's eastern <br /> boundary. <br /> In the proposed relocated southeast landfill area,there are also existing buildings and a small <br /> garden. There is a large detention basin in the southwest corner of site, which contained <br /> standing water at the time of the May 2018 site visit. There is also a drainage ditch (dry at the <br /> time of the site visits), which directs surface water during storms events to the detention basin. <br />