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Special-Status Species Plant Survey (Malva parviora),common purslane(Portulaca oleracea), ripgut brome(Bromus diandrus), and spotted spurge(Chamaesyce maculata). Riparian Scrub (Mulefat Series and Scalebroom Series) Hospital Creek is ephemeral and channelized,flowing east through the southwestern section of the Project site and then along its southern border. The channel is lined with riprap and gravel downstream of the box culvert crossing of the Delta-Mendota Canal and transitions to a mostly unlined channel along the Project's southern boundary. Riparian habitat is limited to very small, — isolated fragments along Hospital Creek and is composed of mulefat scrub and scalebroom scrub. Mulefat scrub is characterized by mulefat(Baccharis salicifolia),narrowleaf willow(Salix exigua), and arroyo willow(S. lasiolepis).Associated species in the project site include mustard (Brassica sp.),heliotrope(Heliotropium curassavicum),and curly dock(Rumex crispus).Mulefat scrub is limited to the bottoms of irrigation ditches and Hospital Creek or other areas where water may collect. Scalebroom scrub is characterized by scalebroom(Lepidospartum squamatum), California sage(Artemisia californica), mugwort(A. douglasiana),tree tobacco(Nicotiana glauca),gumplant(Grindelia camporum), pigweed(Chenopodium album),and Mexican tea(C. _ ambrosioides). Scalebroom scrub is not typically classified as a riparian community;however, in the Project site,elements of this community can be found growing along the steep, well-drained banks of irrigation ditches and Hospital Creek. — Special-Status Plant Species _ An ESA botanist conducted a search of the California Natural Diversity Database for the Project site and a five-mile buffer surrounding the Project site. The California Native Plant Society online inventory and U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service special-status species lists were searched for the USGS quadrangles containing the Project site and the adjacent quadrangles. A list of special- status plant species with potential to occur in the area was compiled from the results of these — searches(Table 1). In addition to these data queries, a field survey was conducted on September 4,2003,and a focused rare plant survey on May 4,2005. Methodology The May 2005 field survey of the project site consisted of driving the entire site to verify and — examine habitat types, and,where suitable habitat was found(i.e., annual grassland or riparian scrub),walking throughout those areas. As discussed above, much of the site consists of actively farmed agricultural lands including orchards and row crops and is in a continual state of disturbance. These areas do not have the necessary habitat parameters to support any of the special-status plant species in Table 1 and, as such,were not surveyed in detail. Particular _ attention was given to areas capable of supporting showy madia(i.e., grasslands),which has been historically observed nearby. Each plant species observed was recorded or collected and identified later in the laboratory (Table 2). _ Vernalis Quarry Mining and Reclamation Project 2 ESA/203015 Special-Status Species Plant Survey Felanlay 2005