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San Joaquin Kit Fox,California Red-Legged Frog,and Svainwn's Hawk Habitat Assessment r Occurrences in Project Region The California red-legged frog occurrences closest to the Project site are located about eight miles northwest in Corral Hollow Canyon(CDFG ,2005). The species is likely to occur in aquatic habitat and associated uplands west of the Project site,throughout the eastern Diablo Range,as reflected in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's designation of the East San Francisco Bay Core Recovery Area(USFWS, 2002). This area is located about 4.5 miles west of the Project site, north of Lone Tree Creek. Habitat on Project Site There is no aquatic habitat for California red-legged frog on the Project site.Hospital Creek does not contain water for extended periods of time, even following rainfall events,nor does it contain pools where red-legged frogs could breed. Hospital Creek does not support aquatic vegetation. Based on the absence of aquatic vegetation, several agricultural irrigation basins on the Project site also do not appear to hold water for periods long enough for California red-legged frogs to breed. Likelihood to Occur on Project Site _ California red-legged frog is unlikely to occur on the Project site. Although it could disperse into the Project site from occupied habitat west of Interstates 5 and 580,there are significant barriers to such dispersal,including the two highways,the California Aqueduct,the Delta-Mendota Canal, — and a gravel mine operation. There is no suitable aquatic breeding habitat on the Project site to support a local population. Swainson's Hawk Regional Habitat Associations Swainson's hawks in California's Central Valley typically breed in riparian forest and woodland and occasionally in trees on roadsides or near rural residences.Foraging habitat includes grasslands, livestock pastures,and grain or alfalfa fields(SJCOG,2000). Occurrences in Project Region There are no known occurrences on or within one-half mile of the Project site.Numerous recent and historic nests are known from the San Joaquin River riparian corridor,about 3 to 4 miles northeast of the Project site(CDFG,2005).Most of these records are from the mid-1980s; however,one nest that was active in 2000 is located about 4.5 miles northeast of the Project site. Habitat on Project Site Several large eucalyptus trees associated with agricultural residences could provide nesting habitat(see Figure 3.0 for an example). There is no riparian woodland or forest on the Project site.Annual croplands on the Project site and on adjacent lands could be used for foraging Vernalis Quarry Mining and Recantation Project 8 ESA 1203015 San Joaquin Kit Fox California Red-Legged Frog,and Swainson's Hawk Habitat Assessment February 2006