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season; (3) adjacent upland habitat with appropriate basking areas; and(4)high-elevation upland habitats for cover and refuge from flood waters during the inactive season(USFWS 1999a). Known occupied giant garter snake habitat is limited to four sites in San Joaquin County,all in the vicinity of Stockton(San Joaquin County 2000). Pond turtles also inhabit streams,ponds,freshwater marshes,and lakes. They require still or slow-moving water with instream emergent woody debris,rocks,or other similar features for basking sites. Pond turtle nests are typically located on unshaded upland slopes in dry substrates with clay or silt soils. Aquatic and upland habitat at the College Park site is highly disturbed and unlikely to provide the important habitat components for giant garter snakes and pond turtles. Aquatic habitat in Mountain House Creek is ephemeral and does not support suitable habitat for either species. Because of the marginal habitat quality and distance from occupied giant garter snake habitat,neither of these special-status reptiles is expected to inhabit the College Park site or the off-site improvement areas. s Several special-status raptor species have the potential to nest at the College Park site,including Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsom),burrowing owl(Athene cunicularia),white-tailed kite(Elanus leucurus),and northern harrier ., (Circus cyanus). Swainson's hawks and white-tailed kites typically nest in riparian habitat or scattered trees adjacent to foraging habitat. Trees scattered throughout the College Park site and adjacent off-site improvement areas provide suitable nest sites for both species. During the EDAW raptor survey, an active Swainson's hawk nest ` was found at the College Park site,in a tree on the south side of Grant Line Road(Figure 4.10-1). An active nest was also found within 1 mile north of the College Park site during this survey(conducted on June 2,2003),and several additional nest sites have been documented in the vicinity of the project site(San Joaquin County 1994x, 1994b). Harriers nest on the ground in dense,low-lying vegetation(e.g.,grassland,marsh,and field crops). Burrowing owls nest and roost in burrow systems created by medium-sized mammals(e.g.,ground squirrels), artificial sites(e.g.,drain pipes and culverts),or self-dug burrows where soil conditions are appropriate. Agricultural and grassland habitats at the College Park site and off-site improvement areas provide suitable nesting habitat for both species. An active burrowing owl nest was observed in the northern portion of the project area during EDAW surveys and during additional surveys conducted in 2003 by Foothill Associates. Burrowing owls have been documented south of Grant Line Road,and numerous suitable burrows are present on the proposed community college parcel(Figure 4.10-1). Agricultural fields and annual grassland at the College Park site and off-site improvement areas also provide foraging habitat for all four special-status raptors. Three additional special-status bird species could nest at the College Park site: loggerhead shrike(Lanius ludovicianus),California homed lark(Eremophila alpestris actia),and tricolored blackbird(Agelaius tricolor). Loggerhead shrikes nest in shrubs and small trees. Homed larks nest in grasslands and other open habitats with low, sparse vegetation. Tricolored blackbirds nest colonially in patches of dense vegetation,particularly cattails and blackberry. Suitable nesting habitat for shrikes and homed larks is scattered throughout the College Park site and off-site improvement areas,whereas potential tricolored blackbird nesting habitat is restricted to the perennial (Hernandez)drainage ponds that support wetland vegetation(Figure 4.10-1). Agricultural fields and annual grasslands at the College Park site and off-site improvement areas provide foraging habitat for all three species. A variety of additional special-status birds could inhabit the College Park site and off-site improvement areas, including snowy egret(Egretta thula),white-faced ibis(Plegadis chihi),Aleutian Canada goose(Branta canadensis leucopareia), ferruginous hawk(Buteo regalis),golden eagle(Aquila chrysaetos),American peregrine falcon(Falco peregrinus anatum),prairie falcon(Falco mexicanus),merlin(Falco columbarius),greater sandhill crane(Gros Canadensis tabida),mountain plover(Charadrius montanus),and long-billed curlew (Numenius americanus). These species typically forage in grasslands and agricultural fields and could forage in fields in the project vicinity. However,none are expected to nest at the College Park site or off-site improvement areas because of lack of suitable habitat or because it is not within their known nesting range. Historically,San Joaquin kit foxes inbabit native grassland and scrubland habitats. The College Park site is at the northern edge of San Joaquin kit fox range(USFWS 1998). Surveys of the Mountain House Master Plan (MHMP)area were conducted in the early 1990s,in accordance with USFWS protocols. No confirmed kit fox use of the College Park site or larger MHMP area was documented,although a possible kit fox den and potential College Park at Mountain House Specific Plan III Draft EIR EDAW San Joaquin County 4.10-9 Biological Resources